RTHK: Death toll in Malaysian boat accident rises to 16 The death toll from a boat accident off Malaysia rose to 16 Thursday after a search and rescue team found the bodies of five more Indonesian migrants on the shore. The vessel, which was carrying about 50 Indonesians seeking to enter neighbouring Malaysia illegally, capsized Wednesday in stormy weather off the southern state of Johor. Soldiers on patrol found 11 bodies on the shore in the hours after the accident, and the bodies of three more men and two women were recovered Thursday, the coastguard said. Twenty migrants are believed to still be missing, and authorities have deployed boats and an aircraft to hunt for them. Another 14 people survived the accident, and have been taken into custody. Indonesians desperate for work sometimes try to enter neighbouring Malaysia illegally by making sea crossings in rickety boats, but accidents happen regularly. Relatively affluent Malaysia is home to millions of migrants from poorer parts of Asia, many of them undocumented, and they work in industries including construction and agriculture. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: 10 imported COVID cases identified The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 10 additional imported COVID-19 cases, nine of which involve the L452R mutant strain while the other one carries the N501Y mutant strain. The newly reported cases concern six men and four women, nine of them arrived in the city from high-risk places and one from a medium-risk place. Eight patients tested positive upon arrival in Hong Kong and one tested positive during quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel. The remaining case is a sea crew member who arrived in Hong Kong from Japan via the cargo vessel Glory Sky on December 1. There were confirmed cases involving sea crew members of that vessel earlier. The patient tested positive during quarantine on board. Meanwhile, the centre is investigating a COVID-19 case in Taiwan involving a 51-year-old female patient who lives at Silver Waves Court in Mui Wo. She tested negative in Hong Kong on November 30. She travelled to Taiwan on December 2 by flight CX494 and her specimen collected in Taiwan on the same day tested negative. She then tested positive on December 12 with a cycle threshold (Ct) value of about 20. According to information provided by the patient, she developed symptoms on December 11. She has received two doses of the BioNTech jab in Hong Kong. The centre is following up on the case with the Taiwan health authority. As a prudent measure, the places where the patient visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a compulsory testing notice. Plus, as Nepal Airlines flight RA409 from Kathmandu, Nepal, arriving in Hong Kong on December 14 had four passengers confirmed to have COVID-19 by arrival testing, the Department of Health invoked a law to prohibit the landing of the carriers passenger flights from Kathmandu from December 16 to 29. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: College launches finance seminar The Civil Service College today launched the "Expert Round Table for Economic Development" seminar series in collaboration with the Academy of Finance. The inaugural seminar took place in the Civil Service College at the North Point Government Offices. It was attended by around 120 civil servants in the directorate as well as middle and senior ranks. Addressing the seminar, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip said that this is the first important seminar series launched after the establishment of the Civil Service College. As the first collaboration with the Academy of Finance, the seminar series brings together experts from the financial and related sectors to share insights with civil servants about the opportunities and challenges facing Hong Kong, he noted. Noting that Hong Kong's economic prosperity depends on its continued success in maintaining the status as an international financial centre, Mr Nip said it is incumbent for the city to leverage the central government's supporting policies so that it can give full play to its unique strengths and bring continuous impetus to the economy. As the backbone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, civil servants shall keep learning and move ahead with the times, he added. The civil service chief also appealed to civil servant colleagues to vote on Sunday, the polling day of the Legislative Council General Election. This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Minister Gungubele welcomes new NPC members This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has confirmed that it has been served with an urgent application instituted by the former Group Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews, who is seeking to interdict his already finalised termination of employment. Earlier this month, the board of PRASA unanimous... See more South Africa: Law enforcement on high alert this festive season Road traffic officers and other members of law enforcement agencies will be out in full force this festive season to ensure compliance with the law and facilitate the smooth flow of traffic on our roads. The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster comprised of Police Minister Bheki Cele, Justice and Correctional Minister, Ronald Lamola and Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thandi Modise briefed the media this morning on the state of readiness for the festive season. The cluster outlined measures underway to ensure a safer festive season in South Africa. At Thursdays briefing, Police Minister Bheki Cele said that during this time of the year, the safety of all road users, including pedestrians, becomes their biggest concern. We appeal to all motorists to drive safely and courteously to ensure the safety of other road users, including pedestrians on our roads. Obey all rules of the road by, amongst other things, maintaining the legal speed limit, and refraining from drinking and driving or texting while driving. Road safety is everyones business and together we can make our roads safer, Cele said. On the general safety of people, Cele said that by working closely with community structures such as community policing forums, civil-society organisations, traditional leaders and faith-based organisations, the cluster continues to create the interface between government and communities. These structures continue to strengthen our crime-prevention measures within communities. Our criminal justice system continues to work hard in ensuring that those who violate the laws of the land are made to account and face the full might of the law, he said. Safety of children, and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) Cele said that during this period of merriment, police are often inundated with cases of missing children, especially at coastal beaches. The cluster has urged parents not to leave children unattended near swimming pools or beaches. Avoid tragedies by being vigilant when at pools, beaches or near water and ensure that children wear the necessary safety equipment when using swimming pools or beaches. Cele said that all law-enforcement agencies, especially police officers, will be on high alert to respond swiftly to incidents of GBVF. We appeal to the men of our nation to take a stand and play their part in ending the scourge of violence against women and children. Report all perpetrators of GBVF to the police without delay, he said. Ports of entry The Minister said that the Department of Home Affairs will share information on the operating hours at ports of entry, which have been extended by two hours to ensure proper services during this busy period. Working with law-enforcement agencies, the department will be on high alert for any illegal activities at ports of entry, including preventing the potential influx of undocumented foreign nationals and smuggling of stolen goods. COVID-19 With the COVID-19 infections growing daily following the discovery of the Omicron variant, South Africans are urged to go out in their numbers and vaccinate to keep themselves and loved ones safe this festive season. The cluster has reiterated that vaccines remain the best defence against COVID-19 by reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalisation or even death.Statistics have shown that most of the people infected with the virus who are admitted to hospitals are unvaccinated. Ensure that you get your jab before you socialise, visit relatives or go on vacation this December. While COVID-19 vaccines still remain effective in protecting us from developing a severe illness, non-pharmaceutical protective measures remain important, such as wearing a mask that covers the mouth and nose, maintaining social distancing and regularly washing our hands with water and soap or using a 70% alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Citizens are also advised to avoid large gatherings such as festivals or parties, and only gather in small groups in well ventilated areas. Former President Zumas parole Meanwhile, the cluster has noted the recent ruling by the North Gauteng High Court nullifying and setting aside the decision of the national commissioner on granting medical parole to former President Jacob Zuma. Minister Cele said that they have noted the Department of Correctional Servicess decision to appeal the judgment. As the cluster, we wish to reiterate our confidence in our constitutional democracy that provides that all people are equal before the law. The separation of powers and the independence of the Judiciary are the bedrock of our Constitution, and our courts function without fear or favour as they entrench the rule of law. Any form of recourse must follow appropriate channels within the confines of the law, he said. The JCPS cluster remains committed to upholding the laws of the country and has assured the nation that working with communities, they will ensure the safety of the public during this festive period. Lastly, let us vaccinate, wear our masks and avoid big gatherings during this festive period, said Cele. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: Tai Po health centre unveiled Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan today officiated at the opening ceremony of the Tai Po District Health Centre (DHC) Express. Operated by the United Christian Medical Service, the Tai Po DHC Express consists of a core centre, six fixed service points and a number of service points in village offices. At the opening ceremony, Prof Chan said multiple measures have to be put forward in order to meet surging healthcare needs amid a rapidly ageing population and an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. As the vital parts of the primary healthcare system, the DHCs and DHC Expresses will provide the public with various government-subsidised primary healthcare services through our multi-disciplinary teams with a view to shifting the emphasis of the present healthcare system and the public mindset from treatment-oriented to prevention-focused. I am delighted to know that the Tai Po DHC Express bonds with the primary healthcare service providers within or in adjacent districts, including doctors and Chinese medicine practitioners, to form a community-based network. The DHC Express also provides assessment and preventive training and care programmes on mild cognitive impairment as well as fall-prevention training to elderly people, so that the local community can receive timely care, she added. Moreover, in a bid to prevent unnecessary readmission, the DHC Express collaborates with the Hospital Authoritys New Territories East Cluster, especially Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Tai Po Hospital, to organise activities and arrange necessary primary healthcare services for discharged patients. Prof Chan noted that apart from serving at the core centre and the six fixed service points, the Tai Po DHC Express works with the Tai Po Rural Committee to set up service points in its village offices as a facilitative measure for citizens living in the villages and relatively remote areas. These service points will offer one-stop primary healthcare services including health promotion, nurse counselling, health risk factors assessment, health management classes and chronic disease management. Since the Tai Po DHC Express soft launch in mid-October, it has recruited over 550 members and completed health risk factor assessments for over half of them by the end of November. Call 2468 2268 for enquiries. This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: Poll preparation nears completion Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Barnabas Fung Wah today inspected the training sessions and simulated activities for counting staff at the central counting station of the 2021 Legislative Council General Election. Mr Fung said, after the inspection, that the preparatory work for the election is nearing completion and added that staff members would continue their work to ensure the poll and vote count on December 19 would be carried out smoothly. The election is the largest public election after the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021 came into effect, he said, noting that there are more than 4,470,000 registered electors. On the polling day, about 630 polling stations will be set up and about 39,000 civil servants from different bureaus and departments will discharge electoral duties at different posts. "When it comes to public elections, openness, fairness and honesty are the most basic principles. Accuracy and efficiency are also required, so that the election results can be announced as soon as possible. The EAC encourages all electoral staff to make their best efforts to achieve accuracy and efficiency in the conduct of the election." Regarding new polling arrangements for staff, Mr Fung said that an initiative is in place to facilitate their early resumption of work to serve electors. If a polling staff member or a public officer who has to be on duty for the election during the polling hours, though not directly involved in polling, finds a long queue at his or her assigned polling station, he or she may present his or her staff identification or the approval letter issued by the relevant government department to the staff on duty there and be permitted to enter the polling station for priority queuing to collect ballot papers and carry out his or her voting." Meanwhile, polling stations will be set up at Heung Yuen Wai, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line boundary control points for eligible geographical constituency (GC) and functional constituency (FC) electors currently in the Mainland to return to Hong Kong to vote on the polling day. After the close of polls, these three polling stations will be turned into counting stations for the counting of GC votes. If the number of registered electors of certain GCs allocated to vote at the polling stations at Heung Yuen Wai and Lo Wu control points are less than 500, the ballot boxes concerned will be transported to the counting station at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point where ballot papers will be mixed with those of the respective GCs cast before counting to protect the secrecy of votes. The ballot boxes of all FCs, on the other hand, will be delivered to the central counting station at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre for counting. To tie in with anti-epidemic measures, except for electors who have been assigned to the boundary control point polling stations, candidates or their agents and electoral staff, entry to or exit from the boundary control point polling stations will be prohibited and no arrangement will be made for public observation of the counting process. The vote counting at the three aforesaid polling stations will be broadcast live on RTHK TV 32 of Radio Television Hong Kong and the website of the Information Services Department. This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: Bay area opportunities promoted The Development Bureau and the Department of Housing & Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province (DHURDGP) jointly held the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation Construction Projects Promotion Conference today. The goal of the conference was to introduce architectural design and municipal construction projects in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) that will be made available for relevant enterprises in Hong Kong to get involved in. Secretary for Development Michael Wong and Deputy Director-General of DHURDGP Cai Ying co-chaired the event that was held simultaneously in Hong Kong and Qianhai, Shenzhen via video conferencing. At the conference, the Guangdong department introduced over 30 projects in different cities of the bay area, with categories covering architectural design, cost estimation and municipal engineering projects. The Qianhai Authority also briefed participants on issues that need to be noted regarding business operations for registered Hong Kong enterprises. Additionally, two Hong Kong consulting enterprises shared their successful experiences in the Mainland. Addressing the conference, Mr Wong said he believed that the experience and capability of Hong Kong enterprises would assist the promotion of a high-quality construction industry in the Mainland to help develop the GBA into a world-class bay area. The National 14th Five-Year Plan supports the strategy of high-quality construction of the GBA. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been working closely with the Mainland to actively promote the integration of Hong Kongs architectural and engineering sectors into the countrys overall development. Over the past year, a number of facilitation measures were launched, including the introduction of registration systems in the nine Mainland cities of the GBA and Qianhai allowing eligible Hong Kong enterprises and professionals in five disciplines including engineering, architectural, surveying, planning and landscape architecture to be able to directly provide services in the nine Mainland cities of the GBA and Qianhai. Mr Wong explained that they could do so by attaining equivalent qualifications in the Mainland through a simple registration system. For instance, effective from January 1 this year, the Guangdong department allows consulting enterprises on the two government lists as well as professionals registered with relevant registration boards in Hong Kong, to be able to directly provide services in the bay area through such a mechanism. At present, 53 enterprises and 241 professionals have completed the registration. This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: West rejects Russian bid to veto Ukraine's Nato hopes Western allies on Thursday rejected Russia's attempt to thwart Ukraine's Nato ambitions and urged Moscow to return to French- and German-mediated talks to defuse growing tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border. Russia's President Vladimir Putin is pushing for direct dialogue with his US counterpart Joe Biden's administration to resolve the stand-off on the frontier. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg branded Russia the "aggressor", repeating the accusation that Moscow has massed powerful forces on Ukraine's border. And European Union leaders, most of whom are from countries that are also Nato allies, warned of massive economic sanctions if Russia takes military action. Meeting in Brussels in an EU summit, European leaders pushed for a return to the "Normandy format", a four-way dialogue between Paris, Berlin, Kiev and Moscow aimed at ending the conflict. On Wednesday, Russia handed a list of security demands to US Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried, who then came to Nato headquarters in Brussels on Thursday to discuss them with Stoltenberg. The Nato chief also met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, and gave a joint news conference to insist that any decision on membership was a matter for Kiev and the alliance's 30 member states. "We will not compromise on the right of Ukraine to choose its own path. We will not compromise on the right for Nato to protect and defend all Nato allies," Stoltenberg said. He said there would also be no compromising on Nato's partnership with Ukraine, describing it as important for both sides and "not in any way a threat to Russia". On Wednesday, Zelensky attended a summit with EU leaders most of whose countries are also Nato members and said that most of them understood and supported Ukraine's position in the conflict. But he is frustrated that European powers in particular have refused to take preventive action against Russia, preferring to threaten a response in the event of Russian action. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-12-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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 The ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has spotted significant amounts of water at the heart of Mars' dramatic canyon system, Valles Marineris. The water, which is hidden beneath Mars' surface, was found by the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO)'s FREND instrument, which is mapping the hydrogen - a measure of water content - in the uppermost metre of Mars' soil. While water is known to exist on Mars, most is found in the planet's cold polar regions as ice. Water ice is not found exposed at the surface near the equator, as temperatures here are not cold enough for exposed water ice to be stable. Missions including ESA's Mars Express have hunted for near-surface water - as ice covering dust grains in the soil, or locked up in minerals - at lower latitudes of Mars, and found small amounts. However, such studies have only explored the very surface of the planet; deeper water stores could exist, covered by dust. "With TGO we can look down to one metre 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," says Igor Mitrofanov of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia; lead author of the new study; and principal investigator of the FREND (Fine Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector) neutron telescope. "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% of the near-surface material in this region appears to be water." 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 our hunt for water on Mars. Tracking neutrons Igor and colleagues analysed FREND observations ranging from May 2018 to February 2021, which mapped the hydrogen content of Mars' soil by detecting neutrons rather than light. "Neutrons are produced when highly energetic particles known as 'galactic cosmic rays' strike Mars; drier soils emit more neutrons than wetter ones, and so we can deduce how much water is in a soil by looking at the neutrons it emits," adds co-author Alexey Malakhov, also of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "FREND's unique observing technique brings far higher spatial resolution than previous measurements of this type, enabling us to now see water features that weren't spotted before. "We found a central part of Valles Marineris to be packed full of water - far more water than we expected. This is very much like Earth's permafrost regions, where water ice permanently persists under dry soil because of the constant low temperatures." This water could be in the form of ice, or water that is chemically bound to other minerals in the soil. However, other observations tell us that minerals seen in this part of Mars typically contain only a few percent water, much less than is evidenced by these new observations. "Overall, we think this water more likely exists in the form of ice," says Alexey. Water ice usually evaporates in this region of Mars due to the temperature and pressure conditions near the equator. The same applies to chemically bound water: the right combination of temperature, pressure and hydration must be there to keep minerals from losing water. This suggests that some special, as-yet-unclear mix of conditions must be present in Valles Marineris to preserve the water - or that it is somehow being replenished. "This finding is an amazing first step, but we need more observations to know for sure what form of water we're dealing with," adds study co-author Hakan Svedhem of ESA's ESTEC in the Netherlands, and former ESA project scientist for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. "Regardless of the outcome, the finding demonstrates the unrivalled abilities of TGO's instruments in enabling us to 'see' below Mars' surface - and reveals a large, not-too-deep, easily exploitable reservoir of water in this region of Mars." Future exploration As most future missions to Mars plan to land at lower latitudes, locating such a reservoir of water here is an exciting prospect for future exploration. While Mars Express has found hints of water deeper underground in Mars' mid-latitudes, alongside deep pools of liquid water under Mars' south pole, these potential stores lie up to a few kilometres below ground, making them less exploitable and accessible to exploration than any found just below the surface. The finding also makes Valles Marineris an even more promising target for future human exploration missions to the planet. The largest canyon in the Solar System, Valles Marineris is arguably Mars' most dramatic landscape, and a feature that is often compared to Earth's Grand Canyon - despite being some ten times longer and five times deeper. This result really demonstrates the success of the joint ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars programme," says Colin Wilson, ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter project scientist. "Knowing more about how and where water exists on present-day Mars is essential to understand what happened to Mars' once-abundant water, and helps our search for habitable environments, possible signs of past life, and organic materials from Mars' earliest days." TGO launched in 2016 as the first of two launches under the ExoMars programme. 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. Astrobiology Please follow Astrobiology on Twitter. The following is the first in a series published by BeaufortCountyNow.com written by Harry Meredith, Jr. Check back later for other articles in this series. BeaufortCountyNow.com Publisher's note: If anyone finds fault with the veracity of these well considered words by former Chief Deputy Harry Meredith, we implore you to please take issue with what Mr. Meredith considers to be true right here on BCN, either by comment or by posted article, and you will receive all the space that is reasonable to refute these allegations. These articles from Chief Deputy Harry Meredith, Ret. are showing a consistent pattern of data, and an intent to express what he believes to be true. By Harry W. Meredith, Jr. I have been following the Sheppard case and the Franks case the last couple of years with a somewhat dispassionate interest. The wheels of justice grind and they do grind slow. For those of you that have a life, I will quickly summarize the events up to present day. In 2016 or so, Deputy Franks alleged a hostile work environment claiming the Sheriff and others used racially charged language a number of times. The words boy, n*****, monkey boy, and rhino lining referring to Frank's hair were used just to name a few. Also, one of the Deputies pointed his loaded service weapon at Franks' head in the Deputy room and called him a n*****. Several other Deputies witnessed this incident. Sheriff Coleman also referred to Franks as "deeply psychotic". Sheppard reported this behavior through his chain of command, but no action was taken. On February 8, 2017, Sheriff Coleman told Deputy Sheppard he planned to fire Deputy Franks because he was "psychotic". Sheppard told Coleman that Franks had been subjected to a hostile and racist work environment. Coleman terminated Franks soon after that conversation. The information above was taken from court records October 7, 2019, case number 4:19-cv-86-D that I could access on the internet. On February 10, 2017, Chief Deputy Rose and Sheriff Coleman were waiting for Sheppard when he reported for duty at 6:00PM. Coleman told Sheppard he was aware of the complaint involving Franks. Coleman asked Sheppard why he still worked at the BCSO if he thought the Command staff were racists. Sheppard denied this. Coleman wished him good luck and left. Sheppard, apparently alone with the Chief Deputy, then resigned instead of facing termination. Sheppard recorded the entire conversation on his phone. The information above was taken from court records in the same court case So, we have a bi-racial Deputy, Franks, claiming a hostile work environment due to racist language and hostile actions. We also have a white Deputy, Sheppard, that stood up to the Sheriff. Sheppard did not like the racist behavior of some Deputies, and Coleman it seems either approved or turned a blind eye to those actions. Both Deputies were separated. Sheriff Coleman began a campaign to smear Franks. Some of the information released by Coleman's attorneys may be true; it may not be true. The attack was long and complete. Also, Coleman denied in the media several times there was any truth to claims of a hostile work environment and any other points touched on in the paragraphs above. Before I get into the heart of this article, I ask where are the other Deputies that witnessed these words and actions? My guess is after seeing what happened to Franks and Sheppard, they did not hear or see anything. While writing this article, I heard that subpoenas were issued for those unnamed Deputies to force their testimony. Lawsuits were filed by Sheppard and Franks that have dragged on to present day. Franks' lawsuit still languishes, but his lawyer has dollar signs in his eyes now. Coleman was represented by a stellar legal team from probably the largest law firm in North Carolina at the expense of the taxpayers. He also has an insurance carrier that will foot the bill too. Will this cost the taxpayers more money in the future? There are more than 400 lawyers associated with the firm representing Coleman if nothing has changed. There were two lawyers working on the case at several hundred dollars an hour each. Unfortunately, Sheppard had to represent himself it seems early in this proceeding. Well, David prevailed over Goliath and the same can be said of this match too. From a quick reading of part of the court documents, it looks as if Sheppard received somewhere between $150,000.00 to $200,000.00 and maybe some other considerations but that is hard to tell without the entire case notes. It looks like Sheppard and Franks will be vindicated in this matter. Here is the big news: "At the evidentiary hearing, Spaugh (one of Sheriff Coleman's attorneys) testified that on April 6, 2021, Coleman authorized him to offer $150,000.00 as part of negotiations at the court-hosted settlement conference. Coleman, in direct contradiction, testified that no one ever told him that $150,000.00 was the amount being offered at that settlement conference. The court finds Coleman's testimony not credible and credits Spaugh's testimony." The above paragraph was taken from the court documents in part Again, THE COURT FINDS COLEMAN'S TESTIMONY NOT CREDIBLE AND CREDITS SPAUGH'S TESTIMONY. The Sheriff likes the phrase "in laymen's terms. So, in laymen's terms, the Sheriff of Beaufort County does not tell the truth in court. ****Another update to this fiasco just came to my attention while writing this. Sheriff Coleman was, in fact, sworn when he made a false statement to the court. The Judge gave him an opportunity to correct his testimony. Coleman refused. The Judge dismissed him without hearing anything further from the Sheriff.**** Well now, the Sheriff's own lawyer testified against the interests of his client. A Federal Court Judge found the Sheriff of Beaufort County is "not credible". He is probably the last one to learn this. Sheriff Coleman's actions may cause a problem in other lawsuits. In common law, there is a principle that states "false in one thing, false in everything". A witness that testifies falsely about one matter is NOT CREDIBLE to testify about any matter. It looks like we are going to have a Sheriff that claims to be a Conservative, Christian, Constitutional Officer that is untruthful in federal court proceedings running for another term. He has read to the Commissioners several times that he only answers to the people. Do the people want a Sheriff that will give untruthful testimony in court? Here is the final question. Can a Sheriff be removed or disqualified from Office for a felony conviction? The word testimony indicates he was sworn. His conduct brings disgrace to his Office, and by association, to all of the Sheriffs in NC. It will take years to remove the stain from the good name of Beaufort County. His actions the last seven years have led directly to this point. The Commissioners only control the Sheriff's budget. Perhaps the Commissioners should stand in support of Michael Sheppard and the other Deputies that are too afraid to speak and say this type of behavior and aggression will not be tolerated. Some elected officials must stand for the taxpayer and the rights of the brave Deputies that stay with the county in the face of arbitrary ridicule and punishment from Sheriff Coleman. Webinar looks into opportunities and challenges for exports to UK The UK is currently one of Vietnam's leading trading partners in Europe, while the Southeast Asian nation is the UK's top trading partner in ASEAN, ranking 26th among the European nation's export partners in the world. Farm produce is one of Vietnam' major export items to the UK market. The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam on December 15 held a webinar on Vietnam-UK trade prospects, alongside opportunities and challenges in the post-Brexit context and the COVID-19 pandemic. The event featured the attendance of representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and both nations' businesses. According to Ta Hoang Linh, director of the Europe-America Market Department under the MoIT, despite suffering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam-UK trade sees positive developments., with two-way trade turnover over the past 10 months of this year reaching more than US$5.4 billion, representing a year-on-year rise of 16%, of which Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of US$4.03 billion. Throughout the reviewed period, Vietnam's total export turnover to the UK grew by 14.5% to more than US$4.73 billion. At present, the UK ranks 9th among the main export markets of the Southeast Asian nation. Most of Vietnam's export staples enjoying high growth include iron and steel, rubber, farm produce, rattan, bamboo, sedge and carpet products; pepper, transport vehicles, machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts. In his address the event, Ian Gibbon, UKABC Chief Executive stated that bilateral trade between Vietnam and the UK in 2019 tripled to more than US$6 billion compared to one year earlier. In 2020, in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak causing disruption to the global trading system, Vietnam's export value to the UK still reached nearly US$5 billion. He highlighted the effective enforcement of the UK-Vietnam free trade agreement (UKVFTA) as a driving force behind the promotion of economic cooperation in the two countries' strategic partnership. The two sides boast huge potential for stronger cooperation in the fields of trade, clean and renewable energy, and the digital economy, he added. Nguyen Canh Cuong, Trade Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK, said that after Brexit, the new trade relationship between the UK and the EU is no longer as favorable as in a common market. British businesses therefore must stay active in finding new sources of supply and new markets, including Vietnam - one of the strong emerging economies in Southeast Asia and the second country to sign an FTA with the UK. Notably, the UK Government is carrying out a more open trade policy toward faster liberalization, thus encouraging British businesses to boost exports in countries with dynamic economic development, including Vietnam. This is viewed as an opportunity for the two sides to promote trade and business cooperation in the time ahead, Cuong went on to say. Giving advice to local enterprises exporting to the UK market, business representatives underlined the need for them to carefully study market needs, culture and then seek suitable business partners through many different channels. The UK is currently a major importer of Vietnam, however, the Southeast Asian nation's market share in this potential market remains quite modest, accounting for only about 1% of the total import turnover of the European nation. According to the participants at the webinar, the UK market also poses many challenges to Vietnamese businesses, especially after the country leaves the EU. As a result, procedures regarding certificates, customs control over animals and plants, tax declaration and payment, will be subject to new British guidelines. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on December 15 visited the Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi and met the Vietnamese community in India. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (second from right) meets staff of the Vietnamese Embassy 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. Commentary: Washington, reckless seeker of digital hegemony Xinhua) 08:17, December 16, 2021 Photo taken on Nov. 19, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) 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. 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." Photo taken on Nov. 20, 2021 shows the venue of China 5G+ Industrial Internet Conference in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Photo by Wu Zhizun/Xinhua) 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. The logo of TikTok is seen on the screen of a smartphone in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, Aug. 30, 2020.(Xinhua/Liu Jie) 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: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) China moves to stabilize production, supply chains amid latest COVID outbreak Xinhua) 08:37, December 16, 2021 -- 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." (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Afghanistans humanitarian crisis requires US response (Global Times) 08:53, December 16, 2021 People receive relief assistance donated by a local philanthropist in Nahr Shahi district of Balkh province, Afghanistan, Nov. 21, 2021.(Photo:Xinhua) Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on Tuesday announced that the Taliban have resumed work with China on the Aynak Copper Mine project, the world's second-largest copper mine, according to Russian news agency Sputnik. While it remains unclear as to the details of the Aynak copper mine project, it is crystal clear that the Taliban have been looking forward to Chinese investment in helping with the reconstruction of the Afghan economy. To a certain extent, their willingness highlights the seriousness of the economic difficulties and humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country. Unfortunately, however, some Western media outlets often ignore the pressing humanitarian crisis and instead focus on demonizing China's efforts and accusing China of coveting for Afghanistan's vast mineral wealth under the disguise of wanting to help rebuild the country. And they don't bother to report that the Afghan people have endured decades of war and are facing the devastation of mass starvation amid an economic collapse aggravated by US sanctions. In fact, there is no denying that Afghanistan's mineral wealth will be vital for its post-war reconstruction, which could be a potential target for Chinese investment. And it is totally justified for Afghanistan and China to develop a bilateral relationship and carry out economic and trade cooperation in accordance with their own national interests. But it needs to be pointed out that China is more concerned about whether the Taliban can stabilize the domestic situation. Whether Afghanistan can achieve peaceful development is of great significance for its neighboring countries including China, Russia and India. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that China is ready to explore cooperation in the economic reconstruction area once the situation in Afghanistan is stabilized and security conditions are ripe. Resolving the current humanitarian crisis is one of the preconditions for ensuring stability in Afghanistan. The UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that the World Food Program found in a recent survey that nearly 98 percent of Afghan people suffered hunger, Sputnik reported. Also, on Tuesday, the United Nations Human Rights Council warned that a severe humanitarian catastrophe is jeopardizing the most fundamental human rights of Afghan people. Over the past months, China has been providing support to Afghanistan in terms of assisting local livelihood projects, like the drilling of wells, and donating supplies as part of the emergency humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country. But it should be noted that the US should take responsibility for the reconstruction and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan given the impact of the decades of war. If anything, the US should first stop aggravating the economic collapse in Afghanistan by lifting its sanctions on the country and returning the frozen funds that belong to the country, allowing the Taliban to use the money to buy much-needed supplies for Afghan people. This is a litmus test of whether the US really cares about human rights or whether it simply wants to achieve geopolitical goals of containing China and Russia. If the US continues all the sanction measures, it would be the most evident gesture of its hypocrisy when it comes to supporting human rights. There is also a need for countries in the region to explore ways to move beyond the US to either through UN coordination or through regional cooperation in aiding Afghanistan. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) U.S. Congress passes roughly 770-bln-USD defense spending bill for FY2022 Xinhua) 08:54, December 16, 2021 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. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) U.S. fatalities in tornadoes top 90 as scientists clarify their formation Xinhua) 08:57, December 16, 2021 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. 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 old, and over 100 people 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." Workers clear rubbles in Mayfield, Kentucky, the United States, on Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Angie Yu/Xinhua) 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. Workers repair the roof of a bank in Mayfield, Kentucky, the United States, on Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Angie Yu/Xinhua) 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. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) U.S. attempt to split world under guise of democracy doomed to failure 09:04, December 16, 2021 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily The so-called Summit for Democracy held by the U.S. in the name of democracy recently concluded amongst widespread criticism from the international community. It is generally believed that the Summit for Democracy reeked of hypocrisy and was more like a show put on by American politicians. The event has proven nothing but the fact that the U.S. itself is the biggest threat to democracy. The attempt of the U.S. to contain other countries and split the world by holding the Summit for Democracy was doomed to failure. Although the Cold War ended 30 years ago, the so-called Summit for Democracy of the U.S. was full of Cold War mentality. Based on its own standards, the U.S. labeled some countries and regions as democracies and the rest non-democracies, exposing its evil intention of pushing the world back into a bipolar system. Fortunately, the international community sees right through its ruse. The so-called Summit for Democracy runs counter to true democratic spirit from its framework to agenda, said an article published on the website of The News International, a Pakistani news outlet. The summit was political manipulation purely out of political purposes, said Don Pramudwinai, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), a famous think tank, wrote in an article published on Nov. 28 that the Summit for Democracy initiated by the U.S. attempts to turn the multicolor modern world into black and white divisions. The so-called Summit for Democracy was a tool used by the U.S. to interfere in other countries internal affairs and maintain hegemony, observed the media of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and many other countries in the Middle East. Trying to turn democracy into its own property, tool, and weapon, the U.S. has betrayed and trampled over the spirit and value of democracy. Whether a country is democratic or not should be decided by its own people, not by a handful of finger-pointing outsiders. There is no perfect democratic system in the world that suits all countries. The establishment of democratic systems and the advances of democracy in various countries have their own historical and national characteristics, as well as unique values. However, the U.S., which poses as an international judge of democracy, is attempting to monopolize the definition of democracy with its own criteria in total disregard of the enormous differences in the culture, history, and civilization of different countries. The act is, in fact, the complete opposite of democracy. The U.S. peddled American democracy through the Summit for Democracy but rejected truly democratic international cooperation, defying the principle of the sovereign equality of all nations enshrined in the UN Charter, pointed out Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. For a long time, the U.S. has willfully interfered in other countries internal affairs and launched wars against others to export democracy. However, instead of fostering democracy, its hegemonic acts have led to numerous humanitarian disasters in other countries. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development and other government agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations in the U.S., including the National Endowment for Democracy, the country has engaged in infiltrating and subverting other sovereign countries by inciting color revolutions. The U.S. has indiscriminately imposed unilateral sanctions against other countries on the pretext of promoting democracy, and launched military interventions in countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya, which have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, caused millions of injuries, and displaced tens of millions of people. As it caused countless tragedies in the name of democracy, the true purposes and actual harm of its exporting democracy have become increasingly prominent. A poll conducted among people in Arab countries, who have long suffered from Americas exporting democracy, suggests that 58 percent of the respondents have a negative attitude toward the foreign policy of the U.S., and 81 percent consider the U.S. a significant threat to the security of Arab countries. Democracy is the common value of all mankind. The U.S., however, has made use of democracy to serve its selfish interests. Such misdeeds have ripped off its mask of democracy defender and revealed the true features of the country as a democracy wrecker to all. If the U.S. really wants to defend democracy, it should, together with the rest of the world, promote peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom, which are shared values of humanity, stick to the basic norms governing international relations based on the UN Charter, push ahead with democracy and the rule of law in international relations, address global challenges and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Chinas South-to-North Water Diversion Project benefits 140 million people over past 7 years 09:06, December 16, 2021 By Wang Hao, Fan Haotian ( People's Daily As of Dec. 12, which marked the seventh anniversary of the comprehensive operation of the first phase of the eastern and middle routes of Chinas South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the project had transferred around 49.4 billion cubic meters of water from major rivers in southern China to the northern areas of the country and benefited 140 million people, suggested data released by Chinas Ministry of Water Resources (MWR). Photo taken on June 17, 2021 shows beautiful scenery of Hutuo River in Pingshan county, Shijiazhuang city, north Chinas Hebei province after ecological water replenishment. (Peoples Daily Online/ Cui Zhilin) The amount of water transferred by the project over the past seven years is almost equivalent to the average annual runoff of the Yellow River, said the MWR. After water pipes were laid and faucets installed, Shi Shurong, a resident in Xiaoshitang village, Suliuzhuang township, Xiajin county, Shandong province, has been able to get clean drinking water at his home. We now have sufficient water pressure and stable water flow. Finding safe drinking water is no longer a problem for us, said Shi. Thanks to the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, more and more people living along the routes of the project like Shi have bid farewell to the old days when they lacked access to clean drinking water. Before the mega water diversion project was put into operation, the per capita water resources of the basins of the Yellow River, Huaihe River, and Haihe River was only 462 cubic meters, which was one fifth of the national average. Water resources in China are distributed unevenly in terms of time and space, and the country has faced low per capita water resources, said Liu Changming, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and a researcher with the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research under the CAS, who believes that the water diversion project has struck a balance in water resources between the north and the south. Photo taken in Xingyang county, Zhengzhou city, central Chinas Henan province, shows a birds eye view of a tunnel project carrying water from the Yellow Rivers southern bank to its northern bank. The tunnel is an important part of the middle route of Chinas South-to-North Water Diversion Project, May 23, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/ He Wuchang) The project has been proven effective in alleviating water shortages in Chinas northern regions, with the water transferred through the project becoming major water source of more than 40 large and medium-sized cities in northern China. At present, more than 70 percent of the water supply in the urban area of Beijing is from the south part of China; water supply in the major urban districts of north Chinas Tianjin municipality almost relies entirely on the water diversion project; and Shandong province has established a T-shaped water network because of the project. So far, the water quality of the water diversion project has consistently reached required standards. All the water transferred via main lines of the first phase of the projects eastern route has met required water quality standards and maintained a surface water quality of above Grade , while the surface water quality of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, the source of water transferred via the middle route of the water diversion project, as well as the middle routes major lines has been maintained above Grade . The water diversion project has also helped with continuous ecological water replenishment, bringing many dry river courses back to life. Baiyangdian of north Chinas Hebei province, which is dubbed the Pearl of North China, used to be long troubled by inadequate water quantity and poor water quality. Since 2018, the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project has continued to divert water to Baiyangdian for ecological restoration, which, in combination with water transferred from the Yellow River and local reservoirs, increased the water area of Baiyangdian from 171 square kilometers to 275 square kilometers. Since its operation, the first phase of the middle route has provided more than seven billion cubic meters of water for over 50 rivers in the north, comprehensively helping restore the ecological environment of rivers and lakes, said Cheng Dehu, member of the leading Party members group of the construction and administration bureau of the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, China South-to-North Water Diversion Corporation Ltd. Ecological environment of rivers and lakes along the middle route of the water diversion project has been effectively improved because of water transferred through the route, which has yielded notable ecological benefits, said Cheng, who is also the chief engineer of the bureau. Groundwater levels in northern China have gradually recovered thanks to the project. In 2020, the overall level of shallow groundwater in north China rose 0.23 meters from the previous year, the first rise after years of decline. In addition, groundwater levels in Beijings plain areas have risen for six consecutive years. By the end of 2020, the overall level of shallow groundwater in Beijing rose 2.37 meters from the level at the end of 2014. Danjiangkou Reservoir, the starting point of the middle route of Chinas South-to-North Water Diversion Project, releases floodwater, July 29, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/ Chen Huaping) Water transferred from southern China has also played an important role in improving the navigation conditions of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. So far, the section of the canal south of the Yellow River, stretching over a large area from Dongping Lake in Shandong province to the Yangtze River, has been opened to navigation, allowing ships with a load capacity between 1,000 tons and 2,000 tons to sail and increasing the handling capacity of ports along the canal by 13.5 million tons. The water diversion project has also boosted the economic growth of main grain producing areas, energy bases, and major cities and townships along its routes. Given that the water use per 10,000 yuan ($1,571) of GDP stood at 70.4 cubic meters on average between 2016 and 2019, 49.4 billion cubic meters of water transferred from southern China has effectively underpinned an increase of seven trillion yuan in GDP of the countrys drought-prone northern regions. The South-to-North Water Diversion Project has realized connectivity and mutual complementarity between the Yangtze River with a tremendous amount of water and the water-scarce basins of the Yellow River, Huaihe River, and Haihe River, improved the comprehensive utilization of Chinas water resources, and optimized the countrys structure of social and economic development, said an executive of China South-to-North Water Diversion Corporation Ltd. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand mark 10 years of joint Mekong River patrols 09:10, December 16, 2021 By Sun Guangyong ( People's Daily A video conference was recently held in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province to summarize the experiences of the China-Laos-Myanmar-Tai joint Mekong River patrol and law enforcement mechanism achieved in the past 10 years. Representatives from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand participate in the launching ceremony of the joint Mekong River patrol and law enforcement mechanism among the four countries, Dec. 10, 2011. (People's Daily Online/ Wang Xiaoxue) The four sides all agreed to deepen cooperation and mutual trust, enhance friendly exchanges at all levels, show support on issues concerning each other's core interests, and improve their cooperation mechanisms, so as to advance the building of a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future. The four countries carried out their first joint patrol on Dec. 10, 2011, which marked the official initiation of the law enforcement cooperation on the Mekong River, also known as Lancang River in China. Over the past ten years, the four sides, upholding a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, have consolidated and deepened the joint Mekong River patrol and law enforcement cooperation, and made innovations in and expanded service models and cooperation fields. They have developed a law enforcement cooperation mode that is more inclusive, a multilateral mechanism that is more effective, and regional cooperation that is more active. The 78th Mekong River joint patrol led by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand starts on Jan. 28 2019. It is the first joint Mekong River patrol launched in 2019. (People's Daily/Li Faxing) On the section of the Mekong River in northern Thailand, commercial vessels are sailing orderly today after 10 years of the law enforcement cooperation, composing a harmonious picture with the chimney smoke curling up from the residential houses on the two banks of the river. Vessels would always sound their horns to greet each other when they meet. "We sailing on the river are like families, as we all call the Mekong River home," said a Laotian captain Somphong. What Somphong feels is felt by many. Sailors from various countries have expressed their gratitude to the joint patrol and law enforcement mechanism, saying it has brought back both vitality and security to the river. Over the past 10 years, law enforcement departments from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have carried out over 180 joint missions, clamped down on 36,173 drug-related crimes, seized 136.93 metric tons of drugs, and cracked down upon 66 human trafficking cases. Meanwhile, they also offered huge assistance for the people along the Mekong River. They have rescued 130 commercial vessels and 536 crew members, and escorted thousands of commercial vessels, recovering losses of nearly 200 million yuan ($31.42 million). At present, police vessels from the four countries are patrolling on the Mekong River 25 days each month on average. Police visibility stands at over 80 percent on ordinary days and may hit 100 percent on important dates. The cargo volume handled by ports along the river increased fourfold from ten years ago, and the number of tourists has been on a 20-percent rise each year. The joint patrols have brought a sense of security to the people along the river and the commercial vessels passing through it, making the river prosperous again. An official Phichai works at the port management bureau of Chiang Saen, Thailand told People's Daily that the Thai government has built a new port in the district where cargos are no longer shipped in bulk, but in containers. The 78th Mekong River joint patrol led by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand starts on Jan. 28 2019. It is the first joint Mekong River patrol launched in 2019. (People's Daily/ Li Faxing) "The increased investment from the government and ship owners came from their confidence in the security on the Mekong River. The shipping business on the river will definitely become more and more prosperous," the official explained. The water police station of Wan Pong, Myanmar undertakes the joint patrol missions on the Mekong River. The head of the water police station Yewinoo said the river has witnessed an obvious traffic increase since the joint patrol mechanism was initiated. "The livelihood and economy in the regions along the river have greatly improved," he said. The four countries have enhanced communication and coordination in intelligence through joint patrol and law enforcement cooperation, which has resulted in fruitful outcomes in the combat against drug dealing, smuggling, and illegal immigration, said Wichai Chaimongkhon, Secretary-General of Thailand's Narcotics Control Board. Relevant cooperation mechanisms among the countries along the Mekong River are becoming more and more diversified and effective, he added. The joint patrols have become a force of justice that safeguards the stability and security along the Mekong River, and set an example of successful law enforcement cooperation among different countries, said Siphan Phutthavong, head of the border guard department of the General Staff of the Lao Peoples Army. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) China, ASEAN to share new opportunities with RCEP in effect: experts Xinhua) 09:15, December 16, 2021 Aerial photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows a view of the container wharf of Qinzhou Port, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) NANNING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Experts in attendance at a think tank forum called on China and ASEAN to strengthen cooperation to better make use of the opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. The 13th China-ASEAN Think Tank Strategic Dialogue Forum was held on Wednesday in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with over 200 government officials, experts and scholars from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) taking part both online and offline. Under the theme of new opportunities and a new future for China-ASEAN cooperation under the background of the RCEP, experts shared opinions and offered advice regarding China's "dual circulation" development paradigm, bilateral cooperation in the post-pandemic era, cooperation on the green economy and sustainable development, and deepening cooperation on the digital economy. Experts believe that implementing the RCEP and building an open cooperation system under the challenges brought by the changing international environment and the COVID-19 pandemic are the common interests of China and ASEAN member states. Gao Peiyong, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, called on think tanks from China and ASEAN to pay more attention to the long-term strategic issues of regional development, explore new ideas, paradigms and paths of globalization, and provide more suggestions regarding multilateralism and free trade. Zhang Yantong, vice chairman of the Counsellors' Office of the State Council, said via video link that the two sides should seize the opportunity to make full use of the RCEP rules so as to smoothen circulation between China and ASEAN, bring more benefits to enterprises and people, and jointly create a successful example of regional cooperation. Dang Xuan Thanh, vice president of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said via video link that ASEAN and China share common development goals and face common challenges like climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, thus the two sides need closer ties to ensure the stability of supply and production chains to adapt to changes in the regional and international environments. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Foreigners' short videos capture beauty of rural China Xinhua) 09:42, December 16, 2021 Tourists view the scenery of Erhai Lake in Gusheng Village in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Chen Xinbo/Xinhua) BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 foreigners were on Wednesday awarded for their short videos demonstrating the landscape, culture and people's lives in rural China. Nearly 400 Chinese and foreign guests attended the online awards ceremony and seminar for the global short video contest, with the main venue in Beijing and 32 branch venues across the country. Through their lenses and the internet, the contestants vividly showed the international community -- especially the viewers of their own countries -- the beauty of the livable environment, traditional culture, green ecology, industrial prosperity and people's happy lives in the Chinese countryside, Lin Songtian, head of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said at the ceremony. Organized by the association, the event "China in My Eyes -- Beautiful Countryside" was held from June to September this year. Foreign participants from over 40 countries submitted more than 360 short videos for the competition, drawing nearly 80 million views online. Among the videos, 40 won prizes of different levels. "The contest aims to encourage our foreign friends in China to approach the Chinese countryside and people's lives, objectively demonstrating to the world the colorful and vibrant, beautiful rural China through videos and self-media, to enhance the understanding and friendship between Chinese and foreign people," Lin said. Aleksei Andreev, who teaches at Hainan University in south China's Hainan Province, was born in a small village in northern Russia. Having visited many villages in China, he has found that the biggest difference between the villages and his hometown is the diversity of the Chinese culture. "Each place, small town and village has its own unique culture, local food, traditions they pass throughout the generations. Many villages even have their own set of rules, sort of written law for their village. And that is truly fascinating," he said during an online seminar held following the awards ceremony. "That is something to keep in mind and something to be proud of." His short video showing Liuke Village in Hainan, with its unique cultural and historical characteristics, won first prize. Photo taken on March 19, 2019 shows a local residence in Liuke Village in Bo'ao Town, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) U.S. native Brian Linden shot his video in Xizhou, an ancient town in the city of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, which he called "home." The beautiful landscape, traditional architecture and local craftsmanship of the Bai ethnic group were recorded in his video. "Here in Dali, people will slow down their pace, reconsider the relationship between nature and humans presented by the farming society, and think about a new lifestyle," he said in fluent Chinese. Linden now runs a homestay establishment there, and has helped restore a traditional local residence. "I am shocked and proud of China's 5,000 years of traditional culture, and I would sincerely hope more foreigners to know more about the Chinese culture, the Chinese land and the Chinese people," he said. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Xi, Putin to meet in Beijing in February Xinhua) 10:04, December 16, 2021 The Olympic flame (R) and the torch for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are on display on the Flame Exhibition Tour at Shougang Park in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that he expects to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Beijing in over a month's time. At a virtual meeting held on Wednesday, Putin said he looks forward to his upcoming visit to China and attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Xi underscored President Putin's visit to China and attendance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics in over a month's time as a concrete action to support China's work as the host. It will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders in nearly two years, he said. Xi said he expects to have in-depth exchanges with Putin on bilateral relations, major international and regional issues and he believes that the two will reach more common understandings of importance. Xi said he very much looks forward to this "get-together for the Winter Olympics" and stands ready to work with Putin "for a shared future" to jointly open a new chapter in post-COVID China-Russia relations. Stressing that Russia has consistently opposed politicizing sports, Putin said that he would like to exchange ideas with Xi on major issues of common concern to maintain the development of Russia-China relations at a high level. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Well-off life in China's ancient villages Xinhua) 10:12, December 16, 2021 TAIYUAN, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- In north China's Shanxi Province, there lies a number of ancient villages boasting histories of over 1,000 years. As China completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, villages are glowing with new vitality. Boat trackers in Niangniangtan Village were once a symbol of poverty along the Yellow River, the second-longest river in China. And Niangniangtan Village is the only inhabited island along the river. Li Sihan, 71, was among the boat trackers of the village. When he was young, he used to transport sulfur from northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on the other side of the river and made less than 300 yuan (about 47.1 U.S. dollars) a year. Nowadays, the last generation of Yellow River boat trackers have bid farewell to poverty and lived a well-off life in a new village not far away. Before 2017, there were 21 impoverished households in Niangniangtan Village, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the population. Thanks to China's poverty alleviation policy, Li and his fellow villagers have shaken off poverty. Li and his wife are now benefiting from subsistence allowances, endowment insurance and income from the village's photovoltaic power generation, which adds up to over 10,000 yuan a year. Also, the tourism development of Niangniangtan Village has been included in the "14th Five-Year Plan" of Hequ County, where the village was located, and a tourist highway by the village along the Yellow River will soon be completed and open to traffic. In Shenxi Village, Datong City, the precious cultural heritage and good ecological condition have become a strong driving force to consolidate the road to a well-off society. With an over 1,500-year-old temple and an over 300-hectare wetland park, the village attracts tourists across the country every year. In the past four years, the local government has invested more than 10 million yuan to revitalize this 1,000-year-old village. Zhao Ling, 38, was a housewife whose family of four depended on her husband's income from transporting coal. Since more tourists travel to the village, she decided to start a business by making bean jelly, a famous local snack, three years ago. During the tourist rush seasons, she is able to earn extra 30,000 yuan in three months. This popular appetizer is helping more villagers earn money. The per capita annual net income of the village reached 10,200 yuan last year, village official Yang Xiaoyuan said. Niangziguan Village, a famous tourist attraction beneath the Great Wall, which has achieved a well-off life three years ago, is now focusing more on green development and common prosperity, said village official Yang Wenbao. In 2018, the tourism income of the village exceeded 20 million yuan, with more than 500 villagers participating in tourism development. The village's per capita annual net income is about 18,000 yuan, according to Yang. Tourism also attracts young people to return home to start businesses. Shuai Zhongcheng, a truck driver, quit his coal-transport job four years ago and returned to his hometown to start a guesthouse business. Before the COVID-19 epidemic, his annual income reached more than 200,000 yuan. "We will continue to expand tourism, help more villagers find jobs at their hometown, and solidly promote common prosperity," Yang said. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Kyrgyzstan receives another batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China Xinhua) 10:13, December 16, 2021 BISHKEK, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan received another batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China on Tuesday, according to the Chinese Embassy in Bishkek. The handover ceremony of the Sinopharm vaccine took place at Manas International Airport and was attended by Chinese Ambassador Du Dewen and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Edil Baisalov, the embassy said in a statement. In his speech, Baisalov, on behalf of the government, thanked the Chinese government for the assistance, stressing that since the beginning of the pandemic, China has been providing assistance to Kyrgyzstan and has made great contributions to the country's anti-pandemic fight. Baisalov spoke highly of China's successful experience in fighting the pandemic, as well as the Chinese people's united and heroic fight against the virus. He is ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China to jointly fight the pandemic. In her speech, Du pointed out "China was the first country to provide anti-pandemic assistance to Kyrgyzstan. The traditional friendship between China and Kyrgyzstan has been constantly strengthening in anti-pandemic cooperation." She hoped that China's aid to Kyrgyzstan will play a positive role in advancing Kyrgyzstan's vaccination campaign and protect people's lives. Kyrgyzstan launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on March 29 after the arrival of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines. As of Tuesday, a total of 1,165,204 people in Kyrgyzstan have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines, while 947,399 of whom have received both shots, according to the Ministry of Health. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Chinese mainland reports 69 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases Xinhua) 10:14, December 16, 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. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 69 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Thursday. Of the new local cases, 56 were reported in Zhejiang, six in Guangdong, four in Shaanxi, two in Inner Mongolia and one in Anhui, the commission said. Also reported were eight new imported cases in five provincial-level regions, according to the commission. No new suspected cases or new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday, it added. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland had reached 100,000 by Wednesday, including 1,506 patients still receiving treatment, of whom 14 were in severe condition. A total of 93,858 patients had been discharged from hospitals on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus. A total of 20 asymptomatic cases were newly reported Wednesday, of whom 19 were from outside the mainland. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Democracy ends when Americans' work hours begin: NYT Xinhua) 13:32, December 16, 2021 People walk through the Times Square in New York, the United States, Dec. 14, 2021.(Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) "For a vast majority of Americans, democracy ends when work hours begin," said The New York Times in an opinion, adding that the bosses and managers who wield that authority can force workers into deadly environments and life-threatening situations, or force them to remain in them. WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Most people in the United States, as workers, are subject to the nearly unmediated authority of their employers, which can discipline, sanction or fire them for nearly any reason at all, said The New York Times in an opinion. Americans are at the mercy of what the philosopher Elizabeth Anderson calls "private government," a workplace despotism in which most workers "cede all of their rights to their employers, except those specifically guaranteed to them by law, for the duration of the employment relationship," the article published on Tuesday said. "For a vast majority of Americans, democracy ends when work hours begin," it noted, adding that the bosses and managers who wield that authority can force workers into deadly environments and life-threatening situations, or force them to remain in them. People select fish products at a grocery store in New York, the United States, Nov. 14, 2021.(Xinhua/Wang Ying) That is what appears to have happened on Friday at the Mayfield Consumer Products factory in Kentucky, which makes scented candles. There, more than 100 people were on the night shift, working even after tornado sirens sounded outside the facility. It was reported that as many as 15 workers beseeched managers to let them take shelter at their own homes, only to have their requests rebuffed. The tornado claimed at least eight workers' lives that night. These disasters cannot be separated from the overall political economy of the United States, which is arguably more anti-labor now than it has been at any point since Franklin Roosevelt signed the Wagner Act in 1935, the Times said. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) China urges US to stop sending military vessels, aircraft to South China sea, stirring up trouble (People's Daily App) 14:20, December 16, 2021 "The US keeps calling itself a defender of international law, then please execute the judgement and advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and the resolution of the UN General Assembly first," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a press briefing on Wednesday. Click the video to know more. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Whole-process peoples democracy is a high quality democracy 14:46, December 16, 2021 By Wang Xining ( People's Daily Online On December 15, 2021, Wang Xining, Charge d'Affaires of the People's Republic of China to the Commonwealth of Australia, published a signed article with The Canberra Times entitled "Why China's 'people's democracy' is a high-quality democracy." The full text is as follows: While the U.S. is dragging some of its so-called "values allies" to hold the Summit for Democracy, the world is increasingly troubled by questions such as "what is democracy and who has the right to define it "? Democracy, ultimately, is whether the people can truly be the masters of their own country. The whole process of people's democracy created by the Communist Party of China (CPC) has secured extraordinary historical achievements on behalf of its people. This year marks the 100th birthday of the CPC. Over the past century, the Party has led the people in realizing peoples democracy in China. The Chinese people now are truly the masters of their country, their society and their own destiny. Long before Chinas victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Mao Zedong said that China had found a new path when he was confronted with the question of whether China could break out of the law of historical cycle. This new road is democracy. From the bean election (people voted for their ideal candidates by casting beans as ballots) in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region to the voting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, from the establishment of the three-three system principle during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression to that of a socialist state system, after more than 70 years of arduous exploration, China has formed a complete set of socialist democratic political systems that are appropriate and effective for itself. Especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the Party Central Committee has put forward the major concept of whole-process people's democracy and vigorously promoted it, further transforming the relevant democratic values into effective institutional arrangements as well as concrete and realistic democratic practices. Whole-process peoples democracy includes democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight. It integrates process-oriented democracy with results-oriented democracy, procedural democracy with substantive democracy, direct democracy with indirect democracy, and peoples democracy with the will of the state. It is a model of socialist democracy that covers all aspects of the democratic process and all sectors of society. It is true and high quality democracy that works. But what happens in some western countries are quite on the contrary. If the people are awakened only to cast a vote but become dormant afterwards, that is no true democracy. If the people are offered great hopes during electoral campaigning but have no say afterwards, that is no true democracy. If the people are offered fulsome promises during electoral canvassing but are left empty-handed afterwards, that is no true democracy. Take an example of the community-level election in China. According to the Constitution, all citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote and to be elected, except for those who are deprived of their political rights in accordance with law. Currently, China is conducting general elections for the people's congresses at the township and county levels, with more than 1 billion voters participating in the elections. These elections at the grassroots level are the most extensive and vivid practices of whole-process people's democracy, and also the largest elections in the world. Since the reform and opening up, China has conducted 12 direct elections to peoples congresses at the township level and 11 direct elections at the county level. The voter participation rate has remained as high as around 90%. In addition, all these elections are funded by the state treasury, which effectively ensures that money cannot get its hands on the elections. Transparent decision-making by the government is widely practiced in China. Governments at all levels hear the opinions and suggestions of all sectors of society on major decisions, especially those directly concerned, at all stages including the initiation of decision-making, research and development, public announcement of draft decisions, finalization of decisions, and post-assessment. It ensures that the people's wishes and voices can be translated into major decisions by the Party and the government. During the drafting stage of the 14th Five-Year Plan, General Secretary Xi Jinping chaired a number of seminars with representatives and experts in various fields, to hear their opinions and suggestions. More than 1,000 suggestions were collated from a pool of some one million online messages. The drafting group analyzed them item by item, took them all into consideration, and accepted all pertinent suggestions. Democracy is not a one-size-fits-all product that has only one model or configuration for the whole world. Whether a country is democratic or not should only be judged by its own people. According to a research report titled Understanding CCP Resilience: Surveying Chinese Public Opinion Through Time released by Harvard University, the Chinese government enjoys the highest rate of satisfaction in the past two decades, and the Chinese peoples overall satisfaction towards the Central Government exceeds 93%. This is the truest reflection of the strong vitality of Chinese democracy. There is no best democracy, only better. China never exports a democratic model. We believe that every country has the right to choose a democratic system that suits its own national conditions. History has repeatedly proved that it is not feasible for China to copy the political systems of other countries, since those systems are not suited to our national conditions. Any attempt like this would at best lead to poor imitation, and might even ruin the countrys future. The most reliable and effective systems for a country are always the ones that take root in and draw abundant nutrients from their own soil. In the meantime, we should adopt an attitude of inclusiveness, learn from the strengths of others, digest and absorb them in the light of Chinas national conditions, so that we can turn them into our own strength, better ensuring that the Chinese people are the true masters of the country. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Hongyu) Paratroopers descend to drop zone China Military Online) 15:27, December 16, 2021 Soldiers assigned to an army aviation brigade under the PLA 72nd Group Army queue to board a Mi-171 transport helicopter for a parachute training exercise on November 27, 2021. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Huanpeng) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) China to expand public-benefit preschool education ) 15:42, December 16, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- China will expand children's access to public-interest preschool education, according to an action plan to boost preschool education before the year 2025. The gross preschool enrollment rate will be over 90 percent by 2025, according to the action plan released by the Ministry of Education, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments. The coverage rate of government-funded kindergartens will exceed 85 percent by 2025, and the proportion of children in public kindergartens will hit 50 percent, the plan said. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Xi's high expectations for closer, stronger China-Russia partnership Xinhua) 15:43, December 16, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday afternoon met with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link -- their second virtual meeting this year and their 37th meeting since 2013. Xi attaches great significance to China-Russia practical cooperation and the development of the two countries' relations. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has become even closer, stronger and more mature. On various occasions in 2021, Xi stressed the importance of China-Russia cooperation in various fields, and called on the two sides to make more efforts in pushing for a continuous and high-quality development of bilateral ties. Dec. 15 During the virtual meeting, Xi said the two countries should strengthen their joint pandemic response, in areas such as COVID-19 testing as well as vaccine and drug R&D. The two sides need to build on their traditional energy cooperation, pursue more cooperation in new energy, advance the cooperation package in nuclear energy, and explore new cooperation areas such as renewable energy, he added. Xi said China will enhance communication and coordination with Russia to encourage the international community to take the right view on democracy and defend the legitimate democratic rights of all countries. Dec. 1 Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), sent a congratulatory message to the United Russia party on the 20th anniversary of its founding. In the message, Xi said the CPC cherishes its friendship with the United Russia party, and hopes that the two parties will continue to strengthen institutionalized exchanges and cooperation, and contribute wisdom and strength to lifting China-Russia relations in the new era to higher levels and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Nov. 29 Xi and Putin respectively sent congratulatory letters to the third China-Russia Energy Business Forum. In his letter, Xi said the remarkable achievements in bilateral energy cooperation have demonstrated the broad potential of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. China, he said, is ready to work with Russia to forge a closer partnership for energy cooperation, and jointly safeguard energy security and tackle the challenge of global climate change. Nov. 26 Xi and Putin sent congratulatory letters to the closing ceremony of the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation. In his letter, Xi said it has been proved that China-Russia cooperation in scientific and technological innovation has great potential and a broad prospect. He called on the two sides to uphold the concept of enduring friendship and win-win cooperation, and push forward cooperation in various fields in a practical manner. Aug. 25 Xi held a phone conversation with Putin, in which Xi said as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia should deepen cooperation against interference and firmly hold their respective national future in their own hands. He said that China firmly supports Russia in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions, and firmly supports Russia's measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and security. June 28 During talks between the two heads of state via video link, Xi and Putin issued a joint statement, officially deciding to extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. In their talks, Xi referred to the current China-Russia ties as "mature, stable and solid" and able to "withstand the test of any change in the international situation." He called on the two sides to comprehensively summarize their experience of past successes and create top-level designs for new objectives and tasks in various fields to inject new meaning into the treaty. "Under the guidance of the treaty, the two countries will continue to make concerted efforts and firmly move forward despite the difficulties and obstacles ahead," Xi added. May 19 Xi and Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project --Tianwan nuclear power plant and Xudapu nuclear power plant -- via video link. Xi stressed that energy cooperation has always been the most important area of practical cooperation which generates the largest achievement and covers the widest scope between the two countries. Xi put forward a three-point proposal at the ceremony. He called on both sides to adhere to the principle of safety first and set a model for global nuclear energy cooperation, suggested the two countries deepen scientific and technological cooperation on nuclear energy by sticking to the driving force of innovation, and called for adherence to strategic collaboration to promote the coordinated development of the governance system of the global energy industry. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) My Favorite Quotes Recent Quotes Portfolio Summary Your most recently viewed tickers will automatically show up here if you type a ticker in the Get Quotes box on the top of the page. The municipal government of Hefei will hand out vouchers worth 40 million yuan ($6.28 million) to encourage spending. People living in or coming to the city in east China's Anhui province will be entitled to the vouchers. They will be used for offline payments in restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets and car shops. Starting at 10:00 am on Friday, people in Hefei will be able to apply for the vouchers on cellphone apps including UnionPay, Wechat and Meituan. As the COVID-19 epidemic wanes in China, a number of local governments have started to offer vouchers to unleash consumption potential. Economic vitality found in ancient Huizhou-style architecture Thousands of timber planks, stones and bricks are being reassembled into a house with black tiles, high walls shaped like horse heads and refined wood and stone carvings. But this is no game with Lego bricks. It is the construction of a house built in the ancient Huizhou style in Huangshan, Anhui province. While renovation of ancient houses has been happening for years and continues, the construction of new houses in ancient styles has also become important, using old, reclaimed building materials as well as new components. Both trends are growing, leading to an architectural revival. Huangshan, in the historical Huizhou region, inspired this important branch of Chinese architecture. Many of these ancient buildings, with detailed carvings and decorations at first not apparent from their often simple exteriors, are considered to be of great cultural and economic value. Pan Guodong, builder of the house mentioned above and head of Huangshan Huijiang Ancient Architecture Design Co Ltd, said this masterpiece residence has already been sold for an astonishing price of over 50 million yuan ($7.9 million). "The construction of Huizhou-style houses has become a sound industry with complete upstream and downstream industry chains here in Huangshan. Rising local companies produce pseudo-classic Huizhou-style houses and sell them for commercial uses," Pan said. "Many companies also ask experienced craftsmen to repair some components taken from abandoned Huizhou-style buildings that were torn down to use in new, modern houses, or to rebuild old Huizhou-style houses," he said. Like Pan's business, the city is injecting new life into the use of the centuries-old style through supporting development of the Huizhou-style architecture industry. The city government calls the sector one of its 14 strategically important industries over the next three to five years. "Huizhou-style architecture is like a three-dimensional historical book written with brick, wood and stone. They are not only historical and cultural relics, but also treasures that can generate huge economic value," said Ling Yun, Party secretary of Huangshan. Ling said potential business models include the restoration of ancient cultural relics and buildings, the integration of tourism with architecture and the revitalization of old villages through the protection and renewed utilization of their architecture. "As the country's economic and international influence continues to expand, more people from home and abroad are embracing Huizhou-style architecture, thus opening a significant market for the industry," she said. Last year, the sales revenue of the city's ancient-style architecture industry amounted to more than 1.2 billion yuan. More than 200 local companies are participating in the construction of Huizhou-style buildings and related industry chains. In 2016, Su Tong, a business woman native to Huangshan, opened a bed and breakfast lodge using seven old houses in Chengkan, a village in Huangshan famous for its well-preserved houses from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). When Su first saw what she called her "dream property", she remembered it as gloomy and forlorn, with decayed wood that had been partly consumed by termites. "These houses were built by successful business owners called Huizhou merchants who accounted for almost half of China's wealth between the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)," she said. "Huizhou culture shouldn't disappear with the passage of time." She spent millions of yuan restoring the seven run-down houses. Two years of reconstruction and interior work finally turned them into a cozy, elegant hotel. The 16 rooms in the renovated structures, which go for an average price of 1,500 yuan a night, are all booked on weekends. The hotel has become so popular that tourists have to make reservations two months in advance to get a room in peak seasons. 1 2 MOSCOW, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continues to provide military assistance to Ukraine, which only escalates the internal conflict in the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. "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 United States has provided 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in military aid to Ukraine since 2014, including more than 400 million dollars this year alone. Russia does not trust the NATO's promise of not expanding eastwards as the words are not backed by actions, Zakharova said. 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, U.S. 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 U.S. positions with its European allies and partners. By Li Haidong Recently, the knives are out for both the US and Russia around the Ukraine issue. The root cause why the dispute between the US and Russia is hard to solve on the Ukraine issue is that there is no reasonable position or space in the US-led European security architecture matching up to Russia's strength and status. Whether Europe can achieve unity, integrity and lasting peace, lies in whether NATOs further eastward expansion could cease, and whether Ukraine can stay permanently neutral. As for Russia, NATO posesa most serious threat to its security. NATOs continuous expansion has impaired its status, and might eventually deprive Russia of its European identity. In this case, its the most important security interest for Russia to prevent NATO from continuing its eastward expansion as can be seen. Currently, a feasible solution to ensure lasting security in Europe might be that Ukraine remains permanently neutral, instead of joining NATO. This is a prerequisite key for Ukraine to maintain its territorial and sovereign integrity to the maximum, and also the only reasonable solution to resolve the deep conflict between Russia and the United States. Roughly in view of this, Russia signed the 2015 Minsk deal. However, observing the evolution of NATO in the past 30 years, we are clear that there is absolutely no possibility for NATO to change the established policy of "opening the door" to all states who would like to join in. This means that absorbing more countries like Ukraine and Georgia into NATO is its constant goal. The US and NATO will not accept a "neutralized Ukraine". In addition, the current Ukrainian policy makers have adopted a policy of being overwhelmingly in favor of the West rather than keep neutral, which will lead to Russia, which is in a desperate way to return to Europe, can but do its best to try to win Ukraine as competing with NATO. The Ukrainian crisis is a major structural issue involving the direction of European security construction, and neither the US nor Russia can afford to lose in this competition. To a large extent, the deceptiveness of the US' diplomacy to Russia and its short-sightedness in constructing European security have led to the current lack of mutual trust between the US and Russia, as well as the extreme chaos in Europe. In the 1990s, Russia has chosen to support the West in a self-defeating manner. In 1990, Secretary of State James Baker of the Bush administration orally promised Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet leader, that NATO would stop expanding after the reunification of Germany. While NATO started eastward expansion for the first time since the US launched the Cold War. Gorbachev, who was still active then, reminded the US of the promise it had made, but the Clinton administration refuted it on the grounds that it was a verbal decision made by its predecessor, invalid. In the mid-1990s, US President Bill Clinton indirectly made a verbal promise to the then Russian leader Boris Yeltsin that NATO would not cross the redline of absorbing the Baltic states, in exchange for the Russian side to sign the NATO-Russia Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security to show its understanding of NATOs eastward expansion at that time. However, the Bush administration in succession sneered at this promise and completed two rounds of eastward expansion, including the absorption of Baltic States. In the eyes of Russia, verbal commitment diplomacy is synonymous with fraud and hypocrisy for the US which has been used to play tricks on Russia. This is precisely the key reason why currently Russia insists that the US/NATO must sign a legally binding protocol with Russia on the neutrality of Ukraine and the non-deployment of offensive weapons in Ukraine. Just as important, after the Cold War, the US has completely ignored the Great Powers Coordination, a major principle for ensuring Europes lasting security. The adsorption of 14 small and medium-sized countries into NATO through five rounds of extended expansion following inciting crises in the periphery of Europe and creating Russophobia in Central and Eastern European countries, has led to a long-lasting confrontation between Russia and European countries, and between the US and Russia, as well as a great split in Europe. In general, the Ukrainian crisis is a fundamental issue concerning where European security will head. The US, which is used to create crises or enemies to highlight its global primacy, will not stop the process of eastward expansion, and there is no way out for Russia except for fighting back relentlessly. This may herald a new Cold War pattern in Europe, as well as long-term turmoil and eventual division in Ukraine. (The author is a professor at the Institute of International Relations, China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU)) Editors note: This article is originally published on huanqiu.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. The Chinese peacekeepers conduct soil loading operations to the air defense bunker. GAO, Mali, Dec. 16 -- Recently, the Menaka detachment of the 9th Chinese peacekeeping engineering contingent to Mali completed the construction of air defense bunker in the Togolese police camp as assigned by the Sector East of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). This is the first mission of the detachment since its deployment. The project has been completed with high standards. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Chinese peacekeepers for their contributions to maintaining peace in Mali, said the director of MINUSMAs engineering office in Menaka. The 9th Chinese peacekeeping force to Mali is composed of 413 members from the PLA 80th Group Army, grouped into a 210-personnel security contingent, a 140-personnel engineering contingent and a 63-personnel medical contingent. The Chinese peacekeepers conduct soil loading operations to the air defense bunker. Within half a month, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has twice made irresponsible remarks on the Taiwan question, sparing no efforts in interfering in Chinas internal affairs and fanning up the enmity toward China in Japan and the international community. After claiming at the beginning of this month that a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-US alliance, he was full of hot air again when speaking at a recent forum. Abe, who resigned because of physical conditions last year, was quite cautious in the last days of his office, but seemed to have given free rein to himself now that he is no longer in power. His constant attempts to draw public attention to the Taiwan question are essentially driven by his right-wing adventurism. Abes grandfather Kishi Nobusuke was a staunch anti-communist Taiwan supporter, and Abe, deeply influenced by Kishis political position, wrote in his book that his political DNA was from his grandfather. During his second term, Abe broke through many forbidden zones and redlines in Japanese politics by manipulating public opinions, revising laws, and taking deliberate actions. For instance, he chose to visit the Yasukuni Shrine at the one-year anniversary of his taking office; he officially amended the pacifist Constitution and lifted the ban on the right to collective self-defense on the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). Abe shocked the international community by saying there was no conclusion on the war of aggression, a shameless attempt to whitewash Japans aggression during WWII by confusing the right and wrong. He paid tribute to Japanese aggressors dying during WWII in Iwo Jima and Myanmar, even getting on the warplane numbered 731 without feeling qualms at all. No wonder the Wall Street Journal once called Abe the most dangerous man in Asia. Although he has stepped down from the throne, Abe remains a Liberal Democratic Party(LDP) member and was recently elected head of the largest LDP faction. His constant provocations on the Taiwan question lately are partly a result of his right-wing nature and partly a stunt to rake in more political capital at home, including a greater discourse power and influence. Ryuji Ishida, a researcher at the International Peace Research Institute of Meiji Gakuin University, pointed out that Abes abhorrent statements recently clearly reflected his obsession with realizing what his grandfather Kishi Nobusuke, a Class-A war criminal of WWII, didnt. Professor Zhao Hongwei at Hosei University said all right-wingers in Tokyo have an illusion about Taiwan because the island was its first colony, and it was colonies that made Japan as strong an empire as the other colonists. Thats why the Japanese right-wingers are still indulged in the past glory and dreaming of reviving the Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere. Whether its the inner voice or just political rhetoric, Abe is miscalculating if he plans on stirring up trouble on the Taiwan question. Having waged the aggressive war against China and committed appalling atrocities on the Chinese people, Japan has no qualification or right to point fingers at the Taiwan question. Abes extremely wrong remarks on this topic have seriously violated the basic norms governing international relations and the principles of the four China-Japan political documents. The Japanese government is duty-bound to keep the anti-China politicians from running amuck. A warning to Abe is that todays China is no longer what it was when Kishi Nobusuke was still around. The Chinese government and Chinese people have adamant resolve and will to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and reunification. The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair. It has nothing to do with either Japan the country or Abe the person. Here is another warning for Abe and his like those who play with fire will get burned. Stay clear from the Taiwan question and you will be all right; dare to meddle and you will be served right. CAIRO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Thursday discussed in Cairo with the visiting International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi the nuclear issues in Iran and Israel, according to the AL's statement. Aboul-Gheit called on Israel to "join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to put all its nuclear activities and facilities under the IAEA's supervision." The meeting also tackled the Iranian nuclear talk's latest developments. Aboul-Gheit highlighted that the concerns of the Arab countries over the Iranian nuclear deal should be considered. Kim cited "unprecedented" trials and "the worst of the worst," referring to the triple whammy of international sanctions, the coronavirus pandemic and last summer's floods. "We should further promote and expand the successes and victories that we've achieved through our painstaking efforts but prevent us from having the painful lessons again," he added. Speaking at a rare Workers Party congress, Kim said the country's five-year economic plan failed to achieve its goals "in almost all areas... to a great extent." The failed five-year plan was at the time of its launch touted as "dazzling," but never looked very likely to make a difference to the impoverished country's fortunes. The party congress is the most important political gathering in North Korea and usually consists of hours of self-congratulation. The fact that Kim, who is supposed to be infallible, has admitted failure a second time after a tearful speech last year suggests the regime is getting desperate. North Korea has suffered severely from sanctions and the border closure with China due to the coronavirus pandemic, which saw bilateral trade plummeting dramatically. According to Chinese customs data, North Korea's exports to China last October declined 91.5 percent on-year to just US$1.4 million, while the North's imports from China tanked 99.9 percent to only $300,000. However, Kim also hailed a "miraculous victories" and "remarkable achievement" over the past five years, apparently referring to North Korea's progress in intercontinental ballistic missile technology. But he did not put a name to them, perhaps wary of provoking U.S. President-elect Joe Biden even before he takes office. Around 7,000 Workers' Party members and spectators who converged in Pyongyang wore no masks during the congress. The North officially admits no single coronavirus infection, but thousands have reportedly been quarantined. "We agree with Congress that action can and must be taken to hold the People's 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. 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. Once it becomes law, the bill will ban all imports from China's 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. After more than a year of negotiations, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act passed the House of Representatives unanimously late Tuesday and is poised to move quickly through the Senate and to President Joe Biden's desk. The U.S. Congress moved one step closer this week to making the United States the first country to ban the import of goods produced by Uyghur slave labor. 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 China's 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 China's 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 percent of the world's 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 CCP's 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. The U.S. space agency NASA says its Parker Solar Probe this week became the first spacecraft to enter the Sun's 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 Sun's 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 doesn't 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. More elderly people have joined the millions of Koreans having a flutter on overseas stock exchanges, but they seem more interested in steady growth of their investments than getting rich quick. Korean retail investors had opened 3.87 million foreign stock-investment accounts as of the end of October, double the number last year, and the number held by people over 60 rose from 94,537 to 193,475. Market insiders say elderly retail investors have increasingly turned to foreign bourses since the domestic market started to sputter. Koreans owned US$14.5 billion worth of overseas stocks in late 2019, but the amount has now risen to $78.3 billion. Trading volume totaled $360.9 billion, up around 1.8 times from last year, and purchases surpassed W20 trillion for the second year running (US$1=W1,187). The amount of dividends retail investors bagged after parking their money in foreign stocks or exchange traded funds (ETFs) surpassed $300 million for the first time, up from $235.8 million last year and up six times since 2015. Apple paid out the highest dividends at $20.3 million. Investors in their 20s and 30s still make up the vast bulk, but their number rose about 90 percent, compared to 111.8 percent for elderly investors, which suggests they caught the bug en masse. Kim Ji-hye at Mirae Asset Securities said, "Retirees these days are increasingly parking part of their savings in blue-chip foreign stocks and many of them want to receive regular dividends by spreading their assets into overseas stocks." The number of children under 10 who nominally own foreign stock accounts has also surged, jumping 169.5 percent to 73,002 this year, the highest among all age groups. The main reason is that their parents want to save taxes or provide for their children's future. One office worker gave his seven-year-old daughter Tesla and Walt Disney stocks as gifts. "Tesla shares have risen 40 percent while Disney shares fell 18 percent, but I'm not worried about short-term losses and plan to steadily buy my child more stocks," he said. Higher returns than Korean shares are the driving force. Tesla shares, which are the most popular foreign stock among retail investors here, rose from $777.15 in January to $1,014.97 at the close of trading last Friday, up 30.6 percent. In contrast, Samsung Electronics shares, the most-bought stock on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index, fell 6.3 percent over the same period. "Most retail investors who own foreign shares are investing in blue chips, and the returns are quite high because global investors are also buying them," a broker said. Hyundai won six of the 10 most prestigious automotive awards in North America and Europe this year, more than any other automaker in the world, the company said on Wednesday. Hyundai's all-electric Ioniq 5 was named the German Car of the Year last month, beating Audi and Porsche. It was the first time that Germany -- an auto manufacturing powerhouse -- selected a Korean brand as its best car. Earlier, the EV was also crowned Auto Express Car of the Year. British automobile magazine Top Gear named Hyundai's high-performance i20 N as Car of the Year and Hyundai the Manufacturer of the Year. "Hyundai is smashing it right across the board. We've known for a while that the Koreans are coming. Well, they're not anymore. They're here, and they're doing it better than anyone else," the magazine said. The Elantra (sold as Avante in Korea) won the North American Car of the Year early this year, while the premium Genesis GV80 SUV was picked as Canadian Utility of the Year and the GV70 as MotorTrend's SUV of the Year. Based on satellite images and new testimony from defectors, the Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working Group on Wednesday published a report titled "Mapping Killings under Kim Jong-un: North Korea's Response to International Pressure" that meticulously reconstructs the North's executions, the sites where they take place and where the dead are buried. An international human rights group has reconstructed the killings of the North Korean regime and how it tries to hide its crimes against humanity from the international community. The report analyses where and how executions were carried out based on interviews with 683 defectors who arrived in South Korea over the past six years, while using satellite imagery to locate sites and applying Geographic Information Systems technology. It shows how executions have shifted to sites where information is easier to control by banning mobile phone use citing 27 records of executions at sites that have been used since Kim came into power. Twenty-three were public executions by firing squad and two hangings. One defector reported that in Pyongyang between 2012 and 2013, officials forced the family of the victims to sit in the front row and watch the entire process. One man fainted when he saw the body of his son burned. In the northeastern city of Hamhung in 2012, executors had people stand in line so that they could see the face of a person whose head was crushed after a public execution. In Sariwon, North Hwanghae Province in 2014, the mouth of a person tied to a post was filled with pebbles before he was executed. The most common charges cited for public executions include watching or distributing South Korean videos, drug crimes, prostitution, human trafficking, murder or attempted murder, and "obscene acts." The regime bans mobile phones at execution sites to prevent information leaks and deployed radio devices and vehicles for surveillance and control. Executions typically "occurred in places such as Hyesan Airfield or in the surrounding hills/mountains and open spaces/fields away from the border and central area of the city." Testimony suggests that public executions are declining but killings continue in secret. Students were "systematically mobilized" to attend public trials. The TJWG warned that the flow of information is drying up. "The nearly complete closure of North Korea's border with China as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak since January 2020 has severely hampered the already limited flow of information in and out of the country and restricted the number of North Koreans reaching South Korea. This has made it difficult to find research participants to provide information on human rights violations that have occurred during the past two years," it added. Most foreign diplomats have left, attesting to the severity of the economic hardships the North is experiencing. Kim was forced to confess that his economic goals had failed "in almost all areas to a great extent." Kim was almost always present at the North's launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, but North Korea paid a heavy price for the provocations. After years of sanctions and a total border lockdown as Kim trembles before the coronavirus pandemic, North Korea is suffering its worst economic hardship since it was founded in 1948. Amid brutal purges as he tried to cement his power, Kim Jon-un came to see the completion of North Korea's nuclear weapons program as his greatest task. Blatantly ignoring warnings from the international community, he conducted four nuclear tests and 60 missile tests in violation of UN resolutions. Returning to Pyongyang from a posh boarding school in Switzerland to be groomed as the next leader, Kim ascended to North Korea's throne on Dec. 19, 2011, just two days after Kim Jong-il died of a massive heart attack. In the decade since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un succeeded his father amid promises of modernization, North Korea has become poorer and more miserable than ever. According to statistics from the Bank of Korea, North Korea's average annual economic growth tumbled from 3.86 percent during Kim Jong-il's rule to 0.84 percent under Kim Jong-un. The North's trade shriveled from US$6.3 billion when Kim Jong-un took into power to a mere $860 million last year, the level of the early 1970s. The main reason is the border lockdown, but economists say intense sanctions had already depleted the paltry economic momentum the North had. The statistics back up this view. North Korea's gross national income shrank every year since 2017 with the exception of 2019. After conducting its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, 2016, North Korea's provocations continued with the test launch of the Hwasong-15 ICMB on Nov. 29, 2017, prompting the UN to adopt six sanctions starring in March of 2016. Starting with a ban on shipments of coal, North Korea's top export, the sanctions eventually blocked exports of even agricultural goods and textiles. North Korea's refined oil imports were also severely limited, causing its economy to suffocate. North Korea's trade volume fell even more markedly from $5.55 billion in 2017 to $2.84 billion in 2018. After rising temporarily to $3.25 billion in 2019, trade plummeted to $860 million last year. In the first 10 months of this year, trade with China, its main patron, shriveled to $227 million, just a third of last year's amount, and is not expected to rise above $300 million by the end of this year. Yoo Sung-ok, a former head of the Institute for National Security Strategy, said, "Kim Jong-un's decade of rule can be summed up as inflicting international isolation and economic ruin on his own country and blighting the lives of its citizens." Kim mobilized all of his country's resources to develop nuclear weapons, sharply escalating tensions, only to extend an olive branch in early 2018, agreeing to summits with South Korea and the U.S. It was a calculated strategy of eliciting rewards after acquiring nuclear weapons. But that plan was eventually rejected even by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who at one time claimed he "fell in love" with Kim but walked away from talks in Hanoi in February 2019. Early this year, Joe Biden, who is familiar with North Korea's tactics from his time as Barack Obama's vice president, became the leader of the U.S., while President Moon Jae-in, who has been devoted to engaging the North throughout his term, is a lame duck as he leaves office in May next year. As long as Biden's strategy on the North remains unchanged and Kim refuses to bend, the isolated country's economic woes can only get worse. Press Release December 16, 2021 How to unmask trolls? Trolls, fake account users face up to 12-year imprisonment, P200K fine, Drilon says With the proliferation of trolls, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon proposed a quick-fix solution to unmask trolls and fight the anonymity in cyberspace by requiring real-name and phone number upon creation of social media accounts. Drilon introduced the said provision in the proposed SIM Card Registration Act which the Senate passed on third reading Thursday. The bill mandates the ownership registration of all sim cards in the country to "deter the proliferation of SIM card, internet or electronic communication-aided crimes, such as, but not limited to terrorism; text scams; unsolicited, indecent or obscene messages; bank fraud; libel; anonymous online defamation; trolling; hate speech, spread of digital disinformation or fake news." Drilon expanded the measure to include the social media sector. "This new provision will prevent anyone from making anonymous accounts online. We have to cure trolls that are spreading as fast as the virus that we are battling today. Troll is a virus that hides behind anonymity and continues to spread nothing but hatred and disinformation," Drilon said Thursday. Section 5 of the proposed measure, which Drilon introduced, states that "all social media account providers shall require real-name and phone number upon creation of account." "This provision is a solution to the anonymity that provides the environment for trolls and other malicious attacks to thrive in the age of social media," he added. With Drilon's proposal to include social media in the proposed measure, trolls will soon face up to 12 years of imprisonment or a fine of up to P200,000 or both, along with those who use fictitious identities to register their SIM card. Drilon said the practice of requiring a phone number to create an online account is already being done by other email providers such as Google's GMAIL where a number is required for the implementation of a two-step verification procedure. The Philippines is home to millions of troll accounts. In 2019, "Facebook took down a network of accounts that were engaged in inauthentic behavior, Drilon noted. He added that the proliferation of trolls gave rise to suspicions of state-sponsored troll farms, especially that even the Commission on Audit flagged the Presidential Communications Operations Office for hiring hundreds of "contract of service" personnel, which was way above the total number of its regular employees. Section 10 of the bill provides the penalties, including for using or using fictitious identities to register SIM cards and social media accounts. The provision states: "The penalty of imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and one (1) day to twelve (12) years, or a fine of up to two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), or both, shall be imposed upon anyone who uses a fictitious identity to purchase and register a SIM card or social media account." Drilon also proposed that social media providers, apart from telecommunication sector, shall be required to provide information obtained in the registration process only upon the issuance of a subpoena of a competent authority pursuant to an investigation of a sworn complaint that a specific mobile number or social media account was or is being used in the commission of a crime. Press Release December 16, 2021 Senate approves SIM Card Registration Act on third reading The Senate approved on third and final reading the SIM Card Registration Act that aims to curb the proliferation of subscriber identity module (SIM) card-aided fraud. "At the core of this measure is the promotion of security in the country. It is timely and fitting given that various technology-aided crimes are rampant in the country today," Poe said in the explanation of her vote for the measure. Senate Bill No. 2395 requires all public telecommunications entities to make the registration of all SIM cards a prerequisite to their sale where subscribers need to submit a registration form and present a valid identification card. It also penalizes the use of fictitious identities to register SIM cards, spoofing, and the unauthorized sale of registered SIM cards. Poe also referenced the hacking incident last week where 700 accounts were breached as a call to urgently implement stronger security measures. "The measure establishes another layer of security protection for Filipinos which will hopefully deter criminals from perpetrating their wicked plans. It is high time that we beef up our own infrastructures to address these threats to security," said Poe. Poe reassured that the measure was crafted with the right to privacy of consumers held at the highest regard, and with the National Telecommunications Commission ensuring that the centralized SIM card registry is done in accordance with the Data Privacy Act. _________________________________________________ SIM Card Registration Act, aprubado na sa Senado sa ikatlong pagbasa Inaprubahan ng Senado sa ikatlo at pinal na pagbasa ang SIM Card Registration Act na naglalayong pigilan ang paglaganap ng subscriber identity module (SIM) card-aided fraud. "Nasa sentro ng panukalang ito ang pagsusulong ng seguridad ng bansa. Napapanahon na ito, lalo na't talamak sa bansa ngayon ang iba't ibang krimen na isinasagawa sa pamamagitan ng teknolohiya," sabi ni Poe sa kanyang paliwanag ng kanyang pagboto sa panukala. Ang Senate Bill No. 2395 ay nag-aatas sa lahat ng pampublikong telecommunications entity na gawin ang pagpaparehistro ng lahat ng SIM card bilang isang paunang kinakailangan sa kanilang pagbebenta kung saan ang mga subscriber ay dapat magsumite ng registration form at magpakita ng valid na identification card. Pinaparusahan din nito ang paggamit ng mga peke na pagkakakilanlan upang irehistro ang mga SIM card, spoofing, at ang hindi awtorisadong pagbebenta ng mga nakarehistrong SIM card. Tinukoy din ni Poe ang insidente ng pag-hack noong nakaraang linggo kung saan 700 ang naging biktima dito bilang hudyat na kailangan na ng agarang pagtupad ng batas na magbibigay ng mas matinding seguridad para sa mga konsumer. "Ang panukalang ito ay nagtatatag ng karagdagang proteksyon at seguridad para sa mga Pilipino at sana ay makapigil sa mga kriminal na gawin ang kanilang masasamang plano. Panahon na para palakasin natin ang sarili nating mga imprastraktura upang matugunan ang mga banta sa seguridad," ani Poe. Tiniyak ni Poe na ang panukala ay ginawa nang may pagpapahalaga sa karapatan sa pagkapribado ng mga mamimili kung saan titiyakin ng National Telecommunications Commission na ang sentralisadong pagpapatala ng SIM card ay ginagawa alinsunod sa Data Privacy Act. _________________________________________________ Grace Poe's explanation of vote on SIM Card Registration Act Senate session Dec. 16, 2021 Mr. President, dear colleagues, at the core of this measure is the promotion of security in the country. It is timely and fitting given that various technology-aided crimes are rampant in the country today. Nitong nagdaang linggo lamang ay napabalita ang hacking incident sa mga bank account ng isang kilalang bangko sa bansa kung saan milyun-milyon ang natangay ng mga kawatan. And just this year, our very own Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has also fallen victim to mobile phone-aided bank fraud. The measure establishes another layer of security protection for Filipinos which will hopefully deter criminals from perpetrating their wicked plans. It is high time that we beef up our own infrastructures to address these threats to security. And it is up to us, as policymakers of this country, to spearhead the change. I would like to reiterate at this point that the policy of SIM card registration in the country will be implemented with full regard to our right to privacy. As a champion of privacy rights, we have ensured that the measure was crafted in a manner that accords the highest respect for the Filipinos' right to confidentiality. Such right is sacred now, and it will remain as such even after this bill becomes law and is enforced. Once again, let me thank the people behind this legislation. First on my list is Sen. Franklin Drilon, for providing his invaluable advice on the measure and introducing the necessary amendments to widen its scope. His proposal to expand the bill's application to the realm of social media was adopted in light of the exposes on the existence of the so-called troll farms in the country. Used correctly, social media platforms could be good and beneficial. But as we have seen in other countries, they could also open a can of worms that could tear the very fabric of democracy. Hence, Senator Drilon's amendments were well-taken. I would also like to thank my colleagues here in the Senate for throwing their support behind this bill - my co-authors, Senate President Sotto, Senators Lacson, Zubiri, Gatchalian, Sotto, Villar, Pacquiao, and Pangilinan, and all the other senators who believed the need for this measure. Your support has encouraged me to push harder for the bill's passage. I am also extending my gratitude to the representatives of the national government and law enforcement agencies for expressing their support for the bill. Their technical assistance and expert opinion have been very useful in crafting the law. For that, I wish to thank the National Telecommunications Commission, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, National Privacy Commission, Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation. Finally, many thanks to Globe, Smart and Dito Telecommunity for rallying behind this policy. Despite the costs that will be added to them for implementing this system, they agreed that it is something that must be done to protect their customers. I commend them for doing the right thing. May the passage of this bill pave the way for a safer and more secure mobile-use and cyberspace in the country. Maraming salamat po. Press Release December 16, 2021 Senate approves bill clarifying process of franchise, license application The Senate, with a vote of 21-0-0, approved on third and final reading a bill that clarifies the process of franchise or license application, including the non-expiration of franchise and license where an applicant has made timely and sufficient application for its renewal. Senate Bill No. 1530, which seeks to amend Section 18, Book VII, Chapter 3 of Executive Order No. 292 or the Administrative Code of the Philippines, was approved before the Senate adjourns for the Christmas break Thursday, December 16, 2021. Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, chairperson of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes and sponsor of the measure, said the bill seeks to "rectify a small omission that has been corrected in practice but not in law." Under the proposed amendments, "existing license or franchise shall not expire until the application shall have been finally determined by the agency, department, or branch of government authorized to grant or renew the license or franchise. There is final determination when an applicant is given written notice of approval or denial of its application for renewal." The bill also seeks an amendment to clarify that an application or a renewal of a legislative franchise is considered denied when a Congress adjourns sine die without having approved the application. A new transitory provision was also proposed to read: "the provisions of this act shall apply to all applications of renewal of legislative franchises filed with the Congress on or after July 1, 2019, which have not been approved or denied by the Congress as of the date of the effectivity of the act." Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, principal author of SBN 1530, said the bill amends an existing provision under the Revised Administrative Code to include franchises, making "it incumbent upon the issuing authority to act on an application and avoid situations where silence or inaction could effectively bar the operations of an enterprise." "The proposed amendments would clarify that franchises shall not be barred from operating while the Congress hears the application for its renewal. This is a fair and equitable measure, because it is not the fault of the franchise applicant that Congress could not find the time to hear the application for renewal which is filed on time," Drilon said in his co-sponsorship speech of the measure. Your browser does not support the video tag. [December 16, 2021] Guild Mortgage Names Russ Fowlie EVP of Loan Servicing Guild Mortgage (NYSE: GHLD), a rapidly growing mortgage lending company originating and servicing residential loans since 1960, has named Russ Fowlie executive vice president of loan servicing. Mr. Fowlie has 25 years of mortgage banking and servicing experience, which includes leading operations and launching and implementing successful business transformation projects. He will oversee the loan administration division of Guild Mortgage, with responsibility for enhancing the overall customer experience, from customer service through default loan management, maximizing productivity, efficiency, service and compliance. He will also lead Guild's investor reporting relationships with Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. "Guild is different from most independent lenders in that we service most of our home loans, which means our customer focus is not just transactional, it's about building long term relationships and customers for life," said Mary Ann McGarry, CEO. "Russ brings valuable loan servicing experience and expertise to help Guild continue to grow and evolve the high level of personalized customer service we're known for." Prior to joining Guild, Mr. Fowlie spent seven years at PMorgan Chase where he served as executive director of home lending, finance and compliance. Before that he was the executive vice president and director of mortgage servicing for Flagstar Bank where he managed the financial, regulatory and operating performance of the bank's residential mortgage servicing business. He also held a senior vice president role with Ocwen Loan Services and spent more than four years at Ally Financial where he served as executive director of capital markets and finance and then senior vice president and chief of staff for the mortgage servicing unit. He began his career in mortgage banking at Credit Suisse where he served more than a decade and rose to vice president. He graduated from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland with a bachelor's degree in business studies. "Guild has a history of success over its more than 60 years in business and has created a strong culture of customer service that is admired throughout the mortgage industry," said Mr. Fowlie. "I'm joining at the perfect time to contribute to the continued success of Guild's servicing division. We are well-positioned to take advantage of the purchase-dominated market the MBA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are all predicting will return in the coming year - a historic strength for Guild." Headquartered in San Diego, Guild Mortgage is a leading national lender with an established history of developing innovative pilot programs and specialized products in partnership with government organizations to help deliver the promise of home in every neighborhood and community. Its loan professionals can serve the needs of any homebuyer, from helping first-time buyers achieve homeownership, often through government loan programs, to those looking for jumbo loans. Guild also helps active duty and retired military personnel who qualify for VA loans with 100% financing and flexible qualifying standards. The company is consistently recognized for its community impact, commitment to customer service, strength in regulatory compliance, and workplace culture. About Guild Mortgage Founded in 1960 when the modern U.S. mortgage industry was just forming, Guild Mortgage Company is a nationally recognized independent mortgage lender providing residential mortgage products and local in-house origination and servicing. Guild's collaborative culture and commitment to diversity and inclusion enable it to deliver a personalized experience for each customer. With more than 4,000 employees and over 200 retail branches, Guild has relationships with credit unions, community banks, and other financial institutions and services loans in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Guild's highly trained loan professionals are experienced in government-sponsored programs such as FHA, VA, USDA, down payment assistance programs and other specialized loan programs. Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GHLD. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005369/en/ [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] [December 16, 2021] GigNet Appoints Fabian Cortes as Vice President - Carrier and Commercial Sales GigNet announced today the appointment of Fabian Cortes as Vice President of Carrier and Commercial Sales for GigNet Mexico. Mr. Cortes has over two decades experience in building substantial client relationships in Mexico and Latin America. He has senior executive experience leading customer relationships with carriers and major corporate customers at a global level, has been involved in creating solutions from project planning to implementation and sale, and he has been involved in multiple fiber optic and advanced broadband connectivity projects nationally and internationally. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005937/en/ Fabian Cortes - Named as Vice President for Carrier and Commercial Sales, GigNet Mexico (Photo: Business Wire) In his role, Mr. Cortes will lead a sales team dedicated to expanding GigNet's product offerings serving major customers such as mobile network operators, large-scale enterprises, international carriers, social media and streaming content providers, and more. GigNet Mexico already serves customers in the hospitality, enterprise, and residential segments, made possible by the Company's fiber-optic network from Costa Mujeres, North of Cancun hrough the Tulum Hotel Zone. Mr. Cortes will be responsible for bringing to market products and services such as Fiber-to-the-Tower (FTTT), Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), international subsea connectivity, and other commercial-grade services. Mr. Cortes was previously Senior Sales Manager for Phoenix Tower International in Mexico City, where he was responsible for new business development with national and international telecom companies, and with major enterprise customers such as international retail chains operating in Mexico. Prior to that, he was Senior Carrier Sales Manager - Mexico for CenturyLink / Level 3 Communications where he developed service offerings including voice, data, global connectivity and IT solutions for major national and international carriers. He was also International Carrier Sales Relationship Manager for Alestra, Intelligent Network Project Director for mobile provider Dauphin Telecom, and served as International Carrier Sales Manager for Bestel Communications. Mr. Cortes stated, "I am very happy to have the opportunity to contribute to GigNet's next phase of growth. In my experience, the GigNet service delivery platform, consisting of redundant fiber-optics, a 24x7 network operations center, local network and sales centers, dedicated customer service teams, and an amazing technical and operations team, is unique in the region, if not in all of Mexico. GigNet has the robust, secure network that carriers require and that no other provider in the region can offer." Mark Carney OBE, President of GigNet Mexico, said: "We are pleased that Fabian Cortes has joined the GigNet team, as his background and leadership will be key to our strategy in 2022 and beyond for providing critical services to mobile and fixed operators, international carriers, major enterprises, and social media and other content and cloud services companies. We are also confident that Fabian will build and manage a world class sales team to achieve our financial goals in the carrier and commercial segments." In additional to his extensive career accomplishments, Mr. Cortes holds an MBA as well as post-graduate studies in Networking, and holds a B.Sc Degree in Telecommunication Engineering. He also holds numerous certifications and has completed programs in finance, sales management, system administration, and IT operating systems, giving him a unique skill set of technical knowledge and business unit management. ABOUT GIGNET GigNet is the Mexican Caribbean brand of GigNet, Inc., a U.S. based international Digital Infrastructure company. Through its Mexico operating subsidiaries, GigNet, S.A. de C.V., and Sanalto Redes Peninsular, S.A.P.I. de C.V., the Company is a fully licensed telecommunications provider in Mexico. GigNet is actively adding hospitality, enterprise, and residential community customers to its extensive regional broadband network in the Mexican Caribbean, one of the largest and fastest growing tourism destinations in the world, with over 160,000 hotel rooms and over 25 million annual airport visitors. GigNet is a leader in the digital transformation of the region. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005937/en/ [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Dialpad Raises $170 Million and Increases Valuation to $2.2 Billion as it Leads New Era of AI-Powered Communications Dialpad Inc., the industry leader in AI-powered cloud communications and collaboration, today announced $170 million in funding. The amount raised and valuation of $2.2 billion reflects the increasing importance of a truly unified approach to business communications. To date, Dialpad has raised $418 million in capital. ICONIQ Capital leads the funding round which includes participation from Amasia, GV, OMERS Growth Equity, Work-Bench, Section 32, and T-Mobile Ventures. Dialpad will use this funding to invest in the further development and application of native artificial intelligence (AI) throughout its unified platform; hiring top talent across data engineering, natural language processing, machine learning and customer-facing roles to support its rapid global growth. "Dialpad is the world's most advanced AI-powered communications, collaboration, and contact center platform, providing a customer- and cloud-first solution that enables more efficient and effective conversations," said Craig Walker, founder and CEO, Dialpad. "This latest round of funding, and increased valuation, showcases Dialpad's continued momentum and strengthens our dedication to helping companies scale and enterprises thrive in today's hybrid, work-from-anywhere world." "Dialpad is at the forefront of cloud-based, native AI communications, collaboration, and contact center solutions. ICONIQ Capital is proud to again invest in Dialpad's vision to deliver streamlined communications combined with crucial data-driven insights all through one application," said Will Griffith, Founding Partner, ICONIQ Capital. "As the creator of Google Voice, Craig Walker knows what it means to disrupt an entire category. Walker recognized the pain points consumers had communicating at scale in the cloud. Now, he is applying that same philosophy with Dialpad, extending it to the enterprise and is once again disrupting the status quo." Dialpad is the one place for truly unified Communications as a Service (TrueCaaS), offering companies and employees the ability to work smarter - not harder - from anywhere on any device. In today's distributed world, teams need one seamless solution for productive collaboration that also avoids the growing phenomenon of "app overload". Simple to deploy and backed up with Voice Intelligence (Vi) to create a searchable archive of every call, Dialpad delivers all modes of business communications through a single pane of glass. "Customer adoption of Dialpad's AI-powered TrueCaaS platform is at an all time high and is accelerating," said Mike Kourey, Chief Financial Officer, Dialpad. "This $170 million financing round further fuels our unparalleled innovation engine and global expansion, advancing Dialpad's comprehensive vision for the future of work, business communications and collaboration, and customer experience." The funding round is the latest development in a year of significant milestones for Dialpad including growth, global expansion, partnerships and acquisitions. Read more about Dialpad's acquisitions of Kare and Koopid Learn how Dialpad's growing partner ecosystem is improving customer experiences For more information on Dialpad's recent CFO appointment, see the press release Social Networks: About Dialpad Dialpad is the global leader in AI communications for business, transforming how the world works together. Dialpad customers benefit from truly unified business and customer communications, including a cloud business phone system, text and team messaging, video meetings, and the world's most advanced AI-powered contact center - all in one beautiful app. More than 7,000 innovative brands and millions of people use Dialpad to connect their teams from anywhere including Motorola Solutions, Netflix, T-Mobile, Uber and WeWork. Visit www.dialpad.com for more information and to request a demo. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005248/en/ In 1993, the Four Corners region of the Southwestern United States experienced an unknown virus outbreak that killed its victims within 48 hours. While the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) turned to biomedical science to understand the mysterious virus, the affected Indigenous community turned to their own history. Ultimately, Navajo oral history offered answers that streamlined the research process and correctly identified the source of the virus. What can we learn from this outbreak and how can we integrate traditional knowledge in understanding pathogen spillover events? Many zoonoses, or diseases which are transmitted to humans from animals, can exist for long periods in animal reservoirs and emerge sporadically as a result of changes in environmental or climate conditions. Identifying the climatic and environmental risk factors associated with these outbreaks is thus critical to their mitigation and prevention. Indigenous communities are well-placed to have knowledge of these risk factors given their long, continuous history occupying specific environments or regions, strong oral tradition, and close relationships with wildlife or livestock. Such communities have long depended upon their understanding of ecological networks in their environment for survival. Indigenous knowledge can enable understanding of the mechanisms and ecosystem-embedded relationships between pathogens, hosts, vectors, and climate. Anthropologists can and should play a key role in identifying and documenting this traditional ecological knowledge. Such documentation necessitates the development of a framework that allows for cultural context and nuanced interpretation of local knowledge to provide valuable insight into emerging global health threats. The Four Corners Outbreak: During the spring and summer of 1993, an unknown respiratory illness swept through the Four Corners region of the Southwestern US, claiming 27 lives. Representatives of the Navajo nation met with members of the CDC and local health departments to discuss the crisis. Drawing on Navajo oral history, the representatives reported that disharmony was the cause of the outbreak. They noted two prior occasions in Navajo oral history when a previously unknown disease had emerged that killed community members: 1918 and 1933. In each of these years, unusually wet winters and springs had preceded the diseases emergence, and in these wet conditions abundant pinon crop growth had led to a larger than normal rodent population which fed on the nuts (Schwarz 1995, 340). Known disease vectors, the mice had been linked to the outbreaks in both of these cases. In the winter and spring of 1992-1993, the Four Corners region once again saw excess rain and snowfall resulting in an abundance of pinon nuts and vegetation. The Navajo representatives hypothesized that the 1993 virus outbreak was once again linked to the unusually wet conditions, abundant crop growth, and greater number of rodents in the local ecosystem. Biomedical test results would eventually confirm this hypothesis: the CDC trapped rodents (Peromyscus maniculatus) found in case households and tests concluded that the disease was a previously unknown variety of hantavirus. The virus, which is carried by deer mice, may be transmitted directly from rodents to humans via contact with saliva or feces, or through the inhalation of dust infected with the virus (ibid 390). This case demonstrates the power of incorporating Indigenous knowledge in understandings of disease ecology. The Navajo nation representatives utilized traditional ecological knowledge and community history to quickly identify the risk factors associated with an otherwise unknown disease outbreak, illustrating the important role that traditional ecological knowledge can serve in elucidating the causal pathways of emerging infectious disease. Within this, it is crucial to consider how the integration of traditional ecological knowledge in public health frameworks may occur given the significant challenges that exist in knowledge translation between different conceptualizations of health and disease. The Association of Climate and Zoonoses: Throughout history, changes in climate have affected the occurrence, distribution, and severity of disease outbreaks. For example, a strong El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event in 2015-2016 was linked to disease outbreaks across ENSO-connected regions worldwide (Anyamba et al. 2019). In the case of many infectious diseases, climatic factors play crucial roles in the distribution of pathogens via influencing dynamics among host and vector populations. In particular, changes in temperature and precipitation greatly affect the environment in which vector-borne diseases are transmitted. Temperature changes influence the distribution of vector species by making novel environments more hospitable and enabling the invasion of new regions. As just one example, warmer temperatures on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro are enabling the distribution of Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoesat higher altitudes, which has increased the transmission of malaria to vulnerable populations (Foque and Reeder 2019). Such climatic changes can have a powerful impact on vectoral capacity. For example, vector density is strongly related to rainfall capacity for mosquitoes, which require standing water to breed. Further, insect vectors are typically poikilothermic (cold-blooded); since insects cannot regulate their own body temperature, the ambient temperature dictates the extent to which they amplify and circulate pathogens (ibid). Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, for example, will amplify and transmit dengue viruses only if exposed to temperatures within the range of 20 to 35 degrees Celsius (Carrington et al. 2013). Temperature changes have also been found to impact biting behavior, fecundity, and vector survival (Goindin et al. 2015). Indeed, during the remarkably powerful 2015-2016 ENSO event, the number of reported cases for dengue fever in Brazil was the highest reported from 2000-2017. The ENSO event produced higher-than-normal land surface temperatures and therefore drier habitats. These climatic and environmental changes drew mosquitoes into populated, urban areas containing the open water needed for laying eggs. Furthermore, warmer air may have caused mosquitoes to grow hungrier and reach sexual maturity more quickly, resulting in increased rates of mosquito bites (Anyamba et al. 2019). Finally, climate factors influence the distribution and behavior of host populations. As in the case of the 1993 Four Corners outbreak, precipitation and temperature can influence the abundance and distribution of vegetation in which host populations live or feed upon. Take, for example, plague (caused by Yersina pestis infection) cycles associated with climate via changes in host population distribution. The Mongolian gerbil, a key pathogen reservoir, typically avoids habitats with dense and high grasses. Researchers found a negative relationship between the abundance of vegetation and gerbil abundance. When taken in the broader ecological context, this provided a link between temperature and plague conditions. Higher temperatures the previous year and increased precipitation in the current year were positively associated with vegetation coverage but negatively associated with gerbil abundance. Decreased gerbil population density was found to increase flea (vector) burden per gerbil, causing a high flea index and potentially increasing plague transmission (Xu et al. 2015). Thus, understanding the relationship between climate and disease outbreak requires detailed understanding of the tropic webs (the relationships between organisms within an ecosystem) involved. Given that all of these factors may fluctuate in different ways while acting in conjunction to influence patterns of disease, understanding in detail the ecosystem dynamics that link climatic factors with outbreaks is critical to their mitigation and prevention. Detailed documentation and experimental work are needed to study these processes and parameters. Local Indigenous communities, defined by the World Health Organization as communities that live within, or are attached to, geographically distinct traditional habitats or ancestral territories, and who identify themselves as being part of a distinct cultural group (Indigenous Populations 2010), are often the longest continuous inhabitants of a given region and arguably know their environment and wildlife the best. Communities that have relied upon their relationship with their ecosystem for hundreds or thousands of years are best placed to elucidate the interconnectedness of weather patterns, host behavior, vegetation changes, and other factors influencing disease. They may even, as the Four Corners region Navajo community did, maintain collective memory of past outbreaks and the warning signs associated with them. Indeed, Indigenous communities often preserve oral history and traditional knowledge spanning centuries of habitation. They also frequently live in close contact with animals such as livestock, increasing their likelihood of having experienced zoonotic-origin outbreaks before. Correctly documenting, interpreting, and applying this knowledge can expedite the process of identifying and responding to disease outbreaks and can aid outbreak prevention and containment. Anthropology as a Tool: Anthropologists are well-equipped to document Indigenous knowledge in a way that is guided by the knowledge-holders themselves and considers the challenges of knowledge translation between different epistemological frameworks of health and disease. In anthropological studies of Indigenous communities, the researcher aims to construct a narrative that illustrates the full extent of the communitys understanding, including translation of terms, ideas, and ways of thinking about disease in the specific cultural context. However, translations inevitably come with distortion or loss of these contextual and cultural cues. In the case of the Four Corners outbreak, translation did not prove to be a significant barrier because the Navajo elders were fluent in the same language as the researchers and could thus offer their own interpretation of their knowledge. This is not the case for many study populations and thus it is worth considering whether (and how) integration of traditional ecological knowledge into predominant health frameworks may occur. Knowledge translation, as defined by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), involves the exchange, synthesis, and ethically sound application of knowledge within a complex system of interactions among researchers and users. Indigenous knowledge systems and Western biomedical systems are often presented as two diametrically opposed conceptualizations of health, with Indigenous systems seen as holistic, relational, pluralistic, and narrative-based while Western biomedicine is perceived as empirical, linear, singular, and written (Smylie et al. 2004). Given that knowledge exists within nuanced and complex, culturally-informed frameworks of understanding, translation between disease epistemologies may significantly reduce complex or multilayered understandings to a single dimension or misrepresent them altogether. Incorporation and translation of traditional ecological knowledge into biomedical frameworks must be directed by knowledge-holders and facilitated by anthropologists to avoid distortions and misrepresentations of knowledge to the fullest extent possible. This endeavor in itself is not without challenges, particularly given the long history of exploitation and appropriation of Indigenous knowledge within colonial power frameworks. Translation may be viewed as a further expression of the power frameworks in which global health interventions occur (stmo and Law 2018). A process of knowledge translation must first and foremost recognize the equal validity of Indigenous ways of understanding ecological relationships of health and disease and must be open to the idea that the community knows something that researchers do not. In being driven by knowledge holders, appropriate translation, usage, and benefit-sharing may be facilitated. In recent years, there has been a call for increased investment in practices of participatory epidemiology, as analysts have condemned traditional top-down, one-size-fits-all health and development interventions as reinforcing global and often colonial hierarchies of power (Ebata et al. 2020). Proponents of participatory epidemiology assert that researchers should work closely with the target communities of their intervention to understand the unique dynamics, goals, and perceptions of the community in which the intervention is situated. This work emphasizes the need to expressly incorporate the viewpoints, knowledge, and experience of marginalized groups and form an approach in which affected communities participate in creating the solutions to the issues that affect them, reevaluating traditional top-down approaches to epidemiology. It must be done with consideration to the wider context and power structures in which it takes place, carefully involving all invested parties and making sure that their voices are heard, their interests represented, and their goals honored. The same must be true for studies aimed at documenting traditional ecological knowledge among Indigenous or marginalized communities. These studies must appropriately credit and benefit all stakeholders and participants, employing a social science framework that addresses bias and power dynamics (Ebata et al. 2020). Any framework used must allow for nuance and a diversity of community voices in the process of recording knowledge. With this in mind, a thorough anthropological study of local knowledge can document and highlight detailed knowledge of disease ecologies, enabling more rapid pathogen identification or outbreak prevention and management. I thus offer three case studies hinting at the potential untapped reservoir of knowledge of disease ecology, distribution, and identification. Indigenous communities often possess detailed understandings of the ecology of diseases affecting their people or livestock. Dwyer and Istomin (2006) documented the knowledge of Komi reindeer herders in northern Russa regarding the etiology of diseases originating in their herd. The authors identified several diseases mentioned by the Komi for which there is no established translation to a disease within Western knowledge. The community mentions yur visem in reindeer, which translates to head-disease. The cause of this disease is said to be flies eggs, which give rise to maggots. The authors speculate about what species of insect or parasite could cause this, listing such suggestions as Calliphoridae (blowflies), specifically Protophormia terraenovae, which may cause wound myiasis and serious illness in cattle, sheep and reindeer (Dwyer and Istomin 2006, 153). The species has been documented in the Nordic region of Fennoscandia, but with no reports of associated disease. Another illness listed by the Komi herders was lob visem, which translates to spleen disease. The authors acknowledge that they could not establish a precise translation for this disease but speculate on such diseases as pasteurellosis or brucellosis. The herders noted that there was an increased risk of lob visem if the antlers were cut or broken, suggesting that the disease enters the body via a wound. This community demonstrates a strong understanding of disease vectors and factors related to the development of illness in reindeer herds, offering targets for intervention in the chain of transmission. Indigenous communities may also act as first reporters for changes in disease distribution or host populations. In the summer of 2004, 17 reindeer died suddenly in a Tsaatan herd in Northwestern Mongolia (Haigh et al. 2008). Post-mortem analysis revealed that the peritoneal fluid and tissues in the abdominal cavity had turned yellow. Other symptoms were described as fever, lethargy, and pale mucous membranes. Biomedical analysis revealed the cause to be the tick-borne disease Anaplasma ovis, making this instance the first report of a natural A. ovis infection in reindeer (ibid 569). The presence in the reindeer population of A. ovis, a disease which typically occurs in tropical and subtropical regions in livestock like sheep, goats, and cattle, indicated a host-species jump a concerning revelation with implications for zoonosis outbreak risk and management. Finally, Indigenous communities may be aware of diseases unknown to Western medicine. In a study conducted of Maasai perceptions of illness, Casucci (2015) documents several diseases for which no obvious English translation exists. He dismisses these mentions as likely teasing by participants (ibid 95). However, it is worth considering that these diseases may exist but their presence in the region, or existence altogether, remain unknown to Western medicine. In fact, one of the diseases he lists as likely false is emporoto, a name almost identical to the one used for anthrax in the Maa language (documented by Mangesho as emboroto). Thus, in assuming untranslated diseases are automatically false, Casucci may have overlooked at least one disease that impacts the lives of community members. The other diseases listed with no translation, Normawei and Nalapone, might well be worth further study, but no additional information (such as symptoms or a perceived cause) is given. Intriguingly, he also mentions two diseases which are referred to as Maasai illnesses. A participant claims that these are not understood at the sipitali [hospital] (Casucci 2015, 103). One of these, olkurto, is translated simply as worms, and the other as flies in the chest. These diseases are well worth further investigation by biomedical researchers with context-specific knowledge translation informed by the involvement of representatives of Indigenous communities themselves in the research process. Considerations of Linguistic and Sociocultural Nuance It is worth considering examples of specific linguistic and sociocultural barriers in Indigenous knowledge translation. Firstly, literal translations may eliminate important cultural context. For example, in the Maa language, enkijebe literally translates to wind. However, contextualized it expresses a wind of God, implying unknowable or unpredictable misfortune, and thus is implicated in disease causation for carrying pathogens or pollutants (Casucci 2015, 102). Translations of disease etiology must take into account the belief systems and understandings of causality informed by the context. Literal translations may not reflect the complex layers of understanding of disease that intermingle religious, spiritual, or moral beliefs with mechanistic understanding of disease. Further, translation inevitably comes with connotations that may shape how seriously the medical beliefs and systems are taken. For example, documenting a study participant as a witch doctor may undermine the degree to which epidemiological researchers take the individuals knowledge under genuine consideration. [TG10] Further, disease classification and taxonomy may vary significantly between cultures; thus, direct translations of disease may be misleading. Interpretation of knowledge may require a more detailed understanding of the sociocultural understanding of disease states and the specific clinical presentation associated with these states. Differences may exist in the divisions of disease categorization: for example, differing clinical presentations of the same disease may be understood as different diseases. Caprara (1998) documents how pisa has been translated from Alladian as tuberculosis. However, the symptoms associated with pisa vary from those classically associated with tuberculosis: pisa is primarily seen as a disease of the blood rather than of the lungs. There is a greater focus on blood in Alladian understandings of the disease than in Western medicine and diagnosis of pisa typically occurs when an abnormal situation arises (complications potentially linked to interacting pathologies). This must be accounted for in documentation of Alladian knowledge of disease. Thus, rather than seeking direct connections between nosographic categories, Caprara asserts that understanding the semantic networks linking various pathologies is crucial for understanding the burden of disease within a community. Additionally, there may be levels of simultaneous understanding of a misfortune or event. It is important that disease etiology documentation frameworks leave room for overlapping understandings of disease. A community may understand both the mechanism of disease and simultaneously have a religious or cultural understanding of why it occurs. In the interpretation of Navajo Nation representatives, the agent of disease transmission was identified as rats. Simultaneously, the why of the outbreak (Why now? Why the Navajo community?), was understood to be a breakdown in the proper relationship between Navajo people and Mother Earth (Schwarz 1995, 393). Both of these understandings exist simultaneously. Thus, anthropologists must be able to recognize and separate multiple layers of beliefs surrounding causality. In involving community leaders in the research process, Navajo disease etiology could be correctly interpreted and applied to the investigation. Conclusions: There must be an acknowledgement of the significant differences in Indigenous and Western biomedical epistemologies of disease and that translation will inevitably involve changes, distortions, or losses of nuance of knowledge that reflects (and can further reinforce) existing power imbalances. Knowledge translation and application driven by knowledge-holders (and, when necessary, facilitated by anthropologists) must be a crucial consideration when integrating traditional ecological knowledge into biomedical understandings of disease ecologies. Ultimately, the incorporation of traditional Navajo ecological knowledge in the investigation of the 1993 Four Corners hantavirus outbreak demonstrates the great potential of Indigenous knowledge to elucidate disease ecologies. There is a great urgency to identify ecological relationships of pathogens, vectors, and climate. Understanding each factor can offer targets for intervention at specific steps in the chain of transmission to prevent large scale outbreaks. This endeavor becomes even more urgent as climate change and ecological fragmentation are drastically changing our relationship with pathogen hosts and vectors, heightening the risk of future outbreaks (Brooks et al. 2014). We must be proactive in identifying and documenting these disease ecologies. Few individuals or groups are better placed to recognize patterns in zoonotic-origin diseases than Indigenous and pastoral communities. Correctly interpreting this traditional ecological knowledge using anthropological methods may prove key to understanding and preventing zoonotic disease outbreaks. Rebecca Lynn Perez is an undergraduate student currently in her final year of a BA in Human Sciences at the University of Oxford. Twitter: @RLynnPerez Works Cited: Anyamba, A., Chretien, J., Britch, S.C. et al. Global Disease Outbreaks Associated with the 20152016 El Nino Event. Sci Rep 9, 1930 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-38034-z Brooks, Daniel R., et al. Finding Them Before They Find Us: Informatics, Parasites, and Environments in Accelerating Climate Change. Comparative Parasitology, vol. 81, no. 2, 2014, pp. 155164., doi:10.1654/4724b.1. Caprara, Andrea. Cultural Interpretations of Contagion. Tropical Medicine & International Health, vol. 3, no. 12, Dec. 1998, pp. 9961001, 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1998.00341.x. Carrington, Lauren B., et al. Fluctuations at a Low Mean Temperature Accelerate Dengue Virus Transmission by Aedes Aegypti. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 7, no. 4, 25 Apr. 2013, p. e2190, 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002190. Casucci, Brad. A Cold Wind: Local Maasai Perceptions of the Common Health Landscape in Narok South. Electronic Thesis or Dissertation. Case Western Reserve University, 2015. OhioLINK Electronic Thesis and Dissertations Center. Dwyer, Mark James, and Kirill Vladimirovich Istomin. Mobility and Technology. Understanding the Vulnerability of Two Groups of Nomadic Pastoralists to Reindeer Losses Nomadic Peoples, vol. 10, no. 2, 2006, pp. 142a165. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/43123782. Ebata, Ayako, et al. Power, Participation and Their Problems: A Consideration of Power Dynamics in the Use of Participatory Epidemiology for One Health and Zoonoses Research. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, vol. 177, 2020, p. 104940., doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.104940. Fouque, Florence, and John C. Reeder. Impact of Past and On-Going Changes on Climate and Weather on Vector-Borne Diseases Transmission: A Look at the Evidence. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, vol. 8, no. 1, 13 June 2019, 10.1186/s40249-019-0565-1. Gaddy, Hampton Gray. Using local knowledge in emerging infectious disease research. Social Science & Medicine vol. 258 (2020): 113107. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113107 Goindin, Daniella, et al. Parity and Longevity of Aedes Aegypti according to Temperatures in Controlled Conditions and Consequences on Dengue Transmission Risks. PLOS ONE, vol. 10, no. 8, 10 Aug. 2015, p. e0135489, 10.1371/journal.pone.0135489. Haigh, Jerry C., et al. A Novel Clinical Syndrome And Detection Of Anaplasma Ovis In Mongolian Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus). Journal of Wildlife Diseases, vol. 44, no. 3, 2008, pp. 569577., doi:10.7589/0090-3558-44.3.569. doi:10.7589/0090-3558-44.3.569. Indigenous Populations. World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 7 Dec. 2010, Mangesho, Peter Ernest, et al. Exploring Local Knowledge and Perceptions on Zoonoses among Pastoralists in Northern and Eastern Tanzania. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 11, no. 2, 2017, doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005345. stmo, Liv, and John Law. Mis/Translation, Colonialism, and Environmental Conflict. Environmental Humanities, vol. 10, no. 2, 1 Nov. 2018, pp. 349369, 10.1215/22011919-7156782. Accessed 7 Nov. 2020. Smylie, Janet, et al. Knowledge Translation and Indigenous Knowledge. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, vol. 63, no. sup2, Sept. 2004, pp. 139143, 10.3402/ijch.v63i0.17877. Accessed 27 June 2020. Schwarz, Maureen Trudelle. The Explanatory and Predictive Power of History: Coping with the Mystery Illness, 1993 Ethnohistory, vol. 42, no. 3, 1995, pp. 375-401. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/483212. Xu, Lei, et al. The Trophic Responses of Two Different RodentVectorPlague Systems to Climate Change. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 282, no. 1800, 7 Feb. 2015, p. 20141846, 10.1098/rspb.2014.1846. Share this: Share Email Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr LinkedIn [view academic citations] [hide academic citations] This graphic depicts Perseverances entry into Seitah from both an orbital and subsurface perspective. Image 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 Crater - as 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 sedimentary - the 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. Taken by Perseverance's Mastcam-Z instrument, this video features an enhanced-color composite image that pans across Jezero Crater's 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 "A good geology student will tell you that such a texture indicates the rock formed when crystals grew and settled in a slowly cooling magma - for 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 date - four 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. 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 rocks - regardless of origin - at 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. '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 About Perseverance A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will characterize the planet's geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and be the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust). Subsequent NASA missions, in cooperation with ESA (European Space Agency), would send spacecraft to Mars to collect these sealed samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis. The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA's Moon to Mars exploration approach, which includes Artemis missions to the Moon that will help prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover. For more about Perseverance: mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/ and nasa.gov/perseverance Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Update: Capitol Officials will not Confirm if There are ANY Decorations on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Displaying or Celebrating the Birth of Christ After Government Regulations Banned all 'Religious Symbols' NEWS PROVIDED BY Christian Defense Coalition Dec. 16, 2021 WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- Are decorations of the Nativity Scene, Baby Jesus and the Holy Family being banned from being displayed on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree? On their website, the USDA/Forest Service lists these prohibitions on what cannot be included for ornaments on the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree: Decorations cannot include logos, political or religious affiliation or symbols, drug or alcohol references, be divisive or offensive. So the official government guidelines say, "religious symbols" are prohibited from being decorations on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Here is a link to the USDA/Forest Service website address: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/home/?cid=FSEPRD907029&width=full In an email to the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the Christian Defense Coalitions asks if that prohibition on religious symbols includes, Nativity Displays, Baby Jesus or the Holy Family. The group also asks if there are any ornaments on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree which display or celebrate the birth of Christ. The complete email is included below. Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C. based Christian Defense Coalition, comments; "The 'People's House,' as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans should be afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights. "That is why it was so troubling when I read the official guidelines for ornaments on the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas included these words; 'Decorations cannot include religious symbols.' "Since the definition of Christmas is, 'the annual festival celebrating Christ's birth,' it would be deeply concerning if ornaments celebrating His birth were prohibited and censored from being on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree by the order of a government agency." For more information or interview Please contact: Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741 Here is the full text of the email sent to the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board: Warm Greetings; I hope this correspondence finds all well. As you know, for the past 30 years I have worked tirelessly to ensure free speech and religious freedom is embraced and protected on the grounds of the United States Capitol. The 'People's House,' as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans should be afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights. That is why it was so troubling when I read the official guidelines for ornaments on the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas included these words; "Decorations cannot include logos, political or religious affiliation or symbols." While celebrating this year's Capitol Christmas theme, "Six Rivers, Many Peoples, One Tree," do the guidelines prohibiting any display of "religious symbols" include things such as ornaments of the Nativity Scene, the Holy Family or Baby Jesus? Said another way, do the official 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree ornament guidelines prohibit any displays of the birth of Christ? A companion question would be, are there ANY ornaments on the Capitol Tree which display and celebrate the birth of Christ? Since the definition of Christmas is, "the annual festival celebrating Christ's birth," it would be deeply concerning if ornaments celebrating His birth were prohibited and censored from being on the Capitol Christmas Tree by the order of a government agency. I thank you in advance for a speedy reply. Sincerely; Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney Director of the Christian Defense Coalition/Washington, D.C. SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741 By Trend The development of a dialogue between Azerbaijan and the EAEU would contribute to the intensification of mutual trade, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said on Dec. 15 during a weekly briefing, Trend reports. The initiative of first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is an ideologue of Eurasian integration, deserves special attention, the spokesperson added. As you know, the Eurasian Economic Union is open to the countries that ensure its goals, principles and are interested in closer integration, interaction, Zakharova said. First of all, we mean the CIS countries, which maintain closer cooperation with the EU member states, the spokesperson said. Zakharova stressed that the EAEU is being developed rapidly, constantly improving the economic interaction mechanism, taking into account the best world practices. Despite the difficult period that was associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, there were very difficult moments, however, most of the macroeconomic indicators are characterized positively, Zakharova said. Therefore, the development of a dialogue between Azerbaijan and the EAEU in any format would contribute to the intensification of mutual trade and the restoration of transport routes in the region and the implementation of large-scale regional infrastructure projects, the spokesperson added. By Trend France intends to participate in mine clearance operations in the Azerbaijani lands liberated from the Armenian occupation, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zacharie Gross, who is on a visit to Azerbaijans Sugovushan settlement, said in an interview with Real TV, Trend reports. The ambassador stressed that France hopes to speed up the dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Our presence here was important, Gross said. We saw a mine near the village. We hope that we will have the opportunity to cooperate in the field of water supply, land reclamation, electrification. Gross stressed that the French government is ready to render support. There is a project on bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and France, the ambassador added. I am glad to see the development of the Azerbaijani territories liberated from the Armenian occupation. At the same time, we hope for peace and constant dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia for the development of both countries," the ambassador said. By Trend Russia welcomes the continuation of direct talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said on Dec. 15 during a weekly briefing while commenting on the results of the meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Brussels, Trend reports. The meeting of the two leaders was held on Dec. 14 evening, the information about the meeting is still being spread, the spokesperson said. Our experts are analyzing it. We hope that the results of the Brussels discussions will contribute to the further implementation of the trilateral agreements of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, which were reached at the previous meetings," Zakharova added. By Azernews By Vafa Ismayilova The European Union (EU) and interested partners welcome progress in the ongoing negotiations between the EU and Azerbaijan on a new comprehensive agreement, the declaration adopted following the summit of the EU Eastern Partnership countries, which took place on December 15 in Brussels, has said. In addition, the declaration welcomes the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor project, which has contributed to the diversification of gas sources and routes of supply to the EU. "The EU remains committed in its support to the territorial integrity within their internationally recognized borders, independence, and sovereignty of all Eastern partners. We emphasize in this regard our particular objective to enhance and support regional cooperation in the Eastern Partnership region, including strengthening links and transport connectivity," the document said. The declaration also notes that the promotion of the peaceful settlement of unresolved conflicts, conflict prevention, and confidence-building and reconciliation efforts will be supported. In addition, assistance to conflict-affected populations will be strengthened, along with the role of women and young people in peacebuilding. It should be noted that Azerbaijan disassociated itself from paragraph 11 of the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit of December 15, and has a reservation to any operations in conflict-affected regions referred to in paragraph 8 of the Annex to this Joint Declaration carried out in the absence of a relevant request and agreement with Azerbaijan. At the summit, EU Council President Charles Michel officially stated that Azerbaijan didnt agree with paragraph 11 of the joint declaration concerning the internal political situation in Belarus and expressed its position in this paragraph. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has been visiting Belgium since December 14 to attend the EU Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels. As part of the visit, Aliyev had a trilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Charles Michel to discuss the normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations. Aliyev also met his Moldovan, Ukrainian and French counterparts on the sidelines of the visit to Brussels. During the meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, the presidents discussed the cooperation within international organizations, holding the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission, as well as political consultations between the two countries foreign ministers. They also discussed the cooperation in the fields of energy, investment, as well as business circles of the countries. The parties emphasized the interest in discussing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, adding the interest in exploring the possibilities to deepen cooperation with respect to business cooperation, trade exchanges. During the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, they discussed the activities of the intergovernmental commission, mutual visits of business delegations, and exchanged views on the development of economic and trade relations, especially cooperation in the energy field. Noting that Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations are developing successfully in many areas, the parties also expressed interest in expanding these ties. Additionally, on the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, an informal meeting was held between Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan on December 15. The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint policy initiative that aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU), its Member States and its six Eastern neighbours: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. In this framework, guiding the EU's relations with its neighbours is the EUs Global Strategy and the revised European Neighbourhood Policy which call on the need to focus on increasing the stabilisation and resilience of the EU's Eastern neighbours. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Working groups of the Interdepartmental Center under the Coordination Headquarters have visited Azerbaijans liberated Hadrut settlement, Trend has reported. On December 10, the working groups of the Interdepartmental Center for Science, Education, Culture and Urban Planning visited the region to inspect cultural, historical and religious monuments in Khojavands Hadrut, Tugh, Chinarli settlements as well as the historical Azikh (Azykh) Cave. During the visit, the delegation was in the Albanian temple located in Chinarli village, and the 12th-century Albanian church in the historical center of Hadrut settlement. As a part of the visit to Tugh village, the delegation inspected numerous traditional Karabakh foothills with balconies, which define the panorama and historical architectural landscape of the village, as well as the remains of the Dizag Malik Palace, an architectural monument of local significance, and Albanian churches. In the late Middle Ages, Tugh was one of the largest and most important settlements in the surrounding area. There are the remains of defensive structures, large arched spring pools, the historical 18th-century bridges in the village. Of the historical architectural monuments located in Tugh, two are under state protection and three are under local protection as monuments of local significance. Following the detailed inspection of the historical sites in Tugh, a mobile meeting was held with the participation of members of both groups. The groups thoroughly discussed the Concept of Hadrut Tourism Development and the Concept of Tugh Tourism Development presented by the State Tourism Agency. The members of the delegation also exchanged views on the implementation of conservation and restoration projects related to the creation of tourism and recreation zones, as well as the protection of cultural heritage in these areas. The experts of the working group on science, education and culture also paid a visit to the world-famous Azikh Cave at the end of the trip. The trip was arranged in line with the instructions that were voiced by President Ilham Aliyev during the meeting with the representatives of the Khojavand community on October 9. By Trend The Shusha Declaration is an instruction for us, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Cahit Bagci told Trend. According to him, relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are expanding in all areas. "The Shusha Declaration is an instruction for us, and each of us is acting in accordance with this instruction," the ambassador said. He noted that after 30 years of suffering, Azerbaijan has achieved great success, both militarily and politically, and won in Karabakh. During the war, Turkey sided with Azerbaijan both politically and morally. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk has said that active work is underway to unblock transport communications in the South Caucasus. He made the remarks during the conference "Current state and prospects of Russian-Azerbaijani relations in the context of integrated processes" held in Baku on December 16. "Active work is underway to unblock transport communications, as well as on a mutual visit. We would like to talk about the potential of the integration processes that are taking place in Eurasia," he said. Speaking about international relations, we mean a macroregion. We see what processes are going on in North America, Southeast Asia, we follow the processes of implementing the Chinese initiative One Belt - One Road. In fact, little is said about integration into the Eurasian economic zone," he added. Overchuk noted the need to develop and do everything possible to strengthen regional relations, adding that strengthening relations according to the formula of individual countries led to the idea of multi-level integration. He emphasized that during the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union, a number of countries aimed at regional integration immediately joined this structure. "We are moving along the path of economic integration," he said. The deputy prime minister noted that today the region is turning into a macroregion, adding that single cooperation in the production and delivery of goods is being established. "Today we are working to create a space for working citizens and the transportation of goods. The aggregate GDP of the EAEU countries amounted to $1.3 trillion, trade between the member countries of the organization - $55 billion. There is outstripping growth in trade. From January through September, trade rose 32.7 percent. We reached the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels and exceeded them by about 10 percent. In our internal borders, we actually abandoned all types of control, except for border control," he said. Stressing that the free movement of people is an important factor, he added that paying the same taxes without discrimination is a very important indicator. New opportunities to connect Asia, Europe markets Alexei Overchuk has said that Azerbaijan may also discover absolutely new opportunities to connect markers of Asia and Europe. He noted that Russia's investments in Azerbaijan reached $4.5 billion, and Azerbaijan's investments in Russia reached $1.5 billion. Moreover, he emphasized the interest of Russian business circles in working in Azerbaijan, adding that there are good prospects for the development and creation of railways, for the development of renewable energy sources, high-tech enterprises and logistics. Now we have new opportunities to connect North-South and West-East. The entire EAEU region can benefit from this. Construction of new highways from the borders of Kazakhstan to the Baltic ports and Belarus is being conducted. One is in the active construction stage, and another - Meridian - will pass from Kazakhstan to Belarus in the Gomel region. We are very serious about these projects to start working on in the near future," he said. Participation in Karabakh restoration Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev has said that Russian companies presented 13 packages of proposals to Azerbaijan for participation in works in Karabakh. He noted that KAMAZ PTC has already demonstrated a vivid example of the implementation of a Russian project in Karabakh. Noting that the bilateral cooperation with Russia is developing in all directions, even in the face of a pandemic, Mustafayev underlined that there are seven roadmaps for cooperation. Today we have seven roadmaps for cooperation. Successful cooperation is underway on all roadmaps, and we are achieving our goals. Last year, trade fell slightly, and I hope that next year we will reach pre-pandemic levels. We expect the growth rate to pick up even more. There is a good prospect for building up mutual investments," he said. The deputy prime minister also noted that, currently, a number of investment projects are being implemented, and new opportunities are opening up. Trade turnover Speaking at the conference, Russian ambassador Mikhail Bocharnikov said that Russian-Azerbaijani trade has grown by 7 percent since the beginning of 2021. "Today we are receiving intense impulses for the development of political cooperation. Economic relations are also actively developing, mutual trade is growing. In 2021, the growth amounted to seven percent. The mutual interest of companies from the two countries is growing," Bocharnikov said. The ambassador added that today's integration agenda deserves attention and is very important for the region as a whole. Azerbaijan and Russia have mutual cooperation in different fields, such as economy, agriculture, customs, communications, high technology, and others. More than 230 intergovernmental and intercompany documents have been signed between the two countries and six "road maps" are being implemented. Earlier this year Azerbaijan participated in a number of international exhibitions held in Russia. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia amounted to $2.6 billion in 2020, making Russia Azerbaijans third-largest partner. Additionally, Azerbaijan is a major supplier of fruits and vegetables to Russia. The country ranked first in supplies of fresh and chilled tomatoes. Russia also played a prominent role in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict resolution. The trilateral peace deal signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the 30-year conflict between Baku and Yerevan over Azerbaijans Karabakh that along with seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the 1990s. By Trend The simplified entry procedures between Russia and Azerbaijan should be introduced, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told reporters on Dec. 16 on the sidelines of the conference titled "Current State and Prospects of Russia-Azerbaijan Relations in the Context of Integrated Processes" in Baku, Trend reports. Both our countries are the CIS member states. But this question should be addressed to the foreign ministries. Of course, we would like to have such simplified procedures, he said. Speaking of simplified entry procedures, Azerbaijan has one such agreement with Turkey. Azerbaijani and Turkish citizens can enter the territory of both countries with a biometric identity card since April 2021 and stay there for 90 days. In this case, the identity card or passport must be valid for at least 30 days from the date of entry into the country. By Trend These days, Azerbaijan, Russia and, hopefully, Armenia are looking forward to the outcome of meetings in Brussels, Rector of ADA University Hafiz Pashayev said at the conference "Current state and prospects of Russian - Azerbaijani relations in the context of integrated processes" in Baku, Trend reports. The rector expressed hope that the visit of Russian representatives to Azerbaijan will be informative in order to maintain and develop bilateral relations. "Your mission is to be those people who to a very large extent determine the practical implementation of the agreements reached. The agreements will be of great importance for the future of the entire region. Therefore, we look forward to your fruitful cooperation," Pashayev said. According to Pashayev, it is necessary to do a good joint work. "We have established good relations with Russian universities. We need to create good joint research centers in the scientific field and strengthen interaction in the name of science and cooperation. We have double diplomas with MGIMO University (Moscow State Institute of International Relations), and we have a similar format with Leningrad University. Negotiations are also underway with other universities in Russia. Of course, cooperation in the exchange of experience between teachers is necessary," he said. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency and British NGO Mines Advisory Group have signed a memorandum of understanding. Under the memorandum, the British organization will hold training courses for new supervisors of the Mine Action Agency. It is also planned to render consulting services on the issues of mine clearance. At the same time, it is expected to support the theoretical and practical training of the main supervisory staff of the Agency, the process of monitoring and evaluation. "The cooperation between the Mine Action Agency for Mine Action and Mines Advisory Group will also support the delivery of information to the international communities on the scale of the mine problem in Azerbaijan," the Agency noted. Earlier Emergencies Minister Kamaladdin Heydarov said that Azerbaijan is negotiating the purchase of robots for mine clearance. Noting that the work on clearing the liberated territories from mines continues, Heydarov emphasized that the transferred maps of minefields are inaccurate. "By the Azerbaijani president's order, a de-mining regiment was created. De-mining robots will also be purchased, and negotiations are already underway on this issue. In addition, specially trained dogs are prepared," he said. It should be noted that Azerbaijans Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), along with the partner countries, carries out demining activities on the country's 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. Some 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 held through the Russian Defence Ministry's mediation 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. 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. 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 Trend I am glad that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan will take part in an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC countries on the provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee said, Trend reports. According to the ambassador, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has offered Pakistan to hold an extraordinary meeting of ministers. "The purpose of this historic meeting is to help the people of Afghanistan survive famine. More than half of the Afghan population was faced with hunger, and 40 percent of the country's economy was destroyed," he said. The ambassador noted the need to provide international assistance to Afghanistan as soon as possible. "Pakistan has already allocated humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in the amount of $30 million. I am glad that the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister will also participate in this meeting," the ambassador added. By Trend French President Emmanuel Macron shared a publication in Azerbaijani language on his official Facebook page regarding the meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels, on Dec. 15, Trend reports. "We must find ways for a lasting peace. Last night, we made progress on this issue with President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan," the publication says. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijani Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov along with the top brass has opened new military facilities in the liberated lands, the ministry reported on December 16. Initially, Hasanov familiarized himself with the military infrastructure facilities recently commissioned on Azerbaijans liberated territories. The minister was briefed that the modular accommodation point had been provided with all the necessary equipment, furniture, and inventory to meet the needs of military personnel. A facility with weapon storage, dormitory, canteen, kitchen, medical point, food and clothing warehouses, bath and laundry was established and generators for uninterrupted power supply were installed in the building. The complex was also equipped with a central heating system, electricity, and water supply. Following the inspection, Hasanov gave relevant tasks to the command staff to improve the combat skills of the units stationed in the liberated lands. Moreover, the minister attended the opening ceremony of a newly built guard camp in one of the military units. The minister was informed that the guardhouse had been built in line with modern standards in short period and all the necessary conditions for the organization and conduct of service had been created in the facility. It was added that the building had been equipped with central heating, alarm, and fire protection systems. Moreover, landscaping and construction works have been carried out, asphalt and a green area had been laid in the territory of the guard house. In the end, Hasanov instructed the personnel on the organization of combat duties and wished them successes in their future services. By Trend The agreements on the construction of the railway, reached with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, will change the political, economic as well as security environment in the region during their implementation, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting of the Armenian government, Trend reports on Dec. 16. Previously, Pashinyan noted that at a meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Brussels, an agreement was reached on the construction of the Arazdayan-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway. On December 14, a joint meeting of the Azerbaijani president, President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel and the Armenian prime minister took place in Brussels. The sides discussed the issue of demining the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation [in the 2020 second Karabakh war], Besides, the readiness of the EU to provide technical assistance to Azerbaijan in this direction was noted during the meeting. In connection with the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, an agreement was reached that both sides will create a temporary working group. The sides also widely discussed the issue of opening communications and transport links. The Armenian side reaffirmed its commitment to build a railway on its territory. The Armenian side will reportedly soon begin the construction of the railway. An agreement was also reached on ensuring customs and border control issues on a mutual principle. By Azernews By Osman Ozgan/Vugar Khalilov Turkeys Vice-President Fuat Oktay has said that the government will overcome all manipulations exerted on the countrys economy, Yeni Shafak has reported. He made the remarks at the 2022 budget discussions conducted in the parliament, the report added. We will overcome the manipulative effects on our economy and make it history in the same way. We will resolutely continue our march towards a fully independent and prosperous Turkey, where only our nation has won and the profits have spread to all segments of society, Oktay stressed. He added that the government will ensure all necessary steps in full compliance with the principle of free-market economy and financial freedom. Turkey will continue to establish confidence in all domestic and foreign investors and there will not be any other reason that can harm this trust, Oktay underlined. He stated that disproportionate price increases and exchange rate fluctuations cannot and will not be the destiny of Turkey. Speaking about the oppositions behavior, Oktay said that the governments implementation of independent policy is not supported by political parties such as CHP (Republican People's Party), IP (Good Party), and naturally HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) with a national effort. We have seen a mise-en-scene of the CHP's way of governing the country. You [the opposition] keep on showing, you will learn and understand the value of our struggle for economic independence by living, Oktay stressed. He assured that the current state budget covers all the needs of the Turkish people and the things that Turkey mostly needs. Touching on the criticism of economic policies, Oktay stated that Turkey has experienced great changes and progressed in every field over the past 19 years. "Behind every step taken under the leadership of our president, there is great struggle and sacrifices. For years, we have been exposed to embargoes on security technologies and defence products, and there were times when we could not procure the necessary equipment when we needed it most. Every member of our Supreme Assembly knows this very well and every individual of 84 million knows it very well too, Oktay stressed. He added that in the past Turkey had to follow the innovations made abroad, especially in Europe. "While we were a country that was seen only as a market for the technology produced, today we are talking about being a pioneer in many fields, not only in defence technologies but also in information and communication technologies," Oktay underlined. He stated that Turkey is determined to channel investments into employment, production, design and research and development activities by ensuring the countrys political and economic security. With the strong political will of the past 19 years and especially, after the presidential government system, the government has enough determination and opportunities to face new challenges, Oktay said. The vice-president underlined that the government showed great management skills in fighting terrorist organizations and the negative results of the pandemic to provide the nations wellbeing. He pointed out that the government aims for permanent stability focused on investment, employment, production, export and growth in the economy. Oktay noted that there was significant growth in the countrys economy during the past period. He added that the industrial production index grew by 0.6 percent on a monthly basis and by 8.5 percent on an annual basis in October. In October, we achieved the current account surplus of $ 3.16 billion, the highest current account surplus of the past three years in the balance of payments, Oktay stressed. The governments goal is to make a sustainable and permanent improvement in the balance of payments, he concluded. By Trend Turkey has appointed the former ambassador to the United States, Serdar Kilic, as a special representative for the normalization of relations with Armenia. As Trend reports with reference to the local media, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavushoglu said this during his visit to the UAE. Along with this, the chief diplomat of Turkey added that work within the framework of the normalization of relations is being carried out in a manner coordinated with Azerbaijan. By Trend Azerbaijan's brilliant victory in the 44-day Second Karabakh War opened the way to numerous new opportunities in the region, among which is the restoration of communications and the normalization of the Armenia-Turkey relations. The normalization of the Yerevan-Ankara relations was hampered by several reasons, including the issue related to the events of 1915 (which Armenia call the "Armenian genocide") and the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories. Moreover, the Armenian diaspora, profiting from the so-called "Armenian genocide" plays an important "role" in this issue. At the same time, Armenians all this time, through "people's diplomacy", were looking for ways to "normalize" relations with Turkey, or rather, the ways to settle in this country. There are also many Armenians who prefer to visit Turkey as tourists and investors. Their number, according to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was 1,280 in October 2021. According to the Turkish media, every month at least 200 Armenian citizens stay in Turkey, illegally work there, and this is nothing more than a way to settle in the country. As is known, the conditions in the region are different today compared to the previous period of 30 years. The normalization of relations with Ankara is primarily for the benefit of Armenia. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on December 13 that Turkey will open charter flights with the capital of Armenia Yerevan. We will appoint special representatives with Armenia soon to take steps to normalize relations, Cavusoglu said. We will also open charter flights with the capital of Armenia - Yerevan. The Turkish foreign minister stressed that every step in this sphere will be taken jointly with Azerbaijan. Three days after this statement, Cavusoglu stressed that after the 44-day Karabakh war, Turkey and Azerbaijan made positive messages to Armenia. Bakus calls to conclude a comprehensive peace agreement with Yerevan are of particular importance, Cavusoglu added. These signals also demonstrate the approaches of Turkey and Azerbaijan to this issue. The Turkish foreign minister stressed that Ankara is considering the appeals from the Turkish and Armenian airlines on the issue of opening Istanbul-Yerevan-Istanbul flights. Cavusoglu added that former Turkish ambassador to the US Serdar Kilic will be appointed to the post of special representative of the country to normalize relations with Armenia. Some questions arise in connection with the abovementioned aspects. Will Armenia be able to escape from the Armenian diaspora amid rapprochement with Turkey? Will it be able to renounce its claims of a fictitious "genocide"? Will Armenia follow the footsteps of its western ally - France, which intends to open archives, declassify and publish documents about the war for the independence of Algeria, during which hundreds of thousands of Algerians were killed? Will Armenia open its archives to investigate the events of 1915? Everybody knows that the claims of the Armenians regarding the events of 1915 are nothing more than a way of profit for the Armenian diaspora. However, it is obvious that the sooner Yerevan escapes from the Armenian diaspora, the better for Armenia and its citizens. Rufiz Hafizoglu Head of the Foreign Projects Directorate of Trend News Agency By Azernews Korean engineer Young-Jin Woo, who is working on the Canakkale 1915 Bridge, has praised the Turkish youth for their enormous potential, Yeni Shafak has reported. Turkey's most important strength is its huge young population, which is extremely promising. The Turkish youth are very interested and curious. They are passionate about their work, talented and have enormous potential. Gaining more experience will enable them to compete globally, Woo stressed. He stated that the Turkish workers and engineers working on the project had accomplished great and very important tasks. He noted that since his arrival in Turkey in 2017, he could not manage to visit Turkeys famous places due to the pandemic. After the successful completion of the project, I with my wife want to see famous places in Turkey that we have not seen before, he said. Woo is a bridge engineer of DLE&C Korean company that has been involved in the construction of the Canakkale 1915 Project in Turkey. The 1915 Bridge, which will connect the country to two continents from Canakkale, is dedicated to Turkeys victory over the foreign invaders in the 1915 war. The Canakkale 1915 project (also known as the Dardanelles Bridge) is a suspension bridge being constructed in Canakkale province in northwestern Turkey. Situated just south of the towns of Lapseki and Gelibolu, the bridge will span the Dardanelles strait, about 10 km (6.2 mi) south of the Marmara Sea. With a main span of 2,023 meters, the bridge will be the longest suspension bridge in the world. The total length of the bridge is planned at 3,563 meters and together with the approach viaducts, the length will reach 4,608 meters. Dubai Multi Commodities Centres (DMCC) new crypto-focused Future of Trade report highlights growing opportunities for the $260.9 billion decentralised finance (DeFi) sector in global trade. Focused on DeFi, the report examines the key opportunities and challenges that the growing technology faces, and how DeFi can bolster global trade. The thought leadership report series of DMCC the worlds flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise is titled Perspectives on Decentralised Finance and examines three core themes: whether DeFi will substitute or supplement traditional finance systems; DeFi representing a tool that can benefit both developed and developing markets; and the crucial topic of establishing progressive regulatory frameworks that facilitate innovation. The report is available in Arabic, English and Mandarin. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said: Interest in decentralised finance is growing exponentially, with over $260.9 billion of total value currently locked into DeFi protocols versus $20 billion at the start of the year this growth is for good reason. As our Future of Trade report highlights, the technology is revolutionising financial systems across the world, optimising processes and providing tangible benefits for global trade. This latest DMCC report closely analyses how we can collectively harness the opportunities presented by DeFi, and what steps we need to take from regulatory and infrastructure perspectives to maximise its impact. Feryal Ahmadi, Chief Operating Officer, DMCC, added: It is becoming increasingly clear that DeFi is set to change the current ways of finance and trade for the better. Whilst a few hurdles remain, achieving financial inclusion and democratised yet regulated DeFi protocols is certainly possible. As discussed in our Future of Trade report, The UAE is a prime example of a jurisdiction that fully supports cryptographic technologies, working with industry leaders to fully understand the technology and make informed policies that support innovation. This is why Dubai is increasingly becoming the destination of choice for many crypto firms looking to scale up their global operations. Firstly, the report considers whether DeFi is a viable substitute for traditional finance infrastructure, or whether it will supplement and become integrated into the current systems. With large institutional transactions (above $10 million) accounting for over 60% of DeFi transactions in Q2 2021, it is apparent that larger institutions are already adopting DeFi, demonstrating a shift in the recognition of DeFi as a legitimate alternative to existing financial systems. The report then examines DeFis ability to boost financial inclusion globally, covering the opportunities and risks of this technology for both developing and developed countries. The world bank states that 1.7 billion adults across the world do not have access to banking services. DeFi addresses many of the barriers that developing countries face, however areas such as internet infrastructure must be improved to facilitate widespread adoption in these countries. The final area the report looks at is the critical space of regulation, discussing how regulators can develop and effectively implement appropriate regulations for DeFi without hampering innovation. Regulators across the world continue to grapple with this issue, though some jurisdictions such as the UAE and Switzerland are leading the way. A number of industry experts contributed to the Future of Trade report, providing insights into these three core areas. Contributors included: Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation Dr Guenther Dobrauz, Partner and Leader PwC Legal Switzerland Josef Holm, Founding Partner at Draper Goren Holm Mauro Casellini, CEO of Bitcoin Suisse Liechtenstein Katie Richards, CEO at Cyber Capital Rachid Ajaja, Co-founder and CEO at AllianceBlock Saeed Hareb Al Darmaki, Founder at Sheesha Finance & Managing Director Mena at CasperLabs. Cryptographic technologies such as blockchain and decentralised finance are a major focus for DMCCs current operations. Operated in partnership with CV Labs, the DMCC Crypto Centre was established earlier this year to provide a platform for crypto businesses to set up in Dubai and develop and drive the adoption of crypto worldwide. To date, over 130 crypto firms have joined the DMCC Crypto Centre, further cementing Dubais position as a prime destination for crypto businesses.-- TradeArabia News Service The global desalination market is likely to record a two-fold growth with its total spend surging from $17.7 billion in 2020 to $32.1 billion by 2027 mainly driven by the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) market which has around 48% of the ongoing desalination projects, pushing investments to a predicted $4.3 billion by 2022, said a report ahead of the third edition of the Mena Desalination Projects Forum in Abu Dhabi. To be held from March 15 to 16, it is the largest government-endorsed regional desalination conference that will bring together over 400 regional and international stakeholders from the government, consulting, contracting and technology sectors to discuss the way forward for the regions desalination industry, key upcoming mega projects, and national sustainability visions driving the regions 2030 water agendas. More than 150 C-Suite Executives (CEOs and MDs) including more than 30 speakers and panelists will be taking part in the event which will also see 30 exhibitors and sponsors displaying their latest innovation and technologies. The rising demand for desalinated water, growing investment and increasing number of desalination projects will come under focus at the two-day forum. According to a World Bank report, the annual cost of demand gap for clean or desalinated water in the Mena region could go as high as $300 to $400 billion from the current $104 billion per year. Water scarcity in the region has already become a challenge to development. This scarcity will only grow over time due to increasing population, expected economic growth, and the likely impacts of climate change on water availability and demand, it stated. The Mena region is one of the most water-stressed parts of the world. In just over 25 years, between 1975 and 2001, the amount of fresh water available to a citizen in the region was cut in half - from 3,000 cu m per person to 1,500 cu m per person - largely due to rapid population growth. Today, that citizen has a little over 1,000 cu m for their use, compared to a global average of over 7,000 cu m. By another measure, 14 of the worlds top 20 water-scarce countries are situated in Mena region. Our analysis shows that the water demand gap will quintuple by 2050, from todays 42 cu km per annum to approximately 200 cu km per annum. World Bank said in the report. Lifting the hood on a rapidly transforming and maturing sector where digitisation is the new driver, the 18th edition of Automechnika Dubai, the Middle Easts largest international trade show for the automotive aftermarket industry, opened today. The show, which runs at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until Thursday was officially opened by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) & Commissioner General for Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being. Organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the event has exhibitors from 47 countries and 12 national pavilions all demonstrating just how far the sector has come in its technological transformation and signaling more change ahead. Technology advances are impacting all segments of the industry and are in evidence across all the shows six sectors, explained Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, Show Director of Automechanika Dubai. This represents a seismic shift in the regional industry, which is advancing rapidly in terms of service provision, product innovation and professional standards. This is an industry which has now come of age. Compared to 2019, we have seen a 40% increase in senior management and an 18% increase in procurement and purchasing personnel pre-registering for the show another signal of increased business activity and interest in finding new partners, added Bilikozen. Visitors have also pre-registered from 143 countries, so were expecting plenty of activity over the next three days. Spread across eight DWTC halls, Automechanika Dubai features six sectors: tyres & batteries; car wash, care & reconditioning, repair & maintenance; parts & components; electronics &systems as well as accessories & customisation. For the first time, the show will feature a comprehensive awards ceremony recognising excellence in products, services, personnel and training within the regional industry and a Tools & Skills Challenge - an action-packed live stage where workshop specialists can demonstrate their skills in tyre changing, tyre mounting and smart dent removal. A GREENER INDUSTRY The scale of transformation impacting the sector has been summed up by Romanian show newcomer Wemzer Industries, which says the sector is now increasingly aware of its need to contribute to global greener world endeavours. With Wemzer now producing OEM specified standard ceramic and carbon-free products, the companys Managing Director Amin Uz Zaman identified additive manufacturing, remanufacturing, e-commerce, hybrid / electric drive trains and mobility as a service as the new sector drivers. The automotive aftermarket is undergoing big disruption, he said. With electrification and digitisation driving change, we are reshaping the way customers, automotive suppliers, and industry stakeholders think of cars and driving and how business in the automotive aftermarket is conducted and value is created. The massive penetration of internet connections and smartphones has driven the customers expectation for a seamless, comfortable, and most importantly a transparent shopping experience. The automotive industry was probably delayed in embracing this transformation, but the pandemic accelerated the process and now we are witnessing a massive digitisation of the industry. UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH EXPECTED Despite setbacks due to the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic, Wemzer Industries believes the aftermarket is poised for unprecedented growth. There may be challenges related to supply chain, but we have positive indications for economic recovery across our target markets. The automotive aftermarket revenue is anticipated to record $800 billion by 2027, according to the most recent study by Global Market Insights Inc. It is a well-known fact that the global automotive industry is dynamically expanding, said Zaman. Digitalisation has recently taken an exponential pace. There are certainly dimensions that are yet to be revealed. It is a revolutionary transformation of the business and its value chain, requiring the integration of new layers and partnerships with new enablers to complete the transformation that goes beyond offering a seamless omnichannel shopping experience. And with industry analysts forecasting the GCCs automotive parts retail revenue will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8% to $6.84 billion in 2025, theres much at stake for industry players facing greater than ever competition. Keys to success are being outlined at the Automechanika Dubai Academy where experts are probing the industrys region outlook, the impact of electrification within the GCC, digital trends, sector diversification and fourth industrial revolution outcomes.-- TradeArabia News Service DP World signed a framework agreement with Uzbekistan that will enable it to expand its presence in the country, boosting global trade flow and supporting the development of digital infrastructure. The agreement was signed under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoumm, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai by Shukhrat Vafaev, Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade, Republic of Uzbekistan DP Worlds Chairman, Sultan bin Ahmed Sulayem, in the presence of Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The agreement covers a broad areas of cooperation, all which will boost Uzbekistans trade networks, and position DP World as a strategic partner in boosting international trade. Prioritising the flow of trade in the country, the agreements include the establishment of a new inland logistics network, supporting the expansion of the Navoi Free Economic Zone (FEZ), and the cargo terminal at Navoi International Airport, launching new consumer e-commerce and fintech platforms in the country, and streamlining customs operations. DP World will also deploy its advanced Port Community System by CARGOES, to provide stakeholders in trade and logistics with seamless, paperless access to services including dry ports, logistics parks, ICDs, railway stations and depots. Sultan bin Ahmed Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World, said: "DP World is committed to being a strategic partner for Uzbekistan enabling trade. Our agreements signed today will help design and shape a world-class trading ecosystem in the country. The Uzbekistan economy continues to grow at a strong pace, making it an attractive destination for long-term investments." "We look forward to working with the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade to promote economic growth and prosperity for the people of Uzbekistan, leveraging our capabilities across trading, logistics, infrastructure and digital technology." The World Bank is predicting that Uzbekistans economy will grow by 5.6% in 2022. The country is Central Asias largest consumer market, and a leading exporter of cotton and textile, automotive, fruits and vegetables. With its growing economy driving domestic consumption complemented by demand for exports, the countrys trading ecosystem is set to unlock numerous benefits. Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime-Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan, said: "Uzbekistan is keen to cooperate with DP World on facilitating the development of logistics sector of the country through implementation of portfolio of projects in key regions of the country. DP World is a world class ports and free zones operator. Combination of DP Worlds experience and capacity with Uzbekistans unique geographical location and favorable business environment will boost regional trade and contribute to further improvement of regional connectivity". Developing new trade infrastructure DP World will establish a state-of-the-art, rail-linked and road-linked, inland logistics network offering customers efficient solutions across all major distribution and consumption centers in and around Tashkent. The company will develop a 100-hectare road-and-rail linked greenfield site in Uzbekistans recently established Special Economic Zones. The agreement will see DP World becoming a strategic partner for the growing Navoi FEZ and the connectivity of the Navoi air cargo terminal linking it to major international hubs, leveraging the companys expertise in developing, owning, and operating the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), the worlds largest free zone, in Dubai. Additionally, DP World will advise and facilitate Uzbekistan Customs streamline processes with its proven expertise and next generation digital solutions to reform and modernize processes, supporting digital transformation of the overall trade facilitation. New consumer e-commerce and fintech platforms The MIFT and DP World also agreed for the company to facilitate the development of a consumer e-commerce platform, leveraging its experience from launching DUBUY.com, an e-commerce platform empowering SMEs and microbusinesses to expand their business and penetrate new markets. The company aims to build the most preferred online shopping destination of the region powered by DP Worlds cutting-edge technology. The new e-commerce platform will be complemented with a consumer fintech platform, giving consumers access to finance and banking solutions through their mobile phones. aims to be the payment option of choice for consumers, helping to facilitate faster, cheaper, and reliable P2P payment and lending opportunities. DP Worlds investment in a fintech platform for Uzbekistan in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Uzbek Investment. World Logistics Passport Uzbekistan had previously joined the WLP as a Gateway earlier this year to boost global trade networks and partnerships. The WLP will bring increased traffic and revenues for Uzbekistani traders, will increase visibility of Uzbekistan to the WLP global network and will boost global connectivity. MIFT will also be on hand to facilitate and support traders in Uzbekistan to register as WLP members. As a Gateway, Uzbekistan will be able to access the benefits of the WLP when trading via the UAE, where it joins a network of 24 Hub countries and many other Gateways that span Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Other countries that are part of the WLP network include India, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Brazil, Senegal, South Africa, the UAE, amongst others.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 The Abu Dhabi Chemicals Derivatives Company RSC Ltd (TaZiz) has signed investment agreements with eight UAE-based investors, marking the first domestic Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Abu Dhabis downstream and petrochemicals sector. The agreements comprise commitments by the investors to invest in an up to 20% stake in a portfolio of chemicals projects worth AED15 billion ($4 billion) within the TaZiz Industrial Chemicals Zone, alongside Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), ADQ, and other global strategic partners in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi. The signing of the investment agreements was witnessed by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Adnoc Managing Director and Group CEO, and His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of ADQ. Dr Sultan Al Jaber said: We are delighted to welcome leading UAE-based investors to partner with Adnoc and ADQ to further accelerate the development of TaZiz. This equity partnership, the first Public Private Partnership of its kind in Abu Dhabis chemicals industry, highlights Adnocs continued commitment to deepening our contributions to local industry and pioneering new, innovative means of collaboration with the UAEs private sector. Through TaZiz, our new domestic partners will have a stake in ongoing activities to enable additional domestic production of critical industrial raw materials, drive economic diversification and further grow the UAEs advanced manufacturing base, supporting the ambitions outlined in the Principles of the 50 set out by our wise leadership. Looking ahead, we look forward to further growing a robust pipeline of investment and partnership opportunities at TaZiz, welcoming leading investors who are ready to partner with us on the development of a globally competitive chemicals and industrial hub, he added. Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi said: The agreements reflect our aim to strengthen collaboration with the private sector. Sustainable industrial growth ensures that the UAE is well positioned to attract foreign direct investment and grow its leadership across core sectors of the economy where ADQ is active. Through our broad portfolio, we can unlock the investment potential of TaZiz on a global scale, while remaining firmly committed to driving value creation and supporting the sustainable development of Abu Dhabis economy. The eight UAE-based investors who have signed agreements with TaZiz include: Al Dhafra Co-operative Society Al Nasser Holdings LLC Alpha Dhabi Partners Holding LLC Arab Development Establishment Buhairan Limited Company LLC Capital Investment LLC Mazrui International and Mazrui Energy Services Riverside Investments LLC The development of the TaZiz industrial hub is expected to benefit from Adnoc and ADQs world-class infrastructure and high-quality feedstock, as well as the support of MoIAT. Adnocs operations are a critical engine for industrial growth in the UAE, with competitive feedstocks available to catalyze the growth of industries and manufacturing supply chains. Similarly, ADQ is advancing economic clusters around essential sectors, ensuring they are part of global value chains, facilitating growth and a broad portfolio of major enterprises that spans key sectors of a diversified economy, as well as enabling private sector investment in the UAEs economy. The TaZiz Industrial Chemicals Zone has received significant interest from leading international and local investors alike. Partnership agreements have already been signed with Fertiglobe, a JV between Adnoc and OCI, Mitsui and GS Energy regarding a proposed blue ammonia production facility and with Reliance Industries, regarding a proposed JV for the development of an ethylene dichloride (EDC), chlor-alkali (CA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production facility. In addition, Adnoc has signed agreements to develop a utilities facility with TAQA and a world-scale port with Adnoc Logistics & Services and AD Ports Group to support and drive the growth of the TaZiz Industrial Chemicals Zone. The TaZiz Industrial Chemical Zone projects are currently in the design phase with project start up targeted in 2025. The local investor agreements follow an exclusive briefing for the UAEs leading investors, held at the Adnoc Business Centre in Abu Dhabi in September. The event unveiled TaZizs unique investment proposition and was hosted in partnership with MoIAT. Chemicals is a priority sector for Operation 300bn, the UAEs industrial growth strategy championed by MoIAT, which has the goal to raise the UAE industrial sectors contribution to national gross domestic product (GDP) to AED300 billion by 2031. Chemicals enable everyday life and represent an attractive sector given the projected global demand growth and the opportunity to create new supply chains through local production. TradeArabia News Service Aircraft charter specialist Delta World Charter (DWC) has celebrated its seventh year of operations in 2021 with continued growth despite challenging market conditions including the Covid-19 pandemic. Dubai-headquartered DWC expanded its global footprint, and a range of delivery services, to stay resilient and continue to grow this year. DWC achieved profitability in its first year of operations, registering a double figure CAGR between 2014 and 2020. In 2021, DWC flew over 28,000 passengers in total. Despite a turbulent period for the aviation sector, DWC remained strong across passenger private jets and cargo divisions, signing up as the General Sales agent (GSA) for Fly2Skys Airbus A320 fleet earlier this year, a statement from the company said. The company performed over 80 flights across 159 sectors, flown over 11,000 passengers, generated over $8 million in revenue and added seven new customers in the first six months of operations as GSA. In 2021, a new class of passengers pivoted to private aviation for the safety, privacy, and comfort it afforded, with prices that are often comparable to first-class commercial travel. As some countries began welcoming tourists again, DWC saw pent up demand materialise. On the back of Covid-19 immunisations rolling out across the world and travel resuming in many sectors, DWC remains optimistic about long-term global prospects. DWCs bullish outlook has been bolstered by its participation at the Dubai Airshow 2021. CEO Dmitriy Korshunov said: In our seventh year of operations, we are proud to have been of service, by facilitating repatriations, evacuations, and humanitarian missions. In a challenging year when we continue to grapple with border closures and travel restrictions, charter flights stepped in to fill a critical gap. "Throughout the pandemic, DWC has transported not just stranded travellers but millions of pieces of PPE, masks and aid to communities around the world as well. We were one of the first air charter companies to deploy aircraft for evacuation of people in Kabul earlier this year." As the industry takes off globally, DWC has projected positive results for 2022. We remain upbeat about the further growth of the market, and we will be investing more into our operations next year, said Korshunov. We look forward to achieving many more milestones, as we expand operations into Africa, even as we navigate the new normal of the post-pandemic business landscape and continue to serve people everywhere.-TradeArabia News Service Marriott International, Inc. announced it has signed an agreement with The Aktarl Group to open six properties in prime locations across Turkey. The agreement marks the introduction of the Tribute Portfolio in Turkey, and further expands the Autograph Collection Hotels, The Luxury Collection and AC Hotels brands in the country. Marriott International Vice President Development, Europe Paul Rosenberg said: We are delighted to work with The Aktarl Group to enhance our footprint in the country with this signing of six hotels. Marriott International has a history of successful operations in the Turkish market which continues to present great opportunities for us to expand our portfolio." The agreement includes six adaptive reuse and conversion projects in Istanbul and Izmir. Close to the embassies and museums, Adahan Pera Istanbul, Autograph Collection is slated to open in 2022. DeCamondo Galata, Istanbul, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel compromised of three historic buildings is also slated to open next year. AC by Marriott Istanbul Old Town and two Luxury Collection properties in the capital, Legacy Ottoman and Sansaryan Han are anticipated to open in 2023. The AC by Marriott Izmir Karsyaka will be situated on the coastline of Izmir and is slated to open in 2022. Adahan Pera Istanbul, Autograph Collection, DeCamondo Galata, Istanbul, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel and AC by Marriott Izmir Karsyaka will be operated by Access Hospitality, on behalf of The Aktarl Group. We continued our investments despite the pandemic and are proud about our contributions to the Turkish and international hospitality sector, including our collaboration with Marriott International on these deals, said Rauf Aktarl, Chairman of the The Aktarl Group. Together with our team of 1,000 employees, we will continue working on new developments and strengthen our relationship with organisations like Marriott International who are committed to growing in the Turkish market, he added. Access Hospitality President Haluk Ozdogan added: For over 30 years, Access has been committed to providing the best solution for investors and developers. We are proud to be associated with this agreement between The Aktarl Group and Marriott International.-TradeArabia News Service Some of the World Travel Awards winners of 2020. (Image courtesy: World Travel Awards) World Travel Awards the leading authority that recognises and rewards excellence in travel and tourism has unveiled the 2021 winners of its World categories. Winners include Maldives, which cemented its reputation as the secluded sanctuary to win Worlds Leading Destination for the second time. Portugal also performed strongly, with Madeira voted Worlds Leading Island Destination and The Algarve picking up Worlds Leading Beach Destination. Greek Ministry of Tourism/GNTO was voted Worlds Leading Tourist Board, whilst Armenia was named Worlds Leading Heritage Destination. Dubai was voted Worlds Leading Business Travel Destination with Dubai World Trade Centre claiming Worlds Leading Meetings & Conference Centre. Mina Rashid was acknowledged as Worlds Leading Cruise Port, and The Palm Jumeirah Nakheel took Worlds Leading Tourism Development Project. Russias splendour was recognised with Moscow and St Petersburg winning top honours. Moscow was voted Worlds Leading City Break Destination and Worlds Leading Heritage City Destination, whilst St Petersburg collected Worlds Leading City Destination, Worlds Leading Cultural City Destination and Worlds Leading Marketing Campaign. The ancient citadel of Machu Picchu was hailed Worlds Leading Tourist Attraction, with Peru also collecting Worlds Leading Cultural Destination. In the hospitality sector, Armani Hotel Dubai emerged as Worlds Leading Hotel, whilst Sardinias Forte Village Resort took Worlds Leading Resort. The remote Amanpulo, Philippines was named Worlds Leading Dive Resort, whilst its Aman Resorts stablemate Amandari, Indonesia picked up Worlds Leading Boutique All Suite Hotel. Dubais Burj al Arab was voted Worlds Leading Luxury All Suite Hotel and Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach voted Worlds Leading Luxury Resort. In the newcomer categories, The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm secured Worlds Leading New Hotel, whilst Raffles The Palm Dubai picked up Worlds Leading New Resort. Brand winners include InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (Worlds Leading Hotel Brand), Sandals (Worlds Leading All-Inclusive Company), Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts (Worlds Leading Resort Brand), and The Ascott Limited Hospitality (Worlds Leading Serviced Apartment Brand). In the aviation sector, Emirates lifted Worlds Leading Airline and Worlds Leading Airline - First Class, whilst Worlds Leading Airport went to Dubai International Airport. Etihad Airways was voted Worlds Leading Airline - Business Class, with Singapore Airlines named Worlds Leading Airline - Economy Class. Aeroflot - Russian Airlines was voted Worlds Leading Airline Brand, whilst Star Alliance took Worlds Leading Airline Alliance. The results follow a year-long search for the worlds top travel, tourism and hospitality brands. Votes were cast by travel industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner. World Travel Awards Founder Graham Cooke said: Our winners represent the best in global travel and tourism and my congratulations to each of them. They are all playing starring roles in leading the global travel and tourism recovery. Jamaica enjoyed a hat trick of destination awards (Worlds Leading Cruise Destination, Worlds Leading Family Destination and Worlds Leading Wedding Destination). The aviation company Jetex took Worlds Leading FBO Brand and Worlds Leading Private Jet Travel Experience, with Jetex Paris named Worlds Leading FBO Terminal. Other winners include Madrid (Worlds Leading Meetings & Conference Destination); Royal Caribbean International (Worlds Leading Cruise Brand); Atlantis, The Palm (Worlds Leading Landmark Resort); Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai (Worlds Leading Water Park); Royal Penthouse @ Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai (Worlds Leading Hotel Penthouse).-TradeArabia News Service SunExpress, a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, has officially launched direct flights from Dubai to Antalya, Turkey from December 2021 till March 2022. SunExpress will operate two weekly direct flights. Antalya is the fastest-growing city in Turkey, and tourists from around the world are discovering its fabulous mix of great beaches and traditional Turkish culture.-- TradeArabia News Service Help India! Justice for All provided concrete evidence that a command hierarchy was in place that precipitated what can only be described as a premeditated pogrom against Muslims, their homes and their businesses. TCN News Support TwoCircles CHICAGO An American human rights organization, Justice For All, has called on the Biden administration to levy targeted sanctions against three Indian citizens involved in violent extremism, including their prominent roles in the attacks against minorities during the February 2020 Delhi pogrom. Justice For All is a human rights organization and an NGO with consultative status at the United Nations. The organization said its mandate is to educate fellow citizens on social justice concerns and provide guidance for action through regular newsletters and extensive media engagement. The case document reflects months of work in evidence gathering and analyzing the interconnections that led to the attacks and deaths of so many in Delhi, and asks for an assets freeze and visa restrictions against perpetrators named in the file, Justice For All said in a statement. The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act is one of the United States most powerful foreign policy tools for addressing human rights abuses. Since 2016, targeted sanctions have been placed on more than 300 human rights abusers although not a single person targeted is from India despite USCIRFs recommendations. In the filing, Justice for All provided concrete evidence that a command hierarchy was in place that precipitated what can only be described as a premeditated pogrom against Muslims, their homes and their businesses. Imam Abdul-Malik Mujahid, CEO and founder of Justice For All, stated, To halt the growing attacks on minorities and the rising majoritarianism, the United States must take action. He said the Delhi pogrom was not spontaneous spur-of-the-moment violence as the Indian authorities have made it out to be. There is a rising trend of militancy in Hindutva aligned religious organizations in India and as an organization with 25 years of anti-genocide work behind us, Justice For All is warning the world, he said. Zahir Adil, head of the Save India From Fascism project at Justice For All added, The evidence clearly indicates that these attacks were orchestrated. The United States must no longer be a mute spectator to Indias Nazi inspiNazi-inspired Sanctions against these individuals will be a small but important message that will be noticed. He said the Delhi pogrom is indicative of the dangerous trajectory India is heading down, one in which vulnerable religious minorities particularly Muslims are targeted. The ruling BJP with its Hindutva agenda has instigated the type of violence that occurred during the Delhi pogrom. Justice for All will shortly be releasing a report on the eerie similarities between the Hindutva playbook of Modis majoritarian government and the Nazi playbook of Hitlers Germany, Adil added. Help India! The latest NITI Aayog report states that 64.75 per cent of Kishanganjs population are multidimensionally poor. This TCN Ground Report looks at the reasons behind Kishanganjs poor performance. Sami Ahmad | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles BIHAR Bihars only Muslim majority district of Kishanganj is the worst performing district on many indices of development and has the highest multidimensional poverty index (MPI) in the state, revealed the National Institution of Transforming India or NITI Aayogs recently released report. The district also has the worst literacy rate as per the census of 2011. Muslims constitute around 68 per cent of Kishanganjs total population of 16.90 lakhs (Census of India 2011). In a research paper released by the Institute for Human Development, New Delhi in 2008, the percentage of Muslims in the district was stated to be 70. This district was carved out of the Purnia district on 14 January 1990. Earlier it was a subdivision of the Purnia district. While Bihar is at the bottom of this MPI in India, the Kishanganj and Araria districts of the Seemanchal area of the state constitute the two worst performers. Araria too has a substantial number of Muslims at 43 per cent. The latest NITI Aayog report states that 64.75 per cent of Kishanganjs population are multidimensionally poor. Araria comes at second, with 64.65 per cent of its population as multidimensionally poor. NITI Aayog has based its index on National Family Health Survey reference period 2015-16 with technical support from the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This indexing has been done on three major dimensions Health, Education and Standard of Living. Under the health dimension, it has three indicators Nutrition, Child & Adolescent Mortality and Maternal Health. The dimension of Education covers Years of Schooling and School Attendance. While Standard of Living has a maximum of seven indicators; Cooking Fuel, Sanitation, Drinking Water, Electricity, Housing, Assets and Bank Account. Interestingly, the adjoining West Bengals district of Uttar (North) Dinajpur which is to the east of Kishangaj, also is a bad performer on MPI with a Muslim population of 49.92 per cent which makes it a Muslim majority district though by a slender margin. It has the second-highest percentage of multidimensionally poor in the state. Shockingly, its twin district Dakshin (South) Dinajpur is way better with only 22.42 percentage found to be among the poor and it is placed at nine in MPI. But then it has only 24.63 per cent Muslims according to the data available on the internet. What is also noticeable is the performance of West Bengals two districts of Darjiling and Jalpaiguri. Darjiling is on the north of Kishanganj and North Dinajpur while Jalpaiguri is to the northeast of North Dinajpur. While Jalpaiguri has a 22.02 percentage of poor on the MPI, Darjiling is the best performer of West Bengal on MPI with just 11.41 percentage of the poor population in the district. Muslim population in Jalpaiguri is considered to be 11.51 per cent while it is just 5.69 percentage. From the above data, it is clear that the districts of Bihars eastern border area and the adjoining West Bengals area with a substantial Muslim population are very bad performers on MPI. One more district of West Bengals Maldah makes this observation very clear. Maldah is also a Muslim majority district with 51.27 per cent of Muslims. Malda is the third-worst performer of the state on MPI as 35.70 per cent of its population are poor. To briefly understand the level of deprivation, the twelve indicators of Kishaganj may be compared to that of Patna, the best overall performer on MPI. More than 55 per cent population of Kishanganj is undernourished while it is just below 43 per cent in Patna. In terms of maternal health, which is counted by at least four antenatal care visits, Kishanganjs 47.74 percentage of the population is deprived of that while this figure is almost ten per cent less in Patna. On the years of schooling indicator, more than 42 per cent of children of 10 years and above do not complete six years of schooling in Kishanganj. This figure for Patna is at 14.62 percentage. There is also a huge gap between the two on school attendance indicators as Kishanganj has a 20.19 percentage of non-attendance of school-age children while it is just above 7 per cent in Patna. The gap in living standard dimension gets even wider. For example, on the housing indicator, 82.87 per cent population is deprived of proper housing, while it is 38.07 percentage in Patna. By proper housing, it is meant that the floor is made of natural materials, or the roof or walls are made of rudimentary materials. On the indicator of using cooking fuel, Kishanganjs 94.41 percentage of the population is deprived of it while this figure for Patna is just above 50 per cent. NITI considers a household deprived of cooking fuel if the primary source of cooking fuel is dung, agricultural crops, shrubs, wood, charcoal or coal. Similarly, on other indicators like sanitation, drinking water, bank accounts and electricity Kishanganjs performance is quite abysmal. What makes Kishanganj such a bad performer? UNFPs former Bihar head Nadeem Noor told TwoCircles.net that among many factors, one common factor is the distance from the ruling establishment. Kishanganj is around 400 kilometres east of the state capital Patna. Noor wondered while there are popular schemes like Ujjwala for LPG, Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal for tap water and housing schemes, still, the district is not performing as desired. It seems that due to the lack of awareness and education the benefit of government schemes is not reaching the households, he said. Noor believes that strong demands and action from civil society would certainly help the region. Kishanganj has been represented in the Parliament mostly by Congress and Muslim candidates which include the likes of M.J. Akbar and late Maulana Asrarul Haque of the Congress, late Syed Shahabuddin of Janata Dal, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain of the BJP and late Mohammad Taslimuddin of Rashtriya Janata Dal. Overall, Congress candidates got elected nine times from here for the Parliament. Only once in 1967, a non-Muslim candidate Lakhan Lal Kapoor was elected from here. Akhtarul Iman, the state chief of All India Muslim Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen is of the view that the political leaders only cared for their ticket from the party and not for the people of the area. He told TwoCircles.net that barring a few occasions the elected representatives of Kishanganj Parliamentary seat mortgaged their own people and did not raise their voice for the development of the area. The current Member of Parliament from Kishanganj seat Mohammad Jawed of the Congress told TwoCirles.net that lack of education, employment, industry and heavy dependence on agriculture are the main reasons that make Kishanganj perform so poorly on MPI. Akhtarul Iman said that the Nitish Kumar government is ruling the state with the slogan of development with justice, but NITIs figures negate the claims made by the government. NITIs stats are proof of what my party has been saying about Seemanchal and particularly Kishanganj which has suffered the most and is at the bottom of all major indices, he said. Imam said, Seemanchal must be declared special zone and it should be given special grant under article 371. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Bihars chief told TwoCircles.net that the Nitish Kumar government has allocated more than 11 crore rupees for the Mokama-tal area, why not such grant for Seemanchal? Mokama is considered to be a wetland in the Patna district. Kishanganj M.P. Mohammad Jawed echoes a similar concern. Less funding for the area is a big problem, he said. Kishanganj was identified as one of the ninety minority concentrated backward districts using eight indicators of socio-economic development and amenities based on 2001 census data by the Ministry of Minority Affairs of the central government. The purpose of this identification was to improve the indicators to the All-India level through a Multi-Sector Development Plan (MsDP). This MsDP is now known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram. Many in the know, however, say that the funding for MsDP has slowed down and many of its projects have been left unfinished. Institute for Human Development had conducted a baseline survey of Kishanganj in 2008 sponsored by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Indian Council of Social Science Research. The survey used eight indicators like literacy, housing, drinking water, electricity, health and toilets. There was a huge gap between the figures of Kishanganj and the All-India average. Akhtarul Iman cites the example of the number of schools in 2012 in Kishanganj and Munger. While Kishanganj had only 17 High schools for almost 17 lakh population, Munger had 88 high schools for nearly 14 lakh population. He cites the case of the proposed Kishanganj centre of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) which is being run in a makeshift arrangement while it is allotted over 200 acres of land but is stranded in a legal battle and no central grant has been released. Both Akhtrul Iman and Mohammad Jawed cite another common reason for the poor economical state of Kishanganj, which is the devastating flood and no compensation from the government. This has led to a vicious vicious cycle of poverty that leads to migration and a lack of education in the area. Akhtarul Iman claims that before partition, Kishanganj and the Seemanchal areas were well off. There was a good amount of trade from Bangladesh. There was a famous Khagda Mela where traders from different parts of Bihar and abroad as far as Afghanistan used to visit. But after partition, the Muslim-Patti was deliberately deprived. There was a systemic deprivation. This area was deprived of modern educational institutions, he said. Imam said that only public awareness can cure the illness of Kishanganj and Seemanchal with more focus on education and political rights for the area. TwoCircles.net contacted the district magistrate to get his views on the latest ranking by NITI but there was no response from him. One senior official said that he cannot comment on the findings of NITI but according to him Kishanganj has performed much better on many indicators like housing, sanitation and electricity. He wondered why Kishanganj has been adjudged as the worst on MPI. NITI too has a note that the NFHS 4 (2015-16) precedes the full rollout of flagship schemes of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). Former director of A.N. Sinha Institute Social Studies, Patna D.M. Diwakar told TwoCircles.net that the insecurity of minorities which emerged from the partition is still hampering the development of Seemanchal. Bihar has an uneven and unequal development structure. It is worth noting that people are less aware of the government schemes which could uplift the living standards of Seemanchal, but one needs to have money to get the benefits of those schemes. For example, if one gets a gas cylinder but that is useless without refilling capacity or if one does not pay the electricity bill, electrification programme does not work, Diwakar said. Diwakar called for a one-time effort to mainstream the development in the Seemanchal area. Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb. Because of the gender differences in sexual debut, the authors also urge more gender-specific prevention programs that are implemented at earlier ages, especially among high risk populations. Goldie Hawn, 70, Flaunts Flawless Beach Body in Nude Swimsuit What do I do with these? But that's most definitely some type of joke er, misunderstanding? Soledad Miranda - She Killed In Ecstasy 1971 tumblr A true legend among cult film aficionados, the hauntingly beautiful Miranda used the stage name Susann Korda sometimes credited as Susan Korday, to make it more confusing for a series of iconic exploitation movies with prolific Spanish trash master Jess Franco, before her life was tragically short by a car accident in 1970, before any of the films in question had even reached screens. Apparently, this is the second time this week that Maxine Waters has talked about the alleged collusion of Trump's administration with the Kremlin. 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. Summary The story begins with the narrator explaining how Heloise's father, Clifford, died when she was twelve. He was in a car accident in France with two women, though he was supposed to be in Germany at the time. One of the women, his lover, was also killed in the crash. The other woman was his lover's friend, and she survived. Heloise used to convince herself that she had gone with her mother to France to see her father in the hospital, but her mother assures her that was not the case. Now, thirty years later, Heloise still occasionally talks to her mother, Angie, about the incident. Heloise asks Angie if she ever saw her father's lover, Delia, but Angie tells her that Delia was not the lover but "the other one" (2). Heloise's parents had a complicated and contentious relationship. They were politically radical, and... Uncertainty looms in Buea Unknown 12 people sustained injuries when an Improvised Explosive Device blew off at the Trade Fair site at Bongo Square, Buea late on Sunday night. State media reports that it was at about 9:45 pm on Sunday that the explosion occurred at the Trade Fair site. Unable to breach security measures, the carrier of the bomb is reported to have thrown the bomb over the fence. Dr. Martin Mokake, Director of the Buea Regional Hospital said nine injured persons have been discharged while three others are still under observation in the hospital. We received 12 injured ranging from the aged of 21 to 35. Most of them had mild but multiple injuries. They had multiple peroral wounds all over their bodies showing that the explosive was packed with pellets and sharp objects to cause maximum damage. For now, we have three of them who have been hospitalized out of the 12. The rest have been discharged. The three hospitalized had extensive injuries and we are still doing repeats of their scans to make sure that they are out of imminent danger, said Dr. Mokake. Officials have opened investigations. They have also called on the population to remain vigilant and to intensify collaboration with the forces of law and order especially during this period of end-of-year festivities. They have been told to report anything and anybody suspicious. Cameroon-Info.Net recalls that on December 6, 2021, separatists planted an explosive device at the Great Soppo Market. No casualty was recorded as the bomb was quickly spotted by traders in the market. It was a green gas cylinder. It would appear that the explosive device was left there intentionally. We thought we were going to die and as such ran for our dear lives. Its now that we have mustered the courage to come back following the reassuring words from the authorities who have been to the scene. They want to instill fear in us but we cant give in to fear because if we do not come to the market, we will be unable to feed our families," a trader said. Although no casualty was recorded, the local authorities alongside the forces of law and order descended to the scene to evaluate the situation. The Mayor of Buea, Barrister David Mafani Namange says the peace-loving people of Buea will not be shaken. I want to condemn it and condemn it totally on behalf of the population of Buea. The crime is that we are peaceful people, if at all that is a crime. But I want to thank the population that nothing will shake our resolve to stay peaceful and to stay by the nation, he said. The population has been called to always scrutinize their environment, watch out for suspicious items and collaborate with the forces of law and order so as to maintain peace in Buea especially during this festive period. Cameroons state forces have been battling to dislodge armed separatists who pitched their tents in the North West and South West Regions since Anglophone protests transformed into an armed conflict in 2017. Corporate demands by Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers led to protests in November 2016. The street demonstrations later morphed into ongoing running gun battles between state forces and armed separatist fighters in the predominantly English-speaking regions, leading to untold destruction of human lives, their habitats, and livelihoods. Tit-for-tat killings, kidnappings, arsons, maiming, and outright terror have become part of daily lives in some parts of the English-speaking regions. The militiamen have recently resorted to using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in schools, markets, and other civilian environments. : 20211216 16:41:47 : : : Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No.: 2021-114 Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. Announcement on Granting Reserved Restricted Shares to Incentive Objects The members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading statement or significant omission carried in this announcement. Special Tips: Listing date for restricted stock: December 16,2021 Reserve grant quantity of restricted shares: 1,380,000 million shares Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has fulfilled the conditions for granting restricted stocks stipulated in the 2021 restricted stock incentive plan (hereinafter referred to as "this incentive plan" and "incentive plan"). According to the authorization of the second provisional general meeting of shareholders of 2021. On December 16, 2021, the Company convened the 20th meeting of the 8th Board of Directors and the 13th Meeting of the 8th Board of Supervisors, reviewed and approved the Proposal on Granting Reserved Restricted Shares to Incentive Objects, and determined that the grant date of restricted stocks would be December 16, 2021. The relevant matters are explained as follows: I. Brief introduction of incentive plan (I) Source of underlying stocks The underlying stock of this incentive plan is the company stock repurchased in the special securities account for repurchase by the company. IIThe number of restricted stocks to be granted in this incentive plan is 19,551,800, accounting for 2.59% of the total share capital for 754,010,400 shares of the company at the time of announcement of this incentive plan. Where, 18.17 million are granted for the first time, accounting for 2.41% of the company's total share capital; 1,381,800 are reserved, accounting for 0.18% of the company's total share capital of 754,010,400, and the reserved portion accounts for 7.07% of the total equity granted this time. The number of restricted shares granted to any incentive object in the incentive plan does not exceed 1% of the total share capital of the company before the incentive plan is submitted to the shareholders' meeting for deliberation. (III) This incentive plan has 500 incentive objects, including the company directors (excluding independent directors and external directors), senior management personnel, other leadership members, company middle management and company core personnel. (IV)The grant price of the restricted stocks is HKD 6.825 per share. The pricing base date of the grant price of restricted stocks (including reserved grants) granted by this incentive plan is the announcement date of this incentive plan. The grant price shall not be less than 50% of the higher of the following prices: 1. The average trading price of the Company's underlying stock in the 1st trading day before the announced by this incentive plan (total trading volume of the 1st trading day/total trading volume of the 1st trading day). 2. One of the following prices: (1) The average trading price of the Company's underlying stocks in the first 20 trading days announced by this incentive plan (total trading amount of stocks in the first 20 trading days/total trading amount of stocks in the first 20 trading days). (2) The average trading price of the Company's underlying stocks in the first 60 trading days announced by this incentive plan (total trading amount of stocks in the first 60 trading days/total trading amount of stocks in the first 60 trading days). (3) The average trading price of the Company's underlying stocks in the first 120 trading days announced by this incentive plan (total trading amount of stocks in the first 120 trading days/total trading amount of stocks in the first 120 trading days). (V) Time arrangement of this incentive plan The validity period of this incentive plan shall be from the date when the registration of granting restricted stock is completed to the date when all restricted stocks granted to the incentive object are released or repurchased, which shall be no more than 60 months. The sales restriction period of restricted stocks granted by this incentive plan is 24 months, 36 months and 48 months from the date of registration of the granted restricted stocks. During the sales restriction period, the restricted stocks granted to the incentive object according to this incentive plan shall be restricted for sale, and shall not be transferred, used to guarantee or repay debts. Shares such as capital reserve converted into share capital, distribution of stock dividends, and share splitting obtained by the incentive object due to the granted restricted stocks that have not been released from the sales restriction are locked according to this incentive plan. If the Company repurchases restricted stocks that have not been lifted for sales restriction, these stocks will be repurchased together. After 24 months from the date of registration of restricted stocks granted by this incentive plan, the incentive object will be lifted on sales restriction in three phases in the next 36 months. The sales restriction release period of restricted stocks and the release schedule of each period are shown in the following table: Release arrangement of sales restriction Release time of sales restriction Proportion of the number of sales restriction that can be lifted to the number of authorized benefits First Sales restriction release period From the first trading day 24 months after the completion of the grant registration to the last trading day within 36 months after the completion of the grant registration 33% Second Sales restriction release period From the first trading day 36 months after the completion of the grant registration to the last trading day within 48 months after the completion of the grant registration 33% Third Sales restriction release period From the first trading day 48 months after the completion of the grant registration to the last trading day within 60 months after the completion of the grant registration 34% Restricted stocks that are not allowed to be released on sales restriction during the sales restriction release period of the incentive object shall not be deferred to the later year for release, and such restricted stocks shall be repurchased by the Company according to the granted price. (VI) Performance assessment requirements for lifting restrictions on the restricted stock sales 1. Performance assessment requirements at company level For restricted stocks granted by this incentive plan, the assessment year for lifting the restricted sales of this incentive plan is three fiscal years from 2021 to 2023, with one assessment in each fiscal year. The performance assessment of lifting the restricted stock granted by this plan is shown in the following table: Sale restriction period Performance assessment conditions The first sales restriction release period Based on the average performance from 2018 to 2020, the growth rate of net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the company in 2021 is not lower than [12.0%], which is not lower than the average level of the same industry; The return on net assets in 2021 is not lower than [8.0%], which is not lower than the average level of the same industry; In 2021, the profit of main business accounts for no less than [73%] of the total profit. The second sales restriction release period Based on the average performance from 2018 to 2020, the growth rate of net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the company in 2022 is not lower than [16.0%], which is not lower than the average level of the same industry; The return on net assets in 2022 is not lower than [8.0%], which is not lower than the average level of the same industry; In 2022, the profit of main business accounts for no less than [73%] of the total profit. The third sales restriction release period Based on the average performance from 2018 to 2020, the growth rate of net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of the company in 2023 is not lower than [20.0%], which is not lower than the average level of the same industry; The return on net assets in 2023 is not lower than [8.0%], which is not lower than the average level of the same industry; In 2023, the profit of main business accounts for no less than [73%] of the total profit. Note: The impact of other comprehensive income-changes in fair value of investment in other equity instruments on changes in net assets is not considered when calculating the return on net assets. When calculating the growth rate of net profit, the net profit attributable to the parent company of the listed company after excluding the influence of share-based payment expenses of this plan is the accounting standard. Main business profit = total profit - investment income. The specific accounting standard of performance indicators shall be determined by the Board of Directors authorized by the General Meeting of Shareholders. Within the validity period of the equity incentive plan, if the net assets change due to additional issuance, share allotment, merger and acquisition, etc., Where assessing the return on net assets index for the year, changes in net assets and net profit changes caused by this event are excluded. The Company is of the "General Equipment Manufacturing Industry" under the "Manufacturing Industry" category of CSRC, and its peer enterprises in the same industry are all domestic A-share and B-share listed companies under the "General Equipment Manufacturing Industry" category of CSRC. If the performance assessment target of the restricted stock in a certain period of the sales restriction release period is not achieved, the restricted stock of all incentive objects in the current period cannot be lifted, and the Company will repurchase the restricted stock at the granted price. 2. Assessment of incentive objects at individual level Assessment of incentive objects at individual level shall be conducted in accordance with the Administrative Measures for the Implementation Assessment of Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. in 2021. Individual assessment of incentive objects is carried out by years, and performance assessment results (S) are divided into four grades. The proportion of sales restriction release in the current year is determined according to the results of individual performance assessment. The actual sales restriction release amount of the individual in the current year = the coefficient of sales restriction release the planned sales restriction release amount of the individual in the current year. The special circumstances in performance assessment shall be decided by the Board of Directors. See the following table for details: Evaluation results (s) Excellent Good Pass Fail Coefficient of sales restriction release 1 0.8 0 Restricted stocks that cannot be released in the current period due to the results of performance assessment at individual level shall not be deferred until the sales restriction release in the next period, and shall be repurchased by the Company at the granted price. II. Decision-making procedure and approval of equity incentive plan (I) On July 11, 2021, the 14th Meeting of the Eighth Board of Directors reviewed and approved the Proposal on the Company's Restricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) in 2021 and its Summary, the Proposal on the Company's Implementation Assessment Management Measures for the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021, and the Proposal on Requesting the General Meeting of Shareholders to Authorize the Board of Directors to Handle Matters Related to the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021, and the Ninth Meeting of the Eighth Supervisors of the Company reviewed and approved the above related proposals. The Company disclosed related announcements such as the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) and its Summary in 2021, the Implementation Assessment Management Measures for the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021, the Incentive Object List of the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021, the Self-inspection Form of Equity Incentive Plan, and the Legal Opinions of Shanghai Allbright Law Offices on the 2021 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. Independent directors of the Company expressed their independent opinions on whether the equity incentive plan is conducive to the sustainable development of the Company and whether there is any harm to the interests of the Company and all shareholders. The Board of Supervisors of the Company issued the Verification Opinions on the Company's Restricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) in 2021. (II) On August 12, 2021, the Company disclosed the Announcement on the Approval of Equity Incentive Plan by Hangzhou SASAC. The Company received the Reply of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. on Implementing the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021 (HGZK [2021] No.45), and Hangzhou SASAC agreed in principle that the Company should implement the restricted stock incentive plan in 2021. (III) From July 12, 2021 to July 21, 2021, the Company publicized the names and positions of the incentive objects by posting the Publicity of the Company's Restricted Stock Incentive Objects in 2021 on the Company's business premises, specifying the circumstances that forbids to be equity incentive objects, and the ways and means of feedback during the publicity period. As of the expiration of the publicity period, the Company has not received any objection from any organization or individual to the incentive object of this incentive plan. On August 23, 2021, the Company disclosed the Publicity and Verification Opinions of the Board of Supervisors of the Company on the List of Incentive Objects of Restricted Stock Incentive Plan. The Board of Supervisors of the Company believes that the incentive objects listed in this incentive plan comply with the Administrative Measures, Trial Measures, Notice and other laws, regulations, normative documents and the scope and conditions of incentive objects stipulated in the Incentive Plan (Draft), and there is no circumstances that forbids to be incentive objects, and its qualification as the incentive objects of this incentive plan is legal and effective. On August 23, 2021, the Company disclosed the Independent Financial Advisor's Report of CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. on the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) in 2021 of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. (IV) On August 27, 2021, the Company held the Second provisional Shareholders' General Meeting in 2021, which reviewed and approved the Proposal on the Company's Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021 and its Summary, the Proposal on the Company's Implementation Assessment Management Measures for the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021, and the Proposal on Requesting the General Meeting of Shareholders to Authorize the Board of Directors to Handle Matters Related to the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021. Meanwhile, the Company disclosed the Self-inspection Report on Insider Information of Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021 and Stock Trading of Incentive Objects. (V)On August 30, 2021, the Company convened the 16th Board of Directors and the 11th Session of the Eighth Board of Supervisors, and respectively reviewed and approved the Proposal on Granting Restricted Shares to Incentive Objects for the First Time. Independent directors of the Company expressed independent opinions on relevant proposals of the Board of Directors. (VI) On October 22, 2021, the Company completed the registration of granting restricted shares for the first time, with 455 people registered for the first time and 18,060,000 shares registered. (VII) On December 16, 2021, the 20th Meeting of the 8th Board of Directors and the 13th Meeting of 8th Board of Supervisors of the Company reviewed and approved the Proposal on Granting Reserved Restricted Shares to Incentive Objects. Independent directors of the Company expressed independent opinions on relevant proposals of the Board of Directors. III. Explanation of the Board of Directors on meeting the conditions for granting restricted stocks The Company must meet the following conditions at the same time before granting restricted stocks to the incentive object according to this incentive plan. (I) None of the following situations occurred in the Company: 1. The certified public accountants have issued an audit report with negative opinions or that cannot express opinions for the financial and accounting reports in the latest fiscal year; 2. The certified public accountants have issued an audit report with negative opinions or that cannot express opinions for the internal control of financial reports in the latest fiscal year; 3. In the 36 months after listing, there have been cases where profits have not been distributed according to laws and regulations, the Articles of Association and public commitments; 4. Where the provisions of laws and regulations stipulates not to implement equity incentives; 5. Other circumstances identified by the CSRC. (II) None of the following situations occurred in the incentive objects: 1. He has been identified as an inappropriate candidate by the stock exchange in the last 12 months; 2. He has been identified as an inappropriate candidate by the CSRC and its dispatched offices in the last 12 months; 3. In the last 12 months, he has been subject to the administrative penalties imposed by CSRC and its dispatched offices or market ban measures due to major violations of laws and regulations; 4. He is not allowed to serve as a director or senior manager of the company as stipulated in the Company Law; 5. Where the laws and regulations stipulate that he is not allowed to participate in the equity incentives of listed companies; 6. Other circumstances identified by the CSRC. (III) The Company's performance evaluation conditions are up to standard, that is, the following conditions are met: 1. Based on 2019, the Company's net profit growth rate attributable to shareholders of listed companies in 2020 is not less than 10%, and is not lower than the industry average; 2. The return on net assets in 2020 is not lower than [7.0%], which is not lower than the average level of the same industry; 3. In 2020, the profit of main business accounts for no less than [70%] of the total profit. Note: The impact of other comprehensive income-changes in fair value of investment in other equity instruments on changes in net assets is not considered when calculating the return on net assets. When calculating the growth rate of net profit, the net profit attributable to the parent company of the listed company after excluding the influence of share-based payment expenses of this plan is the accounting standard. Main business profit = total profit - investment income. The specific accounting standard of performance indicators shall be determined by the Board of Directors authorized by the General Meeting of Shareholders. The Company is of the "General Equipment Manufacturing Industry" under the "Manufacturing Industry" category of CSRC, and its peer enterprises in the same industry are all domestic A-share and B-share listed companies under the "General Equipment Manufacturing Industry" category of CSRC. After careful verification, the Board of Directors believes that neither the Company nor the incentive object has occurred or does not fall into any of the above situations, and the performance assessment conditions of the Company have reached the standards, and the granting conditions of this incentive plan have been met. IV. Granting of restricted stocks (I) Grant date: December 16,2021 II) Reserve grant quantity:1,380,000 million shares (III) Number of grant objects: 37 people (IV) Grant price: HKD 6.825/share (V)The distribution of restricted stocks granted by this incentive plan among the incentive objects is shown in the following table: Name Position Number of restricted stocks( Ten thousand shares) Proportion of total grants Proportion of share capital of the Company before grant Li Shijie Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Trade union 20 1.02% 0.03% Middle management6 58 2.97% 0.08% Core personnel,30 60 3.07% 0.08% Total 138 7.06% 0.18% directors, supervisors, shareholders or actual controllers who individually or collectively hold more than 5% of the Company's shares, and their spouses, parents and children; 2. The number of restricted shares granted to any incentive object in the incentive plan does not exceed 1% of the total share capital of the company before the plan is submitted to the shareholders' meeting for deliberation. (VI) After the granting of restricted stocks, it will not lead to the distribution of shares not meeting the listing requirements. V. Verification opinion of the Board of Supervisors on the list of incentive objects on the grant date The Board of Supervisors believes: The incentive objects for this grant have the qualifications stipulated in the Company Law, Securities Law and other laws, regulations and normative documents as well as the Articles of Association, and meet the incentive object conditions stipulated in the Administrative Measures for Equity Incentive of Listed Companies and the scope of incentive objects stipulated in the Draft Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the Company in 2021, their qualifications as the incentive objects of the Company's restricted stock incentive plan are legal and effective, and the conditions for granting restricted stocks to incentive objects have been achieved. VI. The difference between the incentive plan implemented this time and the incentive plan adopted by the Shareholders General Meeting The number of shares reserved in the incentive plan is 1,381,800, and the actual number of shares granted this time is 1,380,000. In addition, The equity incentive plan implemented this time is consistent with the incentive plan reviewed and approved at the Second provisional Shareholders' General Meeting of 2021. VII. Opinions of independent directors The Board of Directors decided that the reserved grant date of this incentive plan was December 16, 2021. which complies with the relevant regulations on the grant date in the Administrative Measures on Equity Incentives of Listed Companies, the Guidelines for Business Handling of Listed Companies of Shenzhen Stock Exchange No.9-Equity Incentives, and the Company's Restricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) in 2021 and its summary. Meanwhile, this grant also complies with the provisions on the conditions for granting restricted stocks to incentive objects in the Company's equity incentive plan. The decisions made have performed the necessary procedures, and there is no harm to the interests of the Company and all shareholders. Independent directors unanimously agreed that the reserved grant date of the Company's 2021 restricted share incentive plan is December 16, 2021. and we agree to grant 1.38 million restricted stocks to 37 incentive objects who meet the granting conditions. VIII. Opinions of the Board of Supervisors The Board of Supervisors of the Company believes that all the incentive objects reserved for granting in this incentive plan meet the requirements stipulated by relevant laws, regulations and normative documents, their qualifications as the incentive objects of the Company's equity incentive plan are legal and effective, and the conditions for granting restricted shares have been fulfilled, and it is agreed that December 16, 2021 will be reserved for granting restricted shares, and 1,380,000 restricted shares will be granted to 37 eligible incentive objects at a grant price of HKD 6.825 per share. IX. Description of the trading of the Company's shares by the directors and senior management personnel who participated in the incentive 6 months before the grant date The directors and senior management personnel participating in this incentive plan did not buy or sell the company's shares within 6 months before the grant date. X. Funding arrangements for incentive objects to subscribe for restricted stocks and pay personal income tax All the funds for the incentive objects to subscribe for restricted stocks and pay personal income tax are self-raised, and the Company promises not to provide loans or financial assistance of any other form for the incentive object to obtain restricted stocks according to this incentive plan, including providing guarantee for its loans. The Company will sign an equity incentive agreement with the incentive objects, and the incentive objects will pay the Company the funds required to subscribe for restricted stocks, and the accounting firm will verify the capital and issue a capital verification report. The Company will handle the related work of tax deduction for incentive objects in accordance with the relevant regulations of tax authorities. XI. Impact of stock-based payment expenses on the Company's financial situation 1. According to the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises No.11-Share-based Payment, the Company will revise the number of restricted stocks that are expected to be released from the sales restriction on each balance sheet date of the sales restriction period according to the latest acquired follow-up information such as changes in the number of people are entitled to sale restriction release and the completion of performance indicators, and according to the fair value on the grant date of restricted stock, the services obtained in the current period will be included in relevant costs or expenses and capital reserves. 2. The method for determining the fair value of restricted stocks According to the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises No.11-Share-based Payment, the Company takes the difference between the closing price of shares on the grant date and the grant price as the share-based payment cost of each restricted stock, and will finally confirm the share- based payment cost of this incentive plan. 3. Expected affect of the implementation of the restricted stock incentive plan on the operating performance of each period The Company's equity incentive plan is granted twice at a price of HKD 6.825 per share. The first grant date is September 1, 2021, and the first grant of 18.06 million restricted shares shall be confirmed with a share payment fee of RMB 142.7699 million. The reserved grant date is December 16, 2021, and the 1,380,000 restricted shares reserved for grant shall be confirmed with a share payment fee of RMB 11,034,900; The share payment cost of the two grants totaled RMB 153,804,700. See the following table for specific cost amortization estimate: Grant quantity ((Ten Thousand shares) Share-based payment (Ten Thousand yuan) 2021 (Ten Thousand yuan) 2022 (Ten Thousand yuan) 2023 (Ten Thousand yuan) 2024 (Ten Thousand yuan) 2025 (Ten Thousand yuan) 1806.00 14,276.99 1,713.24 5,139.72 4,354.48 2,260.52 809.03 138.00 1,103.49 33.10 397.25 382.08 205.06 85.98 1944.00 15,380.47 1,746.34 5,536.97 4,736.56 2,465.59 895.01 Note: (1) The above calculation results do not represent the final accounting cost. The actual accounting cost is related to the grant date, grant price and ownership quantity. If the incentive object resigns before ownership, and the Company performance assessment or individual performance assessment fails to meet the corresponding standards, the actual quantity with ownership will be reduced accordingly, thus reducing the stock-based payment expenses. Meanwhile, the Company reminds shareholders of the possible dilution effect. (2) The final result of the above impact on the Company's operating results will be subject to the annual audit report issued by the accounting firm. XII. Concluding comments of legal opinions Shanghai Allbright Law Offices believes that: The granting of this restricted share incentive plan of the Company has obtained the necessary authorization and approval at this stage; The determination of the date of this grant have implemented necessary procedures, and complied with the provisions of relevant laws, regulations and normative documents such as the Company Law, the Securities Law, the Administrative Measures; The granting of restricted shares by the Company to the incentive objects complies with the provisions of the Company Law, Securities Law, Administrative Measures and other relevant laws, regulations and normative documents; The Company still needs to go through the registration procedures of this grant and fulfill the corresponding information disclosure obligations in accordance with relevant regulations. XIII. Professional opinion of independent financial adviser CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. believes that the Company's restricted share incentive plan has obtained the necessary approval and authorization; The Company is free of failure to meet the grant conditions stipulated in the 2021 restricted share incentive plan; The grant date, grant price, grant object, grant quantity, and arrangement for lifting sale restrictions of this restricted shares comply with the provisions of the Company Law, Securities Law, Administrative Measures and other laws, regulations and normative documents. XIV. Documents for Reference 1.Resolutions of the 20th Meeting of the 8th Board of Directors; 2.Resolutions of the 13th Meeting of the 8th Supervisory Committee; 3. Legal Opinion of Shanghai Allbright Law Offices on the Reserved Grant in the Restricted Share Incentive Plan of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. in 2021; 4.Independent Financial Advisor's Report of CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. on Issues Related to the Reserved Grant of Restricted Share Incentive Plan of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. in 2021. This announcement is hereby made. The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. December 17,2021 Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No.: 2021-114Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.Announcement on Granting Reserved Restricted Shares to Incentive ObjectsThe members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the truthfulness,accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading statement orsignificant omission carried in this announcement.Special Tips:Listing date for restricted stock: December 16,2021 Reserve grant quantity of restricted shares: 1,380,000 million sharesHangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has fulfilled theconditions for granting restricted stocks stipulated in the 2021 restricted stock incentive plan(hereinafter referred to as "this incentive plan" and "incentive plan"). According to theauthorization of the second provisional general meeting of shareholders of 2021. OnDecember 16, 2021, the Company convened the 20th meeting of the 8th Board of Directors and the13th Meeting of the 8th Board of Supervisors, reviewed and approved the Proposal on GrantingReserved Restricted Shares to Incentive Objects, and determined that the grant date of restrictedstocks would be December 16, 2021. The relevant matters are explained as follows:I. Brief introduction of incentive plan(I) Source of underlying stocksThe underlying stock of this incentive plan is the company stock repurchased in the specialsecurities account for repurchase by the company.IIThe number of restricted stocks to be granted in this incentive plan is 19,551,800,accounting for 2.59% of the total share capital for 754,010,400 shares of the company at the timeof announcement of this incentive plan. Where, 18.17 million are granted for the first time,accounting for 2.41% of the company's total share capital; 1,381,800 are reserved, accounting for0.18% of the company's total share capital of 754,010,400, and the reserved portion accounts for7.07% of the total equity granted this time. The number of restricted shares granted to anyincentive object in the incentive plan does not exceed 1% of the total share capital of thecompany before the incentive plan is submitted to the shareholders' meeting for deliberation.(III) This incentive plan has 500 incentive objects, including the company directors (excludingindependent directors and external directors), senior management personnel, other leadershipmembers, company middle management and company core personnel.(IV)The grant price of the restricted stocks is HKD 6.825 per share.The pricing base date of the grant price of restricted stocks (including reserved grants) grantedby this incentive plan is the announcement date of this incentive plan. The grant price shall not beless than 50% of the higher of the following prices:1. The average trading price of the Company's underlying stock in the 1st trading day before theannounced by this incentive plan (total trading volume of the 1st trading day/total trading volume ofthe 1st trading day).2. One of the following prices:(1) The average trading price of the Company's underlying stocks in the first 20 trading daysannounced by this incentive plan (total trading amount of stocks in the first 20 trading days/totaltrading amount of stocks in the first 20 trading days).(2) The average trading price of the Company's underlying stocks in the first 60 trading daysannounced by this incentive plan (total trading amount of stocks in the first 60 trading days/totaltrading amount of stocks in the first 60 trading days).(3) The average trading price of the Company's underlying stocks in the first 120 trading daysannounced by this incentive plan (total trading amount of stocks in the first 120 trading days/totaltrading amount of stocks in the first 120 trading days).(V) Time arrangement of this incentive planThe validity period of this incentive plan shall be from the date when the registration ofgranting restricted stock is completed to the date when all restricted stocks granted to the incentiveobject are released or repurchased, which shall be no more than 60 months.The sales restriction period of restricted stocks granted by this incentive plan is 24 months, 36months and 48 months from the date of registration of the granted restricted stocks. During the salesrestriction period, the restricted stocks granted to the incentive object according to this incentive planshall be restricted for sale, and shall not be transferred, used to guarantee or repay debts. Shares suchas capital reserve converted into share capital, distribution of stock dividends, and share splittingobtained by the incentive object due to the granted restricted stocks that have not been released fromthe sales restriction are locked according to this incentive plan. If the Company repurchasesrestricted stocks that have not been lifted for sales restriction, these stocks will be repurchasedtogether.After 24 months from the date of registration of restricted stocks granted by this incentive plan,the incentive object will be lifted on sales restriction in three phases in the next 36 months. The salesrestriction release period of restricted stocks and the release schedule of each period are shown in thefollowing table:Release arrangement of sales restrictionRelease time of sales restrictionProportion of the number of sales restrictionthat can be lifted to the number of authorized benefitsFirstSales restriction releaseperiodFrom the first trading day 24 months after the completion of thegrant registration to the last trading day within 36 months afterthe completion of the grant registration33%SecondSales restriction releaseperiodFrom the first trading day 36 months after the completion of thegrant registration to the last trading day within 48 months afterthe completion of the grant registration33%ThirdSales restriction releaseperiodFrom the first trading day 48 months after the completion of thegrant registration to the last trading day within 60 months afterthe completion of the grant registration34%Restricted stocks that are not allowed to be released on sales restriction during the salesrestriction release period of the incentive object shall not be deferred to the later year for release, andsuch restricted stocks shall be repurchased by the Company according to the granted price.(VI) Performance assessment requirements for lifting restrictions on the restricted stock sales1. Performance assessment requirements at company levelFor restricted stocks granted by this incentive plan, the assessment year for lifting the restrictedsales of this incentive plan is three fiscal years from 2021 to 2023, with one assessment in each fiscalyear. The performance assessment of lifting the restricted stock granted by this plan is shown in thefollowing table:Sale restrictionperiodPerformance assessment conditionsThe first salesrestriction releaseperiodBased on the average performance from 2018 to 2020, the growth rate of net profit attributable toordinary shareholders of the company in 2021 is not lower than [12.0%], which is not lower than theaverage level of the same industry;The return on net assets in 2021 is not lower than [8.0%], which is not lower than the average level ofthe same industry;In 2021, the profit of main business accounts for no less than [73%] of the total profit.The second salesrestriction releaseperiodBased on the average performance from 2018 to 2020, the growth rate of net profit attributable toordinary shareholders of the company in 2022 is not lower than [16.0%], which is not lower than theaverage level of the same industry;The return on net assets in 2022 is not lower than [8.0%], which is not lower than the average level ofthe same industry; In 2022, the profit of main business accounts for no less than [73%] of the totalprofit.The third salesrestriction releaseperiodBased on the average performance from 2018 to 2020, the growth rate of net profit attributable toordinary shareholders of the company in 2023 is not lower than [20.0%], which is not lower than theaverage level of the same industry;The return on net assets in 2023 is not lower than [8.0%], which is not lower than the average level ofthe same industry;In 2023, the profit of main business accounts for no less than [73%] of the total profit.Note: The impact of other comprehensive income-changes in fair value of investment inother equity instruments on changes in net assets is not considered when calculating the return on netassets. When calculating the growth rate of net profit, the net profit attributable to the parentcompany of the listed company after excluding the influence of share-based payment expenses ofthis plan is the accounting standard. Main business profit = total profit - investment income. The specific accounting standard of performance indicators shall be determined by the Board ofDirectors authorized by the General Meeting of Shareholders. Within the validity period of theequity incentive plan, if the net assets change due to additional issuance, share allotment, merger andacquisition, etc., Where assessing the return on net assets index for the year, changes in net assetsand net profit changes caused by this event are excluded. The Company is of the "GeneralEquipment Manufacturing Industry" under the "Manufacturing Industry" category of CSRC, and itspeer enterprises in the same industry are all domestic A-share and B-share listed companies underthe "General Equipment Manufacturing Industry" category of CSRC.If the performance assessment target of the restricted stock in a certain period of the salesrestriction release period is not achieved, the restricted stock of all incentive objects in the currentperiod cannot be lifted, and the Company will repurchase the restricted stock at the granted price.2. Assessment of incentive objects at individual levelAssessment of incentive objects at individual level shall be conducted in accordance with theAdministrative Measures for the Implementation Assessment of Restricted Stock Incentive Plan ofHangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. in 2021.Individual assessment of incentive objects is carried out by years, and performance assessmentresults (S) are divided into four grades. The proportion of sales restriction release in the current yearis determined according to the results of individual performance assessment. The actual salesrestriction release amount of the individual in the current year = the coefficient of sales restrictionrelease the planned sales restriction release amount of the individual in the current year. Thespecial circumstances in performance assessment shall be decided by the Board of Directors. See thefollowing table for details:Evaluation results(s)ExcellentGoodPassFailCoefficient of salesrestriction release0.8Restricted stocks that cannot be released in the current period due to the results of performanceassessment at individual level shall not be deferred until the sales restriction release in the nextperiod, and shall be repurchased by the Company at the granted price.II. Decision-making procedure and approval of equity incentive plan(I) On July 11, 2021, the 14th Meeting of the Eighth Board of Directors reviewed and approvedthe Proposal on the Company's Restricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) in 2021 and its Summary, theProposal on the Company's Implementation Assessment Management Measures for the RestrictedStock Incentive Plan in 2021, and the Proposal on Requesting the General Meeting of Shareholdersto Authorize the Board of Directors to Handle Matters Related to the Restricted Stock Incentive Planin 2021, and the Ninth Meeting of the Eighth Supervisors of the Company reviewed and approvedthe above related proposals. The Company disclosed related announcements such as the RestrictedStock Incentive Plan (Draft) and its Summary in 2021, the Implementation Assessment ManagementMeasures for the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021, the Incentive Object List of the RestrictedStock Incentive Plan in 2021, the Self-inspection Form of Equity Incentive Plan, and the LegalOpinions of Shanghai Allbright Law Offices on the 2021 Restricted Stock Incentive Plan ofHangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.Independent directors of the Company expressed their independent opinions on whether theequity incentive plan is conducive to the sustainable development of the Company and whether thereis any harm to the interests of the Company and all shareholders.The Board of Supervisors of the Company issued the Verification Opinions on the Company'sRestricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) in 2021.(II) On August 12, 2021, the Company disclosed the Announcement on the Approval of EquityIncentive Plan by Hangzhou SASAC. The Company received the Reply of Hangzhou Steam TurbineCo., Ltd. on Implementing the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021 (HGZK [2021] No.45), andHangzhou SASAC agreed in principle that the Company should implement the restricted stockincentive plan in 2021.(III) From July 12, 2021 to July 21, 2021, the Company publicized the names and positions ofthe incentive objects by posting the Publicity of the Company's Restricted Stock Incentive Objects in2021 on the Company's business premises, specifying the circumstances that forbids to be equityincentive objects, and the ways and means of feedback during the publicity period. As of theexpiration of the publicity period, the Company has not received any objection from anyorganization or individual to the incentive object of this incentive plan.On August 23, 2021, the Company disclosed the Publicity and Verification Opinions of theBoard of Supervisors of the Company on the List of Incentive Objects of Restricted Stock IncentivePlan. The Board of Supervisors of the Company believes that the incentive objects listed in thisincentive plan comply with the Administrative Measures, Trial Measures, Notice and other laws,regulations, normative documents and the scope and conditions of incentive objects stipulated in theIncentive Plan (Draft), and there is no circumstances that forbids to be incentive objects, and itsqualification as the incentive objects of this incentive plan is legal and effective.On August 23, 2021, the Company disclosed the Independent Financial Advisor's Report ofCITIC Securities Co., Ltd. on the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) in 2021 of HangzhouSteam Turbine Co., Ltd.(IV) On August 27, 2021, the Company held the Second provisional Shareholders' GeneralMeeting in 2021, which reviewed and approved the Proposal on the Company's Restricted StockIncentive Plan in 2021 and its Summary, the Proposal on the Company's Implementation AssessmentManagement Measures for the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021, and the Proposal onRequesting the General Meeting of Shareholders to Authorize the Board of Directors to HandleMatters Related to the Restricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021.Meanwhile, the Company disclosed the Self-inspection Report on Insider Information ofRestricted Stock Incentive Plan in 2021 and Stock Trading of Incentive Objects.(V)On August 30, 2021, the Company convened the 16th Board of Directors and the 11thSession of the Eighth Board of Supervisors, and respectively reviewed and approved the Proposal onGranting Restricted Shares to Incentive Objects for the First Time. Independent directors of theCompany expressed independent opinions on relevant proposals of the Board of Directors.(VI) On October 22, 2021, the Company completed the registration of granting restrictedshares for the first time, with 455 people registered for the first time and 18,060,000 sharesregistered.(VII) On December 16, 2021, the 20th Meeting of the 8th Board of Directors and the 13thMeeting of 8th Board of Supervisors of the Company reviewed and approved the Proposal onGranting Reserved Restricted Shares to Incentive Objects. Independent directors of the Companyexpressed independent opinions on relevant proposals of the Board of Directors.III. Explanation of the Board of Directors on meeting the conditions for grantingrestricted stocksThe Company must meet the following conditions at the same time before granting restrictedstocks to the incentive object according to this incentive plan.(I) None of the following situations occurred in the Company:1. The certified public accountants have issued an audit report with negative opinions or thatcannot express opinions for the financial and accounting reports in the latest fiscal year;2. The certified public accountants have issued an audit report with negative opinions or thatcannot express opinions for the internal control of financial reports in the latest fiscal year;3. In the 36 months after listing, there have been cases where profits have not been distributedaccording to laws and regulations, the Articles of Association and public commitments;4. Where the provisions of laws and regulations stipulates not to implement equity incentives;5. Other circumstances identified by the CSRC.(II) None of the following situations occurred in the incentive objects:1. He has been identified as an inappropriate candidate by the stock exchange in the last 12months;2. He has been identified as an inappropriate candidate by the CSRC and its dispatched officesin the last 12 months;3. In the last 12 months, he has been subject to the administrative penalties imposed by CSRCand its dispatched offices or market ban measures due to major violations of laws and regulations;4. He is not allowed to serve as a director or senior manager of the company as stipulated in theCompany Law;5. Where the laws and regulations stipulate that he is not allowed to participate in the equityincentives of listed companies;6. Other circumstances identified by the CSRC.(III) The Company's performance evaluation conditions are up to standard, that is, thefollowing conditions are met:1. Based on 2019, the Company's net profit growth rate attributable to shareholders of listedcompanies in 2020 is not less than 10%, and is not lower than the industry average;2. The return on net assets in 2020 is not lower than [7.0%], which is not lower than the averagelevel of the same industry;3. In 2020, the profit of main business accounts for no less than [70%] of the total profit.Note: The impact of other comprehensive income-changes in fair value of investment inother equity instruments on changes in net assets is not considered when calculating the return on netassets. When calculating the growth rate of net profit, the net profit attributable to the parentcompany of the listed company after excluding the influence of share-based payment expenses ofthis plan is the accounting standard. Main business profit = total profit - investment income. The specific accounting standard of performance indicators shall be determined by the Board ofDirectors authorized by the General Meeting of Shareholders. The Company is of the "GeneralEquipment Manufacturing Industry" under the "Manufacturing Industry" category of CSRC, and itspeer enterprises in the same industry are all domestic A-share and B-share listed companies underthe "General Equipment Manufacturing Industry" category of CSRC.After careful verification, the Board of Directors believes that neither the Company nor theincentive object has occurred or does not fall into any of the above situations, and the performanceassessment conditions of the Company have reached the standards, and the granting conditions ofthis incentive plan have been met.IV. Granting of restricted stocks(I) Grant date: December 16,2021II) Reserve grant quantity:1,380,000 million shares(III) Number of grant objects: 37 people(IV) Grant price: HKD 6.825/share(V)The distribution of restricted stocks granted by this incentive plan among the incentiveobjects is shown in the following table:NamePositionNumber ofrestrictedstocks( Tenthousand shares)Proportion oftotal grantsProportion ofshare capital ofthe Companybefore grantLi ShijieDeputy Secretary of the PartyCommittee and Chairman of theTrade union201.02%0.03%Middle management6582.97%0.08%Core personnel,30603.07%0.08%Total1387.06%0.18%directors, supervisors, shareholders or actual controllers who individually or collectively hold morethan 5% of the Company's shares, and their spouses, parents and children;2. The number of restricted shares granted to any incentive object in the incentive plan does notexceed 1% of the total share capital of the company before the plan is submitted to the shareholders'meeting for deliberation.(VI) After the granting of restricted stocks, it will not lead to the distribution of shares notmeeting the listing requirements.V. Verification opinion of the Board of Supervisors on the list of incentive objects on thegrant dateThe Board of Supervisors believes: The incentive objects for this grant have thequalifications stipulated in the Company Law, Securities Law and other laws, regulations andnormative documents as well as the Articles of Association, and meet the incentive object conditionsstipulated in the Administrative Measures for Equity Incentive of Listed Companies and the scope ofincentive objects stipulated in the Draft Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of the Company in 2021,their qualifications as the incentive objects of the Company's restricted stock incentive plan are legaland effective, and the conditions for granting restricted stocks to incentive objects have beenachieved.VI. The difference between the incentive plan implemented this time and the incentiveplan adopted by the Shareholders General MeetingThe number of shares reserved in the incentive plan is 1,381,800, and the actual number of sharesgranted this time is 1,380,000. In addition, The equity incentive plan implemented this time isconsistent with the incentive plan reviewed and approved at the Second provisional Shareholders'General Meeting of 2021.VII. Opinions of independent directorsThe Board of Directors decided that the reserved grant date of this incentive plan wasDecember 16, 2021. which complies with the relevant regulations on the grant date in theAdministrative Measures on Equity Incentives of Listed Companies, the Guidelines for BusinessHandling of Listed Companies of Shenzhen Stock Exchange No.9-Equity Incentives, and theCompany's Restricted Stock Incentive Plan (Draft) in 2021 and its summary. Meanwhile, this grantalso complies with the provisions on the conditions for granting restricted stocks to incentive objectsin the Company's equity incentive plan. The decisions made have performed the necessaryprocedures, and there is no harm to the interests of the Company and all shareholders.Independent directors unanimously agreed that the reserved grant date of the Company's 2021restricted share incentive plan is December 16, 2021. and we agree to grant 1.38 million restrictedstocks to 37 incentive objects who meet the granting conditions.VIII. Opinions of the Board of SupervisorsThe Board of Supervisors of the Company believes that all the incentive objects reserved forgranting in this incentive plan meet the requirements stipulated by relevant laws, regulations andnormative documents, their qualifications as the incentive objects of the Company's equity incentiveplan are legal and effective, and the conditions for granting restricted shares have been fulfilled, andit is agreed that December 16, 2021 will be reserved for granting restricted shares, and 1,380,000restricted shares will be granted to 37 eligible incentive objects at a grant price of HKD 6.825 pershare.IX. Description of the trading of the Company's shares by the directors and seniormanagement personnel who participated in the incentive 6 months before the grant dateThe directors and senior management personnel participating in this incentive plan did notbuy or sell the company's shares within 6 months before the grant date.X. Funding arrangements for incentive objects to subscribe for restricted stocks and paypersonal income taxAll the funds for the incentive objects to subscribe for restricted stocks and pay personalincome tax are self-raised, and the Company promises not to provide loans or financial assistance ofany other form for the incentive object to obtain restricted stocks according to this incentive plan,including providing guarantee for its loans. The Company will sign an equity incentive agreementwith the incentive objects, and the incentive objects will pay the Company the funds required tosubscribe for restricted stocks, and the accounting firm will verify the capital and issue a capitalverification report. The Company will handle the related work of tax deduction for incentive objectsin accordance with the relevant regulations of tax authorities.XI. Impact of stock-based payment expenses on the Company's financial situation1. According to the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises No.11-Share-based Payment,the Company will revise the number of restricted stocks that are expected to be released from thesales restriction on each balance sheet date of the sales restriction period according to the latestacquired follow-up information such as changes in the number of people are entitled to salerestriction release and the completion of performance indicators, and according to the fair value onthe grant date of restricted stock, the services obtained in the current period will be included inrelevant costs or expenses and capital reserves.2. The method for determining the fair value of restricted stocksAccording to the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises No.11-Share-based Payment,the Company takes the difference between the closing price of shares on the grant date and the grantprice as the share-based payment cost of each restricted stock, and will finally confirm the share-based payment cost of this incentive plan.3. Expected affect of the implementation of the restricted stock incentive plan on the operatingperformance of each periodThe Company's equity incentive plan is granted twice at a price of HKD 6.825 per share. Thefirst grant date is September 1, 2021, and the first grant of 18.06 million restricted shares shall beconfirmed with a share payment fee of RMB 142.7699 million. The reserved grant date is December16, 2021, and the 1,380,000 restricted shares reserved for grant shall be confirmed with a sharepayment fee of RMB 11,034,900; The share payment cost of the two grants totaled RMB153,804,700. See the following table for specific cost amortization estimate:Grantquantity((TenThousandshares)Share-basedpayment (TenThousand yuan)2021(TenThousandyuan)2022 (TenThousandyuan)2023 (TenThousandyuan)2024 (TenThousandyuan)2025 (TenThousandyuan)1806.0014,276.991,713.245,139.724,354.482,260.52809.03138.001,103.4933.10397.25382.08205.0685.981944.0015,380.471,746.345,536.974,736.562,465.59895.01Note: (1) The above calculation results do not represent the final accounting cost. The actualaccounting cost is related to the grant date, grant price and ownership quantity. If the incentiveobject resigns before ownership, and the Company performance assessment or individualperformance assessment fails to meet the corresponding standards, the actual quantity withownership will be reduced accordingly, thus reducing the stock-based payment expenses.Meanwhile, the Company reminds shareholders of the possible dilution effect.(2) The final result of the above impact on the Company's operating results will be subject tothe annual audit report issued by the accounting firm.XII. Concluding comments of legal opinionsShanghai Allbright Law Offices believes that:The granting of this restricted share incentive plan of the Company has obtained the necessaryauthorization and approval at this stage; The determination of the date of this grant haveimplemented necessary procedures, and complied with the provisions of relevant laws, regulationsand normative documents such as the Company Law, the Securities Law, the AdministrativeMeasures; The granting of restricted shares by the Company to the incentive objects complies withthe provisions of the Company Law, Securities Law, Administrative Measures and other relevantlaws, regulations and normative documents; The Company still needs to go through the registrationprocedures of this grant and fulfill the corresponding information disclosure obligations inaccordance with relevant regulations.XIII. Professional opinion of independent financial adviserCITIC Securities Co., Ltd. believes that the Company's restricted share incentive plan hasobtained the necessary approval and authorization; The Company is free of failure to meet the grantconditions stipulated in the 2021 restricted share incentive plan; The grant date, grant price, grantobject, grant quantity, and arrangement for lifting sale restrictions of this restricted shares complywith the provisions of the Company Law, Securities Law, Administrative Measures and other laws,regulations and normative documents.XIV. Documents for Reference1.Resolutions of the 20th Meeting of the 8th Board of Directors;2.Resolutions of the 13th Meeting of the 8th Supervisory Committee;3. Legal Opinion of Shanghai Allbright Law Offices on the Reserved Grant in the Restricted ShareIncentive Plan of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. in 2021;4.Independent Financial Advisor's Report of CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. on Issues Related to theReserved Grant of Restricted Share Incentive Plan of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. in 2021.This announcement is hereby made.The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.December 17,2021 When Sears Tower opened in 1973, it was the worlds tallest building, a fitting corporate home for the nations largest retailer. Sears left its namesake home in 1992, moving its corporate headquarters to Hoffman Estates and selling the tower two years later. In 2009, the name of the building was changed to Willis Tower as part of the deal for the London-based insurance firm to lease office space there. What happened in Michigan two weeks ago is a tragedy. Every incident where someone in a school is injured at the hand of another is heartbreaking, said Kathi Griffin, president of the Illinois Education Association, referring to the Nov. 30 shooting deaths of four students at a Detroit-area high school. Why have a taco truck tied to a not-for-profit? We have to start with great tacos, so people will listen to us, Simon said. The taco is how I get people to talk to me about these issues. Some of the people he and other volunteers try to help seem suspicious of their intentions, and the food is one way to get the conversation started. Jane Campions adaptation of the Thomas Savage novel The Power of the Dog, a tale of furiously repressed sexual urges in 1925 Montana, dominated the 2021 Chicago Film Critics Association awards. The Western won for best picture, best director (for Campion), best actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), best adapted screenplay (Campion again), best supporting actor (Kodi Smit-McPhee), plus original score (Jonny Greenwood) and cinematography (Ari Wegner). But if you can take pleasure in those simple little things, sometimes you get enough shine to see you through the dark. With Barrons stellar and sometimes heartbreaking performance driving the show, BoHos production hits home when it needs to. In the process, it reminds us how much we all need a home where we can be both who we are, and who we wish to be. It begins on a winter night in present-day Chicago. A performance of King Lear comes to a halt when the lead actor (Gael Garcia Bernal) collapses and dies mid-performance. In the chaos, one of the productions child actors, an eight-year-old named Kirsten (a stoic Matilda Lawler), is left without her usual chaperon to accompany her home. An audience member named Jeevan (Himesh Patel, who delivers his lines with a wonderfully low-key comedic rhythm) semi-reluctantly steps in, but a sickness is spreading through the city that night, wreaking havoc. Kirstens parents are MIA. And so this unlikely twosome ends up in an apartment in Lake Point Tower where they hunker down with Jeevans brother until it is safe to go outside again. Or they run out of provisions. They are alone at the edge of the city, with only the view of Lake Michigan and the threat of impending death for company. On cable television and radio shows and at rallies, the lawmakers used unproved fraud claims to promote the idea that the election had been stolen. Brooks said he would never vote to certify Trumps loss. Jordan told Fox News that ballots were counted in Pennsylvania after the election, contrary to state law. Gohmert claimed in Philadelphia that there was rampant voter fraud and later said on YouTube that the U.S. military had seized computer servers in Germany used to flip American votes. Then, in July 2020, the company received an anonymous tip from an employee claiming that Easterbrook had engaged in a sexual relationship with another employee. After an investigation, McDonalds confirmed that relationship as well as two other physical, sexual relationships with employees in the year before it fired its top executive. The company said Easterbrook had removed evidence of those relationships from his phone. About 2:10 a.m. a resident on the third floor of a building in the 3100 block of North Marmora Avenue reported a fire in the basement of the residential building, according to multiple Fire Department sources. Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said firefighters who responded were initially unaware there had been people inside, but it was quickly upgraded to an extra-alarm call when a mayday call went out over the radio. According to a criminal complaint filed in May in U.S. District Court in Washington, Wangler told the FBI in an interview that as he and Harrison walked to the Capitol building after Trumps speech, he heard several loud bangs that sounded to him like a Civil War re-enactment and saw protesters fighting with police and trying to breach barricades surrounding the building. For 25 years, Shikany worked in consulting, most recently with the title of managing director. In the back of her mind, shed thought about possibly entering health care, maybe as a doctor or a physician assistant. But when her children were young, it seemed too much to juggle as well as afford child care while forging a new career path, and she did enjoy her work. The precedent that it sets is, there must be affordable housing in every area of our city. Im all for that, Lightfoot said after the City Council approved the 297-unit complex east of OHare International Airport, including 59 apartments priced below market. Jeffrey Howard, executive vice president of Service Employees International Union Local 73, which represents nearly 1,000 city of Chicago workers who are subject to the arbitration ruling, said that through the labor groups efforts, we have succeeded in obtaining additional time for workers to obtain the vaccination shots mandated by the city and we will continue to advocate for all of our members as the policy is implemented. Although much of the discussion on a candidate to challenge first-term Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker has centered on Irvin, the two-term mayor of Aurora, no final decision has been made, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The Jones Day report notes that Lightfoot issued an order forbidding the Law Department from taking action against media without her clearance in the aftermath of the scandal. But city lawyers involved with requesting the order against the CBS station had a general consensus that their they wouldnt do anything differently and their motion was properly filed, according to the Jones Day report. There were a number of things leading up to the decision, certainly starting with the fact that he authorized without much consideration the filing of an injunctive action against a media company without any consultation or even giving me notice that it had happened, Lightfoot said, referring to her administrations initial efforts to suppress the release of the video. The fact that, over the course of that week, he repeatedly said disparaging things related to Ms. Young. While a smattering of women throughout history have presented themselves as men during wartime, most returned to living as women after their time in battle was done. But Cashiers more than 50 years of identifying as a man prompt some contemporary historians to propose he was a trans man. In recent years, residents of the tiny town have sought ways to commemorate Cashiers life and preserve his little corner of history. Forecasters at the National Weather Service had warned wind gusts could be in excess of 60 mph when record-breaking warmth during the day gave way to a powerful cold front blasting in from the West across the plains and mountains, such as earlier Wednesday when the Weather Channel said a wind gust of 107 mph was recorded in Lamar, Colorado. Although the system weakened slightly as it moved into the Midwest, gusts of 54 mph to 74 mph were recorded across northern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service. For the very first time in his decadeslong career, renowned conductor Yu Long took the baton and led a student orchestra in concert, which he describes as "a wonderful new discovery". On Dec 9, Yu conducted Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra to perform Gustav Mahler's Symphony No 4 in G Major. During the three-day rehearsal, he worked closely with the orchestra, consisting of students of Tianjin Juilliard School, the world's first, and so far, only branch campus of the New York performing arts school. "When I do rehearsals with professional symphony orchestras, I am very strict. I point out mistakes outright," says Yu, who is the musical director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, musical director of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and artistic director and chief conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra. "When I work with the students, I am more like a father. I learn to communicate with them, just like talking to my daughter." In 2019, Yu was invited to take the position of chair on the Tianjin Juilliard Advisory Council, composed of exceptional individuals, including Deborah Borda, president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic, pianist Lang Lang, soprano Renee Fleming and composer and conductor Tan Dun. "The rehearsals turned out to be good. These students showed me their charming nature, passion for music and their vibrant musicality," says Yu. "They reminded me of my years as a student. They have open, inquiring minds. They learn to play individually as musicians and collectively as an ensemble." According to He Wei, violinist, artistic director and dean of Tianjin Juilliard School, it was the first time that the students of the school's orchestra had performed Mahler's symphonic work. "Among all of Mahler's works, Symphony No 4 is the one that is closest to chamber music. It is scored for a full orchestra and has a soprano part in the last movement. It sounds like a dialogue between all kinds of musical instruments such as violins, violas and oboes in the first movement and double basses, cellos and clarinets in the third movement," He explains. Soprano Li Jingjing performed in the last movement of the piece. The concert also brought a trombone quartet to perform Dutch composer Saskia Apon's Eerste Trombone Kwartet. Faculty members of the Tianjin school also joined the concert, including flutist Gergely Ittzes, bassoonist Akio Koyama, clarinetist Zhou Xiangyu and trumpet player Sergey Tyuteykin. "Mahler's Symphony No 4 is my favorite symphony of his, because there is so much joy. The first step of making music is to have fun," Yu says. In September, the school launched the program for Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra's 2021-22 season. Comprising the school's largest student ensemble-all of whom are in the school's graduate program, majoring in orchestral studies and chamber music-the orchestra performs works by composers, including Johannes Brahms, Beethoven, Wagner and Igor Stravinsky under the batons of renowned conductors, such as Lin Daye, Chen Lin and Zhang Guoyong. "By working with professional musicians, students get a sense of professionalism, which better prepares them for their future musical career," He adds. "When I was a young student, I always gained knowledge by working with experienced musicians, which was very rewarding," recalls Yu, who was born in 1964 in a Shanghai musical family and studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin. "There are around 80 symphony orchestras in China and when these students graduate, they are prepared to perform in professional orchestras." Xu Ruifeng, 25, who is the principal French horn player of the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra, says: "It's definitely my plan to perform with a professional symphony orchestra after graduation. By performing with other musicians, I learn to listen, to respond well and think before producing my own sounds." A graduate from South China University of Technology with a bachelor's degree in advertising, Xu is studying with Chang Chou Han, veteran French horn player, who has played with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Radio Philharmonic and Boston Symphony. Xu will graduate from the Tianjin school next year. He has performed with professional orchestras such as the Hangzhou Philharmonic and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. According to Alexander Brose, executive director and CEO of Tianjin Juilliard School, the first group of students in the school's graduate studies program will graduate in May. "We will celebrate for them. We always consider our first group of students to be pioneers because they took a big risk in coming here, without knowing what they were going to get and without knowing what the building would look like," says Brose. "These students will succeed if they are able to connect with people through their music." This May, the Tianjin school and the Shanghai Orchestra Academy announced a partnership designed to encourage academic and musical exchanges and to advance the missions of both organizations. The Shanghai Orchestra Academy is the result of an alliance with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Its inaugural class began in September 2014. On Dec 30, a concert by students of the Tianjin school and the Shanghai academy will be held in Shanghai, with a program featuring Bach's Orchestral Suite No 2, Dvorak's Serenade for Wind Instruments and Brahms' Festive and Commemorative Music. China will take market-oriented approaches to strengthen financial support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed individuals face great difficulties at present, the meeting noted, urging efforts to support market entities and address new downward economic pressure. The meeting decided that the inclusive loan repayment extension support tool for micro and small enterprises will be replaced with an inclusive loan tool. Inclusive credit loans for micro and small firms will also be incorporated into the relending plan targeting agriculture and small enterprises from 2022. Wednesday's meeting also said that a national financing credit services platform will be established to improve financing services for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Financial institutions will be encouraged to issue special financial bonds for small and micro enterprises. The meeting also called for the specification of measures to increase support for China's manufacturing sector and facilitate the steady development of the real economy. Priority should be given to manufacturing firms when implementing tax and fee cut policies, and the scale of medium and long-term loans and credit loans for the sector should be expanded, the meeting said. Efforts should also be made to accelerate the digital transformation in the manufacturing sector, support foreign companies in increasing investment in medium and high-end manufacturing and research centers, and ensure the stability of industrial and supply chains. You are here: Business Trade between China and Russia saw robust growth this year, with bilateral trade in the first 11 months exceeding the total for the whole of 2020, the General Administration of Customs said Wednesday. China's exports rose 21.9 percent year on year to 384.49 billion yuan (about 60.34 billion U.S. dollars) during the first 11 months, while imports jumped 25.9 percent from a year ago to 458.92 billion yuan. Over 70 percent of imports from Russia were energy products and minerals during the 11-month period, with coal and natural gas imports growing rapidly. China also markedly increased imports of agricultural products from Russia. Beef imports hit 17,000 tonnes from January to November, up 235.7 percent year on year, data showed. Meanwhile, China exported 235.32 billion yuan worth of mechanical and electrical products to Russia during the period, marking a year-on-year increase of 28.9 percent and accounting for 61.2 percent of China's total exports to Russia. China's exports of labor-intensive products to Russia reached 76.36 billion yuan, up 2.2 percent and accounting for 19.9 percent of the total. You are here: China 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. You are here: China Mainland warns DPP of consequences for provocative actions - Xinhua A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday warned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of consequences for its provocative actions attempting to seek "Taiwan independence." Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a media query, saying the DPP authorities' collusion with external forces and its acts betraying the Chinese nation to seek "Taiwan independence" will bring on itself serious consequences. Taiwan is a part of China and the one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations and a consensus of the international community, Ma said. Reiterating China's determination for reunification, the spokesperson encouraged the few remaining countries to choose the right path and sever "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan as soon as possible. "No individual or force can block the historical trend of China's complete reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Ma said. The International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values closed in Beijing on Wednesday. The forum, held both in-person and virtually, brought together around 500 participants from over 120 countries and regions, including former leaders of governments, business leaders, heads of media groups, experts and scholars, as well as more than 20 representatives of international organizations. Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), said this year's forum has provided a valuable opportunity for ideas to be heard and views exchanged among guests from around the world. He stressed that all participants at the forum agreed that democracy is progressive in nature and comes in all forms. "There is no single model of democracy that can be applied everywhere," Du said. "Over the past hundred years, China has achieved unprecedented success in promoting democracy." Du said that this success is explained in the efforts to pursue democracy in the context of China's cultural traditions and national conditions. He cited the whole-process people's democracy created by the Communist Party of China (CPC) as a distinctively Chinese approach with global values, and said that the CPC's achievements in modernizing China's governance system and capacity have been outstanding. In terms of building a democratic global governance system, Du said that a democratic global governance system should be open and inclusive, aim for common development, protect a safe world, and be fair and just. Du pointed out that CICG reaches out to the global audience its mission being to strengthen global exchanges on governance. He hoped that CICG would make a greater contribution to promoting diversity in political structures, upholding the shared values of humanity, and lighting the way to a brighter future for the world. Lu Cairong, vice president of CICG, said that there is no unified democratic model in the world, and every country has the right to develop its own style of democracy in line with its own political system, socio-economic development, culture and history, and to choose the democratic path that best suits its national context. He called on countries to enhance communication and exchanges on their democratic practices, and make contributions to promoting shared values of mankind. Regarding China's achievements in practicing its own democracy, many participants at the forum voiced their support. "Justice is needed in today's world, not hegemony," said Tomislav Nikolic, former president of Serbia. He said that China has always advocated that world affairs should be handled through extensive consultation and the future of the world should be decided by all countries working together. Nikolic added that the move by certain Western countries to divide the world into "democratic" and "undemocratic" camps by their own standards goes against the true spirit of democracy, only revealing their attempts to preserve hegemony over the world. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation and a noted U.S. expert, said at the forum that the people-centered philosophy in China is not a rhetorical slogan but a true commitment. Poverty alleviation has been regarded as one of the most important tasks of the Communist Party of China (CPC). With firm political determination, China eradicated extreme poverty, while its efforts exemplify human rights, he added. During the closing ceremony, the Global Think Tank Network for Democracy Studies also launched its Beijing Initiative. It stated that democracy is a shared value of mankind and an important indicator of the development and progress of human civilization, while pursuing democracy is the sacred right of the people of all countries. The initiative calls for joint efforts from all countries to uphold and safeguard democracy as a shared human value, respect diversity in models of civilization and democracy and evaluate democracy through facts and via public satisfaction. It also opposes any attempt to split the world along ideological lines in the name of promoting democracy. A total of 42 Chinese and foreign institutions have become the initiators of the Beijing Initiative, including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, CGTN Think Tank, and Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies. The forum, held in three phases, from Dec. 4-5, Dec. 9-10 and Dec. 14-15, respectively, 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. Jiangsu province is a competitive and appealing destination for innovation and business startups. As far back as the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), renowned polymath Su Song decided to spend more than 10 years in Jiangsu's Zhenjiang city. Similarly, Hua Luogeng, the father of modern Chinese mathematics, was a native of Jiangsu's Changzhou city. Today, more than 400 academicians with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering call Jiangsu home. Jiangsu is now inviting talented people from all over the world to meet in the province, and help build a better economy to improve the quality of life and environment. Fighting cancer in Changzhou "The Jiangsu Friendship Award is one of the most honorable awards I've ever received," said Glynn Jonathan Addison, a British expert on cancer drug research and development, who joined the Changzhou Fangyuan Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd in 2014. Since then, he and his team have developed new types of cancer medicine that are low in toxins and highly efficient, earning some 20 patents and all but revolutionizing the field of cancer treatment throughout the world. The Jiangsu Friendship Award is the highest accolade given by the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government to recognize foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the province's social and economic development. In 2019, Addison was invited to attend a reception for foreign experts marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Addison met his Chinese wife in Jiangsu and the couple now have a son. With its diverse cuisine, hospitable residents and convenient lifestyle, Addison found life in Jiangsu to be comfortable, and he is keen to make his own contributions to the development of his adopted province. Devoted to education Professor Josef Voglmeir and his Chinese colleagues co-founded the Glycomics and Glycan Bioengineering Research Center (GGBRC) at Nanjing Agricultural University, which serves as a launchpad for new research into areas such as food glycomics. To date, the center has published more than 40 SCI theses and obtained dozens of patents, significantly improving the university's research capacity in sugar science. In 2019, he was presented with the Jiangsu International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. "My students in the GGBRC are probably one of the most international communities in China," said Voglmeir, citing four European scholars who were conducting post-doctoral research at the center and more than 40 postgraduate students who had received training there. Facing challenges together Foreign sci-tech personnel also choose to start their businesses in Jiangsu. In May 2015, Xue Jiuzhi and his team arrived in Jiangsu from the United States and subsequently founded the Smart Liquid Crystal Technologies Co. Ltd. Moreover, Xue was the first project manager with the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI). The project manager role was one of JITRI's reform measures to bring in global talent. It enabled the institute to select top candidates for project manager positions, allowing them to set up teams, recommend quality endeavors, tackle critical technological challenges and promote the transformation and industrialization of technological achievements. Thanks to Xue's efforts, a group of world-class experts have gathered at the institute and conducted research and development on intelligent liquid crystal technology, as well as its application in the fields of architecture, automobile, sensors and biological systems, advanced consumer electronics and more, all of which will culminate in a world-class R&D center for the industrialization of liquid crystal technology. Jiangsu has proactively built a pool of talent over the years. It has maintained long-term sci-tech cooperation with more than 70 countries and regions. More than 24,000 foreigners in the province hold valid work permits, accounting for one-tenth of the national total. Jiangsu has more cities listed in the "Most Attractive Chinese Cities for Foreigners" than other provinces of China. Jiangsu has laid out the red carpet for foreign experts and entrepreneurs from across the world to bring their innovative spirit and start up businesses in a province which provides the optimal environment for success. Source: Department of Science and Technology of Jiangsu Province Content created in partnership with Science and Technology Daily. Iran is serious, acts in good faith and considers the practical and tangible result to be the removal of sanctions. The path travelled The path taken during six rounds of intensive negotiations in Vienna did not lead to success due to the excessive demands and unrealistic stances on the part of the United States. Now we are starting a new round of talks. The main goal of these negotiations is the restoration of the rights of the Iranian nation and the removal of all sanctions imposed unilaterally and extraterritorially on Iran by the U.S. which is no longer a party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 159-page agreement with five annexes reached by Iran and the then P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and the U.S.) on July 14, 2015. The U.S. pulled out of the JCPOA on May 8, 2018--a move perceived and condemned internationally as unlawful. There is international consensus that these illegitimate U.S. actions demonstrate a total contempt for the international law and the UN Charter, undermine multilateralism, and pose an enormous menace to global peace and security. Despite the formation of a new U.S. government, not only have the illegal and unilateral sanctions remained in place, but the policy of imposing sanctions on Iran has continued to exist. It is clear that such U.S. measures aim to prevent Iran, together with other JCPOA participants as well as other members of the worldwide community, from enjoying the rights and benefits described in the nuclear deal and the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 which in 2015 outlined an inspection process and schedule in preparation of the removal of UN sanctions against Iran. Regrettably, too, the governments of the three European parties to the JCPOA, despite considering the U.S. approach as illegal and unacceptable, moved to accommodate it in practice with their silence and inaction. The alignment of the three JCPOA European countries with such devastating American actions has rendered the nuclear deal ineffective, eliminating all of the deal's economic dividends for Iran. These are the bitter realities of the past several years which should illuminate the way forward to the future. The continuing of Trump's disastrous approach by the present U.S. administration has raised the serious question of whether the current government is truly determined to implement its obligations and prepared to abandon the failed policies of the past. Answering this question does not appear difficult considering the U.S. approach and measures during the past months. No one can indeed question Iran's seriousness and goodwill in fulfilling its obligations in their entirety. After the unlawful U.S. withdrawal and the imposition of sanctions, Iran refrained from executing counteractive measures in good faith, and granting the request of the remaining JCPOA participants and the European Union as the coordinator of the nuclear deal, avoided resorting to the cessation of its commitments under the JCPOA so as to provide the opportunity for other JCPOA participants to compensate for the negative impacts of the American withdrawal. However, given the persistence of this unconstructive state of affairs and after one year of strategic patience, due to the escalation of U.S. sanctions, and non-performance of the obligations of the three European countries, Iran was left with no choice but to enforce its rights as set forth in paragraphs 26 and 36 of the JCPOA and cease, partially and in stages, to perform its obligations as of May 8, 2019. Witnessing no change in the status quo, in the absence of an effective measure by the relevant JCPOA participants, and given the regrettable history of developments, the parliament of Iran adopted the law of "the strategic action plan to lift sanctions and protect the interests of the Iranian nation" on December 2, 2020. This law obligated the government of Iran to gradually cease the implementation of all its voluntary commitments under the JCPOA unless other parties to the deal fulfill their entire obligations in practice. Ahead of Vienna talks The Islamic Republic of Iran, in spite of significant non-performance by the West in the JCPOA, is once again ready to partake in result-oriented negotiations to achieve a "good deal" with the P4+1. The Islamic Republic of Iran has good faith, serious determination, and the necessary will to reach a good deal in Vienna. Throughout this process, it should never be forgotten that the U.S. remains the main culprit behind the creation of the status quo. In the past four years, the American Government has spared no efforts to crush the nuclear deal, and it was Iran that did all it could to keep the deal alive. What became evident to Iran during the past six rounds of negotiations is that the U.S. still fails to properly understand the fact that there is no way to return to the JCPOA without the verifiable and effective lifting of all sanctions imposed on the Iranian nation following the American departure. Resolution 2231 calls upon all member states to "take such actions as may be appropriate to support the implementation of the JCPOA, including by taking actions commensurate with the implementation plan set out in the JCPOA and this resolution and by refraining from actions that undermine the implementation of commitments under the JCPOA." The main objective of the talks in Vienna should be the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA and the pursuit of the goal of normalization of trade relations and economic cooperation with Iran. It goes without saying that in order to return to the JCPOA, Iran should benefit fully from the lifting of all sanctions. Iran is prepared to cease application of all its remedial measures if guarantees are provided, damages are assessed, and all sanctions are effectively and verifiably lifted. The likely return of the U.S. to the nuclear deal would not be meaningful unless guarantees are presented to prevent the recurrence of the bitter experiences of the past and Iran's trade partners can confidently enter into a long-term economic engagement with Iran free from concerns. What is clear in the forthcoming negotiations is that Iran will not accept any requests beyond the JCPOA. Iran will not enter into any discussion whatsoever about issues beyond the nuclear deal. I would like to emphasize once again that this opportunity is not a window that can forever remain open and the U.S. plus the three European countries must well understand this. The Islamic Republic of Iran, while making determined, strong and active diplomatic efforts to remove the oppressive American sanctions, has devised an effective program to neutralize the sanctions in line with its sustainable economic development program. Without doubt, Tehran remains as committed to maintaining and safeguarding the achievements of its nuclear scientists and peaceful nuclear industry as it remains obliged to non-diversion from its peaceful nuclear program, and will not abandon its comprehensive development in the industry, trade, maritime, space, defense, science, and technology sectors, nor will it curtail its increasing economic development. A deal is potentially on the table if all other parties demonstrate political will in practice. Despite the unfulfilled promises of the West and a distrust towards the unconstructive approach and policies of the White House, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make every effort "with true determination" and "in good faith" during the Vienna negotiations to achieve a "good, sustainable and effectively verifiable" deal for the lifting of sanctions. The Iranian nuclear negotiating team is engaging actively and earnestly in the Vienna negotiations, pursuing a negotiation logic which secures the interests and rights of the Iranian nation. My colleagues and I fully support the negotiating team as well as the chief negotiator, Baqeri Kani, who has extensive experience in the field. I will engage in further consultation with my counterparts if necessary. The author is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Flash 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. 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. Flash Scientists have warned that one of the most significant glaciers in the Antarctica is at serious risk of collapse because of being loosened by warmer temperatures in the surrounding seas, with the potential for globally significant consequences. The Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday glacier because of the impact its melting would have, flows into the Amundsen Sea off western Antarctica and is around the same size as Great Britain or Florida. Opinion on its longevity is divided, but at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union on Monday, some delegates suggested it could have as little as five years left before the continued erosion of its ice from beneath would lead to a greater rate of fracturing higher up, which could result in a serious raising of global sea levels. "There is going to be dramatic change in the front of the glacier, probably in less than a decade. Both published and unpublished studies point in that direction," said glaciologist Ted Scambos from the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration to the BBC. "This will accelerate the pace and widen, effectively, the dangerous part of the glacier." The Science News website quoted him as saying that carbon dioxide emissions were significantly to blame. Rising sea levels Erin Pettit, another glaciologist from Oregon State University, told broadcaster CNBC that rising sea levels were a near inevitability and the focus should now turn to how to manage their environmental impact. Scambos said Thwaites is the widest glacier in the world, and it has doubled the outflow speed of the water it has released over the last 30 years. It holds enough water to raise global sea levels by more than 60 centimeters. And were it to be significantly damaged, it could also impact other surrounding glaciers, compounding the problem. On the website of scientific journal Science, it stated that diagonal fractures have been spotted spanning nearly the entire length of the glacier's ice shelf, adding to fears about its stability. Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey have been part of a team using hot water to drill access holes into the ocean cavity hundreds of meters below the ice shelf to assess conditions within. It reported that water in the area known as the grounding zone, where the glacier lifts off the sea bed, was uncharacteristically warm and also salty, two factors which are regarded as likely to increase the chances of significant melting from below the surface. Digital Press Conference: A Stunning Shake-Up on Watchlist of World's Worst Enemies of Faith Open Doors to Announce 'Most Seismic Changes in World Watch List History' on Wednesday, January 19th at a Digital Press Conference NEWS PROVIDED BY Open Doors USA Dec. 16, 2021 SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Open Doors USA will reveal what leadership describes as "the most seismic changes'' in the history of its annual World Watch List at a digital press conference on January 19th. Open Doors' World Watch List is a highly-anticipated annual ranking of the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous and difficult to be a Christian, and is a frequently-cited resource for policy makers and media outlets concerning global religious persecution. President and CEO David Curry said, "For more than 20 years, Open Doors' World Watch List has given us a clear and current picture of religious freedom conditions. But this year's findings indicate seismic changes in the persecution landscape and challenge the United States to take action that, according to the report's conclusions, has never been more critical." In the online press conference, Curry will announce Open Doors' 2022 World Watch List and release research-driven data exposing recent changes in religious freedom conditions worldwide. He will be joined by key leaders, analysts, and persecuted individuals sharing harrowing first-person narratives. Press Conference Speakers and Topics include: Ambassador Sam Brownback, Senior Fellow at Open Doors USA, addressing the religious freedom impact of the Beijing Winter Olympics and China's expanding authoritarianism Illia Djadi, Open Doors Africa Senior Analyst, discussing the the unimpeded spread of religious violence throughout Sub-saharan Africa An Afghan refugee and frontline worker offering first-person stories and describing what's next for Afghan Christians following the Taliban takeover and developing refugee crisis A Nigerian Christian whose entire family was attacked by Boko Haram, examining the future of faith in his country WHAT: Digital Press Event - Open Doors' State of Persecution address and 2022 World Watch List release WHO: David Curry, President and CEO of Open Doors USA; Ambassador Sam Brownback, Senior Fellow, Open Doors, USA; Open Doors' Africa Senior Analyst, Illia Djadi; Undisclosed victims of persecution from Afghanistan and Nigeria WHEN: Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 - 10 a.m. ET WHERE: Register at: OpenDoorsUSA.org/WWL-2022-Press For more information and interview scheduling for David Curry and Ambassador Sam Brownback, please email opendoors@iconmediagroup.com. About Open Doors USA For more than 60 years, Open Doors USA has worked in the world's most oppressive and restrictive countries for Christians. Open Doors works to equip and encourage Christians living in dangerous circumstances with the threat of persecution and to mobilize the Western church to pray and advocate for the persecuted. Christians are one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world and are oppressed in at least 60 countries. For more information, visit OpenDoorsUSA.org. SOURCE Open Doors USA CONTACT: OpenDoors@iconmediagroup.com North America Food Packaging Market Growth & Trends The North America Food Packaging market size is expected to reach USD 135.52 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2020 to 2028. The market is anticipated to be driven by a surge in demand for food delivery services, coupled with the rapid growth in single-serve and portable food packs. Plastic packaging products are affordable and offer robust barrier properties, which contribute to their widespread penetration in the food and beverage industry. With the increasing government intervention in plastic product manufacturing, producers operating in the plastic food packaging market are making efforts to offer products using eco-friendly and sustainable raw materials. The hectic work schedules of consumers and the increased demand for convenient food options drive the market for packaged food items in North America. Moreover, the flourishing e-commerce industry in different countries of the region such as Canada and Mexico is fueling the sales of packed food items across the region. The extensive presence of large-sized packaged food companies with a robust penetration of distribution channels, such as supermarket and hypermarket chains, in North America is expected to contribute to the growth of food packaging types, such as trays, containers, pouches, and bags, during the forecast period. Request a free sample copy or view report summary: North America Food Packaging Market Report North America Food Packaging Market Report Highlights By material, the paper and paper-based food packaging material segment is expected to expand at the highest CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period owing to the increasing demand for biodegradable and more sustainable packaging solutions By type, under the flexible segment, the pouches segment is expected to witness the highest growth from 2020 to 2028 as they occupy lesser space during transportation, consume less plastic material, and present a better sustainability profile in comparison to their rigid counterparts The rigid type segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020. The high adoption of rigid packaging products, such as bottles and jars, trays and containers, and caps and closures, owing to their durability and property of offering high protection to food and beverage products is contributing to the segment growth Based on application, the packaged food segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 70.0% in 2020. The high demand for packaged foods owing to the change in consumer lifestyle has driven the segment in recent years and the trend is expected to continue over the forecast period The market is steadily moving toward sustainable packaging owing to the rising stringent regulations on the use of excessive plastic packaging, coupled with the growing awareness regarding sustainability among consumers Access Press Release@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/north-america-food-packaging-market-analysis North America Food Packaging Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the North America food packaging market on the basis of type, material, application, and country: North America Food Packaging Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) Rigid Bottles & Jars Cans Trays & Containers Caps & Closures Dispensing Caps Screw Closures Crown Closures Aerosol Closures Others Others Flexible Wraps & Films Bags Pouches Others North America Food Packaging Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) Paper & Paper-based Plastic PE PP PET Others Metal Glass Others North America Food Packaging Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) Packaged Food Food Service Industry Household North America Food Packaging Country Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028) US. Canada Mexico List of Key Players of North America Food Packaging Market Amcor plc Sealed Air Sonoco Products Company Berry Global, Inc. WestRock Company Mondi Genpak LLC Pactiv LLC Chantler Packages WINPAK LTD. Alpha Packaging BE Packaging Cheer Pack North America Evanesce Packaging Solutions Inc. Pacmoore Products Inc. Innovative Fiber Emmerson Packaging PakTech Tradepak ProAmpac About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. The Military Smart Weapons Market Report, in its latest update, highlights the significant impacts and the recent strategic changes under the present socio-economic scenario. The Military Smart Weapons industry growth avenues are deeply supported by exhaustive research by the top analysts of the industry. The report starts with the executive summary, followed by a value chain and marketing channels study. The report then estimates the CAGR and market revenue of the Global and regional segments. Base Year: 2020 Estimated Year: 2021 Forecast Till: 2027 The report classifies the market into different segments based on type and product. These segments are studied in detail, incorporating the market estimates and forecasts at regional and country levels. The segment analysis is helpful in understanding the growth areas and potential opportunities of the market. Get | Download FREE Sample Report of Global Military Smart Weapons Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-10920 A special section is dedicated to the analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of the Military Smart Weapons market. The impact is closely studied in terms of production, import, export, and supply. The report covers the complete competitive landscape of the Worldwide Military Smart Weapons market with company profiles of key players such as: The Boeing Company Denel SOC Ltd Kongsberg Gruppen Lockheed Martin Corporation MBDA Orbital ATK Raytheon Company Textron Inc Want to add more Company Profiles to the Report? Write your Customized Requirements to us @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/get-custom-research-10920 Military Smart Weapons Market Analysis by Type: Smart Radar Smart GPS / INS Smart Bombs & Missile Smart Munitions Other Military Smart Weapons Market Analysis by Application: Reconnaissance Searching Fighting Other Military Smart Weapons Market Analysis by Geography: North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico) 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) 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 Military Smart Weapons market between 2022 to 2027? Which application and type segment holds the maximum share in the Global Military Smart Weapons market? Which regional Military Smart Weapons market shows the highest growth CAGR between 2022 to 2027? What are the opportunities and challenges currently faced by the Military Smart Weapons 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 Military Smart Weapons market? Purchase the Complete Global Military Smart Weapons Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-10920 About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com 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 client's 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: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ The Global Crop Protection Chemicals Market Report, in its latest update, highlights the significant impacts and the recent strategical changes under the present socio-economic scenario. The Crop Protection Chemicals industry growth avenues are deeply supported by exhaustive research by the top analysts of the industry. The report starts with the executive summary, followed by a value chain and marketing channels study. The report then estimates the CAGR and market revenue of the global and regional segments. Base Year: 2020 Estimated Year: 2021 Forecast Till: 2027 The report classifies the market into different segments based on type and product. These segments are studied in detail, incorporating the market estimates and forecasts at regional and country levels. The segment analysis is helpful in understanding the growth areas and potential opportunities of the market. Get | Download FREE Sample Report of Global Crop Protection Chemicals Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-10552 A special section is dedicated to the analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of the Crop Protection Chemicals market. The impact is closely studied in terms of production, import, export, and supply. The report covers the complete competitive landscape of the Worldwide Crop Protection Chemicals market with company profiles of key players such as: American Vanguard Arysta LifeScience BASF SE Bayer CropScience BioWorks Cheminova Chemtura Corp Chr Hansen Dow AgroSciences DuPont FMC Corp Isagro SpA Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha Makhteshim Agan Marrone Bio Innovations Monsanto Natural Industries Novozymes A/S Nufarm Ltd. Sumitomo Chemical Syngenta AG Valent Biosciences Want to add more Company Profiles to the Report? Write your Customized Requirements to us @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/get-custom-research-10552 Crop Protection Chemicals Market Analysis by Product: Herbicides Fungicides Insecticides Other Crop Protection Chemicals Market Analysis by Applications: Fruits & Vegetables Cereals Maize Cotton Rice Other Crop Protection Chemicals 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 Crop Protection Chemicals market between 2022 to 2027? Which application and type segment holds the maximum share in the Global Crop Protection Chemicals market? Which regional Crop Protection Chemicals market shows the highest growth CAGR between 2022 to 2027? What are the opportunities and challenges currently faced by the Crop Protection Chemicals 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 Crop Protection Chemicals market? Purchase the Complete Global Crop Protection Chemicals Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-10552 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/ I have never met her, but I am named Sesh after my grandmother Seshagiri. She passed away before I was born. In the Telugu industry, a lot of people are known by the name of a film they have worked in, and many people tell me they have never seen my film Adivi, chuckles Adivi Sesh, who celebrates his 36th birthday on Friday. For a change, Seshs parents who are currently in India, and the actor, who has been in this country for several years, is looking forward to spending his special day with them. Since Ive been in India, I have had to be satisfied with speaking to my parents over phone on my birthdays, he says. The pandemic was on and nothing was happening, but this is something good, says Sesh. It may sound strange, but as part of an orthodox family, we never got to celebrate Christmas. We did celebrate Halloween and I used to dress up like a gangster or Spider-Man, he reminisces. I grew up in San Francisco and did my school and college education there. I grew up with Gujarati and Punjabi friends and they were more comfortable speaking in Hindi than in English. I felt like a fish out of water, and was always trying to find an identity, says the Goodachari actor. Sesh, who is looking forward to the release of his film Major (on February 11) and more Pan-India films, says, I have been emotionally involved in the project as a writer too and it has taken a lot of my time. If anyone, including actors like Prakash Raj, had any doubts, I was the go-to person, as writer. He believes he is more of an actor and writer though he has made his directorial debut. I was always an actor first. Directing my first film made me realise that probably I am not a good director, he says. Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government that aims to promote tourism in a big way is relaunching the Godavari river cruise service from Pochavaram to popular tourist destination of Papikondalu from Dec. 18. This is in addition to developing amenities at several tourism-potential areas in the state. After a gap of two years after a boat mishap and the eruption of Coronavirus pandemic, the state Tourism Development Corporation gave green signal on Thursday for operation of tourists boats in this sector on Godavari river with a fleet of 10 private boats. This will mainly benefit of tourists from Hyderabad/Telangana as a large number of tourists from there arrive at Bhadrachalam for darshan at Sita Ramachandraswamy temple and sail along the Godavari to reach upto Papikondalu. Private boats carrying tourists start at 9.30 am from Pochavaram and head for Perantalapalli and then to Papikondalu and return to Pochavaram by 5 pm. An adult will be charged Rs1,000 while children above two years will be charged Rs 900. Boat operators serve them breakfast, lunch and snacks. The state government permitted the operation of tourist boats on Godavari river in strict compliance with all safety norms last month. APTDC authorities said local public representatives will launch the tourist boat operations on Saturday. APTDC is expediting works to create amenities at several tourist places in the state in the hope there will be significant footfalls during the festive season. It is developing a ropeway at Gandikota, an APTDC restaurant at Lambasingi, a floating restaurant on Krishna river in Vijayawada, a floating restaurant by converting MV MAA cargo ship in Visakhapatnam, cottages at Araku Valley and Lambasingi and several amenities at Dindi resorts in East Godavari, Bhavani Island in Vijayawada and at Horsley Hills in Chittoor district. Tourist resorts will be developed by the corporation at Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Penukonda under a public-private partnership with the involvement of ISKCON at a cost of Rs 100 crore. APTDC managing director Satyanarayana said, We will promote tourism in a big way and in strict compliance with Covid appropriate behaviour. New Delhi: Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) HD Kumaraswamy said that his party won't support the anti-conversion Bill, which the government intends to implement in the Karnataka Assembly. "Our party clearly opposes this Bill (Anti-Conversion Bill) and all our legislators attending the session are vehemently opposing it," Kumaraswamy said. While speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Karnataka's former CM said, "The Bill is unnecessary in the state." Leader of Opposition in Karnataka assembly and Congress leader Siddaramaiah has said that the anti-conversion law is being brought to target a particular religion. The 10-day winter session of the Karnataka Assembly session began at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Belagavi from December 13 and will continue till December 24. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah, said, "There is already a law to stop forceful conversion. Let the government take action in case of any forceful conversion. This law (proposed anti-conversion bill) is being brought to target a particular religion. Congress will oppose it tooth and nail." However, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said that there is no need for anybody to live in fear due to this bill. Belagavi Bishop Derek Fernandes, has slammed the Karnataka government's proposed anti-conversion bill, terming it a hate campaign against Christians. "I was saddened to read that one of the ministers affirmed it to be against Christians. I would say it is a hate campaign that has to be avoided at any cost," Fernandes told ANI. The Bishop asked how the state government could put restrictions on his freedom to profess and propagate his religion which is enshrined in the constitution. Fernandes said that the bill needs to define terms like "conversion" and "allurement". Visakhapatnam: A man in a fit of rage killed his wife smashing her head with a dumbbell in Gollalapalem of Sriharipuram under Malkapuram police station limits in Vizag city in the wee hours on Thursday. He later died by suicide. The police in their preliminary investigation found that a family dispute led to the tragedy. The couple have been identified as K Madhavi (30) and K Siva Nageswara Rao (32). Their marriage was held three years ago and they have no children. The locals, who woke up to the shocking incident, said that there was a heated argument between the couple on Wednesday night. The police said that they are collecting information and examining the mobile phones of the couple to ascertain the exact reasons for the death of the couple. A case has been registered and the bodies were shifted to the KGH morgue for post-mortem. New Delhi: Terming the Lakhimpur Kheri incident 'a murder', Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday reiterated his demand for removal of Ajay Kumar Mishra as Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs and alleged that the Minister who killed farmers should resign and be punished. MOS Home Ajay Kumar Mishra's son Ashish Mishra is allegedly involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident which took the lives of eight people including four farmers, earlier in October. Speaking at the Lok Sabha today, the Wayanad MP said, "We should be allowed to speak about the murder that was committed in Lakhimpur Kheri, where there was an involvement of the Minister and about which it has been said that it was a conspiracy." "The Minister who killed farmers should resign and be punished," he added. Several Congress MPs in Lok Sabha, including Rahul Gandhi, earlier on Wednesday have moved an adjournment motion in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident demanding the removal of Ajay Kumar Mishra as Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs. Notably, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case on Tuesday termed the Lakhimpur violence that led to the death of eight people as "a pre-planned conspiracy". Local farmers had blamed Ajay Kumar Mishra 'Teni' and his son Ashish for the violence that claimed the lives of four farmers and a local journalist among others during a farmers' protest. Allegedly, they were mowed down by a vehicle that was part of the convoy of the minister in Lakhimpur Kheri. Videos were being circulated on social media, where a Mahindra Thar was seen knocking down protesters from behind. The minister and his son have denied the charges. However, Ashish Mishra and several others have been booked for murder. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm following the Opposition's protest in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and their demand for the immediate resignation of Minister Ajay Misra Teni. According to him the CSI institutions, in his diocese, were into charitable activities during the lockdown and after it was lifted. Salaries have been paid in full, despite fall in revenue, he said. They had provided employment to some of those who had lost their jobs, he said. Representational image/DC Hyderabad: The Church of South India (CSI) and its churches are gearing up for a grand Christmas celebration, said Bishop A C Solomon Raj, bishop Medak Diocese, CSI, under whom there are 1,300 churches apart from several educational institutions. Speaking to this correspondent, the bishop said that this year he will be celebrating his Christmas with leprosy patients. He said all celebrations will be governed by Covid protocol and government guidelines. According to him the CSI institutions, in his diocese, were into charitable activities during the lockdown and after it was lifted. Salaries have been paid in full, despite fall in revenue, he said. They had provided employment to some of those who had lost their jobs, he said. From June, five new educational institutions will get going and over 1,000 students can stay and pursue their education, which is totally free, he said. On the day of Christmas I will be preaching in four churches in the city, and then leave for Dichipally, near Nizamabad. There is a leprosy colony and I will be spending my Christmas with them, he said. There are many beautiful churches under CSI, with one being the Medak Church, which is a popular tourist destination. CSI St Georges Anglican church at Abids was built in 1844, according to its pastor, Rev. U. Daniel, The church has been recognized and awarded by INTAC. It has only one service on Sundays, while on December 25, the service will begin at 8:30 am. CSI All Saints Church, at cantonment, Timulgherry, which was constructed in 1860, is one of the finest churches in the city, said Rev Justus Moni, its pastor. The church, with around 700 families as members, will have midnight service on December 24, he pointed out. CSI Holy Trinity church, established in 1847, resembles countryside churches of England, thanks to its Gothic architecture. This was built by the pocket money of Queen Victoria on the land donated by the Nizam, according to Rev Prashant Babu. This church has a pipe organ, which is one of the rarest in the world, he said. On the first of every month I used to get a pension online. I do not know why it got delayed this month. I was assisted by the staff here. They explained that there was a problem and it would be rectified soon, said a pensioner. Representational image/PTI Hyderabad: Innumerable pensioners are complaining about online hassles and delays because of which they have to climb a two-storey building to collect their pension at the joint director pension payment office in MJ Market. There are more than one lakh pensioners in the twin cities, who together draw up to Rs 4 crore. The government hosted an online portal integrated financial management (IFMIS) in 2018 for the convenience of pensioners. For the last two weeks I have witnessed many aged pensioners, most of them with knee pains, climb stairs without assistance. On several occasions, I try to help them out, said an employee of the office. I am 75 years old, my son lives in Nizamabad. I used to seek help from my neighbours daughter to get my pension online. This month as the website started showing errors, I came to collect pension, said P Shilvaram. With a great difficulty that stretched up to three hours, I found the address, he said. Another pensioner Mohammed Azam said on the first of every month I used to get a pension online. I do not know why it got delayed this month. I was assisted by the staff here. They explained that there was a problem and it would be rectified soon. In the seven years since my retirement this is the first time that my pension has been delayed. I was told that there is a technical issue. The pension officer did not inform me of the technical snag, said P Subramanyam, another pensioner. The IFMIS online portal had some technical issues. Dealing with one lakh people is a great task for us. We are working on the upgraded software to support the portal. Our technical team is on the job and we will be rectifying the problem, said N Vinod Rao, pension payment officer, JDPPO. The double-lane roads with paved shoulder systems of a width of 10 metres, that our Army needs to transport heavy machinery and large numbers of troops rapidly, must not be allowed to become a victim of overzealous Greens. (Representational Image/ AP) The decision of the Supreme Court to allow the Central government, via the ministry of defence, to widen roads as part of the 900-km-long Char Dham project in Uttarakhand, on the basis of national security requirements, overriding certain plausible objections from environmentalists, is welcome for its delicate balancing of concerns. Given the India-China face-off militarily and sporadic clashes at the Line of Actual Control, our Armed Forces deserve our complete support, which crucially includes upgrading of infrastructure, especially our roads, to the specifications sought by our forces to use during emergencies. The double-lane roads with paved shoulder systems of a width of 10 metres, that our Army needs to transport heavy machinery and large numbers of troops rapidly, must not be allowed to become a victim of overzealous Greens using our judiciary as a platform to cause obstacles and risks to national security. As the highest court observed, the project had no malafide executive intent. With an investment of Rs 12,000 crores, these roads would also positively impact highway connectivity to four Hindu pilgrimage sites a secondary benefit. The SC bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, Vikram Nath and Surya Kant rightfully observed that the security challenges at our borders need a national resolve to be met and cannot be treated on a par with other usual concerns of the environment or social impact. It is now imperative on the governments, Central and states, not to misuse this profound observation as an excuse to bulldoze environmental concerns in other projects across the country, because as the apex court bench has observed, security concerns, especially in border areas, trump regular concerns. Politicians are wont to find loopholes to push other agendas but national security is too significant and sacred a need and it cannot become de rigueur to use it to bypass other issues elsewhere. Former US President Donald Trump met the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a summit as the US leader presented a cassette with the song 'Rocket Man' with a player included. It was one of the most memorable highlights of the 2017 meeting that was the ice breaker needed to approach the leader of the hermit kingdom. When the 45th president took office, his predecessor Barrack Obama said North Korea was unfinished business. But the current White House Occupant has been snubbed by the Supreme Leader, clearly having a preference for Trump. Ex-President Trump gifts NoKor leader Kim Jong Un The ex-President confirmed that it was true that he gave the Supreme Leader a copy of the song 'Rocket Man' by Elton John, as his remembrance to Kim Jong Un, reported the Daily Star. According to the former president, who alleged that the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had the cassette player with tape, the delegation was on the way to meet the dictator. This summit was to negotiate a deal to lessen the nukes of the North Korean regime; that coincided with the music gift to him. The former administration of Obama was concerned that the nuclear program of Pyongyang was troubling. Trump took it on himself to do something about it and even befriended the dictator as well. In an event called the 'History Tour' in Florida last Saturday, he opened up about the curious meeting and how it went. Former President Donald Trump said that at the event, the North Korean leader was asked if he had heard the song before and said "no," citing the Ladbible. Read Also: Kim Jong Un Ignores Joe Biden's Offer To Restart Negotiations; Pyongyang Would Rather Talk to Seoul To Promote Peace He added that Kim Jong Un should have a copy, but the player is not made in North Korea. He told the other leader that it was a favorite because launching rockets is what the dictator does most of the time, noted the Vox. Furthermore, Trump stated that he imagined the Pyongyang leader astride a rocket zooming over Japan during that time. Trump nicknamed NoKor leader "Rocket Man" The 45th leader of the US coined the origin of the moniker 'Rocket Man' in 2017, written in a tweet that referenced the Korean dictator. Before Trump was booted out by Twitter and recently got locked out from social media, that tweet came earlier. He remarked that he spoke with the South Korean President Moon, he asked what the Rocket Man is doing-followed by long gas lines in NoKo is too bad. Sputnik news mentioned that the name stuck to denote Kim Jong Un and diplomatic core members said the tweet was a bit rude. The tour is the first mention by the ex-president handing a single of the Sir Elton John classic song, but some stories suggest it was a CD, not a tape cassette though. This tour by the businessman then-US leader will be scheduled on the 18th and 19th of December to be held in the Houston Toyota Center and the American Airlines Centre in Dallas. One outlet had spoken to a representative of the former president and learned that about $7 million was sold, while media opposed are saying the tickets are not sold. Former President Donald Trump and the North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un hit it off, despite the negativity connected to it, compared to the almost zero charisma of Joe Biden. Related Article: Donald Trump: Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, They Like Him @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. French leader Emmanuel Macron is spearheading the European Union's answer to the naked attempt by Joe Biden to politicize the Beijing Olympics as an extension of its ongoing tension with China. Observers say that Washington is inappropriate to weaponize boycotting the winter Olympics to further its selfish agenda. Since the loss of Afghanistan, the US has been seen as less than a shadow itself the current White House and is trying vainly to repair its tattered international reputation. Keeping the Olympic spirit President Macron spoke on Thursday and said the US boycott is unwanted politicking of the sporting event. Instead, he wants to work with the International Olympic Committee to keep athletes safe, and so-called symbolic boycotts are unnecessary, reported the Express UK. The French leader stated that the Olympics is beyond the politicization of any nation or government. He added the world stage deserves more respect than any head of state grandstanding. Mr. Biden said America is back in the G7 Summit, but many don't see it. The three nations are not attending and boycotting the quarterly sports, including the United States, Australia, and Great Britain. It's because the trio snubbed the China sponsored event to protest its human rights record cited Reuters. In a scheduled meeting, EU's foreign affairs ministers will go over the issue at Brussel, and the US will be snubbed for its blatant action. Coincidentally the three boycotting nations are part of the AUKUS deal that robbed Brussels and Paris of a billion-dollar defense deal. According to Politico, one EU diplomat is not pressured to side with the US. The source added there aren't too many rushing to support the faulty US position. The French leader and the European Union will support the Beijing Winter Olympics and snub the US. Read Also: Russia Launches Secret Missile, Military Jets in Test Flight as NATO Allies Practice Drills in Black Sea Boycott would have "no impact" China expected the boycott of the US as nothing, no domino effect or even the diplomatic outrage, last Thursday. There are four nations, including Canada joining the anti-Chinese bandwagon. The US announced the boycott last Monday, and government officials will not go there on the dates of February 4-20 due to the atrocities committed in the Xinjiang province. Wang Wenbin of the Foreign Ministry said an expected domino effect when interviewed by the press.He cited that many nations uphold the spirit of the Beijing Winter Olympics and support it. Joe Biden is getting bitter rebuke again like the Fall of Afghanistan. The US relationship with its allies has gone downhill, led by Washington, worse under President Joe Biden. The current US administration is not relenting on China and its issues, from human rights violations to the South China Sea claims. Mr. Wang said the United Nations, last December 2, ratified a resolution that called an Olympic Truce with 170 plus members. Forgo politics and be one in the Beijing Olympics, but the White and its allies are better than the whole world. Several high-profile world leaders will be there, and even royal family members, said Wang. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he'll be there to support an Olympic celebration. Like the Chinese representative says, the US and the other protesters will regret what they have done trying to subvert the event for their end. Related Article: China Develops Hypersonic Nuclear Missile Engine From Abandoned NASA Design in Bid To Advance Its Technology As a Western Deterrent @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Conservatives have long critiqued several Democrat-aligned mayors for allowing career criminals to commit horrific crimes, even in broad daylight. These non-Republican lead cities have seen defunding the police and breaking law and order. Cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia are knee-deep in criminals allowed to run rampant by these mayors. Mayor Lightfoot's logic favors criminals, not victims According to the FBI, which released data if the murder rates went up to 30% from 2019 and 2020 saw a high rise that has Chicago as most prominent, reported Fox News. In 12 cities in the US, including New York that ticked the most people killed in 2021, that has made it a crime haven. Emboldened activities of robbing and attacking citizens without warning could happen anytime. Recently many gangs have done smash-and-grab crimes, as these perpetrators' versions of holiday shopping. Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot was scathed for her callous remarks that it was the businesses' duty to protect their premises. On December 6, she said that it's the retailers' jobs to do everything to ensure the safety and security of their establishments, not the city government. She stressed that these businesses should have security officers inside their store and a camera that works, closing up tight at night. Blaming luxury goods sold as the cause of excessive criminality that causes thieves to steal them, cited Fox 32 Chicago. In a response by the retailers who told Democrat-aligned Mayor Lightfoot, there is something wrong in her logic that favors the criminals, not the victims. Read Also: Majority of Residents Think of Leaving New York City Amid Unrest and Coronavirus Pandemic Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York safest during his term Like his counterpart in Chicago, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, before he left the city to Mayor-elect Eric Adams, left a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private businesses as part of the job. All companies are forced to comply when it is in effect on December 27, only several days before De Blasio's term ends. The NYC mayor interviewed at Fox News Sunday and defended why New York City needed the vaccine mandate. He claimed that his term of eight years is the safest ever, despite the criminal rampancy under his watch, and numerous murders peaked in 2021, stating that he is responsible for lowering crimes by 11% in eight years and bringing the police and community together. Despite his alleged claim, the current lawlessness speaks for itself. Philadelphia DA says city does not have crime problem This city with Democrats at the helm is suffering a 13% rise in killings from 2020. District Attorney Larry Krasner was hit back for saying there are no criminals on a rampage in his jurisdiction, noted Sports Yahoo. Krasner added that no criminals preying on people or other lawlessness impacting the community last Monday. Denying that his city is part of many Democratic cities suffering from the party's stand against law and order. He later recanted his statements but did not apologize about anything. Another Democrat, the Los Angeles DA George Gascon, was blamed for his zero bail policies involving criminals involved in smash and grabs. Democratic-aligned mayors have made law and order the last concern, but they are getting the previous as the surge of conservatives pushing against their anti-people policies. Related Article: Dems Mayoral Candidates to Oust NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea Should Any of Them Win @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, is facing new challenges after the UK's High Court decided last Friday that he might be extradited to the United States. You'd think that, for something so big and serious, you'd be able to obtain a clear response to a basic question: why does Joe Biden want Julian Assange extradited? When Biden was elected president in January 2021, followers of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hoped that the incoming government would scrap the whole thing. The extradition procedure, as well as the 18 accusations he faced - 17 of which were under the Espionage Act - were launched by Donald Trump, who had previously expressed support for the whistleblower organization; but then, he changed his mind. Julian Assange extradition Indeed, Assange's supporters anticipated that once a British judge, Vanessa Baraitser, determined that while US prosecutors had satisfied the criteria for extradition, there was too large a risk of his killing himself, the case would be closed. A High Court judgment allowing Julian Assange to be extradited to the United States has been described as a "travesty of justice" and a "hammer blow to free expression" by human rights and press freedom organizations, The Independent reported. Extradition of Assange "to confront charges for creating a source and supporting the discovery of wrongdoing would be a hammer blow to free expression," according to Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). A British newspaper said on Friday that a UK Assange can be extradited to the United States to face espionage charges coming from his publishing of State Department and Defense Department papers given by Chelsea Manning, a former Army intelligence analyst, in 2010. Per MSNBC, the accusations against Assange center on whether an organization that operates exclusively to acquire and publish unlawfully stolen government secrets qualifies as a media outlet entitled to First Amendment protections. They are not based on WikiLeaks' publication of Democratic Party emails hacked by the Russian government in support of Trump during the 2016 presidential election. The accusations against Assange center on whether an organization that operates exclusively to acquire and publish unlawfully stolen government secrets qualifies as a media outlet entitled to First Amendment protections. They are not based on WikiLeaks' publication of Democratic Party emails hacked by the Russian government in support of Trump during the 2016 presidential election. Read Also: Ghislaine Maxwell Believes Jeffrey Epstein Was Murdered; Friends, Families Request To Remain Anonymous If They Testify in Her Defense UK prepares to send Julian Assange to the US Meanwhile, Julian Assange's fiancee has accused the UK government of acting as a "executioner" after the WikiLeaks founder suffered a stroke in Belmarsh jail. After a stroke in October, Stella Moris, 38, claimed the 50-year-old was left with a drooping right eyelid, memory issues, and indicators of neurological impairment. Campaigners think the incident was precipitated by the ongoing High Court struggle over whether he should be extradited to the United States. Moris, his two-year-old daughter, has been warning that her partner's health is deteriorating. The US government has filed a High Court challenge to District Judge Vanessa Baraitser's January decision that Assange should not be extradited to the US, citing a genuine and "oppressive danger of suicide." On Friday, Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, sitting with Lord Justice Holroyde, decided in favor of the United States after a two-day hearing in October. The top justices concluded that the judge made her judgment mainly on the possibility of Assange being confined in solitary confinement if extradited. However, US officials later stated that Assange would not be subjected to the most severe sanctions, either before or after his conviction, should he commit an act that warranted them in the future. Moris said on Friday that her partner's attorneys want to take his case to the UK's Supreme Court. Per Daily Mail, before any appeal is heard, the justices must first determine whether or not to consider the case. The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on specific instances, according to a spokesperson. Related Article: US Wins Latest Appeal To Extradite WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange as UK High Court Overturns Previous Decision @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Police officer Derek Chauvin who was tangled up with the death of George Floyd more than two years ago has recently pleaded guilty to murdering the Black man as part of a new agreement and awaits his sentencing. The former Minneapolis officer pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to civil rights charges. Additionally, Chauvin pleaded guilty in a separate federal case where he is believed to have deprived the rights of a 14-year-old in Minneapolis in 2017. At the time, the officer allegedly knelt on the back and neck of the victim who was handcuffed and not resisting. Chauvin's Guilty Plea Chauvin faces a sentence of between 20 and 25 years in prison as part of the new plea agreement. Prosecutors requested the full 25-year sentence to be served concurrently with his current 22 and a half-year sentence on state murder charges. In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed that Chauvin pleaded guilty to two federal civil rights violations. One of which resulted in the death of Floyd, and Garland said that while there was no way to repair the harm that the former officer caused, the Justice Department was committed to holding criminals accountable for their actions, CNN reported. Read Also: Democrats' $2 Trillion Spending Plan in Political Peril as Talks with Joe Manchin Show Signs of Melting Down The former Minneapolis officer admitted in his plea that he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer. The second federal count in the case of Floyd's death was dismissed, but Chauvin pleaded guilty to a separate count in an unrelated case from 2017. Chauvin wore an orange short-sleeve prison shirt when he appeared for the change of plea hearing and was later escorted into and out of the court in handcuffs. During the hearing, he said, "Guilty, your honor" when confirming his plea and acknowledging the crimes that he was accused of committing. Prison Sentence Prior to the guilty plea, Chauvin potentially faced life in prison over the federal count, which gives him more reason to accept the agreement. While prosecutors were seeking to charge the former Minneapolis officer the maximum 25 years in prison, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson will be responsible for the final sentencing, Yahoo News reported. During Chauvin's plea hearing, Judge Magnuson asked the former police officer if he understood that this was the "end of it" and that he would have no opportunity to file an appeal. The suspect said he understood and waived his right to a trial in the federal case. The former Minneapolis police officer's plea deal includes him not being allowed to work in law enforcement ever again. He will also have to pay restitution while the amount that he needs to hand out has not been determined yet. On Wednesday, Judge Magnuson held Chauvin without bond and said he would wait for a pre-sentencing report before delivering the defendant's sentence. The other three former police officers involved in the case are Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. The three men could benefit from Chauvin's guilty plea as they were denied their request to separate their trials from him because they argued that his presence would hurt them before a jury, Fox News reported. Related Article: Chicago Woman Handcuffed Naked During Police Raid Gets Justice; State Asked To Pay $2.9 Million in Damages @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Mayor London Breed have finally said something about the spike in crime in San Francisco enabled through their progressive policies. Pelosi and Breed spoke out against the crime in San Francisco after gangs stole from luxury stores. Now that their district is getting torn apart by rampant criminality, they are not conveniently citing their part in it. Pelosi outraged for allegedly preferring criminal welfare At the height of this crime spike, Pelosi calls the incidents of crime engulfing the city that came at the heels of violence after they moved to defund the police. Now the lawlessness and depravity of criminal offenders have come to bite back in the policies of these non-GOP cities. Pelosi gave her thoughts on the subject after Mayor Breed chose to change course to clamp down on crime after Democrat mayors were heavily critiqued for allegedly encouraging crime, not stopping it, reported Fox News. The speaker called it outrageous and should not be allowed to fester. Blaming that the lawlessness is coming from somewhere must stop before it becomes routine. Policies by the Democrats are allegedly cited by some critics, which their party denies. Several people communicate with each other and plan traffic patterns and other specifics to get their objective and depart quickly. It's not the same as somebody stealing stuff to go home since they can't afford to buy it. Pelosi added that this is about earning via theft on the brazen stealing, noted by Dennis Michael Lynch. She added that an upcoming bill in the lower house would have several sections that will deal with criminal activities that include stealing for profit. Legislation to counter 'stealing for profit' The Energy and Commerce Committee will push for INFORM, legislation requiring those selling online, especially for sellers, to establish that their products are not stolen. Critics alleged Pelosi and Mayor Breed as allowing the crime wave, but it's causing their party, now its damage control. Read Also: After Failed Conviction Pelosi Says Democrats Starting Independent Probe to Investigate Capitol Breach The concern is that these smash and grabs are for stealing to have things to sell online. Criminals can shift to legal commerce after a quick grab and stash from high-end luxury outlets, cited by News World Update. Another bill in the Judicial Committee called Save Shopping by making online platforms responsible for selling stolen goods that highly sought-after luxury products. The speaker said they could not steal and sell without getting caught, but some critics would say who enabled this brazenness. Multiple provisions included in upcoming bill Pelosi spoke of a bill to counter anti-Islamic sentiments, also another bill against Chinese human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims. She joined the bandwagon of President Biden, which is condemning the CCP for enslaving the minority in China. But her keen interest in passing the Democrat massive reconciliation spending bill is having a hard time, even with party members. Parts of the bill the was propped up are the child care provisions and child tax credit checks that will be on Wednesday that should be renewed by congress. Dodging one critique that the Democrats are hiding something in the child care provisos that will make child care more expensive for middle strata families. Also, other hidden costs are not mentioned but there. Pelosi and Democrat Mayor Breed have been weak in the face of the crime wave created by their policies but deny it. Related Article: San Francisco Mayor London Breed Seen Dancing Maskless in Local Club As City Implements Strict Mask Mandate @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A homicide charge has been filed against a 13-year-old Pennsylvania teen who allegedly admitted to authorities that he shot and killed his 5-year-old brother in November after becoming enraged at him for climbing on a bed. According to WTAE, the event that ended in the death of Connor Wolfe in Penn Hills, outside of Pittsburgh, occurred on November 22, and authorities first suspected the teen's 6-year-old sibling. PA teen charged with homicide In a statement released Wednesday, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office said, "What happened in Penn Hills was a purposeful conduct that led in the heartbreaking death of a 5-year-old." A case of criminal homicide cannot be filed directly in juvenile court in Pennsylvania, thus the 13-year-old was prosecuted as an adult." The suspect, who is also charged with illegally possessing a gun by a child, told authorities on Tuesday that he shot Wolfe after becoming enraged at his siblings for jumping on a bed in their house. According to the station, the teen went into his father's room to get his father's handgun in order to terrify his siblings. But the 13-year-old stated he thought the safety was on when he pointed the gun at Wolfe and pressed the trigger. Wolfe was hit in the head and died later at a nearby hospital. According to the Allegheny County District Attorney's office, the teen is being prosecuted as an adult because Pennsylvania law prohibits a child from being charged with criminal homicide in juvenile court. However, the matter will be transferred to juvenile court, and the kid is being housed in a juvenile detention center. He was also charged with being a minor in possession of a firearm, according to court documents. Around 5:30 pm, police officers from Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, arrived at the residence. According to a criminal complaint acquired by Trib Live, the 5-year-old was discovered on the bedroom floor on November 22. When authorities arrived, the boy's mother was giving CPR and was brought to the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where she subsequently died. The victim's 6-year-old brother was first suspected of pulling the shot, but during police questioning, the 13-year-old apparently acknowledged the fatal shooting. He told authorities he was furious with his brother and sister because they refused to stop jumping on the bed when he urged them to. In a statement, the Allegheny County District Attorney's office said, "What happened in Penn Hills was a purposeful crime that led to the heartbreaking murder of a 5-year-old." At a news conference on Wednesday, County Police Inspector Michael Peairs said the department is working with the district attorney's office to determine if the father should face charges for leaving the gun unlocked in the room. He said the father will face "at least one criminal charge" and that both parents were helping with the inquiry, Newsweek via MSN reported. It was a "tragic incident," according to Peairs, that underlines the need to address gun safety, particularly in households with small children when individuals fail to properly secure their guns. He mentioned that the agency had public-access locking mechanisms. Peairs disputed that there was any "confusion" over who shot the firearm, claiming that early information indicated that another youngster had fired it, but that information had now altered. He described child-related inquiries as "sensitive," implying that they require time to "get to the truth." Read Also: Woman Dies After Car Plunges in Freezing Waters of Niagara Falls in a Heroic Attempt to Rescue Trapped Driver Another case of a teen who shot his brother in Michigan Meanwhile, investigators say a Michigan teen mistook his younger brother for a deer and shot him with a firearm. According to the Kent County Sheriff's Office, the 12-year-old Kent County kid went into a wooded area in Solon Township north of Cedar Springs to call his brother to supper. He remained hospitalized Wednesday in severe but stable condition, as per NY Post. Sheriff officials reported the oldest brother, 17, was hunting from a tree stand. Due to their ages, the siblings' identities were not revealed. Sgt. Eric Brunner of Kent County declined to say where or how many times the 12-year-old child was shot, citing an ongoing investigation. Although there is no indication that the gunshot was done on purpose, Brunner said it is uncertain if the 17-year-old teen would face criminal charges. He added the boys' parents are assisting with the investigation. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which is also aiding in the inquiry, the firearms deer shooting season continues through January 1, 2022. Related Article: 7-Year-Old Boy, Three Others Among Dead in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Shooting; Gruesome Crime Discovered After Welfare Check @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United States Treasury Department made the last of the monthly child tax credit payment distribution under U.S. President Joe Biden's coronavirus relief law, which will not be continued unless Congress acts quickly to extend the financial support. On Wednesday. American agencies distributed more than $16 in child tax credit payments to various households of roughly 61 million children, said the Treasury Department. The monthly payments began in July and have since distributed roughly $93 billion in payments to American families. Child Tax Credit In a statement, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that monthly payments of the child tax credit have helped American families pay for necessities such as food, childcare, and other needs since July. She said that the financial support has helped improve the lives of tens of millions of children across the United States, MSN reported. One of the changes in the new child tax credit payment this year is that it was increased from $2,000 per child to as much as $3,600 per child. Additionally, families who do not typically file a tax return because they have low income will also be included in the payments for the first time in history. Authorities also made half of the value of the credit advanceable in six monthly payments. Read Also: Democrats' $2 Trillion Spending Plan in Political Peril as Talks with Joe Manchin Show Signs of Melting Down December is the last month that families can expect to receive payments from the monthly child tax credit. This will not change unless Congress extends the financial support to run through next year. While Democrats included a one-year extension of the enhanced child tax credit in Biden's Build Back Better bill, which was passed by the House, there was little hope that it would make it through the Senate before January. If American lawmakers do not renew the changes, the overall credit size of the child tax credit will go down by nearly $1,000 per school-aged child and $1,600 per child six years and younger. The reversal would also exclude lowest-income families from getting financial support once again, CNBC reported. Extension of Monthly Payments The Democrats' $1.9 trillion spending bill that aims to extend the monthly payments also faces opposition from Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. The official has expressed concerns about the sweeping safety net enhancements' cost. A source briefed on Manchin's conversations with President Biden said that the West Virginia senator wants to remove the child tax credit from the bill. However, the Democratic leader does not want to comply with the demand. To ensure that mid-January payments are distributed on time, the IRS advised Congress that they need to pass the package by Dec. 28. The situation was detailed last week by the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden. However, even if the bill was approved, there will be fewer families who will be eligible to receive monthly distributions of the expanded child tax credit next year. The latest iteration of the spending package details that only joint filers who are earning less than $150,000 per year and heads of households earning less than $112,500 annually will be eligible for the payments, CNN reported. Related Article: Capitol Rioter Sentenced to 28 Months In Prison For Bringing Loaded Weapons, Threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Louisiana Judge Michelle Odinet could face more sanctions after her voice was heard in a CCTV recording following a failed burglary attempt last weekend. Odinet apologized for the comments that she made towards the burglars who happen to be Black. Following the criticisms that she faced, she announced that she would on indefinite unpaid leave. However, the African American community of Louisiana, as well as Odinet's critics, do not think that her apology is enough. They have also been urging her to resign from her office. Michelle Odinet's lawyer says Louisiana judge is sorry Odinet's lawyer Dane Ciolino released a statement saying that the judge would have to face the repercussions of her actions in the coming days. "If something happens in your house, you are responsible for it. When something like that is said from a leader, then it has to be addressed," city marshal Reggie Thomas said via NBC News. Thomas added that the people of Lafayette will have a hard time believing that Odinet would treat them fairly after she cursed at the burglars. But the judge said that those that know her and her husband can attest that they are not racists. Read Also: Group of Dads Shows Up at a Louisiana High School To Help Maintain a Positive Environment After Fights Broke Up Michelle Odinet shares son's struggles with substance abuse After her family's CCTV footage surfaced, Odinet texted the Current saying that she was shaken by the attempted burglary that just happened. She also claimed to have taken a sedative at the time. Odinet texted another local newspaper and said that the situation was highlighted by her son's suspected substance abuse problems. Odinet also told the local paper that they are taking the necessary steps to help her son, according to The Advocate. Judge Michelle Odinet called to resign Michael Toussaint, NAACP president, blocked Odinet's attempts to make excuses for her actions. He said that the judge represents the people of Lafayette that's why they cannot condone her behavior or the behavior of others that use racial slurs. The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus also urged Odinet to resign. They said that if the judge won't resign they hope that the Judiciary Commission would appoint an ad hoc judge to attend to the cases in her division. Lafayette City Councilman Glenn Lazard also commented on Odinet's controversy. He said he knows that people are imperfect so it's important to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. However, judges must also be held to the highest of standards because of their role in the community. Lazard also urged Odinet to tender her resignation as soon as possible because it is in the best interest of Lafayette residents. After which, the public confidence within the community could finally be restored, according to KLFY. Black man who tried to rob the judge arrested According to CBS News, 59-year-old Black man Ronald Handy was arrested and charged with two counts of simple burglary. He's currently held on a $10,000 bond. Paul Motton, a police sergeant involved in the case, confirmed that Handy didn't have any weapons when he tried to enter Odinet's home. It's still unclear who released the CCTV footage from Odinet's home, and investigations are still underway. Related Article: United Airlines Cancels Flights to 11 Small Cities, Says It's No Longer Sustainable During the COVID-19 Pandemic @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Parents are mourning the death of their children following a bouncy castle accident in Australia. The children, who are aged between 10 and 12, were playing in the bouncy castle when a gust of wind lift it into the air. Police officials believe that the children fell 32 feet on the ground. Paramedics reached Hillcrest Primary School, where the accident took place shortly after. They rushed four others to a nearby hospital to undergo treatment. Australian PM Scott Morrison releases statement Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison released a statement shortly after the accident and called the it unthinkably heartbreaking. "Young children on a fun day out... and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of the year, it just breaks your heart," he said via the BBC. Morrison also boosted the morale of the families, teachers, and students following the tragedy by saying that they can get through it. Read Also: Canada, Australia Detect Travelers With New COVID-19 Variant Omicron; New Travel Restrictions Are In Place Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine is also heartbroken for the families of the victims. He also said that the children were taken too soon. Peter Gutwein, the Tasmanian premier promised a thorough investigation into the incident. According to reports, the accident happened on the last day of school and right before the holiday break in Australia. One of the parents, whose children survived, said that this isn't the first time that the school put up a bouncy castle. However, this is the first time that an accident took place. Bouncy castle accidents are common The bouncy castle accident in Australia is not an isolated case. According to The Independent, four children were injured and hospitalized after a bouncy castle in Arizona was lifted by the strong winds. Witnesses reported seeing the bouncy castle flying several feet in the air while kids were still in it. In 2018, a girl from the United Kingdom died after the bouncy castle that she was playing in caught fire in Norfolk. Two children died in Tianyang, China in 2019 Two years ago, two children also died, and 20 others were injured in a similar accident in China. According to NBC News, paramedics were able to rush the children to receive emergency treatment. But one of them was already in a coma. After performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, the child died within the next 40 minutes. Tianyang City council refused to comment on the accident, but local media outlets said that the bouncy castle was installed illegally. Local officials also stated that inflatable castles are unlicensed in the state. Bouncy castle owners sent to prison In 2016, two workers were jailed for manslaughter by gross negligence after a bouncy castle flew away while a 7-year-old girl was playing in it. The workers were each sentenced to three years in prison following a trial. Details from the court hearing revealed that the couple that owns that bouncy castle allowed the 7-year-old girl to continue playing even though her time was almost up. Prosecutors also confirmed that the couple failed to properly anchor the castle to the ground putting children's life at risk. Related Article: Australia Lifts Travel Entry Ban for Skilled Workers, Students Despite Rising Omicron Cases To Help Boost Country's Economy @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Aerospace companies, such as Blue Origin, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and many more have publicly expressed their intention to contribute towards space tourism and bring tourists in the International Space Station (ISS). International Space Station Tourism With that, recently, an individual purchased his way through the International Space Station through the availability of space tourism. This space voyage was funded solely by him and has uploaded multiple vlogs on YouTube documenting his unusual stay in space. The YouTube videos have illustrated daily living in space that answered numerous frequently asked questions to astronauts. ISD Space Tourist: Yusaku Maezawa After arriving at the International Space Station (ISS) last week, amateur astronaut Yusaku Maezawa is settling in. Maezawa, a self-made billionaire who made his wealth in online fashion retail, came to the ISS aboard through a Russian Soyuz spacecraft alongside fellow Japanese citizen Yozo Hirano, a film producer who will document Maezawa's 11 days on the orbiting outpost. Alexander Misurkin, a veteran cosmonaut, is also a part of the space tourism expedition. Yusaku Maezawa, 46, posted an amazing time-lapse video showcasing the station making a complete orbit of Earth a few days into his once-in-a-lifetime journey. The ISS revolves around Earth 16 times in a 24-hour period, or once every 90 minutes, at a speed of roughly 17,000 mph, as per Digital Trends. Maezawa's time-lapse, on the other hand, compresses a single orbit into 24 seconds, with amazing results. Took a time lapse of Earth from the ISS window. This is exactly an entire orbit around Earth. Breathtaking. pic.twitter.com/54L8lwdmLr Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) December 12, 2021 As the station completes a whole orbit of our globe, the footage begins with a gorgeous sunrise and ends with an equally beautiful sunset. In the space between, we can see Earth passing 250 miles below, as the station's solar arrays shift to the ideal position for absorbing solar energy. Read Also: NASA Astronaut Warning: Cracks on International Space Station Can Be Dangerous How Astronauts Go To The Bathroom? Last year, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy said that the most frequently asked question he receives is, "How do you go to the bathroom in space?" The amateur Japanese astronaut recently published all of the steps for a successful restroom visit in microgravity with his 10 million Twitter followers. As pee another report by Digital Trends, due to the lack of gravity, engineers working on the space toilet had to think about how to keep feces from drifting away and contaminating the station. Maezawa demonstrated the suction mechanics utilized for both number one and twos in his extremely instructive YouTube vlog. The former is handled by a hose, while the latter needs users' to sit on a small, uncomfortable-looking seat that is clearly not in the same league as Maezawa's native Japan's plush creations. The rail connecting to the floor is maybe the most important component of the large bathroom. This keeps the astronaut's feet from floating around while they go about their job. The ISS had two toilets for a long time, but that number climbed to three last year with the arrival of a new one with a somewhat more ergonomic design than the one in Maezawa's vlog. Since the station opened two decades ago, a counter on one of the older toilets revealed that it had been used 40,000 times. The Japanese entrepreneur arrived aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for an 11-day stay last week. Yusaku Maezawa said the most difficult part of using the toilet was getting everything in the right sequence. He meant that users should switch off the suction mechanism when they're finished, not before. Related Article: NASA Hubble Images: Online Tool Lets You Check What Space Telescope Saw During Your Birthday! A DOGE developer claimed to have minted the "first-ever" NFT on the Dogecoin blockchain on Monday (December 13) confirming the transaction on Twitter. First NFT Minted by DOGE Developer The developer, who goes by the Twitter handle "inevitable360," revealed information of the DOGE-powered non-fungible token in a tweet on Dec. 13. According to the developer, it cost 0.01 DOGE ($0.0018) to mint the NFT on the Dogecoin blockchain. Not only other coders but also Billy Markus, the founder of Dogecoin, took notice of the NFT's creator, Inevitable360. As reported by Benzinga, in a Twitter update, the developer mentioned Billy Markus, one of Dogecoin's key developers and co-creators, was delighted and stated he would offer instructions on how to transfer NFT ownership once he received feedback. With that, Inevitable360 was rewarded for his efforts with a gratuity from SoDogeTip, a tipping bot available on Twitter and Reddit that was established earlier this month. Dogecoin's Low Minting Fees According to Cryptoglobe, Michi Lumin, a Dogecoin Core Developer, commented on the development, stating that it could be used in a variety of ways and that the NFT was created "without the gas fees and with less energy usage," implying that DOGE NFTs could see a surge in adoption, as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain have high transaction fees, which means that minting costs are high. You considering making a utility or something so that normal folks can do this? I think you should... I dunno, or integrate it into something so that people can build sites around it.. NFTs without the gas fees and less energy usage. V. nice. Also Doge. Wow. Michi Lumin (@michilumin) December 14, 2021 Furthermore, amid Dogecoin's dramatic 10,000 percent price increase earlier this year, search interest soared, jumping from an average of 135,000 monthly searches in April 2020 to 16.5 million in April 2021. Although it is the first NFT to be coined on the Dogecoin blockchain, the transaction's efficiency could make it a feasible endeavor. Read Also: NFT Bored Ape Yacht Club: How To Make Billions In NFT Art Future of DOGE Holders In 2013, Dogecoin was created as a joke. The bitcoin community is known for supporting charitable organizations and other philanthropic activities. It made headlines in 2014 when it raised moreover $25,000 in DOGE to support the Jamaican bobsleigh team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Dogecoin and other meme tokens are speculative assets, and the sentiment is often one of the most important price drivers in that category. On the other hand, some cryptocurrency investors believe that dogecoin is a fad comparable to "meme stocks" such as GameStop and AMC and that it should not be taken seriously. In addition to that, the CEO of crypto business Ripple told CNBC that dogecoin is not excellent for the crypto market. However, Dogecoin, which is presently ranked as the tenth-largest cryptocurrency, will have an intriguing year in 2022. The success of its initial NFT could signal a longer-term commitment to that market. Dogecoin Spike With Tesla Merchandise Dogecoin has proven its strength throughout the whole year with its skyrocketing growth. Another example of its recent price spike, Dogecoin has risen by more than 20% after Elon Musk announced that Tesla will accept it as payment for merchandise. As reported by CNBC, the rise of Dogecoin has been aided by its most prominent supporter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who stated that the altcoin will be accepted as payment for Tesla items. On Tuesday (December 14), the meme-inspired cryptocurrency soared by as much as 23 percent when Elon Musk announced that Tesla would accept dogecoin as payment for some of its products. It was the last trading at a gain of 18.9%. In a tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said, "Tesla will make some stuff buyable with Doge and see how it goes." Tesla will make some merch buyable with Doge & see how it goes Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2021 Related Article: Bank of England Has a Warning to Investors of the Biggest Cryptocurrency; 90% Has Been Mined On Wednesday, over 1,500 users complained about Facebook log in issues. Parent company Meta acknowledged the Facebook outage and apologized to its users. After a long history of annoying outages, many users thought Facebook has finally patched up its systems for optimal performance. In truth, the opposite happened, and its systems underwent through an assortment of technical issues. Users who logged in to the social media platform suffered the brunt of the consequence. They were unable to connect to the website on Wednesday at 9 AM ET. Why Is Facebook Down Today? Down Detector Report The iconic online tracker, Down Detector, reported the details of this latest Facebook outage. According to their graph, Facebook typically has 10-50 reports on a "regular" basis. However, there was a sudden increase of complaints starting at 9 PM. The reports spiked from 77 to 1,981 complaints at 2:22 AM. Fortunately, in a matter of hours, developers resolved the issue and the outage reports came to a stop. Down Detector pointed out that 55 percent of the "most reported problems" were related to Facebook log in. They said only 35 percent of the reports complained about the website and another 10 percent complained about app issues. Frustrated users affected by the outage immediately voiced their opinions on the Down Detector comments section. Some said they were locked out from both their Facebook and Messenger accounts. Others complained that Facebook was not working. Unfortunately, contacting customer support did not help. Other fans suggested refreshing the page constantly as a workaround, which seemed to fix the issue. Read Also: Is Shiba Inu Joining Robinhood in 2022? Binance Coin Largest Crypto, SHIB 4th In The World In Terms of Twitter Following Is Facebook Down? Meta Talks About Facebook Outage Experts from USA TODAY contacted Facebook's parent company, Meta, for a statement. The company replied that its systems suffered a few technical issues. "We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologize for any inconvenience." Unfortunately, the company did not elaborate on the issue, which resulted to the outage. It also failed to elaborate on the fix it applied on the Facebook log in problems. For now, users are recommended to refresh their browsers and to retry logging in. If this does not work, they can report the issue to Facebook customer service. Bill Gates Makes a Metaverse Prediction On a different topic, fans might be interested in Bill Gates' Metaverse Prediction for the digital future. He envisioned that technology could push the world to a new age of digitalization. According to Gates, the workplace culture is now adapting to some of these changes. In a couple more years, virtual meetings with 2D camera image grids and 3D digital avatars might be the new "norm" of businesses. Gates said there might be a growing need for VR Googles and motion capture gloves in the future. He also said he was blown away by their technology. It is undeniable that technology is extremely useful, albeit with a few annoying issues. Hopefully, developers will do better next time to fix the problem. Related Article: Cybersecurity Warning: 2nd Dangerous Apache Log4j Vulnerability Discovered, Is There a Fix? A new cybercrime campaign is spotted in the wild, and it's bringing back the notorious Anubis malware banking trojan. This malware can steal its victim's credit card details, SMS messages and GPS data, and take advantage of other accessibility services enabled in the infected device. According to TechRadar, the Anubis malware was first recorded in 2016. It has a reputation for targeting customers of financial institutions related to cryptocurrency wallets and virtual payment platforms. The actor behind this Trojan is reportedly known as Maza-In, who was arrested by Russian authorities in 2019. However, to the surprise of cybersecurity experts, the Trojan resurfaced in 2020 and targeted 250 shopping and banking apps. One of its latest versions even came with an "almost-functional" ransomware module, which malicious actors could use to encrypt data on a targeted device. What Is Anubis Malware: Banking Trojan Explained PCrisk discussed a few scam strategies that malicious actors use to deploy the Anubis malware in a victim's device. Users are recommended to watch out and stay away from websites or applications with these indicators. Anubis malware reportedly exploits the COVID-19 threat and often scams its victims by impersonating a legitimate online resource. One strategy it uses is to present an "official" web page approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Here, they urge people to download a form about life-saving COVID-19 prevention and protection methods. Downloading this form actually downloads the Anubis malware. Another strategy is to offer 8 GB of free mobile internet to fight against the pandemic. Interested users are instructed to download, install and grant access to an app that will give out the free data. Rather than delivering the promise, the app will commence the Anubis infection. The Anubis malware has a few detection names, depending on the scanner used. Some code names are: Avast: Android:Cerberus-F [Bank] BitDefender: Trojan.GenericKD.33540408 ESET-NOD32: A Variant Of Android/TrojanDropper.Agent.EMX Kaspersky: HEUR:Trojan-Dropper.AndroidOS.Hqwar.bz Read Also: Is Shiba Inu Joining Robinhood in 2022? Binance Coin Largest Crypto, SHIB 4th In The World In Terms of Twitter Following Android Malware: Symptoms of the Banking Trojan Aside from using antivirus scanners, users can manually check their devices for possible symptoms of Anubis infection. Some indicators for an affected device are: Slow loading and processing performance System settings are being modified without user permission Dubious applications being installed without user permission High data usage High battery usage Browsers redirect users to rogue websites Increased count on intrusive advertisements Up to date, Anubis banking trojan is observed to be an Android-specific malware. However, all users are advised to be wary of this malware because of its dangerous potential to steal personal information and bank account details. With all these data taken, malicious actors could also steal their victim's identities and impersonate them on the internet. Anubis Malware Removal Generally, all users are advised to be cautious when downloading files from the internet. Users should also be wary of the permissions they allow on their devices. If a device is already infected, then users are recommended to apply for a "factory data reset." This might be the only solution to delete the Trojan hidden on the system. Related Article: Cybersecurity Warning: Zero-Day Vulnerability in Apache Log4j Discovered in Minecraft, Other Apps Google has implemented a strict policy for employees to receive mandatory COVID-19 vaccine shots, a leaked memo showed. The tech giant informed employees through a leaked internal memo that if they choose not to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination policy, they will receive pay cuts and eventually lose their jobs, CNBC reported. The memo showed that all employees had until December 3 to issue the declarations of their vaccination status and upload official documentation as proof, or apply for an exemption for medical or religious reasons. After that date, Google started contacting employees who failed to comply with the order and had their exemption requests disapproved. Google COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate: Employees Must Fully Comply By January 18 The internal document said that if employees failed to comply by a deadline scheduled for January 18, 2022, they will be placed on "paid administrative leave" for 30 days. If they still are not vaccinated in that duration, Google will put them on "unpaid personal leave" for up to six months before they would be set for termination. Google stressed that it is fully supporting the vaccination policy, which it said is an important move to "keep our workforce safe and keep our services running." Read Also: Omicron Variant in the US: COVID-19 Variant Spread Tracker, Live Updates, Vaccination Rate While a majority of tech businesses have delayed return-to-work plans, the large and small to medium-sized businesses are preparing for flexible set-ups. Google is set to require its workforce to report for in-person work at its offices three times a week by next year. Because of this, it is urging its employees to get their vaccines, which are widely available in the U.S. Google planned to have employees return to its offices by January 2022, but the target has been pushed back due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, TheStreet revealed. Such companies as Microsoft, General Motors and Goldman Sachs have all obligated their employees to receive COVID-19 vaccines, and a few have still to commit to firing workers who refuse to follow vaccination policies, the report added. The U.S. government has mandated companies with at least 100 employees to guarantee that their workers are fully vaccinated, or regularly tested for COVID-19 by January 18. A federal court, however, ordered a halt to these efforts of U.S. President Joe Biden's administration. Google Firm in Supporting Vaccination Efforts Despite this, Google still told its 150,000 workers to upload their vaccination status to their corporate servers, regardless of whether they plan to report to work in the office or not. The company indicated that anyone who enters Google facilities "must be fully vaccinated" or are officially authorized to work onsite. It emphasized that continuous testing is "not a valid alternative to vaccination." Google parent firm Alphabet, Inc. has been consistent in supporting vaccine use since July. CEO Sundar Pichai had indicated in July that the company will require employees to be vaccinated when they return to offices. Related Article: Google Gives Free Weekly PCR-Based Swab COVID-19 Test to Employees The recent NASA Hubble Telescope picture showed a mini-jet in the center of a massive black hole called Sagittarius A*. In relation to this, SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the NASA IXPE, which aims to further investigate black holes and neutron stars. NASA Hubble Telescope Picture: A Mini-Jet in the Massive Blackhole In a recent Hubble Twitter post, the space telescope showed evidence of a mini-jet ejecting material from the Mily Way galaxy's core black hole, which "hiccups" regularly when stars and gas clouds fall into it. Journey to the center of the Milky Way! Hubble found evidence that our galaxys central black hole has a mini-jet that ejects material, periodically hiccuping as stars and gas clouds fall into it! This image of our galactic center features Hubble data: https://t.co/0vUOfgOR9v pic.twitter.com/2lqRAJfg2T Hubble (@NASAHubble) December 13, 2021 In addition to this, NASA released a blog post explaining that our Milky Way's central black hole has a leak. Space.com added that the Milky Way's supermassive black hole is called Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Additionally, it is almost 4 million times more massive than our Sun. Its gravitational pull is powerful enough to drag surrounding stars and gas clouds into its accretion disk. Some of the material falling into the black hole is subsequently superheated and ejected from the black hole in the form of narrow beams known as jets. Several thousand years ago, the leftovers of the "blowtorch-like jet" were discovered. However, the Hubble Space Telescope was not able to picture the jet directly. According to NASA's blog post, studies from the satellite telescope uncovered evidence that implies a brilliant cloud of hydrogen surrounding the black hole was impacted by an explosive outburst. Moreover, the said outburst is thought to be an outflowing jet of material that regularly blasts into space, as materials from the Milky Way's central black hole collide with neighboring gas clouds. The space agency further explained that when the jet moves out from the black hole, it collides with the hydrogen cloud and interacts with the gas. Through this, it forms several streams of expanding bubbles that reach roughly 500 light-years into the Galactic halo. Read Also: 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Rotten Tomatoes Rating, Reviews: Is It the Best 'Spider-Man' Film Ever? Furthermore, co-author of the study and a researcher at Tsukuba University in Japan Alex Wagner stated that the streams penetrate the Milky Way's thick gas disk. "The jet diverges from a pencil beam into tendrils, like that of an octopus," Wagner stated in NASA's blog post. For background information, Hubble and other telescopes have previously discovered evidence that the Milky Way's black hole experienced an outburst approximately 2-4 million years ago. That said discovery was powerful enough to build a massive pair of gamma-ray-emitting bubbles towering above our galaxy. As previously reported, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the NASA IXPE, a satellite and space telescope that can study black holes and neutron stars. Moreover, scientists expect that NASA IXPE will give them a new tool to probe the mysteries of the cosmos. Aside from this, the NASA Hubble Space Telescope will also be joined by a new observatory tool. Will the NASA Hubble Space Telescope Be Replaced? Since the NASA Hubble Space Telescope has existed for more than 30 years, its successor James Webb Space Telescope is set to be launched soon. According to several reports, this satellite telescope will be more powerful than Hubble and it would be equipped with cutting-edge technology. To be clear, the James Webb Space Telescope will not replace the Hubble Space Telescope since these two space telescopes employ various technologies that might aid researchers and scientists even more. Related Article: NASA Hubble Picture Shows Epic Cosmic Photobomb in Milky Way [PHOTOS] Installation view of London-based artist Emma Hart's "Big Mouth" exhibition, at the Barakat Contemporary in central Seoul / Courtesy of Barakat Contemporary By Park Han-sol With the year nearing its end, Seoul has invited a number of notable rising international visual artists for their first solo exhibitions in the country, largely through globally renowned galleries that have begun expanding their presences in the region. Barakat Contemporary in central Seoul has brought in the curious installations borne from the hands of London-based artist Emma Hart. In the exhibition titled "Big Mouth," which runs until Jan. 23, the 2016 recipient of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women addresses questions of social class and hierarchy through ceramic sculptures equipped with mischievous humor. The focus of her latest sculpture series lies in people's daily use of verbal and nonverbal language intonation, accents, vocabulary and gestural behavior especially in relation to her working-class background and her interaction with other artists within British society. Seeing how such means of communication can easily turn into factors of judgment and discrimination, the artist explores her own internal conflict that she is not being herself, feeling like a "fraud" as she tries to fit in. One of Hart's sculptures on display, "Big Mouth" (2021), comprises targets reminiscent of faces. In the eyes of the viewers, a relatable situation soon unfolds, where one becomes the target of other people's judgmental stares visualized as a row of arrows stuck on the wall when their desperate attempts to blend in through affectation and insincerity fail. Installation view of Polish-German visual artist Alicja Kwade's exhibition, "Sometimes I Prefer to Sit on a Chair on the Earth Surrounded by Universes," held at Konig Seoul / Courtesy of Konig Galerie Berlin, London, Seoul Polish-German artist Alicja Kwade continues her yearslong venture into the processes by which we subjectively perceive time and space, and ultimately, our reality, at her first exhibition in Seoul, "Sometimes I Prefer to Sit on a Chair on the Earth Surrounded by Universes." Presenting over thirty of her latest works simultaneously at Konig Seoul in Gangnam District and Pace Gallery in Yongsan District, the show runs through Jan. 22, 2022. On view is her new series, "Entropie." "I dropped two water drops in a basin of the same size as the picture [frame]," she said during her interview with Johann Konig, the gallery's founder, adding that she closely observed the patterns of wave interference and visualized them through numerous clock hands scattered and floating freely on the water's surface. Her way of representing entropy a measure of the amount of energy that is unavailable to do work, or in other words, of uncertainty or randomness with a series of clock hands suggests the arbitrary and coincidental nature of humans' division of time into hours and minutes, and how such temporality determines our limited perceptions of reality. Paolo Salvador's "Escape" (2021), left, and Shota Nakamura's "walker" (2021) on display at Ilwoo Space in central Seoul / Courtesy of Peres Projects, Berlin gettyimagesbank By Anna J. Park Retail investors have begun exiting the lukewarm stock market after watching the KOSPI remain stuck hovering at around 3,000 points for some time. According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the proportion of retail investors trading on the benchmark index has decreased to 48.4 percent this month, lower than the 10-year-average of 49.8 percent. This is the lowest proportion of retail investors in the KOSPI since spring 2020, when the market crashed from the COVID-19 pandemic shock. From April of last year to September of this year, retail investors accounted for more than 60 percent of KOSPI trades for 18 straight months. The proportion decreased to 58.1 percent in October, and 57.4 percent in November. Retail investors' average daily trading amount also declined to 11 trillion won ($9.28 billion) in November and to 10.6 trillion won so far in December. This figure is about 0.48 percent of the entire market cap of the stock market. This weak performance is in contrast to retail investors strong buying after the pandemic induced market crash in March last year. They were the strongest buyers in local stock markets, stoking share prices. Retail investors had been net-buying stocks worth 121 trillion won on the KOSPI from January last year to October 2021. The period was characterized by consecutive monthly net-buying, except for November 2020. On the tech-heavy Kosdaq market, they net-bought 29 trillion won for the period, without any monthly net-selling. However, they turned to net-selling of local stocks last month they net-sold 1.8 trillion won on the KOSPI and 600 billion won on the Kosdaq last month. This month, retail investors have so far net-sold 4 trillion won. Market watchers say one of the reasons for this is that retail investors are leaving local markets to invest more in the U.S. or other overseas markets for better returns. In November, local retail investors' trading volume in overseas stocks stood at $40.7 billion, the second-highest amount since last February's $49.7 billion. While they net-sold local stocks, they decided to invest more overseas, including in the U.S., Europe and Asian countries. According to the Korea Securities Depository, the trading volume in overseas stocks among retail investors logged the highest level during the first half of the year, a 44.3-percent jump from the second half of last year. Meanwhile, overseas investors' proportion in KOSPI trading has been increasing, logging 24 percent in November and 26.5 percent this month. "When foreign investors were net-selling 20.6 trillion won from May to August, the KOSPI stood at around 3,200. As they have turned to net-buying since November, the benchmark index has been hovering at below 3,000," Kim Kwang-hyun, an analyst at Yuanta Securities, said, explaining that lately foreign investors are tending to sell stocks at higher prices and buy during dips. "However, it's still too early to say that foreign investors are back, as the current exchange rate is not favorable for them, and the volume of their net-buying is not that significant, compared to their net-selling spree earlier this year," the analyst added. In this June 12, 2018, file photo, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un looks at his document at a signing ceremony with U.S. President Donald Trump during their historic U.S.-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore. AFP-Yonhap Ten years after Kim Jong-un assumed power North Korea is better armed but deeply isolated and more dependent on China, despite actions by the young leader that raised and dashed hopes of economic transformation or international opening. Kim's pursuit of nuclear weapons defined his first 10 years in power, but analysts say the path has left him isolated and facing perhaps the greatest challenges yet. Those weapons may stand in the way of political breakthroughs needed to improve a shattered economy and prevent millions from starving, as ongoing anti-pandemic lockdowns and sanctions that have left him over-reliant on China. Kim embraced a different style than his idiosyncratic father, seeking to "normalize" North Korea by institutionalizing and delegating more leadership; winning international respect through nuclear weapons and summits with foreign leaders; and displays of transparency and empathy toward improving the lives of everyday citizens. At times that raised expectations of economic reform in the socialist state, or changes in its relationship with longstanding rivals such as the United States and South Korea. But systemic change has failed to materialize as Kim continued many of his father's worst practices, from political prison camps and brutal executions to tight control over the economy and society. "I think the experience of Kim's rule for ordinary North Koreans was a moment of hope in those early years followed by regression to the mean," said Christopher Green, a Korea specialist at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Kim will have to make hard decisions over whether to trade any of his arsenal to win sanctions relief, or find other ways to boost the economy, such as through a distrustful but vital relationship with China or allowing more economic and social opening without losing political grip. "(Sanctions) put an upper limit on what he can do with his economy but doesn't mean he can't get to a point that's much more comfortable for people than where he is now," said Robert Carlin, a former CIA officer now with the Washington-based Stimson Center. After the damage done by the pandemic, calls for controlled openness may again be heard from within the regime elite, but the challenges of turning the international situation in North Korea's favor are as big as ever, Green said. "Without a big uptick in foreign capital, the cause of economic reform is almost certainly doomed," he added. In this Oct. 30, 2018 file photo released by Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the North Korea's Workers' Party, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a construction site in Samjiyon County. Yonhap Weapons for sanctions Under Kim, North Korea conducted four of its six nuclear weapons' tests including what appears to be its first hydrogen bomb and developed a series of intercontinental ballistic missiles with the range to strike as far as the United States. For Kim that arsenal is the "treasured sword" that will protect North Korea and his rule from outside threats, while making the country an equal with other nuclear powers. But it also brought North Korea to the brink of war with the United States in 2017, and prompted even the country's partners in China and Russia to approve strict U.N. sanctions. Kim's attempts to win sanctions relief and a breakthrough in relations with the United States led to historic and unprecedented summits with U.S. President Donald Trump, but talks have since stalled with Washington demanding Pyongyang surrender some of its weapons before any sanctions are eased. Kim will likely continue to "play tough" in nuclear diplomacy because further nuclear weapons development will increase his political leverage and bargaining power both in negotiations and during stalemates, said Duyeon Kim, with the U.S.-based Center for a New American Security. "We can expect to see him continue to shape his personal and his country's image as normal, modern, and advanced across all sectors particularly nuclear and economic, and even foreign affairs when the pandemic subsides," she added. After sending the China-North Korea relationship to a historical low by prioritizing nuclear weapons and missiles development then harshly criticizing Beijing for supporting sanctions, Kim managed to quickly repair ties, said Zhao Tong, a strategic security expert in Beijing. China now accounts for the vast majority of North Korea's limited international trade, and the current governments in both countries share the goals of promoting socialist ideology and countering Western influence, Zhao said. "Despite Kim's preference of diversifying North Korea's international partnerships, he is likely to continue relying heavily on support from China and a small number of other like-minded countries," he said. In this Sept. 20, 2018, file photo, President Moon Jae-in makes a toast with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a luncheon at Samjiyon Guesthouse in Ryanggang province, North Korea. Korea Times file Defense Minister Suh Wook will visit Thailand and Singapore next week for talks with senior officials there on bilateral defense cooperation, his ministry said Thursday. On Sunday, Suh will visit Thailand for a four-day visit at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who doubles as defense minister. They plan to discuss the security situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and discuss arms industry cooperation between Seoul and Bangkok, according to the ministry. Suh plans to visit the 4th Wing of Royal Thai Air Force as well, which operates T-50TH advanced trainer jets imported from South Korea. After completing his schedule in Thailand, Suh will fly to Singapore for talks with his counterpart, Ng Eng Hen, on defense cooperation and exchanges. He also plans to visit the Information Fusion Center, a regional organization hosted by Singapore's Navy, which shares maritime information to handle piracy and other security threats. Before his trip to Thailand, Suh will stop by Guam to visit the South Korean Navy Cruise Training Task Group currently cruising near the U.S. territory. Suh will return home on Dec. 24. (Yonhap) Court rules refugees eligible for public rental housing Foreign nationals who have refugee status in Korea have the same right to apply for public rental housing as Korean nationals, according to a local court ruling. / gettyimagesbank By Yoon Ja-young Foreign nationals who have refugee status in Korea have the same right to apply for public rental housing as Korean nationals, according to a local court ruling. According to Law Times, a local media outlet specializing in legal affairs, a foreign national who had fled from a country in the Middle East, as his life was being threatened over his involvement in anti-government protests. Following a screening process by the Ministry of Justice, he was granted refugee status in Korea in March 2018 and after a few months became a recipient of social welfare services such as a stipend for living expenses, housing and healthcare, under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act. In June last year, he visited a community center in Seoul's Gwanak District and applied for public rental housing, as having to move house every year was burdensome. The district office, however, turned down his application, claiming that foreign nationals were not eligible for such housing. The refugee then took the case to the court. The court said that as Korea had joined the U.N.'s 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol without any reservations, the rules about refugees' rights in the convention have the effect of internal law. In the article related to labor legislation and social security, the convention stipulates that refugees should be accorded the same treatment as is accorded to citizens. The court pointed out that those who have refugee status have not been exercising their rights as guaranteed by the convention, and ruled that refugees, who are guaranteed the same level of social security as Korean nationals, should also be eligible for the rental housing program. It added that if the government wants to put some restrictions on social security benefits for refugees, it should state such restrictions clearly in related laws. Regarding the district office's claim that a resident registration number was necessary to apply for public housing, the court pointed out that the number was required by the law not to exclude refugees, but to verify that applicants do not own other homes. To be eligible for public rental housing, no member of the applicant household can own a home, and the average monthly income should not surpass a certain level. Some Koreans, however, were frustrated about the ruling, saying that there are not enough public homes even for Korean citizens. Others, meanwhile, pointed out that Korea lags behind other developed countries in terms of its refugee policies. Between 2010 and 2020, only 1.3 percent of those who applied for refugee status in Korea were granted it by the government, putting Korea nearly at the bottom in terms of accepting refugees, at 18th out of the 19 G20 countries surveyed. As of October, a total of 1,137 people have been granted refugee status in Korea. New Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kim Jung-soo speaks during his inauguration ceremony at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters in South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Republic of Korea Navy South Korea's new Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kim Jung-soo vowed Thursday to forge ahead with the Navy's long-cherished project to secure a light aircraft carrier, as he took the helm of the armed service. Kim made the remarks amid expectations that the Navy will embark on the project to acquire the coveted vessel by 2033 next year, as the National Assembly passed a 7.2 billion won ($6.08 million) budget earlier this month to begin a process for its basic design. "Given that a light aircraft carrier will be a national strategic asset and a culmination of inter-service operations, we will push for it without wavering," the admiral said at his inauguration ceremony at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. "We need to focus our capabilities on ensuring the balanced development of multi-dimensional forces, including the next-generation submarine, maritime surveillance aircraft and unmanned forces," he added. At the ceremony, Defense Minister Suh Wook portrayed Kim as an admiral best suited to "inherit and develop the dream of an ocean-going Navy" while throwing his support behind the carrier project. "A light aircraft carrier will become a strategic asset to protect sea lines of communication, which are a lifeline for the national economy, and serve as a multi-purpose military base in any part of the vast seas," Suh said. The Navy has been pushing for the carrier acquisition to respond to a wide range of maritime threats, including those from North Korea, and the potential security challenges beyond its shores in a region surrounded by major maritime powers, such as China and Japan. But a series of challenges, including budgetary issues, has dogged the project. The legislature's passage of the budget drew a sign of relief among Navy officials, as it marked a reversal of an earlier committee-level decision to drastically slash the spending proposal. Commenting on the current security conditions on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, Kim said that there have been not only military threats from North Korea and elsewhere but also transnational and non-military challenges such as COVID-19 and disasters. "The Navy's obligation is to defeat enemies from seas and safeguard our country's territorial waters and prop up national security and prosperity with strength," he said. As for his missions at the helm of the Navy, the admiral catalogued a series of tasks, such as establishing across-the-board threats, building "future-oriented, elite" naval forces and running naval units "efficiently." Kim replaced Boo Suk-jong, who had led the Navy since April last year. (Yonhap) Monitors at the integrated surveillance camera control center of the Ttukseom Water Rescue Brigade display footage of bridges across the Han River in Seoul, in this provided photo. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government By Bahk Eun-ji Korea bears the disgrace of having one of the world's highest suicide rates, topping the ranking among OECD member nations with 23.5 out of 100,000 people killing themselves in 2020. The central and local governments have taken various suicide prevention measures, and the Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters has recently come up with a system using artificial intelligence (AI) technology along Han River bridges, where about 500 suicide attempts are made every year. The AI-based technology, developed in cooperation with the Seoul Institute of Technology (SIT) since April 2020, has undergone deep learning of patterns of behavior of people attempting suicide by jumping off the bridges, such as wandering on an area of a bridge for a period of minutes, as well as other data, including information on rescue teams' dispatch history, surveillance camera recordings and conversations through suicide hotlines. When the cameras detect a person showing such behaviors, the system immediately sends a signal to rescue teams near the bridge so they can arrive at the scene faster to intervene or carry out rescue operations. "The most important thing in rescuing people who are trying to commit suicide is that they must be stopped before they're in the water. Once that happens, the survival rate drops below 50 percent," an official of the disaster headquarters said. The official said the system helps rescue team members detect dangerous situations among hundreds of surveillance feeds. "We monitor 572 CCTV cameras in the control center, so it is not easy for a handful of workers to catch everything. But now the AI system selects footage of a person showing suspicious behavior and sounds an alarm, so that rescue teams can respond much faster," he said. Ttukseon Water Rescue Brigade / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government The ruling Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, apologized Thursday over illegal gambling allegations involving his son. The Chosun Ilbo daily reported earlier in the day that a person believed to be one of Lee's sons wrote more than a hundred postings on an online poker game community from early 2019 to mid-2020, including those about his visits to gambling places around Seoul. "To those who must have been disappointed by my son's foolish behavior, my son and I apologize with a deep bow," Lee said in a press release. Lee said the person in question is indeed his son. "My son appears to have yielded to temptation for a certain period of time. ... As a parent, (I am) responsible for the deficiency in my child's education," he said. Lee said his son is repenting for his past behavior, adding it will not be repeated again in the future. (Yonhap) The ruling Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung bows to apologize over his son's illegal gambling activities, at the party headquarters on Yeouido in Seoul, Thursday, hours after a local newspaper raised the accusation. Joint Press Corps By Jung Da-min The competition for Korea's next presidential election, slated for March 9, is being overshadowed by scandals surrounding the corruption or illegal acts of family members of the candidates of the country's two major parties. As so much attention is being paid to smear campaigns from both sides against each other, concerns are rising that discussions surrounding policy promises are being neglected. In the latest round of mudslinging, the son of Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, has been accused of habitual illegal gambling. The allegations were reported by the Chosun Ilbo, Thursday morning, which stated that a person believed to be Lee's 29-year-old son had been gambling illegally, based on some 200 posts uploaded on an online poker community from January 2019 to July 2020. The person also wrote about his visit to offline gambling sites around Seoul, calling himself a "habitual gambler." Hours after the report, Lee apologized over his son's misconduct, virtually admitting the allegations. He said that his son is deeply reflecting on his misbehavior and he also feels sorry to the people who felt disappointed by him, as he failed to lead his son in the right direction. "I will also help my son to get gambling addiction treatment," Lee said. In a joint interview with online media outlets, he said that his son will even humbly accept criminal punishment if warranted. On the main opposition People Power Party's (PPP) side, Kim Keon-hee, the wife of its presidential candidate, Yoon Suk-yeol, and also the CEO of cultural content agency Covana Contents, has been embroiled in scandals that she falsified her qualifications when applying for visiting professor positions at local universities. Kim Keon-hee, the wife of main opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, heads to her office after leaving her home in Seoul's Seocho District, Wednesday, a day after a local broadcaster raised allegations that she falsified information on her resume when applying for lecturer positions at local universities. Yonhap The allegations against Yoon's wife were first raised by local broadcaster YTN, which reported Tuesday that Kim falsified career and award information on her resume when applying to be a visiting professor of Suwon Women's University in 2007. She worked for the university from March 2007 to February 2008. When asked by YTN about the matter, Kim said that she could not remember the details and was verifying the related procedures. She said that the falsifications were due to her "greed to stand out," and "If that's a sin, then it's a sin." Kim's lack of repentance immediately brought a backlash from the political circle and the public. Some lawmakers of the DPK raised another similar allegation that she also falsified her information on her resume when applying to Anyang University where she became an adjunct professor of liberal arts in 2013, working until 2015. As the controversy has grown, Kim told Yonhap News, Wednesday, that she apologizes to the public who feel uncomfortable over such news, regardless of if the allegations are true or not. Yoon also said later on the same day that Kim's apology was appropriate, although she felt the ruling bloc's "planned schemes" of attacking her were unfair. The main opposition People Power Party's presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, center, is questioned by reporters at the office of the New Era Preparatory Committee, the party's separate election campaigning unit, in Seoul, Thursday, regarding controversies surrounding his wife Kim Keon-hee's falsifying her resume when applying for lecturer positions at local universities. Joint Press Corps By Marvin John Ignacio In November 2021, South Korea opened its borders following the government's transition to a "Living with COVID-19" scheme. Tourists from a few countries, such as Singapore, started to be able to travel to South Korea again for leisure purposes. The strategy was indeed good news for the majority of people as a sign of recovery. However, the scheme was also just a false display that buried an underlying issue. A few weeks before the start of the fall semester, the Ministry of Education came up with guidelines for foreign students from 26 countries with high numbers of COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant. They were encouraged to wait until 70 percent of the population in Korea was fully vaccinated before entering the country. In the ministry's statement, if the students were required to arrive earlier, they had to undergo 14-day quarantine periods and PCR tests. Unfortunately, it seems that the Korean government has not stayed true to its own words. While Korean government scholarship recipients are permitted, foreign students who obtained scholarships directly from universities or private institutions have still not been issued visas. These institutions have said that scholarship recipients from affected countries are unable to arrive earlier even if they are willing to undergo the rigorous quarantine policy. A few weeks after Korea began "Living with COVID-19," the country was already accepting some tourists, while essential travel for certain students had still not been approved. Case study: Filipino students at Korean universities Since July 2020, the issuance of student visas in the Philippines has been suspended and was never lifted. Even during times when the Philippines had low cases compared to other countries, Filipino students were still hindered from entering South Korea. The Korean Embassy in other countries resumed student visa processing for short periods, while the Korean Embassy in the Philippines has not reopened ever since. In April 2020, visa issuances for Korean government scholarship recipients resumed, but not for privately funded or non-government scholarship recipients. The remaining Filipino students, who are fully vaccinated and willing to undergo Korea's strict quarantine and testing policy, have asked and appealed to different Korean government agencies. But the responses they got were to wait until further notice, and that the universities had been told to provide flexible options for foreign students. While the idea of online classes would seem to be a solution, not every student has been treated equitably. Some students have had to file leaves of absence, while a few have lost their scholarships due to the long delay. For some, not being physically present at their university in Korea cripples their research progress because the necessary tools are not available where they are. With the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, countries have once again started to close their borders. Filipino students at Korean universities continue to lose hope, as the question of whether or not they will be able to attend their respective universities still remains. Will they be able to experience the culture and receive the quality education they had once hoped for in Korea? The case of Filipino students who have been neglected for almost two years has left a deep scar on their perception of Korea. They applied for scholarships in Korea to receive a quality education and experience the culture. However, it seems that they are treated as mere collateral damage in Korea's unjust travel policies. Marvin John Ignacio is a master-Ph.D. student at Sejong University studying computer science and engineering. He is a former faculty member at the University of the Philippines Manila who specializes in computer vision and deep learning. The views expressed in the above article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times. Korea faces uphill battle against COVID-19 The Moon Jae-in administration has decided to halt its "Living with COVID-19" strategy and return to strict social distancing measures as the pandemic continues to rage throughout the country. The move is designed to avert the collapse of the healthcare system, to take better care of patients and prevent deaths. On Thursday, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced emergency measures to be enforced for 16 days from Saturday to step up the fight against the resurgent coronavirus. They include reducing the maximum number of participants in private gatherings to four and reintroducing a 9 p.m. curfew on restaurants and cafes. Kim also revealed a plan to expand the implementation of the vaccine pass system requiring visitors to present proof of vaccination or negative test results. Those measures should have been taken earlier at least when daily new infections began to rise early this month, with the new Omicron variant spreading rapidly throughout the world. But the government has wasted time, and delayed taking tougher quarantine measures and strengthening social distancing guidelines. In this sense, the Moon administration cannot deflect criticism for being too complacent in dealing with COVID-19. The health authorities have also failed to make thorough preparations before pushing for a gradual return to normal life which started Nov. 1. Every time a new viral wave hit the country, the government vowed to expand medical capacity for the treatment of patients infected with the highly contagious disease. But it has done nothing to increase the number of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, particularly those with serious symptoms. It is difficult to understand why top policymakers have been hesitant to take tougher action against the raging pandemic. They have taken flak for refusing to accept growing calls from doctors and other medical experts to temporarily stop the "Living with COVID-19" scheme to better respond to the virus. It is disappointing to see the government take belated measures only when the country's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. The Moon administration has yet to announce concrete steps to keep the system in operation and increase hospital beds for critically ill COVID-19 patients. The government cannot attain its goal of reducing the number of seriously ill patients and prevent deaths without taking more radical action. Daily new infections are approaching 8,000, with the number of critically ill patients hitting a record high of 989, Thursday. Sixty-two people died of the pandemic, raising the aggregate death toll to 4,518. Almost all hospital beds are now occupied, forcing 1,032 patients to wait for hospitalization. There are growing worries that more and more patients may die without receiving treatment. Another problem is that the government has yet to come up with any measures to compensate small business owners and the self-employed for their losses that will arise from the tightened restrictions on their business operation. Without their cooperation, the country cannot win the fight against the virus. CJ CheilJedang's building in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province / Korea Times file By Kim Jae-heun The country's No. 1 food company, CJ CheilJedang, is gearing up to introduce a new biotechnology brand next month. The brand, CJ Bioscience, will offer products and services in the field of red biotechnology involving therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications. It is part of CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun's plan to boost its "wellness" business, which is one of the four growth engines he aims to cultivate over the next three years. CJ CheilJedang acquired ChunLab, a bioinformatics company, in July this year. ChunLab will merge with CJ Cheiljedang's existing red bio business Jan. 3. Recently, CJ Group also acquired Batavia Biosciences, a Dutch cell and gene therapy contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO), to pioneer the market together. "CJ Bioscience is a company that promotes the development of new microbiome-based drugs. We are planning to use Batavia as a bridgehead to enter the CDMO business and gain a stronger foothold in the red bio business," a CJ CheilJedang official said. CJ Group has already applied to register CJ Bioscience as a trademark in the fields of diagnostic reagents, drug research and development, RNA and DNA analysis, blood test machines and medical devices. CJ CheilJedang expects the new subsidiary to strengthen its ability to develop new microbiome drugs together with ChunLab. ChunLab possesses the technology to analyze and diagnose strains and also has an advanced database that can help CJ Bioscience's plan to shorten the research period of discovering candidate materials for new drugs. They will also focus on improving the success rate of clinical trials. CJ CheilJedang plans to establish a new subsidiary called CJ Well Care which was spun off recently from its health business division. The two red bio subsidiaries and one health functional food firm will speed up the development of the chairman's wellness business that possesses high potential for growth. According to the Biotech Policy Research Center, the global microbiome healthcare market is expected to grow in size to around 9 trillion won ($7.58 billion) by 2023. The global CGT CDMO market is projected to grow 25 percent to 27 percent annually, reaching 16.5 trillion won to 18.9 trillion won by 2030. The Korea Health Functional Food Association said the domestic health food market will expand in size to 25 trillion won over the next eight years. Most businesses that have adopted at-home remote work programs due to COVID-19 plan to continue the policy even after the end of the pandemic, a poll showed Thursday. In the recent labor ministry survey conducted on 620 businesses currently using remote work policies, 75.2 percent said they plan to either continue the scheme at the current level or partially downscale it when the pandemic ends. The poll said 11.3 percent of businesses intend to stop the remote work scheme when the pandemic ends. Of the companies willing to maintain the scheme at the current level, 53.6 percent said they saw no difference in productivity compared with that under at-office work, while 20.5 percent cited the strong intention to do so by management. More than two-thirds of workers at such companies expressed hope to continue remote work after the pandemic. Mostly working parents with young children preferred the remote work system, according to the ministry. (Yonhap) Kim Dae-seung, right, the deputy general manager of Asiana Airlines' Los Angeles passenger sales, holds two awards the company won for the Best Airline for Onboard Service and Best Airline Flight Attendants categories of Global Traveler's annual awards in the United States, Tuesday (local time). The Seoul-based airline has swept the two categories for 18 consecutive years in the awards hosted by Global Traveler, a U.S. monthly magazine for frequent business and luxury travelers. On the left is Scott Linebrink, a former Major League pitcher and incumbent director of Water Mission, a charity organization that also won an award this year. / Courtesy of Asiana Airlines People walk past a Chanel boutique in Paris, Dec. 15. AP-Yonhap 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 industry's 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 (at)CHANEL, an iconic and admired company.'' The news made a huge splash Wednesday in India, Nair's 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 it's 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 can't be said for luxury brands. Gupta, who also runs a school for luxury management, said his students would be ''inspired'' by the news. ''It's very encouraging and motivating, especially since we haven't seen this before. Coming from a non-luxury background, I expect she'll bring fresh perspective it's 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 she'll 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. Two of the Indian newspapers that carried news of Unilever executive Leena Nair being chosen as the new CEO of luxury fashion house Chanel on their front page in Mumbai, India, Dec.15. AP-Yonhap U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose Fernandez, fourth from left, poses with Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon, fifth from left, and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) International Trade Committee Chairman Joo Si-bo, sixth from left, during the ROK-US Joint Public-Private Economic Forum at the KCCI headquarters in central Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of KCCI By Yi Whan-woo Visiting U.S. government officials and businesspeople addressed the growing strategic importance of Washington's economic partnership with Seoul, during a forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) headquarters in the capital, Thursday. Co-hosted by the KCCI, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Department of State, the ROK-US Joint Public-Private Economic Forum was held on the occasion of the visit of a U.S. commerce delegation led by Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose Fernandez. It was also taking place amid an intensifying U.S.-China row over trade-related issues, including the restructuring of global supply chains, digital transformations and climate change. The event was attended by about 40 people, including Fernandez; Charles Freeman, senior vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC); and Henrietta Ukwu, senior vice president and chief regulatory officer of vaccine company Novavax. From the Korean side were Second Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Choi Jong-moon; Kang Seog-gu, KCCI vice president; and Joo Si-bo, chairman of the KCCI's International Trade Committee. "The importance of cooperation with Korea is increasing in various fields, such as building a trust-based supply chain, digital transformation, and response to climate change that the United States is facing," Freeman said in a speech. "The USCC and the KCCI will actively participate in discussions to resolve challenges the two countries are facing." In a separate speech, Kang noted this was the first time representatives of the chambers of the two allies were attending the forum. "It is expected that this forum will serve as a platform for ROK-US economic cooperation," he said, adding the KCCI will continue to actively participate in various projects to strengthen economic cooperation between the U.S. and the relevant organizations. Joo expressed the view that entrepreneurs play a key role in bilateral economic diplomacy, adding he hoped for people from the two countries to continue to "work together for a market economy, free trade, and fair competition." Choi and Fernandez each delivered a welcoming address. Following the individual speeches of the dignitaries, a panel discussion was held with topics on expanding exchanges of human resources in science, technology, engineering and math as well as women's empowerment in the economic field. The ROK-US Joint Public-Private Economic Forum has taken place every year since 2017, in accordance with a joint statement made during a summit between the leaders of the two countries in June that year to promote cooperation in economic sectors. Meanwhile, Under Secretary Fernandez held one-on-one talks with First Vice Industry Minister Park Jin-kyu, Thursdsay. The topics discussed ranged from enhancing supply chains resiliency to global standards for key industrial sectors. A demonstration plant for lithium extraction in Argentina / Courtesy of POSCO Steel giant to begin construction of lithium hydroxide plant By Baek Byung-yeul POSCO is accelerating its commercialization of lithium hydroxide by establishing a lithium extraction plant near a salt lake in Argentina. The company is also pushing forward to set up a joint venture for solid electrolyte materials, used for solid-state batteries. The company said Thursday that its board of directors approved an investment project to produce lithium hydroxide through the Salar del Hombre Muerto salt lake in northern Argentina. The total investment cost is around $830 million including costs for infrastructure and operating funds. POSCO plans to start construction of the plant in the first half of 2022. The plant, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024, will have an annual production capacity of 25,000 tons. POSCO is also considering investing in expansion of the facility to add an additional 25,000 tons. The company expects demand for lithium hydroxide to keep increasing, as the battery material is regarded as superior to lithium carbonate in terms of providing a longer single-charge travel distance for electric vehicles (EVs). It said the 25,000 tons of lithium hydroxide could be used in around 600,000 EVs. Forecasting that the global demand for lithium will explosively increase, POSCO began preparing for commercial production of the material taking advantage of the lake, for which it purchased lithium mining rights from Australian lithium miner Galaxy Resources for $280 million in 2018. At that time, POSCO estimated that the site had 2.2 million tons of lithium reserves, but last year it was able to confirm that the lake contains 13.5 million tons of lithium reserves. For lithium commercialization, the company has operated a demonstration plant for over a year near the salt lake. "Global market research institutes such as JP Morgan and Roskill estimate that a shortage of lithium supply will occur worldwide in 2024 due to the fast-growing EV market. Sales prices of lithium are currently at around $35,000 per ton, up over five times from 2020, and the price will continue to go up in the following years," POSCO said. The announcement was its first move since POSCO decided to adopt a holding company structure on Dec. 10. Its board members voted to separate the steel giant into two entities a holding company named POSCO Holdings and its wholly owned steel business unit tentatively similarly named POSCO, starting next March 1. Under the holding company system, POSCO aims to diversify its business portfolio including materials for secondary batteries. It aims to increase its annual production capacity of lithium to 110,000 tons by 2025 and 220,000 tons by 2030. In addition to lithium, the company is also setting up a strategy to procure materials for solid-state batteries, which are known as next-generation batteries as they are safer and have higher energy densities compared with existing ones. To that end, the company plans to set up a joint venture with a firm that is capable of manufacturing solid electrolytes, a core material for solid-state batteries, to operate a demonstration plant. The Supreme Court of Korea building in Seoul / Yonhap Four children died and four others were in critical condition after falling from a bouncy castle that was lifted 10 meters (33 feet) into the air by a gust of wind at a school on Australia's island state of Tasmania on Thursday. The school was holding a celebration to mark the end of the school year. The children who died included two boys and two girls in year 6, which would make them 10 or 11 years old, said Tasmania police commissioner Darren Hine. Five children are in the hospital, including four in critical condition. Hine said an investigation into the accident is underway. Images published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed police officers consoling each other as paramedics provided first aid to victims. Parents arrived at the school gate to collect their children as helicopters ferried the injured to hospitals. Tasmania state premier Peter Gutwein called the incident ''simply inconceivable... I know this is a strong and caring community that will stand together and support one another.'' Tasmania police commander Debbie Williams told reporters ''several children fell from the jumping castle. It appears they may have fallen from a height of approximately 10 meters.'' ''This is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and the wider school community and also our first responders,'' Williams said. (AP) VILLAGE OF PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK Deputy Village Attorney to prosecute New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, Vehicle and Traffic Law and Village Code violations and assist the Village Attorney. $104,000 with competitive benefits package. Qualified candidates, please CLICK APPLY recblid q1ry7ynw31s095cb1y4pxehcr1vlwq $1,500 Sign On Bonus For External Candidates Youll enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. Imagine being able to get answers to your health plan questions from someone who speaks the same language as you do. Or, the opposite, not being able to get the answers. At UnitedHealth Group, we want our customers to get those answers by speaking to one of our Bilingual Representatives. If you're fluent in English and Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese or Korean, we can show you how to put all of your skills, your passions and your energy to work in a fast- growing environment. Who says house calls are a thing of the past? At UnitedHealth Group, were always looking for new ways to run our service centers, improve our service levels and help people lead healthier lives. Heres an opportunity with one of our most exciting business areas: Optum - a growing part of our family of businesses that make UnitedHealth Group a Fortune 10 leader. Nows your chance to make a real impact by being an integral part of our progressive house calls program. Join us as we go beyond basic care to health programs integrated across the entire continuum of care. This position is full-time (40 hours/week) Monday - Friday. Employees are required to work an 8-hour shift between our normal business hours of 9:00 am to 5:30 PST, 10am to 6:30 MST, 11:00am to 7:30 CST, or 11:00am to 7:30 EST. It may be necessary, given the business need, to work occasional overtime or weekend. There are several steps in our hiring process - its a thorough process because we want to ensure the best job and culture fit for you and for us. In todays ultra-competitive job market, the importance of putting your best foot forward is more important than ever. And you can start by completing all required sections of your application. (i.e. profile, history, certifications and application/job questions). Once you submit your resume, youll receive an email with next steps. This may include a link for an on-line pre-screening test that we ask you to complete as part of our selection process. You may also be asked to complete a digital video interview, but we will offer full instructions and tips to help you. After you have completed all of these steps, you can check on the status of your application at any time, but you will also be notified via e-mail. http://uhg.hr/OurApplicationProcess *All Telecommuters will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Groups Telecommuter Policy. Primary Responsibilities: Call members to schedule in home visits with a Physician or a Nurse Practitioner Answer inbound calls from members and assist them with their inquiries Ensure that the appointments are scheduled accurately and resolve any scheduling issues or concern This is high volume, customer service environment. Youll need to be efficient, productive and thorough dealing with our members over the phone. You also must be able to work a flexible schedule that includes evening hours. Hear directly from our business leaders to find out more about our Housecalls Customer Service roles and the impact you can make for our members: https://uhg.hr/HouseCalls3/5/21 Youll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in. Required Qualifications: High School Diploma / GED (or higher) 1+ years of work experience Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook (create/edit/save/send documents, spreadsheets and correspondence) Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA requirements Must be able to work an 8-hour shift between normal business hours between 7:00am to 7:30pm Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese or Korean Preferred Qualifications: Experience working in the health care industry Experience working with Medicaid or Medicare Experience working in a customer retention focused role Telecommuting Requirements: Required to have a dedicated work area established that is separated from other living areas and provides information privacy Ability to keep all company sensitive documents secure (if applicable) Must live in a location that can receive a UnitedHealth Group approved high-speed internet connection or leverage an existing high-speed internet service Must be able to connect directly into internetvia hard wire (either directly to modem or router) Soft Skills: Ability to type and talk at the same time while navigating through multiple screens Experience working in a metric-driven work environment Experience using an auto dialer system UnitedHealth Group requires all new hires and employees to report their COVID-19 vaccination status. Military & Veterans find your next mission: We know your background and experience is different and we like that. UnitedHealth Group values the skills, experience and dedication that serving in the military demands. In fact, many of the values defined in the service mirror what the UnitedHealth Group culture holds true: Integrity, Compassion, Relationships, Innovation and Performance. Whether you are looking to transition from active duty to a civilian career, or are an experienced veteran or spouse, we want to help guide your career journey. Learn more at https://uhg.hr/transitioning-military Learn how Teresa, a Senior Quality Analyst, works with military veterans and ensures they receive the best benefits and experience possible. https://uhg.hr/vet **PLEASE NOTE** The sign on bonus is only available to external candidates. Candidates who are currently working for a UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare or related entity in a full time, part time, or per diem basis ("Internal Candidates") are not eligible to receive a sign on bonus. Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make the health system work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health - related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.SM Colorado, Connecticut or Nevada Residents Only: The salary range for Colorado residents is $15.00 - $22.02. The salary range for Connecticut / Nevada residents is $15.00 - $24.13. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, youll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment. Keywords: Call Center, Call Center Representative, Customer Service, Customer Service Rep, Sales, work at home, work from home, WAH, WFH, remote, telecommute, hiring immediately, #RPO, #hcq3, Sign-On Bonus Let your passion for people be the driver of your success at Sodexo. Through your leadership, your team will make a real impact every day. Sodexo has a wonderful opportunity for a General Manager 3 on Cape Cod at Marine Biological Laboratory. Marine Biological Laboratory is an international center for research and education in biology, biomedicine and ecology. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution. Surrounded by the beauty of Woods Hole, a quaint village and harbor with fishing and pleasure craft, locally owned shops and friendly people. Marine Biological Laboratory host a great deal of conferences, meetings and workshops from September to May each year. The best qualified General Manager will have strong hands-on operational experience and will be accessible to staff, while being able to delegate responsibilities and track progress of team development. Relocation is available! The successful candidate will: have oversight of day-to-day operations; deliver high quality food service; achieve company and client financial targets and goals; develop and maintain client and customer relationships; develop strategic plans; create a positive environment; and/or ensure Sodexo standards are met. Is this opportunity right for you? We are looking for candidates who: have a work history demonstrating strong employee engagement leadership skills, as well as previous supervisory experience and the ability to work collaboratively; have culinary production experience and a strong background in safety and sanitation compliance; can manage multiple priorities, demonstrate professional communication skills, and a passion for a high level of customer service; prioritize tasks and exhibit flexibility to take on additional responsibilities as needed; and/or Preference to demonstrate working knowledge of Sodexo Food Management System (FMS) The Market Connection (TMC) or is proficient in computer skills and report management experience. Careers in Universities: Working for Sodexo in Universities allows you to support students on their path to adulthood and academic success. Located on college and university campuses across the country, Sodexo creates clean, safe living and learning environments that inspire and drive success. Student success depends upon so many conditions - when they are well fed, safe, comfortable and learning in a clean, well maintained environment they are more likely to succeed. Come enjoy the Cape all year at this high volume conference account with retail and catering services as well. Focus and attention to service details are very important for our clients and customers at this account. Located in downtown Woods Hole, MA! St Louis County is currently seeking a Public Health Educator. An employee in this class is responsible for assisting in the development, dissemination and evaluation of health education programs. Duties include assisting in identifying current trends affecting the health of a community, preparing public health data and information, promoting and conducting health education programs and services, and assisting in the local public health assessment and planning process. The work is performed under the direction of assigned supervisory staff. The incumbent of this position could be based out of Duluth, Virginia, Hibbing or Ely based on preference. Apply by: 12/27/2021 Click on "Apply" to apply online Rewarding Career Excellent Benefits Competitive Pay St. Louis County is an equal opportunity and veteran friendly employer. recblid wijcer3id1x4yssd5j482ben41ftoh AI/ML - Senior Software Engineer, Machine Intelligence Sensing Team Seattle , Washington , United States Machine Learning and AI Summary Posted: Dec 2, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200304305 We are looking for an experienced software engineer who is passionate about developing innovative product features that push the boundaries of sensing, machine learning, and human-computer interaction. On the Machine Intelligence Sensing Team (MIST), we are working toward a future where our devices are aware of us and our environment, they directly support our health and wellbeing, and they nudge us to be more thoughtful, present, and inspired human beings. We believe there is huge opportunity to improve people's lives and the world by understanding people, our activities, connections, and the environments we live in by using sensing and machine learning on our devices. Our team works across Apple to create innovative high-impact features and new interaction modes on Apple's wearables, home products, and future devices. We prototype new experiences, develop and ship products, and we publish our work. We are a creative, multi-disciplinary, optimistic, and collaborative team. Come join us in Seattle, WA or Pittsburgh, PA and help us build the future! Key Qualifications Expert in Swift, Objective-C, C, or C++ Experience building libraries, frameworks, and command-line tools Experience building iOS and watchOS apps with basic UI/UX design Strong grasp of Apple's development APIs (UIKit, Cocoa, etc.) Strong understanding of object-oriented design, data structures, algorithm design, complexity analysis, problem solving and diagnosis Deep understanding of multi-threaded programming and synchronization 5-7+ years of software engineering experience Description The team you will join and help lead is responsible for creating product features for Apple's wearables, home products, and future devices. We are highly collaborative and partner with a variety of product teams across Apple including Watch, Siri, Accessibility, Home, Health, Audio Products, and others and have shipped features like Handwashing, Raise to Speak, and AssistiveTouch on the Apple Watch. As a member of MIST, you will work closely with machine learning and software engineering experts to design and build the next generation of sensing experiences. Responsibilities: *Guide new features from early prototype to shipping product * Lead architectural discussions, evangelize our values, and collaborate with partner teams to align on product goals * Diagnose, triage, fix, and prevent issues related to functionality, reliability, and performance * Design and build testable software Education & Experience BS or MS in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experience. Additional Requirements PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and modify large, existing codebases - Experience designing high performance software and algorithms for resource constrained embedded systems - Experience with signal processing, machine learning, and using sensor data to power novel use cases and applications Over the past period, a conflict has been brewing between the Polish government and the European Union, manifesting itself in multiple incidents. For example, the recent refusal by the Polish authorities to deploy the EUs Forex border guards during the crisis at the Polish border with Belarus, or the open threat to suspend funding to the EU, advanced by members of the Polish government. This led to retaliation from the EU, which threatened to withdraw COVID-19 related relief funding. The Polish political scene has been likewise dominated by the topic of Polexit, i.e., Poland's potential exit from the European Union. Every day, the liberal media provides us with more gibberish and disturbing news claiming that the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) is planning to leave the EU, or in any case that this is where its policy will lead, whether that is leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski's intention or not. This issue became another source of dispute between PiS and the liberal opposition. On one side of the barricade, the liberals yell and scaremonger that PiS will lead the country to leave the EU. On the other hand, the conservatives assure the public that such a scenario is impossible, while also shouting about not yielding to Brussels directives, insisting that Polands constitution always comes first etc. Whatever PiS and the liberal-led opposition mean to accomplish by their present standoff with Brussels, they are playing a dangerous game. PiS has a history of manoeuvring successfully when it comes to conflicts with Europe, but on this occasion, they risk setting in motion events they will not be able to control. Is there any chance that Poland will actually leave the EU? What is the significance of this whole dispute and what do liberals and conservatives want to get from it? And above all, most important - what does it mean for the Polish proletariat? Conflict with Brussels The subject of Polexit was raised by the media and the opposition in connection with the judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal, which found that some provisions of the Treaty on European Union, mainly related to the Polish judiciary, are incompatible with the Polish constitution. This verdict was issued because of an application addressed to the Constitutional Tribunal by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki himself. Every day, the liberal media claims that the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) is planning to leave the EU / Image: Kancelaria Premiera, Flickr The conflict is developing into a standoff over whether national constitutional rules of EU member states have priority over the ruling of the European Court of Justice, whose role is to act as a guardian of the consistency of the legal systems across the EU. The sweeping reform of the legal system introduced by the Polish government, and in particular the setting up of a Disciplinary Chamber at the Supreme Court does not provide all the guarantees of impartiality and independence, and, in particular, is not protected from the direct or indirect influence of the Polish legislature and executive", according to the European Court of Justices ruling back in July. The introduction of the Disciplinary Chamber is a key part of the bid by the ruling PiS to achieve full control of the judiciary system. As a result of the Chambers rulings, over 600 judges have been barred from office and replaced by newly appointed judges. Any challenge to the role of the Chamber would jeopardise the dominant position achieved by the PiS. Although the Constitutional Tribunal has postponed its decision several times, the content of the judgment should not come as a surprise. Firstly, the judges of the Tribunal are mostly people whom PiS can trust. It is enough to recall that Krystyna Pawowicz and Stanisaw Piotrowicz - who have a long-standing connection with PiS - are members of its composition. Furthermore, it is worth remembering that Law and Justice represents that wing of the Polish bourgeoisie, which is oriented more towards the interests of American rather than Western European, and especially German capital (which is represented by the liberals). The US and the EU do not necessarily have converging interests, especially at a time when the world economy is trending towards protectionism, tariffs and trade wars. It is also not the first time that PiS has entered a scuffle with the European Commission. The conflict with the Czech Republic over a mine in Turow, resulting in the imposition of severe financial penalties on Poland, is still ongoing. Warsaw has repeatedly received reprimands from the EU for violations of the rule of law. As a reaction, PiS often used anti-Brussels rhetoric using expressions like the bad leftist EU. In conservative media and pro-PiS parlance, there is nothing more horrifying than calling someone a leftist. The current dispute with Brussels is the aftermath of the PiS pseudo-reform of the judiciary, led by Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, which boils down to subordinating the courts to PiS. The subsequent stages of the conflict led us to the point where PiS decided to wag a finger at the European Commission, thus precipitating a fully fledged constitutional crisis at the very heart of the European Union. Liberal opposition rallying in defence of European democracy The European Union has responded in a way that suits it. It was reported that the ruling of the Constitutional Tribunal raises serious concerns in connection with the conflict between Polish and EU law, stressing that any rulings of the Court of Justice of the EU have precedence. At the same time, it threatened to use all the tools at its disposal to protect the European rule of law. It was a clear signal for the liberals to hit PiS. The Civic Platform (PO), led by former President of the European Council Donald Tusk, started a campaign aimed at mobilising its electorate and consisting of fueling the fear of Polexit. In addition, the liberal authorities think that fear of the Polexit will give them a chance to remove PiS from power. PO politicians present the situation as a domino effect, in which every move and consequent retaliation are to lead Poland to exit European structures while praising the Union and raising alarm for the disastrous consequences of leaving the EU. They pride themselves on the fact that Poles are one of the most pro-EU societies in Europe. In making such declarations, one can easily get the impression that this entire campaign is nothing but a calculated game against the ruling party. Polls show that despite absolutely everything, after the announcement of the Constitutional Tribunal's verdict, many Poles believe that the scenario of Poland's exit from the European Union is realistic. 42.8 percent of the respondents believe that this is a real threat, which is an increase of approximately 13 percentage points compared to a previous survey, which took place a month before the verdict. Back then, those afraid of Polexit constituted less than 30 percent. Clearly, we can see that the fear campaign is progressing, and thanks to this, the liberals managed to mobilise their electorate and get people on the streets, where they expressed their support for membership of the European Union. Demonstrations took place in larger cities in Poland. Their initiator was Donald Tusk. The Liberals are completely delusional, seeing themselves as a multitude standing up for European values, fed up with Kaczynski's dictatorship and the threat of fascism. The reality, however, is different. The protests attracted no one but the old, tough electorate who so bravely stood up for free courts or free media. However, the dispute over Polexit is evidence of the escalating conflict within the Polish bourgeoisie and between Poland's ruling class and its European protectors. Who is winning and is PiS on the defensive? It might seem that the liberals will soon be on the top again. One would imagine the Polexit campaign and the mobilisation of their electorate in the streets could have had such an effect. But is this really the case? According to the United Surveys poll for RMF, FM and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, the United Right enjoys, the greatest support at 35.4 percent. The Civic Coalition stands at 27.1 percent, coming in second. The third place is taken by Szymon Hoownia's Poland 2050, at 9.5 percent. So despite the slight change in the percentage difference between PiS and PO, the United Right are still in the lead. At the same time, the politicians of the United Right are trying at all costs to convince us that the Polexit scenario is unrealistic, and they are not pursuing it at all. The slogan is called fake news or a trick by the opposition, which is not far from the truth. EU commissioner Thierry Breton stated that there were no illusions that the Polexit scenario would come true / Image: Pietro Naj Oleari, Flickr Morawiecki emphasises that similar procedures took place in other European countries, where certain issues went beyond the competencies of EU bodies. He also emphasised the essence of the rights of the European Union. It is worth adding that even EU bureaucrats are not convinced of the reality of Polexit. After the speeches of EU supporters on Polish streets, the EU commissioner Thierry Breton stated that there were no illusions that the Polexit scenario would come true. There is no doubt that the dispute over the scope of EU and Polish law will continue, and it has the potential to escalate out of control regardless of the intentions of the main actors in the conflict. However, it will not end with a Polexit, due to the huge amount of money gained from the reconstruction fund for the Polish investment programme after the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU bureaucracy can easily block the plan, which will put PiS against the wall. Considering the current state of the Polish economy, the ruling camp has no choice. The conservative bourgeoisie is not short-sighted enough to give up European funds in the name of national ambitions. This is all a typical electoral game. The most likely scenario is that the whole situation will end with a compromise, in which European law will be respected, and PiS will come out of the dispute with a greater standing in the eyes of its voters as a defender of Polish sovereignty. So, in this farcical dispute, PiS definitely wins. The party managed to keep its electorate and show its strength towards the European Union. The loser turns out to be the opposition camp. Despite the hype surrounding the Polexit, the mobilisation of the liberals attracted no one new, no outsiders, no one but its tried-and-tested electorate. Liberals once again tried unsuccessfully to gain in the polls by opposing the PiS policy, and not by presenting their own demands. This shows that they have nothing to offer but sterile protest. Despite the deplorable economic situation in Poland, with such a pathetic and delusional opposition, PiS does not even have to make any effort to stay in power. The deepening crisis facing the left wing and the Polish proletariat There is no doubt that maintaining the status quo on the Polish political scene hurts the working class the most. The deepening crisis and the politics of conservatives is causing the cost of living to go higher and higher. The PiS, which in the past presented itself as the champion of welfare, is doing nothing to stop the spiral of price increases. Despite this, neither the liberals nor the United Left are gaining at their expense. How is this possible? Undoubtedly, it is not PiS that is so strong, but the opposition is overwhelmingly weak. The reformist Left fares the worst here. Instead of connecting with the mood of the increasingly frustrated proletariat, it focuses on the political games between conservatives and liberals. In the disputes between PiS and PO, different wings of the ruling class, such as the fight for free courts", free media or Polexit, the reformists have no independent voice and are losing ground. Currently, the Left only has 6.7 percent in the polls. This is in contrast to their electoral performance only two years ago, in 2019, when they achieved 12.56 percent. This is a very poor result considering that the formation consists of as many as three parties: Lewica (SLD), PPS and Razem. The powerlessness of the reformists is evident, as they politically tail-end the bourgeois liberals. Such a position destroys this formation from the inside. The main party of the Left coalition, Lewica, centred around progressive liberals, has chosen a turn to the right. The faction centred around the leader Czarzasty cannot control the situation in the party. Additionally, Czarzasty uses undemocratic methods. Despite his good intentions, this may lead to an even stronger crisis of the party. Moving in this direction, the Left is simply and irrevocably doomed to failure. Is there no way out of this situation? Powerful strikes in Poland show the workers are ready to fight: if only they had a worthy leadership / Image: archive Undoubtedly, the Polish proletariat exists in the deplorable situation of lacking an independent political voice, due to the failure of their reformist leaders. This, despite the historical result of the 2019 election, where a large platoon of leftist MPs was elected to Parliament. Condemned to a conflict between PiS and PO and the weakness of the reformist Left, workers remain passive. This is reflected in a survey on planned participation in elections. 53.5 percent of respondents declare their willingness to vote, while 38.9 percent would not even bother to take part in the election. This does not mean that Polish workers are not ready to take action. The example of the strike of the employees of the Paroc Polska factory showed that the proletariat is still capable of being the driving force in society. The successful strike action inspired workers from nearby factories. The employees of the Jeremias company, together with the trade unions from Trzemeszno, began to cooperate in the struggle. In addition, more and more sections of the working class such as postal workers, nurses, teachers, and public sector employees are entering onto the warpath against the government. The Women's Strike also showed the possibilities and strength of mobilising the Polish masses. And then there was the tremendous teachers strike in 2019, which was tragically sold out by the trade union leaders. All this shows that the working class is willing to fight, despite the weakness of its current leadership. We are on the verge of seeing the consciousness of Polish workers awaken. The only problem is the lack of a revolutionary organisation strong enough to connect with the mood developing among the youth and the working class, sink roots and build its forces in the coming period of mass struggles. Only an organisation of revolutionaries, based on Marxist theory and the experience of previous workers' movements, will be able to lead workers to fight for their rights, overthrow the current ruling class and establish their own state, based on true democracy, workers democracy. The challenge for the future is to build the foundations for such an organisation to fill the present political vacuum and create the conditions for future struggles to be victorious! Developed by University of Liege in Belgium, only test of its kind available on African continent; first contracts signed with Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Sudan. Contipharma, a pharmaceutical company specializing in the development and marketing of targeted medical solutions, today announces that it is making a saliva-based PCR test available across the entire continent of Africa. The test, which was developed by the University of Liege (ULiege) in Belgium and is CE marked, can detect all known variants of SARS-CoV-2, including Omicron. It is the only saliva-based PCR test available in Africa and one of just a handful of its kind available worldwide. Contipharma and ULiege first teamed up at the start of 2021. This self-collection saliva testing kit developed by the COVID-19 laboratory at ULiege offers two key advantages: first, people can collect the sample themselves, meaning no medical personnel are required; and second, the virus in the sample is inactivated immediately, which saves both time and money as this step no longer needs to be completed by a laboratory. It has now been shown by a number of research groups that saliva testing is as effective, if not more so, than nasopharyngeal testing in detecting SARS-CoV-2. There is even evidence to suggest that the epidemic can be better managed if saliva rather than nasopharyngeal testing is used, explains Bernard Delhez, CEO of Contipharma. To accurately detect different variants, every step needs to be on point this includes taking the sample, inactivating the virus, extracting the viral genetic material and performing the PCR method. The inactivation and extraction processes developed by ULiege have proven highly effective in extracting very high-quality RNA. The ULiege process has been approved for use and widely implemented as part of the national testing program in Belgium. The process, which targets multiple rather than singular genes, also uses PCR reagents which include primers that have been specifically selected to identify and detect all known variants of SARS-CoV-2. This multiplex saliva-based PCR testing method detects all known variants, including Omicron, which is currently spreading throughout Africa. Since the start of the pandemic, Contipharma has delivered a range of medical supplies, including rapid blood and antigen tests. This PCR saliva-based test is the perfect addition to our portfolio and exactly in line with our companys vision, adds Bernard Delhez. Contipharma has already signed its first contracts to supply the tests to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Sudan. The company is currently concentrating its efforts on the market launch in Africa, but also plans to market the tests in other world regions in the near future. According to recent findings from the World Health Organization (WHO) (https://bit.ly/3dVuEqS), only 14.2% of COVID-19 infections in Africa are currently being detected. That equates to just one in seven people with the virus. Saliva-based testing could provide a solution, since it has similar detection rates to nasopharyngeal testing but offers a number of logistical advantages. These tests can also detect infections over a longer period than their nasopharyngeal counterparts. Looking beyond SARS-CoV-2, Contipharma and ULiege are also investigating the potential applications of saliva-based testing in the detection of other diseases found primarily on the African continent. They have launched research projects looking into three different conditions; details remain confidential at this stage. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires The cost of global climate change will be borne mostly by the poor; Behavior change and technological solutions are needed. The poorest countries will bear the worst effects of climate change and the highest costs in terms of economic production and higher mortality, according to Nobel laureate Esther Duflo. The 2019 Economics Nobel Laureate and professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), delivered the keynote at the African Development Banks 2021 Kofi Annan Eminent Speaker Lecture Series. In her address titled Good Economics for Warmer Times how to address our climate change challenge, Professor Duflo said the imbalance between wealthy and poor countries followed the 10-50 rule Ten percent of the highest polluters are responsible for about 50% of global emissions, and 50% of the bottom emitters are responsible for 13% of global emissions. She attributed the disparity in part to the reluctance of wealthy countries to forcefully commit to tackling climate change. The Nobel laureate said the IMF had made an estimate of $50 billion as the cost package for Covax to help most of the countries of the world vaccinate up to 60% of their population within two years. The estimated potential benefit, she said, was $9 trillion, which she added was an obvious win-win. She said global efforts to tackle Covid-19 pandemic had dampened her optimism about the global responses to climate change. Professor Duflo urged immediate action but warned that the world cannot rely on innovation alone. The impact of purely technological solutions is often very disappointing in real life, she stressed. According to the Nobel laureate globally combating climate change will require changes in behavior and consumption patterns. She noted that economists underestimate the capacity of humans to change behaviors, and that shifts in consumption would need to be made primarily in industrialized countries. I dont think we can tell Africans with a straight face that they need to consume less when they in fact need to consume more, she said. The Banks Acting Chief Economist and Vice President Kevin C. Urama said the topic could not be timelier, coming right after the COP26 global climate conference in Glasgow last month. The Nobel laureates lecture was followed by a conversation with African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, who praised her pragmatic economic research and the insights she provided. He said Professor Duflos remarks underscored the need to change the way we measure wealth creation. GDP tells us very little about how wealth is produced, Dr Adesina said. I have been a big advocate of the need to weigh the GDP of countries by the extent of negative externalities they create. Dr Adesina engaged in an extensive discussion with Professor Duflo about the importance of accurate carbon pricing as an incentive to developing nations He proposed the establishment of a long-term carbon sink fund to compensate countries like Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo for preserving vast forests that sequester carbon dioxide. He noted that the debt-to-GDP ratios of such countries would substantively be lower if their forests were taken into consideration. Professor Duflo said there was a crisis of credibility and trust for governments whose actions were not aligned with their commitments and that change would require a global enforcement of regulations. According to Duflo, Nature is stronger than us and dire warnings do come to pass, hence the need for collective action. Professor Esther Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics in the Department of Economics at MIT and a co-founder and co-director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab. Click on this link to view and listen to highlights of Professor Duflos presentation and her discussion with Dr Adesina (https://bit.ly/3GILbKR). The Kofi A Annan Lecture Series has covered a range of African and global development topics. They include economics, finance, regional integration, human development and the environment. The lectures have been a forum for eminent persons to share policy insights on development challenges in Africa. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires 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| 2021-12-16 03:28:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A signage reminding employees of wearing face masks in all indoor public settings is seen at the front door of the Metro Headquarters in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua) LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. The state, home to around 40 million residents, will require masks to be worn in all indoor public settings irrespective of vaccine status through Jan. 15, 2022, at which point public health officials will make further recommendations as needed in response to the pandemic, according to the California Department of Public Health. The department also updated requirements for attending mega events, like concerts and sporting events, which require either proof of vaccination, a negative antigen COVID-19 test within one day, or a negative PCR test within two days prior to the event. California, Once the epicenter of the COVID pandemic in the country, lifted its statewide mask mandate for vaccinated people on June 15 as the state announced to fully reopen its economy amid dropping cases and vaccine eligibility expansion. But public health officials are worried in recent weeks to see early signs of COVID-19 rebound this winter. State public health officials reported 5,476 new cases and 19 related deaths on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to over 4.89 million and 74,704 related deaths. There are 3,930 hospitalizations statewide, with 990 of them in intensive care units (ICU). Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate in California has increased by 47 percent and hospitalizations have increased by 14 percent, said officials on Monday. "Many of our hospitals are at a tipping point, and even a small winter surge can have serious consequences for our health care system," said Tomas J. Aragon, director of the California Department of Public Health and the State Public Health Officer in a news release Wednesday. "By broadening the mask requirement to be universal, we have 30 days to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent the devastating impact on our hospitals, healthcare workers, and patients that we experienced during last winter's deadly surge," Aragon noted. The department is hosting a week of action to strongly encourage Californians to take the steps necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 during the holidays, including getting vaccinated or boosted if they haven't already done so and following the state's new indoor masking and testing requirements. Enditem A healthcare worker wearing face mask prepares a dose of vaccine at a pop-up vaccination site in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua) Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the Union Station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua) Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the Union Station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua) A customer wearing face mask and face shield is seen at a post office in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua) Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the Union Station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua) Passengers wearing face masks are seen at the Union Station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua) Employees and customers wearing face masks are seen at a fast-food restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, California, the United States, Dec. 15, 2021. A reinstated indoor mask mandate went into effect Wednesday in California, the most populous state in the United States, amid rise in COVID-19 cases. (Xinhua) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 10:36:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People walk through the Times Square in New York, the United States, Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) Challenges affecting indigenous groups ranged from health inequities to inadequate infrastructure. And nearly all of these problems were worsened by the pandemic, Josh Arce, president of the Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA), told The Guardian. LONDON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened disparities in infrastructure, education and health care in the United States, The Guardian has reported. Challenges affecting indigenous groups ranged from health inequities to inadequate infrastructure. And nearly all of these problems were worsened by the pandemic, Josh Arce, president of the Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA), told the British daily in a recent interview. Native Americans were disproportionately affected by COVID-19, dying from the virus at twice the rate of white Americans, said the chief of one of the largest Native American-run non-profits. A person is tested for COVID-19 on the Times Square in New York, the United States, Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) He said the health infrastructure in Native American communities, provided through the Indian Health Service, is often substandard, with hospitals and other medical centers generally under-resourced and understaffed. Meanwhile, Native Americans are more likely to be uninsured, adding another barrier to tackling complicated health challenges. With "sky high" rates of suicide among Native American teenagers, the president also worried the poor mental health condition and limited resources to address such issues were deteriorating amid the pandemic. Economic challenges such as poverty, affecting one out of three Native Americans, and high unemployment rates are also chronic concerns in Native American communities, Arce added. Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 14:01:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui (L) and Cuba's Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Deborah Rivas display the handover certificates at a ceremony in Havana, Cuba, Dec. 15, 2021. A delivery ceremony for Chinese donations to reinforce Cuba's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was held here on Wednesday. (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua) HAVANA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A delivery ceremony for Chinese donations to reinforce Cuba's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was held here on Wednesday. Addressing the ceremony at the building of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui said the cooperation between the two countries during the pandemic has demonstrated that the bilateral ties are in a good state. "The COVID-19 pandemic does not recognize borders. Only collaboration and solidarity can beat the virus," Ma said, adding that "the Chinese COVID-19 vaccines are a global public good." Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal thanked China for the donations, saying the bonds that unite the people of China and Cuba are unbreakable. "China has not only played an essential role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but has shared important experience and given support to other nations," he said. Cuba's Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Deborah Rivas and Vice Minister of Public Health Regla Angulo also attended the ceremony. The Chinese government, companies and social organizations have been supporting Cuba since the country reported its first COVID-19 cases in March 2020. In the past few months, the Cuban government has received a batch of medical supplies donated by China, including ventilators, rapid antigen test kits, masks, surgical and examination gloves, protective and surgical suits, as well as safety screens. According to MINSAP, Cuba has fully vaccinated more than 83 percent of its population of 11.2 million as part of a nationwide COVID-19 immunization rollout. As of Wednesday, the Caribbean nation has reported 963,813 COVID-19 cases and 8,313 related deaths. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 16:54:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Dec. 4, 2021 shows the opening ceremony of the International Forum on Democracy: the Shared Human Value, in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) "Democracy must come from responsibility, respect to others, and understanding not only of human rights, but all human values as well," former Thai deputy prime minister said. BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Experts at a recent international forum here have said that expressions of democracy across the world vary and such a diversity must be respected. The International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values concluded in Beijing late Wednesday night after world experts held heated discussions on the topic of diversity of democracy. Bhokin Bhalakula, former Thai deputy prime minister and president of the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association, said there are different models of democratic governance, and "it is not possible to determine which model is good or bad, or right or wrong, due to the difference in values." "Democracy must come from responsibility, respect to others, and understanding not only of human rights, but all human values as well," Bhokin said. "I believe this will guide us to achieve people's well-being in our states and the world together with peace, development and sustainability," he added. Combo photo taken on July 15, 2020 shows smiling villagers in Shenshan Village of Jinggangshan, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi) Moin Ul Haque, Pakistani ambassador to China, said the concept of democracy has been celebrated by many civilizations in the past, and "no single country can claim to be the progenitor of democracy and its sole prominent." "It is undemocratic to measure world's rich political civilization with the monochrome eye or narrow prism of geopolitics," he said. "Any attempts to impose a particular style of democracy had never succeeded in the past" and would fail in the future, he added. Stressing the need to respect a diversity of democratic values, Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King's College of London, said: "It's not possible for us to therefore try and impose a world order which tries to prioritize one set of values over another and create a kind of hierarchy." "It seems to me that we do have to have an underlying respect for the emerging importance of pluralism and of living in a world in which there are no kind of dominant ideologies," said Brown. "Pluralism's nature is about embracing difference and about accepting fundamentally different perspectives," he added. Photo shows the Chinese and English editions of the white paper titled "China: Democracy That Works" at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Li He) Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, said that it has never been easy to achieve democracy and that there are no ready models to copy from. "Countries must explore their own paths by drawing on the shared wisdom of Eastern and Western civilizations," he said. In this age of unprecedented change, the world faces increasing instability and uncertainties on a turbulent journey to democracy, equality, fairness, and justice, said Du. "Without a concerted effort from all countries, there is a risk of regression in democracy in global governance, and the true value of democracy will be corroded by populism and hegemonism," he noted. The forum also launched on Wednesday night the Beijing Initiative: A Global Think Tank Network of Democracy Studies. The initiative calls for upholding and safeguarding democracy as a shared human value and respecting the diversity of civilizations and democracy. It also suggested evaluating democracy through measuring public satisfaction and voiced strong opposition against confrontation and division in the name of democracy. The forum, which opened on Dec. 4, was held in three phases. Over 500 speakers from 120 countries and regions as well as 20 international and regional organizations attended the forum in person or virtually and exchanged views on topics including democracy and national governance, global governance, and democratization of international relations. Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 17:10:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People visit the 12th Expo Central China in Taiyuan City of north China's Shanxi Province, May 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, rose 15.9 percent year on year to 1.04 trillion yuan, or 157.2 billion U.S. dollars, in the first 11 months of the year, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 19:09:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Constructors work at the construction site of the China-Russia Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye cross-border railway bridge, Aug. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday afternoon met with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link -- their second virtual meeting this year and their 37th meeting since 2013. Xi attaches great significance to China-Russia practical cooperation and the development of the two countries' relations. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has become even closer, stronger and more mature. On various occasions in 2021, Xi stressed the importance of China-Russia cooperation in various fields, and called on the two sides to make more efforts in pushing for a continuous and high-quality development of bilateral ties. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Dec. 15 During the virtual meeting, Xi said the two countries should strengthen their joint pandemic response, in areas such as COVID-19 testing as well as vaccine and drug R&D. The two sides need to build on their traditional energy cooperation, pursue more cooperation in new energy, advance the cooperation package in nuclear energy, and explore new cooperation areas such as renewable energy, he added. Xi said China will enhance communication and coordination with Russia to encourage the international community to take the right view on democracy and defend the legitimate democratic rights of all countries. Dec. 1 Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), sent a congratulatory message to the United Russia party on the 20th anniversary of its founding. In the message, Xi said the CPC cherishes its friendship with the United Russia party, and hopes that the two parties will continue to strengthen institutionalized exchanges and cooperation, and contribute wisdom and strength to lifting China-Russia relations in the new era to higher levels and building a community with a shared future for mankind. A Chinese worker and a Russian worker communicate with each other as they walk in 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, May 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Huadong) Nov. 29 Xi and Putin respectively sent congratulatory letters to the third China-Russia Energy Business Forum. In his letter, Xi said the remarkable achievements in bilateral energy cooperation have demonstrated the broad potential of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. China, he said, is ready to work with Russia to forge a closer partnership for energy cooperation, and jointly safeguard energy security and tackle the challenge of global climate change. Nov. 26 Xi and Putin sent congratulatory letters to the closing ceremony of the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation. In his letter, Xi said it has been proved that China-Russia cooperation in scientific and technological innovation has great potential and a broad prospect. He called on the two sides to uphold the concept of enduring friendship and win-win cooperation, and push forward cooperation in various fields in a practical manner. A model plane is on display at the Russia pavilion during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) Aug. 25 Xi held a phone conversation with Putin, in which Xi said as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia should deepen cooperation against interference and firmly hold their respective national future in their own hands. He said that China firmly supports Russia in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions, and firmly supports Russia's measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and security. June 28 During talks between the two heads of state via video link, Xi and Putin issued a joint statement, officially deciding to extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. In their talks, Xi referred to the current China-Russia ties as "mature, stable and solid" and able to "withstand the test of any change in the international situation." He called on the two sides to comprehensively summarize their experience of past successes and create top-level designs for new objectives and tasks in various fields to inject new meaning into the treaty. "Under the guidance of the treaty, the two countries will continue to make concerted efforts and firmly move forward despite the difficulties and obstacles ahead," Xi added. Photo taken on May 19, 2021 shows the launch ceremony for the construction of Unit 3 of the Xudapu nuclear power plant in Huludao City of northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Xinhua/Yao Jianfeng) May 19 Xi and Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project --Tianwan nuclear power plant and Xudapu nuclear power plant -- via video link. Xi stressed that energy cooperation has always been the most important area of practical cooperation which generates the largest achievement and covers the widest scope between the two countries. Xi put forward a three-point proposal at the ceremony. He called on both sides to adhere to the principle of safety first and set a model for global nuclear energy cooperation, suggested the two countries deepen scientific and technological cooperation on nuclear energy by sticking to the driving force of innovation, and called for adherence to strategic collaboration to promote the coordinated development of the governance system of the global energy industry. Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 19:21:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China and Nicaragua resumed diplomatic ties last week, a move largely perceived by both sides as an opportunity for two likeminded countries to enhance bilateral cooperation for the wellbeing of their people. -- According to a joint communique signed on Friday, the two countries agreed to develop friendly ties on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence. -- Nicaraguans from various walks of life believe resuming ties with China is a positive move that improves Nicaragua's development prospects. -- On Sunday, the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China arrived at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, and was warmly welcomed by a Nicaraguan delegation with a ceremony. MEXICO CITY, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China and Nicaragua resumed diplomatic ties last week, a move largely perceived by both sides as an opportunity for two likeminded countries to enhance bilateral cooperation for the wellbeing of their people. According to a joint communique signed on Friday, the two countries agreed to develop friendly ties on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence. China and Nicaragua sign the joint communique on the resumption of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Nicaragua in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) Nicaraguan officials and ordinary people alike believe the decision has opened up important opportunities for the Central American nation, not least greater involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative and other China-led projects for global development. BROAD WELCOME Nicaraguans from various walks of life believe resuming ties with China is a positive move that improves Nicaragua's development prospects. A woman sells bread on a street in Masaya Department, Nicaragua, Dec. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) "The agreements that can be carried out will really benefit Nicaragua's industrial sector," said Marco Antonio Perez, an 81-year-old merchant selling shoes at a crafts market in capital Managua. "There will be commercial exchanges, and the two countries will see growth in their economies because there will be more work," Perez told Xinhua. His remarks were echoed by Manuel Espinoza, a retiree, who said the resumption of diplomatic ties will "inject more movement into the economy with potential investment." Resuming diplomatic relations with China is "good news that strengthens Nicaragua's international relations in all fields," noted Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. New opportunities for cooperation and exchanges provided by the resumption of diplomatic ties with China will help Nicaragua meet its objectives of progress and social justice, said Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada. Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada smiles during an interview in Managua, Nicaragua, Dec. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The minister further praised the political, historical and fraternal foundations that enabled Nicaragua and China to "reestablish relations between two brother countries, two brother peoples and two states that identify themselves in their economic and social projects for the well-being of their peoples and of humanity." SOLIDARITY AGAINST COVID-19 On Sunday, the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China arrived at the Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, and was warmly welcomed by a Nicaraguan delegation with a ceremony. This "gesture of solidarity, cooperation, friendship and fraternity from the people and government of the People's Republic of China," as Laureano Ortega Murillo, advisor to the Nicaraguan president and head of the delegation, described at the ceremony, has marked the beginning of a new journey where Nicaragua and China work closer to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff members convey Chinese COVID-19 vaccine at an airport in Managua, Nicaragua, Dec. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The Chinese vaccines will help reinforce Nicaragua's vaccination campaign, Health Minister Martha Reyes told Xinhua, adding these vaccines, together with others obtained by Nicaragua, are enough to immunize nearly 6.4 million people out of its population of 6.6 million. "For us that is success. Our health model has faced a risky situation but is now in a state of epidemiological stability," said Reyes. The minister said she is looking forward to exchanging knowledge and experience with China on many other areas in the health sector, beyond the necessary immediate cooperation against the pandemic. Nicaraguan Health Minister Martha Reyes gestures during an interview in Managua, Nicaragua, Dec. 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) The two countries have complementary advantages in health, such as Nicaragua's use of plants and natural remedies, and China's advanced application of acupuncture and other millenary practices, Reyes noted. "That is going to be another asset that could strengthen our country, as well as other types of attention and exchanges in specialties in which China has more experience than we do," she said. COMMON DEVELOPMENT Following the resumption of ties, Nicaragua aims to take better advantage of China's initiatives to reduce poverty and help global economic growth, Ovidio Reyes, president of the Central Bank of Nicaragua, told Xinhua. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, he said, is a great development opportunity, as well as a sign of the "leadership of the Chinese economy in expanding world trade for everyone's benefit." Meanwhile, as it sits between the Pacific and the Atlantic, Nicaragua could, along with China, contribute to preventing regional supply chain disruptions that have had a negative impact this year on the global economy, he said. Aerial photo taken on Dec. 11, 2021 shows the Nicaragua Lake and wind turbines on the bank near Rivas, Nicaragua. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) "Being in our country offers access to both oceans, and that is a great advantage that serves as a bridge for other countries," he said. Noting that Nicaragua and China share a concern for improving quality of life, the bank chief voiced confidence that the two countries can promote bilateral cooperation in such fields as health, education, electricity, drinking water, housing and daily necessities. Nicaragua admires and hopes to learn from China's success and experience in fighting poverty, he said. "Succeeding in reducing extreme poverty would be a great step for our country. That is where cooperation can bear fruit," he noted. Murillo, the Nicaraguan president's advisor, told Xinhua that his country and China share many development goals, as well as a revolutionary and humanistic spirit. The resumption of relations also reaffirms "the brotherhood of the two peoples who share the fight for sovereignty, dignity, self-determination and the right to their own path, according to their own characteristics," he added. (Video reporters: Zhao Kai, Wu Hao, Wang Chao, Liao Siwei; video editors: Liu Ruoshi, Zhang Yuhong) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 20:50:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends a virtual dialogue with business leaders of the Global CEO Council in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that companies from all over the world are welcome to further expand investment in China and deepen cooperation in various fields to achieve common development. Li made the remarks when attending the virtual dialogue with business leaders of the Global CEO Council in Beijing. Business leaders of nearly 30 Fortune Global 500 companies, including Schneider Electric, Dow, ABB, Panasonic, Cargill, Rio Tinto, Starbucks and Volkswagen, spoke on the topics of innovation-driven development, green and low-carbon transition, and multinational companies' new development opportunities in China. Li recognized the contributions of multinational companies to China's reform, opening-up and modernization drive, and engaged in in-depth discussions with the business leaders. Noting that China is both the world's largest developing country and a growing market with huge potential, Li said China has vigorously implemented the innovation-driven development strategy and continuously inspired ideas of innovation and unleashed innovation vitality. China will continue to deliver institutional tax and fee cuts, including extra tax deduction on research and development expenses and refund of overpaid value-added tax, to increase the share of total research and development spending in GDP, said Li, adding that China will support business innovation and technology upgrading with market-oriented incentives that are equitable and inclusive. Through technology innovation and cooperation, China will step up the new energy development and clean use of coal, strive for a green and low-carbon transition while ensuring energy and electricity supply, and better meet the climate challenge, he said. Li pointed out that reform and opening-up is a sure path for China to achieve modernization. The Premier said China will continue to deepen the reform of transforming government functions, foster a market-based, world-class business environment governed by a sound legal framework, strictly protect intellectual property, and provide equal and fair treatment to both domestic and foreign-invested firms. China will improve the foreign investment promotion and service system and make China a highly attractive investment destination over the long run, Li added. Updating the participants on the state of the Chinese economy, Li said that China will continue to take economic development as the central task. In the face of new downward pressure, China will place steady growth in a more prominent place and pursue steady growth, structural adjustment and reform in a coordinated way, to keep major economic indicators within the proper range and maintain sound economic fundamentals in the long term, Li said. Noting that China's 150 million market entities are important underpinnings for employment and economic growth, Li said that China will make every effort to help businesses overcome difficulties, unlock their vitality and the internal dynamism of development, and solidify the basis for steady growth and employment. China will extensively advance the mass entrepreneurship and innovation initiative, to increase job opportunities and unleash public ingenuity by pooling wisdom and strength, Li said. China will continue to design and execute its macro policies around the needs of market entities and ramp up fiscal and financial support, including through policy mix of tax and fee cuts and lowering financing cost, to lessen corporate burdens and enable the further growth of more market entities, he added. The participating business leaders expressed appreciation to the Chinese government for the valuable support extended to foreign-invested companies for their normal operation in China during the pandemic, and applauded China's active efforts in addressing climate change. They expressed optimism about the future of China's economic development and readiness to actively participate in and contribute to the process of China's full modernization. They also expressed the desire to further strengthen cooperation in innovation, the digital economy, health, food security, green and low-carbon transition and sustainable development, to keep global industrial and supply chains stable and send to the world a positive message of working together for economic recovery. Enditem Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends a virtual dialogue with business leaders of the Global CEO Council in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends a virtual dialogue with business leaders of the Global CEO Council in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 22:30:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows ancient colored pottery figurines unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Aerial photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows the excavation site of the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows gold ornaments unearthed from the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Bo, mother of Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows cultural relics unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum and the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Bo, mother of Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows ancient colored pottery figurines unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) A staff member checks a copper unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 16, 2021. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) A staff member weighs a copper unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 16, 2021. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows cultural relics unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum and the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Bo, mother of Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows cultural relics unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum and the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Bo, mother of Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows ancient colored pottery figurines unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) A staff member cleans cultural relics unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 16, 2021. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows ancient pottery horses unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) A journalist takes photos at the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 16, 2021. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) A picture taken with a fish-eye lens on Dec. 16, 2021 shows ancient colored pottery figurines unearthed from the large-scale mausoleum and the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Bo, mother of Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2021 shows the large-scale mausoleum located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A large-scale mausoleum in Xi'an has been identified as belonging to Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25), local authorities said Tuesday. The mausoleum, located in Jiangcun Village on the eastern outskirts of Xi'an, is surrounded by more than 100 ancient tombs and outer burial pits. Excavation has been carried out in the area since 2017, with numerous relics unearthed including dressed pottery figurines, crossbows, and official seals. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 17:22:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ghana secured a total of 17.7 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines to protect against the pandemic, said Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo late Wednesday. In his latest nationwide COVID-19 update, Akufo-Addo said 6.4 million of these doses had been administered to individuals. "There are currently 1.7 million fully vaccinated people in the country, and we are expecting an additional 18,529,090 doses of vaccines by the end of the year," he added. The president stressed that vaccination is one of the most effective means of preventing the spread of the pandemic, urging Ghanaians to go out in their numbers and get vaccinated. "The vaccines are safe. They will not harm you. They will protect you and your families. Myself, my wife, and my children have taken our vaccinations, and I expect each of you to get vaccinated as well," he urged. With 15 days left to the year-end, Akufo-Addo said the government was still hopeful of achieving the target of vaccinating 20 million people by then. The president also urged the public to continue to observe the preventive protocols of handwashing, use of nose masks, social distancing, use of hand sanitizers. He added that the country's land borders would remain shut until all conditions were favorable to reopen them. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 18:35:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- With the latest COVID-19 cases at 26,976, the National Coronavirus Command Council has retained lockdown restrictions at "adjusted level 1", health authorities said on Thursday. Dr. Angelique Coetzee, chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) told Xinhua that "it makes sense to keep lockdown at this level as hospitals are not overwhelmed at this stage. We need to tighten lockdown measures when hospitalization admissions and ICU are higher." Health Minister Joe Phaahla has said the Command Council instructed the health department to monitor new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths mainly driven by the Omicron during this festive season. The Department said parties and weddings posed the greatest risks for transmission as they were considered super spreaders. "We call upon all travellers, especially those who are unvaccinated or partly vaccinated coming from areas declared hotspots, to get vaccinated before hitting the roads to protect their families and friends they will be visiting during this period associated with large social gatherings like parties and weddings, which can be 'super spreader' events that carry a huge risk of transmission of the virus," Phaahla noted. South Africa has been the worst affected country by the pandemic in the continent with higher levels of cases and deaths. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases's report on Wednesday, 26,976 new COVID-19 cases have been identified in the country, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3,231,031. 54 deaths associated with the virus were recorded over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 90,226. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 21:06:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Upendo Minja measures a bag in her studio in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 13, 2021. A Tanzanian woman designer is breaking the fashion ceiling with a style of her own thanks to her creativity that has taken her a fashion design journey of three years to achieve breakeven. (Photo by Cao Jingmin/Xinhua) DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian woman designer is breaking the fashion ceiling with a style of her own thanks to her creativity that has taken her a fashion design journey of three years to achieve breakeven. Upendo Minja, a 2016 graduate in procurement and supplies at the College of Business Education in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, told Xinhua in an interview recently that she decided to blend her clothing design with the Maasai traditional wear and drawings of wild animals by Tinga Tinga Art to have a different look. "My fashion design that comprise of the Maasai traditional wear and wild animals drawings such as giraffe and lions by Tinga Tinga Art is attracting tens of hundreds of customers, including tourists from across the world who visit Tanzania to see these animals," said Minja who is also known as Rose. Tinga Tinga Art is a unique and visually stunning painting style that was developed in the second half of the 20th century in Tanzania. This kind of art began as a simple idea by using recycled, low-cost materials, like Masonite squares, ceramic fragments and bicycle paint. And Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting northern, central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best known local populations internationally due to their residence near the many game parks of the African Great Lakes, and their distinctive customs and dress. Minja, who works with Endelea, an ethical fashion brand founded in Milan in 2018 to create clothes and accessories in African wax fabrics with a made in Italy design, admitted to Xinhua that her three-year-fashion design journey has not been that rosy. Behind the name Endelea, a Kiswahili word "to move forward, to continue without giving up", Minja said there is a group of dreamers guided by passion and courage who believe in creativity, connections and empowerment. Francesca De Gottardo, co-founder and chief executive officer of Endelea, said the goal of the fashion design company is to create collections that are able to mix Italian design with African fabric. She said Endelea wants to support fashion designing in Africa by working with people in power and ordinary people by teaching them and passing skills on them. Minja, a self-taught fashion designer, said the start of her fashion design journey was bumpy when three years ago she participated in the Swahili Fashion Week, Tanzania's leading annual fashion show, but her design did not impress visitors to her pavilion. "This did not discourage me but it persuaded me to improve. And this year (2021) I participated again in the Swahili Fashion Week and my pavilion attracted many customers from all walks of life," she said. She said she decided to do something more African but also with western touch by choosing the story of Tinga Tinga Art which is a very famous story and everybody knows it. "I decided to collaborate with an artist from Tinga Tinga Art as I worked hard to improve my fashion design and make it a household name in Tanzania and beyond," said Minja. She said people like her kind of collection because she was the first designer to bring this thing into life combining the art. Enditem Upendo Minja poses in her studio in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 13, 2021. A Tanzanian woman designer is breaking the fashion ceiling with a style of her own thanks to her creativity that has taken her a fashion design journey of three years to achieve breakeven. (Photo by Cao Jingmin/Xinhua) Upendo Minja (R) measures a piece of cloth at her studio in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Dec. 13, 2021. A Tanzanian woman designer is breaking the fashion ceiling with a style of her own thanks to her creativity that has taken her a fashion design journey of three years to achieve breakeven. (Photo by Cao Jingmin/Xinhua) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 09:19:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that he wants to draw the international community's attention to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan through a Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting scheduled on Dec. 19. Qureshi said the monetary reserve of Afghanistan has been frozen, while the two years of drought in the country, high cases of COVID-19, and unavailability of salaries for government employees posed a difficult future for the Afghan people, adding that the advent of winter could aggravate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. He urged the international community to understand that any chaos and "anarchy in the wake of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan would lead to the strengthening of terrorist organizations." The foreign minister said that the OIC forum would offer an opportunity to foreign representatives of bridging the communication gap with the Taliban and listen to their point of view. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 12:31:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Jet Serrano, employee of a real estate brokerage firm in the Makati financial district in Metro Manila, looks forward to his office's hybrid Christmas party scheduled for Friday. Staff will be herded into separate rooms. A buffet table is set up in a public area where employees can get their food and drinks, after which they go back to the designated rooms and enjoy the party virtually with their fellow workers in other rooms. Some offices with many employees also decide to hold parties on different days of the week in order to avoid the crowd. Christmas is marked by big celebrations in the Philippines. Traditional religious activities, family gatherings, and endless parties are usually held during the holiday season. The festival decorations and blinking lights pop up in malls, streets, and parks. Filipinos are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with family members and close friends as COVID-19 infections are slowing down and vaccinations are progressing smoothly in the Philippines. But just days before Christmas, the Health Department announced the detection of the potentially more transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 in two travelers who entered the Philippines over two weeks ago. "We still don't know a lot about Omicron," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said. Metro Manila and the entire country will remain under alert level 2 on a scale of 5 until Dec. 31, Nograles said in a televised press conference on Wednesday. Alert level 2 means that infections are low and decreasing, and the hospitalization rate is low. The health department reported 235 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the lowest number since May 2020. It has reported below 500 daily cases since Dec. 10 and below 1,000 since Nov. 24. Christmas this year is more lenient than in last year when the Southeast Asian country was logging an average of over 1,000 daily cases and zero vaccination, prompting the government to ban mass gatherings in efforts to prevent a possible virus surge. With average daily cases of less than 500 this December and more than 38 million people fully vaccinated, the government allows social events such as parties and family gatherings at the limited capacity of 50 percent for indoor events and 70 percent for outdoor events. Last week, the health department issued guidelines for celebrating a "safe and healthy" Christmas this year amid the pandemic. The health department reminded the public to continuously practice the minimum public health protocols, choose healthier options during feasts and similar activities, and prevent fireworks-related injuries by avoiding its use and being prepared for accidents. Health Secretary Francisco Duque has urged people to remain vigilant amid the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases. "Filipinos are advised not to let their guards down and prioritize the health and safety of their families." Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 13:16:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia recorded 285 new COVID-19 infections and two more related deaths over the past 24 hours, bringing the national totals to 387,446 and 1,968 respectively, the country's health ministry reported on Thursday. Five of the latest confirmed cases were imported from abroad, and the remaining ones were locally transmitted, the ministry said, adding that currently there are 7,371 active COVID-19 cases across the country. So far, around 66 percent of Mongolia's 3.4 million people have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while 833,158 people have received a booster. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 16:54:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People visit Christmas and New Year decorations at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 17, 2021. Large scale New Year celebrations in Malaysia have been banned over concerns that the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 could spread in the country, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. The decision was made following the confirmation of a second Omicron case in the country and at least 18 more suspected cases, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told a press conference. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Large scale New Year celebrations in Malaysia have been banned over concerns that the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 could spread in the country, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. The decision was made following the confirmation of a second Omicron case in the country and at least 18 more suspected cases, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told a press conference. Due to the detection of two confirmed Omicron variant cases and 18 other suspected cases, which underwent genomic sequencing, the Health Ministry would like to announce additional measures to prevent the spread of Omicron, he said. "The organization of large New Year's celebrations is not allowed but small-form celebrations of New Year or Christmas can happen for now, with those attending being required to carry out COVID-19 self tests beforehand," he said. The second confirmed case is an eight-year-old child who had lived with her family in Nigeria before arriving in Malaysia on Dec. 5, being tested on arrival. It was confirmed to be an Omicron case on Dec. 14. Thirty-five close contacts of the patient are being monitored, Khairy added. The Health Ministry has also introduced new rules against travelers from Britain to prevent the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Starting on Dec. 17, travelers from Britain would need to do daily self-tests during their quarantine period and all results need be reported on the government's COVID-19 management app. In addition, the list of countries that were classified as "high-risk" have increased to nine. Travelers from Britain, the United States, Australia, France, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Nigeria and India, where the Omicron variant has been spreading in the community, are required to be fitted with wrist digital trackers upon arrival and during their quarantine. Travelers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Malawi are still not allowed to enter Malaysia for the time being. Malaysia has reported its first Omicron case on Dec. 3, with a 19-year-old female student travelling from South Africa testing positive. Enditem People visit Christmas and New Year decorations at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 17, 2021. Large scale New Year celebrations in Malaysia have been banned over concerns that the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 could spread in the country, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. The decision was made following the confirmation of a second Omicron case in the country and at least 18 more suspected cases, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told a press conference. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) People visit Christmas and New Year decorations at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 17, 2021. Large scale New Year celebrations in Malaysia have been banned over concerns that the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 could spread in the country, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. The decision was made following the confirmation of a second Omicron case in the country and at least 18 more suspected cases, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told a press conference. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) People visit Christmas and New Year decorations at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 17, 2021. Large scale New Year celebrations in Malaysia have been banned over concerns that the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 could spread in the country, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. The decision was made following the confirmation of a second Omicron case in the country and at least 18 more suspected cases, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told a press conference. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 17:05:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Laos recorded a trade deficit of 336 million U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of 2021, according to the latest information from the Lao Trade Portal website. The value of exports was recorded at 4.9 billion dollars (excluding electricity), while goods worth 5.24 billion dollars were imported, according to the data. The main exported products were copper and products made of copper, bananas, mixed gold (gold bars), clothes, cassava, coffee beans, sugar, rice, rubber and fruit (watermelons, passion fruit and tamarind), livestock and processed wood. Meanwhile, the main imported products were vehicles (other than motorcycles and tractors), electrical devices and equipment, premium grade and regular fuel, diesel (for use other than in motor vehicles), steel products, plastic products, chemical equipment and food factory waste. Laos' main markets continue to be Thailand, China and Vietnam, with China leading the export market. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lao government is making efforts to bolster trade, especially through better transport links. The government is working with the private sector to improve the business environment to attract more foreign trading partners and investors through the removal of unnecessary obstacles and the provision of incentives, policies and proper regulations. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 22:59:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government on Thursday said it had decided to provide 2.3 million coconut seedlings to the public next year to boost coconut growth, Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said. Pathirana said that Sri Lanka's coconut industry had been a large foreign exchange earner in the export market over the years and the public sector alone was not enough to meet the coconut demand in the country. The minister said the coconut seedlings would be provided to private entrepreneurs as well as members of the general public as there was a huge demand for coconut cultivation. "Sri Lanka is unable to produce enough coconuts to meet the existing demand in the local and global market. The Coconut Cultivation Board will be ready to supply the required coconut seedlings to the entire country by next January," the minister said. According to official figures, coconut accounts for approximately 12 percent of all agricultural produce in Sri Lanka with the total land area under cultivation covering 409,244 hectares and about 2,500 to 3000 million nuts produced per year. New measures have been introduced to enhance the annual coconut crop to 3,600 million nuts per year. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 23:03:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's health authorities on Thursday said vaccine cards had been made mandatory for all local and foreign tourists who were visiting religious sites in the country in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Officials from the Health Ministry said that tourists and locals should carry their vaccine cards with them or show an electronic version of the certificate. Foreign tourists were requested to carry an English translation of their vaccine cards for travel in Sri Lanka, the Health Ministry said. Pilgrims and tourists have also been urged to leave the pilgrim sites immediately after the rituals and tours conclude in order to avoid large gatherings. Sri Lanka has in recent weeks relaxed several restrictions which were enforced when the country faced a massive third wave of the COVID-19 virus since April, caused by the dominant Delta variant. The country is returning to normalcy and has recorded a rise in tourist arrivals especially since November with tourism promotion campaigns also set to begin in several countries including in China. However face masks have been made mandatory for all and social distance must be maintained at all times, the Health Ministry said. According to official figures, 576,966 positive COVID-19 patients have been reported since March last year with 14,677 deaths reported. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 18:45:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces detained Thursday 14 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul. The Ihlas news agency said police units carried out simultaneous operations in nine districts and captured 14 suspects, including 13 foreigners whose identities were not immediately clear. The suspects have been allegedly active in Istanbul, recruiting members for the group in Istanbul, spreading propaganda through social media, and providing financial and logistical support. Since 2015, the IS has carried out a number of assaults in Turkey, including one on a nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations on Jan. 1, 2017, in which 39 people were killed. Abdullah Agar, a security specialist, said the IS remains a big threat to Turkey, with several cell structures spread around the country. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 20:29:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit is held in Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 17, 2021. (Xinhua) ISTANBUL, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is seeking to enhance its cooperation and business ties with African nations, as the Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit kicked off here Thursday at a time when the country is witnessing a currency slump. The three-day summit, themed "Enhanced Partnership for Development and Prosperity," started with a meeting of high-level officials in the Turkish financial hub Istanbul, diplomatic sources said. The summit had been postponed twice mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic after the previous two summits were held in 2008 and 2014 in Istanbul and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, respectively. Heads of state and government as well as ministers are expected to attend the event, which is expected to launch a new stage in Turkey's relations with the African Union and African countries, according to Turkish officials. A five-year action plan on several topics such as peace, security, trade, investment, infrastructure and health care, is expected to be reviewed at the summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has attached significance to Africa and visited more than 30 nations there during his 19-year tenure as prime minister or president of Turkey. Trade between Turkey and Africa rose from 5.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2003 to 25.3 billion in 2020, according to official data. Erdogan has announced that Turkey aims to double its trade with Africa to 50 billion dollars. Turkish companies have strengthened their presence across Africa, mainly investing in the areas of construction, steel, cement, textiles, household goods, and electronic devices, according to African Business, an online business magazine. South Africa is Turkey's largest trading partner on the continent, with a bilateral trade value of 1.3 billion dollars in 2019, but Ethiopia, where Turkish firms have more than 20,000 employees, has drawn nearly one-third of Turkey's investment in sub-Saharan Africa, the magazine added. Turkey's policy toward Africa has expanded from merely focusing on economic relations to include business, aid, diplomacy, culture, and military support, said foreign policy analyst Serkan Demirtas. "With this summit in Istanbul, Turkey is spreading a clear message that it will continue to strive to further capitalize from the growing momentum in relationships," he told Xinhua. The bid to expand African trade comes amid a nearly 50 percent devaluation in the Turkish lira this year, which makes Turkey's exports even more competitive. Demirtas said that Turkey's long-standing relations with Africa have now reached an important turning point. "Turkey's bonds with the continent have strengthened after it became an observing member of the African Union in 2005 and a strategic partner of it in 2008," he said. "In 2013, an important step was taken to further improve relations with the continent by the launching of the Africa Partnership Policy," the expert said. Turkey's military sales to Africa have significantly increased in recent years, especially in the aviation sector. The number of Turkish embassies in Africa has risen from 12 in 2002 to 43 now, with a mission soon to open in Guinea-Bissau, while the number of African embassies in Ankara rose from 10 in 2008 to 37 in 2021, according to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In October, Erdogan visited Angola, Nigeria, and Togo, and met with leaders and investors. Turkey also operates direct flights to many African countries, and its flagship carrier Turkish Airlines now flies to 61 destinations on the continent. Enditem Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during the Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 17, 2021. (Xinhua) Participants of the Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit pose for a group photo in Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 17, 2021. (Xinhua) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 22:18:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- A visiting ministerial delegation from Poland said on Thursday that it is preparing a plan to offer more support for Lebanon in the next few years, a statement by Lebanon's Presidency reported. "Poland is currently studying Lebanon's needs and it will be drafting a new plan to increase its support for the country in the coming period," the delegation said during its meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Beirut. The delegation, headed by Bogna Janke, the secretary of state in the chancellery of Polish President Andrzej Duda, reviewed her country's medical and food support to Lebanon following the Beirut port blasts in Aug. 2020, in addition to the help offered to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. For his part, Aoun thanked Poland for its continuous support for Lebanon, asking for further help in securing a safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland in light of the great economic burden posed by their presence in Lebanon. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 23:45:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NICOSIA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic caused a 50 percent drop in tourist arrivals in Cyprus in 2021 compared to 2019, the last year before the onset of COVID-19, Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios said on Thursday. The drop dealt a serious blow to the economy of the eastern Mediterranean island, as the tourism and travel sector contributed 22.7 percent to its gross domestic product (GDP), which totaled 21.1 billion euros (23.9 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019. In 2019, tourist arrivals reached almost four million, contributing about 2.7 billion euros to the economy. Perdios said that tourism's contribution to the economy this year was estimated at between 55 percent and 60 percent of tourism income in 2019. "Given the pandemic circumstances, income from tourism this year was satisfactory," Perdios said. He said that the current outlook for the tourism sector in 2022 was satisfactory. "However, the onset of the highly infectious Omicron mutation of COVID-19 has raised several questions, which cannot be answered right now," Perdios added. Cypriot health authorities have embarked on an all-out effort to delay as long as possible the spread of the Omicron variant following the identification of the first five cases earlier this month in a secondary school. All 500 pupils of the school have been tested, with no more cases detected. However, the authorities are concerned over the expected arrival of several hundred university students from abroad, mostly from the United Kingdom (UK), for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Cyprus demands a SafePass and a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for coronavirus from all travelers, which must be obtained before embarkation, and has additionally made a second test mandatory three days after arrival. The authorities are also gearing up their vaccination program, targeting unvaccinated people and children between five and 12 years of age. To date, over 81 percent of the country's adult population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-17 07:21:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on Thursday called for de-escalation of Russian military build-up on the eastern borders of Ukraine, vowing to protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine while offering the opportunity for negotiation with Russia. "We call on Russia to return to diplomacy, to de-escalate, and to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels. Stoltenberg warned that "any further aggression against Ukraine will have severe consequences and would carry a high price." Zelenskyy said he favored a peaceful solution. "We do believe that the diplomatic format negotiation will win." The call was echoed by some EU leaders gathering on Thursday for their last summit this year. Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, called for open discussion between all involved parties. He said that the EU should extend an invitation to Moscow to try and appease tensions through talks. EU heads of state are also discussing and preparing potential sanctions against Russia, should the country choose not to reduce its military presence on the Ukrainian border. "Any aggressive action will meet with a higher political and economic cost," said Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Thursday. He said the bloc is preparing "a full set of sanctions." Russian President Vladimir Putin has underlined the need to immediately begin negotiations on clear and internationally legal agreements against NATO's further eastward expansion and against the deployment of weapons in Russia's neighbors, primarily Ukraine. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 22:54:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- While the so-called "Uygur Tribunal" presented itself as "independent," it was organized by a U.S. government-funded separatist group that for years has played a key role in generating anti-China propaganda, U.S. independent news website the Grayzone has reported. As the U.S. government's propaganda campaign against China drags on, the "tribunal" has become a central node for the dissemination of allegations of so-called "genocide" to Western media. But behind the carefully scripted horror stories conveyed to the public by uncritical media are massive discrepancies, overt separatist sentiments, and huge sums of U.S. government money, said the website in an article. The "tribunal" and those participants are presented to the public as human rights advocates concerned about the situation in Xinjiang. However, upon closer examination, it is clear this framing is a cynical smokescreen. "In fact, the Uygurs involved in the tribunal and the wider U.S.-funded propaganda machine are part of a clear separatist campaign," it added. The nakedly separatist views exhibited by most people involved in the "tribunal" is perhaps the most substantial factor in its lack of legitimacy. But as with many of the deceptions and discrepancies in -- not to mention the deep U.S. government links to -- the "tribunal," the Western media turned a blind eye, the article continued. The Grayzone said that the press was ignorant about the real ulterior separatist agenda of the "tribunal" and those involved in it. "Its refusal to provide the public with this critical context further illustrates how a carefully orchestrated narrative has been stripped of reality and disseminated to escalate a new Cold War," it said. Enditem MORE than 40 000 bodies that are buried at Chikomo Chemhute Cemetery, which is part of the Glen Forest Memorial Park face being exhumed after allegations were raised that the burial grounds and crematorium had not been approved by government. Chikomo Chemhute Cemetery was supposed to have sought and obtained approvals from the ministries of Local Government, National Housing and Public Works as stipulated by sections 35 and 14 of the Cemeteries Act, and the Cremation Act, respectively according to a local law firm. The land is reserved for agricultural purposes, it is within the catchment area of Mazowe Dam, and it is less than 200 meters from residential areas, among other things. Our instructions are to request that the commission (Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission) investigates the actions of Cadrina Investments and its officers, and bring them to book. Our clients and the writer are available for any assistance and/or clarifications that you may require, lawyers from Mhishi Nkomo Legal Practice, representing Fopuld Investments Private Limited, said in a letter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. Fungai Mparadzi, the chairman of Cadrina Investments Private Limited, referred all questions on the matter to Marowa Meleki, the head of service provision at Glen Forest Memorial Park. Meleki said Chikomo Chemhute was part of the Glen Forest Memorial Park, where families were allowed to choose places where they want their relatives to be buried. Glen Forest is an independent company that operates a cemetery and a crematorium. Glen Forest operates legally and has approval from Goromonzi Rural District Council and all appropriate line ministries. Glen Forest has Environment Management Agency (EMA) approval to operate a cemetery and a crematorium. It buries everybody in lined graves, and this was a condition given by EMA in its approval, Meleki said. He, however, did not give clarity on allegations that Chikomo Chemhute was a separate entity under Fopuld Investments, and whether the cemetery needed the Local Government Ministers approval. Fopuld Investments (Pvt) Ltd is said to hold 49% shares in Cadrina Investments (Pvt) Ltd, which also owns Chikomo Chemhute. Chikomo Chemhute is an entity registered for purposes of holding the asset on which the Glen Forest Memorial Park is. It is alleged that Fopuld Investments later discovered that the cemetery and crematorium at Glen Forest were unlawful, as they did not seek, or had not obtained approvals from government. The Mhishi Nkomo lawyers allege that Mparadzi hid the existence of Chikomo Chemhute from Fopuld Investments, adding that the entity had never appeared on the books of Cadrina Investments. However, grave purchases are said to be directed into Cadrina Investments bank account. Upon being quizzed over the sale of burial sights on Chikomo Chemhute, Mparadzi denied any such enterprises. Cadrina Investments Private Limited, due to the fraudulent misrepresentations by Mparadzi, sold and continues to sell burial sites to government departments, parastatals and private citizens on a piece of land which is not, and can never be approved for a cemetery, the lawyers wrote. They also alleged that Mparadzi has been selling graves through Evolution Insurance over the past five years. The matter came to light after one of Cadrina Investment directors, Joseph Crnkovic, who represents 100 overseas investors, discovered the offence. He said he was forced to flee the country after raising alarm. Crnkovic denied that Chikomo Chemhute and Glen Forest shared one licence. He claimed that Chikomo Chemhute owned subdivision 24 of Whelston, a farm in Glen Forest measuring 40,4670 hectares. Audited financial statements of Cadrina Investments Private Limited show that it was Cadrina that was in business of developing and selling graves, and so I never had access to the Matidoda accounts until I asked them, and was removed from the country, Crnkovic said. Mhishi Nkomo Lawyers have also written to local service provides on behalf of Crnkovic, asking them to stop buying graves at Chikomo Chemhute. Zacc spokesperson John Makamure said: I am yet to see the complaint, but if they reported the matter, they did the right thing and it will be investigated thoroughly. Newsday A 44-year-old motorist has been arrested after 19 years after he allegedly ran over a seven-year-old girl in 2002 before her leg was amputated. Eliot Chinomwaza, of Ruwa committed the crime in 2002 when he was a driver and his case was not finalised before he left for Botswana. The accused person returned home in 2016 and was arrested on Tuesday over negligent driving. He hit Chipo Zhento now 26, who was in grade three and she is now seeking justice. The case was reported under CR 23/2002 and the then investigating officer died in 2013 while the case was still pending. The matter is expected to appear in court today for trial at Mbare Magistrates Court. Chipo grew up traumatised asking on what happened to her leg and the situation worsened when she was told nothing was done to the accused. The accident occurred along First Street Road in Kuwadzana. The accident occurred in 2002, whilst I was on my way from school with my colleagues and my right leg was cut-off at the spot. The accused person did not even shown remorse by helping me since the day in question. He only ferried me to the hospital. I am hurt because I am living under a hard condition that was caused by someone, who did not even render any assistance towards my situation. I am the one who phoned him this month, informing that I am Chipo the one he hit in 2002, but suddenly he blocked my cellphone number, she said. Chipo attained her academic studies at Daniko School where she has won different awards in rowing games. She has also turned into vending in Kuwadzana. She hailed the police officer who assisted her to pursue her case against Elton after 19 years. A source said Chipo approached Southerton Police seeking advice over her case. There, a police who resurrected the matter after Chipo pursued it. No one knew that justice would be served one day because this matter was swept under the carpet. Chipo has been some follow ups on the matter since 2019. She made several follow ups until she was assisted, said the source. The matter was expected to be phased out in 2022 according to the law following 20 years without locating the accused person. Accused person has changed locations to avoid this matter. A police officer located him through Registrar Generals information and also with the help of Econet. During the time of the offence he supplied his uncles cell number which then were used to trace him. Through the efforts he was apprehended whilst at his new house, in Ruwa, added another source. Elton said he still remember that he was driving a truck when he committed the offence. I recall this case it happened in 2002 when I was driving a UD Nissan truck along First Street in Kuwadzana. It is so painful to meet the girl that I hit at the age of three, surely by now without the grace of God, she would have died on the spot, since the situation was bad. I was not licensed by that time until I acquired a license in 2017, he said. When I was driving my truck there was a bus which was heading towards me from town. As soon it immediately passed I noticed three children in uniform attempting to cross the road, and unfortunately I hit this girl before she fully crossed. The case was reported at Kuwadzana police station before being referred to Southerton Traffic section. The child was ferried to the hospital for emergency, he added. He was not expecting police officers to hunt him over the matter. I did not expect to see police officers at my doorsteps, as I thought of maybe the cased is over because it has been 20 years since this happened. The police officer who was investigating my case just told me to go back home and promised to call me for further developments but from there I was not called. I developed mild stroke in 2018 and not yet recovered. During that time surely I was an able man and also the owner of those trucks had more finances but as you see here, I have no hope of rendering any assistance towards her life, since I have also the same condition that needs special care. Instead I will just wait for the courts decision. H Metro A GROUP of about 20 suspected Zanu PF youths yesterday stormed a Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiCZ) annual general meeting (AGM) that was being held at a Bulawayo hotel, assaulted participants, and vandalised property. When NewsDay arrived at the scene, the rowdy gang had already left, but several delegates who were at the meeting were visibly injured and in pain. A participant said the youths pounced at the hotel, overpowered the security personnel at the entrance, and stormed into the main conference room where the meeting was taking place. It is alleged that the sudden attack on CiCZ members happened soon after Obert Masaraure (Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president) was elected as spokesperson of the coalition, while Gamuchirai Mukura had been elected treasurer. The meeting was disrupted before the election of chairperson and the vice-chairperson. They began attacking all the participants without explanation, the witness said. CiZC outgoing chairperson Rashid Mahiya said they were holding their elective AGM when the youth budged in and disrupted the proceedings. At exactly 3:30pm we were told that there were Zanu PF youths who wanted to gain entry into our meeting room. We asked for hotel security to keep them out, but they were overpowered by the youths. We continued doing business until the youth got into the room and started beating up people. They threw chairs and desks all over the place. Some of the participants were women and people with disabilities, Mahiya said, adding that the meeting had to be adjourned as people scurried for cover. He said the violence erupted in the presence of police officers, but not a single member of the gang was arrested. In fact, they (police) are coming after us as the Crisis Coalition Zimbabwe, yet our meeting is properly constituted and is observing all the regulations that are supposed to be observed. We have seen some interest in our meeting as we seek to elect new leadership to the coalition, a new leadership that will address the governance, political violence and corruption crisis that we have in our country, Mahiya said, adding that the coalition would not be intimidated by rowdy elements. CiCZ members said the violence signified what would characterise the 2023 elections. But Zanu PF Bulawayo chairperson Obert Msindo professed ignorance over the attack. I have not heard anything concerning this issue, Msindo said. Bulawayo police provincial spokesperson InspectorObert Msindo also said he had not yet received the report concerning the matter. I am no longer at the office, but when I left, I had not heard of such a report, he said. Newsday Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana's lands borders, which were closed in March last year following the outbreak of COVID-19, are to remain shut for now to limit the importation of the virus into the country, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced in a radio and television broadcast on Wednesday night New York, US (PANA) - The UN Special Representative in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, issued a warning to the Security Council on Wednesday that new headwinds could threaten the countrys fragile peace accord, following years of brutal civil conflict 24 December / 6 January ( ). . . (. 262). . (IX). . (1928); . (1942). . . . 1- , . . . . . . .... Amplify Energy charged over Californias worst oil spill in nearly 30 years nbcnews.com California oil cleaning crew By Robert Burnson / Bloomberg News LOS ANGELES Petroleumworld 12 15 2021 Amplify Energy Corp. was charged with criminal negligence in Californias worst oil spill in almost three decades, in which an estimated 25,000 gallons (94,635 liters) of crude oil leaked from a submerged pipeline off the coast of San Diego. The leak in early October spread a 13-mile (27.4 kilometers) oil slick that fouled beaches and killed wildlife along the Southern California coast. A federal grand jury indicted the Houston-based company Wednesday along with two of its units, Beta Operating Co. LLC and San Pedro Bay Pipeline Co., charging them with one misdemeanor count of negligent discharge of oil, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Los Angeles. The companies own and operate the 17 mile-long San Pedro Bay Pipeline. They took more than three hours to plug the leak in the pipeline after a low-pressure alarm sounded in the early morning of Oct. 2, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Amplify and its units were negligent in at least six ways, including failing to properly respond to eight separate leak alarms over the span of more than 13 hours and improperly restarting the pipeline that had been shut down following the leak alarms, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Amplify disputed the allegation in a statement Wednesday. The company said its employees took prompt action, investigating what they believed were false leak detection alarms. But the leak detection system wasnt functioning as designed, Amplify said. It was repeatedly and wrongly signaling a potential leak at the platform where no leak could be detected by the platform personnel and where no leak was actually occurring, the company said. The leak actually occurred more than four miles away, where the pipeline was displaced by a ships anchor, according to the company. Had the crew known there was an actual oil spill in the water, they would have shut down the pipeline immediately, Amplify said. If convicted, the companies could face millions of dollars in fines and be placed on probation for as long as five years. Another son of Ex-Panama president pleads guilty in Odebrecht bribery case Moises Castillo/ AP Ricardo Alberto Martinelli, pictured here in Guatemala last month, pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge brought by U.S. prosecutors. - Ricardo Alberto Martinelli admitted to setting up offshore accounts to direct money to a relative who was a government official in Panama By Richard Vanderford / WSJ LONDON Petroleumworld 12 15 2021 Another son of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli pleaded guilty to a U.S. charge related to his role in a bribery scheme involving Brazils Odebrecht SA. Ricardo Alberto Martinelli on Tuesday entered a guilty plea to a single money laundering conspiracy charge at a hearing in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was charged in 2020 alongside his brother Luis Enrique Martinelli, who pleaded guilty earlier this month. I agreed with other people, including my brother Luis, to wire funds that were the proceeds of bribes paid by Odebrecht to a family member of mine who was a government official in Panama, Mr. Martinelli said. He also admitted to setting up offshore accounts as part of the scheme to direct money from Odebrecht, a construction conglomerate, to his relative. Mr. Martinelli has agreed to forfeit $18.9 million to the U.S. government. About $28 million flowed through the sons, according to prosecutors, who described the bribe recipient as a high-level Panamanian official who served from 2009 to 2014. Their father was president of Panama during those years. As part of a plea deal reached with prosecutors Tuesday, Mr. Martinelli has agreed not to appeal a sentence of up to 151 months in prison, though his lawyers are free to argue for a shorter period of incarceration. Sean Hecker, Mr. Martinellis lawyer, said he intends to argue that his client, who had spent about 17 months in jail in Guatemala before his extradition to the U.S., shouldnt be incarcerated any longer. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for May 13. Luis Martinellis sentencing hearing has been set for May 20. The two brothers are expected to remain in U.S. custody ahead of their sentencing. Mr. Martinelli, after admitting his guilt Tuesday, lost a bid for bail. A prosecutor argued that he poses a flight risk. Prosecutors have described an extraordinary effort by the Martinelli brothers last year to leave Miami, where they had lived, to travel to the Bahamas by boat and then on to Guatemala by private jet. That departure from the U.S. came as the men were discussing a resolution with the U.S. Justice Department. Restrictions stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted their plans to travel to Panama, according to prosecutors. The two were arrested by Guatemalan authorities and after a court battle were extradited to the U.S. This is somebody who planned an escape, to put it bluntly, U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie said. Im going to have to turn you down. The case against Odebrecht arose from Brazils so-called Operation Car Wash, a sweeping probe that exposed widespread corruption among Latin Americas corporate and political leadership. Prosecutors said that Odebrecht maintained an effective department of bribery that made more than $700 million in payments to officials around the world. Odebrecht in 2016 entered into settlements with authorities in the U.S., Brazil and Switzerland, and last year changed its name to Novonor. JPMorgan four fuel deals now target in Petrobras bribery probe Pixabay Police were focusing on one shipment of 305,000 barrels of Petrobras fuel oil that JPMorgan purchased in 2011 By Gram Slattery / Reuters RIO Petroleumworld 12 16 2021 A Brazilian police investigation of alleged bribery of Petrobras employees to fix the price of fuel sold to JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) by the state-run oil firm has expanded from one deal to at least four over the course of 2011, according to documents and two law enforcement officials. Previously unreported invoices related to fuel sale agreements between the two companies show one of the alleged intermediaries in the bribery scheme, known as Oil & Gas Venture Capital Corp (OGVC), received approximately $150,000 that year from another alleged intermediary named EGR Consultants to facilitate the purchase of roughly 826,000 barrels of fuel oil by JPMorgan, worth more than $80 million at the time. The additional invoices are significant as Brazilian police have been working to determine if a 305,000-barrel JPMorgan deal facilitated by OGVC and EGR was a one-time arrangement or part of a pattern, which would raise the stakes of the investigation, according to two law enforcement sources in Brazil, who requested anonymity to discuss an ongoing probe. Reuters reported in September that Brazil's federal police are investigating whether JPMorgan routed bribes via intermediaries to employees on Petrobras' (PETR4.SA) trading desk in order to secure shipments of fuel at artificially low prices. If true, this would likely violate Brazilian anti-bribery law. Police were focusing on one shipment of 305,000 barrels of Petrobras fuel oil that JPMorgan purchased in 2011, Reuters reported at the time, citing court documents and two federal law enforcement officials familiar with the matter. Petrobras, formally known as Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4.SA), said in an email it has "zero tolerance in relation to fraud and corruption." The company added that it has aided Brazilian authorities with various corruption-related probes. JPMorgan declined to comment on the alleged bribery scheme. No charges have been brought in the probe and it remains unclear if any will be. Reuters has no independent evidence establishing that JPMorgan knew about the payments by EGR to OGVC or the alleged bribes to Petrobras employees. The statute of limitations for paying or receiving bribes in Brazil depends on the severity of the crime, but can be up to 20 years and is commonly greater than 15 years, according to the nations federal legal code. In one court filing that police submitted in February to the federal judge overseeing the probe, investigators attached an invoice from OGVC, which was addressed to EGR, a Miami-area consultancy. The invoice shows OGVC, based in the British Virgin Islands, receiving roughly $64,000 in July 2011 from EGR for facilitating the 305,000-barrel transaction between JPMorgan and Petrobras. The invoice describes the services rendered as: Oil products sell to JPMorgan VEC. In court documents filed over the course of 2021, Brazil's federal police described EGR as part of a complex web of intermediaries that helped funnel bribe payments to Petrobras employees from fuel purchasers including JPMorgan over the course of 2011. In those documents, police allege EGR passed some of those payments to OGVC. Police believe OGVC then took a cut of those payments, while passing part of the payments along to Petrobras traders, the documents show. A lawyer for OGVC, Rafael de Piro, denied that the company ever had any dealings with JPMorgan. A representative for EGR did not respond to multiple text messages and an email sent by Reuters. The representative had previously declined to comment on the matter when asked about authorities' allegations regarding the companys conduct in September. Police alleged in the court documents, which include witness testimony and dozens of pages of correspondence over 18 months in 2011 and 2012 between alleged co-conspirators, that OGVC passed part of that payment to Petrobras employees who helped facilitate the allegedly illegal deal. It is not clear if OGVC allegedly made those payments to Petrobras traders directly or via additional intermediaries. Reuters has reviewed three additional invoices from OGVC's account at Swiss private bank Landolt & Cie, showing that the firm received three additional payments from EGR for facilitating fuel purchases by JPMorgan over the course of 2011. The Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) shared the invoices with Reuters as part of a trove of documents it provided, after the news agency asked the ICIJ if it held any documents relating to OGVCs Landolt account in Switzerland. The first invoice was dated June 8, 2011. The last was dated Sept. 14 that year. Swiss authorities have turned over the documents seen by Reuters to Brazilian investigators, according to the two federal law enforcement officials in Brazil. Brazil's federal police did not respond to a request for comment. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland confirmed by email that it handed over documents pertaining to OGVC to law enforcement officials in Brazil, but declined to comment on the content of those documents. JPMorgan declined to comment on the specific deals. Petrobras declined to comment on the deals, but said that alleged criminals in its trading unit had taken elaborate steps to disguise wrongdoing, making it difficult for the firm to weed them out without the help of law enforcement. Its important to highlight that the authorities investigating the case have shown that the criminal organization responsible for the illicit acts in question used methods that kept them from being detected. These methods could only be brought to light with investigative resources that only the authorities possess, the company wrote in an e-mail. De Piro, OGVCs lawyer, did not comment on the content of the invoices. Financial services company ODDO BHF, which earlier this year purchased Landolt & Cie - the bank where the records seen by Reuters were kept - did not respond to a request for comment. 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 Posted by Joey on at 12:08 AM CST Hello Toy Hideout , a local shop in City of Industry, CA has posted pictures of an early shipment of Black Series figures repainted with a holiday theme. You probably remember the ones from last year which were exclusive to different retailers. I'm sure an official announcement will be coming soon, but until then, check out these pictures.The Holiday edition figures from last year were all different versions of stormtroopers. Hasbro looks to be mixing it up this year with a repainted Mandalorian with bogling, Protocol Droid with BD-1, Scout Trooper with Grogu, Zalbaar with porg, and First Order Stromtrooper with mouse droid.What do you think about the Black Series Holiday Edition figures? Did you collect any of them last year? Let us know in the forums! A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A two-day nationwide bank strike called by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) against privatisation of government banks began on Thursday, said C.H.Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA). The UFBU is an umbrella body of several bank unions. He said the strike is against central government's move to privatise public sector banks (PSB) and to introduce the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the current session of Parliament. The passage of the Bill will enable the Government to reduce their equity capital in the PSBs to less than 51 per cent and allow private hands to take over them. The government had earlier said it would privatise two of its banks. According to him, about 10 lakh bankers in public and private sector banks are participating in the strike. Owing to the stir, operations at the cheque clearing grids in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi will be impacted and several thousands of crore worth of cheques would not be cleared. 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. According to him, the only issue being confronted with the PSBs was that of huge Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in which the major share was that of big corporates. "Successive governments have taken initiatives such as Debt Recovery Tribunals, SARFAESI Act, IBC, etc, but they have not yielded the desired results and therefore ultimately banks were forced to write off those loans resulting into huge losses," he said. This shows that it is not the nationalisation of banks, which has failed but it is the wilful default of the corporate and big business houses, which have dragged the banks into this crisis, Venkatachalam added. "Even under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, while bad loans have been resolved and banks could get back some portion of the loan, it has been with huge haircuts for the banks," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a wreath at the National War Memorial on the occasion of the 50th Swarnim Vijay Diwas on Thursday. Immediately after that Modi on social media recalled the sacrifices made by the bravehearts of the Indian Armed Forces. "On the 50th Vijay Diwas, I recall the great valour and sacrifice by the Mukti Joddhas, Biranganas and bravehearts of the Indian Armed Forces. Together, we fought and defeated oppressive forces. Rashtrapati Ji's presence in Dhaka is of special significance to every Indian," he tweeted. President Ram Nath Kovind, who is on his maiden state visit to neighbouring Bangladesh, participated in 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka. The President has been invited to the celebration as "guest of honour" by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the National War Memorial. Singh joined the nation in remembering the courage, valour and sacrifice of the Armed Forces during the 1971 war on the occasion of 'Swarnim Vijay Diwas' on December 16, 2021. In a series of tweets, Singh termed the 1971 war as the golden chapter in India's military history. Swarnim Vijay Varsh is being celebrated to mark 50 years of India's victory in 1971 war. The aim is to spread the message of unity, nationalism and pride among people in general and Armed Forces in particular, in addition to showing respect to the veterans who participated in the war. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/16/2021 -- The Latest research study released by HTF MI "5G Equipment 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 Ericsson, Fujitsu, Huawei Technologies, Intel, NEC Corporation, Nokia, NTT DOCOMO, Qualcomm, Samsung, KT, SK Telecom, Telenor, Verizon, Vodafone, ZTE, Analog Devices, AT&T, China Mobile Ltd. & Cisco etc. Click here for free sample + related graphs of the report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3743831-5g-equipment-market-1 Browse market information, tables and figures extent in-depth TOC on "5G Equipment Market by Application (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Commercial & Industrial), by Product Type (, SDN, NFV, MEC & FC), 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 5G Equipment 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/3743831-5g-equipment-market-1 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: 5G Equipment Market By Application/End-User (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Commercial & Industrial Market By Type (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : , SDN, NFV, MEC & FC 5G Equipment Market by Key Players: Ericsson, Fujitsu, Huawei Technologies, Intel, NEC Corporation, Nokia, NTT DOCOMO, Qualcomm, Samsung, KT, SK Telecom, Telenor, Verizon, Vodafone, ZTE, Analog Devices, AT&T, China Mobile Ltd. & Cisco Geographically, this report is segmented into some key Regions, with manufacture, depletion, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of 5G Equipment 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 5G Equipment 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 5G Equipment 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=3743831 Some of the important question for stakeholders and business professional for expanding their position in the 5G Equipment 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 5G Equipment movement showcase by applications, types and regions? Q 4.What segments grab most noteworthy attention in 5G Equipment Market in 2020 and beyond? Q 5. Who are the significant players confronting and developing in 5G Equipment Market? For More Information Read Table of Content @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3743831-5g-equipment-market-1 Key poles of the TOC: Chapter 1 5G Equipment Market Business Overview Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type [, SDN, NFV, MEC & FC] 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. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/16/2021 -- The Latest research study released by HTF MI "Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software 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 SAP, Oracle, Sage, Infor, Microsoft, Kronos, Epicor, IBM, Totvs, Workday, UNIT4, YonYou, Cornerstone, Kingdee, Digiwin etc. Click here for free sample + related graphs of the report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3711473-worldwide-cloud-enterprise-resource-planning-software-market Browse market information, tables and figures extent in-depth TOC on "Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market by Application (Manufacturing, BFSI, Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, Telecom & Others), by Product Type (Small and Medium-Size Businesses & Large Businesses), 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 Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software 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/3711473-worldwide-cloud-enterprise-resource-planning-software-market 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: Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market By Application/End-User (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : Manufacturing, BFSI, Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, Telecom & Others Market By Type (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : Small and Medium-Size Businesses & Large Businesses Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market by Key Players: SAP, Oracle, Sage, Infor, Microsoft, Kronos, Epicor, IBM, Totvs, Workday, UNIT4, YonYou, Cornerstone, Kingdee, Digiwin Geographically, this report is segmented into some key Regions, with manufacture, depletion, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software 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 Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software 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 Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software 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=3711473 Some of the important question for stakeholders and business professional for expanding their position in the Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software 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 Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software movement showcase by applications, types and regions? Q 4.What segments grab most noteworthy attention in Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market in 2020 and beyond? Q 5. Who are the significant players confronting and developing in Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market? For More Information Read Table of Content @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3711473-worldwide-cloud-enterprise-resource-planning-software-market Key poles of the TOC: Chapter 1 Worldwide Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market Business Overview Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type [Small and Medium-Size Businesses & Large Businesses] 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 With the end of Covid-19 related lockdowns in New Zealand and Australia, listed New Zealand and Australian childcare and education centre operator Evolve Education Group Limited (ASX/NZX: EVO ) is now able to provide an earnings guidance for financial year ending 31 December 2021 (FY21) and financial year ending 31 December 2022 (FY22) as well as a current trading update. Guidance For FY21 And FY22 On 8 June 2021, EVO gave the following guidance for consolidated underlying EBITDA (amounts in NZD): 1 For FY21 - between $16m and $18.5m. 2 For FY22 - between $23m and $25m. On 26 August 2021, EVO advised that the guidance issued on 8 June 2021 for FY21 was withdrawn due to uncertainty caused by Covid 19 lockdowns although guidance for underlying EBITDA for FY22 was maintained (between $23m and $25m). Today, EVO wishes to advise the following guidance for unaudited, consolidated underlying pre IFRS 16/AASB16 EBITDA for FY21 and FY22 (amounts in NZD): 1 For FY21 between $11.5m and $13m. 2 For FY22 between $23m to $25m. The difference between the 8 June 21 guidance and the expected result for FY21 is due almost entirely to the financial effects of revenue losses in NZ due to Covid 19 lockdowns (see below). Guidance for FY22 is subject to there being no material Covid 19 related issues in FY22. 2021 Lockdown Effects Set out below is an outline of Covid-19 lockdowns in New Zealand and the financial effect thereof. In New Zealand, Covid-19 lockdowns were in place for the following periods during FY21: 15 Feb to 17 Feb and 28 Feb to 6 Mar Auckland 18 Aug to 7 Sept All of NZ except Auckland/Waikato 18 Aug to 7 Sept and 4 Oct to 16 Nov Waikato 18 Aug to 3 Dec Auckland These lockdowns lead to an EBITDA loss of approximately $6m in FY21 mainly due to a loss of parents fees and not qualifying for wage subsidies (due to a change in the eligibility threshold by the New Zealand Government) while staff wages were paid in full throughout. This contrasts with what happened in calendar year 2020 where the loss in revenue was offset by wage subsidies. The extended lockdowns and restrictions this year have also had an adverse impact on current occupancy which is lower than anticipated. Adding back the FY21 NZ EBITDA loss due to Covid 19 ($6m) implies that consolidated EBITDA for FY21 would have likely fallen within the range $17.5m to $19m if lockdowns had not occurred in FY21 in NZ. This is consistent with the 8 June guidance. In Australia, the federal government introduced the Business Continuity Payment (BCP) for all centres in designated Covid hotspots. The BCP was an additional government funding of 25% of revenue (from a reference period) for centres in hotspot areas during the affected period. Any loss of parent fee revenue due to lockdowns in Australia was therefore offset by the BCP. Trading Update Set out below is relevant data for the week ended 28 November 2021: NZ(NZD) Aus(AUD) Centres 110 23 Revenue 2.165m 1.084m Centre EBITDA 213,000 338,841 Occupancy 69% 86% Cash on hand 33.9m 24.6m Centre Acquisition Status EVO currently operates 110 early childhood education centres in NZ and 23 in Australia. A further centre is under financial/legal due diligence in Australia. The centre acquisition process in Australia was put on hold during the recent NZ Covid-19 related lockdowns in order to conserve capital because there was no certainty when the lockdowns would end. The acquisition process has now recommenced given that there is a reasonable expectation that Covid-19 related lockdowns maybe not occur again with the implementation of the Covid Protection Framework (traffic light system) by the authorities in New Zealand. Please see the link below for details EVO guidance and trading update Source: Evolve Education Group Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Related News: 6th January 2022 Morning Report 5th January 2022 Morning Report Harmoney Corp Limited (NZX: HMY) HMY Signs A$20m Corporate Debt Facility 24th December 2021 Morning Report Goodman Property Trust (NZX: GMT) GMT to develop North Shore facility for NZ Post 23rd December 2021 Morning Report SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) EXPANDS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH GIG Spark New Zealand Limited (NZX: SPK) Spark to take full ownership of Connect 8 22nd December 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Wynyard Quarter Stage 3 Commenced Mahawansa refers to 32 Petty Tamil Kings Dutugemunu had to overcome before reaching Ellalans Capital. Coins of that period have been unearthed which point to Tamil presence from South to North. There are Tamil letters on those Coins. by Justice C.V.Wigneswaran Professor Wijeyanayake from London like many other Sinhala Scholars wrote in the Sunday Observer of 17th November 1996 as follows- The Origin of the Sinhala Race is in Lanka. There is no scientific evidence of Indians originating in India who spoke Sinhala. Sinhalese are those who speak the Sinhala Language. Of course these days there are Sinhalese who have forgotten their mother language and have embraced other languages like English and French in their countries of emigration. But in early times the Sinhalese would have been those who spoke the Sinhala Language mainly. Without the Sinhala Language there could have been no Sinhalese. When did the Sinhala Language come into being? The earliest Sinhala work was Siyabaslakara around 848 CE (9th Century AD). The next was Dhampiya-atuva Gatapadayo which came out around 918 CE (10th Century AD). Pali words are used both in a modified and pure form quite heavily in this latter work. The first Sinhala grammar Sidath Sangaraya belongs to the 13th Century AD. The inscriptions before the 7th Century AD do not mention Sinhala as a language and ethnicity of the people. The term Sihala (Lion in Pali) occurs for the first time in the Dipawansa (5th Century AD). Only once is the term coming up to say the Island was known as Sihala on account of the presence of Lions. In the Mahawansa the term Sihala appears twice. But there is no reference to the people called Sinhalese nor the Language called Sinhala. R.A.L.H. Gunawardene in his book The People of the Lion: The Sinhala identity and ideology in History and Historiography (Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities Vol V:1-2 (1979)) claims that before the 12th Century AD the Sinhala identity did not cover a whole people in Sri Lanka but only a small ruling class. This meant even by 12th Century AD Sinhala had not become a full-fledged peoples language yet. What you have been fed to believe as per your question is pseudo history created before the 1970s. After the 1970s even Sinhala historians have begun to doubt the story of Sri Lanka history starting with the coming of Vijaya from North India. Now our history books do not start with the coming of Vijaya as before. They start with the Stone Age civilization which was long prior to (the fictitious) Vijaya landing in Sri Lanka. Our history books now accept that permanent settlements, agriculture, use of skills, use of iron, urbanisation etc took place in this Island before the coming of (the fictitious) Vijaya. It is interesting to note that none of the books on ancient history of any of the States in North India refer to the emigration of a person called Vijaya with 700 followers from their shores at any time in their ancient history. So now we start history from dates anterior to the coming of (the fictitious) Vijaya. Historically it is more plausible to believe that Mahawansa written in Pali was a fiction written for the glorification of Buddhism. In fact the author mentions so at the end of every stanza. But so far our Sinhala historians have not officially identified who these people who lived in this Country before the coming of (the fictitious) Vijaya were. This is because any attempt to tell the truth will be beneficial to the Tamils and the pseudo history of the Sinhalese hitherto purveyed would get exposed! I am told there was pressure recently to prevent the author of Demala Baudhayo bringing out a reprint of his book. The importance of the 1970s and the post 1970s period lies in the fact that scientific archaeological research began to take place here from then on. Not only that, our local researchers were helped by erudite foreign archaeologists from France, Germany, Britain and USA together with UNESCO experts. The pseudo Sinhala Buddhist historians found it difficult to make progress due to this. There is now archaeological evidence that pre historic Stone Age people lived in this Island from over 125000 years ago according to excavations made in Iranaimadu in Kilinochchi District and in certain areas in Southern Sri Lanka. Dr.Siran Deraniyagala brought these matters out, through his researches. The Stone Age could be generally divided into three periods 1. Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) (Before 10000 BC) 2. Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) (Between 10000 BC and 8000 BC) 3. Neolithic (New Stone Age) (from 8000 BC to 3000BC). (Greek - lithos - Stone). But in certain regions the Mesolithic period may have started even before 10000 BC. There is evidence that from 30000 years ago the Mesolithic people lived in our Hill Country as well as the Low Lands. About 75 evidences have been unearthed. Also there is evidence to show that majority of these Mesolithic people lived mainly in the Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka. They led a nomadic life. Their advancement in civilization is perceivable from the findings in caves, hills and on level ground. They attribute close similarities in life style between these people and those who lived in the South of present Tamil Nadu. These are confirmed by experts in the fields of archaeology, humanities, philology and history. About 200 words found in the Tamil Language spoken by these people were taken into the Sinhala language later. It has been authoritatively said that the stone implements used by our Mesolithic people were same as those used in Thirunelveli District in South India. According to Professor Indrapala this civilization spread from South India to North Sri Lanka and thereafter spread to other parts of Sri Lanka. Around 3000 years ago early Iron Age was introduced to this Island. There too we see very close similarities between what was found in Southern Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Vimala Begley who conducted researches in Kantharodai in the 1970s concluded that those who inhabited the Jaffna Peninsula in ancient times had very close relationship with the Southern part of present Tamil Nadu. Their cultural affinity in Sri Lanka extended from Kantharodai upto Puttalam. Pomparipu in the Puttalam District especially, had very close resemblance to what is found in Kantharodai. Professor Sudarshan Seneviratne too has confirmed this finding. Professor Indrapala too confirms that the culture of the Stone Age people in Sri Lanka came within the ambit of the South Indian cultural ambience of that time. Thus the idea that the early inhabitants of Sri Lanka came from North India is now not accepted. It is agreed that long before the time of Mahawansa, Sri Lanka enjoyed a culture similar to South India and those ancients were the progenitors of the present Sinhalese and Tamils. Professor Senaka Bandaranaike has said that these ancients had no ethnic differences but only cultural differences. These differences he says could have existed even before the time of the visit of the so called Vijaya to the Island. If we examine the culture and life habits of the ancient Stone Age people they had a habit of inscribing their name or the names of those who shaped the clay pots and utensils, on them. This habit is seen to have existed both in South India and Sri Lanka during that period. This habit is not visible in any other part of India. These writings on clay pots have been unearthed in Tamil Nadu and in Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura pots belong to a period over 2750 years. The writings on pots have been identified as Tamil letters in the Tamil Language. Writing started in North India only about 2300 years ago. But both in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka these writings have been found to exist much earlier. Now the historians believe that the art of writing went from the South to North India. Recent Keeladi excavations in Madurai, South India shown evidence of a civilization anterior to all others in India. Thus, before the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, the fact that the progenitors of the present Sinhalese and the Tamils lived here, has been accepted scientifically. The recent DNA tests confirmed this. When we examine the writings in Sinhala, Professor Fernando, Professor Saddha Mangala Karunaratne and Professor Ariya Abeysinghe have said that before the North Indian Prakrit was introduced with Buddhism into Sri Lanka, the Script similar to the South Indian Script was available in Sri Lanka. We could gather from their researches that Tamil Script and Tamil Language and Dravidian words were in use in Sri Lanka before Sinhala Language came into use. That is why I boldly said the language of our ancients was Tamil and the original indigenous population of Sri Lanka were Tamil. Buddhism spread in this Island from 3rd Century BC onwards. Over 1500 identified inscriptions confirm this. These inscriptions have Brahmi script from North India plus Tamil Script inscribed on them. There were no Sinhala script nor Sinhala language nor Sinhalese people then. Thus it is clear that Tamil Language was in use in Sri Lanka prior to the introduction of Buddhism and before the introduction of North Indian Brahmi Script. Even though Professor Paranavithana tried to identify the North Indian Prakrit as old Sinhala Script and tried to show wherever Prakrit was in use the Sinhalese lived there, this statement of the Professor is now not accepted because with the spread of Buddhism, the Prakrit script too spread all over South and South East Asia and was in use for over 700 years as the script of inscriptions. Prakrit was not old Sinhala. If it was, Sinhala language should have been spoken in other South East Asian Countries too. But in Tamil Nadu the language of the Buddhist inscriptions was Tamil. If we examine the 1500 Brahmi inscriptions in Sri Lanka even though Northern Brahmi was generally used, in addition many Tamil words were also used. Specially the names of individual Tamils were referred to in Tamil. Relationships among individuals were referred to in the Tamil Language. Place names have been written in Tamil. Even titles of Tamil rulers were written in Tamil. This shows the existence of the Tamil language in Sri Lanka before the introduction of Buddhism and hence Tamils were the original inhabitants of this Island at the time Buddhism was introduced. If we examine the evolution of Sinhala language we have a parallel in the evolution of Malayalam. The present Kerala was part of Tamil speaking regions in Tamil Nadu. They were ruled by Chera Kings. The transformation of Tamil to Malayalam took place due to the heavy influence of Sanskrit from 10 th Century AD on the Tamil language. Tamil plus Sanskrit brought in Malayalam. Hence I referred to a new language in the offing in Chennai today. Tamil plus English might produce Tamilish in 25 to 50 years. Similarly the introduction of Pali language in Sri Lanka as the language of Buddhism when it mixed with the local Tamil language it developed into a new language called Sinhalese around the 6th or 7th Century AD. The evidence for this could be found in Sigiriya. Sigiriya inscriptions of 5th Century AD portray early Sinhalese not yet developed into a proper language. Thus there is no evidence that the Sinhala language existed before the 7th Century AD. The Sinhala Script developed due to the mixing of Brahmi letters with the Pallava period grantha letters. The Sinhala literature like Rajavaliya and Poojavaliya belong to the 13th Century AD. Your question contains reference to the Tamils coming here only during the Chola conquest in 10th Century. There had been Tamils living in this Island from long, long time ago. May be from the time of the Lemurian Continent which is now under the Indian sea. Earliest Tamil Sangam period and the Second Sangam period (Muthat Sangam and Idai Sangam) have been referred to in the last Sangam period (Kadai Sangam) literature and the literary works of the earlier Sangam Periods are referred to in the Kadai Sangam literature. Tamil is one of the earliest languages of this World if not the earliest. There have been Pandya, Pallava, Chola conquests of Sri Lanka from ancient times. Thus there have been waves of Tamil intrusions. But the original Tamils of Sri Lanka have been occupying this Country from over 3000 years ago. The present tendency to refer to Buddhism as that of the Sinhalese and Hinduism as that of the Tamils, is erroneous. When religions are introduced into a Country they are not introduced to be followed only by particular races. When Buddhism was introduced into this Island there were no Sinhalese. Thus the Tamil King Devanampiya Theesan got converted to Buddhism. There is considerable evidence to show the existence of Tamil Buddhists in Pali literature and Brahmic inscriptions. Tamil Kings were given the titles Buddha thasan and Buddhadevan when they supported Buddhism and Buddhist causes. Up to 15 th or 16 th Century there were Tamil Buddhists according to Pali literature. The inscriptions of Nainatheevu in North Sri Lanka refer to Tamil Buddhists. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne in his Demala Baudhayo refers to Tamil Buddhists. In recent times Sinhalese portraying themselves as Buddhists and Tamils as Hindus has brought about polarization says Professor Pushparatnam. This could have been avoided he says. When I was living in the old Anuradhapura Town in the 1940s there were Tamils who owned lots of lands around Nuwara Wewa who were more or less Demala Baudhayos. Even I used to go to Ruwanwelisaya and Mahabodhi to worship with my parents (both Hindus). We joined the Buddhists who came from nearby villages to do Pongal during Poson. Buddhist philosophy influenced me considerably. Together with Dr.Adikaram and others , we were votaries of Philosopher J.Krishnamurthi whose teachings were close to Buddhist philosophy. Of course later, Hindu Saints were able to point out the limitations of the Buddhist philosophy to me. Professor Pushparatnam has said even the Mahawansa is a useful reference Book to prove the existence of Tamils at the time of the arrival of Vijaya. Mahawansa refers to 700 Tamil Brides from Madurai together with 1000 Tamil families employed in 18 professions being brought down to Sri Lanka on Vijayas request. That means more Tamil families came into the Country from Madurai than the 701 who came from elsewhere! This is according to the Mahawansa! Even the so called statement of Dushta Gamini that the Tamils are on one side and the sea on the other side, refers to the existence of large amount of Tamils in the country at that time says Professor Pushparatnam. Ellalan was a Tamil King thus how could anyone say Tamils for the first time arrived at the time of Chola conquest in the 10 th century AD? Finally a word about Homeland of the Tamils. Before the Bakthi Cult was born in Tamil Nadu there is evidence of Tamils living outside the North and East as well. Pali Literature and certain inscriptions refer to the presence and influence of Tamils in Anuradhapura. Before Independence the influence of Tamils in Anuradhapura was considerable in the Old Town. The new Town was constructed, one is forced to deduce, to reduce and negate the Tamil influence in Anuradhapura. Mahawansa refers to 32 Petty Tamil Kings Dutugemunu had to overcome before reaching Ellalans Capital. Coins of that period have been unearthed which point to Tamil presence from South to North. There are Tamil letters in those Coins. Names of Tamil Petty Kings are found in some of them. After the Bakthi Cult prospered in the North and East many Tamils living in other parts of Sri Lanka preferred to go to the North and East since the famous Hindu Temples lay there. This was a time when Jainism and Buddhism were beginning to go out of vogue due to the re- emergence of Saivaism consequent to the Bakthi Cult. The Thevarams of Nayanmars in South India referred to Thiruketheeswaram and Thirukoneswaram in Sri Lanka. Specially there is reference to Trincomalee being a full -fledged Saivite Tamil City. When the Cholas were ruling from Polannaruwa their commercial outlet was Trincomalee. The North and East were a distinct area of Tamil habitation during the Chola Rule. The Jaffna Kingdom was consequent and subsequent to the Chola Rule. From 13th Century to 17th Century the Jaffna Kingdom existed. Puttalam came under the rule of the Jaffna King. Udapu is still a Tamil Village. When the Dutch during their rule brought out Coins they referred to the North and East separately and had them minted in Tamil. Thus the North and East were the homelands of the Tamils. To conclude- the Tamils were the Original inhabitants of this Island and there have been several waves of Tamil conquest but they only added to the Original indigenous Tamils who continued to live here from pre historic times. Chola conquest was only one such intrusion from South India. Sinhala Language and Sinhala Race are very recent chronologically though the Sinhalese and the Tamils have had common progenitors from ancient times. Justice C.V.Wigneswaran is a Member of Parliament representing Jaffna District. Views expressed in this article are personal and the authors own 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(0x7f3ff318e808)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff31c1568)', '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(0x7f3ff318e808)') 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(0x7f3ff31c1568)') 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(0x7f3ff31dca00)') 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(0x7f3ff31c1568)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff31c1568)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2d5e9c0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff3230068)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff3230068)') 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(0x7f3ff304f810)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff30b1618)', '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(0x7f3ff304f810)') 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(0x7f3ff30b1618)') 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(0x7f3ff304bfc0)') 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(0x7f3ff30b1618)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff30b1618)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2736778)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff30bc4d0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff30bc4d0)') 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(0x7f3ff2c79478)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2e14908)', '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(0x7f3ff2c79478)') 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(0x7f3ff2e14908)') 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(0x7f3ff2c70ef0)') 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(0x7f3ff2e14908)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2e14908)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2736790)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff2e0c5d8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff2e0c5d8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Mauritius update Ray, HB9DNG/F5UKV (ex-9Q5RP), will be moving and be active as 3B8HH from the small village of Pereyberein, very close to Cap Malheureux in the north part of Mauritius, starting around the January 20th, 2022. He informs OPDX that he will be running up to 100 watts into wires and EndFed antennas. Activity will be on 80-2 meters (possibly 160m) using mainly CW and some SSB. Having his station is completely installed, Ray plans to operate some digital (PSK at the beginning; then RTTY). He also mentions that he might use FM on 10 meters. His operating schedule will be more or less daily; probably starting from 1800 UTC and onward accordingly to propagation conditions. Regarding QSLing, Ray states that he is "from the old school and likes 'paper QSL'." At the very beginning, Ray will start with direct QSLing, but very quickly will use the Mauritian MARS (Mauritius Amateur Radio Society) QSL Bureau. Currently, he does not have a QSL Manager. He will upload his log to ClubLog. There will be NO eQSL. More info about the operator and his station is available on QRZ.Com and HAMQth.com. OPDX Monaco special event Members of the Association of Radio Amateurs from Monaco (ARM) marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Albert I, Prince of Monaco (1848-1922) between April 1 and May 31 next year with the callsign 3A5M. The Prince was a humanist, scientist, founder of the Oceanographic Museum and Institute in Monaco. QSL via bureau DXNL Updating of IRTS constitution The Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) held a committee meeting on November 20 th 2021. Items covered were routine, however the following may be of interest to all members. One item on the agenda was the updating of the IRTS constitution. A sub committee has been looking in detail at the consitution wording, in particular areas that might need updating. An example would be the holding of an online AGM. The current pandemic has raised a number of issues that would not have been relevant when the constitution was last amended. Members are encouraged to download and read the document available in the 'download' menu at www.irts.ie. Any suggestions on changes can be sent for consideration to constitution /at/ irts.ie The committee endorsed the election of Dominic Carron EI5IAB to the IRTS Examination board, where he will take on the administration role. Dave O'Connor EI6AL, who had taken on that role on a temporary basis, will be retiring from the Board once the handover is completed. We are also pleased to announce that Declan Craig EI6FR has been appointed Contest Manager. This role was previously held by Joe Ryan EI7GY and the committee would take this opportunity to thank Joe for his dedication to the role during the many years he held the position. The IRTS will be 90 years old next year. To mark the occasion the Society has been allocated the call EI90IRTS. We would appreciate ideas from members on the design of a suitable QSL card to suit the call and the event. We would also like to hear from you if you have any ideas for events, contests, etc. As the call is for use by any licenced member of the Society it is an opportunity for you to come up with ideas and proposals on how the call can best be used to celebrate the occasion. The call will be co-ordinated to ensure there is no overlap of bands or modes, but subject to that restriction it can be used by members of the IRTS throughout 2022. A call co-ordination group is being set up to regulate use of the call in accordance with the terms of the licence. Full information on the process will be made available to all members as soon as possible. Any ideas you might have can be sent to EI90IRTS /at/ irts.ie EI-90-IRTS is being made available in the first place for use during our 80 metres New Year's Day counties contest. The anniversary call sign will be a bonus checklog station during this contest, with double points awarded for all valid QSOs with the station. Roger, EI8KN will be activating EI-90-IRTS on the SSB segments. CW operaters wishing to operate the station during the New Year's Day contest should, no later than Monday 20th December, send details of your call, and county of operation to EI90IRTS /at/ irts.ie. If there are multiple requests the station operator will be decided by drawing lots. Wishing you all as very happy Christmas and a great New Year IRTS Committee IRTS High Commissioner Tareq in his remarks paid deep homage to the Father of the Nation, the martyrs, valiant freedom fighters, heroic women as well as the foreign friends and friendly foreign nations who supported Bangladeshs War of Liberation. Yesterday, Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo celebrated the 50th anniversary of glorious Victory Day with due solemnity and fervor. The day-long celebration commenced in the morning with the ceremonial hoisting of the national flag at the Chancery by High Commissioner Tareq Md Ariful Islam. Then one-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the martyrs of the War of Liberation. It was followed by placing of floral wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; reading out of messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs; recitation from the Holy Quran; and offering of special prayers seeking eternal peace for the martyrs, Father of the Nation and his martyred family members as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country. A documentary on How Independence Became Ours was also screened. Unstoppable journey for sustainable development Taking part in the open discussion on the significance of the Day, the speakers paid rich tribute to Bangabandhu and all who contributed to the independence of Bangladesh and renewed their commitment to work for the country with dedication. They also reflected on the history of the War of Liberation and Bangladeshs remarkable socio-economic developments. High Commissioner Tareq in his remarks paid deep homage to the Father of the Nation, the martyrs, valiant freedom fighters, heroic women as well as the foreign friends and friendly foreign nations who supported Bangladeshs War of Liberation. He highlighted the special significance of thiss years Victory Day in view of the Birth Centenary of Father of the Nation and Golden Jubilee of Independence. He shared the year-long activities of the High Commission to mark these auspicious occasions and also highlighted Bangladeshs development journey. He called upon Mission officials to devote themselves to building a Sonar Bangla under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and imbue the young generation with the ideals of Bangabandhu. In the evening, the Mission held a cultural programme which featured patriotic songs, traditional dance, and recitation of poems. The invitees were treated to a dinner with traditional Bangladesh cuisine. The Chancery was illuminated in red and green on this occasion. Mission officials also participated simultaneously through video link in the oath taking programme by the Prime Minister held in Dhaka. Due to local Covid-19 related health restrictions, the observance was held in-house with the participation of officials of the High Commission and their family members. Others in attendance were the Country Director of WFP, Country Director of IFAD and DG of SACEP,. To ensure community involvement, the programme was live streamed on Missions Facebook page. This year's Victory Day celebrations will be very special for various reasons. by Pradip Kumar Dutta We have not forgotten anything....we will not forget anything. We have been observing the Golden Jubilee of our Independence throughout a whole year and the 50th Victory Day in our Great War of Liberation of our great Motherland is just around the corner. The whole world has been going through an unprecedented crisis (that comes may be once in a century) for close to two years now. Most of the countries of the world have come to virtual standstill achieving no growth or even a negative one. But prudent Leadership and Kindness of Almighty has guided us through this traumatic period with comparatively better statistics than many countries. Though,because of stringent situations and health restrictions we could not observe the Jubilee with as much grandeur as we may have desired,we still have achieved the milestone and the world has acclaimed our feat. Interestingly and incidentally the year coincided with the Centenary Birth Anniversary of Bangabandhu, the Father of our Nation. Both the Grand Gala occasions have been observed with due solemnity keeping all health restrictions and Covid protocols in place. The collective celebrations may have been less but the significance of the Year was well underscored and all patriotic Bangladeshis are proud of their origin. Our pride has increased with the fact that the World bodies have recognised that we are coming out of the bracket of our previous group of Nations in terms of development. We are leading all the South Asian countries in many indicators of development and have surpassed our previous co-citizens from whose neo colonial exploitation we got liberated in 1971 in almost all sectors of economy and development. This year's Victory Day celebrations will be very special for various reasons. It is a landmark to celebrate our Golden Jubilee and step into the 51st year of existence in flying colours. We are setting new goals since we are being promoted to a new level of Development. Braving the pandemic situation some of the neighbouring Heads of States have participated in our Independence Day celebrations in March.We have,so far,comparatively successfully contained the outbreak and damage of the pandemic Covid in our country. There is no scope of being complacent though. We have to remain vigilant in keeping Covid under control by mass vaccination and maintaining health protocols. At the same time we should keep the wheel of our economy moving. A proper balance must be struck. Our year of celebrations is coming to an end soon and we must proceed cautiously to achieve our targets. We should remain brave, cautious and vigilant all the time. We should not forget celebrations. At the same time we should put maximum restraints on mass gatherings and follow health restrictions as directed. Now lets get back to the opening remarks of my write up. We will have to remember the supreme sacrifice of our people for our Independence. We should never forget the Freedom Fighters(both Conventional:Bangladesh Armed Forces and Guerillas:students,labourers,peasants and common people with short training) who led the Mukti Sangram from the front. We should always remember our Martyrs numbering about 3 million, the Veeranganas who were molested by the henious Paki hayenaes and their collaborators and hundreds of thousands of our men turned disabled by Paki inhuman torture. We should always remember that approximately 10 million of our population were turned refugees fleeing to India to save their life and chastity. Similar or more numbers were internally displaced. All these facts are recorded and are not to be forgotten. We should always give due honour to each and every individual and family who had to suffer in any way for our freedom. We have to understand and remember that none of them went to fight the War of Liberation or left their home with the hope of getting any reward or benefit. Its us who have to evaluate their sacrifice for the Motherland and give them their due. We should appreciate that we are where we are today because of their supreme sacrifice. Our supreme leader Bangabandhu's prudent leadership prepared us gradually towards our liberation from the exploitation of the West Pakistani regime who were never just or logical to us. Democracy was never practised there because they knew that we Bengalis being the majority population of Pakistan will win any democratic election and their evil designs of playing supremacy will come to an end. All through the quarter century of our existence as united Pakistan we had to keep fighting for our equal rights which had always been denied by the Pak Military and Civil bureaucracy. In fact,they never treated us equals and tried to keep us suppressed . Needless to say, there had been some of our people who cooperated and collaborated with the Pakistanis to get a piece of the cake from their left overs. The same scenario continued all through. To show a few examples:we had to fight for our language (Language Movement of 1952),for culture(banning of Rabindra Sangeet), for emancipation of our rights(6point movement of Awami League/11 point movement of All Party Student Action Committee/Agartala conspiracy case). Many other examples can be sighted.After the repressive Government of Ayub fell failing to confront our people and after freeing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman(soon to be conferred on the title Bangabandhu) came another military ruler, the infamous Yahya Khan. He was compelled to declare a democratic election within a Legal Framework Order. The Assembly elected thus would have the right to frame the Constitution. All parties from both the wings of the country had to agree. Bangalees led by Awami League and Bangabandhu knew their course of action. A simple electoral poster showing the discrimination between the East and the West( Foreign currency earning of the East was higher whereas prices of commodities in the West was lower) did the trick. Developmental work in the West was much higher too and percentage of Employment in Government services was minimal for the East Pakistanis. The writer still remembers the vibes of the Election Campaign. Any sensible person could predict the outcome of the coming Elections. Meanwhile,shortly before the Elections a devastating cyclone and tidal bore swept the shores of East Pakistan claiming over a million lives and destroying constructions,agriculture and wealth in general. The country's leadership was very slow to act with the relief and rehabilitation efforts. Their empathy was questioned. This added fuel to the fire. In the Elections Awami League under Bangabandhu's Awami League emerged clear winners and were supposed to form the next Government. But this was not to happen. Palace conspiracy began. Massive troop build up in East Pakistan took place and Operation Searchlight was launched to teach the Bangalees a lesson. We were thrown into a War for which we were not prepared but we knew we had to fight and win for our existence and Sovereignty. From the early hours of 26th of March when Bangabandhu declared our Independence,a new Nation was born. We were no more Pakistanis. Then came the nine months of glorious struggle and untold sufferings. We got all sorts of assistance from friendly India,the Socialist world led by USSR,our neighbours and peace loving people of the whole world. Pakistan had its supporters mainly amongst American and Chinese leadership. Though many people in those countries were also sympathetic to us. Many mother lost her son,many girls lost their love,many women lost their privacy,many people lost all their belongings. At the end the sun had to rise. It rose and is shining today. We pay highest respect to all our people who had to sacrifice or suffer in one way or the other. We also pay our deepest respect to India,USSR and other countries and their citizens who came to our help. I fail to name everyone and beg to be excused for that. The respect remains anyway. We still have to fight for the International recognition of the Genocide on our people. We should also fight for Pakistan's offering unconditional apology for 1971 massacre and Genocide. We also should press them to take back their citizens who are still on our soil and dont recognise Bangladesh. It should be mentioned here that after partition of British India many non Bengali Muslims( commonly termed Biharis,but actually from Bihar,UP and different parts of India) migrated to settle in both the wings of Pakistan. Most of them were active supporters of Pak army and took part in the massacre on Bengalis. After the war most opted for repatriation to Pakistan. It was agreed upon but few only were taken. Many still are waiting and do not consider themselves as Bangladeshi. They should be repatriated to Pakistan. Those amongst them who accepts Bangladesh with their heart and soul are welcome to stay back. We also should fight for our share of Pakistan's national Exchequer as of 1971. Till achieving all above we will not forget anything. Its Pakistan's turn to come out of denial mode and try to put closure to 1971 as it wishes. Simply by saying we are brothers and enough time has elapsed to forget the past will bring us nowhere. The sooner they understand,the better. Joy Bangla. Joy Bangabandhu. Let's all take proper care against Covid. Pradip Kumar Dutta is a regular contributor to Bangladesh Dailies. His area of interest is History, Travelling, People's Rights, Progressive Ideas, Nature and Environmental issues. Social Renewal or Decades of Painful Neoliberal Policy by Vijay Prashad and Taroa Zuniga Silva If [Augusto] Pinochet were alive, he would vote for me, said Jose Antonio Kast in 2017, during the Chilean presidential election when he ran as an independent candidate. This was an especially provocative statement made by him out of the many he has made over the yearshe had also said that Chileans need God, during his campaign in 2017, while proposing religious teachers in all public schools in Chile. Kast, who is now a member of Chiles right-wing Republican Party, is in the running in the 2021 presidential election in Chile as a candidate for the party. The first round of voting for the election took place on November 21. Augusto Pinochet (1915-2006), to whom Kast was referring in his 2017 statement, was a military dictator in Chile from 1973 to 1990. A few days after Pinochet led the U.S.-backed coup on September 11, 1973, that overthrew the popularly elected government of President Salvador Allende, he said, From time to time, democracy must bathe in blood, so that it can remain a democracy. Kast, who came fourth in the first round of the 2017 presidential election, supported the eventual winner and now-outgoing President Sebastian Pinera, who is a billionaire. This year, Kast has won the most votes in the first round of the presidential election and sits just behind the left candidate Gabriel Boric in opinion polls for the second round of voting, which is expected to take place on December 19. This year, Kast did not assert that Pinochet would vote for him. He knows that he would. The Heir to Pinochet Kasts parents fled Germany in the aftermath of World War II because Kasts fatherMichael Kast Schindelewas a member of the Nazi party under Adolf Hitler. They arrived in Chile in 1950, where they built a family business and raised nine children (Kast was born in 1966). The Kast family has a deep history of being involved with the far-right. Joses brother Miguel Kast was one of the many young economists trained by Milton Friedman (known as the Chicago Boys) who launched a neoliberal experiment in Chile under Pinochet that saw social spending slashed and wealth funneled upward to the very rich, according to the Intercept. Pinochet might be a dictator for many in Chile, but for the Kast family, he was a heroic leader, which is why it is with no sense of embarrassment that Jose Antonio Kast said that the dead dictator would vote for him. In fact, the 30 years of Pinochets dictatorship are not looked upon with a sense of shame or embarrassment by a large section of the Chilean population. When Pinochet was removed from power in 1990, a series of cases appeared in Chilean courts to bring Pinochet and others to justice for various human rights violations carried out under his regime, including kidnapping and murders. None of the more than 300 cases that implicated Pinochet directly, which were filed by his deathincluding the assassination of Carlos Prats, a former Chilean Army commander who was an outspoken opponent of Pinochet, and other assassinations carried out under Operation Condorcame to any conclusive end. In July 2002, meanwhile, the Chilean Supreme Court closed the prosecution of Pinochet in the cases involving the Caravan of Deathwhich was an elite death squad that executed dozens of former mayors, police chiefs, labor leaders and other local officials in Chilestating that Pinochet was mentally unfit due to dementia. Using universal jurisdiction, the Spanish Supreme Court prosecutor Carlos Castresana tried to open a separate road within the Spanish judicial system in July 1996, leading to Pinochets arrest in London in 1998. But the Pinochet case was scuttled when the then heads of government of Britain (Tony Blair), Chile (Eduardo Frei), and Spain (Jose Maria Aznar) colluded to shield Pinochet by sending him home to Santiago. The impunity for Pinochet marked Chilean politics for years to come, since it meant that no one needed to be embarrassed to claim his lineage despite the atrocities he was accused of. Kast denies that Pinochet was a dictator. He pointed to the Constitution of 1980 and said that this document contained the entire transition to democracy. Between 1973 and 1980, before the constitution was introduced, Chile was not a dictatorship, Kast argued, because the government of Pinochet willingly produced a democratic constitution (which remains in force today, and is being rewritten by a Constitutional Convention that will close its work after the new president has been elected). Kast, without embarrassment, claims that Pinochetwho personified every attribute of the late 20th centurys dictatorsis ironically a guardian of Chilean democracy. Contempt for Human Rights Kast has demonstrated a contempt for human rights. During a presidential debate in October 2021, Kast proposed the closure of the human rights institution in Chile, the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH), saying: We have suggested that there has to be a reformulation, and to make a reformulation [of the INDH. W]e believe that the current one (INDH) [has to be closed] because it is clearly not fulfilling its aims. The reason Kast made these comments is that the INDH, which recently investigated the human rights violations by the Chilean police against the anti-government demonstratorswho have been protesting for more than two years nowconcluded that there had been a breach of the protection of human rights during these protests. The Carabineros [Chilean Police], Kast said during the presidential debate, is a great institution that does not violate human rights. Chile has been witnessing a massive political upsurge that began in 2019 and has remained in place up until now as part of a broad dissatisfaction with the plummeting economic conditions and with police violence that has come in response to the peaceful protests. As a consequence of the kind of political discourse Kast has been indulging in and the propaganda being spread by the hard-right, surveys now show that more people in Chile trust the police more than the INDH. Total alignment with the police and the army defines Kasts politics. That is why he pledged to remove Chile from the UN Human Rights Council, which has since 2019 published reports that have criticized the Chilean police for violating basic human rights protocols in their handling of the mass protests in Chile. Kasts contempt for the UN Human Rights Council reflects his general position on such international cooperation. In February 2021, while tweeting about withdrawing from the council, he said, While the UN attacks Chile with various policies and false accusations, the [UN] Human Rights Council has as members Venezuela and Cuba, the bloodiest dictatorships in Latin America. Hatred for the socialist project in Venezuela is amplified in Kasts hatred for the Venezuelan migrants who have had to leave their country as a consequence of the sanctions imposed by the United States. Kast proposed the construction of a ditch on the Chilean border with Bolivia to prevent migrantsmostly Venezuelansfrom crossing into Chile. Trump of the Southern Cone Many comparisons have been made between Kast and other far-right leaders: he has been called the Bolsonaro of Chile, drawing similarities between him and Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro, and he also has been referred to as Chiles Donald Trump. Kast has ambitions to form an anti-globalist bloc with Bolsonaro and former U.S. President Trump as well as Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban (he made these comments on a show where he put on a red Make America Great Again hat worn by Trump supporters). In late November, Kast traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Issa Kort (the former Chilean representative to the Organization of American States), as well as Maria Paulina Uribe (marketing manager at PepsiCo) and Joel Velasco (vice president at UnitedHealth Group). Kast is close to the far-right Spanish party, Vox, and its leader Santiago Abascal; Kast has also joined Abascal in the formation of a new far-right group across Latin America called the Madrid Charter. Like Abascal, Bolsonaro, and Trump, Kast is in favor of small government when it comes to the regulation of big business and of large government when it comes to law and order and family values. Kasts deep misogyny comes out in his promise to abolish the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality in Chile and to roll back the modest provisions for abortion, which is partially allowed in Chile (he eventually had to rescind both promises due to the growing social consensus for womens rights in the country). I do not feel right-wing, said Kast in May 2018 in order to appeal to the center, although his program is entirely in accord with the far-right. Chile faces a real choice in this presidential election: between the far-rights Kast and the lefts Boric. Boric says that he will reverse Chiles habits of neoliberalism. But the election might not be a choice between the far-right and the left as much as it might be an election about the failure of Chile to prosecute those who violated the rights of Chileans during the 30 years of Pinochets rule. This article was produced by Globetrotter. Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is the chief editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma. Taroa Zuniga Silva is a writing fellow and the Spanish media coordinator for Globetrotter. She is the co-editor with Giordana Garcia Sojo of Venezuela, Vortice de la Guerra del Siglo XXI (2020). She is a member of the coordinating committee of Argos: International Observatory on Migration and Human Rights and is a member of the Mecha Cooperativa, a project of the Ejercito Comunicacional de Liberacion. This unfortunate incident should not be allowed to have the least negative impact on Pakistan Sri Lanka bilateral relations. by Rohana R. Wasala The lesson taught by the failure of our parliament to register a prompt united response of unqualified condemnation against the occurrence of the Sialkot savagery committed in the name of religion should never be forgotten by all patriotic Sri Lankans. My hunch is that ordinary Sri Lankans whose hearts bled for Priyantha Kumara, the victim of that sadistic barbarity, would have reasonably expected all the MPs to unite against murderous Islamism that led to his ordeal, following the example of all Muslim MPs having stood by their fellow Muslim MP Rishad Badiuddeen who was suspected by some to have had links with the suicide bombers who carried out the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The lesson that can be derived from the collective dereliction of a vital national responsibility by the MPs is that the present ruling elite (fully represented in parliament in the form of the government and the opposition) has neither the will nor the ability to resolve the problems of political and ideological extremism that have been unnecessarily assailing the nation for a long time, in the characteristically peaceful nonviolent and enlightened way so well illustrated in our dominant, almost identical, Buddhist and Hindu cultures. Relentless pursuers of conflicting geopolitical agendas in our neighbourhood exploit these issues of externally imposed political and religious extremism in their own interest, but to the great detriment of our people (as His Eminence the Cardinal has so often emphasized in the recent past). Its almost two weeks since an innocent Sri Lankan expatriate employee Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana was set upon, beaten to death, and burned on a main road in a most despicable, inhumanly cruel manner by an Islamist lynch mob, arbitrarily and maliciously accusing him of blasphemy, at Sialkot in the north-east of the Punjab province of Pakistan on Friday, December 3, 2021. The sickening details of the appalling incident are now well known, and so we can avoid the pain of repeating them. If the horrendous outrage fails to galvanize the civilized world to resolve to root out forthwith the diabolical crime (against humanity) of killing in the name of religion, nothing will. Not that this kind of extremist brutality is an uncommon happening in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; probably, though, no religious atrocity committed there previously could rival what our unfortunate compatriot was subjected to. Pakistan premier Imran Khan tweeted his utmost concern late Saturday(4) about the brutal lynching episode of the previous day, which he had earlier condemned as horrific; it was a day of shame for Pakistan, he said. Imran Khans twitter message ran: Spoke to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today in UAE to convey our nation's anger & shame to people of Sri Lanka at vigilante killing of Priyantha Diyawadana in Sialkot. I informed him 100+ ppl arrested & assured him they would be prosecuted with full severity of the law. (Both the presidents were then in Abu Dhabi for the recent Indian Ocean Conference held there.) The online wionews.com later reported (December 5) that after the Pakistani premiers order to initiate a concerted probe, more than 800 suspects had already been booked, including the principal assailant Farhan Idrees. To my mind, the Sri Lankan governments response has not at all been commensurate with the enormity of the outrage. Hardly a handful of the 225 in parliament (most of whom are eating and drinking zombies, i.e., will-less and speechless human corpses claimed to have been magically raised from the dead and used in African witchcraft) were courageous enough to utter anything that contradicted or questioned the Pakistani governments judicious, but duplicitous stand on the lynching of a lone, completely helpless, Sri Lankan citizen. Priyantha was no ordinary Sri Lankan citizen. He had served the Pakistan nation with exceptional professionalism in a senior position in its industry field for eleven long years away from his home country and from his beloved young family. Actually, it was his commitment to his work that brought him this fate. Some workers under him were unhappy about the expat senior managers no-nonsense approach to work. They were looking for an opportunity to have him punished. The poster removing incident gave them the chance to invoke the blasphemy allegation, and physically eliminate him. However, we cannot blame the Pakistani premier or his government too much in connection with the lynching. It must be as abhorrent to them as it is to all civilized people of the world. Yet it is up to the Pakistani rulers to put an end to blasphemy laws in order to prevent future crimes like this. The civilized Pakistani citizens do not approve of what happened, but they know the PMs constraining dilemma, and would excuse him for his dubious stand on the matter; but they will not think very highly about Sri Lankan MPs chickening out of a more robust rejection of violent Islamism on this occasion. Be that as it may, with justice and humanity on our side, we have all the reason to have expected of our politicoes a non-militant, but nationally more dignified and more engaged response to the tragedy. It looks like they are too dumb to realize that, probably, their own accustomed parochial politicking even while the whole country is being devoured by the monster of geopolitics in the region also served to precipitate this obviously premeditated attack on a poor unsuspecting citizen of a country that the Jihadists have been brainwashed to identify as an infidel nation that persecutes Muslims. This unsavoury image of Sri Lanka has been created through relentless anti-Buddhist false propaganda. It looked as if both the government and the opposition were more concerned with dealing with the political fallout of the Sialkot incident than with assuaging the suffering of the bereaved family. When minister Bandula Gunawardane announced in parliament the planned award of the derisory sum of 2.5 million in the debased SL currency to Priyanthas family as interim relief until proper compensation is arranged, opposition and SJB leader Sajith, gave the family 2.0 million rupees for the educational welfare of Priyanthas children. Probably, they were both more concerned about the political capital they were individually making out of the familys inexpressible suffering than about helping them to cope up with the tragedy. Sri Lanka must demand that premier Imran Khan keep his word in this case, and as Professor Pratibha Mahanamahewa urges, Pakistan ought to tender an international apology for failing to protect a defenceless individuals basic human right to live; it is ironical that this happened so close to December 10, the International Human Rights Day. The Pakistan PMs apparent attempt to mitigate the atrociousness of the lynching episode as a case of vigilantism (i.e., law enforcement by a self-appointed group of people without legal authority, especially in a situation where relevant authorities are not available or cannot function) is not an encouraging gesture (Please see his twitter message quoted above). According to the Indian newspaper Hindustan Times of December 8, 2021, Pakistans defense minister Parvez Khattak has made a more explicit attempt than prime minister Imran Khan to rationalize the lynching. Khattak was reported as having made a shockingly unapologetic statement: Murders take place when young people get emotional over Islam..They are emotional kids with Islamic understanding; they act under Islamic understanding, they act under Islamic sentiments. At Sialkot, these boys converged, shouted slogans and termed managers action against Islam..They became emotional and the murder took place suddenly, but that doesnt mean everything has got ruined..Please make people understand that they are youngsters who become emotional for Islam .I too can become emotional for Islam and do something wrong but that doesnt mean Pakistan is heading towards destruction. These murdering kids that Pak defence minister Khattak idolizes are no doubt products of the Islamic madrasas in that country, 30,000 of which PM Khan himself planned, as reported in early 2019, to bring under state control in response to allegations that they turned out youngsters indoctrinated with violent Jihadism, that led them to carry out attacks in neighbouring India and Afghanistan. The Islamist suicide bombers who carried out the 2019 April 21 Easter Sunday attacks were educated at local non-traditional madrasas that teach Wahhabism. Prof. G.L. Peiris, as education minister of the new government vowed to streamline those madrasas, obviously completely ignorant of the problems involved, without any serious sense of commitment to carry out what he promised. When public security minister Sarath Weerasekera in parliament questioned the Pakistani defence ministers utterances, government MP Shantha Bandara of the SLFP rose to the latters defence. TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam tried to suggest that the majority community, to which Priyantha Diyawadana belonged, deserved even worse treatment on account of similar acts of vicious violence they have allegedly inflicted on the Tamil minority since 1956. The show of grief to the bereaved family by the highest of the land was also subdued, probably in deference to the local sympathizers of the jihadist lynch mob with whom they struck deals to maintain the required two thirds majority in parliament for passing 20A. Meanwhile the Sri Lankan people and the leaders (of both the government and the opposition), no doubt, appreciate the Pakistan PMs resolve to mete out justice to the perpetrators. They may be thought to be similarly determined to prevent any spillover effect of the tragic affair flowing into Sri Lanka. Pakistan is and has always been one of Sri Lankas staunchest friends. That friendship at the government to government and the people to people levels should not be damaged, though we have to recognize the fact that the Pakistani society today seems to be far more radicalized than in the past. Nevertheless, social media including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc are flooded with expressions of shock, sorrow, and shame by thousands of outraged ordinary Pakistani citizens who share our grief with the utmost sincerity. All our political, civil and religious leaders are sure to unite in fulfilling their obligatory national responsibility to convince the leaders of friendly Islamic nations not to be misled by certain opportunistic Sri Lankan Muslim politicians who maintain treacherous links with suicide-bombing extremists for personal political advantage, while creating an illusion of a non-existent Buddhist-Muslim conflct or disharmony in Sri Lanka through false propaganda. Pakistan is one of the twelve Muslim majority countries where blasphemy against Islam or its founder is punished with death. Journalist Khundar Khuldune Shahid working and living in his native Pakistan, a Muslim himself, who is a correspondent to the Washington D.C. based online current affairs magazine The Diplomat, believes that Islamist fundamentalists in his country commit murder with impunity because of the blasphemy law that operates in the country. It was because of the fact that the concept of death for blasphemy is included in Pakistans penal code that the crowd including the few policemen who were there or arrived too late to stop the lynching looked on passively, while the lawful proceedings were going on. But Priyanthas Pakistani colleague Malik Adnan made a heroic effort to save him from the mob, risking his own life in the process. PM Imran Khan expressed his and the nations appreciation of Malik Adnans attempt to rescue the victim by honouring him with a special award. Malik has now dedicated it to Priyantha and Sri Lankans. Hundreds and thousands of ordinary Pakistanis have already expressed their outrage from both within and from outside Pakistan at the hideous murder of Priyantha Kumara. This unfortunate incident should not be allowed to have the least negative impact on Pakistan Sri Lanka bilateral relations. At the same time, Sri Lankans should not dishonour the memory of their murdered compatriot by opting not to demand an adequate apology from Pakistan for failing to ensure the physical safety of the Sri Lankan citizen. This is not too much to demand from a friendly Muslim nation. The last thing our leaders could do to continue our prevailing excellent relations with Pakistan without undermining them is to unnecessarily act as if these relations depend on their tolerance of the barbaric Islamist excesses inflicted on our citizens on its soil, condemned as creatures unworthy of human dignity. The Perspective Atlanta, Georgia December 16, 2021 The first centennial anniversary (1922) of the settlement on Providence Island seems not to have been celebrated by the people who were planted on the island by the American Colonization Society (ACS). How ironic that, another century later, the bicentennial (2021) of the Providence Island settlement is being celebrated by a government and people (except for the descendants of the settlers) whose forefathers were driven out of that island and later the mainland, Cape Mesurado. The bicentennial celebration would have been a landmark event if it was designed to convene Liberians to have a conversation about redefining Liberia rather than continuing the definition assigned by the ACS. The Weah government is set to spend some two million dollars on three American media companies in New York to promote the Liberian bicentennial celebration in the United States. In the meantime, JFK Hospital, the once preeminent hospital in West Africa, and other public healthcare centers are in dire straits with a lack of medical supplies and medical personnel to serve the people. Moreover, Liberias capital city of Monrovia has surpassed Lagos as the dirtiest city in West Africa. Two million dollars could improve JFK and provide employment opportunities for unemployed Liberians to clean the city. The Liberian bicentennial celebration that is being planned for the year 2022 is, in essence, the commemoration of the American Colonization Society (ACS). The ACS, founded in 1816 in Washington D.C., was the brainchild of Rev. Robert Finley, a Presbyterian minister. He had varied motives, but the overarching goal was to expurgate freed black slaves from the United States. Many authors refer to the ACS as a philanthropic organization, but the composition and motives do not conflate with the philosophy of philanthropy. It was more a racist organization. The ACS had no single freed black slave as a membernot even the most celebrated free Negro of the time, Frederick Douglas, the father of American emancipation. After two centuries of bondage (1619 1820), the American Colonization Society (ACS) was bent on the expurgation of freed black slaves from the United States, who were viewed by white slave owners and other whites as an undesirable species not fit to share the same society. They gathered the first group of eighty-six freed slaves to emigrate to West Africa. On January 31, 1820, the frigate Elizabeth set sail from its berth at the edge of Rector Street in New York with eighty-nine passengers bound for the west coast of Africa (Pham). After thirty-seven days traversing the treacherous Atlantic Ocean, the Elizabeth anchored on March 9, 1821, on Sherbro Island and disembarked her eighty-six emigrants along with the three white agents (one from the ACS and the other two from the American government) charged with the responsibility of managing their affairs. The Sherbro Island colonial experiment failed after several months due to resistance from the natives, malaria, and yellow fever. The three white agents and twenty-six emigrants succumbed to this deadly disease (Liebenow). The ACS was not deterred by this setback. Armed with $100,000.00 (Lamb) granted by the U.S. Congress with the help of President James Monroe, the ACS dispatched Dr. Eli Ayres and Lieutenant Robert Stockton in late December 1821 to explore down the coast for a suitable location. On December 15, 1821, they selected a small island (present-day Providence Island) of Cape Mesurado called Ducor by the Dei and Bassa tribe, who owned the area (Pham). Ayres and Stockton negotiated with King Peters and six others to have the freed slaves from America establish a colony on Providence Island. The negotiation became very complicated and acrimonious and ended when Lieutenant Stockton pointed a gun at King Peter's head. The so-called Ducor Contract was signed under duress. Ayres and Stockton compensated the chiefs with a pitiful $300.00s ($7,092.03 today) worth of trinkets. From this violent acquisition of land from the natives by the ACS, modern Liberia was born, and thus began the bitter conflicts between the settlers and the natives. Despite the violent acquisition of land by the white agents of the ACS and the American government, the settlers committed far more human rights violations against the natives for over a century. These were the original sins of the settlers that were never redeemed until April 12, 1980. The wrath of that sin continues to wreak havoc today. The year 1922 marked the first century of the landing on Providence Island and the founding of modern Liberia, and yet it was not celebrated by the Americo-Liberians (sons and daughters of former slaves from America) and the Congoes (captured Africans from slave ships on the high seas). I am confounded about this generation and Liberia's new desire to celebrate historical events that have very little relevance to the heritage of most of the country. I am most apoplectic to see the Weah government planning to spend millions of dollars on foreign (American) media to promote such an event in a country where you might find ten Americans on the street who knows where Liberia is. The Liberian government will pay Ice Miller $300K annually for a three-year period that began August 1. There is an option to renew for another one-year period. Moreover, Strom Public Affairs is in line for a $10K monthly fee for its three-year effort, while Carbon Thread will earn $20K per month. Both are managed by Ice Miller. In return for this service, the N.Y.C.-based Ice Miller Strategies has signed on as the lead public affairs agency for Liberia. It will represent Liberia before the Biden administration, Congress, federal agencies, and multilateral groups that have stakes in Liberia's economic and national security interests (https://www.indepthnews.net/). Is there no Liberian media company with in-depth knowledge of the country to whom such a lucrative contract could be given? I am most astounded that this much money is wasted when our healthcare and educational system are among Africa's worst. This money would add more value to our standard of living by improving our healthcare system and employing many unemployed Liberians to clean the city. What is most disturbing is that no political party has made a public statement regarding such a reckless idea. A substantive marking of this historical event would have been a convention of Liberians to begin earnest conversations regarding such issues as: The Liberian Coat of Arms The stench of the name of our capital city, Monrovia (its connection to slavery) The flag and other national symbols The weakness of our governmental institutions (except the executive branch with supreme power) Poverty, education, healthcare, and accelerated population growth The domination of our domestic economy by foreign nationals and the high rate of unemployment from year to year Anything short of the above exercise, this bicentennial celebration without substance and would be a waste of valuable government resources that would benefit the Liberian masses in dire straits of many needs. MBABANE There are calls from some pastors for Bishop Vusumuzi Maculuve to step down as a bishop. They have raised concerns about the bishops conduct of being involved in a street fight, where he was seen wielding a bush knife. Two pastors, who voluntarily called this publication to share their disapproval of the bishops conduct, stated that he needed to consider stepping down. He is an embarrassment to the church and the body of Christ. He must step down. People of his calibre cannot share the Word of God and then be seen wielding bush knives, it doesnt work that way, one of the pastors said. Embarrassment Another pastor said the bishops conduct was such an embarrassment to the whole church fraternity and called on church bodies to have firm and binding disciplinary measures for their members. Other pastors interviewed said Maculuve had set a bad example for the Christian fraternity yet he should be exemplary. Reverend Dr Absalom Muntu Dlamini said for anyone to venture into the ministry of preaching, there must be a calling. Dlamini said the right calling should be approved by the elders where one grew up through the use of scriptures. He said people had a tendency of saying they were called by God yet they did not subscribe to any church. Dr Dlamini said of late, people thought that once they had a Bible and a desire to preach, they could be preachers. He quoted a verse in the Bible where Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy showing him how to behave and handle the Word of God. He (Paul) said take care of yourself and your doctrine as well, said Dlamini. He said this meant that as a preacher, one had a responsibility to take care of oneself and the folk that he or she was leading. It is the Word of God that tells us and shows us how we should behave and how we should do the work of God, said the reverend. Circumstances Reverend Bhekibandla Dlamini of the Anglican Church, when expressing his personal point of view, said in such circumstances, he did not look at the act, but the reason behind the act. He said as church leaders, they should be exemplary and said it was also worth recognising that the calling of being a pastor came while one was also a mere human being hence as pastors, they all had feelings and emotions that ordinary people had, which included anger. Dlamini said nevertheless, as pastors they were expected to behave differently from someone else who was not a church leader. He said as church leaders, they should have a clear conscience and not behave like non-believers. The man of the cloth discouraged Maculuves act. He said pastors, when they found themselves in certain situations which pushed them into being angry, were encouraged to move away from that situation before they found themselves getting into trouble. He, however, noted that it was good for Bishop Maculuve to acknowledge that he needed prayer. He is correct, he really needs prayer, more especially because he has been through many controversial situations like this one, said Reverend Bhekibandla. He said Bishop Maculuve could be facing some challenges and needed counselling as well. Reverend Bhekibandla encouraged Maculuve to seek professional help and added that he was also available to help him wherever he could. Condemn We condemn the act of being violent, irrespective of the situation one may find himself in, said the reverend. Apostle Jeremiah Dlamini appreciated that Bishop Maculuve was seeking prayer despite the situation he found himself in. He said that was an indication that Maculuve realised that there was something wrong going on. The apostle noted that everyone had some wickedness he or she was facing that needed to be uprooted. He said one should realise his or her wickedness and be able to deal with it. Bishop Samson Hlatjwako, President of the League of Churches where Maculuves church is affiliated, could not be reached for comment as his phone rang unanswered. He was called yesterday morning, but he said he was driving and asked to be contacted later. When contacted later, he did not answer his phone. MBABANE The Political Party Assembly (PPA) is resolute in its campaign to rally behind the two incarcerated MPs as they are planning a picket outside the High Court on Monday. This was stated by Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) President Sibongile Mazibuko yesterday during an interview. Mazibuko clarified that they would be embarking on a picket outside the High Court premises on Monday to not only show support to arrested Members of Parliament (MPs) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, but also dissent against the dismissal of the MPs bail application twice. Worth noting is that the MPs bail application was dismissed by Judge Mumcy Dlamini twice. This then resulted in the MPs filing an urgent bail appeal at the Supreme Court. However, the bail appeal has still not been allocated a hearing date. Urgent The MPs then filed an urgent application at the High Court to compel the Chief Justice, Bheki Maphalala, to allocate their urgent bail appeal a hearing date. According to Mazibuko, this picket was their proclamation against the issues surrounding the bail application of the incarcerated MPs. The NNLC president further, through a live broadcast on an online news publication platform on Facebook, said those who would join the protest should don black clothing to symbolise how aggrieved they were about the matter as well as to commemorate those who passed away during the civil unrest. We will on Friday (tomorrow) head to Mkhitsini and Matsetsa to support the community members who are currently experiencing a tumultuous time as some of them are said to be in hiding in nearby mountains due to the incidents that have occurred in those areas, she said. Mazibuko said what they were aiming to do on Monday was an outcry for justice because they had observed many cases where the people implicated were granted bail despite the level of crime they had committed. She further highlighted that the national dialogue could not follow through without the input of the MPs as they had brought the subject to the table during their sittings in Parliament. It is, therefore, an injustice to expect dialogue to proceed without the key voices who raised the pending issues and represented their constituencies in Parliament, said Mazibuko. She said for that reason also, they were embarking on this picket. It was further said the citizenry should not be fearful when it came to engaging in the picket and they discouraged others from instilling fear in the populace by telling them that they would be brutalised and shot. Dialogue There are people who have been engaging in a picket outside the High Court during the MPs trial and so far they have not been assaulted, therefore, people should not be scared because the citizenry has a right to engage in such an exercise, he said. A seasoned lawyer was contacted to comment on whether this planned picket would have any implications on the pending case, to which he said the answer was disappointingly none. He said this picket would have no influence or implication on the pending case. The legal eagle preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter. He made reference to the court case involving Inkhosikati LaMahlangu, where he mentioned that there were women who staged a similar protest outside the High Court at the time donning black outfits. It will have no effect on the legal proceedings at all, because nothing like that influences the processes of the courts. The courts will strictly adhere to its rules of conducting cases and only matters that are urgent and you have to prove why it is urgent, he said. He said if these protests or pickets were trying to put legal pressure, there was none. However, he said, if it was political pressure then maybe. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati was also reached for comment on the matter, to which she said issues of national security would not be shared with the public. Liphimbo Labomake representative Phumelela Dlamini stated that they were calling upon women to also show up during these demonstrations. We need to see more women at the forefront because women are the most oppressed and a representation of women would strengthen the mandate, she said. Mazibuko also highlighted that they also wanted to dispel the notion that the PPA and the MSF during the Boksburg Declaration called for the preservation of the Eswatini culture, chiefs and monarchy. She said what they were advocating for was that emaSwati should be given the opportunity to formulate their own way forward and make suggestions of whether they wanted these things to be retained and how best could they be retained. She further said if the people wanted chiefs and the monarchy to still be in place even after the proposed democratic government, they would then have to abide by the principles and laws of the new democratic constitution formulated using recommendations from all emaSwati. Mazibuko also highlighted that they would further implement a transitional government, which meant a government where all the political parties would be working together. This is a ship and in this ship everyone is welcome. This ship will steer us to the next level after democracy is attained. In this journey we are on, everything will be decided by the people, this will be a peoples government, she said. Mandate The PPA and MSF have been quite vocal about their mandate of introducing an interim government, having previously stated that this would be the first step towards what they termed a democratic government. In the Boksburg Declaration, the PPA and MSF also stated that they would urgently embark on a sustained campaign for the immediate release of the incarcerated MPs Mabuza and Dube, as well as the unconditional return of former Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Simelane and all political exiles before the dialogue process commenced. However, it should be noted that government recently stated that the current government was in office as per the Constitution and there were no plans to introduce an interim government. MBABANE Residents at Hluthi and Hosea have been left without electricity after about 20 poles supporting the power lines were reportedly cut by unknown people. On Tuesday night, concerned customers reported the power outage in the area and teams from the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) went to investigate as per procedure. According to EEC Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager, Khaya Mavuso, on arrival at the area, the teams found the companys electricity poles cut in a deliberate effort to cause widespread power outages in the area. It was worth noting that the cut poles had blocked some roads in the area. Customers Mavuso mentioned that the cutting of the poles affected over 1 500 customers between Hluthi and Hosea. Most affected areas include Hlahlatibovu, KaBrother, Mbondweni, Hhohho Emuva, Mpakeni, Ondiyaneni, Sthwethweni, Ngozi Clinic and KaHiba. Service to the affected areas has been slowed down as access to the areas has been blocked with trees and stones, said Mavuso. He added that EEC was currently investigating the extent of the damage and anticipated power restoration as soon as practically possible, depending on the nature of the damages. Mavuso said efforts had been made to engage community elders to assist EEC in assessing the affected areas due to challenges in accessing the areas as a result of the blocked roads. He noted that some of the institutions affected included clinics and local shops providing services to the communities. EEC does not condone such vandalism or theft of national infrastructure designed to deliver service much needed by the community, irrespective of the circumstances, the communications manager said. Mavuso said this action was a threat to the sustainability and reliability of the countrys power supply network and community security. He stated that the theft and/or vandalism of electricity infrastructure had large effects that were causing prolonged customer power outages. He said EEC suffered millions in repairs of infrastructure due to vandalism or theft, among others. This results in a large chunk of our maintenance budget, and eventually leads to a higher tariff increase, which is a setback to national development and deprives funding for new projects designed to improve delivery of service to our customers, he explained. Mavuso further appealed to members of the public to alert EEC and assist in bringing to book these culprits who had caused setbacks in the business in the affected areas as well as customer convenience. We further appeal to the perpetrators of the horrible act to desist from doing it as it benefits no one, but (causes) suffering to the innocent, said Mavuso. This incident was received with different opinions as to who might have cut the poles. In some voice notes that were shared in some WhatsApp groups of the Hosea folk, some suspected that sub-contractors might have done this act in order to be given the tender to re-install the poles. The speaker in one of the voice notes said there were many sub-contractors who were doing nothing while it was the festive season and they needed to be busy with something hence they might have cut the poles. Another speaker agreed to that narrative, mentioning that over the past weeks, there had been heavy rains hence the sub-constructors were not working and needed some jobs as well. Contractors However, another resident, who mentioned in one of the voice notes that he was working for one of the sub-contractors, called for calm. He said the sub- contractors did not know who cut the poles. Earlier on yesterday, some of the EEC staff members called a meeting with the Hosea folk through Indvuna Yenkhundla Richard Vilane. Information reaching this publication was that the meeting was held at Hluthi in the afternoon yesterday. Vilane then reported back to the Hosea people through a voice note he shared in one of the WhatsApp groups. He told the residents that the EEC team had promised to restore the power as soon as possible. Vilane said the EEC team asked every bucopho of the imiphakatsi making up the Hosea Inkhundla to play their part in calling their subjects to sensitise them about the benefits and the dangers of electricity. The matter was reported to the police. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed knowledge of the matter. We are still investigating the matter and no arrests have been made so far, she said. MBABANE - A Kings liaison officers or Ndabazabantu is not a court, tribunal of adjudicating body and their decisions have no force of law. He is a mediator, conciliator and his determination is advisory only. This was the finding of the Supreme Court, which has also been followed by the High Court in a matter where the powers or jurisdiction of the Kings liaison officer or Ndabazabantu were being challenged. The Office of the Kings liaison officer or Ndabazabantu is not the same as the Swazi National Court presidents. Swazi National Courts are established by the Swazi Courts Act of 1950. In its judgment, the court highlighted that the Kings liaison officer or Ndabazabantu was a recognised functionary established in terms of Eswatini Law and Custom. Peacemaker He is appointed by Ingwenyama and is answerable to the regional administrator (RA). It was also the courts finding that the Kings liaison officer did not exercise judicial power and that his function was that of a mediator or peacemaker between rival parties. It was further highlighted in the Supreme Court judgment that his decisions had no force of law and their legitimacy and compliance depended on the willingness of the parties to abide by them. The court said, in deciding a dispute, the Kings liaison officer or Ndabazabantu applied Eswatini Law and Custom. The High Court has followed that judgment in the matter between Khayelihle Mbingo nee Mavimbela against Thamsanqa Thikazi, Celani Mbingo, Zinhle Mbingo, Bongani Mbingo and the attorney general (AG). The matter was heard and determined by Judge Mbutfo Mamba, who was sitting with assessors, Nxumalo, the President of Eswatini National Court of Appeal, Lozithehlezi Mhlanga, President of Eswatini National Court. This was essentially a family dispute. The dispute was over family land belonging to the Mbingo family of Logoba, just on the outskirts of the city of Manzini. The piece of land in question is on Swazi Nation Land (SNL) under the Masundvwini Royal household under Eswatini Law and Custom. The crisp question or issue in this case was whether Ndabazabantu had the power or authority to issue orders, decrees or injunctions, which had the status or force of law in the determination of any issue before Ndabazabantu. Marriage The essential facts in this matter were that Albert Mbingo married his first wife and they had their matrimonial house at his family home at Logoba. There were at least three children born of this marriage; two boys and a girl. Later on, Albert khontaed or was allocated land, again on SNL, at Etiyeni where he set up a home for his first wife. However, he did not abandon or destroy his first wifes house at Logoba. The Etiyeni home was exclusively for him, his wife and children. When his daughter got married, all siSwati rituals and festivities regarding the marriage were performed at this home and not at the Logoba residence. Albert then married his second wife, Khayelihle (the applicant) and built her a house at his parental homestead at Logoba and lived there with her. The children born of Alberts first wife objected to their father allowing the applicant to reside at the Logoba homestead. They argued that this was their mothers house and they were entitled to the use thereof to the exclusion of the applicant. They successfully lodged a complaint with Ndabazabantu against their father and a decision was handed down on November 12, 2018. Albert was instructed to build the applicant a separate home in order to allow his children from his first wife to have unfettered or unhindered use of the Logoba home. Matter Dissatisfied with the outcome, Albert took up the matter with the Masundvwini Royal Kraal, which ruled in his favour. It was also held that Alberts children, however, had a right to use their mothers house at Logoba. Albert died testate in 2020. The children successfully filed a complaint with the first respondent (Thikazi) against the decision of the Masundvwini Royal Kraal. In a letter dated November 6, 2020, Thikazi ordered the applicant to vacate the Mbingo homestead at Logoba, failing which he would authorise members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) to forcefully evict or eject her therefrom. Thikazi is said to have specifically referred to his office as an honourable court. He referred to his predecessors 2018 ruling and the ruling subsequent to it by the Masundvwini Royal Kraal. It was this eviction by Thikazi that prompted or culminated in this application where the applicant prayed for, inter alia, an order reviewing, correcting and setting aside Thikazis decision contained in the letter dated November 6, 2020, as being improper, wrongful and unlawful. In her application, the applicant argued that Thikazi was only a conciliator and had no power in law to either hear the matter or make the order which he made on November 6, 2020. It was further his contention that the decision by Thikazi was irrational and/or grossly unreasonable in that he purported to enforce the order of the Kings Liaison Officer and the Chiefs Council (Masundvwini Royal House). She averred that she had been advised that the Kings Liaison Officer had no power or authority to adjudicate the dispute between her and the respondents (Celani Mbingo, Zinhle Mbingo and Bongani Mbingo), but had powers to only conciliate or mediate between the two parties. The applicant submitted that in this regard, she had been advised that Thikazi could not purport to enforce a decision taken by a functionary, who wrongly misconstrued the powers that he had in law. In his judgment, Judge Mamba said the first and fifth respondents did not file any papers in opposition to this application, whereas the other respondents did. He highlighted that at the beginning of the hearing of the application and after the court had enlisted the assistance of assessors, whose invaluable assistance and guidance was greatly appreciated, all the respondents conceded that Thikazi had no power, jurisdiction or authority to issue impugned orders. Agreement He further pointed out that both sides were in agreement that the office of the first respondent (Thikazi) was not a court or tribunal and did not have the authority to issue an order as that issued by Thikazi on November 6, 2020. The court said that was also true of the order issued by the Kings liaison officer on November 12, 2018. Both orders were, it is common cause, incompetent on an account of want of jurisdiction, said Judge Mamba. He then cited the case of Maziya Ntombi vs. Ndzimandze Thembinkhosi, where the court described the jurisdiction or powers of the Kings liaison officer in the following terms: The Kings liaison officer or Ndabazabantu is a recognised functionary established in terms of Eswatini Law and Custom; he is appointed by the Ingwenyama and is answerable to the RA. In the cited judgment, the court said the Kings liaison officer did not exercise judicial powers, his functions were that of a mediator or peacemaker between rival parties, his decisions had no force of law and their legitimacy and compliance depended on the willingness of the parties to abide by them. In deciding a dispute, the court stated that he applied Eswatini Law and Custom. However, in accepting the above legal position on the role and powers of the first respondent, Simelane, Counsel for the second, third and fourth respondents, submitted that since the Kings liaison officer is neither a court, tribunal nor an adjudicating body, a review of his decision or order by the High Court was incompetent, observed Judge Mamba. Declaratory The judge also pointed out that Simelane submitted that the applicant ought to have sought a declaratory order. While the applicant indeed states that the order must be reviewed and set aside, the reason for such setting aside is that it is improper, wrongful and unlawful. That in my view is a declaratory order. That is the substance and legal import of the main prayer sought, said the judge. Judge Mamba said the applicant had referred to it as a review was in his judgment, a legal technicality and was of no moment. Judge Mamba said for the foregoing reasons, the order or instruction issued by Thikazi and contained in his letter dated November 6, 2020, was hereby declared irregular, wrongful and of no force and effect or unlawful. The court did not make any order as to costs. Both the assessors were in agreement with the order. The applicant was represented by Bongani Dlamini while appearing for the second, third and fourth respondents was Ben J Simelane. Omans Asyad Group has marked the official opening of Khazaen Dry Port, one of Oman Investment Authoritys logistic investments undertaken in partnership with the private sector. Sheikh Issa Hamad Al Azri, Governor of South Al Batinah, was the chief guest at the ceremony, which was attended by Eng. Khamis Mohammed Al Shamakhi, Transport Undersecretary at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and representatives of government departments and private sector firms, reported Oman News Agency (ONA). Eng. Al Shamakhi said the start of operations at Khazaen Dry Port, besides revolutionizing the logistic schema, will provide additional incentives to the business sectorreflecting positively on raising Omans Ease of Doing Business Index. Echoing a similar view, Col. Said Khamis Al Gheithi, Director-General of Customs at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), said that the Directorate General of Customs provided Khazaen Dry Port with customs service personnel well-versed in Bayan System. This will help speed up the clearance of cargo, facilitate commercial and economic practice, augment the flow of goods and cut down time and effortsa practical embodiment of the National Logistic Strategy 2040. Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Abri, Chairman of Khazaen Dry Ports board of directorswho also serves as CEO of Asyad Groups ports and facilitiessaid that the 100-sqm dry port will constitute an ideal storage and re-export hub for the region and the world at large. The dry port boasts a broad range of hi-tech facilities and operates at a capacity of 70,000 containers a year and provides a wide waiting area for general containers in queue for storage, loading and unloading operations, in addition to TEUs, refrigerated containers and handling equipment, said Al Abri. He added that the board of directors has a clear-cut operations plan in place to raise Khazaen Dry Ports capacity from 100,000 sq m in the first phase to an additional 150,000 sq m as an expansion in the second phase through the five subsequent years to meet an expected increase in the volume of operations. On the sidelines of the ceremony, Khazaen Dry Port signed two agreements, one with Naqel Express of Saudi Arabia and the other with another firm specialized in land and sea logistics, to promote customs and re-export to local and GCC markets. Khazaen is considered the largest government-private sector partnership in the Sultanate of Oman. It is situated at 30 minutes from Muscat International Airport and 2 hours from the Port of Sohar. The facility, which is located in the Wilayat of Barka, comprises outlets for vegetables and fruit, as well as products and services of small and medium enterprises, in addition to multipurpose residential units. The UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Culture of Colombia, to strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding in the fields of culture, arts and creative industries. The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) took place on the sidelines of the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE). The MoU The MoU was signed by Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, UAE and Angelica Maria Mayolo, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Colombia. The MoU aims to promote joint projects in cultural fields between the two countries, encourage exchange of information and expertise and provide technical assistance to boost cultural and creative industries. It will also foster ties between artistic and cultural institutions in the two countries, encourage cultural and artistic exchanges while also encouraging greater participation in each others cultural activities, festivals and events. The MoU aims to extend support to artists and cultural experts and researchers of the two countries. The MoU strengthens cooperation between the two countries in the fields of theatre and performing arts; music; literature; dance; cinematography and audiovisual; visual arts; and many other areas of cooperation while recognising the role of creative industries in accelerating economic growth and developing a sustainable future. Noura Al Kaabi stressed the importance of establishing cultural convergence between different people of the world, promoting dialogue and making the cultural and creative industries a priority sector in economic development. These industries play a key role in improving the quality of life and also help improving productivity. They help in creating a world that consolidates the values of coexistence, understanding and tolerance, which leads to better human relations, she said. She pointed out the importance of strengthening cultural and creative relations between the two countries and create opportunities for bilateral cooperation in these fields. Noura Al Kaabi lauded international organisations, referring to the Orange Economy Initiative, which is one of the most important initiatives by the Colombian government. It supports cultural and creative industries and works to enhance their contribution to various sectors of economy, trade and investment. She pointed to the growing importance of the creative economy especially in the context of the launch of the UAE National Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries that coincided with the 50th anniversary of the UAE. Its the best time to explore cooperation in the creative economy, establish common platforms and initiatives and work on investment opportunities in this very promising sector, Noura Al Kaabi added. We are developing the course of cultural and creative relations between the UAE and Columbia to serve cooperation efforts, encourage working together in policies and general regulations to promote the creative sector. We will also launch measurement methodologies for this sector and enhance training opportunities for creators. The MoU stresses on cooperation in the field of cultural and creative industries, exchange of creative products and services; fostering joint action on developing financing models for the creative industries and best practices for protecting intellectual property and copyrights, in addition to other fields of potential cooperation between the two nations. Both UAE and Columbia seek to ensure the protection of intellectual property rights in accordance with the national legislation of their respective countries as well as the international conventions. The two countries will also boost cooperation in each others cultural events and facilitate opportunities for participation of individuals in these events. They will both work together to help bolster and sustain the cultural and creative industries, which are reeling under the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. This will help deepen the friendly relations between the UAE and Columbia. - TradeArabia News Service Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, a hospitality destination located at the heart of the historical Souq Waqif, launched the first Georgian cuisine in Qatar at Al Terrace restaurant at Al Mirqab Boutique Hotel. The restaurant will offer a varied menu that includes famous dishes from Georgia, allowing guests and visitors to enjoy unique flavors and a method of cooking to suit all tastes, prepared according to the high standards of the Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels. Al Terrace Georgian restaurant is distinguished by its location in Al Mirqab Boutique Hotel, which happens to be the first sight Souq Waqif guests will see while exiting the Souq metro station. The new restaurant will take its guests on a culinary journey to savour the delicacies of one of the famous international cuisines located in the south of the Caucasus. The Georgian cuisine is distinguished in Eastern Europe, as it is influenced by neighbouring countries such as Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Romania. Therefore, Georgian cuisine is widely accepted by all countries as the concept of antiquity is not limited to its history, monuments, and culture of its people, but also includes its cuisine with traditional dishes. Al Terrace will provide its guests with food specialty such as 'Khachapuri', a type of baked goods made in several ways, which differs from one region to another in Georgia as it is the most popular of all and a national symbol. The restaurant will also serve one of the favorite national dishes known as Georgian Khinkali, which is similar to the 'shish barak' known in the Middle East, and there are many types of it, some of which are stuffed with lamb, beef, vegetables, and mushrooms. In addition, a variety of traditional dishes will be offered such as the Georgian shish kebab (Mtsvadi), the red bean dish (lobio), an assortment of salads, most of which are prepared with fresh ingredients, and many other dishes. The management of Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels expressed excitement on the launch of the restaurant in the city and highlighted that the group is always striving to provide the best experiences for its guests to enjoy delicious food rich in distinctive flavours.-TradeArabia News Service Enoc Group, the Official Integrated Energy Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, has welcomed some 60,000 visitors including country delegates at its state-of-the-art pavilion in the first 60 days of Expo 2020 Dubai. The pavilion offers a unique, immersive experience in line with its theme to Reimagine Energy. Providing a strategic platform to facilitate business collaborations, the pavilion received delegates from the French and American pavilions. Aligning with Expo 2020 Dubais theme, Connecting minds, creating the future, and organisations partnership philosophy, the Enoc pavilion features The Hive, a dedicated space for stakeholders to engage in finding solutions to the industrys unanswered questions. The group also hosted over 500 students from across 24 different schools in the UAE to inspire the next generation through showcasing the role of energy in the past, present and future. Students ranging from KG1 up until Grade 11 visited the pavilion so far to view energy through the lens of personal connection whilst gaining inspiring insights on partnering to shape the future of energy. During the 50th Jubilee celebrations from December 2to 4, Enoc received members from 26 international delegations including, The Vatican, Brazil, Finland, Paraguay, and Jamaica. The Enoc pavilion also received international delegations from Japan, Uganda, Somalia and Colombia. To date, the worlds first LEED platinum certified Service Station of the Future at the site supported the logistical needs of Expo 2020s Dubai fleet. Enoc Groups pavilion will be open from 10AM to 10PM throughout the Expo 2020 Dubai period, taking visitors on a journey that explains the role of energy.-- TradeArabia News Service Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, has signed a service agreement with Paul Maxence Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, offering complimentary access for its business class passengers. The agreement coincides with Oman Airs route resumption between Muscat and Paris, which took effect on October 31. Business class passengers and Sindbad Gold tier members can access the lounge for free, while economy class passengers can purchase access to the lounge for $70. Equipped with a full range of amenities, the lounge provides passengers a quiet, private space to dine, work or freshen up before their flight. Oman Air Country Manager for France Rocio Jolivet said: In signing this service agreement with Paul Maxence Lounge, Oman Air business class passengers and Sindbad Gold members flying from Paris can now enjoy an enhanced travel experience. Economy class passengers can also access the lounge for a fee and elevate their travel journey. Complimentary Wi-Fi, a la carte menu prepared to Halal-certified standards offering hot and cold food and beverages, shower facilities, outdoor smoking terrace, and prayer room are just some of the amenities available to lounge visitors between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily in Terminal 2A.-TradeArabia News Service The Mauritian tourism family has welcomed the decision by the French government to remove Mauritius from its list of 'scarlet' destinations, just a few days after its classification as part of this list. In a joint statement, the Public/Private Tourism Sector Committee said: "We wish to thank the French Ambassador, Florence Causse-Tissier, whose intervention was instrumental in removing Mauritius from the 'scarlet' list, for her support." Following the announcement, travel to Mauritius from France has resumed for people vaccinated with an EMA-approved vaccine (Pfizer / Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca / Vaxzeria / Covishield, Janssen). Restrictions are, however, applicable to non-vaccinated travellers. The statement added: "Our priority remains the safety and security of our residents and visitors, so the rigorous arrival protocols related to Covid-19 remain in force. All visitors to Mauritius are required to be vaccinated, and to undergo PCR testing within 72 hours prior to travel, on arrival and in the days following. "Two months after the re-opening of our borders, the tourism industry has come through some significant challenges. The entire value chain - airlines, hotels, restaurants, attractions, tour operators, taxis and more is united to ensure that the recovery of Mauritian tourism is a success."-TradeArabia News Service Etihad Airways has announced a new travel solution aimed at corporate and frequent travellers booking from the UAE. The newly-launched Etihad WorldPass allows the airlines customers to purchase a travel subscription which offers flexibility and ease with rearranging bookings throughout the year. The WorldPass is available for travel between the UAE and select destinations including the GCC, India, Pakistan, UK and Ireland. Guests can choose between booking a subscription to a single destination or a cluster, for example, all three Etihad destinations in Saudi Arabia. Frequent flyers and corporate travellers will benefit from being able to pre-book between six to 40 flights to use in a 12-month period at preferential rates, available in both Business and Economy classes. Etihads WorldPass guests can enjoy unlimited free rebooking and cancellation. The booking portfolio can be self-serviced and self-managed through the website, or guests have the option to contact the 24/7 contact centre. Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo Martin Drew said: Etihad launched the WorldPass to meet the frequent travellers demands on flexibility, ease of booking and cost-efficient travel management. The subscription platform is available on the website and guests can choose their preferred destinations. This eases some of the travel booking process meaning their next trip is just a few clicks away. The preferential rates make the subscription offer worthwhile for those flying as a group or taking multiple trips to and from the same destination. Many of Etihads guests are regular commuters between GCC markets and have positive feedback on this new travel model. Flights can be used by a single traveller, or the Etihad WorldPass account holder can book travel for a shared group with up to 40 registered travellers.-TradeArabia News Service Having developed some of the worlds acclaimed hotels and resorts in exotic destinations, General Hotel Management Ltd (GHM) will commemorate its 30th anniversary with a series of celebrations featuring inspiring luxury experiences through 2022. As part of its global expansion plan, GHM will unveil The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort in Doha, Qatar in 2022, The Chedi El Gouna, Red Sea, Egypt in 2022 and at least five more projects in the pipeline. CEO Tommy Lai said: Over the last three decades, GHM has built a legacy of hospitality excellence with a distinctive Asian identity. Through our operating experience in uncommon destinations, we have acquired valuable insights, local knowledge and cultural sensitivities that appeal to discerning luxury travellers. Our landmark hotels and resorts embrace a strong sense of native identity and genuine way of life in every destination to deliver transformative travel experiences. Based on the success of our Style to Remember over the past 30 years, we look forward to creating more remarkable experiences in desirable destinations for the new era of travel. GHMs portfolio comprises three brands: The Chedi, The Chedi Club and soon-to-be unveiled lifestyle brand, The Serai. Referencing a place of tranquillity and meditation, The Chedi beckons guests to seek respite in its sanctuaries of calm, which include The Chedi Muscat, Oman, The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland, The Chedi Hotel and Residences Lustica Bay, Montenegro and The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah, UAE. The GHM experience is elevated with The Chedi Club, which prioritises guests need for exclusivity with bespoke offerings and quality services. The Serai is GHMs newest brand. At its core lies the concept of building a borderless global community for those in search of meaningful connections and experiences.-TradeArabia News Service New Delhi Dec 16 (UNI) The air quality in Delhi and NCR slightly improved but continued to remain in the very poor category on Thursday, as the Air quality Index (AQI) stood at 340, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The air quality was also in the very poor category on Wednesday as well, with an AQI of 354. The air quality over Delhi-NCT is likely to improve and remain in the lower end of the very poor to poor category on December 16 and poor category on the next two days, IMD said in its morning bulletin. The concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 stood at 157 in the 'very poor' and 273 in the 'poor' category respectively around 10 am, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). According to data of Central Pollution Control Board, the neighbouring parts of Delhi, also recorded their air quality in the 'poor to very poor' category with Faridabad at 321, Ghaziabad at 345, Gurugram at 315 and Noida sector 62, at 315. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. Meanwhile, the Delhi government had decided that the entry of non-essentials trucks will remain banned in Delhi till further orders. According to IMD, the minimum temperature on Thursday is likely to settle at around 9 degree Celsius and the maximum could be 22 degree Celsius. UNI JA ACL1215 Dhaka, Dec 16 (UNI) Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday paid rich tributes to the martyrs of 1971 Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka. The Head of the State placed the wreath at the altar of the National Memorial at about 6:30 am followed by the premier. Sheikh Rehana, the younger daughter of countrys founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Prime Ministers younger sister, also attended the ceremony. Jammu, Dec 16 (UNI) Taking note of the nefarious designs of the neighboring country to create instability in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that the capability of our brave soldiers is proof that we are determined to protect our motherland. "The neighboring country running the biggest terror factory in the world must remember the crushing defeats of 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999," the Lieutenant Governor said while addressing the Vijay Diwas celebration function here at Balidan Stambh. The Lieutenant Governor also paid homage to the martyrs of 1971 War and said, "the unmatched gallantry of our brave hearts will continue to inspire generations to come". He felicitated Army veterans and Veer Naris; and exhorted people to carry forward the rich legacy of the armed forces. We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will continue with our mission to develop Atma-Nirbhar Jammu Kashmir. But, we will not forget and we will not forgive those behind breeding terrorists. We are determined to completely dismantle their terror ecosystem, the Lt Governor asserted. The Lt Governor laid a floral wreath at the Balidan Stambh War Memorial in Jammu to mark the occasion and said that the unmatched gallantry of our brave hearts will continue to inspire generations to come. Today, I pay my tributes to the brave soldiers, officers of Army, Navy and Air force, who exhibited amazing valor and sacrifice in the 1971 war. I bow down with reverence to all the brave hearts, who attained martyrdom in that war. Our nation will always be indebted to their supreme sacrifice, he added. On the occasion, the Lt Governor also paid his respects to Army Veterans and Veer Naris. While addressing all ranks, veterans and their family members, he exhorted them to carry forward the rich legacy of our armed forces. On this day in 1971, our brave soldiers and officers had not only changed the geography, but took a giant leap in establishing our country as a global super power, the Lt Governor observed. The Lt Governor noted that India has been a supporter of peace since ancient times and has never adopted the policy of expansionism despite being a super power. "We have lived the values of peaceful coexistence, mutual harmony and believed in the philosophy of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam. But, we never lowered our guard and successfully conquered every challenge," he said. Earlier, the Lt Governor also paid homage to the country's first Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his wife and all 11 officers and Jawans who were martyred in an air tragedy recently. Later, the Lt Governor released a Special Cover and unveiled the mural of Ashok Chakra Awardee, Late ASI Babu Ram of J&K Police in presence of his family members. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Lt Gen YK Joshi, GOC-in-C Northern Command; Dilbag Singh, DGP J&K; Lt Gen PN Ananthanarayanan, GOC Rising Star Corps; Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, GOC White Knight Corps; Divisional Commissioner, Dr Raghav Langer; Maj Gen Neeraj Gosain, GOC Tiger Division who were present on the occasion also laid wreath and paid homage to brave hearts. Several Army veterans including Hon Capt Bana Singh PVC, Lt Col Rishma Sarin, wife of Late Major Mohit Sharma and other military and civil dignitaries also paid homage to brave hearts. UNI VBH RKM 1906 Islamabad, Dec 16 (UNI/Xinhua) Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that he wants to draw the international community's attention to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan through a Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting scheduled on Dec. 19. Qureshi said the monetary reserve of Afghanistan has been frozen, while the two years of drought in the country, high cases of COVID-19, and unavailability of salaries for government employees posed a difficult future for the Afghan people, adding that the advent of winter could aggravate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. He urged the international community to understand that any chaos and "anarchy in the wake of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan would lead to the strengthening of terrorist organizations." The foreign minister said that the OIC forum would offer an opportunity to foreign representatives of bridging the communication gap with the Taliban and listen to their point of view. UNI/XINHUA ACL0828 Memorial Gift to UW Supports Century-Old Tradition Tom Thorson A $1 million gift in memory of Tom Thorson, president of the Wyoming company Black Hills Bentonite LLC, supports the University of Wyomings Summer Field Camp, which has been training geologists for almost a century. Tom loved his experience going to the Summer Field Camp, and it fostered a lifelong love of the outdoors and for Wyoming, says Toms sister, Mary Thorson Gullikson. The Tom A. Thorson Geology Field Camp Fund is an endowed excellence fund that was established by Don Thorson and Mary Thorson Gullikson on behalf of the Harry T. Thorson Foundation. Family and friends also contributed to the fund. The fund supports the Tom A. Thorson Geology Field Camp -- formerly the UW Field Course in Geology or the Summer Field Camp. Our departments field camp boasts a long and esteemed tradition of providing top-notch field training for students interested in pursuing a career in the geosciences, says Mark Clementz, head of the Department of Geology and Geophysics. With this donation, we can not only ensure that this tradition continues, but also that the content of this course is able to evolve as new methods and technologies are developed for field research. Our goal is to provide the best training possible for our students, and the commitment from the Thorson family, along with friends and colleagues of Tom in his honor, will help to ensure we are able to do this for years to come, Clementz continues. The camp is a six-credit-hour, six-week summer course -- a comprehensive and nationally recognized professional experiential learning opportunity that provides a broad introduction to geologic field techniques. The camp is the culmination of a students geological education and is required for geologists to graduate with their bachelors degrees in geology. It is sanctioned by the Wyoming Geological Association. Students travel all over Wyoming and the American West, and visiting professors supplement the knowledge of returning professors. The camp consists of field trips and projects. Prerequisites include stratigraphy and sedimentation, structural geology and mineralogy. Petrology also is recommended. The course develops skills of observation and interpretation while teaching the technical aspects of field mapping, stratigraphic interpretation and structural analysis. It reviews field observation of geologic phenomena, stratigraphy, sedimentation, tectonics, volcanology, weathering, groundwater aquifers, magnetics and gravity, methods of geologic mapping, geologic and geophysical field studies, interpretation of data collected and presentation. The use of computers in modeling and the preparation of maps, stratigraphic charts, geologic cross sections and reports are critical parts of the course. In the final week of the field course, students are challenged with a final mapping project. The goal is to map an area where the geologic relationships vary from simple to complex and exposures range from good to poor. Students are required to work independently to observe, map and interpret the geology, and ample opportunity is given to demonstrate skills learned previously. While this course is vital for students, it also is expensive, though UW does its best to keep costs low. The course fee is currently $3,250. Total cost covers tuition, transportation during fieldwork, course supplies, some instructional costs, meals and lodging while away from Laramie. Students participating in this required course also are not able to work during this time. The camp celebrates 100 years in 2023, and many of the nations geologists have experienced this rite of passage. It was created by the legendary professor S.H. Doc Knight, who recognized early in his teaching career that field experience was necessary for a comprehensive education in geology, and the terrain around Laramie was ideal for that purpose. In the summer of 1923, Knight, Professor James Kemp, of Columbia University, and two students established a temporary field camp at the head of Long Canyon in the Medicine Bow Mountains. The following summer, a similar camp was set up in the southern Laramie Basin, with 25 students enrolled. Knight also persuaded UW Professor Aven Nelson to add a course in botany to the camps curriculum. A year later, zoology was added. This location, called the UW Science Camp, was the base of operations for many years -- until the 1970s. The camp has since transitioned to a more mobile approach, thanks to technology and transportation. The Tom A. Thorson Geology Field Camp is a worthy tribute to its namesake -- Wyoming geologist Tom Thorson. Thorson was the president of Black Hills Bentonite, the family business, for six decades until his death from cancer in December 2020. He earned a degree in geology at UW, attended Summer Field Camp and served as president of the Wyoming Mining Association. An able leader of the company, Thorson is said to have tenaciously navigated advancements in the business as market demand for bentonite evolved and had a knack for hiring talented people and giving them as much responsibility as possible. Thorson also served in Leadership Wyoming, Rotary International, the Wyoming Business Alliance and I-Reach 2 and many other organizations. He was a member of the Wyoming National Guard and loved the outdoors. Tom and his wife, Kathleen, traveled the world and worked together on many charitable endeavors, including 19 group Rotary trips to Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico, to donate much-needed community vehicles such as school buses, ambulances and fire trucks. It was Toms father, Harry, who founded Black Hills Bentonite. The elder Thorson grew up in North Dakota and taught business classes, but then moved to Casper for health reasons. Once in Wyoming, Harry Thorson worked several jobs in the oil industry before he began hauling bentonite and then established his own company. Black Hills Bentonite began as a partnership between the elder Thorson and his friend, Albert Harding, a former manager of a bentonite processing operation owned by Baroid Sales Division and a state senator. Bentonite is an absorbent clay that has the ability to swell and retain large volumes of water. It is used as a binder, purifier, absorbent, carrier, sealant, filler, catalyst, purifier, desiccant and laxative. It is now used principally in cat litter and in the foundry industry, as well as in drilling mud, fertilizers, pesticides, wastewater treatment, groundwater sealants and cosmetics. Bentonite forms from the weathering of volcanic ash in seawater. It was first found in Cretaceous Benton shale near Rock River, and Wyoming contains as much as 70 percent of the worlds supply. Harry owned several deposits of bentonite and needed a method of developing them, so he enlisted Harding to join him in building a new company. The first plant was built in Moorcroft in 1947 with used equipment. The business developed slowly and then prospered when bentonite began to be used in the mining of iron ore. The company then partnered with Bethlehem Steel, and a new plant was built in Casper. Harry and his wife, Inga, had two sons, Tom and Don, and a daughter, Mary. The family helped in the business and became an integral part of it. Harry also was one of the organizers of the Wyoming Mining Association and was inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame in 1992. Following his graduation from UW, Tom joined the family business in 1961. The younger Thorson focused on developing reserves for the company. Harding retired in the late 1960s, and Harry died in a car accident in 1976. The Thorson family bought the Harding interest in 1977, when it became a family-owned company with Tom as president and Larry Madsen as vice president. The company interest outside the family changed hands several times and is now owned by The Clorox Co. and a Japanese mineral company. Black Hills Bentonite was one of the first to ship crushed bentonite in open-top hopper cars, which helped develop overseas markets. Harry Thorson also introduced field-drying techniques to the industry that he had learned growing up on the farm in North Dakota. Seventy-five years later, Black Hills Bentonite now is headquartered in Casper and has plants in Casper, Worland and Upton. The company employs 100 people, and it mines and hauls from locations across the state. It continues to be owned by the family today. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Gift to UW Supports Mapping of Big-Game Migrations in Western US A migrating cow elk and her calf lead a group of elk during migration to winter range in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem in Wyoming. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has recently donated to a major effort to map elk migration corridors across the western United States. (Gregory Nickerson and Travis Zaffarano Photo) A state and federal effort to map big-game migration corridors in the American West received a major grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), one of the countrys largest big-game conservation organizations. The gift will help map iconic elk migrations across the region, stimulating public and private conservation to benefit wildlife populations. RMEF donated $180,000 to the University of Wyoming, where the U.S. Geological Surveys Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit leads an American West migration corridor mapping team. The project is a collaboration among the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the wildlife agencies of 11 Western states, assembled in response to Secretarial Order 3362 issued by then-Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in 2018. The mapping and conservation of migration corridors remains a top priority for current Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. The corridor maps give us a great tool to pinpoint our on-the-ground conservation efforts, says Blake Henning, chief conservation officer for RMEF. Conserving elk migrations is a priority for RMEF and its members, and detailed maps are critical to that effort. The RMEF grant will expand the migration mapping program to include outreach and collaboration with 11 public land states in the American West -- Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The project specifically supports mapping migrations of 17 new elk herds for the third volume of Migration Corridors of the Western United States, a report set for publication in December 2022. The mapping team is analyzing the data to delineate and map migration corridors so they can be made available for conservation planning. For decades, state wildlife agencies have collared and monitored migratory herds, collecting millions of GPS locations of their seasonal movements. The first report, Migration Corridors of the Western United States, Vol. 1, was published in 2020 and has attracted substantial public interest. A second volume will be published in February 2022. For years, RMEF has partnered with state fish and wildlife agencies to fund collaring studies to track elk movements throughout the western U.S., says Matt Kauffman, the USGS researcher and UW professor who leads the effort out of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Their support of corridor mapping is a clear sign of RMEFs ongoing commitment to sustaining elk migrations across their range. Compiling an archive of migration maps is a priority for state and federal partners because the mapping helps implement conservation solutions across the West. Private ranches and land trusts that conserve open space increasingly have access to funds from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service to enhance migration habitat, establish voluntary conservation easements to prevent subdivision, retrofit fences and remove weeds. Prompted by Secretarial Order 3362, most Western states have action plans to conserve big-game corridors. The current administrations Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful initiative -- an effort to conserve 30 percent of lands and water by 2030 -- further prioritizes the conservation of fish and wildlife habitats and corridors. The recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $350 million for wildlife-roadway crossing structures, which could build on past successes such as the Trappers Point under- and overpasses near Pinedale that help mule deer and pronghorn migrations across a busy highway. This momentum around migration corridors is great to see, Kauffman says. It elevates the importance of the work to map corridors, which is the science needed to assure we make conservation investments in the right places. Funding provided by RMEF will expand the collaboration and outreach between the USGS and state wildlife agencies and accelerate migration mapping and corridor conservation as the West continues to grow. The Western corridors mapping team based at UW is a collaborative project of the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area and the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program, which work with state and federal partners to provide actionable science to monitor and manage the nations fish and wildlife populations. 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. SHREVEPORT, La. - Helen Godfrey-Smith, 72, of Shreveport, has pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to making and using a false document, U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced Tuesday. A bill of information charging Godfrey-Smith was filed Nov. 15. She made her first court appearance on Dec. 6 and signed a plea agreement with the government. However, the court could not accept the guilty plea because Godfrey-Smith could not admit her guilt. Her attorneys asked for more time to discuss the matter and for the hearing to be continued. Godfrey-Smith was back in court Monday. Foote accepted the plea this time after reviewing the facts of the case and thorough questioning of Godfrey-Smith. She remains free on a $25,000 bond. Godfrey-Smith was employed by the Shreveport Federal Credit Union (SFCU) from 1983 to 2017 and during much of that time was employed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the SFCU, a Shreveport-based financial institution under the regulation of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). In October 2016, the SFCU, through Godfrey-Smith, entered into an agreement with the United States Department of the Treasury to buy back certain securities that were part of the Departments Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). As part of that process, on Dec. 27, 2016, Godfrey-Smith signed and submitted to the United States Department of the Treasury an Officers Certificate which certified that all conditions precedent to the closing had been satisfied. In reality, SFCU had not met all conditions precedent to closing and had suffered a material adverse effect. Unknown to the treasury and the NCUA, SFCU was in a financial crisis. From 2015 through 2017, another individual who was the SFCU chief financial officer had been falsifying call reports to the NCUA which included millions of dollars in fictitious fee income. In addition, that CFO was creating fictitious entries in the banks records to support the false call reports. This created the illusion that SFCU was profitable when, in fact, the bank was failing. In addition, that person embezzled about $1.5 million from the credit union. By the time Godfrey-Smith signed the officer's statement, she had become aware of deficiencies at the credit union. Specifically, she had recently investigated and discovered that there were millions of dollars of fictitious entries on SFCU's general ledger, and the credit union's books were not balanced. However, Godfrey-Smith failed to disclose this information to the treasury and signed the false officers statement. In the spring of 2017, the institution failed and it was taken over by regulators from the NCUA and placed into a conservatorship. An investigation by the NCUA revealed that SFCU had amassed in excess of $10 million in losses by December 2016. Godfrey-Smith faces a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for April 5. The FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Department of TreasuryOffice of Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case. Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Mostly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 57F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 57F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Ikuu Boys High School in Tharaka Nithi County has been closed indefinitely after learners walked out hours following a fire that saw three dormitories go up in smoke. According to the principal, Mr Joseph Mbae, the Sunday night fire that consumed the 480-capacity dorms started at around 11pm. Speaking to the Nation on Monday, Mr Mbae said 35 students were arrested by police on suspicion of being masterminds of the arson. They are still being questioned at Chuka Police Station. He said that although the institution could not fully account for the safety of 243 students who ran out of the school during the commotion, there was no reported case of injury by Monday morning. How unrest began He said Sunday was peaceful until they retired to the dorms after evening preps at 10pm. But at around 10:30pm, while in his office, Mr Mbae spotted on his CCTV camera screen a group of students outside the dormitories. He immediately rushed there only to find that they had started breaking window panes. With help from the night guards and other teachers, the principal tried to contain the students but the learners overpowered them and he had to call local police for reinforcement. He said the police delayed to respond, and he had to drive to the station about six kilometers away to pick them up. By the time they arrived, the three dormitories had gone up in smoke. Tharaka Nithi County firefighters managed to put out the fire before it consumed a fourth dormitory. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "When the police started shooting in the air to disperse the rioting students, about 243 of the total 1,030 walked out of the school and spent the rest of the night in the bushes, though some returned in the morning," said Mr Mbae. The national school's board of management agreed to close it indefinitely and asked parents to pick their children. Students who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity said they were protesting harassment by prefects and a punitive administration. This was backed by some parents, who confirmed that their boys had for a long time complained of harassment. Both parents and journalists were barred from entering the school premises until investigators at the scene were done with collecting information. @alexnjeru5, [email protected] analysis Just a year before elections, most tasks of South Sudan's transition remain undone. In February 2022, South Sudan's 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 Asige Liaga wrote in a recent Institute for Security Studies (ISS) report. 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 agreement's full implementation. And implementation remains far from certain, on any timetable. Liaga's report notes that when the transitional unity government was formed in February 2020, with 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. Just one year remains to achieve the goals set out in the 2018 'revitalised' peace agreement In an ISS seminar, 'The clock is ticking on South Sudan's transition', earlier this month, 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 Kiir's and Machar's forces in July 2016 when the latter returned to Juba to resume his vice-presidential position. Assessing the requirements of the 2018 deal, 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, 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 agreement's 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. Has the peace agreement reduced the incidence and intensity of South Sudan's civil war? 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 Tilahun Tessema, senior legal adviser for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's (IGAD) South Sudan office, perhaps more optimistically than Liaga, commended the parties for their 'determination' to maintain peace. He commended 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. 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. 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 Kiir wanted the force to be divided 60:40 between government and opposition troops while Machar and the other parties demanded a 50:50 split. Implementation of South Sudan's 'revitalised' agreement remains far from certain Liaga said another threat to security were the three main holdout groups - the Real-Sudan People's Liberation Movement, the South Sudan United Front and the National Salvation Front, which had refused to sign the 2018 agreement. She welcomed Kiir's call for negotiations in the Sant'Egidio process to bring them on board. 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. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Sudan Governance Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Clearly the negatives far outweigh the positives in the South Sudan peace and democracy ledger. Can anything be done to balance the books? Both Liaga and 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 Kiir and Machar in particular to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement. The timing, though, is unfortunate. Tessema commended IGAD leaders for having resolved past deadlocks between 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. Peter Fabricius, ISS Consultant Exclusive rights to re-publish ISS Today articles have been given to Daily Maverick in South Africa and Premium Times in Nigeria. For media based outside South Africa and Nigeria that want to re-publish articles, or for queries about our re-publishing policy, email us. analysis As the climate changes, negative environmental effects are being felt and seen around the world. The effect that climate change has on mental health is less immediately obvious or visible. Often termed climate anxiety or eco anxiety, this feeling can manifest as what the American Psychological Association and others describe as a "chronic fear of environmental doom". Recent studies have shown it is being felt by young people all over the world, as well as by a significant number of adults. What about the people who explore the data, build the models and quantify the impacts and flow on effects of climate change? How do they feel? We explored some of the answers in two projects that we have just analysed in an article for The Lancet Planetary Health journal. One project asked climate scientists to describe their feelings about climate change in hand-written letters. The other was a photographic project: environmental researchers were photographed while describing their feelings about the state of the planet. We found that scientists were experiencing diverse, complex, and often contrasting emotions about the fate of the planet. Their feelings echo those of non-scientists and can be overwhelming, whether negative or positive - but they can also, we believe, be harnessed to create spaces where people can talk honestly and openly about their fears and about potential solutions. This matters because, if we don't talk, we risk increased feelings of isolation that can lead to helplessness and inaction. 'Is this how you feel?' Between 2014 and 2020 one of us, science communicator Joe Duggan, approached climate scientists around the world and asked them: "How does climate change make you feel?" He collected their responses in the form of short, hand-written letters. Five years after the initial "Is this how you feel?" project launched, he returned to some of the original contributors and asked them the same question. These letters were shown in galleries and housed online. As part of our Lancet article, we analysed the letters for their emotional sentiment. When analysing all the letters submitted throughout the life of the project, it became clear that climate scientists feel many emotions about the climate, some negative and others positive. The negative emotions were more frequent, with participants identifying feelings such as "distress", "anger", and "upset". Initially, "hope" appeared as the most frequent positive emotion. However, the more we looked at this, the clearer it became that feeling hopeful about the future was not always a simple, positive emotion. Two key types of hope were displayed: "logical hope" and "wishful hope". Logical hope had reasons: "we can be hopeful, because we are seeing (various positive) changes". Wishful hope went with more negative statements and a desire for future change. In the other project that informed our paper, "Hope? and how to grieve for the planet", Neal Haddaway photographed environmental researchers while interviewing them about their feelings on the state of the planet; each participant chose three words to describe their feelings. Their words matched closely the findings from our analysis of "Is this how you feel?". Harnessing anxiety It seems many people, experts and otherwise, have complex emotional responses to climate change. So, why does the emotional response matter and what should be done about it? Some have provided practical solutions to climate anxiety: things you can do on an individual level to reduce your footprint. Others call for disruptive protests to raise awareness of these issues and force political change. These are vital responses to environmental crises, but they miss a very important part of dealing with anxiety: how people choose to understand, accept and live with their emotions. Climate anxiety, or any range of emotions over climate change, is not necessarily a bad thing. But the way you feel does not need to define the way you choose to act. Many people may fear the rise of "doomism" - the feeling that taking action against climate change is pointless. But it is not too late to make a difference, and many emotions, even anxiety, can lead to positive action. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Climate Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Instead of assuming that our anxiety will go away if we act, or assuming that embracing anxiety means accepting the planet's fate, we advocate for the creation of more safe spaces, platforms free of judgement with expectations of respect and a willingness to listen, where feelings can be shared and heard. In doing so, society can begin cathartic conversations, validate people's feelings, realise we are not alone, and foster a sense of community. Many of the scientists who contributed to both projects said this was the first time they had been asked how they felt about climate change. Spaces for their feelings are important, too, to address and minimise doomism and empower scientists to continue their research - and, perhaps, even to hope. Neal Robert Haddaway, Senior Research Fellow, Africa Centre for Evidence and Stockholm Environment Institute, University of Johannesburg; Joe Duggan, PhD Candidate, Australian National Centre of the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University, and Nicholas Badullovich, PhD candidate, Australian National University analysis Not every archaeological discovery is made by opening the tomb of a long dead king. Indeed, some important finds seem inconsequential at first. Such as ostrich feathers stained with ochre, a leather bag containing emperor moth cocoons and a strange vessel made from the cranium of an African wild dog I unearthed from a sterile layer at Falls Rock Shelter. The site lies just below the summit of the remote Daures (or Brandberg) massif in the desert region of western Namibia. Perplexed, I consigned these finds, first buried 4,500 years ago, to a box beneath my desk. They lay there for another 40 years until, in a flash of realisation, I saw that the emperor moth cocoons were pierced to be strung as rattles worn around the ankles of a shaman in ritual dance. As set out in my new book Namib - the archaeology of an African desert, these delicate, brittle things were to provide a new understanding of shamanic ritual performance as depicted in the rock art in Namibia and elsewhere in southern Africa. The role of the shaman as a ritual specialist and healer among southern African hunter-gatherer societies is known mainly from rock art depictions. Until now, no archaeological evidence of shamanic ritual paraphernalia had been discovered in southern Africa. A new era When I excavated the site, rock art studies had just entered an exciting new era. They left behind antiquarian musings for a theoretically rigorous approach. This was informed by modern anthropology and the great trove of late 1800s historical ethnographic material on the inhabitants of the region compiled by the German linguist Wilhelm Bleek. Scholars were able to offer detailed and convincing explanations of mysterious rituals in which shamans drew upon supernatural sources of potency to heal, guide and protect their people. Paintings which had seemed inexplicable - some were dismissed as irrational fantasies - yielded their meaning. The spiritual world of southern African hunter-gatherer opened to enquiry. Many puzzles remained, of course, but some rock paintings offered such depths of insight that one even became known as the Rosetta Stone of rock art studies. The key to deciphering the rock art was the trance dance, a public ritual in which the shaman achieved a state of altered consciousness through rhythmic dancing, accompanied by clapping and singing. Evidence from the Namib Desert Southern African scholars argue that rock art and shamanic practice was not hidden: it was open for all to see. An egalitarian hunter-gatherer society had no place for specialist ritual practitioners. Other shamanic traditions are described by scholars of religion as essentially "polyphase". This means having a phase of occultation, when the shaman is hidden or concealed, followed by his emergence or reappearance. Namib Desert rock art has many hidden sites, including paintings in dark crevices that cannot admit more than one person. These sites were part of a preparatory process which preceded a ritual performance. A striking feature of the rock art is its highly individualised figures, clearly shamans, overwhelmingly male and replete with specialised ritual equipment, including fly whisks, moth cocoon dancing rattles and long animal skin cloaks almost concealing the body. Significantly, these figures are not shown as participating in communal trance dance. The evidence suggests that shamans in the Namib were individual specialists who travelled from place to place. They prepared themselves for ritual action in places of physical seclusion, rather than during the large communal trance dance events that rock art scholars have insisted were the fundamental social mechanism for trance experience throughout this region. Enigmatically, no trace of ritual paraphernalia had been found elsewhere in southern Africa. This has led scholars to suggest that there probably were no such items and that the rock art represents concepts such as power and control rather than actual items of material culture. So, what of the emperor moth dancing rattles? Are they no more than an unusual and accidental find, adding a little texture to our understanding of the rock art? On the contrary, they show that occultation, as an element of performance not previously considered by scholars of the region, is of fundamental importance to an understanding of the art and ritual practice of southern African hunter-gatherers. The rattles expose a critical weakness in conventional explanations. The emperor moth dancing rattles Moth cocoons with small pebbles placed inside and strung about the lower limbs, issue a characteristic rustling sound, a rhythmic accompaniment to the ritual dance. Their significance goes much further, for the cocoon represents the stage of occultation when the moth larva is hidden from view. The moth itself is the emergent stage represented by the dancing shaman: once hidden, now apparent. Paintings of emperor moths are rare but those in the Daures massif are shown with the wings extended as in the emergent stage. The painted moth represents the shaman with his knee-length animal hide cloak which resembles the wings. The cocoon rattle, the moth and the cloaked shaman thus combine the two essential stages of ritual performance: concealment and reappearance. Cloaked figures are, of course, not confined to the rock art of the Namib Desert. The fact that they occur over much of southern Africa shows that they refer to a basic trope in this ritual tradition, overlooked until now. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Entertainment Namibia By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The occultation and emergence of the emperor moth has further ramifications, too. It explains the importance of physical seclusion, such as in the deep rock crevices found in the desert, as sites of ritual preparation from which the shaman emerges to perform his work. It also explains why the cocoons and other ritual items were buried at the site; these are objects imbued with supernatural potency and therefore kept hidden, in a state of latency, lest their powers be misused. Now we see that these small items are more important than they might at first appear. Indeed, they provide the first integration of southern African rock art and hunter-gatherer ritual practice on the basis of firmly dated archaeological evidence. They alleviate a long-standing and counter-productive separation of rock art studies and the less glamorous field of "dirt" archaeology. Perhaps the evidence from the Namib is not unique after all; there may well be cocoon rattles elsewhere, and dark crevices with hidden rock art still waiting to be found. Namib - the archaeology of an African desert was originally published by the University of Namibia Press. It is available from Wits University Press and is also available internationally from Boydell & Brewer. John Kinahan, Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand analysis 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. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. 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, PhD Candidate, Australian National University; Katrina Roper, Honorary Lecturer, Australian National University, and Meru Sheel, Epidemiologist | Senior Research Fellow, Australian National University Washington The financing approved today by the World Bank will support Niger's efforts to achieve a sustained and resilient economic recovery and provide its people with greater access to basic social services. These two projects will help develop human capital, reduce gender inequalities, strengthen economic governance, and increase access to reliable and affordable energy services. Despite successive shocks, Niger continues to make significant strides in strengthening its institutions, economic governance, and demographic transition with a view to reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity. However, the country continues to face challenges with respect to improving the efficiency of public spending and the delivery of basic services, including in fragile and high-risk areas. On the energy front, Niger has one of the lowest electricity access rates (19.5% in 2020) in the world, with wide disparities between urban and rural areas and across regions. Niger is heavily dependent on imports of cheap electricity from Nigeria and on costly domestic diesel-powered electric generation for its electricity supply. "The World Bank is providing support to the government through the implementation of reforms that will, among other things, improve public spending management and programming, address the human capital crisis that is emerging in the difficult security environment in Niger, and foster greater resilience among the populations," said Joelle Dehasse, World Bank Country Manager for Niger. "Achieving this resilience requires more effective management of essential services such as energy and water to support economic activity, greater inclusion of marginalized groups, and ongoing improvements in their living conditions." One of the operations approved today, the Budget Support Program in the amount of $250 million, comprises a $125 million grant and $125 million credit. It will support reforms for the achievement of a resilient economic recovery owing to the gains made in recent years, by strengthening economic governance and human capital development and by reducing gender inequalities. This program will also support the government's response to COVID-19 and to the medium- and long-term development priorities. The Niger Accelerating Electricity Access Project (HASKE) in the amount of $317.5 million will support grid electrification, solar PV powered mini grids, off-grid solar electrification of public institutions and households, and clean cooking. As a result of this financing, approximately 2.5 million persons will benefit from new or improved electricity services, 550,000 families will be able to use environmentally friendly cooking facilities, and 4,000 public institutions will have electricity by 2027. This financing is part of a 10-year and multiphase programmatic approach operation with total planned financing of over $800 million. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Governance Africa International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. This support is being financed by the International Development Association (IDA)* and is in line with the main concepts set forth in the General Policy Statement of the government of Niger and the Plan for Economic and Social Development (PDES) 2017-2021. *The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank's fund for the poorest. Established in 1960, it provides grants and low- to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people's lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world's 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to 1.6 billion people. Since its inception, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged around $21 billion over the past three years, with about 61% going to Africa. Social media is awash with video clips and images from popular comedienne, Mai Titi's traditional wedding with her US-based husband Tinashe Maphosa. Mai Titi tied the knot at a colourful event that was attended by the rich and famous yesterday. Among those who graced the event was controversial cleric, Passion Java, fellow comedienne, Madam Boss, socialite, Zodwa Mkandla among others. Though a section on social media had negative comments over the development, many sent their congratulatory messages to the comedienne. "She has done it against all odds. As a social scientist, I am proud of her. Proof that nothing is impossible with this God. Veduwe haisi nyore kuve munhu wevanhu but seeing this made me realise there is more to life than what society wishes us or talk about us. Adadisa murandakadzi. You need to have been there to understand kuti hazvisi zvinotaurwa kana kufungwa nevanhu that we become. I am indeed motivated. Ndati regai ndiende ndizvionere pamhuno sefodya. Girl child, you can challenge the status quo and win!! I am a student to this Iconic woman. It's never too late to make your family proud nomatter what the world thinks!!Congrats to the Maphosas. Zvamanje manje ndiri kufara nemi!!" wrote gospel musician Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave. "Welcome to the club babe.Congratulations Mai Ts Diaries &Bmnini Tinashe Maposa God bless your marriage. Can't wait for the big day Yours Best girl," Madam Boss wrote. "Makorokoto mai na baba Maphosa," socialite Olinda Chapel also said. Meanwhile, Mai Titi, born Felistas Edwards last week hogged the spotlight when she revealed her brilliance in goodbyes, indicating that she moves on within a week of relationship breakdown. "If I find my new partner to be toxic or so, I'm allowed to leave and at times I may be the one to stay while they leave and I can't beg them to come back. If I get dumped today, the following week I'll be with someone else. I move on fast like WiFI, I don't like problems in my life," she said. These sentiments were a direct response to social media critics who have been counting the men Mai Titi has committed to this year. analysis Only integrated, mutually reinforcing responses will avoid the worst-case scenario in the gold zones. Despite being in a region where terrorism is a serious threat, Senegal has not officially recorded a single terrorist attack. However for two years the country has experienced sporadic security incidents along its south-eastern border with Mali. The Kedougou and Tambacounda regions, which border Mali's Kayes region, have come under increasing security pressure. In Mali, attacks by violent extremist groups - which were initially confined to the north and centre - have gradually spread, including westwards towards Senegal. Attacks by violent extremist groups: 2021 (click on the graph/map for the full size image) Senegalese officials have put security measures in place. But the risk to Senegal goes beyond possible attacks - it also involves extremists' potential use of the country as a source or transit point for financing, procurement and recruitment. Recent joint Institute for Security Studies' and Centre des Hautes Etudes de Defense et de Securite research on the risk of violent extremism spreading to Senegal shows vulnerabilities in the Kedougou and Tambacounda regions that could feed into extremists' expansion strategies. Key among these are informal and illegal artisanal gold mining and marketing. Mining financiers are not traceable. Neither are the proceeds generated from the sale of mined gold, thereby providing a potential opening for terrorist financing. Gold mining is already a source of funding for violent extremist groups operating in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Despite being in a region where terrorism is a serious threat, Senegal has not officially recorded a single terrorist attack Another vulnerability that groups could exploit for expansion is the feeling of exclusion among local populations due to a lack of economic opportunities and basic social infrastructure. Both Kedougou and Tambacounda are among Senegal's most impoverished regions, despite their significant gold deposits and economic potential. In the case of Kedougou, having gold mining as an economic mainstay has not translated to better living conditions, as the 2021 poverty rate was 61.9%. In the Sahel, tense relations between the state and frustrated local populations have enabled violent extremist groups to embed themselves in specific localities. Similarly, these groups could exploit the conflict situation in south-eastern Senegal as an expansion strategy. In particular, the large migratory and financial flows resulting from gold panning are causing tensions over access to resources. This is likely to worsen as gold mining intensifies. Extremists could either pose as arbiters or take sides as a way to embed themselves. Furthermore, violent extremists could benefit from transnational organised crime and its associated illicit economy in the region. Gold mining in Kedougou and Tambacounda has been accompanied by a proliferation of different types of trafficking (drugs, fake medicines, mercury and cyanide, explosives and human). Groups align with organised criminals to recruit new members and obtain and move funds and operational resources. Gold mining is a source of funding for violent extremist groups operating in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Effectively addressing the risk of violent extremist expansion to Senegal requires integrated responses designed to be mutually reinforcing and generate short-, medium- and long-term impacts. This will help prevent a security crisis in Senegal's gold-rich south-eastern region. Senegal's preventive action should be based on a multidimensional approach that focuses on improving the living conditions of local populations, particularly in border areas. This requires accelerated, effective and harmonised implementation of state development programmes in Kedougou and Tambacounda. Doing so would signal the state's willingness and commitment to change the socio-economic situations of the two regions. A key component of the response should be accelerating the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining and making it inclusive. This would enable local populations to participate in and benefit from the two regions' natural resources. They would also have a say in the exploitation and commercialisation of gold. This would limit the financial losses for Senegal and reduce the risks of terrorist financing and money laundering. Senegal's preventive action should be based on a multidimensional approach that focuses on improving local populations' living conditions A response must also include security measures that consider the needs of the population and the various dynamics of criminal activities and social tensions in the regions. This would strengthen relations between the defence and security forces and the communities and limit criminal activities that violent extremists could exploit. A heavy-handed and poorly managed security presence could fuel tensions between representatives of the defence and security forces and the population. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Senegal Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. An important part of the solution lies in the multi-faceted responses to be implemented at national level. However, Senegal will only be able to deal effectively with these challenges and threats to human security if it places its action within a regional dynamic, together with Guinea, Mali and Mauritania. Paulin Maurice Toupane, Senior Researcher, ISS Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin This article was published with the support of the governments of the Netherlands and Denmark, the United Kingdom Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and the Swiss Embassy in Senegal. Exclusive rights to re-publish ISS Today articles have been given to Daily Maverick in South Africa and Premium Times in Nigeria. For media based outside South Africa and Nigeria that want to re-publish articles, or for queries about our re-publishing policy, email us. The corporation said it has over two billion litres of petrol in stock. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said there will be no increase in the price of petrol in the country and has cautioned sellers and buyers against hoarding and panic-buying. The NNPC said this in a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad, on Tuesday. The corporation said it has over two billion litres of petrol in stock. The response came amidst reports of a possible increase in the price of petrol that has dominated the public space. This newspaper had reported how queues resurfaced in Abuja on Monday as residents besieged fuel stations in anticipation of yet another round of fuel scarcity. A PREMIUM TIMES correspondent who visited petrol stations Monday afternoon found that some of the stations were shut against intending buyers, while others were besieged by motorcyclists, tricycle owners, as well as private and commercial drivers. Black marketers were also seen hawking the product in jerry cans to interested motorists and other consumers. Many filling stations in the Wuse and Jahi areas of the city sold to buyers at prices ranging from N162 to N165. NNPC in a statement said, "The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd wishes to express its appreciation to Nigerians for always heeding its advisories not to engage in panic buying of petrol. "The NNPC is once again giving Nigerians strong assurance that we have product sufficiency that will last far beyond the festive period. "Indeed, our stock has risen from a reserve of 1.7 billion liters to over two billion liters within the last one month. litres, we once again urge Nigerians not to engage in panic buying but to fully enjoy the spirit of the festive season as we continue to work tirelessly to ensure a sufficient supply of petrol to every part of the country. "Once again the NNPC extends sincere appreciation to all Nigerians for your understanding and support," it said. A debate on direct and indirect primaries has split lawmakers and governors across the political parties. 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 country's 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 Nigeria's democratic outlook? Or is it just another clever move on Nigeria's 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 party's 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 Buhari's 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 opposition's 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 party's 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. 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 lawmaker's 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. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "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 country's 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. The bill seeks to guarantee the rights of women to equal opportunities in employment, equal rights to inheritance for both male and female children; among others. 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 Muslims... this aspect of it... by 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 Yusuf's 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 don't support this bill." 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. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Women Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "From the feelers that I'm 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 Na'Allah. 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. "EFCC staff struggle to have selfie with Obi Cubana," reads a post shared on Facebook on 3 December 2021. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes. The photo shows Obinna Iyiegbu with a group of people. Iyiegbu, also known as Obi Cubana, is a Nigerian businessman and socialite. He came into the limelight during his mother's burial, which was a lavish ceremony. In November 2021 the EFCC arrested Iyiegbu over allegations of money laundering and tax fraud. But does the photo show the commission's staff taking a photo with the man and reveal a conflict of interest? 'Fake as any fake news can ever be' The EFCC has stated on its website and Instagram that their staff did not take a photo with Iyiegbu. They said the photo was taken on 7 October 2021 during a book launch of Col Chukwu Obasi at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in the country's capital Abuja, which Iyiegbu attended as a guest. The EFCC implied that the people in the photo with Iyiegbu are not their staff. They wrote about the photo: "The caption is as fake as any fake news can ever be because, at no time during his ongoing investigation, period in custody or release did Obi Cubana pose for photographs with EFCC staff." Ahora | El presidente @PedroCastilloTe participa en la ceremonia de graduacion de los alfereces y subtenientes de la Escuela Militar de Chorrillos. ??En vivo: https://t.co/k3x0HgLX36 Ministro @pedrofrancke : Quisiera informar 3 datos importantes sobre el avance de macroeconomico en el Peru. Primero que se ratifica que la economia crecera 13% este ano. Sera el crecimiento a nivel del PBI mas grande de Latinoamerica. Ministro @pedrofrancke: En segundo lugar, en cuanto a las proyecciones de inversion publica, a noviembre tenemos una ejecucion que supera los S/31 mil millones, el nivel mas alto entre enero y noviembre de todos los anos que tenemos de registro. 13:18 | Lima, Dec. 16. "2022 must be a year when we all come together to contain the pandemic, speed up economic recovery, as well as strengthen institutionality and governance," he said. In addition, the Head of State emphasized that any attempt to destabilize democracy will be stopped. Moreover, the President said he expects an economic growth of 13% by the end of this year, one of the highest in Latin America, and noted that the Armed Forces' institutionality is fully guaranteed. He also affirmed that 2021 has been a year in which Peruvians democratically expressed their will at the polls to decide their future, thus resolving that we have to fight poverty, inequality, and corruption. In the same way, he referred to the changes in the agenda that the Government has been promoting, which seeks to promote dialogue with all sectors of the country, in political and social spheres. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades in Brussels on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit, the PMs Office reports. Issues related to the further development of cooperation between Armenia and Cyprus in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres were discussed. The sides attached importance to the partnership between the two governments aimed at promoting mutually beneficial projects. The results of the Eastern Partnership summit were touched upon. Nikol Pashinyan and Nicos Anastasiades exchanged views on the developments in the South Caucasus. The readiness to face the challenges jointly, the need for close, effective cooperation for solving problems was emphasized. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered remarks at the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, addressing the ongoing developments in the South Caucasus region. The summit was attended by the leaders of Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova and Azerbaijan - the Eastern Partnership participating countries, as well as EU-member state leaders. The President of the European Council Charles Michel delivered welcoming remarks. In his speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan addressed the cooperation with the European Union within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, the ongoing institutional reforms and steps for strengthening democracy in Armenia, SME and infrastructure development programs, as well as the ongoing developments in the South Caucasus region, Pashinyans office said in a statement. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. During the Brussels meeting, the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed the agreement and decision on constructing the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway. Speaking at the December 16 Cabinet meeting, the Armenian Prime Minister said that this agreement was reached as a result of the discussions of the trilateral (Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan) task force dealing with the opening of regional connections. PM Pashinyan reminded that the agreement was recorded in the November 26 Sochi meeting mediated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that this was recorded during the Brussels meeting mediated by the President of the European Council Charles Michel. I am underscoring that the railway will function in accordance to internationally accepted border and customs regulations on reciprocal principle, under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries. With this railway Armenia will receive access to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation, while Azerbaijan will receive railway access to Nakhijevan, Prime Minister Pashinyan said. Pashinyan highlighted that if Armenia succeeds in starting some dialogue with Turkey and if the opening of border and connections is successfully achieved then this project could become more major, reminding the Yeraskh-Gyumri-Kars railway. Of course, before the construction itself theres a lot to be done, to develop, announce tenders, to reach agreements. Of course, a part of this work is already done, but now we must solve this objective with practical and daily work. Certainly, we will hold narrow-format consultations in the next days to further specify our ideas, the timeframes and the roadmap. Our intention and desire is to have this railway as soon as possible. I wouldnt want to overestimate the importance of this agreement and project, but on the other hand I dont want to underestimate it: this is an important agreement, which, I certainly hope we will implement accurately, and which will significantly change the regions economic, investment, political and security environment, and we must soon focus on solving this issue as well, Pashinyan said. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. President Armen Sarkissian held a meeting today with Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Armenia Fan Yong, the Presidential Office reports. The Armenian President and the Chinese Ambassador exchanged ideas about the agenda of the bilateral relations, the prospective cooperation directions and the opportunities of deepening the partnership in different fields. Regional security and stability-related issues were also touched upon. Most read of the week French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his support towards Armenians, expressing hope that the holiday season will become a season of humanitarian progress and peace. December 16, 2021, 10:04 We will never abandon the Armenians President Macron vows to seek solutions for lasting peace STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Macron shared a video on Twitter showing him greeting the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels where hed mediated a meeting with the Azeri President Ilham Aliyev. We will never abandon the Armenians, Macron tweeted. We will always seek solutions for lasting peace. I call for the holiday season to be one of humanitarian advances, one of peace. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said he wants to use the situation around the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in order to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tass informs. December 16, 2021, 14:22 Zelensky says would use Nord Stream 2 situation to meet with Putin STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARTSAKHPRESS: "I would have used such instrument to organize a meeting with the Russian President, where we could have made some progress in the implementation of the Minsk [Agreements], or to end the [Donbass] conflict. But that is his right. Im not certain he will hear me," Zelensky said during a briefing in Brussels. Zelensky also noted he advocates various formats of talks on settlement in Donbass. "We advocate holding talks in several formats. We reaffirm our readiness for the Normandy Four format. We spoke about it with the President of the French Republic; I also had a meeting with the Chancellor of Germany. And the three of us talked," he said in an interview Wednesday. The European Union is preparing a full set of sanctions against Russia, which will be discussed at the EU summit on Thursday, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrel told reporters as he arrived at the meeting of leaders of 27 EU states in Brussels, Tass informs. December 16, 2021, 15:36 European Union preparing full set of sanctions against Russia, says foreign policy chief STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARTSAKHPRESS: "I cannot tell it, we are going to discuss it before we have an agreement, but we are preparing a full set of sanctions," he said. Asked whether EU countries will be able to reach a consensus on the issue, Borrel said: "Yes, this time, yes." Concerns over Moscow's alleged preparations for an invasion into Ukraine have been increasingly announced in the west and in Kiev recently. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov castigated these statements as an empty and groundless escalation of tension, emphasizing that Russia posed no threat to anyone. At the same time, the Kremlin press secretary did not exclude some possible provocations to justify such claims and warned that the attempts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict by force would carry extremely serious consequences. Stepanakert State Dramatic Theater after Vahram Papazyan faces a number of problems in the post-war period, but these do not prevent the cultural center from continuing its activities. December 16, 2021, 15:59 Stepanakert State Dramatic Theater today. Problems and programs presented by the director STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 16, ARTSAKHPRESS: The director of the Stepanakert State Drama Theater Armen Harutyunyan told "Artsakhpress". "In the post-war period, the theater faces two problems. The first is the recruitment of actors, as after the war our main actors moved to the Republic of Armenia or the Russian Federation. We are solving the issue; we are trying to attract new actors, as we have talented young people who have expressed willingness to work with us. The biggest problem now is the lack of material resources. We do not have funding for new performances, but we try to operate at our own expenses, as much as possible. Our interlocutor informed that in the current year, the Stepanakert Theater performed in Yerevan, Hrazdan, Artashat, Gyumri, Vanadzor, and within the framework of the "Lori" festival in Stepanavan and Tashir. "As the New Year is approaching, we plan to organize an event for schoolchildren and distribute gifts to children. However, there are some difficulties in terms of the sponsorship. If there are people who want to give our children a holiday, we will only be happy," he said. Speaking about the future activities of the theater, the director said that in 2022, the 90th anniversary of the dramatic theatre will be celebrated, and an event will be organized on that occasion. ''The past path of the theater will be presented at the event. Small excerpts from different performances will be shown. We plan to implement a very interesting and beautiful program,'' he said. The director named the building conditions as the main problem of the theatre. "The stage of the theater is very small, but we adapt it to the performances. We have solved the sound and light problems at our expenses. We have bought a generator and a projector. We try to get everything with the proceeds from the sale of tickets, to fill the gap, to keep the theater alive, each of us in turn contributing to the activities, which have been going on for years," said Armen Harutyunyan. In the era when and where I grew up, here in Auburn, coffee choices were simple. You drank Maxwell House, Chase & Sanborn or Eight OClock, or Sanka if you had sleeping issues after drinking it. You filled a tin pot, called a percolator, with water. You then put your coffee in a strainer, put it on the stove and, in a few minutes, you had your cup of coffee. Simple. Of course, during the great period of immigration in the 1920s, various nationalities tended to settle together in neighborhoods where they could find their countrymen, as well as the clothing and the foods they had been used to in their native lands. It was natural that their restaurants would serve the beverages, especially coffee, that they had been used to at home. Before long, coffeehouses began to appear, and the brands from other lands appeared on grocery shelves. Coffee was pretty much a national beverage. And then along came World War II, and rationing. Coffee, along with sugar, meat and gasoline, were in limited supply. Families were issued little books of stamps that you handed the grocer or butcher along with your money. When you ran out of the allotted stamps, that was it for the month. Ships were needed for carrying the goods of war, with little space for sugar and coffee and other necessities. Gasoline was being used up by the war effort. And on and on. Moms made the coffee a little weaker to stretch the pound. Dads added a little anisette or brandy to give it flavor. And then came an end to World War II. Our military men and women returned from around the globe, where they had experienced coffee like never before. Soon, espresso machines began turning up in restaurants. More types of coffee began appearing on the grocery shelves, and food magazines featured articles about the lore and the history of the beverage. The French press began turning up in homes, along with a whole lot of other equipment. I know that by the mid-'60s, Anne Marie was buying different beans and grinding them. The coffee I was served changed frequently, depending on the type of bean, how it was roasted and more. We had our own electric grinder so she could brew differently. By the 1980s, we owned a couple of Bialetti espresso percolators. They did not make really good espresso, but it satisfied us. Then, in the mid-'80s, a couple of gentlemen who had been roommates at Colby College in Maine developed the concept of single-serve pods. So, Keurig was born. Now you can have a coffee maker on your desk and enjoy freshly brewed coffee throughout the work day without having to go down to the break room. If it has not already been developed, I am almost certain that we will see a version that plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car. Also in the mid-'80s, a man named Howard Shultz created another revolution about how we got our coffee. This marketing man developed the Starbucks that we know today. He developed a marketing strategy where people learned about coffee as they enjoyed it. Staff talked coffee. I will not cross town for a cup of the coffee, but I have for their grande cappuccino. As far as I could find, coffee plants originated in parts of eastern Africa and parts of Asia, as well as the Middle East. But legend has it that its use as a beverage began in the highlands of Ethiopia. It seems that a goatherd named Kaldi noticed that after eating a strange red berry from a bush, his goats became so energetic that they would not sleep at night. Kaldi reported this to the abbot at a nearby monastery, who brewed a drink from the beans and found that it kept him awake for the long hours of evening prayers. In not so many years, word had found its way to the Arabian Peninsula, where the arabica variety flourished. By the mid-1600s the Dutch had brought it to New Amsterdam, soon to be renamed New York. While tea remained the preferred drink in the New World, things would change in 1773 when colonists rebelled against King Georges heavy tax on tea. Then, the Boston Tea Party changed everything. Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying, Coffee: The favorite drink of the civilized world. Be well, stay safe. Carmen Cosentino operates Cosentino's Florist in Auburn with his daughter, Jessica. He was elected to the National Floriculture Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2008, received the Tommy Bright award for lifetime achievements in floral education. In 2016, Carmen and Jessica were presented Teleflora's Tom Butler Award, naming Cosentino's the florist of the year at the company's annual meeting in Hawaii. Carmen can be reached at cosenti@aol.com or (315) 253-5316. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Feeding wild birds outdoors can be a great source of joy, especially as colder temperatures of winter arrive. Yet dirty bird feeders can increase the risk of disease transmission if not properly cleaned. Researchers at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania conducted a study to determine the most effective way to reduce levels of salmonella bacteria on bird feeders. The researchers gathered data from two sets of feeders, a set that had gathered debris from normal feeding activity and a set of unused, clean feeders. They applied cultures of salmonella to the entire perch and seed well areas of each feeder, and then measured the concentration of bacteria on the feeders. The researchers then tested three cleaning methods. Feeders were either scrubbed with soap and water, soaked in a diluted bleach solution for 10 minutes, or scrubbed with soap and water followed by a soak in bleach solution. The feeders were tested again to determine how much bacteria remained. It was found that all three cleaning methods reduced the amount of salmonella on the feeders. However, in both feeder types, the two methods involving a bleach soak were more effective in reducing salmonella bacteria than simply scrubbing with soap and water. Feeders with debris, such as seed hulls and dust, had more bacteria after cleaning than the new feeders regardless of the cleaning method used. Furthermore, the debris-laden feeders that received only the soap and water treatment still had enough salmonella to risk disease transmission. So what does this mean if you feed backyard birds? It is recommended that, at minimum, when you clean your feeders, you soak or scrub them with a diluted bleach solution, rinse them thoroughly and let them dry before adding bird seed. If your feeders have visible debris, be sure to scrub them as long as necessary to remove all visible debris before cleaning them. Remember that prevention is the key to avoiding the spread of disease, and feeders should be cleaned regularly. Besides salmonella, there is the potential for bird seed to facilitate the spread of a parasite called Trichomonas gallinae. This parasite can be especially harmful to pigeons, doves and finches. Normally, it is transferred from an infected bird through body fluids. Researchers wondered if wet seed could also be a path of transmission? A group of Canadian researchers gathered three popular types of birdseed (mixed seed, black oil sunflower seed and nyjer seed) and created wet and dry versions of each seed type. A low concentration and a high concentration of T. gallinae was added to each type of seed when it was dry and wet. The samples were monitored in very warm conditions (98 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than 10 days to see if the parasite could survive outside the birds body. The researchers found that the parasite was able to persist only in the wet seed, and only for a couple of days. It remained in the wet mixed seed sample the longest, but only for 48 hours. The parasite was not recovered from any of the dry seed samples. Understanding this parasites ability to persist in the food we provide to wild birds is important in preventing future avian outbreaks. Keeping the seed dry is key to preventing this parasite from persisting. When the seed is wet, the parasite was only able to persist for a short time at temperatures comparable to the inside of a birds body, so it is likely that in cool conditions there is very little risk from T. gallinae. When feeding birds in a warm and humid climate, in other words during the summer, make sure you keep the seed dry. Here are some tips on how to provide a safer feeding source to your backyard friends: Keep your feeder out of the splash zone of any nearby birdbaths or drinking stations. Consider bringing your feeder in before a heavy rain if temperatures are very warm. Change your seed regularly if you are in hot and wet weather conditions. Choose seed types that contain little to no organic material, such as nyjer seed (often referred to as thistle) or black oil sunflower seed. Understanding these few basic principles will allow you to offer bird seed to our wild feathered friends. Be sure to offer them seed and not bread, which simply acts like a giving them a candy bar there is very little nutritional value in the bread for the birds. Lets enjoy the relationship we have with backyard birds by sharing with them a clean, dry meal. Judy Wright is the senior agriculture specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County. For more information, visit senecacountycce.org or call (315) 539-9251 ext. 109. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 AUBURN After fleeing to and serving time in Pennsylvania, the man charged in a 2019 Auburn bank robbery has pleaded guilty in Cayuga County. Dustin W. Hall, 33, had been accused of robbing Generations Bank on North Seward Avenue with a gun in June 2019. A multi-state manhunt located him in Pennsylvania about a month later. Hall was in front on Judge Thomas Leone in court Thursday, facing charges of first-degree robbery, a class B felony, and third-degree grand larceny, a class D felony. Hall pleaded guilty to the robbery charge, and is currently set to be sentenced to 10 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision. His plea satisfied the larceny count, and sentencing is set for Feb. 17. The Cayuga County District Attorney's Office said in a news release Thursday that after Hall "made off with $21,000" in his gunpoint robbery at the bank, he fled to Pennsylvania. In July 2019, the DA's office said, state police in Pennsylvania arrested Hall, who had two illegal handguns one of which was believed to have been the gun used in the Auburn robbery. Hall was convicted of felony gun possession and was sentenced to two years in prison in Pennsylvania. After serving that time, Hall was returned to New York state to face his Cayuga County charges, the DA's office said. He must "make restitution in full for the proceeds of the robbery plus insurance costs" as a part of his plea deal. About a week after the robbery, Auburn police released photos and a description of Hall, seeking the public's help in locating him but warning that he was considered armed and dangerous. In early July, Auburn police began receiving license plate reader hits on a vehicle connected with Hall in western New York near the border with Pennsylvania. Authorities in that area were contacted to be on the lookout, which resulted in him being found at a TA Travel Center in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania. Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 1 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. An Auburn man has been indicted on a robbery charge, about 18 months after a different robbery for which he was previously arrested. Sadiq K. Bonner-Judge, 20, of 37 Olympia Ave., Apt. A8, was arraigned in Cayuga County Court on Thursday morning after he was picked up by Auburn police on Wednesday night. APD said they could not provide additional details about the new charge against Bonner-Judge because it involves an ongoing investigation. The specific charge brought against him is first-degree robbery with a firearm being displayed. Bonner-Judge was one of two defendants charged in a June 20, 2020, violent robbery in the city. Police said that Bonner-Judge was accused of entering a residence around 2:50 p.m. with another suspect, assaulting a male victim and stealing a small amount of cash. He was picked up in November 2020 on a parole violation and turned over to APD for that case, which remains pending in the court system. In that case, Bonner-Judge was charged with second-degree assault and two counts of second-degree robbery, one for participating in a robbery aided by another person and the other for engaging in robbery causing physical injury. Bonner-Judge remains on parole after serving part of a one- to three-year prison sentence for an aggravated driving while intoxicated conviction in 2019. Following his arraignment on Thursday, he was released from the custody of the Cayuga County Jail. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 For its 70th birthday, the Lake Avenue bridge in Auburn will get a makeover. The state Department of Transportation, through its Bridge NY program, will provide more than $4.6 million to the city of Auburn for the rehabilitation of the bridge, which carries traffic over the Owasco River between Osborne and Owasco streets. According to Christina Selvek, the city's director of capital projects, the total cost of the bridge rehabilitation project is $4,907,800. The state is covering 95% of the cost, while the city will pick up the remaining 5%. The award will allow the city to move forward with the project. Selvek explained that they will begin with the design and project scoping process. The design work should be completed by October 2023, then the project will be submitted for construction bids that year. The plan is for the construction phase of the bridge rehabilitation project to begin in 2024. "It dovetails really nicely into the fact that the city still has a construction project on (the state Department of Transportation's) plan for Lake Avenue," she said. "This is great because now we can do the bridge work before we roll right into a major road improvement project. The city does recognize (Lake Avenue) needs improvements, particularly after it was used as a detour for South Street." The project is one of six in central New York and two in Cayuga County that will receive state funding. The Cayuga County Highway Department will get $1.073 million to replace the Jericho Road bridge over Putnam Brook. Statewide, more than $216 million has been allocated for bridge and culvert repairs or replacement projects through Bridge NY. The rehabilitation of the Lake Avenue bridge is a major project for the city, Selvek said. The bridge was built in 1954 and, she added, needs "significant rehabilitation." In addition to road improvements, the project will also include depth repairs to the concrete portion of the bridge and work on its steel frame. "To have the state assist with 95% of the project costs is definitely good for the city and the residents of Auburn," Selvek said. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 5 Funny 1 Wow 2 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. Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck is not ready to hang up his badge, announcing on Thursday that he will seek a second four-year term. Schenck joined the sheriff's office in 1997 and was elected sheriff in 2018, running unopposed on the Republican line to take over for retiring three-term sheriff David Gould. "For the past 24 years I have proudly partnered with the men and women of the Cayuga County Sheriffs Office to provide public safety services in our community," he said in a statement. "During the last three years it has been my distinct honor to serve as your elected Sheriff. Today I am announcing my candidacy for a second term with my intention to run for re-election in 2022. "It is my belief that our Civil, Court Security, County Office Building Security, Custody (Jail), and Road Patrol Divisions provide the most effective and efficient law enforcement services. Our mission is to secure and maintain a safe community as well as maintain the publics trust and respect. We continually strive to achieve these goals by serving with dedication and integrity while valuing human dignity. We also work to continually build and utilize community partnerships. Our Sheriffs Office does not belong solely to me and the members of our agency. It belongs equally to each and every individual that we serve. Without the trust and respect of the public, we can never be successful in achieving our mission." Schenck, who ran with the support of the sheriff and police unions in 2018, expressed thanks to the community for its support. "It is my hope that I have earned your trust and respect and that you will give me the honor of leading your Sheriffs Office for a second term," he said. No other candidates have publicly expressed an interest in the job. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 Brittany Grome Antonacci, who will become acting Cayuga County district attorney after Jon Budelmann resigns at the end of the year, announced on Thursday that she will seek a full term as the county's top prosecutor. Grome Antonacci is the deputy chief assistant district attorney. She was a senior assistant DA from May 2018 to March 2020. She returned to the Cayuga County District Attorney's office this year after a stint in state government as an attorney focused on public safety matters. When she becomes acting district attorney, Grome Antonacci will be the first woman to hold the position. "My unmatched litigation experience, tireless work ethic, and unwavering commitment to the people of this county make me the only candidate qualified to hold the important office of district attorney," she said in a statement. "I am an experienced prosecutor and public servant with a proven track record of success, fairness, and integrity, who has dedicated my career to fighting for victims, protecting citizens, and seeking justice in all cases." Grome Antonacci is a central New York native she is a Westhill High School graduate with Cayuga County ties. Her grandfather was an English teacher at East High School and, later, Auburn High School. Her uncle was a principal and teacher at Weedsport High School. Her aunt and uncle are lifelong residents of the county. She now lives in Auburn with her husband, Mike. A graduate of the University at Albany and Albany Law School, Grome Antonacci was a senior assistant district attorney in the Albany County District's Attorney Office for six years before coming to Cayuga County. As the deputy chief assistant district attorney in Cayuga County, she handles the prosecution of felony-level crimes, including assaults, burglaries, homicides and drug-related offenses. She also advises and trains assistant district attorneys. Grome Antonacci will succeed Budelmann, who was elected to serve as a Cayuga County Surrogate Court judge. His term begins in January, which means he will resign as district attorney after 14 years on the job. There is an order of succession Budelmann submitted to the county clerk and clerk of the Cayuga County Legislature. Grome Antonacci was at the top of the list to succeed him if he was unable to fulfill his duties. Even though Grome Antonacci will be acting district attorney, the governor can, under state law, appoint a new DA to fill the vacancy. A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul told The Citizen on Monday that she is "reviewing her options." Regardless of whether Hochul appoints someone, the district attorney's race will be on the ballot in 2022. State law requires the vacancy to be filled at the next general election. In a letter addressed to "the citizens of Cayuga County," Grome Antonacci, who will seek the Republican and Conservative lines, highlighted her experience and local connections. She also described how she will approach the job as district attorney. "When it comes to enforcing the law, there is no room for politics or politically motivated prosecutions," she said. "The residents of Cayuga County deserve nothing less than a tough, but fair prosecutor who brings experience, integrity, and accountability to the courtroom and the people of this county. I pledge to uphold that promise." Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 6 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 8 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. Beijing (Gasgoo)- The renowned automotive supplier, Webasto, announced two major personnel changes on December 15th. The current President China of Webasto, Jan Henning Mehlfeldt is taking on as President Europe, and Zhang Lihua will be the acting president. Photo credit: Webasto Zhang Lihua joined Webasto China in 2002, serving as project manager, sales manager, customer general manager, vice president of business expansion and sales, and vice president of the customer group successively. Since October 2019, Zhang was promoted to the executive vice president position in Webasto China, responsible for the companys strategic development layout, public affairs, and customer group businesses in the country. With the support and authorization from the board, Zhang Lihua will reinforce Webatsos development strength and leading position in the Chinese market, and further promote the groups new energy business development in the country. Photo credit: Webasto Currently, China has become a more and more valued market to the group. In 2020, Webastos China sales volume accounted for nearly 40% of the groups global revenue. Therefore, Webasto is planning to further its investment in the country and enhance its R&D and manufacturing capability in China. Specifically, besides the groups mainstay sunroof business, Webasto is also branching out in the electric and intellectual fields. In 2019, the groups 50 million new factory in Wuhan started the production of sunroofs as well as high-voltage heaters and charging solution products. In January 2020, Webastos power cell center in Jiaxing completed construction. The center is designed to perform R&D, testing, power battery pack manufacturing tasks for the Chinese market. The centers battery pack project is being developed and is expected to start mass production in 2022. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Li Auto, Chongqing sign strategic cooperation framework agreement On December 15, Chongqing city government signed strategic cooperation agreement with Li Auto, with which the automaker will take active participation in the citys development of auto industry. Chongqing will try its best to offer service to Li Auto and support its development in the city. Li ONE; photo credit: Li Auto Tesla super charging stations cover Guizhou Tesla said its super charging stations offers service across Guizhou province, including 13 super charging stations (75 piles), 8 destination charging stations (16 piles), covering a total mileage of 3,000km. Daily PV retail sales in 2nd week of Dec. down by 9% YoY According to the China Passenger Car Association, the daily retail sales of passenger vehicles (PVs) in China fell 9% from a year ago to 52,000 vehicles in the second week of this month, but jumped 17% from the same period of last month. The daily PV volume of the first two weeks this month dropped 12% year over year to 47,000 vehicles. Leapmotor starts to use delivery centers in Beijing, Hangzhou Leapmotor started to operate delivery centers in Beijing and Hangzhou to offer such services as delivery, insurance and licensing. GWM-back SFCV launches 200kW high-power fuel cell engine In celebration of the 20th anniversary, Shanghai Fuel Cell Vehicle Powertrain Co.,Ltd. (called SFCV for short), a fuel cell tech developer backed by Great Wall Holdings, launched on Dec. 15 a new hydrogen fuel cell engine dubbed START - Shenzhou 200 with a rated power of up to 200kW. Webasto names acting President China The renowned automotive supplier, Webasto, announced two major personnel changes on December 15th. The current President China of Webasto, Jan Henning Mehlfeldt is taking on as President Europe, and Zhang Lihua will be the acting president. NVIDIA DRIVE to adopt LiDARs from Hesai Technology Chinas leading LiDAR supplier, Hesai Technology, announced its partnership with the world-leading NVIDIA, supplying LiDARs to the latters autonomous driving platform. China auto sales forecasted to reach 27.5 million units in 2022: CAAM China automobile sales are expected to reach 27.5 million units in 2022 with a 5.4% year-on-year growth, Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), said on Dec. 14 at an industrial conference. Car making newcomer IT BOX introduces EVs for ride-sharing industry IT BOX, a newcomer to the automaking industry, held a brand release ceremony on December 15th and introduced its first two EV models targeting ride-sharing market. SAICs commercial vehicle autonomous driving company partners with Hesai Techonology SAIC Motors young commercial vehicle autonomous driving subsidiary, UTO Pilot, has partnered up with LiDAR supplier Hesai Technology for the latters L3-L4 level autonomous driving LiDARs, Hesai announced on December 15th. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese automaker BYD plans to announce an all-new premium auto brand in the first half of 2022 and the first model under the new brand is set to be launched in the second half of next year, according to a local media outlet, who got the information on Dec. 14 at BYDs tech communication meeting. The new brand's first model is said to be a rugged-looking off-roader priced between 500,000 yuan ($78,510) and even 1 million yuan ($157,010), targeting such famous off-road models as the Mercedes-Benz G and the Hummer. It is expected to hit the market in 2023. Operations of the yet-to-be-launched brand will be reportedly managed by an independent group. The new brand's relation to BYD may be similar to that of Porsche to Volkswagen, said the aforesaid media channel. Besides, a product roll-out plan leaked to web discloses that the rugged-styled off-roader may come with both BEV and PHEV trim levels, and would be manufactured at BYD's Hefei plant. It also reveals that the new brand perhaps release a C-segment MPV as its second model. Interestingly, Zhao Changjiang, the director for the preparations of BYD's high-end brand, last month raised a question about how to define a 7-seater MPV via his twitter-like Weibo account. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas leading LiDAR supplier, Hesai Technology, announced its partnership with the world-leading NVIDIA, supplying LiDARs to the latters autonomous driving platform. Hesai's LiDAR family; photo credit: Hesai Technology The NVIDIA DRIVE platform will adopt Hesais Pandar128 LiDAR as the Ground Truth sensor for its autonomous driving developing system. Hesais high-performance LiDAR solution will act as a key component in the NVIDIA DRIVE platform, supporting critical object perception and recognition functions on autonomous vehicles. In the meantime, Hesais LiDARs will also help the company set a crucial reference basis for each perceptual part within the system, realizing and optimizing autonomous driving recognition functions. To illustrate, the LiDARs will be used to label and train corresponding data and construct an accurate 3D environment based on surroundings. Hesais latest Pandar128 sensor offers a 360-degree horizontal field of view with a detection range from 0.3 to 200 meters. In the vertical field of view, it uses denser beams to allow for high resolution in a focused region of interest. The low minimum range reduces the blind spot area close to and in front of the lidar sensor. In fact, Hesai Technology has been an official member of NVIDIA DRIVEs ecosystem since 2019. Its expertise in the industry has won over various autonomous driving companies and automakers in 70 cities in 30 countries and regions. PHOENIX Phoenix-based Banner Health is at its most overwhelmed since the pandemic began, leading the company's officials to issue a warning 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. Flagstaff Medical Center's dashboard listed 39 of its 41 critical care beds and 225 of its 268-bed capacity in use as of Wednesday, with 48 COVID-positive in-house patients. 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. 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. Across Arizona on Wednesday, health officials reported 3,249 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 81 more deaths from the virus. The state has now seen 1,323,997 cases and 23,324 deaths since the pandemic started. Coconino County added 33 cases and one death Wednesday, bringing its totals to 26,420 cases and 401 deaths. Hospitalizations dipped slightly from a day earlier to 2,723 as of Tuesday. The Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported 37 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths for the second consecutive day. The latest numbers pushed the tribes total to 40,571 cases since the pandemic began. The known death toll remains at 1,562. Based on cases from Nov. 26-Dec. 9, the Navajo Department of Health issued an advisory Monday for 58 communities due to uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. Tribal President Jonathan Nez has issued a reminder to get the vaccine or the booster as the Christmas holiday approaches. Approximately 72% of our people are fully vaccinated and over 85% of the elderly population are fully vaccinated, Nez said in a statement Tuesday. Our healthcare officials are doing a great job getting our people vaccinated for COVID-19, but we still have more to do. In other news, a law enforcement union has filed a lawsuit challenging a $45 health insurance surcharge imposed each pay period on Pima County employees who havent received the coronavirus vaccination and havent been granted exemptions. The Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs said in its lawsuit that unvaccinated county employees are confronting whether to continue shouldering the costs or get vaccinated, despite personal or medical concerns. The surcharge, which took effect on Nov. 1, would cost an unvaccinated employee close to $1,200 per year. The association, which filed its lawsuit late last week, alleges the charge violates federal law by failing to offer a reasonable alternative to being vaccinated. The lawsuit said the countys wellness program, which imposes a surcharge on tobacco users, lets tobacco users take part in alternatives such as smoking cessation programs. The county declined to comment on the lawsuit. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 This year marks the 300-year anniversary of Peter the Greats declaration of himself as emperor and Russia as an empire. But it also marks another important date: 30 years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. In Vladimir Putins Russia, the first is a cause for celebration, the second for regret. During his two decades in power, Putin has spared no effort dismantling Russias embryonic democracy and restoring Russia to its former glory. This is Putins own version of Make Russia Great Again. So, how great is Russia today? Moscows only raison detre is undermining the West and subverting democracies around the world. It has been throwing a bloodline to dictators in Venezuela, Syria, Myanmar, Central Africa and closer to home, in Belarus. Putins Russia thrives on opposing the West and what it sees as its decadent social and political values. It is a new cold war, in which Moscow sees competition with the West as a zero-sum game. But if a new cold war may help to unite some segments of Russian society and provide massive state orders to modernize the military, it is also expensive. Russia, with a gross domestic product less than New York states and a population about 40% of the U.S., cannot afford it. Hence, the alliance with China, one country that is rapidly catching up with the U.S. Yet this is an alliance in which Beijing treats Moscow as a junior partner. China is a major manufacturer and the worlds second-largest economy with the second-largest military budget. With a population 10 times that of Russia, Chinas average per capita GDP reached $10,500 and now exceeds Russias. In recent years, the Kremlin has been systematically destroying civil society in Russia. Thousands have chosen to leave the country for fear of being arrested, and those who did not leave are detained and prosecuted for their political opposition to the regime. The number of political prisoners in Russian jails is now estimated to be in the hundreds, which is similar to the Soviet days. Many of those who criticize the government are forced out of their jobs or deemed to be foreign agents. And of course, those who present a real challenge to Russian officials widespread corruption are assassinated. Politically, Putins Russia has become a bastion of far-right ideologies and a backward-looking state based on the repression of any opposition at home. Demographically and environmentally, Russia is a ticking time bomb. The countrys population was already in steep decline even before the pandemic. But unable to attract skilled labor and unwilling to let unskilled migrants in, the already-sparsely populated country faces a dim demographic future. It is also the fourth largest polluter in the world, but it has done little to reduce emissions. Massive forest fires and methane leaks from thawing Siberian permafrost have become more common. Environmental groups contend that Russias commitments to the Paris climate agreement exist only on paper and that Moscow has no intention of cutting emissions. Today, Russia is a vastly corrupt petrostate that Transparency International ranked at No. 129 out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index. It is a repressive dictatorship that relies on notorious Soviet ways propaganda and disinformation at home and abroad, on arrests and imprisonment of its critics and on the rule by the all-powerful security agencies. Ironically, Russia has reverted to the same old patterns that condemned Russian and Soviet empires to oblivion: geopolitics that trump economic growth; unsustainable military expenditures; the heralding of Russias special path in opposition to the West, creating an archenemy and a fortress mentality; and its leaders deep cynicism with little concern for the well-being of their own citizens. Enter Ukraine, which Putin believes is a key to restoring Russias greatness. Ukraines only sins to Russia are taking its sovereignty seriously and choosing the path of democracy. After years of trying to subvert Ukraine, Moscow might be prepared for another military invasion. The Kremlin may believe that together with Belarus, under its dictator Alexander Lukashenko, occupying Ukraine would solve Russias demographic problem, add a large industrial base and, above all, resurrect Russia as an Eastern Slavic and Russian Orthodox empire. There is little hope that Putin will free opposition leader Alexei Navalny and negotiate a transfer of power the way South African President F.W. de Klerk did when he freed Nelson Mandela. There is also little hope that Putin would suddenly allow the existence of a genuine political opposition, which Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, despite his authoritarian proclivities, tolerates in his country. Instead, Putin is more like the proverbial tiger that Winston Churchill referred to in condemning what he saw as the appeasement of Nazi Germany: You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth. Lets hope that the leaders of Western democracies can keep a clear head and out of Putins mouth. Michael Khodarkovsky is a professor of history at Loyola University Chicago and an author, most recently, of Russias 20th Century: A Journey in 100 Histories. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Wilber man who was arrested in January following an investigation into drug distribution in Gage County was sentenced to prison Thursday afternoon. Daniel L. Hile II, 51, appeared in Gage County District Court, where he was sentenced to 10-14 years in prison. The sentence was recommended by both prosecuting and defense attorneys, and Hiles criminal history dating back to the 1994 was a factor in the sentence. Youre a meth addict. The problem is you harm others by helping them be addicts, as well, said District Court Judge Rick Schreiner. Mr. Hile, the damage you do to those people, their families, their communities, their workplaces, their schools and the state of Nebraska is immeasurable. No apology is going to fix that, ever. The true sorrow is changed action, and if youre truly sorry, if you truly regret your behavior, that will be shown in your behavior once you get out of prison. The prison sentence was for a single charge of delivery of a controlled substance, a class 2 felony. Additional charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug money, no drug tax stamp and a habitual criminal violation were previously dismissed as part of an agreement. Hile was one of two people arrested in January in Beatrice following an investigation into drug distribution in the 700 block of North Ninth Street. While doing surveillance, a man and woman were spotted entering the residence. Police had information the two were in town for a narcotics purchase and had been arrested in Beatrice before. Officers had information that a drug purchase happened in the residence, and found three people inside. During a search, authorities found suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, a controlled narcotic and drug paraphernalia. The other person arrested, 34-year-old Whitney Cooper, was accepted into the drug court counseling program after pleading guilty earlier this month to distribution of a controlled substance, two counts possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Wheatgrass Books, 120 North Main in Livingston, will host three musicians, one poet and one artist for The Round event on Tuesday Dec. 28. The musicians are Natalia Boise, Blake Brightman, and Hannah Jo Lolly. The poet is Kate Morris. The artist is Kay Potter. Tickets are $20. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at $5 each. The raffle prize is the final artwork created by Kay Potter during the event. Events at Moss Mansion Harry Potter Mysteries at the Moss Mansion, 914 Division St., leaves you hunting for clues after the Marauders Map is confiscated by Filch. Event is Dec. 23 from 4-6 p.m. Tickets are available at MossMansion.com. Christmas Light evenings at the Moss Mansion, 914 Division St., is a tour of the museum by the light of dozens of Christmas trees. The event is Dec. 23 from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are available at MossMansion.com. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performs at ABT Dec. 31 Joyce from the Future recently opened for the national touring band, Highly Suspect, at the Pub Station. They then were invited to open shows for the band across Montana in Bozeman and Missoula. It gave Joyce from the Future a taste of touring life, and they liked it, Horton said. Horton and Campbell have been writing and performing music together since they were students at Senior High School. They both graduated in 2018 and headed off to study at the University of Montana in Missoula. They returned to Billings in 2019, focused on breaking into the music scene, and connected with Stiles and Reedy, who had been in Billings band Arterial Drive. The Billings music scene is more supportive than the scene in Missoula where there are so many talented musicians, all scrambling to play gigs at too few venues, Horton and Campbell said. Here, there is less of a gate-keeping atmosphere, Horton said. Professional musicians want the whole scene to thrive. The all-ages designation on this Billings show will allow a younger, pop-loving crowd to take in the show. Campbell said hes not sure who their target audience is, but they want to make the music as accessible as possible. Harrison told the afternoon news conference that a vehicle of interest has been identified and is being held by police. Investigators were interviewing people possibly connected to the shooting, he said, noting that video footage has been recovered as well as information from citizens. This was a heinous, violent, cowardly, very targeted act, the commissioner said. Harrison said the shooting didn't appear to be a domestic incident. The officer's sister, Lawanda Sykes, told the news conference that Holley had a life-long goal of working for the Baltimore Police Department. She urged anyone with information to come forward, and she had words for the suspect. The person who did this to my sister, you are a coward, Sykes said. You tried to snuff her and take something that you can't. She is stronger than you will ever be. Kevin Kreamer, who lives across the street from Curtis Bay Park, said he heard a loud crash that he now knows was the officers patrol vehicle hitting a fence and going over a ledge toward the playground. He said his wife heard several gunshots. Its terrible, Kreamer told The Baltimore Sun. My kids play at this park sometimes. The New York-based hedge fund that owns 6.3% of Lee's stock became one of the largest newspaper owners in the nation after swallowing all of Tribune's newspapers earlier this year, but it has also earned a reputation for imposing severe cost cuts and layoffs. Two other hedge funds that are among Lee's largest shareholders, Praetorian Capital and Cannell Capital, have said they think the company is worth much more than Alden is offering. "I think there is still a tremendous amount of value," said Carlo Cannell, managing director of the Wyoming-based fund. In fact, Cannell estimates Lee's stock could be worth $285 a share within five years if the company does everything right as it continues to transition more toward digital instead of print publication. Alden said in its lawsuit that it intended its $24 offer to be preliminary, and it could have been changed if the company had engaged in constructive talks. Lee's stock gained another 12% Wednesday to close at $40.53 before the lawsuit was announced. Before Alden made its initial bid, the stock was selling for $18.49. Theyve done a really good job of doing that for someone they didnt even know, he said. Hes been a pretty important piece of that village for 70 some years. During his speech at the ceremony, Dan shared his and his siblings memories of their brother and thanked the people of the town. Dan has a vivid memory of the day his brother left home sitting on his knee while Norbert sang some popular song of the time to him. Brother Roland says Norbert was his flying hero. Sister Anastasia remembers him as a very kind young man who learned woodworking in high school and built a huge kitchen table and cabinets for their mother. Margaret had the responsibility of gathering photos of Norbert and details to provide to the filmmaker. I learned the most from talking to every one of the aunts and uncles, Margaret said. Watching them reconnect over it and how emotional it still is for them was incredibly powerful. She says the research and subsequent film have put her in touch with family members shes never met before. Though Norberts son has died, part of the research led the family to reconnect with his grandchildren. The interim committee held the hearing after the top elections officials in Ravalli and Cascade counties urged the panel to look into what they characterized as a rushed timeline to go live with a new statewide voter management system. Cascade County Clerk and Recorder Rina Moore said Thursday that local election officials still dont have enough confidence in the new system to go live with it in January 2022 as planned. I think we can say that were in agreement that its going to be a fantastic program when it is ready, but right now as far as the elections administrators are concerned it is not ready, Moore said. She added, We are excited to utilize the new program when the time comes. Its got some features that our old program does not, but it still has a few fixes that need to be made and we are willing to work with the Secretary of States office from here forward to test the system again." Montanas lone U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale voted against holding former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress on Tuesday. Meadows faces the contempt charge for ending his cooperation with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection. Two Republicans, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney and Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, joined House majority Democrats in holding Meadows in contempt. Both Cheney and Kinzinger are on the committee. Rosendale took to Twitter to proclaim his support for Meadows, calling the former top aide to Donald Trump honorable. Mark Meadows is a good man, who served our country honorably in Congress and as President Trumps Chief of Staff (sic), Rosendale tweeted. I stand with Mark Meadows. I will vote NO (sic) on the witch hunt to hold him in contempt. Meadows originally cooperated with the committee as it investigated the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years. He turned over documents, including archived texts from Republicans in Congress and Fox News celebrities pleading with Meadows to get Trump to stop the attack by the outgoing presidents supporters. A Missoula man found guilty of raping a young child was sentenced on Wednesday to 100 years in the Montana State Prison without the possibility of parole. Wes Lee Whitaker, 41, was convicted by a Missoula jury in June of three felony sexual assault charges. He was handed a sentence of 100 years for each count, to run alongside one another, all without the possibility of parole. The jurys decision came after an emotional four days of testimony by several witnesses, including family members and friends of the survivor and the survivors mother. The charges stemmed from a 2018 incident where Whitaker sexually abused the young girl, who was 3 at the time, on multiple occasions while she was in his care. The girl communicated what happened to her mother, who reported the abuse to law enforcement. Whitaker was subsequently arrested by Missoula police. Missoula County Deputy Attorney Brian Lowney requested a sentence of 100 years with no parole for each count. My intention here is that Mr. Whitaker never be released from prison, and so I think 100 years without parole would accomplish that, Lowney said. Hes likely to hurt someone else if he is out of custody. 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. Significant tornadoes often stay on the ground longer than weaker tornadoes. Their tracks are especially long in the Southeast, where significant tornadoes in the cool season move quickly, thus covering more ground. The previous record for a long-track tornado was from 1925, when the F-5 Tri-State Tornado traveled 219 miles through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. The Quad-State Tornado, as this tornado has been nicknamed, is expected to break that record. In the coming days, the National Weather Service will confirm whether one tornado stayed on the ground for more than 200 miles or multiple tornadoes resulted from the same storm. The agency has issued a preliminary rating of EF-3 or greater for this event. Why do more nighttime and winter tornadoes occur in the Southeast than in other regions? The latest North Dakota coronavirus news: funeral help, boosters for veterans and more. FEMA-Funeral Expenses The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has provided a total of more than $4.4 million in coronavirus pandemic funeral aid to about 600 North Dakotans. FEMA is helping with funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for deaths related to COVID-19. The assistance includes reimbursement for, but is not limited to, cremation, burial expenses, transfer of remains, markers or headstones, and transportation for up to two people to identify the deceased. Up to $9,000 per funeral is available, with a maximum of $35,500 per application. To apply, call FEMA at 844-684-6333, TTY: 800-462-7585, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST. For more information, go to https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance. VA booster clinic The Fargo Veterans Affairs Health Care System is holding a COVID-19 vaccine booster clinic in Williston on Friday for eligible veterans, their spouses and their caregivers. It's scheduled at the VA Clinic at 1542 16th St. W., Suite 300, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 701-572-2470, then press 0 to schedule an appointment. Veterans, spouses, and caregivers are eligible if they are in one of the following groups: 65 or older 18 or older with certain risk factors, such as living in long-term care settings, having underlying medical conditions, or living/working in high-risk settings. 18 or older and received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine as their primary COVID-19 shot. Those eligible may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. The Moderna and Janssen vaccines are offered. Federal recommendations allow for mix-and-match dosing for booster shots. Testing and vaccines A comprehensive list of free COVID-19 testing offered by local public health units in North Dakota can be found at health.nd.gov/covidtesting. In Bismarck, PCR and rapid antigen tests are administered daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the strip mall at 2805 Morrison Ave., Suite A. PCR tests also are administered Monday through Thursday from 10-11 a.m. at Northland Health Centers, 914 S. 12th St., Suite 101. People who have registered for COVID-19 testing through TestReg.nd.gov can access results for tests through a state service called the Citizen Portal. Instructions can be found at https://bit.ly/3jqiudf. People can go to https://www.ndvax.org or call 866-207-2880 to see where COVID-19 vaccine is available near them. Both Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health and Custer Health in Mandan are offering vaccine to the general public. To register with Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, go to https://bit.ly/3djc1wt. For assistance, call 701-355-1540. Morton County residents can go to https://www.custerhealth.com/covid-19-vaccine or call 701-328-0707 to register. Custer Health has a vaccination clinic at 1100 32nd Ave. SE in Units D and E, off Memorial Highway. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Legislature's Budget Section has approved of continuing state-administered testing of cities' wastewater for the coronavirus, using $1.2 million of federal money leftover from the state Health Department. Wednesday's vote was 28-10. The money will take the state Department of Environmental Quality's testing of 19 cities' wastewater through December 2022. The testing includes monitoring for coronavirus variants. North Dakota State University conducts the testing, which can indicate epidemiological trends earlier than clinical testing of people. The wastewater testing hasn't been popular among some lawmakers. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood, said, "I can't support it because I personally do not believe in it." Rep. Jon Nelson, R-Rugby, said the wastewater testing "is a more efficient way of testing an area to see if there is an outbreak," especially with the new omicron variant circulating in the U.S. "It would seem to me like it would make good sense to have a system where a community could be warned about an outbreak and take those precautions on a level of intelligence and data rather than innuendo," Nelson said. The 2021 Legislature left the testing's future in doubt by not approving any money for it despite multiple requests by Environmental Quality, and ultimately giving intent that the agency find federal funds. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 1 Funny 1 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. Gov. Doug Burgum and the leader of the North Dakota National Guard traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday to visit Guard soldiers deployed there in October. The 125 soldiers with the Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Company are supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the southern border, which has seen surges of migrants this year. The U.S. Army, via the National Guard Bureau, requested the Guard's mobilization. From the southwest border to our shared northern border with Canada, border security affects every state in the nation, from ensuring the safe and efficient flow of goods and services to stopping illegal immigration and drug and human trafficking," said Burgum, who serves as commander-in-chief of the state Guard. "Were deeply grateful to our North Dakota soldiers for doing their part with courage and professionalism to support the efforts to end the humanitarian crisis and secure the southwest border. Burgum and Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, the Guard's adjutant general, received briefings from Customs and Guard officials and met with the soldiers. I couldnt be more proud of the professionalism I saw within our soldiers during the visit down here, Dohrmann said. I also gained a greater appreciation for the enormous challenge that Customs and Border Protection is facing down here, and really gained an appreciation for the work they do, the professionalism of that organization. Im proud and humbled that the North Dakota National Guard can be part of the solution. Members of the 957th have deployed previously to Kuwait (2019-20), Kosovo (2009-10) and Iraq (2003-04). Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gold remains a licensed physician in California, although her emergency medicine certification lapsed last year. Complaints and investigations are not public in the state, so it is unclear whether she faces any. In Idaho, the state's medical association got so frustrated with pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole's promotion of the anti-parasite drug ivermectin that it filed a complaint with the state medical board. Susie Keller, the association's chief executive director, said she believed it was the first time the group sought action against one of its own. Many doctors, she explained, are fed up. The spreading falsehoods have "actually caused our physicians and nurses to be subjected to verbal assaults" by patients who are convinced that the fake information is true, Keller said. Cole did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press, but his work voicemail said that he is unable to prescribe medications or issue vaccine or mask exemption letters." The voicemail also directed callers to the website of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, a group that champions ivermectin. ADM tried to demolish the Great Northern, at 250 Ganson St., in 1996 and again in 2003. "This is a great opportunity for ADM to do what they've wanted to do for three decades," Higgins said. The demolition application cited a recent engineer and others over the years who have voiced concerns that the structure is unstable and a safety hazard. "All of the engineers have concluded that the structure was not designed or built to withstand what are now understood to be wind loads in its location, and that there is no safe or feasible way to remedy those design deficiencies," the application said. "The brick exterior walls are far too high, too thin and are unsupported," it said. "And because the building is over 120 years old, the mortar throughout has degraded. In addition, the corrugated panel sheeting on the cupola is corroding and pieces are being periodically blown off the structure by the wind, causing potentially life-threatening debris falls. The state health commissioner's four-page determination Friday about the statewide mask mandate addressed various settings. And Robert N. Lowry Jr., deputy director for the New York State Council of School Superintendents, said the wording in the school section was different from previous versions. "It seems to suggest there would no longer be any discretion," Lowry said. "We advocated for mask breaks in the summer before there was guidance issued from the state." Lowry said superintendents heard early on that it was important to parents and students that mask breaks be offered. "Families regard it as essential for their children," he said. 0:49 Mask mandate kicks in statewide; counties not rushing to enforce penalties Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican, said a top Hochul official told him and other county executives on a phone call Friday that counties were not even expected to enforce the order during the first two weeks. The state has not said that publicly. Masks have been tied up in controversy in the past. During the summer of 2020, when schools were preparing their reopening plans, confusion reigned over social distancing and masks. Supporters of a Town of Tonawanda police officer who was fired last month following his fourth suspension in four years are holding an event to raise money for him and his family. Thursdays fundraiser at a South Buffalo tavern comes one week after former Officer Michael Lewandowski appealed his firing by the Tonawanda Town Board. 0:49 Tonawanda fires town cop suspended four times since 2017 Officer Michael G. Lewandowski had served previous suspensions for forcibly removing spectators from Town Court, pressuring a state trooper to fix a ticket issued to a relative and pursuing a suspect in violation of department policy. The court challenge argues that the town undertook a flawed disciplinary process and singled Lewandowski out for punishment. "I think he deserved better than this," said Emily Trott, Lewandowski's attorney. The town has not yet formally responded to the appeal, but Supervisor Joseph H. Emminger defended the Town Board's decision to fire Lewandowski. +2 Lawyer for Tonawanda cop suspended 4 times since 2017 accuses town of 'hatchet job' Attorney Emily Trott said the town's selective release of disciplinary records for two incidents are an attempt to sway public opinion against her client. "We reviewed all of the information presented to us, including the hearing officer's report," Emminger said. "After all that due diligence being done, our action to terminate was justified, in our opinion." It's not clear who is behind the fundraiser, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub on Seneca Street, according to a ticket to the event seen by The Buffalo News. Requested donations to the Lewandowski family are $25 per guest. A graduate of the University at Buffalo has been named acting director of the National Institutes of Health. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra named Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak to take the helm of the agency, effective Dec. 20. Tabak was principal deputy director since 2010 under Francis S. Collins, who is retiring. He will be acting director while the administration searches for a permanent successor to Collins. The NIH, based in Bethesda, Md., oversees 27 institutes, centers and offices and is the federal governments principal medical research agency. Tabak earned a doctoral degree in oral biology from the UB School of Dental Medicine in 1981. He received an advanced certificate in endodontics from the university in 1985. He also received a doctor of dental surgery degree from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree from The City College of New York. Tabak has been with the NIH since 2000, including as deputy ethics counselor and director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. The judge said he expected the state Supreme Court to have the final say. The New England Clean Energy Connect, backed by Central Maine Power's parent company and Hydro Quebec, contends it will ultimately prevail and that the law will be found to be unconstitutional. The facts are clear: the NECEC project is good for Maine and for the region and will help address the energy, economic and climate issues we face. That is why we remain committed to this project, the statement said. NECEC had suspended construction of the project, which aims to bring up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid, after a request to do so by the governor. Maines environmental commissioner later suspended a permit for the project, and the suspension remains intact with the judges ruling. Critics said the project is damaging the woods and changing the character of a part of western Maine with little if any benefit for its residents. That all adds up to a lot of money spent in a short time aimed at putting Niagara Falls through an HGTV-style renovation. Restainos plan may not meet our New Deal test. Nearly eight decades later, the fruits of President Franklin D. Roosevelts gusher of New Deal spending is still visible across America. The New Deal built bridges and highways and dams. It funded new buildings, paid for the creation of great art and extended electric power to rural America. The $1.2 trillion of federal spending in President Bidens American Rescue Plan and the resulting spending decisions made by localities across the country should be judged by the same standard. Eighty years from now, will this 2020s gusher of money have propelled the U.S. to new heights? Even if the Niagara Falls plan fails the New Deal test, it may nonetheless lead the Falls to a different future a decade or two from now, giving the city a new foundation for the half century beyond that. And that would be a success. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. Proponents of single-sex education say that removing distractions and social pressures that come with coed schooling allows students to better focus on academics and to more fully develop their personalities. They become less concerned with their appearance and more likely to just be themselves. There is also a school of thought that boys and girls have different learning styles. Boys need to hear instruction delivered at a higher volume, some educators say. Boys also have a tendency to be more vocal in team exercises or group projects, which can push girls to the background. Advocates of all-girls schools say their students develop more self-confidence and are more likely to try new fields of study, which may help close the STEM gap that tilts toward boys. Single-sex education also has its detractors. Some say it reinforces gender stereotypes, rather than removing them. Others say putting boys and girls in separate schools will stunt their social growth, putting them a step behind when they enter the adult world after high school. The University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015 published a meta-analysis, drawing on results from multiple studies, which found that measurable benefits to same-sex education were practically non-existent. A recent column in The Buffalo News presented the views of a noted apologist for the health insurance industry. The author offered a mix of cherry-picked, distorted and invented facts to make her case that it is better here than in other nations. Speaking of cancer survival, she stated that other wealthy nations report worse outcomes. Some do; some dont. For example, the U.S. ranks seventh for lung cancer survival, and 15th for stomach cancer. Our outcomes are good, but not better than in several other countries. The decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. is presented in a distorted manner. While this decline is real and worthy of celebration, Americas performance is worse than that of Singapore, South Korea, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and the U.K., to name a few. The author disparaged the U.K. for failing to meet its 85% goal for cancer patients to be seen following urgent referral. In fact, the U.K. National Health Services nine performance goals for cancer care are regarded as the most ambitious in the developed world. While they are not always met, performance is usually within 90% of the goal. In contrast, our fragmented health care system has no national performance goals at all. More bodies found in search for survivors of boat accident off Malaysia Search underway as migrant boat capsizes off Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has recovered the bodies of 18 people who died after a boat carrying suspected undocumented migrants capsized in bad weather, maritime authorities said on Thursday. Fourteen people survived, while 18 others remain missing, as search and rescue operations continued for a second day, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said in a statement. Of the 18 dead, 11 were found on Wednesday. All those aboard the boat were from Indonesia. Wednesday's accident was the latest in a string of disasters recorded in the waterways between Indonesia and Malaysia in recent years, often involving overloaded boats ferrying labourers seeking work in Malaysian factories and plantations. According to rights group Migrant CARE, between 100,000 and 200,000 Indonesians travel illegally to Malaysia each year for work, many of them recruited by trafficking gangs. Identification documents recovered showed that most of the people onboard the capsized boat were from the Indonesian island of Lombok, the country's Migrant Workers Protection Agency said in a statement. Of the survivors, one woman was in critical condition due to dehydration and has been hospitalised, the agency said, adding that an investigation into the accident was underway. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Additional reporting by Agustinus Beo Da Costa in Jakarta; Editing by Ed Davies, Martin Petty) Poinciana, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - In a recent tweet on SafeBLAST's (BLAST) official Twitter account, SafeBLAST announced: "SafeBLAST will donate 500 Billion tokens to a Non-Profit organization on May 1st, 2022." This date also coincides with the one year anniversary of the SafeBLAST project. At this point, St. Jude's Children Hospital seems to be the front runner and most likely the selected organization. SafeBLAST To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8203/107692_97c55228e4ac79a0_001full.jpg It is important to note, SafeBLAST (BLAST), is more than just a deflationary token and certainly beyond a meme. It is integrated with utility functions which allows BLAST to be used as a direct payment method worldwide. It is currently accepted at vending machines, in-store POS, online ecommerce and even as tuition at GK College in the Philippines. This early utility integration has helped distinguish SafeBLAST from other meme tokens in crypto. SafeBLAST is the only known major deflationary token project, which started very small with no Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) or Pre-Sale. The initial project funding and liquidity was provided by the anonymous founder and locked until May 2026. This initial commitment of trust is what helped the then small project to grow to where it is today. The SafeBLAST community has experienced a steady project growth since it launched in May this year and now, the founder believes it is time to start introducing SafeBLAST (BLAST) to the rest of the world. The world's leading cryptocurrency tracking website, CoinMarketCap recently announced the list of crypto projects with the most growth in Q3 of 2021 and SafeBLAST (BLAST) came in at a solid second place. SafeBLAST's founder recently described the growth as "bootstrap tough and clawing your way through the noise..." Now with over 57,000 HODLers, SafeBLAST is still widely considered the top "dark horse" in the race to $0.01. This is mostly due to the project's commitment to lowering the total supply through multiple burn events, which has led to over 81% of the total supply to be permanently removed from circulation. Story continues Media Contact: Name: SafeBLAST (BLAST) Email: info@safeblastcrypto.com Website: www.safeblastcrypto.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/SafeBlastCrypto Twitter: https://twitter.com/SafeBlastArmy Telegram: https://t.me/SafeBlast To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107692 While NSO Group was taking flak for hacking into the phones of journalists, activists and human rights defenders, an entire class of spyware makers and surveillance-for-hire outfits were operating as normal, largely unnoticed. These private surveillance groups develop and deploy never-before-seen exploits that quietly hack into and steal the contents of a victim's phone call logs, text messages, emails, location data and more often on behalf of authoritarian governments targeting their most vocal critics. Now, following an investigation by researchers at Citizen Lab and Facebook's new parent company, Meta, seven surveillance-for-hire groups have been banned from using the social media giant's platforms to target other users. Meta said Thursday that it has removed more than 1,500 Facebook and Instagram accounts associated with the seven outfits, which the company said were used for reconnaissance, social engineering and sending malicious links to thousands of victims in over 100 countries. Meta said it's notified around 50,000 people it believes were targeted by the seven groups. Although much of the recent focus of the surveillance industry has been on companies like NSO Group, both Citizen Lab and Meta warned that the wider surveillance-for-hire industry will continue to balloon if left unregulated. "It's important to realize that NSO is only one piece of a much broader global cyber mercenary ecosystem," according to a report of Meta's investigation seen by TechCrunch before its publication. One of the banned companies is Cytrox, a North Macedonia-based spyware maker. Meta said it found the company using a "vast" infrastructure of web domains mimicking legitimate news sites to target the iPhone and Android devices of its victims. Meta said it sent legal notices to Cytrox and blocked hundreds of domains associated with its infrastructure. Meta was acting on findings by Citizen Lab, which also on Thursday released a forensic report into the hacking of phones belonging to two Egyptians living in exile a former politician and the host of a popular news show who asked not to be named. Citizen Lab said the spyware that infected their phones in July 2021, dubbed Predator, was developed by Cytrox. Story continues Citizen Lab first discovered the spyware on the iPhone belonging to Ayman Nour, an Egyptian politician and outspoken critic of the incumbent president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who took over the country following a military coup in 2013. Nour, who lives in exile in Turkey, became suspicious when his phone was "running hot." Citizen Lab found that Nour's phone had been infected with Pegasus, the now-infamous spyware created by NSO Group. That led to the discovery that his phone had been concurrently hit by the newly discovered Predator spyware. Both Nour's phone and the phone belonging to the host of the news show were running iOS 14.6, the latest version of iOS at the time of the hacks, suggesting the spyware made use of a never-before-seen exploit in the iPhone's software to infect the phones. Apple spokesperson Scott Radcliffe declined to say whether the company had fixed the vulnerability. Read more on TechCrunch Predator shares a similar set of features to NSO's Pegasus. Citizen Lab said Nour was sent a malicious link over WhatsApp. When opened, the spyware can access a phone's cameras and microphone and can exfiltrate the phone's data. Predator unlike Pegasus lacks the ability to silently infect a phone without any user interaction, but it makes up for that with persistence. Citizen Lab said the spyware can survive a reboot of an iPhone typically clearing any spyware lurking in its memory by creating an automation using the Shortcuts feature built into iOS. The researchers said that, "remarkably," Nour's phone was compromised at the same time with both Pegasus and Predator, but that the infections were likely unrelated. "Based on the slapdash nature of Predator's code, it's clear we're looking at the B Team here," said Bill Marczak, one of the Citizen Lab researchers who discovered and analyzed the Predator malware. "Even so, Predator was still able to break into the latest, fully up-to-date phones, so it's no surprise that we found repressive governments, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as Predator operators." Citizen Lab said it was likely that Predator is being used by government customers in Armenia, Greece, Serbia, Indonesia, Madagascar and Oman plus Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which are known to target their critics with mobile spyware. Meta, meanwhile, said its investigation found Predator customers in Vietnam, the Philippines and Germany. Cytrox CEO Ivo Malinkovski could not be reached for comment; an email sent prior to publication bounced as undelivered. Meta said that it also banned four other Israeli companies involved in the surveillance-for-hire business: Cobwebs, Cognyte, Black Cube and Bluehawk. In addition, it banned BellTrox, an Indian hacking outfit accused of hacking into thousands of email accounts belonging to politicians and government officials, and a China-based spyware maker believed to be used by China's law enforcement. Although NSO has faced legal challenges and restrictions on its business dealings in large part because of accusations of abuse and spying on members of civil society claims that the company has repeatedly denied the social media giant warned that the growing surveillance industry continues to proliferate regardless. "We will continue to investigate and enforce against anyone abusing our apps," Meta's report said. "However, these cyber mercenaries work across many platforms and national boundaries. Their capabilities are used by both nation-states and private enterprises, and effectively lower the barrier to entry for anyone willing to pay. For their targets, it is often impossible to know they are being surveilled across the internet." You can contact this reporter securely over Signal and WhatsApp to +1 646-755-8849. You can also send files or documents using our SecureDrop. Learn more. Virologist Alyson Kelvin says more data on the Omicron variant is needed. (VIDO/University of Saskatchewan - image credit) While COVID-19 case numbers in Saskatchewan have declined in the past few weeks, they're trending upwards in other provinces, as the Omicron coronavirus variant first identified as a variant of concern less than three weeks ago spreads across Canada. Federal Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam has warned the Omicron variant caseload could "rapidly escalate" in the coming days, and that it's on its way to becoming the dominant coronavirus strain in Canada. Saskatchewan medical experts say that could happen here unless residents and the provincial government vigorously safeguard against COVID-19 transmission. The province has only reported five COVID-19 cases stemming from the Omicron variant so far. In Alberta, there were 60 as of Wednesday. "I think right now what we're seeing is that cases of Omicron are increasing quite quickly," said Dr. Alyson Kelvin, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan. "It does seem that this could be the dominant circulating variant." Kelvin says it is too early to say how Omicron will affect Saskatchewan, since there are still many unknowns about the variant and how effective vaccines against it. "What it seems is that we're getting mixed results coming back. There is evidence showing that people who have been vaccinated do have some type of protection against severe disease, so that's really important," said Kelvin. "But other research studies are showing that there's less binding of antibodies developed in people who are vaccinated toward the Omicron variant." That could increase after a third vaccine dose, "but really, to get a complete picture ... we're not there yet," Kelvin said. Submitted by Saskatchewan Health Authority Dr. Cory Neudorf, an interim senior medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and professor at the University of Saskatchewan's college of medicine, echoes Kelvin's cautiousness about Omicron. Story continues "It's still a little bit unclear as to the differences between the Omicron variant and the Delta variant," he said. "The health system needs to watch closely, as does the government, to see where it's hit first and get a better idea of the seriousness of it." Both Kelvin and Neudorf suggest taking precautionary measures, like getting booster shots. Booster shots and rapid tests In Saskatchewan, vaccine booster shots are available to anyone 50 or older and those 18 or older living in the far north or in First Nation communities. Boosters are also available to all health-care workers, and anyone born in 2009 or earlier with an underlying health condition that makes them vulnerable. Kelvin says data and studies suggest that a third dose of an mRNA-based vaccine will increase antibody levels and the ability of antibodies to bind to the Omicron variant. "This might give us some type of relief, thinking that a booster might help protect us. But at this time, it hasn't been directly shown that people who will be boosted will be better protected. We need other data to support that." However, Kelvin says it has been shown that people are better protected against severe COVID-19 illness after getting that third dose. University of Saskatchewan Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine, a professor of community health and epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan's college of medicine, agrees that those who are eligible should get their booster shots. Saskatchewan also needs to be vigilant about vaccinating children, he says. He also says rapid COVID-19 tests need to be used in greater quantities, especially before attending an indoor gathering. He also raised concerns about travel right now. "I would not travel, certainly, outside of the country. I would even be very cautious about traveling within the country across provinces. And I wouldn't travel to Ontario," where Omicron cases are rising quickly, said Muhajarine. On Wednesday, the federal government changed its travel guidance, once again officially advising against non-essential travel outside the country. Muhajarine says anyone visiting Saskatchewan from Ontario during the holidays should be fully vaccinated and take a rapid test on the day of arrival. "We cannot pretend that Omicron is not going to spread here. It will spread because that's what this particular variant is really good at doing," he said. He wants to hear from the provincial government about limits on gathering sizes and a plan for making boosters doses a focus of vaccination efforts. "We need our government to to really tell us what their plan is, how they are going to be pivoting quickly. We need to put Omicron in place." Restrictions While some jurisdictions have recently tightened their pandemic restrictions, the Saskatchewan government has not yet done so. Alberta relaxed its gathering limits as of Wednesday. In a statement to CBC, the province of Saskatchewan said plans are in development to expand booster doses to all residents 18 and older early in the new year. The province says it will adjust its COVID-19 variant plan "based on best available information and our previous experiences managing the impact of COVID." In lieu of government restrictions, Kelvin says Saskatchewan residents should remember what worked to stop COVID-19 transmission in the past, and do the same this holiday season. She suggests limiting the number of people at gatherings and moving them outdoors when possible. If indoors, mask use and good ventilation are important, she said. "Every time somebody is infected, the virus then replicates inside of them, and that gives the virus an opportunity to gain new mutations and possibly create a new variant," said Kelvin. "We need to be keeping this in mind because we do want to drive down those transmission events so we can finally get out of this pandemic." Out-of-province transfers Controlling the spread of Omicron cases is essential to ensuring Saskatchewan's health-care system isn't overwhelmed, said Neudorf. While the last out-of-province COVID-19 patient returned home Tuesday, he says Saskatchewan may have to resort to that again if we're not careful about Omicron. "I would like to think that as more becomes known and we let the public know and give government a chance to react earlier, we should be able to get on top of this wave quicker so we don't get to that point," Neudorf said. Evan Mitsui/CBC But he says it's troubling that Saskatchewan's health-care system has not recovered from the fourth wave yet. "We still have quite a large number of people in ICU and in hospital. So introducing another wave right now, even if it's smaller than the previous one, would put us into overcapacity problems," he said. "It is entirely possible that the system could become overloaded, which is why we need to take this seriously right now." Xcel Energy crews continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to assess damage and restore power to customers after a line of severe thunderstorms and high winds rolled through Wisconsin last night causing extensive damage to trees, poles and power lines. More than 450 employees and contractors are part of the effort to get the power back on in the areas Xcel Energy serves in the Upper Midwest. Since Wednesday night in Wisconsin around 24,000 customers experienced an outage and as of 8 a.m. about 16,000 customers are still without power in the state. Xcel Energy knows losing power is hard and we appreciate customers understanding, patience and kindness as our crew members work to restore power. When it comes to restoring power, top priority is given to situations that threaten public safety, such as live downed wires. However, continuing high winds and dropping temperatures throughout the day will make restoration efforts challenging. Repair priority is based on what will restore power to the largest number of customers most quickly, such as transmission lines or feeder lines that serve large amounts of customers. Visit https://www.xcelenergy.com/outages_and_emergencies to find the number of customers currently affected. Xcel Energy urges safety and cautionPlease use caution when traveling in affected areas and stay away from downed lines. Contact Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-1999 to report downed lines or natural gas leaks. Call 911 to report an emergency. Report your outage. Customers can help Xcel Energy get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages. Customers have a number of ways to report their outage. Via the Xcel Energy mobile app available on iOS and Android Online at xcelenergy.com/out Via text by texting OUT to 98936 to report an outage, or text STAT to the same number to check the status of a power outage. Call 1-800-895-1999 and follow the promptsthe automated phone reporting system lets customers report outages in less than 60 seconds. Once the cause of the problem is identified, the system or an Xcel Energy representative will provide customers with an estimated restoration time. Stay informed If outages occur, its important for customers to have access to the most recent updates about their power restoration. Customers can stay informed by visiting the Xcel Energy website. Additionally, the website hosts an outage map that displays information on the number of customers out and anticipated time for restoration. Customers can also stay informed by following Xcel Energy on Facebook and Twitter. Other ways customers can prepare, stay safe Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume an electric line, even one that is on or near the ground, is energized and therefore dangerous. Never, under any circumstance, touch or move a downed power line. If you come across a downed power line, leave the area and report it immediately by calling 1-800-895-1999. Observe food safety. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food safety is directly related to the temperature of the food. To maintain refrigerator and freezer temperatures, keep doors closed as much as possible. A full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures for approximately two days and a half-full freezer approximately one day. Visit the USDA website for more information. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Rubble is strewn throughout Wisconsin after a record-setting storm Wednesday night. A storm system swept through the Midwest, bringing with it a few tornadoes, high winds, uprooted trees and cut power for dozens of communities. Stanley in Chippewa County was particularly hit hard, with about 15-20 homes being destroyed according to the Stanley Fire Department. While no injuries have yet been reported in the storms, one of the hardest hit locations was Chwalas Construction. The entire construction business was devastated by the storm system, leaving virtually every structure leveled early Thursday morning. Dozens of employees and community members converged on the scene Thursday to begin to clear the rubble, one of which is Stanley native Thomas Reinhart. It is absolutely horrible to be out here and see this, Reinhart said. The least we can do is give a bit of our effort and time to help these guys. Theyve lost so much in such a short amount of time. They need us right now and that help shouldnt end today. The National Weather Service in La Crosse confirmed three tornadoes occurred in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa over the course of Wednesdays storm. The Red Cross of Wisconsin reportedly assisted five people at its shelter in the Stanley Community Building in Chapman Park overnight and is on scene assisting with supplies. Kwik Trip has also stepped up and donated milk, bread, sandwiches, eggs and a variety of other items to anyone who needs them, with those supplies being located at the Stanley Community Building. Xcel Energy said that about 24,000 customers in Wisconsin were without power at some point during the storm, with some not having power restored into Thursday. More information on the damage sustained in Stanley and the surrounding areas will be available in the coming days. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 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. OMAHA, Neb. At least five people died as a powerful and extremely unusual storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest amid unseasonably warm temperatures, spawning hurricane-force winds and possible tornadoes in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. In southeastern Minnesota, Olmsted County Sheriff's Lt. Lee Rossman said a 65-year-old man was killed Wednesday night when a 40-foot tree blew onto him outside his home. In southwestern Kansas, blinding dust kicked up by the storms Wednesday led to two separate crashes that killed three people, Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Mike Racy said. And in eastern Iowa, a semitrailer was struck by high winds and rolled onto its side Wednesday evening, killing the driver, the Iowa State Patrol confirmed. Authorities across Wisconsin reported numerous trees down, blowing debris, closed roads, and power outages for tens of thousands. Lack of power forced three Racine schools to close Thursday, the Racine Journal Times reported. Ahead of the storm system, Wednesday was the warmest December day ever in Madison, with a high of 68 recorded at 3:15 p.m. at the Dane County Regional Airport. The previous record for the warmest December day was set on Dec. 3, 2012, when temperatures hit 65 degrees. The previous high for Dec. 15 was set in 2011 at 52 degrees. Roughly the western half of Wisconsin was under a tornado watch Wednesday night, though no tornadoes were reported, while a high wind warning expired at 6 a.m. Thursday for many or 9 a.m. for eastern counties. A wind advisory continues to 5 p.m. for locations north of a line from Lone Rock to Madison to Lake Geneva, the National Weather Service said. The storm shifted north of the Great Lakes into Canada on Thursday, with high winds, snow and hazardous conditions continuing in the upper Great Lakes region, the National Weather Service said. More than 190,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity Thursday afternoon in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kansas, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. At least two tornadoes were confirmed in southern Minnesota on Wednesday, the state's first twisters on record in December. The small community of Hartland, Minnesota, might have been the hardest hit, with a reported 35 to 40 homes sustaining minor damage and a few businesses severely damaged, Freeborn County Emergency Management Director Rich Hall said. Winds reached at least 110 mph in Hartland, the National Weather Service said. Losses also included livestock. Dozens of cows were electrocuted at a dairy farm after a power pole landed on a milking barn in Newaygo County, in western Michigan. Tim Butler said his workers at the dairy survived the event, but at least 70 cows died. Dozens survived, but many were "hurt bad," Butler said. The destructive weather system developed amid unprecedented warmth for December in the Plains and northern states. That included temperatures that rose to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) across southwestern Wisconsin on Wednesday evening. The Weather Company historian Chris Burt compared the heat to that of a "warm July evening." "I can say with some confidence that this event (the heat and tornadoes) is among the most (if not THE most) anomalous weather event ever on record for the Upper Midwest," Burt wrote in a Facebook post. The winds knocked down trees, tree limbs and nearly 150 power lines in northern and western Michigan's Lower Peninsula. In the western Michigan village of Fruitport, high winds peeled back a portion of Edgewood Elementary School's roof, leading officials to close all district schools Thursday. There were more than 20 tornado reports Wednesday in the Plains states, scattered mostly through eastern Nebraska and Iowa, based on preliminary reports to the Storm Prediction Center. The storm system led to the most reports of hurricane-force wind gusts 75 mph or higher on any day in the U.S. since 2004, the center said. "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 governors of Kansas and Iowa declared states of emergency. 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. On Wednesday, there were at least 59 reports of hurricane-force wind gusts regionwide, which exceeded the 53 recorded on Aug. 10, 2020, when a rare derecho wind storm struck Iowa, the Storm Prediction Center said. The destruction on Wednesday, however, was far less severe than from last year's derecho, which caused billions of dollars of damage. The winds also whipped up dust that reduced visibility to zero in parts of Kansas and caused at least four semitrailers to blow over, leading officials to temporarily close much of Interstate 70, as well as all state highways in nine northwestern Kansas counties. Kansas deployed helicopters and other firefighting equipment to help smother at least a dozen wind-fueled wildfires in western and central counties, officials said Thursday. That dust and smoke was carried north by the storm and concentrated over parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, causing a dramatic drop in air quality in those areas late Wednesday. That spawned a glut of calls to already-taxed emergency dispatchers from people reporting the smell of smoke. The system blew into the Plains from Colorado, sending gale-force winds across a swath from New Mexico to Minnesota, Wisconsin and upper Michigan. The weather service recorded a gust of 107 mph Wednesday morning at Lamar, Colorado, and gusts of 100 mph in Russell, Kansas. Scientists say extreme weather events and warmer temperatures are more likely to occur with human-caused climate change. However, scientifically attributing a storm system to global warming requires specific analysis and computer simulations that take time, haven't 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," 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 wouldn't have happened without global warming, said Jeff Masters, a Yale Climate Connections meteorologist who cofounded Weather Underground. Stafford reported from Liberty, Missouri. Jeff Richgels of the State Journal and Associated Press writers Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Ken Miller in Oklahoma City; Terry Wallace in Dallas; Seth Borenstein in Washington D.C.; Jim Anderson in Denver and Grant Schulte in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With GOP-led investigations into Wisconsins 2020 election expected to carry over into next year, a conservative organization on Wednesday ranked the state eighth in the nation in terms of election security and integrity. The conservative Heritage Foundation ranks Wisconsin tied with South Carolina in eighth place on its election integrity scorecard, which compares state election laws and regulations based on how they impact the security and integrity of the processes based on the foundations best-practices recommendations. The foundation graded states in a variety of categories, specifically based on whether they implement election practices such as requiring voter ID and absentee ballot witness signatures or allow election day voter registration. Wisconsin received a 20 out of 20 score on voter ID implementation and a 74 out of 100 overall score, according to the report. The foundations ranking comes as Republicans continue to scrutinize how the states 2020 election was conducted, including the GOP-ordered probe being led by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has allocated $676,000 in taxpayer funds to Gablemans review, but said earlier this week the investigation, which had initially been planned to be finished this year, will carry over into 2022 and could cost more. Earlier this year, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul requested a restraining order against Gablemans subpoena seeking a meeting with elections commission administrator Meagan Wolfe. A hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 23 on the matter. A Waukesha County Circuit Court judge has scheduled a hearing for Jan. 21 on Gablemans request that the Waukesha County sheriff compel the mayors of Madison and Green Bay to meet with him or face jail time. Vos on Tuesday continued to question whether widespread voter fraud occurred in the state last year despite those claims having been repeatedly debunked. Joe Biden won the Electoral College that is a fact, Vos told the State Journal, but added later: Do I believe that there was enough fraud to have caused a different outcome? Well never know, because we have no idea. Well have no idea how many people broke the law, Vos said. So there are a lot of things we will never know the answer to, but the whole point is that we need to make sure that in 2022 we do get those answers and we know that whoever wins in 2022 does so fair and square so we dont have this constant two-year argument saying that the other side cheated. A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. An analysis by The Associated Press found only 31 potential cases of voter fraud in Wisconsins 2020 election, which represents less than 0.15% of Bidens margin of victory. In 26 of the 31 cases, prosecutors declined to bring charges after conducting a review. Gablemans review has largely focused on private election grants from the Chicago-based Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), funded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, that Republicans say were used to unfairly increase turnout in the Democratic strongholds of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. Court rulings have found nothing illegal about the more than $10 million in grants CTCL distributed to about 214 municipalities in 39 of Wisconsins 72 counties, including many in areas solidly won by Trump. Nor did CTCL turn down grant requests from any of the Wisconsin municipalities that made them. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) While the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt across the entire Philippine labor force, women and the youth were particularly hit the hardest, according to a recent study by the Asian Development Bank. Among the sample countries, the Philippines was the most affected in 2020 in terms of health outcomes (COVID-19 cases) and also in economic and labor market impacts," said the ADB, noting the nation had the most displaced workers. The study also examines the impact of the health crisis on Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. For instance, in the second quarter of 2020 alone, women accounted for an average of 44% of job losses in the country. This was when authorities declared the first round of tight lockdowns in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. One common feature of labor market adjustment to the COVID-19 shock across the sample countries is that more females moved into inactivity following job loss while more males moved into unemployment, said the ADB. More departures were observed among women as they supposedly play a larger role in providing family care, likes in homeschooling and nursing sick relatives -- an observation applicable to all age groups among women in the Philippines according to the regional lender. The ADB also stressed that young workers were disproportionately affected by job losses during the height of COVID-19s effects on labor markets such as the Philippines. This is owing to their overrepresentation in sectors that were heavily hit, like food and accommodation services, wholesale and retail trade, and other services, and also because they were more likely to lose their jobs than adult workers in these same sectors, said the ADB. Accompanying this phenomenon are other challenges brought about by the pandemic, like disruptions to education and skills development, along with delays in school-to-work transitions, it added. Also affected immensely by the health crisis were informal workers in the Philippines, with about 70% of job losses accounted for by these individuals, according to the ADB. The regional organization likewise kept note of the measures taken by the government to address the sudden impact of the pandemic on jobs like COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and Small Business Wage Subsidy Program. The ADB noted these were followed by more targeted measures, such as initiatives to support frontliners directly caring for COVID-19 patients. [T]hese measures may have contributed to the relatively high use of intensive margins of adjustment across most sectors in the country as described above, but the limited coverage of the labor force suggests that other factors beyond these policy interventions also played a key role, said the organization. The ADB also cited the provision of cash aid on top of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Rice Subsidy Program, which catered to tens of millions of low-income households. In addition to social assistance programs, the Philippines also implemented a public works program for informal workers affected by the crisis, which included displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers, it said, also citing efforts catering to affected overseas Filipino workers firsthand. With this, the ADB stressed the need for the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations to maximize achievements in their pandemic response such as digital technology and e-banking and channel strides made into filling social protection gaps temporarily. Ultimately, the goal is towards coming up with more comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable social protection systems, it added. Addressing this challenge must be a priority, not only to reduce vulnerability to shocks but also to mitigate widening inequalities in labor market outcomes and living standards across and within countries, said the ADB. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) Ahead of its planned initial public offering (IPO), a unit of Solar Philippines became a hot stock after recording high traction from investorsits base offer nearly twice oversubscribed. According to the firms underwriter Abacus Capital and Investment Corporation, Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corporation (SPNEC) attracted 5.3 billion in orders for its 2.7-billion offering which ran from December 1 to 7. "SPNECs IPO was oversubscribed with strong demand from investors who want exposure to the first pure-play solar company to be listed on PSE," the underwriter said. The shares will be listed on the Main Board of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) tomorrow, December 17. The renewable energy firm is the local stock market's tenth and final IPO for this year. "Were grateful for the publics faith in our ability to turn this 'powerpoint' into a power plant, and hope our work can live up to these expectations," said Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste. SPNEC reiterated that a bulk of the new capital will be used to finance its first 50-megawatt solar power facility. It will also support the company's preparation to develop the largest solar project in Southeast Asia. Earlier this week, tycoon Enrique Razon, through Prime Infrastructure Holdings, Inc., bared investments amounting to 3.5 billion for three of Solar Philippines' projects located in Tarlac, Batangas, and Cavite. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) Beatrice Gomez offered kind words and support for the newly crowned Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu of India, days after the prestigious event in Israel. Gomez on Thursday looked back at her journey, including the special bond she shared with Sandhu, along with the other candidates from all over the world. "Throughout the competition, me and the other girls were really helping out each other," she told CNN Philippines' The Source. "Si Miss India, nasira 'yung steamer niya, so since the first day that we got to Israel, hinihiram niya lagi yung steamer ko," Gomez added. [Translation: Miss India had a broken steamer, so since the first day that we got to Israel, she was always borrowing my steamer.] "I was the one who helped her wear her clothes sometimes. Sinasabi ko nga sa kanya na [I was telling her that] I saw how hard she worked, how dedicated she is and even when she was doing really great, she still pressures herself," she said. Gomez said she was proud of Sandhu, whose hotel room was just next to hers during the competition. "(I was telling her) you really did amazing...I am honored and grateful to have the chance to know her and help her during her journey." Gomez said it was an unforgettable experience, as she made a lot of friends all throughout the competition. "Doon ko na-feel yung warmth ng isa't isa. Because we were there by ourselves. The only time na hindi maramdaman ang loneliness was when we were together," she added. [Translation: That's when I felt the warmth of each other. Because we were there by ourselves. The only time that we didnt feel lonely was when we were together.] The 26-year-old Cebuana beauty bowed out of the pageant after reaching the Top 5. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Gomez has returned to the country three days after fighting it out against 79 other candidates in the prestigious pageant. What will she do next? Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday, the 26-year-old Cebuana beauty said she would like to return to her hometown to do some charity work and continue her studies. "While I was there in Israel, I was really looking into going back to Cebu and doing an outreach activity as my thanksgiving for winning the [Miss Universe Philippines] crown, for my entire journey," Gomez said. "Gusto ko sana balikan yung mga bata doon at mag-outreach sa kanila," she added. [Translation: I want to go back and hold an outreach program for the children there.] Gomez, a community development worker and a Philippine Navy Marines Reservist, has closely worked with children in conflict with the law at a juvenile facility in Cebu City. She also initiated a fundraising event at Children's Shelter of Cebu last year. Gomez is also a mass communication student at the University of San Jose-Recoletos. "I was supposed to finish my program before I left school. Tatapusin ko na siya, yung thesis ko (I plan to finish my thesis) hopefully, so I can finally graduate," she added. RELATED: READ: PH's Beatrice Gomez ends Miss Universe 2021 run, hailed for Top 5 entry Gomez failed to enter the Top 3 after she was asked for her sentiment on requiring COVID-19 vaccine passports globally during the Q&A segment of the pageant held in Israel on Monday. She ended her Miss Universe journey in the Top 5. India's Harnaaz Sandhu won the crown. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) The vaccine expert panel is poised to recommend a shorter interval between the second COVID-19 vaccine dose and the booster shot, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday. "I already spoke to the head of the vaccine expert panel, Dr. Nina Gloriani. Yesterday, she told me they will officially recommend a three-month interval between the second dose and the booster dose," Duque said in a briefing. "What used to be six months, pwedeng [it can be] three to four months interval between the second and booster dose," he added. He also said this will apply to all COVID-19 vaccine brands approved for use as a booster. Duque expressed hope the new interval will be implemented "within the week." Currently, all adults could receive an additional COVID-19 shot six months after their second dose of AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sputnik V, or Sinovac vaccine, and three months after receiving the Janssen shot. 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. (CNN) The US and South Korea will develop a new operational war plan to address the threat from North Korea, senior defense officials said Tuesday, as the Pentagon shifts its focus to the Indo-Pacific region following its recently completed global force posture review. Speaking to reporters aboard Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's flight to South Korea, senior defense officials said that Austin and Defense Minister Suh Wook will announce new strategic planning guidance to begin developing a new operational war plan. The two met Wednesday and are scheduled to meet again on Thursday as part of the 53rd US-Republic of Korea Security Consultative Meeting. "This is the right thing to do," said one official. "The strategic environment has changed over the past few years and it's appropriate and necessary that we have an [operational war plan] that is updated and keeps it in tune with the strategic environment. So the strategic planning guidance that the minister and secretary will announce is going to be an important step forward in that." There have been four separate North Korean missile launch tests since early September, the officials noted, including cruise missiles, short range ballistic missiles, what Pyongyang claimed was a hypersonic weapon and, most recently, a test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile. A second official called the development of a new operational war plan "a natural evolution of changing circumstances" and not an immediate response to one singular concerning event. The classified operational war plan details how the US, South Korea, and their allies would respond in the event of a conflict with North Korea. Because the South Korean capital of Seoul is only about 30 miles from the demilitarized zone acting as a buffer zone between the two countries, the US-led alliance has prepared plans in case a war breaks out between North and South Korea. Seoul is within reach of North Korean artillery and other conventional weapons, but the advances in recent years of Pyongyang's advanced weaponry have made an updated war plan even more critical, officials said. Noting that the existing plan is nearly 10 years old, the first official said that the US has seen progress in North Korean military capabilities, especially with regards to missiles, "and I think that's one set of issues that we plan to address." There is no specific timetable to complete the new plan, the officials said, adding that it will take both time and effort to develop. The announcement of the intent to develop the plan came after the Pentagon unveiled some details about its recently concluded global force posture review, which called for a greater focus on the Indo-Pacific region. The military consulted with South Korea in completing it, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, Mara Karlin, said at a press briefing Monday. "The Global Posture Review directs additional cooperation with allies and partners across the region to advance initiatives that contribute to regional stability and deter potential military aggression from China and threats from North Korea," Karlin said. On Tuesday, the top US general met his South Korean counterpart in Seoul, further underscoring the coordination and cooperation between the two countries. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley emphasized to Gen. In-Choul Won the importance of the alliance and the deterrence it provides, according to a readout of the meeting, which took place as part of the 46th Republic of Korea and United States Military Committee Meeting. On Monday, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby called the alliance between the US and South Korea the "linchpin of peace and stability" on the Korean peninsula. This story was first published on CNN.com, "US and South Korea to develop new war plan to address North Korean military advancements" Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) A health official said there is no need yet to tighten restrictions in the country a day after the Philippines detected its first two imported cases of the dreaded Omicron coronavirus variant. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergiere said they are still monitoring the situation so the nationwide Alert Level 2 will remain until the end of the year. She assured that the government will act quickly once it sees indications that new COVID-19 cases are going up. "Tayo ay patuloy na magmamatyag para makita natin," Vergeire said in a briefing. "The very first sign na makakakita tayo ng parang tataas ang kaso, hindi po tayo mag-aantay at made-delay sa response na iyan." [Translation: We will continuously monitor. Once we see the first sign that cases could increase, we will respond swiftly.] The health official added that there are no talks yet to postpone the expansion of face-to-face classes after the detection of the Omicron variant. She said the DOH is in talks with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to ensure there won't be COVID-19 transmission in schools. READ MORE: Plans to expand face-to face-classes to push through despite Omicron threat Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) The Senate approved on final reading the proposed measure preventing the expiration of legislative franchises with pending renewal applications in Congress. A total of 21 senators were in favor of Senate Bill No. 1530, which seeks to amend Section 18, Book VII, Chapter 3 of the Administrative Code of the Philippines. The existing law provides that a license shall not expire until a final determination by a granting agency has been made, provided that the application for renewal was filed in a timely manner. But the bill filed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon proposes that the provision must also cover franchises granted by Congress. While it is recognized that a franchise, license, or certificate is not a privilege, this rule must be tempered with considerations of equity, fairness, due process, and equal protection, the bill read. The bill also proposes that inaction of the regulating agency, department, or government branch on a renewal application shall not be considered a denial. The amendment we propose would merely encourage the concerned agency or branch of government to act decisively on an application for renewal, and to express its decision in clear, unmistakable terms, to ensure that the applicant is not punished for the authoritys indecision or inaction, it added. Drilon filed the bill last year after television network ABS-CBN went off the air on May 5 following a cease-and-desist order by the National Telecommunications Commission due to the expiration of its legislative franchise. The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises later rejected the media giants application for a fresh 25-year franchise. (CNN) The United States is committing for the first time to defining "statelessness" and increasing protections for stateless people in the US, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday. A stateless person is someone who does not have the nationality of any country, according to the United Nations, but the US doesn't have its own definition, making it difficult for the federal government to understand the needs of this population. For instance, in the US, stateless people might lack identity documents, according to DHS. The department believes making changes will help stateless people get better access to legal immigration status and benefits. Typically, people around the world who are stateless have challenges including an inability to get jobs or government services and difficulty getting travel documents, a DHS official told CNN. DHS, which is responsible for managing the US legal immigration system, will also increase the data available on stateless people in the country. The move could impact hundreds of thousands of people in the US. According to a study by the Center for Migration Studies of New York, roughly 218,000 US residents are potentially stateless or potentially at risk of statelessness. These groups live in all 50 states, with the largest populations in California (20,600), New York (18,500) and Texas (15,200), the group found. Stateless people may have arrived in the US as refugees, temporary visa holders or through irregular channels, according to the study, released in 2020. Donald Kerwin, executive director of the Center for Migration Studies and the lead author of the study, welcomed the DHS announcement. He called the move "long overdue" and advocated that the US also become a party to the 1954 and 1961 United Nations Conventions on statelessness. "This population is long overdue for some kind of path to status," he said, adding that in the course of the study they found that no federal agency had reliable information on stateless persons in the US. There are populations all over the world at risk of statelessness. For example, some Kurds from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Lebanon might be stateless and children of Syrian refugees at risk of statelessness, because several destination countries do not grant birthright citizenship. In Myanmar, the Rohingya ethnic minority face statelessness. "Your life is severely constricted, by virtue of the fact that you don't have a state, you don't have a country," the official said. There are no comprehensive government statistics on the number of stateless people in the US or the number who have applied for immigration benefits, which is part of the reason to create a definition, according to DHS. "We are doing something historic, that's a major step toward protecting a significant number of people," the official said, adding that this was a priority of the Biden administration. Asked why this is happening now as opposed to previous administrations, the official said that despite its magnitude, the issue has had to compete with other immigration priorities. "DHS is committed to pursuing initiatives to enhance recognition of, and protections for, vulnerable populations, including stateless individuals within the United States," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement Wednesday. This story has been updated with reaction to the announcement. This story was first published on CNN.com, "US promises to define 'statelessness,' a first for the federal government." Platte County saw severe weather Wednesday as strong winds swept across the area. On our call (Wednesday) morning with the National Weather Service, they said this there's a line of storms that are expected to move through the Platte County area midafternoon. And when that happens, there will be a little no warning because it's coming because it's going to be moving so fast, Platte County Emergency Manager Tim Hofbauer said. That storm speed could be anywhere from 60 to 90 miles an hour what they're asking people to do is to be aware of what's coming and be ready to take shelter or take shelter. Hofbauer added on Wednesday that residents were urged to be prepared to take shelter immediately. Individuals that go to other locations for shelter, like if you live in a mobile home and you go to a friend's or relative's house, they recommend to go early and stay there because you won't have time, Hofbauer said. Taylor Nicolaisen, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Office, said the winds were expected to slowly increase in speed over the course of Wednesday afternoon. We're anticipating them to become threatening with the ability to produce damage, Nicolaisen said. I would say probably the worst of it by four o'clock in the Columbus area and probably continuing until maybe eight or nine o'clock (that night). Nicolaisen said that 60 mile an hour gusts were very probable as of Wednesday morning. There will be spots that seem stronger gusts than that -- 70 or even 80 mile an hour gusts (are) a possibility, especially if a thunderstorm works through the Columbus area, he added. The mixture of potential storms and high winds had the chance of resulting in tornadoes. Probably the most life threatening situation would be with that line of thunderstorms there could be tornado potential. And those tornadoes would be moving particularly quickly, faster than they normally would, he said. Nicolaisen noted that type of weather is unusual for eastern Nebraska in December. Its going to be well out of the norm, especially considering this time of the year, Nicolaisen said. In advanced of the projected weather Wednesday, local schools including Columbus Catholic Schools and Lakeview Community Schools had early dismissal, according to the school districts respective social media pages. On Tuesday, the City of Columbus announced that the Columbus Community Center would be closed on Wednesday and the Columbus Transfer Station would only be open to licensed garbage haulers. As of Tuesday, Columbus Area Transit did not provide a bus service on Wednesday. Emergency alerts also went out Wednesday afternoon, telling people of a tornado warning and to take shelter. Following the storms Wednesday afternoon, some Loup Public Power customers saw a power outage. Loup President/CEO Neal Suess said the City of Newman Grove -- which is located in both Madison and Platte counties -- lost power for 15 to 20 minutes. In the Humphrey and Lindsay area, about one mile of transmission line was downed, and that area doesn't have power as of about 3:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Suess said. He added that Platte Center was hit pretty hard by the storm and crews were headed there to look at any damage that might have occurred. In Columbus, three distribution poles snapped near Dual Lift and Lost Creek School, causing about 600 Loup customers to lose power in that area, Suess 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 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. With Christmas just a little over a week away, Gruetli United Church of Christ members hope an upcoming event will help remind residents about why the holiday is celebrated. Gruetli a part of St. Lukes United Church of Christ in Columbus will host He is the Light of the World, a short live nativity drive-in pageant at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at 35504 197th St. The church is in a rural area between neighboring communities Monroe and Duncan. Hopefully, itll be a touching experience and touch their hearts and bring the reason of Christmas to them, said Rita Trofholz who along with Karen Klink is the co-chair of the event. He is the light of the world and Christ is the reason for Christmas. Around a dozen helpers will be in the nativity scene which will include real animals like sheep and goats. Its the first time that such an event has been held at the church, Trofholz said. Its the first year for it but I think we have a perfect venue for it out in the little country church, she said. Theres some area where we can be creative with. We wanted to share our talent and our faith with the community. Hopefully, well give them a little Christmas spirit. Gruetli United Church of Christ Pastor Adam Lassen said the pageants will last about 15 minutes each. He added he wants visitors to see the Christmas story through different eyes. We come to the table with preconceived notices but sometimes we miss the message thinking its one thing, Lassen said. He added he hopes folks can also get a sense of community in a safe environment - through the pageant. Perhaps it will allow some people who are celebrating with their families to go out and have something to do that evening, Lassen said. Trofholz said part of the reason why the event will be a drive-in is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But also the church is out in the country which can help someone feel closer to God, she added. Our church likes to do community outreach, Trofholz said. We think its something that needs to be done in the area, not just in our area but everywhere. This is something that we can do for the community. Hopefully, we can make their Christmas more enjoyable and more spiritual. It isnt the first time the church will have a drive-in portion. Last year, the church offered drive-in services during the pandemic, Trofholz said. Additionally, Gruetli will have its Christmas Eve service which begins at 10 p.m. in a drive-in setting, Trofholz said. For more information about the church or pageant, call Gruetli at 402-564-8862. 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. Officials are warning Platte County residents to be prepared for severe weather as strong winds are arriving to the Columbus area tonight. On our call this morning with the National Weather Service, they said there's a line of storms that are expected to move through the Platte County area midafternoon. And when that happens, there will be a little no warning because it's coming because it's going to be moving so fast, Platte County Emergency Manager Tim Hofbauer said. That storm speed could be anywhere from 60 to 90 miles an hour what they're asking people to do is to be aware of what's coming and be ready to take shelter or take shelter. Also, Hofbauer added, residents should be ready to seek shelter well in advance of the arrival of any storm. Individuals that go to other locations for shelter, like if you live in a mobile home and you go to a friend's or relative's house, they recommend to go early and stay there because you won't have time, Hofbauer said. Taylor Nicolaisen, meteorologist at the National Weather Service Omaha/Valley Office, said the winds slowly increased in speed over the course of the afternoon. We're anticipating them to become threatening with the ability to produce damage, Nicolaisen said. I would say probably the worst of it by four o'clock in the Columbus area and probably continuing until maybe eight or nine o'clock tonight. Nicolaisen said that 60 mile an hour gusts are very probable. There will be spots that seem stronger gusts than that -- 70 or even 80 mile an hour gusts (are) a possibility, especially if a thunderstorm works through the Columbus area, he added. The mixture of potential storms and high winds have the chance of resulting in tornadoes. Probably the most life threatening situation would be with that line of thunderstorms there could be tornado potential. And those tornadoes would be moving particularly quickly, faster than they normally would, he said. Nicolaisen noted this type of weather is unusual for eastern Nebraska in December. Its going to be well out of the norm, especially considering this time of the year, Nicolaisen said. In advanced of the projected high winds today, local schools had early dismissal, according to the school districts respective social media pages. Columbus Catholic Schools had early dismissal, with the day care closing at 1 p.m. and Scotus Central Catholic at 1:20 p.m.; afternoon and evening activities were also canceled. Lakeview Community Schools also had dismissal at 1:30 p.m. for all its schools, and all activities were canceled. Although Columbus Public Schools didnt issue an early dismissal, Wednesdays are an early out day for the students, meaning students have a shorter school day that day. Practices were moved up to right after school on Wednesday. Following the storms Wednesday afternoon, some Loup Public Power customers saw a power outage. Loup President/CEO Neal Suess said the City of Newman Grove last power for 15 to 20 minutes. In the Humphrey and Lindsay area, about one mile of transmission line was downed, and that area doesn't have power as of about 3:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Suess said. He added that Platte Center was hit pretty hard by the storm and crews were headed there to look at any damage that might have occurred. In Columbus, three distribution poles snapped near Dual Lift and Lost Creek School, causing about 600 Loup customers to lose power near that area, Suess 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 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. 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. On Sept. 20, 2019, Kratt was driving a 2020 Peterbilt semitrailer, 75 mph in a construction zone near the Gibbon I-80 interchange when he first hit the rear of a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Ryan Vanicek of Schuyler. The pickup had slowed for traffic in the construction zone, court records indicate. The chain-reaction crash caused the deaths of Vanicek and Daniel Seelhoff of Lincoln, both occupants of the Silverado that caught fire. The third fatality happened when Kratt hit the rear of a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Scott Gaylord, also of Lincoln, causing it to go under the trailer of a 2019 Volvo semi. In all, seven vehicles the Peterbilt, Silverado, Equinox, Volvo, a 2010 Ford pickup, a 2007 Toyota Camry and a 2012 Chevrolet Impala were involved in the crash. Three other people sustained injuries in the crash, but none were considered to be life-threatening. Kratt wasnt seriously injured. In October 2019, a warrant was issued for Kratts arrest, and he was arrested later that month. Scott Gaylords widow, Holly, took the stand and told Kratt she forgave him, after reading a letter she wrote to her husband, whom she met in college. Kratt wept loudly at her forgiveness. With good time, Kratt could be eligible for parole in one year and five months, Marsh said, and eligible for possible discharge in two years and five months. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The state Department of Health reported 154 cases of COVID-19 and one death in Thursday's report for Cumberland County. The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Cumberland County was 142 in Thursday's report, the same as Wednesday. The 14-day average for hospitalizations in the county sits at 120.1 (the highest rate since Jan. 25), the 30th straight day the average has increased for the county. The county's highest 14-day hospitalization rate was 158 on Jan. 2. There are 20 adults in intensive care (down one from Wednesday) and 22 on ventilators (up five from Wednesday). Six adult ICU beds remain open of the 116 currently staffed across the county, and 41 of 94 ventilators in the county are in use. The Health Department reported in its weekly update Tuesday that the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Dec. 13 was 5.4% higher than on Dec. 6. The percent of available adult and pediatric ICU beds in the state fell to 14% and 10.3%, respectively, for the week. The county finished November with 33 deaths after reporting 55 deaths in October. It has 31 deaths reported in the first 15 days of December. Thursday's report included 289 test results for Cumberland County, with 49 probable cases. Comparing just the number of negative tests (135) and confirmed positive tests (105), the county saw 44% of its tests come back positive. Franklin County reported 126 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Thursday (up three from Wednesday), with three of 34 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 21 of 36 available ventilators in use. There are 24 adults in intensive care and 18 on ventilators. Dauphin County reported 178 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Thursday (up 17 from Wednesday), with 22 of 198 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 89 of 177 available ventilators in use. There are 48 adults in intensive care and 33 on ventilators. School-age children In its weekly update for the 15th week of the school year, the department reported 126 cases among children aged 5-18 in Cumberland County during the week of Dec. 1-7, the same number of cases that had been reported the previous week. The total number of cases in Cumberland County for this school year is 2,017. Statewide, the number of cases among 5- to 18-year-olds saw its largest increase of the school year with 9,214 cases reported during the week of Dec. 1-7, compared to 6,574 during the previous week. The state said the total number of cases in that age group for the school year is 103,485. Early Warning Dashboard Cumberland County saw a decrease in its in percent positivity and its incidence rate per 100,000 people in the Health Department's weekly update to its Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard Friday. Its percent positivity decreased to 14.9% for the week of Dec. 3-9, down from 18.2% the previous week. The incidence rate per 100,000 people decreased to 239.2, down from 256.1 the previous week. In the southeast region, Lebanon County featured significant increases in the Health Department update Friday, with its percent positivity jumping to 25.9% (up from 21.5% the previous week) the second highest percent positivity in the state for the week behind Potter County (28.5%). Lebanon's incidence rate jumped to 458.4 (up from 345.6 the previous week). Sullivan County featured the highest incidence rate per 100,000 people for the week at 692.4. Philadelphia County, which includes the city of Philadelphia, had the lowest percent positivity in the state for the week of Dec. 3-9 at 7.1%. Cameron County had the lowest incidence rate per 100,000 people in the state at 239.2. Penn State Health update (Dec. 15) Penn State Health lists a COVID-19 dashboard on its website tracking cases at each of its acute care hospitals Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, Hampden Medical Center and Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. The dashboard will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday's update shows 183 total cases (177 adults, 6 pediatrics) in the health systems four hospitals, an increase of 18 cases since Friday. Thirty-two are fully vaccinated (17.4%) with five in an ICU and four on ventilators; 126 are nonvaccinated (68.9%) with 24 adults in an ICU and 16 adults on a ventilator, and 25 are unknown status patients. Five unvaccinated children are hospitalized with no one in an ICU and no one on a ventilator. Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill has 40 COVID patients. Twelve are fully vaccinated adults (no one in ICU and no one on a ventilator) and 28 are unvaccinated adults (two in an ICU and two on a ventilator). Hampden Medical Center has nine COVID patients, seven of them unvaccinated (one in an ICU, no one on a ventilator) and two fully vaccinated. Vaccinations The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labels Cumberland County as having "high" transmission of the virus the highest level, which is the transmission level for every county in the state. Community transmission is determined by the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days and the positivity rate over the last seven days, so the classification could vary from day to day based on those numbers. In data updated Wednesday evening, the CDC says Cumberland County has seen 59.6% of its total population of 253,370 become fully vaccinated. For the county's population of people ages 12 and older, 67.6% have been fully vaccinated. For the county's population of people ages 5 and older, 63% have been fully vaccinated. The Health Department Tuesday posted its monthly update on COVID-19 post-vaccination cases, commonly known as breakthrough. Between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 6, 2021, data shows the overwhelming majority of cases, hospitalizations and deaths were among unvaccinated, or not fully vaccinated, people. The data show: Vaccinated people are more than 4 times likely to avoid getting COVID-19. Vaccinated people have a 2 to 4 times better chance of staying out of the hospital due to COVID-19. Vaccinated people are 4 times less likely to die from COVID-19, based on the latest data through Sept. 30. County numbers in the southcentral region (for Dec. 16): Adams County (pop. 103,009): 89 new cases; 15,816 total cases (12,738 confirmed, 3,078 probable); 45,380 negatives; 256 deaths; 49.6% of county population vaccinated 89 new cases; 15,816 total cases (12,738 confirmed, 3,078 probable); 45,380 negatives; 256 deaths; 49.6% of county population vaccinated Bedford County (pop. 47,888): 48 new cases; 8,300 total cases (5,621 confirmed, 2,679 probable); 13,104 negatives; 210 deaths (+3); 35.9% of county population vaccinated 48 new cases; 8,300 total cases (5,621 confirmed, 2,679 probable); 13,104 negatives; 210 deaths (+3); 35.9% of county population vaccinated Blair County (pop. 121,829): 45 new cases; 22,149 total cases (17,489 confirmed, 4,660 probable); 48,780 negatives; 471 deaths (+2); 47.3% of county population vaccinated 45 new cases; 22,149 total cases (17,489 confirmed, 4,660 probable); 48,780 negatives; 471 deaths (+2); 47.3% of county population vaccinated Cumberland County (pop. 253,370): 154 new cases; 33,963 total cases (26,119 confirmed, 7,844 probable); 107,213 negatives; 685 deaths (+1); 59.6% of county population vaccinated 154 new cases; 33,963 total cases (26,119 confirmed, 7,844 probable); 107,213 negatives; 685 deaths (+1); 59.6% of county population vaccinated Dauphin County (pop. 278,299): 167 new cases; 40,645 total cases (34,406 confirmed, 6,239 probable); 133,618 negatives; 727 deaths (+1); 55.7% of county population vaccinated 167 new cases; 40,645 total cases (34,406 confirmed, 6,239 probable); 133,618 negatives; 727 deaths (+1); 55.7% of county population vaccinated Franklin County (pop. 155,027): 128 new cases; 25,897 total cases (20,559 confirmed, 5,338 probable); 65,759 negatives; 516 deaths (+1); 44.9% of county population vaccinated 128 new cases; 25,897 total cases (20,559 confirmed, 5,338 probable); 65,759 negatives; 516 deaths (+1); 44.9% of county population vaccinated Fulton County (pop. 14,530): 7 new cases; 2,906 total cases (1,382 confirmed, 1,524 probable); 5,153 negatives; 41 deaths; 33.3% of county population vaccinated 7 new cases; 2,906 total cases (1,382 confirmed, 1,524 probable); 5,153 negatives; 41 deaths; 33.3% of county population vaccinated Huntingdon County (pop. 45,144): 48 new cases; 8,126 total cases (6,641 confirmed, 1,485 probable); 21,972 negatives; 192 deaths; 47.5% of county population vaccinated 48 new cases; 8,126 total cases (6,641 confirmed, 1,485 probable); 21,972 negatives; 192 deaths; 47.5% of county population vaccinated Juniata County (pop. 24,763): 14 new cases; 3,634 total cases (3,322 confirmed, 312 probable); 6,894 negatives; 139 deaths; 37.3% of county population vaccinated 14 new cases; 3,634 total cases (3,322 confirmed, 312 probable); 6,894 negatives; 139 deaths; 37.3% of county population vaccinated Lebanon County (pop. 141,793): 116 new cases; 24,812 total cases (21,158 confirmed, 3,654 probable); 64,943 negatives; 372 deaths (+1); 49.5% of county population vaccinated 116 new cases; 24,812 total cases (21,158 confirmed, 3,654 probable); 64,943 negatives; 372 deaths (+1); 49.5% of county population vaccinated Mifflin County (pop. 46,138): 48 new cases; 8,778 total cases (8,305 confirmed, 473 probable); 18,172 negatives; 234 deaths (+1); 45.6% of county population vaccinated 48 new cases; 8,778 total cases (8,305 confirmed, 473 probable); 18,172 negatives; 234 deaths (+1); 45.6% of county population vaccinated Perry County (pop. 46,272): 28 new cases; 6,451 total cases (5,016 confirmed, 1,435 probable); 14,054 negatives; 143 deaths (+3); 42.7% of county population vaccinated 28 new cases; 6,451 total cases (5,016 confirmed, 1,435 probable); 14,054 negatives; 143 deaths (+3); 42.7% of county population vaccinated York County (pop. 449,058): 431 new cases; 76,480 total cases (61,889 confirmed; 14,591 probable); 200,601 negatives; 1,130 deaths (+5); 52.9% of county population vaccinated ZIP code-level counts (updated Dec. 16): 17013: 3,993 positives, 16,529 negatives - +120 since Dec. 10 17015: 2,419 positives, 8,129 negatives - +97 since Dec. 10 17050: 3,811 positives, 17,289 negatives - +102 since Dec. 10 17055: 4,266 positives, 19,117 negatives - +138 since Dec. 10 17011: 3,863 positives, 15,857 negatives - +96 since Dec. 10 17007: 591 positives, 2,115 negatives - +22 since Dec. 10 17065: 442 positives, 1,425 negatives - +37 since Dec. 10 17324: 473 positives, 1,440 negatives - +28 since Dec. 10 17241: 1,093 positives, 3,546 negatives - +41 since Dec. 10 17257: 2,659 positives, 7,990 negatives - +76 since Dec. 10 17240: 274 positives, 723 negatives - +9 since Dec. 10 17025: 1,816 positives, 6,623 negatives - +40 since Dec. 10 17070: 1,714 positives, 6,194 negatives - +52 since Dec. 10 17043: 581 positives, 2,375 negatives - +16 since Dec. 10 17019: 2,103 positives, 6,274 negatives - +75 since Dec. 10 17266: 39 positives, 148 negatives - +2 since Dec. 10 School district and college case counts (updated Dec. 10) The Sentinel's case counts for Cumberland County school districts and colleges or universities are updated Fridays. The policy for each school districts reporting is noted in the list below. Big Spring School District (reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 10 student cases and 2 staff cases being monitored as of Dec. 10. (reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 10 student cases and 2 staff cases being monitored as of Dec. 10. Camp Hill School District (posts chart that includes total case count): 2 new student cases and no new staff cases since Dec. 3; 107 student cases and 9 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) Chart last updated on Dec. 10. (posts chart that includes total case count): 2 new student cases and no new staff cases since Dec. 3; 107 student cases and 9 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) Chart last updated on Dec. 10. Carlisle Area School District (reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 17 new cases since Nov. 23; 239 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) according to the charts last update on Dec. 3. (reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 17 new cases since Nov. 23; 239 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) according to the charts last update on Dec. 3. Cumberland Valley School District (reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 37 cases since Dec. 3; 392 cases this school year (started Aug. 31) as of the charts last update on Dec. 10. (reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 37 cases since Dec. 3; 392 cases this school year (started Aug. 31) as of the charts last update on Dec. 10. Mechanicsburg Area School District (chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 30 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Dec. 10. (chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 30 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Dec. 10. Shippensburg Area School District (reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 13 new cases since Dec. 3; 240 cases this school year (started Aug. 19) as of charts last update on Dec. 8. (reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 13 new cases since Dec. 3; 240 cases this school year (started Aug. 19) as of charts last update on Dec. 8. South Middleton School District (posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 103 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) as of the charts last update on Dec. 3. (posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 103 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) as of the charts last update on Dec. 3. West Shore School District (reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 48 student cases and 7 staff cases being monitored as of Dec. 10. (reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 48 student cases and 7 staff cases being monitored as of Dec. 10. Dickinson College : 2 new student cases and 1 employee case since Dec. 3; 57 student cases and 32 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.) Chart last updated on Dec. 10. : 2 new student cases and 1 employee case since Dec. 3; 57 student cases and 32 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.) Chart last updated on Dec. 10. Messiah University : 22 new student cases and 5 new staff cases since Dec. 3; 127 student cases and 52 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.) Chart last updated Dec. 10. : 22 new student cases and 5 new staff cases since Dec. 3; 127 student cases and 52 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.) Chart last updated Dec. 10. Shippensburg University: 23 new student cases and 1 new staff case since Nov. 19; 232 student cases and 29 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 1). Chart last updated on Dec. 6. (Counties with a percent positivity above 5% in a week go on the Department of Health's watch list) Pennsylvania: Percent Positivity - 14.4% last 7 days (15.2% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 321.4 (290.8 previous 7 days) Adams County: Percent Positivity - 20.5% last 7 days (18.3% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 330.1 (255.3 previous 7 days) Cumberland County: Percent Positivity - 14.9% last 7 days (18.2% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 239.2 (256.1 previous 7 days) Dauphin County: Percent Positivity - 15.9% last 7 days (16.4% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 276.3 (230.7 previous 7 days) Franklin County: Percent Positivity - 20.7% last 7 days (22.8% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 341.9 (294.8 previous 7 days) Lebanon County: Percent Positivity - 25.9% last 7 days (21.5% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 458.4 (345.6 previous 7 days) Perry County: Percent Positivity - 23.5% last 7 days (30.1% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 354.4 (412.8 previous 7 days) York County: Percent Positivity - 21.5% last 7 days (23.8% previous 7 days) last 7 days (23.8% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 405.3 (384.1 previous 7 days) Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt. 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. Mandated pandemic quarantines continued at a steady pace this fall for students and staff in the Mechanicsburg Area School District, according to figures presented to the districts school board this week. At the school board meeting Tuesday night, Superintendent Mark Leidy said the district issued 450 out-of-school quarantines from Aug. 31 to Dec. 1 due to reported COVID-19 exposures. Of these, 428 of the quarantine cases Dec. 1 involved district students. The remainder involved staff members. Leidy said hes concerned about the districts quarantine numbers and wants to see the state Department of Health change its basis for mandating school quarantines. Leidy said that he and other superintendents from districts within the Capital Area Intermediate Unit have joined a coalition led by the CAIU for this purpose. Right now, its based on a persons proximity to another person whos (COVID-19) positive, Leidy said. Were trying to get the state to move it from close-contact quarantine basis to symptomatic quarantine basis. In other words, a person wouldnt be required to quarantine unless theyre showing symptoms. Also at Tuesdays meeting, Leidy said the district will maintain a school masking mandate until the upcoming holiday break despite a few parents speaking against the mandate during the meetings public comment session. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Friday upheld a Nov. 10 Commonwealth Court ruling that the mask mandate for schools issued by acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam was not valid. That ruling pushes the decision to individual school districts. The justices upheld a Commonwealth Court ruling that Beam lacked authority to require masks, did not follow state laws about enacting regulations and acted without a required existing disaster emergency declared by the governor in place. Leidy said he hasnt decided whether to continue the districts school mask mandate when students return to school in January, but will continue to monitor area conditions over the upcoming break. Families will be notified of the districts status on masking before schools reopen, he said. As of Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that all counties in Pennsylvania have a high transmission of COVID-19. Act 1 resolution In other action, the Mechanicsburg Area School Board approved an Act 1 resolution Tuesday that limits the district from raising taxes beyond 4.27% for the 2022-23 fiscal year, the index set by the state Department of Education. The district last raised real estate taxes by 3.6% in 2021-22, meeting its full state index for the current fiscal year running July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. The districts present tax levy is 14.6654 mills. Due to the 3.6% increase, the owner of a property assessed at $189,000 saw their 2021-22 tax bill increase by $96 to $2,771. High school renovations Also on Tuesday, the school board authorized architects Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates to move forward with detailed designs for renovating the high school. Previous designs were considered as concept plans with limited details, district business administrator Greg Longwell said this week. The project is expected to address the high schools infrastructure and mechanical needs, as well as the districts secondary program needs. Longwell said he expects that architects will return with new plans for consideration this spring. The renovation project is considered separate from a high school expansion project now under construction. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Mineral Area Community Elks Lodge in Desloge was a beehive of activity Tuesday morning as volunteers gathered to deliver around 130 boxes of food to needy families throughout the area with the help of the East Missouri Action Agency. The delivery of Christmas food boxes to the less fortunate has been a project of the MAC Elks for many years and one overseen by organizer and chairperson Cathy Dickerson for the past two decades. "Years ago, we did food baskets, said Roland Seal, past exalted ruler and current MAC Elks Board of Directors chairman. We gathered them, and the members submitted names and that was how they were distributed. Cathy Dickerson and her late husband Bill jumped in about 20 years ago when we resurrected the program. They started to organize everything. We partnered with East Missouri Action Agency and Jan Cooley coordinated the project on their end. Project Head Start was how we got the names so that we knew the people who got the baskets really needed them. We also partnered with the Park Hills Save-A-Lot manager, Jon Berry, as far as getting the food items and turkeys for us at a good price. The project began with 25 boxes being delivered and this year its grown to a total of 127. Each of the baskets is filled with $45 worth of food items plus a turkey that is distributed to the families later in the day through the Park Hills Save-A-Lot. Dickerson, who lost her husband last year and has been dealing with health issues of her own, was aided this year by co-chairs Erin Seiberlich and Ellie Tucker. They kind of ramrodded the whole show and did everything, Seal explained. As Dickerson and Seal began listing the businesses and organizations that made this years project possible, it became obvious that this is a community affair. Proffer Produce in Park Hills donated all the boxes we used today, Dickerson said. The Womens Auxiliary of Leadington VFW Post 5741 provided 20 boxes along with turkeys and Family Fun Center in Bonne Terre donated $1,000. Independent truck driver John Highley drove from Indiana straight through so he could make it in the morning time to pick up all the food. He left Indiana at 9 or 10 oclock at night and he made it in at 6. Then he stayed awake until we went and picked up all the food and then drove his tractor-trailer over here so we could unload the food we loaded up at Save-A-Lot. Seal added that the lodge also received a $3,500 grant from the Elks National Foundation to fund the program. When you total all of the above along with a sizable number of donations made by lodge members, about $8,000 was collected. With southeast Missouri having among the highest poverty rates in the state, there is little doubt that this project is an important one for St. Francois County. East Missouri Action Agency is only funded for only so many people in our area because we stay within Park Hills, Desloge and Bonne Terre, Dickerson said. Its unbelievable what the poverty level is that can qualify for this. When Dickerson was asked why she has continued providing leadership for the Christmas food delivery for 20 years, she said, Because Im very passionate about the program. I was a single mom for 10 years raising a child on my own. I know what its like to be on rock bottom. Thats the reason why I took it on. Tucker and Seiberlich had their own reasons for jumping on board to help out with this years project. Tucker said, I got involved because [Dickerson] is my best buddy and she needed the help. Everyone in the room let out a hearty laugh when Erin Seiberlich offered her reason for taking part in the project. Because they made me! she said with a big smile. Then she added, I just want to thank everybody who helped. We had so many volunteers show up to put boxes together this year. MAC Elks Exalted Ruler Mike Blanton had the last word about his lodge's Christmas food box project, saying, I think its great! We do it because we care, and we share! Its all about helping the community. Kevin R. Jenkins is the managing editor of the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-783-9667 or kjenkins@farmingtonpressonline.com Love 1 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. A fire in Desloge claimed a man's life in the early hours of Wednesday morning. According to Desloge Fire Chief Jared Meador, fire crews were dispatched to a residential structure fire on the 500 block of South Vandervoot at approximately 3:53 a.m. Monday. Meador said firefighters arrived on the scene just before 4 a.m. to find a detached garage heavily involved in flames and partially collapsed. The chief said firefighters had the fire under control within about 45 minutes. He confirmed that a man inside of the structure was killed in the fire. The identity of the man, as well as the cause of the fire, have not yet been released as the Missouri Fire Marshal's Office investigation is still underway. Meador said the fire had been contained to the detached garage but caused heat damage to the rear exterior of the home on the property. Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately an hour and a half to ensure the fire was extinguished and there were no flare-ups. Several area fire companies assisted the Desloge Fire Department with Wednesday morning's containment efforts. Meadors said those fire departments responding included those of Bonne Terre/Big River, Farmington, Leadwood, Leadington, and Wolf Creek. A De Soto Rural Fire Protection District crew moved up to stand-by at the Desloge Fire Station during the fire. "I appreciate the quick response from our mutual aid companies and all of the help they gave us," said Meador. More information will be released as it becomes available. Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 3 Sad 21 Angry 4 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. At its Dec. 10 open meeting in Jefferson City, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved the following recommendations by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for upcoming turkey-hunting and deer-hunting season dates. 2022 Spring and Fall Turkey Hunting Dates: Spring Youth Portion: April 9 and 10 Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 18 through May 8 Fall Firearms Turkey Season: Oct. 1 - 31 2022-2023 Archery Deer and Turkey Hunting Dates: Sept. 15 through Nov. 11 and Nov. 23 through Jan. 15, 2023 2022-2023 Firearms Deer Hunting Dates Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Oct. 29 and 30 Firearms Deer November Portion: Nov. 12 - 22 Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: Nov. 25 - 27 Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion: Dec. 3 - 11 Firearms Deer Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 24 - Jan. 3, 2023 Details on hunting regulations, harvest limits, allowed methods, required permits, and other related information will be available online and in MDCs 2022 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet and MDCs 2022 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet prior to the related seasons. Learn more about turkey hunting in Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey. Learn more about deer hunting in Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer. Buy Missouri hunting permits from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits or through MDCs free mobile app, MO Hunting, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Fly fishing has two arts. One is the fishing, the other is hand-tying flies and lures to catch fish. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free virtual fly-tying class between 6-8 p.m. every Monday and Thursday evening from Jan. 3 to Jan. 31. These online classes will help newcomers learn how to twine a hook with thread, hackles, feathers, and fur for fly fishing lures that catch fish. Using a flyrod to cast very small lures is a sport thats been around a very long time. But flyrods and flies are proving just as effective in modern times for trout, bass, and panfish. A fly tied in winter can be tested on rainbow trout at one of MDCs urban winter trout lakes. Students will learn a variety of techniques for the art of fly tying. Participants will need to have a variety of tools and materials to complete the online course. That includes: a common vise, thread bobbin, black tying thread 140 (2/0), and 210 Denier (6/0), bobbin threader, Dr. Slick Rotary whip finisher, or Cabelas brand (the kind that freely spins in the handle), hair packer, hair stacker, dubbing brush, fly tying scissors, tying wax, hackle pliers, and bodkin. Some optional items that would be useful includes head cement, multiple bobbins, other colors of thread (red, white, olive, and tan), a wine cork for displaying tied flies, small block of wood with 1/8 to 1/4-inch holes drilled in it for tool storage, cheap magnet for organizing hooks, extra scissors, small wire cutters, and small tackle box for storage. MDC will also send some materials ahead of the class times to registered participants. Anyone having difficulties obtaining tools or materials, or who has questions about what to purchase, is asked to contact TJ Peacher, MDC education district supervisor, at Thomas.peacher@mdc.mo.gov. Students will be encouraged to take note and practice fly tying between classes. Classes are progressive, sessions will use techniques learned in earlier classes. The virtual classroom will be open a half-hour early before each session for anyone needing extra help. These classes are open to participants ages 15 and older. Registration is required. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZtK. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Gallery at Studio IX: The Prolyfyck Exhibition Series continues in December with the art of Marley Nichelle to benefit Prolyfyck Run Creww. studioix.co. Face coverings must be worn when entering the building and at all times in the gallery. (434) 242-0905. Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection has opened the first part of the two-part exhibition Irrititja Kuwarri Tjungu (Past & Present Together): 50 Years of Papunya Tula Artists, tracing the Papunya Tula Artists movement from 1971 through the mid-1990s. It can be seen through Feb. 27, 2022. The second part, celebrating the role of women artists and featuring paintings created during and since the 1990s, will be open from March 17, 2022, to Feb. 26, 2023. Boomalli Prints and Paper: Making Space as an Art Collective can be seen through June 19, 2022. Tours have resumed and will be led for free by volunteer guides at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each day the museum is open. Longer tour experiences for groups will be available for purchase. Masks are required. Make reservations at kluge-ruhe.org. 400 Worrell Drive. (434) 244-0234. Main also argues that the city does not have the authority to destroy a statue, directly or indirectly, based on unsuccessful attempts in 2020 to amend the state code to allow localities to alter or destroy monuments. It remains unclear whether donating a monument to a group that wishes to destroy or alter it does indeed violate the updated state code. Instead of winning, that offer should have been rejected, Main writes in reference to the Jefferson Schools proposal. The award fails, and the Lee procurement must be re-competed with only lawful offers made. Additionally, Main argues on behalf of the complainants that the city did not give proper notice of the resolution, thus rendering the vote null and void. Main also argues that the city did not follow its own policy of offering three working days notice, posting the agenda item on the Friday before the Monday meeting. Main also argues that the city council acted unlawfully due to a lack of a city manager, interim city manager or designated manager for the solicitation. Without executive leadership authorized to act, the city council should have postponed or canceled the orphaned solicitation, Main wrote. Instead it fumbled along by inertia. Three Charlottesville area men have been indicted by a federal jury on charges related to a September shooting and attempted armed robbery of an Albemarle County man. According to a news release from the Department of Justice, on Wednesday a grand jury charged Madison Wonne Zelee, 26, Tyrel Anthony Dowell, 22, and Tyreek Saquan Ragland, 24, each with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, one count of committing Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of discharge of a firearm in commission of a Hobbs Act Robbery. In addition, Dowell and Zelee were each charged with an additional count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, per the release. Per the indictment, on Sept. 30 Zelee, Dowell and Ragland conspired to steal cash and other goods against their victims will through the use of force and fear of injury while brandishing and discharging a firearm. Editors note: The following piece has been vetted by the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicles Services (DMV). No tips or suggestions in the piece violate the rules of the road. To drive or not to drive is not the question. Its how we drive that matters. Ive been doing this driving thing for more than 50 years and in many ways I think I am better at it than I was, say, when I was younger and my reflexes were sharper. I think I am more patient and have more empathy for what folks around me are doing. I have had a fairly extensive commute to Corvallis and/or Albany during my time with the newspapers therein and the drives have given me an opportunity to think a bit more about what I am doing. So here, without prompting or solicitation, are my suggestions for driving in the Albany-Corvallis area. My first rule is dont rush things. If you need to leave home earlier to make an appointment, please do so. Slow down, take your time, and leave earlier. Another huge one for me is do not tailgate. You just add stress to your life, the life of the guy ahead of you, and you reduce the life of your brakes. Lets say you are on I-5 in the fast lane around Ankeny Hill and you are going 65 mph. You still are going 65 mph whether you are a safe 6 to 8 car lengths behind someone or right on their bumper. Yes, I know, other drivers see that gap as an invitation to pass on the right, regardless of what sort of congestion clearly lies ahead. Dont get mad. Get over and relax. Also, watch for trucks and cut them some slack. It takes more highway space for a big-rig to safely execute a lane change. Yes, I know, it can be frustrating to watch a truck going 58 mph in the fast lane passing a truck going 56 mph in the slow lane. Repeat: Dont get mad, relax. Plus, truck drivers sit up higher and have a better view of whats ahead than you do. This can be particularly helpful if there is congestion. A truck shifting lanes amid snarled traffic can be a sign of how to manage the situation more efficiently. Also, if a truck shifts into the fast lane unexpectedly there might be a vehicle on the shoulder with its emergency flashers going. Whenever its safe you should give folks at the side of the road an extra cushion of space. Highways 20/34 Always think about what you are doing when you are on the regions most dangerous roads, such as Highway 20 or Highway 34. The dont tailgate rule applies even more on Highway 20 than in routine travel. It only has one lane on each side and there are countless places where folks can slow down and turn right or left, and you dont want to wind up in their trunk. This is serious stuff. Motorists have died in rear-enders on Highway 20. Also of note on Highway 20 are the two major non-signaled intersections at Granger and the Independence Highway. These are challenging because of the vehicles, some of them of significant size, that can stack up at the stop signs while trying to make left turns onto the highway. Also, for through traffic there can be blind spots created by folks turning right, effectively shielding the turning traffic from view. I slow down and try to stay extra alert passing through both of these intersections. On Highway 34 I try to stay in the right lane as much as possible. Although there are fewer places to turn across traffic these days because of barriers and other modifications by ODOT, it also strikes me that I am more likely to be struck by someone turning left if I am in the fast lane than in the right lane. Another challenge to Highway 34 is that merging traffic, particularly motorists turning right onto the highway in the morning commute hours, is going from a dead stop into traffic that is going 50 mph or more. There are ways to help those folks out, particularly at Highway 99E, Looney, Oakville, Orleans and Riverside. If you see that a motorist is looking to turn right onto the highway at one of these merging areas and it is safe for you to do so, move into the left lane to give them some time to merge. And here is one other trick from someone who has driven from Albany to Corvallis and back more times than he can count. I like Riverside as my main route because it has the best scenery, but turning right from Riverside or Oakville onto the highway can be nerve-wracking because the highway curves and the sightlines are difficult. So when I am heading to Corvallis from Albany I turn left from Riverside to Orleans to 34 because there are better sight lines where Orleans meets the highway than at Riverside or Oakville. And dont forget bicycles and pedestrians!!!! I have written a lot about bike and ped safety during my time here. Watch for pedestrians in crosswalks and always be careful when turning right because there might be a cyclist in the bike lane. And please be aware of cyclists on streets that do not have bike lanes, particularly in the neighborhoods surrounding Oregon State University. One other tip that has nothing to do with safety and a lot to do with peace of mind is to vary your routes. Mix it up! Dont always take Pacific Boulevard from I-5 to downtown Albany. Take the less-traveled and often faster route of Salem Avenue. If you are heading back to Albany from Corvallis on Riverside, you can use Broadway or Maple or Elm to get back to the downtown area (once you have turned left on Queen when Riverside dead-ends). Albany has some great historic houses to look at! And speaking of Riverside and Queen I cannot count the number of times I have gotten stuck behind rail traffic on the lines just past Pacific Blvd. on Queen. I avoid that intersection if at all possible. One day when I was doing some afternoon deliveries in town I hit trains four times. Also, the tracks that cross the road are in horrific condition. When I do cross them I swerve slightly to the right to the less-used portion and go about 5 mph. If you don't do this it feels like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. Contact reporter James Day at jim.day@lee.net or 541-812-6116. Follow at Twitter.com/jameshday or gazettetimes.com/blogs/jim-day. 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. 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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 Telekom Srbija is to receive a 70 million ($79.4 million) loan from the EUs European Investment Bank (EIB) for the rollout of a 5G telecommunications network and the extension of the existing 4G network across the Republic of Serbia. The EIB says that the loan will enable 60 percent of Serbian residents to gain access to the latest 5G network and extend the benefits of the 4G network to nearly everyone in the country. More precisely, the EIB says its investment will finance better access to ultrafast mobile broadband, and an increase in network capacity, coverage and quality of service through the most advanced telecommunication equipment. The EIB will finance the deployment of physical infrastructure, active radio access network equipment, the upgrade of the transmission network and expansion of fibre connectivity in over 1,000 mobile sites in Serbia. In line with the main goals of the EU Digital Agenda, the EIB is committed to supporting Europes growing data traffic by investing in high-speed internet, mobile networks and cloud computing. The EU Digital Agenda aims to deliver sustainable economic and social benefits from a digital single market based on fast and ultra-fast internet and interoperable applications. Since 2020, the EIB has invested 195 ($221.07 million) in three projects in Serbia supporting digital transformation, a priority shared by the European Union and Serbia. This includes a 125 million ($141.8 million) investment in the digitisation of Serbian schools and small-and-medium-sized companies. The Philippines Senate has approved a bill that would allow foreign investment into several sectors, including telecommunications providers. CommsUpdate reports that Senate Bill 2094 was approved on 15th December following the third reading, with 19 in favour and three opposed. The bill was cleared by the House of Representatives in March 2020. The bill is aimed at attracting foreign investment into public utilities, and the distinction between these and public services has been a sticking point in the Philippines. The bill notes that countrys 1987 Constitution specifies that corporations must be at least 60% Filipino-owned before they are granted the authorisation, certificate and franchise to become a public utility. The definition is significant as telecoms providers may now be classified as a public service, meaning that they are no longer bound by restrictions on foreign ownership. Indonesian telecommunications company PT Indosat Tbk (Indosat Ooredoo) established the 5G Experience Center in Surabaya, in partnership with Nokia, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), and the University of Oulu Finland. The 5G Experience Center served as a center of knowledge, creativity, and excellence to boost 5G innovation, channel collaboration, and empower local digital talent, said a press release from the telecommunications provider in the Southeast Asian country. Several key innovative projects have been developed at the 5G Experience Center by ITS students, including RAISA 5G Medical Robot as a use case for the Smart Health sector, 5G Suroboyo Bus Autonomous as a use case for the Smart Mobility, Mycom 5G Cloud Computing as a use case for the Smart Education, and the ARSA Fast Response Drone as a use case for the Smart Living/Smart Security, it said. Arief Mustain, Director & Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of Indosat Ooredoo, said, I am very proud of our collaboration with ITS, Nokia, and the University of Oulu Finland, in presenting the 5G Experience Center and spearheading the development of 5G ecosystem in Indonesia. We hope this initiative becomes a catalyst to boost innovation & entrepreneurship by channeling Indonesian youth to unleash the limitless future of 5G technology." Arief added: "Through this 5G Experience Center, we are committed to developing localized, affordable, & mass-market use cases that are relevant not only to the city of Surabaya but also to Indonesia as a digital nation and we have started this commitment by opening a series of The 5G Talent Academy program which was participated by 104 participants through Design Thinking with 3D Prototype Workshop with the theme of Redesign Surabaya city with 5G for Surabaya's citizen better life experience. Referring to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data, Indonesia is likely to experience a demographic bonus by 2045, where the productive age population in Indonesia in that year will reach around 70 percent of the total population[1]. This demographic bonus presents an opportunity to overcome a projected shortage of 9 million skilled ICT workers by 2030[2], based on World Bank data, or approximately 600,000 digital talents per year. The establishment of ITS 5G Experience Center seeks to contribute positively to youth and digital talent empowerment by providing exposure to global research facilities & communities, providing certification programs to become authorized professional 5G experts, and channeling for career development and entrepreneurship in the future, said the release. CAMP HILL, Ala. (AP) A new memorial with shiny metal columns and a cross now stands on a hill overlooking the Alabama girls home linked to eight children who died in a horrific van crash that killed 10 earlier this year. Gov. Kay Ivey was among the officials in attendance Tuesday as the memorial was dedicated at the Tallapoosa County Girl's Ranch. The director of the home, Candice Gulley, was the driver and sole survivor of a ranch van that was involved in a traffic pileup as remnants of a tropical storm crossed the Southeast on June 19. Four girls who lived at the ranch were killed, along with two of Gulley's children and two of her nephews. A Tennessee man and his daughter died in a separate vehicle in the multiple-vehicle crash, which is now the subject of a lawsuit. The memorial, which was in place before the ceremony, is a comforting presence, Gulley told WSFA-TV. For us, the dedication happened when the dads got together and they went out there and dug the holes and put it in, Gulley said. And every day since then, and every night, Ive been able to look at it and remember our children and see it every day from our office, but we wanted an opportunity to share that with you. Londoner Derek Lubner made it to Paris on Thursday just ahead of the deadline. Its crazy. (Omicron) is already spreading in France, he told the Associated Press at the Gare du Nord train station. I mean I understand they need to protect the people but its here. What can you do? And its gonna hurt people. It hurts people, it hurts tourists, it hurts your local businesses. U.K. travel industry officials expressed dismay at the French restrictions, demanding government help for battered businesses. The winter sports and school travel markets are particularly exposed, and the government must now bring forward a support package if we are not to see company failures and job losses," said Mark Tanzer, chief executive of travel and trade association Abta. There are several hundred flights scheduled between Britain and France over the week leading up to Christmas, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. That's the equivalent of more than 90,000 seats, though the new restrictions mean they are likely to be largely empty. A resettlement residential area is under construction near the Long Thanh airport project in Dong Nai Province, December 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan Dong Nai Province is planning a project of VND5.2 trillion ($224 million) to provide tap water for Long Thanh International Airport's satellite urban areas. The province has been working with Binh Duong Water Environment Joint Stock Company based in its neighbor Binh Duong Province on the project, which is expected to provide 60,000 cubic meters of water every 24 hours. Water for the project will come from the Dong Nai River before being processed to provide for residents in Long Thanh and Cam My districts along with other residential areas around the airport, which is set to replace HCMC's Tan Son Nhat airport as the largest in Vietnam once completed. Dong Nai chairman Cao Tien Dung said this project is necessary and ordered related units to soon organize bids to choose investors and give priorities to it. Dong Nai bordering HCMC is becoming a major industrial hub as foreign companies continue to shift their production to Vietnam. The government earlier said the airport construction should be completed in the first half of 2025, and that it would become operational by the end of that year. Passengers are at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi in November 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy Vietnamese envoys to several countries have urged the government to quickly resume commercial flights and end quarantine requirements, saying the demand to travel to Vietnam is huge. "Singaporean enterprises are looking forward to coming to Vietnam to foster their business," the ambassador to Singapore, Mai Phuoc Dung, told VnExpress International on the sidelines of the Conference on Foreign Affairs Wednesday. Singapore has been the biggest investor in Vietnam in the last two years, and there is great potential for expanding economic ties further, he said. But most entrepreneurs would not visit Vietnam if they are required to quarantine, he said. "I expect to see Vietnam soon finalize the plan to scrap quarantine as it has announced." On December 8 Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam asked the Ministry of Health to issue new guidelines to exempt vaccinated people arriving from other countries from centralized quarantine. Instead, they could isolate themselves at home or other places of their choice for a certain period, he had said. Dung said Singapore had urged Vietnam last month to open a green travel channel for fully vaccinated people from both countries, who, if they also test negative for Covid, do not have to quarantine and could freely go out. But Vietnam has not responded to the request since it does not have a unified guideline for quarantine, he said. Singapore has resumed commercial flights to Laos and Cambodia, he pointed out. Around 3,000 Vietnamese nationals in Singapore have registered to return home for the Lunar New Year [in early February], but since there are few repatriation flights, most would be unable to return if commercial flights do not resume, he said. Since Covid began almost two years ago, 200,000 Vietnamese have been repatriated, including around 8,000 from Singapore. Ambassador to the U.S., Ha Kim Ngoc, expressed optimism about the direct service between San Francisco and HCMC, saying it would make traveling to Vietnam for Lunar New Year easier for overseas Vietnamese. In normal years around 500,000 people would make the trip to Vietnam for the holiday. Ngoc said that the number of people registering for repatriation flights is low, and recent ones had over 50 empty seats. A huge number of foreigners too want to visit Vietnam, but are worried about the quarantine requirement, he said. "A short quarantine of around three days might be acceptable." The government has approved the resumption of international flights on January 1 to nine destinations that have high vaccination rates and good pandemic control: San Francisco or Los Angeles, Singapore, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Beijing/Guangzhou, Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei. In other places too there is enormous demand to visit Vietnam though flights have not been approved, envoys said. Pham Binh Dam, Vietnams consul general in Hong Kong, said related ministries in Vietnam need to speed up agreements for restarting commercial flights and ending quarantine requirements to attract foreign investment, warning any delay could see it lose opportunities to neighboring countries. "I suggest that Vietnam should resume flights to Hong Kong in the first phase of the Ministry of Transports plan, not the second". The ministry had suggested resuming international flights in two phases, from Dec. 15 which the government approved though it changed it to January 1. The destinations in the second phase, whose starting date has not been determined, include Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney, and Moscow. Dam said Hong Kong has had no new Covid case in recent months, and so Vietnams quarantine requirement for visitors from the island is not reasonable. He said many of the 8,000 Vietnamese in Hong Kong want to return home for Tet. The ambassador to Russia, Dang Minh Khoi, said many entrepreneurs in that country have expressed a desire to visit Vietnam to develop their business but find it difficult because of various requirements. "If we do not welcome them, they will look for opportunities in other countries that offer more convenient conditions." Besides around 80,000 Vietnamese living in Russia wish to visit the country since many have been unable to do so for two years due to the pandemic, he said. The 'combo flights and hotels' offered by companies are very expensive and irregular and so do not fit their needs, he added. Passengers wait to be tested for the novel coronavirus at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC, June 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa Overseas Vietnamese delighted with the resumption of international flights are disappointed to find their Tet reunion hopes dashed by high flight ticket prices. Khai Van, who has lived in Taiwan for 11 years now, planned to return home and reunite with his family during the upcoming Tet or Lunar New Year holiday, which peaks on February 1. He had not been able to celebrate the nations most important festival with loved ones last year and was very keen on doing so this year. "I was happy to hear that the government has agreed to resume regular commercial flights to enable overseas Vietnamese to return home for Tet, but the announcement was quite close to the holiday, making it difficult to book air tickets," said 31-year-old Van. Tet, which falls early February next year, sees millions of migrant workers and overseas Vietnamese return to their homes for family reunions before Lunar New Year's Eve. Last week, the Vietnamese government approved the resumption of commercial flights to nine destinations, including Taiwans Taipei City, starting January 1. It directed health authorities to draft new entry guidelines for overseas Vietnamese arriving by regular international flights. Under these guidelines, overseas Vietnamese would have to self-monitor their health at home, instead of undergoing a seven-day centralized quarantine period. While entry and quarantine regulations have been eased, expensive air tickets have become a major stumbling block. Van said the cost of a combo package repatriation flight departing early next year, as per travel firms' websites, ranged from VND30-50 million ($1,304-2,172) per person. Before the Covid outbreak, Van used to book air tickets to Vietnam around August or September for less than VND9 million. If he wanted to return home in December, he still had the opportunity to book a ticket for just VND12-15 million. Meanwhile, Taiwanese authorities require foreign arrivals to undergo a 14-day quarantine period upon arriving on the island. Van is worried that his work could be affected due to such quarantine requirements. After many days of consideration, Van decided to stay on in Taiwan and return home to his family at a more convenient time when tickets were not as expensive.. Huong Giang, in the final year of a master's program at a university in Northampton, England, has also decided to wait until the second quarter of next year to fly home. Looking for information about commercial flights during the Tet seasson, Giang was shocked to learn that air fares for one-way flights to Vietnam could cost up to about VND55 million. At such prices, international students like her with limited financial budgets have to consider if they can return home or not. The upcoming Tet also coincides with her school's exam; therefore, Giang plans to celebrate Tet in the U.K. with the Vietnamese students union as she did earlier. Tuyet Le, 68, a Vietnamese American woman living in New Jersey, is desperate to return to Vietnam to visit her relatives after three years, but cancelled her plans because of limited flights and expensive air tickets. Tuyet said her friend who had to return to Vietnam in November urgently had to pay about $5,000 for her ticket. With high travel demand for Tet and limited flights, the cost of air tickets for commercial flights from the U.S to Vietnam would be very expensive, so she would find a suitable time to visit home later, Tuyet said. Instead of returning to Vietnam, she and her family plan to travel at the end of January next year to southern California where there is a strong Vietnamese community. Vietnam grounded all international flights in March last year, allowing only Vietnamese citizens, foreign experts, investors, and highly-skilled workers coming in on special flights. Aviation and tourism experts have repeatedly called on the government to resume international flights with countries and territories that have managed high vaccination rates and good pandemic control to speed up economic and tourism recovery and enable overseas Vietnamese to return to their homeland for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations. From January 1, regular flights are scheduled to resume to San Francisco or Los Angeles (the U.S.), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Vientiane (Laos), Beijing/Guangzhou (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), and Taipei (Taiwan). The aviation industry is still waiting for the Ministry of Healths official entry guidelines on foreigners arriving by regular international flights before granting flight slots for different carriers. Weve had a tremendous first year, Heritage Fund Executive Director Shane Moss said this month as Nevada Gold Mines celebrated the one-year anniversary of setting up its employee charitable giving program. We set some goals, and we exceeded those goals, Moss said. I want to express our appreciation to the more than 1,900 employees who donated through the Heritage Fund this year, Moss said. Thats made a significant impact in our local communities. Barrick and Newmont formed the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture in 2019, and the Heritage Fund was officially launched on Dec. 1, 2020 after extensive planning. In its first year, the Heritage Fund has contributed over $780,000 to more than 580 nonprofit organizations. This includes donations by employees along with matching funds from NGM. NGM invited people from 27 area nonprofits to a Dec. 3 event to celebrate the Heritage Funds first-year success. The gathering was held at The Terrace at Ruby View Elko Senior Center, one of the organizations which has received funding from the Heritage Fund. It was nice to hear from several nonprofits representing some of the passions and pursuits of our employees, Moss said. Some of the nonprofits that have been top choices of the NGM employees and were represented at the event included Nevada Outdoorsmen in Wheelchairs, Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary, and Horizon Hospice. These are examples of organizations our employees are passionate about, Moss said. We find that their passions are as diverse as our workforce. I would say our workforce is extremely eclectic, and their interests are reflected in that. At the celebration, Horizon Hospice Director Billie Jean Crawford said, With the Heritage Fund, we can lend a helping hand, equipment, supplies, and pay for pain medication at a time of great stress and sadness for families. Nevada Gold Mines employee giving has enabled us to do the work in our community without a cost to these families. We cannot thank the Heritage Fund, and all the employees enough for the generosity. When an NGM employee makes a donation through the Heritage Fund to a qualified nonprofit in Nevada, NGM matches that contribution at 120 percent. More than 90 percent of the contributions made by NGM employees through the Heritage Fund have been to qualified nonprofits in Nevada. When an employee contributes to a nonprofit outside of Nevada, NGM makes a 120 percent matching contribution that goes into NGMs Endowment Fund. NGM established the Endowment Fund with a $500,000 contribution. Money will accumulate in the Endowment Fund to benefit the local communities in the future as mines in the area begin to close. This year, NGM is putting about $74,000 in matching funds into the Endowment Fund. When NGM started the Heritage Fund a year ago, they provided all of the companys approximately 7,000 employees with $25 in their personal giving accounts. With the holiday cards that are going out to employees now, NGM is putting another $25 gift from NGM into each employees account. That can help remind the employees to go online and check their Heritage Fund account and explore their giving options. Moss said he thinks one of the improvements of the Heritage Fund over the giving programs that Barrick and Newmont previously had in the area is the Heritage Funds online giving platform. It really enables our employees to manage their own accounts, Moss said. Its not a single one-time signup. Throughout the year theyre able to log on and easily search and donate to organizations that they have an interest in. And one of the benefits of the online program is a quick distribution of the funding to the nonprofits. About 76 percent of the NGM employees who make contributions through the Heritage Fund make recurring donations, with money coming out of each paycheck to go to their selected nonprofits. It certainly adds up, Moss said. Even a $5 recurring donation can mean almost $300 a year to an organization. A $20 reoccurring donation is close to $1,200 a year, with the Nevada Gold Mines matching funds. Alissa Wood, NGMs head of communities and corporate affairs, said recurring donations are a big help to nonprofits. Then they can focus their efforts on providing those much-needed services, and not spend the majority of their time or resources on the fundraising aspect, Wood said. When you can start to count on those recurring contributions, it helps them plan more strategically and ensure that theyre looking for those lasting impacts of their service. The Heritage Fund is one of the many programs that NGM is doing to support our Nevada communities, Wood said. I think whats so neat about this program is it really shows the power of that collective generosity. So whether one employee donates a dollar or $25 per paycheck to the Heritage Fund, their support can make a difference for those nonprofits. When its combined with donations from other employees, as well as the 120% match, we see the power of that collective generosity and the sustainable good that were able to do within our communities. Love 3 Funny 2 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. ELKO An Elko man was sentenced Wednesday in three separate criminal cases to a total of 12 to 30 years in prison. William J. Grow, 33, was sentenced by District Judge Mason Simons after he pleaded guilty to two counts of battery with a deadly weapon, felony domestic violence, and burglary of a business. He was given credit for 129 days already spent in Elko County Jail. The burglary charge was from an incident at Southside Laundry on Aug. 7. Grow and another man entered the laundry on Aug. 7 and removed an ATM belonging to Nevada Bank & Trust that was bolted to the floor. The machine was worth about $2,500 but it also contained $4,460 in cash at the time of the theft. As part of his sentence, Grow was ordered to pay $1,000 to laundry owner John Ellison and $3,500 to the bank. The battery charges stem from a case in which Grow was accused of attempting to dissuade a victim from reporting a crime. Police were called in July to a Lyon Avenue residence where two people had been stabbed and the suspect, Grow, was at large. One mans forearm had been lacerated and another man was stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife. The interior of the house was immaculate and organized, except for the bloodstains everywhere, stated the police report. Police listened to voice mails that Grow left for one of the victims, including one in which he claimed self-defense and said I am going to have some people come talk to you. Grow was also arrested Aug. 9 on charges of assault and second-offense domestic battery following a five-hour standoff with the Elko SWAT team at a South 12th Street residence. Police found a woman in the residence with bruising and swelling on the side of her face. She said Grow battered her and when he was confronted by two witnesses, he threatened to stab all three of them. According to Elko County Jail records, Grow was also arrested six other times earlier this year. Elko County crime reports: Dec. 15 update: Love 1 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 1 ELKO A proposal to use a $500,000 federal grant to look at establishing a health department in Elko County failed when Elko County Commissioners voted against applying for the grant, a day after the Elko City Council voted to support the proposal. Commissioners decided Wednesday to reject the grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study prospects for creating a local health department that would have been bigger than the public health office in the county that shut down 16 years ago. I think were building a department I dont want, said Commissioner Rex Steninger, who said he wants to prevent the growth of county government and creating a new department flies in the face of that. Commissioner Cliff Eklund agreed that he would like to keep government on a smaller scale, and I really dont understand the goal of this whole thing, but Commissioner Wilde Brough said he would probably vote for it because of the health needs in the county, especially for mental health care. The majority of commissioners and a few of those commenting from the audience worried about the federal grant leading to more federal control and increasing the size of government, but Gerald Akerman of the University of Nevada, Reno, offices in Elko said he was trying to get his head around the concern about losing federal control. He said building a county health department would give us local control. Abby Wheeler, who heads the countys transportation department but has been working on health issues, told the Elko City Council Tuesday evening that with the $500,000 grant, staff would create a business model for a health department and provide some public services at the same time. The grant would pay for two employees. One job for a full county health department would be to take over restaurant inspections from the state health department that has an office in Elko, and those inspections would bring in fees to the new department, Wheeler said. The long and short of it is that Elko County historically had a community nursing program that provided services locally and to outlying areas, but currently there is a lack of services to outlying areas of the county, she said. Wheeler told the council the study also could look at creating a district health department with neighboring counties, and by the way, the state would like this to happen. Marena Works, the countys deputy health officer, said the study funded by the CDC grant would look at the gaps not covered by the Nevada Health Centers and look at the finances involved in establishing a department. The grant doesnt have a stipulation that a health department has to happen, she said. Elko City Manager Curtis Calder said he was looking at this from a different perspective after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. A public health department would have been good to have before the pandemic started. Councilwoman Mandy Simons made a motion that Calder sign a letter supporting the concept of a health department. At the county meeting, Terri Clark, chairman of the Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Authority, said a local health department would be a tool in recruiting businesses to the area, and as a Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital employee, she said a local health department would help in recruiting doctors. Marianne McKown of Vitality Center said a local or district health department would also mean better local health data, such as for tuberculosis cases. On the opposing side, Jeanne Hansen, expressed concern about taking a federal grant, and she said that would forge chains between Elko County and the federal government. Stephanie Licht suggested local money could be used to get local medical organizations together to look at a health department or come up with a plan instead of using federal dollars. Along with presentations to the county and city council, a workshop on the CDC Workforce Grant was held on Dec. 8 in Elko, funded by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services through the Public Health Regional Partnership Project aimed at providing health services in the rural counties. A handout for the proposal states that although the state is the countys health department, the state cannot respond to Elko County in a timely manner because of a combination of staffing availability, distances, and geography. Back in August, Elko County Commissioners tabled the proposal to accept a $500,000 grant from the CDC until they had more details, and at that time, Elko County Manager Amanda Osborne said staff had looked in November 2019 at the possibility of establishing a health department, but the COVID-19 pandemic stalled that effort. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 8 ELKO Tuesdays storm added less than a foot of new snow to most spots in the Ruby Mountains, according to the USDAs automatic snow monitoring system. The top of Lamoille Canyon received 3 inches, for a total of 10 inches as of Wednesday. Robinson Lake received 9 inches, for a current total of 25 inches. Green Mountain in the South Rubies saw its snow depth increase by 6 inches, to a total of 12 inches. One spot that did receive a foot of snow is Upper Tent Mountain, at an elevation of 8,333 feet in the East Humboldt Range. The storm increased the snow depth from 15 inches to 27 inches. Pole Creek Ranger Station in the Jarbidge Mountains saw its snow depth increase from 11 to 24 inches. Jacks Peak in the Independence Mountains picked up 10 inches for a total depth of 18 inches. SNOTEL sites in lower elevations showed little impact from the storm. The National Weather Service is expecting the next storm system to deliver 6-12 inches to the mountains of northeastern Nevada from Wednesday through Thursday. The USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service will release an official snow survey report at the beginning of January. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 LAS VEGAS (AP) Water leaders for 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 the states put up millions of dollars $60 million from Arizona and $20 million each from Nevada and California. 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 rivers lower basin. 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 countrys largest reservoir, Lake Mead. The lake fell below 1,075 feet 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. Its 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, which operates the canal system that delivers Colorado River water throughout the states. As a junior water rights holder, Arizona takes the biggest hit during any federal shortage declarations for the lower basin. Cooke said there wont be time for a do-over if Arizona takes all the reductions. Itll 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 the dams turbines would stop running altogether. Lake Mead, which straddles the Nevada-Arizona line, was at 1,065 feet 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, its 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 rivers 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 After 43 years of marriage, my wifes passing uprooted my life in many ways. In the weeks after she passed away, I could hardly get out of bed, let alone get my life back in order. There were many parts of my life that changed after she passed. During one of the most draining periods of time, I had to go out and find a new health insurance plan. Let me tell you, sifting through insurance plans was the last thing I wanted to do during this time, but I needed to find health care coverage. To make things more complicated, finding health care coverage in rural Nevada is difficult. Thankfully, I was able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage program that gives me access to a greater array of doctors in Elko and around the state. Without plans like Medicare Advantage, many seniors like me would not be able to see the doctors we need to stay healthy. I hear that Congress is threatening to cut funding to programs like Medicare Advantage, and that has prompted me to speak out and explain why I support these plans. One of the reasons to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan is that the focus is on keeping you healthy, such as covering the cost of gym memberships. They offer telehealth, counseling services, integrated dental, vision, and hearing plans, and even cover prescription drug costs and delivery. Medicare Advantage actively addresses all of the services I need to stay healthy; and if I can stay out of the hospital, that is a cost savings to me and the taxpayers! As your Assemblyman, I spend a lot of time talking with people in Elko, and health care is a common topic. Ive heard how many seniors are benefitting from Medicare Advantage plans that connect seniors with an array of services for a low price. These plans also allow seniors to keep their doctors! Im concerned that Congress is talking about making potential funding cuts to the program. I hope Senators Cortez-Masto and Rosen can see that Medicare Advantage programs are an essential part of so many lives here in Nevada. If the program faces funding cuts, small and rural towns like Elko will be the first to feel the impacts. With such low Medicare reimbursements rates, its already hard to find a doctor who will even take Medicare. Reducing Medicare Advantage funding will be even more devastating to Nevadas seniors. The last thing seniors need is to see their access to doctors cut back at an age when we need doctors the most! Senator Cortez-Masto and Senator Rosen, please keep fighting for senior health and oppose any proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage. John Ellison is a small business owner and the Assemblyman from Elko. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The seminar was jointly held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) - Vietnam. Photo for illustration. (Source: hanoimoi.com.vn) The event aimed to provide information on business opportunities with the German market offered by EVFTA; at the same time, launching an online information page on Vietnam - Germany import and export. Germany was the second biggest buyer of Vietnamese goods in the European Union (EU) and the seventh biggest in the world last year. Germany was also the second largest goods supplier of Vietnam in the EU, and the 14th biggest in the world. VCCI Vice Chairman Hoang Quang Phong said trade between Vietnam and Germany increased from 5.6 billion USD in 2011 when the two countries set up their strategic partnership to 10 billion USD last year. In particular, exports from Vietnam to Germany during the period also achieved a growth rate of about 11.5% a year. However, this increase is still low compared to the growth of Vietnams exports to other markets in the same period (14.9% a year). Two-way trade between Vietnam and Germany now accounts for only 1.83% of Vietnams total trade, much lower than other partners. The EVFTA is expected to create breakthroughs in bilateral trade ties, as the agreement removes up to 99.2% of tariff lines for Vietnamese goods to Germany as of seven years after coming into force, and 98.3% of tariff lines for German products imported in the Vietnamese market after 10 years. Vietnams export products seeing great opportunities for export to the market are footwear, clothing, seafood, plastic products, fruits, nuts and a number of other agricultural products. At the event, Ms. Nguyen Cam Trang, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, informed that many key export products of Vietnam have taken advantage of opportunities from the EVFTA over the past year to increase exports to the German market, such as means of transport and spare parts up 71.6%, iron and steel up 53.2%, computers and electronics up 34%, and seafood up 15.5%./. Mr. Bui Trung Thuong (Photo: congthuong.vn) Ahead of the Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hues visit to India from December 15-19, Bui Trung Thuong, Vietnam Trade Counselor on trade exchange in India, said that trade and investment are one of the main pillars of bilateral relations. India is one of the top 10 trading partners of Vietnam, while Vietnam is the 15th largest trading partner of India and the 4th in Southeast Asia. Agriculture, fisheries, textiles, pharmaceuticals, information technology, machinery and equipment, and energy are the main drivers of economic relations. Bilateral trade between the two countries grew strongly from USD5.5 billion in 2016 when the two countries established comprehensive strategic partnership, to USD11.2 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach more than USD13 billion in 2021, the highest level ever. According to Mr. Thuong, within the framework of the official visit of the National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the Trade Office - Embassy of Vietnam in India will coordinate with domestic and Indian ministries, Indian Industry Federation and chambers of commerce to organize 15 trade and investment promotion programs. He said that the Partnership summit will present the major economic policies that India has established in the past year, world economic relations, and the development of vaccines and medicines in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic still having a strong impact on the world economy. The summit will also discuss shaping the future of the economy, and exchange business and cooperation opportunities in areas such as manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, supply chain, and high-tech agriculture, drugs - pharmaceuticals and vaccines, services, tourism as well as the fields of new energy and renewable energy. This is a good opportunity for Vietnamese businesses, policy makers and researchers to gain experiences as well as exchange business investment cooperation opportunities, he added. As planned, the National Assembly Chairman will attend and speak at the "Vietnam - India Business Forum" on December 17, in New Delhi, in which it will focus on clarifying the current status of Vietnam - India trade and investment relations, motivations and breakthroughs in the coming time and many other important contents. The forum expects that many valuable economic contracts will be signed during the time of trade and investment promotion activities, which will be a push to promote bilateral trade in the near future, reaching USD15 billion as the leaders of the two countries set out, said Mr. Thuong. Talking about potential breakthrough sectors in the cooperation between the two countries, he said that cooperation in energy and oil and gas, development of cooperation in infrastructure, seaports and airports continue to be bright spots and have great potential to create breakthroughs in the future, in addition to other traditional industries such as textiles, supporting industries, and automobile industries. Promoting cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals in the context of the whole world being strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, will also be a new point in Vietnam-India relations. Because India is a power in pharmaceuticals, providing more than 50% of the total vaccines for the world, in 2022, the Indian Government aims to produce 5 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Cooperation in information technology and startups also hopes to bring new breakthroughs as India is also a powerhouse in information technology. In 2020 alone, nearly 40 Indian startups have become unicorns with a total value of over USD1 billion./. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and KPRF Vice Chairman Leonid Kalashnikov at the Lenin Prize presentation ceremony in Hanoi on December 15 (Photo: VNA) On behalf of the KPRF Central Committee, Vice Chairman Leonid Kalashnikov presented the Vietnamese leader with the noblest prize of the KPRF and the former Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He affirmed that the prize demonstrates the respect for and recognition of the prominent contributions by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, a brilliant politician highly valued in Russia and the world, as well as his unceasing efforts to solidify the Vietnam - Russia relations. Vietnams success is a vivid illustration of the fact that socialism has been materialised, Kalashnikov said, stressing that the KPRF always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with the CPV and wishes that bilateral ties will be enhanced further, helping to promote the Vietnam - Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, for the sake of the two peoples and for regional and international peace and stability. For his part, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong described the Lenin Prize as not only a recognition for himself but also the KPRF and Russian peoples respect for and sentiment towards the Vietnamese Party, State, and people. It is also a demonstration of the special long-standing ties between the CPV, the Vietnamese people and the Communist Party and people of the Soviet Union in the past and the Russian Federation at present. He also highly valued Russias achievements in promoting national development and raising its stature in the international arena, along with the growth of the KPRF. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong thanked the enormous, wholehearted, and effective assistance that the former Soviet Union and todays Russia have given to Vietnam. He pledged to join the KPRF and Russian partners to keep strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and the friendship between the two peoples./. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (second from right) meets staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in India (Photo: VNA) 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. NA Chairman Vuong Dinh 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./. President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien receives donation from overseas Vietnamese in Canada (Photo: VNA) At a ceremony held on December 15 in Hanoi, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu, Chairman of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV), and the ambassadors to Canada, the Netherlands, Thailand and Consul Generals in Fukuoka (Japan) and San Francisco (the US), on behalf of the community, handed over the aid to President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien. This is part of the community's activities to respond to the call of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as well as the Party, State and VFF to support the COVID-19 fight at home. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy FM Pham Quang Hieu said that the donation shows the solidarity tradition and the patriotism as well as mutual support of overseas Vietnamese to people at home. Do Van Chien, President of the VFF Central Committee, thanked the overseas Vietnamese community for the donation, which contributes to the effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Mr. Chien pledged that the VFF will use the aid in an efficient manner for the right people. He believed that with the joint efforts and solidarity of the overseas Vietnamese community, Vietnam will overcome difficulties to become prosperous and happy./. Mr. Rolf Schulze, former German Ambassador to Vietnam (term 2007-2011), highly appreciated Vietnam's foreign policy, expressed his belief that the bilateral relationship between Germany and Vietnam will grow better and better. He emphasized that Vietnam - with its commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation based on the rule of law - is a respected member of the international community. A United Nations Security Council session on Sudan with the participation of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA) As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and many other international organizations, Vietnam has made important contributions to ensuring peace and stability in the world. At the UN, Vietnam is joining hands to solve major challenges facing the international community. According to the former German ambassador, in its foreign policy, Vietnam is successfully promoted and supported by excellent diplomacy and Vietnam can be proud of the progress it has made over the past few decades. Regarding bilateral relations, he noted that Germany and Vietnam have established a strategic partnership since 2011, which he said is "great success story" of the bilateral relationship. The relationship between the two countries has been stretched in many cooperation projects at all levels and in many political fields, which has created a trust structure for bilateral cooperation. Germany and Vietnam are partners with a shared commitment to support a rules-based order, respect for international law, multilateralism, global free trade and investment, as well as environmental and climate protection. Especially, the economic and trade relationship between the two countries is of great significance in the bilateral relationship. With trade turnover in 2020 reaching about EUR13.3 billion, Germany is Vietnam's largest trading partner in the European Union (EU). Currently, about 400 German companies are present in Vietnam, with a total investment of more than USD2.3 billion, helping to create about 50,000 jobs in Vietnam. According to the Chairman of the German-Vietnamese Association, the two countries are hoping that the agreements between the EU and Vietnam, namely the Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) signed in mid-2019, will create more impetus for bilateral economic relations. In addition, another important component of the relationship between Germany and Vietnam is development cooperation, with a focus on the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate change. With the new strategy until 2030, Germany ranks Vietnam as a Global Partner country with key themes towards Vietnam's "green growth". In addition, cultural cooperation between the two countries is also developing actively. Many German scientific and cultural institutions are operating in Vietnam and the two countries can also be proud of the Vietnam-Germany University (VGU) which is considered a "lighthouse project" in bilateral relations./. David Firestein: President and CEO, George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations Da Wei: Deputy Director, Center for Security and International Strategy, Professor, School of Social Science, Tsinghua University Xiao LianbingSecretary General, Center for International Exchange, Communication and Cooperation, Guangming Daily 1. Bring the United States and China Closer Together Xiao Lianbing: David Firestein, you are the president of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations. Tell me what the Foundation has done since the outbreak of COVID-19? Professor Da Wei, what do you think of the work of the Foundation from the perspective of a Chinese scholar? David Firestein: President George Bush was very interested in the relations between the two countries. In 1974, he served as the director of the US Liaison Office to China. He understood how important the relationship between the United States and China was, and he showed great vision in this regard. U.S.-China relations were a lifelong passion for him. President Bush along with his son, Neil Bush, orchestrated a number of conferences on the topic of U.S.-China relations that occurred every couple of years and President Bush was personally involved in the first five. The founding of the Bush China Foundation in 2017 by Neil Bush, with the blessing, support and active involvement of his father, was an effort to create a platform to give expression to President Bushs lifelong interest in China and the U.S.-China relationship and do work that would build bridges and greater trust between the two nations. The main work that we do today is to bring the United States and China closer together to try to solve problems in the relationship and to generate greater levels of understanding and trust between these two countries. We do this while honoring President George H. W. Bushs vision for the relationship, which is a vision of working together to solve problems and collaborating across a wide range of issues in the world. President Bush fundamentally believed two things about the U.S.-China relationship: Number one, that its the single most consequential bilateral relationship in the world; number two, virtually no global problem can be solved in the absence of us communicating and cooperating. Our Foundation exists to continue to give expression to those views of President Bush and were very proud to be able to do that. The Foundation established the U.S.-China Coronavirus Action Network, or U.S.-China CAN in April 2020. It was a very successful effort that was geared toward bringing to bear American generosity toward China at the time that China was really bearing the brunt of COVID-19, and then ultimately to do the same thing in reverse and help facilitate Chinese generosity toward the United States at the time that COVID-19 was really starting to take hold in the United States. We have partnered with a number of different organizations to facilitate the transmission and donation of masks and other types of personal protective equipment, as well as technological know-how, and best practices and experiences. Da Wei: The Foundation impressed me most in two ways. First, it has the courage to speak out and take actions in developing China-US relations. In recent years, China-US relations have encountered unprecedented difficulties. Advocating China-US cooperation seems to have become more difficult in the United States. Nevertheless, the Foundation is still committed to speaking out for a healthy China-US relationship and making unremitting efforts, and this takes political courage. Second, the Foundation has brought a state and local perspectives to China-US relations. As the Foundation is based in Bushs hometown of Texas, it has impressed people through its fruitful work by gathering a large number of people in American political, academic, business communities as well as overseas Chinese who live and work far from the beltway of Washington DC. It is not only Washington that sets the tones for US policies toward China; a healthy China-US relationship entails exchanges at all levels between the two countries, and the Foundation has played an important role in this regard. Facing the unprecedented pandemic, the Foundation does not talk the talk, but walk the walk. In early February, 2020, when the epidemic hit China hard and as the country ran into shortages of medical supplies such as masks, the Foundation purchased 550,000 medical masks from the United States and sent them to China. I remember Mr. Firestein said in an interview that we have supported each other through thick and thin. The abbreviation of the Coronavirus Action Network is CAN. I believe if all walks of life can follow the steps of the Foundation, starting with small matters, then the overall relations between our two countries can be stabilized. Xiao Lianbing: What do you think of Chinas fight against the epidemic and the cooperation between China and the United States in public health? David Firestein: With COVID-19 being a new challenge that we have not met before, efforts made by every country were not ideal in the early stage of the epidemic. After the initial stage, China has implemented a series of effective measures and the Chinese people have made great sacrifices to control the epidemic. Today, what we see in China is the result of these sacrifices: China stands out to be the only major economy that has recorded positive growth in 2020. In the future, both countries should make full use of our strengths in science and technology, bioscience and public health, working together to deal with the impact of COVID-19 on the whole world. Da Wei: China has done well in both epidemic control and economic development, which is worthy of the pride of every Chinese. Whereas countries around the world are still facing arduous tasks in this anti-epidemic fight, we must not let our guard down because vaccination takes time and the virus may evolve. With the epidemic being a global crisis, the victory over it can only be secured when all of us stand in solidarity as no single country can win this battle alone. 2. The U.S. should get along with China in a more pragmatic and less ideological approach Xiao Lianbing: The year before last, at the seminar held in China, Mr. Neil Bush spoke about his thoughts on China-US relations over the past few decades and pointed out that the United States was also the big winner. In your opinion, in what ways will China-US relations benefit both parties? David Firestein: I absolutely agree with Neils assessment that the development of U.S.-China relations over the past few decades has been good for China, America and indeed the whole world, especially in our trade and economic relations. It is true to say that there have been some very serious areas of contention within the bilateral relationshipareas that are still unresolved, and that will probably always be unresolved. There have been very intense disputes around trade recently. Even taking that into account, the fact is, Americas prosperity in the last several decades was fueled to a very substantial degree by the U.S. trade relationship with China and the ability of American companies to work with China, to collaborate with Chinese partners and to generate greater efficiencies in their production processes, which translated into high quality products being made at prices that consumers were willing to pay. Its the notion of comparative advantage. China served as a manufacturing platform for many American and global companies and as a result, tremendous advancements were made in every sector of the global economy. Further, the U.S. and global stock markets grew in explosive ways over last few decades. I am saddened, because a lot of folks look back today and question whether engaging China economically or facilitating Chinas entrance into the WTO was the right thing to do. Neil, I, and the Foundation will always believe that what happened over the last few decades has been on the whole very positive for America, very positive for China, and very positive for the world. Da Wei: Indeed, both countries have greatly benefited from China-US relations over the past few decades. Strategically, the Cold War was escalating and the international situation was very tense when China and the United States established diplomatic relations in 1979. As the Cold War ended, China and the United States shared the dividends of peace and development, and China has achieved leapfrog development in the past few decades. Economically, I agree with David that Chinas exchanges with the United States are mutually beneficial. China has utilized American capital, technology and management expertise, while American companies have made high profits in China, and global consumers have also gotten an access to high-quality and inexpensive products made in China. The deep integration of China and the United States, two economies of huge scale but in different stages of development, has promoted the deepening of globalization. Without sound China-US relations in the past few decades, globalization may still come but it would definitely not reach the height where it is today. Xiao Lianbing: What are your concerns about the status quo of China-US relations? David Firestein: Theres no question that the U.S.-China relationship has deteriorated dramatically in the last several years. The profound lack of trust we see in the relationship today is bad for America and bad for China, as well as for the world. Im troubled by the state of the U.S.-China relationship today and it is going to take quite some time to get the relationship back on track, but I think that is a cause thats worth fighting for. People of insight in the United States want to see a more pragmatic and less ideological approach on the part of the United States to its relationship with China. I certainly embrace that perspective. The U.S. needs to look at China with a level of dispassion and strategic thinking. We need to recognize that there are issues in the relationship where the differences are irreconcilable, however, it is also true that there are areas where we can fruitfully work together and advance our own interests. Ive long been an advocate of the idea that the United States should engage with China, not because it is altruistic, but because it is good for America to work with China where needed on issues of common concern. What we have in the United States today is a sense that its a zero-sum dynamic governing the U.S.-China relationship, but that is not universally the applicable framework. The United States ought to aim for a U.S.-China relationship that is functional, constructive, results-oriented, mutually beneficial and politically sustainable. Da Wei: China-US relations have deteriorated markedly since 2018. Both sides believe that the other side is hostile; many believe that confrontation and competition between China and the United States are more acceptable than before; and these are extremely worrisome changes. Sometimes people feel that it doesnt matter if the China-US relationship suffered setbacks from time to time, as long as no conflict shows up. But looking back at history, we will find that great power politics is like a gigantic ship; once sailing in a wrong direction, it will be difficult to stop and turn around. There are many tragedies in international politics, resulting from a series of misjudgments instead of careful planning. Throughout history, those falling into the Thucydides Trap always believed they could hit the brake when necessary. The truth of fact is, after unknowingly passing a certain critical point, brakes braking will be too late. We all have to learn from these lessons of history. 3. The United States and China will not plunge into a Cold War Xiao Lianbing: Will there be a Cold War between China and the United States? Do you have any suggestions for stabilizing China-US relations? David Firestein: I do not think we will end up in a Cold War-type scenario for a variety of different reasons. First, unlike the Soviet Union, China in my judgment is not seeking to export its system to the rest of the world. Second, China is much more economically integrated with the United States than the Soviet Union ever was. Even after about three years of the trade war, China is still the third largest trading partner of the United States. Third, fundamentally, the United States has scores of allies, while China has no alliance relationships of similar caliber, so there will not be two Cold War-like blocs. Ultimately, concerns about a Cold War are unfounded. To the question of how we stabilize the relationship, there are a few things that we can do at present. First and foremost, engaging in some confidence-building would be a smart and timely thing to do. Such measures could include restoring the two consulates that were shut down toward the end of the Trump Administration, the Fulbright program, other academic and cultural exchanges between the United States and China. Perhaps even more fundamentally, the United States and China should eliminate all of the tariffs that were instituted during the Trump Administration. Lastly, we need to change the rhetoric and get back to language that I think is more carefully calibrated on both sides. Da Wei: I also believe that the China-US relations will not drift into a new Cold War, but it does not mean that China-US relations will not be in danger. What I want to emphasize is that history may resembles, but it never repeats. It is inaccurate to describe todays China-US relations with the word Cold War. Just now, David has pointed out the three major differences between todays China-US relations and the US-Soviet relations during the Cold War, with which I totally agree. It is difficult for China and the United States, who are interdependent on each other, to repeat the history of Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, I think there is another side we need to be aware of too. The Cold War was largely peaceful at least between the two superpowers. But if China-US relations are not handled properly, a real military conflict is possible. We may also face a more dangerous and painful situation that havent been faced by the United States or the Soviet Union, because they did not have issues like industrial chain decoupling, cyber security and artificial intelligence. If we look at todays situation with a Cold War mindset, we may fall into self-fulfilling prophecies which leads to larger conflicts; or underestimate the danger we are facing, thinking that issues that did not occur in the Cold War will certainly not occur between China and the United States. Both of these attitudes are wrong. To stabilize China-US relations, one of the top priorities is that the two countries resume official dialogue mechanisms as soon as possible. No matter how divided opinions may appear to be, it is beneficial for the two governments to sit down and talk with each other. And no matter how the bilateral relations evolve, the bottom line that must be held is that there should not be a complete decoupling in economic relations and people-to-people exchanges. 4. It is dangerous and one-sided to define China-US relations as strategic competition Xiao Lianbing: China puts forward the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation between our two sides and hopes that the two can focus on cooperation, manage differences, advance the healthy and stable development of China-US ties, and join other countries and the international community for world peace and development. What is your comment on Chinas proposition? David Firestein: Its not surprising that, with countries as different as the United States and China, there are tensions and disagreements over a wide range of areas. So, the aspiration that President Xi has laid out is absolutely commendable, which is something that we ought to work toward, while still recognizing that at present there are immense challenges on the bilateral agenda. First, we need to stabilize the relationship and get to a place of functionality. Then, I think we can start talking about higher level goals. Da Wei: In the past eight years, Chinas position on China-US relations has been consistent. Indeed, this vision entails concrete actions. For example, for there to be non-conflict and non-confrontation, the Chinese and American military need to embrace more crisis management mechanisms and confidence building measures. In order to achieve win-win cooperation, China and the United States need to achieve a new equilibrium in their economic and trade relations and people-to-people exchanges. On the one hand, the two sides can maintain close contacts; and on the other hand, both peoples feel comfortable and secured. Xiao Lianbing: What do you think of the China-US High-level Strategic Dialogue held in Alaska in March, 2020 and Chinas talks with John Kerry in Shanghai, the US Presidents climate envoy? David Firestein: The meeting between the senior officials was something that needed to happen and it achieved a couple of important goals. First, there are two senior officials on each side that have a chance to sit down together and discuss a number of different issues and get to know each other in these new capacities. It is important that these officials dedicated some time to building a relationship. Second, this helped establish a foundation for future meetings. While the meeting was generally characterized by outside observers as very contentious, my feeling is that you have to start somewhere. I think this meeting laid the foundation for further engagement that can be perhaps even more focused on substantive issues in the relationship. We have already seen some of that happen subsequent to the Anchorage meeting with Secretary John Kerry, the president's climate envoy in China recently. All of this could only happen after that initial meeting in Anchorage, so I don't think we should just focus on some of the arguments at the beginning of the meeting. Climate change probably tops the list, from a U.S. standpoint, of issues where the United States and China have to work together. Given that the United States and China are the two largest carbon-emitters in the world as well as the two largest economies, we must collaborate to be successful. The Biden Administration wants to see serious action taken on the climate during these four years. The visit of John Kerry to China is a good step in the right direction. They're less politicized than others on the agenda. I expect that this will be one of the areas in which we see some of the most fruitful and results-oriented collaboration between the United States and China over the coming several years. Da Wei: Nowadays, we live in an era of information explosion. As we keep an eye on all kinds of information every day, we have an impression that China and the US are highly hostile to each other. But if we carefully observe the actions of the two governments, we will see that despite the tense tension in the China-US relations, our leaders and senior government officials are resuming contacts and exchanges in an orderly manner. On February 6, Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, held a phone conversation with the US Secretary of State Blinken; on the morning of February 11 (the Chinese New Years Eve), President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with President Biden; on March 18, senior leaders of the two countries met in Alaska; from April 14th to 17th, Kerry visited China; on April 22nd, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the Leaders Summit on Climate. What I want to emphasize is that we have to grasp the key information in the vast oceans of information. The China-US relations are still in a difficult stage, but the governments are working hard to keep in contact and pull the wheels to spin. Each contact is laying a solid foundation for more important contacts in the future. As long as we continue to move towards each other, it is possible to stabilize, or even improve China-US relations. Xiao Lianbing: The U.S. Congress is pushing for a Strategic Competition Act. What is your take on it? And what kind of role does the U.S. Congress play in such bilateral relations? David Firestein: With respect to the Strategic Competition Act that is now before the United States Congress, there are some elements to it that I would agree with and some elements to it with which I disagree. An example of what I agree with in the legislation includes the idea that the United States needs to enhance our own ability in technology, infrastructure, investment, and a variety of other sectors in the economy. Our goal is to be able to compete more effectively with a very formidable competitor, China, and with other competitors in the world. I also think that the notion of re-establishing cultural and academic exchanges, and also some of the language on condemning anti-Asian hate are positive elements of this legislative package. But there are some aspects of the bill that are very problematic, including the notion that the U.S. federal government should encourage firms to take supply chains out of China. Such government interference into private sector activity and telling private companies how to operate would represent a retreat from the free market principles on which our nation was founded. In my judgement, it would be a huge mistake. Da Wei: Once the U.S. Congress passes a legislation, its influence will not just last for a certain administration, but for decades. In this sense, I am quite worried about this legislation because it is actually establishing a framework and setting the agenda for US policies towards China. As the name of the act shows, the U.S. Congress is trying to define the US future policies towards China as strategic competition. Once the bill is passed, whether the future US administrations are willing or not, they are bound to examine China-US relations from the perspective of strategic competition. In my opinion, although there is competition in China-US relations, it is dangerous and one-sided to define such relations in this way. 5. The Foundation will work to build a bridge between the two countries to bring the two countries closer, deepen understanding and build greater trust Xiao Lianbing: David Firestein, how do you feel about the changes in China over the past few decades? What projects will the Foundation carry out this year? David Firestein: In the preface to the publication of his China diaries in 2007, President Bush wrote that he loved the Chinese people and that he wanted to see the United States and China form a big partnership and friendship that would benefit not only each other but also the world. We at the Foundation seek to give expression to that vision that we should build bridges between the United States and China and bring the two countries closer together, build greater understanding and build greater trust. Since I first visited China in 1984, about 37 years ago, I have seen firsthand the monumental changes that have occurred in China in a variety of different ways. The changes of Beijing and other cities across China are astonishing and indicative of incredible progress. At the same time, there has been a great change with respect to the Chinese way of life. The pace of life in China is much faster today than it was when I was first studying in China in the 1980s. The Beijing and the China of today are very different from that because new technologies have created an incredibly fast pace of life and ease of quick communications. I certainly look forward to getting back to China as soon as that is practicable from the standpoint of COVID-19. In my recent professional work, I've tended to travel to China about three times a year on average. I know that Neil and all of our staff team look forward to reengaging with people in person rather than interacting just over Zoom or Wechat. We are excited about the work ahead and about getting back to communicate with others face to face. Editor: SRQ 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. 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 old, and over 100 people 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." Workers clear rubbles in Mayfield, Kentucky, the United States, on Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Angie Yu/Xinhua) 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. Workers repair the roof of a bank in Mayfield, Kentucky, the United States, on Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Angie Yu/Xinhua) 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. Editor: WXY by Julia Pierrepont III SAN DIEGO, the United States, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- During the weekend, representatives from Chinese language schools across the United States met in San Diego and shared ways to help Chinese American students bridge the cultural divide in their families. A growing number of first-generation Chinese Americans have been looking for better ways to communicate with their children, while at the same time, their children are struggling with some thorny social challenges, such as anti-Asian sentiments, identity issues, anxiety and depression. "I had PTSD, anxiety, and depression. A lot of Chinese American kids do. I couldn't talk to my parents about it at all," said Amanda Chen, a 20-year-old student at an Ivy League university who was invited to speak at the meeting to share her story. As a first-generation Chinese American, Chuanqi Chen, Amanda's father, used to think "the second generation have it easy, or are lazy, or don't appreciate what their parents struggled to give them." "But my daughter taught me that is not the case," said the father. "It's not that we are unappreciative. It's that our challenges are very different," the daughter explained. "First-generation Chinese Americans were raised very differently. Our parents were very strict. You were taught not to express your own opinion, just obey your parents," her father said. "They didn't show emotions or say, 'I love you' or hug their children. That was not the Chinese way. They expressed their love by pushing us to excel and succeed," he said. Amanda recalled that her grandfather was unbelievably strict. "He never said one word of praise. It made me hate him, and my father too." "Sadly, he would tell me how proud he was of her, but never told her. I didn't tell her either. So she grew up thinking we wouldn't love her if she didn't excel. It tore our family apart," said her father. This made Amanda, who considered herself as neither "Chinese enough" nor "American enough," feel very depressed, and finally, she thought about ending her life. At that moment, the father opened his heart to his daughter and told her how he really felt. Open communication has changed everything. "He didn't try to save face," Amanda said. "He put that aside and was open and honest. It brought us back together again." "We have good intentions and want to guide our kids on a safe path to success. But they grew up in America. Things are different here. They learn from their peers and want to choose their own path. We must trust them, let them go, and they will come back to us," said her father. Eager to help others like her, Amanda spoke at the meeting about an innovative approach -- creative writing. "Creative writing changed my life. It allowed me to express myself for the first time," Amanda said, who has been trying to help other students find their own voices. "They feel heard for the first time. And I'm like an underqualified family therapist," she said. "Parents are asking me how to get through to their kids." Writing has also changed her attitude towards her Chinese identity. Now she is really grateful for the Chinese parts of her because "they are my greatest strength and they make me more successful." Editor: ZAD The Institute for Central Asian Studies of Lanzhou University released a report titled "The Conspiracies and Approaches of the Crisis Politics under the 'Containing China through Disrupting Xinjiang' Strategy of the US" recently. The report reveals how the US government has fabricated the crisis of the legitimacy of governance, the crisis of economics, and the crisis of sovereignty on Xinjiang related issues to separate and subvert China. The following is the full text of the report: The Conspiracies and Approaches of the Crisis Politics under the "Containing China through Disrupting Xinjiang" Strategy of the US Institute for Central Asia Studies, Lanzhou University Since the government of Trump, maintaining the superior status of the US around the world, criticizing and squeezing the space of China has become the adhesive of the elites from both the Republican and the Democratic parties. Apparently, pushing a tough policy on China is being the consensus of the two parties. With this strong anti-China position in mind, the American politicians are biased to show their standpoints and ideas to China by attacking China's core interest, instigating and intervening in the secessionism issues that exclusively pertain to China's internal affairs, etc. In recent years, with the growing negative and hostile attitudes to Beijing, Washington is approaching to apply a containment strategy as its grand strategy to China. Therefore, the US government is trying to fabricate the crisis of the legitimacy of governance, the crisis of economics, and even the crisis of sovereignty on the related issue of Xinjiang to separate and subvert China. 1.The strategic motives of the US's "containing China through disrupting Xinjiang" policy It is self-evident that the US intervention in the Xinjiang-related issues is part of its grand strategy to China. Recently, under the changing nature of its perception of China, the US government substantially applies a "Containing China" strategy. In parallel to its comprehensive squeezing policy toward Beijing, Washington wantonly interferes with the core interests of China, such as counter-secessionism and the protection of the coherence of national territory. Among these interventions, the Xinjiang-related issue is the critical issue. 1.1 The changing perceptions and strategies to China For the past few years, there were two focuses of the US's China strategy. The first point was the strategic perceptions toward China, which was about how to treat and situate China in the world. Currently, the US's legislation, administration, and academia have converged on a point, namely that China has threatened the US-built hegemony and the US-led international order. The second point was the choice of strategy toward China, which was how to contain China's development and maintain the leading role of the US globally. With the fierce confrontations on several occasions, the Sino-US relations have undergone a significant change since 2019. This change results from the US's substantive adoption of the containment strategy to China, and this adoption action is based on the alteration of the relative strength between two states and the US's increasing negative perception of China. After the unreasonable tariffs slapped, the one-sided sanctions on Chinese enterprises and research and education institutions issued, and the groundless suppression on the technological developments of China conducted, the US government takes a step further and interferes rudely into the issues related to sovereignty and territorial integrity and national unity, which are the core interests of China. In the June of 2021, the US Senate approved a package of bills, which was the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021. This Act plans to attack the human rights and the value system of China as the primary target and conduct the comprehensive and systematic competition and containment strategy in the field of industrial development, trade policy, diplomacy, and national defense. Through this series of actions, the US intends to consolidate its hegemonic status worldwide. 1.2 The strategic choice on the policy of the core interests of China Under the background of the containing China strategy, the US's China policy has gradually broken up with its previous strategic baseline, which was the limited and temporary interference on the issues concerned with the core interests of China, such as national integrity and counter-secessionism. Instead, Washington is trying to regularize and normalize its interferences on the core interests of China through its frequent approvals of bills on Taiwan, Hongkong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. In fact, since 2019, the US had conducted a complete interference on the integrity of China when it approved a series of bills on Taiwan, Hongkong, Xinjiang, and Tibet, which are the core interests of China. The introductions of the bills above signal the relative completion of regularization of the US containment strategy on China. These bills are designed to contain China through the issues mentioned previously. With the interferences and the agenda-setting on the security, democracy, religion, and ethnicity aspects of these issues, Washington tries to fabricate the legal basis of the sovereignty integrity of China. This strategy is a violation of the political consensus between China and the US as well as the baseline of the Sino-US relations; it also raises a great challenge and causes considerable harm to China's core interest in the maintenance of national integrity. On the interferences of China's territorial integrity, the US government pays equal attention to the strategic value and tools value. From a long-term perspective, there will be growing importance on the issues concerned with China's core interest in national integrity, such as Taiwan, Hongkong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. With the containment strategy, the US continuously breaks its strategic consensus with China. Meanwhile, from the aspect of Washington, this ideology and value-based tools value cannot be exchanged with alternative attacking methods. This strategy has become the US's tool to manifest its values on democracy, freedom, etc. In fact, Washington keeps on highlighting its so-called advantages to China in these fields currently. This action from the US gives clear evidence of the all-the-time pride and prejudice of Western states on the values. In addition to this, the US's containment strategy is not exclusively fulfilled with this single issue of national integrity; it conducts an issue linkage approach which renders a comprehensive, multi-issue-related network or even an alliance with other states to contain China. 1.3 The background of the "containing China through disrupting Xinjiang" strategy Xinjiang is the largest administrative district in the land area of China, and it also serves as the frontier of counter-secessionism and counter-terrorism. The situation in Xinjiang exerts great impacts on the general stability of the reform and development of China. More than this point, the peace of Xinjiang is a matter of national integrity, national unity, national security, and it is the critical part of the realization of the "Two Centenary Goals" and the great revitalization of China. Since the second central work conference on Xinjiang, all sides of the government have worked intensively on the general target of social stability and its long-term maintenance. Up to now, these works turn out to be effective. However, there are still threats and challenges from terrorism, secessionism, and religious extremism, which are obstacles to securing Xinjiang's long-term stability. Unfortunately, these threats and challenges turn out to be opportunities for anti-China forces in the US to interfere in the domestic issue of China. They carry out the "containing China through disrupting Xinjiang" strategy by interfering with the Xinjiang-related issues, supporting the Xinjiang secessionist powers, and undermining Xinjiang's national unity. 2.The US's "containing China through disrupting Xinjiang" strategy and the crisis politics The main tactic of the US's "containing China through disrupting Xinjiang" strategy is to instigate the Chinese central government's governance crisis, economic crisis, and sovereignty crisis in Xinjiang. These fabricated crises are comprehensively organized by the US's agenda-setting, and they serve as the main approach of the US to contain China. This containment strategy originates from the Trump government, and it will be strengthened in its ideology and international alliance parts in the Biden government. 2.1 Fabricating governance crisis in the name of the so-called human rights There is a long-standing difference in the contents of human rights between the Eastern and the Western worlds, and the narratives from the Western world on human rights are characterized with inequality and pragmatism. Amongst the Western world, the US is a typical example of the Western human rights narratives. The US classifies three levels for its human rights narratives: self-narratives, otherness narratives, and international narratives. At the level of the self-narratives, the US labels itself as the unique leader of the concepts of human rights and highlights that Western democracy, freedom, and human rights protection should be the lighthouse of the world. At the level of the otherness narratives, the US has an all-the-time perception that the Eastern world and other developing states can only be the followers of the Western world in terms of human rights issues. They argue that the Eastern world and other developing states are always underdeveloped, endowed with serious despotism, and the worrying human rights situation. At the level of international narratives, the US utilizes its self-narratives of human rights as the moral high ground, along with its stereotype and discrimination to the rest of the world, to interfere with other states' domestic issues in the name of human rights. This unilateral, exclusive, and hierarchical view on human rights is colored with the hegemonic ideology of the Western world. The US's hegemonic narratives of human rights and its strategy to China have become a strategic tool of the "containing China through disrupting Xinjiang" policy. On the one hand, Washington attacks the Chinese government's governance in Xinjiang in the name of so-called human rights by disregarding the heavy losses and significant threats caused by terrorism, secessionism, and religious extremism, which make all the people in Xinjiang suffer a lot with their lives and possessions over the years. Regardless of the positive effects of Beijing's counter-terrorism and de-extremism policies on the stability of Xinjiang and the protection of the basic human rights of all the people in Xinjiang, the US government blurs the border of counter-terrorism and stability maintenance intentionally and even links these issues to the specific ethnic group or religious group incorrectly. These actions give clear evidence that the US government is fomenting strifes and fabricating oppositions with intentions. On the other hand, the US's reckless critique, attacks, and stigmatizations of the Xinjiang Vocational Education and Training Centers (the Education and Training Centers hereafter) directly negates the appeals for human rights developments from all the people, especially the minority people themselves in Xinjiang to long for the skills promotion, employment enlargement and income increase. Simultaneously, the rude actions from the US refuse the acquirements of fundamental rights for all the people in Xinjiang to receive the education of lingua franca and laws as other ordinary Chinese citizens. In turn, Washington fabricates the incorrect images that the Education and Training Centers limit people's freedom and even enslave students, which are definitely the stigmatizations and demonizations to the actual human rights developments in Xinjiang. The US's negated and stigmatized interpretations and critiques result from both its rigidified and metaphysical ideas on human rights and its arrogance, but it also has some underlying conspiracies. Amongst these conspiracies, the cardinal target is to fabricate the legitimacy crisis of the Chinese government's governance over Xinjiang in the name of human rights. By provoking the opposition between the Uyghur people's human rights-related issues and the general goal of maintaining the security and stability of Xinjiang, the US refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the values of the Chinese government's work in Xinjiang. By making comprehensive distortions on the functions and values of the Education and Training Centers, the US further neglects the rights of developments for all the people in Xinjiang and de-constructs the legitimacy of the performance of the governance of the Chinese government in Xinjiang. This stigmatization throughout human rights, which is hyped and diffused intentionally by the US and other Western media and think tanks, especially with the contents of blames on China by some governments, has created internationally baneful influences on China. 2.2 Fabricating economic crisis in the name of the so-called "forced labor." After the fabricated so-called "illegal governance" of the Chinese central government in Xinjiang under the name of human rights, the US further starts to issue sanctions on various internal and external economic entities of Xinjiang with the groundless label of "forced labor." These sanctions are directly related to the primary industries concerned with the development and stability of Xinjiang. They aim to inflict heavy losses to the economics of Xinjiang, which is apparently natured with anti-humanitarian thoughts. Although it labels with the so-called counter- "forced labor," it actually turns out to deprive all the people's rights of working in Xinjiang. This action is an absurd logical paradox. Up to the July of 2021, under the name of the so-called "violations of human rights" and "forced labor," the US has included 45 Chinese enterprises and 22 Chinese institutions, which are 67 entities in total, into the "Entity List" of the US Department of Commerce; and included eight persons and two institutions (Department of Public Security of Xinjiang, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps) into the "SDN List" of the US Department of Treasury, and has further issued detention order on cotton production, tomatoes, and silica-based products from Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. Ltd. by its Customs and Border Protection. It is ridiculous to issue sanctions on enterprises and other entities in Xinjiang in the name of "forced labor;" it is also interference in fundamental human rights of all the people in Xinjiang. Among the sanctioned industries, cotton production, tomatoes, and garments not only influence the lives of large scales of farmers but also exert great impacts on farmers' employment stabilities and income promotions. The US's unilateral sanctions or even its agitated multilaterally aligned sanctions to the basic industries in Xinjiang without any clear evidence per se are rude interferences to the basic human rights of the people in Xinjiang. These actions are, in fact, the unilaterally anti-human rights economic sanctions that are under cover of human rights. It is characterized by a strong tone of hegemony. The more insidious part of the US's conspiracy is that the US government is trying to block and strangle the economics of Xinjiang through its industrial and supply chains under the name of "forced labor" and "violations of human rights." This containment tactic is to further create the economic crisis of Xinjiang based on the negation of the legitimacy of governance of the Chinese government in Xinjiang. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which is proposed actively by the anti-China members in the US Congress, and the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act of 2020 are clear signals for this conspiracy. According to the drafts of these bills, the objects of sanctions are enlarged to the other related Chinese enterprises and international companies which have businesses with the Chinese enterprises in Xinjiang. This enlargement of the scope of sanctions is intended to cut off the supply and circular chain of the industries, which are the core part of the economics of Xinjiang. These insidious economic sanctions are designed to destroy every each way of economic development and open up of Xinjiang, which further squeezes the space of development of the key industries of Xinjiang. This is the way of the US to obstruct the social-economic modernization of Xinjiang by fabricating crises. The deeper design of these sanctions is to sabotage the general stability of Xinjiang by impeding its development, to provoke dissatisfactions, contradictions, and conflicts by fabricating economic crises. Consequently, Xinjiang would step into a vicious cycle of "recession-turbulence" and the attacks from the US on human rights in Xinjiang would be justified further. The economic crises would eventually instigate the political crises if the Chinese government's legitimacy of governance over Xinjiang could be overturned. 2.3 Fabricating sovereignty crisis in the name of the so-called "genocide." The most critical slander of the US and the other Western States on the Xinjiang-related issue is the so-called "forced sterilization," which is used as the framework by Washington in its fabrication of the so-called "genocide executed" of the Chinese government in Xinjiang. As the bottom line of human rights protection, genocide is the most serious accusation in international law. The sideless accusation of the "genocide" in Xinjiang from the US and other Western social media, think tanks, and some political circles of the Western world have been ridiculously exaggerated to the level of against humanity. Basically, the fabricated accusation of "genocide" framed by the so-called "forced sterilization" and "against humanity" is in lack the primary evidence. It is just a manipulated, sideless argument made by some anti-China scholars who have ulterior motives. This untenable accusation is utilized by some US and other Western politicians to attack the Chinese government. The US's "anti-intellectualism" on the related issue of the so-called "genocide" fails to cover its strategic logic under this framework of charge, which is to link the so-called "genocide" to the responsibility of protection and thereby provokes the sovereignty crisis of China over Xinjiang. In the 21st century, the international efforts to prevent genocide have gradually connected to the United Nations (UN) concept of the responsibility of protection. The responsibility of sovereignty serves as the basis of law for the responsibility of protection. Recently, the Western anti-China camp led by the US attempts to charge China with the name of the so-called "genocide," and its implied goal is to negate the Chinese government's sovereignty over Xinjiang, which is in fact a deliberated manipulation of the fundamental contradiction between the secessionism activities and anti-secessionism efforts of the Chinese government in Xinjiang. The US, on the one side, stigmatizes and disparages China in terms of value and ideology, and on the other side, tries to subvert and decompose the integrity of the sovereignty and territory of China legally in the name of the so-called "genocide." All these absurd works from the US are to fulfill Washington's goal of "containing Chian through Xinjiang." 3.Conclusion To sum up, the US's strategy of crisis politics over Xinjiang is deliberated with grand strategic ambition. It comes with increasingly larger threats and long-term harms to China. Since the end of the Cold War, the US had overthrown the regimes and disturbed the social orders in Libya, Iraq, and Syria in the name of the responsibility of protection. These actions caused serious humanitarian crises and even genocides to the states mentioned above. Apparently, the US's actions per se are the sins of anti-humanity. However, its hegemonic behaviors were not accused by any other actors in the international system. Therefore, in the current strategic background under the US's "containing China through disrupting Xinjiang" policy and the process of overall stigmatization to Xinjiang, the discourse of the US-leading Western world has detached itself from the related issue of the development and stability of Xinjiang per se, and is on the way of being a value- and tool- oriented. While the US keeps criticizing China's values on the human rights-related issue over Xinjiang, it also tries hard to negate the Chinese government's political and sovereign legitimacies over Xinjiang by fabricating various crises. The Biden government has three important points for its attitude and policies over the related issues of Xinjiang, which are "inequality highlighted," "value highlighted," and "alliance highlighted." When these three points meet with Trump's policies of Xinjiang-related issues, which are "being a strategic issue," "being a legal issue," and "being a sanction issue," it will yield extremely negative results to the development and stability of Xinjiang. Different from the illustrations of Tibet as a utopia in the post-modernized world, a "Shangri-La" which is free from the tarnishment of the secular life, the US and other Western states describe Xinjiang as an anti-modernized "cage" which connives the violations of basic human rights and even the so-called "genocide." However, regardless of deification or demonization, this orientalized "re-colonization of spirits" make the Tibet and Xinjiang-related issues gradually be the issues of general value and political standpoint worldwide. During this process, China is shaped as an opposite side to the deified Tibet and the sinner for the demonized Xinjiang. This distortion of China puts Beijing under heavy attacks for its proper sovereignty and values, and it ridiculously makes the US stand on the moral high ground and serve as the role of the so-called Saviour. During its strategy implementation process, the US's overall demonization of Xinjiang is characterized by the strong tone of imperialism and colonialism. In the post-Cold War era, the US-leading Western world had waged a series of wars over Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lybia. All these wars were mobilized in the name of world security and humanitarianism, which virtually aimed to fulfill the hegemonic interests of the Western world through sanctions and fightings. Under this discourse and behavior, the long-term humanitarian crises and state crises in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lybia thoroughly expose the US's logic of imperialism and colonialism. In a fundamental sense, the US's crisis politics over Xinjiang is an important part and a primary expression of its containment strategy toward China. The logic of this containment strategy is twofold. First, it uses the human rights issue as the breakthrough point and makes China as the target of moral condemnation and thereby fabricates a moral basis that renders a chance to work with the US allies and international organizations to squeeze the space of China in the international system. The practice of this tactic attempts to isolate and suppress China. Second, it tries to enlarge the gap between China and the US regarding technology, education, economy, and military. The practice of this tactic would further block the development of China through its fabrication and instigation of the domestically social crises, which would cause dissatisfaction or turbulence in the society. Apparently, this containment strategy is finally designed for strengthening the leading role of the US around the world. Editor: Zhang Zhou European Union leaders have acknowledged the European aspirations of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, according to a declaration adopted at the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels on Wednesday. In May of this year, three Eastern Partnership member countries - Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova - declared their commitment to integration with the EU, signing a memorandum in Kyiv to establish the Associated Trio. "In this context, we acknowledge the European aspirations and the European choice of the partners concerned, as stated in the Association Agreements," the joint declaration, titled "Recovery, Resilience and Reform", said. The EU and all interested partners will explore options for enhanced sectoral cooperation, "including, but not limited to, the areas of the twin green and digital transitions, connectivity, energy security, justice and home affairs, strategic communication and healthcare." At the same time, the EU continues to stress "the importance of the principle of inclusivity, providing equal access to opportunities and resources to all interested partners." Ukraine has registered 9,590 new cases of COVID-19, as well as 25,499 recoveries and 355 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Health Ministry said on Thursday. "Ukrainians have received over 27 million shots of a coronavirus vaccine since the beginning of the vaccination process! Over the past day, December 15, Ukraine has recorded 9,590 new cases of COVID-19 (including 864 children and 115 medical workers), meanwhile, 142,926 people have been vaccinated for COVID-19, among them 47,519 who received their first shot and 95,407 who completed their vaccination. In the past 24 hours, 2,089 people have been hospitalized, 355 have died, and 25,499 have recovered," the ministry said on Telegram. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Ukraine has seen a total of 3.588 million coronavirus infections, including 3.285 million recoveries and 92,313 deaths. As of this date, 14.269 million people have been vaccinated, including 14.269 million who have received their first shot of a vaccine and 12.736 million who have completed their vaccination. A total of 27.005 million shots have now been administered. NATO member states have not yet come to a common position on the issue of military assistance to Ukraine and the provision of weapons, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. "As you understand, there is no unified position on Ukraine's accession to NATO among 30 countries yet, but most countries support us. In the same way, there is no unified position among states regarding military assistance, especially in such contracts [on the supply of weapons]. Nevertheless, here I feel the full support of the Secretary General, and we are finding other steps to resolve these issues," Zelensky said at a briefing following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. As reported, Ukrainian President Zelensky said in an interview with the La Repubblica Italian newspaper that Germany had interfered with the supply of anti-drone rifles and anti-sniper systems to Ukraine through NATO. Borrell: EU countries can easily reach consensus on new sanctions against Russia The countries of the European Union can easily reach consensus on a package of new restrictive measures in case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell has said on Thursday. "This time, yes," he replied in Brussels to a journalist's question about whether the leaders of the EU country at the summit on Thursday can easily reach a consensus on this point. Borrell said that Brussels is preparing a "full set of sanctions." The Bloomberg agency on the eve, citing sources among diplomats and high-ranking officials of different countries, said that France, Germany, Italy and Spain are in favor of dialogue with Moscow instead of the forced preparation of a package of sanctions. Western countries have repeatedly warned that they will take economic measures Russia if it attacks Ukraine. The West is concerned about the buildup of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine; in some countries, they believe that Russia may prepare an invasion, and warn against this. The building of Kyiv City State Administration on the Khreschatyk Street will be illuminated with the Crimean Tatar traditional ornament "Ornek," which was recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage. "On the occasion of the adoption of the decision and with the assistance of the Association of Cities of Ukraine, with which the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on September 13, 2021, that during December 16-17 the building of the Kyiv City State Administration on Khreschatyk (Kyiv) will be illuminated with Ornek ornament using 3D mapping technologies," the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said. As reported, at the 16th session, during a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in Paris, it was decided to include the ornament in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ukraine accepts two more out of eight contracted coal batches from USA, Colombia Ukraine receives two next Panamax-class vessels with imported coal totaling 131,00 tonnes, the first of which with 55,000 tonnes of coal originating from Colombia docked at the TIS port on Thursday at 13.30. According to a press release from DTEK Energy, the second vessel with 76,000 tonnes of coal from the United States will dock at the Pivdenny seaport at night. "In addition to two Panamax vessels with imported coal, which have already arrived and are almost completely delivered to Ukrainian thermal power plants, we meet two more vessels with coal from the United States and Colombia," CEO of DTEK Energy Ildar Saleev said. As of the middle of December 2021, the company contracted eight shiploads of coal to import to Ukraine from the United States and Colombia with a total volume of almost 545,000 tonnes. The Israeli government will donate 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine against coronavirus (500,000 doses) disease to Ukraine as part of the Covax initiative, according to the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine. "The Government of the State of Israel, given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic facing the whole world, and the special strong relations between the states and peoples of Israel and Ukraine, has decided to transfer half a million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Ukraine," the embassy said in a statement released on Thursday. Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky timed this gesture to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries. "We are glad that we have the opportunity to help Ukraine in the fight against COVID-19. In ten days we will celebrate 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, and this gesture is a symbol of the strong ties and friendship that exist between Israel and Ukraine," he said. Russian mercenaries in Donbas have violated the ceasefire regime four times, as a result of which one Ukrainian soldier has been wounded, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) headquarters has said. "Since Thursday midnight, the armed formations of the Russian Federation have recorded four violations of the ceasefire, one of which with the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements. Not far from Novoluhanske, the invaders fired from small arms. Near Pisky, the enemy fired from 82-mm mortars and heavy anti-tank grenade launchers," the JFO staff said on Facebook. In the direction of Zolote-4 and Travneve, the enemy opened fire from automatic heavy-duty grenade launchers. "As a result of hostile actions, one soldier of the JFO was wounded. The soldier is placed in a hospital. His health condition is satisfactory," the message reads. On Monday, December 20, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host roundtable talk entitled "Stormy 2021. Outcomes and forecasts for 2022." Participants include Director of the Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov; political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko; Director of the Ukrainian Barometer sociological service Viktor Nebozhenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of places in the press center is limited, the presence of a PCR test or a certificate of vaccination is required. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. In a rhetorical, discursive letter addressed to the people of the United States, the Islamic Republic President Hassan Rouhani has lamented that the victims of the sanctions Washington imposed on Tehran are not the country's political camps, but the ordinary people. Commemorating the new Persian year (Nowruz, beginning March 20), the mid-ranking cleric has called on American people to urge the U.S. Congress and the White House to repeal the sanctions. "In the name of justice and humanity, I address your conscience and Godly souls and call upon you to make your Administration and Congress see that the path of sanctions and pressure has never been successful and will never be so in the future. It is human discourse and action that produce results," Rouhani has noted, implicitly accusing Washington of warmongering. "The Iranian peoplewill repel this virus as well as the sanctions born of the callous policy of maximum pressure and will endure once again with resilience and pride." Rouhani has claimed that U.S. sanctions have targeted the people. "Following its illegal withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the U.S. Government has implemented more than one hundred collective punishment measures against the Iranian people, specifically targeting Iran's principal economic and financial sectors, and inflicting damages amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars to Iran's economy and the Iranian people.," Rouhani said. Some Iranians criticized Rouhanis rambling letter, arguing that it is mostly sermonizing and ineffective in terms of getting the attention of ordinary Americans. President Donald Trump opposed the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal on the grounds that on the long-run it will not stop from acquiring nuclear weapons and it does not address Tehrans behavior of supporting militant groups throughout the Middle East. He also argued that Irans missile program is a danger to all its neighbors. Ultimately, Washington saw no benefit in the JCPOA and withdrew the agreement, instituting a campaign of pressure to force Iran to negotiate a new and a broader agreement. Since, the Trump administration has offered talks without pre-conditions and has promised assistance to Iran if agreement can be reached. The offer has been categorically rejected by the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Talking to the U.S.A is a lethal poison (for Iran), talking to the Trump administration is twice more deadly," Khamenei has stressed. In the meantime, in his letter to the people of America, Rouhani has once again accused Washington of restricting Tehran's efforts to contain the novel coronavirus and its related disease, Covid-19, that has killed more than 1,500 and infected 20,000 across Iran. However, the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said on Friday, March 20, "The whole world should know that humanitarian assistance to Iran is wide open, it's not sanctioned." Earlier, Washington had offered help to contain the deadly virus in Iran, but the Islamic Republic authorities rejected it. Egypt reported 769 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total infection tally to 388,651 since the outbreak began in February 2020, the health ministry said. 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. 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: Lebanon on Wednesday ordered the expulsion of Bahraini opposition figures after they held a press conference that irked the Gulf kingdom, where the group is banned, Lebanon's state news agency said. In Beirut last week Al-Wefaq, which was Bahrain's leading opposition party until the judiciary dissolved it in 2016, denounced what it said were human rights violations in the kingdom, local media reported. Al-Wefaq has close links with Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah. In response, Bahrain's government denounced "the promotion of malicious allegations and causing harm to the Kingdom of Bahrain", Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) said. Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Wednesday directed security officials "to take the measures necessary to expel from Lebanon the non-Lebanese members" of Al-Wefaq, it added. During a call with his Bahraini counterpart, Mawlawi said that Lebanon would not be used "as a platform to spread hate... towards Arab countries," the NNA reported. In 2011, a mainly Shia protest movement took to the streets of Bahrain to demand an elected government, briefly threatening the Sunni monarchy's grip on power before a deadly crackdown. Al-Wefaq was later dissolved over allegations including "harbouring terrorism". Bahrain rejects accusations of rights violations and denies any discrimination against its Shia citizens. In early December Lebanon's information minister resigned in hopes of ending a stand-off with Gulf countries that erupted after he criticised the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. Saudi Arabia as well as Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE responded by recalling their ambassadors from Beirut. Riyadh also blocked imports and Kuwait said it would limit visas issued to Lebanese, prompting fears for the interests of millions of expatriates living in Arab states of the oil-rich Gulf. The stand-off marked a fresh blow for Lebanon, which is in the grips of a crippling economic crisis and whose government was only formed in September after a 13-month deadlock. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said on Thursday that Egypt is working closely with Saudi Arabia to "achieve the security and stability within the region." Shoukry made his statement in a Cairo press conference with his Saudi counterpart Faisal Bin Farhan after they chaired a meeting for the political consultation committee gathering officials from both countries. The committee was founded as per a memorandum of understanding between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in June 2007 to promote coordination and cooperation between the two sides. The meeting, both ministers said in the joint press conference, exchanged views concerning regional and international issues as well as the stances of both countries regarding threats against stability and security in the region. Libyan elections As for Libya, Shoukry and Bin Farhan reaffirmed the necessity of holding the Libyan elections on time, on 24 December, as well as expelling all foreign fighters and mercenaries from the Libyan soil. The vote is the culmination of a United Nations-led process meant to end the 10 years of turmoil that have wracked Libya following the ouster and killing of President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. However, it is unclear whether the vote will take place in 10 days due to disagreements over the legal basis for the vote given procedural delays. Shoukry said Egypt will continue to cooperate and coordinate with Saudi Arabia and all international partners to follow up on all components agreed upon in accordance with the UN-led process, including the exit of all foreign fighters. There should be no parties holding arms other than the Libyan National Army and Libyan security institutions, the Egyptian foreign minister underscored. Two-state solution During the meeting, both sides also stressed the need to settle the Palestinian cause by reaching a two-state solution that involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Saudi Minister Bin Farhan called for halting all violations against Palestinians. GERD dilemma The meeting also touched upon the 10-year-old dispute caused by Ethiopias Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. Saudi Arabia's top diplomat reiterated his country's full support to the water security of Egypt and Sudan, urging for a legally binding agreement regulating the rules for filling and operating the controversial dam. Egypt and Sudan have been negotiating with Ethiopia for a decade to reach a comprehensive and legally binding agreement over the GERD, which would secure their water rights and end their related concerns over the impact of the dam on the quantity of water reaching the two countries. However, Ethiopia has resisted efforts to reach a binding deal and unilaterally conducted two fillings of the dam over the past two years in the absence of an agreement with Egypt and Sudan. "The water security of Egypt and Sudan is part and parcel of the Arab national security," Bin Farhan stressed in the joint press conference. No Saudi-Iranian meetings Bin Farhan denied a direct round of talk between Saudi and Iranian security officials was held in Jordan over the past several days. "There was no any meeting in Jordan and what happened, as far as I know, is that there was a seminar at a [Jordanian] think-tank centre attended by people from a number of countries," he added. Recently, both powers have engaged in four rounds of high-level talks aiming to ease tension occurred since cutting ties in 2016. "No more meetings have been held yet, but we are open for continuing the conversation," Saudi Arabia's top diplomat stressed in Cairo's conference. Saudi Arabia is at odds with Iran over many regional issues, most notably the situation in Yemen and Syria. The Gulf country also has concerns towards Iran's nuclear programme. During Cairo's conference, Bin Farhan asserted the necessity of intensifying efforts aimed at preventing Iran from possessing nuclear weapon and withdrawing weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East. Bin Farahen added that he touched upon the Iranian role in destabilising security during today's meeting, saying "I appreciate Egypt's stance that rejects all the terrorist attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias against the civilian areas in the kingdom." Separately in a statement issued following the bilateral talks, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that both sides affirmed their rejection of any attempts by regional parties to meddle in the internal affairs of Arab countries. Both side refuse any interference "whether through tools of ethnic and sectarian incitement, or tools of terrorism and terrorist groups, or through expansionist perceptions that do not respect the sovereignty of states," noted the statement. The Egyptian side also offered during the meeting its solidarity with the Kingdom for all measures it takes to protect its national security, rejecting any attacks on the Saudi territories. "The security of the Kingdom and the Arab Gulf region is an integral part of the Egyptian national security," the statement assured. Search Keywords: Short link: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) fully supports Egypts Dabaa nuclear power plant, IAEA's Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Thursday, adding that the project is "major and significant step in the direction of peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Egypt." The project shall elevate Egypts development, making it one of the regions most important countries in the nuclear field, Grossi said at a meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo. The Dabaa plant is being implemented by Russian nuclear energy corporation Rosatom in Matrouh governorate, in the north of Egypt, under an agreement signed between Egypt and Russia in 2015. The plant is expected to begin producing power in 2026. Grossi said he is looking forward to this project being a model for fruitful cooperation between the IAEA and Egypt, according to a statement by Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady. He praised Egypt's key contributions on the regional and international level in terms of nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of atomic energy. President El-Sisi said Egypt is establishing the power plant to benefit from the peaceful uses of atomic energy for development, Rady added. El-Sisi also expressed keenness to strengthen cooperation with the IAEA and benefit from its experience to apply the highest international standards of nuclear security. The Egyptian president also hailed the agencys important role worldwide in using nuclear science and technology to spread peace and security. "The International Atomic Energy Agency bears a great responsibility towards enhancing the regions stability and security," the statement quoted El-Sisi as saying. Rays of Hope Initiative The meeting also touched on Egypts cooperation with IAEA's upcoming initiative dubbed Rays of Hope, which aims to treat cancer patients in Africa, the statement added. The cooperation will entail selecting one of the leading Egyptian medical institutions with experience in the field to serve as a hub to provide necessary technical support for the initiative in Africa, the presidencys statement added. COP27 and clean energy El-Sisi and Grossi dealt with Egypt's plans to host the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27) and the possibility of using this huge event to highlight the important role of nuclear energy like the Dabaa plant in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. The meeting was attended by Minister of Electricity Mohammed Shaker, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, and Chief of the General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt denounced on Wednesday the latest attack on the Saudi cities of Jezan and Abha by Yemeni Houthi militias, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement. The Saudi-led-coalition announced that a ballistic missile was launched at the industrial zone in the southern city of Jezan, causing damages in three workshops as well as burning three civilian-owned cars. The coalition added that it also intercepted two ballistic missiles targeting the southern city of Abha. Egypt reiterates that targeting civilian facilities and innocent civilians by Houthi militia is considered a threat to the security and stability of Saudi Arabia; it also represents a flagrant violation of the rules of international law, the statement said. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also expressed countrys full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for any counterterrorist measures it takes. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) recently conducted its first context-specific dialogue, negotiation, and mediation (DNM) training course for Somali officials. Seventeen officials from a range of Somali government departments and ministries participated in the training held in Cairo between 5 and 9 December. Drawing on Egypt's extensive expertise in the field of DNM, the course is part of Egypts ongoing efforts to support peace and stability in Somalia in line with its longstanding commitment to strengthening peace and security in Africa, a statement by the CCCPA read. The course is part of the project on Enhancing Peace, Security, Stability in Africa VII, which is funded by the Japanese government through the UNDP. Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Director-General of the CCCPA, said the course is part of the centers ongoing efforts to step up its activities in support of building Somali capacities in the fields of conflict resolution and peacebuilding The tailored training aimed at enhancing the capacity of Somali officials in the area of conflict resolution an essential step towards building state institutions and achieving national reconciliation in accordance with the priorities of the Somali transition plan, the CCCPA said. During the course, the participants were provided with the necessary knowledge, tools, and skills to meaningfully contribute to conflict prevention and resolution efforts. In addition to topics on conflict, violence, and mediation, the course covered negotiation strategies and concepts, the use of information technology in peacemaking, inclusive mediation through the participation of women, as well as mediation and non-state armed groups. Ambassador Sherif Issa, assistant foreign minister for African affairs, stated that building Somali capacities had always been on top of Egypts efforts to support the country in achieving its national priorities, thus enhancing national ownership of state institutions and enabling Somalis to shoulder the relevant political and security responsibilities. Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to Egypt Ilyas Sheikh Omar expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Egypt and the CCCPA for the course, emphasising the historic bonds between Egypt and Somalia. Founded in 1994 by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the CCCPA is an Egyptian public agency specialised in training, capacity building, and research in the fields of peace and security in Africa and the Middle East. Search Keywords: Short link: Acting Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar announced on Thursday that Egypt has administered 52 million COVID-19 vaccine doses so far. In his report on the latest pandemic updates in Egypt during the weekly Cabinet meeting, Abdel-Ghaffar stated that an average of 551 thousand vaccines were administered daily. The minister stated that there are currently 64.5 million vaccine doses available for use, adding that the current stock of vaccines is enough to immunise 100 percent of the targeted population, which is citizens 12 years and above. Egypt has a stock of imported doses of the Sinopharm, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. It has also locally produced millions of doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine. The minister said in his weekly report that the vaccination campaigns targeted population is about 72 million people and that currently 31 million people have received their first dose of the vaccine. He added that it is expected to reach 23 million fully vaccinated people by the end of December 2021. The Egyptian government previously set a goal to fully vaccinate 40 million people by the end of 2021. Abdel-Ghaffar also stated that, so far, 540,00 people from age groups less than 18 years old were vaccinated. In November, Egypt approved the vaccination of minors between the ages of 12 and 18 years old, with 12- to 15-year-olds requiring parental approval to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Concerning the booster shot, Abdel-Ghaffar stated that doses of the different types of vaccines were available to be administered as booster shots, adding that 23 million booster shots would be available till 30 June 2022. The minister stated that booster shot is accessible in Egypt for those who received their second shot at least 6 months ago. Eligible groups for the coronavirus booster shot are going to receive an SMS with details regarding their next appointment, he said. The Egyptian government approved the administration of a booster shot in late November. The groups eligible for a booster shot so far are patients who suffer from immunodeficiency, patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, the elderly, and healthcare workers. The minister also revealed that the health ministry intensified its campaign to send text message to those who have not received their vaccine as of yet, and that 205,211 people received their second shot following the start of this push. Furthermore, Abdel-Ghaffar discussed in his report the latest developments concerning the Omicron variant, adding that it appeared in 77 countries so far in citizens with or without a travel history. Moreover, the people infected with Omicron show less severe symptoms than those found in those infected with the Delta and Beta variants. According to Egyptian officials, the Omicron variant has not appeared in the country yet. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Acting Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said on Thursday that 21 million women have been screened as part of the presidential initiative to support women's health, a statement by the ministry read. The announcement was made at a meeting Abdel-Ghaffar held to follow up on the progress of the initiative and key performance indicators. The initiative was launched in 2019 to screen 28 million women over 18 years old nationwide. It is part of the 100 Million Health initiative, which has screened over 60 million people for hepatitis C. The women's health initiative is designed to screen carcinoma of the breast at an early stage, pursue clinical examination, and provide free-of-charge treatment, focusing on reproductive health, family planning, and healthy lifestyles. The detection of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, and obesity, is an integral part of the initiative, which considers their risk factors and promotes breast self-exam, according to the presidency's website. The meeting, which was attended by Assistant Health Minister Mohamed Hassani and the initiative's Executive Director Ahmed Morsy, reviewed the rates of treatment provided to more than 10,000 women before and during the initiative. Since the coronavirus outbreak, about 15 million women have been examined in the initiative, according to the statement. The health ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar explained that 185,191 mammogram scans were performed, 11,263 tumor samples were taken for analysis, and 6,093 cases of breast cancer were detected and provided with treatment since the launch of the initiative. Thanks to the initiative, the average time from screening to diagnosis was shortened from 141 to 21 days, while the period from screening to treatment was decreased from 270 to 38 days, according to the spokesperson. The minister stressed the importance of disseminating the scientific researches conducted on the results of public health initiatives in leading international scientific journals to help the rest of the world develop treatment protocols. He directed the quick activation of the terms of cooperation with the National Centre of Oncology in France (Gustave Roussy) and transferring the experience of the one-stop clinics for detecting breast cancer, which will help in the rapid diagnosis of cases with high efficiency and in one place in eight hours. Morsy revealed that 14 health ministry-affiliated centres are providing cutting-edge breast cancer treatment under the initiative, and that the same services are offered at 13 new hospitals affiliated with the Supreme Council of University Hospitals. Through the initiatives website, Morsy said, women can locate their nearest clinics or inquire about them via the hotline 15335. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in July 2021 that the state pays special attention to women while drawing up its coronavirus policies, which is out of the countrys awareness that women are the most affected groups when such crises occur. In addition to supporting womens health via the related presidential initiatives, the country has also developed financial and economic policies to further empower women economically and create job opportunities for irregular female workers, the president noted. Search Keywords: Short link: 'She was a giant, no nonsense person who lived by her own rules, and spoke her own truth in a time when Black people, and women especially, did not feel empowered to do that,' Dr. Strong-Leek, a former provost of Berea College, wrote in an email to The Associated Press. 'It was a privilege to know her, and the world is a lesser place today because she is gone. There will never be another bell hooks.'' Starting in the 1970s, hooks was a profound presence in the classroom and on the page. She drew upon professional scholarship and personal history as she completed dozens of books that influenced countless peers and helped provide a framework for current debates about race, class and feminism. Her notable works included 'Ain't I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism,'' 'Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center'' and 'All About Love: New Visions.' She also wrote poetry and children's stories and appeared in such documentaries as 'Black Is ... Black Ain't'' and 'Hillbilly.'' Rejecting the isolation of feminism, civil rights and economics into separate fields, she was a believer in community and connectivity and how racism, sexism and economic disparity reinforced each other. 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, Tressie McMillan Cottom and others mourned 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' honors included an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation, which champions diversity in literature. She 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.'' One former student at Yale, the author Min Jin Lee, would write in The New York Times in 2019 that in hooks' classroom 'everything felt so intense and crackling like the way the air can feel heavy before a long-awaited rain.'' 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, while also spelling the words in lower case to establish her own identity and way of thinking. She loved reading from an early age, remembering how books gave her 'visions of new worlds'' that forced her out of her 'comfort zones.'' Her early influences ranged from James Baldwin and fellow Kentucky author Wendell Berry to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. 'Martin Luther King was my teacher for understanding the importance of beloved community. He had a profound awareness that the people involved in oppressive institutions will not change from the logics and practices of domination without engagement with those who are striving for a better way,'' she said in an interview that ran in Appalachian Heritage in 2012. She majored in English at Stanford University and received a master's in English from the University of Wisconsin. It was the 1970s, the height of second wave feminism, but hooks _ 'this bold young black female from rural Kentucky'' _ felt apart from the movement and its 'white and female comrades.'' She was still in college when she began writing 'Ain't I a Woman,'' named for a speech by Sojourner Truth and a now-canonical look at how the 'devaluation of black womanhood occurred as a result of the sexual exploitation of black women during slavery.'' Over the following decades, Hooks examined how stereotypes influence everything from music and movies ('the oppositional gaze') to love, writing in 'All About Love'' that 'much of what we were taught about the nature of love makes no sense when applied to daily life.'' She also documented at length the collective identity and past of Black people in rural Kentucky, a part of the state often depicted as largely white and homogeneous. 'We chart our lives by everything we remember from the mundane moment to the majestic. We know ourselves through the art and act of remembering,'' she wrote in 'Belonging: A Culture of Place,' published in 2009. 'I pay tribute to the past as a resource that can serve as a foundation for us to revision and renew our commitment to the present, to making a world where all people can live fully and well, where everyone, can belong.' Nigerian senators have rejected, for the third time in five years, a bill that seeks to promote gender equality, citing ``socio-cultural and Islamic concerns.'' The proposed law was dropped after some lawmakers mostly northern Muslims in the country's upper legislative chamber argued that it went against their interpretation of their religion's principles. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is deeply divided along religious and ethnic lines, and women rarely make it to top positions of power; including in the senate where only 7% of the senators are women. Among them is the bill's sponsor, Sen Biodun Olujimi from Ekiti state in southern Nigeria, who said that the proposed law would stem a tide of gender-based violence against women. The bill would criminalize discrimination on the ground of gender or marital status, and also seeks to better enforce existing laws on gender-based violence. But for many of the lawmakers during Wednesday's plenary session, it was strictly a religious issue. ``Equating opportunities actually infringes on the provisions of the Quran and also the Bible,'' argued Sen. Yusuf Yusuf from Taraba state in the north. ``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.'' His concern was re-echoed by several other lawmakers, forcing the sponsor to change the title from ``Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill`` to ``Gender Equity Bill.'' That made little difference, however, to opponents who blocked the bill from going forward despite support shown by other lawmakers. Senate President Ahmad Lawan said lawmakers see the need for gender equity in Nigeria, but acknowledged a need for ``further consultations'' on the bill. Olujimi, the bill's sponsor, vowed to make another attempt, saying she had the support of 62 of the 108 senators. Search Keywords: Short link: Lebanon's interior minister on Wednesday ordered the deportation of members of Bahrain's outlawed Shia opposition party after they criticized from Beirut their country's 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 Shia population. Bahrain in 2016 suspended Al-Wefaq, the island nation's 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 wasn't 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 to ask Lebanese General Security to deport non-Lebanese members of Al-Wefaq. 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. Bahrain accuses Iran of backing Al-Wefaq, which is also seen as an ally of Hezbollah. Search Keywords: Short link: Saudi Arabia sent two aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to Afghanistan Thursday, state media reported, its first such initiative since the Taliban took control of the crisis-stricken country in August. The kingdom's state-run King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) sent more than 65 tonnes of aid, including 1,647 food baskets, the official Saudi Press Agency said. The centre's supervisor general, Abdullah al-Rabeeah, said the Saudi humanitarian air bridge would see a total of six planes deliver more than 197 tonnes of aid to Afghanistan. He said aid would also be delivered overland on 200 trucks from neighbouring Pakistan. The Gulf Arab countries agreed during a summit in Riyadh on Tuesday to "contribute in mobilising international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and to improving their economic conditions". More than half of Afghanistan's 38 million people face "acute" food shortages, according to the United Nations, with the winter forcing millions to choose between migration and starvation. The previous Taliban government between 1996 and 2001 imposed a very strict interpretation of Islamic law and harsh public punishments. Saudi Arabia was one of three nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, which recognised the previous hardline Taliban regime. But, since returning to power in mid-August after overthrowing the US-backed government, the Taliban has tried to show a more moderate face in its quest for international recognition and an end to sanctions. Despite the lack of recognition for the Taliban government, the United States allowed some exemptions to its sanctions on Afghanistan to enable humanitarian aid to enter. Search Keywords: Short link: Defects of the 2015 agreement should be fixed, Abul Gheit said, noting that Tehran had been allowed to enhance its unacceptable policies and to interfere in domestic affairs of Arab countries. Abul Gheit was speaking during a meeting with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, currently visiting here, Thursday. Abul Gheit voiced support for the role played by the IAEA to boost the peaceful use of nuclear energy, a well-informed source with the AL General Secretariat said. The IAEA is a key player where firm and impartial implementation of the comprehensive guarantees are concerned, the AL chief was quoted as having stressed. He pointed to a 2009 IAEA resolution that urged Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but voiced concern that Israeli nuclear facilities remained unsupervised by the agency, the source said. Abul Gheit also stressed that this represents a threat to regional peace and security, the source added. Search Keywords: Short link: The Palestinian Health Ministry on Thursday said it has identified its first three cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in the occupied West Bank. Ministry spokesman Kamal al-Shakrah said the three people live in different cities in the territory and had recently returned from abroad. He did not say which countries they had visited. In response to the discovery, the ministry said medical teams were tracking down and testing those who had recently come into contact with the three people. Israel, which captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, controls movement in and out of the West Bank. The Israeli Health Ministry has so far identified at least 67 cases of the omicron variant and has imposed tight travel restrictions, including a ban on most foreign tourists entering the country. Authorities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, territories home to some 4.8 million Palestinians, have reported 4,858 deaths from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. Around 2.9 million Palestinians from both territories have received one dose of either Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V or Sinopharm vaccine, while just over 2.4 million Palestinians have received a second dose. Search Keywords: Short link: A Syrian soldier was killed Thursday in an Israeli missile raid from the occupied Golan Heights into southern Syria, state media reported. "At around 12:50 am, the Israeli enemy carried out an air raid with several missiles in the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan and targeting several positions in the south," according to a military source quoted by SANA. The Syrian air defences managed to "shoot down most of the missiles", the source added, which specified that "the aggression caused the death of a soldier and material damage". In early December, Israel carried out strikes on an Iranian arms shipment at the port of Latakia, located in President Bashar al-Assad's western Syrian heartland, without causing any casualties. In late November, three soldiers and two Syrian fighters affiliated with Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah were killed in Israeli strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor with a wide network of sources in Syria. Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian territory, targeting government positions as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters. An Israeli military spokesperson refused to comment on the report. But Israel has repeatedly said it will not allow its archfoe Iran to extend its footprint in the country. The conflict in Syria has killed nearly 500,000 people since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of peaceful demonstrations. Search Keywords: Short link: France said Thursday that it would ban non-essential travel to and from Britain in a bid to keep the Omicron Covid-19 variant in check, as European leaders urged coordinated action and more booster shots to counter the more highly contagious threat. Countries worldwide have begun advising against foreign travel while ramping up domestic restrictions to battle Omicron, even though scientists remain uncertain how dangerous it is. Britain has seen case levels explode in recent weeks to record levels amid fears the variant could overwhelm hospitals during the dinners and parties for the year-end holidays. Starting at midnight Saturday (2300 GMT Friday), the French government said, travellers will need "an essential reason to travel to, or come from, the UK, both for the unvaccinated and vaccinated. People cannot travel for touristic or professional reasons." It added that French citizens and EU nationals could still return to France from the UK, but they will now need a negative Covid test less than 24 hours old, and a blanket quarantine will be enforced upon their return. The Spanish government said meanwhile that boosters would soon be available for everyone aged 40 and older, down from 65 and older currently. EU drug regulators on Thursday also approved Pfizer's Covid pill for emergency use by member states struggling with the new coronavirus wave. 'Tightening the net' In France, the "drastic" new limits on travel to Britain aim to give the country time to give 20 million booster jabs by Christmas, and the country may soon open up vaccinations to children aged 5 to 11. "People (coming back) will have to register on an app and will have to self-isolate in a place of their choosing for seven days, controlled by the security forces, but this can be shortened to 48 hours if a negative test is carried out in France," government spokesman Gabriel Attal said. Britain on Thursday recorded a record 88,376 laboratory-confirmed Covid cases, with scientists predicting even higher rates as Omicron is believed to spread much faster than the currently dominant Delta variant. "It's down to individual countries to decide their approach," a spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in response to the French restrictions. "We've maintained that travel abroad will be different this year and that countries may impose border measures at short notice," he added. At the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras station in London, many passengers were scrambling to change tickets to arrive in Paris before Saturday and pass the holidays with family. "I have friends who are panicking," said Marie Geoffroy, a 43-year-old who lives in London who was about to board. "These last-minute changes are stressful, it feels like you've been taken hostage," she said. 'Fear the worst' The French move comes after Canada urged its citizens to avoid foreign travel over the Christmas holidays, with Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos saying the Omicron variant "makes us fear the worst." South Korea said it would reimpose coronavirus curfews on restaurants, cinemas and other businesses and limit the size of gatherings again in the face of record infection levels. New York's Metropolitan Opera, meanwhile, announced that it will require Covid booster shots from all its musicians and other employees some 3,000 people, as well as anyone attending a performance. The Omicron risk also elbowed its way into an EU summit meeting in Brussels on Thursday, with predictions the variant could become dominant in the bloc as soon as next month. But leaders are struggling to forge a united approach to stop the spread, after several countries imposed emergency measures in recent days. Omicron is "of significant concern obviously, in terms of the capacity of that variant to spread rapidly and create pressure on our societies and our health systems," Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin told journalists in Brussels. "So today we'll be looking for greater coordination on a number of fronts," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Singapore has a strong presence in the Egyptian market with total investments of $1 billion and about $500 million in trade flow, according to the Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore Dominic Goh. He noted that Egypt has a significant potential to become an investment and business destination for foreign investors, especially the Singaporeans. In a short interview with Ahram Online, Goh said that Singapore is the fourth largest Asian country in the Egyptian market in terms of investments. The interview was conducted on the sidelines of the ambassadors visit to Tolaram'S facility in Egypt on Wednesday. The facility is specialised in noodles manufacturing with total investments of $55 million in the Egyptian market. Tolaram is a holding company headquartered in Singapore with diversified business interests in consumer goods, fintech, infrastructure, and industrials. It is present in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Ahram Online: How do you perceive Egypts economic scene? Dominic Goh: When I consider the economic scene in Egypt, the first word that springs to mind is "massive." With 100 million consumers and rising, as well as a strategic location in Africa and the Middle East, Egypt is a market that simply cannot be ignored. This is why we see so many large multinational companies here, alongside their Egyptian counterparts. In the three years that I have been in Cairo, I have noticed that it is also an increasingly vibrant economic scene. The start-up scene here is buzzing and I think there are great opportunities in e-commerce, ICT, education, and even e-sports. I am also pleased to note that the president and government have brought security and stability back to Egypt and are now focusing on economic development and improving the business climate for foreign investors. These are some reasons why Egypt is becoming more interesting to investors from Singapore. I am glad that the tourism sector is doing well in Egypt and we look forward to welcoming more tourists from Singapore to Egypt soon. AO: What is your evaluation of Egypts economic performance during the pandemic? DG: I think Egypt has performed admirably from an economic perspective. The numbers dont lie. At a difficult time when countries around the world were dealing with the economic, not to mention the human, cost of the COVID-19 pandemic, Egypt remained one of the few economies in the region to keep growing. It is now on track for further growth in 2022. As for trade between Singapore and Egypt, it has remained healthy. Even during the pandemic, in 2020, total trade exceeded $500 million. But there is always room for us to do more. AO: What are the total Singaporean investments and business in the Egyptian market? DG: It is a little known fact that Singapore, with total investments of more than $1 billion, is the fourth largest investor from Asia in Egypt. Egypt is also one of the largest markets for Singapores investments in the Middle East. We have companies in a number of sectors, including agriculture, shipping, logistics and, of course, food processing. Singaporean companies and our strong investments in Egypt have contributed to Egypt's economic development and helped create jobs for a significant number of Egyptians. Tolaram is one of our success stories. Through its joint venture with Kelloggs it now sells close to half a billion packets of noodles a year across Egypt and South Africa. At that rate, it might not be farfetched to say that theyve brought every child in Egypt a little taste of Singapore. AO: To what extent has Covid-19 affected trade and economic flow with Egypt? DG: My team and I have been working hard to expand economic relations between Singapore and Egypt. Weve had some positive indications in the hospitality as well as food and beverage (F&B) sectors though I cannot go into the specifics at this point. Green technology is another area I think Singapore companies can find win-win partnerships in Egypt. Egypt is blessed with lots of sun and space everything you need for solar energy. And Singapore has lots of expertise in water management and filtration that could be useful to Egypt because, as we all know, water is life. Search Keywords: Short link: The United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO on Tuesday added the Congolese rumba dance to its intangible cultural heritage list, sparking delight in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo-Brazzaville. A UNESCO summit approved the two countries' joint application to add rumba to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, where it joins Cuban rumba, the Central African Republic's polyphonic pygmy music and the drums of Burundi. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi welcomed the news "with joy and happiness" as citizens from both nations celebrated on social media. "This cultural jewel unique to the two Congos is recognised for its universal value," Tshisekedi wrote on Twitter. "Rumba is our identity! Its international recognition is a source of pride and a treasure," said DRC culture minister Catherine Furaha. Specialists have located rumba's origins in the ancient central African kingdom of Kongo, where people practised a dance called "Nkumba". The word means navel as performances involved a man and woman dancing with their navel opposite the other person's. 'National life' Africans brought their music and culture across the Atlantic through the slave trade, eventually giving birth to jazz in North America and rumba in South America. Traders then brought the music back to Africa through records and guitars in more recent times. The modern version of rumba is 100 years old and symbolises cities and bars, Andre Yoka Lye, a director at the DRC's national arts institute in the capital Kinshasa, told AFP. Rumba has been marked by the political history of the two Congos before and after independence and is "present in all areas of national life", he added. It draws on nostalgia, cultural exchange, resistance, resilience and the sharing of pleasure through its flamboyant "sape" dress code, said Lye. "These treasures from Congo and exported throughout the world are part of our pride," DRC government spokesman Patrick Muyaya tweeted last week in anticipation of the announcement. Rumba stars are occasionally controversial or mired in scandals. A French court on Monday convicted high-profile DRC performer Koffi Olomide of holding four of his former dancers against their will during tours. But the people of both countries say the dance lives on and hope its addition to UNESCO's list will give it greater fame even among Congolese. "It is our common duty to promote rumba," said the DRC's communications minister Muyaya. "We are the country of rumba, what will we make of it?" he asked. Search Keywords: Short link: The Egyptian and Russian navies concluded joint Bridge of Friendship drills on Saturday 11 December. A statement by the Egyptian army said the joint training came as part of the distinguished relations between Egypt and Russia, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and exchanging experiences between the armed forces of both countries. The statement said the training started with a reception ceremony for the Russian forces participating in the drills which were conducted at the Alexandria naval base of Ras Al-Tin. A number of naval units, frigates, rocket launchers, auxiliary supply ships and divisions of the special navy forces from both sides took part in the drill, according to the statement. The final stage of the drill was attended by commander of the Egyptian Naval Forces Vice Admiral Ahmed Khaled, Deputy Commander of the Black Sea Fleet Vice Admiral Arkady Romanov, the Russian ambassador in Cairo, and military commanders from the two countries. The joint military drills between Egypt and Russia were not the first. The two countries kicked off their first Bridge of Friendship naval drill in 2015. Since then there have been joint military exercises between the armies of the two countries every year. In 2021 the two armies conducted two military exercises, the first the Protectors of Friendship 5 was in October. The second, the Bridge of Friendship, was between the navies of Egypt and Russia last week. General Mohamed Zaki, Egypts commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence and Military Production, and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu signed a cooperation protocol that took Egyptian-Russian military relations to new heights. Zaki said Egypt wishes to take military cooperation with Russia to a new level, and the progress in our military cooperation achieved over a short period of time confirms that we are on the right track. We greatly desire to continue boosting military cooperation between our two countries in all directions, and in the spirit of mutual trust between us. Shoygu said the growing military relations between Moscow and Cairo reflect the strong friendship and the mutual trust between the leaders of the two countries Vladimir Putin and Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. He said the cooperation protocol means stronger military bonds between Egypt and Russia in military exercises and modern armaments. Presidents Putin and Al-Sisi talked by phone a month ago in which they discussed means of boosting Egyptian-Russian military, economic, business, industrial and energy cooperation. Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said the two presidents tackled the importance of military relations between their countries, as well as the latest developments regarding the Dabaa nuclear power plant, Egypts first nuclear plant, near Marsa Matrouh, east of Alexandria. The plant, which is being implemented by the Russian nuclear energy corporation Rosatom under an agreement signed between Egypt and Russia in 2015, is expected to begin producing power in 2028. Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli said the Dabaa project reflects the current strong and strategic relations between Egypt and Russia. Egypt and Russia now have strategic relations and these reflect the political coordination between the two countries at the highest levels, Madbouli said. Madboulis statement came on the heels of the Egyptian-Russian Nuclear Forum which concluded on 7 December. Madbouli said Russia has always been a reliable partner to Egypt. When the Soviet Union was there, Russia helped Egypt build its first nuclear reactor in Anshas in the 1960s, adding that it seems that history repeats itself as Egypts political leadership decided to choose Russia again to take charge of building the countrys new national project Dabaa nuclear plant the first of its kind for generating electric power. Madbouli said nuclear power is a major source of clean energy that is free from carbon emissions which cause pollution on a wide scale. It is part of our long-term development plan to resort to nuclear power and other clean energy sources, and we believe that Russia is the best partner in this respect because of its high experience and skill in this field, Madbouli said. Anatoly Kovtunov, the director of the construction of Dabaa, confirmed that work on the plant is progressing. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, work on Dabaa has never stopped, and the plants first reactor will go into operation in 2028 as scheduled. Grigory Sonsnin, director-general of the Dabaa nuclear plant project, indicated that the four nuclear reactors which form Dabaa plant will be of the third generation, considered the latest, best, and safest in the world and in line with the most up-to-date international standards. Sonsnin said the Dabaa will be the cornerstone of strategic relations between Egypt and Russia for many years to come. This project, which aims to improve the standards of living in Egypt, will be as historical as the High Dam which Russia helped Egypt build in the 1960s, Sonsnin said. Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said the Dabaa project will take Egyptian-Russian relations to new heights, and that it will mean a lot for development in Egypt as not only will it reinforce the countrys clean energy potential but will contribute to improving the level of Egyptian industry. Shaker said the objective of the Egyptian-Russian Nuclear Forum was to review progress in implementing the Dabaa. There is close coordination between Egypts Authority of Nuclear Power Stations and the Rosatom corporation to remove obstacles that might stand in the way of implementing the national project of the Dabaa, Shaker said. Kovtunov said the Dabaa currently provides jobs to 1,000 workers Egyptians and Russians and that by the end of 2022, the total number of workers at the plant will reach 5,000, and that by 2028 the project will generate 30,000 job opportunities, 70 per cent of whom are Egyptians. The phone call between Al-Sisi and Putin last month also saw the two leaders exchanging views on the latest developments concerning the establishment of the Russian industrial zone in eastern Port Said. In July, Russian authorities and Egypts Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) signed a preliminary agreement to expand the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal. The Russian zone, under the agreement, will be extended to eastern Port Said and Ain Sokhna over an area of five million square metres. Russias First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Vasily Osmakov said at a Russian trade forum this week that Russia will start financing the construction of its Russian Zone (RIZ) next year. Construction was originally expected to begin in 2020 but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. But we are serious that construction will begin in 2022. *A version of this article appears in print in the 16 December, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Ambassador of Belarus in Egypt Sergei L. Terentiev and the Ambassador of the Vatican in Egypt, Archbishop Nicolas Tefenn, inaugurated an exhibition featuring the ceramics of Garagos Village at the hall of the Heart of Jesus Church that is located in Downtown Cairo on 13 December. The exhibition highlighted that the young ceramists of Garagos Village, Qena are keen to preserve the cultural heritage of their village, creating ceramic artworks and carpets that are gaining international interest. Attending the opening were Belarus Embassy Adviser Marina Sheveliova and Sherif Gad, the president of the Egyptian Association and the Arab Union for Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities. The guests toured the exhibition and inspected the unique creations of the ceramists of Garagos, which depict the various aspects of life of the people of Qena through masterpieces of ceramics that express the will of Egyptian farmers to preserve their cultural heritage and the features of their surrounding environment. The ceramic artworks also reflected the role of women in development and the manifestations of joy, harvest, and the joy of life. A documentary was shown tracing the beginning of the story of Garagos Village, when late legendary architect Hassan Fathi built the houses of the village and the Ceramic Centre in 1952, so that the fame of the village went beyond borders, and the King of Sweden came to visit it. Currently, the pioneers of ceramics in the village are Fawaz Sidhom, Izzac Youssef, and Riad Kamel, who continue to teach young people how to preserve the unique cultural heritage of Garagos. Terentiev praised the beauty of the ceramics, which he described as astonishing, and stressed his desire to return to the exhibition for a personal visit. Vatican Ambassador Tefenn expressed his happiness at his invitation to open this exhibition that reflects the depth of Egyptian civilisation. Furthermore, Adviser Sheveliova expressed her admiration for the beauty of ceramic wares and handmade carpets. Additionally, Gad expressed his keenness to participate every year in the opening of the exhibition to follow up on the new and distinguished works of the artists of Garagos. The exhibition's media adviser, Sayyed Younis, expressed his happiness for the success of his fellow villagers in presenting the creations of ceramics and carpets in light of the great diplomatic interest in their art and creativity. At the end of the visit, the artists of Garagos granted the ancient Egyptian Key of Life and the statue of an Egyptian peasant to the ambassadors of Belarus and the Vatican as well as Gad and Sheveliova. The exhibition will remain on display until 18 December at the Church of the Heart of Jesus, 3 Abdel-Khalek Tharwat Street, Downtown. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 years. In this file frame from May 25, 2020, video provided by Darnella Frazier, a Minneapolis officer kneels on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed man who was pleading that he could not breathe. [File photo: Darnella Frazier via AP] 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. By Ko Shu-ling, KYODO NEWS - Dec 16, 2021 - 12:32 | World, All, Coronavirus Among those responsible for Taiwan's success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, acclaimed digital innovator Audrey Tang deserves special credit. "The world has never worked so closely together to tackle a crisis," Tang told Kyodo News. "The collective experience fighting COVID-19 will help countries work together to address all kinds of problems." As Taiwan's minister for digital affairs, Tang coordinated using digital tools to enhance pandemic management, from mask and vaccine distribution to monitoring quarantined individuals. Especially effective in the early months of the outbreak was a system that integrated data from Taiwan's health insurance and immigration agencies so that hospitals, clinics and pharmacies island-wide can access patients' travel histories and test those who visited high-risk locations. Epidemiologist and former Taiwan Vice President Chen Chien-jen praised Tang's team of software engineers for "developing a model for using artificial intelligence to prevent disease." And as Tang suggests, foreign governments have shown great interest in this work, hoping to learn from the island's pandemic success. Yet COVID-19 response is only one area of Tang's ministerial work. It also distracts from her remarkable career before being appointed in 2016 as the youngest, at the age of 35, and as the first transgender Cabinet minister in Taiwan's history by the then newly elected Democratic Progressive Party government. Born in 1981, Tang was a child prodigy, reading classical literature at age 5 and writing her first computer program while still in elementary school. After attending schools in Taipei and Germany, Tang withdrew from formal education to be homeschooled by her mother before starting a software development company at age 14. She went on to build a prominent career in Silicon Valley as a programmer, entrepreneur, and consultant, after which she "retired" at age 33 to take up other challenges at home. A self-proclaimed civic hacker, Tang became an active contributor to "g0v," or government zero, an online collective that promotes information transparency by creating open-source digital tools. Advocating open government, citizen engagement and accountability, Tang provided video and text streaming services to the student-led Sunflower Movement, which in 2014 opposed a major service trade deal with China that Taiwan's then Nationalist (KMT) government signed with little public input. Ironically, it was support for the Sunflower Movement that led to Tang's first government work when the KMT asked g0v hackers to establish a platform where people could exchange ideas about government policies. In 2015, for example, Tang helped figure out how to regulate Uber in Taiwan by developing programs that find consensus in "collective intelligence." This work formed the basis for Tang's mission as digital minister, a position she agreed to take on the condition that she would share information with the public and everyone would have a say in the process. Tang's job is to develop and oversee digital innovation across government decision-making, with an emphasis on public communication and consensus-building. Problems that Tang has helped address range from regulating online liquor sales to setting rules for the digital economy, improving public services and, of course, COVID-19. To do this, Tang adopted a platform called Polis designed by a Seattle-based programming group to harness the power of social media while avoiding its pitfalls. These pitfalls include polarization produced when profit-driven networks like Facebook emphasize divisive postings because they generate revenue. And the mainstream press is no better, Tang says, given that "divisive statements are newsworthy and consensus statements are not." Yet on practical matters, individuals tend to agree far more than they disagree. By monitoring "feelings" rather than facts and opinions, and by eliminating the reply option, Polis reduces conflict, producing "rough consensus" on which to base policies that may not be ideal for everyone, but that provide "something we can live with." In other words, digital tools like Polis avoid producing winners and losers, an increasingly negative feature of democratic elections. None of this is to suggest that Tang sets the agenda. Rather, her team trains civil servants to run platform processes themselves when they need public input on issues, "making hacker culture part of public service," not by bringing hackers in, Tang says, but by "turning government into hackers." All draft laws initiated by the executive branch in Taiwan are subject to 60 days of public commentary, with recent estimates suggesting nearly half of all Taiwanese participate using Polis and related applications. "When people have a say in making public policy, they are more willing to comply," Tang said, adding that Taiwan is "combating the pandemic and deepening democracy at the same time." Digital participation helps combat other problems as well. By increasing trust, government transparency reduces the power of misinformation. One tactic Tang developed to counter fake news is to respond quickly when it appears, while softening the corrective message through humor and cute visuals -- think puppies and Hello Kitty. Foreign observers have also remarked on how willing Taiwanese are to embrace directives from the island's Centers for Disease Control during the pandemic and, perhaps most strikingly, to allow access to their personal data. While citizen's groups worldwide are demanding tough privacy protections, Taiwanese have little trouble sharing personal information, Tang said. Collected data must, by law, be deleted after 28 days, but during that time, every detail "is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle allowing CDC experts to see the larger picture." Using digital tools to improve democratic governance differs from China's approach to digital innovation, such as developing facial recognition software and other surveillance applications to enhance state repression. It is this kind of social control that led to authorities silencing Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who in December 2019 posted the first news of a strange new respiratory infection in Wuhan. If the global pandemic has taught the world anything, Tang says, it is that it must think about how to prepare for the next one and how to protect whistleblowers when it arrives. Related coverage: Delegation of French lower house members visit Taiwan Abe hints at Japan's possible military role in Taiwan contingency KYODO NEWS - Dec 16, 2021 - 15:47 | World, All Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met a delegation of French lower house members Thursday, expressing her hope that their nation, along with other European Union members, helps ensure peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region amid China's growing clout. "As authoritarianism is on the rise around the world, it is important more than ever that democratic partners work together," Tsai said. She also said this year marked progress in ties between Taiwan and France as the upper and the lower house of the country in May and November, respectively, passed resolutions supporting the self-ruled island's participation in international organizations. Francois de Rugy, leader of the delegation that consists of members of the France-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group in the lower house, told Tsai that Taiwan and France "are expected to deepen cooperation and pay attention to issues concerning regional peace." De Rugy had led an effort to get the lower house, called the National Assembly, to adopt the resolution calling for government support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, including the World Health Organization. De Rugy also said he hopes France and Taiwan develop better cooperative relations, especially between their economies and in sectors such as semiconductor production and renewable energy. The delegation, which arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday for a five-day visit, is scheduled to meet Premier Su Tseng-chang, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu later Thursday. The group's visit to Taiwan followed that by a delegation of French senators in October. China pressured the first group to call off its trip. By Kent E. Calder, KYODO NEWS - Dec 16, 2021 - 14:05 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Two years ago, in 2019, I made 10 round trips from the United States to Japan and back. In January and February of 2020, I went twice. Yet in the 22 months since then, I have not crossed the Pacific even once. For me, there is always Zoom. I have done seminars, and graduations, and even "bonenkai" year-end parties that way. Webinars are not quite the same as meeting face to face, but they do help me to preserve existing friendships. My Japanese colleagues and I remember our associations from before COVID-19 began disrupting our lives. And nine years of having lived in Japan make the sights and sounds of the country second nature to me, even when I experience them over the internet. For my students, however, many of whom do not know Japan at close hand, things are different. They lack the instinctive feel that flows from direct personal contact; the affection of previously developed human ties; and the commitment to Japan studies that flows from time and effort already expended. Young people, of course, also generally lack the financial resources to withstand prolonged uncertainty. And in a global world, they have other places where they can potentially go. Roughly three million people around the world are currently studying Japanese. Close to 30,000 of them typically came to Japan annually to improve their language fluency, to travel about the country, or to pursue extended technical study. Yet, during the first half of 2021, only 7,000 new foreign students entered Japan, down almost 89 percent from 2019. As many as 25,000 international students have reportedly been denied entry over the past two years, with their futures in limbo, due to COVID-19 border measures. Japan is currently the only G-7 nation not issuing student visas for foreign students, with a partial exception for government scholarships. The health considerations that have driven Japanese authorities to be cautious about border restrictions during the pandemic are, in the main, fully understandable. Japan, after all, has many vulnerable citizens -- almost 30 percent are 65 years of age or older. Japan, with an average age of nearly 46, is the oldest major nation in the world. And many of its citizens do also have special health vulnerabilities, apart from advanced age. Everyone must agree that proper precautions such as PCR tests and vaccinations should be observed. There are, however, rising costs in extremely cautious policies that may not be clearly visible now, but that could complicate Japan's relations with the world in future years. Half a century ago U.S. Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer, my academic mentor, wrote of a "broken dialogue" with Japan. An overly cautious approach to cultural dialogue could contribute to a re-emergence of such dangers across the Pacific once again. I can see some of those still scarcely visible perils myself, among my students, who are finding it harder, amidst the frustrations of the pandemic, to sustain their deep enthusiasm about studying Japan. One of my best Johns Hopkins University undergraduate students, for example, has studied the Japanese language for six years, since her early high-school days, and was admitted in the fall of 2019 to the University of Tokyo to begin her studies there in April 2020. She could not go on time, of course, due to the pandemic, and successfully applied twice in succeeding admission cycles over the following two years, without being able to enter Japan. Recently, however, after the latest disappointing response from the immigration authorities in Tokyo, she gave up studying in Japan and decided to attend Yonsei University in South Korea instead. South Korea, with more liberal student admission policies than Japan, admitted 68,000 foreign students in 2020, several times Japan's level, while keeping COVID-19 under strict control. Japan now has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, at nearly 77 percent. COVID-19 fatalities, at less than 19,000, are comparatively low, and infections since this past September have been falling sharply. The new Omicron variant, of course, introduces new uncertainties, and Japan justifiably needs to be careful. Restrictions on inbound foreign travel, after all, have been pervasive around the world, including the United States. No doubt the short-term political pressures to be conservative on COVID-19 border restrictions are powerful in animating Japanese policy, as elsewhere in the world. More than 80 percent of the Japanese public, for example, supported Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decisive late November revival of a longstanding ban on foreign visitors to Japan, following the discovery of the Omicron variant. His popularity rose above the important 60 percent support mark for the first time following these steps. Given the uncertainties about Omicron, Japan's decision to extend restrictions on inbound travel until the end of December seem not only reasonable in health-policy terms, but also inevitable in the internal calculus of Japanese politics. Over the longer term, however, as the pandemic wanes Japan needs to consider seriously the quiet yet very real costs to its relations with the world that ambiguous or overly rigid border restrictions on health care grounds could potentially inflict. Japan, as more than four decades of study have taught me personally, is a fascinating, remarkable, yet subtle nation that can only be understood well through direct personal contact, including immersion -- on the spot -- in its language and culture. And in a global world, there are numerous alternative options to the study of Japan, especially for young, flexible, international students. They need a clearly welcoming environment to encourage and give momentum to their study. Prime Minister Kishida, as Japan's longest-serving former foreign minister across modern history, no doubt appreciates the importance of durable global ties for Japan. Indeed, there will be no better way to forge those global ties than to give promising students predictable and attractive changes to visit and study in Japan in future years. (Kent E. Calder is the special adviser to the dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington and director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at SAIS.) KYODO NEWS - Dec 16, 2021 - 21:35 | All, Japan The value of Japanese agriculture, forestry and seafood exports exceeded 1 trillion yen ($8.7 billion) for the first time this year, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Thursday. The export value between January and November totaled 1.06 trillion yen. Matsuno told a press conference that the figure was a "result of the combined efforts of government agencies to promote exports." "We want to promote growth of the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries by incorporating demand from overseas markets and stimulate regional economies," Matsuno said. A sharp increase in shipments of beef to the United States and Japanese sake to China particularly contributed to the growth, and the coronavirus pandemic led to solid online sales, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The latest available data on exports of agriculture, forestry and fisheries products including timber and pearls show their value came to 973.4 billion yen between January and October, while the Finance Ministry said Thursday the value of food exports in November was 89.9 billion yen, meaning total exports of such items exceeded 1 trillion yen by the end of November. By October, exports of beef jumped 89.7 percent on year to 41.6 billion yen and those of sake climbed 81.1 percent to 31.8 billion yen, according to the farm ministry. The Japanese government has set goals of 2 trillion yen in exports in 2025 and 5 trillion yen in 2030, and plans to quickly expand exports centered on products that Japan has strength in. While Japan's exports of agricultural products have grown steadily, the 1 trillion yen goal could not be met by the initially set target year of 2020 as growth slowed due to the pandemic. The value of exports in 2020 was 986.0 billion yen. Entering into force on Jan. 1 of a new Asia-Pacific free trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership consisting of 15 nations including Japan, China and South Korea, is also expected to boost exports to the member countries. As restrictions on imports of food from Japan remain in place in 14 countries and regions such as China, South Korea and Hong Kong following the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, the Japanese government will continue to urge them to remove the restrictions to help accelerate Japan's food shipment, a senior farm ministry official said. New Delhi: The leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, has said it will be tough for any leader from outside the Gandhi-Nehru family to run the party, as it has brand equity. He also said the revival of the Congress largely depended on the weakening of regional parties that lack ideology, and claimed that the country was headed for bipolar politics. Chowdhury said only a party like the Congress, with its strong ideological mooring, and pan-India presence, can counter the communal juggernaut of the BJP. The way regional parties are functioning, they will lose their importance in the days to come. Their losing importance means the nation will head towards bipolar politics. When there is bipolar politics, we would again come back to power. So, the future of the Congress is bright, Chowdhury told PTI. Responding to a question, he said regional parties lack ideological motivation and mass support a national party like the Congress has. He said Sonia Gandhi was reluctant to helm the party once again, but yielded to the request of senior Congress functionaries when the organisation was facing a crisis after Rahul Gandhis resignation. Sonia Gandhi has led the party in times of crisis. It was due to her leadership in difficult times that the Congress was able to form the government twice in 2004 and 2009, Chowdhury said. The Congress leader from West Bengal said while Sonia Gandhi heads the party as interim chief, efforts are underway to elect a new party president. Chowdhury, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) - the highest decision-making body of the party - however, noted it would be tough for someone from outside the Gandhi family to run the party. It would indeed be difficult for someone from outside the Gandhi family to run the party. In politics, too, there is brand equity. If you look at the present BJP, without Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, will it function smoothly? The answer is no. In our Congress party, too, the Gandhi family is our brand equity. There is no harm in it. No one else in our party has the charisma which they have. It is a hard reality, he said. Sonia Gandhi, 72, was appointed the interim Congress president barely 20 months after she had voluntarily relinquished the post in favour of son Rahul, who refused to continue as the party chief after the humiliating 2019 general election defeat. Chowdhury lauded Rahul Gandhis decision of owning responsibility for the partys defeat, and said the noble step was worth emulating by other leaders. He said the result could have been different had Rahul Gandhi been declared the joint opposition candidate for prime ministership, as the BJP had turned the general election into a presidential-style contest. While speaking about the alleged tussle between the Congresss old guard and the young leadership represented by Rahul Gandhi, he said, the current party leadership was a mix of the old and the new. The partys old guard was said to have prevailed upon the new in bringing Sonia Gandhi back to the helm, while Rahul Gandhi insisted on a young leader for the post. The mixture of old and the new is good for the party. There may be difference of ideas but the goal is the same, he said. Chowdhury, a five-tme MP from the Beharampore Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal, however, conceded that the party needed to undertake measures for increased public acceptability. He said the political narrative, currently driven by the BJPs communal agenda, will change. We need to increase our acceptance. It is the Congress which is fighting against the BJP, both ideologically and politically. Right now the narrative of communal politics may seem dominant, but it wont be permanent. Things will change. There are more pressing issues like jobs, food, and livelihood, he said. Chowdhury said abrogation of provisions of Article 370 granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir has set a dangerous example, and will lead to greater interference by the Centre in governance of states. The way Article 370 was abrogated is unprecedented and undemocratic. We have seen UTs being converted into states but this is for the first time that a state has been turned into two union territories, he said. On the Congress speaking in different voices about Article 370, Chowdhury said it was because the government rushed through the bills. As this bill was brought in great hurry, we didnt have time to discuss the matter within the party. So, there was confusion about the partys stand. But, once the CWC passed a resolution on the issue, there is absolutely no differences or confusion in the party, he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistans attempt to drag international community in the Kashmir issue has failed miserably on Friday as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) suggested bilateral route to resolve the dispute. Pakistan, in a desperate attempt after Indias move to remove provisions of Article 370 in Kashmir, had taken up the issue before the UNSC with the help of China, seeking the world body's intereferance. However, during the closed-door meeting of the worlds highest diplomatic forum, it was suggested the issue should be resolved bilaterally. The informal meeting was held to decide whether there should be a formal meeting on the issue. Although it was not known what was decided during the meeting, but according to reports, except China, no other member country supported Pakistan. This means it is highly unlikely that the UNSC will pass any resolution on Kashmir or call a formal meeting over the issue. Although China did support Pakistan in arranging the informal meet, the backing was half-hearted as Beijing also said that any decision on Kashmir should be bilateral. Had China wanted, it could have used it veto and get a resolution passed on Kashmir. However, China asked Pakistan to write to the council itself and just forwarded its request. China did this because it knew all other members of the UNSC favours India and Beijing did not want to face embarrassment of a defeat at the highest diplomatic forum. What India told UNSC? India apprised the UNSC members of its stand on Kashmir that the recent move by the government was an internal matter and has no external ramifications. "..the recent decisions taken by the Government of India and our legislative bodies are intended to ensure that good governance is promoted, social economic development is enhanced for our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh," Syed Akbaruddin, Indias permanent representative at the UNSC, told media in a briefing after the meeting. India also told the UNSC that the restrictions in Kashmir after removal of the states special status were preventive in nature and will be removed gradually. "We're committed to gradually removing all restrictions. Since the change is internal to India, have not made any difference to our external orientation. India remains committed to ensure that the situation there (J&K) remains calm and peaceful," Akbaruddin said. Pakistans attempt to drag international community in the Kashmir issue has failed miserably on Friday as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) refused to interfere and suggested bilateral route to resolve the dispute. Pakistan, in a desperate attempt after Indias Kashmir move, had taken up the Kashmir issue before the UNSC with the help of China. However, during the closed-door meeting of the worlds highest diplomatic forum, it was suggested the issue should be resolved bilaterally. The informal meeting was held to decide whether there should be a formal meeting on the issue. Although it was not known what exactly was decided during the meeting, but according to reports, except China, no other member country supported Pakistan. This means it is highly unlikely that the UN will pass any resolution regarding the Kashmir issue or call a formal meeting. Although China did support Pakistan in arranging the informal meet, the backing was half-hearted as Beijing also said that any decision on Kashmir should be bilateral. Had China wanted, it could have used it veto and get a resolution passed on Kashmir. However, China asked Pakistan to write to the council itself and just forwarded its request. China did this because it knew all other members of the UNSC favours India and Beijing did not want to face embarrassment of a defeat at the highest diplomatic forum. What India told UNSC? India apprised the UNSC members of its stand on Kashmir that the recent move by the government was an internal matter and has no external ramifications. ..the recent decisions taken by the Government of India and our legislative bodies are intended to ensure that good governance is promoted, social economic development is enhanced for our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Syed Akbaruddin, Indias permanent representative at the UNSC, told media in a briefing after the meeting. India also told the UNSC that the restrictions in Kashmir after removal of the states special status were preventive in nature and will be removed gradually. We're committed to gradually removing all restrictions. Since the change is internal to India, have not made any difference to our external orientation. India remains committed to ensure that the situation there (J&K) remains calm and peaceful, Akbaruddin. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In what could be the deadliest attack in Kabul this year, at least 63 people have been killed and more than 180 others are wounded after a suicide-bomb blast ripped through a wedding party on a busy Saturday night in Afghanistan's capital. Interior Ministry spokesman Nusrat Rahimi told The Associated Press the attacker set off explosives among the wedding participants. Both the Taliban and a local affiliate of the Islamic State group carry out bloody attacks in the capital. The blast occurred near the stage where musicians were and "all the youths, children and all the people who were there were killed," witness Gul Mohammad said. One of the wounded, Mohammad Toofan, said that "a lot of guests were martyred." "There are so many dead and wounded," said Ahmad Omid, a survivor who said about 1,200 guests had been invited to the wedding for his father's cousin. "I was with the groom in the other room when we heard the blast and then I couldn't find anyone. Everyone was lying all around the hall." "Devastated by the news of a suicide attack inside a wedding hall in Kabul. A heinous crime against our people; how is it possible to train a human and ask him to go and blow himself (up) inside a wedding?!!" Sediq Seddiqi, spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, said in a Twitter post. While the Taliban earlier this year pledged to do more to protect civilians, it continues to stage deadly attacks against Afghan security forces and others in what is seen by many as an attempt to strengthen its position at the negotiating table. The conflict continues to take a horrific toll on civilians. Last year more than 3,800, including more than 900 children, were killed in Afghanistan by the Taliban, US and allied forces, the Islamic State affiliate and other actors, the United Nations said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Kriti Sanon has become a style icon for many. Be it an airport look or a traditional look, her sartorial choices never fail to leave us impressed. The gorgeous actress was recently spotted on a dinner date with her friends Dinesh Vijan and Varun Sharma. Kriti was spotted in a breezy floral dress with a thin ochre-coloured belt around her waist and strappy sandals. Well, can you guess the price tag of this summery dress? As per a report in Bollywoodlife.com, the dress which is from Marni costs around $1827.15 that is Rs 1,30,012.69. Now, isnt that an eye-popping figure! That's not all. The ochre-coloured belt costs around $ 420.00 which is Rs 29885.52. She wore a pair of Ancient Greek sandals which cost around 420 that is Rs 13,033.02. The sling which Kriti carried is around $39.18 which equals to Rs 2, 790. The total of the amount, Kriti Sanon spent for a casual evening is Rs 1,75,722.23. Kriti recently turned showstopper for designer duo Shyamal & Bhumika at FDCI India Couture Week (ICW) 2019. Im very moody. There are days when I really dont want to make an effort and want to be comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts? For me, comfort comes first, she had told reporters at the post-show conference. I also feel that no matter what your personal style is, you should be willing to experiment. Try something new because unless you do that, youll not know what suits you, she added.On the work front, the actress was last seen in Arjun Patiala which also starred Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role. Kriti has her hands full with two more releases this year including Housefull 4 and Ashutosh Gowarikar's Panipat. Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said that its orders on the Guru Ravidas Temple in Tughlaqabad forest area here cannot be given a "political colour". A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and MR Shah asked governments of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi to ensure that no law and order situation is created politically or otherwise during the protests over the demolition of temple. "Everything cannot be political. Our orders can't be given a political colour by anybody on earth" the bench said. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had demolished the temple pursuant to the orders of the apex court, which had on August 9 observed that "serious breach" had been committed by Guru Ravidas Jayanti Samaroh Samiti by not vacating the forest area as earlier ordered by the top court. Following the demolition of the 500-year-old temple, protests have been staged at several places in Punjab and Delhi by political parties and members of the Dalit community. At the outset, Attorney General K K Venugopal, who was on August 13 asked by the top court to assist in the matter, said that demolition of the temple has been carried out by DDA in pursuance to the top court order and a total of 18 organisations are staging protests against it. Venugopal told the bench that since a number of organisations have been agitating against the demolition it is very difficult to pinpoint a particular person behind the protests. To this, the bench said in case the matter is settled, there is no difficulty but if the issue remains the court will take up the matter for hearing. Venugopal then told the bench that it should direct governments of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi to ensure that the law and order situation is maintained. The bench asked governments of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi to ensure that "no law and order situation is created politically or otherwise". The bench has posted the matter for further hearing after three weeks. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had said that he will lead a delegation of Ravidas community members to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention in the matter. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had also said on Thursday that a SAD-BJP delegation will soon meet the prime minister and urge him to provide a piece of land for rebuilding the temple. The top court had earlier warned against politicising the temple's demolition threatening to initiate contempt proceedings against those provoking dharnas and demonstrations. "Don't speak a word and don't aggravate the issue. You are in for contempt. We will haul up your entire management. We will see what has to be done," the bench had said. The bench had also said that it will not tolerate criticism of the judgment which has been passed by the top court. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: For TV star Whitney Port, one of the bigger regrets in her life involves one of Hollywood biggest star, Leonardo DiCaprio. Spilling the beans about her once having a chance to be with Leo, The Hills star during a recent episode of her With Whit podcast, The Hills: New Beginnings revealed that she once turned down a one-night stand with the actor as she was too nervous. Recording the episode alongside Andrea Cuttler, she said, "I was nervous. I had never had a one-night stand. I didn't want to be with him alone I was way too nervous to do it and then I lost my chance and it's really one of my bigger regrets in life Port confessed. According to Port, the chance of having a rendezvous with the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star all went down in 2009 during a night of partying in Manhattan. Port adds that Leo approached her and implied that he watched her reality show, "The City," leading eventually to exchanging of the digits. After months of texting back and forth Port adds that DiCaprio invited her out on a date and asked if she wanted to come over afterward. "He invited me back over to his house and I said 'no,'" she tells Andrea Cuttler. "I have been dying to tell people this story for ages. I feel like whenever I tell it to friends, no one believes me." "If you didn't think I was cool, now you probably do!" she continued. As for Leo, he is rumoured to be dating Camilla Morrore. The duo was recently spotted cosying up in a pda moment during a relaxing vacay in Italy. New Delhi: Maharaja Surajmal Brij University (MSBU) has announced the results of BA, BSc first and second year exam. Candidates who appeared for the graduation 1st and 2nd year results can check their results online at msbrijuniversity.ac.in. Candidates can check their results online by logging in using their roll number. Maharaja Surajmal Brij University will also release third year exam results very soon. Candidates who have appeared for the exam are advised to keep checking the official website of Maharaja Surajmal Brij University at msbrijuniversity.ac.in. How to check MSBU result 2019: Visit the official website of Maharaja Surajmal Brij University at msbrijuniversity.ac.in On the top of the homepage, click on the flashing tab of Results Select the Main option from the drop down list under the Result type option Under the section of Select UG/PG/Other Courses chose UG to check your BA/ BSc exam result Then select the stream and year of the course for example- BA Part 1 or BSc Part 1 from the drop down list Submit A login page will appear Key in your roll number and submitYour scores will be displayed on the screen. Download and take its print out. Students shpuld keep little patience since, due to the heavy traffic on the website, the servers can often crash. The error will be fixed soon. Srinagar: A dedicated bus service has been started for government employees to ferry them to and from their offices in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district, officials said Friday. The directions in this regard were given by Deputy Commissioner GN Itoo at a meeting convened to review the attendance of employees in the district. The deputy commissioner directed officials to make all necessary arrangements for employees to attend work, they added. The deputy commissioner was informed that a comprehensive transportation plan was already in place to ferry government employees to and from their offices. As per the plan, SRTC buses to general bus stand in Baramulla, will be available for employees at the different locations, including SMHS Hospital in Srinagar ( 8.30 am), Sopore (9 am), Watergam (9 am), Uri (8.30 am) and Tangmarg (8.30 am). At the end of the workday, the buses will drop the employees back to their destinations, starting from Baramulla at 4.30 pm, they added. The deputy commissioner directed all employees to return to their duties from Saturday, warning that teams have been formed to check attendance in offices. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid an escalating face-off between restaurants and aggregators, online food-ordering platform Zomato on Saturday said it is open to making modifications to rectify "mistakes" and appealed to restaurant owners to stop the #LogOut campaign. More than 1,200 restaurants in several major Indian cities have reportedly de-listed themselves from the dine-in programmes of services like Zomato over the "unsustainable" deep discounts offered by the aggregators, saying the table reservation services were hurting their business model. In a series of tweets, Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal called for truce and sanity. "I am sad that young entrepreneurs (much like me) in the restaurant industry are feeling the pressure to such an extent that they had to launch such a campaign. We set out to create a company which can create a massive impact on consumers, as well as business owners," he said in one of the tweets. READ | Zomato delivery boys on indefinite strike, refuse to deliver foods against 'religious guidelines' "Somewhere, we have made mistakes and things haven't gone as planned. This is a wake up call that we need to do 100x more for our restaurant partners than we have done before," he added. Restaurants in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Goa, Pune, Gurgaon and Vadodara exited platforms, including Zomato, EazyDiner, Nearbuy, MagicPin and Gourmet Passport, under the #LogOut campaign, claiming that the "unsustainable" deep discounts offered by the aggregators and the table reservation services were hurting their business models. "What's good for restaurants is good for Zomato. What's good for consumers is good for Zomato. Finding the right balance and product market fit is the restaurant industry's problem (and that includes us)," Goyal said in another tweet. 8 - What's good for restaurants is good for Zomato. What's good for consumers is good for Zomato. Finding the right balance and product market fit is the restaurant industry's problem (and that includes us). Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) August 17, 2019 Penning his series of tweets as "thoughts on the restaurant industry's stand against deep discounting", he said: "Zomato Gold has been a major hit, but we understand that bargain hunters have also joined Zomato Gold and they are hurting some segments of the restaurant industry very badly." READ | Mumbai dabbawalas slam Zomato customer who refused delivery by Muslim Goyal said Zomato is committed to working with the industry. "We are committed to work with the industry and make modifications to Zomato Gold which will result in a win win situation for restaurants and consumers. Just like last year, when we changed some rules around Gold after hearing about the concerns of the restaurant community," he said. Goyal appealed to restaurant owners to stop the #LogOut campaign. "In the interest of consumers, we request restaurant owners to stop the logout campaign and have a collaborative discussion with internet aggregators for finding a sustainable way forward," he said. Urging the restaurant industry to proactively look for ways to reduce operating costs, the Zomato founder said this was necessary "so that eating out becomes more affordable for consumers". "Our only objective here is to drive the growth of the restaurant industry," he said. "Take a look at this data - the avg price of a delivery order in India is just about the same as that of China. However, per capita income in China is 4.5x as that of India. It's important we bring down prices to find sustainable growth in the food sector in our country," he added. READ | Zomato delivery boys are queuing up outside this restaurant in Hyderabad, see why In a blog post addressed to restaurants on Friday, Zomato had questioned the #LogOut campaign, saying discussions among the industry on price-fixing and limiting the supply of services could constitute cartelisation. "We urge you to be careful and not get involved in any such discussions," it had said. National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) president Rahul Singh had stated that the #LogOut campaign started in Gurgaon earlier this week and turned into a nationwide movement, reflecting "how restaurants across the entire spectrum have been suffering from the deep-discount epidemic". For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In yet another tragic incident, at least 15 people were killed and 35 others injured after a container truck rammed into a state transport bus coming from the opposite direction in Maharashtra's Dhule in late Sunday night, according to police. The mishap occurred near Nimgul village on the Shahada-Dondaicha road at around 10.30 pm yesterday. The bus carrying a total of 45 passengers was on its way to Aurangabad. While eleven people, including two drivers, died on the spot, others succumbed to their injuries while undergoing medical treatment at a state hospital in Dhule. Eight of the total injured were declared critical when reached the hospital. READ | Four employees of IT company killed, three critical as SUV skids off Yamuna Expressway Locals were the first to spot the incident and reached there to help some passengers come out from the bus. Soon after the authorities arrived at the site and launched an investigation into the case. READ | Maharashtra government releases Rs 154 crore for aid to flood victims However, the police are yet to ascertain the actual reason behind the incident and is likely to register a case of accidental death anytime soon. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, the reports for which are still awaited. New Delhi: The CBI on Saturday sought a weeks time from a Delhi court to complete its investigation and file a status report in the 2017 Unnao gangrape case, one of four related cases transferred by the Supreme Court from Uttar Pradesh. The submission was made before District Judge Dharmesh Sharma who was hearing the case in which Shubham Singh, Naresh Tiwari and Brajesh Singh Yadav are the accused. The woman was allegedly raped by expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and the three men in two different incidents in 2017 when she was a minor. A separate rape case has been registered against Sengar in which the trial commenced on Friday. During Saturdays hearing in the gangrape case, senior Public Prosecutor Ashok Bhartendu, appearing for the CBI, said the matter is still under investigation and they will file a report very shortly. The matter is at the final stage of investigation and the agency will be coming up with a report shortly. The IO seeks one weeks more time, said Bhartendu. Advocate Sunil Kumar Singh, appearing for accused Shubham Singh, told the court that while the charge sheet has been filed in the other three related cases, the investigation was still pending in the alleged gang rape case. Why is the investigation lingering for 16 months? said Singh. The court put up the matter for further hearing on August 26. Meanwhile, the court sought response of the CBI on a plea by Shubham Singh seeking a direction that the probe agency comply with the Allahabad High Courts 2018 order to complete the investigation in the case within two months as per provisions of the law. The apex court had transferred four criminal casesthe 2017 rape case; an alleged fake matter under the Arms Act against the father of the rape survivor; his death in police custody, and the gang rape of the woman. All the three accused in this case are out on bail. The court had earlier declined the plea of CBI seeking 30 days to complete the investigation and directed it to file a status report by August 17. The woman, who was a minor then, was allegedly raped by Sengar on June 4, 2017 and the three persons on June 11, 2017. The woman is battling for life at AIIMS here after a truck rammed into the car in which she was was travelling along with some family members and her lawyer on July 28. Two of her aunts died in the accident. Sengar, a four-time legislator who represents Bangermau in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, is lodged in jail since April 2018. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An IndiGo flight heading to Ahmedabad from Mumbai had to return to the Mumbai airport as one of its engines developed a snag shortly after the take-off on Saturday, the airline said. It was a VT-IVZ plane, an A320neo aircraft with a Pratt and Whitney engine. "An IndiGo flight, 6E-5324, operating from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, had a fault message on engine 1 after taking-off from Mumbai," the low-cost carrier said in a statement. "The pilot followed the necessary procedures and landed back at Mumbai. The aircraft is currently withdrawn for inspections. The passengers are being accommodated on other flights," it added. This is a breaking news story. More details will be added soon. Please refresh the page for the updated version. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A major fire broke out at the teaching block of the AIIMS in New Delhi on Saturday, destroying samples and medical reports and forcing evacuation of some patients, though no one was injured, officials said. The fire had spread to the 5th floor of the hospital as fire fighters struggled to douse the flames. The fire due to a short circuit forced authorities to temporarily shut down the emergency ward of the hospital. Earlier, it was claimed that fire had been extinguished but later reports said that the flames had reached the 5th floor of the hospital. The Microbiology department's virology unit on the second floor of the teaching block has been completely gutted in the fire while samples and medical reports were also destroyed. Former finance minister Arun Jaitley is also admitted in the hospital but the hospital athorities said that he was housed in a different building of the hospital and was completely unaffected by the fire. However, several other patients from the AB ward, close to the Microbiology department, where the fire had started at 5 pm in the evening, were evacuated along with those in operation theatres above it as the smoke spread. Visuals of fire at the 5th floor of AIIMS Hospital in Delhi Sources said the fire spread to the Emergency Lab in the department of Lab Medicine, which is adjacent to the Microbiology department's virology unit, where electricity work was going on for some time and cables and wires being used were kept. The fire moved downward to the first floor -- and also upward to the third and the fourth floor of the building. Later, the flames also reached the fifth floor. Teams of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) also reached the spot to assist in fire-fighting and rescue operation. Meanwhile, the hospital has issued a helpline number 011-26593308 to obtain information regarding patients admitted in the AB Wing. AIIMS Delhi is one of India's most premier state-run hospitals and the fire incident has raised several questions about the fire safety measures being taken by the hospital. Noida: Four employees of an IT company including a woman were killed on Sunday after their SUV skidded off the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida amid light rains and fell into a 30-ft ditch alongside the road, police said. The incident took place around 10 am near the Zero Point in Greater Noida's Knowledge Park police station area and nine people were inside the brand new SUV, a senior official said. Five of their colleagues who suffered serious injuries in the crash have been hospitalised where the condition of three was stated to be critical, the official said. "The speeding SUV was apparently taking a U-turn near Pari Chowk when it skidded off the expressway and fell into a ditch, about 30 ft deep. It couldn't negotiate the turn in the high speed," Circle Officer, Greater Noida-1, Tanu Upadhyay said. "Three people died immediately and six others were rushed to a private hospital. One of them later succumbed to injuries," she said. Altogether nine people, six men and three women, all aged between 25 and 35, were inside the SUV at the time of the incident, the police said.? A survivor told police that all of them worked at a private IT company located in Noida sector 2. The firm also has a call centre and the group that was in the crashed vehicle had people from the IT team as well as the call centre, according to police. The group had gone out to celebrate in the "new car" purchased by one of the seniors, Upadhyay said. "The group had set off in the car early this morning and went to Aligarh also. They were returning from there when the incident took place," she said. On July 8, 29 people were killed after a speeding passenger bus veered off the Yamuna Expressway near Agra and plunged into a drain about 40 ft deep. The police had suspected that the driver of the bus, enroute to Lucknow from Delhi, had fallen asleep. More than 700 people have died and over 7,600 injured in nearly 5,000 accidents along the 165-km-long Yamuna Expressway since it was opened in 2012, according to an official figure. Officials say over speeding is one of the main causes of incidents on the six-lane highway managed by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Stockholm: Greenland is not for sale, the mineral-rich island said on Friday, after a newspaper reported that US President Donald Trump was asking advisers whether it's possible for the United States to buy the Arctic island. Trump has expressed interest in the self-governing part of Denmark - which is mostly covered in ice, - asking advisors if it is possible for the US to acquire the territory, The Wall Street Journal said Thursday, citing people familiar with the discussions. The president, a former real estate magnate, has been curious about the area's natural resources and geopolitical relevance, the paper reported. Greenland is a self-governing region of Denmark, which colonised the 772,000 square-mile (two-million square kilometre) island in the 18th century, and is home to only about 57,000 people, most of whom belong to the indigenous Inuit community. There has been no official comment from the White House, and the Danish embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. But Greenland's ministry of foreign affairs insisted the island was ready to talk business, not purchase. "#Greenland is rich in valuable resources such as minerals, the purest water and ice, fish stocks, seafood, renewable energy and is a new frontier for adventure tourism," it tweeted. "We're open for business, not for sale," it added. READ | Greenland in danger! NASA scientists fly over massive island to track melting ice #Greenland is rich in valuable resources such as minerals, the purest water and ice, fish stocks, seafood, renewable energy and is a new frontier for adventure tourism. We're open for business, not for saleaAiAYYAYAYY learn more about Greenland on: https://t.co/WulOi3beIC Greenland MFA YY (@GreenlandMFA) August 16, 2019 The office of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declined to comment when contacted by AFP. But a former premier, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, tweeted: "It must be an April Fool's Day joke... but totally out of season!" Some Trump advisors say acquiring Greenland, which is northeast of Canada, could be good for the US, while others called it only a "fleeting fascination" from the president, The Wall Street Journal said. Others outside the White House say Trump's interest could be a desire to secure a legacy achievement, the paper reported, and advisors wondered about the potential for research or greater military clout for the US. READ | Greenland might be ice-free by end of century, picture reveals awful reality The US's northern-most military base, Thule Air Base, has been located on Greenland for decades. But Greenland doesn't quite live up to its lush name - 85 percent of the island is covered by a 1.9-mile-thick (three-kilometre) ice sheet that contains 10 percent of the world's fresh water. The world's largest island has suffered from climate change, scientists say, becoming a giant melting icicle that threatens to submerge the world's coastal areas one day. July saw unprecedented melting of the Greenland ice sheet, with 12 billion tonnes of ice flowing into the sea. Trump, who in 2017 withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement to cap global warming levels, is reportedly set to visit Copenhagen in September. This isn't the first time the president has expressed interest in foreign properties -- he has said North Korea's "great beaches" would make ideal locations for condos. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An advertisement, with special appearance of USSRs last leader Mikhail Gorbachev, is doing rounds in the social media. In the ad, the Soviet leader can be seen walking into the restaurant with his granddaughter. The diners in the restaurant, caught up in two minds whether Gorbachev should be extolled or criticised, were amazed by the presence of their leader. An argument escalated between a youth and a comparatively older compatriot. On young boys assertion, Its Gorbachev, the elderly man says, Because of him we have economic confusion. The youth responded, Because of him we have opportunities. The infuriated old man further adds, Because of him, we have political instability. Because of him, we have freedom, boy reiterated his support for the leader. Terming Gorbachevs rule as Complete Chaos, fuming old chap gets hope as a counter. A lady from the vicinity interjects, Because of him we have many things..like Pizza Hut! The restaurant, thus, buzzes with Hail to Gorbhachev, with the soviet leader nodding in affirmation. just found out gorbachev did a commercial for pizza hut pic.twitter.com/jqwVVTpM8t aiAAAAY (@zei_nabq) August 13, 2019 At the time, many Russians had blamed Gorbachev for the fall of USSR after the Cold War concluded. Now thats again back in public memory and social media users are pouring in their reactions. Mikhail Gorbachev was eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union. He was countrys head of state from 1988 to 1991 and acted as general secretary of Russias communist party from 1985 to 1991. Read: Russia backs India, says change in J-K's status 'carried within framework of the Constitution' Gorbachev who was a Marxist-Leninist initially, later moved towards social democracy. He is said to have played a pivotal role in ending the cold war although his contributions to Russia has remained debatable for long. He was committed to preserving the Soviet state and to its socialist ideals, but he believed that significant reform was necessary. He is credited for withdrawing from Soviet-Afghan war and engaged in deliberations with the then US president Ronald Reagan. After he left office, he launched Gorbachev Foundation and became a vocal critic of Russian Presidents Boris Yelstin and Vladimir Putin. Not only this, he also campaigned for Russia's social-democratic movement. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The CBI has booked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's nephew Ratul Puri, the then former executive director of Moser Baer, and others in connection with a Rs-354 crore bank fraud case filed by Central Bank of India, officials said on Sunday. Besides Ratul and the company, his father and Managing Director Deepak Puri, Directors Nita Puri (Ratul's mother and Kamal Nath's sister), Sanjay Jain and Vineet Sharma have also been booked by the agency for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption. Ratul had resigned from the post of executive director in 2012, while his parents continue to be on the board, the bank said in a statement. The agency has carried out searches at six locations including the residences and offices of the accused directors Sunday, they said. The company is involved in the manufacture of optical storage media like compact discs, DVDs, solid state storage devices. The case has been registered based on a complaint from Central Bank of India. The company was taking loans from various banks since 2009 and went for debt restructuring a number of times, the bank has alleged in the complaint which is now part of the CBI FIR. When it was unable to pay the debt, a forensic audit was done and the account was declared as "fraud" by the Central Bank of India on April 20, 2019, it has alleged. "...The MBIL has committed fraud and cheated the complainant bank thereby making a wrongful gain to themselves and a wrongful loss to the lender bank which is a custodian of public money," the complaint to the CBI said. Primary security of the bank consisting of stock of finished goods. semi finished goods and raw material have also been dishonestly and fraudulently removed by the company and its directors in order to prevent the distribution amongst the creditor banks to satisfy the debt, the bank has alleged. "The funds granted by the banks have been misused and misappropriated by MBIL and its directors for their own personal use, MBIL and its Directors and promoters have also committed fraud in respect of reporting book debts, which were also one of the primary securities of the bank," it said. The bank claimed that the company and its directors forged and fabricated documents to induce Central Bank of India to release funds, it said. "MBIL has cause unlawful loss to our bank to the tune of Rs 354.51 crore as on November 29, 2014 and interest thereon by getting unlawful gains," the complaint said. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Almost 66 million years ago, an asteroid came crashing into what now is Mexico. The heavenly rock stretched for up to 10 miles and almost obliterated life on Earth. Wiping out dinosaurs to causing Tsunamis, its impact, even if can be imagined, is forgettable. As per a study, another asteroid of same dimensions is heading towards earth. The asteroid, known as 1990 MU, is currently orbiting the sun and may come dangerously close to earth by 2027. The giant asteroid, which has a diameter of 4-9 kilometres, will be close to our planet precisely on June 6, 2027, reported Express.co.uk. Moreover, its proximity to Earth will be breath-taking as last time its prototype wiped out entire species of dinosaurs. According to NASA scientists, it will come as close as 0.03AU which forces the researchers to mark it into close Earth object category. NASA considers it potentially hazardous and labels it as of having potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth. However, AU which stands for Astronomical Unit is the distance between the Earth and the Sun. In case you are wondering how dangerous this asteroid could be, scientists say Asteroid 1990 MU, is considered to be one of the brightest and largest potentially hazardous space rocks known to exist. Earlier, another asteroid named 2019 OU1, touted as big as Great Pyramid of Giza turned out to be much smaller, will fly by within a safe distance as per its current trajectories in the space. The scientists at NASA have already made it clear that an asteroid is dangerous only when it collides with Earth. There have been many such asteroids which have flown by within safe distance posing no threat to life on earth. In recent times, many deadly asteroids including 2019 OK, 2019 OD, 2015 HM10, 2019 OE, 2019 NN3, 2019 MB4, 2019 MT2, 2006 QV89, 2016 NO56M, RF12 and others came horrendously close to the Earth, but did not hit our planet. It is said that one day all life on the Earth will be extinct. Not only life, but the Earth will also extinct someday and an asteroid could be the possible reason. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: On August 8, the Special cell of Delhi Police received a phone call by a man who said his wife is a suicide bomber trying to blow up plane at Delhi airport. The man told the police that his wife is a fidayeen and set to trigger a bomb at airport. The police said that the phone call, made on August 8, was hoax and it all was done by Nasiruddin, 29, to stop his wife, Rafiya from leaving the country. He made a hoax call that one Zamina @ Rafiya was a bomber who would blow up either a Dubai or Saudi Arabia bound flight.. On this, a criminal case was registered at PS Udyog Vihar, Gurugram - location of the office of DIAL Call Centre.. Special Cell, Delhi Police (@CellDelhi) August 17, 2019 After it received the phone call, the Delhi Polices special cell launched massive search operation and directed the airport authorities at New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport to temporarily suspend the operations of international flights. Nasiruddin was arrested in Delhis Bawana area and the police has registered a criminal case against him at PS Udyog Vihar, Gurugram which is the location of the office of DIAL Call Centre. When his attempts to stop Rafiya from leaving India failed, he called up DIAL with the bomb threat call to prevent her from boarding the intended flight..., tweeted Delhi Police. According to Delhi Police, the accused owns a bag manufacturing factory in Chennai and had married Rafiya, his employee, who was now planning to leave India to work in the Gulf. Delhi: Continuing its anti-India tirade, the Pakistan Army has termed Kashmir as nuclear flashpoint. Addressing media on Saturday, Pakistan Army spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said that, Kashmir issue is nuclear flashpoint. We have apprehension that India can launch attack to divert attention but we are fully prepared to deal with any misadventure. The comment is seen by the expert as yet another attempt by Islamabad to internationalise the Kashmir issue. The flashpoint remark comes after Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly said that, Till today, our nuclear policy is 'No First Use'. What happens in future depends on the circumstances." The remark sparked massive speculations with many suggesting that India was revising its no first use policy. India and Pakistan have been embroiled in high-stake war of words ever since the Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370 that gave special powers to Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, Pakistans attempt to drag international community in the Kashmir issue failed miserably on Friday as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) suggested bilateral route to resolve the dispute. Pakistan, in a desperate attempt after Indias move to remove provisions of Article 370 in Kashmir, had taken up the issue before the UNSC with the help of China, seeking the world body's interference. However, during the closed-door meeting of the worlds highest diplomatic forum, it was suggested the issue should be resolved bilaterally. The informal meeting was held to decide whether there should be a formal meeting on the issue. Although it was not known what was decided during the meeting, but according to reports, except China, no other member country supported Pakistan. This means it is highly unlikely that the UNSC will pass any resolution on Kashmir or call a formal meeting over the issue. Although China did support Pakistan in arranging the informal meet, the backing was half-hearted as Beijing also said that any decision on Kashmir should be bilateral. Had China wanted, it could have used it veto and get a resolution passed on Kashmir. However, China asked Pakistan to write to the council itself and just forwarded its request. China did this because it knew all other members of the UNSC favours India and Beijing did not want to face embarrassment of a defeat at the highest diplomatic forum. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Leh: Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, the BJP MP from Ladakh who shot to fame after his impassioned speech on Article 370 in Parliament, feels the region did not get due importance in defence policies under the Congress rule and that was why "China has captured its area up to the Demchok sector". The first-time parliamentarian also claimed that the Congress governments ruined Kashmir by following the policy of "appeasement" in hostile situations and Ladakh became a "collateral damage". "(Former prime minister) Jawaharlal Nehru formulated the 'forward policy', which said we should move towards China inch by inch. During its implementation, it became a 'backward policy'. The (Chinese troops) continued to intrude into our territory and we continued to retreat," Namgyal told PTI in an interview. "It's the reason Aksai Chin is completely under China. The People's Liberation Army personnel have come up to Demchok's 'nallah' because Ladakh didn't get due importance in defence policies in the 55 years of Congress rule," the 34-year-old added. In July last year, Chinese and Indian troops engaged in a standoff after the People's Liberation Army objected to India constructing a 'nallah' or canal in its own area near Demchok. In July this year, Chinese troops crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and entered the Demchok sector after some Tibetans hoisted Tibetan flags on the occasion of Dalai Lama's birthday. Army chief General Bipin Rawat had later said: "There has been no intrusion. Chinese come and patrol their perceived line of actual control." Asked how the things will change from the defence perspective with Ladakh becoming a Union territory, Namgyal said the region would now get its due importance. The Bharatiya Janata Party MP said the execution of the rehabilitation project announced by then home minister Rajnath Singh would put an end to migration from border villages. "The borders will become secure when city-like facilities, including roads, communication, schools and hospitals, will be provided to these areas under the Narendra Modi government," he said. Namgyal, who earned the praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for his speech in the Lok Sabha a fortnight ago on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, said the Congress made a mistake by approaching the United Nations on the Kashmir issue. "Secondly, it followed the policy of appeasement whenever the situation in Kashmir turned hostile. It never dealt with it strictly," Namgyal said. "Whenever the situation flared up in Kashmir, Congress tried to calm tempers by announcing special packages. It made stone-pelters happy and gave protection to separatists," he said. "Neither its policy was good and nor its intention. It ruined Kashmir and Ladakh became collateral damage." The Ladakh MP criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for attacking the Centre on the situation in Kashmir post the scrapping of almost all the provisions of Article 370, saying a person like him could say anything to "keep his chair safe". "Congress ruled for 55 years but could never muster enough courage to take such a bold step. Now they are terming it craziness. We are not bothered about what he says," Namgyal said. Giving examples of the losses Ladakh suffered by being with Kashmir, he said: "We have a degree college here which comes under the University of Kashmir. Now, even if there's an error in the spelling of names, the student has to go to Srinagar to get it corrected. If there's trouble in Kashmir, it takes a Ladakhi student five years to complete a three-year course." Namgyal said if a transfer or promotion of any Ladakhi government official was pending, the employee had to go to Srinagar or Jammu himself to request them to move the file forward. He alleged that posts of teachers for Bodhi language were converted into posts of teachers for the Kashmiri language. According to the BJP MP, the Jammu and Kashmir administration would divert funds sanctioned for Ladakh. It never considered Ladakh's geography, climate, and environment while framing policies for the region. On the future of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Namgyal said: "The Union home minister himself has said in Parliament. The LAHDC will continue to remain. People should not worry." On the apprehensions of locals that outsiders would buy land and damage Ladakh's environment, Namgyal assured the people that no such thing would happen. "Some people are saying that the bigger fish (outsiders) will eat the smaller ones," he said. "Ladakh's land belongs to its people. According to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, matters related to land comes under the LAHDC." Namgyal said people need to understand that there were several sectors in Ladakh that had not been explored yet and investment would lead to employment generation. "Shouldn't we bring investment in the IT sector?" he asked, adding that there would be several riders. "They won't be able to buy land. They will have to lease it," he said. "We will also demand reservation in jobs for our people and royalty for the LAHDC." Namgyal also urged the Centre to declare the region a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect its land, culture and identity. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The outbreak of the omicron variant of corona in India is growing rapidly. The first case of omicron has also come to light from Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. According to reports, a 47-year-old man from Chennai has been found infected with the omicron variant. He had recently returned from a trip to Nigeria. State Health Minister Subramanian has informed that the first case of omicron has been reported in Tamil Nadu in which a 47-year-old man who returned from Nigeria has been found infected with corona. Earlier on Wednesday, cases of omicron have also been reported from West Bengal and Telangana. Omicron cases in India, which are increasing day by day, have also added to the problem of the government. Recently, the first case of Omicron was also reported from Kerala after which now, today, that is 4 more new cases have come to light on Wednesday. After these cases, the total number of omicron cases in the State has now gone up to 5. In Telangana, two cases of the new corona variant Omicron have been detected in Hyderabad. A 24-year-old Kenyan national and a Somali national have been booked among the newly found Omicron patients in Hyderabad. In addition, Maharashtra is also becoming a stronghold of Omicron. Here 4 more patients have been found to be infected with omicron, bringing the infected figure to 32. In view of the increasing cases of Omicron, the state government has issued orders for Christmas and New Year. Aslam Sheikh, Minister in the Government of Maharashtra has said that in view of the way the Omicron variant is growing, no major celebrations will be allowed on Christmas and New Year. He further said that the religious places which are open have been strictly instructed to follow the guidelines. After Keshav Prasad Maurya, Union Minister's statement on Shree Krishna temple 'Durga Puja' gets UNESCO heritage tag Now Voter ID to be linked with Aadhar Card, Know what else is announced Tel Aviv: In a bid to prevent the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variety, the Israeli Health Ministry has decided to ban travel to seven more nations. The embargo will go into force on December 20 and will affect the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Finland, France, and Sweden, which will be labelled as "red" countries, according to the report. The majority of African countries are already on the "red" list. All Israelis returning from the forbidden nations, including those who have been vaccinated and recovered, must spend at least seven days in quarantine. Foreign nationals from certain countries are not permitted to travel to Israel, save in humanitarian instances approved by a special governmental committee. Global covid Updates: The countries with over 5 million cases are the UK (11,073,455), , Russia (9,927,150), Turkey (9,102,294), France (8,504,074), Germany (6,656,270), Iran (6,162,954), Argentina (5,371,341), Spain (5,393,268), Italy (5,282,076), and Colombia (5,099,746) are the countries with more than 5 million cases, according to CSSE estimates. Mexico (296,984), Russia (287,135), Peru (201,902), the United Kingdom (147,249), Indonesia (143,969), Italy (135,178), Iran (130,883), Colombia (129,256), France (121,968), Argentina (116,857), and Germany are among the countries with over 100,000 deaths (106,934). UN Gen-Secretarys Spokesperson tests Positive for COVID-19 Africa surpass 8.99 million Covid-19 cases: CDC Report Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tests for Covid-19 Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Health Ministry announced on Thursday that large-scale New Year celebrations have been banned due to fears that the new Omicron form of Covid-19 could spread throughout the country. According to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the decision was made after the confirmation of a second Omicron case in the country and at least 18 additional suspected cases. The Health Ministry would like to announce additional measures to prevent the spread of Omicron after the finding of two verified Omicron variant cases and 18 other suspected cases that underwent genetic sequencing, he said. "Organizing huge New Year's parties is not permitted," he stated, "but small-scale New Year's or Christmas gatherings are permitted for the time being, with attendees required to complete Covid self-tests beforehand." The second confirmed case involves an eight-year-old girl who lived in Nigeria with her family before arriving in Malaysia on December 5 and being tested there. On December 14, it was determined that it was an Omicron case. Thirty-five of the patient's close associates are being monitored, according to Khairy. In order to prevent the highly transmissible Omicron variant, the Health Ministry has enacted new prohibitions against travellers from the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the number of countries classed as "high-risk" has climbed to nine. Travellers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Nigeria, and India, where the Omicron variant has been spreading, must be fitted with wrist digital trackers upon arrival and throughout the duration of their quarantine. Omicron Scare: France to restrict travel from the UK Canada urges people to refrain from travel amid surging Omicron cases Australia's national airline Qantas charts economic revival Washington (DC): The US Senate approved a Pentagon budget plan worth USD770 billion for fiscal year 2022. According to a source, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House last week and is currently on its way to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. "Congress has worked on a bipartisan basis for the past six years to enact an annual defense authorization legislation without fail. With so many competing priorities, I appreciate my colleagues' efforts over the last few months, both in committee and off the floor, to get the NDAA passed "Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, stated as much. The USD768.2 billion package, which passed the Senate 89-10, includes USD740 billion for the Defense Department, USD27.8 billion for defense-related programs in the Department of Energy, and USD378 million for miscellaneous defense-related activities. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes a USD25 billion increase in Biden's defense budget proposal for fiscal year 2022. It also provides a 2.7 percent salary raise for military personnel and civilian employees of the Pentagon. Along with authorizing funding for the Defense Department, this year's National Defense Authorization Act includes revisions to the military justice system to address the Pentagon's long-standing failure to prevent sexual assault in military ranks. The bill deprives military commanders of the authority to prosecute sex offenses, instead entrusting sexual assault cases to independent military lawyers. Iran's envoy calls on EU, US to return to full compliance with the JCPOA UAE suspends discussions with U.S over purchase of F-35 fighter jets Iran's nuclear chief calls the US and Israel's anti-Iran claims "psywar." Home Just In Child marriage and Nepal law: A case that proves the ignorance of the law is no excuse Nepals law has barred child marriage, i.e. getting married before the age of 20. But, not all law-abiding citizens are aware of this. There is a principle that ignorance of the law is no excuse, but there are also examples of families being devastated by the ignorance of the law. Here is one such example from Waling of the Syangja district. There is a village, called Majhigaun, near Waling Bazaar where the Majhi community lives. Majhigaun can be reached after crossing Andhikhola from Waling Bazaar and walking uphill for about 30 minutes. Madan Majhi, 19, of Waling municipality-19, has been in the Pokhara Jail for two and a half years. His story tells people how people fall into the trap of ignorance of the law made for the betterment of society. Two days of marriage results in 18 years of imprisonment On April 15, 2019, Madan, as usual, came home in the evening, exhausted from work. After the death of Madans father, he was responsible for taking care of his sick mother at home, but he did not have a regular source of income. He used to do whatever he could with his manual labour. That evening, three people, including a teenage girl (mentioned in the court as 076 Andhikhola 1), her stepmother, and another woman come to Madans house. According to Madans statement in the court, They said the girl had a very hard life, therefore they asked me to marry and keep her here. Photo: Pxfuel As per Madans statement given to the police, he agreed to marry and let the girl live with him, thinking she will take care of his sick mother at home and he will be able to go to work. The girl stayed at Madans house for two days. On the afternoon of April 17, the girl left the house saying she would be back with her clothes from a tailors. But, she did not return until the evening. On the third day, at around 9 pm, the police suddenly reached Madans house. Madan was taken under control and taken to the Ward Police Office, Waling. The next morning, the villagers along with his relatives reached the police office in Waling to find out about Madan. Upon reaching there, the police said that they had arrested Madan on the charge of rape. Madan was taken into custody after a relative of the girl lodged a complaint, alleging him of rape. When Madan went to Bayarghari, he called me and I went with him. We also had a physical relationship there, the teenager said in a statement to police. In the police records, the girl is said to be 13 years old, but her father says she is 16. The National Penal (Code) Act, 2017 in its section 219(2) says, Where any person has sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent or with a girl child below 18 years of age even with her consent, the person shall be considered to commit rape on such woman or girl child. Section 219 (3) (b) of the same court says raping a girl child of the age 10-14 gets the imprisonment of 18-20 years. According to the same provision, the Syangja District Court sent Madan to 18 years in prison, also ordering him to pay Rs 50,000 in compensation to the alleged victim. Tragedy after tragedy The house of Madan Majhi who has been jailed for child marriage and rape, in Syangja Madans uncle Indra Bahadur Majhi says when he asked the girls stepmother and sister where they were going with the teenage girl in the evening, he was told that they had brought her to marry Madan. We asked her if she was okay, she said yes, Indra says, Then, all villagers became the part of the wedding, but we didnt know that child marriage was such an issue. We are all in awe right now. We went to many places pledging justice for our son, but we have not been able to get justice from anywhere, says Indra. We asked the father of the girl, who lives in Jagatpur, Bhirkot municipality-1, of the district about the incident. He answered, She left home and I dont know what happened after that. Madans sick mother was shocked to learn that her son had been sentenced to 18 years in prison. The community helped to raise money for her daily meal and household expenses for some time. After that, she was taken to her parental home and taken care of by her relatives for about two months. Sadly, she died after that. The story does not end here. The girl because of whom Madan is in jail later married a young man from Damaitol, Waling municipality-6. That was again child marriage, but the young man was not arrested as no one had lodged a complaint to the police. Meanwhile, on September 16, 2021, the girl committed suicide in the house of the same young man. Need for the legal literacy Photo: apinochetise1 In the marginalised Majhi community, most marriages are child marriages because they believe one should be married between 16 and 18. Yet, no one has to go to jail for child marriage unless someone complains about it. Waling Mayor Dilip Pratap Khand says, No one in the Majhi community still takes child marriage as a legal offence. Getting married at a young age is a common practice in this community. Police and court staff keep track of such cases, saying they are successful, says Khand, But, this is leading to atrocities against ignorant Majhis, who lack awareness about the child marriage law. An innocent man has been made a criminal by imposing impractical laws. Such matters must be brought into the discussion now. Following the revelation of such an incident, the Waling municipality is preparing to conduct legal literacy programmes, focusing on child marriage, from this year onwards, especially targeting the marginalised communities. Khand says the municipality will take forward necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the coming days. Vivo Y15S is the latest smartphone released in Nepal from Vivo. The company announced the release of the latest smartphone earlier this week while celebrating the 4th anniversary of the company in Nepal. During the past four years, the company has released a number of handy smartphones for the users. Y53s, V21, V21e, Y21 and Y1s are some of the notable releases from Vivo this year. Now, it is wrapping the year with another premium budget-range smartphone. Along with the release of the phone on the 4th anniversary, the company also announced a sales carnival. Anyone purchasing a Vivo smartphone from December 15, 2021, to January 5, 2022, will be liable to win exciting gifts from the company. The company also announced to provide an additional six-month warranty on selected smartphones. But, today, lets review Vivo Y15S. First, look into the specifications and we will share with you our conclusion that the phone can hardly earn any popularity in the Nepali market given its relevantly high pricing. Specifications Dimension Height: 163.96mm Width: 75.2mm Thickness: 8.28mm Weight: 179 grams Display 6.51-inch IPS LCD Sim Dual sims Resolution 720*1,600 pixels OS Android 11 (Go edition), Funtouch 11.1 Chipset Mediatek Helio P35 GPU PowerVR GE8320 Storage 32GB Card slot Yes (dedicated) RAM 3GB Camera Rear: 13MP, f/2.2 2MP, f/2.4 Front: 8MP, f/2.0 Sound Loudspeakers and 3.5mm headphone jack Colours Mystic blue, and wave green Battery 5000mAh, Li-Po 10W fast charging 5WReverse charging Sensors Side-mounted fingerprint, ambient light sensor, proximity, accelerometer Connectivity Dual sims Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz Bluetooth 5.0 Micro USB 2.0 GPS supported OTG supported FM supported Price Rs 19,999 Design and display Photo: Vivo Vivo Y15S has a typical Vivo design. It resembles a lot with the Y21 released earlier this year. The phone has a glass front, a plastic back and a plastic frame. Like Vivo Y21, it has a waterdrop notch on the front, housing a camera, whereas it has a camera module at the left top and a vertical Vivo branding below. It also has an integrated side-mounted fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone, and the user can use face recognition as well. The phone is slimmer and lighter than most of the smartphones in this price category. It weighs only 179 grams and has a thickness of 8.28mm. Vivo Y15S has a 6.51 IPS LCD display that has a maximum resolution of 720*1,600 pixels. The big screen can be handy while surfing videos on the internet. The screen-to-body ratio of the phone is expected around 83%. Camera Photo: Vivo Vivo Y15S have a moderate camera setup. It has a 13MP main camera on the back accompanied by a 2MP macro camera. On the front, it has an 8MP camera. Both cameras can record videos in 1080p at 30fps. It has camera options like panorama, live photo, pro mode, and HDR selfie. Performance and battery life Vivo Y15S runs on Android 11 (Go edition) with Funtouch 11.1 on top. The phone is powered by Mediatek Helio P35 (12nm) chipset. The graphics of the phone are handled by PowerVR GE8320. Photo: Vivo Giving life to the phone is a 5,000mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. This should be a great battery backup. Since high graphical apps and games that drains a lot amount of battery cannot run on the phone, the battery should last for a significant amount of time. The battery supports a 10W fast charging and even supports a 5W reverse charging, which requires an OTG cable to do so. Storage, connectivity and other features Vivo Y15S is currently available in only a single variant. The phone comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The internal storage can be expended with the help of a microSD card. The phone has a dedicated slot for the card. The phone supports dual sim cards and also dual-band Wi-fi. The phone can be connected to other devices through a Micro USB 2.0 cable. Furthermore, it supports Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, OTG and also FM radio. The phone also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio connectivity. The price of Vivo Y15s is Rs 19,999. Photo: Vivo Verdict Given its price, Vivo Y15S has a lot of competition. There are smartphones from Samsung, Xiaomi and Realme that provide better specifications in this price range. Vivo Y15S is a good looking smartphone and is one of the lightest and slimmest smartphones in this category. But, that is just it, and there is nothing exciting on the phone. Even its design too seems to have been borrowed from Vivos own Y21. The price of the phone is rather high given the specifications it is providing. There are so many smartphones on the market already that can beat Vivo Y15S in almost every specification. It has a Go edition of Android 11 while its competitors have the Android 11. The chipset on the phone also could have been better. The 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM also do not provide justice to the price. Compared with the latest releases of other brands, for example, Realme Narzo 50A, which costs Rs 500 less than Vivo Y15S, provides a better camera, better processor, better battery performance, better internal storage, better RAM storage and even supports 18W fast charging. It beats Vivo Y15S in almost every category. Overall, there is hardly anything on the phone that can back up the extravagant pricing. Samsung Galaxy F12, Samsung Galaxy A12, Galaxy M12, Realme Narzo 50A, Redmi 9 Prime, Redmi 10 Prime, and Redmi Note 9 are some better alternatives of this phone in a similar price category. Vivo should really work on it pricing. - Korea's leading company KT&G...Efforts to revitalize the economy, such as creating local jobs in Indonesia. - Various social contribution activities for nurturing young talents and economic independence in Indonesia SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marks the 10th anniversary of global company KT&G's full-fledged entry into Indonesia. KT&G is Korea's leading company and is the world's 5th largest tobacco company in terms of market share and sales volume. It is also a broader group with a major business portfolio that includes health-functional foods, real estate, biopharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. KT&G TSPM signed an MOU for global scholarship students and held a scholarship delivery ceremony at Brawijaya University on October 5. Fourth from the left in the row: Mr. Hong Won Tack(Head of KT&G TSPM), Fifth from the left : Prof. DR. Abdul Hakim M, SI(Vice president of Brawijaya university) Rapidly expanding in overseas markets, KT&G is pursuing differentiated overseas expansion strategies according to local market conditions, systems, and consumer preferences. In the case of Indonesia, it entered the market in July 2011 by taking over 'Trisakti', an Indonesian tobacco company, to secure the excellent quality of Kretek cigarettes, made using local flavoring, cloves. Efforts to revitalize the economy by creating local jobs in Indonesia KT&G is also widely known as a company that fulfills its social responsibilities as a global corporate entity. In particular, various efforts are being made to create jobs in Indonesia. In December last year, it built a "Vocational Training Center" facility at UKCW University in Malang, Indonesia. Since January this year, sewing technology education has been provided free of charge to strengthen the self-reliance and employment capabilities of the underprivileged. In addition, it has sponsored the vocational coffee training school, 'Coffee Lab', to participate in job creation and support the coffee industry's development in Indonesia, which is one of the world's four largest coffee producers. From August 2019 to March this year, it helped develop expert coffee-related education, held workshops for coffee industry workers, and helped young people to acquire barista licenses. Story continues In addition, since 2016, it has contributed to the local community by creating about 900 new jobs in Indonesia every year, equating to a cumulative total of 4,800 people. It is also striving to revitalize the Indonesian economy by purchasing locally produced leaf tobacco and materials. Activities for college students and youth to support COVID-19 recovery KT&G is also continuing various social contribution activities in Indonesiain particular, activities supporting young people's efforts to stand out. In order to provide stable educational opportunities to Indonesian youth and help develop human resources, scholarships have been selected and awarded annually since 2018. This year, a total of 137 students were selected and awarded scholarships worth about 68,000 US dollars (about 970 million IDR). In 2015, it established 'KT&G Sangsang Univ.', a comprehensive university student community in Indonesia to support the growth of young people. 'Sangsang Univ.' has held classes for hobbies such as dancing, cooking, singing, and musical theater, as well as specialized fields such as barista and makeup courses. Through these means, opportunities for cultural and artistic competency development and career exploration are provided free of charge to young people and college students. Meanwhile, KT&G is also active in supporting Indonesia to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past two years, emergency relief supplies have been delivered to the Indonesian government on two occasions. It has provided COVID-19 diagnostic kits, protective clothing, oxygen generators, and the KF94 masks necessary for medical sites, to a total value of 7.4 billion IDR (530,000 USD). A KT&G official said, "Indonesia and Korea are partners who commenced diplomatic relations in 1973 and have since continued exchanges in various fields such as industry, defense, and culture. "As a flagship company of Korea, we will strive to contribute to local communities with the goal of revitalizing Indonesia's economy and enhancing social value," he said. SOURCE KT&G Corporation Every class of stocks has its promoters and detractors, but few generate such extreme opinions among investors as the penny stocks. The reality is, theyre a class of assets that offer some unique opportunities combined with a higher risk profile. The pennies are stocks selling at ultra-low prices per share. Originally, they were priced for just a few pennies, but today this class of stocks is generally valued at less than $5 per share. Such low share prices generally happen for clear reasons, and those reasons usually revolve around something fundamentally wrong with the issuing company. But not always. Sound companies can see their stock price fall and that can open up unparalleled opportunities for smart investors. A sound penny stock can bring outsized returns when the share price rises, as even a small gain just a few cents will quickly translate into a high percentage appreciation. Bearing this in mind, we used TipRanks database to find compelling penny stocks with bargain price tags. The platform steered us towards two tickers sporting share prices under $5 and Strong Buy consensus ratings from the analyst community. Not to mention substantial upside potential is on the table. Were talking about over 200% upside potential here. 9 Meters Biopharma (NMTR) Well start with 9 Meters Biopharma, a medical research company that takes a narrow-focus approach, working on new treatments in the gastrointestinal field for rare conditions with unmet needs. The companys leading drug candidates are treatments for celiac disease and short bowel syndrome. While very different in origin, both conditions affect the ability of the patients GI system to properly digest food and so have a huge impact on quality of life. 9 Meters, which gets its very name from the average length of the human GI tract, aims to improve outcomes for gastrointestinal patients. The companys leading drug candidate is larazotide, an orally-administered gut-restricted tight-junction regulator designed to ameliorate the worst symptoms of celiac disease. In this condition, patients experience a dangerously inflammatory response to gluten, a common component of the modern diet, with resultant pain, bloating, and gas that can reach severe levels. There is no current medical treatment for celiac; patients must adhere to a strictly gluten-free diet to avoid symptoms. Story continues Larazotide works by preventing glutens breakdown product, gliadin, from leaking through the intestinal cells and prompting the inflammatory reaction. The drug candidate is intended as an adjunct therapy to current dietary treatments, to minimize symptoms. The drug is currently undergoing a Phase 3 clinical trial, with top line interim results expected in 2Q22. 9 Meters other leading drug candidate is vurolenatide, a treatment for short bowel syndrome (SBS). In this condition, the patient suffers from poor absorption of nutrients and consequent malnutrition; even with a proper diet, patients may experience severe nutritive deficiencies. Vurolenatide works by slowing down digestive times, allowing better nutritive absorption in a shortened intestinal tract. The immediate effects of this slowing are to reduce the malnutrition and chronic diarrhea experienced by most patients. The company expects to release the top-line results of the VIBRANT Phase 2 study in 1Q22, and to initiate a Phase 3 trial after the End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA. As the company gears up for key potential catalysts, several members of the Street are pounding the table on NMTR, which trades for $0.90 per share. Among the fans is Oppenheimer's 5-star analyst Kevin DeGeeter, who points out the SBS track as the key catalyst for this stock in the near term. NMTR now expects top-line readout from Phase IIb study of Vurolenatide in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) in 1Q22 vs. prior guidance of December. We would look to accumulate shares of NMTR into the update based on expectation for data to provide insights on effect size of change in Total Stool Output (TSO) to power Phase III development... We view diarrhea control for all-comer SBS population as a critical point of differentiation for Vurolenatide and opportunity for upside to our forecast from patients not on parenteral support." Overall, DeGeeter's investment thesis is based on the following assumptions: "1) potential of NM-002 to capture 15% of market for patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS), 2) opportunity to build GI-focused commercial organization to fully leverage value of NM-002 and other GI products, and 3) expectation the company will remain active in acquiring late-stage GI products." To this end, DeGeeter rates NMTR an Outperform and his $5 price target implies a robust 455% upside for the next 12 months. (To watch DeGeeters track record, click here) Its clear from the aggregate reviews that Wall Street generally agrees with the Oppenheimer take on this stock. The Strong Buy consensus is based on 4 positive analyst reviews, and the $5 average price target matches DeGeeters. (See NMTR stock forecast on TipRanks) Verona Pharma (VRNA) The second stock well look at, Verona, is also a biopharma and it also takes a system centric approach to therapeutic development. In this case, the company is working on new drug treatments for respiratory diseases. Verona has one major drug candidate, ensifentrine, under development as a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma. The first two conditions are both terminal, and lack any highly effective medication options. Verona sees ensifentrine as a potential novel treatment with broad-based applications. The drug candidate is an inhaled therapy, common in drugs to treat lung condition, and has a dual action as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory. In simpler terms, this means that one dose of one drug has potential to both open the airways and reduce inflammation in the lung tissue. Both actions are known to improve breathing in affected patients. Ensifentrine is currently undergoing several concurrent clinical trials, for various applications. The two leading trials are on the COPD track; the company currently has two ongoing Phase 3 trials, ENHANCE-1 and ENHANCE-2. Enrollment in the full ENHANCE-1 study is expected to complete in 2Q22, followed by top-line data report, which is anticipated by the end of 2022. As for the ENHANCE-2, the study is expected to fully enroll by the end of 2021, with top-line data expected by mid-2022. During the third quarter of this year, Verona received and booked a $40 million payment from Nuance Pharma, pursuant to an agreement on development and commercialization rights in China. This brings the companys liquid asset holdings to $166.5 million as of September 20, 2021, which management believes is sufficient to fund activities through the end of 2023. In his note for BTIG, analyst Thomas Shrader lays out a bullish case for buying into Verona. "There remains an unmet need for patients living with COPD, and the dearth of true innovation in COPD since roflumilasts approval >8 years ago remains frustrating. With a clean safety profile, ensifentrine looks differentiated from SOC in late-line COPD as a drug that shows: 1) the anti inflammatory effects (reducing exacerbations) and 2) the bronchodilator effects (improved breathlessness). COPD patients and physicians are always searching for more," Shrader opined. In line with his bullish stance, Shrader rates VRNA a Buy, and his $17 price target implies room for ~271% upside potential in the next 12 months. (To watch Shraders track record, click here) Its clear that Wall Street is generally impressed by VRNA's potential; the 4 recent analyst reviews here are all positive, for a unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating. The shares are priced at $4.55 and have an average price target of $20.75, suggesting a one-year upside of 356%. (See VRNA stock forecast on TipRanks) To find good ideas for penny stocks stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Penny Stocks Screener. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio's latest offering, the eClinical Solutions Market report provides a detailed analysis of the competitive scenario, drivers, trends, challenges, and market growth across various regions. 41% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The US is the key market for eClinical solutions in North America. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in the European and ROW regions. The ease of the regulatory process, a high number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and CROs in the region, and considerable investments in clinical trial research will facilitate the eClinical solutions market growth in North America over the forecast period. Attractive Opportunities in eClinical Solutions Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 The eClinical solutions market value is anticipated to grow by USD 7.10 billion from 2021 to 2026, progressing at a CAGR of 13.09% as per the latest market report by Technavio. For more insights on the eclinical solutions market - Download a free sample report now! Market Dynamics The market is driven by factors such as the rise in clinical trials for drugs, increased adoption of clinical trial management systems (CTMS), and the integrated service offerings for healthcare. However, the rising cost of clinical trials is hindering the market growth. The holistic analysis of the drivers & challenges will help in deducing end goals and refining marketing strategies to gain a competitive edge. The eClinical solutions market analysis report also provides detailed information on other upcoming trends that will have a far-reaching effect on the market growth. Company Profiles The eClinical solutions market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying growth strategies such as forming strategic partnerships to compete in the market. The eClinical solutions market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including Anju Software Inc., Dassault Systemes SE, DATATRAK International Inc., eClinical Solutions LLC., eClinicalWorks LLC, International Business Machines Corp., Oracle Corp., Parexel International Corp., Signant Health, and Veeva Systems Inc.. Story continues Some Companies with Key Offerings Anju Software Inc. - The company offers eClinical solutions such as CTMS Master, RTSM Master, and others. Dassault Systemes SE - The company offers eClinical solutions through its subsidiary, Medidata Solutions. DATATRAK International Inc. - The company offers unified eClinical solutions and related services for the clinical trials industry. eClinical Solutions LLC. - The company offers eClinical solutions such as Clinical Data Management, Data Conversion, and more. eClinicalWorks LLC - The company offers eclinical solutions such as eClinicalWorks EHR and others. Competitive Analysis The competitive scenario provided in the eclinical solutions market report analyzes, evaluates, and positions companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered for this analysis include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Market Segmentation By End-user, the market is classified into pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, contract research organizations, consulting service companies, medical device manufacturers, and others By Geography, the market is classified as North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW. Related Reports - Histology and Cytology Market -The histology and cytology market has the potential to grow by USD 12.06 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 13.47%. Download a free sample now! Patient Engagement Technology Market -The patient engagement technology market has the potential to grow by USD 18.58 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 17.06%. Download a free sample now! eClinical Solutions Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.09% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 7.10 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 12.40 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW Performing market contribution North America at 41% Key consumer countries US, Germany, UK, China, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Anju Software Inc., Dassault Systemes SE, DATATRAK International Inc., eClinical Solutions LLC., eClinicalWorks LLC, International Business Machines Corp., Oracle Corp., Parexel International Corp., Signant Health, and Veeva Systems Inc. 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 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: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Technavio (PRNewsfoto/Technavio) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/41-of-growth-to-originate-from-north-america-for-eclinical-solutions-market-evolving-opportunities-with-anju-software-inc-dassault-systemes-se--datatrak-international-inc-17000-technavio-reports-301446110.html SOURCE Technavio FORT WORTH, Texas, December 16, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ADM Endeavors, Inc. (OTCQB: ADMQ) announced that it has retained Barwicki Investor Relations, a New York-based investor relations firm, to initiate and maintain a strategic investor relations program. Barwicki Investor Relations will provide investor relations and shareholder communications services and assist the company in expanding market awareness and engagement with the institutional and retail investment communities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005228/en/ ADMQ - Barwicki Investor Relations (Graphic: Business Wire) Marc Johnson, ADM Endeavors CEO said, "I am looking forward to working with Andrew Barwicki and his team because of their style and approach. They believe in speaking directly to current and prospective shareholders by providing ADM Endeavors business plan and strategy in an easy to understand manner. Andrews experience and expertise will help to broaden ADMs visibility by focusing on initiating relationships within institutional investors and expanding our retail shareholder base." "Andrew and I will be working together in a number of key strategic areas of emphasis with the ultimate goal of generating greater value for our new and existing shareholders alike. We believe Barwicki will help us gain necessary exposure by more effectively communicating our Company's message and ultimately raising the profile of ADM Endeavors," concluded Mr. Johnson. Barwicki Investor Relations will provide the investment community with information and updates about ADM Endeavors through the distribution of ADMQ Fact Sheets, scheduling road shows, conference calls, and one-on-one meetings with institutional investors and broker dealers throughout the United States. The investor relations program will also target retail investors and investors within our specific industry. Story continues About ADMQ: Since 2010, our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has been consistently increasing sales, with sales topping $6.44 million for the last reported 12 months. The Company sells "Anything With A Logo" on its website, www.JustRightProducts.com, developing products ranging from unique business cards to coffee cups, T-shirts to boots, with tens of thousands of other unique products from which to select. Just Right Products, Inc. operates a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, consisting of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms. Forward Looking Statement: This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "would," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions or economic conditions with respect to the retail industry, the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of management, actions of government regulators, vendors, and suppliers, our cash flows and ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005228/en/ Contacts 817.840.6271 | info@admendeavors.com Investor Relations: Andrew Barwicki | 516.662.9461 | andrew@barwicki.com Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. Artist's early concept of the RAD-M intelligent autonomous delivery vehicle. Artist's early concept of the RAD-M intelligent autonomous delivery vehicle. Detroit, Michigan, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., (OTCPK:AITX), a global leader in AI-driven security and productivity solutions for enterprise clients, announced that its subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices Mobile Inc. (RAD-M), has committed to produce an intelligent autonomous delivery vehicle based on RAD-Ms ROAMEO technology. Developing this product is something that weve wanted to greenlight for some time, and Im thrilled to be able to make the official announcement today, said Steve Reinharz, CEO of AITX. ROAMEO was built as a platform with this and other applications in mind. It will be exciting to see how quickly we can bring it to market. AITX sees a need in the market for autonomous delivery vehicles for different types of neighborhoods and campuses. Other solutions currently offered in the market are often remotely piloted, which significantly dilutes their ability to save human labor and create the strongest ROI possible. The RAD-M delivery vehicle will primarily operate autonomously, with a minimum amount of necessary human support. According to Quince Market Insights, the global delivery robot market size was valued at $300.2 million in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30.3% through 2030. Demand for autonomous delivery vehicles has increased dramatically over the past few years as retailers, restaurant operators and other businesses struggle to find contactless delivery methods that can reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and navigate the last mile of delivery. Other manufacturers in this space have successfully raised capital as they finalize productization and conduct tests in local markets. In 2020, Nuro raised $500 million in a Series C funding round, led by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. Alphabet's Waymo participated in one external fundraising round of $3 billion. Startup Coco closed on $36 million in funding in August 2021. I strongly believe that there is plenty of room for a breakout market leader in the delivery robot sector that addresses the underserved communities and merchants. RAD-M has the enormous opportunity to create the best user experience and bring last mile delivery to the mainstream, Reinharz added. Story continues The Company confirmed that the yet unnamed, specialized delivery robot will be built based on its recently enhanced ROAMEO platform. ROAMEO is a mobile security robot that is nearly 7 ft. tall and weighs over 700 lbs. ROAMEOs height and size lend itself well to performing last mile delivery services. The delivery robot will house multiple hot and cold storage compartments making it ideal for multiple end-user deliveries on a single errand. Several of our existing ROAMEO clients and prospects have indicated a keen interest in a large last mile delivery robot. ROAMEO is the perfect platform for us to build this robot upon, Reinharz continued. The Company expects to announce exciting partnerships for this solution over the course of 2022. The Company also expects the first deliveries of the planned RAD-M autonomous delivery vehicle towards the end of 2022. Were heading into 2022 with excellent and efficient engineering and software development teams. We will continue to aggressively grow those teams. The time to seize these autonomous delivery markets is now, and we will not slow down, Reinharz continued. The goal remains to build a large company offering a variety of solutions that leverage AI and purpose-built hardware to supplement and augment human-related activities. The need is greater now than ever before as many of these jobs either cannot be or can no longer be filled by humans. To help fund the Companys growth, the Company will continue to raise capital under its current S-3 registration. The Company is allocating 400 million existing shares for this phase. Communicating our plans and purposes is a hallmark of AITX. My expectation is that this capital raise will help fund development, operations and accelerate the opening of new high-profile markets that could bring excellent exposure to the Company, Reinharz concluded. Follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @SteveReinharz for future AITX and RAD updates. AITX through its subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD), is redefining the $25 billion (US) security and guarding services industry through its broad lineup of innovative, AI-driven Solutions-as-a-Service business model. RAD solutions are specifically designed to provide a cost savings to businesses of between 35%-80% when compared to the industrys existing and costly manned security guarding and monitoring model. RAD delivers this tremendous costs savings via a suite of stationary and mobile robotic solutions that complement, and at times, directly replace the need for human personnel in environments better suited for machines. All RAD technologies, AI-based analytics and software platforms are developed in-house. CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, to meet business and financial goals including projections and forecasts, and other risks. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions expectations. About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX) AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITXs RAD, RAD-M and RAD-G companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI, and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staffs and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai, www.roboticassistancedevices.com and www.radlightmyway.com, or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @SteveReinharz . ### Steve Reinharz 949-636-7060 @SteveReinharz Attachment The Series B investment will enable the Oxford-based company to expand its award-winning artificial intelligence (AI) portfolio into new indications and extend into new high-growth markets OXFORD, UK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brainomix, the AI-powered medtech solutions company, today announces that it has closed a series B financing round, raising 16M ($21.2M) to fund its expansion into new markets and new therapeutic indications, including lung fibrosis and cancer. This investment will build on the proven success of the company's tech platform in stroke and enable value-generating pharmaceutical partnerships to improve clinical trial success, foster broader adoption of existing therapies in the new indications, and improve patient outcomes. Brainomix Logo The financing was co-led by existing investors Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF) and Parkwalk Advisors, along with new investor, Tencent Holdings, and included participation from Oxford University Innovation Fund (OUIF). Brainomix has pioneered the development of an AI platform that automates validated imaging biomarkers to improve both diagnosis and treatment decisions. Its e-Stroke platform is the world's most comprehensive stroke imaging solution and is already widely adopted in multiple healthcare systems worldwide. The platform is the market leader in Europe and has been deployed across the UK as part of a prestigious NHSX AI in Health & Care Award granted in 2020. It is installed in hundreds of hospitals across Europe, US, South America, Asia where it has been clinically proven to drive faster treatment times and improve functional independence for stroke patients. Alastair Kilgour, Chief Investment Officer at Parkwalk Advisors, commented: "Over the past decade Brainomix has created the market for stroke AI imaging. As a spin-out from the University of Oxford it is an example of the UK's world-leading strengths in life sciences and AI-enabled medtech, combining expertise in clinical care and software development with more than 150 years' experience in the field across its leadership team." Story continues The funds will also enable the company to drive into new therapeutic areas beyond stroke by developing novel imaging biomarkers for better treatment of lung fibrosis and cancer, which have similar unmet needs to stroke. Over the years, Brainomix has formed a number of value-sharing partnerships, including with Stryker Neurovascular in EMEA, Wallaby Medical in China, and the Angels Initiative, a global effort focused on stroke care improvement. The company will build on this strong track record with a renewed focus on pharma partnerships, with an opportunity to embed Brainomix's state-of-the-art technology in clinical trials to improve and accelerate clinical trial success, and ultimately achieve broader adoption. Dr Oliver Reuss, Executive Director and Investment Manager of the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), the corporate venture fund of the global pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, a driving force in the field of stroke, said: "Brainomix has proven its ability to deliver scalable AI-imaging solutions that have already demonstrated tremendous value to stroke patients worldwide. This financing will support the company not only to continue its market adoption for e-Stroke but will enable it to develop new AI-imaging solutions for lung conditions that can contribute to transforming patients' lives by increasing treatment rates and medical outcome." Dr Michalis Papadakis, Brainomix Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, added: "We welcome Tencent as a highly experienced new investor and thank Parkwalk and BIVF, as well as OUIF, for their continuing support. This investment round attracted substantial interest, as it was clear we are at a very exciting juncture in our development and poised for substantial growth. This investment will allow us to grow our team, both at our Oxford site as well as globally, to support our plans for continual healthcare innovation and best-in-class technological development." Chair of Brainomix Prof. Jackie Hunter CBE FMedSci FBPharmacolS FRSB concluded: "AI is transforming healthcare in multiple ways. Brainomix has a robust track record of delivering innovative AI solutions and is committed to positively impacting treatment rates and patient outcomes. Its e-Stroke technology is already impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of stroke patients worldwide and, with this new investment, it has the opportunity to apply its expertise in new therapeutic areas and to scale its business model to share in the value created for pharma." About Brainomix Brainomix is an Oxford-based company specializing in the creation of AI-enabled software solutions to enable precision medicine for better treatment decisions in stroke and certain lung conditions. Since launching as a spin-out from the University of Oxford in 2010, it has developed award-winning, AI-powered imaging biomarkers and software solutions, assisting physicians across the world to make better life-saving decisions. Its e-Stroke platform provides clinicians with the most comprehensive stroke imaging solution, driving faster treatment times and improving functional independence for patients. To learn more about Brainomix and its technology visit www.brainomix.com, and follow on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. About Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund Operating as a separate legal entity, the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF) drives innovation through its strategic investments in early-stage science and technology. With an investment volume of 300 million Euro, the Venture Fund invests in biotech and start-up companies with innovative concepts and technologies that have the potential to provide ground-breaking platforms. BIVF currently holds a portfolio of more than 40 companies and creates companies when it identifies promising research projects in university and academia. BIVF's interest in young, mainly technology-oriented companies demonstrates its commitment to investigate new ideas and new science to create options for Boehringer Ingelheim to expand into new approaches and businesses in the field of Oncology, Regenerative Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Digital Health. www.boehringer-ingelheim-venture.com About Parkwalk Parkwalk is the largest growth EIS fund manager and has been the UK's most active investor in backing world-changing technologies emerging from the UK's leading universities and research institutions over the past five years. With 360m of assets under management, it has invested in over 140 companies across its award-winning flagship Parkwalk Opportunities EIS Fund as well as the enterprise and innovation funds Parkwalk manages for the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Bristol and Imperial College. Parkwalk invests in businesses creating solutions to real-world challenges, with IP-protected innovations, across a range of sectors including life sciences, AI, quantum computing, advanced materials, genomics, cleantech, future of mobility, medtech and big data. About Tencent Tencent uses technology to enrich the lives of Internet users. Our communication and social services, Weixin and QQ, connect users with each other and with digital content and services, both online and offline, making their lives more convenient. Our targeted advertising service helps advertisers reach out to hundreds of millions of consumers in China. Our FinTech and business services support our partners' business growth and assist their digital upgrade. Tencent invests heavily in talent and technological innovation, actively promoting the development of the Internet industry. Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China, in 1998. Shares of Tencent (00700.HK) are listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1311028/Brainomix_Logo.jpg New appointments strengthen primary and excess casualty and multinational teams, as well as key industry practices WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb has bolstered leadership in its North America commercial property and casualty businesses with two new appointments, strengthening its primary and excess casualty and multinational field organizations as well as key industry practices. Bill Hazelton, Executive Vice President, Chubb Real Estate & Hospitality Practice Leader Effective immediately, Seth Gillston, Chubb's current Private Equity and Real Estate & Hospitality Industry Practice Leader, has been named Executive Vice President of Chubb's North America Global Casualty and Multinational Field Operations. In this new role, he will oversee field operations for Chubb's Global Casualty and Multinational businesses, focusing on delivering the company's full range of capabilities and services to clients and distribution partners via Chubb's U.S. and Canadian branch offices. Mr. Gillston will report to Lou Capparelli, Executive Vice President of Chubb's Global Casualty unit. In addition, Mr. Gillston will work closely with the excess casualty team to deliver Chubb's full suite of primary, foreign and excess casualty offerings for large account clients. Mr. Gillston will continue serving as the head of Chubb's Private Equity practice, reporting to Matt Merna, Senior Vice President, Chubb Group and Division President, North America Major Accounts, and will remain based in New York, N.Y. As recently announced, Bill Hazelton was appointed to a new role focused on a number of key strategic initiatives in Chubb's North America businesses, reporting to John Lupica, Vice Chairman, Chubb Group and President, North America Insurance. In addition, he will also assume leadership of Chubb's Real Estate & Hospitality practice, reporting to Mr. Merna. Mr. Hazelton will remain based in Whitehouse Station, N.J. "Seth and Bill have a deep understanding of the issues each of our clients face," said Mr. Merna. "Seth's background positions him well to work with our partners to deliver effective excess casualty and multinational solutions to clients globally. Bill's extensive knowledge about the industry and our business is ideal for meeting the complex needs of our clients and distribution partners. His background will enable him to effectively deliver Chubb's full suite of specialized offerings." Story continues Mr. Gillston has more than 25 years of industry experience. He joined Chubb in 2000. Prior to the 2016 acquisition of Chubb, he served as Chubb's Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Leader. Mr. Gillston received his Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in risk management and economics from Temple University. Mr. Hazelton joined Chubb in 2005 and has served in several leadership capacities. Prior to his former role as Head of Claims, he served as Chubb's Environmental, Excess Casualty and Construction Industry Practice Leader. He received a Master of Arts degree in History from Rutgers University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and History from James Madison University. About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com Chubb Insurance Company of Canada has offices in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver and provides its products and services through licensed insurance brokers across Canada. For additional information, visit: chubb.com/ca. Seth Gillston, Executive Vice President of Chubbs North America Global Casualty and Multinational Field Operations Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chubb-bolsters-leadership-in-its-north-america-commercial-property-and-casualty-businesses-301446762.html SOURCE Chubb National Institute of Chemical Safety Recognizes Facilitys Exceptional Accident Prevention Plan Gumi, South Korea --News Direct-- CoorsTek The CoorsTek plant in Gumi, South Korea was recently presented with an award from the National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) in recognition of the facilitys exceptional safety protocols and best-in class chemical accident prevention plan. CoorsTek, a leading manufacturer of technical ceramics, operates more than 30 manufacturing facilities across three continents. At its Gumi, South Korea plant, which provides a variety of high-performance ceramics engineered specifically for semiconductor processing applications (including PureSiC silicon carbides and PlasmaPure aluminas), a wide range of hazardous materials are used. Due to the extensive use of these materials, the plant is subject to regular inspections to review safety procedures and chemical spill prevention plans. Gumi employees passed last summers chemical safety inspection with marks so high that representatives from the NICS asked them to share best practices at a conference in November. CoorsTek team members accepted the offer and used the opportunity to showcase the plants comprehensive accident prevention program. The Gumi facility has grown in serving partners since 2000, including a recent expansion to support semiconductor and electronics industry growth as well as many additional customers in the region. CoorsTek Engineer JW Shin, EHS Technician Steve (JH) Lee, and Engineer Se-Im Kim display the Gumi plants award for Best Practices in Chemical Accident Prevention and Management. CoorsTek was among 12 organizations that were highlighted at the event, but one of only five to receive the Directors Award for Chemical Safety. CoorsTek was in excellent company; the other four winning organizations were Sam-Yang, SK Materials, Hyundai Motor, and Samsung. The Directors Award from the National Institute of Chemical Safety. According to plant manager BW Han, the Gumi team delivered outstanding results thanks to the steps they have taken to prevent the leakage of hazardous chemicals into nearby bodies of water. We established a mobile-based wireless network to keep materials from flowing into the rivers here, and developed strong evacuation plans to keep workers and local residents safe if we are faced with an emergency, he said. Story continues CoorsTek Vice President of Environmental Health, Safety, Sustainability, and Security Scott Dolan congratulated the team and expressed pride in their accomplishment. CoorsTek is committed to being a safe, environmentally friendly and socially responsible company, he said. Our EHS teams worldwide take this responsibility seriously. Were proud of the great work theyre doing in Gumi and pleased with the steps they are taking to create a safe environment. About The National Institute of Chemical Safety The National Institute of Chemical Safety falls within the South Korean Ministry of Environment, which is the branch of government charged with environmental protection. This agency manages the countrys chemical safety accident prevention system and oversees the accident response program; professional education; and international coordination. About CoorsTek CoorsTek is a privately-held leading global supplier of technical ceramics, serving a wide array of industries and markets with the vision of making the world measurably better. The company is headquartered in Golden, Colorado, with approximately 5,000 employees worldwide. CoorsTek continues to make significant investments in developing advanced materials and processes for critical applications and is the partner of choice for companies worldwide, whose success requires the unique, high-performance properties of products manufactured from engineered ceramics and advanced materials. The company is committed to delivering outstanding value through operational excellence, research, development, and manufacturing capabilities and collaborative stakeholder relationships. Learn more at www.coorstek.com. Contact Details CoorsTek Holly Leiker +1 303-475-1690 hleiker@coorstek.com Company Website https://www.coorstek.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/coorstek-plant-in-south-korea-earns-top-chemical-safety-award-562535999 Latest research shows increasing competition and expanding services in third-party administration and outsourcing market AVON, Conn., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Competition in the third-party administrator market is heating up and offering carriers more options than ever for their voluntary benefits programs, according to Eastbridge's 2021 Third-Party Administrators and Outsource Providers in the Voluntary Market Spotlight Report. (PRNewsfoto/Eastbridge Consulting Group) New competition is coming from payroll companies, enrollment platform providers, human resources firms, software developers and other types of businesses, the report shows. The types of services these providers offer also is expanding to include support from product pricing to commission processing to billing and payment management. "Excellent administration has become a dominant factor for employers and brokers choosing a voluntary benefits carrier," said Nick Rockwell, Eastbridge president. "Third-party administrators that emphasize flexibility, efficiency, security and strong customer focus can thrive in this market, but it's essential they understand the complexities of voluntary benefits administration, and individual voluntary products in particular." The Third-Party Administrators and Outsource Providers in the Voluntary Market Spotlight Report provides benefit carriers with detailed information on select leading TPAs and third-party outsource providers with voluntary market experience. The report compares the services of six TPA/outsource providers to better understand their capabilities and offerings in the voluntary market and provides a new perspective on carrier outsourcing practices, exploring how commonly they outsource administration, which functions they outsource, and how they handle situations where employers use a TPA. Other key findings in the report include: More than 60% of voluntary carriers surveyed outsource one or more of their administrative functions to support their voluntary business. Voluntary carriers may need to use more than one vendor to find the services and strengths they need to support their business. Carriers considering TPAs should define the services essential to their needs and ask for references to ensure providers have the right experience to handle the nuances of voluntary administration. Story continues The Third-Party Administrators and Outsource Providers in the Voluntary Market Spotlight Report is available for purchase for $2,500. For more information or to purchase the report, visit the Eastbridge website report page by clicking here, email info@eastbridge.com, or call (860) 676-9633. About Eastbridge Consulting Group Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc . is a marketing advisory firm serving companies focused on the voluntary/worksite benefits market in the United States and Canada. CONTACT: Ginger Bates gbates@eastbridge.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-eastbridge-report-explores-changing-admin-support-for-voluntary-benefits-301444620.html SOURCE Eastbridge Consulting Group Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Lenovo Giving Tuesday is a time to reflect on the causes that matter most to us. Perhaps its a local community pet shelter, a food bank, or an NGO (Non Government Organization) helping people prepare for the careers of the future. However, no matter the cause, climate resiliency will likely need to be part of any organizations plan for the future. Lenovo employees in Europe have used the online giving and volunteer platform to quickly respond and help their communities recover from both natural and man-made disasters as climate change affects the mission of every community organization. Natural disasters have been relatively infrequent on the European continent, especially compared to other parts of the world. In 2021 however, that infrequency changed. Floods devastated communities in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Wildfires burned in Southern Europe and Turkey. In addition to (and in some cases because of) natural disasters, the world continues to experience a historical increase in the movement and displacement of people around the world, leading to refugee crises and influxes of migrants with urgent humanitarian needs. For many individuals, these types of crises can be disempowering, with many left wondering how to help or take action. Lenovo employees in Europe immediately latched on to a new software platform launched by the company to begin a response. The software platform internally known as the Love on platform, but powered by Benevity, enabled employees to set up special response modules to channel employee giving towards the regions wildfires and floods. Additionally, a global module was set up to help refugees in European and U.S. communities, particularly people leaving Afghanistan. The effort was quickly met with USD $56,000 in employee contributions on the Love on platform, matched 100% by Lenovos employee giving program. However, employees did not stop their response at funds. Story continues Employees near Altenburg, Germany were devastated to find out that their local charitable partner had been deeply impacted by flooding. The organization serves people with disabilities in the area. Due to the rapid onset of the flooding, the organization lost clients in the flood who were not able to move to higher ground when flood waters hit the village. Beyond the heartbreaking loss of their clients lives, the center was damaged and uninhabitable for those that survived. In the words of one volunteer Michael Greving, I was shocked to see the disaster site, the water reached 8 meters high! We did not expect to see so much destruction. Lenovo employees responded by volunteering in-person, providing meals and support to the 1,000+ rescue workers, and even joining the rescue crews efforts by removing debris from the villages buildings and homes. It was a Summer unlike any weve experienced before, but clearly, we all shared a unified need to respond to what was happening. We had just launched our internal engagement platform that week and people wasted no time immediately using it to respond and engage, said Santiago Mendez Galvis, Head of Philanthropy in Lenovos Europe/Middle East/Africa region. Its exciting to empower people with a platform to not only organize and amplify their efforts but also have their contributions matched by Lenovo. Lenovo launched the Love on platform in August 2021, rolling out a global 100% matching gift program, volunteer incentive, and purposeful engagement for employees around the world. Powered by Benevity, Lenovo timed the rollout to coincide with their annual Global Month of Service initiative, growing the projects scope by number of volunteers, participating offices, and beneficiaries despite employee engagement challenges while the pandemic continues. Click here for more Giving Tuesday stories from Lenovo employees, and learn more about Benevity at www.Benevity.org. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/employees-disaster-response-empowered-by-lenovos-love-on-platform-425294847 Collaborative planning platform Favro accelerates growth bringing more business agility to the future of working-from-anywhere. UPPSALA, Sweden, Dec. 16, 2021 /CNW/ -- Favro today announced that it has raised $4.3 million in Seed funding led by pan-Baltic venture capital fund Practica Capital , and followed by Nordic-US B2B tech investor Scale Capital . Favro logo Previous investors Creandum and Inbox Capital also participated in the round. Strategic angel investors in Favro were in this round joined by serial entrepreneur Christopher Beselin . Favro is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, with a remote-first team distributed across Sweden, Lithuania, Vietnam, Ukraine, and the US. Favro is the most powerful and flexible enterprise-grade platform for collaborative planning. It's used by companies such as Wolt, Unity, and Volvo Car Mobility, to do: a) Collaborative planning and agile management of work within teams in product development, marketing, operations, HR etc. b) Collaborative planning and coordination of work between teams that needs to be in tight sync. c) Collaborative planning and alignment on objectives between management and teams. d) Collaborative planning and tracking of progress with external partners. Favro is already popular with fast growing venture backed SaaS companies, game studios and publishers, as well as enterprises transitioning from centralized processes and "command & control" style management, to flatter organizations with distributed autonomous teams aligning themselves towards company objectives. "Our team is packed with experienced game developers who have used most of the planning tools in the market. We decided to use Favro because it provides each contributor with a high level of autonomy in how they plan their work," said Jason Savopolos, Lead Producer at Frost Giant Studios. "We are a deeply collaborative work environment and features like Favro Automations directly support our team so they can automate the workflows that best suit their needs." Story continues The platform brings higher business agility and maximizes productivity and employee satisfaction in the hybrid style working-from-anywhere - way of working many companies are moving towards post pandemic. "Modern managers understand that as a leader you should be a facilitator rather than a dictator to get the most out of your teams. The problem is that today's tools haven't caught up with modern agile management. Your choice has been between big centralized platforms where everything becomes a ticket in a pile, or newer tools that look good but still have features that build upon management ideas from 1910. This is why we created Favro," said Patric Palm, Favro CEO and founder. Favro was founded in 2016 by Hans Dahlstrom, Erik Olofsson, and Patric Palm, veterans in game development and agile application development platforms . Favro has so far spread through social media and word of mouth. However, in summer 2021 a Lithuanian subsidiary was established to build sales and marketing. With the new funding the Vilnius team will expand to accelerate activities within marketing, sales, account management, and agile advisory. "We are impressed with the team and leadership Favro has built in Vilnius in such a short time. They are already making complex enterprise level deals worldwide with truly innovative companies. For people with the right talent and drive to put their career in hyperdrive, this will be the right team to join the coming months," said Donatas Keras, Practica Capital Founder and Partner. Today 30% of Favro revenues comes from North America and 55% from EMEA. Customers pay a subscription fee per user and also get full access to Favro Academy and Agile management experts. "It's unusual to see a young SaaS startup reaching a level of product maturity to be able to satisfy the demanding needs of enterprise customers worldwide. Favro is already punching above its weight and by many considered a rising star in Europe. We see huge potential to take on competitors in the North American market," said Lars Jensen, Scale Capital Managing Partner. For more information, please follow Favro on Twitter or LinkedIn , or visit https://www.favro.com/ to sign up for a free trial. About Practica Capital Practica Capital is an early-stage VC dedicated to backing Baltic founders. The firm has invested exclusively in tech potential in the Baltic States for the last ten years. Practica Capital backs great founders in their ambition in seed and selected pre-seed and Series A stages partnering with them as company builders. To date, we have made more than 70 investments, including companies like TransferGo, PVcase, Interactio, Eneba, Ovoko, Trafi, CGtrader, Sonarworks, Montonio and others. About Scale Capital Scale Capital is an early stage venture fund based in Copenhagen, investing in digitization and disruptive technologies within B2B. Scale Capital primarily invests in companies in the Nordic region that have the potential and ambition to scale in the US market. About Creandum Creandum is a leading European venture capital firm, supporting some of the most successful European technology companies such as Spotify, iZettle, Trade Republic, Pleo, Depop, Klarna, KRY, Epidemic Sound and Small Giant Games. The Creandum funds are based in Guernsey and Sweden and are advised by advisory entities in Stockholm, Berlin, and San Francisco. About Frost Giant Studios Frost Giant Studios was founded in 2020 by games industry veterans Tim Morten and Tim Campbell to embark on a singular mission: build the next great PC real-time strategy (RTS) game! Frost Giant has attracted a team of experienced developers who helped create some of the most acclaimed and commercially successful games in history. Together, they are carrying forward the legacy of epic storytelling, innovative co-op gameplay, and celebrated esports that make RTS both fun to play and engrossing to watch. Headquartered in Irvine, California, and including its remotely-based talent from around the world, Frost Giant Studios is committed to a work environment built on collaboration, inclusion, and mutual respect. For more information on Frost Giant Studios, visit www.frostgiant.com . Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1711535/Favro_Logo.jpg Contact: Patric Palm, patric.palm@favro.com, +46706002773 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/favro-partners-with-practica-capital-and-scale-capital-to-grow-sales--marketing-team-in-vilnius-301446286.html SOURCE Favro Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2021/16/c4235.html About 31% of borrowers participating in the Student Access Loan (SAL) program default within three years of entering repayment, the Georgia Department of Audits & Accounts concluded in a report issued late last month. The Student Access Loan is Georgia's student loan program of last resort, a low interest loan that lets students who might not meet requirements for merit scholarships or economic requirements for other loans to take out money toward a degree at a technical or four year college. Within three years, however, 31% of SAL loan recipients have defaulted, according to a report last month from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts. "The SAL program is a loan of last resort, and in order to receive the loan the student has to have a defined need, but they don't have to undergo a credit check or get a co-signer to qualify for a loan," said Lisa Kieffer, deputy director in the performance audit division who worked on the report. "So just by the nature of the loan program itself, it's probably loans to folks who are more likely to default in the first place." The loan is administered by the Georgia Student Finance Authority. The loans can provide up to $36,000 to students, depending on the program, at 1% interest with a 15-year payback. Unlike most other loan programs, the state legislature authorized funding for the program but has not codified the program into law, leaving details of its administration to GSFA. "I think that part of the issue is that the agency is in kind of a push-pull between loans to folk who are more likely to default but also have a need, and at the same time operating a loan program that's predicated on a need to have repayments occur," Kieffer said. "That kind of push-pull of this program was a place where we thought additional direction from the general assembly might be helpful to figure out which area of focus is more important." Some SAL loans can be forgiven, but according to the report they are rare and only apply to a few lenders. Students who enrolled in technical colleges, were eligible for federal need-based PELL grants, or who did not graduate were more likely to default. Story continues "It would be interesting to see more studies that say, out of the students that have received an SAL loan and defaulted, are these students that have graduated from their programs, their respective programs and found careers, or are these students who unfortunately were unable to finish college?" said Charbel Aoun, president of Georgia FirstGen, an organization focused on supporting first generation students succeed in college. Aoun is a first-generation student and in his first year of pharmacy school. He said he thinks having something like the SAL program can benefit students, but may cause challenges for first-generation students. "What makes it difficult for some of these first-generation students is sometimes they don't recognize that there is funding out there like SAL," he said. "And having that understanding that this is a loan sometimes deters people from ever applying for it." Aoun thinks moving away from loans might make the program more beneficial for students. "If the program were to focus on an opportunity for need based grants or sort of micro grants and kind of pushed the funding towards a grant-based program instead of a loan-based program, that would be interesting," he said. Those that do default on the loans damage their credit history, and the interest rate goes up to 5%, increasing the overall debt obligation, according to Kieffer. The auditor report has some suggestions for improving the program. There is a $50 a month minimum repayment, but many loans could be repaid within 15 years with significantly smaller monthly payments. "Reducing the minimum monthly payment from $50 was one of the things we thought would be most impactful in helping to reduce the default rate in terms of the things that the agency could take action on right now," Kieffer said. The report also suggests creating automatic payment systems and sharing more information with students taking out loans would help lower default rates. The GSFA responses to the findings are included in the audit report, the organization largely agreed with the findings and said it would be happy to provide any information legislators needed. A spokesperson for GSFA declined to comment further. The Chronicle contacted State House and Senate leadership to see if any legislators were considering changes to the program. "I have not yet heard of any legislative proposals regarding the Student Access Loan program," wrote Kaleb McMichen, director of communications for House Speaker David Ralston. "Given the performance report was issued by the Department of Audits and Accounts only two weeks ago, this isnt unusual and you may well see legislation proposed after members and staff review it." This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: GA Student Access Loan for low-income students has high default rate OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 16, 2021 /CNW/ - Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat The Government of Canada continues to take action on all fronts to resolve pay issues related to the Phoenix pay system. As of today, a claims process is available for former employees represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and by bargaining agent signatories of the 2019 damages agreement. Through a single application process, eligible former employees can claim compensation for all general damages, and for the late implementation of the 2014 collective agreements. This claims process reflects elements of the Phoenix damages agreement signed with PSAC in October 2020 as well as catch-up clause provisions negotiated with the bargaining agent signatories of the 2019 damages agreement. The catch-up provisions provide those eligible under the 2019 agreement with the same monetary benefits provided in the 2020 PSAC damages agreement. These include general damages compensation of up to $1,000 for the late implementation of the 2014 collective agreements. With the launch of this claims process, all compensation elements of the Phoenix damages agreements, including the catch-up agreement, have been implemented. Eligible current employees received payments for these amounts earlier this year as part of their regular pay, and a claims process was launched last month to compensate both current and former employees represented by PSAC for severe personal or financial impacts due to pay system issues. Quote "We recognize that the implementation of the Phoenix pay system has had an impact, directly or indirectly, on employees and former employees. Today's launch marks a significant milestone as we implement the final element of the damages agreements reached with bargaining agents, ensuring that all those who have been affected will be fairly compensated." - Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board Quick facts On October 23, 2020, the Government of Canada co-signed an agreement with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) for damages incurred by the Phoenix pay system between 2016 and 2020. The damages agreement with PSAC applies to approximately 175,000 current and 45,000 former employees represented by PSAC and paid through the Phoenix pay system. It also extends to the estates of deceased employees. There are measures in the agreement to help current and former employees who had financial costs and lost investment income, and who faced severe personal and financial impacts. The agreement also includes compensation of up to $2,500 for general damages and the late implementation of the 2014 collective agreements. The 2019 Phoenix Damages Agreement contained a "catch-up" clause that was triggered when the PSAC agreement that was signed in October 2020 included some elements that differed from the agreement negotiated with other bargaining agents in 2019. The Government of Canada and the bargaining agents who co-developed the 2019 damages agreement signed a memorandum of agreement on the catch-up clause on March 3, 2021 to provide current and former employees covered under this agreement with the same monetary benefits as those covered under the PSAC agreement. The catch-up agreement applies to about 118,000 current employees and 21,000 former employees/estates of former employees covered under the 2019 damages agreement and who can submit claims under this process. Story continues Associated Links Stay connected Twitter: @TBS_Canada Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourGovernmentatWork/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tbs-sct/ SOURCE Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2021/16/c6978.html Helexia, a distributed-generation and energy-efficiency specialist, has won an additional 27 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity for the Vivo cell phone network, a Telefonica brand. Helexia is a subsidiary of Voltalia (ISIN code Euronext Paris: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energies. Following the August 31 launch of the construction of 17 solar photovoltaic (PV) units to power the facilities of Vivo, a subsidiary of the Telefonica Group in Brazil, Helexia is adding 8 units totalling 27 megawatts to this 20-year contract. Initially planned for 60 megawatts, the capacity is therefore increased to 87 megawatts, turning Helexia as leading Solar PV supplier of Distributed Energy Ressources (DER) to Telefonica in Brazil. The additional units will be located in the states of Amazonas, Tocantins, Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. Commercial operation is expected to start in the second half of 2022 With this new contract, Telefonica, an international leader in the telecommunications market, is making further progress in the roadmap of its sustainable development strategy in Brazil, by strengthening its demand for green electricity. Helexia's expertise as a specialist in decentralized solar production units combined with Voltalia's knowledge of the Brazilian market are crowned by the renewed confidence from this partner. "Telefonica has once again placed its trust in Helexia. We are proud to demonstrate once again the groups know-how in providing energy services, as well as the synergies between Voltalia and Helexia", said Sebastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia. Next on the agenda: Q4 2021 revenues, 26 January 2022 (after market closing) About Voltalia (www.voltalia.com) Voltalia is an international player in the renewable energy sector. The Group produces and sells electricity generated from wind, solar, hydraulic, biomass and storage facilities that it owns and operates. Voltalia has generating capacity in operation and under construction of more than 1.7 GW and a portfolio of projects under development representing total capacity of 10.7 GW. Story continues Voltalia is also a service provider and supports its investor clients in renewable energy projects during all phases, from design to operation and maintenance. As a pioneer in the corporate market, Voltalia provides a global offer to private companies, ranging from the supply of green electricity and energy efficiency services to the local production of their own electricity. The Group has more than 1,230 employees and is present in 20 countries on 3 continents and is able to act worldwide on behalf of its clients. Voltalia is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, compartment B (FR0011995588 VLTSA) and is part of the Enternext Tech 40 and CAC Mid & Small indices. The Group is also included in the Gaia-Index, an index for socially responsible midcaps Voltalia Investor Relations: invest@voltalia.com T. +33 (0)1 81 70 37 00 Actifin Press Contact: Jennifer Jullia jjullia@actifin.fr . T. +33 (0)1 56 88 11 11 About Helexia (https://www.helexia.green/) Founded in 2010, Helexia is a driving force in the energy transition. Its mission is to co-construct winning energy models for its clients and for the planet. With more than 230 skilled and professional employees in France and internationally, Helexia has completed more than 300 projects to date and supports its clients with innovative, efficient and integrated 360 solutions for the energy optimisation of their tertiary, industrial, retail and health buildings to enable them to achieve their carbon footprint reduction ambitions through a tailor-made trajectory. Helexias services are developed around 4 pillars: energy efficiency, production of self-consumed green energy, energy management and electric mobility. Attachment Rating Action: Moody's affirms ratings (Issuer rating of Aa3) of J.P. Morgan Bank Luxembourg S.A.Global Credit Research - 15 Dec 2021New York, December 15, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") affirmed all ratings and assessments of J. P. Morgan Bank Luxembourg S.A. (JPMBL) which will be merged into a sister bank, J.P. Morgan AG (JPM AG, Aa3 issuer rating, stable), to create a single pan-European banking entity headquartered in the European Union. Management expects the merger to occur early in 2022 and the surviving entity will be renamed J.P. Morgan SE As part of the merger, the various treasury, custody, and wealth management services currently carried out by JPMBL will be conducted by the Luxembourg Branch of JPMSE. When the merger is complete, Moody's will withdraw all ratings of JPMBL.RATINGS RATIONALEJPMBL is closely integrated - managerially, operationally, and financially - with the rest of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM, A2 positive). Although it is a relatively small legal entity, JPMBL offers critical services to JPM's wholesale and high-net worth clients within the European Economic Area. JPMBL offers services to institutional investors, alternative asset managers, broker dealers and equity issuers, including global custody, depositary services, fund accounting, transfer agency, collateral services, and agency securities lending. JPMBL also offers private banking services to ultra-high net worth clients in much of the EMEA region, including investment services, lending and other banking services. Under JPMs shared service framework, JPMBL receives comprehensive support in the form of application software and development, financial services and operations, offshore operational services, and other forms of corporate services.Moody's maintains a baseline credit assessment of a2 to JPMBL, equal to that of the group notional BCA, reflecting the strategic importance of the legal entity, the regular operational support from the JPM group and the group's capacity to provide additional support if needed. JPMBL also maintains a surplus over its regulatory capital and liquidity ratios. At 30 June 2021, JPMBL had a 17.3% CET1 ratio about four percentage points above its overall capital requirement and a liquidity coverage ratio of 190%.For US resolution planning purposes, JPMBL is designated a Material Legal Entity (MLE). JPM (the Parent), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the Bank), and the group's intermediate holding company JP Morgan Chase Holdings LLC (the IHC) are each party to a secured support agreement that requires the Parent to provide resources to the Bank or the IHC and for the Bank or the IHC to provide additional capital and liquidity support to JPM AG, if needed to continue operation.Moody's therefore concludes that the support agreement and the public portion of JPM's resolution plan provide additional clarity of the degree to which the interests of US and EU resolution authorities are likely to be aligned in resolution and the likelihood of additional 'surplus' TLAC resources being deployed from the IHC to JPMBL to deliver a successful resolution. In particular, Moody's considers that JPM's resolution strategy balances pre-positioned loss-absorbing capacity at individual MLEs with a significant pool of capital and liquidity resources held at the IHC. These IHC resources are funded in advance by the Parent to reduce the prospect of legal challenges by Parent creditors that would be bailed in at the time of resolution. These IHC resources will be deployed in resolution to those MLEs in need.Given the presence of the secured support agreement, the closely knit financial and operational links that exist between JPMBL and the broader group, together with JPM's transparent resolution plans, Moody's considers that the interests of JPM's home and host resolution authorities are sufficiently aligned to assume a marginal injection of loss-absorbing capital in resolution. Therefore, Moody's expects that creditors of JPMBL would benefit from the additional financial resources available from JP Morgan Chase Bank or the IHC, above and beyond internal minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) outstanding at JPMBL.The ratings for counterparty liabilities and deposits reflect a moderate likelihood of extraordinary US government support was left unchanged for all liability classes, due to JPMBL's high interconnectedness with the global group, to protect the US financial system from a failure of JPM, as well as to facilitate resolution. This results in a one-notch benefit to these rating classes.The following ratings were affirmed:Issuer: J.P. Morgan Bank Luxembourg S.A..... Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment, Affirmed a2.... Baseline Credit Assessment, Affirmed a2.... LT and ST Counterparty Risk Rating (Local Currency), Affirmed Aa1/P-1.... LT and ST Counterparty Risk Rating (Foreign Currency), Affirmed Aa1/P-1.... LT and ST Counterparty Risk Assessment, Affirmed Aa1(cr)/P-1(cr).... LT Issuer Rating (Local Currency), Affirmed Aa3, stable.... LT and ST Deposit Ratings(Local Currency), Affirmed Aa1, stable, / P-1 . Outlook Actions: ....Outlook, Remains Stable FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGSAn upgrade of JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s baseline credit assessment would put upward pressure on the ratings of JPMBL.A downgrade of JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s baseline credit assessment would put downward pressure on the ratings of JPMBL.The principal methodology used in these ratings was Banks Methodology published in July 2021 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1269625. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.REGULATORY DISCLOSURESFor further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1288235.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the UK and is endorsed by Moody's Investors Service Limited, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5FA under the law applicable to credit rating agencies in the UK. Further information on the UK endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating. Peter E. Nerby Senior Vice President Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. 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Following the failure to reach a contract with its union, Kelloggs said it is permanently replacing striking workers. Some 1,400 hourly employees, who are part of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, walked off the job across four cereal plants in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee starting Oct. 5. The rejected contract offer would have included a 3% wage hike for legacy employees and increases for newer hires. The company proposed eliminating the cap on the share of lower-tier workers, but some union employees were worried that would put downward pressure on veteran workers wages if lower-tier workers became a majority. The food manufacturer has been on a hiring spree to replace the striking workers. The hourly rates for replacement workers posted on the Kelloggs job board are $21.72 an hour for general labor and $34 to $37 for skilled labor, depending on the role. Thats comparable to the pay for the unionized legacy employees, who make on average $35.26 an hour, according to Kris Bahner, a company spokesperson. The fact that the replacement wages are more or less the same as the previous pay suggests the labor market may not be as tight as union activists believe. The unemployment rate in Battle Creek, Michigan is worse than the US average In Battle Creek, Michigan, where Kelloggs is headquartered, the labor situation has been challenging. The unemployment rate in the city was 6% in October, which is higher than the national average of 4.6%, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job opening rate, or the share of available jobs of all filled and unfilled positions, in the nondurable good industrywhich includes Kelloggs, one of the largest employers in the citywas 8%, higher than the national average of 6.9%. Meanwhile, the hourly earnings of all private-sector workers in Battle Creek was $26.22 in October, suggesting that Kelloggs workers are highly compensated compared to the relative jobs in the area. That may boost the companys confidence it will find workers to replace the ones striking, and undermine the unions bargaining power. Story continues Theres a lot of potential labor supply for these jobs, says Donald Grimes, a regional economic specialist at University of Michigan. The idea that people are not going to take these replacement jobs is a bit inaccurate. Still, while the pay is high, its possible Kelloggs is bluffing, Ruth Milkman, a professor at the City University of New Yorks School of Labor and Urban Studies, wrote in an email. She said that while permanently replacing striking workers is both standard operating procedure and legal, recent strikes have not seen this outcome because its hard to find workers. Labor resurgence? From Nabisco to Amazon, the heightened labor activity in part stems from the pandemic, which has forced workers into more unsafe working conditions or less favorable schedules. Meanwhile, lower-wage workers, like those in the restaurant or retail industry, have been quitting at record rates, signaling that they feel confident they can find better jobs elsewhereand can do so without a union. But there are reasons to think that Kelloggs union should have perhaps taken the deal. The union may have had confidence its workers would not want to cross the picket line, but its not clear if that will be the case since the regions unemployment rate is high and wages for Kelloggs workers are better than the average job in the area. I would just be a little bit careful if I was on the high end of the payscale if I was a union member, says Grimes. You could go overboard. And, despite most Americans supporting unions, union enrollment has been on a decline for decades. Just 10.8% of US employees are part of unions, according to the latest BLS data. Part of the reason for that is just how organizations have become more fragmented, according to Grimes. He adds, an increasingly larger share of jobs are in industries that have smaller firms, and its just harder to unionize smaller shops. The bakery union still represents tens of thousands of workers at other companies, but the risk for striking workers is not just other workers filling their spots but also more investment in robots and automation to replace those workers, says Grimes. Its possible that even if Kelloggs union workers win this battle, they could still lose the war. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Redline's award winning RDL-3000 Virtual Fiber solution will be deployed to connect 27 wellheads for oil & gas operations in Thailand TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Redline Communications Group Inc. ("Redline Communications") (TSX:RDL), a leading provider of mission-critical data infrastructure for remote and harsh environments, announced today that a large petroleum exploration and production company operating in the Gulf of Thailand has selected Redline's award-winning Virtual Fiber RDL-3000 solution to provide advanced connectivity solutions for its offshore drilling sites. Redline Communications designs and manufactures powerful wide-area wireless networks for mission-critical applications in challenging locations. (PRNewsfoto/Redline Communications) 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 . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1527899/Redline_Logo.jpg SOURCE Redline Communications Tommy Faucheux, a Louisiana native and a longtime Dow Chemical Company public affairs officer, has been named the new president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, the organization announced. Faucheux, who most recently worked as the director of state government affairs for Dow Chemical, will take over Jan. 10. Faucheux will take over for Tyler Gray, who resigned in August. Tommy Faucheux was announced as the new president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association. After an exhaustive national search which included candidates from throughout Louisiana and abroad, the LMOGA Board voted to overwhelmingly appoint Tommy Faucheux as our next president, said LMOGA Chair Lavelle Edmondson. Tommy brings a wealth of corporate and public policy experience that will help LMOGA realize our vision of becoming one of the most reliable, credible, and effective trade associations in the country. Faucheux has worked for Dow Chemical Company for almost 15 years. In his most recent position, he was responsible for government affairs for Dow's Southeast Region, which includes Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee. He also provided public affairs support to Dow's Louisiana facilities. More: What we know about Judge Terry Doughty, who blocked Biden's COVID vaccine mandate and drilling ban More: LSU experts expect Louisiana to add oil and gas jobs, but a return to pre-2015 levels is unlikely In 2002, Faucheux received a bachelor's degree in communication and public relations with a minor in political science from Loyola University in New Orleans. He lives in Luling with his wife Mitzi and two children, Camdyn and Cade. "I am excited and honored for the opportunity to be leading LMOGA at such a pivotal time for the energy industry, Faucheux said in a release. As a native of Louisiana, I personally know the importance and benefits of a strong oil and natural gas industry. I look forward to the role that our member companies will play in the future of Louisiana and the nation. Story continues CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support journalists like William Taylor Potter Lori LeBlanc, LMOGA's vice president, will continue to work as the interim president until Jan. 10. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana oil and gas group names new president Middlefield Canadian Income PCC Net Asset Value Middlefield Canadian Income PCC Middlefield Canadian Income - GBP PC (a protected cell company incorporated in Jersey with registration number 93546) Legal Entity Identifier: 2138007ENW3JEJXC8658 Net Asset Value As at the close of business on 15 December 2021 the estimated unaudited Net Asset Value per share was 132.64 pence (including accrued income). Investments in the Companys portfolio have been valued on a closing price basis. Enquiries: JTC Fund Solutions (Jersey) Limited 01534 700 000 Lead counsel Douglas Monsour won the largest verdict to date against 3M and their earplugs used by the United States military. Monsour Law Firm Logo Monsour Law Firm Logo Monsour Law Firm Logo LONGVIEW, Texas, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A federal jury in Florida awarded $22.5 million, the highest amount to date, to United States Army veteran Theodore Finley on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. The Tallahassee jury found that earplugs designed by 3M Corporation caused Finley irreparable hearing damage. "The federal jury's decision on Dec. 10 shows that 3M are wholly responsible for failing our men and women in uniform and putting profits over the safety of Americans in uniform," said Douglas Monsour, lead counsel in the case. "Jury after jury is deciding that 3M provided faulty equipment to American soldiers, resulting in hearing loss and tinnitus. The justice system continues to show that 3M misled the federal government and the military to secure its contract on false grounds and this litigation is holding 3M accountable." Theodore Finley served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2014 and was exposed to noise from mortars, machine guns, RPGs, mechanized vehicles, and aircraft while using the 3M earplugs. The verdict included compensatory damages in the amount of $7.5 million dollars and punitive damages in the amount of $15 million. The Dec. 10 case is the eighth trial to reach a verdict related to 3M earplugs. In November 2021, a separate Florida federal jury awarded an Army sergeant $13 million for hearing loss from 3M earplugs. Four other cases have awarded a combined $29 million with juries siding with 3M in three other cases. 3M plaintiffs allege that the CAEv2 earplugs used by the United States military were defective and failed to protect against service-related tinnitus and hearing loss. Monsour is the lead counsel of the Monsour Law Firm in Longview, Texas. Co-lead counsel was Neil Overholtz from Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz in Pensacola, Florida. Story continues Other lawyers assisting were Katy Krottinger of the Monsour Law Firm, Jennifer Hoekstra of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, and Andre Mura of Gibbs Law Group. The case is Theodore Finley v. 3M Co. et al., case number 7:20-cv-00170, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Chief Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida oversaw Finley's trial. Contact: Katy Krottinger, katy@monsourlawfirm.com Related Files 12.10 Redacted Verdict Form.pdf Related Images Image 1: Monsour Law Firm Logo Thie is the logo for Monsour Law Firm, a Personal Injury Law Firm in Longview, Texas. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - Palamina Corp. (TSXV: PA) (OTCQB: PLMNF) has completed the very first 4 diamond drill holes in the Veta discovery zone at its flagship Usicayos gold project in Peru. A total of 1,704.50 metres were drilled in 2021 where drilling has been suspended due to commencement of the rainy season and seasonal holidays. The first 4 drill holes have tested the west-end of the mineralized footprint in the Veta zone which consists of multiple mineralized gold structures defined at surface over an 800 metre strike length. Further drilling is planned for 2022. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4727/107817_ed652d00d4e6788c_002full.jpg "Drill core for holes 1 through 4 has been logged and moved from the drill site to our storage facility in Juliaca where sections of interest have been sawn and delivered to the local Certimin prep. lab. Assay results are expected to be returned and compiled by year's end. I would like to thank all of our exploration team, drill contractor Energold and our Usicayos, Juliaca and Lima staff for initiating this program in 2021. Palamina has retained the diamond drill at site and will resume drilling once the data for holes 1 through 4 has been compiled and interpreted and weather permits." commented Andrew Thomson, President of Palamina." Palamina Exploration & Energold Drilling staff at drill pad 4 drill hole VE-04-2021 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4727/107817_ed652d00d4e6788c_003full.jpg Technical Information Palamina drill core samples are being collected and logged in the field by Palamina staff and subsequently transported to Palamina's base of operations in Juliaca for cutting. One half of sawn core from sample intervals is being collected and transported by Palamina personnel to the Certimin S.A laboratory in Juliaca, Peru. Samples are processed by Certimin S.A in Juliaca and prepared sample splits are transported for assay to the CERTIMIN SA Laboratory in Lima, Peru. Samples are assayed for gold using a 50-gram fire assay charge with an AA finish. Samples are also analysed using a multi-element ICP-OES package. Prior to delivery of field exploration samples to the laboratory, Palamina staff insert coarse blank samples, field duplicates and certified gold analytical standards into the sample stream to provide controls over the quality of sampling and analytical procedures. No standards are inserted for the multi-element suite. All samples are returned to the Company and stored at a secure facility in Juliaca. Story continues This press release was compiled and reviewed by Mr. William McGuinty, P. Geo., Palamina's VP Exploration. He is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the technical contents of this press release. About Palamina Corp. Palamina has first mover advantage on 4 district scale gold projects in south eastern Peru in the Puno Orogenic Gold Belt (POGB). A maiden drill program is underway at its flagship Usicayos Gold Project. The Company also has rights to a silver-copper project in the Santa Lucia district and two copper-gold projects in Southern Peru. Palamina holds a 19.99% equity interest in Winshear Gold Corp. who are advancing the Gaban Gold Project to the drill discovery phase. Palamina has 65,284,836 shares outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PA and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol PLMNF. On Behalf of the Board of Directors: Andrew Thomson, President Phone: (416) 204-7536 or visit www.palamina.com 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 "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. 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 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. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company appears in the Company's continuous disclosure filings, which are available under the company's profile at www.SEDAR.com and on the Palamina webpage. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107817 - SepraSol Plus is one of the most advanced liquid/gas separation technologies available - Established in 2020, Pall Arabia provides increased agility and support to local oil & gas customers PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pall Arabia, a joint venture between Pall Corporation and Tanajib for Oil & Gas Company ltd. [Al-Khobar], has expanded its capabilities to include a state-of-the-art manufacturing line for Pall's SepraSol Plus liquid/gas coalescers, one of the most advanced liquid/gas separation technologies available. Established in line with Saudi Vision 2030, the vision of Pall Arabia is to combine resources, technology and expertise to support the oil and gas and petrochemical industries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This new manufacturing capability is a significant milestone and underscores the commitment to Pall Arabia's vision and the region. Pall Corporation (PRNewsfoto/Pall Corporation) Pall Arabia provides increased agility and support to local oil & gas customers Based in Dhahran, the 14,000 ft2 site is Pall's global center of excellence for the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. SepraSol Plus is widely used in critical oil and gas applications such as removing fine solid and liquid impurities from natural and process gas streams. The addition of the SepraSol manufacturing capability will add value to customers in the region. The newly installed line has completed commissioning; products and processes have been approved and awarded ISO 9001:2015 accreditation, ensuring quality and security of supply to customers. Sary Diab, Managing Director, Middle East at Pall commented, "With SepraSol Plus manufacturing in Saudi Arabia we can meet our local customers technical performance and product supply needs in a timely manner and with increased agility to react to market drivers or customer needs." In addition to the center of excellence, Pall Arabia's local presence also includes sales, project management and engineering, filter cleaning capabilities and test laboratory facilities. There is also a large fleet of mission ready rental equipment available locally and supported by associates comprised primarily of Saudi nationals. Story continues Sary Diab added "This is an example of how Saudi Vision 2030 aligns with our strategy of investment in local assets and resources to operate in region to achieve our strategic goals." To learn more about Pall Oil and Gas and Petrochemical solutions, please visit www.pall.com or email us at contact@pall.com. About Pall Corporation Pall Corporation is a filtration, separation and purification leader providing solutions to meet the critical fluid management needs of customers across the broad spectrum of industries. Pall works with customers to advance health, safety, and environmentally responsible technologies. The Company's engineered products enable process and product innovation and minimize emissions and waste. Pall Corporation serves customers worldwide. For more information visit www.pall.com. Or follow us on social media: LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Corporate Media Contact: Pall Corporation Amanda Comeau Director, Corporate Communications (508) 330-0811 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pall-arabia-a-pall-corporation-joint-venture-expands-manufacturing-capabilities-to-include-advanced-liquidgas-separation-technology-301445675.html SOURCE Pall Corporation SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global pet meal kit delivery services market size is expected to reach USD 5.20 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 15.3% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising awareness among pet owners related to adverse effects of nutrition deficiency in pets, coupled with their increased spending on pet food is expected to drive market demand across the globe over the forecasted period. The dogs animal type segment led the market and accounted for the leading share of the total revenue in 2020. Grand View Research Key Insights & Findings from the report: Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing regional market from 2021 to 2028 due to a growing number of new service offerings and rising concerns about pet health and nutritional deficiencies The wet food segment led the global market in 2020 and is estimated to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period The growth is due to the increasing availability of customized wet food meals catering to the specific needs of pets The full subscription type segment accounted for the largest revenue share of the global market in 2020 and is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 17.3% over the forecast period The growth can be credited to the significant advantages offered by providers to consumers, such as customization, discounted prices, free trials, and international shipping Read 75 page market research report, "Pet Meal Kit Delivery Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Pet Type (Dogs, Cats), By Subscription Type (Topper, Full), By Food Type (Dry, Wet), By Region (APAC, Europe), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028", by Grand View Research The segment is expected to rise over the anticipated period owing to the easy availability of multiple flavored meals offered by companies, such as PetPlate, NomNomNow Inc., The Farmer's Dog Inc., and Spot & Tango. For instance, NomNomNow Inc. offers meals in flavors, such as, beef, turkey, pork, and chicken, and thus offering a variety of selections for the consumers. Furthermore, with a rise in the cases of dog diseases due to nutritional deficiency, there is an increase in demand for meal kit delivery services to provide calculated meals based on the dog's profile. Story continues The full subscription type segment led the market in 2020. Full subscription plans offer a higher discount to consumers, along with free trials that help them gain more popularity over budget-friendly topper subscriptions. Furthermore, full subscriptions are based on the pet's profile, which includes their weight, age, breed, activity level, allergies and health conditions, and taste preferences, which help consumers understand the required calorie intake for their pets. For instance, as per the Spot & Tango, an active small dog requires approximately 300 calories a day, while a medium and large dog requires around 600 and 1300 calories a day respectively. Since full subscriptions cover 100% of the calorie intake required, it gets more convenient for the consumers to go forward with monthly/yearly subscriptions, thereby leading to boosting this segment's growth. North America dominated the global market and generated the highest contribution of sales to the market revenue in 2020. The rising investment by key players is one of the major factors driving the region's growth. For instance, in April 2020, Spot & Tango, U.S., received a seed funding of USD 4.2 million to launch their dry pet meal services across the globe. Also, in January 2019, The Farmer's Dog Inc. received funding of USD 39 million to expand its services by shipping meal kits for pets across the globe. The market is fragmented with the presence of a large number of global and regional players and companies face stiff competition from each other as some of them are among the top providers that have a large customer base. Grand View Research has segmented the global pet meal kit delivery services market on the basis of pet type, food type, subscription type, and region: Pet Meal Kit Delivery Services Pet Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Pet Meal Kit Delivery Services Food Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Pet Meal Kit Delivery Services Subscription Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Pet Meal Kit Delivery Services Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) List of Key Players of Pet Meal Kit Delivery Services Market The Farmer's Dog, Inc. PetPlate NomNomNow, Inc. Ollie Pets, Inc. Spot & Tango Butternutbox Kabo Labs Lyka Tailsco Ltd. Lucky Dog Cuisine, Inc. Check out more studies related to pet food, published by Grand View Research: Pet Food Market The global pet food market size is expected to reach USD 113.08 billion by 2025. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2019 to 2025. Pet Food Processing Market The global pet food processing market size is expected to reach USD 6.61 billion by 2027. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2020 to 2027. Pet Food Ingredients Market The global pet food ingredients market size is expected to reach USD 59.45 billion by 2025. Increasing pet ownership is one of the key trends escalating market growth. Browse through Grand View Research's coverage of the Global Consumer F&B Industry. Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports 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: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pet-meal-kit-delivery-services-market-size-worth-5-20-billion-by-2028-grand-view-research-inc-301446121.html SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. The acquisition expands Prime Capitals footprint on the East Coast and allows Financial Network Limited to provide more tailored services to clients OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & MILFORD, Conn., December 16, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Prime Capital Investment Advisors (PCIA) has announced its continued strategic expansion on the East Coast with its impending acquisition of Financial Network Limited (FNL). Based in Milford, Connecticut, FNL manages $325 million in assets. They provide clients with personalized investment strategies and have a distinct expertise in managing corporate retirement plans. FNL was founded in 1993 by Michael Del Re, Jr. with the goal of providing tailored and unique services to their clients specific needs. Over the past 28 years, FNL has gained the trust of its clients and community by tirelessly working to provide comprehensive, independent, and objective financial advice and services. "Financial Network Limited is excited to be part of Prime Capital Investment Advisors. This strategic partnership provides our team with the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with a nationally recognized firm and allows us to continue our mission of providing clients with first-class asset management, financial planning and employee benefits advice," says Michael Del Re, III, Northeast Managing Partner of FNL, a Prime Capital Investment Advisors Company. "The entire PCIA family is pleased that we will be joining forces with Financial Network Limited. Aside from providing us with the opportunity to expand our footprint on the East Coast, this acquisition aligns with our goal to work with financial professionals who are focused on providing fiduciary advice and achieving each of their clients goals," says Glenn Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of PCIA. "At PCIA, were focused on working with professionals who are experts in the industry and are passionate about helping people. FNL exceeds these standards and we look forward to providing them with expanded resources and technology to continue to provide clients with unique solutions tailored to their needs." Story continues The acquisition will be completed on December 31, 2021; it adds eight professionals, 564 clients and solidifies PCIAs presence in the Northeast. PCIAs plans are to continue investing in quality businesses and people in this region of the United States. FNL was advised by Park Sutton Advisors, a specialty investment banking firm based in New York. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. About Prime Capital Investment Advisors Prime Capital Investment Advisors provides a client-centric team approach to full-service financial planning, including fee-based asset management and wealth management through its Prime Capital Wealth Management brand. Through its Qualified Plan Advisors brand, the firm also provides retirement plan advisory services, as well as plan participant education. PCIA currently has 27 locations throughout the United States, with investment advisor representatives serving clients across the nation. Advisory services offered through Prime Capital Investment Advisors, LLC. ("PCIA"), a Registered Investment Adviser. PCIA doing business as Qualified Plan Advisors ("QPA") and Prime Capital Wealth Management ("PCWM"). For more information, visit www.pciawealth.com. About Financial Network Limited Financial Network Limited was founded to provide personalized investment strategies for individuals and families and distinctive employee benefit programs for employers. Today, the firm embodies the same mission and commitment: to provide comprehensive and innovative client solutions with the highest levels of professionalism and integrity. For more information visit www.fnlonline.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005101/en/ Contacts Darby Rowe For: Prime Capital Investment Advisors Ph: 610-228-2148 Federal prosecutors are seeking incarceration for a Greenfield man who pleaded guilty to demonstrating at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington, according to court records. Israel Tutrow was accused and charged in the breach after surveillance photos from the FBI showed him inside the building wearing a black beanie stitched with TRUMP across the top. Court records also said he told his friend and codefendant, Joshua Wagner of Greenwood, that he brought a knife inside the building. Tutrow pleaded guilty in October to a federal misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol. More: How an Indiana womans downplaying of Jan. 6 is affecting other Capitol riot cases Federal prosecutors are recommending 60 days behind bars and $500 in restitution for Tutrow, citing his criminal history, purported lies to the FBI about carrying a knife in the building and lack of remorse from that day as their reason for a stiffer sentence versus probation. Indiana men Joshua Wagner (right) and Israel Tutrow have been charged for their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors in court records said Tutrow told Wagner that he carried a pocket knife into the Capitol while the pair reunited outside after separating briefly. Tutrow told investigators that he spent an estimated 30 minutes inside the building while Wagner recorded video on his phone. He recalled hearing someone say they wrestled a cop, and retreated when officers began spraying tear gas on the rioters. Prosecutors said Tutrow later denied to the FBI three times that he had a knife during the riot. During the same interview, they said Tutrow claimed he didnt know he was trespassing that day. The U.S. also pointed to Tutrows past criminal convictions in their request for incarceration. The record shows Tutrow has been convicted twice for marijuana possession charges and one charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Prosecutors credited Tutrow for turning himself in to law enforcement days after the riot, but called his cooperation with law enforcement "significantly flawed," referring to his denial about bringing a knife that day. Story continues A witness told investigators that Tutrow felt sick with anxiety in the breachs aftermath. Tutrow is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 21. Wagner, his codefendant in the case, will appear in court for sentencing in February. He pleaded guilty to the same misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Contact Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com or 317-503-7514. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Incarceration recommended for Indiana man charged in Jan. 6 riot NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Meta Platforms, Inc. f/k/a Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) (Facebook) between November 3, 2016 and October 4, 2021, inclusive (the Class Period), of the important December 27, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the firm. SO WHAT: If you purchased Facebook securities during the Class Period 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 Facebook class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2176.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com 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 December 27, 2021. 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Story continues DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Facebook misrepresented its user growth; (2) Facebook knew, or should have known, that duplicate accounts represented a greater portion of its growth than stated, and it should have provided more detailed disclosures as to the implication of duplicate accounts to Facebooks user base and growth; (3) Facebook did not provide a fair platform for speech, and regularly protected high profile users via its Cross Check/XCheck system; (4) despite being aware of their use of Facebooks platforms, the Company failed to respond meaningfully to drug cartels, human traffickers, and violent organizations; (5) Facebook has been working to attract preteens to its platform and services; and (6) as a result, defendants public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Facebook class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2176.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com 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 investors 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 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com SHENZHEN, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The signing ceremony for Galeries Lafayette's debut in Shum Yip UpperHills was successfully held on 14 December at the V-Sky city hall in UpperHills, Futian District, Shenzhen. Mr.Hua Lv, Chairman of Shum Yip Group, Ms.XunCai, Deputy Secretary of CPC in Shum Yip Group, Mr.EnLi Xu, Vice President of Shum Yip Group, Mr.QiHuai Yao, Vice President of Shum Yip Group, Mr. Lawrance Shum, CEO of Galeries Lafayette China, Mrs. Qingmiao Han, Deputy Director of Futian Industrial and Information Technology Bureau,Mr.Jerome Coustans, Director of Business France in South China attended the ceremony. Mr. Yao Qihuai, Vice President of Shum Yip Group, officially signed the contract with Mr. Nicolas Houze, Chief Executive Officer, of Galeries Lafayette & BHV Marais Group. Galeries Lafayette has been pioneering fashion retail for more than 125 years since the very first store opened in Paris in 1894. To consumers all around the world, Galeries Lafayette is the beating heart of fashion, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy a joyful, creative and responsible shopping experience. Followed the business vision set by the founder, Galeries Lafayette is dedicated to make one fashion destination infused with the French Touch and Art de Vivre, offering customers a unique selection of brands and experiences, taking them on a journey to explore the best of fashion, art, design, and retail experiences. Today, Galeries Lafayette is celebrated for its network of 65 stores in France and overseas, including the renowned flagship store on the Boulevard Haussmann in Paris. The First Selection Concept Store in South China, Opening the Gate to French Touch and Art de Vivre. Galeries Lafayette in UpperHills is the Group's first store in Southern China and the very first selection concept store of its own across China. Committed to its role as a fashion curator, Galeries Lafayette is astutely in touch with the evolving tastes of the Chinese market and remains poised at the cutting-edge of design to offer local customers the most exciting new brands and experience. Story continues With a total area of approximately 4,500 square meters, consumers can imagine a "breathing fashion" space filled with elements of art, design, sustainable fashion and aesthetics. The store will be planned with four major sections, including international designer brands and accessible luxury fashion, trendy footwear and accessories, beauty/skincare and specialty food and beverage. Galeries Lafayette in UpperHills will be featured by a series of uniqueness, e.g. a beauty zone with eclectic& creative product offer, as well as an exclusive EDIT area, where shoppers can enjoy a reinvented customer journey. The store is expected to soft opening by Q4 2022. By then, consumers in South China will be able to experience the French Touch and Art de Vivre. At the lease signature, Lawrance Shum, CEO of Galeries Lafayette China , declared: "In the midst of a turbulent health crisis, we have taken the time to deepen our understanding of the market and identify the most appropriate cities in which to deploy our brand for the long term. For this new stage of our expansion in China, we are delighted to join forces with Shum Yip group, a strategic partner that enables us to grow our presence in southern China and offer our visitors the Galeries Lafayette brand's fashion and lifestyle expertise." When Paris Meets Shenzhen UpperHills is the first comprehensive city complex of its kind in Shenzhen with malty shopping experience space, industrial R&D buildings, design Lofts, high-end business apartments and a natural environment of parks and bridges, and it is also a benchmark city complex project developed by Shum Yip Group during the city's urban renewal tide. With its advance design concept by top international design teams, UpperHills has a number of features that are unique and different from other urban complexes in Shenzhen. It is characterized by its pioneer design, fashionable and international genes. With an advanced master planning and the vision of "connecting the city" and "live upper", UpperHills has become a new lifestyle landmark for Shenzhen citizens. As one of the renowned French department stores and an internationally positioned city complex, Galeries Lafayette and UpperHills have a common goal to create a brand-new international community and provide not only shopping experience, but also taste of life to Shenzhen citizens. The arrival of Galeries Lafayette shows that UpperHills keeps exploring, and constructing an international city complex by introducing partners from all over the world. Ms. Ou Wei, General Manager of Shum Yip Commercial Mgt. Co., Ltd. said: UpperHills is a flagship city complex project of Shum Yip Group. For the daily operation of UpperHills, Shum Yip Commercial Mgt. Co., Ltd. sets urban renewal as the original aspiration. We target to build for Shenzhen citizens an international community for work, life and leisure. A series of world-wide brands and 500 fortune enterprises including Mandarin Oriental, Google and Walmart have joined UpperHills and the introduction of Galeries Lafayette will be another milestone of the project. "Be a Modelling Commercial Property Operator among State-owned Enterprises", Contributes to Speeding Up the Construction of Shenzhen as an "International Consumer Center City" Shum Yip Group is a large-scale conglomerate wholly owned by the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and directly managed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the People's Government of Shenzhen Municipal. The Group is mainly engaged in integrated urban development and construction, operation services, urban core area renewal and improvement, health and elderly care, childcare, large-scale livelihood infrastructure construction, equity and fund investment, as well as equity investment in high-tech industry, modern agriculture, high-tech manufacturing and other fields. Shum Yip Group currently has one listed company in Hong Kong, one publicly listed company in China and 14 major wholly-owned and holding companies. As at the end of June 2021, the total assets of Shum Yip Group amounted to RMB151.8 billion, with a total net asset of RMB52.9 billion and a land bank of over 10 million square meters. Under the strategic planning and support of Shum Yip Group, Shum Yip Commercial Mgt. Co,. Ltd., as a large-scale commercial management company within the state-owned capital system of Shenzhen, targets to "be a modelling commercial property operator" among state-owned enterprises. While benchmarking other international commercial projects, the company has been exploring for products which are people-oriented with its own characters, and a diversified product matrix with city complex, street community and semi-public project has been gradually built. In this first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and under the background of building an international consumer center city by the Shenzhen government, Shum Yip Commercial Mgt., Co., Ltd. will seize the historical opportunity of the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and the "two zones and one reform" strategy of Shenzhen for building a world benchmark city, and assist with the internationalization progress of Futian District and Shenzhen city by growing together with many international business partners. . Appendix: About UpperHills UpperHills is one of the "20 major urban renewal projects in the 30th anniversary of the Establishment of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone". The project is located in the northern part of Shenzhen's Futian Central District, bordered by Huanggang Road and Bijia Mountain Park to the east, Caitian Road and Lianhua Mountain Park to the west, Sungang West Road and Central Park to the south, and a view of Tanglang Mountain to the north. The project covers an area of about 121,200 square meters, with a total GFA of about 1.2 million square meters, including 332,700 square meters of industrial R&D building, 100,000 square meters of LOFT, 50,000 square meters of luxury hotel, 170,000 square meters of service apartments and 167,000 square meters of retail center. The taller R&D tower is approximately 388 meters. Total investment of the project is approximately RMB 20 billion. With the statement of "LIVE UPPER", the project is dedicated to create a leading international lifestyle destination in the Shenzhen city. SOURCE Shum Yip UpperHills Still not sold on foldable smartphones? I get it. But companies continue their efforts to make them happen, with Oppo the latest to reveal its first take on a foldable flagship. Somehow, for a fold-up widescreen phone, its kind of cute. TMA It has a different screen ratio to devices from Samsung and the rest, resulting in a more horizontal (possibly more useful) touchscreen. Unfortunately, its still pricey (although its cheaper than the Galaxy Fold) and, adding another barrier to entry, its only launching in China. Engadget Chinese Editor-in-Chief Richard Lai is testing one out expect to hear our full verdict soon. Mat Smith US citizens will be barred from making any investments in the companies. The US government is adding eight Chinese companies, including drone manufacturer DJI, to an investment blocklist for alleged involvement in the surveillance of Uyghur Muslims. The companies will be put on the treasury department's "Chinese military-industrial complex companies" list next week, meaning US citizens will be barred from making any investments. The government said it was among companies that "enabled wide-scale human rights abuses within China through abusive genetic collection and analysis or high-technology surveillance." However, unlike products from Huawei and others, DJI drones have not been banned for sale in the US. Continue reading. NASA's James Webb telescope launch delayed again until December 24th The team is fixing a communication issue between the telescope and its launch vehicle. TMA NASA was hoping to send the James Webb telescope to space by December 22nd, but its launch has been delayed yet again. Yes, again . In an announcement posted on the project's official page, NASA said the James Webb team is working on a communication issue between the telescope and its Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Continue reading. Story continues Watch 'Boba Fett' or 'Encanto' with 31 of your friends. The latest Disney+ app update adds SharePlay group viewing to its iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, letting up to 32 people watch and chat together. To ensure it works, everyone in the call needs Disney+ to stream, and you need to ensure the title is available to everyone in your virtual gathering. You might also find that some titles dont work across different regions and countries. Continue reading. Homeland Security offers bug bounties as part of new 'Hack DHS' program Researchers could receive up to $5,000. The US Department of Homeland Security is offering up to $5,000 in bug bounties under a new program called Hack DHS. Vetted security researchers invited by the agency will get access to select external DHS systems to identify vulnerabilities bad actors could exploit. Payments will vary between $500 and $5,000, depending on the severity of the bug. The DHS said attacks against it were up fourfold in 2021. Continue reading. Huawei documents reportedly show involvement in China's surveillance efforts 'The Washington Post' said it found PowerPoint slides that detail its surveillance technologies. Huawei has long denied working with the Chinese government to spy on other countries and China's own citizens. But The Washington Post has reviewed 100 PowerPoint presentations from the company that, Post reporters say, can show Huaweis links to China's surveillance projects. While many of the slides were marked confidential, they were reportedly posted on a public-facing Huawei website until they were removed in 2020. Many of them were created back in 2014 and edited as recently as last year. Continue reading. A 'Splinter Cell' remake is underway Ubisoft wants to meld classic stealth gameplay with modern tech. TMA Ubisoft is finally ready to make a new Splinter Cell game in a manner of speaking. The game developer has revealed plans for a Splinter Cell remake that aims to recreate the stealth action of the early games while embracing modern technology. The project will use the Snowdrop engine present in newer games like The Division 2 and the upcoming Avatar game, but you'll play in small linear environments, unlike most of Ubisofts AAA titles. Check out the announcement video at the link. Continue reading. The biggest news stories you might have missed Polk Audio reveals its first Dolby Atmos soundbar Samsung's Tab A8 adds a faster processor, more RAM and storage options Meta and Ray-Ban's Stories glasses can now send and read Messenger texts Google employees who don't comply with COVID-19 vaccine rules will reportedly be fired NASA spacecraft enters the Sun's corona for the first time The entry-level 2022 Polestar 2 will have an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles The latest cohort of Piper Fellowsselected for their record of impact in Maricopa Countyreceives transformational opportunity for study, reflection, and growth. PHOENIX, December 16, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nine exceptional nonprofit leaders dedicated to enriching health, well-being, and opportunity in Maricopa County were selected for Piper Trusts 2021 Class of Piper Fellows. The Fellows are: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005909/en/ From top left clockwise: Sam Alpert, Mary Jane Rynd (Piper Trust president and CEO), Nate Lowrie, Regina Nixon, Karen Jayne, Emily Goble Early, Laura Magruder, Jeri Royce, Debbie DiCarlo, Carmen Heredia. (Photo: Business Wire) Sam Alpert , chief development officer, Junior Achievement of Arizona (based in Tempe and serving students statewide). Debbie DiCarlo , CEO, Cancer Support Community Arizona (offices in Phoenix and Flagstaff; providing virtual programming statewide). Dr. Emily Goble Early , curator of anthropology, Arizona Museum of Natural History (located in Mesa). Carmen Heredia , CEO, Valle del Sol, Inc . (locations are numerous spanning Maricopa County; services are also provided in Pinal County and Tucson through programs of the Hispanic Leadership Institute). Karen Jayne , CEO, Stardust (located in Mesa and Glendale; serving Maricopa County). Nate Lowrie , CEO, Valleywise Health Foundation (the health system consists of 15 locations spanning Maricopa County, including the renowned Arizona Burn Center serving the entire Southwestern United States). Laura Magruder , CEO, Maggies Place (locations in Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe, and Mesa). Regina Nixon , executive director, Phoenix Conservatory of Music (located in Phoenix and serving Maricopa County). Jeri Royce, president and CEO, Esperanca (located in Phoenix and serving Maricopa County, Yuma, with international services in Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Mozambique). Story continues The newly selected class becomes part of the larger and enduring Piper Fellows network that is now 90 Fellows strong. The 2021 Piper Fellows will participate in self-designed professional development "sabbaticals" focused on strengthening leadership skills and exploring renowned programs that can help nonprofits become more effective and resilient. A Fellowship supports the professional development, study, and travel for the Fellow, including an intentional respite activity that provides the Fellow the opportunity to reflect on learningshence the reference to sabbatical. Additionally, the Fellowship supports some professional development for staff and/or board of a Fellows organization. After completing the Fellowship, the Fellow is eligible to apply for an Organizational Enhancement Award to implement learning or programming that emerged during a Fellows sabbatical work. A Piper Fellowship provides up to $90,000 in potential grant awards for a Fellows organization. "The Trusts founder, Virginia Galvin Piper, always emphasized the importance of investing in peoplethat as people gain more knowledge and strength, they become better equipped to build capacity in their organizations, which in turn launches positive ripple effects that resonate throughout the community," said Mary Jane Rynd, president and CEO of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. "The Piper Fellows program is a perfect example of how the Trust continues Virginias legacy," said Rynd. "My Fellowship experience had a direct impact on both the organization I serve as well as my growth as a leader," said Mary Mitchell, Co-CEO of Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council and 2017 Piper Fellow. "Learnings from my Fellowship contributed to designing and implementing a broadened portfolio of services and programming for girls and their families. It definitely helped build organizational resiliency," said Mitchell. The 2021 Piper Fellows applications were reviewed and selected by an external committee, this year comprised of: Christy Burton, Burton Family Foundation; Dede Yazzie Devine, CEO, Native American Connections; Tammy McLeod, president and CEO, Flinn Foundation; and Mary Mitchell, Co-CEO, Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. Applications will open for the 2022 Class of Piper Fellows in spring 2022. About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust: Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $662 million in local nonprofits and programs. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations. For more information, visit pipertrust.org | Twitter | Facebook. For Piper Trusts Annual Financial Report: Fiscal Year Ending March 2020, visit FY 2020. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005909/en/ Contacts Media Contact: Karen Leland, kleland@pipertrust.org | 480-556-7125 Chief Communications Officer, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust FORT WALTON BEACH More than 1,200 wreaths are on their way by refrigerated truck from Maine to Beal Memorial Cemetery as the community gears up for its second annual Wreaths Across America observance Saturday to honor veterans interred in the cemetery. The wreaths are set to be placed by volunteers at the conclusion of a 9 a.m. ceremony open to the public at the Veterans Tribute Tower. As each wreath is placed, the name of the honored veteran will be spoken aloud by the volunteer. An Eglin Air Force Base airman lays a wreath at a veteran's grave during last year's Wreaths Across America ceremony at Beal Memorial Cemetery. Wreaths will be laid again this year at an observance at 9 a.m. Saturday. Earlier: 'Remember, honor and teach': Wreaths Across America begins Beal Memorial Cemetery campaign Last year's ceremony: Wreaths laid at veterans' graves in Beal Memorial Cemetery The ceremony will feature remarks from guest speaker Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, commander of Eglin Air Force Base, and from local Marine Corps veteran Dave Goetsch, a member of the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. Also participating will be retired Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Patt Maney, a wounded warrior, former Okaloosa County judge and current state representative. The Rev. Cecil Williams of Gregg Chapel AME Church will offer prayers and the Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Fort Walton Beach High School also will participate, along with Reid Soria of Autism Sings and the Fort Walton Beach Police Department honor guard. Saturday's ceremony also is scheduled to include a particularly poignant moment, as Michele Lombardo, daughter of the late retired Army Lt. Col. Sam Lombardo, unveils a wreath dedicated specifically to Army veterans. Lt. Col. Lombardo, a local veteran much-beloved for his passion for life and his unabashed patriotism, died in June, just one month and one day from what would have been his 102nd birthday. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 1. A Wreaths Across America staff member talks to a visitor to the nonprofit organization's Mobile Education Exhibit during its October visit to Fort Walton Beach. The exhibit kicked off the effort to have wreaths laid at the graves of veterans at Beal Memorial Cemetery. Last year's Wreaths Across America observance was the last local public ceremony in which Lombardo participated. His daughter will unveil the Army wreath Saturday at about the same time as wreaths are being laid at Arlington National Cemetery. Story continues Lombardo is particularly known for a World War II exploit in which he led his men in fashioning an American flag from scraps of cloth as they advanced across the German countryside in late 1944 and early 1945 following the Battle of the Bulge. The flag is on display in the National Infantry Museum & Soldier Center at Fort Benning, Georgia. Related: Northwest Florida's Lt. Col. Lombardo to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery The wreaths coming to Fort Walton Beach were funded with hundreds of $15 donations to Wreaths Across America. The organization has evolved from its 1992 beginnings, when a single truckload of wreaths were placed at Arlington National Cemetery, into a nonprofit group that now also works to teach school, scout, civic and other groups about American veterans under its goals to "remember, honor and teach." The 1,200 wreaths coming to Beal won't be enough to individually honor each of the nearly 1,800 veterans interred there. This year's donations will, however, allow some number of wreaths to be placed in every section of the cemetery, according to Tom Rice of the Veterans Tribute Tower Committee. This year's number of wreaths does far outstrip last year's donations, the first year of local participation in the Wreaths Across America program. A wreath donated through the Wreaths Across America program adorns a veteran's grave at Beal Memorial Cemetery during last year's inaugural local participation in the initiative. Last year, 600 wreaths were placed on veteran's graves at Beal, limited to just one section of its grounds. "While about 500 short of our goal, the good news is we will be able to lay wreaths in all the sections of the cemetery," Rice said. "Last years inaugural efforts allowed only the northeast section." Donations are continuing to be made for the local observance, Rice said this week. Those donations will be applied to next year's wreath-laying at Beal Memorial. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Wreaths Across America ceremony is Saturday in Fort Walton Beach WASHINGTON (AP) All of the U.S. military services have now begun disciplinary actions and discharges for troops who have refused to get the mandated coronavirus vaccine, officials said Thursday, with as many as 20,000 unvaccinated forces at risk of being removed from service. On Thursday, the Marine Corps said it has discharged 103 Marines so far for refusing the vaccine, and the Army said it has reprimanded more than 2,700 soldiers and will begin discharge proceedings in January. The Air Force said earlier this week that 27 airmen had been discharged for refusing the vaccine order. And the Navy laid out its new discipline procedure this week, and has already fired one sailor from his command job for refusing to be tested while he pursues an exemption. Military leaders have warned for months that troops would face consequences if they did not follow what is considered to be a lawful order to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But only in the last week or so have they publicly begun following through on those threats. A gun stolen earlier this year in Stafford County has turned up some 3,000 miles away in El Salvador. Sheriffs Maj. Shawn Kimmitz said the 9mm handguns journey began around Aug. 30, when a resident in North Ferry Farms in southern Stafford reported it stolen. The victim provided the serial number and it was entered into a law enforcement database. Detective A. Sanchez Jr. was assigned the case, which was stagnant until late September, when the victim found the sights from the gun in the bedroom of a resident of the home. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The resident was identified as 58-year-old Bartolo Arias Olmos. But by the time police knew his name, they learned that Arias Olmos had already embarked on a 57-hour drive to El Salvador. Kimmitz said the investigation stalled again until Dec. 7, when an ATF agent called to report that the stolen gun had been located during a traffic stop in El Salvador near its border with Guatemala. The gun was seized, but Arias Olmos was not. Student commencement speaker Taylor Collins is one of the first graduates of Germannas new one-year, all-online accelerated College Everywhere program, which was a spin-off of the college going completely online in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic. Germanna students returned to campus in August of this year, but many students continue to take classes online or take a hybrid schedule of in-person and online classes. One of the top 2020 graduates at Chancellor High School, Collins had planned to attend Duke University before the pandemic hit. She ended up staying home in the Germanna online program and said it challenged her and strengthened her resolve. The College Everywhere Program taught me to continue fighting in the face of adversity, Collins said in her speech, for the victory is the sweetest when you have braved the storm. Remember graduates, she concluded, setbacks do not have to lead to tragedy. ... There is no greater accomplishment than picking yourself up after a fall, for when you do this, you look failure in the eyes and dare it to trip you up again. Remember: You fail, you fight, and then you finish. Robinson said the HOA was satisfied. One man, a resident of the Estates of Lees Parke, echoed what many others said: The station isnt needed when numerous options are within a few miles and that there are likely negative impacts to nearby residents health and their property values. Nobody wants to buy a house next to a gas station, he said. Residents also said that they werent given proper notice prior to a recent Planning Commission public hearing, but county staff said notification letters had been sent on time. Another nearby resident also echoed another key point against the proposal when she said a gas station doesnt fit with the rural setting many of them sought. If the board approves the station, you are effectively displacing families who will feel compelled to move, she said. She suggested the board consider other approved businesses for the site, such as a day care center or health care facility. There are various other approved uses for the site, including an animal shelter, assisted living center, antique store, arts and crafts studio, a fast food restaurant or a funeral home. 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. Northam spokesperson Alena Yarmosky said Northam and Youngkin have met on a few occasions since the November election but did not discuss the specifics of the budget proposal, which contains some overlap with key campaign pledges of Youngkin's. Youngkin, who attended the presentation, told reporters afterward that he believed Northam's plan showed a continuation of basic philosophical agreement in some areas, such as the need for raises for teachers and law enforcement officials. But he said he would seek to go farther on tax cuts. The Democrat's plan includes a 5% pay raise for teachers in both years of the budget. State employees would see the same pay increases. It also spends $223 million on increased funding for pay for law enforcement, to address both starting salaries and pay compression over time, and another $164 million on raises for direct care workers in state mental health facilities, where staffing has been a longstanding challenge. Northam's proposal calls for $2.1 billion in tax policy adjustments, approximately $419 million of which would be ongoing. Tens of millions of workers across the U.S. are in limbo as federal courts have issued different rulings related to President Joe Bidens COVID-19 vaccine mandates for larger private companies, certain health care workers and federal government contractors. A federal appeals court panel has allowed a vaccine requirement for employers with 100 or more workers, although Republican attorneys general, business associations and conservative groups have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. A vaccine mandate for companies that have contracts with the federal government is on hold nationwide, while a separate mandate for health care employees who work for providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding has been blocked in half the states. The courts are responding to lawsuits brought by Republican-led states, conservative groups and some businesses. They argue in part that the vaccine requirements infringe on states rights to regulate public health matters. Numerous legal challenges are pending, some involving groups of states and others filed by states acting alone. Separate Biden administration vaccine mandates for federal government employees and the military remain in effect, as do mask requirements for airline passengers and people using public transportation. The legal cases concern whether the federal government can force employers to require vaccinations. Courts have generally been accepting of requirements that businesses and universities have put in place on their own as well as those imposed by state and local governments. More than four-fifths 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 more than 800,000 people in the U.S. Opponents have taken a three-tiered approach to challenging the requirements. In lawsuits, they contend the vaccine mandates were imposed without proper public comment, were not authorized by Congress and infringe on states' rights to regulate public health matters. The reasoning across the cases is basically the same, which is that these statutes dont give the president or the agency in question the authority to issue the mandates," said Gregory Magarian, a constitutional law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. The Biden administration contends its rule-making authority is firm and supersedes any state policies prohibiting vaccine requirements. Recent experience shows that such mandates generally prompt people to get vaccinated: By the time a Biden requirement for federal workers to be vaccinated took effect in late November, 92% had received at least their first dose of the shot. Following is a rundown of some of Biden's most sweeping vaccine requirements and the status of the legal fights over them. LARGE BUSINESS MANDATE What it would do: Under a rule published by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Nov. 5, businesses with 100 or more workers are to require employees to be vaccinated. If they are not, they would need to be tested weekly and wear masks while working, with exceptions for those who work alone or mostly outdoors. The rule was to go into effect Jan. 4. The requirement would affect businesses with a cumulative 84 million employees, and OSHA projected it could save 6,500 lives and prevent 250,000 hospitalizations over six months. Whos challenging it: The requirement is being challenged by 27 Republican-led state governments, some conservative and business groups, and some individual businesses. The states mostly filed lawsuits in groups, though Indiana challenged it alone. Their arguments include that its the job of states, not the federal government, to deal with public health measures. The Biden administration maintains that the measure is legal. Some labor unions also contested the rule, though not for the same reasons as the Republicans and business group. They say it doesn't go far enough to protect workers. Whats next: Republican attorneys general, business associations and several conservative groups immediately appealed the 6th circuit ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, OSHA announced that it would not issue citations before Jan. 10 for its vaccination mandate or before Feb. 9 for its testing requirement to give employers time to adjust. HEALTH WORKER MANDATE What it would do: Under a rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid on Nov. 5, a wide range of health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding were to require workers to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. The rule would affect more than 17 million workers in about 76,000 health care facilities and home health care providers. 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. What's next: The court rulings are being appealed by the Biden administration. On Dec. 16 the administration asked the Supreme Court to block the lower court orders that are keeping the mandate from going into effect in about half of the states. The case filed in Missouri is being considered by the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The case filed in Louisiana, which was brought by a coalition of 14 states, is being considered by the 5th Circuit. So far, there's been no move to consolidate the challenges in a single court. FEDERAL CONTRACTOR MANDATE What would it do: Under an executive order issued by Biden on Sept. 9, contractors and subcontractors for the federal government are required to comply with workplace safety guidelines developed by a federal task force. That task force subsequently issued guidelines requiring that new, renewed or extended contracts include a clause requiring employees to be fully vaccinated Jan. 18. That meant those receiving a two-dose vaccine must get their second shot by Jan. 4. There are limited exceptions for medical or religions reasons. The requirements could apply to millions of employees. Who's challenging it: The guidelines have been challenged through more than a dozen lawsuits, including seven brought by Republican-led states or coalitions of states. The arguments are similar to those against other vaccine mandates, asserting the Biden administration exceeded the procurement rule-making powers granted by Congress, infringed on states' responsibilities and didn't properly gather public comment. Where it stands: The rule is on hold. A federal judge in Georgia issued a ruling Dec. 7 prohibiting enforcement of the requirement for contractors nationally. The ruling came a week after a judge in Kentucky barred enforcement of the requirement in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. What's next: Legal challenges pending in several other states could lead to additional rulings on requests for injunctions. The Kentucky or Georgia rulings also could be appealed. A quick consolidation of the federal contractor lawsuits appears unlikely. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The Fremont City Council approved a six-month service contract with the Institute for Building Technology and Safety for virtual building inspection services at its meeting Tuesday. This is a way to help the city out in an interim period when youre short-staffed, IBTS Municipal Services Director Chris Miller said. Its not meant to be a solution for the future, but it is a future-looking solution because it is something that combines technology along with a traditional inspection. Assistant City Administrator Shane Wimer said the Building Inspection Department has faced staffing vacancies, including the resignation of Chief Building Inspector Don Simon. We have an opening of an electrical inspector that weve been unable to fill for the past six or so months, he said. Were at a critical stage where were not getting things done on the third floor. Facing an emergency, Wimer said the city spoke to a couple of companies about providing services to get through the short term until one or more of the positions were filled. We decided to go ahead and hire IBTS to come in and help us with virtual inspections, he said ... Theyve been working for us since last week, Monday, they came in and started helping us with building inspections. IBTS would charge about $100 to $150 for each inspection, with an estimated $70,000 for the total services over the six-month period with 20 to 25 inspections each week. When asked by Councilmember James Vaughan about how the virtual inspection process works, Miller said theyre conducted through Microsoft Teams. We record the inspections for posterity and also for training and learning purposes, he said. And then we guide the contractor through the inspection to ask him or her to show us the different aspects of the job thats under inspection. Miller said IBTS has been conducting the virtual inspections across the country since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since last week, Miller said hes been working daily with the city on scheduling inspections and advising staff on the best practices to operate as efficiently as possible. This is a supplement at this point, Mayor Joey Spellerberg said. Its not boots on the ground by any means, but its a good bridge for the gap that we need. Planning Director Jennifer Dam said Fremonts issue is common, as other communities such as Washington County, Blair and Valley are also experiencing staffing issues with building inspectors. Were all meeting and working together to try and find some solutions, she said. We will be talking about perhaps interlocal contracts to help each other out, but this is a solution that we could implement right away. When asked by Councilmember Glen Ellis as to why an emergency was called with Simons resignation three weeks ago, Wimer said the city was not aware of him leaving until his very last days. It came to a point where Don left and we were in dire straits right away, he said. And within a matter of days, I could tell you that we had contractors pulling their hair out because we just have the staff or the manpower to be able to get it done. If he had waited, Wimer said a company would not have been able to come on board until next year. So I felt it necessary. I thought it was an emergency, he said. Otherwise, we would have been even farther behind, at least up to a month if we wouldnt have done it when we did. Councilmember Brad Yerger expressed legal concerns with IBTS already performing inspections prior to the councils approval. To remedy the situation, Yerger proposed changing the contracts date from Dec. 6 to Dec. 14 and filing a separate payment claim for services provided prior to the meeting. At least at that rate, we would still be, albeit with this modification, putting in a contract that council approved as of tonight, he said. Miller said he would support the amendment to the resolution, which were both approved 6-1 by the council. Councilmember Mark Jensen was not present. The council also unanimously approved an agreement with Omaha Public Power District for marketing and meter agent services and transmission congestion services. Jeff Shanahan, superintendent of the Lon D. Wright Power Plant, said Fremont has an energy agreement with NextEra at the Cottonwood Wind Farm and was eligible for taking credit for capacity. Additionally, Shanahan said Fremont was also working with the Southwest Power Pool on transmission paths. Now that we have that established and were working through that to get it finished, but weve been OKd with that, we want to recover some of those costs associated with it, he said. So weve asked OPPD to provide us those services. Shanahan said the five-year term would start on March 1. After concerns were raised that the price was not made public to prevent trade secrets, the council briefly went into executive session to discuss the matter. The council also voted to continue discussion for the purchase of a tract of land that is part of the SunRidge Places second addition. The city previously asked to set the land aside for roadway and stormwater purposes, including a potential widening or improving of Luther Road. Its estimated price is $190,000. However, Spellerberg said he received multiple calls from councilmembers on the item. We need to take a little more time to look at this purchase and make sure we consider our options, he said. Council meetings are to get business down, and I dont feel at this point were ready to move on this item at this stage. Although Yerger made a motion to continue contingent on a Luther Road project being added to the city budget and capital plan, the vote failed 3-4. A vote to simply continue the item was unanimously passed. The council also approved a resolution establishing the board members of the Downtown Business Improvement District for the next two years. The new board members are Berta Quintero of Reinita Restaurant, Sam Heineman of Dodge County Realty Group and Daniel Cech of Petersen Body Shop. The BIDs renewal was approved by the council earlier this month after several meetings of discussion. The three new board members will bring its total count from 11 to 14. Over the next two years, Spellerberg said the BID will look at its boundaries, equitability and projects, as well as its structure. I just want to thank our three new board members coming on and I look forward to seeing the new things going on in our BID and our downtown district, he said. In other news, the council held final reading for and approved a zone change request from DPA Auctions at 900 Bud Boulevard. During his mayors comments at the beginning of the meeting, Spellerberg said members of the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerces Youth Leadership Academy were present. Last week, Spellerberg said he and other city staff assisted the high school juniors in writing a resolution or ordinance on various city topics. I appreciate the chamber for doing that and thank you for those that are in attendance tonight, he said. Its great that youre a part of the process. The councils next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 28 on the second floor of the Fremont Municipal Building at 400 E. Military Ave. This will be our last meeting here before Christmas, Spellerberg said, so for Fremont and council and the public, I hope you have a great holiday season. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Several dozen women have taken to the streets of the Afghan capital to demand the right to education, jobs, and political representation from the Taliban-installed government. As they marched through Kabul amid bitter cold conditions on December 16, the protesters chanted slogans calling for food, careers, and freedom, and held banners demanding women get political posts. Some of them carried placards calling on the international community to restore aid to their country as it teeters on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe with rising poverty, a lack of food, and a collapsing economy. Reports said the rally was not disrupted by the Taliban, which banned unsanctioned rallies after taking over the war-torn country in mid-August. For weeks, the women staged almost daily demonstrations to demand their rights, representation in government, and roles in the deeply religious and conservative country, but following a violent Taliban crackdown on protests, such street rallies waned. The hard-line Islamist group has pledged a softer rule after they overthrew the internationally backed government, compared with their first stint in power in the 1990s. However, the vast majority of women have been banned from working, while many girls and women have been deprived of the right to an education. The international community has refused to recognize Afghanistans new rulers. Key global donors have blocked most of their aid to the country, and reserves of the Afghan central bank held abroad were also frozen. Last week, the World Bank said donors approved the transfer of $280 million from a frozen trust fund to two aid agencies to help Afghanistan respond to its humanitarian crisis, while the United States formalized guidance allowing personal remittances to flow to Afghanistan. With reporting by AFP and TOLOnews The longtime Beatles tribute band, The Fab Four The Ultimate Tribute, will perform Thursday at Pikes Peak Center. The group was founded by Ron McNeil, who fell in love with the English rock band's music as a little kid, and figured out he could do a convincing John Lennon impersonation. After rounding out the band with three other musicians, they began playing clubs in Los Angeles, before gaining fame and touring the world. After delivering a virtual State of the State address in 2021 to the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & EDC because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Jared Polis will return to the Springs in January to deliver this year's remarks. The event takes place Jan. 19 at the north side Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers. THE GAZETTE FILE Pius Kamau, M.D., general surgery, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships; co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and president of the Consortium of African Diasporas in the U.S.A. He has been a National Public Radio commentator and a blogger, and is author of The Doctors Date with Death. In a release sent to families, School District 49 officials acknowledged unverified threats threatening violence at schools throughout El Paso County this coming Friday. Officials said they are monitoring "disturbing posts" on the social media platform TikTok. While assuring families that threats will always be taken seriously, district officials said they didn't want to overreact. "We take any potential threat to the safety of students and staff very seriously," a letter addressed to D49 families reads. "Although these reports are unverified, our law enforcement partners, our safety and security team and district leadership are closely monitoring the trend. We remain attentive and protective, and we also want to avoid overreacting to rumors which have the potential to disrupt our mission to provide the best education to our students. Cancelling school for every TikTok trend or unsubstantiated rumor would shift control of school operations to anonymous posters, and disrupt our schools without justification." District officials warned that anyone "engaging in sharing or reposting threatening material is subject to school, and possibly, law enforcement consequences." The note to families ends with district officials asking families to stay alert and report any suspicious behavior. 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. Two people walked into a police station with gunshot wounds after an assailant shot them in a vehicle Wednesday night, police said. The victims entered the Colorado Police Department's Falcon substation around 10:15 p.m. with gunshot wounds. Officers immediately provided medical attention to the victims before medical personnel arrived, police said. Officers did not specify the victims' condition. Officers then responded to the area of the shooting nearby the station in the 8000 block of Voyager Parkway but did not find any suspects. El Paso County Sheriff's officers and the Colorado Springs Police investigated an officer-involved shooting Wednesday morning, Dec. 8, 2021, on the 1700 block of Herd Street in Colorado Springs. . According to Gazette news partner KKTV, officers responded to a burglary in progress call around 2:30 a.m. After arrival, a suspect reportedly confronted officers with knife. At least one officer fired at least one shot, killing the suspect. No officers were injured during the altercation. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) Hurricane-force winds toppled trucks, downed power lines and uprooted trees throughout Colorado Springs and much of the state Wednesday. A windstorm with gusts over 90 mph plagued Colorado Springs and El Paso County throughout the day, causing multiple power and internet outages affecting a peak of 34,000 customers. Several semitrucks were blown over some spilling hazardous materials and structure fires occurred, city and county officials said in a virtual joint news briefing. The windstorm was caused by a low pressure system characterized by a tight gradient of surface pressure differences, said Paul Steward, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pueblo. Steward added that the wind storm was assisted by the temperature drop brought on by morning snow squalls. Ted Skroback, spokesman for Colorado Springs Utilities, said that while they had all hands on deck and that crews would be responding to issues throughout the night, overnight outages were still expected in some areas. He said that at around 3 p.m., over 34,000 customers were affected by power outages, the peak for the day according to Utilities' webpage timeline. One particularly-affected area was the Old North End neighborhood just north of downtown. Near a peculiar intersection where Palmer Park Boulevard cuts through Cedar and Yampa Streets diagonally, there was nearly a downed tree on every block. Tom Stevens who lives in the neighborhood had pieces of his neighbor's rooftop in his front yard after wind gusts uprooted a Blue Spruce tree. Just a few doors down, crews with Colorado Springs Utilities were cleaning up a downed Ponderosa Pine tree. Stevens said the Ponderosa is the second tree that has fallen in two years for that particular neighbor. As the winds died, the neighbors began walking around, checking in on each other and surveying the streets covered with branches, snapped power lines and pine needles. "The main concern now is just the power," Stevens said. "I expect it to be out into the night....We're not gonna open the fridge that's for sure. It'll be a three-dog night. Nah, it won't be that cold." Stevens who has lived in his home since 1983, said he and his wife were praying for safety as the winds beat his house. The two were prepared though, Stevens said they had secured items in the home the night prior. Similarly, Mark Misfeldt, who lives a few blocks away, knew the tree in his yard was going to come down. The tree had been leaning since the bomb cyclone in 2019. Misfeldt's tree fell as he returned from a doctor's appointment. Luckily the tree landed in the street and no one was injured. Misfeldt said the tree was 70-feet high. City forester Dennis Will advised people not to touch downed power lines, and not to try to cut up downed trees unless theyre experienced in using saws. Will said that was because trees toppled by wind are often under significant stress, and can cause injuries when inexperienced sawyers cut into them. Were gonna work on the trees as fast as we can, were mobilizing a fairly large group of sawyers to go to work tomorrow morning, Will said. We found most of the damage was south of Fillmore, north of Cimarron, east of I-25, and west of Union, so thats the block were gonna be working on mostly tomorrow. Will also noted that in some cases, residents will need to determine whether a downed tree is on public or a private property before calling the forestry department for help. Guidance can be found at the countys windstorm webpage, but Will noted a good rule of thumb is to judge if the tree fell between a sidewalk and a public curb or gutter. Colorado Springs Fire Department chief Randy Royal said that firefighters responded to several structure fires caused by wind activity throughout the day, two of which were working fires that required more resources to subdue. He said that fire crews also responded to a number of hazardous materials calls, most of which resulted from overturned trucks, but one of which included the Chapel Hills Mall, which was fully evacuated just after 2 p.m. because of a broken gas line caused by wind activity. The mall was quickly cleared and people were allowed back in around 2:30 p.m. Royal said the department in a typical 24-hour period runs around 200 calls. On Wednesday, he said firefighters received nearly 650 calls between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Due to the number of trucks and other high-profile vehicles being toppled by winds, the Colorado Department of Transportation restricted high-profile vehicles from traveling on EL Paso County roadways, the Colorado Springs city officials tweeted at 1:20 p.m. That restriction was lifted later Wednesday, according to a city press release. Due to extreme high winds in the area, @ColoradoDOT is restricting travel of high profile vehicles in El Paso County. High Wind Restriction in place for all high-profile vehicles on the following State roadways in El Paso County: I 25, CO 21 (Powers Blvd), US 24, Hwy 115 & CO 83. City of Colorado Springs (@CityofCOS) December 15, 2021 Several services and buildings throughout the city closed in response to the wind storm, including Mountain Metro bus services and the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. The Evergreen and Fairview cemeteries were also closed to anyone not attending services through at least Thursday for cleanup, the city said in the release. City officials noted in the release that at least one warming shelter, at First United Methodist Church at 420 North Nevada Avenue, was opened for anyone in need. They noted the church wasnt equipped for overnight stays and was just a warming shelter. Kevin Mastin, executive director of the El Paso County Department of Public Works, said at the press briefing that the winds in some cases caused breaches in fences and gates responsible for corralling livestock, and that the department was working with brand inspectors to identify animals' owners and get them home. He added that outside of Colorado Springs, the county hadn't seen the extensive damage the city had. He and Corey Farkas, with the city's public works department, said their respective departments were assisting other departments in cleanup throughout the city and the county. Farkas noted the last time the city saw a storm "similar to this, it took us the better part of two to three weeks to get all the big stuff cleaned up." City and county officials asked residents to use the citys app or the countys website to report downed public trees caused by the windstorms, adding that calls to 911 and other emergency lines were being inundated with non-emergency calls. Smith said that preparations for the storm began on Monday, and said regional agencies were better coordinated and prepared than they were in 2017. Royal noted that most of the damage was done to roofs and other property, and that he hadn't received any reports of fatalities connected to the storm. "The lessons we learned from 2017 we certainly improved on during this event, so my hat's off to all our first responders, they were ready to go," Smith said. "I also appreciate the citizens, for what they've been through. I think we've been very fortunate during this event." Terry Jarrett is an energy attorney and consultant who has served on the board of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Colorados Supreme Court justices were generally aware of a memo containing allegations about judicial misconduct nearly two years before it was made public, according to testimony one of the justices gave in an unrelated federal lawsuit deposition. It is the first acknowledgment that the members of the court knew about the memo shortly after it was the catalyst of an alleged quid-pro-quo $2.5 million contract given in March 2019 to a former Judicial Department official who threatened a tell-all sex discrimination lawsuit. The revelation brings into question what else the justices knew about the memo, the contract and the allegations swirling around it. Aside from canceling the contract and the resignation of two top officials, no other action was taken on the memo or its allegations by anyone in the judicial branch until details about the memo were revealed two years later in newspaper stories. The memo is now at the center of at least a half dozen investigations. The court in February 2021 only said the justices had seen the memo for the first time just before deciding to make it public on the heels of newspaper stories that revealed its existence, but the court at the time did not say whether the justices were aware of the document before it was shown to them. Justice Melissa Hart says she and the other justices knew about the memo sometime in 2019 because then-Chief Justice Nathan "Ben" Coats had told them about it. Chief Justice Coats described the document to myself and my colleagues when we were meeting in conference one day, Hart testified in October during a deposition in a federal job discrimination lawsuit. I first became aware of the specifics of this document in February 2021 (following the newspaper stories). I was aware in 2019 that there was a document that I think could have been this document, but I didnt know any details about it. Hart said Coats described it as "a list of allegations" but nothing more. The court did not have an immediate comment when asked Wednesday about Hart's deposition. The two-page memo is at the center of several investigations into a contract awarded to the department's former chief of staff, Mindy Masias, who was being fired at the time over financial irregularities. Its allegations include the destruction of evidence, judges trading pornography, misconduct by department officials and a work environment that generally encouraged sexism and misogyny. Portions of the depositions appear in a discrimination lawsuit filed in 2019 by Michele Brown, who was passed over for a job a year earlier as a staff rules attorney for the Supreme Court for someone less experienced. Brown, who is Black, alleges her age she was 64 at the time and her race were a factor. She had been a staff attorney at the Office of Legislative Legal Services for about 25 years. In a separate deposition tied to Browns lawsuit, the alleged author of the memo then-Human Resources Director Eric Brown denied knowing of the memo or anything about it, according to a court filing. The deposition represents Eric Brown's first remarks about the controversy. But Hart testified that Coats told them Eric Brown had read from the memo during a meeting he had with him, according to Harts deposition, but she did not say which justices were there. Coats generally met with the justices as a group. Justice Maria Berkenkotter was not a member of the court at the time. Hart said Coats told them there was a list that Eric (Brown) had read from and that it was from a part of a list of allegations. However, Hart indicated that Coats didnt offer any context. It was vaguely described to me in 2019, she testified. It was not described in a way that I would have understood everything that it was. Its unclear if Coats told the justices what the purpose of the meeting was. The federal magistrate judge presiding over Michele Browns case barred her from asking Hart about the specifics of the meeting or what Coats said about it, only allowing questions about the memos mention of an EEOC complaint against two justices involved with filling the job she had applied for. Those justices were Hart and Justice Richard Gabriel. Michele Brown on Wednesday filed a 116-page response to a department request to dismiss her lawsuit in which portions of Hart's and Eric Brown's testimony were included. Former chief court administrator Christopher Ryan has alleged that only parts of the two-page memo were read at a meeting in January 2019 between himself, Eric Brown, Coats and counsel to the chief justice, Andrew Rottman. It was decided then that the contract could go to Masias, according to Ryan. The memo described payoffs to keep harassment victims silent, allegations that judges ordered the destruction of evidence, and the misconduct of other judges and Judicial Department officials that was simply ignored, conduct that permeated the agencys highest ranks for years. Ryan did not detail the memo's contents, which became known only when the court made the document public. For his part, Eric Brown he is not related to Michele Brown testified that he didn't recall meeting with Coats about the memo, was not its author and opined that more than one person may have drafted this memo, according to the court filing. Eric Brown testified he had at some point "seen some of these allegations" that were noted in the memo when it was shown to him during the deposition and that he and Masias had discussed them. Neither Eric Brown nor Masias has responded to repeated efforts to reach them for comment. Masias was on family medical leave at the time of the meeting and had already created her company The Leadership Practice when the contract for judicial training was put out for public bid later that month. Ryan has said he insisted on the public bid process to avoid giving it directly to Masias. But none of about 400 companies that received information about the contract put in a bid, not even Masias. The contract was later awarded directly to Masias within days of her official resignation and she was also given back pay and other benefits. The department has since required employees to be separated at least six months before they can accept any contract work with it. The Denver Post exposed the contract but not the memo in July 2019. The department cancelled the deal and Ryan resigned. Coats later told legislators that Eric Brown also resigned, although the latter said in his deposition that his resignation was related to family medical issues, not the Masias scandal or any other reason involving his job there. The Post revealed the existence of the memo in February 2021, but did not actually have a copy of it. The court had denied the newspapers repeated requests for the document. After initially denying Ryans allegations and days after the newspapers stories appeared the court made the memo public. We believe this is the correct course of action both to determine any actual wrongdoing and to clear those wrongly accused, the court said in a email issued at the time by Chief Justice Brian Boatright to judges and judicial employees statewide. Boatright said the court had also given the memo to then-Colorado Auditor Dianne Ray to assist in her fully investigating the circumstances surrounding the contract with former Chief of Staff Mindy Masias company. That investigation is reaching its conclusion, Boatright recently told a recent gathering of the Colorado Bar Associations board of governors, but said only an executive summary of its findings would be made public, according to several attorneys who heard him speak. When Boatright released the memo he also steadfastly denied that the contract was an effort to keep information about the department quiet. Boatright said in the Feb. 8, 2021, email that we met as a court and viewed the memo for the first time, but did not say whether the court was previously aware of its existence or the general nature of its content, as Hart testified they had. Boatright replaced Coats as chief justice when Coats retired on Dec. 31, 2020, three weeks after a different state audit revealed a slew of problems inside the state court administrators office. Berkenkotter was named to the bench in January 2021 to fill the spot Coats vacated. It was that audit report, which laid much of the blame for the departments issues at Ryans feet, that caused him to step forward about the memo. Auditors said the Masias deal degrades the public trust and gives the appearance of impropriety and appears to be a violation of the Judicial Code of Conduct. Five other investigations into the memo and its contents are ongoing, including two by a pair of companies hired by the judicial department, one by the FBI, another by the states Attorney Regulation Counsel that oversees lawyer licensing and discipline, and the last by the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. David Migoya can be reached at david.migoya@gazette.com A day after extreme winds rattled the Front Range, Colorado Springs is expected to see a mild day of weather, the National Weather Service in Pueblo said. Wednesday winds hit 92 mph in Colorado Springs with 100 mph gusts north of the city at the U.S. Air Force Academy, according to the weather service. Manitou Springs had a 101 mph wind gust. Dozens of semis overturned, tree limbs and power line broke due to the high speed winds. Headed into Thursday Colorado Springs is forecast to see sunny skies with a 49-degree high temperature and winds between 10 and 15 mph, the agency said. Overnight skies stay mostly clear with a low of 22 degrees, the weather service said. Headed into the weekend the forecast is largely the same with temperatures hitting the 50s Sunday and Monday. Wednesday marked the 218th straight day without measurable snowfall in Colorado Springs, a streak that has been going since May 11. The longest stretch without snow in Colorado Springs lasted 236 days in 2012 and 1946, according the weather service. Colorado Springs broke the record for latest measurable snowfall after Dec. 2 came and went without any snow. Here's the rest of this week's forecast from the National Weather Service. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 42 degrees and winds between 5 to 10 mph. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 42 degrees and winds between 5 to 10 mph. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55 degrees and winds around 10 mph. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 56 degrees and winds around 10 mph. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close When a bow-echo line of fast-moving thunder and wind storms raced across most of Iowa on the night of Dec. 15 at speeds of around 85 miles per hour at times, most of Winnebago and Hancock Counties were largely spared of anything more than tree damages. There were exceptions, one of which was BC Tire & Auto in Buffalo Center, which is located at 101 1st Avenue Northwest in Buffalo Center. Reported straight line winds peeled the roof off the business. The former Buffalo Center fire station in Winnebago County, now a storage building, was damaged by the roof debris from the BC Tire & Auto building. Debris from the tire shop roof was scattered for blocks after the Dec. 15-16 storm. Winnebago and Hancock Counties emergency response coordinator Andy Buffington said it was mostly straight line winds between 60-80 miles per hour in both counties. However, some areas got some higher velocities. "Extensive damages or emergencies, no, but we had some isolated areas with structural damages," Buffington said. "BC Tire lost a roof and on the west side of Garner some farm buildings and residences may have received some minor damages, according to what I've heard." Buffington said that despite strong storm front winds and sustained winds for hours after the initial front passed, the largest extent of damage in the two counties was to trees. "We knew in advance what this was probably going to be like," Buffington said. "We were probably fortunate that we didn't seem to have the more extensive damage like some of our neighbors to the east." Britt City hall staff reported only being aware of some down trees and limbs, saying they had received no calls related to the storm the next morning. "Britt was lucky," Britt Police Chief Mark Anderson said. "We didn't have any (damage) reports." Damage reports in Forest City were almost non-existent as well. "We fared pretty well," Forest City administrator/clerk Daisy Huffman said. "We got lucky. We picked up a few branches and took down two trees that fell over." Huffman said the biggest storm issue in Forest City was a power outage that started around 6:30 p.m. across the town. Forest City contracts with Dairyland Power Cooperative of Wisconsin for wholesale power and Dairyland had an outage. Fortunately, Forest City Municipal Electric also has its own electric generating plant which was up an running by about 7:30 p.m. with all the town's customers back on at that time. "It took about an hour to get it back online and fully restored to everyone," Huffman said. "Normally, it would be a little faster than that, but we've been doing some projects right now. Actually, today was the day to exercise the engines at the plant, but about all of them were up and running last night. That made for an easier day today." Huffman said that the Forest City electric plant ran through 10 p.m. before cutting back over, coordinating with Dairyland and Alliant Energy Company. She also reported that city line crews were called out to the former Super 8 motel, now Forest City Inn on the south end of town. The crews worked through the night to restore power to the motel. She said that a possible cause of the outage there was electric lines "slapping together" amidst the strong, sustained winds. Residents of Fertile, which receives electric service from Alliant utility subsidiary Interstate Power and Light Company, were reportedly without electricity through the night. Power was supposed to be largely restored there by mid-morning on Dec. 16. Rob Hillesland is community editor for the Summit-Tribune. He can be reached at 641-421-0534, or by email at rob.hillesland@globegazette.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. It feels pretty safe to say now that the field of candidates running to be Iowas next governor is settled. Rob Sand, the Democratic state auditor, announced last week that he will run for re-election as auditor. Sand had been weighing a run for governor. Sand made the same decision that U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne and state Sen. Pam Jochum did: to stay put rather than launch a bid to challenge Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Sand was the last potential candidate for governor that Iowa political observers were waiting for. With his decision to run for re-election, the field of gubernatorial candidates is likely set. Despite the list of names that opted not to run for the right to challenge the Republican incumbent, there will be a competitive Democratic primary. The most prominent candidates are Deidre DeJear and Ras Smith. If elected, either would become the first Black governor in state history. DeJear is a Des Moines businesswoman who ran for Iowa secretary of state in 2018. Smith is a state lawmaker from Waterloo. Also running in the Democratic field, but less known to Iowa voters, are Joshua Kuhn-McRoberts, an Iowa Finance Authority worker from Waukee, and Kim West, an attorney from Des Moines. Unless someone new enters the field which is fairly unlikely with the primary election just six months away or someone drops out, one of those four candidates will earn the Democratic Partys nomination and be tasked with facing Reynolds in next falls general election. Before we take a look at that Democratic field of potential challengers, lets take a quick look at those who passed on a gubernatorial run. Axne is badly needed by U.S. House Democrats, who face a challenge to their slim majority in the 2022 midterm elections. Axnes re-election is no slam dunk, but had she left the seat and created an open-seat race, Republicans chances of winning and gaining a seat in the House would have increased significantly. Jochum has been a stalwart Democrat in the Legislature for decades, and she was the first Democratic woman to serve as Iowa Senate president. She has been floated as a potential candidate for higher office before, but always has chosen to remain in the Legislature. Sand was the longest holdout. Political observers have been wondering what he might do in 2022 virtually since the day after he was elected auditor in 2018. In his video announcement, Sand listed the reasons he wants to run for another term as auditor, but did not address reasons he decided against running for governor. Is he terrified to run against Reynolds, as the Republican Governors Association asserted in a statement? That seems like a bit of hyperbole. (Although, to be fair to the RGA, hyperbole is pretty standard fare in political statements.) Lets not forget that Reynolds won her only gubernatorial election in 2018 by 2.8 percentage points. Thats not exactly a Chuck-Grassley-in-the-1990s-esque landslide. However, it does bear noting that those prominent Iowa Democrats opted to pass on the chance to challenge Reynolds and the Democrats only realistic chance at taking away from Republicans at least one of the states lawmaking levers in 2022. No serious observer should consider Reynolds unbeatable. But she is starting her re-election bid from a position of strength, and the lack of interest from Democrats who decided not to challenge her is a signal that they see that. In the most recent round of polling from the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, 51% of Iowans approve of the job Reynolds is doing as governor, 56% approve of her handling of the economy, and 52% approve of her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and education issues. Those are solid numbers for an incumbent at the onset of a re-election bid. DeJear, Smith, or whichever Democrat ultimately faces Reynolds will have to break through that with a message that will convince enough Iowans that Reynolds does not deserve another four-year term. They will also face the challenge right off the bat of introducing themselves to Iowa voters. DeJear and Smith are well-known and well-liked in the bubble of Iowa Democratic politics, but theyll need more than just that base support if they are to defeat Reynolds. That likely will be part of the argument they will be making over the next six months as Democrats decide who to put up against Reynolds. We know whos on that list, and now we know whos not. Let the primary begin. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gov. Ralph Northam's proposed budget includes $150 million for business-ready industrial sites across the state, including $100 million for for mega sites like the one at the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill in southwestern Pittsylvania County. Northam announced the proposed allocation at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research on Thursday afternoon as part of his "Thank You, Virginia" tour across the commonwealth during his last weeks in office. "To have these sites ready to go is going to be a tremendous asset," Northam said during the announcement. Local and state officials attended the event. The $150 million is included in the proposed budget to expand the Virginia Business Ready Site Program. The money, the most ever set aside by the commonwealth for site development, will increase the marketability of sites across the state. "These historic investments will be felt in every corner of the commonwealth and represent an investment in our collective economic future," Northam said in a prepared statement. "Companies want to invest here, and we can make it easier for them by preparing these industrial sites for their use." The remaining $50 million of the $150 million will be dedicated toward development of mid-sized sites in the state. In order to receive money for the mega site at Berry Hill, the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority would have to apply for funds. RIFA owns the 3,500-acre mega site, which is the largest in the state and the fifth largest on the East Coast. "We're just very appreciative of the governor making the trip to Pittsylvania County and the city of Danville," Pittsylvania County Economic Development Director Matt Rowe told the Danville Register & Bee after the event. "This really shows that his priorities are, and have always been, with rural Virginia. The future announcement at Berry Hill, in the future of course, will be really based upon and due to the investments that he has made into our community and into that site." Danville Economic Development Director Corrie T. Bobe pointed out that Danville and Pittsylvania County develop and market together more than 4,600 acres of industrial properties. "Today's announcement can help us further develop and prepare these for future end use," Bobe said during an interview after the announcement. "We're very excited to hear especially about the funding toward larger sites within the community." The city and county have been working to develop the site at Berry Hill, which is targeted toward a large end-user that can help rebuild the population base within the community and add tax revenue, Bobe added. "We're thrilled that this additional funding, a substantial amount of this funding, is targeted toward that type of site," Bobe said. Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Warren said the mega site is "the pinnacle of our area's economic transformation. "The industry that locates here will have a massive impact on our entire region, not just Danville and Pittsylvania County, but all the localities around us and Virginia and North Carolina," Warren said during remarks following the governor's announcement. The state has made significant commitments to improving the mega site over the past four years, Warren added. "With today's announcement of this mega site development fund, Gov. Northam has invested in excess of $150 million in the state's mega sites," he said. "We are confident these investments will pay off and allow Danville and Pittsylvania County to host an anchor industry for the entire state." Linda Green, executive director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, said there have been 28 economic development announcements in Southside Virginia over the last four years, bringing about 3,000 jobs and $375.8 million in capital investment. During Northam's tenure, Virginia has secured 900 new or expanding projects, 101,000 new jobs and more than $80 billion in capital investment since 2018. The state has been named CNBC's "Top State for Business" for three years in a row. During remarks, Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, expressed gratitude to Northam for his efforts as governor that have benefitted the Dan River Region. "Governor, you brought us an early Christmas present," Marshall told Northam, referring to the funding for industrial sites, before making a joke. "So I think we would like to change your name to Governor Santa Claus. So thank you for all you have done. We're going to miss you." 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. The two men found dead in a house fire Sunday morning in Pittsylvania County had been shot to death. We can say that the cause and manner of death is homicide by gunshot wounds, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor told the Danville Register & Bee on Wednesday night. However, investigators are still working to determine a motive and the timeline of the days events leading up to the shooting and the fire, Taylor said. He would not say whether the two men were shot at the residence where the fire happened. Authorities also have not released the identities of the victims. We cant go in the specifics of where the shootings occurred, he said. I can tell you that we have a task force working to solve this crime and make an arrest. Authorities are investigating the suspected arson and homicide at a residence at 152 W. Prospect St., a property tucked away on a narrow dirt road off Old Mayfield Road in Pittsylvania County just outside the Danville city limits. According to a news release from the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office, a neighbor reported smoke coming from a home in the community at about 10 a.m. Sunday. Firefighters found two men dead inside. Law enforcement was notified and responded to the scene, a news release from Devin Taylor stated. From evidence found at the scene, law enforcement is investigating the matter as an arson and homicide. The bodies were transported to the Medical Examiners Office in Roanoke for autopsies. In addition to the sheriffs 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. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information regarding the incident may call the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office or the Pittsylvania County Crimestoppers at 800-791-0044. 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 group of alumni and friends of the college sprang into existence and action after learning about the proposal for cuts last fall. When the trustees voted to avoid the cuts, the group raised money for the cause and served as a bridge to some who had become disenchanted. It brought a lot of awareness to people and opened doors of communication that I sensed had been closed, Whitmeyer said. Another factor, she said, was Hood. Hood took over as interim president last winter following the exit of former interim president Carol Moore. Whitmeyer said that Hood, a long-time English professor, was already a respected and trusted figure in the community. Hood taking the helm, she said, was the best thing that could happen for the college. As interim president, Hood presided over a voluntary early-exit program offered to tenured faculty that was first offered to faculty in January 2021 just before he took office. The college saw savings from those departures and from faculty who volunteered for less pay in exchange for decreased workloads. That, plus money raised in the fundraising campaign, helped the college avoid laying off professors in 2021, Hood said. LT Apparel Group, a maker of childrens clothes, said Thursday it is expanding operations in Guilford County with plans for a $57 million, 800,000-square-foot distribution center at a Reedy Fork corporate park. The family-owned company, founded in 1958, pledged to create at least 116 jobs with the project. The company currently has 38 employees in the Triad. Our operations here in Greensboro have come full circle, Richard Sutton, LT Apparels chief executive, said in a statement. From designing products in Revolution Mill to warehousing and distributing them from Browns Summit, LT Apparel is part of the fabric of this community, and were committed to remain so. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Alfred Sutton, the companys vice president of supply-chain operations, said LT Apparel considered sites in three Southeastern states. After a long search for our new home, it became clear that Greensboro was the right choice for us, he said. LT Apparel designs, markets, manufacturers and distributes branded childrens apparel that includes Adidas Kids, Carhartt Kids and its French Toast brand. Report from Glasgow The world is trying to address options to successfully mitigate potentially disastrous global temperature increases that may be issues for our kids and grandkids. There have been three global climate conferences on a four-year cycle this century. Glasgow, the third, concluded in late November. Our environment roundtable had a very informative, in-depth and extremely interesting assessment from Justin Catanoso following his return from Glasgow. This conference attracted more than 40,000 visitors! Justin, a faculty member at Wake Forest University, is well-known and respected in our area and has written extensively on environmental issues. He also attended the Paris climate conference and reports future conferences will be held annually, the next in Cairo. We were most fortunate that Justin was able to share time with us and permit us to make a YouTube video for our members. He has granted permission for us to share the link to this video with our community. If you wish to see a compelling assessment of the current state of climate change, we invite you to copy the follow address into your browser: https://youtu.be/gtWxPt6KC64. Dick Feulner November 22, 2021 Media contacts: Deidre McCabe, Director, Office of Communications, 410-767-3536 Andy Owen, Deputy Director, Media Relations, 410-767-6491 Update on top and bottom 10 skilled nursing facilities in Maryland ranked by staff vaccination rates Maryland Department of Health also announces update on facilities that did not submit adequate data required Baltimore, MD The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced an update on the top and bottom 10 skilled nursing facilities in the state ranked by percentage of staff with at least one dose of a vaccine against COVID-19. MDH also announced an update on skilled nursing facilities that did not submit adequate COVID-19 vaccination data as required. Per vaccination protocols in effect since September 1, 2021 and reinforced on November 4, 2021 by the Federal government, all nursing facility staff are required to have their first or single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of this week, 90.4 percent of staff at nursing facilities in the state have at least one dose. Nursing facilities that fail to comply with vaccination protocols or do not adequately report their vaccination data are subject to fines, civil penalties, and enforcement actions. From October 19 - November 1, 2021, Maryland issued 17 citations, totaling $117,500, to nursing homes for failure to comply with reporting requirements. A full list of the states nursing facilities and their vaccination data can be found on the Maryland Department of Agings Skilled Nursing Facilities Vaccination Dashboard, which is updated weekly. Bottom 10 skilled nursing home and congregate facilities in Maryland ranked by percentage of staff with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine Cumberland Healthcare Center = 57 percent Complete Care at Corsica Hills = 62 percent Coffman Nursing Home = 63 percent Dennett Road Manor = 63 percent Calvert Manor Center for Rehabilitation And Health = 63 percent Hagerstown Healthcare Center = 64 percent Future Care Cold Spring = 68 percent Anchorage Healthcare Center = 69 percent Powerback Rehabilitation Brightwood Campus = 69 percent Hyattsville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center = 70 percent Autumn Lake Healthcare at Chesapeake Woods = 70 percent Sterling Care at Frostburg Village = 71 percent Williamsport Nursing Home = 72 percent Oakland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center = 72 percent Western Maryland Hospital Center = 74 percent Oakwood Care Center = 74 percent Skilled nursing home and congregate facilities in Maryland that did not submit adequate COVID-19 vaccination data Autumn Lake Healthcare at Perring Parkway Westminster Healthcare Center Snow Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Holly Hill Healthcare Center St. Josephs Ministries For more information on nursing home Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) reporting requirements, please see this transmittal to all nursing home administrators. Facilities are required to self-report certain information weekly or daily. For facilities that have questions on data reported for their facility, email mdh.snfdata@maryland.gov. For the most recent Maryland COVID-19 data, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment or see if you are eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot, visit covidvax.maryland.gov. To find a location to get a COVID-19 test, visit covidtest.maryland.gov. -###- The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement. Follow us on Twitter @MDHealthDept and at Facebook.com/MDHealthDept. Last Monday a group of friends and I had a good chuckle at the amazing Guest View, signed by a group of Republican leaders of the Montana Legislature pleading with our congressional delegation to NOT approve millions of dollars to help Montanans across our state. We are referring to millions of dollars from the Build Back Better (BBB) plan being debated in Congress. Their article was filled with so many half-truths and distortions with lots of scary-sounding adjectives it was difficult to believe they were serious. Calling the legislation wasteful, reckless and spending madness they also stated that a no vote is the right stance. They claim the BBB would raise lots of taxes while cutting taxes for rich liberals who own expensive real estate. Not only is this not true, it is just silly. To raise revenue to cover the new spending, the legislation contains a slew of changes to the tax code targeting corporations and wealthier individuals. These provisions include: a new 15% minimum tax rate for corporations, a 1% surcharge on corporate stock buybacks, and an additional 8% surtax for those making more than $25 million in income. How many Montanans income are directly dependent upon corporate profits? The 2020 census reveals that the average income in Montana is $54,970 and 12% of Montanans live in poverty. How many Montanans make more than $25 million? You could count on your fingers and toes how many Montanans would pay more taxes as a result of this bill and all of us would benefit. The Congressional Budget Offices estimates suggest the bill would add $160 billion to the national debt between 2022-2031. However, the Treasury Department estimates are that the bill is fully funded without increasing taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 per year. As to cutting taxes for people who own expensive real estate, the bill doesnt single out a particular group. Anyone who owns real estate gets the benefit of the BBBs modification of an existing tax law, the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction which allows the deduction of your real estate taxes from your gross income when filing your tax returns. All homeowners in the United States, no matter where you live, your political leanings or your income get the benefit of this part of the tax code. The BBB simply raises the cap on what you can deduct from its current limit of $10,000 to $80,000 for the next five years. It then will revert back to the current limit. Be careful, boys, a lot of conservative Republican Montanans who are high rollers will benefit from this part of the bill. By the way, the tax rate on homes is lower in California than Montana, and nearly twice as high as Montanas in places like Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The BBB will cost $1.75 trillion over the next 10 years. As a comparison, we will spend over $8 trillion in the same period on military expenditures. And whats more, the GOP tax relief bill passed when Trump was president has already cost taxpayers $2 trillion. Here are just some of the items in the BBB bill that these fellas dont want for Montanas working families: Accessible, affordable and quality child care. Universal free high-quality pre-school programs for all three- and four-year-olds Permanent authorization for paid family and medical leave Extending the Child Tax Credit, which would cover over 40 million families and reduce child poverty nearly in half Provides for home and community-based services for the elderly and disabled Targeted funding to expand affordable housing and help end homelessness Expand internet connectivity to rural areas and low- and middle-income families Expand universal health care access and programs Lower the cost of prescription drugs and reducing co-pays Investing more money in the VA health system to serve our veterans Clean energy tax credits to expand renewable energy These Republican leaders claim a no vote against the BBB would be the best presents you could deliver to Montanans with complete disregard of all the direct benefits helping Montanans. So, what do you, as a Montanan, want for Christmas? A lump of hogwash coal -- or the above package of sorely needed, and long overdue, programs to support working class families and communities all over our state of Montana? This opinion was signed by Helena residents James Smith, Jim Nelson, Rebecca Johnson, Ronnie Whitaker, Galen McKibben, Sharon McKibben and Paul Pacini. Love 4 Funny 62 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Nearly a week after Lee Enterprises rejected Alden Global Capital's attempt to buy the newspaper publisher, the hedge fund responded Wednesday with a lawsuit accusing Lee's board of improperly denying shareholders the chance to have a say on the offer. Lee rejected Alden's offer to buy the company for $24 a share, or roughly $141 million, last Thursday because the company's board decided the offer grossly undervalued the company. But Alden argued in its lawsuit that Lee shouldn't have rejected its offer without even talking to the hedge fund. Alden also said Lee shouldn't have refused to accept its nomination of three outside directors for technical reasons, so it wants the court to order Lee to accept those nominees. Lees stockholder-unfriendly staggered board has exhibited all of the symptoms of severely entrenched leadership focused more on its own power than whats best for the company, Alden spokesperson Cameron Gurley said. Lee officials didnt immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit Wednesday afternoon. But the company has been steadfast so far in its opposition to Alden. The New York-based hedge fund that owns 6.3% of Lees stock became one of the largest newspaper owners in the nation after swallowing all of Tribunes newspapers earlier this year, but it has also earned a reputation for imposing severe cost cuts and layoffs. Two other hedge funds that are among Lee's largest shareholders, Praetorian Capital and Cannell Capital, have said they think the company is worth much more than Alden is offering. I think there is still a tremendous amount of value, said Carlo Cannell, managing director of the Wyoming-based fund. In fact, Cannell estimates Lee's stock could be worth $285 a share within five years if the company does everything right as it continues to transition more toward digital instead of print publication. Alden said in its lawsuit that it intended its $24 offer to be preliminary, and it could have been changed if the company had engaged in constructive talks. Lee's stock gained another 12% Wednesday to close at $40.53 before the lawsuit was announced. Before Alden made its initial bid, the stock was selling for $18.49. The newspaper industry overall has been struggling with that digital transition because it been accompanied by shrinking revenue, and the pandemic increased the financial pressure on newspapers. Many newspapers across the country closed over the last two decades and nearly half of all newsroom jobs were eliminated between 2004 and 2018. Even before Lee rejected Alden's bid, it adopted a poison-pill plan that would make it more expensive for Alden to buy up Lees shares once it owns more than 10% of the company. At that point, the plan would allow Lee's other shareholders to buy shares at a 50% discount or possibly get free shares for every share they already own. Lee owns The Pantagraph in Bloomington, Journal Gazette/Times-Courier in Mattoon, Herald & Review in Decatur, The Southern in Carbondale, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and dozens of other newspapers. Unions that represent journalists at those papers have come out strongly against Alden because they're worried about what the hedge fund would do. Alden has bought up roughly 200 publications across the country in recent years through a series of acquisitions. Besides the Tribune papers, Alden also owns the Denver Post, Orange County Register and Boston Herald. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Determined to protect students and teachers amid a troubling rise in violent student behavior, officials with Illinois largest teachers union said Wednesday they are partnering with legislators to ensure school districts are complying with state school safety laws. What happened in Michigan two weeks ago is a tragedy. Every incident where someone in a school is injured at the hand of another is heartbreaking, said Kathi Griffin, president of the Illinois Education Association, referring to the Nov. 30 shooting deaths of four students at a Detroit-area high school. Our educators should not have to constantly worry about their safety and the safety of their students, Griffin said. In 2019, lawmakers passed the IEA-proposed School Threat Assessment Bill legislation that requires schools in Illinois to create a threat assessment team and to develop protocol on school violence and prevention, IEA officials said. The legislation also expanded the use of the 1-cent county sales tax to help districts pay for school safety improvements, school resource officers or mental health professionals. In addition, the law directs Illinois school districts to review their school building emergency and crisis response plans, and to include mental health professionals as well as law enforcement agencies on their assessment teams. While officials said they hope Illinois school districts are already strictly following the law, they have no oversight system in place or data to detect if any districts are failing to comply with the requirements. Illinois state Rep. Fred Crespo, a Democrat from Hoffman Estates, and state Rep. Tony McCombie, a Republican from Savanna, are sponsoring the new legislation, which aims to ensure all of the states school districts are complying. Keeping schools safe, free of violence, making sure that students have a learning environment that is welcoming and open to all is paramount to having a strong school community, Crespo said. This legislation was meant to bring a similar assessment plan to districts across the state no matter the size and this leads to a better Illinois, he said. Ideally, in a situation like what happened in Michigan, the threat assessment team would have been called upon and intervened to get the student the help they need before tragedy occurs, McCombie added. Thats the intent of these laws, McCombie said. The children of our state are our most important asset. We must ensure threat assessment plans are not only created, but also followed to keep our students safe. Griffin reminded school districts they can use the roughly $7 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funding awarded to Illinois schools to hire more staff to support students dealing with mental health issues. We need to make sure we are doing everything we can from a security standpoint, but also we need to make sure we are addressing the trauma that our students are going through, Griffin said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LINCOLN High winds knocked out power across Central Illinois Wednesday night and Thursday morning, but no major damage was reported, as a powerful storm system spread across the Midwest and Great Plains. A steady wind of 28 mph was blowing at Chicagos OHare International Airport, where the temperature was 61 degrees at about 5 a.m. local time. Wednesdays high reached a record 66 degrees. It was very impressive, said Rich Otto, a forecaster with the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. I cannot recall a system like this in recent memory. Today things look quieter and that is good news. Damage was reported from New Mexico to Minnesota from the winds that caused more widespread damage than the tornadoes the storm spawned. Aircraft were damaged and a radio tower collapsed in New Mexico, power lines were downed throughout the region, there were numerous reports of toppled trees and roofs being ripped off buildings, according to the Storm Prediction Center. A semitrailer struck by high winds rolled onto its side on southbound U.S. Highway 151 in eastern Iowa on Wednesday evening as severe weather moved through the area, killing the driver, the Iowa State Patrol said. Wind gusts of up to 74 degrees were reported in Chicago overnight. The wind also knocked a tractor-trailer off Interstate 94 south and downed power lines. Forecasters at the National Weather Service had warned wind gusts could be in excess of 60 mph when record-breaking warmth during the day gave way to a powerful cold front blasting in from the West, across the plains and mountains, such as earlier Wednesday when the Weather Channel said a wind gust of 107 mph was recorded in Lamar, Colorado. Although the system weakened slightly as it moved into the Midwest, gusts of 54 mph to 74 mph were recorded across northern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service. Peoria on Wednesday also registered a record high at 69 degrees. The previous record temperature of 63 degrees was set in 1971. Other highs reported Wednesday were 63 degrees in Bloomington, 65 degrees in Decatur and 64 degrees in Mattoon. The Illinois Department of Transportation warned motorists to use caution on Thursday. Ameren reported 1,636 customers without power as of 10 a.m. Thursday. About 800 of those were in the Bloomington-Normal area. 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. Bloomberg News, the Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LINCOLN The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning across Central Illinois until 6 a.m. Thursday. Counties include Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, De Witt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon and Macon. Southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph are projected. The strongest are expected between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. "Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles," the weather service said. The high wind warning is for an area stretching from New Mexico to upper Michigan. The weather service said an automated observation site in Lamar, Colorado, recorded a gust of 107 mph Wednesday morning. Wind gusts of 100 mph were reported in Russell, Kansas. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. MORE WEATHER COVERAGE Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With the delta variant still wreaking havoc here and the sobering unknowns of the highly infectious omicron variant, forward-thinking action is vital to prevent more hospitalizations and death. A logical, lifesaving step: requiring COVID-19 vaccination for domestic air travel in the United States. Doing so wouldn't just make the airline cabin safer for passengers. It also would help protect the people and destinations that travelers are visiting. In addition, it would spur the unvaccinated to finally take this conscientious step. In a 2021 Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 40% of respondents reluctant to get the shots said they would be more likely to do so if airlines required vaccination or doing so would further ease travel. Currently, just 61% of Americans of all ages are considered fully vaccinated, according to the New York Times COVID tracker. A measure that provides a powerful incentive for vaccine holdouts to act is clearly necessary. A domestic air travel vaccination requirement for all eligible to get the shots neatly fits the bill. With holiday travel approaching, it would likely move the needle quickly on U.S. immunization levels. That would be beneficial with omicron's troubling approach. Canada already has put this sensible requirement in place, suggesting that it can be done with minimal disruption for airports and airlines. As of Oct. 30, vaccination became mandatory to board most flights and trains north of the border. A query to the White House yielded a frustrating response. Asked why the Biden administration hadn't followed Canada's lead, a spokesman simply pointed to a Dec. 2 statement by White House press secretary Jen Psaki. She said at that time that "nothing is off the table," including domestic air travel vaccine requirements. OK. But with omicron's swift global spread, why is the administration waiting to implement this necessary safeguard? The current U.S. policy requires those traveling here from another country to be fully vaccinated if they are a "non-U.S. citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa)." Requiring vaccination for all air travelers into and within the United States would help get delta under better control and put a brake on serious omicron infections. The time to act is now. StarTribune (Minneapolis) Love 79 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Central Illinois media, including print, television and internet, is doing a disservice to Illinois voters by refusing to hold political terrorists accountable for destroying confidence in government institutions. There is no better example than local media controlling the narrative at U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis forum at Richland Community College earlier this year to avoid any real accountability from Davis. Refusing to call out Davis and other Republican extremists for their efforts supporting Donald Trump, the big lie, and the insurrection attempts on Jan 6. Mike Bost, Darren Bailey, Mary Miller, cohort of Marjorie Taylor Green, and Chris Miller who aired a tirade against all Democrats while supporting Trumps Jan 6 rally. His truck was parked at the Capitol with an Oathkeepers sticker on the bumper. Throw in Brad Halbrook and our version of Yosemite Sam, Dan Caulkins who aligned themselves with the extremist. In the Dec. 1 Herald & Review, former congressman John Shimkus said Davis was a trusted leader of rebuilding roads and bridges. Davis voted against the recent infrastructure bill but supported a million dollar non-refundable loan to his familys McDonald's franchises he has investments in. Davis said he looks forward to retaking control of the House, firing Nancy Pelosi and holding Joe Biden accountable for massive failures. Pelosi has shown real leadership, passed infrastructure, led the effort to impeach Trump twice, and passed numerous bills benefiting working Americans. She never tried to overthrow our government, suppress voting rights, never told thousands of lies, drew alliances with extremist organizations, and trashed foreign allies. Pelosi never sucked up to Putin, took his word over U.S. intelligence agencies, or called for violence at public events. What a scoundrel. Get real, Davis. Local media has an obligation to expose Republican terrorists' efforts to undermine future elections and destroy democracy. Mike Griffin, Decatur Love 1734 1k Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 761 One person has died as a powerful storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest amid unseasonably warm temperatures, bringing hurricane-force wind gusts and spawning reported tornadoes in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota in a weather outbreak experts described as extremely unusual for December. A semitrailer struck by high winds rolled onto its side on southbound U.S. Highway 151 in eastern Iowa on Wednesday evening as severe weather moved through the area, killing the driver, the Iowa State Patrol said. The storm was shifting north of the Great Lakes into Canada on Thursday, with high winds, snow and hazardous conditions continuing in the upper Great Lakes region, the National Weather Service said. More than 400,000 homes and businesses were without electricity Thursday morning in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kansas, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. A tornado was reported in southern Minnesota on Wednesday and, if confirmed, would be the states first ever in December. The small community of Hartland, Minnesota, might have been the hardest hit, with a reported 35 to 40 homes sustaining minor damage while a few businesses were severely damaged, said county Emergency Management Director Rich Hall. Several barns were down and roofs were blown off some sheds, he added. The winds knocked down trees, tree limbs and nearly 150 power lines in northern and western Michigans Lower Peninsula. In the western Michigan village of Fruitport, high winds peeled back a portion of Edgewood Elementary Schools roof, leading officials to close all district schools Thursday. There were more than 20 tornado reports Wednesday in the Plains states, scattered through eastern Nebraska and Iowa, based on preliminary reports to the Storm Prediction Center. The day also saw the most reports of hurricane-force wind gusts 75 mph or higher of any day since 2004, the center said. 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. On Wednesday, there were at least 59 reports of hurricane-force wind gusts, which exceeded the 53 recorded on Aug. 10, 2020, when a rare derecho wind storm struck Iowa, the Storm Prediction Center said. The destruction on Wednesday, however, was far less severe than what Iowa saw from the 2020 derecho, which caused billions of dollars of damage. The strong winds also 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. That dust and smoke from various wildfires in Kansas was carried north by the storm and concentrated over parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa that led to a dramatic drop in air quality in those areas late Wednesday and a recommendation from the weather service for people to stay indoors. The smell of smoke from the fires also spawned a glut of calls to already-taxed emergency dispatchers in Omaha and other communities from people reporting the smell of smoke. The National Weather Service had issued a high wind warning for an area stretching from New Mexico to upper Michigan, including Wisconsin and Illinois. Gusts topping 80 mph 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 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. 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. 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 was recorded on the airfield at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The search continued Wednesday for a Piney Flats man charged in an abduction and carjacking Tuesday that started in Russell County and ended in Bristol. Joshua Robert Coleman, 46, has been charged with abduction by force, use of a firearm in a violent felony, possession of a firearm by a felon, carjacking, domestic assault, attempted strangulation, possession of a firearm while under protective order and robbery, according to the Bristol Virginia Police Department and Washington County Sheriffs Office. On Tuesday, Bristol police responded to the parking lot of Aldis at 720 Merchants Trace in the Exit 5 area, where they found a woman who escaped from her vehicle. The woman said Coleman, her ex-boyfriend, held her hostage at gunpoint for several hours. Bristol detectives learned that the incident began in Lebanon, Virginia, according to Bristol Police Sgt. Steve Crawford. Washington County Sheriffs Office learned the woman was giving Coleman a ride from the Lebanon Walmart. When he got in the vehicle, however, he brandished a handgun and provided instructions for the woman to transport him and another woman, according to the Sheriffs Office. The woman then took both to a mobile home in the 10300 block of Goose Creek Road in Washington County. Our region of Virginia has known firsthand the devastation of the opioid crisis. In recent years, a new threat has driven up fatal drug overdoses: fentanyl and its analogues. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. Like other opioids, it has a legitimate medical use as a pain killer. But illicit fentanyl is also often mixed in with other illegal drugs sold on the street. Users may not even know they are ingesting fentanyl, but its extreme potency endangers their lives. A mere two milligrams may be fatal. The numbers indicate the danger. Across the country, 100,306 people died of fatal overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021, according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Roughly two-thirds of those deaths were related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. Trends in Virginia reflect these national statistics. According to the commonwealths Department of Health, 2,309 fatal drug overdoses occurred in 2020, a record. Fentanyl caused or contributed to 71.8% of those deaths. Data for 2021 indicate fatal overdoses this year may surpass last years, a tragic milestone. Canada already has put this sensible requirement in place, suggesting that it can be done with minimal disruption for airports and airlines. As of Oct. 30, vaccination became mandatory to board most flights and trains north of the border. It applies to those ages 12 years and 4 months and up. Another important note: To comply with the mandate, Canadian travelers need to be fully vaccinated. Pfizer or Moderna recipients need to get second doses at least two weeks before traveling. Canada sensibly put in a monthlong transition period to ease the adjustment to the new requirement. Travelers who didnt qualify as fully vaccinated were able to travel if they can show a valid COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours of travel. A similar transition period would be needed in the U.S., especially if a mandate would be put in place before the holidays. But hopefully, U.S. travelers would be motivated to get started on the Pfizer or Moderna series in order to board a plane or get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is still a single immunization. In a recent interview with an editorial writer, Minnesota infectious disease expert Mike Osterholm said he supports a vaccine mandate for domestic air travel. Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows joined Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday in denouncing the House Select Committee investigation of the Jan. 6 insurrection, with Hannity repeatedly calling it a sham and Meadows insisting the bipartisan probe is all about going after former President Donald Trump. Despite all of Meadows denials and avoidance tactics, hes right on that point. It is about Trump. Its about the presidents overt efforts to foment insurrection and his refusal, for three hours and seven minutes, to tell the rioters to stand down. And its about determining whether the Trump White House helped plan the attack with collaboration by pro-Trump members of Congress. Forcing Meadows to testify is essential to determine who conspired in a deadly attempt to subvert democracy. So, yes, it is about Trump. Despite Meadows protests, he has no credible claim of executive privilege, having just published a book in which he reveals all kinds of privileged information from his White House days. Meadows also has already cooperated with the House committee, having released messages sent by prominent Fox News personalities and even Donald Trump Jr. begging Meadows to intervene with the president. With those delivery numbers, the booster campaign would be finished at the end of March, and we can't work with that, Lauterbach said. He said his ministry launched efforts to remedy that on Saturday, and has secured the European Union's approval to get the delivery of 35 million doses from Moderna moved forward. Lauterbach said he is negotiating with other countries, including Romania, Poland, Portugal and Bulgaria, to secure more vaccines. Germany also hopes to get doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine that have been adapted to the omicron variant in the first quarter. The minister said he expects that the booster vaccination and possibly also a fourth vaccination will be the central pillars of a successful strategy. Omicron hasn't yet become a major factor in Germany, unlike in Britain. But the country is only now seeing a wave of infections caused by the still-dominant delta variant, its biggest so far, recede slowly. There are signs that restrictions imposed in recent weeks are beginning to have an effect. Luxury resale marketplace The RealReal, which has more than 23 million members after going public more than two years ago, said it saw a 60% jump last year over the year before among those choosing gift boxes with purchases during the holiday season. Last month, the online site, which has 16 brick-and-mortar consignment stores around the U.S., saw orders with gift boxes rise by 73% over the same month last year for unbranded jewelry. Such purchases were up 62% for Gucci items and 53% for Louis Vuitton selections, according to company data. "The stigma is gone," said Marshal Cohen, a consumer behavior and retail analyst for the NPD Group. "There is a new view of how valuable some of the resale product is. Grey market selling of new and used items are now reaching new heights. Scoring a great item others can only dream of is the new form of luxury." Sales of gift cards for online thrift giant ThredUp, which went public earlier this year, were up 103% during the first two weeks of December compared to the entire month of November, said Erin Wallace, vice president of integrated marketing. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Del. Jay Jones, a Democratic member of the Virginia House from Norfolk who mounted a serious but unsuccessful primary challenge in the race for attorney general this year, announced Thursday he was resigning his seat. In a public letter, the two-term House member said the decision to step away by the end of the year was based on a desire to prioritize time with his family as he and his wife prepare to welcome their first child. I want to put my family first and be the best dad and the most supportive and present husband that I can possibly be, he wrote. Gov. Ralph Northam will schedule a special election at a time to be determined to fill the Norfolk-based 89th District seat, Northam's spokeswoman, Alena Yarmosky, said. In response, Sumlin indicated there had been six others involved in the conspiracy. Pressed to identify them, he refused. Why, asked another community member, was he protecting the other conspirators? "I'd like to hope they learned from what's going to happen to me," Sumlin explained. He said he didn't think any of them had been arrested, and he wanted to keep it that way. He hoped his and Jarvis' punishment would dissuade them from future arms dealings. For many in the EOD community, Sumlin's mea culpa and excuses about needing money were not enough. He had crossed a line by selling items that could have killed one of their own. Sumlin and Jarvis had faced decades in prison, but both reached deals with federal prosecutors. They pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle goods from the United States. The other seven counts were dropped. The maximum term was now 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. But they didn't even get that. Each was sentenced to five years' probation, and Jarvis was ordered to mental health counseling and required to take prescribed medication. SYDNEY (AP) Five children died and four others were in critical condition on Thursday after falling from a bouncy castle that was lifted 33 feet into the air by a gust of wind at a school on Australia's island state of Tasmania. The school was holding a celebration to mark the end of the school year. The children who died included two boys and two girls in year 6, which would make them 10 or 11 years old, said Tasmania police Commissioner Darren Hine. Police later Thursday confirmed a fifth child died in the hospital. Five other children were being treated, including four in critical condition. Hine said an investigation is underway. Images published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed police officers consoling each other as paramedics provided first aid to victims. Parents arrived at the school gate to collect their children as helicopters ferried the injured to hospitals. Tasmania state Premier Peter Gutwein called the incident "simply inconceivable... I know this is a strong and caring community that will stand together and support one another." OAKLAND Following the devastating tornados that tore through parts of Kentucky last weekend, an Oakland man is looking to provide victims and their families with toys and gifts in time for Christmas. Im just an average guy and I've been seeing all these pictures of Kentucky with how destroyed it is, said Brad Stiff, 35. I have four kids myself and I cant imagine living in a hotel right now and then doing Christmas there with just the shirt on my back. Stiff, who works as an electrician, said he was home on Dec. 10 when he saw the warnings for the tornado going through Illinois and drove his family to his parents house because they have a basement and a backup generator. Once they got back home the next day, Stiff said there was nothing done to his house, and the only noticeable damage was a couple of trees that came down in his yard. They weren't so lucky in Kentucky, where the death toll rose to 75 and 122 people were unaccounted for after tornadoes ripped through the state over the weekend. Fifteen counties across the commonwealth sustained considerable damage, with the western portion of the state the hardest hit. Stiff said he checked the Kentucky governors website about what is needed and discovered that supplies like food, water, and clothing donations were abundant while toys for infants to teens are short in supply. I really havent been seeing any toy drives or nothing for the kids down there and Christmas is next week, so I called my buddies, Stiff said. Soon after calling a handful of phone numbers, Stiff had the people and a plan in place to get toys in the hands of those affected. Stiff said he is looking for donations that are new and in the original packaging or unwrapped. Items like toys, books, and electronics will be accepted as well as $25 Visa and Mastercard gift cards to help the families out. To transport everything, Stiff said he was loaned a trailer from JJet Rentals in Casey and a truck from Express Electric who is also covering fuel costs for the trip to Kentucky. Anyone interested in donating items should drop off their new or unwrapped toys at any of the above businesses before Saturday, Dec. 18, so Stiff can deliver them himself. I just do toys, Stiff said. Im just trying to make some kids happy in Kentucky with the hardship theyre going through. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Weeks after four Michigan students were killed at their high school, Illinois' largest teachers union is calling on school districts to comply with the 2019 School Threat Assessment Bill. Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin spoke about new legislation the state's largest union is working on with Rep. Fred Crespo (D) and Rep. Tony McCombie (R) in a press conference on Wednesday. In 2019, the Illinois legislature passed the School Threat Assessment Bill, which was initiated by the Illinois Education Association and co-sponsored by Crespo and McCombie. The 2019 law requires Illinois schools to develop a threat assessment team that makes crisis response plans and safety drill programs, including for "targeted school violence." It also expanded the use of 1-cent county sales tax and bonds for school safety and mental health needs, including school resource officers and mental health professionals. The new legislation, if passed, would require yearly reports from the threat assessment teams to the Regional Office of Education and Illinois State Board of Education, which Crespo and McCombie say would increase accountability. The legislation will not outline penalties for school districts that fail to comply. Griffin said they did not have any data on how many schools are complying with the current laws. McCombie said the Regional Offices of Education that she spoke to said all of their districts were already complying. Creep indicated that he believed most Illinois schools were probably already complying with the law. "The genesis behind this bill is not to be punitive," he said. "On the contrary, it's to address the threat and identify it early." Creep also referenced news reports that officials and staff at Oxford High, at the edge of the Detroit metro area, could face legal consequences for not doing enough to prevent a school shooting Nov. 30 that left four students dead. Hours before students were killed, the suspect, Ethan Crumbley, was brought to the school's office after a teacher discovered a disturbing note described by law enforcement as depicting a gun, a bullet, a bleeding person, and a smiley face emoji with phrases including "The thoughts won't stop, help me." After Crumbley's parents reportedly refused to take him home following a meeting about the note, the 15-year-old returned to class. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been charged with four counts of manslaughter, according to MLive. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald has declined to dismiss the possibility of charges for Oxford school officials, according to NPR. As of Wednesday, no criminal charges have been filed against the school, but two $100 million civil suits have been filed. This year, union members of the Illinois Education Association are reporting increased violence in rural, suburban and urban schools alike, Griffin said. She attributed some of this to trauma from the pandemic, which also impacted the social skills of young children who were learning remotely. Griffin, Crepo and McCombie each said they didn't consider this legislation to be a political issue, but a public safety issue. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Madison County Board shot down Chairman Kurt Prenzler's attempt to appoint a new director of the Emergency Management Agency at its regular board meeting Wednesday night. Prenzler wanted to replace current Director Tony Falconio with Richard Keasey, which was not well-received among Madison County Board Members, even among those who commended Keasey. "[Keasey] is a fantastic human being, a great American, and a real American patriot," said Mick Madison, a Republican from Bethalto. "He's a highly decorated Air Force Colonel. He would be splendid at this position, but I have to vote no on this replacement." The attempted appointment comes in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and just days after a devastating tornado struck an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, killing six people Friday night. "You saw (Falconio's) performance over the weekend," said Eric Foster, a Republican from Granite City, to Prenzler. "He performed flawlessly. Why do you continually put this board in this situation, and why do you continually try to get rid of people the board advises you to leave alone?" Prenzler did not give a reason for wanting to replace Falconio. "It's not appropriate to talk about a person who's not up for appointment," Prenzler said. "It's only appropriate to talk about the person who's being appointed." No board members questioned Keasey's qualifications; other than Madison, no one made any comments about Keasey at all. Rather, the discussion was focused on retaining Falconio. Michael "Doc" Holliday, a Democrat from Alton, said the sheriff's office and the police departments he spoke to told him how dedicated Falconio was. Keasey's appointment failed for a lack of motion, which prompted some of the people sitting in the meeting room in Edwardsville to applaud. Falconio sat in on the meeting. After the county board adjourned, some board members shook his hand in the hall outside of the meeting room. He told the Belleville News-Democrat he had no comment. The resolution in the board's packets indicated that, if approved, Keasey would be paid a yearly salary of $91,249.60, which is the same as Falconio's salary, according to the Belleville News-Democrat Public Pay Database. Falconio has been director since 2019, according to his LinkedIn page. He was previously the emergency management director for Clinton County. Last year, Keasey ran for Madison County Board District 18 as a Republican. He lost to longtime Democratic incumbent Jack Minner, even as his party would go on to win 12 of the 14 contested seats. According to his campaign website, Keasey served in the Air Force and Illinois Air National Guard for 30 years before he retired in 2015. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As COVID-19 continues to spread in Illinois, demand is growing for a treatment called monoclonal antibodies thats been shown to help keep high-risk people out of the hospital. But the latest COVID-19 surge has left some Chicago-area hospital systems and clinics unable to keep up with the number of people who want or need the treatment. In some cases, providers say they dont have enough of the treatments on-hand, while others say theyre limited by staffing shortages, with employees already stretched thin from taking care of COVID-19 positive patients, providing vaccinations and administering COVID-19 tests. We, as well as most medical centers in the area have more people who need monoclonal antibodies than we have capacity to deliver, said Dr. Michael Ison, a professor in the division of infectious disease and organ transplantation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He called monoclonal antibodies the best therapy for patients early in the course of illness. 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. But the treatment must be given quickly to be effective. Most of the treatments are supposed to be administered as soon as possible after a person tests positive for COVID-19, and within 10 days of experiencing symptoms. In some cases, they can be given before a person gets COVID-19, if the person has been exposed to the illness. If a person is already hospitalized with COVID-19, its too late for monoclonal antibody treatments. President Donald Trump received monoclonal antibodies when he caught COVID-19 last year. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorizations to several types of monoclonal antibody treatments. The newest type, just approved this month, is actually for people who do not have COVID-19 and have not been exposed but who couldnt take vaccines for medical reasons or didnt gain effective immunity from the vaccines because of health conditions. But in recent weeks, the treatments havent always been easy to come by for Chicago area patients whove needed them. Mary Potwora, 69 of Niles, spent about 2 hours on the phone searching for an appointment to get the treatment after she tested positive for COVID-19 last week. She had already started feeling weak and fatigued and experiencing chest pain, despite being vaccinated. Potwora has asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and is a cancer survivor. Ultimately, she found an appointment at Innovative Care, an urgent care clinic in Lincoln Park. Im going to go and make sure I get in before I get so sick I cant move, Potwara remembered thinking. Its scary because you know youre getting sicker, and youve got to get in to get taken care of before you get to the point where you cant do (anything). About three days after the treatment, Potwara was already feeling significantly better. Joseph Ravago, 49 of Wilmette, also called several providers last week searching for the treatment, without success, before he got an appointment at Innovative. Ravago has asthma and high blood pressure, and he had developed a fever and felt fatigued before receiving the monoclonal antibodies. It was painless, Ravago said of receiving the infusion. If theres a treatment out there that has minimal risk why not take that. Ravago said he had not been vaccinated before contracting COVID-19 because he has religious objections to it and feels theres not enough data about the vaccines. Doctors caution that people shouldnt consider the infusions to be an alternative to vaccination, and that vaccinations are still the best way to guard against COVID-19. Innovative is now filling up all of its 50 to 55 appointment slots for infusions each day, said Dr. Rahul Khare, Innovative Care founder and CEO. That wasnt the case just a month ago, when the number of people getting COVID-19 in Illinois was lower, he said. Khare also believes demand is up as people have become more aware of monoclonal antibodies as a treatment option and as doctors have become more accustomed to recommending it. NorthShore University HealthSystem is also seeing demand outstrip supply. At this point, NorthShore is not able to give the treatment to every patient who requests it, said Jeff Thiel, NorthShore assistant vice president for pharmacy. It can be tough, Thiel said, to find appropriate spaces to provide the infusions, given that the patients who are receiving them are COVID-19 positive. Also, the system has limited staff who can administer the treatments, partly because of nationwide staff shortages and partly because many of them are still so focused on other efforts to combat COVID-19, such as giving vaccinations and administering tests, he said. Innovative is also somewhat limited by staffing and is working to hire another physician and another nurse to help give more infusions, Khare said. But Innovatives main bottleneck is how many doses of the treatment it gets from the state, he said. The federal government is paying for the antibodies and giving them to the states. The Illinois Department of Public Health then distributes them to providers. The antibodies themselves are free to patients, though providers may bill patients or their insurance companies for services associated with providing the infusions. For the time period stretching from Nov. 29 to Dec. 12, the state allocated 8,638 courses of monoclonal antibodies to more than 100 providers across Illinois, with Innovative receiving nearly 500 for its two locations, one of the largest allotments in the state, according to a recent health department memo to providers. When deciding where to send the antibodies, when theres a shortage, the state takes into consideration which areas are in greatest need as well as how much a facility has been using. To get the treatment at Innovative and the areas major hospital systems, patients typically need to first have a consultation with or referral from a doctor, to make sure they qualify. Other hospital systems say they are not yet having to turn away people who want the treatments, but that may change if COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Illinois. AMITA Health, which has 19 Illinois hospitals, has so far been able to give the treatment to any patient who qualified and wanted it, said Dr. Dana Vais, system medical director for infectious disease services. But she said demand has skyrocketed in the last couple of weeks, and shes waiting to see how the coming weeks will go. Shes urging people to get vaccinated, and then reach out early for monoclonal antibody treatments if theyre high risk and test positive for COVID-19. The best way to deal with COVID is by not getting COVID, and thats what vaccines are for, Vais said. If it does happen, the best thing is to treat it early. If you get symptoms, get tested. Dont assume its not COVID. Use those resources to cut the disease short instead of waiting until theres a lot of damage. Advocate Aurora Health, which has 10 hospitals in Illinois, is also seeing an uptick in demand for the treatment, though, so far, its been able to handle the increase, said Dr. Chintan Mistry, chief medical officer for Advocates medical group in the south Chicagoland patient service area. There are times when the available slots on a given day might be occupied, but ... we can almost always get somebody in so they can get the therapy, Mistry said. However, concerns remain about how much supply hospitals will have in the coming weeks, he said. The state health department did not respond to requests for comment on how the state is dealing with increased demand, but the memo to providers says that if theres a shortage the state will consider either substituting products or allocating from the health departments own supply. Some health leaders are hopeful that new, antiviral pills could take some of the pressure off of health care providers when it comes to treating high-risk people who contract COVID-19, and make treatments available to more people. The pills, made by Merck and Pfizer, could be taken at home, meaning they wouldnt require hospitals to devote space or as many staff to them as monoclonal antibody treatments. But the FDA has not yet authorized either of those pills, and some questions remain about their side effects and effectiveness. In the meantime, doctors say monoclonal antibodies remain a best bet for high-risk people who contract COVID-19, and a good way to keep as many hospital beds open as possible, as the illness again surges in Illinois. Robert Heidrich, 59 of Edison Park, received monoclonal antibodies at AMITA Health Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center Chicago last week, after testing positive for COVID-19. Before the infusion, he was congested, coughing and fatigued. Within a few days of treatment, he started feeling his energy and sharpness return. He described the actual infusion as easy and didnt have trouble getting an appointment, after his doctor suggested he be treated. If you catch it early enough, and youre able to get it, I think you should, said Heidrich, who is also vaccinated. Id rather do this now than have to spend all that time in the hospital. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The state of Illinois is in final negotiations to sell the James R. Thompson Center for $70 million to a developer who would spare one of the Loops most iconic and controversial buildings from the wrecking ball, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday. But the deal, which the Pritzker administration expects to finalize by spring, would see the state buy back a third of the renovated building for about $148 million, a net cost to the state of roughly $78 million, officials clarified at a briefing following the governors announcement. Despite the cost, the administration said the arrangement is a good deal for taxpayers because the state otherwise would have to purchase or lease another building to maintain a portion of its workforce in the Loop. The plan also calls for the developer to significantly overhaul the Thompson Centers aging interior. 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. The state selected a company led by Michael Reschke, chairman and CEO of real estate developer The Prime Group, as the buyer from the two bids submitted this fall. Reschkes JRTC Holdings is working with Jahns firm on its plan to revamp a building that has inspired strong opinions since opening in 1985. The redevelopment plan calls for installing a glass curtain wall to separate the office floors from the soaring atrium, which should alleviate many of the heating and cooling issues and noise problems the building has faced during its lifetime, Reschke said. That atrium will become the monumental entrance to the future office building, and it will be unlike any other entrance in the city, and for that matter in the country, he said. While the state and the developer are still finalizing terms, plans call for the state to own and occupy about 425,000 of the buildings 1.2 million square feet. State employees will be there to support the Loops continued economic revitalization for years to come, Pritzker said at a news conference at the Thompson Center to announce the tentative deal. Selling the building will save the state, and taxpayers, an estimated $20 million per year over the next 30 years by consolidating office leases and reducing operating expenses, according to the governors office. In addition to office and retail space in a prime Loop location, the redeveloped building could eventually include a hotel on the upper levels, Reschke said. He estimated the overhaul will take about two years at a cost of about $280 million, below the $325 million price tag the state has cited for needed upgrades. The CTAs Clark/Lake station that occupies part of the building would remain in operation throughout construction. State offices will continue to occupy upper levels of the building while lower floors are renovated for their use. The other bid the state received came from a group led by Bob Dunns Landmark Development, the firm behind an ambitious and as yet unrealized project near Soldier Field called One Central. The proposed mixed-use development is being pitched as a potential site for a city casino but is reliant on $6.5 billion in state financing over 20 years that so far hasnt won support in Springfield. At the Thompson Center, the Landmark groups proposal called for demolishing the existing building and remaking the site as a mixed-use high-rise development with the state as an anchor tenant. The state is moving forward, meanwhile, with long-term plans to relocate much of its downtown workforce after paying $73.3 million in January to buy a 17-story, 429,316-square-foot Near West Side office building that was previously home to regional offices of PepsiCo. Pritzker signed a bill in April 2019 authorizing the sale of the Thompson Center, but the coronavirus pandemic that came less than a year later sharply drove down demand for downtown commercial space. In the third quarter of this year, commercial office space in Chicagos central business district had a vacancy rate of 17.7%, the highest level since 2010, according to commercial real estate services firm Newmark. While questions remain about how the trend toward working from home as a result of COVID-19 will affect post-pandemic demand for office space, Reschke said he expects the Thompson Center development will attract strong interest from law firms and other companies due its proximity to City Hall, the Daley Center and other government buildings. The governors office said it expects to reach a final agreement to sell the building ahead of an April 5 deadline and to close on the transaction this summer. To the chagrin of preservationists, who consider the Jahn building an iconic example of postmodern architecture, state officials previously had said they didnt have a preference about whether new owners tear down the existing structure. But Pritzker said he was pleased that the building would largely be preserved and said the state is working to find another way to honor its namesake, former Republican Gov. James R. Big Jim Thompson, who died last year. Thompson had served on the board of directors two of Reschkes companies, Reschke said. Preservationists also applauded Wednesdays announcement. Landmarks Illinois, which has included the Thompson Center on its list of the states most endangered historic places, said in a statement that it was thrilled to hear the governor has selected a developer for the Thompson Center that plans to reuse the building instead of demolishing what is one of the most iconic and noted examples of Post Modernism in Chicago. This news is especially encouraging given that it comes at a time when the National Park Service is currently reviewing a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the building, the group said. In June, a state advisory panel voted to nominate the building to the National Register of Historic Places over objections from the Department of Central Management Services and the State Historic Preservation Office. The state agencies argued in documents that the building is not a great example of postmodern architecture, that Jahn was not a premier practitioner of the style and that the Thompson Center was not one of his best works. Still, the Historic Preservation Office went forward with submitting the nomination, commissioned by Landmarks Illinois. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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! Brandon Juwan Sessoms, 23, of Barkwood Drive is charged with assault inflicting serious injuries, Winston-Salem police said. Sessoms is accused of assaulting Michael Scottodifrega, 36, of Winston-Salem. Scottodifrega suffered injuries to his face and head as well as a concussion while trying to break up a fight, the Winston-Salem Journal has reported. After Sessoms turned himself in to the Forsyth County Magistrates Office, Sessoms posted a $10,000 bond and was released from custody. Sessoms is scheduled to appear Jan. 14 in Forsyth District Court. Scottodifrega said Thursday that he is happy police arrested the man accused of assaulting him. I could not be any more thankful to the Winston-Salem Police Department for doing what they need to do in order that we all stay safe, Scottodifrega said. Winston-Salem police went to 214 W. Fourth St. at 2:30 a.m. Dec. 5 after they received a report of a fight at Brothers Pizzeria, police said. The incident involved several men and women who were fighting inside and outside of the business. Forsyths positive test rate has averaged 9% over the past two weeks. Thats up from 5.1% on Nov. 15. By comparison, Guilford is at 7.3%. Forsyth health director Joshua Swift expects the Forsyth daily case count to remain elevated through the Christmas and New Years holiday period, and potentially two to three weeks afterward. In some ways, weve become numb to these COVID-19 numbers, but we cant allow ourselves to be, Swift said. Out of the 135 new cases listed today, at the current (death) rate, one to two of those people will die from COVID-19, and it could be higher among the elderly and those with compromised health conditions. Omicron impact Dr. Mandy Cohen, the states outgoing health secretary, said Tuesday that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has placed North Carolina back into the red zone for COVID-19 community spread, which contains a recommendation for wearing masks in most indoor public venues. State and local health-care officials attribute the current surge primarily to Thanksgiving holiday gatherings and colder weather leading more people to spend more time indoors. The workload, such that it is, for the honorables in Raleigh sure looks onerous. Some 359 bills were introduced and passed the state House of Representatives. Across the way, state senators dealt with 173. Not all became law, of course. Many went off to die slow deaths, gathering dust in various committees once they crossed over from one chamber to the other. Some that made it to the governors desk were important. Necessary, even. The $25.9 billion state budget. Stronger protections for employees who blow the whistle on malfeasance. COVID relief. Others, such as naming the bottlenose dolphin as the official state marine mammal, not so much. Another beauty, the prize pig, was signed into law just last week by Gov. Roy Cooper. It willhold onto your hats, folksmake it a felony for elected officials to engage in self-dealing, using their official titles to line their pockets. Did we really need a law to spell out for city council members, county commissioners and the like not to steal? If thats true, the Do Not Eat labels affixed to those silicon gel packs are necessary after all. A better country Its time for us as individuals to examine our lives and face responsibilities for our actions. On my honor, is that something we still have? Can I be happy and grateful for what I have and strive to better myself and others without denying someone else the same privilege? Did I stop learning when my formal schooling ended? Do I research the candidates who ask for my vote? Do I vote, volunteer to serve in my community or my country, help my neighbor or those who need some extra care? A better country starts with a better citizen. It is never too late to improve ourselves and encourage the young ones to be better morally, mentally and physically than we have been. Barbara Carter Winston-Salem Baffling statements The statements made by Bruce Bailiff, the housing inspector supervisor for the city of Winston-Salem, are quite baffling (Piedmont Park resident fights bedbugs, other problems, Dec. 8). I have a few other choice words, but this is a family newspaper. Two other hedge funds that are among Lees largest shareholders, Praetorian Capital and Cannell Capital, have said they think the company is worth much more than Alden is offering. I think there is still a tremendous amount of value, said Carlo Cannell, managing director of the Wyoming-based fund. In fact, Cannell estimates Lees stock could be worth $285 a share within five years if the company does everything right as it continues to transition more toward digital instead of print publication. Alden said in its lawsuit that it intended its $24 offer to be preliminary, and it could have been changed if the company had engaged in constructive talks. Lees stock gained another 12% Wednesday to close at $40.53 before the lawsuit was announced. Before Alden made its initial bid, the stock was selling for $18.49. Even before Lee rejected Aldens bid, it adopted a poison-pill plan that would make it more expensive for Alden to buy up Lees shares once it owns more than 10% of the company. At that point, the plan would allow Lees other shareholders to buy shares at a 50% discount or possibly get free shares for every share they already own. For 40 years, Martha Horvay explored the interplay of flat pattern and three-dimensional volume and light in paintings of everyday objects, most memorably in a 2003 exhibition that featured paintings of a bathroom sink, cats water bowl and a drawer stuffed with household electronics. Then came the pandemic, and a shift in Horvays subject matter. I turned to objects that surround me in my studio, primarily whelk shells that I collected from South Carolina beaches, the Lincoln painter writes in her statement for the Lux Center for the Arts' Two Geometric Journeys exhibition. I view the shells as specimens of complex form, rather than as traditional still life. The latter is evident in six of Horvays eight exhibited paintings -- all sharing the title Growth Pattern -- that examine the organic shells in much the same manner as she did man-made objects. It increased the required setback from any homes on land not leasing to the Ranger Power to 450 feet, required ongoing training with rural fire departments and clarified that in addition to requiring planting six trees every 100 feet as screening, those trees must be at least 4 feet tall. It also requires that the company or whoever operates the farm maintain those trees. The land is about half of whats needed for the 2,800 acres of the proposed 250-megawatt farm, and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission and the City Council have already approved the special permit for the other half an area from 120th to 148th streets thats inside the citys jurisdiction. The planning commission ultimately signed off on a special permit for the county portion, but only after two votes and substantial debate. Much of the sticking point on the county land is a provision that would allow panels to be placed on agricultural outlots, which are open spaces that are part of acreage developments in what are known as community unit plans. Keep scrolling for links to full versions of these top stories and more. *** US faces a double coronavirus surge as omicron advances The new omicron coronavirus mutant speeding around the world may bring another wave of chaos, threatening to further stretch hospital workers already struggling with a surge of delta cases and upend holiday plans for the second year in a row. The White House on Wednesday insisted there was no need for a lockdown because vaccines are widely available and appear to offer protection against the worst consequences of the virus. But even if omicron proves milder on the whole than delta, it may disarm some of the lifesaving tools available and put immune-compromised and elderly people at particular risk as it begins a rapid assault on the United States. Our delta surge is ongoing and, in fact, accelerating. And on top of that, were going to add an omicron surge, said Dr. Jacob Lemieux, who monitors variants for a research collaboration led by Harvard Medical School. *** Jaguars fire Urban Meyer after 13 games, countless missteps The U.S. and its allies have refused to provide such pledges, but Biden and Putin agreed last week on further talks to discuss Russia's concerns. In a statement late Thursday, NATO ambassadors said they are gravely concerned by the substantial, unprovoked, and unjustified Russian military build-up on the borders of Ukraine in recent months, and reject the false Russian claims of Ukrainian and NATO provocations. But they signaled that the 30-nation alliance might be ready to discuss Russias security proposals. We are clear that any dialogue with Russia would have to proceed on the basis of reciprocity, address NATOs concerns about Russias actions, be based on the core principles and foundational documents of European security, and take place in consultation with NATOs European partners, they said. Should Russia take concrete steps to reduce tensions, we are prepared to work on strengthening confidence-building measures, the statement said, adding that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe could be the forum for this. 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. 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. 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 do to take it back. A federal jury Wednesday found a northeastern Nebraska man guilty of voluntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice in the killing of his fiancee 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. Rooney had been charged with second-degree murder, but the jury instead found him guilty of the lesser charge 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, said. 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. A pair of just-released legislative reports bolster Nebraskas decision to end a contract with a Kansas-based nonprofit and close out its 12-year experiment with private case management in child welfare. A special investigative committee of the Legislature put out one report Wednesday. The committee had been charged with investigating how Nebraska ended up contracting with the nonprofit, Saint Francis Ministries, in July 2019 and the private agencys performance since then. The Public Consulting Group, a consultant hired to study Nebraskas child welfare privatization effort, issued the second report. Both concluded that Nebraska should return to having state workers oversee the care of abused and neglected children across the state, including in Douglas and Sarpy counties, where that task has been contracted out since 2009. The three criteria used for this retrospective analysis quality, innovation and cost have revealed no particular advantage to privatization in the (two counties), the consultant said. The disruptions and resources expended in efforts to make the privatized system work do not measure up to the gains. When it opened in 1994, the Penterman Armory served as the one-stop shop for the medical needs of the Nebraska National Guard. But as the United States has continued to lean on the National Guard to defend its national security interests, the limitations of the Penterman Armory quickly began to show themselves. Instead of five-year medical checkups, the National Guard began screening soldiers and airmen on an annual basis to maintain readiness for its next mission, whether that be overseas or right here at home. The armory's limited space required medical professionals to find space where they could and for the men and women of the Guard to put up with cramped and less-than-private areas. "Our demands on our clinics and all the medical professionals and support staff -- everything it takes to ensure that we have a readiness force grew," said Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac. "And our ability to move soldiers and airmen through became quite constrained." On Wednesday, the Nebraska National Guard celebrated the opening of a $2.7 million renovation and expansion of the Penterman Armory Medical Annex, which officials said will serve the Guard's needs into the future. The result is record-high temperatures and ripe conditions for an outbreak of thunderstorms, with warm, southerly winds being whipped by lines of equal atmospheric pressure packed tightly together. Shulski said the extreme weather event Wednesday is also evident if you zoom out to look at conditions across the northern hemisphere. Temperatures in Fairbanks, Alaska, fell to minus-38 on Wednesday, as the high latitudes fell into what Shulski described as a "cold pool." "When Alaska is very cold this time of year, that typically means we are anomalously warm," she said. "During transition times such as going from fall to winter, that strong temperature difference between high latitudes and us in the mid-latitudes often results in us having an active weather pattern." While fall has been warmer than usual, continuing a decades-long trend, Decembers have been growing increasingly colder on average. Januarys, meanwhile, have gotten increasingly warmer, and Februarys have cooled "quite significantly," Shulski said. For days, forecasters had warned of a weather event unusual for any time of the year, but unprecedented for mid-December. Winds gusted to more than 50 mph for several hours on a day when many cities established record temperatures. In Lincoln, the airport reported a 93 mph wind gust on the same day the temperature climbed to 74, the second-warmest December day ever. And on top of all that was the severe weather threat. From the first severe thunderstorm warning posted in south-central Nebraska just before 1 p.m. until storms moved out of the state early Wednesday evening, residents of counties from the South Dakota to the Kansas border braced against the threat of damaging winds and tornadoes as the fast-moving line rolled through. Tornadoes were spotted near Ceresco north of Lincoln, in the Glenvil, Edgar and Marquette areas of central Nebraska and in the northeastern part of the state near Beemer, Columbus and Humphrey. But elsewhere, including near Aurora, in Giltner and near Beaver Lake south of Plattsmouth, meteorologists will likely survey damage later this week to see if it was associated with a tornado. The bride may not have gotten exactly the wedding she dreamed of, but she got the perfect dress. Even if she had to make it herself. Political campaign season may be over but battles against what increasingly is being called critical race theory are not. I still put CRT in quotes. I know that those who want to kick CRT out of public schools hate to hear me bring up the fact that CRT isnt taught in public schools. But that technicality doesnt matter to the activists, including some genuinely concerned parents. True, CRT is an academic framework, created by progressive legal scholars in the 1970s and 80s, that posits racism to be not only a matter of individual bias but also embedded in legal systems and policies that historically have shaped American law and public policy. Yet, Ive heard that label politically repurposed by conservatives and ballyhooed effectively through conservative media to apply to just about any publication or classroom instruction that, in their terms, divides the races into victims and oppressors, or otherwise might cause white children to feel badly about themselves. Thats not accurate, either, but it is the description I widely hear from advocates for laws like those already enacted in 12 states and proposed in 29 others, according to an Education Week analysis at the end of last month. 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. Ascension Health reports that it is among the many companies affected by a massive ransomware attack that targeted Ultimate Kronos Group, a human resources company whose software Ascension uses. The hack has forced Ascension to change how it pays employees across the country, including at Ascension All Saints Hospital, Racine Countys biggest hospital. Ascension has not directly said how widespread the problems are, although it has been reported at at least one other Ascension hospital in Indiana. Nestle, which employs approximately 400 people in Burlington, also is a client of Kronos, but spokeswoman Dana Stambaugh said in an email Thursday afternoon that this (hack) will have no impact on our ability to pay our employees. Kronos is a human resources company worth billions. It reportedly suffered a ransomware attack that may keep its systems offline for weeks, NPR reported. To ensure employees are paid, companies that rely on the software are working to find backup plans including issuing paper checks, some for the first time in years. Ransomware is when hackers who take control of an organizations computers and lock out the organization itself, often demanding untraceable payments (sometimes totaling in the tens of millions of dollars) to return computers to normal. According to a statement from an Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson: Like many companies, we have been impacted by the ransomware attack on Kronos. While Kronos is working to address system issues, we have put in place alternate systems to track time and process payroll as scheduled. As such, the nonprofit health system expects all employees to be paid on time. USA Today reported that for now, Kronos recommends its clients look into alternatives for workforce management while it navigates this situation. Other clients of Kronos are Tesla and YMCA. Last year, after ransomware shut down the City of Racines computer systems. Rather than pay the virtual kidnappers, the city essentially rebuilt its systems from the ground up, a process that took months. Hackers often will gain access to a computer system but not act for months as they search for more exploits that could give them more power or access to other organizations systems before they initiate a shutdown and issue demands. A massive computer vulnerability tied to Minecraft, the all-time best-selling video game which is now owned by Microsoft, was made public last month. The security flaw is possibly the worst computer vulnerability discovered in years, leaving untold numbers of computers open to infiltration. The internets on fire right now, Adam Meyers, senior vice president of intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, told The Associated Press. People are scrambling to patch, he said, and all kinds of people scrambling to exploit it. He said earlier this month that in the 12 hours since the bugs existence was disclosed it had been fully weaponized, meaning malefactors had developed and distributed tools to exploit it. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 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. RACINE A Mount Pleasant man allegedly tried to rob an employee of the Welcome Mart BP gas station, 1130 Washington Ave. Dereginald O. Campbell, 31, of the 6500 block of San Marino Drive, was charged with a felony count of attempt robbery with use of force. According to a criminal complaint: At 10:40 p.m. Saturday, an officer was sent to the Welcome Mart BP gas station for a robbery report. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with an employee who said a man attacked him and tried to take his wallet. The man was loitering outside the store and was asked to leave before the alleged attack began. Store video showed the employee exit the store and then quickly return inside followed by the man. The man pushed the employee to the floor and tried to steal his wallet. They struggled for about a minute before the man stood back up with the wallet. He looked inside and then tossed it to the floor before leaving. At 1:22 a.m. Sunday, an officer reported seeing the suspect and was able to identify him as Campbell. Campbell was given a $500 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. A competency hearing is set for Jan. 14 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 TOWN OF NORWAY A member of the Wind Lake Volunteer Fire Company is facing a noncriminal disorderly conduct charge for allegedly using a crowbar to threaten a motorist after the car his wife was driving was damaged in an apparent road rage incident. Bruce Liberski, a retired veteran firefighter now serving as a volunteer engineer in the department, was cited by police after a Dec. 6 incident involving his wife and another driver in a collision that damaged both vehicles. Liberski was not involved in the initial road rage incident. But police say he arrived on the scene afterward accompanied by his adult son and threatened the other driver with a crowbar. Norway Police Chief John Hanrahan said Liberski engaged in asinine behavior before a police officer persuaded Liberski and his son both to leave the scene. The officer was successful in getting them to leave and calm the situation, Hanrahan said. The adult son was not cited and was not named in police reports. Liberski has a Jan. 11 court date in Norway Municipal Court on a citation for disorderly conduct, which carries a potential civil fine of up to $313 if found guilty. Liberski, 60, disputes the police officers account of what happened, and he is asking the police chief to dismiss the disorderly conduct charge. Liberski says he never threatened the other driver, and he only had a crowbar to extricate his wife from her damaged car. I lead a life of peace, he wrote in a letter to the chief. Im willing to forgive the officer, as he did not know what he was doing. Police Officer Brad Spiegelhoff could not be reached for comment. Hanrahan, however, defended his Spiegelhoffs handling of the situation, saying, The officer saw what he saw. According to police reports, Andrea Liberski, 58, was driving north on State Highway 36 shortly before 7 p.m. Dec. 6 when she moved into the left lane and slowed down to prepare for a left turn onto Fries Lane. A pickup truck behind her began following closely and flashing its lights at her. As she moved into a left-turn lane, the pickup truck driver attempted to pass her on the left using a gravel median, instead side-swiping her car in the process. Police reports indicate that the pickup driver, Calvin Scott Fischer, 30, of Cudahy, admitted following too closely in traffic, and that he reacted when he thought the other driver started to brake check him. Fischer was issued a citation in the incident, although reports did not indicate the type of citation. After both drivers pulled into a nearby parking lot to wait for police, Andrea Liberski called her husband. The police officer reported that when Bruce Liberski arrived on the scene, he became clearly agitated and upset, and he told the officer that the pickup driver recklessly caused the collision with his wife. The police officer quoted Liberski as saying, I need to do something about it. Spiegelhoff reported seeing Liberski approach the pickup truck carrying a crowbar or similar tool and raising it over his head while shouting at the other driver. Fischer told police that Liberski said: How would you like it if I beat you over your head with this thing? Police reports indicated that the tool could be a fire department tool known as a halligan, but Liberski said it was a crowbar that he keeps in his personal car. He also denied making any threat, saying that he only told the other driver that he had nearly killed his wife. In an interview, Liberski said it was a mistake for him to carry the crowbar while confronting the other driver. Someone else looking at it could take it the wrong way, he said. I didnt even think of it. Fire chief declines to comment Liberski, who joined the Wind Lake Volunteer Fire Company about three years ago, has 30 years of experience with the fire departments in Wauwatosa and Greendale. Because of health issues, he said, he no longer goes out on fire calls, but works as a volunteer mechanic in the department. The department has about 30 volunteer firefighters and others who handle fire calls in the Town of Norway and also medical emergencies in nearby Raymond. Fire Chief Justin Lyman declined to comment on the traffic incident, saying that it was the subject of an ongoing investigation. Unhinged allegation Liberski said it was Spiegelhoff who became unhinged by angrily ordering him around that night. At one point, Liberski said, the officer even put a hand on his gun during the exchange. I was just shocked and scared for my life, Liberski said. I havent been able to sleep right ever since. Hanrahan said Spiegelhoff has 30 years of police experience, and was firm and direct in ordering Liberski to leave the scene of the accident. Clearly Liberski is deflecting here, attempting to take the attention off of his violent and extraordinarily unprofessional conduct, the police chief said. I do hope that the leadership at the Wind Lake Fire Company takes a long hard look at whether this is the type of person they want as part of their team. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 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. RACINE State Rep. Greta Neubauer confirmed Wednesday that she wants the top position for a Democrat in the state Assembly. The current Assembly minority leader, Gordon Hintz of Oshkosh, announced Monday that he plans to step down from the role next month, but will continue to serve as a state representative. Neubauer told The Journal Times on Monday she was seriously considering running for minority leader. She confirmed those intentions in a Wednesday statement. As legislators, we ran for office to build a Wisconsin where each and every person can thrive. Over my last four years in office, we have pushed to invest more in education, expand healthcare access, reduce inequality, and more alongside Gov. Evers and the Senate Democrats. Democrats have also worked together to counter ongoing attacks on our democracy, a pandemic, and GOP-fueled culture wars. In the face of these challenges, it will take all of us to fight for the people of Wisconsin. Today, I am announcing my intention to run for Assembly Democratic Minority Leader because I believe I can lead our caucus to advance our shared priorities in 2022. Neubauer is already a leader among Assembly Democrats despite being a relatively junior member, a 30-year-old first elected in 2018. She is one of four Democrats on the 16-member Joint Finance Committee, which is typically seen as the most powerful and most important of the legislatures committees since the JFC writes the biennial budget. The next twelve months, Neubauers statement concluded, will be an incredibly important time for our state. While we know the obstacles we face heading into the coming year, I believe that we can hold Republicans accountable for their reckless decisions that have put our state and our democracy at risk. Together, we can promote a visionary agenda that improves peoples lives and shows how government can and must be a force for good. State Rep. Mark Spreitzer, a Beloit Democrat, had indicated he may seek the minority leader position but soon after decided against it, choosing to remain in my current role as Democratic caucus chair. Assembly Democrats are expected to vote on their next minority leader after Hintz officially steps down next month. As of Wednesday afternoon, no other Democrat in the Assembly had publicly indicated they would pursue the job. Should Neubauer be elected, she would be in a position to often go head-to-head with another of Racine Countys representatives: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. Love 1 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. Environmental advocates scored a legal victory Thursday in a yearslong effort to stop a Georgia timber company from building a frac sand facility on rare wetlands in western Wisconsin. A state appeals court declined to reinstate a permit for Meteor Timber to fill 16.25 acres of hardwood swamp for the $75 million project, upholding lower court rulings that the Department of Natural Resources violated the law when it issued the permit. In an order issued Thursday the three-judge panel found the DNR lacked sufficient information to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed project and that the law does not allow the DNR to amend a permit that wasnt valid in the first place. The decision marks the end of another chapter in a five-year legal battle spanning two administrations, multiple courts, and cratering demand for the high-quality Wisconsin sand used to extract oil and gas from deep rock formations. Environmental advocates and the Ho-Chunk Nation hailed the decision as a victory for the state and its natural resources. We understand the need for extracting resources like the fuel we need to drive to work but we also know that the costs to our community and to this land outweigh any of the benefits, said Ho-Chunk Rep. Conroy Greendeer Jr. This decision validates our commitment to protecting these lands, our natural resources, and our community. The decision is also a reminder that even the states largest industries and most powerful companies are accountable to our environmental laws, said Rob Lee, an attorney with Midwest Environmental Advocates. An attorney for Meteor Timber said the company was reviewing the decision Thursday. Since the plan was approved by the DNR and unanimously by the local townships, we think the project has merit and appealing the decision is an option we need to study, John Behling said. The appeals court affirmed rulings by circuit court and administrative law judges who said Meteor failed to show the project would not have significant adverse impacts to the environment. Clean Wisconsin staff scientist Paul Mathewson said the wetlands are a relic of a landscape that has been largely lost to urbanization and agricultural development in the past century. Protection is particularly important when it comes to rare wetlands like this one, since diversity of our landscape is key to resilience in the face of climate change, Mathewson said. The rescinded permit would have been the states single largest destruction of wetlands for a frac sand project. Its a perfect example of trying to destroy something that we need, this untouched pristine wetland, to facilitate fossil fuel infrastructure that we dont need and thats making our climate problems even worse, said Clean Wisconsin staff attorney Even Feinauer. Permit sought in 2016 Meteor applied for the permit in 2016, saying it needed to fill the wetlands to build a processing and rail loading facility near the town of Millston that would serve two nearby mines on land the company acquired when it purchased nearly 50,000 acres of Wisconsin forest. The company argued the site, on the Union Pacific rail line, was the only viable option to economically deliver its product to oil producers in Texas. Despite finding that the project would result in permanent and irreversible impacts and the loss of 13.4 acres of exceptional quality imperiled habitat, Gov. Scott Walkers DNR granted a permit in May 2017 that included dozens of conditions and questions. The agency issued a final permit five months later with some of those questions unanswered. Clean Wisconsin and the Ho-Chunk challenged the permits, saying the agency failed to meet statutory requirements when it issued the permits. After a five-day hearing, an administrative law judge ruled the DNR didnt have all the information needed and revoked the permit in 2018. Meteor asked then-Secretary Dan Meyer to overrule the judges decision, but Secretary Preston Cole, appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in January 2019, closed the case without modifying, affirming or repealing Administrative Law Judge Eric Deforts decision, saying the issue would be best resolved by mutual agreement or in the courts. Monroe County Circuit Judge Todd Ziegler made a similar ruling after Meteor challenged the decision in court, which led to the appeal. Feinauer said the initial permit was issued during a time when the agency was retreating from its mission to protect Wisconsins natural resources. Its never been more important for the DNR to embrace its essential role when it comes to safeguarding Wisconsins environment, and were starting to see that happen, Feinauer said. Wisconsin has lost half of its wetlands since the beginning of the last century. We must protect what we have left. Shifting sands Behling did not directly respond to questions about whether the company intends to proceed with the project under current market conditions, which have changed dramatically since 2016. At one time there were about two dozen active frac sand producers in Wisconsin, said Kent Syverson, a UW-Eau Claire geologist and industry consultant. Today Syverson said there are just seven or eight. New sand mines in west Texas have created a glut of cheap sand in the Permian basin, which produces more than half of all domestic oil. While there is still a market for Wisconsin sand in the Eagle Ford basin on the east side of the state, Syverson said, the percentage of Northern White sand going into Texas has plummeted. Brandon Savisky, an industry analyst with IHS Markit expects demand will pick up significantly in the next two years, which could encourage producers to reopen shuttered mines but probably not justify development of new mines. Anyone with sand in their backyard would grab a shovel, he said. Now a lot of those sources have been weaned out and there is a more solid supply value chain available and available to grow as well. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Dairyland Power Cooperative has bought the RockGen Energy Center natural gas generator in Cambridge. Dairyland CEO Brent Ridge said the acquisition will ensure the La Crosse-based cooperative can continue meeting the needs of its member utilities, which serve about 500,000 customers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, with the closure of its 345-megawatt coal-fired plant in Genoa. The availability of this existing, low-cost and reliable facility in Wisconsin is both timely and a good strategic fit for our power supply portfolio, Ridge said Wednesday in a statement announcing completion of the sale, which was approved in October by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Dairyland did not disclose how much it paid Starwood Energy Group for the 20-year-old plant, which burns gas in three combustion turbines to generate electricity typically during times of peak demand. Completed in 2001 after the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied a challenge from area residents concerned about its environmental impact, RockGen was one of two acquired by Starwood in 2019. It was updated last year to burn oil as a backup fuel. The 503-megawatt plant generated enough electricity to power about 54,000 typical Wisconsin homes last year, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. That was down slightly from 2019, its peak year, when it emitted more than 280,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Dairyland was one of the first Wisconsin utilities to embrace solar energy, partnering with member utilities to install more than 25 megawatts of capacity in 2015, though fossil fuels accounted for more than three-quarters of its generation portfolio last year. The company is currently enmeshed in legal challenges over plans to build a $700 million natural gas generator in Superior in partnership with Minnesota Power. The board has set a goal of cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030, but has not committed to the same level of decarbonization as the states largest investor-owned utilities, which plan to cut all carbon emissions. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The village of Lake Delton is expanding its resort incentive program in the Premier Resort Tax budget by eliminating hotel incentives and gearing them toward high-end attractions. Prior to COVID, we knew we had reached the saturation point that we wanted, said Tom Diehl, Lake Delton village trustee and co-owner of Tommy Bartlett Show. Now, through all of our research, the biggest void is there hasnt been any new major attractions coming in here. Diehls proposal is a modification of the High End Attraction Incentive portion of the Hospitality Industry Incentive Program of the Lake Delton Municipal Code. Other expenditures in the budget, which totals $13.83 million, include funds for completion of a new police station, snow plow truck and other related snow removal expenditures, leaf vacuum and various street repairs. The new police building has $6 million pledged for 2022 and the street repairs are planned for $635,000, as well as a $400,000 sidewalk railing. The new railing will replace the dilapidated one on Wisconsin Dells Parkway where the road crosses Dell Creek. Street repairs will be conducted on South Burritt Avenue from its intersection with Munroe Avenue (Wisconsin Highway 23) south to its intersection with Xanadu Rd and on Bayer Lane from Hiawatha Drive to its terminus at Lake Delton near Delton Oaks Resort. Construction for the new police building on Miller Drive is scheduled to be completed in April. 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. Wed love to have them here, because its been proven in Branson and all over the country that the places where these aquariums are that theyll work, said Diehl. The total 2022 budget is more than double that of 2021, which was just over $6 million. There will be a $20 million increase on street maintenance and incremental increases in fire and EMS expenses. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Love 1 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 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. KEARNEY One of the first students Mark and Mary Balcom hosted in the International Friendship Program was with them for five years. After graduating from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a degree in biology, she returned to Japan to work in a cancer research center. When she started it was really sad because the coworkers would come up to her face and call her traitor because she came here to college and not there, Mark said. They started creating errors and mistakes and blaming her for it. Her boss got really mean and said, I dont know why I hired you. You are worthless to me. She eventually quit her job and returned to her family home. Mark and Mary would Skype with her once a week and send emails almost every day. Suddenly, all communication stopped. The Balcoms feared something happened to her, but they kept trying to reach her. I had just retired. Each day I wrote her Bible verses. ... When they come, we try to give them a Bible in English and Japanese. We dont force religion, but if they are curious, Mark explained. Mark emailed her a Bible verse every day for five weeks, but he never got a response. 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. Local authorities who went looking for a spill Oct. 1 didnt find it. The Coast Guard said it was too dark to go out and search for the spill by the time they received a report about it. They went out after sunrise, finding it around the time the company reported it. Just days after the spill, Amplify CEO Martyn Willsher had refused to answer questions at news conferences about the timeline surrounding the spill and a report that an alarm at 2:30 a.m. Oct. 2 alerted controllers about a possible spill. He maintained the company didnt learn of the spill until a boat saw a sheen on the water at 8:09 a.m. that morning. Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said the indictment validates residents who had detected the spill a day earlier and reported it. Its terrible that they basically lied to the community during the press briefings and caused people to believe that what they saw with their own eyes or smelled or knew was actually not true, she said. What we know now is that the company knew this, and the alarms went off like they were supposed to, and nobody did anything. Even after the eighth and final alarm sounded, the pipeline operated for nearly an hour in the early morning, prosecutors said. Over recent years, the prevalence of the nones in the U.S. has been roughly comparable to Western Europe -- but overall, Americans remain more religious, with higher rates of daily prayer and belief in God as described in the Bible. According to a 2018 Pew survey, about two-thirds of U.S. Christians prayed daily, compared to 6% in Britain and 9% in Germany The growth of the nones in the U.S. has come largely at the expense of the Protestant population in the U.S., according to the new Pew survey. It said 40% of U.S. adults are Protestants now, down from 50% a decade ago. Among the former Protestants is Shianda Simmons, 36, of Lakeland, Florida, who began identifying as an atheist in 2013. She grew up as a Baptist and attended church regularly; she says she left mainly because of the church's unequal treatment of women. Not everyone in her family knows she has forsaken religion, and some who do know struggle to accept it, Simmons said. "There are certain people I can't tell that I am atheist," she said. "It has made me draw away from my family." Hustisford, Wis. Berlon Industries, of Hustisford, Wis., has agreed to acquire Lowe Manufacturing, a Viola, Wis.-based supplier of auger, trenching and grapple attachments that complement Berlons line of buckets and attachments for skid steers and other machines. The deal is expected to close the first week of January 2022. Lowe Manufacturing is highly respected for the quality of its attachments used in fencing, construction, landscaping, rental, contracting, utility, and agricultural applications, said Randy Schickert, president and CEO of Berlon Industries. Richard and Mary Lowe have done an outstanding job growing the company and enhancing the Lowe products and brand. We are excited about maintaining the Lowe brand, the companys people and its facilities in western Wisconsin. The combination of these two financially healthy organizations will continue to partner with equipment dealers throughout the U.S. for sales of their attachments. Those dealers will have a broader selection of buckets and attachments available from the combined business. Richard Lowe will retire from Lowe Manufacturing, which was founded in 1971, while Mary Lowe will remain with the business. Berlon looks to be a perfect fit for continuation of Lowe Manufacturing, Richard Lowe said. Their business model is in line with the Lowe model, which is based on quality products made by dedicated and talented people, and an entire staff that cares deeply about the customer. Richard Lowe added that Berlons commitment to maintain the Lowe brand, people and facilities was an important factor in the acquisition agreement. All staff at both Lowe Manufacturing and Berlon Industries will be retained. The acquisition includes the Spiral Metals, LLC, division of Lowe Manufacturing, which specializes in non-standard helicoid flighting, sectional flighting, and conveyor screws. The spiral products are used within Lowes attachments and sold to outside customers. Innovation, product quality and extensive knowledge of the use of buckets and attachments have been key aspects of the success and growth of both Berlon Industries and Lowe Manufacturing. That innovation includes Berlons Snowgrr which adds tremendous efficiency in snow removal at distribution centers, its Material Long Bucket for removing material underneath conveyors and other equipment, and Lowes XR Series of trenchers. Terms of the acquisition transaction were not released. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With nearly 2.5 million cattle in four Midwest states, university extension services in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin are teaming together to offer the Driftless Region Beef Conference. The tenth annual event will be held Jan. 27-28, 2022 at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, Iowa. The driftless region in these states contain rolling hills, streams and karst soil topography. Since soil and water conservation is best accomplished when much of this land is seeded for forage and livestock consumes those forages, the conference will focus on efficient and economic forage and beef production. The conference will begin at 1 p.m. Jan. 27 with a program concentrating on the future of the beef industry. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Ron Gill, professor and Extension livestock specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Associate Department Head. Dr. Terry Houser, ISU Meat Science specialist, will demonstrate various value added cuts in a meat fabrication demonstration. The final two afternoon topics include alternative meats and consumer trends. An evening discussion on value added opportunities will feature a producer panel. Friday morning will feature Matt Ludlow from Rush Creek Ranch in Wisconsin, who recently won the National Stocker Award, and eight breakout sessions for feedlot operations and cow-calf producers followed by a market outlook. Key speakers include Dan Loy and Denise Schwab, Iowa State University; Bill Halfman and Mark Rens, University of Wisconsin; Bailey Harsh, University of Illinois, and Mary Drewnoski and Elliott Dennis, University of Nebraska Lincoln. The early registration fee is $85 per person and must be received prior to midnight, Jan. 14. The price increases to $115 after that date. More information on topics, speakers and lodging is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/beef/. Online and mail registration forms are available on the conference website. The Driftless Region Beef Conference is sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois Extension, and University of Wisconsin Extension. For more information or to receive a brochure, contact Denise Schwab, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, at 319-472-4739. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On Thursday, local leaders joined together to issue their support for the states new plan for La Crosses north-south corridor, a sign of true compromise on a long divisive issue in the region. Earlier this week, the Tribune first reported that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation would ditch decades-old plans to construct a new highway through the La Crosse River Marsh, and instead fund the reconstruction of three existing major highways in the region. Its an issue that has drawn strong opinions from multiple sides for years, with worries over environmental damage, cost, traffic flow, safety and the economy all swirling in the discourse. But this new approach is being dubbed as a win-win by most involved, a categorization echoed by local groups that have been involved in the project since its beginning. I think the big difference now is that we have everybody. Everybody, including people that we were opposed to, said Charles Clemence, president of Livable Neighborhoods, Inc. Theyre all down with this idea. Livable Neighborhoods was formed in 1996 around the same time that the most recent adaptation of the marsh road was being pushed through, and a group was among those in opposition. When we started this in the 90s, every local elected official supported the road through the marsh, said council member Chris Kahlow, one of the founding members of Livable Neighborhoods. But thats not the case anymore. Instead, officials such as state Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, have worked to find the compromise, and the project has the support of Mayor Mitch Reynolds, council president Barb Janssen and more. This is a path forward. Its a path forward to let our economy grow, its a path forward to keep our neighborhoods intact, its a path forward to protect our precious natural environment, said congressional candidate and state Sen. Brad Pfaff, D-Onalaska. Pfaff called Billings a tireless advocate for the project. It was a breath of fresh air, Kahlow said of the widespread support, saying it was a long road to get to this point. Leaders on Thursday described this moment as a win for civic engagement and were excited about the impact the issue has had on reframing the way the community views transportation. I know more about road design than I ever thought I would and just transportation moving people. Its not about moving cars, Janssen said. This is an immensely promising sign, said local transportation advocate James Longhurst, who is a professor of urban and environmental policy at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. We might now be able to move on from a 20th century project of the state statutes major highway projects to expand highways which brought us additional highways, but also brought us evermore sprawl, pollution, traffic and budget-busting local maintenance costs and graduate from that and move on to a more appropriate, 21st century mission of maintenance and resiliency of the network we have, Longhurst said. While Thursdays event was a glimpse of compromise in action, officials also emphasized that to get to that point, it took a lot of people who werent willing to budge. The uncompromising stance of saying: no. Thats what got us to this point right here, because you stood up for decades and said no, Reynolds said. No to expansion capacity and yes to community and neighborhoods and to the health of our marsh and to the health of us all. The coming months and years will provide more details about the exact scope of the project, but those involved were pleased with the states new approach to include the community in the process sooner and more often. Officials were pleased that the new approach would hit on several marks by improving safety and traffic flow for the region, bolstering often unrepresented neighborhoods, improving mobility for all modes of transportation, and causing hopefully little to no damage to the marsh. With all of those possibilities in tow, officials are marking this as a victory for the community. The damn road is dead, said Charley Weeth, president emeritus of Livable Neighborhoods, Inc. Love 0 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. After almost exactly two years of construction, the $42 million expansion and renovation to the La Crosse Center is wrapping up, and officials are lauding it as a new staple for the city and region. The project which was on time and under budget, according to several officials includes a new ballroom that overlooks the Mississippi River, a rooftop terrace with downtown views, facelifts to existing spaces, a new atrium, sustainable features and a sleek new look for a longtime downtown giant. At a grand opening event on Wednesday, officials highlighted the economic and cultural impact the fresh new facility will have for the region, but in particular the rebranding effect it will have, especially as the community recovers from the pandemic. Like a phoenix, this building kind of rose out of the chaos of COVID, and of the pandemic, to what it is today really a diamond on the shores of the Mississippi River, said La Crosse County Board chair Monica Kruse. I think it does change how we view the downtown to a certain extent, because it does look like a destination now, said La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds. Its almost like were rebranding our centralized downtown with this incredible building and opportunity. This not only includes a literal rebranding for the facility, which won Vendi Advertising a national award, but it also offers a new way to bring people to the city and its new design draws directly from the natural environment that surrounds it. Its expected to be a major driver in the regions economic recovery from the pandemic, and officials said the new space has already been a selling point for events and groups. This expansion has been in the making for about seven years, when officials first started to think about what was next for the La Crosse Center, which was first built in 1980 and hadnt had a facelift at that point since 2000. We wanted something that would be very beautiful in downtown and weve got a reality today, said director Art Fahey, who several people remarked has been the lifeblood of the expansion. La Crosse Center Board president Brent Smith said that it has taken patience and persistence to get to this point, calling the completed project an affirmation and a celebration for the community. This project was one that came together with friction at times, but relied on collaboration and bipartisan support. The expansion received $5 million from the state, support from two different governors and state and local officials with a wide variety of opinions on the project. We went head to head and we had a lot of differences, and I think its really important to know that when it came down to it, we were all working with the same goal in mind. And with those differences coming together, I believe we came up with an even better La Crosse Center project than we had even anticipated, and Im very proud of that, said La Crosse Common Council president Barb Janssen. We can see that theres a clear bipartisan understanding that La Crosse is an important community in our state and the La Crosse area is worth investing [in], and we did it, said state Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse. Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers were scheduled to attend Wednesdays event, but had to cancel due to the threat of severe weather. Mayor Reynolds, who has overseen just the last year of the process, said its his role now to execute the vision. Im just so pleased to be at the end of this process and being able to shepherd it through to the final stages, he said. Im so grateful for the time and energy that was invested in getting us to the point of where we are. He said, I have to make sure that this building fulfills the promises that were made seven years ago. ... I have to make sure that we have to get off on the right foot. Through the designs of ISG Architects and the construction work of Kraus-Anderson, the newly renovated La Crosse Center has transformed from just a convention center into what is now sure to be a downtown focal point. The transformation begins before you even enter the space, with a new entrance and atrium with welcoming new windows and sophisticated details. From there, a grand staircase leads guests up to the new 12,892-square-foot Riverside Ballroom. Its a flashy space for events that is accompanied by a pre-function area with a unique view overseeing the river, which has been extended over Front Street. Seven new meeting rooms and office spaces were also constructed. There was a rededication of the Zielke Suite, named after former Mayor Pat Zielke, who stewarded the erection of the La Crosse Center. It features a bust of Zielke and a series of photo slides leading guests into the suite, which overlooks the arena. Along the way to the new ballroom, there is also a new rooftop terrace that overlooks the north end of the building. The space will likely be open during events or available to rent out. Smith said it was one of his favorite new features, calling it the sleeper of the expansion. Theres going to be a lot of demand for it. People will be able to look one way and see the river and look the other way and see Pearl Street, he said. The arena has been completely renovated, with all new seating, a higher quality sound system, ADA-compliant platforms and railings, and upgraded dressing rooms, locker rooms, restrooms and concession stands. The existing North Hall has also been renovated, and the facility now utilizes solar panels, low-energy lighting and an energy efficient HVAC system. The expansion is wrapping up just in time for a number of upcoming events at the La Crosse Center, including the Bi-State Classic wrestling tournament and the Harlem Globetrotters World Tour. 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. 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 Anxiety and Depression During This Holiday Season are More Common Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Taking Care of Your Mental Health is Critically Important Theres a common belief that everyone is supposed to be happy and in a joyous mood during the Holiday Season as we gather in the company of family and friends. But, these days with the COVID-19 pandemic and news of the Delta and Omicron variants wreaking havoc on the health of so many people, good mental health during this special time of the year is anything but normal for many individuals. The reality is that the coronavirus pandemic and the economic and social impact it has had on so many families has caused many of us to lose a sense of hope, said Dr. Britany Alexander, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente Southern California. There are many people experiencing financial challenges after losing their jobs and a sense of uncertainty has added to feelings of depression and anxiety. For others, they are still weary of gathering with family and friends due to concern over catching or spreading COVID-19. There may be other pressures as families may be divided on how to manage the pandemic. As a result, many are suffering from mental health problems, and some are resorting to using drugs and alcohol for temporary comfort. ADVERTISEMENT What that means, according to Dr. Alexander, is that many people feel sad during this holiday season. But its important to not lose hope, as we have the opportunity to remind ourselves what the holidays are all about, Dr. Alexander noted. Sometimes, the simplest act can have the greatest impact on another persons well-being by extending a kind word or a smile, she explained. In order to do that, however, we cannot forget to take care of ourselves, especially when it comes to our mental health. If you feel down, sad or depressed during the holidays, Dr. Alexander notes: Take the time to allow yourself to mourn the loss of your prior expectations. You dont have to set lower expectations just different ones with a new focus on adapting to your current situation. Feeling uneasy is normal, considering all the changes and unknowns that we have faced during the past two years due to the pandemic. We might not be able to give as many presents to our loved ones, like we would normally do, but we can still remind our loved ones how much we care for them and how much they mean to us. The holidays can be a special time for us if we can avoid added pressures and adjust our expectations for our current circumstances, according to Dr. Alexander noted. Its important to remember our core values and practice gratitude. Do whats right for you and remember: good mental health is essential for all of us to enjoy life to the fullest despite any challenges we might face, advised. Dr. Alexander stressed if your depression or anxiety persists, its important to seek help from your primary care physician or mental health care provider. Brotherhoods Christmas in the Neighborhood/Navidad En El Barrio Gives Away 1,500 Bags of Toys, Food, Clothes, Gift cards, and Love Sentinel News Service On Saturday, December 11, The Brotherhood Crusade held its annual Winter Wonderland: Christmas in the Neighborhood/Navidad En El Barrio event, where people in the community lined up in their cars on Crenshaw Blvd. Driving through a service distribution area in front of the Los Angeles Sentinel, where over 1,000 families were provided over 1,500 bags of toys, food, clothes, gift cards, and lots of love. ADVERTISEMENT Brotherhood Crusade which has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for families and youth throughout Los Angeles for over 50 years, spearheads the special, lively, and upbeat giving experience for the community each year. Volunteers made up of various companies, organizations and individuals came together in keeping with the Brotherhood Crusades history of building positive alliances for good causes while dancing under the hip hop holiday sounds of DJ Toney Deville. The Brotherhood Crusade partnered with various institutions of goodwill that understand the tremendous need for helping the community and the people we serve. Winter Wonderland/Navidad En El Barrio is our way of giving back to the community and serving those in need during the holiday season, said Stacy Hill-Williams, executive vice president of Brotherhood Crusade. We love our community. We do this because our people are important, and we are here to support our Black community every day. We want them to know that during these times, we havent forgotten about them. The Lord has blessed me; the Lord has blessed our organization and were happy to be in the position to help people. And we really want to thank all our sponsors, partners, The Brotherhood staff, and amazing volunteers. Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson of District 8 was excited to participate in the villages selfless acts of giving and love. This is a wonderful event. There are so many people and families in need and events like this go a long way in helping make the holidays a joy for everyone. I really cant thank [the Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade] enough for always helping the people of our community, he said. Additional photos by E. Mesiyah McGinnis / L.A. Sentinel Cal Reparations Task Force Votes to Replace Economic Advisor One day after Darrick Hamilton testified before Californias Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, the panel decided that it would not enter into a contractual agreement with the noted economist. Seven members of the nine-member panel voted to move forward without Hamilton. Two appointees, Loyola-Marymount psychology professor Dr. Cheryl Grills and UCLA law professor Lisa Holder, abstained. The groups chair Kamilah Moore said Hamilton informed the task force that he would have to narrow the responsibilities of his role, from advising on both calculations and methodology, to a renewed or narrower scope of work. I feel that the work is inseparable, Moore said before the vote. ADVERTISEMENT Hamilton was expected to bring an economic perspective to the work the group is doing, helping to quantify past economic injustices African Americans faced in the state and elsewhere, and determining what or how much compensation should be for Black people living in California. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the states historic reparations bill into law, Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, in 2020. Former Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) authored the bill before she was appointed and sworn in as the states first African American Secretary of State in January 2021. AB 3121, titled The Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, created a nine-member commission to investigate the history of slavery in the United States, the extent of Californias involvement in slavery, segregation, and the denial of Black citizens their constitutional rights. In October, the task force approved the appointment of Hamilton, who is an economics and urban policy professor at The New School in New York City. According to Section F of Article 2, 8301.1, of the legislation, Hamilton would have been charged with affixing what form of compensation should be awarded, through what instrumentalities, and who should be eligible for such compensation. The contract would have paid Hamilton $90,000 for the scope and term of his work, Moore said. But the reduced assignment the economist requested decreases his compensation to $45,000. ADVERTISEMENT Fast forward to (Dec. 7), Dr. Hamilton essentially communicated to the task force that while hes still able to deliver on Section F, he will no longer be able to deliver on Section E, Moore said. That would be doing the actual calculations for what any compensation should be. He meant that there werent enough resources present in the given contract, he felt that he didnt have enough time, and he also pointed out issues of clarity on how to tackle that part of the bill. Hamilton told the task force that there was some misunderstanding about the work he could provide. I dont think we had complete clarity at the time the (Department of Justice) made its presentation in October or September, Hamilton said. With F, I have great clarity given the time constraints as well as the potential budgets that are available. Michael Newman, the Senior Assistant Attorney General of the California Department of Justices Civil Rights Enforcement Section, said the DOJ was still in negotiation with Hamilton before the task forces fifth meeting and no contracts had been signed. To my knowledge, he has not done any reimbursable work under the contract. The contract has not been signed, Newman said. Other than sort of scoping out the project, doing the initial evaluation, or preparing for his testimony (Dec. 7), he hasnt done anything on the project. I think hes accrued probably reimbursable time in his initial preparation, but well have to talk about that. Hamilton, a leading national authority on race and public policy, has been involved in crafting progressive policy proposals, such as Baby Bonds, which are trust accounts for low-income kids funded by taxpayers. Hamilton is also a proponent of the Federal Job Guarantee, a policy that would mandate the government to provide a job for any person that needs one. Those initiatives have garnered national media attention and served as inspiration for legislative proposals across the country at the federal, state, and local levels. In his defense, Grills said Hamiltons knowledge, intellect and skill set are absolutely not limited. Hamilton is more than capable of performing the task, she explained, and said that he wanted to make sure both Section E and F would be completed thoroughly. I think hes trying to caution us about what it really takes to do a careful set of calculations that are aligned with how we are defining some of the factors and understanding the costs, Grills said. Hes offering caution about what it takes and to do it in a way that minimizes the negative feedback that we will get on everything we do. With five meetings left on the agenda, Moore said that the task force will consider the services of William A. Sandy Darity Jr., the director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University. He is also the Samuel DuBois Cook professor of public policy, African and African American studies, and economics at Duke University. Daritys research focuses on racial, class and ethnic inequality and stratification economics; education and the racial achievement gap; North-South theories of trade and development; and the economics of reparations. Darity and his coauthor of the book, From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the 21st Century, Kirsten Mullen, testified before the task force during the first meeting in June. Task Force member Don Tamaki said that Darity absolutely has the stature in terms of notoriety and has arrived at a number in his and Mullens book anywhere from $9 trillion to $14 trillion in terms of reparations. As did Grills, Tamaki also warned that it doesnt matter who does the work for 8301.1 Sections E and F. The report will get backlash, he said. The report is going to get criticized, scrutinized, and really taken apart, Tamaki said. So, it really has to be a first-rate expert in this area. Chauvin pleads guilty to federal charge in Floyds death 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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 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 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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 Floyds family were present, as was the then-teenager involved in the 2017 arrest, according to a pool reporter. As they left the courtroom, Floyds brother Philonise said to Chauvins 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 Floyds 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 Floyds 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 Chauvins 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. ___ This story has been corrected throughout to show that Chauvin plea in Floyds death was to a single charge, with a second count dismissed Community and Labor Dedicate UCLA James Lawson Worker Justice Center Hundreds of people descended upon MacArthur Park on December 11 for the dedication of the UCLA James Lawson Worker Justice Center. The celebratory event recognized the enduring legacy of the nations premiere non-violence tactician the Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. Politicians, clergy and labor leaders were in the audience along with community members, trade unionists and social activists who all united in tribute of Lawsons lifelong commitment to peace and justice. Renowned for his teachings on nonviolent action, the pastor emeritus of Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles was the master strategist behind some of the memorable marches defining the countrys Civil Rights Movement. Lawson worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and trained many of the future leaders of the movement including John Lewis, Diane Nash, Marion Barry and James Bevel. ADVERTISEMENT His students participated in the Freedom Rides, the 1963 Birmingham Childrens Crusade, the 1966 Chicago Open Housing Movement and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement. Even before those campaigns, Lawson was an early convert to nonviolent resistance, which he demonstrated in 1951 when he said he was a conscientious objector and was arrested for refusing to report for the draft. In addition, he taught nonviolent tactics to Black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. Since retiring from Holman UMC in 1999, Lawson continues to share his strategies and tactics with individuals and organizations around the world. The James Lawson Institute offers training in people organizing movements and nonviolent civil resistance. For the past 20 years, he has also served as a UCLA labor studies faculty member. Following the unveiling of the buildings new name UCLA James Lawson Worker Justice Center the honoree, stepped to the podium in the midst of a prolonged, standing ovation from the audience. As a college student, I tried to prepare myself for going to jail. But I had no idea how to prepare for this moment, for this extraordinary experience of all of you and the coalition that came together to make this possible. I thank you very much. I could never have imagined anything like this in all of my life, insisted Lawson. My journey thus far has been a journey of people, a journey of community and family. Whatever role I played, its because of people like yourselves in Nashville, Tennessee, in Memphis, and in Los Angeles, he asserted, while encouraging the crowd to continue working for justice and peace. You who come together to make this day possible, I want to urge us to keep this coalition together and keep it moving towards dismantling the old ancient forces of spiritual wickedness. They are very, very real. We must dismantle them and in doing that, we will help ourselves achieve the stature of being fully alive and learning to love, Lawson said, as the multicultural audience nodded and applauded in agreement with his comments. In fact, Lawsons impressive track record of working with disadvantaged groups in the pursuit of justice influenced a collaborative effort to purchase the building, obtain funding for its renovation and rename the facility in honor of the legendary civil rights giant. Thanks to the work of the legislators, Californias 2021-2022 budget included a one-time $15 million allocation to renovate the building. California State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, who worked with Lawson on several initiatives, proposed naming the center for him, submitted the request for funding to the Senate and obtained the support of the Latino Caucus. State Senator Steven Bradford, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, also backed the effort and persuaded his caucus to assist. ADVERTISEMENT Assemblymembers Reggie Jones-Sawyer and Miguel Santiago led the charge for funding in the State Assembly and were supported by Assemblymember Evan Low, chair of the LGBTQ Caucus. On a local level, County Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilman Gil Cedillo sponsored resolutions promoting the project. They all shared public salutes during the dedication program. There is no American who has done more for peaceful, nonviolent, and social change in this nation than the Rev. James Lawson. Today, we dedicate this building and next, we advocate for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, said Cedillo, who represents the district where the center is located. Illustrating the character of Lawson, Cedillo related that Lawson came to the USC Cancer Center hospital to pray with him and his family as Cedillos wife was in her final days of life. Garcetti noted that Lawson not only connects God and labor, but also highlights the way individuals should approach the past, present and future. Were used to reading history and learning about history, but the Rev. James Lawson has taught us that we need to make history, not just mark history, the mayor said. On behalf of the City of Angeles, we say thank you to this angel. This man has shown us what it means to be in a world fighting for justice. Mitchell, chair of the Board of Supervisors, evoked laughter among the crowd as she shared memories of worshipping under Lawson while he was pastor of Holman UMC. Recalling that the sound of his voice used to scare me to death, she also credited him with patiently explaining the meaning of plantation capitalism after she admitted that she didnt know the definition. Rev. Lawson is a visionary. He was a man before his time, but thank God hes a man of our time, said Mitchell, who went on to offer words that she felt reflected Lawsons legacy. Courage, faith, plantation capitalism, nonviolence, love, compassion and forgiveness. When he announced to the church that he would visit James Earl Ray (the convicted assassin of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) in jail, thats when I learned what forgiveness and grace really looks like in human form, she said. I am proud to be your friend. I appreciate the time and patience you gave me to try to understand the concepts you lectured and taught for many years. I appreciate you for investing in humankind all of your adult life. Jones-Sawyer related a past encounter with Lawson too, citing how when he first met the minister in 2012, he tried to impress Lawson by announcing that his uncle, Jefferson Thomas, was one of the Little Rock Nine, which refers to the famous case where students integrated Central High School in 1957. As I was going on about what my uncle went through, Rev. Lawson stopped me and said, I knew your grandfather and Deacon Thomas and I talked about civil rights and how your grandfather wanted to get involved in the civil rights movement, Jones-Sawyer said, smiling at the memory because he didnt previously know about the connection. However, in preparation for his familys heavy involvement with the movement, the assemblymember said, Rev. Lawson taught nonviolence to those nine kids. He taught them to be courageous and bold. When we see his name [on the building of the center], we should thank God for sending us Rev. Lawson. Expressing comparable awe, Bradford called Lawson a civil rights icon, a social justice icon and a person whos been getting in good trouble for 93 years. The actions and words and achievement of Rev. Lawson have contributed to the success and prosperity of not only African Americans that we enjoy today, but to all Americans. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block emphasized Lawsons long relationship with the university in his remarks, mentioning that the school awarded the legendary minister with its highest honor the UCLA Medal in 2018. For over 60 years, James Lawson has insisted that humanitys salvation lies in reason and compassion, not violence or exploitation. His vision and valor has mobilized Americans, changed this nation and inspired activists around the globe, declared Block. As a longtime professor, he has set an example for students and colleagues and motivated new generations to make change where its needed most. Rev. Lawson, for your work and legacy, UCLA is eternally grateful. We deeply thank you. Other program participants were UMC Bishop Grant Hagiya, Rabbi Steven Jacobs, L.A. County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera, Assembly Speaker Anthony Reardon, California State Controller Betty Yee, UCLA Dean of Social Sciences Darnell Hunt, Abel Valenzuela of UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment and Kent Wong of the UCLA Labor Center. Also, Ashley Williams, Rebecca Ortega and Niquio Valcobero provided musical selections. Some of the other people who contributed to the naming and funding of the UCLA James Lawson Worker Justice Center were Governor Gavin Newsom, California Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, State Labor Federation Secretary/Treasurer Art Pulaski, L.A. County Democratic Party Chair Mark Gonzalez, former UC Regents Chair John Perez, former SEIU Workers Untied General Manager Cristina Vazquez, and UCLA Labor Center Capital Campaign Director Larry Frank. At the close of the dedication ceremony, Lawson presented a charge to the crowd, stating, Economic justice for our 331 million people in the U.S. is perhaps the most daunting, complex issue we face, but if we do not achieve it, if we cannot achieve it, we as a people would have failed this vision of we hold these truths to be self-evident that all are created equal, that all are endowed with certain inalienable rights life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Let us continue the struggle with all we can muster. Lawsons new book, Revolutionary Nonviolence Organizing for Freedom, will be released in February 2022 and includes a foreword by renowned activist and professor Angela Davis. The publication features his teaching on nonviolence organizing as well as provides a guide for the next generation of activists to build effective social movements. Godfather of Hip-Hop Journalism Greg Tate Dies at 64 Greg Tate, the renowned godfather of hip-hop journalism, has died. The music and culture writer, who excelled as a musician, was 64. This hurts, radio host and music journalist Errol Nazareth exclaimed on Twitter. I worshipped his writing. His book, Flyboy in The Buttermilk, hugely impacted how I approached writing about music. And Everything but the Burden: What White People Are Taking from Black Culture is essential, Nazareth wrote. ADVERTISEMENT Public Enemy founder Chuck D retweeted Nazareths post. Hurts indeed, Chuck wrote in response. Greg Tate, a giant just like you, Errol. In Tates widely popular Flyboy in The Buttermilk, he wrote about Ice-T, Miles Davis, Public Enemy, and others. In one of his many prolific pieces, Tate dissected the power of Chuck D. Those who dismiss Chuck D as a bull [crap] artist because hes loud, pro-black, and proud will likely miss out on gifts for blues pathos and black comedy, wrote in a 1988 piece on Public Enemys It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. When hes on, his rhymes can stun-gun your heart and militarize your funny bone, Tate proclaimed. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Tate wrote for The Village Voice from 1987 to 2003. ADVERTISEMENT He received global acclaim for his writings on culture and politics, featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Rolling Stone, VIBE, and many other publications. He interviewed a whos who of celebrities including Richard Pryor, Erykah Badu, Ice Cube, Jill Scott, and Chuck D. His pen went beyond politics and music, writing for prominent museums like The Whitney and the Museum of Modern Art. Of course, Tate also proved himself as a great author. His books included What White People Are Taking from Black Culture, Flyboy In The Buttermilk, and The 100 Best Hip Hop Lyrics. An active member of the Black Rock Coalition and the leader of the Burnt Sugar ensemble, Tate leaves an astounding legacy. Impossible to mimic, though we all tried, Hua Hsu, author of A Floating Chinaman and Stay True. A giant, a good and big-hearted person, the realest one, Hsu continued. Added Columbia Journalism Professor and New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb: Hard to explain the impact that Flyboy in the Buttermilk had on a whole generation of young writers and critics who read every page of it like scripture. Its still a clinic on literary brilliance. Holiday Travel Season: Cal Black Churches Offering COVID Testing, Vaccinations The Rev. Dr. Lawrence E. Van Hook, pastor of Community Church in Oakland, says when COVID-19 vaccinations were first released late last year he did not want to get the shot. As African Americans, we have a healthy distrust of the government based on our history, said Van Hook. But after some soul searching, there was a shift in his spirit, says Van Hook. It led to a change of his heart. ADVERTISEMENT It came to me through Gods visitation of the holy spirit that not only do I need to get vaccinated, but I need to become an ambassador in the community where we live work and worship. So thats how my journey began. A little over a year ago, Van Hook joined hands with 38 other Black pastors from around California and formed the African American Community Empowerment Council (AACEC). With help from the state, members began setting up testing and vaccination sites at their churches. It is an initiative led by African American pastors, realizing that we need to pay special attention to our community an affirmative action plan, if you please for Black Californians who are understandably skeptical and dont want to get vaccinated, Van Hook said. Our healing, our hope, come through vaccination, he continued. That is how we will push past this pandemic in a healthy way to get to our new normal. Now, ahead of the holidays Van Hook and other pastors are encouraging Black Californians to get vaccinated and tested before traveling and getting together with relatives. A majority of the cases and deaths are among those who are unvaccinated, said Van Hook. For those of us who have been waiting to see what was in it, what it was all about, we now have over a year of vaccinations and nobodys eyes have fallen out. No bug has been placed in us where we can be tracked. There are so many stories we have heard in social media. ADVERTISEMENT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Black people in the United States are being hospitalized for COVID-19 2.6 times more than Whites. According to the agencys website, Black people are also dying of COVID-19 at nearly twice the rate of White mortalities. During the thick of the pandemic, the AACEC website says the pastors stepped up responding to a call to action by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who asked all Californians to deploy every resource available to them to confront and defeat the deadly virus. Through this effort, testing of at-risk, underrepresented, and under-resourced African Americans, and all community members appearing for a test, will be phased across the state beginning in Alameda County and extending in regular intervals to encompass San Francisco, Sacramento, Solano, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Gabriel, and San Diego counties, the AACEC website reads. There are now also testing sites in San Bernardino County. Vaccination sites are located inOakland, Pasadena, Sacramento and San Francisco. Across the country, another organization called Choose Healthy Life (CHL) has similarly united Black religious leaders to battle COVID-19, opting to focus on tackling misinformation and increasing vaccination rates. Black clergy members and civil rights leaders such as the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York, are leading the charge for this program. Covid-19 has exposed health disparities, and more disturbingly, the impact of misinformation among our own people. But I have looked beyond the horizon of todays headlines. After 750,000 deaths in America and more than 5 million worldwide, the pendulum is beginning to swing and Choose Healthy Life is at the vanguard of that change, Sharpton said. CHL spokesperson Judy Klym detailed the programs scope. After launching CHL in 50 churches in five major cities in January 2021, the programs expansion has led to more than 50,000 members of the public being educated and empowered, she said. Through this collaborative effort, more than 6 million people have been impacted. Choose Healthy Life now has 120 participating churches in 13 states. Klym cited the new omicron variant as part of the reason for the urgency of this programs implementation. As the threat from COVID continues with the emergence of the Omicron variant, the ongoing nature of the pandemic seems inevitable. CHL is rising to meet the challenge by building a sustainable infrastructure to help Black communities throughout the pandemic and future health crises, Klym stated. Debra Fraser-Howze, founder of CHL, says the Black churchs involvement in the COVID-19 fight is critical. The Black church and clergy have been a steadfast center of strength and leadership during so many of our crises and struggles in the past. Now, through the Choose Healthy Life Action Plan, they are once again leading the way by ensuring that Black communities are better informed and safer throughout the pandemic, she said. Van Hook says when vaccination began at his church earlier this year on Resurrection Sunday, he drew a parallel. Vaccinations equal resurrection. Both of them give life as opposed to the death that this invisible, deadly virus has ministered all over the world, he said. Kwanzaas Meaning in the Midst of Pandemic: A Central Site of Reaffirmation and Resistance Each year at Kwanzaa we celebrate the good in and of the world. We celebrate the good of family, community and culture; the good hoped for and harvested, achieved and enjoyed, worked for, witnessed and brought to fruition. Moreover, we celebrate the good of life and love, of health, happiness and wholeness, and the good of the earth and the heavens and all in them. This we do in the best of times and even in the worst of times. And Kwanzaa, as a time of remembrance, reflection and recommitment calls for our commitment to reaffirmation of the good and resistance to all that seeks and tends to prevent, diminish or destroy it. Clearly, such a commitment to reaffirmation and resistance is valuable and useful in times like these, in the midst of a pandemic that has been so disruptive and disastrous to our lives. Indeed, it is added injury to the pathology of continuing oppression which marks, mars, overtaxes and too often takes our lives. Still, we cannot and must not despair or let ourselves be undone or defeated. And Kwanzaas insistence on celebrating the good in spite of the dangerous, difficult and demanding times in which we now live our lives, do our work, and wage our struggles offers us an essential foundation and way forward. These troubled and troubling times of the pandemic called COVID-19 has clearly taken a terrible toll on our lives as a people, and indeed the world. But it has not undone or defeated us. In spite of vaccine inequity, vaccine misinformation and mistrust and no small measure of vaccine rejection for various reasons and continuing oppression in varied forms and places, we still radiate that legendary resilience, resourcefulness and adaptive vitality we are known for globally. But we know and have daily attention-demanding evidence that all does not come without costs. For still we suffer greatly, even though we wear our wounds well and take our losses without losing hope or faith in a future of expansive good gained in righteous and relentless struggle. ADVERTISEMENT Indeed, we are no novices or strangers to the disease, disaster and death dealing of evil, a deeply rooted and widely spread radical social evil. Whether we talk of the Holocaust of enslavement, the racist savagery of segregation, actual and anticipated deadly police violence or inadequate and inequitable health care that increases our chances for disease and death, we have known and know evil in its various forms and times. And we, as a people, have not only survived these hellish nightmares, but we have prevailed, developed and dared to continue hoping and working and building and achieving and striving and struggling to bring and sustain good in the world. So, let us reaffirm the good by reaffirming the goodness, sacredness and beauty of ourselves as persons and peoples. Kwanzaa teaches us, it is about reaching back, remembering and raising up the models and mirrors of excellence in our own lives and the lives of our people. It means being self-conscious, self-determining and rooted in the best and most beautiful of our own culture. It means putting aside the pathological language and imagery taught, peddled, pushed and podcast by the oppressor, breaking through the catechism of impossibilities assigned us and achieving goodness against all odds, all naysayers and no-doers. Indeed, we must constantly conceive and craft new ways to share love, beauty, life necessities, and other goods with each other, regardless of times and circumstances. And we must constantly expand our capacity to care, to share, to be other-directed while not sacrificing rightful self-care. For physicians must be rightfully concerned with their own health as they offer pathways of healing and wholeness to us. And the caretakers of loved ones and others must also rightfully take care of themselves so that they can better take care of others and enjoy their work and lives in good and meaningful ways. Here the issue of Africanness is central. For to reaffirm ourselves in the most rightful, relevant and rewarding ways, we must be clear about our primary identity as a people, as Africans, Black people, regardless of other identities we might have and feel strongly about. For our Blackness, our Africanness, our peoplehood, our community is our common ground. Indeed, in our other identities we can identity and find common ground with many others. But in our Blackness, our Africanness, we only share that identity and common ground with each other. And I say this realizing the claims of Black complexity and openness to many interpretations. But the designation and definition Black presupposes and posits a oneness, a unity of identity rooted in a particular history and culture; a singling out for oppression and a righteous and relentless resistance to it. Indeed, it is Black people who constantly question and contend about their Blackness; others dont find it applicable or useful. Kwanzaa is above all a celebration of Black people, a reaffirmation of their excellence and achievement, their soulfulness and sacredness. So, the question is not who can celebrate Kwanzaa, but who can celebrate Black people in all their excellence, achievement, soulfulness, sacredness and their struggle to be themselves and free themselves, and with others, self-consciously contribute to initiating a new history of humankind. In the context of oppression and the unfinished fight and struggle to be ourselves and free ourselves from domination, deprivation and degradation, reaffirmation of ourselves and each other is, itself, an act of resistance. In fact, it is a radically transformative act, especially when self-consciously linked to the overarching Movement. One of the things that distinguished Us and our comprehensive philosophy of Kawaida from other self-defined radical and revolutionary groups in the Sixties is that we strived and struggled for a radical transformation, not only of society and the world, but of self, society and the world. With Nana Frantz Fanon, we took the position that a new history of humankind requires a new man and woman to imagine and make it. Moreover, he taught An authentic national liberation exists only to the precise degree to which each person has irreversibly begun his own liberation. ADVERTISEMENT Thus, reaffirmation of our Africanness and humanity in thought, feelings, speech and practice is a liberating act, an act of resistance to the anti-African and anti-Black systemic racism that would deny our humanity and right to be ourselves and free ourselves. Here the practice of the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) becomes a central site and source of both reaffirmation and resistance. To practice Umoja (Unity) is ultimately to unite in principle and actions that reaffirm our oneness and shared commitment to the good, to African and human good, and the well-being of the world. To practice Kujchagulia (Self-determination) is to reject oppression and insist in word and struggle on our right and responsibility to be ourselves and to free ourselves. To practice Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) is to resist attempts to divide us and to work and struggle together in liberating ways to build the good world we all want and deserve. To practice Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) is to reaffirm everyones right to a life of dignity and decency and to struggle for equitable access to the shared and common good of the world. To practice Nia (Purpose) is to embrace the righteous vocation of the liberation and upraising of our people and opening the way for their flourishing and coming into the fullness of themselves. To practice Kuumba (Creativity) is to struggle against destructive tendencies wherever we find them and to practice serudj ta, the Maatian ethical imperative to repair, renew and remake the world, making it more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. And to practice the principle of Imani (Faith)) is to believe in ourselves and our people, in the goodness of life, of rightful relationships with the world and all in it, and in the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Here the personal and collective are linked in radically transformative initiatives to bring an inclusive, shared and sustained good in the world. And this is the essential meaning and motivation of reaffirmation and resistance. Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, The Message and Meaning of Kwanzaa: Bringing Good Into the World and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org. L.A. County Launches New Phase of Delete The Divide Campaign to Enroll Residents to Get $50/Month Off Internet Bill Upcoming Deadline to Enroll for Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit is Dec. 31, 2021 Los Angeles County is launching a new phase of its Delete the Divide campaign today to encourage residents to learn if they may qualify for up to $50 a month off their internet bill. An estimated 822,000 County households may be eligible, including households with at least one person already participating in one of these programs: Cal-Fresh, Medi-Cal, SSI, Lifeline or students with a Pell Grant. Qualified households are encouraged to apply before December 31, 2021 to receive the maximum benefits before the program evolves next year. To apply for EBB, LA County residents can either call 866-696-8748 or apply online at https://www.internetforallnow.org/applytoday. The initiative promotes the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a federally funded program for consumers with low-income that will show up as a discount on their Internet bills. The U.S. Congress and President Joe Biden established this benefit because of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, and they recently made the benefit permanent. The federally funded benefit will help households get online, save money and gain access to County digital services to obtain critical safety net resources such as housing, food assistance, and telehealth. ADVERTISEMENT If we, as a County, are ever going to truly realize digital equity, now is the time. So many of our opportunities and resources are accessible online, and yet, so many of our residents and small businesses do not have access especially those in Black and Latino communities, Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis said. She noted that she is proud of the investments that the Board has approved to expand infrastructure in order to provide low-income LA County residents with affordable, sustainable internet service. The Delete the Divide campaign is administered by LA Countys Internal Services Department (ISD) which is responsible to ensure the Countys efforts to get all residents affordable broadband are aligned and coordinated. To reach communities that are impacted right now, the County is partnering with the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF). CETF developed a marketing and public awareness initiative that has been tailored for the Countys Delete the Divide mission to get in the marketplace right away, including print materials, TV and Radio in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese). CETF has a history of funding community organizations to help residents understand affordable Internet offers and the FCC Broadband Benefit program. CETF grantees have assisted more than 250,000 households in California with getting affordable Internet. More than 365,000 Los Angeles County households do not have any Internet access at home and for the most part these are largely homes of people of color. The fifty dollars in assistance is a quick, short-term solution to help County residents get online. Were also working on long-term solutions that help delete the digital divide altogether and this is a great step toward that overall goal, said Selwyn Hollins, Director, Los Angeles County Internal Services Department. Were encouraging everyone to get the message out about how to get free or lower cost Internet service. The pandemic has shown us that having reliable Internet service is essential and should be available and affordable to everyone, said CETF President and CEO Sunne Wright McPeak. LA County To Hold Inquests in Three 2020 Deputy Shooting Deaths The Los Angeles County coroners office will conduct inquests this week into the 2020 fatal shootings of three men by sheriffs deputies. ADVERTISEMENT Beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, inquests will be held on consecutive days into the shooting deaths of 47-year-old Dana Malik Young Jr., 41-year- old Samuel Herrera Jr. and 29-year-old Dijon Kizzee. The hearings will be conducted by retired California Court of Appeals Justice Candace Cooper. On Sept. 28, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to instruct the county coroner to conduct inquests into the 2020 fatal deputy shootings of the three men. ADVERTISEMENT Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said the point of the inquests was to ensure the investigations into the deaths were appropriately conducted and to give the families of the men killed a clearer sense of what happened. Dana Malik Young Jr. (essiejusticegroup.org) We do not know what happened during the course of these investigations and how they were conducted, Mitchell said. The Office of Inspector General was not allowed to monitor every step and so concerns remain about their integrity given the lack of true, comprehensive, independent oversight. There needs to be, at the very least, a review of the evidence in these cases, which can be provided via an inquest, she said. County Coroner Dr. Jonathan Lucas has already ruled each death a homicide and in all three cases determined that the cause of death was gunshot wounds. Lucas told the Civilian Oversight Commission in January that inquests are an inquiry into the circumstances, manner and cause of death and not meant to settle legal issues. Its not a trial, it is not an adversarial process there is no guilt or innocence that comes out of an inquest it is not a quest to find all of the circumstances, the coroner said at the time. The District Attorneys Office has all three cases under review to determine whether the shootings were a lawful use of force, according to a DAs spokesman. Sheriff Alex Villanueva accused Mitchell and Solis of misleading the public and trying to sell the idea that somehow (these men) were unjustly murdered by sheriffs deputies as part of a political attack. Mitchell countered, I believe our residents deserve more than rather juvenile name calling, while Solis and other board members said they wished they didnt have to work around the sheriff. After the Board of Supervisors Sept. 28 order for the inquests, Villanueva posted a statement on Twitter, saying the official coroners reports, incident summaries and names of deputies involved had been publicly posted for some time at lasd.org, along with video footage related to Kizzees shooting. The sheriff said the inquests would amount to good political theater but would prove to be a waste of tax dollars and not provide one single shred of new information. Additionally, these actions may serve to jeopardize any criminal case which could be determined by the Justice System Integrity Division of the D.A.s office, the sheriff warned. Instead, he urged the board to focus on why it takes the D.A.s office years in some cases to rule on the use of force, saying he has previously called for the district attorney to issue an opinion within 90 days of any case being submitted. Prior to the sheriffs comments, Supervisor Kathryn Barger said she believes the sheriff undermines his own department by painting a picture that the board is against law enforcement. ` `Were not, Barger said. We want accountability (in all departments). Accountability is vital in public trust. Barger pointed to remarks by a cousin of Kizzee, who cried out to the board during public comment, saying her family deserved to know why her cousin was shot 16 times. If the shooting was justified, the sheriff should be willing to cooperate, Barger said. For me, the frustration is, if there is nothing there, what are you afraid of? she said. Were merely trying to get to the bottom for the families. Some members of the Civilian Oversight Commission, a watchdog group charged with overseeing the sheriffs department, have pressed for inquests in all fatal deputy shootings. COC Commissioner Priscilla Ocen said in January that it was important for the public to see that the county is taking the investigations seriously. Prior to coroners inquests into the deaths of Andres Guardado Pineda and Fred Williams III conducted by Cooper county lawyers had expressed hope that deputies would testify publicly to shed more light on what happened. In both cases, however, the deputies involved in the fatal shootings submitted declarations saying that if called for questioning, they would invoke their Fifth Amendment right not to testify. Cooper did not subsequently call them to appear. Files reviewed during both of those inquests remain sealed. Police Commission Approves Policy to Exempt Media from Protest Dispersals The Los Angeles Police Commission approved an updated department policy to comply with Senate Bill 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 also policy broadens the departments definition of media to include freelance reporters and students reporting for their high school or college newspapers. ADVERTISEMENT But, should a member of the media either the most well-recognized or freelance do 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. SPJ/LA 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. SPJ 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 Los Angeles Police Departments 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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 change by 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 Los Angeles Police Departments treatment of journalists has come under fire over the last year, particularly following its detention of journalists including the Los Angeles Times James Queally and Spectrum News 1s Kate Cagle during March demonstrations in Echo Park. On April 21, the ACLU 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. Reparations Rising with Robin Rue Simmons The Honorable John Conyers, who represented Detroit in Congress from 1965 until 2017, introduced HR 40 every congressional session from 1989. He worked to get cosponsors for the legislation for nearly thirty years, but not even the entire Congressional Black Caucus would cosponsor. Upon his retirement from Congress, he passed the baton to Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Thanks to her efforts and those of reparations organizations, including the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC) and the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (NCOBRA), the number of cosponsors approaches two hundred members of Congress. With 218, the legislation could pass in Congress. Full disclosure. I serve as a NAARC commissioner, as does Kamm Howard, the co-chair of NCOBRA. With a Senate dominated by conservative Democrats and obstructionist Republicans, when HR 40 passes in Congress, it is unlikely to pass in the Senate. However, it is essential to acknowledge the enormous progress the reparations movement has experienced since Conyers first introduced HR 40. Then, if you mentioned reparations in some circles, including those dominated by African Americans, youd be rewarded with an eye roll and a reality check. Movements dont happen overnight, though, and the reparations movement is rising, thanks to the tireless work of committed activists, who have persistently raised the issue. Robin Rue Simmons, a former Alderman in Evanston, Illinois, shepherded reparations legislation in that city and helped design a program that will use money from legal cannabis sales to fund reparations. The program emerges from documentation of the ways local legislation widened the wealth gap between 1919 and 1969 and explicitly targets Evanston residents and their descendants for the initial round of reparations. Within the next several weeks, 16 families will get $25,000 checks to put a down payment on a home, reduce a mortgage balance, or do repairs that increase the value of their homes. While these modest payments do very little to reduce the wealth gap, they improve the wealth position of these families. Evanston has taken a small but revolutionary step in the right direction. ADVERTISEMENT Robin chose not to run for reelection, although she would have probably faced only token opposition if she had. Instead, she has been working full-time on the issue of local reparations, founding First Repair (firstrepair.org), an organization focused on helping state and local governments shape reparations initiatives. First Repair most recently (December 9-11) co-convened a symposium (along with NAARC) with state and local reparations leaders. Sixty people from twenty-five cities, including Boston, Asheville, North Carolina, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, gathered to discuss their efforts to implement local reparations. The activist Danny Glover spoke at a town hall meeting that included a telephone address by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. The fact that so many cities and states are considering reparations initiatives and appointing reparations commissions is invigorating and encouraging. As Robin Rue Simmons said, change happens from the bottom up and not the top down. The more cities and states that have reparations conversations, the more awareness those at the top will have that this is an issue that is not going away. Our nation is culpable for the exploitation of enslaved people and their descendants. We have gotten little more than a tepid apology. Our country must do more. While HR 40 calls for the establishment of a commission to make reparations suggestions, if President Biden really wanted to have our backs, as he so often says, he could, through executive order, establish such a commission now. I had hoped that President Obama might have done so, but that issue was such a hot potato for our then-President that he would not even consider it. The more talk there is about reparations, the more information is disseminated. President Biden, Vice-President Harris, can you take this step in the right direction? Meanwhile, Im lifting up Robin Rue Simmons, a 45-year-old leader, activist, and tireless reparations advocate. She has dedicated her life to the reparations movement, using the Evanston experience as a blueprint for other municipalities considering reparations. Its important to note that reparations are not just about a check. It is about healing, restoring, reclaiming what has been taken from the descendants of enslaved people. Its not just about enslavement. Its about laws passed after Emancipation that systematically robbed us of our rights, work, worth, and wealth. Thanks to folks like Robin Rue Simmons (also a NAARC commissioner), Kamm Howard, Dr. Ron Daniels, Sheila Jackson Lee, Danny Glover, and so many others, the reparations movement is rising! Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA. She can be reached at Juliannemalveaux.com U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Flip Decision and Put Bill Cosby Back in Jail Kevin Steele, the prosecutor who put legendary actor and comedian Bill Cosby, 84, in jail in 2018, has filed an appeal to the United States Supreme Court to reinstate Cosbys conviction. Cosby was released on June 30 after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that former prosecutor Bruce Castors decision not to prosecute in 2005 should have prevented Cosby from being charged in 2015. Unwilling to accept its epic loss in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Montgomery County District Attorney has now filed a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. In short, the Montgomery County D.A. asks the United States Supreme Court to throw the Constitution out the window, as it did, to satisfy the #metoo mob, Cosbys spokesman Andrew Wyatt said in reaction on November 29. ADVERTISEMENT There is no merit to the DAs request which centers on the unique facts of the Cosby case and has no impact on important federal questions of law. The United States Supreme Court does not typically interfere with the rulings of a States high court unless it conflicts with the decisions of other state high courts or our federal court of appeals. This is a pathetic last-ditch effort that will not prevail. The Montgomerys Countys DAs fixation with Mr. Cosby is troubling to say the least, Wyatt added. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in the case that would later be overturned was brought forward by Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, who alleged that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her at his home in a Philadelphia in 2004. Steele called the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts June 30 decision on Cosby, a dangerous precedent. A prosecution announcement not to file charges should not trigger due process protections against future criminal proceedings because circumstances could change, including new incriminating statements by the accused, Steele argued. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling, which was 6-1, found that Cosby relied on his deal with Castor that he would not prosecute. Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered. She may be contacted at [email protected] and on twitter at @LVBurke Webbs Receive Honorary Doctorate Degrees From CSU-San Bernardino More accolades were bestowed upon Reginald and Rene Webb, the owner-operators of several McDonalds restaurants in the greater L.A. area, with the well-known entrepreneurs receiving Honorary Doctors of Humane Letters degrees from California State University San Bernardino. The presentation, held December 11, took place during the commencement ceremony for the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration and the College of Arts and Letters at Coussoulis Arena. Many people cheered the couples receipt of the honor, especially in light of their long history of charity towards others. ADVERTISEMENT In 1985, Reginald and Rene founded Webb Family Services and went on to build a business empire benefitting family members and the local community. According to the company website, the firms goal is to foster an environment of success for our family, our employees, the African-American community, and other communities of limited opportunity. Through their company, Reginald and Rene support various early entrepreneurs and create a community of successful individuals, which in turn helps elevate the quality of peoples lives in our region, said CSUSB President Tomas D. Morales. They are incredibly deserving of this recognition and we are proud to award them with honorary doctorates. By all accounts, Reggie and Rene passed down community values and business principles to their children, which exemplifies the concept of generational wealth. Since purchasing their first two McDonalds franchises in Pomona 36 years ago, Webb Family Enterprises has grown to encompass 16 locations in L.A. County and the Inland Empire. The companys top executives consist of daughter, Kiana Webb-Severloh, who serves as president and chief operating officer, and son, Kyle, chief financial officer as well as chief executive officer of Webb Family Investments. Both also own six McDonalds franchises. In addition, Karim, the oldest son, bought a Buffalo Wild Wings in 1997 and currently owns four franchises in Los Angeles and the South Bay. Reaching beyond their immediate family, Reggie and Rene acquaint other young people to entrepreneurial possibilities by employing more than 1,100 Southern California residents at their restaurants. The family also operates CEEM the Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement that offers workshops and resources to support Black businesses and increase wealth, prosperity and educational outcomes in the African American community, as described by Kyle in a 2019 Sentinel interview. Also, the Webb family has supported Bakewell Medias Taste of Soul Family Festival as leaders in the Black McDonalds Operators Association of Southern California. For the past seven years, Reggie Webb and BMOA were chief sponsors of the TOS Brenda Marsh-Mitchell Gospel Stage, which featured national gospel artists performing before tens of thousands at the nations largest street gathering. ADVERTISEMENT BMOA put on a gospel fest for 24 consecutive years. Lindsay Hughes, an operator here, ran it for 19 years and then, we [brought] the Inspiration [Celebration] Gospel Tour to L.A., and have expanded it every year, Webb, a former BMOA chair, said in a 2018 Sentinel interview. In the area of civic involvement, Webb has served on the University of La Verne board of trustees since 2014, as director emeritus of the Los Angeles County Fair Association since 2012, and as a longtime member of the Ronald McDonald Children Charities. He is also the recipient of the 365Black Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an honorees outstanding achievements in making positive contributions that strengthen the African American community. Concern and compassion for others has characterized Webb throughout his adult life. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran, he joined the civil rights movement after his discharge from the military. He also worked with the Community Action Agency, part of the United States War on Poverty, before being recruited by McDonalds Corporation in 1973. Promotions followed swiftly; he became director of the National Operations Department in 1978, then manager of the Los Angeles/Southern California region in 1980, and Los Angeles regional vice president in 1982. He left McDonalds in 1985 to launch Webb Family Enterprises. He has held several elected franchisee leadership positions including chair of the National Black McDonalds Operator Association, chair of the National Leadership Council (representing all McDonalds franchises in the U.S.) and founding chair of the Global Operator Leadership Council (representing all McDonalds franchisees worldwide). When Rene Webb was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985, the family began to work together in support of disease research in addition to their business efforts. They also launched their charitable efforts to give back to the community, which they have increased and expanded over the years. Rene Webb has been inducted into the Multiple Sclerosis Societys Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions. Their additional philanthropic service includes the Learning Centers at Fairplex, Southern California Public Radio, the National Council of Negro Women and Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. Reginald Webb studied political science at California State University, Los Angeles. Rene Webb graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with an accounting degree. Thursday, December 16, 2021 A Michigan former prosecutor has consented to disbarment after he was "convicted by a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of wilful neglect of duty of a public officer, a misdemeanor..." Fox 2 reported A former prosecutor was placed on probation and must give up his law license after having a romantic relationship with a woman while handling her sexual assault case. The woman said Brian Kolodziej was a predator who used his position as an assistant attorney general to manipulate her. MORE: Mich. asst. AG resigns after relationship with victim surfaces Kolodziej was sentenced Friday in Isabella County court, a month after pleading no contest to willful neglect of duty. Judge Sara Spencer-Noggle said she wanted to give him a jail sentence but it would have been outside the sentencing guidelines, The Morning Sun reported. The judge said Kolodziej also altered documents in the case against Ian Elliott, a former Central Michigan University student. Elliott insisted he had consensual sex with the woman in 2016 after meeting her at a Mount Pleasant bar, but he pleaded no contest to third-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sent to prison. After the relationship between Kolodziej and the woman was uncovered in 2019, Elliott was allowed to withdraw his plea. He subsequently pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor and was moved to a county jail. Separately, Attorney General Dana Nessel dropped charges in another Kolodziej case. Two men in Oakland County had been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child under 13. In an unrelated Michigan matter, a prosecutor drew a 30-day suspension from a hearing panel for leaving the scene of a property damage accident. From the Detroit Free Press In a twist, the perpetrator in a New Years Eve hit-and-run in a Petoskey parking lot turned out to be the countys on-call chief assistant prosecuting attorney who recently was sentenced to a $350 fine. Outraged residents in the small, northern Michigan resort community are now raising concerns in response to the recent Petoskey News-Review article that reported the Emmet County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Michael Schuitema's guilty plea to leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Scores of readers are convinced Schuitema got away with just a light slap on the wrist in what they see as a much more serious incident with not just one crash, but two of them and a potential cover-up. Skepticism of public officials is increasing as studies show trust in government at near-historic lows, including perceptions that law enforcement is not doing a good enough job holding its own accountable for misconduct. Schuitema, 38, did not return calls from the Free Press seeking comment. There are now more than 150 Facebook comments on the News-Review article, many of them taking Schuitema to task, pointing out that there wasn't just a simple unreported hit-and-run. They question whether Schuitema was drunk and whether he tried to evade police to avoid a DUI charge. "Not only could he have killed someone, he damaged another person's property, left the scene of an accident and eluded police," Amy Eichler, 41, wrote on the newspaper's Facebook page. "Setting a great example for our community, do what you want, just hide until you are sober?!" Eichler, who lives in Petoskey with her husband and child, added in a telephone interview with the Free Press, that residents there take their civic responsibility very seriously, and "if somebody is upholding the law, there should definitely be some sort of punishment to follow." Adding to the public perception problem, on the same day Schuitema's sentence was reported in the local paper, someone else was sentenced on the same charge, but while Schuitema had no jail time, the other person served 29 days behind bars. It's unclear from the published roundup whether there were different circumstances in the second case, but online readers pointed out what appeared to be favoritism. Other residents in the city with a population of less than 6,000 are asking whether Schuitema can be effective as an assistant prosecutor, with a few even demanding his termination and some campaigning against his boss, Emmet County Prosecuting Attorney James Linderman, who is running for reelection. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/12/fox-2-reported-a-former-prosecutor-was-placed-on-probation-and-must-give-up-his-law-license-after-having-a-romantic-relation.html Airbus delivered its final A380 superjumbo airplane to Dubai's Emirates Airline on Thursday. The plane has been in production for 14 years. The A380 is the worlds largest passenger airplane. It can seat up to 500 people on two levels. It includes things such as bars and showers in first class. Production of the plane ended after just 272 were built. The company first had plans to produce 1,000 or more. Airbus is an airplane-making conglomerate made up of separate companies in Britain, France, Germany and Spain. It decided to stop producing the A380 in 2019, as airlines became more likely to purchase smaller models. Emirates Airline is by far Airbus largest buyer. The airline still believes in the superjumbo jets ability to appeal to passengers. Even though no more A380s will be built, Emirates will keep flying them for years. But many airlines disagree and stopped flying the A380 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emirates Airline president Tim Clark disagrees with critics who say the days of large four-engine planes like the A380 are in the past. "I don't share that view at all, Clark recently told reporters. And I still believe there is a place for the A380. He added that the traveling public absolutely (loves) that airplane. Talks to build the plane began in 2000. It was meant to be Airbus 21st-century answer to Boeings 1960s jumbo jet, the 747. The A380 has quiet Rolls Royce engines placed far out on its long wings. The body of the plane is light and easy to control. The plane was a symbol around the world of European technology. But it was costly to make and did not become very popular with airlines. The A380 lost the company $522 million in 2018. Airbus decided to halt production a year later. In January, Boeing announced that it would stop producing the 747 in 2022, after more than 51 years. The 747 is credited for changing the airline industry. But the company has been struggling to recover from production failures of its 737 Max plane, which led to deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019. The first delivery of the A380 came in 2007, more than two years later than expected. When Emirates got its first A380 a year later, the financial crisis hit. Sales for the biggest planes fell. Airlines seemed more interested in mid-size planes for shorter trips. Even on longer trips, airlines seemed to prefer smaller planes that were easier to fill with passengers. Boeing began selling models of its smaller 787 Dreamliner, which was later followed by the Airbus A350. "There was a slowing down of appetite and enthusiasm. We didn't share that view; we put this great (A380) aircraft to work," Clark said at an airlines meeting. He added, "We have what I think is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever flown." Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story based on reports from Reuters and The Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _________________________________________________ Words in This Story deliver v. to take something to a person or place jumbo adj. very large bar n. a counter where alcoholic drinks are served shower n. a device that produces a spray of water for you to stand under and wash your body conglomerate n. a large business that is made of different kinds of companies view n. an opinion or way of thinking about something symbol n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality appetite n. a physical desire for food enthusiasm n. strong excitement about something Many companies are delaying plans to bring workers back to the office because of continuing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. One big concern is the recently discovered Omicron version, or variant, of COVID-19. Health officials are still studying the Omicron variant. But there have been early signs that it may be less dangerous than the Delta variant. Delta is still responsible for most coronavirus cases, especially in the United States, and continues to cause hospitalizations. But a number of unknowns surrounding Omicron has led companies of all sizes to rethink plans to reopen their offices. Technology company Google and the nation's second largest automaker, Ford Motor Company, are among those that have once again delayed their return-to-office plans. Other businesses that already brought workers back are considering adding extra safety measures like requiring masks. Officials in Britain, Denmark, Norway and Sweden also have recently asked employees to work from home if they can because of concerns about Omicron. Meta, formerly known as Facebook, and ridesharing company Lyft recently announced they were letting workers delay their return when offices fully reopen early next year. Meta still plans to open its headquarters at the end of January but will permit workers to delay their return to as late as June. Lyft says it will not require workers to come back to its offices through all of next year. The moves come after many big companies decided to postpone requirements for workers to return to offices in the autumn. Those decisions were largely linked to the spread of the Delta variant. Jeff Levin-Scherz is with the international advisory company Willis Tower Watson. He told The Associated Press that 18 months ago, most people thought the work-from-home policies would only be in place for a short time. But the pandemic has thrown us many curves, and employers need to continue to be nimble. Willis Tower Watson carried out research involving 543 companies that employ 5.2 million workers. The research showed that on average, 34 percent of employees permitted to work from home remain remote. The results found that that number would drop to 27 percent by the first quarter of 2022. However, the research was completed before news of Omicron came out. Lawrence Gostin is a public health expert at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He told the AP he does not think there is enough scientific information on Omicron to support company decisions to delay their return-to-office plans. He said there is likely to be a continuing series of new variants, as well as rises and falls in COVID-19 cases going forward. We shouldnt disrupt normal business activity at every possible trigger, Gostin said. He noted that a combination of protective measures such as face coverings, vaccinations and ventilation methods are highly effective at preventing virus spread in the workplace. Still, the rise of new variants seems to be having a psychological effect on some business owners. Omicron has made me realize work life will never return to the way it was pre-COVID, said Gisela Girard. She is president of Creative Civilization, an advertising agency. The companys 12 employees have been working remotely since March 2020. It made me realize how working from home is likely to keep employees, their families and also our clients safe, Girard said. Her company had planned to bring workers back to the office part time in the autumn. But the Delta variant delayed those plans until early next year. Now, Omicron has her reconsidering not only those plans, but also whether to bring the employees back at all. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand 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 curve n. something that is surprising or unexpected and can affect other things nimble adj. able to move quickly and easily remote adj. happening a far distance away disrupt v. to interrupt something and stop it from continuing as it should trigger n. an event or situation that makes something else happen ventilation n. a system that permits fresh air to enter and move through a room, building, etc. Environmentalists in Brazils Rio de Janeiro state are concerned about a recent drop in population numbers of the threatened golden lion tamarin. So, they have built a bridge across a busy roadway to help the monkeys move around a wider forested area. The Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state is the only place in the world where the golden lion tamarin still exists in the wild. Conservation efforts have increased their numbers, bringing the animals back from near total loss. But an outbreak of yellow fever disease in 2018 killed off 32 percent of the population. Today, there are an estimated 2,500 golden lion tamarins in the wild. The environmentalists were especially fearful for a group of monkeys that had become isolated, or separated, from other tamarins. They became separated because of a roadway. Luis Paulo Marques Ferraz is executive director of the project that works to protect the numbers of golden lion tamarins. He told Reuters, "Scientists have shown that the population living there would be completely isolated from the other side of the road and that would create a real problem in terms of conservation." "Genetically that population would be isolated and that is really bad. We need a large forest protected and connected," he added. The bridge was built last year. It has been planted with trees and other plants in hopes of making a natural pathway that appeals to the tamarins. The plant-life is still young and will take time to grow to a size usable for the monkeys. Ferraz said that a population of 2,000 golden lion tamarins should have at least 25,000 hectares of forest. But the forest is broken up by open fields, roads and towns. Conservation groups estimate that the golden lion tamarin has lost about 95 percent of its original environment in Brazil. "That's why this bridge here was so strategic and important for the conservation program," Ferraz said. Im Jonathan Evans. Sebastian Rocandia reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ____________________________________ Words in This Story conservation n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources original adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning strategic adj. of or relating to a general plan that is created to achieve a goal in war, politics, etc., usually over a long period of time The arrival of a new Spider-Man movie feels like a cause for celebration, because this comic book hero changed my life. A single copy of The Amazing Spider-Man provided me immense motivation to read at a young age, altering my trajectory through the multiverse. Looking back, the key moment is almost straight from an issue, or episode, of What If? Follow along, true believer, preferably hearing these words in the mysterious voice of Jeffrey Wright, the Watcher. I was nearly 6 years old and on the worst family camping trip in the history of mankind. Instead of sunshine during our vacation at Mt. Rainier, we faced torrential downpours; our huge tent became a cage for six people, and at some point my stir-crazy older brother and I were banished to our familys station wagon. Most of the lettering had fallen off the back door of the old, wood-paneled Dodge, leaving behind the word DUD. And this summarized the general viewpoint of the vehicle, with the exception of my father, who appreciated when the youngest children were separated in the stern of the craft. During our exile in Dudsville, my brother and I settled into our tail gunner positions as rain rapped on the metal roof. I had a picture book. Kurt read a comic book my comic book, featuring an epic battle between Spider-Man and Kraven the Hunter. While my brother looked over the fight scene, he started cackling. This made no sense, because Spidey and Kraven were in the midst of an intense fight. I could follow the story by reading the drawings and putting them together. But what was happening? Spider-Man made a joke, Kurt said, or something like that, and he explained the witty banter. He chuckled again, and again I forced him to decipher the wisecrack the web-head made at Kravens expense. After the third or fourth time reciting dialogue, Kurt decided hed had enough. He called me a baby, saying I needed to learn to read more than cat, bat and rat. He ridiculed me in amazingly creative ways. And my dad, on a routine patrol, found me bawling in the Dud. I dont remember much about how things resolved, other than my big brother was admonished for his taunts. And my dad told me it was unfair to expect my brother to be my personal comic book translator. My dad, a school administrator, said I needed to practice reading for myself, and hed be willing to help. He bought me more comic books, but from a series specifically meant for youngsters. Spidey Super Stories was a collaboration between Marvel Comics and a television show called The Electric Company on Oregon Public Broadcasting, which I watched regularly. The program had Spider-Man segments. The comics featured characters from the show, such as Easy Reader (better known today as Morgan Freeman), interacting with superheroes and villains from the Marvel Universe. This easier text boosted the idea that I could read and fostered a positive attitude toward the activity, which allowed me to continue to progress. I excelled at reading as I advanced through school, devouring comic books, then the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators series and then, in middle school, fantasy novels such as the Dragonlance Chronicles. My proficiency at language arts led me to take a fiction workshop at Oregon State University, and a professor convinced me that I actually could write quite well. And so I took a journalism class. All of this can be traced back to an older brother trying to look after me in his tyrannical way by shoving me forward, a loving father and a Spider-Man comic book. A path unfolded out of a prism of endless possibilities. I cant imagine becoming a newspaper reporter without that formative experience, and therefore cant picture meeting my wife, establishing the same circle of friends, or developing the same hobbies, such as backpacking. Simply put, Peter Parkers real superpower isnt that he spins a web, any size or any of that jazz (or punk rock played by the Ramones.) Spider-Mans secret weapon, his great power and his great responsibility, is that he inspires children to read. Kyle Odegard can be contacted at 541-812-6077 or kyle.odegard@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @KyleOdegard. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in 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. The intersection of West Mary Street and North Second Street in Lebanon isnt likely to become a four-way stop, despite the safety concerns of some neighborhood residents. The Lebanon City Council discussed a possible four-way stop at the location during its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Engineering Services Director Ron Whitlatch told the council that staff found there is nothing to warrant an additional stop sign, and the city may not even have the authority to install one. The main reason the request came forward was speeding, Whitlatch said. He added that the city gets a lot of similar requests, but the manual for traffic devices indicates yield and stop signs should not be used as speed control. The idea of using speed bumps was also rejected. Two residents addressed the council during the remote meeting. Both shared fears about how speeders and those who dont stop could cause a crash, particularly when people living near the intersection are trying to get out of their driveways. Traffic on Mary Street is controlled by stop signs, but it is not on Second Street. Several people living near the intersection requested a city engineering study, including four-way stop and speed analysis, according to a city memo, which states residents have witnessed speeding and failures to stop. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Lebanon Express. Crash reports the Lebanon Police Department provided to the city showed two collisions at the intersection between November 2019 and November 2020, both caused by drivers failing to stop at Mary Street, according to the memo. But there have been no crashes reported since then. The engineering study did not support a four-way stop at the intersection. Along with the low number of crashes, traffic volumes and speeds on both streets were well below the benchmarks for creating a multiway stop, according to the memo. However, the memo noted that parking along Second Street could obscure drivers views on Mary Street, making it hard to see oncoming traffic, which could be used to argue in favor of a four-way stop. No action was taken by the council. It was suggested that increased enforcement might be the best way to solve the problem. Cody Mann covers the cities of Albany and Lebanon. He can be contacted at 541-812-6113 or Cody.Mann@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 2 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. 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. That's 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. Prosecutors maintain that Fortenberry repeatedly lied to federal agents during two interviews in 2019. They claim that the congressman was told, in a 2018 phone call from a person working with the FBI, that the $30,000 probably originated from Chagoury, who was acquainted with Fortenberry. It is illegal for foreign nationals to donate to U.S. political campaigns, either directly or, as in this case, through third-party conduits. Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln will seek the 2022 Republican nomination for attorney general. Hilgers announced his candidacy Wednesday at an event in Norfolk. The 43-year-old Lincoln senator was reelected to his second term in the Legislature in 2020 and was chosen as speaker by his legislative colleagues last January. Hilgers' announcement follows closely on the heels of Republican Attorney General Doug Peterson's decision not to seek a third term. Hilgers previously sought the GOP nomination for attorney general in 2014 when Peterson was first elected. As a member of the Legislature, Hilgers won enactment of legislation that accelerated construction of Lincoln's South Beltway, reducing the completion time from eight to three years, and he currently is leading the legislative effort to identify priorities for expenditure of a billion dollars in federal pandemic recovery funds. Hilgers serves as chairman of the State Tourism and Recreation Water Access Resources (STARWARS) special committee, which is considering funding for a variety of water, tourism, recreation and economic development projects throughout the state. Mair has 20 years of experience in restaurant business and recently took over after her parents decided to retire. One thing Mair would like to explore in the future is specials for lunch and dinner. It was always the plan for me to take over and I was part owner before this change, Mair said as her father walked past. But as you can see my parents are still a part of the business. Mair said the community support of the restaurant has been very good over the last 11 years. Last March as the COVID-19 pandemic began and government mandates shut down restaurants, Suzys like other restaurants needing to stay open began offering to-go orders. We were offer take out dinners but not delivery options, Mair said. The kitchen staff stayed in the kitchen and it was very strange. We still get to-go orders but now they can come in and get their food. Mair said she was excited when they could open the front of house back up to customers. It was really great to see that customers stayed and supported us through those difficult months, Mair said. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. DAVENPORT, Iowa Nearly a week after Lee Enterprises rejected Alden Global Capitals attempt to buy the newspaper publisher, the hedge fund responded Wednesday with a lawsuit accusing Lees board of improperly denying shareholders the chance to have a say on the offer. Lee, which owns the Times-News, rejected Aldens offer to buy the company for $24 a share, or roughly $141 million, last Thursday because the companys board decided the offer grossly undervalued the company. But Alden argued in its lawsuit that Lee shouldnt have rejected its offer without even talking to the hedge fund. Alden also said Lee shouldnt have refused to accept its nomination of three outside directors for technical reasons, so it wants the court to order Lee to accept those nominees. Lees stockholder-unfriendly staggered board has exhibited all of the symptoms of severely entrenched leadership focused more on its own power than whats best for the company, Alden spokesperson Cameron Gurley said. Lee officials didnt immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit Wednesday afternoon. But the company has been steadfast so far in its opposition to Alden. The New York-based hedge fund that owns 6.3% of Lees stock became one of the largest newspaper owners in the nation after swallowing all of Tribunes newspapers earlier this year, but it has also earned a reputation for imposing severe cost cuts and layoffs. Two other hedge funds that are among Lees largest shareholders, Praetorian Capital and Cannell Capital, have said they think the company is worth much more than Alden is offering. I think there is still a tremendous amount of value, said Carlo Cannell, managing director of the Wyoming-based fund. In fact, Cannell estimates Lees stock could be worth $285 a share within five years if the company does everything right as it continues to transition more toward digital instead of print publication. Alden said in its lawsuit that it intended its $24 offer to be preliminary, and it could have been changed if the company had engaged in constructive talks. Lees stock gained another 12% Wednesday to close at $40.53 before the lawsuit was announced. Before Alden made its initial bid, the stock was selling for $18.49. The newspaper industry overall has been struggling with that digital transition because it been accompanied by shrinking revenue, and the pandemic increased the financial pressure on newspapers. Many newspapers across the country closed over the last two decades and nearly half of all newsroom jobs were eliminated between 2004 and 2018. Even before Lee rejected Aldens bid, it adopted a poison-pill plan that would make it more expensive for Alden to buy up Lees shares once it owns more than 10% of the company. At that point, the plan would allow Lees other shareholders to buy shares at a 50% discount or possibly get free shares for every share they already own. Lee owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Buffalo News and dozens of other newspapers. Alden has bought up roughly 200 publications across the country in recent years through a series of acquisitions. Besides the Tribune papers, Alden also owns the Denver Post, Orange County Register and Boston Herald. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As the Omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S., a growing number of major employers are pausing plans to bring workers back to the office. On Wednesday, Apple told employees that it would again delay a return to the office amid growing concerns about rising cases of COVID-19, according to multiple news reports. The tech giant had previously planned for employees to head back to their offices on a hybrid basis in February. Apple will also temporarily close three retail stores (in Miami, Annapolis and Ottawa) amid an uptick in cases. Taking care of yourself should be a top priority. Online therapy services like BetterHelp allow you to get the professional help you need without costing you a fortune. Click your state to talk to a licensed professional today. The company will give employees both corporate and retail a $1,000 bonus that can be used for home office needs. Other companies, including Shopify, Twitter, Facebook and Google, also offered employees work-from-home stipends when they went remote in the early days of the pandemic. Apple is the latest major company to adjust its plans to account for new coronavirus concerns. Earlier this month, Google announced that its employees would no longer be required to work from the office at the beginning of January. The next week, auto giant Ford announced it would push back its return to office from January to March for 30,000 office workers. Facebook parent Meta followed by unveiling a program that would let employees defer their January in-person office return by up to five months. Ridesharing services Uber and Lyft have also pushed back their return plans. Lyft workers wont be required to come back until 2023, while Uber announced an indefinite delay. Investment firm Fidelity paused several return-to-office pilot programs last week, and more recently Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman told CNBC his earlier belief that workers should be back in offices by now was wrong. I think well still be in it through most of next year, he said. Everybodys still finding their way. Talking to a therapist can be of great relief during these trying times. With BetterHelp, you can talk to a licensed professional without leaving the comfort of your own home. More from Money: Copyright 2021 Ad Practitioners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Moneys full disclaimer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An IRA offers the chance to claim tax benefits for retirement savings, even if you don't have a workplace 401(k) or you'd prefer not to use your employer-sponsored retirement account. You can contribute up to $6,000 to a traditional or Roth IRA in 2021. And, if your'e 50 or over, can make an extra $1,000 catch-up contribution for a total of $7,000 invested. If you haven't yet maxed out your 2021 IRA, you may feel as though you're just about out of time to put money into your retirement account for the current tax year. But the good news is, that's not the case. You can actually continue working on your 2021 IRA contributions into 2022. Here's why. The 2021 IRA contribution deadline doesn't end when the year does Unlike 401(k) contributions, the deadline for investing in your traditional or Roth IRA is not the end of the calendar year. Instead, you can keep making 2021 contributions to this account until the deadline for submitting your tax returns for the year. That will be April 18, 2022 for most people. So even after you ring in the new year, you could have three-and-a-half more months to work on maxing out your contribution. The option to continue working on maxing out your 2021 IRA even in 2022 is great news if you've fallen behind. Once you miss the deadline to make traditional or Roth IRA contributions for a tax year, that opportunity is gone forever. That means you miss out on the subsidies the government wants to provide to help build your nest egg. You don't want to give up this chance to get Uncle Sam's help saving for your later years. And if you have some extra time to max out your account, you may not have to. How to max out your 2021 IRA in 2022 If you want to ensure you score your full tax breaks for the 2021 year, the best way to do it is to figure out how far short you are from hitting your IRA contribution limits and how much to invest each month before the April or October deadline. If you've contributed nothing and you want to hit the $6,000 contribution limit for the year, you'd need to invest $1,500 per month in January, February, March, and April. Rework your budget to try to get as close as possible to those necessary monthly contributions, then set up automatic transfers to your brokerage account to hit your target each month. If you do, you'll go a long way toward building more financial security in your later years. And you'll be glad you took advantage of the extended time to get available help in growing the nest egg you need for your future. The $16,728 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,728 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. 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 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. 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 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Im proud to call Idaho my adopted home. After 21 years in the Gem State, I feel blessed to live among so many cool peopleand places to fish! But we never forget our formative years, and mine took place in Michigan. I dont make it back to The Mitten often, but every time I do, it feels like I never left. Its funny how little things conjure a sense of belonging. Familiar street names. The giant tire off Interstate 94. Even the Big Boy restaurant mascot that terrified me as a child. From the moment I stepped off the plane and breathed the Great Lakes air, it felt like home. Most of our Michigan trip was filled with familiar activities. We watched the Red Wings win and the Lions lose. We visited with aunts, uncles and grandparents. But I dedicated Black Friday morning to something newfishing for trophy muskie on legendary Lake St. Clair. Lake St. Clair is word-famous among muskie anglers. Covering 430 square miles, it is home to multiple species of muskie, all of which have naturally sustaining populations. If you want to catch a 50-incher, there might not be a better destination on Earth. Despite its notoriety, I had never been to Lake St. Clair. Growing up, we had neither a boat nor the gear to tangle with these razor-toothed giants. The muskie gear I have now doesnt fit in a carry-on, so I linked up with lifelong muskie hunter Alec Pascua for my maiden St. Clair voyage. It was 27 degrees with a mighty Great Lakes wind gusting when I met Alec at the dock. As we loaded up, he said the nasty weather meant bites might be few and far betweenbut that this was the best time of year to catch a trophy. We had scarcely left the pier when huge clouds of baitfish appeared on the fish finder. Gizzard shad, Alec nodded as a seagull flew overhead with one in its mouth. Thats a good sign. We fished with giant crankbaits, using planer boards connected to a nifty, clothesline-type device that kept the lines separate. If a fish struck, the line would come unclipped and avoid the rest of the spread. We began our troll 50 yards from shorenecessary to avoid the whitecaps, or as Alecs partner Greg called them, the sheep farm. The water was only 10 feet deep, but we marked plenty of bait and several muskies on the electronics. Hopefully, one of them would make an attempt on our lures. Alec and I warmed our hands near a buddy heater while swapping storieshis childhood as the son of a muskie guide and my limited experience hunting elusive Idaho tiger muskies. The topic had shifted to Lake St. Clairs giant smallmouth bass when Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz! We both heard the bite before we saw it, and sprang into action. When I grabbed the rod, line was peeling off the reel with force Ive only seen from sturgeon and saltwater gamefish. This was the fish we came for! After taking 75 yards of line, the fish surfaced. I noticed two things immediatelyits red-orange fins were really far apart, and our 13-inch lure was sticking straight up in the air. Alec noticed, too. Its a big fish! Alec shouted. And I dont think its hooked very well. The pressure was on. I had to gain more than 100 yards of line without giving the muskie an inch of slack. I danced the St. Clair Shuffleslowly walking backwards to pull the muskie toward the boat and then reeling while walking toward the fish to eliminate slack. My forearm burned as I battled the giant for more than 10 minutes, holding my breath each time it surface-thrashed with the lure pointed precariously skyward. But the hooks held, and when Greg scooped the muskie in an oversized net, victory cries echoed across St. Clair. After letting the fish recover in a specially-designed livewell, it was time to handle my first Great Lakes spotted muskie. The tape read 48 inches, and after a long growing season, it weighed 30 pounds. What a monster! I returned the muskie to the frigid water and watched her swim off with a sweep of her massive red tail. As I stood on the boat deck, hands frozen and wind threatening to remove my Detroit ballcap, one thought pushed its way to the front of my mind: It felt good to be home. Tight lines! Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures and questions with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com, or visit tightlines208.com for the latest local fishing reports and upcoming class offerings. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Rwanda, which has detected six initial cases of the Omicron variant, has announced new restrictions against Covid-19, such as closing nightclubs and extending quarantine for international travelers. Tourists will now be required to quarantine themselves for three days, instead of the current 24 hours, the government announced, among other things, after recording six cases of infection with the Omicron variant among travelers and their contacts. A PCR test will be carried out on arrival and an additional test at their own expense on the third day and the seventh day from the date of arrival, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. The current midnight to 4 a.m. curfew remains in place, while nightclubs have been ordered to close their doors just three months after reopening. The Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa and reported to WHO on November 24, appears to be more contagious and resistant to vaccines, leading many governments to tighten restrictions to curb transmission. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Rwanda, a country of 13 million people, has enforced some of the strictest containment measures on the continent and implemented a rigorous system of testing and contact case tracking. Last month, it became the first East African country to ban direct flights to and from nine southern African countries where the Omicron variant was first identified. Rwanda has so far fully vaccinated 4.2 million people, or about 60% of Rwandans aged 18 and over. The former South African president was placed on medical parole last September, two months after he was jailed for contempt of court. This Wednesday, the High Court of the Gauteng province decided to overturn this decision. An appeal has been filed. Jacob Zuma could spend Christmas in prison. It has been three months since Jacob Zuma left Estcourt prison. This departure had always been surrounded by vagueness because the exact reason for his release on parole has not been made public. A surgical operation is announced, without it being specified. According to the Gauteng High Court, the National Prison Services Commission has not demonstrated the need for Jacob Zuma to be released on medical parole. In September, Arthur Fraser, who headed the commission at the time, said the possibility of the former presidents death could lead to violence similar to the riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces in 2021. Not enough to justify the release, says the South African High Court. This decision is already highly criticized in the ranks of the former presidents allies. Since the verdict was handed down this Wednesday morning, calls for mobilization are multiplying in South Africa. In addition, Jacob Zuma and Arthur Fraser, formerly head of the National Commission of Correctional Services, will have to repay the legal costs. The Department of Correctional Services said it was studying the decision and would make a decision in due course. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Brazil's health regulator approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Thursday for use in children aged five to 11, joining a growing list of countries green-lighting vaccination for kids. However, it is not clear when the hard-hit South American country will begin vaccinating children, if at all. The matter now passes to the health ministry, which will first have to decide whether to add COVID-19 vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds to the national immunization program and acquire child-size dosesone-third the adult dose. "Collective vaccination reduces transmission of SARS-CoV-2 for this age group, and as a result, reduces transmission from children and adolescents to adults and the elderly," said Meiruze Freitas, director of Brazilian health regulator Anvisa, announcing the decision. The pandemic has claimed more than 615,000 lives in Brazil, second only to the United States in absolute numbers. However, cases and deaths have plunged as Brazil has scaled up vaccination. Currently, 66 percent of the country's 213 million people are fully vaccinated. The massive immunization campaign comes despite anti-vaccine comments from far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has joked the shot could "turn you into an alligator" and refused to be vaccinated himself. With the world nervously watching the highly contagious new Omicron variant of the virus, Germany, Spain, Greece, Croatia and Hungary have all opened their vaccination drives to younger children recently. Canada and the United States as well as Israel and Chile have also authorized shots for children. Explore further Brazil green-lights Pfizer vaccine for kids 12 and up 2021 AFP Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An article published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine reveals child maltreatment increases some determining risk factors in adolescents' suicidal behaviors. According to this research, people who have suffered child maltreatment are more likely to show personality traits that are related to intense anger, impulsivity and emotion dysregulation. Also, they tend to undergo more stressful situations over their life. These new stressors and emotion dysregulation would be the factors that could lead to suicidal behaviors in adolescents. The study is led by Professor Lourdes Fananas, from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona, the Institute of Biomedicine of the UB (IBUB) and the Mental Health Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERSAM). Researcher Laia Marques-Feixa, also member of these institutions, is the first author of the article. Carried out together with the CIBERSAM EPI-Young Stress Group, the study counts on the participation of teams from the University of Lleida, the Benito Menni Mental Health Care Complex (Sant Boi de Llobregat), Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, the University Hospital Gregorio Maranon (Madrid), the University Hospital Puerta de Hierro (Madrid), the University Hospital ArabaSantiago Apostol (Vitoria) and the Adolescent Day-Hospital in Gava, from the Orienta Foundation. Suicide in young adults: A global health problem In Spain, suicide is now the first cause of death among young people. Although death by suicide in adults has a higher prevalence in men than women, women show more suicidal and non-suicidal attempts (self-harming, for instance) than men. As a worrying figure, during the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the number of hospitalizations of women aged between twelve and eighteen with self-harming behaviors has skyrocketed. The new study focuses on the analysis of 187 children and adolescents aged from seven to seventeen, with and without mental disorders. The researchers have analyzed their experiences of child abuse, recent stressful life episodes, and some personality traits and the risk of suicidal behaviors. "Adolescence is a period of high emotional vulnerability and 70% of mental disorders are estimated to come up during this time", notes Professor Lourdes Fananas, member of the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the UB and principal researcher at the CIBERSAM group. "The brain of an adolescent she continues undergoes a process of maturation and this process might involve difficulties in self-control and a higher impulsivity and emotional instability, which are decisive elements for developing some risky behaviors". "It is also a period full of changes (family dynamics, new groups with classmates, new challenges and activities, etc.) that can involve an increase of stressful situations for young people", adds Fananas. Moreover, according to the researcher Laia Marques-Feixa (UB-IBUB-CIBERSAM), "when there is a relational trauma during childhood for instance, psychological, physical or sexual abuse or negligence, three primary developmental capacities can be altered: emotional regulation, identity and interpersonal relatedness". "If one reaches adolescence without having consolidated good bases in these skills, this person can have more difficulties due to the lack of solid psychological resources to deal with challenges, conflicts and daily difficulties that come up over the course of our life", concludes the expert. Young psychopathology: The journey to adolescence Life experiences, apart from genetic predisposition, are decisive elements to define our personality. In psychology, experts talk about personality disorders when the way in which someone understands, thinks and relates to the environment and him or herself is inflexible and maladaptive, so that it all creates a psychological discomfort and deterioration of the quality of life. The study does not establish a direct link between child maltreatment and the possibility of expressing a suicidal behavior in youngsters. However, the conclusions indicate that suffering from child maltreatment increases risk factors that can lead to suicidal behaviors in adolescents. "Our research shows that, in order to reduce suicidal behaviors in adolescents, we need to work on the regulation strategies of emotions, as well as to reduce the potential exposure to new stressful events (changing homes, fights, suspension from school, etc.), especially regarding those people with records of child abuse", notes Laia Marques-Feixa. Since adolescence is the period when the foundations of our personality are being built, it is hard to make a diagnosis of these disorders among youngsters. "Moreover, there are some common traits between the different personality disorders, and this condition makes it harder for us to make a specific diagnostic", highlights expert Jorgue Moya-Higueras, from the University of Lleida and CIBERSAM. "This is why he continues, approaching this issue from a more dimensional perspective with transdiagnostic personality traits over a continuous period of time, such as emotional dysregulation can be a more useful strategy than the categorical classification (present disorder or not present)". More investment in public healthcare to improve prevention At the moment, the SURVIVE consortium an initiative promoted by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) from the European Union, the Carlos III Health Institute, and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities gathers several institutions and hospitals to study the suicide incidence, assess the risk factors, and design intervention and prevention strategies. Promoting more complex and longitudinal studies with more to consider will be an essential element for defining factors of prediction of suicide in adolescents and improving the prevention strategies with all the health and social involved stakeholders. In this context, the first step to prevent suicidal behaviors "would be to invest more money in prevention, specially regarding the young population. This means we need to support the families so that these children can grow up in a healthy and safe atmosphere", notes the team. Secondly, we need a good detection and early intervention in children and adolescents who show emotional or behavioral difficulties, as warned by the experts. Although there is a code for suicidal risk, public healthcare should offer a wide network of professionals, services and resources to aid as soon as possible. "Since most people who present suidical behaviors have an associated mental disorder, the most important thing to start with should be this", note the experts. Despite the population's high demand of these services over the last years, the ratio of public professionals of mental health in Spain is only 6 per every 100,000 people. These figures are tripling in Europe. "Therefore, to solve this shameful deficit we should start by investing in mental health, specially in children and adolescents, from the different health services, education, justice, etc.", concludes the research team. Explore further Childhood maltreatment alters the HOA-axis activity in early stages of life More information: Laia Marques-Feixa et al, Risk of Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents Exposed to Maltreatment: The Mediating Role of Borderline Personality Traits and Recent Stressful Life Events, Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021). Laia Marques-Feixa et al, Risk of Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents Exposed to Maltreatment: The Mediating Role of Borderline Personality Traits and Recent Stressful Life Events,(2021). DOI: 10.3390/jcm10225293 With people who are dealing with addiction increasingly turning to cheaper pills bought online from abroad, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that makes it easier for the United States to target foreign drug traffickers. The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Chinese painkiller makers as it vowed to step up action to curb the addiction epidemic that killed a record 100,000 Americans last year. With people who are dealing with addiction increasingly turning to cheaper pills bought online from abroad, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that makes it easier for the United States to target foreign drug traffickers. The actions "will help disrupt the global supply chain and the financial networks that enable synthetic opioids and precursor chemicals to reach the United States," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. Under the new executive order, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on four Chinese chemical companies and one individual, Chuen Fat Yip, whom it described as "one of the largest, if not the largest, producer of anabolic steroids in the world." The State Department also put up a reward offer of up to $5 million for the arrest of the 68-year-old, who is believed to live in Wuhan. In federal charges filed in 2018, his company was accused of producing some $280 million of anabolic steroids over five years and of sending ingredients for the painkiller fentanyl through small packages sent around the world. Last month, US authorities seized the equivalent of $2.3 million in the crypto currency bitcoin traced back to Chuen, prosecutors based in Dallas said. The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on two criminal drug groups in Mexico and one in Brazil. The sanctions will block any assets in the United States that the groups or Chuen may have and criminalize transactions from the United States. Rise in online trade More than 100,000 Americans died in the year through April from overdoses of painkillers, an epidemic initially blamed on how drug companies eagerly promoted their use, and how readily available they became to people in despair. An officer from US Customs and Border Protection finds Oxycodon pills in a parcel at John F. Kennedy Airport in June 2019 in New York. Painkiller addiction has spiked more recently due to a proliferation of fake drugs, often smuggled in from overseas, that can be bought online. A 2020 report by the US Drug Enforcement Agency said that while Mexican drug traffickers were increasingly producing tablets that are smuggled into the United States, the primary source of fentanyl materialsome sent to Mexicooriginated in China. The report said that India, known for its giant pharmaceutical industry, was also quickly become a source of illicit painkillers. "I think it's very simple that a lot of the precursors to synthetic opioids originate in China," a Biden administration official said of Wednesday's actions. "And it was important for us to send a signal on that front." Under heavy pressure from the United States, China in April 2019 decreed a ban on fentanyl. A report last year by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies found that Chinese makers quickly branched out to selling the precursors inside fentanyl, which are not banned and often have legal uses as well. The Chinese sellers often sell the ingredients openly on the web, helping to secure credibility and customers, it said. The prosecutors in Texas said that Chuen was even believed to have traveled to the United States in 2015 to attend a trade show and negotiate transactions. Biden's executive order allows the United States to target foreign drug makers directly rather than focusing on cartels or other criminal groups, historically the focus of US efforts. Biden also established the US Council on Transnational Organized Crime, which will coordinate among departments to combat transnational crime. Explore further US warns Americans fake pills contain deadly fentanyl 2021 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains severely underreported in emergency departments (ED), and women represent most reported cases. Few studies have evaluated how men present with IPV injuries, leaving ED physicians unprepared to identify and assist male victims of domestic violence. New research led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital uncovered distinct differences in how men and women experience IPV, outlining key injury trends for ED physicians to recognize. Their results are published in Aggressive Behavior. "Our findings are contrary to the general notion that violence perpetrated by women is not capable of causing severe injuries to their partners," said Bharti Khurana, MD, emergency radiologist and founding director of the Trauma Imaging Research and Innovation Center in the Brigham's Department of Radiology. "Moreover, men are less likely to seek help as they are less likely to recognize it as criminal, may see IPV as unmasculine, and fear being ridiculed." Although roughly 33 percent of men experience IPV in their lifetimes, few efforts exist to recognize men facing this threat. Biases suggesting that IPV predominantly affects women may also cause medical professionals to overlook IPV-related injuries in male patients. While 35.1 percent of men in a previous study reported an injury severe enough for hospitalization, only 18.1 percent sought medical assistance, suggesting social stigmas may also dissuade men from seeking help. In this study, investigators collected data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a collection of injury data from roughly 100 hospitals across the country. Khurana and colleagues compiled data from patients that self-reported IPV-related injuries from 2005 to 2015, then evaluated the cause of each injury, its anatomical location, and its diagnosis. They then compared these results between men and women. This research revealed significant sex differences in injury presentation and location. While facial bruises are common among female victims of IPV, men in this study were significantly more likely to have lacerations, most often on their forearms. Men were also more likely to have been cut or pierced, bitten, hit by a motor vehicle, burned, or sustained a gunshot wound, while women were more likely to have been struck or fallen. There were also more hospitalizations in IPV male victims than female. Interestingly, men constituted 36.1 percent of all IPV victims over 60, raising awareness that IPV considerably impacts older men. Notably, this study only included participants that disclosed that they were victims of IPV at the time of injury. Victims of domestic violence rarely reveal the origins of their injuries in the ED, meaning that many IPV cases go undetected. In the future, Khurana hopes to incorporate this research into medical training and has already begun educating the radiology community and instructing her residents on what to look for in patient injuries. "What we're seeing is still the tip of the iceberg as very few patients will report IPV at the time of injury," said Khurana. "Identifying these injuries would allow us to provide patients with resources." Coauthors of this publication include Denise A. Hines, Ph.D., George Mason University, Department of Social Work, Benjamin A. Johnson, BS, Indiana University School of Medicine, Elizabeth Bates, Ph.D., University of Cumbria, Institute of Health, Nicola Graham-Kevan Ph.D., University of Central Lancashire, School of Psychology & Computer Science and Randall T. Loder, MD, Riley Children's Hospital and Indiana University School of Medicine. Explore further Radiology reveals alarming rise in intimate partner violence during COVID-19 pandemic More information: Bharti Khurana et al, Injury patterns and associated demographics of intimate partner violence in men presenting to U.S. emergency departments, Aggressive Behavior (2021). Bharti Khurana et al, Injury patterns and associated demographics of intimate partner violence in men presenting to U.S. emergency departments,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/ab.22007 Credit: University of Pennsylvania Recent increases in COVID-19 positivity rates and hospitalizations and uncertainty about the risks posed by the omicron variant have placed renewed emphasis on the essential role of COVID vaccines in combatting the ongoing pandemic. Based on new studies showing that protection against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may decrease over time, the CDC now recommends booster shots. This includes anyone 18 and older who completed the two-dose series of Moderna at least six months ago or received a Johnson & Johnson shot at least two months ago; for those who received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months ago, eligibility is 16 years or older. In addition to clinics held on campus, COVID-19 vaccine boosters are available through major pharmacy chains nationwide. Penn Today spoke with Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dube and Judith A. O'Donnell, section chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and a professor of infectious diseases at the Perelman School of Medicine, to learn more about COVID-19 vaccine boosters, their role in the current phase of the pandemic, and what other measures people can take to keep themselves and their communities safe. Boosters act as a 'refresher course' for the immune system "A booster is another dose of a vaccine that is given after someone has completed their vaccination series to increase or 'boost' their immune response," says O'Donnell. The boosters that are currently being administered use the same formulation as the original vaccines, she says, although the doses may differ. While the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines use the same amount as the initial series, the Moderna booster is a half dose. Dube says that boosters can be thought of as a "refresher course" for the immune system, something that helps remind the immune system what it "learned" from a prior vaccination to ensure a quick and efficient response to the virus. Boosters are important because of waning immunity and the overall severity of COVID-19 O'Donnell says there is an increased risk of "breakthrough infections," when a person tests positive after being fully vaccinated, because antibody levels naturally decrease over time. And while breakthrough infections are generally mild or asymptomatic for the individual, boosters are important because vaccinated people with breakthrough infections can still transmit SARS-CoV-2. "It is important to be able to decrease virus transmission within our communities, and getting a booster is one way to do so," she says. Dube says another reason why boosters are needed is that many people are still naive to SARS-CoV-2 because it is an entirely new virus, and the immune system is not as "naturally primed" as it is to other more common viruses like influenza. In addition to an individual's own natural waning immunity and naivete to the virus, the fact that COVID-19 can be very severe in certain individuals makes stopping the spread especially important. "The important thing is that we must all be optimally defended against COVID," says Dube. "Getting boosted means a prompter immune response, less transmission, and fewer people who are at risk of severe illness. It's not just an individual disease but a challenge for society, and we need to think about it as something that's not just for us but also for others." It's better to get a booster now rather than waiting for variant-specific vaccines Dube and O'Donnell agree that given concerns about "immune escape" and omicron, people should get the original vaccine formulations that are available now. "Even if you've already received two doses, your immunity wanes over time, and you are putting yourself and others at risk by waiting," says Dube, who encourages people not to wait if they are already eligible for a COVID-19 booster. O'Donnell also recommends that people who are eligible get boosted now instead of waiting. "These potential variant-specific boosters do not exist yet, and it would take manufacturers three to four months, or even longer, to get that compound created, tested, manufactured, and available in your retail pharmacy," says O'Donnell. "It is safer to take the current booster formulation now than to allow your immunity to further wane another three to four months." The public health measures that worked early in the pandemic are still effective "We will continue to learn much more about all of this in the coming weeks, but, given that omicron could become a dominant strain, now is the time for people to get boosted so they have that extra level of protection," O'Donnell says. Along with getting boosted, O'Donnell says that people should also wear masks in public indoor settings, avoid large indoor gatherings, and ensure that eligible individuals who do get together are all vaccinated, get tested if they develop any COVID-19 symptoms, and get a flu shot if they haven't done so already. As with prior stages of the pandemic, Dube says that masking, hand washing, and limiting large indoor gatherings are key in keeping people on Penn's campus and the community safe. And for those who are struggling with the ongoing mental health impacts of the pandemic, Dube says "it is important to acknowledge that this is stressful, unrelenting, and exhausting," adding that even though there is still a lot of uncertainty about omicron people can instead focus on things they do have control over. "We get to decide the level of exposure we are OK with, and we can continue to adjust and adapt as we've done before," he says. Explore further Mayo Clinic expert explains why getting the COVID-19 vaccine is more important than ever Using parameters measured in the mouse hippocampus, the researchers created a comprehensive network model of the brain region. Credit: Peter Rigaud/IST Austria Our brains can distinguish highly similar patterns, thanks to a process called pattern separation. How our brains separate patterns is, however, not yet fully understood. Using a full-scale computer model of the dentate gyrus, a brain region involved in pattern separation, Peter Jonas, professor at the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria, found that inhibitory neurons activated by one pattern suppress all their neighboring neurons, thereby switching off "competing" similar patterns. This is the result of a study published in Nature Computational Science. A black cat is deceptively similar to a panther, apart from its size. Making this distinction is crucial when being pursued, and something humans achieve thanks to pattern separation, the process in which the brain distinguishes highly similar patterns and triggers very different behaviors as a response: stroke the cat or flee the panther. This process is also linked to learning. "We need to not just separate similar patterns, but also store and accurately retrieve them, for example for when we next meet a panther. Therefore, we investigated how pattern separation occurs in the hippocampus, a key memory circuit," says Peter Jonas, Professor at IST Austria and lead author of the study. 500,000 neurons in one model In previous research, Jonas and his team measured crucial parameters of synapses, the connecting points of neurons, and connectivity rules, which are required for understanding information processing in the hippocampal network in mice and rats. Now, Jonas used these real-live parameters to build an accurate model of the networka challenge, as usually, models of brain circuits are built with just 10 to 1.000 neurons. The dentate gyrus of rats, however, contains 500,000 excitatory neurons, called granule cells. "In scaled-down models, we cannot plug in the measured synaptic parameters of the neuronal circuit. But as we wanted to mimic what happens in the brain and use synaptic measurements we obtained previously, we implemented a network in its full size, with 500,000 granule cells." Inhibition separates patterns Using this computer model, Jonas tested different hypotheses of how pattern separation works. "With this model we cannot just copy biology, but systematically change parameters and disentangle factors. This allows us to understand computations in the brain, and how biological factors support or limit computation." Professor Peter Jonas uncovered a new mechanism of pattern separation. Credit: Peter Rigaud/IST Austria Historically, based on data from the cerebellum, neuroscientists thought pattern separation is based on expansion: A pattern is projected from a smaller number of neurons to a huge number of neurons in the next layer of processing. This would expand the pattern and make it easier to spot differences. While expansion is a potential mechanism in the cerebellum, it is less likely to be at work in the hippocampus, where granule cells converge on a smaller number of CA3 neurons in the next layer. "Clearly, expansion can't be the only mechanism in the hippocampus," Jonas states. "Evidence from our realistic model suggests that inhibitionactive neurons stopping other neurons from firingplays an important role." Mathematically, it has been shown that reducing activity in a network makes it easier to distinguish differences between patterns. Using the hippocampus model, Jonas interrogated the role of inhibition. "When inhibition is part of the model, patterns are robustly separated. But when we take inhibition out, this is no longer the case. This modeling data changes the historical view from code expansion to a mechanism based on inhibition." The new data also explains a result from previous research which has left Jonas puzzled. "Previously, we found that inhibition in the dentate gyrus is locally constrained. Activated neurons only inhibit other cells within a 300-micrometer radius. We have long asked what might be the functional role of such focal inhibition." The network model shows that such focal inhibition can better separate patterns than global inhibition, in which the entire network's activity is dampened down. Speed is essential in pattern separation, and focal inhibition reduces delays: Neurons in a pattern switch on and very rapidly inhibit surrounding cells, ensuring that other patterns are not turned on. "It is a cool solution, but not very intuitive, and we could only figure this out using the model," Jonas points out. As a next step, Jonas plans to transfer results back to the biological system and carry out behavioral experiments, further exploring how inhibition contributes to pattern separation. Explore further Lateral inhibition keeps similar memories apart More information: Peter Jonas, How connectivity rules and synaptic properties shape the efficacy of pattern separation in the entorhinal cortexdentate gyrusCA3 network, Nature Computational Science (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s43588-021-00157-1 Journal information: Nature Computational Science Peter Jonas, How connectivity rules and synaptic properties shape the efficacy of pattern separation in the entorhinal cortexdentate gyrusCA3 network,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s43588-021-00157-1 Karl Lauterbach (SPD), Federal Minister of Health, speaks at the Federal Press Conference on the Corona vaccination for children and the situation of vaccine supplyin Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Dec.16, 2021. Credit: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa via AP Germany is scrambling to procure more vaccines to fuel what the new health minister on Thursday called a "very offensive" and fast booster strategy that would leave the country better prepared for the onslaught of the new omicron variant. Germany on Wednesday administered nearly 1.5 million shots, its highest one-day total so far. As its vaccination campaign has revved back up, an average of some 988,000 people per day have been vaccinated over the past week. The proportion of Germany's population of 83 million that has been fully vaccinated now stands at 70%a number that officials, who had set a minimum target of 75%, aren't satisfied with. And 27.6% also have received a booster shot, a figure that is rising quickly. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said that "we will try with a very offensive, fast booster strategy to keep the omicron variant as small as possible to avoid overloading the health system and possibly society as a whole." But Lauterbach told reporters he wasn't satisfied with an inventory of vaccine delivery plans for the rest of December and next year's first quarter after he took office last week in the new government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, because "it simply isn't enough for such a vaccination strategy." With those delivery numbers, "the booster campaign would be finished at the end of March, and we can't work with that," Lauterbach said. Doctor Soehnke Dammann administers a vaccine dose to Maximilian in a children's vaccination ward at the Olgahospital in Stuttgart, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Germany is scrambling to procure more vaccine to fuel what the new health minister calls a "very offensive" and fast booster strategy that would leave the country better prepared for the onslaught of the new omicron variant. Germany on Wednesday administered nearly 1.5 million shots, its highest one-day total so far. Credit: Bernd Weissbrod/dpa via AP He said his ministry launched efforts to remedy that on Saturday, and has secured the European Union's approval to get the delivery of 35 million doses from Moderna moved forward. Lauterbach said he is negotiating with other countries, including Romania, Poland, Portugal and Bulgaria, to secure more vaccines. Germany also hopes to get doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine that have been adapted to the omicron variant in the first quarter. The minister said he expects that "the booster vaccination and possibly also a fourth vaccination will be the central pillars of a successful strategy." Omicron hasn't yet become a major factor in Germany, unlike in Britain. But the country is only now seeing a wave of infections caused by the still-dominant delta variant, its biggest so far, recede slowly. There are signs that restrictions imposed in recent weeks are beginning to have an effect. Recent restrictions have included requiring people to show proof of vaccination and recovery to enter nonessential shops. On Thursday, the top administrative court in the northwestern state of Lower Saxony overturned that newly introduced regulation for the region, faulting details and finding that it wasn't "currently a necessary protection measure." A girl is vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine during a vaccination appointment at the University Medical Center in Rostock, German, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Credit: Stefan Sauer/dpa via AP Lothar Wieler, the head of the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's disease control center, said that "a few hundred cases" of omicron have been registered so far, and it has been found in all 16 German states. Wieler warned that Germans need to make sure the Christmas period doesn't provide a "kick-start for omicron," recommending that they spend the time with close family and reduce their contacts. Wieler's institute said that Germany has seen 340.1 new coronavirus infections per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, down from 422.3 a week earlier. There were 56,677 confirmed new cases over the past 24 hours and 522 more deathsbringing Germany's toll in the pandemic so far to 107,202. Explore further UK says omicron to become its dominant variant within days 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Hormone levels in the womb before birth have been potentially linked to the risk of developing migraine in adulthood, reveals a new study of genetic and environmental information from the world's largest database of twins. The research is also the first to show that genetic factors related to migraine risk may be different for men and women. The researchers hope these findings will enable more effective and targeted treatment options for this debilitating disease. The risk of experiencing migraine in adulthood has been linked to factors in the womb, finds a new study published in Frontiers in Pain Research. It also found evidence to suggest that different genes influence migraine risk in men and women. "We are the first to show that females with a male co-twin have a higher risk of migraine compared to females with a female co-twin, suggesting that prenatal factors, possibly relating to in utero hormone levels, may contribute to migraine risk," said Morgan Fitzgerald, lead author of the study, from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. "We are also the first to present evidence that genetic factors related to migraine risk may be different between females and males." Debilitating disease Migraine is a severe, debilitating neurological disease that affects more than 12% of the world's population. Females are more likely to suffer from migraine by a factor of nearly seven to one, and it is a leading cause of disability in young women. "Despite its prevalence, the factors that contribute to migraine are poorly understood," said Dr. Matthew Panizzon, principal investigator of the study, also based at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. "With the data from the Swedish Twin Registry, the largest twin registry in the world, there was a unique opportunity to probe factors contributing to female-male differences in migraine." The researchers examined data from 51,872 individuals who had participated in prior Swedish Twin Registry studies. They identified those who experienced migraine without aura based on criteria set by the International Headache Society Classification of Headache Disorders. "Since the data were collected from twins, we were able to use analytic methods that allowed us to test whether migraine risk was driven by different genes in females and males, and whether the presence of an opposite-sex twin in utero, which is believed to impact prenatal hormone levels, had an influence," explained Fitzgerald. "We found that the prenatal environment may contribute to migraine risk, and that some of the genetic factors that contribute to migraine risk may be different between females and males." Improved treatment options "The findings of our study are important because the more we understand the factors that contribute to migraine, and especially the differences between males and females, the more opportunity there is to improve clinical care, diagnostic abilities, and therapeutic interventions for both men and women," added Panizzon. Further questions remain, such as what factors dictate the presence or absence of aura with migraine, and at what age and in what stage of life does migraine begin. "Unfortunately, age at onset was not available in the Swedish Twin Registry data. In fact, most studies do not ask individuals when their migraine attacks first start," explained Fitzgerald. "In the future, we hope to examine how age at migraine onset coincides with the timing of critical hormonal events like puberty." Explore further Sex differences examined for mechanism of migraine-stroke link More information: Morgan C. Fitzgerald et al, Sex Differences in Migraine: A Twin Study, Frontiers in Pain Research (2021). Morgan C. Fitzgerald et al, Sex Differences in Migraine: A Twin Study,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2021.766718 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain People who were hospitalized with COVID-19 and continued to experience symptoms at five months show limited further recovery one year after hospital discharge. The latest results of the PHOSP-COVID study have been released as a pre-print on medRxiv today. This has also confirmed earlier research that people who were less likely to make a full recovery from COVID-19 were female, obese, and required invasive mechanical ventilation to support their breathing during their hospital stay. The study is led by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and jointly funded by the NIHR and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Researchers from 53 institutions and 83 hospitals across the UK assessed 2,230 adults who had been hospitalized with COVID-19. All participants completed a five-month assessment. So far, 807 people have completed both the five-month and 12-month assessments. Recovery was measured using patient-reported data, physical performance and organ function tests. Participant blood samples at the five-month visit were analyzed for around 300 substances linked to inflammation and immunity. They found that one year after hospital discharge, less than three in 10 patients on the study reported they felt fully recovered, largely unchanged from 2.5 in 10 at five months. The most common ongoing symptoms were: fatigue muscle pain physically slowing down poor sleep breathlessness Participants felt their health-related quality of life remained substantially worse one year after hospital discharge, compared to pre-COVID. This suggests the physical and mental health impairments reported in the study are unlikely to be pre-existing conditions. A cluster analysis, which is a mathematical method to group participants according to similar traits and characteristics, identified four distinct groups based on the severity of physical, mental and cognitive impairments experienced at five months. The number of persistent symptoms was much higher in the 'very severe' group compared to the 'mild' group. In all of these clusters, there was little improvement in physical and mental health from the five-month to one-year assessments. The researchers compared the blood profiles across the four clusters. They identified higher levels of substances associated with whole-body inflammation and molecules associated with tissue damage and repair, in participants with very severe-long COVID compared to mild. They also found a pattern of substances linked to poor cognition in the cluster of patients reporting symptoms such as 'brain fog' or slowed thinking, suggesting possible neuro-inflammation. Persistent symptoms Professor Chris Brightling, from the University of Leicester, and chief investigator for the PHOSP-COVID study, said: "The PHOSP-COVID study is further evidence of the UK's ability to combine expertise across both disease area and geography to rapidly gather data to help us understand the longer-term implications of long-COVID in hospitalized patients with persistent symptoms. "Our findings show that people who were hospitalized and went on to develop long-COVID are not getting substantially better a year after they were discharged from hospital. Many patients in our study had not fully recovered at five months and most of these reported little positive change in their health condition at one year. "When you consider that over half a million people in the UK have been admitted to hospital as a result of COVID-19, we are talking about a sizeable population at risk of persistent ill-health and reduced quality of life." Dr. Rachael Evans, at the University of Leicester, and a lead author of the paper, said: "The findings that many patients had not fully recovered one year after leaving hospital indicate that healthcare professionals will need to proactively continue assessing their patients for some time to come in order to identify their ongoing healthcare needs and provide support. "However, we urgently need healthcare packages and medicines that target the potentially treatable traits of long-COVID to help people feel better and get back to their normal lives. Without these, long-COVID has the potential to become highly prevalent as a new long-term condition." Informing future development Professor Fiona Watt, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, which co-funded the study, said: "This new evidence from the PHOSP-COVID study provides us with vital information about the long-term effects associated with COVID-19 in patients who were treated in hospital. The information will inform the development of effective ways to help long-COVID patients." The consortium acknowledges that there may be self-selection bias in the patients returning for one-year visits. Although, from the data it appears that there are no clear differences between the patients attending the one-year follow-up and the larger participant population in the wider study including their recovery at five months. Assuming all the participants who had missing data at one year had either not recovered or were fully recovered, the adjusted figures are, two in 10 or six in 10, people recovering from COVID-19 at one year, respectively. Explore further Expert optimistic about possibility of tests for long COVID More information: Rachael Andrea Evans et al, Clinical characteristics with inflammation profiling of Long-COVID and association with one-year recovery following hospitalisation in the UK: a prospective observational study (2021). Rachael Andrea Evans et al, Clinical characteristics with inflammation profiling of Long-COVID and association with one-year recovery following hospitalisation in the UK: a prospective observational study (2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.12.13.21267471 Cultured neurons from the striatum of mice. Credit: Thomas Lissek / Hilmar Bading A molecular switch influences addiction behavior and determines how strong the response to addictive drugs is. A research team at Heidelberg University and the Sorbonne University in Paris (France) made the discovery in mice treated with cocaine. The researchers led by Prof. Dr. Hilmar Bading (Heidelberg) and Prof. Dr. Peter Vanhoutte (Paris) demonstrated that the protein Npas4 regulates the structure and function of nerve cells that control addiction behavior in mice. If the quantity of Npas4 was reduced in an experiment, the animals' response to cocaine was much weaker. "In the animal model, Npas4 acts as a molecular regulator for the sensitivity to drugs of abuse. We hope that the results of our research lead to a better understanding of addiction in humans and will contribute to new therapeutic approaches," says lead author Thomas Lissek. The physician and scientist is pursuing doctoral research on molecular signaling mechanisms linking neuronal activity to gene transcription at the Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN) at Heidelberg University. According to the researcher, the current findings also underpin the existence of a biological basis for addiction behavior, much like for diabetes or cardiovascular disease. The protein Npas4 acts as a so-called transcription factor. "We can view Npas4 as a conductor who coordinates which and how many other molecules are produced in a cell," explains Thomas Lissek. The target molecules of Npas4 primarily regulate the electrical activity patterns and the structure of nerve cells and influence the number of contact points between them. When the researchers reduced the amount of Npas4, the contacts between the nerve cells diminished. The mice subsequently exhibited a weaker response to cocaine than with a higher amount of Npas4. The current findings from the Heidelberg and Paris scientists also demonstrate that Npas4 is governed by a special regulation mechanism. The protein can be induced only by stimuli that cause the calcium concentration in the nucleus of nerve cells to increase. For instance, the activation of dopamine receptorsa much-discussed mechanism in the development of addictiondoes not contribute to increasing the amount of Npas4. The teams of Hilmar Bading and Peter Vanhoutte were also able to confirm this characteristic in human stem cell-derived neurons. The unusual regulation mechanism of Npas4 is interesting for both basic biological research as well as the development of therapies to treat addiction. "Npas4 and its associated signaling pathway in the control of addiction behavior are promising therapeutic approaches," explains Prof. Bading, director of the Department of Neurobiology at the IZN. The research was conducted within the framework of a German-French cooperation project and was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), among others. The results were published in the journal EMBO Reports. Explore further New protein function could be key to treatment of drug addiction and behavioral disorders More information: Thomas Lissek et al, Npas4 regulates medium spiny neuron physiology and gates cocaineinduced hyperlocomotion, EMBO reports (2021). Journal information: EMBO Reports Thomas Lissek et al, Npas4 regulates medium spiny neuron physiology and gates cocaineinduced hyperlocomotion,(2021). DOI: 10.15252/embr.202051882 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that for-profit long-term care homes had worse patient outcomes than not-for-profit homes. A new study found that of those for-profit homes, long-term care homes (LTCs) owned by private equity firms and large chains have the highest mortality rates. The study conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo traced the growing dominance of financial firms in seniors housing, including LTCs and retirement living. The study found that nursing homes with the highest profit margins have the lowest quality as financialized ownership and are even more aggressive in seeking to extract value from care homes and the people who live and work in them. "This study is not focused on the public or non-profit seniors' facilities across Canada, but rather, the pension funds, private-equity firms, public companies, and other instruments treating long-term care as an asset class," said Martine August, a professor in Waterloo's School of Planning and author of the study. "When financial firms own and operate seniors housing, they prioritize profit at the expense of other goals. "These financial firms derive maximum value in three ways: cost-savings from cutting staff, reducing services, and using government grants to improve facilities thus raising property values for subsequent sale as real estate." August said financialization is the process by which real goods and services such as housing and senior assisted living are bundled and traded as investor products like bonds, shares and derivatives, differentiating them from sole proprietors. August tracked LTC ownership data from 2003 to 2020. In that time, Canada's top-10 financial firms doubled their holdings of LTCs since 2003. Currently, 33 per cent of seniors' housing (including 22 per cent of LTCs and 42 per cent of retirement homes) is owned by financial firms. U.S. research offers an important caution, as private-equity ownership of US-based nursing homes was associated with a 10 per cent increase in short-term patient mortalityequivalent to the loss of 21,000 lives. "Financial firms are in seniors' housing for what they can take from it, not what they can contribute. This approachand the prioritization of profits is what guides financial firms," she said. "It's at odds with the social and moral imperatives that underline the need to provide good homes, high-quality care and dignified environments for our elderly populations and the workers who care for them." The study, "Securitising Seniors Housing: The Financialisation of Real Estate and Social Reproduction in Retirement and Long-Term Care Homes," was recently published in the journal Antipode. Explore further The coronavirus exposes the perils of profit in seniors' housing More information: Martine August, Securitising Seniors Housing: The Financialisation of Real Estate and Social Reproduction in Retirement and LongTerm Care Homes, Antipode (2021). Martine August, Securitising Seniors Housing: The Financialisation of Real Estate and Social Reproduction in Retirement and LongTerm Care Homes,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/anti.12795 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain New results from a long-term epidemiologic study reveal that one of the oldest racially based diagnostic formulas in medicine is no better than a race-neutral equation, which suggests the formula used to diagnose lung disease should be changed. The study, led by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, was published Dec. 16 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The race-based formula is used to define the severity of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and diagnose other lung diseases. Though it is based on old methodology, it is still recommended for use in the United States and globally. Because the formula includes racial adjustments in defining normal lung function, Black people may be less likely to be treated with medications for COPD or diagnosed with other serious lung disorders compared to white people with the same test results on a spirometer, an instrument that measures the lungs' air capacity. (In an accompanying paper in the same issue, UCSF researchers found that fewer Black patients with COPD and other lung diseases are diagnosed correctly because of the race-based formula). History of the formula The history of the formula is nearly 200 years old. "The current approach to defining normal lung function goes back to the 1840s, when the inventor of the spirometer, John Hutchinson, used the spirometer to measure lung capacity in about 4,000 people and used a cross-sectional approach to define which values indicated disease and which values were normal," says the study's senior author, R. Graham Barr, MD, DrPH, the Hamilton Southworth Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and chief of the Division of General Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Barr also is professor of epidemiology at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health. A similar cross-sectional study in the United States performed right after the Civil War found differences in lung capacity between "healthy" Black and white military personnel. Pro-slavery physicians interpreted these observations as a biologic difference, which they used to argue in favor of slavery. This cross-sectional approach to defining normal lung function persists to this day in the guidelines that recommend the inclusion of terms for race in the currently used diagnostic formula. But cross-sectional studies only look at participants at a single point in time, instead of following the same people over time, which is a more modern and relevant method to determine which measurements fall in the healthy range and which may signify disease. Barr says that the cross-sectional study "was a fine and innovative approach in the 1840s, but most fields have moved on as longitudinal data became available." For example, the thresholds used to diagnose type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension are based upon long-term prospective cohort studies or clinical trials. New approach Since the early 2000s, Barr and a multi-institution team of collaborators have been following a group of several thousand patients, and they have amassed a trove of data on spirometry measurements and long-term development of lung disease. That data allowed them to compare the race-based formula with a race-neutral one to see which was better at predicting lung problems. The results were unambiguous: Stratifying patients' risk of lung disease based on race was no better than those obtained with the race-neutral spirometry formula and, in some instances, the race-neutral spirometry formula yielded better predictions. "This type of research is important to evaluate the algorithms and diagnostics that the medical community has historically used to diagnose and treat disease," says Lisa Postow, Ph.D., the program director of the COPD/environment program at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the NIH. "Accurate algorithms are essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment." Changing formulas could be straightforward and easy. "There is a published race-neutral equation, which we used as a comparison in this paper," says first author Arielle Elmaleh-Sachs, MD, postdoctoral clinical fellow in the Division of General Medicine at Columbia. "The race-neutral equation is available to everyone, and it would be relatively easy to move clinical practice to make the change." Explore further Lung capacity tests found to be accurate precursor of co-morbidities More information: Aaron D. Baugh et al, Reconsidering the Utility of Race-Specific Lung Function Prediction Equations, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2021). Journal information: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Aaron D. Baugh et al, Reconsidering the Utility of Race-Specific Lung Function Prediction Equations,(2021). DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202105-1246OC Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Analysis of social media posts in November and December 2021 shows the antivax movement is diverse and complex, with conflicting concepts and interpretations of freedom and human rights. The TIGER C19 project, run collaboratively between Burnet Institute and the University of Melbourne, has combined big data analytics of selected keywords and themes from Reddit and Twitter since the onset of COVID-19. TIGER C19 Co-Lead Investigator, Professor Robert Power and his team collated and analyzed nearly 36,411 Twitter and Reddit posts from the 25th November and 5th December 2021, which contained eight separate keywords relating to current COVID-19-related issues. Professor Power said the project offers real-time insights into the sentiment of Australian social media users, and gauges attitudes and responses to public health measures implemented to limit the effects of the pandemic. "The protest movement continues to generate much oxygen, with wide-ranging agendas and impetus. Evidence of influence from outside Victoria and beyond the health agenda is apparent, with much debate around the issues of freedom and government control," Professor Power said. "One important issue to emerge concerned vaccine hesitancy amongst First Nation people, where the context of colonial history of health interventions was raised in a negative light." Professor Power said social and other media have been utilized as powerful influencers. "This ranged from the role of the right-wing media and false COVID-related information appearing on the web, to the use of false social media accounts and bots being employed to boost and promote the anti-vax/anti-government movement. "On the other hand, there were a number of personal accounts from health workers describing the dire consequences of non-vaccination." Professor Power said the debate was characterized by conflicting concepts and interpretations of freedom and human rights. "This was particularly the case regarding Victoria's new Pandemic Management Bill and the shift in decision making from health professions to politicians, especially the Premier," Professor Power said. "This segued into worries of impending lockdown threats and the impact on renewed freedoms." Professor Power stated that amid the intense debate, there was a desire to hear from a broad array of voices and viewpoints. "There was a strong desire to hear from a wider range of experiences and issues, such as from community leaders and small business owners. This was coupled with a weariness of hearing from the same voices and standpoints, such as from politicians, health experts and epidemiologists." Meanwhile, vaccination issues remain central to many of the debates and feeds, according to Professor Power. "As usual many posts focused on vaccines, especially the new Omicron variant. Issues raised were those of the impact on travel and freedom, the need for booster doses and worry as how Omicron may affect the course of the pandemic and the current medical, social and economic progress." "One powerful message that came through was the need to learn from this pandemic and plan now for the future." Explore further Social media analysis shows support for public health measures More information: The report is available online: The report is available online: burnet.edu.au/system/asset/fil 19_2021_Report_8.pdf POLICE ARE still facing a blank wall on the fatal attack of a Basilan town mayor and the wounding of another in Zamboanga City. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday all but acknowledged negotiations over his sweeping domestic policy package will likely push into the new year, as he does not yet have the votes in the Senate to lift the roughly $2 trillion bill to passage. Biden issued a statement in the evening as it became increasingly apparent the Democratic senators would not meet their Christmas deadline, in large part because of unyielding opposition from one holdout: Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. The president said that in their recent discussions, the West Virginia senator has reiterated his support for the framework he, the president and other Democrats had agreed to on the flagship bill. Biden said he also briefed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier Thursday about the most recent round of talks with Manchin. I believe that we will bridge our differences and advance the Build Back Better plan, even in the face of fierce Republican opposition, Biden said in the statement. Biden said he and his team will continue to have discussions with Manchin next week. The White House and the congressional leaders plan to work over the days and weeks ahead to finish up the details, he said. Both he and Schumer are determined, he said, to bring the package to the Senate floor for votes as early as possible. "We will we must get Build Back Better passed," Biden said. Biden's statement was a much-needed intervention, allowing Senate Democrats an off-ramp to what has been months of tangled negotiations that appear nowhere near resolved as time runs out ahead of the Christmas holiday. At the same time, Democrats were rushing to show progress on another jammed-up priority: voting rights legislation that, Biden acknowledged, also faces hurdles. We must also press forward on voting rights legislation, and make progress on this as quickly as possible, Biden said. Schumer, D-N.Y., had set Senate passage before Christmas as his goal, but disputes with Manchin and other Democrats remain. It had become clear that the party was seeking an explicit move from Biden in hopes he would cut a deal with Manchin, or urge lawmakers to delay action until January. The sudden end-of-year shift comes as Democrats suffered another blow to their agenda late Thursday when the Senate parliamentarian decided that hard-fought efforts to include immigration law changes should be stripped from the package because they dont comply with the chambers rules. Schumer said Democrats strongly disagree with the parliamentarians decision and vowed to pursue every means so that immigrants can achieve a path to citizenship in Biden's package. The ruling is just one part of an ongoing, time-consuming review by Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough about whether many of the bills provisions violate the chambers rules and should be dropped. As the days business began, Schumer barely mentioned what was becoming an obvious stall. Instead, he described Democrats efforts to break a logjam on voting rights legislation and a pile of nominations the Senate will consider as we continue working to bring the Senate to a position where we can move forward on the social and environment bill. Using his sway in a 50-50 Senate where Democrats need unanimity to prevail, Manchin has continued his drive to force his party to cut the bill's cost and eliminate programs he opposes. All Republicans oppose the package, arguing the measure carrying many of Bidens paramount domestic priorities is too expensive and would worsen inflation. The best Christmas gift Washington could give working families would be putting this bad bill on ice," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. McConnell and Manchin met in the GOP leader's office, as they often do, a very public reminder of the West Virginia senator's conservative leanings and Democrats' slim hold on the majority. We do appreciate the fact that he seems to be one of the few remaining centrists left in the Democratic Party, McConnell said. A person who was unauthorized to discuss the rocky status of the Biden-Manchin talks and spoke only on condition of anonymity said Wednesday that Manchin was pushing to eliminate the bill's renewal of expanded benefits under the child tax credit, a keystone of Democratic efforts to reduce child poverty. As he exited a Democratic senators' closed-door lunch, Manchin was mum on his next move, telling reporters he had nothing to share. Earlier Wednesday, Manchin said assertions he wants to strip the child tax credit improvements were a lot of bad rumors. Democrats were livid over the possibility of eliminating one of the bills most significant achievements the continuation of enhanced child tax credits that have been sending monthly checks to millions of families during the COVID-19 crisis and will expire next year without further action. Letting the social and environment legislation slip into next year, when congressional elections will be held, would be ominous for the bill's ultimate prospects. With Democrats having blown past previous self-imposed deadlines on the push, another delay would fuel Republican accusations that they are incompetently running a government they control. Democrats are bracing for November elections when the GOP has a real chance of winning control of the House and Senate. Word of Manchin's stance prompted a backlash from colleagues, whom he's frustrated for months with constant demands to cut the bill's size and scope. The measure also has money for health care, universal prekindergarten and climate change programs, largely paid for with tax boosts on big corporations and the rich. The second-ranking Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, said the level of emotion among Democrats over the child tax credit is very high, and said he was stunned when he heard about Manchin's demands. Manchin has wanted the overall bill's 10-year price tag to fall below $2 trillion. He also wants all its programs to last the full decade. The current bill would extend the enhanced child tax credit for just one year, a device to contain the bill's cost. Renewing the improved benefits for 10 years would increase its current one-year cost of around $100 billion to over $1 trillion, and doing that while cutting the overall bill's size would wreak havoc on Democrats' other priorities. The Treasury Department says the expanded tax credit has helped the families of 61 million children. Manchins other demands have included removing a new requirement for paid family leave. Disputes among other lawmakers include how to increase federal tax deductions for state and local taxes. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Darlene Superville and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report. 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 BRUSSELS (AP) A summit of European Union leaders on Thursday is trying Thursday to coordinate action to tackle the surge of coronavirus infections across the continent and the emergence of the new omicron variant while keeping borders open. With the festive season looming, the bloc's leaders want to avoid a confusing mixture of rules and to ensure all 27 member states are on the same page and that COVID-19 certificates continue to guarantee unrestricted travel. But alarming rises in infections have prompted many European governments to implement public health measures and new restrictions in recent weeks. France will restrict arrivals from Britain because of fast-spreading omicron cases, putting limits on reasons for traveling and requiring 48-hour isolation upon arrival. The new measures are expected to take effect over the weekend. The European Council, which brings together EU leaders to set the blocs political agenda, said before the talks in Brussels that any restrictions should not undermine the functioning of the single market or hamper travel between EU member states and to Europe. 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. Leaders will discuss the rollout of vaccines and the need to deploy booster doses to counter the spread of omicron. The one answer to the omicron right now is the acceleration of our vaccination program, with a particular emphasis to the booster shots," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. In Greece, we are one of the first European countries to open booster shots to the entire population." Mitsotakis said additional restrictive measures, like extra testing for visitors, should only apply during the Christmas period in order for us to gain additional time to boost as many people as possible. It's a battle against time." Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said that leaders have significant concerns about omicrons capacity to spread rapidly and create pressure on health systems. Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the European Unions 27 nations by mid-January, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She said that more than 66% of the EU population is now fully vaccinated, but that figure doesn't offer a clear view of the contrasted EU picture. While nations like Portugal and Spain have immunized the vast majority of their people, 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. 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. 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. Republican Rep. Steve Huffman, the Tipp City physician who proposed the changes, said they're aimed at improving the program developed since Ohio legalized medical marijuana in 2016. The legislation outlines a goal of one dispensary for every 1,000 of the first 300,000 registered patients, then adding more dispensaries as needed. The list of conditions qualifying for treatment with marijuana would expand to include terminal illness, Autism spectrum disorder, chronic muscle spasms and opioid use disorder. And a physician could recommend marijuana to treat any medical condition if the physician concludes the patient would reasonably be expected to find relief or benefit from it. The measure outlines two levels of licensed cultivators one that could seek to cultivate up to 75,000 square feet, the other up to 20,000 square feet. 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 A Missoula man found guilty of raping a young child was sentenced on Wednesday to 100 years in the Montana State Prison without the possibility of parole. Wes Lee Whitaker, 41, was convicted by a Missoula jury in June of three felony sexual assault charges. He was handed a sentence of 100 years for each count, to run alongside one another, all without the possibility of parole. The jurys decision came after an emotional four days of testimony by several witnesses, including family members and friends of the survivor and the survivors mother. The charges stemmed from a 2018 incident where Whitaker sexually abused the young girl, who was 3 at the time, on multiple occasions while she was in his care. The girl communicated what happened to her mother, who reported the abuse to law enforcement. Whitaker was subsequently arrested by Missoula police. Missoula County Deputy Attorney Brian Lowney requested a sentence of 100 years with no parole for each count. My intention here is that Mr. Whitaker never be released from prison, and so I think 100 years without parole would accomplish that, Lowney said. Hes likely to hurt someone else if he is out of custody. Lowney pointed out Whitaker has continually denied the allegations and paid no recognition to the trauma he has caused to the people involved. He also noted Whitakers significant criminal history, including previous child sex abuse cases. Whitaker has opted to represent himself throughout his case, including at Wednesday's sentencing. Whitaker has two child molestation convictions from the early 2000s in Georgia, according to the Montana Sexual and Violent Offender Registry. Lowney read a victim impact statement from the childs mom, which pointed to the significant impacts Whitakers abuse has had on the girl and the trauma it has caused in her life. When given the opportunity to address the court, Whitaker tried to refute the prosecutions claims. He took no responsibility for his actions, nor did he apologize to the survivor or others impacted by his abuse. Missoula County District Court Judge John Larson presided at the sentencing hearing. There is no guarantee that you wouldn't commit another offense if you were released, and the parole restriction is for that reason. These are extremely serious crimes involving the most defenseless people, a child who trusted you, Judge Larson said. As he was escorted out of the courtroom, Whitaker said he objected. He has the option to appeal the sentence to the Montana Supreme Court. He was remanded to the custody of the Missoula County Sheriff for transportation to the Montana State Prison. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 9 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. Missoula's airport will receive more than $3 million through the federal bipartisan infrastructure law in the first of five rounds of funding, the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday. The $3,433,751 set for Missoula's hub is part of more than $28 million secured for Montana's 69 airports in 2022. The money can be used "to construct or repair runways and taxiways as well as make terminal and gate improvements," the news release said. Montanas airports are essential to keeping our state connected and our economy strong, Sen. Jon Tester, a lead author on the bill, said in a news release announcing the funding. This funding from my bipartisan infrastructure package will ensure that our airports can make urgently needed repairs, continue to grow and support Montana travel, and create good paying jobs in the process. In total, $144 million will be awarded to Montana's airports over the next five years through the FAAs airport improvement grants. The airport is in the midst of a roughly $110-million, two-phase terminal expansion. The first phase, a $67 million project, is expected to be complete at the end of this year and travelers will be able to enter the new three-story terminal building in early 2022. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 FAIRFIELD, Maine (AP) Thirty-four communities across Maine will be tested for environmental pollutants associated with serious health conditions, after the so-called forever chemicals" were found in chicken eggs and deer meat harvested in the Fairfield area. The state's Center for Disease Control and Prevention hasn't said the exact sites that will be tested, but they include Westbrook, Windham, Gorham, Auburn and Skowhegan, The Portland Press Herald reported Tuesday. In addition to Fairfield, testing is already taking place in Leeds, Presque Isle, Chelsea, Unity Township, Benton, Bowdoinham and Knox, the newspaper reported. These per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are used in products like nonstick cookware, carpets, firefighting foam and fast-food wrappers. Authorities are working to understand how these chemicals make their way through the ecosystem and into the water and food supply after farmers spread municipal and industrial sludge that contained the chemicals as fertilizer. State CDC toxicologist Dr. Andrew Smith urged Mainers not to overreact to the reports of PFAS in eggs at two homesteads in Fairfield, the newspaper reported. Everywhere weve worked so far are places where this is a known source thats resulted in water thats fairly high in contamination, Smith said. In October, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a broad new strategy to regulate PFAS, which have been associated with serious health conditions, including cancer and reduced birth weight. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Portland Press Herald. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden unveiled two more ambassador nominees Wednesday, but the White House and Democrats warned that maneuvering by some Senate Republicans to block all but a small fraction of diplomatic and other national security appointees is doing serious harm to U.S. efforts around the globe. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has threatened to keep lawmakers who are eager to get home for Christmas at work in Washington into next week if progress isn't made on the backlog of more than 70 ambassadorial nominees awaiting votes. Biden administration officials acknowledge the president will almost certainly end his year with significantly more ambassadorial vacancies than any of his recent predecessors and that the slowdown of ambassadorial and other national security picks has already had an impact on U.S. relations overseas. Its 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," said White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. As of Tuesday, only 13 of Bidens 85 ambassadorial nominees have been confirmed by the Senate, according to the White House. At the same point in the three previous administrations, presidents had far more of their diplomats confirmed and installed at embassies around the globe. Donald Trump had 44 of his 60 nominees confirmed, Barack Obama 72 of 96, and George W. Bush 93 out of 103. Much of the White House and Schumer's frustration has been pointed toward a few Senate Republicans who have set roadblocks most notably Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas by using holds and other procedural maneuvering to slow dozens of ambassador and other appointments at the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and State. Republican pressure is also mounting on Cruz over the holds. We just need to get some people in place, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., pointing to diplomatic vacancies such as those for China and Japan. He added: "Its a dangerous world out there right now. Cruz on Wednesday said he had offered to lift holds on 16 nominees in exchange for a Senate vote on sanctioning the companies behind Nord Stream 2 a controversial Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline. Critics on the both sides of the aisle have raised concerns that the pipeline will threaten European energy security by increasing the continents reliance on Russian gas and allowing Russia to exert political pressure on vulnerable Eastern and Central European nations, particularly Ukraine. Schumer countered that the Texas Republican must lift his holds on all nominees from the State and Treasury departments and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Lets be clear about the nominees at issue. We arent talking about partisan firebrands or candidates that come out of left field. The bulk of these men and women are uncontroversial, by-the-book, professional public servants, Schumer said. Cruz was defiant, suggesting Schumer has decided that he wants no ambassadors confirmed. Thats a really foolish decision for him. The Senate typically confirms noncontroversial State Department and Pentagon nominees by unanimous consent, a process that doesnt require the Senate to use valuable floor time. Many of the nominees being held up were voted out of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees with broad bipartisan support. A hold by a senator doesnt block a nominee from being confirmed. It just requires more time-consuming steps to get to a final vote. So far, Democrats have chosen to prioritize the confirmation of federal judges. Overall, Biden has nominated 174 people for national security positions in the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and State that require Senate confirmation. Sixty-three, or about 36%, have been confirmed. Sen. John Thune, the Senates No. 2 Republican, said many in the GOP caucus are hoping Cruz "can find a way forward to work with Democrats to get to some of these positions filled. I think there are members who are really concerned about particularly certain areas of the world where we dont have ambassadors in place and recognize that its important that some of these get done," Thune said. Even with the backlog, Biden continues to send new nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The president on Wednesday announced he will nominate Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. envoy to Japan in the Obama administration and daughter of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy, to serve as his chief envoy to Australia and retired U.S. Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan to serve as ambassador to Belize. Publicly, White House officials have lauded career foreign service officers who have stepped up at embassies to try to fill the void as the administration awaits confirmation of ambassadorial picks. But the blockade has already had real impact on U.S. foreign policy and national security interests in hot spots around the globe, officials say. In China perhaps the most complicated and consequential foreign policy relationship Bidens foreign policy advisers worry that the lack of a Senate-confirmed diplomat has sent the message to Beijing that the U.S. Embassy there lacks an envoy who truly speaks for the president, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida announced in November that he had put a hold on the nomination of Nicholas Burns to be ambassador to China in an effort to press Biden to sign into law bipartisan legislation he co-authored banning products made with Uyghur forced labor in western China. The White House said Tuesday after the House passed the bill that Biden would work closely with Congress to implement it. Rubio said he was open to lifting the hold on Burns if we can get it passed and signed by the White House. I still have concerns about whether hes the right person, but in the end, hes going to get a vote. Its an important post, Rubio said of the nominee. Bidens ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, came to the post last month, shortly after Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri removed a hold on her nomination. Her confirmation vote came after Russia had already begun massing thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine. Russia has signaled that its military maneuvering which has put Washington and much of Europe on high alert about a potential further Russian invasion of Ukraine -- was tied to its concerns about NATO expanding to Ukraine. Hawley has put holds on other State Department nominees to show his disapproval of the administration's handling of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Former Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican, waited more than three months for his confirmation vote in late October to become ambassador to Turkey. The White House could have used Flakes help in August as it sought to win Turkeys help in securing the Kabul International Airport ahead of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the official noted. 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 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. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Seventeen multi-level companies took advantage of an amnesty offering from the state auditor's office to come into compliance with state law and pay reduced fines. The amnesty period ended Wednesday, and the companies that came into compliance had about 4,200 Montanans participating in their operations. "This is a win for Montana consumers. By filing with our agency, we can review the company's application and confirm that they are not running an illegal pyramid scheme," state Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Troy Downing said in a press release this week. "... We will hold non-compliant companies responsible if they do not comply with Montana law." The companies that filed during the amnesty period include: Life Platform, Auvoria Prime, Breathless Wines, Chalk Couture, Epicure, Faberlic Inc., Farmasi, Hugh & Grace, Seint, Think Goodness LLC, Topaganda Scents, It Works!, Zinzino LLC, Healy World Co., ASEA, LLC, Beautycounter, Sisel International LLC, Unicity USA Inc., and Monat. The auditor's office said in a press release that more applications post-marked by Dec. 15 could still be accepted. While 19 total filed, Breathless Wines and Faberlic Inc. don't have participants in Montana and weren't seeking amnesty, but did file during the period. Since 1999 under laws passed by the state Legislature, multi-level marketing companies were required to register with the state Auditor's office so the office could monitor to ensure the companies were not operating pyramid schemes. Pyramid schemes, which are illegal, differ from multi-level marketing companies in that in a pyramid scheme a persons compensation is based more on getting people into the program than it is from earning commissions on selling products. Before the amnesty program, there were 14 multi-level marketing companies registered with the state Auditor's office Under the program, companies that came into compliance paid a $1,000 fine. Those that were out of compliance could have been fined $5,000 for every year they failed to file. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 1 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. The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commissions proposal to repeal new fishing regulations for the Madison River before they are implemented has come with an additional twist. I found it to be a real blockbuster to hear for the first time that repealing these sections in (Administrative Rules of Montana) does not restore the walk-wade sections, said Hugh Zackheim, a Helena angler. Zackheim spoke during a public comment Zoom meeting on the rule repeal issue. He wasnt the only one taken aback. Bozeman fly-fishing outfitter Dave Kumlien also said it was a bit of a surprise and not what anyone intended in pursuing repeal of the new rules. I think most everyone is in agreement that the walk-wade section above Lyons (Bridge) should be maintained or restored, whatever it is, he added. I clearly request that the commission act as soon as possible to clarify the situation. The discussion was prompted by the commissions decision at its Oct. 28 meeting to repeal two rules implemented by commissioners appointed by former Gov. Steve Bullock. The recommendation for the repeal came from the Madison River Work Group, which was formed to help the commission and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks to negotiate the divisive issue of reducing pressure on the popular southwestern Montana trout stream. On Wednesday, FWP paralegal Jessica Snyder took comments during the Zoom phone meeting and attempted to clarify the situation. She told Zackheim the option to revert the rules to what was previously in place concerning the popular walk-wade section would be available to the commission, but not listed as a specific agenda item. She also noted that several written comments already received have also brought up the same concern. This isnt ideal, and we do apologize, Snyder said. We were confused ourselves when this occurred. She said the misunderstanding arose because there was a conflict between the repeal and what was approved by the previous commission, which was to have the new rules replace the fishing regulations. So what we are trying to do now is clarifying what people really want and what they dont want, Snyder said. The commission can then make a decision how to address the walk-wade section. The rules proposed for repeal would have taken effect for the 2022 season and were drafted to allow fishing from a boat from Raynolds Pass fishing access site to Lyons Bridge on Saturdays and Sundays from June 15 to Sept. 30 under a trial program. Right now, floating is allowed in this section but not fishing from a boat. The other rule would prohibit outfitters and guides from conducting business between June 15 and Sept. 30 between Lyons Bridge and Palisades day use area on Sundays and from Raynolds Pass FAS to Lyons Bridge on Saturdays. The rules were devised after hours of meetings, discussions, public comments and previously failed attempts to find a way to reduce fishing pressure on a 50-mile stretch of the popular river. Two groups have lined up on opposite sides of the proposals, petitioning the commission with suggestions that set off the rulemaking process. The commission crafted the rules that may now be appealed as an attempt to find compromise between the groups. For the most part, fishing outfitters decry the new rules, while a coalition of conservation groups say they dont go far enough to regulate outfitters and guides. Mike Bias, of the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana, said the new rest and rotation rule would undeniably condense members of the general public. As the population of nearby Gallatin County continues to grow, he said, noncommercial use of the Madison River is growing at twice the rate of commercial use. On the opposite side of the argument, Steve Luebeck representing the George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Skyline Sportsmens Association and the Anaconda Sportsmans Club stressed the groups combined 2,000 members are overwhelmingly opposed to the repeal. The commission just went through the most exhaustive public comment phase that any of us have ever been involved in, he said. He urged the current commission, all but one of which have been appointed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, to look at the work done by their predecessors, which included surveys and public comments. Walt Pease, although favoring repeal, said he would like everyone to remember the importance of keeping the health of the trout in the river intact. Having the walk-wade section up there offers the heavily pressured river to have an area where theres a lot of sanctuary for fish. That will be even more important following the dewatering of the upper river during a malfunction at Hebgen Lake Dam earlier this month. The final day to comment on the proposals is Friday. Snyder said the commission may meet on Dec. 27 to vote on the repeal but no meeting date has yet been advertised. 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. It is a tragedy when anyone loses their home. My heart goes out to the Copenhaver Johnson family for losing theirs in a fire (Alberton family struggles with loss of home, Dec. 9). I appreciate community members doing what they can to help. In Montana 1,249 families lost their homes through eviction in 2016, the latest data from evictionlab.org. Thats 3.4 evictions per day in our state, each one a tragedy. With the 2021 housing emergency, those numbers are far worse. Often eviction means losing all of a familys possessions when the sheriff puts them out on the street. Just like property loss in a fire. Exacerbating the eviction problem are skyrocketing rents and tenant precarity. Most leases are month-to-month after the first year, meaning that landlords can raise rents to whatever they choose whenever they like. One friend had her rent increased 50% from one month to the next earlier this year. My rent has increased three times in a year, twice now. Landlords can refuse to renew leases without cause, meaning tenants can lose their homes on short notice. The number of people evicted pales in comparison to those forced from their homes by other means. Thirty-two percent of homes in Montana are rentals, as are 41% in Missoula County. In recent years, renters housing costs have far outpaced their incomes, driving a nationwide affordability crisis. We watch in horror at the conflagration as owners sell housing out from underneath their tenants 23 in Bonner ("Bonner renters to face brutal housing market with sale of mill site homes," Feb. 23, 2021) and 34 in Skyview Trailer Park (Residents of large Missoula trailer park get eviction notices, Oct. 26, 2017). Its as if arsonists are pouring gasoline on our rental homes while we helplessly watch them burn. We have fire and building codes that do their best to prevent blazes from taking homes. We have fire departments that rapidly respond, to try to prevent home loss. We have no similar regulations or agencies to prevent landlords from forcing families from their homes. We may not be able to prevent all fires. But we certainly can prevent owners from forcing tenants out of their homes. Its only a matter of will. Sympathy for families like the Copenhavers and the Johnsons is well-placed. If we express similar sympathies for the plight of renters, we can move the state Legislature to have that will. Montana desperately needs rent control and other tenant protections. At the very least, we need limits on how much and how often rents can increase. We must also require that landlords renew residential leases or be liable for their tenants moving expenses. Losing ones home is a tragedy we actually can prevent. Robbie Liben, organizer, Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 " " A Miami restaurant cashier checks out a customer amid a counter with signs for food delivery services DoorDash and Uber Eats. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images During the height of the COVID pandemic, when in-person dining was shut down in most states, both restaurants and consumers turned to food delivery apps as a lifeline. Apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats exploded in popularity. From January through September 2020, DoorDash alone recorded 543 million orders compared to just 181 million orders during the same period in 2019, The New York Times reported. For restaurants, the popularity and convenience of food delivery apps provided a much-needed revenue source to keep the lights on until the lockdown orders were lifted. For workers who lost jobs during the shutdown, and students who were sent home from college, a part-time job as a food delivery driver was seen as a flexible way to earn some extra cash. But now that the pandemic is (fingers crossed) behind us and restaurants are fully open in most American cities, there are lots of folks including economists, investors and workers' rights advocates who are questioning the viability and ethics of the food delivery business model. Consumers are hooked on the convenience of food delivery to the tune of hundreds of millions of meals being delivered each year. But is anybody in the food delivery business from restaurants to drivers to the app companies themselves actually making money from this? Advertisement Wildly Popular, DoorDash and Uber Eats Still Aren't Profitable Before the pandemic, food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats were niche services that were mostly popular in big cities. But during the lockdown (and after), the two apps were downloaded by the millions, and delivery service expanded into suburbia. DoorDash and Uber Eats now control 85 percent of the U.S. food delivery market, the Wall Street Journal reported. Both of these apps earned staggering amounts of money in 2020 and 2021. Uber Eats clocked $4.8 billion in revenue in 2020, a 152-percent increase over 2019. DoorDash's revenue jumped 268 percent from 2019 to 2020 and the delivery app continues to generate $1.28 billion in quarterly earnings in 2021. Which is why it's so shocking to learn that neither of these companies has turned a profit. The reason, explains Daniel McCarthy, a marketing professor at Emory University's Goizueta School of Business, is that delivery apps only pocket a small slice of the cost of each food order. And up to this point, apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats have been spending a lot more on advertising their services and improving their technology than they've been earning from food deliveries. "Essentially, the reason that DoorDash and Uber Eats have continued to lose money is because they make very little incremental profit when those food orders are placed," says McCarthy. The delivery apps make money by charging restaurants a commission for each order placed through the app. The standard commission is 30 percent (though DoorDash also has introduced a tiered commission structure). The apps also charge a smaller service fee to the customer. According to an analysis by Deutsche Bank, the average DoorDash order was worth $36 during the pandemic. If DoorDash pocketed 30 percent, the company earned $10.80 plus another $2 or so for the service fee. That might sound like a lot per order especially when it's multiplied by hundreds of millions of orders but that $12.80 is gross revenue. You still have to subtract the costs of doing business. The biggest expense for apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats is paying the drivers. Next are advertising and marketing costs, including those "Free $25" promotional campaigns to attract new customers. And then there are returns and refunds, which really eat into the bottom line. When all those costs are taken into account, Deutsche Bank calculated that DoorDash was left with net earnings of 2.5 percent of the customer's overall bill or 90 cents for every $36 order. McKinsey ran its own analysis and came up with a similar number for DoorDash's take home pay: 3 percent or $1.20 on the average order. So far, that slim margin hasn't been enough to propel DoorDash or Uber Eats into profitability even as they take in billions in revenue. Advertisement Delivery Apps 'A Terrible Deal' for Restaurants Phillip Foss is a chef and owner of two Chicago restaurants, the Michelin-starred EL Ideas and a casual barbecue joint called Boxcar BBQ. When the pandemic hit and in-person dining was shut down, Foss and his staff scrambled to offer curbside pickup and delivery. For a while, apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats seemed like a godsend, allowing restaurants like Foss's to eke out some earnings until customers were allowed back. But even when in-person dining re-opened, many consumers remained hooked on the convenience of opening an app and having delicious food delivered right to their doors. The continued popularity of food delivery apps has become a big problem for restaurants. "Delivery apps are destroying restaurants, from mom-and-pop places to chefs with Michelin stars," wrote Foss in Eater in January 2021. "They're a terrible deal." Foss's complaint came down to simple economics. If customers choose delivery over in-person dining, restaurants lose way too much money to the commissions charged by DoorDash and Uber Eats. Even when the apps' commission was capped by lawmakers at 20 percent or 15 percent during the pandemic, it still left restaurants struggling to turn a profit on each order. Foss used the example of a $30 delivery order of smoked ribs, sides and a dessert from his restaurant Boxcar BBQ. Even with the commission capped at 15 percent in Chicago, that took $4.50 off the top. When he calculated the food and labor costs (60 percent of the bill) plus "occupancy costs" like rent, utilities and waste removal (20 percent of the bill), Foss was left with 5 percent profit, or $1.50 on a $30 sale. Foss understands the attraction of food delivery apps for both customers and restaurant owners, but the economics are unsustainable, especially if the apps go back to charging pre-pandemic commissions of 30 percent. "The restaurant industry has been cannibalizing itself by joining delivery services like Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats," wrote Foss. Advertisement Delivery Drivers Don't Make Much Either Mike Hayes worked as a chef for 17 years before he was laid off in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Like a lot of people, he started driving for DoorDash, attracted by the flexibility of the working hours and DoorDash's claim that drivers earned an average of $25 an hour. But Hayes' experience was different, as he explained to Business Insider in March 2021. Based in Portland, Oregon, a hotspot for food delivery, Hayes logged 45 hours a week driving full time for DoorDash. His earnings ranged from a "good week" in which he made $800 ($17.77 an hour) to a "bad week" in which he made just $200 ($4.44 an hour). According to the website Ridesharing Driver, Hayes' experience as a full-time DoorDash driver (or "Dasher" in company lingo) is typical. There are occasional "unicorn" orders that generate a big payoff, but there are also plenty of 10-mile trips and long waits at the restaurant for a $3 score. The average pay, the website said, was $15 an hour. Dashers make money in two ways. The app guarantees them a "base pay" for each delivery based on the total cost of the order. On top of base pay, Dashers also make money on customer tips. The more orders you complete in an hour, and the bigger those individual orders (and tips), the more money you make. " " An Uber Eats courier travels on a bicycle in Warsaw, Poland Oct. 23, 2020. Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images While delivery app drivers can improve their earning potential by working during peak hours (lunch and dinner rush) in geographic hotspots, there are still plenty of variables that are out of their control. A restaurant can get busy, forcing the driver to spend an hour on a small order. People can be cheap with their tips. Gas prices can go up. All of that eats into the driver's earnings. Driving for companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats might make sense as a part-time gig for college students or retirees, but it's hard to make a living doing it full time. And since app companies consider drivers "contractors" and not employees, they don't offer benefits like health insurance, retirement savings accounts or workers compensation. Advertisement Is the Delivery App Business Model Unsustainable? From restaurants to drivers to the app companies themselves, the math of food delivery doesn't seem to add up. When the "pie" of a $36 order is divided among those three entities, all of them leave the table hungry. Is there a way to make food delivery profitable? Matt Maloney doesn't think so, and he should know he's the CEO of Grubhub, formerly the biggest name in the food delivery business. "[Food delivery] is and always will be a crummy business," Maloney told the Wall Street Journal in May 2021. He said that no amount of technological upgrades or logistical tweaks will make food delivery profitable, which is why Grubhub pivoted to becoming an online marketing partner for restaurants instead. McCarthy at Emory isn't as down on delivery apps. His research specialty is measuring consumer engagement with products and services, and the data from companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats shows that app users are addicted to delivery. "That's the one very favorable dynamic going on for the category as a whole," says McCarthy. "When people start to use a delivery app, they tend to use it more and more over time. The apps start consuming more and more of their food budget." One way for everyone to make more money in food delivery, McCarthy says, is simply to charge consumers more for the convenience. That's what Chipotle is doing. In 2020, the popular Mexican food chain sold nearly half of all food orders via delivery, up from 11 percent in 2019. To recoup the cost of commissions, Chipotle now charges 17 percent more for delivery compared to in-store purchases. Companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats have another ploy for increasing profitability, which is to expand into other delivery sectors like groceries, drug stores and alcohol. DoorDash drivers are already fulfilling deliveries for big box stores like Walmart and Petco. "I think this is the real key to unlocking the potential profitability of the model," says McCarthy. "You can have the same driver fulfilling many orders on the same run without having to wait." Uber Eats is also capitalizing on its double identity as a ride-sharing app. A new feature on the Uber app allows riders to order and pick up a meal during their drive, or to have a meal delivered to their destination. Now That's Odd App companies carefully track failed deliveries and missing orders. Prior to the pandemic, the food item forgotten the most on DoorDash was cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. At the restaurant, baggers kept the cold cheesecake separate from hot items, but then forgot to hand it to the delivery driver. Meta said Thursday that it removed roughly 1,600 fake accounts from Facebook and Instagram that were being used by seven "surveillance-for-hire" companies to target and compromise the accounts and devices of journalists and human rights activists around the world. The seven surveillance providers implicated in the report are located in China, Israel, India and North Macedonia. Their alleged operations targeted nearly 50,000 people in over 100 countries on behalf of individual clients, business, and law firms based in at least 23 countries, including the U.S., Israel, China, and Saudi Arabia, according to Meta. "The global surveillance-for-hire industry targets people across the internet to collect intelligence, manipulate them into revealing information and compromise their devices and accounts," Meta said in a blog post. "These companies are part of a sprawling industry that provides intrusive software tools and surveillance services indiscriminately to any customer regardless of who they target, or the human rights abuses they might enable." Meta said the threat actors posed as journalists from prominent organizations such as FOX News, human rights activists and film and TV producers. They allegedly attempted to set up calls and obtain the target's contact information for future phishing attacks, according to Meta. / Credit: Getty Images One group, which Meta did not name directly but said its analysis indicated usage by domestic law enforcement in China, deployed 100 Facebook and Instagram accounts to engage targets on social media and trick them into clicking on malicious software. Meta said the tools were being used to spy on minority groups in Myanmar, Hong Kong and the Xianjiang region of China. The six other companies that Meta said were involved in the surveillance-for-hire work are Cobwebs Technologies, Cognyte, Black Cube, Bluehawk CI, BellTroX and Cytrox. Meta said it will send cease and desist letters to all six on Thursday. Story continues Black Cube, an Israeli-based firm with offices in Britain and Spain, said in a statement to CBS News that it doesn't operate in the cyber world or attempt to hack users. "Black Cube is a litigation support firm which uses legal Humint investigation methods to obtain information for litigations and arbitrations," the company said in a statement, adding that it works with law firms around the world to prove bribery, uncover corruption, and recover stolen assets. Meital Levi Tal, a spokesperson for the online intelligence firm Cobwebs Technologies, said the company has not been contacted by Meta as of Thursday afternoon adding that Cobwebs "operates only according to the law and adheres to strict standards in respect of privacy protection." Representatives for BellTrox, an Indian information technology firm, and Cytrox, the firm based in North Macedonia could not be reached while others did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CBS News. "The cyber mercenaries often claim that their services are meant to focus on tracking criminals and terrorists," Gleicher said. He added that Meta's investigation revealed the companies are actually targeting journalists, dissidents, critics of authoritarian regimes, families of opposition figures, and human rights activists. What is surveillance for hire? According to Caroline Wong, chief strategy officer for the cybersecurity firm Cobalt, surveillance-for-hire "refers to a network of gig workers who are paid to collect and provide intelligence." Wong told CBS News that assignments in this space typically include "snapping photos, filling out surveys, or doing other basic data collection or reporting." Meta said it hopes Thursday's takedown report will raise public awareness about the surveillance for hire industry. "We saw these companies tried to obfuscate the activity on our platform by engaging in innocent looking activities to try and blend with the noise and attempt to evade our detection," Mike Dvilyanski, Meta's head of cyber espionage investigation said on a call with reporters. He added that the companies created multiple fake accounts targeting the same journalists and activists while also attempting to set up phone calls or in person meetings. The three stages of surveillance Gleicher said reconnaissance, engagement, and exploitation are the three phases that make up the "surveillance chain." In the first phase, he said targets are "silently profiled" by cyber mercenaries on behalf of clients. During the engagement phase, the operators use social engineering tactics to build trust, solicit information, and trick victims into clicking on malicious links. Gleicher said the engagement phase, which requires sophisticated social engineering tactics, is often prolonged because it involves creating backstops for the fake accounts and organizations across the internet, so they appear more legitimate. In the final "exploitation" phase the threat actors either deploy their own custom-built malicious software or acquire the tools from other vendors. "They build trust and then in that third phase, the exploit phase, they abuse the trust they've just built, tricking targets into clicking on malicious links, downloading malware, and otherwise exploiting their devices," Gleicher said. According to Meta's analysis, Cognyte and Cobwebs were involved in the first two phases of the operation for their clients. BlackCube, BlueHawk, and BellTroX were involved in all three phases, while Cytrox mainly operated in the exploitation phase. Gleicher said the companies named in the threat report target users indiscriminately across the internet and added that the exploitation phase often occurs away from the platform, which makes it difficult for Meta to know how many of the 50,000 people clicked on compromising links. "No single platform is going to see and be able to interdict the entire surveillance attack chain," Gleicher said, adding that Meta alerted industry peers and law enforcement partners about the surveillance operations. He said the company is in the process of notifying all 50,000 users that they may have been targeted by the surveillance-for-hire operations. COVID-19 cases climbing ahead of the holidays as Omicron adds to concerns Biden awards Medal of Honor to 3 soldiers All 17 missionaries taken hostage in Haiti have been freed, police say PANAMA CITY A local family is joining in the effort to aid those affected by recent catastrophic tornados in the Midwest. Emily and Chris Caton, owners of Beef O Bradys in Callaway, are a part of the Mercy Chefs organization, which is a nonprofit disaster relief organization that provides professionally prepared, restaurant-quality meals to victims, volunteers and first responders in natural disasters and national emergencies. A string of tornadoes ripped through eight states on Friday night leading into Saturday morning, which demolished thousands of houses and killed around 100 people. In Kentucky alone, the tornadoes have claimed the lives of 80 people and counting, making it the deadliest tornado event in the states history. 'My dad is out there': Search continues for Tallahassee man after tornado blasts Tennessee resort How to help: How Floridians can help those affected by tornadoes in the Midwestern, Southern U.S. Chris Caton, owner of Beef 'O' Brady's in Callaway, shows one of the meals he's helped prepare for tornado victims in Kentucky. Canton traveled with the nonprofit Mercy Chefs to help feed those in need. Chris Caton, a managing deployment chef for Mercy Chefs, said he flew into Nashville early Saturday morning, then made the two-hour trek to Mayfield, Kentucky where thousands of homes were destroyed. Days prior to the tornadoes hitting, Mercy Chefs was deployed in Waverly, Tennessee to do holiday outreach for flood victims when they were sent to Mayfield. Caton and his team are currently working around 20 hours a day, providing 4,000 hot meals while staying at His House Ministries and sleeping on air mattresses. They recently got the power back but were having a lot of water issues still, Chris said. Emily said Chris and the chefs are used to roughing it when they are deployed. During Hurricane Ida, they were in a building where the ceiling collapsed, sleeping on air mattresses. I mean, its not easy, Emily said. Its not just the work that is difficult, its the entire experience, but they really are just amazing people. Those people were built to do this. Chris was built to do this. Worse than even Hurricane Michael Story continues Describing the tornado aftermath as somber and something he has never witnessed before, Chris said certain parts have already stuck out to him, such as helping to feed the search and rescue team for the Mayfield Consumer Products factory that collapsed. Last night, we drove to the actual candle factory, were feeding the search and rescue mission, Chris said. That was a sight. I got some pictures but its just so gloomy. I've never seen anything like it. And we went through Hurricane Michael. I saw semi-trucks pulled over and whole tractor-trailers pulled over on their sides and its all just decimated. Emily said she knew something was different over the phone and the way he was describing what he saw. A sliver of the destruction Chris Caton has seen since being in Kentucky after the recent tornado disaster. The owner of Beef 'O' Brady's in Callaway traveled with the nonprofit Mercy Chefs to help feed those in need. Hes seen a lot of disasters so, desensitized is not the right word, Emily said. But when he calls and says its bad, its bad. Chris said it took his breath away to see the damage but starting at 5 a.m. Sunday morning, he got to work with prepping his area and setting up. So far, theyve cooked multiple meals, including a four-course Italian dinner and Chicken pot pie. It just depends on what we get, sometimes we get different donations, just as long as its safe, Chris said. We use that, we try to incorporate whatever we have, so nothing gets wasted. But we chef-prepare meals that are just awesome. We get a lot of compliments on how great the meals are, it really lifts their spirits after going through such a catastrophe. Chris added that he loves what he does and helping those affected by the disasters. Its really great, its why I do it, Chris said. I worked over 20 hours yesterday and I wouldnt even really get tired, I was just go, go go. In other news: Expand Camp Helen State Park by Lake Powell? Bay County officials want to make it happen. More: Looking for a unique Christmas gift? Try these 7 Panama City farmer's market vendors The calling of Mercy Chefs The Catons, whove owned their restaurant for 14 years, were first introduced to the faith-based organization Mercy Chefs when they came to support families during the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in 2018. Emily said she felt it was a calling. You find yourself not really knowing what to do with your hands at some point and Mercy Chefs we had just kind of seen, I didnt know much about them at the time, Emily Caton said. But we saw that they were serving here and I just went online and signed me and Chris up. I like to sign him up for things. Emily Caton said everything in Bay County was either wiped out or shut down, so signing the entire family up to volunteer was just natural. However, after meeting one of the managing chefs while volunteering, she said Chris and herself fell in love with the organization and that it was a match made in heaven. Chris Caton prepares food for survivors of the recent tornado disaster in Kentucky. Caton owns Beef 'O' Brady's in Callaway and traveled with the nonprofit Mercy Chefs to help those hit by the disaster. Chris received his culinary certificate at Gulf Coast State College back in 2007 and Emily said he felt really connected to the organizations goals and passions while giving him the ability to show off his skills. Where that makes a huge difference is, theyre not giving them canned peas or peaches. They are working with fresh ingredients, Emily said. They work really hard to make sure the provisions are there; the manpower is there. To hand someone a real meal, to hand a family a real meal thats hot where they can sit down with you and really enjoy it. Chris Caton was brought on to the staff when Hurricane Sally hit and has been a part of the team for the past 18 months. In 2021 alone, he has done nine deployments in seven states, Emily said. He is very active. He is gone, I'd say, a third of the year, Emily said. The Catons now have a full routine for when Chris needs to be deployed, having bags ready to go for different methods of travel and whether or not there is water and power. Emily describes the deployment process as fast. A lot of it is This is happening, get ready, and sometimes they will say Go ahead and pack your bags, well just let you know, or just a plane ticket confirmation shows up in his email, Emily said. Its very fast, deployments happen very fast. The Community's Impact on the Catons The entire Caton family, including their two kids Audrey and Sam, have also participated in disaster relief with Mercy Chefs. After going through Michael in 2018, she said both her family and community understand how important it is to help those in need and that they have experienced tragedy. To say that Chris and I personally have a heart for disaster relief is an understatement. I believe a lot of people in this area do; in fact, I can confirm it, Emily said. I know a lot of people in our community have a huge heart for disaster relief. It is amazing the people in Bay County and how passionate they are, when they see something, your mind just goes back to Hurricane Michael. Both Chris and Emily also thank the community for giving them the opportunity to send Chris on these missions. Since he is the only Mercy Chef in Bay County, Emily feels as though he is their representative of the community. She adds that the community is sending him to these areas with every meal they order inside, with every to-go order, with every drink order. Mercy Chefs always said they cant go unless we send them, meaning financial support, volunteer ship, all these things are so, so important, Emily Caton said. From a personal side, for Chris, Chef, and myself, the community sends him. Chris said he loves the work he does and feels he has found a second family within Mercy Chefs. Ive been in the restaurant industry for most of my career and finally get my tribe, Chris Caton said. Professional chefs that just have similar personalities, we all just get along. Were a big family. The Catons said the best part is taking Bay County with them whenever they do their missions. If there is one thing we have learned through this and Chris being a part of Mercy Chefs, we have learned that this county is filled with awesome, humble, proud, resilient, and loyal people, Emily said. We are so proud of the community we are from and we are proud to represent them. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County restaurant owner feeds Mayfield Kentucky tornado victims The man was arrested on Christmas Eve after he was discharged from a local hospital. According to a police report, a doctor said the man was coherent and capable of walking and standing when he was discharged, but that he was "playing games" when he refused to get out of bed. Best of all, the majority of the learning takes place outside, and the curriculum, based on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, is driven in large part by the students themselves, as they are encouraged to engage their intellect and ask questions about their surrounding environment. During one of Petrillas first instruction sessions at Banner Elk Elementary, the students interest in the subject was evident as she performed an experiment to demonstrate the interaction between hot and cold air masses. She used two samples of hot and cold water, each identified by red and blue food coloring, separated by a barrier within a small container. As Petrilla removed the barrier, the kids leaned in and watched in amazement as the two water samples remained separated, showing that the colder, blue water was in fact denser than the hot, red water. Petrilla then went on to explain how these air masses interact with larger weather phenomena, such as stationary fronts and jet streams. Thanks to recent fundraising success, the Butte Central Catholic School System is introducing a new scholarship program designed to increase scholarships available for both current families attending Butte Central Catholic Schools and new enrollees to the school system. We are absolutely thrilled to announce to the Butte community that we have raised significant funds to strengthen our scholarship program, said Don Peoples Jr., Butte Central Catholic Schools superintendent and president. We are grateful to have the support of an incredible group of parents, alumni, and benefactors who stepped forward in the last year with gifts to our scholarship fund. This past January, Roy Simperman, a member of the class of 1958, established a matching gift challenge for scholarship contributions. In the challenge, Simperman agreed to match all gifts up to $250,000. In October, the fundraising effort surpassed the goal with $252,000 from 120 donors. We cant thank Roy enough for his dedication to Butte Central, said Peoples. His leadership made it possible for Butte Central Catholic Schools to raise $502,000 in new scholarship dollars. In November, two additional major gifts were pledged to the school systems scholarship fund. The first contribution was from Simperman, who committed an additional $100,000 to fund the Simperman Scholarship of Academic Excellence Scholarship Program (SSOAE) for the current school year. A graduate of Boys Central High School, Simperman established the program in 2018 to promote academic excellence and encourage families to pursue Catholic education. The second gift consists of another $250,000 matching gift scholarship challenge given by an anonymous donor who will match all scholarship contributions, up to $250,000. We are immensely grateful to this benefactor, and we look forward to reaching out to our school family in this fundraising effort, commented Peoples. According to Peoples, the generosity of benefactors in recent months has helped strengthen the schools scholarship fund. The school plans to launch an aggressive fundraising campaign to meet the newest matching gift challenge and grow the scholarship fund to over $1 million before the 2022-2023 school year. The growth in the scholarship fund has prompted school officials to unveil the BC Merit Scholarship Program, which will be available to families for the 2022-23 school year. It will provide a significant number of scholarships to families and students. Families interested in learning more about the BC Merit Scholarship Program are asked to call the Butte Central administrative office at 406-723-6706. Benefactors interested in supporting the matching gift challenge are also asked to call the administrative office. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Butte police reports Sleeping in lobby Police got a call about 3 a.m. Wednesday concerning a man sleeping in the lobby at the Super 8, 2929 Harrison Ave. When an officer arrived, the man had already woken up and left the lobby. He was found walking around the motel. The officer recognized him as Dallas Jay Spletstoser, 43, of Butte, who had a warrant out for his arrest out of Butte City Court. He was arrested and taken to jail. Chasing a spirit At about 1:15 Wednesday morning, an officer out on patrol noticed a window had been broken out of a building at 120 N. Main St. When the officer looked inside, a blue backpack was visible. Another officer arrived and saw a man inside the building. Officers yelled for the man, Andrew Joseph Darocha, 35, of Butte to come out, and he did. When asked what he was doing in the building, Darocha reportedly told police he was chasing a spirit. Off he went to jail for felony burglary. Intoxicated man A call came in Tuesday afternoon about a man trespassing into vehicles in the 1800 block of A Street. While investigating, officers found Markus Augustine Abad, 49, of Butte. When asked what he was doing in the area, Abad, who appeared to be intoxicated, told police none of your (expletive) business and then challenged one of the officers to a fight. Abad was handcuffed, put into the backseat of the police car, and taken to jail for misdemeanor obstructing a police officer. Suspicious vehicle Dispatch received a call Tuesday morning about a suspicious vehicle in the 2000 block of Silver Bow Boulevard. The car had broken down and inside was a man and a woman, Kristi Dawn Evans, 40, of Shepherd. Evans had a $5,000 warrant out for her arrest out of Gallatin County and was taken to jail. Gas siphoned In the early morning hours Tuesday, an officer noticed a suspicious vehicle parked between the Butte Plaza Mall and U-Haul Moving & Storage, 3300 Harrison Ave. The vehicle began to pull away but was stopped by the officer. When he approached the vehicle, he noticed a strong odor of gasoline and large gas cans in the back seat. The people in the vehicle were Lane Michael Cottrell, 36, and Chantel Marie Cottrell, 41, both of Butte. Both people had no-bond warrants out for their arrest from Butte Probation & Parole and were arrested. The large cans in the back were reportedly filled with gas believed to have been siphoned from the U-Haul trucks, along with a long rubber tube that smelled strongly of gasoline. In addition, the woman had several small baggies with suspected methamphetamine in her possession, along with a syringe and a glass smoking device Lane was jailed for felony probation violation and misdemeanor theft from a vehicle. Chantel was jailed for felony probation violation, felony possession of dangerous drugs, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor theft from a vehicle Man wields ax On Monday at 3:30 p.m. an office was dispatched to 3878 Paxson Ave., where a man had just thrown a rock and broken a large double pane window at Happy Endings Casino. Dane Avery Peters, 34, of Butte was given a citation for misdemeanor criminal mischief and released. Apparently not all the damage that Peters reportedly had done at the casino had been seen yet. Not long after, four customers coming out of the business found their windshields shattered and the hood of another customers truck was damaged. Two hours later, Peters had made his way to the Town Pump at 531 S. Montana St. Using an ax, there he allegedly broke out a vehicles window and used the ax on the Town Pumps air hose, as well. Officers searched the area for Peters who attempted to hide and when confronted, took off running toward St. James Healthcare. Officers chased him on foot and caught up to him at Porphyry and Jackson. He was jailed for felony criminal mischief and two counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief. Bail jumping A call came in late Monday afternoon that a man wanted for felony bail jumping was at the Happy Endings Casino, 3878 Paxson Ave. Lee Lloyd Lopez, 49, homeless was found inside the casino and taken into custody. He was jailed on a $50,000 bond. Fifth offense Willamena Marie Billedeaux, 36, of Charlo was jailed at around 1:30 p.m. Monday for misdemeanor shoplifting (fifth offense) and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. According to police reports, Billedeaux was observed by Family Dollar employees taking clothes. When confronted, she started screaming loudly and yelling obscenities. When an officer arrived, she was detained and handcuffed. It was reported that two pairs of sweats from Family Dollar were hidden within her coat. While being taken to jail, she continued her tirade by kicking the partition in the police car. Various crimes It was reported Monday morning that a shed had been broken into in the 500 block of West Copper Street. Items taken included three chainsaws, two leaf blowers, a weed eater and an air compressor. Also on Monday morning, two windows in a vacant apartment in the 600 block of South Utah Street had been broken out. On Tuesday morning, a package was taken from an apartment building in the 800 block of West Quartz Street. The following afternoon, a package was taken off a porch in the 100 block of Elderberry Lane. Sometime late Monday or early Tuesday, a person got into one of the rooms at Days Inn, 2701 Harrison, and stayed but didnt pay for it. A call came in early Tuesday afternoon that a woman was outside changing her clothes in front of a business at 701 E. Front St. When police arrived, she was gone. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 3 Sad 1 Angry 8 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. In a Tuesday letter sent to staff at the Public Service Commission, Commissioner Jennifer Fielder said she was not acting in her official capacity when she left a voicemail at a Helena hospital threatening a lawsuit over the treatment of a COVID-19 patient. Fielder was the final public official involved in the dispute over the patient to be identified after the hospital said in a mid-October statement several providers were contacted by three different public officials last week regarding the treatment of a patient in our care. These conversations were deeply troubling to our physicians and staff because they were threatened and their clinical judgment was called into question," a hospital spokesperson said in that statement. State Attorney General Austin Knudsens office confirmed at the time the attorney general contacted a hospital board member and later had a call with hospital leadership. Knudsen later told the Montana State News Bureau his deputy, Kris Hansen, was involved. The Attorney Generals Office has disputed the hospitals characterization of the dispute. A report from the state Legislature's special counsel included a statement the hospital's CEO did not feel threatened by his interactions with the office, though it did not include the reactions of others. The special counsel is limited from compelling testimony during the interim between legislative sessions. Doctors at the hospital told the Montana State News Bureau the interactions amounted to threats. While Fielder repeatedly did not return messages seeking to confirm her involvement, and at one point told a reporter Not talking to you before hanging up, a report from the state Legislatures special counsel released in November said the public service commissioner left a voicemail with the hospital. Tuesday's letter was provided to Lee Newspapers. The voicemail references a potential lawsuit and suggests that the patients friends in the Montana State Senate would not be too happy to learn of the care St. Peters was providing to the patient, according to the report. The report noted Fielder introduced herself as state senator Jennifer Fielder and later clarified she is a former state senator. After telling the voicemail recipient the message was a record that should not be erased because if this doesnt turn out well there will be a suit, Fielder went on to say the patient has an awful lot of friends who care about her and that Fielder didnt think the senators will be too happy to hear about whats going on with (the patients) case at St. Petes right now. In her letter to PSC employees, Fielder said she was not acting in her capacity as a PSC commissioner while she made the call to the hospital. She also said it was on a state holiday. The special counsel said the voicemail was left on Columbus Day, Oct. 11. While I did personally reach out to St Peters Hospital to advocate for a friend, I did so on a state holiday, from my home, and via my own electronic devices. At no time did I use public resources or allude to my position in, or connection with, this agency, Fielder wrote. Fielders letter also says the hospital failed to clarify these facts in their ensuing publicity blitz in which they claimed public officials harassed them. The hospital never named the officials until the investigation by the special counsel, when the hospitals lawyer provided Fielders voicemail to the special counsel. On Nov. 9 the special counsel contacted Fielder to ask to examine her records related to interactions with the hospital. On Nov 15, Fielder sent a letter to the special counsel saying that the interactions with the hospital were "not an agency matter" and there weren't records to examine. During the interim between legislative sessions, the counsel does not have the ability to compel records. The special counsel has no power to investigate this matter further and takes Commissioner Fielder at her word that this was a personal matter about which no government records exist, the special counsel wrote in her report. Lee Newspapers has also requested Fielders work communications from the month of October. The agency is asking for at least $875 to produce the requested records, in addition to a $240 fee already charged to prevent their destruction. Lee Newspapers has filed a lawsuit over the PSC's response to records requests, including this one and a previous request with a $31,000 price tag. In her letter to PSC employees, Fielder wrote that she immediately and fully cooperated with all public records requests, but that no records exist related to my interactions with the hospital or the affected parties because this was a personal matter, not an agency matter. Fielder wrote that she knew the patient, who later died, because of the patient's past work with the state Senate during legislative sessions. I relayed to them that I was a former state senator and this patient was an elderly senate staffer who was very endeared to many senators. At no time did I use any sort of inappropriate language or conduct, Fielder wrote. The patient was well-known in the state Republican Party. Fielder said she got involved because of concerns raised by the patients family, which she wrote included the patient being denied medication, the family not being able to see the patient and a three-day delay in accessing legal documents. All of the above-described actions, and others, were in direct opposition to the patients wishes, Fielder wrote. The special counsels report says the hospitals counsel confirmed a delay in the delivery of legal documents. However, in a text message to Knudsen included as an appendix to the report, the hospitals CEO Wade Johnson said he had ensured the appropriate legal documents were indeed in place and that no undue delays were created on our end. The hospital was also under visitor restrictions because of COVID-19 at the time of the incident. Fielders letter provided to the special counsel identified the medications as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, which are not authorized, clinically approved, or within FDA guidelines to treat COVID-19. Fielder ended the letter by saying while she appreciated "the many health care workers who are doing their best, Im deeply saddened by the hospitals handling of this situation and hope nobody else ever has to go through what happened to my friend. It was wrong, and I do not for one second regret trying to help her." The hospital has said it followed proper treatment guidelines with the patient. "Any efforts to exert pressure on our providers will not result in deviation from widely accepted clinical treatment protocols or our hospital policy. Further, we reviewed all medical and legal records related to this patients care and verified that our teams provided care in accordance with clinical best practice, hospital policy and patient rights," the hospital said in late November. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 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. 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 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. I cant even count. We went back and forth to in-patient, Yamasaki said. He was kicked out of rehab because of mental health problems and kicked out of mental health programs because of drugs. But on a February morning in 2020, Yamasaki received a knock on her door. My daughter and I could feel something was very wrong and she begged me not to answer. I had to, Yamasaki said. A police officer stood in front of her. I learned ... my oldest son left this world. He was kicked out of the shelter because he was smoking on the fire escape and acting erratically. He was found in a tent in northwest Portland, not too far from where he went to school. The average age of death among people experiencing homelessness was 46, more than three decades younger than the average life expectancy for someone living in the U.S. In addition, nearly half of those who died last year were found in outdoor public spaces, including sidewalks, parks and homeless encampments. Oregon has a higher rate of people experiencing homelessness than nearly every other state in the country. 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. A former Davenport man who on Dec. 7 was found not guilty by a Polk County jury of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery in a Des Moines case, has been brought back to Scott County to face three counts of first-degree robbery. Calvonta Ibrion Stallings, 22, listed his Des Moines address on his financial application for a public defender during a first appearance Tuesday in Scott County District Court. He is charged with robbing three people at gunpoint during the late-night hours of Nov. 2, 2019, and the early morning hours of Nov. 3, 2019. The first two robberies occurred within 11 minutes of each other, while the third occurred about 4 hours later. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officer Brandon Askew, at 9:14 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2019, Davenport Police responded to a report of an armed robbery in the 300 block of Harrison Street. In that robbery, Stallings is alleged to have pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at a woman and demanded that she give him her purse and car keys. Stallings fled with a teal-colored purse and the womans car keys. Public health officials and the chief medical officers from Genesis Health System and UnityPoint Health-Trinity marked the one year anniversary of Genesis doctors and nurses taking the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines by making a desperate plea during Wednesday's Q-C COVID-19 Coalition press briefing. "This is a severe situation worse than it was last year," said Genesis Chief Medical Officer Kurt Andersen during the briefing. "Our biggest challenge is in our critical care areas. This morning, out of all our critical care beds available throughout Genesis Health System, 80% of those beds are occupied by patients with COVID-19. Of those patients, and consistently throughout the pandemic, 90% of those patients have not been vaccinated. "That means 20% of our ICU beds are for all other acute-care patients in our community. And we are seeing a lot of non-COVID patients who require acute care. That's what is different from last year." Trinity's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Toyosi Olutade described ICU care in equally bleak terms. "Our ICU capacity is at 120%," Olutade said. "There are no physical beds for some of our patients." Weinstein, 69, was convicted in February 2020 of a criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013. He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault stemming from actor Annabella Sciorras allegations of a mid-1990s rape. The verdict was a landmark in the #MeToo movement that was spawned by women coming forward with allegations against Weinstein. He maintains his innocence and contends that any sexual activity was consensual. Burke, the Manhattan judge who presided over Weinsteins trial, allowed prosecutors to bolster their case with testimony from three women who alleged Weinstein also violated them but whose claims did not lead to charges in the New York case. Rules on calling witnesses to testify about so-called prior bad acts vary by state and was an issue in Bill Cosbys successful appeal of his sexual assault conviction in Pennsylvania. New Yorks rules, shaped by a landmark decision in a 1901 poisoning case, are among the more restrictive. 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. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday outlined what he called a responsible budget proposal that doesnt dip into savings, bolsters law enforcement and calls for direct payments of about $3,700 to residents amid an unsettled dispute with lawmakers over the future of the state's dividend program. The budget plan, a starting point for lawmakers, proposes a supplemental check of about $1,200 to residents, which would be on top of the $1,114 dividend check paid this fall. Dunleavy had wanted lawmakers to consider a supplemental dividend during the fourth special session of the year, which ended last month with little business being conducted and the issue withering. His plan also calls for a dividend next year of about $2,500 as part of an approach lawmakers failed to reach agreement on earlier this year. The proposal would increase by at least 10 the number of village public safety officers that could be hired, said James Cockrell, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. It also calls for an increase in the number of troopers in communities and the modernization of the department's aircraft fleet, he said. He called the theory far-fetched, speculative, conclusory and said that although there was no referral of the case from a New York district attorney to federal authorities, it would not be improper if it had happened. The judge also rejected a request to move the trial to another venue, saying pretrial publicity was not pervasive and half of the jury pool in Manhattan federal court comes from outside Manhattan anyway. A message seeking comment was sent to Haddens lawyers. The indictment said the abuse took place at medical offices and Manhattan hospitals while Hadden worked as a medical doctor at Columbia University and at New York Presbyterian Hospital. The two institutions announced a settlement earlier this month with 79 women who say they were abused by Hadden, and established a $71.5 million compensation fund. 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 Then-Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni speaks at the Second World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province of China on Dec. 18, 2015. Senate confirms Jennifer Sung to seat on US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Editor Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com Eskoms net profit after tax for the first half of the 2021/2022 financial year is up 4,178% over the same period last year. The power utility announced its interim results on Wednesday, revealing that it had profited R9.2 billion between 1 April and 30 September 2021. This is compared to the R0.2 billion profit the power utility reported for the same period in the previous year. Eskoms outlook for the rest of the financial year is not rosy, though, with the power utility indicating that it expects its mid-year profit to swing to a R9.1 billion loss in the six months from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. That said, this would be a nearly 52% improvement over Eskoms previous full-year results. The power utility attributes the expected decline in financial performance over the second half of the financial year to historically lower revenue, increased maintenance, and RE-IPP use over the period. It also expects a significant spend on Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) due to a low energy availability factor (EAF). In addition to its profitability improvements, Eskom has reduced its debt by a further 15%. Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter had already succeeded in reducing Eskoms debt by more than R90 billion in less than 18 months since he took the top job at the power utility. Eskoms debt currently amounts to R392.1 billion, of which R360.3 is interest bearing. This is compared to R463.7 billion and R420.6 billion, respectively, in September 2020. Following the easing of lockdown restrictions, Eskoms sales volumes increased to 100,901GWh over the period of reporting an increase of 8%. The growth reported by Eskom was aided by a 15.06% tariff increase for the 2022 financial year. During the first half of the 2022 financial year, Eskom received support from the government to the amount of R31.7 billion. The charts above show Eskoms profitability and solvency between September 2017 and September 2021. Eskom reported that its generation performance decreased to 427GWh (compared to 443GWh in September 2020), leading to the worst year of load-shedding South Africans have experienced to date. The power utility said that its transmission and distribution networks performance is stable and that it is making progress on its new build programme. Cathy Corison and her husband, William Martin, owners of St. Helenas Corison Winery, have a good reason to celebrate. This year their Kronos vineyard turns 50. Planted in 1971, this vineyard of venerable Cabernet Sauvignon vines has survived well beyond the normal 20ish-year life span of other such vineyards. The old grapevines produce only a sparse number of grapes each year, but the wines they produce are some of the most sought-after in the Napa Valley. Because we are a small family-owned winery, we can choose quality over pure economics, Martin said. From a business standpoint it probably would make sense to replant the vineyard, but from a wine-quality standpoint this vineyard is just irreplaceable. 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 True, replanting the vineyard would certainly provide higher yields. Currently they average about 1.25 tons per acre, when a newer vineyard would produce 4 tons per acre or more. Doing so, however, would mean losing the character created by the old, twisted and gnarled vines. Kronos is a very special vineyard, Corison said. If we replanted even with the very same rootstock and clone the wine would be very different. I am sure it would still make a great wine in its own way given the geology and location but never again in my lifetime would I have a chance to work with such wonderful old vines. Kronos In Greek mythology the titan Kronos was a descendant of the primordial Gaia (mother earth) and Uranus (father sky). The name was given to the vineyard both as an homage to the primary role played by earth and sky in the growing of grapes and also as a nod to the familys heritage. Martins mother was born in Greece. The vineyard itself is located directly behind their barn-inspired winery just south of St. Helena. It is planted on the valleys floor, where the ancient soils are considered some of the finest for wine-grape growing. A mixture of rock, gravel, and and loam that originated millions of years ago as soils eroded down from the valleys mountain ranges and left behind gravel and fine silt. The result is that the combination holds nutrients and just enough water from winter rains to see the vines through the growth phase during spring and early summer. However, by midsummer the stony elements of the soil have allowed any remaining water to drain away. According to Corison, this intricate dance helps the grapes reach ripeness before sugars get too high, yielding delicious, balanced wines with moderate alcohol. Many Napa Valley winemakers use the valleys gravelly soils and hot summers to push grapes to ultra-high sugar levels, which results in high-octane wines with extreme alcohols, often higher than 16%. But Corison wines buck that trend and typically fall somewhere between 12% and 13% alcohol. The result is that they are often more European in style more food-friendly and showcasing elegant bouquets, poetic finesse and ageability. St. George Rootstock Most modern grapevines are created by the grafting of two different grape species: The top part, Vitis vinifera, produces grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay, and the bottom part the rootstock comes from a different grape species. Today there are dozens of different kinds of rootstock, each having its own special characteristics. Some are more drought-tolerant, while others are better suited for one soil over another or are protective against certain diseases or pests. A brief history of Vitis vinifera The species Vitis vinifera is believed to be native to West Asia originating near the Caucasus Mountains. Evidence of winemaking by the peoples of that region dates back as early as 6000 B.C., with remnants of the oldest known winery discovered in Armenian caves that date back to 4100 B.C. As early as 1500 B.C. the seafaring Phoenician peoples of the Middle East transported V. vinifera to Greece, Rome and southern France, where grapevine cultivation and wine production expanded quickly. By the 1700s, Spanish missionaries had planted V. vinifera in California. They found that it grew well in the soils and produced finer wine than did the native U.S. grape varieties such as Vitis rupestris, V. labrusca and V. riparia. By the mid-1800s samples of eastern American grape species had been transported to Europe and planted, which led to disaster. Without any native predators, phylloxera hanging on to the roots of the transplanted material spread quickly. By the 1880s estimates hold that up to nine-tenths of all European vineyards had been destroyed. At that time no one knew the cause of the blight. Some vineyard owners even resorted to burying frogs in their vineyards to soak up the unknown poison. Meanwhile, the gold rush of 1849 brought in a flood of prospectors and entrepreneurs, many from Europe. Some of these new immigrants brought a few cherished grapevines to plant then in their new home. In an ironic twist, unbeknownst to them many of these plants carried the deadly phylloxera that had traveled from the eastern United States to Europe and then back to California. By the 1890s scientists had determined that the dreaded phylloxera root louse was the culprit of the devastation, but it had already killed many California vineyards. To solve the problem scientist tried various chemical treatments all of which failed. What worked best, they found, was grafting wine grapes to eastern-American rootstock, which had built up natural resistance to the phylloxera pest through millions of years of evolution. One of the first was called Rupestris du Lot St. George, or just St. George for short. By the early 1900s the phylloxera-resistant St. George rootstock was common throughout the Napa Valley. But memories are short, and by the 1970s new rootstocks were being developed. One AxR-1 was touted as having the benefits of St. George but able to produce bigger and more consistent crops. And so, by the 1980s nearly all of the old vineyards with their passe rootstocks were torn out and replanted with AxR-1. Sadly, AxR-1s resistance to phylloxera didnt last long. Within only a couple of decades vast tracks of vineyards throughout California lay decimated, just as they had a hundred years prior. Luckily, the Kronos vineyard was planted in 1971 on St. George rootstock and never replanted to AxR-1. When Martin and Corison purchased the property in 1995 they had the courage and tenacity to rehabilitate what was already an old vineyard. When we bought the property, the vineyard was in pretty bad shape, Martin said. We used organic farming techniques, and we're happily surprised that within a few years it really came back to life. The wine Corison wines can be tasted and purchased at the winery by appointment. Weather permitting, guests can enjoy the outdoor seating area behind the winery that overlooks the Kronos vineyard and the Mayacamas Mountains beyond. The winery, designed by Martin, includes elements that are a blend of his New England roots (his grandfather was a barn-builder from Switzerland who immigrated to the East Coast) and a Napa Valley farm aesthetic. Corison makes only a few thousand cases of wine a year. They offer four different Cabernet Sauvignons, a Cabernet Franc, a Cabernet Sauvignon Rose and a Gewurztraminer sourced from a vineyard located in Mendocino Countys Anderson Valley. All of the wines are worth exploring. I highlight three. The 2018 Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($95 a bottle and roughly 2,000 cases made) has been made by the winery since its founding in 1987. A ruby-red rim with intricate aromas of raspberry Chambord, fresh tobacco, roasted porcini mushrooms and pipe smoke complement flavors of ripe cherries, strawberries, dry sage and cardamon, with a full texture and a long, lively finish. Try this with a charcuterie plate of cured meats, black olives and Morbier cheese. The 2018 Corison Sunbasket Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($195 a bottle and 300 cases made) has a bouquet full of dark-roasted espresso, maple syrup, apple-wood smoke and crushed raspberries. Flavors include cappuccino, malt and blueberry pie refined with small-grain tannins. Pair this with fire-roasted spareribs served with potatoes au gratin and a big hunk of crusty sourdough. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard ($195 a bottle and 300 cases made) is wonderful. It appears opaque in the glass with vibrant aromas of cherry liqueur, black raspberry and bouquet garni. Spend time smelling this wine to reveal layers of fruit under which lie crushed sage, cinnamon toast, sandalwood, violets and lavender. The flavors are of blue and red fruits with a lovely silky texture and long finish. This wine reminds me of the 1989 Chateau Lynch-Bages Grand Cru, Pauillac, France, with its focus and structure. Enjoy this wine with grilled lamb chops that have been rolled in chopped parsley, fresh rosemary and chives. For an added flair, first brush each chop with a teaspoon of red-currant jelly. The future To underscore their commitment to the Kronos vineyard, last year Martin and Corison replaced the trellis system, which is nearly unheard of. Most owners would only switch out an aging trellis when they replant a vineyard because of the added costs being prohibitive. Most trellis systems last just about 20 years or so, and replacing them at the time of replanting makes the most economic sense. This gesture suggests, more than words, that the Corison winery intends to continue for years to come. Recently the couples two daughters Grace and Rose have returned after completing college and working for a few years outside the family business. This provides hope that this small family-owned business will continue fighting the good fight. The next generation could eventually take the reins of one of the valleys most precious assets and be committed and conscientious stewards of the land, undeterred in their commitment to producing wines of distinction. The Napa man who was convicted of sexually abusing two female relatives in the course of a decade will spend the rest of his life behind bars. A Napa County judge on Wednesday sentenced Samuel Cereda, 39, to 690 years to life in state prison, the office of District Attorney Allison Haley announced in a news release. Cereda was convicted Oct. 29 in Napa County Superior Court on 50 charges, including seven counts of child rape, 14 other counts of aggravated sexual assault, and 27 counts of forcible lewd acts on a child. 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 Judge Scott R.L. Young also awarded $825,000 in damages to the two survivors of the abuse, who are now between the ages of 16 and 20. Prosecutors have said the case against Cereda arose from the sexual assault of one family member in Napa County between 2017 and 2019, and of another relative from 2009 to 2011 in San Bernardino County. The survivors were between 8 and 13 years old at the time of the abuse, the District Attorneys Office said shortly after Ceredas conviction at the end of a nine-day jury trial. Man convicted in Napa court of child rape, faces life sentence A Napa man was found guilty of assaulting one relative in Napa County from 2017 to 2019, and another in San Bernardino County from 2009 to 2011. Cereda was arrested at his San Francisco workplace in September 2019, after a Napa County student told a school counselor Cereda had abused her for several years, Napa Police said at the time, adding that the resulting investigation led to the discovery of the second victim outside the county. The Napa County District Attorneys Office took jurisdiction over all the allegations against Cereda and prosecuted them as a single case, and both survivors testified at his trial. In addition to the criminal counts, Young accepted special allegations against Cereda, including sex offenses against more than one victim, substantial sexual conduct with victims, and committing crimes by force, fear, violence, or duress. A divided Napa County Board of Supervisors decided the controversial Walt Ranch vineyard project found an acceptable way to address greenhouse gas concerns related to the expected loss of 14,000 trees. Walt Ranch plans to make up for the loss of carbon-sequestering trees by preserving 124 acres of woodlands and planting about 17,000 trees. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday endorsed the idea by a 3-2 vote, with a final vote to come on Feb. 8. The hybrid approach of conservation and tree planting is appropriate, Board of Supervisors Chairperson Alfredo Pedroza said. But the decision had detractors. A few dozen people before the session protested the Walt Ranch project outside the county administration building, holdings signs with such messages as, "I speak for the trees." Center for Biological Diversity appealed the Walt Ranch greenhouse gas issue to the Board of Supervisors. Ross Middlemiss of the group said the mitigations proposed by Walt Ranch and approved by county staff weren't good enough. We brought this appeal because we are in a climate crisis, and the county has a legal and moral obligation to mitigate the destructive projects it approves," he said. Attorney Whitman Manley on behalf of Hall Brambletree Associates, the Walt Ranch applicant, had another view. Walt Ranch will not only provide sufficient mitigation, "but overwhelming mitigation," he said. This is the latest chapter in what is probably Napa County's longest-running, most controversial proposed vineyard project ever. The Walt Ranch project involves grading 316 acres for a 209-acre vineyard and related needs on 2,300 acres in mountains between the city of Napa and Lake Berryessa. Craig and Kathryn Hall of HALL Wines bought the property for vineyards for $8 million in 2005, according to newspaper reports from the time. As early as 2009, the California Oak Foundation expressed concern about the proposed loss of trees at Walt Ranch to make room for vineyards. By 2014, dozens of people were showing up at county hearings saying the project shouldn't be allowed in the county's watersheds. The Board of Supervisors approved the vineyards in 2016 and opponents sued. The courts upheld the county on issues such as groundwater availability and rare species protection, but said the greenhouse gas issue related to expected tree loss needed more work. The task actually before the Board today is rather narrow, Deputy County Counsel Jason Dooley told supervisors on Tuesday. Walt Ranch's tree loss mitigation must cover for 27,528 metric tons of carbon dioxide. For supervisors, it was partly a matter of math. Hall Brambletree Associates originally proposed to preserve 248 acres of woodlands at Walt Ranch from development through conservation easements. But the courts ruled that it's unclear whether all of this land has development potential. That led to the proposal before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday of preserving 124 acres and planting 16,790 trees. Middlemiss said the planting program is flawed and questioned the expected 80% survival rate. He said Hall Brambletree Associates should find 248 acres to preserve on the property that can't otherwise be developed. Sometimes the most obvious option is also the best," he said. Walt Ranch burned during both the 2017 Atlas Fire and 2020 LNU Lightning Complex Fire, said Mike Reynolds on behalf of Hall Brambletree Associates. Of the 235,710 trees on the property, between 80,000 to 100,000 are unlikely to survive. Given that, Walt Ranch is a good location for tree planting. If 80% of the planted trees don't survive for seven years, Walt Ranch must plant more trees, the applicants said. But Middlemiss said that a lot can happen to young trees. "Eighty percent survival rate I acknowledge and Im sure the applicant will try their best," Middlemiss responded. "I believe them when they say they are committed to replanting for seven years. What happens after seven years? Walt Ranch has not demonstrated that it cannot preserve 248 acres of woodlands that otherwise could be developed, he said. Instead, the applicants have jumped "to a speculative planting program." Reynolds said there will also be other conservation easements for other reasons on Walt Ranch. All together, more than 1,000 acres will preserved and most have oak woodlands. The Board of Supervisors heard from 16 speakers during public comments, all of them opposing Walt Ranch. Several speakers spoke about the dangers of climate change, with one argument being newly planted oaks won't yield immediate carbon-sequestration benefits. We dont have time to be cutting down trees anymore, Im sorry, resident Amber Manfree said. Napa County, its time to turn over a new leaf, resident Sue Wagner said. Supervisor Diane Dillon opposed the mitigation proposal. She wanted to uphold the appeal and send the matter back to staff for more work. "I can't support that," she said. "My biggest concern here is we don't have seven years, we don't have 20 years, we don't have 30 years ... We don't have the luxury of years to watch and see if these trees grow." Supervisor Belia Ramos asked that 568 more trees be planted than the 16,790 proposed and Hall Brambletree Associates agreed. She wanted the 80-percent survival rate requirement to cover for all 14,000 or so trees to be removed. "If you are a resident of the county, if you live in (neighboring) Circle Oaks, your loss is not measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide," Ramos said. "Your loss, what you feel what I have heard is measured in the trees you don't see." Supervisors Gregory, Pedroza and Ramos voted in favor of the Walt Ranch mitigations and to deny the appeal. Supervisors Dillon and Brad Wagenknecht voted "no." You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.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. Authorities in Napa County and around the Bay Area reported overnight roadway flooding in the wake of rainstorms Wednesday in Northern California. 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 The Napa County Sheriff's Office reported late Wednesday night a large body of water along Highway 29 and eastbound American Canyon Road. Farther north in the city of Napa, the California Highway Patrol closed northbound 29 just north of the on-ramp at West Imola Avenue, where one vehicle was stuck in floodwaters. The flooding affected the ramp from westbound Imola onto northbound 29, according to Jaret Paulson, spokesperson for the highway patrols Napa bureau. Update: Rain totals from Bay Area storm to reach 4 inches and more across Napa County Rainfall totals in the Bay Area storm neared or exceeded 4 inches in much of the county, with more expected into early Tuesday morning. In Sonoma County, CHP reported multiple vehicles stuck in floodwaters east of Petaluma on Highway 12 near the intersection of Highway 121. The roadway was expected to reopen Thursday afternoon with the coming of low tide in San Pablo Bay, Paulson said. In Contra Costa County, the CHP reported 3 to 4 inches of water late in the far left southbound lane of Interstate 680 just north of the interchange of Highway in Concord. To the west in Orinda, the CHP reports a vehicle became stuck when the driver tried to drive over a fallen tree on Camino Pablo, just north of Highway 24. In Oakland, the CHP reported at 1:10 a.m. that the far-right southbound lane of I-880 is flooded at the interchange of I-980 near Webster Street. In San Francisco, the CHP reported at 12:04 a.m. some flooding of roadways on southbound U.S. Highway 101 near the Bayshore Boulevard off-ramp. Register reporter Howard Yune contributed to this report. Shoe, the main character in the late cartoonist Jeff MacNellys comic strip of that name, often was depicted as a wine-loving newspaper editor who occasionally wrote wine reviews. In one strip from decades ago, Shoe is typing a column to tell his readers how to analyze wine. First look at its color, he writes, then smell its aroma, and finally taste it. He concludes with a grin, Taste is the biggie. Which flies in the face of millions of wine lovers worldwide who believe that the aroma of a great wine is well over half of the pleasure it delivers. Moreover, a fine wines gestalt is due, as much as anything else, to where it was grown. Yet many people still believe that for any wine to be great, it must merely taste great and that where it came from is an incidental curiosity. To them, taste IS the biggie. But in France, where they know about such things, they cherish terroir (tare-wahr) far more than they do any proclamations of tastiness. If a wine isnt an authentic example of its region, it cannot be great, they say. A wine without terroir is hollow. In the words of winemaker Randall Grahm, terroir in France is absolutely sacred. But explaining terroir isnt easy. Dozens of wine authors have written about the concept for probably a century or more with few really answering the question fully. Numerous books contain the word terroir in their titles, including one called "Terroir and Other Myths of Winegrowing" by Mark A. Matthews in which the author looks skeptically at the concept. At its most basic, terroir simply refers to how a place (a vineyard) imposes specific aromas and/or tastes on the wines it produces. That place-ness, say its supporters, includes soils, climate, extraneous inputs (such as vines being adjacent to a line of eucalyptus trees), not to mention vine age, trellising choices, pruning strategy Theres no scientific proof that terroir creates unique features in fine wines. Indeed, science has proven that the elements in the soil (such as minerals) are not found in the wines. So, is terroir real at all? Almost anyone who considers him or herself to be a wine aficionado probably leans in favor of the persistence of regionality or terroir. To them, it is not only real, but they can prove it. For instance, many people easily identify certain character traits in some wines that are unquestionably linked to sites: Black pepper-scented Syrahs from Australias northern Victoria or Hawkes Bay in New Zealand; The unique gooseberry and pipi du chat aroma usually found in Marlborough (NZ) Sauvignon Blancs. The lanolin and fig aromas of Australias Hunter Valley) Semillon. The electric acidity and aromatic drama in Germanys Mosel Rieslings. But those are just generalizations and may be applied to many vineyards in various locales. Look at that list above: All the wines listed are from other countries. Wineries that exist elsewhere seem to capture terroir a lot better than those from sun-splashed California, where opulence reigns, alcohols are higher, and regional characteristics are nowhere near as pronounced or esteemed. When you fine-tune this elusive concept, things really get esoteric. Twenty years ago, we visited Germany and had several appointments in the Mosel. One afternoon we drove to visit Egon Muller in the Saar. Most of the wines of the Mosel Valley carry the comprehensive name Mosel-Saar-Ruwer. But the wines of those three areas are distinctly different from one another. But how different I didnt realize until Muller handed me a glass of one of his more modest Rieslings, a QbA. One whiff told me we werent in Kansas anymore. Not only was the wine distinctly scented, unlike most of the other Mosels we had tried, it was an order of magnitude more exotic. It seemed to have a sort of Saar-ness. Was this due to terroir? Though the wines label still said Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, it had a markedly Saar-like personality (more saline notes). (Today an Egon Muller QbA Riesling is prized and sells here for around $85 a bottle.) When I got back home, I called a friend who knew far more about German Rieslings than I. I told him of my experience with the Muller QbA. I asked, What was that character? Thats the Saar, he said. And quickly added, and its Egon Muller. As time has gone by, Ive learned that soil characteristics, or simply the "there" thats "there," can and often do contribute something to many wines. And people who are extremely familiar with all of the wine worlds something-nesses not only appreciate them, but treasure them. A few months before his passing, the great winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff walked me through his former winery, Beaulieu Vineyard in Rutherford. Later we shared some Cabernets, one of which Andre had made decades earlier. Despite his age (92) and lifelong smoking habit, he identified what he called Rutherford Dust in the aroma of the wine. What I sensed was a delicate hint of dried sage that herb that seems to be mandatory on roast turkey. I asked Andre if his dust referred to sage. He smiled, nodded once, and said, Dust. It was an aroma, he said, that he noticed more in Rutherford), and a lot less in neighboring districts. Was that terroir? Perhaps so but in todays modern world where high scores are linked to aroma-masking high alcohols, terroir is not prized as it once was. And since high scores are mandatory, later harvesting of fruit has become common. Late picking is known to make more voluptuous wines, but many Cabernets thus lose any sense of terroir-ness. Winemakers seem to favor higher prices and faster sales. So, is terroir dead? Ill answer that in an upcoming column, but certainly, its in the intensive care ward and the nurse is named Ratched. I believe terroir in California (for some grape varieties) may well be related simply to the macro and micro views of climate, in which Californias more Mediterranean, sun-impacted vines create a challenge for those who wish to produce more terroir-based wines. Too much sun can be a curse. No such problem exists in Europe, where lower alcohols, more complexity, and other more subtle elements rule. To make the point even clearer, so much Chardonnay is planted throughout California in regions inappropriate for that grape. Thus, few show any particular terroir, partly as a result of the choices winemakers make to produce wines that are more succulent, oaky, and perhaps even buttery. This is rarely the case with smaller producers who are focused on making Eurocentric styles of wine that emulate the classics as they originated in the old world. We have also seen struggles in that direction from Australia and New Zealand, and a few other places where adhering to the euro-style is seen as a worthy effort. Very few American wine critics give wines credit for displaying terroir. I know of no wine that a reviewer gave a very high score to primarily because it had loads of terroir. So, yes, I do believe that terroir exists. But it is up to each individual winemaker to decide how best to capture it how to handle the fruit, how to trellis, and prune, how to select the right picking date, and then make the wine with extreme care so as not to interfere with Mother Nature. Many decisions can destroy terroir character. But more and more these days, I see winemakers, even younger ones, looking back over their shoulders into history and asking the question, can I improve this wine by doing what our ancestors did? Although Im encouraged by some of the winemaking I have seen recently, one line I have yet to hear from a winemaker is: Do I really want a 100-point score if, to get there, it costs me my soul? Wine of the Week 2020 Pax Syrah, El Dorado County, Fenaughty Vineyard ($24) As noted in the accompanying article, its extremely difficult to find wines with distinctive terroir elements in sub-blessed California, but among the finest practitioners of the art form is Pax Mahle, whose distinctive red wines are as true to the grapes and soils from which they emanate as any in the state. Ordinariness finds no shelter with Pax. This classic example of rusticness and personality personifies the wild nature that this grape variety can achieve when it is allowed to be what it wants to be, which is exotic and countryside-ish. Fancy stemware unnecessary. The aroma has blackberry fruit, but more earthy components, including dried tobacco and forest floor. The aftertaste is built solely on the grape, with alcohol playing almost no particular role, since it is 12.5%! From Paxs website: This 100% Syrah was fermented using 100% whole-clusters crushed entirely by foot. Vibrant and high-toned, we aged this wine for 6 months in very old neutral French oak 500-liter puncheons to preserve the vibrancy and verve of this high-altitude Alpine-inspired wine. A French terroir-ist would be enthralled! Dan Berger lives in Sonoma County, Calif., where he publishes Vintage Experiences, a subscription-only wine newsletter. Write to him at winenut@gmail.com. He is also co-host of California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon on KSRO Radio, 1350 AM. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia met with President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, the Prime Ministers Office informed. The interlocutors discussed a range of issues related to the further development of cooperation between Armenia and Cyprus in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres. The sides attached importance to the partnership between the two governments aimed at promoting mutually beneficial projects. The results of the Eastern Partnership summit were touched upon. Pashinyan and Anastasiades exchanged views on the developments in the South Caucasus. The readiness to face the challenges jointly, the need for close, effective cooperation for solving problems was emphasized. The EU Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels has issued a joint declaration. It reads as follows, in particular: We have come together to reaffirm our strong commitment to our strategic, ambitious and forward-looking Eastern Partnership, which remains firmly based on common fundamental values, mutual interests and shared ownership, responsibility, inclusivity, differentiation and mutual accountability. As a specific dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy, our partnership allows to bring the European Union and its Eastern European partners closer together. It seeks to foster stability, prosperity and mutual cooperation, and to advance our commitment to the necessary reforms and to address the global and regional challenges that we face for the benefit of all our citizens. We are bound by our joint determination to further strengthen democracy and the rule of law in our societies. The protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, fostering inclusive societies, promoting gender equality as well as full respect for the principles and norms of international law remain the cornerstones of our partnership and underpin our joint work in all priority areas. The European Union remains committed in its support to the territorial integrity within their internationally recognised borders, independence, and sovereignty of all Eastern partners, with respect for and adherence to the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and the 1990 Charter of Paris, which are fundamental to our shared vision for a peaceful and undivided Europe. We reconfirm our commitments taken at previous Summits and in bilateral agreements as well as our determination to carry them forward. On this path, our ambitious reform agenda and enhanced cooperation remains the necessary condition for progress and support: increasing prosperity and fostering peace, stability, sustainability and resilience in the region, notably in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our cooperation and support will particularly aim at the delivery of key global policy objectives, including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. We remain deeply concerned about the continuous destabilisation and violations of the principles of international law in many parts of the Eastern Partnership region that pose a threat to peace, security and stability. We call for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of unresolved conflicts in the Eastern Partnership region based on the principles and norms of international law. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, building trust and good neighbourly relations are essential to economic and social development and cooperation. We welcome EUs efforts, enhanced engagement and strengthened role in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, confidence building, in the framework or in support of existing agreed negotiating formats and processes, including through field presence, when appropriate. The scope and depth of our cooperation are determined by our respective agreements and will continue to be shaped by the ambitions and needs of both the EU and the partners as well as by the pace and quality of reforms. We recognise that the EUs conditionality and incentivebased approach (more-for-more and less-for-less) will continue to benefit those partners most engaged in implementing reforms. We reaffirm the sovereign right of each partner to choose the level of ambition and the goals to which it aspires in its relations with the European Union. We stress that this is a constructive partnership, which is not directed against anyone, but is designed to contribute to peace and prosperity for all countries in the neighbourhood. The Eastern Partnership will remain inclusive and flexible, allowing common regional and global challenges to be tackled jointly in a wide range of areas, including through deeper sectoral cooperation and exchanges. We emphasise in this regard our particular objective to enhance and support regional cooperation in the Eastern Partnership region, including strengthening links and transport connectivity. The US embassy in Armenia has issued a travel update on Facebook. It reads as follows: All air travelers two years and older, regardless of vaccination status or country of origin, are required to show proof of a negative viral test result taken within one day of the flights departure to the U.S. or proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. Travelers are urged to review their plans, check their airlines website for potential changes, and monitor the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan website for information on COVID-19-related restrictions. The EU and interested partners commend the entry into force of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the EU and Armenia in March 2021, welcome the progress so far and encourage its full implementation leading to a new level of partnership. This is stated in the joint declaration adopted as a result of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels. In this regard, the EU and interested partners welcome the recent signature of the common aviation area agreements with Armenia and Ukraine. The EU and interested partners also welcome the agreements with Armenia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine for their association to Horizon Europe, the joint declaration also reads. 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 YEREVAN. Secretary Armen Grigoryan of the Security Council of Armenia on Wednesday met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the Security Council office. At the beginning of the meeting, the parties conveyed the greetings of the leaders of their countries: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Joe Biden. At the meeting, a wide range of issues related to the security environment in the region and around Armenia was discussed. In this context, the possibilities of regional economic cooperation were also discussed, which will create additional security guarantees for long-term stability and peace. The parties noted the achievements of Armenias democratic reforms, which have a unique role in the Armenian-American bilateral relations. In this regard, Grigoryan thanked Sullivan for inviting Armenia to the Summit for Democracy, which is a factual record of those successes. And at the end of the meeting, Armen Grigoryan invited Jake Sullivan to visit Armenia. During the meeting in Brussels with the president of Azerbaijan [Ilham Aliyev], we reaffirmed our decision and agreement on the construction of the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadis railway. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this at Thursdays Cabinet meeting of the government of Armenia. "This agreement was reached as a result of the Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan trilateral working group discussionschaired by the deputy prime ministers of the three countriesdealing with the opening of regional communications. This agreement was recorded during the [Russian President Vladimir] Putin-mediated meeting held in Sochi [(Russia)] on November 26. And all this was recorded also at the meeting in Brussels that was held mediated by President Charles Michel of the European Council," he said. As per Pashinyan, the aforesaid railway will operate in accordance with internationally accepted border and customs rules, on the principle of reciprocity, and under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries it will run along. "Armenia will get access to Iran and Russia through this railway, and Azerbaijan will get a railway link to [its exclave] Nakhichevan," Pashinyan said. According to him, if it is managed to start a certain dialogue and succeed in opening the border and communications with Turkey, this railway project can reach a much larger scale. "That is, the railway we are talking about exists from [Armenias] Yeraskh [village] to Gyumri [city], and there is also a railway from Gyumri to [Turkeys] Kars [city]. But I say all this so that we have to start the construction. Of course, there is a lot of work to be done before the construction itself, part of the work has already been done, but now we have to resolve this problem with practical and daily work," said the Armenian PM. He noted that a consultation with a narrow format also will be held on this matter. "Our wish is to have the [aforementioned] railway as soon as possible. I do not want to overestimate the significance of this agreement and project, but, on the other hand, I do not want to underestimate [it] either. This is an important agreement, which I hope we will implement correctly, and which will considerably change the economic, investment, of course, the political and security environment of the region," said the premier of Armenia. A total of $1.2 billion will be spent on the construction of two sections of the railway with Azerbaijan. The minister of economy of Armenia, Vahan Kerobyan, told reporters about this on Thursday. He explained that the largest respective project is the construction of a railway to Horadiz city, and that this could cost more than $1 billion. Kerobyan added that another large project is the construction of a new railway at the Meghri city section of Armenia, and that this may cost about $200 million. "Very little money will be spent for the construction of the section near Yeraskh [village of Armenia] from Armenia to Iran. We are talking about the repair of a railway that stretches for [just] several hundred meters," the minister noted. He stressed that if the entire aforesaid railway project is to be put into operation, this will take several years. As reported earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at Thursdays Cabinet meeting of the government of Armenia that during his meeting in Brussels with the president of Azerbaijan, they had reaffirmed the decision and agreement on the construction of the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway. During todays parliamentary session, secretary of the opposition Armenia Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Artsvik Minasyan accused the ruling majority, namely deputies of the Civil Contract Faction of violating the provisions of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly. According to him, yesterday the parliamentary opposition took the initiative to hold a special session devoted to delimitation and demarcation, and even though certain representatives of the ruling majority had expressed their willingness to make recommendations, the special session wasnt held due to the absence of the deputies of the ruling party. We didnt hear any political justification. It turns out that the provisions of the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly were breached since the deputies didnt attend the session organized by the opposition without giving any explanation, Minasyan stated. Azerbaijan expects a response from the OSCE Minsk Group in accordance with the new geopolitical realities. The statement came from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressing the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, the Azerbaijani media reported, citing the press service of the Azerbaijani leader. Aliyev thanked President Charles Michel of the European Council for always keeping regional issues on the agenda. He especially noted that on the initiative of the European Council head, constructive talks took place Tuesday in Brussels between the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia, and which lasted about five hours. Aliyev attached importance to Charles Michel's contribution to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and noted that these talks were detailed, in which the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the delimitation and demarcation of their borders, and construction of transport infrastructurein particular, of railwayswere discussed. Also, President Aliyev noted that there was a constructive atmosphere between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the sixth Eastern Partnership Summit, and stressed the role of the European Union in the formation of this atmosphere. Aliyev said it was important not to miss this opportunity and use it to continue efforts to ensure lasting peace in the region. The Azerbaijani leader stressed that during international events in previous years, the Armenian leadership "usually made baseless and accusatory statements against Azerbaijan." Evaluating positively the fact that this time it did not happen, Ilham Aliyev noted that he did not speak directly against Armenia. He said that this attests to the creation of fertile ground for the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Referring to the role of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ilham Aliyev noted that no results have been achieved during the 28 years of negotiations. Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan expects a response from the OSCE Minsk Group in accordance with the new geopolitical realities. According to him, the Azerbaijani side believes that the Minsk Group can help prepare a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, delimit their borders, establish contacts between people, strengthen confidence-building measures, and in other matters. Touching upon the issue of minefields in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) territories now occupied by Azerbaijan, its president noted that so far about 200 people were killed or injured in related landmine explosions. In this regard, he stressed the importance of providing technical and financial assistance to Azerbaijan by the European Union and its bloc member countries to eliminate this problem. At the end of his speech, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan once again thanked the President of the European Council for his contribution to the efforts toward the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 16.12.21: During the meeting in Brussels with the president of Azerbaijan [Ilham Aliyev], Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia reaffirmed their agreement on the construction of the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadis railway. According to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, this agreement was reached as a result of the Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan trilateral working group discussions dealing with the opening of regional communications. "And all this was recorded also at the meeting in Brussels that was held mediated by President Charles Michel of the European Council," he said. The railway will operate in accordance with internationally accepted border and customs rules, on the principle of reciprocity, and under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries it will run along. French President Emmanuel Macron took to his Twitter after his trilateral meeting in Brussels with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. We will always seek solutions to lasting peace. I call for the holiday season to be one of the humanitarian advances, one of appeasement, Macron added. A trilateral meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan took place in Brussels after the end of the Eastern Partnership Summit. The meeting took place on the initiative of the French President. A total of $1.2 billion will be spent on the construction of two sections of the railway with Azerbaijan, minister of economy of Armenia, Vahan Kerobyan, told reporters on Thursday. He explained that the largest respective project is the construction of a railway to Horadiz city and that this could cost more than $1 billion. Kerobyan added that another large project is the construction of a new railway at the Meghri city section of Armenia and that this may cost about $200 million. After his talks in Brussels with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia on Thursday received President Arayik Harutyunyan of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). As of Thursday morning, 180 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 343,157 in the country, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, 18 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 7,874 cases. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia sent congratulatory messages to incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and First President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan on the latters 30th anniversary of independence. The congratulatory message to Tokayev states as follows, in particular: "I am confident that our joint efforts will be aimed at the further development of fruitful cooperation between Armenia and Kazakhstanboth in a bilateral format and within the framework of integration associations and multilateral organizations, which is entirely in the interests of the peoples of our countries." And Pashinyans message addressed to Nazarbayev reads as follows, in part: "I am confident that the good traditions of friendship and mutual respect between the peoples of Armenia and Kazakhstan will always be a benchmark for the progress of interstate relationsboth in the bilateral format and within the framework of integration associations and international organizations." A group of residents of Vanadzor, the third-largest city of Armenia, held a rally Thursday to express their support to mayor Mamikon Aslanyan, who has won the local elections, but was arrested Wednesday. Also, they held a large banner that read: "Freedom to Mamikon Aslanyan." "People have come to stand up for their vote. The Mamikon Aslanyan Bloc won the December 5 elections by a clear margin, but the authorities are unable to accept it and use such force, which is unacceptable. We have one demand: to release Mamikon Aslanyan immediately," said one of the protesters. Also, Aslanyan's supporters had issued a respective statement Wednesday. There are several military maps, and some of them are approved by the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan, but we are talking about the map of 1926, after which there have been many transformations, and the latest map is the military map dating back to 1974. This is what deputy of the ruling Civil Contract Party Arman Yeghoyan told reporters in parliament today. According to him, that military map indicates the border at the level of hills, and this is the most recent map. There have been changes, but not in every place. Armenia accepts as a basis the map of 1926, but we dont have the maps that are in accordance with all the documents. There are many maps that neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan has, but the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces has them, and Russia has offered to be guided by those maps. Demarcation and delimitation can change many things. Currently, Armenia was offered this map in order to stabilize the situation, and it is the last map approved by the General Staff in 1974, he said. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ishkhan Saghatelyan today met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland to Armenia Pawel Cieplak. Saghatelyan presented the post-war situation, spoke about the aggressive encroachments of the Azerbaijani armed forces against the sovereign territory of Armenia and considered urgent the issue of returning Armenian prisoners of war to the homeland. The deputy parliamentary speaker attached importance to the voicing of the clear position of the European countries on the abovementioned issues. The issue of the Artsakh status was also touched upon. The parties discussed issues on democracy in Armenia. Expressing gratitude for the reception, the Ambassador attached importance to the centuries-old friendly Armenian-Polish relations. Cieplak expressed hope that the cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries would further deepen. Saghatelyan expressed willingness to contribute to the improvement of the Armenian-Polish relations and the development of inter-parliamentary relations. Today the Interparliamentary Committee on Cooperation between the National Assembly of Armenia and the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation held its 33rd session, which was held online, as reported the Department of Public Relations and Communication of the National Assembly of Armenia. Greeting the participants of the session, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan stated that he believes the interparliamentary committee serves as a dynamic platform for dialogue and successfully complements the cooperation within the scope of the intergovernmental commission. He also expressed certainty that it will be possible to thoroughly discuss the problems, find effective solutions and predetermine the new directions for constructive partnership during the meeting and underscored the role of cooperation within international platforms. Talking about regional issues, Arshakyan stressed that Armenia is in a difficult period and touched upon the post-war situation, noting that several humanitarian issues remain unresolved. He added that in spite of the commitments assumed under the trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan refuses to return the Armenian prisoners of war and other persons being held. He also expressed gratitude to the Russian Federation for providing ongoing support to solve these issues. We are also thankful to the Russian peacekeepers for their efforts to maintain peace and security and preserve Armenian religious and cultural heritage monuments, Arshakyan said. In his welcoming remarks, Vice-Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Yuri Vorobyov emphasized that Armenia is one of Russias strategic partners, both countries are cooperating effectively on different interparliamentary platforms, and the relations are growing dynamically in several sectors. The year 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Armenia, as well as the 25th anniversary of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance which, according to Vorobyov, will give a new impetus to the bilateral ties. Touching upon the regional issues Vorobyov stated that Russian MPs are following the development of events in the region and expressed the view that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is of major significance for Russia. The sides discussed the prospects for bilateral humanitarian cooperation, as well as support to the dissemination of Russian language in Armenia and Armenian language in Russia. The deputy ministers of education and science of both countries presented the steps being taken in this direction. They raised the issue of adding Russian-language instructional manuals and textbooks and considered necessary the implementation of exchange programs, cooperation between universities and the holding of performing arts festivals. During the session, it was decided to support the placement of a monument to the Russian-Armenian friendship at Russia Square in Yerevan. At the end of the session, the working plan of the Interparliamentary Committee for the year 2022 was confirmed. The 34th session will be held in Armenia next year. I returned to Yerevan, and the first document I read was the concluding resolution adopted at the Eastern Partnership Summit yesterday it was an addition to the bundle of international documents adopted during the administration/thanks to/because of Nikol and excluding Armenias national interest, and the number of these documents started growing rapidly, especially after November 9, 2020. This is what Vice-President of the Republican Party of Armenia Armen Ashotyan wrote on his Facebook page, adding the following: I will briefly present the main issues: 1. After the Azerbaijani aggression, Armenia had all the grounds to achieve hardening of the European Unions stance on the aggressor in this European format, but this didnt happen. 2. The document doesnt contain any provision that would condemn the recorded fact of use of force against Armenia and Artsakh. 3. Nikol donated our prisoners of war to Azerbaijan, and the fact that Aliyev talked about this in an interview with a Spanish newspaper and the fact that Azerbaijan didnt return at least one captive before the summit, signify this. 4. Nikol helped record in the relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan that the drafting of the new Comprehensive Agreement will in no way contain Azerbaijans liability for the 44-day war and its invasion of the sovereign territory of Armenia; 5. It became clear that Azerbaijan had a reservation in regard to the provisions related to Belarus, meaning Aliyev defended Lukashenko, but Nikol didnt defend Armenia. Basically, the traitor representing our country sold us Armenians to the world once again. It seems as though people in the world are standing in line to benefit from Nikols services. He isnt the Prime Minister for a long time now, but a practical meeting that goes here and there at the expense of our country, wrote Ashotyan. Sonny Kalsi and Zach Witkoff were added to the Miami Herbert Business School Real Estate Advisory Council. With 34 members including Kalsi and Witkoff, the Real Estate Advisory Council includes prominent real estate industry leaders from South Florida and across the country including Sandeep Mathrani of WeWork, Armando Codina of Codina Partners and more. The Council advises the School on the development of its real estate programs. Bringing in over two decades of real estate and finance experience is Sonny Kalsi. Based in New York City, Kalsi is the co-CEO of BentallGreenOak, a global real estate investment and management platform with 24 offices worldwide and over 1,300 employees. He has also been listed as one of the 30 Most Influential people in private equity real estate globally by Private Equity Real Estate magazine. Kalsi brings years of experience and knowledge he can share with Miami Herbert students, as well as internship opportunities with his firm. I am incredibly honored to be a member of the Miami Herbert Real Estate Program Advisory Council, said Sonny Kalsi. South Florida is a high-growth area, and the University of Miami will be a big beneficiary. I look forward to working with the council, faculty, and most importantly the students to help the program grow and thrive in such an exciting environment. Returning to his roots is Miami Herbert Business School alumnus, Zach Witkoff. I love the incredible, hardworking teachers who are the backbone of the Miami Herbert Real Estate Program, said Zach Witkoff, Executive Vice President of The Witkoff Group, LLC. Formerly based in New York, the family firm is relocating to Miami where they will be embarking on a new journey with important projects in South Florida. As Zach continues to flourish in the industry, he plans to offer current students with employment and internship opportunities. Miami Herbert Business School benefits from the guidance of different advisory councils like the Real Estate Advisory Council and the Dean's Advisory Committee. These advisory councils provide an external perspective while offering input on the Schools strategic direction and overall objectives. Council members like Kalsi and Witkoff are a vital link to the broader business community and serve as advisors and advocates for Miami Herbert Leadership. In the face of a national medical workforce shortage, the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) is doing its part by building capacity for high-quality advanced practice nurses. SONHS recently added three BSN-DNP tracks to build on its two existing DNP programs: the MSN-to-DNP and BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia track, launched in 2009 and 2014, respectively. The new tracks include Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. BSN grads can complete the doctoral degree in either two years (full-time) or four years (part-time). Today, DNP-level preparation is increasingly considered the standard for advanced nursing practice certification and licensure, explains Dr. Mary Hooshmand, Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Programs at SONHS. We were already a leader in preparing nurses at the doctoral level with our executive-style MSN-to-DNP program and BSN-to-DNP anesthesiology trackthe first of its kind in Floridaso it only made sense for us to develop new opportunities that streamline graduation with a terminal degree. US News and World Report currently ranks the schools DNP program in the top 11 percent of programs nationwide (#38). This is not a fast food program, explains Dr. Hooshmand. Our tailored curriculum is led by our exceptional faculty and clinical partners, and we work closely with students to develop the skills and tools required to become patient-centered nurse leaders for our community. Dr. Hooshmand notes that the school helps identify scholarships and high-quality clinical placements for students. In addition, tuition is program-based, which translates to big savings compared to the per-credit tuition charged by some other graduate programs. Additional benefits Hooshmand highlights include world-class campus facilities, small class sizes, and just two to six students per DNP faculty advisor. My advanced nursing degrees from the U changed my career, says Dr. Kenya Snowden, a nurse practitioner who completed the DNP program at SONHS in 2011 and now directs two of the new BSN-to-DNP tracks being offered as of Fall 2022. With COVID-19 compounding the nursing shortage, we wanted to develop curricula that would help us continue expanding the pipeline of diverse nursing leaders equally prepared to practice, innovate system-wide solutions, and educate the next generation of nurse practitioners. Snowden, associate professor of clinical, has a ready response for any nurse daunted by the prospect of becoming a doctor: I started as an LPN, and I always tell my students that advanced degrees are within reach for everyone! In just two short years, a BSN-DNP degree like this one from SONHS will open many doors and career possibilities you never imagined. Indeed, the career outlook for doctorally prepared nurse practitioners is bright, as are salary projections. Career options range from clinical practice and academia to government and business. The school has many prestigious alumni of its CCNE-accredited DNP program, some of whom have also returned to teach in the program, like Dr. David Zambrana, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Jackson Health System, and Dr. Jackie Gonzalez, Nicklaus Childrens Hospitals recently retired chief nursing officer. The DNP program is fantastic, says Amauri Quintana, who earned his DNP at SONHS in 2020 and is employed there as a simulation nurse specialist. The curriculum is all about transferring evidence and knowledge into practice at a systemic level. Quintana focused on improving medical management of patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease for his DNP scholarly project, the evidence-based practice improvement initiative all DNP students must identify within a real-world clinical setting. The faculty here want to see you succeed. From day one, they encourage you to explore your interests. Theres a lot of guidance and mentorship, and the variety of clinical partners and projects is impressive. Visit sonhs.miami.edu/academics/doctoral-programs for more information. To apply, go to https://nursingcas.liaisoncas.org/apply The caregiving crisis in health care exacerbated by the pandemic and the booming eldercare industry$8 trillion in the United States aloneare propelling the development of a rash of new technologies to bridge the digital divide with older adults, Keren Etkin, author and self-described gerontechnologist, told a University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School virtual audience last week. Etkin spoke with Dean John A. Quelch from her home in Tel Aviv, Israel, and discussed the growing intersection of technology and aging, and advances toward an inclusive fintech [integration of technology into financial services] for the older generation. With COVID, a sense of urgency about loneliness has appearedweve all felt what its like to be lonely, Etkin said. Its a known fact that older adults are at greater risk of becoming lonely, especially when theyre widowed or lose other people in their lives. And research has shown that loneliness has negative implications on our physical health. Even if youre a younger adult, youre at greater risk for morbidity and death. Etkin said it was important to take advantage of the momentum and interest that the pandemic has generated about loneliness in older adults and loneliness in general. There are so many challenges with the aging population, and loneliness is just one of them, she said. The gerontechnologist started her career with a nonprofit organization providing community services to older adults. While the services were helpful, she sensed they were not scalable and that they were unable to produce the needed impact. When offered the opportunity to join a startup that was building a social robot, she quickly transitioned. The premise of our work was to solve the challenge of loneliness among older adultsthis was a chance to make an impact on millions of people, she explained. One of the important features of the voice-activated social robots she helped develop was to respond to text and chat messages, such as: Hey, Mary, your grandchild sent you a message, would you like me to read it aloud for you? The grandmother could respond by using her voice. The robots can relay information about the weather, play games, but most importantly they can be interactiveGood morning, did you sleep well? Should I turn on the lights?and serve a social function to diminish a sense of aloneness. During COVID, the company has found that people who have been living with the robot for months found it incredibly beneficial, Etkin said. They couldnt meet with family or friends, but they had a companion they could communicate with on a regular basis. The social robots are not geared to do household chores; their physical presence is more used to expressing themselves, moving around, rather than being an iRobot, she explained. At the end of this process, when all of us will have social robots in our homes, its likely that the social robot will be the hub for all other smart devices, sending commands to the coffee machine, dishwasher, and other appliances, and involved in total system integration, Etkin said. Does she envision the government funding social robots? Any technology that is proven to be effective and that improves peoples well-being should be considered, said Etkin, noting the enhanced understanding of social determinants of health. She pointed to Medicare Advantage plans that provide funding for programs and products such as Silver Sneakers and Apple Watch that promote healthier policy holders. At the end of the day, whether its the government or whoever is paying for the health care bills, it will save them money, she said. Etkin highlighted the changing demographics of the worlds populationone-third of Japans population is already 65 or older, and percentages are growing around the world because there are fewer babies being bornand a remedying of the misconception about technology and older adults for fueling the boom in eldercare interest. The notion that older adults dont want or use technology is completely false, Etkin pointed out. Data from the AARP shows that over and over, year over year, older adults in greater numbers are adopting and adapting to new technology, according to Etkin. She indicated that Amazon, with their Together feature, and other big tech companies are rapidly expanding into eldercare space, releasing features and products specifically for this population. The pandemic, she noted, has exacerbated the caregiving crisisthe dire need for capable, compassionate caregivers. Caregivers are one of the most in-demand jobshigh turnover, hard to staff, and low-paying, she said. The crisis is here, not just in home-care, but in senior living. And its not just a macro trend, a problem of the long-term care industryeach of us who has loved ones who are older are likely to find ourselves in the role of family care giver. New technologies can help not only with daily living and personal care, but also with household maintenance, Etkin stated. Laundry, cleaning, cooking dishes, are all tasks that can be automated. We dont have to use humans for that. We can leave it to humans to do the things that are uniquely humanprovide companionship and comfort, Etkin said. When Im older, I dont want my grandchildren coming to my house to change lightbulbsI want them to spend time with me, to tell them my stories and leave a legacy in them, she said. We have to invest right now in tech solutions that will enable us to have a better aging experience. Etkin is the creator of TheGerontechnologist.com and author of the soon-to-be-released Age Tech Revolution. The presence of more than 100 Florida National Guardsmen deployed to Yavoriv, in far western Ukraine, certainly seems surprising to some, but Marcia A. Beck, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Miami, explained that the deployment is simply part of an ongoing training mission to the country that the United States and the West support as a potential stable democracy as well as a buffer against Russian aggression and expansion. The 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Gator arrived in early November, replacing an outgoing combat team from the state of Washington, to begin manning the training center for the next 912 months, according to Beck. The guardsmen work together with other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partners under the auspices of the Joint Multinational Training Group to train and advise Ukrainian defense forces. Recent media and intelligence reports indicate more than 100,000 Russian troops amassing on Ukraines eastern border, posing the threat of an invasion early next year. Theyre not sending the guardsmen now because of the build-up, Beck said, explaining instead that the deployment constitutes the 11th rotation of U.S. guardsmen to Ukraine since 2015 and the so-called Revolution of Dignity or Maidan revolutionthe conflict and protests that resulted in the ousting of then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russian leader. The deployment is not an in-your-face move from a Western perspective, but its very provocative for Russia to have foreign forces in what it considers to be a country that is not only intimately connected with its national identity, but part of its purported sphere of influence in the region, Beck said. The scenario represents a huge paradigm conflict between the United States and its allies and Russia. While the U.S. sees foreign policy in terms of self-determination and national sovereignty, Russia looks at the world through spheres of influence. Russia considers that it has every right as a powerit used to be a great power and wants to be a great power againand one way that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin thinks he can move from being a regional power to a global power again is by reestablishing this sphere of influence along Russias borders, Beck pointed out. The Russian expert referenced unclassified intelligence documents and maps as part of her assessment. She noted that the number of Russian troops could reach a high of 175,000, explaining that Russia military contract fighters could significantly add to forces amassed on Ukraines eastern border. While not dismissing the possibility of an invasion, Beck described the current border escalation as a scripted approach the Russian government has followed for decades, one that ultimately seeks to reassert Russias power. Putin wants to foment uncertainty and confusionits a purposeful policy and the same thing Russians do in the United States when they try to polarize America during elections, she explained. Americans always make a big mistake in assuming that Russia supports a specific candidate. Thats totally wrong. Russia wants to pit American against American to weaken our national resolve[Putin is] doing the same thing in the international arena. While acknowledging that an invasion would quickly overwhelm Ukrainian defenses, Beck emphasized that such a move poses a huge risk for the Russian leader. Putin is playing a dangerous game, she said. On one hand he gets immense popular support by emphasizing Russias connection to Ukraine because there are many historic, linguistic, and familial ties. Beck reported that when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014retaliation for the countrys intent to join NATO and the EUhis approval ratings jumped to 90 percent. The many close ties between the two countries date to the ninth century and the Slavic tribes that inhabited the region, she noted. Russians like it when Putin expresses support for that connection, she said. Yet polls conducted by those same Russian pollsters show that there is little or no support for military intervention into Ukraine, and he has to worry about his domestic position, Beck added. While many view Putins poweras either president or prime minister since 2000as absolute, Beck suggested his support from the Russian oligarchs is built on a house of cards. If hes seen as weak, if Ukraine suddenly becomes a bastion of investment possibilities based on market standards and a rule of law and Putin loses the support of those oligarchs, he could be in trouble domestically and the whole thing might fall apart, Beck pointed out. Putin is very concerned about his domestic position, especially with elections coming up in 2024. The threat of an invasion creates a dilemma for the United States as well, she said. With a newly elected chancellor and foreign policy minister in Germany and the French President Emmanuel Macron up for reelection, as well as Biden being relatively new and untested, Putin is poised to sow dissension, Beck indicated. She also noted that sanctions relating to the Nord Stream Pipeline are back on the table. But when they were weakened, Putin saw the opportunity for Russia to cause a rift between the United States and Germany, because of Germanys dependence on the pipeline reserves. Putin wants to get NATO out of the frontline of Russias borders and to catapult the country once again to global power and have a seat at the table and a voice in determining security relationships, Beck acknowledged. She pointed out that in 2008 the outgoing George Bush administration sent its national security team to a NATO meeting in Bucharest to discuss enlarging the alliance. Both Ukraine and Georgia expressed deep interest in joining NATO and Western allies attempted to chart a path for their eventual membership without antagonizing Russia. Later that summer, Russia carried out what is considered the first cyber warfare in history, shutting down Georgias government institutions and banks as a warning that they should desist from seeking to strengthen ties with the West. That attack started, according to Beck, with Russia claiming they were only carrying out training exercises on the border of Georgia and eventually annexing two territories in the north and west of the country. Russia attempted the same tactics in Ukraine in 2014. But there, the attempt backfired and led to the protests and ouster of the pro-Russian leader. Putin wont admit that these countries want to join Western military and economic alliances out of their own free willits more appealing than whatever sort of authoritarian grip they get from Russia, Beck said. Russia mouths the idea of national security only if its under their yoke. The current border escalation follows the same Russian pattern to destabilize and create chaos as a means of advancing its power in the region, she said. Russia has been creating confusion by bringing troops to the border and moving them aroundsometimes back, sometimes forward. They know that intelligence forces are monitoring them, and they dont want the West to be able to tell if theyre going to invade, Beck suggested. Russia wants to make the situation into a huge international crisis, while the West wants to tamp it down, she indicated. Who knows what theyve been planning and for how long theyve been planning it, Beck declared. It does seem to be coming to some kind of a head now. Hopefully the threat of severe economic sanctions, which would hit Russian oligarchs hard, will be enough to make Putin back downif not, the region could once again be in big trouble. Nine arrested over alleged 'ramp and dump' scam Nine arrested over alleged 'ramp and dump' scam Hong Kong authorities on Thursday said they had arrested nine people, including senior executives of three listed companies, on suspicion of money laundering in connection with alleged stock manipulation. Officers from the Securities and Futures Commission and the police raided 47 premises on Wednesday and arrested the eight men and one woman aged between 25 and 62. Six senior managers of the listed companies and a financial analyst are among the suspects. The Monetary Authority of Singapore also arrested a woman in connection with the case, during a joint-operation with Hong Kong. The authorities alleged there had been a "ramp and dump" scam, where the stocks of the three listed companies were hyped up by up to 600 percent, while social media posts urged people to buy them. Some of those involved in the alleged scam then sold their holdings at inflated prices and pocketed HK$160 million, leaving other investors out of pocket when the prices tumbled, police said. "We have very sophisticated surveillance detection equipment that monitors how stock moves. A lot of time you can see an increase in value but there's no real news about why it is increasing in value, there's no change in its fundamentals," said Thomas Atkinson, the executive director of the SFC's enforcement division. "A lot of time it's increasing in value because people are simply trading the stock back among themselves to create the appearance of volumes, while other people will trade in to that." SFC officials said they could not estimate how many victims there had been, saying it could run into hundreds, and it might take years for them to get their money back. Authorities froze assets worth HK$47 million and seized about HK$2 million cash in their operation. PARIS -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- On the 135th anniversary of Arthur D. Little (ADL)s foundation, and the 10th anniversary of the company becoming a private partnership again, ADL has launched a new brand identity. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005444/en/ ADLs new branding emphasizes The Difference in how the company works with its clients and how it uniquely stands out in the consulting industry. The elevated D in its new logo puts The Difference at the heart of its brand, symbolizing an open window towards the future. The new branding reaffirms ADLs history of pushing at the boundaries of innovation, linking experts, technology and strategy to solve the most challenging problems. It also reflects ADLs bold, entrepreneurial spirit which has seen the company double its footprint with the opening of over 20 new offices in the past six years. One of the key ways in which ADL differentiates itself in the market is through its promotion and embrace of an open consulting model, which draws on a worldwide network of experts, and ensures that only the best possible people address each clients specific challenges. This model is closely connected to ADLs other core difference: a commitment to work side-by-side with its clients as an integrated part of their teams, tailoring solutions that are right for them, not generic. Ignacio Garcia Alves, Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arthur D. Little, comments: Next generation infrastructures, new technologies, digitialization, convergence and sustainability are transforming both the world and the business of our clients. It is our duty to meet their changing needs and to anticipate those in the future. We are the ambidextrous consulting firm both creative and pragmatic, meeting the challenges of today and embracing the opportunities of tomorrow. This is The Difference we make to our clients. I am proud of the successful journey our company has made, and want to thank every one of my exceptional, diverse colleagues for making it possible. I hope everybody will be as excited as I am about this new branding, which reflects our more personal and open approach to consulting. About Arthur D. Little Arthur D. Little has been at the forefront of innovation since 1886. We are an acknowledged thought leader in linking strategy, innovation and transformation in technology-intensive and converging industries. We navigate our clients through changing business ecosystems to uncover new growth opportunities. We enable our clients to build innovation capabilities and transform their organizations. Our consultants have strong practical industry experience combined with excellent knowledge of key trends and dynamics. ADL is present in the most important business centers around the world. We are proud to serve most of the Fortune 1000 companies, in addition to other leading firms and public sector organizations. For further information, please visit www.adlittle.com or www.adl.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005444/en/ CONTACT: Further information from: Cate Bonthuys Catalyst Comms +44 7746 546773 cate@catalystcomms.co.uk The partnership came about because the founding partners Ag-West Bio, the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), Innovation Place, and the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre (Food Centre) recognized that there was a gap in the innovation pipeline. Almost all the elements were already in place in the region to create a world-class agri-food innovation cluster, but agri-food startups have unique challenges: along with the usual issues faced by most startups, they often need highly specialized equipment and staff, have high upfront costs, and face a long road to market entry and revenue generation. This is where the GAAP fits. Interim CEO, Jay Robinson, believes the GAAP is unique. We have not found another organization that provides what we are proposing. GAAP is not just an accelerator; it is not just funding, and it is not just an incubator. It is a combination of all these things, and more. The GAAP targets two types of companies: Early-stage companies working on promising, disruptive technologies in the early stages of development (post proof of concept) with application in agriculture, food, or food processing. Domestic and international clients looking to establish a presence in Western Canada will find a soft-landing at the GAAP. It will allow them to access the North American marketplace with lower entry costs, reduced capital expenditure, tailored concierge services, and an expedited path to market. Companies within this new partnership can enjoy the following benefits: Access to GAAP facilities for up to 3-4 years. This includes greenhouses, laboratories and offices at Innovation Place, GIFS Omics and Precision Agriculture Laboratory (OPAL) to support plant breeding, post-harvest technologies, and drone, imaging and sensor technologies, and the Food Centres expertise and incubation suites. This includes greenhouses, laboratories and offices at Innovation Place, GIFS Omics and Precision Agriculture Laboratory (OPAL) to support plant breeding, post-harvest technologies, and drone, imaging and sensor technologies, and the Food Centres expertise and incubation suites. Access to significant investment from GAAP (upwards of $1M with support from partners) to qualifying companies, to allow them to focus on technology progression and market adoption. from GAAP (upwards of $1M with support from partners) to qualifying companies, to allow them to focus on technology progression and market adoption. Access to commercial-volume scale-up opportunities for early-stage and rapid growth stage companies as they encounter the hurdles of mass production, or the daunting task of financing their own build. for early-stage and rapid growth stage companies as they encounter the hurdles of mass production, or the daunting task of financing their own build. Access to mentorship from experts in business development, regulatory pathway, product development, fundraising, marketing, logistics, exporting, and more. Entrepreneurs can also access training on specialized equipment. All this will help companies avoid costly mistakes, expediting the path to market and lowering capital requirements. GAAP is pleased to be working with investors from the private industry and is ecstatic regarding the recently announced support of $1.5 million from Prairies Economic Development Canada. GAAP will attract new talent, create new jobs, and increase international partnerships. A stronger ecosystem will support startup companies as they develop tools to tackle global challenges of our day, such as food security and climate change. GAAP founding partners quotes: The GAAP partnership recognizes the opportunity that innovation in agriculture offers global economies and is committed to seeing Canada lead the world in advancing agtech by addressing real structural challenges in agriculture and food. We are ready to work with diverse stakeholders across Canadas economy because agriculture is one sector that has the capacity to address various global challenges including food security and climate change, on a massive scale. - Steven Webb (PhD), CEO, Global Institute for Food Security. The GAAP will draw on the expertise in the agri-food community and the extensive network that those experts have developed across the country and around the globe to support a whole new generation of agri-food companies in Saskatchewan. - Karen Churchill (PhD), President and CEO, Ag-West Bio Inc. The collaborative partners that are involved in GAAP are uniquely positioned to provide the right resources for start-ups and create a clearer pathway to commercialization success. At the Food Centre, our strong capabilities in transforming ingredients to a CPG [Consumer Packaged Goods] product will be a key factor in this pathway. - Dan Prefontaine, President, Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. Innovation Place is extremely proud to be a founding partner of GAAP, serving as an excellent example of how we can leverage our specialized infrastructure and unique environment to act as a bridge between academia, industry and government. - Brent Sukenik, Acting President and CEO, Innovation Place 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 in earnings by 2025 despite the challenges by the Covid-19 pandemic. "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 as saying by the local media. The Minister said Sri Lanka aims to generate $10 billion 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", reports Xinhua news agency Sri Lankan tourism has been recognised as a thrust sector to rebuild the economy and was identified as an export sector. According to official statistics, 101,872 tourists arrived from January 1 to November 28, which included 41,177 tourists that arrived in the island nation 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. --IANS ksk/ ( 227 Words) 2021-12-16-11:22:58 (IANS) The 30-stock S&P BSE Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange opened sharply higher 58,243.43 points and touched a high of 58,337.20 in early morning trade. At 11.20 am the Sensex was trading at 57,930.75 points, 0.25 per cent or 142.72 points higher than its previous day close at 57,788.03 points. The broader Nifty 50 of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) also opened in the positive at 17,373 points and touched a high of 17,379.35 points in the early morning trade. At 11.20 am the Nifty 50 was trading at 17,256.70 points, 0.20 per cent higher than its previous day close at 17,221.40 points. Bajaj Finance gained more than 2 per cent. Infosys jumped 1.83 per cent to Rs.1765.15 after the company announced plans to acquire Singtel's delivery centre in Malaysia. Mahindra & Mahindra 1.26 per cent higher at Rs.856.40; UltraTech Cement 0.76 per cent higher at Rs.7422.60; Titan 0.53 per cent higher at Rs.2335.50; and Tata Steel 0.45 per cent higher at Rs.1159.10 were among the major Sensex gainers. Half of the 30 Sensex scrips were trading in the red. Sun Pharma dipped 1.57 per cent. Maruti Suzuki 1.54 per cent down at Rs.7450.25; IndusInd Bank 1.13 per cent down at Rs.927.75; Bajaj Auto 1.19 per cent down at Rs.3258.10 and ICICI Bank 0.79 per cent down at Rs.746.65 were among the major Sensex losers. (ANI) A two-day nationwide bank strike called by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) against privatisation of government banks began on Thursday, said C.H.Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA). The UFBU is an umbrella body of several bank unions. He said the strike is against central government's move to privatise public sector banks (PSB) and to introduce the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the current session of Parliament. The passage of the Bill will enable the Government to reduce their equity capital in the PSBs to less than 51 per cent and allow private hands to take over them. The government had earlier said it would privatise two of its banks. According to him, about 10 lakh bankers in public and private sector banks are participating in the strike. Owing to the stir, operations at the cheque clearing grids in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi will be impacted and several thousands of crore worth of cheques would not be cleared. 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. According to him, the only issue being confronted with the PSBs was that of huge Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in which the major share was that of big corporates. "Successive governments have taken initiatives such as Debt Recovery Tribunals, SARFAESI Act, IBC, etc, but they have not yielded the desired results and therefore ultimately banks were forced to write off those loans resulting into huge losses," he said. This shows that it is not the nationalisation of banks, which has failed but it is the wilful default of the corporate and big business houses, which have dragged the banks into this crisis, Venkatachalam added. "Even under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, while bad loans have been resolved and banks could get back some portion of the loan, it has been with huge haircuts for the banks," he said. --IANS vj/shb/ ( 364 Words) 2021-12-16-10:26:15 (IANS) New Delhi [India], December 16 (ANI/Oswaal Books): Olympiad exams are a great way to boost the students' morale and confidence. They are conducted to test the skills and knowledge of students of the particular subject at the national level. They are conducted by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF). These Olympiads are conducted in the months from November to January. The exact dates are announced as per the Olympiad the student took part in. There are certain ways in which teachers/parents can help the students of classes 1 to 5 to completely revamp for Olympiad exams. Ways to Revamp for Olympiad Exams Students of classes 1 to 5 need a bit more attention and focus than others. They tend to easily lose their concentration from the concept. Try out these ways to help them excel in the Olympiads. 1. Inculcate the habit of the following timetable For Olympiads, students need to sit continuously for 1 hour. But, the children of classes 1 to 5 can sit continuously for 25-30 minutes only. They easily get distracted from their study and get engrossed in their thoughts. Parents should design a study plan in such a way that students inculcate the habit of sitting continuously that will help them in the exam. 2. Don't pressurize your child Parents should help their children in the study and shouldn't pressurise them. Motivate them to participate in the Olympiad and don't go behind the ranks. This will eventually help them to perform well. 3. Acquaint them with MCQs Before the Covid-19, children were not aware of the MCQ format. So, it is very important to help the children get familiar with the MCQ format. Make them practice the sample papers to understand the MCQs better. Oswaal Olympiad books for class 1 to 5 | Previous Years Solved Papers for 2022 Exams can be the right choice for Olympiad Exams 2022, where one can get clarity of concepts and many more like Previous years' Solved Papers 2011 to 2020, Assessment through 3 Levels of Questions--Level 1, Level 2 & Achievers, Amazing Facts, Fun Trivia & 'Did You Know?' and Concept Review with Examples, Latest sample papers with complete solutions, etc. Here is the recommended link for Olympiad books for classes 1 to 5 for Olympiad exams 2021-22, click here https://bit.ly/3ITXB4t 4. Help them with OMR sheets Students of classes 1 to 5 are very carefree about the instructions given to them for the Olympiad exam. Parents should help them to give proper practice on how to fill the OMR sheets. 5. Provide them with the right study material Parents should help their children with the right study material for Olympiad preparation. Grab them the Oswaal sample papers to help them prepare well. 6. Reward your child Children of classes 1 to 5 tend to lose their interest easily while studying. If you motivate them with the reward after completing a certain task. Then they get more interested in the task and do it till completion. 7. Make learning fun Parents should make learning fun for the children. Engage them with gaming quizzes or other learning games that will help them increase their knowledge. 8. Allow them sufficient time for rest While parents are preparing their children for the Olympiad exam, the children get bored and exhausted after some time. Allow students with proper rest and fun time that will help them rejuvenate themselves. 9. Offer them quick revision notes When you are preparing your children for the Olympiad, offer them quick revision notes for preparation. This will help them to accelerate their preparation. 10. Help them solve previous year papers Get the previous year's Olympiad papers for the children. This will help them get familiar with the pattern and they will feel more confident and prepared for the exam. 11. Help them learn English words regularly Teaching the children the new English words will not only act as a boon for the Olympiad exams. But, it will also help to enhance the vocabulary for the children in long run. Final Thoughts These are some of the most crucial ways that parents can adopt to help children with their Olympiad exam preparation. Don't stress the children with the preparation. They are in their learning phase. Allow the children to blossom and explore themselves by the means of Olympiad exams. This story is provided by Oswaal Books. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Oswaal Books) New Delhi [India], December 16 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Today, TurningIdeas Ventures shared the results of its recent survey on Indian startups looking to go global in 2022. The survey covered around 100+ startups across different domains and at different stages from ideation to scale-ups. Considering India is now becoming a hub of globally relevant products, startups are now looking to go global. The survey revealed that over 42% of startups are looking to expand and tap into global markets in 2022 and over 64% of these startups are in the enterprise SaaS space. The survey results were announced during a networking event with Business Finland for the Indian startup ecosystem today. Business Finland serves as a platform for Indian startups to collaborate with Finnish partners and explore market potential and growth in Finland, and also to support Finnish startups to set up and scale in India. Business Finland, in partnership with TurningIdeas Ventures, organized the networking dinner pitches for disruptive Indian startups in Health-tech, AR/VR and Clean-tech space. The event was hosted by Jukka Holappa, Country Director, Business Finland. Speaking at the event, Jukka highlighted the importance of working together and developing partnerships between the Finnish and Indian start-up communities. Partnerships such as those with TurningIdeas will help mature Indian startups to get a head start in setting up their business in Finland through various programs. Recent years have witnessed a number of young startups going global after setting firm roots in India. Indian startups have expanded their business overseas with great poise, said Ashutosh Kumar, Vice President, International Programs at TurningIdeas Ventures. Expanding globally helps create powerful international brand recognition. When that happens, audiences all over the world become familiar with the startup and its products which can help boost sales, drive marketing, and expand potential markets, even more, Finland provides a great opportunity for Startups to leverage Finnish innovation ecosystem and to tap European markets from Finland, said Puneet Thakur, Head of Invest In and Innovation Collaboration. "Finding talent is essential for any startup, and an international expansion provides the opportunity to access high-potential global talent pools. As business becomes increasingly interconnected across the world, tapping into these new employment markets will help establish an edge above your competition," said Ashish Mittal, Startup Mentor and Investor. Some of the startups who presented at the launch included Ubreathe, BioMetaverse, Aftershoot, Dentratech and BlueSemi, who are now looking to set up and scale their business in Finland and the EU. TurningIdeas also executes soft-landing programs for the global startup to explore and set up businesses in India by helping them do the market assessment and connecting them with the right partners and prospect customers in India's 100B people opportunity. It's high time for more Finnish companies to look beyond their traditional export markets. The B2B and B2C opportunities with the most significant business potential are increasingly discovered in the rapidly transforming societies and economies of Asian countries. "We are excited about partnering with Business Finland to build a bridge for Indian companies to cross over into Europe and beyond. Helsinki is the English speaking, cultural capital of Europe, and we are looking forward to making it the top destination for Indian founders moving abroad," said Mansi Gupta, Head, International Programs at Turningideas One of the core goals of these partnerships is to take Indian startups, when they are market-ready and product-solid, to the global markets by virtue of introducing them to our International partners and their leadership investors. Most of the participants' startups are at stage 1 of the 5 level process that TurningIdeas has instrumented using their experience of working with multiple startup's. The process that Turning Ideas calls LEAP has customizations for geography, size and domain. 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 16 (ANI/NewsVoir): Keeping in line with its promise of helping D2C brands scale growth and deliver a superlative customer delight, Wherehouse.io, India's fastest growing supply chain intelligence company, is leveraging its advanced tech-led solutions to offer its partners 12-hour fulfilment services starting first with Delhi and then across key Tier-I cities of the country. Wherehouse is going live with its unique proposition - 12-hour fulfilment service - in Delhi-NCR with 25 partner brands and plans to expand it to Bangalore and Mumbai in upcoming months. Wherehouse has used its latest round of funding to expand its platform with more than 2500 warehouses in 20 plus cities and has seen a strong response coming from Tier-2 cities and growth of 5X in order volumes during the festive season. The Delhi-based start-up recently had raised seed-funding from Better Capital, Java Capital, Titan Capital (Snapdeal Founders), First Cheque, and Upsparks. Commenting on the launch of the new service, Vaibhav Chawla, Co-founder, Wherehouse, said, "In today's competitive business landscape, speed is of essence. D2C brands are striving to offer their customers a superlative experience. To deliver 12-hour fulfilment services, we have set up a network of hybrid warehouses closer to the customer clusters. We are using proprietary distribution engine to effectively utilise this network of warehouses to deliver faster. The layer of technology allows Wherehouse to keep on optimising inventory mapping and distribution and bring the fulfilment cost under control allowing brands to have much healthier gross margins while delivering faster. The approach is much different from conventional hub-spoke or dark store models." Started by three young dynamic professionals, Vaibhav, Jeevan Prakash, and Lavelesh Sharma, in October 2020, Wherehouse has already made its presence felt by offering seamless last-mile connectivity to more than 25 brands by accelerating their customer experience. And now Wherehouse is helping its partner D2C brands meet the ever-increasing demand of control and faster deliveries with 12-hour fulfilment services. "A catalyst to the strong response and surge in order volumes for D2C brands are same-day deliveries being possible while being closer to the end customer. The way we are growing is a testament to the trust that we have from our partner brands towards our faster fulfilment services across Tier-I & Tier-II cities. The opportunity looks massive, and it is being effectively solved by the hybrid tech-led model," added Vaibhav. The D2C industry is growing rapidly and D2C brands can leverage Wherehouse's tech-based solutions to take on the age-old retail giants by enhancing convenience and speed to the end customer. Wherehouse's latest 12 hour-delivery proposition will help new age D2C brands build a robust and quick supply chain solution at a time when online shopping has soared for both essential and non-essential goods. Wherehouse helps D2C brands to predict and place inventory across a wide network of flexible warehouses and offer excellent last-mile connectivity to deliver their products to their customers in the shortest possible time. Driven by proprietary technology, the warehouses allow superior quality control and operational procedures that make the experience more personal and delightful for the brands and their end customers. The growth infrastructure scales with the growth of brands and allows them to optimize the efficiency of their supply chain while delivering a superior customer experience with a presence near the customer clusters. Wherehouse.io is a technology-driven platform of micro-warehouses across India's 12+ cities. The platform allows brands to identify customer clusters and intelligently place inventory closer to them. With ML algorithms, the cloud engine weaves the network of hyperlocal and 3PL partners to offer same-day, next day delivery cost-efficiently. Building on the core values of control, visibility, and delight, the democratic platform has scaled a network of 2500+ warehouses across 12+ cities, utilising the vacant commercial capacity of India. The network empowers the local entrepreneurs to supplement their income while enabling brands to reach closer to the customer and deliver faster. Wherehouse.io with its network of warehouses in different micro-markets of the country aims to reduce costs up to 60% and make same-day delivery a uniform offering irrespective of brand size. For more information, you can write to us at hello@wherehouse.io or reach us by phone at: (91) 7678450941. 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 16 (ANI/ATK): On the occasion of International Men's Day on November 19, 2021, Unified Brainz organised 'Men Leaders To look Upto in 2021', an event celebrating the success of men leading by example. The ceremony marked the presence of a sought-after lineup of men leaders who were featured from different walks of life sharing passion journey. An honorary professional Doctoral in Marketing and International Business (by the European International University, Paris, France), winner of the Young Entrepreneur Award by Vision World Academy, and the Founder & Managing Director at Singapore Beverages Nepal Pvt Ltd., Dr Ashish Sharma topped the list of Men Leaders 2021. Dr Aashish Sharma comes from a humble beginning that started in a remote place in Nepal called Bhadrapur. Growing up, he learned to balance his education with work, a mantra his father instilled in him. He further graduated from Kathmandu, evading a social life. Being in oblivion gave him more focus and he continued on the same path of harmonizing his two lives. When things were better, he flew to Dubai to complete his post-graduation, Masters in International Business from UOWD. After leaving his hometown for years and acquiring the required education, Dr Aashish returned to his hometown and initiated his business venture, Singapore Beverages Nepal Pvt Ltd, with the vision to encourage the concept of Sustainable Nepal. "We wanted to give Nepal something that can be of International quality and was originated in Nepal. After a lot of thought, we decided on enhancing the taste buds of the Nepalese palate. We worked hard and made products that could compete with multinational brands. Thus, Singapore Beverages Nepal Pvt ltd came into existence, and today it's the flagbearer of Nepalese quality and capabilities," he adds. "Today we are exporting to USA, UK, and Australia. We want to introduce to the world the premier quality that Nepal can produce. The objective is simple-- Let Nepal be known as the beacon of quality. This is the aim," he shares. Even during the pandemic, this dedicated leader kept it together for his company and employees by creating methodologies to help adapt to the situation and soar above it. The Indian Achievers honoured his firm, Singapore Beverages Nepal Pvt Ltd, with the title Emerging Company. Proving how Dr Aashish is leaving no stone unturned in climbing closer towards his aim. With determination rolling up his sleeves, Dr Aashish is among those men who achieve the desired ambitions. His life's ideologies are stirring to anyone lacking motivation. "My father taught me that when I look at myself in the mirror at night, I should look at the reflection in my eyes and tell myself, 'I have worked hard today; I will work harder tomorrow.'" Surpassing a phase in life when Dr Aashish felt like he couldn't do anything and yet had the fiery vision to care and protect his family & friends to becoming one of the men leaders today is an invincible journey. He received many life lessons from watching his loved ones suffer, and that changed everything, and how! "Never let the lessons of your life fly away. Grab it and use it to evolve yourself. These lessons are more important than any lecture, any university, any academy in the world. Learn from life. It's the biggest teacher. And once you have learned a lesson, do not forget it. That's sustainable growth. This is how we have evolved from apes to humans. We should keep it like that," he further inspires. To know more about Aashish, check www.passionvista.com or to nominate for upcoming projects email us at info@passionvista.com Forever offering the message to other young aspirers to be the hardest working person in the room, Dr Aashish is racing ahead in his professional and personal goals, setting an example like no one else. 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 16 (ANI/NewsVoir): Global healthcare entrepreneurs from leading BRICS nations like India and South Africa voiced the need for technology enablement and creating a cohesive ecosystem to boost women entrepreneurship in the sector. The panelists were expressing their views in an interactive session on Challenges and Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs in the Healthcare Sector organized by the BRICS CCI Women's Vertical (BRICS CCI WE). The eminent panellists included Dr Sunshine Neka Mbewana, Director & CEO Sunshine Medical Aesthetic & Wellness Clinic from South Africa; Dr Swati Maheshwari, Internal Medicine Specialist and Social Entrepreneur; Dr Priyanka Goyat, Orthodontist, Cosmetologist and Founder REJOVE Clinique and Padma Pandita Muku, Director Jai Sai Ram Hospital Pvt. Ltd. The session was moderated by Ruby Sinha, Convenor, BRICS CCI WE and Founder, sheatwork. Shormishtha Ghosh, Director, Business Advisory, BRICS CCI also shared her views on the occasion. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has also earlier highlighted the need for cooperation in the fields of Traditional Medicines and Digital Health amongst BRICS nations at the 12th BRICS Leaders' Summit. In her inaugural remarks, Shabana Nasim, Governing Body Member, BRICS CCI and Vertical Head, BRICS CCI WE said, "Despite of being at the very eye of the COVID storm, the healthcare sector has exhibited exceptional resilience and strength. With the growing synergy of automation and healthcare in India, the sector is graced to establish new landmarks in the coming years with women entrepreneurs being a critical aspect of this overall growth globally across BRICS nations." Dr Sunshine Neka Mbewana, Director at Sunshine Medical Aesthetics (South Africa) said, "Efficient utilization of technology that is available at our disposal is critical for ensuring the growth and progress of any women entrepreneur within the healthcare sector." Dr Swati Maheshwari, Internal Medicine Specialist and Social Entrepreneur said, "The biggest positive about the digital healthcare revolution is one can monitor patients even from miles away and provide them with emergency medication and treatment. People have also exhibited a certain level of confidence in Tele Consultation and this has helped reaching out to doctors more easily." Dr Priyanka Goyat, Orthodontist, Cosmetologist and Founder REJOVE Clinique said, "Dentistry has been a very under-penetrated market here in India, but with the amalgamation of technology & dental sciences we have been able to provide our patients with more holistic and reliable treatments, that too, at their doorsteps. Technologies like AI & ML are being used to predict post-treatment outcomes." Padma Pandita Muku, Director Jai Sai Ram Hospital Pvt. Ltd. "Telehealth has definitely played a big role during the pandemic, especially during the phase when there were acute shortages of beds and oxygen. During this period, we had time slots, wherein we would provide teleconsultation to patients who had self-quarantined themselves & were carrying out their treatments on their own." With the advent of advanced AI, telemedicine, 3D Printing etc, the Healthtech market is expected to further strengthen its presence. Hence, providing women entrepreneurs across the healthcare sector with new avenues for growth & development. Based on recent industry estimates released by 'Unleashing the Healthtech Potential' by RBSA Advisors, India's health tech ecosystem is poised to be a $50 billion market by 2033, demonstrating an impressive compound annual growth rate of 39 per cent between 2020 to 2023. As per recent industry estimates, the telehealth market in India has exhibited a compound annual growth rate of 39.6 per cent & is expected to reach $10.6 billion by 2025. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) New India [India], December 16 (ANI/NewsVoir): Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium (SFAC) has informed that more than 50 per cent Farmers' Producer Organisation (FPOs) promoted by SFAC under various government programs are potentially viable and efficient while some others are in nascent stages of development. It is expected that given the right eco-system support, specially infusion of capital in agri-infrastructure through credit mobilisation from banks and NBFCs, they could be a real game-changer and contribute to increasing the income of member farmers substantially. Speaking at a national workshop on 'Strengthening Ecosystem of Farmers' Producer Organizations' Neelkamal Darbari (I.A.S), Managing Director, SFAC, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Government of India said, "The Government has taken up the very challenging cause of creating financial and marketing linkages for aggregation of farmers through a Central Sector scheme for creation of 10,000 FPOs across the country. The scheme is under implementation through different Implementing Agencies, who have already created more than 1770 FPOs. These FPOs have the potential to be viable entities, but the biggest challenge they are confronted with is lack of finance from banks. Most banks do provide crop and tractor loans, but are reluctant to provide capital finance for asset formation and infrastructure development in the agriculture sector. This lack of capital support hinders the small and marginal farmers of FPOs from availing benefits of technological innovations like protected cultivation, micro-irrigation systems or next-gen mechanization etc. This approach of rural branches and banks must change in order for evolution of sustainable practices in the agriculture sector." "The top management of banks are always favourably inclined towards enhancing credit support investment in agriculture, but somehow at the branch level in rural areas there are challenges for FPOs. As such SFAC is trying to engage with the banks for rural branches to improve credit flow to FPOs created under the new government scheme for promotion of 10000 FPOs, she said during the workshop held at India International Centre." Speaking at the event RG Agarwal, Group Chairman, Dhanuka Agritech Ltd. expressed concern about the spurious agriculture inputs. "There is little difference in the area under cultivation between India and China, but China's agriculture GDP is three times higher than India mainly because of quality products used in China as against India wherein a large chunk of products are spurious in nature, resulting in lower production. It is the need of the hour to take strict action against spurious manufactures of fertilisers and pesticides," he said. The day-long workshop was organised by the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI) and supported by Dhanuka Agritech; Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA); Central for Political Studies, JNU and Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (Vamnicom). Several experts believed adequate knowledge, right inputs and robust marketing infrastructure too may play a critical role in doubling the income of farmers and promoting prosperity in rural India. During the workshop, Binod Anand, Secretary-General, CNRI; Dr. Surendra Nath Tripathi, DG, IIPA; Dr. KK Tripathy, OSD, Minister of Cooperation; Arun Raste, MD & CEO, NCDEX; S Sivakumar, Group Head, ITC, Agri & IT Business; Hema Yadav, Professor & Director, VAMNICOM; Sachin Sharma, Associate Professor and Sushil Singla, Principal Resident Commissioner, Government of Himachal Pradesh among others expressed their thoughts on various issues related to farmers and FPOs. Many farmers were also present on this occasion and an Open House was also conducted wherein their queries were answered. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) On the special occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vijay Diwas, the makers of the upcoming war drama 'Pippa' revealed that the film will release in cinemas on December 9, next year. Paying tribute to Indian soldiers, Ishan, who is playing the lead role in the movie, also shared the news on his Instagram handle. "On the 50th anniversary of #VijayDiwas, we salute the bravery of the Indian soldiers who fought to liberate Bangladesh #1971 #PIPPA releasing in cinemas on 9th Dec 2022," he wrote. Sharing another post inclusive of sneak peek pictures from the movie, Ishan wrote, "Blood sweat and tears. In the midst of shoot and it's already one of my best filming experiences so far. We're putting in the work to bring an honest, visceral and authentic story of bravado and sacrifice, but also comradeship and brotherhood to the big screens for you.. and lest I forget - the story of an army family navigating a war. 9th December 2022. Mark the date." For the unversed, 'Pippa' is a heroic tank battle film that underscores the bravery of Brigadier Mehta, a veteran of the 45th Cavalry tank squadron, who fought on the eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, which led to the liberation of India's neighbour Bangladesh. Mrunal Thakur, Priyanshu Painyuli and Soni Razdan are also a part of the film. Directed by Raja Krishna Menon, RSVP and Roy Kapur Films are bankrolling the upcoming project. (ANI) Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the figures on Twitter. He wrote: "#ChandigarhKareAashiqui is maintaining a strong trend on weekdaysa However, the shows at multiplexes have been reduced today, since #SpiderMan-ia has taken overa Fri 3.75 cr, Sat 4.87 cr, Sun 5.91 cr, Mon 2.15 cr, Tue 2.18 cr, Wed 2.05 cr. Total: a, 20.91 cr. #India biz." The movie raked in Rs 3.75 crore on the first day of its release. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' is a romantic drama, where Ayushmann plays a bodybuilder and Vaani essays the role of a zumba teacher. The story of the film revolves around Ayushmaan's character Manvinder Munjal 'Manu', a body builder from Chandigarh, who falls in love with a zumba teacher named Maanvi. Things take a turn when he finds out that Maanvi is a transgender woman. --IANS dc/ksk/ ( 176 Words) 2021-12-16-13:05:16 (IANS) For her new Instagram DP, Katrina chose a picture from their wedding pheras, in which she and Vicky can be seen staring into each other's eyes, with the sun's golden glow behind them. Meanwhile, Vicky has not yet updated his Instagram display photo. Vicky and Katrina 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 married in an extremely private, intimate ceremony at the luxurious Six Senses Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. 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) Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) health committee Chairperson Rajul Patel confirmed to ANI that she has given instructions to local municipal officers to look into alleged quarantine rules violation by actor Alia Bhatt and to take the necessary actions. Alia travelled to the national capital on Wednesday for the motion poster launch of her upcoming film 'Brahmastra'. She was accompanied by the director Ayan Mukherji and her co-star and boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. Meanwhile, in the film industry, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan had tested positive for the deadly virus on December 13 after attending a gathering at filmmaker Karan Johar's house on December 8. Amrita Arora, Seema Khan and Maheep Kapoor, who too were present there had also tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Maheep's daughter Shanaya Kapoor has also contracted the disease. However, Karan has tested negative for COVID-19. (ANI) "No infection has been found in others in the family," said the press release on Wednesday. The Crown Princess, the wife of Prince Frederik, heir to the Danish throne, is reportedly being held in isolation at Frederik VIII's Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen "until it is safe to resume solitary confinement in accordance with current guidelines." The news of the Crown Princess' positive test came shortly after Denmark's Statens Serum Institute (SSI) announced that 8,773 new Covid-19 infections were registered across the country in the previous 24 hours, the third consecutive day of record-high infection numbers, Xinhua news agency reported. In addition, nine more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 579,275 cases and 3,039 deaths since the start of the pandemic. The SSI also reports that currently 76.6 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated and 23.4 per cent of the population have received a re-vaccination or booster shot. --IANS int/khz/ ( 190 Words) 2021-12-16-00:22:33 (IANS) The UK government's decision to ramp up Covid-19 vaccination in response to the new Omicron variant will take time to bring any benefit and may not prevent a surge in cases over the next few weeks, experts have said. "Given the very high transmissibility of the Omicron variant and its ability to, at least partially, evade immunity, it should be clear that a rapid response is needed. Instead, we have a policy based almost entirely on increasing vaccination rates that will take weeks to bring any benefit," Martin McKee, professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told Xinhua news agency. "This is an inevitable consequence of the disagreements within the ruling Conservative Party. It is a political rather than a scientific decision," the expert said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently launched the "Omicron Emergency Booster National Mission" to encourage everyone eligible to "get boosted now". Everyone aged 18 and over in England will have the chance to get their booster vaccine before the end of the year to combat the threat of rising Omicron variant cases. The Prime Minister has also announced that England will move to "Plan B" amid the rapid spread of Omicron, including a requirement for millions of people to work from home and mandatory face-mask wearing in a wider range of locations. "The UK government has placed enormous emphasis on vaccines as the means of preventing the need to re-impose COVID restrictions. There was always a risk that a surge in cases could undermine that strategy," social policy expert Dr Stuart Wilks-Heeg from the University of Liverpool told Xinhua news agency. "The sudden emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant in the run-up to Christmas has made new restrictions inevitable. Yet, the government's emphasis remains on vaccinations. "Even with new rules on mask-wearing in public places and Covid passports for large events, it is a race that the UK's National Health Service is likely to lose," he added. "My view is that the government, under pressure from the medical and scientific advisers, is erring on the side of caution while awaiting more extensive information on the risk from the Omicron variant," said Professor Iain Begg, an expert in politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science. On Wednesday, Britian reported 78,610 new cases, the highest daily infections since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, according to the UK Health Security Agency. Another 4,671 Omicron cases have been confirmed in Britain on the same day, the biggest daily increase since the variant first detected in the country, taking total tally to 10,017. As of Thursday, the UK's overall Covid caseload has increased to 11,073,455, while the death toll stood at 147,249. The latest data came as England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned that there will continue to be record numbers of Covid cases over the next few weeks. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, Whitty suggested the country is experiencing "two epidemics on top of one another", one driven by the "very rapidly-growing" Omicron variant and the other by the Delta. "I am afraid we have to be realistic that records will be broken a lot over the next few weeks as the rates continue to go up," he said. --IANS ksk/ ( 563 Words) 2021-12-16-14:11:44 (IANS) Large scale New Year celebrations in Malaysia have been banned over concerns that the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 could spread in the country, the Health Ministry said on Thursday. The decision was made following the confirmation of a second Omicron case in the country and at least 18 more suspected cases, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told a press conference, Xinhua news agency reported. Due to the detection of two confirmed Omicron variant cases and 18 other suspected cases, which underwent genomic sequencing, the Health Ministry would like to announce additional measures to prevent the spread of Omicron, he said. "The organisation of large New Year's celebrations is not allowed but small-form celebrations of New Year or Christmas can happen for now, with those attending being required to carry out Covid self tests beforehand," he said. The second confirmed case is an eight-year-old child who had lived with her family in Nigeria before arriving in Malaysia on December 5, and being tested on arrival. It was confirmed to be an Omicron case on December 14. Thirty five close contacts of the patient are being monitored, Khairy added. The Health Ministry has also introduced new rules against travellers from Britain to prevent the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Starting on December 17, travellers from Britain would need to do daily self-tests during their quarantine period and all results need be reported on the government's Covid management app. In addition, the list of countries that were classified as "high-risk" have increased to nine. Travellers from Britain, the US, Australia, France, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Nigeria and India, where the Omicron variant has been spreading in the community, are required to be fitted with wrist digital trackers upon arrival and during their quarantine. Travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Malawi are still not allowed to enter Malaysia for the time being. Malaysia reported its first Omicron case on December 3, with a 19-year-old female student travelling from South Africa testing positive. --IANS int/sks/bg ( 346 Words) 2021-12-16-16:29:54 (IANS) 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. --IANS aal/skp/ ( 289 Words) 2021-12-15-19:24:58 (IANS) 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) --IANS uj/arm ( 412 Words) 2021-12-15-21:00:23 (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. --IANS mka/bg ( 372 Words) 2021-12-15-21:10:42 (IANS) Kerala on Wednesday reported four new cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant, taking the overall tally of the state to five, informed State Health Minister Veena George. "Among the total four cases reported, two are the people who have come into contact with the first positive case which was reported in Kochi. The third person is from Ernakulam who had come from Congo and the fourth case has been reported from Thiruvananthapuram, who had returned from the UK," said Kerala Health Minister. She further said that all the patients are stable. Meanwhile, Kerala recorded 4,006 new cases of COVID-19 during the last 24 hours, said the state government on Wednesday. During the last 24 hours, a total of 3,898 people recovered from the infection. In the state, 125 people lost their lives to the deadly virus and 157 deaths were added to the tally as per the new guidelines of the Centre according to which deaths occurred before June 2021 which were not initially added to the COVID-19 death list due to some reasons are being included now. With this, the death tally in the state has reached up to 43,626. There are currently 35,234 active cases of COVID-19 in the state. 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'. States including Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Telangana and Gujarat have reported cases of the new COVID-19 variant. (ANI) As many as 11.50 lakh people in Kendrapara and 15.40 lakh people in Jajpur will get these Cards. With the distribution of these smart health cards 3.5 crore people from 96 lakh households in the state will get free medical treatment in 200 impanelled hospitals across the country. Addressing the people of both the districts, the Chief Minister stated that BSKY smart health card would alleviate the burden of medical expenses on the people of the state. "Even the poorest people in the state can get free medical care at the best hospitals in the country with a single card. Every life is precious for us, be it a farmer or a daily wage labourer or a rickshaw puller - everyone every individual have a right to live with dignity," he said. Along with the distribution of smart health cards, Chief Minister also dedicated various development projects worth Rs 1500 crore in Kendrapara. "The industrial development was long-standing demand in State, the State government has signed an MoU with Arcelor Mittal for the establishment of Steel plant in the distrust," Patnaik stated. Similarly, Projects worth Rs 2000 crore have also been dedicated by the Chief Minister in the Jajpur district. Praising the work of the Women under Mission Shakti Chief Minister said that "A loan of Rs 222 crore has been provided to Women Self Help Groups in the district to boost their business." (ANI) 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. --IANS niv/vd ( 490 Words) 2021-12-15-22:14:56 (IANS) 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. --IANS ss/vd ( 374 Words) 2021-12-15-22:42:22 (IANS) An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader on Wednesday accused Gujarat Secondary Service Selection Board (GSSSB) Chairperson Asit Vora of allegedly covering up the purported leak of head clerk exam paper and demanded his removal from the probe. "We don't trust Asit Vora... Today also, despite our providing him with all the necessary evidence and submitting our complaint to him, within moments, he addresses the media and says that they have not received a single complaint regarding exam paper leak. I will have to understand what is his meaning of authentic proof?" AAP Youth Wing Vice President, Yuvrajsinh Jadeja told IANS. "We are asking the Gujarat government to remove him from the probe, which he is misleading... We have provided ample proof of the paper leak scam and if necessary will provide more, but only to genuine authorities. We are also demanding an SIT to be formed to find out the truth behind this paper leakage," he added. Detailing the sequence of the leak, which he claimed, began at a farmhouse in Himmatnagar on Saturday evening and involved 16 aspirants, he said that he had got a soft copy of the solved answer sheet at around 10 a.m. on Sunday, ahead of the exam that started at noon, and had alerted officials soon after checking the authenticity of the answer sheet when the exam got over in the afternoon. Despite his claims of furnishing solid proof, the GSSSB on Wednesday claimed to have received no complaint so far but said that despite that, the government had ordered an investigation into the matter. "Till now, we have not received a single complaint regarding exam paper leak for the government head clerk positions. From the board's end, best efforts are maintained for transparency," Vora told reporters on Wednesday morning. "We learnt about these allegations through TV media. We waited for one day for this complaint to reach us, but haven't received anything so far. We have investigated 16 places with help of police. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi has assured to take all the steps to find out and that no one will be spared," he added. --IANS amc/vd ( 372 Words) 2021-12-15-23:14:56 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Director-General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Wednesday visited the armed police complex, Parihaspora in the Baramulla district. Jammu and Kashmir police informed, "DGP Dilbag Singh interacted with the soldiers and officers." "He paid tribute to the Jammu and Kashmir police who lost their lives on the line of duty and promised all possible help to the kin," police further informed. (ANI) 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. --IANS ptk/pgh/arm ( 670 Words) 2021-12-16-00:14:45 (IANS) 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 Misra's son Ashish Misra, 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. --IANS ptk/khz/vd ( 516 Words) 2021-12-16-00:19:00 (IANS) India witnessed a 40 per cent increase in nuclear power capacity grew from 4780 MW to 6780 MW in the last seven years, said Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Prime Minister's Office), Department of Atomic Energy. "India is pursuing an indigenous three-stage nuclear power programme to provide the country with long term energy security in a sustainable manner. In addition, Light Water Reactors based on foreign cooperation are also being set up as additional facilities to provide the country clean electricity," reads a written reply by the minister in Lok Sabha. In a separate question on Nuclear Power augmentation, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant KKNPP 3 and 4 (2X1000 MW) project was implemented by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has achieved physical progress of 54.96 per cent as of November 2021. "The units of KKNPP 3 and 4 projects are expected to be completed by March 2023 and November 2023 respectively. The fast Reactor Fuel Cycle Facility (FRFCF) project is presently being executed by the Nuclear Recycle Board, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Department of Atomic Energy. Financial progress of the project as of November 30 is 32 per cent and the Project is expected to be completed by December 2027," he said. (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. "The Prime Minister will address the ongoing summit on natural and zero-budget farming being held in Gujarat. 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," said BJP's National General Secretary Arun Singh. 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 the soil. Other traditional practices such as mulching the soil with biomass or keeping the soil covered with green cover around 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) "Vice President suggested that the colonial perspective of India's past has distorted facts, he called for a fresh approach to Indian history, with more books on Indian freedom fighters and leaders," reads a release from Vice President's Secretariat. He made the following comments while addressing a gathering at a book release event of 'Gandhitopi Governor' by Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Chairman at Official Language Commission of Andhra Pradesh. Vice President paid tributes to Edpuganti Raghavendra Rao, prominent freedom fighter, legislator and Governor of Central Provinces in the British administration. The book chronicles the life of Rao. The release added that Vice President called upon the youth to study various facets of India's freedom struggle and imbibe lessons from the lives of freedom fighters. "He urged them to overcome the 'divide and rule' mindset that was ingrained in the minds of Indians during the colonial rule and contribute towards nation-building," added the release. "Lawmakers of today need to introspect and emulate the high standards set by our freedom fighters and constitution-makers. Elected representatives must remember that they cannot disrespect the parliament and degrade democracy," said Naidu. (ANI) Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) HD Kumaraswamy said that his party won't support the anti-conversion Bill, which the government intends to implement in the Karnataka Assembly. "Our party clearly opposes this Bill (Anti-Conversion Bill) and all our legislators attending the session are vehemently opposing it," Kumaraswamy said. While speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Karnataka's former CM said, "The Bill is unnecessary in the state." Leader of Opposition in Karnataka assembly and Congress leader Siddaramaiah has said that the anti-conversion law is being brought to target a particular religion. The 10-day winter session of the Karnataka Assembly session began at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Belagavi from December 13 and will continue till December 24.Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah, said, "There is already a law to stop forceful conversion. Let the government take action in case of any forceful conversion. This law (proposed anti-conversion bill) is being brought to target a particular religion. Congress will oppose it tooth and nail." However, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said that there is no need for anybody to live in fear due to this bill. Belagavi Bishop Derek Fernandes, has slammed the Karnataka's government's proposed anti-conversion bill, terming it a hate campaign against Christians. "I was saddened to read that one of the ministers affirmed it to be against Christians. I would say it is a hate campaign that has to be avoided at any cost," Fernandes told ANI.The Bishop asked how the state government could put restrictions on his freedom to profess and propagate his religion which is enshrined in the constitution. Fernandes said that the bill needs to define terms like "conversion" and "allurement". (ANI) Terming the Lakhimpur Kheri incident 'a murder', Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday reiterated his demand for removal of Ajay Kumar Mishra as Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs and alleged that the Minister who killed farmers should resign and be punished. MOS Home Ajay Kumar Mishra's son Ashish Mishra is allegedly involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident which took the lives of eight people including four farmers, earlier in October. Speaking at the Lok Sabha today, the Wayanad MP said, "We should be allowed to speak about the murder that was committed in Lakhimpur Kheri, where there was an involvement of the Minister and about which it has been said that it was a conspiracy." "The Minister who killed farmers should resign and be punished," he added. Several Congress MPs in Lok Sabha, including Rahul Gandhi, earlier on Wednesday have moved an adjournment motion in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident demanding the removal of Ajay Kumar Mishra as Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs. Notably, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case on Tuesday termed the Lakhimpur violence that led to the death of eight people as "a pre-planned conspiracy". Local farmers had blamed Ajay Kumar Mishra 'Teni' and his son Ashish for the violence that claimed the lives of four farmers and a local journalist among others during a farmers' protest. Allegedly, they were mowed down by a vehicle that was part of the convoy of the minister in Lakhimpur Kheri. Videos were being circulated on social media, where a Mahindra Thar was seen knocking down protesters from behind. The minister and his son have denied the charges. However, Ashish Mishra and several others have been booked for murder. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm following the Opposition's protest in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and their demand for the immediate resignation of Minister Ajay Misra Teni. (ANI) Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said that after Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel, India has gained global recognition under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Speaking at the National Summit on Agro and Food Processing, the Union Minister said, "After Gandhi and Patel, under PM Modi's leadership, India has gained global recognition." "There was a time when India was overlooked but today no country's agenda is fulfilled without India's consensus," he added while lauding the Prime Minister's role in the growth of the country. "On one hand, Taj Mahal workers' hands were chopped off, and then there is PM Modi who showered flowers on the workers behind the development of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor to express his gratitude," he further added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be addressing the farmers and scientists across the country 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 set to conclude on December 16. The Prime Minister will virtually address the farmers during the valedictory session. 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 about 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 the soil," PMO had said in a statement. "Other traditional practices such as mulching the soil with biomass or keeping the soil covered with green cover around the year, even in the very low water availability situations, ensure sustained productivity even from the first year of adoption," it added. (ANI) New Delhi [India], December 16 (ANI) Facing increasing pressure from Opposition parties to quit over his jailed son, who is accused of running over farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni on Thursday joined office and held department related meeting with officials. The MoS reached the Ministry of Home Affairs around 10.15 am and later engaged in official works, a day after he was seen in a video lunging at a journalist and throwing abuses at the media. The Minister took detailed information related to his department and subsequently held a meeting with Home Ministry officials. The Minister was seen in the video in Lakhimpur Kheri where he had visited to inaugurate an oxygen plant, a day after his son Ashish Mishra was sent in jail. The video shows the Minister shouting and hurling abuses at a reporter. Opposition demands for Mishra's sacking from the Union Cabinet have become louder after a Special Investigation Team report said the killing of farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3 was a "planned conspiracy". The farmers were crushed, allegedly by an SUV driven by Ashish Mishra, "with intent to commit murder" and it was "not death by negligence", the report said. It also recommended that the charges of rash driving against Ashish Mishra and the others be modified and an attempt to murder charge and the charge of voluntarily causing hurt to be added. Ashish Mishra and others are already facing murder and conspiracy charges. The Lok Sabha also adjourned on Wednesday and on Thursday till 2 pm over ruckus created by Opposition leaders on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. The Congress leaders on Wednesday also moved notice over the issue a day after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence incident demanded the 13 arrested accused, including MoS Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish, to be charged with attempt to murder. 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) On October 21, 1944, the Royal Indian Navy celebrated Navy Day for the first time. It coincided with Trafalgar Day in Britain to mark the historic victory of the Royal Navy under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson over the combined French and Spanish naval fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. The idea behind the celebration was to create public awareness and goodwill for the Royal Indian Navy. After Independence, the date, for obvious reasons, was moved to December 15. At the naval commanders' conference in 1972, it was decided to designate December 4 as Navy Day. There was a reason for it and it dated back to the Indian Navy's most glorious chapter, namely, the devastating attack on the Karachi harbour by Indian naval missile boats on December 4, 1971. It hit Pakistan where it hurt the most. Since 1972, Navy Week is celebrated from December 1 to 7, with Navy Day being held on December 4. The highlight of Operation Trident, as the attack was christened, was a concerted missile attack on the Karachi harbour on the night of December 4/5, 1971, by the Indian naval ships Kiltan, Katchall, Nipat, Nirghat and Veer. In its maiden missile-boat operation, the Indian Navy destroyed and sank PNS Khyber (a Pakistani destroyer), PNS Muhafiz (a coastal minesweeper) and the merchant vessel MV Venus Challenger. This operation was an act of ingenuity and strategic thinking, for the Indian Navy used bigger ships to tow these smaller missile boats close to the Pakistani ports -- something unthinkable even by those who had built these boats. It is said that after the attack, Karachi burnt for seven days. That was not all. On the night of December 8/9, 1971, the Indian Navy conducted Operation Python, which entailed a second missile attack on the Keamari oil field at Karachi by INS Trishul, Talwar and Vinash. During the missile attack the Indian ships set ablaze oil tanks, sank two merchant vessels (Harmatton and Gulf Star) and destroyed the Pakistan Navy's tanker, PNS Dacca. With the attack, the Indian Navy achieved maritime dominance off the approaches to Karachi, Pakistan's now-crippled commercial capital. --IANS srb/ ( 376 Words) 2021-12-16-08:59:08 (IANS) Indrani Mukherjea, the mother and prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and requested the agency to further investigate the case as, by her claim, Sheena is alive and in Jammu and Kashmir. Indrani, in her letter, said that one of her inmates in Byculla prison has told her that she had spotted Sheena in Kashmir some time ago. In her letter, Indrani has requested the CBI to look into the possibility of Sheena being alive. Indrani has always maintained that Sheena has not been murdered and is alive and had gone abroad for her education in 2012, although Indrani could never prove her claims in any way. Indrani Mukherjea, who is currently lodged in Byculla jail of Mumbai has sent a letter from the jail to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stating that Sheena Bora is alive. A source close to Indrani confirmed that the letter was written based on input given by another jail inmate. Indrani's lawyer Sana Raees Khan refused to confirm anything about the contents of the letter but said that she will file an application before Bombay High court on December 28 and only after filing that application, she will share the details of the letter written by Indrani to CBI. She also said that the contents of the letter will be shared with the special CBI court on the next date of the hearing. However, sources said, that Indrani has told a few people that she met a woman in prison who told her that she met Sheena Bora in Kashmir, because of which CBI should look for Sheena in Kashmir. The CBI was investigating the Sheena Bora case since 2015, after taking over the case from Mumbai Police. According to the case registered by Mumbai Police, Sheena Bora was kidnapped and murdered by strangulation in April 2012. This case first came to light after the arrest of Indrani's driver, Shyamvar Rai in another case in August 2015. During the investigation, he confessed to having murdered Sheena Bora in April 2012 and said that he dumped her body in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. He also told Mumbai Police that Sheena's mother, Indrani Mukerjea and Sanjeev Khanna (Ex-husband of Indrani) were also involved in this murder. According to CBI's case before the court, Indrani Mukerjea killed Sheena Bora because she was furious over the relationship between Sheena Bora, whom she introduced as her sister to everyone, and Rahul Mukerjea, son of Peter Mukerjea (third husband of Indrani Mukerjea) from his first marriage. Indrani killed Sheena Bora as Sheena was threatening to expose her in public over the fact that she was not her sister, but her daughter, CBI said. Driver Shyamvar Rai turned approver in this case. Peter Mukerjea was given bail by a special CBI court in March 2020. During the trial of the case, Indrani and Peter decided to end their relationship too. They were given divorce by Family Court in Mumbai in October 2019. (ANI) Kerala High Court directed the State Government that it should implement Night autopsy in letter and spirit in five Government Medical Colleges expeditiously within six months. Court also directed the Government to provide adequate facilities and staff in all the Government Medical Colleges to facilitate the conduct of night autopsies. Single Bench of Justice PV Kunhikrishnan directed this while considering a petition filed by Kerala Medico-Legal Society (KMLS) against the State Government's decision to start night autopsies in the Government Medical Colleges in the first stage allegedly without improving facilities. While considering it, Court remarked, "Article 21 of the Constitution will not only apply to a living person but will continue till their body is cremated. The state cannot take a stand that it cannot provide the required facilities citing financial constraints for this reason. The Court further said, "The state should convene a meeting to decide a time frame within with the inquest and postmortem of a dead body in cases of unnatural death should be performed within 6 months. All the expenses for the same should be borne by the State Government. It may form a committee to see if night autopsy can be made possible in all hospitals in the State which are equipped for the same." On 2015 October 26th, the State Government issued an order to start night autopsies in the 5 Medical Colleges which are at Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and in the General Hospital at Kasaragod. (ANI) At the completion of 50 years of the glorious victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan, General V.K. Singh, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and former Chief of Army Staff, feels that the people of India need to know more about the immense valour of soldiers during the 1971 war. He praises former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her political strategy during the war. The former soldier said that during the 1971 war, India not only defeated Pakistan decisively but also gave a message to the world by forcing 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to surrender before the Indian Army. This was unprecedented in the military history of the world. In an interview with IANS, General V.K. Singh spoke about the sequence of events that led to the war between India and Pakistan in 1971 and how the Indian Army made 93,000 Pakistani troops surrender before them and ended the war in just 13 days leading to India's victory. He spoke in length about the preparations made by the Army in the run-up to the war against Pakistan and how the 1971 victory increased India's stature and its professional Army on the global level. Excerpts from the interview: Q: How did the war start between India and Pakistan in 1971? A: In 1971, I had spent nearly one and a half years of service in the Indian Army. The Indian Army declared war against Pakistan in December 1971, but the activities at the border had been taking place several months earlier since April 1971. The Pakistani soldiers, who were stationed on the side of East Pakistan (currently known as Bangladesh) used to keep firing on the border along the Indian side. Many refugees were coming to India from across the border during that time. Apart from this, a lot of activity was taking place along the border during this time and the situation on ground remained the same till December 1971. There was a formal declaration of war only on December 3 after which the Indian Army achieved what was never repeated in the military history of the entire world. I am saying this because we fought in an area where there were rivers and sewers flowing and it was extremely difficult for the movement of vehicles or even to walk. Fighting there on foot and defeating the enemy in only 13 days and forcing 93,000 Pakistani troops to surrender before the Indian Army was a historic feat in itself. The more research is done and the more said about this extraordinary victory, the better it is because it will make the country aware about what our brave soldiers, the Army and the valiant Army commanders had achieved in 1971. Q: You are absolutely right that there will not be any other battle in military history, which can lead to a decisive victory in just 13 days and 93,000 soldiers surrendering. What was the strategy of your senior military officers in 1971? A: The entire strategy of the 1971 war was made by Air Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. General Jacob of the Eastern Command did a lot of work and followed the strategy to win the battle. Lieutenant General Sagat Singh of the Army Corps under which we were commanded, played a decisive role in the surrender of Dhaka from the control of Pakistani troops. "Had General Sagat Singh not marched forward decisively and crossed the Meghna river, perhaps the condition of the Pakistani Army would not have been so bad nor would the Pakistani Army have collapsed so quickly to lose Dhaka." Apart from this, important victories were also achieved on many other important fronts in the battle. Be it the Battle of Hilli, the crossing of the Meghna and the Madhumati rivers speaks about the indomitable courage with which our army fought and won the war will always be recorded in history. By making a special strategy in the Battle of Mainavati, the way we deceived the Pakistani Army, they had to lay down their arms and surrender before our Army. It was a great fight in terms of strategy and valour and the results of the war were witnessed by the whole world. Q: You said the formal declaration of war was made on December 3, 1971, but from the month of April, a lot of activity had started taking place along the border. How was the Indian Army preparing for the war during these months? A: Till December 1971 the Indian Army did not know that it would declare a war against Pakistan, but still our strategy was clear on how to strengthen ourselves and prepare in time before the war. We were busy with our preparations and were preparing together on many fronts. Our Bengali brothers who were in 'Mukti Bahini' (liberation army) consisting of the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary and civilians during the War of Liberation that transformed East Pakistan into Bangladesh in 1971. They played a significant role during the war. Q: After the historic victory in the 1971 war, how did the stature of India and the Indian Army rise on the international stage? A: From the month of April 1971, the Indian Army had started strengthening itself. The entire strategy for the war was made by Air Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Our brave soldiers and Army commanders on the front showed immense bravery and forced 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to surrender before us. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi must be praised for the way she had prepared a political strategy during 1971 because she did everything that a good strategist ought to have done at that time. --IANS stp/khz/dpb ( 958 Words) 2021-12-16-09:33:58 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the Centre for not acknowledging late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Addressing a rally on the occasion of "Sainik Vijay Samman Diwas" in Uttarakhand's capital here, the Congress MP said: "Pakistan bowed its head within 13 days in the 1971 war. Generally, a war is fought for six months or for one to two years. America took 20 years to defeat Afghanistan but India made Pakistan lose in 13 days only as India was united and was standing as one." Rahul Gandhi slammed the Centre for not making a mention of his grandmother, Indira Gandhi at an event held in New Delhi to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war. "Today a function was held in Delhi regarding the Bangladesh war. There was no mention of Indira Gandhi in that function. The woman who took 32 bullets for this country, her name was not there in the invitation because this government is afraid of the truth," he said. Rahul Gandhi also further paid tributes to the martyrs and veterans of the 1971 war. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had participated in the homage and reception ceremony of 'Swarnim Vijay Mashaals' at the National War Memorial in the national capital organised as part of celebrations to 50 years of India's victory in the 1971 war and formation of Bangladesh, on 16 December last year. Meanwhile, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi had on Wednesday termed 1971 as the "finest year" of then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, who is also her mother-in-law. "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. (ANI) "Had a meeting with the National President PSP, Shivpal Singh Yadav at his residence today and had a discussion about forming an alliance. The policy of taking regional parties along is continuously strengthening and leading the SP and other allies to a historic victory," the SP chief tweeted. The meeting came ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections which are scheduled to take place early next year. In the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged 312 seats out of the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly while Samajwadi Party (SP) bagged 47 seats, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) won 19 and Congress could manage to win only seven seats. The rest of the seats were bagged by other candidates. (ANI) West Bengal BJP launched a three-day sit-in at Singur on Tuesday to corner the Mamata Banerjee government over the farmers' issue in West Bengal. Earlier on Tuesday, BJP leader and leader of opposition in West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari had said a big farmers' movement will take place in the state. Speaking to ANI, Adhikari had 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." BJP Yuva Morcha national general secretary and party MP Raju Bista slammed the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government for the plight of farmers in the state. Speaking to ANI, Bista on Wednesday said that the MSP of paddy is Rs 1,800 but farmers are being given Rs 1,200. "Kisan Samman Nidhi should have been given to 72 lakh people but only 26 lakh people are getting it in West Bengal. TMC uses the fund given by the Centre for the welfare of farmers in its election campaign," he added. (ANI) Following the resignation of Goa Urban Development Minister Milind Naik from his post on Thursday amid allegations of involvement in a sex scandal, All India Congress Committee (AICC) State in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a party of immoral people who are trying to protect those who do wrong things. Naik resigned from his post after Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar accused him of being involved in a "sex scandal". 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." Reacting to Naik's resignation, Rao said, "BJP is trying to protect those who are doing wrong. It is a party of immoral people. In Karnataka too, BJP had even protected a State Minister who was caught watching pornography in Assembly." "The investigation in the alleged sex scandal involving Goa BJP Mormugao MLA Milind Naik should be done without any political interference," he added. Meanwhile, Margao Congress MLA Digambar Kamat also slammed the BJP for not acting earlier against Mormugao MLA Milind Naik in the alleged sex scandal. "This is a blot on the moral fabric of the entire state," Kamat said. 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) Amid concerns arising out of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region on Thursday said that Omicron appears to be spreading faster than any other previous variant and added that one should not dismiss it as "mild". In an exclusive interview with ANI, Dr Singh responded on how virulent Omicron is and what are the new major symptoms of this variant. "The overall threat posed by Omicron largely depends on three key questions: (1) how transmissible the variant is; (2) how well vaccines and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection protect against infection, transmission, clinical disease and death; and (3) how virulent the variant is as compared to other variants," she said. "Based on the current limited evidence, Omicron appears to be spreading faster at a rate not seen with any other previous variant. Emerging data from South Africa suggest an increased risk of re-infection with Omicron, but more data are needed to draw firmer conclusions. There is still limited data on the clinical severity associated with Omicron. More information on case severity associated with Omicron is expected in the coming weeks." Asserting Omicron should not be dismissed as wild, the WHO Regional Director said more information is needed to fully understand the clinical picture of those infected with Omicron variant. "Further information is needed to fully understand the clinical picture of those infected with Omicron and WHO encourages countries to contribute to the collection and sharing of hospitalized patient data through the WHO COVID-19 Clinical Data Platform. We should not dismiss Omicron as mild. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm health systems," she said. When asked if anti-COVID vaccines are effective against Omicron, Dr Singh said that preliminary data suggest that "vaccines may have reduced effectiveness against Omicron". "Again, it will take a few more weeks before there is enough evidence to fully assess the vaccines' performance against Omicron. We should also not forget that vaccines alone will not get any country out of this pandemic... Countries can - and must - prevent the spread of Omicron with proven public health and social measures. We must continue to do it all. Protect yourself and protect each other. Get vaccinated, wear a mask, keep a distance, open windows, clean your hands and cough and sneeze safely." Singh emphasised the emergence of variants is a reminder that the pandemic is far from over. "The risk of COVID-19 remains high globally and the emergence of variants is a reminder that the pandemic is far from over. Like I said earlier, we must continue to strengthen surveillance, public health and social measures and rapidly scale up vaccination coverage. As in the past, whenever we have done these well, we have seen a decline in cases. We know that these measures work. It's up to each one of us, and all of us to together, to stop transmission, which we can and we must," she told ANI when asked whether India will face the third wave of COVID-19. Commenting on booster doses' effectiveness against Omicron, the WHO official said that current data show that the performance of vaccines that received WHO's Emergency Use Listing holds up well against severe forms of the disease with minor or modest reductions in effectiveness by 6 months after the last primary dose. "Preliminary studies on the impact of Omicron on vaccine effectiveness, and whether additional doses may be necessary suggest that an additional dose may confer benefit, yet it is too early to draw definitive conclusions from these limited labs and clinical studies. WHO will continue to review the evidence, and update its recommendations as appropriate." "SAGE has recommended moderately and severely immunocompromised persons may be offered an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine as part of an extended primary series. To make a recommendation on the use of booster doses for the general population more data is needed on vaccine performance of the primary series over time. We must also review the benefits from boosting versus the benefits from expanding the coverage of primary vaccination, in different population groups." She further said that the booster policy has to be considered in the context of the goal of preventing severe disease and death and protecting the health system. WHO recommendations on boosters will be updated as more evidence becomes available, she added. Expressing her views on COVID-19 vaccination for children in India, the WHO Regional Director said that countries should consider individual and population benefits of immunizing children and adolescents in their specific epidemiological and social context when developing their COVID-19 immunization policies and programs. "As children and adolescents tend to have the milder disease compared to adults unless they are in a group at higher risk of severe COVID-19, it is less urgent to vaccinate them than older people, those with chronic health conditions and health workers. There are benefits of vaccinating children and adolescents that go beyond the direct health benefits. Vaccination that decreases COVID-19 transmission in this age group may reduce transmission from children and adolescents to older adults." (ANI) "Acharyadev Ashok Ranjan Chakroborty of the Satsang Ashram, Deoghar, will always be remembered for his selfless service to society. He was passionate about education, healthcare, social justice and empowerment. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all his devotees. Om Shanti," tweeted PM Modi. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed her condolences on his demise. She tweeted, "Deeply pained by the demise of Acharyadev Sree Sree Borda (Sree Ashok Ranjan Chakroborty) of Satsang Ashram, Deoghar. The entire spiritual world mourns this heavy loss. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, followers and innumerable devotees." (ANI) According to family sources, the mortal remains will reach Bhopal by 3 p.m. and his final rites will be conducted on Friday. Varun, succumbed to injuries on Wednesday (Dec 15) at army command hospital in Bengaluru. He was the lone survivor in the helicopter crash in which Chief of Defence Staff General (CDS) Bipin Rawat and 12 others died. 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 to injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on Dec 8, 2021. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family." --IANS mka/skp/ ( 187 Words) 2021-12-16-13:09:01 (IANS) Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt on Thursday lashed out at Congress over their posters in Uttarakhand featuring late Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat's photos with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that the party always worked for "electoral gains". Posters with photos of Congress leaders Indira Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi alongside General Rawat, who recently died in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu, sprung up in the streets of Uttarakhand ahead of the Wayanad MP's rally in Dehradun ahead of state Assembly elections next year. "Congress always works for electoral gains. I don't want to say anything about this. If people gain sense even if it is around elections, then it's good and it should remain like that," Bhatt said. India's first Chief of Defence Staff and longest-serving four-star officer General Bipin Rawat, who hails from Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, died in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8 along with 13 others including his wife Madhulika Rawat. Posters countering those with faces of Congress leaders have also been put up in the city questioning the party's sudden respect for General Rawat. The posters have a photograph of younger Rahul Gandhi with party colleague Sandeep Dixit with a media report from 2017 with the title, "Congress leader Sandeep Dixit called Army Chief 'roadside goon'." Some posters feature a picture of Rahul Gandhi with party leader Kanhaiya Kumar with text, "Will those who called Army as rapist honour the soldiers?" (roughly translated from Hindi). The posters have drawn flak from BJP leaders. BJP leader Amit Malviya called out Congress over the posters and termed it as "hypocrisy." "Uttarakhand calls out Congress and Rahul Gandhi's hypocrisy, welcomes him with these posters enroute to the rally venue... Congress must realise that it can't malign our men in uniform and then gain political mileage in their name. Shame on such despicable politics," Malviya tweeted. National Secretary of BJP Youth Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga also took to Twiiter to share the poster countering Congress' respect for General Rawat stating, "Just saw this poster on Rahul Gandhi Rally route in Dehradun." BJP leader Shehzad Jai Hind also slammed Congress and said, "Shameless Congress party puts pics of Rahul Gandhi along with martyrs on shraddhanjali wall! Even here they can't honour soldiers without parivar bhakti? Disrespecting martyrs..Congress has DNA of disrespecting armed forces they had called Bipin Rawat ji 'Sadak ka gunda' (roadside goon)." Reacting on the statement of Rahul Gandhi on India defeating Pakistan in just 13 days in the 1971 war as the country was united, Bhatt said, "India was united before and India is united today as well. We made history in 1971 and then again in Kargil." (ANI) Ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal said that Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is the first chief minister in world history who meets people even in the bathroom. Addressing a rally at Lambi in Punjab, Kejriwal said, "Current Punjab government is the most 'nautankibaaz' and 'dramebaaz' government in the world. A few days ago, I was listening to Channi's interview on TV. In the interview, he said that he keeps meeting the public 24 hours a day. Channi said that people sit in my drawing-room, verandah, go to the bathroom there.... people come with me (Channi) and keep meeting people there also." "In my opinion, he is the first Chief Minister in the world history who also meets people in the bathroom," he said. "The interviewer further questioned him (Channi) about the conditions of NRIs in the state. Channi said that I am an NRI. Earlier, I (Channi) used to stay in Pind and now I live in the city. The interviewer began laughing," Kejriwal said. AAP supremo further slammed Congress by calling them "Indian National Circus." He said, "INC stands for Indian National Circus. NS Sindhu does not bond with Channi. Channi does not bond with former state Congress chief Jakhar. Jakhar does not bond well with Partap Bajwa. They are all fighting amongst each other. They punch each other in their cabinet meeting. They cannot give any future to Punjab." "They are the most corrupt government in Punjab. They know that they are going to lose power," he said. Punjab is scheduled to go for Assembly polls in 2022. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress 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. (ANI) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohiya) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Thursday discussed merger options alliance between the two parties during a meeting in Lucknow, sources said. According to party sources, the meeting took place for about 45 minutes in which the SP chief met his uncle's family after five years and then had a discussion about upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls. "During the meeting, both alliance and merger options of two parties have been discussed for the upcoming polls. The PSP leader wants around 25 to 40 seats for his party if the two parties form an alliance. However, the parties did not disclose their strategy on the second option (merger)," sources added. In 2016, Akhilesh had shown the Samajwadi Party's exit door to his uncle Shivpal due to family disputes. Shivpal later formed his own party Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohiya). However, the PSP had failed to win any seat in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The meeting between the two leaders came ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections which are scheduled to take place early next year. The SP chief made an announcement of forming an alliance with small parties for the polls in July this year. "Samajwadi Party is going to form an alliance with small political parties," Akhilesh told ANI. In the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged 312 seats out of the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly while Samajwadi Party (SP) bagged 47 seats, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) won 19 and Congress could manage to win only seven seats. The rest of the seats were bagged by other candidates. (ANI) The tri-services inquiry set up by the Defence Ministry to probe the reasons behind the chopper crash wherein Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and 13 others were killed is expected to complete its proceedings within the next two weeks. The inquiry is headed by an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and country's best chopper pilot Air Marshal Manvendra Singh and one each Brigadier-rank officer from the Indian Army and the Indian Navy. "The statements of the witness are being recorded by the inquiry team which includes people on the ground near the crash site in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district. The team is expected to complete its proceedings in the next two weeks," top government sources told ANI. The inquiry teams had started their work on the very next day the incident took place. The statements are being recorded and in one or two cases, some people have changed their account of the incidents, they said. Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 12 other military officials were travelling in the ill-fated Mi-17V5 helicopter which crashed minutes before landing the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington killing all passengers and crew on board on December 8. The two officers in the inquiry other than the Air Marshal are a Brigadier posted in the southern army command and a Navy Commodore from their chopper fleet, the sources said. Both officers are experts in chopper flying and are pilots. The Mi-17V5 had taken off from the Sulur airbase and was supposed to land after a small journey of around 30 minutes. The locals from the villages near the crash site were quick to reach the spot and helped in the evacuation of the victims from there. The Indian Air Force also distributed blankets and bed sheets a couple of days ago to the local villagers showing gratitude towards them as they had used their own blankets and sheets to carry bodies and douse the fire in the aircraft. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is personally monitoring the inquiry process and is being updated regularly by the officers concerned. Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari is also closely monitoring the proceedings. The Army Headquarters is keenly awaiting the outcome of the inquiry as the force lost its senior-most officer and country's first Chief of Defence Staff of the country along with 13 others. A senior defence ministry functionary on Thursday said the process for the appointment of the new CDS has already begun and the name would be announced soon. (ANI) The new case has been reported from Vijapur municipality in Mehsana district of north Gujarat, state Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Manoj Aggarwal said. He said the woman who has been found affected with the new variant had come in contact with a man who had returned from Zimbabwe. On December 10, two persons had tested positive for the new COVID-19 variant in the state. The infected persons had came in contact with a passenger who returned from Zimbabwe. The nummber of Omicron variant cases in Delhi has gone up to 10 with two new cases. (ANI) The motion was moved by Janata Dal (Secular) MLA K Annandani and supported by other MLAs including Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah. Replying to the matter raised by Annadani, Revenue minister R Ashok said such incidents hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas. "It is our responsibility to protect land, water and language of our state irrespective of any government. Shiva Sena and Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti are causing trouble again and again in the border areas," he said. "We will send the censure motion moved by the member of the house. Our government will speak to Maharashtra government and the concerned minister and make sure that such incidents do not occur again," Ashoka said. On Tuesday, a few people suspected to be Shiv Sena and MES workers allegedly burnt a Kannada flag in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, according to pro-Kannada protestors. They did so in support of their demand to merge Belgaum with Maharashtra. They were protesting against Karnataka government for their stand. (ANI) Farmers from Noida on Thursday protested at Sector 14A over their long-pending demands from the Noida Authority that includes the scrapping of the implementation of new map policy in the rural area. The protestors wanted to gherao the residence of Noida Authority CEO Ritu Maheshwari, however, the Delhi Police prevented them from doing so. An ambulance was held due to the protest and Police had to disperse the crowd to enable it to pass through. Traffic Police also briefly shut down one carriageway at Chilla border due to the protest. "Traffic Alert Chilla Border is closed in the carriageway from Delhi to Noida as Noida Police has put iron barricades due to protest. Traffic will remain heavy On Noida Link Road. Commuters are advised to take an alternate route via National Highway No.24 or DND or New Ashok Nagar," tweeted the Delhi Traffic Police. Among the demands of the farmers include allotment of 10 per cent plots in the urban area of Noida and 64 per cent extra compensation for their land that was acquired by the authorities for the development of 1,000 square metres residential plot and changes in building regulations in villages among others. They are also demanding the scrapping of the implementation of a new map policy in the rural areas stating that it would make their livelihood difficult amid the new construction activities in the village. The farmers' demands also include the registration of homes in the rural areas in their names which at present is in the name of the Authority. The farmers have also demanded to allow them to start commercial activities in their own residence. Notably, the farmers have been protesting for more than 100 days. (ANI) "The Prime Minister will meet party MPs from Uttar Pradesh tomorrow on breakfast. Total 40 MPs are invited," a source said. The Prime Minister had inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, on Monday. He chaired a meeting of BJP chief ministers and deputy chief ministers on "good governance practices" in Varanasi on Tuesday. Uttar Pradesh is slated to go for polls early next year. (ANI) Addressing the media, Sreedharan said, "I am quitting politics. I am no longer interested in it (in politics)." Sreedharan had joined the BJP ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections earlier this year. However, he lost the Palakkad Assembly constituency against a Congress candidate. The BJP had fielded the architect of the metro rail system in the country, Sreedharan against the sitting MLA Shafi Parambil of Congress and CP Pramod of CPI-M. Sreedharan is known for changing the face of public transport in India with his leadership in building the Konkan Railway and the Delhi Metro. He served as the managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation between 1995 and 2012. Following his contribution to the construction of metros in the country, he came to be known as the "Metro Man" of India. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2001 and Padma Vibhushan in 2008. Sreedharan was also appointed by the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to serve on the United Nations' High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport for a period of three years in 2015. (ANI) To bring about transparency in elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra on Thursday said the Election Commission of India (ECI) has assured all political parties that webcasting will be arranged in all polling stations except those in border districts. "ECI has assured all political parties that webcasting will be arranged in all polling stations except those in border districts which come under shadow areas," CEC Chandra said while addressing a press conference here today. He further said in view of COVID-19 pandemic to maintain social distancing norms, the maximum number of electors' at a polling station has been reduced from 1500 to 1200. "Because of this, we have increased the number of booths by 1,478 from last election. Total number of polling booths is 24,689 at present in whole Punjab," he added. "At least 165 all-women managed polling stations will be set up in the state," Chandra said. According to him, in previous Assembly polls in Punjab, the voter turnout dropped from 77.4 per cent in 2017 to 65.96 per cent in 2019. "Now, 2,74,177 new voters in the state are registered. The voter gender ratio has improved from 898 to 902; Females have crossed the 1 crore mark in the voter's list," he noted. "ECI reviewed overall poll preparedness with District Election Officers/Dy Commissioners & CPs/SSPs of all the 23 districts as also Chief Electoral Officer," he added. A high-level team of the ECI reached here on Wednesday on a two-day visit to take stock of poll preparedness in the state ahead of Punjab Assembly Elections 2022. The team comprised CEC Sushil Chandra, Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey. The Commission's team also comprised three Deputy Election Commissioners, Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Nitesh Vyas and T Sreekanth, besides Director-General Sheyphali B Sharan. Chief Electoral Officer Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju received the full commission at the Mohali Airport here and warm reception was accorded at the meeting venue in Chandigarh. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress 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. (ANI) Demanding a complete ban on Tablighis and Tablighi Jamaat, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Thursday called the organisation a "manufacturing hub of radical Islamic Jihadism" and "patron of global terrorism". VHP's Central Working President Alok Kumar welcomed the recent ban imposed by Saudi Arabia on Jamaat and said that an immediate ban should be imposed by India and the entire world on its bank accounts, offices and activities by finding out the financial sources of the Tablighi Jamaat, which is endangering the lives of people. "This radical Islamic fundamentalist organization is already banned in many countries of the world including Russia. Despite this, instead of welcoming the decision of the Saudi government, some Bharatiya Muslim organizations, with their protests against it, have exposed themselves and made their role in terror-rearing and fostering quite clear. In fact, Darul Uloom Deoband is its originator and designer," said the VHP working president. VHP alleged that Tabligh injected its "sick mentality of pandemic proportions" into the minds and hearts of millions of people in more than 100 countries across the world and infected them and put their lives in danger. The Parishad claimed that the arms and ammunition recovered and the radical jihadi terrorists caught from many mosques, madrassas and settlements hosting terrorist sleeper cells across the country were somehow or the other the products of this "fiendish mindset". "The founders of most of the terrorist organizations of the world have also been associated with the Tabligh. The relations of all those - from the assassins of the American Trade Center to the perpetrators of the burning of 59 Hindus alive in train bogey in Godhra and those celebrating the Urs of the Muslim lone wolf Abdul Rashid - the brutal murderer of Swami Shraddhanand - with the Markaz, is well known," the VHP said. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia banned the Tablighi Jamaat, terming it a "danger to society" and "one of the gates of terrorism". Tablighi Jamaat, a transnational Sunni Islamic missionary movement that focuses on exhorting Muslims and encouraging fellow members to follow the pure form of Sunni Islam. (ANI) Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday slammed Congress over posters featuring photos of the former Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat that have been put up in Uttrakhand, stating that the party should be "ashamed" of using the name of the late army man for electoral gains in the upcoming Assembly polls. "Congress party does not have any issue, hence they are only doing drama. They are now using General Bipin Rawat's poster in rallies for political benefits in Uttarakhand. Congress should be ashamed for this," the minister said. Huge cut-outs of General Rawat, who died in a chopper crash earlier this month, was put up in Uttarakhand for Rahul Gandhi's rally in Dehradun ahead of Assembly elections in the state next year. India's first Chief of Defence Staff and longest-serving four-star officer General Rawat, who hails from Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, died in a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8 along with 13 others including his wife Madhulika Rawat. The posters have drawn flak from BJP leaders including Amit Malviya, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga and Shehzad Jai Hind. Responding to a statement by Rahul Gandhi on India defeating Pakistan in just 13 days in the 1971 war as the country was united, Joshi said, "Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi don't know anything about India's history. Rahul Gandhi is an immature part-time politician. The Prime Minister talked about the martyred soldiers in the 1971 war. Is it necessary to talk about politicians at all events?" Meanwhile, posters countering those put up by the Congress have also cropped up in the state, questioning the Congress party's "new found respect for Gen Rawat." These posters show photographs of a younger Rahul Gandhi with party colleague Sandeep Dixit alongside a picture of a media report from 2017 titled, "Congress leader Sandeep Dixit called Army Chief 'roadside goon'." Some posters feature a photograph of Rahul Gandhi with party leader Kanhaiya Kumar with text, "Will those who called Army as rapist honour the soldiers?" (roughly translated from Hindi). (ANI) In compliance with National Green Tribunal's directions, the Delhi Government has issued an order stating that diesel vehicles that are 10 years or older will be de-registered on January 1, 2022. As per the latest order issued by the Transport Department of Delhi Government, a new set of diesel vehicles completing more than 10 years in Delhi is due for de-registration. "Accordingly, the Transport Department will de-register all such diesel vehicles in Delhi on January 1, 2022, which have completed/ would be completing 10 years on that date," the order said. The state government has also informed that no No Objection Certificate (NOC) will be issued for diesel and petrol vehicles that have completed 15 years or more on the date of applying for NOC. NOC for diesel vehicles upto 10 years/less than 15 years old petrol vehicles can be issued for any place in the country, the order added. "NOC for diesel vehicles above 10 years and petrol vehicles above 15 years will be issued for other states subject to a condition that such NOC will not be issued for the places which are identified by the states as restricted area in terms of order of NGT, which had directed the states to identify areas where the dispersion of the air in higher and vehicular density is least," it mentioned. Delhi Government has also given an option to the vehicle owners to convert their 10 years old diesel/ 15 years old petrol vehicles to electric, in case, they wish to ply their vehicles in the NCT of Delhi. However, the retro fitment of such vehicles with empanelled electric kits shall have to be got done through agencies approved by Transport Department. The empanelment process for electric kits is under process. "In all other cases, the only recourse would be to scrap the vehicles which are more than 10 years old (diesel) and 15 years old (petrol). This issues with the approval of Minister (Transport), GNCT of Delhi," the order added. Notably, the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Vardhaman Kaushik Vs Union of India and Ors in OA Nos. 21 of 2014 and 94 of 2014, had issued the directions relating to restrictions on registration and plying of diesel vehicles more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles more than 15 years old. (ANI) Following the Maharashtra Cabinet decision to reduce the governor's role in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, state Cabinet Minister Uday Samant on Thursday said that the powers of Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari will not be diminished. Addressing reporters today, Samant said, "It is natural to be criticised. As expected, some people are against it. We are going to follow the Central government guidelines. The powers of the governor will not be diminished. He is going to appoint the Vice-Chancellor. The process will be transparent." The state cabinet on Wednesday cleared a proposal to amend the university act to change the appointment process of the vice chancellors. (ANI) Police informed that the body of Konica Layak was found hanging in the hostel on Wednesday morning and they have recovered a "suicide note" from the spot. Speaking to ANI, Anupam Singh, DCP North of Howrah said, "a written suicide note has been recovered from the spot and the body has been sent for post mortem." "She came to stay here in July this year and started practising air rifle shooting near Kolkata. She reportedly fell into depression due to not getting good results from the training," the police official said. Layak, Jharkhand's 10-metre air rifle state champion in 2020 came into the limelight earlier this year after actor-turned philanthropist Sonu Sood gave her a new rifle for training. Sood was made aware of Layak's plight on social media. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) A defence statement said, "Lt governor Manoj Sinha, the chief guest on the occasion laid floral wreath at eternal flame of Balidan Stambh War Memorial and paid homage to the fallen heroes. "Lt general Y.K. Joshi, GOC-in-C Northern Command, DGP J&K Police Dilbag Singh, Lt general P.N. Ananthanarayanan, GOC Rising Star Corps, Lt general Manjinder Singh, GOC White Knight Corps, IG BSF, Deputy Mayor Jammu and major general Neeraj Gosain, GOC Tiger Division also laid wreath and paid homage to the bravehearts. "Honorary Captain Bana Singh, PVC, Lt colonel, Rishma Sarin wife of Late major, Mohit Sharma, Ashok Chakra (P) and other military and civil dignitaries also paid rich tributes at Balidan Stambh. "Lt governor Manoj Sinha released a 'Special Cover' and unveiled the mural of Late ASI Babu Ram, Ashok Chakra of J&K Police in presence of his family members. "The Lt governor along with Army Commander Lt General Y.K. Joshi and senior dignitaries interacted with Veer Naris, Awardees and Veterans of the 1971 War and felicitated them. "While interacting with veterans, the chief guest said nothing can be equal to the sacrifices made by the veterans. "He extended his gratitude and assured of Government's all possible support to ensure their welfare and said our every warrior of today is a respected veteran of tomorrow. It is our duty to ensure their well being and fulfil their needs. "At the end, the artists of J&K Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages and NCC cadets paid tributes by their performances filled with patriotic fervour. "A deeply holy atmosphere was also created in the Balidan Stambh by religious prayers rendition by Army Pandit, Moulvi and Granthi". --IANS sq/skp/ ( 334 Words) 2021-12-16-16:52:19 (IANS) Pakistan Army was trained and equipped as much as the Indian Army but they lost the war because they lacked character, said Lt Colonel (Retd) Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir, a decorated Mukti Yodha today, claiming that then Pakistani Army Commander was involved in the prostitution business. Lt Col (Retd) Zahir was speaking at the event organised by the Border Security Force to celebrate Vijay Diwas and 50 years of Liberation of Bangladesh in Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in Delhi. "Why did Pakistan lose the war when they were as much trained as Indian Army because they lacked that character. When you have a Commander of Army who is involved in prostitution business you cannot fight anymore," he said. "I request Indian forces to carry forward the legacy of 1971," he added. Commander-in-chief of Bangladesh Forces during the 1971 Liberation war Osmani said the Border Security Force of India was the first friend of Bangladesh. Chief Guest in the event, Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar recalled the sacrifices of the freedom fighters and millions of men and women who fought an epic battle for the Liberation of Bangladesh under the inspiring leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The event was attended by Excellency Md Nurul Islam, Deputy High Commissioner, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, High Commission of Bangladesh, serving and retired Directors General of CAPFs and senior officials of MEA, MHA and other government institutions. A cultural troupe from Bangladesh and India performed on the theme of the Liberation War, with their talented demonstration evoking memories of crucial moments during the historic struggle as well as the various culturally significant symbolisms that unite both nations. Pankaj Kumar Singh, DG BSF recounted some of the historic moments during the Liberation War of Bangladesh and the role played by BSF well before the actual hostilities erupted. "Border Security Force will endeavour to build upon the solid foundation of mutual trust and cooperation with Border Guard Bangladesh, and we look forward to achieving greater heights in the bilateral relationship," said Singh. (ANI) While addressing a gathering, the commissioner said, "Sixty CCTV cameras were installed with the help of community commitment within the Afzalgunj police station limits." "The crime rate has been reduced by setting up cameras in the city and they can solve more cases easily," Kumar said. "Hyderabad has 16,000 police personnel and there are 5,000 traffic junctions in the city. It is not possible to deploy police at all junctions. With the help of CCTV cameras, cases can be solved quickly," he said. "Each CCTV camera is equivalent to 100 policemen," Kumar said. While emphasising their importance, he said, "The cost of the investigation with CCTV cameras has also been greatly reduced." Under the Nenu Saitham program, the Commissioner requested people to come forward to help set up more cameras. (ANI) On the occasion, homage was paid to the brave hearts who have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty during the 1971 war, the statement said. Lieutenant General PGK Menon, General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps laid a wreath at the memorial on behalf of all ranks of the formation. Senior military officers and a large number of troops from Leh Garrison were present during the wreath-laying. On this solemn occasion, Lieutenant General PGK Menon called upon all ranks of Fire and Fury Corps to rededicate themselves in the service of the nation and always keep 'Nation First' in all their endeavours, it added. The year 2021 or 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' marks the 50th anniversary of India's victory in the 1971 war and the formation of Bangladesh. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Thursday appointed two of its retired judges as mediators between former IPL head Lalit Modi and his mother Bina Modi and his siblings to resolve a long-pending property dispute in the family. A Bench of Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana and Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli appointed former Supreme Court judges Justices Vikramjit Sen and Kurian Joseph as mediators in the case. It has directed the parties to maintain confidentiality and has requested the mediators to take an undertaking in that regard. The top court in its order said, "Ultimately both parties have agreed to mediation under Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice Kurian Joseph. We suggest parties use facilities of the Mediation Centre at Hyderabad. They can request for online mediation. Mediation to expedite proceedings preferably within a period of three months." The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by Lalit Modi challenging the division bench judgement of the Delhi High Court that the anti-arbitration injunction lawsuit filed by Bina Modi, wife of late industrialist K.K. Modi, against her son is maintainable. Lalit Modi's mother Bina Modi, his sister Charu and brother Samira had filed a plea in the High court seeking to restrain the arbitration proceedings initiated by Lalit Modi in Singapore over property disputes in the family. They, in two separate suits, had contended that there was a trust deed between the family members and the KK Modi family trust matters cannot be settled through arbitration in a foreign country according to Indian laws. They had sought permanent injunction restraining Lalit Modi from prosecuting or continuing with the application for emergency measures and any arbitration proceedings against them in Singapore. The division bench of High Court in December last year had set aside the judgement of a single judge of the High Court, which had said it does not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate the anti-arbitration injunction suits filed by Lalit Modi's mother and siblings and they are open to take such pleas before the arbitral tribunal in Singapore. It had held that it has the jurisdiction to decide Bina Modi's plea challenging Lalit Modi's move to initiate arbitration proceedings in Singapore. (ANI) After the suspension of the year-long farmers' protest, traffic movement for both light and heavy vehicles started at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana) on Thursday as farmers vacated the protest site. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh had laid siege to the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders in November 2020 to demand the repeal of the three farm laws, which were finally withdrawn in the Winter Session of Parliament earlier this month. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill on the first day of the winter session on November 29. President Ram Nath Kovind has also given his assent to the Bill that completes the process of repealing the three farm laws. However, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha the umbrella body under which the farmers had banded together on November 9 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. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait had said that all farmers will be leaving the protest sites by December 15 and 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. Earlier on December 12, the authorities started removing barricades placed at the protest sites in Singhu on the Delhi-Haryana border. (ANI) The prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, Indrani Mukherjea has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation and will move a CBI court to record a statement of a jail inmate who claimed to have met Sheena in Kashmir. Speaking to ANI, Indrani's lawyer Sana Raees Khan on Thursday said: "An inmate, who is a government officer, told Indrani Mukerjea that she met Sheena in Srinagar in 2021. Indrani has written a letter to CBI, urging it to take the necessary steps. If it doesn't, I will move an application in court." Indrani Mukherjea, the mother of Sheena Bora in her letter to the investigating agency stated that an inmate in Byculla prison had told her that she had spotted Sheena in Kashmir some time ago. In her letter, Indrani has requested the CBI to look into the possibility of Sheena being alive. Indrani has always maintained that Sheena has not been murdered and is alive and had gone abroad for her education in 2012, although Indrani could never prove her claims in any way. Indrani Mukherjea, who is currently lodged in Byculla jail of Mumbai has sent a letter from the jail to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stating that Sheena Bora is alive. A source close to Indrani confirmed that the letter was written based on input given by another jail inmate. Indrani's lawyer Sana Raees Khan refused to confirm anything about the contents of the letter but said that she will file an application before Bombay High court on December 28 and only after filing that application, she will share the details of the letter written by Indrani to CBI. She also said that the contents of the letter will be shared with the special CBI court on the next date of the hearing. However, sources said, that Indrani has told a few people that she met a woman in prison who told her that she met Sheena Bora in Kashmir, because of which CBI should look for Sheena in Kashmir. The CBI has been investigating the Sheena Bora case since 2015, after taking over the case from Mumbai Police. According to the case registered by Mumbai Police, Sheena Bora was kidnapped and murdered by strangulation in April 2012. This case first came to light after the arrest of Indrani's driver, Shyamvar Rai in another case in August 2015. During the investigation, he confessed to having murdered Sheena Bora in April 2012 and said that he dumped her body in Raigad district of Maharashtra. He also told Mumbai Police that Sheena's mother, Indrani Mukerjea and Sanjeev Khanna (Ex-husband of Indrani) were also involved in this murder. According to CBI's case before the court, Indrani Mukerjea killed Sheena Bora because she was furious over the relationship between Sheena Bora, whom she introduced as her sister to everyone, and Rahul Mukerjea, son of Peter Mukerjea (third husband of Indrani Mukerjea) from his first marriage. According to the CBI, Indrani killed Sheena Bora as Sheena was threatening to expose her in public over the fact that she was not her sister, but her daughter, CBI said. Driver Shyamvar Rai turned approver in this case. Peter Mukerjea was given bail by a special CBI court in March 2020. During the trial of the case, Indrani and Peter decided to end their relationship too. They were given divorce by family court in Mumbai in October 2019. (ANI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to administer booster doses to the eligible population in the country in wake of emerging cases of new variant of COVID-19, Omicron and said that he should chair the meetings of all chief ministers to take stock of the situation. Speaking to reporters here, Gehlot said, "In several countries, booster doses have been launched, vaccination for children also started. I want to appeal to PM Modi to listen to experts' advice and should decide on booster dose soon." "He should intervene. He should hold meetings with the chief ministers like the way he used to do earlier. He should take feedback from the doctors and experts of various states and he should take a decision on booster dose soon," he added. Talking about the result of the 1971 war fought with Pakistan, the chief minister said that the people who talk of making India a 'Hindu Rashtra' should know that a country cannot remain united on the basis of religion. "Pakistan was formed on the basis of religion but couldn't remain intact and got separated into two. You might make a country based on religion but it would not remain one country for long, of which Pakistan is an example in front of us. You talk of making India 'Hindu Rashtra' but people who do politics in the name of religion should know that country can't remain united on the basis of religion," he said. (ANI) As per information shared by Jharkhand Police, the deceased terrorist has been identified as Mangra Lugun. He is an area commander of PLFI who had a bounty of Rs 2 lakh on his head, added the police. A total of 33 cases had been registered against Lugun in Chaibasa. "SP Chaibasa had received the input about the movement of Mangara Lugun's gang. Accordingly, a joint operation was launched by district police and CRPF 60 battalion. During the operation, at around 6:30 am, PLFI members opened fire at security forces. They escaped after heavy retaliation from police," said the release from police. One AK-47 rifle, cartridges and other materials were recovered by police after the encounter. (ANI) The latest arrest comes after the Madras High Court had quashed the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him following his tweet -- whether Tamil Nadu was turning into another Kashmir. Maridhas had tweeted that soon after the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crashed killing 14 persons including the Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and his wife. Soon after tweeting he had deleted the same. Maridhas' Thursday arrest was under the FIR on a complaint filed by an office bearer of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam for his YouTube post linking Tablighi Jamaat members spreading coronovirus. This is the third time Maridhas has been arrested in a week's time. A popular YouTuber Maridhas was critical of DMK in his posts. He was lodged in the Central Prison here and was taken to Tirunelveli on Thursday and produced before the local court. He was remanded to custody till December 30 and is lodged in Theni prison. --IANS vj/skp/ ( 190 Words) 2021-12-16-17:42:54 (IANS) Replying to Congress MLC Deepak Singh, State Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh told Legislative Council, "no death has been reported in the state due to lack of oxygen during the second wave." COVID-19 cases surged dangerously from April to June and peaked in May with over 4-lakh cases and 4,000 deaths. Hospitals across the country reported severe oxygen shortages for several days and private hospitals in the national capital approached the High Court demanding a steady supply. Several hospital administrations in different states have alleged that the shortage of oxygen resulted in the death of several patients. (ANI) Dhami paid tribute at Gandhi Park in Dehradun. While speaking to ANI, Dhami said, "I pay tribute to brave jawans. Our Govt is going ahead by boosting the soldiers' morale & working for the armed forces' welfare. The state has 1,734 soldiers who have lost their lives so far. Soil from their homes was brought to Sainya Dham. The Foundation stone was laid yesterday. A grand Sainya Dham will be built." (ANI) The country proudly celebrates its emphatic victory over Pakistan as "Vijay Diwas" on 16 December every year since 1971. On this day in the year 1971, independent India achieved a decisive victory over East Pakistan, in a war that the Indian Armed Forces planned, executed, and carried out with precision leading to the capture of over 93,000 prisoners, ultimately resulting in the liberation of Bangladesh. (ANI) Goa's legislators, especially those elected in the 2017 Assembly polls, do not seem to have unshakeable allegiances to the party which fielded them in the elections. If the decade from 1990 to 2000 gave India's smallest state 13 Chief Ministers, the four years from 2017 have marked a new epoch in Goa's political carnival, with as many as 20 MLAs (of the 40-member Assembly) joining political parties, different from the ones they won their seats for. The ruling BJP's magnetic broth pot appears to have drawn legislators from all hues - from Congress, of regional parties and even an Independent legislator - in four years. 'Horse-trading', which was once an affair whose brief window opened and closed days after the counting of votes polled in an Assembly election, now appears to have become an year-long phenomenon. Since 2017, the litany of legislators who have quit their respective parties reads something like this. After the 13-MLA-strong BJP pipped the Congress (17 MLAs) to power in 2017 with support of alliances carved overnight, the first legislator to crossover was Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane resigned from the party on March 16, the day of the floor test itself. Vishwajit Rane, whose father Pratapsingh Rane is a veteran Congress leader and a former Chief Minister, was appointed Health Minister in the cabinet led by then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. More than a year later, it was the turn of two more Congress MLAs - Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar, a former state President, to quit the party on October 16 and join the BJP on the same day. Rane, Sopte and Shirodkar all faced by-elections which they won to become newly-minted BJP legislators. On March 27, 2019, the BJP split the three-member Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislative unit, by inducting two of its MLAs - Manohar Ajgaonkar and Dipak Pauskar - into the party. Three times lucky already, an emboldened BJP counted a midnight raid on the Congress's ranks, taking away 10 of their lawmakers this time, leaving the Congress tottering further. This was followed by a period of lull as the newly-appointed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who succeeded Parrikar (who died in office) had a comfortable majority to see out the rest of his tenure thanks to all the crossovers. While the year 2020 and the early half of 2021 was plagued by the pressures exerted by the pandemic, the political hunting season in Goa picked up again late in 2021 again, as the state Assembly poll beckoned. So far three sitting MLAs - Jayesh Salgaonkar of the Goa Forward party, former Chief Minister Ravi Naik of the Congress and independent MLA Rohan Khaunte - have quit as legislators. While the former two have already joined the BJP, Khaunte is scheduled to join the saffron party on Friday. Another Congress MLA Luizinho Faleiro quit in March to join the Trinamool Congress, while Nationalist Congress Party's lone legislator Churchill Alemao earlier this month claimed to have merged into the Trinamool. On Thursday, in a first, sitting BJP MLA and former Forest Minister Alina Saldanha quit the BJP and is tipped to join the Aam Aadmi Party soon. Effectively 50 per cent of the 40 MLAs have ceased to represent the political parties on whose ticket they were elected to the state Assembly in 2017. According to Kishor Naik Gaonkar, editor of Goan Varta Live, a popular Marathi news platform, the period between 2017-2021 signals the death (for now) of political ideology as a leverage for winning elections in Goa, a state where voters appear to pose trust in individual political cults rather than political parties. "Political leaders have dislocated themselves from political ideologies," he said. The new and improved electoral formula presented by the new generation leaders of the BJP of winning elections (pan India) at all costs has also contributed to the increased hustling among legislators. "Winning an election is not enough any more. There is a realisation that one has to stay in power, one has to be on the ruling side because it is getting increasingly difficult to satisfy the 'demands' of constituents. An MLA literally has to survive his or her voters for five years," Gaonkar said. --IANS maya/vd ( 704 Words) 2021-12-16-20:04:43 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has quashed an FIR against a woman, who was apprehended at the Delhi airport with a live cartridge while she was to board a flight to Goa. A bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad observed that the court had, on many occasions, ruled that the mere recovery of the cartridge itself is not sufficient to prove the offence in the absence of any intention. It was also noted that in similar cases, the court had quashed the FIRs under Section 25 of the Arms Act. In the present case, advocate Amit Sahni, appearing for the woman, submitted that the petitioner is an IT professional and the ammunition, belonging to her father, who holds a valid .32 bore revolver license, was inadvertently carried in her bag. He said despite producing all the relevant documents of the licensed ammunition before the IGI Airport Police Station, the FIR has not been closed. The court then said: "In the facts and circumstances of this case, this court is inclined to quash the FIR dated February 5, 2021, registered at Police Station IGI Airport, New Delhi for an offence under Section 25 of Arms Act 1959 and the proceedings emanating therefrom." --IANS jw/vd ( 217 Words) 2021-12-16-20:15:33 (IANS) A case of extortion was registered on July 23 against Sachin Waze, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, and others at Goregaon Police Station, and the investigation was handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch. Six cases of corruption and extortion were filed against Param Bir Singh after he wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray leveling corruption and misconduct charges against the then Home Minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh. Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer, was removed from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner on March 17 and was made the General Commander of Maharashtra State Home Guard after he leveled allegations against Deshmukh. (ANI) Vijayan, said, "The UAE government plans to open three food parks in India. We requested that one of them should be in Kerala. Dr Thani Ahmed agreed and said he would discuss the details with the technical team." Kerala CM and the UAE minister also discussed the construction of a housing complex with the help of Red Crescent, Dubai. He said action would be taken to complete the project with the Red Cross. UAE Minister has invited Chief minister to attend the ongoing Dubai Expo. The chief minister agreed to attend the Expo in February 2022. UAE Ambassador to India Dr Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Banna and Lulu Group Chairman Dr MA Yousafzai were also present at the meeting. The UAE Minister and Ambassador were in Thiruvananthapuram to attend the inauguration of Lulu Group's Mall. (ANI) A new study has found how a small difference in the RNA sequence can allow the viral RNA to be packaged for replication, creating potential targets for future HIV treatments. The study has been published in the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences'. The study found that HIV chose its viral RNA genome - the "source code" that is injected into healthy human cells to infect them - based on functions attributable to just two nucleotides. "It's just this two-nucleotide difference that makes such a dramatic effect," said Karin Musier-Forsyth, senior author of the study, Ohio Eminent Scholar and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at The Ohio State University. "If we can prevent it from packaging its own genome, we can prevent it from spreading inside the body," she added. The study's authors, who also included researchers from the National Cancer Institute, hoped to answer a long-standing question in HIV biology research: How does the virus know to package its specific viral RNA to be copied in human cells? "Just like we need a genome encoded by DNA, viruses have their own genomic DNA or RNA - in the case of HIV it's RNA - and they have to package their genomic RNA and that's what this whole study is about," she said. "It's an essential step for how we understand the replication of the virus," she added. RNA is a string of nucleotides, and it is present in some form or another in all living things, including viruses. In HIV, it carried the genetic information that allowed the virus to copy itself inside a host - the human body. HIV RNA comprised about 9,800 nucleotides. "We have lots of types of RNA in our cells as humans, including messenger RNA (mRNA), which is very abundant - and which everyone has heard about now, thanks to COVID-19," Musier-Forsyth said. "But the viral genome from HIV is made in small amounts, and it is very selectively packaged as genomic RNA, in addition to serving as mRNA to make viral proteins. How does the virus find this genomic RNA to package and not just package any old RNA in our cells," she added. Researchers believed if they could find an answer to that question, they might eventually be able to develop drugs that could block the virus from replicating and stop it from infecting healthy human cells. The researchers examined the structures of two nearly identical HIV RNA strings and found that the virus used a two-nucleotide difference on the very end of the RNA strings to distinguish between genomic RNA and viral mRNA. One, they found, was more efficient at being packaged as a genome than the other due to the conformations, or structures, that it formed. The findings could have implications for future HIV treatments that target RNA and would be different from current HIV treatments, which primarily target viral proteins. New HIV drugs based on this discovery are likely years away, but Musier-Forsyth said this finding is an important scientific step. "Now that we understand more about the structure of the RNA, we could develop therapeutics, whether they be small molecules or other new nucleic acid therapeutics, that could lock the RNA into a conformation that wouldn't be packaged. If it can't package its genome then it can't replicate," Musier-Forsyth said. Other Ohio State researchers who contributed to this study included Shuohui Liu and Jonathan P. Kitzrow. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health. (ANI) NASA and Boeing's Starliner cargo spacecraft is now slated for launch to space in May 2022, the company has announced. Boeing and NASA had originally aimed to launch Starliner's Orbital Test Flight 2 (OFT-2), a crucial uncrewed trial mission to the International Space Station (ISS), from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on July 30. But preflight checks revealed 13 stuck valves in Starliner's service module, nixing that liftoff plan. Following extensive testing and analysis of oxidizer isolation valves on Boeing's CST-100 Starliner service module propulsion system, since the past four months, Boeing announced that it is aiming to relaunch the Starliner in May next year. "NASA has been working side-by-side with Boeing on the service module valve investigation, including leveraging the agency's materials and propellants expertise to better characterize the potential causes of the issue," said Steve Stich, manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Programme in a blogpost. "Because of the combined work, we have a much better understanding of the contributors that led to the valve issues, and ways to prevent it from happening in the future. Boeing remains diligent and driven by the data during its decision making, which is key to ensuring the Starliner system is ready when we fly our test missions in 2022," Stich added. Ongoing investigation efforts continue to validate the most probable cause to be related to oxidizer and moisture interactions. NASA and Boeing will continue the analysis and testing of the initial service module on which the issue was identified leading up to the launch of the uncrewed OFT-2 mission in August 2021. Teams conducted extensive analysis on the valves, which included testing samples of the corrosion, using specialised micro CT scans and borescopes to see inside the valves, exposing parts of valves to various conditions, and removing and disassembling several valves. Testing is continuing to expose the valves to conditions similar to those that the spacecraft experienced inside the factory and at the Atlas V launch pad and Vertical Integration Facility prior to the last launch attempt, NASA said. Boeing built Starliner under a NASA contract worth $4.5 billion and had signed a contract with NASA's Commercial Crew Programme to fly operational missions to and from the space station with Starliner in 2014. However, a series of setbacks have thus far prevented the Starliner from reaching the ISS. Its debut uncrewed orbital flight mission in 2019 did not go exactly as planned because of dozens of software glitches, requiring it to make another try before putting astronauts on board for the crewed flight test. Again its second launch has been held up since late last year due to ongoing software checks. Later the engineers detected the valve issue in its propulsion system, which has not been solved yet. --IANS rvt/bg ( 471 Words) 2021-12-16-16:50:42 (IANS) "Earlier today, as part of routine testing for work, I received a positive result on a COVID-19 PCR test. I am in close contact with the UN Medical Services and will isolate as per medical guidelines," Dujarric said on Wednesday. Dujarric said he was fully vaccinated and had received a booster shot. He said he was experiencing "very mild" symptoms and will continue working from home, Sputnik reported. "Out of an abundance of caution, the Spokesperson's Office will operate virtually until the end of this week," Dujarric added. (ANI) The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has begun a COVID-19 vaccination campaign for migrants stranded in Yemen. The goal is to inoculate around 7,500 people at its Migrant Response Points in Aden and Ma'rib. IOM's Chief of Mission, Christa Rottensteiner, explained that "immunizing people on the move is key to combatting the spread of the disease." An estimated 36,000 migrants have been stranded on their journeys due to mobility restrictions, nearly 3,500 in Ma'rib alone. Many are sleeping in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions where the virus can easily spread. "Vaccinating against COVID-19 is even more crucial in places like Ma'rib where ongoing conflict continues to weaken health facilities and disrupt the supply chain for medicines," Rottensteiner said. According to her, there are still not enough doses to protect everyone in Yemen from this disease. "More support from the international community to supply the country with enough vaccines will save lives", she said. So far, the pandemic has had severe consequences for the health, well-being and income of people in Yemen. COVID-19 has compounded the multiple crises already raging due to the on going conflict which erupted in 2015, between rebel Houthi forces, together with their allies, and a Saudi-led coalition, that supports the internationally-recognized Government. As of 12 December, there have been more than 10,000 cases reported in the country, but it's difficult to assess the real impact because of limited testing and reporting. Since April, IOM has been supporting efforts by the Ministry of Health to vaccinate at-risk and hard-to-reach populations. They have included health workers, people with chronic illnesses and elderly citizens. One Ethiopian migrant who received the vaccine in Aden, Naima Mohammed, told the agency he had one family member die from COVID-19 last year. Since then, he has come to the Migrant Response Point several times to get the facts about protection measures, such as handwashing and mask wearing. "Now that I'm vaccinated, I'm more protected", he said. (ANI) "Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve in key roles: Caroline Kennedy, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Commonwealth of Australia," the White House said in a press release on Wednesday. Kennedy previously served as the US Ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017, where she helped advance the realignment of US forces in Okinawa and increased student exchange between the United States and Japan, the release said. In November, Kennedy was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun, the highest civilian award of Japan, for her work to strengthen US-Japanese relations. If confirmed by the Senate, Kennedy will serve in her new ambassadorial post as the Biden administration seeks to enhance cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China. The United States plans to expand military infrastructure in Australia and the Indo-Pacific islands, according to the Pentagon. Moreover, the United States will sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as part of the new AUKUS partnership. (ANI/Sputnik) As many as UN independent experts on Wednesday condemned the conviction of Pakistani minority civil society activist Idris Khattak. A military court in Pakistan has sentenced human rights defender and political activist Idris Khattak to 14 years "rigorous imprisonment" on charges of espionage after anonymous sources claimed he had provided sensitive information to a "foreign intelligence agency." Khattak, 57, was taken into custody on November 13, 2019, when armed men intercepted his car near Swabi, in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. "Khattak's reported sentencing is an attack against the human rights community in Pakistan and sends a chilling message to civil society activists monitoring and reporting on alleged violations, committed by the military and security forces or with their consent or acquiescence, such as systematic or widespread enforced disappearances", the UN human rights experts said in a statement. The Special Rapporteurs upheld that Khattak and other rights defenders and civil society leaders - including those belonging to the Pashtun minority - who have been arrested or disappeared for their human rights work, must be immediately released. "Their families should be provided with reparations, truth and justice", they added, while stressing that those responsible for these abuses must also be held accountable. Khattak, who has worked to defend the rights of the Pashtun minority in north-west Pakistan, including by documenting enforced disappearances, was tried by a military court under the Pakistan Army Act and charged with espionage and other conduct "prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State" for allegedly revealing regional military operations information in 2009. He was reportedly sentenced in secret by the Field General Court Martial, and neither his family nor his lawyer have been informed about the judgement. "As a civilian, he should have been tried by a civilian court. It is the State's obligation to ensure Khattak's rights to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law", the experts underscored. Abducted by security agents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in November 2019, Khattak was subjected to seven months of enforced disappearance, exposing him to a high risk of torture. In June 2020, authorities acknowledged he was being detained, without revealing where, and ever since he has been held incommunicado. "Khattak's rights have been systematically violated during his detention and trial. Khattak's detention and sentencing is part of an alarming pattern of silencing human rights defenders and outspoken civil society leaders through systematic abuse of counterterrorism and security legislation, intimidation, secret detention, torture and enforced disappearance", said the independent experts. They called on authorities to disclose all details of Khattak's case and immediately allow his family and lawyer unobstructed and regular access. "Further, in addition to releasing him, we reiterate our call on Pakistan to ensure a prompt and impartial investigation...and to hold those responsible to account for any violations of his human rights", they concluded. Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not paid for their work. (ANI) 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. --IANS int/khz/ ( 122 Words) 2021-12-16-01:16:12 (IANS) The prime minister made the comments as he chaired the second meeting of the Apex Committee on Afghanistan. During the meeting, he urged the international community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, vowing that Pakistan would support the Afghan people in every possible way to avert a humanitarian crisis, Geo News reported citing a statement by the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Planning Minister Asad Umer, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf, and senior civil and military officers. This comes as the Taliban is trying to gain global recognition as Afghanistan facing the worst humanitarian crisis The prime minister urged the international community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, vowing that Pakistan would support the Afghan people in every possible way to avert a humanitarian crisis, the statement said. According to the statement, the premier highlighted that Pakistan has already committed to immediate relief of in-kind humanitarian assistance worth Rs5 billion, which comprises food commodities including 50,000 metric tons of wheat, emergency medical supplies, winter shelters, and other supplies. He also said that humanitarian organisations wishing to work from Pakistan to support efforts in Afghanistan should be facilitated and that Islamabad had already committed to being the air and land bridge for humanitarian support to Kabul. (ANI) "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. --IANS int/khz/ ( 248 Words) 2021-12-16-02:00:24 (IANS) The bodies of the 39 migrants were discovered on October 23, 2019, in a refrigerated truck in the county of Essex in the south of England, Xinhua news agency reported. The truck had left the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium on October 22, 2019. The ensuing investigation led police to identify a people-smuggling ring allegedly led by 45-year-old Vo Van Hong, who had rented a house in Anderlecht, Belgium, where the victims would stay until they could be transported. Four members of the ring were handed heavy sentences in the United Kingdom in January 2021, and seven other men were put on trial in Vietnam for their alleged involvement. Prosecutors are seeking prison terms from 18 months to 15 years for the defendants. --IANS int/khz/ ( 164 Words) 2021-12-16-03:46:53 (IANS) Moscow [Russia], December 16 (ANI). Russia's Presidential aide Yury Ushakov has said that the summit of Moscow, India and China can be held in the near future emphasising that the topic of cooperation among these three countries was addressed during the Putin-Xi meeting held on Wednesday. Ushakov, summarising the virtual meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, said on Wednesday that the topic of cooperation in the Russia-India-China format was addressed in the meeting. He emphasised that the two leaders "agreed to continue exchanging opinions in this regard and to endeavour to hold the next summit within the RIC framework in the near future". The presidential aide also said that Putin informed Xi regarding his recent visit to New Delhi in this context. Underlining that the "topic of cooperation" within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was also discussed in detail in the meeting, Ushakov further said that it was stressed that this is essentially a new kind of international platform. He also said that the framework is established on the principles of openness, transparency, mutual respect and consideration of the interests and concerns of each other. (ANI) China's military buildup near the demarcation line across its Himalayan border with India has compelled Pentagon to worry but there is optimism among experts and officials that India will be able to stand its ground against the People's Liberation Army, reported Foreign Policy. The buildup fits the pattern of Chinese regional aggression seen elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region, such as in the Philippines, where Beijing's coast guard vessels moved to block Manila's supply boats in November, Foreign Policy quoted a senior Pentagon official as saying. The official discussed the sensitive policy deliberations with the publication on the condition of anonymity. Beijing last month deployed long-range strategic bombers to the area. However, experts and officials believe that India will be able to stand its ground against the Chinese Army. New Delhi has put up more diplomatic and military resistance than China's antagonists in other territorial incursions, such as in the South China Sea, Foreign Policy quoted experts as saying. Jeff Smith, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Centre, said that it is just clear that [China has] become more assertive all across their territorial fault lines. Smith also said that arguably India is the one where they (Chinese) have met the most resistance stressing that Indians will not be cowed, coerced, or intimidated. (ANI) Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on the international community to condemn the escalation in terror against reporters covering the news in Myanmar and to implement targeted sanctions against the generals running the country. This statement was issued after a journalist died under interrogation and three others were arrested in the past few days. Freelance photographer Soe Naing has become the first journalist to pay with his life for trying to report the news, according to RSF. After being detained for four days, he was declared dead this morning as a result of the force used during interrogation. He was arrested by soldiers while covering a silent street protest in the Yangon district of Latha on December 10 to mark Human Rights Day. "With Soe Naing's death, a new tragic threshold has been crossed this morning in the terror that Myanmar's military are using against journalists," said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's 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." Two other reporters were arrested two days ago, on December 12, in yet another sign of the ever-harsher crackdown on media personnel throughout the country, the media watchdog said. One was Democratic Voice of Burma reporter Aung San Lin, who was arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night at his home in Pin Zen, a village in Wetlet, a district near the big northern city of Mandalay. RSF has been told that his arrest was a reprisal for his recent report about soldiers deliberately starting fires in order to target pro-democracy activists. "The other was Min Theik Tun, who was arrested a few hours later along with 11 other persons while covering a protest in Monywa, a town 100 km west of Mandalay, for a regional news agency, according to the Mizzima News website. Neither he nor Aung San Lin were able to talk with a relative or a lawyer," RSF said. According to the media watchdog, the latest escalation in the persecution of journalists in Myanmar began last week, after the violent arrests of two Myanmar Pressphoto Agency journalists on December 5. At least 57 journalists are currently imprisoned in Myanmar, according to RSF's press freedom violations barometer. Myanmar is ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index that RSF published in early 2021. (ANI) The Ashraf Ghani-led government in Afghanistan was overthrown in mid-August this year, and since then, the country is facing a severe financial crunch, with their foreign assets frozen, according to Geo TV. Earlier, Imran Khan said that humanitarian organisations wishing to work from Pakistan to support efforts in Afghanistan should be facilitated and that Islamabad had already committed to being the air and land bridge for humanitarian support to Kabul. However, despite Imran Khan's appeal, the latest report of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Afghanistan shows concern about "conditional humanitarianism" or attempts to "leverage" humanitarian assistance for political purposes implying Pakistan's motives. Further, on December 19, Pakistan is hosting an extraordinary session of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers in Islamabad and the issue of Afghanistan will be discussed in detail. (ANI) Washington [US], December 16 (ANI/Sputnik): The US military on Tuesday shot down one of two small drones flying towards the US At Tanf Garrison outpost in the southern Syria, and allegedly posing a threat to the base, media reported on Thursday. According to NBC News, the US military on Tuesday spotted two small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) approaching the US At Tanf Garrison outpost and assessed them as showing hostile intent. Military shot down one of the drones, while the second UAS changed its course and left the area. It is unknown whether the drones were carrying explosives or not. "As one of the UAS continued its course deeper into the At Tanf Deconfliction Zone, it was assessed as demonstrating hostile intent and was shot down," the US Central Command Spokesman, Bill Urban, said as quoted by the NBC News. On October 21, the same US outpost was attacked with drones carrying explosives. The United States reported no casualties, but the base's facilities were heavily damaged. The US accuses Iran or Iranian-backed groups of being responsible for the attacks. After the first attack, mayor of Iraqi city Ar-Rutbah close to the outpost told Sputnik that no signs of the attack were spotted. The At Tanf Garrison outpost is a US military base within the territory controlled by the Syrian opposition close to borders with Iraq and Jordan. The US troops train Syrian opposition to fight the Islamic State (a terrorist group banned in Russia) at the base. (ANI/Sputnik) "The announcement by the UK government is a step in the right direction for the South Africa's tourism sector," Xinhua news agency reported citing the Minister as saying. "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 travelling to South Africa at a time when tourism was just beginning to recover," she added. 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. --IANS ksk/ ( 253 Words) 2021-12-16-11:45:31 (IANS) Ukrainians must adhere to all imposed restrictions until 70 per cent of the population is vaccinated, Xinhua news agency quoted Shmyhal as saying on Wednesday. Some 40 per cent of Ukrainian adults have been fully vaccinated against the virus so far. Ukraine has recorded 3.57 million Covid-19 cases till date and 91,958 deaths. --IANS ksk/ ( 89 Words) 2021-12-16-11:53:27 (IANS) French Defence Minister Florence Parly is set to pay an official visit to India on Friday to strengthen Indo-French strategic and defence ties. "French Defence Minister Florence Parly will be on an official visit to India on Dec 17 to strengthen Indo-French strategic and defence ties. She will call on PM Modi and hold Annual Defence Dialogue with her Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh," French Embassy in New Delhi said in a statement. "The talks will cover aspects of wide-ranging Indo-French defence cooperation,incl operational defence cooperation, particularly maritime security in Indo-Pacific; an industrial and technological partnership in line with Make in India and counter-terrorism cooperation," the Embassy added. During her official visit, Parly will also meet Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, in particular for discussions on regional security issues. She will pay tribute to India's soldiers at the National War Memorial in Delhi. She will also offer her respects to CDS General Bipin Rawat on his tragic demise. Parly will engage in a discussion organised by the Ananta Aspen Centre entitled "How does France cooperate with India to defend a rules-based Indo-Pacific region?" and moderated by Dr Mohan Kumar, Chairman of Research and Information System for Developing Countries and former Ambassador of India to France. According to the French Embassy, this visit highlights France's engagement in the Indo-Pacific and the centrality of India in the French strategy. "It comes in the wake of several major bilateral air, navy, and army exercises this year: Desert Knight 21 in January, Varuna in April, Shakti in November. Minister Parly will stress France and India's joint commitment to answering the challenges of the Indo-Pacific by bringing together friendly powers to defend the rule of law, offering a positive agenda to the countries of the region, and rejecting all forms of hegemony," the embassy said. Moreover, the French Minister will detail the recently unveiled EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific that brings a multiplier effect to this comprehensive approach for the region. Upon taking the presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2022, France will make the Indo-Pacific and India a key priority. The French Minister's previous visit to India was on September 10, 2020, for the induction ceremony of the first five Rafale aircraft by the Indian Air Force. The Minister will reiterate France's commitment to strengthening India's defence industrial base and its willingness to offer the best of its technology with a high "Make In India" component. (ANI) Speaking at a press briefing here, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that this visit will sustain the momentum of high-level exchanges and further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. "Foreign Affairs Minister of Tajikistan will be on an official visit to India from December 18-20. He will meet EAM Dr S Jaishankar on Dec 18. They will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest," Bagchi said. "The ministers will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. And they will also undertake bilateral cooperation. The visiting foreign minister is also expected to meet other dignitaries during his visit," he added. Bagchi noted that there has been an active exchange of visits between the two sides during this year. "EAM visited Tajikistan on three occasions this year. For a bilateral visit, as well as participation in the Heart of Asia Conference in March. The SCO foreign ministers meeting in June and SCO council of heads of states' summit in September," he said. (ANI) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar is set to host the third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi from December 18-20 to discuss further strengthening of relations between the members, with particular focus on trade, connectivity and development cooperation. This meeting will see participation from Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. "External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will be hosting the third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi from Dec 18-20. Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will participate in the meeting," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. "The ministers are expected to discuss further strengthening of relations between India and central Asian countries but a particular focus on trade, connectivity and development cooperation. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest," Bagchi added. As part of the third meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue, the foreign ministers of Central Asian countries are expected to pay a joint courtesy visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier, the second meeting was organised by India in October 2020 in digital video conference format. "There has been ongoing engagement between India and five Central Asian countries over the last few years. India considers Central Asia as part of its extended neighbourhood. EAM visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan this year. He also met the foreign minister of Turkmenistan this year," MEA spokesperson said. "The holding of the India-Central Asia Dialogue is symbolic of the interest on part of all members countries for greater engagements between them in a spirit of friendship, trust and mutual understanding," he added. (ANI) The Tibetan monk arrested more than a year ago in western China's Sichuan province is being held incommunicado, with no word given by police to his family concerning his whereabouts or possible date of trial, according to Radio Free Asia. Earlier, Tenzin Dargye, a monk in his 30s belonging to the Barong monastery in Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture's Sershul (Shiqu) county, was taken into custody in September 2020, according to sources. Further, Dargye was then charged with keeping pictures of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and other politically sensitive material on his cell phone, according to Radio Free Asia. It's expected that several other monks may also have been arrested with Dargye, and no information is available whether he has already been tried or not, according to sources. Earlier, the Dalai Lama is widely reviled by Chinese leaders as a separatist intent on splitting Tibet from Beijing's rule. However, Dalai Lama, who now lives in exile in India, says that he only seeks greater autonomy for Tibet as a part of China, with guaranteed protection for Tibet's language, culture and religion. (ANI) India is in touch with authorities in Pakistan to send more humanitarian assistance, including wheat and life-saving medicines to Afghanistan, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday. "We'll continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. We're committed to sending 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during his weekly media briefing here. "India is in touch with Pakistan authorities on modalities of shipment of 50,000 metric tons of wheat and as well other medical supplies to Afghanistan through the land route," Bagchi said. The spokesperson, however, did not comment on why India did not use the Iranian port of Chabahar Port to move wheat through Iran. Bagchi reiterated that India has a special relationship with the Afghan people and UNSC Resolution 2593 would continue to guide India's approach to Afghanistan. Bagchi also noted that India had dispatched about 1.6 metric tonnes of medical supplies as humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan on December 11 and it was handed over to the representatives of the World Health Organization in Kabul. Pakistan had in November this year decided to allow India to transport 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and other humanitarian goods to Afghanistan through the Wagah border in a move Islamabad said was made on an "exceptional basis" keeping in view the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan. The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian and security crisis. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban, have plunged a country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis. The international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people. (ANI) The ban will take effect on December 20 and will include the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Finland, France and Sweden, which will be labelled as "red" countries, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying. The list of "red" countries already includes most of the African countries. All Israelis returning from the banned countries, including vaccinated and recovered ones, must enter quarantine for at least seven days. Foreign nationals are not allowed to travel from these countries to Israel, except in humanitarian cases with the approval of a special governmental committee. --IANS ksk/ ( 130 Words) 2021-12-16-13:34:05 (IANS) It means 3,788,151 New Zealanders have rolled up their sleeves to protect themselves, their families, friends and communities, Xinhua news agency quoted Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins as saying. The Minister added this means all New Zealanders are safer and more protected, and can get back to doing the things they love, such as travelling to catch up with friends and family for Christmas, heading out to restaurants, pubs and cafes, or enjoying the many festivals and outdoor events planned for the summer. As of Thursday, New Zealand's overall Covid caseload and death toll stood at 13,238 and 48, respectively. --IANS ksk/ ( 133 Words) 2021-12-16-13:53:55 (IANS) According to a preliminary report from the Finance Ministry, imports of goods rose to 8.32 trillion yen ($72 billion), while exports rose 20.5 per cent to 7.37 trillion yen, resulting in a goods trade deficit of 954.8 billion yen, the largest trade deficit of Japan since January 2020, reports Xinhua news agency. The trade balance marked red ink for the fourth month in a row with imports rising for the 10th consecutive month on growing prices of crude oil from producers such as the United Arab Emirates. Exports also logged the ninth consecutive monthly increase with rising iron and steel product demand from South Korea and semiconductor-making equipment from China. Japan's car exports rose 4.1 per cent, up for the first time in three months. The Japanese yen against the US dollar weakened 8.9 per cent year-on-year in the reporting month, also inflating import prices for the country. Japanese automakers have been forced to cut output since around summer following parts shortages caused by factory shutdowns in Southeast Asian countries due to the Covid-19 surges and the worldwide semiconductor crunch. --IANS ksk/ ( 229 Words) 2021-12-16-14:27:37 (IANS) Commemorating the 50 years of Liberation War in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday said no one can forget the genocidal campaign launched by the Pakistani forces against the people of Bangladesh in 1971. Addressing the Vijay Diwas Commemoration Event by Border Security Forces (BSF), Jaishankar said, "Exceptional bravery displayed by the BSF battalions both on the eastern and western frontiers contributed to an outcome that was in India's favour. None of us can ever forget the genocidal campaign launched by the Pakistani forces against the people of Bangladesh in March 1971." "Operation Searchlight remains truly one of the most horrific examples of mass atrocities and brutal killing in recent history," he added. The Minister noted that when the people of Bangladesh rose against this brutal oppression, under the heroic leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The minister said there was spontaneous support for them in India, of political, diplomatic and military efforts in support of the people of Bangladesh in their struggle to uphold democratic rights is now well recognized. "10 million refugees had come to India, living in camps at the border areas, the people of India open their hearts and extended support to their oppressed brothers. The BSF manage the evolving situation on the ground, with unmatched tact and compassion," he added. Jaishankar continued saying that the generosity of the people of India found their way through the BSF personnel on the ground. "They provided moral and material support to those who are fleeing from the atrocities of Pakistani forces and taking part in the freedom struggle for Bangladesh." On March 25, 1971, at midnight under the name Operation Searchlight, seen by many as the first step in the Bengali genocide, the Pakistan army allegedly killed about 100,000 Bengalis in a single night. (ANI) Tehran [Iran], December 16 (ANI/ Xinhua) -- The spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said Thursday only after meticulous technical, security and judicial inspections, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s surveillance cameras will be installed at TESA Karaj Complex, a centrifuge component manufacturing workshop in north-central part of the country, according to AEOI's official website. Following exchange of views between the AEOI and IAEA, it was decided that the latter should cooperate duly with the former to ensure that the cameras would not be used for acts of sabotage at the site, according to AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi. Cameras at the nuclear facility were damaged as a consequence of an act of sabotage in June. According to Kamalvandi, due to the immunity of the cameras, it is not possible to open them without the agency's consent. He added the two sides have agreed that Iran should be provided with a camera for accurate technical inspections. The IAEA's technicians are also required to answer the questions Iranian security and safety experts may have about the cameras, the AEOI spokesman noted. Expounding on the function of the cameras, he said, they will only take photos and store them on their memory cards. "When the memory cards are full, they are removed and jointly sealed by Iran and the agency. In other words, the agency will, in no way, have access to the data," he added. He stressed that the measures are taken based on a strategic action plan approved by the Iranian parliament in 2020 to lift U.S. unilateral sanctions and protect people's interests, which prevents IAEA supervision beyond the scopes of the Safeguards Agreements. The recorded data will be handed over to the IAEA only if the parliament's action plan's goals have been met, according to Kamalvandi. "In other words, only when all sanctions are lifted, we will be able to provide the agency with the data so that they would be able to use them for the continuity of knowledge process." According to a press release issued by the IAEA on Wednesday, the IAEA and AEOI have agreed soon to install new surveillance cameras at TESA Karaj Complex. The cameras, to be installed in the coming days, will replace those that were removed from the Karaj centrifuge component manufacturing workshop earlier this year, according to the press release. (ANI/ Xinhua) Pakistan's extremist face has been revealed in its State support to organizations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on the eve of the attack on Army Public School, Peshawar. Despite TTP initiating an attack seven years ago on December 14, 2021, when young students of the Army Public School, Peshawar were killed, the organization is a contender for amnesty while the victims await justice, according to News International. Earlier, the attack on Peshawar's Army Public School on December 16, 2014, was an attack on Pakistan civilians, penetrating the security. Further, the TTP claimed responsibility for the attack and called it revenge against Operation Zarb-e-Azb started out by the military in North Waziristan the same year. Some in Pakistan later called it collateral damage. Since the creation of the TTP in 2007 after the Lal Masjid miscalculation by then-dictator Pervez Musharraf, the militant organization has launched numerous attacks threatening the national security of Pakistan. Unlike the TTP, the TLP's ideology has massive support among the people. The party sees itself as the kingmaker in the upcoming elections. In nutshell, Pakistan's extremist ideology backfired and it became a living hell suffering from religious extremism. It took years and immense efforts to control that crisis, according to News International. But the threat is not all gone. As the Taliban conquered Afghanistan, other religiously motivated groups in the region also gained confidence. If the state gives space to extremists and lets them become stronger and gather support until they become a potential threat to security, only to be crushed by brute force, the chances of the approach becoming successful are minimal. Since the creation of the TTP in 2007 after the Lal Masjid miscalculation by dictator Pervez Musharraf, the militant organization has launched numerous attacks threatening the national security of Pakistan Further, the joint risk of a radicalised population in the form of the TLP exerting its muscular Barelvism and a militant TTP will be a big challenge for Pakistan as the state itself is allegedly responsible. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, Tolo News said that women who protested in Kabul called for "bread, work, freedom, political participation." The women protestors chanted slogans for jobs, food and for their rights to be recognized. They also called on the international community to aid Afghanistan and avert disaster. The country is currently battered by the deepening economic, humanitarian, and security crisis following the Taliban takeover. The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban, have plunged a country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis. The international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people. (ANI) "Messages will be sent to the targeted people from the Health Ministry's database to determine the time and location of vaccination," acting Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said, adding all types of vaccines are available. He added 23 million booster doses will be provided until June 2022, and nearly 52 million shots have been secured across the country, with an average of 551,000 shots every day. There are 64.5 million ready shots, enough for everyone in the targeted group aged 12 and up, according to Abdel-Ghaffar. On Nov. 24, Egypt approved the administration of a third COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for the most vulnerable groups in the country, including those with immunodeficiency, those on immunosuppressive medicine, the elderly, and healthcare workers. According to the ministry's latest update, Egypt has had 371,698 coronavirus infections, with 21,203 fatalities and 309,354 recoveries. (ANI/Xinhua) Berlin [Germany], December 16 (ANI/Sputnik): Germany expects to receive the first deliveries of BioNTech vaccines adapted to the omicron coronavirus variant in the first quarter of 2022, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said. "We have also reserved a large batch of vaccines from BioNTech through the European Commission. This will be mostly a vaccine already adapted for the omicron variant. We hope that we will receive a part of these 80 million doses as early as the first quarter," he said at a press conference on Thursday. He noted that "booster" vaccination for the German government was currently the centerpiece of the fight against the pandemic, which is why Berlin intends to actively purchase vaccines in order to maintain a high rate of vaccination. "We cannot allow our successful booster vaccination campaign -- 1.5 million vaccine doses were given yesterday -- to be stalled by a shortage of vaccines. Therefore, we are negotiating additional vaccines with other countries, such as Portugal, Poland and Bulgaria," Lauterbach said, noting that the details of these agreements will be announced later. (ANI/Sputnik) Nepali defence minister Minendra Prasad Rijal has stepped down from the post after losing the election for General Secretary of the ruling Nepali Congress. Rijal announced he will be stepping down from the post on Thursday afternoon after he trailed behind in vote counting for General Secretary which he had contested in lately held 14th general convention. "The 14th General Convention election result of the Nepali Congress has shown that my presence inside the party has contracted further. Upon analysing and getting the signals my ethics would not let me retain the post of Defence Minister any longer. That's why am resigning from the post of Defence Minister," Rijal announced as he read out the letter submitted to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Before the press conference, Rijal handed over his resignation letter to Nepal Prime Minister Deuba at the latter office shortly after the party's election committee began releasing the preliminary vote count. Rijal contested the election for two general secretarial positions from the Shekhar Koirala panel. Of the 4,682 votes cast, he won only 809 votes. According to the final vote tally, Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma emerged victorious as the general secretaries. In the 14th edition of the General Convention held earlier this month, Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba secured the comfortable majority securing the post of party president for the second consecutive term after the second round of voting. 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. Deuba earlier on 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. (ANI) The protest was held to mark 50 years of Bangladesh liberation war victory over Pakistan. Few protesters gathered at the venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also displayed banners saying 'perpetrators of genocide must be tried', 'Pakistani army and their abettors raped 200,000 women during the liberation war of Bangladesh' and 'recognise Bangladesh genocide of 1971'. Rahman Khalilur Mamun, President of the International Forum for Secular Bangladesh said, "December 16 is the Independence Day celebration for Bangladesh. We have celebrated and observed this day because 50 years ago, in 1971, Pakistan generals surrendered to the Indian army and Bangladesh Liberation Force. So, we are very proud of this day and expanding International Court of Justice and UN Human Rights Commission to recognise the genocide of 1971." Shazia Sultan, a Bangladeshi Human Rights Activist based in Geneva, said, "We are celebrating 50 years of Bangladesh Independence and as a Bangladeshi, I feel proud today. I pay respect to those Bangladeshi women who were killed and raped during the liberation war. I respect all freedom fighters. I want this day to be recognised as a genocide by Pakistan." Another protester Nazrul Islam Zamader, a Senior Advisor of International Forum for Secular Bangladesh, Switzerland said, "We request United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to listen to our basic genuine demand and make brutal Pakistan army responsible for Bangladesh genocide in 1971." He added, "I appeal to International Court of Justice to declare it a genocide of 1971". On December 16, 1971, Pakistan Army surrendered to a joint India-Bangladesh force, formally making Bangladesh a new nation under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. The war began on March 26, 1971, and continued for 9 months - killing as many as three million people - before victory was declared in December. (ANI) The United States on Thursday placed Chinese biotechnology companies on a trade blacklist for their alleged role in assisting in high-tech surveillance on the Uyghur community. This backlisting is part of the larger trade restrictions imposed by the US Commerce Department against 37 entities from China, Georgia, Malaysia and Turkey. "This rule implements the decision of the ERC [End-User Review Committee] to add thirty-seven entities under forty entries to the Entity List ... The entities are located in the People's Republic of China, Georgia, Malaysia, and Turkey," the statement said. "Of the forty entries, thirty-four are located in China, three are located in Georgia, one is located in Malaysia, and two are located in Turkey. Three entities are listed under multiple destinations, accounting for the difference between the number of entities and number of entries in this final rule," it added. The US Commerce Department said that blacklisted Chinese entities are engaged in developing and deploying biotechnology and other technologies for military applications and human rights abuses. "The scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives. Unfortunately, the PRC is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups," US Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo said. "We cannot allow US commodities, technologies, and software that support medical science and biotechnical innovation to be diverted toward uses contrary to U.S. national security," Raimondo added. This comes a day after the US House of Representatives passed a final version of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans the importation of goods made with forced labour in China's Xinjiang province. The legislation was by the House on Tuesday night through a voice vote and sent to the Senate for consideration. (ANI) Jakarta [Indonesia], December 16 (ANI/Xinhua): Indonesia reported 213 more people infected by COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the total tally of infections to 4,259,857, with the death toll adding by 10 in the past 24 hours, bringing the number to 143,979, according to the data from the Health Ministry. The biggest number of the new cases was found in capital city Jakarta, with 40 newly-confirmed cases, followed by West Java, the country's most populous province, with 38 cases and East Java with 24 cases. Meanwhile, 234 more patients have been recovered, raising the number of recoveries to 4,111,045 cases. Indonesia also recorded its very first citizen infected by the Omicron variant on Thursday. The patient is a cleaning service worker at the Wisma Atlet Hospital in Jakarta, a special hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has urged all people, particularly high-level state officials, not to travel abroad for the time being, following the detection of the very first case of Omicron variant in the country. "I ask all people, especially all state officials, to refrain from traveling abroad, at least until the situation gets better," the president told a press conference on Thursday. He told the public to stay calm and encouraged them to immediately take their complete doses of COVID-19 jabs as an attempt to prevent infections. As of Thursday, more than 149 million people in Indonesia have received their first jabs of COVID-19 vaccines, while over 105 million have taken full doses, and around 1.2 million people have got their third booster shots. (ANI/Xinhua) Hyderabad-based biotechnology company Bharat Biotech on Thursday announced that it will donate two lakh doses of its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin to Vietnam. The announcement was made by Bharat Biotech Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella at a function hosted by Vuong Dinh Hue, President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam here. This donation represents a gesture of goodwill to provide access to Bharat Biotech's WHO approved, indigenously developed Covaxin to fight the COVID-19 pandemic across borders. Covaxin has received an Emergency use listing (EUL) in Vietnam, the company said in a statement. Bharat Biotech was invited by the Embassy of Vietnam for a one-on-one meeting with the President of the National Assembly, to discuss avenues of cooperation, supplies, and technology transfer possibilities. Ella said that it's an honour for them to serve Vietnam and wishes that the Covaxin contribution will help boost up the country's national vaccination programme and recovery from the pandemic. "We also like to thank Vuong Dinh Hue, H.E of Vietnam for inviting us to meet and discuss opportunities for collaboration," Ella added. "We believe in vaccine equity, global public health, and having access to the vaccine is vital for national health, and I hope everyone in the Republic of Vietnam will take advantage of having access to the widely administered, safe and efficacious Covaxin," said Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech. Bharat Biotech has completed Phase-2 and Phase-3 trials of Covaxin for children in the age group 2 to 18 years. The data has been submitted to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the final approval is awaited. On approval, children will also have access to Covaxin, the statement said. In Vietnam, Bharat Biotech has been working with Duc Minh Medical JSC, towards the commercialization of INDIRAB (Inactivated Rabies Vaccine). Duc Minh is Bharat Biotech's local partner in Vietnam. Bharat Biotech has also supplied INDIRAB to the Republic Nation supporting their national rabies vaccine requirement, the statement added. (ANI) Following month-long protests in Gwadar, the residents of port city in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Thursday called off their sit-in after negotiations with the government. For the past several weeks, thousands of people were protesting demanding basic rights in support of the "Gwadar ko haq do" movement in the port city. Among other things, thousands of residents were demanding access to clean drinking water and an end to the "trawler mafia". The demands also included the removal of additional check-posts at Pushkan, Sarbandan and Gwadar City, and the opening of the Pakistan-Iran border. Pakistan's Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday had described the protests in the port city of Gwadar as a "watershed event" in the struggle for basic rights in the country. 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. On Sunday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan 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 assurance cam after 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. (ANI) The IDA will use its funds to provide assistance to 74 low-income countries, including delivering vaccines, creating job opportunities, and tackling climate change. The IDA, founded in 1960, provides aid to the poorest countries in the form of zero or low-interest loans for projects and programmes that help in economic growth and reduce poverty, Xinhua news agency reported. "The world continues to face an unprecedented crisis due to Covid-19," Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said at a virtual two-day meeting of donors hosted by Japan. "Now is the time for global solidarity." The decision on the replenishment package of $93 billion for the fund was separately announced by the World Bank. The replenishment is normally provided every three years, but the pandemic has pushed the process forward for one year. In December 2019, donors agreed to make contributions worth a total of $82 billion. The donors have promised to provide a total of $23.5 billion this time. "Generous commitment by our partners is a critical step toward supporting poor countries in their efforts to recover from the Covid-19 crisis," said David Malpass, president of the World Bank Group. --IANS int/sks/bg ( 249 Words) 2021-12-16-16:33:06 (IANS) Earlier this year, the World Bank funded a social safety net plan, which aims to provide monthly cash assistance to vulnerable families in Lebanon, Xinhua news agency reported. Jha said that the World Bank will continue to provide support for Lebanon by financing a number of vital projects in the country. His remarks came during his meeting at Baabda Palace with Lebanese President Michel Aoun to discuss the latest developments regarding projects implemented by the World Bank in Lebanon. Aoun thanked Jha for his continuous efforts to support Lebanon, vowing to implement the projects funded by the World Bank. --IANS int/sks/bg ( 152 Words) 2021-12-16-16:59:57 (IANS) The opposition parties have been accusing the government ministers of influencing voters and violating the election code of conduct as electioneering for the local bodies polls is at its peak in 17 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to News International. Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued notices and warnings to a few ministers and opposition lawmakers including National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar for violation of the election code of conduct. Meanwhile, fresh complaints were made against Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak who is from ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Further, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) and spokesman Ikhtiar Wali Khan submitted an application with the district monitoring officer Nowshera seeking action against Pervez Khattak, according to News International. In his application, Ikhtiar Wali accused Pervez Khattak of influencing voters and even threatening them with dire consequences if they did not vote in favour of his son. Further, parties such as the Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have also accused the government of utilizing government machinery in electioneering in Peshawar district. Opposition leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Akram Khan Durrani had also complained of using government resources in the electioneering in his home town Bannu and asked the EC to take notice of election code violation by the ruling party. (ANI) "As authoritarianism is on the rise around the world, it is important more than ever that democratic partners work together," Kyodo News quoted Tsai as saying. Taiwan President also said this year marked progress in ties between Taiwan and France as the upper and the lower house of the country in May and November, respectively, passed resolutions supporting the self-ruled island's participation in international organizations. According to the Japanese publication, Francois de Rugy, leader of the delegation that consists of members of the France-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group in the lower house, told Tsai that Taiwan and France "are expected to deepen cooperation and pay attention to issues concerning regional peace." De Rugy had led an effort to get the lower house, called the National Assembly, to adopt the resolution calling for government support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, including the World Health Organization, Kyodo News reported. De Rugy further stated that he hopes France and Taiwan develop better cooperative relations, especially between their economies and in sectors such as semiconductor production and renewable energy. The delegation arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday for a five-day visit. (ANI) The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) intends to use a logistics center in the Uzbek city of Termez to deliver humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan Munir Mammadzade said on Thursday. "Had a 2 days fruitful visit to Termez to discuss the potential use of the humanitarian logistical hub for Afghanistan by UNICEF and brainstorm with the local authorities on possible engagement and programming in Surkhandarya in partnership with @EU_Tashkent and UN sister agencies," Mammadzade tweeted. Mammadzade familiarized himself with the operations of the Termez Cargo Center. The representative also met with the head of the regional administration to discuss the needs of Afghan citizens living in Termez and studying at a local training center. "Pleased to meet H.E. @Ibragimov_Bakh to brief about the ongoing @UNICEF_UZB/ @GOVuz priorities and plans in advancing the rights of children, women and youth, particularly those in need and discuss plans on using Termez as a corridor to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan," Mammadzade said in a subsequent tweet. Earlier in October, the UN refugee agency airlifted 96 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, including basic necessities, for Afghanistan to the Termez Cargo Center, Russian news agency Sputnik reported. The first 40 tonnes of cargo stored at the center were delivered to the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday. A senior UN rights official on Tuesday had 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. "They will mark the difference between potential lives of dignity and well-being - or accelerating deprivation, injustice and tragic loss of life." ANI) Pakistan has failed to take adequate steps to counter-terrorism and prosecute terrorists including masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai attacks such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) founder Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) Sajid Mir, according to a new US report. "Pakistan made limited progress on the most difficult aspects of its 2015 National Action Plan to counter-terrorism, specifically in its pledge to dismantle all terrorist organizations without delay or discrimination," the US State Department report said in its 2020 Country Reports on Terrorism. The report recalled how in February and again in November, a Lahore anti-terrorism court convicted LeT founder Hafiz Saeed on multiple counts of terrorism financing and sentenced him to five years and six months in prison. "Pakistan did not, however, take steps under its domestic authorities to prosecute other terrorist leaders residing in Pakistan, such as JeM founder Masood Azhar and LeT's Sajid Mir, mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks," it said. The report goes on the mention that Indian security agencies are effective in disrupting terror threats, although gaps remain in interagency intelligence and information sharing. "The Indian Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) collaborates with the United States on exchanging terrorist screening information. In the absence of a National Counter-Terrorism Center, the MAC conducts real-time collation and sharing of intelligence among federal and state security agencies," the report said. According to the report, India collaborates with the United States on implementing UNSCR 2309 and is enforcing compliance with the dual-screen X-ray mandate for cargo screening at airport locations. "There were 66 known Indian-origin fighters affiliated with ISIS, as of November. No FTFs were repatriated to India during 2020," it said. (ANI) Earlier, a large number of women workers and sympathisers gathered at Regal Chowk in Saddar to take part in the protest, Dawn newspaper reported. Carrying placards, party flags and chanting slogans against what they termed a "black law", protestors demanded that the PPP government further amend the bill to make it more acceptable for people of all ethnic origins living in the province and more effective in terms of power-sharing with the local government representatives. The MQM-P had announced and appealed to the people across Sindh, particularly its supporters, to come out and protest against the "dictatorial law". Addressing the protesters, MQM-P's senior leader Amir Khan said the people of Karachi and other cities of the province had given their verdict against the local government law "The party would continue its struggle against every move made by the PPP government to undermine the powers and resources of the local governments," he said. "This feudal style of governance of the PPP in Sindh is causing a great deal of unrest among the people and has turned into the feeling of alienation," he added. Amir Khan further said that the law passed by the Sindh Assembly is in fact in direct conflict with the Constitution of Pakistan and in flagrant violation of Article 140-A of the Constitution. "The Sindh chief minister was spreading hatred from the floor of the house," he said. (ANI) Kentucky [US], December 17 (ANI/Sputnik): The death toll from the tornados that hit the US state of Kentucky over the weekend has increased to 75 with at least one more person suspected dead and 16 more still unaccounted for, Governor Andy Beshear said on Thursday. "We believe that the total loss of life thus far 75 Kentuckians though there are at least initial reports that there may be at least one more that will come out today," Beshear said during a press conference. "The missing appears to be down to 16. That is good news." Beshear explained that the number of those unaccounted for is an estimate since a person is considered "missing" only after they have been reported so. The latest 75th victim of the disaster died from a heart attack while working on debris removal, Beshear said. On Friday, tornadoes swept across a number of US states, including Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee, claiming over 100 lives, destroying entire towns and leaving thousands of residents without water and electricity. US President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration for Kentucky, the most affected of the states, and pledged to do whatever it takes to alleviate the tornadoes' effects. (ANI/Sputnik) The United States on Thursday blacklisted over 30 Chinese biotechnology companies and organisations which it said are involved in using technologies for military applications and human rights abuses. In a statement, US Commerce Department said that it was adding 34 Chinese entities to its Entity List, meaning that U.S. companies cannot export to the companies without a license, The Hill reported. US Secretary of Commerce said that China is choosing to use biotechnology to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups. "The scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives. Unfortunately, the PRC is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups. We cannot allow U.S. commodities, technologies, and software that support medical science and biotechnical innovation to be diverted toward uses contrary to U.S. national security," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. "The U.S. will continue to stand strong against efforts by the PRC and Iran to turn tools that can help humanity prosper into implements that threaten global security and stability," Raimondo added. The United States has ramped up actions to target China on right abuses of its minorities. Recently it announced the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics over rights abuses. (ANI) "MDA EMTs and Paramedics are providing medical treatment to a 20-year-old male in critical condition and evacuating him with an MDA MICU to the Rabin Medical Center. Additional two injured males in mild condition, are evacuated by an MDA ambulance to the Meir Hospital," the emergency services said. Later, the MDA reported that the man in critical condition had died of his wounds. When the medics arrived at the scene, they found a car near the gates of the settlement with a 20-year-old man unconscious with gunshot wounds, according to the MDA. After several failed attempts to resuscitate him, the doctors pronounced the man dead, the emergency services said. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and pledged to step up security efforts to prevent terrorism in the West Bank. (ANI/Sputnik) The Saudi airlift organised by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center consisted of six planes with 197 tons and 238 kilograms (524.7 pounds) of foodstuffs and shelter. Two of them have already arrived in Afghanistan, Sputnik reported. The aid was received by the deputy president of Afghanistan's Red Crescent in the presence of the Saudi consul. The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian and security crises. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged the country already suffering from high poverty levels into a full-blown economic crisis. The international community, from governments to non-governmental organizations, has been providing various assistance to the Afghan people. (ANI) Hitting out at Lithuania for withdrawing its diplomats from China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry termed the Lithuanian side's concerns around diplomats' safety "purely groundless", clarifying that the Chinese side always attaches high importance to protecting the safety of foreign diplomatic missions' premises and personnel in Beijing. Amid worsening ties between Lithuanian and China, Lithuania has announced that it had recalled its top diplomat in China for consultations and that the embassy in Beijing would operate remotely. The Lithuanian ministry has 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. Addressing a daily briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the Lithuanian side never mentioned to the Chinese side any issue with regard to its safety. "It needs to be pointed out that the so-called allegations that Lithuanian personnel based in China were concerned about their safety and that the Chinese government has prohibited the employment of Chinese citizens by the office of the charge d'affaires of Lithuania are purely groundless," Wang said. "The Chinese side always attaches high importance to protecting the safety of foreign diplomatic missions' premises and personnel in China and ensure that all foreign diplomatic missions in China including the Lithuanian side conduct their work normally. The Lithuanian side never mentioned to the Chinese side any issue with regard to its safety," he added. 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. (ANI) People visit the "In America: Remember" art installation near the Washington Monument, where more than 650,000 small plastic flags have been planted to commemorate those who have died in the U.S. because of COVID-19. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Frank was everything I was not. White. Middle-aged. A father. Rich. Republican. We somehow still hit it off years ago. He was a faithful reader of mine who agreed more often than not with my stories. I enjoyed his insights and wit. I did something I rarely do with people I know only through the internet: I offered to meet in real life. I treated Frank to lunch a couple of times; he bought my books. We learned about each other's families enough that we filled each other in on their developments and genuinely cared. My interactions with him, whether via private email or publicly on social media, were something I looked forward to and were almost daily. We became ... if not full friends, then definitely friendly. Both of us reveled in the idea that we were a political Odd Couple in an era that doesn't look kindly on them. In fact, I sometimes defended Frank from people angry at his views and angry at me for even associating with someone like him and he'd do the same. I bragged to the unbelieving wokesters in my life that I had more than a few friendships with people like Frank. We maintained our ties because we had a deeper reason to talk, and years of doing so with few incidents other than vibrant but never toxic debates. 2021 destroyed all that. Frank believed the coronavirus was real, but thought the reaction to it, medical and governmental, was overblown. I thought he was being too flippant and told him to get with the science. Our conversations on Twitter became more and more strained until I no longer looked forward to them. Then one day, I decided to mute him. I became the very person I always slammed. One irony: We had kept our back-and-forth throughout the Trump era, when many of my friends proclaimed they no longer wanted to talk to anyone who supported the then-president. I felt such sentiments childish and performative and transactional and just so American. If your relationships with others are so shallow that one disagreement gets between the two of you, I harrumphed multiple times on Facebook, then we truly are doomed as a country. Story continues But who could have anticipated 2021? The triple-whammy of COVID-19, a vaccine to fight it, and the continued fallout from the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol has frayed more friendships or outright destroyed them more than anything Ive ever seen. Instead of trying to tolerate our differences or just agree to disagree with people we know, more of us just drop them altogether and dive deeper into our respective bubbles. Members of the National Guard sleep inside the U.S. Capitol as the House of Representatives convenes to impeach President Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) This phenomenon is more ruinous to us as a society than any policy the Trump administration hurled at us. We cannot grow as individuals without loyal opposition challenging us, or as a society without considering the merits of the other side. We're growing deaf due to the echo chamber that's social media. It allowed us to connect with more people than ever before but also cheapened the idea of those very connections by making them as easy to sever as an unfollow or a block. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I still remember the rush of the early days of social media, when people I hadn't heard from in years or those I didn't know asked if they could "friend" me. The idea of keeping up with others and vice versa by just logging on was liberating, empowering. We didn't need long conversations to show others we cared; all we needed to do was click "like," maybe leave a pithy comment, and that was it. We were friends. We were nothing. When you talk to people regularly and in person, you can at least track the evolution of someone, and check them if they start to espouse nonsense. People change, after all. But the danger of social media is how it doesn't just lead people down rabbit holes; it jackhammers them deeper and deeper. President Trump poured gas onto this truism; 2021 lit the fuse. It took Frank to make me realize this. Soon after I muted him, I reviewed my Facebook account, which I now consider a platform to keep up with the life events of others (as opposed to Instagram, which is all about photos of food and pets, or Twitter, which is just one giant GIF war for me). I saw people whom I had become friends with over a decade ago post conspiracy theories about COVID-19, or rail against liberals and the media. I unfriended them, then wondered why I had never interacted with them all these years later weren't we friends, after all? I then looked up people who I knew were friends of mine at one point in real life like, say, high school and whom I had kept in touch with over the years. Without me noticing, some had unfriended me. Their silent move upset me, but also put into focus the superficial ties we had reestablished. If we had really wanted to rekindle our friendship, I figured, we would've exchanged something more meaningful, like text messages, or maybe shared dinner. But sometimes, even a flicker of a connection can be more profound than real ones. I also saw on my timeline posts by people who had taken over the accounts of others after their owners had died. Dozens of people who were my putative friends on Facebook but whom I didn't recognize had passed away because of COVID-19. Their deaths saddened me, and not just because of the tragedy. It was a reminder of my own selfishness. At one point in their lives, they had made the effort to interact with me; I hadn't seen enough value in that to reciprocate other than accepting their request. Frank was different until he wasn't. The urge to befriend others, and trust they won't hurt us, is arguably what makes us humans. We all want that, one way or another. 2021 tried that tendency, so let's renew such grace next year. I'll start. Frank, wherever you are, Im sorry I muted you. I'm sorry that I took weeks to respond to a nice email you sent me this year, and I don't blame you for not responding when I finally wrote back. I'm sorry that I didn't follow up on my promise to unmute you, but I just did. I looked you up the other day you still follow my Twitter page. Let's talk again in 2022 lunch on me. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Five children were confirmed dead and four others were in critical condition after a horrific bouncy castle accident Thursday in Australia. The children fell 33 feet from the castle after a gust of wind swept up the inflatable house. The castle was at a school function celebrating the end of the year in Australia's island state of Tasmania. Two boys and two girls 10 to 11 years old were killed, Police Commissioner Darren Hine said. Police confirmed that a fifth child died later Thursday in the hospital. Five other children were being treated, including four in critical condition. Hine said an investigation is underway. Images published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed police officers consoling one another as paramedics tended to the children. Emergency services personnel work the scene of a deadly incident involved with a jumping castle at the Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Multiple children have died and others are in critical condition after falling from a bouncy castle that was lifted 10 meters (33 feet) into the air by a gust of wind at a junior school on the island state of Tasmania on Thursday. Tasmania state Premier Peter Gutwein called the incident simply inconceivable. ... I know this is a strong and caring community that will stand together and support one another. Tasmania police commander Debbie Williams told reporters several children fell from the jumping castle. It appears they may have fallen from a height of approximately 10 meters. This is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and the wider school community and also our first responders, Williams said. This isn't the first tragedy in a jumping castle or bounce house. In May, four children were injured after a bouncy house was lifted by strong winds in Arizona. In 2016, a 7-year-old in England died after a bouncy castle was blown away. And in 2015, a girl in China died after falling from a bouncy castle that was lifted by a strong gust of wind. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Australia bounce house sent flying by high winds, killing 5 kids Disney theme parks often host parades, firework shows, and other events for the holidays. Mark Ashman/Disney Parks via Getty Images There are numerous ways to experience Disney theme parks during the holidays from your home. You can re-create popular holiday recipes, make Disney crafts, and more. You can also relive theme-park memories by watching recordings of fireworks and parades. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. You can watch Disney World's whimsical, holiday-themed fireworks show on YouTube. People watch fireworks at the Magic Kingdom on March 15, 2020. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service/Getty Images In December 2020, Disney released a recording of its 2019 Magic Kingdom holiday show: "Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks." The 15-minute-long clip is available to watch for free on YouTube. In the kitchen, you can re-create some of Disney's winter recipes. Disneyland's peppermint marshmallow wands are super easy to make. Disney Parks Throughout 2020, Disney shared numerous recipes that make for perfect holiday treats. There are gingerbread cream-cheese muffins, gingerbread Bundt cakes with orange-vanilla sauce, and peppermint marshmallow wands. All of the recipes, as well as others, can be found on the Disney Parks Blog. Disneyland Paris created a virtual, interactive advent calendar last year, and you can still use it today. Any Disney fan can participate in the Paris theme park's activity. Disneyland Paris From December 1 until December 24, Disney fans can visit the Disneyland Paris website to open a virtual advent calendar. Each day includes a different activity for you to complete at home, from exclusive recipes to phone backgrounds and more. If you're missing your favorite theme park, you can watch old YouTube videos of Disney locations celebrating Christmas. You might not be able to visit Disney parks this holiday, but you can see them virtually. YouTube Though there are countless Disney theme-park videos online, die-hard fans will likely appreciate recordings of old Christmas parades and holiday-themed ride overlays. There are also holiday music videos for kids, theme-park music loops, and more. If your family likes to match during the holidays, consider making tie-dye Mickey Mouse shirts in festive colors. Your tie-dye shirt should end up looking something like this. Disney Parks/YouTube In September 2020, Disney released a 10-step guide to creating tie-dye shirts with an outline of Mickey Mouse in the middle. To do so, you need a white T-shirt, rubber bands, dye, and chalk, among other supplies. Story continues You can also put a holiday twist on the craft by using dyes that are red, green, blue, or other colors that remind you of the holidays. Full instructions can be found on the Disney Parks Blog. You can go behind the scenes of Disney theme parks during the holidays with some shows on Disney Plus. Disney theme parks go all out for the holidays especially Christmas. Handout/Getty Images Specifically, the show "Decorating Disney Holiday Magic" reveals how Disney World and Disneyland are transformed into winter wonderlands each year. Instead of making gingerbread houses, you can re-create your favorite areas of Disney theme parks. Disney recently shared printable versions of Disneyland landmarks. Disney/Handout/Getty Images Of course, you could do so with gingerbread cookies or any other supplies of your choosing. The easiest option, however, is to visit the Disney Parks Blog, which previously released free, printable activity sheets that help you create paper versions of Disneyland's Town Square during the holidays. You can also decorate your home with Disney-inspired Christmas crafts. There are tons of Disney twists to put on holiday ornaments. Disney Parks The Disney Parks Blog previously shared instructions to help make princess-themed wreaths and Mickey-shaped ornaments. You can also find DIY decoration ideas from Disney fans on Instagram and YouTube by searching "#DisneyCrafts" and "Disney holiday crafts." Read the original article on Insider Ariana Grande is just one celebrity who wore a standout gown during her 2021 wedding. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images Numerous celebrities got married and wore glamorous dresses for their 2021 weddings. Ariana Grande chose a sleek Vera Wang dress with a backless design. Pamela Anderson, on the other hand, wore a ball gown with a corset top. Lauren Ludwig, who married actor Alexander Ludwig, wore a sleeveless design on her wedding day. Alexander Ludwig shared this photo from his wedding on January 3, 2021. Alexander Ludwig/Instagram The couple decided to elope after being engaged for one month, as the "Vikings" star wrote on his Instagram page. His bride chose a classic white dress with a V-shaped neckline and a long train for their big day. She also paired it with pearl earrings, and a long veil covered in the same stones. Photographer Gabriel la Santos captured their wedding. Pamela Anderson technically got married at the end of 2020, but photographs weren't shared until February of this year. Photographer Heather Ross shared this photo of Pamela Anderson on February 3, 2021. Heather Ross/Instagram Photographer Heather Ross first shared a close-up shot of Anderson's corset-style ball gown which was from the 1940s, according to People on Instagram. She pointed out that the "dreamy" colors seen on the "Baywatch" star's dress blue, tan, and white were meant to represent "her beloved coastal landscape." "The 'something blue' in Pamela's ethereal, nature-inspired wedding was seen in her vintage satin blue ribbon corset and tulle skirt, as well as the hydrangea within her bouquet and even the soft organza ribbon that I wrapped around her vegan coconut wedding cake," Ross wrote. Anderson also wore a polka-dot Valentino veil with her dress, and Hunter rain boots underneath so that she could "run unhindered into the field where her beloved was waiting under the trees," the photographer said in another post. Red-carpet host Erin Lim married Joshua Rhodes while wearing a cream-colored gown. Erin Lim shared this picture from her wedding on March 12, 2021. Erin Lim/Instagram Her satin gown had a plunging neckline, a row of buttons, a high slit in the middle of its skirt, and small bell sleeves. Speaking with The Knot, Lim said she purchased the Shona Joy design which wasn't created as a wedding gown on Instagram. Story continues "It was a girl in a beautiful dress going to dinner," Lim said of the dress advertisement. "And I thought, 'This is cool. It could be a dress for our casual, mini-microwedding.'" Rich Gordon photographed Lim's ceremony. At the end of March, "The Real" co-host Jeannie Mai walked down the aisle in a nude designer dress. Jeannie Mai shared this photo of her wedding day on April 1, 2021. Jeannie Mai/Instagram Mai's Galia Lahav gown was strapless with a sheer bodice, a floral pattern from top to bottom, and satin stripes across its full skirt. As Vogue reported, Mai had a hand in creating the dress, and she worked with her stylist and the designer to choose shades and fabrics. "The finished product was everything I envisioned," Mai told Vogue about her dress. Photos of the TV star in the dress were taken by photographer Denis Reggie. Raven Gates, known for her role on "The Bachelor in Paradise," chose a lace-embellished dress for her ceremony. Raven Gates shared this photo from her wedding day on May 4, 2021. Raven Gates/Instagram Gates first picked her $1,600 Watters gown in 2020, though she had to wait to wear it as a result of the pandemic, as reported by Brides. The short-sleeved dress, photographed by Charla Store, had a plunging V-shaped neckline, a semi-sheer back, and a floral pattern that extended from top to bottom. "When I walked into the venue for the first time, it almost felt like the dress fit the venue perfectly," she told the publication. "Top Chef" winner Kristen Kish matched her bride on their wedding day in April. Kristen Kish shared this photo from her wedding day to Instagram on April 18, 2021. Kristen Kish/Instagram Both Kish and her wife Bianca wore black for the occasion. The chef chose a sleek suit, while Bianca opted for a halter dress and sparkling heels. "4.18.2021," Kish wrote in her Instagram post. "Threw on some nice clothes (my favorite blazer), headed to our backyard with our own written vows in hand, had our family with us (virtually), got all sappy, and WE DID THE DAMN THING #happilymarried #mywife." Elizabeth Lail, who starred in the series "You," wore a custom-made dress during her May wedding. Elizabeth Lail shared this photo from her wedding to Instagram on May 6, 2021. Elizabeth Lail/Instagram According to Brides, Lail created the gown with designer Andrea Hawkes over Zoom. She told the publication that Hawkes would even send dresses to her so that she could try them on. "Andrea would also send over British tea so I could pretend like I was in London at her shop," the actress told Brides. "Trying on gowns at home did present one logistical issue. I did have to lock my fiance out of the bedroom so he wouldn't see any of the dresses!" They ended up designing a soft gown with a V-shaped neckline, mid-length sleeves, a small slit in its skirt, and buttons in a line down the middle of its bodice. Paul from Forged in the North photographed their wedding. Alex Drummond, "The Pioneer Woman" star Ree Drummond's daughter, looked classic in a strapless white dress that same month. Alex Drummond shared this photo from her wedding to Instagram on May 4, 2021. Alex Drummond Scott/Instagram As Insider's Samantha Grindell previously reported, Drummond wore a Monique Lhuillier gown that was covered in lace for her big day. Photographer Grant Daniels captured her wearing the dress and short veil. Ariana Grande channeled Audrey Hepburn in a custom-made gown for her private wedding ceremony. Ariana Grande shared this photo from her wedding day to Instagram on May 26, 2021. Ariana Grande/Instagram Photos of Grande on her wedding day, taken by Stefan Kohli, show the musician wearing a strapless Vera Wang design with a low back that showed her bra strap. According to Vogue, the gown was inspired by the one Hepburn wore in "Funny Face" while playing the character Jo Stockton. Grande has said in the past that she's a big fan of the late movie star. At the start of July, Gwen Stefani wore two wedding dresses for her big day. Gwen Stefani shared this photo from her wedding ceremony on July 5, 2021. Gwen Stefani/Instagram For their July 3 nuptials, Stefani first wore a strapless Vera Wang gown with a sharp, plunging neckline and a tiered skirt made from tulle, as seen in images taken by photographer Jeremy Bustos. On Instagram, she described her second outfit as her "party dress." Gwen Stefani shared this photo from her wedding reception on July 5, 2021. Gwen Stefani/Instagram "You need a party dress when u get to marry @blakeshelton," Stefani wrote, referencing the shorter Vera Wang design. It was also strapless with a full skirt, though the latter piece was much shorter than the one featured on her ceremony gown. The skirt was also decorated with floral embellishments, and its bodice had a sweetheart neckline. Stefani wore the look with a floral veil, fishnet tights, and cowboy boot-style heels. Emma Bunton then got married in a white minidress with sheer details and heeled flip-flops. Jade Jones shared this picture after his wedding with Emma Bunton on July 13, 2021. Emma Bunton/Instagram The Spice Girl's dress had see-through balloon sleeves and a low, scoop-style neckline covered with a sheer, crisscross panel. She also accessorized with heeled flip-flops, a flower-embellished headband, and a sheer veil that extended into a train. Bunton shared a closer look at their wedding attire in her Instagram post at the time, revealing that her headband matched her bouquet and their wedding decor. Issa Rae looked like a princess in her custom Vera Wang gown later that month. Issa Rae shared this photo from her wedding on July 26, 2021. Issa Rae/Instagram She shared photos of her dress taken by Lauren Fair to Instagram, revealing that the ivory design was strapless with a sweetheart neckline. Its bodice was covered in hand-sewn crystal beading and Chantilly lace, according to People, as well as a thin satin band above her hips. The gown's skirt, on the other hand, was full and made from tulle. Rae later changed into another Vera Wang look for her reception, as the designer revealed on Instagram. Her second dress was strapless with a plunging neckline, and a tulle skirt similar to her first dress. In September, Lily Collins married director Charlie McDowell while wearing a form-fitting dress that was covered in French Calais-Caudry lace. Lily Collins shared this photo from her wedding on September 7, 2021. Lily Collins/Instagram Ralph Lauren designed her long-sleeved, high-neck gown, which can be seen in images taken by Cedar & Pines. As Town & Country reported, the dress was also decorated with flowers made from Swarovski beads and petals crafted from silk organza, all of which took more than 200 hours to make. Collins was styled by Rob Zangardi for her big day, and also wore a matching hooded cape in place of a veil with her custom lace ensemble. Jasmine Tookes walked down the aisle in a glamorous Zuhair Murad dress with a 15-foot train. Jasmine Tookes shared this photo from her wedding on September 8, 2021. Jasmine Tookes/Instagram Tookes' dress was inspired by Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown, as Insider's Samantha Grindell reported, and featured lace across its high neckline and long sleeves. She also wore custom satin heels designed by Sarah Flint. "I wanted him to make my dress from the moment I walked in his first couture show," the model told Vogue about Zuhair Murad. "I sent him my inspiration, and he drew up the most beautiful and timeless dress that I have ever seen." Daniel Maldonado and Mariuxi Pogo were there to capture photos of her gown and wedding day. Lena Dunham chose three dresses for her wedding day, including a minidress with sheer balloon sleeves. Lena Dunham shared this photo from her wedding on September 29, 2021. Lena Dunham/Instagram She shared some of her wedding photos, which were taken by Jonny Ruff, exclusively with Vogue. Dunham also told the publication that her dress was custom-made for her by Christopher Kane after she sent him a text. "I knew she loved the '60s, and she was looking at brides like Sharon Tate, June Carter Cash, and Priscilla Presley," the designer told Vogue, adding that the "almost doll-like" design was partially inspired by "the Holy Communion world, even though she's Jewish." "For me, growing up in Scotland, it was a big deal. Your Holy Communion and the perfect little dress," he added. "It was so weird that children were dressed up in these bridal outfits. We liked that subversive world. That's what Lena loves too." Vin Diesel walked Meadow Walker down the aisle to greet her groom Louis Thornton-Allan in October. Meadow Walker shared this moment from her wedding day on October 22, 2021. Meadow Walker/Instagram Walker, who is the daughter of the late Paul Walker, wore custom Givenchy for the occasion. Speaking with Vogue, she said she wanted a dress that was "timeless, chic, and elegant," which she achieved with a strapless, straight gown. "So I wanted to really let her personality shine through with the simplest, most modern of bridal gowns in silk cady, with a pure hourglass shape, a halter neck, and an edgy, backless design anchored by a simple strap," designer Matthew Williams told the publication. "We kept the train minimalistic," he added. "And the veil was so ethereal, it was barely there, which kept the focus on her beautiful eyes, face, and natural, statuesque glamour." Heather Rae Young got married in a corset-style wedding dress with a see-through skirt. Heather Rae Young shared this photo from her wedding on October 24, 2021. Heather Rae El Moussa/Instagram Her white Galia Lahav gown had a fitted corset bodice, sheer sleeves, and a see-through skirt that reached the floor and extended into a train. It was custom-made for the bride. People reported that the dress was made from French lace, and Heather wore it during both her ceremony and reception. The "Selling Sunset" star completed her look with a low bun, diamond earrings, and clear heels. The following month, Malala Yousafzai got married in a pink ensemble with gold detailing. Malala Yousafzai shared this photo from her wedding on November 9, 2021. Malala Yousafzai/Instagram She shared a message about her wedding at the time on Instagram, writing: "Today marks a precious day in my life. Asser and I tied the knot to be partners for life. We celebrated a small nikkah ceremony at home in Birmingham with our families. Please send us your prayers. We are excited to walk together for the journey ahead." Malin Fezehai photographed the couple on their big day. Paris Hilton wore four dresses to tie the knot a few days later but she walked down the aisle in a custom Oscar de la Renta gown. Paris Hilton shared this photo from her wedding day on November 12, 2021. Paris Hilton/Instagram Vogue reported that the dress, which had a bodice made from sheer lace, was designed by Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim. It also had a high neckline, long sleeves, and a full skirt with lace flowers falling from its waistband. And that's not to mention her long, matching veil, which was see-through and decorated with the same floral design. Insider's Samantha Grindell spoke with wedding planner Mindy Weiss after the nuptials, and she revealed that Hilton's husband Carter Reum had no problem waiting for Hilton to change into her four dresses so that they wouldn't be apart. Sarah Levy married Graham Outerbridge while wearing a classic silhouette. Sarah Levy shared this photo from her wedding on November 21, 2021. Sarah Levy/Instagram She wore white on her big day specifically a strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline that had layered fabric at the top of its bodice. The gown was also fitted at her waist, with a wider skirt that extended into a train behind her. Her wedding photos, including pictures of her dress, were taken by The Shalom Imaginative. Read the original article on Insider 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 When Isatu Alusine Jalloh gave birth, she and her husband, Alusine Jalloh, faced several big surprises. The first shock? Isatu Alusine Jalloh was carrying triplets the couple had no idea. As they adjusted to the idea of parenting three infants at once, they faced something else unexpected. Their two daughters were conjoined by the chest and belly. (My wife) experienced a lot of pain because she was carrying three babies, even though we did not know it at the time, Alusine Jalloh, 31, of Brooklyn, told TODAY via email. After my wife gave birth, they were in the ICU. The Jalloh family hoped that some doctors would be able to separate their conjoined daughters. (Courtesy NewYork-Presbyterian) At the time the Jallohs were living in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and hoped that someday their daughters, Hassanatu and Hussainatu would be separated. After their son, Chernor Alpha, died of a fever, their desire to find doctors to save their daughters increased. They were on oxygen for the first week and even after that (they) required special care, Alusine Jalloh said. It was difficult to hold them and to feed them, and even changing diapers was tough. While caring for conjoined infants comes with loads of logistical challenges, theres another reason why separating the babies was important long-term survival of conjoined twins is low. According to StatPearls, only 7.5% of conjoined twins survive. Of those who are separated, 60% of them survive. The challenging thing is not really the technology itself, Dr. Tomoaki Kato, chief of the division of abdominal organ transplant at NewYork Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told TODAY. We dont know how it plays out in this particular case. There might be something that we dont know may happen because its not really a common procedure The most experienced (doctors) will probably see a couple of cases in their life. From Sierra Leone to New York Soon after the girls birth, Alusine Jalloh heard from Zainab Bangurah, someone from his community that was living in the United States. She contacted me and asked how they were doing I told her that theyre doing great, but that my two daughters were conjoined, Alusine Jalloh recalled. "She said shed try her best to help." Story continues While early recovery from separation surgery involved some setbacks, Hassanatu and Hussainatu are thriving and meeting milestones. (Courtesy NewYork-Presbyterian) She reached out to her friend, Kathleen Thomas, a nurse at NewYork Presbyterian, who spoke to Kato about the case. The surgeon championed their care. When the girls were 3 months old, the family came to New York City to prepare for surgery. Kato and the team, which included 30 doctors, nurses and technicians prepared for the surgery. They conducted extensive imaging to understand how the girls were connected and how best to separate them. Then the team practiced simulations trying to prepare for any complications that could occur. Even though they had a good idea of the challenges they would encounter in surgery, they also knew there could be surprises they couldnt predict. Even with the heart imaging studies showing that the heart is not connected, there may be some small bridge of a heart or something like that. Then separation of the heart is needed, Kato said. (That) didnt happen. Then they had to navigate anesthesia. Hassanatu and Hussainatu shared circulation and faced each other, making it tougher to watch their airways. Every single step is not simple particularly when they are connected, Kato said. Anesthesiologists usually work on one baby at a time ... Those children are connected, meaning they have shared circulation. So can we really do that safely in putting one to sleep sequentially? Separating conjoined twins takes a lot of planning: A huge team of medical experts works together through virtual simulation to make sure it all goes well. Nearly two years later, Hassanatu and Hussainatu are meeting all their miletones. (Courtesy NewYork-Presbyterian) During the surgery on Feb. 21, 2020, doctors were able to administer anesthesia sequentially, but quickly enough that it was almost simultaneous. The virtual exercises helped the team prepare for such challenges. The imaging indicated that the livers were connected and it appeared that splitting them might be straightforward. But still they planned for uncertainty. There were always some unknowns we may discover because in some cases that was reported, like a bile duct was connected or some other part of the structure was shared, Kato said. Weve done a good enough imaging study prior to the time so we were fairly convinced that was not the case. Watching Hassanatu and Hussainatu play and even fight brings Alusine Jalloh great happiness. (Courtesy NewYork-Presbyterian) During the surgery, the doctors noticed the girls both had complete livers, though separating a big swath of liver required finesse. The connected portion was quite wide so that cutting the connected portion of the liver requires some surgical skill, Kato said. There was not a major issue that we encountered during the separation procedure. Repositioning the liver and the hearts into Hassanatu and Hussainatu also created some difficulties. While they placed spacers in the girls to expand their skin, Hassanatu received more skin when they enclosed her heart and chest. Soon after the nine-hour surgery, Hussainatu started struggling. The heart became really tight so a few days after surgery, things started to escalate, Kato said. One of the babies was getting sicker and sicker. While the Jallohs waited nine hours to learn how their daughters were doing, their faith kept them strong. (Courtesy NewYork-Presbyterian) They rushed Hussainatu into surgery first for an emergency fix, but also to make sure she had enough room and skin covering her heart. We were able to save her in time. But that was a little bit of a scary moment, Kato said. It was, in retrospect, obviously, too tight. Two babies Like any siblings, Hassanatu and Hussainatu play and fight together. They took to it naturally after months in the hospital recovering from their surgery. It was so happy after the separation, Alusine Jalloh said. Sometimes they fight a little bit and sometimes they come together and they hug each other, they kiss each other, they play together. He and Isatu Alusine Jalloh relied on their faith during their daughters separation surgery and recovery. I thank God. I always give thanks and appreciation to God almighty and the entire NewYork-Presbyterian, Alusine Jalloh said. They did a great job for me and my family. Caring for Hassanatu and Hussainatu is easier after surgery. (Courtesy NewYork-Presbyterian) Seeing his daughters smiling and laughing brings Alusine Jalloh and his wife great joy. Kato said from a medical standpoint, Hassanatu and Hussainatu are doing well and meeting milestones. To the Jalloh family this means renewed hope. They are doing great, Alusine Jalloh said. I want them to live a better life, like any other kids, because they are my future. Related: Associated Press A former hermit in New Hampshire whose cabin in the woods burned down after nearly three decades on the property that he was ordered to leave has been charged with trespassing there once again, turning a shed that survived the fire into a makeshift home outfitted with a wood stove. There had been an outpouring of support for David Lidstone, 81 better known as River Dave" since he was arrested in July and accused of squatting on property owned by a Vermont man. Lidstone was a local celebrity to boaters and kayakers on the Merrimack River before his property dispute caught the attention of the masses, bringing in over $200,000 in donations to help him start a new, law-abiding life. A Taliban fighter checks passports at the Islam Qala border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran. (Petros Giannakouris / Associated Press) Unlike most of his compatriots, Jamal Papoli didnt have to worry about being stuck in Afghanistan when the Taliban sped to power in August. Papoli had quit his homeland years ago to set up shop as a stonemason here in neighboring Iran, just outside Tehran. But instead of relief, what the 30-year-old father of two feels these days is fear. As one of hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans in this country, hes frightened of getting snared in one of the growing number of sweeps by Iranian authorities and sent back to his native land, where an uncertain fate awaits especially for him as an ethnic Uzbek in a Pashtun-dominated, Taliban-run society. After all the previous times Papoli was arrested and deported, he simply waited until he could sneak back in again. But Afghanistans new regime and Irans intensifying efforts to tighten the border mean that thats not a viable option anymore. Its no longer like it was in the past. If I get caught again, I would be given to Taliban forces at the border crossing an unthinkable outcome, Papoli said. Ive already gotten my wife and two children smuggled into Turkey. I have no option but to earn some money and get out of here myself. I would rather die en route to Germany than get deported to the Taliban. Papolis plight offers another twist on the prevailing political realities since the Talibans surprise return to governing Afghanistan, 20 years after the radical groups first attempt at it from 1996 to 2001. As countless residents continue to seek ways to flee the country, many of the more than 3 million Afghans who have already found safer haven in Iran are grappling with the fear of being shipped back by a government in Tehran that finds their presence increasingly burdensome. Several thousand Afghans are streaming into Iran every day to escape the Taliban regime and racking poverty, most of them illegally. (Petros Giannakouris / Associated Press) That, in turn, could become a headache for the West, particularly Europe, if large numbers of refugees in Iran feel threatened enough to strike out for other nations. Human smugglers report a jump in demand for their services in helping people migrate farther west. Story continues Several thousand Afghans continue to make their way across the border into Iran every day, even though the Iranian economy is in a tailspin because of crippling U.S. sanctions. Since Kabul fell to the Taliban in mid-August, 400,000 Afghans are estimated to have streamed into the Islamic Republic, often negotiating vertiginous mountain passes and other treacherous terrain to escape Afghanistans new-old rulers, its racking poverty or both. That figure is three times the number of Afghans whom U.S. and other NATO nations forces airlifted out of Kabul in the chaotic days after the Taliban seized control of the capital. Indeed, Iran currently hosts the equivalent of 10% of Afghanistans entire population. Now that many Afghans see the dream of returning home gone for good, thousands of them have pinned their hopes to better living conditions in Iran, said Abbas Hosseini, a veteran Afghan journalist who is the director of the Tehran-based AVA news agency. The great majority of the refugees here are members of the Tajik, Uzbek or Hazara ethnic minorities, who are routinely discriminated against or worse at home. Hazaras in particular, as Shiite rather than Sunni Muslims, are despised by Afghanistans ruling Pashtuns; they have long been the targets of mass killings and other atrocities, which have continued under the Taliban, rights groups allege, despite the new rulers smiling pledges of a tolerant pluralism. Zabih, a young Hazara man who gave only his first name, recalled the clenching fear that overtook him recently as he tried to elude authorities who, he thought, would deliver him to certain oppression or even death in Afghanistan if they laid hold of him. I was screaming at the top of my lungs and running like a sprinter for my life that night. I was jumping over fence after fence and rolling down muddy, steep hills in the dark, hoping the chasing officers would give up, said Zabih, who has been living in one of Irans northern cities. Like Papoli, Zabih has been caught and expelled from Iran several times before, and has always managed to steal back in. But having heard the stories and rumors about what the Taliban has been doing to Hazaras and Tajiks, I couldnt risk being easily busted this time and sent back, he said. Afghans eager to escape persecution, poverty or persistent conflict have taken flight to Iran for decades; shantytowns full of refugees line the outskirts of Tehran and cities such as Mashhad and Isfahan. About 850,000 of the more than 3 million migrants are undocumented, Hosseini said. Every day, hundreds more arrive overnight, often getting dumped by smugglers in Tehrans famous Azadi Square and left to fend for themselves. Hosseini said that smugglers fees have quadrupled, to about $500 to $600 per person, as Iranian authorities have stepped up patrols of the 560-mile border with Afghanistan. This year, Iran had sent back 1.15 million Afghan migrants by Nov. 28 a 47% increase over the same period last year, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration. The government, led by newly elected hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, is in talks with the Taliban on strengthening controls at the border. The Afghan Embassy in Tehran is no help for its citizens who have made it through: The pre-Taliban ambassador left the country immediately after the fall of Kabul. Mohammad Musa Akbari, a veteran Afghan photographer and longtime resident in Iran, is trying to fill the gap. Hes turned his cozy restaurant in busy downtown Tehran, Khaneh Kabul (House of Kabul), into a gathering place that serves up Afghan food and cultural events for the homesick, and assistance for those in need, including children unable to afford books and school supplies. Akbaris three children were born, raised and educated in Iran, but have no path to Iranian citizenship under current laws. His daughter is married to an Iranian social activist who has taken up the refugees cause. At the same time, Akbari doesnt think Iran can afford to host any more of his former compatriots. He blamed false warnings of mass displacement or ethnic cleansing in Afghanistan for the latest wave of immigration, even though human rights groups have reported recent killings of Hazaras. Many rumors are circulating, Akbari said. Recently, I raised $5,000 to $6,000 and personally went to Afghanistan to help. But there are unknown sources who are spreading these baseless rumors. Iran cannot take in more refugees, Akbari said. This is a fact. Abdolhakim Mahdi would be perfectly happy for another Afghan to take his place in Iran. The 22-year-old is here legally on a temporary visa and, like many other immigrants who hold documents, was able to commute freely between Iran and Afghanistan when the U.S.-backed government still held sway in Kabul. Now, with the Taliban in power and Iranian authorities deporting more Afghan migrants, who risk punishment by the new regime, Mahdis dream is no longer to return to his homeland after getting a degree; safety and opportunity lie elsewhere. Its absolutely out of the question now to go back to Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban, he said. Im desperately applying to universities everywhere. Hes been waiting in long lines outside the German Embassy in central Tehran. Video posted on social media show similar scenes outside the diplomatic missions of other nations. Everybody is on the move now, Mahdi said. Special correspondent Khazani reported from Tehran. Staff writer Chu is based in London. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Victor Jack WHITCHURCH, England (Reuters) - Voters went to the polls in a region of central England on Thursday to elect a new member of parliament in a test of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's authority after accusations of sleaze and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson's Conservative Party is facing a fight to retain the parliamentary seat for North Shropshire in a so-called by-election, triggered by last month's resignation of Owen Paterson after he was found to have broken rules on paid lobbying. If the Conservatives lose what has long been a loyal seat, it would be yet another blow to Johnson, who is under pressure after experiencing the biggest parliamentary rebellion against his government and over scandals such as reported parties in his office last Christmas when Britain was in a COVID-19 lockdown. The battle pitches the Conservatives against the Liberal Democrats, with several lawmakers saying they believed the governing party would lose the seat in the mostly rural constituency, a further erosion of support in traditionally Conservative-supporting regions. Conservative candidate Neil Shastri-Hurst, an army medic and barrister, said he was campaigning mainly on local issues, admitting that voters were concerned by scandals, such as Johnson's former press secretary, Allegra Stratton, captured on video joking about a lockdown-breaking party in Downing Street. "Id be being disingenuous if I didn't say the video hadn't been raised on the doorstep, and clearly it was egregious," he told Reuters, adding it was right that Johnson ordered an inquiry into the reported parties at his residence. "Im in the army so I know not to be complacent: from day one we've been fighting hard in this campaign," he said. Ben Wood, a local councillor running as the opposition Labour Party candidate, said he was doubtful that the Liberal Democrats could wrest control from the Conservatives. Story continues "People are angry, they feel like they've been taken for granted," he said. "Im absolutely fighting to win this one," he said. "I'm running a local campaign on public services, but it's also offering that alternative in decency, honesty, integrity, which people aren't getting from the Tories." Several voters interviewed in Whitchurch, a sleepy town of around 10,000 people in the district, were more interested in local issues than those dominating the national stage. Silvia, 74 and a life-long Tory voter, voted Liberal Democrat for the first time. "It's very much a protest vote," she said. "Im not happy with the way that local issues are being dealt with and we seem to be sidelined." Caroline Monschke, a 64-year-old supermarket worker, said she would reluctantly stick with the Conservatives. "It's like voting from bad to even worse: no matter what they say they all end up doing the same thing: making working people's lives a misery and lining their own pockets," she said. "I don't care about Christmas parties, but they shouldn't be doing one thing and telling us another." (Editing by Elizabeth Piper, Angus MacSwan and Andrew Heavens) Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, center, sits in the House chamber during the start of the 112 Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. For the second time in two weeks, a Republican lawmaker implied Tennessees top medical licensing board could be dismantled during an ongoing dispute over the boards efforts to discipline doctors who spread misinformation about coronavirus vaccines. The Board of Medical Examiners unanimously adopted a policy in September establishing doctors who spread falsehoods about the vaccines could have their medical licenses suspended or revoked. Last week, board members voted to delete the policy from their website but not rescind the policy itself to appease a powerful lawmaker. The issue rose again on Wednesday at a hearing of the Joint Government Operations Committee, which wields some authority over the medical board. During the hearing, several lawmakers asked for more information on how board members defined misinformation. But only one board member was present, so no answer was immediately available. Instead, Elizabeth Foy, a Department of Health attorney who was representing the board, said she would check with board members. Id be happy to take that back to the Board of Medical Examiners and determine if they have any interest in defining that specifically," Foy said. That response hit a nerve with one lawmaker. Im probably not the only one up here that was extremely offended by that response about seeing if the board had any interest in bringing this definition back, said Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, a committee member. I think the chairman has an ask that it be sent back to him in writing. I dont think its up to the board to decide And I for one will remember that comment when you come up for sunset, Calfee added, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head. Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, drinks out of a chocolate syrup bottle as he waits for the start of the State of the State address at the state Capitol Monday, Feb. 3, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn. Calfee was referencing the boards upcoming sunset hearing, which is a legislative process that weighs the possibility of dissolving government agencies or boards every few years. The hearings are intended as a failsafe for outdated or redundant government entities but are sometimes used by lawmakers to pressure agencies with the possibility of dissolution. Story continues The Board of Medical Examiners is expected to face a sunset hearing in 2022, likely in the first half of the year. Calfee, reached on his cell phone after Wednesday's hearing, said he raised the possibility of dissolving the board to make it clear members should take lawmakers request for a misinformation definition seriously. Calfee said he did not necessarily intend to vote to end the board at the upcoming sunset hearing. If thats their attitude, Ill definitely remember that when it comes to sunset, Calfee said. Now Im not saying that Id vote to shut them down. MORE: Rep. Kent Calfee goes viral for drinking out of a chocolate syrup bottle Medical board sought to discipline doctors who spread COVID-19 conspiracy theories The Board of Medical Examiners, which is responsible for licensing and disciplining doctors throughout Tennessee, unanimously approved its misinformation policy in September. The policy, a single paragraph written to mirror the stance of the Federation of State Medical Boards, established that doctors have an ethical and professional responsibility to share factual information about the coronavirus vaccines and could face consequences if they did not. Board members also in September instructed the Department of Health investigate doctors who were spreading misinformation to patients or social media, prioritizing extreme cases involving conspiracy theories, outlandish lies or false claims that were easily disprovable. The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners discusses complaints about doctors spreading COVID-19 misinformation during a meeting on Sept. 21. Lawmakers responded with three bills that prohibited the board from disciplining doctors for how they treat or what they say about coronavirus. The spirit of these bills was eventually folded into a new law saying the board could not discipline COVID-19 misinformation without prior approval from the Joint Government Operations Committee. Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, who co-chairs that committee, insists that even before the new law the board did not have authority to create its misinformation policy on its own. He sent three letters demanding the board remove the policy from its website which Ragan argues makes the policy void but the board did not take action. Eventually, Ragan threatened to dissolve the board entirely if the policy was not deleted, according to a letter a health department attorney sent to board members that was obtained by The Tennessean. Ragan told the Tennessean he did not recall making such a threat and insisted he did not have the authority to dissolve the board on his own. Im flattered that you and they think I have that much power. I cant do that by myself, Ragan told The Tennessean last week. However, it is within the authority of the General Assembly, acting through the government operations committee, to dissolve them if we so desire. During the committee hearing on Wednesday, two Nashville-area physicians Dr. Amy Gordon Bono and Dr. Katrina Green attempted to give public comment in opposition to lawmakers micromanaging the medical board, but Ragan shut down both comments by insisting they were not directly related to the committee's agenda. Ragan permitted a comment from a third physician, Dr. Kristen Miller of Memphis, who questioned how doctors were supposed to follow the medical board's misinformation policy if it was no longer online and accessible to the public. It is difficult even for a long-time practicing physician in the state of Tennessee, let alone someone thats not familiar with what these regulations are in our state, to know what the definition of COVID-19 misinformation is, Miller said. Brett Kelman is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 615-259-8287 or at brett.kelman@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter at @brettkelman. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Another GOP lawmaker implies Tennessee medical board may be dissolved Asheville Police Department Headquarters, located in downtown Asheville in Court Plaza. The Asheville Police Department expects to finalize a $225,000 contract with a recruiting firm in an attempt to address staggering staffing lows and reach a more diverse pool of applicants. Asheville City Council authorized City Manager Debra Campbell to enter into a contract with Arizona-based Epic Recruiting at its Dec. 14 meeting. Capt. Brandon Moore, who oversees support services for APD, said current strategies aren't working, and the number of patrol officers in the field is down about 40%. This will be the first time the department has contracted with an outside firm for recruitment. "We are looking for new ways of doing this moving forward, and I think this agency is putting us on the right track," Moore said. Related: Asheville Police headquarters reopens after short-staffing forced 6-month closure The department will finalize the contract in the coming weeks, and hopes to start its work with the firm by Jan. 1. The contract duration is for two years. Of the 238 sworn officer positions, the department currently has 184 filled, down 23%, according to Asheville Police Department spokesperson Bill Davis. Of that number, he said nearly 30 are in some capacity of training. Councilwoman Kim Roney requested the item be voted on separately within council's consent agenda, along with two other items related to public safety. On all three votes, she was the only dissenting councilmember. She said this and other agenda items only served to expand funding available for "business as usual" for APD, "which is the criminalization of our neighbors who are suffering." "Asheville obviously has an opportunity right now to diversify our public safety response instead of sometimes simply not responding," she said. She would prefer to see funds dedicated to other public safety efforts and addressing the "root cause" of crime such as youth mentorship, domestic violence prevention, violence interrupter programming and community paramedicine. Story continues The department saw its biggest staffing hit come after the summer 2020 protests, with officers leaving in large numbers. At its highest point, the department was down 81 officers. Members of the community have called for Asheville to "re-imagine public safety," and Moore said that is what the department is trying to do through this partnership. We dont necessarily have the best grasp on what currently, in 2021, is the best way to encourage an individual to want to work as a police officer within the city of Asheville," Moore said. "I think were asking this company to give us a head start based on their experience. What does that look like now? I dont know a better way to say weve reimagined than to say were asking someone else for help in how we do things. The department was unable to give more details regarding specifically what those efforts to seek a more diverse work force will look like. Moore said those conversations will begin once the department finalizes its contract with Epic. Epic boasts a "diversity coordinator" and diversity recruiting strategies and will help create a recruiting video and website in an effort to drive applicants, along with the creation of other recruiting media. According to a city database last updated Dec. 14, of the police department's about 213 employees, about 92% are white and 6% are Black people. More: After George Floyd protests, 'defund police' calls, Asheville creates new office Moore said historically, the department has had a small number of openings and a large number of applicants, but with those positions reversed, it began seeking solutions outside of its traditional methods, like-in-person recruitment events and informational sessions. After taking a "closer look" at how the department recruited, staff put out an RFP and received two responses. Epic submitted its proposal to the city in November. "This is one step in the right direction," Moore said. "Not approving those funds, not moving forward with this recruiting effort, would have left us doing the same, old efforts weve done in the past, which would not generate us anything different in a result. No additional funding allocation was required for the contract. According to staff, the department identified funding within its existing budget from one-time savings in the existing AXON contract, due to the return of surplus equipment to pay for this contract. Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville Police Department to spend $225K on recruiting firm Five children have died and four others are injured after falling from a bouncy castle that was blown into the air in Australia, police say. The accident - caused by a wind gust - happened on Thursday at a primary school fun day in Devonport, Tasmania. Police said the children had fallen from 10m (32ft), with two boys and two girls among the victims. The children were in grade six, meaning they were probably 10 or 11 years old. A fifth child died later in hospital. "A wind gust had reportedly caused the jumping castle and inflatable balls to lift into the air," Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said. "Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon." Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as "unthinkably heartbreaking". "Young children on a fun day out and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of the year, it just breaks your heart," he said. Paramedics arrived quickly at Hillcrest Primary School after the accident at about 10:00 local time (23:00 Wednesday GMT). Police said the children had fallen from a height of 10m (32ft) The children were given first aid before being flown in helicopters to hospital. Four children were initially pronounced dead and a fifth child later died in hospital. Parents were alerted immediately following the incident, which happened on the last day of the school year. ABC reporter Monte Bovill tweeted that locals "have been running to the school to collect their children". One parent, speaking to a local newspaper, said the school had previously installed such floats on similar occasions with no problems. "You wouldn't dream a fun activity day would end like this," the woman told the Hobart Mercury. "We all feel so heartbroken for the parents involved. And feel guilty that we are also relieved our children were not injured." A coroner's investigation was under way, police said. Story continues Devonport, on Tasmania's northern coast, is a small port city with just under 30,000 residents. There have been other fatal bouncy castle incidents. In 2019, two children were killed and 20 others injured in a similar accident in China. A year earlier, a girl died in the UK after being thrown from a bouncy castle that eyewitnesses say exploded on a Norfolk beach. And two fairground workers were jailed for manslaughter by gross negligence after a bouncy castle blew away with seven-year-old Summer Grant inside, in Essex, in March 2016. DATE: August-October 2021 PLACE: Kabul, Afghanistan; Dover Air Force Base, Delaware PHOTOGRAPHERS: Felipe Dana; Rahmat Gul; Carolyn Kaster ___ The men are shirtless, and they look cold, bewildered, lost. They are drug users waiting to be shaved at a drug treatment hospital after being detained during a raid by the Taliban, who once ruled Afghanistan and now, 20 years later, are in charge there again. Its a powerful photo, both in composition and content. The same photographer, Felipe Dana, took another image in this collection a portrait of Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, leader of the Taliban, who retook the Afghan capital after a chaotic U.S. departure in August. In one image during the days of that departure, taken by Rahmat Gul, an American Chinook helicopter is silhouetted against a bruised orange sky as smoke rises all around and a country that cant seem to catch a break navigated another difficult time. On the other end of the equation, there was loss, too. Photographer Carolyn Kaster watched from behind her lens as Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of the U.S. Marine Corps, came home on Aug. 29. His body was shouldered by a carry team at Dover Air Force Base after he died with 12 other U.S. service members in an attack at the airport in Afghanistans capital. ___ QUOTED Felipe Dana, AP photographer: We all knew of the U.S. and its allies' plan to withdraw from Afghanistan, but I think everyone was surprised and how quickly the Taliban took control of the entire country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days and reaching Kabul while foreign troops were still on the ground. On his photo of drug users: Afghanistan is one of the worlds largest producers of heroin, and it also has a huge problem of addiction. In this photo, these men are waiting to have their head shaved after a Taliban forcibly took them from the streets and locked them up at a former military base now used for treatment of drug users. ___ 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 Lardy Howdy! My name is Ben Lardy, and I am the new private lands habitat biologist for South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks based out of Webster. Prior to joining GFP I worked 10 years as a Farm Bill biologist with Pheasants Forever in the northeastern corner of the state. Ive been fortunate to work with and learn from hundreds of landowners in the area implementing a variety of conservation programs and practices through the years. My wife Kelli and I recently moved to a small farm outside of Grenville where we run yearlings and raise pastured hogs and chickens. Agriculture and habitat are my main two passions, and I enjoy every opportunity to bring the two together when possible. Were extremely lucky to have a large number of conservation-minded producers in the northeast, and Im excited to get back out in the field with them. That being said, landowners today have more options now than ever to address their habitat goals. The number of conservation partners offering financial and technical assistance can be both a blessing and a curse when trying to implement a project on your property. If youre ever overwhelmed and unsure who to reach out to regarding habitat work, your local private lands habitat biologist with GFP is a great place to start. Our staff strives to stay up to date on all the various programs and partnerships throughout the state. We work closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Pheasants Forever, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, local conservation districts and more. If we dont have the resources to assist you with your goals, we almost always have a partner close by that can. Great habitat doesnt happen overnight, so remember to be patient when navigating the network of programs and cost-share opportunities. Winter is the perfect time to start planning for the next growing season and our 12 private lands biologists across the state are ready to help. Story continues If you are interested in discussing your habitat goals with one of our private land habitat biologists, feel free to contact one of our offices. Webster: 605-345-3381 Aberdeen: 605-626-2391 Watertown: 605-882-5200 Brent Lardy of Grenville is a South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks private land habitat biologist. This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: GFP private land habitat biologists ready to help South Dakotans By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Thursday to ban imports from China's Xinjiang region over concerns about forced labor, part of Washington's continued pushback https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-us-rights-idUSKBN2B41HM against Beijing's treatment of the country's Uyghur Muslim minority. The Senate passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act by unanimous consent, sending it to the White House, where President Joe Biden has said he will sign it into law. The House of Representatives passed the bill with a unanimous voice vote on Tuesday. The measure rushed through Congress this week after lawmakers agreed on a compromise that eliminated differences between bills introduced in the House and Senate. Republicans and Democrats in the two chambers have been arguing over the Uyghur legislation for months. The dispute complicated passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, and has held up the Senate's confirmation of some of Biden's ambassadorial nominees, including his selection of Nicholas Burns to be ambassador to China. As they cleared the way for the Uyghur bill's passage on Thursday, lawmakers also agreed to allow a vote later in the day on at least a few of Biden's nominees for diplomatic positions, including Burns. The compromise legislation keeps a provision creating a "rebuttable presumption" that all goods from Xinjiang, where the Chinese government has set up a network of detention camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim groups, were made with forced labor, in order to bar such imports. "It is a horrifying human rights situation, fully sanctioned, as we now know, by the Communist Party of China," Republican Senator Marco Rubio said, urging senators to vote for the bill. China denies abuses in Xinjiang, which supplies much of the world's materials for solar panels, but the U.S. government and many rights groups say Beijing is carrying out genocide there. Story continues Nury Turkel, a Uyghur American who serves as vice chair on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said the bill's effectiveness would depend on the willingness of the Biden administration to ensure it is effective, especially when companies ask for waivers. "The possibility of it not being fully implemented is one of my major concerns," Turkel told Reuters. "If this is not fully implemented then it will be a dead lever, just like the Genocide Convention." Republicans had accused Biden's Democrats of slow-walking the bill because it would complicate the president's renewable energy agenda. Democrats denied that. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai praised the legislation. "We have a moral and economic imperative to eliminate this practice from our global supply chains, including those that run through Xinjiang, China, and exploit Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities," she said. In a related development on Thursday, the U.S. government hit dozens of Chinese companies with investment and export restrictions, including top drone maker DJI, accusing them of complicity in the oppression of Uyghurs or of helping the military, further ratcheting up tensions between the world's top two economies. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, additional reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Jonathan Oatis and Sonya Hepinstall) Wojtek Gurak/Flickr When a heavy storm hit in October, residents of the floating community of Schoonschip in Amsterdam had little doubt they could ride it out. They tied up their bikes and outdoor benches, checked in with neighbors to ensure everyone had enough food and water, and hunkered down as their neighborhood slid up and down its steel foundational pillars, rising along with the water and descending to its original position after the rain subsided. We feel safer in a storm because we are floating, said Siti Boelen, a Dutch television producer who moved into Schoonschip two years ago. I think its kind of strange that building on water is not a priority worldwide. As sea levels rise and supercharged storms cause waters to swell, floating neighborhoods offer an experiment in flood defense that could allow coastal communities to better withstand climate change. In the land-scarce but densely populated Netherlands, demand for such homes is growing. And, as more people look to build on the water there, officials are working to update zoning laws to make the construction of floating homes easier. Sea-Level Rise Threatens Over 300,000 U.S. Homes, Says Report The municipality wants to expand the concept of floating because it is multifunctional use of space for housing, and because the sustainable way is the way forward, said Nienke van Renssen, an Amsterdam city councilor from the GreenLeft party. The floating communities in the Netherlands that have emerged in the past decade have served as proof of concept for larger-scale projects now being spearheaded by Dutch engineers not just in European countries like Britain, France, and Norway, but also places as far-flung as French Polynesia and the Maldives, the Indian Ocean nation now facing an existential threat from sea level rise. There is even a proposal for floating islands in the Baltic Sea on which small cities would be built. Unlike houseboats, which can easily be unmoored and relocated, floating homes are fixed to the shore, often resting on steel poles, and are usually connected to the local sewage system and power grid. They are structurally similar to houses built on land, but instead of a basement, they have a concrete hull that acts as a counterweight, allowing them to remain stable in the water. In the Netherlands, they are often prefabricated, square-shaped, three-story townhouses built offsite with conventional materials like timber, steel, and glass. For cities facing worsening floods and a shortage of buildable land, floating homes are one potential blueprint for how to expand urban housing in the age of climate change. Story continues Koen Olthuis, who in 2003 founded Waterstudio, a Dutch architectural firm focused exclusively on floating buildings, said that the relatively low-tech nature of floating homes is potentially their biggest advantage. The homes he designs are stabilized by poles dug roughly 65 meters into the ground and outfitted with shock-absorbent materials to reduce the feeling of movement from nearby waves. The houses ascend when waters rise and descend when waters recede. But despite their apparent simplicity, Olthuis contends they have the potential to transform cities in ways not seen since the introduction of the elevator, which pushed skylines upward. We now have the tech, the possibility to build on water, said Olthuis, who has designed 300 floating homes, offices, schools, and health-care centers. He added that he and his colleagues dont see ourselves as architects, but as city doctors, and we see water as a medicine. In the Netherlands, a country which is largely built on reclaimed land and a third of which remains below sea level, the idea is not so far-fetched. In Amsterdam, which has almost 3,000 officially registered traditional houseboats across its canals, hundreds of people have moved into floating homes in previously neglected neighborhoods. Schoonschip, designed by Dutch firm Space&Matter, consists of 30 houses, half of which are duplexes, on a canal in a former manufacturing area. The neighborhood is a short ferry ride from central Amsterdam, where many of the residents work. Community members share nearly everything, including bikes, cars, and food bought from local farmers. Each building runs its own heat pump and devotes roughly a third of its roof to greenery and solar panels. Residents sell surplus power to one another and to the national grid. Living on water is normal for us, which is exactly the point, said Marjan de Blok, a Dutch TV director who initiated the project in 2009 by organizing the collective of architects, legal experts, engineers, and residents who worked to get the project off the ground. Rotterdam, which is 90 percent below sea level and the site of Europes biggest port, is home to the worlds largest floating office building, as well as a floating farm where cows are milked by robots, supplying dairy products to local grocery stores. Since the 2010 launch of the Floating Pavilion, a solar-powered meeting and event space in Rotterdams harbor, the city has been ramping up efforts to mainstream such projects, naming floating buildings one of the pillars of its Climate Proof and Adaptation Strategy. Over the last 15 years, weve reinvented ourselves as a delta city, said Arnoud Molenaar, chief resilience officer with the City of Rotterdam. Instead of seeing water just as an enemy, we see it as an opportunity. To help protect cities against climate change, in 2006 the Dutch government undertook its Room for the River program, which strategically allows certain areas to flood during periods of heavy rain, a paradigm shift that seeks to embrace, rather than resist, rising water levels. Olthuis says the housing shortage in the Netherlands could fuel demand for floating homes, including in Room for the River areas where floods will be, at least for a portion of the year, part of the landscape. Experts say that relieving the Netherland housing shortage will require the construction of 1 million new homes over the next 10 years. Floating homes could help make up for the shortage of land that is suitable for development. Dutch firms specializing in floating buildings have been inundated with requests from developers abroad to undertake more ambitious projects. Blue21, a Dutch tech company focused on floating buildings, is currently working on a proposed series of floating islands in the Baltic Sea that would house 50,000 people and connect to a privately funded 15 billion euro underwater rail tunnel that would link Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia; the project is backed by Finnish investor and Angry Birds entrepreneur Peter Vesterbacka. Waterstudio will oversee construction this winter of a floating housing development near the low-lying capital of Male in the Maldives, where 80 percent of the country sits less than one meter above sea level. It is composed of simply designed, affordable housing for 20,000 people. Underneath the hulls will be artificial coral to help support marine life. The buildings will pump cold seawater from the deep to power air conditioning systems. Theres no longer this idea of a crazy magician building a floating house, Olthuis said. Now were creating blue cities, seeing water as a tool. Floating homes pose numerous challenges, however. Severe wind and rainstorms, or even the passing of large cruise ships, can make the buildings rock. Siti Boelen, the Schoonschip resident, said that when she first moved in, stormy weather made her think twice before venturing up to her third-floor kitchen, where she felt the movement the most. You feel it in your stomach, she said, adding that she has since gotten used to the feeling. Floating homes also require extra infrastructure and work to connect to the electricity grid and sewer system, with special waterproof cords and pumps needed to link to municipal services on higher ground. In the case of Schoonschip in Amsterdam and the floating office building in Rotterdam, new microgrids had to be built from scratch. A floating house neighborhood in Victoria, British Columbia. WhyDolls/Flickr But the benefits may outweigh the costs. Rutger de Graaf, the cofounder and director of Blue21, said that the growing number of disastrous, unprecedented storms around the world has spurred both city planners and residents to look to the water for solutions. Floating developments, he said, could have saved lives and billions of dollars in damage as recently as last summer, when deadly floods hit Germany and Belgium, killing at least 222 people. If there are floods, its expected that many people will move to higher ground. But the alternative is to stay close to coastal cities and explore expansion onto the water, says De Graaf. If you consider that in the second half of the century, hundreds of millions of people will be displaced by sea level rise, we need to start now to increase the scale of floating developments. Shira Rubin is a journalist based in Tel Aviv. This story was originally published in Yale Environment 360. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Dec.8 meeting KEY ACTION Passed an ordinance, as an emergency, hiring Matt Judy as village administrator, effective Dec. 8. DISCUSSION: Judy was one of two applicants for the position. He will receive $18 per hour and work 24-hours a week. Councilman Dan Oberlin asked Judy to obtain a water license. Judy agreed to do that. In another matter, council heard a presentation from Nathan Davis of RECAP about the proposed metered rates. Davis said there is about 412 active metered customers in the village. Council agreed to charge $43 per month per customer. Council then held the first reading of an ordinance to permit the village to implement metered rates for water billing. OTHER ACTION Passed a resolution to approve 2022 temporary appropriations of $325,969. Passed a resolution to petition the Ohio Department of Transportation for noise barriers along Interstate -77. The barriers would be installed from about Fort Laurens to Sherman Church Rd. Mayor Tim Lang is concerned the barriers do not obstruct the line of site for the business that can currently be seen from the highway as well at Fort Laurens can be seen from the highway. Adopted an ordinance, as an emergency, authorizing the mayor and fiscal officer to execute the attached tax and levy funds distribution agreement between the village, Lawrence Township, and the village of Zoar. Adopted two ordinances, as emergencies, to amend the villages water rules, and regulations to permit monthly billing and to implement metered rates for water billing. Held the second readings of two ordinance for contractual services of legal counsel for the village and to provide the contractual services for a prosecutor. Passed, as an emergency, an ordinance contracting with the county public defender commission to provide indigent defense services for 2022. Held the second reading of an ordinance to deed the Santa Claus house (structure only) to Bolivar Main Street. Agreed to purchase ice melt for the Canal Street businesses to use on the sidewalks and the library at a cost not to exceed $800. Story continues Heard the contract with Huntington Bank, for collection of water bills funds, will expire Dec. 31. It was agreed to return the billing to the village office. Adopted an ordinance setting a two percent increase in the rate of pay for village employees for 2022. Adopted an ordinance re-hire Zach Nusbaum, as a part-time village employee, retroactive to Nov. 8, at $10 per hour and 24-hours per week. Held the first reading of an ordinance to increase the rate of pay for Kyle Porter, street superintendent. Held the first reading of an ordinance adopting a parking ordinance to allow council to fine/two vehicles that are parked on village property. FOR YOUR INFO The leaf pickup has concluded for the year. The salt spreader and winter equipment has been installed on the village trucks. The village planning commission will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 to review a request for a variance at 409 Canal Street N.E. Thanks council members Robert Lloyd and Mary Vincent for their many years of service on council and in the community. The Dec. 8 meeting was the last meeting for the two council members UP NEXT meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 3 in council chambers at village hall. This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Bolivar Village Council meeting People shouldnt get the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine when the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots are available, an advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The panel, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, convened following an update from the Food and Drug Administration on the risk of rare but potentially life-threatening blood clots linked to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. At least 54 people in the United States, mostly women, have been hospitalized from these blood clots, and nine people have died. The panel voted unanimously in favor of deeming the mRNA vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna, the preferred options for adults over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, ultimately concluding that the mRNA vaccines provided greater protection and fewer risks than Johnson & Johnsons. The recommendation would not prohibit use of the Johnson & Johnson shot, but instead make clear that the other options are a better choice if they are available. I really cannot recommend a vaccine that has been associated with a condition that may lead to death, said committee member Dr. Pablo Sanchez, a pediatrician at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Ohio. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky will need to sign off on the recommendation. Johnson & Johnsons vaccine is linked to a blood clotting condition known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS. The AstraZeneca vaccine has also been associated with the blood clot issue. Both the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines use an adenovirus technology to train the immune system to fight the coronavirus. The shots developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use a different approach, mRNA, to train the immune system, and have not been linked to these clots. The ACIP meeting came after the FDA announced Tuesday it added a contraindication to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, saying that people who had previously developed TTS after receiving one dose of that vaccine should not receive a second dose. The FDA also said the highest reporting rate of the blood clot issue about 1 case per 100,000 doses administered has been in women aged 30 to 49. About 15 percent of the cases have been fatal. Story continues Dr. Sara Oliver, an epidemic intelligence service officer at the CDC, said in a presentation to the committee that data shows the Johnson & Johnson vaccine prevents more hospitalization and deaths from COVID than the TTS it can cause. Still, she said, the vaccine prevents fewer hospitalizations and deaths than two doses of an mRNA vaccine. During the meeting, Dr. Penny Heaton, the global head of research and development at Johnson & Johnsons vaccine division, defended the shot, saying it offers high levels of protection against COVID, only requires one dose and is easier to store and transport than the mRNA vaccines, which must be stored at cold temperatures. But committee members noted that theres increasing evidence to suggest that one dose of Johnson & Johnsons vaccine is not sufficient. In October, federal health officials said that all Johnson & Johnson recipients should get a booster shot if its been two months since their initial vaccination. The vast majority of initial Johnson & Johnson recipients have opted for a Pfizer or Moderna booster. The Biden administration is urging all eligible Americans to get a booster amid the threat of the omicron variant. Initial data suggests three shots of the mRNA vaccines provide adequate protection against the new strain. In the U.S., the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are readily available. More than 570 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna have been delivered to providers, whereas only 28 million doses of Johnson & Johnson have been delivered. The link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and blood clots first emerged in April after six cases were reported in women. Federal health officials paused the use of the vaccine at that time to investigate the cases, and resumed administration 10 days later, adding a warning that the vaccine could be linked to the clots, particularly among women ages 18 to 49. A total of 54 cases of TTS following Johnson & Johnson vaccination were identified through late August, Dr. Isaac See, a scientist in the CDCs emerging infectious diseases unit, said Thursday during a presentation to the committee. All the patients were hospitalized, including 36 who were admitted to the intensive care unit. Most cases occurred in women, and symptoms usually occurred within nine days of vaccination with the first dose, he said. No cases of the rare clot issue have occurred in pregnant women. Risk factors for the clot issue include obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Johnson & Johnsons vaccine initially held promise, because it could be given as a single dose, rather than the two doses required for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. But clinical trials showed that its effectiveness was much lower than those of Pfizer and Moderna. That effectiveness fell further with the emergence of the delta variant, leading health officials to recommend boosters. More than 16 million people in the United States have received a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to the CDC. More than 470 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been administered. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. Central York student Olivia Pituch Wednesday night spoke alongside a variety of prominent authors, such as Neil Gaiman, George M. Johnson and Ashley Hope Perez, on a panel titled "Fighting Book Bans: A Teach-In For Student Activists and Their Allies." The panel was organized PEN America, a nonprofit promoting free expression through literature. They brought in the frequently challenged authors as well as students fighting literature censorship in their schools. Students from other schools fighting censorship in Southlake, Texas and North Kansas, Missouri were brought on as well. The discussion focused on tactics for fighting book censorship in school districts and addressing why some authors' works are banned. Johnson, who authored "All Boys Aren't Blue," a book about growing up as a queer black man that has received heat from some school boards, said many of the arguments for why his work should be banned are taken out of context. (From left) Central York High School students Zachary Smith, Alicia Le, Olivia Pituch and Ava Forrey look at a spread of dozens of books that are on the district's banned resources list during a protest outside the Central York School District Educational Service Center on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in Springettsbury Township. "It's easy to prove the fact that most of the people who are trying to ban these books are not reading the entire book, so they're pulling these quotes out of context," Johnson said. "Literally every single school board meeting, every single attempt to ban the book is pulling the same two paragraphs. And so when you think about it, you're taking literally just two small pieces of a book and trying to then make that the catalyst of your argument." Pituch is a member of the Panther Anti-Racist Union, which has been making waves since they started protesting a resource list ban implemented by the Central York School District in August, which prevented use of many black and brown authors' works in classrooms. The ban was reversed in September. Pituch spoke about the protests that occurred over the fall, and the book drive at which thousands of the banned books were distributed in a matter of minutes. "There's times where you feel like you won't make a difference, or there's times you feel like you're failing, but something that's really helped me keep momentum is seeing how these little things that we do impact the community," Pituch said. "When we had our second community protest we had around 300 people show up, possibly more, and it was beautiful to see the community come together under cause of diversity... It's those moments like that that really help keep me going." Story continues More: These are the books and other resources banned by the Central York School Board More: Central York school board votes unanimously to rescind book ban: 'It has taken far too long' The Panther Anti-Racist Union has been gaining national and local traction, with group president Edha Gupta being chosen as a "Voice of the Year" by Seventeen Magazine, the union being awarded the Change Maker award from the York Economic Alliance, and tons of national coverage. "Something that us younger people have been told all of our lives is that we can't make a difference or our voice doesn't have impact, we're too young to do this, we're too young to know that," Pituch said. "Our voices were the ones who brought national attention, international attention to our story and we caused the temporary reversal of the ban. We're helping mobilize these changes. So our voices really, really do matter." This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Central York book ban discussion with PEN America on censorship Jacksonville Icemen goaltender Charles Williams (1) gloves a shot on goal during the third period of an ECHL hockey game against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. [Gary Lloyd McCullough/For the Jacksonville Icemen] Turning point: Forward Craig Martin stayed red-hot for the Icemen, scoring his ninth goal in 10 games at 12:52 of the opening period, leading Jacksonville past the Greenville Swamp Rabbits 3-0 Wednesday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Three stars: 1. Charles Williams, Jacksonville (28 saves). 2. Martin, Jacksonville (one goal). 3. Abbott Girduckis, Jacksonville (one goal). Penalty box: Icemen forward Ben Hawerchuk squared off against Greenville's Roshen Jaswal in a fight midway through the second period. Around the rink: Zach Berzolla added an empty-net goal to finish off the Swamp Rabbits (9-10-1-1). ... Jacksonville (13-8-1-1) could have seized sole possession of first place in the ECHL South if the Florida Everblades had lost Wednesday night, but Jake Jaremko's third-period goal pushed the Everblades past Atlanta, 3-1. ... Williams earned the second shutout of his Icemen career. Up next: The Icemen travel to the South Carolina Stingrays at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, their first of three games at the Stingrays in about a week. The Times-Union This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: ECHL hockey report: Jacksonville Icemen-Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Dec. 15 The Chicago Blackhawks and former prospect Kyle Beach have agreed to a settlement in his negligence lawsuit against the team, the parties said Wednesday night. No monetary amount was disclosed. Hawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz and CEO Danny Wirtz and Beachs attorney, Susan Loggans, released this joint statement: The parties are pleased to announce that todays mediation resulted in a confidential settlement between the Blackhawks and Kyle Beach. The Blackhawks hope that this resolution will bring some measure of peace and closure for Mr. Beach. As for the Blackhawks organization, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that, going forward, this team will be a beacon for professionalism, respect and integrity in our community. We remain grateful for the trust and support of the Blackhawks community, and we promise to continue working every day to earn and maintain that trust. The settlement brings to a close a major chapter in Beachs legal battle with the team. He sued the Hawks in May over their handling of his sexual assault allegations in 2010 against then-video coach Brad Aldrich. Beach, initially identified as John Doe in the lawsuit, argued that Aldrich threatened physical and financial harm if Beach didnt engage in sex acts, which Beach alleges he carried out. The Hawks initially said the claims lacked merit but hired law firm Jenner & Block to conduct an independent investigation. The firms report found that top Hawks officials delayed reporting the allegations about Aldrich to the teams human resources department until after the Hawks won the Stanley Cup and that the team paid Aldrich severance to resign. The allegations were not reported to Chicago police, according to the firms report. In the wake of the Jenner & Block report, Hawks president of hockey operations and general manager Stan Bowman resigned. Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville, who coached the Hawks in 2010, stepped down days later. Story continues Both Quenneville and Bowman took part in a meeting of Hawks senior managers in May 2010 to address Beachs complaint, but no action was taken for three weeks. According to Jenner & Blocks findings, the Blackhawks own sexual harassment policy which required investigation of all reports of sexual harassment to be conducted promptly and thoroughly was violated. The failure to promptly and thoroughly investigate the matter and the decision to take no action from May 23 to June 14 had consequences. The report also found that during that period, Aldrich was accused of physically grabbing (a Hawks) intern in a sexual manner. On the day the report was released to the public, the Wirtzes instructed their legal team to reach a fair resolution with Beach. But team lawyers reached an impasse with Loggans, and both parties agreed to a mediator. Talks were scheduled to take place Wednesday. What remains uncertain is where this leaves negotiations with John Doe 2, a former Houghton (Mich.) High School hockey player who sued the Hawks in a separate case. Aldrich pleaded guilty in 2013 to misdemeanor criminal sexual conduct with the then-student and had to register as a sex offender. Loggans told the Tribune earlier that mediations over Beachs settlement would set the tone for John Doe 2s lawsuit. A man in China is being accused of selling five of his children three daughters and two sons for a total of 180,000 Chinese yuan (around $28,275). Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/ LightRocket via Getty Images A Chinese man has been slapped with a 10 year prison sentence for selling five of his children. The man was accused by a Chinese court of having children for the sole purpose of selling them. Between 2012 and 2020, Yang sold two sons and three daughters for 180,000 Chinese yuan ($28,275). A Chinese man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for selling his five children for profit. According to a document released by the court of Yu County, a town in the northwestern Chinese province of Hebei, the man, whose surname is Yang, sold five of his children for a total of 180,000 Chinese yuan (around $28,275). The court said its investigations concluded that the man and his wife, surnamed Yuan, had the children with the express aim of selling them off to whoever wanted to buy them. The court noted that the man had sold all five children two sons and three daughters between 2012 and 2020, for sums ranging from 20,000 Chinese yuan ($3,141) to 80,000 Chinese yuan ($12,566). Of the five children, four three daughters and a son were sold to a middleman who was identified by the courts as Li, and his daughter-in-law. Li received 3,600 Chinese yuan ($565) for facilitating the transactions. The couple also sold a son to a woman who was in the maternity ward with Yuan when she gave birth to the boy. For their roles in the crime, the middleman, Li, was sentenced to a prison term of seven years. His daughter-in-law, Duan, received a jail term of 21 months for posing as the mother of two of the children to meet potential buyers. The children's biological mother was not cited in the court documents. "Children who should have been cared for and allowed to grow up in a loving environment were exploited and treated like goods by their parents and perceived as money-making tools by greedy traffickers. Yang has betrayed his children, and his immoral conduct has been punished to the full extent of the law," read the document from the Yu County court. Story continues "The sale of children by their guardians not only infringes the rights of minors but also supports the existence and expansion of the illegal trade," the court added. The South China Morning Post reported that while child trafficking was a rampant crime in the country in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly after China adopted its one-child policy, cases of child abduction and human trafficking still occur. The SCMP cited statistics from a Chinese Ministry of Public Security press conference in September, where it was announced that the number of child abduction cases dropped from around 6,000 cases in 2012 to 666 cases in 2021. There have, however, been other shocking instances of Chinese parents exchanging their kids for cash. In May, a man named Xie in the southern Zhejiang province was accused of selling his two-year-old son to a childless couple for $24,400, then using the money to go on vacation, the SCMP reported. Read the original article on Insider It's been a whirlwind month for Pastor Sylvia Tisdale of the Epps Christian Center. After supporting those in need for years, Tisdale has recently been on the other side of coin, culminating with one more gift Wednesday that will finish paying off the mortgage for her church, which is home base to her own philanthropy. Innisfree Hotels President and CEO Ted Ent presented the gift on behalf of The Hive, which supports employers and businesses to create opportunities and break the cycle of generational poverty to better our communities. "What Miss Sylvia does here at the soup kitchen closely aligns with other efforts we've been supporting in the community in breaking the cycle of poverty," Ent said. "It didn't take us long to figure out that we needed to be part of this any way we could. So this is the first of what we know is going to be a long-standing relationship with this facility." Helping hand: Simplified Planner founder rallies online 'sisterhood' to pay off Epps Christian Center mortgage The Hive's From the Ground Up community garden will also create a second garden near the Epps Christian Center to provide a direct supply line of fresh vegetables and other garden staples to the church to help feed the homeless and food insecure residents of the area. Located beneath Interstate 110 in downtown Pensacola, From the Ground Up was created to help cultivate organic gardening practices and educate people on ways to have healthier lives, beautify neighborhoods and reduce family budgets. Tisdale, who grew up on a farm in Kingstree, South Carolina, loves the idea of having a community garden for the people she cares for at the Epps Christian Center. That "getting your hands in the dirt" does something for people who experience it. "I think the people that we serve when they see that we have a community garden that they could come and cook stuff for themselves as well as help out in the garden, I think this is gonna give them a better attitude about themselves," Tisdale said. Story continues The gift came about last week when Tisdale and Innisfree owners Kim and Julian MacQueen attended the CivicCon awards ceremony, where all three won awards. Kim MacQueen had always wanted to meet Tisdale, so they set up an appointment to talk more last week. There, Tisdale told MacQueen about her goals for the organization and what she needed. CivicCon: 22 award winners named in first-ever CivicCon Awards "Well, we're gonna do something to help you," MacQueen told Tisdale. "I don't know what it is right now, but we're going to do something to help you and I'm going to have someone contact you." From left, Innisfree Hotels President and CEO Ted Ent, Innisfree Hotels Vice President of Community Engagement Rusty Branch, Pastor Sylvia Tisdale and Innisfree Hotels Vice President of Culture Lusharon Wiley chat Wednesday before presenting Tisdale with a $10,000 check to pay off the mortgage at the Epps Christian Center in Pensacola. On Monday, Vice President of Community Engagement Rusty Branch contacted Tisdale and told her Innisfree officials wanted to come by Epps on Wednesday at about 1 p.m. and give her a donation. Tisdale was not told what the donation would be, but was thankful for anything she would receive. Editorial: Tisdale, Ley are true examples of local leaders, difference-makers The latest donation, which put her over the top, comes after Tisdale received a $35,000 crowdsourcing donation from Simplified Planner founder Emily Ley, who was moved by the experience of helping handing out meals at Epps for Thanksgiving with her children on Nov. 20. The combined donations will pay off the mortgage and purchase 20- and 40-foot containers to help store the overflow of non-perishable food and donations that Epps receives. The center feeds about 400 families weekly and provides other resources, such as helping people acquire IDs, housing, stimulus checks and more. Now Tisdale can free up her mind to dream even bigger, possibly moving into a larger facility to take care of more people. For now, however, she is taking everything one day at a time. "I keep on making sure that people are taken care of because the Bible says we are always going to have the poor with us," Tisdale said. "People are always going to be in need. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: InnisFree Hotel donates money and a garden to Epps Christian Center SAN DIEGO (AP) The head of the U.S. agency that grants citizenship and visas says it's getting a grip on finances that threatened massive furloughs last year and is preparing to propose fees for its services that won't limit legal immigration to the very wealthy, a jab at a Trump administration principle that newcomers should be financially self-sufficient. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was on the brink of furloughing nearly 70% of its 20,000 employees in the summer of 2020 when, almost overnight, it declared it would end the year with a large surplus. USCIS, the acronym by which the agency is known, relies almost entirely on fee collections for a nearly $5 billion annual operation. Reserves at the end of the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 were $1.5 billion, which is where we want to be, agency Director Ur Jaddou told The Associated Press in an interview. A temporary hiring freeze, spending controls and no longer requiring new biometric data for renewal of benefits, introduced in March 2020, helped put the agency on stronger footing, she said. I do understand what the problems were and how theyve been resolved I want to say that in quotes because we have an unsteady situation, but were pretty, were strong, Jaddou said. Trump administration officials have credited last year's return from the financial precipice to higher-than-expected fees collected during the coronavirus pandemic's early months and ending some contracts. USCIS, which also has a leading role in asylum and refugee resettlement, may be a far less familiar name than other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, like the Border Patrol, but it is critical to the immigration system. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a Democrat then representing a Miami-area district in Congress, said at a hearing on USCIS finances last year that about 70% of calls to her office were related to its work. The Trump administration brought major change to the agency, including expansion of its fraud investigations unit and an emphasis on insisting immigrants be financially self-sufficient to remain in the country. Story continues Fees on wealthier applicants have long subsidized other operations, like asylum, which doesn't generate revenue. President Joe Biden's administration will soon propose a new fee structure for the agency. Number one, we believe the immigration system should not be reserved to the wealthy, Jaddou said, striking a contrast with the Trump-era mantra of self-sufficiency. Jaddou, who was born in the San Diego area and was raised by Mexican and Iraqi immigrant parents, was chief counsel at USCIS during President Barack Obama's second term, working alongside Alejandro Mayorkas, a former USCIS director who is now her boss as Homeland Security secretary. During Donald Trump's presidency, she was director of DHS Watch, a group funded by immigration advocacy group America's Voice. She recited key financial and operational metrics from memory during an interview in October 2020 in which she said a fiscal review should be the new USCIS director's first priority. On Thursday, USCIS released a list of accomplishments" for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, including naturalized citizenship for 855,000 people, work-based green cards for 172,000 and help for tens of thousands of Afghans and their families who fled after the end of America's 20-year war in their country. Wait times for citizenship applications grew last year, as they did during Trump's presidency, to about a year. The agency acknowledged a growing backlog for all benefits that recently topped 8 million but pointed to dropping the biometrics requirement for renewals and other efficiency measures as significant strides. More than four months after the Senate approved Jaddou's nomination in a 47-34 vote along party lines, the director is evaluating Trump-era changes, including expansion of the anti-fraud unit and a push to strip citizenship from people who achieved it through lying or fraud. Jaddou has not reversed a 2018 change in the agency's mission statement that drew heated praise and criticism. Trump appointee Francis Cissna cut reference to the U.S. as a nation of immigrants. "It is something we are working on, Jaddou said. Erie County school districts will set their own policies for face masks and other COVID-19 mitigation measures when Brenton Davis becomes Erie County executive on Jan. 3. Davis, 38, said he has no plans to continue with a countywide mask mandate for schools unless there is a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. A statewide mask mandate was overturned Dec. 10 by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. "I want to place local control with the school districts," Davis said during a 75-minute interview at his Millcreek Township home. "The situation in the North East School District could be different from the situation in the Harbor Creek School District, which could be different from what they are seeing in the Erie School District." Mask mandate: Erie County mask mandate for schools remains in effect 'until further notice' COVID in Pennsylvania: Wolf asks federal government to help hospitals as cases spike Erie County Executive-elect Brenton Davis has been using the kitchen and dining room of his Millcreek Township home as a study area to prepare for his new job. Davis takes office Jan. 3. COVID-19 remains the county's most pressing health and economic issue, nearly two years after the pandemic started, Davis said. The county executive-elect said it is important for people to realize that COVID-19 will not be eradicated in the near future. They must learn to live healthy, productive lives during the pandemic. "We have to find a way to return to some sense of normalcy," Davis said. Erie hospital's COVID units: A closer look at the battle to beat the virus One way Davis wants to achieve that is by changing the county's public-health approach to COVID-19. His method of dealing with COVID-19 would be to expand beyond the "get vaccinated, get vaccinated" mantra Davis said currently dominates conversation. "We have to continue to encourage people to get vaccinated, whether it's going door to door, block to block, neighborhood to neighborhood," said Davis, who was initially reluctant to get vaccinated but confirmed that he is now fully vaccinated and boosted. Testing and treatments for the unvaccinated Story continues "But for those people who, for whatever reasons, won't get vaccinated and that is their decision we have to make sure there are COVID testing and treatments available to them," Davis added. Davis would like to see these tests and treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, available at physician offices, community centers and volunteer fire departments across the county. Expanded COVID-19 testing also plays a role in Davis' desire to see fewer students miss class due to COVID-19 exposure. "Instead of having to quarantine automatically if they are a close contact, a student could get tested and stay in school unless they test positive," Davis said. The problem is that it often takes two-to-three days to get COVID-19 test results. A positive student could spread COVID-19 to other students and staff while waiting for test results, especially if they aren't wearing face masks. "But less than 1% of (COVID-infected) children are dying from it," Davis said. "By doing this, you might only have to send three students home from school due to COVID instead of 40." Davis said he will discuss the mask mandate and other issues Monday with school superintendents at Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5. No discussions with county health department The county executive-elect also has discussed how his administration will deal with COVID-19 with the leaders of Erie's three largest health systems: Saint Vincent Hospital, UPMC Hamot and LECOM Health. He has not talked with Erie County Department of Health officials since meeting with them over the summer. The county executive oversees the Health Department. "It was made clear to myself and the transition team, the requests for direct outreach were not acceptable to the current (county executive)," Davis said in a follow-up email after the interview. "We were provided briefings created by directors which I showed (during Monday's interview with the Erie Times-News). This was the extent of the interaction with most directors. We are working diligently to respect the current administration's authority and space while moving forward in the transition process." Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper and county Health Department Director Melissa Lyon both said they welcome any discussions between Davis and county Health Department leaders. "In fact, all my department heads have been wanting to meet with the county executive-elect," Dahlkemper said. "Frankly, they are concerned why they are not meeting with him." "We are very open to having a discussion with Brenton Davis or members of his transition team," said Lyon, who is leaving her post Jan. 3 to lead the newly created Delaware County Health Department. "We want there to be no surprises." After Dahlkemper's and Lyon's comments were published Thursday on GoErie.com, Davis said in an email that he would be interested in meeting with county Health Department leaders if they are made available. Leaving soon: Erie County Department of Health director Melissa Lyon to leave post for new job Who will lead the county health department? Davis said he will appoint an interim director for the county Health Department until a permanent one can be hired. He said he has not started the hiring process yet. The interim director has also not yet been named, though Davis repeatedly mentioned going with the No. 2 person in the department. Erin Mrenak is the deputy director of the county Health Department. "They have a No. 2 who is a capable person," Davis said. "The county's HR director is vacant and so is the library director. There are lots of vacancies right now. Melissa Lyon is not the entire health department, as qualified as she is. We get that No. 2 and they will be the interim director until we appoint someone permanently." As for the future of the county Health Department, Davis said there will be changes based partly on discussions he has had with physicians, local hospital leaders, and county commissioners and county executives from across the state. Davis declined to get into specifics, saying that he didn't want to step on the Dahlkemper administration's toes, but said he wants more of an emphasis on grass-roots public health and to avoid "group think." "I want to get data from the local health systems, since they are the ones dealing with COVID and other diseases," Davis said. "I want a fresh perspective, a fresh focus of a better way of doing things." Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Brenton Davis plans to change how Erie County battles COVID-19 Rise and shine, Catonsville! Let's get you started this Thursday with everything you need to know going on around town today. First, today's weather: Breezy with variable clouds. High: 63 Low: 53. Here are the top 3 stories today in Catonsville: With nearly 5,000 cases of COVID-19 in Catonsville and counting, local residents may be wondering when COVID-19 pills will be coming to Maryland. FDA approval for pills developed by both Pfizer and Merck could come by the end of this month. Once approved, Maryland doctors could immediately order the pills directly from medical distributors for their patients. In Pfizer's studies, adults taking the company's drug had a 10-fold decrease in virus levels compared with those on placebo enough to possibly keep them out of the hospital. (Patch) Looking for some educational family fun? Stop by the Catonsville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library for events for family members of all ages throughout the rest of this month. For younger children, there's Family and Friends Story Time and Comedy Story Time. Teen Time includes games, crafts, movies, and more, and there's a Books and Conversations book club for adult readers. (Baltimore County Public Library) A former Baltimore County police officer accused of stealing a dead womans identity has pleaded guilty to one count of identity theft. Online court records show Deandre Ross, 27, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, followed by 18 months of probation. Ross had been dispatched to investigate a call about a woman's sudden death in March. The family later filed a theft report for a missing laptop, which prompted an investigation that led to criminal charges.Ross is required to pay $1,990 in restitution and will report to jail on Jan. 3. (Subscription: Baltimore Sun) From our sponsor: Hey Catonsville, are you looking to buy a house, refinance or just explore your options? Check out the new Patch Mortgage Center for all your home financing needs! Story continues Today in Catonsville: Online Auction For A 14,000+ Square-Foot Potomac, MD Manor And Furniture By Sorelle Realty (Virtual) (7:00 p.m.) From my notebook: The Culinary Craft Workshop on Mellor Avenue has announced its updated 2022 lineup of exciting cooking classes and is now accepting registration. (Facebook) A neighbor in the Paradise area of Catonsville reported seeing eight to 10 police cars in the parking lot of the Paradise Assisted Living care facility around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday , followed by helicopters flying over. (Nextdoor) Councilman Tom Quirk talks money and love of Catonsville with Don and Nestor at The Beaumont for WNST Baltimore Positive. (YouTube) From our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: 14,000+SF Potomac Manor Online Auction, Real Estate & Furniture (December 16) Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTDs Sunniest Blooms (December 21) Charm City Countdown NYE 2022 (December 31) Add your event Loving the Catonsville 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 You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another update. Nicole Fallon-Peek About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. This article originally appeared on the Catonsville Patch Democrats are threatening hardball tactics as they try to break a blockade by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) that has left dozens of President Biden's State Department nominees in limbo. Democrats and the conservative firebrand are struggling to make progress toward an agreement that would trade votes on some of Biden's ambassador nominees for a vote on sanctions related to the construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a longstanding goal for Cruz, who has ensnared nominations across the State Department, the Treasury Department and the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID). Absent a deal, Democrats are warning that they are willing to keep the Senate in Washington, D.C., heading into Christmas. Senators had been scheduled to leave town for the year on Friday, and the House left early Wednesday morning until January. "Democrats are working to clear as much of the backlog as possible by consent. If we cannot make much progress, we may need to stay and hold votes on nominees this weekend and next week until we do," said Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Schumer's No. 2, added that the ambassador nominations were something "we want to do before we leave for Christmas." Asked about the potential of keeping the Senate in town next week to confirm nominations, Durbin added: "I hope we don't have to." Cruz has been holding up Biden's State Department nominees for months over a push to get a vote on, or implementation of, Nord Stream 2 pipeline sanctions. The move has sparked frustration within the administration, among congressional Democrats and even with some Republicans, who have warned that leaving the ambassador spots open undermines the ability for the administration to defend U.S. interests on the world stage. Though Cruz has allowed some picks to be quickly confirmed - including former colleagues Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.), who were confirmed as the U.S. ambassadors to Turkey and New Zealand, respectively - dozens of State Department nominees are languishing on the Senate calendar. Story continues More than 50 ambassador nominees are available for a vote in the Senate. But unless Cruz drops his objection, Democrats would need to eat up days of floor time in order to get to a vote on a nomination. Cruz isn't the only GOP senator who has placed a hold on nominees. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) warned that he would block State and Pentagon nominees, but he noted on Wednesday that he doesn't have any holds placed on Biden's ambassador picks. The impact of the holds played out in real time on Wednesday when Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who has been trying to work out a deal on ambassador nominations, asked to get a handful of ambassador nominations confirmed, including former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) as ambassador to Japan. Cruz objected, leaving them in limbo. Schumer and Cruz have swapped offers but so far don't seem to be on the precipice of a deal that would set up quick nomination votes and potentially pave the way for the Senate to leave town for the year. With Biden's Build Back Better legislation in limbo, and Democrats searching for but not yet having a path forward on voting rights and changing the Senate's rules, the Senate doesn't have another item on its to-do list besides nominations. Schumer, echoing a demand by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), warned that Cruz had to drop all of his holds on nominees from the State Department, Treasury Department and USAID in order to come to an agreement. "We have been working over the past day to secure a lift on many of these holds. I want to echo what Sen. Menendez has made clear: If the senator from Texas offers a proposal that does not include lifting all State, Treasury and USAID nominees holds, we cannot come to an agreement," Schumer said. Senators on both sides of the aisle warned that the talks have so far yielded little progress. Cruz dismissed the push for him to drop all of his holds, warning that unless Democrats soften their position, they'll have to send all of Biden's ambassador nominees back to the White House to be renominated next year. "I have a reasonable and good faith offer on the table to lift a number of holds," Cruz said. "I have demonstrated that I am more than willing to negotiate on good faith on this. .,. Schumer has the ability to confirm a substantial chunk of nominees. He could do so today, if he simply accepted the deal." Durbin said that Cruz wanted to pick the nominees that would be accepted as part of a deal. "His condition was he got to pick the nominees. We wouldn't accept that," Durbin said. GOP senators argued that Cruz was being flexible but acknowledged that there is division about both who gets confirmed and how many members get confirmed. Cruz and Schumer initially agreed to allow for a vote on Nord Stream 2 sanctions as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in exchange for Cruz lifting holds on seven nominees. Cruz has now offered to lift holds on 16 nominees, according to GOP senators, in exchange for a vote. "It seems like he's very flexible on the list. He gets a vote on Nord Stream 2. I don't know why this is as hard as it is," said Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican. The congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the United States Capitol is generating lots of fanfare. And understandably so. The riot was a disturbing low point in American history. Recent headlines highlight Steve Bannons indictment for refusing to cooperate with investigators; former Department of Justice lawyer Jeffrey Clarks plans to plead the Fifth Amendment during his upcoming testimony; and former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows refusal to sit for an interview. But the pursuit of additional information about Jan. 6 shouldnt detract from or obscure what we already know. This is not a situation like the Mueller investigation where there is some ambiguous smoke and we need an investigation to determine whether there is fire. When it comes to the events surrounding Jan. 6, we are already choking on smoke as the fire blazes before us. Indeed, what we already know constitutes an unprecedented offense to American democracy. We already know, for example, that before the election Donald Trump spent months undermining the elections integrity. On May 26, 2020, for example, Trump tweeted that [t]here is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed. On Aug. 24 he asserted that [t]he only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election. President Donald Trump walks May 8, 2020, with chief of staff Mark Meadows after returning to the White House from an event at the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. And so on. We already know, moreover, that in the two months after the election before Jan. 6 Trump doubled down on his baseless claims: He only won in the eyes of the FAKE NEWS MEDIA, Trump tweeted about Joe Biden. I concede NOTHING! We have a long way to go. This was a RIGGED ELECTION! We already know that, during this time, Trump didnt just tell lies. He tried to coerce the Georgia Secretary of State to commit election fraud. He and Jeffrey Clark tried to capture the Department of Justice after Attorney General William Barr who flatly rejected Trumps claims of election fraud left office. He initiated baseless litigation in numerous courts. He pressured Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the results. And, of course, he helped to plan and organize the Jan. 6 rally itself. Story continues We already know that on Jan. 6 Trump held the infamous rally and directed his supporters to the Capitol. He again publicly pressured Pence to overturn the election results. And he openly supported the rioters while they roamed the Capitol hallways looking for Pence in a Twitter video. And, finally, we already know that Trump is carrying on with his open assault on Americas electoral system. Trumps baseless accusations of election fraud continue. The Jan. 6 Committee should, of course, continue on with its important investigative work. And there are undoubtedly critical facts that have yet to emerge. But while the committee wrestles with the nuances of Bannons and Meadow's assertions of executive privilege and Clarks pleading the fifth, its essential for Americans not to focus disproportionately on these skirmishes. We must see clearly whats already right in front of our faces. We already know that the sitting president of the United States spent months feverishly trying to stage a coup from the Oval Office. And, no matter what we learn from here, how we respond to this affront to American democracy will fundamentally shape our nation going forward. William Cooper's writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, New York Daily News, Chicago Sun-Times, USA Today, and Huffington Post. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: My Take: Don't let the Jan. 6 investigation distract from what we already know kickstand Cornell students are scrambling after the university reported hundreds of COVID-19 cases and finally opted to move finals online while canceling a ceremony it had planned to recognize its December graduates. Its kind of feeling like people are dropping like flies a little bit, a sophomore at the school, Maral Asik, 19, told The Daily Beast. Like testing positive or getting contact traced. Omicron arrived at Cornell, and they're shutting down the campus. pic.twitter.com/tytmWc05DD Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) December 15, 2021 The university moved its main campus Alert Level Red for the first time in three semesters on Tuesday and President Martha Pollack issued a letter to students announcing that the university would move final exams to an online format, while canceling events and encouraging students to avoid nonessential contact with others before their return home. It is obviously extremely dispiriting to have to take these steps. 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, Pollack wrote. The outbreak has sent shockwaves through the Cornell community, which boasts a vaccination rate of 97 percent, according to its COVID-19 dashboard. According to Pollack, while none of Cornells infected students have suffered severe illness, signs of Omicrons higher transmissibility could lead to exponential growth in cases. Asik said she now knows at least five or six people who have tested positive, and still others who are checking the testing portal every ten minutes for results, but its been overwhelming to figure out which friends have been infected. Its become routine over the past week to find herself tangled in conversations about testing status: Its been like Oh, did you hear this person tested? Or like on someones social media story theyll post like Oh, I just tested positive. If Ive interacted with you in the past 24 hours, just like be careful. Story continues She said she hurried to the drugstore last Wednesday when her suitemate tested positive right before we found out about the spike, while another friend is quarantining for two weeks after receiving a positive test earlier this week so shes going to stay on campus through Christmas. The rattled college sophomore said shes hoping to stave off a case herself until her parents drive down to pick her up from school. She had initially planned to take a bus home, but that now feels too risky. Asik said that before the university moved exams online, school officials had appeared to shift responsibility for the spike onto students for meeting for events and social gatherings before the spike. It kind of felt like they were blaming students for the spread of COVID, she said. When they were having 1,500-person lectures still, and were planning on having exams with 1,500 people in the room. Before the spike was announced last week, Asik said she had learned at least two or three times that she had been in a car with someone who later tested positive. She plans to take daily COVID tests until she returns home and is frightened by the idea of not getting home at all if she tests positive in the coming days. Until her parents arrive, the 19-year-old is leaning on a pod of two friends from her dorm who socialize with just each other, getting takeout from the dining hall to eat in the dorm kitchen together. Asik is otherwise largely staying in her room to study for her remaining two finals as the majority of campus from libraries to gymsare shut down. It just feels like spring semester last year 2.0, she said, describing a similar shutdown as Delta emerged during her freshman year at UMass Amherst before she transferred to Cornell. Weve been through all of this before, its just we didn't think that it would happen again. Another sophomore at the school, Rory Confino-Pinzon, 19, said he believed the university hadnt acted quickly enough to move exams online, adding that the surge scared a lot of us. They sort of failed the student body by not being cautious enough, he said. Not only did it add an immense amount of stress and pressure for us as students, it really just prevented us from being safer. Confino-Pinzon, who drove four hours home to New York City on Sunday, said that his final week on campus had riddled him and friends who were concerned and not wanting to get sick but not knowing if we had already been exposed. I was concerned that I was going to get the virus, not know it, and then just bring it home to my dad who has lupus and if he got COVID it would be bad for him, he said. He was relieved to test negative on Thursday but has friends who havent been as lucky. At least one friend who was supposed to fly home for the holidays isnt sure if she will be able to after a friend tested positive, he said. Both Asik and Confino-Pinzon pointed fingers at students heading back to campus after the Thanksgiving holiday for the spike, noting that there had not been arrival testing designated for students by the university. If I had to guess Id say thats probably why we have a spike right now, is people bringing back illness from wherever they were before, Asik said, adding that instead of getting tested immediately after she got back to campus she received routine surveillance testingwhich happens once weekly for most studentsafter two days of in-person classes. I think were going to be the first of many to just have a lot of positive cases of schools that are testing at the same level we are, Confino-Pinzon said. According to Pollack, the universitys coronavirus testing lab found evidence of the highly contagious Omicron variant in a number of students test specimens. While it remains unclear how often cases of the Omicron variant lead to hospitalizations or deaths, other colleges are taking similar steps. Princeton University announced that, beginning Dec. 16, it will host final exams online and mandate boosters for all students, faculty, and staff in advance of the spring semester. A growing pool of other institutionsincluding Middlebury College in Vermont, DePaul University in Chicago and Southern New Hampshire Universitysaid this month they would temporarily move to remote instruction. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. DUBLIN, CA All Dublin residents must wear masks indoors for at least the next month, regardless of vaccination status, under a new statewide mask mandate that kicked in Wednesday ahead of Christmas and the new year. Alameda County already had its own rules about indoor mask use, but the new order applies statewide. County health departments were welcome to establish even stricter rules. Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces through Jan. 15 as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged post-Thanksgiving, the California Department of Public Health said. Alameda County allows fully vaccinated people to remove masks indoors in areas not open to the public such as offices, gyms, indoor college classes, religious gatherings or organized gatherings. It's unknown how mask rules could change in Alameda County after the Jan. 15 cutoff set by the state. Restrictions in Alameda County would depend on COVID-19-related metrics such as hospitalization rates, the county health department said Wednesday. The state health department also issued a travel advisory Monday to recommend that all travelers receive a COVID-19 test three to five days after their arrival in California. Officials updated requirements for events with 1,000 or more attendees to require guests to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. The steps came as state health officials eyed an uptick in COVID-19-related cases and hospitalizations as the highly transmissible delta variant continued to spread. Just 39 cases of the recently identified omicron variant were confirmed in California as of Monday, but officials were also concerned about that variants high level of transmissibility. Since Thanksgiving, Californias seven-day average case rate increased by 47 percent, and hospitalizations increased by 14 percent as of Monday. "Our collective actions can save lives this holiday season, said Dr. Tomas J. Aragon, state health department director and public health officer, in a statement. We are already seeing a higher level of transmission this winter and it is important to act now to prevent overwhelming our busy hospitals so we can provide quality health care to all Californians. Story continues Health officials continued to stress the importance of vaccination. Unvaccinated Californians were seven times more likely to get COVID-19, 12.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 and 13 times more likely to die after infection, according to statistics released Tuesday. Nearly eight in 10 Californians age 5 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to the most recent state mask mandate, the state required mask use in the following spaces. K-12 schools, child care facilities and other places for youth. Public transit. Health care facilities. Adult care facilities and those for older people. Correctional facilities and detention centers. Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers. The state did not indicate when it will lift mask requirements in these spaces after the temporary mask mandate expires. See also: This article originally appeared on the Dublin Patch The expansion of the Dyess AFB visitors' facility and its parking lot officially was celebrated Thursday with a ribbon-cutting by base commander Col. Joseph Kramer and Abilene Mayor Anthony Williams. Dyess Air Force Base celebrated the reopening of an expanded visitors' center Thursday afternoon, the revamped structure adding to a smaller facility that stood by the base's front gate for years. The opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event that featured Mayor Anthony Williams and Col. Joseph Kramer, Dyess' base commander and commander of the 7th Bomb Wing. After some teamwork, and laughter, a snip of the ceremonial scissors opened the facility for wider use. Col. Joseph Kramer, left, commander of the 7th Bomb Wing and Dyess AFB, is joined by Abilene Mayor Anthony Williams to cut the ribbon to the updated Visitor Control Center at the main gate of the base. It took a few practice snips for the two to finally slice the ribbon to make Thursday's event official. Kramer said the center was a "key note in community relations, but also defense of the installation." "Only here in West Texas do we do long-range strike and mobility airpower, right here from Abilene," he said, adding that the base and its airmen were grateful for state and local effort in securing funding. "No doubt, this wouldn't have this wouldn't have happened without securing (those) resources," he said. Col. Joseph Kramer, commander of Dyess AFB, speaks to the partnership that led to a major upgrade of the Visitor Control Center at the main gate of the base. It's why, he said, the Barksdale Trophy has returned to the community. Expanding capability The $1.4 million project expands what's officially the base's Security Access Control Center. The Military Affairs Committee with the Abilene Chamber of Commerce took on the task of acquiring funding for the project. MAC officials applied for and won a Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant, administered by the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, and a matching grant from the Development Corporation of Abilene. A plaque on the wall of the new Dyess AFB Visitor Control Center shows the four partners in the project. Dec. 16 2021 The base welcomes an estimated 40,000-plus visitors each year, including civilian contractors, each of whom must pass through security, according to a story about the project's groundbreaking earlier this year. The new facility is nearly triple the size of the original center, increasing the base's ability to process passes and restricted area badges. A worn plaque on the wall notes original construction in 1986, also with city of Abilene help. Dyess AFB personnel get a look around the remodeled interior of the Dyess AFB Visitor Control Center. The original rock building was expanded as well as the parking area. The improvements, especially the increase in size, ensures proper distance and workspace to "guarantee accurate vetting of personnel requesting access to Dyess," a statement from the base said. Story continues The project took about 12 months to complete. Initially, there were hopes for a July completion, but COVID-19 and supply chain issues created delays. Visitor access was temporarily moved from the main gate to the Air Force Museum at Arnold Boulevard and Military Drive. Instrumental changes Maj. Scott Hlavin, commander of the Seventh Security Forces Squadron, tells the media after Thursday's grand reopening of the Dyess AFB Visitor Control Center that the new facility is part of the preparation for the coming B-21 Raider bomber. Dec 16 2021 Maj. Scott Hlavin, commander of the Seventh Security Forces Squadron, said the facility is "instrumental" for Dyess for a few reasons. "One, it just shows the ironclad commitment that the town of Abilene has for Dyess Air Force Base, being the nation's only lift and strike base," he said. "But most importantly, for our current mission sets, the old visitors center just wasn't sufficient." The changes help secure the base now and set it up for the future, Hlavin said, including the arrival of the B-21 Raider. A Dyess AFB police car is parked strategically near the main gate of the base, with a retired aircraft in the background. The previous center worked for the mission set at the time, he said, but "Dyess Air Force Base has expanded," he said, as has the city that hosts it. Kramer noted a sign visitors will see displaying logos for the base's 7th Bomb Wing, its 317th Airlift Wing and the city of Abilene, which reads "serving together." TSgt. Cynthia Bustos-Santaella sings the national anthem a cappella at Thursday's ribbon-cutting event. "Thanks for serving with us. Thanks for being shoulder to shoulder with us," he said. "This is an example of things that 21st century airmen need in a 21st century Air Force." Brian Bethel covers city and county government and general news for the Abilene Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. An airman's holstered pistol is a reminder to visitors at the Dyess AFB main gate that air base security is the mission. This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: New Dyess Visitors Center reopens A landlord with properties in and around the city of Elizabeth has agreed to pay $4.5 million to resolve a federal Fair Housing Act lawsuit alleging he sexually harassed tenants and prospective tenants for more than 15 years. Joseph Centanni, 74, of Mountainside, is still facing criminal charges brought in March by the Union County Prosecutors Office for allegedly coercing 20 tenants into sexual acts in exchange for financial relief. Centanni is 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. The $4.5 million is the largest monetary settlement the Department of Justice has obtained in a case alleging sexual harassment in housing. Centanni, who has owned hundreds of rental units scattered across 18 residential properties in Elizabeth, agreed to settle the lawsuit brought by the federal Department of Justice in August 2020. According to the lawsuit, Centannis pattern of harassment dates back at least 15 years to 2005. Centanni targeted women, as well as men who are gay or bisexual, the DOJ said. READ: Federal lawsuit alleges landlord threatened to evict tenants who refused sexual advances READ: Elizabeth landlord facing sex crime charges accused by seven more tenants According to the Union County Prosecutor's Office, the victims would meet Centanni in his office on the 200 block of West Jersey Street in downtown Elizabeth, and the sex acts took place in laundry, storage or boiler rooms at his properties or in a sample apartment shown to prospective renters. Centanni demanded sexual favors, like oral sex, from current and prospective tenants to get or keep their housing or pay reduced rent, according to the DOJ. Centanni touched tenants and applicants in a way that was sexual and unwelcome, and made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to tenants and applicants, the lawsuit alleged. The complaint also alleged that Centanni initiated or threatened to initiate eviction actions against tenants who refused his sexual advances. Centanni also allegedly exposed himself to current and prospective tenants. Story continues In one example, the lawsuit alleges, in 2019 a female tenant who had agreed to move out met with Centanni and asked if she could stay because she was having trouble finding another apartment. Centanni then asked her "how bad do you want your apartment?" and took her to an empty storage room where he exposed himself and asked for oral sex. "Because she felt she had no choice, the tenant submitted to Centanni's sexual demand," the lawsuit stated. "After this incident, Centanni allowed her to stay in the apartment." The $4,392,950 in monetary damages awarded in the settlement will compensate numerous women and men who were sexually harassed by Centanni. He must also pay a $107,050 civil penalty to the United States, the maximum civil penalty allowed under the Fair Housing Act. Centanni has sold all his residential rental properties and, according to the settlement, is barred from owning and managing residential rental properties in the future. Centanni participated in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Section 8) and received approximately $102,000 each month in Housing Choice Voucher payments, according to the DOJ. Centanni also will be required to dismiss housing court judgments obtained in proceedings deemed to be retaliatory and take steps to repair the credit of any affected tenants, the DOJ said. This lawsuit and historic settlement send a clear message that the Department (of Justice) will not stand by idly as landlords abuse their power to prey on vulnerable tenants, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in a statement. Sexual harassment of tenants is abhorrent and unlawful, and has devastating consequences on victims." Raymond Londa, an attorney representing Centanni, said Centanni did not admit wrongdoing in the consent decree. Mr. Centanni settled the matter to avoid protracted litigation, Londa said. Mr. Centanni continues to deny the allegations. Individuals who believe that they were subjected to sexual harassment by Centanni should contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line toll free, at 1-833- 591-0291, and select option number one to leave a message. Individuals can also contact the U.S. Attorneys Office Civil Rights Hotline at 855-281-3339. Individuals may also e-mail the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov or submit a report online. Contributing: Associated Press Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ landlord accused of demanding sex from tenants to pay millions King tide flooding on Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach on Nov. 7, 2021. Flood insurance is about to go through the roof. Now more than ever, we are in desperate need of climate action from both parties that will attack the issue instead of put a Band-Aid solution after every weather event worsened by climate instability. Instead of letting the taxpayer foot the bill, we should encourage our legislators to support policies like the revenue-neutral Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends plan. This plan takes advantage of existing industries such as the energy sector and incentivizes the companies to find a profitable market solution that will gradually reduce their carbon emissions. With a carbon price and the right incentives in place, we can make significant strides in the technology needed to innovate out of further climate risk, without burdening the everyday lives of Americans. Melissa Tellez, Loxahatchee Art campus double standard Several mayors of Delray Beach penned an open letter expressing concern about the city commission decision in August to give 180 days notice of lease termination to the non-profit rental tenant at Old School Square, which operates under the same name as the city-owned campus. Change is in the wind as the cultural arts campus moves in a different direction from the group that has operated the site for 32 years, operations mostly subsidized by taxpayer revenue. Among some of the suggestions from the mayors is that a public charette be held to discuss the direction of Old School Square. Firstly, the city will need to issue a request for proposal for a company to moderate the proposed charette. Secondly, over the course of 32 years, the city has funded charettes to benefit the non-profit tenant. At this juncture, how can objectivity be guaranteed since such event will be stacked with the choir of the non-profit tenant whose lease was terminated? In 2018, the non-profit tenant operating the campus had to return a $240,000 grant to the Florida Cultural Endowment Funds because they were unable to meet the requirements to raise $360,000 in matching funds. Hence the Community Redevelopment Agency approved early issuance of $225,000 to the non-profit tenant because of their shortfall. Had this been me failing to meet the requirement of a state grant, I would have been criminally investigated, charged, denied bail and a trial; and sent to prison because of the 32 year-history of mayors enabling a culture with a separate set of rules for the Old School Square non-profit tenant, allowing concessions, and another set of rules for everybody else. There's always been a two-tiered system. Story continues Lori J. Durante, Delray Beach Why was Hoeffer released? Federal prosecutors stated at a hearing that Paul Hoeffer allegedly threatened to riddle Nancy Pelosis head with bullets and cut her head off. He allegedly threatened Kimberly Foxx that bullets would rattle her brain. He allegedly threatened (U.S. Rep.) Alexandra Ocasio Cortez that he would rip her head off. Hoeffer was arrested and released on the same day. His bond was only $100,000 bond. I wonder who put up the bond. Why would this man be released? Red flags are waiving every where. Many will wonder why Magistrate Judge Shaniek M. Maynard did not remand him into custody. I hope that the judge will not regret that decision. Kay Jones, Greenacres This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Energy industry can do more to curb climate change PETOSKEY Join the Epsilon United Methodist Church as it hosts a live nativity this coming weekend from 5-6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18. The live nativity will feature live animals, shepherds around a fire, the Christmas story and more. The live nativity will take place in the church's parking lot so that attendees can park and watch or get out and mingle. The Epsilon United Methodist Church is located at 8251 E. Mitchell Road in Petoskey. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Epsilon United Methodist Church to host live nativity By Philip Blenkinsop, Gabriela Baczynska and Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union is under assault from Russia on multiple fronts and must unite behind new economic sanctions, Baltic and central European leaders said on Thursday, with Lithuania citing a risk of possible Russian military strikes from Belarus. The warnings at an EU summit were some of the most direct in recent weeks as the United States and its NATO allies seek to deter any possible Russian attack on Ukraine and reduce Moscow's margin for surprise. Many NATO allies are also EU member states. "We really are facing a series of attacks. I see them all as associated," Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins told reporters, listing what he said was the weaponisation of Middle East migrants on Belarus' borders with the EU, artificially high prices for Russian natural gas, and Russian disinformation. Ukraine remains the main flashpoint between Russia and the West. Washington says Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, possibly for an invasion. Moscow says it has a right to move its troops around its own territory as it sees fit but says the manoeuvres are purely defensive. EU leaders will warn of "massive consequences" if Russia were to invade Ukraine, according to a draft final summit statement seen by Reuters. The United States and Britain have taken a similar stance. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday Russia was increasing, not reducing, its troops on the border. "We see no sign that this build-up is stopping or slowing down. On the contrary, it continues," he told reporters at NATO headquarters, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Stoltenberg said there were Russian "combat-ready troops, tanks, artillery, armoured units, drones (and) electronic warfare systems" on Ukraine's border. The Kremlin denies the West's accusations against it, including any plan to invade Ukraine. It says it has legitimate security interests in the region and on Wednesday handed proposals to the United States that NATO should not expand eastwards or place new weapons systems near Russia's borders. Story continues 'DANGEROUS SITUATION' But Russia's Baltic neighbours attacked what they see as Moscow's attempts to blur the line between peace and war. "We are probably facing the most dangerous situation in the last 30 years. I am talking about not only Ukraine but the eastern flank of NATO," said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, a day after EU leaders held a summit with Ukraine and four other ex-Soviet republics in Brussels. He cited fears that Russia might integrate Belarus, which borders Poland and two Baltic states, into its military systems and use its territory "as a possible platform to attack neighbouring countries". Any coordinated EU sanctions will likely depend on Germany, whose new centre-left chancellor Olaf Scholz has taken a tougher line than his centre-right predecessor, Angela Merkel. However Berlin would still be torn over whether to risk Russian natural gas supplies to its businesses and households this winter by standing up to Moscow, diplomats said. Germany, France and Ukraine sought on Wednesday to revive the "Normandy" format, a diplomatic peace initiative with Russia to end a conflict in eastern Ukraine pitting pro-Russian separatists against Kyiv's forces. "We will underscore again that the inviolability of borders is an important basis for peace in Europe, and that together we will do everything to ensure that this inviolability endures," Scholz told reporters at his first EU summit as German leader. The West imposed economic sanctions on Russia in 2014 over its annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine. The measures targeted Russia's energy, banking and defence sectors. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa suggested that one option for the EU in its standoff with Moscow might be to prevent the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany from becoming operational. (Reporting by Robin Emmott, Sabine Siebold, Kate Abnett, Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, writing by Robin Emmott, editing by John Chalmers) France's military camps in Mali are going quiet as Paris winds down its security presence in the restive West African country, but there is one notable exception. Menaka is bustling with activity, boasting brand-new tents, freshly dug trenches and choppers taking off and landing in a constant ballet in the sky. What was once a quaint army base in France's Barkhane anti-jihadist operation is rapidly turning into a cornerstone of Takuba, the European force that is to pick up the slack from France's partial disengagement. The footprint of the camp in northeast Mali has already grown to 30 hectares (75 acres) from the eight it had before, said Captain Josselin as he navigated his way through the busy construction vehicles. Takuba, made up of European special forces, is based on an initiative by France, eager to share the burden of looking after Mali's security with its partners. Takuba's 900 soldiers are to help Mali's army acquire the combat skills necessary to become self-reliant, a daunting task given the volatile situation on the ground. Even after years of a foreign troop presence, jihadists in this border region of the Sahel between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso continue their incursions and harassment actions. A week ago, a rocket landed in the camp, though it failed to explode. The day before another multi-national camp, at Gao, became the target of a mortar attack. Menaka, usually flooded during the rainy season, has seen some major renovation work. The camp is now crossed by long, well-kept paths. Apart from the usual conversations in French, there is now Czech, Danish, Italian and English heard in the camp, a sign of its international status. At the new air transport zone, heavy Chinook helicopters from Italy and Swedish Blackhawks share the space. A few kilometres away, an abandoned landing strip has been renovated, ready for the army's air operations. - 'Takubar' - Well-equipped fitness rooms, catering areas with TVs and a foyer -- cleverly called "Takubar" -- are to help make the soldiers' tour as agreeable as possible in this semi-desert environment. Story continues French President Emmanuel Macron, eager to draw down France's troops in Mali after nine years of presence here, ordered the evacuation of the three northerly camps, Timbuktu, Kidal and Tessalit, whose tasks are to be taken over by a joint fighting force. Takuba, which after Menaka and Gao may get more bases such as Gossi in the northeast, spearheads French efforts to commit its European partners to the anti-jihadist fight. The head of Takuba's operations, a French lieutenant-colonel named Gregory, said it advises, assists and accompanies Malian forces who are hoping to win back areas over which the central government lost control. "All member nations have understood the idea of the mission, although they come from different backgrounds," he told AFP, giving only his first name as is custom among military personnel. Meanwhile in a neighbouring Malian army camp, a group of French special forces was training local soldiers how to carry out checks on a vehicle transporting potential hostiles. "Move! Hands in the air! Turn around!" one soldier shouts at another one who plays the suspect's part, with a masked instructor advising him on body search procedure and safe distances to be observed. Marine Lieutenant Rozen, head of the French-Czech task force operating here, said it accompanied the Malian forces six months at a time. "We train them, and then we accompany them on increasingly complex missions," he said, such as disarming improvised explosive devices, discreetly patrolling villages and searching potential hideouts. The troops' morale is intact despite tensions with the regime in Bamako, which has rejected an offer of additional UN peacekeepers. The government is instead looking to the Wagner Group, a private Russian paramilitary unit that is the target of US and European Union sanctions. Any actual deployment of the Wagner mercenaries on the ground here could well be a dealbreaker for the European allies. Macron is trying to talk the government in Bamako out of such a plan but until he succeeds, there is a huge question mark over Takuba's future. dab/jh/js/jv Sean Devereux repeatedly asks North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation agent Tom Ammons why information was left out of his interview summary with Akeem Bell, December 15, 2021. Don Eberhardt, the former second-in-command of the Buncombe County Sheriffs Office told jurors on the second day of his trial that he thought he was doing the right thing by not returning the gun hes accused of stealing April 9, 2020. Eberhardt was charged in July 2020 with felony counts of larceny of a firearm and possession of stolen goods after investigators found he walked out of a South Asheville gun shop with a Del-Ton, DTI-15, 5.56 mm firearm without paying for it. The former sheriff's deputy, who is pleading not guilty to larceny of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm, is facing four to 25 months in prison if he is convicted of theft of a firearm, a class H felony under North Carolina General Statute 14-72. Previous coverage: Eberhardt, the first witness for the defense, told the jury he didnt realize he had the firearm until hours after leaving Carolina Guns & Gear at 3106 Sweeten Creek Road. Sean Devereux shows North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation agent Tom Ammons a box containing the gun in question December 15, 2021. According to Eberhardt, Akeem Bell, an employee of the gun shop, placed the gun in a tactical bag Eberhardt was purchasing and forgot to take it out. Eberhardt testified he zipped the bag containing the gun because his training as a law enforcement officer taught him never to leave a firearm unattended. My behavior is what Im accustomed to, he said. Eberhardt said he revisited Carolina Guns & Gear three times in the next two weeks to return the firearm but never did because he wanted to give it directly to Bell to avoid any punishment falling on the employee. Former Buncombe chief deputy Don Eberhardt wipes his eyes as his attorney, Sean Devereaux, repeatedly asks North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation agent Tom Ammons why information was left out of his interview summary with Akeem Bell. Bell was not working on any of the days Eberhardt visited the store, Eberhardt said. I felt I was doing the right thing by showing up the next available day the store was open, he said. Story continues More: Answer Man: Where does the Eberhardt gun theft case stand? Muni golf course finances? On Dec. 14, Bell testified, saying he felt Eberhardt was trying to protect him. Eberhardts attorney, Sean Devereux, spent a large portion of his clients time on the stand outlining his work as a police officer. Eberhardt worked for the Asheville Police Department for 19 years before joining the Sheriffs Office as deputy sheriff in 2018. He resigned July 6, 2020. Don Eberhardt talks to the jury as he testifies December 15, 2021. His only disciplinary action during his time as an Asheville Police officer, Eberhardt said, was in his third year of policing when he failed to turn in a piece of evidence that was given to him following an assault case. So youve always been slow to return things? Devereaux asked Eberhardt Dec. 15 before continuing questioning. More on police: Asheville chief wants car crashes investigated by civilians, not police; but law stalled If acquitted, Eberhardt said he plans to return to law enforcement. If convicted, he faces four to 25 months in prison. The trial continues Dec. 16 when the defense is expected to call Sheriff Quentin Miller to the stand, Devereaux told the Citizen Times. Shelby Harris is a reporter covering breaking news, education and other topics. She can be reached at sharris@citizentimes.com or on Twitter @_shelbyharris. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Ex-Buncombe chief deputy Don Eberhardt, is accused of stealing a gun By Fabian Cambero SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile is set to vote for a new president on Sunday, with a young former student leader Gabriel Boric on the left battling far-right conservative Jose Antonio Kast, in the most polarized election since the country's return to democracy in 1990. An at times heated campaign has seen Kast play up Boric's alliance with the Andean country's Communist Party, while Kast himself has come under fire for his defense of the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet that ended three decades ago. The run-off vote is the first presidential decider since Chile was rocked in 2019 by months of angry protests https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-braces-protests-crossroads-election-nears-2021-10-18 against economic inequalities that eventually sparked a process https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/how-chile-is-rewriting-its-pinochet-era-constitution-2021-05-14 - still ongoing - to redraft its decades-old constitution. "What we're seeing here is a debate stuck in the cold war trenches, of communism versus fascism," said Kenneth Bunker, director of consultancy Tresquintos, who said the "virulence and polarization" could put some voters off. "It's the old left-right divide." HOW WILL THE VOTE WORK? The winner-takes-all Dec. 19 election will see Chileans vote for a new president after a fragmented first-round ballot in mid-November also chose members of Congress and regional councils. The voting starts at 8 a.m. (1100 GMT) and ballot stations close around 6 p.m., with results expected to come in fairly quickly Sunday evening. WHO IS RUNNING? The two candidates going head-to-head are 55-year-old ultra-right former congressman Kast https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chiles-kast-channels-pinochets-ghost-against-communist-left-2021-12-15, who is just behind in opinion polls against Boric https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/student-leader-president-chiles-boric-eyes-historic-election-win-2021-12-15, 35, a former leader student running for a leftist coalition. Story continues There had been seven candidates in the November first round, with votes from the more centrist runners on the right and left seen as key to deciding which way the vote will go. WHO'S THE FAVORITE? Pollsters expect a close race, with Boric slightly ahead in pre-election polls since Kast came top in a fragmented first round vote. More moderate voters, the polls show, have swung to Boric more than Kast though the gap is narrowing. However, history is potentially against Boric. Since 1999, the winner of the first round vote has always gone on to win the second round run-off. WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISSUES? Many Chileans support the free-market policies that propelled the copper-rich country to decades of growth and made it a bastion of economic stability in volatile Latin America. But an increasing number want change to address the deep inequalities. Some of the loudest demands have stemmed from anger over paltry retirement payouts blamed by critics on Chile's highly privatized pension system, while others have criticized the high costs and sometimes dubious quality of privatized education, and gaps between public and private healthcare. Conservative voters have raised questions about increased immigration, and there are law and order concerns sparked by the protests in the capital and violent clashes between police and Mapuche indigenous groups in the country's south. Whoever wins the presidency will also have to handle a referendum to approve or reject the text of a new constitution during their first year in office. An assembly, dominated by leftist and independent representatives, is leading the constitution redraft. SPLIT CONGRESS Despite a polarized presidential race, markets took solace from the congressional result in November, with a fairly even balance between parties on the left and right likely to moderate the power of the executive branch and any radical reforms. "(The winner) is going to have to face a Congress different from the current one, a more balanced congress, almost split in two halves," said Marco Moreno, director of the school of government from the Central University of Chile. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Chile was a regional role model. Now voters want change Mind the Gap https://tmsnrt.rs/3ykKZi9 Mind the Gap (Interactive graphic) https://tmsnrt.rs/3dL3KSk ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Editing by Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien and Marguerita Choy) By Manas Mishra and Leroy Leo (Reuters) - The spread of the Omicron variant and a surge in COVID-19 cases have raised Americans' concern about traveling over the holidays. Health experts offered the following advice. WHO CAN TRAVEL SAFELY? U.S. infectious disease official Anthony Fauci has said Americans can proceed with travel plans provided they are vaccinated and boosted if eligible. "If you're fully vaccinated, and you have a booster, it is safe to travel, as long as you're taking precautions," said Vivek Cherian, a Chicago-based internal medicine physician. About 65% of eligible Americans are fully vaccinated. Vaccinated individuals who are immunocompromised or traveling with unvaccinated children should assess their tolerance for risk and their plans upon arrival. That includes checking the vaccination status of people you will gather with, Cherian said. Indeed, Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told NBC earlier this month, "I think it's more where you're going to be when you travel and what kind of gatherings are going to happen." WHAT ABOUT UNVACCINATED PEOPLE? Unvaccinated individuals should not travel and should get vaccinated as soon as possible, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unvaccinated people who must travel should get tested both before and after their trips, according to the federal recommendations. Some states like California have tightened testing requirements for unvaccinated people who want to attend music festivals and other large events. HOW CAN I MINIMIZE CORONAVIRUS RISK? Experts said that holiday activities pose more risk in large crowds, indoors and in poorly ventilated spaces where the virus spreads more easily. People should gather outdoors, wear masks and perform rapid tests before meeting unvaccinated family and friends and before returning to work, said Joshua Barocas, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Story continues Social distancing both indoors and outdoors is recommended. ARE THERE OTHER RULES TO BE AWARE OF? Most states do not have any restrictions on domestic travelers, but many have recommendations or requirements for testing, quarantine or mask wearing. Hawaii requires travelers to be fully vaccinated or receive a negative test result 72 hours before arrival. Kansas calls for people who have been on cruises to quarantine. California recommends travelers to the state get tested within three to five days of arrival and has reinstituted an indoors mask requirement. For Americans who travel abroad, the United States imposed a requirement that they obtain a negative COVID-19 test one day before flying home, regardless of vaccination status. Those who have recovered recently from COVID-19 can instead present a doctor's note and a positive test taken no more than 90 days before traveling. WHAT ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL? The United States has advised Americans against travel to Mauritius, many parts of Europe, South Africa and several other countries. View current recommendations. The White House last month barred entry to nearly all foreign nationals from eight southern African countries including South Africa. Fauci has said the United States will change that policy when the data supports it. (Reporting by Manas Mishra and Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Caroline Humer and Cynthia Osterman) Daniel would very much like to tell you about his interests, if he can sit still long enough. As the 4-year-old bundle of energy bounces from his siblings to parents to grandparents, chewing an apple and showing off his ninja moves, his mom recounts what his big wish this year has been. I want to go home. For the last several months, Daniel, his parents Ana and Mario, and older siblings Victoria, Monica and Omar have been living with Anas parents in their three-bedroom home on the citys Southside. Eight people makes a tight squeeze, but both are incredibly grateful to have the option to be with family. Since 1973, the Caller-Times has reported the struggle of needy children and their families during the holiday season. All of the money donated to the Christmas Appeal campaign benefits the children because all overhead costs are borne by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend and participating agencies. In March of this year, the entire family caught COVID-19. Since the pandemic began in 2020, the family remained cautious. They did curbside pickups at the store, everyone stayed home and did virtual schooling when available, and the only visiting they did in person was to Anas parents in their home. But thats all it took. A relative visited Anas parents, and the next day began feeling ill after the rest of the family had already come to visit. It was a domino effect, Ana said. Everyone got it. Ana was incredibly worried for her elderly parents, especially her father, who is blind and has diabetes. She didnt know that her parents would be spared the worst of it. All the kids became ill, and Ana was hospitalized for a week with her symptoms. But Mario was hit the worst, ending up in the hospital for four months total. The most terrifying part was the phone call Ana received early one Sunday morning from a visiting doctor, telling her Mario would die within hours. Mario credits the nursing staff with keeping him alive. He came home briefly, then was back in the hospital when his oxygen levels dropped into the 40s and doctors found he had a saddle pulmonary embolism. While the family was so sick and not working, they fell behind on their rent. Ana worked tirelessly with county social services and their landlord, trying to gather enough money to catch up on back payments. Ana and Mario even made court appearances via Zoom from Marios hospital room to try to settle the rent problems. Story continues I exhausted all resources trying to stay in our house, Ana said. But nothing worked and the landlord asked the family to leave, while also raising the rent. Even though the family is in the smaller space, the kids are real troopers, considering everything theyve gone through, Ana said. Daniel enjoys having so many adults around to play games with, and who will watch Big City Greens and Spider-Man cartoons with him. Monica, 9, likes the fourth grade at her new elementary school. Reading is her best subject, she said, and she likes variety. Sometimes I like big books, sometimes little books, she shared. I like to read scary books, sometimes funny books. They had a big library at their old house, but couldnt bring it to the new home. She especially misses a book about unicorns, since those are her favorite. Older sister Victoria, 12, attends the nearby middle school, where she has joined band and plays the flute. She enjoys watching suspense/horror anime on Netflix, but her eyes light up especially when talking about shows about ghost hunters and true haunting stories. Omar is the oldest at 16 and in high school. He would love to be an author a comic book author, to be specific. He enjoys all the Marvel and DC comics, along with video games. The children represent thousands who will be helped by the Caller-Times Children's Christmas Appeal. The names of the families profiled have been changed to protect their privacy. Since 1973, the Caller-Times has reported the struggle of needy children and their families during the holiday season. All the money donated to the Christmas Appeal campaign benefits the children; all overhead costs are borne by the Caller-Times, United Way of the Coastal Bend and participating agencies. This year, the Nueces County Record Star and the Alice Echo-News Journal joined the campaign. Participating agencies include Boys & Girls Club of Alice, Duval County Christmas Committee, the Kleberg County Welfare Department, Nueces County Department of Social Services, the Odyssey After School Enrichment Program in Rockport, Sinton for Youth Inc. and the Purple Door. Despite the loss of their home, they are incredibly grateful for what they have: close family and friends who brought food and medicine when the family was sick, making sure everyone was cared for. They also have a greater appreciation for good health. The people who say flu-like, no, its so much worse. Not being able to breathe? said Mario, who is still experiencing long-term symptoms of COVID and is on supplemental oxygen at home. We take it for granted, just breathing. But everyone survived. Not everyone is making it, Grandma Rosa said. We have angels, everywhere. HOW TO DONATE Here are three ways to help: *Fill out the donation form on Page 2A. Make your check or money order payable to Childrens Christmas Appeal and mail to: United Way of Coastal Bend, 4659 Everhart Road, Corpus Christi, TX, 78411 (designate funds to Children's Christmas Appeal) *Donate online at www.uwcb.org. Look for the Christmas Appeal logo. *Text ChristmasAppeal (no spaces) to 41444 to make a donation. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Family grateful to be together despite losing home after hospital stay 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. Donald Grier Sr., formerly the lone survivor of a quadruple stabbing in Townsend on Dec. 3, died early Thursday from his injuries, New Castle County police reported. Donald Sr., 68, was found bleeding on the front step of his house on Camerton Lane two weeks ago after his son, Donald Grier Jr., stabbed him with a hunting knife, according to court records. He was the only victim able to tell responding police officers what happened inside the house that night. The others 70-year-old Alicia Grier, 53-year-old Linda Santucci and 19-year-old Michael Santucci Jr. were already dead or in critical condition when officers arrived, according to police. New Castle County Police investigate on Camerton Lane in Townsend early Friday evening, Dec. 3, 2021. A closer look at the crime: What unfolded inside the Townsend home where 3 family members were killed, another injured Donald Sr. was taken to Christiana Medical Center that night, and New Castle County police reported he died there at 12:06 a.m. on Dec. 16. Donald Jr. was arrested and charged with killing his stepmother, stepsister and nephew and now father, too. He faces felony charges of murder, attempted murder, reckless endangering and possession of a deadly weapon He is set to appear in court on Jan. 5. In the meantime, he remains in prison on more than $8 million cash bail. Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Fourth victim in Townsend quadruple stabbing dies from injuries First lady Biden thanked health care workers for their service at Children's Wisconsin Wednesday. She met with Dr. Mike Gutzeit, chief medical officer, right, and Dr. Smriti Khare, president of primary care, second from right, who discussed the role the hospital played in caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was joined by second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, second from left, and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, left. Peggy Troy, Children's Wisconsin president and CEO, center, served as Biden's guide during the visit. In a trip Wednesday to Milwaukee and Waukesha, first lady Jill Biden urged Americans to vaccinate their children from COVID-19 and met with families of Waukesha Christmas Parade victims. Biden was joined by second gentleman Douglas Emhoff and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on visits to Children's Wisconsin and to Waukesha City Hall. At Children's Wisconsin, Biden, Emhoff and Murthy thanked health care workers who cared for COVID-19 patients and children injured in the Waukesha parade tragedy. They also spoke with children who had just received COVID-19 vaccinations moments earlier. In prepared remarks, Biden urged parents to take their children to get the vaccine. "There's no gift that's greater than the gift of health," she said. "It's up to us to keep our families safe, and with these vaccines and boosters, we can." Emhoff said when his two children were vaccinated, his family breathed a sigh of relief. Murthy reminded families that the vaccine is safe and effective and that "COVID is not harmless in children." "This vaccine will help protect our children and our community from COVID-19," Murthy said. Just over 18% of Wisconsin children 5 to 11 years old have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the state Department of Health Services. The vaccine became available for the age group in early November. Biden, Emhoff, Murthy and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also greeted several leaders of the hospital and Karen Timberlake, Wisconsin DHS secretary-designee. First lady Jill Biden, center, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, left and U.S. Surgeon Dr. Vivek Murthy, right, pay their respects Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Waukesha Christmas Parade memorial in Waukesha. Biden, Emhoff and Murthy also expressed their gratitude to the health care team that cared for Waukesha parade victims. "Our nation is so grateful for you. We have not forgotten about you. We will not forget about you. And you will remain in our minds and our hearts as you continue to process, to heal and to grieve," Murthy said. Speaking to the doctors and nurses that treated many of the child victims, Biden thanked them for their work and handed a Children's staff member a box of cookies she said were from the White House. Story continues "The country needs healing emotionally as well," Biden said. Most of the comments Biden and Emhoff made to the health care team were inaudible to reporters. Biden and others wore bracelets with blue lights during the visit to Children's as part of the "Unite with a Blue Light" effort. Many homes and businesses in the Waukesha area have put out blue lights as a gesture of unity after the parade tragedy. On Nov. 21, a driver plowed through the Christmas parade, striking dozens of people. Six people died from their injuries, including an 8-year-old boy, and more than 60 people were injured. Children were among the many seriously injured marchers, as the driver struck a girls' dance team, a youth baseball club and a high school marching band in addition to other groups. Children's Wisconsin treated 17 patients with injuries from the incident. One girl, 11, remains hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury. Eight-year-old Jackson Sparks of Mukwonago died from his injuries after he was hospitalized. The others who died were Virginia "Ginny" Sorenson, 79, Leanna "Lee" Owen, 71, Tamara Carlson Durand, 52, who were all part of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, Wilhelm Hospel, 81, who helped the group, and Jane Kulich, 52, a bank teller who was marching with Citizens Bank. At the hospital Wednesday, Biden met privately with two injured children, ages 10 and 11, and their families. The 11-year-old was the remaining hospitalized patient. The 10-year-old, who was released Tuesday evening, suffered a brain injury and several broken bones. First lady Jill Biden, second from left, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, left, met with Waukesha officials, as well as the families of the victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy at Waukesha City Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. First lady Jill Biden and second gentlemen Doug Emhoff visit Waukesha to pay tribute to parade victims Biden and Emhoff then headed to Waukesha to join Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson in laying a wreath at the foot of a memorial for the victims. They also bowed their heads for a moment of silence at the memorial in downtown Waukesha. Then they made the short drive to Waukesha City Hall where they spent nearly an hour meeting with the families of four of the six people who died from the tragedy. They also met with some members of the Dancing Grannies group. Biden shared brief remarks following the meeting. All of America mourns with Waukesha, she said. She also spoke shortly about each victim who died. They continue to shine in every soul who loved them. May their memories bring you joy, Biden said. Emhoff also shared brief remarks, along with Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly. You are a true leader, in every sense of the word, Emhoff told Reilly. Emhoff called the tragedy horrible and shocking. He thanked the first responders as well as countless civilians who tried to help those wounded from the incident. Waukesha, Wisconsin, will now forever hold a special place in my heart for what Ive seen here today, Emhoff said. Im never going to forget the people I just met, the stories I just heard and the strength that I witnessed today, he added. Reilly thanked Biden and Emhoff for visiting. He also said the outpouring of support from the city, county, state and nation has been overwhelming. We are Waukesha strong. We will continue to be Waukesha strong, Reilly said. Contact Sophie Carson at (414) 223-5512 or scarson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SCarson_News. 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: Jill Biden urges vaccines, meets families of Waukesha parade victims TOKYO (AP) Veteran infielder Freddy Galvis has signed a two-year deal with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japanese baseball. The club in Nippon Professional Baseball confirmed the length of the contract with The Associated Press but declined to give financial details. Reports in Japan say the total contract could be worth 700 million yen, or about $6 million. Galvis played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles in the 2021 season. The shortstop has also played for the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays and the Cincinnati Reds. Last season marked his second stint with the Phillies. I'm so grateful and happy to be part of such a wonderful franchise, Galvis said in a statement in English provided by the club. I can't wait to start playing with my teammates to give the fans and city another championship. Galvis has a career batting average of .246 with 109 home runs. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports BERLIN (Reuters) -A German court sentenced a man to life in prison for ploughing his car into a carnival parade in the western German town of Volkmarsen last year, injuring dozens, including 20 children, the court said on Thursday. The local man, now 31 years old, was accused of having deliberately steered his car into a large group of people with the intention of killing on Shrove Monday (Rosenmontag), the high point of Germany's carnival season. Life imprisonment is the most severe sentence possible in Germany. The court in Kassel found the man's guilt to be severe, which means his sentence will not be automatically reviewed for parole after 15 years. "The court today undoubtedly concluded the defendant's intent to kill," state prosecutor Tobias Wipplinger told journalists. Wipplinger said the defendant remained silent during the entire trial and did not give a confession that could have mitigated the penalty. "The victims did not receive any answers in the process to the question of why... why the accused committed this act," Wipplinger added. Hartmut Linnekugel, the mayor of the town which is home to some 6,800 people, said it was important that the ruling came before Christmas so it could sink in. "Some peace will be made," Linnekugel said, but he added "this event will always be present in the minds of the people". The defendant's lawyer declined to comment on his client's motives. "I have a duty of confidentiality. And it is every defendant's right to remain silent. That is his decision, and the court has to accept it," the lawyer, Bernd Pflaging, said. Shrove Monday is an institution in Catholic areas of Germany, especially in the Rhineland where tens of thousands of people dress up, drink alcohol and line the streets to watch decorated floats that often mock public figures. Security at public events in Germany has been tightened since a Tunisian man with Islamist militant ties ploughed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin in 2016, killing 12 people. He was later shot dead by Italian police after fleeing. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan, Hakan Erdem and Annkathrin WeisWriting by Riham AlkousaaEditing by Thomas Escritt and Philippa Fletcher) (Getty Images) Google has been placing ads next to content promoting climate change denial despite promising not to, a new report alleges. The Centre for Countering Digital Hate claims that Google would prohibit ads for, and monetization of, content that contradicts well-established scientific consensus around the existence and causes of climate change from 9 November. However, the CCDH claims that on that date, 95 out of 100 articles that contained climate misinformation such as claiming that it is a hoax, that the science is alarmism, or that there is a cult around it had ads running next to them. The CCDH identified ten fringe publishers whose content features in posts accounting for up to 69 per cent of Facebook interactions with climate denial content. They claim that, in just six months, these publishers had generated up to $5.3 million in Google Ads revenue. Climate change denial is a cynical strategy that seeks to delay the action needed to prevent ecological disaster, Imran Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said. In making their initial announcement, Google appears to recognise that they have played a part in making climate change denial a profitable business, and yet they have not followed through with real action. Googles motto used to be do no evil; it appears though, there was a caveat: unless it makes Google a buck or two. The publishers the CCDH mention include Breitbart, which called global warming "a gigantic eco-fascist gaslighting operation, an Electroverse article that claimed there are no credible scientists warning of a climate emergency not a single one, and a Western Journal article claiming Whether the climate is changing and whether it is caused by man are questions not answered definitively." In 2019, eleven thousand scientists in 153 countries declared a climate emergency and warned that untold human suffering is unavoidable without huge shifts in the way we live. Story continues It appears Google is spreading disinformation about its efforts to fight disinformation. Why is Google continuing to let climate denial be profitable after promising in October they would put an end to it?, Michael Khoo, co-chair of the climate change disinformation coalition at Friends of the Earth, said in a statement. Its bad enough Google hosts so much climate denial on YouTube, but its even worse if theyre lying about their reforms. Google must do much more to stop the spread of climate denial. Google did not provide a comment to The Independent before time of publication but told The Verge that it had reviewed the pages shared with us and have taken appropriate enforcement actions. St. Joseph County Council members Mark Telloyan, left, Richard Pfeil, center, and Mark Root SOUTH BEND Democrats and Republicans would each have three favorable St. Joseph County Council districts, while the three remaining seats could be battlegrounds, under election maps proposed by the councils three GOP members. The proposed maps could give Republicans a shot at breaking the two-thirds majority that allows council Democrats to pass ordinances without bi-partisan support and override vetoes by the all-GOP Board of Commissioners. Republican council members Richard Pfeil, Mark Root and Mark Telloyan released the proposed maps on Wednesday and called for the council to act quickly to pass a redistricting plan before the end of the year. New district maps proposed Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, by Republican members of the St. Joseph County Council. The Commissioners, the countys executive body, approved their new districts last month. But the council has yet to draw its own districts, and Democrats on the council have signaled they may further delay the process by suing over the commissioners maps. We believe it is important for the council to fulfill its statutory obligations to establish districts prior to the end of the year, Telloyan said in a written statement, rather than continue to focus on pointless threats of very expensive litigation. Council President Rafael Morton, a Democrat, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday afternoon. Attorney Kip Tew, whom council Democrats hired to represent the council in potential litigation over the district maps, also did not return a call. The council has yet to file a lawsuit against the commissioners. Telloyan noted state law on county redistricting calls for council maps to be redrawn in the year following the U.S. Census. That, he said, means the maps must be approved no later than Dec. 31. Beyond the legal requirement, Telloyan pointed to the practical need to have the new districts drawn by Jan. 5, when candidates begin filing for the 2022 county elections. Candidates need to know the contours of their districts when they file, Telloyan said in an interview. Story continues The current St. Joseph County Council district maps. Democratic council members threatened legal action after the commissioners passed a controversial redistricting plan that could give Republicans the edge in county elections for the next decade. The council Democrats hired a team from the law firm Ice Miller, including Tew, a former Indiana Democratic Party chairman, and John Gregg, a former Indiana House speaker. Drawn by Commissioners President Andy Kostielney with help from former Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosmas law firm, those maps would strengthen Republicans in two of the three commissioner districts while shifting Democrats and racial minorities to the third. The commissioner maps could also create more GOP-friendly council districts. Thats because the council must draw its districts within the borders of the commissioner maps. Republicans have more power over both the commissioner and council districts this year because of a recent change in state law that allowed the commissioners to create their maps without approval by the council. The maps proposed Wednesday by the council Republicans could make it easier for the GOP to flip at least one Democratic-held seat. The GOP council members said they drew the maps with help from Bosmas firm, at no additional cost to the county. The districts currently represented by Pfeil, Root and Telloyan would maintain a Republican lean of at least 10 percentage points, according to data available through Daves Redistricting, an online mapping tool. But District A, currently represented by Democratic Councilman Bobby Kruszynski, would be about 51% Republican under the proposed maps. It would still be considered a competitive district under the criteria used by Daves Redistricting, as would two districts with slight Democratic edges. The remaining three districts, all within the South Bend city limits, would lean heavily toward Democrats. Republicans have said the current council maps, last redrawn in 2011, packed large numbers of Republican voters into three districts while leaving the six remaining seats easier for Democrats to win. Pfeil, Root and Telloyan called on the council to hold a public hearing on their proposed maps at its meeting Tuesday, and to hold a special meeting to pass the maps Dec. 28. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: St. Joseph County Council Republicans push new election district maps Incumbent Democratic governors facing reelection next year are being forced to deal with the issue of vaccine mandates as opposition to some measures rise across the county. While the Biden administration has continued to tout the mandates for federal workers and large-scale employers, some Democratic governors appear to have distanced themselves from the initiatives. Last week, a local Michigan outlet reported that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) told business leaders in Montcalm County that she understood concerns about the mandates, adding that if a federal mandate were to go into effect, "we're going to lose state employees." "That's why I haven't proposed a mandate at the state level. Some states have. We have not. We're waiting to see what happens in court," Whitmer said. And last month, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed legislation into law that would make it easier for federal workers in the state to keep their jobs despite federal mask mandates. Additionally, the legislation provides exemptions for religious, moral and federal concerns about the vaccine. President Biden's vaccine mandate states that any business with more than 100 employees must begin requiring workers to either get a COVID-19 vaccine or undergo regular testing for the virus by Jan. 4. The mandate has been halted in federal court. Recent polling, meanwhile, shows a rising opposition to certain mandates. An Axios-Ipsos survey released on Tuesday found that Americans tend to support mask and vaccine mandates in the workplace, but 51 percent of Americans said they support making it illegal for companies to deny employment and service to unvaccinated individuals. The developments come as Democrats in various elected offices have taken a softer approach to the issue of vaccine mandates. Last week, Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jon Tester (Mont.) joined 50 Republican senators in voting to overturn the president's COVID-19 testing mandate for businesses. It is unlikely that the Republican-led measure will become law, but the vote was a symbol of the growing discontent surrounding the mandates. Story continues "Ultimately at the end of the day, Democratic governors are late to the party," said Republican Governors Association spokeswoman Joanna Rodriguez. "Ultimately at the end of the day, these governors are going to be held accountable for what the Biden administration is doing." A Monmouth University poll released on Wednesday found that 60 percent of respondents said they feel worn out by the pandemic and the changes they have made in their daily lives, with 36 percent saying they feel worn out "a lot" and 24 percent saying they feel worn out "a little." Additionally, 45 percent of adults have felt angry because of the pandemic and changes they have been forced to make in their daily lives. Another 55 percent said they do not feel angry about the changes at all. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has said she will not implement a mandate for all private sector workers in New York to get the jab but announced an indoor mask mandate for all public places without a vaccine requirement. Hochul has otherwise left the vaccine mandates for private sector workers largely up to localities in the state. "I support the local government leaders to execute the policies to fight COVID as they believe will be most helpful to deal with this pandemic in their own jurisdictions," Hochul said last week. The state does have a vaccine mandate in effect for health care workers, which the Supreme Court declined to block on Monday. A group of doctors, nurses and health care personnel had sought religious exemptions from the state's mandate, which was enacted this summer. Many Democratic governors have largely relaxed their stances when it comes to mask mandates as well. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said in an interview on Monday that he will not impose a statewide mask mandate in response to the new omicron variant because the coronavirus vaccine has led to "the end of the medical emergency." "You don't tell people to wear a jacket when they go out in winter and force them to," Polis told Colorado Public Radio. "If they get frostbite, it's their own darn fault. If you haven't been vaccinated, that's your choice. I respect that. But it's your fault when you're in the hospital with COVID." In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said last week that the state will leave mask mandates up to localities, though the state does require those who are unvaccinated to wear masks. On the other side of the aisle, Republicans have pushed ahead with challenging the Biden administration's vaccine mandates. Last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) together sued in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, arguing that Biden did not have the authority to impose the medical policy. "At the end of the day, Republican governors are fighting to make sure that their states have a say and control," Rodriguez said. "The one-size-fits-all Biden mandates aren't working. They're not something the people are eager to see." Republicans have also hit Democrats over what they say is a different treatment of those who are not vaccinated. "Democrats need to be careful of creating this second-class citizenship where you have folks who want to work, who candidly have been working through the pandemic, some of them are nurses and doctors who put their lives on the line when people were staying home and trying to flatten the curve," Rodriguez said. Democrats, on the other hand, argue that their governors are cognizant of the safety risks that come with the pandemic and have accused Republicans of using the issue to galvanize their own base. "Democratic Governors have led the way in combating the pandemic, and the results show it," said Democratic Governors Association spokesman David Turner, referring to a Johns Hopkins University study from March of this year that showed that states with Republican governors had higher coronavirus incidence and mortality rates from June 2020 to December 2020. "Instead of basing any decision on politics, their recommendations use the best science available to implement evidence-based policies that will work best in their states and for their constituents," he continued. "While the execution may vary state to state, there is no ambiguity about the overarching goals: get the economy growing and keep people safe. Meanwhile, Republicans promote dangerous anti-vax rhetoric or deny the pandemic still exists, even as more than a thousand Americans die every day. The contrast in leadership, and the lack thereof, could not be starker." Last month's gubernatorial race in Virginia could provide some insight into how the issue of mask and vaccine mandates could play out in 2022 races. Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe called for a number of vaccine mandates for students, teachers and businesses. While then-candidate and current Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin (R) encouraged Virginians to get the vaccine, he maintained throughout the course of the campaign that ultimately it was an individual choice. But unlike other Republican governors, like DeSantis, Youngkin will not move to block local mask and vaccine mandates. "Localities are going to have to make decisions the way the law works and that is going to be up to individual decisions but, again, from the governor's office, you won't see mandates from me," Youngkin told WRIC-TV in Richmond last month. Youngkin also told the outlet that he did not believe that Biden "has the authority to dictate to everyone that we have to take the vaccine." "I think every state needs to do what's right for their dynamic and their population," Rodriguez said. "Rural areas and people who work outside are very different from people who work in cities and offices and in cubicles." 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 From left, Hudson City School District Treasurer Phillip Butto, Board of Education member Steve DiMauro, District Superintendent Phil Herman and Board member James Field listen to a resident speak during a board meeting earlier this year. The board on Dec. 13 approved the first step to place a request to renew a 1.5-mill permanent improvement levy on the May 2022 ballot. HUDSON The school district is planning to ask voters to renew an existing tax levy in the spring. The board of education on Monday approved the first of two official actions needed to place a request to renew a 1.5-mill permanent improvement levy for five more years on the May 3, 2022 ballot. The revenue from this levy is used for expenses such as acquiring real estate for school purposes, constructing, expanding, rehabilitating, remodeling, and improving school buildings, according to the resolution passed by the board. Treasurer Phillip Butto said the levy generates approximately $1.5 million annually. This tax measure was last approved by voters in May 2017 and must be renewed some time in 2022 to ensure uninterrupted collection of the revenue. "This [levy] allows us to keep everything maintained in good shape so that we don't have the big bills that we could have if we let things slide," board member Tom Tobin said. Board of education president Dave Zuro emphasized the levy covers capital expenses and not operating costs. Butto said the resolution approved by the board will be delivered to the Summit County Fiscal Office and the county will certify the amount of money that the 1.5-mill levy will collect for the district. The board will then be asked in January to approve a resolution to proceed, which will be certified to the county fiscal office before Feb. 2, the deadline to file ballot issue requests with the Summit County Board of Elections. Reporter Phil Keren can be reached at pkeren@thebeaconjournal.com, or on Twitter at @keren_phil. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson schools eye levy renewal in spring DAKAR (Reuters) - An international human rights group on Thursday accused separatist fighters in Cameroon's Anglophone regions of systematically targeting schools, students and teachers during a civil war that has killed thousands of people. The attacks have forced two out of every three schools in Cameroons English-speaking regions to close, denying over 700,000 students access to an education, U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report. The report documented attacks on at least 70 schools since 2017, when a government crackdown on peaceful protesters ignited a full-blown conflict between the army of the mostly Francophone government and English-speaking militias. The separatists, who want to form a breakaway state called Ambazonia, have demanded that schools close to protest the government's official curriculum - and have attacked those that do not comply. They have killed and abducted hundreds of students and teachers, destroyed schools, threatened parents, saying they must keep them at home, and used schools as bases to hold and torture hostages, the report said. "These criminal attacks dont just cause immediate physical and psychological harm to victims; they jeopardize the future of tens of thousands of students," wrote Ilaria Allegrozzi, the author of the report. Separatist leaders were not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters. In responses published in the HRW report, separatist leaders did not directly address accusations their groups had attacked schools. They said that people living in Cameroon's Anglophone regions had willingly rejected the formal education system in favour of an English-centric, community-led curriculum. Government forces, which are regularly accused of committing atrocities against civilians, have made only 23 arrests linked to education-related attacks as of November 2021, the report found. "As the future of children in the Anglophone regions hangs in the balance, the authorities should live up to their responsibility to ensure childrens safe access to education and protection from harm, Allegrozzi said. Story continues A government spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. More than 3,000 people have been killed in Cameroon since the conflict began, and half a million more displaced. (Reporting by Cooper Inveen; Editing by Aaron Ross and Barbara Lewis) By Foo Yun Chee LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - U.S. life sciences company Illumina on Thursday criticised EU antitrust regulators for scrutinising its $8 billion cash-and-stock takeover of Grail even though the cancer detection test maker has no activities in Europe. The Commission's decision to scrutinise the deal via a rarely used power marked a troubling change in its policy, Illumina's lawyer told a hearing at Europe's second-top court, the General Court. "If the Commission is going to radically change policy, then businesses should know. Think about business certainty," Daniel Beard said. Commission lawyer Nicholas Khan said Illumina's arguments were incongruous, but Grail lawyer Javier Ruiz Calzado was equally critical. "The Commission has decided on a Copernican change in policy," he told judges, saying the policy change could hurt start-ups and the venture capitalist industry in Europe. EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager is seeking to extend her power to examine big companies' acquisitions of start-ups in order to shut down nascent rivals. Critics warn of over-reach while some national competition agencies worry about a power grab by the EU executive. The Commission, however, said it took up the Illumina case at the request of Belgium, France, Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands and Norway. Following a Commission order to seek its approval for the deal, Illumina complied but also launched litigation against the EU executive. Illumina riled the Commission when it completed the acquisition in August without waiting for the green light, resulting in an order to keep Grail separate and to have independent managers run the company until an EU decision. The deal, unveiled in September last year, would give Illumina access to Grail's flagship Galleri blood test used to diagnose cancers at early stages when the disease is easier to treat. A judgment is likely to come next year. The case is T-227/21 Illumina v Commission. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Jason Neely) FORT PIERCE Indian River State College enrollment has been shrinking over the past five years, a decline that's in line with statewide trends. There are about 100,000 fewer students in Florida's college system now than there were 10 years ago. For IRSC, enrollment peaked during the 2017-18 academic year at 29,189. It's at 22,851 this year, but it's making efforts to reverse the trend. "We're all in the same boat nationwide, and it's incumbent upon us at IRSC to figure out how we can distinguish ourselves, how we can develop programs of distinction for our community," said Beth Gaskin, vice president for student success. IRSC gets grant: Indian River State College gets grant to boost STEM degrees among Hispanic, low-income students More: Indian River State College president's goals fine; transparency should be No. 1 | Opinion The most recent end-of-year data on statewide college system enrollment showed 293,493 students for the 2020-21 academic year. Estimates for the current academic year, adopted Tuesday by the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research, reflected a statewide enrollment of 277,279 college students, a 5.5% decrease, or a decline of 16,214. Although some colleges did project increases in enrollment with reasonable justification, the majority of the colleges continue to project flat or declining enrollment based on the uncertainty of the future, given the ongoing COVID and economic issues, Lisa Cook, Division of Florida Colleges associate vice chancellor for financial policy, said Tuesday. Indian River State College recently saw its most significant drop in enrollment between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, from 25,721 to 22,851, a difference of nearly 3,000 students. It's evident that the COVID-19 pandemic had a serious effect on student enrollment in Florida's colleges, Gaskin said. "Community college students tend to be largely part time," she said. "Many are first-generation college students, many are balancing families and other responsibilities outside of school." Story continues When people attend school part time, it's more likely education could fall to the wayside, especially as the pandemic put financial strain on families. It forced people to reevaluate their needs and focus on work to remain stable, Gaskin said. "I do think community colleges were disproportionately affected affected by the pandemic," she said. "Our students generally are working adults ... some are already in the workforce looking for advancement, so they have to balance a lot." But the steady decline of college enrollment in Florida began before the coronavirus pandemic. Statewide, there are about 100,000 fewer students than the peak of enrollment a decade ago. The 2010-11 academic year had an enrollment of 375,292 college students. And that trend doesnt appear to be stopping in the next five years, according to state economists. By the 2026-27 academic year, college enrollment is projected to decline by 9.3%, or 27,250 students. Another area of falling enrollment is in students seeking associate in arts, or A.A., degrees. The gap is shrinking between college students seeking A.A. degrees and those pursuing workforce-education programs, said Florida College System Chancellor Kathryn Hebda. In some instances, workforce-education programs can be non-fundable and thus not included in total system enrollment counted by state estimators. Despite the lower number of students enrolled this academic year, Indian River State College celebrated its largest fall commencement Thursday, with 715 students participating, Gaskin said. The college also has projects in development that aim to boost future enrollment, she said. Notably, it's expanding its nursing program. "The expansion will provide us with more facilities, more space so that we can accommodate more students and double the number graduating every year," said spokesperson Suzanne Seldes. The expansion will include two classrooms, four nursing labs and a "simulation center," where students can work in simulated ICUs and surgical, labor and pediatric rooms. With the expansion, the school will be able to accommodate between 600 and 700 nursing graduates a year, Seldes said. The projected is expected to be finished by fall 2023. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report. Thomas Weber is a Digital Now Reporter at TCPalm. You can reach him at thomas.weber@tcpalm.com or 813-545-9113. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: IRSC enrollment follows statewide decline but eyes rebound By Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian content-sharing platform ShareChat on Thursday said it had raised $266 million in fresh funding from U.S.-based Alkeon Capital and some existing investors, pushing its valuation to $3.7 billion. The new investments, part of ShareChat's third funding round this year, was led by Alkeon and saw participation from Singapore's Temasek Holdings and Moore Strategic Ventures, among others, the company said in a statement. Reuters is first to report the fund raising. ShareChat raised $145 million in July from Temasek and others at a valuation of around $3 billion. Indian content-sharing and short-video apps have become popular since New Delhi last year banned ByteDance's TikTok and some other Chinese apps following an India-China border clash. ShareChat - which has 180 million active users - allows users to post content in 15 Indian languages. After TikTok was banned, the Indian firm also launched a similar short-video sharing app named Moj which has 160 million users and counts Meta Platforms Inc's Instagram Reels as its key rival. "Both our products have been leading the market ... This fresh funding will further strengthen our position and help us deliver immersive social experiences," Ankush Sachdeva, ShareChat's CEO, said in a statement. The company will also use the funds to develop its apps' artificial-intelligence capabilities, it said. Social media and video-sharing apps in India have been sought after by investors who want to cash in on India's radpily growing base of internet and smartphone users. Indian consumers - both in urban and rural areas - are increasingly consuming digital video content through apps or streaming platforms. ShareChat said in its statement that users of its Moj app spent an average 34 minutes every day consuming video content. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi; Editing by Stephen Coates) The Craven Literacy Council received a $3,000 grant through the International Paper Foundation that they will use to initiate a nationally recognized program previously stalled by the pandemic. Beginning in January 2022, the Craven Literacy Council will launch their Motheread Family Literacy program that uses childrens books to teach adults important lessons that they can pass on to their families. More: 19,000 adults in our area will struggle to read this, here's what the community is doing Classes typically run 10 to 12 weeks and have five to eight students, creating an intimate learning environment. Our students are so motivated; they are working so hard. This gives them opportunities to have more exposure to things that are so relevant in their lives, said April King, director of Craven Literacy Council. Its so important to them and to help them bring that love of meeting reading home to their children because literacy is foundational to making a life change. The International Paper Foundation is in the process of handing out $70,000 worth of grants to local organizations. The Craven Literacy Council received a $3,000 grant from International Paper. The program curriculum follows five books with themes that students can often relate too: Grandfathers Journey, Leo the Late Bloomer, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where the Wild Things Are and The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote. Motheread takes students through three different types of literacy learning: literacy as an experience, literacy as an art and literacy as a process. Literacy as an experience includes the introduction to the book and life lessons to be gained from it. For example, in Leo the Late Bloomer, students are asked to reflect on a time when they have found something difficult that has taken them longer to accomplish then others. For many of Craven Literacy Councils English learners, this strikes a particular chord. Literacy as an art walks participants through a variety of interactive projects, bringing the words they read to life. Story continues The third section challenges students to delve into writing, responding to prompts related to what they have read. Each book is accompanied by a workbook and easier version so that students can take them home and read them to their children. To run the program 10 sets of every book and additional supplies are needed. The materials for one book for one student range from $250 to $300. Without the funds from International Paper, Craven Literacy Council would have had to delay the start of their program. More: International Paper in New Bern has a history of investing in Craven More: BSH's $1 million philanthropy: how more local organizations can reap the benefits Supporting the Motheread curriculum will promote family literacy using books for children to teach literacy skills to parents, with an emphasis on developing skills in all areas of literacy: listening, speaking, reading and writing, said Catherine Burgess, communications coordinator for International Paper. The lessons help parents understand the importance of reading regularly to their children and how to read aloud effectively. International Paper was founded in 1898 and acquired the New Bern Mill in 2016. Since doing so, the companyproducing packaging products, pulp for hygiene goods and paperhas invested $500,000 in monetary and in-kind donations through the region. International Paper has been named to FORTUNE's list of most admired companies. International Paper is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Russia. [CONTRIBUTED PHOTO] It currently employs 330 employees and its foundation continues to support local organization that concentrate on its signature causes: education, hunger, health, wellness and disaster relief. International Paper holds the core belief that it cannot succeed if the community surrounding it is not succeeding. Meeting the needs of the areas where their employees live and work is a priority, Burgess said. With education being one of our signature causes, we believe literacy and reading skills form the foundation of learning and understanding, Burgess said. Not only is this important for children, but adults as well, who are seeking to build literacy skills for a better life. Craven Literacy Council was founded in 1986 and provides adults in Craven, Jones and Pamlico counties a place to improve their reading, writing, math and technology skills. In these three counties 19,000 adults cannot read higher than a third-grade level. In Craven County alone, 12% of people lack basic literacy prose. Because literacy is a foundational skill that can be an indicator of a communitys overall health, every $1 invested in adult literacy yields $7.14 in return. As Craven Literacy Council heads toward normalcy after the pandemic and is able to take more students, there largest need is tutors. To find out more about tutor training go to www.cravenliteracy.org or call 252-637-8079. Growth and Development Reporter Julia Masters can be reached at jmasters@gannett.com or 828-318-3108. This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Local company donates $3,000 toward literacy in New Bern TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan on Thursday officially approved Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine for its booster programme, while Novavax Inc filed for first approval of its shot in the country. Moderna's mRNA-type vaccine, used mostly in Japan to date at workplace inoculation sites, was approved for used as a third booster shot for those aged 18 or older, following a recommendation from health ministry experts on Wednesday. That's the same age range applied to the shot developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech, which has been given out about 93,000 times as a booster through Wednesday, taking in about 0.1% of the population. Novavax's protein-based vaccine was submitted to regulators by its Japanese distributor Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., the company said in a statement. Pending approval, Takeda plans to make the vaccine in Japan and distribute it in early 2022. After a relatively late start, Japan has fully inoculated almost 80% of its population, the highest among Group of Seven economies. The country has about 31 million doses left between the Pfizer and Moderna shots, with deals in place to get 170 million more in 2022. New coronavirus infections in Japan have slowed dramatically since a fifth wave that peaked in August. Experts say the fact that Japan started its vaccine push later may be helping keep COVID-19 cases low, as immunity from the shots for most people has not yet waned. Health minister Shigeyuki Goto said last week that boosters should be given as soon as possible, instead of holding firm to an eight-month lag from the first two shots. Novavax's vaccine received its first emergency use approval in Indonesia in early November followed by the Philippines. Takeda has said it can make 250 million doses of the vaccine at its Hikari plant in western Japan, and has contracted to sell 150 million to the Japanese government. Takeda also handles importation and distribution of the Moderna shot in Japan. (Reporting by Rocky Swift and Kiyoshi Takenaka; editing by Richard Pullin) John Cleese has said he intends to put in a formal complaint about the "deception, dishonesty and tone" of a recent BBC interview he took part in. The BBC World News TV interview covered cancel culture around comedy and his upcoming stand-up tour in Asia. The Monty Python star tweeted that journalist Karishma Vaswani had tried to portray him as "old-fashioned, uncaring and basically harmful". A BBC spokeswoman said it was a "fair and appropriate interview". Actor and comedian Cleese said online he was doing the interview to discuss his stand-up shows in Singapore and Bangkok, but had instead been asked about why he was interested in cancel culture. 'Not the interview I agreed to' "I replied courteously and in full I explained that if parents were over protective, it did not prepare children well when they entered the real and often not-very-nice world," he tweeted. "She then asked a disjointed question, clearly trying to portray me as old-fashioned, uncaring and basically harmful." He added that his response had been "totally ignored" by the interviewer, who had then asked about the pandemic and US comedian Dave Chapelle, who recently hit out against cancel culture. Cleese then removed his headphones, as it was "not the interview I had agreed to," he noted. "Karishma had no interest in a discussion with me. She wanted only the role of prosecutor. The BBC needs to train her again." John Cleese rose to fame in the late 1960s as part of the surreal comedy troupe Monty Python The BBC, in a statement, said the journalist had asked Cleese about his tour of Asia as well as exploring themes around cancel culture, which feature in his upcoming work including a Channel 4 documentary. "This was a fair and appropriate interview which touched on topics that John Cleese has previously been vocal about as well as themes within his new tour," a BBC spokeswoman said. "Our presenter is an excellent and experienced journalist who conducted the interview entirely within our editorial guidelines." Story continues The pre-recorded interview had not been aired on BBC World News when Cleese spoke out about it on Twitter. Cleese, who rose to fame in the late 1960s as part of the surreal British TV comedy troupe Monty Python, has found himself at the centre of debates around what is currently deemed acceptable in comedy. Last month, he cancelled an appearance at Cambridge University after a visiting speaker was banned for a Hitler impression. The star, who said he had done a similar impression on a Monty Python show, said he was "blacklisting myself before someone else does". Last year he laid into the "cowardly and gutless" BBC after an episode of Fawlty Towers was temporarily removed from a BBC-owned streaming platform. A 1975 episode titled The Germans was taken off UKTV's streaming service because it contains "racial slurs". Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. Surrounded by lawmakers of both parties and Vice President Kamala Harris, Joe Biden celebrated the biggest win of his presidency so far, signing into law the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill last month. "It's a big deal," the president said, a reference to something he had said more than a decade ago as vice president, when then-President Obama signed his landmark health care law. FILE: WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 15: President Biden (C) signs H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, during ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House on November 15, 2021 in Washington, DC. / Credit: Chen Mengtong/China News Service via Getty Images Mr. Biden's turn as the second-in-command received largely positive reviews. Vice presidential scholar Joel K. Goldstein's assessment soon after Mr. Biden left office was that he had been "extraordinary," praising Mr. Biden's ability to exercise a high level of influence during both terms, with a broad portfolio that included the implementation of the Obama administration's stimulus plan and high-level negotiations with Hill Republicans over the budget. Often, vice presidents' effectiveness "depends upon acting in a way that conveys the perception internally that they're part of a team not somebody out trying to, you know, trumpet their own horn," Goldstein told CBS News. As Harris prepares to enter her second year in office, she faces political and policy headwinds like multiple high-profile staff departures and the open-ended and somewhat intractable policy assignments she has been given. Advancing voting rights and addressing the root causes of migration at the southern border are almost certainly destined to be problems that last beyond her tenure in the job. Lately, she has taken on a project that's more concrete: helping to tout the administration's signature infrastructure law. So, what did the vice president do to help pass it? A lot or not very much depending on who you ask. Multiple Republican congressional aides directly involved in negotiations of the bill's final framework tell CBS News that Harris had no involvement in the meetings on Capitol Hill, "where all the negotiations took place." The aides said that Harris participated in at least two "perfunctory" White House meetings. Story continues "I'm sure she and her staff relayed their support for various things to Democratic negotiators, but she was not involved in any direct negotiations" an aide to a Republican senator involved in the negotiations said. White House officials and their allies tell a different story. They characterize Harris as a behind-the-scenes player who quietly pushed several environmental provisions that she worked on as a senator: funding for electric school buses, combatting Western wildfires and droughts, and replacing lead water service lines. As a senator, Harris introduced legislation addressing each of those issues, but none became law. For the duration of her Senate career, Republicans controlled the Senate and the White House. But Harris' allies said the failed bills formed the foundation of the environmental provisions in the infrastructure bill. "Because she was working on these topics in the Senate, she, at a tactical level, knows where members of our caucus and members of the caucus on the other side of the aisle are." Ali Zaidi, the deputy White House national climate adviser said. During negotiations, White House officials said Harris engaged with lawmakers at least 150 times through calls, meetings, and trips with members. Her relationships in the Senate and especially with Republican members are not nearly as deep as those of President Biden, who served in the body for 36 years and presided over it as vice president for eight. There is a particular issue in the law that Democrats who talked with CBS News highlighted in discussing Harris' involvement. Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire and one of the original senators negotiating the measure, said in a statement to CBS News that Harris was a "key partner" in advancing funding for electric school buses. The infrastructure law provides $5 billion over five years to wean the nation's school bus fleet off of fossil fuels. "She described for people why this was so important that kids in our communities were being subjected to pollution from their own school buses," Washington Senator Patty Murray, of Washington, said of Harris. Some 25 million children rely on school buses to transport them to school every day, according to government data. Murray became a co-sponsor of the "Clean School Bus Act" after Harris, who had introduced the bill, left the Senate. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, Democrat of Connecticut, and author of the "Clean School Bus Act" in the House, said she and Harris discussed electric school buses during their first meeting in 2018. Hayes told CBS News their conversations continued for the next three years, up until the bill passed. "There were a few times that [funding for clean buses] was on the table, off the table." Hayes said. "But I'm confident that the only reason why the final text even made it into actual legislation is because it was something that was important to the vice president." Democrats CBS News spoke to for this story painted a picture of a vice president who showed strong interest in issues familiar to her from her time as a California senator and as state attorney general. They even point to legislation she wrote that went directly into the final bill. For example, Congressman Jared Huffman, Democrat of California, worked with Harris on wildfire and drought resiliency legislation during her time in the Senate. Huffman says elements of their work together were dropped into the final version of the bill. "There was no House participation in those negotiations that produced the bipartisan infrastructure framework, but major elements of bills that we had developed together that were ready to go plugged into that deal, because they needed things that were pretty fully developed," Huffman said. This week Harris has made two announcements related the the infrastructure law's implementation. On Thursday, she announced the administration's plan to accelerate the replacement of the millions of remaining lead pipes in the United States. Lead is a neurotoxin and can leach into drinking water when lead pipes corrode. Even low levels of exposure are linked to learning disabilities, hearing and nerve damage and other health risks. On Monday, she touted the establishment of a new office that will work to deploy EV infrastructure across the country. COVID-19 cases climbing ahead of the holidays as Omicron adds to concerns Biden awards Medal of Honor to 3 soldiers All 17 missionaries taken hostage in Haiti have been freed, police say A downtown Kansas City daycare employee is accused of abusing a 10-month-old infant by slamming him down and dropping him on his head, leaving several bruises and scratches on his body. Cheryl Tate, 65, is charged with nine counts of felony child abuse in Jackson County Circuit Court, Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced Wednesday. Court documents allege she caused the injuries to the baby over a two-week period beginning in late October at her job with Spectrum Center Daycare at 911 Main St. According to court records, the abuse was first reported to Kansas City police on Nov. 4. Investigators were informed that the baby had suffered the injuries while in the care of Spectrum. The child was taken to Childrens Mercy Hospital. Physicians there determined that the child had been abused. They found six patterned bruises across the upper back, three scratches on his right thing and a small bruise to the right side of the forehead. Detectives reviewed video surveillance provided by the daycare. On the video, Tate was allegedly seen harming the baby on several occasions between Oct. 25 and Nov. 2. The videos showed the child being lifted by his neck and head, pushed down by his head, slammed into his crib and dropped on his head. Tate is also seen slapping him across his face and on his bottom, a detective wrote in charging documents. During an interview at Kansas City Police Headquarters, Tate allegedly told investigators she let her frustrations get the better of her because she has been dealing with personal and financial struggles as of late. She said she was aware that the daycare was under surveillance and had tried to give herself pep talks ahead of work to prevent her from doing anything crazy during the shift, she told police. Michelle Mannell, director of the daycare, told The Star that the center had contacted law enforcement immediately after the infant was found to have been injured and is fully cooperating with authorities. She said Tate was immediately fired after the centers surveillance footage was reviewed. We wanted to make sure that (the investigation) was pursued. Were doing everything we can to make sure that its followed through, Mannell said, adding that the wellbeing of children is the daycares top priority and will continue to be. Osawatomie State Hospital, one of two state hospitals for adults with mental health disorders, has had trouble attracting and retaining staff in recent years. Officials say they will soon lift a halt on voluntary admissions at the hospital. The state will lift a longstanding moratorium on voluntary admissions at Osawatomie State Hospital, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services said Thursday, a move which will likely come as a relief to state legislators and many in the state's mental health community. The moratorium will be lifted on Jan. 3, 2022, after being in place for over six years. Osawatomie, along with Larned State Hospital, serve patients with serious or acute mental health conditions upon referral from community providers or providing care for those under court order. Since day one, my administration has prioritized policies that provide Kansans with the mental health resources and support they deserve," Gov. Laura Kelly said in a statement. "Im confident this plan will continue our efforts and provide a more comprehensive and inclusive continuum of care for everyone. More: State hospitals, Kansas Neurological Institute brave staffing challenges amid COVID pandemic The moratorium dates back to 2015 and a citation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that the facility wasn't doing enough to prevent suicidal patients from harming themselves. It came on the heels of a separate citation, with the hospital housing routinely three patients in rooms built for two. But the pause on voluntary admissions has created problems for other mental health providers, law enforcement personnel and health care facilities, who are unsure of what to do with those in the throes of serious mental illness if admission to Osawatomie isn't an option. As part of a plan to lift the moratorium, KDADS has said they will create a new class of mental health providers dubbed State Intuitional Alternative. This effectively allowing private psychiatric facilities to stand in for state hospitals with the intent of easing strain on the system for both patients seeking voluntary and court-mandated treatment alike. Currently, 8 hospitals statewide are serving as SIAs. Story continues The agency is also planning to complete renovations on one Osawatomie building by Jan., 2022. Separate renovations will free up more space and allow double occupancy rooms to be converted to single occupancy. A waiting list will be used if demand rises, with 15% of beds to be set aside for involuntary admissions. More: Kansas mental health providers look to the future with new hotline looming and COVID-19 pandemic fading COVID, staffing likely to limit capacity at Kansas-run mental health hospital Osawatomie will eventually have a capacity of 72 certified beds and 110 licensed beds, under the plan, though COVID-19 and staffing concerns will likely limit that number for the time being. Indeed, staffing challenges have been acute as both Osawatomie and Larned. The state has embarked on a plan to implement temporary and permanent raises for staff there, as well as other state facilities, but it comes after retention rates have remained stubbornly low. Overall staff vacancy rates at Larned and Osawatomie are hovering around 38%, but certain positions such as mental health technicians have even higher rates. "It's a good and interesting point," Sen. Richard Hilderbrand, R-Galena, and chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, said. "Staffing shortages are real and just about everywhere and definitely in that area is no exception and maybe it is even a bigger issue. It would be (an issue). We just have to make sure we are doing what we can. Legislators have long encouraged the lifting of the moratorium, inserting language in the most recent budget requiring KDADS to change the policy, though Gov. Laura Kelly rejected the provision and Republican lawmakers didn't attempt to override her decision. Hilderbrand's reaction to the news? "It is about time," he said. More: As vaccine mandates collapse amid worsening pandemic in Kansas, what is the public health response? Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas mental health hospital to lift voluntary admissions ban Geoffrey Barasa now farms in western Kenya after losing his two jobs in Nairobi If the coronavirus pandemic had not happened, it is likely Jack Onyango would still be living alone, working in Kenya's capital and sending money back to his wife and children in his faraway rural home. Like so many Kenyans, he moved to Nairobi as a young man, believing that was where the country's economic opportunities lay. But life in the capital was not easy. Mr Onyango could only afford to travel home to see his family in Kisumu county in the west of the country once a year. He would go at Christmas time paying 2,000 Kenyan shillings ($18; 13) for the bus journey - and he was also expected to brings goods with him, such as sugar. When the virus struck in 2020, the authorities introduced tough lockdown restrictions and like many others, Mr Onyango found himself with no work. While governments in other parts of the world paid partial salaries to those who lost their jobs during the pandemic, in Kenya there was no such support. Jack Onyango would only see his family in the village in Nyakach once a year "There was nowhere to get money to pay rent and to feed my young family," he says. Seeing no way of staying in the city, he decided to move back home to his village in July of that year. "I was worried but I gambled," Mr Onyango says. "At home there was no rent, there was no electricity bill or water bills, as compared to Nairobi where everything was money-oriented." He started farming tomatoes and local greens such as African cabbage and African nightshade on 1.5 acres (0.6 hectares) of land that once belonged to his grandfather. He sold the produce to neighbours and vendors, who would take it to the local market. With birds chirping loudly in the background as he speaks to me on the phone, he tells me the unexpected move has turned out for the best. "The money I'm getting from what I'm doing now is much more compared to what I used to get for working in Nairobi. "My eldest daughter is 16 years old. I used to see them once a year. In fact, corona has been a blessing to me." Story continues Countryside sanctuary The international development charity World Neighbors says Mr Onyango's experience is part of a wider reverse migration trend, triggered by the pandemic. "Covid-19 caught everybody by surprise," says Chris Macoloo, the organisation's Africa region director. "Most of the people were laid off and, because they live from hand to mouth, they couldn't feed themselves, they couldn't pay rent and they couldn't send money to their families. "So quite a number migrated from cities back to their rural areas." He says the countryside offered a lifeline for many. "In Africa we are children of two worlds. We have one leg in the city and another one in the countryside. It helped because if we didn't have that, they would have really been in serious trouble." Nearly 750,000 jobs were lost across Kenya in 2020, according to Kenya's National Bureau of Statistics. A recent report by the agency said various sectors of the economy were adversely affected by Covid containment measures, and total employment, excluding small-scale farming and pastoral activities, contracted by 4.1% to 17.4 million. Small-scale farming is helping many communities to get through the pandemic During the early coronavirus lockdowns, the Kenyan government banned travel between some big cities, prompting concerns about regional food security in areas that do not grow much local produce. As a result, many of the internal migrants who returned home to rural areas turned to growing vegetables themselves. Matter of pride Geoffrey Barasa is another Kenyan who left life in the city behind. The 46-year-old used to hold down two jobs in Nairobi. Geoffrey Barasa is also doing some livestock farming He was employed as a casual worker doing odd jobs in the city's industrial area and he also ran a small business buying chicken parts at a market and selling them at a profit in his local shop. He moved to the city as a young man after college, saying "it was [a matter of] pride to work in the city then". Mr Barasa got married and lived in Nairobi with his wife and four children,. But when the first coronavirus cases were reported in Kenya, everything fell apart. He lost his casual job and he was forced to shut down his chicken business. "At that moment, there was no movement of people so I didn't have enough customers to buy my goods. I was forced to close the shop and come back to the village," says Mr Barasa. "That time was very difficult for me." In September 2020, he decided to move his family to his rural village in Busia county, not far from the edge of Lake Victoria. He began farming pumpkin, millet, tomatoes and kale - and he now sells the produce to the local community. Today he is rearing pigs and chickens too. "At first I was so worried how I was going to spend life at home, but now I'm comfortable. I am well off compared to when I was in Nairobi. I'm very happy back at home in the village." Mr Barasa says he would urge others who returned home during the pandemic to make it a permanent move: "I cannot advise them to go back to the city." Silver lining According to Mr Macoloo, the coronavirus pandemic is the second time in recent memory that Kenyans have been prompted to re-evaluate what he calls "the myth about everything being rosy in the city". "During the post-election violence in 2007-08, most people also went back to the countryside to try to see if they could survive there. "But the election issues were resolved much more quickly and the economy wasn't closed in the same way," he says. "Once security was restored, they could easily pick up the pieces. "Nobody knew there were some positive things that would come out of the pandemic," he adds. "We didn't expect it, it came, and I think we should take advantage of it. They say there's a silver lining in every cloud." More on Covid in Kenya: EXCLUSIVE: You show up for the bridges now show up for the people! Arndrea King, president of Drum Major Institute, said sternly of President Biden in an interview with theGrio. Members of the King family are calling for the national holiday that honors civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be a day of action as activists try to apply ultimate pressure on President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats to pass voting rights reform before its too late. In an effort to turn up the heat on Biden and members of his party to finally pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For The People Act (or its compromised version, the Freedom to Vote Act) Arndrea King, the wife of Martin Luther King III and the president of the Drum Major Institute, told theGrio that the organization is calling for MLK Day on Jan. 15 to be a day of no celebration without legislation. Martin Luther King III, the son of Martin Luther King Jr, and his wife Arndrea Waters King attend the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial October 16, 2011 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) As hundreds of bills are being proposed by Republican legislators across the country ahead of next years 2022 midterm elections, civil rights leaders have been tightening their grip on the White House and Hill lawmakers, particularly around 13 U.S. senators who had not yet indicated their full support of eliminating or amending the filibuster in order to pass legislation to protect voting rights for Black and minority voters, according to a Senate report card conducted by the NAACP. Mrs. King said this moment is important and that President Joe Biden needs to act with urgency to support an end to the filibuster, which is impeding passage of voting rights protections. You show up for the bridges now show up for the people! King said sternly of President Biden. The day of action calls for demonstrators to gather in solidarity on various bridges across the nation. We are coming together at symbolic bridges. Were hoping that it will be replicated across the country to really bring home the point of the symbolism of bridges in the Black community, King told theGrio. Story continues We are standing at bridges very clear with the historical reference to what bridges mean to our community, she added, referring to infamous bridges like the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis was nearly killed by police in Selma, Alabama while protesting for the right to vote on what is known in history as Bloody Sunday. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) speaks to the crowd at the Edmund Pettus Bridge crossing reenactment marking 55th anniversary of Selmas Bloody Sunday on March 1, 2020 in Selma, Alabama.(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Obviously these 450 pieces of [voter suppression] legislation that have been proposed just since January of this year are literally ways to silence Black and Brown voices. After months of protests and meetings with civil rights leaders in Washington, President Biden signaled on Wednesday that he understands the urgency of passing voting rights legislation, even indicating that he would push his prized Build Back Better plan to 2022 in order to do it. If we can get the congressional voting rights done, we should do it. If we cant, weve got to keep going. Theres nothing domestically more important than voting rights, said Biden, according to Washington Post White House reporter Sean Sullivan. Thats a far cry from what White House sources initially indicated. White House officials had quietly acknowledged that their strategy did not allow for movement on voting rights before BBB, a comprehensive social spending plan, was passed into law. White House officials had feared any pressure they applied on Senate leaders regarding voting rights would halt any progress on finally passing Build Back Better, which includes items popular with most Americans like the extension of the child tax credits. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Omicron COVID-19 variant following a meeting with his COVID-19 response team, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Anthony Fauci (R), Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Chief Medical Advisor to the President, at the White House on November 29, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) The announcement for MLK Day comes as other civil rights leaders are holding meetings and calls with senators to pass voting rights legislation. The NAACP has put 13 Democratic and Republican senators on notice for lack of action or urgency on the matter of voting rights. Derrick Johnson, head of the NAACP, told theGrio that those 13 senators received an incomplete because they have not affirmatively stated that they will support voting rights protection even if it means a carve out or removal of the filibuster. Two of those senators, Senators Gary Peters and Sheldon WhiteHouse have changed their position since the NAACP report card, Johnson said. Meanwhile, prominent Democrats in Washington are also turning up the volume on the urgency of voting rights reform. Vice President Kamala Harris, during a recent interview with SiriusXMs Signal Boost co-hosts Zerlina Maxwell and Jess McIntosh, said the most critical battles before us right now is what we must do to protect the integrity of the right to vote. The vice president added, Weve got to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and weve got to pass the Freedom to Vote Act because we need the tools to be able to fight against what these states are trying to do. On the Senate floor on Tuesday, Democratic U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia delivered a renewed push for passage of voting rights reform in America with an impassioned speech that was praised by the Democratic base. Once we handle the debt ceiling, the Senate must prioritize passing federal voting rights legislation. TUNE IN NOW as I press upon my Senate colleagues why protecting our sacred right to vote is the *most* important issue we face this Congress. https://t.co/z3qpwgAEqs Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) December 14, 2021 Sources in the civil rights community and inside the White House have said that one of the biggest hurdles in the Senate to passing any voting rights bill, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, is softening on the filibuster, which he had previously opposed eliminating or modifying. A civil rights leader who did not want to be identified told theGrio, Manchin does not want to be viewed as racist as the face of the new voting rights movement, much like it was decades ago, is Black. In the past days and weeks, President Biden has been meeting with Senator Manchin. The presidents primary focus of the meeting with Manchin was to pass Build Back Better, but other topics are said to have been discussed. As Democrats begin to express more loudly that they understand the urgency of protecting the right to vote, rounds of voting rights protests and subsequent arrests continue to get louder and stronger, particularly as more prominent names get involved. Earlier this week, Reverend William Barber and his organization Poor Peoples Campaign marched to demand that Democrats pass both voting rights and Build Back Better. Dozens were arrested during the Monday demonstration. Have you subscribed to theGrio podcasts Dear Culture or Acting Up? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Download theGrio.com today! The post King family calls for MLK Day of demonstrations to pressure Biden, Democrats on voting rights appeared first on TheGrio. The Guardian The big, beautiful wall has kept US citizens away from the no mans land it created and in effect ceded territory to Mexico The border wall in La Joya, Texas: What I didnt realize was how quickly the negative effects of this isolated land would be felt. Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images Several miles south of the small town of San Juan, Texas, beyond acres of onion fields, orange groves and other cash crops sits a historic cemetery and the site of the beginning of a slow decay of Amer Lee Harvey Oswald moments after being charged with the murder of John F. Kennedy Uncredited/AP Nearly 1,500 pages of documents related to John F. Kennedy's assassination were made public. One details Lee Harvey Oswald's visit to a Soviet embassy a few weeks before killing Kennedy. It says Oswald spoke to a KGB officer at the embassy about getting a visa to travel to the USSR. Just a few weeks before killing President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald traveled to Mexico City, where he spoke with a KGB officer at the Soviet Embassy, a new document released on Wednesday says. The National Archives on Wednesday released nearly 1,500 documents related to the investigation into Kennedy's assassination the second major batch of assassination documents to be released since 2017. Among the documents were notes about a call Oswald made to the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City on October 1, 1963, that the CIA was secretly listening in on. The CIA notes say the agency learned via this call that Oswald had gone to the embassy a few days prior, on September 26, and met with Consul Valery Vladimirovich Kostikov. The document said Kostikov was an "identified KGB officer" involved with a branch of the secret service responsible for "sabotage and assassination." During the call, Oswald spoke with a guard and asked whether there was "anything new concerning the telegram to Washington," the report said. "The guard checked and then told Oswald that the request had been sent but nothing new received," it said. The CIA report said the FBI had reason to believe Oswald's visit to the Soviet Embassy was to get support on a "US passport or visa matter." The CIA official who wrote the memo also appeared skeptical that Oswald would have shown up to the Soviet Embassy if he were a KGB spy. "Of course it is not usual for a KGB agent on a sensitive mission to have such overt contact with a Soviet Embassy. However, we have top secret Soviet intelligence documents, describing Military Intelligence doctrine, which show that very important agents can be met in official installations using a cover for their presence there," the report said. Story continues That is not to say that US officials believed the Soviet Union was involved in the assassination. A top-secret memo written in 1966 by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and released under the Trump administration said Soviet leadership was shocked by the killing and feared what it portended for the US, NPR reported. "According to our source," Hoover wrote, "officials of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union believed there was some well-organized conspiracy on the part of the 'ultraright' in the United States to effect a 'coup.'" That belief was informed by the fact that Kennedy's killing occurred after a far-right campaign painted him as a traitor, with flyers distributed across Dallas by the John Birch Society declaring him "Wanted for Treason." Despite his commitment to anticommunism, Kennedy had been pilloried for overseeing the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. The Soviets, according to Hoover, feared the assassination would strengthen "anticommunist sentiments" in the US and lead to war. Read the original article on Business Insider Jason Umstot began his career in the developmental disabilities field in college as a direct support professional. That early experience not only shaped his professional path but started a lifelong commitment to advocating for those with disabilities and the people and systems that support them. On Dec. 2, the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OACB) presented Umstot with the Betty Macintosh Award. Named for a longtime employee of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, the Betty Macintosh Award is presented every year to someone "whose career has reflected long-term dedication to moving our system forward in line with the needs and desires of Ohioans with developmental disabilities." OACBs website goes on to say, "Recipients of the Betty Macintosh Award are recognized as having contributed significantly to statewide advocacy efforts and systemic improvement benefiting Ohio's DD system." Umstot was recognized for his commitment to supporting DD providers who care for people with disabilities and their frontline direct support staff. Throughout the pandemic, Umstot led the charge to make sure local providers had the supplies and resources they needed to keep people safe, while also advocating for system changes that would support all of Ohios providers. Umstot was also praised for his strong advocacy for housing equity for people with disabilities. In 2020, he spoke out after a proposal to homes for youth with disabilities was met with opposition in a local township meeting. Under Umstots leadership LCBDD has since opened a home to support children and teens with disabilities who need out of home placement in Etna Township. Umstot was presented with the award during OACBs annual convention in Columbus. "I want to thank all of the LCBDD staff," he said in his remarks on Dec. 2. "They constantly show me through their work just how dedicated they are to the people we support. They are a well-devoted group of staff who always work together toward our mission and they never cease to amaze me. This award is just as much for the staff as it is for me." Story continues Umstot also emphasized how grateful he is to work in a system where county boards, state leaders and local providers and direct support professionals collaborate to support people with disabilities. "Working together is the only way we can achieve the work we are trusted to do," he said. Umstot has been the superintendent/CEO at LCBDD since 2016. He is a graduate of West Virginia University and has worked in service delivery systems in West Virginia, Texas and Ohio. He lives in Pataskala with his family. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: LCBDD Superintendent receives statewide award VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's president will ask European leaders for help in a dispute with China over diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the presidential advisor said on Thursday. "We think this will lead to a discussion how the EU and particularly European Commission could help Lithuania in this matter", Asta Skaisgiryte told the Lithuanian public broadcaster. "We want that the conflict to be clear to our European partners, and that the economic actions would be as wide as possible," she said. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius, Editing by Angus MacSwan) As students and teachers spend their final days inside Columbias historic McDowell Elementary School, May 24 marks the end of the 120-year-old school. The historic institution has served as a common rite of passage for many who call southern Middle Tennessee home. For those who attend the school and those who work there, it is a special place that will likely be unable to be replicated anywhere else within Maury County Public Schools. The county school board decided to permanently close the campus after facing $5 million in immediate repairs to keep the building operational. The McDowell community rallied, pushing for the board to save the local campus and preserve the historic culture cherished by so many. The Maury County and Columbia mayors recently sent a joint letter to the school board asking them to reconsider selling the historic school building. The school board agreed to postpone the sale, but move forward with the closure. More: School board votes to postpone sale of McDowell, following commissioner's request The move followed a continued push from teachers, students and parents who also advocated for repairs to be made, repeatedly addressing the board. Among those was fourth-grader Kylee Martin, who stood on her tip-toes to reach the microphone at the podium at a recent board meeting, sharing why the school needed the boards attention. More: MCPS school board: McDowell will not be dismantled The topic has repeatedly been discussed by the board over the past decade with little action taken until recently. Among those leading the final push were Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, who once attended the school and whose own children are enrolled at the school, and Columbia Vice Mayor Christa Martin. The decision to close the campus came as a disappointment to many after the school board proposed an $18 million plan to completely rebuild the campus only two years earlier. The proposal included a plan to grow the school's capacity to serve more than 500 students. Story continues More: School board approves concept for new McDowell Elementary However, the accolades from the McDowell community quickly turned to disappointment when the school board's $40 million proposal failed to gain approval from the Maury County Commission. After two years of little movement and with the presence of COVID-19, both forcing the commission and the school board to draft conservative budgets, the decision was made in September to close the campus, marking a promise left unfulfilled. More: MCPS: School board votes to move forward with closure of McDowell Elementary School More: Columbia mayor promises to support school board despite McDowell closure Kindergarten student Jeremiah Jensen walks down a flight of steps inside McDowell Elementary School in Columbia, Tenn., on Monday, April 19, 2021. An example of diversity, community McDowell is likely the districts most diverse campus, said Whitney Kovach, the school facilitator. Located on West 7th Street in the heart of Columbia, the school pulls students from the citys most expensive homes as well as some of its most affordable rental properties. The student bodys makeup is 37% Black, 30% Hispanic, 30% white, 2% other and .3% Asian, according to data from the school. The closing marks a major shift across the school system as more than 325 students in grades PreK-4 will be sent to schools throughout Columbia and Maury County, sparking a mass rezoning of students. McDowell Elementary School Principal Tonjia Potts looks through the schools records placed on display inside the school on Monday, April 19, 2021. Principal Tonjia Potts said the schools teachers and staff, who have been promised that they will be transferred to one of the school districts 21 other campuses, share a collective concern for the future of their students. While the school board assures us our kids will be taken care of, our kids know that we know them, Potts said. We know their families. We know their situations. The hardest part is not having the answers to the questions the kids have and just having to trust that their needs will be met. How McDowell's closure impacts district A large majority of McDowell students, about 120, will be transferred to Riverside Elementary School, located just over a mile in the northeast part of the county, across the Duck River, which runs through the center of the city. That means Riverside is losing about half their population, Potts said. Principal Tonjia Potts, left, and School Facilitator Whitney Kovach stand beside the diversity-focused mural in McDowell Elementary School in Columbia, Tenn., on Monday, April 19, 2021. Those students will be transferred to Howell Elementary School located outside of the citys downtown district along Bear Creek Pike, a main thoroughfare connecting the city to Interstate 65. A few others will be transferred to Battle Creek Elementary School in Spring Hill on the countys northern edge. As its educators make preparations for the campus' closure, Potts said the educators are meeting the challenging task of caring for their students in the classroom. We are having to struggle to keep our focus on academics, and we are doing it, Potts said. Our educators are teaching every day, and our students are working hard every day, but it is hard to focus on that. Our end of the year is going to look very different. Every teacher has to work on permanent records and close everything down for the end of the year, but in addition to that, our teachers are going to have to figure out where those records go and what will be included to help people know these children better. It is a task that no other MCPS teacher or administrator has carried out in decades. No one who is working now knows what it is like to close a school, Potts said. It is a logistical nightmare. The people who are in charge of making that work also have other parts of their job that they have to see to. McDowell Elementary School music teacher Britney Maksymowich leads a class of kindergarten students at the school in Columbia, Tenn., on Monday, April 19, 2021. 'We have so much of something special' Music teacher Britney Maksymowich said McDowell is the only school she has ever taught where she had an opportunity to know each and every student by name. It is truly a treasure, Maksymowich said. Everyone knows one another. It is its own gem in the city and the county. We have so much of something special. I feel like every single child, when they come here, they know that they are loved. The school's oldest students have communicated a similar sentiment. I am going to be pretty sad," said Chloe Hicks, 11, who heads to middle school next year. "I have been here for a long time. I have had a good time through the grades and the teachers I have had. I am sad that my sister does not get to have the experience that I have had here. Culleoka residents Chrissy Jensen and Paul Jensen, owners of the Columbia restaurant The Dotted Lime, chose to send their youngest son out of his assigned school zone to McDowell. You walk into the school and you just feel that the teachers, administrators and the janitors everybody wants to be there. They all treat the children like they are their own, Jensen said. You cant find that kind of involvement just anywhere. It is a special place. She said the school provides the support and guidance needed to keep students motivated.. John Brooks, 10, reads a book for an assignment at McDowell Elementary School in Columbia, Tenn, on Monday, April 19, 2021. They are able to strike a balance between pushing the kids to grow and learn and excel, and they are able to identity their needs, Jensen said. Jensen said the schools diverse community was the right option for their adoptive family of 13 children. I did not want him to be the only Black child in kindergarten, she said of her son, Jeremiah. Although their son is zoned to return to Culleoka Unit School, Jensen said the family is still deciding where their son will continue studying. "The school tried really hard to keep it normal for the kids, Jensen said. They knew this year was hard. Every morning, they make sure to greet each child by name. Despite the challenges of navigating COVID-19 and not knowing what lies ahead, Jensen said the teachers and faculty at McDowell continue to maintain high standards. This school does a lot for the community and the students that we serve, said Kelli Bolton, a pre-kindergarten teacher at McDowell. This school is a family. The relationships with these families and the connections that they have made, that is a hard thing to lose. Gabriel Letts, 9, is assisted by Monica Sandrell as he works through a mathematics assignment at McDowell Elementary School in Columbia, Tenn., on Monday, April 19, 2021. Transition creates concern for students' academic futures Potts said she and her educators are worried that their students will lose the support they have grown accustomed to at McDowell and could fall behind due to the stresses caused by the change. Kovach, the schools facilitator, emphasized that the concerns are shared by teachers, administrators and parents. We know with research that when a child moves a school their academics decease just based on those moves, Kovach said. Our families here have gotten to know us. We have got to form those relationships at other schools to ensure that our kids can be successful and overcome that barrier. A 2015 study from New York Universitys Steinhart School of Culture, Education and Human Development and the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service found a negative relationship between school transitions and academic performance. A 2004 meta-analysis spanning nearly 20 years of research carried out by the University of Minnesota found that the average achievement level of mobile students, those that had experienced any change in school, exceeded that of only 40% of the non-mobile students. Kanya Smith, 9, reads a book for an assignment at McDowell Elementary School in Columbia, Tenn, on Monday, April 19, 2021. The school has since closed. We are in the middle of a pandemic, Kovach said. That creates emotional distress and now we are uprooting them. This is their safety net. We are putting another stressor on families and children. Potts and Kovach said faculty and staff work to provide a safety net for students and parents. If a family at the school falls on hard times, teachers and administrators mobilize to connect the family with local and state support resources. One resource is The Family Center of Columbia, an nonprofit organization dedicated to helping move people out of poverty. It offers a food bank and financial assistance. Many educators at the school have taken it upon themselves to help the schools families by purchasing groceries and other household essentials for those in need, administrators said. In spring 2020, as students remained at home due to the statewide closure of all schools, teachers rallied and traveled door-to-door checking on their students. Jensen volunteered her restaurants kitchen to prepare meals for students, matching the donations of food and supplies collected by the school. We are a rehabilitative environment, Kovach said. We not only try to support our students when they are in school, but we also try to restore families. Principal: 'Our children deserve better' Ultimately, the schools educators, administrators and parents question the move itself. "Our parents have been very vocal about the condition of the building," Potts said. "I liken it to telling my landlord about poor living conditions, and he closes it and sends me away. Is this building functional? No, probably is not, but I dont think closing it without building a new elementary school was the way to go. Our children deserve better than that. We are now going to take the children who were in school in the worst conditions, and we are going to move them into the other schools that are now in the worst condition, while we continue to build new schools in other parts of the county. Financially it probably made sense but educationally, ethically, I dont think it did. For its teachers and administrators, McDowells closure marks the end of a community that they describe as a prime example of what the school district can offer. McDowell is a special place, Potts said. This is a family, and we function as a family. The teachers, the students and their parents, we are a big family. The legacy of McDowell will be felt even though we have been disbanded. Cassidy Dianna Hope waits to be picked up at the end of the school day at McDowell Elementary School in Columbia, Tenn., on Monday, April 19, 2021. Educators warn the closure will forever change downtown Columbia for the worst. When you close a community school, a lot of times that community dies, Kovach said. It is hard to get companies and people to move into our area once they start closing schools. If they start placing schools on one end of the county, then this community will slowly die. Jensen said the loss of McDowell offers insight about the school systems top priorities. She said an opportunity for the school system to celebrate and prioritize the diversity of its student body has been missed. We have lost a treasure, she said. I think we are not going to feel it right away. They have taken away the most diverse student body in the county. It is heartbreaking that the school is closing. It just seems like very poor planning. Educators emphasize that the change, although a quick solution to an immediate issue, will have negative effects for years to come. Whether we are looking at money with everything we do, we have to realize that we are not a business, Kovach said. We are not a factory. We are building better humans to take over when we are all too old to do anything. With just days left before the schools permanent closure and despite hours of preparing students for the change, the reality has not fully set in for some. "It has not hit yet, Maksymowich said. I feel like we have not had a chance to give or mourn yet because this is our job, and we have to keep going. I have faith that wherever they end up, they will receive as much love as they do here.. Mike Christen is the multimedia editor for The Daily Herald. Reach him at mchristen@c-dh.net and follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH. This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: 'A lost treasure': Teachers and parents reflect on McDowell's legacy Male's Selah Brown and Vinny Anthony were among the many high school football players nationwide that signed their national letters of intent on Wednesday, kicking off the start of the early signing period. Subscribe: The Courier Journal launched a high school sports newsletter Brown, the No. 1 defensive end in Kentucky, announced on Nov. 4 that he'd stay at home and play for Louisville. Anthony the Bulldogs' leading receiver and fifth-best wideout in the state plans taking his talents up north to Madison to play for Wisconsin. Louisville Male wide receiver Vinny Anthony looks on in the second half as Louisville Male took on DuPont Manual on Friday evening. Male won the game with a final score of 23-0. Oct. 29, 2021 Together, Brown and Anthony were important pieces of a Male squad that made it to four-straight state championships. Brown and Anthony both were thrusted into starting roles their freshman seasons and never looked back. "I'm going to miss both of these guys," Male coach Chris Wolfe said. "I just want to say that I'm personally grateful to have coached these two guys." Male stars Vinny Anthony and Selah Brown make it official. Anthony is heading to Wisconsin and Brown is staying home to play for Louisville. pic.twitter.com/bhIZcbuXms Dominique Yates (@RealDYates) December 15, 2021 Anthony has the potential for big opportunities in Madison. This season he led the Bulldogs in receiving with 49 catches, 1108 yards and 15 touchdowns fifth best in Class 6A. Brown's reputation proceeded him all season long. His 31 tackles (14 solo, 17 assists), 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery were a snapshot of his ability playing more inside early practice for what's expected to be his role with the Cardinals. More: Male 4-star defensive lineman Selah Brown commits to Louisville football Friends, family and coaches of Brown and Anthony traded their favorite stories about the two friends. Brown and Anthony went 49-5 playing together, but their excitement about embarking on their next steps was too exciting to hide. Story continues More: Why home was where Louisville commit Selah Brown's heart was "I feels great, I've been waiting on this moment for a long time," Brown said. "I've been working all my life. I've dreamed it and I'm here to play for the University of Louisville. Brown said that he plans to rejoin the Bulldogs basketball team and finish out the year at Male. He'll join the Cardinals in June. Follow Courier Journal reporter J.L. Kirven on Twitter @JL_Kirven for more updates on Louisville prep sports. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA: Selah Brown, Vinny Anthony sign with Louisville and Wisconsin A Raleigh man accused of illegally possessing a handgun and ammunition despite an earlier felony conviction could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Mohamed Magi Abusnena, 24, was found guilty Tuesday of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, a federal offense, the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said in a news release. He was previously convicted in Wake County of obstructing justice in 2018, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety. Police arrested Abusnena April 19, 2020, according to court records, after two officers sitting in their patrol cars outside Durant Road Elementary School in Northeast Raleigh heard a series of rapidly fired gunshots shortly after 2 a.m. and split up to canvass the area. One of the officers, Joshua Keeny, was leaving the parking lot of nearby Abbotts Creek Elementary School five to 10 minutes later when he heard two more shots, court records state. Keeny saw a car about 100 yards away make a rapid U-turn away from the school and head toward Durant Road. After a brief chase, the car stopped in the driveway of a house on Crofton Springs Drive, and Abusnena got out. Keeny requested backup, and two more officers quickly arrived. They placed Abusnena under arrest, suspecting he had illegally fired a gun within city limits. Searching Abusnenas vehicle The officers proceeded to survey the area for danger, which included shining their flashlights into and around Abusnenas car. Looking inside the vehicle, the officers saw multiple shell casings on the front and rear floorboards, according to court records. They knocked multiple times on the front door of the house, but no one answered. Abusnena told Keeny the house belonged to his parents, that he lived with them, and that no one was at home, court records show. The officers then called someone on the phone they referred to as Sarge and asked if they could conduct a warrant-less search of the car since it was parked on the driveway of where Abusnena said he lived. Story continues Two more officers arrived at the house, including Capt. Kelly Treuheart, who authorized the officers to search the vehicle without a warrant since you heard him and followed him here, according to court records. Still sitting in the back of Keenys patrol car, Abusnena told Keeny, I dont give yall consent to search. Going ahead with their search, officers looked inside the passenger compartment, where they found a loaded firearm, ammunition, and several spent shell casings. They also searched the trunk, where they found other evidence including a box for a firearm and a notebook that had been written in. Sgt. Jonathon Mason, who arrived at the house while officers were searching the vehicle, told Abusnena they had found a loaded gun, to which Abusnena responded its not stolen and its not mine. Abusnena also told Mason he had a loaded magazine in his pocket, which was subsequently placed into evidence. According to the U.S. attorneys office, the magazine and ammunition retrieved that night were both for a Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol that was found. Claims search was unconstitutional In December 2020, months after he was charged, Abusnena asked a federal judge to suppress all of the evidence from his car, arguing that the warrant-less search had deprived him of his Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. In March, Chief Judge Richard E. Myers II granted the request as it pertained to any evidence from the trunk, but denied it as it pertained to evidence from the passenger compartment, which included the loaded pistol, ammunition and spent shell casings. Myers cited the U.S. Supreme Courts 2009 ruling in Arizona vs. Gant, in which the court found a warrant-less search of a vehicle is not unconstitutional if police have lawfully arrested a recent occupant of the vehicle and it is objectively reasonable for them to believe evidence of the relevant offense might be specifically inside the passenger compartment. Since the Supreme Courts ruling did not extend to evidence found in a trunk, Myers allowed evidence taken from the trunk of Abusnenas vehicle to be excluded from trial. The case was investigated by the Raleigh Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, officials said. Abusnenas sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 22, 2022. Joseph Catarineau, 58, a self proclaimed sovereign citizen who allegedly assaulted a bailiff, a judge and a prosecutor in a Harris County courthouse (Harris County Sheriffs Office) A man claiming to be a "sovereign citizen" attacked a bailiff, a judge and a prosecutor when he was brought to a court to face fraud charges. The attack occurred in Harris County, Texas on Tuesday morning, according to prosecutors. Joseph Catarineau, a 58-year-old claiming to be a sovereign citizen, is facing charges alleging that he had made false statements on his financial records. He appeared in court when his attorney requested to withdraw from his case. Judge Danny Lacayo asked Mr Catarineau about being represented by a court-appointed attorney, which reportedly resulted in him becoming angry and belligerent. According to The Houston Chronicle, Mr Catarineau began talking back to the judge, which prompted him to order a bailiff to take him into custody and to be held without bond. At that point, Mr Catarineau allegedly grabbed the bailiff's pony tail, pulled her to the ground and began punching her. The judge rushed out to help her, as did prosecutor Jacob Salinas, who began fighting Mr Catarineau. The bailiff attempted to use a Taser on Mr Catarineau, but he allegedly knocked it out of her hands and returned to fighting the judge and the prosecutor. The bailiff eventually managed to stun Mr Catarineau, but because he was grappling with the judge and prosecutor they were stunned as well. Mr Catarineau will likely be charged with three counts of assault of a public servant as a result. Sovereign Citizens are often far right wing extremists who believe they are not subject to the law. Most oppose paying taxes and refuse to comply with orders from public officials. Several high profile - and sometimes deadly - attacks on police officers and other public officials have been carried out by individuals claiming to be sovereign citizens. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the political movement was founded by a former member of the John Birth Society, an extreme right wing group that has pushed political conspiracy theories since the late 1950s. The sovereign citizens grew out of a Christian extremist group called the Posse Comitatus, which acknowledged county sheriffs as the highest form of government authority, eschewing the US legal system in favour of common law, which they believe is Biblically based. The distilled version of their ideology is rooted in the idea that the "true" government established by the founding fathers was at some point replaced by the modern American legal system, which they do not recognise. AGOURA HILLS, CA All Agoura Hills residents must wear masks indoors for the next month, regardless of vaccination status, under a new statewide mask mandate that kicked in Wednesday ahead of Christmas and the new year. Los Angeles County already had its own rules about indoor mask use, but the new order applies statewide. Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces through Jan. 15 as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged post-Thanksgiving, the California Department of Public Health said. County health departments were welcome to establish even stricter rules. The state health department also issued a travel advisory Monday to recommend that all travelers receive a COVID-19 test three to five days after their arrival in California. Officials updated requirements for events with 1,000 or more attendees to require guests to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. The steps came as state health officials eyed an uptick in COVID-19-related cases and hospitalizations as the highly transmissible delta variant continued to spread. Just 39 cases of the recently identified omicron variant were confirmed in California as of Monday, but officials were also concerned about that variants high level of transmissibility. Since Thanksgiving, Californias seven-day average case rate increased by 47 percent, and hospitalizations increased by 14 percent as of Monday. "Our collective actions can save lives this holiday season, said Dr. Tomas J. Aragon, state health department director and public health officer, in a statement. We are already seeing a higher level of transmission this winter and it is important to act now to prevent overwhelming our busy hospitals so we can provide quality health care to all Californians. Health officials continued to stress the importance of vaccination. Unvaccinated Californians were seven times more likely to get COVID-19, 12.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 and 13 times more likely to die after infection, according to statistics released Tuesday. Story continues Nearly eight in 10 Californians age 5 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to the most recent state mask mandate, the state required mask use in the following spaces. K-12 schools, child care facilities and other places for youth. Public transit. Health care facilities. Adult care facilities and those for older people. Correctional facilities and detention centers. Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers. The state did not indicate when it will lift mask requirements in these spaces after the temporary mask mandate expires. See also: This article originally appeared on the Agoura Hills Patch BEVERLY HILLS, CA All Beverly Hills residents must wear masks indoors for the next month, regardless of vaccination status, under a new statewide mask mandate that kicked in Wednesday ahead of Christmas and the new year. Los Angeles County already had its own rules about indoor mask use, but the new order applies statewide. Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces through Jan. 15 as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged post-Thanksgiving, the California Department of Public Health said. County health departments were welcome to establish even stricter rules. The state health department also issued a travel advisory Monday to recommend that all travelers receive a COVID-19 test three to five days after their arrival in California. Officials updated requirements for events with 1,000 or more attendees to require guests to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. The steps came as state health officials eyed an uptick in COVID-19-related cases and hospitalizations as the highly transmissible delta variant continued to spread. Just 39 cases of the recently identified omicron variant were confirmed in California as of Monday, but officials were also concerned about that variants high level of transmissibility. Since Thanksgiving, Californias seven-day average case rate increased by 47 percent, and hospitalizations increased by 14 percent as of Monday. "Our collective actions can save lives this holiday season, said Dr. Tomas J. Aragon, state health department director and public health officer, in a statement. We are already seeing a higher level of transmission this winter and it is important to act now to prevent overwhelming our busy hospitals so we can provide quality health care to all Californians. Health officials continued to stress the importance of vaccination. Unvaccinated Californians were seven times more likely to get COVID-19, 12.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 and 13 times more likely to die after infection, according to statistics released Tuesday. Story continues Nearly eight in 10 Californians age 5 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to the most recent state mask mandate, the state required mask use in the following spaces. K-12 schools, child care facilities and other places for youth. Public transit. Health care facilities. Adult care facilities and those for older people. Correctional facilities and detention centers. Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers. The state did not indicate when it will lift mask requirements in these spaces after the temporary mask mandate expires. See also: This article originally appeared on the Beverly Hills Patch CALABASAS, CA All Calabasas residents must wear masks indoors for the next month, regardless of vaccination status, under a new statewide mask mandate that kicked in Wednesday ahead of Christmas and the new year. Los Angeles County already had its own rules about indoor mask use, but the new order applies statewide. Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces through Jan. 15 as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged post-Thanksgiving, the California Department of Public Health said. County health departments were welcome to establish even stricter rules. The state health department also issued a travel advisory Monday to recommend that all travelers receive a COVID-19 test three to five days after their arrival in California. Officials updated requirements for events with 1,000 or more attendees to require guests to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. The steps came as state health officials eyed an uptick in COVID-19-related cases and hospitalizations as the highly transmissible delta variant continued to spread. Just 39 cases of the recently identified omicron variant were confirmed in California as of Monday, but officials were also concerned about that variants high level of transmissibility. Since Thanksgiving, Californias seven-day average case rate increased by 47 percent, and hospitalizations increased by 14 percent as of Monday. "Our collective actions can save lives this holiday season, said Dr. Tomas J. Aragon, state health department director and public health officer, in a statement. We are already seeing a higher level of transmission this winter and it is important to act now to prevent overwhelming our busy hospitals so we can provide quality health care to all Californians. Health officials continued to stress the importance of vaccination. Unvaccinated Californians were seven times more likely to get COVID-19, 12.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 and 13 times more likely to die after infection, according to statistics released Tuesday. Story continues Nearly eight in 10 Californians age 5 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to the most recent state mask mandate, the state required mask use in the following spaces. K-12 schools, child care facilities and other places for youth. Public transit. Health care facilities. Adult care facilities and those for older people. Correctional facilities and detention centers. Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers. The state did not indicate when it will lift mask requirements in these spaces after the temporary mask mandate expires. See also: This article originally appeared on the Calabasas Patch ORANGE COUNTY, CA All Orange County residents must wear masks indoors for the next month, regardless of vaccination status, under a new statewide mask mandate that kicked in Wednesday ahead of Christmas and the new year. Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces through Jan. 15 as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surged post-Thanksgiving, the California Department of Public Health said. County health departments were welcome to establish even stricter rules. According to the Orange County Health Care Agency, the indoor masking requirement is intended to help slow resurgence of rising cases and all Orange County residents are asked to comply to the reissued mask mandate. We support the States latest measures intended to bring additional protection to us all and our loved ones," OC Health Care Agency Director and County Health Officer Clayton Chau said in a statement. "As I mentioned before, we have all the tools available to fight the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, through vaccination, testing and prevention measures including masking." In Orange County, the total number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 totaled up to 201 Thursday and the number of reported COVID-19 related deaths totaled seven people, according to OC Health Care Agency's report. In Yorba Linda, in-person learning was canceled for all sixth graders at Travis Ranch School after "dozens" of students tested positive for COVID-19 and "hundreds" more were identified as close contacts, according to a news release posted by the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. Due to the high number of students who have tested positive or been identified as close contacts within sixth grade, PYLUSD administrators made the decision to quarantine all sixth grade Travis Ranch students at home for the week of December 13-17, 2021," PYLUSD officials wrote in the statement. "The district does not take this decision lightly and apologizes for the inconvenience; however, this determination was made with the safety of students, staff, and families as the absolute top priority," They wrote. Story continues The state health department also issued a travel advisory Monday to recommend that all travelers receive a COVID-19 test three to five days after their arrival in California. Officials updated requirements for events with 1,000 or more attendees to require guests to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. The steps came as state health officials eyed an uptick in COVID-19-related cases and hospitalizations as the highly transmissible delta variant continued to spread. Just 39 cases of the recently identified omicron variant were confirmed in California as of Monday, but officials were also concerned about that variants high level of transmissibility. Since Thanksgiving, Californias seven-day average case rate increased by 47 percent, and hospitalizations increased by 14 percent as of Monday. "Our collective actions can save lives this holiday season, said Dr. Tomas J. Aragon, state health department director and public health officer, in a statement. We are already seeing a higher level of transmission this winter and it is important to act now to prevent overwhelming our busy hospitals so we can provide quality health care to all Californians. Health officials continued to stress the importance of vaccination. Unvaccinated Californians were seven times more likely to get COVID-19, 12.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 and 13 times more likely to die after infection, according to statistics released Tuesday. Nearly eight in 10 Californians age 5 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to the most recent state mask mandate, the state required mask use in the following spaces. K-12 schools, child care facilities and other places for youth. Public transit. Health care facilities. Adult care facilities and those for older people. Correctional facilities and detention centers. Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers. The state did not indicate when it will lift mask requirements in these spaces after the temporary mask mandate expires. See also: This article originally appeared on the Orange County Patch Mayor Lori Lightfoot claimed a victory for the entire city Wednesday after aldermen approved a Far Northwest Side affordable housing project over the objections of the local alderman, saying the vote is a blow to the grip of segregation. The precedent that it sets is, there must be affordable housing in every area of our city. Im all for that, Lightfoot said after the City Council approved the 297-unit complex east of OHare International Airport, including 59 apartments priced below market. Earlier Wednesday, Ald. Anthony Napolitano cast the precedent differently. He warned his colleagues that by forcing his 41st Ward to accept a development he and his constituents dont want, they were handing to City Hall future control over all manner of neighborhood projects. The biggest problem here is, today, while youre advocating for a great cause, youre taking away your right to decide what happens in your ward tomorrow, Napolitano said. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. The Glenstar OHare project has for years been bigger than bricks and mortar. While for Napolitano, the apartment building north of the Kennedy Expressway near Park Ridge represents loss of local control, for housing advocates its a chance to plant a flag deep in the Northwest Side bungalow belt that has for decades been a symbol of resistance to integration. Asked Wednesday whether the vote is a win for her in her fight against ward-level aldermanic prerogative the tradition of aldermen having veto power over projects in their neighborhoods Lightfoot said that premise misses the point. Instead, she talked about how the inexpensive apartments close to the airport will help OHare workers get to their jobs without having to make long commutes. Glenstar managing principal Michael Klein said the company has been focused on getting through the process, but following Wednesdays 33-13 vote in favor of the project, theyll get to work as soon as possible. jebyrne@chicagotribune.com Then-President Donald Trump waves as he returns to the White House following a round of golf on Dec. 13, 2020. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) WASHINGTON Two days after Christmas last year, Richard P. Donoghue, a top Justice Department official in the waning days of the Trump administration, saw an unknown number appear on his phone. Donoghue had spent weeks fielding calls, emails and in-person requests from President Donald Trump and his allies, all of whom asked the Justice Department to declare, falsely, that the election was corrupt. The lame-duck president had surrounded himself with a crew of unscrupulous lawyers, conspiracy theorists, even the chief executive of MyPillow and they were stoking his election lies. Trump had been handing out Donoghues cellphone number so that people could pass on rumors of election fraud. Who could be calling him now? Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times It turned out to be a member of Congress: Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., who began pressing the presidents case. Perry said he had compiled a dossier of voter fraud allegations that the department needed to vet. Jeffrey Clark, a Justice Department lawyer who had found favor with Trump, could do something about the presidents claims, Perry said, even if others in the department would not. The message was delivered by an obscure lawmaker who was doing Trumps bidding. Justice Department officials viewed it as outrageous political pressure from a White House that had become consumed by conspiracy theories. It was also one example of how a half-dozen right-wing members of Congress became key foot soldiers in Trumps effort to overturn the election, according to dozens of interviews and a review of hundreds of pages of congressional testimony about the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. The lawmakers all of them members of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus worked closely with the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, whose central role in Trumps efforts to overturn a democratic election is coming into focus as the congressional investigation into Jan. 6 gains traction. Story continues There was Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the pugnacious former wrestler who bolstered his national profile by defending Trump on cable television; Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, whose political ascent was padded by a $10 million sweepstakes win; and Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona dentist who trafficked in conspiracy theories and spoke at a white nationalist rally. They were joined by Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas, who was known for fiery speeches delivered to an empty House chamber and unsuccessfully sued Vice President Mike Pence over his refusal to interfere in the election certification; and Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, a lawyer who rode the Tea Party wave to Congress and was later sued by a Democratic congressman for inciting the Jan. 6 riot. Perry, a former Army helicopter pilot who is close to Jordan and Meadows, acted as a de facto sergeant. He coordinated many of the efforts to keep Trump in office, including a plan to replace the acting attorney general with a more compliant official. His colleagues call him General Perry. Meadows, a former congressman from North Carolina who co-founded the Freedom Caucus in 2015, knew the six lawmakers well. His role as Trumps right-hand man helped to remarkably empower the group in the presidents final, chaotic weeks in office. Congressional Republicans have fought the Jan. 6 committees investigation at every turn, but it is increasingly clear that Trump relied on the lawmakers to help his attempts to retain power. When Justice Department officials said they could not find evidence of widespread fraud, Trump was unconcerned: Just say that the election was corrupt + leave the rest to me and the R. Congressmen, he said, according to Donoghues notes of the call. November On Nov. 9, two days after The Associated Press called the race for Biden, crisis meetings were underway at Trump campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Perry and Jordan huddled with senior White House officials, including Meadows; Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser; Bill Stepien, the campaign manager; and Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary. According to two people familiar with the meetings, which have not been previously reported, the group settled on a strategy that would become a blueprint for Trumps supporters in Congress: Hammer home the idea that the election was tainted, announce legal actions being taken by the campaign, and bolster the case with allegations of fraud. Gosar embraced the fraud claims so closely that his chief of staff, Tom Van Flein, rushed to an airplane hangar parking lot in Phoenix after a conspiracy theory began circulating that a suspicious jet carrying ballots from South Korea was about to land, perhaps in a bid to steal the election from Trump, according to court documents filed by one of the participants. The claim turned out to be baseless. December On Dec. 1, 2020, Attorney General William Barr said publicly what he knew to be true: The Justice Department had found no evidence of widespread election fraud. Biden was the lawful winner. The attorney generals declaration seemed only to energize the six lawmakers. Gohmert suggested that the FBI in Washington could not be trusted to investigate election fraud. Biggs said that Trumps allies needed the imprimatur, quite frankly of the DOJ, to win their lawsuits claiming fraud. They turned their attention to Jan. 6, when Pence was to officially certify Bidens victory. Jordan, asked if the president should concede, replied, No way. On Dec. 21, Trump met with members of the Freedom Caucus to discuss their plans. Jordan, Gosar, Biggs, Brooks and Meadows were there. This sedition will be stopped, Gosar wrote on Twitter. January On Jan. 5, Jordan was still pushing. That day, he forwarded Meadows a text message he had received from a lawyer and former Pentagon inspector general outlining a legal strategy to overturn the election. On January 6, 2021, Vice President Mike Pence, as President of the Senate, should call out all the electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all in accordance with guidance from founding father Alexander Hamilton and judicial precedence, the text read. On Jan. 6, Washington was overcast and breezy as thousands of people gathered at the Ellipse to hear Trump and his allies spread a lie that has become a rallying cry in the months since: that the election was stolen. Brooks, wearing body armor, took the stage in the morning, saying he was speaking at the behest of the White House. The crowd began to swell. Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass, Brooks said. Are you willing to do what it takes to fight for America? Trump approached the dais soon after. We will never give up, Trump said. We will never concede. Roaring their approval, many in the crowd began the walk down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol, where the certification proceeding was underway. Amped up by the speakers at the rally, the crowd taunted the officers who guarded the Capitol and pushed toward the buildings staircases and entry points, eventually breaching security along the perimeter just after 1 p.m. By this point, the six lawmakers were inside the Capitol, ready to protest the certification. Gosar was speaking at 2:16 p.m. when security forces entered the chamber because rioters were in the building. As the melee erupted, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, yelled to his colleagues who were planning to challenge the election: This is what youve gotten, guys. When Jordan tried to help Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., move to safety, she smacked his hand away, according to a congressional aide briefed on the exchange. Get away from me, she told him. You fucking did this." A spokesman for Jordan disputed parts of the account, saying that Cheney did not curse at the congressman or slap him. The back-and-forth was reported earlier by Washington Post reporters Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker in their book I Alone Can Fix It. The Aftermath Perry was recently elected leader of the Freedom Caucus, elevating him to an influential leadership post as Republicans could regain control of the House in 2022. The stolen election claim is now a litmus test for the party, with Trump and his allies working to oust those who refuse to back it. All six lawmakers are poised to be key supporters should Trump maintain his political clout before the midterm and general elections. Brooks is running for Senate in Alabama, and Gohmert is running for Texas attorney general.Some, like Jordan, are in line to become committee chairs if Republicans take back the House. In many ways, they have tried to rewrite history. Several of the men have argued that the Jan. 6 attack was akin to a tourist visit to the Capitol. Gosar cast the attackers as peaceful patriots across the country." A Pew research poll found that nearly two-thirds of Republicans said their party should not accept elected officials who criticize Trump. Still, the House select committee investigating the Capitol attack appears to be picking up steam, voting this week to recommend that Meadows be charged with criminal contempt of Congress. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. and the chairman of the committee, said the panel would follow the facts wherever they led, including to members of Congress. Nobody, he said, is off-limits. 2021 The New York Times Company Besides getting COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, New Mexico health officials encouraged residents this week to think about health and safety as they plan events for the remaining winter holidays. With the new year approaching, and on the anniversary of vaccinations against COVID-19 becoming available, New Mexico continued to weather a prolonged surge in transmission of the highly contagious delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The recently identified omicron variant has been identified in New Mexico and 35 other states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but state health officials jumped to no conclusions about the new variant during a news conference on Wednesday. "There's a lot we don't know about this new variant of concern," state epidemiologist Dr. Christine Ross said, "and at this point in time I really want to ask all New Mexicans to help us slow down the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19." More: Omicron is spreading 'every place at once,' experts say. What it could mean for holiday plans. New Mexico's 2021 surge in COVID-19 daily cases is shown in an epidemiological chart provided by the New Mexico Department of Health as part of its Dec. 13, 2021 report. The 2021 surge driven by the delta variant appears at right. The dotted black line describes 7-day rolling averages. As she elaborated, that includes rethinking large gatherings in order to reduce the risk of transmission to family and community members, bearing in mind that New Mexico's hospital network remains overwhelmed with patients despite a recent decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Ross also pressed residents to receive vaccines including booster doses for all eligible, to avoid crowded and poorly ventilated public spaces and to wear a properly fitting face mask indoors in public. While the majority of COVID-19 cases recover with mild to moderate symptoms, more than 5,500 cases have proven fatal in New Mexico and health officials measured the case fatality rate at more than 1.6 percent. Some cases also entail long-term health complications. Despite a high vaccination rate, with 63.5 percent of all eligible New Mexicans (including children) having completed a primary course of vaccine, the surge that began in July has persisted, with 7,953 cases reported the week of Dec. 6 through 13. Story continues "We are tired of the masks. We are tired of not hanging out with our friends and family all the time," state Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Laura Parajon said, "but think about how we can still live with COVID and have a safe holiday." More: New Mexico extends indoor mask mandate through Jan. 7 The physicians expressed some cheer over a recent increase in vaccine participation and the arrival, beginning Dec. 20, of mobile vaccination units provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Acting health Secretary Dr. David Scrase also called on businesses and event planners to consider public health in planning their events so as to maximize safety, highlighting a recent concert in Albuquerque that required spectators be vaccinated and wear masks, while performers were masked as well. New Mexico acting Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase speaks during a video news conference from his office on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Making clear that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration remained opposed to reinstating capacity limits at businesses or closing schools, Scrase encouraged residents to reinforce safe behaviors by patronizing and thanking businesses exhibiting them. "When you go into a business and you feel safe, give feedback," he said. In his closing remarks, he challenged citizens to balance individual liberty with the public, specifically citing the strain on the state's healthcare system, where eight hospitals have enacted crisis standards of care due to unprecedented volumes of severely ill patients. "I know we all want to have our own personal freedoms but then we feel differently when we have to call 911, and we're in an emergency room for two days waiting for a hospital bed," Scrase said, adding: "The two are more connected, I think, than we sometimes realize." COVID vaccines 'holding steady' "People are being exposed and infected with the virus across a variety of settings and situations," Ross said, and the state health department indicated that breakthrough infections were rising fastest not among senior citizens, but adults from the ages of 18 through 49. The physicians cautioned against premature conclusions about the omicron variant, given the lack of data so soon after it was identified by the World Health Organization on Nov. 26. They maintained it is too soon to tell whether omicron causes more severe disease or how well it eludes immunity from vaccines, though there are indications that it spreads rapidly. For instance, omicron accounted for 2.9 percent of sequenced samples across the U.S. this week, Ross pointed out, compared to 0.4 percent the week before. Ross said available data suggests that the vaccines currently in use were "holding steady" as far as preventing severe disease and death, especially when supplemented by a booster dose. The health officials strongly advocated, once more, for vaccination and masking in public as essential layers in a public health defense against uncontrolled transmission of the disease. Meanwhile, between Nov. 15 and Dec. 13, health department data found that 72 percent of new cases were among those who were not fully vaccinated, along with 81.2 percent of hospitalizations and 81.6 percent of the deaths. New Mexico Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Laura Parajon is seen during a video news conference on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Additionally, Scrase presented another datum in support of booster shots: "We know now that the risk of a vaccine breakthrough case if you've completed your vaccine series prior to June 1 is four times higher than if you completed your vaccine series after June 1." Scrase acknowledged that the state's case fatality had declined, attributable to improvements in treatment options such as monoclonal antibody treatments, quicker turnaround on COVID-19 tests, and a shift wherein more cases are presented in younger age groups who suffer lower rates of severe disease and death. Still, he said, "We're not going back to the old normal any time soon." Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonWrites on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico officials urge COVID booster shots, caution during holidays Editor's note: This story was updated at 5:55 p.m. with new information. Parents can keep their children home from schools in the Millcreek Township School District on Friday due to concerns about a social media post encouraging violence at schools nationwide, district Superintendent Ian Roberts said in a Thursday afternoon notification to parents. The Erie School District has notified parents that it has made police aware of the threat and that there will be increased security measures in place in schools Friday. The North East School District posted a letter to school families about the issue, and the Warren County School district has a Facbook post about it, as does the Wattsburg Area School District. The General McLane School District has also notified families, according to GMSD spokeswoman Sarah Grabski. Nationwide: TikTok shooting, bomb threats prompt US schools to beef up security The video encouraging violence circulated on TikTok and has since been removed, Erie school officials said. The messages did not contain specifics such as particular schools, locations or actors, Millcreek's Roberts said in his notification to parents. "There are currently no known credible threats to schools in Pennsylvania. In collaboration with the Millcreek Police Department, MTSD will implement an increased police and security presence at our school buildings throughout the day" Friday, Roberts said. "To continue to support our families and students social-emotional well-being and overall safety, any family who chooses to keep their child at home tomorrow, December 17, 2021, will be granted an excused absence," Roberts said. Millcreek school officials were alerted to a social media threat against "mhs," possibly McDowell High School, late Wednesday evening. District officials notified Millcreek police, who on Thursday determined that the threat was targeted at another school in another state, Millcreek Township School District officials said Thursday. Story continues "Through investigation and collaboration with additional school districts, Millcreek Police Department believes that the unspecified threat made against mhs was not directed towards McDowell Senior High School or McDowell Intermediate High School, but rather a district located outside of Pennsylvania," administrators said in a post on the district website early Thursday afternoon. The threat may have been prompted by the TikTok "challenge," Millcreek Township School District spokeswoman Katie Maccaglia said. School administrators notified families of the potential threat and the police investigation on the on the district website early Thursday morning. At Westlake School: Millcreek police say 'threat' of shooting is 'not credible' There were police at both McDowell High School and McDowell Intermediate High School throughout the school day Thursday Previously at J.S. Wilson: School to reopen after bomb threat prompted early dismissal Police earlier this month investigated a possible social media threat against the district's Westlake Middle School. Police determined that the threat was not credible. Two bomb threats were found in a restroom at the district's J.S. Wilson Middle School in November. Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmyers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: TikTok school threat: Millcreek students can stay home Friday, Erie districts react A Minneapolis man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for stalking a former classmate who rejected him, prosecutors said in a Dec. 15 news release. Jeffrey Colin Purdy, 30, harassed, stalked and threatened the woman from 2014 to 2020 after she rejected his romantic advances, prosecutors said in the release. Purdys lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News. Purdy and the woman, who was referred to as Victim A, both attended Minnesota State University, Mankato. After she rejected him romantically, Purdy began waiting in the lobby of her apartment building for hours, writing her long letters and continuing to contact her despite Victim As wishes, a complaint filed in December 2020 said. He also tried to get her fired from her resident advisor position by accusing her of drinking of the job and abusing her authority over other students, a sentencing memo said. She blocked Purdy on her cellphone and social media accounts because she was afraid of him, the release said. After the woman graduated from college, Purdy sent her flowers and chocolates. Purdy then began using Mankato States Silent Witness Report Form, which is supposed to be used as an anonymous incident reporting tool, the release said. He used the tool from August 30, 2017, through February 21, 2020, to file threatening and violent reports against the victim, the release said. These messages threatened to violently and graphically abuse, rape and assault the woman, the complaint said. Because of the threats, she filed a restraining order against Purdy beginning in September 2017. However, Purdy continued to go to the college campus where the woman worked, the sentencing memo said. Purdy also paid for a background check on the woman, and it revealed her current address and a list of her extended family members, the memo said. Eventually, these reports were traced back to Purdy through the IP address of one message that was not sent through a masked IP address, the complaint said. Story continues Purdy told police that he filed the threatening silent witness reports because he wanted to portray himself as Victim As protectorthat he could put Victim A in a state of fear and then somehow save the day. If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673. Husband stabs wife to death amid divorce to fulfill a prophecy, Washington cops say NASA worker was accused of threatening to kill ex-wife. But she framed him, feds say An pregnant woman and her unborn child were killed in Jackson, Mississippi , after the woman was repeatedly shot. Keyunta McWilliams, 23 and eight months pregnant, was shot multiple times Wednesday in North Jackson at about 8:30 p.m., according to the Jackson Police Department . She and her unborn child died at the scene, WAPT reported. Investigators say suspect Joseph Brown and three unidentified male suspects followed the woman from a gas station in a silver BMW with a Texas license plate. 12 MAJOR DEM CONTROLLED CITIES BREAK HOMICIDE RECORDS FOLLOWING HISTORICALLY BLOODY 2020 Police arrested the suspects Thursday and seized the BMW, WAPT reported. Mississippis capital is experiencing its bloodiest year on record after the city totaled 129 homicides in November, surpassing 2020s 128 homicides, WLBT reported . Before both this years and last years historical number of homicides, the record sat at 92 in 1995. December has only gotten bloodier, with at least 17 homicides . "This month was a very bad month for the City of Jackson," JPD Chief James Davis said Wednesday. AMERICA'S MURDER RATE INCREASE IN 2020 HAS 'NO MODERN PRECEDENT,' CRIME ANALYST GROUP FINDS Democratic Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is also bracing for crime to continue as it typically does during the holiday season. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba speaks during a press conference March 8, 2021, in Jackson, Miss. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images "We also understand the holiday season can be particularly stressful for some individuals and families," Lumumba said last month . "Unfortunately, theres often little police can do to prevent domestic and interpersonal violence, which is the majority of violent crime cases we see." PREGNANT PHILADELPHIA WOMAN SHOT DEAD WHILE BRINGING BABY SHOWER GIFTS INSIDE HOME Twelve major cities all led by Democratic mayors across the nation have broken annual homicide records this year, including Rochester, New York; Philadelphia; and Toledo. The data comes after FBI statistics showed murders spiked nearly 30% nationally last year compared to 2019 data, marking the largest single-year jump in the bureaus 60 years of recording such figures. Amy Deroche, immersion teacher at KW/Vina Elementary School in Browning, talks with kindergartner Noah McClure during class on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Browning Public Schools announced Thursday they would close on Friday in response to a TikTok "challenge" that references a threat to school safety "for every school in the USA, even elementary" on Dec. 17, and other Montana schools have issued statements in response. The Blackfeet Nation announced its tribal offices would also be closed on Friday, so parents can be home with their children. The Great Falls Police Department and Cascade County Sheriff's Office reported they are investigating the viral "challenge," which allegedly encourages people to call threats in to schools or bring weapons to school on Friday. Law enforcement said they have not received information of threats directed specifically at schools in Cascade County. Belt Public Schools reported that the TikTok video appears to be part of a national trend, which "did not originate in our school district." "While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously," reads a release from the Belt Schools Principal Kyle Paulson. Hunter Wippert, a 7th grader at Browning Middle School, sets up his iPad during social studies class on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Shelby Public Schools revealed the district has been in contact with the Toole County Sheriff's Office regarding the TikTok post. "Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, family and staff," Elliott Crump, superintendent of Shelby Public Schools, said in a release. Kalispell Public Schools announced that administrators on Thursday were made aware of a threat that referenced a school by the abbreviation of "GHS." In response, the Kalispell Police Department began an investigation and placed Glacier High School (GHS) on a soft lockdown, where entrances were locked but students could move freely between classes. Further investigation revealed that GHS was in reference to Granger High School, but, according to a news release, other schools nationwide with the GHS abbreviation responded in a similar manner. Story continues "At this time, we do not believe the threat to be credible," Micah Hill, superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools, said in a statement. If parents or children have any information regarding the TikTok video or viral threats, local law enforcement encourages you to call 9-1-1. "Do not wait to notify law enforcement," reads a release from the Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff's Office and Great Falls Public Schools. A previous version of this article included an error about which schools were closing. That error has been corrected. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montana schools respond to viral TikTok threat Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comments from sheriff's officials made Thursday. Oxnard police on Wednesday announced arrests of two more high school students for allegedly making school threats. County education officials, meanwhile, sent an announcement about rumors circulating around the country on TikTok and other platforms threatening violence at schools nationwide on Friday. On Thursday, Ventura County Sheriff's officials also issued a statement about unsubstantiated threats circulating nationwide on social media. The new arrests come after the arrests of three Oxnard teens last week and a Ventura teen on Sunday for alleged threats involving local schools. Authorities have noted the teens have admitted the threats were made as jokes, but say police departments must take all school threats seriously. The most recent arrests involve students at Oxnard and Hueneme high schools, according to the Oxnard Police Department. A 14-year-old freshman at Oxnard High School was arrested in connection with posts spread on social media last week that threatened a shooting on campus. The widely circulated posts prompted about 400 students to leave campus grounds out of fear for their safety. Extra police officers were sent to the school. Concern over the posts spread to Santa Paula High School, causing a lockdown there. Previously, officials arrested a different 14-year-old student in connection with the case. "The student admitted he made the threat as a joke," police officials said in reference to the latest arrest. More teens have been arrested in connection with social media posts threatening school violence, including threats involving Oxnard High School last week. Students have reportedly told police the posts were a joke. More local news: Fire chief Mark Lorenzen headed to new job in Bay Area A 17-year-old student at Hueneme High School was also arrested concerning a threat on social media circulated last week that said a shooting was planned for Wednesday, according to Oxnard police. The student reportedly admitted the threat was done as a joke and there was never an actual threat to the school. Story continues Last week, two 16-year-old Pacifica High School students were also arrested for threatening a shooting at lunchtime. The pair reportedly admitted the threat was a joke. Oxnard police collaborated on the cases with the Oxnard Union High School District. The teens, who face expulsion, were arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats of violence to a school campus, the department reported. The Ventura Police Department arrested a 14-year-old Balboa Middle School student Sunday in an incident police officials described as a copycat scenario that the teen thought was humorous. The Ventura County Office of Education, meanwhile, sent an announcement late Wednesday afternoon about a nationally circulated threat on TikTok and other platforms. "While these threats are unsubstantiated and do not mention Ventura County schools specifically, some local schools may be taking extra safety measures around their campuses on December 17," officials said in a statement. Many local schools will also have counselors available for students who have concerns. The education office said it was "essential" that students don't repost such items since it "creates a cycle of fear" and complicates any investigation. Students who do make threats can face suspension, expulsion or potential legal consequences, the office noted. Students can report concerning comments or behavior to school staff while school is in session or report to law enforcement agencies after hours. On Thursday, Ventura County Sheriff's officials said the agency's intelligence detectives had received information about threats trending on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and other platforms involving mass school violence on Friday, Dec. 17. The threats are "general in nature" and lack specific threats or locations, sheriff's officials said, noting Dec. 17 is the last day of school on many campuses before winter break starts. The agency hasn't received any threats involving Ventura County schools. Some students have expressed fear about going to school Friday. "Such posts have been identified in multiple states across the country," the sheriff's statement read, "however, there is currently no information indicating the rumors are credible." The sheriff's special crimes and intelligence unit is working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and with school resource officers to investigate the trend, authorities said. Officials encouraged the public to report any suspicious threats involving schools to law enforcement and to call 911 in an emergency. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: More school threat arrests in Oxnard as rumors spread Morgan Wallen, a country music star and Tennessee native, spent $20,000 at a Memphis Walmart recently after adopting 200 angels from The Salvation Army of Memphis & the Mid-Souths Angel Tree program. According to a news release issued by The Salvation Army of Memphis, Wallen and his team spent hours within the Walmart and filled 32 shopping carts with toys and clothes. Morgan Wallen spent $20,000 at a Memphis Walmart over the weekend after adopting 200 angels from The Salvation Army of Memphis & the Mid-Souths Angel Tree program. "For me growing up, my parents, they always made sure that I had presents under the tree. I know that all kids are not as fortunate to have that same experience, Wallen said in the news release. I got to partner up with The Salvation Army and Walmart to make a whole lot of kids happy this Christmas I hope we get to do it again next year. He made the trip to Memphis to adopt the 200 angels in between his three sold-out shows at the Landers Center in Southaven over the weekend. Morgan Wallen spent $20,000 at a Memphis Walmart over the weekend after adopting 200 angels from The Salvation Army of Memphis & the Mid-Souths Angel Tree program. Because of Wallens generosity, parents struggling this year with job loss, homelessness and the impact of the ongoing pandemic will be able to go to sleep on Christmas Eve knowing their children will wake up to gifts under the tree, said Nina Harrelson, spokesperson for The Salvation Army of Memphis & the Mid-South, in the news release. In early 2021, shortly after the release of his new album, he came under fire after a video surfaced showing him being dropped off at a house and telling a friend to "take care of this...(slur)," apparently referring to another person in the group. In July, in an interview with "Good Morning America," he said he was "just ignorant" about his language. Despite the controversy, Wallen's album "Dangerous: The Double Album" topped the Billboard 200 Albums chart for 10 consecutive weeks and is 2021s year-end No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Gina Butkovich covers DeSoto County, storytelling and general news. She can be reached at 901-232-6714. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Morgan Wallen adopts 200 angels from Salvation Army of Memphis GAUHATI, India (AP) Myanmar has handed over to India five insurgents belonging to an Indian rebel group operating in the remote northeastern region bordering Myanmar, police said Thursday. An Indian air force aircraft flew the five from Myanmar to the Indian state of Manipur on Wednesday. They belong to the Peoples Liberation Army, which is fighting for secession from India in Manipur since 1978, a police officer said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to reporters. Indias military authorities declined comments on the operation. The officer said Myanmar authorities had moved the five to a prison in Sagaing region after arresting them in August last year. They were being questioning by police. Their group had claimed responsibility for killing an Indian army colonel, his wife, a son and four soldiers in an ambush last month. This is the second time Myanmar authorities have handed over insurgents to India in nearly two years. In 2020, they transferred to India 22 rebels belonging to six insurgent groups operating in two northeastern states, Assam and Manipur, the police officer said. India and Myanmar in recent years have signed defense cooperation agreements committing to peace and stability in border areas, and they promised to not allow anyone to use their respective soil for hostile activities against the other side. Indian government forces are battling dozens of ethnic insurgent groups In the remote northeast. Their demands range from independent homelands to maximum autonomy within India. The rebels often cross over into neighboring Myanmar through a porous border after attacking Indian forces. Candidates for Naples City Council outlined their platforms Thursday at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Naples for a forum hosted by the Gulf Shore Association of Condominiums. On Feb. 1, Naples voters will cast ballots for the five candidates vying for three at-large seats for a four-year term. At-large candidates represent the whole city, not specific districts. Two incumbents, Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison and council member Ray Christman, face newcomers John Dugan, Beth Petrunoff and Ian Rudnick. The Naples City Council candidates for the 2022 municipal election are Beth Petrunoff, Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison, Councilman Ray Christman, Ian Rudnick and John Dugan. The top three vote-getters will win the vacant seats. The Gulf Shore Association has been doing these forums for a number of years, and our primary purpose is to educate people along Gulf Shore Boulevard and the other buildings that belong to GSAC so that as you go to the polls and vote, youre well educated with all of the people who are running, Dave Feight, president of GSAC said. More: Former interim City Manager Dana Souza topped the list of Naples highest paid The association sent questions to each of the candidates focused on five themes of the Naples Vision Survey council adopted in 2019. Those topics include: Place: Preserving small-town character and culture Nature: Environmental sensitivity Experience: Extraordinary quality of life for residents Economy: Economic health and vitality Governance: High-performing government Councilmember Ray Christman In his opening statement, Christman said his journey into local government began in 2019 when he ran for an open seat on the council. Ray Christman, Naples City Council candidate I articulated four priorities during my first campaign that are still my priorities today, Christman said. He said his priorities then and now remain: protecting the environment, making sure development is properly managed, sustaining the quality of life in Naples, and committing to a transparent, ethical and responsible government with a particular focus on public health and safety. Christman closed by saying he would be consistent with his promises, be proactive in communicating with the community, and be a counselor for all. Story continues We need people in city council who have the experience, the expertise, and background to take on these challenges and try to reach pragmatic, realistic decisions that are good for the city, he said. Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison Hutchison said its been a great privilege to serve the community and he is looking forward to serving another term. While discussing small-town character, Hutchison said hes kept his promise not to compromise the citys values. The prior council repeatedly breached the city charters height limit and underfunded stormwater remediation, he said. If you want more of that, elect those who stated they want to accelerate growth, he said. Addressing the idea that city council has been ineffective and holds meetings that run too long, he said making sure peoples voices are heard takes time. I led the way in raising the threshold criteria to approve building variances. You now have a stormwater master plan approved and fully funded, lakes remediation funding, he said. Does all of this reflect the community vision? Yes. Did we go late into the night many times to get it right? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes. Ian Rudnick Rudnick served for 17 years on the Naples Police Department before retiring and stepping into the real estate world. He said hes watched changes in city government he was unhappy with the past few years and said he would be honored to step up and get back to serving the community. Ian Rudnick During his years with the police department, he said he rose through the ranks eventually supervising the detective bureau. We must first and foremost ensure that we have a strong first responder force in the city, he said. We need to retain those employees and have competitive salaries. They need to feel appreciated in the community and by local government. Rudnick said he plans on never leaving Naples. After serving the community for 17 years on the force, he said he will continue that service passionately. John Dugan Dugan said he found out that many people were not voting in municipal elections and his motivation for running was to get hands back on the wheel. Coming from two-plus decades of working as a management consultant, he said his specialty was solving difficult situations. Read more: City Council approves changes to fishing regulations at Naples Pier From earlier: Naples city employees win biggest wage increase since 2008 financial crisis He said there are two parts to Dugans lifestyle: protecting freedoms and natural resources such as water and the beaches. What we need to do, in typical business context, is a root-cause analysis of where the pollution is coming from and a water-trend analysis on wells that exist in the town now, he said. John Dugan Dugan said city governance is broken and that anyone who doesnt think so has not been paying attention. Some of the meetings are 14 hours, theres a lot of contention, he said. We dont know why they vote the way they do, and the funny thing about it is a lot of things come out on (the consent agenda), which is getting negotiated somewhere out of our hands. Dugan closed by saying he needed people to leave the forum and say, "The new guy in town with different skills might be able to help us move forward." Beth Petrunoff A Naples resident for 18 years, Petrunoff is a retired executive at GE Capital and said she wants to use her business experience to benefit the city. Beth Davis Petrunoff The current council has accomplished a lot, she said, but a lot of issues before them have led to long and painful meetings. Im concerned about the long meetings, the friction in meetings and the frustration on all parties, Petrunoff said. Other news: Naples sets eyes on new vision for Design District She discussed affordable housing in the city and said she is educating herself on the issue. I think its probably going to end up being a joint city and county solution, maybe at the former golf course at Golden Gate, she said. Petrunoff said she would forgo a salary as she said she believes the council job is a service job. This is my town, my slice of paradise, and I want to keep Naples great, she said. How, when to vote in Naples election Municipal elections in Naples are held on the first Tuesday in February during each even-numbered year except in years that are multiples of four. During those years, the municipal election is held on the same day as Floridas presidential primary, according to the Naples city charter. Voter registration for the February election ends Jan. 3. Mail-in ballots will be sent Dec. 30 to registered voters who requested them. These ballots can be dropped off at the Collier County Supervisor of Elections office on Enterprise Avenue or its satellite office on Orange Blossom Drive, as well as the Cambier Park Norris Center on Eighth Avenue South. Early voting runs Jan. 26 to Jan. 29 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Cambier Park Norris Center and the Supervisor of Elections office. Karl Schneider is a Naples Daily News reporter. You can reach him at kschneider@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @karlstartswithk This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples City Council candidates speak to voters, look ahead to 2022 election NASAs Perseverance Mars rover took a selfie with the Ingenuity helicopter (NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS) Nasas Perseverance rover has discovered organic molecules in rocks on Mars Jezero Crater. Bedrock from the crater has interacted with water multiple times over the eons, Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory reports. The rovers SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals) instrument found that organic material was not only on the interior of the rock, but also in the dust on other rocks. However this does not necessarily mean that life once existed on Mars, as there are both biological and non-biological mechanisms that could be responsible for the organics presence. Curiosity also discovered organics at its landing site within Gale Crater, said Luther Beegle, SHERLOC principal investigator at Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory 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. It will not be until the samples have been returned to Earth that scientists will be able to properly examine the biosignatures, and hypothesise whether other signs of life could be preserved as well. The rover has 43 sample tubes six of which have been sealed yet. Four of them have rock cores, one has a sample of Martian atmosphere, and the last contains witness material to check for contamination the rover could have brought from Earth. Perseverance has also discovered that the rock it has been travelling on was formed by red-hot magma, altered by water on several occasions that will give geologists the knowledge to understand the early history of the planet. The better Nasa and other agencies can work out when water was common on Mars surface, the more efficient they will be at hunting for evidence of alien life. 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 [Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry] 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. Despite the many contentious issues surrounding public education in the face of COVID-19, one national news outlet gives Louisiana high marks for its response to the ongoing pandemic. According to national political media outlet Politico, Louisiana education fared well during the pandemic compared to other states, in Politico's State Pandemic Scorecard. To learn how different states adjusted to the pandemic, Politico POLITICO scored states on a scale from zero to 100 in four categories: health, economy, social well-being and education. In the final category, Louisiana took sixth place. However, the state still scored low in all other categories, bringing its average score down to the 13th-to-last spot. The top education spots went to, in order, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Idaho, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. State education scores were calculated by change in reading achievement, math achievement and enrollment. Achievement scores were taken from assessments by private companies Curriculum Associates, Renaissance and NWEA because not all states conducted standardized testing during the pandemic, Louisiana included, and statewide tests are not comparable. Louisiana scored high marks in response to the COVID pandemic in a national survey conducted by Politico. LDOE simulated school scores: Jackson, West Carroll, Tensas only NELA districts to improve Louisiana's education score came out to 87 out of 100, much higher than the average score of 50. The state's score breakdown was 100% for both math achievement and reading achievement, meaning there was little to no learning loss. As for public school enrollment, the state earned a 60 out of 100 because enrollment decreased 2% from pre-pandemic numbers. Louisiana's standardized test scores from spring 2021 suggested strongly there was significant learning loss across the state from pre-pandemic levels. In Northeast Louisiana, all school districts with the exception of two saw the percentage of students achieving at least Mastery level decrease. This trend was seen across the state and prompted the Louisiana Department of Education to enact programming aimed at recovering learning loss and boosting attendance in schools. Story continues By the numbers: An in-depth look at 2021 LEAP scores for northeast Louisiana across key grade levels In the other categories on Politico's scorecard, Louisiana scored much lower. In health, the state scored in the bottom five states with a 19 out of 100, partly due to low vaccination and testing numbers. Louisiana earned a 30 out of 100 in economy, 22 points below the national score. When compared to 2019, the state GDP saw a -5.5% average quarter-over-quarter change, and unemployment had a 72.5% average month-over-month change. For jobs, there was a -8.6% average month-over-month change compared to 2019. Social well-being was the second-highest category for Louisiana. The state scored a 57 out of 100, the same as the national score, reporting a significant increase in violent crime but decreases in food insecurity and difficulty meeting household expenses. Violent crime saw a 13.9% increase since 2019. Meanwhile, food insecurity and difficulty meeting expenses decreased 9.9% and 6.1% from pandemic baselines, respectively. School funding: LDOE awards $1M in Accelerating Schools funding to Northeast Louisiana schools Follow Sabrina LeBoeuf on Twitter @_sabrinakaye and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3B8sgHo. Support local journalism by subscribing at https://cm.thenewsstar.com/specialoffer. This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Politico ranks Louisiana sixth nationwide for education during COVID Navy personnel from the coastal patrol ship Sirocco and expeditionary mobile base platform ship Lewis B. Puller assisted in rescuing five mariners in the Gulf of Oman Wednesday, the Navy said. The mariners, who claimed to be citizens of Iran, were smuggling illicit drugs when their ship caught fire, resulting in an explosion. The Sirocco, homeported in Bahrain, was conducting a counter-narcotics patrol when sailors spotted the mariners in distress and jumped into action to provide assistance, the Navy said. The mariners were transferred to the Lewis B. Puller before two were flown to Oman via helicopter for medical treatment. The other three were later taken to Oman for repatriation. The Navy said one mariner remains missing. US accuses Iran of unsafe helo maneuver near USS Essex The Sirocco ultimately seized approximately $14.7 million worth of hashish, methamphetamine and heroin from the vessel, which international maritime forces suspected was carrying illicit drugs. Just last month, the Navys dry cargo ship Charles Drew also helped rescue two Iranian mariners in the Gulf of Oman. The mariners had been lost at sea for a week in a small open boat, and the Charles Drew rescued them and provided them with food, water and medical care. As professional mariners, we have a responsibility to help people in need at sea, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of Combined Maritime Forces, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet, said in a statement in November. The U.S. Navy will begin discharging service members who refuse to comply with the vaccine mandate, the navy personnel chief announced on Wednesday. The big picture: The Navy is the latest military branch to move to discharge individuals for refusing to get vaccinated. The Air Force has discharged 27 service members for defying the mandate. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free By the numbers: The Navy had as of last week 5,731 unvaccinated sailors, including 2,705 religious exemption requests, CNN reports. What they're saying: "U.S. Navy policy is, first, that all Navy service members receive the vaccine as directed and, second, that any who refuse the vaccine be processed for separation at the earliest possible opportunity, " said Vice Adm. John Nowell, the chief of naval personnel, in a statement. Yes, but: Sailors can stay in the Navy if they get the vaccine, even if they cannot meet the vaccination deadlines, according to the announcement. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Kozee Decorah A Nebraska man was found guilty Wednesday of voluntary manslaughter in the death of a Ho-Chunk woman from Wisconsin, a less serious charge than the one federal prosecutors sought to convict him of. Jonathan D. Rooney, of Winnebago, Nebraska, was found not guilty of second-degree murder by a 12-person jury in U.S. District Court in Nebraska, but was convicted of the manslaughter offense and of destruction of evidence, according to court records. Rooney, 27, was charged last year in connection with the death of his partner, Kozee Decorah, originally of Wittenberg, Wisconsin, whose body was found in May of last year burning in what had been an outhouse in a remote part of a Nebraska reservation. The manslaughter offense carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and the evidence-related offense carries up to 20 years. His sentencing is set for 11 a.m. March 11 in U.S. District Court in Omaha. Decorah's case became a rallying cry locally for the missing and murdered Indigenous people movement, an international movement that seeks justice for and solutions to disproportionate rates of homicide and violence against Indigenous people. The jury reached its verdict about 10 a.m. Wednesday, following a little more than a day of deliberations. Jurors evidently did not find there was enough evidence to convict Rooney of the murder charge, but they ultimately agreed with prosecutors that he caused Decorah's death. Decorah's sisters could not be reached for comment on the verdict. Stacey Schreiber Schinko, whose children are related to Decorah, said she was disappointed that Rooney was not convicted of the murder charge, but glad that he has been "held accountable" for Decorah's death. "There's two people who know what happened that day, and one cant speak and the other one won't," she said. The night that Decorah's remains were found, on May 17, 2020, Rooney was found lying down, unclothed in a cabin near the outhouse. Four hours prior, Decorah had called police dispatch for help, saying their SUV had gotten stuck in the mud on an unpaved, dirt road known locally as Honey Creek Road. Story continues Going into the trial, federal prosecutors alleged Rooney killed Decorah, 22, and tried to cover it up by burning her body, his clothes and a cellphone, while Rooneys defense attorney told jurors that the evidence against Rooney was "purely circumstantial" and suggested Decorahs death may have been self-inflicted. Over the course of six days, jurors heard testimony from about 35 witnesses, including FBI agents involved in the investigation, the conservation officer who found Decorah's remains, firefighters who responded to the scene, forensic experts, family members of Rooney and a friend of Decorah's, according to court records. Rooney did not testify, but federal prosecutors did play a recording of Rooney's interrogation by an FBI agent, in which he denied knowing what happened to Decorah, suggested she may have cut herself and was framing him for her death, and admitted they had gotten into an argument that night at the cabin. The prosecution also showed images of the burn site where Decorah's remains were found. All that was left of Decorah's body were bones so "brittle" they had to be wrapped in bubble wrap before being taken into evidence, an FBI agent said. The evidence was "hard" for members of Decorah's and Rooney's family to see. Two of Decorah's four sisters were in the federal courtroom throughout the trial. "It was really emotional," Myah Decorah, one of the sisters, told a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter on the day the images were shown. Decorah's body was so badly burned that a manner of death could not be determined and her remains had to be identified using dental records, prosecutors said. "It hurt my heart," Myah said, to hear witnesses refer to her little sister by her remains. Myah, who is about 15 years older than Kozee, remembers her youngest sister as one of the kids, only separated in age by a few years from some of her nieces. She remembers her for her big laugh and penchant for joking and teasing. Decorah's four older sisters were in Omaha for the trial, along with some of their children. They all packed into a van for the drive down from Wittenberg, which took 13 hours with diaper-changing stops, bathroom breaks and other stops, Myah said. "As the oldest, I feel like I need to be here," Myah said. "For my own self, I want to know everything." Myah and another sister watched the trial from start to finish. Members of Rooney's family were also at the trial. Sarah Volpenhein is a Report for America corps reporter who focuses on news of value to underserved communities for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Email her at svolpenhei@gannett.com. Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to this reporting effort at JSOnline.com/RFA. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Nebraska man found guilty of manslaughter in killing of Ho-Chunk mom (Bloomberg) -- New York City appears to be no match for the convergence of the delta and omicron variants, despite some of the toughest Covid-19 restrictions and highest vaccination rates in the U.S. Most Read from Bloomberg Just as the city was getting more crowded and office vacancies were starting to shrink, an about-face has people again on edge. New cases of the virus are at the highest since January. Businesses are asking workers to stay home, schoolrooms are shutting and testing sites have long lines snaking around city blocks. And Broadway shows and restaurants are closing down as staff shortages and pockets of Covid outbreaks sprout up around the city at the busiest time of the year for tourism. Weve never seen this before in NYC, Jay Varma, public health adviser to Mayor Bill de Blasio, said Thursday on Twitter. Test positivity doubling in three days. Indeed, 7.8% of the citys cases were positive on Dec. 12, up from 3.9% on Dec. 9, according to city data. Many of those cases are mild and hospitalizations and deaths are nowhere near the level seen in the early days of the pandemic. But city data show hospitalizations are also rising at a fast clip and have more than doubled since the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Just weeks ago, delta made up nearly all of the sequenced cases in the New York area. But omicron, which appears to be far more transmissible than earlier variants, has quickly grown to make up 13% of the regions cases, according to modeling from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state and city dont appear to sequence enough cases to be able to immediately confirm the variants spread. Story continues De Blasio, who already required vaccinations for entry to restaurants and tourist attractions and mandated them for city workers, now is expanding the order to private companies as of Dec. 27. Governor Kathy Hochul this week began requiring masks in all indoor public places that dont require proof of Covid-19 inoculations and ordered another million tests to send to communities in need. New York state reported 18,276 new Covid cases on Dec. 15 -- its third-highest tally ever -- including 8,318 in New York City. This is a health care crisis and people are going to die, Hochul said Thursday when asked about resistance to her mandate. That is not hyperbole, these are the facts right now. School Closures The impact has already hit the citys public schools, the largest U.S. system with roughly a million students. Between the start of school and the end of November, there were three full school shutdowns and roughly 2,500 classroom closings, according to city Department of Education data. The city has now closed six entire schools and 4,200 classrooms. Thinking we were all out of this delta variant, and then having this new variant coming is all very scary, said Amy Tsai, a parent of five in the Bronx. Last school year, three of Tsais children took remote classes, and when two of her kids went back to school in March, they contracted Covid-19 and infected their siblings. Now, as cases rise and there are active cases in all three schools her children attend, Tsai said Im not sure that school is 100% safe. Back to WFH Businesses in the city are already taking steps to protect their employees and customers. Jefferies Financial Group Inc., Citigroup Inc. and Bank of Montreal have told staffers to work from home. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began requiring vaccines to enter its Manhattan headquarters and moved its January annual health-care conference online. The pace of the past week in terms of the increase in the number of cases and hospitalizations has shaken everybody, said Kathryn Wylde, president and chief executive officer of the Partnership for New York City, a business group. Its something that we had hoped we were beyond. An October survey by the partnership showed 50% of office workers were expected back in workplaces by the end of January, but that number is now questionable, Wylde said, noting that companies are pushing back return dates and canceling gatherings. Broadway, which was shut down for 18 months and only reopened in September, has canceled several shows this week because of Covid-19 cases, including Hamilton, Tina and Mrs. Doubtfire. Contento, a Peruvian restaurant in East Harlem, closed Tuesday after a fully vaccinated staffer got Covid. Contento closed in March 2020 and had reopened in June 2021. Yannick Benjamin, co-owner of Contento, said he aims to reopen next week but is prepared to miss the lucrative holiday season if Covid cases get worse. Well figure it out and well get ourselves back, he said. At That Point Again The spike in cases is making many New Yorkers rethink concerts, shows and holiday gatherings -- especially with testing centers again being hard to access and at-home kits disappearing from store shelves. Crystal Hudson, an incoming Brooklyn City Council member, tried to get a PCR test on Wednesday after getting exposed to Covid but couldnt find any appointments near her and had to go to Manhattan. She then also tried to get a rapid test on Thursday at a van near her, but the line stretched down the block. Testing shouldnt be this difficult, she said. Were still in the middle of a pandemic. The city said Thursday it would open five new testing sites next week and distribute half a million at-home rapid tests and a million masks to fend off omicron. Amanda Reimer, 22, a New Jersey college student taking a train into Manhattan, said shes vaccinated but worried about the uptick. She and her family decided to restrict their holiday meal to immediate family, celebrating with others on Zoom. Waning Immunity The latest Covid surge is happening across the nation, but the northeastern U.S. is the latest hot spot as more people gather indoors because of cold weather and the holiday season. While most of the new cases are among the unvaccinated, there are more infections among those who have had two doses of the vaccine and are experiencing waning immunity. In New York state, there were 17.6 breakthrough cases per 100,000 vaccinated people in the week starting Nov. 22, compared to just 1.3 per 100,000 vaccinated people in July, according to state data. However, breakthrough hospitalizations remain low: There were 0.91 hospitalizations per 100,000 vaccinated people in the week starting Nov. 22, compared to 9.9 per 100,000 unvaccinated people during the same period. In New Jersey, hospitalizations have more than doubled in a month to 1,756 on Dec. 15. Still, they were more than 3,600 a year ago, and at its worst point were more than 6,000. Statewide, about 20% of New Jerseys hospital patients were breakthrough cases in December, compared to 1% in the last week of October, officials said. At the University Hospital in Newark, about half of new Covid-19 admissions in recent days were people who were fully vaccinated, according to Shereef Elnahal, CEO of the hospital and former New Jersey health commissioner. Booster doses are no longer a bonus but a necessity, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said at a briefing this week. But even with a booster, catching the virus is still possible. Marc Rosenberg, 33, attended an LCD Soundsystem concert on Saturday with a group of about 15 friends who are fully vaccinated. As of Thursday morning, eight tested positive for Covid, including himself, who got a booster before Thanksgiving. Rosenberg, who works at a tech startup, stayed home from work and canceled plans to visit his family in Massachusetts next week. The experience has definitely made me reconsider if I should do indoor dining or go to a bar, he said. It feels like were at that point again, he said. (Updates with near record cases in seventh paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2021 Bloomberg L.P. An effort to challenge Gov. Mike DeWine's Vax-a-Million was rejected Thursday. The Ohio Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Gov. Mike DeWine's health orders and Vax-a-Million lottery, saying an organization that sued didn't meet the requirements to do so. Ohio Stands Up!, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit also known as a dark money group, filed a lawsuit against DeWine's million-dollar incentive to vaccinate Ohioans in May, arguing that the governor couldn't give away money without lawmakers' approval. The Vax-a-Million awarded $1 million prizes and scholarships to Ohioans who had received a COVID-19 shot. But on Thursday, the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously found that the group did not prove that its unidentified members were personally harmed by the lottery. More: Citizens group files suit to end Gov. DeWines emergency COVID-19 orders Vax A Million logo Ohio Stands Up! wanted the Ohio Supreme Court to say DeWine violated Ohio law and to block him from taking further COVID-19 actions. The group accused Vax-a-Million of discriminating against unvaccinated Ohioans because they could not win the prize. The complaint accused DeWine of forcing children to "undergo harmful genetic experimentation." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends COVID-19 vaccines for children age 5 and up. Justice Sharon Kennedy wrote in a concurring opinion that the Ohio Supreme Court wasn't the right place to start. "To be clear, I express no opinion regarding the weighty constitutional issues that Ohio Stands Up! raises," wrote Kennedy, a Republican candidate for chief justice. "My only point is that this court lacks the judicial power to grant the remedy that Ohio Stands Up! seeks." Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Supreme Court rejects effort to block Gov. DeWine's Vax-a-Million Southern Miss assistant teaching professor Dr. Jo Hawkins-Jones walks through the Southern Miss campus with her colleague, Karelia Pitts, the assistant to the dean for marketing and external relations, in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. University of Southern Mississippi assistant teaching professor Jo Hawkins-Jones had one word to describe how she adapted to the challenges she faced when COVID-19 forced her classroom to become virtual: perseverance. "It took a positive attitude, Hawkins-Jones said. You couldn't focus on how you turn the news on, and you see all the bad things that have happened, the number of cases constantly increasing. You have to be able to block all of that out, not be insensitive, but keep moving to keep being determined to teach your students and be positive with them. Hawkins-Jones teaches early literacy courses, and she faces the exceptional challenge of training students to be teachers without their being able to teach in a classroom with real students. She had to adapt by learning to use GET-VR, a virtual reality program that allows students to practice teaching on avatars controlled by theater students. "They have those same experiences that they will have in a classroom, but it's through virtual reality," she said. The COVID-19 pandemic offered other challenges for Hawkins-Jones and her students. One student, an EMT driver, was unable to participate in certain activities due to increased risk of COVID-19 exposure. Another was pregnant and gave birth during the pandemic, all while trying to keep up with her classes. Another student had to be hospitalized with COVID-19. "She wore an oxygen tank but she still came to class, did every assignment. And so it was examples of people like her, who also inspired me to, to keep going, to continue to motivate my students and be the best for them." One and 100: Click above to read more stories about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the South. This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Jo Hawkins-Jones, University of Southern Mississippi teaching professor Heather Caroll stands with her son Kye at his desk in their kitchen Oct. 14. Heather's morning starts around 6:15 as she prepares her other son Gabe for his day at public school and Kye gets ready for a day of online schooling. The saying goes that it takes a village to raise a child, but for Heather Carroll of Fort Smith, Arkansas, playing the role of "village" since the pandemic kept two of her sons home for more than a year. "Those first few weeks and months were incredibly difficult because no one knew," Carroll, 50, said. Personal chef. Yoga teacher. Tech guru. Chauffer. Carroll kept her sons Kye, 11, and Gabriel, 10, home from the initial shut down in spring 2020 until the start of this school year. Gabriel has Down syndrome and other health issues and the safety of her children was paramount. A year and a half together taught the family more about each other and their needs. Gabriel, who needs the social aspect of school, returned to public school this year. While Kye is now a fully remote student at an online public school. "It's been rewarding because you see him learn and grow and you're next to him when it happens," Carroll said. Carroll spends her days at home surrounded by photos of her children as she helps Kye with work and they adjust to the new normal they never expected. "(The pandemic has) been both good and bad for our family for different reasons, for different people," Carroll said. One and 100: Click above to read more stories about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the South. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Heather Carroll, Fort Smith, Arkansas Lauren Martin at the Autauga County Sheriff's Office. The hardest thing about having COVID-19 for Lauren Martin was the separation from her 4-year-old daughter. Shes a civilian employee with the Autauga County Sheriffs Office in Alabama, working the front office along with two other women. On this day, she had recently returned to work following her quarantine period. It all started with a headache. A severe headache. Fortunately, her daughter never contracted the virus, but she went to stay with her grandparents for the duration. Martin would drive to her parent's home to have porch visits, with her daughter. I stayed in the car and we were able to say Hey, to each other, Martin said. But she said Mommy, you didnt give me my hug. That hurt my heart. At work, she conducts background checks of applicants and issues pistol permits along with handling bond paperwork for inmates in the Autauga Metro Jail. The customers sit 3 feet from her. The virus also had a financial impact. She had not built up enough paid leave time to cover the quarantine period. Like most people I have a beach fund,' she said with a laugh. I could have borrowed money from my mama and daddy, but I didnt want to. I took money from the beach fund. We made it. We always make it. One and 100: Click above to read more stories about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the South. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Lauren Martin, Autauga County Sheriffs Office in Alabama A Day of COVID: Mary Hopkins and Renaissance Market adapt to COVID. Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. Things are finally beginning to resemble normalcy for Mary Landry Hopkins, an owner of the Renaissance Market and Brasserie in Lafayettes Oil Center. Hopkins, 62, owns the store specializing in French antiques and also carrying all sorts of decorations, books, clothing, wine and food with her husband, Jim. Hopkins spent Thursday morning rushing around the shop, preparing for a trunk show. The store resembles its pre-pandemic self, with its shelves packed with a collection of odds and ends. But Hopkins said its been a struggle to get her normal supply of wares, owing to distribution issues and travel restrictions to Europe. She said her husband was preparing to go to Paris to find Chanel jewelry for the shop. I maybe have 40% of what I typically have at this point, Hopkins said. Were going to make it work. Its going to be fabulous. No one is even going to notice. I overbuy to begin with, and that has really put me ahead. Gesturing to her husband in the kitchen, Hopkins said, Thats the first thing hes ever said positive about my overbuying. He said, Honey, this might really be in our best interest that youve been overbuying for 30 years. Hopkins said its been hard, but her business has made it through. They became more active online and changed the way they served their customers. They also began making frozen meals, which was a real success for the shop. Over the course of the pandemic, Hopkins has lost customers her friends to the virus. She said its been tough not being able to visit with her regulars, but thats finally beginning to change. It makes you less concerned about the finances and the tiny things in life and focus more on whats real, Hopkins said. These people become your friends, your customers become your friends. Being able to hug them again has been really fantastic. One and 100: Click above to read more stories about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the South. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Mary Landry Hopkins, Renaissance Market and Brasserie, Lafayette Oil Center WASHINGTON - They wait for Joe. And while they wait, they wonder. "His entourage vanished," says a reporter. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. "Maybe they snuck out the back," says a photographer. It's a Tuesday in early December. Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., the Flowbee-haired centrist whose vote in the evenly divided Senate could make or break any given deal, had been spotted ducking into Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's office at exactly 11:06 a.m. That's a conspicuous time and place for a private tete-a-tete - just before the Senate's Tuesday lunches, when the Capitol Hill press would swarm the corridors in search of scooplets about the fate of Democrats' social spending bill. Sure enough, the press has taken notice. And now, they wait. Waiting around for Manchin has become something of a pastime in the nation's capital. Hill reporters track his movements on the Senate floor, staking out his office, sometimes for hours, and then orbiting around him like electrons as he walks the halls of Congress. On a recent Monday morning, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, bumped into such a gaggle on the way to her office, which is near Manchin's. "What are you guys doing here now?" she asked them. "It's Monday, you know he's not going to get here till 3 o'clock in the afternoon!" "Sometimes I wish I wasn't chained to this one spot," says Burgess Everett, Politico's chief Manchin correspondent. "But, at the same time, this is the best place to get the news of the day because it's what everyone is interested in." The power and spotlight has earned the gentleman from West Virginia a new nickname. "Mister President," Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, once said, greeting Manchin in a Capitol Hill elevator. "It looks like we have President Manchin instead of President Biden," Faiz Shakir, a close adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told the New York Times. Story continues "Maybe we should say President Manchin at this point!" then-Fox News anchor Chris Wallace chuckled on the air. It's been an eventful first year of the Manchin presidency. His Washington home, a large boat on the Potomac, has become a floating West Wing: a place that the White House chief of staff (among others) has visited, and where Manchin has hosted raucous, bipartisan parties. The journalists doing the waiting are proxies for a Washington establishment eager to see how the Biden administration plans to make its mark, and for the millions of Americans who care about an agenda that could change the trajectory of a teetering democracy and a warming planet. They wait for the senator from West Virginia to decide the fate of Cabinet-level nominees (sorry, Neera Tanden). They wait for him to agree to stimulus funding in the midst of the pandemic, which he did. They wait for him to find enough Republicans to back a voting rights bill as state GOP officials clamp down on voting access, which he hasn't. People have mostly stopped waiting for him to nuke the filibuster. These days everyone's waiting on the Build Back Better bill, the Democrats' signature piece of legislation, which "President Manchin" keeps vetoing before it gets to President Joe Biden's desk. He's been in Schumer's office for 43 minutes now, and the Manchin stalkers are growing restless. "Maybe they were allowed to sit inside," someone offers, referring to Manchin's entourage. "That would be nice." "Maybe the meeting was going to be going on for so long they decided not to wait around," a reporter groaned. At 11:55 a.m. Manchin emerges into the collapsing mass of reporters notebooks and flashbulbs. He tells the crowd that he and Schumer, D-N.Y., talked about "one issue." He doesn't say which one. Then he walks across the hall for another private meeting, this time in the office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and the waiting game begins anew. "There have been other politicians who have played this Hamlet role before," Brian Fallon, a former spokesman for Schumer, said in an interview. "But Manchin has taken it to a true art form." - - - The whole "President Manchin" bit? Not everybody finds it amusing. "He's not a president," says Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. "The farthest you'll get me to go is I see this as the 'Manchin majority.' " "It's tongue-in-cheek," says Romney when reminded of his "Mister President" elevator greeting. "The fact is, he's just a senator," says Anita Dunn, who until recently was a top adviser to Biden. Plus, she points out, "He supported the rescue plan, he supported the bipartisan infrastructure plan, he has supported the president and his agenda and has worked hard to find a way to support the final big piece of the economic agenda and has negotiated in good faith around it." "I don't think it's a coup," says Ben Nelson, former Democratic senator from Nebraska, unprompted, of the Manchin presidency. Nelson may be especially sensitive to the plight of a Democratic senator standing athwart major policy. He played the role of Hamlet in a 2009 production, when President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress were trying to pass the Affordable Care Act. It took intense negotiations, a pressure campaign from the White House, and a lucrative deal to reimburse his home state for Medicare expansion (dubbed the "Cornhusker Kickback" by Republicans) to get him on board. The former senator doesn't think Manchin is doing anything wrong by wielding his vote this way. "There's not as much pressure in your mind when you think you're doing the right thing," says Nelson. There is no shortage of people who think Manchin is doing the wrong thing. For climate activists, the West Virginia senator's infamy has grown alongside his power. He's been elemental in stripping environmental provisions out of the BBB, including a plan to phase out the types of coal plants that have made millions of dollars for his family's business. Protesters have gathered in kayaks outside Manchin's floating home. One time, they surrounded his Maserati as he tried to exit a garage. "Some days there just aren't words for how enraging it is to have this opportunity to address climate change and have one man standing in the way," says Deirdre Shelly of the Sunrise Movement, a climate activism group. "He's a villain." Meanwhile, the GOP seems to love the guy. Even the Trumpiest Republicans are keen to praise him. "For Joe Manchin to be standing up against abusive overspending, I think it's great," says Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, as he scurries through the basement of the Capitol clutching a giant poster showing his solidarity with locked-up Jan. 6 defendants. "I'm not sure Biden, based on some of his comments, is nearly as self-aware as Senator Manchin is." Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, recalls chatting with Manchin on the Senate floor and telling him, "You know, Joe, one of the two parties actually likes you." Another reason it's 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. "He's a governor at heart," says Jonathan Kott, a former Manchin adviser who is now a lobbyist. "A guy always falls back on their successes," says Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. "And Joe comes from the governor's office, where evidently he's had success being out front." It's a delicate thing, though, being seen as a senator who is trying to act like an executive. "I would never say, and I think it would be inappropriate to say, that Joe Manchin sees himself as an alternative to what the White House is trying to do," says Steve Clemons, a political commentator and friend of Manchin. "But,"Clemons adds, "he's trying to be helpful in a way that an executive would." - - - It doesn't always feel helpful. Not when the actual president's approval rating is underwater. The BBB bill could help with that. It contains provisions that could make a difference in the lives of millions of people: four weeks of paid leave, an extension of the child tax credit and investments in renewable energy, including tax credits for electric vehicles. The longer Manchin holds it up, some Democrats argue, the more he puts his party at risk. "No one has done more damage to Joe Biden's political standing in the first year of his presidency than Joe Manchin," says Shakir, the Sanders adviser. "Because he's been so loud projecting his differences with Biden, people are left wondering, 'Hey, who runs this show?' " "He will be seen in history as a spoiler figure and not as a leader," says Douglas Brinkley, CNN's presidential historian, of Manchin. "He could cost the Democrats the midterm election." In a perfectly divided Senate, any Democrat has the power to play spoiler if they want. The fact that few other Democrats seem interested in doing so has only reinforced the "President Manchin" meme, since the West Virginian is often out on a limb (or would that be a branch?) by himself. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has joined him, at times,holding out when fellow Democrats tried raising taxes on the ultrawealthy and lowering prescription drug prices. But Sinema is not nearly as chatty about it as Manchin; she dodges the press in hallways and often seems eager to skip town when the heat is on. Manchin, though, seems to love the scrum. "He does get more attention because he will always tell you what he's thinking," says Politico's Everett. Manchin's office, which declined to make him available for an interview, says he hates this kind of attention. "He doesn't like these 'Joe Manchin is the center of the universe' stories," says Sam Runyon, a spokeswoman. And yet, those who wait for Joe are often rewarded - with a little performance, if not a big revelation. Enough to keep the story going for another day. Everett, the Politico Manchinologist, describes a "void" created by President Donald Trump's departure. "In that void," he said, "Manchin has become sort of the most-prominent character in Washington." - - - On Monday news broke that the two presidents, one real and one imagined, would be speaking on the phone. To BBB, or not to BBB? That was the question. That afternoon, camerapeople arrive on the third floor of the Hart office building, unfolding their little travel stools just down the hall from Manchin's office while reporters mill around. "He's going to come out and say, 'I've got nothing for you,' " one cameraman says, settling in shortly after 3 p.m. "Right?" "We've got another hour," another sighs. "At least. Maybe more, maybe more." Reporters pass the time scrolling Twitter and ruefully admiring photos of the sunset, which is not visible from this drab corridor. Older photographers swap stories. (One of them was right there when Al Gore planted that weirdly intense kiss on Tipper at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.) "Ten minutes out!" a cameraman announces at 4:35, before testing the levels on his microphone: Onetwothreefourfive. Evening votes are approaching, meaning Manchin will soon emerge to make his way to the Senate floor. Suddenly, a groan: Several reporters checking their phones at the same time have learned ... "They delayed the votes," one shouts. "Nooooo!" "Well," a reporter says, "that was the most excitement we've had in two hours." It's now been 30 minutes since the 10-minute warning with no sign of Manchin, and there's speculation that he might have given them the slip. Just as everyone is about to pack up, a side door creaks open and out comes the senator, wearing an amused smile as if he doesn't know what all the fuss was about. "I have nothing to say," he says with an exaggerated shrug. Manchin and the reporters move down the hallway together in a practiced but graceless shuffle. "Do you think it's possible that they do it this year?" wonders Manu Raju,who covers the Manchin beat for CNN, referring to the bill. "Anything's possible," Manchin replies. He steps into an elevator. The doors close, and the ersatz president disappears without ceremony. There is no urgent need to follow him. Everyone knows they'll be back here again tomorrow. Related Content On-screen and off, the Shetland Islands have much scenery to savor Life after quitting: What happened next to the workers who left their jobs A QAnon con: The viral Wayfair sex trafficking lie hurt real kids L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks during the Senate hearing on his nomination to be ambassador to India. Sending him to India isn't as surprising as it seems. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) This week the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on L.A. Mayor Eric Garcettis nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to India. Why Garcetti? And why India? Garcetti was an early supporter of Joe Bidens 2020 presidential run, but the mayors political star has been dimmed by sexual harassment allegations leveled at his aide Rick Jacobs. Meanwhile, as the citys festering homelessness crisis has increasingly become the defining feature of Garcettis mayorship, its clear why he would want to take a break from elected office. For Garcetti, a high-profile ambassadorship is a reasonable path of retreat from his lackluster stint as mayor; for Biden, a plum ambassadorship is a reasonable way to pay his political debts to the mayor. But India? Garcetti is an affable, progressive Latino, Jewish, Italian American mayor. All those characteristics have helped him tremendously in the tapestry of Los Angeles. None of that fits India. (Alternatively, Garcetti would be the perfect ambassador for Argentina a big Latin American nation that has a rich Italian heritage, a significant Jewish population and that legalized same-sex marriage in 2010.) And there are risks for Biden in sending our mayor to the subcontinent. Its clear that the president understands authoritarianism, especially the Chinese variety, as the principal challenge facing democratic societies. Bidens views on China and its leader, Xi Jinping, arent that different from Trumps. What is different is that Biden knows how to play the long-term geopolitical game, and an India-U.S. alignment is part of that strategy. One of Bidens earliest actions as president was to meet with the Quad Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. rightly understood in Washington and Beijing as a loose bulwark against China. And the need for a robust U.S.-India partnership goes beyond confronting China. Simply put, one of the historic shortcomings of American foreign policy has been our failure to build binding ties to India, the worlds largest democracy. Biden seems intent on fixing that and that goal colors his actions. Story continues In May, people in international trade were stunned when Biden announced he would support a waiver of patent rights on COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization a proposal made jointly in 2020 by South Africa and India. In late April, as India slid into the COVID storm, Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had had a phone call in which Modi raised the issue. The U.S. shift toward negotiating a waiver on vaccine rights came just days later it wasnt a policy decision about patent law; it was a political decision to support the India-U.S. partnership. Similarly, Bidens decision to withdraw from Afghanistan is understandable on its own terms, but it also clears the way for more India-U.S. military collaboration: Exiting Afghanistan means the U.S. has less need for help from Pakistan, Indias most immediate adversary. Considering all that, sending Garcetti to India seems especially strange. True, the U.S. has often slotted well-known political figures into high-profile ambassadorships. For example, the Senate is soon expected to confirm former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel as the new U.S. ambassador to Japan. But there is a big difference between these two big-city mayors. As chief of staff to President Obama, Emanuel had daily doses of international policy and politics as part of his job. In contrast, Garcetti is a skillful California pol with relatively little international experience. And when you send even a smart, able politician into high-stakes international work for the first time, you take a big risk you may get outcomes like Vice President Harris do not come press conference in Guatemala. So what is Biden thinking? Well, bluntly put, ambassadors arent nearly as important these days as they were decades ago, and the higher the profile of the ambassadorship, the less operationally important it tends to be for U.S. policy. Many ambassadorial posts are largely ceremonial. For example, the U.S. ambassador to France is traditionally a big political donor, an ambassadonor. That persons job is to throw lovely receptions at the ambassadorial residence and stay out of the way of detailed Franco-American policy coordination, whether on Islamic insurgents in Mali or vaccination requirements for transatlantic travelers. Where U.S. ambassadorships really count is with medium and small countries places such as Botswana, Ecuador, Malaysia, Bolivia, Rwanda, Uruguay where the ambassador truly serves as Americas eyes and ears. And thats where we send our career diplomats. For larger countries, key U.S. partners and multilateral organizations, our day-to-day international relations have become increasingly conducted by specialized agencies. In the case of New Delhi, trade issues between the U.S. and India are handled by the U.S. trade representative and the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry; research cooperation may be through our National Science Foundation and Indias new National Research Foundation; military issues are coordinated by the two countries armed services; cooperation in fighting the pandemic involves an alphabet soup of Indian and U.S. agencies led by the CDC and Indias National Centre for Disease Control. So, Eric Garcetti to New Delhi? It sends a signal to the Indian people that they are important enough to have as an ambassador a major Biden political ally. And Garcetti gets a posh job as the friendly face of America. We should expect that hell learn his portfolio quickly, work hard to avoid any embarrassments and better than being mayor he wont be called upon to make any tough decisions. Justin Hughes teaches international law at LMU Loyola Law School. In the Obama administration, he was chief negotiator for the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances and the Marrakesh Treaty for the Blind. He is also a visiting professor at Oxford University. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Armed with an array of flag merchandise old and new, supporters of opposing flag designs faced off this week as Springfields unofficial city flag inched closer to official status. City Council spent most of its Monday night meeting hearing from the public about the blue and white flag that has sprung up at businesses across the city since it was unveiled five years ago by the Springfield Identity Project. Many of the speakers came outfitted with shirts, masks, and stickers bearing the compass crown of the Identity Project flag, while others proudly displayed allegiance to the red, white, and blue banner that has flown atop city hall since 1938. The message of that smaller group was printed on a shirt declaring, Protect our flag! The proposed new flag has a light blue and white color scheme and is centered by a dark blue and white eight-pointed emblem, called the compass crown. This symbol represents Springfields role as a crossroads to the nation, according to a city announcement, and is a reference to the citys nickname: Queen City of the Ozarks. More: Springfield residents overwhelmingly support new city flag The current flag, meanwhile, is composed of three horizontal bars of red, white and blue with the city's name in the center. According to the city, the existing flag is meant to symbolize the citys "achievements in religion, home, education and industry. In August, the city conducted a survey asking whether residents liked the proposed flag or the old flag. With 72 percent in support, the proposed flag was overwhelmingly favored. A final council vote on the proposed flag is scheduled for Jan. 10. Springfield resident Duane Keys attends a city council meeting to show his support for a proposed new flag Many of Mondays Identity Project flag proponents noted that the flag has been adopted by many area businesses and residents with many believing it is already the citys official flag. Strong brands are simple, recognizable and unique. The proposed flag is all of those things. We put it on almost every product you could imagine in a store, from shirts and socks to hats and mugs, and everything in between, said Five Pound Apparel owner Ben Thomas. Every year we've added new products because there's a clear demand for it. We and our customers love it because it combines a symbolism for all the things we love about Springfield while simultaneously honoring our history and ushering in a new future. Story continues Christopher Upton, another Springfield business owner, said the flag in his shop sparks many conversations about Springfields identity. Every time I talk to somebody about the flag, they're excited. They think it's neat. They think, Oh, wow, what a really cool thing that they're doing. And this is one of forty families that I serve in the area. I have yet to hear one person say a negative thing about it. Springfield resident Kelly Knauer said the flag set in motion the most powerful voluntary display of civic engagement he has ever seen. In the last five years or so I have watched as a sort of a Blue Spring has blossomed downtown in Springfield. I have watched as the young entrepreneurs and professionals and artists who were bringing new life to the downtown area proudly displayed a new emblem of Springfield, a bright blue banner, a fresh striking image that was as optimistic as a clear blue sky. I watched as these young people adopted it and then I watched as their parents and grandparents happily hopped on the bandwagon, he said. More: Unofficial city flag gains ground among downtown Springfield businesses Residents attending a Springfield city council meeting to support the current Springfield city flag. But others wearing shirts that displayed the 1938 flag to the meeting contended city leaders were trying to rewrite Springfields history with the new flag design. What part of our current flag doesn't represent us? Are we no longer wanting to be associated with the red white and blue that represents America? And that we just swore allegiance to? Do we no longer want to honor these colors that men died to defend? said Lisa Meeks, a frequent critic of city policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Are we somehow not religious anymore? We are known for being part of the Bible Belt. Our churches are a huge part of our city. The symbols of religion and family and home are now replaced with connection with nature. Are we pagans now? Replacing God and the family and Ozarks culture? How does this this flag not reflect us? Tell me where any of this needs to be removed because it is no longer relevant. Tell me why the city council wants to remove this flag and its honorable history. According to Meeks, the new flag is a joke that looks like a cartoon that no one she speaks with likes. Our current flag needs to be revered and not removed, she said. Other critics of the new design took a more measured approach criticizing the process by which the new flag was created. "From the beginning (Springfield Identity Projects) effort has been a small group pushing one concept hoping to garner community support rather than a community-led, community-owned project, said resident Neil Frost. My contention is that there has been zero public participation into the selection of a design. The only design the public has ever been offered in their process is this one single design ... Springfield should change the process, have a forum for public submissions, narrowed down by experts and then a public vote. After all, I'm from Missouri. You have to show me. City leaders were also joined by members of the Springfield Identity Project who defended their design and the process by which they came to it. We were really inspired to see what a city flag can do when it is truly engaged with its community. And I didn't know a lot about our city flag at the time, but I did know it didnt engage and didnt connect with our community because they didn't see it anywhere besides at city buildings, said Springfield Identity Project co-founder and Hotel Vandivort co-owner John McQueary. According to McQueary, the popularity of the unofficial flag shows how effective it is as a symbol. Essentially, we had a five-year beta test. It's been out in the community ... It's successful. It's being used, and its a way for people to show pride. He also said it was never the Identity Projects intent to change Springfields history. This is not an attack on history. This is not us trying to rewrite or re-identify our city. It's about creating a symbol that speaks specifically to our unique identity what makes us unique. The head of a branding company who worked on the design pushed back on the idea that the blue-and-white banner was created without the publics input. In doing due diligence, before engaging the design community, we developed a strategic plan or a what I call a creative roadmap, said Michael Stelzer, former president of a local branding agency who helped develop the design. We assembled a team of 10 people. And we had two things in mind when we were searching for these 10 people, we wanted two things: We wanted diversity and we wanted expertise. We had business leaders, we had marketers, we had entrepreneurs. We had a writer. We had an architect, we had designers, we had artists. Collectively that's over 250 years of professional experience chartered with curating the submissions that we received from the design community in Springfield. Joel Thomas, another founder of the Identity Project, said that he is proud of the flag regardless of the citys decision to adopt it. I just want to tell you that I'm really proud of what we've done so far in the last five years. I'm proud that this was a grassroots effort. I'm proud that we provided a symbol that signifies Springfield, Missouri. I'm surprised and I'm proud of the businesses and citizens that have used the symbol by flying the flag. A final vote on the flags adoption will take place at the citys January 10 meeting. Interested readers can share their opinion on the flag by completing a survey at newcityflag.questionpro.com or by calling the city at 417-864-1888. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Fans and foes turned out to debate proposed Springfield flag EUGENE, Ore. (AP) NFaly Dante scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, De'Vion Harmon added 17 points and Oregon coasted to a 96-71 win over Portland on Wednesday night. Quincy Guerrier scored 17 points and Will Richardson 16 with six rebounds and six assists for the Ducks (6-5), who were coming of consecutive last-second defeats in Pac-12 games. Dante was 9-of-11 shooting and Guerrier was 8 of 12. Oregon has a home game against No. 1 Baylor on Saturday night. Chris Austin scored 19 points to lead the Pilots (8-4), who trail the series 51-10. Kristian Sjolund and Mike Meadows added 14 points apiece and Tyler Robertson had 10. Meadows made all four of his 3-pointers. The Ducks never trailed and when Dante scored twice at the rim and Eric Williams Jr. drained a 3-pointer they led 27-11 before the midway point of the first half. It was 46-32 at the break as the Ducks shot 60% (18 of 30) while the Pilots shot 38% (11 of 29). Dante turned the second of his consecutive layups into a three-point play and Franck Kepnang followed with a dunk to push the lead to 68-46 barely five minutes into the second half. Oregon won the rebounding battle 43-30. It was 15-8 on the offensive end where the Ducks outscored Portland 18-4. That was consistent with the Oregon's 54-14 dominance of points in the paint. The Ducks ended up shooting 54% (37 of 69). Portland shot 21 of 55 (38%), going 11 of 26 behind the arc (42%) and 10 of 29 inside. ___ For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25 The Yazoo River campaign was an early effort by the Union army to approach Vicksburg. Brigadier General William T. Shermans men laid pontoons upon which he intended his troops to cross. Todays story is about what happened. Dec. 20 in history: Here is the holiday memoir of Lieutenant-Colonel Oran Perry of the 69th Indiana that trained in Richmond and was part of William Tecumseh Shermans Yazoo River expedition toward Vicksburg during the Civil War: "My time in Hell started when the sun rose in a blue sky over the unfriendly city of Memphis that crisp 20th of December, 1862, and shone encouragingly on weary soldiers who had spent the greater part of the previous night in embarkation. By ten oclock the boat comprising the fleet of General Sherman had slipped their moorings, backed into the river and were drifting about in a helpless sort of a way that could have wrecked our chances of victory... "The interest and excitement of getting underway was augmented by terse commands of captains and the picturesque profanity of brethren intoning what they thought about the perilous situation That along with the hoarse, discordant whistles, clangs of bells and the fitful throbbing of engines in the swash of water under the wheels together with the lowering clouds of dense black smoke belching forth from more than a hundred funnels, a confusion was caused that ignited the possibility of collision and spread uneasiness among the troops. But cool heads and skilled hands of those piloting gradually wrought order out of chaos, and one by one the unwieldy steamers dropped into line and began their stately sweep downriver Half a hundred others interspersed with gunboats stretched away further, with flags flying, bands playing and troops cheering Sullen white citizens of the South lined the banks, watching us pass out of sight, prayerfully hoping they might never see us again. Hordes of Black citizens, with all the fervor and grace of their race sang hosannas to our fleet, and with hat and hoe, bandanna and bonnet, waving Godspeed, until the last boat passed around the bend. Oran C. Perry was a 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant in the 69th Indiana regiment that trained in Richmond. Wounded three times in three different battles - in the left leg, right arm, and head - he was taken prisoner at Richmond, Kentucky and later released in a trade. Perry, who mustered out of Civil War service on July 5, 1865, had first-hand experience of the horrors of war and wrote about it. Todays story is about Union attempts to approach Vicksburg, which led to the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, in which the 69th Indiana took part. "We were 30,000 strong, and known as the 'Right Wing of the 13th Army Corps' commanded by General Sherman We of the 69th sailed on a steamer so old and rickety that anything that might have happened to it and would not have surprised us in the least. It was so infested with bedbugs, cockroaches and lice that we sometimes wished the old tub might sink to escape us from the vermin. Story continues "We were bound for Vicksburg by the way of the Yazoos back door. The essence of the plan was to reach Vicksburg by surprise, while General Grant held in check the rebel Pembertons army about Granada (Mississippi), leaving us to contend only with the smaller garrison at Vicksburg and its well known strong barriers and defenses. The expedition finally entered the Yazoo River Christmas afternoon about 5 oclock and steamed up the river about twelve miles and disembarked at Johnsons Plantation, on an island about five miles wide, formed by the Yazoo River and the Chickasaw bayou. The enemy made feeble resistance, escaping the shells from our gunboats by retiring to their strongholds in the hills. "The outlook though was anything but inviting. Our landing place was at the highest part of the island, which not long before, was a flourishing plantation, but the buildings were now destroyed, and gaunt chimneys stood useless over the ruins. Fences were down and rank weeds contended for mastery with ragged looking, half picked cottons stacks, while scores of circling buzzards blacked the sky, a fitting compliment to a desolate scene. The ground sloped southward to the Chickasaw bayou. A winding, weedy road ran down towards Vicksburg, crossing the bayou at a shallow ford and leading up a steep hill on the other side, where the enemy was strongly entrenched. As we moved towards the bayou the country assumed a forbidding aspect. There were a number of old corn and cotton fields, vast stretches of uncultivated land, and great marshy canebrakes that looked as if they might have been the abiding place of snakes, alligators, and anything else that was hideous. Skirting the bayou was dense wood, chiefly of live oak, whose great spreading branches were draped by ghostly gray moss, which, with every impulse of wind, and especially by firelight at night, assumed shapes so weird and ghastly that every spectator was filled with awe and foreboding. The woodland was low, dank and noisome. Decaying vegetation covered black, slimy soil, and luxuriant poison ivy which clung to the trees and festooned fallen timber, spread death and disease amongst us invaders greater than the enemy could have hoped to accomplish with shot and shell. It cost our regiment nearly one hundred lives, and many met are yet living (Liberty, Indiana reminiscence Aug. 29, 1896) who still suffer from the poisoning of the Yazoo Overflows were an annual occurrence along the bayou, and through the wood the trees showed a distinct watermark ten feet high. In its erratic course, the current had scooped out sloughs of varying depth, and here and there were burrowed pitfalls for the unwary, and under the roots of the giant oaks had dug caverns large enough to lodge Lord knows what, their eyes peering out eerily. "Into this wood in line of battle under artillery fire of the enemy, we made our way the afternoon of the 27th, coming out again in the evening (the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou was the opening engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign). We tried it again on the 28th, gaining nothing more than a knowledge of the ground, but on the 29th orders were given to go to battle. Our division was to cross the ford At three oclock the signal was given, but instead of our force doing the leading, another brigade crossed So we planted our troops along the bayou about a half-mile before the ford, with orders to protect pontonneers (men placing pontoons) while they laid a bridge and were then to forge across... They whole thing was a failure Men were lodged under the bayous bank; many were slaughtered like sheep while we were pinned to the bayous levee, so close a man could not turn without danger of being spotted and shot. Several of our men were killed or wounded in this way. The enemy allowed the pontooneers to lay the bridge about one-quarter of the way across, then turned their cannon on it and smashed it to a million pieces, an act for which I have never ceased to thank them, for it was pure slaughter, and would have been worse slaughter, the further we laid pontoons... "The battle was over and our regiment still held its humiliating position. Evidently we had been forgotten. Waiting for orders, the Colonel sent me back to hunt up the commander, to report the situation and get definite instructions. I was adjutant of the regiment. I wish some one could have held a camera box on me while I executed that directive, though a vast land of minie balls; such awkward twisting and dodging, such bounding, lofty tumbling, such diving into pits and crawling out again, such springing from little trees to bigger ones, dodging shots It would be hard to guess how many times I was shot at, or tell how close leaden balls came to me without hitting. I still feel the stressfulness of it when I think on it. In one of my dashes for life, I fell over Captain John Finley of Company A (Richmond), who had reached a big tree just a moment ahead of me. He had been to the rear on an errand of some sort, and was on his way back. We talked it over for a minute or two and concluded if we stayed there much longer and thought about it, we should never go anywhere else. For to leave was to die, being exposed to sharpshooters. So we shook hands and made our dash different ways, and I was soon out of range. I began to hunt for brigade headquarters, tramping around the wood for half an hour or more, asking everyone I met without gaining anything for my trouble. I was about giving up in despair, when I spied Lieutenant Mayberry Lacey (Fountain City), of ours (69th Indiana), sitting on a log smoking his pipe, with the benefit of a huge tree as a wall of defense, idly toying with his sword and looking as disconsolate as a forlorn fisherman. I hastened to join him, glad to see he was unharmed, though I dreaded to ask about the rest of our men. With regard to their safety, he set my fears at rest, and in answer to my inquiry as to the location of headquarters, he piloted me to a large oak near by, where in a cave scooped out under the roots by the water, were snugly stowed the colonel commanding the brigade and two or three of his staff. "Without wasting time, I made my report, and was instructed to tell Colonel Bennett to withdraw his regiment in any way his judgment would dictate to avoid loss, and to select a camping place in the wood and let him know where it was. The regiment was drawn off, a company at a time, to bivouac on the north edge of the wood near a big slough, with orders to build no fires for fear of uncovering our position to the enemy. Companies in column stacked the guns, and tired men, hungry and discouraged, sat down on their knapsacks, munching dry hard-tack and damning the war. "The colonel and staff had neither shelter nor food, having eaten nothing since morning. The cook was sent to the fire-range limit in the rear, to prepare something for us, but he had gumption enough not to come back when he found out what kind off night it was to be. After he was gone the colonel suggested I kill some time by hunting up headquarters again and notifying them where we could be found. This I did after he provided me with a horse, and fearing the cook might not find his way back in the dark, I concluded to ride to the rear where sutlers (merchants selling tobacco, candy, loaf sugar, mackerel, salt fish, bacon, canned goods, ale) were as thick as grasshoppers and get something to eat on my own hook "It was growing dark as I rode, and a gloom was settling over everything. The road was filled with stragglers all headed to the rear, trudging along in a tired, sore-footed way, but with a dogged persistence that showed each man had a well-defined object in view. Whatever it was, no one was making it known, for there was no conversation between them. Without cohesion or apparent community of interest, they plodded along turning neither to the right or to the left as I overtook them, but leaving me to thread my way among them the best I could. For some time I wondered what could be the meaning of this strange unorganized movement at this time in the evening, when it suddenly dawned on me that they were all on the same errand as myself, and that each man had quietly stolen out of camp, on the hunt of a sutler, never dreaming of how many men were like minded. "A prominent figure in the evening landscape were the big army wagons, heavily laden with ammunition, engineered by stalwart drivers whose sulfurous profanity struck such terror into the heart of timid little mules that they fairly tore up the ground beneath them, snatching wagons along as if they were so much straw. "At one place, drawn up alongside the road waiting their turn, were fifteen to twenty ambulances filled with the wounded of the days battle, whose moans and groans filled me with compassion. There was nothing I could do to alleviate their suffering so I hurried to get beyond hearing, only to be harrowed by other horrors. Just ahead was the field hospital, with a number of log fires surrounding it for comfort, protection and illumination. It was a busy place. Ambulance carriages were constantly arriving and discharging loads of mutilated humanity. Surgeons and attendants were hurrying here and there, performing gristly duties rapidly. Off to one side of the tent and a little back from the road, lay a row of the dead, the pallor of their forms made more ghastly by fitful firelight. The babe in its cradle never slept more placidly than the dead I saw, in startling contradiction to the violence of their dying comrades whose screams and moans were grievous in the extreme and excruciating. One dead fellow with open staring eyes, parted lips, uplifted, outstretched arms, seemed pleading for his life, while the mutilated bodies of many others bore such evidence of the agonies they had suffered that I felt death had been their best friend in releasing them." (Look for more next week.) Contact columnist Steve Martin at stephenmonroemartin@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Out of Our Past: A Civil War soldier told of his 'time in Hell' PATERSON Councilman Alex Mendez is asking that his pending election fraud indictment be resolved through pre-trial intervention, a program that would wipe away his criminal charges if he completes it. The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office previously rejected Mendezs application, an action that was not made public until Thursday. But the councilman has appealed the attorney general's decision. The two sides on Thursday morning argued their cases regarding Mendezs PTI application before Judge Soleil Mohammed in Superior Court in Paterson. The judge said he would render a decision by Jan. 18. During the hearing, none of the lawyers who spoke addressed whether acceptance into PTI would allow Mendez to continue serving on the council, or how it would affect his announced plan to run for mayor next May. In some other cases, conditions have been placed on PTI agreements preventing people from serving in public office. Paterson councilman-elect Alex Mendez But Mendezs lawyer, Paul Brickfield, said in an interview after the hearing that he would not accept a PTI package that barred his client from staying on the council. During the hearing, Brickfield cited his clients long track record of public service in Paterson as part of the basis for PTI. He accused the Attorney General's Office of abusing its discretion in blocking Mendezs PTI application. Brickfield also asserted that the most serious allegations against the councilman involved the registration of just two voters, a much smaller case, he said, than some media portrayals of it involving a massive voting scheme. He said the two voters in question already had been registered in Paterson. But Deputy Attorney General Eric Cohen said PTI is not designed for people charged with second-degree crimes involving a breach of the public trust. Cohen said that in such cases theres a presumption that PTI would not be approved. Mendez and Councilman Michael Jackson who also has been charged in the attorney generals election fraud case have said they plan to run for mayor next May against incumbent Andre Sayegh. Mendez finished second to Sayegh in the 2018 election, while Jackson came in fifth in a six-man contest. Story continues Public safety and politics: Troy Oswald, former Paterson police chief, will make a bid for Passaic County sheriff Earlier: Alex Mendez raising money for his legal defense fund, says he'll run for Paterson mayor An indictment last February charged Mendez with seven crimes election fraud, fraud in casting a mail-in vote, unauthorized possession of ballots, tampering with public records, falsifying or tampering with records, false registration and attempted false registration. The most serious charge election fraud is a second-degree offense that comes with a maximum 10-year prison sentence if he is convicted. That charge is based on the allegation that Mendez registered someone to vote in the 3rd Ward even though he knew the person did not live in the election district. Jackson, meanwhile, was indicted on five of the same criminal charges that Mendez is facing, with the exception of the two counts of false registration. The election fraud charge against Jackson accused him of submitting a completed mail-in ballot for someone while allegedly knowing the voter did not make the candidate selection marked on the ballot. Jacksons next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 13. Jackson said he has not applied for the PTI program. His lawyer, Scott Finckenauer, has said Jackson would seek to have the indictment dismissed. Jackson said that motion is still pending. The Attorney Generals Office filed the initial criminal complaints against Mendez and Jackson in June 2020, less than two months after Mendez won the citys 3rd Ward council election and Jackson prevailed in the 1st Ward contest. Days before Mendez was going to take office, state Superior Court Judge Ernest Caposela nullified Mendezs victory as part of a lawsuit filed by the loser, longtime incumbent William McKoy. Mendez beat McKoy again in a do-over election last November and has been serving on the council ever since. Besides Mendez and Jackson, two men, Shelem Khalique who is the brother of Paterson's current council vice president - and Abu Razyen, were charged with election crimes in June 2020. But neither of those men has been indicted. Khalique and Razyen were campaign workers in Paterson's 2nd Ward election, which Shahin Khalique won. Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ election fraud case: Pre-trial intervention sought The Philadelphia health commissioner warned residents Wednesday against attending holiday gatherings with people from other households-- including family-- due to the prevalence of COVID-19 in the city. Pennsylvania is averaging more than 8,500 new, confirmed infections per day, up nearly 50% in two weeks. The number of COVID-19 patients requiring hospital care has increased by two-thirds since last month, averaging more than 4,300 per day. Deaths have also increased nearly 50% in two weeks to 89 daily. Residents wait in line to receive a Covid-19 test at a Philadelphia Department of Public Health mobile testing site in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Photographer: Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the commissioner, expressed her own frustrations with the announcement, but insisted that the recommendation is necessary, Fox 29 reported. She called indoor holiday parties "too dangerous." "Were now entering what could be the most dangerous time since last winter," she said, according to CBS Philadelphia. "With flu season just around the corner, Im very concerned that a spike in people being hospitalized for COVID may put our hospitals over the edge." OMICRON VARIANT: HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW Her office did not immediately respond to an after-hours email from Fox News. "Please do not get together with other households for Christmas, or if you do, keep those gatherings small," she said. "Have everyone do a test before they come, and ask everyone to stay home even if they feel a little bit unwell." CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ON THE CORONAVIRUS The Philadelphia Inquirer called Bettigoles advice a "grim echo of December 2020." The paper reported that the city has no plans to implement any kind of stay-at-home orders. Gov. Tom Wolf also called on Washington to send Federal Emergency Management Agency "strike teams" for hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and ambulance companies due to a recent surge in cases in the state. "I am hopeful that these critically important supports will be addressed to alleviate the strain on our health care system and ultimately be able to provide Pennsylvanians the care they need during this time," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report The York-Poquoson Sheriffs Office arrested a Bruton High School student on Wednesday while investigating a school shooting threat in Williamsburg. Deputies located the 17-year-old boy around 2:15 p.m. and placed him in custody. The sheriffs office says he did not attend school Wednesday. The teenager faces multiple charges including possession of a firearm on school property, threats to shoot at or burn a school, and underage possession of a firearm. He was transported to the Merrimac Detention Center where he is awaiting a detention hearing. Authorities arrested three Grafton High School students earlier this month in connection with a different threat made against that school. The students were taken into custody before school started. In reference to the threats at Bruton, the sheriffs office emphasized that authorities take this type of threat seriously. Once again, please be assured that York-Poquoson Sheriffs Office and the York County School Division take all reports seriously and investigate them thoroughly, the sheriffs office wrote in a Facebook post. We ask that any threat or concern be reported directly to law enforcement. Lyndon German, frederick.german@virginiamedia.com Dec. 16A 17-year-old boy is being charged with simple assault and harassment through juvenile court after assaulting another student at Ligonier Valley High School this week, according to Police Chief John Berger. The boy punched and kicked a 16-year-old boy in the lobby around noon Tuesday at the Ligonier Township school, the police chief said. It was unclear what led up to the attack. Berger said the younger boy was sitting when the older boy approached him. "It was disturbing to see the video," Berger said. The 16-year-old boy had minor injuries, he said. Superintendent Timothy Kantor said "the situation is being addressed according to our policy and procedures." He did not say if the student being charged by police would face any disciplinary action. Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter . Sarah Ferguson is praising Prince Harrys "happiness" with Meghan Markle. During a recent appearance on the Italian talk show "Porta a Porta," the Duchess of York was asked about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved to California last year after stepping back as senior royals of the British royal family. "The most important thing and I know Diana, if she were here, would say that is they are happy," said the 62-year-old. "And she makes him happy. And I love to see that little boy that cried to have happiness now." Ferguson was referring to the moment when Harry had to walk behind his mothers coffin during her funeral procession. Princess Diana passed away in 1997 from injuries she sustained in a Paris car crash. She was 36. Ferguson and Diana first met as teenagers. It was the Princess of Wales who introduced Ferguson to Prince Charles younger brother, Prince Andrew. Ferguson and Andrew tied the knot in 1986 but called it quits in 1996. They share two daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. Back in July, Ferguson told People magazine that Diana "would be very proud of her sons and her wives." "And she would be just like me, obsessed with her grandchildren," Ferguson noted. "Because thats what she loved." "If she were sitting with me right now, I know she would say, 'I am so proud of both of my boys and the wonderful wives they have chosen," shared the duchess. "Because each has got her own voice." Princess Diana (1961 - 1997, top right) with Sarah Ferguson at the Guard's Polo Club, Windsor, June 1983. \Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images Markle, a former American actress, became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Harry in May 2018 at Windsor Castle. The couple welcomed a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in 2019. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs departures from royal duties began in 2020 over what they described as the British medias intrusions and racist attitudes towards the former "Suits" star. The family now resides in the coastal city of Montecito, California. Story continues In the wake of quitting royal duties, they gave an explosive TV interview to Oprah Winfrey in March, in which the couple described painful comments about how dark Archies skin might be before his birth. The duchess, 40, talked about the intense isolation she felt inside the royal family that led her to contemplate suicide. Buckingham Palace said the allegations of racism made by the couple were "concerning" and would be addressed privately. On June 4, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. The name pays tribute to both Harrys grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, whose family nickname is Lilibet, and his late mother. The new program, which was announced during a ceremony Wednesday, promises to help offset the cost of college tuition for Texoma students who meet requirements and attend GC or other participating programs. For many teenagers, there are many hurdles that can hold them back from pursuing higher education after high school. To ensure that the cost is not one of them, Grayson College and more than two dozen community partners have established the Texoma Promise, a new program aimed at providing a free two-year education for graduates within the college's service area. Under the new program, graduating high school seniors within the college's coverage area can have tuition and mandatory fees paid for through the program at no cost to the student. In order to apply, students must meet several requirements including filing applications for federal and student financial assistance and have a household gross adjusted income of less than $80,000. "The promise provides knowledge to all students that graduate from our region that they have a home in a collegiate environment," GC President Jeremy McMillen said Wednesday during an announcement ceremony. Representatives from 21 area school districts and six area colleges came together for the unveiling of the new program Wednesday. Beyond Grayson College, five other colleges including Austin College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University has committed to participate in the program. The program came about amid dwindling numbers of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only were fewer students enrolling, but the number that were succeeding in their students also diminished, McMillen said. The program setup and technology was provided through support from the Greater Texas Foundation, Rural College Alliance, the National College Promise Campaign and Phi Theta Kappa, among other partners. The program will be similar to other promise programs including the Dallas County Promise and Alamo Promise. Kristi Wade, director of Texoma Promise, said the program will be designed to be versatile and can extend beyond traditional two-year degrees. As an example, she said trade skills and certificate courses can also be covered by the program. Story continues As a long term goal, Wade said she hoped to see more enrollment in the years to come, with a goal of between a 25 to 30 percent increase. For more information on the program, please visit http://www.grayson.edu/texomapromise. This article originally appeared on Herald Democrat: Program promises free 2-year tuition to Texoma college students WINCHESTER, Ind. A Randolph County man has been accused of attacking fellow guests, and a staff member, at a Winchester hotel. Brian Michael King, 34 listed in court documents at a rural Union City address was charged Wednesday in Randolph Superior Court with battery resulting in serious bodily injury, possession of meth, intimidation, resisting law enforcement and two counts of battery. Witnesses said King was at Randolph Inn & Suites, 890 E. Washington St., "beating on outside walls and doors," about 8 p.m. on Dec. 8 when a hotel staff member urged him to be quiet and return to his his room. King allegedly shoved the woman, and knocked her cellphone from her hands. She told Winchester police that King said "he was going to kill all of us." When another guest from Lakeville, in northern Indiana's St. Joseph County tried to intervene, he said King "immediately started hitting me in the face and head," causing that man to fall down and briefly lose consciousness. MORE NEWS: Plea deal would send Muncie sex offender to prison for 30 years Muncie man's legal woes grow with meth-dealing charges Yet another guest from Hamilton, Alabama said when he tried to restrain King, the Union City man struck him in the face and bit his left wrist. King also allegedly struggled with, and tried to kick, Winchester officers when they took him into custody, The officers eventually used an electronic stun device in a bid to subdue him. Later that evening, hotel personnel told police they had found what was determined to be a bag of meth in King's room. The Union City man was also this week charged with possession of meth and possession of a controlled substance in a separate Randolph Superior Court case. According to court records, King last year was convicted of possession of meth and possession of a narcotic drug in a Wayne County court. STAY INFORMED AND SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe today using the link at the top of this page. Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Randolph County man charged in Winchester hotel fracas By Francesco Guarascio and Panu Wongcha-um BRUSSELS/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Tens of millions of migrants may be denied COVID-19 vaccines from a global programme because some major manufacturers are worried about legal risks from harmful side effects, according to officials and internal documents from Gavi, the charity operating the programme, reviewed by Reuters. Nearly two years into a pandemic that has already killed more than 5 million people, only about 7% of people in low-income countries have received a dose. Vaccine deliveries worldwide have been delayed by production problems, hoarding by rich countries, export restrictions and red tape. Many programmes have also been hampered by hesitancy among the public. The legal concerns are an additional hurdle for public health officials tackling the coronavirus even as officials say unvaccinated people offer an ideal environment for it to mutate into new variants that threaten hard-won immunity around the world. Many COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers have required that countries indemnify them for any adverse events suffered by individuals as a result of the vaccines, the United Nations says. Where governments are not in control, that is not possible. The concerns affect people, such as those displaced by the Myanmar, Afghanistan and Ethiopian crises, who are beyond the reach of national governments' vaccination schemes. For refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers, as well as people afflicted by natural disasters or other events that put them out of reach of government help, the global programme known as COVAX created a Humanitarian Buffer a last-resort reserve of shots to be administered by humanitarian groups. Gavi, the vaccine alliance, is a public-private partnership set up in 2000 to promote vaccination around the world. But that buffer does not have any mechanism to offer compensation. Gavi, which operates COVAX with the World Health Organization (WHO), says that where those applying for doses, mainly NGOs, can't bear legal risks, deliveries from that stockpile can only be made if vaccine-makers accept liability. Story continues The companies that are willing to do so under these circumstances provide only a minority of the programme's vaccines, according to people familiar with the matter and the documents, written by Gavi staff for a board meeting starting at the end of November. More than two-thirds of COVAX doses have come from Pfizer Inc. and its partner BioNTech SE, AstraZeneca PLC and Moderna Inc., Gavi says. Moderna declined to comment. AstraZeneca and Pfizer said they were in talks with Gavi but declined to comment further. All three said they are committed to making doses available to poorer nations at relatively low prices. Pfizer said it was collaborating directly with governments in Jordan and Lebanon to donate doses for refugees. Mainly because of the legal concerns, less than 2 million doses have so far been sent from the buffer, Gavi says. About 167 million people risk being excluded from national programmes, according to United Nations data cited in the documents. Unless all the firms accept legal liability, "access to vaccines for some populations will remain a challenge," the Gavi documents say, adding that new crises will generate additional demand to cover displaced populations. The vaccine makers' reluctance to take on the legal risks is "a major hurdle" in attempts to provide vaccines for the buffer, a spokesperson for Gavi told Reuters. Gavi did not comment on the details in the documents, but said applications for vaccines are confidential until the doses are delivered. In September, Gavi's CEO, Seth Berkley, tweeted https://twitter.com/GaviSeth/status/1440780492324818945?s=20 an appeal to drugmakers to waive their requirements for legal indemnity. Three Chinese drugmakers have agreed to shoulder legal risks when their shots are delivered through the buffer: SinoVac Biotech Ltd, Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd, and Clover Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd, according to the Gavi document. The drugmakers did not respond to requests for comment. Johnson & Johnson of the United States confirmed it would waive a requirement for indemnity for deliveries from the buffer: "We are proud to be part of this effort to protect the world's most vulnerable people," said Paul Stoffels, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer. He did not elaborate. However, less than one-third of COVAX supplies have come from these four firms, COVAX data shows: Clover's shot has not yet been approved so is not in use. The global industry association, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), said "no company has refused to consider" taking on the legal risk. However, in the case of shots delivered from the buffer, it said some firms felt they could not do so without full knowledge of where and how vaccines would be used. It would be hard to continuously monitor vaccines for safety in refugee camps, and delivery is logistically very challenging and not suitable for all types, said the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), which represents large pharmaceutical companies in Europe. People may blame vaccines for problems that emerge afterwards even if they are unrelated, it said. "This could then lead to an increased number of litigation cases ... during which the safety and efficacy of the vaccine would be publicly questioned," it said in a statement to Reuters. That might lead to increased vaccine hesitancy and a slower recovery from the pandemic, it said. So far there is scant information on COVID vaccine litigation, but claims made to out-of-court compensation programmes are one measure of the risk. A programme in the United States has so far not paid out anything, public data show; neither has one set up by the WHO for lower income countries, the WHO said. In Europe, a handful of compensation awards have been granted for undisclosed amounts of money, official data from Denmark, Germany, Norway and Switzerland show. Globally there have been few reported COVID infections among refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers testing is not always systematic and infections can generate only mild symptoms especially in younger people. But cramped conditions and weak healthcare expose them to high infection risk. This, combined with low levels of vaccination in a mobile population could favour the emergence of new variants and be a vector for infection, said Mireille Lembwadio, Global Vaccination Coordinator at the International Organization of Migration (IOM), a U.N.-related body that advises governments and migrants. "Leaving them unvaccinated could help spread the virus and its variants across the world," she said. WAITING FOR DOSES Francois Nosten, a French professor who helps coordinate healthcare for people from Myanmar living on the border with Thailand, is one of those waiting for vaccines. In June, he put in a request from the Humanitarian Buffer for 70,000 doses some for some of the 90,000 or so who are sheltering in camps along the border, but most for unregistered migrants in the border town of Mae Sot and nearby villages. Nosten, whose main work is researching malaria, is expecting the doses - a fraction of the more than 8 billion administered worldwide - this month. He has been told they will come from Sinopharm, and he hopes they can help inoculate key at-risk groups in Thailand's Tak province. Gavi said delivery arrangements are still being finalised. About 20,000 doses will be given to people in the camps by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian group working with Nosten. "At this point whatever vaccine we can secure we are grateful for," said its Thailand Director, Darren Hertz. He added that the IRC believed the likelihood that a member of the refugee population would attempt to take legal action in case of side-effects was "extremely low." Hertz said the IRC has received a handful of ad hoc vaccine donations from the Thai government and is currently tackling significant outbreaks in five of nine camps on the border, where about 3,000 cases have been confirmed, including at least 26 deaths. A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed the government was working with the IRC on providing vaccinations in shelters along the border. Nosten's charity, Border Health Foundation (BHF), is one of eight organisations worldwide that have applied to distribute the shots from the Humanitarian Buffer and one of three to be approved, Gavi said. Ann Burton, Chief of Public Health at the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, said the liability issue was one reason agencies have been slow to apply. The programme has also been delayed by the general shortage of vaccines and administrative hurdles. Organisations applying for supplies from the buffer may not choose which vaccines they receive. Working with displaced people, Nosten said it would be more convenient to give them Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, which offers protection after a single dose instead of the two doses needed for Sinopharm's. But the Sinopharm version will be "better than nothing," he said. More than 100 national governments have promised to offer vaccines where possible to all the displaced people on their soil, according to the IOM. However, the U.N. group says migrants and refugees are often effectively excluded from such schemes because of administrative or cultural hurdles. In cases where governments aren't in charge or have not agreed to vaccinate migrants, COVAX's Humanitarian Buffer is the only option. At least 40 countries have yet to include unauthorised migrants in their vaccination programmes, according to the IOM it and the UNHCR declined to name the countries. Gavi set up the buffer in March 2021, planning to reserve up to 5% of vaccine doses as they become available to COVAX, which would amount to roughly 70 million doses so far. The only shots delivered from the buffer so far - just over 1.6 million Sinopharm doses landed in Iran in November, where high numbers of displaced Afghans have arrived, UNICEF Iran said. That's enough to inoculate about 800,000 people; more will likely be needed, UNICEF said. NEED FOR SPEED The vaccine makers' legal concern is rooted in the unprecedented speed of the effort to develop the COVID shots, the EFPIA said. In normal circumstances, drugmakers buy insurance to cover liability for vaccines' potential adverse effects. But COVID forced them to develop drugs so quickly that some side effects - for instance, a rare blood-clotting condition in some of those who took the AstraZeneca vaccine - are emerging as shots go into people's arms. Many governments and international agencies have set up compensation schemes to reimburse victims and avoid lengthy litigation. An emergency law invoked by the U.S. government provides legal immunity for drug companies for side effects from their COVID-19 vaccines used in the country. The only exception is for instances of "wilful misconduct." For drug companies, accepting potential liability runs counter to standard practice. "Vaccine manufacturers try to minimize legal risks in almost every setting," said John T. Monahan, Professor at Georgetown University. "The gold standard is full immunity from lawsuits. If they accept carve-outs, it may become more difficult to reach that goal." (Edited by Jospehone Mason and Sara Ledwith) Michael Green shows his support for the former president in September before a rally in Perry, Ga. (Ben Gray / Associated Press) Just over a quarter of Republicans accept President Biden as the winner of the 2020 election, according to a new survey that underscores the instability of American democracy and the growing partisan divide over the legitimacy of elections. "There was a hope there would see growing acceptance of Bidens victory over time, as people moved away from the 'Stop the Steal' movement after Jan. 6. Instead, we saw the numbers stay in place," said Brendan Nyhan, a Dartmouth political scientist and one of the founders of Bright Line Watch, an organization that monitors the health of U.S. democracy. Sinking confidence in election outcomes appears to have been fueled by former President Trump's "Big Lie" his continued claims of voter fraud in key states, even though such allegations were repeatedly discredited in numerous lawsuits and audits. The fallout of such lies was especially evident on Jan. 6, when thousands of Trump supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in a brazen attempt to halt lawmakers' certification of Biden's victory. Since then, many Republican officeholders and some of the biggest voices in conservative media have clung to the notion that the election was stolen from Trump. Bright Line Watch's November survey, released Thursday morning, shows that only 27% of Republicans accept Biden as the rightful winner the exact same figure as in the group's February poll compared with 94% of Democrats who do. The survey also shows that the 2020 election and its aftermath have hardened partisan attitudes about future elections, leaving Republicans less confident that their votes will be counted accurately in 2022. Even amid Trump's constant rhetoric during the 2020 campaign about a potentially rigged outcome, Democrats and Republicans had roughly equal confidence in October 2020 that the coming election would be decided fairly, with 59% of Democrats and 58% of Republicans believing that would be the case. Story continues But the new survey reveals that a partisan gap has opened up in response to that question. Now, 80% of Democrats believe next year's midterm election will be fair, with just 42% of Republicans saying the same. "Thats a really scary fact for our democracy right now, that so many Republican voters dont have confidence in the election," said Susan Stokes, another founder of Bright Line Watch and a political scientist at the University of Chicago. As Trump and so many Republicans have sowed mistrust in last year's election results, they have used their misinformation campaign to justify new laws in several GOP-controlled states to restrict ballot access and, in some cases, allow partisan lawmakers to overrule election officials in determining outcomes. That could lead to a scenario in which Democratic voters, even those who understand their party is facing stiff political headwinds next year, lose confidence in the legitimacy of the 2022 electoral results. "This is an asymmetric moment. Republicans are leading the assault on our democracy," Nyhan said. "At same time, you can imagine a world where an election is decided because of genuinely dubious election administration practices, and Democrats would become quite distrustful of such an election in the aftermath, and rightfully so. "You can see a situation where neither side trusts the election results," he continued. "The potential for a spiral of illegitimacy is real, and that's not sustainable for our democracy in the long term." At the federal level, Democrats have been unable to agree on a legislative response that would protect voting rights, largely because they have the most slender of Senate majorities. Two centrists in the caucus, Sens. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), oppose changing Senate rules to enable Democrats to pass a voting rights law with just 50 votes. And they continue to call for a bipartisan agreement even though few Republicans have been willing to compromise in what has become a zero-sum policy battleground. The November survey, which questioned 2,750 individuals, also found that partisans tend to overestimate the antidemocratic leanings of the other side, like a reflection of the increasingly partisan nature of cable news and the proliferation of incendiary politically oriented posts and memes across social media platforms. Compared to past Bright Line Watch surveys, fewer respondents expressed support for political violence. Only 9% condoned making threats, 8% were OK with verbal harassment, and just 4% said they accepted the kind of mob violence that occurred on Jan. 6. But researchers worry those numbers may not reflect how many partisans might be led to take or support extreme actions that they claim to oppose, with the justification that they need to overcome alleged extremism by the opposing side. "Its still millions of Americans condoning violence, and that makes for a very explosive environment and is quite dangerous," Stokes said. "What people are saying to themselves is: 'Whatever my side is doing, its worth it, because the other side is so terrible.' "Its not at all hard to imagine a lot of people in the public going along with a real stealing of the election next time because they have come to believe the other side stole it or even if they dont, its so important to keep the other side out, it doesnt matter how you do it." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Reynoldsburg City Schools leaders expect a new multiyear grant the district was awarded recently will further prepare and position its students for greater success after their high school careers. Reynoldsburg is one of six Ohio school districts to be chosen for the latest round of the GEAR UP grant, which is intended to promote readiness and provide the necessary support systems for low-income students preparing to enter postsecondary education, according to the Ohio Department of Higher Education website, while aiming to increase academic performance, postsecondary preparation and enrollment, and awareness of financial and professional options for those students and their families." ThisWeek group Funding from this grant will allow the district to offer more programs and support for students preparing for college and careers after high school while adding to current postsecondary programs, according to Jocelyn Cosgrave, the district's chief academic officer. Cosgrave said the district's College Credit Plus opportunities are very popular with students. Weve had a college-going culture for quite some time, she said. More than half of our students take college credit courses during high school. We have kids who earn associate degrees. But one of the challenges that weve had is giving them what is called wraparound support. Cosgrave said examples of this include individual, college and career-readiness counseling, assistance with financial-aid forms, facilitating college visits, ACT and SAT preparation and developing college and career plans. Those are all wraparound support that have been difficult for us to provide to our students on a large scale, she said. The GEAR UP grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, includes a total of $28 million disbursed to Reynoldsburg City Schools and five other Ohio school districts over the next seven years. Reynoldsburg City Schools is expected to receive approximately $4 million total, Cosgrave said. Story continues The amount of the disbursement varies by school size, she said. The district enrolls approximately 7,500 students. Ohios GEAR UP project will continue to serve students and embed a college-going culture in the Reynoldsburg community, said Carlos Bing, GEAR UP program director at the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Many families dont realize what amount of college aid is available to them. This program offers students and families the opportunity to understand options available to their students after high school. This latest grant round is the fourth GEAR UP grant awarded in Ohio, according to a district media release. The last GEAR UP grant in 2014 consisted of $24.5 million distributed over seven years and was awarded to a different group of Ohio schools. Lack of necessary staffing is one of the primary reasons why the district has had trouble providing thorough postsecondary programming to date, Cosgrave said. Hiring more staff for these duties will be one of the main uses of the grant funds, she said. Cosgrave said the district plans to bring on three new staff members in the near future, with the title of secondary advisors, through a partnership with the Columbus-based nonprofit I Know I Can. The organization states its mission is to help students prepare for and pursue their goals in their postsecondary education and careers. Those staffers will be hired by I Know I Can and will be employed by the organization, Cosgrave said, but they'll work on behalf of Reynoldsburg City Schools. I Know I Can is excited to leverage its 33 years of experience providing college-access and career-advising services to students, said Katina Fullen, executive director of I Know I Can. Now more than ever, as we come out of this pandemic, it is critical that we begin preparing students early for their future careers, including enrollment in postsecondary and credential programs, to ensure they reach their goals. The district is working with I Know I Can to hire the new staff, who could start in January, Cosgrave said. She said there multiple school districts throughout the state had applied for this grant. Reynoldsburg had to go through an interview process and application process before being chosen, she said. The other five recipients of the latest GEAR UP grant are Bedford City Schools, Conneaut Area City Schools, Mansfield City Schools, Mt. Healthy City Schools and North College Hill City Schools, Cosgrave said. The new programming facilitated through the grant funding will be available for Reynoldsburg students in grades 7-12 at STEM Middle at Baldwin Road Junior High, Hannah J. Ashton Middle School, Waggoner Road Junior High and Reynoldsburg High Schools the 9X Impact, (HS)2 STEM and BELL Academies, according to the media release. The work is expected to start in January, Cosgrave said. Regarding how the district will finance the programs after the GEAR UP grant has been fully dispersed, district spokeswoman Valerie Wunder said the district implements funding-continuation plans for all grants it receives. "We always build in a sustainability plan any time we have a grant, so we will sustain the pieces that are working and supporting students best," she said. sborgna@thisweeknews.com @ThisWeekNews This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Reynoldsburg schools: GEAR UP grant helps district launch college-prep programs State law enforcement officials are reporting that social media influencers may have issued a challenge encouraging students to make fake social media threats toward schools for Friday. Rutherford County Schools sent an email to parents Wednesday alerting them to the situation. The district is working closely with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office to monitor the situation and no credible threats have been issued, a district official assured. With all communications of this type, Rutherford County Sheriffs Office takes these seriously and our school resource officers, patrol and detective divisions are monitoring the information very closely, Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh said. Intent of the challenge is to create worry and panic to disrupt school Friday, a district official explained in the email. In the email, parents are asked to discuss appropriate social media behavior with their children and to encourage them not to participate in the spreading of false information or social media pranks in an attempt to disrupt school. Any social media threats made against schools will be fully investigated. Any students found responsible for making threats or spreading false rumors as a prank will be disciplined accordingly and will likely face criminal charges as well. School safety is our top priority, and these types of pranks arent funny and will not be tolerated, Director of Schools Bill Spurlock said. We know parents also value safe learning environments for their children, and we appreciate their assistance with this matter. On Monday, two Rutherford County middle school students were arrested for making social media threats over the weekend. One of the students attends Blackman Middle and the other Whitworth-Buchanan Middle. Both will be taken to Juvenile Court, according to a press release from Lisa Marchesoni, a spokesperson with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. School Resource Officer Joey Vann arrested the Blackman Middle student on charges of sending out Snap Chats specifically directed to a group of fellow students, according to the press release. Story continues The social media threats did not involve injuries. Deputies, however, have dealt with campus violence, including Sept. 14 after the stabbing of a Rocky Fork Middle student, who was treated and released from TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna. The sheriff's office charged another student with attempted first-degree murder in that case. Reach reporter Nancy DeGennaro at degennaro@dnj.com. Email Scott Broden at sbroden@dnj.com. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford County Schools, RCSO monitoring potential disruption Friday FALL RIVER For the 20th consecutive time, Saint Annes Hospital has been awarded an A Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for achieving the highest national standards in patient safety. Saint Annes Hospital is one of only 23 hospitals in the United States to be awarded an A every grading cycle since 2012. The designation recognizes Saint Annes efforts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. Receiving our twentieth consecutive A safety grade demonstrates that delivering safe patient care at every opportunity is something that is truly engrained in our culture, said Michael Bushell, president of Saint Annes Hospital. This is a milestone achievement that so few have achieved across the countryonly 23 hospitals in the entire U.S. That type of consistency is a direct result of the full commitment to safety shown by every member of our staff at Saint Annes. It is an honor to be part of such a longstanding tradition of safe patient care and an amazing group of caregivers, said Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer Carole Billington, BSN, RN, NEA-BC. Despite all the challenges hospitals have faced over the past year-and-a-half, our staff continues to rise to the occasion for our patients. I am so thankful for our highly skilled, compassionate, and resilient team. St. Anne's Hospital is located in Fall River The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an A, B, C, D, or F grade to all general hospitals across the country. The grade uses over 30 measures of safety data including rates of preventable errors, injuries and infections, while also accounting for whether hospitals have systems in place to protect patients from harm. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. Story continues Saint Annes Hospital has made a clear and consistent effort to protect patients from harm, said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. Establishing and maintaining systems that optimize patient safety is especially critical during times of crisis. I am grateful to the leadership and workforce of Saint Annes for their unwavering dedication to protecting patients. To see more details on Saint Annes Hospitals performance and to access hospital safety tips for patients, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org. About Saint Annes Hospital Founded by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation in 1906, Saint Annes Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, is a full-service, acute care Catholic hospital with 211 beds and satellite locations in Dartmouth, Attleboro, Swansea, New Bedford, and Stoughton, MA. A member of Steward Health Care, Saint Annes provides nationally recognized patient- and family-centered inpatient care and outpatient clinical services to patients from surrounding Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. Saint Annes key services include the Center for Orthopedic Excellence; bariatric surgery; multiple robotic-assisted surgical capabilities, including orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, and general surgery; Saint Annes Hospital Regional Cancer Center; two ambulatory surgery centers; the Center for Pain Management; and inpatient geriatric psychiatry services. In addition to earning the Leapfrog Groups Straight As for patient safety since 2012, Saint Annes has earned national recognitions for cancer care, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, stroke care, patient experience and safety. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. About Steward Health Care System Nearly a decade ago, Steward Health Care System emerged as a different kind of health care company designed to usher in a new era of wellness. One that provides our patients better, more proactive care at a sustainable cost, our providers unrivaled coordination of care, and our communities greater prosperity and stability. As the countrys largest physician-led, tax paying, integrated health care system, our doctors can be certain that we share their interests and those of their patients. Together we are on a mission to revolutionize the way health care is delivered - creating healthier lives, thriving communities and a better world. Steward is among the nations largest and most successful accountable care organizations (ACO), with more than 5,500 providers and 43,000 health care professionals who care for 12.3 million patients a year through a closely integrated network of hospitals, multispecialty medical groups, urgent care centers, skilled nursing facilities and behavioral health centers. Based in Dallas, Steward currently operates 39 hospitals across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah. About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: The Leapfrog Group awards Saint Annes Hospital for patient safety Climate change and soaring prices are the seeds of a crisis for France's famous Dijon mustard makers, leaving their prospects looking far more tepid than their product. The industry's woes are a prime example of the difficulties faced by the food industry as a whole. Production of mustard grains in 2021-2022 is estimated to have fallen by 28 percent in Canada, the world's biggest producer, according to a Canadian agriculture ministry report. As a result, the average price is expected to rise to almost double that of 2020-2021, to "a record $1,700 (1,510 euros) per tonne", the ministry said. "There was a disastrous drought in Western Canada" last summer, commodity markets analyst Ramzy Yelda told AFP. "Those who want the high-end mustard will have to pay more," he warned. And when Canada coughs, it's Burgundy, 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles) away in central France, that catches a cold. The French region hosts the vast majority of mustard manufacturers but depends heavily on Canadian farmers in order to produce the strong, tangy condiment consumed the world over. "We're in a crisis we haven't seen for 25 years," said Christophe Planes, French sales director at Reine de Dijon, the third-largest French mustard producer and a subsidiary of the German group Develey. "The price of seeds has gone up three or four times, and maybe five times soon," Planes added. "And, on top of that, there is no supply. The scarcity is such that we have a potential 50 percent decrease in seeds... so our production is down 50 percent." - Costs spiralling - To exacerbate the situation the prices of all packaging materials are spiralling. "Every day, I am told of an increase. The impact on overall prices is more than 60 percent," Planes told AFP. Marika Zimmermann, industrial director of the company based near Dijon, underlined the problem. "Normally, our production lines work 120 hours a week. We are currently at 60 hours on average". Story continues Marc Desarmenien, director of the Fallot mustard factory, the last independent Dijon mustard mill in Burgundy, can list the individual increases his company has faced. "The metal lids have risen by 42 percent, glass by 12 percent, cardboard 12 percent...." Burgundy white wine, another key ingredient has doubled in price due to a late frost which severely cut last year's harvest. The mustard maker, which exports half of its production to Japan, also points to the hugely increased cost of sea freight, which he said had "multiplied by 4.5 or even 6 times" and represents 10-15 percent of the selling price. Fallot has already decided to increase the price of its mustards by between 7-16 percent next year. Reine de Dijon is also planning an increase: "we need it, otherwise the company cannot survive", said Planes. To ease the company's problems, Planes would like to limit its dependence on Canadian suppliers and "push mustard seed production in Burgundy". - 'Increase in insect populations' - But Fabrice Genin, mustard seed producer at Marsannaye-le-Bois in Burgundy and president of the Association of Burgundy Mustard Seed Producers (APGMB) has a concise response to that idea: "It's impossible." Local production of the seeds for the French mustard industry used to be widespread, gaining Dijon its strong reputation since the Middle Ages. But more recent history has seen a sharp decline in production, due to the globalisation of the trade and competition from countries with higher yields. After efforts to revive mustard seed production in France, local farmers are now suffering from global warming which, "for the last 3-4 years, has caused an increase in insect populations", Genin explained. "Sometimes, there is no production at all. The industry is no longer allowed to use insecticides, which are authorised in Canada," he complained. In Burgundy, seed production has therefore fallen from 12,000 tonnes three or four years ago to 4,000 tonnes in 2021, "while mustard manufacturers might order 16,000 tonnes from us", he added. "We are afraid for the future," Planes said, summarising the industry's woes. He hopes 2023 will be better for Reine de Dijon and the whole mustard industry but fears even more price increases will stir the pot. lv-gen/sof/ngu/pvh/har Chris Noth Jason Merritt/Getty Images A week after his return in the new Sex and the City reboot, actor Chris Noth has been accused of sexual assault by two women, according to The Hollywood Reporter. One woman, identified as Zoe, alleged to the Reporter that Noth assaulted her in Los Angeles in 2004, after which she had "blood on my shirt" and was taken to a hospital for stitches. She said "seeing that he was reprising his role in Sex and the City set off something in me." Another woman identified as Lily alleged Noth assaulted her in New York in 2015, and she recalled feeling "totally violated," adding, "All of my dreams with this star I loved for years were gone." Noth, who played Mr. Big on Sex and the City, denied the allegations. "It's difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out," he said. "I don't know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women." The allegations came after the premiere of the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That..., which featured a major twist involving his character and Peloton. Peloton quickly put together an ad starring Noth after the episode aired but within hours of the allegations being revealed, the ad was removed from social media. You may also like Workers at factory destroyed by tornado say they were threatened with firing if they left 5 cartoons about Russia's looming invasion of Ukraine Let's pre-emptively stop pretending the metaverse is impressive Shawnee High School football star Lane Williams (seated center) poses with his family after signing a letter of intent to play football at the University of New Mexico next year. Seated (from left) are: Teresa Williams (mother), Addison (sister), Lane, Lance (brother), Amelia (young sister) and Tommy (father). Standing (from left) are: Kyle (brother), Alethea Anderson (girlfriend), Logan Williams (cousin) and Melody Williams (grandmother). Shawnee High School football senior standout and offensive lineman Lane Williams signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play football and continue his academic career at the University of New Mexico. Williams was part of back-to-back state qualifying teams for the Wolves and head coach Jason Sexton. He anchored the Shawnee offensive line and has proven to a successful wrestler during his SHS career. Shawnee High School football standout Lane Williams (center) signs a letter of intent to play at the University of New Mexico next season. He is flanked by sister Addison and brother Lance. This article originally appeared on The Shawnee News-Star: Shawnee's Lane Williams signs with New Mexico Shiba Inu dog breed has soared in popularity after crypto tokens being named after it. Photo: Getty The crypto bull cycle is far from over and throughout 2021, two memecoins became the surprise winners in terms of having almost parabolic price appreciation. The astonishing yearly gains of dogecoin, and its underdog rival shiba Inu, have stolen the limelight from the more serious crypto-offerings such as bitcoin and ethereum. Shiba inu (SHIB) increased in value by 83,000,000% since this time last year, and dogecoin (DOGE) rose by 9,567% since the beginning of the year. The steep appreciation in the value of the worlds two major memecoins saw a marked shift in media attention from the blue-chip cryptocurrencies, such as ethereum and bitcoin, to the rivalry of dogecoin and shiba inu and their dubious use cases. By August, Google searches for shiba inu and dogecoin had dwarfed searches for the more serious crypto offerings. Mainstream media outlets were quick to capitalise on the growing interest to exploit the higher audience engagement for increased advertising revenues. Recent data from BrokerChooser analysed the online search volume of all cryptocurrencies and found that shiba inu topped the list of most actively searched cryptocurrency throughout the year. A statement from BrokerChooser said: "Shiba inu coin had just 70 Google searches in September 2020, but its popularity has exploded in the last year, with 1.5 million people searching for shiba inu coin in September 2021, an incredible increase of 2.1m%." Former banker and CEO of London Real, Brian Rose, spoke to Yahoo Finance about the unlikely rise of dogecoin, which began life as a joke response to the reverential sentiment surrounding bitcoin, and the even greater price hike of its younger spin-off shiba inu. Read more: Philip Hammond: Big finance's move into crypto is unstoppable The former Wall Street veteran said both canine coins had understood and capitalised community. Citing the market capitalisation of the worlds second-largest memecoin, Rose pointed out that shiba inu is a community worth $20 billion(15.2m). Story continues He added that Shiba Inu as a cryptocurrency and a memecoin doesn't make sense, but what they get is community. They are presently tracking and quantifying a community on the blockchain and you cant ignore the value of this. A new survey from uk.Investing.com found that 35% of investors who contributed in the poll plan to invest in shiba inu coins in the coming year. Sergey Panchenko, Founder of Punch Pro Digital, told Yahoo Finance that the coin's growth was due to it having a very convenient price threshold for entering the market which many people can afford. He added that the demand for memecoins has not yet reached its peak, and at any moment these tokens will surprise us. I am waiting for shiba inu to appear on Binance, which will fuel the coin to access new heights. The increased media coverage that the coins achieved throughout the year catalysed the fear of missing out FOMO a motivation that has been the main driver behind the success of both coins. Read more: Elon Musk: Tesla founder's top tweets of 2021 that moved markets and crypto At the beginning of January 2021, shiba inu's price lay stagnant until May 2021 when the price jumped by more than 300% after Elon Musk mentioned he was planning to get a Shiba Inu puppy. Musk quickly attained the moniker of 'The Dogefather' after his tweets about Dogecoin accumulated throughout the year. The price of shiba inu has piggybacked on the popularity of its older sibling. Musks most recent promotion of dogecoin came in a Time magazine person of the year interview this month when he stated, Dogecoin is better suited for transactions because its total transaction flow has a much higher potential than Bitcoin and it encourages people to spend it rather than horde it as a store of value. Musk added a major boost to the wider adoption of dogecoin on Tuesday 14 December when he announced that Tesla will now accept the memecoin as payment for the companys merchandise on a test basis. He tweeted: "Tesla will make some merch buyable with Doge and see how it goes. The immediate effect of this was to see the price of the worlds premier memecoin jump by 20% in value. Watch: 'UK's depleted gold reserves could be replenished with 'digital assets' The high point in the Tesla CEOs relationship with dogecoin came when he hosted the US sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live on 8 May 2021. Dogecoin adherents were poised for the influential billionaire to make an explicit promotion of their memecoin on live television. There was a buying frenzy in the lead up to the broadcast, but the much hoped-for promotion failed to materialise and instead Mr Musk made an off-hand remark about "the world's fun and friendly internet currency". On the prime-time programme he was asked by comedian Michael Che Swap if dogecoin was a hustle. Musk shrugged and replied, yeah it's a hustle. This was less than the Dogecoin community had hoped for. The trajectory of shiba inu's price seemed to be pegged to that of Dogecoin throughout the year until it began to accelerate and outpace its older rival. Shiba inu flipped dogecoin in terms of market capitalisation at the end of October, when it jumped to eighth position when its market cap swelled to $41.91bn, knocking its rival canine coin into ninth place for a brief period. Read more: Do bitcoin charts foretell an impending crash in 2022? What followed were many mainstream media headlines of wealth accumulation by holders of shiba inu and dogecoin. One such story that reached mainstream news headlines was the anonymous shiba inu holder who purchased $8,000 of the token in August 2020, which then skyrocketed to a value of $5.7 billion in October 2021. However, whether the shiba inu market had the liquidity and price stability to allow a cashing out of that amount was never tested. Many crypto-experts fret that the explosion of memecoins has damaged the cause of cryptocurrencies its philosophy being the decentralisation of power and responsibility into the hands of currency holders. Has dogecoin and shiba inu damaged the reputation of the blue-chip cryptocurrencies like ethereum and bitcoin? Brian Rose states that although on the surface the memecoins give crypto a bad name, they also act as a gateway drug into the world of cryptocurrencies and allow people to start a conversation with money that many have never had in their life beforehand. Watch: What is bitcoin? As South Dakota forward Hunter Goodrick dribbled the ball inside the 3-point line, Coyotes guard Kruz Perrot-Hunt yelped. He curled towards the top of the key and Goodrick found him open for 3. Perrott-Hunt took the time to bend his knees more slowly and deliberately than he had all game. USD had hit a few big shots as a part of its comeback against Bellarmine on Wednesday but this one would be by far the easiest. Like most of them did in the last 10 minutes of the second half, Perrott-Hunts jumper fell. USD pushed its lead to 11 with 2:42 left in the game and the Coyotes held on for a 78-64 win. South Dakota men's basketball guard Xavier Fuller dribbles the ball against Bellarmine on Dec. 15, 2021. The Coyotes (7-4) capped a strong shooting start with one of its best defensive halves of the season, holding the red-hot Knights (5-7) to just 28% shooting in the second half to couple with an offensive surge akin to past performances by the balanced Coyotes scoring attack. Xavier Fuller had his second-straight 20-point game and Kruz Perrott-Hunt added 19 points, four assists and seven rebounds. More: South Dakota staves off 33-point outburst from Jalen Cole in 76-71 win over NAU Its the second win in a row for USD, the first win over Northern Arizona coming with steady offense despite a tough defensive assignment and Wednesdays by a complete domination of both sides of the ball. With Oral Roberts headed to Sanford Coyote Sports Center to open USDs Summit League schedule at home Monday, the Coyotes who began the season with several questions look more well-rounded than ever. "We're going to have to defend," South Dakota head coach Todd Lee said. "Guard, rebound, take care of the basketball." The early signs for South Dakota on offense were good: Mason Archambault hit a quick-trigger 3 on the wing early in the half, then Xavier Fuller followed it up with a 2-point jumper at the top of the key. The Coyotes couldnt quite connect on all of their outside shots, but Tasos Kamateros added another 3-pointer off the catch and USD utilized several bounce passes to create penetration inside. Story continues It all amounted to a 52% shooting first half, including 44% from beyond the arc. They turned the ball over just four times. But Bellarmine still played even better. The Knights shot 54%, 56% from 3-point range and had just one turnover. Most of the way through the first half, Bellarmines ball movement was difficult for South Dakota to keep up with. They made quick passes around the perimeter, worked the ball inside, and more often than not found someone open. Then the open shooters hit their shots. With just over 10 minutes remaining, Bellarmine guard Juston Betz pulled down a rebound and ran quickly in transition, ahead of the pack but not his defender. He pulled back, turned his back to the rim, but then fired a no-look bounce pass that led Bellarmine guard Garrett Tipton right to the rim for an open layup. "We really just needed to get used to it at the start," Kruz Perrot-Hunt said. "We scouted them very well, but we really didn't know the pace that they're going to run it at." South Dakota forward Hunter Goodrick goes up for a layup against Bellarmine on Dec. 15, 2021. Bellarmine flirted with a near-10-point lead all half, but with just under four minutes remaining, Coyotes forward Damani Hayes (four points, five rebounds and a block) met a Bellarmine player and the rim and swatted his shot off the backboard. Though Erik Oliver (six points) missed the 3-pointer in transition, the play led to a different defensive intensity from South Dakota than theyd shown all game. They got stops, and on the other end, started to chip away. USD center Tasos Kamateros faced up to the rim and realized he towered over his defender, so he just shot right over him off glass. The next play, Coyotes guard Boogie Anderson spun inside and with under a minute to go in the first half and used a reverse layup to cut the Bellarmine lead to three, 38-35. USD made two major defensive adjustments: First, Lee said he told the guards to pressure more, throw off the timing of their offense by halting Bellarmines ball-movement. Second, and Lee said probably most importantly, South Dakota put forward Damani Hayes on Knights guard Dylan Penn, their best scorer. USD forward Damani Hayes goes up for a layup against Bellarmine on Dec. 15, 2021. Penn, though he can play point guard, scores most of his points within six-to-eight feet of the basket. Hayes was quick enough to stick with him and his strength gave Penn little room to operate. "Damani guarding (Penn) probably won the game for us," Lee said. USD was in a rhythm defensively. The Coyotes forced 12 turnovers in the final 20 minutes. Yet the game reached a new kind of stalemate: Neither team could score. The shooting percentages plummeted, and South Dakota spent six-straight possessions without a basket after cutting the Bellarmine lead to two points. A Fuller floater finally did, and though Bellarmine had some offense to separate, a play to ignite the Coyotes would prove that separation too small. That play came with under six minutes left: Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport picked up a technical foul after confusion on the amount of personal fouls on Coyotes guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt, and USD cut the lead to one. It saw an opening. Fuller gave them a 52-51 lead with two more free throws. A few possessions later, the ball swung to him on the wing. He jabbed and fired, draining a 3-pointer to push the USD lead to four. That was the first of many 3s to end the game for the Coyotes. One surge too many for Bellarmine. "You'll never really how much they'll hit," Fuller said. "We just can't be surprised." Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota adjusts to hot-shooting Bellarmine in 78-64 win LANSING A panel of doctors will answer questions about COVID-19 during a virtual town hall-style meeting Thursday sponsored by Sparrow Health System. The session will happen via Zoom from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is intended to provide "the latest data and insights on COVID," Sparrow said in a news release. "Misinformation about the COVID vaccine has resulted in many people being hesitant about getting the shot," the release said. "The goal ... is to provide accurate, empowering information to help everyone make an informed health decision ..." The virtual session will be moderated by Sparrow Hospital President Alan Vierling. The panelists will be Chief Medical Officer Denny Martin, Medical Chief of Staff-Elect LaKeeya Tucker, Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer Michael Zaroukian and Steve Martin, pediatric intensivist and co-director of University of Michigan Health at Sparrow Children's Center. Questions can be submitted in advance or made during the event. You can register through this website. Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Sparrow to hold virtual town hall session on COVID-19 Thursday night STAMFORD, CT During a special meeting on Tuesday, the Stamford Board of Education unanimously voted 9-0 to support giving bonuses to district employees using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Dr. Tamu Lucero said each bonus would come out to $500, but the final amount will be decided by her administration. The state must also give approval. During the meeting, Lucero said it was "high time" to acknowledge all the work employees have done during the COVID-19 pandemic. "They went above and beyond the call of duty with a day's notice in March of 2020 to make it work for our families and our students," she said. "I believe that this at least is an acknowledgement of all the work they did during this time period to keep our kids in pace with what they needed as they were in remote, in a hybrid model, back in school. I just think across the board, our staff did an amazing job and I think we should acknowledge that." The district received $32 million as part of ARPA. Lucero said issuing $500 bonuses would come out to a total of $1.2 million. She said $10 million is set aside for capital expenses. Every school employee would be eligible for the bonus, except Lucero, who said she won't be taking it. There are some employees who work for the city who have already received some sort of COVID-19 stipend, Lucero said. A determination will be made for each employee as to whether they would receive the extra money, she explained. "We'd consider that, because we want to make sure everyone gets about the same amount of money." Board member Fritz Cherry asked if the bonus could be $1,000, which would bring the cost to $2.4 million. "We would need to look a little closer at where we could reallocate funds. We know that $500 is a place we feel comfortable with right now," Lucero said. Board member Becky Hamman said she was concerned that by putting money towards bonuses, not enough attention would be put towards programs related to learning. Story continues Board President Jackie Heftman said ARPA funds are going towards improving student achievement, like the hiring of different specialists. "We're not doing this at the expense of something else. I don't believe the superintendent would think about doing that," Heftman said. After some debate which took about 20 minutes, and the unanimous vote, Lucero thanked the Board for its support. "I am so pleased that this was a unanimous vote. I think it sends a message to our school community how we appreciate them, and I really appreciate your willingness to consider this," Lucero said. "We will figure out where we will make adjustments and get back to you." Heftman said she hopes the message sent by the Board can have an impact elsewhere around the state. "Hopefully when the rest of the state sees what Stamford is doing to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts that our employees made, they will decide to do the same. But that is up to them. We can only act for ourselves," she said. This article originally appeared on the Stamford Patch TIVERTON A threat of gun violence against Tiverton High School on Thursday was deemed not credible by school administrators who worked with Tiverton police. In a video message to the school community sent out late Wednesday, Superintendent Peter Sanchioni said the threat derived from a post on the social media app TikTok and is part of a nationwide trend. This is not a credible threat at all, Sanchioni said. Weve analyzed it a million different ways. We know our students. Theres been no threats made directly by anyone in our school system, so we believe (Thursday) will be just like today, another day of education in a very safe educational setting. Students, Sanchioni said, saw the threatening post and immediately alerted administrators and faculty. I do commend the students who did react to what they saw and sent messages to our online reporting form or contacted their administrators directly, the superintendent said. Thats exactly the reaction that we want any time they feel there is a threat to our school system. In an accompanying post to the video, Tiverton Public Schools said: As with any concern, the Tiverton Police Department will increase presence within our schools in an effort to ease concern. This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Tiverton RI: Threat of gun violence not credible, superintendent says CAIRO (Reuters) -An Israeli air strike killed a soldier in southern Syria on Thursday, Syrian state media reported, in an attack in a frontier area where Israel has expressed concern about deployments of Iran-backed forces. An Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment on the report. Israel has mounted frequent attacks against what it has described as Iranian targets in Syria, where Tehran-backed forces including Lebanon's Hezbollah have deployed over the last decade to support President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's war. Citing a military source, Syrian state news agency SANA said "the Israeli enemy carried out an aerial aggression", firing missiles from the Golan Heights, territory Israel captured from Syria in 1967. Syrian air defences shot down most of the rockets, SANA said. The attack led to "the martyrdom of a soldier and some material losses", it added. In 2019, then U.S. President Donald Trump broke with other world powers by recognising Israel as sovereign on the Golan Heights, which it annexed in 1981 in a move not recognised internationally. (Reporting by Enas Alashray in Cairo and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Himani Sarkar and John Stonestreet) By Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Taiwan will deepen economic ties with Lithuania in a "cycle of goodwill" as it faces pressure from Beijing, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States said on Wednesday, after Lithuania's diplomatic delegation hastily departed China. Beijing downgraded ties with Lithuania in November following Taiwan's opening of a representative office in the Baltic state's capital, and diplomatic sources told Reuters that 19 Lithuanian embassy personnel and their dependents had left Beijing on Wednesday in response to "intimidation." "It is unfortunate that their diplomats are being intimidated," Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's representative in Washington, told Reuters in an interview. "We will do what we can in terms of deepening our economic chain and technical cooperation with Lithuania," Hsiao said. "The way we see our partnership with Lithuania, it's a virtuous cycle of goodwill and supporting each other." Lithuanian authorities said the embassy would operate remotely for the time being. They have complained of efforts by China to punish Lithuania, including pressuring multinational corporations to not work with Lithuanian companies, following Vilnius' decision to enhance engagement with self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as a province. Despite not having formal ties with Taiwan, the United States is Taipei's top backer, and President Joe Biden's administration has been seeking to open more space for the democratically governed island as Beijing seeks to isolate it diplomatically. Asked if Taiwan still wanted the United States to allow it to symbolically upgrade the name of its presence in Washington from an economic and cultural office to a Taiwan representative office, Hsiao said: "It's the hope and dream of many people of Taiwan that we can be called by our normal, proper name, and it's something that we will continue to communicate with our American partners." Story continues Hsiao said the United States and Taiwan had improved the island's arms procurement process in recent years, shifting from less frequent big-ticket purchases to more regular announcements, part of its defense reforms to deter military action by China. "What has happened in the last few years is that the U.S. reviews our needs on a case-by-case basis. So, there is no intention to kind of group everything into a political calendar or convenient time," Hsiao said. She said this was not intended to be less offensive to Beijing, which demands Washington end its weapons sales to Taiwan, but to more quickly respond to the island's needs. "Given the changing threat picture, whereas in previous decades we would focus on peacetime patrols or capabilities, I think what we are focusing now are those specific capabilities that would deter an actual invasion," Hsiao said. Despite stepped up support for Taiwan from Washington, a video feed of a Taiwanese minister, Audrey Tang, was cut at Biden's democracy summit last week after a map in her presentation showed Taiwan in a different color to China -- which could be seen as being at odds with Washington's "one-China" policy. The administration called it a technical glitch not related to policy, though sources told Reuters that U.S. officials had made the move in reaction to the presentation. Hsiao reiterated that the U.S. government had told Taiwan it was a "technical mistake," adding that it had worked with the U.S. government after the incident to upload Tang's full presentation to the summit website. (Reporting by Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Mary Milliken and Leslie Adler) TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Addressing a group of visiting French lawmakers, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called Wednesday for greater unity among democratic nations in the face of rising authoritarianism. Tsai also said the self-governing island republic would take on greater responsibilities to contribute to regional and global peace and stability. Democratic allies should strengthen cooperation when facing challenges such as swift changes in international affairs and expansion of authoritarianism," Tsai said during the meeting at the Presidential Office Building. Taiwan will take on its responsibilities in the international society and expects to contribute more to the Indo-Pacific regions peace and stability, as well as the worlds prosperity and development, along with France and other like-minded partners in the European Union, she said. The visit by the six members of the French National Assembly offers a valuable opportunity for Tsai to address an international political audience in the face of Chinas efforts to isolate the island it claims as its own territory with no right to diplomatic recognition. Chinese pressure has reduced the number of Taiwans diplomatic allies to just 14. Francois de Rugy, who heads the France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, said the French government had been positive about moves to strengthen ties between the sides. He presented Tsai with a copy of a resolution overwhelmingly adopted last month by the Assembly supporting Taiwan's participation in international bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, Interpol, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the World Health Assembly. The National Assembly aims to encourage a constructive regional dialogue in order to ensure peace and dialogue over the Taiwan Strait, de Rugy told Tsai. The French delegation is the second to visit Taiwan in recent months, following one led by Sen. Alain Richard in October, during which they met with Tsai, Taiwanese economic and health officials and the Mainland Affairs Council overseeing exchanges with China that have been all but suspended by Beijing. Story continues China sought to have that visit called off, despite it being part of regular parliamentary exchanges that had been ongoing for years. Despite Chinese pressure, Taiwan has been stepping up exchanges with countries that dont officially recognize it as a country, often bringing a furious response from Beijing. Beijing punished Lithuania, which like France is 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, Lithuanias 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. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty BADGHDADThe Facebook group Soldiers of the Righteous Caliphate was a bubbling cauldron of noxious extremist support for the Islamic State, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and the Taliban, dotted with beheading video stills, Islamic State pronouncements, Taliban military exercises, hand-drawn faceless portraits of the late ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and somehow, anime porn. With just over 24,000 membersgrowing by about 22 percent over the past week, according to the digital research tool CrowdTanglethe Facebook group represented a case study in the malicious mix of extremist support on the platform that continues to evade detection and gain traction. Stories upon stories have been written about extremist groups and their content evading detection, but not many have focused on the antics of lone actor detractors or cyber armies aligned with other extremist groups fighting rival terrorist supporters online. Gen Zs Alt-Right Declares New Hero: the Taliban The group represented a microcosm of what vigilante digital detractors of the Islamic State, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Taliban attempt to do when the platform deploys hit-and-miss moderation efforts. It was also the digital equivalent of a wrestling cage match between cyber armies of extremist group supporters. The Soldiers of the Righteous Caliphate was one of the many battlefields of these cyber armies, and the conflict it spurred in weaponized group posts and comment sections represents one of the lesser known moderation challenges. Their weapons of choice: anime porn and numbered Kama Sutra positions. Put simply, when terrorist supporters go violent on Facebook, their enemies tend to go pornographic. For instance, a numbered Kama Sutra menu of 15 sex acts was recently shared with a post that read the army of the Caliphate is on the path set by Hind, daughter of Abu Sufyan. Some sex posters in the group used more straightforward messaging. Using a police line-up of naked female anime characters, each with progressively larger busts, one detractor derided the dogs of hell, a well-known Middle Eastern moniker for Islamic State supporters. Story continues Other lone actor vigilantes targeting the Taliban supporters in the group made sexual references about the Taliban, posting dancing videos of young Taliban fighters with emojis that represented index fingers into OK signs as a means to suggest the Taliban were homosexuals who love dark holes. When Hayat Tahrir al-Sham accounts posted adoring photos of Abu Muhammad al-Joulani, the groups leader, a non-extremist account. posted a doctored photo of him having sex with himself, in reference what some to believe is his narcissistic nature. The question, however, is just how networked are these posters? Does it indicate the presence of cyber armies, or are these just average people with a taste for shitposting terrorist supporters? The answer is both. All of these explicit prevention efforts are often used by the most fringe of the terrorist group detectors as well as networks of opposing extremist groups on Facebook. The answer to why these tactics are utilized is buried in a large tranche of internal Facebook documents released in late October to 12 media organizations, which The Daily Beast has reviewed. Prepared in December 2020, the issues noted by Facebook employees actually provide researchers with a better understanding of how networks of anti-extremist accounts, as well as the cyber armies supportive of a range of extremist groups, operate on the platform to take on terrorist content when the platform does not. In the papers, the Middle East and North Africa Integrity Team at Facebook reported that Iraq is a proxy for cyber armies working on reporting content in order to block certain pages or content. The papers went on to mention that reporters in Iraq understand the zero tolerance FB has for CN, or child nudity, and this is used by cyber armies to close certain pages. While none of the lone actors or the extremist cyber armies fighting one another in the Soldiers of the Righteous Caliphate used child nudity or children as extremist repellents, a number did use pornographic material to troll extremists and attempt to get their accounts banned. Afghanistans Shitposting Taliban Stan Finds Right-Wing Fame Averaging 259 posts a day, the Soldiers of the Righteous Caliphate was essentially the Golden Corral buffet for a range of dueling jihadists groups across the platform and the occasional, loosely network band of do-gooders. Using the group as a case study, its clear that some of these accounts are just simply friends whove had enough of extremist content on the platform and have banded together, while others are members of cyber armies affiliated with extremist groups intent on dominating the platform and knocking out their competition. Many of them claim to be based in Iraq, Syria, and other locations across the Middle East and North Africa. By following the accounts, and systematically going through their friends, followers and likes, The Daily Beast was able to assess who were linked to cyber armies and who were loosely constructed members of vigilante Facebookers. What is clear is that many of those involved in posting the sexually charged material were members of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Force political party pages in Iraq. Even more obvious are the networks of Taliban, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and Islamic State supporters on the platform that are part of those cyber armies. Although they each hate each other, the Taliban supportersthrough large groups of their ownand Hayat Tahrir al-Sham supporters, also linked to groups of their own, equally detest the Islamic State, and have formed armies to both troll and ban the Islamic State off the platform. Meanwhile, individuals who seethe at the thought of extremists sharing content space on the worlds largest social media network, take them all on by photo-bombing them in shared spaces with explicit posts. Afghanistans Shitposting Taliban Stan Finds Right-Wing Fame There is actually a history to these antics. Back in 2016, members of Anonymous, the shadowy hacker collective, dumped pornography into the timelines of Islamic State supporters on Twitter. In September 2020, infiltrators spammed porn into Telegram channels manned by Islamic State supporters, who grew frustrated with their inability to get rid of the content. This, of course, reads and looks like quite childish antics to the casual observer, and isnt necessarily effective, but it adds an element of circus theatrics to the challenge of blunting terrorist support on the platform. Facebook took down the group once alerted to its presence by The Daily Beast on Monday. However, in the true whack-a-mole fashion that has becoming a defining aspect of terrorist support on Facebook, three other private groups bearing the same name and cover image, and an official backup public Facebook group with the same cover image, name and administrator, were spared a similar takedown for unknown reasons. Ultimately, scrolling through the Facebook groups timeline reveals not just the lapses in content moderation on a regional level, but also gaps in moderating terrorist content that is explicitly forbidden by the platforms own community standards. Whats clear, for now, is that in the darkest corners of Facebook, one mans porn is another mans terrorist repellentand there seems to be no end in sight to this bizarre phenomenon. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. A seventh Republican governor is asking Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reconsider COVID-19 vaccination requirements for National Guard members. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to the Defense Department on Thursday, two days after the governors of Alaska, Mississippi, Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming sent a similar letter to Austin. The secretary has said that unvaccinated Guardsmen will be barred from participating in Title 32 training, including monthly drill weekends, and any pay for those days will be withheld. The State of Texas will not enforce this latest COVID-19 vaccine mandate against its guardsmen, Abbott wrote. If the federal government keeps threatening to defund the Texas National Guard, I will deploy every legal tool available to me as Governor in defense of these American heroes. Abbott originally ordered his adjutant general, who commands National Guard troops in the state, not to enforce any federal vaccination mandates back in October. This would mean that Texas Guardsmen can still serve in their state militia functions including state mobilizations at the Mexico border but they are jeopardizing their ability to participate in activations that draw federal pay and benefits. While National Guard troops are only considered under the defense secretarys control during a Title 10 activation, state-controlled Title 32 status is federally funded, giving DoD a foothold with which to enforce its mandate. A handful of Republican governors, however, have argued that DoD cant enforce the mandate while troops are technically under their governors control. If unvaccinated guardsmen suffer any adverse consequences within the State of Texas, they will have only President Biden and his Administration to blame, Abbott wrote. 5 more states challenge Pentagons COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Guardsmen Austin first announced mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations at the end of August, when Pfizers vaccine product earned Food and Drug Administration approval. Since then, each military service has created its own deadlines and involuntary separation processes for refusals. Story continues In early November, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt became the first governor to push back against the Pentagons mandate, asking Austin not to enforce it for Oklahoma troops. Austin formally refused the request, and Oklahoma has since filed suit against the DoD. Abbotts letter takes things a step further, threatening a mass exodus of troops who would, presumably, be involuntarily discharged for refusing vaccination. This willingness to hollow out the National Guard is unconscionable in the face of growing global threats and a border crisis created by the Biden Administration, he wrote. The total numbers of refusals wont be known until at least July, after the Army National Guards June 30 deadline passes. As of Thursday, 98% of the active duty Army is at least partially vaccinated, but the service has not released similar statistics for its Guard force. But as of Wednesday, about 826,000 soldiers are at least partially vaccinated, making up 82% of the total Army, Guardsmen included. Air National Guard members have until Dec. 28 to finish their vaccine series. As of Dec. 14, more than 92% of the Air National Guard is at least partially vaccinated, according to Air Force data, and roughly 2,000 medical or administrative exemptions have been approved. Another 3,600 religious exemptions are in process. Texas Tech Universitys Office of the President on Wednesday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Academic Sciences Building. Texas Tech leaders on Wednesday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for what's set to be an approximately $100 million Academic Sciences Building to be built in the heart of the campus. The new facility, which will be adjacent to the current Chemistry and Science buildings, will house teaching and laboratory space for five departments within the College of Arts & Sciences. Designed in the Spanish Renaissance style prominent through the campus, the three-story, 125,000-square-foot Academic Sciences Building will house teaching and laboratory space for the Departments of Geosciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics & Astronomy and Psychological Sciences. If you were to visit this chemistry building on the science building next door, or biology back here, I think you'll quickly come to the conclusion that we owe our students, our faculty and staff, better facilities that enables them to succeed at the highest level and have the best chance of success," Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec said. The new facility will address the need for more modern, functional laboratory teaching space, as well as space for research activities, Schovanec said. This rendering shows the proposed $100 million Academic Sciences Building to be construction on the Texas Tech campus by the end of 2023. Talking about that need, Schovanec recalled that, while meeting with various department chairs, faculty, and staff members, it was clear they did not have adequate teaching facilities. They came up with a concept for a world-class building that will provide state-of-the art research facilities and a modern teaching capability, he said. What is sort of wonderful about this, is those student instructional spaces will be co-located for that research activity to take place, Schovanec said. The space they vacate will provide space that is needed by the School of Music, Schovanec added. State House Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, said that, as someone born and raised in Lubbock, this new establishment is exciting news for him. You have no idea how great it's going to be to see the jobs brought to this economy, the research that goes on here - what a blessing it is going to be to the state in the long run, Burrows said. Story continues Noel Sloan, Tech's chief financial officer and senior vice president for Texas Tech Administration & Finance said, said the university is fortunate to have strong representation in Austin to ensure it continues to provide world-class, in-person education on the Lubbock campus. The Academic Sciences Building will be partially funded by a $12.5 million appropriation approved by the Texas Legislature during the 87th Legislative Session, as well as Higher Education Funding, according to a news release from Tech. The academic science building is being designed in the spirit of our historic districts (on the) campus, Sloan said. We're sitting right here on the core of our campus and this building is going to continue with that Spanish Renaissance architecture while incorporating state of the art facilities for our students and faculty to advance teaching, learning and research. Billy Breedlove, vice chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction for the Texas Tech University System, said they had the students in their mind the whole time. Contemplating how faculty and students have better teaching facilities and better methods was the priority while planning this new facility. The team has programmed the spaces to foster innovation in student engagement, Breedlove said. "This is a groundbreaking, state-of-the-art research facility that will also extend through all the departments on campus, so everybody's going to have a part of this in a high-tech flexible classroom, or event space that promotes active learning and interaction with the faculty and the students." Construction on this new facility is expected to continue through Dec. 2023. Building materials will include Mission Blend brick, cast stone details and terracotta tiled roofing, according to the Tech news release. Planned external features include a pedestrian walkway and a courtyard to the east of the building. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech breaks ground on $100M Academic Sciences Building Malaysian authorities are now looking into the report of a Thai woman attacked by a drunk man, who was allegedly a Datuk Seri, after a sexual assault last week. What happened: The woman, a 23-year-old Thai national, was reportedly at a restaurant in the town of Klang in Malaysia with her friends on Dec. 9 when the drunk man made a pass at her, according to Hype Malaysia citing a now-deleted China Press report. The assailant, who was allegedly Chinese, reportedly approached and groped the woman. She managed to get away from him, which angered him further. He began hitting her, and she suffered a nose injury from the attack. Her friends eventually stepped in to help when her nose began bleeding profusely. The suspect, who the woman claims to be a "Datuk Seri," then allegedly threatened her. The victim managed to flee the scene and reported the attack to the police. According to Says, the man is said to be a well-known local businessman. Malaysian authorities are now looking into the incident, and they plan to verify the validity of the suspect's title, according to South Klang OCPD Asst. Comm. Cha Hoong Fong, The Star reported. Other details: Datuk Seri, which The Rakyat Post described as the highest-ranking state award title bestowed by sultans or the heads of state, is awarded to individuals to recognize contributions. Featured Image China Press via Hype Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Over a quarter-million people demand marriage equality in Thailand after 'homophobic' court ruling 'Lucky to be alive': NYPD looking for suspect who attacked, robbed Thai woman on subway 'She was everything to me': Husband of Pasadena jogger killed by driver who ran stop sign seeks answers Elderly Asian woman in critical condition after being struck with large rock in NYC Phillip Schofield asked whether Matt Hancock's dyslexia had caused him to misread social distancing rules. (ITV) This Morning has been hit with more than 600 complaints after Phillip Schofield asked Matt Hancock if it was his dyslexia that had made him break social distancing rules in the summer. The presenter interviewed the former Health Secretary on the ITV daytime show earlier this month. Referring to the video that showed Hancock kissing his colleague Gina Coladangelo at a time when distancing was being promoted, Schofield asked: Was it your dyslexia that meant you misread the social distancing rules? Read more: This Morning viewers horrified about dog being dyed green like The Grinch Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has now confirmed that it has received 628 complaints about the episode. Ofcom has received 628 complaints about the episode. (ITV) It is thought that nearly all of the complaints related to Schofields comments. Hancock went on This Morning on 7 December to talk about his own experiences of being dyslexic and his campaign calling for dyslexia screening for primary school children. Watch: Phillip Schofield calls out Matt Hancock on affair scandal Schofield then raised the controversial video which showed Hancock cheating on his wife and kissing aide Coladangelo at his Whitehall office. After he asked if the politician had misread the rules because of his learning disability, Hancock replied: No, I cant blame that on dyslexia or anything else. In fact Im not asking for any special favours because Im dyslexic. Read more: Holly Willoughby thanks teacher for dyslexia help after releasing book In politics, Ive got some things to offer, in that case, that was a mistake and I have apologised for it." Matt hancock said the incident was 'a failure of leadership'. (ITV) He went on: It was a failure of leadership. "I came on shows like this and asked people to do things and then didnt follow those rules myself. Yahoo has contacted Ofcom for comment. Thousands of people in the Philippines have fled their homes and beachfront resorts as a powerful typhoon lashed the archipelago Thursday, with authorities warning of destructive winds and torrential rain. Typhoon Rai was packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometres (102 miles) an hour as it barrelled towards central and southern regions of the vast archipelago, the state weather agency said. But it warned wind speeds could intensify to 195 kilometres an hour before the storm makes landfall near the popular tourist destination of Siargao island in the afternoon. "Destructive typhoon-force winds... may bring moderate to heavy damage to structures and vegetation," it added. More than 45,000 people had sought emergency shelter as the storm charged across the Pacific Ocean, the national disaster agency said. They included domestic tourists visiting the country's famed beaches and dive spots ahead of Christmas. Foreign travellers are still banned from entering the Philippines under Covid-19 restrictions. Scores of flights have been cancelled and dozens of ports temporarily closed as the weather bureau warned several metre-high storm surges could cause "life-threatening flooding" in low-lying coastal areas. Rai, locally named "Odette", is hitting the country late in the typhoon season, with most cyclones developing between July and October. It is expected to sweep across the Visayas region, and Mindanao and Palawan islands before emerging Saturday over the South China Sea and heading towards Vietnam. The Philippines -- ranked as one of the world's most vulnerable to the impacts of a warming planet -- is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure in already impoverished areas. amj/jah Three companies are facing charges for their alleged roles in a California oil spill earlier this year, the Department of Justice announced in an indictment filed Wednesday. Amplify Energy Co. and two of its wholly owned subsidiaries Beta Operating Co. LLC and San Pedro Bay Pipeline Co. each face a misdemeanor count of negligent discharge of oil. The charge, brought by a federal grand jury, carries a maximum penalty of up to five years of probation for each accused company, along with fines that could cost them millions of dollars. The companies own and operate the San Pedro Bay Pipeline in Long Beach, California, that was previously used to transport crude oil from different offshore oil rigs to a processing plant. The pipeline began to leak on October 1, and officials confirmed the leak a day later after residents reported a petroleum smell in the area. According to the indictment, the accused companies acted negligently by not properly responding to eight separate leak alarms over the course of more than 13 hours that night. They're also accused of letting oil pass through the damaged pipeline, having under-qualified staff, and "operating the pipeline with an understaffed and fatigued crew." "As a result of the allegedly negligent conduct, what is estimated to be about 25,000 gallons of crude oil were discharged from a point approximately 4.7 miles west of Huntington Beach from a crack in the 16-inch pipeline," the Department of Justice wrote Wednesday. This aerial photo shows beachgoers as workers in protective suits continue to clean the contaminated beach in Huntington Beach, Calif., Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. / Credit: Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP Amplify Energy said crews believed the multiple leak detection alarms were false at the time and that personnel collaborated to troubleshoot them by investigating various components of the platform. "Unbeknownst to the crew during this period, and further complicating their efforts, however, was the fact that the pipeline's leak detection system was not functioning as designed, but was repeatedly and wrongly signaling a potential leak at the platform where no leak could be detected by the platform personnel and where no leak was actually occurring," it said in a statement the CBS News. Story continues "Had the crew known there was an actual oil spill in the water, they would have shut down the pipeline immediately," the company said. When the company did learn of a sheen in the ocean, Amplify Energy said it "immediately began to execute its federally-approved oil spill response plan." The company said it has worked with various agencies on remediation efforts since. "Amplify Energy and its employees are committed to safe operations that keep our people, the environment, and the communities in which we operate safe at all times," the company said. The spill was initially estimated by officials to be at least 126,000 gallons, however the U.S. Coast Guard later determined the spill was significantly smaller. Following the leak, dozens of animals along the coast were found dead, according to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, and California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency. Multiple agencies including the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Environmental Protection Agency are still investigating the leak. COVID-19 cases climbing ahead of the holidays as Omicron adds to concerns Biden awards Medal of Honor to 3 soldiers All 17 missionaries taken hostage in Haiti have been freed, police say The Daily Beast On the eve of the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot, an accused rioter pleaded for Donald Trumps aid in a call from a jailhouse phone in Washington, D.C. Edward Jacob Lang, a 25-year-old from upstate New York charged with assaulting a police officer with a bat, made his last-ditch, Trump-focused cry for help during a Wednesday evening interview with far-right personality Stew Peters.I am so disappointed in Trump for canceling his January 6th press conference, Lang said during the call-in i By Mike Stone HONOLULU, Hawaii (Reuters) -U.S. military commanders in the Pacific have built a software tool to predict how the Chinese government will react to U.S. actions in the region like military sales, U.S.-backed military activity and even congressional visits to hotspots like Taiwan. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks was briefed on the new tool during a visit to the United States Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii on Tuesday. "With the spectrum of conflict and the challenge sets spanning down into the grey zone. What you see is the need to be looking at a far broader set of indicators, weaving that together and then understanding the threat interaction," Hicks said in an interview aboard a military jet en route to California. The tool calculates "strategic friction," a defense official said. It looks at data since early 2020 and evaluates significant activities that had impacted U.S.-Sino relations. The computer-based system will help the Pentagon predict whether certain actions will provoke an outsized Chinese reaction. In October, the Chinese military condemned the United States and Canada for each sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait, saying they were threatening peace and stability in the region. The incident and others like it have fueled demand for the tool, the U.S. official said, to ensure the United States does not inadvertently upset China with its actions. While relations between the United States and China are already at low point, the tool provides visibility across a variety of activities such as congressional visits to Taiwan, arms sales to allies in the region, or when several U.S. ships sailing through the Taiwan Strait could provoke an outsized or unintended Chinese reaction. China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and has mounted repeated air force missions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the past year, provoking anger in Taipei. Story continues The new software will allow U.S. officials to look forward at planned actions as far as four months in advance, the official said. Hicks is touring U.S. bases this week while the Biden administration's draft 2023 budget takes shape. The Department of Defense hopes to move budget dollars toward a military that can deter China and Russia. (Reporting by Mike Stone in HonoluluEditing by Matthew Lewis and Michael Perry) The U.S. government ended negotiations over monetary compensation for migrant families who were separated near the southern border during the Trump administration, the Justice Department and lawyers representing the families said Thursday. The families' lawyers said Justice Department attorneys informed them that the government would no longer work with them to settle lawsuits filed on behalf of parents and children seeking damages over the border separations. Thursday's decision by the Biden administration, which has forcefully denounced the Trump-era separations, comes after Republican lawmakers expressed outrage over reports that some families could have received hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of a potential settlement. "It would be an understatement to say we are disappointed that the Biden administration allowed politics to get in the way of helping the little children deliberately abused by our government," Lee Gelernt, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who represents separated families, told CBS News. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is leading a task force to reunite some migrant families who remain separated, directed questions about the talks' collapse to the Justice Department. "While the parties have been unable to reach a global settlement agreement at this time, we remain committed to engaging with the plaintiffs and to bringing justice to the victims of this abhorrent policy," the Justice Department said in a statement. Nonprofit lawyers have argued the families are eligible for monetary damages because of the psychological trauma caused by the separations. A recent qualitative study by a group of clinicians found that separated families showed signs of severe psychological distress. "Families should be consulted regarding the most appropriate means of reparation, including but not limited to a formal apology by the U.S. government, a pathway to permanent legal residence, monetary damages and prosecution of the officials who implemented this policy," the clinicians wrote in their report. Story continues Earlier this year, the Biden administration discussed offering migrant families who had been separated $450,000 in compensation per person as part of negotiations to establish a framework to settle more than a dozen cases, a person familiar with the talks told CBS News. The $450,000 amount, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in October, was one of several figures considered during the talks and was never fully approved, the person said. David Xol-Cholom of Guatemala hugs his son Byron at Los Angeles International Airport as they reunite after being separated for about a year and a half during the Trump administration's wide-scale separation of immigrant families, on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. / Credit: Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP Lawyers representing the families seeking damages said they will now return to court to try to get relief for their clients. "We are extremely disappointed that the negotiations have terminated and that the administration is walking away from its campaign promise to provide families with some measure of justice," Trina Realmuto, a lawyer with the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, told CBS News. "We will be moving forward with our litigation." After the potential compensations were reported publicly, Republicans urged the Biden administration to refrain from making the payments, arguing that they would incentivize illegal immigration. Lawmakers even introduced bills to thwart the potential settlements. "It's plain unacceptable to consider payments of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to people who violated our laws," Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, said in a November statement. The criticism from Republicans appeared to affect the administration's plans. During a press conference in early November, President Biden called the reports about the potential payments "garbage." "$450,000 per person? Is that what you're saying?" Mr. Biden said. "That's not going to happen." The White House then issued a clarification, saying the president was "perfectly comfortable with the Department of Justice settling with the individuals and families" if it saved taxpayer money and put "the disastrous history of the previous administration's use of zero tolerance and family separation behind us." The Trump administration separated more than 5,000 migrant children from their parents until a court ruling and public outcry forced officials to abandon the mass separations in the summer of 2018. Hundreds of families were subsequently reunited under a court order. But many parents were deported without their children. Soon after taking office, Mr. Biden set up a task force to reunite families who remained separated. So far, the task force has facilitated the U.S.-based reunifications of 86 families and has identified more than 300 children who are eligible to be reunited with their parents, according to DHS figures. "The Task Force will continue its day-to-day operations and remains focused on reunifications," DHS said in a statement Thursday. Former Afghan national security adviser: Government did not see "writing on the wall" of U.S. withdrawal Labor Department reports slight uptick in new jobless claims from previous week COVID-19 cases climbing ahead of the holidays as Omicron adds to concerns WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military shot down a drone near a base in southern Syria earlier this week, officials told Reuters on Thursday. The garrison, known as Tanf, is located in a strategic area near Syria's Tanf border crossing with Iraq and Jordan and houses a small number of U.S. troops. Tanf is the only position with a significant American military presence in Syria outside the Kurdish-controlled north. U.S. Navy Captain Bill Urban, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said two drones entered the Tanf garrison "deconfliction" zone on Tuesday and one of them was shot down as it moved closer to the base. There were no casualties or damage to facilities, he added. The news of the downing was first reported by NBC News. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the drone, but Iranian-backed forces have frequently attacked American troops with drones and rockets in eastern Syria and Iraq. In October, a number of drones were launched against the base, though there were no American casualties. There is concern among U.S. officials that Iranian-backed militia may increase attacks on troops in Iraq and Syria in the coming weeks, in part to mark the anniversary of the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The two were killed by a U.S. drone strike in Iraq on Jan.2 2020. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) Motional's all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5-based robotaxi will be making autonomous deliveries for Uber starting 2022. Uber & Motional Uber is pushing forward in the driverless technology space with a new program that will roll out early next year. The program will introduce a fleet of Motional self-driving vehicles to make Uber Eats deliveries in the Santa Monica area. This is the first time Motional's high-automation vehicles will be used adapted for delivery applications. Uber plans to launch driverless food deliveries in California starting next year. The ride share company announced a partnership with global driverless technology company Motional on Thursday, implementing Motional's all-electric vehicles to deliver orders to Uber Eats users starting in 2022. The pilot program will deliver meal kits from select restaurants on Uber Eats app around the Santa Monica area of Los Angeles, the company said in a press release. Motional is providing Uber its next-generation, all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5-based robotaxi with built-in modifications for autonomous deliveries, the release said. This partnership marks Uber's first-ever on-road partnership with an autonomous vehicle technology company. The self-driving technology industry grows more competitive as AV companies, like Tesla, Zoox, and Waymo, continue to test and struggle with their self-driving capabilities, while delivery companies like Uber Eats attempt to capitalize on the growing space. "Our consumers and merchant partners have come to expect convenience, reliability and innovation from Uber, and this collaboration represents a huge opportunity to meet and exceed those expectations," Sarfraz Maredia, VP and Head of Uber Eats in the US & Canada, said in the press release. Motional, a joint enterprise between Hyundai Moto Group and auto supplier Aptiv, also makes its first venture into driverless delivery with the Uber partnership. However, the company said in November it was partnering with Uber competitor, Lyft, on a driverless robotaxi program in Las Vegas expected to launch in 2023. Uber previously looked into developing a fleet of autonomous taxis through its own self-driving car division, ATG, but ultimately sold the division to autonomous vehicle startup Aurora in late 2020 following reports of obstacles in its self-driving research program, including a deadly crash, team issues, and flailing technology. Read the original article on Business Insider United Airlines aircraft at LAX. Cassiohabib/Shutterstock United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said 100 planes are grounded because of a pilot shortage. Kirby said in a Senate hearing that United can't fly to all the small communities it wants to due to the shortage. Kirby and other airline executives said they're working on training more pilots. United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby, told legislators on Wednesday that 100 of its planes are grounded due to a shortage of pilots. "There has been a looming pilot shortage for the last decade in the United States, and going through COVID it became an actual pilot shortage," Kirby said during a Senate hearing with other airline executives. The 100 regional aircraft are sitting idle "because there's not enough pilots to fly them," meaning that United can't fly to all of the smaller communities that it would like to, Kirby said. "I'm a little less optimistic that that situation is going to reverse itself in the near term unless we do something to increase the supply of pilots," Kirby said. American Airlines CEO, Doug Parker, said in the hearing that the shortage will become an issue if the carrier can't recruit enough pilots for regional aircraft routes. Kirby, Parker, and John Laughter, Delta Airlines' executive vice president and chief of operations, all said in the hearing that their carriers are working on training more pilots. "We are seeking to train 5,000 pilots by the end of the decade, with the goal that half of the students will be women and people of color, all while maintaining our incredibly high training standards," Kirby told the hearing. Kirby added that financing for flight training poses a problem because pilots first have to spend $150,000 to qualify for the necessary certificate. United didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider An ethnic minority worker operates cotton yarn machinery in a textile factory in Xinjiang, China (EPA-EFE) The US has passed a law banning all imports from Chinas Xinjiang region, signalling its strongest crackdown on slave labour to date and delivering a rebuke to Beijing over its treatment of Uyghur Muslims. While the US already has legislation blocking the entry of slave-made goods, the newly-passed Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act goes further by shifting the burden of proof to importers, and will pose a fresh challenge for companies and customs officials alike. The act was passed unanimously by the Senate on Thursday and is set to be signed by US president Joe Biden imminently. The bipartisan legislation essentially deems that all goods from Xinjiang are made with forced labour and cannot be imported into the US unless officials determine with clear and convincing evidence that the products are not tainted by modern slavery. UN experts, rights groups, and researchers estimate more than a million people, mainly Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, have been detained since 2016 in camps in Xinjiang, where exploitation ranging from torture to forced labour is believed to be systematic. Companies that source from China especially goods such as shoes, shirts and solar panels will need to dig deeper into their supply chains and be more vigilant to demonstrate they are not profiting from the labour of Uyghurs, while US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must step up its game to enforce the new law, according to analysts and activists. The law comes at a time when the relationship between the two superpowers has become increasingly strained, over issues ranging from Beijings aggression towards self-governed Taiwan to the detention and control of Uyghurs that the US has labelled as genocide. Frankly, this law needed to happen a long time ago Corban Teague, Humanity United Action A fresh war of words broke out last week following Washingtons decision to stage a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics citing human rights atrocities and the passing of this law is likely to further inflame tensions. Story continues Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who co-sponsored the act, this week said it was time to end our economic addiction to China by cracking down on slave labour. The US is so reliant on China that we have turned a blind eye to the slave labour that makes our clothes, our solar panels, and much more, Mr Rubio said in a statement before the law was passed. Although Xinjiangs overall exports dropped 12.2 per cent to $15.8bn (11.9bn) last year, according to customs data, shipments to the US more than doubled to $636m despite the onset of the pandemic and escalating tensions between the two nations. Senator Marco Rubio said it was time to end our economic addiction to China (EPA-EFE) Beijing has repeatedly denied abuses of Uyghurs and said that all labour in Xinjiang is consensual and contract-based. The Chinese embassy in Washington said the act was a vile scheme and that it opposed the USs interference in Chinas internal affairs under the pretext of Xinjiang-related issues. China is determined in safeguarding its national development interests. We will make a resolute response if the US insists on advancing the act, a spokesperson said in a statement emailed to The Independent. Under the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, CBP officials can stop the entry of goods if there is reasonable evidence of forced labour. A company issued with a withhold release order (WRO) can decide to reroute the shipment and try to sell their products elsewhere, or persuade CBP to change its decision by providing documents to demonstrate due diligence and argue that the goods are slavery-free. The agency can go further, seizing cargo and pursuing civil penalties against corporations if it has enough evidence to meet the more stringent legal burden of probable cause. Regarding Xinjiang specifically, the US has upped the ante in recent years by issuing a flurry of WROs on goods from the province, while the Trump administration announced an import ban on all cotton and tomato products in January. Corporations have profited from Uyghur forced labour for years Scott Nova, Worker Rights Consortium Campaign groups have long been calling for a region-wide crackdown and welcomed the new law, although there was disappointment over a compromise between the US House and Senate that led to the removal of a requirement for publicly traded companies to report their operations in China. Frankly, this [law] needed to happen a long time ago, said Corban Teague, a senior adviser at the non-profit Humanity United Action. We should not let the perfect be the enemy of the very good, and the final product negotiated between the chambers is a strong one, Mr Teague told The Independent. The US has long positioned itself as the global leader in efforts to tackle modern slavery from its annual report ranking nations on their anti-trafficking efforts to a biennial list of goods at risk of being made by forced or child labour the new law is unprecedented in its scope. The legislation not only covers goods produced in Xinjiang, but also those made by Uyghurs transported to work elsewhere in China under state schemes and products imported from other countries that contain materials tainted by forced labour involving the ethnic minority. Two such examples would be clothes made in Bangladesh that consist of cotton picked by Uighurs, or solar panels manufactured in Malaysia that use raw polysilicon materials from Xinjiang. The region accounts for nearly 20 per cent of global cotton production and nearly half of the worlds refined polysilicon. Most businesses lack full visibility of their supply chains, they tend to know their main Tier 1 suppliers but are not aware of the myriad producers stretching down to the raw materials level, meaning they will have to up their game and do so quickly to comply with the law. Human Rights Watchs China director, Sophie Richardson, told a Senate hearing on Xinjiang in June that some companies seem unwilling or unable to find out precise information about their own operations. Yet Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), a nonprofit, said corporations had the ability to carry out effective supply chain tracing if they chose to do so. When it suits them, global corporations exercise painstaking control over what happens in their supply chains, Mr Nova said. When corporations dont know where their goods are coming from, it is because that ignorance suits their purposes. While it would be impossible for companies to access and inspect factories in Xinjiang due to the governments tight control, they can invest more in supply chain mapping whether that involves using publicly accessible sources such as shipping and customs data or new technologies including isotype tracing that shows the origin of the materials in a product. A complex that includes what is believed to be a re-education camp in Xinjiang, China (AFP/Getty) How multinational corporations will respond to the law remains to be seen. Some of the worlds biggest brands and several industry groups lobbied to weaken the act last year when it was in bill form, according to a New York Times story from December 2020. The American Apparel and Footwear Association welcomed the law and said in a statement that it would work with CBP to ensure enforcement of the act was transparent and evidence-based. This represented something of a U-turn given that the industry group last year said a Xinjiang region-wide ban would be impossible to enforce and wreak havoc on legitimate supply chains. CBP officials will also have a major task on their hands in trying to deduce if products or their materials originated from Xinjiang or the labour of Uyghurs, several advocates said. The agencys forced labour division has historically been understaffed and underfunded, and a report by the US Government Accountability Office in October 2020 found that its ban on slave-made goods was hampered by a lack of skilled employees and reliable data. In response to a series of questions sent by The Independent, CBP said it does not comment on proposed legislation before Congress. While debate about the feasibility of the law is likely to rumble on, Mr Nova of the WRC was unequivocal on its importance. Global corporations have been profiting from Uyghur forced labour, in de facto collaboration with the Chinese government, for years, he said. This legislation will go a long way toward putting an end to their complicity. The United States on Thursday unleashed a volley of actions to censure China's treatment of the Uyghur minority, with lawmakers voting to curb trade and new sanctions slapped on the world's top consumer drone maker. The United States has ramped up pressure on China, with President Joe Biden's administration a day earlier targeting producers of painkillers that contributed to America's addiction crisis. The US Senate unanimously voted to make the United States the first country to ban virtually all imports from China's Xinjiang region over forced labor concerns. "We know it's happening at an alarming, horrific rate with the genocide that we now witness being carried out," said Senator Marco Rubio, a driver behind the act, which has already passed the House of Representatives, and which the White House says Biden will sign. After prolonged negotiations to secure its passage, Rubio lifted objections and the Senate confirmed veteran diplomat Nicholas Burns as ambassador to China. Burns, a former ambassador to Greece and NATO, has described China as an "aggressor" and denounced the "genocide" of the Uyghurs, but also expressed a willingness to cooperate on issues such as climate change. Some US businesses had voiced unease about the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans the import of all goods from the region unless companies offer verifiable proof that production did not involve slavery. An estimated 20 percent of garments imported into the US each year include some cotton from Xinjiang. Rights experts, witnesses and the US government say more than one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims are incarcerated in camps in an effort to root out their Islamic cultural traditions and forcibly assimilate them into China's Han majority. Beijing describes the sites as vocational training centers and says it is seeking to reduce the allure of radical Islam following deadly attacks. Story continues Washington has described the campaign as genocide and, along with Australia, Britain and Canada, planned a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games next year over the issue. On Friday, Beijing said it "firmly opposes" the move and will take "all necessary measures" to protect Chinese companies. "The US has overstretched the concept of national security and fabricates all kinds of excuses to abuse export control measures to unreasonably suppress Chinese institutions and firms," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. "It has reached a stage where they stop at nothing." - High-tech surveillance - The Biden administration on Thursday fired off a round of sanctions over surveillance in Xinjiang, where rights groups say China has been honing new technologies in artificial intelligence and DNA tracking to keep tabs on Uyghurs. Companies hit by Treasury Department sanctions include SZ DJI Technology, by far the world's largest producer of consumer drones. "These eight entities actively support the surveillance and tracking of members of ethnic and religious minority groups in the PRC, predominantly Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, referring to the People's Republic of China. DJI has become a household name, capturing more than 70 percent of the global market. The United States had already restricted trade exports to the company, but the new Treasury Department sanctions will criminalize any US investment in it. Other companies targeted included Xiamen Meiya Pico Information, which has developed a mobile application to track files on phones, and Cloudwalk Technology, developed to recognize faces of Uyghurs and Tibetans and has since been deployed to Zimbabwe to help improve the tech, according to the Treasury Department. Separately, the Commerce Department restricted sensitive exports to the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and 11 of its research institutes over biotechnology work including "purported brain-control weaponry," a notice said. The research institutes include centers focused on blood transfusions, bio-engineering and toxicology. "The scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the PRC is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups," she added. Based in Beijing, the Academy of Military Medical Sciences has been active in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine. sct-rox/dva The Covid-19 positivity rate in New York City has doubled in three days as the Omicron variant of the virus has been detected in 38 US states. A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that the Omicron variant evading immunity could be a reason behind the percentage of New Yorkers testing positive for Covid-19 tested positive doubling in just three days this week. We have seen a very substantial increase in cases in the last few days, Mr de Blasio said during a press briefing on Thursday. It is clear that the omicron variant is here in New York City in full force. The Omicron variant has been detected in 38 states, according to The New York Times. Mr de Blasio spoke to the press alongside health officials. They noted that while the Delta variant is still the dominant virus strain in New York, the Omicron variant seems to be spreading beyond the 13 per cent share of infections that CDC officials have said the strain accounts for. More follows... Hes an Albanian-American introvert with Buddhist leanings. I was raised an Orthodox Jew. Im somewhat loquacious and politely Canadian. How the two of us ended up together in Montreal as a couple is both baffling and amazing. The stuff of movies, one might say befitting, since I am a filmmaker. But unlike the traditional trajectory of Hollywood movies, where the protagonists meet, fall in love, move in together and marry, we wrote our own ending, one that involved living happily ever apart. We are what I call apartners committed partners who live apart. And we are about to celebrate our 23rd anniversary. People often ask why we dont live together. The truth is that there is no one answer. In the beginning, when David and I met, our schedules were completely opposite he was up at the crack of dawn, working 10-hour days, sometimes six days a week. He works in the aerospace industry and was often on deadline. I have a more flexible schedule and often work late into the night. Sharon Hyman with her partner of more than two decades, David Demetre. (Courtesy Sharon Hyman) For us, living apart made sense. We both lived in modest, rent-controlled apartments and really enjoyed having both time together and alone. As time passed, it became increasingly clear that Davids temporary time in Montreal was going to become permanent with me. We were in love, we were in this for the long haul, and we were also happy to live 15 minutes apart. Even though we have our own spaces, our lives are completely intertwined. I look at it like were a Venn diagram: Were each a complete circle on our own, but then we have our overlapping part. That overlapping part is our life together. And thats finite. Thats forever. Ive heard all the skepticism Youre just friends with benefits! to which I reply, Its been 23 years. Those are some benefits! I dont know too many casual daters who are the executors of each others estates and have each others powers of attorney. Then there are those who confide in me, Had I known this was an option, maybe I wouldnt be divorced now. Story continues Our relationship is no different from any other committed, lifelong relationship it just happens to operate from two separate addresses. David and I have been through everything together illnesses, deaths, the highs and lows of life, and we are always there for one another. What more can someone ask for? I see apartnering as a fluid arrangement. There are times we do live together when one of us is ill or recovering from surgery, for example. At the beginning of the pandemic, we were under curfew for months and I didnt feel comfortable being alone, so he stayed with me then. And since David has retired, were looking into moving into a duplex, with me upstairs and him downstairs. So well still be apartners, but in the same building. A new adventure. David is a very important part of my world, but he is not my entire world. Living separately allows me to have my needs met by others in addition to David, including friends and family. I feel that expecting one person to be your everything is setting yourself up for disappointment. Its also unrealistic and puts tremendous pressure on a relationship. There are so many other people who enrich our lives. Im a big believer in community. People in the past lived in villages or extended family groups, and I feel that a primary relationship should ideally exist within that framework. We have found that when you take away mundane things in life whos going to do the dishes, pick up the socks off the floor? and focus on whats really important, you can focus on what is really important in a relationship support, care, intimacy and companionship. By having our own spaces, I feel that David and I are actually more present for each other. Of course we still sometimes argue, but when we do, David and I can take a timeout from each other. We have space to cool down and reflect and come back together in a healthier and more constructive manner. Since discovering how living apart benefited her relationship, Hyman is now at the forefront of a social movement that introduces couples to new ways of living, and is working on a documentary about the topic. (Courtesy Sharon Hyman) For me, the best part about being apartners is having the time and space to recharge my batteries. That can only be beneficial for any kind of relationship. If my batteries are depleted, how will I ever have the energy to devote to anyone else? Im not advocating that being apartners is right for everyone. Not every couple is meant to live apart. But, not every couple is meant to live together, either. There is simply no cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all way to love. My intention with my upcoming film is to show that options exist. Life is hard enough. If you can find someone who makes you feel loved and will stand with you through all the hardships, try to find a way to make it work for both of you, no matter what society dictates. We made it work, and for that, I count my blessings every day. As told to Rheana Murray Sharon Hyman is working on a documentary called Apartners: Living Happily Ever Apart, that she plans to release in 2022. LAS VEGAS (AP) New Years Eve fireworks that were called off last year on the Las Vegas Strip due to the coronavirus pandemic are returning with hopes for big crowds, even as the emerging omicron variant spreads in more states. Tourism and elected officials, most wearing masks, stood Thursday on an indoor stage with sparkling pyrotechnics and a background emblazoned with 2022 to announce the Deuces Wild-themed event and the addition of an eighth hotel-top fireworks launching spot. Aside from last year, Americas Party has been the culminating event of the entire year for more than 20 years, said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, a nonprofit agency created to produce and support big events. Thousands of revelers still congregated on casino-lined Las Vegas Boulevard to ring in 2021 despite the canceled fireworks. There was no mention during Thursday's event of the possible effect of the emergence and spread in recent weeks of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Reported cases of COVID-19 have generally declined in Nevada in recent weeks, including in and around Las Vegas. But health officials reported the first identified case of a person with the omicron variant in the state this week in the Las Vegas area. Nationwide, at least 36 states have detected the variant as the delta virus continues surging in many places. Experts said Tuesday that an omicron surge is probably already underway in the United States, outpacing the nations ability to track it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that omicron accounted for about 3% of genetically-sequenced coronaviruses nationally. Percentages vary by region, with the highest 13% in the New York/New Jersey area. Nevada has reported 8,263 people dead from the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March 2020, including 6,358 in Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County. Masks are required for everyone indoors in Clark County unless they are actively eating or drinking, although compliance is not universal. All but two of Nevada's 17 counties have similar rules. Story continues Almost 70% of eligible people in the Las Vegas area have received at least one shot of coronavirus vaccine, and 55% are fully vaccinated, according to the local health district. Statewide, health officials put those numbers at 63% and almost 54%, respectively. The Southern Nevada Health District reported a seven-day test positivity rate of 9.8% in the Las Vegas area. The measure of the number of people tested for coronavirus and found positive was 6.8% in mid-October. The World Health Organization goal is 5% or below to relax restrictions. Fireworks were first held on the Strip on the last night of 2000. The display has helped make New Years Eve one of Las Vegas biggest events, drawing more than 300,000 revelers, according to tourism officials, and filling more than 250,000 hotel rooms. Being able to host this event again is so special because it allows us to close out the year in a memorable way, Christenson said in a statement accompanying Thursdays announcement. Fireworks by Grucci designs and choreographs the eight-minute pyrotechnic display from atop resort properties that last year included MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Venetian and The STRAT tower. It is accompanied by a soundtrack airing on two on FM radio stations in Las Vegas. This year the show will add Resorts World Las Vegas, which opened last June. A Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority executive, H. Fletch Brunelle, noted that entertainers booked at various venues for New Years weekend include Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Usher. Rabbi Vered Harris On the piano in my home sits a newlywed picture of my great-grandparents. Rose, my mothers grandmother, wears a fashionable high-necked blouse and a perfectly coifed wig. Rose and Sol each emigrated from Hungary and met in New York City before making their home together in Chicago. Family lore tells how my great-grandmother lived in the space between the traditions of her parents, and the aspirations she and her family had for becoming Americans. For instance, Rose did not follow her mothers Hungarian Orthodox Jewish custom of shaving her head when she married. Still, she wore a wig to cover her hair and respect her heritage. The change she made was not visible to the outside eye yet it represents the liminal space between what was and what would be. Whether devastating or joyful, thoughtful or random, a single second or many years, the transitional space between what was and what will be embodies hope because it is the hallmark of change. How we initiate change or respond to it is our chance to make the world a better place. A birth certificate has a precise time when a baby enters the world and everything changes for them; as hopeful as we may be in the moment, the true impact of this change is not determined by the birth itself. Every moment of change offers hope in how we respond to it, even moments of challenge. Termination from a job is more than turning in keys; divorce is more than a court date; grief is more than a death certificate. Hope in times of change is an expression of my belief that I have power over how I respond, and my response can bring peace or justice or mercy or joy into the world. I once tried to express gratitude to my fathers mother for the decisions she made as a 17-year-old fleeing Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. When she arrived in British Mandate Palestine in 1941, Savta Erika could not have imagined an English-speaking granddaughter ordained as a rabbi living in the United States. From her perspective, she was navigating her next best move in terrible times. In being grateful for my life, I have to be grateful for hers as complicated, frightening and difficult as those years were for her, her hope that she could do something to make the next day better brought me to this day. Story continues Because each moment connects what was to what will be, each moment is imbued for me with hope for the future I can create. While living in Oklahoma City is not moving across oceans for the freedoms and safety my ancestors sought, it has shaped my daughters lives in ways for which I pray they will feel gratitude one day. In the moments when I intentionally eat right, or learn something new, or get enough rest, or act kindly, or employ patience, or smile generously, I am doing so with hope as a link in a chain that connects the world as it was to the world as I believe it can be: kinder, more just, more peaceful, and closer to the ideals my faith tradition teaches we can achieve. Rabbi Vered L. Harris is the spiritual leader of Temple B'nai Israel in Oklahoma City. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Viewpoint: With hope, you can create the future Wayne County commissioners on Wednesday discussed security measures for the Wayne County Administration Building. RICHMOND, Ind. Wayne County will claim its share of Indiana's settlement with a pharmaceutical manufacturer and three distributors. The county's three commissioners unanimously voted during their weekly Wednesday morning meeting to register for the opioid settlement the state attorney general's office reached with manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and distributors Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen. The settlement resolves litigation regarding the companies' roles in the addiction epidemic. Richmond registered its participation during August. Commissioner Mary Anne Butters and Ron Cross, the county attorney, reviewed a thick stack of documents related to the settlement. Cross said he saw no downside and recommended opting in to the settlement. Crime: Plot to kill police informant results in 19-year sentence Blight: Once-elegant Bradford Place Apartments building brought down READI: State's program allocates $15 million to Wayne County's region "We don't know the scope of the upside, but at least there's an upside," Cross said. "It's more money than we have." Indiana could receive part of Indiana's $507 million from the $26 billion, multi-state agreement depending on how many governmental entities register to participate. If local governments do not participate, the state could lose nearly $238 million from that total. Settlement payments are scheduled to begin during 2022 and last 18 years. Johnson & Johnson would pay up to $5 billion over nine years and the three distributors will pay up to $21 billion through the entire 18-year span. "Just having additional revenue for both education and possible treatment for recovery, we cannot turn our back on that potential source of revenue, because there's ongoing need," Butters said. STAY INFORMED AND SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe today using the link at the top of this page. How much Wayne County might receive is unknown. The state will keep half of the overall amount Indiana receives and invest much of that in communities for treatment, education and prevention. The state's settlement amount is determined by a formula that accounts for the severity of the addiction crisis in the state, the state's population and participation by local governments. Story continues A per-capita portion of the county's settlement money could be used for any reason; however, the majority will be distributed by the Family and Social Services Administration for prevention and treatment programs. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer said that with the county's sound financial position committing all of the money to prevention and treatment makes sense. "I personally don't see why we would not commit all of the proceeds to drug treatment programs," Plasterer said. "We are fiscally sound." Ken Paust said: "I agree 100 percent. Whatever we get is not going to be that large." Districts remain same The commissioners passed resolutions Wednesday to keep commissioner and Wayne County Council districts the same. All three commissioners voted to maintain their districts, then Paust and Plasterer voted to maintain council districts. Butters, who had proposed changes to the council districts, abstained from that vote. She had been outvoted 2-1 during the Dec. 8 meeting when her proposed changes were discussed. Guardian ad litem During the Wednesday evening council/commissioners workshop, council gave support to Wayne County courts hiring a third guardian ad litem. Chief Probation Officer Kory George indicated that the county judges had found a candidate that would require about an additional $40,000 during 2022. The new guardian ad litem would be a contract employee. The line item that covers the contracted guardians ad litem positions had been reduced with the understanding council would restore money to the line item if another guardian ad litem was hired. In a unanimous vote, council reaffirmed that support. Council President Bob Chamness gave the go-ahead for the hiring and said that during 2022 council would transfer money from its contingency fund to cover the additional cost. Guardians ad litem are appointed by the court to represent the best interests of children involved in court actions. Paust leads district The East Central District of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners recently re-elected Paust as its president. He will serve on the IACC's board of directors representing Wayne, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Tipton and Union counties. There are six IACC districts. The election was conducted during this month's annual IACC conference when Johnson County Commissioner Brian Baird was also re-elected the district's vice president. This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: County joins state opioid settlement to receive funding for 18 years 1777, 244 years ago Many receptions John Hancock, the first man to sign the Declaration of Independence, welcomes Baron von Steuben to Boston in the most distinguished fashion for the tough, battle-tested Prussian soldiers reputation has preceded him. Hancock president of the Continental Congress from May 1775 to last October plans a series of receptions for Steuben to introduce him to the many patriots in Boston. Like Benjamin Franklin, Hancock is convinced that Steuben is just what General George Washington needs to turn his untrained, undisciplined soldiers into an efficient fighting machine a machine capable of defeating a professional British army and win independence from Great Britain. For nearly 40 years, this basement church on the southeast corner of Third Avenue and Lansing Street in East Utica was the place of worship for more than 700 parishioners at St. Basils Melkite Catholic Church. The basement was completed in 1917 and it was decided to worship there before the upper section was built. That section was never completed, though, and in the early 1950s, the Rev. Archimandrite Julien Eliane pastor since 1947 and parishioners got permission to build a Byzantine church in southeast Utica on Madison Avenue, just west of Mohawk Valley Community College. That church was dedicated on February 16, 1955. At the receptions, Steuben always brings along his pet dog Azor is an Italian greyhound and Pierre Duponceau, the Prussians interpreter. Steuben speaks no English and a little French. At one reception, they are seated next to Samuel Adams. Adams is a fiery, passionate patriot who does not always agree with his second cousin, John Adams. Duponceau, who is proficient in English, erroneously addresses Samuel Adams as Mr. John Adams, sir. Samuel Adams rises from his chair, looks Duponceau straight in the eye and says, Sir, I would have you know that there is a great difference between Mr. Samuel Adams and Mr. John Adams. Steuben will remain in Boston until Hancock can make arrangements for the barons journey to York, Pennsylvania, where Congress will convene early next year. Congress must approve of Steuben joining Washingtons army. (After the Revolutionary War ended, Steuben moved to what is now Oneida County and is buried near Remsen, north of Utica.) More History: Baron von Steuben arrives in America Shopping: Utica holiday shopping guide: 10 gifts you can get for under $20 1922, 99 years ago Prohibition Six federal agents arrive in Utica to help local police see to it that liquor-loving Uticans dont quench their thirst at holiday parties. The agents will visit area hotels, restaurants, clubs and dance halls to make sure the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act are obeyed. They prohibit the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors. Story continues 1946, 75 years ago Polish club Francis Potocki is re-elected president of the Polish Community Club in West Utica. Other officers include: Ignatius Pezdek, first vice president; Stanley Kluska, recording secretary; Chester Zurek, financial secretary; and Joseph Jacksina, cashier. 1971, 50 years ago County bar elects Joseph Cardamone is elected president of the Oneida County Bar Association. Other officers include: Ronald Grossman and Richard OC. Kehoe, vice presidents; Don Murnane, secretary; and Walter Rabenstein, treasurer. Guest soloists will accompany the 50-voice choir at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Utica in its presentation of Handels Messiah. They are: Wayne Burlingame, bass; Pasquale Caputo, tenor; and Jean Engstrom, alto. Ronald Thayer, organist and choirmaster will conduct the choir and orchestra, In area bowling news, Tim Cleary rolls a 658 series on games of 184, 258 and 216 at the Pinorama. Gladys Owen rolls a 582 on games of 166, 167 and 249 at the Pinorama. 1996, 25 years ago Historic places Four area buildings are added to the National Register of Historic Places. St. Stephens Episcopal Church in New Hartford was built in 1825. St. Pauls Church in the town of Paris was founded in 1818. St. Marks Church in Clark Mills dates back to 1863. The Russia Corners District in Poland includes the Russia Union Church (1830), District No. 5 School (1816) and four homes built between 1803 and 1830. The Players of Utica presents the musical, The Marrying Type. Music is by Herkimer native Alan Cancelino and lyrics are by Jenne Watson. Jackie Osterman directs. The cast includes Teresa Casullo, Colene Doughty, Bret Woods, Michael Wratten, Sean Williams and Meredith Salisbury. In high school basketball, Rome Catholic High defeats Dolgeville, 53 to 49. The winners are led by Rich Hilliards 13 points, Merlin Dixons 13 and Mike Schoolcrafts 10. Dolgeville is led by 17 points by Chris Swartz and 10 by Greg Leonard. Meanwhile, New Hartford defeats Oneida, 66 to 57, and is led by Britt Holmbergs 25 points and Brent Jones 13. Jim Kramer leads Oneida with 16 points. 2011, 10 years ago Genesis Group awards The Genesis Group recognizes nine area Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs at its annual Striving for Success Awards Program. They are: Anne Lansing, Christian Mercurio, Trooper Sabrina Vazquez, Daniel Enea, Doneilous King, Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, Myron Thurston, Max Cohen and Anne White. Trivia quiz Many U.S. presidents loved sports. Ill name the sport, you name the president who participated in it. (1) This president was an avid golfer and had a putting green built on the White House lawn. (2) This president was a linebacker and center on his college football team and was offered pro contracts by the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, but turned them down to study law. (3) This president was a first baseman on the Yale University baseball team. (Answers will appear here next week.) Answer to last weeks question: Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969, was the first president to ride to his inauguration in an armed vehicle, the first to be sworn in behind a bullet-proof glass, the first Democrat to win Vermont and the first Democrat to win Maine in 52 years. This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him at ftomaino221@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: History: Baron von Steuben arrives in Boston By Sandra Sebastian SEPUR ZARCO, Guatemala (Reuters) - Chanting prayers and laying down flowers over small wooden coffins, indigenous Guatemalans honored the remains of over 100 people killed decades ago in the country's brutal civil war in a ceremony aimed at healing still-open wounds. Mourners from the Maya q'eqchi community gathered in a small Catholic church in the Guatemalan hamlet of Sepur Zarco, about 125 miles (200 km) northeast of the nation's capital. Then they walked in a solemn procession, many hoisting the coffins above their heads, before placing them in a recently constructed mausoleum designed to keep their memories alive. Only 21 of the 110 individual remains have been identified so far, according to the Forensic Anthropological Foundation of Guatemala (FAFG), but all were almost certainly killed during the country's over three-decade-long civil war ending in 1996. More DNA tests are scheduled for January. Remains were recovered at old military bases in Sepur Zarco, Finca Tinajas and others in the Valle del Polochic, as well as the sites of camps where people took refuge. During the civil war, almost a quarter million mostly indigenous Maya were killed, while more than 40,000 others remain missing and unidentified, likely killed but their bodies never found. "These bones represent the history, the suffering, the secrecy that prevailed all this time," said Jose Suasnavar, the foundation's associate director. "We are very grateful to the relatives who have trusted us with touching the bones." Amid sobs and quiet contemplation, a Catholic priest blessed the coffins with incense while several women did the same. "For me, it's so emotional to receive these remains," said Mariano Mez, who is hoping to find those of his father. "Many of us are still waiting." The simple, whitewashed mausoleum is the final resting place for the victims, and serves as a memorial to the grandmothers of Sepur Zarco, indigenous women who were kidnapped, forced into domestic slavery and suffered sexual abuse at an army camp in the 1980s. (Reporting by Sandra Sebastian; Editing by Mark Porter) In 2021, Massachusetts surpassed $2 billion in recreational sales for the industry's three years of operation. Connecticut legalized recreational use in June, becoming the 18th state in the country to do so, and laying the initial groundwork for its own future marketplace in late 2022. Maine's recreational sales topped $10 million in August of this year, a new record for the Pine Tree State since sales began in 2020. 2021 was a big year for legal marijuana in New England. While legal cannabis is proving to be a burgeoning industry for New England, there's still much to come in 2022 as states move at different paces or in one case no pace at all. Many hurdles and difficulties remain. A recap of marijuana in New England so far Vermont which was the first state to legalize marijuana in 2018 through its Legislature, rather than ballot initiatives as others have done has yet to begin its retail sales. If the state's process can stay on schedule in 2022, cultivators will open in May and retail stores in October. There's lots to come for legal marijuana in New England in 2022. "Oh my gosh, there is so much excitement," said Andrew Subin, attorney at Vermont Cannabis Solutions, the only cannabis-exclusive law firm in the state. In Rhode Island, the state Legislature neared an agreement on legalization in 2021, but wasn't able to push it across the finish line. And in New Hampshire, the jury is still out on legalization entirely, though the state has decriminalized small amounts of marijuana. Organic cannabis?: The concept is growing across New England Despite its $2 billion industry and first-in-the-nation social equity and economic empowerment efforts, Massachusetts is falling short in what it envisioned would be a diverse sector reflective of its communities, and one to serve as a model of restorative justice. State statistics show the cannabis industry is shaping up to be disproportionately white and male-owned, and some are calling for dedicated finances to change the landscape. Story continues Major Bloom owner Ulysses Youngblood, in Worcester. "Sometimes I do feel like its set up for optics," said Ulysses Youngblood, owner of Major Bloom dispensary in Worcester. "Especially given the fact that once we got designated (as an economic empowerment applicant), we had to do what billion-dollar corporations have to do. Im very grateful for the network I had that was able to get it done with family and friends. And thats just to get open. But now were dealing with operational things the state doesnt help you with." David O'Brien, president of the Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association, said general or social equity applicant, "access to capital is still the key. You can have a great business plan but if you can't fund it, it never gets off the ground." Massachusetts wrestles with next steps in cannabis social equity Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to weave equity and inclusion into its legal cannabis framework. With the rollout of its retail sales in 2018 also came its Social Equity Program and a "certified economic empowerment priority applicant" status mechanisms to encourage and enable participation in the industry by people and communities who have historically been most impacted by marijuana enforcement. In honor of National Brownie Day: This Massachusetts company just baked the world's largest cannabis-infused brownie Despite the efforts, Massachusetts' cannabis industry is still overwhelmingly white, and some advocates and decision-makers are warning it will stay that way if money isn't dedicated to changing course. "How do I tell people to get into an industry that's clearly not equitable?" said Sieh Samura, co-owner of Yamba Market, a dispensary set to open in Cambridge's Central Square in January. From left, Sean Hope and Sieh Samura, co-founders of Yamba Market cannabis dispensary in Cambridge's Central Square. Samura, who is Black and an Iraq War veteran, is an economic empowerment applicant. He said there's been "so much talk," or "lip service," about equity in the state's cannabis industry, "but so little money." "After a while, when they don't take those actions they've been talking about, then people start rightfully saying, 'What gives?'" Samura said. "And I think that's where we are right now. How much longer are you going to say things are important to you, but you're not going to live by that?" Though a billion dollar market, the Mass. marijuana industry still faces hurdles While the state's equity programs provide free assistance to qualifying individuals entering the industry, they don't help with the monetary aspect, which is often the biggest hurdle for small operators with historically less access to capital. The state's Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) is urging an important step in 2022, as it advocates unanimously for the creation of a state-run fund to help disproportionately impacted individuals establish themselves in the industry. Commissioners have said major barriers remain for prospective minority, women and veteran business owners. Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner Ava Callender Concepcion. Commissioner Ava Callender Concepcion recently said without a state-run fund, "the promises of equity and inclusion ingrained in our state's cannabis law will never be realized." The fund, which would have to be approved by the Legislature, would include both public and private funds, the CCC has said, to give economic empowerment and social equity program participants low- or zero-interest loans or grants to obtain licensure and get their footing in the industry. "Weve been to public meetings where basically these corporations that are so quick to hire a law firm, and then it's just us showing up as small business owners," said Worcester's Youngblood, who is an economic empowerment applicant. "(A) guy coming in with a three-piece suit and me coming in with a black hoodie and Jordans on. First and foremost, I come forward as a resident and someone who lives in the community." Massachusetts: State urged to form equity fund to address cannabis industry access Youngblood said he commends the state for its first-of-its-kind efforts, and noted the city of Worcester, specifically, made a commitment to set aside a number of marijuana licenses for equity-oriented businesses. But when he hears about the potential for a state-run fund for businesses like his, he said, "My true thoughts are its almost too late. The industry is maturing. I just wish it was there from the start." In Youngblood's mind, there should be a hold on new licensing until more equity businesses come online, and he supports the idea of a 1:1 licensing model one non-equity applicant, one equity applicant. Boston, for example, which has its own cannabis board, has implemented a model as such, and also offers financing through its Boston Equity Fund. Vermont's retail cannabis sales to begin in 2022 Vermont is expected to begin retail sales in October 2022, and it's estimated that the market could reach $225 million annually by 2025. The state's Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has met since May to recommend policy around licensing and regulation for sales. The Vermont Legislature is scheduled to review the CCB's full report in January. "The Cannabis Control Board set the license fees and started issuing rules, and all of a sudden it feels real," said Subin. "We've been very busy. We just hired a new associate here, and are doing several new clients a week." Vermont Cannabis Solutions currently represents about 120 people who will apply for cultivation licenses, 30 retailers and 40-50 product manufacturers, Subin said, "the vast majority who are small-business people that this could be a life-changing opportunity for them." Recreational marijuana has been legal in Vermont since 2018, but the sale of it has remained elusive until the establishment of a regulatory system for commercial growers, wholesalers and retailers. What will Vermont's cannabis market look like?: State official to answer public's questions Subin believes Vermont's marketplace will be "more accessible" than any other state, with a focus on small-business owners, limiting interest from big, multi-state operators. "The rules that have come out (so far) that deal with licensing and regulation, these rules, in our opinion, seem to give a break to the small Vermont business wherever they can," he said. Marijuana plants are cloned at CVD, Inc. in Milton, Vt., on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. The facility grows and processes marijuana for medical use. In addition to state regulation, there's the aspect of local control. During the 2021 Town Meeting season, many Vermont communities approved the allowance of retail marijuana businesses. Voters in Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Winooski and the Northeast Kingdom towns of Danville, Sutton, Burke and Barton all voted in favor of allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in their communities. As communities approve recreational sales within their bounds, this allows prospective businesses to ultimately seek a state license. Will Rhode Island legalize marijuana in 2022? In October, legislative leaders said they were close to a deal on marijuana legalization in the Ocean State, but there hasn't been any word since. No consensus has been reached yet between the Rhode Island House, Senate and Gov. Dan McKee, and it's likely the conversation won't ramp up again until 2022. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi recently said they'd been able to reduce the areas of disagreement from "13 to one," the outlier being whether the state Department of Business Regulation or a Senate-appointed independent commission should regulate marijuana stores. Rhode Island House Speaker Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi. Why it's 'possible, but not probable' the RI House will vote on two major issues in 2021 Maine, for example, has its Office of Marijuana Policy, while both Massachusetts and Vermont have cannabis-dedicated commissions or boards. In November, Shekarchi said it was "possible, but not probable" when asked if the House would reconvene before the end of the year to take up the debate again. With pot shops creeping closer on all sides, what will NH do? When retail marijuana stores open in Maine's southernmost town of Kittery, following approval by its Town Council and a subsequent lottery process this year, New Hampshire residents who live just over the border will quite literally be able to walk across a bridge to shop them. Now surrounded by legal weed states, will NH follow suit? Gov. Sununu says 'you never know' The problem? Recreational marijuana is still illegal in the Granite State, which is sandwiched on three sides by current and soon-to-be recreational marijuana markets in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont. Hughes Pope, founder and head of cultivation for Sweet Dirt in Eliot, Maine, stands in a greenhouse surrounded by organically-grown cannabis. Because marijuana is illegal federally, it's also illegal to take it across state lines. Technically, a New Hampshire resident who buys marijuana in Maine would need to consume it in Maine. But the changing landscape around New Hampshire is putting a spotlight on its legislators and Gov. Chris Sununu. Asked this summer his current position on recreational marijuana, Sununu said legalization in New Hampshire shouldn't revolve around possible revenues for the state, but should instead focus on whether proper systems are in place to handle potential repercussions. When you're legalizing something like marijuana, youve got to take the right steps and so looking at what might have worked in Maine or Massachusetts, Vermont (and) what didn't work in those states, we can maybe learn a lot of lessons there and maybe that goes into the consideration, Sununu said. "But I think we're still a long way away from really getting our hands wrapped around those pros and cons but, you know what? We'll see. (You) never know what will happen in New Hampshire. With Connecticut legalization, when will sales start? Recreational marijuana use became legal in Connecticut in July. The state's future recreational market is projected at $750 million, and the wheels are already turning to get it online. Connecticut regulators are aiming for a marketplace launch by the end of 2022. More: Who will get money from Connecticut's budding cannabis industry? The state is also expected to have a very robust social equity program, with half of its recreational marijuana stores going to social equity applicants. The city of Norwich, for example, is looking to embrace the new industry after seeing early interest from potential applicants, and recently hosted a cannabis informational session. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: MA equity issues, RI legalization, VT sales: 2022 marijuana forecast RICHMOND 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 recently were notified 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. 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. Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday announced hundreds of millions in spending for the Chesapeake Bay. Grant Neely, a spokesman for 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 Northam had nothing to add and he 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. Japanese video game powerhouse Capcom revealed last week that it is lending its hit character Ace Attorney to a campaign designed to prevent cannabis use by young people. The company announced on Thursday that characters from the popular video game series will be enlisted to fight youth cannabis use under a collaboration with the Osaka Prefectural Police departments juvenile delinquency prevention awareness campaign. Every year since 2013, Capcom has worked with the Osaka Prefectural Police and the law enforcement agencies of neighboring prefectures to develop and implement crime prevention awareness campaigns. This year, the company received a request from the Osaka Prefectural Police to use the popular Ace Attorney characters for the first time in a campaign to prevent marijuana abuse, which has seen a conspicuous shift toward younger age groups, according to a statement from Capcom. The campaign will feature characters from The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, which was released in July, in flyers and posters to be distributed at educational institutions, community police facilities, and train stations throughout Osaka Prefecture. The artwork includes the classic Ace Attorney objection! stance as well the word no in large red letters. Capcom hopes to support crime prevention activities in Osaka and all of Japan through this program, which will see the production of 6,000 original posters, as well as 4,000 original flyers that will be included with individually wrapped face masks, the company wrote in a December 9 press release. Although cannabis has been cultivated in Japan for thousands of years, the nation prohibits the import, export, cultivation, sale, purchase, and research of cannabis buds and leaves for recreational or medicinal purposes under the 1948 Cannabis Control Law. Production of hemp, which is utilized in some Shinto religious practices, is legal, and CBD products containing no THC have been available since 2016. Japan has some of the most severe penalties in the world for violations of marijuana prohibition laws, including jail sentences of up to five years for simple possession. Penalties for cannabis sales, cultivation, and possession for sale are even more severe, with sentences ranging up to 10 years in prison. Despite the risk, cannabis is the second-most popular illicit drug in Japan behind methamphetamine, according to a 2019 survey. Approximately 1.8% of people said they had used cannabis in their lifetime, compared to about 44 percent of Americans. Although efforts to reform cannabis prohibition laws have taken root in other east Asian nations in recent years, the Japan Times reported in 2021 that political momentum for legalizing cannabis in the nation is essentially nonexistent. New Delhi: In a strong indictment of Pakistan being a terror-sponsoring country, it has come to light that terror outfits that operate in Afghanistan as well as India continue to have same origins. Afghan Taliban, Haqqani network fighters recently wrested control of the Kabul, took over Afghanistan and are engaged in spreading terror across the region. When Afghan Taliban took over the reins of Afghanistan, a number of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) also infiltrated into the country. The revelations have been made by a report released by US Department of State. These foreign terrorists who entered Kabul are reportedly operating from different parts of the city and are reportedly not under the control of Taliban. Groups targeting Afghanistan including Afghan Taliban & affiliated HQN, & groups targeting India, including LeT & its affiliated front organizations, & Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) continued to operate from Pakistani territory.https://t.co/QNOXtzqo6H Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) December 16, 2021 Haqqani network has been internationally recognized as terrorist and insurgency group but has managed to infiltrate into Taliban govt. Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani was called out by the world media for being part of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. His organisation Haqqani network is known to operate from Pakistans tribal region of North Waziristan and is known to have conducted cross border attacks on US troops. JeM and LeT are the two most notorious outfits responsible for numerous terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir. These outfits continue to operate from Pakistani soil, under the aegis of Pakistani government. They continue to enjoy Pakistan govts protection and have faced repeated ban by UN but are still operating with impunity. Their commanders are often seen roaming around in Pakistani territories. Abbott Elementary hasnt quite graduated to The Office status, but theres enough in the new ABC comedy to merit a second semester. Set in a Philadelphia elementary school, the series uses the same mockumentary style to track all sorts of teachers jaded, idealistic and realistic as they go through a typical school year. Financial setbacks (which mean history books that arent exactly up to date) and building woes are just part of the problem. At Abbott, Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) is more interested in boosting her standing as an influencer than she is in teaching children. She diverts funds for personal projects and isnt above social media pitches for school supplies. For a by-the-books newbie like Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson, who also created the show), this is a real deal breaker. She tries to get buy-in from the schools veteran, Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), and its wheeler-dealer, Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), but theyre not jumping. Instead, shes left with a substitute, Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), who has his own issues with the principal. While Brunson has the format for a good series, she doesnt have all the elements. Sometimes, the comedy is forced. We know because Ralph is such a natural at the put-down, she could get laughs just by staring. Walter, too, could be tapped for more humor. Brunson, meanwhile, needs to save some of the good lines for herself. If shes the Jim or Pam of the series, she should mine all of the reaction shots. The trouble lies with James Coleman. Someone as oblivious to the world around her wouldnt have this job. She could still be a self-centered principal, but she shouldnt ignore real issues. Brunson and company would be wiser to use her as the conduit for unnecessary book work, record-keeping and school district compliances. She could be in their faces instead of on their Facebook pages. While Chris Perfetti (who plays the odd man out, Jacob Hill) might be a good foil for the others, hes not used much in the first three episodes. Offered as a sneak preview in December before its premiere in January, Abbott Elementary could be the perfect place to talk about COVID woes, mask mandates and Zoom classrooms. It could also address under-staffing in a way that brings someone less honorable than Eddie into the building. This is a start but its like Brunsons character a little naive. To be the show we need, Abbott Elementary needs to do more than dance around the obvious. Theres a target here. Hitting it would definitely hammer home a point. Abbott Elementary airs on ABC. Severe weather update: The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning until 5:30 p.m. for parts of Pottawattamie County and Shelby County. The weather service reported a tornado was spotted in the Emerson area, southeast of Council Bluffs near the junction of Highways 59 and 34. As of 5:35 p.m., 18,532 MidAmerican Energy customers in Council Bluffs are without power. Police scanner traffic indicated multiple powerlines have been downed by winds. The National Weather Service at 11:47 a.m. Wednesday issued/renewed a high wind warning effective from noon until 9 p.m. for Pottawattamie, Fremont, Harrison, Monona, Montgomery, Page and Shelby Counties in Iowa, as well as counties throughout eastern and southeastern Nebraska. The bulletin warned that southwest winds would increase to 30 to 40 miles per hour with gusts of 50 to 65 miles per hour, with peak gusts of 75 miles per hour possible in some areas. Damage predicted included downed trees and power lines, possible widespread power outages and possible structure damage. Travel was expected to be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Unsecured outdoor objects could blow away, and blowing dust could occur in open areas and near construction zones. The National Weather Service also issued a red flag warning for fire danger, as humidity levels dropping to 15% to 25% were predicted in combination with the high winds. Any fires were likely to spread rapidly and exhibit extreme behavior. The agency also warned that fires could be affected by wind shifts from the south to the southwest to the west. Most area schools dismissed early Wednesday and cancelled after-school activities because of the ferocious winds that were forecast for late afternoon and evening. Council Bluffs Community Schools followed its usual Monday schedule, dismissing middle-schoolers at 12:50 p.m., high-schoolers at 1:35 p.m. and elementary students at 2:05 p.m. Lewis Central dismissed one hour early, as it usually does on Wednesday. Heartland Christian School dismissed at noon. Also dismissing early were Avoca-Hancock-Shelby-Tennant-Walnut, Griswold, Harlan, Missouri Valley, Tri-Center and Underwood Community Schools. 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. DES MOINES How does one pass the time during a pandemic? If youre in Iowa, the answer in part appears to be to have a drink or two. Or three. Iowans have set a new record for liquor sales for the second consecutive fiscal year, with the latest total surpassing $400 million for the first time and increasing by an unprecedented 13.2% over the previous record, according to the annual report published Tuesday from the state agency that regulates alcohol beverage sales in Iowa. There was $415.8 million in liquor sales in the state during the fiscal year that spanned July 2020 through June 2021. That was even higher than the previous record of $367.3 million, hit during the previous 12 months. Sales in the current fiscal year, which started in July, are up another 5.7% so far, said Stephen Larson, who heads the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. The state agency also stepped up its regulation game during the pandemic to enforce statewide public health orders, performing 3,229 compliance inspections during the most recent fiscal year. That was up from just 271 inspections the previous 12 months. Of those inspections, 2,877 were part of the agencys enforcement of state public health orders. Those inspections resulted in 37 violations, according to the report. For various portions of 2020, bars and other eating and drinking establishments were required to reduce hours, limit the number of customers, keep individuals and groups spaced apart and conduct increased hygiene measures. Although COVID-19 has created additional challenges in the marketplace, this report reflects (the agencys) continued success in achieving the mission of serving Iowans through responsible and efficient licensing, regulation, and distribution of alcohol, Jake Holmes, an executive officer with the state agency, said in a statement. Income from liquor profits, beer barrel and wine taxes, and revenue from licensing and regulatory efforts by the state agency translated into a total transfer of $168 million to the states general fund budget, and $29 million to the Iowa Department of Public Health for the administration of substance abuse and prevention education programs, according to the report. Popular brands Once again, Black Velvet held the top spot as the most popular liquor brand purchased by Iowans, holding onto a position the Canadian whisky has held since at least fiscal 2012 when the state began reporting the top brands. Titos Handmade Vodka and Captain Morgan Spiced Rum round out the top three most popular spirits with Iowans, as was the case in the previous fiscal year. Blue Ox Vodka was the most popular Iowa brand for the third year in a row. The states report can be seen at abd.iowa.gov/annual-reports. Strong winds that possibly produced tornadoes in some areas passed through southwest Iowa Wednesday evening. The storms started in Nebraska and migrated east before hitting Council Bluffs and the surrounding area. Meteorologist David Pearson with the National Weather Service said reports of 70 to 80 mph were "was very common." "Lots of reports of damage. Large trees being knocked down, roofs torn off. I wouldn't call it widespread damage, but substantial where it occurred," Pearson said. Area residents reported the winds tore the roof off a home in Underwood. Pearson said there were "quite a few reports" of tornadoes in the area, but, "We need to go back through and verify those. That'll be part of the job tomorrow. We may go out to do damage surveys to determine if they occurred." "We have suspicions there were some, but as for how many, that's yet to be determined," the meteorologist said. The storm brought some rain, though, "nothing very substantial on that end," Pearson noted. "There are reports of heavy rains at time. A half inch in some places. It fell quickly, but in terms of amounts, nothing substantial," he said. The weather service issued a tornado warnings in the Pottawattamie County around 3 p.m. that lasted until 5:30 p.m. As of 6 p.m., 18,610 MidAmerican Energy customers in Council Bluffs are without power. Police scanner traffic indicated multiple powerlines were downed by winds. Most area schools dismissed early Wednesday and cancelled after-school activities because of the ferocious winds that were forecast for late afternoon and evening. Council Bluffs Community Schools followed its usual Monday schedule, dismissing middle-schoolers at 12:50 p.m., high-schoolers at 1:35 p.m. and elementary students at 2:05 p.m. Lewis Central dismissed one hour early, as it usually does on Wednesday. Heartland Christian School dismissed at noon. Also dismissing early were Avoca-Hancock-Shelby-Tennant-Walnut, Griswold, Harlan, Missouri Valley, Tri-Center and Underwood Community Schools. Local Weather Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in 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. 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. The Royal Moroccan Navys Sigma-class frigate Allal Ben Abdallah (F 615) joined on Tuesday the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) in a maritime drill carried at the Strait of Gibraltar within the frame of the longstanding U.S.-Moroccan military cooperation ties existing between the two allies and partner countries. The largest American aircraft carrier has partnered with frigate Allal Ben Abdallah to transit the Strait of Gibraltar and enter the Mediterranean Sea during a regularly scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, Dec. 14, 2021, said the U.S. Navy in a press release. The transit with the Allal Ben Abdallah frigate comes after the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and its accompanying strike group departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, Dec. 1. It was a great experience for our team to sail alongside the Moroccan Royal Navy. Our carrier strike group proved once again today their versatility to enhance interoperability with like-minded partners in both training and real world operations, said Rear Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander Carrier Strike Group 8. With our Moroccan partners we certainly share the goal of fostering conditions for maritime security and stability in the region and to deter or counter those who threaten security anywhere in the world, he added While in U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, the HSTCSG works alongside allied and partner maritime forces, focusing on theater security cooperation efforts to further regional stability. Partnering with the Moroccan Navy through the Strait of Gibraltar demonstrates the strong maritime partnership with Morocco and commitment to international law, underlined the U.S. Navy. Previous at-sea engagement with the Moroccan Navy occurred with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Groups (IKE CSG) participation in Lightning Handshake, a bi-lateral maritime exercise between the U.S. and the Royal Moroccan Navy and Royal Moroccan Air Force conducted in March 2021. Alstom is investing 10.5 million in Morocco to build a new production line and develop capability in the country to manufacture on board transformers. It will be the second production line at Alstoms facility in Fez, which currently produces harnesses and electrical cabinets for rail and take up about 13,000 m2 of the facility and will be operational in 2023. The Fez plant will have a production capacity of up to 200 transformers per year. The transformers produced in Morocco will be installed on rolling stock in the Petit-Quevilly facility in France, Alstoms center of excellence for transformers. Production activities in Morocco will be supported by experts back in the Petit-Quevilly facility, which will also be in charge of technology transfer. The new facility will have ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification. We are excited to bring a new production capability in Morocco, specializing in on-board transformers for our rolling stock. This new investment demonstrates Alstoms commitment to strengthening its ties with Morocco and grow its industrial activity in the kingdom, said Nourddine Rhalmi Managing director of Alstom Morocco. Alstoms relationship with Morocco goes back a hundred years and we will continue to contribute to the development of Moroccos rail infrastructure for many more years to come, he added. With over 500 employees in Morocco, Alstom has been responsible for some major projects in the country, including the installation of signaling and the delivery of 190 Citadis X02 trams to the cities of Rabat (66 trams) and Casablanca (124 trams), 12 Avelia Euroduplex trains for the high-speed rail link between Tangier and Casablanca, and 77 Prima locomotives providing optimized solutions for freight, passenger and combined transport services. UNESCO integrated, this Wednesday, the Moroccan equestrian art of Tbourida to its intangible cultural heritage, a status allowing to preserve this ancient equestrian practice that is very popular in Morocco. The inscription of Tbourida on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was announced by UNESCOs Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee, which is examining during its current online session (dec.13 to 18) 55 new applications for registration submitted by the States Parties. Tbourida is part of the Moroccan national heritage and constitutes a major component of the practices related to the horse. This equestrian art, deeply rooted in the Moroccan culture, is associated with both national and regional festivities. Tbourida also crystallizes multiple dimensions of intangible cultural heritage, including rituals, skills and know-how related to the traditional dress, crafts, in addition to the oral legacy that is inseparable from this equestrian practice and the horse. Tbourida is a Moroccan equestrian performance dating back to the sixteenth century. It simulates a succession of military parades, reconstructed according to ancestral Arab-Amazigh conventions and rituals. Each tbourida is performed by a troupe made up of an odd number of riders and horses (between 15 and 25), UNESCO said in a press release, describing in detail the performance of this art. Moroccos Tbourida application file was officially submitted in 2019. This file was developed by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, in partnership with the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Horse (SOREC) and the Royal Moroccan Federation of Equestrian Sports. A powerful militia group in the Libyan capital Tripoli seized power on Wednesday night and cancelled the scheduled Dec. 24 elections, reports say. Forces belonging to Al-Samud brigade have taken control of the headquarters of the ministry of defense and the Presidential Council (PC), Tunisie Numerique reports citing local TV Al Ghad. Presidential elections will not be held in Libya and we will close all state institutions in Tripoli! the brigade said in a statement. Abdel Basset Marwan, head of the brigade that controls security in the Libyan capital has fired and arrested PC President Mohamed Younis Ahmed Al-Menfi. Other members of the council have also been arrested. The move reportedly came after Menfi, commander in Chief of armed forces, replaced Marwan. The oil-rich African country is inching steadily towards Dec. 24 crucial presidential elections expected to endow the North African country with a central leader since 2011 after a NATO-led uprising ousted former strong leader Muammar Gaddafi. Over 50 candidate including Gaddafis son Saif al Islam and rogue and retired General Khalifa Haftar who sways power over much of the countrys eastern region, have submitted their candidacies for the election. Several voices within Libya and outside have called for the postponement of the polls citing security concerns and electoral frauds. 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. Eagle viewing will pick up in during the winter as these majestic birds follow the waterfowl migration and search for open water. The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District provides free facilities for the public to view eagles and other wildlife from. Ogallalas eagle-viewing facility is just below the south end of Kingsley Dam at Lake Ogallala. The facility will be open on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, then every Saturday and Sunday through the end of February from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. MT. There are several eagles and waterfowl for great bird viewing. There are many eagles in the area so if you like to watch or photograph these big birds, now is your chance. Dont forget your binoculars when visiting. The Johnson No. 2 Hydro or J2 near Lexington has bleachers situated in front of large windows which look over the Supply Canal. Spotting scopes are provided, but you may want to bring you own binoculars there are attendants available to answer questions. The J2 hydroplant is located about seven miles south of Lexington near the intersection of county roads 749 and 750. Signs along area roads will help guide visitors to the plant. The J2 viewing area is open on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, then every Saturday and Sunday through the end of February from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. Families and businesses with healthy finances follow a budget. Families have to monitor their spending to meet day-to-day needs and be prepared for future expenses. Businesses have to keep costs lower than revenues to meet payroll and make a profit. State government is no different. We have to set a budget and stick to it to be successful. As public servants, we have a special obligation to be responsible with taxpayer dollars. Before I took office, state spending was growing at 6.5% a year an unsustainable pace. During my time as governor, the state has passed four budgets. Weve successfully limited the average annual rate of growth to 2.5%. At the same time, weve improved the delivery of government services to our customers the people of Nebraska. Weve also achieved strong economic growth in Nebraska. This has increased state revenues, which continue to surpass expectations. This combination of budget discipline and growth has made it possible for the state to deliver historic amounts of tax relief. Nebraskans will see over $2 billion of total tax relief over the next two years, including $1.9 billion in direct property tax relief. This is the equivalent of 20% of our general-fund budget going to tax relief. Ron DeSantis, anti-wokeness warrior. Photo: Orlando Sentinel/TNS Some left-of-center folk probably think the Great Critical-Race-Theory Scare of 2021 will just blow over once it becomes obvious that its proponents are fighting an imaginary war. The latest in a very old series of alarums over the alleged Marxist indoctrination of children by public schools, CRT has become the vague term for all sorts of social-science, history, and literature pedagogy that conservative parents and their activist allies find objectionable. But the anti-CRT crusade is only getting more virulent. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is now threatening to deploy the pernicious vigilante enforcement scheme of the Texas abortion law to encourage the harassment of schools or even corporate personnel that dare teach about the evils of racism. He held a rally-style media event on Wednesday to announce this authoritarian initiative (the Stop WOKE Act) on behalf of the alleged right to feel good about American history, as Politico explains: A key piece of the DeSantis proposal would give parents the power to sue local school districts that teach lessons rooted in critical race theory. This part, which also allows parents to collect attorney fees, is similar to the bounties permitted under Texas controversial abortion law. Under that law, ordinary citizens can sue those who provide abortions and collect attorney fees. Teaching anything related to CRT, mind you, has already been banned in Florida public schools since June. This new initiative would just create a witch-hunt atmosphere complete with financial incentives for nuisance lawsuits. And while it isnt entirely clear what DeSantis has in mind to encourage the harassment of those conducting corporate-diversity programs, he appears to want to make training programs with content on, say, white male privilege, an unfair labor practice. This is all about protecting regular working people from elites, you see. Per Politico: DeSantis announced the moves under a new Stop WOKE Act at a press conference held near The Villages, a bulwark of Republican support in central Florida. The event functioned more as a de facto campaign rally as a crowd of onlookers applauded loudly and waved signs handed out to them ahead of the event as DeSantis bashed liberal cities and states, and companies like Bank of America and Verizon, over their policies. Nobody wants this crap, DeSantis told the crowd. 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, he said. This initiative will undoubtedly please some corporate elites who would like an excuse to save some money in their HR budgets by no longer pretending to give a damn about racist or sexist conduct in the workplace. As for Florida teachers, why would any of them invite a lawsuit from the local MAGA commissar by suggesting their nation was anything other than the divinely blessed paradise of freedom and opportunity? DeSantis is providing a fine example of how todays conservatives can quickly pivot from whiny complaints about persecution by elites to the most aggressive kind of state action to promote their own reactionary cultural viewpoints. The Texas abortion law, with its bounties for right-wing litigation, has supplied an extra ingredient to the mix: Strike a blow against wokeness and get paid! And the whole overweening initiative is supposedly necessary to fight communism, as DeSantiss lieutenant governor asserted (per Florida Politics): Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, Education Secretary Richard Corcoran and various lawmakers and activists from around the state joined DeSantis for his announcement. Nunez invoked her parents, who left Cuba in 1961, saying they were fleeing the oppression and the indoctrination that we are seeing at the hands of CRT. Thats right: Allow any criticism of Jim Crow to creep into the classrooms, and next thing you know, the sugar plantations will be nationalized and people will be herded into camps. Better to shut it all down once and for all and let freedom ring. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. 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. oop Reply Thread Link would this have been recorded? i dont watch the bachelor so idk what happens on their overnight dates. im not surprised hes a liar wanting to spin stories his way. this stalker doesnt deserve a show. Reply Thread Link no, the overnight dates are the only time the cameras go down and arent recording. Reply Parent Thread Link ahh i figured thats what it meant. still, i believe tayshia over him. this def sounds like a story he thought he could embellish and that she wouldnt care. Reply Parent Thread Link I cant believe that idiot call her daddy host had him on and apparently spent the entire podcast kissing his ass. Call her daddy girl is so fucking useless and this creep should not have a platform Reply Thread Link He seems like an ass. Reply Thread Link knew this heffa was a flop when the most interesting quality about him was the fact that he didn't wear panties. Reply Thread Link i'm fairly sure it's not alleged stalking considering cassie actually got a restraining order. you can't get restraining order's without evidence/proof. so he did stalk her. Reply Thread Link You can. I think she got an emergency order of protection, which anyone can do. She did not pursue a long-term order, which would have required a court hearing. Still, he a creep. Reply Parent Thread Link I think it depends on the state? I got one for 2 years with no court date; he was just served right after my request was approved. I was also required to provide evidence; I had letters and photos of his creepy bullshit that I submitted via a computer in the gov building, right by my DMV, lol. Also, if I wanted approval immediately (as opposed to 24-48 hours) then I was going to have to appear in court. Also, wasnt he caught tracking her car with a device? Thats evidence right there. Reply Parent Thread Link My toxic trait is that i believe the one who spoke first Reply Thread Link But like, in this situation why would she need to specify what clothing he wore. It would be even weirder if she had specified first cause there's no need. Reply Parent Thread Link Why would she lie about this? Reply Parent Thread Link He did speak about it first, and he apparently said multiple times that he wore boxers. Reply Parent Thread Link My misandrist trait is that no matter the situation I always believe the woman first. Reply Parent Thread Link Colton Underwood did actually not sleep in sweats and a sweatshirt that night. In case everybody thats wondering Sorry, but who was wondering? Why does it matter? idgi. Reply Thread Link i've literally never heard of tayshia before but i will believe the word of a woman over a man who has allegedly stalked another woman. Reply Thread Link While I totally believe her, this seems like such a....non issue to be mad about? Yeah its stupid to even lie about what you did or didnt wear but I guess social media stans are trying to twist this against her? Reply Thread Link Bachelor folks continue to be the most cringeworthy individuals. Reply Thread Link idk either of them but i DO know his ex got a restraining order against him and in 99.99% of cases i will believe a woman over a man (esp a Black woman over a white man) Reply Thread Link I guess her point is that hes trying to rewrite history as if he wasnt fully doing The Bachelor to seek attention for himself and instead create a narrative thats more sympathetic? Idk but who cares really Reply Thread Link It's wild that anyone from the bachelor is famous. Like imagine being famous for DATING Reply Thread Link Extreme weather events resulting from the changing climate are threatening some 40 percent of the worlds recoverable oil and gas reserves, risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft has said in a new report. The portion is equal to some 600 billion barrels of oil equivalent, the reports authors also said. Some 10.5 percent of the global recoverable oil and gas reserves are located in places that were rated as extremely risky under the consultancys Climate Change Exposure Indices, while the other 29.5 percent were rated as highly risky. Among the events listed in the report are storms and floods, rising sea levels, and extreme temperatures. According to Verisk Maplecroft, OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Iraq are among the most vulnerable to these events. The Kingdom is under increased threat from droughts, sand storms, and extremely high temperatures, the authors noted. Together, these three countries account for almost a fifth of the worlds recoverable oil and gas reserves. The worse news is that the adverse effects have already begun to manifest, according to the authors of the report. The Texas Freeze from February this year and Hurricane Ida were among the examples. The Texas Freeze wrought havoc on the Texas oil and gas industry and left millions without power and heat, while Hurricane Ida caused a record 55 spills in the Gulf of Mexico, production outages, and outages in the refining industry on the Gulf Coast. These types of events?are going to become more frequent and more extreme, creating even greater shocks within the industry, the reports authors said. But Identifying and disclosing these risks in line with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations is now a strategic necessity for energy companies if they are to mitigate these threats and offset?investor concerns over their transition to a low carbon future. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Secretary Granholm's remarks at the National Petroleum Council signal a complete U-turn, even as prices have remained lower, meaning the administration may not have had an immediate need to mend fences with oil and gas. The Biden Administration is now reportedly looking to work with Big Oil to find future-facing solutions for the countrys sky-high gasoline prices. A rumor has been circulating that the White House was considering an export ban on crude oil, but the administration has just shut it down. When Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna told media the White House was considering an export ban on crude oil, West Texas Intermediate was trading above $80 per barrel, gas prices were sky-high, and that same White House was running out of options. Now, WTI is trading at below $70 per barrel, gas prices are down nationally, and the export ban on crude is off the table. The message was delivered by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to the oil industry itself, with her also insisting that the Biden administration was "not a bogeyman." "I do not want to fight with any of you," Granholm said at the National Petroleum Council, which included Big Oil majors such s Exxon and Shell, as quoted by Bloomberg. "I do think it's much more productive to work together on future-facing solutions." "I heard you loud and clear and so has the White House," Granholm also said, referring to the export ban. "We wanted to put that rumor to rest." Reports emerged last week that the White House was no longer considering an export ban. That happened after a bipartisan group of eight House Representatives countered Khanna's call for a ban on oil exports with a call on the White House to not resort to this. The group went on to detail why an export ban on oil was a bad ideabecause it would ultimately lead to higher prices by cutting off the supply of U.S. crude to global markets. "That proposal does absolutely nothing to alleviate higher prices or to make prices lower than in any sort of relative sense," petroleum economist Karr Ingham from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers and creator of the Texas Petroleum Index said in November when the idea first floated into the spotlight. That same group encouraged the administration to work with the oil industry instead of against it and have local companies boost production. This is the same message the industry has been sending the White House, but it has been a message that has largely remained ignored until now. Now, Secretary Granholm's remarks at the National Petroleum Council signal a complete U-turn, even as prices have remained lower, meaning the administration may not have had an immediate need to mend fences with oil and gas. "While I understand you may disagree with some of our policies, it doesn't mean the Biden administration is standing in the way of your efforts to help meet current demand," Granholm told the industry. Granholm then went on to directly ask the industry to pump more oil, citing the woes of the average American driver. "Consumers, as you know, are hurting at the pump," Granholm said, as quoted by Argus Media. "I hope you will hear me say that please, take advantage of the leases that you have, hire workers, get your rig count up." Related: Oil Prices Under Pressure Despite An Optimistic Outlook Ironically, as the administration hands an olive branch to the energy industry, it faces a backlash from its own voters. Liberal news outlet Grist earlier this week reported that the Biden administration had not in fact been obliged to hold the Gulf of Mexico lease sale that it held in November, and that was the largest ever such lease sale. According to the administration, it was mandated to hold the lease sale because of a court ruling that suspended its moratorium on federal land oil and gas drilling. Yet, the Grist reports, a memo filed in August, months before the auction by the Department of Justice, or DOJ, contradicts the administration's public claims. While the court's order did lift Biden's complete pause on new drilling permits, it did not force the government to issue any new ones, the DOJ found, as first noted by the Daily Poster and reported by the Guardian. That could put the White House in an uncomfortable situation, given its prioritization of energy policies aiming to reduce carbon emissions and reduce the U.S. economy's dependence on fossil fuels. The lease sale brought in close to $192 million for 308 blocks in the Gulf of Mexico, out of total bids worth $198 million. The money raised in the lease would go to the Department of Treasury as well as the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Some of the money would go to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and to the Historic Preservation Fund. It may be that the White House has realized a simple fact that is useful for all parties involved. Oil and gas companies pay for leases, and then they pay royalties to the federal and state governments for every barrel of oil and cubic foot of gas they produce. Oil and gas companies, in other words, bring quite a lot of money into the state coffers. It is certainly better to have these companies on your side than see them shrink their royalty-paying operations. "I firmly believe those that embrace the change rather than fighting it will be rewarded on the other side," Granholm told the oil business as she invited it to join the administration in fighting the effects of climate change. Now, this may be interpreted both as an invitation to work together and as a warning not to antagonize the administration. It's certainly interesting how the industry would interpret it. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Another new long-term contract for Qatar to supply China with liquefied natural gas (LNG) was signed last week, this time between QatarEnergy and Guangdong Energy Group Natural Gas Co for one million tons per annum of LNG starting 2024 and ending in 2034, although it can be extended. We are pleased to enter into this long-term supply agreement with Guangdong Energy Group and look forward to establishing a successful and mutually rewarding relationship, said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the minister of energy affairs, and the president and chief executive officer of QatarEnergy. As hinted at in this comment, Qatars relationship with China is broader and deeper than just LNG and the extent of the two countries LNG dealings over the last year provides a figurative barometer for the closeness of their relationship in this highly sensitive area of the Middle East. This is particularly concerning for Washington, given that the U.S. huge Al Udeid airbase in Qatar is a forward operating headquarters of its Central Command (CentComm). Qatar has long eschewed unequivocally aligning itself further with the U.S. directly or with any of its proxies in the Middle East, most notably Saudi Arabia. In January 2019, when it left OPEC after 60 years as a member, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi stated that the decision was: Not political, it was purely a business decision for Qatars future strategy towards the energy sector. It was, though, in reality, a highly political decision, founded partly on disaffection with being caught in the negative economic fallout of Saudi Arabias disastrous but repeated - attempts to destroy or disable the U.S.s shale oil sector through oil price wars, as analyzed in-depth in my new book on the global oil markets. This antipathy towards toeing the Saudis idiotic strategies was bolstered when Saudi Arabia attempted to cause Qatar further direct economic damage by instigating a blockade against it from June 2017 (to January 2021), supposedly for providing support to various Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar publicly acknowledged that this was true as far as the Muslim Brotherhood went but privately railed at the hypocrisy of the Saudis. In this context and one of the crucial reasons why the initial public offering of Saudi state flagship hydrocarbons company, Aramco, was not able to list in any major international financial center Qatar alluded to Saudi Arabias own suspected links to terrorism, with 15 of the 19 hijackers in the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. being Saudi nationals. Another reason and arguably an even more important one for Qatar avoiding further alignment with the U.S. directly or indirectly, is its inextricable links to Iran, Saudi Arabias (and the US.s nemesis) in the region. Even a cursory understanding of the global hydrocarbons market would indicate that this co-operation is required due to Qatar and Iran sharing a huge natural gas field (the 3,700 square kilometer South Pars site on the Iran side and the 6,000 square kilometer North Dome site on the Qatar side) and that Qatar has little choice but to co-ordinate policies and activities relating to it. Qatar had long accused Iran, with good reason, of over-exploiting its side of the worlds largest natural gas field to the detriment of Qatars ability in the future to tap the gas reserves on its side, particularly as Qatar had a moratorium over further development of North Dome from 2005 until the end of the first quarter of 2017. Following the U.S.s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran in May 2018, senior figures from Irans Petroleum Ministry and Qatars Energy Ministry began a series of meetings to agree on a new North Dome-South Pars joint development plan. Related: European Gas Prices Soar On Nord Stream 2 Block In Germany It covered two main areas: first, Iran agreed to stop the aggressive recovery tactics that it had been using along the border areas [demarcating South Pars and North Field] and second Qatar agreed to sit down with the Chinese and the Russians to discuss the future co-ordination of gas export destinations for Iranian, Qatari and Russian gas flows, marketing and pricing, a senior source who works closely with Irans Petroleum Ministry told OilPrice.com. At that time, Iran and China were talking about expanding the scope of the previously agreed 25-year deal between them and Russia was keen to ensure the smooth continuation of its own gas supplies to China [principally via the US$400 billion 30-year deal agreed in May 2014] and to ensure that Iranian gas did not take the place of Russian gas and influence in Europe, he added. One of the core elements that was agreed at these meetings was that Iran would not continue with developments on its side of the reservoir in South Pars that might damage the Qatari gas take from its North Dome field, leaving Qatar free to increase its LNG export volumes with a guaranteed buyer in China, and Iran in the meantime would receive assistance as and when required from Qatar on building out its own LNG capabilities, he underlined. Following this, Qatar did indeed announce that it was to embark on a dramatic expansion in the development of its North Dome field, and its state corporate proxy Qatar Petroleum (QP) announced a targeted increase in its LNG production by 2024 to around 110 mtpa from the current 77 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) or so and then to 126 mtpa by 2027. This would be done in the first part by building four new mega-train production facilities of just over eight mtpa each, with invitations to bid for the whole or parts of this project sent out in August 2019, although QP reserved the right to go it alone. Given the previously long-running Asian LNG premium over trading hub prices, Qatar understandably is focussing on increasing its share in the Asian market, and China especially. Indeed, there is a slew of new LNG-related projects planned across the region and, according to the International Energy Agency, Southeast Asian countries especially will increasingly drive LNG demand in the coming 10 years, with the region set to become a major net gas importer by 2040, at around 10 bcm of gas. Given this, there has been a swathe of deals between Qatar and China in the LNG sector, with an early notable example that set a template for subsequent deals being the long-term purchase and sales agreement by the China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) and Qatar Petroleum for 2 mtpa of LNG for a term of 10 years. Following these early deals with China, Qatar then signed LNG supply agreements with Iranian (and Chinese and Russian) ally, Pakistan specifically, a 10-year sale and purchase agreement for Qatar Petroleum to supply the Pakistan State Oil Company with up to 3 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG to various ports in the country. This agreement builds on the earlier deal signed in 2016 for Qatar to supply Pakistan with 3.75 mtpa of LNG and came at around the same time as close Pakistan ally, Bangladesh, made a similar deal with Qatar. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Green bond issuance is expected to reach an all-time high of $500bn this year. In a year in which significant political efforts have been made to speed up the energy transition, 2021 has also been record-breaking for green finance, as governments, international institutions, and lenders alike seek to support the shift towards renewables. Mirroring developments that are expected to see new renewable energy generation capacity reach an all-time annual high of 290 GW this year, the issuance of green bonds financial instruments that fund environmentally sustainable projects is forecast to reach a record-breaking level of $500bn this year, according to the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI). This is a 46% increase on last years figure of $270bn, which itself was an all-time record. Emblematic of the increased appetite for sustainable finance was the EUs $14bn issuance of green bonds in October, the largest ever of its kind. The money raised will be distributed among member states, to be used for clean energy projects and developments that help governments achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. While Europe is a leader in the issuance of green bonds, a number of emerging markets have also made significant progress on this front. For example, in April Saudi tourism project developer The Red Sea Development Company secured a SR14.1bn ($3.8bn) green bond from four Saudi banks, with the funds to go towards building 16 renewable energy-powered hotels across the country. Meanwhile, in a sign of the green potential of Islamic finance, in June Indonesia raised a $3bn sovereign sukuk (Islamic bond) that will help fund sustainable development projects. Highlighting the potential future growth of the segment, the CBI predicts that green bond issuances will crack the $1trn mark in 2023. Social, sustainability, and blue finance Although green bonds are the most prominent form of climate-focused finance, the development and expansion of a number of other innovative financial instruments has also supported the shift towards decarbonization. For example, social bonds which raise money for projects with positive social outcomes and sustainability bonds a mix of green and social bonds have grown dramatically over the past two years on the back of attempts to build a sustainable platform for post-coronavirus economic growth. Elsewhere, blue bonds have also gained traction throughout 2021, even while they account for a considerably smaller portion of market share. Similar in their function to green bonds, blue bonds are debt instruments issued to support investment in marine-friendly initiatives and the blue economy. Following the launch of the worlds first sovereign blue bond in 2018, when the Seychelles raised $15m from international investors to help fund the expansion of marine areas and improved governance of the fisheries industry, a number of institutions have since launched their own. For instance, in September the Asian Development Bank (ADB) issued its first-ever blue bond, a $151m, 15-year issue that will finance ocean-related projects in Asia and the Pacific. Meanwhile, in one of the more innovative developments in recent times, in September Belize launched a debt-for-nature swap as part of a strategy to restructure its sole sovereign bond. The proposal consisted of Belize buying back its debt at a significant discount in exchange for increasing efforts to protect its marine environment. While it was not the first debt-for-nature swap Bolivia made the first such deal in 1987 the development could set a precedent for emerging markets looking to raise funds, particularly given the increasing focus on environmental, social, and governance metrics. In particular, these tools are likely to appeal to island or coastal emerging markets, such as those in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific, many of which have suffered economically in recent years as Covid-19 gave rise to a sharp decline in tourism. Funding the transition In addition to funding new environmentally friendly projects, global financial markets have also turned to specific tools designed to ensure a responsible transition towards low-carbon sources of energy. One of these is the transition bond. A relatively new class of debt instrument, transition bonds are used to fund a companys transition towards reduced environmental impact or lower carbon emissions. They are often issued in fields that would not normally qualify for green bonds, such as large carbon-emitting industries like oil and gas, iron and steel, chemicals, aviation, and shipping. Related: European Gas Prices Soar On Nord Stream 2 Block In Germany Although still a nascent segment, there were 14 transition bond issuances worth $5bn in the first nine months of the year, according to the CBI, accounting for more than half of the $9.9bn issued since their inception in 2018. Elsewhere, the UN Climate Change Convention (COP26), held in Glasgow in November, provided a boost to other transition-related solutions. Amid other emissions-based pledges, world leaders also agreed to reform global carbon markets and agree on a universal set of rules for carbon trading, seen as key tools in the transition towards decarbonization. In fact, many expect the development to lead to an increase in climate-friendly investment in lower-income nations. Also in November, France, Germany, the UK, the US, and the EU announced a groundbreaking plan to help fund South Africas energy transition. With an initial commitment of $8.5bn, the partnership aims to save 1-1.5 gigatonnes of emissions over the next 20 years by accelerating South Africas shift away from coal and towards low-emission sources of energy. Turning away from fossil fuels The increase in demand for sustainable finance has naturally coincided with a move away from funding fossil fuel projects. Indeed, on the sidelines of COP26 where signatories agreed to phase down the use of coal, among other climate-focused commitments 34 countries and four international finance institutions signed up to a separate pledge to end financing for unabated fossil fuel projects in overseas countries by the end of 2022. This followed similar commitments made by China, Japan, and South Korea, while earlier this year the ADB announced that it would no longer fund coal mining or oil and natural gas production and exploration. In addition to governments and international institutions, a number of banks and major financial institutions including HSBC, Fidelity International, and Ethos also agreed to end the funding of unabated coal at the Glasgow conference. In this, it joins major lenders like Citibank, which in April announced that it would stop financing thermal coal mining, with a view to eliminating its credit exposure entirely by 2030. These examples have highlighted how large financial institutions can play a key role in the energy transition. On a similar note, the insurance industry has a potentially significant role to play in the shift towards decarbonization. In July eight of the worlds largest insurers and reinsurers AXA, Allianz, Aviva, Generali, Munich Re, SCOR, Swiss Re, and Zurich established the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance, a UN-convened body that has the goal of transitioning their underwriting portfolios to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Related: Half Of U.S. Oil Pipelines Sit Empty This follows action from some global frontrunners such as Australian insurance giant Suncorp, which in 2019 announced that it would no longer invest in, finance, or insure new thermal coal mines or power plants, and that it would not underwrite any existing thermal coal projects after 2025. The company then went a step further last year, saying that it would no longer directly finance or insure new oil and gas projects, and that it would also phase out financing and underwriting for oil and gas exploration or production by 2025. Combatting greenwashing While broadly welcomed globally, these shifts towards green finance have increased calls for updated and more stringent rules on what constitutes sustainable finance. Although many countries, institutions, and stock exchanges have their own rules, there are concerns that a lack of universal guidelines could lead to widespread greenwashing from governments and private corporations alike, particularly in light of the rapid growth in green finance. To help address the situation, in recent months China and the EU have collaborated on developing joint green investment standards, releasing a report in November that outlined how green investment guidelines could be aligned. While still at an early stage, this type of cooperation is seen as necessary to facilitate the growth of green finance in the future. By Oxford Business Group More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The German regulator reviewing the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not make a decision before July 2022, the president of the regulator said on Thursday, in another setback for the Russia-led project that could send European gas prices higher. In the middle of November, Germany said it had suspended the process of certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The Federal Network Agency of Germany, Bundesnetzagentur, suspended the procedure to certify Nord Stream 2 AG as an independent transmission operator until an operator of the pipeline in Germany is incorporated under German law. The network agencys president Jochen Homann said on Thursday that A decision wont be made in the first half of 2022, as carried by Bloomberg. The agency will resume the certification process as soon as the criteria it had set in its rationale for suspending the procedure are met. Bundesnetzagentur is still waiting for the pipeline project operator Nord Stream 2 AG to submit documents, Homann said at a press conference. In response to Bloomberg, Nord Stream 2 AG declined to comment on details of the procedure, its possible duration and impacts on the timing of the start of the pipeline operations. The pipeline construction is completed, but Nord Stream 2 is awaiting full regulatory clearance from Germany and a review by the European Union over its compliance with EU energy regulations. Some analysts and EU officials have attributed the inconsistent Russian gas supply to Europe in recent weeks to Moscow using gas as leverage to get Nord Stream 2 approved. Earlier this week, Europes gas prices surged again to near-record highs after Germany indicated it had no intention of approving Nord Stream 2 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 governments decision on the matter. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The price of WTI crude rose nearly 2% on Thursday on EIA reports that U.S. implied petroleum products demand had risen to record heights. U.S. implied petroleum products demand rose to 23.191 million bpd for week ending December 10. The previous record was set during week ending August 27 of this year, which reached fresh highs of 22.820 million bpd. The increase in demand for petroleum products inspired fresh optimism in the market, as uncertainty in the markets faded after the Federal Reserves announcement. The price of a barrel of WTI rose to $72.04, up $1.17 (+1.65%) on the day. The price of a Brent barrel also increased despite measures taken to thwart the new Omicron variant, rising to $74.76, up $0.88 (+1.19%) on the day. Oil prices are now at a three-week high. The price moves come just days after Saudi Arabias energy minister warned traders not to short oil as they did over Thanksgiving. To prevent such actions, the OPEC+ group left open its previous meeting in case it needed to make last-minute changes to its production strategy. Currently, the group is slated to increase production by 400,000 bpd starting in January. But excessive shorts or falling prices could prompt the group to curb those production increase plans. Indeed, leaving the meeting open and in a suspended state, and Saudi Arabias warnings to shorters that betting against oil would leave traders ouching like hell have lent support to oil prices. The oil price rise is somewhat tempered by fears of an Omicron surge that some argue is, at this point, unstoppable. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil and gas industry tycoon Harold Hamm has a dream. In that dream, the Harold Hamm Foundation and Continental Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLR), donate $50 million to Oklahoma State University to create the Hamm Institute for American Energy. Only its not a dream. Hamm and Continental will indeed have pledged these millions to create an American energy institute in the heart of Oklahoma. The Institute will educate the next generation of energy leaders in Oklahoma, the United States, and around the world, returning Oklahoma to its former glory as a global energy leader. The Institute will have a state-of-the-art lab created just for oil and gascomplete with wells drilled below the building, according to a press release from t OSU. It would be one of a kind. The Institute is significant in another way as well. As the ESG movement picks up steam and some oil and gas companies dip their toes into renewable waters, an institute devoted to oil and gas could initially be seen by some as out of touch or tone-deaf. But the future of oil and gas decades from now is still seen by many as near-certain. Related: Average Production Per U.S. Oil Rig Has Soared 81% Since 2019 One of the goals of the Institute would be to solve one of societys most pressing concerns, adding that it would change the trajectory of energy security in the United States. The Hamm Institute will ensure America leads the world when it comes to advancing innovation and technology while responsibly producing the energy we need for decades to come, the press release reads. It is part of the Continental missionto find, nurture and inspire the next generation of energy leaders. We envision the Hamm Institute for American Energy to be the epicenter of learning, research and energy innovation for decades to come, Continental Resources CEO Bill Berry said. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The governor's office defended its actions as following the law. Weve not reviewed the attorney generals full filing, but the Louisiana Department of Health is well within its legal authority on adding the COVID vaccine to the immunization schedule, where it will be treated like all other vaccines and parents may choose to opt their children out of it, Edwards spokesperson Christina Stephens said in a statement. Edwards and his public health advisers have repeatedly argued that the vaccine is safe and effective and getting more children vaccinated would help save lives. In his letter to the committee, the governor 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. And he's stressed that Louisiana's law provides broad exemptions to the immunization schedule. Already, many of Louisianas colleges have begun requiring the vaccine or an exemption request. 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. The illicit industry is generating billions of dollars in profits and is financed by well-heeled foreign criminal gangs and drug cartels, law enforcement officials said. Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler told lawmakers the cartels have a business model: Put up more cannabis illegal grows than law enforcement can ever get. They know were going to get some, but they know we cant get it all. A farmer in southern Oregon who used a creek for irrigating his crops before it ran dry because an illegal pot farm siphoned off the water, all while the West deals with a climate-change-fueled drought blames the state for not having enough inspectors to determine which cannabis farms claiming to be hemp really are growing hemp. He spoke on condition he not be identified because he worries the cartels could retaliate against him. The farmer also blames landowners for selling or leasing property to bad actors. If somebody walks onto your property with a suitcase with $100,000 in $20 bills, you kind of know they're not on the up and up. And if you take that money and allow them to do something on your land, you should probably anticipate that theyre there to break the law, he said. Teague said she disagreed with the proposal to extend the 5th District into Richland County, noting that district has become dominated by the suburbs south of Charlotte, North Carolina, which is a very different area. Teague also said the House plan increases the total minority population for the 6th District, which has been drawn to have a majority of minority voters since Clyburn was first elected there in 1992. That creates an unnecessary minority population imbalance, she said. The committee didnt take a vote on the map Thursday, and lawmakers made few comments on the proposal. Committee Chairman Jay Jordan said the panel will meet again after Christmas to solicit more input, which he emphasized is just a starting point. We've noticed those map proposals go through the multiple stages of this process they seem to have a tendency to get worse, Teague said. We would really love to see this one get better." Lawmakers from both chambers will eventually collaborate to come up with a final version of the map. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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. 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. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Addressing a group of visiting French lawmakers, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called Wednesday for greater unity among democratic nations in the face of rising authoritarianism. Tsai also said the self-governing island republic would take on greater responsibilities to contribute to regional and global peace and stability. Democratic allies should strengthen cooperation when facing challenges such as swift changes in international affairs and expansion of authoritarianism," Tsai said during the meeting at the Presidential Office Building. Taiwan will take on its responsibilities in the international society and expects to contribute more to the Indo-Pacific regions peace and stability, as well as the worlds prosperity and development, along with France and other like-minded partners in the European Union, she said. The visit by the six members of the French National Assembly offers a valuable opportunity for Tsai to address an international political audience in the face of Chinas efforts to isolate the island it claims as its own territory with no right to diplomatic recognition. This story will be updated. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) The remaining members of a missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago have been freed, Haiti police and the group said Thursday. The spokesman for Haiti's National Police, Gary Desrosiers, confirmed to The Associated Press that the remaining hostages had been released, but did not immediately provide additional details. "We glorify God for answered prayer the remaining 12 hostages are FREE!" Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement. "Join us in praising God that all 17 of our loved ones are now safe." The Ohio group said it hopes to provide more information later. The missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There were five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization. The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang had threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands are met. Authorities had said the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasn't immediately clear that included the children in the group. 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. Former McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook has paid back more than $105 million in equity awards and cash to the burger giant after it learned that he had lied about the extent of his misconduct while he was its top executive. During my tenure as CEO, I failed at times to uphold McDonalds values and fulfill certain of my responsibilities as a leader of the company, Easterbrook said in a prepared statement issued Thursday by McDonalds. I apologize to my former co-workers, the board and the companys franchisees and suppliers for doing so. McDonalds fired Easterbrook in late 2019 after he acknowledged exchanging videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee. At the time of his firing, Easterbrook told the company there were no other similar instances and an inspection of his cell phone seemed to back that up. McDonalds board approved a separation agreement without cause that allowed Easterbrook to keep tens of millions in stock-based benefits and other compensation. National Audubon Society spokeswoman Diana Lee said the layoffs were due to the impacts of the pandemic. The release also cited reporting from the news outlet Politico, which reported that the National Audubon Society, with about 600,000 members, allegedly maintained a culture of retaliation, fear and antagonism toward women and people of color. The organization also has grappled with the fact that its namesake, John James Audubon, was a slaveholder and staunch opponent of abolition, the Associated Press reported in July. We have been working towards this day for over a year, going up against mass layoffs, anti-union rhetoric and leadership transitions. But we remained strong because we know a union is essential to improving Audubons culture and furthering our mission to protect the birds, said Cacey Wilken, a conservation field technician at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center in Denton, Nebraska, in the press release. In a statement, Audubon CEO Elizabeth Gray said the national organization respects employees decision to unionize. 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. 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. The 25-month, $147.3 million emergency contract was scheduled to expire on Feb. 28, 2023. Concerns were raised about the contract since it was first signed. St. Francis has struggled to meet the requirements of the contract, including ongoing failure to get enough caseworkers to meet state caseload limits. A shortage of staff contributed to falling short on other performance measures. But the consultants report said the previous decade of privatization in the Omaha area had not shown advantages, compared with the rest of the state, in keeping children safe and succeeding in getting them back home or into adoptive families in a timely manner. BLOOMINGTON The McLean County Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday announced Jim Shirk, managing director of Beer Nuts, as their 2021 Legacy of Excellence Honoree. Shirk will be recognized Feb. 5 during the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Gala, along with the finalists for this year's Business Excellence Awards, according to a news release from the chamber. In addition to his legacy at Beer Nuts, Shirk has been instrumental in the creation of other businesses in real estate and agriculture, and the development of the Shirk Family Foundation, the news release stated. Following Law School at the University of Illinois and a year practicing law in Chicago, Shirk and his wife Linda returned to Bloomington-Normal to carry on the business his father started. He has served on the boards for the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Wesleyan University; on various foundation boards at Illinois State University; and and on the building committee for the YMCA. Finalists for the Business Excellence Awards from the chamber include the following: Micro Business Carls Pro Band Majestic Interior Design Moxii Marketing Solutions OhmFit Activewear Scritchlow Enterprises Small Business Grove Street Bakery Heartland Foot & Ankle Associates K-9 Country Club Kickapoo Drilling Co. Tarvins Culligan Water Conditioning Large Business Bridgestone CEFCU Meyer Capel Westminster Village Wilber Group New & Emerging Business Ancho & Agave CRAFTED Commons Mid America Insurance, a division of Ledgestone Associates Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling VisionPoint Eye Center Nonprofit Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal Habitat for Humanity McLean County Heartland Head Start Project Oz The Salvation Army Recipients will be honored at the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Gala on Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Illinois State University Brown Ballroom. Tickets are $150 per person and may be purchased at www.mcleancochamber.org or by calling (309) 829-1188. This story has been corrected to say that the chamber has announced the Business Excellence Award finalists, with the winners to be announced during the gala in February. Contact Robyn Skaggs at (309) 820-3244. 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. NORMAL Rivian Automotive plans to spend $5 billion to build a battery and manufacturing center in Georgia, the company's second after the assembly plant in west Normal, it was announced Thursday. The Georgia governor's office said it marks the largest economic development project in state history and will be Rivian's largest manufacturing facility, producing up to 400,000 vehicles a year, starting in 2024. We know that today is just the start of a generational partnership that will benefit not only this great company but also our great state, said Gov. Brian Kemp during a press conference near the state Capitol. Kemp called the announcement a pivotal moment for our state, one that will give countless hardworking Georgians the opportunity to succeed and achieve the American dream. The Southern California-based electric vehicle startup has been scouting locations, with reports of possibilities including sites in Arizona and Michigan, for the factory. Fort Worth, Texas, offered a $440 million incentive package for the project. Details about the Georgia incentive package were not immediately available. Kemp said incentives are a significant part of any deal like this where states are competing for a major project, but Georgia had more to offer. There's a lot of states that can give cash, incentives and other things, but if you don't have a good site, if you don't have good logistics and if you especially don't have a good workforce, none of that matters, he told reporters after the announcement. What I sold to them was speed to market and workforce. Rivian Chief People Officer Helen Russell, in the statement on Thursday, said: "Were excited for Georgians to bring their creativity and ideas to Rivian. Were confident that, alongside Illinois, Georgia is the place for Rivian to continue to scale and thrive." In announcing the Georgia project, Rivian said plans are in the works for a 623,000-square-foot expansion in Normal, which will bring the total footprint to 4 million square feet and a capacity of 200,000 vehicles a year. An additional 800-1,000 employees will be hired by the middle of 2022, the company said. Rivian has been steadily amassing land for future expansions at the Normal site, a former Mitsubishi plant purchased in 2017. The company's R1T pickup truck, R1S sport-utility vehicle and an electric delivery vehicle are being assembled there, after years in development and billions of dollars invested. The Georgia announcement came the same day the company reported a $1.23 billion net loss in the third quarter due to costs from starting production of the R1T. The vehicle, with a base price of $67,500, launched in September and was recently named Motor Trends 2022 truck of the year. The company 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 earnings report said revenue was $1 million from deliveries of 11 pickups. Orders increased to 71,000 as of Wednesday. Normal Mayor Chris Koos on Thursday said Rivians Georgia expansion is good news for the company and will allow them to keep up as demand increases. Its very fulfilling to see them go from concept to actual manufacturing of vehicles. Were very, very proud of what theyve been able to do in a short period of time, Koos said Thursday afternoon. Last week, Koos indicated the Twin Cities are in talks with other Central Illinois municipal leaders on how to solidify the region as a powerhouse for economic development. He said Bloomington-Normal can leverage recent successes like Rivian and Ferrero, which broke ground in October on its first chocolate processing facility in North America. I think there are a lot of factors for why Illinois made sense (for Rivian), Koos said Thursday. It made sense to Mitsubishi years ago. The fact that we have such good infrastructure, we have a strong transportation network, we have an educated work force theres just a lot here that makes that work. The expansion puts Rivian on the same playing field as other global competitors such as GM and Ford, said Patrick Hoban, president and CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. "For us, it's brand recognition form the company itself," said Hoban. "Rivian still has plans to expand here, so this is not an either-or type of situation. We're looking forward to their continued growth in Bloomington-Normal and the state of Georgia." The Associated Press contributed to this story. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BLOOMINGTON A former State Farm employee is suing the insurance giant, accusing the Bloomington company of discrimination and retaliation. Carla Campbell-Jackson, a Black woman and now a Normal resident, was terminated after 28 years with State Farm because she complained about State Farms rampant culture of racism and discrimination which permeated throughout her time at State Farm, creating a hostile work environment," according to the lawsuit filed Dec. 9 in the Western Michigan District court. The suit was filed in Michigan because Campbell-Jackson was working at a State Farm office in Portage, Michigan, at the time of the offenses claimed. A State Farm spokeswoman on Wednesday said "these allegations do not align with our values. State Farm is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment, where all customers and associates are treated with fairness, respect and dignity." Campbell-Jackson is expected to hold a news conference Thursday to announce this lawsuit in which she is demanding a jury, with her attorneys Robert McLaughlin and Steven Hart of Chicago and Ben Crump, a nationally-known civil rights attorney who has represented the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Jelani Day and several other high-profile cases. According to a statement from Crump's office, he represents more than 50 current and former State Farm employees in racial discrimination cases. Among her claims against the company, Campbell-Jackson alleges she noticed a trend in 2015 that indicated minority group members claims were systematically and illegally denied by State Farm. When she reported the trend to human resources and an anonymous reporting system, her concerns were either ignored or met with outright hostility by State Farm. The lawsuit includes an excerpt from a letter believed to be sent by a group of State Farm employees to Campbell-Jackson and other minority employees in April 2016. Explicitly racist language is used in the letter, which also states, They really do not want minorities at State Farm, but the executives have to keep it inside. After she reported the letter, Campbell-Jackson was terminated from her position as a claims section manager, which she believes was in retaliation. State Farm later offered her a $175,000 settlement, which she rejected, according to the lawsuit. In May 2016, Campbell-Jackson filed a charge against State Farm with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging Title VII civil rights violations. On Feb. 5, 2021, the EEOC issued a determination of reasonable cause in the charge, which means the agency found evidence that gave reason to believe discrimination did occur. The reasonable cause determination was followed by efforts to resolve the charges through voluntary means, a process known as conciliation. Those efforts failed June 11, when, according to the EEOCs online records, conciliation was unsuccessful and notice of a right to sue was issued to Campbell-Jackson. In June, Campbell-Jackson provided to The Pantagraph a copy of a proposed conciliation agreement that she said was issued by the agency. Its terms called for State Farm to pay Campbell-Jackson $464,631.10 in back pay and damages, and recommended additional training on discrimination, harassment, retaliation and related topics for 10 State Farm employees. When The Pantagraph reported conciliation was considered unsuccessful, a State Farm spokeswoman gave the same statement she gave Wednesday evening. On Wednesday, Campbell-Jackson gave a brief statement to The Pantagraph, noting her legal team will provide additional details at the press conference. "My legal team consists of the most brilliant legal minds, and civil rights advocates, in America," she said. "Until then, I will simply reiterate that the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is the EEOC, determined that there was a reasonable cause that State Farm Insurance Company violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended." Campbell-Jackson, who serves as vice president of the Bloomington-Normal chapter of the NAACP, will be joined Thursday by state and local NAACP leaders in Chicago at the headquarters for the Rainbow People United to Save Humanity , the nonprofit organization led by civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer. Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 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. EUREKA Prospective students from across the state can now qualify for The Uniquely Eureka Illinois Promise at Eureka College, which covers tuition for eligible students. All students from the state can now qualify. The college held a press conference on Wednesday to announce the expansion. The program had previously only been open to transfer students and a select number of high schools in Central Illinois east of Peoria. We embrace this as one of the many things that make us unique, Eureka President Jamel Wright said during the event. The scholarship is only available to students who meet academic and financial requirements, including a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher and an expected family contribution of 1,000 or less. The expected family contribution is an index number used by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to measure how much a family can contribute to a students college expenses. Participants also have to be eligible for federal Pell grants and Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants. The college uses these as revenue, since it is not receiving tuition dollars from the students. The scholarship does not cover additional fees charged by the school, only tuition. Eurekas tuition for the 2021-22 school year is $27,450, with fees for commuter students coming to $1,310. Residential student fees can come to around $11,750, depending on the room and meal plan the student chooses. Goals of the program include increasing access to college for low-income and first-generation students, as well as reducing workforce gaps in the state. Many of those gaps that have emerged require a bachelors degree, Wright said. Vice President for Finance and Facilities Craig Maynard said 38 Promise students are enrolled at Eureka this year. The colleges total enrollment this fall was 476. It has been declining over the past several years, having been 672 in the fall of 2016 and more than 690 the year before. The college expects to see high interest in the scholarship, with students from low-income backgrounds flocking to Eureka, Wright said. The program targets demographics that are already a large part of Eurekas student body, said Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management Cindy Sisson. First-generation students make up around 46% of Eureka students. All students receive some amount of financial aid. Wright pointed out that Eurekas most famous alumnus, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, was himself a first-generation, low-income student. Eureka started the Promise program in 2018 with just transfer students. Since then it has added high school graduates from specific high schools in the area and a select number of out-of-state high schools, mostly in neighboring states. Area politicians commended Eureka for expanding the program. State Sen. Jason Barickman sent a staff member to join Wednesday's press conference, and U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood and State Rep. Tom Bennett sent their congratulations. These students will now have the chance to see what those of us who have worked with Eureka College over the years already know, Bennett said in a video to the college. Kerri Berry, the first Promise student to graduate from Eureka with honors, joined college administrators at the press conference. Berry grew up in Peoria and attended Illinois Central College after graduating from Peoria Central High School. Without Eureka Promise, she said it would have been impossible for her to get her bachelors degree. Having this actually took the burden off of us, she said. She majored in psychology/sociology and commuted from Peoria, all while handling four children. Berry now works for Peoria County Bright Futures. Eureka Promise is open to all incoming students who meet the qualifications, Wright said. That includes students who may have taken a gap year during the pandemic or who, like Berry, are interested in returning to school after a longer break. We welcome any student whos ready to dig back in, Wright said. Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood 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. BLOOMINGTON McLean County was left unscathed last weekend compared to its southern neighbors and now local groups are working to support relief efforts for those hit hardest by the deadly tornadoes. In Illinois, at least six tornadoes touched down over the weekend, including one near an Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville where six people were killed. Western Kentucky suffered higher death tolls at least 74 people as of Wednesday and countless homes were destroyed when five tornadoes cut through the commonwealth. Evergreen FS, a Bloomington-based agriculture company, is hosting a donation collection drive, asking the community to help provide needed items for storm victims in Mayfield, Kentucky one of the worst-struck towns. John Tuttle, CEO and general manager of Evergreen FS, said many of their customers and other members of the community have expressed interest in helping those displaced by the devastating tornadoes. We are happy to provide our semi-truck for this purpose and hope to deliver an entire truckload of donated items, he said. From Dec. 16 to 21, donations can be made at the Evergreen FS office, 402 N. Hershey Road in Bloomington, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Suggested items to donate include new clothing and winter accessories, shoes, blankets, toys, bottled water, non-perishable food items, diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, pacifiers and personal hygiene products. Financial donations will be accepted as well; checks should be made payable to Evergreen FS. The company is coordinating distribution with New Liberty Baptist Church in Mayfield. On Wednesday, Midwest Food Bank in Normal sent a box truck full of food to Wood River, just northwest of Edwardsville in the Metro East area, where power outages resulting from the storms is causing food loss for perishable items. Food pantries in those areas requested the truck to supplement their supply, said Tara Ingham, executive director of Midwest Food Bank. Ingham said the Normal food bank facility is on standby, along with The Salvation Army, to extend relief on a larger scale in Kentucky and other areas, anticipating there will be a need for relief support. Six loads of family food boxes are staged and ready to go in Normal, just awaiting the call, she said. The first load of family food boxes was sent from Peoria to Bowling Green, Kentucky, along with two pallets of toys that were on hand at the food bank facility, "to help make Christmas a little bit better for kids in the area," Ingham said. A load of water is also being sent to Madisonville, Kentucky, and hygiene kits for storm victims are being prepared at the food banks facility in Morton. The McLean County Emergency Management Agency advised community members to work with reputable charities and nonprofits if they want to help, especially focusing on financial contributions. The local EMA said if physical donations are being sent, community members should coordinate with someone in the affected area and be ready to manage unloading, storage and distribution if needed. Unusual weather conditions have continued in the days following the unlikely December tornadoes, including conditions right for potential storms. The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for an area stretching from New Mexico to upper Michigan, including Illinois and Wisconsin. The Illinois Transportation Department late Wednesday issued a warning to motorists about driving in high winds on Thursday, and some areas of the state had storm warnings. Overnight rain was expected to clear up by Thursday, and temperatures will fall to around 40 degrees by sunset, according to the weather service. The dry conditions wont last, though, as rain and increased cloud cover return Friday with high temperatures in the low 40s. Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer. 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. BLOOMINGTON Ameren on Wednesday night reported more than 500 customers in Bloomington-Normal were without power. The largest concentration of outages as of 11 p.m. were north of downtown Bloomington. Additional outages were north of East 1400 North Road in McLean County. The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning across Central Illinois until 6 a.m. Thursday. Counties include Knox, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Woodford, Fulton, Tazewell, McLean, Schuyler, Mason, Logan, De Witt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Cass, Menard, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon and Macon. Southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph are projected. The strongest are expected between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. "Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles," the weather service said. Our earlier story ... SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Department of Transportation says high winds Thursday will have the potential to impact travel. "Drivers of oversized/overweight permitted vehicles should be especially prepared, with sustained gusts posing an increased risk of losing control or tipping. Other drivers should be cautious as well and keep a distance when traveling near larger vehicles," the department said. Gusts of up to 60 mph are possible across the state. The warning came as a powerful storm system Wednesday closed highways in western Kansas, spawned numerous tornado warnings in Nebraska and raised concerns about fires because of unusually high temperatures. 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 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 Wednesday morning. Wind gusts of 100 mph were reported in Russell, Kansas. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Oil rose towards $75 on Thursday supported by record U.S. implied demand and falling crude stockpiles, even as the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant threatens to put a brake on consumption globally. Crude and other risk assets such as equities also got a boost after the U.S. Federal Reserve gave an upbeat economic outlook, which lifted investor spirits even as the Fed flagged a long-awaited end to its monetary stimulus. Brent crude oil rose by 62 cents, or 0.8%, to $74.50 a barrel by 0915 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained by 65 cents, or 0.9%, to $71.52. "Despite the current virus surge, the weekly EIA oil inventory report showed demand for petroleum products hit a record high, crude exports bounced back and national crude stocks posted a larger-than-expected draw," said Edward Moya, senior analyst at OANDA. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday said crude stocks fell 4.6 million barrels, more than analysts had forecast. Oil demand has been recovering in 2021 after last year's collapse, and the EIA also said product supplied by refineries, a proxy for demand, surged in the most recent week to 23.2 million barrels per day (bpd). "These figures suggest a healthy economic backdrop," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. "Although the Fed's announcement triggered a jump in both oil and equity prices, the withdrawal of economic support together with the Omicron crisis are the two major headwinds the oil market is currently facing," he added. Worries about the virus limited gains. Britain and South Africa reported record daily COVID-19 cases while many firms across the globe asked employees to work from home, which could limit demand going forward. Source: REUTERS 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced Ghana's readiness to manufacture Coronavirus vaccines to protect the citizens against the pandemic disease. The President, in his 27th update on COVID-19 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, revealed that the government has secured a deal to ensuring that Ghana produces its own vaccines. He stated that the government is expected to receive 20 million Euros from the European Investment Bank to be used to construct a National Vaccine Institute to aid in the production of the vaccines. Speaking to Ghanaians, he said; ''We continue to make steady progress in our quest to manufacture vaccines domestically. Two days ago, on Monday, I was in Luxembourg where I held discussions with the President of the European Investment Bank, ...Werner Hoyer of Ghana's COVID-19 response plan, an 82.5 million Euro facility has been approved for Ghana by the bank to be used in the effort to strengthen healthcare delivery and the provision of specialist medical equipment and medicines across the country. ''The government is to set aside 20 million Euros of this to establish the National Vaccine Institute which will supervise the domestic production of COVID-19 and other vaccines led by the private sector and the business community.'' 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 Lawmakers in Nigeria have rejected a bill seeking to empower women and promote gender equality. Senator Biodun Olujimi from the south-western Ekiti State was forced to withdraw the draft law after her male colleagues objected citing socio-cultural and Islamic concerns. She told the BBC that it was disheartening that women had to contend with many issues in the law-making process. Naturally, everyone is afraid of giving power to women...for cultural reasons, she told the BBCs News Day programme. Thats what we are grappling with and we believe that without a legislation that would make it work for us, it would be tough, added. She says she is not going to relent in the fight for equal opportunities for women. 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 The Nigerian government has approved a 20% salary increase for police officers. President Muhammadu Buhari had promised a pay increase in the wake of mass protests, known as the #EndSars, against police brutality last year. Police Affairs Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the salary increase was part of measures to discourage officers from taking bribes and extorting citizens. He said this was also to "improve the relationship between the public and the police". The increase will take effect from January 2022, he added. A salary tax waiver for junior police personnel has also been approved with retrospective effect from October this year. The #EndSars protests were sparked by widespread allegations of police brutality including extortion, torture and extra-judicial killings especially by members of the police's Special Anti-robbery Squad unit known as Sars. The unit was disbanded in the wake of the protests and various panels of inquiry have been set up in several states to investigate human rights violations by the security forces - before and during the protests. Campaigners however say that more than one year on, officers implicated in abuses have yet to be held to account. 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 NIGERIA: A 21-year-old diploma holder identified Odunare Olalekan, was filmed on Tuesday December 14 jumping into a lagoon in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, in an attempt to commit suicide. The victim, whose body is yet to be recovered, jumped into the lagoon in Epe area around 10am on Tuesday. Olalekan who is a holder of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) certificate and a worker at Alaro City, a sprawling mega estate along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, was seen in videos shared online sitting on the rails of a bridge before plunging into the waters. A man filming the scene was heard querying his intention, but Olalekan who looked distressed never responded. It was also learnt that the man who is presumed dead, left behind a one-year-old baby for his 19-year-old girlfriend. - VIDEO 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 Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has visited families and colleagues of two officers who met their untimely demise in a shoot-out with armed robbers in Zuarungu in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region Wednesday night. Constables Emmanuel Akowuah and Adam Suley are said to have lost their lives as they responded to distress calls of a robbery attack on a shop at the Zuarungu Market. The robbers upon seeing the police officers on their patrol motorbike shot at them, hitting the fuel tank which exploded and burst into flames. According to a police situational report, Constable Adam Suley was partially burnt by the flames. Rifles of the deceased officers are said to have been taken away by the robbers. IGP Akuffo Dampare, in the company of members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), visited the crime scene on Thursday morning to assess the situation. He also visited families of the officers and the chief of the area to commiserate with them. It was an emotional moment as colleague officers could not be consoled as they shed uncontrollable tears when the IGP visited them at post. He assured the entire residents of Zuarungu and its environs of police protection. Meanwhile, officials have put an unnamed ransom on the head of the robbers, who are perceived to be of Fulani extraction. The sitrep announced that an intelligence-led operation to arrest the robbers has been launched. Source: 3news.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 Former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo has expressed regret that he did not have the opportunity to extend his gratitude to former President Jerry John Rawlings, before he passed away in November last year. President Gbagbo who called on Ghana's former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and her family last Friday, said the news of President Rawlings passing came as a real shock to him because they were close friends.President Rawlings was the strongest amongst us his compatriots, so it was difficult to believe he had passed. He was very authentic and real, Mr. Gbagbo said. The former Ivorian leader said he was very much aware of the significant support President Rawlings gave him and how he spoke passionately about the error of his incarceration while others conveniently kept quiet. Read Full Story .... graphic.com.gh >>> : 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 The 54 years age difference between a Rwandan woman and her lover is not enough to keep them worlds apart as well as the many tongues-speaking against their relationship. In what she has promised to be a for-life union, 22-year-old Claudine has accepted marriage to a 76-year-old church worker. Though Claudine said she never imagined she could fall in love with a man old enough to be her grandfather, she affirmed she has never regretted her decision as he makes her happy in a way no man has. Narrating how it all happened in Afrimax English, Claudine recounted how she met David for the first time in church, where he worked as a full-time intercessor and evangelist. At that moment, she said their friendship ended with just a Christian conversation, but as they met each other oftentimes, they formed a close bond. Despite the age difference, she said their hearts connected and they both realized love is all that matters and love doesnt judge. Age doesnt matter, a loving heart is enough. Asked if her parents were in support of her choice, Claudine noted that they gave full blessings for the marriage and an engagement was duly held. To them, it was a wonderful moment, but the feedback from friends and neighbours was not encouraging. Contrary to what society perceived was the reason for marrying an elderly man, Claudine said she wasnt looking for possession, adding that the man has none anyway. He makes me happy and he always lifts me. He was able to fill the missing spot I could not get from any other younger man, she said while they shared a kiss. On his part, David, who had not been in a relationship prior, stated that he knew Claudine was his perfect match by the way she treats him. He added that a voice confirmed from Heaven that she is his missing rib and at that point, he quit his intercessor job. To him, there is no going back. Four years gone and many more ahead of them, the couple is poised to hold a grand white wedding in the coming days. They are also planning on having babies shortly after. - VIDEO 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 " " Nativity scenes in art, like this fresco at Saint Joseph des Nations church in Paris, are common. But where did the tradition of nativity scenes begin? Fred de Noyelle/Getty Images Around the Christmas season, it is common to see a display of the Nativity scene: a small manger with the baby Jesus and his family, shepherds, the three wise men believed to have visited Jesus after his birth and several barnyard animals. One might ask, what are the origins of this tradition? Advertisement Biblical Description The earliest biblical descriptions, the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke, written between A.D. 80 and 100, offer details of Jesus' birth, including that he was born in Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod. The Gospel of Luke says that when the shepherds went to Bethlehem, they "found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." Matthew tells the story of the three wise men, or Magi, who "fell down" in worship and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But as my research on the relationship between the New Testament and the development of popular Christian traditions shows, the earliest biblical descriptions do not mention the presence of any animals. Animals first start to appear in religious texts around the seventh century. A series of early Christian stories that informed popular religious devotion, including what's known as the Infancy Gospel of Matthew, attempted to fill in the gap between Christ's infancy and the beginning of his public ministry. This text was the first to mention the presence of animals at Jesus' birth. It described how the "most blessed Mary went forth out of the cave and entering a stable, placed the child in the stall, and the ox and the ass adored Him." This description, subsequently cited in several medieval Christian texts, created the Christmas story popular today. Advertisement Start of Nativity Scenes But the Nativity scene now re-created in town squares and churches worldwide was originally conceived by St. Francis of Assisi. Much of what scholars know about Francis comes from "Life of St. Francis," written by the 13th-century theologian and philosopher St. Bonaventure. Francis was born into a merchant family in the Umbrian town of Assisi, in modern-day Italy, around 1181. But Francis rejected his family wealth early in his life and cast off his garments in the public square. In 1209, he founded the mendicant order of the Franciscans, a religious group that dedicated themselves to works of charity. Today, Franciscans minister by serving the material and spiritual needs of the poor and socially marginalized. According to Bonaventure, Francis in 1223 sought permission from Pope Honorius III to do something "for the kindling of devotion" to the birth of Christ. As part of his preparations, Francis "made ready a manger, and bade hay, together with an ox and an ass," in the small Italian town of Greccio. One witness, among the crowd that gathered for this event, reported that Francis included a carved doll that cried tears of joy and "seemed to be awakened from sleep when the blessed Father Francis embraced Him in both arms." This miracle of the crying doll moved all who were present, Bonaventure writes. But Francis made another miracle happen, too: The hay that the child lay in healed sick animals and protected people from disease. " " (Left) "The Adoration of the Magi" (c. 1440/1460) is attributed to Fra Angelico. It's a richly decorated circular panel that presents a vision of the arrival of the Magi, accompanied by a courtly entourage, including animals. (Right) "The Christmas Celebration in the Forest of Greccio" is a fresco in the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy. It represents Saint Francis of Assisi creating the first Christmas crib in the year 1223. Public Domain/HowStuffWorks Advertisement Nativity Imagery in Art The Nativity story continued to expand within Christian devotional culture well after Francis' death. In 1291, Pope Nicholas IV, the first Franciscan pope, ordered that a permanent Nativity scene be erected at Santa Maria Maggiore, the largest church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome. Nativity imagery dominated Renaissance art. This first living Nativity scene, which was famously depicted by Italian Renaissance painter Giotto di Bondone in the Arena Chapel of Padua, Italy, ushered in a new tradition of staging the birth of Christ. In the tondo, a circular painting of the Adoration of the Magi by 15th-century painters Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi, not only are there sheep, a donkey, a cow and an ox, there is even a colorful peacock that peers over the top of the manger to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Advertisement Political Turn of Nativity Scenes After the birth of Jesus, King Herod, feeling as though his power was threatened by Jesus, ordered the execution of all boys under 2 years old. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were forced to flee to Egypt. In an acknowledgment that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees themselves, in recent years, some churches have used their Nativity scenes as a form of political activism to comment on the need for immigrant justice. Specifically, these "protest nativities" have criticized President Donald Trump's 2018 executive order on family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border. For example, in 2018, a church in Dedham, Massachusetts, placed baby Jesus, representing immigrant children, in a cage. In 2019, Claremont United Methodist Church in California, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus were all placed in separate barbed-wire cages in their outdoor Nativity scene. These displays, which call attention to the plight of immigrants and asylum seekers, bring the Christian tradition into the 21st century. Vanessa Corcoranis an adjunct professor of history and an academic counselor at Georgetown University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here. " " Lots of families wrestle with how and whether to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. Brianna Soukup/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images Traditionally, for Christian-Jewish families or at least in writing about them the month of December is referred to as a "dilemma." This time of year brings discussion about whether to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or both, which often centers on one key question: "To tree, or not to tree?" Of course, interfaith families negotiate these kinds of decisions all year round: Should we observe your traditions, my traditions, both or neither? On some level, these are questions that any family blood or chosen has to navigate, even when they share the same religion. But December throws them into high relief for interfaith families, especially the decision of whether to put up a Christmas tree. In my work on American religion, particularly Judaism, I have spent nearly a decade researching interfaith families a topic which interests me, in part, because of my own experience in interfaith families. Many people try to make decisions about how to observe holidays by drawing lines around what traditions are "religious" vs. "cultural." But in my interviews, many families say that it is ultimately not what they choose to celebrate, but how they talk about it, that makes everyone feel included. Advertisement More Multifaith Families What "interfaith marriage" means varies in different historical eras. At moments in American history, a marriage between a Methodist and a Presbyterian would count, although both traditions are Protestant Christian. Many religious groups have had objections to interfaith marriage, often couched in worry that growing up in a multifaith home would be confusing or damaging for children. After the peak of Jewish immigration in the early 20th century, the rate of interfaith marriage was low for the first few decades, but rose as Jewish communities became more assimilated and accepted as "American." By the 1990s, an estimated 50 percent of American Jews married non-Jews, most of whom were Christian, had been raised in Christian households, or were from secular families who celebrated Christian holidays. The Jewish community often assumed people who "married out" were "lost" to Judaism. When American Jews started to marry non-Jews in increasingly large numbers in the 1970s and 1980s, there was a huge controversy over whether rabbis should perform their marriages. Initially, some rabbis in the Reform, Reconstructionist and Renewal movements modern Judaism's more liberal branches decided that they would be willing to, as long as those couples agreed to keep a Jewish home. That said, this was not an era of high Jewish observance, so having a Jewish home was often less about Jewish practices like lighting candles for Shabbat and more about keeping Christian elements like holidays out of the home at least until children were old enough to go to Hebrew school. Many people argued that a home should not combine religions. As a small minority, Jewish Americans worried that interfaith marriage would mean a smaller Jewish community. And for some Jews, having elements of Christianity in the home could be painful, given its history of often oppressing Judaism, and because holidays like Christmas increased their own sense of being cultural outsiders. You might have people of multiple religions in that home, they argued, but a Jewish home could not include Christian holidays and Christmas, representing the birth of the Christian savior, seemed like the ultimate marker of Christianity. Advertisement 'Culture' vs. 'Religion' In this view, Christmas was a religious holiday and the tree was the symbol of a religious holiday, despite how celebrations like decorating, baking cookies and hanging stockings for Santa can be stripped of Christian theological meaning for many people including my own Hindu relatives. At the same time, however, many religious leaders and advice manuals argued that a Christmas tree was a cultural symbol, not a religious one, and therefore it shouldn't matter to a Christian spouse whether the family put up a tree. " " Baking and decorating both Christmas and Hanukkah cookies is a great way to help kids celebrate both holidays. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald/Getty Images However, "religion" and "culture" are complicated, debated categories that do not mean the same thing to everyone. In the U.S., the most common definition of religion is shaped by Christianity and often, specifically, a form of Protestant Christianity that emphasizes beliefs over almost everything else. In this understanding, religion is mostly about what someone holds in their heart, not outward signs of that faith particularly activities that aren't rooted in theology, like church suppers, Easter eggs or Santa. But "belief" can't capture a whole tradition, even Protestant ones, never mind other traditions like Judaism. This understanding of "religion" as something separate from "culture" also assumes that somehow "religion" is more important to people. It does not help someone understand why a Christmas tree might feel emotionally central to a cultural Christian who does not have faith, or feel terribly problematic to a Jew even if they understand that the tree is not part of theology. Advertisement Listening With Care Ultimately, perhaps, it is not actually important to use these lines between religion and culture, especially since they are much more complicated than they might appear at first glance. In my ethnographic research, the families that had the happiest holidays were the families that listened well to each other and felt that everyone's voices were heard. For instance, one couple took the standard advice to forgo the tree, but decorated with evergreens. This solution did not really satisfy the wife, who had grown up Christian, and annoyed her Jewish husband. In the end, no one was happy. By contrast, another couple discussed what mattered most to them. The Jewish husband explained that he felt an "allergy" to both Jesus and the Christmas tree. His Christian wife thought about it and came to the conclusion that Jesus was central to her holiday, but a tree was not. Therefore, they had a nativity scene but went without a tree in other words, they went with the clearly religious symbol. She appreciated his willingness to let her have Christ in their home; he appreciated that she gave up the tree. One Jewish woman said that her husband's decorations stockings and a tree can make her feel like it is "all Christmas, all the time," especially when Hanukkah falls early and celebrations are over long before Christmas. But she appreciates that he agreed to raise their child as a Jew, to have their primary religious community be Jewish, and to attend services with her for the High Holidays and special events. It is hard for her to have a tree in their home, but she recognizes that, while her main compromise comes in December, he has altered his life year-round. Other families settled joyfully into doing both, building family traditions out of both heritages. Still other families agreed to give up Christmas at home in favor of fun family vacations, or long visits with Christmas-celebrating relatives. What made a difference? For these families, my research suggested that it was not what they decided, but how they decided: by listening to each other in a spirit of collaboration and generosity. These compromises may seem especially challenging in a shared domestic space, which people want to feel like "home." But the basic principle holds true in other environments, as well: listening to loved ones, sharing what matters to us, honoring as much of that as possible and maybe learning to love what our loved ones love. Samira Mehta is an assistant professor of women and gender studies, and Jewish studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. She receives funding from the Henry Luce Foundation. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here. Community-based tourism has become an integral part of current global tourism trends that essentially aligns with the direction the local tourism industry is taking in 2022. The tourism industry is showing a trend toward sustainable tourism that combines the learning of local culture and environmental, or nature, awareness with the rich narrative of an old community, its way of life and folk culture. Each communitys geographic location has its unique charms and attractions worth visiting. The trend toward community-based tourism has proven to benefit local communities, bringing added value to the existing local resources, growth to the local economy and developing potential for sustained tourism. The Phuket Tourist Association in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailands Phuket Office and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) recently organized a Phuket familiarization trip joined by members of Thailands diplomatic corps including ambassadors with spouses and consuls from 21 nations to explore Phukets Ban Bang Rong Community as part of Ambassadors Trip to Phuket 2021. Joining the trip were ambassadors of 11 countries: Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. The visiting consuls represented 10 countries. The group visited Phuket to study a successful model of community-based tourism at Ban Bang Rong Community in Thalang districts Paklok. Ban Bang Rong community leaders were on hand to welcome the diplomats and take them on a tour of the community to observe the locals traditional way of life. The trip aimed to provide the visiting ambassadors and consuls with an opportunity to witness first-hand Phukets preparedness to welcome international visitors with its measures to contain and prevent the spread of Covid-19 to ensure health and safety of visitors. It was hoped that the visiting diplomats would get across the message to the citizens of their countries. Ban Bang Rong is an old community steeped in history, representing one of Phukets community-based tourism destinations. Sandwiched between a hill and the Andaman Sea, the village still has an abundance of diverse natural resources in pristine condition. The locals still maintain their simple traditional way of life. Most of the villagers made a living from rubber tapping, traditional marine fishery, goat farming and integrated farming. Prasert Ritraksa, president of the Ban Bang Rong Community Based Tourism Club, and members of Ban Bang Rong Community, were delighted to extend a warm welcome to the visiting ambassadors and consuls from various countries. Upon arrival, the visitors were given a briefing on interesting facts about Ban Bang Rongs conservation tourism model. Here visitors can experience the communitys genuine vibrant folk culture. Ambassadors, consuls and their spouses were excited to take part in local activities such as rubber tapping, pineapple harvesting in a pineapple orchard of integrated farming, and harvesting young coconuts in a coconut palm orchard. They also had their first taste of fresh young coconuts from a nearby coconut palm plantation. In addition, the visitors also joined demonstrations of cooking techniques for local sweet dishes such as old-fashioned kanom krok (Thai coconut puddings with toppings), kanom pallang (grilled sticky rice stuffed with coconut, ground dried shrimp and pepper) of the Peranakans in Phuket, and cha chak (milk tea). Thanks to these entertaining and impressive activities, the visitors got the hang of the local culture and the local way of life at Ban Bang Rong. Those interested in experiencing community-based tourism at Ban Bang Rong and touring the community as a group can make arrangements by calling 094-714-8707 Siam Land Flying, a long-time Luxury Private Jet Charter service and world-class air ambulance services provider across SE Asia under service brand of Executive Wings and Medical wings. Medical Wings achieves accreditation from CAMTS and EURAMI and becomes the first operator in Asia to achieve this full accreditation. Siam Land Flying moves ahead to stimulate the Thai economy by announcing the opening of the first Private Jet Terminal at Phuket International Airport. The facility, which will be fully operational in the early part of 2022, aims to drive Thai tourism at this dream destination amongst tourists worldwide. The Grand Opening to officially inaugurate this special occasion is co-chaired by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health,Mr. Narong Woonciew, Phuket Governor, Mr. Prapas Kong-ied, Director General Treasury Department, Mr. Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, President of the Airport Authority of Thailand Public Company Limited and Mr. Soopakij Chearavanont, Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group with various representatives from the public sector and leading national and local business operators such as Mr. Phummikitti Ruktaengam President Phuket Tourist Association, Mr. William E.Heinecke, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Minor Group, Mr. Suthipak Chirathivat, Director and Member of the Executive Committee of CENTRAL PATTANA Public Company Limited and Mr. Vrit Yongsakul, Group Managing Director of Boat Lagoon Yachting Co., Ltd. Mr.Kachorn Chiaravanont, Executive Vice Chairman of Siam Land Flying Co., Ltd. said that The opening of the Private Jet Terminal of Siam Land Flying Phuket is another major milestone for the companys business operation as it sees the continuously growing trend of private jet business, particularly during the pandemic situation. The Private Jet business has gained more popularity as it offers privacy among VIP tourists who emphasize convenience and service standards as their top priorities. Therefore, Private Jets have become an alternative in the new normal tourism, providing confidence among visitors as it minimizes contact from the airports congestion and during the flights. The opening of this private terminal is another factor that would increase the confidence among tourists who travel by private jets. The end-to-end services at the terminal meet the international standards for safety and security but at the same time are faster and more convenient and will impress tourists as they step foot in Thailand, particularly at Phuket which is a dream destination for tourists worldwide. Siam Land Flying which a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Group, is extremely proud to support the Thai tourism industry. This facility will certainly draw more tourists with high purchasing power and will generate revenue and spending in the country as well as create new jobs for local people. Mr. Greg Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Land Flying Co., Ltd. said that The Private Jet Terminal of Siam Land Flying Phuket is fully equipped to provide a premium service for our VIP guests in a discrete and safe manner. The Private Jet Terminal building is situated on a 17-rai area of land in Mai Kao Sub-District, Talang District, Phuket Province, Our 1,200-square-meter Private Jet Terminal features several VIP lounges and all of the services required for smooth travel both internationally and domestically with Immigration, Customs and Disease Control services available on-site. Our comprehensive services and our world-class facilities cement Siam Land Flyings determination to enhance the very first experience amongst our guests once they reach Thailand. And at the Siam Land Private Jet Terminal, we have made significant investments in fully electric ground support equipment including aircraft tow tugs, ground power units and support vehicles. This helps achieve our sustainability goals as most other facilities around the world use diesel-powered equipment. The terminal is complemented by approximately 7,000 square meters of hangar space and 12,000 square meters of Apron space to provide safe parking for large-sized private jets, for example up to 7 Gulfstream G650s can be accommodated, as well as being able to accommodate ultra large-sized private jets such as the Boeing Business Jet or Airbus Corporate Jet. Maintenance support can be provided by licensed aircraft engineers which are part of the Siam Land Flying team. In addition, it provides other services such as shuttle service, hotel reservation & coordination, tourism & recreation consultancy, in-flight food & beverage service, VIP lounges for departing and arriving passengers as well as crews. About Siam Land Flying Siam Land Flying is a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Group with over 30 years in aviation business that offers integrated services of Private Jet Charter under the Executive Wings brand for business travellers, tourists or families who need luxury, privacy and fast services to their destinations. Passengers could choose their travelling time either for a one-day trip or overnight. Siam Land Flying has 2 private jets, comprising Hawker 850XP, Hawker 800 XP and 1 turboprop Super King Air 350 which are capable of carrying up to 8 passengers in domestic and Southeast Asian flights. Subsequently, Siam Land Flying launched Air Ambulance services under the Medical Wings brand, to transport critical patients who need to be treated in countries or hospitals where higher standards of medical services are available. During the flights, patients will be cared for by specialized doctor and nurse teams that are trained in aviation medicine with up-to-date medical equipment that can manage the patient medical condition during the flight and allow them to safely reach their destination. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The vast majority of Pennsylvanians responding to a recent survey conducted by Penn State researchers said they strongly support bird conservation and indicated they believe future efforts will be needed to protect avian species. But there is good news and bad news in those responses to questionnaires that were part of a study to examine public attitudes toward bird conservation, government involvement in private lands issues and private forest management, according to researcher Melissa Kreye, assistant professor of forest resource management in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "We were pleased to see participants' commitment to conservation, but their answers showed little or no recognition of the current situation with birds," she said. "A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report released earlier this year identified 269 bird speciesmany of which can be found in Pennsylvaniathat are in trouble. As a leader of the National Audubon Society said recently, we are in a 'bird emergency' now." The survey, which was developed in consultation with experts from Penn State, Audubon Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, included 40 questions. To help refine those queries, researchers conducted 34 interviews with farmers, loggers and forest landowners in central Pennsylvania, as well as numerous sessions with experts from five private forest conservation organizations and federal agencies. More than 650 people in Pennsylvania completed the survey. Study participants were asked whether they agreed with statements about: timber harvesting, for example, "Cutting and removing trees is sometimes necessary to provide economic profits to the forest owner"; about landowner assistance, for example, "The government should use financial incentives to help or encourage private owners to change forest management practices"; and about regulation, for example, "The government should be able to regulate the use of forests located on private land to protect public benefits." Study participants also were asked whether they agreed with statements about birds, such as, "Most common bird populations are in good condition"; about habitat, for example, "Young forest/shrubby habitats are generally available and in good condition"; and about future perceptions, such as, "In 10 years, some common bird populations will be worse off than they are now." Because forests dominate the landscape in Pennsylvaniaand 70% of those forest lands are privately ownedthe state was the ideal place to conduct the study, according to Sadikshya Sharma, a doctoral candidate in forest resources, who spearheaded the research. "As a result, much of the public in Pennsylvania already may be familiar with concepts related to private forest ownership such as timber harvesting, government regulation and landowner- assistance programs," she said. "Forests in the state also are important for many types of local and migratory birds, and forest management is an important strategy for enhancing the habitats needed to support healthy bird populations." In findings recently published in the journal Forests, the researchers report four unique perspectives about birds and important correlations with conservation support on private lands. They noted that respondents with positive views about landowner-assistance programs often had more complex attitudes toward birds and held ethical perspectives about them. The researchers concluded that future public education efforts might cultivate in learners a more robust understanding of bird conservation if they included private forest land values and culture in their programs. Sharma said she was struck by respondents' misconceptions about the status of bird populations and worries that the wide misunderstanding of the current plight of birds eventually could limit the public's sense of responsibility and willingness to pay for conservation. Limited knowledge about bird population declines may promote apathy or disinterest in addressing broader causes of impact on bird populations, she pointed out. "Most survey respondents believe that birds and habitats today are in good condition and were only concerned about birds in the future," Sharma said. "But recent research has shown that almost 3 million birds have been lost over the last 50 years. Public perceptions about birds and ecosystems seem disconnected from their crisis, with sharply declining species richness, or biodiversity." Explore further Bird singing contests: A clash of culture and conservation More information: Sadikshya Sharma et al, Public Attitudes towards Birds and Private Forest Land Conservation, Forests (2021). Sadikshya Sharma et al, Public Attitudes towards Birds and Private Forest Land Conservation,(2021). DOI: 10.3390/f12111525 According to a new poll, 35% of mothers reported taking on more household responsibilities than their partner, compared to just 3% of fathers who reported the same. Credit: Shutterstock When it comes to raising children, men and women have different perspectives on the division of household laborfrom cooking meals to offering emotional supportaccording to a new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. The new study also reveals important differences in how men and women perceive the impact of having a child on job security and workplace success. Mothers are more likely to say they perform more of the household responsibilities, while fathers are more likely to say they share the responsibilities equally with their partner. In fact, 35 percent of mothers reported doing more than their partner for each of the eight household responsibilities asked about on the survey, compared to just 3 percent of fathers who reported the same. "Although the gap between what mothers and fathers report is significant, it is not what either anticipates before they have childrenand that's what is so interesting," said Yana Gallen, an assistant professor at the Harris School of Public Policy who studies the gender pay gap. "Prior to becoming parents, most men and women expect that they will share the division of labor equally across all household activities, but their views on whether that is actually the case diverge after they have a child." The perceived impacts of having a child are also relevant to the workplace, where half of adults who have been employed say having a child is an obstacle to employee advancement, and about 4 in 10 say the same regarding job security and the opportunity for a raise. Americans' perspectives on children in the workplace are tied to gender as well, with 47 percent of women saying that having a child is an obstacle for job security compared to 36 percent of men. Similarly, adults making less than $50,000 a year are more likely than higher income adults to say having a child is an obstacle for job security (50 percent vs 35 percent) and job advancement (55 percent vs 46 percent). "Women and lower-income Americans are especially likely to feel they are paying a penalty at work for becoming a parent," said David Sterrett, senior research scientist with the AP-NORC Center. "Whether it comes in the form of limited job choices because of the need for a schedule that accommodates parenting or having less job security, these groups feel they are missing out on career opportunities compared to their co-workers without children." The poll also finds that in order to manage their work and personal lives, two-thirds of adults have chosen a job with a schedule that allows them to manage their other responsibilities and 68 percent get support from friends or family. And when thinking about whether to have a child, more than 8 in 10 Americans say having a stable partner and having a secure job are important factors that they consider. Among the key findings from the report: Forty-three percent of adults without a college degree say having a child is an obstacle to getting a raise, while 32 percent of adults with a college degree say the same. Parents are more likely than non-parents to have chosen a job with a schedule such that they can manage their personal responsibilities, spent less time at their job to focus on friends or family, and to have made sure they had support of friends or family. Women are more likely than men to have chosen a job with a schedule such that they can manage their personal responsibilities (70 percent vs 61 percent) and made sure they had the support of friends or family (73 percent vs 64 percent). Nearly three-quarters of Americans without children (74 percent) say having enough savings is an important factor when thinking about their decision whether or not to have children, compared to 59 percent of parents who said it was important. Women are more likely than men to say flexibility at work is important when thinking about whether or not to have a child (74 percent vs 66 percent). This study was conducted by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research with funding from NORC at the University of Chicago. The world may soon see more food shortages because of climate change, says an expert. Credit: InkDrop/Shutterstock In a world with an increasing human population, climate change may have a serious impact on our ability to grow enough food. Research from as far back as 2007 found that around 30% of year-to-year fluctuations in tons of crops grown per hectare were due to changes in the climate. It is remarkable under these circumstances that the global agricultural system has managed to remain fairly robust, and that major food shortages have been rare. On the other hand, food prices in recent decades have become increasingly volatile. While there are many influences on food pricesincluding crop yield, weather variations, international trade, speculation in food commodity markets, and land management practicesmostly open trading systems have allowed food shortages in some places to be offset by surpluses, and increased production, elsewhere. Now that the world seems to be moving toward more trade barriers at a time when climate change is intensifying, these stabilizing effects may start to fail. Prices could rise sharply, putting pressure on poor countries and on the budgets of poor people in rich countries. While crop growth per hectare has increased considerably over the last 50 years, recently the rate of this growth has slowed compared to previous decades. Recent research suggests that up to 30% of the expected increase in growth of European crops has been canceled out by adverse weather. But it is worrying that the most pronounced changes tend to be in countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, that are at high risk of climate impacts on food availability and affordability. Rising temperatures This is particularly clear in the case of barley, maize, millet, pulses, rice and wheat. It seems that the countries most at risk of food shortages are also worst affected by rising temperature. This seems to bear out the finding from the world's premier climate science advisers, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), that the higher average global temperatures and more extreme weather events associated with climate change will reduce the reliability of food production. The latest IPCC report also supports these conclusions. Another change noted by the IPCC is how rising heat and rainfall associated with climate change is increasingly degrading land, making soil less productive. This is due to the loss of soil nutrients and organic matter and has negative effects on crop yields. In addition, accelerating rises in sea levels will compound these negative impacts by increasing saltwater intrusions and permanently flooding crop land. Recent modeling of soil loss in wheat and maize fields shows large variations between tropical climate regions and regions with a large proportion of flat and dry land, with losses ranging from less than 1 ton per hectare in central Asia to 100 tons per hectare in south-east Asia. The strong impact of climate and topography on simulated water erosion is clearly shown in the five largest wheat and maize producing countries: in Brazil, China and India, where a large proportion of cropland is in tropical areas, water erosion is relatively high, while in Russia and the United States annual median values are much lower. However, historically poor management of lands in Europe and the US has been largely remedied through the increased use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation, which has been able to offset a massive amount of soil degradation. For example, one study has shown that, without fertilizer, US yields of corn over the past 100 years would have fallen from around seven to a little over one ton per hectare, due to soil quality decreasing. However, fertilizer has enabled yields to be broadly maintained, although at an annual cost to farmers of over half a billion dollars. Fertilizer and food These results have worrying implications for poorer parts of the world where soil quality is decreasing, but which do not have the resources to compensate for this with fertilizers. And the results become more worrying still if this is exacerbated by climate change. Many aspects of land management for food production have changed in recent decades, including growing different crops, or the same crops in different places, in response to increased temperatures. The overall result of these changes has been greatly increased food yields in many parts of the world, and land managers may be expected to adapt their strategies for changes in the climate. But if climate change results in simultaneous failure of major crops such as wheat, maize and soybeans in two or more major breadbasket regions (the areas of the world that produce most food) then the risks of price rises making food too expensive in poorer parts of the world could become acute. Explore further Climate change to stir up global agriculture within next decade This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Three companies face federal charges for their roles in the October oil spill off the coast of Orange County, authorities said Wednesday. A federal grand jury accused Amplify Energy Corp. and two subsidiary firms, Beta Operating Co. and San Pedro Bay Pipeline Co., of illegally discharging oil from a pipeline they operated off Huntington Beach. The pipeline takes oil from an offshore platform onto shore. The indictment alleges six instances in which the firms were negligent in the spill. They face a misdemeanor count of negligent discharge of oil. During a period of more than 12 hours, federal prosecutors alleged, the companies repeatedly failed to properly respond to alarms from an automated leak detection system. As a result of the allegedly negligent conduct, about 25,000 gallons of crude oil were discharged from a crack in the 16-inch pipeline about 4.7 miles west of Huntington Beach, according to Wednesday's indictment. The indictment alleges that the operators got their first warning from the automated leak detection system at 4:10 p.m. on Oct. 1 and seven more until the final alarm at 5:28 a.m. the following day. The operators allegedly shut down and then restarted the pipeline five times after the first five alarms were triggered, resulting in oil flowing through the damaged pipeline for a cumulative period of more than three hours. After the sixth and seventh alarms, prosecutors alleged, the pipeline was pumping oil for three additional hours late Oct. 1 into Oct. 2 while a manual leak test was performed. And despite the eighth alarm, the companies operated the pipeline for nearly an hour in the predawn hours of Oct. 2 after a boat they contacted had failed to see discharged oil in the middle of the night, prosecutors alleged. The companies also employed "crewmembers who had not been sufficiently trained on the automated leak detection system," federal prosecutors alleged. Amplify Energy workers both offshore and onshore tried to troubleshoot the leak detection system, which they believed was sending false alarms, company spokeswoman Amy Conway said Wednesday in a statement. The leak detection system was "repeatedly and wrongly signaling a potential leak" at the company's processing platform, where there was no leak visible, she said. She said that after each alarm, the crews investigated "various components of the platform and the pipeline's instrumentalities." The oil spill began more than 4 miles from the platform, she said, in the location where officials believe that the pipeline had been dragged and damaged by a ship's anchor in a January storm. That information was "not shared with Amplify by anyone with knowledge of that anchor-dragging incident," Conway said. "Had the crew known there was an actual oil spill in the water, they would have shut down the pipeline immediately," Conway said. When the crew spotted a sheen in the water during a line ride the morning of Oct. 2, she said, the company launched its oil spill response plan. Though no individuals are named in the indictment, for a corporate defendant, the charge of negligently discharging oil carries a statutory maximum penalty of five years of probation as well as fines that potentially could total millions of dollars. It would also make the company liable for damages in civil litigation. Even before Wednesday's indictment, federal regulators had revealed that employees in the control room of the subsidiary that operated the San Pedro Bay Pipeline received a low-pressure alarm, "indicating a possible failure," about 2:30 a.m. Oct. 2. The indictment now alleges that was one of multiple warnings. The National Response Center, an arm of the U.S. Coast Guard that monitors and responds to environmental emergencies, said it received an alert from the company at 9:07 a.m. Oct. 2 that "there was a release of crude oil in the vicinity of its pipeline" near the offshore oil processing platform known as Elly. Martyn Willsher, Amplify's president and chief executive, told The Times in October that the company first learned of the leak in the pipeline that morning at 8:09. He denied that anyone at the firm was alerted to the leak earlier by a low-pressure alarm but would not elaborate, saying the facts would emerge during the investigation. Coast Guard investigators believe the spill was triggered by a ship's anchor striking the pipeline during a storm in January, complicating the question of civil liability for the incident. Federal authorities had identified and boarded two cargo ships, the MSC Danit and the Beijing, at the port in Long Beach. The Coast Guard said in a statement that the Beijing was involved in the Jan. 25 anchor-dragging incident during heavy weather at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and it designated the ship's owners as parties of interest in the investigation. The October spill had a significant negative effect on the natural environment, despite the fact that the estimated amount of oil released was about one-fifth of what was initially reported. The UC Davis Oiled Wildlife Care Network said last month that it had recovered 82 dead birds, six dead mammals and dozens of living mammals in the aftermath of the spill. The dead animals included a bottlenose dolphin, three California sea lions and a wide array of birds: cormorants, coots, pigeons, grebes and more. The USC Sea Grant program reported that 5,544 gallons of oil, 13.6 barrels of tar balls and 546,782 pounds of "oil sand and debris" had been collected from the Southern California coast as of Nov. 8. The program reported that an analysis found that "San Diego and Orange County air, water, and sediment do not pose a public health concern for short-term exposures from the use of the water and beaches in the counties." Fishing along the Orange County coast was cleared to resume Nov. 30 after beaches had reopened. Texas-based Amplify is already facing 14 lawsuits filed by businesses, residents, property owners and others affected by the spill. The plaintiffs include Laguna Beach coastal property owners, a Huntington Beach surf school, a Seal Beach bait and tackle store, and several groups of fishing and seafood sales companies. Explore further Authorities identify source of oil sheen off Huntington Beach 2021 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Professor Lindell Bromham (left) and her colleagues are researching how to preserve endangered languages across the globe. Credit: Jamie Kidston/ANU A world-first study warns 1,500 endangered languages could no longer be spoken by the end of this century. The study, led by The Australian National University (ANU), identified predictors that put endangered languages at high risk. Co-author Professor Lindell Bromham said that of the world's 7,000 recognized languages, around half were currently endangered. "We found that without immediate intervention, language loss could triple in the next 40 years. And by the end of this century, 1,500 languages could cease to be spoken." Published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, they study charts the widest range of factors ever putting endangered languages under pressure. One finding was that more years of schooling increased the level of language endangerment. The researchers say it shows we need to build curricula that support bilingual education, fostering both indigenous language proficiency as well as use of regionally-dominant languages. "Across the 51 factors or predictors we investigated, we also found some really unexpected and surprising pressure points. This included road density," Professor Bromham said. "Contact with other local languages is not the problemin fact languages in contact with many other Indigenous languages tend to be less endangered. "But we found that the more roads there are, connecting country to city, and villages to towns, the higher the risk of languages being endangered. It's as if roads are helping dominant languages 'steam roll' over other smaller languages." The researchers say the findings also have important lessons for preserving many of the endangered languages spoken by Australia's First Nations peoples. "Australia has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest rates of language loss worldwide," Professor Felicity Meakins, from the University of Queensland and one of the study's co-authors, said. "Prior to colonization, more than 250 First Nations languages were spoken, and multilingualism was the norm. Now, only 40 languages are still spoken and just 12 are being learnt by children. "First Nations languages need funding and support. Australia only spends $20.89 annually per capita of the Indigenous population on languages, which is abysmal compared with Canada's $69.30 and New Zealand's $296.44." Professor Bromham said that as the world enters the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages in 2022, the study's findings were a vital reminder that more action was urgently needed to preserve at-risk languages. "When a language is lost, or is 'Sleeping' as we say for languages that are no longer spoken, we lose so much of our human cultural diversity. Every language is brilliant in its own way. "Many of the languages predicted to be lost this century still have fluent speakers, so there is still the chance to invest in supporting communities to revitalize indigenous languages and keep them strong for future generations." Explore further Language extinction triggers loss of unique medicinal knowledge More information: Lindell Bromham, Global predictors of language endangerment and the future of linguistic diversity, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41559-021-01604-y Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution Lindell Bromham, Global predictors of language endangerment and the future of linguistic diversity,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01604-y Scientists can image the brains of flies to study how they navigate. Here, a fly walks in place inside a visual arena that makes the fly feel as if it is traveling in various directions. Credit: Maimon Lab The treadmills in Rachel Wilson's laboratories at Harvard Medical School aren't like any you'll find at a gym. They're spherical, for one, and encased in bowling ballsized plastic bubbles. They're also built for flies. Inside these bubbles, fruit flies walk in place as they navigate a 360-degree virtual reality environment. A similar scene unfolds 200 miles away, in Gaby Maimon's lab at the Rockefeller University, where flies attached to tiny tethers browse their own virtual worlds. By monitoring the flies' brain signals, researchers in these two labs have discovered a key mechanism behind insect navigation. These little flies, with brains the size of poppy seeds, navigate the world using mathematics that most of us mere mortals forgot after high school. The feat requires performing calculations with data gleaned from the senses and using geometry to compute the body's traveling direction. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators Wilson and Maimon and their colleagues report the work in two new studies released together December 15, 2021, in the journal Nature. Researchers had previously located the fly brain's compassa set of neurons arrayed in a donut-shaped structure that keeps track of which direction the fly is facing. But scientists didn't understand how flies knew which way they were traveling, Maimon says. "Not which way their body is facing, but which way they are moving in the real world." The new papers identify for the first time which neurons in the brain are tracking both body movement and orientation, and how the signals combine to track a path through the environment. "To actually lay bare a sophisticated mechanism for navigation as they do is truly significant for neuroscience. Not just fly neuroscience or insect neuroscience or navigational neuroscienceit's significant for neuroscience," says Vivek Jayaraman, who was not part of the new research. Jayaraman, head of mechanistic cognitive neuroscience and senior group leader at the HHMI's Janelia Research Campus, first reported the fly brain compass in 2015. Mental maps Insects have remarkable navigation abilities. Scientists knew fruit flies could perform path integration, or "what we'd call dead reckoning," says Wilson. This is the process of tracking past movements to predict where you are on a map. For instance, if you get out of bed in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, she says, you can navigate by mentally mapping which side of the bed you're on, how many steps you've taken, and which direction you turned. For an insect, she says, "that's a computation that seems fairly sophisticated for a tiny brain." Understanding how a tiny brain does this computation, she says, could help scientists understand how more complex brains do other kinds of complicated computations. Wilson and Maimon were both studying fly brain nerve cells thought to be involved in such mental math. Wilson realized while listening to a Zoom seminar by Larry Abbott, an author on the Maimon study, in 2020, that the two of them were thinking on parallel tracks. "So I sent Gaby a message in the chat," she says. It became evident that they each held pieces of the same puzzle, so Wilson and Maimon decided to collaborate. Both teams showed that two types of brain cells (called PFNd and PFNv cells) track a fly's heading (which way it's facing) and its velocity (speed) as it walks. Since a fly has a nearly 360-degree field of vision, Jenny Lu, a graduate student in the Wilson lab, wanted to watch flies navigate in a 360-degree virtual reality environment. She improved on existing spherical treadmills for flies by adding an immersive virtual reality environment and placing the entire contraption in a clear plastic bubble, so that a camera underneath could record fly movement. By tracking neural activity as the fly navigated, the Wilson team found that both cell types are involved in making geometric calculations. The neurons keep track of sideways and backward movements and register the compass direction in which the fly is moving. An animal could be facing north and walking forward, or facing west and walking to the right, Wilson says, and the brain would know that in both cases, the animal is actually moving in the same direction: northward. That ability to adjust one's orientation relative to both the body and the outside world is crucial for dead reckoning, she notes. If you didn't account for sideways as well as forward movement on your late-night trip to the bathroom, for instance, you might bump your shin on the bed or run into a wall. In this animation, a fly walks in a circle while facing north. The red arrow shows the flys traveling direction; black arrows represent direction components. A neural circuit uses these components, or vectors, to calculate the flys traveling direction relative to its body orientation. Credit: Maimon Lab Math for flies Cheng Lyu, a graduate student in the Maimon lab, was interested in a mathematical understanding of how information from PFNd and PFNv cells is combined in the brain. He used clever experiments to show that these brain cells use a type of math called vector arithmetic to calculate which way the fly is traveling. A vector, Maimon explains, is a quantity with a magnitude and a direction. Scientists represent a vector with an arrow. So, a short arrow pointing to the right could indicate slow movement towards the east. And a long arrow pointing up could signify a speedy pace to the north. For navigation, a vector is a handy way to communicate direction and speed. And in the fly brain, adding multiple vectors together can tell the fly both its precise direction of travel and its speed. Lyu, Abbott, and Maimon discovered that the fly's brain uses PFNd and PFNv cells to do this vector arithmetic. As the scientists report, a neural circuit in the fly brain can rotate, scale, and add the four vectors represented by different PFNd and PFNv populations to track the fly's direction of travel relative to its body orientation. To visualize this computation during flight, the researchers tethered flies to a platform in the center of a miniature arena and imaged their brains. Starlike dots displayed on the arena's walls made the flies feel like they were traveling in various directions. Inside the fly brain, activity patterns from PFNd and PFNv cell groups formed a sine wave, a type of regular, repeating wave that shows up often in physics and mathematics. The height and position of the waves vary depending on which way the fly was traveling, the team discovered. By adding the PFNd and PFNv waves, the fly was able to mathematically calculate if it was moving northward, eastward, etc. "This part of the brain is literally adding vectors," Maimon says. By doing this math, the fly can determine not only which direction it's moving, but how fast it's going in that direction. The new work provides insight into how animal navigation systems work, says Barbara Webb, a professor of biorobotics at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland who was not involved in the research but has previously studied insect navigation. "It is pretty amazing that we can actually unravel it at this level of specific neurons and connections," Webb says. "I find that really exciting." What remains unclear, Webb says, is whether other animal brains, such as mammals," use the same mechanisms that flies do. Primates that need to navigate a jungle, for example, face a different set of challenges than an insect that can fly the shortest path between points. It's also uncertain how navigational data in the brain translates into behaviorthe flies' actual steering mechanism. "We now have a deep sense of how brains implement one fundamental type of computation, but we're still only scratching the surface on how the brain works, overall," Maimon says. In today's era of neuroscience, he adds, "the approachable fly brain may continue to be a place where we figure things out first, giving us a blueprint for understanding larger brains, like our own." Explore further How a fly's brain calculates its position in space More information: Jenny Lu et al, Transforming representations of movement from body- to world-centric space, Nature (2021). Jenny Lu et al, Transforming representations of movement from body- to world-centric space,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04191-x Cheng Lyu et al, Building an allocentric travelling direction signal via vector computation, Nature (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04067-0 Journal information: Nature Using a pangenomic approach instead of a single reference genome allows a more comprehensive characterization of genetic variations and can improve the genomic analyses used by a wide range of researchers and clinicians. Credit: Elena Zhukova Since the first sequencing of the human genome more than 20 years ago, the study of human genomes has relied almost exclusively on a single reference genome to which others are compared to identify genetic variations. Scientists have long recognized that a single reference genome cannot represent human diversity and that using it introduces a pervasive bias into these studies. Now, they finally have a practical alternative. In a paper published December 16 in Science, researchers at the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute have introduced a new tool, called Giraffe, that can efficiently map new genome sequences to a "pangenome" representing many diverse human genome sequences. They show that this approach allows a more comprehensive characterization of genetic variations and can improve the genomic analyses used by a wide range of researchers and clinicians. "We've been working toward this for years, and now for the first time we have something practical that works fast and works better than the single reference genome," said corresponding author Benedict Paten, associate professor of biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz and associate director of the Genomics Institute. "It's important for the future of biomedicine that genomics helps everyone equally, so we need tools that account for the diversity of human populations and are not biased." All humans have the same genes, but there are many variations in the exact sequences of the genesmeaning the sequence of DNA subunits (abbreviated A, C, T, G) that spell out the genetic codeas well as in the vast stretches of the genome outside of the protein-coding genes. A difference in a single letter of code is called a single nucleotide variant (SNV), and insertions or deletions of short sequences are known collectively as "indels". The most complex variants are structural variations involving rearrangements of large segments of code (50 or more letters). These are especially hard to find using a single reference genome, yet they can have significant effects and are known to play an important role in some diseases. The average person has millions of SNVs and indels and tens of thousands of larger structural variants, and collectively the structural variants actually involve more letters of code than the other types of variants do. "The workhorses of genomics have been SNVs and short indels, because structural variants have been hidden from view," Paten said. "Pangenomics is making structural variants visible so we can study them the same way we do SNVs and short indels. There are a lot of structural variants and they can have a big impact, so this is critical for the future of genetic studies of disease." A pangenome reference can be created from multiple genome sequences using a mathematical graph structure to represent the relationships between different sequences. In the new paper, the researchers built two human genome reference graphs using publicly available data. These were used to evaluate the new tool, Giraffe, which is a set of algorithms for mapping new sequence data to a pangenome reference. First author Jouni Siren, a research scientist at the Genomics Institute, pioneered many of Giraffe's key algorithmic innovations. Giraffe can accurately map new sequence data to thousands of genomes embedded in a pangenome reference as quickly as existing tools map to a single reference genome. The study also showed that using Giraffe reduces mapping bias, the tendency to incorrectly map sequences that differ from the reference genome. Overview of the experiments: Variant calls from long readbased and large-scale sequencing studies were used to construct pangenome reference graphs (top). Giraffe (and competing mappers) mapped reads to the graph or to linear references, and mapping accuracy, allele coverage balance, and speed were evaluated (middle). Then, mapped reads were used for variant calling, and variant call accuracy was evaluated (bottom). Structural variant calls were analyzed alongside expression data to identify eQTLs and population frequency estimates. Credit: Siren et al., Science 2021 "Not only is the analysis better, it is also as fast as current methods that use a linear reference genome," said co-first author Jean Monlong, a postdoctoral researcher at the Genomics Institute. Inexpensive short-read sequencing is a mainstay of modern genomics, yielding snippets of sequence that must be mapped to a reference genome to make sense of them. Mapping shows where each snippet belongs on one of the 23 human chromosomes and identifies the variants present at each location in an individual's genome, a process known as genotyping. The researchers found that Google Health's deep-learning variant caller, DeepVariant, could more accurately identify SNVs and indels using Giraffe's alignments against a pangenome than it could using alignments against a single reference genome. Monlong said he was most excited about using pangenomics to study structural variants. "A lot of structural variants have been discovered recently using long-read sequencing," he said. "With pangenomes, we can look for these structural variants in large datasets of short-read sequencing. It's exciting because this will allow us to study those new structural variants across many people and ask questions about their functional impact, association with disease, or role in evolution." The researchers used Giraffe to map sequence reads from a diverse group of 5,202 people and determine their genotypes for 167,000 recently discovered structural variations. This enabled them to estimate the frequency of different versions of these structural variants in the human population as a whole and within individual subpopulations. They showed that the frequency of some variants differs considerably between subpopulations and could be misinterpreted if analyzed only in, for example, European-ancestry populations where the frequency of a particular variant is low. A single reference genome must choose one version of any variation to represent, leaving the other versions unrepresented. By making more broadly representative pangenome references practical, Giraffe can make genomics more inclusive. Paten and others at the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute are involved in a major effort funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute to build a comprehensive human pangenome reference, which they expect to release next year as a resource for the scientific community. In addition to Siren and Monlong, the new paper has three other co-first authors who contributed equally: Xian Chang, Adam Novak, and Jordan Eizenga, all at the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute. In addition to other coauthors at the Genomics Institute, including Director David Haussler, the coauthors also include researchers at Google Health, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Explore further What the new pangenome reveals about bovine genes More information: Jouni Siren et al, Pangenomics enables genotyping known structural variants in 5,202 diverse genomes, Science (2021). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abg8871 Journal information: Science Jouni Siren et al, Pangenomics enables genotyping known structural variants in 5,202 diverse genomes,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abg8871 Fig. 1: A typical amplitude spectrum produced with frequency bins that are tuned to the expected dark matter linewidth using the modified LPSD technique. The black line indicates the amplitude spectrum. The noise spectrum was estimated at each frequency bin from neighboring bins to yield the local noise median (blue) and 95% confidence level (CL, green). Peaks (red) above this confidence level were considered candidates for dark matter signals and analyzed further. Credit: DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04031-y The technologies behind one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of the centurythe detection of gravitational wavesare now being used in the long-standing search for dark matter. Thought to make up roughly 85 percent of all matter in the universe, dark matter has never been observed directly and remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in modern physics. With extremely sensitive detectors now at their disposal, already proven through several outstanding discoveries, scientists believe that existing gravitational wave technology has the true potential to finally discover the exotic material and even find out what it is made of. In a study published today in Nature, a team led by scientists from Cardiff University's Gravity Exploration Institute has taken the first step towards this goal by using the instruments, known as laser interferometers, to look for a new kind of dark matter for the very first time. Until recently, it was widely believed that dark matter was composed of heavy elementary particles. These were not discovered despite a multitude of efforts, and scientists are now turning to alternative theories to explain dark matter. A recent theory says that dark matter is actually something called a scalar field, which would behave as invisible waves bouncing around galaxies, including our own Milky Way. "We realized our instruments could be used to hunt for this new kind of dark matter, although they were initially designed for detecting gravitational waves,"' said Professor Hartmut Grote, from Cardiff University's Gravity Exploration Institute, who instigated the investigation. Within a laser interferometer, two beams of light are bounced between mirrors before meeting up on a detector. From this, scientists can gauge with great accuracy how out of sync the beams of light are with each other, which is itself proxy for any disturbance the beams encounter. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) consists of two interferometers located in the US, each with two 4 km long arms arranged in the shape of an "L," which were used to detect gravitational waves for the very first time in 2015, and many times since. The UK/German GEO 600 detector in Germany, where Grote was lead scientist from 2009 to 2017, is another highly sensitive interferometer and was used to develop much of the technology needed to detect gravitational waves. The GE0600 detector was used, for the very first time, in this study to search specifically for dark matter. "Scalar field dark matter waves would pass right through the Earth and our instruments, but as they do so, would cause objects such as mirrors to vibrate ever so slightly,"' said lead investigator Sander Vermeulen, also from Cardiff University's Gravity Exploration Institute. "Vibrations of mirrors would disturb the beams of light in instruments like GEO600 or the LIGO detectors in a particular way characteristic of dark matter, which is something we should be able to detect, depending on the exact properties of that dark matter." Even though dark matter has never been directly detected, scientists suspect it exists due to its gravitational effect on objects across the universe. For example, a large amount of unseen matter may explain why galaxies rotate as they do, and how they could have formed in the first place. Though the team were unsuccessful in making any sort of detection in this new study, they say they are making important first strides in terms of introducing this technology to dark matter searches and have already made progress in terms of narrowing down certain parameters for future studies. "I was surprised by how sensitive an instrument can be for hunting dark matter when it was built for an entirely different purpose originally," continued Professor Grote. "We have definitively ruled out some theories that say dark matter has certain properties, so future searches now have a better idea of what to look for," said Vermeulen. "We believe these new techniques have the true potential to discover dark matter at some point in the future." Explore further Mysterious clouds could offer new clues on dark matter More information: Sander M. Vermeulen et al, Direct limits for scalar field dark matter from a gravitational-wave detector, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Sander M. Vermeulen et al, Direct limits for scalar field dark matter from a gravitational-wave detector,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04031-y The TEMPO project will provide hourly data like this, revealing concentrations of various airborne pollutants and irritants across the northern hemisphere. Credit: NASA From high-profile wildfires in the American West over the last several years, to visibly cleaner air during pandemic slowdowns, air quality is returning to the forefront of environmental concern. The air we breathe has direct impacts on human health and quality of lifeespecially for people with respiratory concerns. The issue is: Solutions cannot be implemented without knowing where the problem areas are or what to clean up. "We just don't have enough ground-level information to know what people are breathing," says Tracey Holloway, an environmental science professor at the University of WisconsinMadison. "That is true with inner cities, rural areas and tribal communities, and that's true if you look at countries around the world, many of which have no monitors whatsoever." To comprehensively tackle the complexities of air pollution, proper monitoring and modeling is required from a community to global scale. Scientists are hard at work developing these systems so they can collect data, determine the areas most in need, and implement solutions there first. Langston Verdin, director of health strategy for the Milwaukee Health Department, is working to identify communities with the poorest air quality in Milwaukee. To accomplish this, Verdin partnered with IQAir, a company that produces consumer-accessible, low-cost air quality monitoring units. These units can be used indoors or at small scales outside. IQAir monitors work in conjunction with an app that reports real-time air quality and other useful details for users. This information could be especially beneficial for child care centers and schools, or for high-risk individuals with asthma or other respiratory concerns. Right now, Verdin has five IQAir units distributed around Milwaukee. With these, he hopes to gather enough data across different areas to completely analyze the city's air quality and then work to advocate for communities with the most hazardous air quality. Similar units by PurpleAir are in place around Madison as well. Computational modeling is a great tool to show how air pollution evolves on a national scale. However, it can be very difficult to zoom into specific areas with these models, which are also time-consuming to run and computationally expensive. To counter these issues, Christopher Tessem, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has developed the only computational model available allowing air pollution examination from a city to national scale. The model not only gives clarity, but it also quickens the monitoring process. "This computational speed-up makes possible uncertainty, sensitivity and scenario analyses that could not be attempted with other comprehensive chemical transport models," Tessem said in a recent panel discussion with Holloway and Verdin hosted by UWMadison's Wisconsin Energy Institute. Holloway and a graduate student have been running Tessem's InMAP model specifically over Wisconsin and Madison. Air monitoring also happens on an even larger scale, in space with satellites. Satellites can detect particles and gases invisible to the human eye, collecting data essential to filling in missing gaps that the other monitors and models cannot uncover. Satellites act as additional support for other monitoring techniques, not a replacement as they cannot measure pollution levels near Earth's surface. "It's pretty amazing that we can see invisible pollution from outer space. It almost sounds like a science fiction story," says Holloway, who has led NASA's Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team for more than a decade. Satellite monitors only continue to improve, according to Holloway. "There is a renaissance of satellite data for air pollution coming," she says. "In 2022, the U.S. is going to launch the first satellite that can orbit with the Earth, detecting air pollution every hour over North America. This will provide info on nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants that are regulated by the Clean Air Act, indicators of emissions, relevant for environmental justice, and that pave the way for climate solutions." This new satellite is called TEMPO, for Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution. Collectively, with all these models and monitors, atmospheric scientists are well on their way to creating a complex composition of the air in our atmosphere. With this data, along with community input, new options can be evaluated by policymakers, building on a history of air quality regulations going back to the Clean Air Act of 1970. Major clean air improvements could occur in the clean electricity and electric vehicle sectors. With heavily trafficked areas known to be poor air areas, shifts to electric vehicles would especially improve these hard-hit spots. Overall, any policy that reduces fossil fuel burning will be a win for climate, air quality and health, Holloway says. Holloway and Verdin acknowledge the need for implementing solutions that drive air quality improvement. With the correct collaboration of monitoring techniques, researchers can gather data to back up policy suggestions that can make impactful change. Explore further Addressing inequity in air quality This image, which was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission on 1 March 2021, shows Russias Novolazarevskaya research station in Antarctica. The station was the starting point the 2021 Chasing the Light expedition, where two explorers, Justin Packshaw and Jamie Facer Childs, are undertaking a 3600-km kitesurf trek that takes them across the desolate heart of Antarctica. They are not pushing their physical and mental limits to the brink, facing howling gales and temperatures of 55C just for the sake of adventure. They are gathering information to help scientists better understand how the body responds to extremes and taking unique measurements that will help complement ESAs CryoSat data to better understand how this giant ice sheet is responding to climate change. Credit: Font Awesome fontawesome.com --> contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2021), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO In an astonishing feat of endurance, explorers Justin Packshaw and Jamie Facer Childs are a quarter of the way through a 3600-km kitesurf trek that takes them across the desolate heart of Antarctica. They are not pushing their physical and mental limits to the brink, facing howling gales and temperatures of 55C just for the sake of adventure. They are gathering information to help scientists better understand how the body responds to extremes and taking unique measurements of their ice environment that will help complement ESA's CryoSat mission to better understand how this giant ice sheet is evolving in response to climate change. Each hauling a 200-kg sledge and traveling on foot or on skis pulled by kites, Justin and Jamie set out a month ago from the Novolazarevskaya research station on their 80-day "Chasing the Light' expedition to cross Antarctica from coast to coast. The station can be seen in the image below, which was captured from space by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission. On the way, they are collecting data that will give scientists new insight into environmental conditions in the middle of Antarctica. As well as the temperature and wind readings, the team will supply measurements of the snow that covers the ice sheet. Environmental satellites in space, such as ESA's CryoSat provide a synoptic view of how climate change is affecting the world's ice. CryoSat transmits radar pulses from 720 km above Earth's surface and uses the return pulses from the surface to measure changes in the height of the ice. The differences in the height and coverage of the ice over time, reveals how much ice is being lost. Since it was launched in 2010, CryoSat has been returning precision data across the whole planet to within two degrees of the South Pole. Justin and Jamie's measurements, however, can be thought of as pinpricks of environmental information spread along the expedition route So how does Justin's expedition fit in and help ESA? ESAs Earth Explorer CryoSat mission is dedicated to precise monitoring of changes in the thickness of marine ice floating in the polar oceans and variations in the thickness of the vast ice sheets that blanket Greenland and Antarctica.The satellite flies at an altitude of just over 700 km, reaching latitudes of 88 north and south, to maximise its coverage of the poles. Its main payload is an instrument called Synthetic Aperture Interferometric Radar Altimeter (SIRAL). Previous radar altimeters had been optimised for operations over the ocean and land, but SIRAL is the first sensor of its kind designed for ice, measuring changes at the margins of vast ice sheets and floating ice in polar oceans. Credit: ESA/AOES Medialab Malcolm Davidson, Head of ESA's Earth Observation Campaigns Section, explained, "To generate the best possible maps of the Antarctic ice sheet and to understand how it is responding to climate change, scientists need additional information to that being provided by CryoSat. "Information about snow and ice conditions at the surface are needed to correctly interpret the radar echoes the satellite receives from the ice surface and transform them into measures of ice height. "While ESA goes to great lengths to validate CryoSat's data, the measurements of snow and ice conditions that Justin is taking along his expedition route are unique. We simply don't have such measurements for much of his routeso, in short, they will be very helpful in improving the reliability and accuracy of the trends measured by our CryoSat mission." The team is also working with NASA and Stanford University to use the expedition for human and biological research. This involves taking measurements of their own bodies to study, for example, isolation, microbiology and immunologyultimately contributing studies into future human space exploration. Explorers Justin Packshaw and Jamie Facer Childs are undertaking a 3600-km kitesurf trek across the desolate heart of Antarctica. This digital elevation map of Antarctica, which was processed by the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling using data from ESAs CryoSat mission, has been overlaid with the GPS track of the Chasing the Light expedition. It shows the teams position on 15 December 2021 having travelled 1083 km since they started the expedition on 12 November from the Novolazarevskaya Novo research station. This current position is at latitude 80S and at an altitude of 2837 m above sea level. On route, the explorers gathering information to help scientists better understand how the body responds to extremes and taking unique measurements that will help complement ESAs CryoSat data to better understand how this giant ice sheet is responding to climate change. Credit: CPOM/Chasingthelight2021/ESA So far, the team has been subjected to 150 km/hr winds, 55C temperatures and whiteouts hindering progress a little so that they have lost a few days having to hold up in their tents and also rethink their route slightly. The map above, which is a digital elevation map of Antarctica based on data from CryoSat, has been overlaid with the GPS track of the expedition. It shows the team's position on 15 December 2021 having traveled 1,083 km since they set off on 12 November from the Novolazarevskaya research station. Justin says, "One learns to roll with the punches down here so, we used these days to mend some kit and ourselves. In total, we have not been able to travel for nine days, but obviously still needed to eat. If we kept heading to the Pole of Inaccessibility, which is a considerable dogleg in our planned route, we would not have enough food. "We decided that it is prudent and safer to head directly to the Geographic South Pole and if we are careful with our food and fuel, this is achievable." In an astonishing feat of endurance, explorers Justin Packshaw and Jamie Facer Childs are undertaking a 3600-km kitesurf trek that will take them across the desolate heart of Antarctica. They are not pushing their physical and mental limits to the brink, facing howling gales and temperatures of 55C just for the sake of adventure. They are gathering information to help scientists better understand how the body responds to extremes and taking unique measurements that will help complement ESAs CryoSat data to better understand how this giant ice sheet is responding to climate change. Credit: Justin Packshaw Speaking on 14 December, Justin added, "The wind has been between 40 and 50 km per hour and we have been flying our 9 m kites, which pulled us along with gusto. Boy, the power these puppies can produce is incredible. "The terrain was erratic, super icy and difficult and yet they just pulled us straight through without a care! We on the other hand were rattled senseless! All that aside, we're in good form and will just keep playing the cards we're dealt. A Royal Flush would be nice." Explore further CryoSat reveals Antarctica in 3-D The urban heat index penalty is most marked at night, with an increase of up to about 5 degrees C (about 9 degrees F) in some urban areas. Even rural areas far away from urban centers heat up somewhat. Credit: Yun Qian | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory City living has its perks: Live music, museums, trendy cafes and much more. But urban living isn't so cool when it comes to summer weather. Living in a city translates to an extra two to six hours of uncomfortable weather per day in the summer for people in the eastern and central United States, according to research published Dec. 9 in Geophysical Research Letters. The scientists present this and related work this week at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. The additional uncomfortable hours occur mainly at night. Cities bake in the summer sun, with concrete, dark pavement and structures soaking in the heat during the day and releasing it at night, raising the nighttime heat index. Living in a city boosted the nighttime urban heat stress index anywhere from 1.9 to 4.9 degrees Celsius (about 3.5 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to nearby rural areas. The effect in the daytime was much less. During daylight hours, some cities actually become slightly more comfortable due to lower humidity. Researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory also found that when a heat wave hits, the heat penalty of living in a city grows even more. Though everyone in the region is experiencing warmer temperatures, the extra amount of heat that the city residents feel compared to their rural neighbors becomes even larger. The hotter it is, the bigger the penaltya concern especially in light of future global warming. Because more than four out of five Americans live in urban areas, the scope of the penalty is likely extensive. Extreme heat is now listed routinely as a leading weather-related cause of death in the U.S., usually ahead of floods, wildfires and hurricanes. Urban areas are hotter than rural areasand the heat stress penalty in U.S. cities is particularly strong during nighttime hours. Credit: Animation by Sara Levine / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory "People have known about the urban heat island effect for more than 180 years, but the fact that the differences between nighttime and daytime and among different cities is so substantial is somewhat surprising," said PNNL atmospheric scientist Yun Qian, corresponding author of the paper. "Our findings show that urban living makes nighttime hours in all U.S. cities studied more uncomfortable," Qian added. Gap between urban and rural The researchers found that in the U.S. cities studied, a temperature increase of 1 degree C (about 2 degrees F) translates to an extra 30 minutes of uncomfortable weather in a day for city residents. That means a heat wave, or future warming, that increases the background temperature 6 degrees Croughly 11 degrees Fcould translate to three more hours of uncomfortable weather in a day. That's above and beyond the extra discomfort that other residents living in less urban areas in the same region experience. To do the study, scientists designed and ran a climate-urban model and analyzed the results for six summers, from 2008 to 2013. The study included large cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Dallas. The scientists looked at the heat stress index, which describes how the temperature feels when humidity is taken into account. Then the team calculated "heat caution hours," which they defined as hours when the heat index reached above 27 degrees C, or about 80 degrees Fthe dividing line they used between comfortable and uncomfortable. As background temperatures go up, the number of uncomfortable hours in a day rise more in U.S. cities in the Southeast, like Atlanta and Miami, than in cities in the Northeast, such as Boston and New York. Credit: Yun Qian /Pacific Northwest National Laboratory The team observed a competing dynamic between temperature and humidity in cities. When it comes to comfort, cities have the advantage when it comes to humidity. There's usually less humidity in urban areas because there aren't as many plants, trees and other vegetation to give off moisture. But uncomfortable higher temperatures in cities are a more powerful factor, with an impact about five times that of humidity. In all the cities studied, the air became more uncomfortable at night as temperatures rose, regardless of humidity. Beyond that, the effects of urban living varied a bit from region to region. Regional differences At night, urban areas in the Northeast, such as New York and Philadelphia, experienced the largest nighttime penalty, with the heat index increasing up to about 4.5 degrees C. But in terms of the number of extra hours of uncomfortable weather, the effects were most pronounced in the southeastern United States. Residents of Atlanta, for instance, experience on average four to five extra hours a day during the summer of uncomfortable weather. People living in the Northeast are more likely to have two or three such hours. In many cities, urban living makes the daytime hours less comfortable too. Philadelphia, Washington, New York and Chicago all experience a higher heat index and more heat stress during the daytime, compared to more rural regions nearby. But because of lower humidity that accompanied higher temperatures in cities, daytime comfort was slightly enhanced in the southern and eastern United States, including Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Miami. "It's important to note the differences between cities," said coauthor T.C. Chakraborty. "What is useful for heat mitigation in Chicago, for example, may be different than what is useful in Miami. Even within one city, different neighborhoods can be very differentfor example, an area along a river compared to a neighborhood with no grass or water nearby." Along with Qian, former PNNL postdoctoral researcher Chandan Sarangi, now at the Indian Institute of Technology in India, is a lead author of the paper. Other PNNL authors are Jianfeng Li, Ruby Leung and Ying Liu. Explore further Urbanization magnified nighttime heat waves in China More information: Chandan Sarangi et al, Urbanization amplifies nighttime heat stress on warmer days over the US, Geophysical Research Letters (2021). Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters Chandan Sarangi et al, Urbanization amplifies nighttime heat stress on warmer days over the US,(2021). DOI: 10.1029/2021GL095678 Researcher performing the sampling just after the wildfire. Credit: CENAP-ICMBio The 2020 wildfires in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil, caused the immediate death of potentially 16.9 million vertebrates, including lizards, birds and primates, reports a study published in Scientific Reports. The wildfires in the Pantanal wetland burned between January and November 2020 causing huge damage to the world's largest tropical wetland. Walfrido Moraes Tomas, Ronaldo Morato and colleagues estimated wildfire animal deaths by counting carcasses in burned areas. They sampled carcasses at intervals along tracts of wetland (114.43 kilometers in total) in the immediate aftermath of a fire. The authors found 302 carcasses and, despite their poor condition, were able to identify the species in most cases. They then scaled up their numbers for both small vertebrates (with a body weight less than 2kg) and medium-to-large vertebrates (with a body weight greater than 2kg) to estimate how many animals were killed in total. The authors estimate that between 13,206,700 and 18,811,300 small vertebrates were killed across the 39,030 km2 burnt area of the Pantanal wetlands between January and November 2020. Small vertebrates included small lizards, birds and rodents. The authors also estimate that between 691,090 and 1,196,570 medium-to-large vertebrates were immediately killed, including ungulates and primates. They provide an overall total estimate of 16,952,000 vertebrates killed in the fires. Overview of the Pantanal wetland after the wildfire. Notice the smoke covering the entering region. Credit: CENAP-ICMBio The authors report that their sampling likely missed several species known to have also been killed by the fires including jaguars, pumas and tapirs. They also caution that their estimation does not reflect the full impact of the wildfires that would have caused subsequent animal deaths from habitat loss. Researcher collecting a dead animal. Credit: CENAP-ICMBio Walfrido Moraes Tomas and colleagues conclude that their study highlights the catastrophic impact the 2020 wildfires had on wildlife in the Pantanal wetlands and the importance of preventing future disasters. Explore further Brazil wildfires surge again in 2020 More information: Walfrido Tomas, Distance sampling surveys reveal 17 million vertebrates directly killed by the 2020's wildfires in the Pantanal, Brazil, Scientific Reports (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02844-5 Journal information: Scientific Reports Walfrido Tomas, Distance sampling surveys reveal 17 million vertebrates directly killed by the 2020's wildfires in the Pantanal, Brazil,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02844-5 Credit: CC0 Public Domain People whose moral beliefs and values align closely with other members of their online communitiesincluding those on social networks Gab and Redditare more prone to radicalization, according to new USC research. Researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences had theorized that a high level of consistency in similar moral concerns within online communities is linked to an increase in radical intentionsthat is, readiness to participate in illegal or violent political action. In new research published this week in Social Psychological and Personality Science, they found the degree of shared moral concerns or "moral convergence" within an online cluster predicts the number of hate-speech messages posted by members. "Our research team has looked at how morality motivates people to engage in various types of behavior, from donation during a disaster to taking extreme actions, even violence, to protect their group," said study lead author Mohammad Atari, who recently defended his Ph.D. in the department of psychology at the USC Dornsife College and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University. "They feel like others are doing something morally wrong and it's their sacred duty to do something about it, even if that means posting hate speech and committing hate crimes." Scientists first analyzed posts on an alternative social media network popular with the alt-right and right-wing extremists called Gab. The platform, which claims to champion free speech and isn't moderated for hate speech, provided the researchers with a unique opportunity to investigate the dynamics that could lead to radicalization. They found Gab users who had a similar moral profile with their immediate groupmeaning they felt similarly about core moral issues including care, fairness, loyalty, purity and authoritywere more likely to disseminate hate speech and use language intended to dehumanize or even call for violence against outgroup members. The researchers replicated the observations in the Gab study by looking at another extremist network in the online community Reddit. They analyzed a subreddit called "Incels"involuntary celibate men who blame women for their inability to find sexual partnersand found those who were more like-minded in their morality produced more hateful, misogynistic speech. Working together, scientists at USC and other institutions a few years ago developed a model for detecting moralized language. It's based on a prior, deep-learning framework for a computer program that can reliably identify text evoking moral concerns associated with different types of moral values and their opposites. The values, as defined by the Moral Foundations Theory, are focused on care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion and purity/degradation. Moral Foundations Theory is a social and cultural psychology theory that explains the evolutionary origins of human moral intuitions based on innate, gut feelings rather than logical reasoning. "Morality binds us together and gives our society structure and direction for taking care of those in need, and a vision for a just and prosperous future for the group. But morality also has a dark side, in that extreme forms of it can lead to the opposite of a lot of these positive principles," said Morteza Dehghani, an associate professor of psychology and computer science. He leads USC Dornsife College's Computational Social Science Lab, where he, Atari and others investigate how morality intertwines with prejudice and hate. Social media platforms allow extremists to find each other and, as Dehghani describes, "feed each other's visions of the world and anger towards the outgroup." Experimental studies further revealed the role of morality In three controlled experimental studies, the research team further demonstrated that leading people to believe that others in their hypothetical or real group shared their views on moral issues increases their radical intentions to protect the group at any cost, even by resorting to violent means. When U.S. study participants were led to believe that other Americans shared their moral views, they became more willing to "fight and die" for their country and the values it stands for. "These findings highlight the role of moral convergence and familial-like bonds in radicalization, emphasizing the need for diversity of moral worldviews within social networks," said Atari. But, he acknowledged, that's easier said than done. More study is needed to determine the most effective interventions for online communities to introduce different views, which may hold the key to stopping radicalization. 'Stop the Steal' had roots in online radicalization The real-world threats posed by online radicalization were recently illustrated by the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. Those who were convinced the 2020 presidential election had been stolen from former President Donald Trump organized online under the hashtag #StoptheSteal on Facebook and on Gab, which served as a hub for organizing the insurrection. These radicalization studies were already well underway before the Jan. 6 insurrection. Even so, Atari said the events of Jan. 6 further motivated the research team that had been trying to understand online radicalization. He added that identifying as conservative or liberal does not necessarily predict who is predisposed to radicalization. "When people are motivated by morality, regardless of their political affiliation, it clouds their judgment," Atari said. More information: Mohammad Atari et al, Morally Homogeneous Networks and Radicalism, Social Psychological and Personality Science (2021). DOI: 10.1177/19485506211059329 Journal information: Social Psychological and Personality Science Mohammad Atari et al, Morally Homogeneous Networks and Radicalism,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/19485506211059329 An illustration of Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/JHU Applied Physics Laboratory Sixty years ago, NASA set an out-of-this-world goal: to touch our sun. Sending a spacecraft to the fiery star at the center of our solar system is no small feat. From engineering a spacecraft that could hurtle 430,000 mph through space to agreeing on what kinds of data it would capture, there was a lot to sort out. A half-century in the making, Parker Solar Probe finally launched in 2018. Now, three years later, it has touched the sun. NASA Program Scientist Kelly Korreck serves as head of science operations and project manager for the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons, or SWEAP, investigation. SWEAP is one of four instrument suites aboard Parker Solar Probe. SWEAP includes a cup that sits outside the spacecraft's heatshield to scoop up some of the sun's plasma. At least one engineer has deemed it "The Bravest Little Instrument." Korreck shared some lessons she's learned throughout her career and explained why Parker Solar Probelike so much at NASA, and in lifeis fundamentally about perseverance. How did you decide to become a scientist? Why solar science, specifically? I think science has always been part of my life in the form of curiosity. I went to the University of Michigan for undergrad and wound my way through chemistry and medicine. I eventually found my way to physics and astronomy. After graduating, I took a year off to figure out what I was most passionate about. I saw a video with images from NASA's TRACE satellite from the '90s and early 2000s and was totally enamored with all the physics I could see. It's not every day you can go from, "Hey, I'm thinking about this basic physics problem," to "Hey, that basic physics problem has an implication for society," so that's what drew me to solar physics. I nearly left research after grad school because it was hard to find a job at the time, and I just didn't know if this was my passion. And then I gave one last talkmy mentor said I had toand got an offer from my boss at the Smithsonian. After that, it was just saying "yes" to every opportunity, like Parker Solar Probe. From left to right: Chris Scholz (University of California, Berkeley), Tony Case (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory), and NASA Program Scientist Kelly Korreck with the Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) cup just before it was integrated onto Parker Solar Probe. Credit: JHU Applied Physics Laboratory What about when there's an opportunity but you're not sure you're ready, or you've never done something like it before? In general, I take the approach that I can learn just about anything. A lot of times someone will present a challenge and say, "We don't know how to do this." And I say, "Well, we can figure it out. We'll figure out the budget. We'll figure out how many staff we need. We'll figure out what data format is best." That was a lot of how my path came to be. Something needed to be done, and I said, "Let's figure it out." At this point, I also have 20 years of experience learning to tell when I can handle something and when I should ask for help. I know in the pit of my stomach when it's the right amount of uncomfortable and when it's time to say, "I need an adultor at least someone to talk this through with." What's some valuable advice you've received? One piece of advice that has stuck with me is, "know your why." Know why you're doing this. Because science is hard, right? I'm not going to lie and say it's easy. It takes a lot of hard work, and it takes a lot of long hours. So you have to know your why. And that "why" should be both academicwhat scientific thing you want to studyand personal: Why are you serving humanity this way? What's your "why?" What keeps you motivated when you encounter challenges? My "why" is taking care of our home here on Earth, but also taking care of space and figuring out how we explore and how we go to new places thoughtfully. How do we make sure we are respecting our humanity and striving for better as we explore? NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory takes images of the Sun at different wavelengths. Credit: NASA/SDO I also make sure to connect with that joy and wonder that brought me here. I spend a lot of time looking at images from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory in the dark to remind myself, "This is why I'm doing it. This thing that is 93 million miles away? Our understanding of it has totally changed over my lifetime." How do you think about failure? I'm still trying to get my head around failure. If someone else came to me and said, "Hey, this didn't work out," I would say, "Great, so we know one way that doesn't work. What else can we try?" I don't see it as failure for other people. It's just a way to learn. But I'm still working on that for myself. I heard on a podcast once that if you haven't had three major failures in a month, you haven't been pushing the envelope enough. I think that's so true. If you're getting everything right, it's no longer your best. And then sometimes you try something challenging, and it's wildly successful. What was it like learning that Parker Solar Probe had touched the sun? I was at a meeting, and someone mentioned the new Parker data was down. I hadn't looked at it yet, so I loaded it up on my computer. It just felt like, "Wow, we really did it." This is what we were aiming for, for the past 60 years. At the same time, it felt like, "What just happened?" Because it was just a normal Wednesday. It felt weird to have it happen during the pandemic, too. I'd imagined I'd be in our operations center looking at data with the folks I've worked with for a decade, but of course we were working remotely. It felt kind of uneventful; it wasn't that eureka moment. But I definitely feel a sense of pride and excitement. And the day I found out, I did take another half-hour to play with the data and sit there and look at it for a while, just to be with it. There's still kind of a tingly feeling when I think about what has happened. What does this mission represent to you? The story of Parker Solar Probe, and Eugene Parker himself, is about perseverance. His paper on the solar wind was initially rejected. He had to convince the editor to publish it. The whole mission has been about perseverance. Putting a metal cup close to the sun is not easy. It took a lot of work, perseverance, and a really amazing team to get that done. We know our goal is so worth itthat our "why" is thereso we keep going forward. Explore further Parker Solar Probe completes a record-setting swing by the sun Fig. 1. A diagram to demonstrate the process of analysing the jolting pulse data. All three mites on each substrate underwent the same video analysis. The mite is placed on the substrate with the accelerometer attached and is filmed with the camera, producing a movie that has synchronous audio and video. The lefthand side of this diagram demonstrates how the vibrational data are processed. The raw accelerometer waveform of the movie is transformed into a spectrum, which shows the frequency (Hz) (x axis) and magnitude of acceleration (m/s2) (y axis) of the vibrational data. A collection of such spectra are then stacked into a spectrogram, which shows time (seconds) (x axis), frequency (Hz) (y axis) and magnitude of acceleration (logarithmic to the base 10) (pixel intensity). Dark red shows the highest magnitude and dark blue shows one 70th of this maximum. The maximum acceleration magnitude is forced to be that of the Varroa jolting pulses for better viewing, resulting in clipping of the irrelevant data at the lowest frequencies. The accelerometer recording for the entire original movie is transformed into a spectrogram, running with respect to time. The bottom panel shows a two-seconds long section of this movie. The right-hand side of the diagram demonstrates how the visual data are processed. The original video data that is collected is further cropped to better focus on the mite for the purpose of simple edge detection (by means of the spatial gradient of the pixel intensity). The modulus (absolute value) of the difference image shows the changes in pixel intensity in two consecutive frames as seen in the spatial difference image. In the modulus of the difference image, the mite is mostly dark blue when motionless, but exhibits edges that flash red when moving abruptly. The sum of the pixel intensities in this panel are then displayed as the white line that is superimposed on the spectrogram data of the bottom panel. This demonstrates the remarkable synchronicity between video-detected mite displacement and accelerometer trace. This processing is used to create the supplementary videos S9, S10 and S11. Credit: DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/2021/1407 Tiny parasitic mites, which are one the greatest threats to the honeybee, frequently send remarkably strong vibrational pulses into the surface they reside on, a new study has revealed. Scientists at Nottingham Trent University, which led the work, argue that the vibration could be produced for the purpose of environmental probing, with the mite exploiting the material's response to the signal to probe its surroundings. It is hoped that the fundamental discovery could lead to understanding how to manage and possibly even eradicate Varroa destructor mite infestations in the hive. Using ultra-sensitive accelerometerswhich have been able to detect vibrational waveforms originating from one individual mitethe team recorded the repeated knocking of the 1mm creatures, which they do by abruptly jolting their bodies. The researchers are the first group in the world to capture such vibrational waveform from a mite of any species, which can also be heard as an audio track when driven through speakers. Varroa miteswhich cannot see or hear and weigh about half a milligramlive in honeybee colonies in most parts of the world and feed on adult bees and larvae, passing on a variety of viruses to their hosts and play an important role in the destruction of colonies. The researchers were looking for vibrational traces coming from honeybees that may be infected but found unexpectedly that the individual mites were providing measurable vibrations of their own. The vibration that occurs as a result of the mite's jolting is very short and rapidly producedtaking just 50 to 90 microseconds for the vibration to be transmittedand the features of the signal vary strongly depending on the material the mite is stood on, providing a 'signature' of the substrate. "It is known in other species, such as the Aye-Aye and some parasitic wasps, that a signal similar to the one we discovered is produced, so that the animal can gather environmental knowledge," said Harriet Hall, a researcher in Nottingham Trent University's School of Science and Technology. She said: "If a mite becomes dislodged from its honeybee host, this could perhaps help it orientate back to a bee, especially as the animal can't see or hear. The mite jolting is a commonly observed behavior that is energetically demanding to produceanother sign that the mite produces this vibration deliberately, for its own benefit." It is widely acknowledged that these mites respond to a variety of sensory stimuli such as temperature and pheromones to orient to bees and to synchronize their offspring development with that of the bee, but little research has been carried out in terms of vibration. The team is now launching a new branch of investigations to help further clarify the purpose of the vibrations. It is hoped that deeper understanding of the function will enable them to manipulate the behavior to better manage and potentially eradicate the mite from honeybee hives. It could also have repercussions for the study of other mites and ticks which may use similar signals. Harriet added: "We could perhaps use the vibrational features of the jolting signal to search for mites in a honeybee colony using our vibration sensing technology, without the need to disturb the bees by physically inspecting the hive. This could lead to a new method of detecting mite infestation early on, enabling beekeepers to medicate their colonies before the mites get out of control or avoid medication altogether, if deemed unnecessary." Dr. Martin Bencsik, a physicist at Nottingham Trent University, added: "The vibrational pulse coincides with a mite's abrupt body motion, which has never been seen before and which we have captured and showcased in our work. We have characterized a new behavior in this species, a discovery so fundamental that it could have numerous and unexpected repercussions. "For the first time you can see the jolting behavior, the corresponding accelerometer trace, and even hear the repeated 'knocks' produced by this organism that weighs as little as a single strand of human hair and is 200 times lighter than a honeybee. "It is the first study to show that an individual mite is not only a receiver of vibrations, but also a transmitter of vibrations. On the basis of the vast energy spent by the mite to deliver these, they are probably not by-product vibrations of its activity, but deliberately transmitted by the animal for its own benefit. "The signal is very common in the hive. We found that the animal is capable of slowly winding up energy in some kind of internal 'spring' system than it can then suddenly release, providing a super strong, super short vibrational pulse delivery." The work is the latest Nottingham Trent University study looking at honeybee communication in the hive. Previous work has found that Queen bees 'toot' to instruct the colony to keep them safe, that honeybees drum on the comb to prompt others in the hive to start getting busy, and that surprised honeybees give 'whooping signal' in the hive. The latest research, published in the journal Entomologia Generalis, also involved the University of Warwick. Explore further Honeybees use social distancing to protect themselves against parasites More information: Harriet Hall et al, Varroa destructor mites regularly generate ultra-short, high magnitude vibrational pulses, Entomologia Generalis (2021). Harriet Hall et al, Varroa destructor mites regularly generate ultra-short, high magnitude vibrational pulses,(2021). DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/2021/1407 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Polarization is dangerous for democracy. Though the U.S. Constitution was designed to harness rivalry with a diverse, redundant, and modular set of institutions, if that rivalry curdles into the belief that your competitors are your enemies, those institutions may not be strong enough to hold a nation together. In a Perspective piece in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, SFI External Professor Jenna Bednar (University of Michigan) argues that polarization poses three perils in particular. The first problem is that people tend to gather with those who think similarly and avoid those who think differently, accentuating a distaste for those who differ. Second, elites can manipulate the public through fear, persuading their followers that others pose an existential threatand then that fear can feed on itself, beyond all control. And thirdand most dangerous, Bednar arguesis that the positions of the population become simplified, with less room for individual variation in beliefs. This can happen, for example, when each group polices the beliefs of its members and punishes those who don't conform with the established party line. This creates a loss of diversity in opinions that imperils democracy just as species diversity loss imperils ecosystems. Explore further Preventing extreme polarization of political attitudes Sambaquis of Figueirinha, in southern Brazil. Credit: Joannis77 Sea level changes caused the decline of one of the longest pre-Columbian coastal societies of the Americas 2,000 years ago, known as Sambaqui. This is demonstrated in a study carried out in Brazil by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and the Department of Prehistory of the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, recently published in the journal Scientific Reports. The study, funded by the European project ERC-CoG TRADITION, assessed the stable isotope composition of over 300 human individuals and more than 400 radiocarbon dates from archaeological sites on the southern Brazilian coast. Most of the sites are collective cemeteries built by fishing communities that flourished in the region between 7,000 and 1,000 years ago. Thousands of sites have already been recorded by archaeologists, who usually find hundreds of human burials, carefully deposited among enormous quantities of fish and shellfish that were consumed and used as grave goods in funerary rituals. The researchers found a sharp decline in the frequency of archaeological sites from ca. 2,200 years ago, which coincided with a major reorganization of coastal environments in response to a fall in the relative sea level. According to Alice Toso, ICTA-UAB researcher and lead author of the study, "sea level change around 2,000 years ago possibly caused a turning point in the carrying capacity of coastal environments that for thousands of years had sustained large indigenous communities along the southern coast of Brazil. The shrinking of coastal ecosystems such as bays and lagoons caused aquatic resources to be less abundant and less predictable, forcing groups to disperse into smaller social units." Andre Colonese, ICTA-UAB researcher and senior author of the paper, said, "The radiocarbon density distribution of these sites suggests the human population declined along Brazil's Atlantic Forest coast around 2,000 years ago. Interestingly, instead of abandoning fishing due to less predictable resource distribution, the remaining populations intensified fishing, exploiting in particular species of high trophic level, including sharks and rays. We believe that a fundamental shift in subsistence practices occurred at that time, from community-based (large sharing) to family-based (limited sharing) fishing." The study thus reveals that millennial-scale resilient coastal societies are vulnerable to the societal and economic impacts of environmental thresholds. Explore further Diet of pre-Columbian societies in the Brazilian Amazon reconstructed More information: Alice Toso et al, Fishing intensification as response to Late Holocene socio-ecological instability in southeastern South America, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Alice Toso et al, Fishing intensification as response to Late Holocene socio-ecological instability in southeastern South America,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02888-7 A silvopastoral farm in Colombia, South America, where trees and forage plants are planted in livestock pasture. Credit: University of Bristol A transition to silvopastoral systems (SPS), when implemented in a participatory way where farmers can decide how the system is adopted in their farms and make commitments to conserve remnant forests, could help Colombia meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets for 2030 and protect the country's Amazonian forests. Over the last 20 years, Colombiathe second most biodiverse country in the world, has lost more than 4.6million hectares of forest, partly due to the expansion of cattle farming, which in turn is related to complex historical, economic and political reasons. While a range of national and international agri-environmental projects aimed at reducing deforestation levels have been implemented in Colombia, until now their uptake and efficacy was not known. The BioSmart project, comprising entomologists, economists, geographers, climate modelers and botanists, sought to assess biodiversity value in silvopasture compared with non-SPS conventional pasture sites. The team recorded the number of insects and plant species across 16 SPS farm sites in Caqueta, Colombia. An Amazonian department which experiences particularly high levels of deforestation where 6,883km2 of forest was cleared between 2000-2020, equivalent to 8.5% of the region's total forest-covered land. The team's findings include: Even the small, remnant forests found on the farms studied were host to unique communities of invertebrates and plants, evidence that preserving these should be a priority in terms of biodiversity. Silvopasture supports greater numbers of native plant species (72 species) compared to traditional pastures (62). Fewer herbivorous pests are found in silvopasture compared with traditional pastures. On average, across the farms surveyed, almost twice as many (a 95% increase) of insects (called Hemipterans) were found in traditional pasture compared to silvopasture. This may indicate that greater biological control by invertebrate predators such as spiders occurs in silvopasture, although further data is needed to confirm this hypothesis. Twenty-five percent of trees planted to establish the silvopasture were from the legume family (Fabaceae) which have the potential to increase soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air to the soil, and may therefore help increase the productivity of livestock. The use of improved forage grasses, such as Brachiaria, may contribute to increased productivity in silvopasture compared to traditional pastures, as we found the average height of the grazing grasses in silvopasture was more than double that in traditional pasture. Silvopasture can sequester more carbon than traditional pasture, and allows higher stocking densities (between 1.25 and 3.75 times higher than conventional pasture), resulting in an average 1.8 times less GHG emissions. However, primary forest plots are still 66.5 times more effective at storing carbon than silvopasture and it is therefore vital to halt further deforestation. Regenerated forests sequestered between 27 to 164 times more CO 2 per hectare per year than SPS. Dr. Maria Paula Escobar, a human geographer who works as a Lecturer in Environmental Geography at the Bristol Veterinary School, and BioSmart project lead, said: "Our work shows that the adoption of silvopastoral farming could avoid further decimation of Colombia's forests. We show if 75% of suitable existing pastureland in Caqueta was converted to SPS pastures, this would save up to 7% of Colombia's emissions budget for 2030, which would contribute to the Colombian government's pathway to net zero. But this can only happen if funders and implementers understand that deforestation is not only the result of individual agricultural practices, but the result of complex historical, socioeconomic and political problems. "Deforested areas have a high potential to transition from intensive farming to more sustainable practices, including silvopasture. Since many of these areas are next to forest remnants in Caqueta, adopting more sustainable agriculture, coupled with farmers' agreements to protect remaining forests would prevent further conversion of primary forest and slow overall deforestation rates. While sustainable agriculture alone is insufficient to reduce deforestation, silvopasture could play a significant role in helping to achieve Colombia's greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for 2030, but projects that aim to implement them must build trust and avoid perpetuating inequalities." Explore further Secondary forests restore fresh water sources in degraded landscapes This well-camouflaged pygmy pipehorse, Cylix tupareomanaia, represents a new genus and species of pipehorse, discovered off the coast of Northland, New Zealand. Credit: Richard Smith In 2021, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences added 70 new plant and animal species to the tree of life, enriching our understanding of Earth's complex web of life and strengthening our ability to make informed conservation decisions. The new species include 14 beetles, 12 sea slugs, nine ants, seven fish, six scorpions, five sea stars, five flowering plants, four sharks, three spiders, two sea pens, one moss, one pygmy pipehorse, and one caecilian. More than a dozen Academy scientistsalong with several dozen international collaboratorsdescribed the new species discoveries. Proving that our vast and dynamic planet still contains unexplored places with never-before recorded plants and animals, the scientists made their finds over five continents and three oceans, sifting through forest floors, venturing into vast deserts, and diving to extreme ocean depths. Their results help advance the Academy's mission to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. "Biodiversity is critical for the health of our planet, and is being lost at a rate where sustainability practices are no longer enough," says Academy virologist and Chief of Science Shannon Bennett, Ph.D. "As stewards of our natural world, we need to play an active role in regenerating ecosystems. Our relationship to nature improves with each new species, deepening our understanding of how our planet works and can best respond to an uncertain future. As we continue to battle a changing climate and a global pandemic, there has never been a more crucial time to protect the variety of life on Earth." Below are highlights from the 70 new species described by the Academy this past year. Weevils a win for Indigenous communities Entomology Postdoctoral Fellow Matthew Van Dam, Ph.D., describes Pachyrhynchus obumanuvu, a brightly colored Easter egg weevil from the forested mountaintops of the Philippines. At 3,000 feet (914 meters) above sea level, these weevils live in the canopy of the moist, moss-covered cloud forest. Unlike most weevils, which tend to be a single color, P. obumanuvu boasts complex patterns of iridescent yellows and greens. Its coloration mimics the traditional garments of its namesake, the Indigenous Obu Manuvu tribe. But collaborating researcher Analyn Cabras, Ph.D., had additional motivations in naming this species. "We are in a race against time under the constant threat of forest degradation," Cabras says. "Many insects may go extinct before they are even discovered." P. obumanuvu was found in a small patch of primary forestone of few remaining in the region due to centuries of farming and overlogging. Cabras notes the power of a name to instill a sense of pride and stewardship for a species within a community. She highlights the importance of continued species identification, particularly in regions faced with rapid exploitation of natural resources. "How can we teach conservation and wildlife regeneration," Cabras questions, "if we can't put a name to a face?" While most weevils are monochromatic, the newly described Pachyrhynchus obumanuvu displays a stunning contrast of green and black. Credit: Analyn Cabras A new genus of pygmy pipehorse in the Pacific If you look closely at the sheer underwater cliffs off the coast of Northland, New Zealand, you'll probably only see a wall of red coralline algae. But to the trained eye of Academy Research Associate Graham Short, Ph.D., Cylix tupareomanaia, a new species of pygmy pipehorse and close cousin to seahorses, can be found expertly camouflaged by its surroundings. The discovery of this elusive species brings to light a new genus of pipehorsethe first to be reported in New Zealand since 1921. "This discovery underscores how little we know about the reefs of New Zealand we've been exploring for centuries," Short says. "If you dive a little deeper, I expect we'll identify several more new species of fish." Short's findings have uncovered other undescribed species within the Cylix genus from South Africa to the Seychelles. The new genus was determined by comparing CT scans between C. tupareomanaia and other similar species in the region. Short and his colleagues named Cylix (Latin for 'chalice') for the cup-like bone structure on its crest, whereas other pipehorse genera have a dome-shaped crest. The species name, tupareomanaia, is Maori for "garland of the seahorse," and represents the first time a Maori tribe has been involved in naming an endemic species from the Northland region. Scorpions reach new heights In the canopies of Mexico's tropical lowland forests, you'll find unexpected residents: scorpions. This year, Islands 2030 initiative co-leader and Curator of Arachnology Lauren Esposito, Ph.D., and graduate student Aaron Goodman describe six new species of bark scorpions from Guatemala and Mexico. While people might generally associate scorpions with arid desert climates, these bark scorpions find respite from predators, namely larger scorpions, high in the treetops of undisturbed primary forests. One of the new-to-science scorpions, Centruroides catemacoensis, has developed an extraordinary tactic to escape predators. With the ability to discern rustling winds from an approaching predator, C. catemacoensis let's go of its perch at the first sign of a nearby threat, falling to the safety of the forest floor. "Once they hit the leaf litter, you won't find them," Goodman says. Goodman used this to his advantage while on night surveys, tapping branches with PVC pipes to mimic predators and trigger the scorpions to fall into the nets waiting below. Caecilian sleuthing in Sao Tome Since colonial times, biologists have debated whether or not the Sao Tome caeciliana limbless, burrowing amphibianis one or two distinct species. After carefully studying the genetic markers of 85 individuals across Sao Tome island in the Gulf of Guinea, Islands 2030 initiative co-leader and Academy Curator of Herpetology Rayna Bell, Ph.D., provides the strongest evidence to date that the island boasts two unique species of caecilians. Around 300,000 years ago, a burst of volcanic activity streaked Sao Tome with lava flows, dividing the islandand the caeciliansinto unique, isolated habitats. This separation likely caused the species to diverge as they acclimated to the environmental pressures of their newfound territories. As the lava flows eroded, the once-impenetrable barriers disappeared, allowing the two resulting species to become neighbors once more. Millennia of interbreeding and hybridization has since shrouded the presence of two species by blurring the genetic lines between them. While the long debate over this species is familiar, Bell's finding is a major step towards understanding and protecting both of Sao Tome's caecilians. Guitarfish strum a new tune for fisheries Ichthyology Research Associate David Ebert, Ph.D., describes two blue-spotted guitarfish from Madagascar (Acroteriobatus andysabini) and Socotra (Acroteriobatus stehmanni). These are coastal rays with elongated bodies and flattened heads that resembleyou guessed itguitars. Because of their close proximity to humans and ability to be easily fished, these shark-like rays are among the most endangered of all cartilaginous fish. One of two distinct species of caecilians on the island of Sao Tome. Credit: Andrew Standbridge A. andysabini, the larger of the two newly-described species, was previously grouped together with another species of guitarfish. This lack of taxonomic knowledge has been detrimental to Malagasy guitarfish, as local small-scale fisheries continue to overfish without regulation. Ebert's conclusion that there are in fact two distinct species has brought conservation to the forefront, helping to facilitate Madagascar's first national plan of action to protect sharks and rays. Collaborating with local fisheries to incorporate species identification in their practice, Ebert is hopeful for harmony between guitarfish and the neighboring coastal communities they sustain. "How can we manage species protection in a region where food security is a prevalent issue?" Ebert questions. "It's not simply a matter of protecting these animals; it's about coming up with long-term solutions for both rays and human populations." Sea stars shine on coral reefs Over the past year, Invertebrate Zoology Research Associate Christopher Mah, Ph.D., described five new-to-science echinodermsa group of marine animals that includes sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and morefrom Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and New Caledonia. After careful examination of images from a remotely-operated vehicle and sea star specimens provided by Academy biologists and Hope for Reefs initiative co-leaders Luiz Rocha, Ph.D., and Bart Shepherd, Mah described the Indo-Pacific sea star Uokeaster ahi. Setting the reef ablaze with its bright orange color, U. ahi is aptly named for its fiery hueahi, meaning 'fire' in the Rapa Nui language. 'Uokeaster' is derived from the mythological sea deity Uoke, who, according to legend, submerged the once-continental Rapa Nui beneath the sea, leaving only its tallest mountain peaks exposed. U. ahi resides in this "original" Rapa Nuithe reefs just beneath the surface. Sea stars are important contributors to healthy coral reefs. Remove them, and the ecosystem falls out of balance. Therefore, the more we know about them, the better we can protect these increasingly fragile ecosystems. "You never know what benefit will come of studying the unknown," Mah says, "whether that's a tangible benefit like an anticancer drug or an ecological benefit in protecting coral reefs." Explore further Study indicates Sao Tome island has two species of caecilians found nowhere else on Earth More information: Manuel Lujan et al, Clusia falcata (Clusiaceae), an endangered species with exceptionally narrow leaves endemic to Chiapas, Mexico, Kew Bulletin (2021). Manuel Lujan et al, Clusia falcata (Clusiaceae), an endangered species with exceptionally narrow leaves endemic to Chiapas, Mexico,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s12225-021-09988-7 Illustration of the Lucy spacecraft near a large asteroid with Jupiter visible in the distant background. Credit: Southwest Research Institute. Gathering near Las Vegas recently, dozens of astronomers spread throughout the region, pointed their telescopes at the sky and waited for the moment on Oct. 20 that the light from a faraway star blinked out. It was an event so miniscule it would have been easy to miss. Yet the data gathered in those few seconds will contribute to the success of NASA's Lucy mission, which launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Oct. 16. The star appeared to briefly blink out because the asteroid Eurybates had passed in front of it. Eurybates is one of a handful of asteroids Lucy will visit over the next 12 years. As Eurybates eclipsed the star, a phenomenon scientists call an "occultation," a 40-mile- (300-kilometer-) wide shadow the size of the asteroid passed over the region. By spreading out inside the shadow's predicted path across Nevada, astronomers sought to measure the width of Eurybates down to several hundred feet, or a couple hundred meters, and to ascertain its shape. This information will be used by Lucy researchers to supplement data gathered by the Lucy spacecraft's close flyby of Eurybates in 2027, which is designed to determine what the asteroid is made of and where in the solar system it formed billions of years ago. Why occultations? An occultation is any event where one celestial object passes in front of another, blocking the latter object from an observer's view. The best-known example is a solar eclipse, which occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun from our view. "It really does look like a star just vanished," said Marc Buie, occultation science lead for the Lucy mission at the Southwest Research Institute, which is headquartered in San Antonio. Buie helped coordinate the Eurybates observations in Nevada. "It's kind of a weird thing to see, but an occultation gives us really valuable information." Observing occultations is one of the tools scientists have for gathering precise information about the size and shape of Lucy's target destinations, known as "Trojan" asteroids. These Trojans are clustered in two swarms that orbit the Sun at about the same distance as Jupiter (though they're as far away from Jupiter as they are from the Sun). Trojan asteroids are remnants of the early solar system, with the largest ones named after characters from Greek mythology. The Lucy mission, for the first time, will analyze seven of them up close, helping scientists hone the theory of how the planets formed and ended up in their current locations. While scientists can spot Trojan asteroids using powerful observatories such as NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (and in fact discovered a moon of Eurybates this way in 2018), the asteroids appear only as small points of light, so it's challenging to precisely determine their true sizes and shapes. "Occultations are one way for us to learn as much as we can about the objects before Lucy gets there, so that we can make the most of the brief opportunity we'll get when the spacecraft is super close to each target," said Brian Keeney, an occultation specialist for the Lucy mission at the Southwest Research Institute. After Lucy reaches each asteroid, scientists will be able to measure each asteroid's mass. That information, combined with size and shape data from flybys, occultations, and other Earth-based techniques, will help reveal the density of each asteroid. Density tells scientists about composition, or whether an asteroid is made mostly of ice or of rock. Scientists hope to compare the compositions of the Trojan asteroids to figure out if they came from the same or different parts of the solar system about 4.5 billion years ago, and how the Trojans relate to other asteroids in the solar system. "Lucy will see each asteroid's surface, but we need to learn more about the interior, which is where occultations can help," Keeney said. Lucy is headed to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids! But where exactly in our solar system are these Trojans? Theyre probably not quite where you think they are. Watch this video to see the 12-year path our Lucy spacecraft is taking over its mission to fly by the Trojan asteroids and uncover the secrets of planetary formation. Credits: NASA Goddard/Allison Gasparini Watching a star disappear To prepare for an occultation, astronomers predict a shadow's path across Earth, based on the known orbit of the asteroid and the precise position of the star to be occulted. Then they set up dozens of telescopes along a line perpendicular to that path and wait for the asteroid to eclipse a specific star. They count the seconds that starlight blinks out as the asteroid passes in front of it and then use the asteroid's known velocity to calculate its width. Since the occultation time, and thus width, is different at each point on the line where telescopes are stationedwith each telescope station corresponding to a different line across the asteroidscientists can also determine the shape of an asteroid's silhouette by combining data from each telescope. By observing multiple occultations of the same asteroid, scientists can catch different sides of the asteroid and combine their two-dimensional silhouette projections into a three-dimensional shape model. "Occultations have proven to be an excellent technique to maximize the science return of missions such as Lucy," said Adriana Ocampo, program executive for the Lucy mission based at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Accurate predictions of future occultation times and locations rely on impeccable information related to star and asteroid locations. When Buie started tracking occultations in the 1980s, the data available left him with huge areas of uncertainty, meaning his team could end up miles outside an asteroid's shadow. To catch an occultation of a 10-mile- (20-kilometer-) wide asteroid, for instance, Buie would have spread telescopes out along a 190-mile (300-kilometer) path. Today, that area is six times smaller. Astronomers' predictions have improved dramatically thanks to Hubble and ESA's (the European Space Agency) Gaia satellite, which help pin down the precise locations of nearly 2 billion stars. Additionally, the trajectories of Lucy's fast-moving target asteroids are constantly monitored and refined using ground-based telescopes and occasionally Hubble. How to catch an occultation Buie calls occultation events "mega campaigns," as they require large teams, precise location predictions for each telescope, and many telescopes for successful data collection. In Nevada, for instance, professional and amateur astronomers from across the country, including teachers and high school students, used 37 telescopes to observe Eurybates. But occultations happen all over world, from Argentina to South Africa, Senegal and Spain. Buie and other Lucy scientists must coordinate travel to these destinations, find observation volunteers locally, and train them. "Occultations provide an important international collaborative factor of scientific advancement for the good of humanity, excitement, engagement and inspiration which is at the core of NASA's mission," said Ocampo, who participates in observation campaigns. On top of the logistical challenges of organizing occultation campaigns, scientists must contend with unpredictable weather. Successful campaigns depend on clear skies. As observers waited for Eurybates occultation in Nevada, they saw clouds moving toward them. "If that Eurybates occultation had been an hour later, nobody would've seen anything," Buie said. "The clouds would have wiped us out." The team will continue to observe occultations until Lucy's last flyby of Trojan asteroid Patroclus in 2033, even in the face of bad weather. Explore further NASA's Lucy mission confirms discovery of Eurybates satellite Bursty bulk flows linked to magnetic field perturbations near Earth. Credit: European Space Agency The notion of living in a bubble is usually associated with negative connotations, but all life on Earth is dependent on the safe bubble created by our magnetic field. Understanding how the field is generated, how it protects us and how it sometimes gives way to charged particles from the solar wind is not just a matter of scientific interest, but also a matter of safety. Using information from ESA's Cluster and Swarm missions along with measurements from the ground, scientists have, for the first time, been able to confirm that curiously named bursty bulk flows are directly connected to abrupt changes in the magnetic field near Earth's surface, which can cause damage to pipelines and electrical power lines. The magnetosphere is a teardrop-shaped region in space that begins some 65,000 km from Earth on the day side and extends to over 6,000,000 km on the night side. It is formed through interactions between Earth's magnetic field and supersonic wind flowing from the Sun. These interactions are extremely dynamic and comprise complicated magnetic field configurations and electric current systems. Certain solar conditions, known as space weather, can play havoc with the magnetosphere by driving highly energetic particles and currents around the system, sometimes disrupting space-based hardware, ground-based communication networks and power systems. In an elliptical orbit around Earth, up to 100.000 km away, ESA's unique four-spacecraft Cluster mission has been revealing the secrets of our magnetic environment since 2000. Remarkably, the mission is still in excellent health and is still enabling new discoveries in the field of heliophysicsthe science examining the relationship between the Sun and bodies in the Solar System, in this case, Earth. The Cluster mission comprises four satellites flying in a tetrahedral formation and collecting the most detailed data yet on small-scale changes in near-Earth space, and on the interaction between the charged particles of the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere. Credit: ESACC BY-SA 3.0 IGO Launched in 2013, ESA's trio of Swarm satellites orbit much closer to Earth and are used largely to understand how our magnetic field is generated by measuring precisely the magnetic signals that stem from Earth's core, mantle, crust and oceans, as well as from the ionosphere and magnetosphere. However, Swarm is also leading to new insights into weather in space. The complementarity of these two missions, forming part of the ESA Heliophysics Observatory, gives scientists a unique opportunity to dig deep into Earth's magnetosphere and further understand the risks of space weather. In a paper published in Geophysical Research Letters, scientists describe how they used data from both Cluster and Swarm along with measurements from ground-based instruments to examine the connection between solar storms, bursty bulk flows in the inner magnetosphere and perturbations in the ground level magnetic field which drive 'geomagnetically induced currents' on and below Earth's surface. The magnetic field is thought to be largely generated by an ocean of superheated, swirling liquid iron that makes up Earths the outer core 3000 km under our feet. Acting like the spinning conductor in a bicycle dynamo, it generates electrical currents and thus the continuously changing electromagnetic field. Other sources of magnetism come from minerals in Earths mantle and crust, while the ionosphere, magnetosphere and oceans also play a role. ESAs constellation of three Swarm satellites is designed to identify and measure precisely these different magnetic signals. This will lead to new insight into many natural processes, from those occurring deep inside the planet, to weather in space caused by solar activity. Credit: ESA/ATG Medialab The theory was that intense changes in the geomagnetic field driving geomagnetically induced currents are associated with currents flowing along the magnetic field direction, driven by bursty bulk flows, which are fast bursts of ions typically traveling at more than 150 km per second. These field-aligned currents link the ionosphere and magnetosphere and pass through the locations of both the Cluster and Swarm. Until now this theory had not been confirmed. Malcolm Dunlop, from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK, explained, "We used the example of a solar storm in 2015 for our research. Data from Cluster allowed us to examine bursty bulk flowsbursts of particles in the magnetotailwhich contribute to large-scale convection of material towards Earth during geomagnetically active times, and which are associated with features in the northern lights known as auroral streamers. Data from Swarm showed corresponding large perturbations closer to Earth associated with connecting field-aligned currents from the outer regions containing the flows. "Together with other measurements taken from Earth's surface, we were able to confirm that intense magnetic field perturbations near Earth are connected to the arrival of bursty bulk flows further out in space." Magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetosphere. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab ESA's Swarm mission manager, Anja Strmme, added, "It's thanks to having both missions extended well beyond their planned lives, and hence are having both missions in orbit simultaneously, that allowed us to realize these findings." While this scientific discovery might appear somewhat academic, there are real benefits for society. The Sun bathes our planet with the light and heat to sustain life, but it also bombards us with dangerous charged particles in the solar wind. These charged particles can damage communication networks and navigation systems such as GPS, and satellitesall of which we rely on for services and information in our daily lives. As the paper discusses, these storms can affect Earth's surface and subsurface, leading to power outages, such as the major blackout that Quebec in Canada suffered in 1989. Space weather refers to the environmental conditions in space as influenced by solar activity. Credit: ESA/Science Office, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO With a rapidly growing infrastructure, both on the ground and in space, that supports modern life, there is an increasing need to understand and monitor weather in space to adopt appropriate mitigation strategies. Alexi Glover, from ESA's Space Weather Office, said, "These new results help further our understanding of processes within the magnetosphere which may lead to potentially hazardous space weather conditions. Understanding these phenomena and their potential effects is essential to develop reliable services for end users operating potentially sensitive infrastructure." Explore further Solar storm stirs stunning aurora More information: Dong Wei et al, Intense dB/dt Variations Driven by NearEarth Bursty Bulk Flows (BBFs): A Case Study, Geophysical Research Letters (2021). Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters Dong Wei et al, Intense dB/dt Variations Driven by NearEarth Bursty Bulk Flows (BBFs): A Case Study,(2021). DOI: 10.1029/2020GL091781 WHITE CREEK An Albany man was arrested last week after police said he damaged the entrance to a White Creek business. Jeffrey R. Sheldon, 32, is accused of damaging the entrance to the business at 992 Turnpike Road after becoming upset with the owner, according to a news release from the Washington County Sheriffs Office. Sheldon also allegedly harassed the owner of the business with what police described as alarming and unwanted communication. Police did not name the business. The incident took place on Aug. 24 and Sheldon was arrested on Dec. 8. He was charged with felony third-degree criminal mischief and misdemeanor second-degree aggravated harassment. Sheldon was arraigned in Washington County Centralized Arraignment Court and released. He is due back in White Creek Town Court at a later date. The Albany Police Department assisted in the investigation. 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 viral disease smallpox has ravaged human populations in small and huge outbreaks around our world for three to four thousand years. It probably came to us from cattle when we first began to herd them. Over the centuries, we know pandemics of smallpox and other infections have changed history many times, usually because a terrible outbreak weakened one army more than another. Armies, city-states and empires have fallen much more to infectious disease outbreaks than to the weapons of war. Think about the indigenous peoples of North and South America, for example. Around here, the late, great archaeologist David Starbuck introduced many of us to the critical role that smallpox outbreaks played in the French and Indian War, notably by his discovery and excavations at Rogers Island off Fort Edward. There he uncovered a massive hospital used for smallpox victims in the mid-1700s. Because of a truly amazing global vaccination effort, smallpox has been eradicated from the worlds human population as of 1977. However, the virus still exists today in supposedly highly guarded laboratories in the USA and Russia. Shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there came to be major concerns that smallpox might have been taken out of the Russian lab and might be in the hands of terrorists. In early 2002, because of a concern that we might see and have to deal with the virus even here, I presented a Grand Rounds at the Glens Falls Hospital to educate our medical community about its potential as a bioterrorist weapon and about the disease itself. I had the pleasure and honor to feature David Starbuck as a co-presenter. He told the fascinated audience of his work at Rogers Island and Fort William Henry. He recounted the events of 1757 in our area which led to the capitulation of the British at Fort William Henry to the French and their Indian allies. The aftermath of that British loss included the famous massacre of the surrendered troops retreating toward Fort Edward by the Indians, which was featured in James Fenimore Coopers The Last of the Mohicans. It also told of the murder and scalping of British troops sick with smallpox. He noted that following the French victory, those Indian allies disappeared, thus depriving General Montcalm and the French of enough manpower to attack Fort Edward. He speculated that developing smallpox, those Indians fled for their Canadian homes, where epidemics of the disease were then documented to take hold. Had Montcalm been able to conquer Fort Edward, we who live here might be speaking French. Of course, Starbuck also told the story that blankets infected with scales flaked from the open wounds of soldiers dying with the disease may have been used by the British as bioweapons to infect and kill French allied Native Americans who were besieging the British at Fort Pitt in Pennsylvania in 1763. There is another remarkable story in the history of smallpox in early America that should be much more widely known: its role in the Revolutionary War. It was understood at the time that if one survived smallpox it probably had a 33% mortality rate in those days one would not be infected again. The word immunity didnt exist then, but of course that is what it was. George Washington actually had the disease as a teenager in Barbados in 1751 and survived a medium bad case that kept him down for months. With that, he knew firsthand how bad the disease was. He also knew that the British soldiers, whom his troops were facing during the Revolution, had lived through many more smallpox exposures and illnesses in their home country than the Americans had here, and that they were therefore much less likely to fall to the disease than our troops. When serious outbreaks began to recur throughout the Colonies in 1775 and 1776, Washingtons army was at serious risk for being devastated the Brits, not so much. Had that happened, we might still be flying the Union Jack. In the early 1700s, a process called variolation a very early and crude form of vaccination had begun to be popularized by the clergyman Cotton Mather around Boston. It was a poorly understood and dangerous process which involved taking pus from a smallpox victims skin lesion and plunging it into an incision cut in the skin of a recipient. That then led to the development of a case of the disease. Because the infection was what might very loosely be called controlled, it was usually a milder case, with only maybe a 1-month-long nasty illness and only a 3%-5% mortality rate. Surviving the process was being shown at that time to confer long-lasting protection against a more nasty and mortal case acquired in the usual way. During a surge of the disease in Boston in the 1760s, John Adams decided to have variolation. Happily, he survived and was therefore immune, like Washington. Later, his wife Abigail decided to have their children variolized. They too survived. Abigail, who was a strong voice against slavery and for womens rights, became an ardent popularizer of the process. When terrible outbreaks recurred in the Colonies in the mid-1770s, Washington, with the strong counsel of John and Abigail Adams, made the courageous decision to variolate his troops in 1776. In explaining his decision, he described smallpox as a potentially greater threat than the Sword of the Enemy. Mostly, the vaccination campaign was undertaken during the desperate winter at Valley Forge. Imagine not having enough food or firewood, maybe not even having shoes to walk in the snow, and then being beaten up with a mild case of smallpox. By the way, Washington demanded it of his troops he mandated vaccination. And his men complied. The army survived with enough strength, and the spring came, and well, you know the rest. This is a great story in the great history of our Revolution. We should all know it. But especially now in the midst of our pandemic it can teach us current and really important lessons. First, there have been terrible pandemics of various kinds that have laid humans low and have been pivotal in the thousands of years of our history. Our COVID-19 is only the most recent. Well, it is also pretty awful. American deaths are approaching the 1 million mark. Second, there is a more than 300-year history of vaccination. Science has dramatically progressed during those centuries, and scientists using the tools of science have devised vaccines for many diseases, and have brilliantly improved the safety and efficacy of them. Our COVID-19 vaccines are, of course, the most recently made. In the culmination of all that improvement, they are among the best ever. Third, and maybe most important, there is aways the urgent need in a pandemic crisis such as ours to study the existing science and to come to a current conclusion about how to avoid becoming sick and possibly dying. Waiting to see what happens can result in a pivotal outcome, maybe in the wrong way. The Adamses and George Washington studied what was then known, concluded what was best for them and for the country, accepted the then-known risks of the path they chose, and then acted upon their conclusions. We Americans are the beneficiaries of their dramatic wisdom and courage. How wise and courageous are you? Richard P. Leach, M.D., is an internist, infectious disease consultant and travel and tropical medicine specialist. He practiced in Glens Falls for 35 years, also serving as Glens Falls Hospitals infection control officer and hospital epidemiologist. Retiring from private practice in 2011, he continued to provide travel medicine counseling at the Warren County Clinic until COVID-19 forced its cancellation. Warren County keeps him on as a medical director and consultant to the Tuberculosis Program. Dr. Leach is known for his role as co-founder and president of the Adirondack AIDS Task Force in the 1980s and 1990s, as the founder and president of the Glens Falls Medical Mission and its Project Guatemala in the 1990s, as the husband of Dr. Loren Baim, as the father of Christina Johnston, Timothy Leach, Molly Leach and Marta Leach, and as the grandfather of Rhone and of 3-week-old Thatcher James. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 MOREAU The Town Board plans to adopt a local law to opt out of retail cannabis dispensaries in the town by Dec. 31. Town Supervisor Todd Kusnierz said the board was only planning to opt out of cannabis sales until the state established regulations and more information becomes available to the town. My concern is the agency assigned to oversee cannabis sales has not been established in New York, nor have rules or regulations been adopted, Kusnierz said in a board meeting on Tuesday. The Town Board has three options regarding the cannabis regulations for Moreau: Opt out of marijuana retailers in the town; Opt out of on-site consumption; Opt out of both. South Glens Falls resident Brigid Martin urged the board to reconsider. You are not opting out of having marijuana in the town of Moreau. You are opting out of retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption, Martin stated at the meeting. Martin is a former member of the South Glens Falls Planning Board and is now the town historian for Moreau. She also runs a Moreau community Facebook page for the residents of the town to interact and share news. Martin is a pro-legalization advocate. She said after working for a CBD company in Saratoga, she has personally seen the benefits that can be provided by cannabis and hemp use. In a follow-up interview, Martin stated that the extensive application process the state has implemented for businesses wishing to offer retail sales of marijuana was proof that New York has already established rules and regulations regarding the sale of cannabis. Kusnierz said the best option for the town at this time, would be to opt out. If we take no action, in turn we have no control, he said. The board members agreed to schedule a public hearing on the matter for Dec. 22 at 5:45 p.m., followed by a meeting regarding the local law to ban marijuana retailers. This opt-out hearing announcement follows by several weeks the submission of a proposal from Cerrone Builders to construct a $4 million, 30,000-square-foot cannabis growing and processing facility in the Moreau Industrial Park. The addition of this facility would not violate the local law to opt out of marijuana sales, if passed. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. ATLANTIC CITY Collections are underway for Atlantic Cape Community Colleges Toy Drive for Hope, collecting new and unwrapped toys for children ages two to 12 years old, to be distributed at an upcoming community holiday event. The toys will be collected until Dec. 10, then delivered by Santa Claus at the colleges Hope for the Holidays event 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 in Browns Park in Atlantic City. Hope for the Holidays will feature free activities and giveaways including holiday toys and crafts, pictures with Santa, food and beverages, hats and gloves for teens and adults, community resources and information, and a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic provided by Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers. Partial funding for this event is provided by the federal governments Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). This event is presented in partnership with Angels in Motion, the Matthew Bee Memorial Fund, and Atlantic County Hope One, and Midtown in Motion. Find toy-drive drop-off boxes at any of the follow locations: Grace and Glory Yoga Studio Galloway Township Nearly two years into the pandemic, everyone has earned a holiday break with their family and friends. But as the nation gathers again for celebrations this season, the American Red Cross, which provides 40% of the countrys blood, is facing historically low blood 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. Those factors, combined with the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, make it vital for donors to make an appointment to give as soon as possible. If more donors dont come forward to give blood, some patients requiring a transfusion may potentially face delays in care. 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 this holiday season, all who come to give Dec. 17-Jan. 2 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. Russo, Sophia L., 24, of Galloway Township, was arrested Dec. 1 and charged with simple assault. Bronner, Sean, 24, of Clayton, was arrested Dec. 2 and charged with simple assault. Farrell, Sioni M., 25, of Pleasantville, was arrested Dec. 3 and charged with simple assault, criminal mischief with damage. A 17 year-old male, of Pleasantville, was arrested Dec. 3 and charged with forged writing, shoplifting. Campos, Jaquan A., 23, of Pleasantville, was arrested Dec. 4 and charged with large capacity ammo magazine, unlawful possession of weapon, distribution of prescription legend drug. Bishop, Amber N., 29, of Pleasantville, was arrested Dec. 4 and charged with large capacity ammo magazine, unlawful possession of weapon, distribution of prescription legend drug. Garcia, Martin A., 27, of Pleasantville, was arrested Dec. 6 and charged with arrest for other jurisdiction. Heard, Eliana N., 18, of Pleasantville, was arrested Dec. 6 and charged with aggravated assault, obstruction of administration of law. Govt-and-politics New Jersey motorists face another round of toll hikes Edward Lea, Staff photographer Tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway will increase Jan. 1. New Jersey motorists are lashing out at the prospect of toll increases starting Jan. 1, and Gov. Phil Murphy is being bombarded by Republicans urging him to avert the hikes. Drivers can expect to pay 3% more on the Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway, which are operated by separate entities. Both have included the increases as part of their budgets. Under the new plan, the average passenger vehicle toll on the New Jersey Turnpike will increase from $4.80 to $4.95, while on the Garden State Parkway, average tolls for E-ZPass customers will go from $1.90 to $1.96. The increases happen while the nation continues to battle high inflation and rising gas prices. For too long, Trenton politicians ignored and underfunded critical infrastructure, resulting in New Jersey roads and bridges ranking among the worst in the nation, Michael Zhadanovsky, Murphys deputy press secretary, said in a statement. Many Republican lawmakers have pressed Murphy to prevent the increase. Commuters cannot afford to pay higher tolls at a time when prices are increasing for consumer goods across the board, state Sen. Chris Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove, all R-Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic, said in a statement. Businesses in the state, which are trying to remain competitive with other tax-friendly states, will have yet another cost increase imposed by Trenton to contend with, making it that much harder to be profitable. Cape May County Bridge Commission planning 3-year toll hike CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE Motorists traveling on bridges managed by the Cape May County Bridge Commission may need to pay more beginning in February. Connors, Rumpf and Goves district includes multiple parkway toll plazas. Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, said increased tolls would place a heavier burden on residents during a year of higher-than-usual gas prices. Its not a good way for us to live, and it hurts too many people, said McClellan, whose district also includes parkway toll plazas. He said New Jersey should develop ways to generate revenue from motorists by drawing more tourists to the state, increasing traffic on roads. Federal coronavirus relief funding, McClellan said, could also be used instead of toll increases to address roadwork and infrastructure costs. President Joe Biden last month signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a bipartisan measure valued at over $1 trillion intended in part to help rebuild roads and bridges. No toll increases on Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross bridges in 2022 Motorists who cross the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross bridges will not have to pay more in tolls next year. Murphy has said he expects New Jersey to receive a considerable amount of money from the law, given the state is densely populated and has some of the nations busiest highways. That would be a great reason to delay a toll hike, McClellan said. The toll increases would be the second in less than two years. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority adopted new toll rates last year to address long-term capital improvements across its roads. They took effect Sept. 13, 2020. Some motorists say the new increases are business as usual in New Jersey. Ive lived in Jersey my whole life. Its just to be expected. Jerseys not a cheap place to live, but its also a great place to make good money, said Herbert Wendt, of Wildwood. Red Cross and South Jersey groups hold blood drives in face of national blood shortage The 2021 holiday season has put more pressure on already tight American supply chains, leaving some sought-after goods off the shelves. But perhaps no shortage will have more consequences than the shortage of blood donations. Wendt stopped at the Galloway Township rest stop Friday morning to meet a coworker. Hes a manager with a chemical engineering company and travels the states highways frequently. Working for his company has benefits since they reimburse him for travel expenses, so the tolls dont directly impact his pocket. Julie Pelechaty, who also stopped at the rest stop Friday, doesnt worry about tolls as much because shes been an at-home employee since the coronavirus pandemic began. Before that, though, the Barnegat Township resident would frequently take the parkway to Cape May for work, at a roughly $100-per-month toll price tag. Gas was exorbitant, too. Its actually so much cheaper for me to work from home because Im not putting the wear and tear on my car, Pelechaty said. Pelechaty is a traveler. Last year, she took a road trip west and found that states outside Pennsylvania dont have the same quality roads as New Jersey. Its expensive to live here, but when you compare the infrastructure we have here, you see why youre paying more, Pelechaty said. If that kind of thing doesnt bother you, you might balk at the increase. Having been a lot of other places, I can see why were paying more. Related What is the TikTok Dec. 17 threat? Schools in South Jersey and the nation have had to scramble to investigate and respond to what they've described as "an increase in social media posts circulating about unspecific and non-credible threats." The day is being described on some social media platforms as "National School Shooter Day." While not getting into specifics, the threat appears to be centered on posts on social media platforms, including the latest one on TikTok, that have hinted at a possible threat to schools on Dec. 17. There are no specific details about the type of threat, other than a mention of "bombs" and "shootings." The threats appear to become a concern when a local student shares the posts, sometimes with a comment, but not always. A review of TikTok shows how widely the general threats have spread, as more than 4 million posts used the hashtag #december17th. How are local districts handling the threat? On Thursday, Hamilton Township School District sent out the following message to parents: "We are seeing an increase in social media posts circulating about unspecific and non-credible threats against our school district. The Hamilton Township School District is in constant communication with the Township of Hamilton Police Department. This relationship is extremely important, particularly when there is a potential threat to public safety involving children and staff. As we work through these threats we will continue to have increased police presence in and around our schools as we deem appropriate to safeguard the community. School will be open on our regular schedule tomorrow (Friday)." Vineland Superintendent Alfonso Llano sent a letter to the community reminding children not to share such messages and report threats that may come to their attention. "Messages such as this current one, circulating in numerous states, typically confuse and heighten anxiety among some school community members," Llano said. Stafford Township police said that though the threat has been deemed not credible, there will be a heightened police and security presence at all local schools. Greater Egg Harbor Regional sent out a letter to parents on Wednesday also citing possible threats but saying that they were not believed to be credible. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} "Both the Greater Egg Harbor Regional and Egg Harbor City School Districts along with the Egg Harbor City Police Department have received numerous inquiries regarding recent threats made against our school communities to include a TikTok trend that is being viewed as a national threat to schools across the US on December 17, 2021," according to statement from Marcella Aylwin, Egg Harbor City chief of police on Thursday. "The Egg Harbor City Police Department and both school districts have been in constant communication due to these concerns. Although we have not found any of these current threats credible to our districts, we stay steadfast in ensuring the safety of students and staff alike. We will continue to have an extra police presence at our schools until the threats are resolved to each of their ends." Mainland Regional High School sent an email to parents on Thursday stating the following: "The New Jersey Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning has notified school districts of a general nationwide threat against schools tomorrow, Friday December 17, 2021. These threats are being posted on social media. At this time, there is no direct or specific threat against Mainland Regional High School, but out of an abundance of caution and in response to these posts, the district will be increasing the presence of law enforcement at the high school tomorrow (12/17/21). As always, if you see or hear something of concern, then please say something by contacting the high school or the Linwood Police Department." How long has this been happening? Over the last couple of weeks, several area school districts have had either lockdowns or early dismissals because of threats. 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. 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. Police from Atlantic City and Northfield were summoned to their local schools last week for reported threats posted on social media, both of which were deemed not credible. Also last week, a Snapchat photo with HHS shooting 12/10/21 was brought to Egg Harbor Township High Schools attention by a student. An investigation also deemed that threat invalid, according to Kim Gruccio, district superintendent. Contact Nicholas Huba: 609-272-7046 nhuba@pressofac.com Twitter @acpresshuba 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. Four sentenced in New Jersey health benefits scandal CAMDEN A former Pleasantville guidance counselor and two local former pharmaceutical sales There are over a thousand people between a half mile and a mile of that facility, Mueller said. Were all taking a hard look. While he said he was not strictly opposed to the construction of a marijuana facility, Mueller said he wanted the township to ensure developers would commit to fully prevent odor emission. Its not an issue of us saying, Oh no, no, no, no, no, Mueller said. The odors can carry up to a mile, and that becomes really the critical point, and those filtration systems need to be so stringent that (the odor) is 100% contained. Blue Heron resident Daphne Spizzuco took a similar stance. Spizzuco said she appreciated the financial benefits marijuana could bring the township and state, but wanted to make sure it did not compromise the standard of living for residents. She specifically raised concerns about how the proposed facility may affect air quality for its neighbors. Were not saying no, because there are great advantages, however with advantages always come disadvantages, and thats where we have to target, Spizzuco said. 1:23 Cumberland County attorney sentenced for tax evasion An attorney from Upper Deerfield Township was sentenced to 14 months in prison Tuesday for e He said warehouse inventory is up about 2 points over the same time last year, and in-store inventories are only slightly behind 2020 levels for November. Even with the strains on the supply chain, we continue to deliver record amounts of cargo, he said. More needs to be done but goods are making their way into the hands of consumers and manufacturers across the country. Exports continued a long slide, with 33 of the last 37 months registering declines. Seroka attributed the drop in part to trade tensions with China under the Trump administration, a stronger dollar that makes U.S. products less competitive and the large number of empty containers leaving the port for Asia, which take up space that could otherwise be used by U.S. products. Seroka said the number of import containers on the docks lingering for nine or more days has dropped by 56%, since port officials threatened to impose fees for slow-moving cargo that sits on the docks. The governors 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. Thats 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. At-home deaths increased almost 30% statewide in 2020, while hospitalizations for serious conditions like heart disease and stroke declined, likely due to hospital avoidance and delayed care during the COVID-19 pandemic, a study by the New Jersey Hospital Association found. The top three causes of deaths at home in 2020 were diseases of the heart, cancer and diabetes, according to the state data. Total deaths last year also far surpassed the average numbers for New Jersey in prior years, but not all of those excess deaths were directly attributable to COVID-19, the Hospital Association said. This data begins to shed light on the uncounted toll of COVID in individuals who delayed seeking necessary health care, said Cathy Bennett, president and CEO of the Hospital Association. During COVIDs peak in New Jersey in the spring of 2020, EMS teams throughout the state shared anecdotal reports of individuals who waited too long to seek care for life-threatening conditions. Sadly, this data indicates that those reports were not isolated and, in fact, may be may be counted among COVIDs terrible impact. The world has been conducting an inadvertent socioeconomic experiment on young people, one that would in normal circumstances be prohibited for being cruel and inhuman. As part of their efforts to control the pandemic, many countries have for parts of the past two years closed schools. Some resorted to this measure more, others less, and they all did it in different ways. Its as though they had set out to test what happens in the long term to individuals, societies and nations when you deprive some children of education. It should be obvious whats cruel and inhuman about this. The studys subjects, namely the kids, never had a chance to opt in or out. They just found themselves in a given country, school district, household and family and then lived with the consequences. For many, those will be grave. Among those now laying the groundwork for future research are Vera Freundl, Clara Stiegler and Larissa Zierow at the Ifo Institute in Munich, an economic think tank. In a new paper, they compare seven representative countries in the European Union: Poland, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands. Their work, and that of state and city officials, paid off recently with a federal grant of $10.3 million to get started on a broad array of improvements to 3 miles of Atlantic Avenue. Upgraded traffic and streetlights, surveillance cameras, and safety features for pedestrians and cyclists are part of the project. Attention has focused on a core change, the reduction of four-lane Atlantic Avenue to two lanes one in each direction which will improve safety in part by slowing vehicle traffic on the main street through Atlantic Citys business district. Some have complained in comments to us and online that this would make their drive through Atlantic City take too long and cause congestion in nearby streets as people seek the fastest path through the city. Perhaps such complaints have prompted opposition from some on City Council. But surely there comes a point where the deaths and injuries outweigh the convenience and haste of drivers. Atlantic Avenue long ago reached that point, and a broad consensus of officials and experts understands that restoring public safety there must be the priority. "The evidence shows the use of deadly force by Officer Roth was justified and reasonable under the circumstances. The intentional actions by Klum created the appearance that the lives and physical safety of numerous people were in immediate danger. It was reasonable for Officer Roth to shoot Klum to prevent that injury or death to others," Walton said. "This was a scenario created and and completely controlled by Klum. He had several opportunities to prevent it, but for whatever reason, he chose not to, resulting in deadly and tragic consequences." Walton said that even though Klum never pointed the BB gun at the civilians, his proximity to them was dangerous because of how quickly the direction of the gun could be changed. Klum came within about 20 feet of the bystanders before he was shot, according to Agent Dustin Henningsen of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case. Henningsen and Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski were also part of the news conference. Sikorski said the officers acted to protect themselves and the community. He also said the officers involved in the shooting have been taking full advantage of the mental health resources available to them through the police department. Damien Pernell Shepherd of Moline, who was 35 at the time of his arrest, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor. His trial had been scheduled for Oct. 4 in U.S. District Court, Rock Island. His attorney, Federal Public Defender Thomas Patton, has filed a motion to suppress the statements that Shepherd made to agents in the case. Patton argues that Shepherd told authorities he wished to invoke his right to remain silent at the time he was arrested. However, authorities kept up a dialogue with Shepherd on other topics. Patton argues that Shepherd is intellectually disabled and was manipulated into using one of the officers' phones to call his mother, which the agents allegedly overheard and recorded to obtain evidence. Patton argues that the agents continued dialogue with Shepherd and alleged sardonic remarks about his refusing to speak with agents eventually broke the mans will and he spoke with agents without an attorney present. U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow ordered federal prosecutors to respond to Pattons motion by Oct. 25. In his response, Acting U.S. Attorney Douglas Quivey said that the government concedes that it cannot carry its burden of proving that defendants (Shepherds) express waiver of Miranda rights in the third recording was made voluntarily, and thus, the government will not admit such statements in its case-in-chief. However, Quivey did argue that the statements Shepherd made to his mother that were overheard and recorded are not protected by the Fifth Amendment because they were not made in response to any interrogation. Quivey argues that officers gave Shepherd the opportunity to make a call to his mother, but warned him that he would not have privacy. Shepherd told his mother that he was arrested because he was talking with a young guy online. Quivey argues that Shepherd was not coerced into making comments since his answers to his mothers questions remained evasive. According to Quiveys response, Shepherd actively sought to avoid making incriminating statements when he responded to his mothers questions about the boys age and the boys advertised profile information rather than what the boy told him. A hearing on the motion to suppress is scheduled for Jan. 20 in U.S. District Court, Rock Island. A jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 28. He emphasized those being resettled helped Americans during the 20-year war in Afghanistan, working in the U.S. embassy or in the Afghan government or military. "They worked directly with the U.S. government or a U.S. contractor and provided services or helped the U.S. mission in Afghanistan so we have to keep that in mind," Barikzay said. "They're coming here because the situation forced them to be here. Their life was in danger." Many, he said, served side by side with U.S. soldiers as interpreters. "It should be like welcoming our veterans," Barikzay said. "Many of them were on the battlefield with the U.S. forces. ... They helped our interests in Afghanistan so we should welcome them here." Even if it's just a simple greeting like "As-salamu alaykum," which is Arabic for "Peace be upon you" as a sign of respect and welcome, he said. Barikzay said it's going to take time for the refugees to adjust and heal both from the enormous physical and mental health toll that decades of conflict have left, including the residual trauma of fleeing Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. 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. 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. The history of banned books starts way back in 1637. Why are we still censoring what our schools read? As a mom and college student myself, I can confirm that by continuing to ban books we are censoring what we read, taking away past history, and taking away our kids' rights to read whatever they want. Some would argue censorship isn't taking place. However, when people start taking books off shelves in schools and libraries because words, images, or ideas could make someone uncomfortable, it is censorship and that is unconstitutional. As a mother, I personally want my kids to thrive. They should know as much about our history as possible, not have it swept under the rug as if it didn't happen. That is not what is being done, once a book is pulled, nothing is ever mentioned again about that book. Our children should be able to pick up a book and not be worried that what they chose will get them in trouble. Why single out books that have been read for years? Even in college today we read "Fahrenheit 451", which is about a society not allowed to have books, and wouldn't you know it, that book has also been banned from schools! The Rapid City Regional Airport could receive over $2.7 million from the federal government for future projects. The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday morning that South Dakota's 54 airports will receive an estimated $16.4 million through the Airport Infrastructure Grant program established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which totals about $15 billion for airport-related projects. About $2.89 billion will be allocated to airports around the country for the first year of the program. The Rapid City Regional Airport could receive about $2,784,809 while the Joe Foss Field Airport in Sioux Falls could receive about $4,009,838. This would be the first year of funds from the law, which could grant funds for five years. Airport staff would have to submit project proposals to the FAA that address increasing airport safety, equity and sustainability. Funds can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, terminal, airport transit connections and roadway projects. Toni Broom, Deputy Airport Director for finance and administration, said Rapid City Regional already has a major terminal expansion and renovation project in the works. She said the airport is entering the design phase for the project. Broom said the project would consist of four parts, which would include but is not limited to changes to the ticket counter and baggage claim, expanding the concourse, expanding the TSA checkpoint, and adding a baggage carousel. "These will be phased depending on funding," she said. "This particular project has been in the planning stages for the past three or four years." The Sturgis Municipal, Hot Springs Municipal, Belle Fourche Municipal, Custer County and Black Hills-Clyde Ice Field in Spearfish airports could all receive about $159,000. The Wall Municipal Airport could receive about $110,000. Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. 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. Reading Tuesday's article "Vision Fund Projects" and I have a couple of concerns. If you don't have your project ready to go ASAP no funding; seems that a number of the projects are special interest groups and to me the Vision Funds should benefit the majority of our Rapid City citizens, not a select few. Crying foul on this one. Its apparent the upcoming legislative session is again going to be taken up with matters such as abortion, school prayer and transgender athletes. There are so many more important issues that need attention, but hey, theres always another year. It is very obvious Kristi Noem and her Labor Secretary are lying. Sherry Bren's testimony is very plausible and, remember, she was paid $217,000 to keep quiet and still cannot tell all she knows due to the "disparagement" clause in her settlement with the state. Noems unethical meddling and special treatment for her daughter aint the half of it. She then attempted to unilaterally force South Dakota appraisers to dummy down their competency requirements in order to justify her actions. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 It shouldnt be out of bounds to mention that the spell cast by Strange rips open the multiverse, and former supervillains start to pour in, including Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Electro (Jamie Foxx). Will there be more visitors from other Spider-Verses? Youll have to go to 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, and that is 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 little bit less villainous? Therein lies the quandary and conundrum of No Way Home, which is: Can you change someones fate? It seems, not without a large sacrifice of your own. The Richmond Night Market, with its crafters, vendors, artists, music and more, hosts the last of its holiday villages this season from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the 17th Street Market, 100 N. 17th St. Big-name musicians are headed this way just in time for the holidays with concerts from Kansas and Gladys Knight, plus Barefoot in the Park at Hanover Tavern, a Black Christmas in Jackson Ward and the Richmond Night Market Holiday Villages. ... Its all happening this weekend. Barefoot in the Park Now running Neil Simons classic comedy about young newlyweds adjusting to married life in New York returns to Hanover Tavern, featuring Joe Pabst, Rachel Rose Gilmour (both at left), Joy Williams and Trevor Lawson. In 2005, the show attracted sold-out crowds. Times vary, through Jan. 16 at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road, Hanover. Tickets: $48. (804) 282-2620 or virginiarep.org Black Christmas Jackson Ward Saturday He is being loaned to us for about 60 to 90 days until the city finds a new chief, Afzal said. Hes been shadowing me for a week so he can understand the department a little bit better. Starke said he hasnt ruled out seeking the job permanently. The short time that Ive been here in Hopewell has been eye-opening. Community is very important to the police department. And seeing what Hopewell already has in place, I just would love the opportunity to build on those relationships. Afzal, who began serving as Hopewells chief on Jan. 1, 2019, was selected in October to lead the Dayton Police Department, which has 368 sworn officers, 39 civilian employees and an annual budget of $57 million in a city of 137,600 residents. By comparison, Hopewell has a sworn force of 68 officers serving a city of 23,000 residents. Afzal, a Pakistan native who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s as a teen, noted that Daytons police force is similar in size to Arlington County police, where he served for 24 years. When he was hired by Hopewell, he was serving as police chief in Durango, Colo., a community of about 18,500. In the past 30 years, Henrico has entered into four consent orders with the state because of water pollution. None of those orders went far enough to fix Henricos long-standing problems, said Jamie Brunkow, James Riverkeeper for the James River Association. The JRA, along with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, filed a lawsuit earlier this month in federal court in hopes of compelling a stronger response from Henrico. Consent orders over the past 30 years have failed to create durable compliance for Henrico County, said Patrick Fanning, attorney for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. We dont think a continuous process of consent orders is the right solution here. According to Fanning, the consent orders dont require Henrico to design a comprehensive repair plan, and the timeline is too generous Henrico has seven years to install certain elements. Fanning also urged Henrico to develop a tool for notifying the public each time its sanitary sewer system overflows, similar to what Richmond has done. For decades, the commonwealth has failed to do its job, said Peggy Sanner, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. This consent order is just more of the same, which is why CBF and its partners have filed suit to achieve a comprehensive, permanent solution. Each district needs about 25,000 residents to make them equal. Hebert has said that the 2nd and 6th districts are over that number by more than 5%, while the 3rd District falls short by 12%, meaning that all three need to be adjusted to fall within an acceptable deviation from the ideal head count. Hebert and city officials started publicly discussing the redistricting timeline and criteria in an informal meeting in October. When the process came up again in a council discussion last week, the Richmond Democratic Committee and leaders with the Richmond Crusade for Voters, a civil rights advocacy group, said they were alarmed to learn that the council had planned to expedite approval of redistricting criteria and the timeline this past Monday. In interviews and statements, both groups said they wanted to see more transparency in the process. The council on Friday announced that it would not expedite the legislation, choosing to instead follow a normal vetting process, starting with a subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, followed by a special council meeting to adopt the legislation next Tuesday. Ijames, who said he wrote the Taser policy for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, also testified that it was very unlikely Wright could have driven away had Potter actually used her Taser. That contradicted a prosecution use-of-force expert who testified earlier that using either a gun or a Taser on Wright would have made things worse because he could have been incapacitated and his vehicle could have become a weapon. After Potter shot Wright, his car took off and crashed seconds later into an oncoming vehicle, hurting his passenger and someone in the other car. Ijames said a Taser is the most effective tool to incapacitate someone when used properly, second only to a gunshot to the head. He also said officers had to assume that Wright very likely could have a gun because he had one in the past, and that it would have been a dereliction of duty for them not to have tried to arrest him. But Ijames said deadly force is warranted if an officer is halfway inside a vehicle that is about to be put into drive. In Wrights case, two other officers were trying to get him out of the car when Potter shot him. EU lawmakers said in a resolution that any new sanctions package should include the Russian officer corps and flag officers involved in the planning of a possible invasion, as well as the immediate circle and oligarchs in the orbit of the Russian President and their families. They said it should involve the freezing of financial and physical assets in the EU, travel bans, the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT payment system for international financial transfers, target key economic sectors and disrupt the financing of the intelligence services and the armed forces. The lawmakers have no decision-making powers on sanctions, but their experts often have detailed knowledge of what member countries are thinking on joint foreign policy initiatives. Meanwhile, the Kremlin again prodded Western leaders to provide legally binding guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO or that its members weapons would ever be deployed there, calling such moves a red line for Moscow. The U.S. and its allies have refused to make such a pledge, but Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed last week on further talks to discuss Russian concerns. Associated Press writers Frank Jordans in Berlin and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report. This is one of the great risks that we all face day to day, he said. VITA, serving more than 60 executive branch agencies, has undergone a massive transition from being served by one big company to working with multiple vendors for different IT services. The state has invested heavily in helping the organization through the transition, but Youngkin said the past two administrations had underfunded information technology and cybersecurity. Im just worried we dont have the adequate resources devoted to it, he said. The Virginia Museum, an independent agency of the state, says online that parts of our website are currently down for maintenance. But the museum said VITA detected a compromise in the website in late November, along with evidence indicating an existing security threat from an unauthorized third-party. Hatchette said the museum took the website offline while VITA security teams investigate, contain the incident, and work to restore the websites full functionality. The museum put up a temporary website until the restoration is complete, she said. In 1940, the New York State Federation of Teachers Unions issued an open letter to the legislature, warning it would fight any attempt by pressure groups to cut State aid to education. Teachers in New York City negotiated caps on class size in 1967 that lowered the maximum number of students in elementary schools to 33 in a room. And in Saginaw, Mich. , teachers bargained for the right to be consulted about the design of new school facilities. Meanwhile, organized teachers in Chicago argued in 1968 that children were being taught a thoroughly racist account of American history and demanded diversity and representation in textbooks. In 2018, from West Virginia to Arizona, teachers joined with community members and walked out of the schools for increased salary and student resources. The next year, teachers in Los Angeles went on strike for six days in what union leader Alex Caputo-Pearl described as a fight for the soul of public education. Alongside a pay hike, organized teachers demanded increased investment in public education, more nurses and school counselors, and smaller class sizes. Of preservation and pride Editor, Times-Dispatch: A recent news story about the owners of The Jefferson Hotel planning to demolish the adjacent Second Baptist Church noted the church building is on the National Register of Historic Places. I assumed this designation protected historic properties from being destroyed. Obviously my assumption was wrong. It is not surprising that, in 1992, the Richmond City Council overruled the Commission of Architectural Review's attempt to save the old church from demolition. The City Council seems more interested in presiding over the destruction of properties both publicly and privately owned than in using some imagination to preserve Richmond's rich architectural heritage. The city should encourage the owners of The Jefferson Hotel to work with Historic Richmond and other preservation groups in revisiting potential new uses for this important example of neoclassical architecture. The necessary design talent is right here in Richmond to help with this effort. Let's preserve a thing of beauty, not destroy it. Albert Turner. PEARISBURG Charges against a woman accused of abducting a 2-year-old from a Giles County church nursery will go to a grand jury, a judge ruled in a hearing that brought out new details of the May incident. Nancy Renee Fridley, 45, of Clifton Forge, was charged with abduction and child abuse or neglect after the May 2 disappearance of Noah Trout from the child care area at Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead. At a preliminary hearing Thursday in Giles County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Commonwealths Attorney Bobby Lilly said that the abduction charge came from the toddler being taken away without his parents permission. The abuse or neglect charge came from Fridley taking a custodial role over the boy and not inquiring about possible medical conditions, Lilly said. Judge Robert Viar heard testimony and certified the charges to a grand jury that next month will decide if Fridley should be tried in the countys circuit court. Jessica Trout, Noahs mother, testified that the boy had suffered febrile seizures in the past and that she kept Tylenol in his diaper bag, and maintained a supply at the nursery to treat any sudden onset of fever. Two childcare workers at the church, mother and daughter Tonya and Kendra Johnston, testified that a woman who looked like Fridley took Noah without asking if the boy had medical issues or needs. The Johnstons said that the woman appeared in the window of the closed nursery door toward the end of the church service and said she was there to pick up a baby. There were only two children present at the time, Noah and another child of about the same age. Tonya Johnston said she asked the woman if Noah was the child she was picking up and the woman said yes. But something seemed off, the Johnstons said, and they hesitated to let the woman take Noah, even closing the door for a few minutes and stalling as they got the boy into his coat and packed up his toys. The Johnstons said they hoped the church service, which was running late, would end and someone else would come for the boy. I dont know why we let him go with her, Tonya Johnston said. Kendra Johnston said that she followed the woman and Noah out of the church and took a quick picture of them walking away, a picture that later was used by investigators. Kendra Johnston said that after the pair left the church, the woman picked up Noah and ran, heading around a corner of the building to a parking area where she put Noah into a vehicle and drove away. An FBI agent and a Virginia state trooper testified that by the next day, May 3, investigators had tracked Noah and Fridley to a mobile home in Clifton Forge. Fridley was arrested there, along with her boyfriend, Bobby Taylor, who faces charges in Alleghany County. Investigators have said that Noah was unharmed although his head had been shaved. Fridley also faces a drug possession charge in Alleghany County that stems from her arrest as officers swooped in to recover Noah. Jessica Trout testified Monday that Noah shows lingering psychological affects from the incident, including being unable to sleep unless she or her husband are in his bedroom guarding the door. One of the parents has to sleep on the floor in front of the door to get Noah to go to sleep, Jessica Trout said. Bedtime is horrible, she said, calling it a complete stark contrast to Noahs behavior before he was abducted. Trout also said that Noah now often seems fearful and has trouble remaining calm, but that this behavior was improving. At times he was kind of like a wild animal, Trout said. Defense attorney Ryan Hamrick of Christiansburg said that he would not present evidence at the preliminary hearing. 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. Lots of stories have been told about Mast General Store, one of downtown Roanokes newest retailers. We know thats true because the four-state, slow-growth retail chain has an employee whose official title is storyteller. Her name in Sheri Moretz. And Wednesday, I told her the 100% true story about how I discovered the Jefferson Street location. That started as a quest for marijuana. Allow me to explain. One Saturday in November, a wellness business on Church Avenue adjacent to Mast General Store was holding a single-day marijuana seed giveaway. Friend Jerry Moles and I certainly didnt want to miss that. Alas, we accidentally showed up two hours early for the big distribution. And there was little to do but kill some time while we waited for our free seeds. So Moles and I spent that browsing next door at Mast General Store. And its fair to say we nearly forgot all about the devils lettuce. A bank of giant oak barrels brimming with (formerly) penny candy first caught our eyes those sweets now go for $9.99 per pound. Then our noses picked up the aroma of freshly made popcorn ($1 per bag). Nostalgia was the sense that overwhelmed us in the toy and novelties department. Moles, a retired anthropologist whos 84, crowed with delight when he stumbled onto a brand-new set of Fiddlesticks. I havent played these since I was a child, he said. Also on the shelves were new-stock old-timey toys such as Etch-a-Sketch, Lite-Brites (remember those?), mouth harps, toy science experiments and more. After we left, Moles said, I was overwhelmed by the richness of the experience. He wasnt joking. Mast General Store also sells cast-iron cookery; ceramic pottery; and quality mens and womens casual and outdoor clothes by Patagonia, Woolrich, Columbia, Carhartt and others. And knives, shoes, camping gear, prepared jams and jellies; rain ponchos and novelties for pets. One of its bestsellers, at $22, is hand-warmer ceramic mug featuring a pocket into which most of your hand fits. Thats available for lefties and righties and will warm cold fingers while you sip hot coffee. To sum it up, you can get a piece of candy at Mast for about a nickel, or some toy magic tricks for a few bucks. The peach cobbler mix costs under $4. Plaid adult onesie pajamas are $48 (and they they sell matching plaid doggie PJs for under $24). A hammock thats big enough for two adults will set you back $299.95. The breadth of offerings is just one quality that makes Mast General Store extraordinary. Behind the scenes, there are many others. The company dates to the 1850s and an isolated North Carolina town called Valle Crucis (valley crew-sis). As the crow flies, its roughly 30 miles southwest of Galax. The original proprietor was a fellow named Henry Taylor. By 1913, he sold out to William Wellington Mast. Then in 1979 an insurance salesman from Florida sold everything he owned, moved his family to Valle Crucis and bought Mast. The company now has 11 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Mast grows slowly, Moretz told me. Roanoke, the only Virginia location, is the newest store in the chain. It was supposed to open in April 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But that delayed its ribbon cutting by two months. Were a funny group, Moretz said. We typically dont grow another location for four to five years after we open one. That gives us time to learn about the community and build local partners. The latter includes outfits like food banks. Mast invites customers to round up their purchases to help those. This year, those donations across the company will total about $30,000, she added. Lisa Cooper, the insurance salesmans daughter, is now president of Mast General Store. But shes not the owner. Thats another quality that make it not your ordinary retailer. Employees own the enterprise, and they currently number somewhere around 400 (the Roanoke store has 45). Along with wages, they receive three-times yearly bonuses, which typically add up to about a months salary over the course of a year. Each bonus is based on an employees earnings and the number of hours he or she worked during the previous quarter. For the Christmas bonus (which comes out today) full-timers will typically get $1,000. Is anyone aware of any other local retailer with such a bonus policy? Im not. Mast pays 100% of employees health insurance premiums, Moretz told me. And the company also refunds its employees health insurance deductible. Who else does that? Mast workers are fully vested after five years. And when they leave or retire, the company buys back their stock. Moretz characterized that as more or less a supplemental retirement plan. Though Cooper declined to discuss wages, she said local employees earn well above a livable wage. The loyalty of employees we have, across the board, is amazing, Cooper said. I think I understand why. The Roanoke store occupies two levels of the old S.H. Heironimus building on Jefferson Street at Church Avenue. Unlike most Mast General Stores, it has an open layout. Moretz said most of the other locations are organized room-to-room. Hows it doing? I asked Cooper. It is doing well, she said. Even though it opened in the middle of a pandemic, after most of the companys stores had been closed for nearly two months. Across the entire business, Mast is currently looking to hire 40 more employees. So you might want to keep such an opportunity in mind. Because benefits-wise, there are far worse places in the Roanoke Valley to earn a paycheck. I cant think of a better place to Christmas shop, though. If you havent already, you might want to give it a try. Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter: @dancaseysblog . 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. BLACKSBURGThe Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center is using a joint-effort approach to support life science startups in the Roanoke and New River valleys. The CRC announced a partnership with Montgomery County, Roanoke and Carilion Clinic to build new shared lab facilities at the center in Blacksburg for smaller life science startups, with the ultimate goal of opening up a larger facility in Roanoke in the foreseeable future. It also announced a unique partnership with Johnson & Johnson. The $1.1 million project is largely funded by GO Virginia, a statewide economic development initiative, that has awarded the research center $600,000 toward the project that will create 25 wet and dry lab spaces in a turnkey facility, with the rest of the funding coming from the aforementioned partners, according to CRC CEO Brett Malone. He said that the current project will be a small scale blueprint for the lab the multijurisdictional group hopes to build in Roanoke in the next few years. Malone said the group has its eye on some property but did not specify the location. The funding for the design and engineering of a similar, but much larger, facility in Roanoke is already secured, but the total cost of the project is not yet known, according to Malone. He and Roanokes Economic Development Director Marc Nelson also noted that in addition to helping small companies grow, the Roanoke facility would aim to attract mid-sized companies to the area, while also helping to foster the research currently underway in the area. Ideally what we would be looking at is a renovation like we are doing now, but on a much larger scale, Malone said. I dont have exact numbers but something between 30 or 40,000 square feet is what were aiming for. Whats unique about the Blacksburg facility is that it will be available for short term usage, with users being able to sign up for leases of as flexible as a month, which is something not currently offered in the region. We needed to build labs but we wanted to build a different product. And we also want to support our life science startup community, Malone said. Weve had demand. Weve had demand in the past that weve had to turn away because theyre too small to build their own labs but they have funding. Its killed me to have to turn them away in the past He also noted that nearly a dozen or so companies have inquired about this type of shared space already, and formal applications for a space in the labs Malone hopes will be ready by late summer will be available at the start of 2022. Another wrinkle in the plan is the VTCRCs new partnership with Johnson & Johnson, which will allow a certain number of companies using the new space to join the corporations entrepreneurial program, Johnson & Johnson Innovations JLABS, according to a CRC news release. So really it started with a vision for this partnership with Johnson and Johnson. J&J really is the key because they are bringing the programming and the expertise and were building the facility, Malone said. JLABS provides early-stage innovators with access to its virtual residency program, which includes expert mentoring, programming and resources many startups with great ideas, but a lack of resources, especially on the business side of things, need, according to Malone. The collaboration is aimed to meet the needs of emerging startups and existing biotech companies in the region. In the first year of the collaboration, the goal is to select five companies by JLABS and the CRC for participation. Applications will become available in early 2022, according to the CRC news release. It really is a great opportunity for these startups. We will select five the first year and increase it from there, Malone said. Funding isnt guaranteed, but J&J gave more than $500 million to projects in 2020. Companies in their program have about an 80% success rate. Don Halliwill, executive vice president and CFO for Carilion Clinic said the partnership is a big win for healthcare in the region. Additional wet and dry lab space in our region is a real boost for life sciences and biotech innovation, especially as it relates to improving healthcare delivery, he said in the release. One of the hallmarks of our regional innovation ecosystem is the commitment of a diverse set of partners, as reflected in our successes with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Radford University Carilion. If you want to create, invent or discover, you have that opportunity in our region. This project is the latest resource demonstrating that our community can and will support you. Nelson believes the project will help the region make a name for itself in the biotechnology field. With recent projects and expansions, the region is poised to become synonymous with biotechnology, he said in the release. We are thrilled to partner in this project and the connections between regional universities as well as public and private innovation will propel this growth. The overall project is expected to generate 125 jobs with an average salary of $80,000 per year over five years with a $1.42 million, $140% return in employment-related revenue on the initial investment from GO Virginia funding. 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. Franklin County residents might understandably be left flabbergasted after poring over the latest House of Delegates map proposed in the redistricting process. In June, dynamic upstart Wren Williams, a Patrick County lawyer and ambitious young conservative influencer, trounced 14-year incumbent Charles Poindexter, a Franklin County stalwart, by a margin of 63% to 37% in the Republican primary for the 9th House District. In effect, the primary decided the election, as Williams would go on to easily defeat Democratic newcomer Bridgette Craighead in the general election, 76% to 23%, a margin slightly larger than Poindexters 70% to 30% drubbing of Democratic challenger Stephanie Cook in 2017. Neither result is particularly shocking, as all the counties in the district went heavily for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. However, in that June primary, Republican voters in Franklin County tried to keep Poindexter in his job, finding in his favor by 57% to 43%. Williams won by racking up overwhelming margins in Patrick County and the Henry County precincts that fall within the district. The reason to rehash all of this past excitement is because under the new map produced by the special masters working for the Virginia Supreme Court, Franklin County ends up with no incumbent delegate. The new map cuts Franklin loose from Patrick and Henry and instead creates a 39th House District that groups the whole of Franklin County with a segment of Roanoke County. For those in Franklin County who would have preferred to stick with Poindexter, a hard-right conservative who nonetheless wasnt all-in on Trumps false claims of election fraud, perhaps this will provide some hope once theyre done venting their exasperation. In a fascinating twist, this map shifts Patrick County into a westward-weighted 47th District that includes Galax and Carroll and Floyd counties. This puts Williams who is celebrated or notorious, depending on your political stance, for volunteering to travel to Wisconsin as part of Trumps legal team to help challenge the 2020 presidential election results in the same district as restaurateur Marie March, another newly elected Republican delegate, who is likewise celebrated or notorious for having attended Trumps Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, though she has said she left before the crowd stormed the U.S. Capitol. Similarly, March would no longer be representing the Pulaski or Montgomery county voters who elected her by decisive margins. Were March and Williams to end up facing off in a primary, it would be one to watch. Of course, this proposed map for House of Delegates has not been finalized. Nor have the proposed maps for the Virginia Senate and for the states congressional districts. As a reminder of how we got here, Virginias effort to move away from gerrymandering hit a partisan wall back in October. A constitutional amendment resoundingly endorsed by voters in 2020 created the first-ever Virginia Redistricting Commission, which put eight Democrats and eight Republicans together on a panel and charged them with drawing new voting districts in response to the latest federal census data. The two sides were unable to reach a compromise on any of their appointed tasks, and so the responsibility for creating the new maps kicked over to the Virginia Supreme Court. Concerns that the court, perceived as conservative-leaning, would direct the creation of maps favoring Republicans appear to be unfounded. The court appointed two special masters, one Democrat, one Republican, to come up with solutions. The resulting maps, which receive high marks for partisan fairness from the non-partisan Princeton Gerrymandering Project, appear to scramble everyones plans in about equal measure which, really, is how it absolutely should work. For example, on the congressional level, though Democrats have a slight edge overall, the map essentially disposes of the district represented by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (DHenrico), putting her political future on the block. Closer to home, under these proposals, Roanoke County gets carved up like a side of choice beef, not ideal for wielding legislative clout. Voters in Vinton and the northern slices of Roanoke County, at present represented by state Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, would be annexed by a Senate district stretching from Craig County to Staunton that has no incumbent. On top of that, in the House of Delegates district map, Roanoke County gets split up three ways as opposed to the current two. Theres the piece attached to Franklin County that we previously mentioned, another piece that breaks off to join with Montgomery County, and a third that includes Salem and the southwest corner of the city of Roanoke, which would have Republican Del. Joe McNamara as the resident incumbent. The new version of his district significantly shrinks the geographical area that he represents. In Botetourt County, Republican delegates Terry Austin and Chris Head end up in the same district, whereas before Heads district mostly consisted of Roanoke County turf with a sliver of Botetourt included. Anyone with visions of a better way has the opportunity to share their ideas with the special masters, but the deadlines are fast approaching. You can view the maps yourself, though the process is a bit cumbersome, as befits anything devised by the government you have to visit virginiaredistricting.org, download a portable document file, aka a PDF, click on an embedded link to download another PDF, and then click on links contained in that second PDF to get to the maps. The court is allowing residents to make comments directly on the interactive versions of those maps. (Radford and Blacksburg shouldnt be split into two districts, says a comment on the House of Delegates map. Franklin County placed in a district that stretches to Tennessee makes no sense, says a Senate map comment.) The second and final public hearing that the Virginia Supreme Court will hold for feedback on redistricting happens from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday. You can find the instructions to livestream the video following the same process for viewing the maps. (The first hearing happened Wednesday and can be viewed at https://bit.ly/VSCdistricts1.) If you just want to write out comments in an e-mail to Redistricting@vacourts.gov, thats fine too. The hard deadline to send those in is 1 p.m. Monday. Soon after, the gavel will come down, and the era of gerrymandering will end in Virginia. " " Dragon's blood trees like these are endemic to Socotra and are named for their red resin. javarman/Shutterstock Off Yemen's southeast coast in the Indian Ocean is the archipelago of Socotra. You've probably never heard of it, but it's often referred to as "the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean," and for good reason. That's because Socotra which is comprised of four islands and two rocky islets is home to spectacular flora and fauna you'll find nowhere else on Earth. Socotra is part of Yemen, the Middle Eastern country that is currently mired in a civil war that has been ongoing for seven years. The islands are located 250 miles (402 kilometers) off the coast of Yemen and about 60 miles (96 kilometers) off the coast of the Horn of Africa. The main island of Socotra, which is the largest and most diversified, is comprised of rugged plateaus at varying sea levels. Its vegetation features dry and succulent shrublands and semi-evergreen woodlands, as well as evergreen woodlands and grasslands. The other islands are drier and more arid. Aside from the island's endemic plant and animal species, Socotra is home to around 60,000 people who live on the main island. They have been living on these islands for millennia, and speaking their own Socotri language. The islands have been part of trade routes for centuries and there are artifacts on the islands from sailors dating back to the first century B.C.E. Advertisement Socotra's Alien-like Trees But as we mentioned, what makes Socotra so special are the plants and animals found there. They're part of the reason Socotra was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Socotra has been an island for at least 20 million years, attracting birds, insects and seeds from the wind, which has made it unusually biodiverse. When United Nations biologists conducted a survey of the islands in the 1990s, they found that there were nearly 700 endemic species meaning they are only found there. The only places at the time with more were Hawaii and the Galapagos Islands. Of the 825 plant species found on Socotra, 37 percent are endemic. Probably the most famous of Socotra's native plant life is the dragon's blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), so named for its red sap that has been used in dyes and medicines. These strange trees have sturdy trunks and large branches that come together to mimic the shape of an umbrella. The leaves resemble large pine needles. Like many of the species on the archipelago, these trees took on their odd shape to adapt to the island's hot and dry climate. There are many other unusual plants, such as the Adenium socotranum, also known as the Socotra desert rose. It can store water in its giant trunk and doesn't grow many flowers or leaves. And the islands are home to two very famous plants: frankincense and myrrh. " " The Socotra desert rose, or bottle tree, grows very slow and can store water in its enormous trunk. Vladimir Melnik/Shutterstock Advertisement The Animals Are Wild Here, Too! The trees and plants may look crazy on Socotra, but the islands are also home to rare animals, as well. More than 90 percent of its reptiles are endemic to the archipelago. Nearly 200 land and sea birds many of which are threatened live on and migrate through Socotra, including the Socotra sunbird, the Egyptian vulture, the Socotra cormorant and Socotra bunting. And marine life thrives here, too. There are more than 250 types of coral, nearly 750 types of fish, and 300 different species of lobster, shrimp and crab, including the Socotra limestone crab. The only mammals native to the area are bats, which live in the islands' many caves. Advertisement Are Socotra's Species in Danger? Unfortunately, the plant and animal life here face threats similar to those in the rest of the world. One of these threats are invasive species, such as goats. Because the dragon's blood trees grow slowly, goats eat the young trees before they have a chance to grow. The trees can reach thousands of years old, but it's getting harder for them to propagate. Another issue the island faces is weather. In the fall of 2015, two cyclones hit the archipelago in one week. According to reporting from The Washington Post, historical weather records dating as far back as 1891 show no evidence of two storms hitting Yemen consecutively in this way. Then in 2018, another storm hit, causing major flooding and at least 11 deaths. Major storms like these could continue to impact the islands because of climate change. In addition, crop yield is down and the land isn't as green as it once was. In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended placing the Socotra archipelago on the List of World Heritage in Danger. "Socotra Archipelago is facing a multitude of threats and many of them stem from fast-paced human activities which must be controlled," Peter Shadie, senior adviser on World Heritage at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said in a press statement. "Placing the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger can help mobilize equally fast-paced action to secure Socotra's conservation while responding to the needs of local people." " " The Egyptian vulture, which calls Socotra among its homes, is listed as an endangered bird because its population has declined significantly in the past 20 years throughout India, Europe and West Africa. Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images Advertisement Yemen's Civil War and the Islands Thanks to its distance from the mainland, the people in Socotra were able to keep out of the conflict for a number of years. However, in 2018, the war between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates finally erupted on the island and Socotra became the focus of a power struggle between the two governments. Then in 2020, Yemeni separatists known as the Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of the island away from the Saudi-backed government. However, the UAE still holds a lot of power there. In spite of all this tension, the islands have so far been spared from the violence of the war, and some Yemenis have retreated to the archipelago from the mainland to seek refuge from the violence. " " Two of the biggest threats to Socotra's future are captured in this photo: invasive species like goats and civil war. Ocean Eloy/Shutterstock Now That's Interesting Interested in seeing Socotra in person? You can travel there, but access is currently very limited given the ongoing conflict in Yemen. There are also few options for flying there, and you also must get a travel visa. And the U.S. State Department currently has Yemen on it's Do Not Travel list for several reasons, including high risk of COVID-19, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict and landmines. So keep all of this in mind if it's on your travel bucket list. " " Australian Keith Francisco holds two pieces of wire to demonstrate the practice of water divining at his property Tindarey in Cobar, Australia. The octogenarian is a water diviner using ancient methods particularly successful in dry environments. Mark Evans/Getty Images Water witches have been around and by around, we mean around the world, from Australia and India to Europe and the Americas to many, many other places for at least five centuries. So just in terms of simple longevity, you have to give it up to the witches. As a profession, that's been around for so long, they have to be doing something right. When it comes to water witches also known as dowsers, diviners, doodlebuggers and various other names in our so-called enlightened times, though, we're faced with two distinct possibilities. One, they're either really good, and have been for a long time, at pulling a fast one on desperate landowners looking for groundwater. Or, two, they actually know what they're doing and they're not pulling a fast one at all. "There's been at least some research testing the dowsers' skill," over the years, says Todd Jarvis, the director of the Institute for Water & Watersheds at Oregon State University, a one-time dowser and member of the American Society of Dowsers, and a practicing hydrogeologist. "And for every study that says there's nothing to it, there's a study that says there's something to it." Believe it. Or not. " " Many water witches back in the day used nothing more than a forked stick to search for groundwater because they believed that these were simply channels for their power. U.S. Geological Survey Advertisement What's a Water Witch? You may have seen the water witch in popular culture. Forked stick in front, wandering arid land until, somewhat magically and often with the hint of help from some otherworldly power, the witch and the wand divine a spot in the dirt where life-giving water, at some depth underground, waits to be liberated. It may sound like some rather hokey hocus-pocus, or something from, say, 500 years ago. But by one estimate, some 60,000 water dowsers are practicing in America today. That's more than 10 times the number of hydrologists, who provide many of the same services as witches, substituting science for the forked sticks. Not all water witches use the forked branch of a tree these days, of course. Most locate the water based on movement of diving rods. Copper rods and pendulums are popular tools of the trade. A smartly contorted wire coat hanger might do the trick. Shovels. Pitchforks. Glass beads. A crowbar. These simply channels for the power. And not all dowsers go about their groundwater search the same way. Some actually incorporate science into their divining; they look at the topography of the land, the geology. They use maps. They may even have an understanding of local aquifers. They make drawings. Do tests. All rely on some kind of unseen, perhaps divine, intervention to suss out the water. It's an innate ability, a "sense" or "intuition." Sometimes it's simple and quiet. Sometimes it's more theatrical. "You can see some of these folks performing on YouTube," Jarvis says. "Their bodies go into all sorts of contortions." The thing is, water witches are often right. Or close enough to right. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has long had to field questions about the viability of dowsers and their claims. Yet even the USGS admits that dowsers water witches, whatever can find water. How? From the USGS: The natural explanation of "successful" water dowsing is that in many areas water would be hard to miss. The dowser commonly implies that the spot indicated by the rod is the only one where water could be found, but this is not necessarily true. In a region of adequate rainfall and favorable geology, it is difficult not to drill and find water! " " Water witches are using ancient techniques to find groundwater that is part of the water table. Designua/Shutterstock Advertisement Science vs. Water Witching All this pointing and "feeling" has led to real tension between scientists and dowsers. Some of it, undoubtedly, flows from the fact that the witches indeed have a measure of success in locating underground water, which has led many landowners in search of water to call on dowsers in place of, or in addition to, scientists. The scientists push back. "To locate ground water accurately ... as to depth, quantity and quality, a number of techniques must be used. Hydrologic, geologic, and geophysical knowledge is needed to determine the depths and extent of the different water-bearing strata and the quantity and quality of water found in each. The area must be thoroughly tested and studied to determine these facts," the USGS says. "Compared to dowsing," Timothy Parker, a California groundwater management consultant and hydrogeologist, told The New York Times, "which is a person with a stick." The USGS and others suggest that the added expense of calling in water witches, though reportedly less than a certified scientist, is simply not worth it. For his part, Jarvis maintains that geologists and other scientists (including hydrologists) are more adept at finding the water. But witches, he says, are more trusted by farmers and other landowners. Jarvis regularly lectures on water witching (a recent webinar conducted for the American Water Resources Association was entitled, "Finding Water the Ol' Timey Way") and has some firsthand knowledge of it. Early on in his more than 30-year career, he regularly encountered dowsers he still does and, after joining the American Society of Dowsers (ASD), someone found his name on a list of dowsers and, much to his surprise, asked him to come witch a well. So he did. After getting the lay of the land, he picked a spot. It turned out OK. Still, "it didn't make any sense to me as a geologist," he says. Despite the head-butting between Old World and new science, Jarvis now is rather neutral about the idea of dowsing and water witching. He's never surprised when someone finds underground water through non-scientific methods again, there's a lot of groundwater out there but he says that the act of striking water, of bringing it to the surface, remains "magical." "I look at it this way," Jarvis says. "They have a 400-year jump on us [dowsers versus hydrologists and hydrogeologists]. To me, it's part of the folklore. It's easy to dismiss it. But if you do, you dismiss that folklore. You dismiss a part of your history." NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Often drought-stricken California has the largest assemblage of dowsers, according to the ASD, making up at least a half-dozen chapters in the state. Overall, the organization boasts 2,000 active members. FLORENCE, S.C.When the Florence Wine & Food Festival takes downtown next March 31 to April 2, hundreds of people will swarm the streets to attend a half dozen events celebrating all things culinary. But a festival of this magnitude doesnt happen without the generous support of sponsors in Florences business community, working behind the scenes and donating time, resources, and money to ensure a successful festivaland maximum benefit to the Festivals charity partner, Help 4 Kids Florence, said Tamara Kirven, festival director. Among the festivals steadfast supporters is Rick Havekost, owner of Micky Finns, Florence largest wine and spirits retailer, and sponsor of the festivals signature Sip + Savor Wine Stroll. The Wine Stroll is an evening event during which more than a dozen downtown retailers open their doors from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with each store offering 250 festival guests a different sample of wine paired with small-bites, each location prepared by a different Florence restaurant. Micky Finns underwrites all the wines served at the Sip + Savor Wine Stroll and also provides staff at each location to give festival attendees onsite education in wine tasting and pairing, to ensure maximum guest engagement and satisfaction. DeLaine, the newest member of the council, said it was interesting to sit next to Pennington for a few months. Bryson Caldwell said Pennington taught him how to keep his passions and desires within righteousness. Braddock said it had been a fun ride for Penningtons 12 years as mayor. He said he cherished their friendship. Andrews said Pennington had his hands in every project completed by the city including the new city hall, Sam Kendalls, the improvements to College Avenue, the new hotel and Neptune Island. The entire council then presented Pennington with three awards: his gavel, a map of the city and a brick at the Center Theatre. Pennington joked that he thought that he would be a getting a portrait like former Mayor Michael Holt. Pennington spoke for several minutes after being presented the awards and taking photos with the council and his family. 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. The Sentencing Project releases new report urging "A Second Look at Injustice" | Main | Getting antsy for US Sentencing Commission appointments after another slate of impressive judicial nominees from Prez Biden As reported in this new AP piece, a "Minnesota judge has ruled that there were aggravating factors in the death of George Floyd, paving the way for the possibility of a longer sentence for Derek Chauvin, according to an order made public Wednesday." Here are more details and context: In his ruling dated Tuesday, Judge Peter Cahill found that Chauvin abused his authority as a police officer when he restrained Floyd last year and that he treated Floyd with particular cruelty. He also cited the presence of children when he committed the crime and the fact Chauvin was part of a group with at least three other people. Cahill said Chauvin and two other officers held Floyd handcuffed, in a prone position on the street for an inordinate amount of time and that Chauvin knew the restraint was dangerous. The prolonged use of this technique was particularly egregious in that George Floyd made it clear he was unable to breathe and expressed the view that he was dying as a result of the officers restraint, Cahill wrote. Even with the aggravating factors, legal experts have said, Chauvin, 45, is unlikely to get more than 30 years when he is sentenced June 25.... Even though Chauvin was found guilty of three counts, under Minnesota statutes hell only be sentenced on the most serious one second-degree murder. Under Minnesota sentencing guidelines, he would have faced a presumptive sentence of 12 1/2 years on that count, and Cahill could have sentenced him to as little as 10 years and eight months or as much as 15 years and still stayed within the guideline range. But prosecutors asked for what is known as an upward departure arguing that Floyd was particularly vulnerable with his hands cuffed behind his back as he was face-down on the ground. They noted that Chauvin held his position even after Floyd became unresponsive and officers knew he had no pulse. With Tuesdays ruling, Cahill has given himself permission to sentence Chauvin above the guideline range, though he doesnt have to, said Mark Osler, professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. He said attorneys for both sides will argue whether an upward departure is appropriate and how long the sentence should be. A pre-sentence investigation report will also be conducted. These are usually nonpublic and include highly personal information such as family history and mental health issues, as well as details of the offense and the harm it caused others and the community.... Cahill agreed with all but one of the prosecutors arguments. He said prosecutors did not prove that Floyd was particularly vulnerable, noting that even though he was handcuffed, he was able to struggle with officers who were trying to put him in a squad car.... No matter what sentence Chauvin gets, in Minnesota its presumed that a defendant with good behavior will serve two-thirds of the penalty in prison and the rest on supervised release, commonly known as parole. Chauvin has also been indicted on federal charges alleging he violated Floyds civil rights, as well as the civil rights of a 14-year-old he restrained in a 2017 arrest. If convicted on those charges, which were unsealed Friday, a federal sentence would be served at the same time as Chauvins state sentence. The three other former officers involved in Floyds death were also charged with federal civil rights violations; they await trial in state court on aiding and abetting counts. Colorado Supreme Court rules mandatory lifetime sex offender registration violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment | Main | US Sentencing Commission issues big new report on "Federal Sentencing of Child Pornography: Non-Production Offenses" June 29, 2021 Federal plea deal on civil rights charges reportedly in the works for Derek Chauvin This new local press piece, headlined "Derek Chauvin Closing In On Federal Plea Deal, Sources Tell WCCO," reports on an unsurprising but still interesting development in the legal sagas around George Floyd's killing. Here are the details: Multiple sources tell WCCO that federal prosecutors are in talks with former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin about a possible plea deal. They say Chauvin is close to reaching a deal, and that is what he was likely referring to when he made a cryptic comment to the family of George Floyd during his sentencing last week. Due to legal matters, Im not able to give a full formal statement I give my condolences to the Floyd family, theres gonna be some other information in the future that will be of interest and I hope these will give you some peace of mind, Chauvin said prior to his sentencing. Sources suggest Chauvin was likely referring to a plea deal in the federal case against him. As part of a possible plea deal Chauvin would have to publicly explain what he did to Floyd and why. That was, of course, the question that Floyds brother poignantly asked of Chauvin at the sentencing.... Sources tell WCCO that, as part of the plea, Chauvin could get a 20- to 25-year sentence, which he would serve at the same time as the state sentence, and that he would serve his time in federal not state prison.... Former Hennepin County Chief Public Mary Moriarity says Chauvin has to be thinking about the swift guilty verdict in the state case, and that may be giving him more incentive to try to negotiate a plea deal. That is because, in federal court, there would be a substantial difference between what he would receive if he went to trial and was convicted versus what he would get if he pled guilty, and as they say take responsibility for his actions, Moriarity said. Its important to remember an earlier plea deal involving the feds in late May 2020 collapsed at the 11th hour. The U.S. Attorneys Office declined to comment, and WCCO also did not hear back from Ben Crump, the Floyd family attorney, or Eric Nelson, the attorney for Chauvin. It is, of course, entirely right that Chauvin is far more likely to get a lower sentence (and to be able to cap his sentencing exposure) if he enters into a federal plea deal rather than going to trial on pending federal civil rights charges. But, unlike in the Minnesota system where there is a strong presumption of release after a defendant serves 2/3 of an imposed prison term, in the federal system the norm is service of at least 85% of imposed prison time. So if Chauvin's federal deal led to the imposition, say, of "only" a 20-year term, he should still expect to serve a full 17 years, whereas his 22.5-year prison term in the state system could lead to his release in "only" 15 years. That said, this "release math" is only one part of the equation for Chauvin and his lawyers as they consider a federal plea deal. I suspect Chauvin, for a variety of reasons, would much rather spend his considerable time in the federal prison system than in state prison. Also, it is interesting to speculate whether and how a federal plea could impact any appeals Chauvin has planned for his state convictions and sentence. And, not to be overlooked, there are distinct "second look" or "early release" mechanisms in state and federal systems that could prove significant in the future (which, in turn, makes them relevant now for plea negotiations). Prior related posts: June 29, 2021 at 11:18 AM | Permalink Comments The ultimate hard question is where Derek Chauvin can safely serve his sentence without being a target for violent retribution by many other inmates. He really can't stay in P.C. (protective custody) for 20 years, so where can they safely house him for such a long sentence? One favorite prison for swapping off inmates is the North Dakota state penitentiary, which has only 600 inmates, 2/3 of whom are Native Americans! Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 29, 2021 6:21:33 PM Don't forget the new "earned time" credits under the First Step Act, which allow for up to 10 days of credit for every 30 days of participation in recidivism-reduction programming. Chauvin's federal civil-rights charge is not an excluded offense from receiving ETC, and presumably his PATTERN score (which purports to measure recidivism risk) will be low, given his age, education, and lack of prior criminal history. The bigger issue may be whether he can earn in federal earned-time credits if he's serving his time in Minnesota custody. Posted by: Anon AFPD | Jun 29, 2021 8:06:39 PM There is no doubt that Minnesota his primary custody of Derek Chauvin, since he was first charged and arrested by Minnesota, long before the Feds ever charged him with violating civil rights under color of law. The Feds won't get primary custody until and unless Chaven paroled by Minnesota in about 15 years. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 30, 2021 1:19:50 PM When I checked yesterday, I discovered that the North Dakota state penitentiary was rebuilt in 2015, and now houses about 1,500 inmates! It still might be a good place for the Feds and Minnesota to send him to serve his sentence, with minimal risk of getting assaulted or killed by other inmates. It used to be a low key place, where inmates could wear blue jeans or khakis sent in by their families (street clothes) and the inmates and guards addressed one another by their fist names. The local Kiwannas come to the gym every Friday night and bake pizzas to sell to the inmates for a few dollars each. They could eat pizzas and talk with locals from the street in the gym for a few hours. Very low key by penitentiary standards. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 30, 2021 1:26:35 PM Post a comment Fascinating split Third Circuit ruling on federal drug distribution prohibition (and death resulting 20-year mandatory minimum) | Main | Second Capitol rioter reaches plea deal with reported guideline range of 15 to 21 months in prison June 2, 2021 In latest sentencing filings, Derek Chauvin requests probation while prosecutors ask for him to get 30 years in prison As detailed in this CBS News piece, the parties in the case of Minnesota v. Chauvin are making very different sentencing requests: Derek Chauvin asked a judge to sentence him to a term of probation or a shorter prison term than suggested by Minnesota guidelines in a sentencing memorandum filed Wednesday. The memo cites Chauvin's lack of previous criminal history, his previous work as a police officer and the risk he could be victimized in prison as factors the judge should consider as he weighs a sentence. But in another memorandum filed Wednesday, prosecutors asked for a sentence of 30 years for the convicted former Minneapolis officer, a term they said would "properly account for the profound impact of [Chauvin's] conduct on the victim, the victim's family, and the community."... Last month, Judge Peter Cahill found "aggravating factors" exist that allow for him to sentence Chauvin to a term longer than the suggested 15 years. Cahill agreed with prosecutors that four such factors exist: that Chauvin committed a crime in front of a child, that Chauvin acted with particular cruelty, that he acted as part of a group, and that he abused his position of trust and authority as a police officer. Cahill found that Chauvin acted with particular cruelty because he killed Floyd slowly despite Floyd's pleas that he couldn't breathe. Floyd was "begging for his life and obviously terrified by the knowledge that he was likely to die" but Chauvin "objectively remained indifferent to Floyd's pleas," Cahill wrote. Wednesday, prosecutors said the aggravating factors support their recommendation of double the 15-year upper end of the sentencing range, or 30 years. Chauvin, they said, "brutally murdered Mr. Floyd, abusing the authority conferred by his badge." "His actions traumatized Mr. Floyd's family, the bystanders who watched Mr. Floyd die, and the community. And his conduct shocked the Nation's conscience," the prosecution's memo read. "No sentence can undo the damage [Chauvin's] actions have inflicted. But the sentence the Court imposes must hold [Chauvin] fully accountable for his reprehensible conduct." But in the defense memo, Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson asked Cahill to discount his finding that aggravating factors apply, and rule instead that mitigating factors allow either for a term of probation or a shorter sentence than guidelines suggest. Nelson asked the judge to "look beyond" his findings to Chauvin's "background, his lack of criminal history, his amenability to probation, to the unusual facts of this case, and to his being a product of a 'broken' system." Nelson said that Chauvin has been "painted as a dangerous man," but argued that "behind the politics, Mr. Chauvin is still a human being." He cited Chauvin's 19-year history with the Minneapolis police department, several on-the-job commendations and the support of his family and friends. "In spite of his mistakes, Mr. Chauvin has demonstrated that he has a capacity for good and that he has the discipline to consistently work toward worthwhile goals," the memo reads. The defense memo says Chauvin, 44, has been diagnosed with heart damage and that he may be likely to die at a younger age like other ex-law enforcement officers. It also says Chauvin may be more likely to be victimized in prison because he was convicted as a police officer, pointing to the fact that he is being segregated from the general prison population before his sentencing over safety concerns. It also says Chauvin has no previous criminal convictions and complied with pre-trial release conditions and court procedures. "Throughout these proceedings, and in the face of unparalleled public scorn and scrutiny, Mr. Chauvin has been very respectful to the judicial process, the Court, and the State," the memo said. These new sentencing filings are available at these links: Prior related posts: June 2, 2021 at 06:39 PM | Permalink Comments Probation? So generous! I saw references to a couple plea deals for the 1/6 defendants. Posted by: Joe | Jun 2, 2021 9:37:36 PM Because of the public nature of this homicide by a police officer, I don't see him getting anything less than 15 years in prison. He slowly killed a handcuffed black man in public while the man was handcuffed behind his back and laying on the ground. It is a heinous and reprehensible crime. That said, I doubt that Minnesota can safely keep this former police officer in its prison system. I see them doing something that is occasionally done, but that the public has almost no awareness of: the various states and the Federal BOP sometimes swap off inmates with one another that they cannot or do not want to keep in their own prison systems. One example is North Dakota inmate Donald Lee McNair, who was swapped off to the Feds after he twice escaped from the North Dakota state penitentiary. McNair is serving 2 life sentences, for murder and attempted murder during a burglary. In April 2006, he became the first inmate to escape from a Federal maximum security prison (in Pollock, Louisiana). Upon being recaptured, he is now incarcerated at the federal "Supermax" prison (ADX) in Colorado. Another example is former Galveston, Texas Federal Judge Samuel B. Kent, who was convicted of Federal crimes and eventually resigned his Judgeship, after Congress commenced impeachment proceedings. The BOP eventually decided that they could not properly protect Mr. Kent, so the BOP swapped him off to the Florida Department of Corrections, where he served his sentence in solitary confinement, in protective custody in a Florida prison (where there is no air conditioning!). I expect Minnesota to swap off the former police officer to the Feds or to another state's prison system. A favorite for swapping off is North Dakota, because the population of their penitentiary is only about 600 inmates and 2/3 of them are Native American Indians from reservations. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 3, 2021 8:49:08 AM Per a reference, be interested if there are any studies of police in prison. Posted by: Joe | Jun 3, 2021 11:00:53 AM Joe: https://www.vice.com/en/article/4adxd9/how-former-police-officers-are-treated-in-prison Posted by: hardreaders | Jun 3, 2021 12:40:47 PM Joe: Take a look at the article, "Ex-cops who end up in prison" (8/31/2020), which can be viewed at www.ranker.com/list/ex-cops-in-prison/ranker-crime. There is also an interesting 2016 "Washington Post" article, "Study Finds Police Officers Arrested 1,100 Times Per Year, 3 a Day", which is viewed at washingtonpost.com/news/2016/06/22. There are many good stories about cops who end up in jail and prison, some for serious crimes and others for stupidity. One former Sheriff out West even served 30 days in the county jail which had been named for him! Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 3, 2021 3:43:01 PM Thanks for the links. Posted by: Joe | Jun 3, 2021 4:22:37 PM The prosecutors deserve 30 years in prison for their disgraceful manipulation and collusion in regard to the autopsy and their over charging. They have damaged US Law beyond its ability to recover and should pay a stiff penalty. Posted by: restless94110 | Jun 3, 2021 10:50:05 PM Post a comment Though guidelines recommend federal LWOP sentence for Derek Chauvin, plea deal provides for concurrent sentence between 20 and 25 years | Main | New BJS reports on "Probation and Parole in the United States, 2020" and "Profile of Prison Inmates, 2016" December 16, 2021 DPIC releases year-end report emphasizing "continuing decline of death penalty" in 2021 The Death Penalty Information Center this morning released its annual report here under the heading "The Death Penalty in 2021: Year End Report; Virginias Historic Abolition Highlights Continuing Decline of Death Penalty." Here is the starts of the report's introduction, with lots of data and details following thereafter: The death penalty in 2021 was defined by two competing forces: the continuing long-term erosion of capital punishment across most of the country, and extreme conduct by a dwindling number of outlier jurisdictions to continue to pursue death sentences and executions. Virginias path to abolition of the death penalty was emblematic of capital punishments receding reach in the United States. A combination of changing state demographics, eroding public support, high-quality defense representation, and the election of reform prosecutors in many key counties produced a decade with no new death sentences in the Commonwealth. As the state grappled with its history of slavery, Jim Crow, lynchings, and the 70th anniversary of seven wrongful executions, the governor and legislative leaders came to see the end of the death penalty as a crucial step towards racial justice. On March 24, Virginia became the first southern state to repeal capital punishment, and expanded the death-penalty-free zone on the U.S. Atlantic coast from the Canadian border of Maine to the northern border of the Carolinas. In the West, where an execution-free zone spans the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico, the Oregon Supreme Court began removing prisoners from the states death row based on a 2019 law that redefined the crimes that constitute capital murder. Nationwide, mounting distrust of the death-penalty system was reflected in public opinion polling that measured support for capital punishment at near half-century lows. With Virginias abolition, a majority of states have now abolished the death penalty (23) or have a formal moratorium on its use (3). An additional ten states have not carried out an execution in at least ten years. 2021 saw historic lows in executions and near historic lows in new death sentences. As this report goes to press, eighteen people were sentenced to death, tying 2020s number for the fewest in the modern era of the death penalty, dating back to the Supreme Court ruling in Furman v. Georgia that struck down all existing U.S. death-penalty statutes in 1972. The eleven executions carried out during the year were the fewest since 1988. The numbers were unquestionably affected by the pandemic but marked the seventh consecutive year of fewer than 50 death sentences and 30 executions. Both measures pointed to a death penalty that was geographically isolated, with just three states Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas accounting for a majority of both death sentences and executions. December 16, 2021 at 11:51 AM | Permalink Comments The death penalty disappeared in Virginia when the Democrats got control of both the House of Delegates and the Governor's chair, a decision the voters reversed the first time they got the chance (that being last month). And the DPIC, as dishonest and partisan as usual, omits the elephant in the death penalty room: The long erosion in support for the DP has ground to a halt, and capital punishment is approved by a decided majority, considerably more than approve of Joe Biden. https://www.crimeandconsequences.blog/?p=5091 Posted by: Bill Otis | Dec 16, 2021 3:42:35 PM I don't think that you can use the number of verdicts for anything from the last two years as reliable data. My understanding from prosecutors around the country has been that a lot of courts are only slowly opening up. If you are not having jury trial, you are not getting death sentences. From a trend standpoint, I would be looking at the number of cases in which the prosecution is seeking the death penalty, and the number of death sentences as a percentage of resolved cases. Posted by: tmm | Dec 17, 2021 11:51:44 AM Post a comment "Would an independent commission solve the clemency backlog?" | Main | Though guidelines recommend federal LWOP sentence for Derek Chauvin, plea deal provides for concurrent sentence between 20 and 25 years In the wake of a notable sentencing ruling by Florida Supreme Court earlier this month (discussed here), I asked Prof. M. Eve Hanan of the UNLV Boyd School of Law if she might like to write a guest post on the topic. She kindly obliged: The Supreme Court of Florida recently held that the trial judge may penalize more harshly a defendant who maintains his innocence at sentencing. Davis v. State, No. SC19-716 (December 2, 2021). The court framed the issue as follows: Does a trial court, when imposing a sentence on a defendant who has voluntarily chosen to allocute and maintain his innocence at the sentencing hearing, violate the defendant's due process rights by considering the defendants failure to take responsibility for his actions? The unmissable foreshadowing in the courts framing hints that the court will assuage due process concerns with a waiver-type theory: If the defendant voluntarily speaks at sentencing, anything the defendant says, including protesting his innocence, is fair game for the judge to consider in sentencing. A protestation of innocence is a fair characterization of Mr. Davis statement at sentencing. In fact, he maintained his innocence throughout. Unlike over 95% of defendants, he did not plead guilty but asserted his right to a jury trial. Davis was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person based on a gun found in a car in which he was a passenger. At trial, the teenage driver testified that the gun found in the car belonged to his passenger, Davis. The jury believed the teenage driver and convicted Davis. No physical evidence tied Davis to the gun. At sentencing, Mr. Davis made a statement, quoted in full in the dissenting opinion, that argued for his innocence and expressed disappointment in his attorney and in the verdict. The allocution appears to have been cogent and polite, but, as I have argued in my article Talking Back in Court, the courtroom setting makes the defendants efforts to speak both risky and difficult. In the Florida Supreme Courts characterization of his allocution, Mr. Davis was voicing his disagreement with the verdict, blaming the driver, the police, his lawyer, and the trial court for his conviction However respectful his tone or reasonable his claims, he talked back. The sentencing range permitted any sentence from 10 to 15 years. The judge imposed the maximum term of 15 years based on the crime, Mr. Daviss prior record, and his failure to take any responsibility. It should be noted that remorse and taking responsibility are treated as interchangeable by the court, but they are different. Remorse is an emotion. As I have argued elsewhere, it is difficult to assess remorse accurately, and that ambiguity lends itself to implicit biases that may fuel sentencing disparities. Taking responsibility, on the other hand, is often just another way of saying that the defendant confessed or pleaded guilty. In Mr. Davis case, the court labeled Mr. Davis protestation of innocence as a failure to take responsibility. Remorse and taking responsibility are permissible mitigators in at least two areas of Florida sentencing law: in downward departures from minimum sentences and as mitigation in the penalty phase of death penalty trials. In contrast, a lack of remorse or failure to take responsibility may not be considered as aggravating factors in death penalty cases because [t]o equate a defendants not guilty plea with lack of remorse would in effect punish the defendant for exercising rights of due process. Pope v. State, 441 So. 2d 1073, 1078 (Fla. 1983). And, in another death penalty case, the court held that maintaining ones innocence, through a plea of not guilty, cannot be used to reject the mitigating factor of appreciat[ing] the criminality of ones conduct. Holton v. State, 573 So. 2d 284, 292 (Fla. 1990). The Florida Supreme Court first distinguished Davis prison sentence from the death penalty caselaw, which adheres to strict limits on aggravating factors. In contrast, the sentencing judge had discretion to sentence Mr. Davis to any amount of time within the 10- to 15-year sentencing range set by statute. Second, the Florida Supreme Court characterized as dicta the language in the death penalty cases that stated that penalizing defendants for protesting their innocence violates due process. The Florida Supreme Court then pivoted to its waiver theory to resolve the question of whether penalizing a defendant for maintaining his innocence violates due process or the right against self incrimination in the Florida Constitution. Art. I, 9, Fla. Const. By choosing to allocute, the court reasoned, Mr. Davis waived his right to remain silent. And thus, anything that he said could be held against him. The court drew a parallel between Mr. Davis unwillingness to accept the truth and take responsibility and U.S. v. Grayson, 438 U.S. 41 (1978), in which the Court held, under federal sentencing law, that the trial judge may consider the defendants false trial testimony. In his dissent, Justice Polston argued that punishing the defendant for proclaiming his innocence is analytically indistinguishable from punishing the defendant for asserting the right against self-incrimination. Moreover, the dissent went on, there must be limits to the voluntary relinquishment of the right to remain silent. If, as both the concurrence and the dissent stressed, some considerations are categorically impermissible, they cannot be waived through some sort of assumption of risk that the defendant takes on by speaking at the sentencing hearing. For example, the sentencing judge cannot punish the defendant for having a religious affiliation merely because the defendant volunteered information about his religion during sentencing. Likewise, the dissent argues, volunteering to speak at sentencing does not terminate the defendants right against self incrimination and due process. Where does Davis leave the innocent defendant? Where, for that matter, does Davis leave any defendant who does not confess guilt and express remorse during sentencing? As in so many other contexts, the defendant is in a Catch-22 in which leniency is predicated on admissions of guilt at a time when the right against self-incrimination remains critical to any retrial granted on appeal. Guest post: "Floridas Catch-22 for the Innocent Defendant (and Others Wishing to to Protect Their Right Against Self-Incrimination)" | Main | DPIC releases year-end report emphasizing "continuing decline of death penalty" in 2021 December 16, 2021 Though guidelines recommend federal LWOP sentence for Derek Chauvin, plea deal provides for concurrent sentence between 20 and 25 years I just got a chance to look at the high-profile federal plea agreement entered yesterday in US District Court in Minnesota in US v Chauvin. This Justice Department press release sets out the basics of the plea and the sentencing particulars: The Justice Department announced [on December 15] that Derek Chauvin, 45, pleaded guilty in federal court to two violations of a federal civil rights statute. First, defendant Chauvin pleaded guilty to willfully depriving, while acting under color of law, George Floyd of his constitutional rights, resulting in Mr. Floyds bodily injury and death. Defendant Chauvin also agreed that the appropriate sentencing base offense level for this crime is second-degree murder because he used unreasonable and excessive force that resulted in Mr. Floyds death, and he acted willfully and in callous and wanton disregard of the consequences to Mr. Floyds life. Second, defendant Chauvin pleaded guilty to willfully depriving, while acting under color of law, a then 14-year-old juvenile of his constitutional rights, resulting in the juveniles bodily injury.... Defendant Chauvin pleaded guilty [on December 15] before U.S. District Court Senior Judge Paul A. Magnuson. Defendant Chauvin will be sentenced at a hearing to be scheduled at a later date. According to the plea agreement, defendant Chauvin faces a sentence of between 20- and 25-years imprisonment. Under the terms of the plea agreement, defendant Chauvin will serve his sentence in federal custody and will not be eligible to work in any law enforcement capacity following his release. It is notable, but perhaps unsurprising, that the DOJ press release does not highlight why the terms of Chauvin's plea in fact amount to a pretty good deal given the federal sentencing realities he was facing. In the wake of his state convictions, Chauvin's federal conviction was a near certainty; as his plea agreement details, here is the likely guideline calculation for Chauvin's offenses: "the defendant's adjusted offense level is 43 and ... [thus] the advisory guideline range is life imprisonment." Despite the guidelines recommending a federal LWOP sentence, federal prosecutors agreed for Chauvin to a plea deal that binds the federal sentencing judge to these terms (as specified in this Rule 11(c)(1)(C) plea): The Court should impose a sentence of imprisonment of no less than 240 months and no greater than 300 months (expected to serve no less than 204 months and no greater than 255 months, assuming all goodtime credit);... The Court, pursuant to U.S.S.G. 5G1.3(b)(2), should order that the sentence of imprisonment imposed in this case be served concurrent to the 270-month sentence imposed in State of Minnesota v. Derek Chauvin,No. 27-CR- 20-I2646 (expected to serve approximately 178 months, assuming all good-time credit); and At sentencing, the Court, pursuant to U.S.S.G. 5G1.3(b)(1), should adjust the sentence for any period of imprisonment/incarceration already served.... I can understand all sorts of reasons for the feds to accept these plea terms, and the agreement notes "the United States intends to advocate for a sentence of 300 months" and that the "agreed sentence is based on the parties' consideration of the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)." Still, I thought it worth highlighting that this especially notable case is yet another where it seems everyone agrees that the guidelines do not actually guide toward a proper sentence. A few prior related posts: December 16, 2021 at 09:02 AM | Permalink Comments I suspect the main reason Chauvin pled to these counts and agreed to a 11(c)(1)(C) is to limit his exposure. Certainly, without the 1(c)(1)(C) - the court could have sentenced him up to life. Why not pled and limit his sentence to between 240 and 300 months? I would be willing to bet he never would have pled without the 11(c)(1)(C). Posted by: atomicfrog | Dec 16, 2021 1:43:27 PM The reason he pleaded guilty was the same reason almost all defendants do: He WAS guilty, and he knew the government had him ice cold on the evidence. To anyone who's been in the system, this is not a big mystery. Posted by: Bill Otis | Dec 16, 2021 3:45:53 PM It is hard to comprehend how this travesty could have taken place. So he's convicted in state and then is re-tried in Federal. I know. The charges are slightly different. But if it looks like double jeopardy then it is. No wonder he took a plea. A terrible terrible day in American law. Posted by: restless94110 | Dec 16, 2021 8:41:01 PM restless94110 -- Those right-wing headcases Sotomayor, Kagan and Breyer, along with four other Justices, beg to differ. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/17-646_d18e.pdf Posted by: Bill Otis | Dec 17, 2021 12:19:20 AM You're right Bill. I'm with Justice Gorsuch - the losing team. Posted by: beth curtis | Dec 17, 2021 12:48:03 PM Beth -- If I were back in DOJ, I would not have authorized this prosecution. I see no federal interest here that is not sufficiently satisfied by the state prosecution and the quite substantial sentence. The federal decision to prosecute strikes me as grandstanding. But as a matter of long-settle constitutional doctrine, there was no warrant for the courts to intervene. Posted by: Bill Otis | Dec 17, 2021 3:36:52 PM Post a comment Prison Policy Initiative publishes report on "Winnable criminal justice reforms in 2022" | Main | Guest post: "Floridas Catch-22 for the Innocent Defendant (and Others Wishing to to Protect Their Right Against Self-Incrimination)" The question in the title of this post is the headline of the this notable new commentary in the Chicago Sun-Times authored by Jacob Sullum. Here are excerpts: When Jimmy Carter became president in 1977, fewer than 500 clemency petitions were pending at the Justice Departments Office of the Pardon Attorney. When Joe Biden became president in January, he faced more than 15,000 petitions, a number that had risen to more than 18,000 as of Dec. 14. A bill that Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts) unveiled last Friday seeks to address this alarming backlog, which includes many people serving unconscionably long sentences for non-violent crimes, by eliminating the Office of the Pardon Attorney and assigning its functions to an independent, nine-member U.S. Clemency Board appointed by the president. While Pressley is rightly concerned that meritorious cases are languishing at the Justice Department, its not clear that her FIX Clemency Act would work as advertised.... The surge in commutation petitions followed an explosion in the federal prison population, which rose ninefold between 1980 and 2013, from fewer than 25,000 to more than 219,000. Since then, the total has fallen by 29%, but it is still more than six times the number in 1980. Sentences also have increased dramatically. Current federal prisoners, 46% of whom are serving time for drug offenses, received an average sentence of 147 months, nearly three times the average sentence imposed in 1986.... So far, Biden has not granted any pardons or commutations. But when he gets around to it, recent history suggests the Office of the Pardon Attorney will be ill-equipped to help him.... Pressley and her allies argue that the current system entails an unavoidable conflict of interest, since it charges the same department that sends people to federal prison with deciding whether to recommend that the president shorten their sentences. Former prisoners such as Danielle Metz and Alice Marie Johnson, who were serving life sentences for non-violent cocaine offenses before they were freed by Obama and former President Donald Trump, respectively, agree with this critique and support Pressleys bill.... One way or the other, the buck stops with the president, who has plenary power to grant clemency. If Biden is serious about trying to make up for his past as a lock-em-up legislator, he should get started. DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) Bangladesh on Thursday marked 50 years of victory over Pakistan in a bloody war for independence by hosting a military parade with the Indian president as a guest of honor. On Dec. 16, 1971, Pakistani soldiers surrendered to a joint India-Bangladesh force, formally making Bangladesh a new nation under the leadership of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The war began on March 26, and continued for nine months before victory was declared in December, aided by India under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Thursdays celebrations were attended by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, who was on a two-day visit to the Muslim-majority country. After arriving on Wednesday, Kovind held discussions with Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid in Dhaka. Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, said the two leaders discussed issues of interest, including connectivity and trade, cooperation in fight against COVID-19 and development partnerships. Hasina and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen also received Kovind. In 10 years, we will see very changed and different countries. We are looking at green technologies, renewables in this era of climate change to create employment, IT and digital platforms, startups, said Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Shiok Meats Mini Plant key to scaling up production to address global food security SINGAPORE, December 16, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Black & Veatch collaborated with Shiok Meats for the conceptual design and layout of their first-of-a-kind advanced research and development facility for cultivated seafood, officially opened by Singapores Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms. Grace Fu in November. The new facility will help Shiok Meats, the worlds first cultivated crustacean company, scale-up production of cell-based crustacean meat products, targeting commercialization by 2023. "Building the Mini Plant is a big milestone for us. Our production facility, which is due in the next 18 months, will be an extension of this Mini Plant in terms of engineering design and foundation. This new facility allows us to scale the cultivated seafood production gradually and strategically to ensure a comprehensive manufacturing model and top-notch products," said Dr. Sandhya Sriram, Group CEO & Co-founder, Shiok Meats. "Reshaping our food system will require massive change. We are proud to assist Shiok Meats in achieving this important milestone in transforming the future of food," said David Ziskind, Director of Engineering at Black & Veatch NextGen Ag. "Innovation and sustainability are core to our engineering and construction solutions as we help companies bridge the gap between science, research and development, engineering, and commercialization to bring new food products to market, at scale. Were excited to support Shiok Meats in their scale-up efforts to create better and more sustainable food by leveraging biotechnology to enhance global food security." "Market innovators, like Shiok Meats, are edging closer to creating clean and sustainable seafood products that provide a much-needed additional and alternative source of protein for rapidly growing and increasingly affluent consumers, particularly in Asia. Were proud to partner with companies like Shiok Meats who share our passion for creating a more sustainable planet and guide them through early technology readiness levels to full commercialization," said Hoe Wai Cheong, President, Asia Pacific and India Markets, Black & Veatch. Story continues Black & Veatch provides emerging companies and established manufacturers with end-to-end services from early-stage design and innovation to turnkey facility design. The company is equipped to handle every stage of the project lifecycle from process and development to engineering through the design and construction of a pilot scale or commercial manufacturing facility. The company serves sectors including traditional food and beverage as well as future-food technologies like controlled environment agriculture, alternative proteins and aquaculture. Click here to download a supporting image. Editors notes According to the 2021 Engineering News-Records (ENR) Sourcebooks rankings, Black & Veatch is among the Top 10 companies in 19 categories. The rankings reflect the engineering, procurement, consulting and construction companys success in anticipating client shifts to zero carbon power, greater water system resilience and better use of data around the globe. About Shiok Meats Shiok Meats is the first cultivated seafood and meat company in Southeast Asia and the first cultivated crustacean (shrimp, lobster, crab, crayfish) company globally to bring sustainable, healthy, cruelty-free, and delicious cultivated meat to the world. Follow Shiok Meats on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @shiokmeats for the latest news. About Black & Veatch Black & Veatch is an employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2020 exceeded US$3.0 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215006149/en/ Contacts EMILY CHIA | +65 6335 6623 P | +65 9875 8907 M | Chialp@bv.com 24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE | +1 855-999-5991 A young couple in bed. (PHOTO: Getty Images) A recent WeThrift study revealed that while the pandemic may have taken a toll on the sex lives of many with some couples ending their relationships too its also spurred a certain level of interest towards the topic. According to the piece, Google searches with the term sex increased by 58 per cent. Whats most interesting, though, is that the study, too, has found what some of the most favoured sex positions are for several countries in Asia. For starters, its diverse, and were not mad about that one bit. Heres a look: (PHOTO: Getty Images) Singapore According to the report, folks in Singapore love the reverse cowgirl. A literal spin on the traditional girl on top position, the reverse cowgirl has the receiver sat on top with their back turned toward the giver. Hong Kong Much like Singapore, Hong Kongers, too, love their reverse cowgirl. We get it though, whats not to love? The position literally sets the giver up for an optimal view of their partners bum. Indonesia The pretzel position is whats most popular for couples in Indonesia. Similar to a missionary, the pretzel has partners facing each other but with a slight twist. Instead of lying on their back, the receiver lies on their side while the giver enters the way they would during missionary. The position essentially gives partners a little more intimacy. The position is said to be popular in the U.K. as well. India In India, the standing 69 prevails the sex position of choice. But, honestly, we think Indias onto something here. Not only is this position pretty intimate, but its also pretty physically strenuous. To do this, one partner stands upright while the other is flipped (possibly in a sort of handstand like position). Thailand Unlike India, Thailand opts for something a little more traditional with their favourite sex position. The orthodox 69 is what gets the people of Thailand going. We would have loved to see other nations in this study, and perhaps, with enough data, we might just be able to do our survey here at Yahoo! WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday all but acknowledged negotiations over his sweeping domestic policy package will likely push into the new year, as he does not yet have the votes in the Senate to lift the roughly $2 trillion bill to passage. Biden issued a statement in the evening as it became increasingly apparent the Democratic senators would not meet their Christmas deadline, in large part because of unyielding opposition from one holdout: Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. The president said that in their recent discussions, the West Virginia senator has reiterated his support for the framework he, the president and other Democrats had agreed to on the flagship bill. Biden said he also briefed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier Thursday about the most recent round of talks with Manchin. I believe that we will bridge our differences and advance the Build Back Better plan, even in the face of fierce Republican opposition, Biden said in the statement. Biden said he and his team will continue to have discussions with Manchin next week. The White House and the congressional leaders plan to work over the days and weeks ahead to finish up the details, he said. Both he and Schumer are determined, he said, to bring the package to the Senate floor for votes as early as possible. "We will we must get Build Back Better passed," Biden said. Biden's statement was a much-needed intervention, allowing Senate Democrats an off-ramp to what has been months of tangled negotiations that appear nowhere near resolved as time runs out ahead of the Christmas holiday. At the same time, Democrats were rushing to show progress on another jammed-up priority: voting rights legislation that, Biden acknowledged, also faces hurdles. We must also press forward on voting rights legislation, and make progress on this as quickly as possible, Biden said. Schumer, D-N.Y., had set Senate passage before Christmas as his goal, but disputes with Manchin and other Democrats remain. It had become clear that the party was seeking an explicit move from Biden in hopes he would cut a deal with Manchin, or urge lawmakers to delay action until January. The sudden end-of-year shift comes as Democrats suffered another blow to their agenda late Thursday when the Senate parliamentarian decided that hard-fought efforts to include immigration law changes should be stripped from the package because they dont comply with the chambers rules. Schumer said Democrats strongly disagree with the parliamentarians decision and vowed to pursue every means so that immigrants can achieve a path to citizenship in Biden's package. The ruling is just one part of an ongoing, time-consuming review by Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough about whether many of the bills provisions violate the chambers rules and should be dropped. As the days business began, Schumer barely mentioned what was becoming an obvious stall. Instead, he described Democrats efforts to break a logjam on voting rights legislation and a pile of nominations the Senate will consider as we continue working to bring the Senate to a position where we can move forward on the social and environment bill. Using his sway in a 50-50 Senate where Democrats need unanimity to prevail, Manchin has continued his drive to force his party to cut the bill's cost and eliminate programs he opposes. All Republicans oppose the package, arguing the measure carrying many of Bidens paramount domestic priorities is too expensive and would worsen inflation. The best Christmas gift Washington could give working families would be putting this bad bill on ice," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. McConnell and Manchin met in the GOP leader's office, as they often do, a very public reminder of the West Virginia senator's conservative leanings and Democrats' slim hold on the majority. We do appreciate the fact that he seems to be one of the few remaining centrists left in the Democratic Party, McConnell said. A person who was unauthorized to discuss the rocky status of the Biden-Manchin talks and spoke only on condition of anonymity said Wednesday that Manchin was pushing to eliminate the bill's renewal of expanded benefits under the child tax credit, a keystone of Democratic efforts to reduce child poverty. As he exited a Democratic senators' closed-door lunch, Manchin was mum on his next move, telling reporters he had nothing to share. Earlier Wednesday, Manchin said assertions he wants to strip the child tax credit improvements were a lot of bad rumors. Democrats were livid over the possibility of eliminating one of the bills most significant achievements the continuation of enhanced child tax credits that have been sending monthly checks to millions of families during the COVID-19 crisis and will expire next year without further action. Letting the social and environment legislation slip into next year, when congressional elections will be held, would be ominous for the bill's ultimate prospects. With Democrats having blown past previous self-imposed deadlines on the push, another delay would fuel Republican accusations that they are incompetently running a government they control. Democrats are bracing for November elections when the GOP has a real chance of winning control of the House and Senate. Word of Manchin's stance prompted a backlash from colleagues, whom he's frustrated for months with constant demands to cut the bill's size and scope. The measure also has money for health care, universal prekindergarten and climate change programs, largely paid for with tax boosts on big corporations and the rich. The second-ranking Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, said the level of emotion among Democrats over the child tax credit is very high, and said he was stunned when he heard about Manchin's demands. Manchin has wanted the overall bill's 10-year price tag to fall below $2 trillion. He also wants all its programs to last the full decade. The current bill would extend the enhanced child tax credit for just one year, a device to contain the bill's cost. Renewing the improved benefits for 10 years would increase its current one-year cost of around $100 billion to over $1 trillion, and doing that while cutting the overall bill's size would wreak havoc on Democrats' other priorities. The Treasury Department says the expanded tax credit has helped the families of 61 million children. Manchins other demands have included removing a new requirement for paid family leave. Disputes among other lawmakers include how to increase federal tax deductions for state and local taxes. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Darlene Superville and Farnoush Amiri 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 Nearly a week after Lee Enterprises rejected Alden Global Capitals attempt to buy the media company, the hedge fund responded Wednesday with a lawsuit accusing Lees board of improperly denying shareholders the chance to have a say on the offer. Lee, the owner of numerous Nebraska newspapers, rejected Aldens offer to buy the company for $24 a share, or roughly $141 million, last Thursday because the companys board decided the offer grossly undervalued the company. But Alden argued in its lawsuit that Davenport, Iowa-based Lee shouldnt have rejected its offer without talking to the hedge fund. Alden also said Lee shouldnt have refused to accept its nomination of three outside directors for technical reasons, so it wants the court to order Lee to accept those nominees. Lees stockholder-unfriendly staggered board has exhibited all of the symptoms of severely entrenched leadership focused more on its own power than whats best for the company, Alden spokesperson Cameron Gurley said. Lee officials didnt immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit Wednesday afternoon. But the company has been steadfast so far in its opposition to Alden. The New York-based hedge fund that owns 6.3% of Lees stock became one of the largest newspaper owners in the nation after swallowing all of Tribunes newspapers earlier this year, but it has also earned a reputation for imposing severe cost cuts and layoffs. Two other hedge funds that are among Lees largest shareholders, Praetorian Capital and Cannell Capital, have said they think the company is worth much more than Alden is offering. I think there is still a tremendous amount of value, said Carlo Cannell, managing director of the Wyoming-based fund. In fact, Cannell estimates Lees stock could be worth $285 a share within five years if the company does everything right as it continues to transition more toward digital instead of print publication. Alden said in its lawsuit that it intended its $24 offer to be preliminary, and it could have been changed if the company had engaged in constructive talks. Lees stock gained another 12% Wednesday to close at $40.53 before the lawsuit was announced. Before Alden made its initial bid, the stock was selling for $18.49. Even before Lee rejected Aldens bid, it adopted a poison-pill plan that would make it more expensive for Alden to buy up Lees shares once it owns more than 10% of the company. At that point, the plan would allow Lees other shareholders to buy shares at a 50% discount or possibly get free shares for every share they already own. Lee owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Buffalo News and dozens of other newspapers including nearly every daily newspaper in Nebraska. Unions that represent journalists at those papers have come out strongly against Alden because theyre worried about what the hedge fund would do. Among its other Nebraska newspapers are the Omaha World-Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, Grand Island Independent, North Platte Telegraph, Kearney Hub and Scottsbluff Star-Herald. Alden has bought up roughly 200 publications across the country in recent years through a series of acquisitions. Besides the Tribune papers, Alden also owns the Denver Post, Orange County Register and Boston Herald. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nearly a week after Lee Enterprises rejected Alden Global Capitals attempt to buy the media company, the hedge fund responded Wednesday with a lawsuit accusing Lees board of improperly denying shareholders the chance to have a say on the offer. Lee, the owner of the Sioux City Journal and daily newspapers across Iowa and Nebraska, rejected Aldens offer to buy the company for $24 a share, or roughly $141 million, last Thursday because the companys board decided the offer grossly undervalued the company. But Alden argued in its lawsuit that Davenport, Iowa-based Lee shouldnt have rejected its offer without talking to the hedge fund. Alden also said Lee shouldnt have refused to accept its nomination of three outside directors for technical reasons, so it wants the court to order Lee to accept those nominees. Lees stockholder-unfriendly staggered board has exhibited all of the symptoms of severely entrenched leadership focused more on its own power than whats best for the company, Alden spokesperson Cameron Gurley said. Lee officials didnt immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit Wednesday afternoon. But the company has been steadfast so far in its opposition to Alden. The New York-based hedge fund that owns 6.3% of Lees stock became one of the largest newspaper owners in the nation after swallowing all of Tribunes newspapers earlier this year, but it has also earned a reputation for imposing severe cost cuts and layoffs. Two other hedge funds that are among Lees largest shareholders, Praetorian Capital and Cannell Capital, have said they think the company is worth much more than Alden is offering. I think there is still a tremendous amount of value, said Carlo Cannell, managing director of the Wyoming-based fund. In fact, Cannell estimates Lees stock could be worth $285 a share within five years if the company does everything right as it continues to transition more toward digital instead of print publication. Alden said in its lawsuit that it intended its $24 offer to be preliminary, and it could have been changed if the company had engaged in constructive talks. Lees stock gained another 12% Wednesday to close at $40.53 before the lawsuit was announced. Before Alden made its initial bid, the stock was selling for $18.49. Even before Lee rejected Aldens bid, it adopted a poison-pill plan that would make it more expensive for Alden to buy up Lees shares once it owns more than 10% of the company. At that point, the plan would allow Lees other shareholders to buy shares at a 50% discount or possibly get free shares for every share they already own. Lee owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Buffalo News and dozens of other newspapers. Unions that represent journalists at those papers have come out strongly against Alden because theyre worried about what the hedge fund would do. Among its other Nebraska newspapers are the Omaha World-Herald, Grand Island Independent, North Platte Telegraph, Kearney Hub and Scottsbluff Star-Herald. Alden has bought up roughly 200 publications across the country in recent years through a series of acquisitions. Besides the Tribune papers, Alden also owns the Denver Post, Orange County Register and Boston Herald. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 John Michael Montgomery, a country music star and four-time Billboard Music Award winner, will headline the 2022 Cattlemen's Ball of Nebraska concert. Montgomery has received two Grammy Award nominations, four Academy of Country Music Awards and three Country Music Association awards. He's sold more than 16 million albums and has had 15 songs reach No. 1. He will perform June 4 at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Weeping Water, and attendees can expect to hear some of Montgomery's top hits, including "Be My Baby Tonight" and "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)." "We're really excited to bring John Michael Montgomery to the 2022 Cattlemen's Ball," Mark Rathe, one of the event hosts, said in a news release. "He's someone every country music fan knows, and his songs are some that everyone can sing to. His performance is going to be a highlight of the weekend for sure." Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at cattlemensball.com. The Cattlemen's Ball of Nebraska is a charity event that raises money for cancer research. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A record 126 people died in 2020 while experiencing homelessness in Oregon's most populous county, officials said Wednesday. None of the deaths in Multnomah County, which includes Portland, were attributed to COVID-19. Instead, methamphetamines were a factor in nearly half of the deaths, which were a record number since officials began tracking homeless deaths a decade ago. Over the course of nine reports, this has done more than simply remind us that weather, violence, trauma and instability that people are exposed to when they dont have safe housing is often fatal, County Chair Deborah Kafoury said while presenting the annual Domicile Unknown report. It also reminds us that behind each death is a name, a family, a set of circumstances and a story. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, there was no vaccine immediately available and the homeless population was among the most vulnerable groups with an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 due to congregate living settings and underlying health conditions. But in what Jennifer Vines, the county's health officer, described as a surprising finding" none of the county's homeless deaths were attributed to the virus. Vines said possible explanations for the number are an increasingly young homeless population as younger adults are less likely to be hospitalized due to the illness and because there were no known COVID-19 outbreaks for people living outside in 2020 and few outbreaks in shelters. Vines said it is possible some COVID-19 deaths were omitted, as any homeless individuals hospitalized for at least 24 hours prior to a natural death were not captured in the report. However, in 62 deaths, methamphetamines were a significant factor. Vines said officials have heard reports that meth is being made stronger, cheaper and more available on our streets. Unlike opioids, theres no treatment that eases meth intoxication or that helps with withdrawal and cravings and no equivalent of naloxone, which reverses an opioid overdose, Vines said. Among last years deaths was Christopher Madson-Yamasaki, who died after overdosing on methamphetamines. The 26-year-olds mother, Hope Yamasaki, emotionally recounted, on Wednesday, her sons struggle to find help. Yamasaki said her son, who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder a chronic condition in which someone experiences symptoms of schizophrenia and disorders such as depression spent years going in and out of programs. I cant even count. We went back and forth to in-patient, Yamasaki said. He was kicked out of rehab because of mental health problems and kicked out of mental health programs because of drugs. But on a February morning in 2020, Yamasaki received a knock on her door. My daughter and I could feel something was very wrong and she begged me not to answer. I had to, Yamasaki said. A police officer stood in front of her. I learned ... my oldest son left this world. He was kicked out of the shelter because he was smoking on the fire escape and acting erratically. He was found in a tent in northwest Portland, not too far from where he went to school. The average age of death among people experiencing homelessness was 46, more than three decades younger than the average life expectancy for someone living in the U.S. In addition, nearly half of those who died last year were found in outdoor public spaces, including sidewalks, parks and homeless encampments. Oregon has a higher rate of people experiencing homelessness than nearly every other state in the country. A 2020 federal review found that 35 people in Oregon are experiencing homelessness per 10,000. Only three states had a higher rate: New York (47 people per 10,000), Hawaii (46 people per 10,000) and California (41 people per 10,000). In Multnomah County, more than 4,000 people experienced homelessness in 2019 half were unsheltered, or sleeping outside. When the county began tracking the number of homeless people who died in 2011 there were 47. The houseless matter," Yamasaki said. "Those who have mental health issues and addiction difficulties matter. Chris mattered. Cline 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. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. More statewide directed health measures could be coming if COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise. "That's something we're discussing right now, and that is a distinct possibility," Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraska's chief medical officer, said Thursday. Anthone said the number of hospitalizations in the state has surpassed 600 over the past few days, and COVID-19 patients are now taking up 14.5% of staffed hospital beds. In the past, the state has set 15% occupancy by COVID-19 patients as a threshold for more interventions. Bans on some elective surgeries "would be one of the policies that are on the table right now," Anthone said. He did not offer any other possible moves. Many of the state's hospitals have already reduced or eliminated many elective surgeries to free up bed space for COVID-19 patients as cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. As of Wednesday night, there were 602 COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide, which is actually down about 5% from Monday. One-third of the hospitalized patients are in intensive care. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Nebraska has risen by more than 50% just in the past two months. Hospitals in Douglas County have seen their COVID-19 patient loads double since late October. Lancaster County has not seen a similar surge, but Anthone said that's largely because Lincoln hospitals are full and can't take additional COVID-19 patients, although numbers this week hit their highest levels of the year. The surge in cases and hospitalizations over the past few months has been caused by the COVID-19 delta variant, but the new omicron variant is likely to displace delta in the near future as the dominant variant, said Dr. Matthew Donahue, the state's acting epidemiologist. Nebraska earlier this month had a cluster of six omicron cases in Southeast Nebraska but has not found any more since. However, Donahue said Thursday that he was just notified of another potential case that was being investigated in one of the state's health districts. He offered no further details, saying they will come from that health district if the case is confirmed. Donahue and Anthone, along with several Omaha-area doctors on Thursday touted the need for more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to get booster shots if they are eligible. Donahue said the state did a simulation that showed vaccinations prevented 1,500-2,000 hospitalizations and around 500 deaths in Nebraska just in the four-week period from Nov. 7-Dec. 4. And those numbers are "probably underestimates," he said. "For the holidays, get a shot to stay out the hospital and get a shot to save a life," he said. Anthone said he believes in Nebraskans to "do the right thing" and get vaccinated, even though Gov. Pete Ricketts and other state officials have said they will not allow mandates at the state level and are opposed to mandates at private businesses. Vaccination may not be enough, though, especially with the prospect of the omicron variant. Dr. Angela Hewitt of Nebraska Medicine said people should be wearing masks and officials should not be allowing large indoor gatherings right now. Hewitt said her hospital is in the process of converting an entire hospital tower to a unit to care for COVID-19 patients and is getting to the point where it might have to start rationing care for both COVID and non-COVID patients. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Attorney General Jeff Landry and a Republican state lawmaker filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to block Gov. John Bel Edwards' plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to Louisianas immunization schedule for schools and colleges. The lawsuit from the GOP attorney general and Bossier City Rep. Raymond Crews came a day after the Democratic governor notified House lawmakers that he's going against their wishes to enact the rule mandating some students get the vaccination for the 2022-23 school year or file paperwork to opt out of the immunization requirement. Landry argues that Edwards' action violates constitutional provisions that give lawmakers the power to enact laws rather than the governor. The attorney general suggests the rulemaking process outlined in state law that allows a governor to override a legislative rejection of a regulatory proposal is unconstitutional. The Louisiana Constitution grants the governor the power only to enforce the law, not to make it, the lawsuit says. Edwards sent a letter Tuesday to the House Health and Welfare Committee, notifying them that he will overrule their 13-2 bipartisan vote against the plan and enact it against their wishes. Crews is a member of that House committee and voted not to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the immunization schedule. The governor's office defended its actions as following the law. Weve not reviewed the attorney generals full filing, but the Louisiana Department of Health is well within its legal authority on adding the COVID vaccine to the immunization schedule, where it will be treated like all other vaccines and parents may choose to opt their children out of it, Edwards spokesperson Christina Stephens said in a statement. Edwards and his public health advisers have repeatedly argued that the vaccine is safe and effective and getting more children vaccinated would help save lives. In his letter to the committee, the governor 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. And he's stressed that Louisiana's law provides broad exemptions to the immunization schedule. 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. 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. Landry, who is considering a run for governor in 2023 when Edwards is term-limited, has repeatedly clashed with Edwards across their two terms, including in several lawsuits. Landry also has successfully challenged some of President Joe Bidens vaccine mandates. Follow Melinda Deslatte on Twitter at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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 Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. BOSTON (AP) Security researchers said Thursday they found two kinds of commercial spyware on the phone of a leading exiled Egyptian dissident, providing new evidence of the depth and diversity of the abusive hacker-for-hire industry. One piece of malware recently found on an iPhone belonging to Ayman Nour, a dissident and 2005 Egyptian presidential candidate who subsequently spent three years in jail, originated with the increasingly embattled NSO Group of Israel. That company was recently blacklisted by Washington. The other was from a company called Cytrox, which also has Israeli ties. This was the first documentation of a hack by Cytrox, a little-known NSO Group rival. The spyware was uncovered by digital sleuths at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, who said two different governments hired the competing mercenaries to hack Nour's phone. Both instances of malware were simultaneously active on the phone, investigators said after examining its logs. The researchers said they traced the Cytrox hack to Egypt but didn't know who was behind the NSO Group infection. The researchers said in a report that the intrusions highlight how hacking civil society transcends any specific mercenary spyware company. In detailing the Cytrox infection, the researchers said they found the phone of a second Egyptian exile, who asked not to be identified, also hacked with Cytrox's Predator malware. But the bigger discovery, in a joint probe with Facebook, was that Cytrox has customers in countries beyond Egypt including Armenia, Greece, Indonesia, Madagascar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia. Facebooks owner, Meta, announced on Thursday a flurry of takedowns of accounts affiliated with seven surveillance-for-hire firms including Cytrox and notified about 50,000 people in more than 100 countries including journalists, dissidents and clergy who may have been targeted by them. It said it deleted about 300 Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to Cytrox, which appears to operate out of North Macedonia. Cytrox's last known CEO, Ivo Malinkovski, could not be located for comment. He scrubbed his LinkedIn page earlier this month to remove mention of his Cytrox affiliation -- though a coffee mug with the company name was in his profile photo. The business intelligence website Crunchbase says Cytrox was founded in a Tel Aviv suburb in 2017. Citizen Lab researcher Bill Marzak said investigators found the malware on Nour's iPhone after it was running hot in June. He said the Cytrox malware appears to pull the same tricks as NSO Group's Pegasus product in particular, turning a smartphone into an eavesdropping device and siphoning out its vital data. One captured module records all sides of a live conversation, he said. Nour said in an interview from Turkey that he was not surprised by the discovery, as he's sure he has been under Egyptian surveillance for years. Nour said he suspected Egyptian military intelligence in the Cytrox hack. An Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman did not respond to calls and texts requesting comment. Cytrox was part of a shadowy alliance of surveillance tech companies known as Intellexa that was formed to compete with NSO Group. Founded in 2019 by a former Israeli military officer and entrepreneur named Tal Dilian, Intellexa includes companies that have run afoul of authorities in various countries for alleged abuses. Four executives of one such firm, Nexa Technologies, were charged in France this year for complicity of torture in Libya while criminal charges were filed against three company executives for complicity of torture and enforced disappearance in Egypt. The company allegedly sold spy tech to Libya in 2007 and to Egypt in 2014. On its website, Intellexa describes itself as EU-based and regulated, with six sites and R&D labs throughout Europe, but lists no address. Its web page is vague about its offerings, although as recently as October it said that in addition to covert mass collection" it provides systems to access target devices and networks via Wi-Fi and wireless networks. Intellexa said its tools are used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies against terrorists and crimes including financial fraud. The Associated Press left messages for Dilian and also tried to reach Intellexa through a form on its website, but received no response. In addition to his involvement in Intellexa, Dilian ran afoul of authorities in Cyprus in 2019 after showing off a spy van there to a Forbes reporter. His company was reportedly fined $1 million as result. He also founded and later sold to NSO Group a company called Circle Technologies, which geolocated cellphones. The hacker-for-hire industry is facing increased scrutiny as well as regulatory and legal pressure. That includes a call by a group of U.S. lawmakers this week to sanction NSO Group, Nexa and their top executives. The Biden administration last month added NSO Group and another Israeli firm, Candiru, to a blacklist that bars U.S. companies from providing them with technology. And Apple announced last month that it was suing NSO Group, with the tech giant calling the company's employees amoral 21st century mercenaries. Facebook sued NSO Group in 2019 for allegedly violating its WhatsApp messenger app. Earlier this month, Israels Defense Ministry said it was tightening oversight over cybersecurity exports to prevent abuse. Citzen Lab researchers, who have been tracking NSO Group exploits since 2015, are skeptical. If NSO Group were to disappear tomorrow, competitors could step in without missing a beat with off-the-shelf replacement spyware, they say. The firms targeted by Facebook in the takedowns announced Thursday included four Israeli companies: Cobwebs, Cognyte, Black Cube, and Bluehawk CI, as well India-based BellTroX and an unknown organization in China. They provide a variety of different kinds of surveillance activity, ranging from simple intelligence collection through fake accounts to wholesale intrusion. Nour urged international action against hacker-for-hire firms, whether it comes from Israel or anywhere else. In the end, the biggest problem is those who use these digital monsters to eat and kill innocent people. That includes nonviolent activists and journalists including Nour's late friend, Jamal Khashoggi. The Saudi journalist was slain in 2018 at his countrys Istanbul consulate and is also believed to have been targeted by phone-surveillance software. Josef Federman and Areej Hazboun in Jerusalem, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, 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 SIOUX CITY -- Lawrence Canady turned to one of his defense attorneys and shared a smile, knowing he wouldn't be spending the rest of his life in prison. Charged with first-degree murder for aiding and abetting in the May 1 shooting death of Martez Harrison outside a Sioux City bar, Canady faced a potential sentence of life in prison without parole, if found guilty. A Woodbury County jury on Thursday found Canady guilty, but of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, a Class C felony carrying a 10-year prison sentence. He also was found guilty of willful injury causing bodily injury and serious assault, which carry sentences of five years and one year, respectively. Canady, 21, of Sioux City, faces a maximum of 16 years in prison if the sentences are ordered to be served consecutively. A sentencing date was not immediately scheduled. "We think the jury gave a just verdict," said Michael Jacobsma, one of Canady's two attorneys. "We argued and felt he was not guilty of any homicide. Obviously, he's relieved that he's not facing a life sentence with no parole." Members of Harrison's family left the courthouse after declining to comment on the verdict. Canady was charged with waiting along with Dwight Evans outside Uncle Dave's Bar, 1427 W. Third St., for Harrison. When Harrison's girlfriend arrived outside the bar to pick him up, Canady punched her in the face, telling her it was revenge for Harrison assaulting a friend's girlfriend. Harrison and Canady began fighting in the street before Harrison fell to the ground. Court documents say that while Harrison was down, Evans fired a shot into Harrison's flank, then fired a second, fatal shot into his chest. Canady continued to punch Harrison in the face and kick him in the head after the second shot before fleeing on foot with Evans. Harrison, 22, of Sioux City, died later at a Sioux City hospital. Police arrested Evans and Canady hours after the shooting. Canady was initially charged with only willful injury and serious assault, but Assistant Woodbury County Attorney Jill Esteves in July added the murder charge after additional investigation into the shooting. Jacobsma, of Orange City, Iowa, filed notice that Canady acted in self-defense and defense of others. Evans, 17, of Sioux City, has pleaded not guilty of first-degree murder, going armed with intent, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 18 in Woodbury County District Court. Canady could face an additional five years in prison from a 2019 case in which he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with a shooting at Riverview Apartments. Canady received a suspended five-year prison sentence and three years' probation in that case. After Canady was charged in Harrison's shooting, prosecutors filed a motion asking a judge to revoke his probation and enforce the five-year prison sentence. That motion is pending. 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. 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. KINGSLEY, Iowa -- As she began the task of cleaning up the broken tree limbs and debris from the damaged roof of a nearby farm implement shop from the yard of her Kingsley home Thursday morning, Kristen Beal laughed about the bizarre weather swing in the past 24 hours. A day earlier, she, like many other Siouxlanders, woke up to mild temperatures that reached into the 60s and 70s in the afternoon. By late afternoon, she and her family were taking shelter in a friend's basement as a strong line of storms stretching across Nebraska and Iowa and packing rain, hail and maybe even tornadoes blew through the area, knocking down trees, damaging homes and leaving hundreds without power for several hours. Beal was bundled up Thursday morning against chilly temperatures in the low 20s. "Just another day living in Iowa," she said, a reference often made about the extreme weather changes often experienced here. When the sun rose Thursday, Beal, like many others, woke up to see what kind of damage the daylight would reveal. "Our trampoline is two blocks over north somewhere," Beal said while taking a break from hauling tree branches to the curb. Strewn about her yard and a vacant lot next door were large pieces of sheet metal and rafters, the remnants of a shop roof from the Titan Machinery Case IH implement dealer across the street. Titan general manager Gary Mohr said the strong winds also blew off the door to a wash bay and possibly caused some structural damage, but it was still too early to tell. Yet, the lights were on and it was business as close to normal as could be. Mohr said the damaged roof was from a shop addition built two years ago. The company's old shop was still open and none of the equipment was damaged. "It won't affect our day-to-day business, just limit the amount of equipment we can bring it at one time," Mohr said. "The biggest thing is nobody got hurt. Nobody was here." That sentiment was echoed by Kingsley Mayor Rick Bohle, who said no injuries had been reported. A firefighter, EMT and storm spotter, Bohle spent much of Wednesday night in the midst of the storm. Initial reports Wednesday painted a grim picture of damage in the Plymouth County town of 1,396. Downed power lines across Iowa Highway 140 blocked the south entrance to town, and the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office was allowing only Kingsley residents into town from the north. But power was restored shortly after 11 a.m. and all roads into town were open by morning. Bohle said at least one house in town had significant roof damage, and several others had some damage. He'd heard reports that outbuildings on farms southeast of town had been destroyed, but again, it appeared everyone had gotten through the storm safely. "I think we're pretty fortunate, really," Bohle said. "When I drove around, I couldn't believe we didn't have more damage." By the time the storm hit Kingsley at about 5:30-5:45 p.m., Beal said she and her family had gathered their dogs and left their home, which doesn't have an underground basement, for the safety of a friend's basement. "There were five adults, seven kids and seven Labradors in the basement," Beal said. After spending the night there, Beal returned home at about 6:15 a.m. The house had a bit of siding damage and tree damage and was covered with insulation that had blown across the street from Titan Machinery. Beal said it was probably too cold to power wash the insulation off the house, and she didn't know how her family would move the heavy pieces of sheet metal from Titan's roof that had come to rest in the yard. Other communities hard hit by Wednesday night's unusual December story also spent the next day cleaning up. In the Cherokee County town of Aurelia, Police Chef Brian Flikeid confirmed a storm-damaged dryer fell off of a local co-op and several railroad cars were blown over as a result of the storm. "Aurelia has sustain property damage and many trees and debris have to be removed," Flikeid said Thursday morning. "We are getting several calls from volunteers asking to help and that's been amazing." In Sutherland, where there was an unconfirmed report of a tornado, a large tree branch caused significant roof damage to commercial property in the O'Brien County town, County Emergency Management Director Jared Johnson said. A machine shed was destroyed southeast of town and a cattle yard building was damaged north of town, Tree branches were reported as down from strong winds in Sutherland, Calumet, Paullina, Primghar, Sheldon, Sanborn and Hartley, Johnson said. "Power outages were noted at different times in Paullina, Calumet and Sutherland," Johnson said Thursday morning. "All have been restored." In Aurelia, power was restored in the city of 968 within two hours Wednesday night, Flikeid said. As people across the region cleaned up, MidAmerican Energy Co. crews also continued to restore power. MidAmerican spokeswoman Tina Hoffman said outages across the company's territory in Iowa peaked at 9 p.m. Wednesday with 63,000 customers without power, 4,600 in the Sioux City area. By 10:30 a.m. Thursday, just 84 Sioux City area customers remained without power, and 11,200 statewide, mostly in Council Bluffs and southwest Iowa. Hoffman said the company had prepared for the storm. "We had advance notice, so we had crews on standby and ready to go," she said. A downed transmission line continued to block all four lanes of U.S. Highway 20 just east of Lawton, and Hoffman said the highway between Lawton and Moville would remain closed until at least Friday afternoon. Hoffman said wind-damaged structures supporting the line must be repaired before the line can be removed from the highway. Traffic will continue to be diverted north through Lawton and onto 150th Street. The line was one of 23 transmission lines affected statewide, Hoffman said, and 99 transmission line structures were damaged. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 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. NEW YORK (AP) A New York appeals court blasted Manhattan prosecutors Wednesday for filling out Harvey Weinsteins rape trial last year with what one judge deemed incredibly prejudicial testimony from women whose allegations werent part of the criminal charges against him a strategy that now has the potential to jeopardize the disgraced movie moguls conviction. Members of a five-judge panel in the states intermediate appeals court appeared incensed with Judge James Burkes decision to allow the witnesses and for another ruling that cleared the way for prosecutors to confront Weinstein with evidence about other misbehavior if he had testified. Several judges on the panel appeared open to considering reversing Weinsteins conviction and ordering a new trial. A decision isnt expected until January. Judge Sallie Manzanet-Daniels was particularly vocal, saying that prosecutors had piled on with incredibly prejudicial testimony from additional witnesses and that socking away details about Weinsteins behavior in some cases boorish but not sexual amounted to overkill. Lets inflame the jurys heart by telling them that he beat up his brother during a meeting. I just I dont see how there is a balance there on that, Manzanet-Daniels said, challenging a lawyer from the Manhattan district attorneys office who implored the judges to uphold Weinsteins conviction. Weinstein, 69, was convicted in February 2020 of a criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013. He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault stemming from actor Annabella Sciorras allegations of a mid-1990s rape. The verdict was a landmark in the #MeToo movement that was spawned by women coming forward with allegations against Weinstein. He maintains his innocence and contends that any sexual activity was consensual. Burke, the Manhattan judge who presided over Weinsteins trial, allowed prosecutors to bolster their case with testimony from three women who alleged Weinstein also violated them but whose claims did not lead to charges in the New York case. Rules on calling witnesses to testify about so-called prior bad acts vary by state and was an issue in Bill Cosbys successful appeal of his sexual assault conviction in Pennsylvania. New Yorks rules, shaped by a landmark decision in a 1901 poisoning case, are among the more restrictive. Weinsteins lawyers argued that extra testimony went beyond whats normally allowed detailing motive, opportunity, intent or a common scheme or plan and essentially put the ex-studio boss on trial for crimes he wasnt charged with and hadnt had an opportunity to defend himself against. Burkes ruling allowing prosecutors to use horror stories from Weinsteins past to attack his credibility worked to prevent him from taking the witness stand, Weinstein lawyer Barry Kamins told the appellate panel. The jury was overwhelmed by such prejudicial, bad evidence, Kamins argued. This was a trial of Harvey Weinsteins character. The people were making him out to be a bad person. Kamins also challenged Burkes refusal to remove a juror who had written a novel involving predatory older men, as well as his decision to allow prosecutors to have an expert on victim behavior and rape myths testify while rejecting testimony on similar subjects from defense experts. Weinstein, sentenced to 23 years in state prison in New York, did not attend Wednesdays arguments. He was extradited to California earlier this year and is jailed there while awaiting trial on charges he assaulted five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2013. Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak 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) At least five people died as a powerful and extremely unusual storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest amid unseasonably warm temperatures, spawning hurricane-force winds and possible tornadoes in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. In southeastern Minnesota, Olmsted County Sheriffs Lt. Lee Rossman said a 65-year-old man was killed Wednesday night when a 40-foot tree blew onto him outside his home. In southwestern Kansas, blinding dust kicked up by the storms Wednesday led to two separate crashes that killed three people, Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Mike Racy said. And in eastern Iowa, a semitrailer was struck by high winds and rolled onto its side Wednesday evening, killing the driver, the Iowa State Patrol confirmed. The storm shifted north of the Great Lakes into Canada on Thursday, with high winds, snow and hazardous conditions continuing in the upper Great Lakes region, the National Weather Service said. More than 190,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity Thursday afternoon in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kansas, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. At least two tornadoes were confirmed in southern Minnesota on Wednesday, the states first twisters on record in December. The small community of Hartland, Minnesota, might have been the hardest hit, with a reported 35 to 40 homes sustaining minor damage and a few businesses severely damaged, Freeborn County Emergency Management Director Rich Hall said. Winds reached at least 110 mph in Hartland, the National Weather Service said. Losses also included livestock. Dozens of cows were electrocuted at a dairy farm after a power pole landed on a milking barn in Newaygo County, in western Michigan. Tim Butler said his workers at the dairy survived the event, but at least 70 cows died. Dozens survived, but many were "hurt bad, Butler said. The destructive weather system developed amid unprecedented warmth for December in the Plains and northern states. That included temperatures that rose to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) across southwestern Wisconsin on Wednesday evening. The Weather Company historian Chris Burt compared the heat to that of a warm July evening. I can say with some confidence that this event (the heat and tornadoes) is among the most (if not THE most) anomalous weather event ever on record for the Upper Midwest, Burt wrote in a Facebook post. The winds knocked down trees, tree limbs and nearly 150 power lines in northern and western Michigans Lower Peninsula. In the western Michigan village of Fruitport, high winds peeled back a portion of Edgewood Elementary Schools roof, leading officials to close all district schools Thursday. There were more than 20 tornado reports Wednesday in the Plains states, scattered mostly through eastern Nebraska and Iowa, based on preliminary reports to the Storm Prediction Center. The storm system led to the most reports of hurricane-force wind gusts 75 mph (120 kph) or higher on any day in the U.S. since 2004, the center said. 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 governors of Kansas and Iowa declared states of emergency. 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. On Wednesday, there were at least 59 reports of hurricane-force wind gusts regionwide, which exceeded the 53 recorded on Aug. 10, 2020, when a rare derecho wind storm struck Iowa, the Storm Prediction Center said. The destruction on Wednesday, however, was far less severe than from last year's derecho, which caused billions of dollars of damage. The winds also whipped up dust that reduced visibility to zero in parts of Kansas and caused at least four semitrailers to blow over, leading officials to temporarily close much of Interstate 70, as well as all state highways in nine northwestern Kansas counties. Kansas deployed helicopters and other firefighting equipment to help smother at least a dozen wind-fueled wildfires in western and central counties, officials said Thursday. That dust and smoke was carried north by the storm and concentrated over parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, causing a dramatic drop in air quality in those areas late Wednesday. That spawned a glut of calls to already-taxed emergency dispatchers from people reporting the smell of smoke. The system blew into the Plains from Colorado, sending gale-force winds across a swath from New Mexico to Minnesota, Wisconsin and upper Michigan. The weather service recorded a gust of 107 mph (172 kph) Wednesday morning at Lamar, Colorado, and gusts of 100 mph in Russell, Kansas. Scientists say extreme weather events and warmer temperatures are more likely to occur with human-caused climate change. However, scientifically attributing a 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," 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. Stafford reported from Liberty, Missouri. Associated Press writers Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Ken Miller in Oklahoma City; Terry Wallace in Dallas; Seth Borenstein in Washington D.C.; Jim Anderson in Denver and Grant Schulte in Omaha, Nebraska, 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 ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal count alleging he willfully deprived George Floyd of his rights during the May 25, 2020, arrest that led to the Black man's death. He also pleaded guilty to an unrelated but similar count stemming from the use of force against a then-14-year-old boy, who is also Black, in 2017. Here's what the guilty pleas mean for Chauvin, and for the three other officers charged in Floyd's death. WHAT DOES THE PLEA IN FLOYD'S CASE MEAN? Essentially, it means Chauvin has acknowledged for the first time that he violated Floyd's rights. Chauvin admitted he knew what he did to Floyd was wrong and that 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. Floyd's family members said the plea brings a certain accountability, but they also said Chauvin didn't have much of a choice. Hearing him accept accountability was nice. But I didnt feel a thing, said Brandon Williams, Floyds nephew. That guys a monster ... He knew what he was doing. He had nine minutes and 29 seconds to understand what he was doing and stop kneeling. He chose not to. DOES CHAUVIN FACE MORE CRIMINAL CHARGES? No. Once he's sentenced on these federal counts, that will wrap up the criminal cases against him. However, he is in the process of appealing his state convictions. WHAT'S NEXT? U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has ordered a presentence investigation, and must still formally accept the guilty plea. Then Magnuson will sentence Chauvin at a date that's yet to be scheduled. With the guilty plea, Chauvin avoids the possibility of a life sentence. Instead, the defense and prosecutors have agreed to a sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years, with prosecutors saying they will seek 25. With credit for good time in the federal system, he would serve anywhere from 17 years to 21 years and three months behind bars. Chauvin is already in state prison, serving a 22 1/2-year sentence on state murder and manslaughter convictions. In the state system, he would've been released on parole after 15 years. So if Magnuson sticks to the range outlined in the agreement, Chauvin will end up spending more time behind bars overall. The plea agreement says it's expected that the federal and state sentences would be served at the same time not one after the other. WHERE WILL HE GO? The agreement says it's expected that Chauvin will serve his time in the federal prison system, and that means he could go anywhere in the U.S. The judge may recommend a location, but that's not binding, said Ted Sampsell-Jones, a professor at Mitchell-Hamline School of Law. The Bureau of Prisons says it has a system in which it assigns a security level to all institutions, and also assigns a security level and custody level to all inmates. Classifying people is necessary to make sure each person goes to the most appropriate facility, the bureau says. WAS THIS PLEA SMART FOR CHAUVIN? Experts say yes. With this plea, it's expected that Chauvin won't serve a sentence much longer than he's already serving, said Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Moran said that since Chauvin already has the state conviction and would be looking at a possible life sentence on the federal charge, the plea is kind of cutting your losses. Tom Heffelfinger, a former U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, showed good judgment in reaching a plea deal, because the federal case would have been just as strong as the state's. A federal prison is also preferable, Heffelfinger said: You can assume that a state prison is not a safe or hospitable place for him to do such a long sentence." He also said the plea deal is good for the Floyd family because it gives them some justice. COULD HE BE FORCED TO TESTIFY? Moran said that's an open question. The plea agreement doesn't require Chauvin's testimony in the upcoming trial of three other former officers involved in Floyd's arrest. Chauvin gave up his right against self-incrimination by pleading guilty in the federal case, but he hasnt done so in the state murder case and a pending appeal there could provide grounds for him to resist testifying in detail at the federal trial of the other former officers, Moran said. Heffelfinger said Chauvin also technically hasn't given up his Fifth Amendment right in the federal case either because Magnuson could still reject the plea. Heffelfinger said it's rare for a judge to do that, but he has seen it happen. IS THERE POTENTIAL CIVIL LIABILITY? Yes. While Floyd's family and the city of Minneapolis have already reached a $27 million settlement in Floyd's death, the teen who was injured when Chauvin arrested him in 2017 intends to sue Chauvin, the city, police Chief Medaria Arradondo and possibly others, said Bob Bennett, an attorney for the man, who was 14 at the time. Bennett said the plea agreement proves the elements of the case involving the teenager beyond a reasonable doubt and the burden of proving that the boy's civil rights were violated will be lower in a civil case. Bennett said this plea agreement is robust laying out each element of the crime, and requiring Chauvin to admit to all of it. What are they going to say? Bennett said of the city, noting that Chauvin wasn't disciplined after the 2017 incident and was kept on the street. He just admitted to a civil rights violation from soup to nuts. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THREE FORMER COPS? The other three former officers involved in Floyd's arrest Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao face a federal trial alleging they violated Floyd's rights in January, and a state trial in March on charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter. There's nothing in the public record that suggests Chauvin's guilty plea will delay their trials. The three men had wanted their federal trial to be separated from Chauvin's which happened with Chauvin's plea. They just dont want the shadow of Derek Chauvin's guilt looming over them, Moran said. It still will in a way, but not having him there might be helpful to the other three. Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd 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 Food and Drug Administration on Thursday permanently loosened some restrictions on abortion pills, including a long-standing requirement that the medication be picked up in person. Officials said a scientific review supported broadening access and allowing more pharmacies including mail-order services to distribute the medication. But prescribing will still be limited to doctors who complete special certification. Additionally, the agency said dispensing pharmacies will have to be registered with the FDA. The decision is the latest shift in the polarized legal battle over medication abortion, which has only intensified amid the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is certain to spur legal challenges and more restrictions in Republican-led states. Earlier this year the FDA stopped enforcing the in-person dispending requirement because of the pandemic. Under Thursday's decision, the agency will permanently drop the rule, which has long been opposed by medical societies, including the American Medical Association, that say the restrictions offer no clear benefit to patients. The FDA's latest scientific review stems from a 2017 lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued that the agency's restrictions block or delay medical care, especially for people in low-income and rural communities. Physicians who prescribe the drug, mifepristone, will have to certify that they can provide emergency care to deal with its potential side effects, including excessive bleeding, FDA officials said Thursday. The change still means many more doctors will be able to prescribe the drug and most Americans will be able to fill orders at thousands of pharmacies, including via online and mail-order services. The effect will vary by state. More than a dozen Republican-led states have passed measures that limit access to the pills, including outlawing delivery by mail. The latest policy shift comes as advocates on both sides of the abortion debate wait to see whether the conservative Supreme Court will weaken or even overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that guarantees the right to abortion nationwide. Roe's demise would likely prompt at least 20 Republican-governed states to impose sweeping bans while perhaps 15 states governed by Democrats would reaffirm support for abortion access. More complicated would be politically divided states where fights over abortion laws could be ferocious. Medication abortion has been available in the United States since 2000, when the FDA first approved mifepristone to terminate pregnancies up to 10 weeks. Taken with a hormone blocker called misoprostol, it constitutes the so-called abortion pill. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. 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 BRUSSELS (AP) European Union leaders on Thursday pressed Russia to return to peace talks with Ukraine and renewed their threat to impose unprecedented sanctions on Moscow in tandem with the United States and Britain should Russian armed forces cross the border. The EUs call for a return to the negotiating table came as Russia said it had submitted draft documents to the United States outlining security arrangements that it wants to negotiate with Washington and its allies in the NATO military alliance. NATO is suggesting it might be willing to discuss them. U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has moved 70,000 troops and is preparing for a possible invasion early next year. Moscow denies it has any plans to attack, as it did in 2014 when it annexed the Crimean Peninsula, but says it wants guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO. In a statement in Brussels, the EU leaders underlined the urgent need for Russia to de-escalate tensions caused by the military buildup along its border with Ukraine and aggressive rhetoric. They pledged their full support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. They said the EU encourages diplomatic efforts and supports the Normandy format in achieving the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements, in reference to French and German brokered talks between the two sides aimed at enforcing a 2015 peace deal. The leaders repeated a message sent from the U.S., Britain and the Group of Seven industrial nations in recent weeks that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe cost in response, including restrictive measures coordinated with partners. The EU is divided over when to hit Moscow with sanctions. France, Germany and Italy want to hold fire, expressing concern that such action could bring on an attack and believing that a diplomatic solution can be found. Countries on the EUs eastern flank closer to Russia believe sanctions would work best as a deterrent and should be imposed immediately. Ukraines president wants more sanctions to be imposed before instead of after any possible incursion, but his plea has fallen on deaf ears. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, whose country borders Russia, said the EU should not underestimate the threat the troop buildup poses. He warned that Moscows actions are creating one of the worst security situations since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Im talking not only about Ukraine, Nauseda said, stressing that the entire Baltic region and Poland should be concerned. France and Germanys peace efforts in 2015 helped end large-scale hostilities in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russia-backed separatists since 2014. But the conflict, which has left 14,000 dead, has simmered. EU lawmakers said in a resolution that any new sanctions package should include the Russian officer corps and flag officers involved in the planning of a possible invasion, as well as the immediate circle and oligarchs in the orbit of the Russian President and their families. They said it should involve the freezing of financial and physical assets in the EU, travel bans, the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT payment system for international financial transfers, target key economic sectors and disrupt the financing of the intelligence services and the armed forces. The lawmakers have no decision-making powers on sanctions, but their experts often have detailed knowledge of what member countries are thinking on joint foreign policy initiatives. Meanwhile, the Kremlin again prodded Western leaders to provide legally binding guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO or that its members weapons would ever be deployed there, calling such moves a red line for Moscow. The U.S. and its allies have refused to make such a pledge, but Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed last week on further talks to discuss Russian concerns. Associated Press writers Frank Jordans in Berlin and Vladimir Isachenkov 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 PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A state judge on Thursday denied a bid to resume construction on a $1 billion hydropower transmission line in western Maine, rejecting a preliminary injunction sought by utility companies. The developer of the New England Clean Energy Connect contended that the project was properly permitted and that a referendum vote rejecting the project last month was unconstitutional. The lawsuit filed by the utilities will continue, but the judge declined to intervene to let construction resume and to prevent the new law the referendum created from going into effect on Sunday. This is a big win for Maine people who voted overwhelmingly to terminate the CMP corridor," said Pete Didisheim, advocacy director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which opposed the corridor. Judge Michael Duddy said that the continued delay in construction while the constitutional issue is litigated doesn't constitute irreparable harm. The public interest in participatory democracy is paramount and would be adversely affected by blocking the initiative, he wrote. The judge said he expected the state Supreme Court to have the final say. The New England Clean Energy Connect, backed by Central Maine Power's parent company and Hydro Quebec, contends it will ultimately prevail and that the law will be found to be unconstitutional. The facts are clear: the NECEC project is good for Maine and for the region and will help address the energy, economic and climate issues we face. That is why we remain committed to this project, the statement said. NECEC had suspended construction of the project, which aims to bring up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid, after a request to do so by the governor. Maines environmental commissioner later suspended a permit for the project, and the suspension remains intact with the judges ruling. Critics said the project is damaging the woods and changing the character of a part of western Maine with little if any benefit for its residents. Supporters of the project, which is funded by Massachusetts ratepayers, say big solutions are needed to remove carbon from the environment, address climate change and provide needed generation capacity after the decommissioning of several power plant in recent years. Just this month, operators of the regional power grid said the region needs to reduce its dependence on natural gas and to diversify the energy mix as it warned of the potential for rolling blackouts if theres an extended cold snap this winter. The 145-mile (233-kilometer) transmission line would mostly follow existing utility corridors. But a new section needs to be cut through 53 miles (85 kilometers) of woods to reach the Canadian border. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection previously gave the project its approval along with the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, Maine Public Utilities Commission and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But that was before state voters delivered a rebuke to the project at the election booth in November. Also, a state judge has called into question a lease for a 1-mile stretch of the corridor over state land. 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 HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) The Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted Thursday in favor of new preliminary district maps over sharp objections from the House's Republican leader, as a large increase in the state's minority population helped shape big changes. The maps also reflect general population changes in the past decade, which have favored Democratic-leaning areas in the southeast, cities and suburbs, as more conservative areas in northern and western Pennsylvania lost population or grew more slowly. The panel voted 5-0 for the Senate plan and 3-2 for the House plan, with both Republicans opposed to it. The maps of 203 House seats and 50 Senate seats could have a dramatic effect on entrenched Republican majorities in the state Legislature. Republicans effectively drew the existing district maps in the presidential battleground state where Democrats hold a registration edge of 4 million to the GOP's 3.4 million. Drawing a new map is a pivotal moment in the once-in-a-decade redistricting process, required by the state constitution to account for population shifts in the 2020 Census. Its design will reverberate politically for years to come. The vote triggers a 30-day period of public comment and objections. The commission must then produce a final map, after which legal challenges can go to the state Supreme Court. At the commission meeting, the chairman, Mark Nordenberg, the former University of Pittsburgh chancellor who was chosen as chairman by the Democratic-majority state Supreme Court, said both of the new maps still lean Republican. He attributed that to so many registered Democrats living in a tight cluster in southeastern Pennsylvania, and a Republican political advantage embedded in maps over time. But, he said, it is politically impossible to start with a new map when the commission's other four members are partisan caucus leaders in each chamber. Nordenberg said it is an intuitive democratic ideal that attracting about 50% of the popular vote also ought to mean winning about 50% of the contested seats. The maps create eight districts seven in the House, one in the Senate, Nordenberg said that don't have any incumbent and which have heavy concentrations of racial minorities. That should create the opportunity for racial minorities to get elected, he said. There is no incumbent advantage that will have to be overcome in any of these districts, which should give minority communities residing in them a special opportunity, he said. That will mean splitting a number of cities, including Allentown, in the Senate. Meanwhile, new districts are being created in Philadelphia, Montgomery County and the city of Lancaster, all areas that favor Democrats. House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, said the maps reflect both geographic shifts and that the number of Black, Hispanic, Asian and multiracial people in the state grew by more than 800,000 in the past decade, while the white population dropped by about 540,000. This preliminary House map is representative of the commonwealth as it is today and allows for equal participation in the electoral process," McClinton said, saying it substantially corrects decades of gerrymandering. House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, disagreed, describing it as a partisan gerrymander and signaled a possible court challenge. Radical change is a problem, when the radical change is rationalized by politics, Benninghoff said, calling the map a danger to our system of government. House Republicans said the preliminary map would pit incumbent Republicans against each other in at least six districts, but just one intraparty matchup for Democrats. Meanwhile, four districts that would pit incumbent Democrats and Republicans against each other had substantially more registered Democratic voters, the House GOP said. Nordenberg said population changes will inevitably affect incumbents, "though that was not our goal, he said. Republicans currently hold a 113-90 House majority and a 29-21 Senate majority. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave the House map a C for partisan fairness, but an F for competitiveness, meaning few swing seats, and projected about 102 Democratic-leaning seats. A House majority requires 102 seats. The Senate map got an A for partisan fairness from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, but a C for competitiveness. It projected a split chamber. The preliminary Senate map aims at what Democrats saw as the most extreme gerrymanders created by Republicans in the existing map that helped defeat Democratic incumbents in Johnstown and Harrisburg. It would remove heavily Republican areas added to those districts, taking Bedford County out of the Johnstown-based district and Perry County out of the Harrisburg-based district. Both seats are currently held by Republicans. Meanwhile, the map would put growing Monroe County into its own district, instead of being split in what Democrats saw as a Republican attempt to carve out a favorable new district on the existing map. It also would unite Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in one district, and leaving Wilkes-Barre's current senator, Democrat-turned-independent John Yudichak, in a district with Republican Lisa Baker. Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, backed the preliminary Senate map, but said she expected corrections before it becomes final. She voted for it to move the process along, since 2022 primary election deadlines are approaching, she said. The existing Republican-drawn maps have been in force since 2014s elections. During that time, Republicans have held majorities in both chambers including some of the biggest majorities in a half-century while Democrats won more statewide races, 19 to 11. 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 RALEIGH. N.C. (AP) A prominent U.S. Senate candidate in North Carolina withdrew from next year's race for the Democratic nomination on Thursday and threw his support to the state's former chief justice, who's had the advantage in fundraising and endorsements. State Sen. Jeff Jackson of Charlotte, who announced his candidacy nearly a year ago and had built a loyal following, said in a video released on social media that voters now needed to back primary rival Cheri Beasley so Democrats can win the seat next November. Jackson's decision appears to put Beasley in the driver's seat for the nomination. A costly and divisive primary will sink this whole thing, Jackson said. We need to unite right now, and we need to unite behind Cheri. Jackson, an Afghan war veteran, National Guard soldier and former local prosecutor with a young family, had run a very active campaign, holding town hall meetings in all of North Carolina's 100 counties and on over a dozen college campuses. But Jackson acknowledged in the video that Beasley was consistently leading him in the polls. She had also won big endorsements from Democratic-allied constituencies like Planned Parenthood PAC, Emily's List and the AFL-CIO. North Carolina's currently longest-serving U.S. House Democrats Reps. G.K. Butterfield and David Price had last week endorsed Beasley, who was the state's first Black woman to serve as chief justice and would be the first Black senator elected from North Carolina. Jackson pointed to the Republican gains in Virginia elections last month and what's becoming a divisive GOP Senate primary as evidence that unity among Democrats was needed to pull off a victory in the closely divided state. The election to succeed the retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr could tip the current 50-50 balance in the Senate. We can win this election in November, and we can do it by electing someone who will make history and someone who sees the job as public service and not just a big partisan game, Jackson said while endorsing Beasley as the presumptive nominee. At least two former Democratic Senate hopefuls former state Sen. Erica Smith and virologist Richard Watkins left the field last month and are now running for U.S. House instead. Beaufort Mayor Rett Newton and Constance "Lov" Johnson of Charlotte filed their candidacy papers for the Democratic nomination with state election officials last week before the state Supreme Court delayed the March 8 primary until May 17 while judges rule in redistricting litigation. Beasley, who got into the race in April, has been the top fundraiser among all candidates for Burrs seat during the past two quarters. Beasleys campaign had nearly $1.7 million in the bank entering October, while Jackson had almost $1.2 million. In addition to fundraising pressures, an additional 10 weeks of primary campaigning also could have induced Jackson into going negative against Beasley, said Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer. I was surprised at the (announcement's) timing, but I think the inevitable writing on the wall really, probably pushed him to a point that he had to make a decision, Bitzer said in an interview. Getting out now could help Jackson, 39, build party goodwill in the years ahead with a future run for statewide office, Bitzer said. The seat of North Carolina's other senator Republican Sen. Thom Tillis isn't up for reelection until 2026. Jackson alerted key supporters and donors of his decision Wednesday, according to several Democrats. Beasley was ready Thursday with her own news release thanking Jackson for the endorsement. Sen. Jackson brought attention to the issues important to so many North Carolinians, and I know he will continue to do meaningful work in the state Senate, she said. Jackson and Beasley on Thursday taped a joint appearance for a political affairs show on cable's Spectrum News 1 North Carolina. The Republican primary for Burr's seat has intensified in recent weeks, as former North Carolina Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and ex-Rep. Mark Walker have pushed for U.S. Rep. Ted Budd to agree to a debate schedule. Budd, who has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, has benefitted from support from Washington-based Club for Growth Action. The political action committee has sent a 12-page full-color mailer and aired television ads attacking McCrory in order to help Budd. Republican National Committee spokesperson Alex Nolley said in a news release that Jackson got out of the race because he saw the writing on the wall and knows Democrats will face defeat in 2022 due to their self-made inflation, immigration and Afghanistan crises. 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 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Kim Potter s police chief at the time she shot and killed Daunte Wright testified in her defense at her manslaughter trial on Thursday, calling her a fine officer and saying he saw no violation of policy in her actions at the scene. Tim Gannon resigned two days after the April 11 shooting, saying he believed he had to quit because I would not immediately fire Kim Potter. Potter resigned the same day. Potter, 49, is charged with manslaughter in Wrights death. She was expected to testify Friday. During an April 11 traffic stop in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, the 20-year-old Black motorist pulled away from officers as they were trying to arrest him and got back into his car before Potter shot him. Body-camera video captured Potter, who is white, shouting Ill tase you! and Taser, Taser, Taser! before she fired once. Under questioning from Potter attorney Earl Gray, Gannon testified that he viewed body-camera video immediately after the shooting and dashcam video recently, and when he had all the data in front of me, I saw no violation." Violation of what? Gray asked. Of policy, procedure or law, said Gannon, who also testified that he and Potter are friends. On cross-examination, prosecutor Matthew Frank asked Gannon whether it was consistent with policy for an officer to not know they have their firearm in their hand when they shoot it. Potters attorneys have argued that she would have been within her rights to use deadly force even if she had intended to do so because a fellow officer was endangered by Wrights attempt to flee. Gannon testified that it appeared to him from dashcam video that Sgt. Mychal Johnson, who was assisting in the stop, was leaning into Wrights car. He said it was his opinion that deadly force was reasonable. Gannon recalled his own experience in a situation where he was dragged by a car. He said he felt sheer terror and a feeling of simply trying to survive. Before resting their case, prosecutors called police witnesses to build their argument that Potter was an experienced officer who had been thoroughly trained in use of a Taser, including warnings about the danger of confusing one with a handgun. They have to prove recklessness or culpable negligence if they are to win a conviction on the manslaughter charges. The death of Wright set off angry demonstrations for several days in Brooklyn Center. It happened as another white officer, Derek Chauvin, was standing trial in nearby Minneapolis for the killing of George Floyd. Gannon said Potter was known for handling calls, acting professionally and writing good police reports. He testified that she volunteered with a group that helped families when officers were killed in the line of duty. She also worked with domestic abuse victims and was a field training officer. Earlier Thursday, the defense opened its case by calling to the stand use-of-force expert Stephen Ijames, a former assistant police chief in Springfield, Missouri. Ijames testified that officers were legally bound to arrest Wright after discovering he had a warrant for an outstanding weapons violation. Ijames, who said he wrote the Taser policy for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, also testified that it was very unlikely Wright could have driven away had Potter actually used her Taser. That contradicted a prosecution use-of-force expert who testified earlier that using either a gun or a Taser on Wright would have made things worse because he could have been incapacitated and his vehicle could have become a weapon. After Potter shot Wright, his car took off and crashed seconds later into an oncoming vehicle, hurting his passenger and someone in the other car. Ijames said a Taser is the most effective tool to incapacitate someone when used properly, second only to a gunshot to the head. He also said officers had to assume that Wright very likely could have a gun because he had one in the past, and that it would have been a dereliction of duty for them not to have tried to arrest him. But Ijames said deadly force is warranted if an officer is halfway inside a vehicle that is about to be put into drive. In Wrights case, two other officers were trying to get him out of the car when Potter shot him. He later agreed under questioning by the state that deadly force would not have been reasonable if an officer in Potters position didn't know that another officer couldn't get out of the car. The defense also called several character witnesses for Potter who described her as a peaceful person. Former Brooklyn Center Officer Colleen Fricke told the jury about her time working alongside Potter, saying she saw her as a mentor and friend. Fricke was asked to watch over Potter after the shooting. I saw her curled up in the corner of the room" by herself and crying, Fricke said. After Fricke testified that Potter was law-abiding, prosecutor Joshua Larson said: In terms of following the law, though, generally speaking, youd agree that following the law on one day does not absolve you from accountability the next day. The defense objected, stopping that line of questioning. The case is being heard by a mostly white jury. Associated Press writers Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, and Doug Glass in Minneapolis contributed to this report. Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 OMAHA, Neb. (AP) A powerful storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest Wednesday, closing highways in western Kansas, spawning numerous tornado warnings in Nebraska 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 issued tornado warnings for several eastern Nebraska and northeast Kansas/northwest Missouri counties Wednesday afternoon. Ryan Pfannkuch, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Hastings, said unconfirmed tornadoes were reported south of Hastings and near Aurora. 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. 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 MADISON, Wis. (AP) A state appeals court on Thursday refused to reinstate a permit for a proposed $75 million frac sand operation in western Wisconsin, a victory for environmentalists who have been fighting for years to protect the 16 acres (6.5 hectares) of pristine wetlands. Atlanta-based Meteor Timber has been working since 2016 to gain permission to build a frac sand plant and rail loading facility on a property that includes a hardwood swamp with rare white pine and red maples. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, under then-Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, granted the company a permit to fill the wetland in 2017. Records showed that staff felt pressured by department administrators to approve the permit despite concerns over a lack of information on how the company would mitigate the wetland loss. To make up for filling those wetlands, the company pledged to restore more than 630 acres (255 hectares) of other land, including wetlands, near the site. The Ho-Chunk Nation, Midwest Environmental Advocates and Clean Wisconsin challenged the permit and an administrative law judge revoked it in 2018, finding the DNR lacked enough information to grant it. The judge ruled that the DNR did not have a detailed description of the total number of acres that would be converted to industrial use, information on chemicals that would be introduced in the environment, an invasive species control plan, a detailed vegetation survey and an adequate mitigation plan to make up for the swamps destruction. Current DNR Secretary Preston Cole, appointed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, refused to reconsider the permit application. Meteor Timber sued in May 2019. The company argued that the site, located on the Union Pacific rail line, was the only viable option to deliver its product to Texas oil producers. A Monroe County judge in 2020 upheld the administrative law judge's decision, ruling that the DNR violated the law when it granted the permit. Wisconsin's 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday upheld that ruling, saying the original decision that the DNR broke the law in issuing the permit was supported by the facts and a correct reading of the law. Meteor Timber, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Timberland Investment Resources, has nearly 50,000 acres (20,234 hectares) in forest holdings in Wisconsin. The company and its attorney did not immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday. Clean Wisconsin attorney Evan Feinauer praised the ruling as an enormous victory. This case was a perfect example of trying to destroy something that we need, this untouched pristine wetland, to facilitate fossil fuel infrastructure that we dont need and thats making our climate problems even worse, Feinauer said in a statement. Frac sand is a type of sand used in hydraulic fracturing, a technique used by the energy industry to extract oil and gas from rock by injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals. The story has been updated to correct that the permit was initially issued in 2017, not 2018. 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 BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Local authorities in western Serbia on Thursday suspended a plan that would allow mining giant Rio Tinto to operate a lithium mine, following protests by environmentalists that shook the countrys populist leadership. A week after the father's initial report, investigators interviewed the girl, who told them Canales first began inappropriately touching her when she was about 7 years old, according to the affidavit for his arrest. The girl told investigators that Canales began having intercourse with her when she was about 11. She said Canales had intercourse with her "almost every day" while she was in middle school, according to the affidavit, and alleges the instances happened between January 2014 and December 2019. Canales has been accused of sexual assault by three other girls, including a 5-year-old, a 16-year-old and a 6-year-old, according to the affidavit. Some politicians and government officials cant let a crisis go to waste. In the matter of the tornadoes that devastated parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri, restraint was called for, but went unanswered. Asked about the cause of such devastation, President Biden said, We all know everything is more intense when the climate is warming. He later walked back the comment to a wait and see position. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell also blamed climate change, saying such disasters will be the "new normal" from now on. Neither the president, nor Criswell are meteorologists, but Chris Martz is. On Climatedepot.com, he writes that there has been no overall trend in U.S. tornado activity since 1954. He cites the National Weather Services (NWS) EF scale, which is used to measure the power of storms. That scale shows tornado intensity is down 50 percent in nearly seven decades. This tornado was a rare event. Another meteorologist, Paul Dorian, is quoted on climatedepot.com: "Tropical cyclone activity across the Northern Hemisphere has been below-normal in 2021 in much the same way as it was last year. Specifically, while the Atlantic Basin featured above-normal tropical activity in this year and last, the Pacific Ocean experienced below-normal conditions in both years leading the way to below-normal levels across the hemisphere as a whole. In terms of tornadoes, it has been another below-normal season in the US with no EF-5s recorded." Politics, not unbiased science, appears to be behind much of the faith in climate change. As with COVID-19, experts have regularly contradicted themselves and others when offering their conclusions and advice. A 1974 story in the Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star blamed severe weather on global cooling: "Droughts, floods, blizzards, tornadoes, typhoons, and hurricanes have plagued much of the nation and the world in recent years. 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." Climate analyst Paul Homewood notes: "Provisional data from the NWS indicates that the tornadoes which hit Mayfield, Kentucky and Edwardsville, Illinois were both EF-3s. Although most tornadoes occur in spring and early summer, strong tornadoes are not unheard of in winter. Indeed, on average since 1950 there have been five tornadoes every winter of EF3 and greater strength. And the official data shows that these winter storms are not becoming more frequent. The response to those earlier sky is falling assertions included demands to alter our way of life if the planet was to be saved. More recently we have had ludicrous predictions by nationally known figures (most of them associated with growing government and more state control over our lives) that the planet will cease to exist if we dont follow the advice of politicians and experts about climate change. These apocalyptic predictions about life on earth range from weeks, to months, to a few years. I wouldnt discount higher gas prices being used to force us to give up our cars and take public transportation. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg offers electric cars as alternatives to vehicles fueled by gasoline. He says once families embrace electric cars they will never have to worry about gas prices again. Has he noticed that electric bills usually go up, not down? The major media dont report how wrong experts have been in the past when they once predicted the opposite of what new experts now predict. Could there be a political agenda behind this? Do you have to ask? The focus should be on helping people in need in the states hit by the storm. Leave the politics and questionable science for debate on another day. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noems draft legislation, announced Monday, to restore protection for prayer in schools as the headline of the press release declares is probably more notable for what it doesnt say than for what it proclaims. In fact, if you read the legislation without noticing the headline (Gov. Noem Announces Bill to Restore Protections for Prayer in Schools) that went with it, it might be hard to determine why whats being proposed is even necessary. The legislation argues that teachers and students are best served by a moment of silence at the start of every school day. Therefore, it authorizes schools to have a moment of silence for up to one minute, during which time students and teachers may engage in voluntary prayer, reflection, meditation or other quiet, respectful activity. It adds that no school employee may dictate the action to be taken by students or teachers during the moment of silence. Finally, to make sure the intent is clear (or sufficiently vague), the legislation states that (n)othing in this Act shall be construed to permit schools to conduct the moment of silence as a religious exercise. One might argue, as many have always done, that students are already silently praying in schools, such as before tests. As such, setting aside one minute for this or for quiet contemplation or (this being the 21st century) for students to silently look at their phones or whatever else they may choose to do doesnt exactly tear down the First Amendment wall between church and state. According to the Forum News Service, even the American Civil Liberties Union, a longtime sentinel of the church-state divide, does not see anything particularly objectionable in the legislation, at least at this juncture. The proposal does not mandate prayer, espouse religious instruction or seek to put God in the classroom. It doesnt appear to be a threat to any religious liberties, for it doesnt condone or impose any religious views. In fact, the one thing it DOES make clear is that it isnt designed for that purpose. It just requires schools to give teachers and students one minute of time each day for whatever. advertisement However, theres that headline an introductory pronouncement declaring something that otherwise isnt spelled out so definitely in the text of the legislation. The headline suggests that this proposal will be trumpeted as something far more politically useful in the days ahead. The headline is the most provocative piece in this release, for it attempts to shape your perception of what is to follow, which really isnt all that much. That makes this legislation worth following this winter. If lawmakers decide to attach more to it, to make it more assertive and/or to give it a broader and more specific purpose, it could become a major problem, not to mention a cultural wedge. As it reads now, its an innocuous proposal. Hopefully, it stays that way. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sioux City's evening forecast: Partly cloudy. Low 22F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. It will be a cold day in Sioux City Friday, with temperatures in the 30s. It looks to reach a nippy 39 degrees. Expect a drastic drop in temperatures though, with a low reaching 12 degrees. Partly cloudy skies are in the forecast. The area will see gentle winds tomorrow, with forecast models showing only 13 mph wind conditions coming up from the east. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. Keep an eye on siouxcityjournal.com for forecast information and severe weather updates. According to popular legend, the loosemeat sandwich -- crumbly globs of ground beef served sauceless inside a hamburger bun -- was invented in Sioux City in 1924. The newfangled finger food was such a sensation that inventor Dave Higgins named the sandwich after his Ye Olde Tavern restaurant. And that was where the tavern -- nowadays, a staple at church picnics, school lunches and informal get-togethers -- got its name. Some 97 years later, Chef Clay Lillie is providing his own culinary spin to the ubiquitous tavern at The Shack, a new restaurant at 211 Fourth St. Specifically, Lillie -- a veteran of high-end restaurants like Dagas on Broadway, The Key Club, Clyde's and Bev's on the River -- has created a menu of sliders that were inspired Sioux City's contribution to fast food. In the Sux City Slider, tavern meat co-mingles with a slice of cheddar and a pickle. The Chili Chz sends in the support team of chili, cheese, mustard and sour cheese for a stupendously mess-making sandwich. The Taco Tavern adds some south-of-the-border flair to a traditional loose meat by adding taco meat, cheddar, salsa and sour cream inside of a slider bun. "People know about Miles Inn's Charlie Boy (a peppery tavern) and they know about Tastee In & Out's Tastee (a slightly saltier version)," Lillie explained. "The Shack takes the tavern and gives it a different flavor." Opened in early November in a storefront that was previously home to Schweddy's Hot Dog Shop, The Shack is the brainchild of Lillie, his wife Cherry Lillie, and longtime Sioux City bar owner Mac Dolan. "We wanted to give the Shack a vibe that was different than anywhere else in town," Cherry Lillie said inside the mellow and beachy eatery. The cool vibes begin with a menu filled with a slurry of alcoholic slushes with colorful names like a Panama Red strawberry daiquiri, a Pina Express pina colada, and a Sour Diesel margaritas. The Shack's most popular slushie is the Mango Mac, which is made with mangoes and a healthy dash of a salty, sour and spicy Mexican condiment called chamoy. "The mango gives the drink a nice pop of flavor while the chamoy makes your lips pucker a bit," Cherry Lillie said. "It's a nice combination." To be honest, Cherry and her husband also make for a nice combination. "Clay and I went to high school together but we weren't high school sweethearts by any means," she explained. "We were just friends back then and didn't get together until years later." The two got married in April 2020, which was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "To keep expenses down, I decided to cater the wedding reception myself," Cherry Lillie said. "We served Tacos in a Bag and it was a hit." Perhaps not too surprisingly, The Shack also offers a Taco in a Bag slider -- nacho chips, cheddar, taco meat, lettuce, salsa and sour cream -- on its menu. Non-meat eaters may prefer a Tomato Chz slider, which is an upscale take on a grilled cheese sandwich, served with a roasted tomato and Swiss and cheddar cheese. Also given prominence in The Shack's "munchie killin'" menu are Potato Buds -- a variation on tater tots -- that may be topped with chili cheese, taco or tavern ingredients, or the Cheese Nugz -- which are bite-sized nuggets filled with cheese -- that can also benefit from a dousing of chili cheese, taco or tavern meat. "Everything on our menu is designed to get you ready for a night on the town," Lillie said. "Or it can also fill your belly when you've been having too much fun." "Eat a slider, save a life," he added. "Who knows? It can be your own." For Lillie, opening up The Shack is the culmination of a dream. "I've spent my entire career, working for other people and creating menus for other restaurants," he explained. "This is the first time that I've had the chance to make something that truly reflects my own personality." So, what might that be? "I want The Shack to have a friendly, easy-going vibe where you can be mellow but still enjoy yourself," Lillie said. "Personally, I'd love to add more art to the walls and bring in more plants," Cherry Lillie added. "You need plenty of color and plenty of life to keep your imagination going." Ultimately, it all comes down to the food. "We have food that is familiar but with a different twist," Lillie said. "Our menu is accessible but it is still a bit different than other places downtown." Walking into an eatery where you can order a tavern, eat it under an indoor thatched roof and watch the snow fall certainly qualifies as unique. "We do things differently at The Shack," Lillie said with a smile. "I think people are going to like our approach." Love 4 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. Skeptical Science New Research for Week #50, 2021 Posted on 16 December 2021 by Doug Bostrom, Marc Kodack 89 articles in 45 journals by 574 contributing authors Observations of climate change, effects Ubiquity of human-induced changes in climate variability Rodgers et al. Earth System Dynamics Open Access pdf 10.31223/x5gp79 Surface Water Dynamics and Rapid Lake Drainage in the Western Canadian Subarctic (1985-2020) Travers?Smith et al. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 10.1029/2021jg006445 (provisional link) Weakened dust activity over China and Mongolia from 2001 to 2020 associated with climate change and land-use management 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3b79 Global long-term mapping of surface temperature shows intensified intra-city urban heat island extremes Mentaschi et al. Global Environmental Change Open Access 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102441 Changes in MJO Characteristics and Impacts in the Past Century Cui & Li Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-21-0306.1 Attribution of typhoon-induced torrential precipitation in Central Vietnam, October 2020 Luu et al. Climatic Change Open Access pdf 10.1007/s10584-021-03261-3 Identifying the paths and contributions of climate impacts on the variation in land surface albedo over the Arctic Yu & Leng Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 10.1016/j.agrformet.2021.108772 Seasonal shift in storm surges at Brest revealed by extreme value analysis Reinert et al. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 10.1029/2021jc017794 Instrumentation & observational methods of climate change, contributors, effects Suitability of the Coralline Alga Clathromorphum compactum as an Arctic Archive for Past Sea ice Cover Leclerc et al. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology 10.1002/essoar.10507123.1 Reliability of Antarctic air temperature changes from Polar WRF: A comparison with observations and MAR outputs Zhang et al. Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105967 A novel network-based approach to determining measurement representation error for model evaluation of aerosol microphysical properties Asher et al. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 10.1029/2021jd035485 Modeling, simulation & projection of climate change, effects Large-scale emergence of regional changes in year-to-year temperature variability by the end of the 21st century Olonscheck et al. Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-021-27515-x Model assessments and future projections of spring climate extremes in China based on CMIP6 models Ai et al. International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.7492 Delayed recovery of the tropical rain belt Moreno-Chamarro Nature Climate Change Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41558-021-01237-w Understanding past and future sea surface temperature trends in the Baltic Sea Dutheil et al. Climate Dynamics Open Access pdf 10.1007/s00382-021-06084-1 The potential influence of falling ice radiative effects on Central-Pacific El Nino variability under progressive global warming Wang et al. Environmental Research Letters Open Access 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3d56 A Study of AR-, TS-, and MCS-Associated Precipitation and Extreme Precipitation in Present and Warmer Climates Zhao Journal of Climate Open Access pdf 10.1175/jcli-d-21-0145.1 Advancement of climate & climate effects modeling, simulation & projection GCMA Biased estimates of Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity and Transient Climate Response derived from historical CMIP6 simulations Dong et al. Geophysical Research Letters 10.1029/2021gl095778 Understanding differences in North Atlantic poleward ocean heat transport and its variability in global climate models Madonna & Sand Geophysical Research Letters 10.1029/2021gl096683 Impact of Giant Sea Salt Aerosol Particles on Precipitation in Marine Cumuli and Stratocumuli: Lagrangian Cloud Model Simulations Dziekan et al. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 10.1175/jas-d-21-0041.1 Evaluation of Multidimensional Simulations of Summer Air Temperature in China from CMIP5 to CMIP6 by the BCC Models: from Trends to Modes LIU et al. Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2021.12.001 Assessment of regional and global climate models for the investigation of monsoon rainfall variability over the North-West Himalayan Region Kundu et al. International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.7491 Midlatitude Error Growth in Atmospheric GCMs: The Role of Eddy Growth Rate Sheshadri et al. Geophysical Research Letters 10.1029/2021gl096126 Cryosphere & climate change Improving surface melt estimation over the Antarctic Ice Sheet using deep learning: a proof of concept over the Larsen Ice Shelf Hu et al. The Cryosphere Open Access pdf 10.5194/tc-15-5639-2021 On the evolution of an ice shelf melt channel at the base of Filchner Ice Shelf, from observations and viscoelastic modeling Humbert et al. Open Access pdf 10.5194/tc-2021-350 Sea level & climate change Underlying drivers of decade-long fluctuation in the global mean sea-level rise Cha et al. Environmental Research Letters Open Access 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3d58 Paleoclimate Climatic, weather and socio-economic conditions corresponding with the mid-17th century eruption cluster Stoffel et al. Open Access pdf 10.5194/cp-2021-148 Documentary-based climate reconstructions in the Czech Lands 15012020 CE and their European context Brazdil et al. Open Access pdf 10.5194/cp-2021-168 Biology & climate change A constraint on historic growth in global photosynthesis due to increasing CO2 Keenan et al. Nature 10.1038/s41586-021-04096-9 The buffering effect of the Lake Baikal on climate impact on Pinus sylvestris L. radial growth Arzac et al. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 10.1016/j.agrformet.2021.108764 Climate warming and extended droughts drive establishment and growth dynamics in temperate grassland plants Dolezal et al. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 10.1016/j.agrformet.2021.108762 Size-dependent mortality of corals during marine heatwave erodes recovery capacity of a coral reef Speare et al. Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.16000 (provisional link) Wildfire and drying legacies and stream invertebrate assemblages 10.1086/717416 Elevated Temperature May Affect Nectar Microbes, Nectar Sugars, and Bumble Bee Foraging Preference Russell & McFrederick Microbial Ecology Open Access pdf 10.1007/s00248-021-01881-x GHG sources & sinks, flux, related geochemistry Divergent trajectories of ocean warming and acidification Mortenson et al. Environmental Research Letters Open Access 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3d57 Biogeochemical extremes and compound events in the ocean Gruber et al. Nature 10.1038/s41586-021-03981-7 Seasonal to decadal spatiotemporal variations of the global ocean carbon sink Zhang et al. Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.16031 Widespread recent ecosystem state shifts in high-latitude peatlands of northeastern Canada and implications for carbon sequestration Magnan et al. Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.16032 Estimating 20102015 anthropogenic and natural methane emissions in Canada using ECCC surface and GOSAT satellite observations Baray et al. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-2020-1195 (provisional link) Warming and increased respiration have transformed an alpine steppe ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau from a carbon dioxide sink into a source 10.1029/2021JG006406 Nitrous oxide emissions from drying streams and rivers Tonina et al. Geophysical Research Letters 10.1029/2021gl095305 Krill and salp faecal pellets contribute equally to the carbon flux at the Antarctic Peninsula Pauli et al. Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-021-27436-9 Sea-ice derived meltwater stratification slows the biological carbon pump: results from continuous observations von Appen et al. Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-021-26943-z Deep in the Sierra Nevada critical zone: saprock represents a large terrestrial organic carbon stock Moreland et al. Environmental Research Letters Open Access 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3bfe CO2 capture, sequestration science & engineering Assessing the physical potential capacity of direct air capture with integrated supply of low-carbon energy sources Fahr et al. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology 10.1002/ghg.2136 (provisional link) Highly efficient reduction of CO2 by magnesium and calcium hydride producing H2-mixed CH4: Effect of the particle size and the molar ratio of reactant 10.1002/ghg.2132 (provisional link) Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Avoiding runaway CaCO3 precipitation during quick and hydrated lime dissolution Recent advances in carbon dioxide geological storage, experimental procedures, influencing parameters, and future outlook Ali et al. Earth-Science Reviews Open Access 10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103895 Decarbonization Enhancing policy realism in energy system optimization models: Politically feasible decarbonization pathways for the United States Zhu et al. Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112754 The implications of uncertain renewable resource potentials for global wind and solar electricity projections Santos da Silva et al. Environmental Research Letters Open Access 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3c6b Second life and recycling: Energy and environmental sustainability perspectives for high-performance lithium-ion batteries Tao et al. Science Advances Open Access pdf 10.1126/sciadv.abi7633 Rapid rise of decarbonization potentials of photovoltaics plus electric vehicles in residential houses over commercial districts Kobashi et al. Applied Energy Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.118142 Geoengineering climate Potential impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection on drought risk managements over major river basins in Africa Abiodun et al. Climatic Change Open Access 10.1007/s10584-021-03268-w Black carbon Siberian Arctic black carbon: gas flaring and wildfire impact Popovicheva et al. Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-2021-867 Aerosols Long-term multi-dataset direct aerosol radiative forcing and its efficiencies: Intercomparisons and uncertainties Xu et al. Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105964 Impact of reduced emissions on direct and indirect aerosol radiative forcing during COVID19 lockdown in Europe Reifenberg et al. Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-2021-1005 Climate change communications & cognition Computer-assisted classification of contrarian claims about climate change Coan et al. Scientific Reports Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41598-021-01714-4 Acceptance of climate change and climate refugee policy in Australia and New Zealand: The case against political polarisation Stanley et al. Climatic Change 10.1007/s10584-021-03278-8 Agronomy, animal husbundry, food production & climate change Global cooling induced by biophysical effects of bioenergy crop cultivation Wang et al. Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-021-27520-0 Warm winters challenge the cultivation of temperate species in South Americaa spatial analysis of chill accumulation Fernandez et al. Climatic Change Open Access pdf 10.1007/s10584-021-03276-w EUs bioethanol potential from wheat straw and maize stover and the environmental footprint of residue-based bioethanol Holmatov et al. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 10.1007/s11027-021-09984-z Why companies fund climate change projects on national forests: insights into the motivations of the Forest Services corporate partners Collins & Schultz Climatic Change 10.1007/s10584-021-03281-z Farmers Perception and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change in Central Mali Amadou et al. Weather, Climate, and Society 10.1175/wcas-d-21-0003.1 Soil organic carbon storage and contribution of management strategies to the 4 per 1000 target in a wet savanna, Cote dIvoire Kone Regional Environmental Change 10.1007/s10113-021-01861-4 Rainfed crop yield response to climate change in Iran Ghamghami & Beiranvand Regional Environmental Change 10.1007/s10113-021-01856-1 Projecting global mariculture production and adaptation pathways under climate change Oyinlola et al. Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.15991 Occurrence of crop pests and diseases has largely increased in China since 1970 Wang et al. 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Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-021-27328-y Climate change impacts on human health Climate change impacts on human culture Implications of climate change for tourism and outdoor recreation: an Indiana, USA, case study Day et al. Climatic Change Open Access pdf 10.1007/s10584-021-03284-w Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives What do we mean, tipping cascade? Klose et al. Environmental Research Letters AIAA Journal Volume 2A: Turbomachinery Volume 8: Microturbines, Turbochargers, and Small Turbomachines; Steam Turbines Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Conference Proceedings Journal of Thermal Science TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series B Open Access 10.1088/1748-9326/ac3955 The co in co-production of climate action: Challenging boundaries within and between science, policy and practice Howarth et al. Global Environmental Change Open Access 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102445 Articles/Reports from Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations Addressing Aspects of Climate Change "You nibble away at the edges": A qualitative analysis of climate journalism practice in Aotearoa New Zealand (pdf), Aine Kelly-Costello, University of Gothenburg "Anthropogenic climate change is a wicked problem and the nature of the climate discourse propagated through media outlets is one key component in shaping how the public understand and act upon its causes and ramifications. This study draws on journalism practice theory and related approaches to analyse semi-structured interviews from early 2020 with 10 journalists who consistently cover climate change in Aotearoa New Zealand. The analysis finds that the journalists seek to provide accurate, contextualised, holistic stories, to aim for fair and diversified representation, to ensure fresh and regular coverage, maintain an emotional awareness, make coverage interesting and relevant without sacrificing the above principles, and be responsive to audience needs and feedback." LA Barometer, Top 5 Takeaways from The Sustainability & Resilience Survey (pdf), University of Southern California "Each year, the USC Dornsife-Union Bank LABarometer Sustainability and Resilience survey examines how Los Angeles County residents experience and interact with their natural environment in the midst of this climate crisis, with an eye towards tracking environmental sustainability and community resilience. The survey covers a number of topics, including heat and pollution exposure, natural disaster preparedness, environmentally friendly consumption behaviors, transportation behavior, and the steps residents are taking to mitigate and adapt to climate change. As environmental impacts have increased over the last year, so, too, have concerns about climate change. According to our survey, 77% of Angelenos perceive climate change as a threat to their wellbeing and 75% attribute climate change to human behavior, and both percentages are significantly higher than those previously observed." Assessing Physical Climate Risks for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's Power Generation Project Investment Portfolio (pdf), Luo et al., World Resources Institute "The authors introduce a cost-effective yet comprehensive method to quantify physical climate risks for power generation projects at the portfolio level. Co-developed by World Resources Institute (WRI) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the approach is designed to be flexible enough to work with portfolios with different levels of data availability, leverage the latest science in climate and hydrology, and use machine-learning techniques such as recurrent neural networks. The authors test the method on EBRDs thermal power and hydropower generation portfolio, i.e., excluding solar and wind." 20222026 FEMA Strategic Plan Building; the FEMA our Nation Needs and Deserves (pdf), Federal Emergency Management Agency "The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan outlines three goals designed to address key challenges the agency faces during a pivotal moment in the field of emergency management. The goals are (1) Instill equity as a foundation of emergency management; (2) Lead whole of community in climate resilience, and (3) Promote and sustain a ready FEMA and prepared nation." The State of the Worlds Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture Systems at breaking point (pdf), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations "The reports goal is to build awareness of the status of land and water resources, highlighting the risks, and informing on related opportunities and challenges, also underlining the essential contribution of appropriate policies, institutions and investments. Recent assessments, projections and scenarios from the international community show the continued and increasing depletion of land and water resources, loss of biodiversity, associated degradation and pollution, and scarcity in the primary natural resources. The report highlights the major risks and trends related to land and water and presents means of resolving competition among users and generating multiple benefits for people and the environment." Climate Change in the Irish Mind (pdf), Leiserowitz et al., Yale Program on Climate Change Communication "The report is based on a representative survey of 4,000 people in Ireland. Key findings include the following. Most Irish people (76%) say they know at least a moderate amount about climate change. There is almost complete agreement (96%) that climate change is happening and the majority of people (93%) think climate change is caused, at least in part, by human activities (60% say it is mostly human caused and 33% say it is caused equally by human activities and natural changes). A large majority (85%) are worried about climate change, including 37% who describe themselves as very worried." Arctic Report Card 2021 (pdf), Moon et al., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration "The average surface air temperature over the Arctic for this past year (October 2020-September 2021) was the 7th warmest on record. This is the 8th consecutive year since 2014 that surface air temperatures were at least 1C above the long-term average. The Arctic continues to warm more than twice as fast as the rest of the globe.The substantial decline in Arctic sea ice extent since 1979 is one of the most iconic indicators of climate change. Summer 2021 saw the second-lowest amount of older, multi-year ice since 1985, and the post-winter sea ice volume in April 2021 was the lowest since records began in 2010." The 4th National Risk Assessment; Climbing Commercial Closures (pdf), First Street Foundation/ARUP "Flooding is one of the largest national disasters in terms of reach and cost in the United States (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ billions/). While many analyses have focused on flood risk in relation to residential properties, insurance protections, and demographic populations, very little attention has been paid to the impact of flooding on the commercial market. The results of the analysis indicate that there are currently 729,999 retail, office, and multi-unit residential properties at risk of annualized flood damage in the contiguous United States, and the absolute count of buildings at risk will grow by about 8% by the year 2052 as a result of climate change. The structural damage associated with this risk is currently over $13.5 billion annually and expected to grow to $16.9 billion over the same time period (~25.4% increase), with the combined lost days of building operation for all retail and office buildings growing from 3.1 million to 4.0 million lost days of operation over that time period for existing structures (~29.1% increase). On top of the structural damage to the building structures, the economic impacts on local economies is estimated to to grow from $26.8 billion in direct lost output and $23.0 billion in indirect impacts due to downtime days ($49.9 billion total) to $34.0 billion and $29.1 billion ($63.1 billion total), respectively (~26.5% increase over the time period)" State and Trends in Adaptation Report 2021; How Adaptation Can Make Africa Safer, Greener and More Prosperous in a Conference edition Warming World (pdf), Global Center on Adaptation "Worldwide climate change, if unchecked, will push 122 million new people into extreme poverty by 2030, of these in sub-Saharan Africa alone, 43 million new poor people pushed into poverty by climate change, and even if development is rapid and inclusive up to 12 million people in Africa could be pushed into poverty in this time due to climate change alone. The report combines in-depth analyses, case studies, and viewpoints from those on the frontlines of climate change impacts in Africa. It presents a detailed blueprint for action by offering innovative adaptation and resilience ideas, solutions, and policy recommendations. The results are clear and compelling. Adaptation measures can be enormously cost-effective and have the potential to start a positively reinforcing cycle of benefits. As these measures protect people and communities from floods, droughts, and others impacts, they also help lift people out of poverty, reduce hunger and undernourishment, raise incomes and living standards, fight diseases, create jobs, reduce inequality, mitigate the risk of conflicts, and give voice to the most vulnerable. These realizable results, in turn, further increase resilience to climate impacts." A Future on Borrowed Time; An assessment of Upper Colorado River Basin water deficits in a climate change world. Colorado River Shortages & the New Normal of Climate Change (pdf), Utah Rivers Council "Climate change is increasing air temperatures, shrinking snowpacks, and depleting Colorado River flows. Declining Colorado River levels reduce the amount of water each Upper Basin state is allowed to use. Three of the four Upper Basin states are likely already using more water than they are allocated. By overusing water, Upper Basin states open themselves up to having their water use reduced, which threatens their own existing water users." The Cycle of Risk: Impact of Climate Change on Security Challenges in the Caribbean (pdf), Wazim Mowla, Florida International University "Climate change has a disproportionate effect in the Caribbean due to the regions vulnerabilities as a collection of Small Island Developing States. Caribbean smallness and geographic location mean that the effects of climate change occur in three formssudden onset disasters, slow onset events, and the intersection of both. The first form are events, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, flash floods, etc. Slow onset events occur over longer periods and include rising sea levels and temperatures, forest degradation, and ocean acidification. The most destructive form is the third. Slow onset events destroy the natural barriers that protect infrastructure and populations from sudden onset disasters. For instance, rising temperatures and soil erosion limit the natural absorption of rainfall, causing more devastating flooding. In addition, climate change effects an array of areas. It creates water scarcity in the Eastern Caribbean, food insecurity across the region, and presents challenges to energy grids. Also, sudden and slow onset events cause damage to infrastructure and contribute to severe economic contraction." Building Blocks for a Low-Carbon Economy: Catalytic Policy and Infrastructure for Decarbonizing the United States by 2050 (pdf), Saha et al., World Resources Institute "The authors identify key climate policies and investments and estimates their emissions-reduction potential and associated costs which can enable the United States to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 5052 percent compared to 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero GHG emissions by midcentury, the goals set by the Biden administration. Tax credits for existing and new low-carbon technologies, in combination with federal investment in climate-smart infrastructure, significantly improve the adoption of new technologies but are not enough by themselves to enable the country to reach its 2050 goal. Performance standards, such as a clean electricity standard, zero-emissions vehicle standard, low carbon fuel standard, and appliance energy efficiency standards, are necessary to attain economy-wide netzero emissions by 2050, especially in the absence of economy-wide carbon pricing." Obtaining articles without journal subscriptions We know it's frustrating that many articles we cite here are not free to read. One-off paid access fees are generally astronomically priced, suitable for such as "On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" but not as a gamble on unknowns. With a median world income of US$ 9,373, for most of us US$ 42 is significant money to wager on an article's relevance and importance. Here's an excellent collection of tips and techniques for obtaining articles, legally. Unpaywall offers a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox that automatically indicates when an article is freely accessible and provides immediate access without further trouble. Unpaywall is also unscammy, works well, is itself offered free to use. The organizers (a legitimate nonprofit) report about a 50% success rate The weekly New Research catch is checked against the Unpaywall database with accessible items being flagged. Especially for just-published articles this mechansim may fail. If you're interested in an article title and it is not listed here as "open access," be sure to check the link anyway. How is New Research assembled? Most articles appearing here are found via RSS feeds from journal publishers, filtered by search terms to produce raw output for assessment of relevance. Relevant articles are then queried against the Unpaywall database, to identify open access articles and expose useful metadata for articles appearing in the database. The objective of New Research isn't to cast a tinge on scientific results, to color readers' impressions. Hence candidate articles are assessed via two metrics only: Was an article deemed of sufficient merit by a team of journal editors and peer reviewers? The fact of journal RSS output assigns a "yes" to this automatically. Is an article relevant to the topic of anthropogenic climate change? Due to filter overlap with other publication topics of inquiry, of a typical week's 550 or so input articles about 1/4 of RSS output makes the cut. A few journals offer public access to "preprint" versions of articles for which the review process is not yet complete. As it is the journal's decision to do so, we respect that and include such items in New Research. These are flagged as "preprint." The section "Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives" includes some items that are not scientific research per se but fall instead into the category of "perspectives," observations of implications of research findings, areas needing attention, etc. What does " (provisional link) " mean? When the input list for New Research is processed, some articles do not produce a result from the journal databases we employ. Usually this is because the publisher has not yet supplied information to doi.org for the given article. In these cases and in order to still include timely listing of articles, we employ an alternate search tactic. While this method is usually correct, sometimes the link shown will lead to an incorrect destination (available time does not always permit manual checking of these). We invite readers to submit corrections in comments below. Each edition of New Research is reprocessed some two weeks after intitial publication to catch stragglers into the DOI ecosystem. Many "provisional links" will end up being corrected as part of this process. Suggestions Please let us know if you're aware of an article you think may be of interest for Skeptical Science research news, or if we've missed something that may be important. Send your input to Skeptical Science via our contact form. Journals covered A list of journals we cover may be found here. We welcome pointers to omissions, new journals etc. Previous edition The previous edition of Skeptical Science New Research may be found here. Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. Most yearsat least most years before 2020this introductory section at the top of a 10-best list used to be the trickiest part to write. Trying to characterize an arbitrary 12-month period of movie releases as having a specific theme or mood used to feel like an artificial imposition of meaning on what was ultimately a calendar created by industry executives to maximize their products visibility, prestige, and profits. But since COVID-19 came along, first to lock us indoors, then to radically and, it appears, permanently change everything about our social, professional, and personal lives, years no longer seem like anything but moods. Advertisement The shape of 2021 as a cinematic year was not defined by the usual orderly markers: Sundance in the winter, Cannes in the Spring, Toronto in the fall, then awards season swanning in like a starlet on the red carpet. All those festivals took place, albeit some virtually, and the Oscars for last years films were duly handed out, if on a delayed schedule and in a strangely masked and distanced environment. There were box-office blockbusters (No Time to Die, Dune, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) and box-office disappointments (Eternals, The Last Duel, and so far, sadly, the below-listed West Side Story). But what most of the critics and filmgoers I know remember best about this cinematic year is which movie, if any, first brought them back into the theater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For me it was In the Heights, which I saw alone in a near-empty press screening in the heady post-vaccine, predelta variant days of late May. My review probably graded this charming but flawed adaptation of the 2008 Lin-Manuel Miranda musical on a significant curve, because it was such a rush to feel again that enveloping sensation that a theatrically projected movie can create: the establishment of a time and space devoted entirely to seeing, hearing, and responding to whats in front of you, without any competing stimuli or conflicting demands. For the remainder of the year, even after a resurgence of the virus made moviegoing feel much less liberatory, I kept seeking out that rush, going to more trouble than I usually do to pre-screen the films I was reviewing in the theater whenever possible. The list that follows, in alphabetical order, is of the 2021 movies that reminded me over and over again why going to the movies matters. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar I love that, by alphabetical accident, this movie appears first on the list, because it was also one of the first 2021 films I saw, back in the pre-vaccine loneliness of that first COVID winter. Real-life best friends and co-screenwriters Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo star as a pair of nerdy Nebraska spinsters who decide to shake up their lives with a blowout trip to the eponymous Florida resort town. The result is an unapologetically weird celebration of middle-aged female friendship, complete with inflatable bananas, clouds of killer mosquitoes, a benevolent water spirit named Trish, and an all-in performance by a singing and dancing Jamie Dornan that, in a just world, would win him a supporting actor Oscar. Wiigs dual turn as the culotte-sporting Star and the films deliciously malevolent villain seals the deal. Bring on the Barb and Star sequels. The Disciple Chaitanya Tamhanes quietly anguished character study of an aspiring master of Indian classical music (played by the astonishingly gifted Aditya Modak) might be thought of as Inside Llewyn Davis with sitars. There arent many films about an artists obsessive dedication to his work that so precisely and unflinchingly pose the question that artists ask themselves almost every day: Is all this really worth it? The Green Knight David Lowerys adaptation of a 14th-century Middle English poem is bewitchingly gorgeous, hauntingly eerie, and utterly itself. As the would-be Arthurian knight Gawain (Dev Patel) sets out on a quest to find and defeat the verdant monster of the title, Lowery takes the character and the audience on a trippy metaphysical journey that collapses the distance between life and death, heroism and cowardice, love and betrayal. What I loved most about The Green Knight was how true it remains to the mystical worldview of its medieval source material while also seeming ineluctably modern. (Read the review.) A Hero The Iranian master Asghar Farhadi (About Elly, A Separation) works in a genre that might be called poetic social realism. This exquisitely written and acted film tells the story of a working-class father in Tehran who comes into possession of a lost purse full of cash during a two-day reprieve from debtors prison. A tender family drama that doubles as a condemnation of Irans theocratic legal system, A Hero is a many-layered moral fable that never lets either the audience or the heroa word that, by the time the film ends, has taken on a multitude of conflicting meaningscome to a final understanding of what doing the right thing might mean. Licorice Pizza Like the coward I am, I hesitated at first to place Paul Thomas Andersons lyrically written, radiantly acted, and thrillingly kinetic ninth feature on my list, despite the fact that watching it was among the most pleasurable movie experiences I had in a theater all year and one I cant wait to repeat. I just didnt want to get caught up in the Discourse that has dogged this movie in certain quarters of the internet: Is the central relationship, a romantically tinged if essentially chaste friendship between a 15-year-old boy (Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Philip Seymour) and a 25-year-old girl (musician and movie star in the making Alana Haim) an example of inappropriate age-gap exploitation? Does a recurring joke about a minor characters racism land more gracelessly than it was intended to? Is it too flip to leave those questions open to debate, while continuing to encourage people to see the movie and decide for themselves? Whats unique about Licorice Pizza is how confidently and completely it establishes a full, coherent world: the San Fernando Valley of the early 1970s, a sun-drenched paradise with a sinister underside. The films structure is kaleidoscopic, with an ever-expanding cast of characters whose imperfections Anderson embraces just as he lets us see the blemishes on his teenage protagonists skin. (Read the review.) Parallel Mothers In his late career especially, the Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar has turned into a kind of cinematic Stendhal. Like that 19th-century French novelist, Almodovar weaves domestic melodrama into a sweeping vision of his countrys political history. Parallel Mothers follows two single women who give birth in the same maternity ward on the same day, one (Milena Smit) a teenage mother pregnant from a sexual assault, the other a middle-aged fashion photographer (Penelope Cruz in a career-best performance) having an unplanned but much-wanted first child. The way their lives intertwine afterward, as they cope with the demands of motherhood while Cruzs character investigates her ancestors role in the Spanish Civil War, makes for a film as rich and satisfying as the leg of aged jamon thats permanently installed on the counter in one of the films many gorgeously detailed sets, a delightfully Almodovar-ian orange-and-sky-blue kitchen. The Power of the Dog Everything about Jane Campions long-awaited eighth film has a majestic rightness to it: the awe-inspiring mountain landscapes (with the directors native New Zealand standing in for the Montana frontier); the preternaturally astute performances of the central quartet of actors (Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Jesse Plemons); the sinuous score by this years MVP film composer, Jonny Greenwood (who also wrote the music for Spencer and Licorice Pizza); and the domestic dramaturnedthriller plot, which is as tightly coiled and obscurely ominous as the films defining prop, a braided cowhide lasso. No movie released this year better rewards a second viewing, which gives you the chance to see how meticulously Campions script has been constructed to build up to that take-your-breath-away ending. (Read the review. Read a spoiler-y debate about the movies ending.) Summer of Soul There were many impressive filmmaking debuts this year, several from artists best known for their work in other fields. The actors Rebecca Hall and Maggie Gyllenhaal both directed beautifully imagined first films (Passing and The Lost Daughter, respectively) that made me eager to see what they get up to next. But it was this joyful music documentary, constructed by the Roots longtime drummer and co-founder Questlove from long-unseen footage of a series of public concerts in Harlem in the summer of 1969, that made me sit up and say, Why hasnt this person been making movies all along? There are individual moments from this doc19-year-old Stevie Wonder going to town behind a drum kit, emcee Tony Lawrence taking the stage in yet another impossibly natty getup, Mavis Staples and Mahalia Jacksons transcendent improvised duet on the gospel classic Take My Hand, Precious Lordthat still come back to me with a wallop of emotion six months after watching it. (Read the review.) The Velvet Underground Todd Haynes first documentary combines the formal innovation of an auteur with the passion of a lifelong fan. Using ingeniously edited archival footage, clips from Andy Warhols avant-garde home movies, and interviews only with people who were present for the events described (not bloviating latter-day pundits), Haynes limits his focus to the short span of years in the late 60s and early 70s when two wildly different musicians, the proto-punk songwriting prodigy Lou Reed and the classically trained Welsh composer John Cale, came together to form an underground band that changed the history of pop music. Hearing the droning, swirling chords of Venus in Furs while the opening titles slowly scrolled past felt as luxuriant as being bathed in warm honey, and for the next two hours in the theater and many days afterward, I never emerged from that spell. (Read the review. Read an interview with director Todd Haynes.) West Side Story Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushners ravishing update of the 1957 Broadway musicalturnedOscar-winning-if-now-racially-unsettling 1961 movie is a demonstration of the magic that can happen when a skillfully wielded camera meets a skillfully wielded pen. Ive seen this movie twice now, and I still have trouble coming up with a single choice I would have made differently, from the casting (Rachel Zegler and Mike Faist in particular should have been movie stars yesterday) to the choreography (with Justin Peck updating and adapting the groundbreaking work of the shows co-creator Jerome Robbins) to the impeccable costume and production design. Of course, some people have raised legitimate questions about an artistic choice that preceded all of these: the decision to remake West Side Story in the first place. I implore you to see it (on the big screen if possible) if you are still on the fence about whether this ground-up reimagining of a beloved and disputed American cultural property was necessary. Great art always is. (Read the review.) In 2003, TBS began airing reruns of Sex and the City. The show, which premiered on HBO in 1998, would end the following year, and, aside from two increasingly ill-advised feature films, Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha have lived in infinite syndicated loops ever since. But the versions of them that persist on basic cable arent quite the ones we remember. Its not just that the episodes have been edited for content, although that would be an understatement. No cursing and no sex means, more importantly, that theres basically no Samantha either. Whether youre a fan of Kim Cattralls foul-mouthed sexpot or not, its impossible to deny that turning Samantha into a saucy ghost fundamentally alters Sex and the City. Its just not the same show without her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought about that bizarre accidental conceptual art project a lot when watching And Just Like That, HBO Maxs new revival of the original series, but not just for its uncanny Samanthalessness. The absence of Cattralls load-bearing fourth lead is certainly the most immediately noticeable change from the original, but its not the only one. The new episodes senselessly balloon to around 45 minutes apiece, shifting the scale from sitcom-length to network drama, and, perhaps more strangely, they jettison Carries ubiquitous, pun-soaked voiceover narration. The impulse behind And Just Like That, created by original writer Michael Patrick King, is nothing if not nostalgic, but, at the same time, the new show seems eager to move away from its turn of the century ancestor. As I watched this show that looked a lot like Sex and the City but felt almost nothing like it, I couldnt help but wonder: Can a beloved TV series survive a revival? Advertisement Advertisement [Read more: Im Turning in My Miranda Card] And Just Like That marks HBOs second attempt this year at resurrecting a founding stalwart of its vaunted, turn of the century golden age, only to accidentally usher in a zombie apocalypse. Earlier this fall, the networks parent company, Warner Bros., released The Many Saints of Newark, David Chases feature film return to the New Jersey of The Sopranos. But the film, like this new SATC reboot, was missing something crucial. As a concept, Many Saints seemed brilliant, with Chase using the leverage of The Sopranos to make a long-held passion project about the Newark riots of his youth. But by the time the first trailer dropped, it was clear that the film had been inexorably pulled back into the orbit of Tony Soprano, with James Gandofinis son playing a teenage version of his iconic character. Populated by Muppet Babies versions of all of our favorite DiMeo crime family associates, Many Saints felt both too far away from the original series magic and too close to it. Chase, co-writer Lawrence Konner, and director Alan Taylor never seemed up to tackling the intricacies of the riots that serve as the films central conflict, and the film remains uncomfortably reliant on cute connections to the original series. The voiceover narrationby a ghostly Christopher Moltisanti is so hackneyed and wedged-in that theres an entire corner of the internet convinced that were meant to understand that Christopher wrote the movie himself. That may be a convoluted rationale for why Many Saints feels so half-baked, but it stems in part from the movies confusion over what its relationship to the series is meant to be. Its neither its own thing nor this thing of ours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Saints and And Just Like That both seem more interested in resuscitating long-gone characters than revitalizing the TV series that made us care about them in the first place. Rather than return to the formula that made those series great, Chase and King chose to tinker around in the HBO Golden Age Extended Universe. Its understandable that these writers would want to explore new possibilities while relying on their beloved cast of characters as a safety net, but, especially for shows that did so much to reinvent the form of TV in the 21st century, its somewhat baffling how little the new series seem to care about how those stories were told. By way of contrast, the HBO Max revival of Gossip Girla property with considerably less cultural weightboth understands the form that made the original CW series a success and maintains a relatively playful internal relationship wiith the original characters. Whatever its many flaws, the reboot does exactly what it does, unbothered about the influence of Blair Waldorf. Many Saints and And Just Like That, on the other hand, are more concerned with extracting valuable IP from their original series than substantively engaging with the series themselves. The Sopranos wasnt interesting because it was a story about Jersey mobsters, and Sex and the City wasnt interesting because it was a story about women at brunch in Manhattan. Those stories reached viewers because of how they were told. But the revivals venture away from the forms that made the originals successful while treating their characters as museum pieces. There is, of course, a pleasure to reconnecting with beloved old characters after a long time away. The questions raised by And Just Like Thatwhether Carrie was always a prude, for instance, or if Miranda would have actually become a clueless, pronoun-bungling, white feminist clicheare fun and even illuminating, especially as somewhat self-conscious critiques of the original show. But the thrill of that reunion cant last forever, and reboots have to contend with what happens when its no longer a novelty to be around our old pals again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all the focus on Sex and the Citys groundbreaking characters, the structure of Sex and the City was never merely incidental to its impact. In an essay on Sex and the City and The Sopranos in 2013, Emily Nussbaum argued that, while SATC was often condescended to as a shallow sitcom, its true form was a kind of philosophical romantic comedy, using the horizonless expanse of serial TV to stage symbolic debates about sexuality, femininity, and love. The brunch table wasnt just a pit-stop between A and B plots, and the voiceover wasnt just throwaway exposition; they were where the messy, critical work of the show got done. Sex and the City famously leaned harder into will-they-wont-they plotting and operatic melodrama as the series went on, but it always retained that critical, conversational core. And Just Like That is the shows culminating pivot from comedy to tragedy. Advertisement [Read more: Dana Stevens review of The Many Saints of Newark] Many Saints of Newark suffered from almost the reverse problem. The Sopranos was a television show, and it was great because and not in spite of that. Producing a feature-length period coming-of-age film tethered so closely to the fates of the series original characters neglects the fact that The Sopranos made the impact it did because of its patient week-by-week reinvention of multiple TV genres, from the soap opera to the mob show to the Western. One of the things that was revolutionary about the Sopranos was the way that it made spectators live with these bad men, to see past the spectacle of their violent acts to the boredom and conservatism and ordinariness of their lives. The age of the anti-heroan age that, as Nussbaum said and we must be reminded, was inaugurated by both Tony Soprano and Carrie Bradshawwas thus a unique product of serial TV. That notorious mix of identification and repulsionemerged slowly, beat by beat, week by week. The innovation wasnt in telling stories about bad guys, it was about convincing us to spend time with them. The Sopranos was a re-imagination of the gangster genre. Many Saints is just another gangster movie. David Chase, famously, initially envisioned The Sopranos as a standalone film. But if Chase had made a two-hour movie about a mafioso and his shrink, I dont know that anybody would have cared. Advertisement Advertisement This week, it was reported that HBO is planning a return to another beloved early 2000s series by reviving Six Feet Under. The outcry was instant, in part because its finale is often held up as the gold standard for a satisfying ending. The idea of rebooting a series that ended with such conspicuous and resonant finality feels almost like parody. But, given that And Just Like That has apparently been a huge success for HBO Max, and David Chase seems back in the fold with a standing order for more Sopranos content, its unsurprising that HBO is going back into the vaults for more. The obvious solution to this problem is to simply stop putting time and resources into bringing the dead back to life, but, in our current moment, that seems about as likely as Mr. Big buckling back into his Peloton. Nor do I think that forgettable carbon-copy revivals like NBCs Will and Grace reboot are the way forward. When Many Saints was released this October, it was met with a swell of discourse about whether or not The Sopranos was indeed the greatest of all television series. That conversation has always felt premature, not because I doubt the greatness of The Sopranosor Sex and the City, for that matterbut because a conversation like that presumes were at an ending rather than a beginning. Critics and viewers love to make pronouncements as if its been a hundred years since the current era of television production began. In terms of the history of prestige TV, were still closer to the Big Bang (The Bada Bang? The Mr. Big Bang?) than the end of the world. But debates like those, as well as reboots like these, threaten to stall the mediums momentum, siphon energy away from the next series that might actually re-imagine television. If networks like HBO keep turning to the past, the much-ballyhooed revolution might pass them by. And just like that the show would be over. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. In addition to our traditional advice, every Thursday we feature an assortment of teachers from across the country answering your education questions. Have a question for our teachers? Email askateacher@slate.com or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Ive got a question Im hoping you can help me with. Ive got a very clever 11-year-old who I recently learned is not doing his homework. Until now Id considered the point of sixth grade homework to be learning how to do homework to prepare for high school. I figured he probably doesnt need to do the homework to master the skills, but at some point in the near future I realize he will, so homework seems to be about getting the study habits solid. As such, Ive basically left it up to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive always asked him if he was doing it, if he needed help, etc., and taken him at his word when he said it was sorted. Now that I know he isnt doing it (and lying about it being done), what should I do? Stand over him making sure the busy work is done? My goal is to have a kid who takes responsibility and is capable of studying when it does become hard. And I want to set up a smart kid who wont always be smart enough to not to study for success. How should I go about that? Also Didnt Do My Homework Dear ADDMH, You say you also didnt do your homework. How did that go for you? You say, in the future, hell need to do the homework to master the skills. How did you learn that lesson? Advertisement Advertisement My guess is it was via the best teacher known to humankind: the natural consequences of your actions. You likely failed at something and realized that your previous m.o. would no longer suffice. Im not saying you cant make him do his homework. You could certainly try praise, cajoling, rewards, punishments, whatever. That will require a lot of effort on your part and likely generate significant stress for both you and your son. Advertisement Or you can let him coast along until he hits a roadblock. Then hell have to figure out on his own how to get around it. If this second route is your choice, let him know. Tell him that even if hes mastering the material with minimal effort right now, there will come a time when that will no longer be the case; that, if he chooses not to develop study habits now, it will cause problems for him later; and that youre going to let him learn this lesson the hard way. You decline the position of homework police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Either way, Id suggest you talk with him about honesty. Why didnt he want to tell you? What did his little voice tell him when he lied about doing his homework? How did fibbing make him feel in his body? Did it affect how he thought about himself? Let him know he can always tell you the truth. Give him the language: Im afraid to tell you this because I think youll be mad, but _______________. And then dont show anger when he shares things with you. Frankly, hes going to learn life lessons with or without you. All you have to think about is the role you want to play is his life, and let the chips fall where they may. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms. Scott (high school teacher, North Carolina) Slate needs your support right now. Sign up for Slate Plus to keep reading the advice you crave every week. Is first grade a normal age for girls to start having confidence issues? I was just reading over my daughters end-of-year report card from last year, and her teacher just gushed about her being helpful, an outgoing leader in class, and that she had so many friends. This year, shes much more quiet and not as confident with her friendsthere seems to be a lot of changing of friend groups at recess that shes not navigating well. Instead of bringing home artwork proudly, she doesnt think its very good, and so on. Advertisement Shes advanced academically, but seems to be struggling socially for the first time (she never had this problem in pre-k or Kinder and makes friends easily in the neighborhood, plays seamlessly with her non-school friends). One thing Ive noticed is that she has traditionally had a boy best friend in class, but now the groups seem to have split on gender lines. Do things get more socially complex this quickly at this age, or might it just be specific the class? It breaks my heart to see her feeling sad when she used to love school. Advertisement Needing a Boost Dear Needing a Boost, Im sorry to hear your daughter is going through some challenging social changes. Each situation and each child is different, but transitions like the one you describe are very common at this age. Ive witnessed this happen countless times, as kids lose and then regain their footing with new friends. And youre right that around this age, as kids of different gender identities grow and mature, they often develop different interests, and friendships can change. Unfortunately, this doesnt always happen at the same time for all kids, and your daughter is likely experiencing some confusion as to why her best friend now seems to prefer playing with boys. Its not surprising that her confidence has taken a bit of hit as she works to make sense of the changing dynamics between them. Advertisement Its a good sign that this shift in her friendship doesnt appear to be impacting her studies or relationships with kids outside of school. The best you can do for her in this moment is to provide love and support. It sounds like your daughter has a very solid foundation; I doubt she has lost all her confidence and may just need reminders of what an incredible person she is. You can do this through a technique called extreme affirmation. Extreme affirmation is an intervention mental health professionals and educators use to boost and reinforce confidence in folks who are experiencing a deficit in that area. For example, when she brings her art home, you may want to try having a slightly over the top reaction. Kids really eat this kind of attention up. Its worked wonders for me as an educator and may be one way to help her regain her confidence as she finds her way again with friends at school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Hersey (elementary school teacher, Washington) How much oversight should I have of my high schoolers schoolwork? We tend to be very hands-off, and we expect our kids to handle their own stuff (although we are available to support if needed), but some parents I know seem really involved in their kids day-to-day experiences. Whats the right balance here? Keeping Tabs? Dear Keeping Tabs, Ideally high school students manage their schoolwork independently as much as possible. This is developmentally appropriate for adolescents, who desire increasing independence and autonomy. Taking responsibility for schoolwork also prepares them for adulthood. Of course, whats possible for one student is not necessarily possible for anothersome of your friends teens may need additional support in order to be successful. However, if your kids are thriving with the system you have in place now, then you need not worry about being more involved. In fact, I think you should be proud of them! Advertisement Ms. Holbrook (high school teacher, Texas) More Advice From Slate I love my 7-year-old sons name, Andrew, but I hate the nickname Andy. When we named him Andrew we agreed to only use the long version and never the nickname. Until this year everyone has called him Andrew. We moved over the summer, and somehow he has become Andy in his new school! Im not sure how it happened, but after participating in a recent classroom event, its clear everyone is calling him Andy (kids, teachers, other parents). It has even spilled over into Little League. Is there anything I can do? A New York Times article published this week begins with a superb piece of holiday theatricality. It was the first week of Advent and the feast day of St. Nicholas. Wide-eyed children were attending Mass at a cavernous and ornate Baroque-style basilica in Sicily, and a Roman Catholic bishop was launching a crusade: Santa Claus, thundered Bishop Antonio Stagliano, is an imaginary character. In the speech last week, the bishop of Noto railed against Babbo Natalethe Italian Santa Claus figure, featured more heavily in the northern part of the countryand Santas red coat, which he said was chosen by Coca-Cola for advertising purposes. (The Times notes that the red outfit precedes the companys marketing campaign, but it cant be denied that Coca-Cola did what it could to boost the image.) Perhaps the best line in the Times story came from a disgruntled teacher: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that when one of the children protested, telling the bishop that her parents had assured her Santa was real, the cleric responded that the child should tell her parents you tell lies. But heres the thing: Stagliano is not an aberration. As the Times noted, Catholic clergy in the country have been railing against Santa for years. In 2018, a priest told Sardinian children that Santa was really their parents. The next year, a Northern Italian priest told the children no man magically delivered gifts. So whats up with the Italian Catholic urge to puncture childhood fantasies? It has two elements. The first is a relative ambivalence toward American-style Christian traditions. The other is the greater embrace of the popes general message. Advertisement At its heart, Staglianos message was an anti-capitalist one. Setting aside his tirade about Coca-Cola, the bishop complained that Santas real failure was his favoring of wealthier children over poorer ones. It seems that in Sicily, where the Santa Claus gift-giving tradition is a more recent import, the disparity in Santa gifts is not just in the cost of the gifts but in whether Santa makes an appearance at all; the bishop told the Times that the poor families and migrants he visits every Christmas have never seen Santa Claus. He said he challenged the children in the pews to ask Santa 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! This message tracks with that of Pope Francis, who has long decried the burden of unregulated capitalism on the poor. Its a less common position for bishops to take in the U.S., where Francis conservative opposition is most concentrated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as Vincent Miller, a professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, noted, its also important to understand the way Italian Christmas has traditionally been celebrated. In the U.S., there is a nationalized and nondenominational Christmas culture, with little regional variation and a broadly secular appeala Christmas culture encouraged by, yes, advertising and retail, as well as popular media. According to Miller, who studies Catholic theology, culture, and consumerism, Italian Christmas celebrations tend to be very local, with festivals often dedicated to local saints, and with origins in ancient pre-Christian traditions. Globalization may have spread the fat, bearded, rosy-cheeked Santa across Europe, but the figure didnt automatically carry with it the nostalgia and emotional attachment Americans tend to have. Advertisement Advertisement Italians may also just care less because they care less in general about Christmas. According to Miller, in the 19th century, around the time reindeer and the red-coated Santa were added to the St. Nick tradition, the U.S., the United Kingdom, and the Northern European countries began to elevate Christmas to a more major holiday. If you go back historically, its not a central part of the Catholic liturgical calendar, Miller said. The great Christian feasts have always been Good Friday and Easter Sunday. So theres a good question of whats actually being celebratedits a celebration of abundance, of material gifts for those around us. And thats all quite recent. Advertisement Advertisement (Its also worth noting that the relics of St. Nicholas, a fourth century Greek bishop, are housed in a basilica in Bari, a city in southern Italy.* St. Nicholas, to the Italians, is first and foremost a religious figure.) Advertisement So while the Times reported that the children and teachers were upset after Staglianos anti-Santa diatribe, and while the dioceses Facebook page apologized for disappointment in the little ones, it seems likely that the bishop stirred up less anger than he would have here in the U.S. But if any American bishops do decide to take up Staglianos crusade, he already gave the Times reporter a less region-specific defense they can call on. He knew at 4 that Santa wasnt real, he said, so he wasnt telling the kids in the pews anything new. If we knew, imagine these kids with their smartphones. American rap fans probably didnt pay much attention to Belizean politics until recently, when the Central American nation made international news for a unusual reason: Shyne, the hoarse-voiced, platinum-selling former Bad Boy rapper whod been absent from the music scene for years, was elected to Belizes House of Representatives in November. His political rise has been meteoric: Hes since become leader of the countrys main opposition faction, the center-right United Democratic Party, after ousting a rival. Hes also been enlisting old friends like Fat Joe and Diddy to publicize the country. Advertisement Its just the latest in a series of surprising twists in the life of the 42-year-old who now goes by Shyne Barrow. The rapper was one of the key figures in the 1999 New York nightclub shooting involving his Bad Boy boss, then known as Puff Daddy, and Jennifer Lopez. Barrow was imprisoned for the shooting before being deported back to Belize, where he and his family have a deep history: His uncle was a founding member of the UDP, and his father was a longtime politico who eventually took charge of the party and became the countrys first Black prime minister in 2008. Barrow spent some years traveling and serving various administrative roles in Belize before ascending to the House, where hes already courted controversy: Not only is he still beefing with his partys former leader, but hes currently fighting off a proposed amendment to Belizes constitution that would prevent politicians whove been incarcerated anywhere in the world from serving in Belizea measure would effectively end his political career. Nevertheless, the former rapper is still eyeing the prime ministership, and serving his current role to the fullest. For the past two weeks, hes been on a visit to the U.S.his first since his deportationadvocating for Belize and its diaspora; visiting cities like Atlanta, Newark, and New York; meeting with local and national politicians; and reuniting with old rapper friends like Diddy and Jay-Z (at a new nightclub, no less). On Monday, the day before his return to Belize, I spoke with Barrow over Zoom about his diplomatic missions, his rise to power, and his goals both for his own political career and for his country. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nitish Pahwa: How did it feel to make your first visit to the U.S. since your release in 2009? Shyne Barrow: It wasnt about me coming back to America. It was about the opposition leader of the House of Representatives coming to the United States on behalf of the people of Belize. The only me of it all is that the Shyne brand has very strong relationships, and I was able to use those relationships to get meetings with people at the highest level in Congress and state legislatures. I saw you met with local politicians in Atlanta and New York, and you also met with national lawmakers, like Reps. Gregory Meeks, Hakeem Jeffries, Yvette Clark, Maxine Waters, and Adriano Espaillat. How did you land those meetings, and what did you talk with them about? Advertisement Im the shadow prime minister. The office requires me to travel, allows me a diplomatic passport, and allows me to qualify for a diplomatic visa. Ever since I was elected, and even leading up to my election, I have been reaching out to my contacts in the United States to build relationships. Ive had a strong relationship with the U.S. State Department here in Belize over the years. Advertisement Diddy was instrumental in making sure that whatever relationships he had with legislators were made available to me, so I could go to develop those relationships on behalf of Belize. Georgia was the first place I visited. I was honored at the Georgia Senate, and the Atlanta City Council declared Aug. 20 Shyne Barrow Day. Advertisement Advertisement I was able to get an audience with these members of Congress to discuss economic development in Belize, foreign aid, security, regional stability. They were very concerned with what happened in Nicaragua, where they jailed the opposition leader, and places like Venezuela, where they suspended the constitution. We discussed ways we can strengthen democratic nations, with more investment in human infrastructure and job creation. Congressman Espaillat is from the Dominican Republic. Yvette Clarke is of Jamaican descendant. Congressmen Meeks and Jeffries represent a lot of Caribbean diaspora constituents, and so does Maxine Waters. Investment in the developing nations of the Caribbean, such as Belize, is very important to American foreign policy and interests. Advertisement Advertisement What do you think of current immigration policy in the U.S., especially with regard to migrants from Central America, and what you would want to see from U.S. lawmakers when it comes to Central American immigration? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States is a nation built by and with immigrants. Id to like to see that continue: more opportunities for people that do migrate there. Thats why investment in the region, in the Caribbean, in Latin America, is important. Many people are fleeing countries that are war-torn, countries where theyre being persecuted for political reasons. Investing in these countries would be a good way to prevent an overflow of migration. But for people that do find themselves in the States and are making a contribution, Id like to see what the Biden administration is proposing to make sure that the migrants get their chance, Id certainly like to see an adjustment to the deportation laws. I went to the States when I was 7 years old and was there until I was almost 30. For me to be deported, even though I was a permanent resident, I think theres something flawed in that policy. Id like to see more opportunities for people who have permanent residency, who lived their entire life with their family in the States, to be given an opportunity to reform and to rehabilitate in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Are there lessons from your rap career that youve taken into politics? Networking is everything. And impossibility is a word that we dont recognize. All that hip-hop culture has ever done is imagine itself as something greater than anybody could ever see. Im taking that type of tenacity, that audacity, and Im applying it to being a legislator: being determined, being disciplined, having a strong work ethic, never taking no for answer, never stopping, never giving up, being relentless in your pursuit. Advertisement It really starts with imagination. You cant grow if you dont see yourself doing more than what youre doing today. And hip-hop is flooded with entrepreneurs. I want my constituents to be entrepreneurs and self-reliant and independent, not to depend on politicians for anything. I want to create other Shynes and Jay-Zs, other Barack Obamas and Nelson Mandelas. To empower people, whether theyre electricians or plumbers, lawyers or doctors, teachers or nurses, police or soldiers, with the mindset that will allow them to have a healthy life. Thats what hip-hop taught us to do. Advertisement Do you think, if the 1999 nightclub incident hadnt happened, that you still wouldve ended up going back to Belize and getting involved in the countrys politics? Advertisement Advertisement Definitely. Id just have been a wealthier version of where Im at now. It was always my plan to transform Belize, whether through financing politicians or financing a campaign for myself. It goes back: My great-great grandfather was district commissioner of Belize. When you look at my first album, when I was 19 years old, I was a leader. The first thing I said was, Dear America, Im only what you made me. That phrase says it. Build schools instead of prisons, Ill stop livin the way Im livin that is similar to what Im saying in the House of Representatives right now. Nobody wrote that for me. Nobody told me to say that. No aunt, no uncle, no father was in America when I was selling millions of records. Even when I was making music, I was the voice of the voiceless. I was the spotlight that would shine the light on the horrors and tragedies of inner-city living. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When was the point you thought, I want to run not only for office, but also to lead the country? It came in stages. After being incarcerated for almost 10 years, I wanted the freedom to travel wherever I wanted to go. I wanted to go Paris, I wanted to go to North Africa, I wanted to go to Jerusalem, I wanted to go to Turkey, Egypt. But after traveling, I came back to Belize for moms 60th birthday. Things werent working out with music. Id been living in Paris on a long vacation, and I needed purpose. I was looking at my life and saying, Man, if this never happened to me, Id be a billionaire. Id be selling millions and millions of albums. I got out of that phase by looking at the people in Belize who never got an opportunity, who never got a chance to do any of the things I did. Some are living in subhuman standards. At least I was able to go from using the bathroom in a bucketbecause we didnt have a toilet system in the house I lived in while in Belize as a childto what I did. Advertisement Advertisement I felt guilty feeling sorry for myself. And rather than focus on what I could be doing if I were in the States. I focused on what I could be doing to help these people in Belize with the access that I have. I wasnt a regular person, and I accept that. I was a multimillionaire, I had access to the prime minister, and I had access to other ministers. But I wasnt interested in using that access to become a rich businessman. I wanted to use my access to push for policy that would make life better for the Belizean people in every way. And I realized in 2013 that, rather than pushing these people to implement policy, I needed to be the policymaker. Advertisement Advertisement Becoming the opposition leader of the House of Representatives is not something I set out to do, necessarily. I was the chief whip before I was opposition leader. But when theres a void in leadershipas was the case recently, where the former leader of the opposition lost confidence of the majority of members in the House and of the partyI am willing to step up. If my colleagues want me to be the leader of the party and take us into the next general elections, thats what Ill do. If they want me to support someone else that we all have confidence in, thats what Ill do. I believe democracy is about inspiring people to follow you, and whoever can inspire people is the person I am prepared to support. If that person is me, Im ready, Im always ready. But I had no master plan to get elected a year ago and then take over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why do you think Belize would be better off with the UDP in power? Your party is the more conservative one, correct? Were supposed to be conservative, but I try to be a moderate. Im very prosocial development, prohuman development and I believe that is the responsibility of government. I do believe the responsibility of government is to create a healthy environment for businesses to thrive. As far as the two parties, the Peoples United Party promised the Belizean people everything that the United Democratic Party promised the Belizean peoplethere hasnt been much of a difference in policy, but its about who has delivered. Certainly, Im biased, but the United Democratic Party has been the one to deliver on their promises, more so than the Peoples United Party. My policy is to make sure that we develop the nation: The greater the people are, the greater the wealth of the nation. Its important for us to educate our people, to uplift our people, to train our people. I see far too often that the rich continue to get rich, the poor continue to get poor, and the working class, due to COVID-19, has been completely eroded. We have to fix that. It takes a mindset thats not about giving contracts to friends and cronies and enriching your family and yourself, but really making sure that the people get enriched. On Friday, the prosecution in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial called to the stand a fourth, and final, accuser. Annie Farmer described, among other disquieting incidents, a supremely creepy 1996 weekend she spent visiting Jeffrey Epsteins ranch in New Mexico. After being lured there under the guise of some sort of vague student enrichment workshop (to be led, apparently, by Epstein), the then 16 year-old Farmer unexpectedly found that she was the ranchs lone guest. Isolated in the middle of the desert, Farmer says she was subjected to disturbing, unwanted attention from both Epstein and Maxwell. Advertisement Farmer testified that one morning, Epstein, then 43, flung open the door to the bedroom where Farmer was sleeping, leapt into bed with her, and gave her a big bearhug while pressing himself against her. She escaped him by claiming that she needed to use the bathroom. On another occasion, Farmer testified, Maxwell, then 34, encouraged Farmer to undress and get on a massage table; Maxwell then proceeded to rub the upper parts of Farmers bare breasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In many ways, Farmers testimony echoed that of the other accusers. It cast Maxwell in an essential rolepushing at a teen girls sexual boundaries, prepping her for abuse, serving as a sort of henchwoman for Epstein. One of the events Farmer described was nearly identical to an incident we heard about from Kate, an earlier, pseudonymous accuser: Each alleged that their initial physical contact with Epstein came when Maxwell urged them to give him a vigorous foot rub. Advertisement Advertisement But a few things set Farmer apart. For one, she was the only accuser who testified using her full, real name. Because her anonymity wasnt protected, courtroom observers could view all the photos of her that the government introduced as evidence. In one photo taken around the time of the alleged ranch incidents, we saw a smiling, teenage face, framed by long, blonde hair, looking like the literal picture of innocence. Farmer was also the only accuser who brought contemporaneous receipts. One of the prosecutions exhibits was Farmers teenage diaryincluding an entry she wrote shortly after the first time she met Epstein (a few months before the ranch visit). Epstein had taken Farmer to a movie theater and, once the lights were down, caressed her hand and leg in the dark. Farmer wrote in her diary that it was a little weird but I think he is just a relaxed guy and likes to flirt. As the adult Farmer read aloud this passage from the witness stand, you could hear her teen self desperately grasping for some way to rationalize Epsteins behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Maybe the most important difference between Farmers story and those of the other three accusers was the way it resolved. After that gothic horror weekend at the ranch, Farmer never saw Epstein or Maxwell again. She got away from themnot exactly unscathed, but at least intactand, perhaps as a result, seemed much less damaged on the stand, much less haunted, than the other accusers did. This somehow made those other womens claims all the more upsetting, with a living counterpoint illustrating how their lives could have unfolded had they managed to detach from Maxwell and Epstein sooner. Advertisement Advertisement When Farmer was done testifyingand after her mother and her high school boyfriend took the stand to corroborate her story, confirming shed spoken to them about elements of these incidents back in the 90sthe prosecution rested its case. Maxwells attorneys will begin presenting theirs on Thursday. Theyll try to convince the jury that Maxwell deserves no punishment. I doubt theyll succeed. Advertisement Advertisement The portrait of Maxwell thats emerged thus far is fantastically ugly. Even setting aside the charges that are central to the trial, some colorful details that the prosecution was able to introduce will not garner a jurys sympathy. For instance, a 2001 email from Maxwell bitterly complaining (I am at a loss) that household staff had failed to keep one of Epsteins Mercedes stocked with bottled water and pens. The prosecution also strongly suggested that greed fueled Maxwells whole relationship with Epstein: Bank statements evidenced her receiving gifts from him that included $23.5 million in cash and a $7.4 million dollar helicopter. Advertisement Advertisement I cannot imagine that Maxwell will take the stand in her own defense. A 2016 deposition Maxwell gave in a different, Epstein-related case does not suggest shed be an appealing advocate for herself: The transcript makes her sound dismissive, entitled, high-handed, and, at certain points, furiously angry. Her posh British accent and Oxford manner would be unlikely to play well if she tries to explain why she was befriending poor Florida teenagers. As a 59 year-old female accused of molestation-adjacent crimes (no matter that the alleged incidents occurred many years ago), Maxwell also has a demographic strike against hersociety seems especially unsympathetic when it comes to anything involving sex and older women. Advertisement But all this is tangential to the heart of the matter. The testimony of the four accusers is what the prosecutions case is built on, andbarring some spectacular forthcoming revelation from the defensewhat the jury will base its decision on. Those four accusers were extremely credible. Their emotions were palpable. And there was hard evidence to back up the broad outlines of their claims: flight logs, FedEx bills, phone messages taken by Epsteins staff. Advertisement Defense attorneys ran the standard playbook that gets hauled out for any sexual abuse accusation: They questioned the womens memories, cast aspersions on their lifestyles, and hinted that theyre gold diggersintimating that they only came forward with their claims because they thought they could profit from them. None of these tactics drew much blood, as best I could tell. Advertisement Advertisement The defenses strongest argument isnt that these four women were unharmed. Its that the harm was done by Jeffrey Epstein, and that Ghislaine Maxwell was an innocent bystanderthat Maxwell was just one of many Epstein employees who, to one degree or another, turned a blind eye to Epsteins behavior without, precisely, encouraging or aiding it. Its true that Maxwells name isnt on all those flight logs and FedEx receipts, and that Epstein was very clearly capable of destroying teenage girls even without Maxwells help. But then there are those vivid testimonial scenes of Maxwell coaxing girls into rubbing Epsteins feet, and leading them to the door of Epsteins massage room, and sending a car to pick them up because they were too young to drive themselves. Advertisement No doubt, Maxwells lawyers will argue that she was a victim here, too. That, to the extent she did anything wrong, Jeffrey Epstein manipulated her into doing it. There may be some truth to this, around the edges. But, short of evidence that Epstein threatened or extorted Maxwell, this isnt really a defense. Maxwell wasnt a teenage girl, she was an adult woman. She had resources. She was old enough and smart enough to know better. If she did these things shes accused ofand my strong feeling, based on what Ive seen and heard in the trial so far, is that she didshe needs to answer for them. Eventually, the jurors will sit down in a room to deliberate, at which point theyll need to decide how they feel. Yes, they will weigh the evidence and pour over the text of the charges, but in the end it will come down to a vibe. Will they feel fondness for Ghislaine Maxwell? Will they be looking for ways to grant her mercy? Or will they long to punish her? To show her thatas one accuser said, while sobbingwhat she did was wrong? To read previous dispatches from the Maxwell trial, click here. The more we learn about what Donald Trump and his aides heard and did on Jan. 6, the more clearly we understand his corrupt intent. The latest revelations come from newly disclosed text messages sent to Mark Meadows, Trumps then-chief of staff, that afternoon. The messages show that Trumps family, his media allies, and people inside the U.S. Capitol begged him to call off the attack but were ignored for most of the day. And they confirm that Meadows, who has refused to testify in the Jan. 6 investigation and now faces possible indictment for contempt of Congress, was at the center of what unfolded that day. Advertisement But the messages also clarify a standoff that took place in the middle of the afternoon. Shortly after 2:30, Trump sent out a tweet urging his followers to stay peaceful. That tweet has been cited as proof that he tried to end the crisis. But the texts, combined with other evidence, show that trusted figures in Trumps orbit were asking him to do more. They wanted him to tell the rioters to leave the Capitol and go home. On the surface, this looks like a small difference. But Trump refused to do it. Why? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The simplest answer is that, as his prior behavior demonstrated, he saw the mob as leverage in a last-ditch effort to overturn the election. He had summoned his followers to Washington to pressure Congress to halt the certification of the election, and the pressure had succeeded. If he were to disperse the mobnot just ask it to curtail its violencehe would lose his leverage. So, for nearly two hours, he held out. Thats what the texts are showing us: that the president was being asked to make a specific concession, and that he refused to do so. Advertisement Advertisement To understand where the text messages fit in, its helpful to divide the afternoon of Jan. 6 into segments. The first segment began shortly after 1:10 p.m., when Trump finished speaking to the crowd he had summoned to march on the Capitol. He got back to the White House by 1:20 and, according to aides, immediately began to watch TV coverage of the unfolding drama. Congress was meeting to certify Joe Bidens election, while outside the Capitol, a Trumpist mob had gathered. Starting around 1:30, the mob crashed through barriers, pummeled police, and broke into the building. Cable channels followed the action. Trump was busy enjoying the spectacle, the Washington Post reported, based on interviews with the presidents aides. He watched with interest, buoyed to see that his supporters were fighting so hard on his behalf. Advertisement Advertisement At 2:12, the crisis escalated. As the first group of assailants approached the Senate chamber, the Secret Service whisked away Vice President Pencewho had been presiding over the certificationand the Senate shut down. At 2:18, the House recessed, too. Trump, as he watched this on TV, was pleased, not disturbed, that his supporters had disrupted the election count, according to advisers who spoke to reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Heres where the texts to Meadows come in. We dont have the time stamps yet, but from their content, we can infer that some arrived during this period. They told Meadows that assailants were storming the Capitol, had breached it, and were breaking windows. So while Trump was watching the assault on TV, Meadows was getting direct reports from inside the building. One message pleaded: Is Trump going to say something? At 2:24, Trump did say something. Instead of calling off the attack, he tweeted a rebuke of Pence for failing to block the certification: Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done. Advertisement Advertisement At 2:26, Trump spoke directly to Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who was inside the Capitol. Tuberville told the president that Pence had been taken from the Senate chamber and that senators, too, were about to be evacuated. Trump replied, I know weve got problems. This conversation is the first evidence that Trump was directly informed of the gravity of the situation. Meanwhile, people at the White HouseMeadows, Ivanka Trump, and White House Counsel Pat Cipollonewere pleading with Trump to call off the attack. They wanted him to instruct his followers to stay peaceful, but Trump didnt want to include that phrase. Eventually, he gave in. Please support our Capitol Police, he tweeted at 2:38. Stay peaceful! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the next hour and a half, Trump resisted going beyond that message. His advisers and allies wanted him to tell the mob to go home. The text messages show a trail of entreaties. Hes got to condemn this shit ASAP. The Capitol Police tweet is not enough, Donald Trump Jr. wrote to Meadows. Fox News host Sean Hannity told the chief of staff that Trump should ask people to leave the Capitol. Laura Ingraham wrote that the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home. (Notably, these texts show that Fox News hosts knew the Jan. 6 mob was pro-Trump, though on TV they pretended it wasnt.) House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, in a phone call with Trump, told the president that the attackers were breaking into McCarthys office, and he implored Trump to call them off. Advertisement Advertisement But Trump held out. In the phone call with McCarthy, he denied responsibility for the violence, blaming it on antifa, but he defended the mob in general, telling McCarthy, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are. Those two statements seemed contradictory, but they made sense from the standpoint of maintaining pressure on Congress. In a tweet at 3:13, Trump again asked his followers to remain peaceful, but he didnt tell them to go home. Advertisement Advisers kept trying to extract this last concession from Trump. One aide, Jason Miller, drafted tweets in which the president would urge his people to leave the Capitol and head home. Trump never sent those tweets. For nearly half an hour, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, tried to get hold of Trump to issue a pleawhich Christie, in exasperation, delivered on ABC at 4:00that Trump should tell his supporters to leave the Capitol grounds. The text messages to Meadows show that Trumps allies were also imploring him to go beyond tweets and speak to the mob by video. We need an Oval address, Trump Jr. told Meadows. Fox host Brian Kilmeade urged the chief of staff: Please get him on TV. Advertisement At 4:05, Biden forced Trumps hand. In a press conference, the president-elect urged the mob to pull back, and he called on Trump to go on national television and demand an end to this siege. About 10 minutes later, Trump partially complied. He finally asked his followers to go home, but he also refueled their rage, repeating his lie that the election was stolen from us. Two hours later, as the conflict was winding down, he defended the insurrection as a logical response to enemies who had viciously stripped away his sacred landslide election victory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you put the evidence togetherTrumps instructions to the crowd at his Jan. 6 rally, his subsequent tweets, Millers rejected drafts, Christies plea, and the text messages from Hannity and Ingrahamall of it is consistent with this theory: For about two hours, despite being asked to tell his people to leave the Capitol and go home, Trump refused to do so, because he wanted to maintain leverage over Congress. This theory makes sense of Trumps otherwise confusing comments to McCarthy. It also explains the discrepancy between what he was being asked to say and what he tweeted instead. Its just a theory, but one person, other than Trump, can shed light on the extent to which its true: Meadows. Meadows was the intermediary between Trump and everyone else that day. He was in and out of the Oval Office, relaying requests to the president. He got a phone call from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, pleading for help from the National Guard. He talked throughout the day with Kash Patel, Trumps point man at the Department of Defense. He got text messages warning him that the Capitol was under siege and that if someone doesnt say something, people will die. According to the people who sent those messagesincluding former White House Communications Director Alyssa FarahMeadows never replied. Advertisement Advertisement Thats why its important that Meadows testify. Hes the key to finding out what Trump was told and how the president responded. We also need to hear from others who were involved in backstage efforts to persuade Trump, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, and Jared Kushner. McCarthy must testify about his phone call. According to White House aides, Trump recorded two other video messages that day that were so defiant and incendiary they were never released; lets see those videos. And lets find out whether the president, as alleged by at least one witness, rebuffed and resisted requests to mobilize the National Guard. We need to know not just what Trump did that day, but what he didnt do, and why. On March 18, 2020, it made print-edition news when a New York Times editor tested positive for a case of coronavirus. The World Health Organization had declared a pandemic a week before; across the country, Americans were being told to go into lockdown, but they still werent quite sure where this was going. Tim Herrera, the Times editor in question, wrote that he woke up with chills one morning and was plummeted into a maze of bureaucracy in which it took five days to get a COVID test and confirm that yes, he did have the virus. The symptoms have been easy to deal with. The health care system has not, the subhed of his piece read. It was around this time that getting COVID started to feel like a matter of when, not if. Even the experts were saying so. The trick was to delay it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been nearly two years since then. The New York City media class has collectively gone through the wow I might get it reckoning at least twice more as new strains of the virus circulated. It happened most recently in July, as delta spread and caused breakthrough infections in people who were fully vaccinated, shattering the illusion that if you were vaccinated, you were virus-proof. That moment of realization happened again Wednesday. If you are in a certain pocket of Twitter, you definitely know what Im talking about. A blind item ran in Gawker: Which media companys very large holiday party resulted in a rash of COVID diagnoses? Our anxiety manifested into guessing games in Slacks and group chats. Advertisement Why does it feel like everyone is getting COVID right now? The simple answer is: because everyone is getting COVID right now. Cases are up in New York City, as omicron, a variant of the virus that spreads very fast and can dodge some of the protection offered by the vaccine, spreads. Many vaccinated people who were following strict pandemic rules early in 2021 are going to parties and to bars and to offices; even places that do have mask mandates require only fabric masks, which can help slow the spread but are not nearly as protective as a well-fitted N95s. Rapid tests are sold widely at stores, but stock is available in fits and starts, and besides, at $7$12 daily testingi.e., the method that could truly catch asymptomatic casesseems out of reach for, well, most people. And so we are once again in a moment where cases are ballooning out of control, exposures having happened before anyone had enough information to advise shifts in behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The feeling right now is a familiar oneit is the virus equivalent of creaking to the top of a roller coaster that is about to let loose on the way down. If, even as a vaxxed and boosted person, you are adjusting your behavior, that makes a lot of sense. Advertisement Advertisement But in another sense, what is happening is not all that new. We are simply once again becoming conscious to a threat that has been real and meaningful and ongoing, killing a number of Americans that is extremely hard to process. By we I mean something specificI mean the group of largely college educated and disproportionately white people who inhabit a certain corner of Twitter, the group whose positive COVID tests make the newspaper. Slate contributing writer Tim Requarth put his finger on this group earlier this week, in an essay about who gets to ignore COVID, and who, for that matter, gets to spin into full essay freakout when a test comes back positive following a weekend of much-considered revelry. The fact is that triple-vaxxed young people who have spent the pandemic able to easily (in the economic sense) isolate when they need to are not the people who are being killed by the virusnot by the hundreds of thousands, not in the mass national tragedy sense. COVID doesnt prey on the white managerial class in Manhattan or Michigan; it picks off racial and ethnic minorities, the working poor, the medically vulnerable, and the elderly, with prolific precision, wrote Requarth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those of us who have time to follow every twist in the case counts and resources to adhere to every turn in recommendations might well be scared again, and dreading what certainly seems to be waiting for us, or may be already here. We are the ones who are reading the stories with titles like America Is Not Ready for Omicron (by the Atlantics Ed Yong) and Omicron Is About to Overwhelm Us (by New York magazines David Wallace-Wells), and worrying about what they will mean for us, personally. Somehow, it is still difficult to absorb the main lesson of the pandemic, one that is often explained beneath those scary headlinesthe fear we are facing is at a public health level, much more so than an individual level. It is the public health levelthat broad ecosystem that once encouraged us to all pitch in together to flatten the curvethat is still struggling. Advertisement Advertisement The thing to remember is this: We are not the ones who have spent the pandemic coming down with COVID; we are, by and large, not the ones who have spent the pandemic feeling its worst effects. Neither will we be the ones affected most by the omicron wave, which is, at the scale of public health, very concerning. If you come down with COVID while fully vaxxed (which is, yes, now more likely), the vaccine will still do an awful lot to protect you. This shift is unsettling, and yes, it is newsworthy. Maybe you should shift your behavior now, depending on what your behavior was previously, what your risk tolerance is, and whom you interact with. But individual shifts in behavior cant fix the real problem, which is systemic. As Yong put it in his latest, the country needs to do what it has always needed to dobuild systems and enact policies that protect the health of entire communities, especially the most vulnerable ones. This latest wave of people with platforms sharing their positive tests is just one additional layer atop the real tragedies of the pandemic, which have been happening this whole time. At no point have these problems really been solved. It feels like everyone is getting COVID right now because we are paying attention. This story was originally published by Yale Environment 360 and has been republished here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. As wind and solar power have become dramatically cheaper, and their share of electricity generation grows, skeptics of these technologies are propagating several myths about renewable energy and the electrical grid. The myths boil down to this: Relying on renewable sources of energy will make the electricity supply undependable. Last summer, some commentators argued that blackouts in California were due to the intermittency of renewable energy sources, when in fact the chief causes were a combination of an extreme heat wave probably induced by climate change, faulty planning, and the lack of flexible generation sources as well as sufficient electricity storage. During a brutal Texas cold snap last winter, Gov. Greg Abbott wrongly blamed wind and solar power for the states massive grid failure, which was vastly larger than Californias. In fact, renewables outperformed the grid operators forecast during 90 percent of the blackoutand in the rest, fell short by at most one-fifteenth as much as gas plants. Instead, other causes, such as inadequately weatherized power plants and natural gas shutting down because of frozen equipment, led to most of the states electricity shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Europe, the usual target is Germany, in part because of its Energiewende (energy transformation) policies for shifting from fossil fuels and nuclear energy to efficient use and renewables. The newly elected German government plans to accelerate the former and complete the latter, but some critics have warned that Germany is running up against the limits of renewables. In reality, it is entirely possible to sustain a reliable electricity system based on renewable energy sources plus a combination of other means, including improved methods of energy management and storage. A clearer understanding of how to dependably manage electricity supply is vital because climate threats require a rapid shift to renewable sources like solar and wind power. This transition has been sped by plummeting costsBloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that solar and wind are the cheapest source for 91 percent of the worlds electricitybut is being held back by misinformation and myths. Advertisement Advertisement Myth No. 1: A grid that increasingly relies on renewable energy is an unreliable grid. Going by the cliche In God we trust; all others bring data, its worth looking at the statistics on grid reliability in countries with high levels of renewables. The indicator most often used to describe grid reliability is the average power outage duration experienced by each customer in a year, a metric known by the tongue-tying name of System Average Interruption Duration Index, or SAIDI. Based on this metric, Germanywhere renewables supply nearly half of the countrys electricityboasts a grid that is one of the most reliable in Europe and the world. In 2020, SAIDI was just 0.25 hours in Germany. Only Liechtenstein (0.08 hours), and Finland and Switzerland (0.2 hours), did better in Europe, where in 2020 electricity generation was 38 percent renewable (ahead of the worlds 29 percent). Countries like France (0.35 hours) and Sweden (0.61 hours)both far more reliant on nuclear powerdid worse, for various reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States, where renewable energy and nuclear power each provide roughly 20 percent of electricity, had five times Germanys outage rate1.28 hours in 2020. Since 2006, Germanys renewable share of electricity generation has nearly quadrupled, while its power outage rate was nearly halved. Similarly, the Texas grid became more stable as its wind capacity sextupled from 200720. Today, Texas generates more wind power, at about a fifth of its total electricity, than any other state in the U.S. Myth No. 2: Countries like Germany must continue to rely on fossil fuels to stabilize the grid and back up variable wind and solar power. Again, the official data say otherwise. Between 2010the year before the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japanand 2020, Germanys energy generation from fossil fuels declined by 130.9 terawatt-hours, and generation from nuclear declined by 76.3 terawatt-hours. These were more than offset by increased generation from renewables (149.5 terawatt hours) and energy savings that decreased consumption by 38 terawatt hours in 2019, before the pandemic cut economic activity too. By 2020, Germanys greenhouse gas emissions had declined by 42.3 percent below its 1990 levels, beating the target of 40 percent set in 2007. Emissions of carbon dioxide from just the power sector declined from 315 million tons in 2010 to 185 million tons in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So as the percentage of electricity generated by renewables in Germany steadily grew, its grid reliability improved, and its coal burning and greenhouse gas emissions substantially decreased. In Japan, following the multiple reactor meltdowns at Fukushima, more than 40 nuclear reactors closed permanently or indefinitely without materially raising fossil-fueled generation or greenhouse gas emissions; electricity savings and renewable energy offset virtually the whole loss, despite policies that suppressed renewables. Advertisement Myth No. 3: Because solar and wind energy can be generated only when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, they cannot be the basis of a grid that has to provide electricity 24/7 year-round. While variable output is a challenge, it is neither new nor especially hard to manage. No kind of power plant runs 24/7, 365 days a year, and operating a grid always involves managing variability of demand at all times. Even with no solar and wind power (which tend to work dependably at different times and seasons, making shortfalls less likely), all electricity supply varies. Advertisement Seasonal variations in water availability reduce electricity output from hydroelectric dams. Nuclear plants must be shut down for refueling or maintenance, and big fossil and nuclear plants are typically out of action roughly 7 percent to 12 percent of the time, sometimes much more. A coal plants fuel supply might be interrupted by the derailment of a train or failure of a bridge. A nuclear plant or fleet might unexpectedly have to be shut down for safety reasons, as Japans biggest plant was from 200709. Every French nuclear plant was, on average, shut down for 96.2 days in 2019 due to planned or forced unavailability. That rose to 115.5 days in 2020, when French nuclear plants generated less than 65 percent of the electricity they theoretically could have produced. Comparing expected performance with actual results, one might even say that nuclear power was Frances most intermittent 2020 source of electricity. Advertisement Advertisement Climate- and weather-related factors have caused multiple nuclear plant interruptions, which have become seven times more frequent in the past decade. Even normally steady nuclear output can fail abruptly and lastingly, as in Japan after the Fukushima disaster, or in the northeastern U.S. after the 2003 regional blackout, which triggered abrupt shutdowns that caused nine reactors to produce almost no power for several days, and to take nearly two weeks to return to full output. Advertisement Advertisement Thus, all sources of power will be unavailable sometime or other. Managing a grid has to deal with that reality just as much as it has to deal with fluctuating demand. The influx of larger amounts of renewable energy does not change that reality, even if the ways the grid deals with variability and uncertainty are changing. Modern grid operators emphasize diversity and flexibility rather than nominally steady but less flexible baseload generation sources. Diversified renewable portfolios dont fail as massively, lastingly, or unpredictably as big thermal power stations do. Advertisement The purpose of an electric grid is not just to transmit and distribute electricity as demand fluctuates, but also to back up nonfunctional plants with working plantsthat is, to manage the intermittency of traditional fossil and nuclear plants. In the same way, but more easily and often at lower cost, the grid can rapidly back up wind and solar photovoltaics predictable variations with other renewables, of other kinds or in other places, or both. This has become easier with todays far more accurate forecasting of weather and wind speeds, thus allowing better prediction of the output of variable renewables. Local or on-site renewables are even more resilient because they largely or wholly bypass the grid, where nearly all power failures begin. And modern power electronics have reliably run the billion-watt South Australian grid on just sun and wind for days on end, with no coal, no hydro, no nuclear, and at most the 4.4-percent natural gas generation currently required by the grid regulator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most discussions of renewables focus on batteries and other electric storage technologies to mitigate variability. This is not surprising because batteries are rapidly becoming cheaper and widely deployed. At the same time, new storage technologies with diverse attributes continue to emerge; the U.S. Department of Energy Global Energy Storage Database lists 30 kinds already deployed or under construction. Meanwhile, many other and less expensive carbon-free ways exist to deal with variable renewables besides giant batteries. Advertisement The first and foremost is energy efficiency, which reduces demand, especially during periods of peak use. Buildings that are more efficient need less heating or cooling and change their temperature more slowly, so they can coast longer on their own thermal capacity and thus sustain comfort with less energy, especially during peak-load periods. Advertisement A second option is demand flexibility or demand response, wherein utilities compensate electricity customers that lower their use when askedoften automatically and imperceptiblyhelping balance supply and demand. One recent study found that the U.S. has 200 gigawatts of cost-effective load flexibility potential that could be realized by 2030 if effective demand response is actively pursued. Indeed, the biggest lesson from recent shortages in California might be the greater appreciation of the need for demand response. Following the challenges of the past two summers, the California Public Utilities Commission has instituted the Emergency Load Reduction Program to build on earlier demand response efforts. Advertisement Some evidence suggests an even larger potential: An hourly simulation of the 2050 Texas grid found that eight types of demand response could eliminate the steep ramp of early-evening power demand as solar output wanes and household loads spike. For example, currently available ice-storage technology freezes water using lower-cost electricity and cooler air, usually at night, and then uses the ice to cool buildings during hot days. This reduces electricity demand from air conditioning, and saves money, partly because storage capacity for heating or cooling is far cheaper than storing electricity to deliver them. Likewise, without changing driving patterns, many electric vehicles can be intelligently charged when electricity is more abundant, affordable, and renewable. Advertisement A third option for stabilizing the grid as renewable energy generation increases is diversity, both of geography and of technologyonshore wind, offshore wind, solar panels, solar thermal power, geothermal, hydropower, burning municipal or industrial or agricultural wastes. The idea is simple: If one of these sources, at one location, is not generating electricity at a given time, odds are that some others will be. Advertisement Finally, some forms of storage, such as electric vehicle batteries, are already economical today. Simulations show that ice-storage air conditioning in buildings, plus smart charging of electric cars, which are parked 96 percent of the time, to and from the grid, could enable Texas in 2050 to use 100 percent renewable electricity without needing giant batteries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To pick a much tougher case, the dark doldrums of European winters are often claimed to need many months of battery storage for an all-renewable electrical grid. Yet top German and Belgian grid operators find that Europe would need only one to two weeks of renewably derived backup fuel, providing just 6 percent of winter outputnot a huge challenge. The bottom line is simple. Electrical grids can deal with much larger fractions of renewable energy at zero or modest cost, and this has been known for quite a while. Some European countries with little or no hydropower already get about half to three-fourths of their electricity from renewables with grid reliability better than that of the U.S. It is time to get past the myths. America is awash in vaccines. After a winter and spring where it was very, very difficult to get an appointment, we now have plenty of doses to go around. Kids over 5 can get shots, and the FDA even greenlit boosters for older teenagers last week. Immunizations may be critical to subdue the omicron variant, as many experts believe they will still protect against severe disease and that a booster will likely reduce the chances youll play a role in transmitting the virus to others. And yet, about 40 million adults remain unvaccinatedwhich may turbocharge a deadly surge that could push America north of a million cumulative deaths by this spring. Advertisement The unvaccinated are reachableat least a very good chunk of them. According to an October census report, 53 percent of the unvaccinated were still open to the shot. Of those willing to be vaccinated, according to a report by the COVID States Project, most had concerns about vaccine safety or side effects. But nearly 40 percent also cited logistical issues such as travel to a vaccine site, or being unable to take time off work. In other words: They just havent been able to get around to it. We hear about these people who dont want the vaccine because theyre going to track us with a microchip, said Dr. Jannette Berkley-Patton, a professor of biomedical and health informatics at the University of MissouriKansas City School of Medicine and director of the universitys Health Equity Institute. But theres this whole other group of people, she said, who arent necessarily no-to-vaccinate they are slow-to-vaccinate. Traditional modes of public health communication arent going to reach them. So how do you reach them? Weve got to hit the sidewalks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berkley-Pattons own sidewalks crisscross Kansas Citys East Side, which consists of predominantly Black neighborhoods. Berkley-Patton grew up in one of those neighborhoods and for the past 15 years has leveraged her professional expertise and deep community connections to address health inequities in conditions ranging from HIV to diabetes. In the past two years, Berkley-Patton has secured $10 million in federal grants to battle COVID-19 specifically, with her latest efforts focused on increasing access to vaccines in some of Kansas Citys most socially vulnerable ZIP codes. In February of 2021, East Side communities were getting left behind in the race to vaccinate, with some of the lowest rates in the citydespite Black Americans in Kansas City being almost twice as likely to die of COVID as white Kansas city residents are. To increase vaccination in these areas, Berkley-Patton launched a project called Our Healthy KC Eastside. She selected four people to helm her efforts: a faith leader, a youth association leader, a neighborhood association leader, and a business leader. Each of those leaders worked with the University of MissouriKansas City to recruit up to 15 existing organizations or entities in their sectorchurches, restaurants, a local Boys & Girls Clubto help people sign up for vaccines. Each of these organizations identified two to three of their members to serve as community health liaisons. Berkley-Pattons program trained them to encourage people to sign up for vaccination and, in the logistics of coordinating a vaccination event, armed them with answers to common questions about the shot and the virus. All told, nearly 60 organizations and an army of volunteers are working on the ground to get shots into arms. I call it a machine, Berkley-Patton said. The original goal was to vaccinate 5,000 residents, but Berkley-Pattons machine is at 9,000 and counting. Today, about 75 percent of adults in those ZIP codes are vaccinated, according to the citys data dashboard, compared with the citywide average of about 50 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berkley-Patton said that community-embedded vaccination clinics give the slow-to-vaccinate a chance to ask questions of people they trust. We made sure the communitychurch members, youth peers, business ownerswere the ones actually meeting and talking with their neighbors. A lot of people, she noted, arent really vaccine-hesitant in the way you might imaginethat is, they arent actively resistant to getting the shot. They just have questions, but may not have a health care provider: We can say, Hey, we have a physician right here. A lot of these people dont have opportunities to meet with a doctor or pharmacist for 20 minutes to ask questions. After talking to a doctor, she said, most peoples concernsusually about side effects or vaccine safetywere allayed. At this stage of the pandemic, Berkley-Patton said, there may be no way forward but these labor-intensive community efforts, which involve one-on-ones or small group discussions with trusted community members. We had a Garth Brooks concert at Arrowhead Stadium [with 70,000 attendees], and they set up one of these huge vaccination events, and I think they vaccinate, like, 35 people? Wed see over 60 people get vaccinated at a single small community event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But answering questions doesnt get at the simplest reason many people wont get vaccinated: time. Those most vulnerable to COVID are more likely to be lower-income essential workerspeople who cant work from home, who often juggle two or three low-paying jobs with little security, living paycheck to paycheck. Plus, if they had tried to get a vaccine earlier in the rollout, they may well have been met with a clogged hotline. If you have a 15-minute break, you cant be on hold for an hour, said Dr. Cristina Alonso, health equity director at the Boston-area community organization La Colaborativa. You need to get your appointment and thats it. La Colaborativa, founded in 1988 to serve Bostons lower-income suburbs, took a boots-to-the-ground approach to tackle this issue. The organization trained health promoters to walk the streets, knocking on doors and going to businesses such as restaurants, factories, and packing centers. They carried iPads with direct access to vaccine appointment slots in city clinics. Advertisement Advertisement This booking system allowed people to avoid phone conversations about personal information that might make them nervous, noted Alonso. This can be a barrier for undocumented immigrants in particular: Some are like, Why are you asking me all this information? How is this information safe? So we are saying, You can just come Saturday at 10 a.m., no ID necessary. And that was keya vaccine without all the layers of bureaucracy that the rest of the state or other health systems were asking people to navigate. It seems to be helping. In the suburb of Chelsea, where efforts are concentrated, 92 percent of everyone over age 12 is fully vaccinatedmuch higher than rates in neighboring cities. Advertisement Another strategy is to bundle vaccination with other community serviceswhat Alonso calls a wraparound approach. Vaccine appointment assistance is offered at the same locations that provide boxes of food. Volunteers already walk the lines asking if people need eviction help or are in an abusive situation at home or at workand connect them to what they need. The vaccine is just one more service to offer. We often expect the most vulnerable and the most disadvantaged to spend their day navigating social services, said Alonso. The system makes receiving help very, very inconvenient: We want them to go to one office for their housing support, another office for their SNAP, another office to report their husbands violent behavior, another office for their vaccine, another office to apply for health insurance and check up on their medical bill that they dont understand, Alonso said. People are going to prioritize whats most important. Obviously food and housing are going to be more important than a vaccine. So when you separate access to a vaccine from all of the other tragedies that people are navigating, thats a barrier in and of itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres lately been a lot of talk among pundits about pandemic off-ramps and returning to normalcy. There is fury at the unvaccinated for prolonging the wait. This view might be understandable if you assume the unvaccinated are affluent political rivals duped by medical charlatans and YouTube mountebanks. Some of them certainly are. But pleas to trust science and just get the shot already start to sound a bit more tone-deaf when you consider that members of the unvaccinated population are just as likely to be the essential workers that this same work-from-home crowd depends on. And even as its very annoying or even quite scary for the privileged to worry about breakthrough infections, the chattering classes are not the people whose lives are, on balance, most at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a startling fact: Of the nearly 400,000 Americans who died of COVID-19 in 2020, only 3,746 of them, or a mere 1 percent, were college-educated non-Hispanic white individuals between 25 and 64 years old. If college-educated white Americans between 25 and 64 years old died at the same rate as people of color with a high school education or less in that same age range, then 45,340 would have dieda 1,110 percent increase. According to a recent study, if people of color between 25 and 64 years old experienced the same death rates as educated white people, the number of deaths would have been slashed by 89 percent, saving about 40,000 lives in 2020 alone. (Justin Feldman, a social epidemiologist at Harvard and a first author on that study, helped me crunch the numbers in this paragraph). If all people in America had experienced the same death rates as educated white people did, almost 200,000 lives would have been spared. Advertisement Advertisement In some ways, these past two years were the great health transfer of a generation. Despite all the praise heaped upon essential workers in 2020, all the banging on pots and pans, many could still face down omicron unvaccinated. (Preliminary evidence suggests that vaccinesespecially a third dosewill offer protection against severe outcomes, even with omicron.) So what are the work-from-homers to do? I spoke to S. Mitra Kalita, who lives in Jackson Heights, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in New York City, where 1 out of every 158 people has died of COVID-19. As the pandemic devastated her neighborhood, Kalita, at the time a senior vice president at CNN, realized that the 20-block radius around your house never mattered more. That year, she quit her job and founded Epicenter NYC, a hyperlocal news and community organization that recently received a city grant to boost vaccine uptake in underserved communities. Advertisement Kalita would like to see less talk about a return to normal and instead an urgency to vaccinate the millions who are willing to receive one, or get boosters into the arms of the most vulnerable: We need the same mindset as back in the winter or spring of this year in terms of how we were talking about vaccines and volunteering to try to help people get them. Even if you dont go so far as to start an organization like Kalitas, you can still volunteerwhich could be as simple as posting flyers, helping people schedule appointments and reach vaccine clinics, or advocating for equity-driven pandemic policies (this will take a little Googling around, to find one local to you). Or, if you dont have the time but do have the money, you can make vaccine equity part of your end-of-the-year charity goals by donating either to local community organizations or international vaccine equity initiatives. At a minimum, you can use the tools we already havegetting boosted, wearing a good mask, using rapid tests, and isolatingto reduce spread in the omicron era. But, as Kalita pointed out to me, these efforts arent some munificent acts of benevolence that the privileged should pat themselves on the back fortheyre a moral obligation. You arent giving back because you have, she said, youre giving back because you took. Investment aid is an important tool that reduces disparities across Slovakia with the aim of promoting investments in less developed Slovak regions and increasing the competitiveness of the economy. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Investment aid is an important tool that reduces disparities across Slovakia with the aim of promoting investments in less developed Slovak regions and increasing the competitiveness of the economy. Support for new and established investors for the realisation of their investment projects in existing or new operations is another key feature. Investment Advisory Guide Well-arranged information about the economy, labour market, investor support, legislation, and real estate as well as investment opportunities in Slovakia. For more details visit ouronline shop. On September 16, 2021, the European Commission approved Slovakias map for granting regional aid from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2027 under EU state aid rules. An official press release states that the Slovak regional aid map is among the first maps approved by the commission under the framework of the revised Regional Aid Guidelines (RAG). The revised RAG, adopted by the commission on April 19, 2021 and coming into force on January 1, 2022, enable member states to support the least-favoured European regions to catch up and reduce disparities in economic well-being, income and unemployment cohesion objectives that are at the heart of the union. Under the revised RAG, regions including 87.97% of the population of Slovakia, will be eligible for regional investment aid. Maximum aid intensities for large enterprises depend on the GDP per capita of the respective regions: Western Slovakia has a maximum aid intensity for large enterprises of 30%; Central Slovakia has a maximum aid intensity for large enterprises of 40%; Eastern Slovakia has a maximum aid intensity for large enterprises of 50%. In these areas, the maximum aid intensities may be increased by 10% for investments made by medium-sized enterprises and by 20% for investments made by small enterprises, for their initial investments with eligible costs of up to 50 million. The abduction case of the president's son can now proceed. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Former head of the Slovak Information Service (SIS), Ivan Lexa, and 12 other people, have reason to worry that they may end up in prison again. The case pertains to the 1995 abduction of the son of the Slovak president, in which former members of SIS are accused of committing a series of offences. The Court of Justice of the European Union announced a verdict on Thursday, December 16, which allows the criminal prosecution to continue. According to the verdict, nothing is standing in the way of a European arrest warrant in this case. That means that if Lexa or other defendants in the case fled Slovakia to escape prosecution, it will be possible to issue the arrest warrant. Related article Related article Kovac Jr abduction: Luxembourg court looking at cases now Read more Lexa inquires if he could be arrested abroad The abduction took place in 1995, and later Vladimir Meciar issued blanket amnesties that prevented prosecution in the case. After numerous attempts, the Slovak parliament scrapped the amnesties in April 2017. Lexa's lawyers argued with the ne bis in idem rule, which means that a person may not be prosecuted twice for the same crime. They argued that the 2001 amnesties freed the defendants of charges, or that the criminal prosecution against them had halted. They did not succeed with this argument. The best state hospital of 2021 is in Banska Bystrica. Schaeffler Kysuce will build a new research and development center for electromobility. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. Read the Thursday, December 16 edition of Today in Slovakia to catch up on the main news of the day in less than five minutes. We wish you a pleasant read. Closer to justice after Luxembourg court decision Ivan Lexa (Source: TASR) The Court of Justice of the European Union announced a verdict that allows the criminal prosecution of an old Slovak case to continue. The case pertains to the 1995 abduction of the son of the then Slovak president Michal Kovac. Former members of the Slovak Intelligence Service are accused of committing a series of offences. According to the verdict, nothing is standing in the way of a European arrest warrant in this case. That means that if Ivan Lexa, former head of the service, or other defendants in the case fled Slovakia to escape prosecution, it will be possible to issue the arrest warrant. "I consider this a groundbreaking decision - finally, our courts have the opportunity to investigate a case that has polarised society for many years and decide on the guilt or innocence of the defendants," President Zuzana Caputova wrote on Facebook. PM Eduard Heger opined that Slovakia is once again closer to healing its wounds. Coronavirus and vaccination news Illustrative stock photo (Source: TASR) 5,394 people were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of 17,319 PCR tests performed on Wednesday. The number of people in hospitals is 3,107 and 109 more deaths were reported on Wednesday. The vaccination rate is at 49.27 percent, 2,709,661 people have received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here. out of 17,319 PCR tests performed on Wednesday. The number of people in hospitals is 3,107 and 109 more deaths were reported on Wednesday. The vaccination rate is at 49.27 percent, 2,709,661 people have received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here. Slovakia will support a proposed compromise to shorten the validity of Covid passes to nine months at the EU summit in Brussels, said PM Eduard Heger. Heger pointed out that the validity of Covid passes in Slovakia is currently 12 months. He confirmed that EU leaders should accept the agreement on validity, adding that Slovakia will not object. at the EU summit in Brussels, said PM Eduard Heger. Heger pointed out that the validity of Covid passes in Slovakia is currently 12 months. He confirmed that EU leaders should accept the agreement on validity, adding that Slovakia will not object. The Health Care Surveillance Authority said there were 1,443 people who died of Covid in November in Slovakia; 83.09 percent were unvaccinated and the average age was 74 years. The youngest female victim was four years old and the oldest 102. The youngest male victim was 21 and the oldest was 98. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. Photo of the day A view of the High Tatras from Chopok in the Low Tatras. (Source: TASR) Feature story for today Doctors have said they have no idea when they will be able to clear a massive backlog of delayed medical procedures amid warnings tens of thousands of people may see operations and examinations postponed as a result of Slovakias third wave of Covid infections. Surgeries shunted back again as Covid cases fill up hospitals Read more Travel info Poland has introduced stricter rules for those entering the country after travelling outside the EU stricter due to fears of the Omicron variant. Travellers have to have a negative antigen test result no older than 24 hours or a negative PCT test no older than 48 hours . has introduced stricter rules for those entering the country after travelling outside the EU stricter due to fears of the Omicron variant. . Italy took a similar step but it applies to all people, including those travelling from EU countries. In other news Trnava Stellantis will produce SUV Citroen C3 Aircross instead of Peugeot 208 , the Hospodarske Noviny daily reported. , the Hospodarske Noviny daily reported. Schaeffler Kysuce will build a new research and development centre for electromobility in Slovakia. The group plans to invest 20 million euros into the centre that should employ a total of 450 researchers and engineers. in Slovakia. The group plans to invest 20 million euros into the centre that should employ a total of 450 researchers and engineers. The operator of suburban transport in Bratislava Region, Arriva, predicts it will reach 90-percent transport serviceability by February 2022 . Its spokesperson said that Arriva expects 80 percent of scheduled connections will be dispatched before Christmas. predicts it will reach . Its spokesperson said that Arriva expects 80 percent of scheduled connections will be dispatched before Christmas. Thirty MPs turned to the Constitutional Court, requesting the suspension of section 363 of the Penal Code . Alojz Baranik, whose amendment in parliament was turned down this week, and MP Miroslav Kollar lead the group of government deputies. General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka, meanwhile, has sent a complaint to the Senate of the Supreme Court, which recently criticised him for using the paragraph. (Dennik N) . Alojz Baranik, whose amendment in parliament was turned down this week, and MP Miroslav Kollar lead the group of government deputies. General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka, meanwhile, has sent a complaint to the Senate of the Supreme Court, which recently criticised him for using the paragraph. (Dennik N) The best hospital of 2021 in the category of state university and teaching hospitals was F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica, for the fourth time in a row. in Banska Bystrica, for the fourth time in a row. The recent discovery of Slovak scientist Miroslav Balaz regarding the mechanism on how fats break down in the human body has recently been published in the prestigious Nature Metabolism scientific magazine. Do not miss on Spectator.sk today Guidelines for investment support across Slovakia Read more Universities say no to ministry's concession. They insist the reform will threaten their autonomy Read more Slovaks have unearthed Bronze Age treasure Read more Nearly as many cars as people. Statistical yearbook says a lot about Bratislava Read more If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. https://sputniknews.com/20211215/iaea-chief-says-2015-nuclear-deal-needs-adjustments-in-2022-for-a-very-different-iran-1091555965.html IAEA Chief Says 2015 Nuclear Deal Needs Adjustments in 2022 for A Very Different Iran IAEA Chief Says 2015 Nuclear Deal Needs Adjustments in 2022 for A Very Different Iran As negotiations carefully resume in Vienna to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the head of the UN nuclear watchdog has advised that the... 15.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-15T23:34+0000 2021-12-15T23:34+0000 2021-12-15T23:35+0000 international atomic energy agency (iaea) iran nuclear deal jcpoa /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0f/1091555891_0:116:3435:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_c7adf242f7c8ee9749eda4058c21d01a.jpg The reality is that we are dealing with a very different Iran, Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), told the Associated Press in a Tuesday interview in the United Arab Emirates.The 2015 deal, reached with Iran by the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the European Union, lowered long-standing economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for Iran accepting strict limits on the quality and quantity of uranium it could refine. Tehran was limited to just 3.67% purity of uranium-235 and just enough of the radioactive material to service a handful of nuclear power plants and medical research facilities.However, in 2018 then-US President Donald Trump claimed without evidence that Iran had secretly been violating the deal and he unilaterally withdrew from it, imposing maximum pressure sanctions on Iran and beginning an aggressive military posturing that took the two nations to the brink of war. While unconvinced by US intelligence, the deals European partners nonetheless complied with US sanctions, despite protestations by Tehran.However, despite claims by Israeli leaders, there was no revival of the countrys nuclear weapons program, abandoned in 2003 and later ruled to be a violation of Islam by the countrys top Islamic legal authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Nonetheless, Iran has faced a multi-pronged espionage campaign by Jerusalem that has seen its nuclear scientists co-opted into sabotage actions or brazenly assassinated in broad daylight, along with other acts of sabotage. However, Israeli military intelligence has also said Iran is not heading toward a bomb right now.Part of Tehrans reduction of JCPOA compliance has also been limiting IAEA inspectors to scheduled inspections. The agency has sparred with Iranian authorities over a number of issues, including security cameras at facilities such as Karaj, an agricultural and nuclear medicine research facility that in June was hit by a suspected suicide drone from Israels Mossad foreign intelligence service, damaging IAEA equipment there. An agreement on replacing them was only reached on Wednesday.Grossi, speaking before the Karaj deal, said he wanted to tell Iran there was no way around cooperating with IAEA inspectors if the country wants to be a respected country in the community of nations.In Vienna, diplomats from the administration of US President Joe Biden have accused Iran of lacking seriousness about the negotiations. Although, in a recent bit of posturing US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that Washington was prepared to lift sanctions inconsistent with our JCPOA commitments, which would allow Iran to receive the economic benefits of the deal.However, Iran's permanent representative to the UN, Majid Takht Ravanchi, replied that Tehran needed guarantees Washington wouldnt abuse the deals procedures again. Thraxite 1 " or brazenly assassinated in broad daylight, along with other acts of sabotage" Should read "terrorism" not sabotage. The IAEA should be investigating Israel as well as Iran, Israel has shown itself to be the moral inferior as it is always attacking its' neighbours, (or the USS Liberty). 8 USSuxRuskyNuts The chief of the IAEA has no say in the negotiations of this agreement. Though the US never honors the treaties or agreements it signs so all of this is for nothing anyways! 8 19 iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.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 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg international atomic energy agency (iaea), iran, nuclear deal, jcpoa https://sputniknews.com/20211215/india-takes-on-us-payment-groups-as-modi-announces-financial-incentives-to-promote-rival-rupaycard-1091547689.html India Takes On US Payment Groups as Modi Announces Financial Incentives to Promote Rival RuPayCard India Takes On US Payment Groups as Modi Announces Financial Incentives to Promote Rival RuPayCard Disconcerted by falling business in key markets, Visa Inc has complained to the US government that India's "informal and formal" promotion of domestic payment... 15.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-15T15:02+0000 2021-12-15T15:02+0000 2021-12-16T04:28+0000 finance ministry ustr narendra modi nirmala sitharaman mastercard visa digital payments us trade representative (ustr) india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104106/64/1041066426_0:12:1590:906_1920x0_80_0_0_88b31adf786c8b0e2886ddb90c0c6db9.jpg The Indian government has announced financial incentives of $171 million for its domestic payment systems on Wednesday to expand the use of RuPay Debit card and BHIM UPI (Unified Payment Interface) across the county.Under the planned scheme, the government will reimburse transaction charges levied on digital payments made by customers to the merchant as part of the merchant discount rate (MDR).Merchants have to pay an MDR of between 0.4 and 0.9 percent of the total payment from the Mastercard or Visa debit card customers.Under this scheme, the government has aimed to include 190 million marginalised people who are outside the formal banking and financial system.The decision has come just as Visa Inc complained to the US government about the lack of a "level playing field" in India during a 9 August meeting between US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai and company executives, including chief executive Alfred Kelly. Reuters reported similar concerns by Mastercard Inc in private conversations with the USTR.Visa's rival, Mastercard Inc, accused Prime Minister Modi of using nationalism to promote RuPay. The RuPay Card is used at Point of Sale (PoS) and for e-commerce.In its latest annual report, Visa Inc mentioned the government-imposed obligations and/or restrictions on international payment systems as one of the risk factors that may prevent it from competing against providers in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. The annual report also said that some of these countries, including India, have "taken action to promote domestic payments systems". Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.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 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg finance ministry, ustr, narendra modi, nirmala sitharaman, mastercard, visa, digital payments, us trade representative (ustr), india https://sputniknews.com/20211215/syrian-air-defenses-engaging-hostile-targets-over-damascus---reports-1091555730.html Syrian Air Defenses Engage Hostile Targets Over Damascus, at Least 1 Soldier Killed - State Media Syrian Air Defenses Engage Hostile Targets Over Damascus, at Least 1 Soldier Killed - State Media On Wednesday, reports emerged suggesting that an Israeli-led strike on Syria was "highly likely," as the Israeli Air Force's readiness had increased above... 15.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-15T23:19+0000 2021-12-15T23:19+0000 2021-12-16T00:10+0000 damascus syria air defense system rockets damascus international airport /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105515/46/1055154659_0:270:5184:3186_1920x0_80_0_0_54572b45379556344edfea9cde95ab1e.jpg Air defenses near the Syrian capital of Damascus have been activated and have engaged several hostile projectiles, according to local reports. Syrian forces reportedly shot down most of the incoming rockets fired from the Golan Heights around 12:50 a.m. local time. At least one Syrian soldier was killed during the incident, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.Unconfirmed reports have said that the early Thursday morning strikes caused material damage and appeared to be targeting the general vicinity of the Damascus International Airport. Sounds of explosions have been reported around the Syrian capital. Local sources have claimed the hostile projectiles were launched from northern Israel. Approximately four hours prior, aircraft tracker Intelsky reported a high likelihood that IAF would carry out such a strike against targets in Syria. No country/entity has taken responsibility for the alleged strike at this time. vot tak The world's main problem is israel. Kill israel, resurrect Palestine, and about half the strife and crime will quickly disapear. 10 Hess Why the UN has been cowardly and despicably silent? Is the UN supporting Jewish terrorism and war crimes? 9 7 damascus Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead 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 Evan Craighead damascus, syria, air defense system, rockets, damascus international airport https://sputniknews.com/20211216/as-embattled-boris-johnson-may-face-no-confidence-vote-how-is-it-triggered-and-what-does-it-entail-1091569668.html As Embattled Boris Johnson May Face No Confidence Vote, How is it Triggered and What Does it Entail? As Embattled Boris Johnson May Face No Confidence Vote, How is it Triggered and What Does it Entail? After Boris Johnson faced the biggest Tory revolt of his premiership on 14 December, speculations have been fueled as to a possible leadership challenge. 2021-12-16T10:50+0000 2021-12-16T10:50+0000 2021-12-16T10:50+0000 boris johnson uk conservative party uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091570405_0:73:3071:1800_1920x0_80_0_0_fce849a27489b4a6da41a43b226511c3.jpg After Boris Johnson faced the biggest Tory revolt of his premiership on 14 December, when a total of 99 Conservatives voted against the so-called Plan B on tougher COVID-19 rules for England this winter, speculations have been fuelled as to a possible leadership challenge.The Plan B measure, which includes introduction of health certificates for nightclubs and large events in England, was passed by a majority of 243 thanks to Labour support on Tuesday, but left out-of-patience Tory backbenchers issuing a plethora of warnings. A leadership challenge has got to be on the cards unless the Prime Minister alters his handling of matters, veteran Tory backbencher Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and treasurer of the 1922 Committee was cited as saying. Furthermore, at least two dozen letters of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be submitted to Chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady, who will reportedly be receiving them over Christmas, Conservative MPs were cited as saying by The Telegraph. The Prime Minister who helped the Conservatives win a large majority in the 2019 election has been doggedly fending off Tory sleaze allegations in the wake of the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal. He has also faced a backlash amid questions over who funded a pricey refurbishment of his apartment on Downing Street and claims of illicit lockdown-breaching Christmas parties held at No 10 last year during strict COVID-19 restrictions.In November, he produced a disastrous speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Annual Conference, where he waxed lyrical about a recent trip to Peppa Pig World and lost his place in his notes. At the time, a dozen backbenchers are said to have written to Sir Graham Brady, voicing their discontent with Johnsons recent performances. As the UK PM does not have a direct mandate from the voters, with the party with the greatest number of MPs forming the government, if a sizeable number of disgruntled lawmakers opt for a new leader, this could become reality. How is No Confidence Vote Triggered? The 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, formally known as the Conservative Private Members' Committee, is the parliamentary group of the UK Conservative Party in the House of Commons. It meets weekly while parliament is in session and plays a pivotal role in deciding the fate of its party leaders. The 22 has an 18-member executive committee, the chairman of which oversees the election of party leaders, or any Conservative party-led vote of no confidence in a sitting leader. Such a vote can be triggered if 15 per cent of Conservative MPs from the partys pool of 360 lawmakers write a letter to the chairman asking for such a vote. As the Conservatives currently have 361 MPs, 55 letters would need to be submitted to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady. As letters are handed in confidentially, only the chairman is likely to be aware of the tally. Should Sir Graham Brady receive enough afore-said letters to proceed and a party vote did take place in the form of a secret ballot, the Prime Minister would need to secure a simple majority (more than 50 percent) to stay on. Furthermore, if Johnson were to secure a majority, he would be guaranteed a full-years immunity from further no-confidence challenges. Leadership Contest If the Conservative Party leader does not secure the confidence votes of half of their backbench MPs plus one, a general election would not automatically be triggered, as his replacement would become PM. The 1922 Committee would set the timetable for a leadership contest. To participate in the race, a Tory MP has to be nominated by two colleagues. A secret vote is held among Conservative MPs if several candidates come forward, with the process whittled down to two candidates. These are then put to a postal ballot of the wider Conservative Party membership. The winner is named the new leader. As for the two MPs considered by some as frontrunners to replace Boris Johnson, some sources are cited as naming Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. In recent UK history, Theresa May won the backing of her party to stay on as prime minister despite the fact that more than a third of Conservative MPs voted against her. Tory MPs rejected a no-confidence motion in May by 200 votes to 117 amid a bitter split in her party over Brexit. As for the last time a leader lost such a vote, it occurred on 29 October 2003, when Iain Duncan Smith was defeated 90 to 75, forcing him out of office. https://sputniknews.com/20211216/old-boris-magic-wearing-thin-tory-rebels-warn-pm-of-possible-leadership-challenge-on-the-cards-1091560395.html https://sputniknews.com/20210907/bojo-and-rishis-booze-shmooze-of-tory-backbenchers-at-1922-committee-social-1088846205.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko boris johnson, uk conservative party, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211216/denmark-to-rent-overseas-jail-in-kosovo-to-provide-enough-space-for-its-prisoners-1091562964.html Denmark to Rent Overseas Jail in Kosovo to Provide Enough Space for Its Prisoners Denmark to Rent Overseas Jail in Kosovo to Provide Enough Space for Its Prisoners The Danish prisons are predicted to lack up to 1,000 prison places by 2025, and the agreement with Kosovo to host 300 of them is designed to solve these problems. 2021-12-16T06:46+0000 2021-12-16T06:46+0000 2021-12-16T06:46+0000 kosovo denmark news europe prison scandinavia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104602/44/1046024438_0:4:1920:1084_1920x0_80_0_0_1d37d1a93a83f7cd62b246ddafb19756.jpg Denmark is close to making an agreement with the authorities in Kosovo to rent an entire prison with room for 300 prisoners, Danish Radio has reported. There, deported criminals will be sent to serve out their sentences.This is part of a concluded agreement between the government, numerous opposition parties representing both wings of the spectrum and the Danish Prison and Probation Service.Danish prisons are predicted to lack up to 1,000 prison places by 2025, and the agreement is designed to solve these problems.One of the advantages of doing this is that they do not have to be re-socialised to return to society, because they don't have to be in Denmark afterwards. Therefore, we can conveniently move this entire group so that they serve in another place, Socialist Democrat Justice Minister Nick Hkkerup told Danish Radio.Remarkably, two of the government's support parties the Red-Green Alliance and the Social Liberal Party are not part of the agreement.The government has chosen to make the Danish Prison and Probation Service a matter of immigration policy. I simply don't believe we should be setting up 300 prison places abroad. There are other much better ways to solve the capacity problems. Furthermore, we have a very bad chance of keeping an eye on the rights of prisoners and human rights, Red-Green Alliance legal spokeswoman Rosa Lund said.The Social Liberal Party, for its part, cited scary experience from abroad.The liberal-conservative Venstre Party, which led Denmark before the power shift in 2019, is not part of the agreement either. According to its legal spokesman Preben Bang Henriksen, the agreement is too lax.Denmark is already a country with one of the most lenient legislations, with the lowest penalties for crimes. With this agreement, you continue downhill, Bang Henriksen said.By contrast, the Danish People's Party's legal spokesman Peter Skaarup lauded the initiative for easing the burden on the Danish prison system.The agreement, which earmarks a total of DKK 4 billion ($600 million) to the new measures that apart from the Kosovo prison include similar facilities in Denmark and measures to ease the country's incarceration rate, has been hailed as a historic increase in funding. vot tak The danes continue to show the inbreeding results they showed in 1940. 1 NoGo Is Kosovo on away to become thrush dump? 0 4 kosovo denmark scandinavia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov 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 Igor Kuznetsov kosovo, denmark, news, europe, prison, scandinavia https://sputniknews.com/20211216/dont-interfere-in-our-hindutva-movement-bjp-mp-warns-prospective-us-ambassador-to-india-1091565176.html Don't 'Interfere in Our Hindutva Movement', BJP MP Warns Prospective US Ambassador to India Don't 'Interfere in Our Hindutva Movement', BJP MP Warns Prospective US Ambassador to India Indian Parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy has warned Eric Garcetti, US President Joe Bidens pick for Ambassador to New Delhi, against interfering in India's Hindutva movement. 2021-12-16T10:55+0000 2021-12-16T10:55+0000 2021-12-16T10:55+0000 joe biden narendra modi bharatiya janata party (bjp) us hinduism eric garcetti india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105512/13/1055121343_0:0:4601:2589_1920x0_80_0_0_9a21d739ae3aa13acf26398b3de93d38.jpg Indian Parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy has warned Eric Garcetti, US President Joe Bidens pick for Ambassador to New Delhi, against interfering in India's Hindutva movement, arguing that the South Asian nation had a Hindu identity like the US had a Christian one.Swamy, a member of the nation's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), invoked American political scientist Samuel. P Huntington's 1996 bestseller "Clash of Civilisations and the Remaking of World Order", a seminal book which argues that cultural and religious identities, rather than political ideologies, would be the primary sources of conflict in the post-Cold War world.The term Hindutva, which roughly translates as 'Hinduness', was coined by Indian freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the 1920s. It has gained increasing prominence since the election victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP in 2014. According to Savarkar, Hinduism is the essence of India.Hindutva is viewed as a form of Hindu nationalism which seeks to establish the cultural and political pre-eminence of the Hindu religion in India. The BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), its ideological parent organisation, proudly champion the Hindutva ideology.Its detractors, which include the federal opposition Congress party, say that Hindutva discriminates against non-Hindus, including Muslims.Meanwhile, BJP parliamentarian Swamys remarks come a day after Garcetti, currently the mayor of Los Angeles, said at a US Senate hearing to confirm his ambassadorial post that he would engage with Indian authorities on matters concerning human rights, the backsliding of democracy under Prime Minister Modis government as well discrimination against the Muslim minority in the country.The committee members also asked Garcetti if he would voice his concerns against Indias federal Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was described as discriminating against Indian Muslims."human rights, defence of democracy is a pillar of our foreign policy but to answer specifically, if confirmed, I will actively raise these issues or raise them with humility. It's a two-way street on these, but I intend to engage directly with civil society", he said in response.In addition to Swamy, Garcettis remarks havent gone down well with several prominent Indian observers.Former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal said that the US must learn to respect the Indian democracy and stop assuming that New Delhi is answerable to it. https://sputniknews.com/20211112/madhya-pradesh-minister-vows-to-ban-book-comparing-hindutva-with-daesh-ideology-1090677282.html https://sputniknews.com/20200917/trump-neutral-on-kashmir-citizenship-law-making-him-popular-among-indian-americans-say-analysts-1080482824.html us 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 joe biden, narendra modi, bharatiya janata party (bjp), us, hinduism, eric garcetti, india https://sputniknews.com/20211216/dprk-prohibits-alcohol-laughing--leisure-activities-on-kim-jong-ils-death-anniversary---report-1091582919.html DPRK Prohibits Alcohol, Laughing & Leisure Activities on Kim Jong-Il's Death Anniversary - Report DPRK Prohibits Alcohol, Laughing & Leisure Activities on Kim Jong-Il's Death Anniversary - Report Kim Jong-il, who ruled the country for 17 years, died of a heart attack on 17 December 2011 at the age of 69. Mourning is held annually and usually lasts 10... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T21:04+0000 2021-12-16T21:04+0000 2021-12-16T21:04+0000 kim jong-il asia & pacific mourning commemoration north korea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106726/46/1067264696_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b0f2c9480ef27663b1ce68be30c73d83.jpg The government of North Korea has banned citizens from laughing and drinking alcohol for 11 days due to the anniversary of Kim Jong-il's death, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported.According to the US-run news service, residents of North Korea are prohibited from demonstrating a good mood in crowded places. The ban was said to be in effect during the commemorative events for the tenth anniversary of Kim Jong-il's death.A resident of the northeastern border city of Sinuiju reportedly told RFA that during the mourning period, citizens must not drink alcohol, laugh or engage in leisure activities.According to him, citizens are banned from going shopping on 17 December, the anniversary day, and that the authorities have tasked a special squad of police officers with making sure people are sufficiently somber.However, being too sad is apparently also frowned upon.The resident reportedly added that in the past, many people who were caught drinking or being intoxicated during the mourning period were arrested and treated as ideological criminals. They were taken away and never seen again. Rot Hchild Fake news. I watched a documentary starring Michael Palin who filmed and visited NK, and they havr a holiday dhring this time drinking and dancing in the park. 6 vot tak The usual far right likudite israeloamerican propaganda bias being promoted as a legit news story. Thumbs down, 5th column. 4 5 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Alexandra Kashirina Alexandra Kashirina 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 Alexandra Kashirina kim jong-il, asia & pacific, mourning, commemoration, north korea https://sputniknews.com/20211216/egregious-actions-trump-allies-ask-mccarthy-to-remove-cheney-kinzinger-from-house-gop-conference-1091558625.html 'Egregious Actions': Trump Allies Ask McCarthy to Remove Cheney, Kinzinger From House GOP Conference 'Egregious Actions': Trump Allies Ask McCarthy to Remove Cheney, Kinzinger From House GOP Conference Dozens of pro-Trump conservatives have banded together to pressure House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) into removing Reps. Cheney and Kinzinger from the House GOP conference. 2021-12-16T04:10+0000 2021-12-16T04:10+0000 2021-12-16T04:05+0000 donald trump us house of representatives gop kevin mccarthy adam kinzinger liz cheney /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091558387_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_a10098b1856956ecb243f96140517148.jpg Dozens of pro-Trump conservatives have banded together to pressure House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) into removing Reps. Cheney and Kinzinger from the House GOP conference.The GOP heavyweights suggest that the aforementioned Republican lawmakers should be removed from the conferenced "due to their egregious actions as part of the House of Representative's January 6th Select Committee." McCarthy was given an opportunity to select up to five members to appear on the board, but rescinded all five of his proposed appointees after Pelosi rejected the submissions of Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Jim Banks (R-ID).According to the group of more than 40 conservatives, Cheney and Kinzinger are engaging in a plot to "undermine the privacy and due process of their fellow Republicans" via subpoenas and "other investigatory tactics designed not to pursue any valid legislative end." The list of signees included former Reagan-era Attorney General Edwin Meese III, Conservative Action Project Chairman J. Kenneth Blackwell, former Rep. Bob McEwen (R-OH), and American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp. "We ask that the GOP conference meet immediately to vote on stripping Reps. Cheney and Kinzinger from their membership in the GOP conference," the group demanded. "We further inform you that conservative leaders are launching a nationwide movement to add citizens voices to this effort."Their request comes after the US House of Representatives voted 222-208, in favor of holding former White House Chief of Staff Meadows in contempt of Congress. The Tuesday vote was held following Meadows' failure to comply with a House Select Committee-issued subpoena. While the former White House chief of staff did provide the panel with over 9,000 pieces of correspondence, including emails and text messages, he has refused to testify before the committee. https://sputniknews.com/20211214/jan-6-panel-votes-to-hold-mark-meadows-in-contempt-over-refusal-to-comply-with-subpoena-1091499628.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead 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 Evan Craighead donald trump, us house of representatives, gop, kevin mccarthy, adam kinzinger, liz cheney https://sputniknews.com/20211216/eu-officials-to-meet-senior-us-diplomat-after-her-visits-to-russia-ukraine-spokesman-says-1091559671.html EU Officials to Meet Senior US Diplomat After Her Visits to Russia, Ukraine, Spokesman Says EU Officials to Meet Senior US Diplomat After Her Visits to Russia, Ukraine, Spokesman Says EU senior officials will meet US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried following her visits to Russia and Ukraine 2021-12-16T04:41+0000 2021-12-16T04:41+0000 2021-12-16T04:41+0000 world russia ukraine us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106605/03/1066050372_0:81:2000:1206_1920x0_80_0_0_619cb4413e10af81a19c03fc1f6c35ba.jpg "HRVP [Josep] Borrell and President [Ursula] von der Leyen usually meet partners at their appropriate level. We can confirm however, that EU senior officials will meet with US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried, later this week as part of the EU and US mutual commitment to further deepen cooperation and to jointly address foreign policy, security and global challenges," Stano said.Last Wednesday, Donfried met in Moscow with Ryabkov and Kremlin Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak. Donfried arrived in Moscow from Kiev, where she met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, head of the presidential administration Andriy Yermak and deputy head of the Ukrainian delegation in the contact group on Donbas Andriy Kostin. It was reported that Donfried will also visit Brussels to discuss the results of the negotiations.Tensions around Ukraine have been aggravated in the past several weeks by an alleged Russian troop buildup near the Ukrainian border and claims of preparations for an invasion. Moscow has repeatedly denied those accusations, pointing to NATO's military activity near Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Russia has also said it has the right to move forces within its own territory. russia ukraine us 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 world, russia, ukraine, us https://sputniknews.com/20211216/german-regulator-reportedly-says-decision-on-nord-stream-2-not-expected-in-first-half-of-2022-1091570181.html German Regulator Reportedly Says Decision on Nord Stream 2 Not Expected in First Half of 2022 German Regulator Reportedly Says Decision on Nord Stream 2 Not Expected in First Half of 2022 The German energy regulator has said that the decision on the Nord Stream 2 certification will not be made in the first half of 2022, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. 2021-12-16T10:56+0000 2021-12-16T10:56+0000 2021-12-16T11:21+0000 germany nord stream 2 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0c/1091456847_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_02ea43648c1cff3e3225dac83f3d37f3.jpg According to Bloomberg, the regulator said that there will be "no decision" on the certification in the first six months of the next year.The head of Germanys federal network agency Bundesnetzagentur, Jochen Homann, said that the agency had not yet received the documents necessary to continue the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, media reported on Thursday. The certification process will continue when the relevant documents are submitted to the agency, Homann said, according to Reuters.Meanwhile, the pipeline's operator, the Nord Stream 2 AG, said it is working on the establishment of a subsidiary in Germany but is not yet commenting on details.Bundesnetzagentur suspended the certification process last month until the project's operator complies with the necessary requirements.The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was finished earlier this year and is ready to start pumping gas to Germany from where it can be carried further west and south. However, the project first requires certification from German and European regulators.A joint venture of Gazprom, Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, Engie, Uniper, and Wintershall, the Nord Stream 2 is designed to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. The project had been opposed by the United States from the very start, with Washington citing concerns over Russia's alleged plans to use the pipeline as leverage in relations with Europe, an allegation Moscow has repeatedly denied. At the same time, the US has been trying to promote its liquified natural gas to Europe. After a series of sanctions against companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2, Washington reached an agreement with Berlin in July to greenlight the completion of the pipeline, without the threat of new US sanctions. https://sputniknews.com/20211214/austrian-chancellor-expects-nord-stream-2-to-be-launched-as-planned-1091506897.html vot tak The israeloamericans will keep their cowardly german colonials stalling NS2 as long as they can. The israelis have germany on a tight leash and their goal is to sell their euro colonials the energy they plan to dominate in the eastern Mediterranean, while severing Russia and europe to isolate and weaken Russia for take over again. The israelis miss the yeltsin days, badly. 3 pussymuncher They want Russia to react And cancel it themselves so they can sue Russia for breach of contract during the certification stage.....just ignore them and develop New Better alternative sources of business elsewhere and let NS2 gather cobwebs ... The ONLY people hurting will be in the EU. 1 2 germany 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 germany, nord stream 2 https://sputniknews.com/20211216/germanys-gas-reserves-plummet-to-record-low-as-nord-stream-2-left-on-ice-1091574081.html Germanys Gas Reserves Plummet to Record Low as Nord Stream 2 Left on Ice Germanys Gas Reserves Plummet to Record Low as Nord Stream 2 Left on Ice The joint Russian-European Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has been completed and prepared to start pumping gas from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T12:30+0000 2021-12-16T12:30+0000 2021-12-16T12:30+0000 reserves germany gas nord stream 2 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091573767_0:182:3072:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_1f9065f4f6f714011035e260d361fe04.jpg Germanys underground gas storage reserves have dropped to below 60 percent, a historically low level for the start of winter, Sebastian Bleschke, managing director of INES, the association of German gas storage system operators, has warned.Berlin has sought to partially offset potential shortages by seeking new supply contracts for LNG.Germany and other European nations have reported unusually low reserves of natural gas in their underground gas storage facilities in recent months, with shortages causing a dramatic spike in spot prices on the open market, and efforts by officials and specialists to attribute scarcity to factors ranging from alleged Russian malevolence to poor planning of the regions energy balance.Russian gas giant Gazprom has expressed concern over the low supply levels at European countries underground gas storage facilities, calculating last week that almost a quarter of the volume of fuel pumped into the reserves has already been pumped out again.US officials have blamed Russia for the shortages, alleging that Gazprom was underutilizing its supply capabilities. Moscow dismissed the claims, pointing to years of US efforts to sabotage the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which could have been operational by now and pumping as much as 55 billion cubic meters of additional gas per year to Germany had it not been for Washingtons sanctions.In October, Russian President Vladimir Putting emphasized that Russia has made good on all its supply commitments to European gas customers, and was prepared to sign new contracts on the supply of additional gas to the region. Putin blamed the current supply crunch on a range of factors, including EU policymakers preference for short-term contracts, the unusually cold winter and spring of 2020-2021, excessive dependence on unproven alternative forms of energy, cutthroat competition for gas with a roaring Asian market, and an inexplicable failure by many European states to stock up on gas in the summer months.Despite the danger of shortages in Germany and other European markets, German regulators continue to hold up the certification of Nord Stream 2 which was completed and filled with gas in the fall but remains unable to begin operating without regulatory approval.On Thursday, Bloomberg reported, citing informed sources, that a decision on Nord Stream 2s certification would not be made in the first half of 2022, meaning the pipeline will not be used to increase supplies or ease price pressure in the coming months.Earlier this week, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer told media that he opposed any attempts to link Nord Stream 2 to the crisis between Russia and the West over Ukraine, and said he expects the project to be launched soon and as planned.Five Western European energy companies, including Austrias OMV, Germanys Uniper and Wintershall, Frances Engie and Royal Dutch Shell are partnered with Russias Gazprom on Nord Stream 2. Construction of the pipeline network was on the brink of completion in late 2019 before the US slapped sanctions on the project, with Western contractors threatened with crushing and potentially fatal restrictions pulling out. Washingtons decision resulted in the projects completion being delayed by over a year. In July, the Biden administration reached an agreement with Germany to drop restrictions against the project, but threatened new penalties on the basis of Russias behaviour.Last week, the Financial Times reported that the new German coalition government was in favour of Nord Stream 2, but may halt the project in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed claims that its preparing to attack its neighbour, and has accused the Kiev government of building up forces near the breakaway republics in Ukraines east to potentially try to solve the frozen conflict there by force. https://sputniknews.com/20211006/cold-winter-drained-europes-gas-reserves-helping-to-create-current-crisis-putin-says-1089709034.html https://sputniknews.com/20211006/russian-deputy-prime-minister-says-nord-stream-2s-completion-will-help-cool-situation-on-gas-market-1089716832.html Anton Krupp The German Greens want to cancel Nordstream 2 to punish Russia - Russia should simply ignore Europe and cut off all gas supplies and supply Asia. Close Russian airspace to Western airlines which will bankrupt them. Stop supplying the West with strategic materials such as Titanium. Simply ignore the West and concentrate on Eurasia where they are not constantly baited and humiliated on a daily basis. 15 vot tak Using artificially self created shortages raises the price of gas. Which makes lng gas high prices more acceptable. The the euro public is being psywarred into accepting higher gas prices so non Russian sources, with their higher price tag, could be used to replace Russian gas imports. This isolation of Russia from europe is all part of the israeloamerican hybrid war against Russia and maintain dominance in europe. 9 25 germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov reserves, germany, gas, nord stream 2 https://sputniknews.com/20211216/illegal-us-garrison-in-southern-syria-reportedly-attacked-by-drones-1091570959.html Illegal US Garrison in Southern Syria Reportedly Attacked by Drones Illegal US Garrison in Southern Syria Reportedly Attacked by Drones The Pentagon has maintained an illegal outpost on the Syrian border with Iraq and Jordan since 2016. 2021-12-16T11:07+0000 2021-12-16T11:07+0000 2021-12-16T11:59+0000 united states attack drone syria al-tanf us garrison /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/1c/1083260552_0:97:3073:1825_1920x0_80_0_0_a75bd0e34be2f9c5803320460816181a.jpg The US military has reported downing a small drone believed to be threatening forces at the Al-Tanf garrison in southern Syria, with a second drone reportedly flying away.The military did not elaborate on the nature of the threat posed by the drones, and whether or not they carried any explosives or other weapons. Urban indicated that that no casualties or damage to the base were caused by the attempted incursion.Tuesdays incident is the latest suspected attempted attack on the Al-Tanf garrison. Earlier this month, Syrian media reported that multiple blasts were heard inside the base in a separate incident. In recent months, the Pentagon has reported on multiple deliberate and coordinated efforts to attack the base using drones and rockets. A 20 October attack reportedly inflicted major damage to the facility, although no casualties were caused.The Al-Tanf garrison is situated in southern Syria near the Arab Republics border with Iraq and Jordan along the strategic M2 Baghdad-Damascus Highway. It has been occupied by US forces since 2016. Since that time, Syria and its allies have repeatedly demanded that Washington pull out of the illegal outpost, and accused Washington of using the facility to retrain former terrorist fighters to continue their fight against the Damascus government.The illegal US presence at Al-Tanf is complemented by the occupation of wide swathes of oil, gas and food-rich areas in the countrys northeast, to the east of the Euphrates River, where US troops operate alongside their Syrian Kurdish allies, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces. Syrian President Bashar Assad and other officials have repeatedly accused the United States of deliberately holding on to these areas to complicate the Middle Eastern nations rebuild from the war, and charged Washington with illegally smuggling oil and food out of the areas it occupies. The US government has denied the charges. * A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. https://sputniknews.com/20210922/axis-of-resistance-killed-us-israeli-commanders-in-revenge-for-soleimanis-assassination---report-1089285587.html https://sputniknews.com/20200825/us-benefits-from-terrorist-efforts-to-disrupt-syrias-reconstruction-russian-mod-says-1080273668.html vot tak The israeloamericans have no legal business in Syria and are breaking international law with their terrorist war of aggression there. Their forces and facilities are a legitimate target for just about anybody there who wants to attack them. 10 ECO Erase these bastards the sooner, the better 9 15 al-tanf Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov united states, attack, drone, syria, al-tanf, us garrison https://sputniknews.com/20211216/lib-dems-vying-for-conservative-stronghold-north-shropshire-ahead-of-coin-toss-by-election-1091564003.html Lib Dems Vying for Conservative Stronghold North Shropshire in 'Coin Toss' By-Election Lib Dems Vying for Conservative Stronghold North Shropshire in 'Coin Toss' By-Election The UK Liberal Democrats are attempting to capitalise on the succession of scandals plaguing the Tory party and its leader, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, hoping to win the North Shropshire by-election. 2021-12-16T07:50+0000 2021-12-16T07:50+0000 2021-12-16T07:50+0000 liberal democratic party uk labour party uk conservative party sir ed davey uk boris johnson /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091564586_0:86:3079:1817_1920x0_80_0_0_9af4bde670a7d98855d5118932551787.jpg The UK Liberal Democrats are attempting to capitalise on the succession of scandals plaguing the Tory party and its leader, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, hoping to tuck a win under their belt in the North Shropshire by-election. North Shropshire, the third largest constituency by area in the West Midlands region and considered a Conservative safe seat, held by them since 1997, is up for grabs after the resignation of ex-lawmaker Owen Paterson in the wake of the sleaze scandal after he was discovered to have breached Commons paid advocacy rules. Amid fresh reports fuelling claims over last years unlawful lockdown-breaching Downing Street Christmas parties, the Lib Dems addressed their voters in the constituency on Facebook under the tagline, Tell them the partys over. Helen Morgan, the partys candidate hailed a golden opportunity to send a message to the Conservative Government that the people of #NorthShropshire will not be taken granted any longer. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, hinted that the party is over for Boris Johnson and his Tories. The post was made on Facebook shortly after a photo taken at Conservative campaign headquarters (CCHQ) last December was published by the Daily Mirror showing guests crammed into a Christmas party last year hosted by the campaign for Shaun Bailey, then the Conservative mayoral candidate for London, at a time when when Tier 2 rules were in force in London. The measures had severely restricted any public events due to the raging coronavirus pandemic. Shaun Bailey stepped down from the post of Chairman of the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee after the damning photos were released. With news of the gathering coming as Boris Johnson was himself under fire for allegedly allowing a Christmas party to take place on Downing Street in 2020, breaking the restrictions the government had imposed, the Tory Prime Ministers rating have hit an all-time low. The Liberal Democrats have been handing out thousands of campaign leaflets over the past few weeks, juxtaposing a picture of a weeping elderly woman against a photo of Boris Johnson in front of a party background, feeding into the scandal. Too Close to Call Polls open at 7.00am and close at 10.00pm in the North Shropshire by-election on 16 December, with a result n anticipated in the early hours of Friday morning. A total of 14 candidates are standing, with the Lib Dem candidate, Helen Morgan, earlier tipped by some to become a likely surprise winner on Thursday.A YouGov poll published earlier showed that the Tory lead had diminished by five points to just one, suggesting that the Paterson sleaze allegations as well as the claims of boozy No 10 Christmas parties in violation of COVID rules could have resonated with voters.Other sources insist that that North Shropshire, which had given Owen Paterson a 23,000 majority last time, was the truest of blue Tory seats, suggesting that Neil Shastri-Hurst, the Conservative candidate, has returned to the position of odds-on favourite. Earlier, on 4 November, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are said to have discussed the possibility of backing a joint independent "anti-sleaze" candidate in the by-election. However, Labour, and subsequently the Liberal Democrats, announced that they would be standing their own candidates. The Labour Partys candidate is Ben Wood. The spokesperson also denied rumours of a "gentleman's agreement" between Labour and the Lib Dems. According to bookmakers, the Lib Dems are neck and neck with the Tories. Sky Bet has the Conservatives 4/5 and the Liberal Democrats at 10/11. According to a Lib Dem source cited by i news, the party was nervous but optimistic. North Shropshire is too close to call, added the source. With senior Tory MPs previously warning that a defeat in North Shropshire would further fuel speculations of Boris Johnson likely facing an upcoming leadership challenge, UK Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi told Times Radio: Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: From No 10 to Tory HQ, the slew of rule-breaking revelations show that Boris Johnson has set a very low bar for standards within his party and his presence in Downing Street is eroding public trust. This Thursday, voters in North Shropshire have the chance to tell him the party is over. Speaking on the eve of the contest, Ed Davey said: https://sputniknews.com/20211215/ex-london-mayoral-candidate-bailey-resigns-as-damning-photos-from-lockdown-christmas-party-emerge-1091530643.html https://sputniknews.com/20211213/labour-presses-bojo-to-fess-up-amid-xmas-party-controversy-1091477483.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko liberal democratic party, uk labour party, uk conservative party, sir ed davey, uk, boris johnson https://sputniknews.com/20211216/made-in-china-elon-musk-lookalike-wows-social-media-sparks-concerns-about-deepfake-1091581128.html 'Made in China': Elon Musk Lookalike Wows Social Media, Sparks Concerns About Deepfake 'Made in China': Elon Musk Lookalike Wows Social Media, Sparks Concerns About Deepfake The video in question was originally posted on TikTok, and shows a man who appears to resemble Musk standing next to a car. 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T19:11+0000 2021-12-16T19:11+0000 2021-12-16T19:11+0000 elon musk video social media viral lookalikes /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/0d/1082881779_0:113:2157:1326_1920x0_80_0_0_1677bea37a64483f59faecf9e347eced.jpg A new video that features a man who bears a certain resemblance to Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has recently triggered debates online, as users have raised questions regarding the footages authenticity.The video, originally posted on TikTok, shows a man who has been dubbed Yi Long Musk standing next to a car, mimicking the Tesla CEO, as the New York Post put it.According to the newspaper, many social media users doubted whether the man in the video is indeed a celebrity lookalike, sparking arguments that it could actually be a deepfake.Its a deep fake. Theres a small glitch when he speaks as the camera is panning around; its in the eyes and the mouth looks delayed, one such netizen insisted.There were also those, however, who simply joked about the situation, using phrases such as Made in China Elon Musk to describe it. Clayton S Ok, it's close, but not so close that you couldn't tell the difference. Obviously one of them is smart and successful, and the other one is Chinese. 0 1 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Andrei Dergalin Andrei Dergalin 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 Andrei Dergalin elon musk, video, social media, viral, lookalikes https://sputniknews.com/20211216/maxwells-defence-promise-shocking-revelations-at-resuming-trial-of-epsteins-alleged-pimp-1091567014.html Maxwell's Defence Promise 'Shocking' Revelations at Resuming Trial of Epstein's Alleged 'Pimp' Maxwell's Defence Promise 'Shocking' Revelations at Resuming Trial of Epstein's Alleged 'Pimp' As the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell resumes in Manhattan federal court, her defence team is promising sensational revelations. 2021-12-16T09:58+0000 2021-12-16T09:58+0000 2021-12-16T09:58+0000 ghislaine maxwell prince andrew jeffrey epstein /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/1e/1091135178_0:0:2731:1537_1920x0_80_0_0_93d1ac0a29c218d5c65be5280f66bad0.jpg While the late Jeffrey Epsteins longtime girlfriend and alleged pimp, Ghislaine Maxwell, is unlikely to testify in her own sex trafficking trial, which resumes today in Manhattan federal court, her defence team is promising sensational revelations, reported The Sun.To tear asunder the earlier testimony of four female accusers who claim Maxwell groomed them for the multi-millionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse, her legal team has reportedly lined up 35 witnesses, including a false memory expert. According to a court filing last Sunday, lawyers for Maxwell confirmed their intention to summon 11 more witnesses than the prosecution, after the latter rested their case on 10 December, calling the daughter of disgraced newspaper mogul Robert Maxwell a "dangerous predator" and Epsteins partner in crime. Maxwells lead lawyer Bobbi Sternheim is said to have informed Judge Alison Nathan that some of the witnesses will be travelling from abroad. A request was made that three witnesses be granted the right to testify anonymously, or under some sort of protection, name protection, whether thats a pseudonym or a first name We all know that this case has gotten a lot of attention and that people who are testifying here might get a lot of unwanted attention, especially if they are testifying on behalf of Ms. Maxwell, he added. Everdell insisted that the Courts ruling on the issue may impact the willingness of witnesses to testify, thereby compromising Ms. Maxwells right to present her defence The judge had allowed three of the four accusers who earlier took the stand at the trial to testify either anonymously or under their first names. Evidence will purportedly be produced by the defence team to show that Ghislaine Maxwell could not have been present during some of the accusations of wrongdoing lobbed at her by the accusers. The British socialite, 59, has been pronounced too fragile to take the witness stand. Ghislaine Maxwell is unlikely to testify over serious worries she is too fragile and will not be able to acquit herself properly, said her spokesperson. Amid complaints by the womans family that she was not being fed properly and was delivered in shackles to and from court, a friend was cited as adding: There are significant concerns about her health. Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in New Hampshire in July 2020 and faces six charges over her involvement with the late billionaire Epstein: one each of enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal sex acts, sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of conspiracy related to the other counts. She has been held in prison ever since as she was deemed a flight risk. If convicted, the woman, who pleaded not guilty on all charges, faces up to 80 years in prison. Jeffrey Epstein, charged with running a sex trafficking network of minors in 2019, died in his Manhattan cell on 10 August while awaiting trial, having pleaded not guilty to the charges. Since the trial began on 29 November in the downtown Manhattan courtroom of US District Court Judge Alison J Nathan, the jury has heard four women detail accusations that they were teens when Maxwell, as an Epstein accomplice, allegedly ensnared girls as young as 14 into a "nightmare" after promising them "the world". Witnesses testified the pair exploited them between 1994 to 2004 at Epstein's homes, including an estate in Palm Beach, Florida; his posh Manhattan townhouse; and a Santa Fe, New Mexico, ranch. Furthermore, they claim that Maxwell not only watched the girls being molested, but was not averse to joining in. However, attorney Bobbi Sternheim said her client was a scapegoat for a man who behaved badly. Shes not Jeffrey Epstein. Shes not like Jeffrey Epstein, Sternheim said, adding:Sternheim also suggested on 29 November that the four women who would testify that Maxwell recruited them to be sexually abused were suffering from quarter-century-old memories. Furthermore, she pointed out that their lawyers had guided them to get money from a fund set up by Epsteins estate after his death. According to the lawyer, accusers have shaken the money tree, and millions of dollars have fallen their way. A small portion of Ghislaine Maxwells little black book said to contain contact details for thousands of people, including Prince Andrew, will be released publicly during the trial. Virginia Giuffre, one of Epsteins alleged sex slaves, has claimed she was trafficked out to engage in intimate relations with the second son of Queen Elizabeth II when she was a minor. The Duke of York has categorically denied the accusations and said he had never met her. The prosecution had earlier agreed that several pages from the book can be used for a limited purpose. Maxwells lead lawyer Bobbi Sternheim was cited as saying she anticipates the presentation of the defences case to last until Monday, with closing arguments possibly taking place as soon as Tuesday. After closing arguments, the presiding judge is expected to instruct jurors about how to weigh the case, with the start of deliberations proceeding until there is a two-day Christmas break. Ghislaine Maxwell also faces two other charges of perjury over allegations she lied in a deposition in a separate civil suit, but these will be tried separately. https://sputniknews.com/20211212/alleged-victim-of-jeffrey-epstein-he-was-monster-but-ghislaine-maxwell-wove-net-around-him-1091461300.html https://sputniknews.com/20211211/accuser-says-ghislaine-maxwell-gave-her-nude-massage-when-she-was-16-epstein-wanted-to-cuddle--1091434446.html Guillermo Calvo Mahe I would be very surprised if the Deep State's judiciary will permit any meaningful revelations: 1 Uninformed The only Shocking thing so far is the slow slow Bullshit . 1 3 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko ghislaine maxwell, prince andrew, jeffrey epstein https://sputniknews.com/20211216/music-producer-flow-la-movie--eight-others-die-in-plane-crash-in-the-dominican-republic-1091558431.html Music Producer Flow La Movie & Eight Others Die in Plane Crash in the Dominican Republic Music Producer Flow La Movie & Eight Others Die in Plane Crash in the Dominican Republic A charter plane crashed while attempting an emergency landing near Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The aircraft was carrying seven passengers, including music producer Flow La Movie, and two crew members. There were no survivors. 2021-12-16T03:40+0000 2021-12-16T03:40+0000 2021-12-16T04:02+0000 plane crash dominican republic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091558798_69:0:2807:1540_1920x0_80_0_0_60dbedbd626ca1cba2e9fd7e080fae4e.png The charter flight, a Gulfstream IV aircraft operated by the Helidosa Aviation Group, departed La Isabela International Airport in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday for Miami, Florida.According to data from FlightRadar24, the plane immediately encountered problems upon takeoff. The aircraft circled Santo Domingo before making an emergency landing at Las Americas International Airport. The plane crashed near the runway and burst into flames.Of the nine deceased, six were American citizens. Producer Jose Angel Hernandez, better known as Flow La Movie, was one of the passengers. He produced the hit Spanish language song Te Bote, and his company Flow La Movie has had success growing the careers of several Puerto Rican rappers.The official video to the Te Bote Remix, featuring Casper, Nio Garcia, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny and Ozuna on Youtube accrued over 2 billion views since April of 2018.The Helidosa Aviation Group, which operated the plane, issued a release shortly after the incident identifying all those aboard. An investigation into the crash is ongoing. Officials have yet to determine a cause. Thomas Turk Pilots vaxxed.. can't handle trained-for single engined landing? 0 1 dominican republic 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 plane crash, dominican republic https://sputniknews.com/20211216/nato-says-ready-to-work-on-confidence-making-measures-if-russia-takes-de-escalation-steps-1091583757.html NATO Says Ready to Take 'Confidence-Building Measures' if Russia Makes De-Escalation Steps NATO Says Ready to Take 'Confidence-Building Measures' if Russia Makes De-Escalation Steps The North Atlantic Treaty Organization said on Thursday that it had received security proposals from Russia intended to reduce tensions with the bloc, but NATO has its own security concerns as well, which Moscow must respect. 2021-12-16T21:45+0000 2021-12-16T21:45+0000 2021-12-16T22:44+0000 russia europe de-escalation nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/12/1090007287_0:525:2042:1674_1920x0_80_0_0_6154affac67306a287c68ad168de7e53.jpg "We are gravely concerned by the substantial, unprovoked, and unjustified Russian military build-up on the borders of Ukraine in recent months, and reject the false Russian claims of Ukrainian and NATO provocations," the Brussels-based alliance said on Thursday. "We call on Russia to immediately de-escalate, pursue diplomatic channels, and abide by its international commitments on transparency of military activities.""We are ready for meaningful dialogue with Russia. We reiterate our long-standing invitation to Russia for a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in the near future. We are aware of Russias recent European security proposals. We are clear that any dialogue with Russia would have to proceed on the basis of reciprocity, address NATOs concerns about Russias actions, be based on the core principles and foundational documents of European security, and take place in consultation with NATOs European Partners," the statement continued.The Western powers have postured as ready to take severe measures against Russia in recent weeks due to an alleged "buildup" of Russian troops in southern Russia, which NATO and the Western media have fretted may be a prelude to an invasion of Ukraine. However, while the US and UK have led the charge in promising to sanction Russia, major European Union powers like France, Germany, Italy and Spain - all members of NATO as well - reportedly oppose such a plan, preferring diplomacy over muscle-flexing.Some of the US and UK's promised responses include excluding Russia from the SWIFT bank transfer system, urging Germany to close the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that comes from Russia, and the further buildup of NATO forces in the alliance's eastern flank nations, several of which border or are close to Russian territory.US President Joe Biden has made clear his administration rejects Moscow's red lines, even while drawing its own in the region. Earlier on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Brussels to meet with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Zelenskyy said earlier this year that Ukraine's accession to NATO is the only thing that can create peace in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, where Russian-speaking minorities have defended their autonomy and minority rights from Kiev since 2014 in a conflict that has killed more than 10,000 people. Seam NATO, bunch of liars... 14 vot tak PR bs from nato. By deescalation, they mean Russia should become subservient. It is nato, and their israeloamerican boss, who are the problem. These need to join the human race and knock off this fascist/zionist bs. 13 20 russia europe Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.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 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg russia, europe, de-escalation, nato https://sputniknews.com/20211216/nord-stream-2-not-discussed-at-eu-eastern-partnership-summit-finnish-prime-minister-says-1091564954.html Nord Stream 2 Not Discussed at EU Eastern Partnership Summit, Finnish Prime Minister Says Nord Stream 2 Not Discussed at EU Eastern Partnership Summit, Finnish Prime Minister Says The EU Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels did not discuss Nord Stream 2 or specific sanctions against Russia 2021-12-16T07:31+0000 2021-12-16T07:31+0000 2021-12-16T07:31+0000 europe nord stream 2 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/15/1083432916_0:172:3028:1875_1920x0_80_0_0_04e3f852569ffe0ea95e0025967bf4d6.jpg "We did not discuss Nord Stream 2. We did not discuss specific sanctions," Marin said.The prime minister added that the meeting was focused on the role of Russia in conflicts in the region and, in particular, its alleged actions in Ukraine and on its borders.The summit was attended by five of the six EU partner countries. Belarus refused to participate.Brussels hosted the EU Eastern Partnership Summit on Wednesday, during which the participants focused on the political and economic situation in Eastern Europe.Tensions around Ukraine have been aggravated in the past several weeks by an alleged Russian troop buildup near the Ukrainian border and claims of preparations for an invasion. Moscow has repeatedly denied those accusations, pointing to NATO's military activity near Russian borders, which it sees as a threat to its national security. Russia has also said it has the right to move forces within its own territory. 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 europe, nord stream 2 https://sputniknews.com/20211216/nordics-knocked-down-by-record-covid-19-infection-hospitalisation-rates-1091559970.html Nordics Knocked Down by Record COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalisation Rates Nordics Knocked Down by Record COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalisation Rates Three Nordic nations are now seeing record infection rates, with hospitalisations soaring as well, amid a spread of the novel Omicron strain, despite a high vaccination level. 2021-12-16T05:22+0000 2021-12-16T05:22+0000 2021-12-16T05:44+0000 omicron covid strain denmark news europe sweden norway finland scandinavia covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/0f/1080778415_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_c7afcd4cfaa367c71f79069a92a461f7.jpg Scandinavia, one of Europe's most vaccinated regions, is now seeing record COVID-19 infection rates.In Denmark, the daily infection figure has broken yet another record, with 8,773 cases registered in the last 24 hours. Every day this week, a new daily infection record has been set, the State Serum Institute announced.The number of hospital admissions is on a par with figures from February of this year, the previous peak.In addition, the number of registered cases of the novel Omicron strain in the country has increased by 1,512 in the last 24 hours, to a total of 6,047 cases.Among those who have tested positive for COVID-19 is Crown Princess Mary, who is married to the heir to Denmarks throne, Crown Prince Frederik, the Danish royal family announced on Wednesday. So far, no further infection has been confirmed in the royal family.In Finland, which many newspapers and magazines, including Germany's Der Spiegel, have hailed as the poster child of handling the COVID-19 pandemic, is seeing record infection rates as well.With the daily figure reaching 2,225 COVID cases, according to the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and the Omicron strain on the rise, Finland is considering tighter border rules.Norway, meanwhile, has broken its COVID-19 morbidity record since the start of the pandemic in March of 2020 with 6,003 new cases. In its last weekly report, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health cited a 25-percent spike.The country has also seen record number of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals at 375. Of them, 64 are on respirators, and 122 are in intensive care, the Norwegian Directorate of Health reported.Sweden, whose COVID-19 dynamic is somewhat different from the rest of Europe due to an outlier strategy at the onslaught of the pandemic, is seeing a near-universal rise in hospital admissions across the entire country, with its Public Health Agency warning that new restrictions may be in the pipeline.Among others, Ulf Kristersson, the fully vaccinated leader of the liberal-conservative Moderate Party, leader has tested positive for COVID-19, despite the official party line being that the vaccine provides full protection against the virus.The Moderates announced that the planned Christmas speech by Ulf Kristersson had been cancelled. The news outlet Fria Tider pointed out that this decision runs counter to the Moderates' line on the issue, which is that fully vaccinated people cannot spread the infection.With rates above 70 percent, Scandinavia remains one of the most-vaccinated regions of Europe, with booster shots now being administered. https://sputniknews.com/20211214/norway-introduces-alcohol-ban-remote-work-amid-raging-omicron-infection-1091501805.html TruePatriot Of course they are. With all the jabs that do no protect a person from it and actually puts the spike protein in someone, 62% of hospitalisations are the jabbed while 74% of the deaths are the jabbed. Those that refused the jab are the smart ones and need to stay away from the super spreader jabbed ones. All available date shows this, why cannot the clowns in government see it and act appropriately. The scamdemic is over, end the tyranny. 7 Pres Vlad The Impaler Iv Somewhere in a back room BILL GATES and KLAUS SCHWAB are rubbing each others' hands. 4 7 denmark sweden norway finland scandinavia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov 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 Igor Kuznetsov denmark, news, europe, sweden, norway, finland, scandinavia, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20211216/one-israeli-dead-after-west-bank-shooting-1091580913.html One Israeli Dead After West Bank Shooting One Israeli Dead After West Bank Shooting One Israeli dead after shooting in West Bank 2021-12-16T18:32+0000 2021-12-16T18:32+0000 2021-12-16T19:06+0000 west bank shooting israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/17/1082977195_0:98:1920:1178_1920x0_80_0_0_e24c5bc9109974f2c7a4ae173e83d5a7.jpg An Israeli man was killed as a result of a shooting that took place in the northern West Bank on Thursday, local media reported, citing emergency services. The victim was shot in a car with two other passengers, both of whom were wounded by broken window glass, Haaretz reported, quoting the Magen David Adom emergency service.The man who was fatally wounded was shot in the neck, paramedics said, adding that he was pronounced dead at the scene.The IDF said it was investigating the shooting. A number of IDF troops were called to the scene, blocking off the area in an effort to detain the suspected shooters."After the report of the shooting, a preliminary investigation showed that it was the shelling of a car near the Chumash outpost in the area of the district brigade "Samaria". The wounded are receiving medical care on the spot. IDF forces are searching the area for suspects," the IDF wrote.A photo from the scene of the attack was shared on Twitter. Mo Ibn How many Palestinian been murderers by the terrorist Israeli and no one talk about them but terrorist Israeli been killed everyone talk about shame on you and who ever supported the terrorist Israeli army 6 Joy boy I want 1:1 death ratio, zio scum only backs off this way 6 4 west bank Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sofia Chegodaeva Sofia Chegodaeva 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 Sofia Chegodaeva west bank, shooting, israel https://sputniknews.com/20211216/pentagon-concerned-over-chinese-military-buildup-near-border-with-india-reports-say-1091559406.html Pentagon Concerned Over Chinese Military Buildup Near Border With India, Reports Say Pentagon Concerned Over Chinese Military Buildup Near Border With India, Reports Say MOSCOW (Sputnik) The US Department of Defense is concerned over the Chinese military buildup near the demarcation line with India in the Himalayas, media... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T04:29+0000 2021-12-16T04:29+0000 2021-12-16T04:29+0000 world us china india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/06/1083320993_0:46:3477:2002_1920x0_80_0_0_43e029dba9d2d4053d0b0d47dafd9a08.jpg According to the Foreign Policy magazine, China deployed long-range strategic bombers in the area last month.Within the past several months, Indian officials said that China retains a significant military presence near the Indian border and conducts more drills in the area.It is unclear whether the United States is going to provide India with more military support, Foreign Policy reported. An Indian official told the magazine that the United States was actively sharing intelligence information with India.Since the 1962 war between India and China, the two lack a duly demarcated borderline in the Himalayas. As a consequence, the area has since frequented seeing hassles between the military of both sides.Following a deadly escalation near Lake Pangong Tso in May 2020, India and China boosted their military presence in the disputed region, while simultaneously launching the disengagement consultations. As talks were underway, another two major clashes took place in June and August of that year which left dozens of soldiers killed on both sides. The two countries are currently engaged in talks on de-escalating the situation on the border. TruePatriot LOL - we've heard from this playbook before but that was Russia/Ukraine. Tsk, tsk, tsk. The US is getting desperate. 4 Pres Vlad The Impaler Iv US is pushing for open borders for the entire world to set the stage for one world govt and religion. So sick and fucking tired of my country thinking they can tell ALL OTHER COUNTRIES what they can and cannot do!!! 3 10 us china india 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 world, us, china, india https://sputniknews.com/20211216/presidents-putin-and-xi-hold-virtual-meeting-biden-administration-poll-numbers-crater-1091556960.html Presidents Putin and Xi Hold Virtual Meeting; Biden Administration Poll Numbers Crater Presidents Putin and Xi Hold Virtual Meeting; Biden Administration Poll Numbers Crater Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a virtual meeting in which they discussed mutual security threats. 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T11:58+0000 2021-12-16T11:58+0000 2021-12-16T11:58+0000 naftali bennett russia vladimir putin china yemen summit military spending voting rights kamala harris the critical hour /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091556935_48:0:1292:700_1920x0_80_0_0_ac1f704919f8cfe5c50f50d9e2529527.png Presidents Putin and Xi Hold Virtual Meeting; Biden Administration Poll Numbers Crater Chinese President Xi JinPing and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a virtual meeting in which they discussed mutual security threats. Professor Nicolai Petro, professor of political science at the University of Rhode Island specializing in Ukraine and Russia, joins us to discuss the virtual meeting between the Russian and Chinese leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a virtual meeting in which they discussed mutual security threats.Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins us to discuss Iran. A Responsible Statecraft article argues that President Biden's attempt to appease the hard-line Israelis has failed because they are fundamentally opposed to any detente between the US and Iran. Also, the US is allegedly preparing alternatives for when the JCPOA talks fail.Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, joins us to discuss troubles in the Biden administration. One year in, the President is facing dismal poll numbers and a vice-presidential public relations disaster. Also, the left flank of the Democrat party is upset because the president has failed to keep virtually any of his campaign promises, the economy is flailing, and his foreign policy is dangerously drifting towards multiple conflicts.Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss voting rights. Over 200 members of the Democratic caucus are coming together to press the president to push for the passage of the voting rights bill. Many are asking that the Senate delay holiday recess as a pressure tactic on those who oppose the legislation.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Another Lebanese official has spoken out in opposition to the Saudi-led war on Yemen. Also, Naftali Bennett is backing Israel's shoot to kill policy towards Palestinian civilians.Dan Kovalik, writer, author, and lawyer, joins us to discuss the Global South. Through its reckless use of economic sanctions, the US is pushing Nicaragua and other nations in the Global South to ally with China and Russia. Also, Honduras seems to be breaking free from US hegemony and might be the next nation to look Eastward for economic partners.Dr. David Oulaalou, author and international security analyst, joins us to discuss Russia-China relations. Russia and China have announced that they are coming together to create a new financial system that is outside of the purview of the US. This appears to be a move to bypass the Biden Administration's threats to disconnect adversaries from the SWIFT international payment system.William J. Astore, retired lieutenant USAF colonel and a senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, joins us to discuss US military spending. Our hosts talk with William Astore about his new article regarding the "mushroom cloud" of military spending. Astore looks at recent failures in US foreign policy and examines how military spending has increased regardless of the outcomes of the myriad of military engagements that the US is prosecuting.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com Truth 101 Biden Administration Poll Numbers hitting rock bottom, surely, anyone with with half a brain knew that it would come to pass. 0 1 china yemen Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Garland Nixon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg Garland Nixon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.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 Garland Nixon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg naftali bennett, russia, vladimir putin, china, yemen, summit, military spending, voting rights, kamala harris, the critical hour, , radio https://sputniknews.com/20211216/report-uncovers-chinese-telecom-giant-huaweis-large-catalog-of-surveillance-products-1091557190.html Report Uncovers Chinese Telecom Giant Huaweis Large Catalog of Surveillance Products Report Uncovers Chinese Telecom Giant Huaweis Large Catalog of Surveillance Products A review of more than 100 Huawei marketing presentations reveals the company has developed and pitched technologies to the Chinese government that can identify individuals by voice, monitor targeted individuals and supervise the prisoner labor schedules. 2021-12-16T02:12+0000 2021-12-16T02:12+0000 2021-12-16T02:07+0000 china huawei uyghurs /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/03/1f/1082496997_0:144:3071:1871_1920x0_80_0_0_343b9faa7695553490bd21aad7893cf0.jpg A review of more than 100 Huawei marketing presentations reveals that the company has developed and pitched technologies to the Chinese government that can identify individuals by voice, monitor targeted individuals and supervise the prisoner labor schedules.The review highlighted five PowerPoint slides that marketed Huawei technologies designed for public surveillance: voice recording analysis, prison and detention center monitoring, location tracking, Xinjiang surveillance, and corporate monitoring.A slide was found that details a Huawei voice recording analysis management platform. The display shows how the service would take a targets voice and run it through a voiceprint recognition engine to identify instances of the targeted persons communications.The system was co-developed by Huawei and artificial-intelligence iFlytek. iFlytek was placed on a sanctions list by the US Commerce Department in October 2019 for human rights violations against Uyghurs, after it was discovered that the company had forced Uyghurs to make voice recordings.The slide says the service is for national security and defense.Huawei also created a marketing presentation for their prison and detention center monitoring systems. Created in collaboration with Hewei, the Huawei and Hewei Smart Prison Unified Platform integrates surveillance technology such as cameras and software to manage detainees.A slide details its successful implementation in prisons in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi province, and the Xinjiang region.Huawei touts it smart-location tracking services as able to track targets through electronic means, license plate identification, facial recognition, and a targets relationship network to allow authorities centralized trailing.The tracking services are thought to already be in use by the public security department of Guangdong. The province is home to approximately 126 million people.The report did not find Huawei directly touting its role in the surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, although it found examples of the One Person One File facial recognition method being used in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region, to capture supposed criminals.Huawei purportedly developed and tested an Uyghur alarm that would alert authorities when a Uyghur would appear in a designated area. The company has continuously downplayed its direct involvement in Beijings persecution of the Uyghur people.One of the more interesting discoveries was Huaweis development of corporate monitoring systems to track consumers and employees. One service uses cameras and software to conduct human skeletal analysis to determine individual behavior. The service can then alert companies if an employee is sleeping, using their phone, or is away from their work area.Turning the same cameras onto customers, it can quickly generate a demographic profile. According to the presentation, It identifies customers portraits as they walk by, such as gender, clothing, occupation, etc., and accurately delivers specific product introductions to different customers. https://sputniknews.com/20210624/us-senate-panel-approves-bill-to-ban-goods-linked-to-forced-labour-from-uyghurs-in-china-1083234612.html https://sputniknews.com/20211012/chinese-foreign-ministry-rejects-cnn-whistleblowers-allegations-of-uyghur-torture-1089869147.html Truth-Teller At least Huawei is not involved in rape and dehumanization of detainees in Guantanamo. Maybe Washington Post should examine what kind of software and hardware the US government is using there and in the secret prisons throughout the world. 8 Barros US dirty propaganda 8 13 china 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 china, huawei, uyghurs https://sputniknews.com/20211216/rt-launches-broadcast-channel-in-germany-1091559174.html RT Launches Broadcast Channel in Germany RT Launches Broadcast Channel in Germany RT has launched a 24-hour news service known as 'RT DE' in German that will broadcast live news, talk shows and documentaries from studios in Moscow and Berlin. 2021-12-16T04:19+0000 2021-12-16T04:19+0000 2021-12-16T11:20+0000 europe germany rt tv channel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091560292_0:119:3071:1846_1920x0_80_0_0_b943c7b871e3321d6f642181c150f9ba.jpg "No other country in the world has opposed us and keeps on fighting us as strongly as Germany. But our German audience has been very grateful, as evidenced by the RT DE views on the website and on social networks, which we managed to achieve without launching the TV channel. We will do everything to ensure that our German audience is not disappointed," Margarita Simonyan, Sputnik and RT Editor-in-Chief, told RT.RT DE will broadcast everywhere in Europe, including countries with large German-speaking audiences, such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The channel will air analytical program Fasbenders Woche hosted by German journalist Thomas Fasbender, culinary and political show Kartoffelmus hosted by RT DE reporter Zukaina Grunow, as well as other talk shows and documentaries.German media manager, producer and writer Oliver Brendel joined the RT DE team ahead of the launch.The launch of RT channel in German will unlock access to differing points of view and objective information for European audiences in accordance with the universal principle of freedom of expression, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko said."I think it's very good that Russia Today [RT] will now be in German, accessible to a large audience of German-speaking people around the world. They will be able to get other information, hear and compare different points of view," Matvienko told RT.RT in German was launched in 2014 online and on social media. Currently, RT DE is number one among German-language media by Facebook interactions over the past 12 months, bypassing Bild, Spiegel, ZDF, Tagesschau, according to Crowdtangle.The launch of RT DE has been surrounded by controversy in the European Union, with German media and politicians accusing the broadcaster of manipulations with facts targeting Germans of Russian origin. In August 2021, RT DE was refused a broadcasting license in Luxembourg after reportedly receiving a recommendation from the German authorities. In September, YouTube removed two RT DE channels without the right of recovery for alleged "violations of community rules." Terranian The 1st Still RT German doesn't have a regular "Broadcast Licence" for TV, to broadcast via Basic Cable Networks or Terrestrial, the Licence is deliberately blocked and refused for 6 Years out of pure political reasons in Germany and EU wide because the German Language MSM TV landscape is totaly 'Gleichgeschaltet' w/o ANY alternative POV to the Globalist Neoliberal Transatlantic Fake-News/Propaganda Cesspool. Why? TV is sadly the main news source for a majority of people as well outside Germany and German Language is by numbers the most spoken Language in Europe around 100 Million, a German Language TV channel could be a game changer. YT has censored and purged the RT DE channels. 0 1 germany 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 Ex-Austria FM Karin Kneissl Welcomes Launch of RT DE Ex-Austria FM Karin Kneissl Welcomes Launch of RT DE 2021-12-16T04:19+0000 true PT0M23S 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 europe, germany, rt, tv channel https://sputniknews.com/20211216/russia-developing-new-hypersonic-strategic-systems-strategic-missile-forces-announce-1091584333.html Russia Developing New Hypersonic Strategic Systems, Strategic Missile Forces Announce Russia Developing New Hypersonic Strategic Systems, Strategic Missile Forces Announce MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is developing new hypersonic strategic systems that will replace the Avangard glide vehicles when the United States finds an antidote... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T22:35+0000 2021-12-16T22:35+0000 2021-12-16T22:36+0000 military & intelligence russia hypersonic missiles hypersonic missiles hypersonic weapons missile tests /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091584308_0:0:1255:707_1920x0_80_0_0_0f52c0440bf7d5685c88c381a17483b1.jpg "We must understand this and do it and go further in hypersonic weapons. By the time they find an antidote, we must have found another solution to this. And today we are working on it. There are developments, there is work in progress. I think that this task is within our reach," the commander said on the air of the Zvezda broadcaster.The Avangard hypersonic gliding unit is capable of flying at Mach 27. The first regiment in a reduced composition, armed with a strategic missile system with a hypersonic gliding winged vehicle Avangard, took up combat duty of the Yasnenskaya missile division in Orenburg region in 2019.According to experts, due to the ability to maneuver in the atmosphere along an unpredictable trajectory, Avangard can overcome any existing missile defense system. https://sputniknews.com/20211130/russia-will-soon-have-new-hypersonic-missile-with-maximum-speed-of-mach-9-putin-says-1091142427.html vot tak And by the time israeloamerica is able to field their usual doesn't work very well counter, Russia will have produced something better, therefore rendering the israeloamerican half-arsed solutions obsolete. Again. :-D 4 ema.ruv AUGURI ALLA RUSSIA ED ALLA CINA PER QUESTE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE. 0 2 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 military & intelligence, russia, hypersonic, missiles, hypersonic missiles, hypersonic weapons, missile tests https://sputniknews.com/20211216/russia-not-involved-in-khangoshvilis-murder-believes-sokolov-innocent-foreign-ministry-says-1091568267.html Russia Not Involved in Khangoshvilis Murder, Believes Sokolov Innocent, Foreign Ministry Says Russia Not Involved in Khangoshvilis Murder, Believes Sokolov Innocent, Foreign Ministry Says Russian state structures are not involved in the murder of Georgian citizen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. 2021-12-16T09:59+0000 2021-12-16T09:59+0000 2021-12-16T10:01+0000 news russia murder /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107748/52/1077485248_0:0:1009:568_1920x0_80_0_0_e3fba7bd8f42a688cc0543482c3cf90b.jpg "We strongly reject the unfounded accusations of the involvement of Russian state structures in the murder of the terrorist Z. Khangoshvili, who lived in Germany with the knowledge of German authorities, with the assistance of foreign special services and structures affiliated with them," the ministry said in a statement.The ministry also said that it considers Sokolov "innocent" and the case to be "politically motivated."On Wednesday, the Berlin High Court found Russian citizen Sokolov (Krasikov) guilty of the murder of Khangoshvili and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The defence insists on the lack of evidence base, the decision on the appeal has not yet been made. After the verdict, the German Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechaev and announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. 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 news, russia, murder https://sputniknews.com/20211216/security-guarantees-proposals-handover-to-us-is-step-towards-substantive-dialogue-moscow-1091565341.html Security Guarantees Proposals Handover to US is Step Towards Substantive Dialogue, Moscow Security Guarantees Proposals Handover to US is Step Towards Substantive Dialogue, Moscow The handover of Russia's proposals on security guarantees to US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried is a step towards launching a substantive dialogue on the matter, 2021-12-16T07:42+0000 2021-12-16T07:42+0000 2021-12-16T07:57+0000 world us russia europe /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/0f/1082634948_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_99e9ef8504e162dda65ce1ca64bb4f4e.jpg "Ryabkov handed over our security proposals to the US side ... They are formulated on the basis of the statements made by [Russian] President [Vladimir Putin] ... We are ready for substantive work on key issues that concern both the peoples of our countries and the entire international community," Zakharova told the SolovyovLive show on YouTube.The diplomat added that Russia is ready for a constructive work on security guarantees with the West despite the existing disagreements between the sides.On 15 December, US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried said that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov shared Moscow's proposals on European security, and she will take these ideas back to Washington.On 7 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden had a two-hour conversation in the format of a closed video-conference. The meeting was held amid rising tensions over Ukraine as the US and its allies accuse Russia of building up troops near the Ukrainian border and allegedly preparing an invasion. Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations, warning that they inflame an already tense situation. russia europe 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 world, us, russia, europe https://sputniknews.com/20211216/shameful-punjab-opposition-slams-ruling-congress-after-police-action-against-female-protesters-1091564838.html 'Shameful': Punjab Opposition Slams Ruling Congress After Police Action Against Female Protesters 'Shameful': Punjab Opposition Slams Ruling Congress After Police Action Against Female Protesters Teachers throughout the Indian state of Punjab have been demanding regularisation of services, more employment, and better salaries since August. Since 1... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T12:38+0000 2021-12-16T12:38+0000 2021-12-16T12:38+0000 punjab india congress indian national congress congress india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/10/1091574268_21:0:1434:795_1920x0_80_0_0_c74ea50ed60a42459c68472c5e1f54fa.jpg Opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have slammed Congress, the ruling party in the Indian state of Punjab, after a video surfaced on social media showing several female protesters being dragged and assaulted by the police.The video shows Punjab police assaulting protesting teachers and gagging them by stuffing pieces of cloth in their mouths. Those targeted included female protesters who raised slogans against State Chief Charanjit Singh Channi. The incident occurred as teachers protested on Tuesday during the state chief's rally.Condemning the police action, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lawmaker Aman Arora told Sputnik, "This shows the real face of Congress, what they think of people's problems. A shameful act by state police. The state government should initiate an inquiry into this."BJP politician Maninder Singh Sirsa and former lawmaker tweeted the video, writing, "Had it happened in any BJP-ruling state, the opposition would have called this 'Death of Democracy.' But when it happened in Congress-ruled Punjab during the State Chief's rally, senior Congress politicians Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were silent. It's quite shameful."Another BJP politician Priti Gandhi attacked Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over her campaign on women empowerment in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab are scheduled to be held next year.This is not the first time that the state chief has faced such a protest; on Monday, Punjab chief Channi was greeted by black flag-waving teachers from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar District.Last month, unemployed teachers held a protest ahead of his address at a public gathering in Barnala District. The protesters were later detained. punjab india 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 punjab, india, congress, indian national congress, congress, india https://sputniknews.com/20211216/sheena-bora-case-jailed-mother-of-killed-indian-woman-claims-her-daughter-is-alive-in-kashmir-1091576839.html Sheena Bora Case: Jailed Mother of Killed Indian Woman Claims Her Daughter is 'Alive in Kashmir' Sheena Bora Case: Jailed Mother of Killed Indian Woman Claims Her Daughter is 'Alive in Kashmir' Sheena Bora was allegedly kidnapped and murdered in 2012 when she was 24 years old by her mother Indrani Mukerjea, who has spent more than six years in jail as... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T16:52+0000 2021-12-16T16:52+0000 2021-12-16T16:55+0000 murder crime conspiracy murder charges conspiracy theory sensationalism india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/05/1080667801_0:0:2950:1660_1920x0_80_0_0_88406a5d283d6cb36a9e03fbbc650bd7.jpg In a new twist to the sensational murder case of Sheena Bora, the prime suspect, her mother Indrani Mukerjea has now claimed that her daughter -- who was killed in 2012 -- is apparently alive and currently in India's Kashmir Valley.Mukherjea wrote a letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director saying that she spoke to a government official in Byculla Women's Jail in Mumbai who told her that she met her daughter in Kashmir.She urged the CBI to probe the claims and look for her daughter in the valley.While the CBI has not reacted to the letter, Mukerjea's lawyer Sana R. Khan told Indian media that she has no details of what her client wrote in the correspondence. Many believe that Mujherjea's alleged letter holds no value as multiple forensic reports and statements of eyewitnesses and the accused given to the CBI confirm that the body, then exhumed by the police, was Bora's.The conclusive report also confirmed that Bora was strangled to death. Sheena Bora Murder CaseOn 24 April, 2012, Sheena Bora, an executive working for Mumbai Metro One, was allegedly abducted and murdered. Her mother Indrani Mukerjea has become the prime suspect along with her then-second husband, media tycoon Peter Mukherjea.The murder mystery came to light in 2015 when Mukerjeas driver Shyamvar Rai was caught with a gun he allegedly told the police that he had witnessed the murder of Bora who was strangled by her mother Mukherjea in the car. He also revealed where her body had been disposed of. The investigation later revealed that Mukherjea had two children Sheena Bora and Mikhail with her ex-live-in partner, Siddhartha Das. She had left her children in Guwahati and moved to Mumbai where she later married media baron Peter Mukerjea. When Bora learned about her mother, she moved to Mumbai. However, her mother didn't acknowledge Bora as her child and instead referred to her as her sibling in public. Bora allegedly blackmailed her mother, which is thought to be the reason she murdered her.In the past six years, the CBI has filed multiple charges against the accused and the trial started in 2017, with around 60 witness statements recorded.While Mukerjea has been in jail for more than six years now as an undertrial prisoner, Peter Mukerjea was granted bail by a Special CBI Court in February 2020. 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 murder, crime, conspiracy, murder charges, conspiracy theory, sensationalism, india https://sputniknews.com/20211216/shifty-schiff-top-house-dem-presented-doctored-text-message-at-january-6-hearing-1091579505.html 'Shifty Schiff'? Top House Dem Presented Doctored Text Message at January 6 Hearing 'Shifty Schiff'? Top House Dem Presented Doctored Text Message at January 6 Hearing A Democratic-led House of Representatives panel is investigating the Trump administrations possible role in instigating the violence at the Capitol during... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T17:25+0000 2021-12-16T17:25+0000 2021-12-16T17:28+0000 text messages mark meadows adam schiff jim jordan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/19/1083236944_0:173:3027:1875_1920x0_80_0_0_d5e17cc6c4e1044d28bd563e764eac3b.jpg The House select committee on the 6 January attack has admitted that California Democratic congressman Adam Schiff presented a doctored version of a text message from GOP congressman Jim Jordan to former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, with the altered message appearing to make the exchange more incriminating.Schiff cited the text message, which discussed former vice president Mike Pences possible role in the election certification process, at a committee hearing on Monday. The version of the text presented by Schiff in his presentation read: 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 of the message.However, the original version of the text, cited by the select committee in a statement to The Federalist newspaper Wednesday, revealed that Schiff cut the final clause of the first paragraph, deleted the final two paragraphs, and changed punctuation. The original text was reportedly forwarded by Jordan to Meadows, and written by conservative attorney Joseph Schmitz. It provided a detailed legalese explanation citing US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and judicial precedence as to why Pence had the constitutional right to throw out errant electoral votes. The text was accompanied by an attached four-page legal document.Shifty Schiff Strikes AgainThe incident is at least the third time the Representative Schiff, whom Donald Trump branded as Shifty Schiff during the Russiagate investigation, has been accused of doctoring information to fit the narrative he seeks to get across. In 2019, during the first impeachment hearings against Trump, Schiff was accused of altering a transcript of the telephone conversation between the US president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to incriminate Trump. Schiff later admitted wrongdoing, but claimed that the version he cited was meant as parody.Two years before that, in 2017, Schiff was accused of leaking emails to media purportedly showing communications between the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. and another party about incriminating leaked WikiLeaks documents on the Democrats before their release. Schiff called the email chain very significant and deeply disturbing public information about direct contacts between Russia and the very center of the Trump family, campaign and organization.It was later revealed that the Democratic congressman and media reporting on the emails got the dates wrong, and that Trump Jr had been sent the information after the WikiLeaks information was already made public.Responding to the latest suspected fiddling with the source material by Schiff, Trump Jr. tweeted that he didnt find it surprising.House Democrats voted to hold Meadows in criminal contempt of Congress on Tuesday after the former senior Trump aide failed to fully cooperate with the 6 January committee. Republicans Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney joined with the Democrats in the contempt vote, prompting pro-Trump GOP bigwigs to pen an appeal asking the party to remove the pair from the House Republican conference.Meadows has limited his cooperation with the 6 January committee to the provision of thousands of pieces of correspondence, but refused to testify, citing executive privilege.Trump has dismissed the committee hearings as another element in the witch hunt against him, and has claimed that he did nothing wrong on 6 January. Clayton S He's clearly a piece of shit and a traitor. 3 Steve Jail this Israeli duel citizen. He is a Rothschild frontman. 3 6 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov text messages, mark meadows, adam schiff, jim jordan https://sputniknews.com/20211216/spanish-students-protesting-against-university-law-reform--reports-1091583145.html Spains Higher Education Minister Resigns Amid Protests Over University Reform - Reports Spains Higher Education Minister Resigns Amid Protests Over University Reform - Reports MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Spain's higher education minister, Manuel Castells, has stepped down for personal reasons amid protests over the university law reform... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T21:14+0000 2021-12-16T21:14+0000 2021-12-16T21:20+0000 valencia europe catalonia mass protests balearic islands /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107725/99/1077259905_0:163:3073:1891_1920x0_80_0_0_df84394bd3d747e2fe49601e79aa4473.jpg The minister will be replaced by Joan Subirats, a Catalan politician and former culture councilor for the Barcelona city council, according to the Catalan News outlet.In Barcelona, about 1,000 students took to the streets for the second consecutive day of protest. On Wednesday, they blocked the road to the Autonomous University of Barcelona campus with trash cans, Spanish newspaper Efe said. On Thursday morning, they rallied toward the government building and were stopped by the local police. The demonstration was peaceful, according to reports.Local strikes have also taken place in the Catalan cities of Lerida and Girona, Valencia's Castellon, and Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands.The protesting students claim that the draft law on the so-called organic university system, widely referred to as the Castells law, may undermine the transparency and democratic foundations in Spanish universities rather than make them modern and progressive, as its authors intend. The Spanish government has endorsed the proposed revision, saying it would attract more talents and link the university system to the economy as well as improve the working conditions of teaching and researching staff.The draft law proposes such new practices as allowing each university to create its own skill tests for non-EU students, making academic careers depend on teaching results, allowing rectors to be elected from among civil servants, and allowing wider engagement of private companies with universities.The proposal was approved by the executive branch in August, but is yet to be voted on in the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Spanish parliament. https://sputniknews.com/20210924/ex-catalan-leader-puigdemont-released-from-arrest-but-not-permitted-to-leave-sardinia-1089372667.html catalonia balearic islands 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 valencia, europe, catalonia, mass protests, balearic islands https://sputniknews.com/20211216/thousands-hold-protests-demanding-withdrawal-of-indian-army-from-remote-nagaland-province-1091570783.html Thousands Hold Protests Demanding Withdrawal of Indian Army from Remote Nagaland Province Thousands Hold Protests Demanding Withdrawal of Indian Army from Remote Nagaland Province Tensions have erupted following the death of 14 civilians in botched security ops in Nagaland, a "disturbed area" near China and Myanmar. The decades-long... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T13:18+0000 2021-12-16T13:18+0000 2021-12-16T13:18+0000 kashmir narendra modi insurgency indian army union naga council nagaland india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/06/1091281067_0:195:3295:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_6a4336e9d8811418e00f89b6a7426c78.jpg Thousands of people in five districts of India's Nagaland state marched on Thursday, declaring "full non-cooperation" with the armed forces and boycotting "all nationwide celebrations" against the recent killings of 14 civilians in a botched counter-insurgency operation.The protests shut down the local government and private offices. The Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO), the apex tribal body representing Konyaks, Phoms, Changs, Khiamniungans, Yimchungrus, and Sangtams ethnicities, called for the "Bandh" (shutdown).The ENPO has put forth a range of demands before the federal government, including withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 and an apology from federal Home Minister Amit Shah over his parliamentary statement claiming forces opened fire on civilians in self-defence.The organisation said in a statement that Nagas are "fed up of living under the draconian law that dehumanises people."The Konyak Naga tribe has also called for total restriction of Indian Military patrols within Mon District, where the elite military commando unit shot six coal miners while returning to their homes, believing them to be insurgents. Later, troops killed another eight people during a confrontation with the furious crowd. The highly influential Konyak has also directed customary landowners to denounce past land agreements allotted to set up military base camps in the district.The AFSPA, enacted in insurgency infested areas, empowers the army and central paramilitary forces to kill anyone acting in contravention of law, as well as arrest and search any premises without a warrant and provide cover to forces from prosecution and legal suits. AFSPA has been operational in the seven northeastern states that share borders with China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, and in Jammu and Kashmir union territory, where secessionist sentiments are high.After years of resistance against British rule, Naga comprising several tribes declared Nagaland an independent state on 14 August, 1947. The Indian government passed a special law called AFSPA and sent forces to the areas to crush the insurgency in 1958. The armed ethnic groups have not shunned their demand for a sovereign state so far. https://sputniknews.com/20190103/india-civilian-military-tesions-arunachal-1071192456.html kashmir nagaland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.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 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg kashmir, narendra modi, insurgency, indian army, union naga council, nagaland, india https://sputniknews.com/20211216/turkey-wants-to-repair-ties-with-neighbours-but-whats-behind-this-rapprochement-1091569331.html Turkey Wants to Repair Ties With Neighbours, But What's Behind This Rapprochement? Turkey Wants to Repair Ties With Neighbours, But What's Behind This Rapprochement? Although Turkey's official policy has been "zero problems" with regional players, the country has lost the support of several nations for various reasons. But... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T09:00+0000 2021-12-16T09:00+0000 2021-12-16T11:53+0000 middle east turkey relations uae israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/09/1082841587_0:345:3026:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_f111d12874910ce525de6fada4001ee7.jpg Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit the United Arab Emirates in February, local media reported.The move comes as Ankara is trying to repair its ties with the UAE, following a number of spats that included Turkeys alleged support for the Muslim Brotherhood, a movement outlawed in the Emirates, and Abu Dhabi's decision to normalise relations with Israel in September last year.Souring RelationsAlon Liel, Israel's former ambassador to Turkey, says Ankaras attempts to mend ties with neighbours is not accidental.Although for years, the official foreign policy of Turkey has been that of "zero problems with neighbours", in reality Ankara's ties with regional players have gradually soured.Neighbouring Syria has accused it of supporting rebels and extremists, allegations that Ankara has repeatedly denied, claiming that it only defended itself from the threat of the Syrian Kurdish fighters, which it views as terrorists.Egypt accuses Turkey of harbouring members of the Muslim Brotherhood, involvement in the Libyan civil war, and attempting to establish control of the North African country's oil resources. Ankara has repeatedly denied these allegations, saying its oil exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean was legal and fell under a 2019 deal it reached with Libya's internationally-recognised Government of National Accord.Turkey was also accused of meddling in the internal affairs of Israel by backing Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood considered a terrorist organisation by many regional and international players."At some point, Erdogan had realised that [while he was fighting with everyone], Egypt had become a strategic ally of Israel. Meanwhile, the latter improved its regional and international standing. It is now stronger economically and technologically, whereas on the diplomatic front it also enjoys stable relations with neighbours," explained Liel.After the signing of the Abraham Accords that normalised relations between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, the international standing of Israel has dramatically improved. The trade between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi has topped half a billion dollars, and other Muslim states of the region have started getting closer to Israeli officials.Rapprochement with IsraelTurkey, says Liel, is now striving to become one of them. In November, Turkish authorities released an Israeli couple that was arrested earlier that month on charges of espionage. The move was interpreted by Israeli media as Ankara's attempt to mend ties with the current government."The previous government under former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had personal grievances with Erdogan," said Liel, referring to the Mavi Marmara incident of 2010, where ten Turkish nationals lost their lives after a violent confrontation with the IDF.Relations between Israel and Turkey started souring in 2008, with Tel Aviv launching Cast Lead, a military operation in the Gaza Strip. During the three weeks of fighting, the IDF killed more than a thousand Palestinians. It also destroyed the area's roads, hospitals, schools and residential buildings, something that Ankara could not forgive.The Mavi Marmara incident was the final nail in the coffin. Since then those ties have only gotten worse. Turkey has accused Israel of persecuting and murdering the Palestinians. In 2018, Ankara even recalled the Turkish ambassador to Israel in protest against the IDF crackdown on rioters that took to the fence that separates Gaza from Israel.Israel didn't bite its tongue either. Officials have repeatedly accused Turkey of supporting Hamas, and that mistrust has even led them to divert the country's ambitious gas project through Cyprus and Greece and then to Europe, to avoid relying on Ankara and the good will of its leadership.President Erdogan has reportedly taken several steps in order to mend relations with Israel.A year ago, Turkey named an ambassador to Israel and more recently Erdogan said he was willing to improve ties with Tel Aviv, if it showed more empathy towards the Palestinians.But Liel says Erdogan is not in a position to dictate his rules."First of all, Israel has enough international backing [not to bend under pressure - ed.] Secondly, the Palestinian issue does not top Arab countries' agenda anymore, especially after the Abraham Accords. And, lastly, I am sure that there are other, more burning issues that concern the Turks, like the gas deal and the exchange of ambassadors," reasoned the former diplomat."Right now, Israel feels that it doesn't need Turkey because we have Cyprus, Greece, the UAE and others. But we shouldn't erase this country and we should mend relations to prepare ourselves for the day after Erdogan," he summed up. https://sputniknews.com/20210725/set-for-reset-are-israel-turkey-relations-back-on-track-1083457290.html https://sputniknews.com/20211118/israeli-couple-arrested-for-suspected-espionage-over-photo-of-erdogans-palace--returns-home--1090823597.html turkey uae Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade 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 Elizabeth Blade middle east, turkey, relations, uae, israel https://sputniknews.com/20211216/uk-finance-minister-to-return-from-us-trip-ahead-of-schedule-report-says-1091578643.html UK Finance Minister to Return From US Trip Ahead of Schedule, Report Says UK Finance Minister to Return From US Trip Ahead of Schedule, Report Says UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak will cut short his US trip and return to Britain amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, a government official said. 2021-12-16T16:18+0000 2021-12-16T16:18+0000 2021-12-16T16:58+0000 uk rishi sunak us coronavirus /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/0c/1083589669_0:68:3073:1796_1920x0_80_0_0_21e999e86ecf29e99e848af592186b6e.jpg UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak will cut short his US trip and return to Britain amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, a government official said.Sunak will depart the US on Thursday, the official said, adding that the minister was scheduled to arrive back on Saturday. The minister will reportedly discuss a new package of support measures for businesses worst hit by the spread of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus infection. This comes amid turbulent times for Boris Johnson's cabinet following a "rebellion" of dozens of Tory MPs over his handling of the coronavirus crisis. On Wednesday, more than a quarter of all Tory MPs opposed a key measure of Johnson's "Plan B" the mandatory introduction of health passes. Still, the measure was passed by 369 to 126 votes. However, more than two dozen letters of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson may be submitted to Chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady over Christmas, The Telegraph reported on Thursday, citing sources among the Conservatives.The UK Department of Health and Social Care reported on Thursday a further 88,376 COVID-19 cases, breaking Wednesday's record for the highest number ever recorded since the pandemic began by almost 10,000. Another 146 deaths were also confirmed within 28 days of a positive test, according to the official data.The new record comes amid a surge in infections caused by the more transmissible Omicron variant of the new coronavirus, which according to scientists is doubling its number every two or three days and will soon become dominant in the country.The latest figures have taken the total number of COVID-19 infections in the UK to 11 million, while the death toll now stands at 147,937 since the pandemic began. https://sputniknews.com/20211216/as-embattled-boris-johnson-may-face-no-confidence-vote-how-is-it-triggered-and-what-does-it-entail-1091569668.html vot tak Sounds like the male prostitute he hired stood him up... :-D 3 BillOwens At least it's true, unlike the Russian invasion clap-trap being peddled by inept and failing western politicians. 3 3 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sofia Chegodaeva Sofia Chegodaeva 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 Sofia Chegodaeva uk, rishi sunak, us, coronavirus https://sputniknews.com/20211216/us-backs-turkish-armenian-steps-to-normalize-ties-raises-concerns-over-karabakh-tensions-1091557871.html US Backs Turkish-Armenian Steps to Normalize Ties, Raises Concerns Over Karabakh Tensions US Backs Turkish-Armenian Steps to Normalize Ties, Raises Concerns Over Karabakh Tensions WASHINGTON, December 16 (Sputnik) - White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told Armenian National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan that... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T02:39+0000 2021-12-16T02:39+0000 2021-12-16T02:34+0000 armenia azerbaijan nagorno-karabakh us turkey normalization of ties /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/0c/1083135502_0:164:3059:1885_1920x0_80_0_0_34331327de04b4e426c63495db8574db.jpg "Mr. Sullivan welcomed the announcement yesterday that Turkey and Armenia will appoint special envoys to discuss the normalization process," White House National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said Wednesday after the two officials met.Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey and Armenia would appoint special envoys to normalize relations. He added that charter flights with Yerevan would also be opened.Sullivan, in the same meeting, also raised concerns over ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan and "emphasized that military movements near un-demarcated borders are irresponsible and provocative."In addition, President Joe Biden's top security adviser emphasized the US commitment to confidence-building measures both bilaterally and as a Minsk Group Co-Chair.Earlier, European Council President Charles Michel, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a trilateral meeting in Brussels. Michel in a statement said the EU will provide expert assistance in the demarcation and delimitation of the borders between the two countries. Aliyev has said his country wants to open borders with Armenia.The negotiations took place just days after a skirmish between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops on the border on December 10.Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, discussed issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution during a phone conversation on Tuesday, the Kremlin said.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier said Moscow is ready to help normalize relations between the two countries.There are no diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia - the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 at the initiative of Ankara. Difficult relations between the countries are caused by a number of circumstances especially regarding Ankara's support for the Azerbaijani position on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.The escalation of a long-lasting conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh erupted in September 2020 and ended with a trilateral ceasefire agreement, signed in November of the same year. https://sputniknews.com/20210725/azerbaijans-aliyev-says-serbian-firms-could-participate-in-restoration-of-karabakh-1083460398.html armenia azerbaijan nagorno-karabakh turkey 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 armenia, azerbaijan, nagorno-karabakh, us, turkey, normalization of ties https://sputniknews.com/20211216/us-investigated-possible-role-of-soviet-union-in-john-kennedys-assassination---archives-1091556614.html US Investigated Possible Role of Soviet Union in John Kennedy's Assassination - Archives US Investigated Possible Role of Soviet Union in John Kennedy's Assassination - Archives The United States investigated for years the possible involvement of the Soviet Union in the assassination of US President John Kennedy in 1963, according to published records from the US National Archives. 2021-12-16T00:29+0000 2021-12-16T00:29+0000 2021-12-16T00:24+0000 john f. kennedy soviet union national archives and records administration (nara) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/12/1089176060_0:0:1001:563_1920x0_80_0_0_df448fe8424f0c0966ca236e36f50eeb.jpg On Wednesday, NARA released an additional batch of 1,491 declassified records related to the assassination of Kennedy.One of the published documents mentions a 1975 book by Robert Anson - They've Killed the President!": The Search for the Murderers of John F. Kennedy - that discusses the shooter Lee Harvey Oswalds trip to Moscow, including how he managed to obtain a visa in a matter of two days while it usually took almost two weeks.Another document dated December 1978 states that it is unlikely Oswalds trip to Soviet Union was assisted by some Soviet officials and cannot be confirmed by the fact of the accelerated issuance of the visa.A number of published documents detail an anonymous call made to the US Naval Attaches office in Canberra by someone who described himself as a Polish driver working for the Soviet embassy in Australia. During the call, the individual reported on the possible involvement of the Soviet Union in financing the assassination of Kennedy.The memorandum concluded that the call was most likely made by a crank and the Australian authorities were not able to identify any Polish employee of the Soviet Embassy, as well as the automobile described by the caller as the one he drove to perform his duties.President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Several investigations came to the conclusion that the shots that killed Kennedy were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald, who was arrested shortly after the murder. Two days later, Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby, an owner of a club in Dallas, while being escorted to a car that was supposed to take him to a county jail. A number of theories have since emerged to explain the assassination of Kennedy and the murder of Oswald.Under the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, NARA was required to disclose the entire collection to the public in exactly 25 years - on October 26, 2017, unless the US president decided that releasing the information would harm national security or current foreign relations.The national archivist has since released to the public more than 250,000 records concerning Kennedys assassination or more than 90% of its collection. USSuxRuskyNuts Mossad assassinated JFK because he was going to sign an executive order to bring back the managing and printing of money back to the US Treasury 6 Hess What a HS? The US should investigate the roles of the Israel and Jews in the US. 6 9 soviet union 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 john f. kennedy, soviet union, national archives and records administration (nara) https://sputniknews.com/20211216/us-is-utterly-dishonest-why-tehran-wont-accept-partial-removal-of-sanctions-by-washington-1091576416.html 'US is Utterly Dishonest': Why Tehran Won't Accept Partial Removal of Sanctions by Washington 'US is Utterly Dishonest': Why Tehran Won't Accept Partial Removal of Sanctions by Washington Iran is unlikely to accept a partial removal of sanctions by the US as part of the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington over the revival of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). 2021-12-16T15:44+0000 2021-12-16T15:44+0000 2021-12-16T15:44+0000 joe biden donald trump world us middle east iran us sanctions joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa) nuclear deal vienna talks /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/12/1082662088_0:164:3059:1884_1920x0_80_0_0_b2aa4e2320f92bb362003c18f4e98fa1.jpg The United States signalled on 14 December that it is fully prepared to lift those sanctions against Iran that are inconsistent with Washington commitments under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). That "would allow Iran to receive the economic benefits of the deal," remarked Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the United Nations, during a UN Security meeting.For his part, Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi stressed that Washington should lift all sanctions slapped on Tehran and provide guarantees that it would not withdraw from the accords again and it would not abuse the procedures set out in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231.'All Anti-Iran Sanctions Have to be Lifted'The Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 despite Tehran observing all the provisions of the nuclear accords. Subsequently, the US slapped sanctions on major spheres of the Iranian economy, including the country's petroleum industry, under the so-called "maximum pressure" campaign."Through the maximum pressure campaign, the United States imposed sanctions under all sorts of different names: missile defence, terrorism, Iran's regional allies, the nuclear programme, human rights and everything except global warming was included, when all of these sanctions had one objective, and that was to force Iran to appease the United States and the Europeans," Marandi emphasises.Although the White House changed the rhetoric, in reality, it is trying to cheat Iran and violate its commitments by lifting only those sanctions that were labelled under the nuclear programme, according to the academic.Moreover, while "the US has a range of sanctions on Iran and President Biden has not removed any since coming to office," notes Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.Even though the partial removal of sanctions sounds like a positive sign, it will not make a big difference to Iran's access to the global economy, according to Akbarzadeh. He explains that "many international corporations will continue to be reluctant to invest in Iran because of the extreme uncertainty surrounding the future of talks and the prospects of Irans entry into the international market."According to the professor, this dynamic may hinder the progress of the Vienna talks over the revival of the JCPOA.'US is Not in Strong Position in Vienna Talks'While the US is not present at the table in Vienna, American diplomats are taking part in indirect talks with their Iranian counterparts. Washington does not have an upper hand in the ongoing talks, according to Seyed Mohammad Marandi:In response to Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic started to gradually loosen the JCPOA restrictions on uranium enrichment starting from July 2019. "The Iranian peaceful nuclear programme is developing and it's a leverage [in the talks]," according to the professor.It's the Americans who need the deal right now and the Iranians know that, Marandi notes, adding that Tehran will see "if the Americans will become reasonable enough to do what is good for themselves."At the same time, Washington and its European allies have apparently overlooked the damage their policies inflicted on the Iranian economy and the country's population, the professor highlights, adding that "the issue of compensation is always on the table."The new Iranian government led by President Ebrahim Raisi has adopted a more robust approach in protecting Iranian national interests, according to Marandi. Even though the new Iranian government is critical of the JCPOA deal, it will not tear it apart, unlike the US government, but will observe its commitments. At the same time, Tehran will demand "that what has been signed, the JCPOA, be fully respected by the United States and the Europeans," the professor underscored.The Vienna negotiations between Iran and other signatories to the 2015 deal, including the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China resumed in December after a five-month hiatus caused by the election of a new government in Tehran.At the beginning of this month, the White House voiced its dissatisfaction with proposals by the new Iranian government. According to European diplomats, Tehran has demanded changes to a set of compromises agreed upon a few months ago with the previous Iranian administration. The E3 group of Britain, France and Germany went so far as to accuse the Iranian leadership of "walking back almost all of the difficult compromises crafted after many months of hard work."Irans chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani tweeted on 14 December that the E3 and Washington "persist in their blame game habit, instead of real diplomacy": "We proposed our ideas early, and worked constructively and flexibly to narrow gaps; diplomacy is a two-way street. If there's a real will to remedy the culprit's wrongdoing, the way for a quick good deal will be paved."For his part, Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN Majid Takht Ravanchi told a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday that Iran does not impose any preconditions or new conditions in the negotiations to revive the JCPOA and only wishes to see the restoration of the initial terms of the nuclear accord. https://sputniknews.com/20211214/us-working-with-allies-on-alternatives-as-european-states-vent-frustration-over-iran-nuclear-talks-1091511011.html https://sputniknews.com/20210621/vienna-talks-why-raisis-win-may-give-tehran-upper-hand-in-negotiations-over-iran-nuclear-deal-1083194653.html https://sputniknews.com/20210621/raisis-win-ushers-in-an-era-of-a-more-confident--united-iran-security-analyst-says-1083199941.html Ladyshadow The US should also compensate Iran for the damage to its economy by the illegal sanction. 13 randomsputnikuser The unmitigated gall of these people. (The E3 group of Britain, France and Germany went so far as to accuse the Iranian leadership of "walking back almost all of the difficult compromises crafted after many months of hard work.") That's exactly what the Americans did by pulling out of the deal. And the Europeans backed the Americans up by refusing to hold up their end of the bargain. The Americans and their European lackeys are demanding changes to the JCPOA, which is a set of compromises. Do you think Iran wanted to have to agree to this deal? No other country has to give away their sovereignty to an international panel for having a peaceful nuclear program. Iran signed the deal as a compromise. The Americans and Europeans have broken the agreement, and are trying to renegotiate it at gunpoint. Not even gangsters would do that. Then they have the nerve to accuse Iran of being intransigent. 12 10 iran 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 joe biden, donald trump, world, us, middle east, iran, us sanctions, joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa), nuclear deal, vienna talks, ebrahim raisi https://sputniknews.com/20211216/us-unveils-legal-trigger-for-war-with-russia-1091579251.html US Unveils Legal Trigger for War With Russia US Unveils Legal Trigger for War With Russia American Senators have unveiled what amounts to be a legal trigger for war with Russia, Sputnik's columnist says. 2021-12-16T17:38+0000 2021-12-16T17:38+0000 2021-12-16T17:38+0000 us russia opinion war column /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/02/1091206475_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_5286961643b7e2d79b748e36a51f068f.jpg A bill tabled this week in the Senate looks likely to pass into law because of the bilateral consensus of belligerence towards Russia. It is generally accepted as if fact that Russia is threatening to invade Ukraine despite Moscows repeated denials and lack of evidence to support such sensationalized speculation.Among other provocations, the lawmakers want to more than double the supply of lethal weaponry that the US is about to send Ukraine and to kill off the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe.On top of that as if all that were not incendiary enough the US Senators want to designate Russia a terrorist state if its forces further invade Ukraine. Such a designation of a nuclear superpower is unprecedented. It is an insane move that would make diplomacy and negotiation all but impossible. Its tantamount to declaring war.The legislation is authored by hawkish Republicans including Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton and Jim Inhofe. They are well connected to the Pentagon and US intelligence services.If passed, the GUARD law (Guaranteeing Ukraines Autonomy by Reinforcing its Defense) will increase lethal military aid to the US-backed Kiev regime by $450 million for the forthcoming year. That is on top of the $300m already allocated for the Ukrainian armed forces in the new US military budget for 2022.The rhetoric used in the text of the bill is unhinged. Russias President Vladimir Putin is accused of thuggery and aggression towards Ukraine. The senators condemn Putins efforts to rob the Ukrainian people of their sovereignty, and they claim that the lethal aid makes sure the brave Ukrainian armed forces have the resources they need to fight for their countrys freedom and future.It is the simplistic, dangerous mindset of American lawmakers who think they are playing Cowboys and Indians.Of course, there is no mention of more complex realities, such as the fact that it was the US and its NATO allies who created the far-right Kiev regime with its toxic Russophobia out of a violent coup detat in 2014 against an elected government. No mention, of course, that the Ukrainian armed forces comprise Neo-Nazi battalions who have been waging a war on the ethnic Russian population of Southeast Ukraine for nearly eight years in violation of the Minsk peace accord.American politicians are too dimwitted and propagandized to even have an iota of understanding of what the Ukraine conflict is all about. Yet they appoint themselves as global sheriffs.Washingtons funnelling of $2.5 billion in military supplies to the Kiev regime since 2014 is a major factor in why this regime is embarking on a strategy of increased tensions in Ukraine. It has de facto repudiated the Minsk accords of 2015 and is aiming to settle the civil war by conquest and force. NATO military trainers from the United States, Britain and Canada, among others, are on the ground in Ukraine. NATOs warships and warplanes have increased unscheduled war manoeuvres in the Black Sea region near Russias borders, including the deployment of nuclear-capable bombers. Provocatively, NATO leaders seem deaf to Russias national security concerns.American lawmakers want to pile even more lethal weaponry into Ukraine. That is green-lighting the Kiev regime to escalate its already reckless aggression towards Russia. If it werent so heinous, it would be laughable. The warmongering senators say their legal measure is aimed at deterring conflict.Disconcertingly, the hawkish shills in the Senate for the military-industrial complex accuse President Biden of appeasing Putin and willingness to make concessions. They claim Putin has become more aggressive since Joe Biden took office.Since Biden became president just 11 months ago, US relations with Russia (and China) have sharply deteriorated. Tensions have ratcheted up as a result of the Biden administrations aggressive policies towards Russia over Ukraine (and towards China over Taiwan). To portray Biden as some kind of a dovish pushover, as the senators are doing, is preposterous. This Democrat president like most of his predecessors is a willing tool of US imperialism just as much as these Republican lawmakers are. Together, they are the War Party.The fiendish thing is that there seems to be no way out of the warmongering spiral that Washington is in. It accuses Russia of the very aggression that it is wielding, it is blinded by its own propaganda and Russophobia, and there are no voices of sanity to check the crazed group-think. Biden and his aides like the supposedly urbane Secretary of State Antony Blinken are just as barbarian as Republican knuckle-draggers.The United States is fashioning a legal trigger for war with Russia over Ukraine and its idiotic politicians are baiting one another into pulling it. https://sputniknews.com/20211214/putin-to-macron-ukraine-escalating-situation-in-donbass-with-silent-permission-of-west-1091518331.html https://sputniknews.com/20211209/kiev-deploys-heavy-weapons-near-donbass-contact-line-moscow-says-1091386198.html vot tak "The legislation is authored by hawkish Republicans including Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton and Jim Inhofe. They are well connected to the Pentagon and US intelligence services." ... And also these traitors are 100% agents of israel. The far ringht in the usa belongs to israel and is 100% controlled by israeli likudites. Either directly or indirectly. 18 ASmith_ Zionist bought and sold shill Republican Senators appear to be turning up the volume of the Zionists warmongering beating on the Israeli garbage cans in an attempt to ignite World War 3. What evil have the Zionists plotted for the USA Gov to carry out during the upcoming China Winter Olympic Games this February? Russia, China, Iran all appear ready to defend their nations against terrorism. 17 5 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.jpg Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.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 Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.jpg us, russia, opinion, war, column https://sputniknews.com/20211216/why-do-we-give-a-damn-gop-lawmaker-says-hed-be-ok-with-reunification-of-east-ukraine-with-russia-1091575323.html Why Do We Give a Damn? GOP Lawmaker Says Hed Be Ok With Reunification of East Ukraine With Russia Why Do We Give a Damn? GOP Lawmaker Says Hed Be Ok With Reunification of East Ukraine With Russia Tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine have been ratcheted up to unprecedented levels in recent months amid claims by the US and its allies that... 16.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-16T13:55+0000 2021-12-16T13:55+0000 2021-12-16T14:03+0000 russia ukraine matt gaetz /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/09/1082587786_0:222:2852:1826_1920x0_80_0_0_cda9612b05fef665703d94a97fcdcf59.jpg The US establishment is more concerned about the situation on the border between Russia and Ukraine than whats happening on the southern US border with Mexico, Republican congressman Matt Gaetz has suggested.Only in the beltway of Washington, DC do people seem to care more about the border between Russia and Ukraine than the border between the United States and Mexico. What theyre talking about massive movements of troops, is precisely the provocation that [Vladimir] Putin is looking for as a pretext to engage in military action, Gaetz said, speaking to former Trump White House aide Steve Bannon on Real Americas Voice, a conservative news outlet.Gaetz went on to attack the Biden administration over its recent agreement with Berlin not to sanction Nord Stream 2.If we were so darn worried about [Ukraine], we should not have allowed Nord Stream 2 to exist, because that is what has given Russia the ability to now meet the European energy markets, and to seek to limit Ukraines ability to do that as a competitor, he argued.The GOP congressman suggested that it should be up to the Europeans to care about Ukraine, and bashed NATO as an ineffective alliance.Theres two-and-a-half combat divisions in all of NATO, I think it is, Bannon chimed in. They dont put any money into their defenseWe just got out of 20 years, because of your fight, we just got out of 20 years in Afghanistan, after 10-12 years in Iraq, $9 trillion, 10-12,000 dead, 50,000 combat injuries, suicides every day, PTSD. Were out of that just over 90 days and in this town I cant tell you, they are so determined to go back in, the former Trump advisor said.Gaetz suggested that the US threat of new sanctions against Russia was a total joke, given the size of the Russian sovereign wealth fund. And by the way, it aint like the Russians are holding a whole lot of US dollars anyway at this point. My suspicion is, well do this dance with Putin and ultimately Bidens weakness will be on full display, the congressman concluded.Ukraine TensionsGaetz comments come amid growing tensions between Russia and NATO over Ukraine, with Western officials and media claiming for weeks on end that Moscow has amassed troops on the border with its neighbour and is preparing for invasion. The Kremlin, the Foreign Ministry and the Russian military have each denied the claims as baseless, and accused the US and its allies of inflaming the situation by providing Kiev with weapons and standing idly by as the Ukrainian government prepares for a possible push to resolve the civil conflict in the countrys east by force.On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the United States has an obsession with the alleged threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, telling Sputnik that there were no grounds for such claims. https://sputniknews.com/20210721/erdogan-says-cyprus-cannot-join-nato-without-turkeys-permission-1083433929.html https://sputniknews.com/20211212/russian-foreign-ministry-west-deploying-to-ukraine-militants-disguised-as-instructors-1091468051.html John Greb Is it so hard to comprehend what Putin is saying? Russia is not planning to invade Ukraine, there is no need for that. However, Russia has to be fully prepared to protect their citizens living in Donbas from Kiev's aggression and possible invasion. As long as Kiev stays put, they have nothing to worry about. 13 Robert Gray The Korrupt and Krazy Klans of Kiev - Khazari-Ashkenazi Caucaus Tribals led by Zelensky and supported by Schumer, UKR-POL Nazi, and Burisma-Biden Bribers want the Natural+Industrial Assets of the Ethnic-Russian Resident Donbass. TEAM_Obama-Biden wanted ALL of UKR for usage. 12 6 ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov russia, ukraine, matt gaetz https://sputniknews.com/20211216/worlds-richest-freeloader-elizabeth-warren-claps-back-at-elon-musk-for-senator-karen-tweet-1091572705.html World's Richest Freeloader': Elizabeth Warren Claps Back at Elon Musk For 'Senator Karen' Tweet World's Richest Freeloader': Elizabeth Warren Claps Back at Elon Musk For 'Senator Karen' Tweet Elizabeth Warren slams Elon Musk For 'Senator Karen' Tweet, calling him World's Richest Freeloader'. 2021-12-16T12:11+0000 2021-12-16T12:11+0000 2021-12-16T12:11+0000 elon musk elizabeth warren us tesla warren buffett jeff bezos /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/01/1091157980_0:13:3155:1787_1920x0_80_0_0_0b65cd3e76c64eac7644db3d5cbe75fa.jpg The heated war of words between Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tesla CEO Elon Musk escalated on Wednesday as the Massachusetts Senator denounced the tech maverick as the world's richest freeloader. In an interview with MSNBC host Joy Reid, Warren was responding to Musk's now infamous Senator Karen tweet aimed at her, after she had accused him of taking advantage of the rigged US tax code to dodge payments. The world's richest freeloader evidently has a very thin skin, stated the Democratic senator, who has long advocated raising taxes on the wealthy by imposing a tax on the richest Americans' assets, rather than just their income. She went on to point out the fact that people like Musk not only get to rake it all in, but then rub everybody else's nose in it while they head off into outer space and declare how they did this all on their own when they were subsidised by the federal government and subsidised by every waitress and public school teacher who paid their taxes.Warning that such days were over, she urged Elon Musk to eat a big dish of that. The verbal vendetta was triggered between the two after news broke that the Tesla chief and space entrepreneur had been named Time Magazine's Person of the Year on 13 December. Senator Warren went on Twitter to note that it was time to change the rigged tax code so The Person of the Year will actually pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else. The former law professor referred to a report by ProPublica, published in June, revealing that several US billionaires, such as Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos, business magnate Warren Buffett, and Elon Musk paid little to no taxes. The outlet had cited a "vast trove of Internal Revenue Service data", showing Musk had paid no federal income taxes at all in 2018, when he also didnt sell any shares of Tesla. According to the report, Musk paid a total of $455 million in federal income taxes between 2014 and 2018, while his wealth grew by $13.8 billion. Musk, who is worth an estimated $251 billion, according to Forbes' Real Time Billionaires estimate, quipped back to Warren on Twitter, Stop projecting. The SpaceX CEO also linked his post to a Fox News opinion piece accusing Warren, who is white, of lying about having Native American heritage. Warren, who for years has boasted having some Native American ancestry, specifically from the Cherokee tribe, once took a DNA test, which showed that she is mostly European. However, the test also strongly "supported the existence of an admixed Native American ancestor" in the range of "6 to 10 generations ago". As Musk tweeted that Warren reminded him of my friend's angry Mom would just randomly yell at everyone for no reason", he flung at her a pejorative slang term used to describe angry middle-aged white women, often racist, who weaponise their relative privilege against people of colour. Like many ultra-wealthy heads of companies, Musk doesn't receive a paycheck, his wealth coming from stock awards and the gains in Teslas share price. He once tweeted: "I only have stock, thus the only way for me to pay taxes personally is to sell stock." Through stock options, Musk takes out loans against his companys shares to fund his Tesla projects, which he does not owe income taxes for. He also deducts some of the interest on those loans on his taxes. However, the eccentric billionaire pointed out he would face a huge tax bill this year, as he pointed out in a tweet to Warren.Musk has been exercising stock options he was granted as part of his compensation plan in 2012. That award was for 22.8 million shares at a strike price of $6.24 per share. According to Forbes, the billionaire likely owes the federal government at least $8.3 billion for 2021, based on his stock sales of nearly $13 billion through 13 December. https://sputniknews.com/20211213/not-elon-musk-social-media-grills-time-magazines-choice-for-person-of-the-year-1091494543.html Nonyank Warren fogets, it was she that helped make the tax code Elon can manipulate, plus she conveiniently forgets that when Elon is forced to borrow US money....he pays it back in FULL YEARS EARLY! 1 Nonyank She names Warren Buffet as a freeloader when he has been a vocal advocate of the rich needing to pay more....Crazy Warren has lost her mind....again! 1 7 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko elon musk, elizabeth warren, us, tesla, warren buffett, jeff bezos https://sputniknews.com/20211216/youtube-blocks-rt-de-broadcast-channel-on-day-of-its-launch-1091566870.html YouTube Blocks RT DE Broadcast Channel on Day of Its Launch YouTube Blocks RT DE Broadcast Channel on Day of Its Launch RT launched a 24-hour news service known as 'RT DE' in German that will broadcast live news 2021-12-16T09:17+0000 2021-12-16T09:17+0000 2021-12-16T11:40+0000 tech rt youtube /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105448/88/1054488891_0:26:2937:1678_1920x0_80_0_0_43a43176385adce32733468cb29d4ac6.jpg YouTube has blocked new channel RT DE on the same day when TV broadcasting was launched, RT said on Thursday.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova took a swipe at YouTube on Thursday over the blockage of the newly-launched RT DE channel in German, quipping that Moscow did not expect anything better from the online video platform."While I was giving an interview to RT DE, YouTube blocked their new channel. And all this on the day when broadcasting was launched. And we did not expect anything else. As the saying goes, everyone congratulates on the premiere as best they can: somebody with flowers and good wishes, and somebody with crushed glass planted into shoes," Zakharova said in her Telegram channel.The launch of RT DE has been surrounded by controversy in the European Union, with German media and politicians accusing the broadcaster of manipulations with facts targeting Germans of Russian origin.In August, RT DE was officially denied a broadcasting license by Luxembourg, which cited "information and analysis by the German authorities". In September, YouTube removed two RT DE channels without the right to recover, for alleged "violations of community rules". At the same time, RT DE was in fourth place in terms of influence among the German-language media, bypassing Deutsche Welle and other German media, according to Tubular Labs.RT in German was launched in 2014 online and on social media. mike stivic We cry because a bird sings, but not when a fish bleeds, blessed are those that have a voice. So, the russian people are to be send down the same road as the palestinians. How to deal with that ? 1 ema.ruv QUESTA E' L' EUROPA, QUESTA POI LA CIAMANO DEMOCRAZIA, LIBERTA' etc... 0 2 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 tech, rt, youtube Christen Me N is like family to Dexter Dunn, and so the Kiwi reinsman pounced when the chance presented to ensure the Grand Circuit champion enjoyed the retirement he deserved. The two-time reigning United States Driver of the Year shared the story of their heart-warming reunion during episode two of The HRV HERO Show, which aired Dec. 13 and celebrates Harness Racing Victorias life-after-racing program. I got into this industry for the love of horses, for a job, it was an easy decision for me to make to claim (Christen Me N), buy him and give him a good retirement, Dunn said. I felt like because hes from New Zealand and Im from New Zealand, we had such a close connection, hes like family. Dunn was a leading Australasian reinsman before heading to the U.S. in 2018, including piloting Christen Me N to Grand Circuit success in the Miracle Mile, Hunter Cup, Victoria Cup and Chariots Of Fire. A sixth placing in the 2016 Blacks A Fake was Christen Me Ns last Australasian race before he was sold to race in the U.S. at age nine. Two years later, Dunn got the bug to cross the Pacific, and he couldnt help but keep an eye on his old mate. It was a lifelong dream. I grew up in a racing family, and American racing, I had an extreme interest in it, Dunn told The HRV HERO Show. (In 2018,) it was now or never. Its been a lot of fun. (Christen Me Ns) a special horse; horses like him only come along every now and then. He won most of the biggest races in Australasia for free-for-all pacers. I got to spend a lot of time with him, and he had a lot of character, was a very kind horse. Obviously, once he got sold over here, I was still back in New Zealand. Once I came over here, he was racing. Hed lost a step or two or maybe 10, but he was still racing and representing himself pretty good. Hes 13 years old now and was at claimers at Yonkers up in New York, and I wanted him to have a good retirement a good life after racing because hes a special horse. It was an easy decision to claim him. After making the successful $30,000 purchase, Dunn put Christen Me N back in trainer Scott DiDimenico's care, and while he's still thriving on racing, the driver said the multi-millionaire pacer's claiming days were over. (Harness Racing Victoria) Can it happen again? Can lightning really strike twice? The connections of Codename Cigar Box are certainly hoping so. Two years ago, with a perfect trip, Kneedeep N Custard won the Western Canada Pacing Derby at Century Mile for owners Kelly Hoerdt, Fred Gilbert and Blair Corbeil. Two years later, those three are poised and ready to do it again with Kneedeep N Custards full brother Codename Cigar Box, who will strut his stuff in Fridays first elimination for the New Years Eve Derby final. That would be great, said Hoerdt, who is also Codename Cigar Boxs trainer and driver. But this is a completely different year. No kidding. With a virus that ran rampant through the backstretch of Century Mile costing harness racing two weeks of racing, COVID-19, and a very cold forecast, Hoerdt said anything could happen. Even if Codename Cigar Box is the 7-5 favourite. With the weather, the different size of track and the different surface, any horse can show up. If the stars align and you can overcome the elements, you may be surprised what horses have a shot, said Hoerdt, who has won three Derbies. Its been a tumultuous year. Codename Cigar Box certainly has the credentials and the resume to win Fridays elimination and then the December 31 final. The three-year-old has won seven of his 17 starts this year and has been in the top three in 15 of those 17 starts. Hes coming off a plucky win in the $75,000 Robert Murphy at B.C.s Fraser Downs when he came from well back to get up just in time in a photo. Hes won the Moores Mile and the Maverick Stakes where he took his mark of 1:53.2 at Calgarys Century Downs. Hes done just about everything hes been asked to do. But hes never raced at Century Mile; never raced on a mile track and certainly not in the temperatures that are forecast for Friday night. Hes been fairly consistent. Hes shown a lot of durability and he is flexible in the way you race him, said Hoerdt, a former OBrien Award of Horsemanship winner. Hes turned in some very gritty efforts. His victory in the Robert Murphy was a case in point. After a quarter of a mile, Codename Cigar Box was seventh - 13 lengths back of the leader. There was a mad dash out front so I just settled him back and stayed off the pace. Down the backstretch, I got on the back of one of the best horses in the race and just followed him. The trip worked out very well. But then just about everything has worked out well for Codename Cigar Box, who was the sales topper with a price tag of $47,000 at the 2019 B.C. Yearling Sale. But thats the price you have to pay for a full brother to Kneedeep N Custard, who not only won the 2019 Derby but also won eight of his nine starts in B.C. In Alberta, he won six of his 13 appearances. After Kneedeep N Custard won the Derby in 1:51.2 by two easy lengths he won his next seven races and ended up with $332,000 in earnings. Hoerdt liked what he saw in Kneedeep N Custard to buy not only Codename Cigar Box but also has a two-year-old full sister and a yearling full sister. All three are sired by Custard the Dragon and out of the mare Art Amour. Im buying the line, said Hoerdt. Codename Cigar Box has lived up to all the expectations we had for him. Hopefully, so will his two sisters. Now we just hope he stays healthy until the Derby final. The way these last two years have gone, I think everybody is saying the same thing. Codename Cigar Boxs main opposition on Friday will likely come from Rod Hennessy and Lorne Duffields Shark Week, who lost by half a length -- as the betting favourite -- to Codename Cigar Box in the Maverick. Also in the picture is Christopher Lambie and Christopher Lancasters Nevada Vacation. In the second elimination leg for the Derby, Sunshine Boy, who has won his last three starts very convincingly, and Samba Beat, who won the Alberta Super Final by five lengths, are expected to battle it out. But bettors should also pay attention to Saltwater Savage, who has done virtually all of his racing this year at ultra-tough Woodbine Mohawk Park. Saltwater Savage has had just one start in Alberta and that was in his last appearance when he had a brutal three-wide trip. Fridays card at Century Mile also has two elimination legs for the Century Casinos Filly Pace with the final also taking place on New Years Eve. In the first elimination of the Filly Pace, Exotic Dragon has been anointed as the 4-5 favourite by racing coordinator Josh Murphy. Exotic Dragon is looking for her fifth straight win. Incredibly consistent, Exotic Dragon has been in the top three in 17 of her 18 starts this year including a sweep of the Mary Murphy three-race stakes series at Fraser Downs. Owned by Stony Plains Robert Jones and trainer/driver Nathan Sobey, who has had an incredible year, Exotic Dragon also won the Diamond Stakes and the Shirley McClellan final. Like Codename Cigar Box, Exotic Dragon is also sired by Custard The Dragon. Last week, Exotic Dragon went wire-to-wire to win a condition pace, which was one of five races driver Dave Kelly won. Looking to turn the table is Burning Hot, who finished second -- by three parts of a length -- to Exotic Dragon last week. Burning Hot also finished second -- by a head -- to Exotic Dragon in the McClellan final. Burning Hot, however, hardly went away empty this year. The daughter of Blue Burner won both the elimination and final of the Gord and Illa Rumpel. Exotic Dragon got the rail; Burning Hot is right beside her in post two. In the second elimination of the Century Casinos Filly Pace, Hoerdt is in the spotlight again with Uptown Hanover, who was recently purchased by Hoerdt and Carole Dunbar for $43,000. Uptown Hanover has done virtually all of her racing in the U.S. where she competed last year against some of the best fillies in North America. She made two starts this year at Century Mile and was a relatively easy winner both times. Shes shown me a lot of speed. Well find out what shes made of on Friday, said Hoerdt. Shes paced in 1:50.4 so she knows what its like to go fast. But well see what she says in minus 30. Uptown Hanover wasnt really tested in her two wins at Century Mile. Uptown Hanover drew the rail while her main opponent, Graceful Horizon -- a horse Hoerdt knows very well -- starts right beside her. I drove her all year, Hoerdt said of Graceful Horizon, who is trained by Lancaster. Shes an ultra tough mare. Very big. Very rugged and very fast. Post time Friday is 6:15 p.m. Post time for the first race on New Years Eve is also 6:15 p.m. There is also racing this Saturday with a first post time of 1:15 p.m. (With files from Curtis Stock / thehorses.com) It was June of last year when The Meadowlands reopened after a three-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And when it did, there was little certainty. We opened with no fans on site and had no idea how our product would be received by a betting public that had been through so much, said Jason Settlemoir, Meadowlands' Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. But as we move into the 2021 holiday season, New Jersey and The Meadowlands are standing tall. Breeding is up big time and handle is approaching $270 million for the 2021 racing season, a standard of excellence that has been made possible with the help of Gov. [Phil] Murphy and the New Jersey State Legislature. Obviously, The Big Ms loyal following has played a huge part. We could not have had the type of year that weve had without the loyal horseplayers around the world throwing their support behind The Meadowlands product, said Settlemoir. During 2021, nightly average handle on Meadowlands live races is more than $3 million. The only nighttime track of any breed to reach that figure, said Settlemoir. And with three nights of live racing remaining this year, it is very likely that our total handle will show an increase of over $100 million as compared to 2018. That season immediately preceded the Governor signing the bill in February of 2019 that cleared the way for a state appropriation earmarked to help the harness racing industry in the State of New Jersey. The 2018 season saw an average nightly handle of just over $2 million a night, so its easy for everyone to see the amazing progress we have made in New Jersey. The average handle is up $1 million a night. There are three live programs remaining in 2021 at The Meadowlands. Live racing will take place on Friday, Dec. 17 and Saturday, Dec. 18. Then, there will be no live racing on Friday, Dec. 24 and Saturday, Dec. 25. The final live card of the year will be conducted on Friday, Dec. 31, with a fireworks display on tap at the conclusion of the program. All cards kick off at the usual 6:20 p.m. There will be no live racing on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. PICK-6 CARRYOVER: There were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-6 last Saturday night (Dec. 11), creating a carryover of $7,654 when racing returns Friday. Free past performances for every race of every Meadowlands card are available by going to playmeadowlands.com. $100,000 GUARANTEED: The Meadowlands popular 50-cent Pick-4, which is offered twice nightly, offers players a big promise that a big score could be forthcoming. On each of the Pick-4s, which are offered on races six through nine and 10 through 13, there is a guaranteed pool of $50,000. LOW TAKEOUT, HIGH EXPECTATIONS: Plenty of The Meadowlands popular wagers that sport a low 15 per cent takeout are available on a nightly basis. They are: Race 1: 20-cent Pick-5 Race 3: 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 Race 6: 50-cent Early Pick-4 Race 8: 20-cent Pick-6 Race 10: 50-cent Late Pick-4 Race 14: 10-cent Pentafecta/Hi-5 RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT BIG M: Celebrate the New Year at the Meadowlands Racetrack with a night filled with racing, food and fireworks. On Friday, Dec. 31 beginning at 6 p.m., guests can receive a free 2022 calendar filled with photos of 2021s equine stars. Buffet dining is available for $64.95 and includes a complimentary glass of celebratory champagne for those 21 and older. The menu features a winter salad with shaved Brussels sprouts, pomegranate seeds, pecans and lemon-champagne vinaigrette. New York Strip steak is on the carving station with garlic-herb tilapia, cheese ravioli and chicken teriyaki rounding out the main courses. A Creole favourites station is also included and is loaded with delicious jambalaya, red beans and cornbread. Tiramisu, fresh fruit and homemade cookies then round out the meal. Reservations can be made by calling 201-The-BigM. Following live harness racing, an enthralling fireworks display will take place to help ring in 2022. (With files from Meadowlands Racetrack) The $10,000 Funicello/Holt final and the $10,000 Joe Alto Pace, both for pacing fillies and mares, command the spotlight Friday evening (Dec. 17) at Cal Expo. Watch and Wager LLC will present nine races and things get underway at 6:45 p.m. Off a sparkling victory in one of last weeks two elimination heats, Senga Nightmare figures to be strongly backed in the Funicello/Holt for owner/driver/trainer Ryan Grundy. Making her third start since coming in from Canada, she went a huge mile last week as she settled early, came first-over turning for home and finished powerfully to prevail by three lengths over 3-5 favourite Tartan Patch. That three-year-old filly had her win streak snapped at two in that contest while having to settle for the exacta behind Senga Nightmare. The Vertical Horizon miss is owned, trained and driven by Rene Goulet. Taking them on are Uniquerock, Hurry Home, D Vigilante, Starstruck Cowgirl, Sierra Mystique, Go With Flo, Witch Hunter and Always Glad. The Joe Alto Pace finds Life Isa Shortwalk going for her fourth straight win at the meet for Set The Pace Racing LLC and driver/trainer Nick Roland. She captured the Bill Vallandingham Pace two back and accounted for last weeks Open III distaff event. She will do her work from the outside post in the field of six and will be challenged by Alwaysalittlemore, Jenne Ann, Delightfully Wild, Oneida Blue Chip and Shesureissomething. Cal Expo pays tribute to Joe Alto, Annette Funicello and Glen Holt with features races on the Friday program. Joe Alto, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 78, was a track announcer for 40 years, including many seasons at Cal Expo, calling both harness horses and Thoroughbreds. Among his many signature calls: You better take a look a, and Theyre coming home now! Annette Funicello, who passed away in 2013 due to multiple sclerosis; and Glen Holt, who died in 2018, were married for more than 25 years and it was through their mutual interest in horses and horse racing that they met. Funicello was a television and movie actress who devoted herself to her family after her career ended; while Holt was a former law enforcement officer and harness owner, driver, trainer and breeder who was a mainstay of California harness racing. Roland, Plested Showing The Way After they both recorded five wins on opening night, Nick Roland and Mooney Svendsen continue to make a steady stream of trips to the winners circle while atop the driver standings. Roland recorded four victories last week to bring his total to 23 for the stand, while Svendsen also had four scores, including the narrow victory with Pridecrest in the Joe Lighthill Trot, to give him 15 winning snaphots at the meet. Among the trainers, Kathie Plested is the leader with 11 trips to the charmed enclosure, while Roland is second with 10 wins from just 17 appearances by his performers. (With files from Cal Expo) Keith Hare, president of the Virginia Health Care Association and the Virginia Center for Assisted Living, said Spanbergers proposed Provider Relief Improvement Act would ensure HHS provides continued funding in a timely way. When the pandemic started, no one could have envisioned that it would last this long and we cannot let our guard down, Hare said in a statement. Representative Spanberger has advocated for resources to protect seniors from Day One. This legislation is another example of her leadership. Beth OConnor, executive director of the Virginia Rural Health Association, said the states rural providers need the aid to combat COVID-19, protect their workers and support their patients access to care. Congress should move quickly to pass Rep. Spanbergers bipartisan Provider Relief Fund Improvement Act to distribute the remainder of the Provider Relief Fund as quickly as possible and extend the deadline to ensure rural providers have sufficient flexibility to use these funds to fight COVID-19 in their communities, OConnor said. UK shows including Hamilton, The Lion King, Life of Pi, Come from Away and Matilda the Musical canceled one or more performances this week because of COVID-19 outbreaks. Others have gone further: The National Theatre has pulled the plug on Hex and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for the next two weeks due to company illness. The Donmar Warehouse has canceled performances of Force Majeure, about an avalanche and its consequences, until Dec. 29 after several members of the company tested positive. It is sadly ironic that we must cancel performances of this brilliantly funny show titled Force Majeure because of a force majeure event, said artistic director Michael Longhurst. Shows that remain open fear audiences will stay away after public health authorities warned people to cut back on socializing to help slow the spread of omicron. New rules that took effect this week in London mean that theatregoers have to show a negative coronavirus test or proof of vaccination to be admitted. At Cabaret, the rules were even stronger: All attendees, even those fully vaccinated, were required to show a negative COVID-19 test before entering the theater. The signs have taken off more than Hoxworth thought it would thanks to sales at events like National Night Out. Ive had people come to my house and get them. Scottsbluff Screen Printing owner Shane Wilson had them all over the place. He said we ended up selling about 140 or 150, so it ended up working out pretty neat, Hoxworth said. He said he has even been approached about buying one from his newspaper carrier. Its kind of nice to drive around town now and actually see them all over the place. Weve had a lot of compliments, Hoxworth said. Hoxworth and Wilson they would donate the proceeds from the sell of the signs. I work with Shanna (Halstead with the Scottsbluff Volunteer Center) with the all-star game, Hoxworth said. Shane and I are friends with them. We thought with the Meals on Wheels, the stuff they do for seniors and the many services that they support, we felt itd be a good place to go with the money. Halstead said the money is a blessing for the Scottsbluff Volunteer Center. These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty yet you are rich! Revelation 2:8-9 The final book of the Bible is Revelation, and in this apocalyptic epistle, the risen Christ addresses seven churches that were in what is now modern-day Turkey. It was written by the apostle John around A.D. 90, and by this time, persecution from the Roman Empire was red hot. The Romans demanded emperor worship, and while Christians sought to pay their taxes, obey the law, and respect the government, the one thing they would not do was worship Caesar. For God alone is worthy of our worship. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Their stubbornness got them in hot water. In one of the letters, Jesus tells the church in Smyrna that he knows their afflictions and their poverty, but then the risen Christ says something astounding to them: You are rich! They were not rich in money, but rich in God. How so? Because they had received the most expensive and costly gift ever: Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, who came as a lamb to lay down his life for sinners to reconcile them unto God and one another. For the past several years, Charlie Hayden hasnt gotten anything from his vegetable garden. The problem, he told the Marion Town Council during its Dec. 20 meeting ,could be summed up in one word: deer. Hayden presented the council with a petition asking the town to work with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and create an urban archery season to help control the deer population. On March 27, 2015, fingerprints lifted from the inside the driver's window were submitted into the integrated automated fingerprint identification system, records show. Then, on April 7, 2015, results from the submission identified Meinhold. Police said earlier that they didnt believe Meinhold and Schmidt knew each other. At the time of the shooting, police said Meinhold lived 2.3 miles away from the scene. Since then, however, Meinhold has lived on Highland Avenue in Bristol, Virginia, and worked at Royal Mouldings. Geisler then went to Bristol to further investigate. In July 2015, Meinhold reported that he never had any contact with Schmidt. He said he was a farmworker in the fields on the outskirts of Phoenix in 1978. He also said he never owned a gun, his family never owned a gun, he had never shot anyone and he had never touched a Toyota Celica, the records show. Meinhold also said he had never been to the mall, except for his first visit there in the mid-1990s. Meinhold described himself as a "shy person unable to shoot anyone," the records show. In a letter issued last Wednesday, Eads said that there were no violations. The pump was leaking but was functioning, his response letter states, and the leachate and gradient water were and are being captured and pumped to the sanitary sewer system. The city manager noted that the city hoped to replace the pump within 60 days, and although that hope was not realized, there was not a violation because the pumps were functioning. It noted that the DEQ has been kept abreast on at least a weekly basis of the work being done at the landfill. As for the backup pump, the city notes that the 30 horsepower pump was designed to be the main leachate pump. The 100 horsepower pumps were installed to be used during times of high flow, the city said. Both 100 horsepower pumps are scheduled to be removed by today, according to the city. Crews will return Jan. 3 or sooner to reinstall two pumps and remove the 30 horsepower pump. Work may be completed as soon as Dec. 27, the response letter states. Six inmates inside the Cowlitz County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19 from Friday through Wednesday, report officials. There are 142 inmates currently housed in the jail, said Cowlitz County Corrections Director Marin Fox, meaning the positive cases account for about 4% of the population. Fox said the positive cases include the general population and new bookings. Cowlitz County one of several affected by COVID-19 outbreaks traced to high school wrestling tournaments Washington health officials are investigating multiple COVID-19 outbreaks linked to high school wrestling tournaments on Dec. 4 that included People who test positive are quarantined from the rest of the jail population and jail staff, she added. Fox said people being booked into jail are screened for COVID-19 and housed in specific quarters, then screened again before placement with the rest of population. The general population shares cells. Fox said screening inmates includes taking temperatures and asking if they've experienced coronavirus symptoms. No inmates have been transferred to the hospital or died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began, Fox said. Cowlitz County COVID-19 cases flatten, hospitalizations increase; Link plans vaccine clinic Cowlitz Countys COVID-19 cases appear to be leveling off and hospitalizations are increasing, according to the Department of Health data. DOC The jail houses people convicted of lesser crimes or felony defendants awaiting trial. The Washington State Department of Corrections operates the state prisons and work release programs and reports 16 inmates have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and 6,894 people have recovered from positive cases. The department reports the rate for DOC COVID-19 deaths is 0.23% compared to 1.4% for the state overall. One positive case was reported for an inmate at the Longview work release program and five positive cases were reported by staff members since the pandemic began. The Department of Corrections reports about 55% of inmates and about 48% of staff are fully vaccinated. Editor's note: This article was updated to clarify COVID-19 procedures for new jail bookings. This story has been updated to clarify COVID-19 protocols when people are booked into jail. 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. Garena Free Fire redeem codes for December 16: Garena Free Fire is providing lots of opportunities to its players to win free rewards and codes. It also organizes events for the same. Recently Free Fire has informed via a tweet about a new event saying, "new Sunscale Serpent bundle available through our latest event, Freeze Over! Get the bundle before the event ends on the 20th of December." While in another tweet it has said that a powerful weapon called MP40 Evo Gun Skin, Predatory Cobra can be won by the players from the faded wheel now. Garena Free Fire players must also be aware about the free gifts and rewards they can earn via redeem codes. Free Fire releases redeem codes daily in order to allow players to access special items. These codes can be obtained for free. Apart from the redeem codes, Garena Free Fire also offers gamers a vast range of cosmetics like outfits, skins, and more to choose from. Free Fire players also have an option to access these additional Free Fire items and obtain them by completing and winning in-game missions. It can be noted that players can buy these additional items from the in-game store as well but these cost plenty and not everyone wants to buy. Players who want to redeem codes can do so by visiting the official redemption website. Here is how: Garena Free Fire Redeem codes for December 16: FV8H JIYG 3RVT EFN7 8G67 5FS6 F4EX C2TQ U52Q F33D S3RX D5XY FNJI YTRS D9OK FBNJ I7CT 5TG8 FYN4 5KTI G8YD FBER N5KY 8G7V FYCT FGDE RJ5K FIYH 87V6 CSRA FF12 3B45 JTIG F7V6 TCDG B8NJ FKI8 T7YC BGT5 Garena Free Fire redeem codes for December 16: Steps to redeem Step 1: Players who want to get the redeem codes, will first have to visit the official Garena Free Fire code redemption website by clicking on the link- https://reward.ff.garena.com/en. Step 2: You will then have to login on the page with either your Facebook, Google, Twitter, Apple Id, HUAWEI or VK ID to continue the redemption process. However, you need to note that your login ID must be the same as your in-game login ID. Step 3: After logging in, copy any one of the 12 character long redeem codes from todays code list and then paste it into the text box. Step 4: This will bring up a dialogue box for double-checking. Click on 'OK'. And your redemption code process is completed. Step 5: In case, your redemption bid fails for some reason, you will get an Email, otherwise you have to wait for a minimum 24 hours to get your rewards to become active on your gadget. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Apple Inc., facing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases and a fast-spreading new variant, is delaying its corporate return-to-office deadline from Feb. 1 to a "date yet to be determined." Employees were informed of the move via a memo sent by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook on Wednesday. An Apple spokesman confirmed the decision to Bloomberg News. The delay comes just weeks after the company asked employees to begin returning by February, a timeline that had already been pushed back several times. The lack of a firm date shows the struggle that companies face in trying to get their operations back to normal. Fellow tech giant Microsoft Corp. scrapped its return-to-work date in September. "We are delaying the start of our hybrid work pilot to a date yet to be determined," Cook said in the memo. "Our offices remain open and many of our colleagues are coming in regularly, including our teams in Greater China and elsewhere." He cited "rising cases in many parts of the world and the emergence of a new strain of the virus." Cook also strongly encouraged employees to receive vaccinations and booster shots, saying "this is by far the best way to keep you and your community safe." Apple had previously delayed its office-return plans from June, September, October and January. The latest decision comes the same week that the company restored its mask mandate to all U.S. retail stores and temporarily shut three locations because of rising virus cases among employees. In the memo, Cook also said the Cupertino, California-based company will provide each employee a $1,000 bonus that may be used for work-from-home needs, saying it's "in support of our commitment to a more flexible environment." That includes retail workers. "These funds are intended to help you with your home workspace and can be used as you see fit. You will be receiving more information about this shortly," he said. When Apple's staff eventually returns to the office, they will be expected to work in-person on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. They will be allowed to work from home on Wednesdays and Fridays depending on their team. The company is also offering an additional one month of work from home time. Apple workers will get at least four weeks notice before a new back-to-the-office deadline takes effect, Cook said. "As we look forward to more of our teams being together again, we will continue to make decisions based on local conditions," he said. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In Nordic countries, ice can form on the wings almost year round, even in mid-July. Credit: Norwegian University of Science and Technology The NTNU researchers behind the drone company Aviant will soon be flying blood samples from remote hospitals in places like Rros to St. Olav's Hospital in Trondheim. Two such routes are already flying in Sweden. Amazon dreams of delivering packages to your door with drones, while others envision using drones to search for people who have gotten lost in the mountains in the winter. Or how about examining a glacier with a drone? Ice build-up on aircraft wings is one challenge that has to be solved before drones can realistically take on any of these tasks. An airplane with significant ice build-up on its wings or propellers will sooner or later crash. Icing leads to greater air resistance and drag on the wings, which needs to be offset with increased engine power. Icing of drones currently poses a serious hazard that significantly limits the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones). UAVs have no pilot on board to activate the de-icing system, so de-icing has to happen automatically. Several researchers at NTNU are working to figure out exactly how this can happen. One of them is researcher Richard Hann. His field is engineering cybernetics, and he is also co-owner of the NTNU spin-off UBIQ Aerospace. The faster an aircraft flies, the greater the air resistance and drag on the aircraft. The resulting friction creates heat, which affects the ice build-up process. Credit: Norwegian University of Science and Technology "For aircraft flying at high speeds, this heat can prevent ice from forming at temperatures near freezing. But drones, since they're usually much slower than manned aircraft, can face severe icing conditions near the freezing point," says Hann. The NTNU researchers have tested different de-icing variants in a special wind tunnel in Finland that can simulate icing conditions. Credit: Norwegian University of Science and Technology The researchers have now made several discoveries about how drones can remove ice automatically. One solution is to heat the exposed surfaces of the aircraft electrically with embedded carbon fiber materials."The experiments showed that de-icing using a heated surface provides the most energy-efficient ice protection," says Hann. Package delivery to your door by drone is thus moving one step closer. Credit: Norwegian University of Science and Technology The electricity creates heat that causes the ice to lose its grip. Now Hann and Tor Arne Johansen, a professor at NTNU's UAV Icing Lab, have received many million Norwegian kroner from the Research Council of Norway to get to the bottom of several aspects of icing and unmanned aircraft. Explore further Drones will soon be transporting medical samples in Norway Credit: CC0 Public Domain Officials from IBM and Samsung announced at this year's IEDM conference in San Francisco a collaboration on a new chip design that adds transistors vertically on a chip. As part of their announcement, they suggested that their vertical transport field effect transistors (VTFET) could double the speed of processor chips, or alternatively, reduce the power they use by up to 85 percent. Since the beginning of digital technology, processing chips have been made by placing tiny transistors on a chip and connecting them. Over time, engineers have placed increasingly more transistors on chips that have remained roughly the same sizeadhering, generally, to Moore's Law, which states that the number of transistors on a chip should double every year. Engineers have known for a long time that there are limits to Moore's Laweventually, it would become impossible to add even one more transistor, much less double the number that are there. So researchers are looking for other ways to make chips. But in the meantime, engineers continue to look for ways to add more transistors to conventional chips. In their announcement, IBM and Samsung have explained that they are taking steps to begin designing chips that can expand vertically. In a practical sense, the move was inevitable. As an analogy, when towns grew too big to be efficient, engineers began making buildings taller, essentially turning 2D towns into 3D cities. Officials and engineers at IBM and Samsung (and doubtless other corporations, such as Intel) suggest that now is the time to begin doing the same with microprocessors. The VTFET design by IBM and Samsung is still very much in the developmental stagethere are no chips to install in actual computers, but it does mark the beginning of a new era in computing when computers and other digital devices such as phones and tablet computers will not only run faster, but will use far less energy, making batteries last much longer. This is because a vertical design will allow for shortening the path that electrons will need to travel when sending signals between transistors. Explore further Carbon nanotubes could help electronics withstand outer space's harsh conditions 2021 Science X Network Figure 1. Source-gated transistor (SGT) structure and output characteristics. a) Schematic cross-section of a staggered top-gate SGT, emphasizing the capacitive divider at the edge of the source in the inset. Output characteristics from published literature, in various material systems, reproduced with permission: b) low temperature polysilicon (LTPS) SGT (reprinted from Ref. [9] under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-SA license); c) InGaZno (IGZO) with graphene contact SGT (reprinted from Ref. [28] with the permission of AIP publishing); d) silicon nanowire (Si NW) SGT (reprinted from Ref. [29] under the Creative Commons CC BY license); e) ZnO nanosheet (NS) SGT (reprinted from Ref. [30] under the Creative Commons CC BY license); f) IGZO SGT with Schottky contact (reprinted from Ref. [16] under the Creative Commons CC BY license). Credit: DOI: 10.1002/aelm.202101101 Researchers from the University of Surrey and the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, Germany, have arrived at a set of recommendations that may see an explosion in the research effort into unconventional electronic devices. Transistors are the small electronic switches and amplifiers that make up the electronic circuits that underpin all modern technologies. Thin-film transistors (TFTs) are made with low-cost materials and techniques, which means large-area circuits can be made economically. Typical uses are in display screens and imaging arrays and a multitude of emerging sensors and wearable applications. Often, when scientists exploring new material combinations for creating TFTs encounter irregular or unexpected behavior, they abandon that research direction and look at different materials. However, the findings by the Surrey-led team suggest their change in tack could be premature, and they might be missing an important line of investigation. Some characteristics of inefficient TFTs could be hallmarks of unoptimised source-gated transistor (SGT) behavior. SGTs, a class of TFTs invented and perfected at the University of Surrey, score poorly in the usual metrics of TFT performance but have significant amplification and uniformity advantages, making them useful in an increasing number of emerging applications, for example imperceptible technologies and environmental sensors. In their recent publication in the Advanced Electronic Materials journal, the research team give numerous examples that demonstrate cases in which underwhelming TFT behavior may be turned into high-performance SGT operation. They share the secret ingredient which is often overlooked but is crucial to ensuring successful transistor realization, specifically the relative electrostatic properties of the semiconductor and insulator layers in the critical region of the transistor. They recommend doing the following: First, researchers need to create a high enough source barrier to ensure that the source region is significantly more resistive than the channel in all biasing conditions. This is a requirement for SGT functionality. Critically, choose the material and thickness of the active and insulator layers so that the saturation coefficient is kept well below 0.3, ideally close to 0.1, to allow amplification to occur from low voltages. Maintain source-gate overlap to at least 100x semiconductor thickness to ensure that drain current is dominated by charge injection from the bulk of the source, reducing the transistor's susceptibility to temperature and to variations during manufacturing. Build a lateral field relief structure into the source electrode to improve saturation, further increasing the amplification performance. Dr. Hagen Klauk at the Max Planck Institute said: "While it is almost always preferable to attempt to obtain ideal contact properties, it is not always possible. Even then, useful functionality can be derived by thoughtful matching of materials and processes to the desired application requirements. Engineers now have the option to optimize for switching performance or for some other desirable property. It has taken many years and numerous researchers' efforts to bring thin-film transistor technology to its current state. There may be a long but interesting road ahead for the development of non-standard devices." Dr. Radu Sporea, senior lecturer at Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute, said: "The recent surge in publications that report source-gate transistors in varied material systems hints at how popular this type of transistor can become. It is very likely that many other experiments have been cut short when the expected thin-film transistor operation was not achieved, overlooking the opportunity for creating excellent SGTs in the process. We believe that many research groups will find our recommendations a useful reference for designing high-performance electronic systems, well beyond the current vision for the Internet of Things." Explore further Simplified circuit design could revolutionize how wearables are manufactured More information: Eva Bestelink et al, The Secret Ingredient for Exceptional ContactControlled Transistors, Advanced Electronic Materials (2021). Eva Bestelink et al, The Secret Ingredient for Exceptional ContactControlled Transistors,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/aelm.202101101 This image offers an abstract visual representation of graphene oxide sheets (black layers) embedded with nanodiamonds (bright white points). The nanodiamonds exert long range electrostatic forces (nebulous white circles) which stabilize the sheets even in humid conditions creating a promising membrane material for hydrogen purification. ( Yasuhiro Chida (Brocken 5) and Toru Tsuji (Photograph)). Credit: Yasuhiro Chida (Brocken 5) and Toru Tsuji (Photograph) Nanodiamonds may be tiny, but they can help with one of the biggest problems facing humanity today: climate change. Hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel, leaves nothing but water when consumed. Many countries view hydrogen as a way to a zero-carbon future, but switching to a hydrogen economy requires its production to be much more affordable than it is now. In a study published in Nature Energy this month, researchers led by Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) describe how nanodiamond-reinforced composite membranes can purify hydrogen from its humid mixtures, making the hydrogen generation processes vastly more efficient and cost-effective. "There are several scalable methodologies to produce hydrogen, but hydrogen generally comes as humid mixtures and their purification is a challenge," says Professor Easan Sivaniah, who led the iCeMS team. "Membrane technology allows for energy-efficient and economical separation processes. But we need to have the right membrane materials to make it work," Sivaniah added. Graphene oxide (GO), a water-soluble derivative of graphite, can be assembled to form a membrane that can be used for hydrogen purification. Hydrogen gas easily passes through these filters, while larger molecules get stuck. Hydrogen is typically separated from CO 2 or O 2 in very humid conditions. GO sheets are negatively charged, which causes them to repel each other. When exposed to humidity, the negatively charged sheets repel each other even more, allowing water molecules to accumulate in the spaces between the GO sheets, which eventually dissolves the membrane. Dr. Behnam Ghalei, who co-supervised the research, explained that adding nanodiamonds to the GO sheets resolves the humidity-induced disintegration problem. "Positively charged nanodiamonds can cancel out the membrane's negative repulsions, making the GO sheets more compact and water-resistant." The team also included other research groups from Japan and abroad. The researchers at Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (SPring-8 / JASRI) conducted advanced X-ray studies. The Institute for Quantum Life Science (QST) helped with materials development. ShanghaiTech University (China) and National Central University (Taiwan) were involved in state-of-the-art materials characterizations. "In our collaboration with Dr. Ryuji Igarashi of QST, we were able to access nanodiamonds with well-defined sizes and functionality, without which the research would not have been possible," says Sivaniah. "Importantly, Igarashi's group has a patented technology to scale up nanodiamonds production at a reasonable cost in the future." Sivaniah says that nanodiamonds have potential uses beyond hydrogen production. Humidity control is also vital in a number of other fields, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lithium-ion battery production. Membrane technology could also revolutionize air conditioning by efficiently removing humidity. Air conditioners are among the most inefficient ways to cool, as a significant amount of the electricity used to power them is used to remove humidity, generating more CO 2 emissions and creating a vicious spiral for global warming. The Japanese government is deeply committed to a zero-carbon future. It has established a US$20 billion Green Innovation Fund to support joint partnerships between major industry players and entrepreneurial ventures that bring new technologies to the market. Explore further Novel hydrogen fuel purification membrane paves the way for greener future More information: Overcoming humidity-induced catastrophic swelling of graphene oxide-based hydrogen membranes using charge-compensating nanodiamonds, Nature Energy (2021). Journal information: Nature Energy Overcoming humidity-induced catastrophic swelling of graphene oxide-based hydrogen membranes using charge-compensating nanodiamonds,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00946-y Study authors left Dr Mark Edmonds, and right Prof Michael Fuhrer. Credit: School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University Australian researchers have discovered that negative capacitance could lower the energy used in electronics and computing, which represents 8 percent of global electricity demand. The researchers at four universities within the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET) applied negative capacitance to make topological transistors switch at lower voltage, potentially reducing energy losses by a factor of 10 or more. These very promising results are reported this week at the prestigious International Electron Devices Meeting in San Francisco. And while challenges remain to making a working benchtop device, the work is covered in a patent application. What are transistors? A transistor is an electronic switch. It has three terminals, or connections: a voltage applied to the gate terminal controls the current which can flow between other two terminals (called the source and drain terminals). In computer chips, the transistors can be "on" (i.e., current can flow) or "off" (current is blocked), representing the ones and zeroes that comprise binary logic operations. Switching a transistor on and off requires wasting a tiny amount of electrical energy each time. But with the computer chips that make all of our electronic devices work contain millions or even billions of transistors, all switching billions of times a second (at gigahertz frequencies), this adds up to a lot of power being wasted as heat. "This is why your phone or laptop gets hot when you're doing something that requires a lot of computations, such as processing a video," says FLEET researcher Prof Michael Fuhrer (Monash). All together, information communication and technology (ICT) consumes about 8 percent of global electricity supply a staggering amount of electricity that is doubling every decade. According to the Decadal Plan for Semiconductors released in 2020, the imbalance between rising energy demands of ICT and available energy will 'strongly limit' future growth in computing. Today's computer chips are all made of silicon, a semiconductor. Semiconductors are insulators, materials that normally don't conduct electricity. However, adding a bit of extra electrical charge to a semiconductor makes it conduct. This ability of silicon to switch on and off is the basis of the field-effect transistor (FET): the gate is connected by a capacitor to a slice of semiconductor running between source and drain terminals. A voltage on the gate charges that capacitor, and the extra charge on the semiconductor allows current to flow from source to drain. Topological insulators Instead of silicon, FLEET researchers are working with new kinds of quantum materials called topological insulators. These materials are insulating in their interiors, but conduct electricity on their boundaries: If they are three-dimensional then they conduct on their two-dimensional surfaces, and if they're very thin (two-dimensional) they conduct along their one-dimensional edges. Topological transistors FLEET researchers found that an electric field can be used to switch a material from topological insulator (which conducts electricity along its edges) to a normal insulator (which doesn't conduct at all). This allows a topological material to be used as a transistor, called a topological quantum field-effect transistor (TQFET). While the millions of transistors inside modern electronics are only micrometres in size, their function mirrors that of the familiar three-legged transistors of 1970s radios and home electronics kits. Credit: FLEET Earlier this year, FLEET researchers discovered that the TQFET can switch at a lower voltage than a conventional FET, overcoming the so-called Boltzmann's tyranny which sets the lower limit for the voltage required to switch a current at room temperature. FLEET researcher Muhammad Nadeem (University of Wollongong) says, "The low-voltage switching comes about due to an effect called spin-orbit coupling, which is stronger in heavier elements like bismuth. We found that bismuth-based TQFETs could switch at half the voltage, and one-quarter the energy, of similar-sized conventional FETs." Recently, the team found that they could lower the voltage, and the energy, much further by using a negative capacitor to connect the topological material to the gate terminal. How can capacitance be negative? A capacitor consists of two conductors separated by an insulator. It has a capacitance C, which expresses the amount of electrical charge Q on the metals when a voltage V is applied between them: C = Q/V. Normally this is a positive number. If it was negative, the capacitor would be inherently unstable, and would want to charge up without applying any external voltage. But that's exactly what a ferroelectric material does; it has a spontaneous polarization, which charges up its surfaces. So a ferroelectric material can be thought of as having a negative capacitance in a certain regime, though this regime is not normally accessible because it is unstable. Salahuddin and Datta proposed in 2008 that a ferroelectric material could act as a negative capacitor in combination with the (positive) gate capacitance of an FET, to make a combined capacitor that is positive and stable. The net result is to amplify the electric field in a FET. They thought this might allow the FET to switch at lower voltage. "Unfortunately, due to some very subtle effects in the way FETs work, the negative capacitance idea hasn't proved very useful in conventional FETs," says FLEET researcher A/Prof Dmitrie Culcer (UNSW). "The voltage lowering due to negative capacitance disappears in a well-designed FET, so it seems there's not much to be gained using a negative capacitor." Negative capacitance boosts topological transistors Recently, a team of FLEET researchers at Centre nodes Monash, RMIT, University of Wollongong and UNSW realized that this is not so for the TQFET. Adding a negative capacitance (a ferroelectric material) to make a negative capacitance TQFET (NC-TQFET) amplifies the electric field, which enables switching at much lower voltages and energies. "The TQFET uses electric field for switching, so can benefit directly from the electric field amplification that's provided by the negative capacitance," says FLEET researcher Prof Jared Cole (RMIT). The team reported the results at the 2021 International Electron Devices Meeting in San Francisco this week. They calculate that a bismuth-based NC-TQFET using La-doped HfO2 as a ferroelectric (this ferroelectric material has already successfully been integrated with silicon) could achieve ten times lower switching energy than a state-of-the-art silicon FET. "There's even more room for improvement," said Fuhrer, "more advanced ferroelectrics with larger remnant polarizations could enable switching at even lower energies." However, many challenges remain to making a working NC-TQFET on the benchtop. Bismuth-based topological insulators with the right structure haven't yet been made and tested experimentally, and integrating those materials with ferroelectric layers would pose a further challenge. Still, the NC-TQFET provides a clear blueprint for lowering the energy in future transistors. The FLEET researchers have applied for a patent on the NC-TQFET concept, and FLEET is looking for opportunities to work with partners to develop the technology further. Topological transistors were last year added to the IEEE International Roadmap for Devices and Systems, the internationally agreed blueprint guiding exponential advances in semiconductor technology (mapped by the famous Moore's Law) and includes plans for "More Moore," "More than Moore" and beyond-CMOS technologies. "Proposal for a Negative Capacitance Topological Quantum Field-Effect Transistor" was presented at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' International Electron Devices Meeting 16 December 2021. Explore further Surpassing the lower limit on computing energy consumption More information: Proposal for a Negative Capacitance Topological Quantum Field-Effect Transistor, Proceedings of the 2021 International Electron Devices Meeting, pp. 38.2.138.2.4 (2021). Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Smart phones, vehicles, thermostats, fitness monitors and other internet-connected devices have made our lives far more convenient, but the amount of personal data they upload to the cloud has raised concerns about privacy. In addition, uploading ever-increasing amounts of data is expensive and time-consuming. A multi-university team led by University of Michigan industrial operations and engineering assistant professor Raed Al Kontar envisions a new kind of connected device infrastructure. Called the Internet of Federated Things, it could do more for its users while greatly reducing the amount of data that's shared. The paper, published in IEEE Access, is titled "The Internet of Federated Things (IoFT)." We sat down with Kontar recently to learn more about his vision. Why do we need a new model for connected devices? The sheer amount of data that today's devices produce is beginning to overwhelm the old, cloud-based Internet of Things. In addition, there's a need for decisions to be made more and more quickly. In an autonomous car, for example, there often isn't time to upload data to the cloud and wait for it to be processed and sent back before taking action. At the same time, the connected devices at the edge of the Internet of Things have become more and more powerful. Today's flagship cell phones, for example, are more powerful than many laptops, and Tesla has boasted that the computer that runs its Autopilot system is as powerful as 150 MacBook Pros. We envision a new model that takes advantage of that power and does more data processing and decision making on edge devices instead of on cloud-based servers. The server would act as more of a coordinator, aggregating key findings from edge devices and enabling the network as a whole to learn from them. Credit: University of Michigan What are the advantages to the IoFT outlined in your paper? There are a lot of potential advantages, but maybe the most important from a consumer perspective is that it enables your devices to have greater functionality while sharing a lot less data. For example, instead of your cell phone uploading every detail of your daily activity to the cloud for processing, it could process the data locally and share only the results. That's a big improvement from a privacy perspective. There are also advantages for businesses and other entities that, today, rely heavily on the cloud. For example, privacy regulations make it very difficult for hospitals to share data and work together to develop new innovations. But in an Internet of Federated Things, hospitals could collaborate in a more sophisticated way, sharing key findings without the need to release raw data from individual patients. There are also cost advantages that come from less data being transmitted and a reduction in the computing burden on cloud-based servers. In addition, a system where more decisions are made by edge computing devices can be far faster and more resilient than one where all processing is done remotely. That's going to be more and more important as our vehicles and other infrastructure like power grids become smarter and more reliant on computing. Are there any tech companies, or others, who are already doing this? Google is using this model in some of its mobile applications and Microsoft has begun to follow suit. But really, the idea is in its infancy. There are a lot of decisions to be made and a lot of problems to be solved. And the goal of the paper is to get the ball rolling in that direction. What are the hurdles to getting this model into more widespread use? There are a lot of interesting problems to be solved. Maybe the most obvious is standardizing and coordinating data. Data that's located on one central server can be randomized, shuffled and processed in many interesting ways. That becomes more difficult when data is partitioned out over many different devices that aren't always accessible. Another problem that's perhaps less obvious but no less important is equity. If I have an IoFT of millions of smartphones processing data, it's natural to ask the newest devices to do the most work, because they're faster and probably have more data. That could put an undue burden on those devices, and it could also result in the under-representation of data from older deviceswhich are likely to be owned by less affluent users. Like any new technology there is much to do to bring this technology to widespread use, and I look forward to tackling those challenges in the months and years ahead. Explore further Researchers design a new computing system that can reduce delays on smart devices More information: Raed Kontar et al, The Internet of Federated Things (IoFT), IEEE Access (2021). Raed Kontar et al, The Internet of Federated Things (IoFT),(2021). DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3127448 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain It was a good year for technology research of all kinds as a team of computer scientists at Rice University demonstrated a CPU algorithm that trains deep neural networks up to 15 times faster than the top GPU trainers. The AI software is also able to run on commodity processors. As part of their demonstration at this year's MLSys conference, they noted that their efforts can reduce the cost of training, which they described as the real bottleneck in such systems. Also, internet users experienced the largest data breach in history last summer as various entities reported that 3.2 billion passwords had been leaked from multiple databases. Named RockYou2021, the breach numbers suggested that nearly everyone on the internet might have been impacted. Users around the world were advised to change their passwords as it was believed the leaked passwords were likely to be sold to hackers. And a team at Cornel University wondered why Spotify still did not have a "dislike" button, considering that its business model revolved around keeping listeners listening. To find out, the group developed an algorithm that showed that listeners were 20 percent more likely to "like" a song if the algorithm used by the music platform was trained on 400,000 likes and dislikes, compared to an algorithm trained only on the number of likes. Also, many people around the world began to wonder this past year if the Metaverse is going to be the next big internet revolution. This came after Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company that makes the social media platform was changing its name to Meta. Other entities had also recently begun touting products as a means for allowing users to get in on the virtual ground floor of the still evolving technology. And a team at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg found that a layer of three crystals produced a thousand times more power in solar cells, if the three materials were arranged periodically in a lattice. They proved their ideas by creating crystalline layers of barium titanate, strontium titanate and calcium titanate which they alternately placed on top of one another to build a new kind of solar cell. Colin Johnson, an associate professor at the University of Nottingham, developed a deep-learning technique that could learn a so-called "fitness function" from a set of sample solutions to a problem. It could be used to solve a Rubik's cube and other problems step by step. In speaking with TechXplore, Johnson noted that the Rubik's cube is a complex puzzle, but any of its huge number of combinations are at most 20 steps from a solution. Last May, newly discovered Wi-Fi vulnerabilities called FragAttacks put all mobile devices at risk. The fragmentation and aggregation attacks allowed an attacker with the requisite skills and who was within radio range of a target to potentially exploit such flaws. Hackers could exploit programming vulnerabilities by adding frames into protected Wi-Fi networks. Also, a team working at the South China University of Technology developed a compound that might lead to sustainable, cost-effective, large-scale energy storage. Their work involved synthesizing a molecular compound that served as a low-cost electrolyte, thus enabling a stable flow battery that retained 99.98% of its capacity per cycle. And Swiss startup Climeworks began operations at its Orca carbon removal plant near Reykjavik, Iceland. The plant cost $10 to15 million to build and is expected to pull approximately 4,000 tons of CO 2 out of the air every year. The direct air capture technology plant converts the carbon to rock using a procedure that mimics the Carbfix methoda natural process that takes nature hundreds of thousands of years. The plant is powered by a nearby geothermal power plant. Also, a team at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne found evidence of mass-scale manipulation of Twitter trends. They found that almost half of all the local Twitter trending topics in Turkey were fake. They suggested that many viral trends are created solely by bots due to a vulnerability in Twitter's trends algorithm. They further noted that because the algorithm used by Twitter does not allow for deletions, attackers can push trends until they become widespread. And German car parts company Mahle announced last May that it was in the process of developing a durable and efficient magnet-free electric motor that does not require rare earth elementsan important development as car makers turn their resources toward making electric vehicles. Also, DuckDuckGo, an alternative search engine provider, announced in early spring that it had developed an extension for the Chrome browser that blocks FLoC tracking. FLoC is a "feature" Google added to its browser to track user habits for targeted advertising. Many users have complained about the invasion of privacy, and that is why DuckDuckGo created an extension to block it. Recently, a team of researchers from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Bath created a deep learning method to automatically enhance dog animations. The system was designed to improve the quality of animations involving quadruped animals. They presented their findings at this year's MIG 2001 conference. A combined effort by researchers from City University of Hong Kong, Nanjing University of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences found a way to double the charging-recharging cycle of lithium batteries. They replaced the main cathode materials with manganese, which has higher capacity and is more durable than cathodes used in conventional batteries. Milan Janosov, a researcher at the Central European University and Flora Borsi, a digital artist, merged data science and digital art in an innovative and intriguing waythey turned an analysis of Asimov's "Foundation" into art. Put another way, they analyzed the text and used statistics to highlight key words. They then plotted that data on a graph, which resulted in an image resembling a sketch of the universe. Also, last summer, a team of researchers at the security firm ThreatFabric reported on their blog that they had found instances of a new kind of malware in Android apps downloaded from Google Play that attempted to steal banking login information. They named the new malware Vulture, after the birds that prey on wounded or dead targets. Last spring, a team at Brown University announced that they had developed DeepONet, a new neural network-based model that can learn both linear and nonlinear operators. It was inspired in part by a series of studies carried out by a research group at Fudan University. They described it as a totally new way of looking at neural networks and suggested it could prove extremely useful in autonomous vehicle applications. Also, last summer, MIT News spoke with MIT's Jacopo Buongiorno, Robert Frida, founder of GenH, Steven Aumeier of the Idaho National Laboratory and Kevin Chilton, retired commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, to discuss why they think nuclear batteries offer a new approach to carbon-free energy. They suggested that a new generation of relatively tiny, autonomous plug-and-play factory-built reactors could be on the horizon. And last May, the U.S. Air Force successfully tested an unmanned aerial vehicle called Skyborg for the first time. USAF officials suggested the UAVoperating on an autonomous hardware/software suitewas part of a collaborative effort to bring together manned and unmanned aircraft. Recently, a small team of researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California reported that battery-powered trains could soon be economically viable. They said that improved battery technology and cheap, renewable energy could allow battery power to compete with diesel fuel to power trains. The technology could drastically reduce the amount of CO 2 emitted into the atmosphere by freight trains. And a team at MIT published a review paper summarizing recent advances in battery technology and outlining strategies underway to process the solid electrolytes and electrolyte/cathode tandems that could be used in future solid state battery designs. They suggested that the new designs could soon compete with lithium-ion batteries, but also noted that before that can happen, researchers must identify cost-effective strategies to produce their individual components. In November, the cargo ship Yara Birkeland made headlines when it departed a small port in Norway. It was the first such ship to be powered by electricity and to run autonomously. Officials involved with the deployment described it as the first step toward reducing the maritime industry's climate footprint. On its maiden voyage, the ship hauled fertilizer from Porsgrunn to Brevik, a 12-kilometer journey. Officials also suggested that in the future, all ships could run autonomously, dramatically reducing shipping costs. And a combined team from the University of Toronto and LG AI Research announced the development of an "explainable" artificial intelligence algorithm that could identify and eliminate defects in display screens. They claimed it outperformed comparable approaches on industry benchmarks and that it could potentially be applied to other areas, such as interpreting data from medical scans. In July, Microsoft warned its user community of a PrintNightmare vulnerability that was due to a flaw in Windows Print Spooler. Other entities also sounded the alarm as the vulnerability could allow criminals to hack into Windows computers and remotely execute code. Microsoft explained that there were two vulnerabilities, one that allowed local privilege escalation and another that allowed for remote code execution. And finally, in February, a Romanian threat researcher announced that he had been able to hack into computer systems at 35 major technology firms. Alex Birsan, an independent threat researcher, claimed that he had been able to hack into computers run by some of the biggest names in the IT businessPaypal, Apple, Microsoft, Tesla and Netflixeven after he had warned them ahead of time that he would be trying. Explore further Researchers suggest battery-powered trains could very soon be economically viable 2021 Science X Network 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. The number of active COVID-19 cases in Brazos County rose for the second straight day Thursday, climbing to 236 from 229 cases reported Wednesday and 206 cases reported Tuesday. It was the highest number of active cases of the virus in the county since Oct. 28, when 241 cases were reported. Brazos County health officials reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 among county residents Thursday. Brazos County officials have confirmed 33,663 cases of COVID-19 in the county since the pandemic began. A Texas A&M University website said the number of active, self-reported cases of the virus among students, faculty members and staff was 36 as of Monday, the last date for which figures were posted. Officials with the Brazos County Health District said 33,059 cases were considered recovered as of Thursday; health officials classify all cases older than two weeks as recovered. Five Brazos County residents were hospitalized Thursday, one more than the day before, for treatment of symptoms related to the virus, officials said. Threat actors are actively weaponizing unpatched servers affected by the newly identified "Log4Shell" vulnerability in Log4j to install cryptocurrency miners, Cobalt Strike, and recruit the devices into a botnet, even as telemetry signs point to exploitation of the flaw nine days before it even came to light. Netlab, the networking security division of Chinese tech giant Qihoo 360, disclosed threats such as Mirai and Muhstik (aka Tsunami) are setting their sights on vulnerable systems to spread the infection and grow its computing power to orchestrate distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks with the goal of overwhelming a target and rendering it unusable. Muhstik was previously spotted exploiting a critical security flaw in Atlassian Confluence (CVE-2021-26084, CVSS score: 9.8) earlier this September. The latest development comes as it has emerged that the vulnerability has been under attack for at least more than a week prior to its public disclosure on December 10, and companies like Auvik, ConnectWise Manage, and N-able have confirmed their services are impacted, widening the scope of the flaw's reach to more manufacturers. "Earliest evidence we've found so far of [the] Log4j exploit is 2021-12-01 04:36:50 UTC," Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince tweeted Sunday. "That suggests it was in the wild at least nine days before publicly disclosed. However, don't see evidence of mass exploitation until after public disclosure." Cisco Talos, in an independent report, said it observed attacker activity related to the flaw beginning December 2. Tracked CVE-2021-44228 (CVSS score: 10.0), the flaw concerns a case of remote code execution in Log4j, a Java-based open-source Apache logging framework broadly used in enterprise environments to record events and messages generated by software applications. All that is required of an adversary to leverage the vulnerability is send a specially crafted string containing the malicious code that gets logged by Log4j version 2.0 or higher, effectively enabling the threat actor to load arbitrary code from an attacker-controlled domain on a susceptible server and take over control. "The bulk of attacks that Microsoft has observed at this time have been related to mass scanning by attackers attempting to thumbprint vulnerable systems, as well as scanning by security companies and researchers," Microsoft 365 Defender Threat Intelligence Team said in an analysis. "Based on the nature of the vulnerability, once the attacker has full access and control of an application, they can perform a myriad of objectives." In particular, the Redmond-based tech giant said it detected a wealth of malicious activities, including installing Cobalt Strike to enable credential theft and lateral movement, deploying coin miners, and exfiltrating data from the compromised machines. The situation has also left companies scrambling to roll out fixes for the bug. Network security vendor SonicWall, in an advisory, revealed its Email Security solution is affected, stating it's working to release a fix for the issue while it continues to investigate the rest of its lineup. Virtualization technology provider VMware, likewise, warned of "exploitation attempts in the wild," adding that it's pushing out patches to a number of its products. If anything, incidents like these illustrate how a single flaw, when uncovered in packages incorporated in a lot of software, can have ripple effects, acting as a channel for further attacks and posing a critical risk to affected systems. "All threat actors need to trigger an attack is one line of text," Huntress Labs Senior Security Researcher John Hammond said. "There's no obvious target for this vulnerability hackers are taking a spray-and-pray approach to wreak havoc." The average wage for those jobs, from 2015 to 2019, is $19.88 per hour. These annual wages are based on the contracts that are written for each one of those LB840 applications, Taylor said. I have not been on a workforce audit where they have not met or exceeded their wages in some cases by up to $10 an hour. The programs current balance is at about $1.33 million, and after payouts has about $486,000 remaining, Taylor said. No funds are ever distributed to any of these LB840 applications until all of the criteria has been met per the contract, and generally these are going to be a four-year contract, so every year theres different criteria, he emphasized. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Receiving the funds involves a rigorous process. First, an initial screening is done by EDC staff. We want to make sure the business that is applying for LB840 actually qualifies under one of the seven criteria, Taylor said. YORK Daniel Short, 44, whose address was initially listed in court documents as being Aurora and now Des Moines, Iowa, has taken a plea deal in York County District Court in a case involving drugs. Short was arrested after a large amount of controlled substances was found in a vehicle in which he was a passenger on Interstate 80 in York County. According to court documents, the vehicle was stopped for speeding by a York County Sheriffs deputy. At the time of the stop, dispatch told the deputy Short had a history of drug activity. The driver denied consent to search the vehicle and became argumentative with the deputy, according to court documents. A county drug dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, one of the deputies indicated there was a large amount of controlled substance inside the trunk. Short and the driver were arrested and during the search of the vehicle, deputies found 116 pounds of concentrated THC and 6.3 pounds of raw marijuana. LITCHFIELD Pat Moore of Litchfield has announced his candidacy for the Nebraska State Board of Education District 7. Moore said in his announcement that parents are the primary educators of their children and that control of education should be on the local level as much as possible. District 7 encompasses 44 counties in central and western Nebraska. Counties in the Kearney region that are part of District 7 are Custer, Dawson, Gosper, Phelps and Harlan. Moore said representing the viewpoints of the sprawling district would be a daunting task but he said he is committed to defending western Nebraskans conservative positions on educational issues. Robin Stevens of Gothenburg currently represents District 7. He is a 40-year education veteran who spent his final 13 years as superintendent at Schuyler Community Schools. He was elected in 2018. Stevens four-year term ends in 2022. According to Wednesdays announcement, the 2022 election is Moores second attempt to win a seat on the state education board. Moore lost his bid in 1994, which he described as a contested election. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. CARTERVILLE Resilient Southern Illinois will continue to help school children learn to deal with adverse events, thanks in part to a grant from the Poshard Foundation. Wednesday afternoon Jo and Glenn Poshard, founders of the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, gave Resilient Southern Illinois $50,000. Mary Jane Morris, Illinois Education Association teaching and learning director and RSI coordinator, served as master of ceremonies during the press release for the donation. Morris said Resilient Southern Illinois is an organization that started in 2018 and partners with 15 school districts in Southern Illinois to put into place support for students dealing with trauma. They offer resources for school staff and help schools create safe spaces for children. Paul Reville of the Harvard Education Redesign Lab and Harvard Graduate School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, talked about their partnership with Resilient Southern Illinois and the important work the organization does and thanked the Poshards for supporting them. What you are doing to focus in this work really sums up what we believe in the design lab will be necessary in the future, Reville said. He also said issues of student mental health are very important because children need to be able to focus on their work at school. Problems have existed for some time, but COVID-19 has simply exasperated the issues of mental health for children. He also talked about the importance of partnering with the community to help schools teach resiliency and form relationships with children. We need the communities to come together and make this effort successful, Reville said. Representatives of two schools spoke about Resilient Southern Illinois and the work being done in their schools. Mary Beth Goff, dean of students and Resilient Southern Illinois liaison for Unity Point School, said trauma-informed schools promote learning about and understanding the whole student which can increase positive academic outcomes. She added that it provides a positive learning environment where students can engage and educators can provide support for students personal experiences. Goff also said we need to change how we view schools as just learning institutions. For a lot of students, school is a safe place where stability exists and they are served at least two meals each day. Because of this, school has a moral obligation to implement trauma-informed care for students and educators, Goff said. Students have no control over where they live or the circumstances they were born into, but we as adults have control over how we respond to their needs. Joshua Stafford, superintendent of Vienna High School District 133, is developing a county-wide student cabinet. One of the most important things we do in the community and world is to care for young people, Stafford said. He also thanked Glenn and Jo Poshard for caring for children and for being a beacon for our communities, adding that Resilient Southern Illinois is also a beacon of hope for children in K-12 and their schools. Glenn Poshard said they are grateful to partner with Resilient Southern Illinois and the Harvard Design Lab. Many children will develop resiliency they need, Glenn Poshard said. Jo Poshard, a retired elementary educator, said she wishes she had known more about adverse childhood experiences as an educator. Morris thanked the Poshards and said the money will go toward training and resources for Southern Illinois Schools. 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. May started on a positive note for local band U-Foria as they played a show at Shotgun Eddys in Eddyville to celebrate the grand opening of a new outdoor pavilion at the popular eatery in rural Pope County. 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. 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 Anjanette Young will collect a $2.9 million settlement for the botched raid Chicago police carried out on her home when they acted on a bad tip and made her stand naked and handcuffed as she repeatedly insisted they had the wrong place. The City Council unanimously approved the deal Wednesday, closing the contentious negotiations that turned into an embarrassment for Mayor Lori Lightfoot after city lawyers tried to dismiss the case and said Youngs lawsuit failed to establish a legal wrong. North Side Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, commended Young for coming forward to stand up for herself and for whats right. Aldermen need to take responsibility for wrongdoing like what occurred in the Young case and fix the system, fix the process and fix the policies so that we dont keep on making the same mistakes, Hadden said. Ms. Young wasnt the first, and I pray to God shes the last, said Ald. Jeanette Taylor, 20th. Searching for a man with an illegal firearm they were told lived in the apartment, 13 police raided Youngs home in February 2019, restraining her while she was getting ready for bed and forcing her to stand handcuffed and naked as officers searched her residence. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. City corporation counsel Celia Meza told aldermen this week officers would testify Young was completely naked for 16 seconds before first a jacket, then a blanket were draped around her shoulders. It was 10 minutes before officers allowed Young to head to her bedroom to get dressed. If the case went to trial, Meza said a jury might award her $13 million $1 million for each officer in the apartment or $16 million $1 million for each second she was completely undressed. 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 MONCKS CORNER, S.C. The Santee Cooper Board of Directors today approved the hiring of Jimmy Staton, a utility executive with extensive experience in electric and natural gas operations in the Midwestern United States. He starts March 1. The Board also approved naming Deputy CEO Charlie Duckworth as Acting President and CEO beginning Jan. 10, 2022 through Feb. 28, 2022 and extending his current contract as Deputy CEO through July 9, 2022. Current President and CEO Mark Bonsall will retire on Jan. 9, 2022 and remain available on a consulting basis through the initial transition, until early April. Staton is currently president and CEO of Southern Star Corp., a leading transporter of natural gas in the Midwest. He also served as executive vice president for NiSource, one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States with approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across seven states; as senior vice president for Dominion Resources Inc., and as president of asset operations for Consolidated Natural Gas (CNG) Corp. prior to its acquisition in 2000 by Dominion Resources. Among his career accomplishments to date, Staton: Led each of NiSources 3 business units - a gas distribution network serving 2.7 million customers in 6 states; a combination electric and gas utility serving over 850,000 customers in Indiana; and an interstate pipeline and storage company delivering natural gas to Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets, including building a gathering and processing business with over $1 billion in assets. NiSource Inc. operates the Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Led Dominions Electric Distribution operations, serving 2.2 million customers in Virginia and North Carolina, after its acquisition of CNG. Over time, his responsibilities grew to include Dominions electric transmission system and gas distribution business (serving 2 million customers in the Midwest). In addition to his deep experience in all aspects of electric utility operations, Jimmy brings specific successes in areas that are key for Santee Cooper, including rebuilding trust with our key stakeholders and continuing to keep operating costs down, said Peter McCoy, Santee Cooper Chairman of the Board. He was recruited to NiSource and successfully helped that entity improve its relationships with customers, regulators and Wall Street, and he helped Dominion drive down costs in its distribution business. "As a long-time customer, I'm excited to be joining the great team of people at Santee Cooper, said Staton, who has owned a home in North Myrtle Beach for about 15 years. I look forward to working with our customers and state leaders to ensure safe, reliable and responsive energy service for South Carolina going forward." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sixth District Congressman got his degree 60 years ago from the then-South Carolina State College but he is proud to have the chance to formally march with this year's December graduating class on Friday. What is just as special for him is that he will have U.S. President Joe Biden hand him his degree and speak to him as part of the graduating class. The ceremony, which will have Biden as its keynote speaker, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Clyburn talked about his emotions surrounding the commencement exercises, during which he will march with 138 graduates, during a virtual press conference on Wednesday. He recalled how at the time of his graduation in December 1961, South Carolina State did not conduct winter commencements and he received his diploma in the mail. "Sixty years almost to the day of my having finished all of my course work, I'm going to march. And the reason I didn't march is because the state did not allow me to march because they did not allow the only Black public college to have a commencement," he said. "Just think about that. They were having commencements at the University of South Carolina, but they did not allow South Carolina State to have one. That is insulting in and of itself to have to go back the next year to march ... but you keep plugging along," Clyburn said. He continued, "It turns out that not only will I get to march, but the president of the United States is going to hand me my degree. So I'm going to say to the students why you ought to stick with it. Don't get discouraged by these little insults that's handed to you, some of them by official state action. Don't let that discourage you. Keep on plugging." He said S.C. State Interim President Alex Conyers knew his story of not having marched when he graduated and approached him about not only marching but being the commencement speaker. "We sat down to talk and he told me that he would be pleased if I were to do the commencement address. ... Something happened. I can't remember exactly what it was. I said, 'You know, I can get out of this commencement address if I get the president of the United States to do it.' They might forgive me for not doing it. So I started work on that," Clyburn said. "The president said yes. It was several nights ago when I heard from him," he said, but it was Conyers who had a hard time comprehending the magnitude of what Clyburn was saying when he called to tell Conyers the news. "I said, 'Mr. President, I was just calling to let you know that I've done some thinking about this commencement address, and I don't think that I would be a good speaker for the commencement.' It was dead silence on the other end before I decided not to go too long with it," Clyburn said. "I said, 'I've decided that the president of the United States would be a better speaker.' There was still this silence. So I said, 'Mr. President, are you there yet?' He said, 'Yes, I'm here, I'm just trying to figure out what you just said to me.' "I said, 'I'm saying that President Biden has agreed to do your commencement address in my stead.' He said, 'I thought that's what you said.' And, of course, as you can imagine, he went to the board of trustees, and they issued the invitation. So we'll be there," the congressman said. "I'll march and the president will speak, and hopefully the students will remember it for the rest of their lives," he said. Clyburn said he didn't just approach Biden and ask him to be the commencement speaker, but first brought it up to Cedric Richmond, who serves as the senior adviser to the president and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. I told him, 'You know, the president is doing these little infrastructure meetings around the country.' I said, 'When you come to South Carolina, I want it to be on broadband.' ... So they called me and told me that they were looking at coming to South Carolina, and the date they gave me as a possibility was pretty close to the 17th of December," Clyburn said. "I said, 'Well, why don't we do it this way? Do (S.C. State's) commencement and talk about broadband?' So that's how all this happened. It wasn't me calling him up and saying, 'Please come do the commencement.' One thing led to another, and it turned out this way," he said. He said the university means a great deal to him and he got emotional talking about how it also meant a lot to his late wife, Dr. Emily E. Clyburn, who was an alumnus of the institution. "That school means so much to me. I matriculated in September 1957 as my wife did. My wife and I met on that campus. She was very emotional about South Carolina State herself," he said, noting that he kept his promise to his late wife to take care of its Honors College and its director. "They named the Honors College in her honor, and over the years Emily and I had raised and contributed about $1.7 million in an endowment at the school. And in trying to make sure I kept my promise to her, we consolidated all of that into the Honors College. I told her that I would do that," he said. Clyburn continued, "She was very emotionally attached to that school as well. Every dime of honorarium I've ever gotten, I've given to South Carolina State. It's the only state-supported HBCU, and I really, really feel that the state historically has not done right by that school. "So I'm not going to just complain about what the state has not done. I do what my dad always told me to do. Don't curse the darkness, light a candle. So I have spent my time lighting a candle for South Carolina State." He said the importance of HBCUs should not be diminished. "You take these students off the sea islands of Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina and bring them into a campus, where the classes are small, where the professors have the same or similar backgrounds and experiences. "You turn them into the Ron McNairs of the world, or into my friend, Rob Thompson, who graduated from Florida A&M and is now chairman of the board of Microsoft. I can go through the country and those kinds of examples of tremendous successes of people who come from these HBCUs that never would have made it if they had gone to a school with a classroom size of 150 to 200 students," Clyburn said. "They would have been lost in the shuffle. So that's what South Carolina State means to me. It's a tremendous resource in this state that ought to be treated better than it is being treated by the state," he said. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Love 2 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. A chronic failure to file her required financial disclosures will cost Orangeburg Countys elected coroner $17,000, the states ethics watchdog has decided. And thats even after the State Ethics Commission reduced Samuetta Marshalls original fine by $5,000 following her appeal for leniency last month. The commissions 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 Commissions repeated efforts to reach her about those forms and the late-filing fees she was accumulating, ethics investigators have testified. She didnt even attend her July ethics hearing to defend herself. Marshalls 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 Marshalls 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 Commissions debtors list a 28-page chart of politicians, lobbyists and businesses who have ignored their ethics fines. Marshall will join the list if she doesnt 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 wasnt sure she could afford her fines. The Ethics Commissions 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 Marshalls 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. UNCOVERED: Shedding light on questionable government conduct The Post and Courier of Charleston has launched Uncovered, a project to cast new light on questionable government conduct, especially in sma Shes going to make every effort to make those payments and make them on time, Sims said. Still, it isnt Marshalls 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 Marshalls wages after she didnt pay up. Still, Orangeburg County voters have repeatedly reelected her, most recently in 2020. At her appeal hearing last month, Marshall said she doesnt plan to seek reelection when her term expires in 2024. Her first fine payment is due Jan. 15. Dionne Gleaton of The Times and Democrat, Colin Demarest of The Aiken Standard, Greg Wilson of The Anderson Observer, Travis Jenkins of The (Chester) News and Reporter, Larry Hilliard of The Gaffney Ledger, Damian Dominguez of The (Greenwood) Index-Journal, Richard Caines of The (Kingstree) News, Andrew Wigger of The Newberry Observer, Kayla Green of The Sumter Item and Barbara Ball of The Voice of Blythewood and Fairfield contributed to this story. Intern Mary Steurer also contributed research. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 7 Sad 5 Angry 3 The interim president of South Carolina State University could hardly believe his ears when he learned the 46th president of the United States would be speaking to the December graduating class. It will be the first time a sitting U.S. president has ever served as a commencement speaker in the schools history, a defining moment and grand opportunity as S.C. State continues its legacy of producing the worlds next generation of leaders and professionals, he said. This is indeed a gift handed to us by a loyal son who loves this university and who continues to do whatever he can to elevate us and transform the lives of our students. I want to again thank Congressman (Jim) Clyburn, S.C. State Interim President Alex Conyers said during a Wednesday morning press conference in the universitys K.W.G. Donma Administration Building. U.S. President Joseph R. Biden will serve as the keynote speaker during the December graduating ceremony to be held 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 17, in the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. He was invited by Clyburn, a 1961 S.C. State alum, who himself graduated in December 60 years ago but never got the chance to march because at the time the school did not hold December graduations. "So he went home, and he received his degree in the mail and never came back to march. That certainly resonated with me because I completed my degree requirements in December of 1989 and did not have a commencement ceremony that December," said Conyers, who did, though, have the opportunity to come back in May 1990 to graduate. Clyburn will march with the 138 graduates on Friday. He was also scheduled to be the keynote speaker but decided instead to invite Biden after telling Conyers that he didnt think hed make a great commencement speaker. "(Clyburn said), 'Instead I would like to offer up the president.' I'm saying, 'The president? Is that Claflin, Clemson or Carolina?' He said, 'No, the president of the United States.' I said, 'Wow.' So absolutely at that moment, I said we would absolutely agree to host the president, Conyers said. So here we are today, with the campus and the Greater Orangeburg community buzzing with excitement at the news that we will now host Joseph Biden, the 46th president of the United States, as our keynote speaker, he said. The interim president said the visit from Biden to help celebrate the universitys graduates speaks volumes. This will be an unforgettable experience for our graduates and their families. We also look forward to once again having South Carolina State University on a national stage to showcase what weve known all along, and that is South Carolina State is a leader at providing access to a quality education to young men and women and that we continue to be a top producer of talented professionals who become productive citizens making contributions to the local, national and global workforces, Conyers said. He also thanked local leaders and elected officials for helping the university prepare. It takes coordination and collaboration with the White House, with Secret Service. It takes everybody pulling on the same end of the rope, and we have done that. I offer kudos to the entire administration here on South Carolina States campus, all of our key workers. Facilities, logistics, security all have been key in this, but more importantly the collaboration with local and state law enforcement entities as well. We simply cannot do this alone as South Carolina State. This is a joint effort, Conyers said. He said his military career included preparing for a visit of this magnitude. Over my 30 years as a veteran, Ive had the opportunity to share in this type of event with soldiers. This is the first time I get to share this type of event with students, and Im just as excited as our students are for this opportunity, he said. This is indeed a great day for South Carolina State, for Orangeburg and for the state of South Carolina, and were honored to welcome President Joseph Biden as our keynote speaker this Friday. Conyers said even with a presidential visit, the spotlight also will be on the students. This day is still about our students. This happens across the country every commencement season (where) the president provides commencement speeches across the country. For us, this happens to be our first time, and I certainly hope its not our last time, he said. He said the president and his administrations focus on HBCUs was important, but nothing new. It has been for the last few decades. This isnt the first time weve had focus on HBCUs. Weve seen a renewed interest in HBCUs, especially with the availability of the CARES Act dollars and the American Rescue Plan Act. So we are very excited about any additional funding opportunities for any HBCUs at any time in our history, Conyers said. He said the university plans to capitalize on the presidents visit to the campus. We certainly plan to capitalize on this exposure. This is a great weekend for South Carolina State University, make no mistake about it. This weekend we will also participate in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, but our real celebration are these 138 graduates that will graduate on Friday, Conyers said. He said provisions are being made for the community to get a glimpse of the president as seating will be limited. The ceremony will be streamed. So we will certainly make that available for family members and guests who will not be able to make the ceremony in person. Because it is a December commencement and its being held indoors, seating has been very limited even before the presidents announcement that he would be speaking, Conyers said. Everyone who will attend in person is advised to come early. Each graduate was given seven tickets for this graduation because of limited seating. So our graduates will get this information. ... They will get it out to their families. But starting today, you will see massive communications from our PR department informing all family, all guests, all graduates where to be and what time to be at those locations, Conyers said, particularly with highways and roads being closed and blocked for a certain amount of time. S.C. State Board Chairman Rodney C. Jenkins, a 1973 alumnus of the university, said graduation day is a big step in the lives of students and their parents. He also said having Biden serve as commencement speaker is a way for the university to continue to advance itself and make alumni and the state proud. Its very historical for me. Its also very historical for South Carolina State to have this great, great, great opportunity, he said. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD 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. Natrona County law enforcement and schools are monitoring a national social media trend spreading rumors of school violence on Friday. Statements from Casper police and the sheriffs office said on Thursday that there were no known threats in the area. As a precaution, there will be law enforcement officers in Natrona County schools on Friday, the school district said in a statement to parents and guardians on Thursday. We encourage parents and guardians to take this opportunity to talk with your student about the seriousness and resulting school and legal consequences of making any kind of threat, and about the appropriate use of social media, the districts message said. Other school districts around the state, including in Albany and Johnson counties, have also warned guardians about the trend. The warnings come as schools across the U.S. plan increased police presence on Friday in response to a recent trend on TikTok that encourages violence. Anyone aware of suspicious activity or suggestions of violence on social media or otherwise should report it to law enforcement and school officials. In a statement from Casper police, Department School Resource Sergeant Scott Jones said that any reports would be investigated vigorously. We would like to remind all individuals, regardless of age, that a violent threat toward a school is illegal... In Wyoming, that means a felony arrest for making a terroristic threat, Jones said. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 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. Nearly a week after Casper Star-Tribune owner Lee Enterprises rejected Alden Global Capitals attempt to buy the newspaper publisher, the hedge fund responded Wednesday with a lawsuit accusing Lees board of improperly denying shareholders the chance to have a say on the offer. Lee rejected Aldens offer to buy the company for $24 a share, or roughly $141 million, last Thursday because the companys board decided the offer grossly undervalued the company. But Alden argued in its lawsuit that Lee shouldnt have rejected its offer without even talking to the hedge fund. Alden also said Lee shouldnt have refused to accept its nomination of three outside directors for technical reasons, so it wants the court to order Lee to accept those nominees. Lees stockholder-unfriendly staggered board has exhibited all of the symptoms of severely entrenched leadership focused more on its own power than whats best for the company, Alden spokesperson Cameron Gurley said. Lee officials didnt immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit Wednesday afternoon. But the company has been steadfast so far in its opposition to Alden. The New York-based hedge fund that owns 6.3% of Lees stock became one of the largest newspaper owners in the nation after swallowing all of Tribunes newspapers earlier this year, but it has also earned a reputation for imposing severe cost cuts and layoffs. Two other hedge funds that are among Lees largest shareholders, Praetorian Capital and Cannell Capital, have said they think the company is worth much more than Alden is offering. I think there is still a tremendous amount of value, said Carlo Cannell, managing director of the Wyoming-based fund. In fact, Cannell estimates Lees stock could be worth $285 a share within five years if the company does everything right as it continues to transition more toward digital instead of print publication. Alden said in its lawsuit that it intended its $24 offer to be preliminary, and it could have been changed if the company had engaged in constructive talks. Lees stock gained another 12% Wednesday to close at $40.53 before the lawsuit was announced. Before Alden made its initial bid, the stock was selling for $18.49. The newspaper industry overall has been struggling with that digital transition because it been accompanied by shrinking revenue, and the pandemic increased the financial pressure on newspapers. Many newspapers across the country closed over the last two decades and nearly half of all newsroom jobs were eliminated between 2004 and 2018. Even before Lee rejected Aldens bid, it adopted a poison-pill plan that would make it more expensive for Alden to buy up Lees shares once it owns more than 10% of the company. At that point, the plan would allow Lees other shareholders to buy shares at a 50% discount or possibly get free shares for every share they already own. Lee owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Buffalo News and dozens of other newspapers including nearly every daily newspaper in Nebraska and most in Montana. Unions that represent journalists at those papers have come out strongly against Alden because theyre worried about what the hedge fund would do. Alden has bought up roughly 200 publications across the country in recent years through a series of acquisitions. Besides the Tribune papers, Alden also owns the Denver Post, Orange County Register and Boston Herald. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHEYENNE Jurors found a Cheyenne woman charged in the shooting death of her fiance not guilty of second-degree murder in Laramie County District Court. The all-male jury reached the verdict Wednesday evening after deliberating for about three hours. Danelle Ashley Moyte, 35, had been accused of shooting and killing Christopher Garcia, 39, after an argument in the early hours of May 16, 2020. Three children, all 13 and younger at the time, were present during the incident. More than two dozen supporters sat on each side of the courtroom behind the prosecutor and defense tables. At the moment the verdict was read, Garcias younger brother stood up and quickly left the room. Gasps and sobs could be heard among Garcias family and friends, and several began to weep. While leaving the courtroom, one man shouted at Moyte You murdered my cousin, and Youll burn in hell. Others yelled insults and expletives after leaving the courtroom, and a man said loudly: The system is f***ed up no justice at all. The defense rested its case Wednesday morning after questioning witnesses for less than an hour. Shortly before, Moyte told Laramie County District Judge Thomas Campbell she would not testify. The prosecutor, Laramie County District Attorney Leigh Anne Manlove, did not call any rebuttal witnesses nor present any additional evidence. On Tuesday, Campbell dismissed four of the five counts brought against Moyte: three counts of child abuse with mental injury and one count of aggravated assault and battery with serious bodily injury. Devon Petersen, an attorney for Moyte, argued Manlove provided little to no evidence to support these charges, and Campbell agreed. As a result of the dismissals, the jury only considered the second-degree murder charge, which carried a penalty of 20 years to life in prison. Closing arguments For Moyte to be convicted of second-degree murder, jurors needed to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Moyte did purposefully and maliciously, but without premeditation, kill Garcia. In her closing arguments Wednesday afternoon, Manlove broke down the words purposely and maliciously in an attempt to convince the jury to bring back a guilty verdict. Purposely means intentionally, the district attorney said. She recounted the many steps Moyte had to take before she allegedly shot Garcia she had to enter the home, turn off the lights, go up the stairs and into the bedroom. She had to go into a shoe closet, where the gun safe was kept, enter the code on the safe and open it, retrieve the gun and make sure it there was a magazine inside. Moyte had to do all of this before she stood on the second-floor balcony and pointed the gun at Garcia, who stood on the first floor more than 20 feet away. According to A.E., Moytes niece, who was standing on the stairs during the incident, nothing happened the first time Moyte pulled the trigger. This means Moyte had to make the conscious decision to either take two separate safeties off the gun, or make sure it was loaded, Manlove argued. That was not by chance. That was purposely, she said. As for maliciously, in Wyoming, the law says one can infer malice from the use of a deadly weapon, the district attorney said. Otherwise, malices other elements include having been done without premeditation, was reasonably likely to result in death, done recklessly and with extreme indifference to the value of human life, and done without legal justification or excuse. There was no evidence or testimony that Garcia harmed Moyte that night, Manlove said. In fact, the only person who had assaulted her was her best friend on the drive to Moytes home just before the incident, because Moyte had been continuously accusing her friend of being romantically interested in Garcia, she argued. It was in this state of mind after drinking, reacting irrationally to a joke about Garcia smoking weed, having been accusatory and physically aggressive with her best friend that Moyte entered her home that night, ready for a fight, Manlove said. Garcia had not broken into the home that night, the district attorney said there was no damage to the back door. Further, multiple witnesses had testified to him living there for about two years. Garcias entrance into the home that night may have been unpleasant, she said, but it wasnt forceful or illegal. Hed gone in to gather his and his daughters belongings and, based on testimony from his brother, go to his mothers home until things cooled down, as he usually did. Blood drops on a suitcase found in the bedroom show Garcia had leaned over it to take things out or put them in, Manlove argued. Whats more, this posture bending over a suitcase would explain the angle at which Garcia was shot, she said. The district attorney reiterated what several witnesses said throughout the trial: that Moyte and Garcias relationship was good when they were sober, but it was toxic when they were drinking. Just because Moyte is involved in the community and was described as an amazing mother doesnt mean she didnt unlawfully take Garcias life that night, Manlove argued. She can be all the things her friends said about her, and a murderer, she said. Tom Fleener, a defense attorney for Moyte, delivered his sides closing arguments, calling it a simple not-guilty verdict. Again and again, he characterized the incident this way: a drunk, violent felon breaks into a young schoolteachers home while her two young children hide. He follows her up the stairs, and she shoots him at close range. Sound like self-defense? Fleener asked the jury. Manlove didnt bring up Garcias past violent incidents discussed during the trial, Fleener said: an assault conviction in 2004, an arrest for aggravated assault in 2007, and a few incidents testified to by witnesses in which Garcia allegedly became physical with Moyte in 2018 and 2019. Who are we kidding? Hes a drunk, violent felon, Fleener said. Garcia also did not live in Moytes home, Fleener said an argument he and fellow defense attorney, Devon Petersen, made throughout the trial. If hed lived in the home, Fleener asked, why had he waited until Moyte arrived the night of the incident to enter, and why had he not been able to unlock the front door, having to go in through the back? Despite witnesses saying Garcia had lived there for two years, and the state showing Garcias clothes in Moytes closet, Garcias mail did not go to the Moyte home, Fleener argued. The deed to the house and bills for utilities were in her name, and despite testimony that Garcia paid Moyte rent, no evidence was presented to show that. Moyte is a good person, Fleener said: while holding it together as a single mom of three boys, with a full-time job and frequent community involvement, she adopted her nephew and was in the process of adopting her niece, who needed a place to live. Fleener renewed the argument that, based on the angle at which the bullet struck the bedroom door, Garcia had to have been bent over probably attacking or about to attack Moyte, he said. He called into question the testimony of A.E., the now-8-year-old who was called by the state early in the trial, and disputed evidence collected by the Laramie County Sheriffs Office attempting to show A.E.s line of sight while the shooting occurred. These line of sight photos could not prove A.E. witnessed the shooting because the wrong side of the bedrooms French doors was open, and objects had been removed from the hallway in front of the bedroom, Fleener said. The danger in that home on May 16, 2020, was not caused by Moyte, he argued it was caused by Garcia refusing to leave the home. A good man would have gotten into his truck and left, but a violent guy would do exactly what Garcia did, Fleener said: break into the home, follow Moyte up the stairs and into the bedroom, where Garcia was ultimately shot. In her rebuttal, Manlove brought up that despite having her phone with her, Moyte chose not to call law enforcement after she shot Garcia, who was still alive at the time. Instead, she left the home. The defenses witnesses Following six days of testimony from witnesses called by the state, and cross-examination of many of these witnesses by Fleener and Petersen, the defense ultimately spent less than an hour Wednesday morning calling three witnesses. A previous witness, forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Arnall, had been called by the defense Friday because of a scheduling issue. On Wednesday, defense counsel first called Curtis Burch, who formerly oversaw investigations for the Laramie County Sheriffs Office. Burch had been a key witness for the state, testifying cumulatively for more than a day. The purpose of calling Burch seemed to be to present a bloody suitcase found in the bedroom the suitcase later mentioned by Manlove in closing arguments. In stills from a deputys body camera footage, the suitcase was shown to contain boys shorts and womens sandals. This proved that Garcia had not been packing a bag to leave, Fleener argued. Next, the defense called Enid White, a close friend of Moyte. Moyte had taught her daughter dance and about Hispanic heritage through her Flores de Colores dance troupe, which Moyte started as a teenager. White briefly described how Moyte had helped her daughter come out of her shell and get through some difficult times. When asked by Fleener if Moyte was a violent person, she said no, not at all. Last, the defense called Moytes cousin, Leslie Bulow. Bulow was the second witness to describe an alleged assault by Garcia, first recounted by Moytes close friend, Katrina Coler, in previous testimony. In summer 2018, Bulow was on a camping trip with her husband, Coler, Colers daughters, Moyte and Garcia. Bulow said she was awoken one night by Moyte, who was pounding on her camper door and yelling for Bulows husband. Bulow described Moyte as crying, shook up, frantic, and saying that Garcia had choked her. Moyte had pinkish red markings on the front and side of her neck, Bulow said. Bulow testified that Moyte had recorded the incident and played it for her. In it, she said Garcia was insulting Moyte and calling her names. The video was not shown, as Coler testified earlier in the trial that Garcia broke Moytes phone shortly after. No one reported the incident to law enforcement. In cross-examining both White and Bulow, Manlove emphasized that they had not been able to sit in the courtroom and hear the evidence the jury had heard. She asked both if theyd want anything bad to happen to Moyte, and both said no. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Wyoming Republican Party Chairman William Frank Eathorne is one of the nearly 200 Wyoming residents listed by a whistleblower group as members of the far-right anti-government Oath Keepers group. The FBI has described the Oath Keepers as a paramilitary organization. Founded in 2009, the Oath Keepers philosophy is based on a set of conspiracy theories positing that the federal government is working to destroy American liberties, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The groups name refers to the oath taken by military and police to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. Members of the extremist group have made headlines in recent years for showing up heavily armed at Black Lives Matter protests, polling places and other events. More than 20 suspected members of the Oath Keepers have been arrested in relation to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The leader of the extremist group, Elmer Stewart Rhodes, has encouraged members not to recognize Biden as president or comply with any of his legislation. The Oath Keepers claim tens of thousands of present and former law enforcement officials and military veterans as members, according to the SPLC. Distributed Denial of Secrets, a whistleblower group, obtained a cache of Oath Keepers-related data this fall, including the membership list and chat logs. DDOS published 5 gigabytes of redacted data related to the hack in September. The membership list, which WyoFile obtained, features more than 38,000 names, including 191 Wyoming residents. Media outlets nationwide have identified Oath Keepers members within their own states who are in law enforcement or elected office, prompting internal investigations and calls to step down. A short-lived fairy tale Boone Tidwell, a long-time Cody resident, became a member of Oath Keepers in 2009. He nearly took on the title of Wyoming Chapter President for the group, he said. Initially, he said, there were 200-300 Wyoming people active online in the Oath Keepers. Folks were waking up to constitutional issues, Tidwell said, and he liked the idea of its Reach, Teach, and Inspire mission. The groups presence was short-lived in Wyoming, Tidwell said. Engagement dropped off quickly and in-person gatherings typically only attracted a handful of people. Its difficult to organize in a state where members are all geographically so far apart, he said. Following the groups involvement in high-profile national stand-offs with law enforcement including at the Bundy Ranch in Nevada and at the Sugar Pine Mine in Oregon then anyone with a brain bailed out, Tidwell said Oath Keepers is a fairy tale here, he said. There was a presence in a computer 12 years ago. In 2020, Tidwell organized a Protect Against Racism rally in Cody with the goal of protecting businesses against destruction. That event had nothing to do with the Oath Keepers, he said. Wyoming names Eathorne is perhaps the most prominent Wyoming resident to appear on the leaked Oath Keepers membership list. The Wyoming native and former law enforcement employee became the chairman of the state GOP in 2019. He had previously served as vice chairman. He also campaigned against Republican Eric Barlow in the Wyoming House of Representatives District 3 Campbell and Converse counties primary election, losing by more than 21 points. Eathorne did not respond to several requests for comment. Eathornes alleged membership is significant, according to Brian Levin, director of the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. It is disturbing that someone of such a high political position would be affiliated with the Oath Keepers, who have about 20 members facing charges out of the Capitol insurrection and who promote the idea of Second Amendment insurrectionism which means they can revolt when they subjectively believe that the government has become tyrannical, Levin said. Eathorne traveled to D.C. and attended the Trump rally on Jan. 6 that preceded the attack on the Capitol. He said in a Jan 7. statement that he participated in peaceful protests near the White House and did not witness any violence or property destruction. While no active state legislators appeared in the leaked documents, Ken Pendergraft, who sought political office in 2020, was listed as an enrolled member. Pendergraft ran for the District 29 seat from Sheridan County in the Wyoming House of Representatives. Mark Kinner, a Republican, has held the seat since 2015. Pendergrafts campaign Facebook page cited the Wyoming Constitution, and argued gun free zones are unconstitutional. He referred to Kinner as liberal and laid out his own platform. After the November Presidential election results should be final, they wont be, one Facebook post read. Therell be law suits on both sides, challenging the validity of any result. Chaos is coming. We need strong principled leadership in Cheyenne to help build that firewall against this chaos. We need people who understand whats going on and see it coming; people who are planning and have planned ahead. I appreciate your vote on Aug 18 to help stop the madness. Thank you. Ultimately voters cast 932 votes for Kinner and 716 for Pendergraft. When asked about his alleged Oath Keepers membership, Pendergraft had no comment, saying he didnt want to talk because its WyoFile. He worried whatever he said would come out twisted, he said. Dr. Taylor Haynes, a former gubernatorial candidate, is also listed as an Oath Keepers member. On his campaign Facebook page, Haynes describes himself as a statesman, a rancher, and a constitutional scholar with a vision for Wyoming that is founded on Constitutional-based government. In 2018, the state attorney general determined that Haynes was ineligible to serve as governor because he was a Colorado resident. (Haynes property straddles the border between the states.) On the Oath Keepers membership form reviewed by WyoFile, Wyoming is listed as his state of residence. Haynes challenged the Secretary of States ruling in court and the case was ultimately dropped. Haynes did not respond to several requests for comment. Of the Wyoming residents listed as Oath Keepers members, nine are identified as veterans and five are affiliated with law enforcement. Andrew Graham contributed to this report. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 7 Wyomings economy in 2020 grew at a rate slower than any year since 1986, when the state was in the midst of a major bust, according to a new report from the Wyomings Economic Analysis Division. The coronavirus pandemic ravaged businesses and households due to government restrictions and demand reduction, Wenlin Liu, chief economist at the Wyoming Economic Analysis Division, said in a news release Wednesday. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows Wyomings GDP fell by 8.3% from 2019 to 2020, the third-steepest decline in the country. GDP is calculated based on the total market value of goods and services provided by a specific place usually a state or country in one year. Its used to gauge economies power and growth rate. States with big tourism and industries seemed to affected most by the pandemic, Liu noted in the release. Wyomings two biggest economic drivers are the energy industry and tourism. The first and second largest declines in GDP last year were in Hawaii and Alaska. They fell by 9.1% and 8.7%, respectively. Wyomings mining industry which includes oil and gas shrank the most compared to the states other sectors, the data shows. Its GDP fell by about 25.7%, representing about half the total decline in GDP last year. Mining accounted for 12.7% of Wyomings overall GDP in 2020. Three other industries also experienced double-digit declines: leisure and hospitality: -16.4%; manufacturing: -16.3%; and transportation and warehousing: -12.3%. Agriculture, retail, and government underwent modest growth, the report found. Among Wyoming counties, Sublette experienced the largest decline, with its GDP falling by 27.5%. It was followed by Converse County, which saw its GDP fall by 23%. On the flip side, Crook County enjoyed the biggest growth in GDP from 2019 to 2020, with an increase of 3.4%. Sheridan experienced 2.1% GDP growth the states second-highest rate. Wyomings GDP has dwindled considerably since its peak at $50.7 billion in 2008. At the end of 2020, it was just $36.3 billion a decline also attributed to the states shrinking mining industry, the release said. Coal production in particular suffered over the past decade. In all, 41 other states GDPs also fell last year. Nationally, the GDP declined by 2.2%; the sharpest drop since World War II. 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. Two homes in Maraval which are occupied by businessman Adrian Scoon were searched yesterday Above all else, it is your understanding of the science of the mind that determines your des The deadline to apply for a chance to win one of 26 social equity marijuana dispensary licenses, worth potentially millions of dollars, passed on Tuesday, with the state receiving more than 1,500 applications. Not everyone, however, is pleased the applications were even accepted. All applications are now under review, said Tom Herrmann, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Health Services, the agency in charge of regulating both the medical and recreational marijuana programs. There were more than 1,500 applicants, Herrmann confirmed. Because applicants are not required to list a proposed location, its unknown how many are from Pima County, he said. However, 30 applicants have the city of Tucson's name in their filed application name, like 420 MJ Tucson Enterprises LLC for example. Herrmann could not confirm the date for the lottery determining the winners of the 26 licenses, because he said it would take time for the agency to sort through all the applicants to determine their viability. Arizona Daily Star reporter Edward Celaya's Top 5 stories of 2021 We are sharing Arizona Daily Star reporters' and photographers' favorite work from 2021. There is evidence that monoclonal antibodies, which can decrease the level of virus in a patients blood, can reduce or potentially eliminate the need for hospitalizations. The state health department reported Wednesday that of the 1,752 intensive-care beds at Arizona hospitals, only 88 are available in the state. The state also reported another 81 new deaths from COVID, bringing the statewide total during the pandemic to 23,324. There also were 3,249 new cases reported. The requests for staffing help are part of the effort by FEMA and the federal Department of Health and Human Services to address unmet need in communities and hospitals nationwide, said FEMA spokesman Robert Barker. We continue to work with our state and local partners to support their requests, he said. But Barker noted that FEMA has more than Arizona to consider. Resource requests are up in a number of states at this time, with a lot of moving parts at the local, state and federal levels, he said. Nevertheless, we anticipate fulfilling the requests by the end of the month. A jury has returned a guilty verdict against a Tucson landlord accused of stalking a local judge. Jurors in Pima County Superior Court deliberated for less than three hours on Wednesday, Dec. 15, before convicting Fei Qin of stalking Justice of the Peace Adam Watters in the days before Watters fired a warning shot toward the defendant. In closing statements recapping the Feb. 14 confrontation outside Watters home in the Catalina Foothills, the prosecution focused on testimony from Watters and his family members that they feared for their safety after someone repeatedly threw trash on their lawn, around the same time the judges pickup truck tires had been slashed on two separate occasions while parked overnight in his driveway. The string of incidents in early February would cause emotional distress and reasonable fear to any reasonable person, said out-of-town prosecutor Brian McIntyre, the Cochise County attorney who was brought in to avoid a conflict of interest if a local judge presided over the Watters case. The agreement, known as the 500+ Plan, would conserve enough water to serve about 1.5 million households a year. It would add about 16 feet total to the reservoirs level. So far, two tribes the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton and the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Parker are the only Arizona entities to have signed formal agreements with authorities to conserve a specific amount of water. The Gila River community is leaving behind 129,000 acre-feet a year in the lake. That comes on top of 200,000 acre-feet the tribe left in Lake Mead in 2019 and 2020 for the first Lake Mead-saving plan the 2019 drought contingency plan. The Colorado River Indian Tribes will leave another 50,000 acre feet in the lake. The rest of the participants in this agreement are still in negotiations, although many if not most of them sent representatives to Wednesdays signing ceremony. The details of how much these entities will save and how much money theyll receive may not be known for all of them for weeks or months. If she were not to resign, perhaps all of the litigants before her who were African American would seek her recusal, and Im not sure that she has a valid basis for denying that recusal and so there is no efficient administration of justice if she stays on the bench, he said. So, it would be my hope that this period of reflection that shes going through will lead her to that same conclusion. In a statement Tuesday, Odinet confirmed that the video was recorded in her home but said she had taken a sedative at the time and had "zero recollection of the video and the disturbing language used during it. A 59-year-old Black man was arrested and charged with the burglary, which happened early Saturday, police said. The video sparked widespread calls in the community for the judge's resignation. The president of the Lafayette Chapter of the NAACP, Michael Toussaint, and the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus were among those calling for her resignation. Kaiser agreed that there may not be a lot of information about whether someone who develops natural antibodies from one form of the virus will have protection against other forms, both existing and yet to come. At the same time, however, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the chief medical adviser to the president, is saying there are indications that the currently available vaccines are effective against all variants. But Kaiser said that, if nothing else, lawmakers need to take a closer look at the issue. Its nothing against the vaccine at all, Kaiser said. It really is an effort to have a conversation about natural immunity, Kaiser said. It doesnt get much conversation around how viable it is. State health officials declined to weigh in on the issue, with a spokesman saying the agency does not comment on pending legislation. But former state health director Will Humble said that Kaiser may be on to something. There is actually some pretty compelling evidence to support the sponsors claim, he told Capitol Media Services. TOKYO (AP) Japan's exports jumped 20% and imports rose at an even faster pace in November as disruptions to manufacturing supply chains eased. Preliminary trade data reported Thursday showed imports surging nearly 44% from a year earlier, pulling the country into a deficit, as surging oil prices pushed costs sharply higher. Iron and steel exports jumped 88%, while exports of vehicles and other transport equipment rose 20%. Shipments of computer chips also revived, rising more than 20%. The jump in exports in November suggests that most supply chain constraints in the automobile sector had already eased last month. We think that exports will remain strong over the coming months as motor vehicle exports recover further and external demand for capital goods continues to rise," Tom Learmouth of Capital Economics said in a commentary. However, global growth in trade has been moderating at a time when a new wave of coronavirus cases in many countries could stall recoveries from the pandemic. The 7.4 trillion yen ($64 billion) in exports compared with 6.1 trillion yen in November 2020. Imports rose to 8.3 trillion yen ($72 billion), leaving a deficit of 954.8 billion yen ($8.36 billion). BOSTON (AP) Security researchers said Thursday they found two kinds of commercial spyware on the phone of a leading exiled Egyptian dissident, providing new evidence of the depth and diversity of the abusive hacker-for-hire industry. One piece of malware recently found on an iPhone belonging to Ayman Nour, a dissident and 2005 Egyptian presidential candidate who subsequently spent three years in jail, originated with the increasingly embattled NSO Group of Israel. That company was recently blacklisted by Washington. The other was from a company called Cytrox, which also has Israeli ties. This was the first documentation of a hack by Cytrox, a little-known NSO Group rival. The spyware was uncovered by digital sleuths at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, who said two different governments hired the competing mercenaries to hack Nour's phone. Both instances of malware were simultaneously active on the phone, investigators said after examining its logs. The researchers said they traced the Cytrox hack to Egypt but didn't know who was behind the NSO Group infection. The researchers said in a report that the intrusions highlight how hacking civil society transcends any specific mercenary spyware company. Sen. John Thune, the Senates No. 2 Republican, said many in the GOP caucus are hoping Cruz "can find a way forward to work with Democrats to get to some of these positions filled. I think there are members who are really concerned about particularly certain areas of the world where we dont have ambassadors in place and recognize that its important that some of these get done," Thune said. Even with the backlog, Biden continues to send new nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The president on Wednesday announced he will nominate Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. envoy to Japan in the Obama administration and daughter of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy, to serve as his chief envoy to Australia and retired U.S. Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan to serve as ambassador to Belize. Publicly, White House officials have lauded career foreign service officers who have stepped up at embassies to try to fill the void as the administration awaits confirmation of ambassadorial picks. But the blockade has already had real impact on U.S. foreign policy and national security interests in hot spots around the globe, officials say. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Thursday approved an order to reduce the monthly charge to Oklahoma Gas and Electrics customers they would otherwise be required to pay for fuel costs resulting from the February winter storm. Thursdays decision also requires the company to apply any other proceeds it receives for the storm directly to consumers bills to lower customers fuel charge, and requires OG&E to take steps to improve its fuel supply plans to protect customers in the future. The proposal made to the commission was the result of a compromise and is the first case brought under new legislation designed to help lower payments for the extraordinary costs of the storm. OCC chair Dana Murphy noted that without the agreement and the states new securitization law, the total of the February storm fuel costs OG&E could recover under the law would be devastating. Its estimated that simply passing through $748.9 million in fuel costs would have resulted in the average residential consumer being charged an unmanageable amount of more than $400 dollars in one month just for the storm, Murphy said. The Concert Truck also meant that Luby and Zhang were able to continue performing, even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. I have to admit, we were at first apprehensive about going out performing, Zhang said. But when we began to understand that outdoor concerts could take place, we saw this as an opportunity to perform at a time when a lot of other people were understandably reluctant to do so. The Concert Truck has kept the duo busy; they have performed some 280 concerts throughout the country in the course of 2021. This is pretty much our lives now, Zhang said, laughing. And I think it has done a lot to help us as performers. Dealing with all the things you have to deal with when youre putting on these concerts has instilled in me a sense of confidence I dont think I could have gained in any other way. You can be at the center of utter chaos and still you have the focus you need to perform and play well. I always had this idea that, if you were a concert artist, you really just had to show up for a rehearsal or two and the concert, Luby said. I learned very quickly that there is so much more involved in putting on a concert from start to finish. That was a real education. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Swedish authorities said Thursday that citizens from fellow Nordic countries will have to show a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate when entering Sweden starting next week. As of Dec. 21, people from Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland no long will have an exemption to the certificate requirement and must also show their passes to enter Sweden. Swedish Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren also encouraged all travelers to be tested for the coronavirus upon entry due to a deteriorating public health situation. The spread of infection is increasing sharply. The new virus variant omicron makes it difficult to predict the spread of infection in the future, Hallengren said during a news conference. Sweden has previously stood out among European nations for its comparatively hands-off response to the coronavirus. The Swedish government has not ordered lockdowns or closed businesses during the pandemic, relying instead on citizens sense of civic duty to control infections. Authorities have emphasized individual responsibility instead of government mandates. Goodloe emphasized that it isn't too late to become fully vaccinated or boosted. He thinks sometimes people hesitate to initiate the vaccine series at this point in the pandemic because of concerns that they might be judged or receive a cold shoulder. Not so, he said, because hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are safe places that offer respect while providing care when and where you need it most. "We're not here to judge anyone; we just celebrate with each and every vaccination that we're able to give," Goodloe said. "It's never too late, as long as you're still healthy, to get vaccinated. "I will tell you over this last year taking care of absolutely some of the sickest of the sick with COVID in Tulsa County as an emergency physician I have not had any patients that said they regretted getting the vaccine." Goodloe added that he's had a lot of patients express regret that they declined vaccination, with some of them not surviving the illness. But Frizzell noted the declarations of four members of the Kepler federal prosecution team who all said they had no knowledge of state charges pending against Hamilton, 20, until after the trial. Kepler presents no evidence to contradict the declarations, Frizzell wrote in his 20-page order. Nor is there any evidence that any other person in the U.S. Attorneys office or the federal government generally knew of the state investigation or prosecution of Hamilton. Kepler shot Lake in 2014 in the middle of a street just west of downtown Tulsa after the pair had a brief encounter. Lake had been dating Keplers daughter, Lisa, at the time. Kepler has claimed self-defense, saying Lake was armed with a gun when Kepler shot him, first while still sitting in his pickup, before getting out and shooting him again and driving away from the area. Witnesses, including Hamilton, have testified that Lake was not armed and appeared to be extending his hand as if to shake Keplers prior to being shot. No gun was found on or near Lake after he was shot. Police have released the name of the victim of Tulsas latest homicide. Officers responding to a call that shots had been heard found Jennifer Hernandez with a gunshot wound to her chest outside an SUV that had crashed into a light pole in the 1500 block of Rockford Avenue about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Hernandez, 45, was pronounced dead shortly after paramedics arrived, police wrote in a social media post. Through interviews with witnesses, detectives learned that two other people had been in the vehicle with the woman and that they were driving on Rockford Avenue when a man on foot began shooting at the SUV. No arrests have been made. Police are asking anyone with information about the shooter or homicide to contact Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS (2677), at bit.ly/TCStips or through the Tulsa Tips app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or iTunes stores. Hernandez is the sixth woman to be killed in Tulsa this year out of 59 homicide victims and the second woman to be fatally shot while driving in north Tulsa in little more than a month. I personally think the current administration wants to do the right thing, wants to move on, wants to serve the Epic students well, said Monies. I think thats important. Epic has agreed to the number and is being helpful and cooperating. It shows they are moving in the right direction. In late May, Epics governing board voted to divorce Epic One-on-One and Epic Blended Learning Centers from the for-profit school management company Epic Youth Services, which made the schools co-founders, David Chaney and Ben Harris, millionaires over the past decade. Until those ties were severed, both of Epics Oklahoma schools paid EYS a 10% cut of all state and federal funding they received. The state auditor has been outspoken in questioning how, when Epic was limited to spending no more than 5% of its taxpayer dollars on administrative costs, in all previous fiscal years its governing board paid Harris and Chaneys for-profit company twice that percentage for the schools management. And to compound the administrative overhead costs, according to Byrd, the duo hired an entire administrative staff at Epic Charter Schools at public expense to do the work their for-profit management company was being paid to do. HONOLULU (AP) The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Navy to immediately close a fuel storage facility blamed for contaminating tap water at military housing and threatening an aquifer used by both the military and Honolulu civilians. The resolution urged the immediate defueling, permanent removal, and relocation of the U.S. Navy Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility underground storage tanks. The Navy did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The Red Hill storage facility houses 20 giant fuel tanks that were built near Pearl Harbor in the early 1940s. It supplies fuel to all branches of the military in Hawaii and has been the site of a series of leaks in recent years. The tanks sit 100 feet (30 meters) above an aquifer that normally supplies one-quarter of urban Honolulu's water. The resolution comes after the Navy said last week it had detected petroleum in its Red Hill well that draws on this aquifer and supplies water to military housing, offices and elementary schools. The Navy received about 1,000 complaints from people saying their water smelled like fuel or chemicals or that they suffered from nausea, vomiting or other physical ailments. Factory employee Haley Conder told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a supervisor threatened her with written disciplinary action if she went home early because storms were approaching. Conder 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. The only plaintiff identified in the lawsuit is Elijah Johnson, who was working the night shift at the candle factory when the storm struck. The wording of the lawsuit says it was filed by Johnson and on behalf of others similarly situated. Others aren't identified by name for fear of reprisal, Jones said. After days of not knowing how many workers died at the factory, authorities are now pretty close to certainty that no more than eight perished, Beshear said Thursday. The governor said it was an absolute miracle that more lives were not lost. I will tell you, I was almost certain that the number would be 70, he said. But thank God, others either left or escaped. 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. In a rare public advisory, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared that Americas youth are facing a devastating mental health crisis, worsened by the pandemic. The 53-page report has startling statistics, including a significant increase in self reports of youth depression, anxiety and emergency room visits for mental health issues. Suicide attempts among adolescent girls in the U.S. jumped 51% in early 2021 as compared to the same time in 2019. For boys it increased 4%. In October, a national emergency in youth mental health was declared by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Childrens Hospital Association. It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place, wrote the nations top physician. American youth were already facing a looming crisis in brain health before the pandemic, with Oklahomas children on the leading edge. The Japanese consume around 10,000 metric tons of pufferfish each year, according to Business Insider, but Japan's quality of wild puffers has decreased over the years, so Vietnam can explore the potential of a future market for the fish. During his official trip to Japan in late November, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with Ito Yoshinari, general director of Mitsui Company, to discuss how to develop an industry of pufferfish aquaculture in Vietnam. At their meeting at the Embassy of Vietnam in Tokyo on November 23, PM Chinh said that Vietnamese pufferfish are being wasted now." The prime minister welcomed Mitsuis plan to commercialize the resources effectively and successfully. New potential There are 49 pufferfish species in Vietnam despite many people thinking there is just one, according to the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Among them are five species that are approved for use as food in Japan. Seven others met requirements for export to South Korea but shipments were halted in 2013 due to safety control and categorization issues. In 2020, Da Nang applied for approval to catch pufferfish again, but the plan has not started over several reasons, including food safety control and finding suitable buyers. According to Dr. Vu Thuy Linh, the first Vietnamese Ph.D. to receive a chefs license to prepare pufferfish in Japan and a Mitsui representative, pufferfish make up about 10 percent of purse-seine fishing output annually. That means Vietnam gets rid of about one metric ton of pufferfish each day, equal to 37,000 metric tons a year. As fishing puffers is banned in Vietnam, fishermen would have to release their catches back into the ocean or turn them into fertilizers that could only be sold at extremely cheap prices. Rumor has it that Chinese traders are buying pufferfish in Vietnam and reselling them in Japan at a higher rate. This report, however, could not be verified independently. In fact, a kilogram of wild tiger pufferfish costs up to VND5 million (US$218) in Japan. Ito Yoshinori show guests how to prepare pufferfish in a safe way in a hall of the National Institute of Nutrition under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health on June 5, 2018 in this photo supplied by the Vietnam Trade Office in Japan. Exploring a new market for Vietnamese pufferfish During the meeting with PM Chinh, Yoshinari suggested several potential solutions to the development of pufferfish aquaculture in Vietnam. The first and foremost priority is reviewing all the species of pufferfish that exist in Vietnam and then making a list of edible puffers to assure food safety, the Japanese executive said. In Japan, there are 22 edible species among more than 40 species of pufferfish. Given the reduction in the quantity of wild pufferfish in Japan, Vietnamese fishermen and exporters can make the most of their chances. PM Chinh aired his hope that a pufferfish industry would be established in Vietnam and that the Southeast Asian country would not only export the whole fish but also get technology transfer from Mitsui to make finished puffer products domestically, which would add more value to the Vietnamese fishing industry. Yoshinari, who has more than 40 years of experience in pufferfish production, said he was confident about the proposals he suggested. Our company has specialized in fishing puffers and making products from the fish for more than 31 years," he told PM Chinh. "Our main partners are luxury restaurants in Japan. So we have enough confidence in our technology, and we are willing to exchange the technology with Vietnam." In terms of training staff who are capable of preparing meals with pufferfish safely, the two sides agreed that it would be necessary to build a training system under the established standards, which have been developed for many years in Japan. Japan has ended all the food poisoning cases relating to pufferfish thanks to this chef training system. In general, there are some species of pufferfish that are known for tetrodotoxin, a poisonous compound found in the skin, liver, and ovaries of the fish. A well-trained and skillful cook, with a chef license, will be capable of processing pufferfish safely for food. To create a future market for pufferfish in Vietnam, Mitsui will firstly bring its safe food products to Vietnam with the aim of gradually familiarizing customers with them. Once the market has gained traction, the company will roll out its plan on developing pufferfish farming in Vietnam. PM Chinh assigned Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam and trade counselor Ta Duc Minh to work out a project on connecting Mitsui with related sides to develop the puffer exploitation industry in Vietnam in the near future. Mitsui has already worked with some Vietnamese enterprises such as Vifotec SJC, the National Institute of Nutrition, and the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries in the northern Vietnamese city of Hai Phong. 'We will definitely come to Vietnam first!' Yoshinari gave the Vietnamese prime minister a pufferfish-shaped dish, which is a unique one made by Kutaniyaki, Japans 360-year-old company specializing in porcelain, under Mitsuis order. Presenting such a gift, the Japanese executive hoped that there would be better pufferfish among Vietnams species than Japans. Yoshinari even thought of a so-called national pufferfish 'made in Vietnam' and exclusive to Vietnam. The brand name of Kutaniyaki porcelain represents Mitsuis commitment to exchanging Japanese values with the Vietnamese in their collaboration. Yoshinari shared his view on promoting a culture of eating pufferfish internationally and said that we will definitely come to Vietnam first during the journey of promotion. According to the National Institute of Nutrition, green spotted pufferfish and silver-striped pufferfish are the two species whose meat is so rich in protein and amino acids, with the level of essential amino acids higher than that of chicken or carp. The pufferfish is also high in DHA, EPA, vitamins D, E, and collagen. Parts of a pufferfish can be used for various purposes like making fresh and dried foods, extracting amino acids, producing medicines to treat cancer, reducing pain, stopping drug addiction, and more. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! India has approved a $10 billion incentive plan to attract semiconductor and display manufacturers, its technology minister said on Wednesday, as part of a deepening push to establish the country as a global electronics production hub. Under the plan, India's government will extend fiscal support of up to 50% of a project's cost to eligible display and semiconductor fabricators, the government said in a statement. Israel's Tower Semiconductor, Taiwan's Foxconn and a consortium from Singapore have shown interest in setting up chip factories in India while Vedanta Group was keen to set up a display plant, a government source told Reuters. Tower, Foxconn and Vedanta did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "The program 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," the government statement said. The drive comes as some companies look to diversify their manufacturing bases beyond China due to the ongoing trade war between Washington and Beijing and is a sign India is trying to move up the electronics value chain. India's plan to incentivize semiconductor manufacturing also comes at a time when automakers and tech companies around the world are grappling with a global chip shortage. New Delhi also approved an incentive plan to support 100 local firms working on integrated circuit and chipset designs. Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told a news briefing the plan would help develop "the complete semiconductor ecosystem - from the design of semiconductor chips to their fabrication, packing and testing in the country". A worker inspects semiconductor chips at the chip packaging firm Unisem (M) Berhad plant in Ipoh, Malaysia October 15, 2021. Photo: Reuters 'Advanced Technology' The government said it expected the scheme to create about 35,000 high-quality positions, 100,000 indirect jobs and attract investment worth 1.67 trillion rupees ($8.8 billion). Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has offered about $30 billion in incentives to woo some of the world's largest electronics manufacturers to set up shop in India and give the domestic industry a fillip. The push has already helped make India the world's second-biggest smartphone maker behind China. It has also helped India win investment commitments from Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron - three of Apple's top contract manufacturers. "The government's plan will help bring advanced technology, more employment and bigger investments into India," said A. Gururaj, managing director of Indian contract manufacturer Optiemus Electronics. "It will also help cut expensive tech imports." Tata Group, one of India's biggest conglomerates, is venturing into the semiconductor business and is in talks with three states to invest up to $300 million to set up a chip assembly and test unit, Reuters reported last month. ($1 = 76.3780 Indian rupees) Check out the news you should not miss today: Politics -- Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday 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, the Vietnam News Agency reported the same day. -- From December 12 to 14, a delegation from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam led by Deputy Ambassador Mark Tattersall visited northwest Vietnam to meet with local farmers and businesses who are benefiting from Australian-funded projects, the embassy said in a press release on Wednesday. Society -- The majority of 1,967 COVID-19 patients being treated in Da Nang are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, the citys health department said on Wednesday. -- The Peoples Committee of Dong Thap Province in southern Vietnam on Wednesday asked for approval from the Ministry of Health and the General Department of Preventive Medicine to shorten the waiting time of fully-vaccinated people to get COVID-19 booster jabs from six to four months in response to the Omicron variant. -- Police in Dong Nai Province on Wednesday detected more than 10 metric tons of pig offal of unknown origin at a local facility in the provincial capital city of Bien Hoa. Business -- Vietnam's export turnover topped US$300 billion in January-November and is expected to hit $330 billion for the whole year, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh said at a forum to promote 2021 export on Wednesday. -- The Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with the Peoples Committee of Dong Thap Province, on Wednesday organized a virtual conference to promote and enhance trade relations between India and Dong Thap in agriculture, the diplomatic agency said in a press release the same day. Lifestyle -- The art of xoe dance of Thai ethnic minority people in Vietnam has been listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 16th session of the UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is taking place from December 13 to 18, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Hanoi Peoples Court on Wednesday sentenced two people to a combined 16 years in prison for spreading anti-state materials. Trinh Ba Phuong, 36, and Nguyen Thi Tam, 49, were jailed for 10 and six years, respectively, for making, storing, or circulating information and documents with content against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. After serving their sentences, Phuong and Tam will be put on probation for five and three years, respectively. In January 2020, military units and local authorities built a wall to protect Mieu Mon military airport in Dong Tam Commune, My Duc District, Hanoi, according to the indictment. Police officers were stationed at the site to ensure order and security in the commune, but were later attacked by an armed group of residents who opposed the construction of the wall around the military airfield. The clash resulted in the death of three policemen, while officers also shot a man holding a grenade. The man later died. Throughout the conflict, Phuong and Tam posted several videos, articles, and statuses on Facebook that the court found to be have distorted the situation in Dong Tam. The two also defamed the people's government, incited people to oppose the state, and slandered and discredited competent authorities. In addition, police found that Phuong was possessing a book that contained fabricated information aimed at defaming the people's administration. The jury stated that the defendants activities had threatened national unity and affected peoples trust in the Party and state's guidelines and policies. In their decision, the jury cited the defendants repeat offenses as reasons for levying such a strict punishment. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Your browser does not support the audio element. Passengers on Hanois newly-opened Cat Linh-Ha Dong elevated railway line may encounter surprise emergency drills, a metro official said on Wednesday following a rehearsal that startled passengers last week. Unannounced safety drills may happen, but we will inform passengers right after [the drills begin], Hanoi Metro director Vu Hong Truong was quoted by VnExpress as saying on Wednesday. Hanoi Metro manages and oversees the day-to-day operation of urban railway lines in the Vietnamese capital, including the Cat Linh-Ha Dong line. During the mock drills, buses will be used to transport affected passengers to the nearest station where they can either resume their commute or have their fare refunded, Truong said. According to Truong, rehearsing mock situations that simulate possible real-life scenarios is recommended by independent French consulting consortium Apave-Certifier-Tricc (ACT), the contractor responsible for evaluating and certifying the safety of the Cat Linh-Ha Dong line. Any of 63 hypothetical emergency situations detailed by ACT might be used in the surprise drills. The drills will be launched by state agencies to evaluate how we the operator respond to an emergency, so even Hanoi Metro will not be given prior notice, Truong explained. Emergency drills in all 63 situations were already played out by relevant units in December 2020 using empty trains, he claimed. The only surprise factor is the timing of the drills. Everyone has already been made aware of possible scenarios, Truong noted, stressing that passengers will not be put in harms way. On Tuesday last week, an emergency forced Cat Linh Station to close for about 30 minutes as operators fixed the lines signal system. More than 30 passengers who had already boarded a train at Cat Linh Station had to disembark and have their fare refunded. As we had fixed the issue, I received a phone call from a leader of Hanois transport department informing me that it was a surprise rehearsal, Truong told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. It was such a relief. The Cat Linh-Ha Dong line, the first in Vietnam, welcomed its first passengers on November 6 after a decade of construction. A full trip on the 13-kilometer elevated railway takes 23 minutes. The line boasts 12 stations and connects Hanois Dong Da and Ha Dong Districts. The rail route was built by China Railway Sixth Group Co. Ltd. at a cost of more than US$868 million. Passengers were able to ride for free during the first 15 days of operation before paying fares of VND8,000-15,000 ($0.35-0.66) on November 21. By December 5, nearly 240,000 passengers had taken the route while its trains had made a total of 3,045 safe trips, VnExpress cited Hanoi Metro. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ho Chi Minh City officially introduced a public bicycle rental service in District 1 on Thursday morning on a trial basis, after a seven-month halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The southern citys administration on Wednesday granted approval for the service to be piloted at 43 stations in the district, after one of such locations opened to the public on Le Loi Street on December 3 as a pre-trial operation. These stations, covering 10 to 15 square meters each, are situated on the sidewalks of many streets and are close to local bus stops, parks, and popular tourist destinations. Do Ba Dan, chairman of Tri Nam Group JSC, the investor of this bike rental model, said 500 bicycles had been imported for this project, whose trial phase is expected to last one year. Of the bikes, 388 have been put to use at the 43 stations and the rest are kept as standby vehicles. The bicycles are equipped with smart locks, GPS systems, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, Bluetooth, a distinctive number plate, as well as front baskets and headlights. People are required to install the Mobike app on their smartphones and fill out personal information to use the rental service. The app allows users to locate the nearest station and select the time they would like to rent the bikes. After paying rental, customers will be provided with a QR code to unlock a bicycle. The fee in the trial period is fixed at VND5,000 (US$0.21) per 30 minutes and VND10,000 ($0.42) per hour. Service users will be given free-of-charge tickets for their first 15 minutes of bicycle use in an initial stage of this period, the investor stated, without mentioning how long this stage is. It also said other ticket types will be made available in the coming time. Nguyen Van Thanh, a local resident, believed that the service would offer a good means of transport for people to travel in downtown areas. It will help minimize the use of motorbikes, reduce travel cost, and protect the environment, Thanh said. As part of the citys plan to promote public transport and limit personal vehicle use in downtown areas, the bike rental service had been scheduled to begin in April but was postponed due to the eruption of the severe fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. The service trial has now been launched as the whole country has basically put the pandemic under control and reopened the economy following the strategy of living safely with the coronavirus since early October. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ministry of Health confirmed 34,062 more COVID-19 cases in Vietnam on Thursday, along with 1,033 recoveries and 241 virus-related fatalities. The latest infections, including three imported and 34,059 domestic transmissions, were found in 60 provinces and cities, the ministry said, noting that 9,888 patients caught the pathogen in the community. The domestic transmissions include 18,792 infections Tay Ninh Province had detected in the past weeks and were announced as an addition to the country's daily count on Thursday. Ca Mau Province reported 1,339 of the remaining 15,267 local cases, Ho Chi Minh City 1,175, Tay Ninh Province 932, Binh Phuoc Province 880, Dong Thap Province 795, Can Tho City 728, Khanh Hoa Province 598, Dong Nai Province 479, Hanoi 423, Hai Phong City 330, Binh Duong Province 275, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 260, Thua Thien-Hue Province 253, Bac Ninh Province 252, Da Nang 212, Lam Dong Province 181, Binh Thuan Province 150, and Quang Ninh Province 117. Vietnam had logged 15,522 locally-acquired infections on Wednesday. The country has registered 1,487,788 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave erupted on April 27. A combined 1,061,644 of them have recovered from COVID-19. Ho Chi Minh City leads the caseload with 491,610 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 288,554, Dong Nai Province with 93,854, Tay Ninh Province with 61,192, Long An Province with 39,466, Dong Thap Province with 33,249, Can Tho City with 31,098, Tien Giang Province with 30,042, An Giang Province with 28,323, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 22,922, Binh Thuan Province with 22,609, Khanh Hoa Province with 21,804, Hanoi with 21,083, and Da Nang with 8,775. Vietnam documented a paltry 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves. The health ministry recorded 1,033 recovered patients on Thursday, lifting the total to 1,064,461. The toll has jumped to 28,857 fatalities after the ministry announced 241 deaths on the same day, including 65 in Ho Chi Minh City, 26 in Dong Nai Province, 20 in An Giang Province, 19 in Tay Ninh Province, 15 in Tien Giang Province, 14 in Binh Duong Province, 12 in Can Tho City, and the remaining in 15 other provinces and cities. Vietnam has confirmed 1,493,237 patients since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the country early last year. Health workers have administered over 135.7 million vaccine doses, including 501,084 shots on Wednesday, since vaccination was rolled out nationwide on March 8. More than 75.2 million of the countrys 98 million people have received at least one dose while above 59.4 million have been jabbed twice. The number of third doses including additional primary shots for immunocompromised people, boosters, and third jabs of Cubas Abdala vaccine has reached 1,098,225. 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! Authorities in southern Vietnam have intensified control along the border with Cambodia after the neighboring country detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Colonel Doan Van An, political commissar of the Border Guard Command of Long An Province, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday that local border defense officers had been reminded to be more vigilant while on duty. They were required to patrol more frequently to promptly detect border jumpers, smuggling, and most importantly, to prevent any risk of COVID-19 transmission, An stressed. Aside from 12 border stations, officers in Long An are operating 36 checkpoints and have formed six patrol units and seven working groups to tighten security along the 133-kilometer border with Cambodia in the province. In Dong Thap Province, the Peoples Committee has directed relevant bodies to beef up the management of its 50-kilometer border with Cambodia. Officers have been tasked with conducting more patrols, especially at night, according to chairman Pham Thien Nghia. In An Giang Province, all trails along the borderline have been closed, Colonel Tran Quoc Khanh, deputy commander of the provincial Border Guard Command, said, adding that officers have tightened control of trade activities at two of the provinces international border gates. The local police force has also coordinated with border guard units to step up border patrols, Khanh continued. Border guard officers in Long An Province, Vietnam (L) provide face masks and disinfectant to their Cambodian counterparts. Photo: An Long / Tuoi Tre Similar measures have been taken in Tay Ninh Province. The locality requires arrivals at border gates to spend seven days at concentrated quarantine facilities if they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Officers have been on duty at all border checkpoints and coordinating with relevant authorities to regularly patrol border trails, according to Le Hong Vuong, commander of the provincial Border Guard Command. Ha Van Phuc, director of the Department of Health in Kien Giang Province, stated that the locality has tightened the inspection of Vietnamese returnees from Cambodia to prevent the risk of Omicron penetration. However, the local quarantine regulations have been relaxed as people are able to choose to quarantine either at home, hotels, or concentrated facilities, Phuc said. Cambodias health ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the country had detected its first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a local woman. The 23-year-old woman had returned from Ghana via Dubai and Bangkok. The Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa last month, has now been reported by over 70 countries, according to the World Health Organization. The variant is probably present in most of the worlds countries and it would be a mistake to dismiss the COVID-19 strain as mild, it added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A Vietnamese publishing official assumed the rotating presidency of the ASEAN Book Publishers Association (ABPA) for the 2022-23 term in place of his Thai predecessor at a virtual handover ceremony on Wednesday. At the event, Hoang Vinh Bao, president of the Vietnam Publishers Association (VPA), expressed his honor to take over the new role from Thipsuda Sinchawarnwat, who is president of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT). Thipsuda said her nation and the other country members of the ABPA will assist Vietnam in fulfilling its role in the new term. Bao hailed the achievements that his predecessor had gained in 2020-21, a hard time for all industries including publishing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PUBAT made many efforts to connect the ABPAs country members, set up forums for sharing their experience in copyright and publication of educational books, and coordinate the efforts to fight pirated books. Bao promised that during his term, the VPA will further develop the relationship among the ABPA members, focusing on strengthening cooperation in copyright exchanges, promoting a reading culture, and organizing seminars including those on crisis management. The VPA is planning to launch an international book fair at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, located on Nguyen Van Binh Street in District 1, in April 2022, if conditions permit, the new ABPA president said. On the contrary, this event will be organized virtually, he added. In October or November 2022, the VPA also expects to host a symposium on crisis management to discuss what the publishing industry should do in response to a crisis like COVID-19. Besides Bao, another Vietnamese representative, Pham Tran Long, director of The Gioi Publishers, has also assumed the post of general secretary of the nine-member ABPA. The ABPA was founded in 2005 by six countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. It has since welcomed three new members, including Brunei, Laos, and Cambodia. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) consists of 10 member countries, including the above nine nations and Myanmar. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A runner in Hanoi is capturing attention from netizens across Vietnam thanks to his unique running routes that draw out gorgeous imagery. Nguyen Dang Viet, a 36-year-old office worker in Hanoi, is well known in the countrys running community because of the hundreds of pictures he has drawn using nothing more than his own two feet and a fitness app. Viets creative running routes depict images such as an eagle, a rhino, the shape of Vietnam, and a ferryman a symbol in Vietnam meant to honor teachers by comparing teaching to carrying a group of people across a river. What makes his imagery so unique is that it is not created with pens and papers. Instead, the images are drawn with his own two feet as a GPS tracker on a fitness app keeps a record of his running route. A ferryman. Photo credit: Nguyen Dang Viet Viet never set out to create art with his runs. In fact, before he became an artist, he often quit in the middle of a workout. His turning point came when he noticed one of his friends had mapped out a running route that looked like a mouse. Inspired, Viet set about running his friends mouse route before embarking on his own artistic journey to create running art. After a year turning his steps into art, Viets oeuvre boasts 30 completed illustrations and 30 more he has already mapped out to run in the future. Whenever I see a route that could form an image, I take a screenshot and plan the route on my phone, Viet said. An eagle. Photo credit: Nguyen Dang Viet Viets works often require about ten- to 25-kilometer runs that take 1.5 to three hours. His most complicated drawing the Buddha meditating under the Bodhi tree involved running almost 42 kilometers over eight hours to complete. Adding to the pressure is the fact that a single wrong turn can ruin an entire piece. Viet runs every other day, usually in the early morning. His daily routine includes a 5:00 am wake-up, warm-ups, and a 30- to 40-minute run before helping his children get ready for school. Occasionally he runs into dead ends and forbidden entrances, but he is able to prevent such obstacles from ruinning his images by pausing his fitness app and taking any necessary detours. If a detour is too long, he takes a motorbike taxi. A cat. Photo credit: Nguyen Dang Viet All the running he has done over the past year has improved his health, according to Viet. His blood pressure has stabilized, he no longer feels consistently fatigued, and he has noticed a drop in his belly fat. His passion for creating running art has also helped him make many new friends and explore the streets and alleys of Hanoi. Currently, his running group boasts 25 members. Viet has created a compilation of his artistic routes for sharing among the running community so that everyone can try them. I hope people pay attention to their health, he said. Find the motivation to put on your shoes and run. I found mine through drawing pictures. A rhino. Photo credit: Nguyen Dang Viet Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Screen Music Awards are returning to Melbourne in February with an in-person event. APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers had initially hoped to stage their annual awards last month but ongoing uncertainty around restrictions prompted a change of plans. Nakkiah Lui, Akina Edmonds and national treasure Uncle Jack Charles will host the event at the Forum Melbourne on 22 February 2022. APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston said, Our annual Screen Music Awards will be our first in real life celebration of screen composers in two years! It will be truly wonderful to gather once again in Melbourne and honour the extraordinary soundscape Australian screen composers give to films, television series, advertisements and documentaries with the orchestra performing those nominated soundtracks in the beautiful Forum Melbourne. This year, we will also celebrate an extraordinary year of advocacy with APRA AMCOS and the AGSC fighting hard for new legislation that will see a significant boost to local screen production to enhance the livelihoods of screen composers, the unsung heroes of our countrys screen industry. Nominees will be announced on 20 January 2022. The Awards will feature the presentation of thirteen awards as well as interpretations of the four Feature Film Score of the Year nominations performed by the Screen Awards orchestra, led by Musical Director, Jessica Wells whose compositions cross many genres in the classical, commercial and film music worlds. Jessica has worked for some of Australias best composers as an orchestrator, arranger and copyist. Not long after agreeing to star as Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, Nicole Kidman started having second thoughts. Initially when I said yes to it, I did not realise what I was saying yes to, she reveals. I was saying yes to an Aaron Sorkin script and a great opportunity. Maybe a week later, it hit me. I was trying to work on little baby steps into her voice and it was nowhere within reach. And I was like, Oh, no, what have I done? I wish I had the talent to do this, but I dont. Then it was like, Help! Luckily, I had a couple of months, so I could work on it slowly, meticulously, methodically, watching the show, listening to the voice -doing all of the preparation, which is very unusual for me, because a lot of times Ill start, really, inside. But the inside of it was almost already there just because I could relate to her. I could feel her, it was so beautifully written. Aaron Sorkins script hangs largely around a single week in the life of I Love Lucys second season, where a confluence of events encircles Lucille Ball and producer, husband and co-star Desi Arnaz. Kidmans casting in the role did not come without some criticism, but she is already winning plaudits for her performance as the pioneering comedian / producer. Despite her own reservations, Sorkin backed his leading lady throughout a COVID-impacted shoot. I dont want an impersonation He sent an email that was just basically Youve got this. Youre just going to have to take it day by day. I dont want an impersonation, I want you to do the work that you can do, that I know you will do. I want you not to freak out, because I believe you can do it. And I would challenge him on that at different points throughout the thing but he would never waver. Id be begging for some sort of nose or chin. At one point. I was like, I gotta change my jaw. Her jaw is different. He said, I dont care. I mean, it was frustrating for him, I think, because he saw how he wanted it and it took me time to give over to that. Co-star Javier Bardem, who plays the Cuban-American fighting studio heads, says his way into the character was Arnazs savvy approach to business. He was making fun of everything His absolute confidence in himself, he explains, how supportive he was of his wife and the whole show and how he overcame the obstacles by a strong sense of humour. He was making fun of everything. That doesnt mean that he didnt take it seriously, but he didnt get stuck in the drama of it all. (The film) really reunites lots of aspects of them, as a marriage, as a couple, as artists, as colleagues. Everything is so well put together. That makes it more exciting to perform it but also to watch it as an audience. Its full of different details. It gives you a good idea of who they were and what they were doing, back in the day. The film is co-produced by daughter Lucie Arnaz (pictured below). In the key roles of sitcom stars Vivian Vance and William Frawley are Nina Arianda and J.K. Simmons, respectively (pictured above). Both were challenged to research their characters, with limited resources outside of I Love Lucy footage available. Vivian was a wonderful dancer and Ethel was Ethel Vivian was a wonderful dancer. She was a leading lady, she was an ingenue. And Ethel was Ethel, explains Arianda. I had all the research I could possibly want for Ethel obviously, but for Vivian it was a little tougher. A producer had sent me a clip a couple of seconds long, and it was simply Desi introducing Vivian Vance to the to the audience right before they were taping. It was really eye-opening for me, because out came this woman with a long spine, her shoulders back and she sashayed downstage and took a graceful bow and left. I just saw a completely different woman. I became so obsessed with her background, and how did this spine develop? So I guess for me, it was really trying to be as respectful as I could of these two very different bodies. In a way I found that to be sort of freeing In a way I found that to be sort of freeing, in terms of how I portrayed off-camera Bill, which is 98% of the movie, said Simmons. He was, honestly not all that dissimilar from the cranky landlord, Fred Mertz. But the beauty of the gift that we all got from Aaron Sorkin in this script -and in his direction along the way- there were so many beautifully detailed layers for all of us. We got to see multiple aspects of all of these characters as they relate to each other at different times. Simmons adds,I love that this movie is not just about Lucy and Desi as business partners, trailblazing business partners I have to say, but also shows them as a married couple dealing with stuff. Its not that kind of storytelling As JK said, Arent you glad its not from birth til death? Its not that kind of storytelling, Kidman observes. Its Aaron Sorkin storytelling, where he compresses a number of things into a week, and then flashing forward and back is able to show the essence of who this woman was, and who these people were. That was what was so unusual about it, actually. It wasnt a biopic. When I was sent it originally . I couldnt put it down. The screenplay is extraordinary. Being the Ricardos screens Tuesday on Amazon Prime Video. LOS ANGELES, December 16, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) has signed comprehensive restructuring agreements with Vietnam Airlines covering the leasing of 18 aircraft, including 12 Airbus A321neo and six Boeing 787-10 aircraft. These agreements extend terms and revise lease economics closely tailored to the recovering economies and air travel in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) ALC is a leading aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. ALC routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investors" section of ALCs website at www.airleasecorp.com. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to consult the ALC website regularly for important information about ALC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, ALCs website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216006071/en/ Contacts Investors: Mary Liz DePalma Vice President, Investor Relations Email: investors@airleasecorp.com Jason Arnold Assistant Vice President, Finance Email: investors@airleasecorp.com Media: Laura Woeste Senior Manager, Media and Investor Relations Email: press@airleasecorp.com Ashley Arnold Manager, Media and Investor Relations Email: press@airleasecorp.com Tom Brenner The Jan. 6 Committee now appears to be looking into former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, with Parscale telling The Daily Beast late Wednesday night the committee investigating the attack on the Capitol had subpoenaed his phone records from November through January. Parscale said he had received a notice from his phone carrier earlier in the day and just agreed. I had nothing to do with Jan. 6, said Parscale, who has not played an active role in the campaign since a month before the election. The Guardian reported in September that the committee was considering a subpoena for Parscales communications. I have zero to hide, he said. Asked about the prospect of testifying, Parscale told The Daily Beast, All of this makes me think they want me to turn on him. The him in that statement would be former President Donald Trump, Parscales boss for nearly two-and-a-half years. Asked whether he would appear if asked to testify, he did not reply. House Jan. 6 Committee to Subpoena Trump Lieutenants From D.C. Command Center: Report The Daily Beast has not seen a copy of the subpoena, and a spokesperson for the select committee would not provide comment. Parscale fell out of Trumps favor over the spring and summer of 2020, amid personality clashes and behind-the-scenes maneuvering among other top Trumpworld figures. Trump demoted him in July, and cut the relationship off entirely in late September, after Parscale went through what appeared to be a personal crisis. His wife had called law enforcement to report that Parscale appeared unstable, and was alone in the house with a loaded gun; Parscale was medically detained, but not charged. Despite his distance from the campaign after the election, Parscale admitted in a Fox News interview last December that he had long known about a Trump campaign plan to stoke unfounded fears about rampant voter fraud in the 2020 election. In fact, Parscale said, he was a founding architect of the scheme, which he claimed was a well-funded public relations and legal operation with the Republican National Committee, involving lawyers everywhere. Story continues In April of 2019, I sat down with my team, and I said, lets come up with the biggest Election Day operation ever, because voter fraud is going to be rampant, he said in the interview, adding that if its not going to be rampant, everyones going to think its rampant. Or theyre going to game it. Trumps former data guru told Fox that the proposal was the largest budget ever of Election Day operations, in partnership with the RNC. They would have lawyers everywhere, file suits beforehand, protect beforehand, Parscale said. He continued that the plan fell apart between last July, when he left, and Election Day. And thats a question. I dont know exactly what the answer is. But, from everything Im hearing, it did not occur, Parscale claimed. Appeals Court Rejects Trumps Attempt to Keep Riot Records Secret There is, of course, ample evidence that a stunningly similar plan did occur. Trump and his surrogates sowed baseless fears of election fraud among his supporters, starting months before the election, and a number of Republican lawyers filed state-level lawsuits ahead of Nov. 3, challenging new voting regulations to accommodate COVID-19. But at some point Parscales planned barrage shifted focus to a coordinated effort to challenge the results. And the man who replaced Parscale, Bill Stepien, appears far more involved in that effort. Stepien was subpoenaed by the committee in early November, and his testimony was slated for this past Monday. However, his appearance was reportedly delayed, because he had been engaging with the committee, CNN reported. It was Stepien, not Parscale, who steered the campaign from July through January, when Trump schemed to overturn the results and berated the nation with false accusations of fraud. The text of the subpoena, which the committee released, noted that Stepien had supervised the conversion of the Trump presidential campaign to an effort focused on Stop the Steal messaging and related fundraising. The Stepien subpoena was part of a blitz of summons targeting Trump campaign aides: former senior adviser Jason Miller, who stayed on with Trump after he departed the White House; former national executive assistant on the 2020 campaign, Angela McCallum; and Ret. Gen. Mike Flynn, who upon getting fired from the Trump White House in 2017 descended into a conspiracy theory-riddled world, spinning false and bizarre election fraud theories which ultimately carried him back into the White House as an informal adviser in late December. Trump Can Win the Jan. 6 War Even if He Loses the Legal Battle The day after those subpoenas went out, the select committee issued another round. That list included Trump confidant and former campaign aide Roger Stone, who pushed false claims of election fraud and riled up a D.C. Stop the Steal crowd in a Jan. 5 speech; Taylor Budowich, Trumps top spokesperson and communications director for his Save America leadership PAC; and former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who that fall had simultaneously served the campaign in a blurry and nominally volunteer capacity. However, Parscale would appear to stand out from that group. He and the campaign had reportedly kept a mutual distance during those months, while Parscale focused on mending his private life and building out a political digital marketing conglomerate. Parscale didnt participate in any events surrounding Jan. 6, and he was among the first of Trumps inner circle to call publicly for an end to the riot. At 3:22 p.m. on Jan. 6, after a Capitol Police officer had shot and killed Ashli Babbitt, Parscale tweeted, This is not MAGA. We are not ANTIFA and the left. We should do it the correct way, leave the Capital and Stop! He continued: The world is laughing at us. Live to fight in elections in the future. Save this country by growing our base and winning elections. Earlier that morning, a few minutes before Trump took the stage to speak at the Ellipse, Parscale had posted another tweet. It is more important than ever to protect the 2nd amendment, he wrote. Democrats will come for our constitutional rights. Excited to join @2AFDN in the fight to protect our 2nd amendment. Parscale linked out to a press release from that morning, announcing his digital marketing partnership with the Second Amendment Foundation. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Stevens Stages Epic Super MILLION$ Comeback to Win $1.1M December 16 2021 Matthew Pitt Bert Stevens sat down at the final table of the Super MILLION$ 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. If Yerevan wisely uses the normalization era, the entire Caucasus region can become a region of peace and stability, Daily Sabah writes. The first serious signal regarding the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations came at the dinner given by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for foreign mission chiefs on Aug. 25, 2021, on the 950th anniversary of the Manzikert victory. In the meeting, Erdogan stated that Turkey has taken many steps to resolve the tensions through both words and actions peacefully. He said that with the end of the Armenian occupation on Azerbaijani lands, a new window of opportunity was opened for permanent peace in the region, and Turkey would do what is necessary if Armenia considers normalization. Two days later, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said at a government meeting that Yerevan would respond to positive signals from Ankara with positive signals. In the new government program announced by Pashinian, the lack of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and the closed borders were highlighted as negative factors in terms of regional stability and peace. In the following period, positive statements were made again and again. Recently, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that special representatives will be mutually appointed by both countries, while Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan stated that Armenia is ready for the process of normalizing relations with Turkey without preconditions. 1915 and land demand The main reason for the tension between the two countries is obvious: Armenia always keeps the 1915 claims on the agenda and still demands land from Turkey in its constitution. Yerevan uses Mount Ararat, located within the borders of Turkey, in its official coat of arms. Armenias populist-nationalist rhetoric, which is used to cover up the country's real problems, also deepens the deadlock. And no Turkish government can tolerate such abusive approaches. Turkey cannot be expected to entertain the territorial claim or the term genocide regarding the 1915 events. Let's be realistic, Ankara's basic dynamics would never allow this. Nevertheless, Erdogan, who also displayed today's goodwill in 2008-2009, is a leader who takes many political risks to unravel the deadlock. For example, on April 24, 2015, (the 100th anniversary of the 1915 events), Erdogan sent then-EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkr to the ceremony held at the Armenian Mother Mary Church in Istanbul, hosted by the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate, to convey a sincere written message. Bozkr was also the first Turkish minister to attend such a ceremony. It was undoubtedly a revolution! A chance If the politicians in Armenia care even a little about their own rights, Erdogan will not miss the opportunity to help. So far, Armenias official genocide discourse based on direct hostility toward Turkey has only served to make the country a pawn in the hands of imperial states seeking regional benefits. That discourse, meanwhile, also brings in money and status for the diaspora. Its sad but true that the very approach has done nothing but harm to the poor people of Armenia with the lucky ones having moved to Turkey to earn a living. If the current Armenian administration dares to improve basic conditions, such as opening all transport routes for regional cooperation, it will go down in history. It can transform the entire Caucasus into a region of peace, stability and prosperity by strengthening cooperation between the countries of the region, including Armenia. In fact, this rationality accelerates the process of eradicating the traces of the national collapse created by the military and political defeat in Shusha. Qatar is not part to the Abraham Accords for normalizing ties with Israel, but this did not prevent it from reaching a bilateral agreement with Israel on the trade of diamonds, Al Monitor reports. The Dec. 13 visit of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Abu Dhabi clearly reflected tightening bilateral relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. But are relations between Qatar and Israel also changing? A recently reported agreement in the diamond trade suggests they might be. Qatar and Israel do not have diplomatic ties. Trade relations were first established in 1996, following the Oslo Accords, but were severed in 2009. Furthermore, the Gulf country kept its distance from the 2021 Abraham Accords, normalizing ties between Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, Morocco and Sudan. According to Israeli and Qatari sources, the two governments have reached a commercial agreement regarding the diamond market: Israel will allow Qatar to formally join the list of countries allowed to trade in diamonds, and Qatar will allow Israeli merchants to enter the country without obstruction and even to establish a formal presence if needed. The story began three and half years ago, when Qatar tried to convene the Kimberly Process committee, which regulates the global diamond market, and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, in order to receive permission to trade diamonds on the way to establishing their own exchange. But Yoram Dvash, who was then vice president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, and president of the Israeli Diamond Exchange, stopped the move with the help of the United Arab Emirates, which also opposed it. Six months ago, the Qataris renewed contacts, and again brought the issue of establishing their own diamond bourse to the Kimberley Process committee. The committee requires unanimous approval, and every nation, including Israel and the Emirates, who are members, has a right to veto. Within Israel, the Foreign Ministry saw the Qatari request as an opportunity to continue the momentum of the Abraham Accords, even if it wasnt a full normalization agreement. However, the Ministry of the Economy and the diamond regulators worried about limited access to the exchange and to the free commerce zone in Qatar. According to a source involved in the discussion, the final decision was reached in a conversation between Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Minister of the Economy Orna Barbivai. The United Arab Emirates, which have acted in cooperation with Israel on the diamond market for years, finally removed their objection, thanks to a reconciliation between the Saudi bloc and Qatar in January. Following the agreement with the Emiratis, contacts between Israel and Qatar became direct, and the Qataris initially offered a general commitment that any merchant from any nation that is a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses could come to Qatar. Israel insisted on an organized and swift process of entry visa unique to Israelis because of the official diplomatic rift between the nations, and the Qataris agreed in the end. According to the secret arrangement, which was reportedly agreed upon by the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of the Economy and the government of Qatar, contact people in Israel and Doha were designated to receive entry and commercial visa requests. The Qataris committed to processing visa requests within five days and allowing any Israeli merchant to operate at the diamond and jewelry free trade zone being planned and at the future diamond exchange. The direct economic significance of the agreement is not major, at least not for the next few years. It will take a long time for the Qataris to lay the foundations for significant commerce, and make a foothold in an area controlled by strong veteran players. The close Israeli connection to the Dubai diamond exchange (the two countries already signed a strategic cooperation agreement) supplies connections to merchants from nations that have no diplomatic relations with Israel. However, the agreement is still the first diplomatic agreement after the signing of the Abraham Accords and a possible opening to future commercial agreements. Dr. Ron Malka, director of the Ministry of the Economy and Industry, says that the episode points to the growing commercial status of Israel. Israel is open to any initiative from any nation in the region, he said, including Qatar. Yoram Dvash, president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, says that it was clear to Qatar that without Israeli agreement it couldn't be a legitimate actor in the diamond industry. Qatar has maintained a role as a financial channel for aid and assistance to Gaza. As part of its attempts to gain influence again, Qatar has started subsidizing both fuel for power stations in the Gaza Strip as well as thousands of needy families in Gaza on a weekly basis. Israel had authorized these payments. The Qatar emissary to Gaza, Mohammad al-Emadi, is regularly in contact with Israeli authorities. According to reports in February 2020, as part of the contacts on this issue, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen visited Doha. For Israel, the diamond trade agreement could reap dividends, certainly on the economic level, but also perhaps on the diplomatic level, in distancing Qatar from those nations and organizations that are in conflict with Israel, and bringing it closer to the moderate Sunni Gulf states. The Belarusian Health Ministry has greenlighted the import and use of Russias CoviVac coronavirus shot, the agency said in a statement on Thursday. "The Belarusian Health Ministry has authorized the import and use of the CoviVac coronavirus vaccine based on Article 27 of the Belarusian Law on Medicine Distribution adopted on July 20, 2006. CoviVac is an inactivated, whole-virion, concentrated and purified vaccine designed to prevent epidemic diseases and address their consequences," the statement reads. The ministry added that the vaccine had been delivered to a pharmacy warehouse on December 6 and more than 300,000 doses had been sent to all of the countrys regions on December 13-15. The Health Ministry pointed out that the documents provided by the manufacturer had been scrutinized in an expert review. "They comply with all the requirements listed in Belarusian laws and were assessed positively," TASS cited the statement as saying. U.S. President Joe Biden expects further personal contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the foreseeable future, he said at a White House press briefing. A reporter asked Biden whether he plans an in-person meeting with Putin in the nearest future and whether he believes that a new Russia-U.S. summit is necessary. "We will be talking at length," TASS cited Biden as saying. On December 7, the two presidents had a video conference that lasted for about two hours. The main focus was given to the situation around Ukraine; besides, the leaders discussed bilateral relations, cybersecurity, and the Iran nuclear deal. Rostov doctors have detected a coronavirus strain "omicron" in a student of the Rostov State Medical University (Rostov State Medical University), who arrived from the Congo, - the website of the Rospotrebnadzor administration in the Rostov region reports. The presence of a new coronavirus infection caused by the omicron strain has been detected in a 22-year-old foreign student who came from the Congo to study at the Rostov State Medical University of the Russian Ministry of Health. A full range of anti-epidemic measures has been organized and is being carried out", TASS quotes the report. The patient is isolated in an individual box of a monoinfectious hospital, the circle of his contacts is determined, all of them are isolated, they are under medical supervision. Let us remind you that earlier the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova reported that the omicron-strain of coronavirus in Russia has already been identified in 25 people. The meeting between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels shows the commitment of the European Union to the solution of the most difficult problems in this region, an EU diplomatic source told this to reporters behind the scenes of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels. The source added that globally, the leaders of the EU and its Eastern Partnership countries considered the recent events in Brussels as a very positive step, TASS reported. The previous meeting of the Azerbaijani President and the Armenian Prime Minister was held on November 26 in Sochi with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today announced the new minimum wage in the country for 2022, which will be 4250 liras. "The national minimum wage for the coming year is 50% higher than the current rate. We strive to support workers and employers who form the basis of the country's economy," Erdogan said, Turkish news agency Anadolu reports. During the pandemic, the Turkish government pursued a course to support the population and the economy, and these steps will continue, the Turkish leader assured, noting that from January 1, 2022, Turkey will also abolish income tax and fees from the minimum wage. This is aimed at protecting employers, whose workload will be reduced by 450 liras. Also in the coming days, decisions will be made that will contribute to ensuring stability and economic growth in Turkey, the Turkish leader added. The new national minimum wage is the result of negotiations between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the countrys trade unions. Let us remind you that in the outgoing year 2021, the minimum wage in Turkey was 3,577.5 lira without deducting taxes for a familyless employee and 2,825.9 lira - with deduction of tax. The Minsk Group could contribute to the preparation of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said making a speech at the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit of the European Union. The head of state stressed that the Armenian leadership had usually made baseless and accusatory statements against Azerbaijan during international events in previous years. This time, President Ilham 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 Kremlin currently has no idea at this moment as to when the next conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden may take place, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. When asked whether the Kremlin has any ideas regarding the potential timeframe of a new conversation between the two leaders, the spokesman said: "Not at this point," TASS reported. On December 7, the two presidents had a video conference that lasted for about two hours. The main focus was given to the situation around Ukraine; besides, the leaders discussed bilateral relations, cybersecurity and the Iran nuclear deal. Earlier on Wednesday, Biden said that he hopes for further in-person contacts with Putin in the foreseeable future. Russia is convinced that the Nord Stream 2 project is of interest to all European consumers, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday. "Both the Russian and the German sides are interested in the project. Overall, we believe that the project is of interest to all European consumers," he said when asked whether the project is at threat after Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskys calls for anti-Russia sanctions policy. The construction of Nord Stream 2 was fully completed on September 10, 2021. Before pumping can commence, the operator of the project should be registered as an independent transport operator. Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that Nord Stream 2 is a solely commercial project, which is being implemented together with European partners. A conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden is possible before the end of the year although there are no specific agreements yet, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday. "[A conversation between the leaders before the end of the year] is possible but there are no agreements," the Kremlin official said. On Wednesday, Biden, replying to a question by a TASS correspondent in a conversation with journalists at the White House, said that he hoped for further personal contacts with Putin in the near future. On December 7, Putin and Biden held talks in a videoconference format. They agreed to instruct their representatives to begin focused consultations on sensitive issues. On December 15, Russia handed its proposals on security guarantees to the US. On the same day, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov held a phone conversation with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during which he stated the readiness of the Russian side to immediately begin talks on drafting documents on security guarantees. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for its support at the "Eastern Partnership" summit. "We thank brotherly Azerbaijan, which perfectly knows the value of the concepts of sovereignty and independence, for the consistent and uncompromising support of our country in the international arena", the ministry's press service said. The ministry stressed that Baku has shown itself to be a responsible and independent participant in international relations, consistently adhering to its foreign policy principles in full compliance with the norms of international law. In addition, the Foreign Ministry reminded that Belarus is linked with the Eastern Partnership countries by a common history, close friendship of peoples, mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, constructive interaction on various integration platforms, and not a politicized initiative of the European Union. The ministry also noted that they expected a negative reaction to the anti-Belarusian statements and actions from the states friendly to Minsk. "The history of the young post-Soviet countries has repeatedly demonstrated that a seat under any flag can remain empty - depending on geopolitical considerations and the mood of the European bureaucracy", the press service added. An observer status in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) would be beneficial for Azerbaijan, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said on the sidelines of the conference titled "Current State and Prospects of Russia-Azerbaijan Relations in the Context of Integrated Processes" in Baku. "This status really enables an observer country to be more aware of the current situation. Not too many people know about the EAEU in Azerbaijan. Approximately 30-40 percent of the population does not know what it is," The Russian deputy prime minister said. Overchuk beleives that of course, it is necessary to raise the level of awareness. "The status of an observer includes such a function. Within this status, an observer country can participate in the activity of work structures, receive all the documentation, see the organizations internal activity," he noted. The Russian deputy prime minister said that an observer-country has the right to have its own representatives at this organization. "When you know more, you can get more benefit from cooperation. Therefore, it is beneficial for Azerbaijan as well," Overchuk said. Earlier, first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, proposed to provide Azerbaijan with an observer status in the EAEU. On Friday, December 17, the autumn session of the Georgian parliament will close, the vacation of the deputies will last until February. The autumn session of the Parliament of Georgia opens on the first Tuesday of September and closes on the third Friday of December. Parliaments work on Friday will end with the national anthem. According to preliminary data, next week the deputies will hold an extraordinary session, where the gambling issue will be discussed. The next session of parliament - spring - will begin on the first Tuesday in February and close on the third Friday in June. The My Step faction in Yerevan's Council of Elders dominated by the Civil Contract party of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has begun the process of a vote of no confidence in the mayor of the Armenian capital Hayk Marutyan. According to preliminary information, we already have 39 signatures [of council members,] more than the 33 signatures necessary [for a no confidence motion,]" member of the faction Armen Kotolyan said. "The process has started, and I think that Hayk Marutyan will be dismissed before the end of this month," ARKA cited him as saying. The Yerevan Council of Elders currently consists of three factions: My Step (54 members), Prosperous Armenia (5 members), and Luys (3 members). 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 of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said making a speech at the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit of the European Union. The President thanked the President of the European Council for keeping regional issues on the agenda and for his contribution to and support for these processes. 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 Ilham 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. At the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit, President Ilham 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. The head of state stressed that the Armenian leadership had usually made baseless and accusatory statements against Azerbaijan during international events in previous years. This time, President Ilham 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. President Ilham Aliyev also touched upon the role of the OSCE Minsk Group, 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 the Azerbaijani side believed that the Minsk Group could contribute to the preparation of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the delimitation of borders, the establishment of contacts between people, confidence-building measures and other issues. Russian companies presented 13 packages of proposals to Azerbaijan for participation in works in Karabakh, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev said at the conference "Current state and prospects of Russian-Azerbaijani relations in the context of integrated processes" in Baku. According to Mustafayev, KAMAZ PTC has already demonstrated a vivid example of the implementation of a Russian project in Karabakh. "Our region, like other regions, has faced a number of problems, including an armed conflict, a COVID-19 pandemic, an energy crisis, and today we have new realities. Our cooperation with Russia is developing in all directions, we have developed cooperation even in the face of a pandemic," he said. "Today we have seven roadmaps for cooperation. Successful cooperation is underway on all roadmaps, and we are achieving our goals. Last year, trade fell slightly, and I hope that next year we will reach pre-pandemic levels. We expect the growth rate to pick up even more. There is a good prospect for building up mutual investments. Russian investments in Azerbaijan amounted to $6 billion, of which $4.5 billion are direct investments," Mustafayev added. The deputy prime minister also noted that, currently, a number of investment projects are being implemented, and new opportunities are opening up. Azerbaijan will develop another roadmap for control of border checkpoints, Mustafayev said. "We are constantly improving the roads and railways of our country. It's planned to create another roadmap to control the checkpoints," Mustafayev noted. Besides, according to him, cooperation in the transport sector is developing between Azerbaijan and Russia. "One of the important projects is the [transport corridor] North-South. Cargoes from Russia pass through Azerbaijan in several directions. Through the important Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, Russian cargoes are transported through Georgia and Azerbaijan to Turkey," the official added. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, in turn, said active work is underway to unblock transport communications in the South Caucasus. ADA University is a place where one would like to talk about the prospects of Russian-Azerbaijani relations in the context of the integration of economic processes. Active work is underway to unblock transport communications, as well as on a mutual visit. We would like to talk about the potential that the integration processes that are taking place in Eurasia carry, Overchuk said. Speaking about international relations, we mean a macroregion. We see what processes are going on in North America, Southeast Asia, we follow the processes of implementing the Chinese initiative One Belt - One Road. In fact, little is said about integration into the Eurasian economic zone. Now we need to develop and do everything possible to strengthen regional relations. Strengthening relations according to the formula of individual countries led to the idea of multi-level integration, he said. According to Overchuk, during the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union, a number of countries aimed at regional integration immediately joined this structure. We are moving along the path of economic integration. Today we see that the region is turning into a macroregion, a single cooperation in the production and delivery of goods is being established. Today we are working to create a space for working citizens and the transportation of goods. The aggregate GDP of the EAEU countries amounted to $1.3 trillion, trade between the member countries of the organization - $55 billion. There is outstripping growth in trade. From January through September, trade rose 32.7%. We reached the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels and exceeded them by about 10%. In our internal borders, we actually abandoned all types of control, except for border control," Overchuk said. Overchuk said Azerbaijan may discover absolutely new opportunities to connect markets of Asia and Europe. "We can work together here and achieve joint success. Russia's investments in Azerbaijan reached $4.5 billion, and Azerbaijan's investments in Russia - $1.5 billion. Russian business is interested in working in Azerbaijan and there are good prospects for the development and creation of railways, for development of renewable energy sources, high-tech enterprises, and logistics, he noted. Now we have new opportunities to connect North-South and West-East. The entire EAEU region can benefit from this. Construction of new highways from the borders of Kazakhstan to the Baltic ports and Belarus is being conducted. One is in active construction stage, and another - Meridian - will pass from Kazakhstan to Belarus in the Gomel region. We are very serious about these projects to start working in the near future," added the official. In recent years, NATO's "open door" policy has led to the expansion of the alliance at the expense of Montenegro and North Macedonia, despite protests from Russia, alliance secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said. "In recent years, NATO has confirmed that its open door policy is not only words, but also actions. Including by inviting new countries: Montenegro and North Macedonia became members, that is, we have expanded in recent years with two new members, despite protests from Russia. We also support Ukraine in its striving to get closer to NATO membership", he said at a joint press conference in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, without specifying the timing of the country's entry into the alliance. Stoltenberg reminded that the allies agreed that Ukraine would become a member of the alliance at the 2008 Bucharest summit. Iran allowed the International Atomic Energy Agency to replace cameras at a centrifuge manufacturing site in Karaj, the Tasnim agency reported on Wednesday. Iran also agreed to hand the cameras, which were damaged during a sabotage attack in June, over to the IAEA, the report said. The decision was made after Tehran completed most of its investigation into the sabotage and Iranian experts were allowed to conduct checks on the new cameras, according to the report. Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said earlier that the country had reached a new deal with the IAEA the day before, but he didnt elaborate. Iran repeatedly called on the IAEA to condemn sabotage against nuclear sites in the country including the Karaj attack in June. The IAEA refrained from condemning sabotage as it avoids politics and deals only with technical issues, according to Mohammad Eslami, head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, who commented on the issue after talks with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. Turkey has appointed Serdar Kilic, former ambassador to the US, as special envoy to discuss steps for normalization of ties with Armenia, the Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters in the UAE, Cavusoglu said positive statements for the normalization of relations were recently made from both sides, adding that there is a need to take confidence-building measures. "We consult with Azerbaijan on every issue and take such steps ... Nobody should question whether we can act independently or separately from Azerbaijan. We are one nation, two states. These are positive things that will benefit us all," Cavusoglu said. Kilic's appointment has been made with the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish foreign minister said. Cavusoglu also stated that Turkish and Armenian airlines have applied to operate flights between Istanbul and Yerevan. "These (applications) are evaluated by the Transport Ministry and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation. In principle, we approach it positively," he added. He said that Turkey wants to see peace, stability, economic development and joint projects in the region, Anadolu Agency reported. The US authorities are imposing sanctions on companies from China, Georgia and Turkey, as their actions run counter to the interests of the country's foreign policy. "These 37 organizations have been identified by the US government as acting contrary to the foreign policy or national security interests of the United States," the US Department of Commerce said on Friday. The black list includes companies from China, Georgia, Turkey and Malaysia. Kazakhstan celebrates Independence Day - the national holiday of the republic. On this occasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to Kazakh President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, the Kremlin press service reported. The Russian leader highly appreciated Kazakhstan's Kazakhstans achievements in the economic, social, scientific and technical and other spheres and noted the countrys high authority in the world arena. "Relations between our states are dynamically developing in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance. Bilateral cooperation in various areas, as well as interaction within the framework of such structures as the EAEU, CSTO, CIS, SCO, UN, has a good impact", Putin said in his congratulations, as TASS reports. Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in the further consistent strengthening of constructive Russian-Kazakh ties "for the benefit of the friendly peoples of the two countries and in the interests of ensuring stability and security on the Eurasian continent," the congratulation says. Russia welcomes the agreements reached between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a commentary on Thursday. Iran and the IAEA agreed to continue cooperation on safeguards issues, including the exchange of information and contacts of experts, providing Tehran with a sample of CCTV cameras used by the agency for the necessary analysis, and reinstalling such cameras at the plant for the production of centrifugal rotors in Karaj. "We welcome these agreements. We support mutual commitment of the IAEA and Iran to continue cooperation both within the framework of a comprehensive safeguards agreement and in accordance with the requirements of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the settlement around the Iranian nuclear programme and in the light of UNSC Resolution 2231", the representative of the MFA noted. According to Zakharova, good news is now needed to stimulate the onward course of negotiations on the restoration of the full implementation of the JCPOA resumed in Vienna on November 29, which are going on almost continuously. Moscow expects that by joint efforts "it will also be possible to overcome the tension around the Iranian nuclear program, which is fully compatible with the interests of nonproliferation and strengthening security at the regional and global levels", the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Vietnams Party leader honoured with Lenin Prize of Russian Communist Party General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong was honoured with the Lenin Prize by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) at a ceremony held in Hanoi on December 15. On behalf of the KPRF Central Committee, Vice Chairman Leonid Kalashnikov presented the Vietnamese leader with the noblest prize of the KPRF and the former Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He affirmed that the prize demonstrates the respect for and recognition of the prominent contributions by General Secretary Trong, a brilliant politician highly valued in Russia and the world, as well as his unceasing efforts to solidify the Vietnam - Russia relations. Vietnams success is a vivid illustration of the fact that socialism has been materialised, Kalashnikov said, stressing that the KPRF always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with the CPV and wishes that bilateral ties will be enhanced further, helping to promote the Vietnam - Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, for the sake of the two peoples and for regional and international peace and stability. For his part, General Secretary Trong described the Lenin Prize as not only a recognition for himself but also the KPRF and Russian peoples respect for and sentiment towards the Vietnamese Party, State, and people. It is also a demonstration of the special long-standing ties between the CPV, the Vietnamese people and the Communist Party and people of the Soviet Union in the past and the Russian Federation at present. He also highly valued Russias achievements in promoting national development and raising its stature in the international arena, along with the growth of the KPRF. Trong thanked the enormous, wholehearted, and effective assistance that the former Soviet Union and todays Russia have given to Vietnam. He pledged to join the KPRF and Russian partners to keep strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and the friendship between the two peoples./. VNA/VNP Inspiring Characters 2021: The President of Kim Oanh Charity Foundation said that when entrepreneurs donate to the poor, they should not worry too much about other peoples negative opinions. On August 27, 35,000 Remdesivir doses imported from India arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. At that time, the Covid treatment drug was considered more precious than gold. Remdesivir doses from Kim Oanh Charity Foundation were given to hospitals in late August 2021. Doctors and nurses receive dishes of noodles and grilled pork. Remdesivir is an antiviral drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2020. According to the Ministry of Health, due to Remdesivirs ability to shorten the time to recover in coronavirus patients, about 50 countries have added it to medical procedures for eliminating coronavirus. Remdesivir is considered one of the most difficult antiviral drugs to acquire. Pictures of doses were sent from Kim Oanh Charity Foundation office to medical units. However, some local presidents did not believe that 35,000 Remdesivir doses were in Vietnam. Ms. Dang Thi Kim Oanh (the president of Kim Oanh Charity Foundation) called several hospitals to provide drugs, five doses for each patient on average, to Covid-19 patients as soon as possible. On August 28, Remdesivir doses were transported to hospitals. Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai received higher numbers of doses than other provinces. Mr. Cao Tien Dung, Chairman of Peoples Committee in Dong Nai, confirmed that the drug was not easy to purchase. It would be able to help many Covid-19 patients who were in critical condition. Dr. Nguyen Lan Hieu, Administrator of Hanoi Medical University Hospital, was the administrator of Binh Duong Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Hospital at that time. He said that in this chaotic circumstance, 10,000 doses from the Kim Oanh Charity Foundation could be used for at least 2,000 patients. In late August, Remdesivir was the core drug in curing Covid-19 patients and Kim Oanh Charity Foundation managed to provide this valuable medicine for them, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Bac, administrator of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, said. Sharing is caring Ms. Dang Thi Kim Oanh helps to transport drugs to Dong Nai General Hospital in August 2021. Besides 35,000 Remdesivir doses, almost one million doses for Covid treatment were conveyed to 11 provinces and medical facilities. All these doses were a part of Knock Out Covid (KOC) Program which was run by the Kim Oanh Charity Foundation. From May 2021 to October 2021, this organization launched seven programs to cooperate with local authorities, doctors, nurses, and citizens in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, such as donations of 400 tons of rice. I spent about one month in quarantine while working. My husband and my children suggest that I stay at home as there were many Covid cases in the local area. However, this motivated me to assist people around me and the local authority. At that time, a person told me that, as the president of an enterprise, I should ship goods to other people to avoid risking my life. I said that when I saw doctors and nurses devoted themselves to curing their patients, I believed that I could help those patients, Ms. Oanh said. As a businessperson, she admitted that whenever entrepreneurs participate in community services, they have to accept compliments or negative comments from others. Some people think that entrepreneurs are just taking advantage of community services to cover their illegal work. Ms. Kim Oanh suggests that entrepreneurs should not take those negative comments into account. Those programs which were launched by Charity Foundation during the lockdown prioritized effectiveness and punctuality. She saw this as a responsibility to the authority and society. If I wanted to run a public relations exercise, I could have had only one program instead of seven programs, or I could have launched the program in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, or Dong Nai where my enterprises are located instead of several western provinces. Tran Chung Inspiring Characters 2021: The developers of Vietnamese game worth billions of USD Axie Infinity, one of a few Vietnamese technology startups with global influence, has gained far more value than the Vietnamese game Flappy Bird that was internationally popular a number of years ago. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long at the Vietnam Internet Day 2021 spoke on the topic "Recovery and breakthrough in the era of datafication". Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the Vietnam Internet Day 2021. Photo: Trong Dat The event, held in Hanoi on December 15 by the Vietnam Internet Association, revealed a panoramic, multi-dimensional picture of the development of the Internet in Vietnam. According to Chairman of Vietnam Internet Association Vu Hoang Lien at the first Vietnam Internet Day held in 2012, Vietnam had only 30.8 million Internet users. After ten years, Vietnam's internet economy could reach 220 billion USD in Gross Merchandise Volume by 2030, ranking second in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, according to the e-Conomy SEA 2021 Report recently published by Temasek, Google and management consulting firm Bain & Company. By June 2021, the number of Internet users in Vietnam was nearly 70 million. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said the number of internet service providers in Vietnam now stands at more than 100 and is likely to increase in the time ahead. He called for joint efforts to create an environment and ecosystem where the potential of each individual and organization is used to accelerate Vietnams digital transformation. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long: Photo: Trong Dat We do not simply consider the user as a customer, but together we will create an ecosystem and environment to promote the full potential of each individual and organization for the digital transformation of Vietnam to develop in a positive and effective way, said Mr. Dam. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Duc Long stressed the need to change the mindset toward digital transformation, build data culture, develop digital infrastructure, protect basic moral values and ensure cybersecurity and safety. Under a draft scheme on information and communication infrastructure during the 2021-2030 period, with a vision towards 2050, the Ministry of Information and Communications aims to develop national data infrastructure, and form a system of international, national, regional and local data centers that are connected with each other, thus turning Vietnam into a regional and international center for data storage and processing. The ministry is working on a national data strategy expected to be approved, issued and rolled out next year, he said, urging the business community to join hands in developing digital infrastructure, especially data infrastructure. The Ministry of Information and Communications aims to have 65,000 digital enterprises accompany 1 million Vietnamese enterprises to form 1 million digital enterprises so that Vietnam can develop a digital economy and catch up with the 4th Industrial Revolution. Trong Dat The personal data of many Vietnamese users is being illegally appropriated and even traded in the cyberspace. The illegal purchase and sale of personal data has become a big problem in Vietnam. Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest Internet application and development speed in the world. As of January 2021, the number of Internet users in Vietnam reached more than 68.72 million, accounting for more than two thirds of the population (70.3%). In that context, personal data becomes an important input for economic and social development. However, the illegal purchase and sale of personal data has become a big problem in Vietnam. Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05) of the Ministry of Public Security, told the Vietnam Internet Day event that purchase and sale of personal data is very common in Vietnam. Many acts have not been handled because of the lack of legal provisions. Specifically, many businesses and service companies collect personal data of customers and allow third parties to access the data without strict requirements, and third parties then trade the data to other partners. Many businesses collect personal information of customers, form a personal data warehouse, analyze and process the data to sell. In 2019 and 2020, the Ministry of Public Security discovered hundreds of individuals and organizations involved in selling personal data. According to this police officer, more than 80 countries in the world have enacted legal documents on the protection of personal data and Vietnam should have specific regulations on personal data handling activities. He also emphasized the role of state management agencies in personal data collection and processing activities. The legitimate rights and interests of citizens must be guaranteed in data processing activities. The head of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention said that measures to protect personal data should be specified in legal documents. In addition, it is necessary to have appropriate sanctions, which are heavy enough to deter violations of the law on protection of personal data. Trong Dat The Ministry of Public Security completes draft decree on cybersecurity fines The act of buying and selling personal data of over 10,000 people should result in a fine of VND80-100 million (nearly US$3,500), according to a proposal by the Ministry of Public Security. Nguyen Ngoc Manh, a truck driver, became known throughout the country after he saved a little girl who fell from a Hanoi apartment complex in February. Nguyen Ngoc Manh He is one of the 14 Inspiring Characters 2021 nominated by VietNamNet. Manhs wife, Phung Thi Thuy, did not even know what her husband had done until journalists arrived at their home. His mother, Nguyen Thi Nhan, said it was heart-wrenching watching the clip showing the moment her son flung himself out to catch the girl who was in free fall. She said that most people would have reacted similarly - reaching out to catch the girl falling off a balcony on the 12th floor of the 60B Building on Nguyen Huy Tuong Street in Thanh Xuan District in Hanoi. Any father would have done this in such a situation. Animals also protect their children, let alone a married man, who understands what fatherhood is like, she said. Manh said he doesnt see himself as a hero. He just wants to do good and refuses money from the public. The story of Nguyen Ngoc Manh not only stirred the community of netizens but also the entire commune in the suburban district of Dong Anh in Hanoi where he, his wife and two children live. His action has awakened compassion that had long been forgotten in the busy life of modern society. Manhs act did not surprise his relatives because since the day he was born, he has always been a warm-hearted and kind person. The young wife told the press that her husband was shivering after getting home. He could not think about anything at the moment when he saw the girl falling down. Only when he was able to hold the baby in his arms did he realize he was shaking, Thuy told reporters, adding that everything occurred in two minutes. What if the child was our daughter? That is what he thought at that moment, she said. Nhan said her son is a kind-hearted person. When he returns home from work and sees old people selling vegetables on the street late at night, he often buys all the vegetables so the sellers can return home. Thuy said she loves her husband because of his kindness and love for people. However, his good nature can sometimes be exploited by people. But Manh says that when he offers other people a gift, he also receives a gift and joy from God. Nguyen Thao 'Unsung heroes' help transport mothers, newborn babies back to their hometowns during COVID-19 outbreak As someone who often takes part in many charitable activities, Nguyen Dinh Ba, chairman of the Vietnam Red Cross Society chapter at Quang Trung College in HCM City, wanted to do something to help others during the fourth COVID-19 wave this summer. PM orders solutions to reduce critical Covid cases, deaths Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long to organize a conference with experts and scientists this month to develop solutions to reduce the number of critical Covid-19 cases and fatalities. According to a document issued by the Government Office, the requirement is aimed at continuing to deploy the Governments Resolution 128 on safely and flexibly adapting to and effectively controlling Covid-19. Recently, the number of new Covid-19 cases, those getting worse and deaths have been rising again, the local media reported. In addition, the Government leader requested the Ministry of Health to work out solutions to accelerate the Covid-19 vaccination, report the vaccine volume that will arrive in Vietnam this month, add Covid-19 drugs to the list of products subject to the price stabilization and report the results to the prime minister on December 15. Animals Asia continues supporting Dak Lak elephant conservation Animal Asia Foundation has provided USD231,000 for elephant conservation in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak under an agreement signed with local authorities on Wednesday. Under the agreement, the funding will help improve Dak Laks capacity in preserving its elephant population in the 2022-2026 period. The funding is intended to gradually convert its elephant tourism service into an elephant-friendly model. Elephants will also not be used in parades or cultural festivals in Dak Lak. Animal Asia previously provided USD110,000 for Dak Lak elephant conservation between 2016 and 2021. Vietnam assumes president of SEA Publishing Association Vietnam will take the helm of the Southeast Asian Publishing Association for the 2022 - 2023 term, announced Thipsuda Sinchawarnwat, president of the association for 2020-2021 at a ceremony virtually held on December 15. The Southeast Asian Publishing Association was established on August 31, 2005 by Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. It has so far welcomed Brunei, Laos, and Cambodia as its new members. HCM City public schools continue tuition exemption for second semester The HCM City Peoples Council has agreed to continue the tuition fee exemption for students at public schools and the tuition fee subsidy for students at private international schools for the second semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. The city government will use its budget to compensate for the exemption, which is allowed under the authority of the National Assembly. The academic year has two semesters with breaks for holidays. The first semester usually begins in September and ends in January and the second semester will end in May. Students in the city have been studying online during the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year amid school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a related matter, a resolution has been passed by the municipal People's Council calling for preferential policies for developing preschool education in export processing zones (EPZs) and industrial parks (IPs) in the city. Smog to blame for Hanois recent bad air quality Many northern localities registered bad Air Quality Index (AQI) scores on Wednesday, according to data from various air monitoring systems. Air quality in the north is in the most polluted time of the year, said experts. This is due to the dry weather and the inversion phenomena, which causes pollutants to increase. PM 2.5 numbers are usually higher around midnight and early morning. In these areas, normal peoples health will be affected, while sensitive groups might have more serious complications. These areas are mostly in Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang and Lang Son. Five purple alert areas all people affected - were located in Ha Noi. The capital was the fourth most polluted globally today of all 95 cities monitored by AirVisual. HCM City prepares measures against spread of new variant HCM City Peoples Committee has announced emergency plans to cope with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 now found in dozens of countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron is an enormously worrying variant because of its rapid transmission reported in South Africa. It is not yet clear whether it is more transmissible than other variants like Delta, but the likelihood of potential further spread of this new COVID-19 variant at the global level is high. The city Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has announced eight measures to cope with the new strain. SMS campaign to support poor people, AO/dioxin victims launched A text message campaign to support poor people and Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims has been launched. The campaign, running from December 15 to February 12, 2022, aims to ease difficulties facing the poor, AO/dioxin victims and pandemic-hit people ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival. Mobile service subscribers can join the programme by texting TET to 1409. Each text message will contribute 20,000 VND (0.87 USD) to the fund. The campaign has set a target to present at least 1.8 million gift baskets to beneficiaries, especially during a peak time from January 17 to 30 next year (from the 15th to 28th day of the last lunar month). Seven-day quarantine for mild COVID-19 cases The Ministry of Health has given permission to the HCM City Department of Health to trial a reduction in quarantine from 14 days to seven for COVID-19-infected people with mild or no symptoms who have received two doses of a vaccine and test negative on the seventh day. The patients need to continue monitoring their health status at home and strictly follow pandemic prevention instructions after the quarantine period. The citys move is aimed at reducing overcrowding at quarantine facilities amid a rise in new cases despite the high vaccination rates in the countrys COVID epicentre. Vietnam suggests early finalisation of code of conduct on seabed mining Charge d'Affaires of Vietnam to the United Nations Ambassador Pham Hai Anh suggested the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Assembly prioritise early finalising a code of conduct on seabed mining while attending the 26th session of the ISA Assembly held both online and offline in Jamaica from November 13-15. In his speech from New York, Anh said the code of conduct must be in line with the principle of considering seabed and its mineral resources as a common heritage of the humankind, ensure fair and equal sharing of benefits, comply with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)s terms regarding environmental protection, and pay attention to interests and demands of developing nations. The Vietnamese representative proposed the ISA soon resume activities to support developing countries, improve their capacity and share technologies with them. HCM City: 10 collectives, individuals win innovation and start-up awards Ten outstanding collectives and individuals were honoured as winners of the 2021 Ho Chi Minh City Innovation and Startup Awards (I-Star 2021) on December 14. Star Global 3D was honoured as the best innovative start-up for its 3D/360 smart interactive web/app licensed by the US. The website "Go shopping for people", 4.0 vocation orientation app JobWay and community-based traffic congestion warning system UTraffic received the best innovative solution awards. Meanwhile, press works on innovation and start-ups by Vietnam Television, the newswire of Radio the Voice of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam Investment Review also won the awards. Nguyen Tat Thanh University Innovation Incubator Centre, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh Citys Institute of Innovation and Zone Start-ups Vietnam venture fund were honoured for their active contributions to innovation and start-ups in Vietnam. COVID-19: New infections, deaths both rise over 24 hours in Vietnam Vietnam has confirmed 15,527 new coronavirus infections and 283 deaths during the past 24 hours, up 319 and 31 cases respectively compared to the previous day, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported in its coronavirus update on December 15. The majority of the newly detected cases were in the south, with Ho Chi Minh City recording the highest number, at 1,270. Other southern localities saw hundreds of new cases diagnosed during the day were Ca Mau, Ben Tre, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Dong Nai and Tien Giang. The capital city of Hanoi surpassed the 1,000 case mark again, registering 1,024 new infections, according to the MoHs official data. However, the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control put the citys daily caseload at 1,357, a record high figure, with 611 cases detected in the community. Vietnam fulfils role as Chair of Veterans Confederation of ASEAN Countries The 20th General Assembly of the Veterans Confederation of ASEAN Countries (VECONAC-20) took place via videoconference on December 15 under the chair of Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Vietnam (VAVN). On behalf of the VAVN - a member of the confederation since 1997, he handed over the VECONAC Chairmanship for 2022 to Gen. Santasana Nantibhakhirund, Director-General of the War Veterans Organisation of Thailand. Sen. Lt. Gen. Duoc affirmed that it was the VAVNs honour to serve as the VECONAC Chair since January 1, 2020, and it has fulfilled the assigned duties, including successfully organising the VECONAC Working Committee meeting on October 20 last year, along with the VECONAC 33rd Executive Board Meeting and the VECONAC-20 on December 15, 2021. Vietnam, RoK press ahead with cooperation toward carbon neutrality Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha has had a working session with Minister of Environment Han Jeoung-ae of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on joint work toward the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 as the heads of the two governments stated earlier. At their meeting taking place on December 14 as part of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hues official visit to the RoK, the two sides signed a plan on climate change cooperation toward the 2050 goal as the basis for implementing specific activities in the coming time. Also on December 14, Minister Ha visited the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA)s headquarters, where head of the agency Park Kwang-suk stated the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is an important partner of the KMA, with ample room for their bilateral cooperation. Vietnamese parliament joins APPF Executive Committee The National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam was selected to join the Executive Committee of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in the next four-year term at the final plenum of the forums 29th annual meeting (APPF-29) on December 15 afternoon. Le Thu Ha, standing member of the NAs Committee for External Relations, said the parliament of Vietnam, a country highly vulnerable to climate change, has approved many legal documents creating the legal basis for efforts against this global phenomenon, enhanced ties with other legislatures, and coordinated with international organisations. NA Vice Chairman sends Xmas, New Year greetings to HCM City, Tien Giang Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man on December 15 extended his Christmas and New Year greetings to Catholics in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giangs My Tho city. In the morning, he led a delegation to visit Joseph Nguyen Nang, Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh Citys Archdiocese, and Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man, former Archbishop of the HCM City Archdiocese. In the afternoon, the NA official visited Pierre Nguyen Van Kham, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of My Tho and Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam. UNFPA presents more medical supplies to Vietnam The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam on December 15 handed over medical supplies and personal protective equipment worth 450,000 USD to 21 Vietnamese localities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to aid them in the COVID-19 combat. The beneficiaries include health workers, volunteers and other forces in the fight, who are working to protect pregnant women, the elderly and girls against domestic violence. Tech contest fosters technological innovation among youth More than 250 high school students in Vietnam have joined the TechGenius competition to pitch their ideas to solve real-world problems and positively impact society with technology. The top 10 teams in both the Information Technology (IT) and Engineering categories recently presented their solutions to a panel of industry experts at the virtual Grand Final. They explored the application of technology to tackle todays issues in environmental protection, healthcare and online learning and teaching. The two first prizes in the IT category were presented to the HDK team from Nguyen Tat Thanh High School for The Gifted in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum and the Anonymous team from the High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi University of Science, and Vietnam National University. Australian-funded reading room opens at Vietnam Diplomatic Academy Australia has sponsored a new reading room at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. The naming of the Canberra-Ngunnawal Room acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land where Australias capital city, Canberra, is located. The room also features a beautiful array of Australian artworks, showcasing the breadth and depth of artistic talent in Australia, as well as reflecting the countrys nature, landscape and culture. Some of the works were created by indigenous artists, including Bradley Kickett, who collaborated with the Australian Embassy on the mural wall in Dong Thap as part of the Cao Lanh Bridge opening, and a Vietnamese artist now living in Australia, Phuong Ly. Vietnamese community abroad donates over VND3 billion to COVID-19 fight The Vietnamese community abroad has donated more than 3 billion VND (130,264 USD) to the National COVID-19 Vaccine Fund and pandemic prevention and control activities at home. Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu, Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, along with the ambassadors to Canada, the Netherlands, Thailand and Consul Generals in Fukuoka (Japan) and San Francisco (the US) on behalf of the community handed over the aid to President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien during a ceremony on December 15. Exhibition spotlights cultural heritage, landscapes, handicrafts of Vietnam An exhibition on cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, and traditional handicrafts of Vietnam will take place in the northern province of Ninh Binh this December. It will be held at the provinces gymnasium from December 17 to 24 and available online, at http://trienlamvhnt.vn and http://vhtt.ninhbinh.gov.vn, from December 20 this year to February 28, 2022, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Vietnam has reiterated its support for the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Tuesday (local time). Representatives of the UN Security Council's member countries at the online meeting on June 30 in 2020. (Illustrative image. -- Photo: VNA) At the session, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo briefed ambassadors on developments surrounding the Security Council Resolution 2231, which supports the JCPOA agreement and sets out rules for international monitoring of the countrys nuclear programme. DiCarlo stated that the JCPOA is widely regarded as a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation, and an example of what dialogue and diplomacy can achieve. A Security Council resolution endorses the deal and guarantees that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will have regular access to Irans nuclear programme. The Secretary-General hopes that in their current negotiations, the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mobilise 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, she said. While appealing to the US to lift or waive sanctions against Iran, as outlined in the plan, and extend waivers regarding oil trade with the country, she also called on Iran to: reverse the steps it has taken that are not consistent with its nuclear-related commitments under the Plan. The JCPOA was signed in 2015, between the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Iran in dealing with Iran's nuclear programme. For its part, Vietnam supported diplomatic efforts to promote negotiations and return to the Iran nuclear deal. The rapporteurs said that the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 remain an important part of multilateral diplomacy and non-proliferation efforts and the best way to promote a comprehensive, lasting solution to the Iran nuclear issue. The agreements contribute to regional and international peace and security. They called on the parties to continue their efforts to negotiate, return and fully implement the JCPOA in Vienna, Austria. The members of the Security Council emphasised the importance of Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA in resolving the Iran nuclear issue and the obligations of the parties to fully implement this resolution and agreement. The countries called for restraint from actions that increase tensions and complications in the region, promoting dialogue to seek peaceful solutions to the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region, as well as supporting negotiation efforts in Vienna. Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Vietnamese Charge d'Affaires to the UN, welcomed the resumption of negotiations between relevant parties in Vienna, Austria. Anh reiterated Vietnam's consistent stance in favour of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, as well as the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy as stipulated in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Ambassador Hai Anh reiterated Vietnam's support for the implementation of the JCPOA and Security Council Resolution 2231, calling on the relevant parties to strictly and fully implement it. Vietnam is willing to contribute to efforts to create a favourable environment for dialogue and cooperation at international forums, including the Security Council and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, he said. Source: Vietnam News White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said that the U.S. was in a very different and stronger place than we were a year ago." Still, feelings of unease persisted among some people. Michael Stohl, 32, was relieved when he got the Pfizer vaccine last spring, but the spread of omicron has turned his optimism to dread. Even though Im fully vaccinated right now, that doesnt seem to give me any sort of guarantee anymore, he said. It just puts this anxiety over you because they tell you the boosters will work, but thats what they said about the original vaccines. Am I going to have to keep getting vaccinated every couple months? He said he booked an appointment to receive his booster shot Thursday morning. Stohl, who works at the concierge desk at an apartment building in downtown Washington, said his family all lives in the city so he isnt traveling for Christmas. However, he worries about friends and coworkers who will travel. I just remember how bad everything was last year, and its looking like it might be that bad again, he said. SAN DIEGO (AP) The head of the U.S. agency that grants citizenship and visas says it's getting a grip on finances that threatened massive furloughs last year and is preparing to propose fees for its services that won't limit legal immigration to the very wealthy, a jab at a Trump administration principle that newcomers should be financially self-sufficient. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was on the brink of furloughing nearly 70% of its 20,000 employees in the summer of 2020 when, almost overnight, it declared it would end the year with a large surplus. USCIS, the acronym by which the agency is known, relies almost entirely on fee collections for a nearly $5 billion annual operation. Reserves at the end of the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 were $1.5 billion, which is where we want to be, agency Director Ur Jaddou told The Associated Press in an interview. A temporary hiring freeze, spending controls and no longer requiring new biometric data for renewal of benefits, introduced in March 2020, helped put the agency on stronger footing, she said. 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. Brenda Kinsey is a highly decorated peace officer and public servant who is just trying to do her job, Johnson said. Shes proudly served the citizens of Bellmead well before Mr. Zakhary weaseled his way into his current employment. Since arriving at the City of Bellmead, Mr. Zakhary has made her work environment intolerable, used offensive and sexually demeaning language and treated her differently than her male peers. She deserves better. The City of Bellmead deserves better. And if the City refuses to act by forcibly removing Yost Zakhary from his position, then we intend to use the justice system to do what the City Council will not. The brother of a Teague man who was indicted last month in the arson death of his former boyfriend in August was indicted Thursday on a capital murder charge. A McLennan County grand jury indicted Jason Lee Lloyd, 37, of Waco, in an Aug. 12 fire that led to the death of Cargin Madison, 25, two weeks later. Jason Lloyds brother, Willie Joe Lloyd, 39, was indicted in November on capital murder and attempted capital murder charges. The attempted capital murder charge stems from injuries to a friend of Madison who was at the home and also was badly burned. Robinson police said Willie Lloyd was Madisons ex-boyfriend and broke into Madisons home in the 100 block of Brentwood Drive, poured gasoline on the bed and set Madison on fire. The living room couch also was set on fire, police said. Madison and the other male burn victim were rushed to a burn unit in Dallas and a woman was treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation. The fire also killed a dog, police reported. Two suspects were charged with capital murder Wednesday in the shooting death of a man during an attempted robbery at the Kate Ross Homes public housing complex on Oct. 21. Aleisha Kaishun Hilliard, 27, was arrested in Waco by the U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, and Anthony Chambers, 39, was charged in the Bell County Jail, where he is being held on unrelated charges, according to a Waco police statement. Both were charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Robert Anthony Juarez, 22, whose body was found in front of his apartment at 812 S. 12th St. According to an arrest affidavit for Hilliard, witnesses saw three men chasing Juarez from his apartment and then heard a loud boom that sounded like a gunshot. A search of Juarezs cell phone showed messages between Hilliard and Juarez on the day he was killed. Hilliard contacted Juarez to buy drugs and set up a meeting at his Kate Ross apartment. A few minutes after the text messages, Juarez was murdered, the affidavit states. Hilliard denied involvement in the death and said she was not there when Juarez was shot. She arrived later, she told Waco police Detective Francisco Reyes. His initial Facebook post set a goal of $2,000. But the generosity of his friends exceeded that in the first hour. So Scaramucci decided to go for broke, bumping the goal up and shooting for more. By the time he was done 24 hours later, Scaramucci had raised $11,200. That total includes a $500 donation from McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara and his wife, Charlotte, and $3,000 worth of board games for the kids from a Waco company that wishes to remain anonymous. I am proud of Joe and the efforts he is doing to help those kids, and also in his work in trafficking, McNamara said. He goes above and beyond the call of duty and I am just really proud of him. Scaramucci said he was overwhelmed by the response, especially in such a short period of time. But he said he was really impressed that law enforcement officers he had worked with or helped train in Georgia, Indiana, Illinois and Alabama also donated to the cause. Two St. Pauls Episcopal School fourth-grade students were named finalists in the Save Texas History Essay Contest hosted by the Texas General Land Office. The Save Texas History contest is an annual essay competition open to fourth- and seventh-grade students across the state and promotes the preservation of local history. St. Pauls students Jubilee Lawson and Claire Rogers were among the five fourth-grade finalists selected. This years prompt was What history in your community is worth saving? The student essays were judged by a team of educators who evaluated the creativity, writing structure, mechanics, spelling and grammar of the essays. Jubilee, the daughter of Kelly and Billy Lawson, wrote about the importance of the Waco Suspension Bridge to the development of Waco. Claire, the daughter of Erin and Scott Rogers, wrote about how the Brazos River has been and continues to be a vital resource to the Waco community. But the climate-change-fueled drought gripping the Western United States is so severe that many of California's 1,500 reservoirs are at historic lows. Things are so bad that, earlier this month, state officials told water agencies they wouldn't get any water from the reservoirs heading into the new year. The Sites Reservoir project is not going to solve all of our problems, said Jerry Brown, executive director of the Sites Reservoir Authority, and who is not related to the former California governor with the same name. If we do absolutely nothing, I can guarantee you things will get worse. California's reservoirs are a crucial source of drinking water for the states nearly 40 million residents, help maintain necessary flows in rivers for fish, and irrigate Californias robust agricultural industry that grows a third of the countrys vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. Severe droughts have strained the states supply and renewed calls for more ways to capture and store water from the states major rivers and streams instead of letting it flow to the ocean. EU lawmakers said in a resolution that any new sanctions package should include the Russian officer corps and flag officers involved in the planning of a possible invasion, as well as the immediate circle and oligarchs in the orbit of the Russian President and their families. They said it should involve the freezing of financial and physical assets in the EU, travel bans, the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT payment system for international financial transfers, target key economic sectors and disrupt the financing of the intelligence services and the armed forces. The lawmakers have no decision-making powers on sanctions, but their experts often have detailed knowledge of what member countries are thinking on joint foreign policy initiatives. Meanwhile, the Kremlin again prodded Western leaders to provide legally binding guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO or that its members weapons would ever be deployed there, calling such moves a red line for Moscow. The U.S. and its allies have refused to make such a pledge, but Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed last week on further talks to discuss Russian concerns. Associated Press writers Frank Jordans in Berlin and Vladimir Isachenkov 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. A 1927 flood on the Mississippi killed 246 people, sweeping away bridges and breaching the levees over a thousand-mile stretch of the river. A member of the House Flood Control Committee, Swing convened hearings on a levee construction program costing an unprecedented $300 million and invited New Orleans business and political leaders to attend. I took on the New Orleans men one after another, Swing would recount, putting to them again and again whether they could see any difference between the Mississippis flood threat to their people and the Colorado River flood threat to the people of the Imperial Valley The Editor of the New Orleans Picayune came up to give me warm assurances that they would all work for my bill. The bill passed, and the dam project was launched four years later. Raising spending issues to denigrate projects you think are irrelevant to your own constituents has been known to devolve into farce. Remember the GOP response to President Obamas first State of the Union message in 2009? Then-Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, the designated responder being puffed up at the time as a potential presidential candidate, mined Obamas recession recovery bill for provisions he could ridicule. LAS VEGAS (AP) Fireworks that were called off last year due to the coronavirus pandemic are returning to the Las Vegas Strip on New Years Eve with a theme pointed toward 2022 Deuces Wild and the addition of an eighth hotel-top launching place, tourism and elected officials announced Thursday. Aside from last year, Americas Party has been the culminating event of the entire year for more than 20 years, said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, a nonprofit agency created to produce and support big events. Thousands of revelers still congregated on casino-lined Las Vegas Boulevard last year despite the canceled fireworks. There was no mention during a news conference previewing this year's event of the possible effect of the emergence and spread in recent weeks of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Fireworks were first held on the Strip on the last night of 2000. The display has helped make New Years Eve one of Las Vegas biggest events, drawing more than 300,000 revelers, according to tourism officials, and filling the tourism-dependent citys more than 250,000 hotel rooms. WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly firing a gun outside an after-hours strip club in June. Donald Ray Harris, 28, of 614 W. 11th St., was arrested Tuesday on charges of intimidation with a weapon and felon in possession of a firearm. He was released from jail pending trial. Police allege Harris fired shots outside toward a group of people standing in front of Fantasy Theatre, 1850 W. Airline Highway, around 3 p.m. June 26. No injuries were reported, but one of the bullets struck a vehicle, according to court records. Harris has a prior conviction for weapons charges in connection with a 2014 incident where police found a 9 mm Stallard during a traffic stop, court records state. Love 0 Funny 7 Wow 1 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. WATERLOO Three days a week when classes end at Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence, fourth-grader DeVon Jordan spends an extra two hours at school. He and 14 other fourth- and fifth-graders go to Sheritta Stokes classroom, where they work on reading skills and learn about Black historical figures. I come for the books, said Jordan. He particularly likes to read about sports, history and civil rights. On Tuesday, he picked out a book about the late Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall. Over the past two months, Jordan believes his reading skills have been improving. I learned how to read even more, even faster, he said. Jordan and the other students are enrolled in the 1619 Freedom School fluency boot camp. The after-school program got started at Cunningham in October after author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones announced plans earlier this fall to launch the free service in her hometown. In January, the full program will begin at its permanent site in the historic downtown Masonic Temple. At that point, the amount of students it serves will double to about 30. Any low-income Waterloo Community Schools fourth- and fifth-graders with low reading scores can apply to the program, which will be held five days per week after school. On Sunday, the 1619 Freedom School will hold an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. that will include food, drinks and music. It is located at 325 E. Park Ave., Suite 203. Attendees can tour the facility and meet teachers who will lead the program, including Stokes. She said among those instructing students will be current and retired Waterloo Schools teachers including a Gold Star teacher and a couple of Title I teachers and district employees currently going through the Teach Waterloo educator training program. Our goal is to provide students with experts, said Stokes, through the boot camp and when the full program begins. She hopes students will learn a love for reading and also learn a little pride and missing history. ... Once they have their confidence up, their reading scores will soar. Hannah-Jones will also be there for the event. She won a Pulitzer Prize for her essay in the New York Times Magazine 1619 Project, which aimed to reframe United States history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of the national narrative. The year 1619 was when the first ship carrying African slaves arrived in North America. An expanded version of the magazine issue was recently released as a book, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. Attendees can enter a raffle during the open house to win a copy of the book autographed by Hannah-Jones. Organizers ask people not to bring books Sunday for her to sign. Capacity in the program space will be limited at any one time, so people planning to attend should RSVP online for the event. A link to that can be found at 1619freedomschool.org/openhouse. It can also be found by going to eventbrite.com and searching for the open house. Stokes said organizers started the boot camp to get the kids interested and give the kids a jump start on the program. I have to commend the students because theyre staying after school. Theyre excited, theyre engaged, she said. About four other adults were in the Cunningham classroom working with the students Tuesday. Until recently, students from Hawkeye Community Colleges education program were also volunteering with the program. There were five HCC students working closely with the children in the class each day, creating a 1-to-3 student ratio. The program uses a curriculum developed for it by two professors, Sabrina Wesley-Nero of Georgetown University and LaGarrett King of the University of Missouri. Stokes said it has several sections: Hopes and Dreams, Children in History and Local History. On Tuesday, groups of students lined up with books to read parts on two fables The Lion and the Rabbit and Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. Readers theater is a component of the program one day each week, said Stokes, and they love to do that. Among its other pieces, students have studied grade-level word lists, which theyve been tested on weekly. In addition, they read fluency passages that are about African-American historical figures, working on comprehension skills through brief discussion of the writings. It simply highlights different familiar people throughout history, said Stokes of the fluency passages. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 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 Two years after a state grant supporting STEM education helped set up the Waterloo Career Centers medical lab technician program, another infusion of cash has been received. The Board of Education this week accepted a $10,000 STEM Best enhancement grant to buy more equipment for that program as well as the career centers anatomy and physiology courses. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Grant funds are given by the Governors STEM Advisory Council. In 2019, we received the STEM Best grant for $25,000, and that grant basically helped us set up our biomedical laboratory along with our anatomy and physiology lab, Jeff Frost, executive director of professional education, told the board. And at this point, two years later, theres still some of the equipment out there that Hawkeye (Community College) suggested that we could get to kind of enhance our lab to a further degree. What this grant does is it allows us to kind of get those last pieces, really the next iteration of equipment thats needed to really take these programs to the next level, he said. That includes microscopes, centrifuges, incubators and numerous supplies needed to use them. The board also accepted a $5,500 work-based learning mini-grant from the advisory council. Those funds will allow Waterloo Community Schools to put together a master plan on work-based learning, said Frost. We actually have a pretty good foundation of where we think we want to go with this. In other business, the board: Approved submitting requests to the states School Budget Review Committee for modified allowable growth in spending authority for several purposes. The district is seeking $3.86 million of increased authority for multiple at-risk education programs, $621,789 to fully cover actual 2020-21 English language learner costs, $557,497 for students who open enrolled out this year and werent part of the certified count last year, $427,766 for ELL students who need the services beyond the five years extra funding is provided, and $385,199 for increased certified enrollment compared to last year. Elected Sue Flynn as its president and Endya Johnson as vice president. Three board members were sworn in for the start of their terms after being elected Nov. 2, including newcomer Janelle Ewing. She replaces Shanlee McNally, who didnt run for another term after 13 years on the board. 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. CEDAR FALLS City officials hope to find a way to preserve the Honors Cottage and Alumni House, two historic buildings on the University of Northern Iowas campus that are being considered for demolition. Discussion about the homes, which are more than 100 years old, continued Tuesday night at the Cedar Falls Historic Preservation Commission meeting, as well as privately between Mayor Rob Green and university officials earlier that same day. At the public meeting, commissioners weighed the possibility of a business taking over a building and giving it new life, similar to what happened at the old post office, 217 Washington St., when Bike Tech set up shop in the early 2000s. A last resort could be moving the buildings to another property. But officials would need to find a site and come up with funds to relocate them. A notable drawback would be the buildings being removed from their original context. According to the university, the two underutilized buildings need a combined $1.6 million in maintenance, but officials have questioned whether the repairs are immediately needed. Julie Etheredge, commission chair, said many people were surprised to find out the buildings were on the chopping block. We are losing that history on UNIs campus, Etheredge told commissioners. These would be good examples (of buildings) that we could use to tell a story, and they have multiple significances. The commission has limits on what it can accomplish. As Karen Howard, city planning and community services manager, told the commission: You cant take any action on your own accord. Last month, the Board of Regents voted 8-1 to table a request to raze the former residences at 2401 College St. and 1012 W. 23rd St. The next board meeting scheduled for Feb. 24 UNI history professor Thomas Connors, a former historical preservation commissioner, wrote an opinion piece in The Courier last month explaining the significance of the former presidents house, now the Honors Cottage, and thanked the regents for providing a window for these voices to be heard. Theres been some feedback on that (column), and some interest from the community, Connors said. We have a lead on somebody who would be interested in figuring out a way to preserve them one way or another, either by doing something like was done with the post office it is tricky because it is on campus or we could even move them off campus. He noted there is talk of turning one building into a place someone could rent for a summer. Rosemary Beach, the retired longtime executive director of the Cedar Falls Historical Society, spoke in front of City Council on Nov. 15 and urged councilors to recognize how important these buildings are to the city and in understanding the universitys origins. She noted the cottage served as home to former UNI President Homer Seerley. In fact, he died in that house, she said. Theyre saying we cant afford to keep these buildings. Thats up to what the university does, but I think the people of Cedar Falls need to be aware that those two buildings are part of our history a big part of our history. Jesup school board accepts superintendent's resignation Nathan Marting, who has led Jesup Community Schools since 2009, resigned following a special meeting Friday. The preservation commission considered submitting a 2022 Most Endangered Properties application to Preservation Iowa for the Honors Cottage, which wouldnt save the structure, Etheredge said, but would help build support for preserving the buildings among UNI alumni, student groups, and the rest of the community. The deadline had been extended for Cedar Falls, but it is possible the application wont come before City Council for submission. Ive obtained UNIs input regarding this application request, and they shared their significant concerns about the cost and value of preserving the Honors Cottage, Green said in a text message. Based on this perspective, I have decided that other approaches should be pursued rather than this application for inclusion of this property on the Preservation Iowa List of Endangered Properties. I do hope that the Honors Cottage can somehow be preserved, but also respect UNIs goal of striving to be a good steward of taxpayer money, as well as seeking to be in the best position to serve students. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 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. CONDITION OF THE STATE: Gov. Kim Reynolds will deliver her annual Condition of the State Address at 6 p.m. Jan. 11 from the Iowa House Chamber at the Capitol. Iowa PBS will provide a livestream online, and it can be watched on the governors Facebook page. DOT OFFICES CLOSED: All Iowa Department of Transportation business locations will be closed Jan. 17 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. All Iowa DOT drivers license service centers, normally open Tuesdays through Saturdays, will be closed Jan. 15 in observance of the holiday. Normal business hours will resume at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 18. Many people, including commercial drivers license holders, may be able to complete drivers license business online at www.iowadot.gov. The quickest way to get drivers license business done is to schedule an appointment on the website. Walk-in customers will be served as time allows. SPANISH COURT FORMS: The Iowa Judicial Branch has launched its first free interactive court forms for self-represented Spanish speakers, Divorcio sin Hijos (divorce with no children). Iowa Interactive Court Forms use a question-and-answer format to gather information, identify needed forms and complete the approved forms for users. For Divorcio sin Hijos, the interview and instructions for printing, signing and filing the forms with the court are in Spanish. Each interview includes information in plain language and works on any smartphone, tablet or computer. Users can save their answers and complete the interview at a later time. Future goals include translating other interactive forms and other materials on the website. The translated interactive forms are an example of Iowa's Judicial Branch commitment to improving access to justice. The online interviews are available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE MAP: The Iowa Utilities Board and the Office of the Chief Information Officer have made available an interactive map depicting the boundaries of wireline incumbent local telephone exchanges the local telephone companies that provide traditional voice service. The electronic tool offers a statewide geographic information system map with layers that detail Iowas county boundaries, telephone area codes, incumbent local exchange areas, and telephone exchange boundaries. Users can browse the maps layers, with the ability to zoom in or out and to print the sections of interest. The IUB began working with Office of the Chief Information Officer in September 2020 on an online geographic information system mapping tool and design of a GIS data warehouse for the utilities board. The IUB released its first interactive mapping, for statewide electric service providers, in April 2021. The online map replaces existing paper maps on file with the IUB. The map can be accessed on the IUB website under the Quick Links column on the right side of the homepage under View a Utility Service Area Map. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WAVERLY -- The Rev. Halcyon Bjornstad, who served as the inaugural director of the colleges Accelerated Ministry Program in 2018-19, will begin a new job when the Winter Term begins on Jan. 10. She will assume the role of chief pastor, leader of Spiritual Life & Campus Ministry and director of the Accelerated Ministry Program, a joint program with Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque. Bjornstad returns to Wartburg after serving as the pastor of New Life Lutheran Church in Helena, Montana. In addition to her previous work at Wartburg, Bjornstad also served as the director of campus ministry and a residence hall director at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska. She is expected to serve in the interim position at Wartburg at least through Winter and May terms. Bjornstad earned a bachelors degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., now Augustana University, and a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 The Waterloo City Council will consider whether to "release the mortgage" for All-In Grocers, which has faced numerous obstacles and controversy in getting a grocery store constructed along Franklin Avenue, during their meeting Monday. Heavy winds barreled Wednesday from the Rockies to the Great Lakes, exacerbating fire dangers and setting weather records as gusts shut down a stretch of interstate, tore off roofs and even forced the evacuation of some air traffic controllers. At least 55 reports of hurricane-force thunderstorm wind gusts over 75 mph were tracked across the Great Plains and Midwest, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, setting a one-day national record. Around 300 severe wind reports came in across the regions throughout the day, with alerts impacting at least 80 million people. Keep scrolling for photos from Wednesday's storm system A tornado in southeastern Minnesota was the first ever reported in the state in the month of December, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. Nearly 20 tornado reports were documented Wednesday across Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. "I've been doing this 30 years, and we're seeing things today in the CNN Weather Center we have never seen before," CNN meteorologist Tom Sater said. Here's Wednesday's weather report from CNN: More than 470,000 customers were without power early Thursday in the areas affected, according to PowerOutage.us. Wisconsin and Michigan are reporting the highest number of outages. The storm is forecast to taper off, with many of the severe thunderstorm watches and warnings expiring overnight. Several places in Colorado, including the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, reported wind gusts of 100 mph or greater Wednesday, according to the weather service. Winds gusting up to 107 mph in Lamar toppled semitrucks, ripped off roofs and downed trees, Mayor Kirk Crespin said. Air traffic controllers briefly evacuated at Kansas City International Airport due "to wind and the fact that it is a glass box 256 feet up in the air," according to spokesperson Joe McBride. Planes resumed departures about one hour after controllers were forced to head to safety, the airport announced. Parts of Interstate 70 in western Kansas were shut down due to blowing dust, reduced visibility, and crashes, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation. *** Wildfires in Texas and Kansas force evacuations With winds whipped up at an exceeding rate, fires became a danger to residents in parts of the southern Plains and Southwest. The combination of 35 to 55 mph winds, with gusts of 75 mph, as well as low relative humidity and temperatures in the 70s and 80s were a catalyst for unseasonably dangerous circumstances. Certain areas are also facing an ongoing drought. "Dangerous, life-threatening fire weather conditions are likely with fast moving and uncontrollable fire spread due to extreme wind and dry conditions," the Storm Prediction said Wednesday morning. It noted that this was the first time in the history of the SPC that it was forecasting an "extremely critical" fire threat in December in the southern and central Plains. An evacuation order was placed for the town of Guymon, Oklahoma, due to one of nine wildfires in western and northwestern Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Several hundred people were told "to evacuate or be prepared to evacuate" in the city of Iowa Park, Texas, in Wichita County in the northern part of the state. Two fires in the county are ongoing. "The fire has changed direction a couple of times," Wichita County Sheriff's Office Deputy Melvin Joyner said, adding "we're working as hard as we can to keep residents safe." A 2,500-acre blaze is burning west of Amarillo, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported, and the agency is responding to the fires in Wichita County. Six homes and two other structures were reported damaged in the Texas Panhandle city of Pampa, according to a city announcement. No injuries were reported. CNN's Dave Hennen, Robert Shackelford, Raja Razek, Joe Sutton, DJ Judd, Melissa Alonso, Amy Simonson and Amanda Watts contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Just how pathetic is this? USA politicians are boycotting Olympics that no one had any intention to invite them to in the first place. They were never invited. Would not be invited. Due to the political garbage they would have spread in the first place. The USA has some incredibly stupid government politicians! No invitation has been extended to US politicians whatsoever, so this diplomatic boycott simply comes out of nowhere. Such a pretentious act is only a political manipulation and a grave distortion of the spirit of the Olympic Charter, Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the US Liu Pengyu said. In fact, no one would care about whether these people come or not, and it has no impact whatsoever on the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics to be successfully held, Liu Pengyu mentioned. USA: So there, that will show you for not inviting us (Sandbox brat strikes again!) WtR PS: Talk about breathing a sigh of relief at not having to put up with the spoiled brats! Mulgabbie North AC Gold Anomaly Extends Another 1.4km Perth, Dec 16, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - OzAurum Resources Ltd ( ASX:OZM ) is pleased to announce significant high-grade gold aircore (AC) drilling results from 149 holes for 10,556 meters (m) of drilling at its Mulgabbie North Project, situated two kilometres (km) from the Northern Star Resources ( ASX:NST ) Carosue Dam Mine Operations.Highlights- AC holes that intersected significant gold mineralisation from composite samples include:o 4m @ 3.09 g/t Au from 12m - MNOAC 615o 4m @ 3.03 g/t Au from 64m - MNOAC 560o 4m @ 2.00 g/t Au from 44m MNOAC 534o 4m @ 1.68 g/t Au from 56m MNOAC 579o 4m @ 1.68 g/t Au from 56m within 17m @ 0.8 g/t Au MNOAC 536o 4m @ 1.65 g/t Au from 68m MNOAC 559o 4m @ 1.61 g/t Au from 28m MNOAC 546o 4m @ 1.59 g/t Au from 36m MNOAC 636o 4m @ 1.47 g/t Au from 40m MNOAC 523o 4m @ 1.41 g/t Au from 56m MNOAC 597o 4m @ 1.40 g/t Au from 52m MNOAC 606- Recent AC drilling further extends the widespread gold zone an additional 1.4km to over 4.2km long and 150m wide at Mulgabbie North.- New high priority targets for Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling have been defined by the high-grade AC supergene gold zone- coinciding with the magnetic destruction zone.- The Mulgabbie North Gold Project, situated on the Keith Kilkenny fault zone with the favourable host rocks being felsic-intermediate volcaniclastics and intrusive porphyries, is shaping up as an exciting gold discovery story adjacent the Northern Star Carosue Dam Gold Mine.Mulgabbie Project AC Drilling ResultsA total of 149 AC holes were drilled for 10,556m (MNOAC 515 -663) at the Mulgabbie North gap zone between the Ben and Alicia Prospects. A total of 663 AC holes have been drilled for 48,027m at the Mulgabbie Project to date.A new zone of widespread gold mineralisation, extending for 1.4km long and up to 150m wide, has been defined by numerous high-grade AC intersections at the Mulgabbie North gap zone between Ben and Alicia Prospects.Results from the current AC drill program have provided the Company with exciting new high priority targets that will be followed-up with planned RC and diamond drilling in the near future.Significant four metre composite AC drilling results from holes MNOAC 515-633 at Mulgabbie North include 4m @ 3.09 g/t Au from 12m (MNOAC 615), 4m @ 3.03 g/t Au from 64m (MNOAC 560), 4m @ 2.00 g/t Au from 44m (MNOAC 534) along with 4m @ 1.68g/t Au from 56m (MNOAC 579). Numerous other high-grade anomalous composite gold results can be found in table 1* of this release.AC holes that have ended in high-grade gold mineralisation include:- MNOAC 570 1m @ 2.15 g/t Au from 76m to EOH- MNOAC 573 1m @ 1.65 g/t Au from 96m to EOH- MNOAC 536 1m @ 1.52 g/t Au from 72m to EOH- MNOAC 617 3m @ 0.98 g/t Au from 68m to EOH- MNOAC 648 2m @ 0.96 g/t Au from 60m to EOH- MNOAC 548 1m @ 0.84 g/t Au from 80m to EOHA number of significant AC gold intersections are associated with widespread supergene gold mineralisation and paleochannel hosted gold mineralisation. Of particular interest, is MNOAC 536 that intersected a wide zone of supergene gold mineralisation grading at 17m @ 0.80 g/t Au (from 56m), including 4m @ 1.68 g/t Au from 56m and 1m @ 1.52 g/t Au at 73m to EOH. The drill chips from the last metre of MNOAC 536 (grading 1.52 g/t Au) are logged as felsic-intermediate volcaniclastic host rock with intense silicification, hematite and sericite alteration. AC hole MNOAC 536 is situated in the centre of the demagnetised area on the Relief Shear with no associated historical drilling.Gold mineralisation intersected in MNOAC 615 4m @ 3.09 g/t Au is paleochannel hosted, previously reported high-grade paleochannel gold mineralisation includes 1m @162.5 g/t Au from 27m MNOAC 120 and 1m @ 31 g/t Au from 34m MNOAC 130 (see ASX announcement 24 May 2021).Results have also been received from 1m resampling of previously released AC 4m composite intersections from holes MNOAC 343-512 with a number of + 1 g/t Au intersections received including MNOAC 378 2m @ 1.94 g/t Au from 40m, please refer to table 3*.Widespread gold mineralisation at the 4.2 km-long gold zone is currently open to the north and the south. In addition, the new gold zone is co-incident with OzAurum's gold auger calcrete geochemistry anomalies, and a gravity low trough similar to the Northern Star ( ASX:NST ) Carouse Dam corridor of riches in which their operating gold mines are situated, which includes production of about 1.5 million ounces of gold to date.As previously announced, another significant aspect of the AC drilling program completed at Mulgabbie thus far is the discovery of a 40-80m wide zone of hematite alteration being intersected in the bottom of the AC holes, defining a trend striking NW for over 4.2 kms, and situated 150m west of the Relief Shear (see ASX announcement dated 15 March 2021). This is significant because hematite alteration is the characteristic alteration of the adjacent Northern Star's Karari and Whirling Dervish Gold Mines. The hematite alteration observed is indicating oxidised fluids from an intrusive complex suggesting proximity to the mineralising centre- likely to be within OzAurum's 100% owned Mulgabbie North tenure. Recent drilling at Mulgabbie North has now intersected intrusive porphyry in RC holes.High Priority Targets for future Mulgabbie North RC and Diamond DrillingThe current AC gold drill results have clearly defined significant zones of gold mineralisation along and adjacent to the Relief Shear within the Keith Kilkenny fault zone. Of particular interest, is the area immediately along strike to the south of the Ben Prospect where a number of AC holes have intersected extensive significant supergene gold mineralisation including MNOAC 536 has intersecting 17m @ 0.80 g/t Au (from 56m) including 4m @ 1.68 g/t Au and 1m @ 1.52 g/t Au from 72m to EOH.A number of these exciting new targets that have been identified for future RC drilling coincide with an extensive zone of magnetic destruction and the co-incident, strong and steep gravity gradient that extends the length of the Mulgabbie North Project. Interpretation of the recently completed detailed drone magnetic survey and close spaced gravity survey at Mulgabbie North is ongoing.OzAurum's Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Pumphrey, said:"The Company is proud to announce these additional high-grade AC intercepts uncovered by our large-scale AC drilling campaign. The discovery of a new widespread zone of gold mineralisation within the Mulgabbie North project, which now extends over 4.2 km, provides us with even greater confidence in the large-scale potential of the Project. In particular, we are excited by the potential of this area where the host rocks are intermediate-felsic volcaniclastic units - very similar to the Northern Star Carosue Dam Karari and Whirling Dervish Gold Mines."Extensive supergene gold mineralisation situated with the magnetic destruction zone on the very steep gravity gradient makes for exciting new targets to be tested with future RC and diamond drilling."Lastly, this area is under transported cover that has prevented previous effective exploration and now represents a significant exploration opportunity for the Company."*To view tables and figures, please visit:About OzAurum Resources Limited OzAurum Resources Ltd (ASX:OZM) is a Western Australian gold explorer with two advanced gold projects located 130 km north east of Kalgoorlie. The Company's main objective is to make a significant gold discovery that can be brought to production. Malibu, CA, Dec 16, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with Claudia Tornquist, President and CEO of Kodiak Copper Corp ( CVE:KDK )( OTCMKTS:KDKCF )( FRA:5DD1 ). Kodiak Copper's most advanced asset is the MPD copper-gold porphyry project in the prolific Quesnel Trough in southern British Columbia, Canada, where in 2020 the Company made a high-grade discovery at the Gate Zone, which is part of a zoned, copper-gold enriched envelope of significant size. Kodiak also holds the Mohave copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry project in Arizona, near the world-class Bagdad mine. Both of Kodiak's porphyry projects have been historically drilled and present known mineral discoveries with the potential to hold large-scale deposits.The company's Chairman is Chris Taylor, the CEO of sister company prolific in the gold space, Great Bear Resources which currently has a pending acquisition offer of $1.8 billion from Kinross Gold CorporationMs. Tornquist is formerly General Manager at Rio Tinto working with their copper and diamond operations. She also held the position of Executive Vice President of Business Development for the streaming company Sandstorm Gold. She's a Director of Silver One Resources and former director of Kennady Diamonds, leading the $176m sale of the company to Mountain Province.To listen to the Interview, please visit:*To view the Announcement, please visit:About Kodiak Copper Corp.Kodiak Copper Corp. (CVE:KDK) (OTCMKTS:KDKCF) is focused on its portfolio of 100% owned copper porphyry projects in Canada and the USA.The Company's most advanced asset is the MPD copper-gold porphyry project in the prolific Quesnel Trough in southern British Columbia, Canada, where in 2020 the Company made a high-grade discovery at the Gate Zone, which is part of a zoned, copper-gold enriched envelope of significant size.Kodiak also holds the Mohave copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry project in Arizona, USA, near the world-class Bagdad mine. Both of Kodiak's porphyry projects have been historically drilled and present known mineral discoveries with the potential to hold large-scale deposits.The Company's Kahuna diamond project in Nunavut, Canada, hosts a high-grade, near surface inferred diamond resource and numerous kimberlite pipe targets. Kodiak is considering strategic options for the Kahuna project. Social Media Share this Article Tweet Print This Article ABN Newswire Malibu, CA, Dec 15, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Skyharbour Resources Ltd.'s ( CVE:SYH ) ( OTCMKTS:SYHBF ) ( FRA:SC1P ) is pleased to announce that it has acquired by staking six new prospective uranium exploration properties within and proximal to the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan.These six properties comprise 147,510 hectares (364,505 acres) in the Basin, which is host to the highest grade uranium deposits in the world and is consistently ranked as a top mining jurisdiction by the Fraser Institute. The new properties bring Skyharbour's total land package to 385,934 hectares (953,663 acres) representing one of the largest project portfolios in the region.Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with Jordan Trimble, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Skyharbour Resources, a preeminent uranium and thorium exploration Company with projects located in the prolific Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, Canada. In this segment Mr. Trimble discusses the company's increase of nearly 50% of additional properties suiting its successful project generator model.To listen to the Interview, please visit:*To view the Announcement, please visit:About Skyharbour Resources Ltd. Skyharbour Resources (CVE:SYH) (OTCMKTS:SYHBF) holds an extensive portfolio of uranium and thorium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with six drill-ready projects. In July 2016, Skyharbour acquired an option from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, to acquire 100% of the Moore Uranium Project which is located approximately 15 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced stage uranium exploration project with high grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone. Drill results have returned up to 6.0% U3O8 over 5.9 metres, including 20.8% U3O8 over 1.5 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. Skyharbour has signed option agreements with Orano Canada Inc. and Azincourt Energy whereby Orano and Azincourt can earn in up to 70% of specific segments of the Preston Project through a combined $9,800,000 in total exploration expenditures, as well as $1,700,000 in total cash payments and Azincourt shares. Preston is a large, geologically prospective property proximal to Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy's Arrow deposit. The Company also owns a 100% interest in the Falcon Point Uranium Project which hosts a high-grade surface showing with up to 68% U3O8 in grab samples from a massive pitchblende vein, the source of which has yet to be discovered. The Company's 100% owned Mann Lake Uranium project on the east side of the Basin is strategically located adjacent to the Mann Lake Joint Venture operated by Cameco, where high-grade uranium mineralization has been identified. Skyharbour's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions. OMAHA, Neb. 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 Im glad it wasnt 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 towns 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. DENVER High winds whipped across the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, knocking out power, closing roads and highways and forcing the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights. The National Weather Service warned of wind gusts between 60 and 80 mph (97-129 kph) along Colorados Front Range throughout the day and gusts of up to 100 mph (161 kph) in the foothills. The weather service tweeted just before noon that the airfield at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs recorded a gust of 100 mph. 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 solely from the force of a gust. Its definitely windy. You can kind of feel it in the buildings, thats for sure, she said. 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. Blowing dust caused zero visibility at times on the eastern plains, and a 35-mile (56-kilometer) section of Highway 50 was closed east of Pueblo. The wind was subsiding Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Xcel Energy reported hundreds of outages in the Denver-Boulder area, where more than 50,000 people were without power Wednesday afternoon. Crews in Broomfield, northwest of Denver, were forced to cut power after the wind lifted a large trampoline into an electricity line, according to the North Metro Fire Rescue District. No one was injured in that incident. In Loveland, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Denver, police said some roadways were blocked by downed trees and branches. And in the Denver suburb of Arvada, the wind toppled a large Christmas tree that stood in the town square. A landmark was lost today, the Arvada Police Department tweeted Wednesday afternoon, attaching photos showing people assessing the damage. More than 580 flights were delayed at Denver International Airport, and nearly 160 were canceled, according to tracking service FlightAware. The airport closed several runways based on the wind pattern, and the Federal Aviation Administration said that some arriving flights were delayed more than two hours. Before pummeling Colorado, the storm barreled through Utah, causing power outages for thousands of customers, more than 100 crashes and snarling flights at the airport. Many classes were canceled or delayed. The Salt Lake City area received about a foot (30 centimeters) of much-needed snow, with more in the mountains. The storm was moving into the Midwest, which braced for powerful winds, heavy rain and a chance of tornadoes Wednesday. ___ Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City contributed to this report. NAIROBI, Kenya 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. 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 CATCHES OF THE WEEK Mark Brittelle, 8, of Albuquerque caught a 2-pound white bass at Conchas Lake using a watermelon pumpkin Ned rig Nov. 28. At Eagle Nest Lake, Joey Dailey of Albuquerque caught and released 21- and 23-inch rainbow trout using red, white and blue PowerBait Dec. 4. Carlos Barraza, 10, of Pecos caught 22- and 23-inch rainbow trout using rainbow PowerBait on Nov. 28. Justin Kersting of Albuquerque and Daniel Martinez of Santa Fe both caught 5-pound blue catfish at Elephant Butte Lake using cut bait Dec. 11. Nick Keele of Hobbs caught a 15-inch rainbow trout at Green Meadow Lake using a gold Panther Martin spinner and a 16-inch largemouth bass using garlic PowerBait on Dec. 13. At Grindstone Reservoir, Joshua Terrazas of Las Cruces caught a 19-inch, 2-pound, 3-ounce rainbow trout using a yellow Trout Magnet lure Dec. 5. Joseph Gonzales of Roswell caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using a nightcrawler worm Dec. 4. Patrick Iverson of Santa Fe caught a 16.5-inch brown trout on the Rio Grande using a bunny leech fly near Pilar on Dec. 4. Marcus Gurule, 8, of Albuquerque caught a 20-inch rainbow trout at Seven Springs Brood Pond using a worm under a bobber Dec. 4. Gilbert Gonzales of Albuquerque caught an 18 and 19-inch rainbow trout at Tingley Beach using homemade dough bait Dec. 4. If you have a catch of the week story, send it to funfishingnm@gmail.com. Notes from Game and Fish Northeast fishing report Cabresto Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Charette Lakes is closed and will reopen in March 2022. Streamflow on the Cimarron River near Cimarron on Monday morning was 9.07 cubic feet per second. Fishing for trout was good using small worms and grey nymph flies. Clayton Lake is closed and will reopen in March 2022. Conchas Lake has new winter season hours: open for day-use access only Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Please contact State Parks at 1-888-667-2757 with any questions. Fishing for white bass was fair using watermelon pumpkin Ned rigs. At Costilla Creek, fishing for trout was good using caddis dry flies. The department has implemented the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northern New Mexico. The final phase involved removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on Forest Road 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries) with a tentative restocking of Rio Grande cutthroat in spring 2022. Places to fish nearby include Costilla Creek below the fish barrier, Upper Comanche Creek, Shuree Ponds, Middle Ponil Creek, Upper Powderhouse Creek, Little Costilla Creek, Vidal Creek and McCrystal Creek. Please check the department website for additional information on the project and to identify alternative angling opportunities in the interim. Cowles Ponds had no reports from anglers this week. Coyote Creek had no reports from anglers this week. Eagle Nest Lake has new winter season hours: open for day-use access only Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Moreno and Six Mile free access areas for New Mexico licensed anglers and hunters at Eagle Nest will remain open for day-use daily. Please contact State Parks at 1-888-667-2757 with any questions. Fishing for trout was fair to good using rainbow PowerBait and red, white and blue PowerBait. Eagle Rock Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Gallinas River had no reports from anglers this week. Hopewell Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Alice had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Maloya had no reports from anglers this week. Los Pinos River had no reports from anglers this week. Maxwell Lake 13 is closed and will reopen in March 2022. Monastery Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Morphy Lake is closed and will reopen in March 2022. Streamflow on the Pecos River near the town of Pecos on Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was good using salmon eggs and worms. Streamflow on the Red River below the hatchery Monday morning was 31.7 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using dry flies with dropper nymph flies. Streamflow on the Rio Grande at the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 327 cfs. Fishing for trout near Pilar was good using bunny leech flies. Streamflow on the Rio Hondo on Monday morning near Valdez was not measured due to ice. Streamflow on the Rio Mora on Monday morning near Tererro was not measured due to ice. Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Penasco on Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Santa Cruz Reservoir had no reports from anglers this week. Shuree Ponds had no reports from anglers this week. Springer Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Storrie Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Stubblefield Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Fishing for white bass and walleye at Ute Lake was fair using vertical jigging blade baits, slab spoons, grubs and swimbaits in 20 to 25 feet of water near the main lake channel. The water surface temperature was in the low 50s and the waters color was dirty. Northwest fishing report Abiquiu Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Waterflow on the Animas River below Aztec on Monday morning was 149 cfs. Fishing for trout at Albuquerque Area Drains was fair to good using salmon eggs. Bluewater Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Brazos River had no reports from anglers this week. Canjilon Lakes had no reports from anglers this week. Monday-morning flows on the Chama River below El Vado and Abiquiu were 97.3 cfs and 146 cfs, respectively. There were no reports this week from below El Vado Lake or from below Abiquiu Lake. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only. Cochiti Lake had no reports from anglers this week. A release of water from the El Vado dam has begun to lower El Vado Lake in preparation for dam reconstruction. Kokanee salmon snagging is allowed between the Heron Lake release to the El Vado Lake dam. Snagging is prohibited in the quality waters upstream from the Heron Lake release as it violates quality waters rules. There was no fishing due to thin ice covering Fenton Lake . Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit. All boat ramps are currently closed at Heron Lake . Small watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards can launch from the shoreline. Fishing for kokanee salmon was fair to good using snagging hooks near Sierra Vista boat launch at Ridge Rock and at the bottom corner of the dam at Ridge Rock. A t the Jemez Waters, streamflow on the Jemez near the village of Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 17.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using gold and silver spinners. Laguna del Campo is closed and will reopen in May 2022. Lagunitas Lakes had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Farmington had no reports from anglers this week. Due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions, stocking efforts have been suspended at McGaffey Lake . Lake conditions will be monitored and stockings will resume once conditions improve. Fishing for kokanee salmon at Navajo Lake was good using snagging hooks near the dam. Rio Grande had no reports from anglers this week. San Gregorio Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Streamflow on the San Juan River on Monday morning was 280 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good using egg pattern flies, leech pattern flies, Griffith gnat flies, midge cluster flies and size 22-26 black, grey and olive midge pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good using worms. Fishing for trout at Seven Springs Brood Pond was good using garlic dough bait, green PowerBait and worms. Fishing for trout at Tingley Beach was good using salmon eggs, garlic PowerBait and homemade dough bait. Trout Lakes had no reports from anglers this week. Southwest fishing report Fishing for trout at Alumni Pond was fair to good using salmon peach PowerBait and marshmallows. Fishing for all species was slow at Bear Canyon Lake . Bill Evans Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Caballo Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Fishing for bass at Elephant Butte Lake was fair using watermelon green plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was good using cut carp bait and shad. Fishing for trout at Escondida Lake was fair to good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs. Streamflow on the Gila River on Monday morning was 59.9 cfs. Fishing for trout at Glenwood Pond was good using egg worm combo flies. Fishing for trout at Lake Roberts was good using beaded egg and worm flies. Percha Dam had no reports from anglers this week. Quemado Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Rancho Grande Ponds had no reports from anglers this week. Streamflow on the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.03 cfs. Snow Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Fishing for trout at Trees Lake was good using chartreuse PowerBait, orange Gulp PowerBait, salmon peach PowerBait and small bluegill swimbaits. Fishing for bass was fair using live worms. Fishing for bluegill was good using beadhead nymph flies and Beetle Bou jigs. Fishing for trout at Young Pond was fair using marshmallows and salmon peach PowerBait. Southeast fishing report Fishing for trout at Alto Lake was fair using orange PowerBait. Bataan Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on Berrendo Creek . Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Monday morning was 12.6 cfs. Blue Hole Park Pond had no reports from anglers this week. Bonito Lake is closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. It appears that the lake will be out of commission until 2022. Bosque Redondo Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Bottomless Lakes had no reports from anglers this week. Fishing for bass at Brantley Lake was fair using wacky rigged Senko worms. Carlsbad Municipal Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Chaparral Park Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Corona Pond had no reports from anglers this week. Eunice Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Fishing for trout at Green Meadow Lake was fair to good using Panther Martin spinners. Fishing for bass was fair using garlic PowerBait. Greene Acres Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Fishing for trout at Grindstone Reservoir was good using yellow Trout Magnet lures, nightcrawler worms and garlic PowerBait. Jal Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Fishing for trout at Lake Van was fair to good using PowerBait. Oasis Park Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 15.5 cfs. Perch Lake had no reports from anglers this week. Streamflow on the Ruidoso River on Monday morning at Hollywood was 4.09 cfs. Santa Rosa Lake is open to boating, but due to low lake levels, Santa Rosa Lake State Park will operate as a no-wake lake until conditions improve. Fishing for all species was slow. Fishing for walleye at Sumner Lake was fair using 3-inch transparent swimbaits and curly tail grubs while jigging. New Mexico saw an uptick in COVID-19 cases and deaths on Wednesday compared to recent days, and health officials said the Thanksgiving holiday and the arrival of a concerning new variant have made virus projections for the upcoming weeks impossible. New Mexico on Wednesday reported 1,357 new cases and 25 additional deaths, pushing the statewide toll to 5,516 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic. Acting Health Secretary David Scrase said during an online briefing with other state health officials on Wednesday that there was a significant drop in testing and cases over the Thanksgiving weekend, which thwarts modeling projections for weeks. Whats more, the arrival of a new variant further complicates predictions. Its a lot of intensive work (to model the next four to six weeks) and it doesnt turn out to be that useful, Scrase said. So we dont know. Of the new cases reported Wednesday, Bernalillo County residents accounted for 376 of the cases and nine of the deaths. New Mexico on Monday announced that it had identified the first case of the omicron variant in the state. The concerning variant has been found in at least 60 countries and more than 30 states. New Mexico health officials have said there are signs the variant is spreading faster than the currently dominate delta variant. Dr. Christine Ross, the state epidemiologist, said preliminary data indicates reduced vaccine efficacy and ineffectiveness against the variant, especially when it comes to infection and transmission. But most importantly, the data we have available right now suggests the vaccines are holding steady and remain quite protective against severe illness and death, Ross said. She said there is evidence a booster shot will add protection against the variant. This weeks marks one year since the rollout of COVID vaccines. So far, more than 75% of New Mexican adults are fully vaccinated and another 29.2% have received a booster shot. But breakthrough infections do happen. During a recent four-week period, unvaccinated individuals made up 28% of the new infections and 18.4% of the deaths. New Mexico data shows that people who are more than six months removed from their original vaccination are four times more likely to have a breakthrough case. During Wednesdays briefing, Scrase provided data that showed adults ages 25 to 39 were the most likely age group to have a breakthrough infection, with 4,023 cases per 100,000 people. That age group was followed by adults in their 40s and then people 18 to 24 years old. A Northeast Heights bar lost its liquor license and its owner and staff may face criminal charges following an investigation showing that the bar served minors, according to New Mexico State Police. Officers received at least half a dozen complaints stating that La Cantina Loca, at 6910 Montgomery NE, allowed minors into the bar, served minors and over-served customers, NMSP Officer Dusty Francisco told the Journal. He said there were also complaints relating to fighting and drugs allegedly being sold in the bars parking lot. The owners of the liquor license that was being used by the bar terminated the bars lease for the license after the investigation, according to state Regulation and Licensing Department spokeswoman Bernice Geiger. The license has not been revoked and remains the property of the license owner, but the lessee (La Cantina Loca) may no longer do business, Geiger wrote in an email. The violations were reported to the state Alcohol Beverage Control Division on Dec. 7, but troubles with enforcement began several months prior. Francisco said the first complaint was filed against the bars owner in September for serving without a license. Since then, the bar began operating under a liquor license, according to Francisco. Multiple other complaints were subsequently filed and on Dec. 3, NMSP Special Investigations Unit conducted a compliance check. During the compliance check, members of the unit used minors to attempt to enter and buy alcohol at the bar, and undercover officers witnessed the minors entering and purchasing alcohol, Francisco said. Citations were issued to several servers and the establishment for violations of the Liquor Control Act. Francisco said the SIU is working with the Second Judicial District Attorneys Office on pending criminal charges against employees and the owner. La Cantina Loca was listed as temporarily closed on Google Wednesday and the Facebook page for the bar has a post stating that the restaurant is for sale sans liquor license. The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last month, with $65 billion in federal funding allocated to upgrade and expand Americas broadband network, could not have come at a more critical time for New Mexicans. We have one of the worst digital divides in the country, with one report finding that, in about half the counties in our state, fewer than 21% of households actually have high-speed internet access. When so much of our ability to participate in work, school, our economy and our communities depends on reliable connectivity, the funding our state will receive is a major accomplishment by President Biden that will help close the digital divide. It stands to benefit not only rural residents and our students, but also our states overall economic competitiveness. Now that funding will be distributed to states, it is up to New Mexicos regulators to ensure this gets done responsibly and equitably and that means finally prioritizing broadband for our rural and tribal communities. New Mexico has long had significant disparities in broadband access, which hit such rural areas as the East Mountains and our tribal communities the hardest. In McKinley County, nearly 60% of households lack broadband access. This is unacceptable in todays economy and society where the internet is essential to everything we do and it could have been avoided. Our digital divide is in part the result of the failings of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). A June 2021 report found that Lumen Technologies, formerly CenturyLink, discriminated against lower-income, rural and tribal communities by blatantly failing to invest in essential fiber-optic buildout in those areas where they do not expect to turn a high profit. No American should be left behind or limited to less reliable wireless connections because of their income or where they live, and our state regulators have a responsibility to prioritize these areas and use federal broadband funding to close this gap. Although it is one of the largest ISPs serving New Mexico, there is strong evidence that Lumen has allowed much of our existing infrastructure to fall into disrepair. As executive vice president of CWA/IUE Local 7011 and a former Lumen employee, Ive seen firsthand the impact of this neglect unreliable connections, spotty service and the inability to share adequate bandwidth within households. CWA has shared documentation of these concerns, including dozens of photos from cables strung along fence posts to wires on the ground with New Mexico regulators. In addition to building new broadband infrastructure, New Mexico desperately needs to invest in upgrading, repairing and maintaining our existing broadband network. And we need regulation in place to ensure deployment is done right, with a skilled union workforce that knows the equipment, the infrastructure and the communities. Currently, our state regulates only copper lines, telephone and voice. This needs to change to match the infrastructure needs of the 21st Century. Before we fund broadband buildout projects, we need regulations and guarantees in place to ensure that New Mexicans in our most vulnerable regions do not get the short end of the stick. Sen. Michael Padilla, interim vice chair of the Science, Technology and Telecommunications Committee, has shown interest in CWAs ideas for regulating broadband, but expects the process to take several years. Meanwhile, he is proposing elimination of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commissions oversight over Lumens phone service, which would allow the company to abandon customers they deem unprofitable before an alternative is in place. CWA members are ready to get to work. Lets repair what we have. Lets make sure we have reliable facilities to carry broadband service. And lets make broadband a reality for the entire state. We dont want to be always under construction, but if New Mexicos regulators dont act quickly, thats exactly where we could end up. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Journal Staff Writer The Bernalillo County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved land-use regulations to govern the newly legalized recreational marijuana industry, including where businesses can grow and sell cannabis in the countys unincorporated areas. They permit recreational cannabis retail sales in most commercial zones, as long as the site is at least 300 feet away from a school or day care. They also allow outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation on agriculturally zoned properties, but do require fencing at least 6 feet high and impose limitations based on property size. Personal production and consumption is allowed in all county zones. The rules adopted Tuesday differ slightly from the draft introduced a month ago reflecting the input from the commission, industry and the general public, county Zoning Administrator Nicholas Hamm said. Notably, the county eliminated a previously proposed distinction between medical and recreational cannabis use at businesses licensed to sell for on-site consumption. As passed, the county will allow cannabis lounges in the same commercial zones, whether they cater to medical or recreational users. Commissioner Adriann Barboa applauded the change. We dont want to be in the business of regulating or monitoring, or asking people (why theyre consuming cannabis), she said. I dont think thats county business. The county also added a special-use permit provision so that businesses can seek approval if they want to do more than one cannabis-related activity, such as grow marijuana and create edible products. One local cannabis industry professional raised concerns about some of the approved regulations, including the provision that bans smoking marijuana outdoors at cannabis lounges. Smoking at such places is allowed only indoors with proper ventilation. The indoor consumption-only language is very restrictive; as medical cannabis patients, weve been consuming outdoors since time has begun, Erica Rowland said during public comment. For us to be forced into a fish bowl or back in the cannabis closet is something Id like you to consider. Hamm said the rule applies specifically to cannabis lounge businesses, not what people do at home. It is intended to keep the lounges from negatively impacting nearby businesses, he said. The county was trying to strike a balance between allowing New Mexicans to consume a now-regulated product in a safe and legal matter, while balancing the needs of the existing community more broadly, Hamm said. Meanwhile, the state announced Wednesday that it had issued the first new licenses under the Cannabis Regulation Act, which was passed earlier this year. The Cannabis Control Division of the Regulation and Licensing Department issued: A producer license to Steve Martinez, and sons Mitchell and Tony Martinez, of Aztec; A micro-producer license to minority- and grower-owned Carver Family Farm of Albuquerque; and A micro-producer license to BAUDABOOMZ2 LLC of Edgewood. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Republicans in the state Senate tried and failed Wednesday to accelerate passage of a bill updating New Mexicos medical malpractice law. The legislation is necessary, physicians say, to ensure independent doctors can continue to practice at hospitals and that independently owned outpatient clinics can stay open after Dec. 31. Insurance carriers, they say, have refused to provide insurance under the law as it stands now. A push to remove the legislation from the Senate Judiciary Committee and put it before the full chamber failed on a 13-25 vote Wednesday afternoon, with Democrats opposed. Democrats said the proposal including a series of potential amendments should be vetted in a committee hearing before reaching the full Senate. Legislators began a committee hearing late Wednesday and spent about three hours going over the bill line by line, before agreeing to stop for the night so they could handle other business. The meeting is set to resume Thursday morning. Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, accused Democrats of moving so slowly that theyve alarmed doctors throughout the state. The changes must become law by Jan. 1, he said, to avoid interrupting health care services in New Mexico. Time is up, Moores said. Insurance companies have to issue new statements. We created this problem and weve been sitting on it for a week now. The proposed legislation, House Bill 11, passed the House Friday and hadnt received a hearing until Wednesday. It won approval in the House on a 63-2 vote. Sen. Joseph Cervantes, a Las Cruces Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said legislative staff have used the time to evaluate the need for technical changes to how the bill is written. The proposal, he said, aims to change a law that hasnt yet taken effect, requiring careful consideration of the language necessary to accomplish that. Cervantes said other changes are also required, and its better to handle them in committee where public testimony is taken rather than before the full Senate. The implications of getting it wrong are enormous, he said late Wednesday as the committee examined the bill and proposed amendments. Republicans werent convinced. They said the proposal has already been vetted by a coalition of trial lawyers, physicians, patients and others, who agreed on the proposed solution. All Im asking is that we quit piddling around and do something useful, Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, said. Senators rarely agree to pull a bill out of a committee for consideration on the chamber floor unless the committee chairperson agrees. The procedure is often referred to as blasting a bill out of committee. The typical process is for a committee to vote on its own whether to advance a proposal to another committee or to the full chamber. SANTA FE A special session on redistricting careened into a political standoff late Wednesday, as minority Senate Republicans used a parliamentary maneuver to block a floor vote on a Democratic-backed map. The late-night drama cast uncertainty on the possible end date of the special session, with Democrats facing the possibility of having to round up missing GOP senators or make political concessions. Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, accused Democrats of breaking promises in the redistricting process. This map is a travesty to our state, said Brandt, who made the motion for a Call of the Senate, which requires all unexcused senators to be brought into the chambers and for doors to be barred. When one GOP senator Sen. Crystal Diamond of Elephant Butte could not be immediately tracked down, Senate Democratic floor leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe ended the floor session without a vote, saying it would be resumed Thursday. The Senate redistricting plan had been in limbo for several days this week after a proposed amendment unpairing two incumbent GOP senators was advanced by a Senate committee in defiance of a delicate consensus reached by more than 20 tribal groups. But Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said earlier Wednesday that Senate Democrats were planning to back away from the amendment after lengthy closed-door meetings with Native American leaders. She also said top-ranking Democrats were able to reach an agreement with tribal leaders about minor changes to boundary lines in two Gallup-area Senate districts. Those districts are currently held by Sens. George Munoz and Shannon Pinto, who are both Gallup Democrats. Its really like a jigsaw puzzle you move one line and you have to adjust three or four districts, Stewart told the Journal. While Native American leaders said they were willing to make minor changes to the Gallup-area districts, they have adamantly opposed changes to the tribal consensus plan when it comes to two other Senate districts currently held by Senate GOP floor leader Greg Baca of Belen and Sen. Joshua Sanchez, R-Bosque. Regis Pecos, a member of the Cochiti Tribal Council and former Cochiti Pueblo governor, gathered with other tribal leaders in a Roundhouse corridor after Wednesdays fireworks in the Senate and exhorted them to stay strong. Our people deserve us to remain steadfast, Pecos said. Earlier in the day, he told reporters that protecting incumbents was not one of the priorities the independent Citizens Redistricting Committee was tasked with following in crafting maps for legislative consideration. He also said tribal leaders were more inclined to walk away as they did during a Sunday committee hearing than compromise on maps that would dilute Native American voices and reduce their ability to elect legislators who would focus on fixing education inequalities and other priorities. These are sovereign nations and not special interest groups, Pecos told reporters. But Republicans, who are outnumbered in the Senate by a 26-15 margin, argued the new proposed Senate map would hurt New Mexicos Hispanic population. They also lodged similar ciriticsm against a plan to redraw the boundary lines of the states low-profile Public Education Commission, which passed the Senate on a party-line vote. I will continue to object to these maps that are based on diluting the Hispanic population and ignoring the Hispanic population in the state, Baca said. Meanwhile, the leader of a New Mexico open government group raised concerns about the Senates commitment to transparency or lack thereof during its redistricting discussions. Melanie Majors, the executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, told Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, in a Wednesday letter that voters want to see a more open process. We request that all negotiations and deliberations regarding redistricting be conducted in an open and transparent manner that is accessible to the public, Majors said in her letter. She also pointed out the independent redistricting commission, which lawmakers created during this years 60-day session, held public meetings and gathered input in more than 20 cities and towns around New Mexico in the run-up to the special session. Since the session began Dec. 6, legislators have already approved new political boundaries for New Mexicos three congressional districts for the next decade. That proposal was awaiting approval from the governor on Wednesday. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal The last remaining defendant convicted in the massive federal racketeering prosecution of the ultraviolent Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang received a mandatory life sentence in a Las Cruces courtroom Wednesday. The sentencing of Angel DeLeon, 44, capped a six-year law enforcement effort led by the FBI in Albuquerque that aimed at dismantling the gang, which has operated inside New Mexico prisons and within various New Mexico communities. To date, 12 SNM members, including a leader of the gang, have received life sentences for committing violent crimes in aid of furthering the gangs influence. Key to the convictions was the testimony of former gang members and associates turned cooperating witnesses. DeLeon, whose attorney is planning an appeal, was extradited from his home country of Mexico in 2019 to face charges of helping strangle to death SNM member Frank Castillo more than 20 years ago while they were incarcerated at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility outside Las Cruces. DeLeon was released from prison and deported in 2002, while the murder went unsolved. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Browning imposed the mandatory life sentence after DeLeon was convicted by a jury in September of the first-degree murder, which occurred on March 26, 2001, about the same time SNM members in another part of the prison killed Rolando Garza. Both inmates were greenlighted for death for violating gang rules. DeLeon was accused of helping restrain Castillo, while another SNM member strangled him on his prison cell bed with a prison laundry bag cord. Three other SNM members indicted for their involvement in Castillos slaying were convicted of federal racketeering charges at trial in 2018. The double homicide case had gone cold until after an FBI agent learned of an SNM plot to kill the head of the New Mexico Corrections Department and other top prison officials in the spring of 2015. The resulting investigation, which enlisted state and local law enforcement agencies and corrections officials, documented historical evidence of the criminal actions of the gang dating back to its formation in the 1980s. In the process, nine cold case murders were solved, and more than 160 members, associates and others were arrested and charged with drugs, weapons and other crimes. Most were convicted. The gang, which had as many as 500 members, has used violence, threats of violence, assaults, murder and intimidation to preserving its power, federal prosecutors have alleged. It was six years ago this month that the murder plot to harm state corrections officials was foiled with the initial indictment of 24 alleged gang members and associates on charges of violating the federal Violent Crimes in Aid of Rackeetering law. DeLeon remained at large until he was located in Mexico, where he has family. His defense attorney, Sarah Gorman, asked on Wednesday that her client be incarcerated in Texas where his mother and other family members live. She told the judge DeLeon was 7 years old when he came to the United States with his family. He grew up in the Fort Worth, Texas, area and later moved to Socorro, New Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Castellano told the judge on Wednesday that DeLeons prior criminal history included a crime against a minor and a drug trafficking offense while in prison. After DeLeons deportation, Gorman told the judge, Mr. DeLeon never returned to the U.S. for almost 20 years and but for this extradition he would have stayed in Mexico. She said prosecutors in the past chose not to indict anyone for the Castillo murder until the larger RICO indictment. She lamented that while her client maintains his innocence, government cooperating witnesses who are far more culpable have received significantly lower sentences for the same conduct. Castellano said the DeLeon life sentence should be a deterrent and send a message this conduct will not be accepted. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A special session on redistricting careened into a political standoff late Wednesday, as minority Senate Republicans used a parliamentary maneuver to block a floor vote on a Democratic-backed map. The late-night drama cast uncertainty on the possible end date of the special session, with Democrats facing the possibility of having to round up missing GOP senators or make political concessions. Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, accused Democrats of breaking promises in the redistricting process. This map is a travesty to our state, said Brandt, who made the motion for a Call of the Senate, which requires all unexcused senators to be brought into the chamber and for doors to be barred. When one GOP senator Sen. Crystal Diamond of Elephant Butte could not be immediately tracked down, Senate Democratic floor leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe ended the floor session without a vote, saying it would be resumed Thursday. The Senate redistricting plan had been in limbo for several days this week after a proposed amendment unpairing two incumbent GOP senators was advanced by a Senate committee in defiance of a delicate consensus reached by more than 20 tribal groups. But Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said earlier Wednesday that Senate Democrats were planning to back away from the amendment after lengthy closed-door meetings with Native American leaders. She also said top-ranking Democrats were able to reach an agreement with tribal leaders about minor changes to boundary lines in two Gallup-area Senate districts. Those districts are currently held by Sens. George Munoz and Shannon Pinto, who are both Gallup Democrats. Its really like a jigsaw puzzle you move one line and you have to adjust three or four districts, Stewart told the Journal. While Native American leaders said they were willing to make minor changes to the Gallup-area districts, they have adamantly opposed changes to the tribal consensus plan when it comes to two other Senate districts currently held by Senate GOP floor leader Greg Baca of Belen and Sen. Joshua Sanchez, R-Bosque. Regis Pecos, a member of the Cochiti Tribal Council and former Cochiti Pueblo governor, gathered with other tribal leaders in a Roundhouse corridor after Wednesdays fireworks in the Senate and exhorted them to stay strong. Our people deserve us to remain steadfast, Pecos said. Earlier in the day, he told reporters that protecting incumbents was not one of the priorities the independent Citizens Redistricting Committee was tasked with following in crafting maps for legislative consideration. He also said tribal leaders were more inclined to walk away as they did during a Sunday committee hearing than compromise on maps that would dilute Native American voices and reduce their ability to elect legislators who would focus on fixing education inequalities and other priorities. These are sovereign nations and not special interest groups, Pecos told reporters. But Republicans, who are outnumbered in the Senate by a 26-15 margin, argued the new proposed Senate map would hurt New Mexicos Hispanic population. They also lodged similar criticism against a plan to redraw the boundary lines of the states low-profile Public Education Commission, which passed the Senate on a party-line vote. I will continue to object to these maps that are based on diluting the Hispanic population and ignoring the Hispanic population in the state, Baca said. Meanwhile, the leader of a New Mexico open government group raised concerns about the Senates commitment to transparency or lack thereof during its redistricting discussions. Melanie Majors, the executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, told Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, in a Wednesday letter that voters want to see a more open process. We request that all negotiations and deliberations regarding redistricting be conducted in an open and transparent manner that is accessible to the public, Majors said in her letter. She also pointed out the independent redistricting commission, which lawmakers created during this years 60-day session, held public meetings and gathered input in more than 20 cities and towns around New Mexico in the run-up to the special session. Since the session began Dec. 6, legislators have already approved new political boundaries for New Mexicos three congressional districts for the next decade. That proposal was awaiting approval from the governor on Wednesday. OMAHA, Neb. At least five people died as a powerful and extremely unusual storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest amid unseasonably warm temperatures, spawning hurricane-force winds and possible tornadoes in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. In southeastern Minnesota, Olmsted County Sheriffs Lt. Lee Rossman said a 65-year-old man was killed Wednesday night when a 40-foot tree blew onto him outside his home. In southwestern Kansas, blinding dust kicked up by the storms Wednesday led to two separate crashes that killed three people, Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Mike Racy said. And in eastern Iowa, a semitrailer was struck by high winds and rolled onto its side Wednesday evening, killing the driver, the Iowa State Patrol confirmed. The storm shifted north of the Great Lakes into Canada on Thursday, with high winds, snow and hazardous conditions continuing in the upper Great Lakes region, the National Weather Service said. More than 190,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity Thursday afternoon in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kansas, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. At least two tornadoes were confirmed in southern Minnesota on Wednesday, the states first twisters on record in December. The small community of Hartland, Minnesota, might have been the hardest hit, with a reported 35 to 40 homes sustaining minor damage and a few businesses severely damaged, Freeborn County Emergency Management Director Rich Hall said. Winds reached at least 110 mph in Hartland, the National Weather Service said. Losses also included livestock. Dozens of cows were electrocuted at a dairy farm after a power pole landed on a milking barn in Newaygo County, in western Michigan. Tim Butler said his workers at the dairy survived the event, but at least 70 cows died. Dozens survived, but many were hurt bad, Butler said. The destructive weather system developed amid unprecedented warmth for December in the Plains and northern states. That included temperatures that rose to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) across southwestern Wisconsin on Wednesday evening. The Weather Company historian Chris Burt compared the heat to that of a warm July evening. I can say with some confidence that this event (the heat and tornadoes) is among the most (if not THE most) anomalous weather event ever on record for the Upper Midwest, Burt wrote in a Facebook post. The winds knocked down trees, tree limbs and nearly 150 power lines in northern and western Michigans Lower Peninsula. In the western Michigan village of Fruitport, high winds peeled back a portion of Edgewood Elementary Schools roof, leading officials to close all district schools Thursday. There were more than 20 tornado reports Wednesday in the Plains states, scattered mostly through eastern Nebraska and Iowa, based on preliminary reports to the Storm Prediction Center. The storm system led to the most reports of hurricane-force wind gusts 75 mph (120 kph) or higher on any day in the U.S. since 2004, the center said. 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 governors of Kansas and Iowa declared states of emergency. 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. On Wednesday, there were at least 59 reports of hurricane-force wind gusts regionwide, which exceeded the 53 recorded on Aug. 10, 2020, when a rare derecho wind storm struck Iowa, the Storm Prediction Center said. The destruction on Wednesday, however, was far less severe than from last years derecho, which caused billions of dollars of damage. The winds also whipped up dust that reduced visibility to zero in parts of Kansas and caused at least four semitrailers to blow over, leading officials to temporarily close much of Interstate 70, as well as all state highways in nine northwestern Kansas counties. Kansas deployed helicopters and other firefighting equipment to help smother at least a dozen wind-fueled wildfires in western and central counties, officials said Thursday. That dust and smoke was carried north by the storm and concentrated over parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, causing a dramatic drop in air quality in those areas late Wednesday. That spawned a glut of calls to already-taxed emergency dispatchers from people reporting the smell of smoke. The system blew into the Plains from Colorado, sending gale-force winds across a swath from New Mexico to Minnesota, Wisconsin and upper Michigan. The weather service recorded a gust of 107 mph (172 kph) Wednesday morning at Lamar, Colorado, and gusts of 100 mph in Russell, Kansas. Scientists say extreme weather events and warmer temperatures are more likely to occur with human-caused climate change. However, scientifically attributing a 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, 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. ___ Stafford reported from Liberty, Missouri. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Ken Miller in Oklahoma City; Terry Wallace in Dallas; Seth Borenstein in Washington D.C.; Jim Anderson in Denver and Grant Schulte in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report. NEW YORK The jury in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is expected to hear closing arguments Monday after defense lawyers said they only have a few remaining witnesses and could finish presenting their case as early as Friday. Maxwell, 59, was not among the remaining defense witnesses identified by lawyers as those who might still testify when U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan asked who remained to be called to the witness stand after testimony ended for the day Thursday. The defense began presenting its case earlier in the day as a former office worker for financier Jeffrey Epstein testified that she did not witness misconduct by Maxwell while working closely with her for six years. Never, Cimberly Espinosa, 55, responded when asked if she ever saw Maxwell or Epstein engaged in any misbehavior. Espinosa also testified about seeing a key accuser in the case who testified for the government as Jane to protect her privacy visiting Epsteins New York City office on Madison Avenue a few times in the late 1990s. She said Janes mother had told workers she was Epsteins goddaughter. Because of that, she was treated with utmost respect, Espinosa said. Janes interactions with Epstein gave her the impression it was a loving relationship, she added. Espinosa told the jury in Manhattan federal court she assisted Maxwell in managing Epsteins multiple high-end properties between 1996 and 2002. I looked up to her very much, she said. When defense attorney Christian Everdell finished his questioning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz tried to convince jurors that Espinosa was an irrelevant witness by asking her only whether she had ever worked at any of Epsteins homes. When Espinosa said she had not, Pomerantz said she had no other questions. The defense case began after the jury heard four women detail accusations, including Jane, that they were teens when they became victims of a sex-abuse scheme devised by Maxwell and Epstein. The British socialites attorneys are expected to make their case that Maxwell isnt the one to blame. The governments case lasted only two weeks and the defense indicated that it could finish on Friday or possibly spill into early Monday. Both sides streamlined their witness lists without revealing why, making the trial end well short of an original six-week estimate. The start of the defense case had already sparked the usual speculation about whether the high-profile defendant would take the witness stand in her own defense a gamble that is almost never taken. With no mention of Maxwell considering testifying, the judge said shell seek direct confirmation from Maxwell on Friday about her decision before the defense can rest. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges she acted as Epsteins chief enabler, recruiting and grooming young girls for him to abuse during sexual massages. Maxwell was once Epsteins girlfriend before becoming a trusted employee. Witnesses testified the pair exploited them between 1994 to 2004 at Epsteins homes, including an estate in Palm Beach, Florida; his posh Manhattan townhouse; and a Santa Fe, New Mexico, ranch. The defense has insisted that Maxwell is being made a scapegoat for alleged sex crimes by Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019. Her lawyers have sought to show that the accusers exaggerated Maxwells involvement at the behest of lawyers seeking payouts for the women from civil claims against the Epstein estate. The defense also tried Thursday to show that the recollections by the women are flawed. To support that argument, they relied on testimony from cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus, who has for decades studied false, repressed and unreliable memories. Loftus also testified last year at Harvey Weinsteins New York City rape trial. Maxwells lawyers are trying to cast doubts about the womens allegations after using cross-examination to highlight inconsistencies in some of their accounts. In some cases, the encounters the women were recalling happened more than two decades ago. As memories fade, Loftus said, people become more vulnerable to post-event information, including media reports that can distort what they remember. People can grow attached to false memories in a way that they can be confident about them, they can be emotional about them, even when theyre false, she added. PHOENIX 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. MINNEAPOLIS Kim Potter s police chief at the time she shot and killed Daunte Wright testified in her defense at her manslaughter trial on Thursday, calling her a fine officer and saying he saw no violation of policy in her actions at the scene. Tim Gannon resigned two days after the April 11 shooting, saying he believed he had to quit because I would not immediately fire Kim Potter. Potter resigned the same day. Potter, 49, is charged with manslaughter in Wrights death. She was expected to testify Friday. During an April 11 traffic stop in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, the 20-year-old Black motorist pulled away from officers as they were trying to arrest him and got back into his car before Potter shot him. Body-camera video captured Potter, who is white, shouting Ill tase you! and Taser, Taser, Taser! before she fired once. Under questioning from Potter attorney Earl Gray, Gannon testified that he viewed body-camera video immediately after the shooting and dashcam video recently, and when he had all the data in front of me, I saw no violation. Violation of what? Gray asked. Of policy, procedure or law, said Gannon, who also testified that he and Potter are friends. On cross-examination, prosecutor Matthew Frank asked Gannon whether it was consistent with policy for an officer to not know they have their firearm in their hand when they shoot it. Potters attorneys have argued that she would have been within her rights to use deadly force even if she had intended to do so because a fellow officer was endangered by Wrights attempt to flee. Gannon testified that it appeared to him from dashcam video that Sgt. Mychal Johnson, who was assisting in the stop, was leaning into Wrights car. He said it was his opinion that deadly force was reasonable. Gannon recalled his own experience in a situation where he was dragged by a car. He said he felt sheer terror and a feeling of simply trying to survive. Before resting their case, prosecutors called police witnesses to build their argument that Potter was an experienced officer who had been thoroughly trained in use of a Taser, including warnings about the danger of confusing one with a handgun. They have to prove recklessness or culpable negligence if they are to win a conviction on the manslaughter charges. The death of Wright set off angry demonstrations for several days in Brooklyn Center. It happened as another white officer, Derek Chauvin, was standing trial in nearby Minneapolis for the killing of George Floyd. Gannon said Potter was known for handling calls, acting professionally and writing good police reports. He testified that she volunteered with a group that helped families when officers were killed in the line of duty. She also worked with domestic abuse victims and was a field training officer. Earlier Thursday, the defense opened its case by calling to the stand use-of-force expert Stephen Ijames, a former assistant police chief in Springfield, Missouri. Ijames testified that officers were legally bound to arrest Wright after discovering he had a warrant for an outstanding weapons violation. Ijames, who said he wrote the Taser policy for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, also testified that it was very unlikely Wright could have driven away had Potter actually used her Taser. That contradicted a prosecution use-of-force expert who testified earlier that using either a gun or a Taser on Wright would have made things worse because he could have been incapacitated and his vehicle could have become a weapon. After Potter shot Wright, his car took off and crashed seconds later into an oncoming vehicle, hurting his passenger and someone in the other car. Ijames said a Taser is the most effective tool to incapacitate someone when used properly, second only to a gunshot to the head. He also said officers had to assume that Wright very likely could have a gun because he had one in the past, and that it would have been a dereliction of duty for them not to have tried to arrest him. But Ijames said deadly force is warranted if an officer is halfway inside a vehicle that is about to be put into drive. In Wrights case, two other officers were trying to get him out of the car when Potter shot him. He later agreed under questioning by the state that deadly force would not have been reasonable if an officer in Potters position didnt know that another officer couldnt get out of the car. The defense also called several character witnesses for Potter who described her as a peaceful person. Former Brooklyn Center Officer Colleen Fricke told the jury about her time working alongside Potter, saying she saw her as a mentor and friend. Fricke was asked to watch over Potter after the shooting. I saw her curled up in the corner of the room by herself and crying, Fricke said. After Fricke testified that Potter was law-abiding, prosecutor Joshua Larson said: In terms of following the law, though, generally speaking, youd agree that following the law on one day does not absolve you from accountability the next day. The defense objected, stopping that line of questioning. The case is being heard by a mostly white jury. ___ Associated Press writers Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, and Doug Glass in Minneapolis contributed to this report. ___ Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti The remaining members of a U.S. missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago in Haiti have been freed, Haitian police and the church group said Thursday. The spokesman for Haitis National Police, Gary Desrosiers, confirmed to The Associated Press that the hostages had been released, but did not immediately provide additional details. We glorify God for answered prayer the remaining 12 hostages are FREE! Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement. All 17 of our loved ones are now safe. A convoy of at least a dozen vehicles, including U.S. Embassy SUVs and Haitian National Police, brought the missionaries to the Port-au-Prince airport late Thursday afternoon from the missionary groups offices in Titanyen, north of the capital. Earlier, people at the Christian Aid Ministries campus could be seen hugging each other and smiling. News of their release spread quickly in and around Berlin, Ohio, where CAM is headquartered. Its an answer to prayer, said Ruth Miller, who was working at the front desk of the towns Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center. Berlin is in Holmes County, Ohios Amish heartland, and many Amish and Mennonites volunteer in CAM ministries and donate to it. Wes Kaufman, who attends a church where some CAM leaders also worship, said many congregations had heeded the mission groups recent request to devote three days to fasting and praying over the situation. Its amazing how God works, Kaufman said as dined with family in nearby Walnut Creek at Der Dutchman, a restaurant featuring traditional Amish and Mennonite fare. In Washington, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised the law enforcement work and Haitian officials who helped get the hostages freed. We welcomed reports that they are free and getting the care that they need after their ordeal, she said. The missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There were five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization. The gangs leader had threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands were met. Authorities have said 400 Mawozo was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasnt clear if that included the children. It remained unclear whether any ransom was paid or what efforts led to the hostages freedom. Carleton Horst, a member of Hart Dunkard Brethren Church in Hart, Michigan, whose members were among the hostages, said church members received a text message Thursday morning from someone connected to the situation that all of the hostages had been released. A mother and her five children, two of them adults, who belong to the church were among the hostages. Horst, who is friends with the family, said the church is rejoicing and hes elated that that portion of things is finally over, just praise the Lord for that. Were feeling great, said the Rev. Ron Marks, a minister at the church. From what I gathered, they were treated relatively well, Marks said later in a news conference held on Zoom. Two of the hostages were released in November, and three more earlier this month. They were not identified, but members of the Hart congregation told local media in Michigan that two were from Hart. In addition to Michigan, the hostages are from Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ontario, Canada, according to the missionary group. Today is the day we have been hoping for, praying for and working so hard to achieve, said Congressman Bill Huizenga, whose western Michigan congressional district includes Hart. I want to thank members of the hostage negotiation team for their diligence in securing the safe release of all the hostages. This is a great day for families in Michigan and across the nation who have been worried about the safety of their loved ones, Huizenga said. Christian Aid Ministries is mainly staffed and supported by conservative Anabaptists members of various Amish, Mennonite and related churches characterized by such things as plain dress, a belief in non-resistance to violence and separation from the dominant society. The organizations roots date to the 1980s, when it began working in then-communist Romania. It has since expanded worldwide but has been particularly active in Haiti. CAMs work ranges from starting churches and providing food, school supplies and other materials to those in need, to disaster relief and putting up billboards with evangelistic messages. ___ Smith reported from Berlin, Ohio. AP writer Anna Nichols in Lansing, Michigan, and Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that a woman and five children who belong to the church were hostages, not four children. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - The remaining members of a missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago have been freed.That's according both to the group itself and to Haitian police. The spokesman for Haitis National Police confirmed to The Associated Press that the remaining hostages had been released, but did not immediately provide additional details. Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries issued a statement saying that the 12 remaining hostages "are FREE! The missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There were five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted. CHICO, Calif. - Two former accounting professors and an accounting secretary at Chico State were charged in a criminal complaint that claims they used time, money, travel and other items fraudulently, District Attorney Mike Ramsey said. Ramsey said the two accounting professors are 53-year-old Timothy Kizirian and 56-year-old Jeffrey Decker. The accounting secretary is 55-year-old Ronda McGrath. An investigation into financial irregularities in the accounting department began in March 2019 by the university administration. The investigation revealed about $1.12 million was spent over several years on things like duplicate compensation, gift card purchases, fraudulent mileage claims, improper travel and personal expenses, Ramsey said. The Chico State University Police then began a criminal investigation and found claims of criminal fraud and manipulation that went back to at least 2013, according to Ramsey. These claims included fraudulent travel claims, theft of time, improper use of gift cards and meals, and manipulation of class size and student enrollment to get more compensation for accounting faculty, Ramsey said. Ramsey said the five charges that were filed represent just a small portion of the discovered activities by the three former faculty members. The charges are only where enough evidence was gathered by witnesses' statements and other evidence that was gathered during the investigation. Count one claims that Kizirian stole over $8,000 by fraudulently reporting he took no vacation or leave from the university when he was absent multiple times between April and June of 2017. Ramsey said he taught an accounting course at the University of California, Davis on multiple occasions and he was absent. Count two claims Kizirian defrauded Chico State of over $24,000 for travel, student placement activities and other expenses between Dec. 1, 2018, and Nov. 30, 2018. Ramsey said the expenses did not exist or were expenses for participants who were not present or connected to the activity. Count three claims fraudulent activity by Kizirian and McGrath over the accounting departments expense reports between May 2014 and December 2018, where over $9,000 in expenses were submitted to the university. Ramsey said investigators found them to be false or personal. Count four claims Kizirian and Decker defrauded over $1,000 in expense for an overnight student placement trip to Davis from May 6 to May 7, 2017. Ramsey said investigators determined the expenses were claimed for people who were not present. Count five claims Kizirian and Decker billed Chico State over $2,000 for a trip to Tucson, Arizona to attend a celebration of life for a former colleague on Sept. 30, 2016. Ramsey said emails showed the two professors were going to be a blast from the past and also discussed efforts to conceal the nature of the trip. Ramsey said the investigation revealed a lax oversight by Chico State. He said this included insufficient management and accounting controls and inadequate policy safeguards. These actions were not criminal or were cases with not enough evidence, Ramsey said. The three were suspended after the universitys investigation concluded last December. McGrath resigned in January, Decker resigned in August, and Kizirian was dismissed by the university in June. Kizirian is contesting the dismissal and a board is expected to rule on it next month. The three former Chico State employees could face three to five years and eight months in county jail. The initial arraignment is on Jan. 6 and the investigation is ongoing. Linda, Calif.- A man found guilty of shooting a corn salesman was sentenced to 20 years to life in Yuba County Superior Court Monday. Trew Smith, 18, and Jamarea Markham-Love, 16, tried to rob the well-known salesman called the "Elotero" on Dec. 19, 2020, at the College View Apartments on North Beale Rd. The "Elotero" was selling corn on the cob and other treats from his street vendor cart at the time of the assault. When the victim tried to resist, Smith fired a 9mm semiautomatic pistol at the salesman's chest. The "Elotero" survived the murder attempt but still suffers pain and other complications from damage to their lungs. Markham-Love was almost 17 at the time of the assault and was sentenced to two years in prison after being tried as an adult for prior criminal history. Markham-Love admitted to the attempted robbery and assault to detectives. SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - Portions of Interstate-5 will remain closed due to winter weather without an expected time for them to open back up. Northbound Interstate-5 has been closed at Fawndale Rd. since around 1:20 p.m. due to rain and snow making it difficult to drive according to Caltrans. Caltrans also said that the southbound lanes are closed at Edgewood, South Weed, And Lakehead due to multiple big rigs and other vehicles being stuck in the snow and blocking lanes. Luckily, were probably going to see the end of this storm into tomorrow morning, but we always try to get the message out early that when storms like this do come into place, we advise people not travel for this reason, Caltrans District 2 Public Information Officer Hayleigh Pike said. Caltrans recommends that people do not travel during this weather, but if you do to be prepared to deal with the weather. Carry chains, be prepared for road closures, be prepared for long wait times, have an emergency supply kit in your vehicle, dress warm, have blankets, Pike said. We just dont really ever know what youre going to come into contact with up in these hills. Most people turned around at the Fawndale exit when they reached the road closure, but some people like Kathy Rogers and her family waited for over three hours to see if Interstate-5 would open soon. We have blankets and pillows with us, and were smart enough to travel with snacks, so we have snacks too, Rogers said. So, were watching the little cameras of the road to see if theyre opening but it doesnt look promising. Rogers and her family are from Ashland, Oregon and were taking a trip to Southern California. While they expected to be back in Oregon soon, the Rogers family had to change plans at home to make sure their pets are fed and cared for. We had a pet sitter and she left this morning, so we have to get other friends to come over and feed the animals, and turn on the lights, and theyll just hang out all night without us, Rogers said. Soon after talking with Action News Now, the Rogers family turned around and booked a hotel in Redding for the night. Finalists from 14 countries and regions have been announced for the new One Asia Creative Awards 2021, produced by The One Club Asia. Leading the list of agencies with the most finalists selections is Ogilvy Australia Melbourne with 12, followed by Special Group Auckland with 11, Ogilvy Mumbai with eight, and M&C Saatchi Sydney with seven. The entry with the most finalists selections is Meddle in the New Zealand Election by Special Group Auckland on behalf of Every Kiwi Vote Counts with 11. Uni-form for Vogue by Ogilvy Taiwan and Tuna Scope 2020 by DentsuTokyo for Kura Sushi have six finalists each. Tied with five finalists each are Naming the Invisible by Digital Birth Registration for Telenor Pakistan by Ogilvy Pakistan Islamabad, and Pizza Hut x IKEA SAVA by Ogilvy Hong Kong for Pizza Hut Hong Kong. Australia leads the way with 26 finalists entries, followed by Mainland China with 17, India and Taiwan tied with 13, and Japan and New Zealand both with 11. The complete list of One Asia 2021 finalists entries can be viewed here. All finalists will win either One Asia Gold, Silver, Bronze or Merit awards, to be announced during 2022 Creative Week Shanghai. One Asia 2021 rankings will also be announced at that time, identifying Agency of the Year, Client/Brand of the Year, Network of the Year, Independent Agency of the Year, Internal/In-House Agency of the Year and Production Company of the Year, as well the other top-scoring entrants determined by the number of Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit awards won this year. A jury of more than 70 top creatives from 17 APAC countries and regions as well as a handful of international creative leaders judged this years entries. This is the second year that we have extended our scope to the Asia Pacific region, and have received brilliant ideas and amazingly crafted works from 17 countries and regions, said Ma Chao, Chief Representative for what is now known as The One Club Asia office. Although the whole world is still under the shadow of the pandemic, what was different this year is more positive and creative ideas have been produced to change the situation of a brand, a business, or a commercial experience," he added. "Quarantine didnt stop people from communicating with each other, and it boosted the development of digital technology. This is truly inspiring, and we believe creativity and innovation are the solution to make the world a better place. The One Club Greater China office was founded in 2000, hosting a series of youth events in China, and added The One Show Greater China Awards and related Creative Week program seven years ago. In the past 20 years, the team has focused on promoting creativity in the region, and greater communications between Greater China and the global industry. This expanded focus prompted the office to rebrand this year as The One Club Asia. The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Type Directors Club Communication Design and Typeface Designawards, Young Guns and Creative Week, is the world's foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the global creative community. The One Show is a top global awards show for advertising, design and digital marketing, focusing on the creativity of ideas and quality of execution. Established in 1921, the global ADC Annual Awards is the worlds longest continuously running creative award for advertising and design, honoring excellence in craft, design and innovation. Creative Week takes place in June, and is the preeminent festival celebrating the intersection of advertising and the arts. Gaurav Jeet Singh, General Manager Media-South Asia at Unilever, is slated to join Facebook India as Director Partnerships. Singh has been in charge of delivering media-attributable business growth across all Unilever brands and categories in South Asia. He is recognised for developing media methods to push customers in DTC (direct to consumer), e-commerce, and traditional trade (online & offline sales). According to his LinkedIn page, Singh has also led campaigns for the business on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and new OTT platforms. Prior to his present position, he was the Marketing Manager- Pureit at Unilever, where he was responsible for the category P&L and created Direct to Consumer (DTC) businesses. Prior to that, he had numerous sales leadership roles at Unilever, where he led high-performing sales teams and established a premium beauty sales system. Licious has announced the appointment of Sanket Venkatesh Prabhu as the Vice President Research & Development (R&D). Driven by the purpose of adding value across the three dimensions of People, Planet and Profit through sustainable innovations, Sanket will manage and direct the R&D operations at Licious to capitalize on potential new products. Sanket has 18+ years of experience in the food industry, working with global organizations, such as Agritechnology, Novozymes and Doehler, across diverse verticals, including Research & Innovation, Development & Application and Techno-Commercial functions. His areas of expertise entail food & nutrition, meat science & technology, bakery, beverages, plant-based & single cell proteins, dairy, reaction flavours & functional foods. Joe Manavalan, Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Licious, said: We are delighted to welcome Sanket on board. In the sixth year of operations, Licious has scaled new heights and the hiring has kept pace with our growth. Sankets professional expertise and experience of having lived, worked and travelled extensively across Europe, Asia and Australia will help enhance our product development efforts, as we continue to deliver high-quality and superior animal protein products to our growing clientele across the country. Sanket Venkatesh Prabhu, VP R&D, Licious, stated: Im excited to join Licious, the first Indian Unicorn to deliver a delightful meat buying experience in a primarily unorganised and fragmented industry. This is a great opportunity for me to work in a vibrant culture, interact with new functions and teams, and to step out of my comfort zone. I look forward to a remarkable journey of new learning and adventures, as we regionalize customer-specific products through renovation and innovation. Since its inception in 2015, Licious has evolved into Indias largest tech-first full-stacked D2C fresh meat and seafood brand. The Bengaluru-based brand has adopted 100% traceable and sustainable sourcing practices, creating quality benchmarks for the industry. Earlier this year, it became Indias first D2C unicorn. Licious also has the distinction of being the first meat and seafood brand from India to be certified with FSSC22000 one of the highest food safety certifications in the world. Built on the farm-to-fork business model, it controls the entire supply chain, powered by stringent cold chain control to maintain the quality and freshness of products from the time of procurement, processing and storage until the time it reaches the end consumer. The brand is synonymous with a smooth, trust-worthy, and hassle-free meat and seafood shopping experience. Currently, Licious has 5000+ employees and a strong presence across 14 Indian markets, namely Bengaluru, Hyderabad, NCR, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Kochi, Puducherry, Vizag, Vijayawada and Kolkata. The brand is looking to consolidate its presence across India, strengthen its omnichannel business model, expand to global markets, and provide innovative solutions to its rapidly growing customer base. MG Motor India has announced its foray into the non-fungible token (NFT). With this, the British brand has become the first carmaker in India to launch a collection of NFTs. The MG NFT collection will go on sale starting 28th December, 12 Noon onwards, with 1111 units of digital creatives as part of the launch collection. The automaker will introduce its maiden NFT on KoineArths NgageN platform that has been especially customised for MG' transactions. Since its inception, MG Motor has focused on four core pillars (diversity, experience, community, and innovation). Building on its beliefs, MGs NFTs will be categorised into 4 C segments: Collectables, Community & diversity, Collaborative art, and CaaP (Car-as-a-Platform). Speaking on the announcement, Gaurav Gupta MG Motor India, said, As an Auto-Tech brand, innovation has always been a driving force for MG. With this new initiative, we are taking a step to socialise NFTs. As this evolves it is set to bring MG owners, fans, MGCC members and the wider community together to celebrate and own invaluable digital creatives in its numerous forms. We are extending our existing relationship with KoineArth for our foray into NFT and the proceeds from this maiden sale will go towards supporting community service under MG SEWA." Praphul Chandra- Founder, KoineArth, said, Our association with MG Motor in its debut voyage into the NFT is an exciting moment for us. At KoineArth, we are committed to creating immortal legacies for the most-loved brands through credible NFTs. Our collection with MG will be INR-based as well as GST-compliant, with a unique certificate of authentication for buyers using blockchain technology. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with the brand and building on NFT momentum." NFTs will be the veritable key to the future of collaborative technology. The Nagpur edition of the iconic Lokmat newspaper is celebrating its golden jubilee year. Celebrated for its ground breaking journalism and tireless contributions to the Indian news ecosystem, the Lokmat group has played an influential role in the Indian growth story. The strength of the Lokmat group lies in the fact that they have a strong presence, not just at a larger state level but also a very strong connection regionally through its city editions. The network has a direct impact on people's lives through its dedicated editions in all major cities. Shri Vijay Darda, Chairman, The Lokmat Media Group said, We are overjoyed to be witnessing this extraordinary day. 50 years is a lot in terms of time but what we are truly celebrating is the passion, dedication and excellence that Lokmat Nagpur has created in this journey. We are proud of how far we have come and we are excited for the future. Shri Rajendra Darda, Editor in Chief, Lokmat Media group said, As I reflect upon this five-decade long legacy of Lokmat Nagpur, I am inspired by the devotion that has gone into making Lokmat not just a newspaper but a platform. A platform committed to being the voice of the people and constantly standing up for what is right. On this remarkable occasion, the group celebrates the relentless efforts and unwavering dedication of every individual that is involved in their journey of taking high-quality journalism to the masses and amplifying the voice of the people over the years. Today, Lokmat Media Group is a prominent multimedia platform media organisation with interests in publishing, broadcast, digital channels (Lokmat News, Lokmat Sakhi, Lokmat Bhakti, Lokmat Filmy) community, and sports. Lokmats experiential marketing division Taplight organizes various annual properties like Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year, Lokmat Most Stylish, Lokmat Women Summit, Lokmat Infra Conclave, Lokmat Digital Influencer Awards, Lokmat Sarpanch Awards, Lokmat Parliamentary Awards etc. which are the benchmarks in their respective categories. It employs about 3,000 people and has a network of offices spread across India. With a combined readership of 2.56 Cr, the Lokmat Media Group publishes India's No. 1 Marathi daily Lokmat, Lokmat Samachar, and Lokmat Times (source: All India, Total readership, IRS 2019, Q4). The group extends its gratitude to the numerous individuals who have dedicated their life to serving the greater good. While 50 years is an impressive milestone, it is only one of the many in the long term story of the glorious legacy that the group aspires to create. Netflix has slashed the rates of its streaming services in India for the first time since it debuted in the South Asian country five years ago. On Tuesday, the streaming services basic plan, which allows users to watch its content on a single device, was reduced by 60% to Rs 199 per month. The price of its mobile-only plan has been reduced by a quarter to Rs 149, with the overall pricing of other plans reducing from 18% to 60%. The slashed pricing was the real Money Heist, Netflix quipped in a release, referring to one of its famous television series. So, what does it mean for the Indian OTT sector? What are the implications? Will other players follow suit by slashing prices? Dr Sandeep Goyal, MD, Rediffusion, opined that lower rates mean a wider audience and it lowers entry barriers. Netflixs move will sooner rather than later be emulated by competition as in such strategies the leader sets the tone. The market will become more crowded before the fittest survive, he said. Sumit Rastogi, Director of Business Development, OTTera, pointed out, India is a price-conscious market, I am sure Netflix has its own focused approach for what they are planning ahead. India is already drifting towards local content now. So, players like ZEE or Sony, or most of the regional-language players, have their own OTT playground in India, and the wave is also trending on that side. So, the strategy behind Netflixs price point is just to garner more numbers in the long run. If you talk about the content, its already A-class. So maybe, they are also trying to attract Tier 2 and Tier 3 audiences towards their platform. Binda Dey, Chief Marketing Officer, Kolkata Knight Riders, maintained that Netflix has slashed the price at the right time. According to him, content consumption behaviour has rapidly changed over the last two years in India. We have come a long way from consuming only free content on digital to now having more than one OTT app on the mobile with content behind payment walls or some subscription fee. People are now ready to pay for good quality content. The price slash by Netflix comes at the right time to invite a new audience to Netflix. With the investments in developing original content in regional languages in India, it is essential to growing the subscription base. Even after the price slash, Netflix remains one of the most premium subscription-based OTT services in India; but is now more competitive, Dey added. While explaining how this is a notable global trend, Elara Capitals Karan Taurani said, We believe the lowering of pricing will increase competition in an already fragmented video OTT market with more than 60 apps; this also would lead to a surge in content cost, given that global giants have deep pockets to invest into more large-scale content. Platforms such as Netflix, Amazon and Disney have the advantage of asset-sweating, which helps them invest heavily into large-budget shows that can be monetised globally, due to their effective distribution mechanism and customer recall. Netflix commands a share of ~40% in Indias SVOD market. Indias OTT market is currently dominated by advertising-based video on demand (AVOD); however, in the medium to long term, there would be a change in customer viewing habits, which is likely to improve willingness to pay for large-scale content for an ad-free experience. On the possibility of other players following suit by slashing their prices, Uday Sodhi, Partner, Kurate Digital, remarked, All the players will need to relook at pricing and content strategy now. This move by Netflix means they will double down on local content creation also and go after more mass-based content and look at a larger regional footprint. The existing OTT players will need to rethink their strategy and up their investments in content and user experience. According to him, Netflix is changing gears and will not go after the huge Indian mobile consumer segment. With aggressive pricing on the mobile and SD pack of 149 and 199, they are obviously looking at a market share gain in the Indian market. Other OTT players will have to deliver more value, better user experience, and much better content if they have to compete with Netflix, he said. Sodhi does not subscribe to the view that the Indian market is getting crowded or fragmented. It is still in the high growth phase and will get many more new interesting players in the next year. It is a great time for the OTT content industry and viewers, he concluded. Purplle.com, one of Indias largest online beauty destinations, today announced the acquisition of globally acclaimed cosmetics and skincare brand, FACES CANADA. The brand will join Purplles cohort of owned and acquired beauty brands including, Good Vibes, Carmesi, and NYbae. Boasting distinct Canadian legacy of more than 40 years, FACES CANADA has grown to receive global recognition for their product quality, available across Asian, European, and North American markets. With this acquisition, Purplle will expand its consumer offerings with a superior international makeup portfolio. Speaking on the occasion, Manish Taneja, Cofounder and CEO Purplle.com said, We are pleased to welcome FACES CANADA to the Purplle family. The brand perfectly embodies the philosophy that we truly stand by, making the best of beauty accessible to all. With a strong existing portfolio, this acquisition will elevate our makeup portfolio with international high-quality innovative products. With the largest acquisition of a makeup brand by a new age beauty company in India, we look forward to a sustained partnership. We will jointly scale to the next level tapping diverse set of consumers. Kunal Gupta, CEO, FACES CANADA, said, We are excited to be part of the Purplle family and strengthen their makeup portfolio. Inspired by the passion and vision of Purplle.com, their position, equity, reach and stability in the beauty e-commerce space will enable FACES CANADA to scale newer heights. Through this partnership, we aim to amplify our shared values, resources and reach untapped pockets of the country. The synergy will further our agenda of building the most comfortable International quality cosmetics accessible for Indian consumers, and provide an enhanced personalised beauty experience. FACES CANADA being one of Indias largest makeup brand in the country offers an exclusive array of high-quality makeup and skincare products. The products are cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and crafted to bring comfort to every skin type and tone, complexion, and texture. FACES CANADA will continue to operate independently and extend its existing portfolio under Purplle.com. With the growth in customer personalization, this acquisition further strengthens Purplles footprint offering a comprehensive collection of unique and differentiated products. Purplle closed $140Mn Series D funding from Premji Invest, Kedaara Capital, Sequoia Capital India, and Blume Ventures in 2021, accelerating the companys ambition to be a multibillion-dollar company. Purplle has a strong catalogue with 1000+ brands and 50,000 offerings, across categories including, makeup, skincare, haircare, personal care, fragrances, and grooming appliances. The platform has over 7 million monthly active users and expects to end financial year 21-22 with an annualised GMV run rate of 1400 Cr. Radico Khaitan, under the umbrella of Spirit of Victory, has launched an animated video series titled '1971 War Chronicles' to honour and celebrate the lesser-known gallant stories of our brave Indian warriors during the sequence of battles fought during the 1971 India-Pakistan War. On the eve of December 3, 1971, Pakistan began a series of air raids on India, officially kicking off the third Indo-Pak War. Pakistan army chief Lt Gen Niazi surrendered to Lt Gen Aurora with 93,000 regular and paramilitary forces on December 16, at 16:30 hrs. The war concluded with India's full triumph. This conflict resulted in the establishment of a new country, Bangladesh. The series is divided into five episodes: The Battle of Basantar (Jammu), the Battle of Longewala (Bhuj), the Battle of Hilli (East Pakistan), Operation Trident (Naval Operation), and The Tangail Airdrop (Yamuna Bridge Dacca). The animated series tells a story of these five battles that defined the war as well as India's victory. Moreover, it sheds light on the lesser-known details surrounding these conflicts and how these brave soldiers went above and beyond their call of duty to bring glory to our country. Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Amar Sinha, COO, Radico Khaitan said, We created a premium rum 1965 Spirit of Victory as first product under the umbrella of Spirit of Victory product range four years ago as a means of expressing our appreciation to the soldiers, martyrs, and their families, and it was wholeheartedly received by the armed forces. We are now extending our efforts to the next war in the string of victory wars with Pakistan. We decided to commemorate and honour their sacrifices during the 1971 Indo-Pak War by producing an animated video series on the digital platform, so that it not only reaches a significant proportion of individuals but also make the youth aware of our warriors' noble acts of patriotism. This series represents a small effort to pay tribute to their bravery and devotion to the country. He also added, Moreover, Radico Khaitan previously created a similar animated video series on the 1965 War Chronicles to pay tribute to raise awareness about little-known facts of the war and the sacrifices made by our soldiers. The teaser launched on Youtube has garnered over 2, 50, 000 views and the episodes are being telecast on all the digital platforms of the brand. In the auto component business for the last 50 years, and a pioneer in the auto-cables and Gear Shifters category, Remsons Industries unveiled its new logo & brand identity at a function recently, attended by its leadership teams across the country at Mariott Chakan. In close proximity to its latest state-of-the-art Manufacturing facility, built on 120000 square feet of land area, at Chakan, Pune. Remsons has been on an aggressive growth trajectory over the last few years, on the back of various initiatives. With Professional management at the helm, the company has set in motion various changes to make the transition from being primarily a manufacturer of auto-control cables and gear shifters to an integrated auto-component manufacturer with value added product lines like, Brake assemblies, Pedal boxes, Jacks, winches and more. Remsons has adopted various change management processes to restructure the organisation, expanded to international geographies, upgraded current manufacturing facilities and invested in new state-of-the art manufacturing units. Significant investments have been made on Research & Development, internal processes, recruiting, training & skilling up talent across functions. The employee friendly culture of the organisation is being taken to the next level by making people the fulcrum of the companys growth aspirations and thereby make Remsons a great place to work. Group CEO Amit Srivastava, with over 25 years of experience of working with large Corporate Houses in the automotive industry, and driving the change at Remsons Industries over the last few years, says We have been focussed on the agenda to pitchfork Remsons Industries into the next orbit of growth. We have put in place various measures to upgrade the key pillars of our company. People, Structures & Technology. An important peg in this journey is the brand interface. It needed a refresh, in line with our overall intent and business vision. We could not have found a better partner than Arijit Ray, CEO & Founder, The Unlock Company, who led his team, collaborated with us to harmonise our brand ethos with our future ambition to create a refreshing brand logo identity and philosophy. The distinctiveness of the logo along with the philosophy of LETS MAKE GREAT, gives us the right brand platform to leapfrog into the future. Executive Director, Rahul Kejriwal said: While it is important to push ahead on our resolve to move onto the next orbit of growth, it was important to get the right brand voice. We were looking at an agency partner who could understand our culture, intrinsic DNA, the foundations that built our company and then create our new logo and brand philosophy Arijit Ray, CEO & Founder, The Unlock Company said: We are truly privileged to be working with Remsons Industries. It is the freedom and open slate we got from the leadership team at Remsons, that helped us take the creative leap. The centrepiece of our strategy was to create a distinctive logo and make it represent a refreshing brand attitude. The handcrafted specially designed typography represents the solidity, the sharpness of intent & commitment to technology of the organisation. It brings to light the interconnectedness each automotive part has to the whole and the seamlessness with which Remsons intends to harmonise its business ambitions with the vision and aspirations of its customers, partners, employees and society at large. In tandem with the LETS MAKE GREAT proposition, that represents the intrinsic drive of the company to strive for greatness, no matter what, we have probably been able to strike the sweet spot of finding the right space of blending the intrinsic spirit of the organisation and its future aspirations. We wanted the brand to stay away from the conventional identifiers of the category by giving it a distinctive attitude. We are quite confident that this logo identity and communication will create a new benchmark in the B2B space. Lionsgate Play, the leading streaming platform with premium, bold edgy and high on drama content has announced the release of their action-comedy film Hitmans Wifes Bodyguard. The American action-comedy film directed by Patrick Hughes, starring Salma Hayek, Ryan Reynolds and Samuel Jackson is all set to release on Friday, 17th December 2021 exclusively on Lionsgate Play. Lionsgate Play app can be downloaded on Google Play Store, Apple app store and Amazon Firestick at a monthly and yearly subscription of INR 149 and INR 499 respectively. In this sequel to the Hitmans Bodyguard which was a 2017 hit, the world's most lethal odd couple - bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) and hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) come together for another life-threatening mission. Being unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius's even more volatile wife, the infamous international con artist Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek). As Bryce is driven over the edge by his two most dangerous protectees, the trio get in over their heads in a global plot and soon find that they are all that stand between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman (Antonio Banderas). Also, you can watch Hitmans Bodyguard on Lionsgate Play app. Known for its curated content, Lionsgate Play recently premiered their first Hindi Indian original Hiccups and Hookups. The bold and edgy streaming platform has a library full of critically acclaimed movies such as Love Life, Dublin Murders, Show Trial, Vigil, WeWork to name a few. Lionsgate has been expanding its content library with titles releasing every Friday and localizing content based on the audience preferences. Currently, the platform has content available in six local languages like Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bhojpuri. State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation Bern, 16.12.2021 - Switzerland is a member of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which has served since 1996 as a forum for exchange between Europe and Asia to address economic, political, educational, cultural, environmental and climate issues. Education and training has been one of the priority areas on the agenda since 2006 and has been discussed in detail at regular ministerial meetings since 2008. On 15 December, the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME) was held online. The host was Thailand. ASEM is designed to serve as an informal platform to foster dialogue between European and Asian states. The aim of the ministerial talks and biennial summits is to exchange views on the challenges and problems facing both continents. ASEM currently comprises the EU Member States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, representatives of the European Union as well as 21 Asian states and the ASEAN Secretariat. The 8th meeting of education ministers was held online on 15 December and was opened by the Thai Minister of Education, Treenuch Thienthong. Switzerland was represented by the Vice Director of SERI, Silvia Studinger. The theme of the meeting was 'ASEM Education 2030: On our way to a resilient, prosperous and sustainable future'. The aim was to exchange views on existing and future initiatives and projects, as well as to support the ASEM Education 2030 Strategy and the corresponding Action Plan. The four strategic objectives of the ASEM Education 2030 Strategy form the basis for cooperation in this decade. They include promoting inclusive and balanced mobility and exchanges between Asia and Europe, promoting lifelong learning (including vocational education and training), promoting skills development, and increasing transparency and mutual understanding in the areas of recognition, validation and quality assurance. Participants also underlined the importance of these strategic objectives to ensure sustainable development, and of digitalisation to promote exchanges and cooperation between Asia and Europe. Address for enquiries State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI Communication medien@sbfi.admin.ch T+41 58 462 96 90 Publisher State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation http://www.sbfi.admin.ch True leadership requires confidence. Period. This is something that must be exhibited by leaders, and also something that their followers must feel about them. In other words, a leader must exhibit confidence in their decisions, their speech, and their body language. Also, their followers must feel confident in the capabilities, intellect, and presence of their leader. Without both aspects, the leaders effectiveness will crumble. In the case of Joe Biden, he has neither. Despite the support of mainstream media, Biden's poll numbers continue to slip. This slippage seemed to gain steam back in August, when his numbers took a turn for the worst after the debacle that was the Afghanistan withdrawal. I would argue that his numbers, compounded by the Kamala Harris leadership vacuum, are systemic of the American publics newfound understanding of who Biden really is as their President. For months during the 2020 campaign, Biden was hidden away from the public, protected from tough questions, and insulated from the rigors of being constantly on the go. Today, however, weve seen nearly a year of his leadership presence, or more appropriately the lack thereof. For months, Biden seemed to avoid press conferences, instead depending on scripted outings. And still today he limits taking questions from the press, or speaking extemporaneously in front of a microphone. As President, Biden can no longer ignore the limelight. Hes the leader of the free world, for goodness sake. People expect him to say something, anything, to lead, to build confidence. Yet his absence has become notorious. In fact, its systemic of an administration that seems to be hiding from itself. But when Biden does make an appearance, he seems fragile, a man who is longer in top form. Perhaps this is why his handlers script his outings and limit exposure to the media, because they know he cant handle the pressure. Ultimately, this has created an environment where people are no longer confident in his abilities to lead the nation. This has come about not just because of his horrible job with Afghanistan, but also because of the concerning nature of his speech and body language. Just watch a video of him interacting with political leaders, walking to and from Marine One, or any other public outing. It would seem to most people, including just about everyone I talk to, that he isnt all there. Back in August, former congressman, Dr. Greg Ganske wrote a column about Bidens mental acuity and his obvious degradation. One aspect in particular that he mentions are the changes in his gait, with little normal arm motion. His body language is a clear indicator to Dr. Ganske that something is wrong. Its also evident to me of Bidens fragility. He reminds me of a feeble old man. It doesnt give me any joy to say this. In fact, it pains me to think this, because regardless of politics, he is our President. I want our President to succeed for the American people; but to think that our President isnt completely there erodes any confidence in my mind of his ability to succeed. Now consider the confidence exuded by Barack Obama after eight years of being president. His farewell address, if you can look past the years of horrible policy and liberal progressivism, was uplifting and encouraging, as far as political speeches go. Additionally, more than any other act it cemented the confidence of the American public in his abilities as a leader. This confidence in speech and demeanor is what helped him win the presidency in the first place, to be reelected, and helped push through key legislation. His confidence was electrifying. This is a great lesson for future political leaders. The same can be said for Donald Trump. He of all people is one of the most self-confident people in the world. This confidence propelled a businessman with no political experience into the Oval Office, of course his household name recognition definitely helped. However, when you look back at his blistering pace during the 2016 campaign where he held over 300 rallies and spoke directly to over 1 million people, not to mention the countless millions who viewed his rallies on TV or via the web, its not surprising to see how he tipped the scales against Hillary Clinton. His message to make America great again was a confidence boost that the American public couldnt ignore. Both Obama and Trump stand in direct opposition to Bidens approach to presidential leadership. Biden does not engage often with the public or press, he doesnt speak with confidence or act with surety of action as his predecessors did; rather Biden avoids this type of exposure at all costs. This leaves a glaring void of leadership, and where theres a void it is filled with the publics doubt. This all leads to an environment where the American public is not confident in their commander-in-chief. There is little to feel confident about. Not only have things gone worse with COVID, a top-tier campaign issue for Biden, but he has also botched the Afghanistan withdrawal, has been unable to stop the border crisis, address rising gas prices, or even stem the tide of supply chain issues. When you take a step back and look at what he has and hasnt accomplished, and add Harris foibles into the mix, the Biden administration gives little to be confident about. In the end, the American public is forgiving and willing to give their president the benefit of the doubt, but they need to be constantly reassured that their commander-in-chief is confident in his abilities to lead, make tough decisions, protect them, and secure their freedoms. Failure to lift up the American publics outlook in these areas will undermine any presidency. To help stop the bleeding, Biden must build confidence by appearing in public, answering tough questions, speaking coherently, and appearing strong with world leaders. Unfortunately, Im not sure hes capable of doing this. Ultimately, a leaders success is dependent upon his ability to be confident. This is a critical maxim for every leader, and unfortunately for Biden it is his Achilles heel. Jason D. Bland is the founder of Signet Leadership, an organizational leadership consulting and coaching firm. He is a military veteran and experienced leader of organizational operations in both the military and civilian sectors. Jason is also a doctoral student at Regent University, studying Strategic Leadership. He writes about Christian leadership and its impact on society, as well as providing social and political commentary from a Christ-centered worldview. If you would like to connect with Jason he can be reached via email, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Image: Gage Skidmore To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. According to a Nov. 19, 2021 report, "an Egyptian court sentenced an 80-year-old-intellectual earlier this week to five years in prison over his remarks on the early Islamic conquests." Ahmed Abdu' Maher, a high-profile lawyer, expert on Islam, and author of fourteen books on Islamic history and jurisprudence, was found guilty of "contempt of Islam, stirring up sectarian strife and posing a threat to the national unity." One of Maher's chief "crimes" is his view on the seventh- and eighth-century Arab conquests a view based on a close and correct reading of both Muslim and non-Muslim sources: that Arabs conquerors invaded non-Muslim regions specifically the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain and engaged in atrocity after atrocity; that, while "spreading Islam" was the motive Islamic later historiography attributed to the Arabs, their true actions belied a lust for rape and rapine; and that they overthrew and supplanted much more advanced societies, to the region's lasting regret. Put differently, Maher's views are identical to those presented in Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, particularly its first three chapters, which focus on the early Arab conquests. As the Nov. 19 report continues: Maher claimed in many of his speeches, writings, and TV appearances, that the early Islamic conquests were "military invasions", and called on Egypt's top Islamic institution Al-Azhar to apologise on behalf of the Prophet Muhammad's companions who led the raids. According to Maher, those "invasions aimed to enslave women rather than spread Islam" around the world. Maher's position naturally goes counter to the mainstream Islamic presentation of the early Arab conquests, which are referred to as futuhat literally, "openings" for the light of Islam to enter (or fatah in the singular, as the Palestinian group tellingly calls itself). In this context, every land ever invaded or seized by Muslims was done "altruistically" to bring Islam to wayward infidels, who are seen as the aggressors for unjustly resisting Islam. Or, in the words of an article titled "The Wisdom of Jihad," published by Islam Question and Answer, jihad does not "only and simply mean to kill non-Muslims"; rather, "[t]he kuffaar [non-Muslims] whom we fight will themselves benefit from jihad. We strive against them and fight them so that they will enter the religion of Allah which is acceptable to Him, which will lead to their salvation in this world and in the Hereafter." Maher made his position especially well known back in early 2017, when the Muslim world was in an uproar after the announcement of President Donald Trump's "Muslim ban" (as referred to by Trump's woke enemies). Then, Maher had posted a video on YouTube (since removed, naturally, though not before I had translated relevant excerpts, which follow): Friends, in regards to ... Donald Trump, we wanted to ask our brothers the fuqaha [jurists of Islamic law] and the ulema [scholars of Islam] a question: if this man ... were to coerce, through the power of arms, the greater majority of Muslims living in America ... to become Christians, or pay jizya, otherwise he takes over their homes, kills their men and enslaves their women and girls, and sells them on slave markets; if he were to do all this, would he be considered a racist and a terrorist or not? Of course, I'm just hypothesizing, and know that the Bible and its religion do not promote such things, but let's just assume: Would he be a racist or not? Would he be a terrorist or not? How then [when one considers] that we have in our Islamic jurisprudence, which you teach us, and tell us that all the imams have agreed on, that the Islamic openings [i.e., conquests] are the way to disseminate Islam? This word "openings" [futuhat] we must be sensitive to it! The Islamic openings mean swords and killing. The Islamic openings, through which homes, fortresses, and territories were devastated, these ... [are part of] an Islam which you try to make us follow. So I wonder O sheikh, O leader of this or that Islamic center in NY, would you like to see this done to your wife and daughter? Would you this or that sheikh accept that this be done to your children? That your daughter goes to this fighter [as a slave], your son to this fighter, a fifth [of booty] goes to the caliph and so forth? I mean, isn't this what you refer to as the Sharia of Allah? ... So let's think about things in an effort to discern what's right and what's wrong. Simply put, Maher asked the clerics of Islam what, precisely, they were complaining about. All that Trump had done is ban immigration from Muslim nations closely associated with terrorism. What if he actually treated Muslims in America the way Muslims have always treated non-Muslims under their authority the way Islamic law, sharia, demands that is, in a manner far worse than simply banning immigration from terrorist nations in the interest of self-preservation? For having such views and asking such questions, Maher has just been sentenced to five years in prison the maximum penalty in accordance with Article 98 F of the Egyptian penal code, which states: Detention for a period of not less than six months and not exceeding five years, or paying a fine of not less than five hundred pounds and not exceeding one thousand pounds shall be the penalty inflicted on whoever exploits and uses the religion in advocating and propagating by talk or in writing, or by any other method, extremist thoughts with the aim of instigating sedition and division or disdaining and contempting any of the heavenly religions or the sects belonging thereto, or prejudicing national unity or social peace. Nor is Maher's case an aberration; as the Nov. 19 report says, "[s]everal other intellectuals, writers, and public figures have stood trial or received verdicts over the past few decades for their views under the infamous anti-blasphemy law." On Nov. 29, Maher appeared on BBC Arabic. He refused to offer an apology, insisted that all he had done is relay history and ask commonsensical questions, and urged Egyptian president al-Sisi now his only hope, as Maher's recent five-year-imprisonment sentencing is final and cannot be appealed before a higher court to consider pardoning him. As obscene as Maher's experiences are, it's worth noting that something similar is happening in the West, though in reverse: whereas Muslim nations insist on portraying their brutal and savage heroes of the past as noble and pious, Western nations insist on portraying their noble and pious heroes as brutal and savage (or just "racist"). As Western governments become more third-world dictatorial and as their war on history becomes more uncompromising look to see elements of Maher's fate surfacing in the West. Raymond Ibrahim, author of Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute. Image: Gaspartacus via Pixabay. Pixabay License. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. If something had a track record of 100 million dead and explicitly called for the subjugation of people, most would call it evil. Yet some people still call themselves communists and socialists. Why? It is not as if these facts about the recorrd of communism are obscure, certainly not to professors and intellects. Knowing of the gulags and famines and still advocating for what made it possible, is a singularly wicked form of evil. Clearly there is something causing these advocate to supersede common sense and decency. A recent debate on capitalism and socialism provided a glimpse of that. Yaron Book has a Ph.D. in finance, is chairman of the board of the Ayn Rand Institute, and hosts the Yaron Brook show. His opponent, Richard D. Wolff is a Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has taught at Yale, and elsewhere. Arguing for socialism, Wolff made a statement that left me speechless. In terms of scale, Mao Zedong is the single worst mass murderer in history. His victims tally at least 45 million, or about the populations of California and Minnesota. Collectivized farms starved whole villages, while Maos thugs brutally enforced his rule. Historian Frank Dikotter writes: It is not merely the extent of the catastrophe that dwarfs earlier estimates, but also the manner in which many people died: between two and three million victims were tortured to death or summarily killed, often for the slightest infraction. When a boy stole a handful of grain in a Hunan village, local boss Xiong Dechang forced his father to bury him alive. The father died of grief a few days later. The case of Wang Ziyou was reported to the central leadership: one of his ears was chopped off, his legs were tied with iron wire, a ten kilogram stone was dropped on his back and then he was branded with a sizzling tool punishment for digging up a potato. --Mao's Great Famine What kind of indictment did Wolff levy against such barbarism? To accuse the government (Mao) as if they had some special lease on starvation is an extraordinary reading of history, he said at the Yaron Brook debate This would be like someone saying, Hitler killed a lot of people, but so have others, an extraordinary whitewashing of history and ethics, indeed. Mao joins the company of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and others, that have stained historys pages with unspeakable crimes. Like clockwork, western apologists have stood by to defend each of these states. Noam Chomsky is well known for whitewashing the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Bernie Sanders said the American dream was more realized in Venezuela. In the 1930s, an American ambassador to England, Joseph Kenney, was a Nazi sympathizer. One German diplomat claimed Kenney told him, (it) was not so much the fact that (the Germans) wanted to get rid of the Jews that was so harmful to (the Germans), but rather the loud clamor with which (the Germans) accompanied the purpose, according to a bio of Joseph Kennedy How do they get away with it? Analyzing these regimes gives a better understanding of their nature. But it also gives us an insight on what animates their sympathizers. Because it is often the latter that puts the wind in the formers sail, it is a piece of the conversation that should not be trivialized. The common denominator between all these regimes is that their moral framework subordinates the individual to the group. The Nazis said, (men) have to realize that the state is more important than the individual (Leonard Peikoff, The Ominous Parallels, page 18). Contrast this with the enlightenment, which upheld the sanctity of the individual. To enlightenment thinkers, the states role is to protect rights, and nothing more. Individual rights are inalienable or as Locke put it, free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man (Peikoff, 111). If the group is primary over the individual, it justifies sacrificing him to the whim of the state. In Russia, when Stalins latest five-year plans failed, his solution was night raids, torture rooms and gulags. You have to break eggs to make an omelet, is how one particularly twisted Stalin sympathizer, and New York Times reporter, put it, the infamous Walter Duranty. Hitler said, It is thus necessary that the individual should finally come to realize that his own ego is of no importance in comparison with the existence of his nation. (Peikoff, 13). And from his propaganda minister, socialism is sacrificing the individual to the whole, (Peikoff, 19). It is essential to grasp that these ugly periods of history is couched in the rationalization that your life belongs to the state. It is a hard pill to swallow that many in todays culture accepts this view. It's not fully implemented. But many take it as self-evident that a group takes precedent over the individual. How many lives were upended in the name of a no-risk COVID strategy for the good of the whole? Virtually every political speech today is overflowing with platitudes exalting the greater good. What makes up the greater good? It's nameless. For those the most immersed in this worldview, it is this attraction to what they view as good that warps their thinking, sometimes so much that they become apologists for brutal regimes. Coupled with being far removed from the facts on the ground provides a degree of psychological license to indulge in their intellectual gymnastics. There is also a deeper reason for the apologist phenomenon, which comes to light when we look at another modus operandi of oppressive states. It is not a coincidence that these states have rejected enlightenment modes of thinking. Logic, facts, and reason, fall by the wayside. Their replacements -- superstition, mysticism, and emotions reign supreme. Arthur Herman documents this fascinatingly in his book The Cave And The Light. We are at the end of the age of Reason, Hitler declared (Peikoff, page 46). Also, he said, We must distrust the intelligencetrust your instincts, or whatever you like to call them. (Peikoff, page 46). Western-educated Pol Pot had all the people under his regime with glasses killed because he believed it was evidence that they had some kind of education that wasn't communist. Hitler puts it succinctly, there is no such thing as truth, (Peikoff, page 59). This is one important reason why such regimes are so violent. If there are no truths, facts, or logic, how does one persuade? Force. Emotions can connect to reality, but the post-modern view is to take emotions as primaries. Try to explain to someone why your gut feeling is right after disposing of the tools of cognition. It quickly falls into the intellectual equivalent of toddlers fighting on the playground -- except markedly more pathetic because adults have the capacity for reason, and infinitely more dangerous because they can also control armies. As Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf (these are) times when not the mind but the fist decides, (Peikoff, page 67). Think of the looting hordes that appear after almost every police shooting. Mobs salivating with some instinct resembling vengeance roam the streets before any facts are known. This is a direct consequence of elevating emotions above reason. I know the police are guilty because I feel it is one step away from I know the Aryan race is superior because it is in our blood. This epistemological self-abasement is the deeper psychological reason why intelligentsia can sympathize with brutal regimes. If ones mind is impotent, logically it cannot claim one society better than another. Pol Pot, after all, was only acting on his truth. Who are we to know? There are no rights or wrongs. Only a neutering grey of dont judge. Notice how some people bristle when someone claims certainty. They confuse it with arrogance or claims of omniscience. They feel more at home with people that share an ethos of feelings. In this world, it is easy to be pulled into mealy-mouthed and dangerous views that center on superficial characteristics. As one Russian student told me, (Hitler) made mistakes, but he was the leader of a country. The left is not a homogenous group, and we should be careful not to paint everyone that falls under that umbrella with the same brush. Even in academia, most back off their fanfare when regimes oppression becomes too much for even them to ignore. The adoration usually comes at the beginning of the life of a state, when the platitudes and parades still dazzle. This does not, however, delude the urgency of confronting their appeasement. Because it is partially Western intellectuals sanction that gives terrible regimes their traction, stopping them before despotism (or worse) should be a priority. Skepticism and serfdom are not new and edgy. These things harken back to the Dark Ages, which was called that for a reason. True revolutionaries unabashedly respect truth, reason and freedom. The antidote to a new Dark Age is already available to us. The works of thinkers that share a reverence for reason and individual rights -- Aristotle, the Founding Fathers, Ayn Rand, and others, are waiting to be dusted off and ushered into battle by better intellectuals. This will be the great challenge for this generation, and we should encourage their efforts with enthusiasm. Image: Julius Jaaskelainen, colorizer, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0 To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. In a recent interview, billionaire Elon Musk stated that the most serious problem we face as a society is that not enough children are being born. I can't emphasize this enough. There are not enough people. And I think one of the biggest risks to civilization is the low birthrate and the rapidly declining birthrate. He's right. The statistics are grim: in 2020, the Centers for Disease Control reported that the U.S. birth rate is plummeting and is the lowest it has been since 1909. The 2020 Census data show that population growth is the slowest since 1930. Part of the population decline could have been avoided had abortion not wiped out 63 million preborn babies. It's astonishing that people can talk about a demographic shift of the magnitude America is facing without including the tragedy of abortion. It isn't just the 63 million people missing, but their children and the generations after them. That loss is incalculable. It is finally dawning on politicians that killing off our future generations was not in the best interest of America's future. It is not just America; there is a dire global situation with childbirths below replacement levels in many countries. Economists know that to have a productive society, you need a young, dynamic, and growing population and workforce to produce goods. Companies need labor. The large Baby Boom population is living longer, and these individuals will require urgent medical care due to normal aging and more because of the Wuhan virus variants coming to the United States. Millennials and the Z generation will face the added burden of financing the $2.7-trillion budget deal. Social Security and Medicare are not solvent, and the retirement age for anyone born after 1960 will now be 67. The government does not have a solution to fix problems that require manpower. In 2010, the Social Security Administration issued a report describing the problems we face now. And it's not just Social Security that is negatively impacted, but also Medicare, disability insurance, hospital insurance, drug costs, old age and survivors insurance, and more. It's gotten worse since 2010. In the United States, the fertility rate is about 1.7 births per woman. The BBC News reported that in 1950, "women were having an average of 4.7 children in their lifetime." The United States data at Macrotrends.net shows that in 1950, the U.S. birthrate was 24.268 births per 1,000 people. The population decline began after 1960, when Enovid, the first birth control pill, was introduced. In 1960, the birthrate dropped to 22.696. By the time abortion laws were first liberalized in 1967, the birthrate continued its decline to 18.308. During the 1960s, there was a push for population control, which is one reason Roe v. Wade was enacted. After 1973, the fertility rates declined at a more rapid pace. Today, there are 12.001 childbirths per 1,000 people. Population control proponents like Paul Ehrlich warned that overconsumption and a population explosion would deplete our natural resources. When Ehrlich revisited his book The Population Bomb in 2009, he continued to defend abortion and birth control. In a section called "What did The Bomb get wrong?," Ehrlich admitted that the scenarios he presented were not predictions, and many did not pan out: The Bomb was also somewhat misleading in stating that the birthrate in the United States might soon rise as the post-World War II baby boomers matured into their reproductive years. Instead, it actually dropped significantly in the early 1970s. ... And in 1968 the critical importance for lowering birthrates of providing women with education and job opportunities, as well as access to contraception and abortion, was under recognized, and we did not properly emphasize their potential role in reducing birthrates. In his update on "The Bomb," Ehrlich also took the opportunity to criticize Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush, claiming that their administrations "encouraged high birthrates by withholding aid to family planning programs that allow women access to safe abortion." It is more likely that the birth rate increased in the 1980s because President Reagan saved the economy, and by the time he left office, we were in an economic upturn. When people feel optimistic about the economy, they are encouraged to begin families. During President George W. Bush's administration, Census data reveal that the birth rate fell slightly, refuting Ehrlich's claims. The reason may have been the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, not a decrease in abortion funding. Regardless, taxpayers should not be funding the killing of unborn children. The Washington Post overlooks abortion as a contributor to America's population decline and blames the pandemic and President Trump's immigration policies: Since 2010, immigration has declined, driven by the economic crisis early in the decade and government restrictions under President Donald Trump. The birthrate has also dropped, and life expectancy has dipped in the past couple of years a reversal that has been driven by factors such as drug overdoses, obesity, suicide and liver disease and that sharply accelerated last year during the pandemic. Millennials cite many reasons for not having children, including fears regarding the future of the pandemic, concerns about climate change, joblessness, and where the economy is heading. But that is only a recent snapshot; the fertility rate in the United States has been falling for decades. Yet politicians continue to push for more immigration as a remedy for our economic woes rather than admit that the millions of Americans killed by abortion are an obvious yet ignored factor in our population decline. One of the most important films to see on the global population crisis we face today is the documentary Demographic Winter. It was produced several years ago but is relevant today. Unlike the picture painted by Paul Ehrlich and the population alarmists, the film's predictions are sadly coming true. Image via Pixabay. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The resurgence of socialist ideology is curious given the unpleasant history of that doctrine. The historical evidence is that socialism does not work as claimed. Moreover, when socialism has been tried, it has all too frequently been accompanied by catastrophe and atrocity. It is not unfair to say that history has not been kind to socialism and vice versa. It is not hyperbole to note that the results of socialist government have been evil. It is also reasonable to conclude that many of the failures of socialism were due to inherent weaknesses in its doctrines and philosophies. Stated simply, the history of socialism as a large-scale governing principle is one of misery and failure. Some of the appeal of socialism is due to its proponents selectively disavowing past socialist failures while also adopting successes that are not socialist. It is common to hear that the mass deaths that accompanied the socialist enterprises of the 20th century and the ongoing economic catastrophe that is Venezuela were not socialist per se but rather artifacts of circumstance. It is also claimed that public financing of roads, schools, and public services are species of socialism when they are, in fact, methods of allocating the benefits of private enterprise to public purposes. Much of the appeal of socialism is a semantic artifice. The socialism that is promised in current politics will always work in the imagination and fail in reality. There are very simple reasons for why this is so. Socialism, as an economic and political doctrine, is not social safety nets or paying taxes to fund public services. It is government control of capital. All economic systems, whether in the United States, or North Korea, or Zimbabwe, require capital. The difference lies in who controls the capital, and consequently, who profits from it. The fundamental flaw of socialism is that it contains no optimizing mechanism for selecting those who will manage capital most efficiently. Capitalist systems rely on the optimizing mechanism of competition. Fair competition selects those who make the most effective use of capital and who are most suited to contend with risk. Socialists do not deny this fact, rather they substitute the irrelevant argument that competition produces "unfair" outcomes, and that efficiency ignores empathy. The appeal of socialism is almost entirely emotional. It implicitly disparages efficiency but in fact all progress, all improvements in human life, are the result in improvements in efficiency of one sort or another. Socialism lacks objective processes of optimization and improving efficiency. Instead, it seeks to determine relative merit and improve processes by planning and resort to "experts." This creates an endless regression of shortcomings in that there is no optimizing mechanism for planning or choosing experts. More particularly, there is no optimizing mechanism for choosing who should be given control of the process, and those who attain such positions often do so because of abilities largely irrelevant to the claims of the socialist ideal. Capitalist systems, through competition, tend to select managers of capital who have competence in using it. Socialist systems, lacking any other type of optimizing mechanism, tend to select on the basis of political skills, which may be entirely unrelated to economic competence, or even interest in economic progress. It is no accident that many of the socialist experiments of the 20th century resulted in authoritarianism and the predictable calamities to which authoritarianism is prone. It should not escape notice that many of the socialist regimes that were associated with mass death and economic calamity had leaders whose terms were limited only by their deaths or removal by force. This reveals another flaw in socialist theory. Once a leader ascends to a position of power, he becomes interested in maintaining power and is decidedly hostile to any mechanism that may identify a more capable leader. Socialism thus tends to discourage finding those most capable of using capital, with the result being North Korea, Venezuela, and other economic invalids. The success of socialism depends on leadership whose selection is, in reality, not based on their ability to bring about the ideals of socialism. Those who successfully obtain leadership do so largely on their ability to exploit political opportunities and understand inefficient and insular bureaucratic machinery, rather than their ability to improve the overall quality of life of others. The inherent dependence of socialism on bureaucracy is another weakness of the doctrine. Bureaucracies have interests beyond their stated purpose. The longer they exist, the more self-perpetuating and self-interested they become. They become risk averse, complacent, inefficient, and possessed of interests that do not coincide with the larger society. This has the tendency to stifle innovation, and ultimately, progress. Innovation and progress often involve significant risk-taking and socialism does not compensate people for the assumption of risk. Socialism in fact does the opposite, encouraging risk avoidance. One of the most pernicious and profound defects of socialism is that incentives within a socialist system are incompatible with human nature. A person is motivated by those things that he inherently values, and he expends his time and resources in the manner that is most meaningful to him. This applies to truly selfish interests as well as to public-minded ones, such as charitable giving and service during time of national emergency. The socialist cannot tell a man what is important to him and expect it to be so. This is why black markets arise in planned economies and why socialist enterprises of any scale, such as the Israeli kibbutzim and Plymouth Plantation, were forced to reform their economic models. The socialist enterprise relies on appeals to what the socialist thinks that the people should want rather than what they actually do want. Since these appeals predictably do not work, the socialist authority necessarily must resort to threats, and use, of government force. Force, and all of the negative consequences that it inspires, is inherent to a system that is so much at odds with individual values and human nature. This, probably more than anything else, is what explains the atrocities associated with socialism in the 20th century. Economic prosperity is produced by capital. In the capitalist model the capital is held by private citizens and the socialist model is held by the government, but it is nonetheless capital. In the capitalist model there is a disparity in the wealth accumulated by those who provide value and those who do not, and in the socialist model there is a disparity in the wealth accumulated by those who rule and those who do not. In both cases wealth accrues to those who control the capital. The resurgent appeal of socialism does not result from improvements in the doctrine over that which has such an unhappy history. It does have something to do with disregard of that history. Just as it is easier to assume that an iconic image of Che Guevara represents revolutionary heroism than it is to do the minimal investigation necessary to realize that he was a psychopathic killer, it is easier to be seduced by the platitudes of socialism than it is to inquire into their reality. Socialism does not work because it is really not suited to anything other than acquiring power. Image: Bob Simmons To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. My guess is that millions of centrist Democrats living between the coasts are sending Christmas cards to Senator Joe Manchin of "almost heaven" West Virginia. So far, Manchin has been saving the Democrats from themselves and from the crazy left that they are scared of. The good news is that Manchin does not have to worry about criticism from the left. In fact, it probably helps where he comes from. Manchin's latest target is the so-called Build Back Better proposal headed to the U.S. Senate. This is from the Washington Post via MSN: Waiting around for Manchin has become something of a pastime in the nation's capital. Hill reporters track his movements on the Senate floor, staking out his office, sometimes for hours, and then orbiting around him like electrons as he walks the halls of Congress. On a recent Monday morning, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) bumped into such a gaggle on the way to her office, which is near Manchin's. "What are you guys doing here now?" she asked them. "It's Monday, you know he's not going to get here till 3 o'clock in the afternoon!" "Sometimes I wish I wasn't chained to this one spot," says Burgess Everett, Politico's chief Manchin correspondent. "But, at the same time, this is the best place to get the news of the day because it's what everyone is interested in." The power and spotlight has earned the gentleman from West Virginia a new nickname. Yes, they call him Mr. President. In many ways, he is. Joe Manchin does not walk around with the nuclear codes, but he is a very influential man. I guess that's what happens when you represent a state that voted for President Trump by almost 40 points. It would be easy to say that Manchin is in tune with West Virginia and is voting that way. However, I think that it's a bit more to it than that. Back in September, he told reporters that he's never been a liberal. Some of the reporters were a bit stunned to hear a Democrat say that. However, we used to have a lot of men like Senator Manchin in the Democrat party. I'm not talking about the Dixiecrats of yesteryear, but rather the late Scoop Jackson and Lloyd Bentsen. To be fair, some of my friends warn me that Manchin has a "D" next to his name and could crack. For example, there is Senator Jon Tester of very conservative Montana and an automatic vote for anything his party puts up. Time will tell, but so far, this 50-50 Senate has turned into a nightmare for the Democrats. And a guy named Manchin is a big part of it. PS: You can listen to my podcast (Canto Talk). Image: Senate Democrats. More people have died from COVID on Biden's watch than did on Trump's watch. When a reporter finally asked Biden a question about that on Wednesday, Biden's sole response was to give one of his patented "aw, gosh" fecal mattereating grins, laugh, and walk away. The media seemed just fine with that. COVID appeared in the United States during President Trump's last full year as president. The disease was new and scary, and Trump was getting terrible advice from Anthony Fauci, who is both a wannabe tyrant and a man who was desperately covering his derriere from what's now become the accepted wisdom: COVID started in a Chinese lab, and Fauci contributed a lot of taxpayer money to the project. Nevertheless, Trump did everything Fauci told him to do and, against the odds, got a purported vaccine to market in record time (although many would now say that was a dubious accomplishment). It was on Trump's watch that Democrat governors shipped elderly people sick with COVID into nursing homes filled with other elderly people, even though it was known from the outset that the original strain of COVID was most likely to kill elderly people or those with comorbidities. The old-age homes in Democrat-run states such as New York, New Jersey, and Michigan turned into charnel houses, with people's parents and grandparents dying like flies, alone and frightened. Biden's main platform when campaigning was that he was going to do a better job dealing with COVID. He would save American lives. He would turn America from a graveyard into a place filled with sunshine and unmasked people. On January 20, when Biden walked into the Oval Office, the official death toll from COVID was 396,837. (Personally, I think a lot of the numbers are gamed because there's profit to be had from COVID diagnoses, but we'll accept for now the numbers that are out there.) As of December 15, the COVID death toll stands at 801,003. In other words, over 7,000 more people died on Biden's watch than died on Trump's watch and that's despite Biden forcing millions of Americans to take an experimental jab many neither needed nor wanted. Image: Biden laughs at a question about American deaths (edited in befunky). Twitter screen grab. In other words, Biden broke his promise to relieve America of the scourge of COVID. This was always going to be impossible, because COVID is a virus that incubates in animals and quickly mutates. The best outcome, always, was going to be a swift passage to something like the omicron variant, which is very infectious but incredibly mild. Nevertheless, Biden made a promise, no matter how foolish, and he broke it. On Wednesday, a reporter finally asked Biden about all the deaths on his watch and about the consensus that China caused this worldwide fiasco that has proven to be such a convenient conveyor belt to tyranny: President Biden, on the 800,000 coronavirus deaths, do you have a statement on your responsibility? And why haven't you asked China to do more to be transparent on the origins? Did Biden pause to mourn the dead? No. Did he explain that his administration is putting pressure on China? Definitely no, and everyone would have fallen down in paroxysms of laughter if he'd even tried to say that. Did he say he was going to put more focus on treating what is now an endemic disease than on forcing a highly questionable jab on a reluctant population? No. What Biden did was flash his signature fecal mattereating grin, guffaw, and walk away. By any metric, this was an exceptionally callous response to the deaths of more than 800,000 Americans. But while conservative media outlets were offended, drive-by media outlets ignored entirely a response that speaks to either serious dementia or what is in a way something much worse: the absence of any human decency. Here watch for yourself and see whether I'm exaggerating just how foul Biden's response was: FLASHBACK to Biden on October 5, 2020: 200,000 plus have died. 50,000 a day are getting the virus. 1,000 thereabouts are dying...The president should take responsibility.pic.twitter.com/JTVEDCYotf RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 15, 2021 How far America has fallen now that this dismal excuse for a human being occupies the Oval Office. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Japan is adding heart inflammation warnings to COVID vaccine labels. Authorities there approved a plan to print a list of "serious side effects," including myocarditis, on COVID-19 vaccine labels. The decision was made earlier this month by a panel of experts from the Japanese health ministry and will apply to labels of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The Japanese health ministry also requires hospitals to carry out a detailed and strict reporting of any adverse events within 28 days following vaccination. Concerns have been raised in Japan about the risks of myocarditis in young men following injection with the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines, and experts there have warned that the vaccines pose a seven-times-higher risk of death than the virus itself for people in their 20s. Japan has also been more transparent about the content of the so-called vaccines than has been typical in other countries so far. Instructions on vaccination with Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna products published on the health ministry's website include a warning that these products "contain an additive that has never been used in a vaccine before." Meanwhile, reported cases of adverse events continue to rise dramatically, including in the U.S. Background: https://lichtnahrung2015.wordpress.com/2021/12/14/japan-adds-heart-inflammation-warning-to-covid-vaccine-labels/ Health ministry warns of vaccine's side effects | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News Japan Panels Agree to Add Myocarditis as ADRs for Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines | PHARMA JAPAN (jiho.jp) Photo credit Shafin_Protick, Pixabay license. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. It occurred to me, quite suddenly, the evening of December 15, that Pelosi's January 6 Inquisition Panel is not really charging former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows with "criminal contempt." That accusation serves as smokescreen for what Pelosi and her puppets, assisted daily by The New York Times leading the Pravda-like media, are really claiming: that Mr. Meadows is guilty of sedition, of open hostility to the Biden administration. Where is sedition a crime? Sedition is a crime where there is no freedom of speech, no right to dissent, in short, no First Amendment. But guess what! Mark Meadows will not be silenced, he will not be intimidated, and, if the First Amendment remains operative, he will not be found guilty of criminal contempt for defying the unconstitutional Pelosi inquisition and its subpoenas that violate due process and the American spirit of freedom. Mark Meadows, in Atlanta this week, addressed a gathering of hundreds of conservative populists drawn from around the country to celebrate the formation of a Georgia state Freedom Caucus, modeled on the House Freedom Caucus formed several years ago by Ohio's Jim Jordan, and currently chaired by Arizonan Rep. Andy Biggs, with Pennsylvania's Scott Perry to take leadership reins, next month. Among other things, Mr. Meadows assured the assemblage that he will not allow the January 6 select committee to intimidate him. Now that sort of remark, indicating that Meadows has "a backbone of steel," not a "squishy" banana backbone, is clearly not to the liking of the Pravda-like media, which did not report on the address, nor the fact of this conservative gathering in Atlanta a gathering, I submit, that indicates the MAGA spirit remains alive and quite well this difficult time of an anti-freedom Democrat administration, led by an oft-incoherent president. Breitbart covered the Atlanta event and the words of encouragement from Mark Meadows at some length. The following is an excerpt of Meadows's remarks which offer guidance on dealing with a Republican establishment that has difficulty with what I see as the Federalist 57 call to government officials to stay close to the people if government is not to become tyrannical. (Apparently, there are Republican state legislators in Georgia who reject Madison's sage advice in No. 57.) Note the three stages of forming a freedom caucus, cited by Meadows, including the stage where the GOP establishment hopes to wean away "squishy" caucus members. All that freedom caucus members require, Meadows advised, is a steel backbone and a sense of solid commitment. Here are pertinent excerpts from an address by a patriot to an audience of hundreds, committed to our founding legacy of liberty, as reported by Breitbart: Mark Meadows (photo credit: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 license. "I also want to let you know that the Freedom Caucus now, many of you know the personalities," Meadows said. "Originally, it was a phone call I made to Jim Jordan and said. 'Jim, you call these four people and I'll call these four people' and nine of the 10 decided to be a part. Here is the thing that is critical. Those individuals were not welcomed at the normal parties. In fact, many times where the Republicans have their regular gatherings, they didn't get the invite. Now, many of you may feel the same way because right now they're having all the wonderful get togethers where they work on redistricting and they try to maybe leave you out I don't know if that's hitting too close to home or what but as we see this there's all kinds of legislative tricks they use to reduce your voice." Meadows said there are three distinct stages to the formation of a successful Freedom Caucus. First, the establishment laughs at and ignores the members. "There's three stages to this. The first is when you decide to do your Freedom Caucus they're [the GOP establishment] going to pat you on the head and say, 'Good for you, you'll never amount to anything.' I mean they will. They'll discount you," Meadows said. "They'll say it's not going to happen. Ultimately, what has to happen is you have to stick together and not be discouraged. You have to have the procedures on your side and know the procedures and the legislative operational tricks and I use the word tricks in a tactical way, meaning the way you add amendments and make it difficult for some of yourwell let's say less principled colleagues the ones that have backbones of bananas rather than backbones of steel. I want more backbones of steel, don't you?" The second and third phases are where things get interesting, Meadows said. In the second phase, the establishment recognizes the threat and tries to neutralize it by co-opting squishy Freedom Caucus members but in the third phase, when the Freedom Caucus has won, he said that is when conservatives get a seat at the negotiating table and begin to have real leverage to move the needle to the right in big legislation. So at first they'll discount you. Then all of a sudden you'll stick together, and there is a second phase of your caucus where they'll try to co-opt you," Meadows said. "I call this the wildebeest phase. It's like a lion looking for a weak wildebeest they try to come out at the pack and they come and they get one and they say, 'There's a Freedom Caucus person who's not acting like a Freedom Caucus person, we can cull them out.' You've seen it. You've seen it already whether you have a Freedom Caucus or not. You see them, all of a sudden they start getting little bills, find their way through committee. They get them all the plum assignments for committees. It is that weak wildebeest we got to be careful about. Because what happens is is you go from not being relevant to them trying to pick off the weak wildebeest to the third phase, which is really fun because the third phase is when they realize you have enough leverage to stop what they're trying to get done and you get invited to the table." Meadows said that conservatives, if they organize effectively, can get to that third phase fairly quickly and said it took the House Freedom Caucus about two years to get there. "Now I'm here to tell you you can go from being not relevant to being invited to the table in a very short period of time," Meadows said. "By a very short period of time, when it came to the House Freedom Caucus, it took us two years. Two years to show we were willing to stick together." May the Almighty grant that the December 14, 2021 Freedom Caucus gathering, in Atlanta, of Republican conservative populists from around the country be as significant to America's political development for good, as against evil, as was the first gathering of the Republicans in Ripon, Wisconsin, March 20, 1854. Chesa Boudin is a gaslighter. The let-'em-out Soros-financed district attorney of San Francisco, now facing a recall from angry voters, plays pol. He emotes for the cameras. He declares his fealty to law and order. He occasionally meets victims as town halls. He deplores crime on the record for the fawning media. But then there's what he does in private, to real crime victims, which is enough to make anyone sick. The Marina Times, a bona fide investigative reporting outfit that is otherwise known as a community newspaper, has the goods on what Chesa is like behind closed doors. It goes into the story of a seemingly sorry character, a Tenderloin ex-junkie who was said to be trying to move out and get her life together after having a baby, who was coldly shot in the face by two thugs, reportedly MS-13 gang members, over her refusal to hand them her day's earnings after selling stuff on the street. The woman, Emma DeYoe, 32, was shot dead. The triggerman dropped his gun and walked off while his sidekick picked it up and took it, apparently to hide the evidence. The gangsters certainly seemed to be aware of the laws of evidence. When the matter came to Chesa Boudin, the district attorney in charge of putting killers away, he refused to charge them and let them walk. One of them is reportedly trying to get into the Navy now, quite possibly as a means of claiming veteran status, getting an easy route to U.S. citizenship, or avoiding deportation. It turns out the young victim had a white family over in Manteca, California, who adopted her as a small child, following her horrific early life in Ethiopia during the time of starvation and murder. Emma struggled with flashbacks and obviously got into "self-medication" with drugs, which put her in her bad position in the Tenderloin, placed there by welfare bureaucrats, apparently, which she was nevertheless trying to get away from. The white family sought a meeting with young Chesa to explain why the thugs needed charging and putting away, and instead of a phony concern-troll face from him, as one might expect giving his modus operandi, he was cold. Icy cold. The victims' account is truly creepy: David [Emma's white stepfather] sat in a room with Boudin, his then-chief of staff Cristine Soto Deberry, a victims' advocate, and Diane Knoles, a 34-year veteran of the district attorney's office. "There wasn't a dry eye in the house," David says, "except Chesa and Cristine. They weren't crying." In the video, David pointed to how Emma raised the milk crate up for protection, at which point Figueroa shot her "face to face." Boudin shook his head and said, "It's self-defense. And Emma also had a knife." David was stunned. "What knife?" he asked. "Kevin had a gun. Emma had a milk crate." Boudin remained steadfast, telling David the knife in Emma's hand was visible in the video. As difficult as it was, David came back to watch the video a second time. "I said, 'Look at Emma! She's running away! How is that self-defense? And what about intent? He left and came back with a gun. Are you saying that's not at least second-degree murder?' and Chesa just stared at me and said, 'No. A judge would never go for that. Plus, we never recovered the gun so we can't charge him.' I said, 'You never found the knife Emma supposedly had either!' Chesa said, 'We see it on the video,' and I said, 'You see the gun on the video!' Chesa just stared at me, like I was wasting his time and said, 'It doesn't work like that.' At this point I was thinking, 'I can't just jump across the table and choke him to death because I'll never get out of here.'" Determined to get justice for Emma, David returned to watch the video for a third time with Boudin. "When you read his energy it's like 'I'm not doing anything on this. I have to sit here and listen to the victim's family wasting my time.' Both he and Cristine were incredibly cold. After the third time we watched it, Chesa repeated that it was self-defense. I told Chesa and Cristine I would take it to the feds. Chesa said, 'That's your right.' I looked straight at him and asked 'How do you sleep at night?'" What a vile monster. DeYoe and his wife described the meaning of what happened: "He was trying to make Emma the aggressor and these gang members the victims. He made every excuse. It was self-defense? Emma was little five feet tall. She had Wolff-Parkinson disease, which weakens the heart, so she couldn't exert a lot of energy, and she just had a cesarian section. She was not up for fighting." According to Emma's friends, the killers boasted about the murder. "They were using the N-word, saying how that's their corner; now they've claimed it," Sherree says. "The hardest part is they're out there living their lives and don't care they killed Emma because Chesa Boudin won't do anything. She was expendable; she was a Black woman in the Tenderloin. They can't possibly understand. Emma was somebody's daughter. She was my daughter." As for Boudin, Sherree feels the same way as her husband. "He doesn't care. He kept saying, 'It's not my fault. I didn't have any say-so in this. It was the judge's fault.' But judges take recommendations from the DA. He's basically telling people, 'Come to San Francisco you can kill someone and get a pass.' He says he's there for victims, for Black and Brown people in marginalized communities, but he doesn't give a damn." Apparently he doesn't believe in any right to self-defense, either. The point here is that Emma was minding her own business and being attacked by ogres who belonged in jail. Whether she had a knife or a carton is irrelevant; she was being attacked by savage criminals and got murdered in cold blood. Instead of caring about that, Chesa tried to gaslight the parents that the case would never hold up in court and gave a phony baloney story about self-defense suggesting that no one is allowed to defend themselves from predators, which isn't the law. He gave bad law and let a pair of monsters out who had clearly murdered someone so they could prey on others. Then he had the nerve to act coldly and indifferently to the grieving parents as if they were just some annoying problem. It's unbelievable, the behavior of a cold communist commissar, or sleazy terrorist, which figures in his background. I've read Chesa Boudin's very dull, very gaslighty books, which he wrote to impress the Rhodes committee ahead of getting his Rhodes scholarship. In one of them, he traipsed around Latin America for a few years, playing Sandalista, hanging out with dictators like Hugo Chavez, serving as the Caracas thug's translator and likely a lot more, given that Chavez considered Boudin "royalty" given his parents' terrorist past. Venezuelan emigres insist they've seen photos of young Chesa posing happily with Venezuelan gang thugs with some kind of rifle-like weapon in his hand. If true, it suggests that photos may have been scrubbed from the internet ahead of Chesa's political career. There is one passage in his book about traipsing around South America, an aside, really, where he mentions his travels in Central America, home of the MS-13 gangs. He wrote in Gringo: A Coming of Age in Latin America that his travels to Central America were for a future book. The only thing one can wonder now, with that sickening show described by the Marina Times, is whether he is somehow in some kind of "debt" to the MS-13 gangs based on his unwritten-about time in "Cuba, Mexico and Nicaragua," which have many MS-13 redoubts. I'd also like to know if he went to El Salvador and Honduras, which have considerable gang problems. We all know that he scrapped "gang enhancements" to charges of gang members who assault others on the grounds that they had been excessively cited, which certainly benefits gangs like MS-13. We all know that communist Chavez was pals with every criminal organization in Latin America from Hez'ballah, to FARC, to fellow Marxist and narco-thug regimes, while Venezuela itself was turned into a gangster's paradise. That was who Chesa got his start with. Is there some kind of partiality Boudin has to MS-13, which is why he treated the family of a murdered black woman seeking justice for her, so very coldly and nastily gaslighting, citing bad law, and letting the killers out to roam and kill again? Frankly, I think this is worth looking at. This kind of behavior isn't normal. It sets of a bell in my mind that maybe he's got something going with MS-13 or other gangster outfit. It doesn't square with his statements that he's all concerned about violent crime, it doesn't square with his phony claims about the law, and it's right in there with the behavior of his mentor, Hugo Chavez. Something tells me some funny information might just come out from the Marina Times again. Image: Twitter screen shot, enhanced with FotoSketcher. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. When leftists talk among themselves, they're honest about what they want. So, when Kay Gabriel, Jules Gleeson, Ira T, and Elle O'Rourke got together to talk about "trans liberation," they freely admitted that one of the goals of the movement is to bring about a communist revolution. In other words, what you long suspected is true. Because I had no idea who Gabriel, Gleeson, T, and O'Rourke are, I looked them up. The results weren't pretty. Gabriel has a Ph.D. in classics from Princeton University. Wikipedia says Gabriel is "an essayist and poet" with all essays and poets revolving around transgenderism. If you want a heaping spoonful of nonsense with your breakfast, Gabriel, who graduated in 2020, explains his research: My research sits between classics and modernist studies, but does not take the canonical form of that interdisciplinary research, i.e. tracking the genetic inheritances of an ancient canon of texts in modernist aesthetics. Instead I invert this impulse: I am interested in pursuing, on the one hand, the role of modernism and the canonization of modernist aesthetics in mediating the narrative category of the classical and the canon of ancient texts. On the other, I focus on the generative crisis that the classical, as a category whose signature gesture is a periodizing narrative of historical rupture, poses to the utopian aesthetics of modernist rupture as formalized in the shock of the new. My dissertation takes up these problems by targeting the longstanding interpretive structure in the reception of Euripides that has taken the ancient Greek tragedian to be preemptively modern. It proceeds as a series of case studies in the 20th-century interpretation and adaptation of Euripides, looking to moments when the assertion of Euripides' modernity has proved generative for modernist, post-modernist and avant-garde aesthetics. Here's more stream of consciousness nonsense from Gabriel, who seems to specialize in this stuff. Image: Kay Gabriel, Jules Gleeson, Ira T, and Elle O'Rourke. YouTube screen grab. Jules Gleeson and Elle O'Rourke are co-editors of "Transgender Marxism." Here's the overview of this "watershed moment in transgender theory": The first collection of its kind, Transgender Marxism is a provocative and groundbreaking union of transgender studies and Marxist theory. Exploring trans lives and movements, the authors delve into the experience of surviving as transgender under capitalism. They explore the pressures, oppression and state persecution faced by trans people living in capitalist societies, their tenuous positions in the workplace and the home, and give a powerful response to right-wing scaremongering against 'gender ideology'. Reflecting on the relations between gender and labour, these essays reveal the structure of antagonisms faced by gender non-conforming people within society. Looking at the history of transgender movements, Marxist interventions into developmental theory, psychoanalysis and workplace ethnography, the authors conclude that for trans liberation, capitalism must be abolished. Ira T's identity is a mystery, but he/she/it is clearly one of the transgender-initiated. That's why T joined with Gabriel, Gleeson, and O'Rourke for a "Rabbles of the World" talk: These are "a series of talks with radical thinkers and agitators who are pushing the boundaries of revolutionary queer praxis. The conversations are for anyone who wants to learn more about histories of queer social movements, and their contributions to contemporary socialist and communist politics. It aims to bridge the ever-widening gap between queer scholarly knowledge production within the academy and activist sites. By the way, reading through the noxious academic/Marxist word soup that these people generate explains a lot about the unicorn fart world in which transgender activists and other extreme leftists live. Nothing is grounded upon or even touches down in reality. It's a tidal wave of nonsense that allows the most vacuous and often foul people to appear as if they're saying something worthwhile. In this case, one speaker said the transgender movement is to bring about a "communist revolution." Gabriel responded with a deluge of academic, Marxist gobbledygook, all strung together to agree with that statement: Kay Gabriel, faculty member at New York University, asserts that trans activism is part of larger effort to bring about a Communist Revolution. When we demand that society be arranged in certain ways, this is part of the project. pic.twitter.com/bjZKXagHEy Mythinformed MKE (@MythinformedMKE) December 15, 2021 Not the Bee provides a helpful transcript of Gabriel's incoherent, very wordy response: Why does this immediately matter to trans people? Well, what do trans people in our particularity have to say or to offer that expands the universalism of a communist society, right? Which is to say one that would be achieved in time through processes and events that we could call revolutionary, that we would have to call revolutionary because they would require the abolition of society as it currently is... When we demand, like, society rearrange in certain ways this is part of the project. In plain English, which they avoid as a vampire shies away from the cross: for transgender people to be fulfilled, they must use transgenderism itself to destroy the entire edifice of Judeo-Christian culture, to bring about a glorious communist revolution that will fully liberate them. I wonder if any of these revolutionaries realize that all communist societies get rid of their sexual deviants. After all, communists, better than anyone else, understand that such people undermine society, any society. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Posted on: December 15, 2021 3:48 PM The Anglican Church of Australia has restated its firm commitment to the safety of children and vulnerable people, following the defrocking of Roger Herft, formerly Archbishop of Perth and Bishop of Newcastle. The Episcopal Standards Board of the Anglican Church of Australia determined on 13 December the Mr Herft is unfit to remain in Holy Orders and so will no longer be recognised as an ordained member of the Anglican Church. The decision was made in response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, made public in 2020. The report determined that Mr Herft had failed to deal appropriately with allegations of sexual abuse of children during his time as Bishop of Newcastle between 1993 and 2005. There is no suggestion, and there has been no allegation, that Mr Herft himself personally participated in such behaviour. The Board has examined the extent to which he discharged his responsibility as bishop. The Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Archbishop Geoff Smith, said the church has been shocked and dismayed at the findings from the Royal Commission, and of the scope of our failure to tackle child sexual abuse within the Church and the depth of survivors pain and suffering. We are deeply ashamed of the many ways in which we let down survivors, both in the way we have acted and the way we failed to act, he said in a statement. The Anglican Church of Australia is committed to the safety of children and vulnerable people in its care and to ensuring that information concerning possible abuse is taken seriously and dealt with appropriately. ROME - A group of armed men in Libya on Wednesday evening surrounded the headquarters of the government in Tripoli and the office of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, without, for the moment, having entered. Some sources said the men entered the defence ministry building. The chairman of the Presidential Council, Mohammed al Menfi, requested the intervention of security forces. Libyan media reported that Menfi was transferred to a safe place together with other members of the Council after receiving information about a plan by the militiamen to attack their homes. Parts of the capital were also left without electricity and plunged into darkness. It was allegedly Menfi himself who triggered the latent tension between the country's various armed factions, when, as head of the country's armed forces, he decided to remove the commander of the Tripoli military district, Abdel Basset Marwan, who is supported by powerful local militias, and replace him with General Abdel Qader Mansour. "There will be no presidential elections in Libya; we will close all state institutions," said Salah Badi, leader of the al-Samoud Brigade. Badi, who is from Misrata, has been on the UN Security Council blacklist since 2018 for repeatedly trying to remove former Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al Sarraj from power and for carrying out armed attacks in the capital that resulted in civilian victims. Badi also launched a harsh attack on UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams, who yesterday went to Misrata to meet with local authorities, as well as military leaders and armed groups, ahead of the elections. "Her role in Libya is criminal," Badi said, criticising the entire electoral process. The elections, which are supposed to lift Libya out of the chaos it has been in for a decade, since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, were already hanging in the balance. Last Saturday, just two weeks before the vote, the Libya High National Election Commission (HNEC) announced the postponement sine die of the publication of the final list of presidential candidates, explaining that it still has to "adopt a series of measures", but also effectively blocking the already short electoral campaign. It therefore seems increasingly unlikely that on Christmas Eve the vote will take place to choose between General Khalifa Haftar, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son Seif al Islam Gaddafi, and Prime Minister Dbeibah himself. The list of candidates may potentially expand to others including Tobruk Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh, former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, and former Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maitig. The vote could therefore be postponed to 2022, with Libya slipping back into quicksand once again. TEL AVIV - Wadie Abunassar, a spokesman for Christian churches in the Holy Land, said Christian churches expect the Israeli government not to discriminate in its health restrictions for foreigners, as the country is currently de facto blocking Christian pilgrims from celebrating Christmas in Israel. Abunassar's comments echoed a similar statement in recent days by Fr Francesco Patton, Custodian of the Holy Land. Abunassar was referring to the permit granted to a US Jewish organisation to organise visits to Israel for its own groups, and it denounced what it calls a "discriminatory" policy. "Racism is not acceptable," Abunassar wrote on his Facebook page. "I urge the Israeli authorities to treat all those who want to visit the country equally without any religious discrimination," he wrote. Previously, Fr Patton denounced Israel's ban on foreign travelers, which was then set until 22 December but is now extended to 29 December. "That means keeping all Catholic pilgrims in the world out of the country," he said. "In fact, it blocks the chance for Catholics to have Christmas in the Holy Land". Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Lior Hayat said Israel "rejects and condemns the accusations of religious discrimination based on the granting of entry permits into the country". He called the Christian churches' comments "outrageous, false and dangerous". "We expect religious leaders not to promote unfounded speeches of hatred and incitement that only serve to add fuel to the fire of anti-Semitism and can lead to violence with harm to innocent people," Hayat said. After recalling that the arrival of the Omicron variant has led to a change in the rules of entry into Israel, "as many other countries have done", Hayat stressed that the government has set up a 'Committee for Exceptions' "which deals every day with hundreds of requests and examines them without prejudice or discrimination of race or religion". Hayat said the Committee in recent days "issued numerous permits, both to Jews and to Christians. Some of the approved requests were those that came from ecclesiastical authorities in Israel, including permits for the entry of priests into the country for the upcoming Christian holidays". "Israel has an 'open door' policy that allows Church leaders to discuss a series of issues with government officials and competent authorities, including preparations for Christmas," he said. SERVICE NOTE - ANSA JOURNALISTS MEETING (ANSAmed) - ROME, DECEMBER 16 - We inform all users that the transmission of all ANSA newswires will be curtailed because of a journalists' meeting this afternoon.(ANSAmed). TUNIS - Twenty-seven agreements and memoranda of understanding between Algeria and Tunis were signed during a ceremony at Carthage Palace with Tunisian President Kais Saied and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune, said the Tunisian president's office in a statement. It specified that the agreements regard the sectors of justice, public institutions, decentralisation, communication, media, industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, the environment, foreign trade, culture, religious affairs, energy, vocational training, fishing, employment, women and children, the elderly, young people, sport, education and health. Shortly before the signing of these agreements, the two heads of state held talks behind closed doors. In a joint press conference, Saied and Tebboune announced an agreement to strengthen the legal framework that governs relations between the two countries. The Algerian president said he was "deeply" satisfied with the results of the talks during the meeting with President Said, reaffirming the common desire to promote and diversify bilateral cooperation. The two presidents highlighted common views on regional and international issues that concern both of their countries, including the situation in Libya. "Inter-Libyan dialogue is the best way to resolve the crisis in this country," they said. DUBAI - The Italian research system has presented itself to the world at Expo 2020 Dubai, showing how it is ready for new international collaborations. The Italy Pavilion at the World Fair played host to a forum entitled "Italian Research Institutions facing global challenges" as part of the Expo 2020 Knowledge and Learning Week. "People have realised how important research is because of the pandemic," Universities and Research Minister Maria Cristina Messa told the forum via a video link. "Italy's research institutes have around 26,000 people working in different fields. "They are cornerstones that Italy can count on. "With the arrival of the pandemic and its devastating effects in Italy and Europe on the economic and social levels, Italy's research institutions have shown that that are capable of meeting the challenges, giving answers not just in scientific terms, but also in terms of organization and coordination with the productive world. "It is no coincidence that the section of the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) on investments in research and innovation is entitled 'From Research to Business'. "Great importance is given not just to recruiting researchers from all over the world and having an international approach to research, but also to training professionals with innovative abilities to facilitate the exchange of knowledge between the research sector and industry, generating added value, including economic value". The cast of Apple TVs hit show Ted Lasso have teamed up for a one off animated festive special. The four and a half minute short titled The Missing Christmas Moustache features voices from Jason Sudeikis and his British co-stars. In it, Ted and the gang search for his signature facial hair which mysteriously vanishes from his face. Ted Lasso has won several top comedy accolades including best comedy series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File). However the search ultimately leads Ted to realise that the real meaning of the holiday is appreciating time with loved ones and not needing everything to be perfect prompting the moustaches return. Sudeikis appears in the animated short alongside his co-stars Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster, and Nick Mohammed, who all voice their characters from the series. Waddingham and Goldstein recently received golden globe nominations for their roles in the series, which itself has won several top comedy accolades including best comedy series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards. More migrants arrived in Kent on Friday after crossing the English Channel. Among the large numbers of people seen being brought ashore in Dover on Thursday was a young girl, wearing a woollen hat and gloves and clutching a teddy bear as she was led away from the water. Another young child was pictured being carried to safety while a long line of adults were seen holding blankets around them as they waited to be processed. Crossings resumed this week, amid cold conditions after a period of bad weather had prevented many from attempting the journey. A young girl was seen clutching a teddy bear as she arrived in Dover on Thursday (Gareth Fuller/PA) Since the start of the year, more than 26,000 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats, according to data compiled by the PA news agency. This is more than triple the total for the whole of 2020. It comes after inspectors found migrants were still being held in very poor conditions after coming ashore despite Home Office assurances of significant improvements. Women who said they had been raped by smugglers were not adequately supported, and lone children were being held with unrelated adults, according to findings published after migrant detention facilities had been visited in the past three months. Many wrapped themselves in blankets to try and keep warm amid the cold weather (Gareth Fuller/PA) Earlier this week, the Home Office confirmed part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) site in Manston, near Ramsgate, will also be used to process migrants. Meanwhile, French prosecutors said 26 of the people who died after trying to cross the English Channel by boat last month to reach the UK have now been formally identified. At least 27 are thought to have died, including seven women, a teenager and a seven-year-old girl. The identity of one migrant remains unknown, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement. Spain is currently seeing the sharpest rise in Covid cases out of any country in Europe as fears of Omicron spreading across the continent grow. Cases have been rising sharply in the UK, with a record-breaking 88,000 confirmed on Thursday, but this increase has been matched with similar figures in Europe. According to Our World in Data the number of cases recorded in Spain has increased by almost 100% in the past week. (Our World In Data) They have recorded over 146,000 cases in the past seven days compared to 87,000 a week prior. The UK has recorded over 400,000 cases in the past seven days. Although the speed of increase in Spain is alarming it has started from a relatively low base and only has 447 cases per million people. Slovakia has the highest in Europe at 1,239 per million with Denmark, Switzerland and Belgium also all having over 1,000. The UK currently has 841 per million, just below Ireland's 847. (Our World In Data) The EU warned earlier this week they expect the Omicron variant of Covid to become dominant on the continent by the middle of January. Dr Andrea Ammon, director of the EU public health agency, said that "a further, rapid increase in Omicron cases is imminent" in the European Union and the European Economic Area. The comments were similar to those of the World Health Organisation, which has warned Omicron is "spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant." It is predicted Omicron will become dominant in the UK by the end of the and is already dominant in London. In Spain, the government has acted to try and stem the tide of the new wave. (Our World In Data) They approved booster shots for the over 40s on Thursday although it is thought they may not start receiving them until January. The also government said so far 40 cases of Omicron have been confirmed in Spain. In the Nordic countries, which have all seen a sharp rise in cases in recent days, they have acted quickly to tighten measures. Denmark and Norway have both said they expect to break their record cases numbers within days. Watch: France drastically restricts travel to and from UK over Omicron Covid variant Denmark last week announced schools and colleges would close early, curbed nightlight and began promoting working from home. Norway has banned bars and restaurants from serving alcohol and made working from home required where possible amid fears of Omicron. Other countries began implementing restrictions weeks ago when faced with another wave. Austria and Germany have both moved to limit freedoms on the unvaccinated. Restaurants, bars, non-essential stores and other public places have been closed from 5pm to 5am in the Netherlands since late November. On Thursday France tightened rules for travellers coming from the UK. French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced tough restrictions will be enforced from Saturday, including a requirement for compelling reasons to travel to or from the UK. Trips for tourism or business will not be permitted, his office said in a statement. A mother who had just finished quarantining burst into tears after it was announced that all remaining countries were to be removed from the coronavirus red list. Amanda Poole-Connor, 47, had finished 10 days of quarantining in a hotel next to Heathrow airport when news broke hours later that restrictions would be scrapped. The mother-of-two said she felt she was being punished and the experience left her in tears after being isolated in a small room with vile food and no natural light. Amanda Poole-Connor, 47, finished quarantining just hours before it was announced that all remaining countries would be removed from the red list (Amanda Poole-Connor) When I saw the news that restrictions had been scrapped I burst into tears, Mrs Poole-Connor told the PA news agency. Its devastating because I am never going to get those 10 days of my life back. The treatment of the people going into those hotels was abhorrent I felt like a prisoner and if I was going to catch Covid from anywhere, it would have been in there. It was horrific being trapped and not even having daylight It was so unnecessary and such a waste of everyones time and money. Mrs Poole-Connor had flown out to visit her father, who is unwell, on November 25 but arrived in South Africa to the news it had been placed on the red list while she was in the air. Coronavirus travel restrictions meant travellers returning from red list countries were told to quarantine in specialised hotels for 10 days. Sajid Javid announced on Tuesday that all 11 countries on the list would be removed from 4am the following day. Many travellers, including Mrs Poole-Connor, reported spending over 2,000 to cover the costs of the mandatory quarantine stay. Food received by Amanda Poole-Connor during quarantine (Amanda Poole-Connor) I am trying to focus on the positives like South Africa is being taken off the list and the fact that other people will not have to go through all that, said Mrs Poole-Connor. But its hard to stay rational when I was kept away from my children for 10 days. Another woman who had been quarantining in a hotel near Gatwick Airport for the past five days said it felt like the Government were mocking travellers. Gill, from Kent, said she has been made to feel like a prisoner since flying back from South Africa following a visit to family after the death of her nephew. The 52-year-old had not been able to leave until 4pm on Wednesday and described the experience as an emotional rollercoaster. She told PA: I honestly feel really wronged by the whole thing but this part of it was absolutely cruel. I cant describe to anybody how much stress Ive been under for the last few weeks it has affected me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I feel like the Government owes the people who quarantined an apology. The PA news agency has contacted the Government for comment. Northern Irelands booster rollout will further accelerate next week when vaccination centres open to the over-18s. Some GP and community pharmacies are already offering jabs to the 18-29 age cohort. A briefing document from Health Minister Robin Swann, which was circulated to fellow ministers on Wednesday night, sets out the next steps in the booster drive. The document, seen by the PA news agency, states that health trust vaccination hubs will open to 18 to 29-year-olds on a walk-in basis from Monday. People in that age group will be able to book appointments from Wednesday. Health Minister Robin Swann has updated fellow ministers on plans to speed up the booster programme (David Young/PA) The paper was circulated ahead of a meeting of the Executive on Thursday. At the meeting, ministers will receive an update from health officials on the threat posed by the Omicron variant. Large queues have formed at trust centres this week after the programme opened to over-30s. Some GPs and community pharmacies are already delivering jabs to over-18s and more of those facilities will open to that cohort next week. Mr Swann outlined plans to extend capacity at existing hubs and reactivate other mass vaccination centres, including the Foyle Arena in Londonderry and the South Lake leisure centre in Craigavon, Co Armagh. He said there are also plans to set up other fixed and mobile vaccination facilities. On Wednesday, Northern Irelands chief medical officer said he is more concerned than at any previous point in the pandemic, amid warnings over the rapid spread of the new variant. Sir Michael McBride urged all adults to get a booster vaccine as he and chief scientific adviser Professor Ian Young said Omicron is likely to become the dominant strain in Northern Ireland before the new year. Prof Young said Omicron is expected to peak in mid-January and daily case numbers are likely to be higher than at any other time during the pandemic. Stormont deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to stand up the furlough scheme again so it will be ready and available for workers if more severe restrictions are needed in the weeks ahead. Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to stand up the furlough scheme again (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms ONeill said Northern Ireland cannot be held to ransom over Covid-19 financial support and be left waiting for decisions to be taken in England. She expressed concern that the potential reintroduction of UK-wide financial support measures, such as furlough, will be dictated by the timing of the Governments response to the Omicron variant in England. The joint head of the devolved administration in Belfast claimed the UK Government has been slow to act in response to the Covid threat in England throughout the pandemic and insisted Northern Ireland should not be forced to delay making decisions until ministers in London take similar steps. On Wednesday, Mr Sunak announced that Northern Ireland is to receive another 75 million to help in the battle against Omicron. However, Stormonts Department of Finance has insisted that 50 million of the sum referred to by the Chancellor is not new money and has already been committed to the Executive. A cash-strapped council has said the rusting Tyne Bridge was a metaphor of the damage caused by Tory austerity since 2010 and would have been repaired if it was in the South East. The national landmark, a symbol of civic pride for the North East of England, has been scheduled to have major refurbishment for years. Large patches of rust can clearly be seen from the road which links Newcastle and Gateshead, discolouring the green structure which has not been fully repainted since 2000. Newcastle City Council has said it does not have the money to pay for it and has asked the Department for Transport to fund a 40 million repair programme ahead of its centenary in 2028. Traffic passing through the Tyne Bridge with rust clearly visible (Owen Humphreys/PA) It said major works it requires are outside its limited annual budgets, which means it must bid for government support. Labour Councillor John-Paul Stephenson, the councils culture lead, has said the bridge would not have been allowed to fall into such disrepair if it was in the South East. He said: The rusting bridge is a metaphor of the damage the Conservatives have done to our city since 2010. A major landmark in the South would not have been allowed to get to this level. Traffic passing through the Tyne Bridge with rust clearly visible (Owen Humphreys/PA) I know that there are parts of London and the wider South which need TLC too. But the difference is that these are not iconic structures. I certainly dont want to dismiss how important these are to their local infrastructures, but the point is they dont tend to be so integral to representations of the city. If they were, it would have been sorted. Levelling up needs to be more than just words. A rainbow visible over Tyne Bridge, Newcastle (Owen Humphreys/PA) If they can waste money on a fancy press room in Downing Street, they have the money to restore one of the UKs most loved landmarks so we can be proud of it again in time for its centenary in 2028. The Department for Transport was supportive of the Tyne Bridge being restored and was waiting for a bid from the council. A spokesman said: We are keen to see the Tyne Bridge returned to its former glory, and await further information from the council before we can consider allocating funding. Our commitment to levelling up the North East has already seen 20 million provided to improve transport in the region, and we hope Newcastle City Council considers reapplying for funding for other schemes in future rounds. The UKs competition watchdog has warned that a deal by Cellnex to purchase telecoms towers from rival CK Hutchison could mean higher prices for mobile customers. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) added that the deal, which was agreed in January, could worsen terms for mobile operators and their users. Cellnex, a Spanish independent supplier of telecoms infrastructure, agreed to buy the European infrastructure assets of conglomerate CK Hutchison, which also owns mobile brand Three. The deal included CK Hutchisons UK towers and masts and was part of around 8.6 billion of deals by Cellnex at the time. Cellnex owns the structures which mobile operators and other wireless communications network providers attach equipment to in order to run their networks, as well as the sites these are built on. In May, the CMA launched an inquiry into the deal and referred it to an in-depth probe by an independent inquiry group in July. Two months later, BT warned that the deal would hand too much power to Cellnex and pose competition concerns across the sector. The CMA has now said it has provisionally found the sale to Cellnex over an alternative buyer may raise competition concerns as it will leave a duopoly where Cellnex and Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited (CTIL), a joint venture between O2 and Vodafone, will account for over 90% of the market. Richard Feasey, chair of the independent inquiry group, said: Mobile phones are an essential part of everyday life for people and businesses. This deal may prevent the emergence of a third major national provider of the critical infrastructure on which mobile operators depend, leaving them with only a choice of only two major suppliers. Less competition could mean higher prices or worse terms for both mobile operators and their customers. The watchdog said it is inviting further submissions to help with its investigation by January 14, with a final decision due by Monday March 7. Jeff Garlin has exited The Goldbergs after an HR investigation into his behavior on set. The 59-year-old comedian who plays Murray Goldberg, the dad of the TV family in the ABC sitcom will not return after a series of misconduct allegations in the workplace. His departure is effective immediately. Garlin already had his schedule reduced amid the investigation into the allegations. Sony Pictures Television, which produces the show, had no comment when contacted by Yahoo Entertainment. However, sources with knowledge of the situation say the decision is a mutual one. Garlin addressed the allegations of misbehavior on the set of the family comedy in an interview earlier this month. "No, I was not fired from The Goldbergs," he told Vanity Fair in the lengthy and detailed story. He admitted there "has been an HR investigation on me the past three years. HR has come to me three years in a row for my behavior on set." Jeff Garlin has exited The Goldbergs, the ABC sitcom he's starred on since 2013. (Photo: Scott Everett White/ABC via Getty Images) Garlin said the way he sees it is that he and Sony Pictures Television had a difference of opinion about his behavior. "My opinion is, I have my process about how Im funny, in terms of the scene and what I have to do," he said. "They feel that it makes for a quote 'unsafe' workspace." He said the issue at hand was "political correctness." He added, "Were trying to come to a place where we come to an agreement. Either I can behave the way [they want] or not. Well see, but Im not being fired and Ive not been fired When I do shoot more days, just to make it go smooth, I will not be doing any of my silly stuff or anything, out of respect. The interviewer noted that three former Goldberg employees alleged that they felt demeaned and disrespected multiple times by language Garlin used on the set. Additionally, people claimed Garlin touched them and hugged them when they dont want that kind of contact. "Whoever it is that feels this way has it out for me," he said. "Thats my true belief. I would never physically put myself to someone. And I would never hatefully say something to anyone." He also spoke about an alleged verbal and physical altercation with two long-time stand-ins, a husband and wife. "Im sorry for laughing," he said. "There was no Nothing physical by any stretch of the imagination. And the verbal part was a joke I will say the joke was missed and I apologize." An eyewitness to that incident, which took place two months ago, told Deadline that Garlin came up behind the female and "screamed at her, Why are you always in my way? Get the f**k out of my way as she was walking down the ramp on the set after they had done blocking for a scene. She was confused and looked around." Garlin then told the womans husband, Tell your wife to get the f**k out of my way." That incident was apparently "the straw that broke the camels back." Garlin told Vanity Fair he didn't expect the show, which is wrapping its 9th season, to be renewed for the next season anyway. A Sony Pictures Television rep told that outlet: "The well-being of our cast and crew is of utmost importance to us. This is an employment matter and it is being addressed by HR and production." It's unclear how Garlin's character will be written off the show. The cast and crew were reportedly told of Garlin's exit on Wednesday afternoon. In addition to his work on The Goldbergs, which premiered in 2013, Garlin is an actor and executive producer on HBOs Curb Your Enthusiasm. He is also in the upcoming film Babylon, starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt. Passing the torch? The cast of Selling Tampa is paving their own way but they did learn a thing or two from the Selling Sunset stars. Read article Were totally different from Selling Sunset, Allure Realty owner Sharelle Rosado exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, December 16, while promoting the new Netflix series. [Were] different type[s] of personalities. Were controlling Florida. Were all about selling Tampa. Sharelle, who runs an all-Black, all-female real estate firm on the Florida coast, noted that Selling Sunset is amazing, but that her Selling Tampa costars are killing it on their own. Nino Munoz/ Netflix We have the beautiful homes. We have the personality, she teased. We have the beautiful ladies, and you have to watch and see [what happens next]. When it came to whether Jason Oppenheim, who runs the Oppenheim Group in Southern California or his Selling Sunset costars gave any of Sharelles realtors advice on filming a TV series, she said, No, no. Read article The military vet has, however, watched Selling Sunset. Its a great show. We did watch it. I was a fan of the show before we got the deal with Netflix, Sharelle told Us. Rob Latour/Shutterstock Selling Sunset debuted on the streaming service in March 2019 and starred Chrishell Stause, Christine Quinn, Heather Rae Young, Maya Vander, Mary Fitzgerald, Davina Potratz, Jason and his twin brother, Brett Oppenheim. The series has since produced three more seasons and added stars Amanza Smith, Emma Hernan and Vanessa Villela. Selling Tampa, which stars Sharelle, Alexis Williams, Anne-Sophie Petit, Colony Reeves, Juawana Williams, Karla Giorgio, Rena Frazier and Tennille Moore, was announced earlier this year. Netflix These ladies are equally as fun as they are fiercely ambitious, with all of them vying to be on top of the lavish world of luxury waterfront real estate, a press release from Netflix read. Sharelle has big plans for her brokerage and wont let anyone or anything get in the way of making her dreams a reality. Sharelle told Us on Thursday that the spinoff series is something different because it shows boss ass women killing it in the real estate industry. She teased drama but noted that all of her employees get the job done and we know how to come back as [a] family. Read article Tennille, for her part, hinted that there is definitely a little drama here and there sprinkling around, but fans will have to tune in to see what its all about. Selling Tampa is currently streaming on Netflix. With reporting by Christina Garibaldi Tough love? Lisa Rinna wants her eldest daughter, Delilah Belle Hamlin, to stand on her own two feet amid their alleged family drama. Read article The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 58, is treating [Delilah] like an adult, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly shortly after the model, 23, seemingly threw shade at her parents on social media. Earlier this month, Amelia Gray Hamlins older sister raised eyebrows when she posted a TikTok video set to Jingle Bell Rock, describing whats on her holiday wish list. Unrealistic things I want for Christmas for my parents to pay for my trauma therapy, she wrote in the since-deleted post. The Bravo personality and her husband, Harry Hamlin, have yet to publicly address the video, but Us has reached out to Rinnas rep for comment. Rinna did, however, post a series of throwback photos of her daughters via her Instagram Story on Tuesday, December 14, seemingly reflecting on simpler times. Shutterstock (2) Delilahs video mightve been a moment of frustration or mightve been after a heated argument with her parents, the insider says, noting that the social media star wouldnt have posted it and aired her issues with her parents if they werent real. The influencer calling out her parents was more about her expressing how her parents treat her, per the insider. Rinna has been telling [Delilah] that she can be independent and pay for things on her own for a while, the source adds. The reality TV star is there for her kids whenever they need her, the insider explains, adding that shes always let her daughter be very independent. Harry, 70, and Rinnas parenting affects her and she gets upset about certain things, the source tells Us, adding that Delilah has been open about the help she needs in the past. Although the Melrose Place alum wants Delilah to be a confident adult, she would never refuse giving her [child] money if she needed it, the insider adds. Read article Delilahs cryptic video came one month after she opened up about her personal health struggles, revealing that she became dependent on Xanax earlier this year. The California native explained in November that she was sick for 36 hours after getting the COVID-19 vaccine and felt like my bones were breaking. During a lengthy Instagram video, Delilah said she realized that the shot triggered an autoimmune response in her body which made her feel like she had the flu. I was getting migraines, I was having panic attacks it was like my body was in constant fight or flight mode. It was horrible, she noted. Clarifying that she was not anti-vaccine, Delilah claimed she was over-prescribed Xanax by a psychiatrist to help deal with her panic attacks. Read article I overdosed. I didnt mean to at all. I overdosed on this one medication called Propranolol. I took Benadryl with it and, for some reason, I ended up in the hospital, Delilah continued, noting that she went to a treatment facility in Arizona. My family and I are struggling to figure out, kind of, what to do. Mentally, I am not great today. Im feeling hopeless since the last treatment center didnt work out. Amid her stay at the wellness center, she had seizures and was politely asked to leave after three weeks of being there, due to being a medical risk. During the emotional clip, Delilah said she has cut down on her Xanax use, but was also dealing with other health concerns, including Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), Epstein-Barr virus and encephalitis. Rinna addressed her daughters mental health struggles in November, thanking all of the angels who have reached out, sharing their stories, sending their love and prayers for their well-wishes and help. Delilah previously sought treatment for depression and anxiety in 2018. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). With reporting by Diana Cooper FILE PHOTO: A Deutche Post and DHL sign stands in front of the Bonn Post Tower in Bonn AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - DHL Supply Chain has placed a U.S. order for 100 trucks equipped with TuSimple's self-driving technology and manufactured by Navistar to further expand its understanding of driverless trucks in its supply chain. DHL, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post AG, in a statement said that while the partnership was currently in its infant stages, it looked forward to deploying TuSimple's driverless technology across multiple regions outside the United States in the future. The logistics provider, which also has partnerships with other self-driving companies, began working on a pilot program with California-based TuSimple earlier this month to transport daily hauls between Dallas and San Antonio, Texas. Those hauls are currently operated by TuSimple-owned trucks retrofitted with the company's self-driving technology. The new trucks, expected to be delivered to DHL between 2024 and 2025, will be owned by the logistics company and equipped with autonomous technology from the start. TuSimple will then provide its self-driving services to DHL on a subscription basis as part of the company's long-term business plan, TuSimple Chief Executive Cheng Lu said in an interview. "Retrofitting a truck is simple not scalable," Lu said. TuSimple last year partnered with Illinois-based Navistar to co-develop self-driving trucks targeted for 2024 production. Navistar took a minority stake in TuSimple. For DHL, autonomous truck deployment is currently limited and a spokesman said the company was vendor-agnostic, allowing it to partner with the optimal suppliers and technologies in different regions. DHL in October submitted a reservation for 100 trucks with TuSimple competitor Embark Trucks Inc, and said it will submit further reservations with a yet unnamed third autonomous trucking provider. The DHL order brings TuSimple's total truck reservations to nearly 6,900. The company already has a partnership with UPS and said it aims to remove safety drivers from its trucks on an 80-mile (130-km) test route between Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, in the coming months. (Reporting by Tina Bellon in Austin, Texas; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Closing arguments are scheduled to begin today in the trial of Elizabeth Holmes, who could go to prison for as long as 20 years if she's convicted of defrauding patients and investors in her blood-testing startup. Prosecutors will get the first opportunity to make their final arguments. Then, the defense team will make their case for their client, who claims she never intentionally deceived anybody by suggesting her startup, Theranos, could perform hundreds of diagnostic tests with just a few drops of blood. After the defense rests, prosecutors will have a final opportunity to address the jury. Cardozo Law School professor Jessica Roth says she expects the government during closing to reinforce that Holmes, as CEO, many times proclaimed herself responsible for everything that happened at the company and as someone who was aware of its shortcomings. The evidence produced at trial both the documents and the testimony of witnesses supported the claim that Holmes was aware of problems with the technology, and with the financial health of the company, Roth tells Yahoo Finance. That evidence will be used by the government to argue that Holmes had criminal intent when she made statements to investors and to paying patients. Holmes is defending 11 counts of fraud and conspiracy for allegedly misrepresenting the viability of Theranos blood-testing technology to investors and paying customers. She was indicted back in 2018 after Theranos imploded under regulatory scrutiny, along with Theranos COO and her onetime boyfriend, Sunny Balwani. He faces the same charges and is scheduled to stand trial next year. Holmes knew Theranos technology was faulty but promoted it anyway: prosecutors One example the government can revisit to show Holmes level of awareness is testimony from former Theranos lab director, Kingshuk Das. According to CNBC, Das testified that in 2015 he informed Holmes of a prostate-specific antigen test that was showing inaccuracies. Holmes, he said, chalked up the inaccuracies to quality control and assurance rather than its analyzers instrument failure. Holmes, who testified in her own defense, stopped short of admitting she understood the extent of the technologys pitfalls. While she conceded her ultimate responsibility for Theranos as CEO, Holmes said she believed the technology worked based on representations from company experts and that she mistakenly delegated key decisions to Balwani. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is cross examined by prosecutor Robert Leach at Robert F. Peckham U.S. Courthouse during her trial, in San Jose, California, U.S., November 30, 2021 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Vicki Behringer Moreover, Holmes testified that Balwani, who's approximately 20 years her senior, subjected her to psychological abuse, controlling what she ate and how much she slept. Holmes abuse claims could get blocked from closings and deliberations: The government said it would request that the judge strike Holmes testimony about Balwani's alleged abuse as well as testimony claiming she was sexually assaulted at Stanford, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. To counter Holmes claims that Balwani was to blame, prosecutors in closing may recount a string of text messages between Holmes and Balwani to argue she knew about Theranos problems. In 2015, for example, after Holmes became the subject of intense media attention, Balwani sent her a text warning of his concerns of the exposure at a time without solid substance which is lacking right now. One of the riskiest areas for Holmes The government will also likely revisit one of the more shocking moments from Holmes' own testimony her admission that she added the logos of drug giants Pfizer and Schering-Plough to two Theranos reports. Investors who testified during the prosecutions case said they thought the documents came from the pharmaceutical companies. Similarly, investors who testified for the prosecution said they relied on direct statements from Holmes indicating that Theranos blood-testing analyzer had been deployed by the U.S. Department of Defense in the battlefield in Afghanistan and had been tapped for additional military use. That was an action that she took that the government says she took to deceive, white collar defense lawyer and former prosecutor Elisha Kobre told Yahoo Finance. And that, I think, is one of the riskiest areas for her. Prosecutors may also revisit statements she made to the media, including boasting to Fortune that the company could conduct 70 different tests from a "finger stick" sample and that the company offered more than 200 common tests. The author of that cover story, Roger Parloff, who has contributed to Yahoo Finance, testified during the trial that Holmes had made multiple misrepresentations to him. Michael Weinstein, a white collar criminal defense lawyer with Cole Schotz, says, all told, the prosecution delivered a compelling narrative. She had made so many statements for so many years in so many different vehicles and platforms, Weinstein said. I think the case went in well for the government. I think they were able to articulate specifically Holmes representations, or misrepresentations and falsehoods, and her ability, and controlling the company. Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on Twitter @alexiskweed. Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. Find live stock market quotes and the latest business and finance news For tutorials and information on investing and trading stocks, check out Cashay The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a $768 billion defense policy bill that directs the president to create a "grand strategy" to address global economic and military threats posed by China. That vote came as news emerged that U.S. military commanders have created a software tool designed to predict how China will react to U.S. activities in the area, such as U.S. officials' visits to Taiwan. In a new interview taped Monday, billionaire hedge fund titan Ray Dalio said a military confrontation between the U.S. and China is unlikely for now. However, he added that if a U.S-China war does break out, it will likely be over Taiwan, a disputed entity roughly 100 miles off the coast of Southeastern China. "Well, I think if there's going to be a military war issue, it is likely to be around Taiwan," Dalio told Yahoo Finance's editor-in-chief, Andy Serwer. Later, Dalio added, "Watch what's going on closely with Taiwan, and you'll see the straws in the wind." While Taiwan has a democratically elected government and a "robust unofficial relationship with the U.S.," the United Nations doesn't recognize it as an independent country. As Serwer noted in a column for Yahoo Finance last month, Taiwan has been in political limbo since the Chinese Civil War nearly three-quarters of a century ago. But more recently, tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan have flared up. People wear a face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while passing a night market in Taipei, Taiwan, August 6, 2020. REUTERS/Ann Wang Communist China, for its part, insists that Taiwan is a province of the mainland. The country has repeatedly entered Taiwan's air defense zone in the past year, and in October, China condemned the U.S. and Canada for trying to "stir up trouble" by sending warships through the Taiwan Strait. Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Dalio described the status of Taiwan and its potential to provoke military action between the U.S. and China this way: "It's an important issue that might be, could be fought over. I think that you watch it." This was far from the first time Dalio has commented on China tensions. He's faced backlash over the fact that his hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has investments in China particularly after an interview with CNBC last month where he seemingly likened the country's autocratic government to a "stern parent." In a Dec. 5 LinkedIn post clarifying the statement, he said that view was not his own, but rather, he was explaining what a Chinese leader told him about the country's approach to governing. Dalio went on to note that Bridgewater invests in about 40 countries, including China, and that it relies on guidance from regulators in those countries and in the U.S. However, he added: "Having said all this, what I think and what Bridgewater does are of minuscule importance relative to the rapidly growing risk of U.S. war with China due to misunderstandings and inclinations to fight ..." War is far from Dalio's only concern about China, however. In his new book, "Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order," the hedge fund manager expresses certainty that China will become a greater world power than the U.S., as a Wall Street Journal review noted. He reiterated this prediction to Yahoo Finance. "The population of China has four times that of the United States," Dalio noted. "So if it has an average income of half the United States, it will be twice as large as the United States." While China may someday become a greater world power than the U.S., its economy has suffered amid the pandemic, the country's regulatory crackdown on Chinese companies, and a prolonged property downturn sparked in part by the downfall of mega-developer Evergrande. For his part, Dalio stressed that the U.S. should turn its focus toward itself. "If we do the right things, to be strong, so that we are stronger than any opposition in the world," he said, "we won't have a problem." Erin Fuchs is deputy managing editor at Yahoo Finance. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn SYDNEY (AP) Five children died and four others were in critical condition on Thursday after falling from a bouncy castle that was lifted 10 meters (33 feet) into the air by a gust of wind at a school on Australias island state of Tasmania. The school was holding a celebration to mark the end of the school year. The children who died included two boys and two girls in year 6, which would make them 10 or 11 years old, said Tasmania police Commissioner Darren Hine. Police later Thursday confirmed a fifth child died in the hospital. Five other children were being treated, including four in critical condition. Hine said an investigation is underway. Emergency services personnel work the scene of a deadly incident involved with a jumping castle at the Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (Grant Wells/AAP Image via AP) Images published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed police officers consoling each other as paramedics provided first aid to victims. Parents arrived at the school gate to collect their children as helicopters ferried the injured to hospitals. Tasmania state Premier Peter Gutwein called the incident simply inconceivable... I know this is a strong and caring community that will stand together and support one another. Tasmania police commander Debbie Williams told reporters several children fell from the jumping castle. It appears they may have fallen from a height of approximately 10 meters. This is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and the wider school community and also our first responders, Williams said. Emergency response workers dig through the rubble of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory in Mayfield, Ky., on Saturday. (Timothy D. Easley / Associated Press) The first tornado warning was already over when Elijah Johnson walked onto the candle factory floor to begin his 6 p.m. shift. A team leader instructed the 20-year-old candle inspector to get into position on the production line. Johnson began checking candles on the conveyor belt, until he heard a group of workers ask the night supervisor if they could leave before the brunt of the storms. Johnson asked too, he said, but the supervisor said no. Even with the weather bad like this, youre still not going to let me go? he asked. Days after the massive storm system tore through Kentucky and five other states killing 88 people, including eight at the candle factory some workers have raised questions about the companys tornado preparation: Why didn't the factory stop production and close for the night? Why didnt supervisors send out messages informing workers that if they left because of the storms they would not be penalized? Or at least given those who stayed clearer safety instructions? The company that owns the candle factory has denied any wrongdoing involving the recent storms. Johnson said his supervisor told him he had clocked out early too many times on other days. Leaving the night of the storms last week would result in serious consequences, Johnson said he was told. You know the rule, he said the night supervisor told him. If you leave, youre going to be terminated. Several hours later, the tornado sirens blared again. Team leaders ushered everyone to a hallway near the bathrooms for shelter, and Johnson dropped to the ground with his hands over his head and knees over his stomach. When he opened his eyes, he was trapped under a concrete wall. The entire warehouse was pulverized, and all around him co-workers gasped and screamed. He dialed his father. Im stuck! Im stuck! Im stuck! Eight of the 110 workers who stayed in the Mayfield factory Friday night did not make it out alive. Dozens were hospitalized. The company denied workers claims that supervisors or team leaders prevented employees from leaving. A spokesman said the factory had adjusted its workplace policies as it faced labor shortages during the pandemic to allow employees to clock out and leave without consequences. Absolutely false, Bob Ferguson, a spokesman for Mayfield Consumer Products, said regarding reports of company rules that allegedly prevented employees from leaving work. Employees are always free to leave if they want to. The candle factory was not alone in staying open during the tornado. Many of the towns other big employers, from the Pilgrims Pride chicken plant to the local Walmart Superstore, did not shutter. Ferguson said Mayfield Consumer Products had followed government regulations set out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to establish emergency response plans, identify places for workers to shelter and account for who is on the work site. The candle factory said it welcomed further guidance from officials. If climate change or something is happening where the storms are of a greater threat or ferocity," Ferguson said, "we would ask our safety administrators, our government to tell us: Should we alter the policies that are in place? Most of the people who perished in the weekend storms were not gathered in a large workplace, but in single-family houses, trailers and nursing homes. But the eight deaths at the candle factory along with six workers killed at an Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville, Ill. have prompted some labor experts and economists to call for greater study of the risks of working in large warehouses across the Midwest and the South, particularly as concern builds that global warming is making storms more frequent and more severe. "With climate change, there's a growing awareness that safety standards need to be updated, with more attention to keeping workers safe," said Marcus Dillender, an economist at the University of Illinois at Chicagos School of Public Health. "We can't rely on companies to do this. While OSHA encourages employers to develop emergency action plans for natural disasters, it does not have specific rules limiting whether employers can require workers to go to work during a storm, Dillender said. Health and safety laws governing OSHA contain a general duty clause that requires companies to provide safe working conditions, but Dillender said the mandate is too vague to be helpful. Even if OSHA had a sweeping policy requiring every employer to have an emergency response plan, the agency is too underresourced, he said, to monitor companies regularly and ensure compliance. Companies that employ workers in massive factories and warehouses in some cases thin, modern metal buildings that typically dont have basements should explore how to create infrastructure that can withstand powerful tornadoes, said Beth Gutelius, research director at the Center for Urban Economic Development at the University of Illinois-Chicago. "We need to think about and plan ahead to make sure both buildings they work in and emergency preparedness protocols in place are as strong as they need to be and as proactive as they need to be," Gutelius said. As the tornado approached, the factory that supplies candles to stores such as Bath & Body Works was dealing with a Christmas rush amid staff shortages. Online, it was advertising for employees who would work 10- to 12-hour shifts in a fast-paced environment. The starting wage was $8 an hour. Mandatory overtime will be required frequently, either by extending your shift or working on Friday, the company said in a job posting. Isaiah Holt, 32, who worked in the wax and fragrance department, mixing chemicals to make the candles, said the companys pay structure involved incentives that required him to work 50 hours a week and a minimum of two Saturdays a month to get his pay bumped from $12 to $15 an hour. Even if workers were technically free to leave, Holt said, working fewer hours meant losing more than just a few hours of pay. He would forfeit a higher pay rate for every hour worked that week. They kind of got us in a spot, he said. Many of the workers who stayed in the Mayfield warehouse Friday night did not ask to leave. Autumn Kirks, a 34-year-old team leader, said she and her fiance, Lannis Ward, considered taking shelter at home when a small group of workers got ready to leave after the first tornado warning. But while they would have preferred to ride out the storm at home with family, they decided that, as team leaders, they needed to stay to keep production lines running. Our team is depending on us, Ward told her. Ward did not make it out of the factory alive. On Tuesday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced that the Kentucky Division of Occupational Safety and Health Compliance would conduct an investigation into the Mayfield factory deaths, noting that such reviews are standard and shouldnt suggest that there was any wrongdoing. President Biden visited the state on Wednesday. Some candle factory workers were upset by their co-workers' criticism of supervisors. It breaks my heart to hear these bad comments on Facebook about making employees stay at work, day shift supervisor Linetta Burney posted on Facebook on Sunday night. Everybody knows damn well they would not MAKE anybody stay." As Holt recovered this week from broken ribs and a punctured lung in a hospital bed in Nashville, he said he had little sympathy for company management. His older brother, Bobby Holt, who had just started working at the factory that week, was in a coma with kidney damage stopping the blood flow in his legs. Negligence, negligence, negligence and greed, Holt said of the companys response to the storms. Everybody thats in charge needs to be locked up, without any type of compassion not just because theyre the worst people in the world, but so other people dont do this. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A Taliban fighter checks passports at the Islam Qala border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran. (Petros Giannakouris / Associated Press) Unlike most of his compatriots, Jamal Papoli didnt have to worry about being stuck in Afghanistan when the Taliban sped to power in August. Papoli had quit his homeland years ago to set up shop as a stonemason here in neighboring Iran, just outside Tehran. But instead of relief, what the 30-year-old father of two feels these days is fear. As one of hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans in this country, hes frightened of getting snared in one of the growing number of sweeps by Iranian authorities and sent back to his native land, where an uncertain fate awaits especially for him as an ethnic Uzbek in a Pashtun-dominated, Taliban-run society. After all the previous times Papoli was arrested and deported, he simply waited until he could sneak back in again. But Afghanistans new regime and Irans intensifying efforts to tighten the border mean that thats not a viable option anymore. Its no longer like it was in the past. If I get caught again, I would be given to Taliban forces at the border crossing an unthinkable outcome, Papoli said. Ive already gotten my wife and two children smuggled into Turkey. I have no option but to earn some money and get out of here myself. I would rather die en route to Germany than get deported to the Taliban. Papolis plight offers another twist on the prevailing political realities since the Talibans surprise return to governing Afghanistan, 20 years after the radical groups first attempt at it from 1996 to 2001. As countless residents continue to seek ways to flee the country, many of the more than 3 million Afghans who have already found safer haven in Iran are grappling with the fear of being shipped back by a government in Tehran that finds their presence increasingly burdensome. Several thousand Afghans are streaming into Iran every day to escape the Taliban regime and racking poverty, most of them illegally. (Petros Giannakouris / Associated Press) That, in turn, could become a headache for the West, particularly Europe, if large numbers of refugees in Iran feel threatened enough to strike out for other nations. Human smugglers report a jump in demand for their services in helping people migrate farther west. Several thousand Afghans continue to make their way across the border into Iran every day, even though the Iranian economy is in a tailspin because of crippling U.S. sanctions. Since Kabul fell to the Taliban in mid-August, 400,000 Afghans are estimated to have streamed into the Islamic Republic, often negotiating vertiginous mountain passes and other treacherous terrain to escape Afghanistans new-old rulers, its racking poverty or both. That figure is three times the number of Afghans whom U.S. and other NATO nations forces airlifted out of Kabul in the chaotic days after the Taliban seized control of the capital. Indeed, Iran currently hosts the equivalent of 10% of Afghanistans entire population. Now that many Afghans see the dream of returning home gone for good, thousands of them have pinned their hopes to better living conditions in Iran, said Abbas Hosseini, a veteran Afghan journalist who is the director of the Tehran-based AVA news agency. The great majority of the refugees here are members of the Tajik, Uzbek or Hazara ethnic minorities, who are routinely discriminated against or worse at home. Hazaras in particular, as Shiite rather than Sunni Muslims, are despised by Afghanistans ruling Pashtuns; they have long been the targets of mass killings and other atrocities, which have continued under the Taliban, rights groups allege, despite the new rulers smiling pledges of a tolerant pluralism. Zabih, a young Hazara man who gave only his first name, recalled the clenching fear that overtook him recently as he tried to elude authorities who, he thought, would deliver him to certain oppression or even death in Afghanistan if they laid hold of him. I was screaming at the top of my lungs and running like a sprinter for my life that night. I was jumping over fence after fence and rolling down muddy, steep hills in the dark, hoping the chasing officers would give up, said Zabih, who has been living in one of Irans northern cities. Like Papoli, Zabih has been caught and expelled from Iran several times before, and has always managed to steal back in. But having heard the stories and rumors about what the Taliban has been doing to Hazaras and Tajiks, I couldnt risk being easily busted this time and sent back, he said. Afghans eager to escape persecution, poverty or persistent conflict have taken flight to Iran for decades; shantytowns full of refugees line the outskirts of Tehran and cities such as Mashhad and Isfahan. About 850,000 of the more than 3 million migrants are undocumented, Hosseini said. Every day, hundreds more arrive overnight, often getting dumped by smugglers in Tehrans famous Azadi Square and left to fend for themselves. Hosseini said that smugglers fees have quadrupled, to about $500 to $600 per person, as Iranian authorities have stepped up patrols of the 560-mile border with Afghanistan. This year, Iran had sent back 1.15 million Afghan migrants by Nov. 28 a 47% increase over the same period last year, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration. The government, led by newly elected hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, is in talks with the Taliban on strengthening controls at the border. The Afghan Embassy in Tehran is no help for its citizens who have made it through: The pre-Taliban ambassador left the country immediately after the fall of Kabul. Mohammad Musa Akbari, a veteran Afghan photographer and longtime resident in Iran, is trying to fill the gap. Hes turned his cozy restaurant in busy downtown Tehran, Khaneh Kabul (House of Kabul), into a gathering place that serves up Afghan food and cultural events for the homesick, and assistance for those in need, including children unable to afford books and school supplies. Akbaris three children were born, raised and educated in Iran, but have no path to Iranian citizenship under current laws. His daughter is married to an Iranian social activist who has taken up the refugees cause. At the same time, Akbari doesnt think Iran can afford to host any more of his former compatriots. He blamed false warnings of mass displacement or ethnic cleansing in Afghanistan for the latest wave of immigration, even though human rights groups have reported recent killings of Hazaras. Many rumors are circulating, Akbari said. Recently, I raised $5,000 to $6,000 and personally went to Afghanistan to help. But there are unknown sources who are spreading these baseless rumors. Iran cannot take in more refugees, Akbari said. This is a fact. Abdolhakim Mahdi would be perfectly happy for another Afghan to take his place in Iran. The 22-year-old is here legally on a temporary visa and, like many other immigrants who hold documents, was able to commute freely between Iran and Afghanistan when the U.S.-backed government still held sway in Kabul. Now, with the Taliban in power and Iranian authorities deporting more Afghan migrants, who risk punishment by the new regime, Mahdis dream is no longer to return to his homeland after getting a degree; safety and opportunity lie elsewhere. Its absolutely out of the question now to go back to Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban, he said. Im desperately applying to universities everywhere. Hes been waiting in long lines outside the German Embassy in central Tehran. Video posted on social media show similar scenes outside the diplomatic missions of other nations. Everybody is on the move now, Mahdi said. Special correspondent Khazani reported from Tehran. Staff writer Chu is based in London. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A view of the Queen Mary ship, with a modern Carnival Cruise ship behind, docked in Long Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) A federal bankruptcy judge issued a $250-a-day fine to former operators of the Queen Mary who are accused of stealing $2.4 million from a COVID-19 relief loan meant to pay their employees during the pandemic. The judge's order Tuesday arrives amid a bankruptcy proceeding over how a real estate firm maintained the aging ship as part of a lease agreement with the city of Long Beach, which owns the ship and a parcel of land around the port. Urban Commons set its sights on revamping the retired British ocean liner as a tourist destination, but within five years of the company taking over the lease, a real estate investment trust it had created filed for bankruptcy, leaving behind a trail of debt. Beginning in 2016, Urban Commons held a 66-year lease to operate the Queen Mary and develop the surrounding land. It created Eagle Hospitality Real Estate Trust as an investment entity to generate revenue from the Queen Mary's role as a hotel and from other hospitality ventures, but in January of this year, the trust filed for bankruptcy protection with roughly $500 million in debt. The Queen Mary is in poor shape. This year the city of Long Beach took back control of the ship after Eagle Hospitality Trust filed for bankruptcy. A recent report estimated it could cost the city $175 million to preserve the ship and $190 million to scrap it or sink it. A 2017 report estimated $289 million worth of renovations and upgrades were required to keep the ship afloat. At the center of the bankruptcy proceedings are Urban Commons executives Howard Wu and Taylor Woods. In court filings, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher S. Sontchi has labeled the two as "fraudsters." Documents filed in the bankruptcy proceedings allege that Woods and Wu applied for two federal loans that were earmarked for the Queen Mary's employee payroll. Instead, according to the documents, the executives emptied their company bank account as soon as they received the loan and funneled the money into several other accounts. Wu and Woods argued that they made an error on the loan application and in court documents said that they did not intend to apply under the Urban Commons Queensway company, which they no longer represent. In November, Sontchi held Woods and Wu in contempt for not properly accounting for the roughly $2.4 million received from the federal Paycheck Protection Program loan and for not freezing their assets. On Tuesday, in a 13-page sanctions order, Sontchi ordered the men to pay $250 a day starting Jan. 1. The fine is meant to force the men to comply with the court's previous order about their financial accounts. The court order notes that Woods has been "opaque" regarding his bank accounts and that Wu has made transfers to his wife's bank account via the payment tool Zelle, despite the two men claiming that they have been upfront about their assets. Several other financial projections on the men's assets have been scrutinized by the court. "One would have thought the issuance of the Contempt Order and the Sanction Order would serve to make it clear to Mr. Woods and Mr. Wu that continued fraudulent behavior would not be tolerated by the Court and it was time to make a complete and forthright accounting," Sontchi wrote. "Clearly, Defendants have not gotten the message." Attorneys for Wu and Woods did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Abdul Matin Qadiri, who recently fled Afghanistan, walks with his wife to a grocery store in their Seattle neighborhood. Their family moved into the home of a woman who escaped Vietnam as a child. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Thuy Do couldnt look away from the devastating clip playing on a loop on television news hundreds of Afghans running alongside a massive U.S. Air Force cargo plane, desperately trying to flee their home country. The frantic frowns felt so familiar, reminding her of images of refugees packed onto helicopters to escape Vietnam more than four decades earlier. So during the summer, Do, a doctor in her late 30s whose family left Vietnam when she was a girl and resettled in Seattle, sat down in her living room with her husband and talked about how they could help. We just knew we had to do something, she said, reflecting on the initial shock of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August. This is a time for us to give back. Many time zones away, past jagged mountain ranges and the vast Pacific Ocean, Abdul Matin Qadiri settled into a corner inside Hamid Karzai International Airport, where he and his wife and their four children would spend two nights waiting anxiously for an evacuation flight. As soon as word had begun to spread of the Taliban entering Kabul, the nation's capital, Qadiri, who had worked alongside the U.S. military as a mechanic, decided to flee as soon as possible. It was life or death, said Qadiri, who is in his mid-40s. We had to get out. In the weeks that followed, through a process shaped by generosity, coincidence and deep understanding, the paths of Do and Qadiri whose journeys were separated by 30 years intersected in the place they both now call home: the Pacific Northwest. :: The federal government, as U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan, has evacuated about 83,000 people to the United States, with some transported to American military bases from Texas to New Jersey to await word about where theyd begin to build new lives. About 35,000 people remain at Department of Defense installations. But 36,000 have either proper legal paperwork or have been assisted by government-approved resettlement agencies and are now housed in communities across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Additional evacuees are awaiting U.S.-bound flights at military bases in the Middle East and Europe. To augment the effort, the Biden administration recently announced a pilot program allowing groups of at least five individuals who must, among other things, pass strict federal background checks to apply to become sponsor circles, helping Afghan refugees to resettle for at least three months. The initiative is designed to supplement the efforts of resettlement agencies. In Washington state, about 1,200 refugees have already been resettled, and Gov. Jay Inslee has announced that he expects nearly 1,700 more Afghan refugees will move to the state in the months ahead. To help prepare, resettlement groups and sponsor circles here have gone into overdrive. Among the sponsor circles is Viets for Afghans, a grassroots group founded by Vietnamese refugees and the children of refugees after the fall of Kabul on Aug. 15. This, members say, feels like an opportunity that's impossible to pass up in order to pay forward the support their families once received. We see our families our own loved ones in the current situation with Afghan refugees, said Thanh Tan, who helped start the group while participating in a series of group texts with friends. Thanh Tan, 40, is a co-founder of Viets for Afghans. Tan's parents and oldest sister are refugees from Vietnam. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Despite age differences, the members are united in their lives having been shaped by their families' departure after American troops withdrew from what was then South Vietnam in 1975. They are bonded by memories and stories of struggle, of arriving in a new country with few resources and options, and surviving in part due to the kindness of strangers. Each has relatives who escaped by boat, part of a humanitarian crisis in which 800,000 Vietnamese fled over a span of two decades. Tans parents and oldest sister fled Vietnam by boat in 1978, three years after U.S. forces pulled out of the country, and the capital, known then as Saigon, fell to the North Vietnamese army. The relatives slept in wooden shacks in a refugee camp in Malaysia for six months, eating rationed red beans and rice before being resettled in Olympia, Wash. My family was fortunate to arrive here when they did, said Tan, 40. When they got to Washington, there was already a robust Vietnamese community following the first group of refugees whod responded to a 1975 invitation from then-Gov. Dan Evans. Evans welcoming stance came, in part, as a response to California Gov. Jerry Browns initial opposition to resettling refugees. (In the years that followed, however, tens of thousands of Vietnamese built lives in Southern California, most notably in Orange County.) Nearly 500 Vietnamese refugees arrived in Washington in May 1975, and the state now has more than 100,000 residents of Vietnamese descent. A man sweeps a sidewalk in Seattle's Little Saigon community. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) We saw that open hand to our community, Tan said. We have to give back. This community is known for its openness to immigrants. On a recent soggy evening, Tan and other members of Viets for Afghans huddled at a Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Seattle. Over steaming bowls of pho, they mapped out a plan for the groups official launch as a sponsor circle. Since August, the group had raised more than $15,000 online, and its website shows side-by-side images of Vietnamese refugees boarding helicopters in the 1970s and hundreds of Afghans packed into a military plane departing Kabul. To date, the group has helped three Afghan families. Jefferey Vu, an engineer at Boeing, is a member of the group. His dad, fleeing Vietnam along with his own parents and his nine siblings, arrived at Camp Pendleton in 1975. They were housed at the San Diego County Marine base before being resettled in the Seattle area. After a background check and vetting, Vu recently temporarily moved out of his downtown Seattle apartment, which has become the home of a woman who recently fled Afghanistan. Vu, who is still paying rent on his apartment, is living with his girlfriend and other family for now. "That history sticks with me today. It's full circle," Vu said. In America, you can pay it forward. Thats what we hope to do. :: During the early years of Do's childhood, her family's life centered on efforts to leave Vietnam. Soon after the war ended but before Do was born, her parents had sought to escape by boat, but they struggled and had to turn around. In the years that followed, they made two more failed attempts to leave. Thuy Do with son Frederick at their Seattle home. She settled in the United States with her family after fleeing Vietnam. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) They gave up for a while, but in 1991, through a government program, Do, her parents and her three siblings finally flew to the U.S., moving into a small house in south Seattle, where many other Vietnamese families including extended family of their own already lived. Do was 9. My family knew a lot of people, she said. There was support from family and other refugees like us. Seattle became home the city where she went to elementary school, middle school, high school and college. She made friends, got married and graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2010. She and her husband began a family and she started her own private practice in south Seattle, now home to immigrants from Vietnam, the Philippines and East Africa. Ive built a life here, she said on a recent afternoon in her living room with her husband, Jesse Robbins, a self-defense instructor, seated next to her. Many of my friends, many of my patients are immigrants like myself." Robbins, who knows Vu through community activist circles, heard from him about the early efforts of Viets for Afghans. Robbins and Do knew that shelter would be the top priority for the thousands of Afghan refugees headed to the U.S., and they knew they were in a position to help. They own two houses the one they live in and a vacant three-bedroom property a few blocks away that they would occasionally rent out short-term. It all came together really fast, Robbins said. In early September, they reached out to several groups, including the local Jewish Family Service, which has worked alongside resettlement agencies in finding housing for Afghan families. Within a few days, after background checks and paperwork were cleared, the group placed an Afghan couple and their six children in the vacant home. The family stayed only a week before a resettlement agency found them a new house. Then the couple got a message from World Relief, a global Christian humanitarian organization based in Baltimore that is among the resettlement agencies approved by the federal government. Another family urgently needed housing and would be arriving in Seattle soon. :: The only life Qadiri knew was on the streets of Kabul. He was there when U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001, and in the years that followed, as he started a family and grew familiar with the constant background noise of Humvees and Chinook helicopters. Recent Afghan refugees Abdul Matin Qadiri and his wife shop for groceries in Seattle. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Over the years, Qadiri worked as a mechanic on U.S. military vehicles. He forged friendships and felt a sense of camaraderie with Americans, who he believed were genuinely trying to help his country. In 2018, he applied for a special immigrant visa, the first step toward a then far-off dream of one day moving to the United States. The process took three years and he finally received his visa earlier this year, he said. He knew the U.S. planned to withdraw, but he didnt expect the Taliban to quickly conquer the country. It all became very chaotic, he said. Qadiri arrived at the Kabul airport on Aug.18, three days after the Taliban takeover. It was just after 11 p.m. when he and his wife and their four children finally made it into the terminal because of the visa. They slept inside the airport, curled up in tattered blankets. Outside, thousands more pushed toward entry points frantically trying to get in. Soon, the family would board a hulking plane bound for Qatar, where they spent seven days, before being flown to Washington Dulles International Airport. Qadiri was exhausted. The family tested negative for the coronavirus. It was draining, Qadiri said through an interpreter, who speaks Dari. But we were finally in America, so there was joy. The next leg of their trip brought them to Seattle and then, with help from World Relief, to Dos spare residence. They arrived at the two-story blue house on a chilly, overcast morning in September. Im just grateful to be out of Afghanistan, Qadiri said on a recent morning. He wore a long-sleeved shirt emblazoned with the word "Army," for the U.S. military branch, and spoke with an ease that he said he hadnt felt in a long time. A steady rain fell outside as he lounged on the living room couch. Qadiri has distant friends who live in Kent, Wash., and Renton, Wash., both suburbs of Seattle where sizable Afghan immigrant populations reside. That, he said, gives me peace and ease. :: Since Qadiri and his family arrived, Do has tried to give them space. The COVID-19 pandemic lingers and the shock of leaving their home country so quickly can be a lot, she imagines. They live a mile apart in a neighborhood lined with Ethiopian and Vietnamese grocery stores, as well as a light rail train that cuts through its core, shuttling passengers between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and downtown. Abdul Matin Qadiri's wife holds a tea kettle given to the family by Thuy Do, whose own family fled Vietnam. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) In recent weeks, Do has stopped by briefly to deliver sweaters and heavy jackets so the family can stay warm in the damp winter weather. She also dropped off an extra television and tea kettle. We just want them to be comfortable, she said, noting that a language barrier Qadiri speaks mostly Dari makes even short conversations difficult. A social worker has been assigned by World Relief to help Qadiri find permanent housing hopefully an apartment in Kent, he says, near the friends he knows from Kabul. Some days, he tries to catch up on the news in Afghanistan. He sees that the Taliban are raiding homes of citizens who helped Americans during the war. He tries his best to look forward, not back at least not right now, when everything is so new. Abdul Matin Qadiri prays in his living room in Seattle. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) I am slowly building a new life, he said. Most days, he stays inside the house. He prays. He hasnt seen much of Seattle, he says, because he doesnt have a car or a drivers license. Once a week, he walks to the nearby Safeway to purchase groceries with aid from World Relief. His wife cooks bakes and the family eats dinner together. He wants to become a mechanic in the Seattle area and has started to look for work. Soon, I need to work, he said. That is the American way work hard and good will happen. One day this month, Qadiri and his family moved out of Dos house. A new family, through Viets for Afghans, soon arrived. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ghislaine Maxwell's defense lawyers on Thursday called a psychologist who studies "false memories" to testify at the British socialite's sex abuse trial, part of their effort to undermine the credibility of Maxwell's accusers. Elizabeth Loftus, a psychology professor at the University of California, Irvine, has previously testified in or consulted for hundreds of trials, including those of Harvey Weinstein and O.J. Simpson. Maxwell, 59, is accused of recruiting and grooming teenagers for the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to abuse between 1994 and 2004. She has pleaded not guilty, and her attorneys have argued that the memories of the four accusers who testified as prosecution witnesses have become corrupted over the years. "I am here as a professor and a scientist who studies human memory to talk about the nature of memory, the workings of memory, how people can develop memories of things that didn't happen or remember things differently from the way they actually were," Loftus said. Loftus was the third witness called to the stand by Maxwell's defense. The prosecution rested its case last Friday, following two weeks of emotional testimony from four women who said Maxwell set them up for abuse by Epstein when the women were teenagers. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney, Mark Porter and Noeleen Walder) An airplane takes off from the Ronald Reagan National Airport as air traffic is affected by the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Washington By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major U.S. air carriers warned on Wednesday that plans by AT&T and Verizon Communications to use spectrum for 5G wireless services could be highly disruptive to air travel and cost air passengers $1.6 billion annually in delays. Trade group Airlines for America (A4A) said if a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directive for addressing potential interference from wireless transmissions had been in effect in 2019 "approximately 345,000 passenger flights, 32 million passengers, and 5,400 cargo flights would have been impacted in the form of delayed flights, diversions, or cancellations." At a hearing Wednesday, senators urged airlines to work to find a resolution. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the 5G wireless issue "is the biggest and most damaging potential issue facing us. We want nothing more than to work to a solution." Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Gary Kelly said the FAA directive "would significantly impact our operations once it is deployed on Jan. 5." The wireless carriers are set to begin using the spectrum in just three weeks. Last week, the FAA issued new airworthiness directives warning interference from 5G wireless spectrum could result in flight diversions. The aviation industry and FAA have raised significant concerns about potential interference of 5G with sensitive aircraft electronics like radio altimeters. In November, AT&T and Verizon agreed to delay the commercial launch of C-band wireless service until Jan. 5 after the FAA raised concerns. They also adopted precautionary measures for six months to limit interference. Aviation industry groups said they were insufficient to address air safety concerns. CTIA, a wireless trade group, said "the aviation industrys fearmongering relies on completely discredited information and deliberate distortions of fact." It added 5G operates safely and without causing harmful interference to aviation operations in nearly 40 countries around the world. A4A said the FAA directive would "materially disrupt airline operations" and added cargo operators estimate the directive "would have cost them $400 million annually." The group said "the annual impact cost to passengers to be approximately $1.59 billion" of travel delays. Wireless carriers have shown no interest in further delays of the spectrum and the industry paid more than $80 billion to acquire it. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who did not immediately comment on the airlines' analysis, has said she believes the issues can be resolved and spectrum safely used. "Airline customers rely on airlines to transport time-sensitive perishable products such as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, organs, critical supply chain parts, and many other high-value items," A4a said. "The lack of serious mitigations on the part of 5G telecom companies to address interference issues will significantly disrupt and harm the economy." The FAA directives order revising airplane and helicopter flight manuals to prohibit some operations requiring radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C-Band wireless broadband signals. The FAA remains in discussions with the FCC, White House and industry officials about the precise contours of any limitations. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and David Gregorio) Activist groups including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, MoveOn.org, Oxfam, and the ACLU hold a rally in front of the White House to mark the anniversary of the first Trump administration travel and refugee ban in Washington By Julia Harte (Reuters) -The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest U.S. Muslim advocacy organization, has fired the head of its Ohio chapter after alleging that he shared confidential information with an anti-Muslim organization. A news release from CAIR on Tuesday said its Ohio director, Romin Iqbal, had admitted to working with the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), a self-described "data center on radical Islamist terrorist groups," when confronted with the evidence of his misconduct. "This betrayal and violation of trust was planned and purposeful, taking place over a period of years," CAIR's leaders said in a separate news release on Wednesday. Iqbal directed a request for comment from Reuters to his lawyer, who declined to comment. The founder of the IPT, Steven Emerson, has "a history of promoting falsified information and conspiracy theories about Islam and Muslims," according to a Georgetown University research project on Islamophobia. Emerson is considered an anti-Muslim activist by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In an emailed statement, the IPT alleged that CAIR has ties to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, and said it would "not hesitate to uncover and publicly expose radical Islamist activity on American soil by groups like CAIR, which threaten our national security." CAIR denies that it has ties to Hamas. CAIR's national office hired an outside forensic specialist to investigate evidence it received last year that the IPT had tried to infiltrate Muslim-American organizations such as CAIR using "moles." In November, the specialist reported to CAIR that Iqbal had been sharing information, "including surreptitiously recorded conversations, strategic plans and private emails," with the IPT, according to the Tuesday press release. The evidence CAIR received last year also showed that IPT was "communicating with and providing assistance to Israeli intelligence with the office of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," the news release said. After Iqbal's termination, the CAIR-Ohio office in Columbus also discovered recent "suspicious purchases" from ammunition and gun retailers made on a credit card that was administered by Iqbal, according to Whitney Siddiqi, community affairs director for CAIR Ohio. Siddiqi said CAIR could not confirm Iqbal made the purchases, but said the group was considering taking legal action against Iqbal for his alleged breaches of duty. On Tuesday, the office also received a package containing parts to an AR-15 rifle. Siddiqi said a local law enforcement agency was looking in to the weapon acquisitions, and that the FBI had also been notified. (Reporting by Julia Harte in New YorkEditing by Matthew Lewis) 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. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Foggy this evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Foggy this evening, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan revealed estimated costs of the construction of the Yeraskh-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway. Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, he said that some nuances must be taken into account, ranging from the timeframes up to the specific parts where the railway will be constructed. I know that very little money is required for repairing the passing from Armenia to Iran near Yeraskh. Its just about a few hundred meters of renovation here. The second more major investment is the restoration of the railway in Meghri, which is rather costly because the past railway has been entirely dismantled and turned into a automobile road. I think we dont have a concrete project here and we dont have an approximate estimate. I think the issue can be solved for around 200 million dollars. While the construction of the railway from the Armenian border to Horadiz will require more major investments. The investments here are greater, it will take more than a billion dollars, Kerobyan said. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The Westbrook City Council made local history last week in unanimously selecting American-Armenian writer, lawyer, lecturer and human rights advocate Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte as its president, the first refugee and by all accounts the first woman to fill that role, Portland Press Herald reports. As a council, we had decided we wanted a woman. We wanted someone to represent those constituents who havent had that representation. I look forward to being the facilitator of the discussions, she said. One of my major goals is to work more closely with the schools on budgets, so we arent surprised when we see it. A lawyer specializing in international law, Turcotte has long been involved in advocacy work around her birth city of Baku, Azerbaijan. Turcottes Armenian family fled Azerbaijan when she was a child because of attacks on Armenians there. The family spent three years in Armenia before moving to the United States. After graduating from the University of Maine School of Law in 2003, Turcotte worked as a clerk at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. In 2012, she published Nowhere, the Story of Exile, a collection of her diary entries as a child fleeing from her homes. Her political career in Maine began to take shape in 2013 when she successfully worked to get the Legislature to officially recognize the Artsakh Republic. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan arrived at the headquarters of the "Civil Contract" party to meet with members of the "My Step" faction of the Yerevan Council of Elders, ARMENPRESS reports chairman of the Board of the "Civil Contract" party, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan met him. According to some information, the issue of initiating motion of no confidence in Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan will be discussed at the meeting. by Chiara Zappa On the anniversary of the end of the 1971 liberation war, Dhaka is still coming to terms with the serious contradictions that characterized the separation from Pakistan. "But many members of the new generation want to turn the page and create a pluralist and truly democratic system," says the well-known 24-year-old activist who founded Muktiforum in Dhaka Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Fifty years after its birth, Bangladesh must start again from young people, giving space to their desire to overcome the old patterns of the past and to shape a "liberal, pluralist and truly democratic" country. This is the conviction of Anupam Debashis Roy, born in 1997, one of the best-known activists of the new generation and living proof of a wave of change that is trying to build momentum in Bangladesh despite a climate that is not very favorable to freedom of expression. The history of this Asian nation, which began with the victory, on December 16, 1971, of the bloody war to separate itself from Pakistan, which caused three million victims, has never ceased to haunt its political and social life. This is demonstrated by the fact that the same protagonists of the current public scene are the direct heirs of that history: Premier Sheikh Hasina, in her third term, is the daughter of the father of the country Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founder of the Awami League that she leads today, while the leader of the opposition Bengali Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, is the wife of that Ziaur Rahman who had ruled the country with an iron fist - and the support of Islamic fundamentalists - from '76 until his assassination in '81. "My generation grew up breathing a polarized narrative of the liberation war, opposing secularists and Islamists," Anupam Debashis Roy explains in the special edition that Mondo e Missione is dedicating to the anniversary of independence. Even the waves of popular protests that periodically inflame the squares are rooted in this division, as are the attacks on bloggers and liberal intellectuals and the periodic Islamist-driven attacks (in July 2016, a terrorist attack in a Dhaka nightclub killed twenty people, including nine Italians). "Instead, we want a 'second war of liberation,' which will enfranchise us from the authoritarianism and corruption of the ruling class and guarantee us social justice and freedom of expression," Roy says. Born in Syedpur in a Hindu family, as soon as he was sixteen years old the young man, in the wake of the popular demonstrations linked to the secular movement Shahbag flared up in 2013, decided to give himself to activism in the first person: his satirical videos published on the web in which he openly addressed some burning issues, such as the turbulent relations with the great Indian neighbor, quickly became viral. In 2017, the decision to go beyond the dated national public debate with the creation of a platform for civil mobilization: the Muktiforum, whose Facebook page has almost 75 thousand followers, brings together young writers, intellectuals and activists who want to "propose a third way in the political scenario of the country". "In Bangladesh in recent years, students have shown a strong propensity to be heard, as evidenced by the university protest in 2018 for the reform of the quota system in the public service and that of high school students against the lack of safety on the streets," explains the activist, whose very direct stances even towards the Hasina executive cost him his job as a journalist at the Dhaka Tribune newspaper. "Unfortunately, the old political parties try every time to infiltrate these mobilizations to manipulate them, while the ruling party, often through its violent youth wing, always finds a way to wipe out the protesters." Roy also interprets the recurring attacks against Hindus - the last one last October on the occasion of the Durga Puja holiday - as "yet another failure of the government to protect all citizens". Yet, he says, "the desire for change is widespread and this makes me confident. The prelate backs the proposal made by the patriarchs and heads of the Churches of the Holy Land in their Christmas statement. A special zone is necessary to preserve the Christian presence, protect the status quo, and uphold the citys universality. The communitys future is endangered by physical and legal attacks. The prelate criticises Israel for allowing US Jews to come to Jerusalem while banning Christian pilgrims. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) Safeguarding the Christian quarter of Jerusalem is crucial to maintaining the presence of its residents and the status quo, which protects Christians, Jews and Muslims alike, this according Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, former Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem of the Latins Still active in pastoral outreach, the prelate expressed his support for the request made recently by the patriarchs and heads of the Churches of the holy city in a Christmas statement. We are in favour of this appeal but doubts remain about whether it will be heeded by Israeli authorities, said the bishop, who has lived in the region for decades and knows it very well. The statement was made public on Monday. In it, Jerusalems Christian leaders call for dialogue on creating a special zone with the specific aim of safeguard[ing] the integrity" of the Christian quarter in the Old City. The goal is to ensure its uniqueness and preserve its heritage for the well-being "of the local community, our national life, and the wider world. The statement became necessary after several recent episodes that constitute a "threat" to the very presence of Christians. Such a request was made in the past by Vatican emissaries and by the Holy See, to guarantee the holy places of Jerusalem, which represent something unique for the faithful of the worlds three great monotheistic religions. It is also the way to protect believers from unilateral deeds and political acts by single countries or local political-religious groups that might upset the balance. On 9 December, the representatives of the Christian Churches of the Holy Land met at the seat of the Greek Orthodox patriarchate. On that occasion, from the balcony of the Imperial Hotel at Jaffa Gate, one of the entrances to the Christian quarter, Patriarch Theophilos III stressed the importance of the Christian quarter and the threats to its identity, assets as well as residents. In particular, the statement expresses concerns about the acts of radical Jewish nationalist groups, who seeks to reduce the non-Jewish population in Jerusalem through the purchase of Palestinian houses. Our goal, Bishop Marcuzzo said, is to preserve the Christian presence and the status quo, and protect everyone. All this is "challenged daily" by "physical and legal attacks" with the aim of taking over the ownership of houses and goods in the Muslim and Christian parts of Jerusalem. "This frightens us because it endangers national cohesion itself, the prelate noted. Israel is and must be open, universal, but if it closes in on itself, in small ghettos dominated by local authorities, it will be a defeat for everyone. For Bishop Marcuzzo, the danger is constituted by radical and fanatical groups who attack and prevent regular celebrations or even movement in certain parts of the city. Recently, Armenian monks were targeted by such groups. "The meaning of this special zone is precisely to prevent the territory from losing its population because in the long run "people get tired of harassment and mistreatment. Another goal is to end inequality of treatment and illegality. Speaking about inequality, the prelate is critical of Israeli authorities who grant entry permits to American Jews, but impose bans on others because of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, such as Christian pilgrims for Christmas. Referring to the issue of entry permits into Israel any exceptions are granted by a Committee without bias or discrimination toward any race or religion, the embassy to the Holy See said in a note. Less and less foreign currencies are entering the country. Chinese state media slam US sanctions, but Myanmar activists want more, especially against oil companies. Yangon (AsiaNews) Myanmar has approved the use of the yuan for trade with foreign countries, Chinese state media report. During the initial phase, the yuan will be used in settlements for small goods traded at the China-Myanmar border. The estimated value of the trade is two billion yuan (about US$ 314 million), this according to the Global Times. This is about one fifth of the value of cargo border trade between the two countries via inland routes, Myanmar has chosen this option in order to lessen financial pressure (and declining foreign currencies), and decouple its currency, the kyat, from the US dollar. The article in the Chinese Communist Party newspaper accuses the US government of bullying and imposing unilateral sanctions against Myanmar. The countrys ruling military junta is increasingly tied to Beijing, a situation similar to that of Cambodia, which was recently hit by Washington's punitive measures. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday said that the US government is considering new sanctions against the Myanmar military who seized control of the country in a coup on 1 February. 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, Secretary Blinken said during a visit to Malaysia, the second stop after Indonesia in his tour of Southeast Asia. However, Blinken said nothing when asked about possible sanctions on the Myanmars oil and gas sectors, whose profits end up in the coffers of Myanmars generals; instead, he said that the Biden administration is considering defining anti-Rohingya repression as genocide. In Myanmar, civil society groups, already involved in boycott actions against the junta, want sanctions against foreign oil companies that work with Myanmar state-owned enterprises. In August, activists created the Blood Money Campaign to demand that export payments from the Yadana gas field, operated by Total in collaboration with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), be frozen. Last month, several organisations wrote to the CEO of the French company Patrick Pouyanne asking him to "put an end to its complicity in crimes against humanity". We are specifically concerned that the profits gained from the 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. In its response, Total condemned the violations of human rights but claimed that a cut in electrical power would be detrimental to the population. About 50 per cent of Myanmar's foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues. MOGE is expected to earn US$ 1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-22. The Yadana gas project earned the Myanmar government around US$ 400 million in 2017-18. Protesters demand a stop to large Chinese fishing boats wiping out small-scale fishing, the basis of the local economy. China is taking 91 per cent of port revenues. New Chinese investments are at risk. A solution to the crisis includes social and redistributive programmes. Beijing (AsiaNews) The Pakistani city of Gwadar has been engulfed in a month-long protest. Chinese capital is funding the construction of the citys port as part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the New Silk Roads, a mega infrastructure project launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping to turn China into the worlds global trade hub. For both China and Pakistan, the Port of Gwadar is supposed to be the linchpin of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), linking Xinjiang, in north-western China, and the coast of Pakistani Baluchistan, on the Arabian Sea. The CPEC will include a network of roads, ports, airports, railways, oil and gas pipelines, fibre optic lines and industrial facilities. On paper it is worth US$ 50 billion, but after eight years the Chinese have only partially realised it. A local politician, Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, is leading the protests in Gwadar. Thousands of people, mostly women, are camped at the entrance to the local Chinese-controlled facility. They want Chinese deep-sea trawlers to stop fishing in local waters. The local small fishermen are infuriated above all by the presence of Chinese boats in the waters in front of Gwadar. Protesters also want the removal of city checkpoints and the possibility of trading more freely with neighbouring Iran. Rallies of this scale in Gwadar are unprecedent and have had a wide national echo. Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the government will support protesters legitimate demands, promising to take measures against illegal fishing in local waters. Rehman, secretary of the local branch of the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islam, has threatened to raise the stakes if the government does not accept all the demands. According to reports from Nikkei Asia, the leader of the protest also raised the issue of sharing revenues generated by port activities. China currently takes 91 per cent of the revenue. Rehman wants 98 per cent to go to Pakistan. However, the Pakistani government considers Gwadar's "leader" a terrorist and has frozen his bank accounts. Chinese investment in Gwadar has not yet generated the much hoped-for economic return. Since the start of protests, port operations are at a minimum, but the situation was not much better before. For several observers, permanent sit-ins like those in Gwadar jeopardise new Chinese investments, which are vital to Pakistan, given its serious economic problems. Added to this is the constant threat from armed separatists and Islamic extremists who often target Chinese staff and CPEC structures in the country. Tensions could be reduced, observers note, if social programmes were improved and more wealth was redistributed, involving both China and local communities. Snow covers the ground in unincorporated Pitkin County near McLain Flats Road. On Wednesday, the Pitkin Board of County Commissioners passed, on first reading, an ordinance that would establish licensing requirements and additional rules and regulations for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas of the county. Rated at 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet (171 Nm), the 2ZR-FAE is joined by the slightly larger M20A-FKS from the Dynamic-Force engine family. The 2.0-liter mill boasts a thermal efficiency of 40 percent, 169 horsepower, and 151 pound-feet (204 Nm) at 4,800 rotations per minute.The most efficient option, however, is the Corolla Sedan LE with the hybrid powertrain that costs $23,750 sans taxes. The Japanese automaker quotes up to 52 miles per gallon (4.5 l/100 km) on the combined driving cycle as opposed to 40 miles per gallon (5.8 l/100 km) for the 1.8-liter SE variant.To whom it may concern, the hybrid system combines the 1.8 engine with a couple of motor/generators for a combined output of 121 horsepower. Just like the Prius, the fuel-sipping powertrain of the Corolla Sedan features a nickel-metal hybride battery pack that employs Hyper-Prime Nickel technology to boost battery performance in a smaller, lighter package.With over 50 million units sold since its introduction in 1966, the Corolla doesnt have anything more to prove. But on the other hand, Toyota isnt the kind of company to rest on the laurels of commercial success. In order to improve sales, the Corolla Cross has joined the family earlier in 2021 as a 2022 model with a starting price of $22,195. All-wheel drive adds $1,300 on top of that, and the only engine available is the Dynamic-Force 2.0.The biggest rival of the Corolla is, obviously enough, the Honda Civic. Extensively redesigned the 2022 model year, the Civic retails from $21,900 for the four-door sedan, $22,900 for the hatchback, and $27,300 for the Si. With 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers) on the clock, the rigs driver-side door lock started going haywire for no apparent reason. You can see the issue for yourself at the 3:17 mark and a little bit more at the 8:59 mark of the video below. But fortunately for Tim, the automaker flew no fewer than five engineers at Scottsbluff Toyota in Nebraska to investigate the problem that... wait for it... had fixed itself before the truck arrived at the dealership.The reason the company reacted this way is pretty obvious: Toyota simply wanted to nip this problem in the bud. As it happens, the engineers found that a piece of trim was impacting the way the door was operating, a quality-related issue most likely stemming from an out-of-spec plastic component or molding machine. Having worked late into the night, the engineers were able to replicate the problem and send the data back to the automaker.They were having immediate conference calls about this truck, and Toyota went over every detail, said Tim. I got the truck back. Its washed, it has a full tank of gas, () and I have to be honest with you: I had a great experience. Considering how the Ford Motor Company handled the Broncos multiple quality-related issues, this is a great experience indeed.Available with a twin-turbo V6 or a hybrid twin-turbo V6, the brand-new Tundra is rocking the GA-F platform of the Land Cruiser and LX. Priced at $35,950 excluding taxes for the SR Double Cab with the 6.5-foot bed and the lower-powered engine and rear-wheel drive, the half-ton workhorse is assembled in San Antonio on the site where the JLC ranch used to be.Established in 1794, the cattle ranch served as inspiration for the range-topping 1794 trim level that comes exclusively as a CrewMax with the 5.5- or 6.5-foot box. Not long now, the TRD Pro trim level will join the lineup with off-road goodies that include Fox shocks and 32.5-inch rubber shoes. EV ICE Renata Jungo Bruengger, Daimler's head of integrity and legal affairs, spoke candidly with Bloomberg this week, discussing exactly this matter. Brunger noted how remarkably fragilesupply chains might be stretched at the moment. This doesn't bode well for the future, with nearly all European nations and key US states like New York , Illinois, and California prepping to ban newengine sales by the 2030s."Cobalt, lithium, nickel, rare earths, those will remain the problematic cases," Jungo Bruengger said in an interview. "You have got long supply lines in parts and countries with significant challenges," Bruengger noted. The German auto executive is not wrong for their concern about scarcity. Worries about China being unable to keep up with the global demand for magnesium is only the tip of this scarcity iceberg.Elements more closely related to EVs like lithium and nickel are not exempt from their share of scarcity issues either. In total, over 20 different elements have been identified as posing the greatest threat to EV manufacturing the world over. Daimler plans to make their EV supply chain 100% transparent by the time this decade is out.Daimler has the dubious task of balancing the satisfaction of its consumers, environmental sustainability, and meeting the demands of its investors. As the clock ticks to midnight on the internal combustion engine, the pressure to adapt to electric power will become like a crucible. Automakers that fail to adapt will promptly find themselves bankrupt, so Daimler best break out the lab coat and the chemistry set to start coming up with solutions. One of the final outings of this spectacular F-35 took place back in November at the Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, where the massive Thunder and Lightning over Arizona Air Show took place. It is there where this image of the plane going almost vertical was taken, a perfect sum-up of what 2021 was all about.Since the last time weve discussed the teams achievements, the details of the 2021 air show season for the F-35 were finally announced. And it wont be an all that long break, as the first outing is scheduled for February 27. It is then when the plane will head to Laredo, Texas, to kick off a season that will span for 21 air shows, and will conclude in November at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.The team will be present four times in California, three times in Texas and Arizona, two times in Oregon, and once in New Mexico, California, Utah, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Washington, Maryland, Colorado, and Nevada check the gallery above for dates and locations.As for the pilot flying this F-35, Major Kristin Wolfe joined the Air Force in 2011, having received her commission from the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program at the University of Alabama.Her biography on the teams webpage speaks of 800 flying hours in the F-22A Raptor and F-35A Lightning II, training assignments at the Laughlin and Langley Air Force Bases (AFB), and operational assignments at Langley and Hill AFBs.Shes been in charge of wowing the crowds at air shows as commander in the F-35 since March last year. EV Lex Hoefsloot shot a video to tell us more not only about Lightyears second car but also about the companys plans. His vision for the Lightyear Two even gave us the impression that the affordable solar car will be substantially better than the Lightyear One for a fraction of the price. Considering each of the 946 units of the Lightyear One will start at 150,000, that fraction is one-fifth.The explanation for that is simple: technology evolves and does that pretty quickly. Lightyear will also learn lessons with the One development and production. That is another opportunity for the Two to be an improved product. The company is perfecting all three pillars of energy efficiency: aerodynamics, mass, and powertrain efficiency. More than that, it is creating a virtuous cycle with these three factors.With better aerodynamics, the vehicle does not need a mighty motor or a massive battery pack to move around. With that, the car has less weight and can travel further with the same battery pack, or it can adopt a smaller one for the same range, saving weight once again. If the battery pack is smaller, there are gains in aerodynamics. As you can see, multiple factors can help create a more efficient vehicle. Hoefsloot said his company is making sure it takes advantage of them.Thanks to these efforts, Lightyear has managed to create a car that is two times more efficient than any othercurrently for sale. However, the main difference Lightyear presents compared to other companies is that it does not want to waste the sun shining on its cars bodies: it wants to harness this energy and put it to work.That idea emerged a long time ago. Hoefsloot remembered that Lightyear was born after Stella won the World Solar Challenge four times in a row in the Cruiser Class, starting in 2013. This EV was considered the first family solar car because it could carry four people, including the driver, and was road-legal. The Solar Team Eindhoven responsible for creating Stella at TU Eindhoven (Eindhoven University of Technology) was the origin of Lightyear.The CEO mentioned that not to brag about his teams titles but rather to tell an interesting anecdote about the support combustion-engined cars that his team used. Instead of having the advantage of stopping less than electric cars, they had to make more stops for refueling than the solar car. That gave the Solar Team Eindhoven the certainty that Stella was the forerunner of more convenient vehicles. This is why the Lightyear One was born.Although Lightyear promises the Lightyear Two will need five times fewer charging sessions and twice as much range for the same battery pack capacity, those are the numbers the Lightyear One currently presents. The goal for the affordable solar car is that it eventually becomes energy positive by delivering more power than it actually needs.That opens an entirely new perspective for electric cars. The current ones can work as moving power banks. Those with more efficient embedded solar panels may generate energy in power shortage situations and still help buy some groceries. That makes a lot of sense. Cars parked in open spaces can do way more than just sit there waiting to be driven again.As far as we know, Lightyear is working solely with the technology that is currently available. If it could use solid-state batteries right now, it could reduce the size of the battery pack in the Lightyear One in half. Just imagine what the company could do in such a scenario. Coincidence or not, solid-state batteries are expected to first reach the market by the same year that Lightyear Two will see the light of day.Although the perspectives are bright, many elements in the industry have to improve, such as solar cells. If they do not evolve as much as Lightyear expects, it may not be possible for Lightyear Two to become energy positive.That does not seem to be a problem for Lightyear. If the company is pursuing precisely that goal, it will eventually achieve it with the Lightyear Three, Four, or Five. When it does, the Dutch company will confirm something Makoto Uchida told Automotive News : electric cars are not just about how we travel more efficiently. They will define how we deal with energy. Lightyear seems to be perfectly aware of that. This stunning white superyacht was destined for great things it was built in 2006 by the reputable Perini Navi, featuring an exclusive interior created by the famous French designer Christian Liaigre and to the exact specifications of Rupert Murdoch himself. It would soon be one of the finalists in the 2007 Boat International World Superyacht for the Best Sailing Yacht over 45 meters. At 184 feet (56 meters), the yacht that was named after a small Scottish village made an impression everywhere it sailed.Retail developer Joey Kaempfer was so impressed, in fact, that he was willing to haggle with Murdoch in 2014 in order to keep Rosehearty for himself. The man who has created McArthurGlen, considered Europes largest developer of designer outlet parks, had a dream of becoming a modern adventurer and sailing to some of the most challenging locations on the planet. The majestic superyacht that had been designed for indulgence and relaxation would become a fierce explorer.Kaempfer told Boat International that he spent several million pounds to prepare Rosehearty for the upcoming adventures. The flybridge cover was replaced with one that was resistant to ice, and the ship was fitted with stronger lights plus advanced night vision equipment so that icebergs could be easily detected. It was worth it the yacht successfully transited the famous Northwest Passage on the way to Greenland.In the spirit of modern luxury explorers, Rosehearty also flaunted an elegant lounge area with a 60 TV, a generous main saloon, and the most precious material throughout, including Hermes leather, pale oak, and ebony. In addition to the six original cabins, Kaempfer turned the office on the main deck into a cabin, as well.After several expeditions in remote locations, the luxury sailing yacht is ready to begin a new chapter. Since the recent sale was carried out off-market, the price is unknown. The media reported a whopping $29.7 million price in 2014 when Kaempfer purchased it its current value would not be too far from that, especially after having been turned into a true explorer. The Protector s last stop before arriving at the Antarctic Peninsula was the island of South Georgia. After having conducted scientific survey tasks around St Helena and Ascension Islands and renewing its supplies in the Falklands, the ship continued its voyage south while also monitoring the waters in these natural protected areas to make sure that no illegal fishing activities were taking place.The island of South Georgia was a special destination because this is where one of the worlds pioneering polar explorers was laid to rest. During a touching ceremony, the HMS Protectors crew paid tribute to Ernest Shackleton 100 years after his death. A Royal Navy reservist, Shackleton tried to reach the South Pole, and although he did not succeed, his expeditions were an important contribution to polar exploration. In 1915, when his ship suffered a serious accident caused by ice, the explorer heroically rescued the crew on board by sailing over 800 miles in a small boat to get help.During the ceremony, the majestic HMS Protector stayed in the background, as sailors wearing wool sweaters as a tribute to the polar explorers at the beginning of the 20th century remembered Shackletons daring adventures.The Royal Navys icebreaker officially departed on its Arctic mission on August 10. The research and patrol vessel hasnt been to this area in almost two years, after having to undergo a major refit in 2020. Throughout its mission in 2022, it will help update the prestigious Admiralty Charts issued by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).Prior to launching this important mission, the HMS Protector went on a trial deployment, where it practiced crunching ice, and managed to get to 8041.5 North in the Greenland Sea, which was the closest point to the North Pole that a British military ship had ever reached. kW The Shelby GT500KR will be available starting February 2022, and the modifications implemented through this package bring at least 900 horsepower for the Mustang GT500 , as well as a dedicated suspension kit, 20-inch Shelby wheels, and other improvements.The power hike is brought by fitting a twin-screw Whipple supercharger to the 5.2-liter V8 of the Mustang GT500. Due to the 3.8-liter supercharger, its larger throttle body, a beefy intercooler, an upgraded exhaust system, a cold air intake, and upgraded pulleys, the motor provides more than 671, which means more than 900 horsepower.Sadly, Shelby does not provide specific figures for the GT500KR, but they might release more info as we move closer to the day when order books are open. So, without a 0-60 time or a top speed, it is difficult to figure out just how fast this Shelby GT500KR can be. As a reference, the stock Shelby GT500 can pull a mid-10-second quarter-mile pass.From a driving perspective, the Shelby GT500KR should provide the King of the Road experience with a recalibrated MagneRide suspension, as well as through the addition of a set of upgraded sway bars and height-adjustable front and rear springs. The wheels fitted to this model are Shelby-specific 20-inch alloys.When the design is concerned, the package brings a hood, front splitter, a rear diffuser, and a set of gurney flaps, all made from carbon fiber. Each model comes with a set of Shelby stripes on the side, but also elements like hood pins and even details like billet engine caps. Only some units will get the special 60th-anniversary badges that commemorate the launch of the Shelby brand.Shelby will only offer 225 units of the Mustang GT500KR, which will be divided into 180 units for the U.S. market and fitted with the anniversary badges, while the rest will not get those badges. Those who already own a GT500 Mustang of the 2020 or 2021 model years, do not be sad, as Shelby can fit your vehicle with its KR package.Only 60 upgrade packages will be available, so those who have MY2020 or MY2021 Shelby GT500 models and want to fit them with the KR pack will have to hurry a bit more than those who want to buy a new vehicle already fitted with the kit.When pricing is concerned, the 2022 Shelby GT500KR will start at $127,895, with this version being based on the 2021 Shelby GT500, which starts at $72,900.The KR package itself is priced at $54,995, and it can be installed by Shelby technicians in Las Vegas, Nevada. Expensive? Yes, but it is a way to get a 900-horsepower Mustang that is 50-state emissions-legal and can run on 91 pump gas. According to TheNewsHerald , the vehicles in question were stolen on Sunday night (December 12), at around 10:50 p.m., from the factory. It appears that one of them crashed through a security gate in order to leave the facility, initial investigations suggest, yet there is no actual footage of the incident.The quoted website states that two of them were discovered abandoned on the I-75, in Brownstown Township and Southgate, and one had a mashed-up face, presumably from the close encounter of the third kind with the gate. Two more cars remain in the wil d, and both of them have a black paint finish, apparently. Those who know anything about the incident and/or possible locations of the other two are encouraged to reach out to the police.Carrying an MSRP of $72,900, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the brands most powerful street-legal car ever. It can deal with the 0 to 60 mph (0-97 kph) sprint in just 3 seconds, and with a skilled driver at the helm, in good weather conditions, it is a 10-second car down the quarter-mile. Power is supplied by a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that develops 760 hp and 625 lb-ft (847 Nm) of torque, channeling the thrust to the rear wheels through a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission.It returns an EPA-estimated 12/18 mpg (19.6/13.1 l/100 km) in the city and on the highway respectively, has seating for four, and boasts leather upholstery, Recaro bucket seats, 12-inch digital dials, and available Carbon Fiber Track Pack that brings in additional goodies, including the exposed carbon fiber wheels. SUV Abandoned for a while in America, the light-duty truck segment is having a spectacular comeback thanks to Hyundai and Ford. And just as customers cannot have enough of Santa Cruz and Maverick trucks in the real world, the same is valid across the virtual realm Although, frankly, it would be hard for automotive digital content creator Nikita Chuicko, better known as kelsonik on social media, to also grab a piece of the real-world action. After all, the virtual artist is located in Russia. Nonetheless, he found ways to profess his love for the bite-sized trucks. With an SUV twist One thing of note. His name might ring a bell because during work hours he is the resident CGI expert for the good folks over at Kolesa . During his spare time, his kelsonik social media persona takes over, and also gives him shady traits. Not the ones involving actual lurking in the shadows, though.Instead, the pixel master loves to play with currently successful models and bestow upon them his vision of a potential Shadow Line . Its an anti-chrome treatment that also involves other digital tuning benefits. Such as dark-matched aftermarket wheels, or a lowered suspension setup, among others.Additionally, another one of his favorite subjects seems to involve the transformation of the popular 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz unibody truck into an. Entirely wishful thinking, given the real-world Tucson platform sharing. Nonetheless, it has turned into a little obsession.This is at least the third (perhaps even the fourth) occasion he circles back to the subject. This time around, his modified Santa Cruz SUV faces the absolute test: a comparison with an equally-tuned Santa Cruz pickup truck. So, which one do you think deserves victory bragging rights? Some concept cars existed only to test the public's reaction, while others were showcased to see if the carmaker needs to make some final adjustments. Thus, the road from Concept to Reality is different and some production models are improved on the way, as in this situation. Before reaching assembly lines, the F-Type went through three concept cars while Jaguar was sold twice. No wonder that it took it 16 years to get to its first customer.When Jaguar joined Ford Motor Company in 1999, the British brand's fans hoped that the American carmaker would save the cat. But things didn't go exactly that way. Instead, the Blue-Oval brand tried to get more money from its own platforms. Thus, it introduced the S-Type in 1999 and the X-Type in 2001. While the former was related to the Lincoln LS , the latter used the same platform as the European Ford Mondeo. Then, adding insult to injury, the X-Type received a station wagon bodywork named Sportswagon in the U.S.Jaguar tried to prove its value and started to work on the F-Type roadster concept, penned by Geoff Lawson. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1999 and didn't see its creation, but his work was carried over by Ian Callum , who became the new Director of Design for Jaguar. The concept was unveiled at the 2000 North American International Auto Show. It was a blast, but the hype didn't last long.Unfortunately, after Ford bragged about what it would do with the cat brand, it tossed the F-Type away in a closet like a used doll and said that it would use the money in Formula 1, which it did and failed after four years and two podium finishes. Thus, it killed two cats with one stone (pun intended).Some of you might remember the 2007-2008 financial crisis that brought pain and misery to many of us. For Jaguar, the future didn't look as bright either because Ford put it up for sale and, in January 2008, announced that the preferred bidder was Tata Motors from India. There were a lot of jokes after the acquisition, such as "the cat will wear a pagri," or a turban as is better known. But the reality was far more different.Soon, money came from the Indian concern, and the brand was revived. Ian Callum burned the midnight oil and revived the F-Type concept after creating the stunning CX-75. This time, he made the sportscar with a closed bodywork. In 2011, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, he unveiled the CX-16 as a fastback coupe with wide rear shoulders and an aggressive stance. Even though it looked almost ready to enter production, few people believed it would make it on the assembly line. Some even joked if that was a sign for Jaguar's return in Formula 1.But Jaguar had other, brighter ideas. Even though the concept looked very close to a production model, there were a few differences. For example, Ian Callum came with the idea of creating a side-hinged door at the back. Thus, he connected the new model with the famous Jaguar E-Type of the '60s and early '70s. But since it was impractical, I bet nobody cried over the feature that didn't make it into production.It was the smallest car built by Jaguar since the XK120 in 1954 and featured an aluminum bodywork. Since Jaguar was sold as a package with Land Rover to Tata Motors and the off-road carmaker had a vast experience building such aluminum bodyworks, they worked together, and the result was remarkable.At first, in 2012, it came as a roadster. Its low stance with curved lines over the front fenders and the front bumper were almost identical to the 2011 concept car. Sure, there were a few mandatory modifications due to road legislation. But it kept the pop-out door handles with that shaved look. It didn't target the same customers as the Mustang , but it got some from the Mercedes-Benz SLK or the BMW Z4.Like the concept car, the production version came with a long, sloped roofline extended over the trunk. However, while some purists claimed it was no longer a true coupe, new customers said, "shut up, and take my money." And that's what Jaguar gladly did. At first, the car came with powerful V6 supercharged engines. Later on, the carmaker added other choices, such as a supercharged V8 or a turbocharged inline-four. The only broken promise was for a hybrid powertrain, which was not available. On the other hand, Jaguar added the all-wheel drive option for specific versions, which was far more appreciated by its customers.Jaguar managed, somehow, to get with the F-Type the same result as Chrysler with the Viper concept . Indeed, they are nowhere near in terms of performance, but both concept cars looked almost identical to their production versions. And both carmakers proved, once again, that when a promise is kept, results will follow. President Biden today launched a new website and unveiled bold new branding as part of a nationwide tour to sell the benefits of his infrastructure package. Why it matters: The White House says passage of the new law shows the ability to "forge bipartisan consensus and prove our democracy can deliver big wins" even in these toxic times. Graphic: The White House The "Building a Better America" branding above will be unveiled today during a Biden trip to Kansas City, Missouri. He'll highlight provisions to rebuild roads and bridges, upgrade public transit, replace water infrastructure and create union jobs. The Kentucky Division of Occupational Safety and Health Compliance will investigate Mayfield Consumer Products after tornados ravaged Mayfield, Ky., and killed at least eight of its factory workers over the weekend, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said Tuesday. Why it matters: An investigation is launched whenever a worker dies on the job, but multiple employees have told news outlets they were warned they'd be fired if they left their shifts early as the tornado approached. Prime Minister Naftali Bennetts visit to Abu Dhabi this week was a signal from both sides that the relationship is continuing to develop one year after the Abraham Accords, regardless of the change in government in Israel. Why it matters: It was the first public visit by an Israeli prime minister to the United Arab Emirates. Both sides wanted to stress the personal connection between Bennett and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ), who met for five hours, mostly one-on-one, at MBZ's palace. A day earlier, Bennett was received with full honors at the airport by Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed. Bennett invited MBZ to visit Israel and he accepted the invitation, Israeli officials say Between the lines: The visit also came amid a sensitive dialogue between the UAE and Iran in an attempt to de-escalate regional tensions. Emirati national security adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the meeting with Bennett after returning last week from a rare visit to Tehran. While Iran was discussed, both sides tried to keep the focus on the deepening bilateral relationship. The Iranian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, slammed the UAE for allowing the leader of a regime that undermines regional security to visit and warned against allowing Israel to strengthen its presence in the Gulf. Worth noting: The visit took place at a time when the UAE is threatening to cancel its F-35 deal with the U.S. over the long delays. According to the WSJ, the U.S. is concerned about safeguarding the advanced technology from Chinese spying. Aliyev and Pashinian sat down with French President Emmanuel Macron following the European Unions summit with five ex-Soviet states covered by its Eastern Partnership program. Neither side reported any details of the trilateral meeting as of Thursday afternoon. We will never abandon the Armenians, Macron tweeted after the meeting. We will always seek solutions for a lasting peace. I call for the holiday season to be one of humanitarian progress, one of appeasement. Macron telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss, among other issues, Moscows efforts to stabilize the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The phone call came a few hours before Aliyev and Pashinian held their first talks in Brussels hosted by European Council President Charles Michel. Michel said that the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders pledged to de-escalate tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and restore rail links between the two South Caucasus states during the talks that lasted for more than four hours. But he admitted that they failed to patch up their differences on the status of a highway that would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave via Armenias southeastern Syunik province. Speaking 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 their first Brussels meeting, saying that it runs counter to understandings reached by them with Russian mediation. Pashinian said on Thursday that he and Aliyev reaffirmed in the Belgian capital their Russian-brokered agreement to launch the rail link between Nakhichevan and the rest of Azerbaijan. He insisted that Armenia will have full control over its Syunik section. The Armenian premier announced that his government will soon start discussing preparations for the construction of the nearly 50-kilometer-long section. Through that railway Armenia will gain access to Russia and Iran, while Azerbaijan will get a rail link with Nakhichevan, he told a cabinet meeting in Yerevan. Pashinian also said that he and Aliyev will continue their contacts to try to overcome the existing disagreements. Addressing the Eastern Partnership summit, Aliyev described his talks with Pashinian as productive and pragmatic. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Mark Butler, PhD, is the principal investigator on the new trial using smart prescription bottles. James T. Hackett has joined the Board of Managers as non-executive Chairman for NuScale Power, LLC 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. The Beaumont school district earned an "A rating" from the Texas Education Association for its 2021 Financial Integrity Rating System, the district's financial officer reported Tuesday. The data on which the rating is based lags two years to 2019, finance officer Cheryl Hernandez said. The rating reflects an "unmodified opinion," which in accounting parlance means that its audits were clean and complete. Indicators show that BISD's financial stability, debt-to-asset ratio and administrative cost control are in acceptable condition. The rating shows the district has its superintendent contract posted on its website as required, that the superintendent has no outside income and that board members do not have any business interest within BISD. BISD chief financial officer Cheryl Hernandez said the "A-rating" from TEA is significant because of the complexity associated with the Texas schools' finance reporting. "The district has worked extremely hard to improve controls and transparency," she said. "The rating shows the district is accountable for the quality of financial management practices." In a presentation to the district, ExxonMobil public affairs executive Nakisha Burns awarded $30,000 in support of Teacher of the Year and toward Science, Technology, Engineering and Mechanical programs. "We, not just ExxonMobil, have $65 billion in investment in Southeast Texas. We want our kids to get jobs here and stay here," she said. Burns was once communications director for BISD and commented on the difficulty of reaching an A financial rating. "I was here for years, and we didn't get that," she said. While trustees reveled in the district's "A rating" in its financial integrity, they also resolved a longstanding bruise on the district's financial integrity by settling its breach-of-contract case with former external auditor Gayle W. Botley, whose botched audits from 2011-13 failed to uncover $4 million in embezzlements by two former district financial officers who were both convicted and sent to prison. Because of the mismanagement by the district, the Texas Education Agency commissioner swept aside that eras' elected Board of Trustees, replacing those members with an appointed Board of Managers. The managers fired Botley in October 2014 for failing to complete previous years' audits and for failing to audit the 2007 bond issue, contending Botley failed to detect the fraud by the former finance officers. At the time, Botley claimed he was not required to detect fraud; he merely tested the information he was given by the finance officers who were concealing their fraud. The school district sued Botley for breach of contract in July 2015. In 2017, he settled with the school district and his insurance carrier paid $750,000. Botley countersued for what he contended was the district's breach of contract with him. That was the legal issue trustees approved on Tuesday, though details were not made public. Board of Trustees attorney Sierra Fisher said the details will remain confidential until Botley signs it. Efforts to reach Botley for comment were unsuccessful Wednesday. In prior lawsuits, the district sought to have Botley's license revoked. Instead, the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy chose to insert notes on his public record that cite his failure to comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Standards, failure to exercise due professional care and cited his lack of documentation. The state accounting board left his license intact after a period of suspension and his license is listed as current. Also during the meeting, Superintendent Shannon Allen gave a general update district update to the board. She said conditions in which the nation is trying to educate children are "horrifying," but BISD is committed to safe campuses. She cited the discipline task force, increased involvement in classrooms and more security, including metal detectors. "I'm not going to sugar-coat it," she said. "We are holding kids accountable." Dan Wallach is a freelance writer. At former Minnesota police officer Kim Potters manslaughter trial for fatally shooting Daunte Wright, a Black motorist, the core of her defense is clear: She says she meant to use her Taser but grabbed her handgun instead. Potters body-camera video recorded the shooting, with Potter heard saying, Taser, Taser, Taser before she fired, followed by, I grabbed the wrong (expletive) gun. Many activists have refused to accept the former Brooklyn Center officers explanation. And the prosecution argued in its opening statement that Potter a 26-year police veteran had the experience and training to know better. Taser-gun mix-ups are rare but they have happened in several states in recent years. Here are some questions and answers about such incidents: HOW FREQUENTLY DOES THIS HAPPEN? Experts agree that such incidents are rare and probably happen fewer than once per year throughout the U.S. A 2012 article published in the monthly law journal Americans for Effective Law Enforcement documented nine cases dating back to 2001 in which officers shot suspects with handguns when they said they meant to fire stun guns. The phenomena of weapons confusion is very well known in policing, according to the prosecution's use-of-force expert, Seth Stoughton, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law. He testified that he knew of fewer than 20 cases since Tasers were introduced in 1993 in which officers used their firearms instead. He said the first he knew of was in 2001. He said the manufacturer has taken several steps to try to prevent such errors, and that it's become an important part of the training that officers get. Stoughton said Tasers have become pretty ubiquitous if not universal in policing. But defense attorney Earl Gray used objections to prevent Stoughton from opining on whether it was significant that, given their widespread use, he knew of fewer than 20 cases. WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? Reasons that have been cited include officer training, the way they carry their weapons and the pressure they feel during dangerous and chaotic situations. To avoid confusion, officers typically carry their stun guns on their weak sides the side of their nondominant hand and away from handguns that are carried on their dominant hands side. Thats how Potter carried hers, and the chief of her suburban Minneapolis police department at the time of the shooting said thats how the departments officers were trained. Prosecutor Erin Eldridge told jurors in her opening statement that the Brooklyn Center Police Department's policy requires that officers carry their Taser on their nondominant side and their firearm on their dominant side. In keeping with that, Potter carried her gun on her right and her Taser on her left. Officers can choose how they want to position their Tasers in their duty belts, so that they have the option of drawing it from across their body with their dominant hand, or they can choose to draw it with their nondominant hand. Potter had her Taser positioned in a straight draw position on her left, so she would draw it with her left hand. The only weapon she draws with her right hand is her gun, not her Taser, Eldridge said. Eldridge also detailed how Brooklyn Center officers go through Taser training every year, and get training materials that include warnings on how confusing a Taser with a handgun can cause death or serious injury. And she told jurors they'll hear about how Potter's Taser and her handgun both had a very different look and feel, starting with the color. A Taser is bright yellow. Potter's gun was black. The jury heard Sam McGinnis, a senior special agent with the states Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, testify in more detail about the differences between the two weapons and how officers use them, bolstering the prosecution's contention that Potter's experience and training should have led her to realize her mistake in the several seconds between when she drew her gun and when she fired. Backed up by photographs, McGinnis said the holsters on Potters duty belt require an officer to take deliberate actions to release the weapons. The gun holster has a snap, while the Taser holster has a lever. The handgun, which is black, weighs just over 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms), while the Taser, which is yellow, weighs just under a pound (0.45 kilograms), he said. The Taser and gun also have different triggers, grips and safety mechanisms that must be engaged before firing, McGinnis testified. The Taser also has a laser and LED lights that display before it is fired, which he demonstrated for the jury, while the handgun does not. McGinnis also testified that Potter didnt perform a function test on her Taser before her shift on the day that she shot Wright, or on the previous day. He said she did run the check six times in her last 10 shifts. The Brooklyn Center Police Departments policy is that officers are required to run the check before each shift. McGinnis acknowledged under cross-examination that he didnt check to see how widely the departments officers complied with the policy. WHAT DOES THE DEFENSE SAY? Defense attorney Paul Engh told jurors in his opening statement that an expert will testify about how in chaotic situations like this shooting, a persons ingrained training takes over. He said Potter had 26 years of gun training, but fewer years of training on her Taser, which is a newer weapon. Engh said they'll hear that Potter made an action error, the sort in which someone does something while meaning to do something else, such as writing the previous year on a check out of habit, or typing an old password into a computer. He also compared them with errors made under stress by experienced pilots or surgeons. We are in a human business, Engh said. "Police officers are human beings. And thats what occurred. Bill Lewinski, an expert on police psychology and the founder of the Force Science Institute in Mankato, Minnesota, has used the phrase slip and capture errors to describe the phenomenon. Lewinski, who has testified on behalf of police, has said officers sometimes perform the direct opposite of their intended actions under stress that their actions slip and are captured by a stronger response. He notes that officers train far more often on drawing and firing their handguns than they do on using their stun guns. Other experts are skeptical of the theory. Theres no science behind it, said Geoffrey Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina and an expert on police use of force. Its a good theory, but we have no idea if its accurate. Alpert said a major factor in why officers mistakenly draw their firearm is that stun guns typically look and feel like a firearm. However, several prosecution witnesses in Potter's trial have testified in detail about how the weapons have a different look and feel, and operate differently. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER CASES? In one of the best-known cases, a transit officer responding to a fight at a train station in Oakland, California, killed 22-year-old Oscar Grant in 2009. The officer, Johannes Mehserle, testified at trial that, fearing Grant had a weapon, he reached for his stun gun but mistakenly pulled his .40-caliber handgun instead. Grant was shot as he lay face down. Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison. His department paid $2.8 million to Grants daughter and her mother. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a white volunteer sheriffs deputy, Robert Bates, said he accidentally fired his handgun when he meant to deploy his stun gun on an unarmed Black man, Eric Harris, who was being held down by other officers in 2015. Bates apologized for killing Harris but described his deadly mistake as a common problem in law enforcement, saying This has happened a number of times around the country... You must believe me, it can happen to anyone. Bates was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison. Tulsa County ultimately agreed to pay $6 million to Harris estate to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit. In 2019, a suburban St. Louis police officer, Julia Crews, said she meant to use her stun gun but mistakenly grabbed her service revolver and shot a suspected shoplifter, Ashley Hall, who suffered serious injuries. Crews resigned and was charged with second-degree assault. That was eventually dropped at Halls request after the victim and the former officer agreed to participate in restorative justice mediation. Separately, the city of Ladue agreed to a $2 million settlement with Hall. ___ Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright This week, attorney and Kemah resident Mikal Williams announced his second bid to unseat Randy Weber, R-Texas, in the United States House of Representatives. Williams previously lost in the 2020 primary to Adrienne Bell, who ultimately lost to Weber. Bell did not file to run for the seat again, according to information from the Texas Secretary of State. However, Williams will face educator Eugene Howard in the March primary before the winner takes on Weber in November. Related: Southeast Texas election results: Democratic ballot Should he win this time, Williams would take over serving the people of U.S. House District 14 in January 2023. His platform includes job creation, universal healthcare, gun control, immigration reform, criminal justice reform, improving public schools and womens reproductive rights, which for him includes codifying Roe v. Wade into law should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn it. Related: States are already preparing for a possible future without Roe v. Wade He said he also is a champion of multiple causes, including infrastructure for Southeast Texas, election and government integrity, the child tax credit and the wealth tax. Most of all, he said he wants to be a representative who is busy actually getting the work done. Its time for a change, Williams said. Im tired of obstruction in Congress. I want a representative whos willing to advocate for all of the constituents of the district and advocate for necessary projects necessary funding for the district. According to Williams, Weber is not doing anything for the district in Congress, other than supporting The Big Lie, which, Williams said, is the idea that the 2020 presidential election was stolen through major fraud. He also takes issue with Webers decision not to vote for investigations into the Jan. 6 riot at the United States Capitol. This is the sort of Congressional and national obstruction he hopes to topple should he win the election, and though he has never held elected office, he said he believes his time serving as a family law and business law attorney would help him mediate compromises in a polarized body. Bipartisanship is the goal, he said within reason. The thing about bipartisanship is, when you reach across the aisle, you have to have a hand willing to reach back, he said. My main focus is our district its District 14 first, Texas second, nation third. Im going to be a zealous advocate for our district and everyone in our district. Williams was born and raised in the district Baytown specifically. His grandparents moved there during the industrial oil boom, so he is no stranger to the concerns of plant workers. He believes that creating renewable energy resources and putting workers to work are not mutually exclusive. We need to work together, he said. The corporations, theyve got a bottom line, just like weve got a bottom line interest of our constituents having jobs. One thing that we cant have with these corporations is whats happening with Exxon right now, locking out 650 families. Thats not good corporate stewardship for the district. Related: Locked out ExxonMobil workers make noise at world petroleum conference He stressed the need to hold energy corporations accountable as responsible community partners. He also said with job training provided to employees, energy companies need to begin a protracted transition to green energy, one that is years in the future and which accounts for the important contributions oil and oil products make to Texas, the nation and the world. If they dont work on transitioning straight from the hydrocarbon industry to renewable fuel sources, clean fuel sources, theyll go the way of the West India Trading (Co.), Williams said. We dont harvest whales for whale oil and whale blubber anymore. Industries changefor the better. Hes banking on elected bodies doing the same. rachel.kersey@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/ontheREKord 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 ATLANTA (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 consumers the 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 Trends 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 dont 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 years 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. ___ Associated Press auto writer Tom Krisher in Detroit contributed to this report. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) William Gallus, Iowa State University (THE CONVERSATION) Extremely powerful winds swept across a large part of the U.S. on Dec. 15, 2021, hitting several states with hurricane-force gusts. Record temperatures helped generate tornadoes in Iowa, winds spread grass fires and dust clouds in Kansas, and wind damage was reported from Colorado through the Midwest. The National Weather Service described it as a historical weather day with a never-before-seen storm outlook. A meteorologist with the service later said it qualified as a serial derecho the powerful storm had winds over 80 mph but more spread out than the intense derecho that hit Iowa in 2020. At least five people died in the storm, the Associated Press reported. We asked atmospheric scientist William Gallus, whose office at Iowa State University was at the heart of the storms, to explain what caused the extreme weather and why it was so unusual. What happened in the atmosphere to trigger such extreme weather over such a wide area? We were seeing very strong winds because of a very powerful disturbance in the jet stream. That disturbance helped to create a very intense low-pressure system, which creates strong winds and storms. But the low pressure wasnt what made this event unusual. It was unprecedented because an incredible amount of warm air got pulled up from the south ahead of the storm. Here in Iowa, temperatures were the hottest theyve ever been in December, with temperatures in the mid 70s on Dec. 15, and a very unusual amount of humidity came up with those temperatures. Thats why we were seeing tornado warningsacross the region and reports of tornado damage. Tornadoes are extremely rare in Iowa in December. Minnesota, which had never had a tornado in December, also had tornado warnings and a possible sighting. The wind speeds with this particular system were about as strong as weve seen. But it was all of the other weather parameters coming together in December that put this storm system off the scale. With the warm moist air, we also had thunderstorms, and thunderstorms tend to make the winds even stronger. If you went up 1,000 feet in the sky, you would find its much windier up there. When you have thunderstorms, the rain helps create a current of wind that goes downward, which we call a downdraft. If you have this downdraft, it tends to carry the really strong winds down to the ground. Thunderstorms in the conditions we were seeing could bring winds that could easily get over 80 mph. Colorado saw wind gusts over 100 mph. What happened there? In Colorado, the mountains also help accelerate the wind. The winds have to rise over the Rocky Mountains. If you get a temperature inversion, where the temperature actually starts to go up rather than down as you get higher in the atmosphere just above the top of the mountains, it can act like a lid that traps the momentum of the wind going over the mountains. The wind cant really spread out, so instead it rushes downward once youre on the east side of the mountains. With anything going downward, gravity accelerates it, just like if you drop a ball from the top of a skyscraper. The same thing happens to these winds. As they flow down the east face of the Rockies, they accelerate. When youre on the leeward side of a mountain range, like Denver and Boulder, winds in those areas can get really strong as theyre descending. What role does the jet stream play in a storm like this? When we get a low-pressure system, its because of wiggles that are happening in the jet steam. We call them troughs in meteorology. If you look at a map showing the jet stream, the jet stream looks like a roller coaster it oscillates up and down, from north to south. Any time youre out ahead of one of these troughs, where the jet stream bends down toward the south and then back toward the north, the air must rise out ahead of it, and this results in a low-pressure system. The winds that blow around it can become very strong. In this case, there was an especially sharp trough in the jet stream, almost in a V shape, that intensified the effect. Is there a connection between this storm and the deadly tornadoes that hit Kentucky and other states on Dec. 10-11? Its hard to say if there was one trigger somewhere on the planet that managed to create these two different ripples in the jet stream. Whats interesting is that there is La Nina going on in the Pacific Ocean. When we have La Nina conditions, we often find that the far northern part of the United States ends up colder than normal and the south ends up warmer, so you have this bigger contrast in temperatures than normal and it often leads to a stronger jet stream. [Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.] This article was updated with a National Weather Service meteorologist describing the storm as a serial derecho. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/hurricane-force-wind-gusts-in-colorado-dust-storms-in-kansas-tornadoes-in-iowa-in-december-heres-what-fueled-a-day-of-extreme-storms-173904. 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. A boat carrying 228 Rohingya is shown at sea northwest of Myanmar before being intercepted by the Myanmar Navy, Nov. 29, 2021. A Myanmar court sentenced 109 Rohingya to five years in prison at hard labor after they were caught at sea fleeing a camp in neighboring Bangladesh, Myanmar sources said. Part of a larger group of 228 intercepted by the Myanmar Navy on Nov. 29 while traveling to Malaysia, the jailed Rohingya were convicted of illegal immigration in a court in Maungdaw township in western Rakhine state. A separate group of 90 refugees was released with warnings by the court because they were under the age of 18, and 35 children younger than 10 were freed on the day their boat was captured, sources said. All had escaped from Myanmar following an August 2017 military crackdown that killed thousands of Rohingya Muslims in a campaign that has been described by international rights groups and the United Nations as genocide. Tin Hlaing Oo, a lawyer defending the group in court, told Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister entity of BenarNews, that those sentenced, including five Myanmar nationals who had worked as the boats crew and two Bangladesh nationals, had been convicted of illegal immigration and given the maximum sentence allowed under Myanmar law. They were leaving Bangladesh to enter Malaysia illegally. Many of them had taken refuge in Bangladesh during the incident in 2017, he said. Some of them have contacted our legal group, the Thazin Legal Institute, and we will appeal the verdict for them. A family member of one of those sentenced told RFA that the Rohingya had hoped to escape to Malaysia because of the many problems in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, including violence. I am going to Malaysia myself because I cant live in the refugee camps any longer, the source said. Some people who have family members in Malaysia want to join their families there, and some go there to get married. Some take their siblings with them. Making the trip isnt easy, he said. The refugee camps in and around Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar are home to about 1 million Rohingya including more than 740,000 who fled following the 2017 crackdown. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Muslim village headman in Rakhine states Buthidaung township said Muslims still living in Rakhine are subject to travel restrictions. They have become wary of speaking publicly about the conditions there as they are often subject to interrogations after reporting problems to the media. Jailing Rohingya for trying to find a better life is unfair and inhumane, he said. Giving us two-year, three-year, or five-year prison sentences whenever we get arrested in the country isnt fair. That shouldnt happen, he said. We cant travel anywhere now in Rakhine state. For example, we cant go to Maungdaw or to Sittwe, the state capital, if we need to even to get medical treatment for a health problem. Wed have to take a special travel document called Form 4, which isnt easy to get, he said. Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Rohingya Liberation Coalition civil society group, called the situation unacceptable. This kind of imprisonment is not fair, he said. According to Article 13(1) of the Immigration Act, the minimum sentence would be six months, and the maximum is five years. But the military is showing that they dont care about the international community, which is putting pressure on them regarding the Rohingya issue, he said. Inspector General Abdul Rakhman Baso, the police chief in Indonesias Central Sulawesi province, shows a poster of wanted members of the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen militant group, in Palu, March 2, 2021. Updated at 5:59 p.m. ET on 2021-05-11 Suspected pro-Islamic State Indonesian militants killed four farmers in Central Sulawesi province on Tuesday, police said, in the first presumed attack by members of the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) group targeting civilians in more than five months. The body of one of the victims of Tuesdays attack in Kalemago, a village in Poso regency, was found decapitated, said Senior Commissioner Didik Supranoto, a spokesman for Central Sulawesi police force. Currently the four bodies of the victims with the initials P.D., N.U., L.L., and P.P. have been taken to their home in Kalemago Village, Didik told BenarNews in Palu, the provincial capital. Poso has long been a hotbed of MIT activity. The group now has been reduced to nine fighters, according to Indonesian officials, although joint police and military manhunts mounted over the past several years have failed to wipe out MIT entirely. The area has been frequented by MIT and beheadings have only been carried out by MIT. We strongly suspect that the perpetrators were MIT, Didik said. During the Tuesday morning attack, a fellow farmer said he saw a group of suspects approach the victims before he fled and informed the police. He saw the five perpetrators carrying firearms and sharp weapons. When the police showed him photos of people on the wanted list, he recognized one of them, a fugitive named Qatar, alias Farel, alias Anas, Didik said. He said police and soldiers rushed to the scene and found the bodies of the four victims, whose bodies bore slash wounds. A motorcycle belonging to one of the farmers had been torched. Members of Operation Madago Raya, the latest iteration of a joint task force whose mission is to hunt down the remnants of MIT, were pursuing the killers, Didik said. We believe the attackers were not far from the scene, he said. The motive is not yet known. What is certain is that MIT did this as an act of terror to frighten the villagers, Didik added. Tuesday's killings came two months after a policeman, a soldier and a pair of MIT suspects were killed in two separate gunfights in Poso. In the last attack on civilians that was blamed on MIT, four villagers living in a Christian community in Sigi regency were killed on Nov. 28, 2020. One of the victims of that attack was also beheaded and two of the bodies were charred, according to police. The attackers in Sigi also burned down eight houses. That attack was the deadliest one till then carried out by MIT. Locals help security officers evacuate the body of one of four farmers killed by suspected Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen militants, in Kalemago, a village in Poso regency in Indonesias Central Sulawesi province, May 11, 2021. [Keisyah Aprilia/BenarNews] Frightened villagers Residents in Kalemago village said they were afraid to work in their fields after Tuesdays killings. There are no security forces to guard us in the field. This is frightening us, said one villager who called herself Mama Kevin. We hope that all the perpetrators will be immediately arrested so that we can feel safe here, she told BenarNews. Mama Kevin said the four slain people were relatives. They were all Torajans and worked as farmers, she said, referring to an ethnic group from southern Sulawesi. Inspector General Abdul Rakhman Baso, the police chief for Central Sulawesi, said officers had been deployed to provide security to villagers. I urge residents not to get agitated and to remain calm. The Madago Raya Task Force will provide security, he told BenarNews. Rakhman had earlier acknowledged that security personnel had difficulty tracking down MITs nine remaining members because of their familiarity with Posos rugged terrain. He said he was taken aback by the latest attack. We hope that the perpetrators can be caught soon, he said. A deputy chairman of the Hanura Party in Central Sulawesi, Frits Kandori, condemned the attack, which was carried out two days before Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the Ramadan fasting month. We are all angry. We reject and strongly condemn this inhuman brutal act, he said in a statement. Frits urged the authorities and President Joko Jokowi Widodo to tackle the scourge of terrorism in Central Sulawesi immediately. We are really fed up with all of this. These terrorists must be eradicated," he said. Cannot be underestimated MIT, which has pledged allegiance to the extremist group known as Islamic State (IS), has survived for years in the mountains and jungle of Poso. In 2016, police killed MITs previous leader, Santoso, who was the first Indonesian militant to pledge allegiance to IS publicly. MIT is one of two pro-IS groups operating in Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country. The other is Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), which authorities have blamed for most terror attacks in the archipelago nation during the past five years. Police and military members have operated a joint task force since 2016 to hunt down MIT militants. Beginning on Jan. 1, authorities have taken a new approach to bringing an end to MIT, by renaming Operation Tinombala as Madago Raya (Kindness), as part of a strategy that focuses on humanitarian and social activities, police said. They still exist and cannot be underestimated. The task force must really make extra efforts to crush them, Lukman S Tahir, a terrorism observer at the State Islamic Institute in Palu, told BenarNews, alluding to MIT. We see that the operation has not been successful in eradicating MIT. We hope that the military and police can work together well to solve this so that all people, especially those in Poso, can really feel safe, he said. Muslim girls stand outside their classroom at a school in Klang, Malaysia, May 21, 2015. The Malaysian government will not raise the legal age for Muslim girls to get married, from 16 to 18, after many states rejected the proposal, the minister for Islamic religious affairs said Thursday when questioned in parliament about this. Idris Ahmad told MPs that the federal government had studied the proposal to raise the minimum age through forums with state governments and had reached a decision in September. Based on the feedback and views that we have received, in principle most states have decided to maintain the current legal marriage age, Idris said. He said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia met on Sept. 22 to evaluate feedback to a proposal made under the former Pakatan Harapan government to raise the minimum age for marriage. The [Sharia Legal Policy] Secretariat was of the view that there was no need to amend the minimum age of marriage for Muslim women, he said in response to a question from Kasthuri Patto, a lawmaker from the opposition Democratic Action Party. DAP was a partner in the Pakatan government, which lasted from May 2018 until February 2020. Womens and other rights groups questioned the current governments inaction. To date, only the state of Selangor amended the minimum legal marriage age. The federal territories (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan), Penang, Sabah, Johor, Melaka and Perak had agreed to, but did not change their laws. Seven states, namely Sarawak, Pahang, Terengganu, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Kelantan have not agreed to the proposal. Slight drop in statistics Explaining the governments stance, Idris told MPs there had been a slight downward trend in the number of child-marriage applications among Muslims approved during the past three years because of strict procedures. He noted that the number of applications fell from 2,885 for a three-year period ending Aug. 31, 2018, to 2,098 during a slightly longer period ending on Oct. 31. Idris said because of new procedures, those who apply for child marriage applications would go through a strict evaluation, including background checks, to protect all parties. If the application is filed by the girls side, they have to provide the reasons, the background of bride and groom, sexual and academic background and the wali (legal guardian), Idris said in reply to a question by a Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party lawmaker, Shaharuzukirnain Abd Kadir. If the application is filed by the groom, they have to provide the reason for the application, background, level of understanding on marriage matters, a report by Welfare Services Department and the Royal Malaysian Police if necessary. Five-year plan In January 2020, the Pakatan-led government unveiled what it called a five-year road map to eradicate child marriage in the country. Then-Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the plan was developed after identifying six factors that contributed to child marriage, according to local news reports at the time. Wan Azizah, who also served as Women, Family and Community minister, acknowledged that it would take years to amend laws and customs with regard to child marriage. She had said road map which listed 17 strategies and 58 programs was developed by the ministry with the cooperation of 61 government agencies, NGOs and UNICEF. In its report at the time, UNICEF estimated that about 1,500 children married every year in Malaysia as of 2018. An opposition lawmaker asked about the status of Pakatans plan. I will ask Rina Harun (Women, Family and Community minister) and Siti Zailah this again what happened to the five-year road map to eradicate child marriage launched by Wan Azizah? DAP lawmaker Hannah Yeoh tweeted. In March, minister Harun had pledged the governments commitment to address child marriage to meet at least eight of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals relating to poverty, food security and health. Rights activists respond Idris comments on Thursday drew challenges from human rights activists, who slammed Putrajaya for lacking political will to put an end to child brides. Lawyer and rights activist Latheefa Koya said it was a shame that successive Malaysian governments had failed in their duty to protect the young and vulnerable. In a string of tweets, Latheefa hit out at the government, lamenting its failure of morals, of courage, of political will, of basic decency! This is a license for pedophiles to run wild and prey upon Malaysian children! The grooming (which is criminal offense) will start way before these children even turn 16! she tweeted. Sisters in Islam (SIS) joined those criticizing Idris. The statement by Sen. Idris Ahmad showed that he doesnt read and he was ignorant of the fact that Malaysia is a signatory of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1995 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1994. In May 2021, Malaysia was placed at the 112 out of 156 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2021 and at the same time Malaysia was placed at the bottom ranking for Southeast Asian nations, SIS said in a statement on Thursday. It pointed out that most ASEAN nations, including Cambodia, raised the minimum marriage age for marriage to at least 18. Rescuers in a dinghy transport a stranded resident to safety after heavy rainfall from Typhoon Rai (Odette) caused a river to flood in Cagayan de Oro city, southern Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, struck the southeastern seaboard of the Philippines and forced the evacuation of about 100,000 people on Thursday, officials said. Rescuers in dinghies ferried people to safety in one city, Cagayan de Oro, where a torrential downpour from the storm caused the banks of a major river to overflow. As we speak, Odette is currently causing havoc and once our teams on the ground are able to gather more data we will apprise everyone, said Joe-Mar Perez, the operations chief at the Office of Civil Defense in Manila. According to the data that we have gathered, a total of 98,091 individuals have been preemptively evacuated. The storm made landfall in the Philippines at 1:30 p.m. local time Thursday. It gained strength with sustained winds of 195 kph (122 mph) near the center and gusts of up to 270 kph (168 mph) and was classified a super typhoon, according to state meteorological agency (PAGASA). Heaviest hit was Cagayan de Oro, a city of about 730,000 in the main southern island of Mindanao. Rescuers pulled residents from homes near the banks of the river that bears the citys name. BenarNews reporters who were on site said winds blew roofs of shanties and toppled some trees. Mike Fabello of the Cagayan de Oro City Social Welfare and Development Office said those rescued were staying in temporary evacuation centers, mostly government buildings or schools. At the West City Central School in the village of Carmen, about 50 families huddled inside the gym. Village officials brought hot soup to warm the evacuees, many of whom arrived drenched by the storm. An evacuee eats soup provided by officials at the West City Central School in the village of Carmen in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. [Froilan Gallardo/BenarNews] Nick Jabagat, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said most of the streets were flooded by Thursday morning. Floodwaters near Centrio Ayala Mall were already waist deep by 10 a.m., Jabagat said, referring to an area near the city center. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard prevented all ships from venturing out to sea on Thursday. Elsewhere, the highway between Butuan City and San Francisco town in Agusan del Sur was cut off by a landslide, according to Capt. Teody Agustin, spokesman of the Army 901st Infantry Brigade. In Lianga, Surigao del Sur, Roger Enriquez of the NGO Balay Mindanaw said a three-meter high storm surge forced about 200 families in Barangay Diatagon and San Agustin town to evacuate. A Philippine woman feeds her son at the West City Central School in the village of Carmen, Dec. 16, 2021. [Froilan Gallardo/BenarNews] Throughout the Philippines, local Red Cross volunteers have joined the efforts. Richard Gordon, a senator who serves as the Philippine Red Cross chairman, said the COVID-19 pandemic had made preparations doubly hard. Red Cross emergency teams are urgently helping as tens of thousands of families bunker down for the most powerful storm they have faced this year. Volunteers are equipping shelters with blankets, first aid and food supplies. We are doing this to protect the people, he said. Casiano Monilla, a civil defense deputy administrator, said crews were monitoring for possible casualties from the storm. Prior to the landfall, we had not monitored any casualties. We hope we could sustain that, he said, while noting that landslides in some areas were highly probable. Rescuers help Cagayan de Oro residents move to higher ground to escape floodwaters after Typhoon Odette struck the Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. [Philippine Coast Guard via AP] Odettes landfall came exactly 10 years to the day that Tropical Storm Sendong (internationally known as Washi) struck, leaving 1,268 dead. Of this number, 1,227 were from Mindanao including 734 residents of Cagayan de Oro, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinating Council. Gordon of the Red Cross noted that Odette arrived at a time when the nation was reeling from other disasters. Filipinos are tough, but this super typhoon is a bitter blow for millions of people who are still recovering from devastating storms, floods and COVID-19 in the past year, Gordon said. Jeoffrey Maitem in Davao City, Philippines, and Richel V. Umel in Iligan City, Philippines, contributed to this report. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High 31F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low near 25F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional snow showers overnight. Low 28F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional snow showers overnight. Low 28F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%. PITTSFIELD An enormous red hen, two stories high, ambles across the high stone walls of Hancock Shaker Villages historic Round Stone Barn. Part of the intricate, atmospheric light installation Luminous Wonder, it joins images of Shaker artifacts, architecture, farm life and culture commingled with color projected at five locations throughout the village. If You Go What: Hancock Holiday Nights Where: Hancock Shaker Village, 1843 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield When: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays, Dec. 16-20 and 27-29. Admission: $20, adults; $10, ages 6 to 18; and free for 5 and under. Tickets are not required for ages 2 and under. Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required. Entrance to the Village is ticketed in 15-minute increments. Tickets and information: 413-443-0188, hancockshakervillage.org/events/hancock-holiday-nights During Hancock Holiday Nights, running Thursday to Sunday evenings through Dec. 29, ever-changing visuals captured and gathered by Becket artist Joe Wheaton adorn buildings, walls even a tree. Wheaton has projected light shows throughout the Berkshires, from fundraiser tents to iconic buildings, including the Colonial Theatre. His artistry has been viewed from California to Thailand, at U.K. food history symposiums and the Peace Corps' 50th anniversary in Washington, D.C. At the Village, vivid video images are projected inside and outside the Round Stone Barn; in the brick Poultry House gallery space; on the 1910 Barn; and on an apple tree. A woman singing Shaker songs in a red cape was inspired by a tour, Wheaton said during a recent telephone interview. In the Round Stone Barn, hes responding to the architecture. Outside the barn are some very slowly changing colors, inside its much more frenetic, he described. There are color washes, dots becoming a single color, grids transitioning from one color to another, planes of grids that turn. Its like the sparkling water on a lake, theres a lot going on, but its a kind of atmosphere in a way. Overall, its like a choir. His nine home projectors five inside the Round Stone Barn are installed in weatherproof boxes equipped with dog house heaters so they dont succumb to the cold, he said. Its quite elaborate. Wheaton has made videos since age 7 and rented a studio at 12. [Art] has always been part of my life, he said. Born in the Netherlands to academic, art-collecting American parents, Wheaton and his family spent two years in France before settling in Cambridge. In 1981, following a difficult stint in New York City, Wheaton visited his sister in the Berkshires. And I stayed. I was 22 and Ive been here ever since. He lived first in Pittsfield, then relocated to the creative enclave of Becket. Originally a potter, in 1990, Wheaton took a Taconic High School night class and became a sculptor. [That] same year I met my spouse, Richard, he recalled. At 30, he handed his then catering and restaurant business to his business partner and started welding full time, creating indoor and outdoor sculptures up to 10 feet tall. He describes those pieces as ethereal movement and shadow, with solid, geometric elements counterbalanced by delicate swoops and extensions influenced by Japanese and Turkish calligraphy. When a shoulder replacement jeopardized welding heavy materials, in 2007, Wheaton started taking video projection seriously. Exposed to the art form at Nevadas Burning Man Festival, I didnt know what I was looking at. It was fascinating, the technology is just remarkable. He purchased a computer program, and basically taught myself. I still love it and Im still welding. He mostly uses his own images. I travel a lot, always with a camera and video, I can shoot 3,000 pictures in a day. With a library of some 200,000 images, Ive never erased a single one were digital hoarders. At Hancock Shaker Village, he captured interiors, farm animals and flowers in both video and still photography, incorporating abstract graffiti images when he needed saturated color. The 1910 Barn projection, he noted, is all historic imagery from the archives and collections of objects scrolling by. Wheaton refines his looped sequences continuously. I have a projection on a tree with no leaves that has been challenging because the light goes through it. So every night I nibble away on that. Usually my stuff is up for a day, and I do it live, he explained. This work is better for having had time to reflect on it. I can stand out in a dark field in this beautiful place and just think about what it is Im seeing. The village is magical at the holiday time, said HSV director Jennifer Trainer Thompson during a phone interview. Its a very special place at night, especially when the stars come out. With its soaring majesty, the barn feels like a cathedral. The music is Gregorian Chants, with sheep, cows and donkeys down below, she said. Its completely immersive, youre totally wrapped up in this moving light show. The Poultry House is decked out as a Shaker Christmas, with music as well as visuals, she noted. Artists, she said, can help us see the Shakers through a contemporary lens. One of my goals has been to present [the Village] in a new light. This certainly does that. Wheaton added, Its very moving and beautiful. I wanted to celebrate what [the Shakers] created. Ive laid a blanket of color over it. Enjoy it like you would any piece of music. Its not going to tell you a story or maybe it will. Take it in. Investigations editor Larry Parnass joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, CommonWealth Magazine and with the Reuters news service. Diners eat outside Bizen on Railroad Street in Great Barrington in 2020. The Tri-Town Health Boards have started exploring whether restaurants should require proof of vaccination. Clarence Fanto can be reached at cfanto@yahoo.com, on Twitter @BE_cfanto or at 413-637-2551. Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. As the Berkshire district attorney's election nears, the field of candidates appears to be in the early stages of taking shape and the incumbent, Andrea Harrington, is staffing up. Impaired-driving crashes are on the rise, and law enforcement is pushing for tools to combat the problem In America, Christmas is the most celebrated holiday of the year, with 85% of the population celebrating it in some way, according to Statista. While Christians celebrate the day to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, both Christians and non-Christians may be found enjoying the holiday. Families reunite, decorations are put up around the home and gifts are bought for family and friends. Most families have Christmas traditions, whether it be baking cookies together, touring Christmas light displays or attending a Christmas Eve candlelight service. But why is Christmas such a big deal? The Fulfillment of Prophecy As believers in Jesus, the answer seems simple. Its the day we honor the birth of our Savior, Jesus, an event that fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. Jesuss birth was also the end to what is sometimes referred to as the 400 years of silence. There was a full four centuries between the writing of the last book of the Old Testament and the time Jesus was born. During that time, there is no record of prophets or inspired writers in Israel. Psalm 74:9 refers to this dark period for Gods people: We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet, Nor is there anyone among us who knows how long. Gods people had been waiting a very long time for their promised Messiah. It mustve felt like a hopeless time. They may have believed that God had forgotten them as generation after generation passed without the birth of their promised King. God did fulfill his promise, in His perfect timing. The book of Matthew details many of the Old Testament prophecies Jesus fulfilled. The first one is in Matthew 1:23: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel. The birth of Jesus brought an end to the centuries of silence. It was also the beginning of a new covenant God would create with man; a better way for Him to have a relationship with us. The History of Christmas Celebrations We dont know exactly when Jesus was born, and most agree it was not in December. So why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? Long before the birth of Jesus, there were celebrations that took place during the winter solstice. Different cultures and religions recognized the shortest day of the year (usually around December 21st or 22nd) as a time to celebrate the end of the darkness and the hope of the sun and light to come in the spring. From Yule celebrations in Scandinavia to the Roman holiday of Saturnalia, where they worshipped a pagan god, the winter solstice was a time where people ate and drank in excess and celebrated the bounty of what they had at hand and the hope of what was to come. Yet all these celebrations lacked the One true hope that does not disappoint: Jesus, the son of God. Its believed that the church chose December 25th as the time to celebrate Christs birth so that the true light would shine during the darkest days of the year and overpower the customs of pagan traditions. But just like the birth of Christ met opposition by King Herod, the celebration of Christmas has met resistance, both inside and outside of the church. By the Middle Ages, Christmas had replaced most pagan holidays, but it took on a twisted way of celebrating that had nothing to do with Jesus. Though Christians would attend church on Christmas Day, the church services were followed by drunken, carnival like festivities. The poor would go to the homes of the rich and demand their best food and drink. The rich complied out of both fear of vandalism and a sense of debt to the poor for their good fortune. These celebrations seemed to be far removed from recognizing the birth of Jesus and the love and hope He brought to men. Thus began a push back and forth between Puritans who believed Christmas should not be celebrated beyond a church service, and others who believed that combining the best of ancient winter solstice celebrations with the observance of Christs birth was a good thing. Centuries later, when America was formed, Christmas was not a celebrated holiday. The pilgrims were very orthodox believers. In Boston, Christmas was even outlawed from the years 1659 to 1681. However, there were parts of America that did celebrate Christmas, such as in the Jamestown settlement. However, the Christmas holiday didnt really see much American celebration until the 19th century when it was declared a federal holiday. Then with the combination of American popular culture, marketing, and the blending of different customs and cultures, the Christmas traditions we enjoy today were eventually embraced: Christmas trees, Santa Claus, Christmas cards and gift-giving. The Whyand the Wayof Christmas Christmas, as a holiday celebration, wasnt always such a big deal. But as our world has grown and changed, the true meaning of Christmas has staked its ground, spreading its message of hope to those who seek comfort in the darkest time of the year. Its the hope behind Christmas that draws even nonbelievers to the holiday. In Luke 1:79, Zacharias prophesied about the coming Savior, that He was coming to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Jesus came for those who live in the darkness and are on the path of death, to the show them the way of life and peace. The way of peace is not found in the raucous celebrations of Christmases past, or the sometimes over-commercialized events of today. The way of peace is found in living in the way Jesus taught His disciples, by following the Word of God and having a relationship with Him. This light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot comprehend or overcome it (John 1:5). Even when Satan tries to twist or pervert it, the true light always prevails. As believers, Christmas is our opportunity to be messengers of this hope. We give to those less fortunate out the love God has given us, not out of fear or a sense of balancing the scales. We buy gifts for those we care about, not because we hope for something in return, but because weve already been given the greatest gift there is in Jesus. We sing Christmas carols because we celebrate as the angels did on the day Christ was born, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased (Luke 2:14). We share meals with family, friends and neighbors, because Jesus reminds us that we are part of His family and were to care for one another. We attend candlelight services on Christmas Eve because holding the candle in the dark room reminds us how much impact a little light can make. Christmas is an opportunity for us to play our small part in letting everyone know Jesus came into the world against all odds and overcame evil because of His love for every single one of us. Christmas is such a big deal because without it, nothing else would really matter. Sources https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas https://www.learnreligions.com/why-is-christmas-on-december-25-700439 Related articles The Origin and History of Americas Christmas Traditions Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on December 25? Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? Photo credit: Getty Images/Drazen Zigic Melanie Campbell is a member of Oregon Christian Writers and ACFW. Her debut novel, One Woman Falling, won the Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Award and is a finalist for the Selah Award. She lives in Oregons beautiful Willamette Valley with her husband, their three children, and several spoiled pets. You can learn more about her writing and sign up for her newsletter by visiting her website at melaniecampbellauthor.org. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) At least five people died as a powerful and extremely unusual storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest amid unseasonably warm temperatures, spawning hurricane-force winds and possible tornadoes in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. In southeastern Minnesota, Olmsted County Sheriffs Lt. Lee Rossman said a 65-year-old man was killed Wednesday night when a 40-foot tree blew onto him outside his home. In southwestern Kansas, blinding dust kicked up by the storms Wednesday led to two separate crashes that killed three people, Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Mike Racy said. And in eastern Iowa, a semitrailer was struck by high winds and rolled onto its side Wednesday evening, killing the driver, the Iowa State Patrol confirmed. The storm shifted north of the Great Lakes into Canada on Thursday, with high winds, snow and hazardous conditions continuing in the upper Great Lakes region, the National Weather Service said. More than 190,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity Thursday afternoon in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Kansas, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. At least two tornadoes were confirmed in southern Minnesota on Wednesday, the states first twisters on record in December. The small community of Hartland, Minnesota, might have been the hardest hit, with a reported 35 to 40 homes sustaining minor damage and a few businesses severely damaged, Freeborn County Emergency Management Director Rich Hall said. Winds reached at least 110 mph in Hartland, the National Weather Service said. Losses also included livestock. Dozens of cows were electrocuted at a dairy farm after a power pole landed on a milking barn in Newaygo County, in western Michigan. Tim Butler said his workers at the dairy survived the event, but at least 70 cows died. Dozens survived, but many were "hurt bad, Butler said. The destructive weather system developed amid unprecedented warmth for December in the Plains and northern states. That included temperatures that rose to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) across southwestern Wisconsin on Wednesday evening. The Weather Company historian Chris Burt compared the heat to that of a warm July evening. I can say with some confidence that this event (the heat and tornadoes) is among the most (if not THE most) anomalous weather event ever on record for the Upper Midwest, Burt wrote in a Facebook post. The winds knocked down trees, tree limbs and nearly 150 power lines in northern and western Michigans Lower Peninsula. In the western Michigan village of Fruitport, high winds peeled back a portion of Edgewood Elementary Schools roof, leading officials to close all district schools Thursday. There were more than 20 tornado reports Wednesday in the Plains states, scattered mostly through eastern Nebraska and Iowa, based on preliminary reports to the Storm Prediction Center. The storm system led to the most reports of hurricane-force wind gusts 75 mph (120 kph) or higher on any day in the U.S. since 2004, the center said. 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 governors of Kansas and Iowa declared states of emergency. 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. On Wednesday, there were at least 59 reports of hurricane-force wind gusts regionwide, which exceeded the 53 recorded on Aug. 10, 2020, when a rare derecho wind storm struck Iowa, the Storm Prediction Center said. The destruction on Wednesday, however, was far less severe than from last year's derecho, which caused billions of dollars of damage. The winds also whipped up dust that reduced visibility to zero in parts of Kansas and caused at least four semitrailers to blow over, leading officials to temporarily close much of Interstate 70, as well as all state highways in nine northwestern Kansas counties. Kansas deployed helicopters and other firefighting equipment to help smother at least a dozen wind-fueled wildfires in western and central counties, officials said Thursday. That dust and smoke was carried north by the storm and concentrated over parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, causing a dramatic drop in air quality in those areas late Wednesday. That spawned a glut of calls to already-taxed emergency dispatchers from people reporting the smell of smoke. The system blew into the Plains from Colorado, sending gale-force winds across a swath from New Mexico to Minnesota, Wisconsin and upper Michigan. The weather service recorded a gust of 107 mph (172 kph) Wednesday morning at Lamar, Colorado, and gusts of 100 mph in Russell, Kansas. Scientists say extreme weather events and warmer temperatures are more likely to occur with human-caused climate change. However, scientifically attributing a 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," 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. ___ Stafford reported from Liberty, Missouri. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Ken Miller in Oklahoma City; Terry Wallace in Dallas; Seth Borenstein in Washington D.C.; Jim Anderson in Denver and Grant Schulte in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report. Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and ice rescue personnel clad in dry suits worked Wednesday to try to recover a dozen elk that died Tuesday after falling through the ice of a private lake in Otsego County. This is a very tragic and unfortunate event, DNR Director Dan Eichinger said in a news release. Elk are an important species in Michigans successful conservation history. We are indebted to the conservation officers and hunting guides who tried to help in responding to this incident Tuesday afternoon. In all, the carcasses of three spike bull elk, five cows and three calves were recovered from the lake today, the DNR reported. The remaining elk carcass was not found. The ice thickness measured 2 inches where the elk fell through, with the water about 50 feet deep. The incident began at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when conservation officers were called by an elk-hunting guide who reported that 10-12 elk had fallen through the ice on Crapo Lake, which is a 92-acre lake located about 20 miles northeast of Grayling. The guide said he, another guide and their hunting party had come to the lakes private hunting property and sighted the elk about 100 yards from a main road. The hunters had been granted permission to be on the property. When the hunters arrived, they saw the elk headed down a slope and onto the ice, traveling approximately 75 to 100 yards out onto the ice, said Sgt. Mark Depew of the DNR Law Enforcement Division, in a statement. The animals grouped up and broke through the ice. Conservation officers arrived about 30 minutes after receiving the call. They found the two hunting guides who reported the incident in a rowboat, attempting to cut an escape path through the ice for the elk with a chainsaw. The ice was approximately 5 to 6 inches thick, and the two were making almost no progress, Depew said. For the safety of the guides, conservation officers ordered them off the ice to prevent another tragedy. Given the weight of the animals and the relatively thin ice, there were no safe options available for saving or recovering the elk alive. DNR Wildlife Division Chief Jared Duquette said in the news release that there are anecdotal reports from other states of similar incidents occurring with elk. Elk are animals of open woodlands and varied elevations, typically weighing between 350 and 900 pounds. Lt. Jim Gorno of the DNR Law Enforcement Division said there are instances reported each winter of deer, moose or dogs falling through the ice of lakes and streams. In some cases, well-intentioned people have endangered their own lives in attempts to try to save these animals, sometimes with fatal results, the DNR stated. We remind people that no ice is safe ice, Gorno said in a statement. Putting yourself in danger of drowning is not an acceptable risk. Gorno said the elk will be processed by local butchers and processors and the meat donated to local charities and food banks for distribution. Standard Provision of Alpena will be doing the processing, which will be paid for by Safari Club International and Hunters Harvest. Duquette said the loss of the elk will not significantly reduce the elk herd in the northern Lower Peninsula. He does not expect the loss to affect elk-hunting quotas for next year. Elk were reintroduced to Michigan in 1918 after native elk disappeared due to habitat loss and unregulated hunting, the DNR stated. It said the current healthy and abundant elk population is found in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. Approximately 1,000 elk are estimated to be in Michigan's elk range, which includes the Pigeon River Country State Forest. Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to Bahrain Photograph taken by M Serrot in 1883 showing a statue of Buddha and some sculpted slabs from Mala Tangi in Peshawar district. This is one of a series taken by M Serrot in 1883, and was reproduced in photogravure as Plate 27 in 'Illustrations of Graeco-Buddhist sculptures from the Yusufzai District' in volume I of Henry Hardy Cole's 'Preservation of monuments in India' (c. 1885). Cole described this image as, ''No. 1 [top left], a small frieze of figures. No. 2 [middle row, left], part of a circular frieze, representing ascetic life - a figure struck down by a storm. In the centre is a small tree with large leaves (Jack tree - Artocarpus integrifolia). No. 3 [centre] is a fragment of a standing Buddha. No. 4 [top row, right] is the worship of symbols. Nos. 4 and 5 [middle row, right] are parts of a frieze, probably representing one of the Jatakas, or birth-stories of Buddha.'' From the first and second centuries AD onwards, Peshawar district, in northern Pakistan, became famous for sculptures like those pictured here. Known as Gandhara, it was ruled by a dynasty of Chinese origin called the Kushans. They were Buddhists and under their influence, the religion, and the arts associated with it were allowed to flourish. The reign of the Kushan king Kanishka, is particularly well known for its artistic achievements and it was during his reign, from 78 AD, that we find the first examples of the Graeco-Roman influenced Gandharan style of sculpture. The classical influence on these sculptures can be clearly seen in the figures draped clothing, their curly hair and the naturalistic modelling of their bodies. Matthew 1:18 in the Bodmin Gospels Medium: Ink and pigments on vellum Date: 900 Full size printable image Shelfmark: Additional MS 9381 Item number: f.14v Length: 26 Width: 16 Scale: Centimetres Genre: Illuminated manuscript The Bodmin Gospels of St Petroc's Priory, Bodmin, in Cornwall, are an important survival, providing a glimpse of Cornwall's early history. In many ways, their pages look back further still than the late 9th century when they were made. While the script in which they are written is much like that in use in contemporary France and Anglo-Saxon England, the design of many of the pages and the kind of ornament used also resemble what is seen in Irish and British gospel manuscripts from the 7th to 8th centuries. It was probably made in Brittany, a 'Celtic' area where cultural links with western Britain and Ireland were maintained. Its most well-known features are the records of freeing of slaves (manumissions), celebrated at the altar of St Petroc, dating from the 10th- 12th centuries on some of its pages, which preserve names in Old Cornish. The large decorated letters XPI represent an abbreviation of the word Christi ('of Christ') in Greek: Chi Rho Iota. The enlarged and decorated abbreviation at the end of the list of ancestors of Christ (Matthew 1:18) follows a tradition seen in nearly all gospel manuscripts made in the British Isles, Ireland and Brittany from at least the late 7th until about the mid-9th century. The inscriptions in red between the lines and in the margin indicate sections which would have been read in church services. The one near the XPI is the reading for Christmas eve. In the lower left margin the numbers which coordinate with the canon tables can be seen. The real purpose behind the historic, unprecedented push to vaccinate the very young, even against diseases like COVID that do not pose a threat to them, is to fold the current generation of children into the blossoming global digital identity system. Miss a day, miss a lot. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day. It's free. COVID-19 may have caught much of the planet by surprise in late 2019 and early 2020, but much of the groundwork for the technology now widely used as a response to the pandemic was conceptualized and developed years prior. In the U.S. and throughout the world, there has been a recent push to implement a variety of vaccine passport regimes, many of which rely on digital technologies such as mobile applications to carry a record of so far, at least ones COVID-19 vaccination records. These tools are presented by public officials and significant sections of the media in recent weeks and months as an inevitability of sorts, a technological progression as natural as breathing. They are also presented as a new response to an unprecedented crisis. These technological applications are touted as a means of keeping businesses open and ensuring peace of mind for members of the public who remain wary about entering public spaces. But just how new is this new technology? And will the use of technology be limited to COVID vaccinations, or for purposes of health? International alliances backing the melding of Big Tech and Big Health It was the beginning of the preceding decade, January 2010, when Bill Gates, via the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, proclaimed [w]e must make this the decade of vaccines, adding that innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before. In launching this so-called Decade of Vaccines, the Gates Foundation pledged $10 billion in funding. But Gates wasnt the only actor behind this initiative. For instance, the Decade of Vaccines program used a model originating from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to project the potential impact of vaccines on childhood deaths throughout the decade to come. And the announcement for the Decade of Vaccines initiative was made at that years annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). These same actors the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the WEF organized the now-notorious Event 201 pandemic simulation exercise, in October 2019, just before COVID entered our lives. Moreover, in 2010, a Global Vaccine Action Plan was announced as part of this initiative. It was a collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), with Dr. Anthony Fauci serving on the leadership council. As the Gates Foundation stated at the time: The Global Vaccine Action Plan will enable greater coordination across all stakeholder groups national governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, the private sector and philanthropic organizations and will identify critical policy, resource and other gaps that must be addressed to realize the life-saving potential of vaccines. The steering committee for the Global Vaccine Action Plan included a member from the GAVI Alliance. Notably, the initial announcement for the Decade of Vaccines was made in the presence of Julian Lob-Levyt, then-CEO of the GAVI Alliance. What, or who, is the GAVI Alliance? Also known as the Vaccine Alliance, it proclaims a mission to save lives and protect peoples health, and states it helps vaccinate almost half the worlds children against deadly and debilitating infectious diseases. GAVI goes on to describe its core partnership with various international organizations, including names that are by now familiar: the WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank. (Far from helping the worlds poor, the World Bank has been described by a former insider, John Perkins, as an organization that uses economic hit men to subjugate financially crippled countries). In 2018, GAVI, through its INFUSE (innovation for update, scale and equity in immunization) Initiative, put forth the following food for thought: Imagine a future in which all children have access to life-saving vaccines no matter where they live a future in which parents and health workers ensure their timely vaccination, a future in which they have their own digitally stored health record that cannot be lost or stolen, a future in which, regardless of gender, economic or social standing, this record allows each child (and parents) to have access to a bank account, go to school, access services and ultimately build a prosperous life. This future is possible today. With the latest advances in digital technologies that enable more effective ways to register, identify births and issue proof of identity and authentication for access to services we are on the brink of building a healthier and more prosperous future for the worlds most vulnerable children. This would be accomplished, according to GAVI, through the INFUSE initiative, specifically by calling for innovations that leverage new technologies to modernize the process of identifying and registering the children who are most in need of life-saving vaccines. As described by investigative reporter Leo Hohmann: Dont be confused by the bit about building a healthier and more prosperous future. Thats just window dressing. This is all about data collection and has nothing to do with health. The real purpose behind the historic, unprecedented push to vaccinate the very young, even against diseases like COVID that do not pose a threat to them, is to fold the current generation of children into the blossoming global digital identity system. GAVI itself confirmed the above statement, as it has described potential uses of these new technologies as going beyond the issuance of a digital child health card toward encompassing access to other services, including the broadly defined financial services. Limitations on access to such other services are already apparent in jurisdictions where COVID passports restrict access to businesses, banks and other private spaces for the non-vaccinated The GAVI Alliance also closely collaborates with the ID2020 Alliance, founded in 2016, which claims to advocate in favor of ethical, privacy-protecting approaches to digital ID, adding that doing digital ID right means protecting civil liberties. Unsurprisingly, there is no clarification provided regarding the potential loss of civil liberties for individuals who choose, for any reason, not to be vaccinated and who are therefore excluded from large swaths of society in areas where COVID passports have been implemented and enforced. Such rhetoric on the part of ID2020 is reminiscent of the public statements put forth by the European Union (EU) as it was preparing to launch its so-called Green Pass earlier this year. EU officials, such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who recently called for a discussion on mandatory vaccinations in the EU went to great lengths to stress how individuals privacy would be protected. In a manner which some may consider tone-deaf, they further emphasized that such a digital pass would enable people to move safely for work or tourism, as if such free movement is a new concept that only a digital pass could make possible. Again, restrictions on the unvaccinated, including those involving work or tourism, were entirely absent from the public rhetoric surrounding this new measure. Highlighting the possibilities that the GAVI-ID2020 collaboration could bring, the INFUSE call for innovation states: According to the ID2020 Alliance a public-private partnership that includes Gavi the use of digital health cards for children could directly improve coverage rates by ensuring a verifiable, accurate record and by prompting parents to bring their children in for a subsequent dose. From the parents perspective, digital records can make it convenient to track a childs vaccines and eliminate unnecessary paperwork. And as children grow, their digital health card can be used to access secondary services, such as primary school, or ease the process of obtaining alternative credentials. Effectively, the digital health card could, depending on country needs and readiness, potentially become the first step in establishing a legal, broadly recognized identity. All of these proposals and initiatives appear, in turn, to be closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular, Goal 16.9, which calls for the provision of a digital legal identity for all, including newborns, by 2030. To this end, the UN established the UN Legal Identity Agenda Task Force in 2018. In May 2021, this task force, alongside the United Nations Development Programme and a variety of private sector actors, organized the Future of Technology and Institutional Governance in Identity Management roundtable sessions. The final report from these sessions indicates, among other things, a desire from the stakeholders for the expansion of public-private partnerships for the further development and implementation of digital ID regimes worldwide, including in the Global South. One of the stakeholders present, the not-for-profit Secure Identity Alliance, touts its support for the provision of legal, trusted identity for all and driving the development of inclusive digital services necessary for sustainable, worldwide economic growth and prosperity. A paper published in July by the Security Identity Alliance discusses making health certificates a workable reality. One of the five principles the paper puts forth for such health passports is that they are futureproofed, by offering multi-purpose functionality in order to ensure ongoing value beyond todays current crisis. The Secure Identity Alliance counts among its observers governmental authorities from countries such as Germany, The Netherlands, Estonia, Slovenia, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and Guinea. Moreover, one of its founding members and current board members is the Thales Group, a private company involved in aerospace, defense and security in short, a defense contractor. On its website, the Thales Group proudly promotes its smart health card and Digital ID Wallet technology. Amidst utopian language claiming were ready for change and putting citizens in control, the Digital ID Wallet promises the public the ability to access the rights and services to which we are entitled. Indeed, the documents that would be available via this Digital ID Wallet go beyond health credentials and include national identification cards, drivers licenses and any number of other items of official documentation. Numerous countries worldwide, including the U.S., currently find themselves in varying stages of implementing exactly this sort of digital wallet. Taking health passports a step (or more) further: digital wallet regimes take shape The U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 30 passed H.R. 550, the Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021. If passed by Congress, this law would provide $400 million in funding to expand vaccine-tracking systems at the state and local level, enabling state health officials to monitor the vaccination status of American citizens and to provide this information to the federal government. Vaccine passports and no-fly lists for the unvaccinated a concept for which Fauci expressed his support could be created under the law. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), passed the U.S. House of Representatives with 294 votes, including all Democrats and 80 Republicans. It is now before the Senate, where it is being reviewed by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Since being passed by the House, the bill has garnered a fair amount of attention other recent digital identification developments in the U.S., however, seem to have remained relatively under the radar. In September, for instance, Apple announced a partnership with eight states Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah to make those respective states drivers licenses available in digital form via the Apple Wallet platform. Meanwhile, several states, including New York (via its Excelsior Pass) and Connecticut introduced their own digital COVID vaccination certificate. Similar to how the EU has promoted vaccine passports, these state-level initiatives in the U.S. are touted as a means of safely reopening the economy and encouraging travel and movement. Indeed, New York went so far as to make a blueprint of its vaccine pass platform available, as a guide to assist other states, territories, and entities in the expansion of compatible COVID-19 vaccine credential systems to advance economic development efforts nationwide. Looking at the EU, one of the blocs priorities as part of its 2019-2024 five-year plan is to create a digital identity for all Europeans. Namely, each EU citizen and resident would have access to a personal digital wallet under this initiative. This personal digital wallet could include documentation such as national ID cards, birth certificates, medical certificates and drivers licenses. The EU subsequently presented its plans for the European Digital Decade, where under the EUs Digital Compass, 100% of key public services will be available digitally, with a target of 80% uptake of digital identification documents. Already, several EU member states are getting into the act. Germany, which had electronic national ID cards (via biometric chips) since 2010, introduced digital versions of these ID cards this past fall, via the AusweisApp2. The same app makes German drivers licenses available digitally. Germany and Spain also recently signed an agreement to launch a cross-border program for digital identification, which would entail mutual recognition of each others official digital documents France also recently announced its intention to integrate its national identification card with smartphones. Greece received praise from the global press when it introduced particularly draconian digital tools during its two COVID lockdowns, such as a government SMS platform to which residents would have to send a text message in order to circulate in public for a limited set of reasons. More recently, Greece announced the forthcoming creation of a digital wallet that will contain documents such as ones national ID card, drivers license and health documentation. Estonia, viewed as a world leader in introducing digital e-governance and which has had digital identification cards in place since 2002, is preparing its own digital wallet system while expressing support for the EUs Digital Compass. Outside of Europe, several other countries also have expanded their digital identification regimes in various ways. In Australia, for instance, states such as New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland introduced or trialed digital drivers licenses. It is in India, though, where such digital documents appear to have generated the greatest degree of controversy thus far. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission was announced in 2020 and launched as a pilot program in six regions of India in 2021. It is an app that provides a unique digital health ID to each citizen and is linked to their personal health records. Its establishment comes on the footsteps of the development of Aadhaar, Indias national digital identification card system. Aadhaar generated controversy over the governments plans to link it to the national voter database, while it has also been the target of hackers. Questions arise as more digital platforms rolled out for official purposes The rollout of digital platforms gives rise to questions about the safety of individuals data on these digital platforms, despite government reassurances to the contrary regarding privacy. Moreover, it remains unclear how long COVID passports, whether in digital or paper form, will remain enforced, or if governments plan to make such a regime permanent. A recent article in The Atlantic, Why Arent We Even Talking About Easing COVID Restrictions? questioned why vaccine passport mandates in the U.S. have no sunset date. Indeed, if the proclamation of the Secure Identity Alliance regarding the need to futureproof such digital documents is any indication, it may be the case that governments have no intention to scrap vaccine passports. Even if such specific uses of digital passports eventually go away, the range of ways in which digital wallets can potentially be utilized is staggering, including, for instance, via the tracking of personal carbon allowances, as previously reported by The Defender. Earlier, a group of employees signed a manifesto opposing the rule. According to a memo to employees, Googles leadership told employees they had until December 3 to upload documentation showing proof of vaccination to the database. After the deadline, the company said it would begin contacting employees who had not uploaded their vaccination status and those whose exemptions had been declined. The memo further states that employees who will not have complied with the rules by January 18 will go on paid administrative leave for a month, then unpaid personal leave for six months, then termination. Googles vaccine mandate came after the Biden administration announced that companies with more than 100 employees should implement vaccine mandates or regular testing by January 19, something that has been challenged in court. The order was halted by a federal court in November. Still, Google is proceeding as if the order is still valid, and requiring its more than 150,000 employees to upload their status. We expect that almost all roles at Google in the US will fall within the scope of the executive order, Googles memo said. 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. Google will not accept regular negative tests as an alternative to vaccination. Not all Google employees have accepted the mandate. Hundreds of them signed a manifesto opposing the mandate, for several reasons including that it was required for employees who work remotely and those that do not directly engage with the federal government. Google appears to have responded to the manifesto. In the latest guidance, the company included several options for those who do not want to get vaccinated. They can request religious and medical exemptions or choose to permanently work remotely if they do not engage with federal government contracts. The post Google employees that dont upload their vaccination proof to central database will lose their jobs appeared first on Reclaim The Net. A Canadian molecular biologist told cross-party members of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on Wednesday that a leak from a lab in Chinas Wuhan region is now the more likely origin of the COVID-19 global pandemic. According to Dr. Alina Chan, there is also a chance that Covid-19 is an engineered virus. Dr. Alina Chan, co-author of Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19 and a specialist in gene therapy and cell engineering, told a Parliament panel hearing evidence on scientific research that the pandemic was caused by a unique feature of the coronavirus known as the furin cleavage site, which has been linked to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. When asked about the likelihood of a lab leak as the cause of the pandemic, Chan said that at this point, a lab origin is more likely than a natural origin. We can all agree that a critical event occurred at the Huanan Seafood Market, which was a superspreader event caused by humans. She stated that there is no evidence pointing to the viruss natural animal origin at that market. When asked if she was confident that the world would eventually discover the true origins of COVID-19, Chan said it was simply a matter of time. It is currently unsafe for people who have information about the origins of this pandemic to come forward. It could be five years or 50 years from now, but we live in an era where so much data is being collected and storedall we need is a credible, systematic investigation, she said. On whether the virus was modified in the lab prior to the leak, Chan stated, We have heard from many top virologists that a genetically engineered origin of this virus is reasonableand this includes virologists who themselves modified the first SARS virus. We now know that this virus has a very distinct feature known as the furin cleavage site, which is what makes it a pandemic pathogen. So, without this feature, there is no way that this pandemic could have occurred. 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 emphasised that the onus was on the scientists in question to demonstrate that their work did not result in the creation of SARS-COV2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, and that an investigation of documents made available by the US-based EcoHealth Alliance could hold the key. Her co-author, Lord Matt Ridley, was also questioned about the lab leak theory, and he agreed with Chan that it was more than likely the cause of the pandemic. We must face the fact that we knew the origins of SARS through markets after two months, and we knew the origins of MERS through camels after a couple of months. In this case, he said, we havent found a single infected animal that could be the progenitor of this pandemic after two years, which is extremely surprising. Ridley and Chan agreed that any leak was most likely an accident as he recounted scientists journey a few years ago to bring SARS-like viruses back to Wuhan for experiments. It must, however, be taken seriously. It is regrettable that there was a fairly systematic attempt to shut down this topic in 2020, he noted. Ridley went on to say, We need to find out so we can prevent the next pandemic. We need to know whether we should tighten up work in laboratories or tighten up regulations pertaining to wildlife sales in markets. At the moment, we arent doing either. We also need to know this in order to deter bad actors who are watching this episode and believe they can get away with causing a pandemic. As referenced by the World Health Organization, Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancets medical journal, agreed that the lab leak theory behind COVID-19 is a hypothesis that needs to be taken seriously and investigated further (WHO). The evidence session is part of the Science and Technology Committee of the UK Parliaments inquiry into reproducibility and research integrity, which is expected to produce its findings in 2022. These days, the word Orwellian is being thrown around everywhere because, sadly, it is more relevant than ever. Thats because some of the most oppressive elements found in George Orwells dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four are becoming reality right before our eyes. The totalitarian state described in Nineteen Eighty-Four controls people through a number of mind-bending methods. One of them is Newspeak a controlled language. In the novel, the Party created Newspeak to meet the ideological requirements of English Socialism in Oceania. Newspeak is a controlled language of simplified grammar and restricted vocabulary designed to limit the individuals ability to think and articulate subversive concepts such as personal identity, self-expression and free will. Such concepts are criminalized as thoughtcrime since they contradict the prevailing Ingsoc orthodoxy. Wikipedia, Nineteen Eighty-Four To the elite, Nineteen Eighty-Four is not a cautionary tale, it is a blueprint. A real-life version of Newspeak has been created by elite think tanks and it is currently being forced on the world using powerful organizations. Through the banning of specific words from public speech, the elite is looking to suppress the ideas they represent. As well see in this article, they are at war against genders, religions (Christianity in particular), history, and anything that relates to a national identity. The ultimate goal: To create a single, uniform, global culture. Heres how they are doing it. The European Unions Newspeak Bible On October 30th, the European Commission presented a 30-page document titled Guidelines on Inclusive Communication. It is part of a plan championed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to implement a Union of Equality in Europe. Behind these meaningless words hides the real plan of this document: To control speech. Under threat of severe penalties. I believe this document should be read by everyone because sums up the outrageously Orwellian mind state of the elite. For instance, in the section titled To be followed at all times, we can read: Never use gendered nouns such as workmen, policemen or masculine pronouns (he, his) as a default. Do not use Miss or Mrs, unless it is the explicit preference of the person addressed; use Ms universally. When asking about gender, do not offer only male/female options, add other and prefers not to say. Never address an audience as ladies and gentlemen but use expressions such as Dear colleagues. Do not use the word citizens to refer to people in general. When addressing trans people, always respect self-identification. Avoid gender-specific pronouns for people whose gender is unknown. It is preferable to use they or reformulate the sentence so that no pronoun is needed, or use he or she, s/he (albeit this option is falling out of favour) As you can see, they are attempting to erase concepts such as gender and national citizenship from public speech. But thats not all. The guide also dictates how groups of people should be represented in media. The guide actually says if we always portray mothers as child-carers, we perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Wow. Theres a lot of craziness to unpack here. Mothers are, by definition, child-carers. Thats what the word stands for. A mother caring for a child is not a stereotype. And it is certainly not harmful. The document also takes aim at Christianity by stipulating: Not everyone celebrates the Christian holidays, and not all Christians celebrate them on the same dates. In one of its many Orwellian examples, the document recommends replacing the sentence Christmas time can be stressful by Holiday times can be stressful. Going further, the guide also frowns on using names that are typically from one religion. It gives the example of using Malika and Julio instead of Maria and John to describe an international couple. Thats because the names Maria and John are associated with Christianity. The release of this document went largely unnoticed for a couple of weeks until an Italian paper revealed its absurdity to the general public. The outcry was immediate. Even the pope, who is usually on board with globalist policies, compared the document to dictatorship. The Vatican accused the European Commission of canceling Christmas. Several political figures also denounced the guidelines as efforts to erase the identity of nations inside the European Union. Faced with this backlash, the Guidelines were removed and its author promised to revise them. While this might be perceived as a win, theres an important fact we need to realize: Every single part of this document is already being applied across mass media. The War Against the Word Woman In the past years, this site has been documenting the blatant agenda to remove the word woman from public speech. In 2020, JK Rowling ridiculed a headline that replaced the word women with people who menstruate. The backlash against her was immediate and continues to this day. Here are some headlines that appeared in the past months. A recent article in The Economist (titled Why the word woman is tying people in knots) states: A growing number of officials and organizations are finding themselves tongue-tied when it comes to using the word woman. A British hospital has instructed staff on its maternity wards to offer to use the phrase birthing people. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of Americas Congress, talks of menstruating people. On September 18th the American Civil Liberties Union ( aclu ) republished a quote from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Supreme Court judge, on the anniversary of her death. The quote was a defence of a womans right to have an abortion. But the aclu s versionfor which it, too, later apologisedreplaced every instance of women with people. In Britain the opposition Labour Party is tying itself in very public knots over questions such as whether only women possess cervixes. This is not about inclusivity. This is about the suppression of genders. The best way to achieve it: Newspeak. The CBC Tells Canadians to Stop Using 18 Words The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is the public broadcaster of Canada. Now, this government-owned entity (funded by taxpayer money) is publishing lists of words people should stop using. The first sentence of this surreal article goes as follows: Have you ever casually used the terms spirit animal, first-world problem, or spooky? It might be time to rethink your use of these phrases and remove them from your daily lingo. The article is not about racial slurs or words that are blatantly offensive. It takes aim at regular, non-offensive words and uses flawed logic to explain why theyre offensive. For instance, the article states that the word blackmail is offensive to black people because it is negative and connotes distrust. However, the experts who were consulted in that article completely ignore the origins of the word (which has absolutely nothing to do with black people). The word actually comes from the Scottish mail meaning tax or rent. In the old days, when the law and order situation was quite bad, farmers living along the borders of Scotland had very little protection against gangs who robbed and plundered. Instead of fighting these looters on a regular basis, farmers chose to pay them off in order to be left in peace. This payment that they made was called blackmail because the usual form of payment was black cattle in the old days, a mans wealth was determined by how much cattle he had. If a farmer chose to pay in silver coins, then it was called white mail. Know Your English, What is the origin of blackmail? The article also frowns on words such as spirit animal, powwow, and tribe because they can be a painful insult to Indigenous communities. Once again, those are not insults, they are regular words. The words opossum, squash, avocado, canoe and kayak, skunk, and toboggan also originate from native languages. Should they be banned as well? Furthermore, the word tribe has been in use since antiquity. It originates from the Latin word tribus which means: A group of persons forming a community and claiming descent from a common ancestor. What exactly about this word is offensive? Hint: Nothing. In a final push for complete absurdity, the CBC article bans the brainstorm. The reason? Using the term brainstorm could also be insensitive to those who have brain injuries or are neurodiverse, added Cashman. More important is the stigma that it will effectuate about disorders [like] epilepsy for example, said Kalra. Wow. Im having a brain injury just by reading these explanations by so-called experts. Of course, the CBC disabled comments on this article. However, journalists from several outlets ripped this thing to pieces. In Conclusion The war on words is real and it is being fought at high places. This article listed examples from the European Commission (the executive branch of the European Union), the American government, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the medical journal The Lancet. All of these entities are implementing a plan that was hatched, years ago, by elite think tanks. The ultimate goal: The create a uniform, global culture that would supplant the cultures, identities, and traditions of individual nations. Through the creation of a real-life Newspeak, the elite is attempting to suppress concepts such as genders, nations, religions, and history in order to instaurate a homogenous culture that can be applied worldwide. Anything that goes against this agenda is now deemed offensive. In other words: Thoughtcrime. The province is investing millions of dollars into nursing seats at post-secondary institutions across Manitoba, including Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College. Advertisement Advertise With Us MIKAELA MACKENZIE/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon. The province is investing millions of dollars into nursing seats at post-secondary institutions across Manitoba, including Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College. The government will provide $19.5 million to add 259 nurse training seats starting this year at five colleges and universities as part of its multi-year plan to create nearly 400 seats. That funding includes 55 licensed practical nursing seats through Assiniboine Community College in Portage la Prairie and rural rotating sites, as well as 32 registered nursing and registered psychiatric nursing seats at Brandon University. The announcement was made Wednesday at a press conference with Premier Heather Stefanson, Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Wayne Ewasko and Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon. Mark Frison, the president of Assiniboine Community College, was pleased with the funding announcement. The college is currently funded to take in 235 nurses every second year. The investment will create an additional 110 spots in that same time frame an expansion of 50 per cent. This allows the college to offer 25 seats to each of the three rural rotating sites and an additional 35 seats every year at its permanent campus in Portage la Prairie. This means it will be able to accept 110 new people into the practical nursing program every two years. Frison explained that the government looks at the total seats and divides them by two because it is a cohort of year one and year two, giving them 55 as an official number. The rural rotating sites located in the Prairie Mountain, Southern and Interlake-Eastern health regions are what the school is really excited about, he said. "Its even more encouraging knowing this will mean we can have far more people we can take in," Frison said. "We can get training closer to where people live, work and play. The rural areas also tend to be where the use of agency nurses is higher. Hopefully, we can also address overtime with this." The college is in talks with the provincial government to add additional seats at their campuses in Winnipeg and Brandon. David Docherty, the president of Brandon University, said with the funding, the school can now make some changes on campus to make sure theres more classroom and lab space for nursing students when they come next fall. Docherty praised the province for listening to the universitys needs and for responding. Now its time to begin planning for the next cohort to arrive in September. "I would say thats a really nice problem to have," he said. "Its a problem presidents love because were getting more students in, were providing more opportunities for students across the province, educating more Manitoba learners and making a difference in health care that desperately needs it. There are far worse problems than being under pressure to get classrooms and labs ready." The rest of the seats include an additional 15 combined bachelor of nursing and licensed practical nursing seats at Universite de Saint-Boniface and an additional 120 registered nursing seats at the University of Manitoba. There are currently more than 800 nursing seats in Manitoba offered at six publicly funded post-secondary institutions. The expansion of 259 seats is scheduled to begin this year, with each post-secondary institution to finalize specific details. Premier Heather Stefanson noted the government is also investing in 37 additional nursing seats at University College of the North, which was announced yesterday. The funding will support the expansion by enabling sites to invest in areas such as equipment, classroom renovations and instructors to support the additional seats. Ewasko said additional seats would also be discussed with all post-secondary institutions currently offering licensed practical nurse and registered nurse programs, including RRC Polytech. Gordon said the announcement builds on the provinces commitment to create close to 400 new seats over the next several years, as well as other initiatives to support nurses in Manitoba. "We know additional seats are required to ensure we support the labour needs of our health-care system, and the addition of these seats builds on other commitments to address the nursing shortage in Manitoba," she said. "This includes recent incentives to increase intensive care unit nurse capacity, supporting internationally educated nurse applicants to begin practising in Manitoba, introducing the provinces first undergraduate nursing employee program and adding 60 new full-time nursing positions to ICUs at Grace, St. Boniface and Health Sciences Centre hospitals in Winnipeg and in Brandon." kmckinley@brandonsun.com CANUPAWAKPA Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation celebrated the grand opening of its new community centre Wednesday after the previous facility burned down two years ago. Advertisement Advertise With Us CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Elder Linda Eastman and local children cut a ribbon, marking the grand opening of the Canupawakpa Dakota Oyate community centre Wednesday. CANUPAWAKPA Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation celebrated the grand opening of its new community centre Wednesday after the previous facility burned down two years ago. The construction of the new Canupawakpa Dakota Oyate community hall occurred in fits and starts, said Chief Viola Eastman, but it remained a priority after the last centre was destroyed in a fire in September 2019. Canupawakpa is located about 30 kilometres south of Virden. The project faced delays due to COVID-19 and at times, it was difficult to secure builders. The delays in construction were especially felt at the height of the global health crisis. "We ended up having to wait and stall. But in the end, once it started going, it was OK. It went up fast," Eastman said. "Im really happy and really proud for our community, council and staff who made today happen." The official grand opening was also delayed due to the pandemic. It was originally slated for Dec. 1, but was postponed when the first COVID-19 case in the community in more than a year was reported. At the time of Wednesdays event, there were no active COVID-19 cases in Canupawakpa. Eastman said staff collaborated with elders to determine a name for the centre that honoured and celebrated the First Nations culture and history. A critical aspect was incorporating the name Canupawakpa into the name of the complex the title speaks to the nations history, Eastman said. "Canupa" means pipe and "wakpa" means creek. "A long time ago, people used to say, remember over there where they found that canupa by that wakpa? Thats where were going to go meet," Eastman said. "When we met the elders to figure out a name for the complex, we werent sure what we wanted, but they said, lets just leave it as Canupawakpa everybody should know it, and if they dont know it, they should learn it." The location for the community centre was carefully selected next to the Canupawakpa powwow grounds. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN The Canupawakpa Dakota Oyate community centre. It was devastating when the nations community centre was consumed by fire, Eastman said. "We always said that our community hall was the heart of our community where everybody gathered to support each other on happy occasions, like graduations or baby showers, but also during funerals. "Everything was here. Once that was gone, [it was distressing]." It was a joyous event seeing the centre open, she added, as the community was able to come together to feast, enjoy activities and listen to the beat of the Riverside Dakota drum group. Honouring traditions during the ceremony was essential, and organizers carefully laid plans to ensure all generations were included. Elder Linda Eastman and a group of young Canupawakpa children officially cut the ribbon, marking the opening of the complex. The community centre features a large gathering space, commercial kitchen and storage space for chairs, tables and other items. One of the unique aspects of the centre is the art of Sioux Valley artist Roland Ironman, who painted a mural adorning the walls of the original complex. He was invited to add his artistic touch to the new Canupawakpa Dakota Oyate to honour that legacy. "Im just proud to be part of this celebration," Ironman said. "Were trying to bring the whole community together and show what can be achieved by the community if they all stick together in unity." He carefully added black, red and yellow stripes running the length of the room, laid on a solid white background to represent sacred cultural colours. Ironman added he likes the colours because they are warm and will help people feel welcome when visiting the community centre. Ironman hand-painted two starblanket designs that sit on the north and south walls of the gathering space; one features an eagle and the other a bison. The idea to use the images was inspired by the nations elders, he said. Additional murals will be painted in the gathering place at a later date. "Im going to put some designs here and there just to break up the stripes," Ironman said. "It will make it more interesting." The grand opening also served as an opportunity to appreciate the relationship with the surrounding municipalities, Eastman said, noting Pipestone Reeve Archie MacPherson and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Jennifer Bone attended the event. Service agreements are in place with the surrounding municipalities supporting waste management, septic and emergency services in the nation. Eastman said the hope is to continue building on these relationships. Canupawakpa Dakota Oyate serves as the first step in a series of initiatives planned in the nation to grow commercial and cultural offerings. Canupawakpa is currently undergoing land management and this influenced where the complex was built. Land designations are being used to establish a committee to organize specific land areas for recreation, residential, commercial and other needs in the community. There are strips of land available in addition to the nation, and theyre planning the construction of a gas bar on Highway 83. These plans have been made possible in part by the support they have received from the surrounding municipalities, Eastman said. "Were really progressing. What we would like to see by the highway are our own gas station and even a small gaming centre we would like to have a coffee shop and another place where we can sell our local people their handicrafts." ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp The province surpassed 200 new daily cases again and logged two more deaths from the virus on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertise With Us The province surpassed 200 new daily cases again and logged two more deaths from the virus on Wednesday. The COVID-19 dashboard reported 206 new cases, with Prairie Mountain Health accounting for 23. That gives the region 216 active cases, including 24 in hospital with 15 listed as having active COVID, and seven in intensive care with five listed as having active COVID. There were 78 cases in Winnipeg, 73 in Southern Health, 17 in Interlake-Eastern and 13 in Northern Health. Of the new cases, 96 were fully vaccinated, 92 were not vaccinated and 18 had at least one dose. Manitoba now has 1,779 active cases. There are also 139 cases in hospital with 88 listed as having active COVID and 34 in intensive care units with 26 having active COVID. The five-day test positivity rate climbed to 6.2 per cent. The two deaths include a man in his 60s from Prairie Mountain Health and a man in his 70s from Interlake-Eastern. This brings the death toll from COVID-19 in Manitoba to 1,357. The province also released details on Tuesdays deaths, which were a man in his 50s from Winnipeg and a man in his 60s from Interlake-Eastern. The Brandon Sun Pfizer is set to dominate a $US20 billion ($27.9 billion) market for COVID pills next year as richer nations rush to purchase supplies, while less affluent countries will have to wait until early 2023 for generic-drug companies to produce large quantities, an analysis shows. Pfizer, already pulling in huge profits from its COVID vaccine, is estimated to reap some $US17 billion from 2022 sales of its experimental therapy, Paxlovid, according to Airfinity. Mercks molnupiravir will see about $US2.5 billion in revenue next year, the London-based data company said. Pfizer is expected to make billions from its COVID pill. Demand for the medications is poised to outpace supply as COVID spreads around the globe and scientists question how well vaccines and antibody treatments will hold up against Omicron and other variants that could arise. Rich countries purchases have fuelled concerns that, after struggling to obtain vaccines, the less wealthy could be left behind once again, despite licensing agreements to widen availability of the drugs. The question of inequity in access to COVID drugs is definitely staring us in the face, said John Amuasi, a global health and infectious disease specialist at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine in Ghana. Theres no reason to think that it will not be a problem. Its clear it will be. The earlier noise is made about this, the better. Escorted by trainer Scotty Denholm, Skippy meets some of her young fans. Credit:Kenneth Stevens There will also be a special screening 9.00 tomorrow morning for the press and TV reviewers (lounge seats), and for 400 children from an inner suburban primary school. Many of these children have never seen the country or the beach before, let alone a kangaroo, as most live in the surrounding high-rise flats. Before Skippy arrived at Essendon yesterday, there was much talk around about whether it was the real one and how many others were used as stand-ins, for leaping through bush fires and over cliffs, &c. Straight off, then, we asked Scottie, the trainer, how many kangaroos were actually on the schedule. Scottie said: If you take those pervy glasses off so I can see your eyes I might answer, your question whatever you mean by it. It was what might be called an overreaction, speaking in the language of Chicagos Mayor Daly. We had certainly not mentioned the stories about there being a lack of stand-ins, sometimes, because certain kangaroos were not all that plentiful any more. They hauled her out, calling her Skippy. Scottie wiped the mess off the beast before the pictures began, and then the marketing man took care of the droppings in Skippys box. All good clean fun, I suppose. They said she wasnt nervous. Skippy with trainer Scotty Denholm. Credit:Noel Harold Stubbs There were many pictures and poses on the tarmac. The bitumen was so hot at the time I could not leave my hand on it. Later Skippy was seen licking her back legs. Scottie said it was because she was thirsty. She would be no good, he said, in pictures while she was like that. Finally they got Skippy into the airport interview room. Out came the drinks, with a few more pictures with Ed Devereaux. Skippy showed no interest in him. Scottie explained they hadnt seen each other for a month and kangaroos have a short memory. Well, Scottie, whats your background? Im an ex-policeman. I used to be an inspector. How did you come to know Skippy? She was saved after her mother was killed by a car near Wagga. Where are you from? Brisbane. Oh. Shes crapping. Id better get her out of here. The man from the record company was saying Skippy was the biggest thing ever to happen for Australia. More pictures. More inanities. Well, Scottie, how do you persuade kangaroos to get through flames in bush fires? Loading Theres only one Skippy. I have trained her to do anything. Go through fires. Anything. Eh ? Yeah. Shed do anything. You just have to find out what they like. Black jelly beans are her favorite. Skippy the beast, the marketing man said theyd insured for $1 million, was now crouching in a corner licking her paws again. No-one offered her a drink or anything, except more fame. SKIPPY MAKES HER SCREEN DEBUT Wayne Croskell - SHOW SCENE TVs SKIPPY hits the screen at the Paris cinema, Melbourne, in The Intruders. The television series has been sold in 80 countries overseas. In The Intruders filmed at Mallacoota, the television cast is supplemented by a number of support performers including Jeannie Drynan, fresh from the 2000 Weeks disaster. She plays Meg, whose publican father, Curtis (Jack Hulme), is involved in crime. Ed Devereaux as Matt Hammond, head ranger of Waratah Park, is approached by two abalone divers, played by Ron Graham and Jeff Ashby, for permission to go camping about the park and search for the shell fish. Matt Hammond (Ed Devereaux) and Sonny (Garry Pankhurst). Ranger Hammonds sons Mark (Ken James) and Sonny (Gary Pankhurst) and their guest Clancy Merrick (Liza Goddard) find the divers a diversion, but Flight Ranger Jerry King (Tony Bonner) is suspicious. Actually the divers are none other than men of illegal intentions who have sought and found a sunken treasure and have greedily determined to have it for themselves. They even have a submarine which just goes to show what depths some people will go to for ill-gotten gain. Skippy skips into the plot and, as it were, puts her foot in her pouch and gets kangaroonapped by the badies. Meanwhile, there is a tender re-union going on between Meg and diver Peter Yordan (Ron Graham). Loading Then comes a hot pursuit, some helicoptering around, there is another hot pursuit, Skippy tries to bury someone with sand and it goes on and on. On the face of it, kangaroos are pretty uninteresting. They do not swim out and save drowning babies, attack marauders, win races or perform wonderful tricks. Given their due, they can leap tall buildings at a single bound. But The Intruders sets out to make a marsupial heroine. Woomera Productions hope the film will be as popular as the TV series. In the United States, 164 channels have taken to Skippy and for other markets the show has been dubbed in Japanese, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Tony Bonner. The commercialisation of Skippy has brought out special toothpaste, money boxes, games, books and records. Kangaroo fur is also popular . . . A controversial proposal to drill for oil and gas off the coast of NSW between Manly and Newcastle will not go ahead after a long campaign by environmental activists and opposition from federal Coalition MPs under threat from independent candidates. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government had taken the first step to formally reject an application for the petroleum exploration permit, known as PEP-11. Scott Morrison has killed off a politically sensitive proposal to drill for gas off Sydneys coastline. Credit:Chris Hopkins He said NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole and the National Offshore Petroleum Titles administrator had been advised of the decision. The NSW government has also, I note, recommended refusing the application for the licence that was originally granted by the previous Labor government, he said. Indian mining company Adani has scored a considerable victory in its legal battle to find out whether an environmental activist was leaked confidential company documents. The Brisbane Supreme Court ruled on Thursday against Ben Pennings, a spokesman for the Galilee Blockade group and a former Greens lord mayoral candidate, and in favour of Adani. Activist Ben Pennings leaves Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday. Credit:Toby Crockford Adani and the Carmichael Rail Network launched legal action against Mr Pennings last year, accusing him of trespassing, breaches of contract, intimidation and conspiracy to injure. Adani alleges Mr Pennings was instrumental in organising blockades and office occupations of its existing and potential suppliers. Health authorities say 28 people have now tested positive to COVID-19 in a potential Omicron outbreak connected with two popular bars in Melbournes inner north, after Victoria recorded 1510 coronavirus cases and seven deaths on Friday. In the daily COVID-19 update, the Department of Health said there were now 16 positive cases confirmed to be connected to the Peel Hotel in Collingwood, with a further 12 linked to Sircuit Bar in Fitzroy. Patrons who visited the Sircuit Bar last Friday have been told to isolate. Credit:Chris Hopkins One person who has tested positive in the nightclub cluster is now confirmed to have Omicron, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said. Health authorities said on Friday there were 19 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Victoria, with five of the new cases arrivals from NSW and one new case a recent international arrival. 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. Two girls accused of plotting to kill one of their teachers at Willetton Senior High School are seeking to alter their strict bail conditions, a Perth Childrens Court heard on Thursday. The 14-year-old and 13-year-old students were granted bail at earlier hearings that mostly prevented them from leaving their homes and kept them away from the school, teachers and other students, particularly any communication with witnesses. Two teenagers from Willetton Senior High School face court over the stabbing of a teacher November 1. Credit:Nine News Perth The 14-year-old girl allegedly at the centre of the stabbing plot, which also involved burning down the school to cover her tracks, has been assessed over her mental wellbeing and found not to suffer any psychosis or mental illness. However, her defence lawyer Patti Chong told the court on Thursday that her clients 24-hour curfew was impacting her mental health since police were knocking at the house usually around 1am to 2am, which kept her from sleeping. 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. West Australian mining billionaire Andrew Twiggy Forrests foray into the psychedelics industry has taken a blow after Australias medicines regulator rejected a call to legalise psilocybin and MDMA to treat mental health conditions. The Theraputic Goods Administration (TGA) yesterday rejected the application from Mind Medicine Australia to amend the current poisons regulations to allow for psilocybin also known as magic mushrooms and MDMA over concerns changing the rules could lead to more people misusing them. Tania de Jong and Peter Hunt, co-founders of Mind Medicine Australia. Credit:James Alcock The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and the Australian Medical Association were opposed to legalising the drugs, saying more high-quality research using larger scale studies must be completed in order to determine the safety and efficacy of the drugs for mental illness. Last month Twiggys private investment group Tattarang made a $5 million investment in clinical drug development company Emyria to accelerate the groups cannabinoid and MDMA research. It was the third of a series of brazen executions in 2016 by Sultani and members of his crew, who were also convicted of murdering gangland figure Mehmet Yilmaz that September and Penrith Rebels bikie Michael Davey in March. On the night Barbaro was murdered, police were already monitoring Sultanis crew, tracking their movements and covertly recording their conversations. They had been investigating their involvement in sophisticated organised crime activity across Sydney. CCTV footage caught the moment Abuzar Sultani shot dead Mehmet Yilmaz in 2016. The extensive evidence gathered by investigators led to Sultanis guilty plea over the three murders in 2019. Loyal lieutenant Siar Munshizada was also convicted for all three murders while crew members Danishyar and Joshua Baines were convicted for their roles in the Barbaro shooting and acquitted of charges over Yilmaz. The men will be sentenced on Friday after years of drawn out legal proceedings kept secret by comprehensive non-publication and suppression orders imposed by the NSW Supreme Court. The orders were put in place to protect the fairness of the multiple related trials working their way through the courts. Now lifted after Justice Des Fagan ruled the public could no longer be kept in the dark about such serious and dangerous offending in suburban streets the story of Abs Boys can finally be told. We need to be very smart cause they got best on us. We just got to show we more smarter and stauncher than any crew out there. Abuzar Sultani Also known as the Afghanis or Sultanis crew, this was a sophisticated and well-armed hit squad connected to a range of serious crimes. Sultani, an MBA student at Macquarie University at the time and long associated with Alex through a number of companies, emerged as the leader of the Burwood chapter of the Rebels bikie gang. He then carved out his own path in Sydneys underworld, offering his services as a contract killer while also settling personal grudges. Pasquale Barbaro was shot dead in November 2016 by Sultanis crew. Credit:Instagram The motives in the three murders varied, according to court documents. The hit on Barbaro was personal, Munshizada told someone while in custody at Silverwater prison after he and the crew were arrested in November 2016. One confidential source told police that Sultani, in conversation at Silverwater, had called Barbaro a bad dog and confided we killed him because he stitched up my mentor and got him knocked. Nine hours before Barbaro was murdered, in a court hearing about the 2013 murder of Joe Antoun, a detective had given evidence indicating Barbaros possible involvement in organising or financing the execution of Antoun, who was Sultanis mentor. Three days after the murder of Barbaro, police tracked a Mercedes regularly used by Sultani to Antouns grave at Rookwood cemetery. Fresh red flowers were left at his resting place. The murder of Mehmet Yilmaz followed a debt dispute he had with Sultani associate and high-ranking Lone Wolf bikie Erkan Keskin, known as Eric the Wolf. The crews methods were smart. They were adept at using stolen cars rebirthed for the purpose of carrying out an offence. The vehicles bore number plates cloned from other models of the same car legitimately owned by members of the public, so the registration numbers wouldnt draw police to a stolen vehicle. They used encrypted Phantom Secure modified Blackberry phones, favoured by criminals at the time. In their communications, which were ultimately accessed by investigators, they used unique usernames. Sultani was unconfirmed and runamok. Munshizada was zig and Limitless. Baines was screamers and murdermachine. They had access to a number of safe houses where they stored drugs, guns, ammunition, money and other material they used to carry out their crimes. In the days after the shooting of Yilmaz, Sultani ensured the Tanfoglio pistol used was disposed off. Pull it apart, grind it up, and toss it in a lake, he directed an associate. The gun was cut with an angle grinder into pieces smaller than an inch. The pieces were then thrown into the lake at Gwandalan Lions Park. The man was on the phone as he did it, and a police intercept of the call recorded the sounds of the splashes as the metal pieces hit the water. The activities of Sultanis crew werent always a display of fearsome and clinical professionalism, even as they thought they were taking foolproof precautions to protect themselves from accountability. Sitting together in the bugged Subaru immediately after the killing of Barbaro, Munshizada revealed he had lingered too close to the flames as they torched the Audi. I think I burnt my eyelashes, he said. I can smell hair. I can too, Sultani responded. On November 22, 2016, Abuzar Sultani and Joshua Baines were covertly recorded re-enacting and discussing the murder of Pasqaule Barbaro. He and Baines should have been more mindful of covert surveillance when they decided to re-enact and discuss the killing of Barbaro eight days later at the Olympic Park unit occupied by Sultani and Munshizada. Sultani was observed running down the hallway to demonstrate how he chased Barbaro. I only really remember boooooom! Baines said as they discussed their actions. When the squad prepared to gun down Yilmaz on September 9, Baines sang to his accomplices. Oh baby I love your way, everyday, Baines crooned in a conversation covertly recorded by a police listening device the apartment. You want bang bang, Sultani asked Munshizada during the conversation, a reference to a firearm. Im driver, Munshizada responded. He would be the driver in all three murders, viewed as the most competent wheelman in the crew. The burnt-out Audi Q7 used in the Barbaro murder plot. Credit: CCTV footage captured in graphic detail the shooting of Yilmaz and also clearly recorded tan work boots worn by Sultani that he had on at his apartment that night. Sultani being left-handed was another giveaway that helped investigators build their case as they analysed footage of the shootings. On September 20, 11 days after the killing of Yilmaz, Sultani was aware of his precarious situation. In an encrypted message to an associate, he said: we are at war with the system as police escalated their investigations into a series of gangland murders. They want us for a half a dozen of these things what happened, Sultani said. So we need to be very smart cause they got best on us. We just got to show we more smarter and stauncher than any crew out there. On November 25 having seen a story in The Daily Telegraph 12 days after the murder of Barbaro Sultani messaged Danishyar to say Damm [sic] we really f---ed shit up. Loading Danishyar responded that he had changed his mind about the likelihood of ending up dead as a result of their activities, concluding I reckon jail more likely. It is what is bro we know what we were getting into before we do it, he told Sultani. Yeah I get you bro ... Just got to be careful. Indigenous Australians would gain the right to establish local and regional advisory bodies under new federal law by early next year in the first step towards a creating a national Voice with the power to advise Federal Parliament on policies which affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The federal government will on Friday unveil its proposal to create three levels of advisory bodies after two years of consultation with Indigenous leaders as a response to the demands from the 2017 Uluru Statement of the Heart. Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt will announce the model for the Voice to Parliament on Friday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The process will begin by establishing regional bodies in consultation with local and state governments with an aim to appoint interim bodies by July 1 next year, as long as legislation is passed in the first half of 2022. A report emphasises the urgency of the task, warning that many communities are living in poverty and need people to speak up on their behalf, but the timetable is uncertain because there are likely to be only a few parliamentary sitting weeks before the next election, due by May. Queensland will keep a rein on debt despite challenges faced during the pandemic, with the states total debt bill set to be $701 million lower in three years than expected just six months ago. But Treasury officials warned a new more dangerous COVID-19 variant could pose a huge risk to the Queensland and global economies. Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has handed down the states Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review. Credit:Attila Csaszar Handing down the state governments mid-year budget update in Brisbane on Thursday, Treasurer Cameron Dick revealed total debt, which includes government-owned corporations, would hit $105 billion at June 30 next year, and $126.68 billion by 2024-25. At the June budget, total debt was expected to soar past $127 billion by 2024-25. On one of his first days of summer leave, Premier Daniel Andrews received the Health Department text message that all Victorians dread: You have been at an exposure site; test; isolate; check for symptoms. On Saturday, on his first day of about a months leave, the Premier was at what was described by one attendee as a swanky 50th birthday party on the Elwood foreshore. Also there that night at the Elwood Bathers was a partygoer infected with the wildly infectious virus Mr Andrews has spent the best part of two years fighting. The Elwood Bathers venue. Credit:Elwood Bathers Facebook page. Late on Wednesday night, dozens of party guests were informed of their exposure. The Premier was tested on Thursday and was isolating as he waited for a result. The negative result was announced on Friday morning and he came out of isolation. Mr Andrews spent the night flanked by a personal security guard. His wife Catherine Andrews gave a speech to celebrate the birthday of her long-time friend, Fiona Waller. Ms Waller was married to Damien Waller, the founder of comparison website iSelect. Sarco, he said in an interview, would deprive users of human connection and replace it with a lonely virtual-reality experience. Duckworth also raised concerns about safety. What if it is accessed by someone not in their right mind? he said. Or a child? Or if it is used to abuse others? What if it doesnt result in immediate or peaceful death and the individual is left alone without any recourse to call for help? The Sarco death pod at Venice Design exhibition in 2019. Credit:Sarco Charles Blanke, an oncologist and a professor at the OHSU Knight Cancer Centre in Portland, Oregon, who has studied data on physician-assisted dying, said breathing in nitrogen causes a rapid death. But he cautioned that it is untested, including as an alternative to lethal injection in capital punishment. It is not at all clear that nitrogen inhalation would bring a peaceful death, he said, contrary to Nitschkes claim that death comes quickly after a brief euphoria. The law in Switzerland, where about 1300 people sought help from right-to-die organisations in 2020, requires confirmation that people seeking to end their own lives are of sound mind and reached the decision without pressure from anyone with selfish motives. Then a doctor writes a prescription for sodium pentobarbital, the lethal medication used there. Sarco would bypass that step because it does not require a prescription for a drug. Some Swiss right-to-die organisations have distanced themselves from Sarco. Exit, which offers living wills, counselling and end-of-life care, and is unaffiliated with Nitschkes similarly named nonprofit, said it does not see Sarco as an alternative to physician-assisted suicide. Another group, Lifecircle, said that there is no human warmth with this method. Dignitas, a clinic near Zurich, said sodium pentobarbital is approved and supported by the vast majority of the public and politics. Pegasos Swiss Association said it was in discussion with the Sarco team but wanted further clarification about the device. Others who have studied the ethics of voluntary assisted suicide welcomed the debate that Sarco has inspired. Thaddeus Pope, a bioethicist at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St Paul, Minnesota, said the debate about Sarco could lead to a new way of looking at end-of-life options, including by legislators. That might be bigger or more important than the actual Sarco itself, he said, adding that Nitschke was illustrating the limitations of the medical model and forcing us to think. There are a lot of people that live with illnesses or conditions that they dont want to live with, but they dont qualify for medically aided dying where they live, he said. If he really goes forward with it, this may get the nonmedical approach to hastening death some more attention. Nitschke, 74, has years of experience with assisted suicide. In the 1990s in Australia, he developed a machine that allowed his terminally ill patients to initiate their own deaths by administering a lethal medication with the touch of a computer key. This was the same era when Dr Jack Kevorkian was promoting and being prosecuted over an assisted-suicide device in the United States. Nitschke said he was inspired to create Sarco by the death in 2012 of Tony Nicklinson, a British man who suffered from so-called locked-in syndrome and whose request for help in ending his life had been rejected by a panel of judges. He said he had taken steps to ensure that anyone using Sarco would be doing so voluntarily. Users can initiate the nitrogen flow only after stating their name and where they are, and that they know what is about to happen. That process is filmed, he said, and a copy is provided to the coroner. You say goodbye to everybody and climb in, Nitschke said. The idea is you are going, and they are staying. Nitschke worked with designers in the Netherlands, where he lives, to produce a Sarco prototype in 2017 that has since been exhibited in museums and funeral fairs in Amsterdam and Venice. A model is currently on display at the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel, Germany, as part of a suicide exhibit. The curator, Tatjana Ahle, said most visitors were uncomfortable with the idea of using a futuristic pod for suicide. US health advisers recommended on Friday (AEDT) that most Americans should be given the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead of the Johnson & Johnson shot that can cause rare but serious blood clots. The strange clotting problem has caused nine confirmed deaths after J&J vaccinations while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines dont come with that risk and also appear more effective, advisers to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said. Vials of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Credit:AP Its an unusual move and the CDCs director, Dr Rochelle Walensky, must decide whether to accept the panels advice. Until now the US has treated all three COVID-19 vaccines available to Americans as an equal choice, since large studies found they all offered strong protection and early supplies were limited. South Korean automaker plans to come out with a detailed strategy on for the Indian market next year, a senior company official said on Thursday. The company, which unveiled its all new model -- Carens -- for the Indian market, is considering all aspects related to the electric vehicle (EV) segment before coming out with a final blueprint. "Currently, we are studying because there are multiple factors...like pricing, range, charging infrastructure. So we are looking at all the multiple angles and somewhere next year we will announce our EV strategy," India Vice-President and Head (Sales and Marketing) Hardeep Singh Brar told PTI in an interaction. Asked if there could be some synergies with Hyundai regarding the EV segment, he noted: "At the backend yes we have lots of synergies but when we go to the market place we play our own game.They have their line-up, we have ours." Earlier this month, Hyundai announced plans to invest around Rs 4,000 crore to drive in around six EVs in India by 2028. Asked about sales estimates, Brar noted that the automaker is looking at around 30 per cent growth next year as compared with 2021. "We will be closing this year at around 2.25 lakh units, domestic and exports put together. And next year our plan is to sell 3 lakh units," he stated. Asked about how much Carens would contribute in the company's overall sales going ahead, Brar noted that it was premature to put a figure right now but the vehicle would compete in a segment which is growing with a contribution of around 15 per cent in the overall domestic passenger vehicle sales. "If we look at the industry this year, it would be around 30 lakh units and next year it should be 33-34 lakh so 15 per cent of this would be 4.5 lakh units this year and maybe one lakh more in 2022. So that is a big enough space to be in," he stated. On chip shortage, Brar noted that the situation is expected to become better next year. He said the company is doing whatever it can to reduce the waiting periods on its vehicles, which have shot up due to production issues owing to semiconductor shortage. "The waiting period for Seltos is four months right now. Hopefully, next year we will be producing more," Brar said. He added that due to long waiting periods, the company has witnessed around 20 per cent cancellation of bookings so far. Elaborating on the expansion of sales infrastructure, Brar stated that the company plans to have 400 touch points across 225 cities next year. The company has a presence across 198 cities with 339 touch points. (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.) South Korean automaker Kia Motors says it will look to be a premium only brand and stay away from the entry level segment like sedans and hatchbacks. Hardeep Singh Brar, the companys India Vice-President and Head (Sales and Marketing), said that customers have accepted Kia as a premium brand. In the mass market Kia is considered to be the most premium brand. Customers like the features and they are willing to pay for them. So, we have consciously decided that if customers like us a premium brand, lets stick to that. It is a conscious decision to stay premium ... Online travel platform on Thursday said it is acquiring YoloBus, a next-generation premium intercity mobility platform, for an undisclosed amount to expand its non-air business. The acquisition includes the brand name of YoloBus, its technology, team, running business and data expertise, the company said in a statement. will leverage YoloBus' full-stack technology-enabled platform to offer an enhanced and superior bus travel experience with safe, clean, comfortable and connected buses for seamless intercity travel, it added. Commenting on the acquisition, co-founder Rikant Pittie said, "Tech-enabled bus mobility is the future, and we are expecting to witness a phenomenal growth in the coming period". Stating that YoloBus has carved a niche for itself in the mobility sector, he said, "We are confident that its tech-backed mobility solutions will be a huge draw for travellers and will further strengthen EaseMyTrip's position in the segment". Last year, YoloBus had raised Series-A funding, at a valuation of Rs 84 crore, from marquee investors like Nexus Venture Partners and India Quotient. It runs on a mobility template taking care of the operational side of the business, including scheduling of buses, ticketing, customer service, and network planning. Over 3 lakh customers have travelled using its platform across 250 plus routes, connecting major tier-I cities to tier II and III cities. (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.) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Thursday awarded a Rs 2,400 crore contract to Bharat Electronics Limited for the manufacture and supply of 20 types of airborne electronic systems for the Mk1A fighter aircraft programme. The order spanning five years from 2023 to 2028 involves supply of critical avionic Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) related to Digital Flight Control Computers, Air Data Computers, Weapon Computers, LRUs related to Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Head Up Display, a BEL statement said. The LRUs have been indigenously designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), DRDO Labs, Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Combat Aircraft Systems Development and Integration Centre (CASDIC) and Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO). According to HAL, "this is the biggest ever order that HAL has placed on any Indian company boosting 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' campaign." This is the biggest ever order received by BEL for Avionic Systems and will go a long way in ensuring the Indian Air Force's air superiority and giving a boost to the Prime Minister's vision of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', the BEL statement said. The order for supply of Avionic Systems for 83 Tejas MK1A fighter aircraft will be executed by two Strategic Business Units (SBUs) of BEL: Electronic Warfare & Avionics, Bengaluru, and BEL-Panchkula, Haryana. All the systems will be delivered by BEL to HAL in a ready-to-board condition. " programme is an excellent example of synergies between Indian Defence establishments such as HAL, DRDO & BEL. The current order for development and supply of 20 types of critical avionics LRUs for Tejas Mk1A is a shot-in-the-arm for Make in India activity," said HAL CMD R Madhavan. "We are pleased to receive this order from HAL for the prestigious programme and look forward to continuing strong partnership and joint success with HAL," said BEL CMD Anandi Ramalingam. Deliveries under 83 Tejas Mk1A order to IAF will commence from 2023-24, an HAL statement said. The contract documents were handed over by General Manager LCA Tejas Division, HAL, E P Jayadeva to General Manager (EW&A) BEL, Manoj Jain. (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 Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) on Wednesday said it has upgraded Tata Steel's long-term issuer rating to 'AA+' from 'AA'. AA-rated instruments are considered to have a high degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations. In a statement, the ratings agency said the upgrade reflects its expectation that despite likely aggregate capital expenditure of about Rs 22,000 crore, Tata Steel's consolidated adjusted net leverage would improve as significant cash flow generation would lead to reduction in its consolidated gross debt. " has upgraded Limited's Long-Term Issuer Rating to 'IND AA+' from 'IND AA'. The Outlook is Stable," the statement said. said it continues to take a consolidated view of Ltd (TSL) and its 161 subsidiaries to arrive at the ratings owing to the strong operational and strategic linkages among them. Sharing its outlook for the steel sector, said domestic consumption growth is expected to continue in financial year 2021-22, underpinned by demand growth from construction, real estate, automobiles and consumer durables segments, and high government spending on infrastructure. Similarly, the export opportunities are likely to remain strong, backed by China's removal of export rebate amid the capacity moderation to address environmental concerns. TSL's standalone export sales were close to 15 per cent of the overall sales in first half of FY22. However, the agency expects normalisation of metal prices and moderation in per tonne margins during second half of FY22 due to weak international prices, raw material cost deflation and improved domestic demand-supply dynamics. "The agency estimates TSL's average EBITDA/tonne to for the India operations to rise to Rs 25,000-Rs 26,000 in FY22 (compared to Rs 17,700 in FY21) and subsequently normalise to Rs 14,000 in FY23," the statement said. India-headquartered is among the top steel making in the world. (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.) Software major Infosys, which has drawn flak for glitches in the new portal, has set up a dedicated war room to monitor the performance of the portal as the extended deadline of December 31 for filing returns for FY21 approaches. As of December 15, 35.9 million returns (ITR) have been filed on the new e-filing portal with the daily filings crossing 600,000 per day. Senior finance ministry officials headed by Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj on Thursday met team led by companys Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh on the preparedness of the e-filing website during the peak filing period. As briefed by Infosys, steps taken in this regard include augmentation of the technical infrastructure and setting up of a dedicated war room to monitor the performance of the portal. On its part, assured about its preparedness to ensure a smooth filing season to instill confidence among the taxpayers, the finance ministry said in a statement. Out of the 35.9 million ITRs filed for assessment year 2021-22, 57.6 per cent are ITR1 (20.7 million), 8.3 per cent is ITR2 (297 million), 9.4 per cent is ITR3 (336.1 million), 23.4 per cent are ITR4 (840.5 million), ITR5 (312,000), ITR6 (133,000) and ITR7 (24,000). Nearly 52 per cent of these ITRs have been filed using the online ITR form on the portal and the balance have been uploaded using the ITR created from the offline software utilities. It is encouraging to note that 31.1 million returns have been e-verified, out of which more than 26.9 million are through Aadhaar-based OTP. The process of e-verification through Aadhaar OTP and other methods is important for the Department to commence processing of the ITR and to issue refunds, if any, the ministry said. Of the e-verified ITRs, more than 23.8 million ITRs have been processed and over 909.5 million refunds for AY 2021-22 have been issued. Overall 983,000 digital signature certificates (DSCs) have been registered. In the simplified process of DSC registration any individual has to register his DSC only once and can use it across any entity where the individual is a partner, director etc without having to re-register again against each entity or role, the statement said. The ministry said the Income Tax Department urges all taxpayers to view their Form 26AS and Annual Information Statement (AIS) through the e-filing portal to verify the accuracy of TDS and tax payments and avail of pre-filling of ITRs. It is important for taxpayers to cross-check the data in the AIS statement with their bank passbook, interest certificate, Form 16, and capital gains statement from brokerages in case of purchase and sale of equity and mutual funds, etc, it added. B2B manufacturing and commerce startup Nexprt has raised $5 million in seed from India and Lightspeed. The round also saw participation from early backers, Titan Capital and other notable angel investors. The company plans to use the proceeds to scale the existing business and launch new business verticals in the manufacturing domain. Founded by Harsha Vardhan Kalipatnapu, Manav Garg, and Kunal Jain in 2020, Nexprt are building a full-stack vertical commerce business to standardise manufacturing. It is creating category-specific solutions, beginning with the home decor category and expanding to other business verticals. The team at Nexprt over the past year has built a sales team across multiple continents to open up demand channels and has also deeply invested in manufacturing-related innovations and processes, enabling the team to execute at scale in India, what was only possible in China and SouthEast Asia till now. B2B trade is a mature and well-understood industry. To build a high quality business, one needs to understand category level nuances as each category is vast, with its own set of problems and bottlenecks - they may be working capital related. It is key to identify and solve for those specifically so that they can be the differentiators in the long term, said Harsha Vardhan Kalipatnapu, co-founder, Nexprt. While in 2021, the company was focused on identifying growth levers, the focus in 2022 is to rapidly grow in the home decor category. Building a scalable playbook was key. Process and technology innovation, data-backed catalog intelligence, and design and product teams spread across the globe have enabled us to build a very deep process and innovation led industry moat that has seen great customer love. Our customers have quickly moved a significant chunk of their business to Nexprt both, from different vendors and countries, which gives us confidence that we are on the right track, said Manav Garg, co-founder, Nexprt With a manufacturing facility in Moradabad and another facility opening in Jodhpur in January 2022, Nexprt is on-track to building a one-stop decor solution in India for global clients, a value proposition that manufacturers havent been able to provide. The team is eyeing a 5x growth in the next few months in the decor business once these facilities are up and running. Vaibhav Agrawal, Partner at Lightspeed said, We met the Nexprt team and felt they were special founders we just had to be in business with, even before they had a customer or a product! Their focus from the get-go on both quality & leveraging technology to delight customers has been incredible. The South East Asia US/EU corridor has many gigantic opportunities across payments, logistics, commerce and we are excited to work closely with Nexprt to shape the future Digitisation of the exports ecosystem in India is a massive opportunity. As the industry develops, we believe a larger share of global exports in several categories will move to this region. When we met the Nexprt team, we were very impressed by the nuanced understanding and insights they had in this space, making them well-positioned to capture what we believe is going to be a huge trend in the next decade, and India is excited to partner with them right at the outset of this journey, Shraeyansh Thakur, Principal, Sequoia India said. IPO-bound mobility platform Ola, said it has successfully raised $500 million via a Term Loan B (TLB) from marquee international institutional investors. This term loan has no impact on the valuation of Bhavish Aggarwal-led The Bengaluru-based firm recently raised $139 million. This is part of a $1 billion funding round for which the company is in talks with investors, increasing its valuation to about $7.5 billion, according to the sources. said the proposed loan issuance received a staggering response from investors with interest and commitment of approximately $1.5 billion. A term loan provides borrowers with a lump sum of cash upfront in exchange for specific borrowing terms. Term loans are commonly granted to small businesses that need cash to purchase equipment, a new building for their production processes, or any other fixed assets, according to experts. said it is one of the first Indian startups to be publicly rated by Moody's and S&P, two of the leading international rating agencies. S&P and Moody's rated Olas first-lien term loan as B- and B3 respectively, with a stable outlook, on the back of strong unit economics and profitability in its market-leading Indian ride-hailing business. The overwhelming response to our term loan B is a reflection of the strength of our business and our continued focus on improving unit economics alongside rapid growth, said Bhavish Aggarwal, founder and CEO, Ola. At Ola, we are accelerating our journey towards building the New Mobility ecosystem to help a billion people move sustainably. SoftBank-backed Ola said this is a milestone transaction as Ola is among only a few Indian to raise capital through the TLB route. Ola is expected to utilize the term loan to fuel its vision for the future of mobility across its various businesses including ride-hailing, vehicle commerce, delivery with foods, quick commerce and financial services. JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank served as the joint lead arrangers for this financing. The new funding comes at a time when Olas transportation business had been badly hit by the pandemic. However, sources said that while Covid-19 brought its business down, it used the pandemic to improve its unit economics. Ola is in talks to raise over $1 billion in funding through a mix of equity and debt over the next few months as the ride-hailing platform prepares for hitting the route next year, according to sources. Ola is in discussions to raise a pre- round of over $1 billion at a valuation of $7.5 billion. The firm competes against US-based Uber and is planning a public offering sometime next year. Aggarwal, a computer engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, founded ride-hailing firm Ola in 2010 along with his college mate Ankit Bhati. Ola was valued at $6.5 billion when it raised funding from South Korean vehicle maker Hyundai in 2019. Ola has raised a total of $4.4 billion from the investors. In July this year, Ola, said Temasek and Plum Wood Investment Ltd, an affiliate of Warburg Pincus, were partnering company founder Bhavish Aggarwal for a $500-million investment ahead of its initial public offering (IPO). Warburg Pincus was a new investor and Singapore-based Temasek, an existing investor since 2018, according to the sources. This was mainly a secondary transaction. According to sources, in that financing round, Temasek and Warburg bought shares worth $500 million from two of Olas existing investors. They had said Tiger Global and Matrix Partners India, both of which hold 13-15 per cent in Ola, had sold shares in this round. Tiger Global has partially exited. Japans SoftBank had held 22 per cent and China's Tencent had about 9 per cent in Ola. Ola recently raised about $139 million from few investors including IIFL, Edelweiss, and Sunil Munjal-led Hero Enterprise, show regulatory documents sourced from business intelligence platform Tofler. Ola allocated 4,63,471 Series J1 Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) at a premium price of Rs 22,625 per share, as per the filings. It may be pre- financing round, according to the analysts, as the firm is preparing to file its draft IPO documents. Hero Enterprise had invested about Rs 112 crore. Edelweiss had invested about Rs 250 crore. IIFL has invested about Rs 187 crore. Ola had also allotted shares worth Rs 100 crore to former Zandu promoters Parikh family and Siddhant Partners. Ola had also allotted shares worth Rs 50 crore to Biovet, an animal health vaccine maker. Vicco Group has been allotted shares worth Rs 10 crore. Also shares worth Rs 13 crore have been allotted to Famy Care Group's Ashutosh Taparia and Sanjeev Taparia. The filing also showed that the SoftBank-backed firm paid Rs 26 crore to acquire geospatial services provider GeoSpoc. In October this year, Ola said it has acquired Pune-based GeoSpoc, a leading provider of geospatial services. GeoSpoc co-founder Dhruva Rajan and his team of Geospatial scientists and engineers had joined Ola to develop technologies that will make mobility universally accessible, sustainable, personalised, and convenient, across shared and personal vehicles. In another development, Ola Electric, the ride-hailing firm's electric vehicle arm, recently also raised about Rs 398 crore from investors such as Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharmas VSS Investco and private equity firm DST Global's Rahul Mehta. Other such investors include IIFL, Edelweiss and Temasek, Singapores state-backed investment company In October this year, Ola Electric, raised over $200 million led by Falcon Edge, Softbank and others, tripling its valuation to $3 billion. In July 2019, Ola Electric raised $250 million from Masayoshi Sons SoftBank. It was just a two-year-old firm at that time. The investment made the fledgling venture a unicorn, or a start-up valued at more than $1 billion. The funding is helping Ola to accelerate the development of other vehicle platforms including electric motorbike, mass-market scooter and its electric car. It is also helping it to strengthen Olas Mission Electric- which urges the industry and consumers to commit to electric and ensure that no petrol two-wheelers should be sold in India after 2025. Ola Electric has built its Futurefactory. At full capacity of 10 million vehicles annually, it would be the worlds largest two-wheeler factory and would handle 15 per cent of the world capacity. It is also the worlds largest factory that is entirely run by women. At full scale, it will have over 10,000 women employed. Ola Electric, began deliveries for Ola S1 scooters from Wednesday. Special events were organized for the first 100 customers today in Bengaluru and Chennai where they came with their friends and family to ride Ola S1 and S1 Pro. We are working hard to ramp up the production at the Ola Futurefactory to get the scooters in the hands of our customers as per their delivery windows, said Varun Dubey, chief marketing officer, Ola Electric. The on Thursday appointed two retired top court judges as mediators between former IPL head and his mother Bina Modi, wife of iate industrialist K K Modi, to resolve a long pending property dispute in the family. The top court was hearing Lalit Modi's appeal against the judgement of a division bench of the Delhi High Court that the anti-arbitration injunction lawsuit filed by Bina Modi against her son is maintainable. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana okayed the names of former apex court judges Justices Vikramjit Sen and Kurian Joseph as mediators. "Ultimately both parties have agreed to mediation under Judges Vikramjit Sen and Justice Kurian Joseph. We suggest parties use facilities of the Mediation Centre at Hyderabad. They can request for online mediation. "We direct parties to maintain confidentiality, and request mediators to take undertakings. Mediation to Expedite proceedings preferably within a period of three months," the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli, said. A lawsuit had earlier been filed by Bina Modi. It sought to restrain the arbitration proceedings initiated by Lalit Modi, a founder of the Indian Premier League, in Singapore over the dispute. The apex court had earlier suggested mediation to the parties and asked them to give names of mediators of their choice. In December last year, the division bench of the high court had held that it has the jurisdiction to decide Bina Modi's plea challenging Lalit Modi's move to initiate arbitration proceedings in Singapore. The division bench had set aside the judgement of a single judge of the high court, which had said it does not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate the anti-arbitration injunction suits filed by Lalit Modi's mother Bina, his sister Charu and brother Samir and they are open to take such pleas before the arbitral tribunal in Singapore. The single judge had said an anti-arbitration injunction suit does not lie, so the pleas are not maintainable, and dismissed the matter. Bina, Charu and Samir, in two separate suits, contended that there was a trust deed between the family members and the K K Modi family trust matters cannot be settled through arbitration in a foreign country according to Indian laws. They have sought permanent injunction restraining from prosecuting or continuing with the application for emergency measures and any arbitration proceedings against them in Singapore. The division bench, in its 103-page judgement passed on December 24, 2020, had said the subject dispute ought to have been prime facie adjudicated by the single judge, who had to exercise the jurisdiction vested in the court as all the parties are Indian citizens and situs' of immovable assets of the trust is in India. In view of the foregoing discussion, we are of the considered view that the single judge gravely erred by failing to exercise the jurisdiction vested in the court, which statutorily required him to adjudicate, whether the disputes between the parties, in relation to the trust deed, were per se referable to arbitration. This, in our respectful view, is tantamount to wrong exercise of jurisdiction by the single judge. The impugned judgment cannot resultantly be sustained.., the bench had said. The division bench had remanded two civil suits to the single judge for further proceedings, in accordance with law, from the stage of issuance of summons and directed the registry to list them for hearing. According to the case, the trust deed was executed at London by K K Modi as settlor/managing trustee and Bina, Lalit, Charu and Samir as trustees, and in pursuance to an oral family settlement recorded between them on February 10, 2006. K K Modi died on November 2, 2019 after which the dispute emerged amongst the trustees. contended that after the demise of his father, in view of lack of unanimity amongst the trustees regarding the ale of trust assets, a sale of all assets of the trust has been triggered and distribution to beneficiaries has to occur within one year thereof, the single judge had noted. His mother and the two siblings contended that on a true construction of the trust deed, no such sale has been triggered. (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.) Homegrown auto major Motors on Thursday said its bus brand Starbus has crossed the 1 lakh units cumulative sales milestone. The Starbus platform is available in varied configurations to suit a host of applications like staff and school transportation. It is also available as an electric bus and has been successfully running in several cities across India, the company said in a statement. Motors Vice-President (Product Line- Buses) Rohit Srivastava said, "The Starbus has proved to be the most versatile bus in the industry offering a luxury travel experience in the staff transportation application and safe and reliable travel as a school bus." It has become one of the strongest brands in the commercial vehicle industry and an integral part of India's transportation sector, he added. With the Starbus, Tata Motors had introduced the original equipment manufacturer-built bus concept in India, the company 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.) 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 Group, which runs an angel network and VC firm 9Unicorns, saw the number of its deals rising two-fold to 207 this year compared to 2020. The investments were made in 178 start-ups and saw $86 million of its own corpus being deployed, while more than $600 million was invested by its syndicate of angel investors. Although Group is known as an early stage investor in start-ups, or young before they raise a Series A round, the past year has seen it make investments up to Series C rounds. In the last four months, we have made more than 20 investments in Series C rounds with cheque sizes of $3 million - $5 million. Although 80-85 per cent of our investments are still at the early stage, the slight change in strategy to invest in the growth stage was inspired by the IPO exits that happened this year in India, said Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, co-founder and president, Group. Founded by Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Anil Jain, Anuj Golecha and Gaurav Jain in 2016, the start-up investor said that it has made it to the list of top 10 global most active accelerators and incubators for the second consecutive year. The group has surpassed popular accelerators such as Techstars, Bpifrance, 500 Global, and SOSV and now only behind YCombinator, it said. Some of the prominent investments for the year include BluSmart, Dukaan, Klub, Melorra, Kala Gato, Mitron TV, Rage Coffee, Power Gummies, Coutloot, Prescinto, Resolve AI, Toch, Zingbus, RoundLabs, and Stage, amongst others. Among the sectors, DeepTech, B2B Saas, FinTech, InsureTech, F&B, HealthTech, and Media dominated the investments this year. Venture Catalysts said it saw 62 exits and uprounds (where its portfolio company raised funding in a successive round) in 2021. Its most successful exit of the year was BharatPe with 80X returns while other significant exits were in start-ups such as Dukaan, ImpactGuru and Rooter. With its size, population and aggravating air pollution, India needs 1,600 to 4,000 monitors but has only 804 as of September 16, 2021, most of which are concentrated in urban areas, shows research. This, experts say, prevents India from knowing the true extent, scale and geographical spread of various pollutants, and limits the government's ability for preventive public health measures. India has nine of the 10 most polluted cities in the world, but with 200 particulate matter (PM) 2.5 monitoring sites in operation during the 2010-2016 period, India's monitor density--about 0.14 monitors per million people--is below China (1.2), the United States of America (3.4), Japan (0.5) and Brazil (1.8), according to research from 2019. As a consequence, India does not accurately know the spread of pollutants, including sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrous dioxide (NO2), respirable PM 10, the finer particulate matter or PM 2.5, lead, carbon monoxide (CO) and ammonia. Chronic exposure to these pollutants contributes to the risk of developing ailments such as cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, as well as of lung cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Further, since existing monitors are concentrated in urban areas, health and environmental authorities cannot assess the extent of in rural areas due to biomass, fuelwood, stubble burning and spraying of pesticides. Real-time air quality monitoring needed Ambient air quality is monitored by observing pollutants, including SO2, NO2, PM 10, PM 2.5, lead, CO and ammonia, present in the air. Currently, the country's clean air programme has set a tentative national target of 20%-30% reduction of in 132 non-attainment cities by 2024, taking 2017 as the base year. The 'non-attainment cities', called so because they did not meet the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) at the time, are required to formulate city-specific action plans in order to reduce So, while the thrust is on the most-polluted cities, rural and semi-urban areas are not being fully monitored for want of monitors and protocols. In India, air quality has been traditionally monitored using manual readings. Data from 804 monitoring stations are used for monitoring ambient air quality. Even after the introduction of real-time monitors, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) continues the practice of using data only from manual monitors to report compliance with air quality standards, according to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report from 2020. There are 261 real-time monitors whose data are updated on the central database. This network is technically part of the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) but its data are stored and treated separately because CPCB has not established a method of equivalence between the two monitoring techniques, the 2020 CSE report pointed out. In the manual method, the monitoring of pollutants is carried out for 24 hours (four-hourly sampling for gaseous pollutants and eight-hourly sampling for particulate matter) with a frequency of only twice a week, whereas real-time monitors measure pollutants constantly. In simple terms, the readings from manual monitors are the ones the CPCB uses for ascertaining long-term air quality trends, including annual data on air quality. Data from real-time monitors are only included in calculating daily AQI (air quality index) of a location. "These numbers from our 2020 report need updating but, in any case, coverage of overall urban population is inadequate and rural population is completely outside the ambit of monitoring today," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE and the report's author. "Manual monitoring protocol requires readings from 104 days in a year but for some stations, we have found data was recorded only for 50-75 days," she said. Manual monitors do not make sense for air quality monitoring anymore, said S.N. Tripathi, head of the civil engineering department at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and a member of the NCAP steering committee. "It is a very tedious procedure and readings once or twice a week are not very helpful for a day-to-day understanding of air quality. We need more frequent measurements--at least hourly readings are needed." Experts have suggested that data from real-time monitors also be used for ascertaining long-term trends and not just for daily AQI. In 2015, identifying this lack of monitors--there were even fewer at the time--IndiaSpend had launched its own network of low-cost sensors to measure the air quality in many Indian cities. You can read more about the project that ended in 2018, here. India needs 1,500 air quality monitoring stations The minimum number of stations to monitor suspended particulate matter where the area's population is less than 100,000 is four. The minimum number is three for SO2, four for NO2, one for CO, according to CPCB guidelines for ambient air quality monitoring released in 2003. The number of monitors required increases with the population. The number of sampling sites depends on the size of the area to be covered, variability of pollutant concentration, data requirements related to monitoring, pollutant to be monitored and population figures which can be used as indicators of criticality both from view of likely air quality deterioration as also health implications, the guidelines state. When scientists compared the density of India's monitoring network with that of other high-population countries, they found large differences. "It is like when a person is ailing, the doctor will need to measure fever before deciding the course of treatment, otherwise treatment can go wrong. The number of monitors we have recommended [in the paper] is the basic, bare minimum requirement," explained Tripathi, who is also one of the authors of this paper. India's six megacities (Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi) need at least 23 to 44 air quality monitoring stations each, while the existing number of stations range between nine and 12 [excluding Delhi], according to the CSE report from 2020. The monitors that India has are also not evenly distributed. "More than 33 per cent of the real-time monitors are concentrated in Delhi-NCR. Delhi alone has invested over Rs 100 crore to set up 38 stations over time," said the CSE report. In several states, including Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, station density is very poor and only two to five years of data are currently available, said another paper, titled 'Monitoring particulate matter in India' published in Springer journal in 2019. For comparison, there are 87 monitoring stations for PM 10 and 32 for PM 2.5 in the Greater London region, a city of nine million, it said. In 2021, Manipur, with a population of 2.7 million, has only one monitoring station and Arunachal Pradesh, with a population of 1.25 million has two. Using CPCB criteria, an average city of one million-plus residents requires around 25 monitoring stations, and if this number is extrapolated across 60 [million-plus] cities, a total of around 1,500 stations would be required, the Springer journal paper said. An environment ministry report on NCAP agreed. "With reference to the existing 4,000 cities in the country, 703 manual monitoring stations in 307 cities reflect limited numbers and need augmentation. It is proposed to augment it to 1500 stations from existing 703 stations," it stated in its 2019 report. At its very launch, NCAP had promised to increase the number of monitoring stations in the country, including rural monitoring stations. The cost of measuring pollutants To address the data gaps in monitoring pollutants, India will require 1,600-4,000 monitors (1.2-3 monitors per million people), the Elsevier paper said, and warned that even at these densities, only relatively basic information on common air pollutants would be available more frequently, and would cover a relatively limited area. The average cost of a monitoring station is around Rs 1 crore with around 10% for annual maintenance costs, the 2019 Springer paper had estimated. This would require an initial investment [of setting up 1,500 stations] of Rs 3,000 crore due to capital and operational costs for 10 years. India has set aside a budget of Rs 470 crore for control of pollution in the financial year 2021-22, which includes funding for its ambitious National Clean Air Programme. "On top of this, costs associated with infrastructure, personnel and training need to be accounted for; and this can be estimated as an additional Rs 3,000 crore; to cover other miscellaneous costs, an additional 50% is added to this, resulting in a total of Rs 7,500 crore. These estimates indicate that the average cost of running the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring [CAAQM] station network in each city over a 10-year period would amount to around Rs 12.5 crore per year," the paper read. Rural areas should also be monitored The NCAP report had itself pointed out the grave problem of air pollution in rural areas and proposed to set up 75 stations in rural areas. Rural areas suffer from outdoor air pollution as well as indoor air pollution. Major sources of outdoor air pollution are indiscriminate use of insecticides/pesticides sprays and burning of wheat and paddy straw. Atmospheric concentration of ozone has been observed higher in rural areas as compared to urban areas, the report stated. "Under NCAP, city-level action plans were to find out pollution sources within the city," said Sunil Dahiya, analyst, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. "But instead of looking at just cities, look at airsheds [airshed is a region which shares similar air quality]. States were supposed to formulate their own state-level clean air plans based on cities' plans. Stubble burning, power plants, these are regional sources of pollution and not limited to a city or town. A hybrid of local and regional approach is needed. While we have formulated local city action plans, we are far away from state or regional plans." Alternatives to expensive monitors Procuring new air quality monitors is expensive and time-consuming. "Apart from government monitors, there are monitors set up by industries. If that data is coupled with government data, it could give much more granular information for the situation of pollution across the country. It will also save the cost of setting up new stations," Dahiya said. Another alternative to expensive monitors could be low-cost sensors. These sensors offer an opportunity to generate high-resolution data at a lower cost, and with fewer deployment and access limitations. But they have not been proven to provide long-term, accurate data yet and efforts are underway to improve precision in such sensors. Latest analyses are supporting the case for deployment of well-designed low-cost sensors for measurement of air pollution at the city level, according to the Springer paper. "While it is true that we have to expand our monitoring network, procurement of monitors is very expensive. India needs to leverage its real-time monitoring network for long-term trends and have a hybrid model with satellite monitoring and low-cost sensors that help in mapping the pollution profile and exposure of a region," Roychowdhury said. It has been nine years since the barbaric gang rape of a 22-year-old woman in Delhi shook the conscience of the country to its core. The national capital was at that time labelled the 'Rape Capital' and the safety of women seemed in tatters. Nirbhaya, the woman who was brutally raped on December 16, 2012, got justice after eight years when on March 20, 2020, all her rapists -- Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur and Pawan Gupta -- were executed in Tihar jail. Since 2012, several steps have been taken by successive governments to enhance women's security, not only in the national capital, but all over the country. And now after almost a decade, the real question is -- are women really feeling safe in Delhi? Has there been any reduction in crimes against women? It is only the residents of the national capital who can answer these pertinent questions. But the data says otherwise. Crimes against women in the national capital continue to show an upward trajectory, compared to last year's data. According to the data compiled by the Delhi Police, 1,725 women have been allegedly raped in the current year till October 31 in the city. In 2020, 1,429 women were victims of this heinous crime in the same period. Compared to the data from last year, there has been an increase of 20 per cent. In 2020, the total number of crimes against women stood at 7,948 which this year has increased to 11,527. In total, the crime against women has increased by a massive 45 per cent in the national capital in just the past 10 months. The high rate of crime against women in current times doesn't mean that the crime was less before. It's just that it was not even reported earlier, hence the data never showed any alarming figures. But things have changed in these years and it is the police personnel on the ground that get the first call in such incidents. "Much has been done to prepare the Investigative Officers (IO) at the grassroot level who are the first respondents to such crimes," said Rajesh Deo, DCP, Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC). SPUWAC, as the very name suggests, is a special unit of the Delhi Police which aims to safeguard the rights of women and children in the Capital. While on the one hand it inquires into the complaints and investigates the cases related to dowry and other crimes against women, primarily matrimonial disputes specified in section 498-A and 406 of 34 IPC, on the other hand it caters to children by building a cadre of child-friendly police and child-friendly police stations across the city. Deo told IANS that it is not just one agency (SPUWAC) that is working for women's safety in the national capital. "Several wings of the Delhi Police are in coordination and working in that area," he said. While speaking to other Delhi Police officers, it was learnt that 10,000 cameras are being installed under the Safe City Project. "Of them 42 cameras are being installed at the crime hotspots," an officer said. Apart from this the police have taken several other initiatives in the recent past to improve the response time to distress calls. Three months ago the Delhi police integrated the Police Control Room (PCR) patrolling vans with the existing beats of the police stations. "This improved the functioning and augmented capabilities at the police station level for separation of law and order and investigation functions," said an officer. Recently, during an event, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana had averred that the safety of women in the national capital is their topmost priority. He said that the Delhi Police have six DCPs, 8 ACPs and 9 SHOs, who are all women, and they have been placed in those areas where the police anticipates crime against women. "Overall the approach is that if a woman is in distress, if a child is in distress, then proper attention is given to them," Asthana said. He also informed that the Delhi Police have a crime against women cell in every police station and the SPUWAC. "This not only provides help during investigation but also in counselling women and children in distress," Asthana noted. The approach is to pay more attention to such issues and solve problems with a positive mindset, he added. Though several steps have been taken by the authorities and law enforcement agencies, there is still a long way to go to make women feel safe and secure in the city. --IANS uj/bg (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.) MLAs on Thursday protested outside the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly demanding the resignation of Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra 'Teni' whose son Ashish Mishra is an accused in Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which 8 people were killed including four farmers. "We will demand MoS Home's resignation in Vidhan Sabha too," said UP chief and MLA Ajay Kumar Lallu. The MLAs also held a protest march from the Gandhi statue at GPO to the Vidhan Sabha. Earlier on Wednesday, the MoS lost his temper and hurled abuses at a journalist when asked about charges against his son Ashish, who is in jail in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that took place on October 3. A visibly irked minister was also seen attempting to hit the journalist but was prevented by people around him. Notably, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case on Tuesday termed the Lakhimpur violence that led to the death of eight people as "a pre-planned conspiracy". Local farmers had blamed Ajay Kumar Mishra 'Teni' and his son Ashish for the violence that claimed the lives of four farmers and a local journalist among others during a farmers' protest. Allegedly, they were mowed down by a vehicle that was part of the convoy of the minister in Lakhimpur Kheri. Videos were being circulated on social media, where a Mahindra Thar was seen knocking down protesters from behind. The minister and his son have denied the charges. Ashish Mishra and several others have been booked for murder. The development comes as Opposition leaders clamour for the dismissal of the minister from his post over the violence. (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 Thursday reported a net decrease of 317 in active cases to take its count to 87,245. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 0.39 per cent (one in 256). The country is twenty-sixth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Wednesday, it added 7,974 cases to take its total caseload to 34,718,602 from 34,710,628 an increase of 0.1%. And, with 343 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 476,478, or 1.37 per cent of total confirmed infections. With 6,012,425 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Wednesday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 1,352,536,986. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 34,154,879 or 98.38 per cent of total caseload with 7,948 new cured cases being reported on Thursday. Now the twenty-sixth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases and recoveries, India has added 52,361 cases in the past 7 days. India now accounts for 0.39% of all active cases globally (one in every 256 active cases), and 8.91% of all deaths (one in every 11 deaths). India has so far administered 1,346,114,483 vaccine doses. That is 3895.71 per cent of its total caseload, and 96.69 per cent of its population. Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (186302017), Maharashtra (130585216), West Bengal (102708929), Madhya Pradesh (98142354), and Bihar (93046475). Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Gujarat (1405535), Delhi (1364910), Kerala (1339285), Jammu and Kashmir (1326884), and Uttarakhand (1281376). Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 78 days. The count of active cases across India on Thursday saw a net reduction of 317, compared with 1,431 on Wednesday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Odisha (108), Himachal Pradesh (34), Delhi (21), Jammu and Kashmir (19), and Karnataka (14). With 7,948 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 8,291 343 deaths and 7,948 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 4.13%. 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 3017.6 days, and for deaths at 962.5 days. Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (4006), Maharashtra (925), Tamil Nadu (640), West Bengal (554), and Karnataka (317). India on Wednesday conducted 1,216,011 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 660,247,762. The test positivity rate recorded was 0.7%. Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR) percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases are Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.76%), Kerala (12.84%), Sikkim (11.53%), Goa (11.31%), and Maharashtra (9.88%). Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added are Kerala (6.1%), Mizoram (5.53%), Sikkim (2.38%), Arunachal Pradesh (1.83%), and West Bengal (1.47%). 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 (1692580), J&K (1349128), Kerala (1135750), Punjab (1066549), and Karnataka (812293). The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6646061), Kerala (5204422), Karnataka (3001251), Tamil Nadu (2737335), and Andhra Pradesh (2075271). Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 925 new cases to take its tally to 6646061. Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 4006 cases to take its tally to 5204422. Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 317 cases to take its tally to 3001251. Tamil Nadu has added 640 cases to take its tally to 2737335. Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 163 to 2075271. Uttar Pradesh has added 14 cases to take its tally to 1710606. Delhi has added 57 cases to take its tally to 1441850. operations at airport were disrupted on Wednesday and Thursday due to near zero visibility and a fault in critical meteorological equipment. airport is equipped to handle operations in extremely low visibility conditions. These are known as CAT-IIIB operations and allow an aircraft to land in visibility over 50 metres. However it requires proper functioning of the equipment that gives information of visibility over the entire runway.. A fault in one of the three instruments measuring the runway visual range and near zero visibility resulted in 24 cancellations and diversion of nine flights to Delhi. Operations resumed on Thursday afternoon with improvement in visibility. A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation official said a team from meteorological department is visiting and the faulty equipment is likely to be rectified by Friday evening. Multiple have been diverted from the airport in the last two days as runway visual range (RVR) equipment, which allows pilots to land amid dense fog, has stopped functioning, aviation industry sources said on Thursday. The RVR equipment at the airport is maintained by the Indian Meteorological Department, which has sent its officials to to repair it, the sources said. The readings taken from RVR equipment allows an airport to use instrument landing system, which allows a flight to land when visibility is as less as 50 meters. Multiple -- domestic and international -- have been diverted from the airport as the RVR equipment, and ILS system consequently, has not been functioning for the last two days, the sources said. The RVR equipment is likely to be repaired by Friday, they added. The Authority of India (AAI said on Twitter on Thursday, "Due to un-serviceability of Runway Visual Range (RVR) at Amritsar Airport, many flights could not be accommodated." "We are continuously working towards the rectification of technical issues involved and ensuring the best services in future. Inconvenience caused is deeply regretted. (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 Thursday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war that led to redrawing of the political map of South Asia and ended the horrific violence unleashed by the Pakistani army on millions of Bangladeshi people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying tributes to the valour and sacrifices of Bangladeshi freedom fighters and Indian armed forces on the 50th anniversary of the occasion 'Vijay Diwas'. President Ram Nath Kovind attended the Victory Day Parade in Dhaka as the "Guest of Honour", in reflection of India's deep connect with the people of Bangladesh and reaffirming New Delhi's strong ties with that country. A 122-member strong tri-services contingent from India also took part in the grand parade watched by Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior military and civilian leaders of the country. Addressing the Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka, President Kovind said that the 1971 struggle for freedom has a special place in the hearts of every Indian. In his message on Twitter, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said: "On Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to the martyrs of the 1971 war. The nation remembers the heroic valour and unwavering patriotism displayed by our armed forces during the war." Their unmatched gallantry and selfless sacrifices continue to inspire every Indian, he said. India's remarkable victory following the surrender of over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers on December 16 half a century ago resulted in the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country, marking a new beginning that came after months of mass atrocities and the death of hundreds of thousands of people. In a tweet, Modi said, "On the 50th Vijay Diwas, I recall the great valour and sacrifice by the Muktijoddhas, Biranganas and bravehearts of the Indian Armed Forces. Together, we fought and defeated oppressive forces. Rashtrapati Ji's presence in Dhaka is of special significance to every Indian." He also laid a wreath and paid his respects at the War Memorial. Four victory torches (vijay mashaals), which were taken across the country during the last one year, were merged into the memorial's eternal flame by Modi at an event that was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the three service chiefs. The victory torches, which were lighted by Modi exactly a year ago, were carried to various parts of India, including to villages of the awardees of Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra of the 1971 war. Singh paid rich tributes to the armed forces personnel who fought the war described the victory as the golden chapter in India's military history, "On the occasion of 'Swarnim Vijay Diwas' we remember the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces during the 1971 war. The 1971 war is the golden chapter in India's military history. We are proud of our armed forces and their achievements," he said. In Kolkata, martyrs of the 1971 war were remembered in a memorial service at the Eastern Command headquarters. Wreaths were laid by war veterans, next of kin of those who fought for the country, Army commanders of the three services and Lt General Manoj Pande, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command. As buglers sounded the 'Last Post' and 'Rouse' from the rampart behind the magnificent edifice of the memorial at Fort William, the headquarters of the Army's Eastern Command, participants observed two minutes' silence to pay homage to all those who died in the war. The northern command of the army on Thursday commemorated the sacrifice of its forces in the war by dedicating to them 'Swarnim Vijay Dwar' in Udhampur. The defence minister shared on Twitter a number of photos relating to the war as well as an image of the 'Pakistani Instrument of Surrender'. Lt Gen Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the then East Pakistan army commander, signed the 'Instrument of Surrender' in Dhaka (then Dacca) in the presence of Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, the GOC-in-C of the Indian Army's Eastern Command. Several events were organised throughout the country to mark the occasion with leaders cutting across the political spectrum hailing the armed forces for the decisive victory. Parliament also paid tributes to Bangladeshi freedom fighters and Indian armed forces with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla remembering the exemplary courage displayed by them. "Their extraordinary sacrifices will continue to inspire future generations," the speaker said. Congress members raised slogans hailing late prime minister Indira Gandhi for leading the nation during the 1971 war. The Congress accused the government of indulging in petty politics by not remembering Indira Gandhi during the Vijay Diwas celebrations. Senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge said it was unfortunate that the government did not recognise the role played by Indira Gandhi in the liberation of Bangladesh during the celebrations. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused the BJP government of indulging in petty and cheap politics by not naming Indira Gandhi who led from the front and gave decisive leadership at the time. "The Modi government and the BJP will not deter from their cheap and petty politics. On the 50th Vijay Diwas of Bangladesh's independence, the Prime Minister and the people in the government did not even take the name of Indira Gandhi, the "Iron Lady" of the 1971 war, is an example of their frustrated and narrow mindset," Surjewala said in a tweet in Hindi, using hashtag "Bangladesh". AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said, "Our first and only woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi is being left out of the misogynist BJP government's Vijay Diwas celebrations." She said this happened on the 50th anniversary of the day that she led India to victory and liberated Bangladesh. Many chief ministers also hailed the sacrifices of the soldiers. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced government jobs to kin of the war martyrs from the state. He made the announcement while addressing a programme on Vijay Diwas at Amar Jawan Jyoti. According to existing rules, any one dependent of those martyred between August 15, 1947 and December 31, 1970 is given a government job. The new rule will extend the cut off to December 31, 1971, paving the way for appointments of the dependents of soldiers martyred in the 1971 war. (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 total number of 27 missions and 25 launch vehicle missions were successfully accomplished during the last five years from April 2016 to March 2021, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday. In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, Singh informed that in addition, 286 commercial satellites from domestic as well as foreign customers and eight student satellites from Indian universities were also launched during the aforementioned period. "Some of the major space missions include a 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," said the Union Minister Apart from these, three technology demonstrators namely Scramjet engine, Re-Usable Launch Vehicle and test for Crew Escape System were also successfully demonstrated during this period, he added. Singh said that the Department of Space has charted out short-term and long-term plans in the areas of Space Transportation Systems, Communication and Navigation, Earth Observation, Space Sciences and Planetary Exploration, Capacity Building and Space-based applications. (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 work on the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, a project that will enable the two countries to integrate their energy needs, is progressing well and could be inaugurated next year, Foreign Secretary said here on Wednesday. The Rs 346 crore India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Project (IBFPP) will connect Siliguri in West Bengal in and Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. The capacity of the 130-kilometre pipeline will be one million metric tonnes per annum. Shringla said the IBFPP is a "very, very unique and significant pipeline that enables us to integrate our energy requirements". The project is progressing very well and "we would be in a position to inaugurate it next year", he told reporters here after President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday met the top Bangladeshi leadership and assured them of all help in promoting economic cooperation between the two neighbours. The IBFPP will export fuel from Assam-based Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) via the Siliguri Marketing Terminal to Bangladesh. During his separate meetings with Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, President Kovind spoke about the trade and connectivity issues. He said that connectivity forms an important pillar of India-Bangladesh relations, according to a press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan. The two countries have much to gain from their geographical proximity, Kovind said, adding that he was happy to note that Bangladesh is one of India's largest trade partners. Kovind said 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, the release said. He said a formal Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement' would give a significant boost to two-way trade. (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.) Alleging gross violation of provisions concerning by several public sector enterprises, Chief Minister on Thursday sought the Centre's intervention in protecting the rights of the workforce, including those who are employed abroad. Launching a 'Safe and Responsible Migration Initiative' (SRMI) to safeguard the interests of migrant workers, Soren said their welfare was the priority of the state. "I am pained to see that many Central organisations violate the provisions concerning ..I appeal to the Government of India to work towards a solution," he said while launching the initiative here. The chief minister urged all to get themselves registered with the state so that it can reach out to them during any calamity. He also directed officials to ensure that mortal remains of any worker dying in a mishap in any part of the country should be brought back to his native place at the state's expenditure. Pointing out that many workers migrate to Gulf countries and the state government cannot directly deal with those nations, he urged the Centre to step in to ensure their welfare as in the post-pandemic period, workforce like drivers and nurses will be in great demand given their shortage everywhere. "We can deal with inter-state migration but workers migrate to Gulf countries too. The state government cannot tie up with those nations. We need the intervention of the Government of India for it...till date no concrete policy or system has been made for the safe and accountable migration of workers," he said. The government is making efforts to create a database of migrant workers, he said. "We saw the plight of lakhs of workers during the pandemic and so made this special policy related to migration. Under the E-shram portal, registration of migrant workers is done...many ambitious schemes are being run by the state government so that the workers here can be employed in the vicinity of their homes," he said. The chief minister said that the state government has provided employment to the girls and women rescued from states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in the textile industry. Two thousand appointment letters were distributed in the textile industry, of which 80 per cent were women, he said adding that the government was making efforts for their skill development and providing them with a dignified life. The state government is contemplating setting up a skill university, he said. Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh said it is a matter of concern that even central PSUs were violating provisions of the Inter-state migrant Act 1979 and engaging contractors, who are not registered, for meeting their labour requirements. Under the SRMI, a pilot project has been launched for Dumka, West Singhbhum and Gumla and a database of migrant workers who have gone for employment in places like Delhi, Kerala and Leh-Ladakh etc is being prepared. The social, economic and legal rights of migrant workers will be ensured by coordinating with all these states and the project will be replicated in the entire state later. As per the state government figures, during the coronavirus -induced lockdown about 8 lakh workers had returned to Jharkhand. The SRMI, an 18-month policy initiative, is anchored by the Department of Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development and supported by the Omidyar Network India and implemented by a consortium of the Policy and Development Advisory Group (PDAG), Partnering Hope Into Action Foundation (PHIA), the Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development (CMID) and the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business (ISB). PDAG co-founder Arindam Banerjee said, "There is a necessity for strong inter-state cooperation and coordination between destination and source states to enable social protection for migrant workers." Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Jharkhand government on several occasions had brought back its migrant workers by special flights, trains and buses. (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 mortal remains of Group Captain Varun Singh, who died at a military hospital in Bengaluru after surviving in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu, were on Thursday brought to Bhopal, where his family members reside. The mortal remains arrived in a special plane at the city airport around 3 pm. After the guard of honour, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, military and other officials paid floral tributes to the decorated air warrior, official sources said. Chouhan met the Group Captain's grieving family members and consoled them. The coffin draped in the tricolour was kept in a decorated army vehicle, behind which Chouhan, medical education minister Vishvash Sarang and local MLA Rameshwar Sharma and the armed forces personnel walked for some distance as a mark of respect. People pay tributes to Group Captain Varun Singh at his residence in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Singh was injured in the #TamilNaduChopperCrash on Dec 8 and succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Bengaluru on Dec 15 pic.twitter.com/c8nEFIIx2a ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2021 The mortal remains later reached the Inner Court Apartment, where the group captain's family resides in Suncity locality near the airport. People were seen carrying flag and raising slogans of 'Vande mataram' and 'Bharat mata ki jai'. Family members performed rituals before the coffin was taken inside the apartment. The last rites will be performed at Bairagarh cremation ground around 11 am on Friday, the sources said. Earlier in the day, Chouhan said that the Madhya Pradesh government will give "Samman Nidhi" of Rs one crore to the kin of the officer. "The state government will give Rs one crore Samman Nidhi to the family of the martyred Group Captain Varun Singh and in consultation with them, install his statue, name an institution after him and also offer a job to his kin in the state government as per the laid down practices," he told reporters here. Chouhan said that the funeral will take place with full military and state honours. "The Group Captain was an amazing warrior and he had defeated death earlier also...but now he is no more with us. His last rites will be performed with full military and state honours. I have spoken to his father also who is also very brave. This family is now the family of the nation and the state," Chouhan said. "The country will never forget his valour and he will always be alive in our memories," Chouhan said. Group Captain Varun Singh died at a military hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday after surviving the last week's chopper crash in Tamil Nadu that killed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 armed forces personnel. The air warrior was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra, India's third highest peacetime gallantry award, in August this year for displaying exemplary composure and skill when his Tejas aircraft developed a technical snag during the sortie. The 39-year-old officer, who was known to be an excellent test pilot, is survived by an 11-year-old son, an eight-year-old daughter and his wife. His younger brother Tanuj Singh is also posted as Lieutenant Commander in the Indian Navy. The Group Captain's family originally hails from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. He was admitted to a hospital in Wellington in Tamil Nadu with severe burn injuries on Wednesday last following the helicopter crash. A day later, he was shifted to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru but after battling for life nearly a week he succumbed to his injuries 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.) President has presented a replica of the 1971-era MIG 21 aircraft to his counterpart Abdul Hamid here to commemorate the joint sacrifices made by the armed forces of India and during the 1971 liberation war. President Kovind is here on a three-day state visit, his first trip abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, to participate in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Victory Day on Thursday at which he is the guest of honour. The original aircraft has been installed at the Museum. This is also in tribute to the memory of the over 1,660 Indian Armed Forces personnel who sacrificed their lives for a common cause in the liberation of Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said. 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 President Kovind has also announced the gifting of the Bapu Bangabandhu Digital exhibition to Bangladesh, which will be now housed in the Liberation War Museum, the Foreign Secretary during a press briefing here on Wednesday night. The Indian government has also decided to review the Nutan India-Bangladesh Maitree Muktijodha Sonatan Scholarship Scheme for the heirs of Bangladesh muktijodhas. The scheme was launched in April 2017, during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, Shringla said. During this scheme, the Government of India had sanctioned over 10,000 scholarships for heirs of Muktijodhas for over five years. Undergraduate students will get a one-time grant of Taka 50,000 and Higher Secondary students Taka 20,000 respectively. These scholarships for Bangladeshi students were introduced to further enhance relations between the two countries. Shringala also welcomed the appointment of the Bangabandhu Chair' at the Delhi University. In March this year, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations had established this position to honour Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On Wednesday, former Bangladesh secretary Shahidul Haque was appointed the first occupant of the prestigious Bangabandhu Chair' at the Delhi University by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. When our Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh in March this year, he announced the creation of the Bangabandhu Chair at Delhi University. The first occupant of this chair was announced today by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Shringla explained. (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 will witness Bangladesh's 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka on Thursday as a guest of honour. "The President on Thursday will witness the Victory Day parade and attend the Victory Day reception hosted by the President of to mark the conclusion of the "Mujib Borsho" celebrations," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday. President Kovind is on a three-day visit to from December 15-17 to attend this event. He landed on Wednesday at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and was received by Bangladeshi President Mohammad Abdul Hamid. On Wednesday, the President met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and congratulated the government and people of the country 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. Further President Kovind 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, MEA said in the statement. Bangladesh has a special place in India's 'neighbourhood first' policy, the President reiterated, adding that New Delhi's development partnership with Dhaka is one of the most comprehensive and wide-ranging ones. At the same time, our relationship is mature enough to handle the most complex of problems. (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.) Employees of (PSBs) on Thursday went on two-day strike against the move to privatise impacting normal banking operation across the country. Many branches across different parts of the country were shut as the United Forum of Bank Union (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine bank unions including All Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) had given two day strike call. As a result, services such as deposits and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearance and loan approvals might be affected due to the strike. But ATMs are expected to function as usual. Public sector lenders, including State Bank of India, had informed customers that services in their branches might be affected due to the strike. However, the private sector, especially new generation private sector lenders, like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, are working as usual. The strike is against the government's decision to privatise which have been playing a vital role in nation building, (AIBEA) general secretary C H Venkatachalam told PTI. AIBOC General Secretary Soumya Dutta said that about 7 lakh across the country are participating in the two-day strike. It is unfortunate that the working in over 1 lakh branches of the banks and regional rural banks has been impacted due to the strike due to the government's attitude, Dutta said. "All banking services are impacted from cash withdrawals to deposits, business transactions, loan process, cheque clearing, account opening and business transactions, he said. In the Union Budget presented in February, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the of two public sector banks (PSBs) as part of its disinvestment plan. To facilitate privatisation, the government has listed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, for introduction and passage during the current session of Parliament. The government has already privatised IDBI Bank by selling its majority stake in the lender to LIC in 2019 and merged 14 public sector banks in the past four years. (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 Collegium has approved the proposal for appointment of three additional judges of the as permanent judges. The Collegium headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana, in a meeting held on December 14, took the decision and the resolution was uploaded on the apex court website on Thursday. The three additional judges of the whose names have been approved are Madhav Jayajirao Jamdar, Amit Bhalchandra Borkar and Shrikant Dattatray Kulkarni. The Collegium also resolved to recommend that Justice Abhay Ahuja be appointed as additional judge of the for a fresh term of one year with effect from March 4, 2022. In another decision, the Collegium has approved the proposal for appointment of additional judge Justice Aniruddha Roy of the Calcutta High Court as permanent judge of that high court. Besides Ramana, Justices U U Lalit and A M Khanwilkar are part of the three-member Collegium which takes decisions with regard to high court judges. (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.) Rajasthan Chief Minister on Thursday asked the Centre to take a decision on giving a booster dose of vaccine to people in the country in the wake of the Omicron threat. He said administering the booster dose and the vaccination of children has started in many countries and the central government should also take a decision in this regard. Gehlot said sick persons, or those 60 years of age or above should get a booster dose on priority. I spoke to Mr (VK) Paul of NITI Aayog yesterday. I felt that the government of India is not thinking about it (booster dose). I would like to appeal to the prime minister that he should intervene and have a meeting with chief ministers like he used to do earlier, the Rajasthan chief minister told reporters here. He (PM) should get feedback on what the doctors and experts there (states) say and he should decide soon about the booster dose, Gehlot added. He said new COVID-19 variant Omicron has spread to over 70 countries and stressed that the Centre should take measures to tackle the threat. (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.) Nidhi Razdan was all set to travel to to start a new job, and a new life, when she received a stunning email. A famous Indian news anchor at the apex of her career, Ms. Razdan believed she would soon start teaching at Harvard, a dream ticket out of an almost unbearably toxic media atmosphere in India. She had told the world that she was leaving the news business for America and she had freely shared her most important personal information with her new employer passport details, medical records, bank account numbers, everything. But when she swiped open her phone in the middle of a January night, she read the following message, from an associate dean at Harvard: There is no record of, nor any knowledge of, your name or your appointment. The email closed: I wish you the best for your future. Ms. Razdan felt dizzy and nauseated. She had thrown away a high-flying career in journalism and fallen into an intricate online hoax. I just couldnt believe it, Ms. Razdan said. The hoax that ensnared Ms. Razdan exploited Harvards prestige, the confusion caused by the pandemic, and her own digital naivete. At the time she went public, what had happened to her seemed like a shocking but isolated incident. But it wasnt. Ms. Razdan was one of several prominent female journalists and media personalities in India who were targeted, even after one of the women alerted Harvard and the public about the unusual cyberoperation. The incidents raised questions about why Harvard despite its reputation for fiercely protecting its brand did not act to stop the scam, even after being explicitly warned about it. They also revealed how easy it is for wrongdoers to hide their identities on the internet, a risk that is likely to get worse as the technology used in digital fakery continues to improve. The people or person behind the hoax were relentless. They created a constellation of interlocking personas across Twitter, Facebook, Gmail and WhatsApp to pursue the women for months at a time. Unlike typical online fraudsters, they did not appear to use the personal information they extracted to steal money or to extort the women, leaving their ultimate goal a mystery. Nearly a year later, it is still uncertain why Ms. Razdan and the other women were targeted. Although the scammers expressed support online for the Hindu nationalist movement in India, they shed little light on their decision to trick reporters. The perpetrators have successfully covered their tracks at least, most of them. The New York Times reviewed private messages, emails and metadata the scammers sent to the women as well as archives of the scammers tweets and photos that the scammers claimed were of themselves. The Times also relied on analysis from researchers at Stanford University and the University of Toronto who study online abuse, and from a cybersecurity expert who examined Ms. Razdans computer. The identities of the scammers remain a secret. Its not like anything Ive ever seen, said Bill Marczak, a senior research fellow at Citizen Lab, an institute at the University of Toronto that investigates cyberattacks on journalists. Its a huge amount of effort and no payoff that weve identified. This hotel fine for you? One at a time, the scammers selected their prey. The first known target: Rohini Singh, an outspoken female journalist who had broken some big stories that powerful men in India didnt like. Ms. Singh delivered a blockbuster article in 2017 about the business fortunes of the son of Indias current minister of home affairs. She is a freelance contributor to an online publication called The Wire that is among the most critical of the Hindu nationalist government in India. She has also amassed nearly 796,000 Twitter followers. In mid-August 2019, Ms. Singh received a Twitter message from someone calling himself Tauseef Ahmad, who said he was a masters student at the Harvard Kennedy School and from Ms. Singhs hometown, Lucknow. They chitchatted about Lucknow and then he invited her to participate in a high-powered media conference. Harvard would pick up all expenses. She was intrigued. But she grew suspicious after Tauseef connected her to a colleague, introduced as Alex Hirschman, who wrote to her on Aug. 19 from a Gmail account rather than an official Harvard.edu email address. On top of that, both Tauseef and Alex had telephone numbers that were not based in the United States. Alex and Tauseef then asked her for passport details and some photos, which were to be used for promotional purposes. A few days later, convinced their entreaty was a scam, Ms. Singh ceased communication. The next target was another female journalist, Zainab Sikander. An up-and-coming political commentator, Ms. Sikander campaigns against discrimination toward Muslims, a growing problem under the Hindu nationalist government. She has also written and posted many critical observations of the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Aug. 22, 2019, Ms. Sikander, too, received a Twitter message from Tauseef Ahmad, inviting her to participate in a high-powered media conference at Harvard. It was the same message sent to Ms. Singh, though neither woman knew the other had been targeted. Flattered and curious, Ms. Sikander began chatting with Tauseef on the WhatsApp instant messaging and calling app. She wasnt thrown off by the fact that his phone number started with the country code of the United Arab Emirates, although he claimed to be in the Boston area. Maybe he was a foreign student with Dubai connections, she thought. She remembers his voice: young, with a South Asian accent, which she believed sounded Pakistani. Just like in Ms. Singhs case, Tauseef connected her to Alex Hirschman. What she didnt know was that Alex and Tauseef were likely fake personas a search of Harvards student directory showed no students by either name. Ms. Sikander also didnt know that Tauseefs Twitter account was one of several online personas that were interlinked. Tauseef and Alex seemed so friendly, sending her compliments and confirmations for the flights and hotels they claimed to have booked. This room and this hotel fine for you? one of their messages said. Still, something told her to beware. When she asked for a formal invite from a dean, it never came. Ms. Sikander then broke off contact as well. At the time, India was dominated by a seismic news event: Kashmir. The Indian government had suddenly wiped away the autonomy of the Kashmir region, a restive, Muslim-majority territory that has been the source of a never-ending feud between India and Pakistan. The Indian government was extremely sensitive about criticism of its move. It severed internet service to Kashmir and pre-emptively cracked down on critics and potential critics, throwing more than 2,000 Kashmiris in jail, including the regions top politicians. Ms. Sikander had written critical pieces and posts about the governments action in Kashmir. Some analysts believe the scammers may have gone after her because of her trenchant views. The next target was another female journalist working at a prominent Indian publication, who spoke with The Times on the condition that she was not identified. Suspicious about the scammers U.A.E. phone number, she quickly broke off contact too. But the scammers didnt give up. By the time they communicated in November 2019 with Nighat Abbass, a spokeswoman for Indias ruling political party, known by its acronym, the B.J.P., they had copied email signatures from real Harvard employees and swiped official letterhead from the universitys website. Around the same time, they opened a new Twitter account under the name Seema Singh, who identified herself as a coder and claimed she was based in Bharat, another name for India that is preferred by nationalists who see India as a colonial term. She sent sexually aggressive messages, tagging Ms. Sikander and some of the other women targeted in the scam. You look so hot, she said in one tweet. Can I join you in your shower? said another. Seema Singh later updated her profile, claiming to be a bisexual Deutsche Bank employee living in Frankfurt. (A Deutsche Bank spokesman said the bank had no employees by that name.) She seemed intimately familiar with Indian politics, constantly commenting on the often raw divide between Indias majority Hindus and minority Muslims and calling out personal connections that the women targeted in the scam had with Kashmir. Ms. Abbass didnt notice the raunchy tweets from Seemas account. Excited about making her first trip to America, she focused on exchanging emails and messages with Tauseef. It was only after the scammers pushed for passport details and other personal information that Ms. Abbass decided she should check directly with one of the Harvard administrators included on the emails. That administrator, Bailey Payne, a program coordinator in the office of Harvards vice provost for international affairs, responded, saying the official invitation that appeared to have been sent from her Harvard.edu email address was fake. When Ms. Payne asked Ms. Abbass if she would like to share more information, Ms. Abbass eagerly cooperated. She sent in a trove the phone number from the U.A.E., the emails, screenshots of the fake Harvard documents and hotel booking records. But its not clear what action, if any, Harvard took. Ms. Payne did not respond to requests for comment. Jason Newton, a Harvard spokesman, declined to comment on what the university did with the information Ms. Abbass provided. By the time the hacker or hackers reached out to Ms. Razdan that same month, in late November 2019, they were well practiced. But they were also attracting attention. That same month, Ms. Abbass tweeted a passionate video warning others to watch out for Tauseef and the scam. And in December 2019, Twitter users in India accused Seema of faking her online persona. She responded by claiming to be a civil servant with the Indian Police Service and threatened to file complaints against her accusers. Despite the accusations, the account under that name regularly posted photos it claimed were of her. It is unclear whether the photos actually depicted her or were stolen reverse image searches for them turned up no results. 'Our No. 1 Ms. Razdan, now 44, was one of the most prominent female Indian journalists of her generation. Over a career spanning more than 20 years, she had covered Indias biggest stories as the country transformed itself into an economic powerhouse. She was polite but fearless, the anchor of the 9 oclock news program on NDTV, one of Indias most prominent independent news channels, a familiar face across a nation of 1.4 billion people. She was our No. 1, said her former boss, Prannoy Roy, NDTVs founder. But by 2019, she was fried. It was a mad year, Ms. Razdan said, citing the string of huge stories that broke, from a conflict between India and Pakistan and elections to the profound reorganization of Kashmir. I was mentally and physically exhausted. She was also mercilessly trolled by Indias right wing, like many independent journalists are, and said to herself: If I dont try something new now, I never will. It was as if the scammers read her mind. The first email arrived Nov. 14, 2019, from an earnest sounding student Melissa Reeve inviting her to a Harvard media seminar. She was then introduced, by email, to another student, Tauseef Ahmad. When he said there might be a journalism job available at Harvard, Ms. Razdan let her hopes soar. I thought it would be the opening to a new world, she said. The next thing Ms. Razdan knew, she was interviewing with someone claiming to be Bharat Anand, the name of a real vice provost at Harvard. She never saw him, though. The interview was by phone. This is where I feel I really messed up, she said. I should have insisted it be a video call. The scammers were taking bolder steps to impersonate Harvard. They bought a website from GoDaddy, HarvardCareer.com, in January 2020 and set up a Microsoft email server that would soon allow them to send messages stamped with Harvards name. Unlike earlier owners of the domain, they opted for privacy protection that obscured their names from public registries of website owners. She was then asked for references. Each of the people Ms. Razdan enlisted received an official looking email from HarvardCareer.com with a web link to upload a recommendation. There was a lovely Harvard shield, Mr. Roy remembered. I didnt have the slightest doubt. Harvard says it fiercely protects its trademark, employing software to detect new websites that infringe on its brand, but Mr. Newton, the university spokesman, declined to say if it had detected HarvardCareer.com. The scammers continued to use it to send emails, capitalizing on Harvards reputation. They also copied employment documents from Harvards official website, using them as fodder as the scam advanced. In February 2020, right before Covid-19 exploded across the world, Ms. Razdan was told the job was hers. It paid $151,000 a year, far more than she was making at NDTV. She received a lengthy contract that included everything from arbitration clauses to details about dental insurance. She was even sent information about how her new Harvard faculty ID would get her discounts at Boston-area museums. She could barely contain her excitement. In June 2020, she announced to the world, via Twitter: I am changing direction and moving on. Later this year, I start as an Associate Professor teaching journalism as part of Harvard Universitys Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Congratulations poured in, from some of Indias biggest names, spreading the news even farther. Shashi Tharoor, an erudite opposition politician with millions of Twitter followers, lamented, Will miss you, @Nidhi. No one at Harvard which has many students and professors from India or who follow India closely seemed to put two and two together: that Nidhi Razdan, the famous journalist, was announcing that she had a job at Harvard when there was no such job. My pride' Online classes were supposed to start in September. Ms. Razdan was sent a sheaf of forms, all on Harvard letterhead, for her visa application, salary payments and medical insurance. The documents were stolen from Harvards website, where the university made them publicly available. Right before classes were to begin, she received an email saying there was a delay because of Covid-19. The scammers would use the pandemic many times as an excuse for delays or slip-ups. They also asked her to install Team Viewer, which is software that enables computers to connect to each other. Team Viewer would allow the scammers to access files on her laptop, but Ms. Razdan didnt know that. Trying to be helpful, she downloaded the software. The scammers played off Ms. Razdans eagerness to connect with faculty members. Several times they invited her to do a video call with Emma Densch, a real dean at Harvard. But the calls kept getting canceled at the last minute, each with a more fantastic excuse. Once she was told that the dean had to rush out to deal with a faculty suicide. By December, Ms. Razdan began to get annoyed at what she thought was flakiness. She was also a bit peeved that she hadnt been paid yet. She reached out to officials in Harvards human resources department. They didnt write back. She then emailed Ms. Denschs office directly, asking about the canceled video calls. Ms. Denschs assistant wrote back that Ms. Razdan was never on the deans schedule. The assistant then asked: Who were you talking to? Ms. Razdan sent in a flurry of correspondence, including her signed contract. By this point, she said, she knew something was wrong but she still had no idea she was being fooled. I just thought these were bureaucratic snags, she said. Or delays because of the pandemic. Thats when she received the shocking email in the middle of the night. She never went back to sleep. She turned to Jiten Jain, the director of a cybersecurity firm in India called Voyager Infosec, to perform a forensic analysis of her laptop and devices. Mr. Jain, who shared his findings with The New York Times, said Ms. Razdans email account had likely been hacked. Worse, Mr. Jain found remnants of a suspicious installer file on her computer, a sign that malware may have been installed. Ms. Razdan went public, saying on Twitter and in a confessional article on NDTVs website that she had been scammed. Her disclosure ignited speculation about who could have been behind the attack. Other victims of the scam believed that they might have been targeted by a foreign government, or even their own. No other government would invest so much to embarrass Indian journalists, said Ms. Singh, the first reporter the scammers tried to ensnare. This government does it. Ms. Singh pointed to her previous experience being targeted by malware widely believed to have been purchased by the Indian government as evidence of its willingness to tamper with the press. Government officials, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, did not respond to requests to comment. Mr. Jain believed foreign governments might have played a role. The suspicious file he uncovered on Ms. Razdans computer contained an IP address that had once been linked to a hacking group believed to be associated with Pakistani intelligence. Mr. Jain also discovered several other suspicious websites that purported to be career pages for other Ivy League universities, but were registered in China, making him believe the scam that targeted Ms. Razdan was part of a broader operation. After looking at all the evidence and technical analysis of the devices, Mr. Jain said, it appears to be a group of sophisticated actors running a targeted surveillance campaign. But the tech companies whose platforms were exploited said government agencies had not played a role. In January, Twitter suspended Tauseef and Seemas accounts, as well as four others that the company said were connected to them. The company said it could not publicly identify the other accounts because it does not share user data unless it can determine that the users were participating in a state-backed campaign. We permanently suspended six accounts as fake based on our platform manipulation and spam policy. There were no signs of the accounts being state-backed, a spokeswoman said. A Facebook spokeswoman said accounts set up by the scammers had been suspended. Facebook, too, found no evidence that this was a state-sponsored campaign. A Microsoft spokesman said that the email server used by the scammers had been purchased through GoDaddy, and that it, therefore, did not have payment details that could identify the person running the email server. GoDaddy also declined to identify the customer. We take customer privacy very seriously and dont discuss customers account details unless provided with a court order, said Dan Race, a GoDaddy spokesman. Another theory emerged: Perhaps the women were targeted by an individual, someone ideologically aligned with the Hindu nationalist ruling party in India and willing to go to great lengths to humiliate critics of the governments intervention in Kashmir and those who spoke out against the divide between Hindus and Muslims. On Twitter, the scammers Seema account, which was like an alter ego to the more mild Tauseef account, frequently ranted about these issues. Miles McCain, a researcher at the Stanford Internet Observatory, a policy center focused on abuses of the internet, analyzed the messages and discovered that Alex and Tauseefs Gmail addresses were connected to a Samsung Galaxy S8 phone. That small detail could puncture theories that the women were targeted by a group of people, Mr. McCain noted it might be a sign that a single individual was operating both accounts from the cellphone. A Google spokeswoman declined to comment on the specific Gmail accounts. When we detect that a user is the target of a government-backed attack, she said, we send them a prominent warning alerting them that they are at risk. An analysis of the scammers emails conducted by Citizen Lab revealed that the messages were sent from internet addresses in the U.A.E., not Boston a clue that seemed to fit with the U.A.E. phone number that Tauseef used. But the IP addresses and Mr. Jains findings raised more questions. Were the scammers operating from the U.A.E., Pakistan, China, or from within India? Strangely, the emails did not contain so-called phishing links a clue that might have revealed more about how the reporters information was obtained and who was behind the intrusions After learning she had been tricked, Ms. Razdan retreated from public view. She lost weight. She avoided friends. She turned to the Indian police, who have begun their own investigation but have not made any findings public. Just like Ms. Abbass, she urged Harvard to investigate, emailing the university that Someone/group of people have been impersonating senior Harvard officials and forging their signatures, and must be brought to book. She said Harvard never wrote back. In the past few months, Ms. Razdan has quietly begun to rebuild her life. She found a job teaching public policy at an Indian university and writes a weekly column for Gulf News, a big paper in the Middle East. Still, she spends a lot of time by herself, rotating through feelings of anger, regret and shame. And she keeps asking herself the same question: How could I be so stupid? Haley Willis, Ben Decker and Erin Woo contributed reporting. Prime Minister on Thursday called upon panchayats to ensure that at least one village under their jurisdiction adopts natural farming to make it a mass movement. Addressing virtually a conclave on natural farming in Ahmedabad, Modi said there was a need to take agriculture out of the chemical laboratory and connect it with natures lab. He said investors should also look towards processing of products produced through natural farming as that is the way to move forward. We need to take agriculture out of the chemical lab and connect it with natures lab. And natural farming is also science-based. Experts had opined that cows can play an important role in organic farming as their dung and urine can be used as both fertiliser as well as pesticide. This will reduce the cost of farming, Modi said, adding that natural farming would prove more beneficial to small and marginal farmers. Home Minister Amit Shah, who also holds the charge of minister for cooperation, said in the coming time, the ministry would set up a network of labs across the country that will test lands suitable for natural farming and products that are testified as natural. The government in the next two years plans to create a robust marketing infrastructure under the ministry for organic and natural produce, Shah said. Modi, meanwhile, in his address to the farmers said the time had come to correct the mistakes that have become part of farming. It is a fact that chemicals and fertilisers have played a crucial role in the green revolution. But it is also imperative to work on their alternatives. It is the right time to take big steps before the issues related to farming become severe, the prime minister said. He stressed the need to find alternatives of chemical fertilisers and pesticides saying the high cost of import shoots up the cost of farming and in turn increases the prices of farm produce for the common man. Time has come to correct the mistakes that have now become part of farming, such as burning of farm residue and use of chemical fertilisers, he said, adding: Experts say burning farm residue would actually reduce the productivity of the land. He said there was another misconception among the farmers is that higher yield is not possible without chemical fertilisers. Byju's in talks to go public via SPAC deal, seeks $48-bn valuation: Report The online education provider Byjus, Indias most valuable startup, is in advanced discussions to go public through a merger with one of Churchill Capitals special-purpose acquisition companies, according to people familiar with the matter. The startup held talks with several potential SPAC partners and is farthest along in working out an agreement with Michael Kleins Churchill Capital, said the people, asking not to be named discussing private matters. Churchill Capital VII raised more than $1.3 billion in an offering in February and trades on the New York Stock Exchange. Read more Banking services impacted as 900,000 employees go on two-day strike Banking services, especially at branches across the country, have been hit hard following the commencement of a two-day strike by about 900,000 employees to protest against privatisation of public sector banks. Employees took out protest marches and held demonstrations before branches in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country. At some places while branches were shut, customer service centres next door were functional. Their operations are outsourced. Read more Ola raises $500-mn term loan, in talks to raise $1 bn at $7.5-bn valuation IPO-bound mobility platform Ola, said it has successfully raised $500 million via a Term Loan B (TLB) from marquee international institutional investors. This term loan has no impact on the valuation of Bhavish Aggarwal-led Ola. The Bengaluru-based firm recently raised $139 million. This is part of a $1 billion funding round for which the company is in talks with investors, increasing its valuation to about $7.5 billion, according to the sources. Read more Omicron infects 70 times faster but may cause less severe disease: Study The Omicron variant of infects and multiplies 70 times faster than Delta and the original COVID-19 strain, but the severity of illness is likely to be much lower, according to a study. The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study provides the first information on how the novel variant of concern infects human respiratory tract. Read more The government on Thursday launched the fourth round of auction of for commercial mining under which 99 blocks have been put on sale. With rolling over from third round of commercial auction and second attempt of second tranche of commercial auctions, there will be total 99 mines on offer, the coal ministry said in a statement. "Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi has launched the fourth tranche of auction of 99 coal mines, including 24 new mines in a function here today," the statement said. Launching the latest tranche, the minister called upon the investors who have already completed successful bidding of to start production at the earliest for greater self-reliance in this sector. The minister also urged the officials to identify more coal blocks for auctioning. Joshi further pointed out that at least for next 30 to 40 years coal will continue to be crucial in India's energy sector. He urged investors to step up participation in the fully transparent auction process evolved by the ministry. Of these 99 mines on offer, 59 are fully explored mines and 40 are partially explored. These mines are spread across eight coal bearing states namely Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The list of mines has been finalized post detailed deliberations, and mines falling under protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries, critical habitats, having forest cover greater than 40 per cent, heavily built-up area etc. have been excluded. Key features of the auction process include introduction of National Coal Index, ease in participation with no restriction for prior coal mining experience, full flexibility in coal utilisation, optimised payment structures, efficiency in promotion through incentives for early production and use of clean coal technology. Further incentives are being contemplated by the ministry with focus on sustainability. The commencement of sale of tender document will start from Thursday. Details of the mines, auction terms, timelines etc. can be accessed on MSTC auction platform. The auction shall be held online through a transparent two-stage process, on the basis of Percentage Revenue Share. This will be the 14th round of auction under CMSP Act and fourth tranche of auction under MMDR Act. SBI Capital Markets Ltd, sole transaction advisor to Ministry of Coal for the commercial coal mine auction, had devised the methodology and is assisting the ministry in conducting the auction. Of the total 99 coal mines, 35 are under 14th tranche of auction under CMSP Act and 64 are under fourth tranche of auction under MMDR Act. Besides, of these 99 mines, 24 are new coal mines whereas the remaining 75 are rollover mines from the earlier round of auctions. After successful auction of 28 coal mines in the first two tranches and upon receipt of 53 bids for 20 coal mines under tranche 13 of CMSP Act and tranche 3 of MMDR Act, the ministry has now launched the auction process of 24 new mines. Of these 24 mines, 9 are under tranche 14 of CMSP Act and 15 under tranche 4 of MMDR Act. (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.) will soon import defence related items from India under the USD 500 million Line of Credit provided by New Delhi as several identified equipment are being fast tracked, according to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. His remarks came after President Ram Nath Kovind, who is here 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 the country's top leadership on Wednesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on President Kovind and the two leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation. They reviewed the progress in the multifaceted and comprehensive bilateral ties. Addressing a press briefing here on Wednesday night, Shringla said, "As far as we are concerned, India and are bound by ties of history, language, spirituality and culture." He said that the defence issue was discussed during President Kovind's talks with Bangladesh's top leadership. "I think the issue of imports of defence related items by Bangladesh, you are aware that we have signed, we have extended the line of credit for defence items for USD 500 million," he said. Under this line of credit, several items have been identified and being fast tracked. They're in fairly advanced stages of being processed we will see certain defence items exports from India coming to and this is something that we would like to see, the foreign secretary said. Sringla said that essentially the entire gamut of cooperation, whether it is training, exchanges, joint manufacturing in the defence sector, this is something that we would like to see enhanced. In 2019, India provided USD 500 million Line of Credit to Bangladesh for defence-related procurement in the neighbouring country. Export Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) entered into an agreement on April 11 with Bangladesh's Armed Forces Division for making available to the latter a Government of India-supported LoC of USD 500 million. The LoC is for the purpose of financing defence-related procurement in Bangladesh. In April 2017 during Prime Minister Hasina's visit to New Delhi, India committed USD 500 million LoC for Bangladesh's defence. President 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". (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 hinted at a gradual softening of stance on contentious trade issues such as government procurement, e-commerce, and the environment at the World Trade Organization (WTO), by first negotiating such deals bilaterally with countries under ongoing free-trade agreements (FTAs). A large number of countries are negotiating plurilaterals or joint-statement initiatives on 21st century issues such as e-commerce, the environment, and investment facilitation at the This India has challenged, holding that they do not have the sanction of the multilateral body and must not lead to modifications to its rule book. On Wednesday, co-sponsors of three new environmental initiatives met jointly and agreed to put environmental concerns at the heart of future trade discussions. One hundred and eleven countries are negotiating an investment facilitation agreement. Earlier this month, 67 members of the concluded a plurilateral on services domestic regulations aimed at making it easier for foreign service providers to access, understand, and follow the procedures for getting authorisations or licences for operating in the host country. Though India is not opposed to such agreements at multilateral levels, it is including the same issues in bilateral deals. Answering a question whether India is ready for the new areas it is entering in bilateral trade agreements, Commerce Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam said India did not have a choice. The question is either you dont engage or engage. If you want to talk to the EU, the UK, Australia, and Canada, they will say lets talk environment, gender, and government procurement. While India is not part of the plurilateral on government procurement agreement, it is talking government procurement bilaterally, he said while speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry Partnership Summit on Tuesday. Subrahmanyam said though India did not have much experience or capacity in these new areas as the department concerned never looked at international agreements, the bilateral FTAs will build up capacity in a secure environment. In the WTO, you are facing a full-blown 180 membership. Here we do it bilaterally. Cut our teeth and once you have a certain comfort level, when you have broken down domestic opponents to understand the benefits of these particular areas, then you actually multilateralise it. We actually look at these as stepping stones on which we will build up a larger multilateral agreement. I foresee a future, 10 years down the road when we will be having a different approach at the WTO, he said. The commerce secretary said including 21st century issues in bilateral deals would bring both opportunities and challenges for Indian industry. There will be tremendous access to new markets. They will lose a lot of tariff disadvantages they suffer from. There will be a lot of non-tariff barriers which will go away. The FTA with the UAE will open huge avenues for our pharma sector. But on the other side, you are opening up your market. So industry will have to realise that competition will increase. Protectionist barriers will come down to a significant extent. Therefore, to survive, industry has to focus on high value addition; it has to move up the value chain and go for branding. More importantly, Indian companies will have to become members of global supply chains and develop solid market intelligence, he added. The Union Ministry of Power has pressed upon countrys leading bank, the State Bank of India, to follow the prudential norms while lending to the state-owned power distribution companies (discoms) that are in a financially beleaguered condition. The ministry had earlier urged the central banker Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to direct the public sector banks to follow strict norms while lending to the The primary lenders to the discoms--state-owned NBFCs Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)--already follow the norms. Power Secretary Alok Kumar in his letter has said, many are facing solvency and liquidity issues and the debt level of has been rising every year. According to his letter, as reviewed by Business Standard, the overall debt of the discoms at the end of FY20 was Rs 5.14 trillion, against a turnover of Rs 7.28 trillion. A burgeoning debt and outstanding payables of the discoms to their creditors which are predominantly gencos and transcos is a matter of concern. This poses a challenge to the viability of the power sector, while also adds to the concerns to the stability of the financial sector. Even if most of the loans to discoms are given against state guarantees, the present trend of increasing unpaid government dues and subsidy arrears will make repayment of debt non-feasible in case of defaults, the letter said. He further said the banks also need to respond to these challenges and adhere to the prudential norms. The norms entail that the banks should lend to only those discoms which meet 10-point eligibility criteria. The criteria includes discoms should have latest audited accounts and timely filing of tariff petition. The said discoms should also follow a system of providing electricity subsidy. There should not be any dues from the state government departments to the discoms. The discom should not be defaulting on any loan to any bank or financial institution and its working capital shall be restricted to 25 per cent of total revenue. If the discom is loss making, it should be adhering to the trajectory of reduction in AT&C losses (commercial loss) and reduction of cost-revenue gap. The union ministry has urged the to implement the prudential norms mandatorily for lending to the state-owned discoms. State-owned discoms across the country and financially and operationally beleaguered despite four reform schemes in the last 15 years. The earlier discom reform scheme UDAY concluded in FY20 with most of the states failing to meet their stipulated targets and still in red. The Centre this year announced a new 'Reforms-based and Results-linked, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme'. The new scheme seeks to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of all discoms/power departments (excluding private sector discoms) by providing conditional financial assistance to discoms for strengthening of supply infrastructure. Importers have argued against the imposition of integrated (IGST) on ocean freight in the Supreme Court on Thursday. They pleaded for the quashing of a petition by the government filed in the apex court against a Gujarat High Court judgment that had declared on ocean freight as violative of the Constitution. Ocean freight is the cost incurred through an agreement between two foreign parties to ship goods to India. For instance, if goods are exported from Washington, the exporter concerned may enter into an agreement with a shipping line there and pay ocean freight to it. A provision in the Central Act permitted levy of both basic customs duty and on the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of goods brought into India. A government notification later also extended to ocean freight on importers on the reverse charge mechanism. Under GST, service tax is usually paid by sellers of services, but where it becomes difficult for the government to receive tax from sellers, it imposes it on recipients of services. This is called the reverse charge mechanism. Arguing on behalf of companies, Abhishek Rastogi, partner at Khaitan & Co., said Indian importers will not fall within the definition of recipient under the Act as the exporters of goods situated outside India are liable to pay ocean freight to the foreign shipping line. He said only the recipient can be burdened with the tax on liability of services which draw Companies such as Gujarat Petrochem are respondents to the case in the Supreme Court. Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, on the other hand, argued that the levy is not extra territorial and that it is not a case of double taxation. Last year, the Gujarat High Court had declared imposition of IGST on ocean freight as violative of the Constitution. The court had said the levy and collection of tax on ocean freight was not permissible under the law. Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj along with senior officials on Thursday held a meeting with Managing Director Salil Parekh to review the performance of the new income tax portal. More than 3.5 crore (ITR) have been filed so far for the financial year 2020-21 through the portal, which had faced glitches following which the ministry had directed to urgently address the issues. has developed the new income tax e-filing portal 'www.incometax.gov.in'. In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said that Bajaj along with other senior ministry officials held a review meeting regarding the portal with Parekh. As briefed by Infosys, various steps have been taken, including augmentation of the technical infrastructure and setting up of a dedicated war room to monitor the performance of the portal, it said. According to the statement, Infosys has assured the ministry about its preparedness to ensure a smooth filing season to instill confidence among the taxpayers. "As on December 15, 3.59 crore (ITRs) have been filed on the new e-filing portal of the (Income Tax) Department. The number of ITRs filed per day has crossed 6 lakh and increasing everyday as the extended due date of December 31, 2021 is approaching," the statement said. Out of the total ITRs filed for AY 2021-22, 57.6 per cent is ITR1 (2.07 crore), 8.3 per cent is ITR2 (29.70 lakh), 9.4 per cent is ITR3 (33.61 lakh), 23.4 per cent are ITR4 (84.05 lakh), ITR5 (3.12 lakh), ITR6 (1.33 lakh) and ITR7 (0.24 lakh), it added. Nearly 52 per cent of these ITRs have been filed using the online ITR form on the portal and the balance have been uploaded using the ITR created from the offline software utilities, the statement said. The ministry also said that it was encouraging to note that 3.11 crore returns have been e-verified and out of them, more than 2.69 crore were through Aadhaar-based OTP. The process of e-verification through Aadhaar-based OTP and other methods is important for the department to commence processing of the ITR and to issue refunds, if any. The department has been issuing reminders to taxpayers through e-mails, SMS and media campaigns encouraging taxpayers to file their without further delay. "All taxpayers who are yet to file their Income Tax returns for AY 2021-22 are requested to file their returns at the earliest," it said. Following glitches in the portal, the Income Tax Department had to allow manual filing of remittance forms and extended the due dates for electronic filing of forms related to intimation by pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. The last date for filing ITR for 2020-21 fiscal is December 31, 2021. In 2019, Infosys was awarded the Rs 4,242 crore-contract to develop the portal. The project was aimed at developing the next-generation income tax filing system to reduce processing time for returns from 63 days to 1 day and to expedite refunds. Between January 2019 to June 2021, the government paid Rs 164.5 crore to Infosys for developing the portal. (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's oil imports totalled 4.32 million bpd oil in November, up 6.4% from October and 9.2% from a year earlier, data showed. The share of Middle Eastern oil in India's overall crude imports rebounded to a 16-month high in November as refiners shunned costly Brent-linked long haul grades, tanker arrival data obtained from trade sources showed. Imports of Middle Eastern oil by the world's third biggest oil importer and consumer surged to 3.07 million barrels per day (bpd), the most in 11 months and about 71.1% of country's overall oil imports, the data showed. On the other hand, the share of African oil plunged to a 16-month low of around 9.7%, or about 419,000 bpd, the data showed. India's totalled 4.32 million bpd oil in November, up 6.4% from October and 9.2% from a year earlier, the data showed, as refiners cranked up runs to meet rising fuel demand amid a recovery in refined fuel cracks. "Most Middle Eastern producers had reduced official selling prices for October and November so it made sense to go for nearby crudes rather than Brent-linked oil," said Ehsan Ul Haq, an analyst with Refinitiv. He noted that the Brent price had been very strong in October and November as demand from Europe recovered and refiners increased utilisation rates. That widened Brent crude's premium to Dubai swaps, or the price spread between low- and high-sulphur crude, to $4.25/ barrel in October, he added. Shipments from Africa take about 35 days to reach India, and refiners tend to buy oil around two months ahead of processing. India mostly relies on the Middle East for heavy and ships in lighter sweet crude from Africa. Upgradation of plants allows refiners to increase processing of cheaper heavy oil to maximise margins. Higher imports from the Middle East lifted the share of oil from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in India's overall to a 15-month high of 78% in November. However, between April and November, the first eight months of this fiscal year, the group's share declined to the lowest on record. (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.) chief on Thursday met his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav at his residence here fuelling speculation of their joining hands once again before the assembly polls. Akhilesh reached Pragatisheel (Lohia) founder's residence in the afternoon and had closed door talks with him for about 40 minutes. Hundreds of supporters of both parties gathered outside Shivpal's residence raising slogan "Chacha-Bhatija zindabad". SP founder Mulayam SIngh Yadav was present at Shivpal's residence before Akhilesh reached there, SP sources said. Though there is no official word regarding the meeting by the two parties, it assumes significance ahead of the assembly polls. While Akhilesh is insisting that he would give due honour to his "uncle" and his partymen, Shivpal has in the past announced he is even ready to merge his party with the SP. The relationship between uncle and nephew had gone sour in 2016 with the sacking of Shivpal by Akhilesh when he was Chief Minister. Akhilesh became the SP President in Jan 2017 and Shivpal formed his own party. Reacting to the meet, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said the meeting will not impact BJP's prospects in the polls. "BJP is going to form majority government again in 2022 by winning over 300 seats. Whether there was a meeting of 'Chacha' Bhatija' or 'Bua' Bhatija' or SP or Congress or all of them, only lotus (BJP's election symbol) will bloom," 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.) services, especially at branches across the country, have been hit hard following the commencement of a two-day strike by about 900,000 employees to protest against privatisation of public sector Employees took out protest marches and held demonstrations before branches in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country. At some places while branches were shut, customer service centres next door were functional. Their operations are outsourced. Sanjeev K Bandlish, National Convenor, UFBU told Business Standard that the strike has been a total success across the country. The forum will take stock of the situation after Friday. The future course of action will be decided after observing the governments response. The bill to amend acts to enable privatisation is slated to be tabled in the current winter session of Parliament. The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions, including the All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Association (AIBEA) and National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW). Employees and officers from various public sector (PSBs), old generation private sector and regional rural banks will participate in the strike. The unions have been protesting ever since the Centre in its Budget 2021-22 announced its intent to privatise two public sector lenders. Stating that the strike is not in the interest of customers and investors, SBI, Canara Bank and UCO Bank, among others, urged their employees to reconsider their decision to go on strike. Banks have already warned customers about the nationwide strike's possible impact on operations such as cheque clearance and fund transfer. They have emphasised use of digital channels for transactions to avoid difficulties. Unions have argued that privatisation will affect the implementation of all the government schemes meant for the welfare of socially and economically weaker sections of society. from sweepers to senior executives in scale 5 will observe the two-day nationwide strike and hold demonstrations. Most South Korean businesses that have adopted at-home remote work programs due to Covid-19 plan to continue the policy even after the end of the pandemic, a poll revealed on Thursday. In the recent Labor Ministry survey conducted on 620 businesses currently using remote work policies, 75.2 per cent said they plan to either continue the scheme at the current level or partially downscale it when the pandemic ends, reports Yonhap News Agency. The poll said 11.3 per cent of businesses intend to stop the remote work scheme when the pandemic ends. Of the willing to maintain the scheme at the current level, 53.6 per cent said they saw no difference in productivity compared with that under at-office work, while 20.5 per cent cited the strong intention to do so by management. More than two-thirds of workers at such expressed hope to continue remote work after the pandemic. Mostly working parents with young children preferred the remote work system, according to the Ministry. --IANS ksk/ (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.) Cook also announced that Apple would be giving all employees $1,000 that can be used for As (Covid-19) cases rise globally as well as in the US, has indefinitely delayed the return-to-office date, announcing that each employee will be given $1,000 for "work-from-home" needs, the media reported on Thursday. NBC News' Zoe Schiffer tweeted that CEO has sent an email to staff, saying the return-to-work date is "yet to be determined". Cook also announced that would be giving all employees $1,000 that can be used for "work-from-home needs". " just sent out an email delaying Apple's return to work to a date 'yet to be determined'. He also said the company is giving every corporate employee $1,000 to spend on home office equipment," Schiffer said in her tweet. An Apple spokesperson confirmed the $1,000 bonus to The Verge and says it will apply to every employee, including retail workers. The tech giant had set February 1, 2022, as the return date to office for its employees worldwide, as the tech giant prepares for a hybrid workplace in 2022. The delay comes as Covid-19 cases are rising amid the spread of the new Omicron variant. Apple has also closed three retail stores this week in response to the growing resurgence. The company last week shut one of its retail stores in Texas after at least four of its staff members were found Covid-19 positive, the media reported. According to NBC News, the Apple store in Southlake, Texas, was closed following an outbreak of positive Covid cases among staff members. An Apple spokesperson was quoted as saying that the company has prioritised the health and well-being of customers and employees since the early days of the pandemic. Apple reopened all of its 270 retail stores in the US last year. It was on March 13, 2020 when Apple closed all of its retail stores outside of Greater China. Apple had earlier delayed return to office until at least January 2022, as the US witnessed a surge in cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19. (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 Jair Bolsonaros government is kicking out the Monetary Funds permanent representative to the country as complaints about the institutions economic estimates escalated into a diplomatic spat. Minister Paulo Guedes said on Wednesday wont recognize the IMFs office starting from June 30, when the current representative is due to be replaced. He cited the countrys performance during the pandemic as an example of the institutions failures: gross domestic product shrank about 4% in 2020, way less than the Funds estimated contraction of more than 9%. The IMF was useful in the past, but has done an extraordinary job in the fiscal area, he told CNN Brasil in an interview, shortly after announcing his decision during an event in Sao Paulo. We dont need it stationed in the country. In a statement, the ministry added that the IMFs office in became obsolete since the government fully repaid its loans with the Washington-based organization in 2005. The IMF said it was in agreement with Brazils decision. We expect the high quality of Fund staffs engagement with the Brazilian authorities to continue, as we work closely to support Brazil in strengthening its economic policy and institutional settings, an IMF spokesperson said. Photo: Bloomberg IMF country offices serve as liaison between the Fund and the local government. For nations that dont have loans from the institution, that can mean focusing on policies and recommending best economic practices. Long-Running Dissatisfaction Brazils decision to shut down the IMFs representation in Brasilia reflects growing dissatisfaction with the institution that had been brewing for quite some time, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. It started when the organization published its 2020 economic estimates for Brazil. After several discussions with IMF staff about metrics and models for estimating at a time of crisis such as a pandemic, Guedes felt that the Fund didnt take Brazils points into consideration, the person said, asking for anonymity because the discussion isnt public. Things got worse when an IMF mission visited in July, as part of a key annual evaluation known as Article IV consultation. Guedes and Afonso Bevilaqua, the countrys representative in the Fund, were furious when IMF staff included warnings about Brazils environmental risks in the report after asking no questions about such topic during a series of meetings, the person said, adding that the governments disapproval was expressed in writing to Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. In the end, the IMF softened its warning about such risks in the final document, as Bloomberg News reported in October. Brazils decision is a political gesture to make clear the countrys displeasure with the IMF, but will not affect their institutional relationship, the person said. As a member of the Fund, Brazil will continue to receive staff missions to evaluate government policies and the country is still interested in increasing its participation in the organization. Guedes was also displeased by recent comments about Brazils economic outlook made by former central bank chief Ilan Goldfajn, whos now taking over as the IMFs director for the Western Hemisphere. If we have a well-prepared Brazilian at the IMF criticizing the country, I dont need another critic from the Fund here, he said. --With assistance from Eric Martin. A positive COVID-19 test among US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's travelling party has cut short the top diplomat's first official tour of 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 on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, forcing Blinken to abandon the programme 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 travelling 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 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. US 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 prioritise the health and safety of the US travelling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with the secretary would be returning to Washington, DC 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 US 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 travelling 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 Blinken's programme 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. (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.) By Tim Hepher and Fabian Bimmer PARIS/HAMBURG (Reuters) - delivered the final A380 superjumbo on Thursday, to Dubai's Emirates, marking the end of a 14-year run that gave Europe an instantly recognised symbol across the globe but failed to fulfil the commercial vision of its designers. Production of the world's largest airliner - capable of seating 500 people on two decks together with perks such as showers in first class - has ended with just over 250 delivered to airlines compared with the 1,000 or more once predicted. Airbus, a planemaking conglomerate drawn together from separate entities in Britain, France, Germany and Spain to carry out their brainchild of mega-jets to beat congestion, pulled the plug in 2019 after airlines went for smaller, leaner models. The 123rd superjumbo delivered to Emirates, by far the largest customer, departed Hamburg in gloomy twilight before making a farewell lap of the port city and heading for the Gulf. Thursday's handover was kept deliberately low key, partly because of COVID restrictions and also because is these days focusing its PR on environmental benefits of smaller jets. That is in stark contrast to the spectacular light show that revealed the new behemoth in front of European leaders in 2005. Emirates still believes in the superjumbo's ability to lure passengers. Even though no more A380s will be built, it will keep flying them for years. Many airlines disagree and have axed the A380 during the pandemic. Airline president Tim Clark refuses to bow to sceptics who say the days of spacious four-engined jets like the A380 are numbered, as an airline seat becomes a commodity like any other. "I don't share that view at all ... And I still believe there is a place for the A380," Clark recently told reporters. "Technocrats and accountants said it was not fit for purpose ... That doesn't resonate with our travelling public. They absolutely love that airplane," he said. SHOWER TALKS The A380's demise left deserted one of the world's largest buildings, a 122,500-square-metre assembly plant in Toulouse. plans to use part of it to build some of the bread-and-butter narrowbody models that dominate sales, like a deal with Qantas announced earlier on Thursday. But it is in Hamburg that some of the most striking features of the A380 evolved. Clark recalled how he huddled with Airbus developers in northern Germany to persuade Airbus chiefs in France to pay for the engineering needed to make in-flight showers a reality. "There was a lot of arm-folding and my friends in France were a little circumspect," Clark said. "I had to sit with friends in the development unit in Hamburg having to build the showers, and then asked Toulouse management to see how it could be done, and so they bought in." That innovation generated headlines but did not translate into sales needed to keep the A380 going. The plane was designed in the 1990s when travel demand was soaring and China offered seemingly unlimited potential. By the time the first delivery came in 2007, the plane was more than two years late. And when Emirates got its first A380 a year later, the emerging financial crisis was already forcing analysts to trim their forecasts for the biggest jets. Boeing was meanwhile capturing orders for a revolutionary new 787 Dreamliner, to be followed by the Airbus A350. "There was a slowing down of appetite and enthusiasm. We didn't share that view; we put this great (A380) aircraft to work," Clark said on the sidelines of an airlines meeting. "We have what I think is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever flown." (Reporting by Tim HepherEditing by Mark Potter and Alison Williams) (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.) leaders are trying Thursday to coordinate action to tackle the surge of infections across the continent and the emergence of the new omicron variant while keeping borders open. With the festive season looming, the bloc's leaders want to avoid a confusing mixture of rules and to ensure all 27 member states are on the same page and that COVID-19 certificates continue to guarantee unrestricted travel. But alarming rises in infections have prompted many European governments to implement public health measures and new restrictions in recent weeks. The European Council, which brings together EU leaders to set the bloc's political agenda, said before the talks in Brussels that any restrictions should not undermine the functioning of the single market or hamper travel between EU member states and to Europe. 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. Leaders will discuss the rollout of vaccines and the need to deploy booster doses to counter the spread of omicron. The one answer to the omicron right now is the acceleration of our vaccination program, with a particular emphasis to the booster shots," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. In Greece, we are one of the first European countries to open booster shots to the entire population." Mitsoakis said additional restrictive measures, like extra testing for visitors, should only apply during the Christmas period in order for us to gain additional time to boost as many people as possible. It's a battle against time." Irish Prime Minister Michel Martin said that leaders have significant concerns about omicron's capacity to spread rapidly and create pressure on health systems. Omicron is expected to be the dominant variant in the European Union's 27 nations by mid-January, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She said that more than 66% of the EU population is now fully vaccinated, but that figure doesn't offer a clear view of the contrasted EU picture. While nations like Portugal and Spain have immunized the vast majority of their people, 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. (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.) 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 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 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 wants an open and honest exchange with Russia, and that this should happen on the basis of 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. Defence 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 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 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. 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 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 wek 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. (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.) Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, said his country demands "verifiable guarantees" that the other parties will not violate over Iran's nuclear program, Press TV reported Wednesday. " is determined to make every effort to restore the JCPOA. To that end, our proposals put forward in Vienna are in full conformity with the JCPOA and Resolution 2231," Takht-Ravanchi said in a statement, the Xinhua news agency reported. has demonstrated its political will, seriousness and constructive engagement with its interlocutors to arrive at a good agreement as soon as possible, he said. It is time for other sides to prove they are also willing to accept and implement, effectively and in good faith, all their JCPOA commitments, the Iranian envoy added. The U.S. former government under President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions against In response, Iran started dropping some of its commitments under the accord in 2019. Sinde Joe Biden took office this year, efforts have been underway to revive the deal. However, negotiations have recently slowed down as Tehran called for the guarantees as well as removal of sanctions as the pre-conditions for the restoration of the deal. --IANS int/arm (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 countries behind a 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, or fleets of drones with facial-recognition software could roam without human oversight and strike against human targets. It's essentially a really critical opportunity for states to take steps to regulate and prohibit autonomy in weapons systems, which in essence means killer or weapons systems that are going to operate without meaningful human control, said Clare Conboy, spokeswoman for the advocacy group Stop Killer 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 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 can't develop or research such weapons, their enemies or non-state groups might. Some countries argue there's 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 law is sufficient. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement delivered on his behalf at Monday's 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. (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.) By Karen Freifeld (Reuters) - A three-year-old criminal case against the Chinese telecommunications equipment maker is still far from going to trial in New York, despite an agreement in the case that let Huawei's chief financial officer go free. During a status conference on Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly, presiding over the case in Brooklyn, asked the lawyers when the case might be ready. "Are we thinking in terms of a trial date?" she asked. "I know that's crazy talk." "I think we have a fair distance to go," replied attorney Tom Green, who represents He said COVID restrictions had impaired the preparation of a defense, adding: "I just don't know when we're going to be able to travel to even meet with our clients." Technologies Co Ltd was indicted in 2018, accused of misleading HSBC and other banks about its business in Iran, which is subject to U.S. sanctions. Last year, other charges were added, including conspiring to steal trade secrets from six U.S. technology and helping Iran track protesters during anti-government demonstrations in 2009. The firm has pleaded 'not guilty'. Green said the defense was planning a "myriad of motions" before trial, including a motion to sever the case. And he said the government had "quite a ways to go" on turning documents over to the defense. CFO Meng Wanzhou resolved her part of the case, which was tied to misleading HSBC, with U.S. authorities in September. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, Meng was allowed to leave Canada, where she had been detained on a U.S. warrant and was fighting extradition, to fly to China, where she received a hero's welcome. But the U.S. still has Huawei on a trade blacklist that restricts its purchases of U.S.-origin technology and goods. Huawei's revenue was down 38% in the third quarter from the same period a year earlier. The judge set the next court date for June 15. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld; Editing by Kevin Liffey) (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 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. " 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 into a large-scale civil war. According to her, the US has provided $2.5 billion in military aid to since 2014, including more than $400 million this year alone, Xinhua news agency reported. 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 is building up forces along the Ukrainian borders, the Spokesperson said that 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. --IANS int/khz/ (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 number of countries where Samsung enjoyed the leading position, however, decreased to 43 from 46 two years ago. Electronics retained the top spot in the global smartphone market in the third quarter of the year, a new report showed. The world's largest smartphone maker held a market share of 20 per cent in the July-September period, followed by Apple with 14 per cent and Xiaomi with 13 per cent, according to the report from market researcher Counterpoint Research. During the three months, the South Korean tech giant shipped 69.3 million smartphones, up 20 per cent from the previous quarter and down 14 per cent from a year ago, Yonhap News Agency quoted the report as saying. The number of countries where enjoyed the leading position, however, decreased to 43 from 46 two years ago. The company led the smartphone markets in Europe, Latin America and Middle East-Africa, while the Chinese phone maker Vivo led the Asian market and Apple led the North American market. The research company said Apple has avid followers in the US and some European countries, while Xiaomi has been expanding its customer base aggressively in India and Motorola has taken up the vacant spot left by South Korea's LG Electronics, which withdrew from the smartphone market earlier this year. Overall, the global smartphone market grew six percent from the previous quarter to 342 million units in total. Lee Yoon-jung, an analyst at Counterpoint, said needs to continue pushing ahead with technological advances in the foldable phone market and beef up its 5G smartphone lineup in emerging markets. (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.) Chief Executive Scott Kirby on Wednesday defended a decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for workers amid criticism from some Republican senators. "We did this for safety. We believe it saved lives," Kirby said at a Senate Commerce hearing on aviation issues. "We don't compromise on safety." Republican Senator Ted Cruz criticized United's vaccine mandate, calling it "disturbing" and was "disregarding the rights of your employees." Cruz noted American Airlines and Southwest Airlines both have said they do not plan to fire any employee over the vaccine requirements. Kirby said about 200 employees did not comply with United's mandate and were fired of its 67,000 employees. He added about 6 pilots were fired and 80 on unpaid leave out of about 13,000. On Monday, a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an emergency request for an injunction blocking the mandate while the employees appeal a November ruling by a federal judge in favor of United. was the first major air carrier to issue a vaccine requirement and followed. United granted around 2,000 religious and medical exemptions to employees. Kirby said about 80% of those seeking religious exemptions were granted. The wide ranging aviation hearing covered a number of issues. Airlines said they were ramping up hiring and struggling to find enough pilots. Kirby said United effectively had nearly 100 regional airplanes grounded "because there's not enough pilots to fly them.... The country is going to need thousands of pilots." Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly said at the hearing: "I think the case is very strong that masks don't add much if anything in the air cabin environment -- it's very safe, very high quality compared to any other indoor setting." Republican Senator Roger Wicker asked when passengers will be able to stop wearing masks. This month, the Biden administration extended transportation mask requirements through March 18. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, said lifting mask requirements was up to medical experts but added "we absolutely look forward to the day that we no longer have the mask requirement." (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Richard Pullin) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The voted to pass a roughly $770 billion 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, Xinhua news agency reported. "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 package provides $740 billion for the Defense Department, $27.8 billion for defense-related activities in the Department of Energy, and another $378 million for other defense-related activities. The NDAA authorises $25 billion to increase Biden's defense budget request for fiscal year 2022. Plus, it gives a 2.7 per cent pay rise for military service members and the Pentagon's civilian employees. Along with authorising 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 offences, and instead tasks independent military lawyers with prosecuting sexual assault cases. The bill will also establish "a multi-year independent Afghanistan War Commission" to examine the 20-year conflict and the chaotic withdrawal of US troops ordered by President Biden in August, according to a summary of the legislation. It requires the Secretary of Defence to provide "in-depth" reports to Congress about the US 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 US 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 the 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. --IANS int/khz/ (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 Biden administration said Thursday it is imposing new sanctions on several Chinese biotech and surveillance companies for actions in Xinjiang province, the latest step against Beijing over human rights abuses of Muslims in the country's western region. The Commerce Department is targeting China's Academy of Military Medical Sciences and its 11 research institutes that focus on using biotechnology to support the Chinese military. The Treasury Department is also set to issue penalties against several Chinese entities, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the soon-to-be-announced moves. The official, explaining the Commerce Department actions, noted that U.S. intelligence has established that Beijing has set up a high tech surveillance system across Xinjiang that uses biometric facial recognition and has collected DNA samples from all residents, ages 12 to 65, in Xinjiang part of a systematic effort to suppress Uyghurs. The White House announced last week it would stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing China's egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang. U.S. athletes will continue to compete but Biden will not send the usual contingent of dignitaries. The administration also said this week that it supported bipartisan legislation that bans imports into the U.S. from Xinjiang unless companies can demonstrate the goods were not produced by forced labour. China has denied any abuses and says the steps it has taken are necessary to combat terrorism and a separatist movement. (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.) Proptech startup Square Yards plans to launch its initial public offer (IPO) to raise about Rs 1,500 crore for future growth of the business and will soon file a draft document with market regulator to get clearance for the issue, according to sources. The company, which is one of the leading real estate consultants, has finalised investment bankers for its proposed public issue, they added. The Square Yards spokesperson did not offer any immediate comment. Market sources said that Square Yards is planning to launch its IPO with an issue size of about Rs 1,500 crore. The issue would be a mix of fresh issuance and offer for sale (OFS) for existing shareholders. Square Yards has finalised investment bankers for its IPO and plans to file a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) soon, they added. The Gurugram-based company has so far raised USD 125 million, of which USD 60 million as equity and USD 65 million as debt capital. Some of its major investors include Kae Capital, ADM, Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd, Reliance Capital along with Koh Boon Hwee (Ex-Chairman, SingTel & DBS) and George Hongchoy (CEO, Link REIT). Square Yards is mainly into property brokerage, home loan brokerage and rental businesses. It offers a full-stack digital real-estate journey from search and discovery, transactions, home loans, home interiors, rentals, property management, and post-sales services. The company reported a revenue of Rs 250 crore in the 2020-21 financial year. It sold properties worth Rs 6100 crore on behalf of builders and facilitated home loans worth Rs 1,900 crore during the last fiscal. Square Yards also provides B2B (business to-business) SaaS (software as a service) to real estate agents, property developers, banks, and other financial institutions. The company has acquired three companies in recent past Azuro for rentals and property management services, PropsAMC for real estate data intelligence and PropVR for 3D VR based immersive digital property experiences. According to market experts, the pace of adoption of technology in real estate sector has accelerated following the outbreak of the COVID pandemic in March 2020. Seeing the growth potential, investors are putting money in the proptech space. Technology based startup companies started to enter the Indian real estate market in 2008. Proptech sector, which has garnered investments of nearly USD 2.5 billion dollars till 2020, has evolved from mere digital classifieds to offering full-stack services. Use of technologies such as virtual reality, drones, big data, artificial intelligence are now being actively used in home purchases as well as leasing of commercial spaces. Despite the pandemic, Bengaluru-based real estate platform NoBroker.com last month raised USD 210 million (Rs 1,575 crore) from investors at USD 1 billion valuation to become the first unicorn in the proptech sector. Australia's REA Group had last year acquired a majority stake (61 per cent) in Elara Technologies Pte Ltd, which owned Housing.com, Makaan.com and PropTiger.com. US-based Corp holds the remaining share. Corp is also the majority shareholder in the Australian REA Group. Elara Technologies has now been re-branded as REA India. Proprety consultant Anarock has also announced plans to raise USD 100 million (around RS 750 crore) as equity to expand business and acquire proptech firms. During the pandemic, the Indian real estate sector has witnessed two successful public issues of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Mindspace Business Parks REIT, owned by K Raheja, was listed in August last year after raising Rs 4,500 crore, while global investment firm Brookfield's REIT public issue worth Rs 3,800 crore got listed in February this year. Realty major Macrotech Developers, erstwhile Lodha Developers, raised Rs 2,500 crore through IPO in April and also Rs 4,000 crore through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) last month. Shriram Properties launched its IPO this month to raise Rs 600 crore and the issue has been fully subscribed. (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 key benchmark indices may start trade in green given the positive overseas cues. However, weekly derivatives expiry and US Federal decision to withdraw stimulus at a faster pace can weigh down investor sentiment. As of 08:20 AM, the SGX Nifty futures were up 123 points at 17,360. Meanwhile, here the top stocks to focus in trade on Friday. IT stocks: Chip makers are likely to be in focus, as the Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a comprehensive Rs 76,000-crore ($10-billion) package to build a much-needed semiconductor 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 semiconductor and ATMP (assembly, testing, marking, and packaging) facilities. READ MORE Reliance Industries: The Mukesh Ambani-led firm aims to get the first cargo of oil, about 500,000 barrels, from its new Abu Dhabi-based trading unit in December, a source familiar with the matter said. READ MORE The battery maker seems to be gearing up for a slew of changes, as the Khaitan family is likely to give up the drivers seat after more than two decades come May 2022. The Burman family, promoters of Dabur and the largest shareholder, were in favour of the company being run professionally. The Khaitan family, however, will retain the promoter tag with its minority holding. READ MORE The IT majors subsidiary, Infosys Consulting will be acquiring Singtel's delivery centre in Malaysia for a consideration of up to 6 million Singapore dollars, including the value of net assets. The move also aligns with Infosys' long-term strategy for Communications, Media, and Technology (CMT) vertical including platform-led transformation of Customer and Service Experience for clients. READ MORE The company has signed a Share Purchase Agreement with Adani Transmission for divestment of 100 per cent stake in MPSEZ Utilities. Wipro: To acquire US-based LeanSwift Solutions, a system integrator of Infor Products, whose service capabilities include ERP, e-commerce, digital transformation, supply chain, warehouse management systems, business intelligence and integrations. Corporation of India: The companys board has approved an interim dividend of Rs 7 per share, including a special dividend of Rs 3 per share, payable on January 11, 2022. TVS Motor Company: Has expanded its collaboration with global auto giant BMW Motorrad with a tie-up in the electric vehicle space. The companies are planning to come up with the first electric two-wheeler within the next 24 months. Commenting on the development, Sudarshan Venu, joint managing director of TVS Motor said "Our focus will be on two-wheelers. With extra emphasis on urban areas, we will look at cool, next-gen customers in the global market." READ MORE Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL): The company is willing to bid aggressively for the Odisha-based steel maker NINL, on December 23 the scheduled date for bidding. Speaking to PTI, managing director, Sudarshan Venu, of TVS Motor said, "We are extremely serious about it (NINL) and will bid aggressively for the asset. This asset is more valuable to us in terms of our operations there in Odisha." SpiceJet: The low-budget airline has entered into an agreement with Canadian aircraft manufacturer De Havilland to settle all disputes related to the Q400 turboprop aircraft purchase agreement. "All related proceedings before the UK court and execution proceedings before the Delhi High Court have been stayed and will be withdrawn upon compliance with the settlement terms," a statement from SpiceJet read. Burger King: The company plans to raise up to Rs 1,500 crore by way of issue of equity shares to public or private basis. Bank stocks: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to introduce revised norms for banks for setting aside capital for operational risks from April 01, 2023, to ensure robustness in working of banking entities. Meanwhile, close to nine lakh employees of various state-run banks will go on a two-day nation-wide strike beginning Thursday to protest against the government's move to privatise two public sector lenders. Winsome Textile: The market regulator Sebi has slapped a fine of over Rs 72 crore on Winsome Textile Industries, its directors and two other individuals in a matter pertaining to issuance of global depository receipts (GDR) by the firm. According to a statement released by SEBI, "Winsome caused the investors in the securities market in India to believe that the full consideration for GDRs had been received by it which was not true and thereby, induced the investors in India to deal in securities, and committed fraud on the investors in India." READ MORE Stocks in F&O ban: Escorts, Indiabulls Housing Finance and Vodafone Idea are the only stocks in the F&O ban period today. Shah will also inaugurate 23 new branches of Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Bank. Union Home Minister is slated to hold 'Nishad Samaj Jan Sabha' in on Friday as many political parties in the state are trying to woo castes beyond their core vote base in order to set social equations in their favour ahead of Assembly elections months away. Top sources in the government told ANI that the Home Minister, in his day-long visit to Uttar Pradesh, will attend a "Nishad Samaj Jan Sabha on December 17 (Friday) in Lucknow". " is slated to attend the event between 2 pm and 3 pm," said the source, requesting anonymity. Besides, the Home Minister will inaugurate 23 new branches of Cooperative Bank between 3.45 pm and 4.45 pm. Shah will also dedicate 29 godowns of State Warehousing Corporation during the event. The Home Minister will also participate in the inauguration of the seventh National Convention of Sahakar Bharati between 4.45 pm and 6.40 pm. Shah's visit to Uttar Pradesh to attend 'Nishad Jan Sabh' comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in September end this year formally announced an alliance with the Nishad (Nirbal Indian Shoshit Humara Aam Dal) party led by Sanjay Nishad. BJP said it was also in talks with other small parties to fight the upcoming Uttar Pradesh 2022 assembly polls. Political experts indicate that the Nishad community has been a useful electoral asset for the BJP as was seen during the previous elections. The Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (Nishad) party also launched a survey, along with its alliance partner the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in various districts of eastern and central Uttar Pradesh in August. The exercise was meant to identify the seats on which Nishad party nominees will be in a winnable position in the 2022 Assembly election due early next year. The survey report is learnt to be submitted to BJP national president J.P. Nadda to finalize the seat-sharing formula for the election. The votes of the Nishad community are expected to be decisive in around 160 assembly constituencies in eastern and central Uttar Pradesh. A total of 18 districts in Uttar Pradesh have a sizeable population of the Nishad community. They are Prayagraj, Firozabad, Ballia, Sant Kabir Nagar, Banda, Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Auraiya, Lucknow, Unnao, Meerut, Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Muzaffarnagar, Varanasi, and Jaunpur. The BJP is dominant in about 20 Lok Sabha constituencies and 60 Assembly segments in Uttar Pradesh. The seat-sharing has not been announced yet. In 2017, the BJP had given a total of 19 seats to its two allies-Apna Dal(S) and the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP). Formed in 2016, the NISHAD party had contested 100 seats on its own and won in 1. In an attempt to woo the Nishad community, SP president met Moola Devi, the mother of bandit-turned-politician, the late SP MP Phoolan Devi in November. The Samajwadi Party between September to November also launched several yatras, assigning its leaders and coalition partners -- mostly from non-Yadav backward castes -- to reach out to the masses. Former minister Ram Kishore Bind also held social conventions with leaders of the Bind, Nishad, Kevat, and Mallah communities. (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.) Pak PM Imran Khan urged the international community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan. | (Photo: Reuters) Prime Minister has warned the international community against isolating Afghanistan, saying doing so would be disadvantageous for the world. The prime minister made the comments as he chaired the second meeting of the Apex Committee on During the meeting, he urged the international community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, vowing that would support the Afghan people in every possible way to avert a humanitarian crisis, Geo News reported citing a statement by the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Planning Minister Asad Umer, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf, and senior civil and military officers. This comes as the Taliban is trying to gain global recognition as facing the worst humanitarian crisis The prime minister urged the international community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, vowing that would support the Afghan people in every possible way to avert a humanitarian crisis, the statement said. According to the statement, the premier highlighted that Pakistan has already committed to immediate relief of in-kind humanitarian assistance worth Rs5 billion, which comprises food commodities including 50,000 metric tons of wheat, emergency medical supplies, winter shelters, and other supplies. He also said that humanitarian organisations wishing to work from Pakistan to support efforts in should be facilitated and that Islamabad had already committed to being the air and land bridge for humanitarian support to Kabul. (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.) South Asian region is facing an environmental watershed from rising sea levels endangering the and melting of glaciers affecting Nepal and Afghanistan to overdevelopment that threatens Tibet's vital ecosystem and destabilisation caused by climate-induced migration, an expert panel discussion highlighted during a webinar on Wednesday. In the wake of COP-26, at a December 15 virtual seminar, London-based NGO The Democracy Forum (TDF) assembled a panel of experts from a range of regions and disciplines to address this pressing issue, and discuss what solutions might be found. TDF President Lord Bruce, during his opening address, warned that dramatic evidence of natural disasters, triggered by climate change, is fast accumulating across South Asia, and spoke of the vulnerability of the region's urban poor to He said that the webinar is built on an earlier TDF panel event in March, which highlighted the regional impact of environmental degradation of the Tibetan Plateau - ecological damage which, the Dalai Lama said at a 2015 Climate Conference in Paris, affects 'billions of human lives in China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh'. He had also said that environmental degradation is 'not a question of one nation or two nations [but] is [nothing less] than the survival of humanity. While the concluding communique issued by the Glasgow Climate Conference offers, South Asian countries a path to reducing the output of greenhouse gases and mitigating the worst effects of rising temperatures and unstable weather, said Lord Bruce, it is an inescapable truth that far too many people living in the region are likely not only to experience the very worst outcomes but also face very few opportunities to escape the fateful effects. Offering a broad perspective on climate issues affecting South Asia, Dr Shalini Dhyani, Regional Chair for IUCN Commission on Ecosystems Management, examined growing disaster risks in the region due to and extreme climate events, as well as the impact of the disaster on social-ecological systems and how ecosystem-based participatory approaches can provide better solutions than technological ones. She spoke of the 16, 000 ghost villages in India, as people migrate from Himalayan villages due to loss of livelihood, basic amenities, and land degradation, and concluded that natural solutions can provide long-term answers, with many co-benefits for communities. Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, Deputy Director of the Tibet Policy Institute, addressed the question of the Tibetan Plateau's huge significance for At over 4,000m above sea level, this massive landmass- considered the highest and largest plateau on Earth - stretches for an area of 2.5 million sq. km, and is referred to variously as the 'Roof of the World', the 'Third Pole', the 'Water Tower of Asia' and the 'Rain Maker of Asia, on account of the vast presence of glaciers, making it the chief source of Asia's ten largest and most important rivers, giving birth to some to the greatest Asian civilisations of the past and directly feeding 1.8 billion people in the south and Southeast Asia today. The Plateau influences not only climate across - eg the timing and intensity of Indian monsoons - but also across Europe and North America, so, understanding would be incomplete with studying Tibetan Plateau, However, Zamlha warned that, as a result not only of climate change but also destructive and wrong policies by the Chinese government, there have been an unprecedented number of natural disasters, such as landslides and avalanches - a situation further aggravated by Chinese construction of dams on Tibetan rivers, which also threaten to cause seismic activity. Transboundary water politics and their influence on water and climate change policy in South Asia was the focus for Dr Sumit Vij, a Postdoctoral Researcher at Wageningen University & Research, who posed the question of whether the water crisis in South Asia will turn into water wars - although he believed this to be a 'false narrative'. He spoke of the co-mingling of water and security issues, with water becoming a pawn to multidimensional conflicts in the region - for example,the Taliban attack on the India-built Friendship Dam in Afghanistan. Water is becoming part of a larger militarisation, said Dr Vij, but the focus should instead be on strategies of cooperation to pull South Asia out of 'frozen conflicts', governance and management of transboundary natural resources, and the use of powerful tools such as diplomacy and dialogue. Challenges facing South Asia, particularly from a water perspective, was an area of concern for Dr Naho Mirumachi, Reader in Environmental Politics at King's College London, who considered the varied and interconnected nature of environmental and water issues, as well as what water is being used for, and why is it is an environmental 'crisis'.She looked at the role of agriculture and agri-businesses, the biggest water users, which are draining on other purposes, such as drinking water or water for sanitation, recognised as basic human rights. Dr Mirumachi also highlighted the pitfalls of seeing the situation through a 'crisis' lens, saying that viewing the problem as a 'natural' phenomenon ignores its political and socio-economic aspects and thus absolves states of responsibility to take action on behalf of their citizens. This socio-political context was also raised by Dr Kasia Paprocki, Associate Professor in Environment at the LSE, who spoke on the political aspects of climate crisis discourse in Bangladesh, including local implications and contestations. Her key message was about the problems with climate crisis rhetoric and the corresponding responsibilities of nations of the global north in addressing the challenges faced by countries of the global south, including those of South Asia. Dr Paprocki did not see the disappearance of land in, for example, Bangladesh due to climate-induced rising sea levels as inevitable - indeed, such narratives shape interventions in the region for climate change adaptation. If climate crisis is thought to be inevitable, she argued, then the strategies for addressing it are different. Further, she argued that many of the most severe impacts of ongoing ecological change in the region are the result of development interventions that have exacerbated conditions of social and ecological insecurity in Bangladesh's coastal areas - part of the legacy of colonialism. On the subject of phasing out coal, Tim Forsyth, Professor of Environment and Development at the Dept of Development, London School of Economics, spoke about how, after COP26, the UK conference chair Alok Sharma said that India and China had to explain their position on coal to other countries. This statement followed negotiations to 'phase out' coal, but China and India only committed to 'phasing down' coal. But Prof. Forsyth said the situation was more complex, as he highlighted the history of negotiations in the Climate Change Convention about technology transfer and industrial development, which showed Sharma's comments in a different light. He also discussed the main tasks needed to phase out coal, and barriers to this, such as the complexity of India's huge reliance on coal and how countries that want to grow industry and development cannot simply stop reliance on their major power source. Summing up discussions, TDF Chair Barry Gardiner, MP said one cannot see the climate crisis as a single thing divorced from bio-diversity, and we cannot see the climate and ecological crisis in biodiversity as distinct from sustainable development goals. He also spoke of a 'global green grid' initiative, put forward at COP26, and which he had personally discussed with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while to an audience question on whether peace should be at the centre of climate issues, Gardiner said justice had to precede peace, and sustainability had to precede justice. (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.) MEP Infrastructure Developers jumped 4.86% to Rs 20.50 after the company said its special purpose vehicle (SPV) signed a concession agreement for a road project with the Public Works Department (PWD), Government of Maharashtra. In October 2021, MEP Infrastructure Developers in association with Ozoneland secured a Letter of Award (LoA) for a road project from PWD, Government of Maharashtra. The contract is for executing improvements to Solapur Ring Road in Maharashtra under hybrid annuity mode. Later, a special purpose vehicle (SPV), Ozoneland MEP Solapur Ring Road, was formed by Ozoneland (holding 74%) and MEP Infrastructure Developers (holding 24%) to execute the project. The SPV signed the concession agreement with PWD, Government of Maharashtra on 15 December 2021 for the said project. The construction period is 730 days from the appointed date and the concession period is 10 years. The bid project cost is Rs 183.42 crore and first year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) cost is 3.33 crore. The company will receive semi-annual annuity from PWD, Government of Maharashtra post commercial operation date (COD). On a consolidated basis, MEP Infrastructure Developers reported net loss of Rs 51.63 crore in Q2 September 2021 as against net loss of Rs 65.17 crore in Q2 September 2020. Net sales declined 36.30% to Rs 217.13 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020. MEP Infrastructure Developers is an infrastructure company, focusing on serving central and state road authorities, for construction, operation and maintenance of road infrastructure in India. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To acquire 100% stake in Nourrie through subsidiary, Alivira Animal Health Sequent Scientific through its principal operating company, Alivira Animal Health has signed definitive agreement to acquire 100% stake in Nourrie Sae e Nutrio Animal Ltda (Nourrie) in Brazil. In line with its stated strategy for Sequent 2.0, this acquisition marks Alivira's foray into Brazil's pet market, fastest growing segment in Brazil, and 4th largest pet market in the world. The acquisition will be made through Evance Saude Animal Health (Evance), subsidiary of Alivira Brazil, for a cash consideration of BRL 27 Million, and is expected to close in Q4 FY22. Nourrie specializes in development and commercialization of nutraceuticals and therapeutic products, with a portfolio of 23 commercialized products for pet and swine, and a near-term pipeline of 17 products. The business is well established with integrated R&D and manufacturing setup, complementary to Alivira's existing local capabilities. The Company also manufactures Transuin, a Ractopamine based product for swine, a key product in Alivira Brazil's portfolio. This transaction also strengthens the global Alivira team with the induction of Dr. Geraldo JosArantes, the erstwhile R&D head of Elanco for Latam region and shall participate in the global R&D program of Alivira. Since its acquisition in 2016, Alivira Brazil (Evance) has emerged to be amongst Top 10 ranked animal health players in Brazil, having grown significantly at a CAGR of 57% over the last 5 years, achieving revenues of ~BRL 114 Mn TTM Sep 2021. It has established strong presence in livestock segment with a portfolio of 40+ commercialized products. This transaction further builds on Alivira's strong track record of global acquisitions, having successfully acquired and integrated 9 companies across Europe, Latam and India in the last 7 years. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SeQuent Scientific (SeQuent) operates in animal health sector through its principal operating company, Alivira Animal Health. The acquisition marks Alivira's foray into Brazil's pet market, fastest growing segment in Brazil, and 4th largest pet market in the world. The acquisition will be made through Evance Saude Animal Health (Evance), subsidiary of Alivira Brazil, for a cash consideration of Brazilian Real (BRL) 27 million and is expected to close in Q4 FY22. Nourrie specializes in development and commercialization of nutraceuticals and therapeutic products, with a portfolio of 23 commercialized products for pet and swine, and a near-term pipeline of 17 products. The business is well established with integrated R&D and manufacturing setup, complementary to Alivira's existing local capabilities. It also manufactures Transuin, a Ractopamine based product for swine, a key product in Alivira Brazil's portfolio. This transaction also strengthens the global Alivira team with the induction of Dr. Geraldo JosArantes, the erstwhile R&D head of Elanco for Latam region and shall participate in the global R&D program of Alivira. This transaction further builds on Alivira's strong track record of global acquisitions, having successfully acquired and integrated 9 companies across Europe, Latam and India in the last 7 years. On a consolidated basis, net profit of Sequent Scientific declined 39.12% to Rs 14.30 crore on 0.31% rise in net sales to Rs 350.55 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020. SeQuent Scientific is India's largest and amongst the 'Top 20' global animal health companies, backed by global investment firm 'The Carlyle Group' as promoter. The company has 8 manufacturing facilities across Europe, Turkey, Brazil & India with the Vizag site being India's only USFDA approved dedicated veterinary API facility. Shares of SeQuent Scientific were down 3.15% at Rs 169.15 on the BSE. 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 offer received bids for 3.38 crore shares as against 1.45 crore shares on offer. The initial public offer (IPO) of Supriya Lifescience received bids for 3,38,75,982 shares as against 1,45,28,299 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 17:00 IST on Thursday (16 December 2021). The issue was subscribed 2.33 times. The issue opened for bidding on Thursday (16 December 2021) and it will close on Monday (20 December 2021). The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 265-274 per share. An investor can bid for a minimum of 54 equity shares and in multiples thereof. Ahead of the IPO, the company on Wednesday, 15 December 2021, finalized allocation of 1,14,96,351 equity shares to anchor investors at an allocation price of Rs 274 per share, aggregating to Rs 315 crore. The IPO comprise of fresh issue of equity shares worth up to Rs 200 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 500 crore by existing shareholders. Satish Waman Wagh, the promoter of the company, currently holds an aggregate of 7,26,42,390 equity shares, aggregating to 99.26% of the pre-offer issued share capital. The post IPO shareholding for the same is expected to be around 68.24%. The objectives for the fresh issue are funding capital expenditure requirements of Rs 92.3 crore, Rs 60 crore for repayment/pre-payment, in full or part of borrowings and remaining amount will be used for general corporate purposes. Supriya Lifescience is one of the key Indian manufacturers and suppliers of active pharmaceuticals ingredients (APIs), with a focus on research and development. As of 31 October 2021, the company has niche product offerings of 38 APIs focused on diverse therapeutic segments such as antihistamine, analgesic, anesthetics, vitamin, anti-asthmatic and antiallergic. The business operations of the company are supported by a modern manufacturing facility located in Parshuram Lote, Maharashtra, which is approximately 250 km from Mumbai. Its manufacturing facility has received approvals from USFDA, EDQM TGA-Australia, KFDA-Korea, PMDA Japan, NMPA (previously known as SFDA)- China, Health Canada, in relation to the products being exported to the relevant jurisdictions. The manufacturing facility is spread across 23,806 sq.mt, having reactor capacity of 332 KL/ day and seven cleanrooms. In addition, company has acquired a plot of land, admeasuring 12,551 sq.mt, near the present manufacturing facility, wherein the Company intends to expand its manufacturing infrastructure. The company intends to continue to drive R&D initiatives towards the development of innovative APIs. It also intends to improve its R&D capabilities, with a focus on capturing more high-value first-to-market opportunities in key international markets, as well as leveraging broad product basket to enhance market position globally. The company reported a net profit of Rs 65.96 crore on sales of Rs 224.80 crore in six month ended 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.) The 20th anniversary of Chinas accession to the on December 11 has once again highlighted long-standing debates about how well China has lived up to its obligations, and whether any deviation from its commitments boosts or slows its economic growth. This discussion affects many countries views on whether the current global trading system should be built up or pulled down. Former US President Donald Trump was bent on pulling down the WTO, by rendering inoperative its dispute-adjudication system and launching trade wars that the body ruled illegal. And his successor, Joe Biden, has so far done little to improve the WTOs functioning. The United States claims that China routinely violates its obligations, and that the body is ineffectual at changing Chinese behaviour. But the data do not support such assertions, and the misperception that this narrative has created is hurting the global trading system. To be sure, there are still many distortions in the Chinese economy. For example, China has an industrial policy for shipbuilding that has been in place for a decade and a half. Helped by multiple subsidies for land use, cost of capital, production, and investment totalling about CN540 billion ($85 billion), China has gone from being an insignificant player in the industry to becoming the worlds largest exporter of commercial ships. Many in both the US and China seem to regard this rapid increase in market share as a sign of the success of Chinese industrial policy (though the US believes it is an unfair way to promote economic growth). But to assess its effect on Chinas growth, we also need to know the opportunity cost of the subsidies and the spillover effect from having a large shipbuilding industry. According to an excellent 2019 paper by Panle Jia Barwick, Myrto Kalouptsidi, and Nahim Bin Zahur, the subsidisation policy has given Chinese shipyards an additional profit of about CN100 billion, and Chinese shipowners another CN18 billion. But these gains are less than half of the subsidys cost. And while there is no reliable estimate of the spillover effect, a generous guess might be CN100 billion. That would imply that this industrial policy has destroyed value in the aggregate, and therefore dragged down, not lifted up, Chinas overall economic growth. Notwithstanding some persistent economic distortions, China has also lowered entry barriers for both domestic private firms and international companies. It is these reforms, and not state intervention, that have given rise to the countrys rapid economic growth. Assessments of Chinas compliance with rules also are rife with misjudgement. The Trump administrations trade officials often repeated the claim that China has actively evaded its WTO obligations much more frequently than other member countries. Because China is not bound by the organisations rules, the argument goes, the US must use tactics outside the WTO system, such as import tariffs, to address Chinese transgressions. The WTO, according to this view, is useless or worse. In fact, Chinas WTO compliance record, while imperfect, is broadly comparable to that of other member countries. The WTO system has been generally effective in ensuring that China remains as open as it promised to be when it joined in 2001. WTO data on trade disputes in particular, the number of legal complaints brought by other member countries against China provides some objective support for this conclusion. Since 2001, there have been 47 complaints lodged against China, accounting for 12.2 per cent of all WTO dispute cases during that time. Over the same period, there were more than twice as many complaints against the US, accounting for 28.4 per cent of the total. In other words, other WTO members regard China as only half as likely as the US to have violated its obligations under the organisations rules. China also has a reasonable record of complying and modifying its policies when a WTO dispute panel rules against it. One indication of non-compliance is when the original complainants must file a second WTO case against a country on the same or a similar issue. Out of the 47 cases against China, only two required a second filing. By the same measure, the US appears to have ignored 15 rulings against it. The data therefore do not support the notion that China is an off-the-chart violator of its WTO commitments and unchecked by the bodys processes. Chinas trade policies and practices often are challenged at the WTO, but not more frequently than those of some other large economies. And the countrys record of complying with WTO rulings is not that of a rogue outlier. This has huge implications for how to save and improve the rules-based global trading system. If we believe that clearer and stronger rules on subsidies, intellectual-property rights protection, or the conduct of state-owned firms can further reduce distortions in the Chinese economy, then the best way to ensure this is to revise the rulebook accordingly, through multilateral or plurilateral negotiations. The rules in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which cover many such issues, offer a possible model. Chinas recent formal application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership signals a willingness to modify its policies in these areas as well. Meanwhile, the US can also strengthen its adherence to its WTO obligations, improve its compliance with the bodys rulings, and loosen its stranglehold on the appointment of WTO Appellate Body judges. Doing so would greatly improve both US credibility and the effectiveness of the global trading system. The WTO system has worked better than many have claimed. It must not be pulled down. But it can, and should, be made better still. The writer is Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia Business School and Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs. Project Syndicate Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP on Thursday praised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying he, as an administrator, was trying to change the impression that the southern state was not investment-friendly. Addressing a programme attended by Vijayan, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and leaders of various political parties here, Tharoor said he had tried to attract many international investors to Kerala after his stint at the United Nations but "they all eventually went to neighbouring states citing the reasons of strikes, hartals among others in Kerala". "However, our chief minister is trying to change that perspective and I feel that it's a good thing...We all know our (state's) history and we cannot always export our unemployment to Gulf countries. We need to generate employment here and for that we need to instill confidence among the investors," Tharoor said at the inauguration of the Lulu group's new mall here. Tharoor's statement came days after he refused to sign a letter prepared by the MPs from the Congress-led UDF to the Central government against the state government's Silver Line semi-high speed rail corridor linking the north and ends of Kerala. The Thiruvananthapuram MP said all parties should stand together and send across a message that Kerala is open for business. "Let today's inauguration be the beginning. Things are changing in Kerala. Let people come here. Our chief minister is ready to welcome them. Create jobs and opportunities for Keralites like M A Yusuff Ali (Lulu group chairman) did. Kerala will give you the opportunity to flourish and will not create hurdles in the way. We need to send this message across," Tharoor said. Earlier, addressing the function, Vijayan said that some people harbour a harmful mentality to hinder the development of the state. "They claim to stand for the common interest but they are actually against the state and its development. We need to understand this. More investors like this need to come to our state. Our state is getting ready for more ventures like this. We are aiming to create a knowledge economy and society. The people should understand about those who try to hinder our developmental activities," Vijayan said. The CM said the state government plans to attract investments worth Rs 10,000 crore in a short period of time. He also explained the steps taken by his government to promote MSMEs in the state. The Lulu Mall built in around 20 lakh square feet area, slated to be the biggest in the country, has been constructed with an investment of over Rs 2000 crore. The main highlight of the mall, which will be opened for the public tomorrow, would be the two-lakh square-feet hypermarket with high-level amenities and collections. Apart from this special sections are there for Indian and Arabic food items. Products acquired from Kudumbasree are also made available at the hypermarket. The Lulu management said the mall has created job opportunities for more than 15,000 families which apparently include more than 600 natives from Thiruvananthapuram district besides more than 100 local residents from Akkulam, where the mall is situated. (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 failed to transact any business on Thursday as opposition members forced adjournments in the house over the issue of suspension of 12 MPs. The house saw an adjournment till 2 pm within minutes of the start of the day's proceedings. It was later adjourned for the day shortly after 2 pm amid opposition protests and sloganeering in the well of the house. Soon after the house met for the day, opposition members were on their feet demanding revocation of the suspension of their colleagues. The Congress had also given notices under rule 267 for discussing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on Lakhimpur violence that left eight people, including four farmers, dead. Soon after the laying of papers, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu urged the protesting members to return to their seats, but they carried on with their protests relentlessly. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also sought to speak but he chairman did not allow him. Amid continued protests, the chair adjourned the house till 2 pm within minutes of the day. When the house met after lunch at 2 pm, the opposition members again stormed the well and raised slogans against the government. The deputy chairman pleaded with them to allow the short duration discussion on the situation arising out of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, but the opposition members continued with their protests. As he asked Syed Zafar Islam of the BJP to carry on with the discussions, the opposition members raised their voice and stated sloganeering. Islam had merely started speaking, but the chair adjourned the house for the day amid continued din created by the opposition members. Among other reports and papers, the report of the Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was also tabled in the House. This report shows the chairman is cooperative, the government is accomodative, the opposition is responsive," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh while tabling the report on data protection. Earlier, the paid tributes to the valour of soldiers on the 50th anniversary of Vijay Diwas. Vijay Diwas commemorates India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. Bangladesh, then part of Pakistan, became an independent country after the war. The proceedings of the House have been repeatedly disrupted since the start of the following the suspension of the 12 opposition MPs from the on November 29. The 12 opposition members have been suspended for the entire of parliament for their "unruly" conduct in the previous session in August. The opposition has described the suspension as "undemocratic and in violation of all the Rules of Procedure" of the Upper House. (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.) 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 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 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 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 Spain's 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 materialise. 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. 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. (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.) Tsai also said the self-governing island republic would take on greater responsibilities to contribute to regional and global peace and stability. | Photo: Wikipedia Addressing a group of visiting French lawmakers, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called Wednesday for greater unity among democratic nations in the face of rising authoritarianism. Tsai also said the self-governing island republic would take on greater responsibilities to contribute to regional and global peace and stability. Democratic allies should strengthen cooperation when facing challenges such as swift changes in international affairs and expansion of authoritarianism," Tsai said during the meeting at the Presidential Office Building. will take on its responsibilities in the international society and expects to contribute more to the Indo-Pacific region's peace and stability, as well as the world's prosperity and development, along with France and other like-minded partners in the European Union, she said. The visit by the six members of the French National Assembly offers a valuable opportunity for Tsai to address an international political audience in the face of China's efforts to isolate the island it claims as its own territory with no right to diplomatic recognition. Chinese pressure has reduced the number of Taiwan's diplomatic allies to just 14. Francois de Rugy, who heads the France- Parliamentary Friendship Group, said the French government had been positive about moves to strengthen ties between the sides. He presented Tsai with a copy of a resolution overwhelmingly adopted last month by the Assembly supporting Taiwan's participation in international bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, Interpol, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the World Health Assembly. The National Assembly aims to encourage a constructive regional dialogue in order to ensure peace and dialogue over the Strait, de Rugy told Tsai. The French delegation is the second to visit Taiwan in recent months, following one led by Sen. Alain Richard in October, during which they met with Tsai, Taiwanese economic and health officials and the Mainland Affairs Council overseeing exchanges with that have been all but suspended by Beijing. sought to have that visit called off, despite it being part of regular parliamentary exchanges that had been ongoing for years. Despite Chinese pressure, Taiwan has been stepping up exchanges with countries that don't officially recognise it as a country, often bringing a furious response from Beijing. Beijing punished Lithuania, which like France is 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 multi-nationals 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 and restore the functions of the embassy to their full extent once a mutually beneficial agreement is reached, the ministry 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.) "On Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to the martyrs of the 1971 war. The nation remembers the heroic valour and unwavering patriotism displayed by our armed forces during the war," the VP said. On the 50th anniversary of Vijay Diwas, Vice President on Thursday paid tributes to the valour and unwavering patriotism displayed by the Indian armed forces during the 1971 War. commemorates India's victory over in the 1971 war. Bangladesh, then part of Pakistan, became an independent country after the war. "On Vijay Diwas, I pay homage to the martyrs of the 1971 war. The nation remembers the heroic valour and unwavering patriotism displayed by our armed forces during the war," the Vice President said on Twitter. Their unmatched gallantry and selfless sacrifices continue to inspire every Indian, 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.) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 16 (ANI/PRNewswire): Committed towards driving women empowerment and creating an equitable workplace across industries, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has collaborated with TATA Projects Limited for the construction of the new Ginger hotel at Santacruz, Mumbai by an all-women engineering team. This marquee project is a significant step forward in promoting varied opportunities for women in other-wise traditionally male-dominated industries such as construction. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, stated, "At IHCL, we are committed to providing equal opportunities for all. Today, the world is marching towards a future where women are continuing to push the boundaries across sectors. This partnership with Tata Projects Limited reiterates this belief. We are proud of the all-woman team helming the construction of the all new Ginger Santacruz." The 371-room hotel with a built-up area of over 19,000 sq. m will be constructed over a course of 19 months. The building process will incorporate the latest construction techniques and technologies. Located at a prime location in close proximity to Mumbai Airport and Western Express Highway, this will be a flagship Ginger hotel and is being constructed by one of India's leading construction companies - Tata Projects Limited. Vinayak Deshpande, Managing Director - TATA Projects Limited, said, "The Ginger hotel project is progressing well under the leadership of an all-woman team. This is reflective of the culture of the Company, which encourages women to embrace diverse roles in the workplace. The success of this team is important for motivating more women to build their careers in the construction and engineering sector. Another key feature is that new technologies such as BIM and 3D is also being deployed to ensure on-time and quality construction." IHCL has been on a continuous journey of empowering women including the recently launched all-woman run luxury residences in Chennai. The company has implemented various other industry-leading practices such as 'Extended Maternity Leave', compulsory creche facilities, medical reimbursement for family expansion including IVF treatments, amongst others. Tata Projects' policies have created platforms for women employees to participate in different functions of the business at all levels, gain experience in their fields, and achieve their career aspirations. Rahul Shah, COO - TATA Projects Limited, said, "The commitment and effectiveness of Debashree and her all-woman team is remarkable and visible to all. A special mention needs to be made of their handling of multiple stakeholders such as site supervisors, contractors, workers, local administration officials and client." 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.) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 16 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Nouryon, a (https://www.nouryon.com/) global specialty chemicals leader, has expanded its office and innovation centre by doubling the office footprint in Mumbai, India, to better serve local customers and support long-term growth plans in the Asia Pacific. The Nouryon commercial team in Mumbai is focused on key end markets including Agriculture and Food, Home and Personal Care, Paints and Coatings, Natural Resources, and Polymer Specialties. The office will also be home to Nouryon's new global Sales Administration and Information Management (IM) hubs, as well as other supporting functions including Human Resources, Finance, R & D, and Customer Service. "Nouryon is committed to serving our valued customers in India with sustainable and innovative solutions supported by our strong R & D capabilities," said Sobers Sethi, Senior Vice President of Emerging Markets and China at Nouryon. "Nouryon's expanded presence enhances our service capabilities in the region and establishes global support hubs for our IM and Sales Administration teams." Nouryon offers sustainable and innovative solutions to customers in the region including Bermocoll cellulose ethers, Kromasil high-performance silica, Trigonox organic peroxides, and Morwet dispersing agent. The innovation centre in Mumbai provides product testing and application support tailored to local needs, with specific focuses on the Agriculture, Home and Personal Care, and Paints and Coatings end markets. "India is an important market for Nouryon. We are pleased to invest further in the region to support our commercial activities focused on attractive end markets," said Larry Ryan, Executive Vice President and President of Performance Formulations and Americas at Nouryon. "We aim to leverage this expansion opportunity to grow our sustainable and important business." Nouryon has operated in India since 1991. In addition to the office and innovation centre in Mumbai, Nouryon operates an organic peroxide and metal alkyls production site in Mahad. In April 2021, Nouryon announced a joint venture with Atul to (https://www.nouryon.com/news-and-events/news-overview/2021/partnering-to-supply-fast-growing-indian-markets/) begin production at Anaven, the country's largest monochloroacetic acid (MCA) plant in Gujarat, reaffirming its commitment to India. In 2020, the company installed solar panels at its organic peroxide site in Mahad. In 2020 and 2021, Nouryon partnered with the Mahad Manufacturers Association and other industrial members, to build a community healthcare centre in the area. Recently, the company also introduced sustainable solutions to help customers become more sustainable, including additives for (https://www.nouryon.com/news-and-events/news-overview/2020/launching-ingredient-to-improve-anti-viral-paint/) anti-viral paint coatings, (https://www.nouryon.com/news-and-events/news-overview/2020/releasing-all-in-one-sustainable-adjuvant/) biodegradable crop protection ingredients, and products for (https://www.nouryon.com/news-and-events/news-overview/2020/nouryon-launches-elastomeric-cool-roof-coatings-solution/) cool roof coatings that further reduce the need for air conditioning. With primary focus on sustainable development, Nouryon aims to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to contribute to the prosperity and well-being of a more sustainable society in India. To learn more about Nouryon, visit (https://www.nouryon.com/) This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Being the first woman in every single job I have done means, I get to see just what it means to be in a job that feels built for someone else. I always say, Were all in the same storm, were not in the same boat This is what Unilevers chief officer or CHRO Leena Nair said in an interview to Harpers Bazaar last month. It was before she was announced the head of Chanel. This response of hers fits perfectly in her situation today. The 52-year-old was on Tuesday appointed the new global CEO of French fashion house Chanel. She will be based in London for her new role. As an India-born woman of colour, Nairs appointment at the helm of Chanel is certainly an outlier. Chanel has for long been a tightly-controlled family fashion house. More importantly, unlike other India-born CEOs of global companies --- most recently Parag Agrawal who took charge of Twitter earlier this month --- Nairs educational and professional credentials are for the most part, Made in India. She completed her schooling in Maharashtras Kolhapur before earning a degree in electronics engineering from Walchand College of Engineering in Maharashtras Sangli. Nair went on to complete her MBA from the Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur where she was a gold medallist. She joined Hindustan Unilever in 1992 as a management trainee. Nair was among the few women employees to opt for a factory role. It took her to different factories of in Kolkata, Tamil Nadus Ambattur and Maharashtras Taloja. In her 30 years at HUL, she rose through the ranks and held posts such as the employee relations manager, HR manager and executive director HR. After three years as head of leadership and organisational development in London, she was appointed as chief officer or CHRO in 2016, with responsibility for the companys 1,50,000 people across more than 100 countries globally. Nair was also made a member of the Unilever Leadership Executive. She became the first woman, first Asian and youngest ever CHRO at Unilever and member of the Unilever Leadership Executive. At HUL, over a period of 10 years starting 2010, she helped the company achieve a 50/50 gender balance across global leadership. Her agenda at also included a commitment to pay the living wage across its whole supply chain. After such a distinguished stint, Nair will step down as Unilevers CHRO next month to join Chanel. I would like to thank Leena for her outstanding contribution over the last three decades. Leena has been a pioneer throughout her career at Unilever, but no more so than in her role as CHRO, where she has been a driving force on our equity, diversity and inclusion agenda, on the transformation of our leadership development, and on our preparedness for the future of work She also got another compliment from former PepsiCo chairman Indra Nooyi. Nooyi, a trailblazer and person of colour to helm the food and beverage giant for 12 years as the CEO until 2008, is a mentor to Nair. She called Nair a kickass executive. Surely, Chanel agrees with Indra Nooyi. Watch video Top headlines Sensex snaps 4-day losing run, ends over 100 pts higher after US Fed outcome Bajaj twins can slide another 10% from current levels IPO fully subscribed within hours of openingThe benchmark equities snapped their 4-day losing run and ended higher on Thursday as investors assessed the US Fed's decision on taper and rates. While the slipped in the negative territory during the day, they bounced back in the last hour of the session on the back of a solid buying in IT stocks and select index heavyweights like Bajaj Finance, Reliance Industries, and By close, the frontline S&P stood at 57,901, up 113 points or 0.2 per cent. The index had hit a high of 58,337 and a low of 57,683 during the day. On the NSE, the Nifty50 closed at 17,248 levels, up 27 points. The index had slipped below the 17,200 mark in intra-day deals. The broader markets, however, settled in the red with the BSE MidCap and SmallCap indices closing half a per cent lower each. Among individual stocks, the shares of settled 2.8 per cent higher at Rs 7,043 per share on the BSE, after sinking 8 per cent in three days. According to tech charts, the stock faces a stiff resistance at Rs 7,500. As long as the stock trades below this crucial mark, it may head in the direction of Rs 6,400 levels. Bajaj Finserv, too, faces a 10 per cent downside risk as the stock has been unable to conquer the 50-day moving average positioned at Rs 17,800. Further, the stock may fall towards the Rs 15,000 level if it breaches its support level of 16,800. That apart, the shares of ended around 2 per cent higher on the BSE, breaking their 3-day losing streak. The stock of the industrial machinery company has slipped 21 per cent from its listing day high of Rs 767.10 but continues to command a 33 per cent premium over its issue price. On the downside, the shares of TVS Motors settled over 5 per cent lower at Rs 636 on the BSE as the company's tie-up with global auto giant BMW Motorrad in the electric vehicle space failed to enthuse investors. Analysts at global brokerage Citi have a 'sell' call on the stock as it believes TVS Motors remains one of the most vulnerable auto players to the onslaught of EV models by competitors. The brokerage has a target price of Rs 540 on the stock. Among sectors, barring the Nifty IT index, which settled 1.2 per cent higher, all other indices closed in the red. The Nifty Media index was the biggest loser, down 2 per cent, while all other indices ended up to 1 per cent down. Now, a look at primary markets: The initial public offering of Ltd was fully subscribed within hours of opening for subscription on Thursday on the back of a strong response from retail investors. The offer was subscribed over 2 times till 4:00 PM with retail investors' portion seeing a subscription of over 10 times. Meanwhile, the public offer of has been subscribed 7 times so far, with the retail portion getting an oversubscription of 36 times. Data Patterns' IPO has seen a robust investor response too, with a total subscription of 119 times so far on the final day of the issue. As of 4:00 PM, the NII portion had a subscription of 253 times, QIB portion 191 times, and retail portion 22.5 times. Separately, cash management company CMS Info Systems has fixed a price band of Rs 205-216 a share for its Rs 1,100-crore initial public offering. The initial share sale will be open for public subscription from December 21 to 23. Following are the latest Corporate Social Responsibility news releases and story ideas available from Business Wire. These recaps, curated by Business Wire, provide reporters and bloggers around the globe instant access to the latest news releases, providing relevant and trending content to share with their audiences. Discover more news via Business Wires Hot Topic recaps or create a custom news feed specific to your needs here. This service is provided at no charge to members of the media and financial communities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005111/en/ SAN FRANCISCO -- Splunk Releases 2021 Global Impact Report Source: Splunk Inc. LAKELAND, Fla. -- Publix Donates Nearly 400M Meals to Help Alleviate Hunger Source: Publix Super Markets FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- Greenpath Financial Wellness Unveils Best Practices for Companies to Address Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Source: GreenPath Financial Wellness DALLAS -- iDonate Raises $15 Million, Led by MissionOG, to Accelerate Growth and Adoption of Digital Giving Platform Source: iDonate HAMILTON, Bermuda -- Its Official! Bacardi is One of the Worlds Best Employers Source: Bacardi Limited AMSTERDAM -- Third Edition of Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge Highlights Six Global Entrepreneurs Accelerating Change in the Fashion Industry Source: Tommy Hilfiger WALTHAM, Mass. -- Commonwealth Financial Network Deepens Its Commitment to Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance Standards Source: Commonwealth Financial Network CHICAGO -- Ventas Earns CDP Climate Change A List Designation; Underscoring Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Corporate Sustainability Source: Ventas, Inc. IRVINE, Calif. -- Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. Director Jaynie Miller Studenmund Named to the 2021 National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship 100 List Source: Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Legible Inc. Announces Partnership with Global Literacy Organization Room to Read Source: Legible Inc. AMSTERDAM -- BearingPoint study: The CEO as the Chief Environmental Officer is key for sustainable procurement Source: BearingPoint TORONTO -- Kontrol Technologies Secures Multi-Year Service Agreements for 18 New Buildings Source: Kontrol Technologies Corp. EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Berry Named One of Americas Most Responsible Companies Source: Berry Global Group, Inc. MILWAUKEE -- Zurn Water Solutions Named to Newsweeks 2022 List of America's Most Responsible Companies Source: Zurn Water Solutions LAKELAND, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets Charities Donates $3 Million to Housing and Shelter Programs Throughout the Southeast Source: Publix Super Markets DALLAS -- CyrusOne Signs CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge Source: CyrusOne Inc. PARIS -- Teleperformance Earns Fourth Consecutive Great Place to Work Award in China Source: Teleperformance ARLINGTON, Va. -- AvalonBay Communities, Inc. Recognized as a Climate Leader by CDP with A Score for Climate Change Source: AvalonBay Communities, Inc. TORONTO -- Canadian Retail Investors Seek Climate Action in Their Portfolios, Want Advisors to Offer Responsible Investments Source: Responsible Investment Association LONDON -- Deep Knowledge Group: Deep Pharma Intelligence Releases Analytical Study 5 High-impact Cancer Vaccine Platforms Source: Deep Knowledge Group MONTERREY, Mexico -- CDP Awards CEMEX Its Highest Rating for Leadership in Climate Action Source: CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. KENNESAW, Ga. -- Yamaha Rightwaters Becomes an International Conservation Effort Source: Yamaha Rightwaters NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Pacific Life Foundation Announces $2 Million Commitment to Combat Food Insecurity Source: Pacific Life Foundation TORONTO -- Kontrol Technologies to Deliver BioCloud Software Update Adds New Health Care Distribution Partner and Advances Replacement Cartridge Longevity Source: Kontrol Technologies Corp. ZUG, Switzerland -- Longevity Science Foundation Launches Decentralised Blockchain Voting Programme Source: Longevity Science Foundation TOKYO -- Kao Rated Triple-A for Climate Change, Water Security, and Forests for Second Consecutive Year by CDP Source: Kao Corporation BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The GEO Group Publishes Third Annual Human Rights and ESG Report Source: The GEO Group, Inc. TORONTO -- Kontrol Technologies Advances Net Zero Building Infrastructure with Launch of SmartPower Energy as a Service Source: Kontrol Technologies Corp. HAMILTON, Bermuda -- Local Loyal, Spice Seeking, Mindful Mixologists - These Are the Spirits Consumers of 2022, According to the Annual Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report Source: Bacardi Limited Denver, Colorado -- Liberty Latin America Celebrates the Positive Impact of Its Mission Week Volunteer Initiative Source: Liberty Latin America Ltd. DALLAS -- Flowserve Named to Newsweeks 2022 List of Americas Most Responsible Companies Source: Flowserve Corporation CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. -- Aptar in Top 10 of Americas Most Responsible Companies 2022 by Newsweek Source: AptarGroup, Inc. NEW YORK -- Leading Financial Services Firms and Industry Resource Organizations Join Together to Increase Diversity and Equity Source: Equitable NEW YORK -- SoftBank and BlackRock Invest in Sustainability Tech Firm Clarity AI Source: Clarity AI About Business Wire Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in news release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations, investor relations, public policy, and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals, and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX Network. Business Wires global newsrooms are available to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media worldwide. For more information about Business Wire, please email us at [email protected] or call 888.381.9473. Subscribe to our blog for communications industry trends and tactics delivered straight to your inbox, and join us on Twitter @businesswire and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005111/en/ Southeast Asia can become a hub for tech investments comparable to China, but tech firms in that region should not simply imitate their Chinese counterparts path to success, an executive from ride-hailing and digital payment startup, Gojek, said. Lien Choong Luen, the general manager of Indonesian headquartered Gojeks Singapore operations, made the remarks on Wednesday in a panel discussion during the 12th Caixin Summit. He added that Singapore will be the key gateway to attracting global talent and investors to the region. Prioritising digitisation, digitalisation and innovation In our transformation to become a leading REIM, we actively use technology as an enabler in our business. More than just digitising various aspects of our businesses to increase productivity and improve cost efficiency, we continued to accelerate our digitalisation strategy to expand income streams. We supported our retail tenants to shift online and adopt an omni-channel strategy. We partnered with Shopee to launch the IMM virtual mall, opening up a new sales channel for retailers in addition to our Capita3eats and eCapitaMall platforms. Digitalisation doesnt just improve the experiences of our end consumers; it can fundamentally change the way we perceive and do things too. This is why we at CapitaLand continue to actively invest in deploying technology and systems to not only nurture an innovation-based community that can solve real-world problems but also enhance sustainability. Our Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab, Southeast Asias first industry-led lab for smart cities solutions development has hosted over 500 companies and onboarded more than 70 members onto its network to catalyse and co-innovate smart cities solutions. In October 2021, we established new partnerships and rolled out new programmes in Singapores east coast to help create jobs, new innovation ecosystems and strengthen future readiness. This is in line with our purpose of enriching lives, building communities, and growing sustainably. When youre just starting out professionally, its important to learn from every opportunity you get, Alexander said. Ive enjoyed every job Ive had, and not a lot of people can say that. Part of it is a mindset, because I know that even if its not easy, or things arent going well, Im learning something. Every Carter Center intern gets an opportunity to sit down with CEO Paige Alexander for an informal group conversation and Q&A session. This autumn, I and 30-plus other interns learned the following career lessons from Alexander: 2. Grow into Your Work Impostor syndrome can be a potent challenge for interns and young professionals. Interns Jessica Addis of the Human Rights Program and Pretty Priyadarshini of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program wanted to know about how Alexander had dealt with feelings of incompetence or self-doubt in the workplace. I think you touch on something that everybody women in particular feels, Alexander said. If its not a position you think youre necessarily qualified for, show your willingness to learn and your willingness to do the grunt work that it often takes. 3. Job Hop for the Right Reasons Alexander noted the importance of sticking with workplaces and supervisors that will benefit your career in the long run: Youre going to have those highs and lows, and thats a part of sticking it out. But youll also know intuitively: Is this a place I want to stay? Is this a place I want to grow in? That said, young professionals are expected to job hop to try new things and find their niche. In fact, Alexander said recruiters want to see organic growth and experimentation on a CV. 4. Listen and Learn Even if you dont have all the answers, Alexander said, being an active listener, a critical thinker, and an apt synthesizer of your colleagues ideas can make you a trusted voice wherever youre working. The ability to sit and listen to what people are saying and then to pick the pearls from what youre hearing is something that has never failed [me]. 5. Landing That First Job As their Carter Center experiences draw to a close, many interns look ahead to the next opportunity. Julie Burke, Overseas Operations intern, asked Alexander how to approach the post-internship job search. Alexander first emphasized the importance of doing your research ahead of an interview: You [should] let them know how badly you want the job and let them know that you know something about the organization, or you knew someone who worked there, or you follow their work. At the same time, a lot of it is who you know, Alexander said. Interns build connections with senior employees, experts in their field, and one another. Youve got this network now at The Carter Center, and we want to be helpful. Related Resources A Carter Center internship provides a substantive learning experience and an opportunity to explore career options and attain professional skills. Interns make vital contributions to the Centers work in Peace, Health, and Operations worldwide. Opportunities you wont find anywhere else like sitting down with the CEO or visiting President Jimmy Carters hometown of Plains, Georgia enrich the internship experience further. Apply for an internship today! Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in Ottawa on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Conservative MPs will be free to travel internationally over the holidays while their Liberal and NDP counterparts have been told to stay home.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle Conservative MPs will be free to travel internationally over the holidays while their Liberal and NDP counterparts have been told to stay home. Politicians jet-setting to different vacation destinations drew much attention last year as federal and provincial governments told Canadians to forgo their travel and gathering plans to combat rising COVID-19 caseloads. The federal Liberal government issued today a new advisory urging Canadians to avoid non-essential international travel because of the threat posed by the Omicron variant. A Liberal official says the governing party's MPs have been informed that they are to abide by the public health advice and avoid non-essential international travel. Liberal House Leader Mark Holland says he has already cancelled a planned international trip to celebrate a family member's 70th birthday in January, and is cutting back on plans to have a Christmas gathering with more than 20 people. NDP whip Rachel Blaney says her caucus has also been advised to avoid non-essential international travel, adding that "Canadians expect elected officials to lead by example by following the rules. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole's said in a statement there is no international travel ban in place and that he believes the advisory is to help those who are vaccinated made informed decisions about their travel plans. "This applies to MPs and all Canadians. As such, members of the Conservative caucus can continue to travel internationally," wrote O'Toole's director of communications, Josie Sabatino. She pointed out earlier this year Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet travelled internationally at different times when a similar advisory was in place. Photo: The Canadian Press Former McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook has paid back more than $105 million in equity awards and cash to the burger giant after it learned that he had lied about the extent of his misconduct while he was its top executive. During my tenure as CEO, I failed at times to uphold McDonalds values and fulfill certain of my responsibilities as a leader of the company, Easterbrook said in a prepared statement issued Thursday by McDonalds. I apologize to my former co-workers, the board and the companys franchisees and suppliers for doing so. McDonalds fired Easterbrook in late 2019 after he acknowledged exchanging videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee. At the time of his firing, Easterbrook told the company there were no other similar instances and an inspection of his cell phone seemed to back that up. McDonalds board approved a separation agreement without cause that allowed Easterbrook to keep tens of millions in stock-based benefits and other compensation. Then, in July 2020, the company received an anonymous tip from an employee claiming that Easterbrook had engaged in a sexual relationship with another employee. After an investigation, McDonalds confirmed that relationship as well as two other physical, sexual relationships with employees in the year before it fired its top executive. The company said Easterbrook had removed evidence of those relationships from his phone. McDonalds board sued Easterbrook in August 2020, saying it wouldnt have terminated him without cause if it had known the extent of his misconduct. The company sought the return of equity awards granted in 2018 and 2019, since Easterbrooks separation agreement made clear he would forfeit those if the company determined he had engaged in detrimental conduct. The settlement announced Thursday holds Easterbrook accountable and affirms the boards decision to pursue the case, McDonalds Chairman Enrique Hernandez Jr. said in a prepared statement. The resolution avoids a protracted court process and allows us to move forward, Hernandez said. The action against Easterbrook came amid a larger reckoning at the company over sexual harassment in its ranks. Over the last five years, at least 50 workers have filed charges against the company, alleging physical and verbal harassment and, in some cases, retaliation when they came forward. In October 2019, a month before Easterbrook was fired, McDonalds introduced a new harassment training program for its 850,000 U.S. employees, but franchisees werent required to provide it. McDonalds went further this spring, saying it will mandate worker training to combat harassment, discrimination and violence in its restaurants starting next year. The training will be required for 2 million workers at 39,000 stores worldwide. Photo: Jon Manchester The remaining members of a missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago have been freed, Haitian police and the group said Thursday. The spokesman for Haitis National Police, Gary Desrosiers, confirmed to The Associated Press that the remaining hostages had been released, but did not immediately provide additional details. We glorify God for answered prayer the remaining 12 hostages are FREE! Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement. Join us in praising God that all 17 of our loved ones are now safe. The Ohio group said it hopes to provide more information later. Were feeling great, said Ron Marks, minister at Hart Dunkard Brethren Church in Michigan, whose members included some of the hostages. Carleton Horst, a member of Hart Dunkard Brethren Church in Hart, Michigan, where five of the hostages are members, said church members received a text message Thursday morning from someone connected to the situation that all of the hostages had been released. A mother and four of her children who belong to the congregation were among the hostages. Horst, who is friends with the family, said the church is rejoicing and hes elated that that portion of things is finally over, just praise the Lord for that. The missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There were five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization. Two of the hostages were released in November, and three more earlier this month. They were not identified, but members of the Hart congregation told local media in Michigan two were from Hart. In addition to Michigan, the hostages are from Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ontario, Canada, according to the missionary group. Today is the day we have been hoping for, praying for, and working so hard to achieve, said Congressman Bill Huizenga, whose western Michigan congressional district includes Hart. I want to thank members of the hostage negotiation team for their diligence in securing the safe release of all the hostages. This is a great day for families in Michigan and across the nation who have been worried about the safety of their loved ones. The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang had threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands were met. Authorities have said the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasnt clear if that included the children. It remained unclear Thursday whether any ransom was paid or what efforts led to their freedom. Photo: The Canadian Press The Canadian military confirmed today that 21 of its 23 Cyclone helicopters have cracks in their tails. Cracks were first detected in one of the maritime helicopters during a routine inspection on Nov. 26 at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron at Patricia Bay, B.C. By Dec. 5, the Air Force said it had discovered damage in the same general area on a total of 19 helicopters. At the time, the military said two Cyclones did not appear to have any tail defects, and the remaining two in the fleet were receiving longer-term maintenance and would be inspected at a later date. As of today, cracks on six of the Sikorsky-made aircraft have been repaired and four others are still in the shop. Meanwhile, one of the damaged helicopters was to be flown from the deck of the frigate HMCS Winnipeg to Patricia Bay, which is north of Victoria. The warship is returning to its base at Esquimalt, B.C., after completing a four-month tour in the Asia-Pacific region. "In this specific case, a one-time short ferry flight from the ship to its home base at 443 Squadron, Patricia Bay was authorized, in accordance with a detailed airworthiness review," the Royal Canadian Air Force said in a statement. "Minimal cracking was found on this particular aircraft." The Air Force has said the cracks are unique for each CH-148 Cyclone, although they are on the aircraft's frame. The U.S.-based manufacturer of the Cyclones, Sikorsky Aircraft, has devised a fix that involves the installation of reinforcements to provide added strength to the airframe, the military has said. A spokesman for Sikorsky confirmed this week that the cracks were found in the forward portion of the tail cone, which is the section of the tail closest to the fuselage. The Cyclone fleet has not technically been grounded or placed on an operational pause, but the military confirmed the damaged aircraft were removed from regular flying duties. The squadron at Patricia Bay has six Cyclones. The entire fleet is overseen by 12 Wing Shearwater near Halifax, which has 17 of the helicopters. One Cyclone crashed off the coast of Greece in April 2020, killing all six military members aboard. Photo: The Canadian Press Of the roughly 48 million cubic metres of harvestable timber held within B.C.s Crown forest tenure system by forestry companies, First Nations and communities, about 27 million is held by just five companies, according to B.C.s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. With 9.1 million cubic metres, Canfor is the single largest tenure holder. West Fraser Timber is the second largest, at 5.4 million cubic metres. Western Forest Products holds five million cubic metres of tenure, Interfor Corp. 3.6 million and Tolko Industries 3.4 million. The B.C. government has passed legislation that allows it to take some of that tenure back, for redistribution to First Nations and smaller companies. With an annual allowable cut that is entering a long-term decline, the provincial government feels that a dwindling timber base is concentrated in too few hands, restricting smaller players or new entrants from competing. But the way it is going about tenure redistribution, through Bill 23 (Forest Statutes Amendment Act) and Bill 28 (Forest Amendment Act), has unnerved the forest sector, which accounts for B.C.s single most valuable export. Unlike in 2003, when there was a 20% take-back for the creation of BC Timber Sales, tenure holders have no idea how much timber they stand to lose through tenure redistribution, although the B.C. governments goal, according to the Modernizing Forest Policy in British Columbia report, is to increase First Nations share of tenure to 20% from the current 10%. During debate on the new legislation, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy confirmed that those with more volume in the same timber supply area would carry a greater proportion of the reduction than those with less volume. Bills 23 and 28 provide the mechanisms by which the government can shrink or increase the AAC and allocate or reallocate tenure. They include the creation of forest landscape plans and special purpose areas. This is the scary part, where the government can just randomly walk in , create a special purpose area and say, We want that piece of timber for our purposes, which could be the old growth timber, it could be for BC Timber Sales volume, it could be for First Nations, said David Elstone, managing director of the Spar Tree Group forestry consultants. The governments strategy is to take part of those timber rights away for the purposes of old-growth deferrals or reallocation to First Nations, communities and BCTS, Russ Taylor of Russ Taylor Global forestry consultants wrote in a recent analysis. The transfer of forest tenures will not be at a fair market price because the government has cleverly changed how it will compensate companies for the reductions to harvesting rights. This is one more way for the government to send out strong signals that investing in B.C. is now a very high-risk proposition. Of the 57 million hectares of forest in B.C., 22 million is theoretically available for timber harvesting. But the AAC is about to shrink, due to a pine beetle infestation, wildfires and pressure from environmental groups to make more timber, notably old growth, off limits to logging. The Horgan government has stated that B.C. needs to do more with less and has touted value-added manufacturing like cross-laminated timber for making mass timber products. But it notes that it is hard for new entrants to get a start in B.C. because they have no access to fibre. It clearly thinks the forestry majors in B.C. have too much tenure and are no longer investing in B.C. All of the majors have been buying sawmill operations in the U.S., Europe and Eastern Canada. So that concentration of tenure is a challenge, Nathan Cullen, NDP MLA for Stikine, said recently during debates on bills 23 and 28. It blocks new entrants or those that have just managed to get their foot in the door from expanding. The social contract that may have existed in the 50s, 60s, 70s between some companies and those local communities. Well, those companies have expanded their interests with large investments in other places around the world. But, say critics of the governments direction, if it is concerned about the majors investing elsewhere, it might ask why anyone would invest in a region that now has the highest operating cost in North America, a shrinking timber supply, and a government that appears indifferent, if not hostile, towards the most successful companies, which is to say the big ones with the most mills and most tenure. People have bought assets over time, including tenure, and Bill 28 now says that you can effectively have an asset removed with no compensation, and that has a chilling effect on investment, said Susan Yurkovich, president of the Council of Forest Industries (COFI). Canfor CEO Don Kayne said making lumber is the backbone of B.C.s forestry sector. Every sawmill that goes down hits something else, like a domino, when it falls a pulp mill, a pellet mill, a plywood plant. Without a solid primary industry in British Columbia that has got the hosting conditions to invest then we have no pulp and paper industry, we have no pellet industry, we have no secondary manufacturing industry, we have no [cross-laminated timber] plants we have none of that, Kayne said. We need to figure out how to have a sustainable, globally competitive primary industry here in British Columbia to support all the rest of our ambitions. He said Canfor has invested $1.7 billion in B.C. over the last 10 years. The company operates nine sawmills in B.C., four pulp and paper mills and three pellet plants, and employs 4,000 people. He added that if the B.C. government wants the industry to invest in things like secondary manufacturing, it may not be creating the best investment climate. In terms of new capital for greenfield or brownfield or any of that sort of investment, its not going to happen, Kayne said. And the reason its not going to happen is that its the least competitive region globally. Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari has slammed the Imran Khan government for failure to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism, adding that APS tragedy is "still a bleeding wound." On December 16, 2014, six terrorists affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked the Army Public School in the northwestern city of Peshawar. 147 people, including 132 children, were killed in the attack. "The National Action Plan was a promise to punish terrorists. Unfortunately, the promise to the nation has not been fulfilled, " he stated in a message on the seventh anniversary of the tragic APS Peshawar attack, as quoted by Geo News. This comes as Imran Khan government is holding negotiations with the TTP, which has resulted in widespread criticism from the opposition parties. Zardari said that until criminals are apprehended, the country will continue to owe the "innocent martyrs." Former Pak president said that the APS tragedy is "still a bleeding wound." According to the former president, if given a chance, these terrorists would be "apprehended" and "sentenced to death". The Pakistani Taliban, which is engaged in talks with the Imran Khan government, is yet to show any remorse for the 2014 Peshawar school massacre, according to Dawn. The Pakistani newspaper also had raised questions over the lack of transparency over the terms on which these negotiations with the TTP. It also pointed that there is little to suggest that the terror outfit is ready and willing to relinquish its violent ways. Last week, TTP announced it would not extend the month-long ceasefire as it accused Islamabad of failing to fulfil 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. (ANI) Pakistan has failed to take adequate steps to counter-terrorism and prosecute terrorists including masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai attacks such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) founder Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) Sajid Mir, according to a new US report. "Pakistan made limited progress on the most difficult aspects of its 2015 National Action Plan to counter-terrorism, specifically in its pledge to dismantle all terrorist organizations without delay or discrimination," the US State Department said in its 2020 Country Reports on Terrorism. The report recalled how in February and again in November, a Lahore anti-terrorism court convicted LeT founder Hafiz Saeed on multiple counts of terrorism financing and sentenced him to five years and six months in prison. "Pakistan did not, however, take steps under its domestic authorities to prosecute other terrorist leaders residing in Pakistan, such as JeM founder Masood Azhar and LeT's Sajid Mir, mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks," it said. The report goes on the mention that Indian security agencies are effective in disrupting terror threats, although gaps remain in interagency intelligence and information sharing. "The Indian Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) collaborates with the United States on exchanging terrorist screening information. In the absence of a National Counter-Terrorism Center, the MAC conducts real-time collation and sharing of intelligence among federal and state security agencies," the report said. According to the report, India collaborates with the United States on implementing UNSCR 2309 and is enforcing compliance with the dual-screen X-ray mandate for cargo screening at airport locations. "There were 66 known Indian-origin fighters affiliated with ISIS, as of November. No FTFs were repatriated to India during 2020," it said. (ANI) The US military on Tuesday shot down one of two small drones flying towards the US At Tanf Garrison outpost in the southern Syria, and allegedly posing a threat to the base, media reported on Thursday. According to NBC News, the US military on Tuesday spotted two small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) approaching the US At Tanf Garrison outpost and assessed them as showing hostile intent. Military shot down one of the drones, while the second UAS changed its course and left the area. It is unknown whether the drones were carrying explosives or not. "As one of the UAS continued its course deeper into the At Tanf Deconfliction Zone, it was assessed as demonstrating hostile intent and was shot down," the US Central Command Spokesman, Bill Urban, said as quoted by the NBC News. On October 21, the same US outpost was attacked with drones carrying explosives. The United States reported no casualties, but the base's facilities were heavily damaged. The US accuses Iran or Iranian-backed groups of being responsible for the attacks. After the first attack, mayor of Iraqi city Ar-Rutbah close to the outpost told Sputnik that no signs of the attack were spotted. The At Tanf Garrison outpost is a US military base within the territory controlled by the Syrian opposition close to borders with Iraq and Jordan. The US troops train Syrian opposition to fight the Islamic State (a terrorist group banned in Russia) at the base. (ANI/Sputnik) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned the international community against isolating Afghanistan, saying doing so would be disadvantageous for the world. The prime minister made the comments as he chaired the second meeting of the Apex Committee on Afghanistan. During the meeting, he urged the international community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, vowing that Pakistan would support the Afghan people in every possible way to avert a humanitarian crisis, Geo News reported citing a statement by the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Planning Minister Asad Umer, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf, and senior civil and military officers. This comes as the Taliban is trying to gain global recognition as Afghanistan facing the worst humanitarian crisis The prime minister urged the international community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, vowing that Pakistan would support the Afghan people in every possible way to avert a humanitarian crisis, the statement said. According to the statement, the premier highlighted that Pakistan has already committed to immediate relief of in-kind humanitarian assistance worth Rs5 billion, which comprises food commodities including 50,000 metric tons of wheat, emergency medical supplies, winter shelters, and other supplies. He also said that humanitarian organisations wishing to work from Pakistan to support efforts in Afghanistan should be facilitated and that Islamabad had already committed to being the air and land bridge for humanitarian support to Kabul. (ANI) Also Read: Pakistan looks to mend ties with US after democracy summit snub Topics addressed during this conference: cement markets, trading, decarbonisation, digitalisation, optimisation, alternative fuels, emissions control, bulk materials handling, quarry operations, kiln and cooler upgrades, grinding technologies, energy reduction, predictive maintenance, supplementary cementitious materials, quality control, packing and distribution, logistics If you would like to speak at this conference, contact us by Friday, 7 January. Send your presentation proposal, including title, abstract and speaker CV, to info@cemtech.com. Multiple people called police and said there was a white female standing along the right shoulder on I-24 westbound at mile marker 180. People were concerned that she was going to get struck by a vehicle. Police spoke with the woman and identified her. She was extremely intoxicated and could not stand without assistance. The woman said her son had dropped her off on the side of the interstate and left her. The woman was given a ride back to her residence on South Quail Lane. * * * Police responded to the service center and spoke with a man who said he made a recent inquiry into getting a credit increase on his American Express account. The man said he was notified that a charge-off was on his credit report and he did not create that account. The account created was through FingerHut in 2014. The man said his car was broken into back in 2013 and his Social Security card had been taken. There is no suspect information and he needed a police report to refute the charge to his credit. Police will continue to investigate this further. * * * An officer saw a Kia Optima with a broken right brake light in the area of Wilcox Boulevard and Roanoke Avenue. The officer initiated blue lights in the 2300 block of Camden Street when the suspects car began to accelerate at a high rate of speed towards North Chamberlain Avenue. The car turned northbound on North Chamberlain, then eastbound on Hiwassee Street towards the Wilcox Boulevard tunnel. Charlie team officers also observed the vehicle traveling eastbound on Shallowford Road, going in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed. The vehicle registration owner was identified by police. * * * A Home Depot employee at 7421 Commons Blvd. told police a white male attempted to walk out of the store with a $25 T-shirt. The employee was able to get the item back when the man fled the scene. At this time officers are unable to identify the suspect. * * * A man on 6th Avenue told police he came home and believed his girlfriend/roommate had a man over while he was at work. Police checked the house and did not find anything. * * * A woman on Arlington Avenue told police she wanted a man to leave because he was bothering her. The officer spoke with the man who said he had been staying at this address and that he wasn't bothering anyone. The woman appeared to be intoxicated and not making any sense. Both agreed to separate and would resolve their issues in the morning. Later police responded back to this address and transported the man to another residence on Arlington Terrace without incident. * * * A woman on North Concord Road said she received an email with a receipt for the purchase of a Macbook. The woman said she did not purchase a Macbook and showed the police the number at the bottom of the email. Police saw the email and noticed that the email appeared to be a scam. Police called the number and the person who answered the phone spoke poor English. The person on the phone said he worked for PayPal but could not access the account until he received cash. Police hung up the phone and informed the woman the email was a scam and to not contact the number on the email and to not respond to similar emails. * * * A man on Osborne Drive said his roommate and her boyfriend were in a verbal disorder which resulted in the boyfriend taking money from the roommate prior to leaving in his car. When police arrived, the officer attempted to speak to the roommate but she refused to speak with police. The officer asked if she would like a report, if she was injured, or needed police for any matter. She said, No. The roommate also refused to provide her personal information and asked the officer to leave. The officer was able to gather the roommates information as well as her boyfriend's using previous reports. * * * While searching the area for a disorder at Chick-fil-a at 5830 Brainerd Road, police noted two people who appeared to be struggling with a shopping cart of items. Police made contact with the man and woman who both said they had not observed or been in a disorder. The man said he and the woman were in a relationship and usually hung out along Shallowford Road. * * * A man on Dee Drive wanted to retrieve his items from inside the home. He said he was in an argument with his mother at this location and didn't want any further issues. The officer spoke with the mother who said he couldn't retrieve his items that night. The woman started to get upset that police were called and said her son could come back tomorrow for his items. The man left to stay with a friend for the night. * * * A woman on North Kelley Street said her van was taken by a woman and was unaware she may have taken it. The woman said she does not want to press charges, just wants her van back in one piece. She does not have any tag information at this time. Police drove through the area but were unable to locate anything. * * * Police responded to a disorder at Hampton Inn at 74 Starview Lane. Upon arrival police spoke with a Hampton Inn employee who said a woman was attempting to get a room but could not because she would not provide an identification or a credit card. The female refused to identify herself to police and left the scene. * * * A man at the McDonalds at 5440 Highway 153 said he had gone into the restaurant for about 10 minutes and when he returned outside his father's 2010 Ford Escape had been stolen. The man said he had left the car running and unlocked while he went into McDonalds. The man said the only identifiable characteristics of the vehicle were that it had a handicap placard on the rearview mirror and a pink slipper sticker on the back windshield. The man said he did not have any suspect information. Police notified NCIC of the stolen vehicle. He said he would call police back if he's able to locate the vehicle or have the title company track it. * * * There was a suspicious person behind Jimmy Johns at 330 Frazier Ave. When police arrived, the officer spoke with a man who said he had been outside since 4 a.m. waiting for his roommate to get off work. The officer asked why he was waiting outside in the cold and he said that he was knocking dead branches off trees. The officer asked if he needed police help and if he was okay, and he said no, and that he was okay. * * * An officer responded to the Community Kitchen at 727 East 11th St. for a person who had been in the bathroom for a long time. Employees said they wanted police to escort the man from the building. Once on scene the officer spoke with a man who identified himself, but wasnt sure of his birthday. He also provided a Social Security number. The man would not open his eyes and said he sustained an injury in the Vietnam War. Given the birthday and the war ending in 1975, it is highly unlikely. The man said he had identification on him but it was unable to be located. The man had not committed any crimes nor argued the fact of being asked to leave the property. The officer searched using the information provided for the man, but was unable to locate him in the police system. * * * A man was sitting on the guardrail at the intersection of Cummings at Birmingham Highway. The officer did not see him walking in and out of traffic, he was just resting in the sun. He was warned about his reported behavior, but he denied any actions in the street. * * * A man on Glendale Road said he was allowing a homeless white male to stay on the property. He said he told the man to get his stuff and leave last night. The man said the suspect stole several items from his vehicle. He said that the man was seen stealing the items by another resident at the location. No information was provided for the witness. No information could be found for the homeless man. * * * A man on 2nd Avenue told police he had numerous packages delivered to his house. He had a friend go to his house to get the packages and when he got there, all of the packages had been stolen. All items have a collective value of $1,133.91. The 2005 Honda CBR600RR chassis has been entered into NCIC. The items included a MSI GF63 laptop - $499, Rubbermaid cookware - $7, Atomi showerhead - $25, Squishmallows Kids Smores Slippers - $9.50, Squishmallows Kids Teal Cat Slippers - $9.50, Hover-1 Blast Hoverboard - $79, PowerXL Air Fryer Home Pro - $69, and 2005 Honda CBR600RR chassis - $435.91. * * * An employee with Dollar General at 7345 Lee Hwy. said a woman was released from her position about a month ago and still has the keys to the store. The employee said the woman had the keys due to her position at the store. She has attempted to contact the woman multiple times but she keeps coming up with excuses why she cannot return the keys. The employee said she wanted the police to go to her address and see if she will give the keys to the police. Police informed the employee the womans address was outside jurisdiction and she would need to contact Catoosa County Sheriff's department for disorder prevention if she wanted to attempt to get the keys back. * * * Police were called to the Baymont at 7017 on Shallowford Road where a woman said her friend gave her counterfeit money. The woman said she sold her friend a silver ring. He came to her residence and bought the ring with cash. The woman said after a few hours she looked at the bills given to her by her friend and discovered that they were counterfeit. The woman said she notified her friend and she allowed him several hours to give her another form of payment. The woman showed the officer a series of text messages that she said were from her friend. He explains he will give her another form of payment. The officer was unable to confirm the phone number she was texting belonged to her friend. Furthermore, the text messages did not confirm that her friend knowingly gave her counterfeit bills (two twenties and two tens). The officer also was not able to verify the ring that was sold to the man. The text messages do not confirm the sale of the ring. The woman said she would provide evidence of the conversation between her and the man, however, she has not provided that information. The bills have been placed into property at this time. Have you ever wondered why, if we started traveling and set a course due north, once we reached a certain point on the North Pole, we would begin traveling southward but when traveling in an eastward direction, at no point would we start traveling westward, unless we reversed course? In his poem first published in 1889, The Ballad of East and West, Rudyard Kipling wrote the famous line, East is east, and west is west and never the twain shall meet. On the face of it, it seems hes pointing to the fact that unlike north and south, theres never a point where east and west collide. However, its my understanding that Kipling wasnt referring to directional travel. He was alluding to cultural differences between Eastern and Western societies their ways of thinking and doing things. This may have changed somewhat since Kiplings days, what with the explosion of all forms of communication and its increasingly global influence. Yet even today, peoples from different parts of the globe display markedly distinct forms of behavior, culture, social norms, and values. A person traveling from the U.S.A. to the Middle East, or the Far East, will quickly discover that some things acceptable, even encouraged, in the States can seem offensive to people in other parts of the globe. Ways of greeting one another, manners at mealtime, even how gratitude is expressed, can vary markedly from culture to culture. So, in that respect, the declaration that East is east, and west is west and never the twain shall meet still holds true. Thousands of years ago, a psalmist made an important reference to east and west. Attributed as one of the writings of Israels King David, it says, As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). For those of us who have been convicted of our sins and Gods judgment, we often tend to carry the guilt of our wrongdoings. This verse when considered in light of the reality that no matter how far east we travel, well never find ourselves traveling west helps us to realize the extent to which the Lord has freed us from our sins. During the Christmas season our thoughts are drawn to images in a tiny baby lying in a crude manger, surrounding Mary, Joseph, some animals in a stable, lowly shepherds who had come to worship the promised Messiah, and perhaps an angel or two hovering nearby. But the ultimate significance of this moment, God taking on human form to one day personally take on the penalty for the sins of humankind, doesnt receive such focus. Even though it should. One of the Scriptures most profound verses, Romans 5:8, declares, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. About 2,000 years ago, way before any of us could have been even a gleam in someones eyes. Jesus went to a crude, cruel cross for our sins transgressions we would one day commit against the God who created us. Another verse that follows soon afterward affirms this incredible act wasnt temporary, nor was it a partial gesture. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God (Romans 6:10). We find this truth expanded upon a bit in 1 Peter 3:18, For Christ died for us once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. And through His bodily resurrection, He offers us new, transformed life as well both in our earthly existence as well as for all eternity. As it says in John 1:12-13, Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husbands will, but born of God. As Christmas day nears, many of us are fretting over the gifts we plan to give, as well as anticipating the gifts we hope to receive. Perhaps this is a good time the best time to consider whether we, or a dear loved one, have received the greatest gift of all: new life in Jesus Christ, with our sins removed as far as the east is from the west. * * *Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net. Freshman members of the Tucker River Fellows program welcomed representatives from community organizations to the GPS campus for a presentation and feedback session as they work to refine a new project about the importance of healthy watersheds. Designed to prepare future leaders to understand and have an impact on the conservation of the Tennessee River, Tucker River Fellows is an endowed, multiyear cocurricular program started by the GPS Board of Trustees and named after former headmaster Randy Tucker. Fellows are selected prior to their freshman year and spend part of the summer and following two academic years engaged in experiential learning about the many issues impacting their local watershed. They also learn about the historical, ecological, political, economic, and aesthetic significance of the Tennessee River. Science teacher and Tucker River Fellows Sponsor, Kayte Adams Couch 92 explains how the project came to fruition. The Trust for Public Land received a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and tasked Outdoor Chattanooga with creating educational materials and lesson plans that show local challenges related to clean water. Outdoor Chattanooga felt the project was a great opportunity for the Tucker River Fellows program and asked for our help. The freshman Fellows jumped at the chance, starting with research and field trips so that they had an understanding of the topic. Next, they created various prototypes of a 3D-printed topographic model of the Chattanooga area that can be sprayed with water to show how land use affects waterways during rain events. Mr. Will Glass, director of the GPS Makerspace, has been influential in helping the girls complete their prototypes. The finished model will work in tandem with newly created lesson plans that show local challenges related to clean water. Upon completion, the project will be housed at Outdoor Chattanooga and can be viewed, both formally and informally, by local educators. After evaluating each prototype and making improvements, they selected their most successful model and requested input from local experts. Ms. Couch explains, We invited community organizations to view our third prototype, share feedback about what should be included in the final model, and request a location-specific 'lesson plan' that can be shared with teachers. The Fellows will finalize these materials this week during exam time and then hand them over to Outdoor Chattanooga. We hope to include the Spanish Club for help with the translation of a few lessons into Spanish, Ms. Couch says. In a HCDP General Assembly meeting held via Zoom, Rachel Campbell was elected to serve as party chair. She replaces former Chair Rodney Strong who resigned for health reasons. Ms. Campbell served as vice chair from 2017 to 2019 and is a current representative for District 12 on the Tennessee Democratic Partys Executive Committee. In addition, Sean Nix was elected to fill the vacant vice chair position for HCDP. Mr. Nix has been a member of the HCDP General Assembly for several years and was the representative for District 4 in Chattanooga. The General Assembly also filled positions for both District and Precinct Representative. District representatives sit on the HCDP Executive Committee, which meets every month. Precinct representatives are on the General Assembly, along with HCDP officers and Executive Committee members. The General Assembly meets quarterly. Executive Committee: D3: Brenda Nunn D4: Eric Reese D5: Cynthia Coleman (re-elected) D7: Wendy Proctor General Assembly D1: Rachel Lewis D2: Lisa Crowder and Elizabeth Baker D8: Nick Desjardin Ms. Campbell said, "I am so grateful for the support of the Executive Committee and General Assembly in electing me as the new chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party. I look forward to working with the members of our body, and volunteers and voters across this county, in turning our county blue. "We have much work to do, with many open seats and opportunities in the upcoming election cycle. It will take all of us, and Im looking forward to the work. "As you all know, we now have the responsibility of holding primaries for the school board as well, and so Id like to take this opportunity to remind each of you that we are in full candidate recruitment mode. If you, or anyone you know, would like to run for office, please direct them to me or to our Campaign Chair Chris Anderson." Jerzday returns to MTV for the new year with the unveiling of a new season of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. The cast is ready to take on the Florida Keys for an all-new batch of episodes. This time, their extended families are in tow, including spouses, significant others, and children. However, there is one considerable change to this new season. This will be the first season that Nicole Snooki Polizzi will be a cast member since Dec. 2019. It will also be the first time Ronnie Ortiz-Magro did not film with his castmates since stepping back from the series in May of this year. Nicole Polizzi and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro | Rich Polk/Getty Images for MTV Nicole Polizzi and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro left the series for personal reasons Polizzi initially left the series after episodes featuring the wedding of Chris Larangeira and Angelina Pivarnick aired. On her podcast, Its Happening With Snooki & Joey, the reality star revealed that filming the show was no longer fun and that she did not want to be away from her children for long periods. As for Magro, he announced he was leaving JSFV in May 2021 to focus on his mental health. E! News reported the MTV star penned a statement shared to his Instagram story. He wrote, After talking to the team at MTV, we have mutually agreed that I will step away from the show while I seek medical treatment for mental health issues that Ive ignored for too long. Will Ronnie Ortiz-Magro return to Jersey Shore: Family Vacaiton? Ronnie Ortiz-Magro | Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic It is unclear when or if Magro will return to Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. Since announcing his break from the series, Magro has stayed out of the spotlight. He released an engagement announcement to girlfriend Saffire Matos in June. However, this August, he spoke to TMZ and told the outlet his days with the MTV juggernaut may not be over. I feel great. Four months sober. I quit drinking, got engaged, full-time father, you know, living a good life, Magro said. He continued, I stepped away [from Jersey Shore] to deal with my mental health, be a father to my child, be a fiance to my woman. Ill be back and, you know, all the fans love me and I love them too, so Im going to give them what they want and Ill see them soon. Nicole Polizzi is once again a Jersey Shore: Family Vacation full-time cast member Nicole Polizzi | Kevin Mazur/2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS During the newest season of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, Nicole shared the spotlight with her children who came along for filming in the Florida Keys. Being away from her kids was one of the reasons Polizzi left the series so their inclusion may have been one of the benefits of her return to the show in a full-time capacity. A release for the new season teased the following information. As the world continues to change in unexpected ways, the Jersey Shore family is back together and theyre putting it all on the table, a release from MTV said. From long overdue meatball days to wild nights in LA with Vinny and Mikes end of probation celebration to DJ Pauly Ds return to the clubs, this group continues to bring the non-stop party wherever they go. With the arrival of Baby Situation and Deena and Chris new little meatball, life events continue to bring the family closer together, it continued. And in true Shore style, the group heads to the Florida Keys to remind everyone how outrageous a Jersey Shore Family Vacation can get, the release concluded. Jersey Shore: Family Vacation debuts season 5 beginning Thurs. Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. on MTV. RELATED: Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Fans Go Bananas Over Epic Miami Smackdown: When the Show Was Good Parallel Mothers is proof that Pedro Almodovar remains a major cinematic force. His screenplay is elevated by Penelope Cruz and Milena Smits captivating performances. Its soap opera melodrama occasionally plays a bit too heavy-handed, although Parallel Mothers remains a wonderful addition to Almodovars filmography that shocks, intrigues, and invigorates. Parallel Mothers is Pedro Almodovars 22nd feature film L-R: Milena Smit as Ana and Penelope Cruz as Janis | Sony Pictures Classics Janis Martinez (Cruz) is a middle-aged, single woman who works as a magazine photographer. She meets a single, adolescent woman named Ana (Smit) in a hospital room where they will both soon be giving birth. Janis doesnt regret her decision to have the baby, although the idea terrifies Ana. The two women develop a powerful bond as they face motherhood in their own ways. Parallel Mothers connects the past and the present as Janis tries to pull permits to excavate a site thats deeply connected with her family. She struggles with returning back to work, dealing with drama involving her lover, Arturo (Israel Elejalde), and completing the excavation that so many other families rely on. Pedro Almodovar runs two narratives Parallel Mothers highlights generational motherhood. Janis and Ana have a clear age difference that shows in how they approach their own journeys to motherhood. However, Almodovars screenplay extends past what the audience sees involving the two leads. Their relationships with their own mothers are also drastically different, which indicates a domino effect of motherhood. Fatherhood also looms in the background, but its never necessarily the focus. Almodovar explores how motherhood changes a person. Theyre now both responsible for another human life but now must also juggle other important aspects of their lives, including their careers. Parallel Mothers includes one woman returning to work and another whos still young and finding her place in the world. Nevertheless, Janis and Anas story together feels more like destiny, as they became intrinsically linked ever since their meeting in that hospital room. The second story of the excavation in Parallel Mothers acts more as bookends. It starts the narrative and concludes it. However, it still fits in with the remainder of the film. The excavation story further establishes Almodovars examination of motherhood, family, and legacy. Theres plenty of drama in Janis and Anas relationship, but this narrative really delivers a punch right in the gut. Parallel Mothers is an emotional journey L-R: Rossy de Palma as Elena, Israel Elejalde as Arturo, Penelope Cruz as Janis, and Milena Smit as Ana | Sony Pictures Classics Parallel Mothers is made particularly effective thanks to Cruz and Smits exceptional performances. Cruz is absolutely magnetic as she delivers a truly dynamic performance that contributes significant nuance to the role. Smit is entrancing, even despite being a newcomer to the scene. Cruz and Smits chemistry is undeniable. Almodovar does a wonderful job crafting the films central characters. The drama occasionally dips a bit too deep into its melodrama, which works against the films more genuine moments. Janis and Anas story goes in some odd places that dont entirely work. Parallel Mothers feels like it has an even better movie in its excavation story that just begs to be expanded upon. However, Almodovar only teases the huge emotional impact that could have gone much deeper. Parallel Mothers uses whats lost and found as a significant thematic motif. It can be found in its examination of motherhood, friendship, romance, and ancestry. Its sentimental and significantly intimate. However, some of its more dramatic soap opera moments impede the movies full potential. Nevertheless, Parallel Mothers is moving and notable storytelling. Parallel Mothers hits limited theaters on Dec. 24. RELATED: Spencer Star Kristen Stewart Satisfyingly Slams Critics of LGBTQ Representation in Movies When Ree Drummond first launched her blog, she never imagined the way things would take off for The Pioneer Woman brand. Drummonds fans love how relatable she is and thats exactly her secret to staying relevant over the years. The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond | Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Ree Drummond fans have stuck with her since her humble blogger beginnings During a December interview with ET, Drummond gave a tour of the businesses she operates in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The Boarding House hotel, P-Town Pizza, Charlies Sweet Shop, and The Mercantile were all featured. The Pioneer Woman star said she prefers not to call her ventures an empire. According to Drummond, the word implies that youre kind of on a throne, resting and watching all this. The runaway success of her business ventures comes as a surprise to her. And she earned a loyal fan following along the way. Honestly, I started out as a blogger and all I blogged about were funny stories about my kids, Drummond explained. She continued, Then I started sharing recipes, which turned into a cookbook a few years later. And that led to a Food Network pilot. Drummond added, If you had told me the day I started my blog that this would result, I would have laughed. I would have rolled my eyes. Ive enjoyed every step of the process. Ree Drummond explained how she stays relevant Drummond has grown her brand beyond cookbooks, a cooking show, and her hometown businesses. She has The Pioneer Woman brand clothing, home decor, kitchen items, and even dog treats! During a December interview with Mashed, Drummond was asked how she continues to stay relevant, She boiled it down to one thing. I think its just been important for me to always stay true to who I am and what my cooking is and not try to be something Im not in the food space, she explained. The Pioneer Woman star continued, Ive always definitely let my home life and family life inform the things that I cook, the food that I make. I also and I hope it shows I have so much passion for what I do, cooking, having my cooking shows, writing cookbooks. The Pioneer Woman star continues to be fueled by her passion Drummond continues to love what she does even though shes been at it for a while. 12 years after my first cookbook, I still love the whole process and hearing from people who are making the recipes in my cookbooks, she explained. The Pioneer Woman star said that if she stops having fun, then its time to end the show and cookbooks. Thankfully, Drummond plans to continue doing what she loves. Ive been filming my Food Network show with my kids ever since quarantine, Drummond explained. Theyve been filming it on iPhones, believe it or not. I think when I stop having fun and feeling passionate about it, I probably should pack it up because the passion I feel is sort of my fuel. She added, I hope that shows, I hope that is reflected in what I do. RELATED: Ree Drummond Gives Fans a Peek at The Pioneer Woman Stars Handsome Ranch Helpers Media coverage of a humanitarian crisis dominates the giving of the people towards the crisis. The media holds power to encourage or discourage giving towards a humanitarian crisis by the information they disseminate. In controlling peoples perceptions, the media controls the philanthropic response of the people towards a crisis. I have experienced this firsthand in the media coverage of the twenty-two-year conflict of the Joseph Kony LRA crisis. In March 2012, the worlds attention was drawn to the evil of Joseph Kony in northern Uganda. Joseph Kony abducted 25,000 children, leading to the death of over 100,000 people and displacing 1.6 million people, between 1986 and 2006. In response to the overall conflict, a Californian nonprofit called Invisible Children produced a 30 minute documentary, Kony 2012. Filmmakers tried to make Joseph Kony the most infamous person in the whole world, and many might say they succeeded. Kony 2012 caught the attention of celebrities such as, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and Rihanna. Through the media publicity the organization collected $5 million dollars in 2 days and in total $32 million was raised at the end of the campaign. In six days, the video had over 100 million views and the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda for the first time had arrived on the global stage Unfortunately, Kony was long gone. He had left northern Uganda six years prior, and was now in Central Africa Republic. Media influences us emotionally shaping our giving. People believe the media and do not question it. People were moved to give towards this particular cause even though it was ambitious in its approach- to get Joseph Kony arrested. Nine years after the video was released, Joseph Kony is still Alive, LRA still exists, northern Uganda continues to suffer from the effects of the prolonged war. People gave towards this humanitarian crisis, but the problem was never solved. The media played a critical role in shaping the giving towards this cause despite, what impact did the giving make? The message published in this documentary by the media depicted Uganda as helpless nation and in need of an white American salvation. Despite the opposing voices from Uganda, the media was deaf to these concerns from Africa. The advocacy was American led, focusing on Ugandan stories with American solutions. The media has played a central role in shaping the way people gave towards the LRA conflict in northern Uganda. The media steered and shaped the response of the American public to this humanitarian Crisis. It is important to realize: the media plays a critical role in drawing attention towards a crisis. By drawing attention towards a particular crisis, media is a key humanitarian respondent. This way media can save a life or destroy a life. This is because less visibility means less giving and hence prolonging and complicating the humanitarian crisis. There is a relationship between the media, the public and philanthropy. The narrative in the media can promote or hinder philanthropy. The public depend on the media for information and the media depends on the public for sales and publicity. Public opinion influences media coverage and media coverage influences public opinion. At the end they both influence philanthropy. To attract and maintain an audience, the media tells people what they already believe. This is important to realize since narrative in the media and public determines how people respond to a humanitarian crisis. Media coverage reflects the interest society already holds. That is, the media will cover what the people are most interested in. Media coverage shows the societies perceptions and this way it shapes attitudes and response. The media today is selective in its information seeking and disseminating. This is where the harm is done in shaping the role of the media in humanitarian crisis. It is important to realize that the media plays a critical role in drawing attention towards a crisis. By drawing attention towards a particular crisis, media is a key humanitarian respondent. This way media can save a life or destroy a life. This is because less visibility means less giving and hence prolonging and complicating the humanitarian crisis. Today, there is an Ebola case in Democratic Republic of Congo, there is a conflict in Tigray region in Ethiopia, there is tension in Eritrea, Chad and Central Africa Republic. The media has been silent on many of these crises. In most cases the media is obsessed by the number of deaths caused by conflict. It is important to understand the power of a story and the media. The media has power and most times it is unregulated. The powerful are made more powerful, the weak are rarely heard. The media coverage attracted money but the problem was never solved. Whoever controls the narrative in the media, controls the giving. Giving shapes the nature of humanitarian response, people give largely as biased by the media. The biases of the media shape its narrative of the necessary humanitarian crisis, which then has near total control over philanthropic response. Subscribe to email digests from the Better Samaritan. Dennis Kilama holds degrees from Africa International University, Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology, and Makerere University. In 2021, he earned a M.A. in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership from Wheaton College. He currently pastors Lugogo Baptist Church and teaches at Africa Renewal University, both located in Kampala, Uganda. This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here. In my much younger years, I celebrated Festivus. This was not by choice. I was working at a place where every year, at a celebratory holiday party, we always knew there was one guy who would spend the entire time airing grievances at the rest of us. One of my coworkers would say, Are you ready for Festivus this year? He was, of course, referencing the famous storyline on the old television comedy Seinfeld, in which George Costanzas father Frank celebrated his own made-up holiday, complete with an aluminum pole, feats of strength, and of course, the airing of grievances. I would always laugh at my coworkers joke, because, after all, Festivus was funnythe product of Jerry Seinfeld or some writers comedic imagination. Except that it wasnt. The Daily Beast recorded an episode of its podcast, Fever Dreams, in which former Seinfeld writer Dan OKeefe explained the real-life origins of Festivus. (Beware of profanity in the episode.) He said the holiday was not fictional, at least not in his house growing up, and it was anything but funny. OKeefe said his father, an editor at Readers Digest and an undiagnosed bipolar, severe alcoholic, invented Festivus. He did it with a clock in a bag hung on the wall. The famous aluminum pole wasnt part of it, but the Airing of Grievances definitely was. It was just a very formalized setting for yelling at us, he told Fever Dreams. Yeah, growing up, myself and my two brothers were in a form of child abuse that yet wasnt recognized as such by the state of New York, included to perform seasonal rituals. OKeefe talked about his childhood to some fellow writers, who told him that they along with Jerry Seinfeld wanted to adapt the Festivus ritual for Frank Costanzaminus the abusive behavior and the childhood trauma. My first thought was, That is dark. Then I thought, How did I never hear the story till now? I wondered how many other of my favorite comedy moments had started this way. Was there a horror story behind the Dundie Awards or funerals for beloved mini horses? I didnt want to know. But then I wondered whether Festivus is the holiday of this cultural moment. Over a decade ago, James Davison Hunter warned that Christian cultural and political engagement had failed in part because of what Friedrich Nietzsche called ressentiment. This is more than resentment, Hunter argued, but includes anger, envy, hate, rage, and revenge as the motive of political action. Ressentiment, Hunter wrote, is grounded in a narrative of injury or, at least, perceived injury; a strong belief that one has been or is being wronged. This is especially true, he contended, when the group holds a sense of entitlementto greater respect, to greater power, to a place of majority status. This posture, he warned, is a political psychology that expresses itself with the condemnation and denigration of enemies in the effort to subjugate and dominate those who are culpable. In Hunters explanation, the churchat least in its culture-war-activist formdid not withstand this pull but plunged in headlong. Thus, we end up with the language of reclaiming America or taking back the culture. Turns out, it all comes down to airing of grievances and feats of strength. Before we say, Theres nothing wrong with that, we should consider what it has done to us, not just as a country but, more importantly, as a church. In Luke 4:2030 (ESV throughout), we find that pivotal moment where Jesus announces his mission. To the rest of the worldto our own childrendo we look more like the one announcing the good news of the year of the Lords favor, or like the crowds outraged by the suggestion that the kingdom is bigger than their ethnic and national boundaries? Do we look more like the mobs filled with wrath and seeking revenge at the edge of the cliff ,or like the one who, passing through their midst, calmly walked forward, face set like flint toward the cross? Article continues below Christs actions dont make sense in a world where feats of strength are necessary to ward off threats. To a person who doesnt believe in the living God, the Sermon on the Mount looks weak and the protection of Pharaoh looks strong (Isa. 30:12). If there is no Judgment seat, then the airing of grievancesaccelerating in shrillness and theatricalityis the way to make sure that Vengeance is mine, I will repay (Rom. 12:19). All we need do is redefine what vengeance means and who I means. Then we can avoid our calling as ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:1821) and embrace a different missionone that feels better, intimidates more, raises more money, and mobilizes more crowds. Sure, it ends in the way to death (Prov. 14:12), but death is a long time off. Isnt it? And yet, here we are with Scriptures that make their way even into some of the Christmas carols playing in the grocery store or the mall. Herod is the one who is troubled, and all Jerusalem with him (Matt. 2:3). His rage and ressentiment isnt a sign of strength but of how threatened he is, how scared, how angry, how pitiful. He, like the old spirit of Eden, marches forward with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short (Rev. 12:12). Old Herod still speakswith just as much wrath and just as much fear and just as much hunger for powerand he still says, Come, follow me. But we have something different. We have a word handed down to us that tells us, Fear not, for behold, I bring to you good tidings of great joy that will be for all the people (Luke 2:10). And the sign is in a feeding trough. The sign is at the pigeon table in the temple courts (vv. 2235). The sign is a body present on an imperial execution stake, and a body absent from a borrowed tomb. The sign is what seems weak and foolish and unrealistic. Thats where the wisdom is, the power is, the reality is. But that will require a different kind of power than Darwinian strength that gets us noticed by whatever Pharaoh or Caesar we want to protect us. It will require a different kind of belonging than the kind that comes by loathing those who the people in our circles tell us to hate. It will require us to be a people who really believe that what we carry is news, that it is good, and that it is for all people. Feats of strength and airing of grievances are exhausting and demoralizing. Look at their fruits. Are we more connected or more lonely? Is the light of the gospel more visible or less? David Foster Wallace warned us about this: Worship poweryou will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Like Festivus, it all seems funny until you see the trauma underneath. Maybe what we need is not a new holidayreal or metaphoricalfor the rest of us. Maybe what need is rest, for us. Maybe what we long for is the kind of rest that need not prove itself by its self-protection and influence. Maybe what we need is a different witness, an older kindone that really is good news in a world where its always Festivus and never Christmas. Russell Moore leads the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today. [ This article is also available in espanol. ] For close to 15 years, I forgot about the existence of angels. I didnt exactly decide I no longer believed in them. I simply didnt think about them, and if I ever did, it was a passing thought about how corny the depiction of angels usually is. I rediscovered angels by putting a baby to sleep at night. When my first child was a newborn, I realized one night, to my surprise, that without really noticing it, I had developed a habit of asking God to send his angels to protect her. Back then I worked at Vanderbilt University and became a regular at a Greek Orthodox cafe and bookstore near campus. I loved its quiet beauty, its ancient books, and its veggie chili. I got to know Father Parthenios, an Antiochian priest, and his wife (known to all as simply Presbytera, or priests wife), who ran the place together. One afternoon, late in my pregnancy, Presbytera handed me an icon of an angel and told me it was for the new baby. I appreciated her kindness but wasnt particularly spiritually moved. Im a Protestant, after all. At the time I felt no particular skepticism toward icons or angels, but I didnt feel a deep connection either. Still, I hung the tiny wooden icon on my daughters wall. Months later, as I prayed for my daughter before laying her to sleep, I would point out the icon and ask that angels would be near and protect her. I dont know what changed in my mind or heart. My only explanation is that the towering responsibilityand love and vulnerabilityof motherhood opened my heart to ask for help wherever it could be found. I keenly sensed my daughters smallness and fragility in this giant cosmos and knew ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Update (Dec. 20): The final 12 Haiti missionary hostages made a daring escape overnight, instead of a paid ransom securing their release, according to new details from Christian Aid Ministries. CAM says the missionaries forgive their kidnappers. After months of fervent prayer and fasting by Anabaptists and other Christian supporters worldwide, every member of a group of American and Canadian missionaries held hostage in Haiti for months has now been released. We glorify God for answered prayerthe remaining twelve hostages are FREE! stated Christian Aid Ministries (CAM) today in announcing the good news. Join us in praising God that all seventeen of our loved ones are now safe, stated CAM. Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months. We hope to provide more information as we are able. The Ohio-based group, one of the worlds largest Anabaptist parachurch organizations and active in scores of countries, cited Exodus 15: I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously. In Port-au-Prince, Haitian police spokesman Gary Desrosiers confirmed the release to The Associated Press (AP) but did not provide additional details. It remained unclear whether any ransom was paid or what efforts led to the hostages freedom. Late Thursday afternoon, a convoy of at least a dozen vehicles, including US Embassy SUVs and Haitian National Police, brought the missionaries to the Port-au-Prince airport from the missionary groups offices in Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince. Earlier, people at the CAM campus could be seen hugging each other and smiling. Image: Odelyn Joseph / AP Photo The group of 12 adults and five childrenincluding an 8-month-oldwas kidnapped by a Haitian gang called 400 Mawozo in October after visiting an orphanage. The gang demanded $1 million ransoms and threatened to kill the CAM workers. Two hostages were released on November 21 and three more were released on December 5. Today marked two months since our difficult journey began, stated CAM: As we stated one day after the crisis beganAs an organization, we commit this situation to God and trust Him to see us through. May the Lord Jesus be magnified and many more people come to know His love and salvation. We again want to affirm our commitment to trust God to guide us. Image: Odelyn Joseph / AP Photo News of the hostages release spread quickly in and around Berlin, Ohio, where CAM is headquartered. Its an answer to prayer, said Ruth Miller, who was working at the front desk of the towns Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center. Berlin is in Holmes County, Ohios Amish heartland, and many Amish and Mennonites volunteer in CAM ministries and donate to it. The organizations roots date to the 1980s, when it began working in then-communist Romania. It has since expanded worldwide but has been particularly active in Haiti. CAMs work ranges from planting churches and providing food, school supplies, and other materials to those in need, to disaster relief and putting up billboards with evangelistic messages. Image: Odelyn Joseph / AP Photo Wes Kaufman, who attends a church where some CAM leaders also worship, said many congregations had heeded the mission groups recent request to devote three days to fasting and praying over the situation. Its amazing how God works, Kaufman said as he dined with family in nearby Walnut Creek at Der Dutchman, a restaurant featuring traditional Amish and Mennonite fare. Were feeling great, said Ron Marks, minister at Hart Dunkard Brethren Church in Hart, Michigan, whose members included some of the hostages. Carleton Horst, a member of the Hart congregation, told the AP that church members received a text message Thursday morning from someone connected to the situation that all of the hostages had been released. A mother and her five children, two of them adults, who belong to the church were among the hostages. Horst, who is friends with the family, said the church is rejoicing and hes elated that that portion of things is finally over, just praise the Lord for that. In addition to Michigan, the hostages are from Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Ontario, Canada, according to CAM. Image: Tom E. Puskar / AP Photo Luke Perkins, assistant to the president of Evangelical Theological Seminary of Port-au-Prince, was not surprised the group was released. I would have been very surprised if they were hurt, he told CT. Haitians have always been so generous in their hospitality to us as Americans. Its unfortunate that they were takenthat in and of itself is a departure from the norm. Christians in Haiti, both Haitian church leaders and other American missionaries, recently explained their concerns to CT about how the CAM workers could be released in ways that would embolden the gangs that have brought life in Haiti to a standstill. Meanwhile, the consistently loving prayers of CAM supporters for the kidnappers themselves reveal three Anabaptist distinctives that other Christians should find both familiar and thought provoking, according to experts at the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. The release comes amid an ongoing spike in kidnappings in the capital of Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in Haiti, which is struggling to recover from the July 7 presidential assassination, a 7.2 magnitude deadly earthquake that struck in mid-August, and a severe fuel shortage. My earnest prayer is that [the missionaries release] forces change in Haitithat something is done to address the impunity kidnappers have enjoyed, said Perkins. Haitians have been living under a cloud of fear for some time nowthe kidnapping of these Americans made that worse. Image: Odelyn Joseph / AP Photo Edner Jeanty, executive director of the Barnabas Christian Leadership Center in Port-au-Prince, celebrated the good news but expressed concern that the release does not change much in terms of the risks faced by Christians in Haiti. We do not know for sure whether money was given. But we do know that the gang 400 Mawozo is still alive and well, he told CT. If the American government had some weight in the release of the North Americans, it did not help the Haitian people in helping getting rid of the kidnappers. As this kidnapping incident has come to some form of closure, it is important for Christians to continue to pray and support the former hostages as they have been traumatized and need healing, he said. It is also important to remember that Haitian brothers and sisters are being kidnapped routinely. Help us pray for the peace of the country because our welfare depends on its peace (Jer. 27:4). He urges more investment in job creation for local youth, in order to change the dynamics of fear, struggle, and hope in Haiti. The Haitian people by and large are exhausted. They are tired of witnessing the continued downward spiral of their country, said Perkins. [But] when Im in class with my students, I see such hope. There are so many in the emerging generation that are ready and eager to take the country in a different direction. I cant wait to see what the Lord uses them to do. CTs Quick to Listen podcast recently explored how Haitian Christians persevere through crises and whether God really wants missionaries to risk their lives. Reporting by The Associated Press Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince, Peter Smith in Berlin, Ohio, and Anna Nichols in Lansing, Michigan, as well as by CTs Morgan Lee and Jeremy Weber. Pastor of one of Canadas largest megachurches placed on leave after alleged sexual misconduct Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment One of Canadas largest multi-site churches has placed its lead pastor on leave after sexual misconduct allegations were made against him. The Meeting House, an Anabaptist megachurch in Ontario, has announced that it placed teaching pastor Bruxy Cavey, 56, on a leave of absence while an external investigation looks into sexual misconduct allegations made by a woman to the churchs board of directors late last month. We take these allegations very seriously and are committed to a thorough and transparent process. We are praying through this situation, Maggie John, the executive chair of the churchs overseers board, said in a statement reported by CityNews Toronto. Cavey became the senior pastor of what was once called Upper Oaks Community Church in 1997. The name was changed to The Meeting House and grew to 19 campuses throughout the Toronto area with a weekly attendance of over 5,000. Its flagship campus is in Oakville. Cavey is the author of the 2007 book The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus and the 2017 book Reunion: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints, and Sinners, which has a forward written by progressive Christian activist Shane Clairborne. According to CityNews, Cavey is not facing any criminal charges. The churchs website describes itself as a church that exists to grow loving communities of Jesus-followers who live and share his irreligious message. It belongs to the Anabaptist denomination Be In Christ Church of Canada. While Rev. Cavey has a larger public profile than most, our posture is still the same as it would be for all our Pastors, Charles Mashinter, executive director of Be In Christ, said in a statement to Religion News Service. We desire reconciliation and healing for any who may experience harm involving one of our clergy. Support has been provided for those directly involved as well as counseling for those deeply affected by this news. When the investigator has concluded their work and delivered their report we, will determine next steps in keeping with these values. Cavey gained a following through his sermons and his YouTube videos in which he would answer questions about Christianity, according to City News. In 2018, California-based Fresno Pacific Bible Seminary, which belongs to the Mennonite Brethren denomination, removed Cavey as a guest lecturer after donors raised concerns over his theology. In 2019, a pastor in Regina, the capital of Canadas Saskatchewan province, resigned after church leaders were told he had abused his power to harass women in his congregation. Rev. Jerven Weekes had been the lead pastor for more than a decade at Rosewood Park Alliance Church, an evangelical Protestant church from the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, according to CBC News. The outlet reported at the time that three women had complained to the church about sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior by him over the previous two years. 12 remaining missionaries kidnapped in Haiti are now free Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries thanked God Thursday morning as it announced that the 12 remaining missionaries who were among 17 kidnapped by the notorious 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti have now all been released. We glorify God for answered prayer the remaining 12 hostages are FREE! Join us in praising God that all 17 of our loved ones are now safe. Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months. We hope to provide more information as we are able, the international aid ministry said in a statement to The Christian Post, which also quoted a portion of Exodus 15:1. I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously, the verse says. The release of the remaining 12 missionaries comes just 11 days after the release of three others on Dec. 5. Some two weeks prior to that, the gang released two missionaries described as sick adults. A source with knowledge of the first two releases told The Miami Herald that no ransom was paid even though the 400 Mawozo gang leader, Wilson Joseph, had threatened to kill all the missionaries if his gang didn't receive $1 million each for their release. It was unclear on Thursday if any ransom was paid to release any of the missionaries. When the kidnapping occurred, the abducted group included six men, six women and five children, of which 16 are Americans and one is Canadian. They ranged in age at the time of their kidnapping from 8 months old to 48 years old. While negotiations for their release were ongoing between the gang and officials from the Haitian and U.S. governments, a video of Joseph circulated on social media showing that the crime boss wasnt pleased with the pace of negotiations. I swear by thunder that if I dont get what Im asking for, I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans, Joseph threatened in late October, according to a translation cited by Bloomberg Quicktake. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at a press briefing late last month that President Joe Biden was committed to making sure that every single one of the missionaries returned home safely, particularly the children. I personally give an update on this issue every single day to the president, who is taking a deep interest in making sure we get every single one of those people home safely, Sullivan said. SD Gov. Kristi Noem introduces bill to 'restore protections for prayer in schools' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment South Dakotas Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has introduced a bill that would allow students in public schools to pray every morning at school if they so choose despite pushback from secular groups to similar bills in other states. On Monday, Noem released the text of legislation that would require a moment of silence in schools to begin the school day. In a statement, Noem shared her belief that every student deserves the opportunity to begin their day with a calm, silent moment. 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, she added. The bill calls for all public school districts in the state to provide students and teachers the opportunity each morning that school is in session to have a moment of silence lasting up to one minute. Potential uses for this moment of silence include voluntary prayer, reflection, meditation or other quiet, respectful activity. The legislation would mandate that no school employee may dictate the action to be taken by students or teachers during the moment of silence and that no student may interfere with another students engagement in the moment of silence. It also clarifies that the language in the bill shouldnt be construed to permit schools to conduct the moment of silence as a religious exercise. The legislation contends that a moment of silence at the beginning of the school day is necessary to provide students and teachers with a reprieve from the frenzy of daily life and to set a tone of decorum that will be conducive to learning. South Dakota is one of several states where elected officials are pushing for a moment of silence in schools. An Ohio Senate bill introduced in October would establish a moment of silence in schools. In June, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that would give students a daily opportunity to reflect and be able to pray as they see fit. Separation of church and state advocacy groups see the moment of silence measures as causes for concern. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which advocates for a strict separation of church and state, wrote a letter to the Ohio Senate criticizing Senate Bill 248 as an unconstitutional promotion of religion. The Wisconsin-based advocacy group expressed particular opposition to the language of the bill calling on each public school district to provide for a moment of silence each school day for prayer, reflection, or meditation upon a moral, philosophical, or patriotic theme. FFRF Staff Attorney Ryan Jayne maintained that moment of silence bills that contain an explicit reference to prayer such as the bills in Ohio, Florida and South Dakota run afoul of U.S. Supreme Court precedent in the 1985 Wallace v. Jaffree decision. The court struck down an Alabama law setting aside time for meditation or voluntary prayer during the school day. The addition of or voluntary prayer indicates that the State intended to characterize prayer as a favored practice, the decision stated. The Supreme Court concluded that such an endorsement is not consistent with the established principle that the government must pursue a course of complete neutrality toward religion. Jayne argued that the Ohio bills mention of prayer before other potential uses for the moment of silence makes the endorsement even more clear. There can be no serious doubt that the primary intent of this bill is to inject religion into the public school day, which is an improper legislative purpose, he wrote. Mandatory moment of silence bills are a trend across the country and invariably they are described in terms of promoting religion. DeSantis described the Florida moment-of-silence bill as an initiative allowing students to pray as they see fit and one that counters attempts to push God out of every institution. The headline included with the statement from Noems office about the South Dakota bill characterizes the legislation as an effort to restore protections for prayer in the classroom. This week in Christian history: Wheaton College holds first classes; Oral Roberts dies Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births, notable deaths and everything in between. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while other happenings might be previously unknown by most people. This week Dec. 12 through Dec. 18 marks the anniversary of the death of a controversial preacher, the censorship of a prominent Catholic theologian and the first classes being held at a prominent evangelical higher education institution. 1 2 3 4 Next Altar depicting 'Last Supper' survives Kentucky tornado while church was destroyed Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An altar depicting Michelangelo's "The Last Supper" remained standing while the rest of the church suffered catastrophic damage from the deadly tornado that struck Mayfield, Kentucky, last weekend. The First Christian Church of Mayfield was destroyed on Dec. 10 thanks to the tornado that toppled many buildings in the town of about 10,000 people, including the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, where at least eight people died and dozens were trapped before being rescued. But to the surprise of the church's Senior Pastor Milton West, an altar and cross from the Mayfield house of worship remained standing and undamaged. The altar is where the church congregation would typically serve communion, according to West. "We have managed to salvage our beautiful communion table," West said in a Facebook video on Monday. "We managed to save the most important pieces of what is left of our church." He said the congregation has been fortunate that the "loss of life" in the church family has been "minimal." In an interview with TODAY, West noted that the communion table was the "center of our worship experience." Although no one died from his congregation, West said four families lost their homes due to the storm. "I think they're beginning to cope with the reality of what has happened, and they're certainly grieving and sad over the loss," West added. "We are doing what we can to keep people's spirits up." Despite the need to rebuild the church, West shared with the congregation a message in the hopes that they wouldn't view the church's destruction as a bad sign. "What you try to do is have them reframe, rethink what it all means and not to overinterpret it," West said. "There are a lot of people out there who would say that this is a sign from God that something is wrong. We do not embrace that notion at all. Our faith is positive, and God is never the author of bad things in people's lives." West remains optimistic for the future of his congregation, saying tragedy has the potential to unite members during a time of fractured "political, theological and personal views." "We grieve, we cry and we hug and we pull ourselves together and go to the next step of trying to recover and rethink where we want to be as a church, but our people have stayed strong during all of this," he said. "I think this gives people an opportunity to pull together for the common good. Those differences don't matter when you're trying to rebuild your lives. I think we're going to see that diminish here in Mayfield for quite some time." In the storm's aftermath, First Christian Church held a worship service on Sunday for community members outside of the destroyed building. First Christian Church announced on Thursday that it will hold its next worship service this upcoming Sunday at Mayfield Elementary School, declaring, "Our church lives again!" Rev. Joey Reed, a minister at Mayfield First United Methodist Church, took shelter during the storm with his wife in the closet within the basement of their church building. When the storm subsided, the couple realized the house of worship had been damaged and torn to the ground around them. The ceiling came down and bricks and metal were everywhere on site. "I realized it might be my last few moments of my life on this earth and I was very glad to be with my wife," Reed said in an interview with CBS News. "I know her prayer and mine was that we'd be spared. I was afraid for my children, what would happen to them and how they would respond to this," he continued. Amid the devastation, Reed is able to give thanks to God. "The devastation around us is incredible. Thanks be to God the parts of the building that came down didn't come down on us," he said. "All I care about is the fact that the most valuable possessions in my life, my wife's life and my children, they're all safe, and everything else is replaceable." The church may be gone for now, but Reed said the memories made in the building will remain strong. "That building was the repository of our memories, and we have to remember that those memories still belong to us," Reed was quoted as saying. "They cannot be taken from us by something even as devastating as this tornado." As four tornadoes struck Kentucky from Friday night into Saturday morning, at least 74 people have died and over 100 residents were reported missing as of Tuesday. In total, over 30 tornadoes struck in six states from Friday night into Saturday morning. 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. Trump to celebrate Christmas at First Baptist Dallas during The History Tour Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Former President Donald Trump is expected to celebrate Christmas with one of the strongest supporters of his presidency, Pastor Robert Jeffress, at First Baptist Dallas church on Sunday as he continues The History Tour, which takes a look back at his time serving as the 45th president of the United States. We are blessed to have my friend and our 45th president to worship with us this Sunday morning at First Baptist Dallas, Jeffress said in a statement cited by CBS DFW. America has never had a more pro-life and pro-religious liberty president than Donald J. Trump. We owe President Trump a debt of gratitude for all he has done for our great nation. While The History Tour will be looking back at Trumps presidency, Jeffress promised that his time at First Baptist Dallas on Dec. 19 will be focused on the birth of Jesus Christ. The focus of the music and message this Sunday will be on the most important event in human history the birth of Jesus Christ. President Trump is known for his love for Christmas and what it represents. We are thrilled to have him join us for this Christmas worship experience this Sunday morning, Jeffress said. The tour, which includes a series of live conversations between former Fox News host Bill OReilly, who's now on Newsmax, and Trump, and began with stops in Sunrise and Orlando, Florida, and will continue at the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday. Trump promises that his conversation with OReilly will be hard-hitting. These will be wonderful but hard-hitting sessions where well talk about the real problems happening in the U.S., the former president said in a statement cited by The Dallas Morning News. I will be focusing on greatness for our country, something seldom discussed in political dialogue. If we dont make our country great again, we will soon no longer have a country! Other than those focus areas, Trump further promised that the event, where tickets are currently priced between $95 and more than $2,000, will be fun, fun, fun. Months before Trumps election as the 45th president in 2016, Jeffress praised him for his selfless desire to be president. "Although as a pastor I cannot officially endorse a candidate, I want you to know that I would not be here this morning, if I were not absolutely convinced that Donald Trump would make a great president of the United States," he told Trump's crowd of adulators at the time. And as the first of two impeachment enquiries was underway against Trump in the fall of 2019, Jeffress defended him. Look, I dont pretend to speak for all evangelicals but this week I have been traveling the country and Ive literally spoken to thousands and thousands of evangelical Christians. I have never seen them more angry over any issue than this attempt to illegitimately remove this president from office, overturn the 2016 election and negate the votes of millions of evangelicals in the process, Jeffress said in an interview. And they know that the only impeachable offense President Trump has committed was beating Hillary Clinton in 2016. Thats the unpardonable sin for which the Democrats will never forgive him, he added. House Democrats push FDA to lift safety protocols for abortion drugs Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Pro-abortion legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives are calling on the Food and Drug Administration to permanently discard safety protocols for dispensing drugs that induce a miscarriage to terminate an early first-trimester pregnancy, commonly referred to as the Risk, Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies. A group of more than six dozen House Democrats, led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., introduced a resolution Thursday that would express the sense of the House of Representatives that policies governing abortion care should be equitable and based on science. The resolution specifically focused on the abortion pills, also referred to as a chemical abortion or medication abortion. A chemical abortion has two components: mifepristone and misoprostol. The lawmakers claim that the REMS have no medical basis and echoed the FDAs analysis that abortion pills efficacy and safety have become well-established both by research and experience, and serious complications have proven to be extremely rare. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., a co-sponsor of the resolution, elaborated on their goal in a statement. As chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, we are committed to eliminating all unnecessary barriers to abortion care, including the onerous and unnecessary restrictions on the use of medication abortion, she said. We look forward to working with the FDA to ensure any policies regarding the use of mifepristone are based solely on science and evidence, not policy or ideology. The resolution comes after the FDA approved the temporary suspension of the REMS earlier this year, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for such a decision. Pro-abortion politicians and activists believe women should have the ability to obtain abortion-inducing drugs in the mail because of the dangers posed by the pandemic. The pro-abortion lawmakers who co-sponsored the resolution indicated their desire to make these changes to the REMS permanent. As explained in the resolution, the REMS require that it be dispensed to patients in person, that healthcare providers who prescribe mifepristone receive certification before doing so, and that certified prescribers obtain a signed safety agreement from patients before prescribing mifepristone to them. The lawmakers' resolution noted that on May 7, 2021, the FDA indicated that it is conducting an evidence-based review of the REMS for mifepristone, the lawmakers argued that policies surrounding the distribution of the abortion pill should be grounded in science and based on a scientific review of available medical evidence and ensure equitable access for patients harmed by restrictions ..." This is not the first time the FDA has been pushed to change its safety guidelines for the use of abortion-inducing drugs. When mifepristone first came out, the FDA had a protocol for it to be used through seven weeks of pregnancy, or 49 days from conception, according to Sue Turner, director of Physicians for Life. Because many abortion clinics in the U.S. were ignoring the FDAs protocol and using the drug in chemical abortions up to 60 days, states began passing regulations saying they had to follow the FDAs protocol. They didnt want to have to follow the FDA protocol, so [then President] Obama made the FDA change it to the later date, the 60 days, to match up with what the abortion providers were doing, Turner told The Christian Post in a previous interview. The drug was less effective," she said, and abortionists then had to also perform a surgical abortion, which meant that women were being charged for both chemical and surgical procedures. Mifepristone, which blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone, constitutes one dose of the abortion bill. Patients have the option to reverse the effects of mifepristone before taking misoprostol, but once they take misoprostol, which induces contractions and a miscarriage, the effects are irreversible. While pro-abortion lawmakers maintain that abortion pills are safe, pro-life groups have repeatedly warned that abortion pills have adverse side effects. Students for Life of America partnered with Charlotte Pence Bond, daughter of former Vice President Mike Pence, to create a new docuseries titled This is Chemical Abortion, designed to put a spotlight on the dangers of chemical abortions. Last year, the pro-life group Live Action put together an investigative report titled, Abortion Pill Kills, which highlighted complications that women can experience after taking abortion pills. These side effects include severe cramping, contractions, and heavy bleeding. According to the report, the bleeding can often last from nine to 16 days, but in 8% of cases, the bleeding continues for more than 30 days. The debate about the abortion pill and the safety protocols in place regulating its administration has accelerated over the past year. As Democrats and pro-abortion activists pushed for loosening the REMS, Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to the FDA, asking the government agency to label the abortion pill as deadly and classify it as a threat to womens health. While a federal judge struck down the REMS last summer, enabling women to obtain the abortion pill by mail, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated it about a week before the Trump administration left office in January. In response to the Democrats push to ensure easy access to abortion drugs, several states have passed laws imposing restrictions on the availability of chemical abortion. Christian photographer can't decline gay weddings, federal court rules Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge has ruled that a New York-based Christian photographer must provide services for same-sex wedding celebrations despite holding religious objections to gay marriage. Judge Frank Geraci, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, rejected a request by Emilee Carpenter of the upstate New York-based Emilee Carpenter Photography to grant a preliminary injunction against a state anti-discrimination law. In his ruling Monday, the Obama appointee concluded that New York has a compelling interest in ensuring that individuals, without regard to sexual orientation, have equal access to publicly available goods and services, and that the Accommodation clause is narrowly tailored, as applied to Plaintiff, to serve that interest. As a result, even if the Accommodation clause compels speech or expressive association in a manner that implicates Plaintiffs free-speech and free-association interests, the provision survives strict scrutiny, added Geraci. New Yorks public accommodation laws are neutral. By only bringing an as-applied challenge, Plaintiff virtually concedes that the laws are facially neutral. She raises no non-conclusory factual allegations that the laws were enacted with any kind of religious (or anti-religious) motivation. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal nonprofit that has successfully argued religious liberty cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, represents Carpenter in her legal proceedings. ADF Senior Counsel Jonathan Scruggs denounced the decision in a statement and vowed to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. The courts decision continues down a dangerous path of the government compelling artists to speak messages that violate their religious beliefs or imposing steep fines, closing their businesses, or throwing them in jail, Scruggs maintained. Scruggs referenced Lorie Smith, the owner of the web design company 303 Creative. Smith is suing Colorado over a law that would require her to create websites celebrating gay marriages if she chose to expand her business to offer wedding website designs despite her objections to same-sex weddings. In July, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled against Smith, concluding that she must create websites for weddings that conflict with her religious views if she offers weddings website design services. ADF has appealed that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Artists like Emilee and Lorie Smith in Colorado are protected under the Constitution to freely live and work according to their religious beliefs, stated Scruggs. Emilee and Lorie happily serve all people; they just cannot promote messages which contradict their religious beliefs, including their views on marriage. In April, Carpenter sued New York Attorney General Letitia James; Johnathan J. Smith, interim commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights; and Weeden Wetmore, district attorney of Chemung County. At issue were provisions in state law that prohibit unlawful discriminatory practices ... because of sexual orientation in any place of public accommodation. Since the law defines public accommodations as retail ... establishments dealing with goods or services of any kind, Carpenter concluded that the law applies to her business. the Accommodations Clause forces Emilee to celebrate same-sex engagements or weddings and would require her to promote messages that violate her religious beliefs or require her to participate in religious ceremonies that violate her religious beliefs, something she cannot do, stated the lawsuit. Likewise, the Publication Clause prohibits Emilee from asking prospective clients questions sufficient for her to learn whether they are seeking photography services celebrating same-sex engagements or weddings so that she can be honest with them about the photographs she does and does not create. The lawsuit expressed concern that New York officials can force her business and her personallyto pay limitless damages and a $100,000 fine, require her to create artwork against her beliefs via court order, revoke her business license, and lock her up in jail for up to a year. Over 100 volunteer with Samaritan's Purse to aid tornado victims in Kentucky, Arkansas Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Over 100 people have volunteered so far with the Evangelical humanitarian aid organization Samaritans Purse to help those devastated by the deadly tornadoes that tore through six different states last weekend and left dozens dead as the charity is partnering with churches in Kentucky and Arkansas. Todd Taylor, Samaritans Purse U.S. disaster relief program manager who has assisted with over 130 different storm responses with the ministry, is among those on the ground in Mayfield, Kentucky, to provide aid to those in need. It looks like you took the town and put it in a big blender and dumped it out, Taylor said told The Christian Post, describing the way a tornado impacted the town with a population of about 10,000. This was a very strong tornado. It was a very wide path of destruction right in the heart of Mayfield. It truly is utter devastation. Homes have been blasted down to the foundation. The loss of life is staggering. Over 30 tornadoes devastated residents in six states on Friday night into Saturday morning: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. With four tornadoes striking in Kentucky, Mayfield became the center of national news coverage as a tornado collapsed the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory and trapped many workers. At least eight have died. In the wake of the storms, Samaritans Purse has rushed to set up aid operations in three areas: two in Kentucky and one in Arkansas. Samaritans Purse is partnering with three churches to provide disaster relief: First Assembly of God Church in Mayfield, Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green and Maple Road Baptist Church in northeast Arkansas. Volunteers have offered help to people impacted by the storm by cutting and removing broken trees, tarping roofs, salvaging their belongings and locating their items from houses blown apart. As the rain poured into homes with no roofs, the volunteers have assisted by helping to remove wet carpet and sheetrock. They have also cleaned up numerous yards of homes that have been destroyed. We want to show these folks that are down in the ditch the love of Jesus Christ. And we know theres a need, and we are able to help these folks right where they are, in Jesus name, Taylor said. Once yards have been cleaned and raked up, even if the house has been destroyed, it gives the homeowners hope and a place to start. And thats when we can start sharing the Gospel. While Taylor said that Mayfield residents seem to be a close-knit group with a great sense of community despite the loss of life and people still missing, the devastation for many is beginning to take hold. Taylor recalled hearing a woman tell him her experience during the storm of how she and her husband were trapped in different places of their home. The couple, he said, remained separated for 24 hours. They could hear each others voices, but they couldnt see each other until they were rescued. This is really hard on a community. Tornados make me think of the scripture that no one knows when the hour is coming, because no one knew, Taylor said. Theres that immediate shock. And as you drive perpendicular to where the tornado hit, you go from no damage to catastrophic damage, he added. There are some similarities to destruction in the emotional issues that people face in hurricanes and in tornados. But, hurricanes give you time to prepare. These people impacted by these tornadoes had about 20 minutes warning before they [got] hit. The best thing people can do for those impacted by the tornados is pray. We should remain in prayer. Prayers are heard by our heavenly Father. Just knowing that people across the nation are lifting them up in prayer can bring comfort to those who were impacted, Tayler stated. For those without faith, we see a harder road to recovery. And those who are heavily involved in church and Jesus is their daily bread have more hope for tomorrow that God will see them through. Pro-life groups slam Biden's selection of pro-abortion 'radical' to head FDA Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Pro-life groups have condemned President Joe Biden's nomination of a pro-abortion radical to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Robert Califfs nomination has received renewed attention after members of the Senate Health Committee questioned him Tuesday at his confirmation hearing. Biden announced Califf as his choice to serve as commissioner of the FDA last month. If confirmed, Califf would regain the role he briefly held during the latter part of the Obama administration. Robert Califf is the wrong choice for FDA commissioner, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, in a statement. His track record under [former President Barack] Obama provides evidence of his disregard for life and health. Dannenfelser expressed concerns about Califfs actions to promote and increase the use of chemical abortions (abortion pills) during his previous tenure: If confirmed, Califf will work hand-in-hand with Joe Biden, [Secretary of Health and Human Services] Xavier Becerra, and the radical abortion lobby to make every mailbox, post office and pharmacy in America function as an abortion center. He must not be confirmed. Senators on both sides of the aisle should want to ensure that any new FDA commissioner will put the safety of women and children first. Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, wrote a letter to members of the Senates Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee expressing opposition to Califfs confirmation: Dr. Califf previously held this position during the Obama administration in 2016. Under his leadership, the FDA significantly weakened the health and safety standards, known as Risk Evaluation and Mitigation System (REMS), for chemical abortion pills, allowing them to be used as late as 10 weeks in pregnancy. Additionally, women were no longer required to ingest the Chemical Abortion pills at the abortion facility dispensing the drugs. Instead, women were encouraged to take the drugs at home, essentially acting as an amateur abortionist and DIY-ing their own abortion. The FDA even removed the mandated complication report, leaving the abortion drug distributors accountable for only deaths, not harm, she added. After listing some of the complications caused by chemical abortions and the inadequate patient examinations at abortion clinics, including life-threatening undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy and infertility due to lack of blood type screening, Hawkins urged senators to reject this blatantly partisan nomination. Hawkins added: Dr. Califfs championing of chemical abortion without medical oversight knowing the risks proves he is motivated by political power, not the safety and wellbeing of the Americans he seeks to serve. Given the opportunity to lead the FDA once again, we fully expect Dr. Califf to continue his abuse of power and act as a radical abortion activist, disregarding the wellbeing of the American people. Pro-life concerns about Califfs nomination to serve as FDA commissioner come as the debate about chemical abortion has reached a new level of intensity during the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, pro-abortion groups sued to allow women to obtain chemical abortions without first visiting a doctor, citing concerns about their health in light of the pandemic. A federal judge lifted the requirement that an abortionist must see patients in person before dispensing the abortion pills, which the U.S. Supreme Court later reimposed. After Biden took office earlier this year, the FDA temporarily lifted the ban on women obtaining abortion pills by mail. A group of House Democrats later called on the FDA to permanently allow women to take the abortion pills without seeing a doctor first. In 2016, Califf received near-unanimous confirmation from the Senate, with all but four senators voting to approve his appointment. Three of the four senators who opposed his confirmation, all Democrats, remain in the Senate. The lone Republican to oppose Califfs confirmation, then-Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., no longer serves in the chamber. This time, senators on the Democratic side of the aisle have once again expressed the most concern about Califf, albeit for reasons other than his position on chemical abortions. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with Democrats, announced in a statement Tuesday that Dr. Califf is not the leader Americans need at the FDA and I will oppose his nomination. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., one of the four senators who opposed Califf in 2016, indicated his opposition this time as well, stating, We need a leader who is ready for reform in pursuit of improving public health outcomes and Dr. Califf is not the candidate. On the other hand, several Republicans told Politico they planned on supporting Califf, including Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., Susan Collins, R-Maine., Roger Marshall, R-Kan. and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. Trapped candle factory worker rescued after praying on phone with wife: 'God will work it out' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As a tornado devastated Mayfield, Kentucky, last weekend, Courtney Saxton, 38, and five of her children ranging from 3 to 13, bolted to hide in their bathtub and closet. While they hid, waiting for the storm to subside, Saxton received a frantic call. It was her husband, Mark, who told her that he was trapped under broken debris at the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory. He had been working a shift as a forklift operator loading and unloading trucks, she told the Associated Press. Not knowing if her husband would make it out alive, Saxton said she immediately began praying with her husband about the unforeseen future. After several hours, Mark Saxton was found and rescued. Aside from cuts and scrapes on his body, he was alright medically. He was calling us hollering and screaming and crying because he was stuck, Saxton said of the phone call she received. It was scary for me because Im thinking, Oh my God, is he going to make it? So, I prayed with him over the phone, too. I just kept talking to him, kept telling him that God will work it out, be strong, dont give up, keep fighting. Mark Saxton told NBC News that he knew he might be in danger when he heard the tornado warning. He remembers looking outside the factorys door and seeing an ice-cream-swirling-shaped cloud heading in his direction. He turned around and went to a tornado-safe hallway nearby. Tiles and concrete started falling, Saxton said. Everyone started running. So I just dropped to the ground. I got in a fetal position, and the concrete slab fell on top of me. I really didnt think I was going to make it, he continued. If you see the people that were beside me ... I cant believe Im even here. On Friday night into Saturday morning, over 30 tornadoes left trails of destruction throughout six states: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. Over 80 have died. Tennesee was hit by four tornadoes, including one that ran the ground for 200 miles. About 110 people were huddled inside the candle factory in Mayfield. Including Saxton, about 40 were initially rescued. On Monday, emergency officials said that they think everyone at the factory had been accounted for, including eight who died. As of Monday, about 109 people throughout Tennessee remained missing, according to Gov. Andy Beshear. After the tornado made landfall, Saxton and her children came out of their hiding places and quickly realized their roof was missing. They stayed the night at a shelter on Saturday at the St. Jerome Parish Hall in Fancy Farm. Courtney Saxton said shell never forget the terror she saw in her childrens faces. They were scared, screaming, crying, she told AP. It was awful. I was trying to calm them down, but the whole time Im praying. I knew that God would see us through. The Saxtons werent the only ones who relied on their faith during the tornado in Mayfield. Also taking shelter in their bathroom, Graves County Circuit Judge Kevin Bishop and his family, who live near Mayfield, resorted to prayer as a last hope amid feelings of anticipation about their survival in the midst of the unknown. We hunkered down with as many pillows and blankets over everybodys heads and prayed, Bishop told the news agency. Even though Bishop's home had minor damage, and the tornado removed the roof of the courthouse where he worked, he told AP that he remains optimistic about Mayfields ability to recover. Were strong. Well work together. But its going to be a long time, he said. Rev. Bob Waldridge, the pastor of Yahweh Baptist Church, could be seen cleaning up chairs, pews and sound equipment from the 100-year-old church that had been flooded and damaged. The wind came through, and everything that was in the foyer ended up in the back of the church, Waldridge was quoted as saying. And it blew the back wall of the church out, and it took the roof off the church. Its just a building, but Im more worried about the people, he added. There are a lot of folks that are hurt right now. Moving forward, he said other local churches have offered their space for his congregation to meet. Pastor Joey Reed of Mayfield First United Methodist Church told WLKY that he waited out the storm with his wife inside the 100-year-old church. We heard furniture in the foyer bouncing around and then we felt fresh air under the closet doors and we realized it was open to the elements somehow, Reed was quoted as saying. The tornado left the church badly damaged but still standing. We will come back from this, Reed said. I dont know how we will rebuild, but that doesnt matter as much as the mission and ministry of the church rebuilding and thats what were aiming for. Maryland cant bar Christian school from voucher program over beliefs on sexuality, judge rules Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge has ruled that Maryland unlawfully discriminated against a Christian school due to its traditional views on marriage and gender identity when the state denied it access to a voucher program. U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled Friday that state officials violated the First Amendment rights of Bethel Christian Academy in Savage when they excluded the school from the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today voucher program. Gallagher, a Trump appointee, argued that the state failed to put forth evidence that Bethels policies have deterred a single prospective applicant from applying for admission or that Bethel has ever denied admission expelled, or disciplined a student on the basis of sexual orientation. Not only was Defendants decision to exclude Bethel from BOOST eligibility based on Bethels speech, but it was based on the specific viewpoints Bethel chose to express in its admissions policy, Gallagher wrote in her ruling. The First Amendment, which is applicable to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment, bars laws that restrict the freedom of speech. The judge concluded that the First Amendment prevents Defendants from attempting to use BOOST funding as leverage to compel recipients to express views that Defendants find more palatable. The decision also rejected an effort by state officials to have Bethel return $102,000 of BOOST funding that it received the first two academic years it was eligible for the program. Ryan Tucker of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal nonprofit representing Bethel, said in a statement that the ruling showed that Maryland may not discriminate against religious schools simply because it dislikes their religious beliefs. The court was on firm ground to stop the state from targeting and denying children scholarships simply based on the beliefs and policies set out in their schools parent-student handbook, stated Tucker. BOOST was created in 2016 by the state legislature and jointly overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education and a seven-member advisory board. BOOST funding is given to students to attend nonpublic schools in the state, with 17 students at Bethel receiving the vouchers in the 2016-2017 school year and 18 students receiving the funding for the 2017-2018 school year. In June 2019, Bethel filed a lawsuit against Maryland over the private Christian school being removed from BOOST in 2018 due to its traditional views on sexuality and gender. At issue was the schools official handbook defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman and requiring students and faculty to use the facilities that correspond with their biological sex rather than any preferred gender identity. Matthew Gallagher, chairman of an advisory board that oversees the vouchers, informed Bethel that its policies were discriminatory. A non-heterosexual student may reasonably view the policy as one that allows denial of admission or discipline or expulsion on the basis of his or her sexual orientation, Gallagher said, as quoted by The Baltimore Sun. Therefore, the Board concluded that this policy, on its face, was in conflict with the nondiscrimination clause contained in the ... law. In 2020, Gallagher had initially denied Bethel a preliminary injunction against the voucher program ban. New UN sculpture resembles End Times beast described in Revelation Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A new giant statue installed outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York City, is being likened to an End Times beast described by the Apostle John in Revelation 13:2. A guardian for international peace and security sits on the Visitors Plaza outside #UN Headquarters. The guardian is a fusion of jaguar and eagle and donated by the Government of Oaxaca, Mexico It is created by artists Jacobo and Maria Angeles, the U.N. says in a tweet that includes a photo of the statue. Interestingly, 2 beasts recorded in the book of Revelation are said to symbolize political power and were described with leopard like features, wrote Twitter user Scott Freeze. Other beasts were recorded with wings to symbolize speed/swiftness. Im curious where the artists got their inspiration for this work. Revelation 13:2 says, The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. Daniel 7:2-4 reads, Daniel said: In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea. The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it. Some Twitter users are also quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, which is about the End Times, referring to the mention of peace and security in the U.N.s tweet. The passage reads: For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, Peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Another user writes, The end is near. What more proof do we need? asks another person. Did you really think you could put this on without anyone noticing? And by chance, it has been painted in LGBT colors, writes Michael Snyder on The Economic Collapse blog, calling the statue one of the strangest statues that I have ever seen in my entire life. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Saying two plus two equals four may now be problematic. One of the key aspects of the left-wing cultural revolution thats taken over Americas most powerful institutions is how it injects its politics and ideology into literally everything. That includes science, and now math. Many states and school districts are embracing woke math for K-12 students, intentionally lowering standards and changing math curriculum to focus on attacking white supremacy and paternalism while denying objectivity. There are at least some within these institutions now speaking out in opposition. A group of hundreds of distinguished quantitative scientists put out a public statement condemning the transformation of science and math curriculum. The growing list of 471 signatories includes four winners of the Fields Medal in math; two winners of the Turing Award in computing; a Nobel laureate in physics and another in chemistry; 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences; and faculty at Stanford, Berkeley, CalTech, MIT and every top U.S. university for hard science, The Wall Street Journal reported. In the statement, the scientists explain why woke math will not only erode American competitiveness globally, it will also hold many students back from achievement and success. The scientists noted Californias new math curriculum framework being considered by the states department of education as particularly harmful. The 800-page document, based on dubious research, would further transform the California public education system into a series of social justice activist boot camps. The new curriculum relies heavily on a program called A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction. The concept of mathematics being purely objective is unequivocally false, and teaching it is even much less so, a document for the program reads. Upholding the idea that there are always right and wrong answers perpetuate objectivity as well as fear of open conflict. Under the new framework, coursework will be transformed to dismantle racism in math. What is an example of racism in math? Asking students to show their work, apparently. Besides reorienting math instruction away from, well, teaching math to teaching students to be social justice warriors, it also calls for the elimination of accelerated programs for gifted students. The group of scientists explained in its statement that the elimination of these programs would only superficially reduce disparities among students. In fact, the group noted, it may increase them substantially: While it is possible to succeed in [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] at college without taking advanced courses in high school, it is more challenging. College students who need to spend their early years taking introductory math courses may require more time to graduate. They may need to give up other opportunities and are more likely to struggle academically. Such a reform would disadvantage K-12 public school students in the United States compared with their international and private-school peers. It may lead to a de facto privatization of advanced mathematics K-12 education and disproportionately harm students with fewer resources. The group of scientists also warned that by reducing the emphasis on subjects like algebra and calculus, they are dismantling the building blocks necessary for students to achieve future success in advanced fields. While the U.S. K-12 system has much to improve, the current trends will instead take us further back, the letter concludes. Reducing access to advanced mathematics and elevating trendy but shallow courses over foundational skills would cause lasting damage to STEM education in the country and exacerbate inequality by diminishing access to the skills needed for social mobility. Thats certainly correct. The California Department of Education put its decision over the framework off until May due to the negative response. Its good that this growing list of scientists is speaking out about the issue. However, there must be a more complete societal rebuke of the ideology that brought us here. When institutions go woke, they dont necessarily go broke. After all, theres a lot of power and money backing them up, including government money. But what goes woke typically breaks, as ideology is put before measures of success and merit. That is essentially whats happening with the wave of woke math. The expectation is now that students will fail, and that creating equity simply means lowering standards so that everyone feels like they are doing the same. Declaring everyone a winner will surely make us all losers. Our most powerful institutions are increasingly signaling that the path to success isnt based on what you can do or the quality of your work. Its all about your identity and commitment to preferred narratives. The result will be a less competent and functional society in which you cant trust your doctor to give the right diagnosis or an engineer to design a structurally sound bridge. We will become a country in which its assumed that your elite status is based on little more than commitment to ideology with nothing at all to back it up. Not only will this create individual failure, but it will hurt the United States vis-a-vis our global competitors. Is the United States really going to maintain its technological edge when we are essentially failing huge numbers of Americans? The Soviet Union collapsed because it created a society built on fear and lies. The woke takeover of our institutions wont bring us utopia, it will bring us the same misery and failure. Originally published at The Daily Signal. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I grew up in a Christian home but had no relationship with Christ; youthful exuberance took me too far to the side of the devil. I ventured into all manner of things. I founded a cult called Barracks Green Barrett (BGB) when I was in the university. I went into so many religions in search of truth, and at a certain point, I even became an atheist and a Marxist. One day I came across an article in Time magazine with the caption, Is God Dead?" I was so excited about the argument that favored the God is dead opinion and pulled an excerpt that says, "how can an omnipotent God exist in a world with so much misery and injustice? continues to press religious thinkers to grapple with how to sustain faith while living a mortal life." I photocopied this along with other excerpts and produce a tract that I handed out to Christians to let them know that their God had grown old and died of senility. One night, I had a dream that changed my life. In that dream a demon wanted to kill me. I addressed these powers by saying, By the authority given to me by my Lord Jesus, I command all of you to surrender. To my greatest surprise, the demons that came to attack me surrendered and fled. When I woke up, I realized my follies. Scripture says that only a fool says that there is no God (Psalm 14:1). My eyes of understanding were enlightened and I knew that I seriously needed forgiveness for all the blasphemy and atrocities that I had committed against God. I wept bitterly asking Jesus to have mercy on my soul. I soberly reflected on the dream. It was so real, and I wondered how I could used the name of Christ whom I did not believe in. It was then that I realized that I had a high calling and must give all for the sake of the Gospel. The following morning, I went to my next-door neighbor, whom I had constantly harassed for playing Christian sermons and music. I had threatened to break his DVD player if I heard any sound of Christian sermon or music come out of his room. I knelt before him and apologized for my entire wicked act towards him, and he raised his hand and praised God and said to me, "I have been praying for you." The following day I was invited to a program in Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry Abuja regional headquarters, and there I gave my life to Christ. From that day forward my life has never remained the same. No one preached to me before I gave my life to Christ because I never allowed anyone to talk to me about Him. I harassed, beat and threatened anyone who dared tell me about Jesus. But as soon as Christ revealed Himself to me, I immediately enrolled in Bible college. I fashioned my ministry after the Apostle Paul. By the power of the Holy Spirit I have taken the Gospel to 15 communities where no one had preached Christ before and where not a single person had heard about Jesus. I have escaped assassins many times; I have been arrested for mentioning Christ where it is forbidden; I have been stranded, famished and dehydrated in the bush for days for the sake of the Gospel. I know no other Gospel than Jesus and Him crucified. My love for the Cross of Christ helped me embrace my suffering, and in it lies my Christian strength. There are so many who are like Saul today and do not look anything like Paul. But our prayers can catalyze their spiritual metamorphosis that will eventually make them to become like Paul tomorrow. Let us keep on praying for those who have rejected the Gospel with the hope that one day Jesus will reveal Himself to them. Those who hate God today can be lovers of God tomorrow, for where sin abounds, grace abounds much more (Romans 5:20). I am convinced that there shall come days when all those who are persecuting the church shall come to realize that Jesus is Lord. Some of them will become missionaries of the Gospel, but they need the intercession and prayers of the saints. If my neighbor had not prayed for me, I would have perished in my sins and ignorance. Take a look around your environment and pick one sinner and make a vow that you will never rest in your prayers until he or she bows to the saving power of Christ. Let us not despise them, because some of us were worse than them before Christ found us. ISIS-linked terror plot to kill 'disbelievers' during Christmas foiled in France; 2 arrested Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Authorities in France say they have arrested two suspected terrorists allegedly planning a mass stabbing attack to kill disbelievers during the Christmas holidays in Paris, according to French media reports. One of the two men arrested from separate homes in the greater Paris area pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and told police he was plotting to kill non-Muslims and hoping to be shot dead to become a martyr, The French newspaper Le Figaro reports. Both suspects are 23 years old and were planning knife attacks targeting areas heavily trafficked during the Christmas season, including shopping centers, universities and streets, according to Agence France-Presse. The two were monitored by the General Directorate of Internal Security and were arrested on Dec. 3. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed the arrests on social media. The second suspect didnt admit he was planning any terror attack, but police found Islamic State propaganda at his home. At least one of the two had a plan to act by the end of the year, a source with knowledge of the case told AFP. We have detected [online] exchanges between them and ... that led us to believe that their plan was serious and imminent. Its the fourth terror plot French police have foiled this year. Over the last several years, France has seen an uptick in terror attacks targeting soft target zones and civilians carried out by Islamic extremists. In December 2018, five people were killed and 11 injured during an attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg. In October 2020, 21-year-old Brahim Aioussaoi from Tunisia attacked a mass in Nices Notre Dame Basilica, killing three Christians. He nearly beheaded one of his victims and cut the throat of another. The victims were two women and the church sacristan. The suspect injured several others. Pictures from inside the basilica showed chairs scattered, broken and overturned in the attack. Police shot the suspect, then gave him medical aid. Even under anesthetic, he continued saying, Allahu Akbar, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi told Radio France Internationale at the time. The mayor called the attack Islamo-fascist. The attack happened on the birthday of Islams Prophet Muhammad. It came over a week after a French teacher was beheaded after showing a caricature of Muhammad from the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo as part of a lesson on free speech. In July 2016, France experienced a horrific terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 84 people and left hundreds injured when a Tunisian-born Frenchman Mohamed Bouhlel drove a cargo truck into a crowded area of Nice. In November 2015, a wave of attacks by gunmen and bombers killed 127 people across Paris. While four gunmen killed at least 87 young people at a rock concert at the Bataclan concert hall, 40 more people were killed in five other attacks in the Paris region, including a suicide bombing outside the Stade de France national stadium. In July 2020, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe reported a 285% increase in the number of anti-Christian incidents in France over the last decade. Number of political prisoners in Cuba increased five-fold last year, watchdog reports Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The number of political prisoners in the communist country of Cuba, which stood at about 134 last December, increased to at least 805 by the end of November, a new report by a rights organization shows. These are a small fraction of the real figures, says the Madrid-based watchdog group Prisoners Defenders, noting that its not possible to verify all cases of political imprisonment and therefore the actual number is likely to be much higher. At least 23 of the political prisoners were minors at the time of their detention and are being criminally prosecuted with numerous years imprisonment requested for most of them, the report reveals, adding that the average age of the imprisoned protesters is 34, although Cuba is one of the most ageing countries in the world. The majority of the prisoners are convicts of conscience, the report adds, explaining that they are prisoners deprived of their liberty solely for reasons of conscience, i.e. the strict exercise of their most fundamental human rights, on charges that are either completely and demonstrably false and fabricated, or of a non-criminal nature and absolutely related to thought. Many others have been condemned of conscience, who suffer prosecutors orders or judicial sentences of forced labour at home, limited freedom, probation under threat and other limitations to their freedoms. Some are other political prisoners, whose cases are concerning violence or other punishable offences in addition to their political imprisonment. In July, the people of Cuba demonstrated their anger against the communist government in what was said to be the largest protest in decades amid shortages of medicine and food during the pandemic. Protests were held in cities around the Caribbean island country, including in San Antonio de los Banos, Palma Soriano and Havana, according to reports that emerged at the time. International travel restrictions and the monthslong COVID-19 lockdown within the country compacted the country's already spiraling economic crisis. Hours after the protests erupted, President Diaz-Canel addressed the nation on national television, urging the regime's supporters to confront the protesters on the streets. He also accused the U.S. of causing the crisis in Cuba by imposing sanctions. During the protests, many religious leaders were also targeted, arrested and beaten. Cuban authorities are detaining religious leaders merely for peacefully protesting and calling for greater respect for human rights, said James W. Carr, a commissioner with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, in a statement at the time. Principal among human rights concerns in Cuba are the ongoing and systematic violations of religious freedom, which include the persistent intimidation and harassment of religious leaders. Last month, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel claimed, There are no political prisoners in Cuba, according to Havana Times. In Cuba there are many processes that are public, to discuss programs, to discuss policies as we did with the Constitution. In everyday life there are people who speak ill of the Revolution. What happens is that many times this type of person whom they manipulate and use for that, or those who by their own conviction are against the Revolution, leads them to commit crimes. According to the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, about 59% of Cubans are Christian. Cuban Christians also face constant government surveillance and infiltration even though the faith is growing in the island country. The Cuban government amended its Constitution in 1992, declaring it a secular state, instead of an atheist state, partially allowing religious activities. Since then, the percentage of the countrys population that identifies as Christian has grown. However, the communist regime of Cuba continues to persecute Christians. A new constitution was adopted in 2019, which also lists the country as a secular state. Cuba has been a one-party state under the Communist Party of Cuba since the late dictator Fidel Castro overthrew the United States-supported dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. In 2008, Castros brother, Raul Castro, was elected president, followed by Miguel Diaz-Canel in 2019. Pastor killed after preaching Christ to captors in Nigeria 1 month after abduction Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Kidnappers have reportedly killed an evangelical pastor abducted in Nigerias Kaduna state last month despite a ransom payment being made. The Rev. Dauda Bature of the First Evangelical Church Winning All in the Hayin Narayi area, kidnapped on Nov. 8 from his farm in Ungwan Kanti village, was killed last week, Hausa Christians Foundation announced on Facebook on Sunday. Rev. Joseph Hayab, the chairman of the Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, told Morning Star News that the pastor was abducted by Fulani radicals who called ECWA church leaders on Thursday to state that Bature was killed because an additional ransom payment was not made. The pastors wife had reportedly also been taken hostage when she took ransom payment to the herdsmen on Nov. 18. She was released last Monday, days before the captors said they had killed her husband. A source told The Daily Post that the pastors wife was released on Dec. 6 to pressure ransom payment. The pastors wife told church leaders that her husband preached Christ to his captors and prayed for their repentance, which made them angry and may have contributed to their decision to kill him, Hayab said. Terrorists and radicals in Nigeria have kidnapped and killed thousands of people in recent years, with Islamic extremist groups displacing millions in the northeast and radicalized herders attacking thousands across farming communities in the Middle Belt. Many have raised concerns about what they perceive as the governments inaction in holding terrorists accountable for the rising number of murders and kidnappings. In an earlier interview with CP, Emeka Umeagbalai of the Anambra-based International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law said kidnappings of Christians happen for various reasons. Some terrorists, like Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province and radicalized members of the Fulani herding communities are motivated by money, while others are inspired by Islamic radicalism. Security analysts say kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative industry in Nigeria as weapons are becoming available to militants in Nigeria thanks to war-torn Libya. Nigeria is ranked as the No. 9 worst country globally when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List. Nigeria was placed on the U.S. State Departments list of countries of particular concern in 2020 as human rights advocates sounded alarms about the violence in that countrys Middle Belt that has led to the killings of thousands of people from predominantly Christian farming communities. But last month, the Biden administration removed Nigeria from the list of countries of particular concern, drawing criticism from Christian activists and a former Trump administration official. Although some activists have claimed that violence against Nigerian Christians has genocidal implications, the Nigerian government has refuted such claims. Sam Brownback, who served as the State Department ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom during the Trump administration, told The Christian Post last week that removing Nigeria as a country of particular concern was the wrong move. He argued that it is a sign that the bureaucracy won because it does not want the violence in Nigeria to be seen as associated with religion in any way, shape or form. There is a religious component to it, and we need to call it out, Brownback said. The U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern also identified the African country as one of its 2021 Persecutors of the Year in a report published last month. We are troubled by Nigerias omission as a CPC, said ICC President Jeff King in a statement at the time. The Nigerian government has done almost nothing to stop the violence against Nigerian Christians, leading to continued violent persecution. In some instances, as with Kadunas Governor El-Rufai, the Nigerian government has even furthered the violence. Nigeria is one of the deadliest places on Earth for Christians, as 50,000 to 70,000 have been killed since 2000, the ICC Persecutor of the Year report states. In the latest trading session, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) closed at $43.66, marking a +1.77% move from the previous day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 1.64% gain on the day. At the same time, the Dow added 1.08%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.45%. Heading into today, shares of the drug developer had gained 1.06% over the past month, outpacing the Medical sector's loss of 3.43% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.83% in that time. Wall Street will be looking for positivity from GlaxoSmithKline as it approaches its next earnings report date. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.67, up 8.06% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $12.8 billion, up 10.89% from the year-ago period. GSK's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $3.05 per share and revenue of $45.98 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +2.35% and +4.95%, respectively. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for GlaxoSmithKline should also be noted by investors. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. 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 has moved 0.16% higher. GlaxoSmithKline currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Valuation is also important, so investors should note that GlaxoSmithKline has a Forward P/E ratio of 14.09 right now. This represents a premium compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 13.05. Meanwhile, GSK's PEG ratio is currently 2.44. 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 Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 1.95 as of yesterday's close. The Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry is part of the Medical sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 86, which puts it in the top 34% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our 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. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on 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 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Hard Rock International Chief Executive Officer Jim Allen said the faux volcano outside of the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will be torn down as part of a remodeling of the soon-to-be acquired resort. Allen also said his company filed a request for information to the New York State Gaming Commission, with an eye toward building a casino in the New York City area. Other operators, including MGM Resorts International and Bally's Corp. are expected to bid for what will likely be three new licenses. "It will be a very interesting process, but we certainly look forward to continuing to grow our brand," Allen said in an interview Tuesday. Hard Rock announced Monday it's buying the Mirage from MGM for $1.08 billion, giving the Florida-based casino chain a prominent place on the Las Vegas Strip. The company plans to build a guitar-shaped hotel tower in front of the property, as well as other renovations, such as a live music venue. Its partner, a real estate investment trust, has earmarked up to $1.5 billion for the remodeling. The fate of some older attractions, such as a Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show, have yet to be determined. "It's a massive redo," Allen said. Hard Rock will lease the Mirage name royalty-free for three years. MGM expects to net $815 million after taxes and fees when the sale closes in the second half of next year, according to a statement. The deal represents a major expansion for the Hard Rock brand, which is owned by Florida's Seminole tribe. There was a Hard Rock casino located off the Strip for a number of years that is now owned by Virgin Hotels. The company has for some time been looking for a casino on the Strip, the center of Las Vegas nightlife. The Mirage, built by casino mogul Steve Wynn, opened in 1989. It's known for the volcano out front that erupts nightly, as well as its dolphin and tiger attraction. MGM is in the process of acquiring the higher-end Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, and Chief Executive Officer Bill Hornbuckle has said he wants to reduce the company's exposure to Las Vegas. MGM is the largest operator of casinos in America's gambling capital. Hard Rock will pay rent to MGM Growth Properties, a real estate investment trust that owns the Mirage land. MGM Growth is in the process of merging with Vici Properties. Industrial metals had a sizzling 2021. Vaccines, therapies and President Bidens $1.2-trillion infrastructure bill instilled considerable optimism in the markets as it calls for faster return to normalcy. This, in turn, boosted global economic recovery and industrial activities. No wonder, industrial metals have been soaring (read: 4 Sector ETFs to Make the Most of Infrastructure Bill). Copper prices hit a 10-year high. The brighter prospects of the EV industry are also keeping the demand outlook decent for industrial metals like nickel and lithium. Nickel prices were near the strongest levels since 2014 while aluminum is at its highest since 2018. Tin is at its strongest since 2012. Some specific metals have soared massively in 2021. Lets see if these metals hold the potential to surge in 2022 too. Metals in Focus Copper iPath Series B Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return ETN JJC Up 21.1% YTD: Setback Likely in 2022 Copper imports from China (a key copper-consuming nation) in November were up for the third month in a row, hitting the highest since March. While such high demand points to the fact that copper price may remain strong ahead, higher supplies may act as a headwind to the price scenario. The global refined copper market is expected to be in substantial surplus in 2022, according to the International Copper Study Group (ICSG), per a mining.com article. ICSG expects 2022 supply to exceed demand by 328,000 tons. Lithium Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF LIT Up 42.4% YTD: Rise Likely in 2022 Lithium prices are rising at their fastest pace in years, due to higher demand from industries such as electric vehicles and smartphones. The high cost of converting the metal into industrial use has boosted prices by 240% in 2021, according to research firm and price provider Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, quoted on street.com. Further rise is likely as supplies for industrial use are incapable of meeting higher EV demand. The lithium-ion batteries are used for electric vehicles and energy-storage systems and the demand is high as the world transitions away from fossil fuels. Simon Moores, CEO of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, told Emerging Tech Brew that the EV industry is already facing a shortage of battery-grade lithium, and that price volatility will be a three-year thing, as quoted on a morningbrew article. Nickel iPath Series B Bloomberg Nickel Subindex Total Return ETN JJN Up 17.7% YTD: Rise Likely in 2022 Nickel is deployed in the electric vehicle batteries, battery storage, geothermal energy, and hydrogen industries. The demand picture for nickel is likely to strengthen in 2022 as these industries are red-hot in demand. Aluminum iPath Series B Bloomberg Nickel Subindex Total Return ETN JJU Up 17.7% YTD: Rise Likely in 2022 Aluminum prices have continuously risen this year. China's output has fallen due to restrictions on energy usage and halted production at a 300K-ton capacity factory in the Yunnan province. Thanks to increasing demand against expected supply crunch, the average yearly price in 2022 is projected to rise 6% year over year. Despite rising prices, the U nited States, the worlds largest aluminum importer, has increased its purchases this year by 4.5% year over year. Tin iPath Series B Bloomberg Tin Subindex Total Return ETN JJT Up 120.2% YTD: Rise Likely in 2022 After having surged to record highs, tin prices are expected to remain strong in the coming days too as Indonesia plans to stop the soldering metals exports from 2024 to attract investments in downstream industries. This metal is also a beneficiary of the rise in clean energy. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. 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 Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT): ETF Research Reports iPath Series B Bloomberg Nickel Subindex Total Return ETN (JJN): ETF Research Reports iPath Series B Bloomberg Tin Subindex Total Return ETN (JJT): ETF Research Reports iPath Series B Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return ETN (JJC): ETF Research Reports iPath Series B Bloomberg Aluminum Subindex Total Return ETN (JJU): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved TD SYNNEXs SNX wholly owned subsidiary, Tech Data India recently entered into a partnership agreement with the global cloud security leader, Zscaler ZS. Per the deal, TD SYNNEXs business partners and organizations in India will be able to purchase security solutions from Zscalers leading security platform, Zero Trust Exchange, directly from Tech Data India. The deal is likely to boost TD SYNNEXs security portfolio and offer more agility to its business partners as their network and security needs continue to evolve. This can also enhance the available options for speeding up their migration journey to zero trust architecture. Zscalers Zero Trust Exchange is a purpose-built cloud platform that reduces risks in digital businesses by ensuring a safer digital transformation than traditional virtual private networks and firewalls. It also allows direct, secure connections based on the trust built upon users identity and contexts such as their location, devices security posture, the content being exchanged and the application being requested. Currently, the platform is operating across 150 data centers worldwide. The latest partnership between TD SYNNEXs Tech Data India and Zscaler reflects the reliability of the Zero Trust Exchange platform. This move will not only raise Zscalers global reach but also expand its channel partnership capabilities. Continues to Win Distribution Deals It is remarkable that TD SYNNEX has been benefiting from consecutive deal wins within few months of its formation, following the merger of TD SYNNEX and Tech Data Corporation in the first week of September, 2021. The merged company won its first distribution contract from Palo Alto Networks PANW in September. Per the agreement, TD SYNNEX will distribute Palo Alto Networks cybersecurity solutions to the India-& SAARC-based customers. In the same month, SNX signed an agreement with a leading Israeli software provider, Indeni, to leverage automated network security solutions. In October, it signed a strategic distribution agreement with the network security and automation solutions provider, EfficientIP, which provided EfficientIPs DDI and DNS Security solutions to its partner community of traditional value-added resellers, managed service providers and system integrators. The deal expanded the companys technology portfolio and reinforced EfficientIPs position in the DDI market. Last month, TD SYNNEXs wholly owned subsidiary, DLT Solutions entered into a distribution agreement with the leading provider of cyber, cloud and enterprise security solutions, Telos Corporation TLS. Per the agreement, the Telos solutions portfolio will be added to DLT Solutions channel ecosystem and selective federal-contract vehicles. TD SYNNEX continues to look ahead to boost its organic growth with more strategic acquisitions and deal wins that complement and expand its existing capabilities. The merger of TD SYNNEX with Tech Data is expected to be significantly accretive to the formers bottom line and bring the solid synergy benefits to its top line in the near term. Currently, SNX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Palo Alto Networks carries a Zacks Rank #3, while Zscaler has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and Telos carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). 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 TD SYNNEX Corp. (SNX): Free Stock Analysis Report Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW): Free Stock Analysis Report Zscaler, Inc. (ZS): Free Stock Analysis Report Telos Corporation (TLS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Mike Huckabee hosted a Christmas special on Newsmax this week, and he was lucky enough to score an interview with Donald Trump. It went about as expected, with the former Arkansas governor gushing about all the invaluable work the former president did to reinvigorate America with the spirit of Christmas or something. America had gone through a long period where people quit saying Merry Christmas. It was all Happy Holiday, a bearded Huckabee told Trump with a twinkle in his eye. You deliberately changed that and openly said Merry Christmas. Were going to say it again. It was part of my campaign, Trump began as some delicate New Age synths and piano played. The country had started with this woke a little bit before that. It was embarrassing for stores to say Merry Christmas. Youd see these big chains. They want your money but they dont want to say Merry Christmas. Theyd use reds and theyd use whites and snow but they wouldnt say Merry Christmas. When I started campaigning I said, Youre going to say Merry Christmas again, and now people are saying it. That was a big part of what I was doing, Trump continued over stock footage of softly lit Christmas scenes. I would say it all the time during that period. We want them to say Merry Christmas. Dont shop at stores that dont say Merry Christmas. Ill tell you, we brought it back very quickly. "Mr. President, I want to say, because of you, a lot of Americans have had some great Christmases." Mike Huckabee to Trump #NotACult pic.twitter.com/NQvshit7cF Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 16, 2021 The War on Christmas is not an actual thing, of course. Its something conservative media invented in an effort to brainwash their audience into believing Democrats are trying to destroy everything they value. Barack Obama regularly wished Americans Merry Christmas while he was in office. Trump around the same time was tweeting Happy Holidays to his supporters. Its all made up. Americans are hearing Merry Christmas just as much now as they were before Trump took office. Happy Holidays is in the mix, too, just as its always been. Its not an attack on Christmas, only an acknowledgement that other religions celebrate holy days this time of year. There is no war here. Theres only Trumps push to politicize Christmas for his personal gain, and a legion of enablers like Huckabee who fawn all over him while he does it. Ross Woodhall, Contributor / Getty Images/Cultura RF The Christmas season is upon us. There is only one week before Christmas. Did you know that Christmas is short for Christs Mass which was a special Catholic Mass in the dead of winter celebrating the birth of Jesus? During this Mass, a special red wine is used in this celebration. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in many ways this Christmas, including serving wines during our Christmas feast along with the raising of a glass of wine as a toast to friends, family and our Lord. Wine is always a good thing to celebrate with and is meant to be shared. Pairing wines with foods is always a good thing. We know that local foods always pair best with local wines. Texas has more than its share of award-winning wines with thousands, of medals earned for Texas wines in the last two years. In the recent Houston Rodeo Uncorked wine judging, Texas wines earned 504 medals including 15 Double Gold Medals and 80 Gold Medals. During this pandemic, it is nice to know some things are normal. We have a lot of different foods we feast on this time of the year. So, in preparation for the coming Christmas, I have selected some of the feast foods and recommended Texas wines to pair with these local foods: LOS ANGELES (AP) A Houston-based oil company and two subsidiaries were indicted Wednesday for a crude spill that fouled Southern California waters and beaches in October, an event prosecutors say was caused in part by failing to properly act when alarms repeatedly alerted workers to a pipeline rupture. Amplify Energy Corp. and its companies that operate several oil rigs and a pipeline off Long Beach were charged by a federal grand jury with a single misdemeanor count of illegally discharging oil. Investigators believe the pipeline was weakened when a cargo ship's anchor snagged it in high winds in January, months before it ultimately ruptured Oct. 1, spilling up to about 25,000 gallons (94,600 liters) of crude oil in the ocean. U.S. prosecutors said the companies were negligent six ways, including failing to respond to eight leak detection system alarms over a 13-hour period that should have alerted them to the spill and would have minimized the damage. Instead, the pipeline was shut down after each alarm and then restarted, spewing more oil into the ocean. Amplify blamed the unnamed shipping company for displacing the pipeline and said workers on and offshore responded to what they believed were false alarms because the system wasn't functioning properly. It was signaling a potential leak at the platform where no leak was occurring, the company said. The leak, in fact, was from a section of undersea pipe 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) miles away, Amplify said. Had the crew known there was an actual oil spill in the water, they would have shut down the pipeline immediately," the company said. The Associated Press first reported last week that Amplify's leak detection system was not fully functional. At the time, the company declined to explain what that meant. AP in October reported on questions surrounding the companys failure to respond to an alarm. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday that it was responding to a report of a sheen off the coast of Bolsa Chica State Beach but hadn't determined the source and planned to fly over the scene Thursday morning. The area is in the same general vicinity as that of the October leak, although the pipeline currently is out of service. In that case, the first pipeline rupture alarm sounded at 4:10 p.m. Oct. 1, but the leak was not discovered until well after sunrise the next morning and reported about 9 a.m. Citizens on shore called 911 to report the strong smell of crude that first afternoon, and an anchored cargo vessel reported seeing a large sheen on the water before sunset. Local authorities who went looking for a spill Oct. 1 didnt find it. The Coast Guard said it was too dark to go out and search for the spill by the time they received a report about it. They went out after sunrise, finding it around the time the company reported it. Just days after the spill, Amplify CEO Martyn Willsher had refused to answer questions at news conferences about the timeline surrounding the spill and a report that an alarm at 2:30 a.m. Oct. 2 alerted controllers about a possible spill. He maintained the company didnt learn of the spill until a boat saw a sheen on the water at 8:09 a.m. that morning. Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said the indictment validates residents who had detected the spill a day earlier and reported it. Its terrible that they basically lied to the community during the press briefings and caused people to believe that what they saw with their own eyes or smelled or knew was actually not true, she said. What we know now is that the company knew this, and the alarms went off like they were supposed to, and nobody did anything. Even after the eighth and final alarm sounded, the pipeline operated for nearly an hour in the early morning, prosecutors said. Pipeline safety advocate Bill Caram said the indictment paints a picture of a reckless company. I understand there are false positives on leak detection systems but this is our treasured coastline, said Caram, director of the Bellingham, Washington-based Pipeline Safety Trust. The fact that they kept hitting the snooze button and ignoring alarms, stopping and starting this pipeline and all the while leaking oil in the Pacific Ocean is reckless and egregious. Prosecutors also found that the pipeline was understaffed and the crew was fatigued and insufficiently trained in the leak detection system. The indictments description of company personnel as fatigued pointed to a long-standing industry problem, said pipeline expert Ramanan Krishnamoorti with the University of Houston. Fatigue and overworked staff is old and trite and inexcusable, he said. This has been demonstrated over and over again as being the single most important vulnerability. Its not clear why it took so long for the 1/2-inch (1.25-centimeter) thick steel line to leak after the apparent anchor incident, or whether another anchor strike or other incident led to the rupture and spill. The spill came ashore at Huntington Beach and forced about a weeklong closure of the citys beaches and others along the Orange County coast. Fishing in the affected area resumed only recently, after testing confirmed fish did not have unsafe levels of oil toxins. If convicted, the charge carries up to five years of probation for the corporation and fines that could total millions of dollars. ___ Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Associated Press reporter Amy Taxin contributed. WHITE HALL North Greene Elementary School and North Greene Junior-Senior High School will receive makeovers during the summer break $2.7 million in renovations that have been on the district's bucket list for years. "The money is from ESSER funding," North Greene Unit District 3 Superintendent Mark Scott said. "This is going to be great." ESSER funding, or Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding, is federal money allocated through the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act's Education Stabilization Fund. ESSER funds are earmarked for school improvements that lower environmental health hazards and reduce the risk of viral transmission. Work will begin once the 2020-21 school year ends. When students return in the fall to the junior-senior high school, they will find a remodeled media center and music space. "It's going to be a band and chorus room," Scott said. "We're going to have books around the perimeter of the room (to maximize the space). What we're doing is reorganizing." Having access to ESSER funds means North Greene schools will get their music program back, Scott said, adding that it was cut in 2019 because of a lack of funding. Work also will be done on the roof of the senior high portion of the school, which was replaced in 2002. Two junior high classrooms also will be remodeled to accommodate the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program. "The rooms will be STEM rooms," with renovations to include sinks and eye-washing stations, Scott said. "We currently don't have sinks" in those rooms. At North Greene Elementary in Roodhouse, the lower portion of the school the oldest part will be renovated to create more amenities for band and an art room, Scott said. "We're making the old boys' locker room into an art room," he said. Some unused office space also will be used for band. There also will be a media center at the elementary school, along with a dedicated space for special education needs such as speech therapy and social work. "We have the service now but we're using storage rooms," Scott said. The project also will include removing and repurposing areas where there is asbestos; making the school compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and bringing some of the electrical up to date. "The building was build in the 70s," Scott said. The elementary school also will be equipped with a plasma ionization system to help reduce harmful airborne particulates. With construction materials in high demand and costs rising, roofing is the biggest concern at the moment, Scott said. Prices for all of the materials have been locked in and, if there is a shortage-triggered delay, it simply would mean the roofing portion would be completed sometime in the fall, Scott said. Scott has moved forward with a contract with Omni Energy Partners for the renovations. The project is not to exceed the $2,707,948 allocated. TIGARD, Ore. (AP) Authorities say two people were shot to death in a Portland suburb and no one has been arrested. Tigard police confirmed a woman and man were both shot at the Birches apartment complex Thursday, KOIN-TV reported. THE BACKGROUND: On Jan, 6 as Congress was meeting to certify the victory of Joe Biden, hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters who claimed the election had been stolen violently pushed past police, broke through windows and doors and entered the Capitol, forcing legislators to interrupt their work and flee. Those whose work was upended included Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the Senate and had to hide from rioters who were calling for his hanging. A Capitol Police officer collapsed and died after engaging with rioters who descended on the building. A medical examiner later determined he died of natural causes. Many other officers were injured. A woman from California was shot to death by Capitol Police and three other people died after medical emergencies during the chaos. In the weeks and months that followed, four of the officers who responded to the riot killed themselves. Federal prosecutors charged approximately 700 rioters with such crimes as violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, assaulting a federal law enforcement officer and threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. So far, more than 120 defendants have pleaded guilty to charges related to the insurrection, primarily misdemeanors. A House committee is now investigating the origins of the attack and what Trump did or didnt do to stop it. Here, two Associated Press journalists involved in the coverage once inside the Capitol and one outside reflect on the story and their own experiences. ___ JOHN MINCHILLO, photographer, New York, who was beaten by rioters: I went into it with the understanding that there was going to be potential violence. ... thats why I was there in the first place. The place that we were assigned to was out by the Washington Monument by the White House. And we understood that this situation was rapidly degenerating even before POTUS came to speak, because the warmup acts were particularly aggressive. There were television screens up, and it very much had the feeling of a concert. It had a circus-like quality to it. And they have big screens and in the photograph that I made that really sticks with me. They zoomed into a close-up of (Trumps) eyes and the color grading is really aggressive, very high contrast. So the darks are really dark and the lights are really light and the color is really saturated and ... almost seems like a movie trailer for a Michael Bay movie, like Transformers, you know, something like Rambo. And they had jets flying over and really patriotic music and there was camo and fatigues and people waving flags. It had really intense music and it was very militaristic. ___ (AP photographer Julio Cortez and I then ran to the Capitol.) We turn around and we look towards the Washington Monument and theres just a sea of people and theyre starting to trickle in. And we knew in that moment that this was going to go sideways very quickly, because we look behind us and there were 20 police officers and a few metal barricades. They put up more metal barricades for a typical parade in New York City than they had there. ___ I knew implicitly, dont hit the ground and dont fight back. You need to de-escalate. ... And Im thinking to myself, If I do anything to get these guys to start swinging at me, theyre going turn on everybody else. .... I knew that if I started swinging .... theyre going to kill me, right? Theyll stomp on your neck and youre done. ... And they were going to grab everybody that had a press credential. After Julio and I calmed down them down, they turned and said Hes Antifa! ... They go from calling me press, to Antifa, like that. And thats when I was thrown over a wall. ___ I was relieved that we got out. And then I was angry that we were pulled from the front. We tried to go back through three different doors. We were on the door opposite the mall and on top of the stairs. It got dicey again and they were attacking me again. So we understood that at that point, were not going to get in. We were very frustrated about that. ___ MARY CLARE JALONICK, congressional reporter, Washington, D.C., was in the House chamber At 1 p.m., the electoral count started. It began normally, with the two sides debating the electoral count from certain states ... But as they got into it, we started getting security alerts on our phones, and you could see that there were members on the floor looking at their phones. At one point I told my editor, Im going to go outside and try to look out a window and see whats going on. And a gallery staffer and I went and looked out a front window of the Capitol. It was kind of like one of those moments in a movie where its just like, Oh my gosh, because we looked outside and there were just so many people. Usually theres a perimeter at events like this, but there was no perimeter and people were just right up against the building. ___ All of a sudden there was a lockdown at the Capitol. The House was gaveling in and out of session and there was a lot of chaos on the floor as members were trying to figure out what was going on. And then at some point they gaveled out for a final time and a Capitol Police officer went up to the rostrum and started talking in the microphone. Thats where you see the president speaking at the State of the Union that is not a normal thing for a Capitol Police officer to be talking to members from the rostrum. And he said, there has been a breach and tear gas was dispersed in the Capitol Rotunda. He said to members, you need to get your gas masks out from underneath your chairs, and I dont think many members even knew there were gas masks under their chairs. So it was total pandemonium on the floor. People are yelling out, Lock the doors! Lock the doors! There were some members who were yelling about Trump, and a Democrat yelled at Republicans, This is your fault! It was just total chaos. One member was up on his desk trying to help people get their gas masks on, and eventually they gave us gas masks in the press gallery and were trying to figure them out, and we have no idea how to open this thing or whether we should put it on. And when you open it, theres this really, really loud buzzing. So all of a sudden theres this loud buzzing just echoing through the whole chamber. And at one point we looked down and the House chaplain, who had just started a couple of days before, was saying a prayer. That was definitely a moment where it was like, OK, this is pretty serious. ___ The police evacuated all of the House members who were on the floor, but all of us in the upper gallery, press and House members, were still there because there were rioters in the hallway just outside. They moved everyone to one end of the gallery and police told us to duck down. At one point while everyone was ducking, there was a loud gunshot that rang throughout the chamber. It turned out that that was the gunshot that killed Ashli Babbitt, a rioter who was trying to get in through a broken window over a door just immediately adjacent to the House chamber. And when that happened, members really started to panic. Some of them were yelling to take off your pins, and there was obviously a lot of fear. ___ 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 GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) Five men have been arrested and accused of posing as police officers looking for someone at a North Carolina motel, police said. Gastonia police officers responded to a report at 1:10 a.m. of a possible burglary at a motel in the 1400 block of East Franklin Avenue involving five suspects who claimed to be law enforcement, The Charlotte Observer reported. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) The diesel fuel needed to produce oxygen for coronavirus patients has run out. So have supplies of dozens of essential drugs. The staff, unpaid for months, still shows up for work, but they are struggling to make ends meet at home. This is the plight at the Afghan-Japan Hospital for communicable diseases, the only COVID-19 facility for the more than 4 million people who live in the capital of Kabul. While the coronavirus situation in Afghanistan appears to have improved from a few months ago when cases reached their peak, it is now the hospital itself that needs life support. Its predicament is a symptom of the crisis in Afghanistans health care system, which is on the brink of collapse and able to function only with a lifeline from aid organizations. We face many problems here, said Dr. Ahmad Fatah Habibyar, the hospitals administration logistics manager, citing three months of unpaid salaries, shortages of equipment and drugs, and a lack of food. Some of the staff are in such financial difficulties that they are selling their household furniture to make ends meet, he said. Oxygen is a big issue for us because we cant run the generators, he said, noting the hospitals production plant hasnt worked for months because we cant afford the diesel. Instead, oxygen cylinders for COVID-19 patients are bought from a local supplier. And doctors are bracing for more infections that they fear are inevitable with the omicron variant. Without outside help, we are not ready for omicron. A disaster will be here, said Dr. Shereen Agha, the 38-year-old head of the hospitals intensive care unit. The hospital was short even of basic supplies like examination gloves, he said, and its two ambulances sit idle for lack of fuel. The previous government had contracted with a Netherlands-based aid group, HealthNet TPO, to run the hospital. But the contract expired in November and was financed under a fund managed by the World Bank, which like most of the international community has frozen payments to the new Taliban government. HealthNet TPO program manager Willem Reussing said the organization is in negotiations to secure funding, "but the donor community is very reluctant to continue support and has strict conditions. The World Health Organization and UNICEF were only managing to maintain minimal services and did not cover the coronavirus response, he added. The health care system ... is really on the brink of collapsing, Reussing said. The Afghan-Japan Hospital is a dire example, where we are nearly begging donors to step in and save lives. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August amid a chaotic U.S. and NATO troop withdrawal, the international community pulled all funding and froze billions of dollars of Afghanistans assets abroad. For a country heavily dependent on foreign aid, the consequences have been devastating. The economy already was deeply troubled under the previous government, with state employees often going unpaid. Last year, almost half the population was living in poverty, with the situation made worse by the pandemic and a drought that has driven up food prices. The Taliban government wants the international community to ease sanctions and release Afghanistans assets abroad so it can pay civil servants, including doctors and teachers. The United Nations has sounded the alarm over a hunger crisis, with 22% of Afghanistans 38 million people near famine and another 36% facing acute food insecurity. Were seeing the economic collapse being exponential, U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in an interview last week with The Associated Press. Its getting more and more dire by the week. Nowhere is that more evident than the malnutrition ward of the Indira Gandhi Childrens Hospital, where anxious mothers sit by emaciated children. Two-year-old Mohammad, his cheeks sunken and his hair sparse, sipped a cup of high-nutrition milk with his mother, Parwana, beside him. From the central province of Wardak, she had been sleeping in the hospital for six nights. I dont even have money to change his diapers, the 20-year-old said. Her husband, a tailor, lost both legs in a roadside bomb several years ago, and has trouble sitting up. Work is hard to come by, and Parwana said her father and brothers are helping the family of three survive. In the next bed, 1-year-old Talwasa lay covered in blankets. Only her eyes moved behind half-closed eyelids. We are in a very bad situation, said her mother, Noor Bibi, who has six other children. Her husband cant find work, she said, and we only eat dried bread and cant find food for weeks and weeks. Deputy Health Minister Dr. Abdul Bari Omar said last week that Afghanistan had 3.5 million malnourished children, although he noted that the data was from the previous government. It didnt happen in the last four months. Malnutrition was inherited from the previous system, but we are trying to find a solution for this problem, he said, adding that the former administration also had failed to resolve shortages of medical equipment. The deputy director of the childrens hospital, Mohammad Latif Baher, said the facility had seen 3,000 malnutrition cases in the last four months. Of those, 250 were hospitalized and the rest were treated at home. Hospital workers also are struggling with shortages, and they have not been paid for months. We are loyal to our homeland and our profession. Thats why we still continue our jobs and provide services to our patients, Baher said, noting they have gone without salaries for five months. He said the hospital also is running low on drug supplies, including special food supplements for malnutrition, as well as antibiotics, analgesics and anesthetics. Some supplies had come in from aid agencies, he added, but more were needed. The situation was similar at Wazir Mohammed Akhbar Khan National Hospital, where supplies were running low. As with most of the other state-run hospitals, its patients must buy their own drugs, with staff only dipping into emergency supplies for those who truly cannot afford it. Sometimes doctors are forced to give smaller doses of drugs because they simply dont have enough, said Ghulam Nabi Pahlawi, the emergency departments head nurse. But it is in Kabuls COVID-19 hospital where the situation seems most severe. Pharmacist Bilal Ahmad said more than 36 essential medications had run out and many others had expired. In three months, he said, another 55 medications will run out. The requirements, we cannot fulfill them, Ahmad said. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy's administration plans again to pursue splitting the state health department into two after a similar proposal was withdrawn earlier this year for additional work. Dunleavy's new budget proposal calls for breaking the current Department of Health and Social Services into a Department of Health and a Department of Family and Community Services. He is expected at the start of the next legislative session in January to issue an executive order calling for the split. Once the order is introduced, lawmakers would have 60 days to decide whether to reject it; otherwise it would become law and would take effect July 1, according to information provided by the Department of Health and Social Services. Dunleavy's office cited technical issues in pulling a prior executive order in March. Health Commissioner Adam Crum told reporters Thursday that there have been efforts over the last year to address concerns raised by affected groups and people and to explain the department's work. One idea that came from those discussions was a need for someone in each of the proposed new departments to be a public point of contact for issues that might come up as the split is implemented, Crum said. According to the Department of Health and Social Services, the proposed Department of Health would include divisions that provide regulatory oversight and claims processing for Medicaid programs. The Department of Family and Community Services would include the Division of Juvenile Justice, Office of Childrens Services, Alaska Pioneer Homes and the Alaska Psychiatric Institute. Reorganization is intended to improve operations and delivery of services, the department said. Each of the proposed new departments would have its own commissioner, deputy commissioner and special assistants. Crum called the plan one we believe in. This is a plan that actually started from staff, that was brought forward by directors. And we moved this ahead because it's the best way to serve Alaskans as we go into the future, he said. The Department of Health and Social Services is the largest department in state government. Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of the Alaska Children's Trust, said he was not ready to comment on the plan because he has not been able to review it. Our stance on everything is that no matter which direction this goes in, our ultimate goal is to ensure that the services that are being provided and the safety net being provided to our children and families is not only continued and but hopefully strengthened, Storrs said. Our goal is to ensure that is achieved. LEWISTON, Maine (AP) A Maine man charged in a young woman's killing 28 years ago at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks will be allowed to present evidence about three alternative suspects at his trial next month. Steven Downs, 47, of Auburn, was charged with sexual assault and murder, and extradited to Alaska, after DNA his aunt submitted to a genealogy website matched DNA from the crime scene. COLLINSVILLE Ameren Illinois is No. 1 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 on Wednesday. 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 officials said they believe the firm's 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. A crowd of angry teenagers and their parents accused police Sunday of arresting many innocent bystanders during an overnight raid on a west Houston parking lot where youths apparently congregate. Scores of Houston police officers swarmed onto the Kmart parking lot in the 8400 block of Westheimer about 12:30 a.m. Sunday and arrested about 425 people for criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor. Houston Police Department spokesman Martin DeLeon said many cars were towed. DeLeon said business owners have been complaining about youths gathering on their parking lots on weekend nights and causing a commotion. DeLeon said he did not have more details about the incident because the two captains in charge of the raid, M.A. Aguirre and J.P. Mokwa, were sleeping Sunday after working all night. The Kmart store is open 24 hours a day, and many of the people at the HPD station at 61 Reisner said Sunday that they had simply been shopping or eating at a Sonic drive-in restaurant that adjoins the discount store's parking lot when they were arrested. Kmart and Sonic supervisors referred all questions to their corporate headquarters, which were not open Sunday. "We went to use the restroom at Kmart and to buy a Scrunchi (hair band), and when we came back to our car, cops were coming in (the parking lot) and they tied our hands," said Brandi Ratliff, 18, who said she was a straight-A student at Waller High School and never had any problems with the law. Ratliff said that even though she and two friends told police they had just come out of the Kmart, all three were arrested and spent the night in jail. "It was traumatic," said a tearful Ratliff on Sunday morning after her parents drove from Stafford to pay her $300 bail at the downtown city jail. "It was sick where they were holding us. A prostitute was fighting with another woman. The food they served was food you would serve to a dog, not a human." Ratliff and her two friends, Kris Karsteter, 21, and Kyesa Scott, 18, all had pink marks on their wrists from where they said police had tied plastic handcuffs too tightly. Scott said she didn't have the money to pay bail and so she pleaded guilty to avoid spending another night in jail. Emily Demmler, 19, said: "All I was doing was eating ice cream." Demmler said the only trouble she'd previously had with authorities was being called into the principal's office twice in elementary school for gossiping. She said she pulled her car into the Sonic lot shortly after midnight so she and her two friends could get some ice cream after a night of karaoke. After about five minutes, police "just swarmed," Demmler said. "We thought we were in the middle of a drug bust, and we thought, `We're cool; we're not doing anything wrong,' " said Demmler, a part-time lifeguard at the Jewish Community Center who is starting college this fall at the University of Houston. Instead, all the patrons at the Sonic were ordered by police to march to the Kmart lot, where they joined throngs of other people who were being arrested, she said. "My purse and my friend's purse were still in the car ... but the cop wouldn't let me get them," said Demmler, whose mother eventually recovered her car and both purses. "We asked police why we were being arrested, and they said, `Everybody is receiving equal treatment from the Houston Police Department tonight.' It didn't matter what you were doing; they arrested you." Demmler said many youths appearing to be 13 or 14 were arrested and taken to juvenile detention facilities, adding, "They even arrested a 10-year-old girl who was having dinner with her father and took her to juvenile detention. "She got separated from her father and I asked her how old she was, and she told me she was 10," Demmler said. "She was dazed." In a phone interview, Demmler claimed to have "huge marks on my arms" from tight handcuffs. Leanne Williams said her 19-year-old son called her from jail and told her he showed police a receipt for bottled water from Kmart, but he was still arrested. She said her son called her five times from the downtown jail, but police still couldn't locate him at 11 a.m. because his paperwork had been delayed. "I gotta spend my Sunday at the jail searching for my son they can't find," said her husband, Jerome Williams. Soneary Sy didn't know her 17-year-old son, a straight-A student, was arrested until he called her at 6 a.m. "I didn't sleep all night waiting for my son to come home" said a sobbing Sy, a Cambodian immigrant who moved to Houston 22 years ago. "He tried to go to Kmart and as soon as he got to Kmart he was arrested." SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) Bosnian police on Thursday arrested eight former Bosnian Serb army commanders and soldiers in the 1992 wartime killing of about 100 Bosniaks, including women, children and older people, authorities said. The eight are facing charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes against war prisoners, Bosnian security agency SIPA said. A statement from the Bosnian prosecutors office said the arrests relate to the 1992 killings in the southern Bosnian region of Nevesinje of around 100 Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslims. The victims included babies and small children from 15 days old to 2 years old, as well as dozens of women and older people. Entire families were killed, along with other victims, the prosecutor's statement said. The remains of 49 people have been recovered so far while the search is underway for the remains of at least 47 more, the statement added. Thursday's arrests came after similar actions were conducted in previous weeks also targeting suspected war criminals. More than 100,000 people were killed during the war in Bosnia between the countrys Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats. The war erupted after Bosnian Serbs rebelled against the country's independence from the former Yugoslavia and took hold of large swaths of land, killing and expelling Bosniaks and Croats. The conflict ended in a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in 1995, but Bosnia is still struggling to recover amid lingering ethnic tensions. CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Public Schools will distribute about 150,000 take-home COVID-19 test kits Friday to 309 schools in communities hit hard by the pandemic, the district announced. In Chicago, we are in a wicked post-Thanksgiving COVID surge 929 daily cases on average here in the city of Chicago. As the city goes, so goes CPS, Dr. Kenneth Fox, CPS chief health officer, said at Wednesdays monthly Chicago Board of Education meeting. When cases surge in the city, so, too, do they surge at CPS. ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) South Carolina state police said Thursday they are investigating a police shooting that led to the death of one man in Anderson County this week. Officials with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said that Anderson County sheriffs deputies were trying to serve Brandon Mauldin with several outstanding warrants Tuesday when Mauldin fled. NEW ORLEANS (AP) A federal appeals court in New Orleans is the latest to uphold a federal ban on bump stocks devices attached to semiautomatic firearms so that a shooter can fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. The ban was instituted in 2019 by the Trump administration after a sniper in Las Vegas used the device to help him massacre dozens of concertgoers in 2017 in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The U.S. Supreme Court could decide next year whether to hear arguments on the ban. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a decision dated Tuesday, affirmed a Texas-based federal judges ruling in a lawsuit challenging the ban. A challenge failed recently in the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit when judges split 8-8 on the issue. Another challenge is on appeal to the Supreme Court, arising from an unsuccessful attempt to overturn the ban at the Denver-based 10th Circuit. The ban was instituted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in a rule declaring that bump stocks are classified as machineguns, banned by National Firearms Act. According to the ATF, bump stock devices harness the recoil energy of a semiautomatic firearm so that a trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter. The National Firearms Act, according to the court records, outlaws weapons that fire continuously with a single function of the trigger. Opponents of the ATF rule argue that the trigger itself functions multiple times when a bump stock is used. Judge Stephen Higginson, writing for the three 5th Circuit judges that ruled Tuesday, disagreed, quoting from a lower court ruling in the 10th Circuit case. "As one district court has observed, there is no reason why Congress would have zeroed in on the mechanistic movement of the trigger in seeking to regulate automatic weapons, given that the 'ill sought to be captured by this definition was the ability to drastically increase a weapons rate of fire, not the precise mechanism by which that capability is achieved,'" Higginson wrote in an opinion joined by judges James Dennis and Gregg Costa. NEW ORLEANS (AP) Federal judges in Louisiana and Texas continue to chip away at Biden administration COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The latest of the piecemeal blows to the vaccine mandates came Thursday in lawsuit filed by Louisiana, Indiana and Mississippi. In that case, U.S. District Judge Dee Drell in Alexandria, Louisiana, declined to block a requirement that all employees of federal contractors get vaccinated noting that there is already a nationwide block on that mandate issued by a Georgia-based federal judge. But Drell did issue a preliminary injunction blocking the mandate in federal contracts or grant agreements between any of the three states and the federal government. He said Louisiana, Mississippi and Indiana have nearly $100 million in contracts with the federal government. And he cited testimony that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette faced the possible loss of a National Institutes of Health grant if it did not impose the mandate on employees; and that an employee of the university feared the loss of her job if she declined the vaccine for religious reasons. This ensures Louisiana will remain protected if the nationwide injunction is overturned, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said on Twitter after Drells ruling. Also, a Texas-based federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the mandate for health care workers in that state. With that ruling, dated Wednesday, the health worker mandate is now blocked in half the states. The federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not said whether it will enforce the mandate in the other states. There had been a nationwide court ban on the health care worker mandate, based on a Louisiana federal judge's ruling. But a federal appeals court in New Orleans this week limited that ruling to the 14 states that sued in the Louisiana court. A separate ruling in Missouri blocked the mandate in 10 other states. Texas brings the number of states where the health care mandate is blocked to 25. ___ Associated Press reporter David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this story. ___ This story has been corrected to show in the penultimate paragraph that a ruling by a Texas-based federal judge was dated Wednesday, not Tuesday. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) A coronavirus pandemic wave caused by the fast-spreading delta variant has quickened the death toll in Minnesota where more than 10,000 have died of COVID-19. The Minnesota Department of Health on Wednesday reported 54 more COVID-19 deaths confirmed by testing, raising the total to 10,018. There is a heaviness, for sure, hitting this sort of a marker and the fact that we have had so many deaths this year even after we have more tools available to protect against it, state Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. Every death is a terrible loss. The more tools we have and the more preventable these things truly are, the more heartbreaking it is that we still are losing people. State health data showed that it took 188 days from March to September for Minnesota to go from 7,000 to 8,000 deaths, but then 58 days to reach 9,000 and 35 days to reach 10,000, the Star Tribune reported. More than half the COVID-19 deaths have happened in inpatient wards or emergency rooms. Sixteen doctors and front-line caregivers from the Minnesota Medical Association gathered Wednesday to urge vaccinations and protections such as mask-wearing and social distancing during the holidays. Even as the death toll climbed above the grim threshold of 10,000, Minnesota has the 38th lowest rate of COVID-19 mortality among states since the start of the pandemic. Kris Ehresmann, state infectious disease director, credited vaccination progress in Minnesota, where more than 93% of seniors are fully vaccinated and more than 70% have also gotten booster shots. Stephen Groves/AP SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The defense bill Congress has sent to President Joe Biden prohibits using private funds for interstate National Guard deployments like South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem did this year. The bills language took aim at the Republican governors decision to accept a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire in July to send National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico in response to a request from Texas and Arizona. The $768.2 billion defense bill that cleared Congress on a bipartisan vote Wednesday contains a section that prohibits National Guard units from being ordered to cross state borders if their deployment is funded privately unless it is for a natural disaster as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. NEW YORK (AP) The jury in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is expected to hear closing arguments Monday after defense lawyers said they only have a few remaining witnesses and could finish presenting their case as early as Friday. Maxwell, 59, was not among the remaining defense witnesses identified by lawyers as those who might still testify when U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan asked who remained to be called to the witness stand after testimony ended for the day Thursday. The defense began presenting its case earlier in the day as a former office worker for financier Jeffrey Epstein testified that she did not witness misconduct by Maxwell while working closely with her for six years. Never, Cimberly Espinosa, 55, responded when asked if she ever saw Maxwell or Epstein engaged in any misbehavior. Espinosa also testified about seeing a key accuser in the case who testified for the government as Jane to protect her privacy visiting Epsteins New York City office on Madison Avenue a few times in the late 1990s. She said Janes mother had told workers she was Epsteins goddaughter. Because of that, she was treated with utmost respect, Espinosa said. Janes interactions with Epstein gave her the impression it was a loving relationship, she added. Espinosa told the jury in Manhattan federal court she assisted Maxwell in managing Epsteins multiple high-end properties between 1996 and 2002. I looked up to her very much, she said. When defense attorney Christian Everdell finished his questioning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz tried to convince jurors that Espinosa was an irrelevant witness by asking her only whether she had ever worked at any of Epstein's homes. When Espinosa said she had not, Pomerantz said she had no other questions. The defense case began after the jury heard four women detail accusations, including Jane, that they were teens when they became victims of a sex-abuse scheme devised by Maxwell and Epstein. The British socialite's attorneys are expected to make their case that Maxwell isn't the one to blame. The government's case lasted only two weeks and the defense indicated that it could finish on Friday or possibly spill into early Monday. Both sides streamlined their witness lists without revealing why, making the trial end well short of an original six-week estimate. The start of the defense case had already sparked the usual speculation about whether the high-profile defendant would take the witness stand in her own defense a gamble that is almost never taken. With no mention of Maxwell considering testifying, the judge said she'll seek direct confirmation from Maxwell on Friday about her decision before the defense can rest. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges she acted as Epsteins chief enabler, recruiting and grooming young girls for him to abuse during sexual massages. Maxwell was once Epsteins girlfriend before becoming a trusted employee. Witnesses testified the pair exploited them between 1994 to 2004 at Epsteins homes, including an estate in Palm Beach, Florida; his posh Manhattan townhouse; and a Santa Fe, New Mexico, ranch. The defense has insisted that Maxwell is being made a scapegoat for alleged sex crimes by Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019. Her lawyers have sought to show that the accusers exaggerated Maxwell's involvement at the behest of lawyers seeking payouts for the women from civil claims against the Epstein estate. The defense also tried Thursday to show that the recollections by the women are flawed. To support that argument, they relied on testimony from cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus, who has for decades studied false, repressed and unreliable memories. Loftus also testified last year at Harvey Weinsteins New York City rape trial. Maxwells lawyers are trying to cast doubts about the womens allegations after using cross-examination to highlight inconsistencies in some of their accounts. In some cases, the encounters the women were recalling happened more than two decades ago. As memories fade, Loftus said, people become more vulnerable to post-event information, including media reports that can distort what they remember. People can grow attached to false memories in a way that they can be confident about them, they can be emotional about them, even when theyre false, she added. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) State Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, a Democrat who helped lead the effort to expel former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder after his federal indictment in a bribery scheme, announced his bid Thursday for state attorney general. Crossman, 49, of Parma, pledged in a video launching his campaign to fight like hell to clean up corruption in Columbus, if elected Ohio's top lawyer and law enforcer. We need someone in that office that's high-integrity, someone that's going to fight for fairness, fight for transparency, and fight for accountability for all these people that have been doing wrong in the state of Ohio, he said in an interview. Crossman acknowledged voting to elect Householder speaker, but said that was before the then-powerful Republican's alleged secret activities were known. Householder has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial. Crossman said Republican Attorney General Dave Yost his would-be rival next year should have launched his own criminal investigation and issued subpoenas to powerful fellow Republicans, rather than ceding the job to the federal government. Dave Yost has been corruption-adjacent his entire public service career, and that's pretty much the difference between us, Crossman said. He said, for example, that a former Yost campaign manager, Matt Borges, is one of those accused in the Householder investigation. Borges has pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence. A practicing attorney who grew up in Wickliffe, Crossman plans to emphasize his working-class background as the child of a single mother, grandchild of union workers who worked his way through law school at night while working full-time. Crossman is seeking to connect with voters in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat to statewide executive office since 2006. Yost, then the two-term state auditor, defeated Democrat Steve Dettelbach, a former U.S. Attorney, with 52% to 48% of the vote four years ago. Crossman said he's used to tough challenges. Republican National Committee spokesman Dan Lusheck said Yost has been a national leader in fighting Democratic President Joe Biden's government overreach and has brought suits defending consumers, fighting human traffickers and holding big tech and public officials accountable. He said in a statement that, as a Biden delegate, Crossman is responsible for the abhorrent policies being forced on Ohioans by this administration. Ohioans can be thankful they have an attorney general who is strong on the border, rejects Bidens unconstitutional vaccine mandates and holds those accountable who seek to do harm in the Buckeye State, Lusheck said. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) Enbridge Energy moved Wednesday to shift to federal court a Michigan lawsuit seeking shutdown of an oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel linking two of the Great Lakes. The Canadian company argued that a 2019 lawsuit filed in a state court by Attorney General Dana Nessel should be heard by U.S. District Judge Janet Neff, who last month retained jurisdiction over a separate case initiated by the state of Michigan to halt the flow of oil through Enbridge's Line 5. We are hopeful that the attorney general will agree that it makes sense for her case and the Enbridge case to be decided by the federal court rather than risk duplicative litigation and inconsistent results, spokesman Ryan Duffy said. But Nessel said the outrageous maneuver violates a federal rule that moving cases from one court to another must be done within 30 days of the initial filing. We will address this flagrant attempt to undermine that process in court and remain fervently committed to our belief that the fate of Michigans greatest natural resources should be determined in a Michigan court, Nessel said. Enbridge's gambit was the latest twist in a multi-year political and legal battle over Line 5, which carries about 23 million gallons (87 million liters) daily of crude oil and natural gas liquids between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario. It passes through northern Wisconsin and Michigans Upper Peninsula and is part of an Enbridge network transporting Canadian crude to refineries in both nations. A 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) section is divided into two pipes that cross the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. Environmental groups and Indigenous tribes contend they risk a spill that could pollute hundreds of miles of water and shorelines, while Enbridge says they've never leaked and are in sound condition. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered Enbridge in November 2020 to close the 68-year-old line, revoking a 1953 state easement allowing its placement in the straits. The company, based in Calgary, Alberta, filed a federal lawsuit and ignored the Democratic governor's May 12 shutdown deadline. Nessel, who had sued in state court to enforce Whitmer's order, urged Neff to return the case to state court. But the judge ruled last month that it was properly in federal court because it raises issues under consideration at the highest levels of this countrys government. They include Canada's invocation of a 1977 treaty with the U.S. involving oil shipments between the two nations and federal pipeline safety regulation, Neff said. Whitmer and Nessel responded this month by dropping their 2020 lawsuit and refocusing attention on the 2019 case filed in Michigan's Ingham County. It argues that Line 5's presence in the straits violates the public trust and state environmental law. The judge, James Jamo, has scheduled a status hearing for Jan. 7. Enbridge said in a statement that the two cases are similar and belong in the same court. The company said federal law allows a lawsuit defendant to move a case from state to federal court within 30 days of receiving solid and unambiguous information that such an action could be taken. Neff's ruling Nov. 16 provided the solid information relied on here, and the case has now been removed for further proceedings before the federal district court, the company said. Nessel disputed Enbridge's interpretation of the rules. Our residents deserve more than a company who seeks to profit from our natural resources while at the same time attempting to evade legal review of their actions by our states courts, she said. ___ This story was first published on Dec. 15, 2021. It was updated on Dec. 17, 2021 to correct that the separate case was initiated by the state of Michigan. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal count alleging he willfully deprived George Floyd of his rights during the May 25, 2020, arrest that led to the Black man's death. He also pleaded guilty to an unrelated but similar count stemming from the use of force against a then-14-year-old boy, who is also Black, in 2017. Here's what the guilty pleas mean for Chauvin, and for the three other officers charged in Floyd's death. WHAT DOES THE PLEA IN FLOYD'S CASE MEAN? Essentially, it means Chauvin has acknowledged for the first time that he violated Floyd's rights. Chauvin admitted he knew what he did to Floyd was wrong and that 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. Floyd's family members said the plea brings a certain accountability, but they also said Chauvin didn't have much of a choice. Hearing him accept accountability was nice. But I didnt feel a thing, said Brandon Williams, Floyds nephew. That guys a monster ... He knew what he was doing. He had nine minutes and 29 seconds to understand what he was doing and stop kneeling. He chose not to. DOES CHAUVIN FACE MORE CRIMINAL CHARGES? No. Once he's sentenced on these federal counts, that will wrap up the criminal cases against him. However, he is in the process of appealing his state convictions. WHAT'S NEXT? U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has ordered a presentence investigation, and must still formally accept the guilty plea. Then Magnuson will sentence Chauvin at a date that's yet to be scheduled. With the guilty plea, Chauvin avoids the possibility of a life sentence. Instead, the defense and prosecutors have agreed to a sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years, with prosecutors saying they will seek 25. With credit for good time in the federal system, he would serve anywhere from 17 years to 21 years and three months behind bars. Chauvin is already in state prison, serving a 22 1/2-year sentence on state murder and manslaughter convictions. In the state system, he would've been released on parole after 15 years. So if Magnuson sticks to the range outlined in the agreement, Chauvin will end up spending more time behind bars overall. The plea agreement says it's expected that the federal and state sentences would be served at the same time not one after the other. WHERE WILL HE GO? The agreement says it's expected that Chauvin will serve his time in the federal prison system, and that means he could go anywhere in the U.S. The judge may recommend a location, but that's not binding, said Ted Sampsell-Jones, a professor at Mitchell-Hamline School of Law. The Bureau of Prisons says it has a system in which it assigns a security level to all institutions, and also assigns a security level and custody level to all inmates. Classifying people is necessary to make sure each person goes to the most appropriate facility, the bureau says. WAS THIS PLEA SMART FOR CHAUVIN? Experts say yes. With this plea, it's expected that Chauvin won't serve a sentence much longer than he's already serving, said Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Moran said that since Chauvin already has the state conviction and would be looking at a possible life sentence on the federal charge, the plea is kind of cutting your losses. Tom Heffelfinger, a former U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, showed good judgment in reaching a plea deal, because the federal case would have been just as strong as the state's. A federal prison is also preferable, Heffelfinger said: You can assume that a state prison is not a safe or hospitable place for him to do such a long sentence." He also said the plea deal is good for the Floyd family because it gives them some justice. COULD HE BE FORCED TO TESTIFY? Moran said that's an open question. The plea agreement doesn't require Chauvin's testimony in the upcoming trial of three other former officers involved in Floyd's arrest. Chauvin gave up his right against self-incrimination by pleading guilty in the federal case, but he hasnt done so in the state murder case and a pending appeal there could provide grounds for him to resist testifying in detail at the federal trial of the other former officers, Moran said. Heffelfinger said Chauvin also technically hasn't given up his Fifth Amendment right in the federal case either because Magnuson could still reject the plea. Heffelfinger said it's rare for a judge to do that, but he has seen it happen. IS THERE POTENTIAL CIVIL LIABILITY? Yes. While Floyd's family and the city of Minneapolis have already reached a $27 million settlement in Floyd's death, the teen who was injured when Chauvin arrested him in 2017 intends to sue Chauvin, the city, police Chief Medaria Arradondo and possibly others, said Bob Bennett, an attorney for the man, who was 14 at the time. Bennett said the plea agreement proves the elements of the case involving the teenager beyond a reasonable doubt and the burden of proving that the boy's civil rights were violated will be lower in a civil case. Bennett said this plea agreement is robust laying out each element of the crime, and requiring Chauvin to admit to all of it. What are they going to say? Bennett said of the city, noting that Chauvin wasn't disciplined after the 2017 incident and was kept on the street. He just admitted to a civil rights violation from soup to nuts. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THREE FORMER COPS? The other three former officers involved in Floyd's arrest Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao face a federal trial alleging they violated Floyd's rights in January, and a state trial in March on charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter. There's nothing in the public record that suggests Chauvin's guilty plea will delay their trials. The three men had wanted their federal trial to be separated from Chauvin's which happened with Chauvin's plea. They just dont want the shadow of Derek Chauvin's guilt looming over them, Moran said. It still will in a way, but not having him there might be helpful to the other three. ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd HONOLULU (AP) The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Navy to immediately close a fuel storage facility blamed for contaminating tap water at military housing and threatening an aquifer used by both the military and Honolulu civilians. The resolution urged the immediate defueling, permanent removal, and relocation of the U.S. Navy Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility underground storage tanks. The Navy did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The Red Hill storage facility houses 20 giant fuel tanks that were built near Pearl Harbor in the early 1940s. It supplies fuel to all branches of the military in Hawaii and has been the site of a series of leaks in recent years. The tanks sit 100 feet (30 meters) above an aquifer that normally supplies one-quarter of urban Honolulu's water. The resolution comes after the Navy said last week it had detected petroleum in its Red Hill well that draws on this aquifer and supplies water to military housing, offices and elementary schools. The Navy received about 1,000 complaints from people saying their water smelled like fuel or chemicals or that they suffered from nausea, vomiting or other physical ailments. On Friday, the Navy said officials believed a one-time spill of jet fuel on Nov. 20 contaminated the well and tap water. The spill occurred inside an access tunnel containing fire suppression and service lines at the fuel storage facility. Officials said they dont believe a leak from the World War II-era fuel tanks themselves tainted the water. Hawaii Gov. David Ige earlier this month ordered the Navy to empty the tanks but the Navy said it would challenge the order. Honolulus water utility has shut down a well that draws on the same aquifer as the Navys Red Hill well to make sure it doesnt deliver petroleum-tainted water to its customers. The council will send the resolution to President Joe Biden, the Navy secretary, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency and other officials. FAIRFIELD, Maine (AP) Thirty-four communities across Maine will be tested for environmental pollutants associated with serious health conditions, after the so-called forever chemicals" were found in chicken eggs and deer meat harvested in the Fairfield area. The state's Center for Disease Control and Prevention hasn't said the exact sites that will be tested, but they include Westbrook, Windham, Gorham, Auburn and Skowhegan, The Portland Press Herald reported Tuesday. JERUSALEM (AP) At least one Palestinian gunman opened fire Thursday night at a car filled with Jewish seminary students next to a West Bank settlement outpost, killing an Israeli man and lightly wounding two other people, Israeli officials said. Israeli leaders vowed to catch the attacker, and the military said it had dispatched additional troops to the area as part of the manhunt. The security forces will get their hands on the terrorists very soon and well ensure that justice is served, said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The shooting occurred near Homesh, a former settlement in the northern West Bank that was dismantled as part of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. In recent years, however, settlers have established an unauthorized outpost at the site. It is among dozens of outposts in the occupied West Bank that are considered illegal by Israel but which are often tolerated by the government. Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, a military spokesman, said the passengers in the car came under fire after leaving a Jewish seminary in the outpost. He said some 10 bullets were fired at the vehicle. Shefler said additional soldiers and special forces troops were rushed to the area to search for the attacker. He said it was not yet known if there was more than one gunman, and whether the attacker had acted alone or been dispatched by an organized militant group. Israel's national rescue service, Magen David Adom, confirmed the death of a man in his 20s. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Hamas militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, praised the attack. Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for the group, called it a heroic operation against the soldiers of the occupation army and its murderous settlers. The shooting came amid an uptick in Israeli-Palestinian violence. Early this month, a Palestinian attacker stabbed and seriously wounded an ultra-Orthodox Jew outside Jerusalem's Old City. And just over a week earlier, a Hamas militant opened fire in the Old City, killing an Israeli man. In both cases, the attackers were killed by Israeli police. Both attackers appeared to have acted on their own. Shefler, the military spokesman, said Thursday's roadside ambush was a different level of attack but said it was not known whether the various attacks were linked. At the same time, the northern West Bank has seen a sharp jump in settler violence against Palestinians in recent months. In mid-November, Jewish settlers attacked a group of Palestinian farmers with pepper spray and clubs in the farmland near Homesh, wounding four people. There also has been a rise in settler vandalism of Palestinian property. Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war. More than 700,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the two areas. The Palestinians, along with most of the international community, consider all settlements, including the outposts, to be illegal obstacles to peace. Israel has annexed east Jerusalem in a step that is not internationally recognized and says the fate of the West Bank should be determined in peace talks. The Palestinians seek both areas as parts of a future independent state. ___ Associated Press writer Jack Jeffery in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed to this report. NEVELSKE, Ukraine (AP) Liudmyla Momot wipes away tears as she searches for clothes and household items to salvage from the ruins of her home that was shelled by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Her village of Nevelske, northwest of the rebel-held city of Donetsk, is only about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the line of contact between the separatists and the Ukrainian military and has been emptied of all but five people. Small arms fire frequently is heard in the daytime, giving way to the booms of light artillery and mortar shelling after dusk. With the bloody conflict now more than seven years old, there are fears in Ukraine and the West that a buildup of armed forces on Russia's side of the border could lead to an invasion or the resumption of full-scale hostilities. Rebels targeted Nevelske with shelling twice in the last month, damaging or destroying 16 of the village's 50 houses and rattling the handful of nervous residents who remain. The worse Ukraine-Russia relations are, the more we simple people are suffering, said 68-year-old Momot, who has worked at a dairy farm all her life. Now with no home, who could have imagined that? I was preparing for the winter, stocking up coal and firewood. After the shell hit her house, Momot fled to a nearby settlement where her son lives. But the anxiety has followed her there. We fear that a big war will start. People are scared and packed up their bags, said Momot, who collected some blankets, warm clothes and other items in the debris. The conflict in the eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas erupted in April 2014, weeks after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula following the ouster of Ukraine's Moscow-friendly former president. Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the rebels with troops and weapons, but Moscow says that Russians who joined the fight were volunteers acting on their own. More than 14,000 people have been killed in fighting that has driven more than 2 million people from their homes in the east. When the conflict began, Nevelske had a population of 286. Now, the five older people who remain in the ruined village collect rainwater for drinking and cooking. Between shipments of humanitarian aid, they rely on eating stale bread. We have grown accustomed to the shelling, said 84-year-old Halyna Moroka, who has stayed in Nevelske with her disabled son. A 2015 peace agreement brokered by France and Germany ended large-scale battles, but frequent skirmishes have continued. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which monitors the shaky cease-fire, has reported an increasing number of such incidents, with both sides trading the blame for truce violations. The security situation along the contact line is still of concern, with a high level of kinetic activity, Mikko Kinnune, the OSCE representative for the group that involves representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the rebels, said earlier this month. Amid the recent Russian troop buildup, Washington and its allies have warned Moscow that it will pay a high economic price if it attacks Ukraine. Moscow denies having such intentions and accused Ukraine of planning to reclaim control of rebel-held territory, something Kyiv has rejected, Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged the West to provide guarantees that NATO won't expand to include Ukraine or deploy the alliance's forces and weapons there, calling that a red line for Moscow. The U.S. and its allies have refused to make such a pledge, but U.S. President Joe Biden and Putin decided last week to hold talks to discuss Russian concerns. The geopolitical threats resonate in Nevelske on those few occasions that the village has power, enabling its remaining residents to watch Russian television news. We don't want war!" exclaimed 75-year-old Kateryna Shklyar, who shares her fears with her husband, Dmytro. Their daughter and grandchildren live in nearby Krasnohorivka, a Ukrainian-controlled western suburb of Donetsk. For how long will this torment last? asked Shklyar. It has worn out our souls and hearts. You can't call that life, but we have no place to go. Humanitarian groups provide basic supplies to Nevelske and other villages and even try to offer housing in safer areas, but their resources are limited. I just survive each day, trying to make it to the evening, and my soul aches, said Moroka, who has lost vision in one eye but can't get any medical help. We are frightened, she added. It's really scary to sit here and wait for death. It's horrible! ___ Yuras Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. NEW ORLEANS (AP) Opponents of a $400 million grain terminal planned in a small Louisiana community may continue their challenge to zoning they contend was granted decades ago to further a corrupt plot, a state judge ruled Wednesday. But state District Judge J. Sterling Snowdy refused to give the immediate ruling requested by opponents who include descendants of people enslaved between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. He did not throw out the case entirely. He said it was of significant importance to the community, Lou Buatt, who represents Greenfield Louisiana LLC, the company that wants to build the terminal, said afterward. Rather, he said, the judge said opponents couldn't use a procedure that is supposed to be quick and easy and fast that doesn't have a trial. The good news is that our lawsuit can proceed, Joy Banner, one of the opposition leaders, said in a livestreamed video after the hearing in Edgard, seat of St. John the Baptist Parish. We were asking for the zoning to be thrown out today. That was a big ask. The zoning was changed in 1990, when Formosa Plastics Corp. wanted to build a rayon plant there. Six years later, former parish President Lester Millet Jr. was convicted of extortion, money laundering and a racketeering-related charge connected with the sale of land to Formosa. Formosa had dropped its plans in 1992, partly because of public opposition and partly because of Millet's activities, a federal appeals court wrote in upholding Millet's conviction and five-year prison term. Millet was convicted 25 years ago. So theyve had 25 years to address the zoning issue, Buatt said. He said he thinks that since Greenfield can now present its side, it can win without a trial, based on written arguments. Greenfield is connected to San Francisco investor Christopher Medlock James, whose Engine No. 1 investment firm unseated three ExxonMobil board members earlier this year. The company says its grain elevator, loading terminal and 54 silos, said the project would be clean, safe and provide more than 100 jobs while exceeding air quality standards. Wallace residents see the project as a grave threat not only to their health and way of life but to the very existence of their community, said a news release Wednesday from the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents the opponents. The board that runs nearby Whitney Plantation and Museum, which casts a cold eye on slavery, also opposes the plans. The miles of sugarcane fields nearby show visitors in a visceral way the immense pain of sugar plantation labor, a Dec. 6 statement said. The construction of the grain terminal would permanently change this and forever destroy this cultural landscape." PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A state judge on Thursday denied a bid to resume construction on a $1 billion hydropower transmission line in western Maine, rejecting a preliminary injunction sought by utility companies. The developer of the New England Clean Energy Connect contended that the project was properly permitted and that a referendum vote rejecting the project last month was unconstitutional. The lawsuit filed by the utilities will continue, but the judge declined to intervene to let construction resume and to prevent the new law the referendum created from going into effect on Sunday. This is a big win for Maine people who voted overwhelmingly to terminate the CMP corridor," said Pete Didisheim, advocacy director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, which opposed the corridor. Judge Michael Duddy said that the continued delay in construction while the constitutional issue is litigated doesn't constitute irreparable harm. The public interest in participatory democracy is paramount and would be adversely affected by blocking the initiative, he wrote. The judge said he expected the state Supreme Court to have the final say. The New England Clean Energy Connect, backed by Central Maine Power's parent company and Hydro Quebec, contends it will ultimately prevail and that the law will be found to be unconstitutional. The facts are clear: the NECEC project is good for Maine and for the region and will help address the energy, economic and climate issues we face. That is why we remain committed to this project, the statement said. NECEC had suspended construction of the project, which aims to bring up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid, after a request to do so by the governor. Maines environmental commissioner later suspended a permit for the project, and the suspension remains intact with the judges ruling. Critics said the project is damaging the woods and changing the character of a part of western Maine with little if any benefit for its residents. Supporters of the project, which is funded by Massachusetts ratepayers, say big solutions are needed to remove carbon from the environment, address climate change and provide needed generation capacity after the decommissioning of several power plant in recent years. Just this month, operators of the regional power grid said the region needs to reduce its dependence on natural gas and to diversify the energy mix as it warned of the potential for rolling blackouts if theres an extended cold snap this winter. The 145-mile (233-kilometer) transmission line would mostly follow existing utility corridors. But a new section needs to be cut through 53 miles (85 kilometers) of woods to reach the Canadian border. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection previously gave the project its approval along with the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, Maine Public Utilities Commission and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But that was before state voters delivered a rebuke to the project at the election booth in November. Also, a state judge has called into question a lease for a 1-mile stretch of the corridor over state land. COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) A man has been charged in the death of a 5-year-old Georgia girl who was reported missing from her home and later found deceased with signs of sexual abuse, an Alabama sheriff said Tuesday. News outlets report that Jeremy Tremaine Williams, 37, has been charged with capital murder in the death of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland. The girl was reported missing from her Georgia home on Monday and later found deceased in an abandoned home in Phenix City, Alabama. Holland's mother told police that when she woke up at 5:50 a.m. Monday that her daughter was gone and the front door of their Columbus home was open, Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said at a news conference. The girl's body was found late that night at an abandoned home in Alabama, he said. It did appear from the scene that there was some sexual abuse, Taylor said. He said the cause of death appeared to be asphyxiation. News outlets report that Williams told a judge he did not want an attorney, but a judge appointed one since this is a capital case where he could face the death penalty if convicted. Defense lawyer Chuck Floyd requested a gag order in the case, WRBL reported. "We'll respect whatever the judge does on that, but clearly everybody wants a fair trial here," Floyd told WRBL. Taylor said they believe Williams and the child's mother knew each other, but added it was "not from a dating perspective." Taylor said the child's body was found when law enforcement went to a home where Williams once lived. Law enforcement officials did not say why they identified Williams as a suspect. LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) Nigerian senators have for the third time in five years rejected a bill that sought to promote gender equality, citing socio-cultural and Islamic concerns. The proposed law was dropped after some lawmakers in the countrys upper legislative chamber, mostly northern Muslims, argued that the bill went against their interpretation of their religions principles. The bill would have criminalized discrimination on the basis of gender or marital status, and also was aimed at improving enforcement of existing laws against gender-based violence. Nigeria, Africas most populous country, is deeply divided along religious and ethnic lines. Women rarely make it to top positions of power, and only 7% of nations senators are women. Among them is the bill's sponsor, Sen. Biodun Olujimi from Ekiti state in southern Nigeria, who said the proposed law would stem a tide of gender-based violence against women. Cynthia Mbamalu, program manager at YIAGA Africa, a nonprofit leading the campaign for the legislation's passage, called its latest defeat a major setback on our path towards a more developed society. The reason senators gave for rejecting the bill shows the Senate is yet to appreciate the importance of advancing equality of all citizens, Mbamalu said Thursday. It means our country is not ready to realize its full potentials for the benefits of all citizens. Many of the senators who opposed the legislation during a plenary session on Wednesday said their resistance was strictly a religious issue. Equating opportunities actually infringes on the provisions of the Quran...and also the Bible, argued Sen. Yusuf Yusuf, who is from Taraba state in northern Nigeria. 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. Others echoed his concern, prompting the sponsoring senator to change the bill's title from Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill" to Gender Equity Bill. Opponents nevertheless blocked the bill from going forward. Senate President Ahmad Lawan said lawmakers see the need for gender equity in Nigeria but acknowledged a need for further consultations on the bill. Olujimi, the bill's sponsor, vowed to make another attempt, saying she had the support of 62 of the 108 senators. DOVER, N.H. (AP) A bunch of ice sculptures installed in Dover, New Hampshire, for the holiday season have been vandalized, and police are asking the public for their help as they investigate. The damaged sculptures include characters from The Nutcracker" at a park that were installed last week and others installed Tuesday at a train station in honor of the 20th anniversary of Amtrak's Downeaster line, Seacoastonline.com reported Wednesday. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Crystal Williams, an award-winning poet who currently leads Boston University's diversity and inclusion efforts, has been named the next president of the Rhode Island School of Design, the school's board of trustees announced Thursday. Williams was selected from more than 100 candidates and will become the school's 18th president effective April 1, the board said. Michael Spalter, the board's chair, said the school was looking for a leader with "receptivity, an aesthetic sensibility, the skill to communicate in a community that trades in images and materials, and something even more intangible: a deep, abiding empathy that can bind us all together. We found all of that and more in Crystal Williams, Spalter said in a statement. Williams has been at Boston University since 2017, where she now serves as vice president and associate provost for community and inclusion. Her more than two decades in higher education also include leadership roles at Bates College in Maine and Reed College in Oregon. A poet and essayist, Williams has published four collections of poetry, and her work is part of the Museum of Modern Art's Poetry Project, a tour of poems responding to pieces in the museum's permanent collection. In a statement, Williams called it a profound honor to be named president, adding that art, education and equity and justice are the three foundational focuses of my life and everything about me. I entered this search because I believe in the value of art and design to elevate and amplify the human experience, and to narrate who we have been and who we can become, Williams wrote. She succeeds Rosanne Somerson, who is retiring and will serve as RISD's first president emerita. MANILA, Philippines (AP) A powerful typhoon slammed into the southeastern Philippines on Thursday, toppling trees, ripping tin roofs and knocking down power as it blew across island provinces where nearly 100,000 people have been evacuated. Coast guard personnel were rescuing residents stranded by chest-deep waters in a southern province, where pounding rains swamped villages in brownish water. In southern Cagayan de Oro city, footage showed two rescuers struggling to keep a month-old baby inside a laundry basin above the waters and shielded from the wind and rain with an umbrella. Forecasters said Typhoon Rai further strengthened with sustained winds of 195 kilometers (121 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 270 kph (168 mph) as it blew from the Pacific Ocean into the Siargao Islands. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. Im scared and praying here in my house that this stops now. The wind outside is so strong its cutting down trees, Teresa Lozano, a resident of eastern MacArthur town in coastal Leyte province, told DZMM radio by telephone, adding roofs of nearby houses were damaged and that her farming village had lost power. Disaster-response officials said about 10,000 villages lie in the projected path of the typhoon, which has a 400-kilometer (248-mile)-wide rain band and is one of the strongest to hit the country this year. The coast guard said it has grounded all vessels, stranding nearly 4,000 passengers and ferry and cargo ship workers in dozens of southern and central ports. Several mostly domestic flights have been canceled and schools and workplaces were shut in the most vulnerable areas. More than 98,000 people have been evacuated to safety, the governments disaster-response agency said. Crowding in evacuation centers was complicating efforts to keep people safely distanced after authorities detected the countrys first infections caused by the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Intensified vaccinations were also halted in provinces likely to experience stormy weather. The Philippines is among the hardest-hit in Southeast Asia by the pandemic, with confirmed infections of more than 2.8 million and more than 50,000 deaths. Quarantine restrictions have been eased and more businesses have been allowed to reopen in recent weeks after an intensified vaccination campaign helped reduce infections to a few hundred from more than 26,000 in September. The detection of the omicron cases this week, however, has set off the alarm and the government renewed calls for people to avoid crowds and get vaccinated immediately. Gov. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar province said he suspended vaccinations in his region of nearly half a million people due to the typhoon. More than 70% of villagers in the province have gotten at least one shot, and Evardone expressed concern because some vaccines stored in Eastern Samar will expire in a few months. Overcrowding is unavoidable, he said, in the limited number of evacuation centers in his province, where more than 32,000 people have been moved to safety. Its impossible to observe social distancing, it will really be tough, Evardone told The Associated Press. What we do is we cluster evacuees by families. We dont mix different people in the same place as a precaution. About 20 storms and typhoons batter the Philippines each year. The archipelago is also located in the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire region, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. ATLANTA (AP) Rivian Automotive was attracted to Georgia's education system, resources and talent when choosing a site for its $5 billion battery and assembly plant, a company official said Thursday as the project was officially announced. The Irvine, California-based electric vehicle manufacturer plans to eventually employ more than 7,500 workers and produce up to 400,000 vehicles a year at the plant east of Atlanta. Construction is set to begin next summer and production is expected to begin in 2024, the company said. "We couldn't be more excited to be here today in Georgia to announce Rivian's decision to come here because that allows me and my team and Rivian to capitalize on the depth and breadth of talent that resides here in Georgia," Rivian Chief People Officer Helen Russell said during the announcement at Liberty Plaza, across from the state Capitol. It is the largest economic development project in state history and is sure to be repeatedly touted by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp as he tries to fend off both Republican and Democratic challengers to win reelection next year. He has consistently portrayed himself as a friend to business and an excellent steward of Georgia's economy. We know that today is just the start of a generational partnership that will benefit not only this great company but also our great state, Kemp said. The governor called the announcement a pivotal moment for our state, one that will give countless hardworking Georgians the opportunity to succeed and achieve the American dream. State and local authorities didn't immediately release information about what incentives were offered to the company. Kemp said incentives are a significant part of any deal like this where states are competing for a major project, but Georgia had more to offer. There's a lot of states that can give cash, incentives and other things, but if you don't have a good site, if you don't have good logistics and if you especially don't have a good workforce, none of that matters, he told reporters after the announcement. What I sold to them was speed to market and workforce. The plant is to be located on a 2,000-acre (809-hectare) site in Morgan and Walton counties, east of Atlanta along Interstate 20, the company said. With cash on hand after it went public on Nov. 10 with an $11.9 billion stock offering, Rivian's $95 billion market value is greater than that of either General Motors or Ford. It currently plans two models for consumers: the 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 Trends 2022 truck of the year. Rivian is a startup manufacturer of electric trucks and commercial delivery vans. Its expanding at a breakneck pace that some analysts see as risky, trying to claim electric vehicle market share before traditional automakers such as Ford and GM and electric vehicle leader Tesla can lock up the market. 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. 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. Thats part of a wave of electric vehicle investment, with SKs $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 years 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. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Local authorities in western Serbia on Thursday suspended a plan that would allow mining giant Rio Tinto to operate a lithium mine, following protests by environmentalists that shook the countrys populist leadership. The mining had been expected to start in the near future, but a town council in Loznica voted to suspend a regional development plan that permitted the excavation of lithium. The vote followed the suspension last week of two key laws in Serbias parliament that ecologists said would help the multinational mining company start the project. For three consecutive weekends, thousands of protesters in Belgrade and elsewhere in Serbia blocked main roads and bridges to oppose Rio Tinto's plan to launch a $2.4 billion mining operation in Serbia. The protests were the biggest challenge yet to the increasingly autocratic rule of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Whether there will be a mine depends on people (in western Serbia) and the study on environmental impact assessment, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said. These are the two conditions that the president (Vucic) stated earlier. Rio Tinto said in a statement Thursday that it worked in accordance with laws and the highest professional standards throughout its 10-year presence in Serbia in order to launch the largest mining investment in this part of the world." We understand the interest of citizens in everything that happens in connection with the project, and we will continue to provide information on all aspects of the project for which we are responsible and in which we participate," the statement said, according to independent Beta news agency. Although Rio Tinto said it would adhere to all the latest environmental protection standards, organizers of the weekend protests said the lithium excavation could inflict lasting ecological damage to rivers and farmland in the region. Now that the lithium mine plans are on hold, Vucic said earlier this week that from now on we will have to speak in a different way to Rio Tinto and others. Throughout its almost 150-year history, the company has faced accusations of corruption, environmental degradation and human rights abuses at its excavation sites. Lithium, which is used in batteries for electric cars, is considered one of the most sought-after metals of the future as the world shifts to more renewable energy sources. As Serbia faces an electricity shortage, Vucic has ignored European Union pleas for countries to reduce CO2 emissions and pledged to continue and even expand coal mining for power plants. Environmentalists are upset at the Serbian governments lack of response to rising pollution in the country. ____ Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate. SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) A northern Indiana county's judges have reinstated an order requiring people to wear masks in four courthouses because of the countys rising COVID-19 infection rates. The order applies to the three St. Joseph County courthouses in downtown South Bend and one in Mishawaka. Chief Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hurley told the South Bend Tribune she made the call with Circuit Judge John Broden after consulting with the countys other Superior Court judges. The order took effect Monday. MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) Survivors of a tornado that leveled a Kentucky candle factory, killing eight workers, have filed a lawsuit claiming their employer demonstrated flagrant indifference by refusing to allow employees to go home early as the storm approached. As legal fallout from the catastrophic weather started surfacing, steady rainfall added to the survivors' misery. As they picked through what remained of their homes, roofers patched holes and cleanup crews removed massive piles of downed trees and other debris. Storm-stricken parts of western Kentucky could get up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain by Sunday, officials said. Its not right for the people who have had their homes knocked down, that are trying to salvage it, are now having all this rain on top of it, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday. The lawsuit, filed in state court late Wednesday, accuses the Mayfield Consumer Products candle production company of violating Kentucky occupational safety and health workplace standards by keeping its staff at work despite the danger of death and injury. The lawsuit claims that workers were threatened with termination if they left in the hours before the tornado hit. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Its a straightforward claim, exactly what this statute was meant to address, Amos Jones, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney representing employees, said by phone Thursday. Bob Ferguson, speaking on behalf of the company located in the western Kentucky town of Mayfield, previously insisted that employees were free to leave anytime, and he denied that they would have faced retribution if they left the factory. Ferguson did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment Thursday. The companys CEO, Troy Propes, said in a statement Wednesday that the company was retaining an independent expert team to review the actions of managers and employees leading up to when the tornado struck the factory. Were confident that our team leaders acted entirely appropriately and were, in fact, heroic in their efforts to shelter our employees, Propes said. We are hearing accounts from a few employees that our procedures were not followed. Were going to do a thorough review of what happened. The lawsuit claims the factory had up to three and half hours before the tornado hit its place of business to allow its employees to leave its worksite as safety precautions. The factory showed flagrant indifference to the rights of the workers by refusing to do so, the lawsuit said. Factory employee Haley Conder told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a supervisor threatened her with written disciplinary action if she went home early because storms were approaching. Conder 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. The only plaintiff identified in the lawsuit is Elijah Johnson, who was working the night shift at the candle factory when the storm struck. The wording of the lawsuit says it was filed by Johnson and on behalf of others similarly situated. Others aren't identified by name for fear of reprisal, Jones said. After days of not knowing how many workers died at the factory, authorities are now pretty close to certainty that no more than eight perished, Beshear said Thursday. The governor said it was an absolute miracle that more lives were not lost. I will tell you, I was almost certain that the number would be 70, he said. But thank God, others either left or escaped. More than 100 people were working on candle orders when the twister flattened the facility. 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. The lawsuit was filed less than a week after the storms that began Friday night destroyed lives and property from Arkansas to Illinois and in parts of neighboring states, carving a more than 200-mile (320-kilometer) path through Kentucky alone. Beshear has said that Kentuckys workplace safety agency would look into the eight deaths. That kind of investigation is routine whenever workers are killed on the job. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court has formally returned a lawsuit over Texas' six-week abortion ban to a federal appeals court that has twice allowed the law to stay in effect, rather than to a district judge who sought to block it. Justice Neil Gorsuch on Thursday signed the courts order that granted the request of abortion clinics for the court to act speedily. But the clinics wanted the case sent directly to U.S. Judge Robert Pitman, who had previously though briefly blocked enforcement of the Texas abortion ban known as S.B. 8. When Pitman ordered the law blocked in early October, the appeals court countermanded his order two days later. Texas has said it will seek to keep the case bottled up at the appeals court for the foreseeable future. Marc Hearron, the Center for Reproductive Rights lawyer who represented the clinics at the high court, said, The Supreme Court left only a small sliver of our case intact, and its clear that this part of the case will not block vigilante lawsuits from being filed. Its also clear that Texas is determined to stop the plaintiffs from getting any relief in even the sliver of the case that is left. The law, in effect more than three months, prohibits abortions once cardiac activity is detected in an embryo, usually around six weeks and before some women even know they are pregnant. It makes no exceptions for rape or incest. It also bypasses state officials who typically enforce laws and deputizes private citizens to sue clinics, doctors and anyone else who facilitates an abortion after the cardiac cutoff. In last week's majority opinion written by Gorsuch, the Supreme Court limited who can be sued by the clinics in their effort to win a court order preventing the law's enforcement and allowing them to resume providing abortions without severe financial risks. The court held that only state licensing officials can be sued, an outcome the clinics said would not stave off the filing of lawsuits against providers if abortions were to resume. Gorsuch wrote that it appears the licensing officials can be sued. Of course, Texas courts and not this one are the final arbiters of the meaning of state statutory directions, he wrote. The state told the justices it plans to ask the appeals court to, in turn, seek a definitive ruling from the Texas Supreme Court over the role the licensing officials play in enforcing the abortion ban. The appeals court would decide whether to involve the state high court, which would put the case on hold. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also has before it the abortion case from Mississippi in which the justices indicated at arguments on Dec. 1 that they are prepared to limit abortion rights and even could overrule Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the landmark cases declaring a nationwide right to an abortion. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Swedish authorities said Thursday that citizens from fellow Nordic countries will have to show a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate when entering Sweden starting next week. As of Dec. 21, people from Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland no long will have an exemption to the certificate requirement and must also show their passes to enter Sweden. Swedish Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren also encouraged all travelers to be tested for the coronavirus upon entry due to a deteriorating public health situation. The spread of infection is increasing sharply. The new virus variant omicron makes it difficult to predict the spread of infection in the future, Hallengren said during a news conference. Sweden has previously stood out among European nations for its comparatively hands-off response to the coronavirus. The Swedish government has not ordered lockdowns or closed businesses during the pandemic, relying instead on citizens sense of civic duty to control infections. Authorities have emphasized individual responsibility instead of government mandates. For individuals who are fully vaccinated and healthy, it is OK to celebrate Christmas with relatives and friends, but be prepared to cancel if you get symptoms, Hallengren said. She urged Swedes to choose a smaller party for ringing in the New Year. In Denmark, Queen Margrethe has called off the pomp-filled ceremonies in early January where she traditionally receives New Year's greetings from the government, top officials, civil society organizations and the diplomatic corps. On Wednesday, the palace said her daughter-in-law, Australian-born Crown Princess Mary, had tested positive and was in isolation. Mary is married who is married to Margrethes oldest son and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Frederik. In neighboring Norway, a Jan. 21 banquet for the 18th birthday of Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is second in line to the Norwegian throne after her father, Crown Prince Haakon, was also canceled. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Syrias military said Israeli rockets hit army posts in the countrys south early Thursday, killing one soldier and causing material damage. State media quoted an unidentified military official as saying that rockets fired from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights activated Syrian air defenses and that most of the incoming missiles were intercepted. But one Syrian soldier was killed and there was damage to the area, the official added, without specifying where the missiles hit in southern Syria. Israel has staged hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled Syria in recent years but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations. Israel has acknowledged, however, that it targets the bases of Iran-allied militias, such as Lebanons Hezbollah group that has fighters deployed in Syria. It says it attacks arms shipments believed to be bound for the militias. Hezbollah is fighting on the side of Syrian President Bashar Assads forces in the country's decade-old civil war. Israel says the Iranian presence on its northern frontier is a red line, justifying its strikes on facilities and weapons inside Syria. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Two Muslim worshippers who at different times charged toward a gunman to try and stop his massacre were each awarded New Zealand's highest honor for civilian bravery on Thursday. Both men are credited with helping save others in the 2019 attack at two Christchurch mosques in which 51 people were killed. One of the men awarded the New Zealand Cross, Dr. Naeem Rashid, was himself killed when he tried to tackle the gunman. The other recipient, Abdul Aziz, survived after dodging bullets and chasing the gunman away. The award had previously been given to just two other people since it was started in 1999. Eight more people on Thursday were also given other bravery awards for their roles in helping people during the shootings. Rashid and his son were at the Al Noor mosque with dozens of others for Friday prayers when the gunman entered the main prayer room, shooting at everyone he could. Authorities described how Rashid found himself in a bottleneck of worshippers trying to escape through a small window and door. He reacted when the gunman turned to fire at people on the other side of the room. Dr. Rashid launched himself from his position and ran at the gunman, government authorities wrote. When Dr. Rashid was approximately 1 meter (3 feet) from him, the gunman swung the rifle around and shot Dr. Rashid in the shoulder. Dr. Rashid collided with the gunman, grabbing him and knocking him to the ground." The gunman then managed to get back up and shoot and kill Rashid. In the meantime, at least seven more people escaped, authorities said. Soon after, the gunman left and drove to the Linwood Mosque, where he continued his shooting spree. At one point he stopped to run back to his car and get another gun. Abdul Aziz then yelled at the gunman and ran after him, grabbing a credit card machine and hurling it toward him. The gunman fired at Aziz but he managed to duck behind parked cars. Aziz picked up a gun the gunman had thrown down but found it was empty when he pulled the trigger. He yelled some more at the gunman to distract him from killing others. The gunman saw Mr. Aziz carrying the discarded rifle, dropped his gun and ran to his car, authorities wrote. Mr. Aziz chased after him and, while the gunman was sitting in his car, threw the gunmans discarded rifle at the back left window of the car, smashing it. The gunman drove off, with Mr. Aziz continuing to chase him for a time down Linwood Avenue. In an interview with The Associated Press the day after the shooting, Aziz said he didn't feel fear or much of anything at all when he faced down the gunman while his sons remained inside the mosque. He felt like he was on autopilot, he said, and that God, or Allah, did not think it was his time to die. Other people awarded bravery honors included a worshipper who shielded another man with his body while being shot, the two police officers who rammed the gunman's car and dragged him out before he could continue his massacre at a third mosque, and bystanders who helped the wounded. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said each of the 10 people who were given awards put their lives at risk to save others. The courage demonstrated by these New Zealanders was selfless and extraordinary," she said. They have our deepest respect and gratitude for their actions on that day. The gunman, white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, was last year sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism. In a statement, Rashid's widow Ambreen Naeem said that throughout his life, her husband had always put others before himself. Naeem was a brave man, he was kind and loving. He was a true follower of the peaceful faith of Islam, she said. This award is not only for him but for every peace-loving person who stands against hate. For all the victims, not only the victims of the Christchurch terror attack, but all over the world. A ceremony to honor the award winners will be held early next year. The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday approved new admissions standards that create a path for students to attend the University of Kansas without taking the ACT or SAT standardized tests. The board unanimously voted to allow admission of students with a 3.25 or higher high school GPA, the Lawrence Journal-World reports. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) An information technology system security breach detected late last month prompted the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to shut down its website for a state investigation, the museum announced this week. Theres no evidence that the breach is connected to the ransomware attack on Virginia legislative agencies IT systems, The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Virginia State Police are investigating a ransomware attack on state legislative agencies, discovered late Sunday night. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden unveiled two more ambassador nominees Wednesday, but the White House and Democrats warned that maneuvering by some Senate Republicans to block all but a small fraction of diplomatic and other national security appointees is doing serious harm to U.S. efforts around the globe. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has threatened to keep lawmakers who are eager to get home for Christmas at work in Washington into next week if progress isn't made on the backlog of more than 70 ambassadorial nominees awaiting votes. Biden administration officials acknowledge the president will almost certainly end his year with significantly more ambassadorial vacancies than any of his recent predecessors and that the slowdown of ambassadorial and other national security picks has already had an impact on U.S. relations overseas. Its 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," said White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. As of Tuesday, only 13 of Bidens 85 ambassadorial nominees have been confirmed by the Senate, according to the White House. At the same point in the three previous administrations, presidents had far more of their diplomats confirmed and installed at embassies around the globe. Donald Trump had 44 of his 60 nominees confirmed, Barack Obama 72 of 96, and George W. Bush 93 out of 103. Much of the White House and Schumer's frustration has been pointed toward a few Senate Republicans who have set roadblocks most notably Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas by using holds and other procedural maneuvering to slow dozens of ambassador and other appointments at the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and State. Republican pressure is also mounting on Cruz over the holds. We just need to get some people in place, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., pointing to diplomatic vacancies such as those for China and Japan. He added: "Its a dangerous world out there right now. Cruz on Wednesday said he had offered to lift holds on 16 nominees in exchange for a Senate vote on sanctioning the companies behind Nord Stream 2 a controversial Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline. Critics on the both sides of the aisle have raised concerns that the pipeline will threaten European energy security by increasing the continents reliance on Russian gas and allowing Russia to exert political pressure on vulnerable Eastern and Central European nations, particularly Ukraine. Schumer countered that the Texas Republican must lift his holds on all nominees from the State and Treasury departments and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Lets be clear about the nominees at issue. We arent talking about partisan firebrands or candidates that come out of left field. The bulk of these men and women are uncontroversial, by-the-book, professional public servants, Schumer said. Cruz was defiant, suggesting Schumer has decided that he wants no ambassadors confirmed. Thats a really foolish decision for him. The Senate typically confirms noncontroversial State Department and Pentagon nominees by unanimous consent, a process that doesnt require the Senate to use valuable floor time. Many of the nominees being held up were voted out of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees with broad bipartisan support. A hold by a senator doesnt block a nominee from being confirmed. It just requires more time-consuming steps to get to a final vote. So far, Democrats have chosen to prioritize the confirmation of federal judges. Overall, Biden has nominated 174 people for national security positions in the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and State that require Senate confirmation. Sixty-three, or about 36%, have been confirmed. Sen. John Thune, the Senates No. 2 Republican, said many in the GOP caucus are hoping Cruz "can find a way forward to work with Democrats to get to some of these positions filled. I think there are members who are really concerned about particularly certain areas of the world where we dont have ambassadors in place and recognize that its important that some of these get done," Thune said. Even with the backlog, Biden continues to send new nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The president on Wednesday announced he will nominate Caroline Kennedy, a former U.S. envoy to Japan in the Obama administration and daughter of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy, to serve as his chief envoy to Australia and retired U.S. Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan to serve as ambassador to Belize. Publicly, White House officials have lauded career foreign service officers who have stepped up at embassies to try to fill the void as the administration awaits confirmation of ambassadorial picks. But the blockade has already had real impact on U.S. foreign policy and national security interests in hot spots around the globe, officials say. In China perhaps the most complicated and consequential foreign policy relationship Bidens foreign policy advisers worry that the lack of a Senate-confirmed diplomat has sent the message to Beijing that the U.S. Embassy there lacks an envoy who truly speaks for the president, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida announced in November that he had put a hold on the nomination of Nicholas Burns to be ambassador to China in an effort to press Biden to sign into law bipartisan legislation he co-authored banning products made with Uyghur forced labor in western China. The White House said Tuesday after the House passed the bill that Biden would work closely with Congress to implement it. Rubio said he was open to lifting the hold on Burns if we can get it passed and signed by the White House. I still have concerns about whether hes the right person, but in the end, hes going to get a vote. Its an important post, Rubio said of the nominee. Bidens ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, came to the post last month, shortly after Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri removed a hold on her nomination. Her confirmation vote came after Russia had already begun massing thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine. Russia has signaled that its military maneuvering which has put Washington and much of Europe on high alert about a potential further Russian invasion of Ukraine -- was tied to its concerns about NATO expanding to Ukraine. Hawley has put holds on other State Department nominees to show his disapproval of the administration's handling of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Former Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican, waited more than three months for his confirmation vote in late October to become ambassador to Turkey. The White House could have used Flakes help in August as it sought to win Turkeys help in securing the Kabul International Airport ahead of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the official noted. 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. Celebrating the New Year will have to be done without a typical firework show this year. On Monday during their regularly scheduled meeting, the Hale County Commissioners Court voted to institute a burn ban, effective immediately. The burn ban was brought to the court by Harold King, Commissioner of Precinct 1, and passed unanimously. In addition to the burn ban, commissioners voted to institute a ban on restricted fireworks on Tuesday. The deadline to institute a ban on fireworks was Wednesday due to the up-coming period of Dec. 20-Jan. 1 where selling fireworks in Texas is legal. Commissioners said the burn ban was instituted because of the regions current period of drought. County Judge David Mull said the ban also lines up with burn bans that are currently in place in surrounding counties such as Swisher. The burn ban is in effect for the next 90 days. However, if Hale County experiences significant moisture before the end of this period, Commissioners can lift the ban early. The banning of restricted fireworks or aerial/projectile fireworks was finalized in a special session on Tuesday. Mull scheduled Tuesdays special session to discuss the issue, though was absent from the meeting. Still, the four present members of the Court passed the fireworks ban. County Attorney Jim Tirey said the ban is for fireworks that go into the air, or are set off in one place, travel a distance and explode in another. These include skyrockets and bottle rockets. Tirey said the ban is because of the on-going drought and wind conditions throughout the area to avoid potential fires. Fireworks can still be sold starting on Dec. 20, but anyone that sells or sets off an aerial firework could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $500. Permissible fireworks that can be used and sold during this time are anything that Is not a bottle rocket. For example, firecrackers are acceptable. During a burn ban, outdoor burning is acceptable under these scenarios: Burning is related to public health and safety as authorized by the Texas Environmental Quality Commission Firefighter training Household trash If trash is in a metal barrel or drum with wire mesh over the top to resist flying embers Or burning in a pit in the ground as long as the trash does not extend above ground level and the pit is also covered by a wire mesh cover Public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations Planting or harvesting of agriculture crops Must be done under the direction of a burn manager Property owner must file a burn plan with the County Fire Marshall a few days prior to the planned date Burns are conducted by a prescribed burn manager For more information on outdoor burning, visit http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/%20 MOTRAN got an early start on its holiday celebration at its 2021 Annual Review on Wednesday. The Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance highlighted what MOTRAN President James Beauchamp called a strong year. The only thing better would be if Santa converted the naughty list from coal to natural gas, he quipped. One of the things weve done (at) MOTRAN is put a lot of money into telling our story, including on social media, he told the gathering. Its going well. Telling our story and making sure were heard, telling why the Permian Basin is important. Beauchamp led off the event at the Petroleum Museum with a clip of the September visit by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, championing the designation of Interstate 14 to include Midland-Odessa and the central Permian Basin. In that clip, Cruz called the Permian Basin Texas on steroids. Beauchamp said he thought that comment was an apt summation of the Permians importance. Interstate 14 through Midland-Odessa was one of four top highlights MOTRAN featured. Beauchamp said the new designation will provide better connections to strategic Gulf ports as well as connections to other ports like Savannah, Georgia, the third largest in the country. It will also connect energy production and national defense installations and serve as a critical hurricane evacuation route. The designation will expand the Permian Basins sphere of economic influence across five states Texas to Louisiana through Mississippi and Alabama to Georgia to support economic growth in energy, agriculture and consumer goods. What was key to the effort, which began in 2016, was support from elsewhere in the country, Beauchamp said. We need to make connections from one end of the country to the other, he remarked. Its important to have friends all over. A second highlight is the progress on Loop 250 in Midland and Loop 338 in Odessa. This fall opened a new overpass on East Loop 250 with interchanges at County Road 1150 and County Road 60. MOTRAN leveraged the project in conjunction with the Midland Development Corp., which provided funding along with the city of Midland and Midland County to accelerate the project. A similar project underway at Loop 250 and County Road 1140 is scheduled for completion next month and will complete east Loop 250 from Interstate 20 to Todd Road. Progress is also being made in planning of Loop 338 expansion and development of a Pecos loop. MOTRAN also celebrated the return of Southwest Airlines direct flight from Midland to Austin, which will take to the air this coming March 10 with departures from Midland at 6:30 a.m. and from Austin at 7:50 p.m. The association also celebrated securing an additional $52 million in state and federal funding for area infrastructure. While MOTRAN is celebrating its successes on the ground and in the air, Beauchamp indicated that the areas dominant oil and gas industry has not been overlooked. He noted that Texas natural gas including from Permian Basin fields is the top export to Mexico and we think it will get better. That means more connections, more markets. In its anticipated ruling on Texas controversial abortion ban last week, the U.S. Supreme Court expressed significant concerns with the laws unique enforcement mechanism, which empowers anyone to sue those who violate the statute. But ultimately the majority refused to block its implementation and instead limited how the legal challenge can proceed. The courts splintered opinion will define the next chapter in the legal saga, but after the smoke cleared Friday, one thing became increasingly clear: For the abortion providers fighting the restrictions, there might not be a lot left to win. The Supreme Court has ruled out the most promising claims that would have stopped the vigilante lawsuits in their tracks, said Julie Murray, one of the lead attorneys for abortion providers in the case. A significant portion of the lawsuit was foreclosed by the Supreme Court decision and that's going to have a really substantial negative impact on access going forward and on Texans. The Supreme Court ruled that the providers could continue challenging Texas law but weakened their legal strategy by removing nearly all of the defendants in the case, leaving abortion supporters with few options for a viable lawsuit. And legal experts say the state might be able to easily counter whats left of the suit by amending the law. Now there are no clear avenues for a major victory on behalf of abortion rights advocates, and the ones that remain will likely be hard fought and wind slowly through the court system by way of appeals. Appeals can take many months, if not years. And so the the real impact of the Supreme Court's decision last week was to essentially disregard the ongoing impact on the ground for Texans in need of abortion, Murray said. [It is] ultimately going to harm patients and their families potentially for many years. Abortion providers have fallen in line with the law out of fear of financial ruin, making the ban one of the greatest wins for anti-abortion advocates in recent history. In September, the first month the law went into effect, the number of procedures plummeted by half compared to the same month last year, according to a study from the University of Texas at Austin. Amy Hagstrom Miller, president of Whole Womans Health, which operates four clinics in Texas and is the lead plaintiff in the providers lawsuit, warned last week that the current volume of services is not enough to keep clinics open in the long term. "Staying open is not sustainable if this ban stays in effect much longer," Hagstrom Miller said. "We are grateful for the donors and foundations and folks who have been supporting us in the interim ... but the future looks bleak if we can't get some justice here. Who can opponents of the law sue? The law, commonly referred to as Senate Bill 8, allows private citizens to sue those who help others get an abortion after around six weeks of pregnancy, and if the lawsuit is successful, plaintiffs get at least $10,000 in damages. It also bars Texas officials and law enforcement from enforcing the statute. This novel combination has made the law notoriously difficult to topple in court. Legal challenges to a law usually involve suing government officials and a request to stop them from enforcing it. But by offloading enforcement to private citizens and limiting who can enforce the restriction, legal opponents have struggled to name defendants that could be sued to stop the law. The Supreme Courts decision Friday made the number of possible defendants even smaller. In its ruling, the court cited sovereign immunity which protects government entities from some civil lawsuits to rule that the providers cannot sue local government officials, including court clerks. Targeting court clerks was a key legal strategy in the providers challenge. The goal was to stop clerks from receiving and processing suits filed under the abortion law. The tactic was previously used when the Biden administration asked a federal district judge to temporarily order courts to not accept any lawsuits related to the abortion law. That order lasted for only two days before Texas successfully appealed. The Supreme Court ended the Biden administrations lawsuit on Friday, saying the U.S. lacked the legal standing to intervene. Now that the strategy is off the table, legal experts agree that it looks more unlikely than ever that abortion providers can prevent lawsuits from being filed in the first place. The Supreme Court did allow abortion providers to name state licensing officials as defendants, who could potentially threaten to revoke the licenses of medical professionals who violate the abortion law. But Erik S. Jaffe, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer who represents a gun rights group that opposes the law, said Texas could just amend the law to explicitly prohibit the licensing officials from enforcing it therefore making them unsuitable defendants as well. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, who is overseeing the case, hasnt tilted his hand on how he will handle the case going forward. Although he temporarily stopped enforcement of the law before, its unclear how he would rule now that court clerks cant be ordered to stop accepting suits under the abortion law. But before Pitman can act on the case, he has to get the green light from the Supreme Court. It typically takes 25 days after justices render an opinion and order a case to return to a lower court for that to happen. Attorneys for the abortion providers have asked the Supreme Court to expedite that process to allow Pitman to get started sooner, but that hasnt happened yet. The road ahead Pitman could still rule that Texas abortion law is unconstitutional, which at the very least would serve as a court precedent a tool that could be used by those being sued to try and get individual lawsuits thrown out. A declaration of unconstitutionality certainly is valuable, Murray said. I mean, I think anybody whos thinking about bringing a lawsuit if they know that a court has already declared that law unconstitutional would certainly think twice before doing it. But even if Pitman declares the law unconstitutional, it wouldnt have a binding effect on future individual cases, said Josh Blackman, a law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston. Although a court could use that order as a precedent to throw out a case, there would be nothing to stop individual lawsuits from being filed or a guarantee that the suits would be thrown out. Murray said now only the states and nations highest courts realistically have the power to end the enforcement of the law. What we need for full, robust relief is either a decision from the Texas Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court saying that SB 8 is unconstitutional, she said. But the path to either court could take months or even years. And Texas has a lot of control over which cases are escalated to one of the high courts. To keep the law in place, attorneys for the state could simply not appeal lost cases or abandon them if it looks like they might go to the Supreme Court, Jaffe said. Nobody on the Texas side of things would be stupid enough, I wouldnt think, to let [a suit under the law] go all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, much less [to] the Texas Supreme Court, unless they were darn confident of the answer, Jaffe said. The abortion providers challenge, he added, is doomed. Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Yes, you can get PR with work experience in a job that is classified under NOC C or D. Canadian immigration for NOC C and D occupations Yes, you can get PR with work experience in a job that is classified under NOC C or D. Canadian immigration for NOC C and D occupations Yes, you can get PR with work experience in a job that is classified under NOC C or D. Canadian immigration for NOC C and D occupations Yes, you can get PR with work experience in a job that is classified under NOC C or D. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A There are many options to immigrate to Canada if you are working in an NOC C or D occupation. One of the functions of economic immigration is to fill gaps in the Canadian labour market. When industries and regions have difficulty finding workers, they turn to immigration. Canada currently uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to determine an occupations skill level. In late 2022, it will switch to the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) system. For a while, Canada was focusing immigration efforts on NOC 0, A, and B occupations. NOC 0 includes management jobs, NOC A is for jobs that call for a university degree, and NOC B includes trades and occupations that usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training. Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration The Express Entry system is the main way Canada welcomes economic-class immigrants. The programs managed by Express Entry are only for workers in NOC 0, A, and B occupations. However, there are a number of immigration programs that are primarily concerned with filling labour shortages, which include occupations classified under NOC C and D. In recent years, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) have been focusing on NOC C and D immigration applicants. This was seen in the Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence (TR to PR) pathways, which the Canadian government created to help admit immigrants during the pandemic. NOC C occupations may require a high school diploma, while NOC D occupations generally call for on-the-job training. Some examples of NOC C occupations include butchers, truck drivers, and servers, while NOC D occupations include fruit pickers, cleaning staff, and oil field workers. Without further ado, here are some of the pathways to permanent residence for people with job offers and work experience in NOC C and D. Provincial Nominee Program The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) was created to allow Canadian provinces and territories make their own immigration programs tailored to their economic and population growth strategies. The PNP includes most of Canadas provinces and territories with the exceptions of Quebec and Nunavut. The participating provinces have programs that offer pathways for applicants who work in NOC C and D occupations. Here is a list with links to descriptions on each of these programs. Quebec Quebecs Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Workers in Food Processing offers a pathway to permanent immigration for French-speaking workers who have jobs in the food processing sector. Applications for this program are open until December 31, 2022, or until the maximum number of applications have been reached. You need to be at least 18 years old, and be financially self-sufficient for at least the first three months in the province. Also, you need at least a high school diploma, or a Quebec vocational diploma in a full-time study program of at least one year. For the work experience requirements, you need a full-time job in an eligible sector in Quebec, and to have worked full-time for at least 24 months during the 36 months preceding the application date. Your job offer, or work experience, must be in one of the following occupations: NOC 6732 Specialized cleaner NOC 8431 General farm worker, but only in the position of chicken catcher NOC 9461 Process control and machine operator, food and beverage processing NOC 9462 Industrial butcher and meat cutter, poultry preparer and related worker NOC 9463 Fish and seafood plant worker NOC 9617 Labourer in food and beverage processing NOC 9618 Labourer in fish and seafood You also need an advanced intermediate French language proficiency, which corresponds to level 7 on the Echelle quebecoise des niveaux de competence en francais des personnes immigrantes adultes. Atlantic Immigration Pilot The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) is a federal immigration program that allows employers to hire foreign talent without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Employers can be from one of the four Atlantic Provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. There are three categories under the AIP umbrella. One of them, the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program, is specifically for NOC C workers. To go over the basic eligibility criteria, candidates need at least one year of work experience in an occupation that requires a high school education or job-specific training. You also need a high school diploma to meet the education criteria for the program, a language test to show that you can communicate in English or French, and proof that you can support yourself financially. You also need an eligible job offer that is full-time, permanent, and non seasonal. The job offer can be in an NOC 0, A, B, or C occupation. Successful applicants not only get Canadian permanent residence with a job offer, but also an individualized settlement plan. One study suggested that immigrants who used the settlement supports found them helpful. Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot These two federal immigration programs are for people who work as caregivers. The eligible NOC codes are 4411 and 4412, both are a skill level C. For both of these programs, eligible candidates need at least two years of full-time work experience, language tests in English or French showing a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5, and at least one year of Canadian post-secondary education, or the foreign equivalent. Caregivers with work experience in NOC 4411 may be eligible for permanent residence through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, provided: you care for children below the age of 18 in your home or your employers home; and you do not count being a foster parent as work experience. Caregivers with work experience in NOC 4412 (excluding housekeepers) may be eligible for Canadian immigration through the Home Support Worker Pilot. For this program, you must have taken care of someone who needs help from a home support worker. This can have taken place in your home or in your employers home. Agri-food Immigration Pilot The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is a federal immigration program for people who have full-time jobs in the following eligible industries: meat processing; retail butcher; industrial butcher; food processing labourer harvesting labourer for year-round mushroom production and greenhouse crop production general farm worker for year-round mushroom production, greenhouse crop production, or livestock raising farm supervisor and specialized livestock worker for meat processing, year-round mushroom production, greenhouse crop production or livestock raising Candidates need to have at least 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation. Your work permit should have been issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Also, you need an English or French language proficiency of at least a CLB level 4, and a high school education. The job has to be in a Canadian province outside of Quebec. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot The federal governments Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot allows participating communities the ability to nominate newcomers for Canadian immigration. The 11 participating communities include: In order to be considered for the RNIP, candidates must meet the federal criteria as well as the community requirements. On the federal level, candidates must have a recommendation from one of the designated communities. To get one, you need to see the individual criteria of the community where you wish to immigrate to. Also, you need 1,560 hours of work experience, equivalent to one year of full-time work, within the past three years in order to be eligible. It is OK if this was done outside Canada, but it cannot be self-employed work. Alternatively, you can have an education credential from a public post-secondary institution in the community coupled with a job offer. If you graduated from a post-secondary program in the community that is recommending you, then you may be exempt from the work experience requirement. In order to qualify for the exemption, you need to have graduated with a credential from a post-secondary program of two years or more. You needed to have been a full-time student for the entirety of the program, received the credential within 18 months before applying for immigration, and were in the community for at least 16 months out of the last 24 months of study. Federal eligibility criteria also call for you to meet the language threshold for the job being offered. For NOC C and D workers, this is a CLB level of 4. Like many other immigration programs, you will also need to show you have sufficient funds to support you and your family in the community. Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Sean Fraser and IRCC will be guided by the priorities outlined in the mandate letter. Trudeau unveils Canadas new immigration system priorities Sean Fraser and IRCC will be guided by the priorities outlined in the mandate letter. Trudeau unveils Canadas new immigration system priorities Sean Fraser and IRCC will be guided by the priorities outlined in the mandate letter. Trudeau unveils Canadas new immigration system priorities Sean Fraser and IRCC will be guided by the priorities outlined in the mandate letter. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has just revealed the new mandate letters he has submitted to his cabinet. In Canada, the Prime Minister issues mandate letters outlining the priorities they expect their ministers to pursue during the federal governments time in power. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Evaluation Each minister and their respective department then focuses on pursuing the priorities. The mandate letter is the most important policy document that guides Canadas immigration system. Canadas new immigration minister, Sean Fraser, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be tasked with implementing the agenda Trudeau outlined to them today. This will not only impact federal immigration policies but provincial ones as well, given that the federal government plays the lead role in managing the countrys immigration system. A summary of Canadas new immigration priorities The new immigration mandate letter reveals priorities such as: Application processing: Trudeau calls on Fraser to Reduce application processing times, including to address delays that have been impacted by COVID-19. Trudeau calls on Fraser to Reduce application processing times, including to address delays that have been impacted by COVID-19. Express Entry: Create more permanent residence pathways via Express Entry for international students and temporary foreign workers. Create more permanent residence pathways via Express Entry for international students and temporary foreign workers. Family reunification: Introduce electronic applications for family reunification and implementing a program to provide temporary residence to spouses and children abroad while they await the processing of their permanent residence applications. Introduce electronic applications for family reunification and implementing a program to provide temporary residence to spouses and children abroad while they await the processing of their permanent residence applications. Create a new Municipal Nominee Program: The purpose of the MNP is to help promote a broader distribution of immigration across Canada. It was initially outlined as a priority following the 2019 election but has been delayed due to the pandemic. In addition, Fraser is to also ensure immigration better supports small- and medium-sized communities. The purpose of the MNP is to help promote a broader distribution of immigration across Canada. It was initially outlined as a priority following the 2019 election but has been delayed due to the pandemic. In addition, Fraser is to also ensure immigration better supports small- and medium-sized communities. Waiving Canadian citizenship application fees: This was also identified by Trudeau as a priority following the 2019 election but has been another deliverable delayed by the pandemic. This was also identified by Trudeau as a priority following the 2019 election but has been another deliverable delayed by the pandemic. Establish a Trusted Employer system: Fraser is being asked to work with the Employment Minister to establish a Trusted Employer system for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers. In addition, he is being asked to improve the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) by simplifying work permit renewals, upholding the two-week processing standard, and establishing an employer hotline. Fraser is being asked to work with the Employment Minister to establish a Trusted Employer system for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers. In addition, he is being asked to improve the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) by simplifying work permit renewals, upholding the two-week processing standard, and establishing an employer hotline. Undocumented workers: Build on existing pilot programs to identify how to regularize status for undocumented workers in Canada. Build on existing pilot programs to identify how to regularize status for undocumented workers in Canada. Francophone immigration: Continue to work with Quebec to support French-language knowledge of immigrants in Quebec and also continue to promote the national Francophone immigration strategy. Continue to work with Quebec to support French-language knowledge of immigrants in Quebec and also continue to promote the national Francophone immigration strategy. Afghan refugees: Fulfill Canadas goal to resettle 40,000 Afghan refugees. Liberals have increased immigration since 2015 Trudeaus Liberal party was re-elected for a third consecutive term in September. Since assuming power in 2015, they have pursued a policy of aggressively higher immigration levels. This has entailed increasing immigration from some 300,000 arrivals per year to a current target of over 400,000 per year. Following their victory, Trudeau unveiled his new cabinet in October. Fraser is a trained lawyer from Nova Scotia that was first elected to Parliament in 2015. He replaces Marco Mendicino who served as immigration minister since 2019, and who is now Minister of Public Safety. According to an October 2021 meeting between IRCC and associations representing Canadian immigration lawyers and consultants, the department currently has three priorities in the short-run: achieving its 401,000 newcomer target for 2021, reuniting families, and bringing Afghan refugees to safety in Canada. Now that a new mandate letter has been unveiled, we can expect IRCC to expand the scope of its priorities beginning in the coming months. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Evaluation CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701) Today A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 33F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Periods of snow. Low 27F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches. The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Dar ul Uloom Islamia Rizwia (Bralawai) over concerns about its administration and management. The Birmingham charity provides places of worship and religious teachings for the local community and has been operating in for almost 40 years. In 2019, the regulator said it found that safeguarding policies and procedures were absent at the charity. It provided trustees with guidance and training, and the trustees agreed that the community centre would not re-open until improvements had been made. However, in the last year the charity received negative media attention over social media posts. Complaints were raised directly with the regulator over this, which led to the Commission carrying out a compliance visit last month. During the compliance case, the Commission said it was clear that the charity had re-opened without making the improvements to the community centre. Complaints In October Birmingham Live reported on accusations that the mosque has failed to keep basic financial records of its donations, noting that worshippers have been calling for a change in management at the charity for some time. Its accounts, for the financial year ending March 2019, which were filed with the Commission over 600 days late this October, include a warning from the auditors. Auditors Locke Williams Associates said: The charity did not have in place appropriate internal financial policies or controls with regard to the receipt, recording and banking of donations and supplementary school fees. The charity has filed its accounts late twice. Currently, its accounts are almost a year overdue, and in 2020 its accounts were filed 618 days late. The Commission has been investigating the charity's accounts since May. In response to this, the charity made a statement that the mosque manager, the regulator and expert advisors are currently addressing these issues. Co-operating with the Commission The 2019 accounts also include a summary of the charity's engagement with the regulator since 2019, when concerned had been raised with the regulator. Trustees said: The charity was contacted again by the Charity Commission in August 2021, shortly before this report was approved. The Commission has informed us that it has again been approached with concerns about the governance of the charity and it has, as a result, opened a regulatory compliance case and asked the trustees to comment. The trustees are cooperating with the Commission and will continue to engage actively with it. A detailed response was made to the Commission during August and the trustees await with interest the response of the Commission and any advice the Commission wishes to provide. Social media posts In the summer Birmingham Live also reported that Saddique Hussain, the mosque manager, shared a social media post that appeared to praise the Taliban on his personal Facebook account, which was referred the issue to the Charity Commission by the city council. Hussain had shared a video that seemed to show members of the Taliban holding guns as they recited the Qu'ran.The caption read: Alhamdulilah. How beautiful and civilised and no I. May Allah SWT guide us on to His beautiful religion. Readers interpreted this as support for the extremist group. According to Birmingham Live, Hussain said he had not intended to praise the Taliban, apologised, deleted the post and issued a statement on his Facebook page, which said: The focus of the video was the recitation and I commented on that. This was ill-advised. I should have thought before I shared the post. Had I done so, I would have properly appreciated that: (1) The men were armed. (2) The group included individuals who were likely to be Taliban officials. (3) Any comment on the post might be taken as a comment on those pictured rather than a comment on the recitation. During the apology, Hussain explained how he was visited by the police at the mosque after being reported by a whistle-blower. After explaining his comments and denying any intention of wrongdoing to the officers, he deleted the post within minutes of them leaving, he said. His statement continued: I reaffirm that I do not support and never have supported the Taliban. Once again, by sharing the post thus causing anyone any offence or hurt whatsoever I unreservedly and sincerely apologise. The inquiry The Commission's inquiry will examine the trustees failure to instate safeguarding guidance, the conduct of trustees and staff on social media and other general governance concerns - including financial controls. The inquiry will also inspect unmanaged conflicts of interest, as partners appear to be working together at the charity. Dar ul Uloom Islamia Rizwia (Bralawai) has six trustees, none of which received remuneration for their role in 2019 or 2018, the charitys annual report reads. The annual report for 2020-21 is currently 318 days overdue. In 2019 its income was 472,340 while its expenditure was 259,810. The Commission has used its legal powers to compel trustees to improve the administration and management of the charity while the statutory inquiry is underway. Civil Society News contacted Dar ul Uloom Islamia Rizwia (Bralawai) for a statement, but did not receive a response. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Hurricane Laura made landfall in Southwest Louisiana nearly a year ago but local officials and state insurance regulators say the area still has a long way to go to recover. Laura, which made landfall on August 27, 2020, displaced 2005s Hurricane Rita as the second most costly storm in Louisiana history, the Louisiana Department of Insurance said. Most of the 175,160 total insurance claims resulting from Hurricane Laura were residential property claims, according to the LDI. Total paid losses plus reserves on reported claims for Hurricane Laura as of the end of June were $8.6 billion, accounting for the vast majority of the estimated $10 billion in insured damage from the historic 2020 hurricane season in Louisiana. Laura was one of three hurricanes, along with two tropical storms, that hit the state in 2020, making last years storm season the most active ever in Louisiana. According to the LDI, insurance companies reported $10 billion for claims in Louisiana from Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta through June 30. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon reminds policyholders affected by the hurricanes that their struggle has not been forgotten. For those Louisiana citizens who were affected by Hurricane Laura and are having issues with their insurer, the Department of Insurance can still help you. And for those of us throughout the state that did not bear the burden of the 2020 hurricane season, now is the time to help our fellow Louisianians, Donelon said in a media release. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter and all the representatives of the Lake Charles area have been sounding the alarm that Southwest Louisiana needs assistance to recover from hurricanes Laura and Delta. The Help Southwest Louisiana Now campaign was created and launched as a grassroots effort to advocate for federal supplemental disaster relief funding. According to a press release from the City of Lake Charles, within the City of Lake Charles alone, housing damages are estimated at $235 million, less than 13% of residential buildings have pulled permits to begin reconstruction or rehabilitation, 60% of public housing is still offline, average rental costs have risen by 22%, and 21% of businesses have not renewed occupational licenses for 2021. During the 2021 legislative session, the insurance department worked with lawmakers, including former Lake Charles Sen. Ronnie Johns, who sponsored an amendment to the annual state budget bill to appropriate funds to perform market conduct examinations on five insurers that received a disproportionate share of complaints after the 2020 storms. The results of market conduct examinations can trigger regulatory action in the form of fines or other punitive measures if the examinations reveal that improper activity has occurred. LDI is conducting thorough examinations of these insurers to protect policyholders affected by Hurricane Laura. LDI has received over 1,700 complaints related to the 2020 hurricane season and has recovered more than $50.4 million on behalf of policyholders through mid-August. Policyholders have filed 316,879 claims of all types from the three 2020 hurricanes as of the end of June 2021. Of those, 205,554 claims, or 65%, were closed with payment as of June 30, garnering $7.8 billion in payments for damage caused by the three hurricanes. Insurers have reserved an additional $2.2 billion to pay on those claims. Payments from private insurers do not include claims or payments from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). They also do not include uninsured losses and what people paid out of pocket to cover the deductibles on their insurance policies. As such, the true cost of the three storms is much higher, according to the LDI. The 2020 storm season was the most active ever in Louisiana, with three hurricanes plus tropical storms Cristobal and Marco striking the state. The 2020 storm season was also the second most expensive for Louisiana behind the 2005 storm season. Hurricane Laura has displaced Hurricane Rita in 2005 as the second most costly storm in Louisiana history. Darryl A. Vachon did not accuse Travelers of bad faith in handling his $25,000 uninsured motorist claim until after a jury found he had incurred $1,022,780 in damages. Because he didnt, the insurer must now defend itself against a million-dollar lawsuit in state court, where it has already been outwitted by the plaintiffs attorney but did not object until it was too late. A panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed a trial court ruling that Vachons lawsuit must remain in state court. Even though Vachon did not amend his civil complaint to allege bad faith until six years after filing the lawsuit, Travelers must still comply with a federal law that requires the defendant to seek removal to federal court no more than one year after a lawsuit is filed, the panel held. The panels opinion says that Travelers was effectively arguing that the court should read words into US Code Section 1446 that are not there. If Travelers is unhappy with Section 1446 as it is currently written, the remedy lies with Congress and not with the courts,' Circuit Judge William Pryor wrote in a concurring opinion, citing a 1924 Supreme Court decision. Federal courts have had mixed opinions on whether cases can be removed to federal courts after new allegations are added to lawsuits. The Florida Northern and Southern districts have consistently held that the one-year deadline in Section 1446 applies, but judges in the Middle District have issued conflicting opinions, according to arguments filed by Vachons attorneys. Vachon was permanently disfigured and disabled by an auto accident on Memorial Highway in Tampa in 2011, according to his complaint. He sued Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Co. in 2013, after the carrier denied his underinsured motorist claim. His policy had a $25,000 limit, so Travelers could not remove the case to federal court because of rules that require the amount in controversy to exceed $75,000. After a jury returned a verdict that found Vachons damages amounted to more than $1 million, a Hillsborough County Circuit Court judge awarded him the $25,000 policy limit. In June 2020, Vachon amended his complaint to allege that Travelers had acted in bad faith and sought the full amount of the damages that the jury determined he had suffered. Florida law allows plaintiffs to file a bad faith claim against an insurer either as an independent lawsuit or as an amendment to an existing lawsuit. Travelers filed a motion to remove the case to federal court. The insurer argued Vachon had commenced a new action by filing an amendment to his existing complaint, so the one-year deadline in Section 1446 should not apply. The insurer argued that Vachon had manipulated rules of procedure to prevent Travelers from removing an otherwise removable case to federal court. Furthermore, the carrier said, refusing to remove the case would violate the Supremacy Clause in the United States Constitution, which prohibits the states from interfering with the federal governments exercising of its powers. The district court thought otherwise and dismissed Travelers petition to remove the case to federal court in a short opinion. Pryor explained the panels reasoning more thoroughly in his concurring opinion. He said defendants do not have a constitutional right to have cases heard by federal courts. Congress makes the rules under which the lower federal courts must operate. Section 1446 is part of its instruction. Pryor acknowledged that some district courts have treated bad faith claims as separate and distinct causes of action, but they appeared to base their decisions on an earlier version of the federal removal statute. Congress amended the law in 2011 to delete a provision that treated bad faith claims as separate from the underlying lawsuits. Congress left in place language that requires a petition for removal to be filed within 30 days after commencement of an action, or within one year after commencement of an action in instances where a lawsuit is amended to state claims that qualify for federal jurisdiction. Pryor said the change that Congress made to the law in 2011 provides that the one-year deadline does not apply if the plaintiff has acted in bad faith to prevent a defendant from removing a case to federal court. Travelers, however, did not mention that amendment in its arguments. Because the parties did not brief the application of the amendment, I express no opinion about whether it might have applied in this case, Pryor wrote. But the possibility that Congress has already addressed Travelers concerns supplies another reason to decline to rewrite the statute. The case now moves back to Judge Rex Barbas courtroom in Hillsborough County. Travelers filed a motion to dismiss the case on July 1, arguing that Vachon did not comply with notice requirements. There is no online record of an order in response to the motion. On Nov. 30, Vachon filed a motion to compel discovery in the case. About the photo: A Lady Justice statute outside the 13th Circuit Courthouse for Hillsborough County, Florida is shown. SAN FRANCISCOA California regulator on Monday said it has suspended a driverless testing permit for startup technology firm Pony.ai following an accident the first time it has issued such a suspension. On Oct. 28, a Pony.ai vehicle operating in autonomous mode hit a road center divider and a traffic sign in Fremont after turning right, showed the technology firms accident report filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). There were no injuries and no other vehicles involved, the company, backed by Japans Toyota Motor Corp, said in the report. Accidents during driverless testing are not uncommon. It was unclear what aspect of this incident prompted the suspension. On Nov. 19, the DMV notified Pony.ai that the department is suspending its driverless testing permit, effective immediately, following a reported solo collision in Fremont, California, on Oct. 28, the DMV said in a statement. The regulator said Pony.ai has 10 Hyundai Motor Co. Kona electric vehicles registered under its driverless testing permit, and that the suspension does not impact Pony.ais permit for testing with a safety driver. The suspension comes only six months after Pony.ai became the eighth company to receive a driverless testing permit in California, joining the likes of Alphabet Inc unit Waymo as well as Cruise, backed by General Motors Co. We immediately launched an investigation, and are in contact with the California DMV about the incident, a Pony.ai spokesman said. Safety is the foundation of the companys autonomous vehicle technology, the spokesman said. The company said the majority of its autonomous driving testing has involved safety drivers, and that will continue to be the case in the near-term. Pony.ai, which operates in the United States and China, earlier this year suspended plans for a New York stock listing, sources told Reuters. It halted the plans because it could not gain assurances from Chinese authorities that it would not become a target of increased regulatory action against Chinese technology companies over management and use of user data, the sources said. The Pony.ai spokesman on Monday declined to comment on listing. LOS ANGELES (AP)Cleanup 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. 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. Any moisture is much-needed in 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. Associated Press writers Christopher Weber and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles; Terence Chea in Oakland, California; Janie Har in San Francisco; Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California; and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada contributed to this report. About the photo: A Cadillac CTS is seen surrounded by floodwaters in Silverado Canyon, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. In Orange County, south of Los Angeles, about 800 canyon homes were under evacuation orders Tuesday after a flash flood warning was issued and mudslides were reported in the area scorched by the Bond wildfire in 2020. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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 16) Vice President Leni Robredo vowed to be a hands-on president if elected, saying she'd rather be on the ground than get updates from reports whenever disasters hit the country. "At hindi lang 'yung pupunta ako para silipin. Ako alam ito ng mga constituents ko sa distrito, na before, during, and after every sakuna, nandun ako. Gusto kong sabihin nandun ako for as long as I'm needed, hindi 'yung parang nagpakita lang ako," Robredo told reporters during a visit to her office's "Vaccine Express" in Pasay City on Thursday. [Translation: I don't visit just to look around. My constituents in my district know this that before, during, and after every disaster, I'm there. What I want to say is I'm there for as long as I'm needed, and not just to show up.] As Typhoon Odette battered parts of the country, Robredo said she's in constant coordination with local officials, including governors of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands and her office is ready to distribute relief goods. "And alam natin, 'yung problema 'pag mandatory evacuation kasi talaga kailangan maraming pagkain. So ito kasi, iba-ibang lugar. Iba-ibang lugar, iba-iba 'yung pangangailangan. So, sinabi ko sa kanila na kung ano pa 'yung kailangan, sabihin sa 'min," she added. [Translation: We know the problem during mandatory evacuations, we need a lot of food. This involves different areas, and in different areas, they have their own needs. I asked them to inform me if they still need anything.] The presidential hopeful underscored the importance of a having a visible president during calamities. Robredo said it gives hope to affected families, adding that many things can be done. It also makes it easier to tap the private sector knowing the leader is on top of the situation, she added. "Kaya hindi ako nakukuntento na hindi ako mismo 'yung bumababa. Hindi ako nakukuntento na binibigyan lang ako ng report, kasi paminsan 'yung report hindi niya naka-capture 'yung tunay na sitwasyon," Robredo explained. [Translation: I'm not contented if I don't personally visit the affected areas. I'm not satisfied that they just give me reports because sometimes a report doesn't capture the real situation.] Even with a small budget, Robredo said they made sure to allot a big chunk of that to disaster rehabilitation and mitigation efforts, pointing out that her office has been constantly responding to disasters be it typhoons, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. For Typhoon Odette, the Vice President appealed to her supporters planning to organize donation drives to wait until Friday for "better information." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) The Department of Health is considering only eight passengers as the close contacts of the two Omicron cases detected in the country. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday said that for flights, only those seated in close proximity to the patient are deemed as close contacts. She said the returning overseas Filipino who arrived from Japan was seated in business class and only had one co-passenger in the secluded part of the plane. The contact presented a negative test result after five days of quarantine upon arrival in the Philippines. The other Omicron case, the Nigerian national who came from Nigeria, was seated at the back of the plane and only had seven "epidemiologic close contacts." All seven showed negative swab test results after completing their five-day facility-based quarantine, the DOH said. The health official assured that even if the other passengers in the two flights aren't deemed close contacts, they pose very little risk to their community since they all tested negative before they were allowed to leave quarantine. "Lahat ng sumakay sa flight na 'yan were quarantined when they came here in the country," she said in a media briefing. "Hindi po natin kailangan i-quarantine lahat kung 200 man ang nakasakay diyan para i-test dahil sila ay nag-test nang negative. Meron silang pre-departure na negative test at na-quarantine nang limang araw at negatibo pa rin sila." [Translation: Everyone on that flight was quarantined upon arrival. We don't need to quarantine all of them even if there were 200 passengers there or test them again because they already tested negative. They had a negative pre-departure test result and they tested negative again after five days of quarantine.] The DOH urged the other passengers who boarded the Philippine Airlines flight number PR 0427 on December 1 and Oman Air with flight number WY 843 on November 30 to monitor their health status and immediately contact the agency or their local government if they start showing COVID-19 symptoms. The government confirmed the index cases of Omicron variant on Wednesday from the test results of the two inbound travelers. DOH denounced criticisms they took too long to detect the Omicron cases, claiming that they urged laboratories and local government units to promptly submit samples for genome sequencing. "We have to count properly kung ilang araw ang lumipas (how many days have passed) to detect it. I don't think the 15 days' count is late," Vergeire said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) There is a need to trace and test the passengers who were on the same flights as with the country's first confirmed Omicron cases, appealed an expert on infectious disease on Thursday. Dr. Rontgene Solante, chief of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Unit of San Lazaro Hospital, told CNN Philippines' The Source that the government should go beyond merely tracing the close contacts of the index cases. "The contact there might not just be inside the plane. There may be contact prior to boarding, or during the time when these two passengers were around their co-passengers," he explained. "We don't know. To be safe, all of those inside the planes should be tested and contact-traced." Solante emphasized that transmission among secondary or tertiary contacts is highly probable and therefore the matter must be addressed. "Hindi natin alam ang secondary or even tertiary contacts of these people," he added. "That's what we don't want to happen kasi pag nandyan na ang infection sa community, thats really chaotic." [Translation: We don't know who may have been their secondary or tertiary contacts. That's what we don't want to happen considering it's really chaotic if the infection reaches the community.] On Wednesday, the Department of Health confirmed that the first two cases of the Omicron variant detected from genome sequencing of 48 samples were international travelers. Both are currently isolated in a facility under the Bureau of Quarantine. The first Omicron case is a returning overseas Filipino who arrived from Japan on December 1 via Philippine Airlines with flight number PR 0427. The second case is a Nigerian national who arrived on November 30 via Oman Air with flight number PR 0427. One of the two is not vaccinated against COVID-19. Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said there is no need to quarantine all passengers in both flights. "Lahat ng sumakay sa flight na 'yan were quarantined when they came here in the country," she said in a media briefing. "Hindi po natin kailangan i-quarantine lahat kung 200 man ang nakasakay diyan para i-test dahil sila ay nag-test nang negative. Meron silang pre-departure na negative test at na-quarantine nang limang araw at negatibo pa rin sila." [Translation: All the passengers in those flights were quarantined when they came here in the country. We don't need to quarantine all the 200 passengers to have them tested since they already tested negative for the virus. They already had a pre-departure test where they yielded a negative result and were quarantined for five days and they still tested negative.] In a public advisory on Wednesday evening, the Health Department did not state if passengers onboard the said flights were required to submit themselves to authorities for tracing and testing. These travelers were simply asked to monitor their health conditions. Should there be an onset of symptoms, they are urged to contact their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams in their localities or via DOH hotlines 02 894 1555. Local government units must also report them to the DOH and isolate them after exhibiting symptoms anytime during the 14 days after their arrival. Meanwhile, Solante said there is no need to extend the mandatory 14-day quarantine period as long as there is monitoring and observation of the close contacts. Those entering the Philippines must present a negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours prior to departure from their point of origin. They are likewise required to have a facility-based quarantine until the release of the result, as well as undergo a swab test on their fifth day after arrival. They must also do self-monitoring at home until the 14th day regardless of a negative result. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) The Senate unanimously voted on final reading the bill requiring the registration of SIM cards to eradicate phone-aided terrorism and criminal activities. Senate Bill No. 2395 or the SIM Card Registration Act provides that all SIM card subscribers with active services shall register with their respective public telecommunications entity (PTE). Failure to register within a year from the effectivity of the measure shall authorized telecommunication companies to automatically deactivate or retire the SIM card number. The registration shall be done electronically and shall be forwarded by the PTE to a centralized database by the National Telecommunications Commission and Department of Information and Communications Technology. Any information obtained in the SIM card registration process shall be treated as confidential in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, the bill said. If enacted into law, PTEs shall be required to provide information obtained in the registration process only upon the order of a competent court and upon finding of a probable cause that the specific mobile number was or is being used for criminal activities. If PTEs failed to comply with the SIM card registration process, they shall be fined with P100,000. Meanwhile, a fine of P200,000 shall be imposed upon a PTE or employee who will disclose confidential information of mobile phone users. On the other hand, the unauthorized sale of registered SIM card could lead to imprisonment of six months and a day to 12 years, and a fine of P200,000. A similar bill was also passed on final reading at the House of Representatives. In this Sept. 4, 2020, file photo, Lauren Boebert, then the Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in Colorado's vast 3rd Congressional District, attends a freedom cruise staged by her supporters in Pueblo West while wearing a "45" hat, referring to then-President Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States. The Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board on Thursday recommended the governor reject a proposal submitted by the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, backed by the Union Reservoir Company and City of Longmont, to change the name of Calkins Lake to Union Reservoir. Union Reservoir has been the name commonly attributed to Calkins Lake for at least 50 years, according to proponents. It's also the name used in state water court decrees. The proposal has been under consideration for several months, but one voice that hadn't been heard from the Calkins family. The Calkins Family Association reached out to Colorado Politics earlier this month to assert that it did not want the name changed, given the prominence of Carlton Chase Calkins, an early settler of Longmont who also served two years in the Colorado House. "We don't want to lose our history and our name," Nanette Calkins Armstrong said on Thursday. The family also submitted a letter to the Colorado board, asking that the original name stay put. Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Adams County, noted Carlton Calkins' service in the legislature. She said the family made a compelling case for keeping the name as is. She also scolded the proponents specifically the city for not reaching out to the family, which she said "is telling on their ability to follow through on due diligence." Several Calkins family members live in the area, and at least three from around the country participated in Thursday's meeting. Also, the board will send to Polis a recommendation on a name change for Chinaman Gulch in Chaffee County. Initially, a proponent had suggested Trout Creek Gulch, but that was initially opposed by Chaffee County commissioners. Commissioner Keith Baker, who attended Thursday's meeting, previously told the board the county wants to be "on the right side of history" and use a name that honored the contributions of 19th-century Chinese who helped build railroads, including in Colorado. No one could find any person for whom Chinaman Gulch had been named. So William Wei, a member of the board, joined by two other board members, did some hunting and came up with a new proposal, one that is expected to be endorsed by Chaffee County: Yan Sing, a Romanized version of a Cantonese word for resilience. The gulch would be known as Resilience Gulch, and local literature will also include the Chinese characters . The board approved the recommendation, which will go to Polis and then to the federal board. That will take more time than usual, given that it's a new name, which will require it spend time on a review list first, to allow for outreach to the 570 recognized Native American tribes. During the meeting, Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board had some cold water thrown on its review process Thursday, based on comments made by the federal liaison to the board. Last month, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the formation of a task force that, in effect, will override the review process by the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, at least for changing geographic names with the word "squaw." While four members of the BGN will be on that task force, there doesn't appear to be a role for the BGN staff, Jennifer Runyon, the federal liaison to the board, explained Thursday. Given that the task force will decide the names on geographic features, that could override future work by the Colorado naming board. According to Runyon, Haaland has said in the past that the federal group is too slow to act, not transparent enough, not being proactive enough, and doesn't involve the public enough in its processes. Haaland sponsored a Congressional resolution on ramping up the BGN process while she was a member of the House representing New Mexico, although the resolution never made it past introduction stage. Last month, Haaland issued an order banning the word "squaw" from all federal lands. Colorado's board had already recommended a name change for Clear Creek County's Squaw Mountain to Mestaaehehe Mountain (pronounced mess-taw-HAY), a recommendation accepted by Gov. Jared Polis and approved by the federal board last week. According to a list compiled by the U.S. Geographic Information Service (USGIS), 660 other geographic features still contains the word "squaw," including 28 in Colorado. (The Clear Creek mountain is included on that list). Four of those names cross state boundaries with Oklahoma and Utah. The Colorado board is already considering another proposal for a similar name change in Teller County, from Squaw Gulch to Mound Gulch. The process for changing features with the word "squaw" is intended to be a quick one, Runyon explained. The task force will be given the list with suggested replacement names based on the five closest geographic features. For example, a "Squaw" mountain could be renamed Cottonwood for a nearby canyon, she explained. Once the task force comes up with replacement names for all 660 features, Runyon said, the group will issue a federal register notice that will give the public and state naming authorities such as Colorado's 30 days to comment, which isn't much time, she added. Tribal representatives will have 90 days to comment. Once that 90-day period is passed, the final list will go to the federal BGN for approval. Runyon said it will be a massive docket of 660 names to approve "in one fell swoop." She anticipates the whole process will be done by fall, 2022. What isn't known is whether members of the public, state naming groups or even tribes would be allowed to offer counter proposals, Runyon said. At least for now, current proposals will continue as they have in the past, but, Runyon, added, "I would not be surprised if the task force closes the door to new proposals and takes over." The BGN and its staff have been excluded from this process, Runyon told the Colorado group. "My impression is that the task force will do what it wants to do," she said. A second Haaland order will set up a White House-vetted advisory council to deal with derogatory names, Runyon explained. There isn't a list yet with what words would be considered derogatory. She said that process is likely to take a lot longer, perhaps years. "Be ready," she advised. Types of obituaries The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries family obituaries and life stories. A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories. 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 Companies who employ gig workers would have to provide greater transparency about the use of algorithmic management and monitoring under rules proposed by the European Commission last week. The rules, if they go into effect, should be expanded to all workers subject to management by automated systems, according to workplace experts. As with other European Union legislation, the rules would affect US companies with gig workers in the region. The Commissions directive proposals on algorithmic management were one of three sets of measures announced last week, including the provision of employee status for those working with digital labor platforms. That group includes ride-hailing firms such as Uber and Lyft, as well as delivery companies such as Deliveroo and informal domestic service work platforms like TaskRabbit. There are an estimated 28 million gig workers in the EU, the Commission said, a number thats expected to rise to 43 million in 2025. The algorithmic management proposals seek to provide workers with greater protection from any negative effects of the automated systems used to control aspects of gig work. This is a step forward in the awareness of the risks that are engendered by algorithmic management, and a more attentive approach than what has come from the Commission so far, said Valerio De Stefano, professor of labor law at Belgiums KU Leuven university. Algorithmic management explained Algorithmic management is a key component of digital labor platforms. It involves tools and techniques used to automate aspects of worker coordination, such as allocating tasks and tracking performance, and relies on data collection and surveillance instead of human supervision. However, the use of algorithmic management has raised concerns around the ability for black box systems to monitor and evaluate workers, with little opportunity for workers to contest decisions. A report this week from the Worker Info Exchange, a nonprofit group, highlighted the prevalence of gig-worker surveillance, and the lack of recourse workers have when issues arise: ride-hailing service drivers being locked out of accounts because of facial recognition software failures, is one example. The detrimental effects of algorithmic management and monitoring of platform workers were highlighted in a report from UK MPs last month. Pervasive monitoring and target-setting technologies, in particular, are associated with pronounced negative impacts on mental and physical wellbeing as workers experience the extreme pressure of constant, real-time micro-management and automated assessment, said members of the All Party Parliamentary group in their report, The New Frontier: Artificial Intelligence at Work. The automated distribution of tasks and measurement of performance is not inherently problematic, said Helen Poitevin, VP analyst at Gartner, but problems can arise with an overreliance on the technology and too little human interaction. It's when you don't have any support system to help [workers] grow and learn, or have a place to go to if the machines are wrong and you need to be able to raise the flag, she said. You have to have the support in place. The Commissions proposals center on greater transparency around the use of algorithmic management tools for gig workers. This includes: Informing workers how automated systems are used to make decisions and take actions that significantly affect working conditions. Limits on the collection of worker data thats not strictly necessary, particularly around private conversations or data that relates to health or emotional state. Human oversight of automated systems. This involves assessments to ensure that workers do not face psychological and health risks caused by algorithmic decision-making. Providing the opportunity for workers to challenge automated decisions that affect their job. This has been an issue for gig workers that have faced account termination or suspension without being told why. A requirement for platform providers to consult with worker representatives about major changes to decision-making systems. The Commissions proposals build on the EUs existing General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation, which includes protections for workers around data collection. However, the GDPR doesnt provide the same clarity around algorithmic management as the rules proposed for gig workers, said De Stefano, and the Commission notes difficulties faced by gig workers in asserting their individual rights within the GDPR. Beyond just gig workers? Jeremias Adams-Prassl, professor of law at the UKs University of Oxford, welcomed the proposed rules around automated decision-making. A lot of the debate has been on the employment status of platform workers and the directive looks at that, but it also goes beyond, said Adams-Prassl, calling the proposals a really important first step. He argued that the scope of the rules should be broadened to all workers now managed and monitored by automated systems not just those in gig economy jobs. The gig economy is not necessarily a silo of the labor market: I would suggest that the legislators think hard about extending those rights to all workers, not just platform-based workers, he said. Algorithmic management and monitoring have been deployed by companies in a variety of sectors in recent years. Warehouse employees, for example, often face algorithmic control and monitoring, with many tracked and directed via software. And in the retail sector, automated shift scheduling software is sometimes used by employers. More broadly, those in more traditional desk-based jobs have also been subject to growing levels of productivity tracking with the rise of monitoring tools during the COVID-19 pandemic, relying on automated screenshots and keystroke-logging, for example. We see similar challenges in workplaces across the socio-economic spectrum, but the gig economy was certainly the cradle of a lot of these technologies, which explains why were starting to see regulators respond to it in this specific context, Adams-Prassl said. Said De Stefano: The big challenge will now be to extend the protection of the [ECs digital labor platform directive] to all workers, otherwise we will basically [have] a segmented labor market in which only platform workers are protected meaningfully. Setting the stage for global protections? As with any EU law, new rules around algorithmic management could have a broader effect beyond the 27 member states. Should the European Commissions proposals be accepted, US-based gig work companies with a presence in the EU would need to meet regulations for works in that region. Adams-Prassl highlighted the Brussels effect, where EU legislation such as GDPR has an impact on other regions and countries. That could turn out to be true with rules around algorithmic management of gig workers. Even though they're not bound by the GDPR, there are lots of companies in the US [that are affected by it]: once you build a product to GDPR standards, you end up using it all over the world. So, we may see a strong sort of 'Brussels effect' [where the latest move] becomes the new expected standard for platforms. The proposals will have to be debated by the European Parliament and Council before they could take effect. There is no set timeline for implementation, and because the rules will have to be negotiated among member nations, might not be in place until 2024 or later. 12/16/2021 Photo (c) Morsa Images - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.) Total U.S. confirmed cases: 50,381,441 (50,268,561) Total U.S. deaths: 802,542 (801,078) Total global cases: 272,382,144 (271,827,830) Total global deaths: 5,333,237 (5,326,198) CDC to review Johnson & Johnson data An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is meeting today to review the benefits and risks of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. An agenda posted online said the group will have updated recommendations for using the COVID-19 vaccine. The current policy authorizes the vaccine for 18-year-olds and older and allows it to be used as a booster shot. People who got the Johnson & Johnson shot are urged to get another dose two months after the first. Specifically, the advisers today will review data and listen to presentations about thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome. Thats a rare but serious condition that produces blood clots and has been linked to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Health experts fear mixture of COVID-19 and flu The flu season was nearly non-existent last year because everyone was wearing masks, washing their hands, and social distancing. This year, many health experts fear flu will make a comeback. Making things worse, they say there could be a rise in flu cases that coincides with a nationwide increase in COVID-19. Theyre concerned about what an increase in both viruses could do to the health care system. "It's the combination. It's kind of the perfect storm of public health impacts here with Delta already impacting many areas of the country and jurisdictions," Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), told CNN. "We don't want to overwhelm systems more." How to safely celebrate the holidays Family holiday gatherings, limited by the pre-vaccine pandemic last year, are likely to be more prevalent this holiday season. Health experts at the University of Michigan (UM) say there are four things people can do to reduce the risk of infection. Vaccinations and COVID-19 tests top the list of things to do before participating in large gatherings. The UM doctors also say rooms should be well-ventilated and people should wear masks. Wearing a mask among a totally vaccinated group if they are people that you commonly interact with may not be as important, said Dr. Laraine Washer, a clinical professor of infectious diseases. But if its a gathering of a large number of people that you dont commonly interact with, you may choose to wear a mask even if everyone is vaccinated if youre in an indoor space that is not well ventilated. Around the nation New York: The lights of Broadway were turned off for months during the pandemic, and now, months after reopening, the latest outbreak is causing them to flicker. Several Broadway shows have canceled performances after positive COVID-19 tests among the cast and crew. Massachusetts: Some state legislators are urging Gov. Charlie Baker to reimpose an indoor public mask mandate across the state because of a sudden rise in new cases. This week, Baker said he was not inclined to reimpose mandatory masking. California: State officials are exempting the City of San Francisco from its statewide mandate requiring people to wear masks in indoor public places. Its a recognition of all of the thought and care that San Francisco residents have been putting into staying as safe as possible, Dr. Susan Philip, San Franciscos health officer, told KTLA-TV. Colorado: Gov. Jared Polis says if unvaccinated people get COVID-19, its their own darn fault. In an interview with Colorado Public Radio this morning, Polis also said vaccines have changed the COVID-19 landscape, making masks useful but not required to fight the pandemic. Add CoolSocial badge. Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Bishopdrywall.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 24 Sep 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. Add a widget like this on your site: click here This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the bishopdrywall homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if bishopdrywall has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the bishopdrywall homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the bishopdrywall homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the bishopdrywall homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the bishopdrywall homepage on Twitter + the total number of bishopdrywall followers (if bishopdrywall has a Twitter account). Basic Information PAGE TITLE Home - Peter Bishop Drywall, Inc. - Residential and Commercial Drywall Finishing and Repair Contract DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS drywall, bishop, drywall finishing, peter, finishing, peter bishop, bishop drywall The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United Kingdom) UTF-8English (United Kingdom) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.0.52 (Red Hat) (PHP/5.3.4) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Type of server and offered services. The language of bishopdrywall.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Operative System running on the server. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for bishopdrywall.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Homekid.net scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 26 Oct 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the homekid homepage on Twitter + the total number of homekid followers (if homekid has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the homekid homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if homekid has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the homekid homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the homekid homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the homekid homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. Basic Information PAGE TITLE , | HomeKid DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS the summer vacation, the summer, summer vacation, summer, vacation, the summer vacation is right, summer vacation is right around The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE Thai (Thailand) UTF-8Thai (Thailand) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2 (PHP/5.2.17) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Type of server and offered services. The language of homekid.net as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for homekid.net by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Congratulations, oxente.blog.br got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Oxente.blog.br scored 63 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 24 Mar 2014, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the oxente homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the oxente homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the oxente homepage on Twitter + the total number of oxente followers (if oxente has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the oxente homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if oxente has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the oxente homepage on StumbleUpon. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Blog Oxenti Um blog arretado de bom DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS mulheres, gostosas, tweetar share comentrio, tweetar share, share comentrio, mulheres gostosas, compartilhe The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE Portuguese UTF-8Portuguese DETECTED LANGUAGE Portuguese Portuguese SERVER cloudflare-nginx (PHP/5.3.3) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Type of server and offered services. The language of oxente.blog.br as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for oxente.blog.br by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Welcome to ComedyNerd, Cracked's daily comedy superstore. For more ComedyNerd content, and Wes Andersons stop-motion dramatization of the Iran/Contra Affair starring Bill Murray, please sign up for the ComedyNerd newsletter below. SIGN ME UP In which Bill Murray movie is Bill Murray at his Bill Murray-est? Its a tougher question than it sounds. And thats because, both in the movies and in life, there are distinctly different Bill Murrays. Are we talking shaggy-dog, anything-for-a-laugh Murray? Cooly ironic, I will take down this institution BIll Murray? Unruly-facial-hair-so-I-must-be-in-a-Wes-Anderson-movie Bill Murray? Your pals at ComedyNerd have prepared this handy guide to all of the different Bill Murrays youll meet along your cinematic path. Lets go. 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. Tens of millions of workers across the U.S. are in limbo as federal courts have issued different rulings related to President Joe Bidens COVID-19 vaccine mandates for larger private companies, certain health care workers and federal government contractors. A federal appeals court panel has allowed a vaccine requirement for employers with 100 or more workers, although Republican attorneys general, business associations and conservative groups have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. A vaccine mandate for companies that have contracts with the federal government is on hold nationwide, while a separate mandate for health care employees who work for providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding has been blocked in half the states. The courts are responding to lawsuits brought by Republican-led states, conservative groups and some businesses. They argue in part that the vaccine requirements infringe on states rights to regulate public health matters. Numerous legal challenges are pending, some involving groups of states and others filed by states acting alone. Separate Biden administration vaccine mandates for federal government employees and the military remain in effect, as do mask requirements for airline passengers and people using public transportation. The legal cases concern whether the federal government can force employers to require vaccinations. Courts have generally been accepting of requirements that businesses and universities have put in place on their own as well as those imposed by state and local governments. More than four-fifths 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 more than 800,000 people in the U.S. Opponents have taken a three-tiered approach to challenging the requirements. In lawsuits, they contend the vaccine mandates were imposed without proper public comment, were not authorized by Congress and infringe on states' rights to regulate public health matters. The reasoning across the cases is basically the same, which is that these statutes dont give the president or the agency in question the authority to issue the mandates," said Gregory Magarian, a constitutional law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. The Biden administration contends its rule-making authority is firm and supersedes any state policies prohibiting vaccine requirements. Recent experience shows that such mandates generally prompt people to get vaccinated: By the time a Biden requirement for federal workers to be vaccinated took effect in late November, 92% had received at least their first dose of the shot. Following is a rundown of some of Biden's most sweeping vaccine requirements and the status of the legal fights over them. LARGE BUSINESS MANDATE What it would do: Under a rule published by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Nov. 5, businesses with 100 or more workers are to require employees to be vaccinated. If they are not, they would need to be tested weekly and wear masks while working, with exceptions for those who work alone or mostly outdoors. The rule was to go into effect Jan. 4. The requirement would affect businesses with a cumulative 84 million employees, and OSHA projected it could save 6,500 lives and prevent 250,000 hospitalizations over six months. Whos challenging it: The requirement is being challenged by 27 Republican-led state governments, some conservative and business groups, and some individual businesses. The states mostly filed lawsuits in groups, though Indiana challenged it alone. Their arguments include that its the job of states, not the federal government, to deal with public health measures. The Biden administration maintains that the measure is legal. Some labor unions also contested the rule, though not for the same reasons as the Republicans and business group. They say it doesn't go far enough to protect workers. Where it stands: The OSHA rule is allowed to take effect, at least for now. On Dec. 17, a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the mandate, reversing a decision by a panel of judges in the New Orleans-based 5th circuit. The legal challenges originally were filed in various U.S. appeals courts. The cases subsequently were consolidated into the Cincinnati-based 6th circuit, which was selected at random. Whats next: Republican attorneys general, business associations and several conservative groups immediately appealed the 6th circuit ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, OSHA announced that it would not issue citations before Jan. 10 for its vaccination mandate or before Feb. 9 for its testing requirement to give employers time to adjust. HEALTH WORKER MANDATE What it would do: Under a rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid on Nov. 5, a wide range of health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding were to require workers to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. The rule would affect more than 17 million workers in about 76,000 health care facilities and home health care providers. 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. What's next: The court rulings are being appealed by the Biden administration. On Dec. 16 the administration asked the Supreme Court to block the lower court orders that are keeping the mandate from going into effect in about half of the states. The case filed in Missouri is being considered by the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The case filed in Louisiana, which was brought by a coalition of 14 states, is being considered by the 5th Circuit. So far, there's been no move to consolidate the challenges in a single court. FEDERAL CONTRACTOR MANDATE What would it do: Under an executive order issued by Biden on Sept. 9, contractors and subcontractors for the federal government are required to comply with workplace safety guidelines developed by a federal task force. That task force subsequently issued guidelines requiring that new, renewed or extended contracts include a clause requiring employees to be fully vaccinated Jan. 18. That meant those receiving a two-dose vaccine must get their second shot by Jan. 4. There are limited exceptions for medical or religions reasons. The requirements could apply to millions of employees. Who's challenging it: The guidelines have been challenged through more than a dozen lawsuits, including seven brought by Republican-led states or coalitions of states. The arguments are similar to those against other vaccine mandates, asserting the Biden administration exceeded the procurement rule-making powers granted by Congress, infringed on states' responsibilities and didn't properly gather public comment. Where it stands: The rule is on hold. A federal judge in Georgia issued a ruling Dec. 7 prohibiting enforcement of the requirement for contractors nationally. The ruling came a week after a judge in Kentucky barred enforcement of the requirement in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. What's next: Legal challenges pending in several other states could lead to additional rulings on requests for injunctions. The Kentucky or Georgia rulings also could be appealed. A quick consolidation of the federal contractor lawsuits appears unlikely. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Attorney General Jeff Landry and a Republican state lawmaker filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to block Gov. John Bel Edwards' plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to Louisianas immunization schedule for schools and colleges. The lawsuit from the GOP attorney general and Bossier City Rep. Raymond Crews came a day after the Democratic governor notified House lawmakers that he's going against their wishes to enact the rule mandating some students get the vaccination for the 2022-23 school year or file paperwork to opt out of the immunization requirement. Landry argues that Edwards' action violates constitutional provisions that give lawmakers the power to enact laws rather than the governor. The attorney general suggests the rulemaking process outlined in state law that allows a governor to override a legislative rejection of a regulatory proposal is unconstitutional. The Louisiana Constitution grants the governor the power only to enforce the law, not to make it, the lawsuit says. Edwards sent a letter Tuesday to the House Health and Welfare Committee, notifying them that he will overrule their 13-2 bipartisan vote against the plan and enact it against their wishes. Crews is a member of that House committee and voted not to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the immunization schedule. The governor's office defended its actions as following the law. Weve not reviewed the attorney generals full filing, but the Louisiana Department of Health is well within its legal authority on adding the COVID vaccine to the immunization schedule, where it will be treated like all other vaccines and parents may choose to opt their children out of it, Edwards spokesperson Christina Stephens said in a statement. Edwards and his public health advisers have repeatedly argued that the vaccine is safe and effective and getting more children vaccinated would help save lives. In his letter to the committee, the governor 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. And he's stressed that Louisiana's law provides broad exemptions to the immunization schedule. 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. 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. Landry, who is considering a run for governor in 2023 when Edwards is term-limited, has repeatedly clashed with Edwards across their two terms, including in several lawsuits. Landry also has successfully challenged some of President Joe Bidens vaccine mandates. ___ Follow Melinda Deslatte on Twitter at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte. A Nevada woman is facing child abuse and sexual assault charges after authorities say she traveled cross-country last year to have a former CNN producer sexually train her 9-year-old daughter in his Vermont ski home. Henderson police in Nevada said the 48-year-old woman, whose name Hearst Connecticut Media Group is withholding to protect her daughters identity, was charged Aug. 21, 2020 with two counts of child abuse, two counts of sexual assault against a child under 14 and lewdness with a minor under 14. Her case remains pending in the Henderson Justice Court. The womans attorney did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment. The woman was arrested about a week before federal authorities said they seized computers, phones and other devices from John Griffin, 44, of Stamford, who has been accused of trying to lure women and their daughters to his home in Ludlow, Vt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Griffin in New Haven Friday on an indictment, charging him with three counts of using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity, the U.S. attorneys office for the district of Vermont said. Griffins attorney, Joseph Martini, said he and his client will not be commenting on the case. In a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media Group, CNN said Griffin was fired Monday from the network, where he had worked since 2013, according to his LinkedIn profile. Griffin was once a producer for the Chris Cuomo show and was most recently a producer for CNN senior political analyst John Avlon. Federal authorities said the alleged activity occurred between April and June 2020 just months after court filings and property records indicate Griffin purchased the ski house on the slopes of Okemo Mountain in February 2020, paying just under $1.8 million. The purchase was made using an LLC that included Griffin and his estranged wife, Allyson Griffin. A personal attorney for Allyson Griffin said the couple has been separated for two years. The attorney, Jonathan Whitcomb, of Diserio Martin OConnor & Castiglioni LLP, said Allyson Griffin had no comment about the charges against her husband. Whitcomb also said his client had no idea the house was being used as alleged in the indictment. She wasnt indicted, Whitcomb said in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media. Shes completely innocent both civilly and criminally. Norwalk property records indicate the couple purchased a $3.6 million home in the Rowayton section of the city in 2017. At the time of his arrest, John Griffin was a resident of Stamford, according to the U.S. attorneys office. It was not immediately clear when he moved and his name does not appear on Stamford property records. Griffins name does appear as a donor for the Carver Foundation in Norwalk. The nonprofit provides before- and after-school and summer programs for children in the citys schools along with the Classical Studies Magnet Academy in Bridgeport. A spokesperson for the foundation said Griffins only connection with the nonprofit was at a cocktail fundraiser for adults, and he had no access to children. Photos online show John and Allyson Griffin hosted a Carver Foundation event at their Rowayton home in 2018. According to his indictment, investigators claimed Griffin chatted online with people he believed were the parents of minor children, and sought to persuade parents to allow him to train their daughters to be sexually submissive, the indictment stated. During several chat conversations over Kik and Google Hangouts in 2020, Griffin stated that he believed a woman is a woman regardless of her age, according to the indictment. During these chat conversations, John Griffin espoused a way of life in which women are sexually subservient and inferior to men, the indictment stated. Using Kik and Google Hangouts, John Griffin sought parents who would allow him to train their minor daughters to be sexually subservient. Investigators said Griffin paid more than $3,000 for the Nevada woman to fly with her daughter to Boston, where he picked them up and drove them to his Vermont house, the indictment stated. At the house, the daughter was directed to engage in, and did engage in, unlawful sexual activity, the indictment stated. Investigators allege Griffin also attempted to lure two other women and their minor daughters to his Vermont home. Ludlow Police Chief Jeffrey Billings said Tuesday Griffin is not facing state charges in Vermont and referred questions to federal authorities. For most of the year, Ludlow is a quiet New England town of about 1,800 people with what officials there call a very low crime rate. The towns population jumps considerably in the winter months when an influx of visitors looking to ski the nearby snow-covered slopes of Mount Okemo inundate the town. Scott Murphy, who serves as Ludlows municipal manager, said in an interview Tuesday that the towns population also saw an increase last year with people relocating during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a very low crime rate, he said, adding that even the Ludlow police force is relatively small, with a total of about six officers. Even in the winter months, when our population jumps, the crime hasnt followed it. Murphy said he was shocked when he heard authorities accused Griffin of using the ski house for the underage sex crime. It was shocking to hear about, shocking to read, Murphy said. Its an incident thats totally out of the ordinary for Ludlow. Its something you read about happening somewhere else. People buy these huge homes on the mountain for skiing purposes, so you never expect something like this. BANGKOK (AP) Puncharat Taloet underwent a sex change operation several years ago, but her Thai state identification card still identifies her as a man, causing her serious complications. It seems that when compared to other countries in the region, Thai people are open-minded and accepting transgenderism, since there is no harsh legal punishment and a low rate of hate crimes against LGBTQ people, Puncharat, an activist, said in an interview. But under the facade, she said, the lack of legal gender recognition is more than an inconvenience. This causes me a great deal of trouble when I apply for a job, particularly with the government, she told The Associated Press. I earned a bachelors degree in traditional Thai medicine, but when I applied at hospitals for a vacant position, I was rejected. They explained to me that they were worried that my expressed gender did not match my birth gender and patients might become uneasy and confused. Her case is not unusual, according to a report issued Thursday by New York-based Human Rights Watch. While Thailand enjoys a positive international reputation when it comes to the rights and lifestyles of LGBTQ communities, the absence of a procedure for transgender people in Thailand to change their legal gender, coupled with insufficient legal protections and social stigma, limits transgender peoples access to vital services, and exposes them to daily indignities, it said. The Human Rights Watch report, undertaken together with the Thai Transgender Alliance, concludes that transgender people in Thailand experience numerous barriers to their rights to health, education, work, freedom of movement, and non-discrimination. Conservatives values, at least among an older generation, were clearly revealed last month when Thailands Constitutional Court failed to endorse same-sex marriage as a constitutionally protected act. It suggested, however, that laws could be enacted to ensure equal rights for all regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation. Human Rights Watch gives Thailand credit for its Gender Equality Act that came into force in September 2015, describing it as the first national legislation in Southeast Asia to specifically protect against discrimination on the grounds of gender expression. It specifically prohibits any form of discrimination if someone is of a different appearance from his/her own sex by birth, but lacks enforcement capacity and fails to ensure the basic rights of transgender people, the group said. Without more legal protections, transgender students in Thai schools face harassment, bullying, and discrimination, the report said. Thailand has a reputation as an international hub for gender-affirming surgery and transgender health care, but transgender people without identity documents matching their gender presentation can be subject to privacy violations, invasive questioning and humiliation when seeking medical services, said the report. They may even face physical danger when they are placed in hospital units that do not match their gender identity. Employment opportunities where workers will be treated with dignity and respect are also affected by the lack of legal gender recognition, which puts transgender people at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to finding and keeping a job, the report said. 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." Sapna Raghavan, the winner of Miss Connecticut 2021 is preparing to compete for the title of Miss America on Thursday, Dec. 16 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. Raghavan graduated from Ellington High School in 2016 and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2020. She's the former Miss Greater Rockvilles Outstanding Teen 2015, making her only the second woman to have held both the Miss Connecticuts Outstanding Teen title and the Miss Connecticut title. Raghavan is also 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. This year's competition marks the 100th anniversary of Miss America, and Raghavan said she is proud to be a part of it. "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. They have made so many changes in the times and continue to stay relevant," said Raghavan. "If the swimsuit competition was still part of this, I wouldn't have done it." 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. Contributed by Claire Marchand 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?" "The [goal of] the Miss America organization...is to prepare great women for the world, and to prepare the world for great women. But how could we prepare the world if women do not believe that they can make an impact? We have to change that mindset," she added. Contributed by Claire Marchand 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. "Miss America is more than just a competition, it is a 365 day job and that's why we call them candidates. They have to show us a business plan, what their social impact initiative that is going to educate and advocate across America, what are the trying to make a difference in and how will they follow with the results," said Miss America Organization President & CEO, Shantel Krebs. When it comes to becoming Miss America, Raghavan understands it's like a full time job and does not shy away from that. "I work as a consultant where I work a lot of late nights and early mornings, kind of like the Miss America roll. A big part of this job is to know how to market and brand yourself, networking and I can't wait to bring my business side to this role and show the world that Miss America is someone everyone should be talking about." For the next three years, Miss America will be held in Connecticut at Mohegan Sun. "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 Krebs. "Mohegan Sun was a natural fit to partner with a women empowerment organization who has the same mission." PHOENIX (AP) Arizona is committing millions of dollars and asking the federal government for extra help as hospitals face a growing strain from rising COVID-19 caseloads and warn they are nearing their limits. Gov. Doug Ducey earmarked another $35 million aimed at helping hospitals staff their existing beds and discharge patients more quickly. His administration also asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 133 people to bolster staffing at seven rural hospitals. These things come in waves. It seems like this wave is upon us and the state is going to be a partner with the system, Ducey told reporters following an appearance in Tempe on Thursday. The Republican governor, who has encouraged vaccines but resisted mandates for shots or masking, showed no sign he's rethinking the approach. Im confident our policies will meet this moment and will provide hospitals with the resources so they can care for the sick," Ducey said. Arizona typically sees its highest hospital demand in the winter as seasonal viruses such as the flu take root and the state's population swells with winter visitors, many of whom are older with high medical needs. Arizonas larger hospital chains have already sounded the alarm this week about being overwhelmed. Leaders of Phoenix-based Banner Health and Valleywise Health say the volume of patients is at its highest since the pandemic started. The rise in hospitalizations is due to COVID-19 as well as people who delayed treatment for other issues needing crucial care. Hospital executives warn that an overburdened health care system affects not just COVID-19 patients but anyone needing hospital care. Of the $35.2 million Ducey committed to hospitals this week, $28 million will pay for extending staffing contracts due to expire before the end of the year, said Christina Corieri, a senior adviser to Ducey. The governor also committed $6 million to bolster staffing at long-term care and rehab facilities so hospitals can more quickly discharge patients who don't need hospital-level care but aren't well enough to go home. Dialysis clinics will also get $1.2 million. Meanwhile Thursday, health officials said the first COVID-19 case in Pima County involving the omicron variant has been confirmed. The person initially tested positive in Tucson in early December. Genetic sequencing of the sample indicated the omicron variant, which was verified in the past 24 hours by the Arizona Department of Health Services. We knew it was a matter of when, and not if, omicron would be in Pima County, said Pima County Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Cullen. The variant previously has been confirmed in cases in Maricopa and Yavapai counties. The state Department of Health Services is seeking dozens of health care workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after receiving inquiries for additional staffing from seven hospitals earlier this month. The request form submitted to FEMA on Dec. 4 shows hospitals in Kingman, Bullhead City, Yuma, Douglas, Bisbee, Sierra Vista and Willcox are in need of nurses for COVID-19 care and emergency department support. The request is still under federal review, Steve Elliott, a department spokesman, said in an email. Meanwhile, the state is continuing its own recruiting efforts. A spokeswoman for FEMA was not able to immediately comment when reached Thursday. Hospitalizations statewide were at 2,683 as of Wednesday, according to Arizona's coronavirus dashboard. It reported 2,911 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 20 additional deaths. The state has now seen 1,326,908 cases and 23,344 deaths since the pandemic started. In other developments: __ The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved an emergency request for $65,000 to spend on a 16-foot (4.9 meter) refrigerated mobile morgue. The money would come from American Rescue Plan Act funds. According to the request, the medical examiner's office said the rate of virus-related deaths has far exceeded its refrigeration space. SHELTON - There will be an added police presence at the schools Friday in the wake of the latest TikTok challenge circulating on social media this week, according to Superintendent Ken Saranich. Saranich, in a notice sent to parents Thursday, said the schools are aware of this post that refers to a threat to school safety for every school in the USA on Dec. 17. The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our school district, Saranich said. We have heard reports from other districts that the same post is circulating in their schools. Saranich said that while officials did not find the threat to be credible, We are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously. Police Lt. Robert Kozlowsky said the department is aware of the social media threat, but said there is nothing credible to Shelton schools. But the department will be having an increased presence at the schools. Saranich said the district has been in contact with the Shelton Police Department regarding the post, and the additional police at school buildings is simply an added precaution. This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats, Saranich said. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. The district is asking families to monitor their childrens social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online. If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult immediately, Saranich said. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com MOSCOW (AP) The Kremlin said Thursday that Russia submitted draft documents outlining security arrangements it wants to negotiate with the United States and its NATO allies amid s piraling tensions over Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a senior Russian envoy stood ready to immediately depart for talks in a neutral country on the proposal. Peskov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have another call with U.S. President Joe Biden before the year's end to discuss the security issue, but he said it hasn't been agreed to yet. In a video call with Putin last week, Biden voiced concern about a buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine and warned him that Russia would face severe consequences if Moscow attacked its neighbor. Putin has denied plans of launching an invasion and reversed the conversation by prodding Western leaders to provide legally binding guarantees precluding NATO's expansion to Ukraine and the deployment of the alliance's weapons there, calling such actions a red line for Moscow. The U.S. and its allies have refused to provide such pledges, but Biden and Putin agreed last week on further talks to discuss Russia's concerns. In a statement late Thursday, NATO ambassadors said they are gravely concerned by the substantial, unprovoked, and unjustified Russian military build-up on the borders of Ukraine in recent months, and reject the false Russian claims of Ukrainian and NATO provocations. But they signaled that the 30-nation alliance might be ready to discuss Russias security proposals. We are clear that any dialogue with Russia would have to proceed on the basis of reciprocity, address NATOs concerns about Russias actions, be based on the core principles and foundational documents of European security, and take place in consultation with NATOs European partners, they said. Should Russia take concrete steps to reduce tensions, we are prepared to work on strengthening confidence-building measures, the statement said, adding that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe could be the forum for this. Peskov said Russia has submitted drafts of a treaty and an agreement to the United States, but he refused to specify what specific arrangements they contained and who could be the signatories. He said Putins foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, discussed the Russian drafts with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during a call Wednesday, and that Moscow was ready to start negotiations. Moscows proposals were passed on to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, who visited Moscow on Wednesday and met with Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Ryabkov would be ready to depart for talks on prospective agreements in a neutral country, Peskov said without giving details. Speaking last week, Ryabkov warned that the failure to stem mounting Russia-West tensions could push them to a showdown similar to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that put the world on the verge of a nuclear war. U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has moved 70,000 troops to its border with Ukraine and is preparing for a possible invasion early next year. Moscow has denied an intention to attack and accused Ukrainian authorities of planning an offensive to reclaim control of rebel-held eastern Ukraine an allegation Ukraine has rejected. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine began after Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. It has killed over 14,000 people and devastated Ukraine's industrial heartland called Donbas. ___ Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) Senators gave final congressional approval Thursday to a bill barring imports from Chinas Xinjiang region unless businesses can prove they were produced without forced labor, overcoming initial hesitation from the White House and what supporters said was opposition from corporations. The measure is the latest in a series intensifying U.S. penalties over Chinas alleged systemic and widespread abuse of ethnic and religious minorities in the western region, especially Xinjiangs predominantly Muslim Uyghurs. The Biden administration also announced new sanctions Thursday targeting several Chinese biotech and surveillance companies, a leading drone manufacturer and government entities for their actions in Xinjiang. The Senate vote sends the bill to President Joe Biden. Press secretary Jen Psaki said this week that Biden supported the measure, after months of the White House declining to take a public stand on an earlier version of the legislation. The United States says China is committing genocide in its treatment of the Uyghurs. That includes widespread reports by rights groups and journalists of forced sterilization and large detention camps where many Uyghurs allegedly are compelled to work in factories. China denies any abuses. It says the steps it has taken are necessary to combat terrorism and a separatist movement. The U.S. cites raw cotton, gloves, tomato products, silicon and viscose, fishing gear and a range of components in solar energy as among goods alleged to have been produced with the help of the forced labor. Xinjiang is a resource-rich mining region, important for agricultural production, and home to a booming industrial sector. Detainees also are moved outside Xinjiang and put to work in factories, including those in the apparel and textiles, electronics, solar energy and automotive sectors, the U.S. says. Many companies have already taken steps to clean up their supply chains. And, frankly, they should have no concerns about this law," Sen. Marco Rubio, the Florida Republican who introduced the earlier version of the legislation with Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, said in a statement. For those who have not done that, theyll no longer be able to continue to make Americans every one of us, frankly unwitting accomplices in the atrocities, in the genocide," Rubio said. As in the House earlier this week, the compromise version passed the Senate with overwhelming approval from Democrats and Republicans. The swift passage came after what supporters said was offstage opposition from corporations with manufacturing links to China, although there was little to no overt opposition. Apples lobbying firm lobbied on Apples behalf, a federal disclosure form shows. Apple, like Nike and other corporations with work done in China, says it has found no sign of forced labor from Xinjiang in its manufacturing or supply chain. Some Uyghur rights advocates and others said they had also feared private opposition from within the Biden administration as it sought cooperation from the Chinese on climate change and other issues. Psaki, in her statement Tuesday night, noted export controls and import restrictions, sanctions, diplomatic initiatives and other measures the Biden administration had already taken targeting forced labor from Xinjiang. The Senate also approved Biden's nominee for ambassador to China, veteran diplomat Nicholas Burns, on a 75-18 vote Thursday. Advocates credited unrelenting support from rights groups and lawmakers, including statements from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with helping the bill prevail. With the legislation, sanctions and months of other new measures, the United States is way ahead of the international community on confronting China on abuses of Uyghurs, said Nury Turkel, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. How can anyone get China to change without going after the most important thing to the Chinese government, which is their economic interest?" asked Turkel, who praised Congress but not the administration for what he called coherent messaging on the matter. The legislation requires government agencies to expand their monitoring of the use of forced labor by Chinas ethnic minorities. Crucially, it creates a presumption that goods coming from Xinjiang are made with forced labor. Businesses will have to prove that forced labor, including by workers transferred from Xinjiang, played no part in a product to bring it into the United States. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department announced new penalties targeting Chinas Academy of Military Medical Sciences and its 11 research institutes that focus on using biotechnology to support the Chinese military. The move bars American companies from selling goods and technologies to the entities without a license. China is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. Separately, the Treasury Department announced it was placing DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer, and seven other Chinese companies on an investment blacklist over their alleged involvement in biometric surveillance and tracking of Uyghurs. The measure means individuals in the U.S. will be prohibited from purchasing or selling publicly traded securities connected with the companies. DJI dominates the global market for the small, low-altitude drones used by hobbyists, photographers and many businesses and governments. Other companies added to the Treasury blacklist are image-recognition software firm Megvii, supercomputer manufacturer Dawning Information Industry, facial recognition specialist CloudWalk Technology, cybersecurity group Xiamen Meiya Pico, artificial intelligence company Yitu Technology and cloud computing firms Leon Technology and NetPosa Technologies. U.S. intelligence has established that Beijing has set up a high-tech surveillance system across Xinjiang that uses biometric facial recognition and has collected DNA samples from all residents, ages 12 to 65, as part of a systematic effort to suppress Uyghurs, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the sanctions on the condition of anonymity. The Commerce Department said multiple federal agencies determined that the Chinese academy and research institutes use biotechnology processes to support Chinese military end uses and end users, to include purported brain-control weaponry. The White House announced last week it would stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing Chinas egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang. U.S. athletes will compete but Biden will not send the usual contingent of dignitaries. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a call and email seeking comment. Rights groups note prison labor has long been a part of the U.S. economy, with inmates producing goods and providing services such as call centers for what is typically reduced pay. Opponents say the system disproportionately profits off the labor of incarcerated Black Americans. 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 Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 was passed by Congress in December of 2020 as a part of the larger National Defense Authorization Act. The AML Act is comprised of over 200 pages of changes, and these changes included items including: Exam & Supervisory Priorities Beneficial owner information collected at business formation Safe harbor when a credit union is directed to keep a suspicious account open FinCENs Domestic Liaison Risk-based BSA/AML Compliance Programs Streamlining CTR and SAR Reporting GAO De-risking Analysis NCUAs New BSA-Related Officers Regulations implementing these new priorities will follow in the coming years. These priorities will be updated at least once every four years and are meant to help credit unions assess their risks, tailor their BSA/AML compliance programs, and prioritize their resources. Were expecting to see FinCEN provide reports on many topics by the end of this year as they are due no later than January 1, 2022. Preparing your CU for the changes While we know credit unions are not to be examined on incorporating priorities into their compliance programs or procedures until after the accompanying regulations are in effect, we do know that NCUA is encouraging credit unions to start considering how you will incorporate these priorities into your risk-based compliance programs. What can your credit union do now to begin preparing? Start creating an internal change management process for tracking updates, reviews and more Consider budgeting for a comprehensive compliance management system that includes a BSA review tool to track changes Get systems in place to assign and track BSA-related trainings Prepare now to effectively manage the coming policy and procedure updates Create a BSA FAQs document based on actual questions from your credit union staff and prepare to update it Common missteps When your credit union is reviewing your BSA compliance program, keep in mind a couple of the most common weaknesses found during BSA exams: The length of time since the last independent testing was conducted, and The period of time since the last BSA training was provided to appropriate staff If youre looking for resources to help you prepare, consider the CUNA Compliance Community and Blog. Time for a compliance audit Many credit unions are still managing compliance on spreadsheets, but smart technology solutions can help your BSA officer assure that nothing falls through the cracks. If your credit union: Lacks visibility into its compliance activities Is overly reliant on error-prone manual processes Suffers from redundant compliance efforts then it may be time to run a compliance audit and reassess how you approach compliance and identify opportunities to better protect your credit union and your members from BSA threats. For more information FinCEN AML Act of 2020 Webpage Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism National Priorities (June 30, 2021) Ransomware Trends in Bank Secrecy Act Data Between January 2021 and June 2021 FIN-2021-A004 FinCEN Advisory on Ransomware and the Use of the Financial System to Facilitate Ransom Payments NCUA Risk Alert 21-Risk-01 Business Email Compromise through Exploitation of Cloud-Based Email Services CUNA Compliance Community CUNA BSA/AML Certification Conference with NASCUS Nov. 6-10, 2022 Preparing for the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 Changes webinar (recorded) Unlike anything else in the market, Cuery, brought to you by collaborative CUSO Aux, is a robust data analytics solution that was designed specifically for small and mid-sized credit unions. Cuery is both affordable and scalable to your credit unions size while being totally comprehensive. Think of it as the best of both worlds. Cuery can help you dive into the waters of data analytics and swim like a pro: it provides deep and revenue-generating member insights, with easy-to-use dashboards for your whole team, and equips your credit union with a data analytics program (including experts!) that you can afford. Designed Specifically to Meet Your Needs: For over two years, Aux studied and surveyed small and mid-sized credit unions to intimately understand their pain points surrounding data analytics. They found that the industry was lacking an offering that made sense for smaller credit unions, organizations that did not have large budgets or a dedicated data analytics team. In addition, small and mid-sized executives ranked the need for a relevant data analytics solution as the most pressing goal in the next 3 to 5 years, yet indicated that knew very little about how to achieve it. Cuery was designed specifically to alleviate these questions and barriers. Think of Cuery as a custom, molded shoe just for your foot. And if the shoe fits Affordable: Cost is the elephant in the room when it comes to data analytics for credit unions under $800M. It, frankly, is just too darn expensive to acquire, implement, and maintain. Credit unions do not have hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to throw at a data analytics program. And thats where Cuery steps in. Its a best-in-class solution (well talk about that in #7) at a fraction of the cost. There is only so much we can say publicly (you know lawyers and competitors), but Cuery costs up to 70% less than the competition. How? Its revolutionary in its practice because it uses a shared services model, which vastly cuts down on cost. Using the concept of fractional consumption, you are only paying for what you need. The large credit unions might need a dedicated team, but if you are under $800M in assets, you probably dont need oneso why pay for one? Our data support team, architects, engineers, and scientists are available to answer any questions that may arise and make sure you have the confidence to use your data as effectively as possible. A 360-Degree View: All Your Member Data in One Place: Cuery provides you with a holistic view of your membersbringing together all the products and services they use. It can identify the products and services they currently arent using but could be a good fit for their current situation. Youll be able to understand your members financial behaviors, member by member. It allows you to drill down in just about every metric to the branch level, associate level and even the member level. With advanced AI, it can identify each members next best product or service with the highest probability of usage. Want to compare to historical data? Cuery can do that; in fact, most of the dashboards provide adjustable historical timeframes. And, data reports and dashboards are organized by your credit unions operational areas (Executive Management, Lending, Deposits, Marketing, etc.) so no one needs to sort through things to find exactly what they need. Helps Solve Your Most Pressing Issues: Were talking about Making more loans (and doesnt everybody need to make more loans right now!?) Expanding member product usage Identifying and recommending next best product Reigniting product usage Identify where your members are transacting and making loan payments Making offers that have a high chance of acceptance Improving your marketing efficiency and accuracy Cuery can help with all of that and more. Flexible, Fluid, Customized for You: As you might have guessed by now, Cuery is a little different from the other data solutions out there. And thats a good thing. You see, Cuery isnt a concrete, immobile product that was built in advance to assume the needs of their credit union clients. Its quite the opposite in its design. The Cuery platform is built out after the credit unions needs are communicated. This includes data adapters, APIs, core processors, goals and challenges. This allows each and every client to have a customized experience and product unique to their own credit union needs. Because if there is anything we are sure of, each credit union has its own set of unique challenges, philosophies, technologies, and operational structure. Why should a product as integral and encompassing as data analytics be one-size-fits-all? No Need to Hire a Team to Support the Product: We know credit union executives like you wear many hats, and dont have the budget to hire a bench of coders and analysts to support the service so those resources are included in our solution. The vast majority, if not all other data analytics solutions require you to hire additional staff to continue operating the software, aggregate data, pull relevant statistics, and other sophisticated activities. With the average salary for a data analyst ranging from $50k to $100k (not including benefits), and the median starting salary for a data scientist at $98K, one can easily see how much money Cuery will save you in staffing fees. Best of the Best Provider: Weve partnered with TIBCO, an award-winning leader in data analytics solutions. They are widely considered to be the best-of-the-best when it comes to data analytics, and the good news for you is that weve teamed up to offer a custom solution thats affordable for small and mid-sized credit unions. Check it out: in October of 2021, TIBCO announced that they: Have been named a Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Integration Platform-as-a-Service (iPaaS), their fifth year being recognized in the Magic Quadrant! Named a leader in The Forrester Wave: Enterprise iPaaS, Q4 2021 report. Forrester recognized TIBCO with the highest possible scores in the criteria of connectivity, data integration, API/event stream creation and management, messaging, and B2B integration. All-Inclusive Cloud-Based Platform: Our partner TIBCO uses Cuery to build on their cloud-based Data Cleansing, Mastering and ETL services for making sure your data is ready to analyze. Additionally, we have utilized their world class web-based data analytics platform called WebFocus. WebFocus includes dashboards, reporting, custom analytics, predictive engines and the ability to create APIs for consumption by your front line or digital platforms. Many partners require you to purchase Tableau or PowerBI to enable users to access their data, but not Cuery. Additionally, we do not charge a per user fee. Cuerys base package includes licensing for all your credit union employees from branch, back-office to executive employees. Daily Refreshed Data and Automatic Updates and Enhancements with No Extra Fees: With Cuery, your data is refreshed every night and balanced, so you know its accurate. Its your single source of truth so you can trust the data. And no extra fees. That isnt a phrase you hear very often when it comes to software and technology. But we are dead serious. We hate fees. We hate how smaller credit unions are nickeled and dimed to death. Cuery makes system updates (new releases) every two to four weeks, focusing on new developments and features. Every time we add new features and functions, you automatically receive them. Access to Strategic Consultants: Not only do you receive ongoing support after installation and operation, as well as access to a bench of data scientists, if needed, we have partnered with a premier data strategy consultant for educational and road-mapping consultants on call. These folks help you before, during and after implementation to ensure: Smooth integration of data mindset into your company culture Solid data governance plan Roadmaps for future success Best practices And much more Sound like Cuery might be helpful to your credit union in 22? Learn more about Cuery here or contact Aux at hello@auxteam.com. Col Hernandezs Final Salute after a 25-Year Career (in Service Dress Uniforms) Throughout my Air Force career, I saw many changes that have had a profound impact on the way our Air Force flies, fights, and wins. At the time, I didnt think much of these changes as they appeared to be adapting to modern times or getting rid of the old ways in the hope that somehow operations would improve. As I look back, none of these promises did much to advance the service and, in some ways, they degraded unit cohesiveness at all levels of command. For instance, early in my career there was a shift from Air Force Regulations to Air Force Instructions. This was intended to allow for better discretion in executing the mission. Regulations were thought to be too rigid, measured too objectively, and always assigned direct accountability for non-compliance. Plus, measuring compliance was paperwork intensive. Consequently, unit inspections also went away for many of the same reasons. It was believed that Airmen were too busy fighting the war to prepare for the inspection much less document compliance and get-well plans. Similarly, the Air Force did away with leather boots and opted for a suede boot which no longer required spit-shining (i.e., shoe polish with cotton swabs and water). This was a time-honored tradition that required attention to detail and lots of elbow grease. Plus, it didnt matter if you were an officer or enlisted membereveryone had to meet the same dress and appearance standards. Thus, there was always a boot-shining party taking place somewhere in the squadron. Along the same time suede boots appeared, the Air Force shifted from wearing blues while in the office to an Airman Battle Uniform or a Flight Suit (for aircrews). It used to be that wearing your blues reflected pride. Unfortunately, over time it seemed Airmen were only required to dress in blues when getting an Article 15 punishment, making a Court-Martial appearance, or in the unlucky event they were voluntold to represent the unit at a function off-base. Thus, wearing blues became a negative aspect of military life rather than a point of pride. Cumulatively, all these changes had a detrimental effect on the unit. As commanders, we needed to make changes to remedy this, which meant getting back to the traditions and customs that served a purpose. Being ready for war is what America expects from its military. Regulations and inspections serve a purpose since it is very bad for a commander to certify the readiness of the unit and not meet expected standards. Subjective assessments and good intentions dont win wars. The enemy simply doesnt care if you are trying hardcold, hard, objective facts matter. Shining boots allowed for time to share stories and impart unit wisdom. I cant tell you how much I learned from both superiors and direct reports when we took the time to shine our boots together. These helped build common bonds which matter in combat. Plus, there are some things you can immediately gather about a units effectiveness just walking in the front door. If all the boots were shined regardless of the time you visited the unit, it was a leading indicator that unit command/leadership at all levels were good to go. If boots were dirty and scuffed, you could expect other problems. Inspections proved this! Pride in wearing the dress uniform each day required attention to detail. Again, it was a good indicator on how the unit was performing. Properly displaying rank, insignia, and ribbons meant that a members professional appearance was likely to show in their work and in preparations for war. Thus, traditions and customs, while hard and sometimes seemingly meaningless, do matter in guaranteeing the success of the unit. My point in writing all thisthere are certain traditions and customs in our industry that still matter. Despite technological shifts, the rise of FinTechs, or social changesthere are those absolutes that will always set credit unions apart from other financial service providers. There is an ethos, a commitment to our member-owners, and to our communities that must be preserved. As leaders, we should always take time to communicate what this means. Even though credit union employees are not required to shine boots, there are plenty of volunteer activities that can foster storytelling or imparting wisdom that reinforce industry customs and traditions. While there is credit union apparel featuring standard logos and colors, wearing a uniform is not something we require of our employeesat least not to the extent of the military. Yet, attitude and service are the uniforms others see when walking in the front door. There is a certain pride members should feel at first contact. Finally, objective measures demonstrate mission readiness. There are many measures and metrics we can define internally to assess our ability to serve our members. The NCUA also provides plenty of objective ways to measure compliance. Good, bad, or indifferent, these metrics and exams serve a purpose. It takes leadership at all levels to ensure compliance throughout the organization. There are many parallels between military service and the credit union industry. It is up to leaders to keep up the pace and not trade away our credibility/readiness in the market. The good news is our industry has a phenomenal track record. Looking ahead, I have great faith that our industry will continue to value the traditions and customs that made us who we are today! Advertisement Gold Price Outlook: Gold prices are overcoming technical resistance after barrage of central bank headlines over the past 24-hours. A return back above 1800 seems likely as long as the US Dollar remains on its backfoot; higher towards 1835 isnt out of the question. According to the IG Client Sentiment Index , gold prices still have a bullish bias in the near-term. Technical Turnaround Gold prices sank to a new monthly low yesterday around the Federal Reserve rate decision, only to quickly reverse course and jump to fresh monthly highs. Yes, the Fed made a hawkish shift in near-term policy expectations as did the Bank of England with its rate hike, but markets arent necessarily reflecting a more hawkish disposition below the surface. Longer-term growth expectations have come down reflecting anticipated higher borrowing costs, and the decline in long-end yields has actually seen real yields fall on both sides of the pond. Falling real yields are now curating an environment that allows for gold prices to rally, in line with seasonal tendencies (December has been the second best month of the year over the past 5-years). Gold Volatility and Gold Prices Relationship Inversion Fading Historically, gold prices have a relationship with volatility unlike other asset classes. While other asset classes like bonds and stocks dont like increased volatility signaling greater uncertainty around cash flows, dividends, coupon payments, etc. gold tends to benefit during periods of higher volatility. Golds advance may prove limited if gold volatility thus continues to decline. GVZ (Gold Volatility) Technical Analysis: Daily Price Chart (December 2020 to December 2021) (Chart 1) Gold volatility (as measured by the Cboes gold volatility ETF, GVZ, which tracks the 1-month implied volatility of gold as derived from the GLD option chain) was trading at 15.15 at the time this report was written, the lowest level seen since the end of October. The relationship between gold prices and gold volatility is churning, insofar as the 5-day correlation is turning more negative while the 20-day correlation is losing its negative perspective. The 5-day correlation between GVZ and gold prices is -0.47 while the 20-day correlation is -0.32. One week ago, on December 9, the 5-day correlation was +0.05 and the 20-day correlation was -0.57. Gold Price Rate Technical Analysis: Daily Chart (December 2020 to December 2021) (Chart 2) Gold prices were trading below the uptrend from the August and September swing lows through early-December, and the drop yesterday harkened a more significant pullback taking shape. But the bullish reversal that has developed over the past 24-hours has completely changed the tone. Yesterdays hammer candle has seen follow through with a bullish piercing candle today, with gold prices trading above their daily 21-EMA in the process the first time since November 22. A move towards 1805 (the descending trendline from the August 2020 and June 2021 highs) seems highly likely, and beyond there, a return to the summer highs established near 1835. Gold Price Technical Analysis: Weekly Chart (October 2015 to December 2021) (Chart 3) The weekly candle offers an even more bullish prognostication for gold prices. Should this weekly candle close above last weeks high of 1793.16, we would have a bullish outside engulfing bar in place, suggesting more upside in the very near-term. The weekly 4-, 8-, and 13-EMA envelope never quite turned negative, while weekly MACD is now turning higher at its signal line and weekly Slow Stochastics are reversing higher at their median line. The technical table has been set for gold prices to trade higher in the second half of December. IG CLIENT SENTIMENT INDEX: GOLD PRICE FORECAST (December 16, 2021) Gold: Retail trader data shows 80.20% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 4.05 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 13.40% lower than yesterday and 10.54% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 10.18% higher than yesterday and 5.89% higher from last week. We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests Gold prices may continue to fall. Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current Gold price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long. --- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Strategist So here we go again. Another Christmas is in peril. Boris Johnson pops up frequently on our television screens, and with every new appearance, he seemingly edges closer to another spate of restrictions. The spectacle of droves of gloomy scientists flooding back onto the airwaves, particularly the BBCs, to demand tougher restrictions from the Government is now a dependable part of Christmas. Only this time its apparently worse. True, even doom-mongering scientists are forced to concede that we have more protection than last year because of the vaccine rollout, so in that respect things are better. On the other hand, there is Omicron. The very word is sinister. It sounds like the name of a leader of a particularly evil group of extra-terrestrials determined to destroy our way of life. Which may be what we are going to allow it to do. Boris Johnson pops up frequently on our television screens, and with every new appearance, he seemingly edges closer to another spate of restrictions I dont doubt that Omicron is rife and spreading like wildfire. Many of us will know of one, two or three people who have contracted it in recent days. Its said to be three times as infectious as the Delta variant it is supplanting. But are some scientists, politicians and journalists exaggerating the danger of the new variant, and in particular ignoring or underplaying the strong evidence emerging from South Africa that it is likely to lead to significantly fewer hospitalisations and deaths? I believe so. And was Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, correct when she declared yesterday that Omicron poses probably the most significant threat weve had since the start of the pandemic? I very much doubt it. Was Jenny Harries (pictured), chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, correct when she declared yesterday that Omicron poses probably the most significant threat weve had since the start of the pandemic? I very much doubt it Thats the same Jenny Harries who, in the early days of the pandemic, suggested it wasnt a good idea for the average member of the public to wear a face mask, and was also sceptical about banning mass gatherings. I submit that we are in the grip of panic. We are having another national nervous breakdown. The last one, you may recall, occurred when the shortage of a few tanker drivers was turned into full-scale fuel shortage as people queued for hours for petrol. Its called hysteria. Foolish The latest claim is that there will be a million cases of Covid a day by the end of the week. Maybe it has supposedly already happened. During yesterday mornings Today programme on BBC Radio 4, I heard that this figure would be reached within days, in a week and in two weeks. I wouldnt be surprised if that figure were soon increased by the doom-mongers to two million cases a day. In which case, by the New Year most of us will have had Covid, or be about to be struck down. Maybe we will have a million cases a day. It would be foolish to rule it out. But all we are offered at the moment are predictions, largely based on modelling by Jenny Harriess UK Health Security Agency. On Monday, it claimed there were 200,000 new cases every day about four times the official government number at that time. The distinguished statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter rightly said that this figure was a bit naughty because it didnt show how the figure was reached. Government scientists declare that the Omicron infection rate is doubling every two days, while Boris Johnson said at his press conference yesterday afternoon that the process is taking less than two days. According to this method of calculation, there were 800,000 new cases yesterday, and there will be 1.6 million today. This sounds crazy to me. How much better it would be if the Government and its scientists restricted themselves to known facts rather than crystal ball gazing. Tell us what you know is happening rather than what you think might happen. The irony, of course, is that while the Government is uninhibited with its speculations, it clams up concerning statistics about the age and vaccination status of people who die in hospital from Covid. Solid facts are shared much less generously than wild conjecture. Alas, people listening to spine-chilling forecasts are apt to work themselves into a state of fear. I fear the BBC acts as a willing mouthpiece. It is far from being the only offender among broadcasters but stands out because its reach dwarfs its rivals. Unsurprisingly, the Beeb is almost exclusively interested in apocalyptically minded epidemiologists. One of its favourite gloomsters is Professor Graham Medley of Sage. It again offered the floor to him this morning. Professor Medley feared that Omicron could trigger a very large wave of hospitalisations because it is so transmissible. Professor Adam Finn, another of Aunties pets, gave a similar message on BBC Breakfast. He implied that new government regulations may be necessary. By contrast, highly qualified scientists who take a more balanced and less pessimistic view are given short shrift by the Corporation. I am thinking of eminent people such as Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford, and Carl Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the same university. Neither of them is famous for pushing for new restrictions, and both tend to advocate restraint which doubtless explains why theyre not favourites at the Beeb. Another moderate who is largely shunned is Professor Robert Dingwall of Nottingham Trent University. One of the BBC's favourite coronavirus gloomsters is Professor Graham Medley (pictured) of Sage Ignored Yesterday he criticised the general panic over Omicron. He pointed out that a real-world study of 78,000 Omicron cases in South Africa has been largely ignored by British scientists and policy-makers. The study found that, with the new variant, the risk of hospitalisation is 29 per cent lower than with the original Wuhan strain, and 23 per cent lower than with Delta. Two vaccinations offer good protection against hospitalisation or death. Only five per cent of people with Omicron required intensive care treatment, compared with 22 per cent of Delta patients. Granted, South Africa is not Britain. Its population is significantly younger. On the other hand, Dr Angelique Coetzee a South African GP who knows more about Omicron than most points out the high level of HIV infection, and therefore medical vulnerability, among many South Africans. Kate Bingham, the scientist and venture capitalist responsible for Britains stunningly successful vaccine rollout, is another measured voice. She told a Commons committee on Tuesday that Omicron may be a more mild disease. Deaths Neither the BBC nor the Government seems receptive to this possibility. The scientists who are driving the debate are those recommending new restrictions, or postulating stratospherically high levels of infections. Remember, too, that a greater number of cases is not a bad thing if it doesnt lead to more hospitalisations or deaths. Quite the opposite. A milder though more ubiquitous version of the virus may build up our immunity against future variants. All I am saying is that we shouldnt panic. The BBC and some epidemiologists seem determined that we should. Caution is sensible; hysteria is not. Incidentally, isnt it interesting that the BBC and, I suspect, many of the scientists demanding restrictions, privately loathe Boris Johnson? Will he do their bidding? Or will he wait, and judge how harmful Omicron really is to a population of which the great majority will have received a booster? The next few weeks are going to test his mettle as never before. Where was Rishi? The Chancellor had gone doggo. AWOL. MIA. After Chris Whitty effectively torpedoed the hospitality industry at Wednesdays Downing Street press conference, Labours Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East) today requested Dishy come to the Commons and pledge another series of eye-boggling cheques to keep businesses from going under. McFadden, incidentally, was standing in for Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who was recently been hit by this wretched virus. Shes the third Labour frontbencher to get it this week. Omicron has got MPs dropping like guardsmen on a hot August afternoon. Yet the Chancellor Boy Wonder was nowhere to be seen. Turned out hed hopped on a plane on Tuesday to sunny California for a series of business meetings, whatever they might be. Power brunches with Elon Musk, perhaps. Doubtless he will also have time to swing by his schloss in Santa Monica while hes there. What with Boriss personal ratings disappearing up the chimney, the timing of the trip seemed fortuitous. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been absent from the House of Commons and briefings while on a four-day trip to California Shades of John Major sauntering off to have a dicky wisdom tooth seen to just when Mrs Thatchers premiership was disappearing down the swanny. Instead we had to make do with Economic Secretary John Glen (Con, Salisbury). Glaringly nondescript, Mr Glen in some ways is the ideal sacrificial lamb. Few outside the Treasury even know who he is. An ex-management consultant, he has a fondness for wonkish accountancyspeak and that godawful phrase going forward. He always reminds me of the guy in science fiction movies who always gets killed first. Labours Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East) requested Mr Sunak come to the Commons and pledge another series of cheques to keep businesses from going under Old man McFadden wasnt happy at being denied the chance to grapple with the big dog. A disgruntled diner whod requested the filet mignon only to be handed a disappointing plate of off-cuts. Mr Glen insisted Rishis trip had been long planned. No doubt it was. But with these new restrictions, would it not have been wiser to cancel? The hospitality sector is facing further turmoil this Christmas as the Omicron strain continues to wreak havoc As Omicron rages, it is increasingly clear some companies will not survive the coming months. Around the chamber there came a constant flurry of demands for assistance for those struggling to keep their heads above water. Poor Mr Glen was ill equipped to deal with the onslaught. He had been given little instruction from No 10 other than that it was engaging with businesses. It was like watching a loinclothed Christian, sent into the amphitheatre to face the lions armed with nothing but a soup spoon. Theresa Villiers (Con, Chipping Barnet) demanded clarification on socialising. Stay at home or go out? Mr Glen insisted parties were on he plans to take his constituency team for lunch next Monday. Dave Doogan (SNP, Angus) informed the House he would follow the advice and proudly revealed that he would not be treating his staff to any such jolly. What a grinch. Several Tories were miffed about Professor Whitty taking matters into his own hands. Chancellor Rishi Sunak visits a Wagamama restaurant in central London during last year's Eat Out To Help Out scheme, and after meeting staff he helped serve some customers their food There was a feeling that the Chief Medical Officer had gone rogue. Steve Brine (Con, Winchester) said that by ordering us all to cut back on our festivities, the Chief Medical Officer had at a stroke changed government policy and put the country into effective lockdown. Advisers were now running the show, he said, adding sharply: I bet none of them run businesses facing complete ruin as a result of what was said last night. Also taking aim at Whitty was Steve Baker (Con, Wycombe). He suggested when officials speak particularly from podiums at press conferences they should stay within the bounds of the policy decided by ministers. Ouch. With MPs heading into Christmas recess last night, Andrew Murrison (Con, SW Wiltshire) thought Parliament should reconvene next week to continue their procrastinations. As if thats an answer to anything. Though it might be an idea for our absent Chancellor to change out of his Bermudas and get back to Westminster pronto. A former Disney World cast member is lifting the lid on what it's really like to work at the theme park, saying character actors can be fired for just speaking another language to guests. Jessica Tremmel, 32, from Florida, played Lady Tremaine Cinderella's stepmother at the resort, and while she no longer works there, she has been opening up about her experience in a series of TikTok videos. The retired dancer, who claims to suffer from body dysmorphia and post-traumatic stress disorder from her time at Disney, went viral earlier this month when she dished about the characters only being allowed to speak English. Keeping it real: Jessica Tremmel, 32, from Florida, has been opening up about her experience working as a character actor at Disney World in a series of candid TikTok videos Jessica admitted that she used to secretly speak Spanish and French to guests whose native language isn't English, despite it being a 'big no-no.' 'If I had been caught, that is a big reprimand and potentially getting fired,' she said. 'But I loved going up to tables of people who didn't speak English and surprising them with the fact that I spoke their language.' The video has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, and viewers had plenty of questions for the former Disney character actress. One person insisted that Lady Tremaine should at least speak French, considering Cinderella takes place in France, and Jessica agreed. 'It would only make sense for those characters to at least understand French,' she said in a follow-up clip. 'That being said, it's very hard to cast actors in the U.S. who speak French.' If someone spoke French to her while she was in character and she understood, she was free to respond in English, but she noted that rarely happened. Throwback: The retired dancer and actress played Cinderella's stepmother, Lady Tremaine Say what? Jessica went viral earlier this month when she dished about the company's alleged language rule. She claimed character actors at American Disney parks can only speak English 'Most people don't just speak their own native language to somebody they assume does not speak their language,' she said. 'So the French speakers wouldn't just start speaking French to me. They all assumed that I didn't speak French.' The actress explained in another video that the language rule has been put in place to preserve 'character integrity' throughout the parks. If one Lady Tremaine spoke French, they would all have to. 'I fully know what I did was against the rules, and it has to do with character integrity,' she said. 'I got to a point where I thought the benefit to the guest was greater than the risk.' Luckily, she never got caught, but she is aware that she would have a harder time getting away with today. 'Back then videotaping characters was not as much of a thing,' she explained. 'I wasn't really worried about somebody taking a video and it ending up on YouTube. So as long as there weren't any managers around, I could say whatever I wanted.' She noted that this language rule only applies to American Disney parks, which didn't make sense to her. Wild: Jessica admitted that she would secretly speak Spanish and French to guests, but she would have gotten reprimanded and possibly fired if she got caught Exception: In a follow-up video, she explained that the only character who was allowed to speak Spanish was Elena of Avalor, Disney's first Latina princess 'In Disneyland Paris, they are encouraged to speak multiple languages, and they don't get in trouble for it there,' she shared. 'I take an issue with that. If you're gonna have a rule, it needs to be across all parks.' According to Jessica, the exception to the rule is Elena of Avalor, Disney's first Latina princess. Character actors who portray her are allowed to speak Spanish, though it's no longer required. 'Elena is approved to be bilingual and speak both languages,' she shared in one clip. 'When they were first casting Elena, it was actually a requirement to be bilingual. Not as much anymore. The problem is, Elena was introduced after I worked there. 'The rules still stayed the same for the other characters though,' she added. 'So if you go meet Elena she might speak Spanish and English. But she might not. So just know that going in if you are a Spanish speaker.' It's unclear how long Jessica worked at Disney World, but her time there came to an anti-climactic end after she welcomed her first child. She said in a recent video that she lost her status as a part-time seasonal employee because she failed to clock in enough hours in character after she welcomed her first child. Jessica was working full-time at Universal's call center, and while she could have transferred to another department at Disney, she opted not to. Hard to handle: Jessica also alleged that her ongoing struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and body dysmorphia 'come directly from [her] time at Disney' Difficult: Jessica said she developed an eating disorder because 'managers and other people were constantly making comments on [her] body on a daily basis' 'I made more answering the phones at Universal than I did as a character at Disney, at least at the time,' she said. The job also negatively affected her mental health. She claimed that her ongoing struggles with PTSD and body dysmorphia 'come directly from [her] time at Disney.' Body dysmorphic disorder (BBD) is a mental health disorder in which you can't stop thinking about perceived defects or flaws in your appearance, according to the Mayo Clinic. 'I developed this eating disorder during my time at Disney when managers and other people were constantly making comments on my body on a daily basis,' she explained. 'The other diagnosed disorder that I have is post-traumatic stress disorder. This directly stems from my time as a performer where people would grab at me, come up behind me, and I wouldn't really even be aware if they were there,' she added. 'And also it stems from people, specifically men, always grabbing at me and touching me without consent and feeling like I couldn't say no to the touch. Actually, getting grabbed suddenly causes me to have terrible panic attacks now.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Walt Disney World for comment. Australia's most celebrated butcher has shared his secret to glazing the perfect Christmas ham just in time for the special holiday, alongside tips on cooking turkey, making stuffing and nailing the ultimate gravy. Adam Stratton is the owner of Tender Gourmet Butchery, a highly regarded chain of stores located in Hornsby, Bondi Junction, Warringah Mall, and Macquarie Centre. As captain of the Australian team in the world 'Butchery Olympics' the 49-year-old certainly knows a thing or two about slicing and dicing the most popular meats to eat over the festive season. 'For the ham firstly peel the skin back from the fat before lightly scoring it,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Adam Stratton is the owner of Tender Gourmet Butchery , a highly regarded chain of stores located in Hornsby, Bondi Junction, Warringah Mall, and Macquarie Centre 'For the ham firstly peel the skin back from the fat before lightly scoring it,' he told Daily Mail Australia 'Coat it with your choice of marmalade - my favorite is the Hanks Marmalade. Cook at 180 degrees for one and a half to two hours to serve hot or alternatively cook at 180 degrees for 25-30 minutes to serve cold.' After Christmas the delicious leftovers can be turned into pea and ham soup with the hock or a simple, and delicious, ham and cheese toastie. If you'll be cooking turkey this year Adam suggests starting with two knobs of butter under the skin on top of the breast before stuffing it. Adam's favourite stuffing is one kilo of good quality pork sausage mince, fresh sage, dehydrated onion, breadcrumbs, finely diced bacon, finely diced red capsicum, finely sliced Granny Smith apple and salt and pepper to season. Now if it's pork you're looking to make for lunch the focus will need to be on making the crackling sing Use a paper towel to dry the pork before using a high quality olive oil to cover the pork 'The next step is to pull out the neck of the turkey and place it into another dish to use for the gravy,' he said. 'One of my top tips is to place your turkey upside down in your baking dish, as this ensures the breasts stay nice and moist without being overcooked and dry. 'Lastly I pour a carton of good quality chicken stock in the dish to poach the turkey while it cooks, again keeping it nice and moist. Loosely cover with foil.' Standard turkeys around a size 40 will cook for 3.5 hours at 180 degrees. Every so often pull out the dish and brush the turkey with a blend of butter and maple syrup - that will give you a delicious glaze on the outside. Now if it's pork you're looking to make for lunch the focus will need to be on making the crackling sing. If you'll be cooking turkey this year Adam suggests starting with two knobs of butter under the skin on top of the breast of the turkey before stuffing it How do you make a good quality gravy? A good quality bone broth, a turkey neck and the sediments from the bottom of the roasting pan with the juice from the roast. Flour to thicken. Keep it simple and use the flavors of the meat. Advertisement 'Boil your kettle and pour the water over the rind. This will open the rind up where it's been scored by the butcher,' Adam suggested. 'Use a paper towel to dry the pork before using a high quality olive oil to cover the pork. Rub a generous amount of sea salt into the groves - don't be stingy. 'Pop the pork into a baking dish with a little extra olive oil and cook for 20-30 minutes at 225 degrees. Bring your oven down to 180 degrees and cook for another 1.5 hours. Serve with apple sauce.' Cooked chicken, pork, lamb or beef can be stored in the fridge for three days after Christmas before it will need to be thrown away. To keep ham fresh pour two to three cups of water and one tablespoon of vinegar into a bowl and soak your ham bag. Place the ham inside and store in the fridge for up to three weeks. Repeat the soaking process every few days,' he said. Three best friends have made $1.5million in just over a year selling a natural lengthening treatment that promises fuller and longer eyelashes in weeks. Lauren Rugolo, Jessica Arthur, both 26, and Emma Spiliopoulos, 27, began researching lash serums and formulations in May 2020 before launching Lash Therapy four months later. 'We knew we had found a gap in the market and were quick to begin the process of trailing out different formulas. We knew we had to act fast to take advantage of a demand lockdown had created for stronger, longer natural eyelashes,' Lauren told Daily Mail Australia. Lauren Rugolo, Jessica Arthur, both 26, and Emma Spiliopoulos, 27, began researching lash serums and formulations in May 2020 before launching Lash Therapy four months later It was the onset of Covid when beauty salons closed and lash extensions became impossible to keep up that the ladies wanted something to rejuvenate their brittle, natural lashes It was the onset of Covid when beauty salons closed and lash extensions became impossible to keep up that the ladies wanted something to rejuvenate their brittle, natural lashes. 'We all had a passion for creating a life where we worked for ourselves. The idea of starting a business had been discussed between us for years however we never had the right idea, time, and drive to jump in. Covid provided a solution to all these problems,' she said. With a $12,000 investment in the original prototype the company prides itself on delivering premium natural beauty products with proven scientific benefits. With a $12,000 investment in the original prototype the company prides itself on delivering premium natural beauty products with proven scientific benefits The $79.95 lash serum is formulated with advanced polypeptides to increase the volume, thickness, length, and curl of your lashes and one bottle lasts a staggering six months. 'Throughout our lives we faced the common struggle of ineffective, overpriced, harsh chemically enhanced beauty products,' Lauren said. 'We set out to create a range of products that we were assured would provide results without any risk of irritation or damage to our health.' It's recommended the serum be applied every day with results visible within six weeks, and best results at the 12 week mark. 'Okay I am lured by products and have been seduced by over the top advertising. I am 60+ and seriously tired of seeing 20-year-old's banging on about the worthiness of certain beauty products. But this lash serum actually works,' one customer wrote. 'Throughout our lives we faced the common struggle of ineffective, overpriced, harsh chemically enhanced beauty products,' Lauren said Alongside the lash serum the business also sells a treatment specifically targeted for your brows, mascara, an eyelash curler and eyelash wand - with plans to expand next year 'I am confused by the truth of the matter and how and why it works but it does and I love it.' 'Lash Therapy Australia's eyelash serum is amazing. I have seen results in about two months of using the product! Definitely recommend,' said another. A third added: 'This lash serum is very easy to apply, I didn't see a difference until after about three weeks of using this product at night only. I will definitely be purchasing again as my lashes are growing, given I already have long lashes to start off with'. Alongside the lash serum the business also sells a treatment specifically targeted for your brows, mascara, an eyelash curler and eyelash wand - with plans to expand next year. 'We have made over $1.5million in sales, with $1 million in the last four months alone,' she said. 'We have sold over 25,000 units in the last four months. 'We have thousands of satisfied customers who share their results to Instagram, Tiktok and our website which has helped grow our brand and build trust.' A solo traveller who moved to Bali has been left devastated at the state of the beaches ridden with kilometres of rubbish that washed up after a storm. Emily, believed to be from the US, wanted to explore the stunning coastline the Indonesian travel destination has to offer, but witnessed the exact opposite of the beauty she expected. The sand was covered in plastic and used products from the ocean and nearby restaurants. Emily filmed what she saw in a now-viral TikTok video which has been viewed more than 200,000 times in four days. Bali was once a go-to travel location for many Australians but has been badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Scroll down for video Emily, believed to be from the US, wanted to explore Bali's beaches but was shocked at the kilometres of rubbish that washed up on shore after a storm 'I walked to the beach in Bali this morning and this is what I found,' Emily wrote in the video. 'Recent heavy rain has caused trash to wash on shore. As far as I could see trash covered the beaches - it was so devastating to see.' The rubbish appeared to be used cups, old thongs, soft drink cans, fast-food containers and plastic bags. TikTok users commenting on the images said the 'didn't want to think' about the huge amounts of plastic floating in the ocean. 'We as a species are our worst own enemies,' one person wrote. 'We are the Earth's cancer,' another added. A third wrote: 'Wow! Awful! The ocean threw it back to us. We need to do better.' 'This is so heartbreaking and so preventable,' said another. The following day community volunteers and the team from Sungai Watch helped clear the beach. Emily (pictured) moved to Bali to start a new life and documented what she saw in a now-viral TikTok video Only a few dozen foreign tourists have visited Bali this year, a far cry from before the pandemic when the island was usually teeming with tens of thousands. Once its streets were flooded with visitors packed shoulder to shoulder, but now bars and shops sit empty after tourism dried up during Covid travel bans. In the first nine months of 2021 just 43 foreign tourists in total visited Bali compared to 6.3 million in the same period of 2019. The island's villages are now ghost towns and local businesses are struggling to stay afloat with the prospect international travel might not rebound for years. Bali grew increasingly popular for tourists the world over in between 2000 and 2019 with a record 6.3million foreigners visiting in 2019 (pictured: Lempuyang Temple in Bali) In the past decade Bali had became one of the top tourists destinations in the world, not just for Australians but Europeans, North and South Americans, and other Asian countries. New scooter hire businesses, pubs, and eateries sprouted up along the tourist strips as more and more locals began relying on foreign business. More than 75,000 hotel rooms were constructed along its beaches to cope with demand as visitor numbers grew to record levels in 2019. The same year, TripAdvisor rated the island the top destination in Asia and fourth in the world. Stores in Kuta (pictured) once bustling with foreign tourists snapping up cheap clothes and souvenirs now sit empty Then the arrival of coronavirus in early 2020 abruptly cut off international travel. The island eventually opened up to tourists again in mid-October but required travellers to quarantine at their own expense for five days, which was later dropped to three. Bali allowed certain exemptions to the travel rules - such as for diplomats or medical workers. A holiday maker walks on Kuta beach in Bali in 2019 (pictured) Now just as Bali and other countries such as Australia and the US begin easing border rules, the emergence of the Omicron strain threatens to ground flights once again. Experts forecast new variants could be an ongoing issue for years. A veterinarian has shared the festive foods you shouldn't feed your pet if you want to avoid a trip to the vet this Christmas - including garlic, onion, raisins and even some meats. Sydney Animal Hospitals Regional Clinical Director, Dr Tim Montgomery, said with numbers of vets at an all time low and new family pets at an all time high vets clinics are already strained. The animal doctor said the most common pet emergencies over the festive period are caused by grapes, raisins and sultanas from Christmas cakes and puddings. Owner should make sure your their pets steer clear of foods such as such as garlic, onions, chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and fatty meats as well as tea and coffee 'Most people know about the obvious things not to feed your pets like chocolate but what most people underestimate or don't know about is the sultanas and raisins found in Christmas puddings can cause very serious illness in some dogs,' he told FEMAIL. Dr Montgomery has revealed what to keep your pet's paws away from during your festive celebrations. Ham, sausages and fatty meat offcuts The fatty offcuts from your Christmas turkey as well as ham and sausages contain high amounts of fat that your cat or dog may not be able to stomach all in one go. 'Any foods that are very high in fat can cause stomach upsets and in severe cases pancreatitis,' Dr Montgomery said. While some meat won't do a lot of harm to your pet, Dr Montgomery said to be careful of the fatty foods like ham, sausages, meat offcuts and even vegetables that have been covered in olive oil. He also said not to feed your pet meat on bones as there is a risk of the bones getting lodged in their throat or causing obstructions. The fatty offcuts from your Christmas turkey as well as ham and sausages contain high amounts of fat that your cat or dog may not be able to stomach all in one go Grapes, sultanas and raisins This means no Christmas pudding or mince pies for your furry friends. Dr Montgomery said the skin on grapes, raisins and sultanas is extremely harmful for dogs so be very careful not to feed your pets anything with the fruit. 'We don't fully understand it and it's not a certainty that all animal that eat grapes get sick but the ones that do can die so it's important to take it seriously,' he said. 'You may not notice signs of intoxication until days later when it's already too late,' he said. If you suspect your dog has eaten raisins or grapes take them to your closest vet immediately. Grapes, sultanas and raisins found in many Christmas cakes and puddings are extremely toxic to pets and in severe cases can cause death Macadamia nuts 'This is another one that a lot of people don't know about but they can cause very serious illness as well,' Dr Montgomery said. While macadamias are an Aussie Christmas favourite, they can be highly poisonous to dogs causing a range of symptoms like vomiting, an inability to walk, weakness or, in extreme cases, paralysis. Garlic and onions are used in many Christmas dinner foods but they contain chemicals that are toxic to cats and dogs Garlic and onions Garlic and onions are used in many Christmas dinner foods but they contain chemicals that are toxic to cats and dogs. Dr Montgomery says in fact, it's best to keep all foods in the allium vegetable family away from your furry friends as they cause damage to red blood cells which can lead to anaemia. Other items Dr Montgomery says can land you pet at the vet this Christmas Lilies are extreme dangerous for cats when ingested and can cause kidney failure Lilies: if you plan to get a loved one some flowers this Christmas period steer well clear of lilies for anyone that owns a cat because they can cause kidney failure. Any part of the plant is toxic to cats, especially the pollen, even if they get a small amount on their body Kebab sticks: If you're barbecuing up some chicken skewers or kebabs, be sure to put the sticks in the outside bins when you're done because dogs will sniff them out and eat them as they're covered in meat remnants Corn cobs: Put your corn cobs in the outside bins as well as they're an extremely common source of intestinal obstructions. Advertisement Chocolate Most dog owners know not to give their dogs chocolate treats but Dr Montgomery said it is one of the most common intoxications around Christmas. 'Be very mindful of the wrapped chocolates under the tree because your dog's nose is clever enough to sniff them out,' he said. Owners need to be extra vigilant and be sure to put their chocolate treats well out of your dog's reach. Dr Montgomery said chocolate is also harmful for cats but they are rarely brought into emergency for eating it. 'Cats are less commonly affected because they're sweet blind meaning they can't taste sweet flavours so they're not tempted,' he said. Most dog owners know not to give their dogs chocolate treats but Dr Montgomery said it is one of the most common intoxications around Christmas so owners need to be sure to keep chocolate stored in places where their pet can't sniff them out. Coffee and tea 'Coffee beans are in the same family as chocolate so it is just as harmful for dogs,' Dr Montgomery said. The vet said to be aware of your pet getting into any dessert like tiramisu that contain coffee beans and to be careful of leaving coffee, tea or anything that contains caffeine unattended for your pet to sniff out. A woman whose care home abuse was revealed when someone read her teenage diary has been awarded 100,000 in compensation, five years after the man who attacked her was sent to prison. Holly Hamilton from Falkirk, was preyed upon by carer Gordon Collins who swooped on the then 15-year-old when she was living under his watch at a council-run children's unit. Holly, who is now 31 and has waived her right to anonymity, revealed he abused her in the gym, on an inflatable slide and even told her he wanted to leave his wife for her, despite the fact he was 35 years her senior. But opportunities to catch him failed at the time, and it took another ten years before the paedophile was jailed after it was revealed that he had also attacked another three teen girls. Holly Hamilton, who was a victim of sexual abuse aged 15 now suffers from Complex Post Traumatic Stress, chronic insomnia, agoraphobia and flashbacks Holly was first sent to Northfield when she was around 14 after her parents split up but ended up in St Katharine's, a secure unit, after her behaviour deteriorated. Pictured: aged 15 Holly has now finally received a payout for the abuse and says the sum makes a mockery of the debilitating effect the paedophile has had on her life. She said: 'I lost my fiance. I lost my house. I lost my job. I lost pretty much everything because of what Gordon Collins did to me.' 'I have Complex Post Traumatic Stress. I have chronic insomnia. I haven't had a normal night's sleep in five years.' 'I get flashbacks on a daily basis and at my worst I hallucinate that I see him.' Collins is serving 10 years in prison for abusing four children, including Holly, between 1995 and 2006 at two residential children's homes run by the City of Edinburgh Council - St Katharine's and Northfield Young Persons Unit 'I have severe agoraphobia. If someone walks near me and looks remotely like him, their face morphs into his.' 'And what's worse is If they'd have listened to me in the first place I'd have got my life back on track by now.' Collins is serving 10 years in prison for abusing four children, including Holly, between 1995 and 2006 at two residential children's homes run by the City of Edinburgh Council - St Katharine's and Northfield Young Persons Unit. Holly was first sent to Northfield when she was around 14 after her parents split up but ended up in St Katharine's, a secure unit, after her behaviour deteriorated. Holly spent two years self harming after admitting the abuse to her care staff and even carved Gordon's initials into her thigh because she felt staff at the unit didn't believe her. Holly pictured now Holly shared a room with two other girls and while she was out they found and read her diary, which detailed her abuse at the hands of Collins. Pictured aged 14 She initially met Collins in Northfield, where he was a carer, and said he was well liked by the children as he would spend time playing pool with them and dishing out sweets. When she was moved to St Katharine's he followed, working as a carer there too. But before long, Holly said he began to make excuses to spend time with her, always answering when she rang the buzzer in her room and escorting her to the gym. Gordon Collins, who abused Holly Hamilton in a care home. He was jailed for six years in June 2016 after being found guilty of indecency offences against four underage girls and the rape of one of them 'I was young. I was naive. I was in this children's home and he gave me attention,' Holly remembers.' 'At the start I thought it was a relationship. He'd bring me in sweets and he would just spend time with me.' 'At the time I wanted someone to treat me as a grown up and not a silly little girl.' He then began to do unprofessional things, like cuddle Holly and then began kissing her on the cheek, before moving to the lips. 'It then went to the neck, biting me on the neck, groping and then him telling me how much he loved me,' Holly said. 'It was in my room, in the education corridor, in the gym.' 'A few months in I said 'Look this needs to stop, this doesn't feel right' and he backed me up against a wall and said 'You know I love you, you know my wife doesn't give me any attention, I'm not happy with her, I want to be with you.' 'He never mentioned my age.' After two months the sexual assaults became more serious, with Collins putting his hands up her top and down her knickers. Holly sought the advice of a solicitor in August 2017 and it took four years to secure a 100,000 payout from the City of Edinburgh Council. Pictured: Holly now 'That's when I started getting really fearful and anxious. I thought 'this shouldn't be happening.' Holly said. During one incident, staff had set up an inflatable slide in the centre's gym hall and Collins groped Holly as they went down it together - with him even growling sexually at her when they hit the bottom. In July 2006, a month before she turned 16, Holly and a group from the centre went on an activity trip. She shared a room with two other girls and while she was out they found and read her diary, which detailed her abuse at the hands of Collins. Staff were informed and Holly was interviewed, although she admitted she 'didn't really want to speak to them because I thought I'd done something wrong and I didn't want to get him into trouble.' 'It didn't occur to me that I was 15 and he was 50.' Police were informed and took Holly's diary but later said there was insufficient evidence and Collins resigned. Holly spent the next two years self harming and even carved Gordon's initials into her thigh because she felt staff at the unit didn't believe her. She cut her wrists and wrote 'Nobody believes me' on the walls in her blood. Tragically she became addicted to heroin at 17, but managed to get clean a year later and hasn't touched alcohol or drugs since. She got a job and moved to Lanarkshire where she met her fiance. But in 2014, on her 24th birthday, police approached her about the historic abuse. 'They said they had my diary pages that they'd got from ten years ago. I'd never seen it since I was 15 years old, and that formed a major part of their investigation,' Holly said. It transpired Collins had also abused other teens in his care. He was jailed for six years in June 2016 after being found guilty of indecency offences against four underage girls and the rape of one of them. That sentence was upped to ten years when he later appealed. The court noted that nothing had come of an investigation into his conduct in 1997 and it was only when Holly's diary was found that he was suspended. Advocate depute Jane Farquharson told Edinburgh High Court: 'Rather than care and protect, he has sought to exploit these children.' St Katharine's is one of eight local authority establishments under investigation by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. Holly sought the advice of a solicitor in August 2017 and it took four years to secure a 100,000 payout from the City of Edinburgh Council. She now says the worst thing about the case is the 'cover up culture' within councils. 'In some ways it's worse than the abuse,' she said. 'The amount of failings they noted was ridiculous. There were so many failings - that management were unwilling to believe accusations from young girls because they put it down to trouble making and rumours.' 'I'm not saying I'm doing this because I want 1m, that's not the case, but I wanted to just not worry about having to rush to get mentally better and having to go out to work.' 'I can actually spend time working with my therapist and healing and not having any stress.' Holly's solicitor, Karyn McPhee of Slater & Gordon, said: 'I was pleased that the legal team working on Holly's behalf secured a settlement for her shortly before her case was due to proceed to a hearing in the Court of Session. 'Holly was very stoic throughout the litigation process and was admired by all of us that worked with her.' A spokesman for Edinburgh City Council said: 'The Council does not comment on individual legal matters.' Detective Inspector Keith Fairbairn from Police Scotland's Public Protection Unit based in Edinburgh, said: 'A report of sexual assault in 2006 was fully investigated by Lothian and Borders Police, and, at that time, the suspect was detained and interviewed. He was released without charge.' 'Further investigation in 2014 by Police Scotland linked this to a report of non-recent sexual abuse made in 2011, relating to offences committed between 1995 and 1997.' 'This provided corroboration under the Moorov doctrine.' 'Further proactive investigation identified two more complainants. Taken together these reports led to the trial and conviction of Gordon Collins in 2016.' 'Police Scotland will always respond to reports of child abuse and exploitation.' 'We understand how difficult it can be to report such offences but be reassured we will listen and we will investigate.' 'If you or anyone you know has been a victim of child abuse, please contact us on 101, or 999 in an emergency.' Kate Middleton is becoming 'more impressive' as time goes on, a source has claimed, describing her delivery of royal duties as 'focused and professional. The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, who will become Queen consort when Prince William ascends the throne, has become noticably more comfortable with her role in the public eye, having had a decade to adjust. Kate shares Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3, with Prince William, 39, and is said to 'run things' at home - with the help of their nanny Maria Turrion Borrallo. Scroll down for video Kate Middleton (seen hosting a Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey this month) is becoming 'more impressive' as time goes on, a source has claimed, describing her delivery of royal duties as 'focused and professional The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall last month Revealing that Kate likes to keep an 'ordinary life', a source close to the royal household told People: 'Kate is 'more and more impressive as time goes on. She is a focused and professional woman.' The insider also said that the couple like to enjoy down time when the children are in bed. 'William will bring Kate a gin-and-tonic. They look after each other, but in different ways,' they added. The Duchess of Cambridge meets members of the Scouts at Cop26 in November Kate shares Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3, with Prince William, 39, (seen last Christmas) and is said to 'run things' at home - with the help of their nanny Maria Turrion Borrallo This week royal expert Dickie Arbiter explained how Kate's Christmas carol service at Westminster showed the younger royals were stepping up, telling FEMAIL: 'Its the third generation taking the lead were living in a time, the Cambridges are the bridge within the monarchy.' Dickie explained: 'The carol service was Kate's idea - but it's one way for other members of the royal family, who have all been involved in one way or another on the Covid front, to come together and say thankyou. 'Whether through their own charities, individuals, Zoom calls with nurses or health workers etc, this was a way of the family coming together to say thanks. 'It was very much the Duchess of Cambridges initiative, who works very closely together with the Duke. Dickie Arbiter told FEMAIL the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are 'acting like a bridge' to help younger generations connect to the Queen 'It was almost a joint project with the Duchess taking the lead. 'The royal family were at the forefront of thanking people who have done exceptional work in the community. 'Were living in a society where a lot relies on volunteers and during Covid- one thing the royal family can do is bring people together to say thankyou.' The royal expert continued to explain that the significance of the work from the Cambridges for the future of the monarchy. He said: 'Young people know who the queen is but they cant quite attune with someone so distant in terms of the age gap. 'When you have people like the Cambridges, they act as a bridge between the young people and older generation.' The Queen has cancelled her annual Royal Family Christmas lunch on Tuesday 'with regret' as a 'precaution' to try to save her loved ones festive plans, amid fears over the Omicron Covid variant. The 95-year-old monarch was planning to welcome 50 or so relatives, including Prince Charles and Camilla, to an event at Windsor Castle next week. One day after the festive party, the Queen was due to travel by helicopter to Sandringham in Norfolk, where she is set to spend Christmas itself. However it has now emerged the Queen 'with regret' has cancelled her family lunch as a 'precautionary' measure, feeling that too many people's Christmas arrangements were at risk if it went ahead. Royal sources said 'there is a belief that it is the right thing to do for all concerned.' It marks the second year the Queen has cancelled the event, usually held at Buckingham Palace. Last year she called off the lunch when tougher restrictions were brought in amid the surge of the Delta Covid strain. It comes as millions of Britons axed their festive plans so they can see family on Christmas Day after Boris Johnson and Chris Whitty triggered a 'tsunamis of cancellations' for pubs and restaurants by urging the country only to socialise if necessary - and not in large groups or with strangers. The Queen has cancelled her annual Royal Family Christmas lunch on Tuesday amid fears over the Omicron Covid variant Ahead of the announcement, royal expert Camilla Tominey appeared on This Morning today, and told viewers the monarch was considering leaving it 'up to guests' over whether they attend. She said: 'We thought the Queen was going to have a Christmas party for the extended family in Windsor on Tuesday, we think that's still going ahead. 'Then she's going to go to Sandringham for the traditional celebrations in Norfolk.' 'But apparently now they're wavering, like we all are. Maybe it's going to be about the guests and if people don't feel comfortable coming, that makes the decision for you.' The 95-year-old monarch was planning to welcome 50 or so relatives, including Prince Charles and Camilla, to an event at Windsor Castle next week An officer of the Saudi Arabia Navy takes a selfie with the Prince of Wales, Admiral of the Fleet, as he presides over the Lord High Admiral's Divisions at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth today This year's event would have seen the family brought together in the largest reunion since the Duke of Edinburgh's death in April. While three of her four new grandchildren - August, Lucas and Siena - had been expected to attend the lunch, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and their son Archie and newborn Lilibet, also born this year, will remain in the US. Meanwhile the Royal Family had been planning to join the Queen at Sandringham on Christmas Eve and gather on December 25, as is tradition, before visiting St Mary Magdalene Church. It is currently unknown if this will go ahead. The Queen is currently residing in Windsor Castle, where she remains on 'light duties' following multiple health scares in recent weeks. Royal expert Camilla explained that guests of the Queen's lunch could decide if they feel 'comfortable' themselves attending The annual Christmas lunch was due to be held at Windsor Castle (pictured) this year, instead of the usual Buckingham Palace 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. The Queen is currently residing in Windsor Castle, where she remains on 'light duties' following multiple health scares in recent weeks (pictured earlier this week) 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. It comes as many people across the country started voluntarily self-isolating in a bid to avoid having to isolate on December 25 if they test positive for Covid. Prof Whitty said that a rise in Omicron hospitalisations is 'nailed on' after cases hit a record high yesterday, telling a televised No 10 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, de-prioritising ones that matter much less to them.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London And after weeks of refusing to admit Christmas plans could be under threat, Mr Johnson told the country to cut back on Christmas partying and 'think carefully' before going out during the festive season The Independent SAGE group of scientists and medics has called for an immediate 10-day 'circuit-breaker' shutdown, with bans on households mixing and the closure of hospitality firms. They accused the Prime Minister of 'delaying' from imposing tighter controls and said the time for 'emergency action' had now come. And doubling down on the Prime Minister's inference that people must be cut back on socialising to avoid catching Covid over Christmas week, Health Minister Gillian Keegan said: 'Everybody is urging caution. Most of us will know somebody now who's positive with Covid, and that means if you've tested positive, then you'll be in isolation over Christmas. So that's bound to make people a bit more cautious.' She added: 'Make a sensible choice for yourself, make a sensible choice. You know, if you're going to go to a party, take a test. If there's lots of people there you don't know, if that's your priority, fine. If your priority is to make it through to Christmas Day with your family then take a different approach'. But then adding to the confusion she later told LBC that Christmas parties can go ahead but people should test beforehand and sit 'spaced apart'. Prince Charles, centre, accompanied by Captain Roger Readwin, right, Commander of the BRNC, and the Parade Commander, Commander Will Peters, left The Prince of Wales addressed the officers before congratulating Sub Lieutenant Thomas Handley, right, who won the Officers Association Prize Winner Charles attended the Parade Ground with Captain Roger Readwin, Commander of the BRNC, and the Parade Commander, Commander Will Peters, for the Lord High Admiral's passing out Parade The Prince of Wales seemed in good spirits, in spite of the news his mother had to cancel her pre-Christmas lunch for the second time in a row this year The future King looked relaxed and in good spirits as he met with members of the Saudi Arabia Navy today At last night's Downing Street press conference, England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Prime Minister Boris Johnson stoked fears further by encouraging people to scale back their Christmas plans. Prof Whitty even rubbished a major real-world study from South Africa which suggested that the variant was milder, and insisted Omicron 'is going to be a problem'. Government scientists have been 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. More than 78,000 people tested positive for Covid yesterday a 50 per cent jump on last week, and eclipsing the previous record of 68,053 in January. A mother has revealed how her 'hero' dog saved her baby's life by breaking into her nursery when the pet realized that she had stopped breathing. Kelly Andrew, an author from Boston, explained that her young daughter wasn't feeling well, and their Boston Terrier, Henry, was very concerned. He kept pushing the nursery's door open with his head so that he could check on the little girl - and his move ultimately saved her life. The writer said she began to get 'fed up' with Henry's antics, since the baby was trying to sleep and he kept waking her up. But Henry could tell something was wrong and he kept persisting. At one point, when she went to get Henry out of the room, she noticed that the baby had stopped breathing - and was turning 'blue.' She and her husband, Jeff, rushed her to the hospital, where doctors were thankfully able to clear out the baby's airways. 'Last night the dog kept breaking into the nursery and waking the baby. Shes been sick, and I was getting so fed up with him,' the mom-of-two explained on Twitter. 'Until she stopped breathing. We spent the night in the hospital. I dont know what would have happened if he hadnt woken her. We dont deserve dogs.' A mother has revealed how her 'hero' dog saved her baby's life by breaking into her nursery when the pet realized that she had stopped breathing Kelly Andrew, an author from Boston, explained that her young daughter wasn't feeling well, and their Boston Terrier, Henry, was very concerned He kept pushing the nursery's door open with his head so that he could check on the little girl - and his move ultimately saved her life At one point, when she went to get Henry out of the room, she noticed that the baby had stopped breathing - and was turning 'blue' The writer said she began to get 'fed up' with Henry's antics, since the baby was trying to sleep and he kept waking her up. But Henry could tell something was wrong and he kept persisting She and her husband, Jeff, rushed her to the hospital, where doctors were thankfully able to clear out the baby's airways Breaking down dogs' amazing sense of smell According to Phoenix Vet Center, dogs have 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses - compared to about six million in human noses The part of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times greater than ours Dogs sniff out certain diseases and can sense changes in the body, which is why they are often used as service dogs for those with medical conditions and disabilities They can sense shifts in hormones, breathing patterns, heart rate, and behavior, and volatile organic compounds released by diseased cells can also be detected by a dogs' nose Advertisement Kelly's moving story quickly went viral, gaining more than 27,000 retweets and 230,000 likes since it was posted earlier this week. She also opened up about it during an interview with Good Morning America, explaining, 'He was head-butting the door open and going into her room and standing there. Every time I shoo'd him away he would go back in.' Kelly explained that she thought her baby had a head cold, but suddenly, it got much worse. 'She wasn't clearing her airway. She turned blue and had gone rigid. She couldn't get air, she couldn't get any oxygen,' she continued. In an update hours later, Kelly revealed that they were home from the hospital and that the baby was doing 'much better.' She wrote: 'Thanks for all the well wishes, everyone. The baby is doing much better today and we are home with Henry, who bravely held the fort all night even though he is scared of the dark.' She also said that since the terrifying incident, she has treated Henry like the 'king of the castle,' which is 'no different than any other day.' Her husband also told GMA that the pup definitely had a 'steak' coming in his near future. People quickly started to reply to her post and share stories of their own dogs being heroes. One person wrote, 'That's so scary! I'm glad your baby is on the mend. One time hubs was out of town, and our dog jumped on my chest and barked in my face until I woke up. 'The house was full of smoke - Id left the fireplace on and the stockings were smoldering. Our dog saved our daughter and me.' Hero dog to the rescue! This Boston Terrier helped save a baby's life. https://t.co/g4oq7ivbNi pic.twitter.com/p1aF7HImZU Good Morning America (@GMA) December 16, 2021 In an update hours later, Kelly revealed that they were home from the hospital and that the baby was doing 'much better' Kelly's moving story quickly went viral, gaining more than 27,000 retweets and 230,000 likes since it was posted earlier this week. She also opened up about it on Good Morning America She said that since the terrifying incident, she has treated Henry like the 'king of the castle,' which is 'no different than any other day' Her husband, Jeff, also told GMA that the pup definitely had a 'steak' coming in his near future 'When we were little, my brother climbed out of his crib, down the hall, and out the front door,' another shared. 'My dog woke my parents up and they found him in the driveway. Dogs are amazing.' 'Animals are amazing. When I was a kid I was sliding towards a barbed wire fence and my dog pulled me off the sled before it went through,' a third tweet read. Someone else said: 'My neighbors dog saved her life. She fell, hit her head pretty bad and fainted. 'He started barking nonstop and the other neighbors thought it was very weird, because he was a very quiet dog. They broke down the door and found him next to her on the floor.' 'We couldn't figure out for the longest time why my service dog kept going in to my parents room several times a night sniffing my dad's face and nudging him repeatedly,' another user replied. 'They always pushed her away and she would still circle back. She stopped as soon as he got his pacemaker.' According to Phoenix Vet Center, dogs have 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses (compared to about six million in human noses), and the part of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times greater than ours. The outlet reported that dogs can sniff out a single drop of liquid in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. People quickly started to reply to her post and share stories of their own dogs being heroes Dogs' heightened sense of smell is often used for finding decomposed matter, tracking, and sniffing out drugs and bombs in the police force. The animals can also sniff out certain diseases and can sense changes in the body, which is why they are often used as service dogs for those with medical conditions and disabilities. They can sense shifts in hormones, breathing patterns, heart rate, and behavior. 'Dogs' sense of smell is so subtle that they can notice the slightest change in human scent caused by disease,' Understanding Animal Research wrote. 'The tiniest shifts in hormones or volatile organic compounds released by diseased cells can be picked out by dogs. 'Consequently, dogs have been trained to sniff out the markers of disease that might even go unnoticed with medical tests.' According to CNN, dogs form bonds with their family members - and even feel empathy towards them - which in turn, makes them want to help us in times of need. 'When babies look into their parents eyes, a hormone is released in both the baby and the parent,' Dr. Brian Hare, founder of the Duke University Canine Cognition Center, told them. 'The hormone, called oxytocin, can make us feel good. It creates this oxytocin loop that encourages us to protect and care for our babies.' And the same thing happens when a human and their pet dog meets eyes. He continued: 'Dogs have basically hijacked this pathway that was meant to be between us and our kids. 'So when your dog is just staring at you for no apparent reason, they dont necessarily want anything. They are just hugging you with their eyes.' Rod Liddle has revealed a university student who heckled him and called him 'disgusting' after he gave a speech at Durham University was 'left speechless' when the controversial columnist tried to engage him in debate. Liddle, 61, who is associate editor of The Spectator magazine, faced backlash last week after student groups, ranging from Durham's Working Class Students' Association to the Intersectional Feminism Society issued statements claiming members had been 'insulted,' 'violated' and 'humiliated' by having to listen to Liddle's 'transphobia and racism' after he was invited to speak to students. Writing in a piece for the Spectator today, Liddle wrote: 'My abiding memory of this fairly appalling year is of the face of the young student at Durham University who shouted "Disgusting!" at me as I left the main college building'. The writer explained that he went back into the building to ask him what was disgusting about him in 'an affable manner', to which the student replied: 'Your views' the the heckler described as 'hate speech'. Liddle, 61, who is associate editor of The Spectator magazine, faced backlash last week after student groups, ranging from Durham's Working Class Students' Association to the Intersectional Feminism Society issued statements claiming members had been 'insulted,' 'violated' and 'humiliated' by having to listen to Liddle's 'transphobia and racism' after he was invited to speak to students. Liddle - who in 2014 he was censured by the Independent Press Standards Organisation for making a crude joke about a blind transgender parliamentary candidate - said that he told the student he wants trans people to be able to enjoy lives without fear or discrimination, but he 'doesn't believe a man who transitions into a woman is actually a woman'. Liddle claims he then told the student: 'We have a difference of opinion. And we can talk about it as we are now, amenably. But my opinion is scarcely one of hatred, is it? It is hardly disgusting?' 'To this he had no answer. His face was a mask of confusion. He was confused not by my terfist position on transgenderism, which he must have heard many times before, but by the fact that he was debating, reasonably, with somebody who was the fount of all known evil. It simply did not compute. 'He began to withdraw from the discussion, still looking perplexed. Nearby, one of his allies, a female student, screamed: 'You think all Muslims are savages!' At which point I left. It had been like talking to someone from a cult,' he wrote. Students staged a protest at Durham calling for what they deem a 'safer, more inclusive' campus after Liddle's speech Liddle has previously apologised for using the phrase 'black savages' in an article - and has also written posts for the Spectator titled: 'a quick update on what the Muslim savages are up to'. In the speech given last week he discussed trans rights and race, adding: 'It is fairly easily proven that colonialism is not remotely the major cause of Africa's problems, just as it is very easy to prove that the educational underachievement of British people of Caribbean descent or African Americans is nothing to do with institutional or structural racism'. The speech caused Durham students to write an open letter from students claiming to be 'distressed' and 'emotional' due to Liddle's remarks garnered more than 1,000 online signatures. It cited several undergraduates. 'Durham is not a safe space for LGBT individuals such as myself,' said one. 'If there is no apology or repercussions, I cannot see myself remaining here.' Around 200 students gathered at Durham University to protest about the row that blew up following a speech by writer Rod Liddle at an end of year event Professor Tim Luckhurst, principal of South College, has been barred from duties after inviting Liddle, associate editor of The Spectator, to give a speech. But students say they want him to resign if he does not apologise for 'platforming a bigot' without warning them. They plan to withhold annual fees of 8,000 in college accommodation after claiming Liddle is 'racist and transphobic', which he denies. Protest leader Sean Hannigan, 22, said: 'The only way that the university will listen is if it hits them financially.' The Queen has cancelled her annual pre-Christmas lunch for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Prince Charles was still in good spirits today despite the ongoing uncertainty over royal festive plans. The Prince of Wales put on an animated display as he met with officers of the Britannia Royal Naval College, even gamely stopping to take a selfie with one of them. The heir to the throne, 73 who is Admiral of the Fleet, presided over the Lord High Admiral's Divisions at the College in Dartmouth today, and attended the passing out parade. He wore naval uniform for the occasion and delivered a speech to the attending officers. The Prince of Wales also presented deserving officers who stood out with special merit this year with the Queen's Sword. An officer of the Saudi Arabia Navy takes a selfie with the Prince of Wales, 73, Admiral of the Fleet, as he presides over the Lord High Admiral's Divisions at Britannia Royal Naval College, in Dartmouth today Charles was welcomed at the event by Captain Roger Readwin, Commander of the BRNC, and the Parade Commander, Commander Will Peters. After his arrival, he was led to the Parade ground, before reviewing the officers and delivering his address. He specially honoured the students who were top of their class this year. As part of the ceremony, he presented the Queen's sword to Sub Lieutenant Thomas Handley, who won the Officers Association Prize. The heir to the throne saluted the officers as he arrived today ahead of the parade at the College, pictured The Prince of Wales saluted the officers. He looked poised and solemn during the official event, but later let his hair down while chatting with the officers The Prince of Wales, who is Admiral of the Fleet, reviewed the officers in attendance with an affable smile Charles, who actively served in the Navy and the Royal Air Force from 1971 to 1977, could not resist laughing with the officers He also presented the sword to Sub Lieutenant Jamie Molyneux. After the official event, the heir to the throne, who actively served in the Navy and Royal Air Force from 1971 to 1977, relaxed and exchanged a few jovial words with the officers in attendance, One member of the Saudi Arabia Royal Navy even chanced a selfie with the Prince of Wales, who politely obliged. Charles visit comes as the Queen has had to cancel her annual pre-Christmas lunch for the second year in a row due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The 95-year-old monarch was planning to welcome 50 or so relatives, including Prince Charles and Camilla, to an event at Windsor Castle next week. One day after the festive party, the Queen was due to travel by helicopter to Sandringham in Norfolk, where she is set to spend Christmas itself. However it has now emerged the Queen 'with regret' has cancelled her family lunch as a 'precautionary' measure, feeling that too many people's Christmas arrangements were at risk if it went ahead. The officers took their positions for the parade at the College today, before they were reviewed by Prince Charles The College's officers walked as one, making their way to the parade this afternoon in Dartmouth, pictured Prince Charles, centre, accompanied by Captain Roger Readwin, right, Commander of the BRNC, and the Parade Commander, Commander Will Peters, left The Prince of Wales addressed the officers before congratulating Sub Lieutenant Thomas Handley, right, who won the Officers Association Prize Winner Charles attended the Parade Ground with Captain Roger Readwin, Commander of the BRNC, and the Parade Commander, Commander Will Peters, for the Lord High Admiral's passing out Parade Royal sources said 'there is a belief that it is the right thing to do for all concerned.' It marks the second year the Queen has cancelled the event, usually held at Buckingham Palace. Last year she called off the lunch when tougher restrictions were brought in amid the surge of the Delta Covid strain. It comes as millions of Britons axed their festive plans so they can see family on Christmas Day after Boris Johnson and Chris Whitty triggered a 'tsunamis of cancellations' for pubs and restaurants by urging the country only to socialise if necessary - and not in large groups or with strangers. The Prince of Wales seemed in good spirits, in spite of the news his mother had to cancel her pre-Christmas lunch for the second time in a row this year The future King looked relaxed and in good spirits as he met with members of the Saudi Arabia Navy today Ahead of the announcement, royal expert Camilla Tominey appeared on This Morning today, and told viewers the monarch was considering leaving it 'up to guests' over whether they attend. She said: 'We thought the Queen was going to have a Christmas party for the extended family in Windsor on Tuesday, we think that's still going ahead. 'Then she's going to go to Sandringham for the traditional celebrations in Norfolk.' 'But apparently now they're wavering, like we all are. Maybe it's going to be about the guests and if people don't feel comfortable coming, that makes the decision for you.' This year's event would have seen the family brought together in the largest reunion since the Duke of Edinburgh's death in April. While three of her four new grandchildren - August, Lucas and Siena - had been expected to attend the lunch, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and their son Archie and newborn Lilibet, also born this year, will remain in the US. Meanwhile the Royal Family had been planning to join the Queen at Sandringham on Christmas Eve and gather on December 25, as is tradition, before visiting St Mary Magdalene Church. It is currently unknown if this will go ahead. The Queen is currently residing in Windsor Castle, where she remains on 'light duties' following multiple health scares in recent weeks. Advertisement Lilly Pulitzer is offering VIP birthing suites for Florida moms who are looking to deliver their babies in style, but the designer decor and swag bag costs will cost you $750 per night. The iconic resort wear brand has teamed up with the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Palm Beach, Florida the same hospital where the late Pulitzer's own granddaughter was born to create the two stylish suites and a family waiting room. For the price of a night at a high-end hotel, expectant moms can feast their eyes on Lilly Pulitzer printed bedding and window coverings, waterfront views, and hand-painted murals with floral, ocean, and jungle themes while in labor. Give birth in style! Lilly Pultizer teamed up with the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Palm Beach, Florida, to create two stylish VIP birthing suites and a family waiting room Upgrade: The late designer's granddaughter was born at the hospital, which is now offering the redesigned rooms for $750 per night Aesthetic: The suites boast Lilly Pulitzer printed bedding and window coverings and hand-painted murals with floral, ocean, and jungle themes The VIP suites were 'redesigned with the signature Lilly Pulitzer aesthetic to give new moms and their families a joyful and luxurious feel when they deliver their babies,' according to the hospital's website. In addition to the swanky room, moms will be treated to a concierge service, a VIP food and beverage menu, and designer accessories, including a robe, swaddle set, and tote bag. Fittingly, the waiting room and corridors are also furnished with Lilly Pulitzer furnishings, decor, and artwork for families to enjoy. More than 30 families have delivered so far in the two suites, Women's Wear Daily reported, and they're so popular that they are already booked through July 2022. Looking back: Pulitzer, pictured in 1961, was known for her colorful prints and preppy. The socialite-turned-designer died in 2013 at age 81 Swanky: The bathroom in the birthing suites feature gold hardware and a Lilly Pulitzer-pattered shower curtain Added touch: The suites also feature waterfront views for mom to enjoy Swag bag: Patients who give birth in the suites will also be treated to a concierge service, a VIP food and beverage menu, and designer accessories Pulitzer's eponymous brand is known for its colorful prints and preppy aesthetic that originated in Palm Beach. The socialite-turned-designer launched her business by accident in the late 1950s when she opened a juice stand. She had he seamstress make her tropical-print dresses that would cover juice stains, but her designs were soon outselling her juices. 'I designed collections around whatever struck my fancy . . . fruits, vegetables, politics, or peacocks! I entered in with no business sense. It was a total change of life for me, but it made people happy,' the designer told The Associated Press in 2009. Pulitzer's resort wear was popular with the country's most elite families, including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Whitneys. Matching: Babies who are born in the suite will have a Lilly Pulitzer onesie waiting for them Chic in every way: The waiting room and corridors are also furnished with Lilly Pulitzer furnishings, decor, and artwork for families to enjoy Going fast: More than 30 families have delivered so far in the two suites, and they're so popular that they are already booked through July 2022 Then-first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who attended boarding school with Pulitzer, famously wore one of her printed shit dresses in Live magazine photo spread. Pulitzer shuttered her business in the 1980s, but it was revived a decade later when the rights to the brand were purchased by Sugartown Worldwide, Inc. The label is now owned by Oxford Industries, Inc., which acquired Sugartown Worldwide, Inc. in 2010. Pulitzer died at her home in Palm Beach in 2013 at age 81, but the 'Queen of Prep's legacy continues to live on. Approximately 168,000 of the 800,000 U.S. COVID-19 deaths could have been prevented by the Covid vaccines, a new analysis finds. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) analyzed Covid death data in the U.S., and found that tens-of-thousands of deaths over the past six months could have been prevented if people had gotten vaccinated. They used the death rate among fully vaccinated people - who do occasionally die from the virus despite the overall rarity - and calculated how many unvaccinated people would have lived if they had received the jab. September and October were especially brutal, with a combined 92,800 deaths deemed preventable. The United States recording its 800,000th COVID-19 death this week, a grim milestone in the pandemic so far, with one-fifth of them being avoidable, per KFF. Researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 163,000 or 800,000 Covid deaths recorded in America could have been prevented by the vaccines - or one in every five The KFF team gathered data as of the end of November, when 780,561 deaths attributed to Covid had been recorded. Covid vaccines first became available in the U.S. in December 2020, though only the most vulnerable people were eligible for the shots at first. Over time, eligibility was slowly widened, and the KFF team believes that by June 2020, every American adult had the opportunity to get fully vaccinated - if they wanted to. From June to November 2021, approximately 186,500 Americans died of Covid. Researchers determined that 7,100 of those people were vaccinated, and by analyzing the vaccines effectiveness at preventing death. determined that 16,100 unvaccinated people would have died even if they had received the shots. That leaves 163,300 people who could have prevented their deaths had they chosen to get vaccinated. September was the deadliest month, with around 58,700 Americans succumbing to the virus, and 51,200 of those deaths could have been avoided, the KFF analysis finds. Across August, September and October, 117,400 preventable Covid deaths occurred. A large portion of this data set took place before the Omicron variant rose to prominence in late November. Researchers note that 'full vaccination' - receiving either two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine - may not be as effective against the new strain, as multiple studies have found. Both Pfizer and Moderna released data showing their vaccines were less effective against the new strain, but booster shots could help in re-establishing some level of protection. A South Africa study published Wednesday also found that the J&J jab provided little to no protection at all from the strain. Health officials, including Dr Anthony Fauci - America's top infectious disease expert - even said last week that the definition of 'fully vaccinated' would eventually change to only include people who have received their COVID-19 booster. Currently, only 16 percent of Americans have received their booster shot, leaving a vast majority of the country still vulnerable to the variant. Early data does show that the variant may not cause infections that are as severe as previous strains of the virus, though, a promising sign going forward. COVID-19 was the leading killer of Americans in December 2020, and Janaury and February of 2021 The virus is now the third leading killer of Americans, accounting for 1,110 deaths per day in November, KFF finds The KFF research team also found that COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death for Americans last month, killing 1,110 people in the U.S. every day. Only heart disease, which caused around 2,088 deaths per day, and cancer, 1,640 deaths per day, killed more Americans than Covid did in November. Despite the many deaths suffered over summer, the virus never took over as the leading killer of Americans. Only three months during the entire pandemic was it the leading killer of Americans, in December of 2020, and January and February of 2021. Earlier this week, the U.S. eclipsed 800,000 COVID-19 deaths and 50 million total cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. Advertisement The CDC projects that up to 15,600 Americans will die of Covid during the week that ends on January 8 The CDC projects that there will be up to 1.3 million new Covid cases recorded during the week of Christmas The CDC projects that up to 18,400 people will be hospitalized during the week that ends on January 7 Grim new figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have predicted that US COVID-19 deaths will soar by 73 per cent to 15,600 a week by January 8, and that cases will rocket to 1.3 million a week by Christmas Day. The agency revealed projections on Wednesday afternoon that show America will suffer up to 15,600 new Covid deaths a week as of January 8 - or 2,228 deaths per day - a 58 per cent increase from 8,900 deaths currently being recorded each week, equivalent to 1,285 deaths a day. Another CDC prediction estimates that between 620,000 and 1.3 million Americans will have been diagnosed with Covid by the week that ends on December 25 - Christmas Day. That represents a 55 per cent leap on the 840,000 cases that have been recorded over the last week. 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, likely fueling the surge the CDC predicts. 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. 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' 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. 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. Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has announced that its upcoming COVID-19 antibody drug is able to effectively treat disease caused by both the Omicron and Delta variants. Another company, Regeneron, has also announced that it's developing a similar new drug which can itself treat disease caused by the new variant. The announcements come after research showed that Eli Lilly and Regeneron's current monoclonal antibody drugs, used to prime the immune system's capacity to fight Covid, are less effective against Omicron than past variants. While both companies are working to get their new Covid drugs approved quickly, Omicron will likely be the dominant variant in the U.S. before they are widely available. Dr Fauci warned on Good Morning America Thursday that Omicron cases are likely doubling every three days in the US. Confirmed cases jumped 32 per cent overnight, from 214 to 319, although immunologists widely agree that these are just the tip of the iceberg, and that the United States likely already has tens of thousands of Omicron cases. David Ricks, Eli Lilly's CEO, announced on CNBC on Wednesday that the company is developing a new monoclonal antibody drug that fares better against Omicron Monoclonal antibody treatments don't replace vaccines, but may be lifesaving for unvaccinated and immunocompromised individuals infected with Covid. Pictured: A doctor holds a vial of monoclonal antibodies (file image) Monoclonal antibody treatments for Covid work by providing the immune system with an infusion of antibodies designed in a lab specifically to fight Covid disease. People infected with the coronavirus may get this treatment soon after testing positive to reduce severe symptoms and reduce their chances of going to the hospital. While the treatment is not as effective as vaccination in reducing severe disease, it can be a lifesaver for unvaccinated people or those who are immunocompromised. The treatments rely on the coronavirus' spike protein - a piece of the virus that has mutated heavily in the Omicron variant. Due to these mutations, scientists were concerned that existing monoclonal antibody treatments would not work as well against Omicron as they have against past variants. Recent trial data, announced on Tuesday, have validated these concerns for Eli Lilly and Regeneron, two pharmaceutical companies that manufacture monoclonal antibody treatments. 'Due to the substitutions contained within the spike protein of the Omicron variant of concern,' Eli Lilly's treatment 'is likely to experience reduced neutralization activity,' said a company spokesperson. Luckily, both Eli Lilly and Regeneron are already developing new monoclonal antibody treatments that are more effective against the novel variant. David Ricks, Eli Lilly's CEO, appeared on CNBC's Closing Bell on Wednesday to discuss the company's new treatment. The company developed its new treatment 'because we knew this virus is gonna mutate,' he said, 'and also the desire to create more potent antibodies, where you need to use less of this hard to make, expensive medicine.' Eli Lilly aimed to develop a treatment that could be used more efficiently and made more affordable for patients. The new treatment, called 1404, is also more effective against the Omicron variant, early studies have shown. 'We have data, in hand, showing that 1404's effect will not be limited by Omicron. It neutralizes both Delta and Omicron,' Ricks said. 'We had the foresight to begin that development last January, and we now have clinical data,' he said. The treatment is currently in Phase Two trials. 'We're in the process of talking to regulators in places like Germany and the U.S. to see how we can make that available pretty quickly,' Ricks said. Regeneron is also developing a new drug that's more effective against Omicron. Pictured: CNBC reporter Meg Tirrell discusses Regeneron's news Similarly, CNBC reported on Thursday that Regeneron's new monoclonal antibody drug 'shows potency' against Omicron, as well as Delta. While Regeneron's current antibody cocktail is not as effective against Omicron as it was against past variants, CNBC reported, a next-generation drug addresses this issue. Regeneron plans to start human trials in the first quarter of 2022, though the plan is 'pending discussion with regulatory agencies.' 'This was suspected from modeling data, but now there are actual lab data that confirm' the existing cocktail's reduced effectiveness, said CNBC reporter Meg Tirrell. Regeneron's and Eli Lilly's current treatments work well against the Delta variant, which is still the dominant coronavirus strain in the U.S. But Omicron is quickly gaining ground on Delta. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Omicron multiplied from causing 0.4 percent of U.S. cases in the week ending December 4 to causing 2.9 percent of cases in the following week. The variant appears to be doubling every two days, CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said at a recent press briefing. At that rate, Omicron could become the dominant variant in the U.S. by the end of 2021. It has already swept the United Kingdom, which recorded an all time high of 78,610 new COVID cases on Wednesday, with 10,000 of those estimated to be Omicron. Omicron is most prevalent in the New York and New Jersey region, where it composed 13 percent of new cases as of December 11. In New York City, Covid cases have more than doubled in the last two weeks: from 140 new cases for every 100,000 people on November 29, to 311 new cases per 100,000 on December 13. While the new treatments from Eli Lilly and Regeneron are promising, they're unlikely to be available for use before Omicron becomes dominant in the U.S. The situation is 'fairly concerning,' said Tirrell. 'We don't yet have the antiviral drugs from Pfizer and Merck which do stand up against the variants, as we wait to potentially get the antibody drugs updated, if we need them to be, against Omicron.' A woman in Canada was found with a fetus growing inside her liver in a highly rare ectopic pregnancy, physicians discovered. The 33-year-old woman went to see the doctor due to menstrual bleeding, explained pediatrician Dr Michael Narvey, who shared the case on TikTok. In this type of pregnancy, a fertilized egg becomes implanted somewhere other than inside the main cavity of the uterus. This commonly happens in the fallopian tubes, but it's almost unheard of in the liver. 'This is a first for me,' Narvey said, describing the case. Doctors identified an ectopic pregnancy in a woman's liver. Pictured: Dr Michael Narvey shares the case on TikTok, showing a sonogram of the fetus embedded in the liver In a typical ectopic pregnancy, a fertilized egg will implant in the fallopian tube instead of traveling into the uterus, where it's meant to grow (file image) In a typical ectopic pregnancy, a fertilized egg will implant in a fallopian tube - an organ that carries eggs from the ovaries to the uterus - instead of in the uterus itself, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sometimes, however, such pregnancies may occur further outside the uterus - like in the abdomen. Outside the uterus, fertilized eggs are unable to survive and grow properly, making ectopic pregnancies dangerous for both mothers and babies. These pregnancies are relatively common, with about one in every fifty pregnancies in the U.S. being ectopic, according to Verywell. Ectopic pregnancy in the abdomen is significantly rarer than ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tubes. Only 14 cases had been reported worldwide in the 35 years before November 1999, according to a report in Intractable and Rare Diseases Research. As a result, pediatrician Dr Michael Narvey, at the Children's Research Institute of Manitoba in Canada, was surprised by the case of an ectopic pregnancy occurring in a woman's liver. 'I thought I had seen it all,' Narvey said, describing the case in a TikTok video. 'A 33-year-old woman comes in with a 14-day history of menstrual bleeding and 49 days since her last menstrual period,' he said. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancies may include bleeding in the vagina and abdomen and pelvic pain, which worsen as the fetus grows, according to Mayo Clinic. 'What they find in the liver is this: a baby,' Narvey said, pointing to a sonogram of the fetus shown in his TikTok. 'She had an ectopic pregnancy in her liver,' he said. 'We see these sometimes in the abdomen but never in the liver. This is a first for me.' Narvey's TikTok account, @nicu_musings, has more than 300,000 followers. The video was posted on Tuesday. As of Thursday morning, it has 362,000 likes and almost 20,000 comments. Doctors were able to save the woman's life, but could not rescue the growing fetus, according to The Sun. Narvey shared a follow-up video on TikTok, explaining ectopic pregnancies and saying that, in very rare cases, a fertilized egg may travel the wrong way - to the abdomen or even the liver In a follow-up video posted on Thursday, Narvey explained how the odd ectopic pregnancy occurred. 'Normally, a fertilized egg, which usually gets fertilized in the fallopian tube, travels into the uterus, where it implants,' he said. In a typical ectopic pregnancy, that fertilized egg 'winds up getting stuck, most often in the fallopian tube.' 'It's possible, though, that if the egg and sperm unite and then travel the other way [in the fallopian tube], out the way of the ovary, they can implant in the peritoneum,' Narvey went on. The peritoneum is the tissue lining the wall of the abdomen. In the case of the Canadian woman, however, the egg and sperm 'wound up traveling up to the liver where they implanted there,' Narvey said. An ectopic pregnancy in the liver has been identified at least once before, according to a 2017 scientific report (file image) Such an ectopic pregnancy has been identified at least once before. A report in the journal of Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, published in 2017, describes the case of a 31-year-old woman who also had an ectopic pregnancy in her liver. The patient went without menstrual bleeding for 40 days and suffered abdominal bloating for 27 days before the pregnancy was discovered. Similarly to the Canadian patient, this patient recovered after surgery, but the fetus could not be saved. Risk factors for ectopic pregnancies overall include a previous ectopic pregnancy, being older than 35, a history of infertility, and getting pregnant while using an IUD. Some of the rapid at-home Covid tests Americans use can not pick up the new Omicron variant, Dr Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease expert, said. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Disease, told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that his team currently is investigating available rapid tests to determine which are not as accurate for the new strain, with mixed results. He does note that PCR tests, often considered the 'gold standard' for Covid testing, as still accurate for Omicron, and that he believes a majority of rapid tests can accurately detect the variant. While the prospect of inaccurate tests is worrying, it would not affect official sequencing of the variant. The U.S. only sequences PCR positive tests - which in itself is concerning to some officials - so there are no tests that would otherwise be included in official figures that are being missed. The highly infectious variant being able to evade these tests is still concerning, though, as many use them before attending large events, and in some localities a recent negative test can serve as enough to avoid vaccine mandates. People who may otherwise believe they are in a Covid-free environment might be unknowingly exposed to the virus, which is predicted to sweep the US in the coming weeks after causing record cases in the United Kingdom this week. Dr Anthony Fauci (pictured) told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on Thursday that NIAID is investigating whether certain rapid antigen tests are unable to detect the Omicron variant Rapid Covid tests are often used by people hoping to test before large events, or by employers or schools to prevent spread in their facilities. If the tests can not find the new variant, it can quickly spread in environments that people believe are safe. Pictured: A woman in New York City, New York, collects a sample for a Covid tests on December 16 Were getting preliminary information that not all of the diagnostic tests will be accurate with Omicron,' Fauci said on Thursday. 'Some, and many of the commonly used ones appear to pick up and detect Omicron quite well, were hearing. Were in the process of doing large screening to determine which of these antigen point of care, rapid tests, still maintain their accuracy of diagnosis. 'But clearly there are some that don't. Were trying to find out those that dont reflect an accurate result. And if we do, make sure that those tests are not used to diagnose Omicron. Rapid tests that are unable to detect the Omicron variant make for a worrying prospect, because of false results that could potentially lull people into a false sense of security. Health experts often recommend for people to use rapid tests before attending events like family gatherings, weddings, concerts and more. Some events also allow a person to show a recent negative test in lieu of proof of vaccine. If people are using the rapid tests that can not find Omicron, though, then events where people may drop their guard assuming everything is safe could potentially be exposing everyone to the virus. Now that the Omicron variant is circulating in the U.S., having been sequenced 319 times in 36 states and Washington D.C. The real figure is likely higher, though, as the country only sequences a fraction of cases. Failures of these tests allow for Omicron to spread rapidly. Confirmed cases have jumped 32 per cent in the last 24 hours. Many Covid vaccine mandates have testing opt-out options, for example, that allow for a person to continue working a job in-person or taking part in other activities as long as they test negative. Schools have also put these measures in place as an extra layer of protection. There programs often use rapid response antigen tests. If a person positive with Omicron goes undetected, they could spread the highly transmissible, vaccine resistant, strain, quickly in a population that believes they are safe from the virus. Nearly every aspect of rapid testing in America has been a problem at some point during the pandemic. Unlike many other countries, people in the U.S. do not have regular access to rapid tests. They are in short supply and can be very expensive if used every day. Earlier this month, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki dismissed the idea of the U.S. government sending people tests in their homes to help fill some testing gaps, and was widely criticized for it. When people can access at-home, rapid, testing, they often do not report their positive cases to health officials. This means that thousands of Covid cases may not be included in official counts. Some Americans have gone to hospitals and other health centers to access these tests, that are supposed to be free when taken in those environments. There are reports that some have been hit with bills totaling in the thousands for the supposed-free tests, as the facility will charge them with ancillary fees as well. Now, the White House is warning test manufacturers that there will be a surge in demand for the tests in the near future, and officials fear there will a shortage of all kinds of tests. HISTORY NOBLE AMBITIONS by Adrian Tinniswood (Cape 30, 416 pp) By the time World War II began, country houses were in crisis, thanks to rising taxes, the shortage of servants and the feeling that their owners were, in Adrian Tinniswoods words, as anachronistic in 20th-century Britain as the rusting suits of armour that decorated their dusty halls. Yet the country house is a remarkably resilient beast. Predictions of its demise proved premature. As this beautifully illustrated volume shows, the 1950s and the 1960s saw a renaissance as rock concerts replaced hunt balls and the doors of ancient family seats were thrown open to paying customers. Tinniswood chronicles it all in lively detail. Magnificent: Castle Howard in North Yorkshire THE SHORTEST HISTORY OF GREECE by James Heneage (Old Street 12.99, 256 pp) The West, James Heneage reminds us, owes its civilisation to the Greeks. In two centuries, from about 500 to 300 BCE, their extraordinary achievements in philosophy, literature, art and the organisation of society laid the foundations for the world we experience today. Yet many of us continue to know little about Greek history. Heneage succeeds in rectifying that: in 250 pages, he summarises the story not only of the ancient Greeks but of the Greek-speaking Byzantine rulers of Constantinople, the 19th-century Greek struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire and the traumas of Nazi occupation and civil war in the 20th century. THE SEARCHERS by Robert Sackville-West (Bloomsbury 25, 368 pp) Two months after World War I ended, the whereabouts of half a million British soldiers remained unknown. Most were assumed to have been killed: in the words of a character in a Rudyard Kipling story, Missing always means dead. Yet grieving relatives longed for closure. I shall never believe . . . that my son is dead until his grave is found, one woman wrote. Robert Sackville-Wests revelatory, moving book chronicles the century-long efforts to locate lost soldiers. These still continue today: around 50 sets of human remains are recovered annually in France and Belgium in what locals call the harvest of bones. NOBLE AMBITIONS by Adrian Tinniswood (Cape 30, 416 pp) LILY'S PROMISE by Lily Ebert and Dov Forman (Macmillan 18.99, 320 pp) On July 5, 1944, 20-year-old Lily Ebert, together with most of her family, was thrust into a stinking, overcrowded goods wagon at a railway station in Hungary. The wagons destination was Auschwitz. Words can barely describe what happened next, she says in this unforgettable memoir written in conjunction with her great-grandson. But, she goes on, words are all I have. She has used them to powerful effect to conjure up both the hell of Auschwitz and her slow path towards building a new life in the years after the war ended. AFTERMATH: LIFE IN THE FALLOUT OF THE THIRD REICH by Harald Jahner (WH Allen 20, 400 pp) BY 1945, Germany lay in ruins. As the war came to an end, Berliners emerged from hiding to find their city devastated. In Dresden there were 40 cubic metres of rubble for each surviving resident. Refugees roamed the country. Of Germanys population of 75 million, around 40 million were not where they belonged or wanted to be. How did a new society rise, phoenix-like, from the ashes of Hitlers murderous regime? Harald Jahners book provides a brilliant portrait of Germany in the tumultuous years between 1945 and 1955, during which the nation that perpetrated the Holocaust transformed itself into a democracy. OPERATION PEDESTAL by Max Hastings (Collins 25, 464 pp) In the summer of 1942, British fortunes in World War II were at a low ebb. Malta, which the U.S. president, Franklin Roosevelt, had described as one bright flame in the darkness, was on the verge of surrender to the Germans. The island, bombed and beleaguered, needed relief, so a giant convoy of merchant ships with supplies, together with an escort of Royal Navy fighting ships, was despatched to the Mediterranean. In his first book about war at sea, the acclaimed military historian Max Hastings unfolds the gripping saga of how, and at what cost, the island fortress was saved. To buy any book on these pages with a 10 per cent discount, visit mailshop.co.uk/Christmas or call 020 3176 2937 Nissan's newest electric car isn't actually that new. In fact, it's 33 years old! The Japanese manufacturer has celebrated the 35th anniversary of it building motors in Sunderland by using the electric powertrain from its current Leaf and installed it into a 1988 Bluebird - the first model to roll off the North East factory's production line and was famously gifted to the Prince of Wales. Called the 'Newbird', the one-off creation has a 130-mile range and can hit 62mph from a standing start in around 15 seconds. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? This F-reg 1988 Nissan Bluebird has the electric powertrain of the following 2021 Nissan Leaf installed in it Production of the Bluebird started in Sunderland in 1986 and assembly lines have continued running ever since, making over 10 million cars in three and a half decades. The plant's future has been secured by the Japanese firm's commitment to Britain, which has seen the all-new third-generation Qashqai SUV start producing this year, joining the smaller Juke and the all-electric Leaf. And to celebrate the landmark achievement, Nissan UK bosses came up with a daring plan to connect its latest vehicles to its oldest. To do so, it took a 1988 F-registration Bluebird, stripped out the 90bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine and manual gearbox and in its place slotted in the 40kWh battery pack and electric motor from the Nissan Leaf. The conversion was managed by local specialist conversion company, Kinghorn Electric Vehicles, which is just 15 miles away from the Sunderland plant. To get the huge battery pack to fit into the eighties hatchback, it was broken down into two pieces, mounting one half under the bonnet The second half of the battery cells have been installed here in the boot and takes up almost the entirety of the compartment. You certainly couldn't fit much shopping in there The creation is to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Nissan building motors in Sunderland The Bluebird was the first model to roll off the UK production line in 1986. The first car assembled was famously gifted to Prince Charles To get the huge battery pack to fit into the eighties hatchback, it was broken down into two pieces and mounted in the engine bay and the boot - the latter taking up almost the entirety of the compartment. This not only allowed for all the battery cells to be used but also ensured decent weight distribution rather than bulking all the load at one end of the car. The charging socket is hidden behind the car's existing fuel filler flap and the system is compatible with a 6.6kW charger. Engineers also had to install upgraded suspension to support the added weight of the batteries. Nissan has called the 1980s electric car conversion the 'Newbird' and it has a 130-mile range and can hit 62mph from a standing start in around 15 seconds Engineers also had to install upgraded suspension to support the added weight of the batteries The manual transmission has been stripped out of the Bluebird and replaced with the Leaf's single-speed automatic with this suitably retro control panel in the centre console The manual gearbox was also removed and replaced with the Leaf's single-speed automatic with a suitably retro control panel in the centre console. Nissan also recreated the car's original fuel gauge so that it now displays battery charge instead. Also out went the original power steering, brakes, heating unit and replaced with electrically-operated versions. Other additions include an eighties-themed graphic kit for the bodywork, which is said to have been inspired by eighties consumer technology. And to showcase its electric power source, the Nissan badge on the front grille has been backlit with a subtle glow - though Nissan says it only illuminates when the car is parked because it is illegal to display any lights other than headlights on the front of a vehicle in the UK. The charging socket is hidden behind the car's existing fuel filler flap and the system is compatible with a 6.6kW charger Nissan had the 90bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine and manual gearbox removed from the retro family hatchback and in its place slotted in the 40kWh battery pack and motor from the Leaf The conversion was managed by local specialist conversion company, Kinghorn Electric Vehicles, which is just 15 miles away from the Sunderland plant Commenting on the car, Alan Johnson, Vice President of Manufacturing at the Nissan Sunderland Plant, said; 'The Newbird represents all that is great about our plant past present and future as we celebrate 35 years of manufacturing in Sunderland. 'We have a rich heritage of building great cars, right from the original Bluebird model, and our fantastic team is now leading the way as we drive towards an exciting electrified, carbon neutral, future.' Andrew Humberstone, Managing Director at Nissan GB, added: 'This Newbird project is a wonderful tribute to the enduring presence of high quality manufacturing that Nissan has enjoyed in the UK for more than three decades.' As well as paying tribute to Nissan's past, the Newbird conversion also points towards the brand's electric drive, in which it plans to sell only fully-electric cars from the early 2030s. 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. The identity of four killer bikies guilty of murdering flashy mafia gangster Pasquale Barbaro can finally be revealed after their lawyers lost a last ditch appeal in a so-called 'bikie super trial'. The killer bikies have fought for years through their lawyers to keep their names suppressed, even as they were found guilty or pleaded guilty to Barbaro's murder. The final eleventh hour appeal by the bikie lawyers against the lifting of court orders to keep their clients names secret was dismissed by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal on Thursday. Two of the four members of the Sydney-based organised crime group are being sentenced this week for their roles relating to the brutal execution of three underworld figures. A Supreme Court judge described those two men - Siar Munshizada and Abuzar Sultani - as 'serial killers'. The court heard the men 'shared the arrogant and immoral belief they had the entitlement to extinguish the life of another person'. The assassination spree which ended the lives of the three gangsters and bikies took place over three months in Sydney in 2016. A 35-year-old heavily-tattooed drug dealer, Barbaro was related to a well-known crime family regarded as Australia's mafia. The four men are guilty of murdering underworld figure Pasquale Barbaro (above) a big-mouthed gangster known for his love of designer clothes, bling and fast cars Barbaro, 35, was brazenly gunned down (above) in the streets of inner Sydney in November 2016. Michael Davey, a Rebels gang enforcer known as 'Ruthless', received a phone call and was lured into his driveway on March 30, 2016 and shot dead 'Ruthless' was laid to rest in a white coffin brought in on a sidecar (above) at a funeral attended by hundreds of bikies and their girlfriends which was told he lived his life 'like a rock star' Known for his Lamborghini, Armani and Versace clothing and bling jewellery, his love of Instagram and for having a big mouth, Barbaro was brazenly gunned down in the streets of inner Sydney in November 2016. His killers can now be revealed as members of a gang known as 'Sultani's Crew', named after their leader, Abuzar 'Afghani Abs' Sultani, now aged about 32. The cohorts in Barbaro's murder to Sultani, a former head of the Rebels bikie gang Burwood chapter, are Siar Munshizada, who is aged about 33, and Joshua Baines and Mirwais Danishyar, both now in their late 20s. Alll four men are being sentenced in separate hearings this week for Pasquale Barbaro's murder. Sultani and Munshizada are also guilty of the murders of two other bikies, Michael Davey and Mehmet Yilmaz. Hundreds of bikies and their girlfriends attended the funeral of Michael 'Ruthless' Davey in 2016 which heard he had a passion for 'bikes, girls and fast cars' and was a legend as a bikie Head of the organised crime group known as Sultani's Crew was Abuzar 'Afghani Abs' Sultani (above), now aged about 32 and a former Rebels gangmate of one of the men he murdered Michael Davey, known as 'Ruthless' and 'Micky D' was a Rebels gang mate of one of the men who murdered him after he was lured outside his home around midnight and shot Four men have been found guilty of the murder of Pasquale Barbaro in November 2016, which was the third in an assassination spree by Sultani and his cohorts The two men were Davey's former Rebels outlaw motorcyle gang mates. Davey, a Rebels gang enforcer known as 'Ruthless' was gunned down in the driveway of his Kingswood home, in Sydney's west, after receiving a call to go outside and meet someone just after midnight on March 30, 2016. Known for his love of bikes, girls and fast cars, he was laid to rest in a white coffin brought in on a sidecar by a masked rider at a funeral attended by hundreds of bikies which heard how he 'he lived his life like a rock star'. A funeral cortege of thundering Harleys rode up with Davey's coffin followed by a vintage GTS Monaro and a white Rolls Royce. Siar Munshizada, now aged in his early 30s, was arrested (above ) in 2016 and it can now be revealed that he is guilty of three brutal executions of gangland men At the funeral of 'Micky D', the chapel was crowded with female friends who wept at his passing, and mourners were told that despite his passing 'brotherly love lives on forever' Joshua Baines, now aged in his late 20s, was found guilty of Pasquale Barbaro's murder and will be sentenced this week in the Supreme Court of NSW Sultani pleaded guilty to Barbaro's murder, while the other three were found guilty by the court. Sultani also pleaded guilty in 2019 to murdering Mehmet Yilmaz and Michael Davey. Mehmet Yilmaz, 29, was shot multiple times as he returned to his car after visiting the home of a Comanchero bikie in September, 2016. Munshizada was found guilty of murdering Davey last year and guilty of murdering Yilmaz in May this year. Mirwais Danishyar was found guilty in March this year of the murder of Pasquale Barbaro on November 14, 2021 Family and friends gathered at Pinegrove Cemetery in Michinbury (above) for a 45 minute service at which an 'Ode to Micky' was read and a slideshow of his life was broadcast Siar Mushizada (above, being arrested) has been found guilty of three brutal underworld executions and was described on Monday by a judge as a 'serial killer' A funeral cortege of thundering Harleys rode up with Davey's coffin on a sidecar followed by a vintage GTS Monaro and a white Rolls Royce But the guilty findings for all the four men being sentenced this week remained a secret as their lawyers successfully applied for non publication orders to suppress their clients' names. The three-year blackout began to run out last week when the four men had their application to continue a suppression order rejected by the NSW District Court. They applied to the Court of Criminal Appeal to extend the secrecy orders and were ordered tio appear tbefore Justice Desmond Fagan on Monday. Justice Fagan ruled that the suppression orders be lifted by 4pm on Monday, December 6 removing the cloak of secrecy from the killer bikies. The bikies' lawyers then made an urgent application before three judges in the Court of Criminal Appeal to have the names suppressed. But that was rejected on Thursday in a very brief judgement by the bench of the CCA. The first being sentenced by Justice Fagan, Danishyar appeared the NSW Supreme Court on Monday wearing prison greens and surrounded by correctional officers. His sentencing hearing was told that Danishyar 'shared the arrogant and immoral belief they had the entitlement to extinguish the life of another person'. Earlier this month, Justice Fagan questioned an attempt by Danishyar's lawyers to have the seriousness of his sentence mitigated by the idea that he had sought out the company of his co-offenders because he was 'at a loss or seeking identity'. His Honour then described the two offenders who are guilty of all three murders in 2016 as 'serial killers'. Justice Fagan also said he 'couldnt possibly sentence him on the basis hes contrite or remorseful' as attested by a forensic psychiatrist because Danishyar had pleaded not guilty to Barbaro's murder before being found guilty. Tens of thousands of Britons who were hospitalised with Covid are still suffering a year on, a study has suggested. A University of Leicester-led team of experts examined over 2,000 adults who were admitted to hospital with severe Covid during the first year of the pandemic. Two-thirds were still battling long Covid symptoms, such as tiredness, muscle pain, poor sleep and breathlessness, one year on. And nearly all patients still struggling with these symptoms five months later did not get any better over the next seven months. Women were least likely to make a full recovery, as well as obese people and Covid patients who were hooked up to ventilators. Lead author Professor Chris Brightling, an expert in respiratory medicine at the university and trial chief investigator, said: 'Many patients had not fully recovered at five months. 'And most of these reported little positive change in their health condition at one year. 'When you consider that over half a million people in the UK have been admitted to hospital as a result of Covid, we are talking about a sizeable population at risk of persistent ill-health and reduced quality of life.' The condition, defined by the NHS as persistent symptoms lasting weeks or months after testing positive for Covid, is hard to officially diagnose and critics accuse some studies of overblowing its true toll. The PHOSP-COVID study recruited 2,320 adults that were hospitalised in the UK with Covid and discharged between February 2020 and March 2021 to assess how they recovered. All volunteers were examined five months after leaving hospital, while so far 924 have been examined 12 months on. The researchers, from 53 institutions anda 83 hospitals across the UK, asked patients 'do you feel fully recovered'. Only 25.5 per cent felt fully recovered after five months and 28.9 per cent felt better after a year (shown in graph) Questionnaire results showed patients felt their health-related quality of life was much worse one year after being hospitalised compared to before they caught Covid, which the researchers said suggests their physical and mental struggles are 'unlikely to be pre-existing conditions'. The bars on the graph show how patients ranked their quality of life pre-Covid, five months after being discharged from hospital and one year later, in relation to whether their ongoing symptoms are very severe (red), severe (blue), moderate, or related to brain function (green) or mild (purple) The new research, published on pre-print website medRxiv, offers fresh clues over the true extent of the condition. It recruited 2,320 adults who were hospitalised in the UK with Covid and discharged between February 2020 and March 2021 to assess how they recovered. WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS OF COVID? Most coronavirus patients will recover within a fortnight, suffering a fever, cough and losing their sense of smell or taste for several days. However, evidence is beginning to show that the tell-tale symptoms of the virus can persist for weeks on end in 'long haulers' the term for patients plagued by lasting complications. Data from the Covid Symptom Study app, by King's College London and health company Zoe, suggests one in ten people may still have symptoms after three weeks, and some may suffer for months. Long term symptoms include: Chronic tiredness Breathlessness Raised heart rate Delusions Strokes Insomnia Loss of taste/smell Kidney disease Mobility issues Headaches Muscle pains Fevers For those with more severe disease, Italian researchers who tracked 143 people who had been hospitalised with the disease found almost 90 per cent still had symptoms including fatigue two months after first falling unwell. The most common complaints were fatigue, a shortness of breath and joint pain - all of which were reported during their battle with the illness. Source: NHS Advertisement All volunteers were examined five months after leaving hospital, while just over a third have also been examined 12 months on. The researchers, from 53 institutions and 83 hospitals across the UK, quizzed the patients on whether they had recovered. Volunteers were quizzed on their physical and mental symptoms and were examined by doctors on how far they could walk. Blood samples were also taken. The results, which have not yet been checked by other scientists, show only 25.5 per cent felt fully recovered after five months and 28.9 per cent felt better after a year. The most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue, muscle pain, physically slowing down, poor sleep and breathlessness. A quarter of patients said they had symptoms of anxiety and depression, and one in 10 self-reported post-traumatic stress disorder and a tenth had cognitive problems. Questionnaire results showed patients felt their health-related quality of life was much worse one year after being hospitalised compared to before they caught Covid. The researchers said this suggests their physical and mental struggles are 'unlikely to be pre-existing conditions' and instead was triggered by their infection. As part of the study, the researchers split the long Covid patients' symptoms into mild, moderate, severe or very severe. Blood tests revealed those who suffered severe symptoms had higher inflammatory proteins, which are linked with whole-body inflammation, as well as molecules that are associated with tissue damage. And those who suffered 'brain fog' or slowed thinking had markers in their blood linked to poor cognition, which suggest their brains could be inflamed. Academics said this provides a potential biological explanation for the symptoms patients suffer from, suggesting their immune system is attacking its own body. So drugs used for other inflammatory conditions such as joint disease and autoimmunity should be tested as treatments, they said. Professor John Geddes, head of psychiatry at the University of Oxford, said the findings clarify the 'intangible concept of brain fog' which long Covid patients have complained of, but has proved hard to measure. Dr Rachael Evans, a clinical scientist at the National Institute for Health Research, said there will be lots of mechanisms behind different long Covid symptoms. An brand of e-scooters has paused its long-term rental scheme in Bristol after one of its machines began burning inside a house. The Voi UK machine was billowing smoke - prompting firefighters to race to the resident's home on Saturday. Its lithium battery had caught fire due to an electrical fault while in the house of its renter Tiarnan Power. Voi UK has now told the users in Bristol to leave their machines outside and not use them. Mr Power told the BBC: 'I called Voi and they said to call 999 - the street was completely covered in smoke. It just shows how lucky I was. If I wasn't in, or, I was asleep, it would have been a complete disaster.' Avon Fire and Rescue Service hosed down the Voi and disposed of the smoking battery. In April, homeowner Shane Clarke was stunned to find over 100 e-scooters outside his house in Bristol - after it was made into an official parking spot without him knowing Jack Samler, General Manager at Voi UKI, told the BBC: 'We had an instance of smoke being emitted from one of our Long Term Rental e-scooters in Bristol earlier this month. This was an isolated, one-off incident with one of our long-term rental scooters. 'As an extreme precautionary measure, we asked users to keep the scooters outside whilst we assessed the situation - all users have been refunded for the inconvenience for the month of December. 'We have been continuously in touch with our users and informed them the vehicles were being serviced, as a preventive safety measure. 'Many users are already using the service again. Very soon, all users should be able to continue to enjoy our long-term rental service to move around in a sustainable manner.' The Voi was part of a long-term rental scheme - separate from the different 'hop on/ hop off' e-scooters in use in Bristol. West of England Combined Authority (WECA) are running trials of the scheme until 2022. The investigation into what exactly caused the electrical fault is ongoing. A Voi spokesperson added the Pay as You Go service was not impacted. `The Long Term Rental service was temporarily paused but many users are already using it again and we expect 80% of users to be able to use their Long Term Rental scooters by the end of this week and the rest should be available before Christmas.' London Fire Brigade has backed the move to ban e-scooters on the Tube after a machine erupted into flames on a packed train in Parsons Green last month Voi E-scooters were being used in Bristol but long-term rentals have since been paused after a machine caught fire It's not the first time the controversial vehicles have attracted headlines. They have been banned from the London Tube after a machine caught fire at Parsons Green underground station last month, with one passenger suffering smoke inhalation. It was revealed the London Fire Brigade had attended more than 50 fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes so far this year - more than double the amount seen in 2020. They are often caused by faulty third-party batteries bought cheap off the internet which don't meet safety standards. Investigators found the flames on the tube to be 'particularly ferocious' and while they tend to happen in homes, they pose a significant danger when stored in escape routes such as hallways and corridors. And in April, a stunned homeowner in Bristol awoke to find over 100 e-scooters outside his house - after it was made an official parking spot without him knowing Baffled Shane Clarke, 60, opened his front door to find an e-scooter pile-up outside his property in an upmarket suburb in the city. The council later cleared the scooters, which were close to an open park. The Senate overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday, which contains a provision that bars the Pentagon from giving servicemembers who won't be vaccinated dishonorable discharges. That means those servicemembers will also be eligible for veterans' benefits. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican and former Army doctor, sponsored the amendment and applauded the move Wednesday after the Senate passed the bill 88-11. Marshall said it 'ensure[s] servicemembers will be protected from a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to get the COVID vaccine.' 'Simply put, a dishonorable discharge treats our heroes as felons. But, our American heroes deserve better,' he continued. '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.' The Senate overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday, which contains a provision that bars the Pentagon from giving servicemembers who won't be vaccinated dishonorable discharges Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said about 96.4 per cent of active duty personnel have gotten at least one shot. However, whenever the National Guard and Reserves are added in, that total plummets to 74 per cent. In August, the Defense Department announced that all branches of the military would need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Each branch could set its own deadline. Soldiers were allowed medical, religious or administrative exemptions. Republicans in Congress have pushed to have the Pentagon reverse its vaccine mandate, arguing that it could deplete troop strength. As of last week, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said about 96.4 per cent of active duty personnel have gotten at least one shot. However, whenever the National Guard and Reserves are added in, that total plummets to 74 per cent. This week the Air Force discharged 27 people for refusing to get vaccinated, what officials believed were the first servicemembers ousted for not getting the shot. None of the individuals discharged had sought an exemption. The NDAA, as it's called, already passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 363-70 last week. In the Senate, the tally had been 89-10 but Democratic Sen. Cory Booker changed his vote later on Wednesday. Overall, the bill authorizes $770 in defense spending - $25 billion more than requested by President Joe Biden. Biden is expected to sign the bill, but the White House did not respond to requests for comment 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 per cent 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 per cent 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 creates a 16-member commission to study the war in Afghanistan. Biden ended the conflict - by far the country's longest war - in August. This year's NDAA 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 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand waged a years-long 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. A busy Covid-19 testing clinic in Sydney's ritzy suburb of Mosman has been shut down after residents complained of 'excessive traffic' and potential exposure to the virus. The Mosman Council confirmed the testing site on Melrose Street would be closed from Thursday. 'Following significant public safety concerns due to excessive traffic, parking and access issues, a decision has been made that the drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic in Melrose Street will be closed after today,' the council said in a statement. 'Council is working with clinic operator Douglass Hanly Moir (DHM) to identify an alternative location for the testing clinic.' The Mosman council, in Sydney's lower north shore confirmed the testing site on Melrose Street would be closed after residents complained cars waiting in line were blocking access to homes The move has sparked division in the community, with the closure coming at a time when Covid infections have skyrocketed in NSW. The centre had served residents from Mosman and nearby Neutral Bay and Cremorne, with the next closest drive-through testing clinic in Willoughby. Many locals had complained about the long queues of cars blocking access to driveways, as well as having exposure to people potentially infected with the virus. Some residents had written to the DHM to say they were being 'exposed to the risk of Covid infection' when they had to ask potentially Covid-positive drivers to move their cars, The Daily Telegraph reported. Others complained about cars travelling the wrong way through a roundabout, while some were concerned about unmasked drivers getting out of their vehicles while waiting to be tested. The move has sparked division in the community with the closure coming at a time where Covid infections have skyrocketed in NSW John Rubio, who owns a pool shop, said he'd lost up to 40 per cent of his usual trade because people were avoiding the area. 'The traffic queues go all the way back past the street, people are forced to overtake the whole thing is just a shambles,' he told the publication. 'If you look at Bondi they operate the clinic away from the main thoroughfare and not directly on top of homes.' Mosman councillor Simon Menzies said he was surprised an alternate location hadn't been found before the clinic was shut down. 'It's been crazy there for almost two years. Personally, I think there are better locations in Mosman,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'It's very important we have that facility available in the suburb. I thought they would have organised something.' The Melrose Street facility had been running since last year. Christmas could be in peril as the new Omicron Covid strain explodes in NSW, Victoria and Queensland with the rest of the country expected to follow. NSW Premier Dom Perrottet has vowed not to inflict more lockdown misery despite numbers doubling in 48 hours from 804 on Tuesday to 1762 cases on Thursday. Numbers are also creeping up in Victoria, with 1,618 cases reported on Thursday, up from 1405 on Wednesday, while Queensland jumped from six cases to 22 in just 24 hours. But as the new strain spreads out of control, tens of thousands are now set to spend Christmas trapped in isolation, either by being infected or coming into contact with someone who is. That could leave family plans in tatters - and a long lonely festive period for many. Christmas could be in peril as the new Omicron Covid strain explodes in NSW with the rest of the country expected to follow (pictured, a masked Christmas shopper in Sydney on Thursday) NSW Premier Dom Perrottet has vowed not to inflict more lockdown misery despite the state's numbers doubling in 48 hours from 804 on Tuesday to 1762 cases on Thursday (pictured, masked Christmas shopper in Sydney's Pitt Street) The sudden surge in numbers has sparked calls for Queenslanders to start wearing masks when out of their home to protect themselves against the mutant strain. 'We know that this virus is rapidly escalating,' health minister Yvette Ms D'Ath said. 'It is spreading far quicker than Delta.' But that warning comes just as NSW finally relaxed almost all Covid restrictions on Wednesday with masks and QR code check-ins almost eliminated. Unvaccinated locals are also now free to go nearly anywhere in NSW - but the new freedoms could come at the cost of Christmas. Demand for Covid tests is returning to peak levels because of the current outbreak, with long queues at testing sites and almost 150,000 swabs taken in the past 24 hours in NSW and another 80,000 in Victoria, with thousands more in other states. Anyone showing even the slightest sign of illness is being urged to get tested - and anyone who has come into contact with a case must get tested immediately. With the current massive surge in numbers, the Covid test system is going to come under intense pressure, with results already face potential long delays. Covid numbers are creeping up in Victoria, with 1,618 cases reported on Thursday, up from 1405 on Wednesday, while Queensland jumped from six cases to 22 in just 24 hours (pictured, testing at Bondi Beach in Sydney) Some Christmas shoppers in Sydney were happy to enjoy the mask-free freedoms (pictured left) under the new guidelines while others kept a mask handy (pictured right) NSW Health is now warning it could take up to three days before results are sent out - and anyone awaiting a test result must stay in isolation, throwing travel plans and family gatherings into chaos. 'After your test you must self-isolate at your home or accommodation until you receive a negative result, even if you are fully or partially vaccinated,' NSW Health tells casual contacts. 'Most people in NSW get their test results within 24 hours, but please allow up to 72 hours.' Once in isolation, you can't visit friends or family, go to work or public places like shops, parks, or beaches, use public transport or have any visitors in your home, apart from health workers or emergency services. Tens of thousands are now set to spend Christmas trapped in isolation, either by being infected or coming into contact with someone who is (pictured, Christmas shoppers in Sydney's Pitt Street) With the current massive surge in numbers, the Covid test system is going to come under intense pressure, with test results already face potential long delays (pictured, Sydney's Queen Victoria shopping mall is quieter than normal just days before Christmas) INTERSTATE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ACT: Anyone can enter except Covid close contacts from specific locations who must apply for an exemption. Northern Territory: Vaccinated interstate travellers to the NT can quarantine for seven days at home. Unvaccinated visitors are banned. NSW: Close contacts for specific Covid hotspots in Queensland, Victoria and ACT are banned from entering within seven days of being at the contact site. No unvaccinated visitors. Queensland: Almost no restrictions unless travellers are coming from declared hotspots which will require a negative test within three days of arriving and another test on day five. South Australia Vaccinated travellers must apply for permission two weeks before arriving. Tasmania: Visitors from high risk areas of NSW, Victoria and ACT will need to have a negative test within three days of travelling. Victoria: Domestic travellers do not need to quarantine on arrival, regardless of vaccination status. Western Australia: Visitors must apply for permission and may need to quarantine for 14 days. NSW and Victorian travellers are deemed high risk and extreme high risk. Tasmanians do not need to quarantine. Advertisement And that spells the end for many family Christmas gatherings and parties. Those testing positive in NSW need to stay in isolation until they recover and test negative, which can sometimes take a month or more. In Victoria, anyone testing positive must quarantine at home for 10 days after the test date and people living with them with must quarantine (for 7 days if fully vaccinated and for 14 days if not fully vaccinated) from the date of the positive test result. 'Most people with COVID-19 get better within a few weeks but some people may have symptoms that last much longer,' warns NSW Health. NSW Covid patients need to wait until they receive a medical clearance notice from their GP or NSW Health before they can come out of isolation. 'Most people recover completely within a few weeks. This is not the same for everyone,' admits NSW Health. 'Symptoms that are more likely to last beyond a few weeks include feeling tired, chest discomfort and a cough. 'Other physical symptoms can also continue beyond a few weeks, like problems with sense of smell or taste, headache, runny nose, joint or muscle pain, trouble sleeping or eating, sweating, and diarrhoea. 'Some people have ongoing psychological symptoms too including trouble thinking clearly, focusing, or remembering, and depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.' NSW Health adds: 'It is hard for doctors to predict when symptoms will improve, since this is different for different people. 'Recovery will depend on age, overall health, and how severe symptoms are. Some symptoms, like fatigue, might continue even while others improve or go away.' Demand for Covid tests (pictured) is returning to peak levels because of the current outbreak, with long queues at testing sites and almost 150,000 swabs taken in the past 24 hours in NSW and another 80,000 in Victoria, with thousands more in other states The latest Omicron outbreak could leave family plans in tatters - and a long lonely festive period for many (pictured, a stock picture of a family Christmas scene) Under the latest NSW Health guidelines, even casual contacts must go into isolation after they are notified and get tested immediately, even if they feel well. If the result is negative, and the test was taken more than four days after the initial casual contact, casual contacts can return to normal life. Otherwise a second test will be needed six days after the contact, but you don't need to stay in isolation while you wait for the result if you feel fine. But anyone who was a casual contact still needs to monitor for symptoms over the next 14 days and get tested immediately if they start feel sick. Some Sydney shoppers werenot going to be deterred by the threat of Omicron however The sudden surge in numbers has come just as NSW finally relaxed almost all Covid restrictions on Wednesday with masks and QR code check-ins almost eliminated (pictured, a vaccination clinic in Melbourne) In Victoria social contacts are just recommended to get tested until a negative result. Close contacts in NSW must isolate immediately for seven days, get tested immediately and again on day six. If you test negative and feel fine, you can leave isolation after seven days, but you're banned from high-risk locations like healthcare, aged care, disability care, early childhood centres, primary school and prisons even if you work there. Close contacts need a third and final test on day 12 before a final all clear - and you may be asked by health officials or police for proof of all the negative test results. In Victoria, if someone in your household is infected, you must quarantine at home for 7 days if fully vaccinated with a test on day six, and for 14 days if not fully vaccinated, with a test on day 13. Negative tests release you from isolation. But Victorian work and education contacts only need you to go into immediate isolation and get a test within 24 hours of being notified. Follow up rapid antigen tests are optional and free. Anyone waiting for a Covid result will be unable to leave home or have visitors until they get a negative test - and increasing pressure on the system could see that process take days (pictured, a Sydney shopper protects herself with a mask on Pitt Street Mall) Unvaccinated locals are also now free to go nearly anywhere in NSW - but the new freedoms could come at the cost of Christmas (pictured, a dose of Pfizer vaccine) Australia is in for a scorcher over the weekend with some northern parts of the country to reach 49C, while the south east is in for the hottest day of summer yet. The heatwave will allow many Australians to hit the beach for their first proper taste of summer after a La Nina system has caused unseasonably wet and cool weather on the east coast. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning on Wednesday for the heatwave in large swathes of Western Australia and Queensland and all of the Northern Territory. The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting a heatwave for Australia's north on the weekend with maximums above 40 for many areas (pictured), while the south east of the country will see maximums around 30C over the next few days Further south the weather will be ideal for the beach with temperatures are expected to reach 31C in Sydney and 33C in Melbourne on Saturday. Adelaide's hottest day of the week will be Friday when it hits 37C, while Brisbane will enjoy a balmy 30C to 31C all weekend. The hot air will even stretch over the Bass Strait with Hobart expected to see temperatures in the high 20s. 'On Friday the heat will build in South Australia with Adelaide expected to see it's hottest day since February,' meteorologist Jonathan How said. 'On Saturday will be the peak day for hot weather in Australia's south east with Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney to reach above 30C'. Sydney and Melbourne residents will finally be able to visit the beach with dry summer temperatures all weekend (pictured: Bondi on Tuesday) But the real heat is expected in the northern half of the country where some parts of WA, NT and Queensland won't dip below 30C overnight and the mercury could even hit a high of 49C - matching Australia's hottest day on record. The Bureau said the Pilbara area of Western Australia will feel the brunt of the hot weather thanks to a heat trough developing off the coast and moving inland from Friday. The 'exceptionally hot air mass' combined with little to no cloud cover will see temperatures skyrocket. Friday could see temperatures in the Pilbara region hit 46C, while Saturday is slightly hotter at up to 47C, and Sunday has maximum temperatures of between 43C and 49C. Australia's highest December temperature on record according to Weatherzone sat at 49.9C in Nullarbor in South Australia in 2019. 'On Sunday there will be a bit of relief for the south east as a cold front develops but the heat will stay across Western Australia,' Mr How said. 'We're forecasting 49C for Marble Bar in the Pilbara, it will be a scorching day there.' Mr How also added that with the hot weather there could also be some summer afternoon storms on the NSW coast, though 'nothing as significant as the last few days'. 'Be sure to take the proper precautions and don't forget your pets,' Mr How urged. A La Nina has been bringing wet weather to Australia's east but this week has seen a break from the rain (pictured: Bondi on Tuesday) There will also be an elevated fire danger for large swathes of the country. Australia's east coast has been enduring extreme humidity and wet weather thanks to the current La Nina weather event in the Pacific. La Nina has brought humidity levels as high as 97 per cent to Australia's east coast due to increased rainfall. The current La Nina event is expected to stay and cause havoc until late Summer or early Autumn in 2022. Melbourne (pictured) will also see fine and warn weather with residents able to head outdoors to the beach Elias Valdez, 15, got into a deadly fight with a drug dealer after he tried taking the senior's marijuana without paying last year A Chicago high school drug dealer was given just three years probation and 100 hours community service after pleading guilty to the 2020 murder of a 15-year-old boy during a drug sale gone wrong. Glenbrook South High School sophomore Elias Valdez was found dead on August 5, 2020, with multiple stab wounds to his chest after police said he took marijuana from a 17-year-old senior without paying. The drug dealer chased after the boy, and as they fought, he stabbed Valdez multiple times with a utility tool blade. On Monday, Cook County Judge Steven Bernstein ordered the 17-year-old senior's name not be published because he's a minor but said he was disappointed in the young man's choices. 'I see a child like you who has two parents concerned with his welfare. [You're] a bright kid with a bright future,' Bernstein said. 'I don't think you're a murderer, but you killed this child and you have to live with that for the rest of your life.' Bernstein also sentenced the teen and his parents to participate in counseling. The judge also offered his condolences to Valdez's family. 'You'll never get closure. I wish I could tell you you will,' he said. 'Your son will be in your heart forever.' Valdez's body was found on August 5, 2020, with multiple stab wounds in Glenview, Illinois. It was the first murder in the village since 2004. The high school senior, 17, who pleaded guilty for the 15-year-old's murder was sentence to three years probabtion Valdez's sister, Paola, said her brother did not deserve to die and she and her family claim the killer has received 'white privilege' for the fatal stabbing For more than a year, Valdez's family have urged the county to charge the defendant with first-degree murder and imprison him. Valdez death was the first murder in the village of Glenview since 2004. The family held protests outside the Skokie courthouse and Glenview Police Department in 2020, claiming the defendant was benefiting from 'white privilege' after killing Valdez, a Latino, the Daily Herald reported. In her victim impact statement, Valdez's mother, Marcela Fierros, said she was 'living in a dark tunnel' after her son's death. 'A mother doesn't expect to bury a child so young and much less in such a tragic and overwhelming way,' Fierros wrote. The Valdez family and friends protested outside the Skokie courthouse and Glenview Police Department in 2020, asking for the defendant to be charged with first-degree murder The defense has rejected claims that the defendant enjoyed any kind of privilege, pointing to police reports of the violent and chaotic fight between Valdez and the senior 'He was only 15 years old and had so many dreams to accomplish. His goals were to graduate from high school, study law enforcement and become a police officer. 'When the defendant stabbed my son, he stabbed the heart of my family,' she wrote. 'My brother didn't deserve to die like this,' the victim's sister, Paola Valdez, told ABC 7. Defense attorney David Kerstein said there was no incident of white privilege in the case and that the death resulted in the chaos of the violent conflict between the defendant and Valdez. Kerstein said that Valdez, a rising star on the Glenbrook South High School wrestling team, managed to slam the '97-pound weakling' senior onto the concrete six to 10 times before they began fighting over the utility tool blade. 'It takes two to make a drug deal,' Kerstein said. 'Mr. Valdez was a buyer.' The CEOs of two of America's biggest airlines said on Wednesday they do not think masks should be required on planes any longer - even as new cases of the Omicron variant spread across the nation. At a Senate hearing about the financial support airlines received in 2020 and 2021, Sen. Roger Wicker, the ranking Republican on the Senate committee, asked American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly their thoughts on the federal government's mask mandate for flying. 'I think the case is very strong that masks don't add very much, if anything, in the air cabin environment,' Kelly said. 'It is very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting.' Both he and Parker pointed out that airlines improved airflow on board their planes in the wake of the pandemic, noting that high-grade HEPA air filters on planes capture almost all airborne contamination and the cabin air is often exchanged with fresh air from outside. 'I concur,' said Parker, according to CNN. 'An aircraft is the safest place you can be. 'It's true of all of our aircrafts - they all have the same HEPA filters and airflow.' American Airlines CEO Doug Parker (left) and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly (right) testified on Wednesday that they do not believe travelers should be forced to wear masks on flights any longer The Transportation Safety Administration first announced its mask mandate for all travelers last year, and has since extended it. Passengers are pictured here waiting for an American Airlines flight to Dallas to take of from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport The Transportation Safety Administration first announced its mask mandate for all travelers last year, and extended it in April, with an expiration date of September 13, before extending it again in August through March 2022. The numbers of people flying plummeted at the beginning of the pandemic but has been picking up throughout 2021 thanks to travelers' confidence in the safety of air travel. Some of that confidence is due to the mask mandate, said Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants. Tuesday saw 1,520,251 people pass through the TSA gates at airports throughout the country - nearly 2 percent higher than the number who passed through the gates last year. Nelson also noted that not all airplanes are equipped with the same quality of air filters, and some of the older planes do not have the HEPA filters. And while she said she thinks it should be up to the 'medical community' to decide whether masks are still needed on planes, she said she does not support ending it at this time. 'I believe that the government has taken a very responsible approach to this,' she said. 'We believe it should continue to stay in place,' calling it a 'workplace safety issue.' 'We do need a consistent message though,' Nelson testified, adding: 'I hope we are going to stay on the same messages and follow the medical experts, and do what's necessary to keep everybody safe.' Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, also said it was 'immoral' for the CEOs to suggest that people should no longer have to wear masks on planes, when unvaccinated people could sit next to vaccinated Americans. 'I'm shocked that some of the CEOs here today have suggested we no longer need mask mandates on planes,' he said. 'In the face of Omicron, children under five who still cannot be vaccinated... and that we still allow unvaccinated people on planes.' Sen. Ed Markey slammed the CEOs for suggesting the mask mandate should end Since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, the airline industry has adopted new cleaning and safety protocols to mitigate the risk of coronavirus, including installing the high-performance air filtration systems and sanitizing planes. The companies received $25 billion in government assistance from the CARES Act, which required them to keep employees on payroll. They then got an additional $15 billion in funding in the coronavirus relief package signed by former President Donald Trump in December 2020, and another $482 million under Biden this past September to cover their expenses. All the while, Biden announced that all federal contractors, including all of the American airlines would have to vaccinate all of their employees, or they could face termination. Southwest officials announced in the weeks before the vaccine mandate went into effect they were still waiting on 56,000 to be vaccinated in accordance with the mandate, and American Airlines' officials have extended its deadline for its more than 100,000 employees to get vaccinated to January 4. The number of people flying in 2021 has nearly doubled since last year, which Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said is due to travelers' confidence in the safety of air travel, in part due to the mask mandate. A traveler wearing a face mask is pictured receiving her boarding pass from an American Airlines employee in San Francisco Many of the planes are also equipped with new air filtration devices that catch nearly all contaminants on board But now, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading at such a rapid pace that experts worry the United States infection rate will double in coming weeks. 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 percent 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 percent a week ago, meaning the true number of infections from the new strain likely numbers in the thousands. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky also 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. Dr. Gregory Poland, a top epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic 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. 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. Rachel Hardeman, director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity at the University of Minnesota, published her research into 'birthing people' A University of Minnesota scholar has raised eyebrows with her study into how policing affects 'birthing people' in different parts of Minneapolis. Rachel Hardeman, director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity at the university, published her findings on December 8 in the medical journal JAMA. Hardeman found that all mothers living in intensely-policed parts of Minneapolis were significantly more likely to give birth prematurely - defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation. She found, furthermore, that black American women were far more affected than black foreign-born women or white women. 'Racism is a fundamental cause of health inequity, which means we have to apply antiracism to institutions that affect the fundamentals of our lives and communities,' said Hardeman. 'Our research focused on residents of Minneapolis and found that U.S.-born black birthing people and their babies were hit the hardest by over-policing, which is a form of structural racism.' Hardeman's study team examined medical record data of 745 white, 121 U.S.-born black, and 193 nonU.S.-born black Minneapolis residents who gave birth to single babies at a large health system in 2016, from between January 1 to December 31. White mothers living in 'high police contact neighborhoods' experienced a 90 per cent higher chance of preterm birth compared to residents in low-contact areas. U.S.-born black mothers in the same areas experienced a 100 per cent higher chance of preterm birth, yet foreign-born black mothers showed only a 10 per cent higher chance for preterm birth. Hardeman concluded that this was due to the 'immigrant paradox' - a theory that black immigrants unused to structural racism have far better health outcomes than black individuals born and raised in America. Her findings were perhaps not surprising, but the use of the term 'birthing people' to describe mothers was likely to spark a strong reaction. Members of the Minnesota National Guard are seen patrolling the city's Fifth Precinct. Hardeman found that expectant mothers living in heavily policed areas of Minneapolis were more likely to give birth prematurely Protesters are seen in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on April 13 Clara Sharp, left, and Sonja Watley, right - both doulas and co-directors of the company Ahavah Birthworks - visit expectant mother Claire Littleton in north Minneapolis. Hardeman found that living in a highly-policed area significantly increased the chance of a preterm birth The use of the term has been mocked by many, including President Joe Biden's Republican opponents, and has ignited the debate about 'woke culture' taking equality too far. Those who advocate the use of 'birthing people' say it is not just women who give birth, arguing that transmen, assigned the female gender at birth but who identifies as a man, also give birth. In its 2022 fiscal year budget, published in May, the U.S. government has replaced the word 'mothers' with 'birthing people' in a section that deals with bringing down maternal mortality rates. 'The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, with an unacceptably high mortality rate for Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and other women of color,' the policy document says, and lists a range of measures to 'help end this high rate of maternal mortality and race-based disparities in outcomes among birthing people'. In the same month, Congresswoman Cori Bush was mocked for referring to mothers as 'birthing people', in her speech before Congress. She drew condemnation from many, including Fox News' Tucker Carlson, who mocked her by saying 'mother has been banned' because the term is 'too sexist'. The representative for Missouri told the harrowing story of how she was ignored by doctors when she told them of the extreme pain she was in, early in her pregnancy with both her children. She said her concerns were dismissed, and both her children - her son Zion, now 21, and daughter Angel, now 20 - were born extremely premature. Cori Bush, representative for Missouri, spoke before a House committee on May 6 Bush with her father, her son Zion, 21, and daughter Angel, 20 'I sit before you today as a single mom, as a nurse, as an activist, congresswoman, and I am committed to doing the absolute most to protect black mothers, to protect black babies, to protect black birthing people, and to save lives.' 'Every day, Black birthing people and our babies die because our doctors don't believe our pain,' she tweeted later on Thursday. 'My children almost became a statistic. I almost became a statistic. I testified about my experience today. 'Hear us. Believe us. Because for so long, nobody has.' Bush's terminology was immediately seized on. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina congresswoman, tweeted: ''Birthing people' - you mean women or moms? 'The left is so woke they're stripping from women the one thing that only we can do.' Steve Cortes, a former Trump advisor, questioned whether Mother's Day will get a new title. ''Birthing people.' This upcoming Sunday is no longer Mothers Day, it's Birthing Peoples' Day,' he said. Carlson ridiculed her, saying it was 'dehumanizing'. Tucker Carlson mocked Bush for her terminology He said she was 'referring to black birthing people - in other words, mothers.' Carlson continued: 'That happened in a House committee hearing on birthing, while examining America's black maternal health crisis. 'Because everything is about race now.' 'Well, it's almost mother's day. We have to change the name because mother has been banned. Too sexist. Fortunately, some members of congress have a new name for mothers', Carlson said. The hearing was held to address what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe as 'wide racial/ethnic gaps' in maternal mortality. Non-Hispanic black women die in childbirth at a rate of 37.1 per 100,000 live births, compared to 14.7 with non-Hispanic white women, and 11.8 with Hispanic women. Carlson said: 'As you can imagine, some people thought this language of birthing people was in fact kind of dehumanizing, reducing people to their biological function, though that, of course, would be par for the course for Cori Bush and her friends.' Even some of Bush's supporters objected to the terminology. 'I'm all about inclusivity, but being afraid to use the term 'woman' like it's a four letter word is going too far,' said one. 'Please do not EVER refer to me as a 'birthing person',' said another. 'I am currently pregnant with my first son and I will be referred to as a pregnant WOMAN and his MOTHER. That is all.' Journalist Emily Zanotti noted: 'The law for 'birthing people' is called ... The Mommies Act.' Bush was supported by pro-choice group NARAL, which tweeted: 'When we talk about birthing people, we're being inclusive. It's that simple. 'We use gender neutral language when talking about pregnancy, because it's not just cis-gender women that can get pregnant and give birth. 'Reproductive freedom is for *every* body.' Bush herself was unrepentant. 'I testified in front of Congress about nearly losing both of my children during childbirth because doctors didn't believe my pain,' she said. 'Republicans got more upset about me using gender-inclusive language in my testimony than my babies nearly dying. 'Racism and transphobia in America.' A Georgia father-of-one was accidentally shot inside his home by his toddler, who found a loaded gun, picked it up and pulled the trigger, police say. Dustin Walters, 25, was rushed to hospital on December 5 after he officers found him suffering from a gunshot wound when they responded to reports of a shooting at his home in the 100 block of E. 64th Street, Savannah at 5.30pm. He was transported to Memorial Medical Center, where he died as a result of his injuries, Savannah Police Department said. Police say that he was shot 'accidentally' by a child under the age of two. They have not confirmed Walters' relationship with the child but Walters has a one-year-old son, Mars Cameron Walters, with his wife, Tori. 'The preliminary investigation determined that Walters was wounded when a toddler, who was just under 2 years of age, found and fired the handgun, striking Walters,' police said. Details of the investigation related to the incident were not made public until December 14, when investigators said a child was involved in the shooting. Dustin Walters, 25, was rushed to hospital on December 5 after he officers found him suffering from a gunshot wound when they responded to reports of a shooting at his home in the 100 block of E. 64th Street, Savannah at 5.30pm. Walters (left) is survived by his wife, Tori (center), and his infant son, Mars Cameron Walters (right) Dustin Walters (left), 25, was accidentally shot dead inside his home in Savannah, Georgia, on December 5 by a one-year-old toddler. Police only released the news today after investigators confirmed a child was involved in the incident Family members were inside of Walters house when the tragedy struck at 5.30 on December 5 Investigators have not revealed the type of gun that was used but confirmed that the victims family members were present in the house when the gunshot was fired. They added the incident was 'accidental. It is not clear if any relatives face criminal charges over the shooting. Dailymail.com has reached out to the Savannah Police Department for comment. An obituary for Walters described him as a a father-of-one who lived in Savannah and worked for Nelson Company, a real estate development company. The victim was buried on December 10 in Rincon, Georgia, his hometown. He is survived by his wife, Tori and his infant son, Mars Cameron Walters. Savannah Police Department did not disclose whether the toddler and Walters (pictured here, with his son, Mars) were related 'We grieve along with the Walters family,' Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter said in a release. 'As a parent, I cannot imagine what this family is going through or will continue to go through in the coming years. What we want to make sure now is that parents are aware that although rare, these incidents can happen with tragic results.' Dailymail.com has reached out to the victim's family for comment. A man who spent 20 years behind bars for the murder of civil rights leader Malcolm X is suing New York state for $20 million after a judge exonerated him last month. The convictions of Muhammad Aziz, 83, and another man were vacated in November after a review by the Manhattan district attorney found that they didn't get a fair trial because authorities withheld key evidence from the defense and prosecution. Aziz is now suing the state for the 'serious miscarriages of justice' that led to his conviction. He was 26 years old when he was arrested in 1965 and 46 when he was released in 1985. 'The more than 20 years that I spent in prison were stolen from me and my family, and while the official record now recognizes the truth that has been known for decades, nothing can undo the damage that my wrongful conviction caused to all of us,' Aziz said in a statement provided by his lawyers. Muhammad Aziz, 83, detailed the physical and mental anguish he suffered during his 20 years in maximum security prisons for the murder of Malcolm X in a lawsuit against the state Aziz, then known as Norman 3X Butler, was 26 when he was arrested and 46 when he was released in 1985 A review by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance and Aziz's lawyers found evidence that Aziz wasn't involved in the killing and that the FBI and NYPD withheld evidence Aziz's lawyer told New York City that he intends to file a $40 million civil rights lawsuit against the city in 90 days if a deal with the state isn't struck, according to the New York Times. Aziz and Khalil Islam, who was released in 1987 and died in 2009, were both exonerated in November. Manhattan judge Ellen Biben dismissed their convictions after prosecutors and the men's lawyers found new evidence that Aziz and Islam were not involved with the killing and that the FBI and the New York Police Department withheld some of what they knew. Moreover, Mujahid Halim, who was also convicted in Malcolm X's murder but sentenced to life in prison, testified at a trial that 'neither of them had any involvement with the murder of Malcolm X,' according to Aziz's lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday. The investigation into the convictions was launched by Cy Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, following the broadcast of a six-part Netflix documentary last year that sparked renewed focus on the case. Vance, 66, apologized to Aziz in court last month and shook his hand. FBI files showed that the late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover ordered agents to tell witnesses not to reveal that they were informants when talking with police and prosecutors. Three men were arrested and convicted; Muhammad Aziz (left) Khalil Islam, also known as Thomas 15X Johnson (right in 1965) and Thomas Hagan, who later changed his name to Talmadge Hayer and then Mujahid Halim Malcolm Little, known as Malcolm X, was a prominent civil rights leader in the 1960s He was shot at the at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights in February 1965. Above, New York policeman carry him out in a stretcher Talmadge Hayer, also known as Mujahid Halim, had previously testified that Aziz and another man convicted in the killing, Khalil Islam, had nothing to do with it 'Many of those documents were exculpatory. None of them were disclosed to the defense,' Vance told the court on Thursday. 'Without these files, it is clear these men did not receive a fair trial, and their convictions must be vacated.' In the lawsuit against the state, Aziz's lawyers detailed the physical, emotional and mental distress and other damages he faced during his 20-year stay in maximum security prisons throughout New York. 'As a result of his wrongful conviction and imprisonment, Mr. Aziz spent 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit and more than 55 years living with the hardship and indignity attendant to being unjustly branded as a convicted murderer of one of the most important civil rights leaders in history,' the lawsuit states, according to CNN. Hayer was paroled in 2010. His conviction stands Aziz was the father to six young children at the time he was arrested, and his wife left him while he was in prison. While incarcerated, he became an imam and impressed guards with his leadership abilities, once mediating a strike by detainees at Attica in the late 1970s and making sure that 'the demonstration was brought to a peaceful conclusion without violence,' according to a 1981 letter sent by a former commissioner of correctional services, Benjamin Ward, to New York Gov. Hugh L. Carey. Four days after Aziz and Islam were exonerated, Malcolm X's daughter Malikah Shabazz was found dead in her Midwood, Brooklyn. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said Shabazz 'had been sick for some time' with an unspecified illness. Malikah never met her famous father. Her mother, Betty, was pregnant with her and her twin sister when Malcolm took the stage at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights in 1965, where he was shot dead. 'The assassination of Malcolm X was a historic event that demanded a scrupulous investigation and prosecution but, instead, produced one of the most blatant miscarriages of justice that I have ever seen,' said attorney Barry Scheck, a co-founder of the Innocence Project, which represented Aziz and Islam. At his exoneration in November, Aziz told the court: 'The events that led to my exoneration should never have occurred. I am an 83-year-old man who was victimized by the criminal justice system' Malcolm X's daughter, Malikah Shabazz. died four days after Aziz and Islam were exonerated. She is pictured in 2011, left, after pleading guilty to stealing the identity of an elderly family friend in North Carolina. She ran up more than $55,000 in credit card charges 'Officially correcting the false historical narrative around one of the most significant events in 20th century US history allows us to learn from and prevent future miscarriages of justice.' In November, Aziz told the court: 'The events that led to my exoneration should never have occurred. 'I am an 83-year-old man who was victimized by the criminal justice system.' He and Islam, who maintained their innocence from the start in the 1965 killing at Harlem's Audubon Ballroom, were paroled in the 1980s. Islam died in 2009, aged 74. 'While I do not need a court, prosecutors, or a piece of paper to tell me I am innocent, I am glad that my family, my friends, and the attorneys who have worked and supported me all these years are finally seeing the truth we have all known, officially recognized,' Aziz said in a statement released by his attorney. In 2014, New York City paid out $41 million in a settlement against the Central Park Five, a group of five teenagers who were wrongly convicted in the 1989 beating and rape of a female jogger in Central Park. The agreement maintained that the city did nothing wrong. Australians can get their Covid-19 booster jabs early if they are vulnerable or going overseas. Vaccine rollout boss Lieutenant General John Frewen said there is 'a bit of flexibility' in the Government's five-month gap between second and third doses. 'There is a bit of flexibility, particularly if you're a vulnerable person or maybe you're travelling overseas and the window's about right then the guidance is that a little bit of flexibility can be displayed,' he told Sky News Australia on Thursday. Australians can get their Covid-19 booster jabs early if they are vulnerable or going overseas. Pictured: A vaccination in Sydney 'But five months is ideally when people are due and we encourage them to get in as quickly as they can from five months onwards,' he added. General Frewen urged Australians to book in their booster using the vaccine clinic finder and also said walk-ins are widely available at pharmacies. It comes as Covid cases surge in eastern Australia with 1,742 new infections in NSW on Thursday, beating the state's previous high of 1,599 new cases on September 10. Officials believe the new more-transmissible Omicron strain is to blame but Premier Dominic Perrottet has removed vaccine passports and some mask mandates because he is confident the hospital system can cope with the surge. There are currently 670 people in hospital with Covid in Australia including 192 in NSW and 384 in Victoria, which recorded 1,622 cases on Thursday. Several studies have shown that two doses of a Covid vaccine are significantly less effective at stopping mild infection against Omicron than other strains - but they are still believed to be good at stopping severe disease. However, a booster dose revives protection against mild infection to a high level. Sydneysiders have been enjoying recent sunny weather despite rising cases of Covid-19 With 78,610 cases a day on Wednesday and rising hospitalisations, the UK has brought forward booster doses to three months after second doses. Australia brought forward the timeline from six to five months but has not opted for a three month gap because, with only 3,398 new infections on Thursday, the caseload is not as high as the UK. Health Secretary Professor Brendan Murphy explained why Australia has opted for a five-month gap between second and third doses. 'We do believe that as one gets towards six months, their waning immunity of the primary vaccination means that a booster will be very important to continue that protection against this variant,' he said earlier this week. 'We're still learning about Omicron, but that evidence seems to be coming out of the lab. 'So, on that basis, ATAGI, who are looking at this every single week, have decided that at the moment, it's best to bring forward the booster eligibility date to five months to give people that time to get their booster before they reach the six-month mark.' Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association has warned that Australia's booster program is falling behind, with reports that patients are struggling to make timely bookings. Some GPs and pharmacies are blaming a surge in demand and lack of vaccine supply for having to turn away patients, with waiting times up to a month. But a Government source told Daily Mail Australia there are no issues with overall supply and the GPs and pharmacies just need to 'pick up the phone' and order more doses from the Commonwealth. Earlier this week Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia has more than enough vaccines to cover the booster program and the jab rollout for children aged five to 11 from January 10, which involves smaller doses kept in separate vials from the booster shots. Testing rates in NSW hit an all-time high of 140,000 daily swabs recorded on Thursday. Pictured: Testing in Bondi 'We have 151 million doses that have been set aside for boosters... we have sufficient in the country now to meet all of the needs,' Mr Hunt said. 'To date we've received 7.2 million Moderna doses and approximately 40 million Pfizer doses, and in addition to that we have had over 28 million AstraZeneca doses that have been made available. We're sharing those doses overseas and we're also making sure that there's enough for all Australians.' Chief Medical officer Professor Kelly said Australians who want a booster should not be worried if they are not yet eligible. 'The advice continues to be that all of our vaccines provide strong, clear protection against serious illness, hospitalisation and loss of life. I think that's a very important point,' he said. There are more than 8,500 GPs and pharmacies that can roll out boosters and another 1,000 state clinics. Some state clinics in Melbourne are closing and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victorian chair Anita Munoz said this would put pressure on GPs. 'We are very, very concerned that general practitioners will only be able to, at best, vaccinate their own patients,' she told The Age. 'With the decommissioning of state-run vaccine centres, it is going to lead to a very sluggish booster rollout.' But the group's president Karen Price has said she is 'confident that general practice can do this'. As we enter into the final few weeks of 2021 and a new year, I can't help but feel an underlying sense of anxiety and hesitation about what 2022 could possibly bring us. I am not trying to sound like The Grinch but I, like most of you, remember the excitement and jubilation of New Year's 2020 as we were entering a new decade, 'the roaring twenties' if you will. My husband and I were heavily tipsy on a rooftop in Barcelona, Spain watching fireworks and I remember feeling blissfully happy and full of anticipation and optimism for the new decade. We all know what happened next, and for that matter, what has happened in the two years that followed. I don't need to tell any of you how much has changed for all of us. My daughter is 14-months-old and I am dreading her turning two-year-old because I have no idea how I could keep a mask on a child for an extended period of time. She can barely keep a headband on her head. I also don't want her to live in a world where she is required to do so despite overwhelming science and research that says she is at very little risk from Covid. A five-year-old in a mask is vaccinated in Massachusetts The spread of Covid and the subsequent loss of life, optimism, feeling of overall safety and excitement has been a heavy burden all of us have carried around one way or another, no matter who you are or what country you live in. Last year when New Year's came, I had just become a mother and was still trying to navigate taking care of a newborn and sheltering in place for our safety. The vaccine was not yet available, and I was still very scared about what Covid-19 could do to a newborn. Ultimately, my husband and I spent Christmas alone without family because of fear of the virus. I remember crying all morning and missing my family while playing Australian musician, Sia's amazing Christmas song 'Snowman' on repeat (if you haven't heard this song, download it immediately, it is this generation's Christmas classic). Cut to today. We are 10 days away from Christmas, 16 away from New Years. This year, I am more comfortable seeing fully vaccinated family members, and while still listening to Christmas songs on repeat, feel cautiously hopeful as we slowly pull ourselves further and further away from the 2020 pandemic and its chaos. New York Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured Tuesday) enacted a new mask mandate requiring workers to 'mask at your desk,' unless the venue has instituted a vaccine mandate. This lunatic mandate forces some employers to make their staff wear masks all day long That is, until I check Twitter... Yesterday, I saw an article that I immediately texted to a few friends who are equally obsessed with the extreme and irrational Covid laws and mandates in major American cities. The latest update is both New York University and Fordham University will require all faculty, staff and students to be fully-vaccinated and receive a booster shot prior to the start of classes for the 2022 semester. Along with that came news that New York Governor Kathy Hochul enacted a new mask mandate requiring workers to 'mask at your desk,' unless the venue has instituted a vaccine mandate. This lunatic mandate forces some employers to make their staff wear masks all day long. And all these new rules are being imposed despite New York City having one of the highest vaccination rates in the country. Finally, as of December 27, all New York City workers (whether they work indoors or outdoors) will be required to have received at least one vaccine shot, with no options to test-out of the requirements. If businesses are found not to be in compliance with this policy, they'll be fined $1,000 per violation and more for repeat offenders. Essentially, workers will have to be vaccinated to work or be fired. Plus, they are forced to wear masks no matter where they work or what the setting is. Contrast this with our friends across the pond where half of the conservative Tory party rebelled against their own party's prime minister, Boris Johnson, for pushing vaccine passports for large public gatherings like nightclubs and concerts. Can you imagine the response if Johnson sought to force workers to get vaccines to keep their jobs? I need to state explicitly before anyone starts to have a panic attack, both I and my entire family are vaccinated. I believe in the efficacy of the vaccine and was both excited and relieved to receive 'the jab' as it has come to be known as last spring. I was so happy I cried, hugged the nurse who administered the shot, and took pictures at the George Mason hospital 'step and repeat' banner. It was an exciting moment that felt at the time like the beginning of the end of the pandemic, or at least what I felt I was promised to be the beginning of the end. That feeling has soon faded. With each season comes a new variant and with each variant comes new calls for boosters and extensions of the mandates. Depending on what state and county you live in dictates the level of rigidness within which you are legally allowed to live. As the media goes into a Christmas panic over the Omicron variant, just this morning Dr. Sanjay Gupta went on CNN and said that this variant 'seems to be less severe' than its predecessors. While it is more transmissible, it is also less deadly. As of today, the Omicron variant is known to have killed one person globally, even though that number is tragically sure to rise. But for some college students in New York to go back to school they must receive the booster -- something that was originally only recommended for the elderly and immunocompromised. So where exactly does this leave us? It appears there is a segment of the population that is entirely comfortable being masked forever, having our children as young as 2-years-old exist in a world where they are educated and socialized only if they have a mask on their face, and requiring that we get a booster shot -- I can assume -- every six months for the rest of our lives. Except, if you live in Florida. I am fully aware that I could be canceled from the coastal elite cities for writing this column, but why are we accepting that children should be wearing masks all day at schools indefinitely? My daughter is 14-months-old and I am dreading her turning two-year-old because I have no idea how I could keep a mask on a child for an extended period of time. She can barely keep a headband on her head. I also don't want her to live in a world where she is required to do so despite overwhelming science and research that says she is at very little risk from Covid. I am against all forms of mask mandates. I am against vaccine mandates for workers. I am against major cities in America collectively living in a dystopian hellscape with draconian laws. All of this not only is illogical and anti-science, it is a slippery slope infringement on civil liberties. All I am sure that there are a group of Democratic lawmakers, who seem more inclined to making sure we have the pandemic forever than to helping pull us out of it. The pandemic has ushered in historic cases of drug overdoses, depression, loneliness, unemployment, and overall cultural malaise. The question I have for people like Governor Kathy Hochul is: Why aren't you trying in every way you can to bring life back to normal instead of stalling it in Covid 2020 forever? I personally know three people who are now relocating from New York and California to Florida. I don't see this ending anytime soon, as long as, the New York progressives continue with their forever pandemic. It breaks my heart, and quite frankly, New Yorkers deserve better than this junk science and extension of apocalyptic laws this Christmas and New Year. Elderly military veterans were last night braced for a fresh criminal inquiry into claims soldiers and police officers tortured 14 IRA suspects at the height of the Troubles. Supreme Court judges ruled yesterday that police in Northern Ireland were wrong to shelve a probe into allegations that a group who became known as the hooded men were subjected to Government-approved deep interrogation techniques. The 14 suspects were arrested in 1971 and held for a week in a secret Army base where they were allegedly placed in stress positions, forced to listen to white noise and deprived of food and water. While hooded, they were also said to have been thrown from helicopters close to the ground, having been told they were hundreds of feet in the air. One of the hooded men, Francis McGuigan, 73, (pictured) said: I am thoroughly delighted, even though it has taken 50 years to get to where we are today In a blow to the Army, judges in Britains highest court said a decision by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in 2014 not to investigate was based on a seriously flawed report and irrational. The case was being re-examined after a documentary shown by Irish broadcaster RTE that year referred to a note written by then-home secretary Merlyn Rees to prime minister James Callaghan in 1977. In it, Mr Rees said the decision to use methods of torture in Northern Ireland in 1971/72 was taken by ministers, adding that then-defence secretary Lord Carrington had sanctioned the use of the interrogation techniques. The memo, discovered in the National Archives, added that the political decision meant individual soldiers or police officers should not be prosecuted. But a police officer who reinvestigated the allegations dismissed the description of torture as being incorrectly uttered by Mr Rees. In his ruling, Lord Hodge criticised the officer for failing even to watch the RTE documentary, adding: Such a lack of professionalism and impartiality discredited the work done. Darragh Mackin, a solicitor for the majority of the hooded men, described the result as a landmark victory. Five of the 14 men have died. None was convicted of any offences at the time. A spokesman for the PSNI said the force would take some time to study the judgment and will carefully consider its implications for future legacy investigations. The Government is looking to introduce a statute of limitations on all Troubles-era prosecutions and civil cases. Grainne Teggart (pictured), from Amnesty International, said ministers should abandon the plans However, the ruling paves the way for any living soldiers or police officers involved in the interrogations in 1971 to face prosecution. Mr Mackin also called on Government ministers from the time to face justice, but those named in yesterdays ruling are all dead. One of the hooded men, Francis McGuigan, 73, said: I am thoroughly delighted, even though it has taken 50 years to get to where we are today. The Government is looking to introduce a statute of limitations on all Troubles-era prosecutions and civil cases. Grainne Teggart, from Amnesty International, said ministers should abandon the plans, adding: We would urge the UK Government to pay heed to the ruling today and to reverse course. A Government spokesman said the statute of limitations proposals would not prohibit investigations, adding that it 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. A harrowing photo has emerged of distraught cops consoling each other after several children fell 10 metres from a jumping castle that flew into the air, leaving two dead. Police said students plunged from the jumping castle after a wind gust lifted it into the air at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport about 10am on Thursday. A schoolboy who watched the horrific scene unfold revealed he was almost involved in the tragedy. 'It was our turn next,' he told The Mercury. 'Grade five and six went first.' Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene. Two children have died and several others are in a critical condition in hospital, Tasmania Police Commander Debbie Williams said. Several children have fallen from a height of 10 metres, causing serious injuries, after the wind blew a jumping castle into the air at a primary school in Tasmania's north-west @abcnews pic.twitter.com/tf01vevPab Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021 Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School after two children died in a jumping castle incident The jumping castle was blown into the air by a freak gust of wind, killing two kids and leaving several injured (paramedics are pictured at the scene) The inflatable castle was part of a celebration to mark the last day of school, which also included zorb balls, a slippery slide and a wet play zone. 'A wind event caused a jumping castle to lift into the air,' police said in a statement. 'Several children fell from a height of about 10 metres about 10am.' Residents have been told to avoid the area. 'Tragically I can confirm that there are two deceased children after an incident today at Hillcrest Primary School,' she said. 'Counselling is being made available to the families affected by this in the school community along with the first responders.' Images at the scene showed a wall of tarpaulin sheets set up as paramedics worked desperately to save those who had been injured. Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured) Awful scene at Tasmanias Hillcrest Primary School. Multiple students seriously injured after a jumping castle flipped in a gust of wind @abcnews pic.twitter.com/OTsRUzmDym Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021 A school boy said he was about to have his turn on the jumping castle when the accident happened. 'It was our turn next,' he said, according to The Mercury. 'Grade five and six went first.' Comm Williams said officers were called to 'a very confronting and distressing scene'. The primary school said in a statement its grounds would be closed for the rest of the day. 'We ask that parents come to collect their children as a matter of urgency,' the statement read. Paramedics are pictured at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in Tasmania. Two children have died and several others left in a critical condition after they fell from a jumping castle at the school The primary school said in a statement there had been an accident and the site would be closed for the rest of the day Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was 'heartbreaking' that what was meant to be a fun-filled day of activities turned into a tragedy. 'Young children on a fun day out and it turns to such a horrific tragedy, at this time of year,' he said. 'It just breaks your heart.' Premier Peter Gutwein addressed the incident at a Covid press conference on Thursday. He said it was understood 'there are serious injuries involved'. The school is in Devonport in northern Tasmania (pictured). Hillcrest Primary School had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents 'As further information comes to hand we will provide it, but as this involves a primary school my thoughts are with the people involved and the parents,' he said. Ambulance Tasmania said it was responding to a 'major incident' and urged motorists in the state's north-west to give way to emergency vehicles. A woman wrote on Facebook that she had a friend who was 'racing to the school' and 'saw ambulances everywhere'. 'I've just been on the phone to a friend who was racing to the school - she's a wreck,' the woman wrote. Hillcrest Primary School pictured. 'Several children fell from a height of about 10 metres about 10am,' a Tasmania Police spokesman said Ambulance Tasmania said in a statement that it was responding to a 'major incident' Locals on Facebook said the wind was not that strong on Thursday and that a freak gust must have ripped the jumping castle from the pegs holding it to the ground. 'It's not even that windy down here,' one person wrote. The school had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents. 'Students will have the opportunity to rotate through a range of activities with their cohort,' the school wrote. Commentator Alan Jones has hit out at state leaders over Covid lockdowns but issued a glowing endorsement of NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, who he said was 'leading the way'. Jones said on Wednesday - as NSW eased restrictions for those unvaccinated for Covid - that other state premiers needed to take note. 'McGowan is feeling the heat in WA over the denial of freedoms and Annastacia Palaszczuk is all over the place in Queensland,' Jones said. He also took aim at Victorian Premier Dan Andrews by suggesting lockdowns were an overreaction. 'Dan Andrews locked Melbourne down over six cases of Covid and now he wants to be given credit for freedom when there are over 1,000 cases.' Commentator Alan Jones has hit out at state leaders over Covid lockdowns Jones said there was no 'discernable benefit but massive cost' in locking down Melbourne. The city spent more than 260 days locked down when immunisation rates were low. Over 90 percent of the population is now fully-vaccinated but the state's daily Covid cases remain stubbornly above 1,000. Jones demanded freedoms are returned across the country if nation is to 'return to the country we should be'. 'Dominic Perrotett has led the charge on this... despite being surrounded in parliament by lefties who wanted to lockdown at the first breathe of Omicron'. He then added that infectious diseases expert Dr Peter Collignon has urged people not to overreact over Omicron - as he recently cited data from Africa where the strain was first found - that showed immunised people who caught the variant where not being hospitalised in large numbers. Jones said the NSW Premier sticking to his schedule of reopening the state despite the new variant showed he was committed to winding back stifling restrictions. '(Dom Perrottet) is an outstanding and genuine liberal conservative,' he said. He added the 'public should take credit' for high vaccine numbers which have allowed the reopening to go ahead. 'Perrottet has silenced the alarmists,' he said. 'He has to be commended for standing up to the crushing forces of bureaucratic public health authoritarians.' Jones praised NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet for opening up the state 'despite being surrounded in parliament by lefties who wanted to lockdown at the first breathe of Omicron Mr Perrottet stepped into the role of Premier well after the vaccine rollout in NSW had gained speed and a roadmap out of lockdown was established by previous Premier Gladys Berejiklian. A string of Covid measures were eased on Wednesday along with rules lifting for the unvaccinated. There are now no caps for gatherings or in venues and the unvaccinated can visit pubs, cafes, gyms and hairdressers. Masks are only mandatory on public transport, in planes and airports and for unvaccinated front of house hospitality staff. Minister for jobs Stuart Ayres said the government was allowing residents to 'take personal responsibility' to wear a mask if they felt they needed to. 'As you're making your way around the city or you're moving into indoor settings, we're just asking people to take precautions and wear a mask if they feel it's required,' he said. The state's chief health officer on Wednesday said she strongly recommends residents keep wearing face masks while indoors. '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 string of Covid measures were eased on Wednesday along with rules lifting for the unvaccinated NSW recorded 1,742 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday with no deaths. From Thursday in Victoria there will be 'tweaks' to the restrictions that will continue until January 12. 'Those tweaks are of course informed largely by the relative uncertainty that the Omicron variant brings, as we start to learn more about what that means,' Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters in Melbourne. Among the changes, mandatory vaccination requirements will be removed for all customers in retail, real estate and for those attending weddings, funerals or places of worship. However, hair and beauty customers must still be fully vaccinated, same with patrons of restaurants, bars and cafes. Children under 18 will no longer have to show proof of their vaccination status. Face mask requirements, which the premier flagged would change last month, will remain in retail settings and for hospitality workers, but will no longer be required at weddings, funerals or in other ceremonial settings. Deep cleaning rules will be scrapped for workplaces, tour and transport operators, gyms, theatres and cinemas. Elective surgeries in regional and rural areas will increase by 25 per cent capacity to 75 per cent of normal surgery activity. Ohio congressman Jim Jordan has been revealed as the 'lawmaker' who sent a text to Mark Meadows on the eve of the Capitol riot, suggesting a way in which Mike Pence could avoid certifying the November 2020 vote. Jordan, a staunch ally of Donald Trump, confirmed through his spokesman that on January 5 he texted Meadows, Trump's chief of staff, with advice on overturning the election. The text was a three-paragraph summary of a longer legal argument, and had been sent to Jordan by attorney Joseph Schmitz. Jordan then forwarded Schmitz's argument to Meadows. Jim Jordan, congressman for Ohio, confirmed on Wednesday that he had forwarded a text to Mark Meadows suggesting an avenue for Mike Pence to overturn the election Mike Pence is seen on January 6, certifying the results of the November 2020 election - despite pressure from Donald Trump to refuse to do so. Pence told Trump he did not have the authority to overturn the vote Jim Jordan sent the above text to Mark Meadows on January 5. It was a forwarded message, which had been sent to Jordan by Joseph Schmitz, an attorney. Critics have pointed out that there was a period added at the end, and the full message was far longer. At the time, Trump was desperately seeking a way to prevent his vice president, Pence, from certifying the results of the November vote in Congress - usually, a routine and uneventful procedure. Full text of Joseph Schmitz's message to Jim Jordan, which Jordan forwarded to Mark Meadows 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 - in accordance with guidance from founding father Alexander Hamilton and judicial precedence. 'No legislative act,' wrote Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78, 'contrary to the Constitution, can be valid.' The court in Hubbard v. Lowe reinforced this truth: 'That an unconstitutional statute is not a law at all is a proposition no longer open to discussion.' 226 F. 135, 137 (SDNY 1915), appeal dismissed, 242 U.S. 654 (1916). Following this rationale, an unconstitutionally appointed elector, like an unconstitutionally enacted statute, is no elector at all. Advertisement The text was read out on Monday by Adam Schiff, a member of the January 6 Committee which is looking into events surrounding the insurrection. Schiff read: '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.' Schiff said the text was from 'a lawmaker' - on Wednesday, Russell Dye, a spokesman for Jordan, told CNN: 'Mr. Jordan forwarded the text to Mr. Meadows, and Mr. Meadows certainly knew it was a forward.' Schiff, chair of the House Intelligence Committee in addition to being a member of the January 6 Committee, read only part of the three-paragraph message. His team also added a period at the end of the text, leading The Federalist to say that the text had been 'doctored'. Critics of the committee - who argue that it is an anti-Trump witch hunt - seized on the period at the end of the sentence, insisting it was a twisting of Jordan's message. 'We shouldn't be surprised given his actions over the past 5 years and given how my emails magically had their dates changed, but he will continue to do this till someone steps up & says enough!' said Donald Trump Jr, the former president's son. Andy Biggs, an Arizona congressman and avidly pro-Trump Republican, tweeted: 'Adam Schiff and his staff doctored a text message between @Jim_Jordan and @MarkMeadows. 'Expect a lot more of this. Schiff and the contemptible Jan6 committee will twist and smear the narrative every chance they get.' Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night reported that the committee had been 'doctoring evidence', and reporter Kevin Corke detailed The Federalist report into the text message. Jim Jordan is one of the staunchest supporters of Donald Trump. The pair are seen in August 2018 in Ohio Jordan has not commented on the revelation that he sent Meadows the tweet. Other figures have been revealed to have texted Meadows - among them Fox News hosts Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Brian Kilmeade. They all messaged Meadows on January 6, during the riot, urging Meadows to ask Trump to appear on camera and condemn the insurrectionists, and call them off. Meadows was on Tuesday night declared in contempt of Congress, for refusing to appear before the January 6 Committee. The final vote was 222-208, with two Republicans - Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger - joining all Democrats. The matter will now be turned over to the Justice Department. In October, the House voted that former Trump adviser Steve Bannon be held in contempt for refusing to comply with the subpoena. The Justice Department then charged him with two counts of contempt. He has pleaded not guilty but faces up to a year in prison on each charge if convicted. Jordan, before Tuesday's vote to censure Meadows, tweeted: 'Mark Meadows is a great American.' The National Trust has appointed the RSPCA'S chief as its new chairman just months after its former boss quit amid a growing row over the 'woke' direction the charity was taking. American-born Rene Olivieri, 68, who has also held a number of non-executive roles in the cultural and natural heritage sector, has been selected to take up the post with the Trust in February, the charity announced. The decision to appoint Mr Olivieri, who has been described as a 'safe pair of hands', comes just months after the former chairman of the National Trust, Tim Parker, quit amid a growing row over the 'woke' direction of the charity. Mr Parker left just 24 hours after members were left furious by the charity's recent focus on politically correct issues - which included linking properties to colonialism. Members, ministers and MPs had grown increasingly frustrated with Mr Parker's chairmanship, which critics said he used to take the 126-year-old charity in a 'bourgeois' and 'politically correct' direction. Rene Olivieri, who is also chairman of the animal charity the RSPCA, has been selected to take up the post with the National Trust in February However the charity's new appointment, Mr Olivieri, has never publicly been involved in any political rows or commented on so-called 'culture wars'. He was interim chairman of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a member of both the Culture Recovery Fund Board and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Cultural and Heritage Capital Advisory Board. He was chairman of the Wildlife Trusts for six years and has held the role at the RSPCA since 2019. Speaking on his new appointment he said: 'As a charity and national institution with a 126-year history, it's uniquely placed to recognise the debt to the generations that have gone before and its responsibility to those which follow. 'I believe the National Trust is the body that makes essential connections in our world, between the past and future, nature and heritage and between people from all parts of society. 'We must all work together to preserve and promote our heritage while taking climate action and restoring nature. 'I want to ensure the National Trust, which is privileged to be able to take such a long view, plays a leading role in realising these ambitions.' Mr Olivieri's role will be to provide leadership to the board of trustees and the council, and support and guide director-general Hilary McGrady and her team in delivering the strategy of the charity, which has more than five million members. Ms McGrady said: 'I'm delighted Rene is joining us as chair. 'We have the same ambition: to give as many people as possible access to the incredible collections, houses, land and coastline that we care for on behalf of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Former chairman Tim Parker quit amid a growing row over the 'woke' direction the charity was taking this year The National Trust said Mr Olivieri will bring his 'unique experience' in both culture and nature to the charity 'Rene brings passion, knowledge and a superb blend of skills and I am delighted to be able to work with him to fulfil our shared ambition.' Last September, the Trust published a 115-page report which 'blacklisted' 93 of its estates over their alleged links to slavery - including Chartwell in Kent, home of Sir Winston Churchill. The Charity Commission subsequently opened a regulatory compliance case and the heritage minister told Parliament that the report was 'unfortunate' and the Trust should go back to its 'core functions'. left just 24 hours after members launched a bid to depose him. In a statement posted on the Trust's website, the charity said Mr Parker had 'informed trustees of his decision the day after the Trust's houses reopened to the public on 17 May, and will step down in October this year'. Mr Parker had served two three-year terms and had agreed to a 'third exceptional term' to provide stability during the coronavirus pandemic which hit visitor numbers. Restore Trust, which was founded by members earlier this year in a bid to stop history being 'demonised' by organisations including the National Trust, welcomed the news of Mr Parker's departure. In a statement published on its website, it said: 'We are pleased that Mr Parker has decided to resign as National Trust, following the publication of our motion of no confidence in him that would have been put to this year's Annual Meeting. 'His position was clearly untenable given everything that has happened and the current crisis of confidence in the National Trust amongst its staff, volunteers and members. 'What the National Trust needs now is a chair with a deep understanding and appreciation of our nation's heritage. 'We also call on the Board of Trustees to make this an open and accountable process so that their shortlist of potential candidates is published and they present themselves and their proposals for the Trust to members in open events in the coming months.' Earlier this year Mr Parker Four people have been rushed to hospital after a car smashed through a busy shopping centre in Melbourne leaving crowds of Christmas shoppers shocked. The vehicle drove 45 metres inside the Northcote Plaza on Separation Street in the city's northern suburbs, and hit at least two shopfronts and six pedestrians. Emergency services including paramedics, firefighters and police were called to the shopping precinct before 11am on Thursday. Images from the scene show the glass-front of the Suzanne Grae clothing store smashed to pieces, as fallen shoeboxes litter the floor the shop floor. Four people have been rushed to hospital after a car smashed through a busy shopping centre in Melbourne leaving crowds of Christmas shoppers shocked The vehicle drove 45 metres inside the Northcote Plaza on Separation Street, in the city's northern suburbs, and hit at least two shopfronts and six pedestrians Ambulance Victoria said six people were treated at the scene with a man and woman taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition. Another man was treated for upper-body injuries and taken to the same hospital in a serious, but stable condition. A woman was taken to St Vincents Hospital to be observed. Two others were assessed at the scene but did not require treatment in hospital. Victoria Police stated six pedestrians were hit by the vehicle however said their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. Emergency services including paramedics, firefighters and police were called to the shopping precinct before 11am on Thursday Ambulance Victoria said six people were treated at the scene with a man and woman taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition The driver of the car is currently assisting officers with their enquiries. Police said the incident 'is not being treated as deliberate'. Other occupants have been evacuated from the plaza as a precaution while a structural assessment of the shopping centre is underway. A witness to the horror smash told 3AW radio they 'heard a bang and went the other way' after initially thinking 'somebody was shooting'. Anyone with information on the crash has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Invasive plants from other parts of the world such as Japanese knotweed are destroying Britains unique mix of flora, say researchers. The knotweed is seen as a super invader capable of colonising new territory and displacing native species, according to the study. Another offender is Himalayan balsam which was introduced here in 1839 and is now an invasive weed of riverbanks and ditches, where it prevents native species growing. Such plants can sometimes enrich ecosystems but usually upset a regions particular mix of plants, leading to a net loss of global floristic uniqueness, said researchers at the University of Konstanz in Germany. Invasive plants from other parts of the world such as Japanese knotweed are destroying Britains unique mix of flora, say researchers The super invaders are causing the flora in even regions with clear geographic separation to become increasingly similar. For the paper, published in Nature Communications, the researchers studied 658 regional floras from nearly all parts of the world. Study author Dr Qiang Yang said the UK is particularly hard hit, with a very high level of decline in floristic uniqueness. Wild flowers growing in one country are becoming similar to those grown elsewhere, something that was not the case previously, the research found. The researchers from the University of Konstanz in Germany said super invaders - which are highly effective at colonising new territory and displacing native species - are causing the flora in even distant regions with clear geographic separation to become increasingly similar. To assess how unique each region was, researchers looked at the number of plant species a region shares or does not share with other regions, and the degree to which plant species are related to each other. Another offender is Himalayan balsam which is an invasive weed of riverbanks and ditches (pictured, volunteers remove the plant from the River Lea, London) Factors that contributed to the loss of floral uniqueness include having a similar climate. One example was Eucalyptus - originally from Australia, but now grown in many countries with similar warm climates. 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 naturalised 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, Dr Qiang Yang, the lead author of the study, said. Dr Mark van Kleunen, Professor of Ecology in the Department of Biology at the University of Konstanz and senior author of the report, said: These effects are now evident even in the most remote corners of the world. Unless more effective protective measures are taken to counter the ongoing spread and naturalisation of alien plants in the future, they will continue to destroy the uniqueness of our ecosystems - making the world a less diverse place. Locked down Australians have adopted a strange new fetish during lockdown - choosing cartoons over real people. Hentai - animated pornography - has beaten out lesbian as the most viewed category on the Pornhub website in Australia in 2021. Australia was also ranked the 12th biggest user of the site this year, according to a new report released on Thursday. Hentai came in as Australia's most searched category on Pornhub in 2021 as locked down Aussies turned to the strange fetish Lana Rhoades was the most viewed pornstar in the world for a third-consecutive year, despite retiring from the industry Dr Laurie Betitio, of Pornhub's Sexual Wellness Centre said hentai often has a stronger storyline than other types of pornography, which can make it appealing to viewers. 'Cartoons are more fantastical than regular porn. They may offer more visual stimulation in terms of movements, angles, colours and facial expressions,' she said. 'Because it's not real, it can go further, with less constraints that reality offers.' Lesbian content - sometimes known as 'girl on girl' - was the second most popular search for Australians, while the term 'Asian' moved up one spot to the third most searched. Americans retained their position of the most avid watchers of porn videos, followed by the UK, Japan and France. Worldwide, the most popular time to watch pornography is 11pm, with 5am being a quiet time for fans. Hentai - animated pornography - has beaten out lesbian as the most viewed category on the Pornhub website in Australia in 2021 The average time spent on the Pornhub site dropped by nearly half a minute to nine minutes and 55 seconds. The site says this is not due to waning interest, but an improved interface offering 'handy search algorithm and well-curated category tags'. Users from the Philippines stayed on the site the longest at 11 minutes and 31 seconds on average. Lana Rhodes has cemented her position as the most searched for porn star on the site, retaining the top spot for the third year running. Among the other most popular categories on the website are Japanese, ebony and teacher - the latter rising by 14 spots since last year. Among the other most popular categories on the website are Japanese, ebony and teacher - the latter rising by 14 spots since last year Pornhub attributes this to a Taiwanese math teacher Chang Hsu, who uploads tutorials to the site. Mr Hsu has 7,700 subscribers and his videos have been watched more than two million times. 'I knew this day would come,' he said. 'People get intrigued if you do special things in special places.' Pornhub has previously been criticised for hosting illegal content, leading to a loss of advertisers. But this year it published its first transparency report, saying it removed 653,465 pieces of content identified as potentially harmful. Advertisement Tory rebels have warned Boris Johnson that things must change by next year or he will have to go after delivering the biggest bloody nose of his premiership. The entire leadership of the 1922 Committee joined the 100-strong backbench revolt over the Government's new Covid passes, and MPs were told that chairman Sir Graham Brady will accept their letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister over Christmas. It means that Tories will be able to register their unhappiness with Mr Johnson as leader in the days following the result of today's North Shropshire by-election, rather than wait until Parliament is due to return on January 5. Conservatives urged Mr Johnson to 'reset' his entire operation, saying more than two dozen letters challenging his leadership of the party could be submitted following a series of scandals including alleged lockdown-busting Christmas parties at Downing Street and his handling of the Owen Paterson furore. Mr Johnson will suffer another major blow to his authority if the Tories lose the ultra-safe seat of North Shropshire in a by-election triggered by disgraced former MP Mr Paterson's resignation over lobbying. Voters head to the polls in the West Midlands constituency today, with the Liberal Democrats eying a real chance to overturn a near 23,000-vote majority. Veteran Tory backbencher Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown claimed a leadership challenge has 'got to be on the cards' if the Prime Minister does not alter the way he deals with his own MPs. Andrew Bridgen warned that the party was 'ruthless' at getting rid of leaders who had become a liability. The entire leadership of the 1922 Committee joined the 100-strong revolt over Boris Johnson's plan for Covid passes, and MPs were told that chairman Sir Graham Brady will accept their letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister over Christmas Mr Johnson meets staff during a visit to a pharmacy in the North Shropshire constituency ahead of the by-election Party? What party? Boris defends staff over law-breaking party in No10 saying they have 'worked blindingly hard for a very long time' and events have been 'mis-characterised' Boris Johnson angrily defended staff accused of hosting law-breaking parties in Downing Street during lockdown last year. The Prime Minister insisted events had been 'mischaracterised' as he held a press conference in the very room where aides last year joked on camera about an illicit gathering. He was asked whether he would welcome a police probe into a series of parties in November and December 2020 that are currently being investigated by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case. It came as former Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey apologised after being pictured at a party in Conservative Party headquarters last December, while such gatherings were banned in the capital. Mr Johnson said: 'I think you completely mis-characterised the events in this place where people, to the best of my knowledge, have worked blindingly hard for a very long time in co-operation with people around the government and across the whole of the public services to do our very best to keep people safe. Advertisement 'The old Boris magic is wearing thin,' he said. 'He was brilliant at getting Brexit done. When he became PM I assumed he would get a great team to help him run the Government to make up for his lack of organisational skills. But he hasn't. 'As soon as [Tory leaders] become a liability they have to go. Boris knows this because he took part in the unceremonious defenestration of Theresa May. He needs to change or go.' Mark Harper, head of the Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs, said the Government 'could not carry on like this'. 'He can get back on track... Lots of things are going wrong and there needs to be a reset', he said. Tobias Ellwood, Commons defence committee chairman, said the MPs's revolt 'sent a clear message that future policy will receive greater scrutiny and [that] No 10's performance over the last couple of months was sub-optimal and things need to change'. But asked at last night's press conference whether he intended to 'change', Mr Johnson pointed to recent successes. The Prime Minister said he 'would respectfully suggest' the public are focused on the booster vaccines rollout in response to Omicron. His lack of contrition following the rebellion will be unlikely to reassure his colleagues. One senior Tory MP said: 'I've never seen anything like it. People are angry furious. I think that there are a dozen letters [calling for a vote of confidence in the PM] in to the '22 [the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs], but if we lose North Shropshire [in today's by-election, prompted by the resignation of Owen Paterson], it will be two dozen.' However, another senior Tory MP said: 'Depending on what happens with Covid, if he comes back in the New Year with some evidence that the No 10 machine has had the creases ironed out of it, he will be fine.' Sir Geoffrey, who was one of the 98 Tories to vote against the PM, said: 'I think now the Prime Minister has got to think very carefully about how he is going to reset his performance to actually govern with a united party because we all know what happens to disunited parties. 'I think he can do it but it is going to involve a major change of the way he does things and consults us basically.' Sir Geoffrey said the PM 'has got to realise that he has got to consult his party properly before bringing these sorts of measures to the Commons'. Asked how much danger the PM is in, Sir Geoffrey said: 'He has got to now be in some danger and he has got to realise that because if he doesn't raise that then he will be in much bigger danger.' Asked what that means for Mr Johnson, the MP said: 'If this goes on, we have had a very bad month in the last month, I think some members of the party will be thinking to themselves we have got to have a change. 'But we are not there yet and I am still with him, I am still backing him, but he has got to change.' North Shropshire has returned a Tory MP in every vote since 1983, which was the constituency's first election in its current form. Around 100 Conservative MPs rebelled to vote against Covid passes, inflicting a hammer blow on Mr Johnson's authority But the area has been true blue, only twice voting for another colour, since the Conservative Party's inception in 1830. In the 2019 general election, the Tories won 62.7 per cent of the vote and held the seat with a majority of 22,949 over Labour, with the Lib Dems in third. So loss for Conservative candidate Neil Shastri-Hurst to Lib Dem Helen Morgan would be a major upset for the Tories. Bookmakers have put the Lib Dems favourite for victory, while campaigners on the ground believe the result is too close to call and leader Sir Ed Davey described it as a 'coin toss'. Defeat would compound a torrid period for Mr Johnson after 100 Conservatives defied the leadership to vote against the introduction of mandatory Covid health passes for entry to large venues the biggest rebellion since he entered No 10. Asked on Wednesday if Mr Johnson would quit if North Shropshire falls, the Prime Minister's press secretary said: 'We are fighting for every vote.' The result is expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday. JASON GROVES: What Boris MUST now do to see off Liz and other ambitious rivals after bruising 100 MP rebellion The rebels are 'haemorrhaging' support, declared a bullish minister just an hour before 100 Tory MPs delivered the biggest bloody nose of Boris Johnson's 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 hasn't 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 doesn't, 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 Truss's 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 Truss's 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 Paterson's 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 Government's watered-down Plan B proposals, which almost no-one thinks will be enough to halt the mutant strain. 'They just don't get it,' said the source a sentiment echoed by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said Tuesday's vote 'felt like it was fighting yesterday's 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 don't get it,' said the source a sentiment echoed by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said Tuesday's vote 'felt like it was fighting yesterday's war A Cabinet source said: 'I don't 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 he's had enough.' Opposition to Mrs May's reign was focused largely among the party's Brexiteers. Boris, by contrast, has got critics everywhere he looks. Opposition to Mrs May's reign was focused largely among the party's 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 hospitality industry demanded urgent help from the Treasury after Chris Whittys comments yesterday. Pubs and restaurants said the chief medical officers advice to prioritise some social contact over other events would be disastrous. Along with theatres, they have already suffered mass cancellations during the key festive period. Previous lockdowns saw billions provided to support businesses, from furlough for workers to half price meals for customers. Celebrity chefs Tom Kerridge and Raymond Blanc are among those calling for more action to combat the effects of Omicron. Celebrity chef Raymond Blanc has described the current situation as carnage as he called for more action to help businesses through Omicron Kerridge said he had suffered 654 cancellations in six days, while Blanc described the current situation as carnage. Rishi Sunak, who is currently in the US, will hold talks with hospitality chiefs today but the Treasury indicated last night that no new help would be forthcoming unless further restrictions were brought in by law. Baroness McGregor-Smith, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, said businesses were being hit by a two-punch combination of staff shortages and waning confidence from customers, meaning firms face seeing vital festive income melt away. She added that Professor Whittys comments last night will almost certainly have an enormous impact for businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector... [but] we heard no news of any new financial support measures. Until now the Treasury has stepped up at every stage of this crisis to help offset restrictions that limited businesses ability to trade fully, which is what makes its complete absence at this crucial moment all the more baffling. Following advice to work from home amid rising Covid cases, Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality said Plan B was having a devastating impact. We desperately need support if we are to survive this latest set of restrictions and urge the Government to stand behind our industry, she said. That means full business rates relief, grants, rent protection and extended VAT reductions. Anything less would prove catastrophic. In a trading update yesterday, Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin warned Covid curbs could see his pub chain record a loss in the first six months of the year. He complained the nation was heading towards a lockdown by stealth. Chef Michel Roux Jr tweeted that his daughter had been hit with over 300 cancellations in the last two days, with Blanc saying: Its carnage... we all hope that the Government will help the industry. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves tweeted last night: Where is the Chancellor? Government just told the public to deprioritise social contact... its unacceptable that he wasnt there to outline business support. A source said Mr Sunak was abroad on a long-planned work trip, but will fly back tomorrow. He will hold todays talks with industry chiefs from San Francisco, where he is meeting senior figures from the tech and investment sectors. A spokesman for the Treasury said: Our 400billion Covid support package will continue to help businesses into spring next year and we will continue to respond proportionately to the changing path of the virus. A digital replica of the world's first ever text message is set to go under the hammer, where it is expected to fetch more than 150,000. Now almost 30 years later, the iconic SMS that paved the way for the future has been recreated as an non-fungible token (NFT) by the mobile phone giant and put up for auction in Paris. On December 3, 1992, 22-year-old British programmer Neil Papworth sent the first ever Short Message Service (SMS) from a computer to colleague Richard Jarvis. Mr Papworth had been working as a developer and test engineer to create a Short Message Service for Vodafone, so typed out 'Merry Christmas' on a computer from their base in Newbury, Berkshire. Mr Jarvis, then a director at the company, successfully received the message on his Orbitel 901 handset - and the pathway to modern messaging was born. A digital replica of the world's first ever text message is set to go under the hammer in Paris, where it is expected to fetch more than 150,000 Speaking in 2017, Mr Papworth remarked: 'In 1992, I had no idea just how popular texting would become, and that this would give rise to emojis and messaging apps used by millions. 'I only recently told my children that I sent that first text. Looking back with hindsight, it's clearer to see that the Christmas message I sent was a pivotal moment in mobile history.' Now, almost three decades on, the trailblazing text is set to become a collective for the wealthy, tech-savvy buyers at the French auctioneers. The auction will be conducted in Paris on 21 December 2021 by Aguttes, the first independent auction house in France. Largely active in the international art and luxury market, it expects to gather bidders from all around the world for this sale - which could fetch up to 170,000. On December 3, 1992, 22-year-old British programmer Neil Papworth (pictured) sent the first ever Short Message Service (SMS) from a computer to Vodafone colleague Richard Jarvis Non-fungible tokens are a digitised method of storing collectable unique assets such as works of art which have seen a huge rise in popularity across the globe. Mr Aguttes said of the upcoming sale: 'The first printed book, the first phone call, the first email all these inventions have changed our lives and communication in the world. 'This first text message received in 1992 is a historic testament to human and technological progress we are delighted to be able to support the sale of this landmark piece of history for this cause.' Vodafone has said it plans to donate all proceeds from the auction to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support the 82.4 million people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution. The thumbs up and heart-eyes emojis also made the top ten but flags, despite being the group with the most emojis, were the least used category Considering the first was sent in 1992, messaging didnt become commonplace until the early 2000s. In fact, in 1995 mobile phone customers sent only 0.4 messages on average each per month. Now, SMS are used by more than five billion people around the world as we continue to fervently bash keypads with our thumbs. The rapid rise of the text message in turn helped facilitate our use of emojis in modern messaging. A new study ranked the UKs most popular emojis include smiling faces, kisses and hearts. The data, released by the Unicode Consortium, showed that the 'tears of joy' face was followed by the 'red heart', and the emoticon depicting 'rolling on the floor laughing with tears' coming in third. Immigration rules should be relaxed immediately to let migrants and asylum seekers fill employment gaps in the UK's struggling social care sector, government advisers have recommended. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has advised Priti Patel to add care workers to Britain's shortage occupation list, due to the 'severe and increasing difficulties faced by the sector'. Once a certain occupation is added to the list, it makes it easier for migrants to get visas as the minimum salary threshold for that job is reduced to 20,480. While 'senior' care workers were added to the list in March, the home secretary has refused to add all levels of foreign care workers, demanding domestic workers who have lost their jobs during the pandemic fill the vacancies instead. MAC also wants asylum seekers to be allowed to work while awaiting the outcome of their applications to live in the UK, with similar moves being supported by rights campaigners and the Labour Party. Currently, asylum seekers can only start a job if they have been waiting to hear back for at least 12 months - and the role must be on the shortage list. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has advised Priti Patel (pictured) to add care workers to Britain's shortage occupation list, due to the 'severe and increasing difficulties faced by the care sector' A group of migrants arrive to Dover on Wednesday, performing a V for victory sign with their fingers The Home Office fears making it easier for asylum seekers to work will only increase the 'pull factor' for illegal immigration and encourage more to travel to Britain. But MAC refuted such fears in its annual report on Wednesday, saying there was 'clear evidence' that the current ban on asylum seekers working in the UK harmed their individual ability to integrate - as well as the wider UK economy. The report said: 'The harm is exacerbated by the increasing numbers of asylum seekers who are having to wait over six months for an initial decision on their application.' It added that there was 'little evidence' that the ban provided 'significant benefits'. Professor Brian Bell, the committee's chairman, added that the work ban also hit tax revenues because those who were granted asylum were more likely to end up unemployed or in low-paid jobs. Mr Bell said: 'The evidence is clear: the current approach delays integration and has a detrimental impact on those seeking protection. 'That is why we have recommended the government looks again at this issue and considers granting asylum seekers the right to work while their application is pending.' The recommendation came amid preliminary findings from an independent review from MAC on the effect that ending freedom of movement after Brexit was having on the UK's social care sector and its workers. The report said: 'We are currently in the middle of a commission investigating the impact of the ending of freedom of movement on the adult social care sector. 'We provide an update in this report on our preliminary findings and unusually are taking the opportunity to make a formal recommendation to the government. 'Given the severe and increasing difficulties the sector is facing in terms of both recruitment and retention, we are recommending that care worker jobs immediately be made eligible for the health and care visa and placed on the shortage occupation list.' It comes as Ms Patel is being taken to court over another 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 in Britain for 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. 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.' Paul McKenna is hosting the world's first mass online hypnosis to convert Britain's 15 million sprout haters to lovers of the vegetable this Christmas. The renowned hypnotist has created a groundbreaking video as research reveals almost a quarter (23 per cent) of Britons can't stand Brussels Sprouts. The ten minute 'Save Our Sprouts' trance works by encouraging viewers to imagine something they love eating while also thinking about the vegetable. The hypnosis has already been tested successfully on several sprout-hating members of the public. Renowned hypnotist Paul McKenna (pictured) has created a groundbreaking video as research reveals almost a quarter (23 per cent) of Britons can't stand Brussels Sprouts It was rolled out to the nation on supermarket Aldi's YouTube channel, just in time to help sprouts haters up and down the country ahead of the Big Day. It's hoped the new video will save 130 million of the vegetable from ending up in landfill this festive season. The 58 year old behavioural scientist said: 'I was excited at the prospect of being part of a fun, festive project, with a good cause at its heart. 'This sprouts hypnosis is all about increasing food choices for Brits over Christmas, at a time that is all about enjoyment. 'Not only are sprouts an essential part of Christmas day, but they are also a great source of vitamins and minerals. 'Here's to coming together as a nation to keep them on our Christmas dinner plates for good.' Two sprout haters vouched for McKenna's methods after he worked his spell on them. Christmas dinner items in order of Brits preference 1. Roast potatoes 2. Turkey 3. Yorkshire puddings 4. Stuffing 5. Pigs in Blankets 6. Parsnips 7. Carrots 8. Sprouts Advertisement By asking that they imagine the texture and taste of their favourite food when eating brussels sprouts, he was able to refocus their brains to let go of previous negative thoughts towards the vegetable. After the session, which took approximately 15 minutes, both had been converted into sprout lovers - and even went back for seconds. Scott Garson, a 29 year old finance manager from Clapham, London, said: 'I'm shocked. I think the most surprising outcome of this experiment is that after eating one sprout, I went in for another. 'I never thought that I would like them, let alone want more! I just hope it lasts and it's a Merry Sproutmas.' Enoch Ogbonnaya, a student from Charlton, London, said: 'The flavour has changed*I don't know how, but it has. 'My mum is going to be absolutely shocked, and she's going to be buzzing. Now, when she puts brussel sprouts on the plate, I'll ask for seconds.' In a bid to boost the nation's love of sprouts, Aldi has also created a collection of alternative recipes to boiling and roasting, such as the 'Unbel-leaf-able Sprout Cupcakes' and 'Bloody Sprout-Mary'. Research by Aldi has revealed amongst 18 to 24 year olds, the hatred is higher than nationally with 41 per cent of Gen-Z not liking the classic Christmas vegetable. Pictured: A frying pan with roasted brussel sprouts on wooden table (File image) It was ranked the least favourite component of the dinner plate on the Big Day - with roast potatoes followed by turkey coming out on top. Parsnips are Brits' favourite out of the three Christmas vegetables. The research of over 2,000 Brits found Bradford, West Yorkshire, is the biggest sprout hating city with 60 per cent of Bradfordians admitting they would rather not have them this year. One in ten (10 per cent) fear the hatred could see sprouts losing their place at the Christmas table for good. Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, said: 'Sprouts are a polarising vegetable that has the nation divided. 'Not only will our online hypnosis help customers to enjoy every single element of their Christmas dinner, but it could also help to save millions of sprouts from being tossed in the bin. 'We hope sprout haters up and down the country are encouraged to give the hypnosis a go.' Top doctor Kerryn Phelps has unleashed an unprecedented attack on the NSW Government over their handling of the Omicron crisis in a no-holds-barred video. The former MP for the federal seat of Wentworth branded NSW Premier Dom Perrottet's decision to axe almost all Covid restrictions as case numbers soar as 'unfathomable' and followed the state's 'appalling' decision to let Delta rip earlier in the year. 'The political decisions by the NSW government to even drop the no-brainer requirement of masks just reeks of indifference to the suffering it will cause,' she said. 'This is not freedom. This is denial. It will not keep us all safe.' But doomsday predictions by the NSW government have come under fire from another expert who branded them a 'gross overestimation'. Top doctor Kerryn Phillips (pictured) has unleashed an unprecedented attack on the NSW Government over their handling of the Omicron crisis in a no-holds-barred video The outburst came as Covid start to blow up in NSW, with case numbers doubling within 48 hours from 804 on Tuesday to 1762 on Thursday. Dr Phelps said she and her colleagues were stunned by NSW health minister Brad Hazzard's admission that modelling predicted 25,000 cases a day by the end of January. 'It is some weird form of cognitive dissonance that sees a government ease safeguards in the same week as exponential growth in case numbers starts to explode,' she said. However infectious disease expert Peter Collignon has questioned the NSW modelling, saying he found the numbers 'hard to believe', branding it ' a 'gross overestimation'. infectious disease expert Peter Collignon (pictured) has questioned the NSW modelling, saying he found it the numbers 'hard to believe' and branding it ' a 'gross overestimation' 'There is no evidence that vaccines in the real world are failing us against Omicron,' he told news.com.au. 'We need to take into account the things that matter and they are serious illness and death and there is evidence that vaccines are protecting us against these risks. 'Weve got a level of fear that is not proportionate to the data.' He added: 'With the current measures in place the whole state would grind to a halt if we hit 25,000 cases a day. 'There's no way it would happen and no way contact tracers would be able to follow up those many people.' Dr Phelps - who briefly took Malcolm Turnbull's Wentworth parliamentary seat in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs as an independent in 2018 - said vaccines reduced the chance of becoming seriously ill and passing on the disease. But in a five minute video posted to Facebook, she stressed: 'The vaccines do not prevent everyone from catching the virus and passing it on. The differing views come as Covid starts to blow up in NSW, with case numbers doubling within 48 hours from 804 on Tuesday to 1762 on Thursday (pictured, cars queue for Covid tests at Bondi Beach on Wednesday) 'That is the reality some governments around the world are starting to wake up to, while others are either asleep at the wheel, or clueless or reckless or negligent.' She accused the government of 'surrendering' to the disease and said it was not the 'pandemic of the unvaccinated' as some had claimed. 'Now it is the pandemic of the absolutely anyone,' she said. 'Do you love your children? Do you care about your parents? How about your friends? 'Which ones would you be comfortable to see struggling for breath and trying to suck oxygen through nasal prongs, or immobilised and intubated in an ICU bed? 'Which of your children or grandchildren would it be okay to see develop long Covid, unable to get out of bed to go to school or to play sport, and not knowing when or if they would get better?' The former Australian Medical Association president added: 'The thing with the Covid-19 pandemic is that you don't get to choose. 'The virus doesn't care. The virus doesn't love you or your parents or your children or your grandchildren. One of them might be just in the wrong place at the wrong time.' She said politicians trying to switch public attention away from case numbers to hospitalisation and ICU numbers were using flawed logic. She said politicians trying to switch public attention away from case numbers to hospitalisation and ICU numbers were using flawed logic (pictured, ICU staff care for Covid patients at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital) 'This ignores the experience of people who suffer illness and potential long term disability from the infection,' she said. 'A policy of deliberately expecting to infect children and other vulnerable people and in fact, everyone, is counter to any known or accepted public health practice.' She warned beating Covid still had a long way to go, despite the optimism over vaccines. 'Nobody said it would be easy to eliminate this virus,' she said. 'It was always going to take time and persistence. 'There must be a multifaceted approach that includes vaccination, masks, ventilation, PCR and rapid antigen testing, ramping up tracing isolation and quarantine. 'No single precaution will work and it will take patience. But that is not what is happening.' Dr Phelps said people will have to fend for themselves over Christmas 'unless and until the government comes to its collective senses or is forced to act.' She added: 'Please make the choice to be safe.' The first female commissioner of the New York Police Department was officially named on Wednesday at a ceremony held in front of a mural depicting celebrated black revolutionaries. Keechant Sewell, 49, is only the third black NYPD commissioner in the force's 176-year history, and ends a 30-year line of white men leading the force. Sewell, currently chief of detectives in Nassau County, was formally declared the next commissioner - ahead of officially taking over on January 1 - at the Queens housing project where she grew up. She stood in front of a mural depicting Malcolm X, Assata Shakur and Huey P. Newton. 'I am mindful of the historic nature of this announcement,' she said, noting she realized what it meant for people of color. Keechant Sewell, 49, is seen on Wednesday with Eric Adams, the mayor-elect, behind her. Sewell will on January 1 become the first female commissioner of the NYPD Sewell is seen on Wednesday in front of a mural showing, among others, Nat Turner, Malcolm X, Angela Davis and Huey P. Newton. To the right, out of shot, is Assata Shakur and Brazilian educationalist Paulo Freire Eric Adams new NYPD commissioner is being appointed in front of a mural featuring Malcolm X, Nat Turner, Angela Davis, Huey Newton and Assata Shakur. pic.twitter.com/TshnCS3U31 Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) December 15, 2021 Eric Adams, who takes over as mayor on January 1, said on Wednesday that he was proud of her trail-blazing. 'Chief Sewell's appointment today is a powerful message to girls and young women across the city, there is no ceiling to your ambition,' Adams said. 'I am so proud today to tear down barriers. 'This amazing law enforcement professional, she carried with her throughout her career a sledgehammer. And she crushed every glass ceiling that was put in her way and today she had crashed and destroyed the final one we need in New York City.' Behind them looked down Huey P. Newton, the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, who was jailed for the murder of a police officer in Oakland, California, in 1967 - although the conviction was later overturned. Newton is known for writing the Black Panthers' 10 Point Program, which states: 'We Want An Immediate End To Police Brutality And Murder Of Black People.' The document declares: 'We believe we can end police brutality in our Black community by organizing Black self-defense groups that are dedicated to defending our Black community from racist police oppression and brutality.' Newton was murdered by a member of a Marxist-Leninist drug dealing gang in 1989, aged 47. Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, was murdered in Oakland, California in 1989. He served time in prison for murdering a police officer - with the conviction later overturned - and on Wednesday the next NYPD commissioner held a press conference beneath his mural Also depicted on the mural was Assata Shakur, who is still on the run following the 1973 killing of a New Jersey state trooper. The step-aunt and godmother of rapper Tupac Shakur, she was accused of committing a series of crimes in the New York area, frequently alongside other members of the Black Liberation Army. She was accused of two bank robberies in New York; the kidnap and murder of a drug dealer; armed robbery, during which she was shot; and the attempted murder of policemen in an ambush. She was either acquitted or the cases dismissed. In 2013, she became the first woman added to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist list, under her birth name, Joanne Chesimard. Shakur, now aged 74 and living in Havana, Cuba, has a $2 million reward for her capture. Assata Shakur is seen in 1987 in Havana, Cuba, where she fled after being convicted of murdering a New Jersey state trooper Angela Davis is seen in 1972, after she was released from prison after being accused of the armed seizure of a Marin County Courthouse in California. She was later acquitted Sewell addressed the media on Wednesday at the Queens housing project where she grew up Civil rights leader Malcolm X was depicted on the mural in Queens Also on the mural was Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam leader assassinated in 1965. He initially advocated advancing civil rights 'by any means necessary', but in his later years moderated his tone and began urging peaceful protest. Another leading light of the civil rights movement, Angela Davis, now 77, was also depicted - the scholar, activist and icon of black liberation looking down on the scene below. Davis, a vocal supporter of the Black Panthers, USSR and anti-war movements, still lectures at universities across the country and champions resistance movements. Also featured was Nat Turner, an enslaved man who led a rebellion of enslaved people in Virginia on August 21, 1831. Turner hid nearby successfully for six weeks until his discovery, conviction, and hanging at Jerusalem, Virginia, along with 16 of his followers. On social media, some questioned the choice of venue, and the association with controversial figures such as Newton and Shakur. 'Divisive and wrong to have this mural on display!' said one. 'This is beyond any parody,' said another. 'Why did the new commissioner agree to that? Bad start,' added another. Nat Turner's slave rebellion is depicted in an engraving made around 1881 Newton's depiction caused particular alarm. 'This is so surreal wtf is this lmao, Huey Newton literally has 'revolution' in his quote on that wall, tf you people think he meant by 'revolution'?' said one. Some took a different view, arguing that the decision by Sewell and Adams to stand in front of the mural was designed to appeal to the black community, but with little hope of improvement. 'And?.......that's just to fool black people into believing he is on our side when in fact he's not,' said another. 'This is all for the optics. Truth is we are already on to the con.' Others argued that it was insulting to the memories of the civil rights activists who were depicted on the mural, such as Malcolm X. 'There's something incredibly wrong with this picture and wholly insulting to the memories of the people depicted in the mural,' said one. 'With the exception of Nat Turner, every person memorialized in that mural has an NYPD intelligence file with surveillance notes to the FBI.' Another added: 'It's insulting to everyone involved.' A new poll has found an overwhelming majority of Australians don't want to go back into lockdown despite a spike in Covid-19 cases. The Daily Mail Australia poll asked readers if they believed NSW should go into lockdown as Covid-19 cases surge on Thursday. The survey of almost 3,000 people found 61 per cent believe the state shouldn't enter lockdown, while 39 per cent voted in favour of a lockdown. Almost 3,000 Daily Mail Australia readers voted on the poll which asked if NSW should go back into lockdown It comes as NSW recorded 1,742 new local cases of Covid-19 on Thursday - the state's highest daily total since the pandemic began. The new high smashes the previous record of 1,599 new cases on September 10 when Australia's most populated state was in the middle of a 100-day lockdown to stop the spread of the Delta variant. There are now also 192 Covid patients in hospital across the state - up from 166 on Wednesday. A majority of Australians (61 per cent) voted against a lockdown despite NSW recording 1,742 new local cases of Covid-19 on Thursday A surge in case numbers has prompted NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to repeat his call for the focus to shift to the number of people in hospitals and ICU. While hospitalisations generally lag behind 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. 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 The new cases were announced as it emerged unvaccinated Australians could be locked out of venues again if hospitals become inundated with Covid patients who haven't got the jab. Wednesday marked the first day unvaxxed NSW residents were given the same freedoms as the double jabbed, but Minister for Jobs and Tourism Stuart Ayres on Thursday said the rules could change. 'If we start to see people who are unvaccinated making their way back into hospital because they don't have those levels of protection, the government will take action to ensure that we protect people and protect our health system,' he told Sunrise. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet continues to dismiss the possibility of a lockdown and has repeated calls to focus on hospitalisations and ICU admissions Ultimately, this is all about protecting our health system, so having high case numbers is one thing, but what we've really got to do is make sure we've got less people presenting to hospital and putting demand on the health system.' The minister also didn't rule out the possibility of plunging cities back into lockdown following a spike in cases around the state. When asked if localised lockdowns were possible, Mr Ayres said 'we will keep the option open'. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said boosters are the only way to make sure stay-at-home order aren't reimplemented. 'NSW is not planning on any snap lockdowns,' he said. 'What we're planning on is making sure the community understands the need to be vaccinated and the need to have boosters. 'NSW has led the country, we're not about to start backflipping on issues that we promised the community we'll do.' Mr Hazzard is now warning double-dosed residents their immunity to Covid will 'rapidly' wane three to four months after the final jab. Fully vaccinated residents are now eligible to get their booster shot five months after receiving their second dose. Woolworths has done away with QR codes completely following the easing of a suite of Covid restrictions across NSW. The supermarket giant has removed the option to check-in outside the front of many of its stores, sparking a mixed response from shoppers. While some welcomed the removal of QR codes from supermarkets other customers called the decision 'disappointing' and 'unsafe'. The removal of contact tracing at one of the state's biggest supermarket chains comes as NSW had its biggest ever daily Covid case tally. Australian supermarket Woolworths has done away with QR codes completely following the easing of a suite of Covid restrictions across NSW (pictured, Woolworths in Brisbane) The major chain has removed the option to check in outside the front of many of its stores, sparking a mixed response from shoppers (pictured, a Woolworths QR code) Concerned shoppers took to Twitter to voice their confusion over the change. 'Hey Woolworths, put your bloody QR codes back up,' one person wrote. 'It may not be compulsory now, but a hell of a lot of people wish to continue checking in, as per the advice of Dr. Kerry Chant. 'We should be following health advice of the medical experts, not politicians.' QR check-in codes are now only compulsory for hospitals, aged and disability facilities, gyms, places of worship, funerals, personal services (including brothels), small bars, clubs, pubs and indoor music festivals with more than 1000 attendees. The easing of rules around the check-in system means the decision lands on the business to choose whether to enforce QR codes or not. Major supermarket chain Woolworths have removed the option to check-in via QR code - meaning the contact tracing that's kept Aussies safe this whole pandemic is not allowed to operate there anymore,' another Twitter user wrote. 'Next level disappointing and unsafe.' The removal of contact tracing at one of the state's biggest supermarket chains comes as NSW had its biggest ever daily Covid case tally (pictured, Woolworths chain in Kingsgrove) The easing of rules around the check-in system means the decision lands on the business to choose whether to enforce QR codes or not (pictured, a QR code at a Melbourne festival) 'So not only does Woolworths at Wynyard no longer even have the option to check in, there's also no hand sanitiser available,' another user said. 'Very cool! Guess NSW has just completely given up contact tracing.' A Woolworths spokesperson tweeted they would be updating some of their Covid safe measures to align with the NSW Governments public health orders. 'The safety of our team members and customers will remain our top priority and we encourage everyone to remain mindful of the COVIDSafe habits weve lived as we enter the busy Christmas period,' the tweet said. 'To help keep our team and customers safe, we'll still be conducting daily cleaning and disinfection of high touch point areas within our stores.' The spokesperson added the plexiglass screens would remain at each of the manned checkouts in stores. Concerned shoppers took to Twitter to voice their confusion over the change (pictured, QR codes and health notices outside a Woolworths chain) A Woolworths spokesperson tweeted they would be updating some Covid safe measures to align with the NSW Governments public health orders (pictured, Woolworths chain in Avalon) The removal of QR codes comes as the state suffered its highest daily case total of 1,742 infections on Thursday, beating the previous high of 1,599 on September 10. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has removed vaccine passports and some mask mandates because he is confident the hospital system can cope with the surge. There are currently 670 people in hospital with Covid in Australia including 192 in NSW and 384 in Victoria, which recorded 1,622 cases on Thursday. 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. He said the high case rate should encourage people to get booster shots, which 9,000 people did on Tuesday. NSW Health has issued a chilling warning for the Covid-hit Newcastle area: seriously think about delaying your socialising until after Christmas. 'We urge the Newcastle community seriously consider deferring any social events in Newcastle until after Christmas in order to help keep family Christmas gatherings safe, and to help protect their loved ones, the vulnerable and our essential workers'. It comes after the state reported 1742 infections - the biggest daily tally since the pandemic began - surpassing Victoria. 'Recent transmission is occurring in the community as a result of high numbers of people gathering for social functions in venues such as pubs and clubs and some of these gatherings have led to super-spreading events,' NSW Health said in a statement. Newcastle's Argyle House nightclub, where the current outbreak of Covid cases in the city began The infectious man, Godol Latio, 20, partied at the Argyle House nightclub (pictured) two hours north of Sydney on December 8, along with 680 other patrons NSW Health last night issued an alert for The Cambridge Hotel in Hunter Street, Newcastle The department said it strongly recommended 'mitigating risk' by wearing masks, particularly in settings where you cannot physically distance, and choosing outdoor or well- ventilated settings for social gatherings. A number of Newcastle venues had now been the subject of public health alerts. NSW Health last night issued an alert for The Cambridge Hotel in Hunter Street, Newcastle. Anyone who attended the hotel between 6.30pm, Friday December 10 and 2.30am Saturday, December 11 is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for seven days, the health authority said. People who attended Finnegan's Hotel in Darby St between 6.30pm, Friday, December 10 and 2.30am, Saturday, December 11 is likewise a close contact and must test and isolate for seven days. A similar alert remains for the the Argyle House nightclub for those who attended the venue between 9pm, Wednesday, December 8 and 3am on Thursday, December 9. Those not fully vaccinated must self-isolate for 14 days from exposure. The venue had earlier seen 680 patrons deemed close contacts of a positive Covid case. More than 200 infections had since been detected. Police allege Godol Latio (pictured) was identified as a close contact of a man who attended a boat party in Sydney Harbour and caught the virus five days earlier, before he partied with 680 others at Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle Meanwhile, it's been revealed 'patient zero' in Newcastle's widespread Covid outbreak has been fined $10,000 after he allegedly ignored instructions to self isolate. Godol Latio, 20, partied at the Argyle House nightclub two hours north of Sydney on December 8, along with other patrons. Police allege Latio was identified as a close contact of a man who attended a boat party in Sydney Harbour and caught the virus five days earlier. He was allegedly instructed to self isolate for seven days and identified as a high risk of contracting the virus. Police allege he did not quarantine and served him two breach notices for failing to comply with his obligation to self isolate on Wednesday night. 'Given the high transmission of COVID-19 at these venues, we ask household contacts of anyone who attended to also immediately get tested and isolate until they and the close contact tests negative,' NSW Health advised in a tweet. TikToker Macey Craig was one of more than 200 partygoers who tested positive to the virus after visiting The Argyle House. She caught the virus just three days before her birthday, meaning she will be quarantined away from her family for the holiday season. 'Catching Covid three days before your birthday and not being able to travel home before Christmas or celebrate with your friends,' she said in a video. TikToker Macey Craig was one of more than 200 partygoers at Newcastle's popular The Argyle House nightclub who tested positive to Covid Yesterday Daily Mail Australia revealed the Lunar Electric festival, described as Australia's 'biggest homegrown hip hop/EDM (electronic dance music) festival', will go ahead this Saturday despite the city's outbreak Yesterday Daily Mail Australia revealed the Lunar Electric festival, described as Australia's 'biggest homegrown hip hop/EDM (electronic dance music) festival', will go ahead this Saturday despite the city's outbreak. The event will bring thousands of young people together at Camp Shortland, near Nobby's Beach east of the CBD. Despite uncertainty about whether the event would go ahead, yesterday organisers issued a release saying the sold-out 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. New Zealand has recorded its first case of the Omicron variant after an infected person arrived into the country from Germany. The case is currently serving managed isolation in Christchurch after testing positive to the new Covid strain on Thursday. The person flew from Germany into Auckland before transferring to Christchurch. Earlier this month Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced she was locking out non-residents until well into next year to protect vulnerable communities against the potential spread of the virus' mutations. There are now growing fears Omicron arriving on Kiwi shores could see border closures pushed back further. New Zealand has recorded its first case of the Omicron variant after a person arrived into the country. The case is currently serving managed isolation in Christchurch after testing positive to the new Covid strain on Thursday From January 17, fully vaccinated New Zealanders in Australia will be able to return home if they self-isolate for a week. New Zealanders in other countries will be able to follow suit from February 14. Non-residents aren't allowed to enter until April 30, with a seven day home quarantine still required. Experts are now urging the NZ government to push back the removal of the MIQ system for Kiwis returning from Australia due to the east coast's currently Omicron outbreaks. 'Keeping it out requires ongoing maintenance of the MIQ system for all arrivals into the country, whether vaccinated or not,' Dr David Welch of Auckland University said. 'With rapid spread in Australia, the plan to allow NZ citizens to return with no MIQ from 15 January should be immediately postponed. 'The traffic light system will likely need strengthening if an Omicron outbreak occurs before the population is more widely vaccinated. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) said she resisted a push to open the border to overseas-based Kiwis this year in order to enable New Zealanders to 'have the Christmas they deserve' New Zealand's Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said vaccination rates meant 'the time is right to carefully start the reopening of our borders' in a 'progressive and safe way'. 'It's very encouraging that as a country we are now in a position to move towards greater normality,' he said. Ms Ardern said she resisted a push to open the border to overseas-based Kiwis this year in order to enable New Zealanders to 'have the Christmas they deserve'. 'We need to make sure we move cautiously,' she said. Mr Hipkins said the first two dates were 'locked in' and people should make plans accordingly. An alleged big-time drug trafficker was marched out of a Melbourne home in handcuffs wearing fluffy slippers and black Adidas tracksuit pants. Detectives arrested the man, 48, on Wednesday after an extensive investigation into alleged drug trafficking across the city's east. Police carried out a search warrant at a home in Mulgrave and seized a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, allegedly hidden inside a toilet cistern. Officers also seized a number of prohibited weapons including a samurai sword, an extendable baton, two tasers and a knife. Additionally, $171,600 in cash was seized. An alleged drug trafficker (centre) was arrested and hit with a string of serious charges after police raided a Melbourne home The unassuming home in Melbourne's east (pictured) was the scene of a significant drug bust on December 15 The Mulgrave resident was arrested and charged with a string of offences including trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, knowingly dealing or concealing proceeds of crime and possession of a firearm. He was also charged with possessing a cartridge ammunition and five counts of possessing a prohibited weapon. The man will face the Melbourne Magistrate's Court on December 21. Detective Sergeant Wesley Bryant, from the Box Hill Divisional Crime Team, said the arrest was significant and praised the diligence of the investigating officers as well as those at the scene. 'Arrests such as these show our commitment to minimising the devastating impacts of drugs in the community,' he said. 'Not only have we removed a commercial quantity of drugs from reaching Melbourne's streets, but we have also seized a bevy of dangerous and illegal weapons that would have caused extreme harm in the wrong hands. 'We know illicit drugs cause a devastating ripple effect throughout the entire community - with drug-fuelled violence, burglaries and thefts committed to support an addiction, drug-related road trauma, family violence and sexual assaults. 'Police will leave no stone unturned when it comes to weeding out drug traffickers community safety is our number one priority and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure is the entire community is safe.' Police seized a number of items, including a commercial level of the drug ice and prohibited weapons including a samurai sword (pictured) Scott Morrison has told Australians nervous about rising COVID-19 infections they can choose to stay home and leave others to go about their lives. The Prime Minister also said vaccine advisory board ATAGI is reviewing the interval between Covid shots weekly - suggesting it could be moved forward from five months. During a media event on the NSW Central Coast on Thursday, Mr Morrison brushed off questions about a record-breaking surge in Covid-19 cases. 'If you feel uncomfortable about going out in other public spaces, well, you can choose to stay home,' Mr Morrison said. 'You can choose to wear a mask, you can choose many things to protect your own health. But they're your choices and we have to be careful about imposing our choices on others.' He returned a negative rapid antigen test ahead of the press conference after being told for the second time in as many days he was a casual contact. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (above, on Tuesday) said it was time for Australians to take 'personal responsibility' in their approach to the virus Mr Morrison wasn't overly concerned about this or Australia's overall rise in infections because hospital and intensive care numbers hadn't taken off. 'My simple message to Australians is to go about your lives, enjoy the summer, exercise the common sense precautions that you would,' he said. 'If you're feeling uncertain, then it's not compulsory to go out. It's not compulsory not to wear a mask either.' NSW recorded 1742 new daily infections on Thursday, while there were 1622 in Victoria alongside more nine deaths. Queensland recorded 22 new cases and South Australia 24. The ACT racked up 11 more infections while there was one recorded in Tasmania. Mr Morrison said the interval between second and third jabs was being reviewed weekly by Australia's vaccine advisory body. Should the gap be shortened again to four months, the prime minister maintained there were adequate booster supplies. Epidemiologist Tony Blakely stressed masks remained vital despite relaxed requirements to wear them in NSW. 'Omicron may work out for us, but it's not going to work if we let it go crazy. It's like a bushfire, if you just let it rip, it'll cause heaps of damage,' he told the Seven Network. Scott Morrison called on Aussies to get out and enjoy summer. Above, an enormous queue for Covid tests on Macquarie St, Sydney on Thursday It wasn't all Covid in NSW - above, a man works out at a Bondi outdoor gym Professor Blakely flagged regional lockdowns may also be required despite premiers promising not to go back to them. 'It's going to be a bumpy few months as we work our way through this,' he said. Another epidemiologist, Nancy Baxter, questioned why restrictions were being relaxed as other countries tightened rules to deal with Omicron. 'There is nowhere else in the world that has decided to say, well, we have this new variant coming that seems to spread much faster so let's relax restrictions,' she told ABC TV. 'It doesn't make a tonne of sense and it has the potential to drive cases higher here than elsewhere.' Almost 90 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older are double-dosed while the number of boosters rolled out nears one million. Vaccine rollout co-ordinator Lieutenant General John Frewen said booster supply wasn't a problem. 'It's a huge logistical challenge, but the supply is there. We've just got to make sure it gets to the right places,' he told Sky News. 'Where some pharmacies have run out, others have still got stuff on the shelf.' The man at the centre of Australia's biggest Covid super spreading event of 2021 says he didn't know he was unwell and had no symptoms until a day after he went clubbing at a Newcastle night spot. Godol Latio, 20, was fined $10,000 for allegedly ignoring public health instructions to self-isolate on two separate occasions after being identified as a close contact of a known Covid case. Police said Latio was first instructed to isolate on Wednesday, December 8, but that night he went to the Argyle House nightclub, where more than 200 positives cases have since emerged. Latio told Daily Mail Australia he had no idea he was infectious when he went clubbing. He said it wasn't until Saturday that he received a message from NSW Health to say he was positive. 'Started feeling symptoms Thursday, I got a test on the Friday, I tested positive Saturday,' Latio said Godol Latio, 20, partied at the Argyle House two hours north of Sydney on December 8, along with about 680 others A text message Latio received on Saturday December 11 from NSW Health But police said Latio again ignored orders to stay home and went to a private residence in the suburb of Adamstown that night. A flustered Latio refused to explain why he allegedly went out knowing he was breaching public health orders. 'This shit is already harming my reputation and I've had enough', he said. NSW Health issued an alert for The Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle (pictured) identifying all attendees as close contacts after transmission of Covid at the venue on the night of December 8 Long lines for COVID testing are emerging in the wake of increasing cases being recorded. This line in Macquarie street extended for nearly 100 meters on Thursday Police said Latio was identified as a close contact of a man who attended a boat party on Sydney Harbour on December 3. He was served two infringement notices which each carry a $5,000 fine. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said earlier this week police had drawn a link between the two Covid-spreading events. 'I've asked for Health to refer that person as soon as possible to police,' he said. 'Individual responsibility has to play a part here.' Argyle House will not reopen until after Christmas as it deals with the fallout of the outbreak. At least 200 have since tested positive for the virus and authorities expect that number to rise. Most are believed to have the highly infectious Omicron strain. In total, 680 patrons remain in home quarantine, considered close contacts. At least 200 cases of Covid have been linked to the The Argyle House nightclub (pictured) in Newcastle People are turning out in droves to get tested - due in large part to a spike in cases and a need to get tested for interstate and international travel Pictured: Healthcare workers administer Covid-19 tests at the St Vincent's Hospital drive-through testing clinic at Bondi. NSW recorded 1,742 new local cases of Covid-19 on Thursday At least 500 cases have since been identified in Newcastle since the outbreak was first identified. Authorities have warned residents in Newcastle to delay socialising until the new year. 'We urge the Newcastle community to seriously consider deferring any social events in Newcastle until after Christmas in order to help keep family Christmas gatherings safe, and to help protect their loved ones, the vulnerable and our essential workers,' NSW Health said in a statement. David Durrheim, who works with the Hunter New England Local Health District, said Omicron was 'spreading like wildfire' through pubs and nightclubs. 'Because Omicron can spread so quickly and because of the high level of transmission at this event, it's probably going to be one of the highest transmission events this year in any single venue probably anywhere in the world,' Dr Durrheim said. Argyle House will not reopen until after Christmas as it deals with the fallout of such a widespread outbreak NSW Health are now treating 192 Covid patients in hospitals across the state - up from 166 on Wednesday Anyone who was at the Newcastle nightclub between 9pm December 8 and to 3am December 9 are close contacts and must immediately get tested and isolate for seven days, regardless of the result. The rule applies to all 680 people who checked in using the QR code that night and to anyone who did not check in. Household contacts of anyone who attended the nightclub are also ordered to get tested and isolate until the close contact tests negative, due to the high transmission at the venue. The super spreader event follows clusters at the Albion Hotel at Parramatta, Oxford Tavern at Petersham, Cult Nightclub in Potts Point and the party boat cruise. NSW Health say they're concerned about a sharp rise in cases as Christmas parties take place during the holiday period. They urge anyone feeling even slightly unwell not to attend gatherings. The fresh fines against Latio come as NSW recorded 1,742 new local cases of Covid-19 on Thursday. The new high smashes the previous record of 1,599 new cases on September 10 when Australia's most populated state was in the middle of a 100-day lockdown to stop the spread of the Delta variant. NSW Health are now treating 192 Covid patients in hospitals across the state - up from 166 on Wednesday. The department said it strongly recommended 'mitigating risk' by wearing masks, particularly in settings where you cannot physically distance, and choosing outdoor or well- ventilated settings for social gatherings. The departing director of the National Institute of Health bid his colleagues farewell by reprising his bizarre COVID-themed version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow called 'Somewhere Past the Pandemic,' all while the Omicron variant surges across the US. Outgoing director Dr. Francis Collins, 71, picked up a guitar on Tuesday and began singing about hopeful times after the pandemic in what critics have called a 'cringe' performance. 'Somewhere past the pandemic, when we're free, there's a life I remember, full of activity,' Collins sang in his parody that he first performed on November. 'Somewhere past the pandemic, no quarantine, we'll all stay well and healthy, thanks to a safe vaccine.' Collins performance came on the same day the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that US COVID-19 deaths will soar by 73 per cent to 15,600 a week by January 8, and that cases will rocket to 1.3 million a week by Christmas Day. Outgoing NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins picked up a guitar on Tuesday and began singing his bizarre COVID-themed version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow Collins, who will step down from his position at the end of 2021 after 12 years of service, appears fond of the song, which he previously played for the American Academy of Arts & Sciences last month. 'The intensity of seeking answers for a myriad of unsolved human ills can be exhausting, especially amid a global pandemic,' Collins told the Academy. 'At times, we all need a way to unwind, smile, and bond with each other. Music has the ability to help us do that!' In the song, Collins sings 'Thank God the shots came very fast, so all my fears are now behind me... Masks off finally!' 'Thank God science and people have brought the pandemic's end.' Collin's performance gained backlash on social media as many claim it to be tone deaf amid the growing COVID crisis. Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson tweeted, 'How is this real,' as he questioned the bizarre performance. A Twitter user with the handle Giazillashow wrote, 'Geez. I legit have second hand embarrassment from this little concert.' Another Twitter user with the name Sabrina was much more critical, tweeting, 'The U.S. science administrations & government have completely lost their minds.' The performance took place the same day the CDC warned about the current surge of COVID A Twitter user with the name Mackie echoed those sentiments, writing, 'I feel that I've woken up to find myself on a different planet! What the hell happened to the US?' Fioretti Daniel, another Twitter user, wrote, 'Hey at least he mentioned eventually losing the completely pointless masking. Still 100% cringe.' The song also earned backlash when it was first performed due because of its lyrics claiming the pandemic would soon be over, all while the nation grips with another surge. The agency revealed projections on Wednesday afternoon that show America will suffer up to 15,600 new COVID deaths a week as of January 8 - or 2,228 deaths per day - a 58 per cent increase from 8,900 deaths currently being recorded each week, equivalent to 1,285 deaths a day. Another CDC prediction estimates that between 620,000 and 1.3 million Americans will have been diagnosed with COVID by the week that ends on December 25 - Christmas Day. That represents a 55 per cent leap on the 840,000 cases that have been recorded over the last week. Many on social media where critical about Collin's strange performance And hospitalizations are also on course to rocket to 18,400 hospitalizations. 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, likely fueling the surge the CDC predicts. 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. The CDC projects that up to 15,600 Americans will die of Covid during the week that ends on January 8 The CDC projects that there will be up to 1.3 million new Covid cases recorded during the week of Christmas The CDC projects that up to 18,400 people will be hospitalized during the week that ends on January 7 '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. Dr. Francis Collins, 71, served as director of the NIH for the past 12 years 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. 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. A major music festival has been cancelled, amid fears it will be a Covid-19 'superspreading' event. The Lunar Electric festival, described as Australia's 'biggest homegrown hip hop/EDM (electronic dance music) festival' was rescheduled to go ahead in Newcastle this Saturday. The festival was cancelled by NSW Health under a Public Health Order on Thursday, two days out from the event. 'NSW Health considered that the ongoing spread of COVID-19 in the Newcastle area, where the majority of a record number of cases are the Omicron variant of concern, presents too great a risk for the festival to take place this weekend,' a statement read. 'NSW Health has advised the organisers of the festival this afternoon of the cancellation. 'NSW Health continues to be concerned about the ongoing spread of COVID-19 in the Newcastle area, where several venues and events have now seen extensive transmission.' Attendees were initially 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. A day earlier 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.' 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 was to 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. Newcastle state MP Tim Crakanthorp welcomed the decision to cancel the event. the festival. 'I've been liaising with authorities today on this, and I'm relieved that NSW Health has agreed with our community that the risk is too great,' he said. The original 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 The cancellation of Lunar Electric comes as the Newcastle Knights NRL club closed all football operations for the rest of 2021 due to the growing risk of Covid in the region. 'This was not an easy decision or one we made without a huge amount of discussion, but it was the right call to make,' football general manager Danny Buderus said. 'With the current situation here in Newcastle, it was simply far too risky to continue training and we felt this was the appropriate action to take. 'We made the hard call to remove our football operations from our training base and take an early Christmas shut down. 'Our players will be asked to apply good common sense to both their own health and individual training requirements during this period.' 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. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has dubbed Elon Musk 'the world's richest freeloader' as the war of words over the billionaire Tesla founder's taxes continues. The war began after the news broke that Musk was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year, with Warren tweeting on Monday: 'Let's change the rigged tax code so The Person of the Year will actually pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else.' Musk soon hit back, writing, 'Stop projecting,' and 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.' But in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday, Warren clapped back, calling Musk 'the world's richest freeloader,' and claiming he 'evidently has a very thin skin.' In an interview with MSNBC's Joy Reid on Wednesday, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, right, clapped back at Tesla founder Elon Musk for calling her 'Senator Karen' by saying he is 'the world's richest freeloader,' and claiming he 'evidently has a very thin skin' The comments came as Joy Reid gave the Massachusetts senator a chance to respond to Musk's now infamous 'Senator Karen' tweet. Elon Musk was named Time Magazine's 2021 Person of the Year The MSNBC host prefaced her interview by calling Musk 'the absolute worst,' highlighting his opposition to President Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda, and noting that, even though he has called for an end to government subsidies, electric vehicle subsidies helped Tesla get ahead. Then, after quoting Warren's tweet, Reid touted a ProPublica report, saying: 'Its investigation found that in 2018, Musk paid nothing in federal income taxes, and less than $70,000 in 2015 and 2017.' She then turned the conversation over to Warren to get her thoughts on Musk's tweet about her, to which Warren replied: 'The world's richest freeloader evidently has a very thin skin. 'But you know the part that makes me angry about this?' she continued. 'It's on behalf of every public school teacher, every waitress, every computer programmer, every street cleaner who actually paid taxes, and that means they paid more than Elon Musk did in federal income taxes. 'And that's just not right, and it means the system is broken. 'But the days when these guys not only get to rake it all in, but then rub everybody else's nose in it while they head off into outer space and declare how they did this all on their own when they were subsidized by the federal government and subsidized by every waitress and public school teacher who paid their taxes' is over. 'This is wrong and Elon Musk needs to eat a big dish of that,' she concluded. Musk is pictured on Monday after being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year 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 But Warren's tweet was 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. 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 2021 Time magazine awards Heroes of the Year: Vaccine scientists Athlete of the Year: Simone Biles Entertainer of the Year: Olivia Rodrigo Advertisement His row with Warren, though, comes as the Tesla founder was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year after 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. In his bid to become the Person of the Year, 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. Musk, left, is expected to have to pay $15 billion in taxes in August for stock options he was awarded in 2012. He is pictured with Time Magazine Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal on Monday after being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year 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. But the billionaire is now facing a tax bill of more than $15 billion, which will come due in the coming months on stock options, CNBC reports. In 2012, when Tesla was just a fledgling company, Musk was awarded stock options as part of a compensation plan that would give him 22.8 million shares at a stock price of $6.24. His gains on those shares have now reached nearly $28 billion. Stock options give the investor the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a stock at an agree-upon price. It also allows the trader to choose a specific date when they expect a stock to rise or fall, known as the expiration date, according to Investopedia. In Musk's case, his stock options come due in August 2022, and in order to exercise them, Musk has to pay the the income taxes on the gains, and since they are taxes as an employee benefit or compensation, they will be taxed at 37 percent, plus the 3.8 percent net investment tax, CNBC reports. Musk will also have to pay the top tax rate in California, since the options were granted and earned when he was a California resident. Combined, CNBC reports, the state and federal tax rate on his gains will be 54.1 percent, so the total tax bill would be $15 billion by August. Meanwhile, Telsa has disclosed that he has taken out loans using his shares as collateral, and with the sales, he may want to repay some of those obligations. As the company noted in its third-quarter Securities and Exchange 10Q filing: 'If the price of our common stock were to decline substantially, Mr. Musk may be forced by one or more of the banking institutions to sell shares of Tesla common stock to satisfy his loan obligations if he could not do so through other means. 'Any such sales could cause the price of our common stock to decline further.' Tesla closed at $975.99 on Wednesday, up more than 1 percent from the day before. A major police operation in Sydney's south-west with dozens of officers surrounding an apartment building has been resolved. Police were called for an apartment building near Bonnyrigg Plaza and blocked off Bonnyrigg Avenue. Locals reported that police in bulletproof vests and detectives were on the scene with PolAir circling the area for at least 20 minutes. A major police operation is under in Sydney's south-west with dozens of officers surrounding an apartment building and PolAir circling for at least 20 minutes (above) Police units are patrolling an apartment building near Bonnyrigg Plaza (above) and have since blocked off Bonnyrigg Avenue It is understood that a man was believed to be carrying a firearm in the area. Police have since located the man and the situation has been resolved. A cheerful day in the sun for young children celebrating their last day of primary school turned to sheer horror in the blink of eye when Grade 6 kids watched on as four of their classmates were killed in a freak jumping castle accident. The inflatable plaything was scooped up by a massive gust of wind and hoisted 10m into the air before crashing back to the ground. Four other children at the Hillcrest Primary School near Devonport in Tasmania are now also fighting for their lives in hospital on Thursday. The nightmare incident has sent shockwave through the close-knit community with Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine telling reporters the four children who died include two boys and two girls. Even hardened police and ambulance crews were shaken and brought to tears at the distressing scene. Awful scene at Tasmanias Hillcrest Primary School. Multiple students seriously injured after a jumping castle flipped in a gust of wind @abcnews pic.twitter.com/OTsRUzmDym Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021 Just days ago the school announced on social media they would be holding a 'Big Day In' celebration to mark the end of the school year and celebrate the primary school graduates. 'We are excited to let you know that on Thursday December 16, as an alternative arrangement to our school picnic, we will be having a Big Day IN celebration at the school,' Hillcrest Primary wrote on Facebook on Monday. 'The purpose for the day is to celebrate a successful year and enjoy some fun activities with classmates.' The ill-fated day of fun kicked off at 9:30am with student given the opportunity to 'rotate through a range of activities with their cohort'. Among the activities were wet play zone including a slippery slide with water puddles and sprinklers. There was also games and dancing as well as zorb balls and art and crafts areas. But the main attraction for the big day was the jumping castle with parents told in the social media post to bring a hat, sunscreen and a packed lunch. The school is in Devonport in northern Tasmania (pictured). Hillcrest Primary School had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents Hillcrest Primary School pictured. 'Several children fell from a height of about 10 metres about 10am,' a Tasmania Police spokesman said Mourners in the heartbroken community paid tribute by leaving flowers at the school 'On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss,' Commissioner Hine said. 'Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.' The school announced on Facebook it was closing for the remainder of Thursday and asked parents to urgently collect their children. Bob Smith, who lives near the school, told The Mercury newspaper he saw kids on the ground. 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,' he said. 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as unthinkably heartbreaking. 'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,' he told reporters on the NSW Central Coast. Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School after four children died in a jumping castle incident Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene. Detectives are investigating how many children were on the jumping castle in the first place when the tragedy unfolded to prepare a brief for the coroner. A harrowing photo shows distraught cops consoling each other after two children were declared dead at the scene. Commissioner Hine said seasoned first responders who were at the shaken by the devastating events. 'It is an emotional day for everyone who is tragically impacted by today,' he said. 'I've already seen pictures of police officers quite upset, as you'd expect. Any emergency services and teachers, everyone is affected in some way.' The jumping castle was blown into the air by a freak gust of wind, killing two kids and leaving several injured (paramedics are pictured at the scene) Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured) Hillcrest Primary School said 'counselling is being made available to the families affected by this in the school community along with the first responders.' Images at the scene showed a wall of tarpaulin sheets set up as paramedics worked desperately to save those who had been injured. A school boy said he was about to have his turn on the jumping castle when the accident happened. 'It was our turn next,' he said, according to The Mercury. 'Grade five and six went first.' Paramedics are pictured at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in Tasmania. Two children have died and several others left in a critical condition after they fell from a jumping castle at the school The primary school said in a statement there had been an accident and the site would be closed for the rest of the day An ABC reporter gasped 'oh my god' live on air after discovering that four primary school kids had died in a jumping castle tragedy at a school fun day. Patricia Karvelas was presenting ABC's Afternoon Briefing on Thursday afternoon when her program was interrupted to cut to an urgent press conference in Tasmania. Police were giving an update on a fatal incident at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, where several children were injured after a jumping castle flew 10 metres into the air from a freak gust of wind. Addressing the media, authorities announced the death toll had grown from two fatalities reported earlier in the day. 'I can now sadly confirm four children have died and four are in a critical condition,' Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine told reporters. Patricia Karvelas (pictured) gasped live on air after hearing the Devonport jumping castle tragedy's death toll had risen to four After hearing the news, Karvelas, a mother of two, let out an emotion gasp - unaware her microphone was still on. 'Oh my god,' she said in a sorrowful voice, as she watched the press conference from the newsroom. Producers quickly picked up on the technology issue and switched her microphone off, preventing her voice from playing over the live cross. Karvelas later took to Twitter to share the heartbreaking news and address the on-air gaffe. 'Four children have died in Tasmania. This story is beyond my comprehension,' she wrote. 'I think people heard me I apologise.' Many followers told the journalist there was 'no need to apologise', praising her 'human' response to the devastating situation. Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine (pictured) fronted a press conference on Thursday afternoon Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air Paramedics are pictured at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in Tasmania. Four children have died and several others left in a critical condition after they fell from a jumping castle at the school Fellow ABC reporter Michael Rowland commended his colleague for getting through the rest of her program. 'Props to @PatsKarvelas for getting through that hour,' he Tweeted. 'Your reaction to that wrenching news was ours.' Karvelas replied to his Tweet: 'Im on my way now to my childs grade 6 graduation heartbroken.' The horrific tragedy has rocked the tight knit Devonport, with investigations underway to determine how many children were on the jumping castle at the time. The victims, two boys and two girls, were Year 6 students. Five children in total are in hospital. 'On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss,' Commissioner Hine said. 'Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.' Tasmania Police initially confirmed one child had died, before reporting a second death in the early afternoon. Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School after four children died in a jumping castle incident 'Several children fell from the jumping castle. It appears they may have fallen from a height of approximately 10 metres,' Commander Debbie Williams said at the scene earlier in the day. 'This is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and the wider school community and also our first responders. 'This has been a very distressing and confronting scene.' Several rescue helicopters were used to transport the children after police units and multiple ambulance crews rushed to the scene around 10am. Police have indicated counselling will be available to families and the community. The school announced on Facebook it was closing for the remainder of Thursday and asked parents to urgently collect their children. Hillcrest Primary was holding a 'Big Day In' celebration to mark the end of the school year. Bob Smith, who lives near the school, told The Mercury newspaper he saw kids on the ground. Karvelas, a mother of two, later shared the heartbreaking news on Twitter Colleague Michael Rowland commended Karvelas for getting through the rest of her program 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,' he said. 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein passed on his thoughts to the community. 'My thoughts are obviously with ... the parents of the children that have been injured and with the emergency services,' he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as unthinkably heartbreaking. 'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,' he told reporters on the NSW Central Coast. The U.S. military shot down a drone which they said 'demonstrated hostile intent' as it headed towards an American base in Syria on Tuesday. Capt. Bill Urban, the spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said two small drones were picked up entering the base's airspace around At Tanf Garrison on Tuesday evening. 'As one of the UAS (unmanned aerial systems) continued its course deeper into the At Tanf Deconfliction Zone, it was assessed as demonstrating hostile intent and was shot down,' Urban said. The other drone turned around and left. The base is home to 200 American troops. This is a breaking story. Elizabeth Warren has said 'it's time' to start packing the Supreme Court, claiming that the current set of judges 'threaten the democratic foundations of our nation.' The progressive Senator claimed the 'radical court' had 'trampled on the Constitution' and urged Congress to restore 'balance and integrity to the broken institution' ahead of forthcoming decisions on abortion and gun control. Warren, 72, writes in the Boston Globe: 'I don't come to this conclusion lightly or because I disagree with a particular decision; I come to this conclusion because I believe the current court threatens the democratic foundations of our nation.' She said she supported expanding the high court by at least four seats and urged Congress to act after the 'extremist' justices upheld the 'racist Muslim ban' and 'threatened to eliminate Roe v. Wade.' Senator Elizabeth Warren has used an op-ed in the Boston Globe to declare she supports expanding the Supreme Court by at least four seats (pictured: Warren speaks at a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee in Washington on November 30) Warren claimed the Trump administration 'stole' two seats to push through political nominations (pictured: Trump speaks at a rally on September 25, 2021 in Perry, Georgia) 'This radical court has reversed century-old campaign-finance restrictions, opening the floodgates for corporations to spend unlimited sums of money to buy our elections. It has reversed well-settled law that once required employers to permit union organizers to meet with worker,' she writes. 'It has trampled on the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection by upholding a racist Muslim ban. It has twisted the law to deny Americans their right to a day in court, despite the clear intent of Congress. And it has gutted one of the most important civil rights laws of our time, the Voting Rights Act, not once but twice,' Warren continued. The Massachusetts Senator said that given the court's track record, it was incumbent on Congress to intervene - as it has the right to do as set out by the Constitution. 'This court's lawlessness is a powerful threat to our democracy and our country,' Warren wrote. 'Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to change the size of the Supreme Court. Congress has used that authority seven times before. To restore balance and integrity to a broken institution, Congress must expand the Supreme Court by four or more seats,' she added. While acknowledging concerns over court packing, she claimed that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump used 'two stolen seats' to push through their own nominations. The 'stolen seats' refers to Merrick Garland, whose nomination by Barack Obama was blocked by Republicans who said it came too close to the election, and the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who was replaced shortly before the 2020 vote. Trump nominated Justice Neil Gorsuch for the seat Garland would have taken, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett for Ginsburg's spot on the Supreme Court. Justice Amy Coney Barrett took Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat, while Justice Neil Gorsuch took the seat which would have been occupied by Obama-nominee Merrick Garland Warren wrote: 'This month, a majority of justices on the United States Supreme Court signaled their willingness to gut one of the court's most important decisions over the past century, threatening to eliminate Roe v. Wade and a person's right to choose. 'This is not the first time this extremist court has threatened, or outright dismantled, fundamental rights in this country. For years, the Supreme Court's conservative majority - recently supercharged to 6-3 - has issued decision after decision that veers away from both basic principles of law and widely held public opinion. 'With each move, the court shows why it's important to restore America's faith in an independent judiciary committed to the rule of law. To do that, I believe it's time for Congress to yet again use its constitutional authority to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court.' The heartbroken mayor of a close-knit community where five children celebrating their last day of primary school were tragically killed in a jumping castle accident has revealed she met the victims only a week prior. Annette Rockliff, mayor of Devonport, told The Project that the people of northwest Tasmanian city are reeling from Thursday's tragedy and 'struggling to get their head around it'. A freak gust of wind scooped up the inflatable castle hoisting it 10m into the air before crashing back to the ground at a Hillcrest Primary School event to mark the Year 6 students ending their stint at the school. A student, identified by his first name Zane, was among five killed while three other children are also fighting for their lives in hospital in critical condition. Even hardened police and ambulance crews - some of whom would likely have a personal connection to the students and school in the 20,000-strong community - were shaken and brought to tears at the distressing scene. 'I did meet all of those children last week, I was in their classroom for an hour or so, so it's pretty tough to think about that,' an emotional Ms Rockliff told the Channel Ten program. 'We're all still in shock. We're all still struggling to come to terms with the accident and how it is playing out. 'We're certainly trying to take care of each other but we're all still struggling to really get our heads around it.' Ms Rockliff said at she had not been told the identities of the families involved but was deeply concerned for their wellbeing and mental health, as well as that of the first responders. 'I understand there were at least 70 ambulance officers on-site for most of that time and then there were obviously police and the firies involved as well,' she said. 'So they're all members of our community, they all have connections in our community. Many of them have children. For them it has been a tough day as well.' Five children from Hillcrest Primary School (pictured) have died in a freak jumping castle accident A jumping castle was launched 10m into the air at Hillcrest Primary School (pictured) Just days ago the school announced on social media they would be holding a 'Big Day In' celebration to mark the end of the school year and celebrate the primary school graduates. 'We are excited to let you know that on Thursday December 16, as an alternative arrangement to our school picnic, we will be having a Big Day IN celebration at the school,' Hillcrest Primary wrote on Facebook on Monday. 'The purpose for the day is to celebrate a successful year and enjoy some fun activities with classmates.' The ill-fated day of fun kicked off at 9:30am with student given the opportunity to 'rotate through a range of activities with their cohort'. Among the activities were wet play zone including a slippery slide with water puddles and sprinklers. There was also games and dancing as well as zorb balls and art and crafts areas. But the main attraction for the big day was the jumping castle with parents told in the social media post to bring a hat, sunscreen and a packed lunch. Hillcrest Primary School is located in northwest of Tasmania in the town of Devonport Mourners in the heartbroken community paid tribute by leaving flowers at the school 'On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss,' Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said. 'Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.' The school announced on Facebook it was closing for the remainder of Thursday and asked parents to urgently collect their children. Bob Smith, who lives near the school, told The Mercury newspaper he saw kids on the ground. 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,' he said. 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was tragic how cuh a happy occasion could have ended as it did. 'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,' he told reporters on the NSW Central Coast. Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School (pictured) Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene. Detectives are investigating how many children were on the jumping castle when the tragedy unfolded, and would include that in a brief to be prepared for the coroner. A harrowing photo showed distraught cops consoling each other after two children were declared dead at the scene. Commissioner Hine said seasoned first responders who were at the shaken by the devastating events. 'It is an emotional day for everyone who is tragically impacted by today,' he said. 'I've already seen pictures of police officers quite upset, as you'd expect. Any emergency services and teachers, everyone is affected in some way.' More than 70 ambulance officers attended the tragic scene on Thursday Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured) Hillcrest Primary School said 'counselling is being made available to the families affected by this in the school community along with the first responders.' Images at the scene showed a wall of tarpaulin sheets set up as paramedics worked desperately to save those who had been injured. A school boy said he was about to have his turn on the jumping castle when the accident happened. 'It was our turn next,' he said, according to The Mercury. 'Grade five and six went first.' Paramedics are pictured at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in Tasmania The primary school said in a statement there had been an accident and the site would be closed for the rest of the day Advertisement Warnings that a 5.5billion armoured vehicle was badly flawed and would injure soldiers were ignored three years ago, an official inquiry has found. A government review of Ajax said a 2018 safety recommendation saying the vehicle must be redesigned due to excessive vibration was not acted upon. Had the appropriate action been taken public money would have been saved and scores of troops would have been spared injuries. Yesterday, defence minister Jeremy Quin admitted the Ajax programme had 'serious failings' but, in spite of its myriad problems, it will not be scrapped. But the Ministry of Defence was accused of being a laughing stock at a time when a show of strength was needed against the latest bout of Russian hostility towards Nato partner Ukraine. A government review of Ajax said a 2018 safety recommendation saying the vehicle must be redesigned due to excessive vibration was not acted upon MoD's losing battle 2011: MoD signs Ajax deal with General Dynamics 2014: Production agreed with 230 companies and 4,100 workers 2016: Design overhauled amid fears Ajax will be obsolete 2017: Testing crews report vehicles are noisy and dangerous 2018: General Dynamics reports 89.1million profit 2021: Trials are paused and hundreds of troops advised to seek medical help Advertisement The report said: 'The first formal safety notice from within MOD was in December 2018 as a result of service personnel crew motion sickness reported in GDUK [manufcaturer General Dynamics] trials. 'It advised of high levels of vibration on early Ajax platforms, with long-term exposure potentially giving rise to Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) and Whole Body Vibration (WBV). 'This guidance was renewed in April 2019. Both [notices] stated the longer-term action should be a 'design upgrade to reduce vibration' which would have been the responsibility of GDUK. 'The Review saw no evidence of engineering solutions being installed during the period soldiers were exposed to potentially excessive noise and vibration in Ajax vehicles.' Seventeen soldiers remain under specialist care for hearing issues caused by the high-tech armoured vehicle which is the centrepiece to the Army's future strategy for warfighting. Jeremy Quin told MPs he was 'horrified' by the report but still hopes it will become a world-leading battle asset. Timeline of the Ajax programme which has been constantly panned by MPs and defence experts Programme governance and capacity management of the Ajax tank system What caused the horrific noise and vibrations that injured SEVENTEEN soldiers? Noise and vibration in the Ajax family of vehicles have both electrical and mechanical origins, the review said, from the following broad sources: a. Track, suspension and running gear, in particular the tension and sprocket design/track interface. b. Engine and its mounting into the vehicle. c. Quality issues associated with, but not limited to, inconsistent routing of cabling, lack of bonding and weld quality; all of which can lead to potential electromagnetic compatibility issues with communication equipment. As witnessed during trials, insecure components and bolting within the vehicle can also lead to noise and vibration, and again this was noted by ATDU crews. d. Headset performance and integration (noise only). Advertisement Labour branded it 'the biggest defence procurement failure of the past decade'. Last night, Conservative former defence minister Mark Francois suggested the Russians 'must be wetting themselves laughing' about the issues surrounding Ajax. Another, Andrew Murrison, said the findings are 'truly shocking' and added: 'The Ajax programme wins the competition, from a very long list, as the poster boy of defence procurement disasters.' The MOD has blown 4billion of the 5.5billion budget for Ajax. Officials intend to spend the remainder working with manufacturers General Dynamics (UK) to solve the problems. Mr Quin said: 'This health and safety report has highlighted shortcomings that need to be addressed, not just in health and safety but more broadly. 'The review finds serious failings in the processes followed. The result was that personnel worked on a vehicle that had potential to cause harm. 'The review finds that the failure was complex and systemic. It finds that a culture exists of not treating safety as equally important as cost and time in the acquisition process. 'From a cultural perspective, the Army did not believe it was potentially causing harm to people, especially from vibration, as it was tacitly expected that soldiers can and should endure such issues.' He said a further review will be commissioned and undertaken by a 'senior legal figure' to 'look more deeply at Ajax, and not just health and safety, to examine the cultural and process flaws that it has highlighted'. He said: 'We will leave no stone unturned to learn these lessons.' Conservative former defence minister Mark Francois said the Ajax programme showed that MoD procurement was 'completely broken' Defence chief gets 120,000 BONUS despite spending BILLIONS on tanks that can't be used because they deafen soldiers A defence chief accused of squandering billions of pounds on faulty tanks has received a 120,000 bonus on top of his 280,000 salary. Sir Simon Bollom, 61, head of defence equipment and support at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), oversaw 5.5billion in spending on the infamous Ajax tanks, which could not be used after they were found to deafen soldiers. Ex-RAF officer Sir Simon, whose organisation purchases all the armed forces' ships, submarines and aircrafts, was also paid 300,000 last year, reported the Daily Star on Sunday. It comes after House of Commons watchdog the Public Accounts Committee branded the MoD department as 'broken' and said the Bristol-based team 'continually fails to learn from his mistakes.' Colonel Richard Kemp, an ex-infantry Commander, told the paper: 'Bonuses for public sector employees in the MoD should only be given out sparingly, especially as they're usually reserved for high-level civil servants. They should only be used to recognise contributions above and beyond the contractual remit of the individual. 'Given the abysmal failure of Ajax, it seems that a bonus for the person responsible might be over-generous use of taxpayers' funds.' Figures from the MoD show how Sir Simon has been paid 120,000 in bonuses since 2018. They were signed off by MoD bosses despite 13 of the largest projects running behind by a cumulative total of 21 years. The list of delays includes the Ajax tanks, which must now be re-desinged due to their excessive noise and vibration. An MoD spokesman told Daily Star on Sunday: 'Performance-related payments are based on meeting a number of challenging targets alongside assessment from the DE&S Board CHair and MoD Permanent Secretary.' Advertisement General Dynamics UK is responsible for the design and build of the Ajax vehicles, Mr Quin said, and the vehicles it delivered for use in trials 'had levels of noise and vibration that were higher than usually expected' for the type of vehicle and were 'above the statutory limit'. He said: 'This exposed our personnel to potential harm. This exposure was not prevented by the MoD due to a series of failures to act when concerns were raised by expert advisors and by soldiers operating in the vehicles'. He said all personnel identified as having worked on Ajax have been identified. 'Forty declined to be assessed for hearing, but of the remainder I'm pleased to report that the vast majority have returned to duty with no health impact,' he said. MPs heard the MoD has ordered 589 of the vehicles and 'will not accept a vehicle that is not fit for purpose'. Mr Quin said: 'It remains impossible to share with this House 100% confidence that this programme will succeed, or if it does the timing of achieving full operating capability. 'However, we are working closely with General Dynamics on noise and vibration and they are showing great commitment to resolving these issues.' Shadow defence secretary John Healey said: 'It is deeply unsatisfactory that the action following this review is to launch another review and deeply unsatisfactory that Ajax is still in limbo, behest by suspicions that it's simply too big to be allowed to fail.' Conservative chair of the Defence Committee Tobias Ellwood branded the project a 'complete mess', adding: 'Our whole land warfare programme is now operationally suboptimal.' Mr Elwood said: 'The real scandal here today is the cover-up and dishonesty that led to the Integrated Review hiding the very problems that he speaks about today with Ajax so this vehicle programme would not be axed.' Mr Quin said the UK is able to maintain its operational commitments. He said the MoD permanent secretary has been asked to look further at the issue of hearing loss in the military. 'This very advanced fighting vehicle employs 4,100 in south Wales and across the UK. We all want it to succeed and deliver what the British Army requires', he said. A senior legal figure will be appointed to look at what went wrong with Ajax. It comes as Boris Johnson was last month accused of breaking another promise when ministers unveiled plans for a 'leaner' hi-tech British Army - declaring that a force will still be based in Germany. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace insisted the huge overhaul was needed to ensure the military was 'deployable and lethal'. But Labour claimed 'size matters' and the government had reneged on the PM's election vow by cutting regular Army numbers from 82,000 to 73,000 by 2025 albeit that is 500 higher than originally expected. Labour claimed 'size matters' and the government had reneged on the PM's election vow by cutting regular Army numbers from 82,000 to 73,000 by 2025 albeit that is 500 higher than originally expected The shake-up will see the creation of a new Union Division, with Mr Wallace saying he wanted the army to be at the 'heart' of the UK in an apparent rebuke to Nicola Sturgeon's separatist drive. Regular forces will be combined with a reserve of 30,000, which will take the lead on civil contingencies. A brigade of tanks and armoured vehicles is set to be based in Germany, despite the Cold War presence only recently being wound down. At the end of November British troops, tanks and equipment were ordered to start heading back to Germany amid fears of a Russian threat to the Baltic states. The move comes three decades after tens of thousands of UK personnel were withdrawn following the end of the Cold War. But with the growing presence of Russian troops on Europe's eastern borders, Britain and its Nato allies are stepping up their presence in the region. It will allow for a swifter response to any Russian thrust into Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia by Vladimir Putin's forces. The equipment, troops and civilian contractors needed to maintain military hardware will return next year to Sennelager in central Germany, an important training area for British soldiers after the Second World War. Military figures hope the establishment of a Nato Forward Holding Base in Germany will deter the Kremlin from seeking to seize territory. Similar hubs will be set up in Kenya and Oman to improve the UK's operational reach in Africa and the Middle East. Sennelager already has a 45 square mile training area for practising large-scale manoeuvres and an urban warfare training centre. Now its military infrastructure will be increased. The return to Germany was announced as part of the 'Future Soldier' plan, the Government's biggest overhaul of the British Army in a generation. Smaller UK bases will be closed, historic regiments red-uced in size and some units will disappear as the Army is remodelled to meet modern challenges such as cyber warfare. Five hundred troops from 3 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps were told yesterday they were being disbanded, while 3 Medical Regiment (RAMC) is also being axed. Troops will be reassigned or offered voluntary redundancy. The infantry will be hardest hit, with 3,000 posts going. Overall, the Army will shrink to 73,000 regular trained soldiers by 2025, its smallest size for 300 years. Ajax programme had 'serious failings' but WON'T be scrapped, defence minister Jeremy Quin says Madame Deputy Speaker, With permission, I would like to make a statement to update the House on Ajax. Ajax is an important capability and a vital step-change in the way the British Army will operate on the future battlefield. It will provide Ground Mounted Reconnaissance, allowing the Army to understand the battlefield in all weathers, 24 hours a day. Part of our 41bn investment in Army equipment and support over the next 10 years, this modernisation is critical to address future threats. This is a vital investment and the Defence Secretary and I have been deeply concerned about progress on this troubled project which has been running for over 11 years since its commencement in March 2010. That's why we have been thoroughly focused on the project; why I insisted earlier this year that no declaration of IOC (Initial Operating Capability) would be made without Ministerial involvement; and why we asked the Permanent Secretary to commission a report from the MOD's Director of Health, Safety and Environmental Protection into the health and safety concerns raised by noise and vibration. I am today publishing that report and placing a copy in the library of the house. Over the last 35 years there have been some 13 formal reports on defence procurement: we know the foundations that can build success. Openness, good communication and collaboration within Defence and the ability to act as an informed and challenging customer are vital. This Health and Safety Report has highlighted shortcomings that need to be addressed, not just in health and safety but more broadly. The Review finds serious failings in the processes followed. The result was that personnel worked on a vehicle that had the potential to cause harm. The Review finds that the failure was complex and systemic. It finds that: As I informed the House on 18 October, we have contacted all personnel identified as having worked on Ajax. 40 declined to be assessed for hearing but, of the remainder, I am pleased to report that the vast majority have returned to duty with no health impact. As of 9 December, 17 individuals remain under specialist outpatient care for their hearing, some of whom are again expected to return to duty with no health impact.11 individuals have had long term restrictions on noise exposure recommended, potentially requiring a limitation in their military duties. 7 of these had pre-existing hearing issues prior to working on Ajax. 4 did not. In addition, 4 individuals who worked on Ajax have been discharged on health grounds, in some cases for reasons wholly unrelated to hearing loss. While we cannot yet establish a definitive causal link, it is possible that Ajax may have contributed to the current hearing loss in a small number of individuals. It remains the case that no individuals have had long term restrictions or been discharged as a result of vibration. However, assessment for both hand-transmitted and whole-body vibration take time and require a specialist assessment and these continue. Madame Deputy Speaker, I will now set out the key points from the Review. General Dynamics UK is responsible for the design and build of the Ajax vehicles. The vehicles they delivered for use in the trials had levels of noise and vibration that were higher than usually expected in tracked vehicles and have been proven to be above the statutory limit. This exposed our personnel to potential harm. This exposure was not prevented by the MOD due to a series of failures to act when concerns were raised by expert advisers and by soldiers operating the vehicles. For example: Overall, the report makes 20 recommendations. The MOD accepts all of those relating specifically to armoured vehicle procurements, the regulation of safety for land equipment and the broader approach to safety in Defence. Recommendation 9 relates to avoiding the concurrent running of the demonstration and manufacture stages in future projects. This recommendation needs to be considered carefully to ensure we capture the safety imperatives while not preventing sensible spiral development or for example the parallel construction of classes of warship. I will update the House on this alongside Recommendations 12 and 14 that also need consideration on how to best implement them, building on existing work on Approvals and SROs. Madame Deputy Speaker, I would also like to update the House on the Project more broadly. We have a robust firm price contract for the delivery of 589 vehicles at a cost of 5.5Bn. We are ensuring we protect our commercial position under the contract and will not accept a vehicle that is not fit for purpose. It remains impossible to share with this House 100% confidence that this programme will succeed or, if it does, the timing of achieving Full Operating Capability. However, we are working closely with General Dynamics on noise and vibration and they are showing great commitment to resolving these issues. This very advanced fighting vehicle project employs 4,100 in South Wales and across the UK. We all want it to succeed and deliver what the British Army requires. The Millbrook trials to baseline the vehicle's characteristics have completed and we expect to receive conclusions shortly. In parallel, General Dynamics have been developing its own theories and trialling design modifications to address vibration. We expect to receive their analysis in the New Year, following which we will if appropriate undertake thorough testing of their proposed modifications to satisfy ourselves on their efficacy. Part of our analysis is also looking at the performance of the headset used in Ajax. While the noise profile on Ajax is noticeably different from other armoured vehicles, following tests on in-service headsets we took in November a precautionary measure to limit temporarily the amount of time personnel operate using them in other AFVs. Acoustic testing of our in-service headsets is now underway at test facilities in the UK and overseas. We are also testing other headsets to establish if they will meet our requirements and provide additional attenuation. Once this analysis is complete, we expect to be able to relax the temporary restrictions or implement appropriate mitigations. In the meantime, we remain able to maintain our operational commitments. The work on Ajax has also highlighted the significant number of personnel across Defence whose exposure to noise results in short or long-term restrictions to their military duties. I have, therefore, asked the MOD Permanent Secretary to look further at this issue to ensure we are doing all we can to prevent avoidable hearing loss in our people. Madame Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, the Ajax Health and Safety report makes for very difficult reading. It lays bare a deep malaise which is cultural and results in systemic failures across our organisations. I am grateful to David King and his team for their work and also grateful for the candour of many that contributed to this review. There are many working tirelessly to get Ajax back on track. We need to build on this candour and dedication and encourage all those involved in procurement programmes to speak up, to identify problems and make clear where those responsible are failing. A culture in which individuals may be discouraged from elevating problems through the chain of command, only solutions, may be admirable in other circumstances but rarely in procurement. We need to support our people by resolving underlying cultural issues that risk making it harder to deliver the capabilities needed by our Armed Forces. To take this forward, we are commissioning a senior legal figure to look more deeply at Ajax and not just health and safety; to examine the cultural and process flaws that it has highlighted. We will leave no stone unturned to learn these lessons. I encourage people to participate in this further review and will ensure they have the space to do so. Of course, if the review uncovers evidence of gross misconduct, those concerned will be held to account but the primary purpose though is to ensure that we address significant cultural failings. The terms of reference will be agreed with the reviewer and I will make these available to the House. In summary, while we should not forget that General Dynamics UK is responsible for delivering a safe and effective vehicle, it is clear from the report that the customs and practices of the Army, DE&S, Defence Digital and wider MOD resulted in a culture that prevented issues being addressed at an earlier point. We are committed to ensuring that measures are put in place to deliver what are very complex programmes in a way that minimises the risk to our people while delivering the capability needed by the Armed Forces. I commend this statement to the House. Advertisement How top brass blew 5.5billion on a dud that is a menace to troops: Ajax is the British Army's new tank that's too heavy, makes crew sick and can't fire on the move... all thanks to a mix of cronyism and incompetence Some of them reported back spasms and joint pain or swollen ankles. Others a constant tingling in their hands and feet. Still more emerged reeling from acute hearing loss and nausea. The noise and vibrations that members of the British Army trials team endured while trying out the latest high-tech vehicle were insufferable. Had the test-drives not been stopped, the damage they suffered could have become permanent. There were concerns about Vibration White Finger syndrome, an injury suffered by industrial workers handling vibrating heavy machinery, where fingers and toes suffer blood circulation loss and can go white and numb. As it was, more than 30 of the men required medical treatment, with two dozen given steroid injections. This is the story of the Ajax light tank that makes its drivers sick. One that cannot fire on the move as vibrations affect the gun stabilisation system, and which, due to this issue should not be driven faster than 20 mph comparable vehicles reach 45 mph. An armoured vehicle so unwieldy it can't fit into transport aircraft. A light tank that has cost billions yet could be scrapped before it enters service and is set to become the most expensive procurement failure in Army history. The MoD and General Dynamics (UK), the makers of Ajax, seem on course for a legal battle over the eye-watering sums involved As Conservative MP and Defence Select Committee member Mark Francois says: 'It is heavier than a Sherman tank and as stealthy as a Ford Transit full of spanners. And, if you are giving people steroid injections after having been in the vehicle, that tells you everything.' The scandal of the armoured vehicle's glaring problems raises concerns about the government's procurement process and why ministers were not alerted to the difficulties, but instead continued to write huge cheques. Above all, it poses the fundamental question: How on earth is it possible for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to spend billions on a light tank that does not work? It is a question to which MPs have demanded urgent answers as they urged the government to seek 'liquidated damages' and salvage whatever it possibly can from the billions of pounds of public money already banked by the arms manufacturer behind the vehicle. Whatever happens, the MoD and General Dynamics (UK), the makers of Ajax, seem on course for a legal battle over the eye-watering sums involved. Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace, who inherited the Ajax debacle, pulled no punches when he said: 'We paid for a piece of equipment, we expect it to be delivered, and like any consumer we have rights. If it's not up to scratch, we'll take action.' If only things were so simple. General Dynamics (UK) has received in excess of 3 billion for design and manufacturing work already completed, and these payments were made after the MoD agreed the company had met its production targets. The money will never be seen by the taxpayer again. So where does responsibility lie? The answer is complicated but involves an extraordinary 'revolving door' process whereby senior Army staff have ended up working for the firm that makes Ajax, General Dynamics (UK). It includes decisions to reject a cheaper alternative made by British Aerospace (BAe), and then to change the vehicle's design half-way through the process. On top of this, there is the hubris of decision makers in the Army with their insistence that only the very best machine, with the latest technology, would do. To understand where things went wrong, we must examine these issues, starting with the 'revolving door' between the MoD and General Dynamics (UK). Certainly, for a clique of former British Army generals, the company has proved highly lucrative. After overseeing procurement projects at the MoD, for which they were handsomely rewarded and given gold-plated pensions, they cashed in by joining the arms manufacturer. General Dynamics (UK) hires these senior officers and defence officials not only because of their knowledge of securing contracts, but also because of their relationships with their successors at the MoD the people responsible for deciding what equipment the UK's armed forces should purchase. The most senior soldier to spin through this revolving door is the former head of the Army, General Sir Peter Wall. Sir Peter completed his term as Chief of the General Staff (CGS) in January 2015. Around the same time he approached the government's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) to say he had been offered a non-executive directorship by General Dynamics a position which came with a substantial salary. General Dynamics (UK) hires these senior officers and defence officials not only because of their knowledge of securing contracts, but also because of their relationships with their successors at the MoD the people responsible for deciding what equipment the UK's armed forces should purchase. The most senior soldier to spin through this revolving door is the former head of the Army, General Sir Peter Wall. He is pictured above with Prince Charles Given Sir Peter's knowledge of army procurement contracts, ACOBA advised his appointment should be subject to strict conditions. These included a waiting period of 18 months from the day he left the Army, stipulations he 'should not draw on information available to him from his time in Government' and that he 'should not be involved with matters relating to' the Ajax contract. Sir Peter accepted these terms in September 2015 and took up his role with General Dynamics in August 2016. There is no suggestion he breached the ACOBA requirements by getting involved in the Ajax project. Nevertheless, as a board member of the manufacturer's U.S. parent company he is paid more than $300,000, according to U.S. public sources. Sir Peter was a Royal Engineer. Two years later he was joined at his new firm by another ex 'Sapper' slang for Royal Engineers Major General Carew Wilks. Wilks commanded RE units while in uniform before branching into procurement, eventually becoming 'Director Land Equipment' in September 2011 the year the Army chose General Dynamics (UK) to design and build its new armoured reconnaissance vehicle. According to Maj Gen Wilks's LinkedIn profile, he was 'responsible for the acquisition of all equipment in the land environment, principally the Army' so, it is likely, he could have been involved with the Ajax project. Earlier this month the retired Major General enraged MPs on the Commons Defence Select Committee when he stonewalled questions about Ajax's failures. THE AJAX IN NUMBERS Weapons: 40mm cannon and 7.62mm machine gun Top speed: 45mph Weight: 38 tons Engine: 800bhp V8 Crew: Three plus seven passengers Width: 3.35 m (11 ft) Length: 7.62 m (25 ft) Advertisement Indeed, former Defence Minister Kevan Jones nearly exploded after repeatedly asking Maj Gen Wilks, now Vice President and General Manager of General Dynamics (UK), why the company was paid so much up front and had taken on little or no risk if the project failed. Mr Jones snapped: 'Oh forget it, Chair! He is not answering the question!' But personnel apart, why did the government choose General Dynamics (UK) in the first place? The firm was chosen to provide 589 armoured vehicles to the Army. Ajax is the company's biggest project and the UK government is its biggest client. In 2018, the company reported a total operating profit of 89.1 million from a turnover of 736 million of which 509 million was revenue directly generated by Ajax. The accounts for that year were signed by another former senior Army officer, Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures. He became a director of General Dynamics (UK) after retiring from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Here we come to the second issue in the decision-making process. According to defence sources, the Ajax's problems can be traced to the Army's insistence on having the company's armoured vehicle rather than BAe's CV90. In contrast to the Ajax, the CV90 has been introduced into service with armies across the world. A source told the Mail the MoD wanted to 'punish' BAe for the failure of the MRA4 Nimrod programme the ministry ordered 21 'maritime reconnaissance and attack' aircraft from BAe but after delays and hitches the programme was scrapped with losses exceeding 4 billion. 'Anyone but BAe', was the mantra. And when the choice of Ajax was challenged by the MoD's procurement scrutiny committee, the Army 'blustered it through', according to sources. The initial development contract was signed in 2011 and the deal was stacked so the manufacturer received more than half the value of the contract before the Ajax vehicles entered service. To this day 26 have been received by the Army. Astonishingly, the Defence Select Committee heard that any compensation claims brought by soldiers suffering injuries due to the noise and vibrations aboard Ajax will come not from the manufacturer but public funds. And while a 7.7 million grant from the Welsh government to construct the vehicle at a factory in Wales must be repaid, the company only has to do this at a rate of 1 million year. The scandal of the armoured vehicle's glaring problems raises concerns about the government's procurement process and why ministers were not alerted to the difficulties, but instead continued to write huge cheques (Pictured: Digital image of Ajax tank) Compounding the problems was the fact that commanders were determined to create the 'perfect vehicle', irrespective of cost and they could not stop changing the design, long after the project was under way. Amazingly, senior Army officers were apparently jealous of their Royal Navy and Royal Air Force counterparts as they had new aircraft carriers and next generation stealth jets. According to sources, they were determined to have their own prestigious piece of kit. Officers were also smarting after procurement minister Lord Drayson scaled back a programme called FRES (Future Rapid Effect System) which involved a suite of sensors, communication systems and high-tech vehicles likened to the gadgetry on 'Thunderbirds'. All that remained of FRES after this downgrade was the requirement for an 'Armoured Infantry Reconnaissance and Command Vehicle' which explains why Army officers were determined to make it the best. They insisted on the 'enhanced lethality' offered by the 40 mm cannon, despite its eye-watering cost a source recalled that in 2011 the estimated cost of each round was 250, against 20 per round for the smaller cannons on other armoured vehicles. Publicly available MoD reports written around 2017-2018 do not mention the problems the 2017-18 accounts claim Ajax armoured vehicles are 'progressing through their final acceptance process before being accepted into service' (Pictured: The Ares variant of the Ajax is put through its paces for the British Army) By 2016 General Dynamics (UK) had produced working prototypes of Ajax but the Army, seeing how rapidly battlefield technology, in particular communications, was moving on, feared Ajax could be obsolete when it eventually entered service. So it set about 're-casting' its agreement with the manufacturer for what would be delivered. This 're-casting' was not just a tweak here and there, it was a transformative overhaul of the vehicle. The latest high-tech equipment had to be retrofitted into hulls and turrets designed for different communication and intelligence systems and armaments. The process lasted four years and meant the company's 2014 production contract had to be re-drafted as, effectively, the Army was asking for a different vehicle. It was a move described by one source as 'the most cardinal of sins in procurement'. Inevitably, the MoD paid a hefty financial price. 'Re-casting was the Army's biggest mistake,' said the source. 'You have to stick to your choices. Otherwise the contractor gets to bury its own mistakes in the changes you want.' Publicly available MoD reports written around this period do not mention the problems the 2017-18 accounts claim Ajax armoured vehicles are 'progressing through their final acceptance process before being accepted into service'. By then, the Army's demands for a 'light tank' with a 40 mm cannon, which was 'globally deployable' and delivered ISTAR (Information, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) capabilities, was causing headaches. One option is to replace Ajax with drones. The latest technological developments mean they offer increasing amounts of firepower and there's the bonus that, being unmanned, they do not put friendly lives at stake (Pictured: The Ares variant of the Ajax is put through its paces for the British Army) What's more, the changes had made the vehicle heavier so much so that its deployment is now compromised by its weight. The chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood MP, said: 'Its weight has ballooned from eight tonnes to 43 tonnes, meaning it is too heavy for the A400 transport aircraft, and only with partial dismantling can it fit into the (much bigger) C-17.' At the hearing Mr Francois advised the Defence Minister Jeremy Quin to 'rip off the plaster' on Ajax, 'go for your liquidated damages and move on'. So what happens now? Commanders and ministers are prepared to give General Dynamics (UK) a few months to rectify the noise and vibration issues, but not much longer. The trouble is the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, who was the head of the Army, has put Ajax at the centre of the new strategic approach to ground warfare known as 'Strike Brigades'. The vehicle was intended to provide covering firepower to troops and provide and relay intelligence and communications across the battlefield. Equally, there is now little money left in the pot for an alternative. One option is to replace Ajax with drones. The latest technological developments mean they offer increasing amounts of firepower and there's the bonus that, being unmanned, they do not put friendly lives at stake. But whatever happens, nothing can now gloss over this ruinous scandal which could turn out to be the most expensive mistake the MoD has ever made. An Italian scammer who claimed he was blind and received 144,000 in benefits over 13 years has been caught after he was seen driving and window shopping. Then man was was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of fraud after he was also spotted riding a scooter. The man in Palermo, Sicily, received at least 170,000 euros (144,000) in benefits since 2008 after attesting that he was 'totally blind' as a result of a congenital problem. An Italian scammer who claimed he was blind and received 144,000 in benefits over 13 years has been caught after he was seen driving and window shopping [stock image] Italy's financial police were alerted after the man renewed his driver's license in 2018 despite his earlier declaration. During stake-outs, authorities witnessed the man driving - while dialling on his phone at the same time - looking at shop windows while walking through a busy mall and teaching his daughter to ride a bike. The 40-year-old was also seen riding a scooter without insurance, Palermo Today reported, adding that the man was nicknamed 'Berlusconi,' after Italy's former prime minister with a history of legal problems. The man was already known to authorities, having received a jail sentence of nearly 15 years in the first instance last year for being part of a group that staged fake traffic accidents to receive insurance payouts. The case is under appeal. Despite being the owner of a garage, the man also received Italy's so-called 'basic income,' or monthly welfare payment given to the country's poorest citizens. The case is not the first time a person claiming to be blind has been caught out. According to The Local, a man in 2013 was arrested after claiming around 140,000 euros by saying he was blind. He was caught after he filmed giving directions while he was out shopping. The news outlet reported that in July 2013 alone, 40 people claiming benefits for blindness were arrested in Rome after police filmed them driving, reading newspapers and carrying out other daily activities. During stake-outs, authorities witnessed the 'blind' man driving - while dialling on his phone at the same time - looking at shop windows while walking through a busy mall and teaching his daughter to ride a bike [stock image] Disability fraud is a widespread problem in Italy, particularly in the country's southern regions and in Sicily. Every year, investigators uncover thousands of cases, costing the state millions. In once case reported by The Guardian, a man was arrested in April 2019 for allegedly falsely claiming to be a paraplegic, claiming almost 120,000. The man was even granted audience with the Pope in 2015, with police saying his scam began in 2007 when he staged a road accident with an accomplice. Like many countries in Europe, Italy has a welfare state, and its expenditure of social benefits is one of the highest among OECD countries. Its welfare state is based upon the corporatist-conservative model. As of 2019, Italy's social expenditure was at 28.2 percent of its GDP, while the OECD average at the time stood at 20 percent. The country's social benefits are most often allocated to low-income households, the elderly, sick, unemployed, the young or the disabled. A polo-playing university student has lost a 600,000 court fight with her aunt over her mother's will. Anabel Mattingley, 21, claimed her mother Kim had signed over her property near Maidstone, Kent, to her aunt to protect it from a claim by her ex-husband. But Durham undergraduate Ms Mattingley said her mother, a former JP Morgan banker, had made a dying wish for a share of the 600,000 property to be passed back to her. Ms Mattingley told a court that her mother had set up a 'secret trust' by asking her aunt, Karen Bugeja, to 'look after her' following her death. She claimed her share of the property, worth around 150,000, would be used as a downpayment on a house and to buy a horse. But a judge at London's High Court has now thrown out Ms Mattingley's claim saying the request was 'vague'. The court also heard that Ms Mattingley's mother had stated in the will that she would have 'no legal claim' to the property. She has however been left the remainder of her mother's estate under the will, including assets in Switzerland and Spain. Anabel Mattingley (pictured), 21, claimed her mother Kim had signed over her property near Maidstone, Kent, to her aunt to protect it from a claim by her ex-husband Ms Mattingley told a court that her mother had set up a 'secret trust' by asking her aunt, Karen Bugeja (pictured), to 'look after her' following her death Durham undergraduate Ms Mattingley said her mother, a former JP Morgan banker, had made a dying wish for a share of the 600,000 property (pictured) to be passed back to her The court heard how ex-banker Kim Mattingley had left her 600,000 house in Kings Hill, near Maidstone, to her sister Karen in her will. Kim, who moved from Kent to Switzerland and became an alternative therapist, died in 2016 after developing skin cancer, which later spread to other parts of her body. Anabel, who studies anthropology and French at Durham University, claimed Karen had made a legally-binding promise to Kim to pass around a quarter of the value of the house to her daughter after her death. Her lawyers argued that the ex-banker didn't leave the inheritance directly to her daughter because she was worried her ex-husband would lay claim to it. Instead, she left it to her sister, but set up a 'secret trust' verbally, ensuring that Karen knew a share of the property was to be owned by Anabel. But her aunt fought the claim in court, insisting she never promised to give her niece anything from the property, which her mother, Joan White, Anabel's grandmother, still lives in. Ms White moved into Kim's house having paid off the mortgage for her. And while it remained in Kim's name, she signed over a 25-year lease allowing her mother to live there. She also gave her sister a 29 per cent share of the value to reflect the cash their mother had poured in. But after Kim's death, Anabel demanded that her aunt sign over a 26.63 per cent share of the house to her. She claimed Karen had betrayed a promise she made to her dying sister by hanging onto the ownership Kim handed her in her will. A judge at London's High Court (pictured: The Royal Courts of Justice) has now thrown out Ms Mattingley's claim saying the request was 'vague' In the witness box, Anabel told the judge that her mum had expected her sister to care for her daughter after her death and had even looked into making her Anabel's legal guardian. Nicholas Jackson, for Anabel, told Karen in the witness box: 'You agreed that you would hold this for Anabel. Your sister trusted you to do the right thing.' But Karen, fighting the ownership claim, told the judge that she wanted to protect her and Kim's mother's Joan who still lives in the house. 'In the will she left me the house,' she said. 'Both my sister and I considered it to be our mother's house. Anabel was telling me it was her house. 'I'm fighting this because I didn't believe my sister would have told me that I was obliged legally to give Anabel a share of a property my mother lives in.' Backing Karen in his judgment, Judge Davis-White said: 'The gist of Anabel's evidence was that her mother told her that she would receive "a portion" of the English property and that Karen would "look after her". 'Her mother trusted Karen to do this. I find that Kim was anxious to re-assure her 16-year-old daughter that, after her death, Anabel would be looked after both financially and otherwise by her aunt, Karen. 'The most that was said when Karen was in the room was that Karen would look after Anabel, in the most general of terms. 'I find that at most Kim wished, without imposing any obligation or extracting any promise from Karen, that Karen would give Kim something derived from the property. 'That there was no obligation is reflected by the vagueness of what was promised.' The judge said that the 'vagueness' of the wishes expressed by Kim was 'fatal' to her daughter's claim that a secret trust had been established. Anabel, who studies anthropology and French at Durham University (pictured), claimed that Karen had made a legally-binding promise to Kim to pass around a quarter of the value of the house to her daughter after her death Kim's will had 'clearly expressed the position that Anabel was to have no legal entitlement to Kim's beneficial interest - or any part of it - in the property,' he said. 'I am also not satisfied on the evidence that Karen made any promise, express or implied, that she would definitely deal with the property or its proceeds in a certain way so as to give Anabel any interest in the same after Mrs White's death. 'It follows that the claim must be dismissed,' the judge said, handing victory to the aunt and leaving Anabel facing a hefty legal costs bill as the loser of the fight. He added that Karen has said that once her mum has moved out of the house and has her care costs covered, she would consider passing some of the value on to Anabel, but that this would be a discretionary choice on her part, rather than Anabel's legal right. The question of costs will be dealt with at another hearing if it is not agreed. The first victims of a jumping castle tragedy have been identified as the death toll from the freak accident at a primary school end-of-year celebration hits five. Harrowing accounts came from eyewitnesses at the scene, who described seeing distraught parents broken down in the gutter, sobbing. Three children are still fighting for life after a wind gust blew a jumping castle 10 metres into the air at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in north-west Tasmania, at about 10am on Thursday. Addison Stewart and classmate Zane were due to start high school next year and were celebrating their last day of year six when their lives were tragically cut short. Tributes have begun pouring in online for the beloved students who have been remembered as a 'beautiful, caring boy' and a 'precious' girl with a 'sweet, kind, old soul'. Zane has been identified as one of the victims in the Devonport jumping castle tragedy Addison Stewart (pictured) was also one of the five students who was tragically killed when the jumping castle lifted 10 metres in the air A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Zane's grieving family financially through this devastating time. 'Zane was such a beautiful caring, gentle soul who had challenges growing up with his autism and ADHD but that never set him back he kept achieving,' the fundraiser reads. 'This has shook so many people and the community and we want to do anything to help make things a little easier for [his mum] at this hard time.' Addison's aunt has also launched a GoFundMe to help her parents as they 'navigate life without their precious daughter'. 'My niece was tragically taken in the accident at Hillcrest Primary,' she wrote. 'I'm hoping to raise some money for my brother and sister in-law to help pay for funeral costs and to pay off some bills for them while they try and navigate life without their precious daughter. Flowers and teddy bears have started to pile up around the school's sign as the community pays tribute to the victims Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air 'I don't even know what to write at this stage. Everyone is devastated , she was always such a sweet kind, old soul. 'We all love you Paddi Melon.' Distraught police officers were seen consoling each other at the scene of the tragedy, while desperate parents were seen at the gates trying to find out if their children were dead or alive. The victims, which include another boy and girl, were Year 6 students. Four others are in hospital - three of them in a critical condition and one is described as having 'serious' injuries. 'On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss,' Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said on Thursday afternoon. Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School where several children died in a jumping castle incident 'Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.' Detectives are investigating how many children were on the jumping castle when the tragedy unfolded. 'It's an emotional day for everyone who is tragically impacted by today,' Commissioner Hine said. 'I've already seen pictures of police officers quite upset, as you'd expect. Any emergency services and teachers, everyone is affected in some way.' Flowers and teddy bears have been placed at the base of the school's sign as the community pays tribute to the victims. The jumping castle was blown into the air by a freak gust of wind, killing five kids and leaving several injured (paramedics are pictured at the scene) A local man, who wished to only be known as Connor, told Daily Mail Australia his colleague lives across the road from the primary school and ran over when she heard sirens. 'She first thought there was a shooting,' he said. 'She said the scene as horrific and confronting, with children everywhere on the ground. '[But] what got her the most was the parents sitting in the gutters, on the side of the road head in hands, crying.' Connor said the tragedy had rocked the tight-knit coastal town, which is home to around 26,000 people. 'The community is just devastated,' he said. A schoolboy who watched the horrific scene unfold revealed he was almost involved in the tragedy. 'It was our turn next,' he told The Mercury. 'Grade five and six went first.' Bob Smith, who lives near the school, said he saw kids on the ground. 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,' he said. 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein passed on his thoughts to the community. 'My thoughts are obviously with the parents of the children that have been injured and with the emergency services,' he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as 'unthinkably heartbreaking'. Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured) 'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,' he said while on a visit on the NSW Central Coast. 'It just breaks your heart.' Awful scene at Tasmanias Hillcrest Primary School. Multiple students seriously injured after a jumping castle flipped in a gust of wind @abcnews pic.twitter.com/OTsRUzmDym Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021 The inflatable castle was part of a celebration to mark the last day of school, which also included zorb balls, a slippery slide and a wet play zone. 'A wind event caused a jumping castle to lift into the air,' police said in a statement. 'Several children fell from a height of about 10 metres about 10am.' 'Counselling is being made available to the families affected by this in the school community along with the first responders.' Images at the scene showed a wall of tarpaulin sheets set up as paramedics worked desperately to save those who had been injured. Comm Williams said officers were called to 'a very confronting and distressing scene'. The school had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents. 'Students will have the opportunity to rotate through a range of activities with their cohort,' the school wrote. The school is in Devonport in northern Tasmania (pictured). Hillcrest Primary School had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents Ambulance Tasmania said in a statement that it was responding to a 'major incident' A GoFundMe was launched shortly after news of the tragedy broke, raising $23,958 in three hours. The organiser, who grew up un Devonport, said she moved by the tragedy and wanted to do something to support the families through Christmas. 'All funds will go to the families of the children who were tragically killed and injured too not only support them but provide them with much needed gifts in this time of such sadness,' she wrote. 'Any donation is much appreciated and hopefully we as the incredible community of Devonport can rally to support such deserving and hurting people.' Italian women are having dramatically fewer babies than ever during the pandemic, accentuating one of the world's lowest birth rates. The low birth rate has prompted warnings that the country is set to lose a fifth of its population over the next 50 years. The month of January 2021, 10 months after Italy's draconian lockdown, marked the lowest birth rate ever - a 13.6 per cent decline over the same month a year earlier, translating to nearly 5,000 fewer births. The country also saw significant drops in November and December 2020, meaning there was 'little doubt about the role of the pandemic' and that the trend appeared to be lasting, said the Italian statistics agency ISTAT in a new report. A doctor dressed in a protective suit checks the temperature of passengers as they line up arriving with a Frecciarossa high-speed train in Naples' Central Station, southern Italy in May 2020 as the Italian government gradually eased lockdown restrictions In just over a decade, births have dropped by one third in Italy, with 404,892 babies born in 2020 from 576,659 in 2008. Almost all of the decline is attributed to families with two Italian parents. Gian Carlo Bliangiardo, the President of Istat, said the latest decline in birth rate could not be blamed entirely on the pandemic - though the steepest drop came about nine months after the 2020 lockdown. 'We are in a period of emergency that has lasted a long time and that has made many couples think: 'Let's wait',' Bliangiardo told The Times, adding that scores of weddings had been postponed, which had impacted the birth rate as three quarters of Italians have children within marriage. Istat also predicts that Italy could lose a fifth of its population over the next 50 years. The country's population, which was recorded as 59.6 million in January 2020, could decline to 47.6 million in 2070 - marking a 20 per cent decline. The statistics agency said that the data marked a 'potential picture of crisis' as there would be fewer residents, more older people and smaller families. Nearly a quarter of Italy's population is aged 65 or older, at 23.2 percent, and that is expected to grow to 35 percent by 2050. 'The age structure of the population already shows a high imbalance in favour of the older generations and there are currently no factors that might suggest a reversal of this trend,' the report said. A police officer wearing a face mask walks across the deserted Trevi Fountain square on March 10, 2020 during Italy's lockdown In less than 30 years, deaths are also expected to outweigh births by a factor of two - 784,000 compared to 391,000. Matteo Rizzolli, an economist, wrote in the Italian newspaper Domani that the 'implications of this decline will be massive and will affect many sectors of the economy'. Rizzolli pointed to how it would affect the housing market as a smaller population would need fewer homes. It would also see an increase in taxes to repay the country's debt as well as labour shortages. 'Our country seems incapable of taking seriously what is probably the most serious threat to its future. As if we were not on the edge of an abyss,' he wrote. But Bliangiardo told La Repubblica he had a more positive outlook for the future of Italy. 'A country with fewer young people is not in itself a place where the quality of life worsens. 'We will need to remodulate the organisation of society. And we, like Japan, will be among the first in the world to have to tackle the phenomenon.' A stash of stolen treasure has been recovered by the police almost 2,000 years after it was taken. The 'remarkably well preserved' artefacts were found last week after officers stopped a suspicious vehicle in Jerusalem's Musrara neighbourhood. Inside, they found hundreds of late Roman coins, an ornate pair of 2,000-year-old bronze incense burners - known as censers - a bronze jug for serving wine, and more. Archaeologists believe the treasures were probably stolen during the Bar Kokhba revolt a Jewish rebellion against Roman rule in the second century AD. Now the three suspects who were in the car face a criminal investigation, amid suspicions that they themselves looted the artefacts from a hideout used by Bar Kokhba rebels. A stash of stolen treasure has been recovered by the police in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years after it was taken. It included hundreds of Roman coins (pictured) It's thought the treasures had been brought to Jerusalem in a bid to sell them to an antiquities dealer. The trio were only rumbled after attempting to drive a car up a one-way street in the wrong direction, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The authority suspects that the artefacts had been taken from a hideout near the Tarqumiya border crossing in the southern West Bank. Criminals recently carried out illegal excavations at the site before fleeing. Amir Ganor, director of the IAA's Robbery Prevention Unit, said: 'We recently identified unauthorized archaeological excavations at a site from the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. 'An operation was launched in an attempt to capture suspects, but unfortunately the robbers managed to escape. The 'remarkably well-preserved' artefacts were found last week after officers stopped a suspicious vehicle in Jerusalem's Musrara neighbourhood. Above: A bronze wine jug was also recovered Inside the car, police also found an ornate pair of bronze incense burners - known as censers 'When they fled, however, they left behind ancient finds that are similar to those now recovered in the suspects' possession. 'We believe that the finds that were recently recovered in Jerusalem were taken from this site.' The wine vessel, meanwhile, carries a depiction of a Roman banqueting scene, with a reclining figure holding a jug. Other treasures included an ornate stone tripod bowl and Roman clay lamps. The presence of bronze artefacts, which are rarely found in Israel, is considered a tell-tale sign of loot from the Bar Kokhba rebellion. According to The Times of Israel, the authority believes that after the Jewish rebels originally took the items from the Romans, they would not have used them. This is because they were decorated with pagan imagery and so using them would violate the Jewish prohibition against idolatry. They added that, by the time of the rebellion, Jews were no longer practising sacrifice or incense burning. Experts believe the two bronze censers were used to burn ritual incense and probably came from a wealthy Roman house or temple. Eli Eskozido, director of the IAA, said that once the suspects had been dealt with, the court would be asked to confiscate the treasures for future preservation. He said: 'We are working day and night to combat illicit excavations at antiquities sites around the country. 'These ancient finds embody the country's history, but for robbers and dealers they are merely a commodity, sold to the highest bidder for pure greed. The wine vessel, meanwhile, carries a depiction of a Roman banqueting scene, with a reclining figure holding a jug Other treasures included an ornate stone tripod bowl and Roman clay lamps. Above: Officials from the Israel Antiquities Authority examine the artefacts 'It is tremendously important to prevent any attempts to deal in illegal antiquities, to recover valuable finds and to return them to the public and the state. 'When legal proceedings against the suspects are complete, we will ask the court to confiscate the finds and hand them to us for conservation and further research.' Mr Ganor also commended the vigilance of the officers from Lev HaBira police station for rumbling the robbers. A drug addict who raped and attacked an elderly woman with scissors has been sentenced for his heinous crimes, as it's revealed he is the son of one of Australia's most notorious paedophiles. Craig Anthony Wheatman, 29, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his attacks on a 92-year-old Sydney woman in her home in January. As part of his sentencing, the court heard of Wheatman's disturbing family past. Craig Anthony Wheatman (above), 29, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his attacks on an elderly woman, 92, in January As part of his sentencing the court heard about Wheatman's (above) disturbing family history Wheatman is the son of notorious South Australian peodophile Anthony Wheatman, now 54, who was previously handed a 16-year jail sentence. Anthony Wheatman shocked Australia when he attacked several children in Adelaide in the 2000s and then wrote perverted fantasies about them from his jail cell. While his father's crimes were gaining infamy, Craig Wheatman was creating a name for himself with South Australian police for his involvement in drugs and violence. NSW District Court Judge Donna Woodburne SC told the court on Thursday that Wheatman had a poor relationship with his alcoholic mother as well as his siblings. His siblings would often tell Wheatman that he 'reminded them of their father.' Wheatman moved to Sydney in 2020 in hopes of escaping his cycle of drugs and hardship but quickly fell back into bad habits. Within weeks of his move he was using meth and became delusional while squatting in homes throughout west Sydney. Wheatman is the child of notorious South Australian peodophile Anthony Wheatman, now 54, who is serving a 16-year jail sentence NSW District Court Judge Donna Woodburne SC told the court that Wheatman had a poor relationship with his alcoholic mother and his siblings would often tell him he 'reminded them of their father.' Wheatman owned eight phones, 15 email accounts, took notes of cars he thought were following him and believed the television was threatening him. 'At the time of the offending he was living an isolated and chaotic existence,' Judge Woodburne told the court. Late at night on January 22, Wheatman left a property in Sydney's inner-west and wandered to Concord with a pair of scissors in hand. Wheatman used the scissors to enter the home of an elderly woman on January 23 in Concord, before raping and assaulting her in an attack which lasted 105 minutes. After the attack Wheatman forced the woman into the shower where he doused her in hot water, cooking oil, vinegar, and Dettol in an attempt to cover his crimes. Wheatman moved to Sydney and quickly fell back into drug habits he had hoped to leave behind before he attacked the 92-year-old victim on January 23 In an attack he claims not to remember after his arrest (above), Wheatman raped and assaulted the elderly woman with a pair of scissors before robbing her Wheatman then grunted 'money, money' repeatedly to himself before he escaped with the victim's bracelet, $400, and items of her clothing. He claims he doesn't remember attacking the woman. Wheatman had cut the woman's phone lines before leaving the property but she was able to call for help via a medical emergency alarm. Police later found and arrested Wheatman, who said he had no memory of the attack but figured he had done more than rob the woman. 'I had this gut feeling I was running from something more than stealing from someone. I'm not a thief but this was something worse. I was scared,' he said. 'The fact she'd been basically shoved in the shower, what was I trying to wash away?' Wheatman will be eligible for parole in 2030. 'Is this about Brexit?': Agony of family-of-four whose Christmas has been ruined by Macron's British ban The family have had their Christmas ruined A family-of-four from Surrey looking forward to spending Christmas in Val Thoren skiing have been left devastated by the sudden ban. Maxine Lane-Badenhop, 56, had been poised to go skiing in France with her husband Henning and their two daughters, 14 and 15. They spent around 3,800 on the holiday which they have not lost - but cannot get back, only postpone the trip. Mrs Lane-Badenhop had managed to overcome difficulties of getting the relevant passes for her daughters and even a health certificate for their dog. But their Eurotunnel trip was thrown into chaos by President Macron's volte-face. Mrs Lane-Badenhop told MailOnline: 'This was a trip we had postponed from last Christmas for the same reasons. 'We were all set to go, so it's been very hard this morning to hear about the ban. 'My husband works abroad so he was going to fly back tonight, we had paid for all the tests and everything we needed. 'We are devastated, we were all looking forward to it as a family. We don't know what we are going to do for Christmas now. 'If France are shutting the borders to us, are they going to do the same to others in Europe? 'I'm cynical, I don't know, but is this a French and Britain thing about Brexit? 'I think it just seems crazy with Omicron everywhere. I feel terrible for the resorts that are going to lose money too. 'It is a huge disappointment. We have bought clothes for the skiing which will be too small by next year. 'To now have to cancel everything is ridiculous.' Advertisement Boris Johnson has slammed France for banning British tourists from the country starting on Saturday over fears of the Omicron variant. Emmanuel Macron's government singled out the UK for the ban on non-essential travel, claiming it is designed to slow the arrival of the super-mutant variant into France. However the travel industry and experts point out that Omicron is already well established there - and even makes up a higher proportion of French cases according to the latest available data. France has given boosters to only 16.7 million people and hopes to give a third dose to 20 million by Christmas. That is behind the UK, which has already surpassed 24 million booster jabs. Maxine Lane-Badenhop, 56, had been poised to go skiing in France with her husband Henning and their two daughters, 14 and 15, and said she thought the ban was ridiculous. She told MailOnline: 'We can't go now.. We are devastated, we were all looking forward to it as a family. We don't know what we are going to do for Christmas now. 'If France are shutting the borders to us, are they going to do the same to others in Europe? 'I'm cynical, I don't know, but is this a French and Britain thing about Brexit? 'I think it just seems crazy with Omicron everywhere. I feel terrible for the resorts that are going to lose money too.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said the government did not think travel bans were a 'effective or proportionate' response to Omicron. He said: 'On our part given the given the transmissibility of Omicron and its seeding around the world, we don't think that Red Lists are effective or proportionate at this current time.' The move comes after weeks of political tensions between France and Britain over post-Brexit fishing rights and how to deal with migrants crossing the English Channel. It also comes as France's government is desperately trying to avoid a new lockdown or stricter measures that would hurt the economy and cloud President Macron's expected campaign for the April presidential election. France's daily Covid cases are already soaring after the arrival of Omicron and are approaching the same level per million as in the UK. Omicron is also widespread across many European countries including Denmark, which has not been included in the French travel ban. Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: 'Blanket country measures are a damaging backwards step and never work. 'Omicron is already in France and other EU countries. 'Why should the millions boosted be treated the same way as those unvaccinated, and prevented from entry?' This chart shows the proportion of all cases that are Omicron (red) according to the latest genetic sequencing data on December 13. France sequences far fewer cases than the UK, but the super-mutant strain makes up a higher proportion of those they do sequence than in the UK. The UK has far more cases than France of the virus and its new strain which is spreading fast The UK is below many other European countries for number of Covid cases per million The Omicron variant is already growing rapidly in France and although it has detected fewer cases in total, it sequences far fewer cases Omicron cases in the UK are shown taking off in December, starting on the 3rd of the month Maxine Lane-Badenhop, 56, had been poised to go skiing in France with her husband Henning and their two daughters, 14 and 15. French president Macron at the EU Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels yesterday Have you had your French trip ruined? Email: dan.sales@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Conservative MP for Dover Natalie Elphicke told MailOnline the French action was causing unnecessary misery for travellers. We have seen again France acting in a different way to other European countries. That is going to cause unnecessary disruption this Christmas time, she said. We saw France do this last Christmas. It is obviously welcome they seem to be allowing haulage to travel but clearly this is going to be difficult for passengers trying to return to their homes for Christmas or go abroad at this time of year. And spokesman for ferry operator Brittany Ferries said: 'These new measures are a hammer blow to our Christmas season. 'In the context of an Omicron variant that is passing through the French population as it is in the UK, further border controls seem as unnecessary as they are unwelcome.' Families, who have already paid for tests and packages, will also face a battle to get any money back in time for Christmas. The PM's spokesman said the government does not think travel bans are a 'effective or proportionate' response to Omicron. Asked whether Macron should think again, the spokesman said: 'I think at all stages it's been down to countries to consider what approach is right for them.' 'Certainly on our part given the given the transmissibility of Omicron and its seeding around the world, we don't think that Red Lists are effective or proportionate at this current time.' A French government spokesman confirmed there will be a 'requirement to have an essential reason to travel to, or come from, the UK, both for the unvaccinated and vaccinated'. He added: 'People cannot travel for touristic or professional reasons.' They insisted French citizens and EU nationals could still return to France from the UK. Delta remains the dominant variant in France, but Omicron is spreading so fast in Britain that it's raising concerns across the Channel. French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on BFM television that tourism or business trips from Britain to France 'will be limited,' though French citizens will still be able to make the journey. All those arriving from Britain will need to have a negative virus test less than 24 hours old, and to test again upon arrival and isolate 'in a place they choose' for at least 48 hours pending the result, Attal said. Health minister Gillian Keegan was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme for her reaction to the French travel restrictions. She said: 'Well, actually, my first thought is 'I'm glad that I cancelled my trip to France', because that's where I was supposed to go for Christmas. Many Britons, including Ollie James above, have seen their Christmas plans destroyed today Ollie James has had his 12,000 ski holiday cancelled he revealed on Twitter this morning British tourists were dismayed at the news of the ban from the French government 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 Travel group calls for Government support ABTA called for Government support for the travel industry. Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer, said: 'This ban will come as a hammer blow to the winter travel industry, which is already under extreme pressure following the new Omicron restrictions. 'The winter sports and school travel markets are particularly exposed, and the Government must now bring forward a support package if we are not to see company failures and job losses. 'The travel and tourism sector has had little chance to generate income since early 2020 and is now faced with another wave of cancellations. Travel businesses have reported turnover at just 22% of pre-pandemic levels following two years of Government-imposed restrictions and consumer confidence in overseas travel has been hit hard. 'Any Government review of business support to address the impacts of Omicron must include as a priority travel agents and tour operators.' Advertisement 'But, of course, every government is dealing with Omicron, every government has to make their decisions and has their response to it, you know. It is obviously going to alter people's plans, which is very unfortunate.' Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he has spoken to his equivalent in the French government, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, and agreed that hauliers will be exempt from the new restrictions. The UK recorded the highest number of confirmed new COVID-19 infections Wednesday since the pandemic began, and England's 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. It is a rapid turnaround from yesterday when the government said returning travellers would need a negative test less than 24 hours old, a blanket quarantine would be enforced on return to France, and trips for tourism limited. 'We will reduce the validity of the test to come to France from 48 hours to 24 hours,' they said. 'We will limit the reasons for coming to France from the UK, it will be limited to French nationals and residents and their families. 'Tourism or business trips for people who do not have French or European nationality or are residents will be limited.' 'People (coming back) will have to register on an app and will have to self-isolate in a place of their choosing for seven days - controlled by the security forces. 'This can be shortened to 48 hours if a negative test is carried out in France,' he said. Attal said this policy was aimed at 'tightening the net' to slow down the arrival of Omicron cases in France and give time for the French vaccination booster campaign to make more ground. 'Our strategy is to delay as much as we can the development of Omicron in our country and take advantage to push ahead with the booster drive,' he said. The news will be a blow to any Brits who had booked a holiday in France over the next month Skiing resorts had been preparing to welcome British tourists until today's shock change Britain on Wednesday recorded a record 78,610 laboratory-confirmed Covid cases, with scientists predicting even higher rates as Omicron is believed to spread much faster than the currently dominant Delta variant. The tight travel restrictions are also being imposed during what analysts see as a breakdown of trust between the British and French governments in the wake of Brexit over a host of issues from migrants to fishing. French President Emmanuel Macron last week accused UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government of failing to keep its word on Brexit, saying 'the problem with the British government is that it does not do what it says' On Wednesday over-65s in France without Covid-19 booster jabs lost their 'health pass' under new rules. 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 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. France is currently engulfed in a fifth wave of Covid caused mainly by the Delta variant, and it has at least 170 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant too. It follows complaints by numerous French travellers about the lack of enforcement of anti-Covid safety measures in the UK. On Tuesday it emerged that even football commentators from one of the biggest broadcasters in France have stopped travelling to English stadiums because nobody at all bothers wearing an anti-Covid mask. Anthony Tobelem, a senior journalist on Canal+, made the startling admission while highlighting the growing health crisis in the Premier League. Pointing to a record 42 positive Covid test results for players over a week, he said: 'Us commentators have been staying in the Canal+ studio for two weeks in light of these figures. 'It's for the better given that if you don't wear a mask, you're at risk of testing positive, and the English until a few days ago did not wear a mask.' Mr Tobelem added: 'I have never seen an Englishman wearing a mask in any stadium since I've been there in August [at the start of the current season]'. Wearing a mask to football matches is compulsory in France, but there is currently no such rule in England, even though many health professionals advise usage in crowds. The need to wear a mask on trains, coaches and other forms of transport is meant to be mandatory in the UK, but the measure is not strictly enforced. Have you had your French trip ruined? Email: dan.sales@mailonline.co.uk Daniel Andrews has been plunged into isolation after coming into contact with a positive Covid case at a lavish private dinner. The Victorian premier, who was on his first day of Christmas leave, attended a 'swanky' 50th birthday for a friend at the Elwood foreshore Saturday night, in the south of Melbourne. Late on Wednesday night he received a Health Department text message notifying him he'd been exposed to the virus - along with dozens of other party guests, The Age reported. Daniel Andrews (pictured) has been plunged into isolation after coming into contact with a positive Covid case at a lavish private dinner The Victorian premier on his first day of Christmas leave attended a 'swanky' 50th birthday for a friend at the Elwood foreshore Saturday night, in the south of Melbourne. Pictured: Elwood Bathers The Covid-hardliner who kept Melbourne trapped in the world's longest lockdown was at the Elwood Bathers with his wife Catherine and a team of personal security guards. The woman being honoured in the private function room was the Andrew's long-time friend Fiona Waller, who is married to iSelect founder Damien Waller. Mrs Andrews reportedly made a speech at the dinner as guests let their hair down with an array of cocktails and wine on offer. 'You wouldn't have seen many blue-collar workers there. It was right at the other end of the scale,' a guest who did not wish to be identified said. 'There was flowing French champagne and proper cocktails. Ladies were dressed in real fashion and gents were mostly in well-fitted sports jackets.' But the well-dressed partygoers were sent into a spin on Thursday with health officials scrambling to inform them a positive case also attended the event. The Covid-hardliner who kept Melbourne trapped in the world's longest lockdown was at the Elwood Bathers with his wife Catherine (pictured together) and a team of personal security guards Guests at the Elwood Bathers venue said 'There was flowing French champagne and proper cocktails. Ladies were dressed in real fashion and gents were mostly in well-fitted sports jackets' At this stage it remains unclear how close the premier came to the infected diner. Mr Andrews rushed to get a Covid test on Thursday but the results have not yet been revealed. Whatever the outcome, he is expected to spend the next four weeks of his annual leave on the glamorous Mornington Peninsula. The state recorded it's highest daily total of Covid infections on Thursday with 1,622 new cases as fears grow the Omicron variant will continue to see infections spiral into the new year. Boris Johnson is bracing for another hammer blow today with Tories fearing they are doomed to defeat in the North Shropshire by-election. The PM is staring down the barrel of losing the previously rock-solid seat amid increasingly frenzied speculation about his future, following the extraordinary revolt against new coronavirus restrictions. There are threats that dozens of letters of no confidence will be sent to the chair of the Conservative 1922 committee if 23,000 majority is overturned in the contest, triggered by the resignation of Owen Paterson for flouting Commons lobbying rules. Meanwhile, senior ministers such as Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are also being accused of jostling for position in case Mr Johnson is ousted in the New Year. Weeks of disquiet at sleaze scandals, allegations of lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street, and plunging polls culminated with 101 Conservative MPs - nearly half the back bench - defying the whip to vote against introducing Covid passes on Tuesday. The massive mutiny left Mr Johnson humiliatingly relying on Labour to get the measures through Parliament - and raises serious questions about whether he could impose tougher rules should the Omicron situation deteriorate further. Rebels urged the premier to 'reset' his operation in the aftermath of the insurrection, with open warnings that he could face a leadership challenge unless things improve soon. Boris Johnson (pictured at PMQs yesterday) is bracing for another hammer blow today with Tories fearing they are doomed to defeat in the North Shropshire by-election Whitchurch in the North Shropshire constituency, which is holding a by-election today The contest was triggered by the resignation of Owen Paterson for flouting Commons lobbying rules However, Mr Johnson risked inflaming the anger by swatting away calls for 'change' at a Downing Street press conference last night, merely boasting about overseeing the 'fastest rollout in Europe' for vaccines and pointing to the strong jobs market. One senior Tory MP said: 'I've never seen anything like it. People are angry furious. I think that there are a dozen letters in to the '22, but if we lose North Shropshire, it will be two dozen.' However, another senior Tory MP said: 'Depending on what happens with Covid, if he comes back in the New Year with some evidence that the No 10 machine has had the creases ironed out of it, he will be fine.' Amid fevered speculation in Westminster, there are claims Mr Sunak has been quietly letting MPs know he argued against the introduction of Plan B Covid restrictions. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is also said to be hosting drinks receptions for potential supporters at a private members' club in Mayfair. Mr Paterson represented North Shropshire for 24 years before resigning after the PM's botched attempt to save him from a 30-day suspension for lobbying. Mr Johnson initially ordered MPs to vote down the punishment recommended by a cross-party committee, instead triggering a a Tory-led review of the rules. The move narrowly passed, but he was then forced to abandon it when Opposition parties boycotted the standards overhaul. That sparked multiple fresh allegations of Tory sleaze that appear to have inflicted deep damage in the polls. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is said to be hosting drinks receptions for potential supporters at a private members' club in Mayfair, and has sent out a regal-looking Christmas card Amid fevered speculation in Westminster, there are claims Mr Sunak has been quietly letting MPs know he argued against the introduction of Plan B Covid restrictions North Shropshire has returned a Tory MP in every vote since 1983, which was the constituency's first election in its current form. The area has been true blue, only twice voting for another colour, since the Conservative Party's inception in 1830. In the 2019 general election, the Tories won 62.7 per cent of the vote and held the seat with a majority of 22,949 over Labour, with the Lib Dems in third. Loss for Conservative candidate Neil Shastri-Hurst to Lib Dem Helen Morgan would be a major upset for the Tories. But senior figures have voiced 'despair' about their chances and say they will be 'astonished' if the party scrapes home. Bookmakers have put the Lib Dems favourite for victory, while campaigners on the ground believe the result is too close to call and leader Sir Ed Davey described it as a 'coin toss'. Asked on Wednesday if Mr Johnson would quit if North Shropshire falls, the Prime Minister's press secretary said: 'We are fighting for every vote.' Advertisement Covid cases are now rising in every age group except young children in Omicron-hotspot London, according to official figures that lay bare the threat the NHS faces in the coming weeks. The super-mutant variant, which is already dominant in the capital, has effectively sent the city of 10million into its own lockdown, with tens of thousands of workers staying at home today to avoid isolating over Christmas. Department of Health data shows London is now seeing just as many cases as last January, when it was battered by the Alpha variant and put under harsher measures than the rest of the country. London's spiralling crisis was initially driven by teenagers and adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s, who were seeing an uptick in cases two weeks before the ultra-infectious strain was first detected. Infections started to rise in the over-60s days after Omicron was confirmed to be in Britain, according to MailOnline analysis. In another warning sign for the country, UK Health Security Agency data published today revealed the capital now has the 25 areas with the fastest growing outbreaks in England. Experts have admitted the capital's crisis will inevitably slow down because the virus will simply run out of room, and people adhere to dire warnings from Boris Johnson and Professor Chris Whitty's plea to 'prioritise' the most important social events in the coming days. And they said the astronomical spike in cases being seen in younger adults won't necessarily occur in over-60s, who are most vulnerable to the virus. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, said: 'This is partly because other age groups don't socialise as much.' He also said Britain's booster vaccine drive which prioritised older adults should help to thwart the virus's spread, even though three jabs won't protect thousands from catching the virus and getting ill. Scientist hopes it means the rapid increase in cases won't necessarily translate into monumental pressure on the NHS. Data also shows two vaccines can still drastically slash the risk of severe illness, with Chris Whitty today hinting three jabs against Omicron may be even better than two against Delta. Hospitalisations in the capital are going up faster than in other regions, concerning official data shows. But on average 153 people are being admitted with the virus every day, barely an eighth of the peak last January when it hit 800. Up-to-date Government statistics breaking down infection rates by age group only go up until December 10, so the true trajectory of London's outbreak will be even bleaker now. And the same trend of cases rising in older adults has yet to be seen across the other regions of England, which have yet to be struck as badly by Omicron. Experts say the capital is more vulnerable to the variant because it is an international hub and had lower vaccination rates than other regions when the variant began to spread. The above graph shows the infection rate in age groups compared to the same time a week ago. It reveals that cases are now more than doubling week-on-week among adults in their 20s, and rising in all over-15s The above graph shows the % change in Covid infection rates in England week-on-week. It reveals that nationally cases are now also surging among adults in their 20s and beginning to rise in other age groups Slide me LONDON -- Westminster Bridge looks very quiet during the morning rush hour in London today as Britons stay at home A quiet Farringdon station during rush hour in Central London this morning as people get off an Underground train The above graph is from the UK Health Security Agency's weekly report. It shows that the infection rate in London has skyrocketed after the super-transmissible Omicron variant took hold This graph shows the infection rate in London for the under-60s and the over-60s. It reveals that while cases are surging in under-60s, there now appears to be an uptick for over-60s as well. Experts hope the boosters will stop this rising sharply but Professor Chris Whitty said today these could rise very fast along with hospitalisations in the coming days The above map shows the proportion of Covid cases being triggered by Omicron across England's regions. It is now dominant in London, where 60 per cent of cases are now thought to be triggered by the variant This shows the cumulative number of Omicron cases confirmed in the UK, broken down by nations Department of Health statistics showed the infection rate for people in their late 20s in the capital has doubled in a week from 420.7 to 972.4 cases per 100,000 people. And among the early 20s it has jumped from 372.3 to 865.8. There is also an uptick among older people who are more vulnerable to the virus, with rates among over-60s rising almost 40 per cent in a week from 115.7 to 158.8. The only age group where cases are pointing down is five to 14-year-olds, where they are dropping by about five per cent week-on-week. Where are infections rising fastest in London? The capital had 25 of the areas with the fastest growing Covid outbreaks last week, official data shows. It comes as the Omicron variant takes hold in the capital, and may be an early warning sign for the rest of the country. The figures were revealed in the UK Health Security Agency's weekly Covid surveillance report Borough Hackney Southwark Islington Lambeth Tower Hamlets Barking Westminster Enfield Haringey Lewisham Wandsworth Newham Hammersmith Greenwich Brent Camden Waltham Forest Croydon Kensington Harrow Kingston Merton Bexley Ealing Havering Hillingdon Redbridge Bromley Barnet Hounslow Richmond Sutton Covid case rate 832.5 902.1 800.4 927.6 677.8 688 590.7 620.8 685.9 827.4 875.3 600.1 882.6 822.7 563.5 610 729 707.2 624.1 536.2 784.3 746.4 716.8 630.3 696.3 521 595.4 752.5 584 561.1 743.9 776.6 % rise in a week +103% +88% +88% +82% +73% +67% +66% +66% +65% +60% +57% +55% +53% +50% +48% +48% +44% +40% +39% +39% +39% +37% +37% +35% +33% +28% +28% +26% +25% +24% +8% +7% Advertisement A total of 80 per cent of over-60s have already received a booster in England, NHS figures show. Despite Covid cases rising astronomically, London today woke up to a lockdown by stealth with millions staying home rather than running the gauntlet of catching the virus. Many want to avoid catching the virus before Christmas Day, for fear of being ordered to self-isolate and missing spending the festive season with their loved ones. Last year Britons were told not to mix with people outside their household, keeping many families apart. Roads in London were the quietest they have been during the morning rush-hour on any term-time weekday since the summer today, sat-nav apps showed. The city centre was also left deserted, with pubs empty as people shunned heading into the office. Professor Whitty said the fall in social mixing suggests some of the worst predictions on hospitalisations and deaths may not come true. It means that the worst case scenarios estimated by modellers are now unlikely to happen. In one paper they suggested admissions could peak at 4,500 a day in the current wave more than last January. Covid hospitalisations in the capital are creeping up, with admissions rising 38 per cent from 111 to 153 a day over the week to December 13. The number of Covid patients on wards has also risen 15 per cent, from 1,095 to 1,267. And the numbers needing mechanical ventilators is up six per cent to 198 patients. Deaths are still flatlining in the capital at around 10 a day, but these are lagging indicators because of the time taken for someone infected with the virus to become seriously ill. Professor Whitty estimated yesterday that a further rise in admissions was 'baked in' because of the high levels of infection in the country. He warned there may be fewer patients in intensive care in South Africa than when Delta hit because more patients have immunity now. Some 61 per cent of Londoners are double-jabbed, and 26.7 per cent have got a booster. But this is the lowest rate in England, which experts say likely left the capital more vulnerable to the variant than other regions. For comparison, across England 72 per cent of people are double-jabbed and 38 per cent have been boosted. The highest vaccine uptake is in the South West where 79 per cent of people have already had two doses and nearly 44 per cent have got their third dose. It is too early to say how well two doses or boosters will protect against hospital admission or death from Omicron but early data from the UK suggests two jabs will be significantly weaker. The South African Government claims two doses of Pfizer's jab provides more than 70 per cent protection against severe illness even with waning immunity. Data on boosters will take longer to collect because South Africa is not rolling them out widely yet, and UK scientists say they need 250 Omicron patients in hospital before they can make vaccine efficacy estimates. Officially, there are currently only 15 patients with the mutant strain in UK hospitals. But the true number is thought to be higher because of the time taken to analyse samples and detect those who are infected with the mutant strain. It comes as the UKHSA's weekly report on Covid cases shows London now has 25 of the areas with the fastest growing Covid outbreaks in England. Cases spiralled fastest in Hackney, where they doubled in a week to 832 infections per 100,000 people. It was followed by Southwark, up 88 per cent in a week to 902.1, and Islington, also up 88 per cent in a week to 800.4. Infections rose in every borough of the capital, but on the other end of the scale outbreaks grew slowest in Sutton, up 7 per cent to 776.6, and Richmond, up eight per cent to 743.9. Nationally, infections rose in 87 of 149 local authorities or 58 per cent with London now having the biggest outbreak of the virus. Cases in the capital have risen almost by half in a week, up from 475.8 to 702.8 per 100,000. This graph shows Covid hospitalisations in London. They are now ticking up 40 per cent week-on-week in the capital after Omicron sent cases spiralling Covid deaths are still flat in the capital, but this is a lagging indicator because of the time taken for someone to fall seriously ill with the virus and be hospitalised Millions of Brits CANCEL pre-Xmas plans, pubs CLOSE and West End falls silent Millions of Britons have axed their festive plans so they can see family on Christmas Day after Boris Johnson and Chris Whitty triggered a 'tsunamis of cancellations' for pubs and restaurants by urging the country only to socialise if necessary and not in large groups or with strangers. People have started voluntarily self-isolating in a bid to avoid having to isolate on December 25 if they test positive for Covid. Professor Whitty said that a rise in Omicron hospitalisations is 'nailed on' after cases hit a record high yesterday. He told a televised No 10 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, de-prioritising ones that matter much less to them.' And after weeks of refusing to admit Christmas plans could be under threat, Mr Johnson told the country to cut back on Christmas partying and 'think carefully' before going out during the festive season The Independent SAGE group of scientists and medics has called for an immediate 10-day 'circuit-breaker' shutdown, with bans on households mixing and the closure of hospitality firms. They accused the Prime Minister of 'delaying' from imposing tighter controls and said the time for 'emergency action' had now come. And doubling down on the Prime Minister's inference that people must be cut back on socialising to avoid catching Covid over Christmas week, Health Minister Gillian Keegan said: 'Everybody is urging caution. Most of us will know somebody now who's positive with Covid, and that means if you've tested positive, then you'll be in isolation over Christmas. So that's bound to make people a bit more cautious.' Advertisement Professor Hunter, an infectious diseases expert from the University of East Anglia, said the rapid rise in Covid cases among adults in their 20s in London was unlikely to be replicated in older age groups. He told MailOnline: 'If it's spreading rapidly in this age group [adults in their 20s] it doesn't mean it is going to spread as rapidly as in other age groups. 'This is partly because other age groups don't socialise as much, and partly because many of the older age groups have actually got already got quite high booster levels.' Professor Hunter also predicted that cases in the capital and across the country would peak in a 'matter of days' because the virus will run out of people to infect. He said: 'If it carries on at the rate it's going then by the end of the year and given also that we only detect about 40 per cent of infections we would have pretty much all of the UK population being infected. This is absolutely impossible.' Instead, he said the country was likely to see a 'very short, sharp peak' in infections likening it to a sombrero. This will be followed by a surge in hospitalisations, but it is 'very unlikely' they will reach levels recorded last January. SAGE modelling predicts they may hit 2,000 a day nationally, about half the previous peak. Professor Tim Spector, a top epidemiologist, also predicted that cases in the capital would begin to slow before the New Year. He said: 'In London cases have been rising rapidly. 'But this will likely slow down soon, as people change their behaviour, such as wearing face masks again, cancelling parties and working from home more. 'These are the changes that will slow the spread of the virus. 'Its my hope that the rest of the country is doing the same to avoid big outbreaks outside of London, especially in big cities.' It comes as separate data from his Covid symptom study based on 52,000 Covid swabs found infections rose four per cent last week. The study also run by health data science company ZOE estimated 87,131 people were now catching Covid every day up from 83,658 in the previous week. But it picked up a surge in cases among 19 to 35-year-olds, although said infections remained low in older age groups who are more at risk from the virus. It added that those infected with Omicron tended to suffer symptoms including a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat similar to Delta infections. The UK yesterday reported a record 78,610 Covid cases yesterday detected over the last 24 hours. It came amid the rapid spread of Omicron, which was now behind 34 per cent of cases in England and a staggering 60 per cent in the capital. In South Africa's epicentre Gauteng average infections now appear to be levelling off after the variant emerged a month ago, but hospitalisations are still rising. South Africa did not bring in any further restrictions, but did ramp up its vaccination drive which had previously reached only 25 per cent of adults. It already had face masks in place in most public areas. Experts warn it is difficult to make a comparison between the two countries because the population in South Africa has far more young people than in the UK. Most hospital visits have been banned in NSW after the state recorded its highest ever daily spike in Covid-19 infections. NSW Health issued the alert on Thursday night, amid growing fears about the new Omicron variant. NSW recorded 1,742 new cases on Thursday - the biggest tally the state has seen since the pandemic began. The news is a devastating blow for families who be could banned from seeing loved ones forced to spend Christmas in hospital. Hospital visits have been banned after NSW recorded its highest daily spike of Covid-19 cases 'We have temporarily restricted visitors to healthcare facilities due to increasing transmission rates with the emergence of the Omicron variant,' a statement read. 'We have not made this decision lightly. We must always prioritise our vulnerable patients and staff who are arguably the most vital workers needed in a pandemic. 'Health settings more than any other setting in the community necessitate added caution given the impact transmission events can have on staff and patients.' Visitors will be permitted in exceptional circumstances circumstances and compassionate reasons such as supporting women in labour, providing care for children in hospital and loved ones in palliative care. Local Health Districts will grant visitor exemptions on a case-by-case basis. Visitors granted entry must be fully vaccinated and wear a mask. Hospital visitations will be granted in exceptional circumstances such as women giving birth, caring for children sick in hospital and for loved ones in palliative care (pictured Westmead Hospital) NSW Health says it will continue to monitor the evolving situation and update advice for visitors accordingly. The decision sparked outrage shortly after being announced, a day after NSW scrapped a host of restrictions, including density limits, QR codes and masks in most settings. 'Here we are limiting access to hospitals (for visitors ) and yet the rest community can now swan around maskless like the pandemic is over. Which one is it?,' one man wrote. Another added: 'Let people go see loved ones in hospital over Christmas, you ruined last Christmas now your doing it again.' Almost 144,000 Covid tests were conducted on Wednesday (pictured motorists being tested at a drive-through clinic at Bondi) But some backed the controversial stand to put patient safety first. 'Totally understand, not just our vulnerable patients but our doctors and nurses are also at risk of transmission of this virus we do not need to see them in isolation, we would be understaffed,' one woman wrote. Another added: 'I applaud you for putting your patients priorities and safety first.' An urgent health warning has been issued for a Taylor Swift album party in Sydney with 97 attendees testing positive to the virus, as officials desperately try to contact all 600 fans. Anyone who attended the 'On Repeat: Taylor Swift Red Party' at the Metro Theatre on George St from 9pm on December 10 is a close contact. Attendees must immediately get tested and isolate for seven days. All household contacts must also get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received. Many families could be banned from visiting loved ones spending Christmas in hospital (pictured, Blacktown Hospital) The Lunar Electric festival, described as Australia's 'biggest homegrown hip electronic dance music festival' was scheduled to go ahead in Newcastle this Saturday. But it was cancelled by NSW Health under a Public Health Order on Thursday, two days out from the event, amid fears it will be a Covid-19 'superspreading' event. 'NSW Health considered that the ongoing spread of COVID-19 in the Newcastle area, where the majority of a record number of cases are the Omicron variant of concern, presents too great a risk for the festival to take place this weekend,' a statement read. On Wednesday, NSW health minister Brad Hazzard issued a dire warning that the state could be record up to 25,000 cases a day by the end of January. Jeffrey Epstein told fellow prisoners in the days before his suicide that 'stocks are like women', the billionaire pedophile's cellmate Bill Mersey has revealed. The disgraced financier was 'in no way prepared to handle' prison life and even ate his final meal off the floor and slept with an orange prison sock over his eyes. Mersey told The New York Post: 'The prison was abuzz with our new felon. He talked finance, saying, "Stocks are like women. You have to study to see what makes them happy. Observe their reaction to international news. Then you can predict their movements and that's how you win."' It comes as Ghislaine Maxwell's trial recommences today as her defense team prepares to lay out their case. Mersey, who has previously shared details about Epstein in prison, has now revealed he once saw his cellmate return with neck abrasions, suggesting he had tried to hang himself. Mersey said: 'He struck me as depressed. Suicidal. He sat down on the bare floor, his back to his bunk, eating the prison food off a Styrofoam plate. Jeffrey Epstein told fellow prisoners in the days before his suicide that 'stocks are like women', the billionaire pedophile's cellmate Bill Mersey (right) has revealed 'I asked, "What the f*** are you doing? Why you eating on the floor?" "It's just easier this way" was his response. As though he was somewhat resolved to his fate that night. He'd been denied bail and was facing the reality of the rest of his life behind bars.' Mersey said another prisoner heard the sound of tearing sheets on the night the pedophile died, and says he has no doubts he took his own life. Mersey served a year at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in lower Manhattan after pleading guilty to federal tax evasion for under reporting income from his escort advertising agency. In prison, he signed up as an 'inmate companion' - an MCC program where prisoners complete four hours of training then take shifts around the clock to observe fellow inmates on suicide watch, for which they are paid as little as 12 cents an hour. It was his work with the suicide program that led Mersey to become one of the few people who had direct contact with Epstein while he was in prison. Mersey served as an 'inmate companion' at MCC (pictured) where he had direct contact with Epstein Ghislaine Maxwell's trial resumes today as her defense team opens their case helped by a parade of 35 witnesses Epstein's alleged 'madam' Maxwell is set to come out fighting at her sex trafficking trial today, helped by a parade of 35 witnesses. Court papers reveal the British socialite's defence could outsize the prosecution case, which had 24 witnesses over two weeks. They included the four women who accused the 59-year-old of abusing them as teenagers or of 'serving them up' to Epstein. Ahead of defense arguments, Maxwell's lawyers surprised observers by saying they expected to hear all 35 of the testimonies in just two or three days. Some of the witnesses are coming from abroad and three may not be willing to testify unless their identities are kept secret by the New York court. Ghislaine Maxwell, 59, is shown in a court sketch. No cameras are allowed inside her sex trafficking trial in New York City Court papers reveal the British socialite's defense could outsize the prosecution case, which had 24 witnesses over two weeks The fast-paced nature of the defense case with potentially more than ten witnesses squeezed into each court day means Maxwell will almost certainly not give evidence. Pictured: Defense lawyer Bobbi Sternheim The fast-paced nature of the defense case with potentially more than ten witnesses squeezed into each court day means Maxwell will almost certainly not give evidence. If she did, she would have to face being cross-examined for days about her life of luxury with financier Epstein. Instead, the jury is likely to hear from Maxwell's acquaintances and potentially family. Her lawyer Bobbi Sternheim said in a letter to Judge Alison Nathan: 'Three of the defense witnesses have requested to testify under their first names or under a pseudonym. 'The court's ruling on this issue may impact the willingness of these witnesses to testify, thereby compromising Ms Maxwell's right to present her defense. 'We are still trying to make travel arrangements for defense witnesses, many of whom are coming from locations out of the district and abroad.' The names of the defense witnesses have not been released to the public. Maxwell's 'little black book' of contacts will also not be made public in her trial, the defense and prosecution have agreed. Maxwell, who could face an 80-year prison sentence if found guilty of six sex trafficking charges, will begin the 'fight for her life' in New York when her lawyers launch her defence case Judge Alison Nathan ruled at Manhattan federal court that only small parts of the directory would be released under seal. It is said to be a version of Jeffrey Epstein's infamous 97-page book containing the names and addresses of almost 2,000 world leaders, celebrities and businessmen - including Prince Andrew, and former US presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. The Duke of York and others named in the book have denied any allegation they took part in sexual abuse. In 2015, pages from Epstein's book were published by online news website Gawker, but many of the contacts were redacted. The directory was allegedly taken from Epstein and Maxwell's Palm Beach villa by former butler Alfredo Rodriguez who made copies of it before attempting to sell it to an undercover FBI agent. The decision not to include Maxwell's directory in court was made by both legal teams over the weekend and will be a major boost to the defense. Just a few pages, labeled 'exhibit GX52' were mentioned in the prosecution's case after the judge had warned against 'needless' namedropping. Only the small extract referred to in court will be released as an exhibit under seal, meaning it is visible only to the defense, prosecution and jury. North Koreans have been banned from laughing or drinking for 11 days to mark the tenth anniversary of former leader Kim Jong Il's death. Government authorities have ordered the public to not show any signs of happiness while North Korea commemorates his death. Kim Jong Il ruled North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011, and was then succeeded by his third and youngest son, current leader Kim Jong Un. Now, ten years after his death, North Koreans are being forced to observe the 11-day period of mourning where they are not allowed to laugh or drink alcohol. 'During the mourning period, we must not drink alcohol, laugh or engage in leisure activities,' a North Korean from the northeastern border city of Sinuiju told Radio Free Asia (RFA). People gather at an event for the 10th anniversary of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday The source added that North Koreans are not allowed to go grocery shopping on December 17 - the anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death. They added: 'In the past many people who were caught drinking or being intoxicated during the mourning period were arrested and treated as ideological criminals. They were taken away and never seen again. 'Even if your family member dies during the mourning period, you are not allowed to cry out loud and the body must be taken out after it's over. People cannot even celebrate their own birthdays if they fall within the mourning period.' Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack on December 17 2011 at the age of 69 after ruling the country for 17 years in a brutal and repressive dictatorship. While the mourning period held every year for Kim Jong Il is usually 10 days, this year it will be 11 days to mark the tenth anniversary of his death. Kim Jong Il (pictured here in a photo released in 2007) died of a heart attack on December 17 2011 at the age of 69 after ruling the country for 17 years in a brutal and repressive dictatorship Another source, a resident of the southwestern province of South Hwanghae, said police officers were told to watch for people who fail to look appropriately upset during the mourning period. They told RFA: 'From the first day of December, they will have a special duty to crack down on those who harm the mood of collective mourning. ''It's a month-long special duty for the police. I heard that law enforcement officials cannot sleep at all.' The source also added that citizens groups and state-owned companies have been ordered to take care of those in poverty during the period of mourning, as the country grapples with a food crisis. They said: 'Social order and safety must be ensured, so companies are responsible for collecting food to give to residents and employees who cannot come to work due to food shortages. 'Residents must also work together to help out the kotjebi [North Korea's street beggars]. ' Kim Jong Il ruled North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011, and was then succeeded by his third and youngest son, current leader Kim Jong Un (pictured in 2019) The anonymous resident added that mourning for Kim Jong Il, and his father Kim Il Sung, is affecting North Korean's daily lives. They said: 'I just hope that the mourning period for Kim Jong Il will be shortened to one week, just like the mourning period for Kim Il Sung. 'Residents are complaining that the living are forced to mourn these two dead people to death.' Three generations of the Kim family have ruled North Korea since Kim Il Sung established the country in 1948. When Kim Il Sung died in 1994, his eldest son, Kim Jong Il, inherited power. Kim Jong Un is the third and youngest son of Kim Jong Il and assumed power upon his father's death in 2011. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death, various provinces across North Korea are holding exhibitions of his photography and holding concerts in his memory. 'The old soldiers' lecture and propaganda team, made up of discharged military officers in their 50s and 60s, are visiting every factory, company and neighborhood watch unit to educate the people about Kim Jong Il's hard work and dedication,' a third source told RFA. A resident from Puryong county said that the lectures and performances had already started where she lives. She said: 'They came and sang songs praising Kim Jong Il and held a short lecture about his greatness and achievements. 'It would probably be a better idea to supply the residents with coal or firewood to get them through the winter rather than lectures and propaganda, which is really about as useful as a talking parrot.' Impoverished North Korea is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, and has long suffered chronic food shortages. The country is facing its worst economic crisis for years, hit by both sanctions and its self-imposed coronavirus blockade. In recent months, pictures of the leader have shown his acute weight loss, 'playing into Kim's image of being more accountable to the people' according to Jenny Town, senior fellow at the Stimson Center. The official Korean Central Television aired a rare interview of an unnamed citizen saying the people were 'heartbroken' over the change in his physique and that 'everyone just started to cry' at the sight of Kim. Holidaymakers and frequent flyers will face yet more misery next year, with Heathrow set to hike the price it charges airlines by more than 8 per passenger. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has given the west London airport the green light to increase passenger charges to 30.19 from January 1 - up from 22 this year. Bosses at the airport had wanted to set the charge - paid by airlines but generally passed on to customers - to a staggering 43 from January. Heathrow chiefs argued the steep increase in the airport levy, which covers the costs of operating terminals, baggage systems and security, would help the business recover from its 3.4billion Covid losses. But the CAA stepped in to cap the increase at 30.19 for next year, having previously consulted on a figure of 29.50 per passenger. The authority said the final 30.19 figure, announced on Thursday, reflects 'the uncertainty of the recovery of passenger volumes' due to Covid. But Heathrow chiefs say they are 'extremely disappointed' in the figure. Bosses of the airport say the increase is not enough and warn that it risks leaving the airport 'without sufficient cashflow'. Meanwhile, airline bosses including ex-BA chief Willie Walsh and bosses at Virgin Atlantic accused Heathrow chiefs of 'greed'. Others warned the hike could put passengers off flying, with Virgin Atlantic saying the increase adds up to 200 to the cost of a family trip to Florida. Holidaymakers and frequent flyers will face yet more misery next year, with Heathrow set to hike the price it charges airlines by more than 8 per person. Pictured: Library image Willie Walsh (pictured left), the former boss of BA, attacked the 'greed' of Heathrow's predominantly overseas shareholders, while bosses at Virgin Atlantic, founded by Sir Richard Branson (pictured right), said the move 'defies belief and fails to protect consumers' However a spokesperson for Heathrow said: 'We are extremely disappointed in this interim decision from the CAA. 'It relies on rushed analysis and will undermine passenger experience at the UK's hub airport. 'As an example, the CAA's flawed analysis assumes that operating costs at Heathrow next year will be 173 million lower than our budget. 'This is even lower than we were able to achieve in 2020, when we served half as many passengers with only one runway and two terminals operating and the benefit of a Government furlough scheme. What is the passenger charge and who pays it? The airport passenger charge is paid by airlines to the airports for the use of their services. It covers the costs of operating terminals, baggage systems and security. Generally the charge, which is paid per passenger per flight, is covered in the price of an airline ticket. The charge is worked out in accordance to the Civil Avitation Authority's pricing formula. The formula set by the CAA determines the level Heathrow cannot exceed in charging its airline on a per passenger basis. This cap is set following a period of formal consultation with the Heathrow airline community. Advertisement 'There are material and basic errors in many aspects of the CAA's assessment. 'Uncorrected, this risks leaving Heathrow without sufficient cashflow to support investment in improving passenger service and resilience.' However, Luis Gallego, chief executive of British Airways' parent company IAG, said the firm is 'disappointed that Heathrow charges will increase further'. 'The UK's economic recovery depends on its ability to compete on the global stage,' he said. 'Heathrow is already 44 per cent more expensive than its European competitors. The reality is around 40 per cent of Heathrow passengers are connecting to other destinations and could easily travel via other European hubs. 'After the worst crisis in aviation history we need to attract demand to stay competitive. 'Hiking charges will have the opposite effect. Britain will become not more competitive, but less. 'A cost-efficient Heathrow would benefit UK consumers, businesses and trade. Global Britain needs a global and competitive hub.' Willie Walsh, the former boss of BA, previously attacked the 'greed' of Heathrow's predominantly overseas shareholders. Bosses of Virgin Atlantic, founded by businessman Sir Richard Branson, meanwhile said the move 'defies belief and fails to protect consumers'. Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic said: ''Todays decision enables Heathrow, already the worlds most expensive airport, to increase charges in 2022 as its owners seek to recoup their pandemic losses and secure hundreds of millions in dividends to shareholders. 'The CAA has failed in its duty to protect the British consumer. Together with industry partners, we will now consider options to appeal to the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA), so that passengers are protected from these egregious proposals and ensure the CAA fulfils its duties. 'Just as UK airlines raised significant funds from shareholders in order to clear a path to recovery, its only right that Heathrow turns to its equity owners first, rather than expecting consumers and industry to shoulder the burden. 'Abusing its unique position as the UKs only hub airport, an increase of Heathrow charges on this scale will hurt the UKs economic recovery, damage Global Britain aspirations and unfairly hit the pockets of families and businesses around the nation.' Luis Gallego, chief executive of British Airways' parent company IAG, said the firm is 'disappointed that Heathrow charges will increase further'. Shai Weiss (pictured right), CEO, Virgin Atlantic said: 'The Civil Aviation Authoritys decision defies belief and fails to protect consumers.' The cap will move up or down depending on factors such as passenger numbers and commercial revenue. It comes as Heathrow chiefs revealed in October the airport had lost 500million over the summer. The figure means Britain's busiest airport has now lost 3.4billion since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Heathrow told investors in October that the losses mounted despite efforts to cut 30 per cent of operating outgoings during the Covid period. However it reassured them of its 'financial strength' with 4.1billion of cash in reserve. It also said there were signs of improvement but it did not expect passenger numbers to recover fully for five years. Heathrow's seven billionaire owners include the sovereign wealth funds of Qatar, Singapore and China. It has paid out about 4 billion in dividends since 2012 and has said it could restart payouts next year, after pausing them over the pandemic, if its debts come under control. Heathrow bases its charges on the numbers using the airport. It expects around 40 million passengers next year, compared to 80 million before the pandemic, and said this means each passenger must pay more to cover the shortfall. Company documents show Heathrow would have raised around 1.6billion from airport charges next year - had it been able to charge the higher rate it had requested. But the new 30 charge is expected to only raise around 300million. Heathrow last month introduced a new 5 drop-off charge outside its terminals. The new charge applies to all vehicles - including taxis and private hire cars - entering the forecourt areas outside the airport's terminals. Heathrow last month introduced a new 5 drop-off charge outside its terminals. The new charge applies to all vehicles - including taxis and private hire cars - entering the forecourt areas outside the airport's terminals Christmas chaos at Heathrow: Fury as 'thousands' are forced to queue for passport control after 'e-gates break' AGAIN Travellers have blasted Heathrow for huge queues snaking through the airport as festive flyers pile into Britain following the axing of the red list. Passengers claimed that there were up to four thousand people backed up at passport control due to yet another e-gate crashing. They said that they were waiting for hours to get to the immigration area when it would take around six minutes normally. Their fury comes as other travellers vented at the 'outrageous' parking charges for those who have been quarantining at Heathrow. They said that they were faced with another 350 on their bill on top of the 2,450 to isolate in a hotel at the airport. But it comes amid positive travel news as hotel quarantine for passengers arriving in England was scrapped at 4am today. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the House of Commons yesterday the 11 countries on the red list were to be removed. Yet hours after the relaxing of restrictions were announced, desperate travellers told of mounting chaos at Britain's busiest airport. John Grimshaw flew back to Britain from his home in Chicago for his mother's funeral and got caught up in the disorder. He said that there were thousands of passengers queuing to get to passport control and branded Heathrow 'a joke'. He told MailOnline: 'Just arrived from Chicago. E-gates down again, thousands of people lined up for passport control. 'What the f***. I paid thousands for a business class ticket and no difference. This place is a joke. I was just told the e-gates were down and were being worked on. 'I'm where it's normally six minutes walk to the immigration area and we are stood still. There are probably three to four thousand people here. He added: 'Ten plus wide body aircraft arrived with 300 plus on each. This is unacceptable for this country's principal airport.' Advertisement The fee must be paid online or over the phone, with number plate reading cameras, instead of barriers, being used to enforce the charge. Heathrow chiefs say the move, which brings the airport's policy in line with the likes of Gatwick and Manchester, who also have 5 drop-off charges, is aimed at 'improving air quality and reducing congestion'. The move could bringing in as much as 100million-a-year for the airport. It comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak in October announced plans to cut air passenger duty (APD) on domestic flights by 50 per cent. The tax cut, due to take effect from 2023, will result in 400,000 more airline passengers a year, according to estimates by one fiscal watchdog. However aviation chiefs warned that the 'fundamentally flawed' tax increase on ultra-long haul flights will 'penalise' a global Britain and be a further blow to airlines recovering from the impact of Covid. The Government plans to slap a 91 air passenger duty (APD) on flights to far flung destinations such as Australia, east Asia and large parts of South America from 2023. Aviation bosses say the new ultra-long haul charge will unfairly punish long haul carriers who have faced major disruption and a huge drop in passenger numbers since March last year due the Covid pandemic. The charge, which will be brought in from April 2023, is a new level on top of the current long distance charge. Current long haul destinations, such as the US, Dubai and Brazil, will remain in the current long haul area for air passenger duty - which will rise from 82 to 87. But even longer haul destinations will now be moved into a new area, the ultra-long haul zone, which will be charged at 91. Luis Gallego, boss of British Airways owner IAG, said that increasing APD on long-haul flights 'will penalise Global Britain'. He also said the move will 'limit the airlines' ability to invest in green technologies'. Meanwhile, Willie Walsh, Mr Gallego's predecessor and now head of body Iata, told the Telegraph: 'It is astounding that the Chancellor thinks now is the time to raise the cost of flying. 'Masquerading this cash grab as a green tax the week before Cop26 is the height of political hypocrisy that people are fed up with.' A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson added: 'The announcement of a new ultra-long haul band for Air Passenger Duty (APD) is fundamentally flawed, as it will fail to reward increased efficiency or reduced carbon emissions. 'Passengers will pay the same rate of APD whether flying with modern, fuel efficient airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, or those with a fleet of older, less efficient aircraft. 'Increasing the highest long-haul taxes in the world will make the UK less competitive while hindering, rather than supporting, investment in sustainable aviation fuels, which are essential for decarbonising long haul aviation. 'With economic recovery at stake, UK Government has missed a vital opportunity to lower the cost of long haul travel for UK businesses and consumers by reducing APD, at a crucial time when airlines are focussing on recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.' The decision to increase the tax on long haul flights was announced alongside a cut to domestic flight tax, which will drop from 12 to 6.50. The move will mean a further 400,000 people taking domestic flights a year, according to estimates by the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR). Star Hobson's killer stepmother has been put in the separation unit in her jail - to stop other prisoners from stabbing her. Murderer Savannah Brockhill, 28, is being held in the isolated wing at HMP Styal in Cheshire for her own safety. She has been designated the 'number one target' by some prisoners at the 486-population jail. Brockhilll was jailed for at least 25 years yesterday for murdering innocent little Star after a reign of terror on the little girl where she repeatedly punched and abused her. Her girlfriend Frankie Smith - who was the toddler's mother - was sentenced to eight years for allowing the killing to happen. A source told MailOnline: Brockhill has been put in separation in Styal for her own protection. Shell be the number one target there. Prisoners will be queuing up to try and shank her. Savannah Brockhill, 28, murdered innocent Star Hobson and was jailed for 25 years yesterday Tiny Star Hobson was left battered and bruised by Brockhill and her own mother Frankie Smith The court heard Savannah Brockhill left school aged just ten and later became a bouncer A shank is a term used for a homemade knife or weapon fashioned from everyday items behind bars. Women-only HMP Styal is based in 16 detached Victorian houses, but will be no holiday home for Brockhill. A 2018 report into the unit she is being held in said conditions were 'generally acceptable' but added the 'exercise yard is rather grim;. It also flagged constant problems with mould and ventilation in the bathrooms. In 2000 prisoner Annelise Sanderson, 18, killed herself there after her family said she received a lack of mental health support. Brockhill will join the ranks of some of the UK most notorious female criminals. They include Lauren Jeska, who was convicted of the attempted murder of Ralph Knibbs, and Corina Smith. Smith was sentenced to life in prison for killing her husband with a boiling mixture of water and sugar after she was told he had sexually assaulted her two children. HMP Styal is a women-only prison and has some of the UK's most notorious female criminals Partners in death: Savannah Brockhill, 28 and Frankie Smith, 20, have both been jailed Babysitter Hollie Jones alerted social services but they told Frankie Smith they were coming 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 Hollie 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 Brockhill - who callously waved and grinned at her family in court - brutally attacked innocent Star after months of violence allowed by Smith, who teamed up with her to hoodwink police and social services. Five times social workers, twice accompanied by police, saw the abusive couple but chalked off complaints as 'malicious' and left Star with them a week before they killed her. The court heard after Brockhill's charge and remand to prison, the home address of her sister as opposed to her home was published. It led to her sister and John Cawley were subject to an extremely violent assault. Mr Cawley's skull was fractured in the assault. The matter was reported to police but no arrests have been made. Other family have also been subject to threats and intimidation throughout the trial, including windows being smashes and the bullying of children. Judge Mrs Justice Lambert told Brockhill and Smith their dark obsession with each other fueled a life of 'neglect, cruelty and injury' for the little girl. Smith will have to serve just two-thirds of her sentence before being considered for release and her 443 days on remand could mean she will be free in just over four years. Sentencing, the judge told Bradford Crown Court: 'Star was caught in the crossfire of your relationship. 'The messages sent between you are petty squabbles, fights, often triggered by alcohol which descended into arguments. Star was the victim of these pointless, self-obsessed fights. 'Star was so vulnerable, and your relationship affording the chance to mistreat her. 'You both behaved in a cruel and callous way to Star. You made her stand at the wall for what were just antics of a child. 'You delayed calling emergency services by at least 11 minutes. While we know an earlier call would not have saved Star, you were not to know that, instead making Google searches. 'You then misled the emergency services, rather than admit what you did you put on a good show, suggesting you may have caused it by doing CPR.' The judge made it clear she believed both women had inflicted 'sadistic attacks' on Star. She tore a strip off sobbing Smith - whose lawyer had tried to claim was also a victim - telling her that her daughter's life was 'marked by neglect, cruelty and injury'. Mrs Justice Lambert added: 'Frankie Smith, it was your role to protect Star from harm, you failed to protect her, allowing her death.' 'The level of force required to inflict these injuries must have been massive - similar to those forces associated with a road traffic accident.' She said the 'fatal punch or kick' to Star caused the toddler to lose half the blood in her body and damaged her internal organs. Harrowing victim impact statements were read by Star's paternal and maternal great-grandparents which told of their agony. Great-grandfather Bernard Hobson said: 'We loved looking after her. When she was with us, she was a sunny, happy, delightful baby girl. She was so affectionate. She was always smiling. She was loved by all members of our family. 'We last saw Star on Mother's Day, we made cards, painting her hand and footprints for her mother. We didn't think then we would never see her again.' Great-grandmother Anita Smith said: 'All I want is Star back, I know there is nothing anyone can say or do to change what happened but it doesn't stop me praying every day. 'I kiss her photo every night and say goodnight Star, and morning beautiful when I wake up.' Attorney General is urged to review 'unduly lenient' jail term for mother of murdered 16-month-old Star Hobson as family slam 'staggeringly soft' sentence that could see her walk free in just FOUR years The Attorney General has been urged to review the 'lenient' sentence of Star Hobson's mother after the child's family slammed the 'staggeringly soft' term. Star's mother Frankie Smith, 20, was given just eight years in prison - meaning she could be out in four - after a judge reduced her sentence to account for the 'burden' of knowing she played a significant role in the death of her 16-month-old daughter. Smith's partner Savannah Brockhill, 28, was jailed for a minimum of 25 years and given a mandatory life sentence for murdering the child, who bled to death after being attacked at home in Keighley, West Yorkshire, in September last year. Health minister Gillian Keegan has today suggested Attorney General Suella Braverman could send the case to the Court of Appeal so the sentence of Star's mother could be reviewed. Ms Keegan, whose brief includes care, told LBC that it 'doesn't sound like' justice that Smith was handed such a short jail term, adding: 'It doesn't sound enough, as a human being, it doesn't sound enough.' The jury heard the injuries which caused the toddler's death involved extensive damage to her abdominal cavity. Pictured: Smith and Brockhill Star's family had last night slammed the 'staggeringly soft' sentences handed out and urged the Attorney General to review the case under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme. A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office has now confirmed they received a request for the sentences to be examined, and law officers have 28 days from the date the terms were given to consider the case and make a decision. Frank Smith, 68, Star's great-grandfather, said he hoped her killers would 'rot in jail' and asked: 'Is that all Star's life is worth? Frankie will be out in four years - how is that justice?' Frank 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. Police released a picture of Star smiling happily before the torment from her mother and her murdering girlfriend began He said: 'She [Frankie] watched her child die. She lied repeatedly to cover hers and Brockhill's tracks. 'They both deserve to rot in jail. It's disgusting.' Health minister Ms Keegan said today: 'It's a shocking, shocking case - I mean, it's quite unbelievable. And also the case of poor Arthur (Labinjo-Hughes) as well. I mean, it's just unbelievable. 'Obviously the judge and the jury have made their... they recently passed the sentence but, you know, I guess the Attorney General has that power as well. So I don't know.' She added: 'It doesn't fit within my remit but it fits within hers (the Attorney General's), so I'm sure that she'll be having those conversations.' A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office said: 'We have received a request for these sentences to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence (ULS) scheme. 'The law officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.' Three men have been arrested over the deaths of a model and a designer in Los Angeles, DailyMail.com can reveal. David Pearce, 37, Brandt Osborn 42, and Mike Ansbach, 47, were booked on suspicion of felony offenses in connection with the shocking deaths last month of model Christy Giles, 24, and interior designer Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26. A cloud of suspicion has hung for weeks over the three men who were allegedly the last to see the women alive. Phone location data showed Giles and Arzola went back to Pearce's apartment near Beverly Hills with the three men in the early hours of November 13 after an East LA warehouse party. About 12 hours later the women's cold bodies were dumped at two hospitals by men in balaclavas driving a black Toyota Prius with no plates, caught on CCTV according to Giles's husband, Jan Cilliers. Three men have been arrested in connection with the deaths of Christy Giles, 24, and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26, last month (both pictured) Brandt Osborn, 42, (left) David Pearce, 37, (right) and Mike Ansbach were booked on suspicion of felony offenses Wednesday Ansbach, 47, was arrested at 11:10am on Wednesday and held on $100,000 bail, according to booking records A car matching the Prius was photographed parked in Pearce's driveway after the incident. Giles was pronounced dead shortly after she was found, and Arzola passed away on November 28 after lying in a coma for two weeks. Pearce has been charged with manslaughter. He was arrested at 11am on Wednesday by LAPD's West Bureau and is being held in a department jail. LA Sheriff's Department booking records obtained by DailyMail.com show he is being held on $1million bail. Pearce's roommate Osborn, 42, was arrested shortly after at 12:30pm the same day and assigned $100,000 bail. Ansbach was arrested at 11:10am on Wednesday and held on $100,000 bail. The two men are charged with accessory to manslaughter. Police say they believe both women were given drugs at Pearce's apartment. 'It is believed that both women were given drugs and overdosed at a residence in the 8600 block of Olympic Boulevard in the City of Los Angeles,' an LAPD statement said. 'West Bureau Homicide Detectives responded and continue to investigate this case.' The police added that they had brought in the FBI to help investigate. Pearce (left) and Ansbach (right) are seen with Arzola on the night the two women went partying in East LA Dave Pearce pictured at events with Paris Hilton in 2007 (left) and adult film star Ron Jeremy (right) in 2009 Osborn, who is Pearce's roommate, is a Staten Island native who has appeared on television series over the years. He is pictured above with late DJ Erick Morillo 'Three suspects were identified and arrested with the assistance of the LAPD-FBI Fugitive Task Force and Metropolitan Division. 'Based on the investigation, the LAPD is concerned that there could be other victims in our community who could have been drugged by one or more of these men,' the department said. 'This is an active and ongoing investigation. The case against these three men will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney for filing consideration on Friday, December 17, 2021.' DailyMail.com can also reveal Pearce and Ansbach were among a group who snuck into the warehouse party VIP section on November 13, 'targeted' Giles and Arzola, and acted 'obnoxious' and 'crazed', according to the women's friend who was there that night. The friend, who asked not to be named, said she saw four men and a woman arrive, talk their way into a VIP area at the event and begin hugging strangers as if they knew them. She said two of the men acted 'obnoxiously', with Pearce taking off his shirt and flailing around. Ansbach seemed 'completely sober', had a professional camera and took a particular interest in Hilda, the friend said. LA Sheriff's Department booking records obtained by DailyMail.com show Pearce is being held on $1million bail Pearce's roommate Osborn, 42, was arrested shortly after at 12:30pm the same day and assigned $100,000 bail Ansbach was arrested at 11:10am on Wednesday and held on $100,000 bail The men managed to insinuate themselves in conversation with her and one even put a jacket on the interior designer, she said. 'They walked in acting very confident, and people are very easily fooled by confidence,' said the friend. 'They were able to weasel themselves into that area, they must have been there for maybe about 30 minutes or so until somebody noticed they didn't have the right wrist bands and kicked them out. But I had already left by that point. 'Their energy was off. Usually in this industry people are very cool and chill, and they're respectful. But these men were obnoxious. 'They took their shirts off and started flailing around like they were on speed or something. There was a certain energy of craziness,' she said. 'One of them had a camera, a DSLR, which he pulled out and started filming the event. He seemed very sober. So I assumed that he was an event photographer or a videographer and then these were his friends. 'Now I think it was a ruse maybe, perhaps a prop even, to do what they do.' Ansbach describes himself on his Facebook page as a 'director, DoP [director of photography], biohacker, neuroathlete'. While both Giles (left) and Cabrales (right) were found with heroin in their systems, their family and friends insist the women never would have willingly taken the drug Photographs and videos taken late the night before the women were left at the hospitals show Giles and Cabrales dancing and laughing at a warehouse party. Their friend told DailyMail.com that four 'crazed' men and one woman 'targeted' the young women On Instagram he describes himself as a 'cinematographer' and 'voice over artist'. He has set up companies including P7 Media Group and Adrenaline Media Group LLC. He has been credited as a camera operator for numerous TV shows including Vanderpump Rules, Love and Hip Hop: New York, Total Knockout, and most recently, 2021 Netflix series Pet Stars, according to IMDb. Osborn is a Staten Island native and actor who has had minor roles on television, according to his IMDb page. He was credited as 'Kevin's best man' in a 2014 episode of Showtime comedy-drama Nurse Jackie. He was reportedly on the set of NCIS: Los Angeles at the time of his arrest. Pearce is also believed to be an actor and a producer and has been pictured posing with stars at red carpet events over the years. He was photographed alongside adult film star Ron Jeremy, who last year was charged with over 30 counts of sexual assault, at the premiere of the porn star's film One-Eyed Monster in 2009. Giles's husband Jan Cilliers told DailyMail.com that he, his wife's family, and Arzola's family 'would like anyone with any more information about them to come forward and talk to LAPD as soon as possible'. Brandt Osborn was seen last month outside the Los Angeles home where it is believed that 24-year-old model Christy Giles, was fatally drugged, then dumped outside a hospital by men in masks Texts from Christy's phone reviewed by DailyMail.com showed the two women seemed uncomfortable after arriving at Pearce's apartment (pictured) and called an Uber to take them home but were never picked up The back of the home where Giles and Arzola are reported to have spent their final hours Christy Giles's last known location was a rented apartment (pictured) near Beverly Hills, where she and friend Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola went with three men they met at a warehouse party that night The bereaved husband, 41, said he was 'relieved' the men he believes killed his wife have been arrested, but is anxious to see the district attorney prosecute the case. Texts from Giles's phone show the mystery around the death of the two women may come down to just six fateful minutes around 5am on November 13. Cilliers said CCTV from the party shows Giles and Arzola leaving with the men in the early hours. By 5:30am Giles's phone location data placed her at Pearce's upstairs duplex apartment on West Olympic Boulevard near Beverly Hills, when she texted Arzola 'let's go' with a wide-eyed emoji, apparently showing discomfort. Hilda replied: 'Yes. I'll call an Uber. 10 minutes away.' At 5:36am a friend called Eddie who was at the official after party the girls had planned to go to texted Christy 'Where you at?' Read receipts show Christy never read the text, nor any others after that, and Uber records show the women never got in their cab. Texts between the two women showed Christy sent a message to Hilda at 5:30am when they were at the apartment, reading: 'let's go.' Hilda replied: 'Yes. I'll call an Uber' - however, the two were never picked up Four minutes later at 5:36am, a friend called Eddie who was at the official afterparty the girls had planned to go to texted Christy: 'Where you at?' - but that message was never read Giles and Cabrales-Arzola were at SoHo on Friday, November 12, when they left for a warehouse party. Giles husband said he traced her phone to an apartment complex before the women were dropped off at their respective hospitals Cilliers believes that in those six minutes, something happened to his wife and her friend that left them incapacitated. The men were interviewed by police just hours after Giles' death and allegedly admitted to cops that they took the girls home from the warehouse party, claimed the women took drugs and overdosed, and that they immediately took them to the ER. But it wasn't until 12 hours after Giles stopped responding to her texts, at around 5pm on Saturday the 13th, that CCTV at Southern California Hospital in Culver City showed men in masks and hats pulling up in a black Toyota Prius with no license plate and dumping Christy's body and another two hours before Hilda was left at nearby Kaiser Permanente hospital in West LA. Arzola's family said her toxicology report found heroin in her system. A toxicology report for Giles has not yet been released. Giles' husband Jan Cillers (right), was in San Francisco visiting his father when her lifeless body was discarded outside a hospital last month. The friend said at one point she saw one of the men whose apartment the two girls would later end up in had taken off his jacket and put it on Hilda (pictured) Family of both women say they were dead against heroin and believe it was forced on them at Pearce's apartment. When approached by DailyMail.com last month outside the West Olympic apartment, Osborn declined to comment, claiming he had been a victim of 'slander'. Pearce did not respond to requests for comment. Neighbors told DailyMail.com earlier this month that the men appeared to be moving out of their upstairs duplex when they spotted them loading a moving truck. The Attorney General has been urged to review the 'lenient' sentence of Star Hobson's mother after the child's family slammed the 'staggeringly soft' term. Star's mother Frankie Smith, 20, was given just eight years in prison - meaning she could be out in four - after a judge reduced her sentence to account for the 'burden' of knowing she played a significant role in the death of her 16-month-old daughter. Smith's partner Savannah Brockhill, 28, was jailed for a minimum of 25 years and given a mandatory life sentence for murdering the child, who bled to death after being attacked at home in Keighley, West Yorkshire, in September last year. Health minister Gillian Keegan has today suggested Attorney General Suella Braverman could send the case to the Court of Appeal so the sentence of Star's mother could be reviewed. Ms Keegan, whose brief includes care, told LBC that it 'doesn't sound like' justice that Smith was handed such a short jail term, adding: 'It doesn't sound enough, as a human being, it doesn't sound enough.' Star's family had last night slammed the 'staggeringly soft' sentences handed out and urged the Attorney General to review the case under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme. A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office has now confirmed they received a request for the sentences to be examined, and law officers have 28 days from the date the terms were given to consider the case and make a decision. Frank Smith, 68, Star's great-grandfather, said he hoped her killers would 'rot in jail' and asked: 'Is that all Star's life is worth? Frankie will be out in four years - how is that justice?' The family of murdered toddler Star Hobson blasted Savannah Brockhill (left) and Frankie Smith's 'staggeringly soft sentences' and called for Britain's chief legal advisor to review their punishment Star's mother Frankie Smith, 20, was given just eight years in prison - meaning she could be out in four - after a judge reduced her sentence to account for the 'burden' of knowing she played a significant role in the death of her 16-month-old daughter 16-month-old Star Hobson who died from 'utterly catastrophic' injuries at her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire 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 in Keighley. 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 He told the Sun that Brockhill, a former bouncer who beat the defenceless toddler, ultimately deserved the death penalty. Frank 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. He said: 'She [Frankie] watched her child die. She lied repeatedly to cover hers and Brockhill's tracks. 'They both deserve to rot in jail. It's disgusting.' Health minister Ms Keegan said today: 'It's a shocking, shocking case - I mean, it's quite unbelievable. And also the case of poor Arthur (Labinjo-Hughes) as well. I mean, it's just unbelievable. 'Obviously the judge and the jury have made their... they recently passed the sentence but, you know, I guess the Attorney General has that power as well. So I don't know.' She added: 'It doesn't fit within my remit but it fits within hers (the Attorney General's), so I'm sure that she'll be having those conversations.' A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office said: 'We have received a request for these sentences to be considered under the unduly lenient sentence (ULS) scheme. 'The law officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.' The killing of Star and details of how she was subjected to months of assaults and psychological harm have caused a national outcry, especially as the trial came so soon after the case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. The Attorney General's office has already said it will review the sentence of Arthur's stepmother, Emma Tustin, 32, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years at Coventry Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of the Solihull six-year-old's murder. The sentence of the youngster's father, Thomas Hughes, 29, who was jailed for 21 years for manslaughter, will also be looked at. Star's 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. Sentencing Brockhill, 28, and Smith, 20, at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday, the judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, praised Mr Fawcett and other family members for the support they offered Star but which was pushed away. She said: 'Those who loved Star are as bewildered as they are angry and sad at all that has been lost.' She told the pair: '(Star) was 16 months when she was murdered. Her short life was marked by neglect, cruelty and injury. 'She was murdered by you, Savannah Brockhill. Frankie Smith, it was your role as her mother to protect Star from harm.' The judge said the 'fatal punch or kick' to Star 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 massive - similar to those forces associated with a road traffic accident,' she said. 'Only you both know what triggered that fatal assault. Frankie Smith, 20, did nothing to protect her own daughter Star from her girlfriend and on one occasion held her head underwater to stop her crying, the court heard Police released a harrowing picture of one of the bruises on Star's face that sparked calls to social services from family 'The violent attack which led to Star's death was not, however, an isolated event.' The judge said Star 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.' Mrs Justice Lambert pointed to footage shown many times during the trial of Star '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 question which those who have watched the evidence unfold will be asking is why anyone would or could behave in such a way towards a young and vulnerable child who should be cherished and protected rather than abused and neglected. 'The answer to that question is clear to me. 'Star was caught up in the crossfire of your relationship.' The Bradford Partnership, which includes the agencies that 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 month, but it 'deeply regrets' that 'not all the warning signs' were spotted. A full Russian invasion of Ukraine would spread global conflict and could be the trigger for World War Three, a Ukrainian government minister warned today. Yuliia Laputina, the minister for veterans affairs, said that her country was prepared to defend itself should Moscow launch another attack on Ukraine. But she warned that the consequences of an invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin would be far-reaching, and would not be contained in her country. 'If Russia will invade you know, you should also take care about the Balkans. What Russians are doing now in Serbia - they try to provoke a situation in the Balkans,' she told Sky News in an interview on Thursday. 'But we also take into account [the beginning of] World War Three.' Her comments came as EU leaders were set to warn Russia that hostile action against Ukraine would come at a 'high price' in a message expected to be agreed during a European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday. Meanwhile, Russia said on Thursday it was ready to send a government negotiator 'at any moment' to start talks with the United States on the security guarantees it is seeking in order to defuse the crisis over Ukraine. A full Russian invasion of Ukraine would spread global conflict and could be the spark that causes World War Three, a Ukrainian government minister has warned. Pictured: Russian tanks take part in a military drills at Molkino training ground in the Krasnodar region, Russia, Tuesday, December 14, 2021 Yuliia Laputina, the minister for veterans affairs (pictured in August), said that her country was prepared to defend itself should Moscow launch another attack on Ukraine Asked whether she thought an invasion could be the trigger that leads to a third world war, Laputina told the broadcaster that it could. 'Geopolitically, it looks like this is a possible scenario. So we should pay attention to the Ukrainian issue because of the security of the continent,' she said. 'This - the spreading of war in case of Russian invasion to Ukraine - will be much wider than Ukraine.' Russia has moved around 70,000 troops to its border with Ukraine - with some officials suggesting its as high as 100,000 - but Moscow denies that it has any plans to attack Ukraine, like it did in 2014 when it annexed the Crimean Peninsula. Russia says it feels threatened by growing ties between NATO and Ukraine, which wants to join the alliance, and the possibility of NATO missiles being deployed against it on Ukrainian soil. Laputina, who rose to the rank of major general in Ukraine's security service, said the majority of the country's 400,000 veterans would be willing to fight if called upon. Many of the veterans - aged anywhere between 20 to 60 - were young young volunteers who signed up to defend Ukraine in the 2014 conflict, which has left 14,000 dead. On whether she believed Ukraine could resist an invasion by Russia, Laputina said while an initial Moscow-ordered invasion could succeed, the 'next step will not be successful because we have a very big experience of national resistance.' Ms Laputina's comments came ahead of a summit of European Union leaders on Thursday that will focus on avoiding a Russian military invasion with threats of unprecedented sanctions for Moscow and the promise of diplomatic talks. The Russian military buildup on Ukraine's border is taking centre stage at the summit of the EU's 27 leaders, with a plea from Ukraine's president to start imposing more sanctions before any possible incursion, rather than after. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the EU shouldn't underestimate the threat, even beyond Ukraine, which he says is creating the worst security situation since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russian troops take part in drills at the Kadamovskiy firing range in the Rostov region in southern Russia, Tuesday, December 14, 2021 Yuliia Laputina warned that the consequences of an invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured on Wednesday in Moscow) would be far-reaching, and would not be contained in Ukraine's borders 'Probably we face most dangerous situation in the last 30 years. I'm talking not only about Ukraine,' Nauseda said, stressing that NATO's eastern flank and the Baltic region should also be concerned. 'Maybe there are some open channels for some serious negotiations' over the coming days, said Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia, which holds the EU presidency, adding it could consist of talks between France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia. But like all, he wearily watched the Ukraine-Russia border, where U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has moved 70,000 troops and is preparing for a possible invasion early next year. 'It is not normal for regular military exercises,' Jansa said, adding that there's no doubt that Russia is using its military might to put Ukraine under pressure. No one feels it more than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who urged EU leaders late 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. Zelenskyy said Ukraine stands ready to enter into talks with Russia to ease tensions, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't appear willing to come to the table at the moment. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks as he participates in a media conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday 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. But the conflict has continued to simmer. EU leaders are widely expected to approve on Thursday a draft summit conclusion, seen by The Associated Press, that warns that 'any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe cost in response.' Zelenskyy said the use of sanctions after military action had proved very limited for his country and that it might be be different 'if the sanctions are applied prior to the armed conflict would they become a prevention mechanism.' European officials argue that it's a better deterrent to keep Putin in the dark about what measures might be used against him. Asked by reporters whether Europe would act on Zelenskyy's call, European 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. Despite Moscow's threat, Nauseda still has a sense of optimism. 'I think we have enough tools in order to stop Russia from its aggressive behavior,' he said. The U.S. and the EU have been coordinating their response to the Russians, 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. On Thursday, Russia said it was ready to send a government negotiator 'at any moment' to start talks with the United States on the security guarantees it is seeking in order to defuse the crisis over Ukraine. European Council President Charles Michel, left, arrives for a round table meeting at an EU Summit in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. European Union leaders meet for a one-day summit Thursday that will center on Russia's military threat to neighbouring Ukraine Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also said presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, who held a two-hour video call on Dec. 7, could speak again before New Year, though nothing firm had been agreed. Peskov said deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov would 'be ready to fly at any moment to any neutral country' to start talks. Asked about the possibility of talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Peskov repeated Moscow's position that it was unclear what the agenda for any such discussion would be. He said Russia's security proposals, which were handed to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried in Moscow on Wednesday, consisted of two draft documents, which he described as a treaty and an agreement. He declined to discuss the content, telling reporters they would find out 'in time'. Russia's foreign ministry last week pointed to the likely thrust of the proposals when it said NATO should rescind a 2008 commitment to Ukraine and Georgia that they would one day become members, and promise not to deploy weapons in countries bordering Russia that could threaten its security. Moscow also called for the renewing of a regular defence dialogue with the United States and NATO and urged Washington to join a moratorium on deploying intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe. Ryabkov said this week that Russia would be otherwise be forced into a 'confrontation' where it would have to deploy such missiles itself. Do you know the man who died with Omicron in Northampton? Email martin.robinson@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com Advertisement How Omicron went from one UK case to 1million per day in just three weeks November 25: The UK Government relaunches its red travel list and hotel quarantine for six African countries including South Africa November 27: The UK Health Security Agency confirms that the first cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 - known as Omicron - was identified in the UK. December 12: 3,137 Omicron cases reported in the UK, mostly in England. But just ten people are in hosiptal. December 13: Britain's first Omicron death is announced. Boris Johnson gave no details on the death other than the person had been diagnosed in hospital. Health Secretary Sajid Javid says the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, he said. December 14: Experts say cases are doubling every 2.5 days and predict 1million cases per day by Sunday December 15: The travel red list is scrapped due to the spread of the Omicron variant in the UK December 16: The stepson of the first Omicron fatality says he was unvaccinated when he died in hospital in Northampton on Monday Advertisement The first person in Britain to die after catching Omicron was an anti-vaxxer pensioner who refused the life-saving jab after becoming convinced it was part of a Government conspiracy to control the population having been brainwashed online, his stepson claimed today. The unnamed victim, who was in his early seventies, was described as a retired 'recluse' who was 'fit and healthy' but shunned a covid jab, falling ill in early December and dying in hospital in Northampton on Monday. His passing was announced by Boris Johnson earlier this week - but the lack of transparency over the UK's first Omicron death prompted fury, as critics including senior doctors told the Government to release more details to stop 'unnecessary alarm'. Four days on, there are still no further details from health officials. The Department of Health did not deny the LBC report was true - but declined to comment saying they don't discuss 'individual cases'. The first Omricon case was recorded in the UK on November 27 - an estimated 1million people per day will be infected by Sunday, current estimates suggest. The stepson of the victim of the first UK fatal case, named only by LBC as John from Smithfield to protect the identity of the dead man, claimed he was a pensioner who had lived alone in a block of flats and died a fortnight after catching the virus. 'He was a recluse to be honest. He never left the house, had all his food delivered and only left the house to go to the bins and the postbox. He was one of the cleanest guys I'd ever known', John said. 'But this is the important thing. He wasn't vaccinated. My sister is gutted but on the other hand she's a little bit angry that he never took the vaccine. She did have an argument with him about it in October about this very thing. 'He thought it was a conspiracy. He read it online. He was an intelligent man', John said, adding: 'Had he been vaccinated, he would probably still be here.' John said his stepfather had died in hospital on Monday, around a week after being admitted. He said: 'He started to look good but went downhill just like that. He wasn't able to speak, he was scared. I think if you're in hospital, having 80% oxygen fired at you, you would regret it (not having a jab) wouldn't you. I would. He was fit. He ate healthy, he didn't smoke and didn't drink in 30 years'. Asked about Chris Whitty and Boris Johnson's warnings about the dangers of Omicron by Nick Ferrari, he said: 'It might be an overreaction but we don't know. It's the people who haven't been vaccinated - they're the ones that need to be worried now. The key thing is that he wasn't vaccinated and he'd probably still be here. He might be ill, but he'd still be here'. Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to a vaccination centre in Ramsgate, Kent today 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 Do you know the man who died with Omicron in Northampton? Email martin.robinson@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com Advertisement Professor of medicine and consultant oncologist Karol Sikora said earlier this week that the Government was not providing the nation with enough information about the death, and that this was 'unnecessarily alarming'. 'Were they in hospital for Covid or were they there because they had been run over by a bus?,' he said. Boris Johnson revealed the UK's first death due to Omicron on a visit to a vaccination clinic in Paddington, west London on Monday, the day the unnamed man died. He said: 'Sadly yes Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron.' Mr Johnson did not reveal the age of the person who died, or if they had underlying health conditions, which made them vulnerable, or whether Omicron was the leading cause of their death or a secondary factor. The death in the UK is thought to be the first confirmed Omicron fatality in the world. However, given the variant makes up almost every case in South Africa it is likely that the vast majority of fatalities there are due to the mutant strain but a lack of testing means these are not picked up. UKHSA however did reveal that the individual who died of Omicron was diagnosed in hospital. Professor of medicine and consultant oncologist Karol Sikora said the Government should release more details about the death to put people's minds at ease. 'Have they had booster? Are they elderly?,' he said. 'There are all sorts of nuances to this thing, and we're not being given proper information.' He added that given the average age of Covid fatalities in the UK, and that the individual may have died while being infected with Omicron, as opposed to because of the variant, there was no reason to panic and the Government should calm fears rather than stoke them. 'The average age of death of Covid is 82.5 so a lot of 82-year-old people die in a year, at any one time,' he said. Professor of medicine and consultant oncologist Karol Sikora said the Government was not providing the nation with enough information about the first Omicron death 'No details have been released, I suspect it's just some old boy that's tested positive, he may have died in his sleep or with a heart attack, who knows? 'It is unnecessarily alarming.' Professor Sikora said his suspicion is that the silence regarding whether the person was vaccinated or not indicated to him that the person died of another cause while they had Omicron. 'I suspect that it's a death, which is unfortunate, but is due to something else, and it just happens to be Covid positive that's why they're not making a big noise about them being vaccinated or not,' he said. When queried on the lack of details regarding the Omicron death, the Prime Minister's spokesman cited patient confidentiality as a reason, but added more details may be forthcoming in UKHSA end of week report. 'Obviously when it comes to individual deaths there is a right to patient confidentiality so we are limited in what we can say,' he said. 'But we will provide further breakdown on things like characteristics, both of cases, numbers in hospital, through the surveillance report.' The spokesman added that deaths from Omicron were sadly inevitable due to the ease in which spread, meaning that while it was not in itself more deadly than regular Covid, more cases meant more deaths. 'I don't think anyone is in any doubt that there will be deaths because of Omicron. That is sadly something that we have to face because of this increased transmissibility.' A tech start-up proposed using drones armed with tasers to attack migrants attempting to cross the border into the US, a previously unreleased promotional video has revealed. Blake Resnick, 21, said he set up drone company Brinc in response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting with the aim of creating non-violent robots to aid with law enforcement, committing to 'never build technologies designed to hurt or kill'. But footage taken in 2018 obtained by The Intercept shows the company's plans to use the drones as weapons against migrants. The 'wall of drones' would operate in place of a physical wall at a third of the price and would be able to detect and track the 'criminals' trying to enter the US, the glossy promotional video claims. Resnick, who recently boasted of a $25million Silicon Valley investment into his company, employed thermal sensors, human detection software and remote interrogation systems linked to border patrol so they could question the migrants remotely. Brinc, founded by Blake Resnick (pictured), 21, made a promotional video on how drones could be used to tase migrants at US-Mexico border In the video, the young entrepreneur stands on a stretch of land on the Mexico-US border to demonstrate how the attack drones would work. The then 18-year-old explains: 'This is one of the most desolate parts of our southern border. Every year, over $100billion worth of narcotics and half a million people flow through areas just like this one. 'There's no wall here and it probably wouldn't work anyway because of the rough terrain and eminent domain issues. But there is a solution.' The video was made at a time when President Donald Trump was looking into virtual border wall systems after pledging to construct a barrier to keep out immigrants. Resnick continues: 'This is the Brinc drone and it is just one part of a much larger system designed to fully secure the US Mexico border 'It's called the Wall of Drones. Each drone in the wall starts its day in a bay station where it is recharged using solar power. Then the drone automatically takes off and goes on to patrol to the next bay station. The video explains how the Wall of Drones would be placed along the border using solar-powered recharging units The young entrepreneur stands on a stretch of land on the Mexico-US border to demonstrate how the attack drones would work The 'wall of drones' would operate in place of a physical wall at a third of the price and would be able to detect and track the 'criminals' trying to enter the US 'It follows a preprogrammed flight path and uses its high-definition camera and thermal imager to look for intruders. 'When the drone detects an intruder, control of the drone is shifted to a human operator at a nearby border control office. The controller flies the aircraft down and interrogates the suspicious person.' The shocking footage then shows the drone Tasing an apparent Mexican migrant named 'Jose' after he refuses to show ID and pulls out a gun, sending him to the ground. Resnick explains that border agents would then arrive and restrain the 'perpetrator' while the drone continues its patrol. He said: 'The wall of drones is made up of hundreds of drones and bay stations like these, strategically placed along the border The drones have thermal sensors, human detection software and remote interrogation systems linked to border patrol who could question the migrants remotely The shocking footage then shows the drone Tasing an apparent Mexican migrant named 'Jose' (pictured) 'It can actively respond to threats, monitor the whole border with video surveillance and physically prevent criminals from entering the United States 'It's also about 300 times less expensive than a physical wall and can be implemented in much less time.' He said the technology can also help secure prisons, oil pipelines and data centers. The wall of drones never made it to market but it raises questions about the intentions of the company which is now helping law enforcement agencies in hostage situations. In 2018 when the video was made, 396,579 migrants were apprehended by Border Patrol as Trump tried to crackdown on the influx despite his campaign pledges. The president accused migrants of bringing drugs and crime across the southern border in divisive comments that led to a row with Mexico. The border crisis has only worsened with Joe Biden now struggling to control the wave of people entering the country illegally. From October 2020 to October 2021, border arrests soared to an all-time high of 1.7million. Resnick, a Thiel fellow who is on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, is still hoping to work with Homeland Security and defense companies on its non-weaponized drones. Brinc's Values and Ethics page states among its aims it will 'never build technologies designed to hurt or kill', 'build technologies designed to save lives' and 'be mindful of the impact of our work - we won't build a dystopia'. Resnick admits he video is 'deeply regrettable' and says he has since taken the company in a different direction Resnick admits he video is 'deeply regrettable' and says he has since taken the company in a different direction. He also revealed the technology was never fully developed and the video was 'faked' because a drone with a function taser was never actually made. Instead, he used compressed gas to fire a taser dart in the footage, but there was no high voltage in the wires. But the company did try to sell the system and had initial discussions with 'a very limited number of parties', although talks stalled. One source said: 'He's got this whole narrative about the shooting in Vegas, but the original idea was 100 percent to use drones to tase migrants' Resnick said in a statement to The Independent: 'I was 16 years old when I designed the prototype portrayed in the video. 'At this time, I considered building products primarily for the homeland security and defense industries. I initially believed drones could save lives by using nonlethal systems to prevent lethal shootings between cartels and border agents. 'I explored the idea but realized it was not the ethical direction I wanted to take the company in.' Advertisement Britain could reach up to 460,000 daily Covid cases by Christmas Eve forcing 2million people into isolation if Omicron infections continue to increase as quickly as some scientists expect, analysis of official figures suggests. Such huge numbers could partially paralyse the country, causing huge disruption from people being off work and threatening key services including the NHS, police and national grid. While government contingency plans call for the military to be called into cover gaps in these services if they are hit by huge shortages, they are untested in the real world. The head of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital trust in London which looks after two of the largest hospitals in the country this morning revealed 10 per cent of staff are currently off due to Covid. Chris Whitty warned today that the Omicron wave was going to peak 'very quickly', with cases hitting their highest ever daily number yesterday and infections doubling every two or three days. He said the reason the situation was being taken 'extremely seriously' was because the NHS was going to face a 'reduction in supply and increase in demand'. If the number of people testing positive which is much lower than the actual number of infections occurring in the community because not everyone gets swabbed also doubles every three days, then the UK's average toll of daily cases could hit 462,704 on Christmas Eve. That would force roughly 2million people testing positive between now and then into isolation for 10 days, the equivalent of 3 per cent of the population. The true toll could be even higher, when their contacts who develop tell-tale symptoms are included. But SAGE member Professor Andrew Hayward claimed that the true infection number would be much higher than that because the outbreak is spreading faster than tests can keep up. But Cambridge statistician Professor David Spiegelhalter described models predicting infections doubling every two days as 'not sensible' because people will not continue to socialise to the same level as prior to the discovery of Omicron. Others insisted it was 'impossible' that the outbreak would fail to slow down. And health minister Gillian Keegan said the threat of having to isolate over Christmas is 'bound to make people a bit more cautious' in the run-up to the big day, which will have a knock-on effect on cases. Scientists have warned testing capacity across the country is likely to be overwhelmed over the coming days, with Government officials hoping to ramp up the country's PCR base by 150,000 each day. Rapid lateral flow tests were unavailable on the NHS website for the first three days of the week, with the country currently averaging around 790,000 PCR tests a day. If the number of people testing positive doubles every three days, then there would be 463,704 daily cases on Christmas Eve. That would force the 1.9million people testing positive between now and then into isolation for 10 days, the equivalent of 3 per cent of the population Such huge numbers could partially paralyse the country, causing 'huge disruption from people being off work' and threatening key services including the NHS and police, experts claimed. Graph shows: The number of NHS staff off work with Covid every day over the last two weeks. Dips on December 5 and 12 occurred on Sundays, when fewer staff are working and therefore less absences are expected. Figures are expected to increase in the coming weeks No10 plans to cover any gaps in NHS staffing, as well as other key services including the police, border force and energy sectors, with military personnel, according to The i. Deputy chief executive of NHS Providers Saffron Cordery today said there were already staff shortages due to the variant. She said: 'Trust leaders are telling us Omicron is already creating staff shortages in the NHS. In Omicron hotspots like London, absences are starting to rise rapidly.' Ms Cordery revealed the impact on the workloads for remaining staff is a 'major challenge given the huge service demand currently across the NHS,' and added: 'This reinforces why having a jab is so important to protect staff and the public.' Many scientists dispute the Government modelling which suggests Omicron cases will continue to double every two days, saying it does not account for behavioural changes or growing immunity. Confirmed cases were doubling every week during the peak of the January wave of infections caused by the less transmissible Alpha variant, but that was before vaccines and only a small proportion of the population had prior immunity through infection. Ministers insist NO Plan C Covid curbs before Christmas Ministers today insisted they have no intention of imposing more coronavirus rules before Christmas as Tory MPs lashed out at Professor Chris Whitty for telling people to restrict socialising. Health Minister Gillian Keegan said the Government is 'not intending to make any more restrictions' between now and Christmas Day. But she said Boris Johnson 'won't hesitate' to recall Parliament over the festive period if he believes he does need to bring in extra curbs amid growing fears that a Plan C could be rolled out immediately after Christmas. It came as Tory MP Joy Morrissey sparked a backlash by attacking England's Chief Medical Officer after he used a Downing Street press conference last night to urge Brits to prioritise who they meet in the coming days. Responding to a tweet about Prof Whitty urging people to prioritise their social interactions in order to stem the spread of the Omicron variant, she tweeted: 'Perhaps the unelected covid public health spokesperson should defer to what our ELECTED Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister have decided. 'I know it's difficult to remember but that's how democracy works. This is not a public health socialist state.' Ms Morrissey, who is a Government parliamentary private secretary, the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder, subsequently deleted the tweet as she faced a wave of criticism. Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting called her comments 'outrageous' and demanded that she apologise. Tory former cabinet minister Julian Smith also appeared to criticise Ms Morrissey as he tweeted that 'personal attacks by any politician' on members of the civil service are 'completely unacceptable'. Millions of Britons are now expected to be adjusting their festive plans in an attempt to ensure they can see their family on Christmas Day. Mr Johnson last night stopped short of telling people to cancel their plans but called for caution while Prof Whitty went further as he said people should restrict socialising. The comments triggered a 'tsunami of cancellations' for pubs and restaurants as many people are now voluntarily staying at home in a bid to avoid catching coronavirus. Anyone who tests positive from yesterday will have to isolate for 10 days, forcing them to miss festivities. The hospitality industry is demanding the Government urgently bring forward fresh financial support to help the sector survive. MPs voted in favour of Mr Johnson's Plan B measures of compulsory face masks and Covid passes for nightclubs and large venues on Tuesday evening but the PM suffered a huge Tory rebellion. Prof Whitty reportedly held a call with a cross-party group of 80 MPs before the vote as he outlined the risks posed by Omicron, with Tory rebels saying his comments had actually boosted the rebellion. One rebel told The Times that Prof Whitty had 'helped our case' because 'he said that nothing we were voting on would alter the size of the peak of infections'. Advertisement Currently, official daily confirmed cases are nowhere near yet doubling every two days. Yesterday's 78,500 positive tests were up just 50 per cent in a week, for comparison. The rolling seven-day average of daily cases a more accurate figure that isn't skewed by potential blips in the data suggests the rate is rising even slower. However, the true effects of Omicron have yet to be seen in the testing numbers. And cases are never as high as infections because only a fraction of people with the virus get swabbed. MailOnline projected the potential uptick in confirmed cases over the next nine days, based on three different scenarios. If the number of people testing positive doubles every four-and-a-half days, around 230,000 daily cases would be seen by December 24. At a slower pace of doubling every nine days, this would cause 115,000 daily infections by Christmas Eve. The figure based on if cases doubled every three days the lower end of No10's gloomiest estimate was in the region of 460,000. Government advisers admit no-one knows exactly how the coming weeks will shape up, meaning it is possible none of the scenarios come true. But Professor Chris Whitty last night told a Downing St press conference that more records would be broken in the coming weeks, after the UK posted its highest ever number of daily cases, eclipsing the previous record by around 10,000. Experts hope advice to scale back on social plans in the run-up to Christmas will help to curb the rapid spread of the virus, it is hoped. And scientists have also insisted that cases can't keep growing at the current pace. Professor Spiegelhalter told Times Radio: 'If it kept on this doubling every two days, you get to 11million on Christmas Day and the entire country on New Year's Eve. Now, this is not sensible. This is not going to happen. 'So it's bound to curve off at some point. Some signs it is slowing down already. So these sort of extrapolations assuming keeping on doubling every two days, obviously can't go on for a very long time.' But he warned 'millions' of infections are inevitable over the coming week. He said: 'Millions of people are going to catch this over the next few weeks and months and this is going to cause huge disruption from people being off work or whatever. So that is, I think completely predictable. 'That we know that's going to happen. So the effect on the NHS is of course what's much more uncertain, in terms of, how many, what proportion would go to hospital? Will this be largely among younger people? 'That we still don't know actually the severity of the virus if you get it, and so on. And so there's huge uncertainty about what the actual impact will be. It could be considerably better than last winter, it could be worse.' His comments were echoed by the Minister of State for Care, who said people are bound to 'make a sensible choice' over the next fortnight to avoid isolating on Christmas. Ms Keegan told Sky News: 'Everybody is urging caution. Most of us will know somebody now who's positive with Covid, and that means if you've tested positive, then you'll be in isolation over Christmas. But SAGE's Professor Hayward suggested the astronomical number of infections being forecast by Government advisers could still come true yet. He told BBC Breakfast: 'If you think about getting a year's worth of rain over a month, then you're going to get flooding and potentially severe flooding, no matter how much you've shored up your defences. LONDON -- Westminster Bridge looks very quiet during the morning rush hour in London today as Britons stay at home LIVERPOOL - Liverpool city centre is very quiet this lunchtime with the Town Hall seen in the background MANCHESTER -- People walk past quiet shops and bars in Manchester city centre today amid an increase in cases of Covid-19 'And that's the concern here that that huge wave is going to cause lots of people to be off work having to isolate, which is going to cause disruption, and it's going to spill over into people going into hospital. 'Now the rate at which it spills over is uncertain because we don't know exactly how severe it is yet, but we've no particular reason to think that it's less severe than previous strains. 'We know that Covid is always going to be less severe if you've been immunised but it may be that rather than the strain itself that's making a lot of cases look less severe.' He said more data should come around Christmas time or in the new year on severity, but added: 'The trouble is, if you wait until then and don't do anything to reduce the spread, then you're in a much worse situation than if you take some action now.' But others have dismissed the notion Omicron infections will continue doubling every two days, suggesting people will follow Professor Chris Whitty's advice to prioritise only the most important social occasions this winter. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: 'If it carries on at the rate it's going then by the end of the year and given also that we only detect about 40 per cent of infections we would have pretty much all of the UK population being infected. This is absolutely impossible.' Meanwhile, experts have suggested Britain's daily testing will not be able to keep up with the increase in infections caused by the Omicron variant. Jeffrey Barrett, who leads the Covid genomics initiative at the Sanger Institute, told The Daily Telegraph: 'Testing capacity will almost certainly fail to keep up with Omicron. 'Even with best efforts we can scale supply linearly, but demand will grow exponentially. This will happen everywhere at almost the same time, so global supply chains of reagents, plastics, will struggle.' 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 A sign of what's to come for England? Omicron-hotspot London's Covid wave is soaring in EVERY age group except children... and ALL 25 areas of country with fastest-growing outbreaks are in the capital Covid cases are now rising in every age group except young children in Omicron-hotspot London, according to official figures that lay bare the threat the NHS faces in the coming weeks. The super-mutant variant, which is already dominant in the capital, has effectively sent the city of 10million into its own lockdown, with tens of thousands of workers staying at home today to avoid isolating over Christmas. Department of Health data shows London is now seeing just as many cases as last January, when it was battered by the Alpha variant and put under harsher measures than the rest of the country. London's spiralling crisis was initially driven by teenagers and adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s, who were seeing an uptick in cases two weeks before the ultra-infectious strain was first detected. Infections started to rise in the over-60s days after Omicron was confirmed to be in Britain, according to MailOnline analysis. In another warning sign for the country, UK Health Security Agency data published today revealed the capital now has the 25 areas with the fastest growing outbreaks in England. Experts have admitted the capital's crisis will inevitably slow down because the virus will simply run out of room, and people adhere to dire warnings from Boris Johnson and Professor Chris Whitty's plea to 'prioritise' the most important social events in the coming days. And they said the astronomical spike in cases being seen in younger adults won't necessarily occur in over-60s, who are most vulnerable to the virus. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, said: 'This is partly because other age groups don't socialise as much.' He also said Britain's booster vaccine drive which prioritised older adults should help to thwart the virus's spread, even though three jabs won't protect thousands from catching the virus and getting ill. Scientist hopes it means the rapid increase in cases won't necessarily translate into monumental pressure on the NHS. Data also shows two vaccines can still drastically slash the risk of severe illness, with Chris Whitty today hinting three jabs against Omicron may be even better than two against Delta. Hospitalisations in the capital are going up faster than in other regions, concerning official data shows. But on average 153 people are being admitted with the virus every day, barely an eighth of the peak last January when it hit 800. Up-to-date Government statistics breaking down infection rates by age group only go up until December 10, so the true trajectory of London's outbreak will be even bleaker now. And the same trend of cases rising in older adults has yet to be seen across the other regions of England, which have yet to be struck as badly by Omicron. Experts say the capital is more vulnerable to the variant because it is an international hub and had lower vaccination rates than other regions when the variant began to spread. The above graph shows the infection rate in age groups compared to the same time a week ago. It reveals that cases are now more than doubling week-on-week among adults in their 20s, and rising in all over-15s The above graph shows the % change in Covid infection rates in England week-on-week. It reveals that nationally cases are now also surging among adults in their 20s and beginning to rise in other age groups The above graph is from the UK Health Security Agency's weekly report. It shows that the infection rate in London has skyrocketed after the super-transmissible Omicron variant took hold This graph shows the infection rate in London for the under-60s and the over-60s. It reveals that while cases are surging in under-60s, there now appears to be an uptick for over-60s as well. Experts hope the boosters will stop this rising sharply but Professor Chris Whitty said today these could rise very fast along with hospitalisations in the coming days Department of Health statistics showed the infection rate for people in their late 20s in the capital has doubled in a week from 420.7 to 972.4 cases per 100,000 people. And among the early 20s it has jumped from 372.3 to 865.8. There is also an uptick among older people who are more vulnerable to the virus, with rates among over-60s rising almost 40 per cent in a week from 115.7 to 158.8. The only age group where cases are pointing down is five to 14-year-olds, where they are dropping by about five per cent week-on-week. Where are infections rising fastest in London? The capital had 25 of the areas with the fastest growing Covid outbreaks last week, official data shows. It comes as the Omicron variant takes hold in the capital, and may be an early warning sign for the rest of the country. The figures were revealed in the UK Health Security Agency's weekly Covid surveillance report Borough Hackney Southwark Islington Lambeth Tower Hamlets Barking Westminster Enfield Haringey Lewisham Wandsworth Newham Hammersmith Greenwich Brent Camden Waltham Forest Croydon Kensington Harrow Kingston Merton Bexley Ealing Havering Hillingdon Redbridge Bromley Barnet Hounslow Richmond Sutton Covid case rate 832.5 902.1 800.4 927.6 677.8 688 590.7 620.8 685.9 827.4 875.3 600.1 882.6 822.7 563.5 610 729 707.2 624.1 536.2 784.3 746.4 716.8 630.3 696.3 521 595.4 752.5 584 561.1 743.9 776.6 % rise in a week +103% +88% +88% +82% +73% +67% +66% +66% +65% +60% +57% +55% +53% +50% +48% +48% +44% +40% +39% +39% +39% +37% +37% +35% +33% +28% +28% +26% +25% +24% +8% +7% Advertisement A total of 80 per cent of over-60s have already received a booster in England, NHS figures show. Despite Covid cases rising astronomically, London today woke up to a lockdown by stealth with millions staying home rather than running the gauntlet of catching the virus. Millions want to avoid being infected before Christmas Day, for fear of being ordered to self-isolate and missing spending the festive season with their loved ones. Last year Britons were told not to mix with people outside their household on Christmas Day, keeping many families apart. Roads in London were the quietest they have been during the morning rush-hour on any term-time weekday since the summer today. The city centre was also left deserted, with pubs empty as people shun going into the office. Professor Whitty said today that the fall in social mixing suggests some of the worst predictions on hospitalisations and deaths may not come true. It means that the wrost case scenarios estimated by modellers are now unlikely to happen. In one paper they suggested admissions could peak at 4,500 a day in the current wave more than last January. Latest hospitalisation figures show the number of Covid admissions in the capital rose 38 per cent over the week to December 13, from 111 to 153 patients a day on average. Covid patient numbers on wards have risen 15 per cent, from 1,095 to 1,267. Mechanical ventilator bed use has risen six per cent, with 198 Covid patients currently on these beds. Deaths are still flatlining in the capital at around 10 a day, but these are lagging indicators because of the time taken for someone infected with the virus to become seriously ill. Professor Whitty said yesterday that a further rise in admissions was already 'baked in' because of the high levels of infection. He warned there may be fewer patients in intensive care in South Africa than when Delta hit because more patients have immunity now. Some 61 per cent of Londoners are double-jabbed, and 26.7 per cent have got a booster. These are the lowest rates out of England's nine regions, with the lack of uptake likely leaving the capital more at risk from the new variant. For comparison, in England 72 per cent of people are double-jabbed and 38 per cent have been boosted. The highest vaccine uptake is in the South West where 79 per cent of people have already had two doses and nearly 44 per cent have got their third dose. It is too early to say how well two doses or boosters will protect against hospital admission or death from Omicron but early data from the UK suggests two jabs will be significantly weaker. The South African Government claims two doses of Pfizer's jab provides more than 70 per cent protection against severe illness even with waning immunity. Data on boosters will take longer to collect because South Africa is not rolling them out widely yet, and UK scientists say they need 250 Omicron patients in hospital before they can make vaccine efficacy estimates. Officially, there are currently only 15 patients with the mutant strain in UK hospitals. But the true number is thought to be higher because of the time taken to analyse samples and detect those who are infected with the mutant strain. Dr Hopkins, chief medical officer at the UK Health Security Agency, said the 'earliest we will have reliable data is the week between Christmas and New Year and early January'. The UKHA last week estimated that a booster provides 70 per cent protection against symptomatic Omicron illness, based the country's first 600 infections. This graph shows Covid hospitalisations in London. They are now ticking up 40 per cent week-on-week in the capital after Omicron sent cases spiralling Covid deaths are still flat in the capital, but this is a lagging indicator because of the time taken for someone to fall seriously ill with the virus and be hospitalised Professor Hunter, an infectious diseases expert, said the capital and then England was likely to see its cases peak before the New Year because they are surging so fast. He told MailOnline: 'If it carries on at the rate it's going then by the end of the year and given also that we only detect about 40 per cent of infections we would have pretty much all of the UK population being infected. This is absolutely impossible.' Professor Tim Spector, a top epidemiologist, also predicted cases in London would slow before the New Year. He said: 'In London cases have been rising rapidly, but this will likely slow down soon, as people change their behaviour, such as wearing face masks again, cancelling parties and working from home more.' It comes as separate data from his Covid symptom study which involves almost a million Britons showed cases are surging rapidly among 19 to 35-year-olds, but remain low in older age groups. The UK yesterday reported a record 78,610 Covid cases that were detected over the last 24 hours amid the rapid spread of Omicron, which is now behind 34 per cent of Covid cases in England and more than half in London. Professor Hunter told MailOnline it was likely the country would see a 'very short, sharp peak' in infections likening it to a Sombrero. This will be followed by an uptick in hospitalisations, although it is 'very unlikely' that these will hit the levels recorded last winter. SAGE modelling predicts they could hit 2,000 a day, about half the peak last January. Professor Spector said cases could hit a peak in the New Year 'higher than anything we've ever seen before'. But he added behaviour changes in London 'will slow the spread of the virus'. He said: 'It's my hope that the rest of the country is doing the same to avoid big outbreaks outside of London, especially in other big cities.' In England Covid cases are also rising fastest in adults in their 20s followed by those in their 30s. For some older age groups, cases are starting to tick up. But taking over-60s as a whole they are pointing downwards, with the latest infection rate at 129.9 down from 136.9 cases per 100,000 people a week ago. Professor Hunter said infections were surging fastest among adults in their 20s because this group was most likely to mix socially and had only just being offered a booster. He said: 'If it's spreading rapidly in this age group [adults in their 20s] it doesn't mean it is going to spread as rapidly as in other age groups. 'This is partly because other age groups don't socialise as much, and partly because many of the older age groups have actually got already got quite high booster levels.' Average hospitalisations in London have risen 38 per cent in a week, with 153 Covid patients being admitted to wards every day on average up from 111 seven days ago. And across England they have ticked up by nine per cent in a week, from 691 to 760 Covid patients being admitted every day on average. Modelling predicts this could get to around 2,000 a day despite the booster campaign, before falling after the latest wave has receded. In South Africa's epicentre Gauteng average infections now appear to be levelling off after the variant emerged a month ago, but hospitalisations are still rising. South Africa did not bring in any further restrictions, but did ramp up its vaccination drive which had previously reached only 25 per cent of adults. It already had face masks in place in most public areas. But experts warn it is difficult to make a comparison between the two countries because the population in South Africa has far more young people than in the UK. The ZOE Covid Symptom study estimated today that cases rose four per cent last week despite the spread of Omicron, with some 83,658 people predicted to be catching the virus every day. They said London was seeing the sharpest rise in cases, driven by Omicron, and that infections were starting to rise in other areas. Yesterday Professor Spector said most people who are suffering a cold in the capital are likely infected with Omicron. He added symptoms did not appear to be different to Delta, with most people who catch it suffering a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and a sore throat. In a gloomy press conference last night Professor Whitty warned a rise in Omicron hospitalisations was 'nailed on' after cases surged to a record high. He 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 project those ones, de-prioritising ones that matter much less to them.' Mr Johnson also told the country to cut back on Christmas partying and 'think carefully ' before going out during the festive season. New South Wales Police have collected over $2 million in Covid fines against children with some kids copping colossal $5,000 on-the-spot penalties. Data recently released under information-access laws show that NSW Police have imposed 2920 Covid-related fines on children aged 10-17 since July 1, 2020. The majority of these fines range from $1000 to $5000 with the most expensive offence reserved for failing to comply with isolation orders. New South Wales Police have collected over $2 million in Covid fines against children with some kids copping a colossal $5,000 fine on-the-spot (stock) The money raised from the fines against minors added up to a whopping $2.1 million. The heaviest $5000 fine for breaking isolation rules was given to 17 minors, a $3000 fine imposed on 39, while a $1000 fine was handed to 1600 children since July last year. Fines issued by NSW Children Courts cannot exceed $1100, less than a third of the Covid-related fines handed out by NSW Police. Offences incurring the fines included failing to produce vaccination evidence, unlawfully participating in outdoor gatherings, and not complying with curfews. The total from the fines against minors added to a whopping $2.1 million from 2920 fines issued to children aged 10 to 17 (stock) Redfern Legal Centre, the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited, and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre have condemned the fines and are urging the NSW Government to issue warnings instead. Redfern Legal Centre police accountability solicitor Samantha Lee told News.com.au that issuing fines to minors should be a last resort. 'We are gravely concerned about extremely high on-the-spot fines being issued to minors,' she said. Experts said hefty fines only strain family relationships and put more pressure on parents than the children and have called for warning to be issued instead (stock) 'We are calling on government to cancel Covid-19 fines issued to children, and to issue cautions instead.' Ms Lee said hefty fines issued against minors are effectively group punishment imposed on the child's family as kids have no way of paying such large sums of money. 'A child has as much capacity to pay a $1000 or $5000 fine using their pocket money as an ant has to push a boulder uphill,' she said. 'A $1000 or $5000 fine can place enormous strain not only financially but emotionally on a family and cause tension between parent and child.' NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope (above) stood firmly by the government's actions and said 'if you do the wrong thing, you will be caught and held accountable for your actions' In spite of the criticism, NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope stood firmly by the government's actions. 'We take breaches of the Public Health Orders very seriously and if you do the wrong thing, you will be caught and held accountable for your actions, this is the communitys expectation,' he told The Guardian. Victoria has introduced a limit on how much a minor facing a Covid related fine can be charged with under 15s limited to $181.74 and 15 to 18s limited to $726.96. Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police for comment. When Margaret Thatcher was forced by her own ministers to resign in November 1990 after 11 years in power, her press secretary Bernard Ingham stayed loyal until the very end. Now, Sir Bernard, 89, has given the current occupant of Downing Street some friendly words of advice. Writing about Boris Johnson in the Yorkshire Post, the former civil servant addressed this month's Downing Street Christmas Party scandal and Tuesday's rebellion by 100 Tory MPs against the PM's decision to impose 'Plan B' coronavirus measures. Offering him three tips to survive, he said the PM should 'cut the busking and bluster' and avoid appointing another 'enforcer' like Dominic Cummings, whom he previously branded 'Mr Malevolent'. Sir Bernard also called on senior Tory MPs to 'demand a meeting' with the Government to 'bring about change'. Mr Johnson should also begin his day with a 'stocktaking' of recent events to identify how they could have been 'better handled'. Sir Bernard added that the PM needs a 'tightly knit group' of 'politically motivated' advisers to 'scour' the Government's output for 'anomalies and inconsistencies' and said that if Mr Johnson 'still goes his own way', then 'God help Boris and us'. Mrs Thatcher's former press chief was writing as Mr Johnson continued to grapple with a growing rebellion in his own party following the recent scandals and the imposition of Plan B measures to curb the spread of Omicron. When Margaret Thatcher was forced by her own ministers to resign in November 1990 after 11 years in power, her press secretary Bernard Ingham stayed loyal until the very end. Pictured: The pair in Downing Street in 1983 Now, Sir Bernard, 89, has given the current occupant of Downing Street some friendly words of advice. Writing about Boris Johnson in the Yorkshire Post, the former civil servant addressed this month's Downing Street Christmas Party scandal and Tuesday's rebellion by 100 Tory MPs against the PM's decision to impose 'Plan B' coronavirus measures It emerged today that the entire leadership of the powerful 1922 Committee had joined the backbench revolt over the Plan B measures, which included the imposition of Covid passes to get into certain venues. Conservative MPs were told that the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, will accept letters of no confidence in the PM over Christmas. Mr Johnson is also facing potential defeat in today's North Shropshire by-election, which was held after former minister Owen Paterson resigned as an MP following a lobbying scandal. The PM was severely criticised by MPs for the way he attempted to re-write parliament's anti-corruption rules in the days after the revelations about Mr Paterson's actions emerged. MPs now want the PM to 'reset' his entire operation to avoid any further setbacks. Offering him three tips to survive, he said the PM should avoid appointing another 'enforcer' like Dominic Cummings, whom he previously branded 'Mr Malevolent', and called on senior Tory MPs to 'demand a meeting' with the Government to 'bring about change' Sir Bernard referred in his weekly Yorkshire Post column to how Mr Cummings has fired repeated salvos at the PM since he resigned from his post as his chief adviser last year. He said: 'Dominic Cummings, his vicious former chief adviser, is not the only one who has it in for him. 'Some of those in or around the Government machine take every opportunity to twist the knife when he lands in a spot of bother. 'And he is certainly in trouble with three issues round his neck Wallpapergate, as the refurbishment of his Downing Street living quarters is inevitably called; Christmas parties or gatherings or quizzes in No 10 a year ago when the rest of us were supposed to be holed up because of the pandemic; and a Tory revolt over his latest "Plan B' Covid restrictions."' Sir Bernard also mentioned the Downing Street 'Wallpapergate' scandal Sir Bernard added that the uproar over the Downing Street party reveals the 'animus' against the PM as well as the 'depths to which our politics have sunk'. Above: The leaked video showing Mr Johnson's former press secretary Allegra Stratton joking about the Christmas party Sir Bernard added that the uproar over the Downing Street party reveals the 'animus' against the PM as well as the 'depths to which our politics have sunk'. Highlighting how the UK is also grappling with issues that include a significant budget deficit, fraught relations with the European Union since Brexit was implemented and 'concern' about the NHS's ability to cope with winter, he said the focus on the party 'does not say much for our sense of priorities'. However, he said he doubts that Tory MPs 'really' want to force the PM to resign, because despite his 'approach to life', he 'gets the big thing done' He gave Mr Johnson advice in the event that 'our political Houdini' 'escapes' from the current MPs' 'mutiny' and the result of the North Shropshire by-election. Sir Bernard was Mrs Thatcher's press secretary for all of her time as Prime Minister, from 1979 until 1990. Above: Sir Bernard with Mrs Thatcher and her husband Dennis in 1998 Mrs Thatcher was forced to resign after a series of senior ministers quit her cabinet and fierce rival Michael Heseltine mounted a leadership challenge Sir Bernard added: 'His present imbroglios are probably his last chance to bring some order to the often chaotic government we have experienced, even allowing for all the serious problems it has on its plate.' Sir Bernard was Mrs Thatcher's press secretary for nearly all of her time as Prime Minister, from 1979 until 1990. She was forced to resign after a series of senior ministers quit her cabinet and fierce rival Michael Heseltine mounted a leadership challenge. Mrs Thatcher was in Paris when the result of the first ballot of the leadership contest was announced. In April last year, Sir Bernard (pictured at Mrs Thatcher's funeral in 2013) lashed out at Mr Cummings, saying Whitehall had become 'demoralised' at the way senior mandarins had been removed at the behest of the adviser She then declared it was her intention to 'let my name go forward for the second ballot' after Sir Bernard famously pushed the BBC's John Sergeant out of the way during a live television broadcast. However, after being advised by dozens of her party colleagues that she should quit instead of continuing to fight the challenge, Mrs Thatcher resigned. In April last year, Sir Bernard lashed out at Mr Cummings, saying Whitehall had become 'demoralised' at the way senior mandarins had been removed at the behest of the adviser. 'At its [the Government's] heart is the malevolent presence of Dominic Cummings, the PM's principal adviser, who thinks the Civil Service is pretty useless and the machine would be better in the hands of weirdos like himself,' Sir Bernard said. Sniffles, headaches, and tiredness appear to be the hallmarks of Omicron, according to a major study that suggests the mutant virus is more akin to a cold than Covid. An analysis of cases in London, where Omicron is growing most rapidly, reported the most common signs of the virus between December 3 and 10 were a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and a sore throat. None of these are the classic signs of the virus that Britons are warned to watch for a new continuous cough, high temperature or change/loss of their sense of taste and smell. Epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist of the ZOE Symptom Tracking Study, has urged Britons to keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs of Omicron in the run up to Christmas, and before meeting friends and relatives. 'Hopefully people now recognise the cold-like symptoms which appear to be the predominant feature of Omicron,' he said. 'Omicron symptoms are predominantly cold symptoms, runny nose, headache, sore throat and sneezing, so people should stay at home as it might well be Covid. 'Ahead of Christmas, if people want to get together and keep vulnerable family members safe, Id recommend limiting social contact in the run up to Christmas and doing a few Lateral Flow Tests just before the big family gathering.' The warning comes alongside numerous reports that Omicron causes milder illness than past variants but scientists are still trying to untangle whether it's intrinsically weaker or if the population has higher levels of immunity, or even both. Reports from the UK's Covid symptom tracking study indicate Omicron cases are triggering cold-like health problems like a runny nose and sneezing, as opposed to traditional signs of the virus from earlier in the pandemic, like a persistent cough Professor Tim Spector, who runs the UK's largest Covid symptom-tracking study has said symptoms of Omicron are 'predominantly' the same as the common cold Government data shows the number of Covid cases with no symptoms has increased steadily since week 17, towards the end of April, which was when vaccines were being rolled out people in their 40s Is THIS why Omicron is spreading so rapidly? Study claims ultra-infectious variant replicates in airways 70 TIMES quicker than Delta The Omicron variant multiplies 70 times faster than Delta in the airways, according to a study which may explain why the mutant virus is spreading at a ferocious pace. Hong Kong University researchers also found the new variant replicates 10 times slower in the lungs than its predecessor. That finding lends weight to the theory it is milder than the past variants, something which doctors in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. The researchers exposed lung tissue in a laboratory to the original Covid strain that was identified in Wuhan last year, along with the two variants, to compare how the viruses behave after infection. Omicron replicated faster in the bronchus tubes connecting the windpipe and lungs suggesting people with the strain may be more infectious. Higher viral loads nearer the throat means people are more likely to breathe out viral particles. Delta was found to duplicate much quicker in the lungs, where more of the virus can lead to the most severe illness. The finding may be the biological clue behind why doctors insist people infected with the strain only suffer cold-like symptoms. Advertisement UK guidance currently only recognises three symptoms as early warning signs of an infection with the virus, a new continuous cough, a high temperature, and a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell. But experts have repeatedly called for this list to be expanded, saying it misses cases in the early stages increasing the risk of the virus being transmitted. The US-based CDC and other countries have identified more than ten Covid warning signs, and warn their populations about things like fatigue, headache and muscle aches. In separate comments this week, Professor Spector said 'classic' Covid symptoms like a fever, cough, or loss of smell, are now only present in the minority of cases. He added that Omicron appears to be chipping away at the UK's vaccine protection from infection, but that jabs were still critical to protecting people. 'We are also seeing two to three times as many mild infections in people with boosters in Omicron areas as we do in Delta variant areas, but they are still very protective and a vital weapon,' he said. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also shows that the number of Covid positive cases which are so mild they show no symptoms have also steadily increased since vaccines started being rolled out on mass earlier this year. At the end of April this year, 1 per cent of people who tested positive for Covid on a PCR test reported no symptoms, but the proportion of positive tests from people with no symptoms rose to just below 10 per cent by the start of December. Real-world data in South Africa has also indicated that while Omicron can more effectively dodge the protection offered by vaccines, it generally only causes mild cases. Officials in the country who analysed 78,000 Omicron cases estimated the risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus. But Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty dismissed these early findings yesterday and called for 'serious caution' over applying their findings to the present situation in Britain. In the UK, a recent Omicron 'super-spreader' event where 16 out of 18 guests at a birthday party in early December later tested positive, only resulted in mild symptoms. Most of the guests at the party in Somerset, in the south west of England, were in their 60s and 70s and fully vaccinated but still ended up catching Omicron from what is believed to be one positive person at the party. But none were hospitalised or needed to see a doctor, with the majority suffering the 'sniffles' or a sore throat. While scientists' understanding of the signs of the virus has improved over time, vaccines are also believed to be playing a role in reducing severe symptoms of Covid. This is because while Covid jabs do not offer a 100 per cent protection from catching the virus, they massively reduce the chance of becoming severely ill. Omicron may NOT be milder: Chris Whitty calls for 'caution' over promising Covid hospitalisation data in South Africa 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. Advertisement Covid jabs do this providing the body with instructions to build the antibodies it needs to fight the infection from the get go, rather than having to start from scratch, and allowing the virus to run uninhibited in the mean time. In simple terms, a Covid jab helps potentially turn a severe case of the virus into a mild one. While more data on Omicron is emerging, research from May this year indicated that only a third of people with at least one Covid vaccine got the 'classic' symptoms a high temperature, new continuous cough and loss of taste and smell, of the virus. The study, by King's College London epidemiologists also found that, in comparison, more than half of unjabbed people who caught Covid people suffered the normal warning signs. The level of protection Covid jabs offer from severe illness caused by Omicron is still emerging but SAGE modelling this week indicated 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. The SAGE modelling 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. But even if the majority of cases are mild, the UK's health system is still bracing for a surge in people requiring hospital care for Omicron. This is due to the fact that even if it is milder, the variant does appear to be more infectious, and will send more people to hospital by sheer weight of numbers. Professor Whitty has warned it is 'entirely possible' the number of daily hospital Covid admissions in the latest wave could beat the 4,583 peak in January. The chief medical officer- who last night warned 'all the things that we do know, are bad' about Omicron - told MPs today of hospitalisations: 'I don't want this to be seen as I'm saying this will happen. I'm just saying there's a range of possibilities, but certainly the peak of just over 4,500 - 4,583 to be exact - people admitted at the absolute peak... 'It is possible because this is going to be very concentrated that even if it is milder, because it's concentrated over a short period of time, you could end up with a higher number than that going into hospital on a single day. That is entirely possible. It may be less than that. But I'm just saying that it's certainly possible.' He added that there were two caveats - one being that people could be staying in hospital for a shorter period because of their protection from prior vaccination, and fewer people may go into intensive care. A British Airways pilot who crashed and died after he went downhill mountain biking was found unconscious at the foot of a 'very steep' dirt jump by fellow riders, an inquest has heard. Edward Brice-Bennett, 33, was found unconscious in a remote area of Wiltshire next to his 4,000 bicycle just weeks before his wife was due to give birth to their second child. The pilot, who had become enamored with the sport during lockdown, suffered internal bleeding and was pronounced dead 45 minutes later. An inquest into his death at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court heard Mr Brice-Bennett was his 'usual happy self' when he left home early on June 2 to go riding alone at Tidworth Freeride Bike Park. His wife, Kate Brice-Bennett, told the inquest: 'Edward loved being active and enjoyed mountain biking. He had a great personality and was very much a family man. 'He became interested in mountain biking during lockdown, and on the day he passed away he left our house to get there for around 10 oclock. Edward Brice-Bennett, a 33-year-old British Airways pilot, died in a downhill mountain biking crash in Wiltshire while his wife was six months' pregnant with their second child 'He went by himself. He was not stressed and was his usual, happy self.' The couple first met in 2010, before Mr Brice-Bennett started training to become a pilot in 2012. He was working for British Airways at the time of his death, while his wife was six months pregnant, the court heard. The couple also had a two-year-old daughter named Illa together. Mr Brice-Bennett, who was a member at the bike park, drove from his home near Swindon before checking into the park at around 11am. An hour later, though, two brothers riding at the park spotted a 6ft 2ins man lying 'on his back' next to a Canyon Spectral bike on one of the woodland tracks. The bike, which typically costs around 4,000, was set in its highest gear. In a statement, Jacob Clothier told the court: 'We were riding down a hill when we noticed a male laid out on the floor, on his back with his helmet off. 'I think he was breathing and his eyes appeared to be open. I told my brother to go and get some help, as we were both panicking. 'We were in a section of the woods where there was no mobile phone signal. 'My brother came back with a worker who was on the phone to the ambulance. They told us to put him in the recovery position. 'I felt the mans skin and it felt cold... The worker began giving him CPR and when the ambulance turned up they took over the CPR.' A forensic vehicle examiner for Wiltshire Police told the court that everything was fully operational following the crash, adding there was 'no evidence of impact or damage' to the bike. An entrance to Tidworth Freeride Bike Park in Wiltshire, where Mr Brice-Bennett was found unconscious at the foot of a steep jump before dying at the scene Mr Brice-Bennett suffered injuries to his abdomen and head, which left notable purple bruising below the rib cage, as well as cuts to his forearm. Describing the area where Mr Brice-Bennett was found, PC Chris Venning told the court: 'The area was a clearing in the woods with a dirt path running alongside. 'Around 20 metres away was a very steep dirt hill, which I was advised was a jump.' Coroner Ian Singleton ruled the death accidental, saying: 'The cause of Edwards death was abdominal trauma and hemoperitoneum. 'At 12 midday he was found on the ground with his bike and helmet nearby. Attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, and he died at the scene as a result of his injuries.' A spokesperson for British Airways said: 'We are deeply saddened by the news. Our thoughts are with Eds family and friends.' Able Seaman William Stewart, 26, took advantage of the woman after going on a night out in the North East with other sailors while their was undergoing maintenance A judge has called for a ban on Royal Navy parties with 'excessive drinking' after jailing a sailor for raping a female colleague following a 'naked mess' at a Holiday Inn. Able Seaman William Stewart, 26, took advantage of the woman after going on a night out in the North East with other sailors while their ship was undergoing maintenance. The pair had been out drinking before returning to a Holiday Inn hotel to continue celebrations in a conference room, where several sailors took their tops off after someone shouted 'naked mess'. The court martial in Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, was told that the female sailor, who would later become Stewart's victim, had stripped down to her bra and showered herself and her half-naked male shipmates in prosecco. She then went with three of the group - including AB Stewart - to another male sailor's hotel room, where she later awoke to find him sexually assaulting her. She awoke to find AB Stewart, an engineering technician she hardly knew, 'fondling' her breasts and touching her before he moved to the other side of the bed and sexually assaulted a male sailor, who was also asleep, before returning to rape her. AB Stewart was found guilty by a board of military personnel of one count of rape, one of assault by penetration and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity. Jailing the disgraced sailor for eight and a half years, Judge Advocate Robert Hill warned against the volume of similar incidents occurring in the armed forces, suggesting a 'ban' be considered to deter 'excessive drinking'. In the last year there have been a series of other sexually related cases involving the Royal Navy heard at Bulford. In October, Leading Seaman Sam Avery was jailed for five years after raping a sleeping drunken colleague after she agreed to let him sleep in her bed. The court martial in Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, was told that the female sailor, who would later become Stewart's victim, had stripped down to her bra and showered herself and her half-naked male shipmates in prosecco In February AB Sean Bramwell lost his job after he sexually assaulted a junior colleague after a night out in Tokyo just hours after the Prince of Wales had visited his ship. Sentencing Stewart, Judge Hill said: 'We wish to make this general observation: There seems to be a pattern of behaviour of drinking to excess in each other's company, ending up in each other's cabins and choosing to crash in the beds they are in. Royal Navy sailor who raped female colleague while she slept is jailed for five years Pictured: Leading Hand Sam Avery A Royal Navy sailor was jailed for five years in October after raping a female colleague as she slept. The female sailor woke to find Leading Seaman Sam Avery having sex with her, his hands on her waist and her pants pulled down to her knees. The woman, who cannot be named, had turned down two of his previous advances before falling asleep after agreeing to let LS Avery stay the night in her bed. She said the attack 'came out of nowhere' as there was not even a friendly hug or kiss between the two and the only sexual contact between them was the advances she had rejected. LS Avery, who worked refuelling stealth fighters on aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, denied a single charge of rape and claimed to have no memory of having sex with her. He said, if anything did happen, it must have been consensual. However he was convicted at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, in October, and jailed for five years. LS Avery was also dismissed from Her Majesty's Services with disgrace. Jailing him, Judge Robert Hill told Avery he had betrayed the trust of the woman who had agreed to let him sleep in her room. Judge Hill said: 'You and your victim had been contacting for some time on a social network. 'You had not met until the night of this offence. You were both out in Portsmouth, and you went back to [her base] with her. 'There came a time when both you and she went to bed. She took you on trust.. There had been nothing sexual leading up to this. 'She firmly rebuffed you twice - there was no doubt she was not up for sex. 'She was drunk and asleep when you started to have sex with her. She trusted you and you knew you were being trusted.' Advertisement 'This is the second case (we have dealt with) in a matter of weeks of the behavioural trend I have described. It would be appropriate to consider whether any ban should be strictly enforced.' AB Stewart stood still and showed no emotion as his sentence was read out, whilst family and friends wept at the back of the court. The family of AB Stewart released a statement saying: 'The family are shocked and incredulous at the outcome of this Court Martial and intend to pursue every route to clear their son's name. 'There are far too many inconsistencies... This case needs to be thoroughly re-investigated. This is not over.' Prosecuting, Wing Commander Michael Saunders had told the court: 'AB Stewart had recently joined the ship. They all had a significant amount to drink. (The female victim) was given a bottle of prosecco, as it was her birthday. '(Videos from the conference room) show (her) pouring the prosecco over herself and onto some males with their tops off on the floor. One of them was AB Stewart.' Giving her evidence, the female sailor told the court: 'It was my birthday the day after. We were celebrating that and a couple of people were promoted, so we were celebrating that, too. 'We were all having drinks and everybody was having a good time. (Later on) we were all in the conference room, and we ordered pizza. ''Naked mess'' was shouted - it was just tops off... we all had a bit of the prosecco and I got a bit wet (from) the alcohol. 'I remember people laying on the floor when I had the prosecco... I was stood up with the bottle.' The woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - told the court four of the sailors went back to one of their rooms to carry on the party. 'I asked the lad whose room it was if I could change into dry clothes,' she said. 'I changed into boxers and a top and continued drinking. 'I started getting sleepy and I just crashed. I fell asleep.' But the 'scared and confused' woman later awoke to AB Stewart, an engineering technician she hardly knew, 'fondling' her breasts and touching her. She said AB Stewart, who grew up in Plymouth on the south coast of Devon, then moved to the other side of the bed and sexually assaulted a male sailor who was also asleep before returning to rape her. 'He basically did what he wanted and I hoped it would be over,' she said. 'I remember praying the lad next to me would wake up. It felt like a lifetime.' AB Stewart had told the court martial all sexual activity with the sailors was consensual and instigated by them. He also said the female sailor had been 'twerking' at him in the hotel room shortly before they got into bed together. The woman accepted that this could have happened but said she did not remember it taking place. Reading her victim impact statement to the court, the victim said she still had 'flashbacks' of the event and that it had brought her to 'the point of collapse both emotionally and physically'. In July, 31-year-old AB Jodie McSkimmings was dismissed from the Navy for drunkenly sexually assaulting three male sailors during an expedition in Norway. AB Mitieli Vakalaca was jailed for four years in August after he tried to rape a female colleague and refused to let her check if he was wearing a condom, having been drinking heavily that evening. The same month AB Calvin Denver, a sailor on a missile-armed Trident submarine, was allowed to keep his job after he tried to force a female sailor to give him oral sex after drinking in the nuclear vessel. A garage worker has accepted responsibility for the killing of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa. Koci Selamaj, 36, is alleged to have travelled to London from his home in Eastbourne on the south coast to carry out what the prosecution alleges was a 'pre-meditated and predatory' attack. It is claimed he struck 28-year-old Ms Nessa with a 2ft long weapon as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east, London, on her way to meet a friend on September 17. The court heard she was due to meet her friend at at a bar called The Depot in Kidbrooke Village and cut through Cator Park on her way. The body of Ms Nessa, who taught a year one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, was found nearly 24 hours later covered with grass near a community centre in the park. The prosecution allege that Ms Nessa's attacker was a complete stranger to her. Garage worker Koci Selamaj, 36, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa (pictured) during a hearing at the Old Bailey held earlier today Koci Selamaj (pictured here in a court sketch at today's hearing) was arrested in Eastbourne in the early hours of September 26. Selamaj has pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder Pictured: a map showing the police movements in Eastbourne after Selamaj's arrest Alison Morgan, QC, prosecuting, said the evidence suggested Ms Nessa was beaten repeatedly over the head with an object, possibly a lump of wood. Selamaj, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was arrested in the seaside town and charged with her murder eight days after the attack. On Thursday, Selamaj, an Albanian national, appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea and directions hearing. The defendant, who is in custody, entered a formal not guilty plea to murder. But it was indicated on his behalf that he accepted responsibility for killing Ms Nessa. Asked by Mr Justice Wall if there was any issue that he was responsible for the killing, his lawyer Aidan Harvey told the court today: 'No there isn't. He accepts he killed Sabina Nessa.' Members of the victim's family sat in court a few metres from the defendant in the dock who was assisted by an Albanian interpreter. Pictured: a map showing where Sabina's home was and where she was found on September 17 Pictured: Police investigating the death of Sabina Nessa pictured at a flat in Eastbourne Koci Selamaj (left), from Eastbourne, East Sussex, has accepted responsibility for killing Sabina Nessa (right) who was found dead in Cator Park, Kidbrooke, in September this year Bearded Selamaj, who wore a facemask and grey T-shirt, spoke only to confirm his identity and enter his plea. Senior judge, Mr Justice Wall, set a further hearing on February 25 next year. He set a trial date for June 7 next year and said it could last up to five weeks. The defendant was remanded into custody. In October this year, around 200 people gathered in Eastbourne, East Sussex, to pay tribute to the school teacher and protest the 'crisis of violence against women'. The peaceful demonstration was marked by cheers and applause as those addressing the crowd spoke out against victim blaming. Later, the darkening sky was lit with the lights from dozens of mobile phones, as a minute's silence was held for Ms Nessa. Koci Selamaj, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was arrested in the seaside town in September. Pictured: police on scene at an address in Eastbourne, East Sussex, after Selamaj's arrest About 200 people gathered in Eastbourne, in East Sussex, to pay tribute to the primary school teacher and protest a 'crisis of violence against women' at candlelit vigil held in October Sabina's sister Jebina Yasmin Islam broke down as she addressed crowds. She said: 'Words cannot describe how we are feeling, this feels like we are stuck in a bad dream and can't get out of it - our world is shattered, we are simply lost for words. 'No family should go through what we are going through.' The vigil came after public outrage and debate over women's safety and policing in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed by a serving Met Police officer. This is the incredible moment a newborn twin punched her way out of an amniotic sac just moments after her sister was delivered. The baby girl, who has been named Elis, was still inside the intact sac when she was born but she managed to break through with her tiny hand. Mother Rosangela Maria Sousa Soares described the moment at the maternity hospital in the city of Goiania, central Brazil, as 'magical'. The baby girl, who has been named Elis, was born still inside the intact amniotic sac (pictured) But the newborn twin managed to punch her way out of the amniotic sac just moments after her sister was delivered Rosangela, who is from the nearby town of Crixas, gave birth to identical twins Isis and Elis via a caesarian. Isis came out first, followed by Elis, who was born still inside an intact amniotic sac, which she was then filmed breaking with her tiny hand. The healthy girls were born at 36 weeks on November 26 weighing 4lbs 14 oz and 5lbs and 1 oz respectively. The newborns did not require incubation, and both the mother and twins were able to return home two days after the birth. Elis was born still inside the intact sac but she managed to break through with her tiny hand Rosangela is married and the couple has two other children - a daughter, who is the eldest child, and a son. 'En caul' births, where the baby is born still inside an intact amniotic sac, are rare - occurring in less than one in 80,000 births, according to a Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology study. En caul births are not considered to be risky to either the mother or the baby. They are believed to be less common during caesarean section because the scalpel typically punctures the amniotic sac. In most births, the amniotic sac, which is filled with amniotic fluid - a light yellow liquid that protects the baby and keeps it warm - breaks when the baby is about to be born. A determined mum narrowly dodged a steep fine after police mistook her icy-treat for a mobile phone while she was driving. Beautician and Melbourne mum Michelle Course was slapped with a $496 fine for using a mobile phone while driving in November last year. But Ms Course wasn't using her mobile, and was instead innocently chowing down on a Magnum ice cream - and soon produced its wrapper and a receipt, showing she bought the tasty snack just six minutes before she was stopped by police. Although the ice cream lover had her reservations about taking her fine to court she decided she needed to defend her snacking rights, and soon produced phone records to prove she never used the device. Beautician and Melbourne mum Michelle Course (above) narrowly dodged a steep fine Michelle handed a $496 fine for using a mobile phone while driving in November last year when she was actually eating a Magnum Michelle said she felt she shouldn't be expected to pay for a crime she didn't commit and dedicated her time to building her defence. 'There's no way I could be eating my Magnum Ego, holding my phone and driving at the same time,' she told A Current Affair. She soon contacted police with their own dashcam footage showing her eating the offending snack. Ms Course also got a copy of her phone records to show that she didn't make a phone call or send a text at the time she was pulled over by police. Luckily the matter didn't need to reach the court as the fine was revoked a week from her court date. 'Common sense has prevailed and the fine has been dropped,' Ms Course said. 'I was contacted a few days before the court date and I was very grateful that the system had worked and that justice had come about. 'There's no hard feelings. He was just trying to do his job and I have a lot of respect for the police force and what they do.' Her lawyer, Justin Lawrence, encouraged motorists to fight unfair fines. 'It's on people to work as hard as they can to prove their evidence. If they're prepared to do it and hand up all the material to a magistrate, I think the law will on their side,' he said. The fine has been dropped by the court after her initial evidence to the highway patrol policeman (pictured) was ignored 'Victoria Police have got to prove the case, Michelle has collected enough evidence to say that she didn't do it.' The penalty for illegal use of a mobile phone while driving is a $496 fine and four demerit points. In the 2017-18 financial year, more than 30,000 motorists were fined for using a mobile phone illegally while driving in Victoria. In April, the Victorian government announced a new $33.7million push to crack down on drivers using their phones behind the wheel. During a recent trial, it was estimated that one in 42 drivers illegally use their phone behind the wheel. High-tech detection cameras are now catching more than 1,000 motorists every week at just a single site. Thursday started off as calm sunny day as a group of year six pupils prepared to celebrate their last day of primary school in Tasmania's north-west. Within hours, five pupils would be dead and three classmates would be fighting for life in hospital after they fell from an airborne jumping castle during a freak mini-tornado. An hour earlier, graduating students at Hillcrest Primary School near Devonport flocked to the jumping castle, inflatable zorba balls and water play activities as the fun celebrations kicked off. But the winds gusts quickly picked up, reaching speeds up to 22km/h before peaking to more than 30km/h by the afternoon. Year six students Zane (pictured, left) and Addison Stewart (right) were among of five pupils killed when a wind gust blew a jumping castle about 10 metres into the air at his primary school graduation By 10.15am, the school had transformed into scenes of chaos as emergency crews rushed to the scene after the jumping castle was flung 10 metres into air. The accident claimed the lives of five students, including Zane and his classmate Addison Stewart. 'They have called it a strong gust of wind, but it was more like a freak mini-tornado. And it seems like it was a freak accident,' one shocked parent told The Australian. 'Only yesterday my wife was at the school taking photos of the children before the summer break. They were all so happy what has happened today is just so gut wrenching. Everyone is just in a state of shock.' He described the scenes at his daughter's school as chaos. 'They were herding the kids from the schoolyard into the classrooms to get them away, but they had windows overlooking what was happening so they had to move them again,' he said. Zane (pictutred) was enjoying his last day of primary school when his life was tragically cut short Worksafe Tasmania officers inspect a jumping castle which was flung 10 metres into the air at Hillcrest Primary School, killing five pupils Shaken residents recalled seeing the moment the jumping castle being swept up by the wind. 'Then I saw kids on the ground,' Bob Smith told the Mercury. 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day. 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' One shocked pupil told the publication: 'It was our turn next. Grade five and six went first.' Local resident Connor told Daily Mail Australia his colleague lives across the road from the primary school and ran over when she heard sirens. 'She first thought there was a shooting,' he said. 'She said the scene as horrific and confronting, with children everywhere on the ground. Hillcrest Primary School graduate Zane (pictured right with dad Tim) was the first of the five victims to be identified Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air '[But] what got her the most was the parents sitting in the gutters, on the side of the road head in hands, crying.' 'The community is just devastated.' Tasmanian police has confirmed a 'significant local wind event' contributed to the tragedy. 'This is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and the wider school community, and also our first responders,' Commander Debbie Williams said. 'There is no doubt that this has been a very confronting and distressing scene.' Parents and shocked witnesses described the distressing scenes as chaos as paramedics tried to save pupils lives. Five were killed while three are in a critical condition Within an hour of the tragedy, dozens of frantic parents had rushed to the school and were forced to wait at the entry gates, not knowing whether their children were dead or alive with one claiming they were left in the dark. 'I'm here now they won't let us in, it was (child's name) grade but no one knows who was hurt yet,' she wrote. 'I have a friend with children there and he hasn't heard anything yet,' another added. Others claimed details of the tragedy were reported in the media before parents had been informed. 'Shame it was spread all over the media before the school had time to contact parents. Thinking of all involved,' one posted on Facebook. Another added: 'That would have been hard to see if you were a parent,' Police haven't yet revealed how many children were on the jumping castle at the time or how the freak accident occurred. A shrine of flowers and teddy bears is building at the front entrance of Hillcrest Primary School Devonport locals placed candles on front lawns, driveways and footpaths on Thursday night 'On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss,' Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said. 'Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loves ones, school mates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon. 'Our thoughts are also with those emergency service personnel who attend to try and save these people's lives.' 'I've already seen pictures of police officers quite upset, as you'd expect. Any emergency services and teachers, everyone is affected in some way.' WorkSafe Tasmania are also investigating the tragic incident. Of the four injured children in hospital, three are in a critical condition. Pictured is a ambulance helicopter at the tragic scene Australia has rallied around the devastated school community, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars on several online fundraisers set up for victims' families. Devonport locals took part in a vigil by placing a candle on their driveways and footpaths in memory of the young victims. Zane and Addison were due to start high school next year and were celebrating their last day of Grade 6 when their lives were tragically cut short. Tributes have begun pouring in online for the beloved students who have been remembered as a 'beautiful, caring boy' and a 'precious' girl with a 'sweet, kind, old soul'. The tragedy has renewed safety fears for jumping castles after a number of similar tragedies overseas. Jumping castles must be able to resist wind speeds of up to 40 km/h, but can safely be used in maximum speeds of 30km/h, according to Australian standards. A Conservative MP accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy 13 years ago will stand trial in March next year. Imran Ahmad Khan, 48, allegedly groped the 15 year-old in January 2008 at a house in Staffordshire. Mr Khan, who was elected as Conservative MP for Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in 2019, appeared at the Old Bailey today via video-link. The MP had denied the single charge of sexual assault when he appeared at the Old Bailey in September. Judge Mrs Justice McGowan provisionally fixed the two week trial for March 21, 2022, at Southwark Crown Court. Imran Ahmad Khan, 47, (pictured) the Conservative MP for Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said he denies 'in the strongest terms' an allegation he groped the teenager in Staffordshire The MP - who has been suspended by the Conservative Party pending the outcome of the legal proceedings - faces a single count of sexual assault against the then-teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. Pictured, Ahmed Khan with Prime Minister Boris Johnson How Labour stronghold Wakefield turned blue Wakefield in West Yorkshire was part of Labour's 'red wall' for 87 years before Tory Imran Ahmad Khan won the seat in the 2019 General Election. Labour MP Mary Creagh held the seat previously - but was beaten by Ahmad Khan by 3,358 votes. After his win, Ahmad-Khan said: 'The first thing we must do is to keep faith in the people of Wakefield and...get Brexit done.' The constituency first voted for Labour in 1932 - when Arthur Greenwood took the seat in a by-election. MP Yvette Cooper - who had run against Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour leadership contest - said of the loss: 'There's been some very talented and hard working MPs, including Mary Creagh in Wakefield, who we've lost and that is a deep shame. 'We've lost a lot of votes, we've lost a lot locally, we've lost a lot nationally and the reason that matters so much is because I think there are people who really need a strong Labour Party and a Labour government and they've been let down. 'The perception of the party as a whole, the perception of our leadership, all of these things came up and we're going to have to reflect very seriously.' Advertisement Earlier this year, Mr Khan posted a statement on Twitter which read: It is true that an accusation has been made against me. May I make it clear from the outset that the allegation, which is from over 13 years ago, is denied in the strongest terms. 'This matter is deeply distressing to me and I, of course, take it extremely seriously. 'To be accused of doing something I did not do is shocking, destabilising and traumatic. I am innocent. 'Those, like me, who are falsely accused of such actions are in the difficult position of having to endure damaging and painful speculation until the case is concluded. 'I ask for privacy as I work to clear my name.' He remains on unconditional bail ahead of his trial next year. Mr Khan, from Wakefield, helped Boris Johnson win a large Commons majority in 2019 - with the Tories now representing 45 per cent of the Northern Powerhouse constituencies. He turned Wakefield - that was previously in the so-called 'red wall' that formed Labour's heartlands in the Midlands and the north of England - blue with his win. The blue wall MP has had the Tory whip suspended pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. According to his website, the MP was born in Wakefield, where he attended the independent Silcoates School before going to university at the Pushkin Institute in Russia and graduating from King's College in London with a bachelor's degree in war studies. Before entering Parliament, he worked for the United Nations as a special assistant for political affairs in Mogadishu. The Crown Prosecution Service previously said it made the decision to charge Mr Khan after reviewing a file of evidence from Staffordshire Police. Staffordshire Police had probed the historic sexual assault claim for more than a year - but did not make an arrest during that time. Advertisement Britain will be hit by a 'snowbomb' after Christmas as another storm drives blizzards and biting gales to the country. Temperatures are expected to plunge below freezing towards the New Year and again bring the white stuff to parts of the UK. Storm Corrie could drop up to 1cm of snow in the North West on December 27 before five more storms rip across England. It comes despite a warmer middle of the month where most of Britain has remained towards 10C despite a freezing end to November. Britain will be hit by a 'snowbomb' after Christmas as another storm drives blizzards and biting gales to the country. Pictured: Stainmore, Cumbira, last month British Weather Services meteorologist Jim Dale told the Sun: 'We are expecting one more major storm this month which will set the trend for coming months.' He added: 'We expect five to six storms to hit through the winter period which could be severe enough to warrant naming.' He said that London is likely to steer clear of the gale force conditions brought by the latest storm but could well see snow. The Met Office also said there could be the potential for snow in some areas, but in its long term forecast did not detail where these were. It said Britons should expect a dry and clouded Christmas with fog in parts and the chance of drizzle and frost in some parts overnight. But meteorologists said after Christmas the country should prepare for more unsettled and winder weather as the storms start to bite. Temperatures are expected to plunge below freezing towards the New Year and again bring the white stuff to parts of the UK. Pictured: Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, last month The Met Office said: 'At the start of this period it will be settled and predominantly dry with large amounts of cloud, though cloud may well be thick enough for the odd spot of drizzle at times. 'In general, cloud amounts will tend to reduce with time, with a corresponding increase in the risk of overnight fog and frost, which may be slow to clear by day in some areas. 'Towards the middle of the period, there is an increasing chance of more unsettled and windier weather affecting the UK, with rain, and perhaps snow, possible for some places. 'Temperatures will generally be near to below normal, perhaps rather cold in the south, feeling chilly where any fog persists, and locally mild in the north and northwest.' Graphs provided by BBC Weather show how the storms with swirl around Britain after the Christmas period next week Britain was last month battered by two storms which left thousands without power for over a week as well as harmed wildlife. On Orkney, dozens of ill and dead puffins washed up on the shores, prompting concern for their welfare after it was hit by Storm Arwen. Vets at Flett and Carmichael, a local practice on the Scottish island, said a large number of dead birds have been found at Scapa beach and other beaches around Orkney - among them are a number of puffins. They said the birds handed into them have been 'very weak', with some requiring rehydration fluids to help keep them alive. The practice confirmed the deaths are being reported to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Vet Leah Hunter said research is being done into why the puffins are being found dead or barely alive on the island. She said the practice is currently in touch with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology which is collecting information on the dead puffins found in north-east Scotland and now Orkney. On Orkney, dozens of ill and dead puffins washed up on the shores, prompting concern for their welfare after it was hit by Storm Arwen (file photo) 'At this time of year the puffins should be far out at sea in groups so the fact that they are being washed up on land means that things have sadly gone wrong for them,' Ms Hunter said. 'But we will try to treat them as best we can and try to return them home if they survive the next few days. The puffins that have been presented to us have been very weak and cold.' Earlier this year, a large number of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots and razorbills, were found dead along the eastern coast of Scotland and other parts of the UK. The RSPB has previously said while the exact cause of these birds' deaths is unknown, climate change has an impact on driving prey fish numbers down and creating more extreme weather events. Ms Hunter said the recent bout of extreme weather, including Storm Arwen which battered parts of the north-east of Scotland, could have had an impact on some of the puffins. She added: 'Research is being done into whether there is an unusual reason for this occurrence. We don't have any further information as of yet.' The Scottish Government said vessels from its Marine Scotland Directorate have collected water, plankton and fish samples from the east coast of the country to investigate the presence of potential harmful algal species that could harm seabirds. 'These samples are currently being analysed and we will report the findings in due course,' the spokesperson said. 'Further work is also ongoing to explore whether changes in prey abundance or quality are a potential factor. 'We are continuing to work closely with a range of other organisations to investigate a number of potential causes of this unusual and distressing event. 'Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people, so members of the public should not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that they find along the Scottish coastline.' Britons have scrambled to the hairdressers before Christmas in case Boris Johnson closes salons. Women posted pictures getting their fresh trims amid fears the government could drop further curbs as Omicron cases rocket. Meanwhile stylists reported they were rushed off their feet as clients fought for the last bookings ahead of the festive period. They flocked to tidy up their barnets despite steering clear of pubs which started shutting amid a scarcity of customers. Many Britons are working from home and keeping inside in a bid to avoid the rampaging new Covid strain that could seem them isolate for Christmas. But some women decided to risk the virus in order to get their hair in shape ahead of the holidays. Laura Pearce posted a picture from her hairdresser's chair while she was halfway through being treated. She said: 'This government: there are no plans for lockdown Me: books emergency pre-lockdown hair appointment.' Lucy Bishop, a hairdresser from Peterborough added: 'All my clients are having their hair cut extra short incase of another lockdown.' Stonehouse Salon in Wigan added that it had received a number of requests for over the Christmas period. Gentlemen's barbers also appeared to be under the cosh as many reported later opening hours next week to deal with the backlog. Devonshire Gent Barbers in Harrogate said: 'We will be open late every night next week from Monday up to Christmas Eve.' They added on Twitter: 'We have a few remaining slots for a festive trim before the big man arrives!' Dam Fine Barbers in Lichfield added: 'Morning guys we are open from 9am till 5pm today pop down for that fresh trim.' Yet some reported a drop off in custom and that they were struggling due to cancelled Christmas parties. Natalia Hair Studio in Rochdale, Manchester, said it is just trying to 'make ends meet' and was earning half what it should be at this time of year. Owner Natalie Gaughran said customers had been dropping like flies over the last two weeks when they realised they would not need a glow up for work events. She told the MeN: 'Huge numbers of people were booked in for blowaways and colours and all have them have cancelled. 'I think people are also really fearful of this new variant and nobody knows what to do. 'Everybody seems to know someone who has Covid or is off school or work because of this new variant, so people aren't wanting to come out because they are scared.' The businesswoman added: 'I have had my shop for 15 years and this is the worst it has ever been.' The UK was plunged into Level 4 Covid restrictions earlier this week as fresh restrictions were brought back in. The last time the nation was at this threat level in February, hairdressers and barbers were closed. But so far the Prime Minister has refused to bow to pressure from health chiefs to lock Britain up again and impose draconian measures. Boris Johnson (pictured today) insisted that the Government does not want to 'lock stuff down', with Britons instead urged to 'prioritise' social events, get a booster and do a lateral flow test before meeting people Meanwhile pubs are shutting across the country due to a lack of custom amid fears of the Omicron variant. But in a boost for boozers Rishi Sunak will return early from his trip to California to hold more talks with business chiefs in response to the crisis on Friday. The Chancellor and his team held talks with a range of hospitality and business organisations on Thursday. Mr Sunak said: 'This Government has done whatever it takes at every stage to support lives and livelihoods throughout this pandemic - and of course we will continue to do so. 'We understand that this is a concerning time for businesses. Myself and my wider team met with business representatives earlier today, listened to their concerns and will continue to work with industry leaders over the coming days. 'To keep safeguarding our economic recovery and the lives and livelihoods of the British people our priority is now to make sure everyone has the opportunity to get boosted now.' A man who deliberately drove his car into families celebrating carnival in Germany last year has been told he will spend the rest of his life in jail. Maurice Pahler, 31, was handed the life term by a court in Kassel on Thursday, after being convicted of 89 counts of attempted murder over the February 24 attack. Pahler had driven his Mercedes into crowds watching an annual Rose Monday parade in the town of Volkmarsen, central Germany, at 35mph - ploughing through bodies for 140ft and injuring 90 people, including 26 children, in the process. Maurice Pahler, 31, has been sentenced to life in jail after ramming his car into crowds at a carnival event in Germany last year - injuring 90 including 26 children Pahler was convicted of 89 counts of attempted murder and 88 counts of serious bodily harm, with prosecutors saying he planned the attack and bought a dash cam to film it Fortunately, nobody was killed - but prosecutors said Pahler's aim had been to cause deaths and he had even bought a dashcam to live-stream the carnage. No motive has ever been given for the attack, and prosecutors say Pahler - who is white - has refused to answer police questions. He did not testify during his trial. Sentencing him, judges in Kassel told Pahler that his only chance of seeing the outside world again will be to cooperate with psychologists and explain his mindset. If he does, then he will become eligible for parole after 25 years. Refusal to cooperate will mean a certainty of dying in prison. Prosecutors told the court that Pahler had planned the attack, parking his car the day prior to the carnival in an area that would mean he was able to drive into spectators lining a parade route the following day without being stopped by police or barriers. Around 2.40pm on the day of the parade, 35 minutes after the event had started, Pahler fired up his engine and drove into the crowds. No motive was given for the attack - Pahler has never spoken to police, refused to give testimony, and was uncooperative with court psychologists The attack took place on February 24 in Volkmarsen is a small town of around 6,800 residents located in central Germany Witnesses described bodies being thrown into the air and littering the ground as cheers and waves at the parade turned to screams of terror. The attack was only stopped when a 16-year-old girl managed to get Pahler's car door open and pull the keys out of the ignition, Bild reports. Crowds then dragged Pahler from the vehicle, with several people trying to lynch him on the spot. Police managed to block the crowd, with one man heard urging an officer: 'Give me your service weapon, I'll do this!' Pahler said nothing as he was arrested, gave no testimony in his defence - either during interview or at trial - and refused to cooperate with psychologists. A psychological report presented in court said Pahler has narcissistic and paranoid-schizophrenic traits, but was otherwise sane when he carried out the attack. Donald Trump endorsed embattled Congresswoman Lauren Boebert on Wednesday as the Colorado Republican continues to face calls for punishment after anti-Muslim comments aimed at Ilhan Omar. 'Congresswoman Lauren Boebert has done a fantastic job in her first term representing Colorado's Third District,' the former president released in a statement from his Save America PAC. 'She is a fearless leader, a defender of the America First Agenda, and a fighter against the Loser RINOs and Radical Democrats,' Trump added. 'She will continue to be tough on Crime, strong on Borders, and always protect our under-siege Second Amendment.' 'Lauren has my Complete and Total Endorsement for her reelection!' Boebert represents Colorado's mostly rural and considerably red 3rd congressional district along the western side of the state. She is running for reelection in that district the 2022 midterms, which will decide the fate of a closely divided House and Senate. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has said Boebert will not face retribution from him, despite making a suicide bomb joke aimed at Representative Ilhan Omar a hijab-wearing Democrat part of the progressive 'squad'. Some Republicans have even called for punishment of Boebert, mainly South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace. In the video from this fall, Boebert said: 'One of my staffers, on his first day with me, got into an elevator in the Capitol. And in that elevator, we were joined by Ilhan Omar.' 'Well, it was just us three in there and I looked over and I said, 'Well, lookey there, it's the Jihad Squad,'' she told the audience, smiling as the room broke into laughter and applause. Donald Trump endorsed Representative Lauren Boebert in her reelection bid for Colorado's 3rd congressional district even as the congresswoman faces calls for retribution for her Islamaphobic comments 'I do have to say she doesn't have a backpack, she wasn't dropping it and running so we're good,' she continued. In the same clip, Boebert called Omar and Tlaib, who is also Muslim, 'evil' and black-hearted.' Mace condemned 'racist tropes' and 'disgusting comments' on both sides of the aisle after Boebert's comments were revealed by CNN in late November. New York Republican Congressman Tom Reed told CNN: 'This has to stop.' '[I] condemn the kind of comments that were made by my colleague in Congress towards a fellow colleague on the other side of the aisle. This is a pox on all our houses,' he continued. 'We have degraded to a point in the institution of Congress [to a] level of hate I've never felt before.' Establishment Democrats have made clear they don't think it's their job to take action against Boebert, or any other Republican lawmakers. Rather, they want McCarthy and other GOP leadership to keep their members in check. Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Democrats shouldn't have to 'police Republicans' as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faces calls from her party to punish Lauren Boebert for her suicide bomber comments aimed at Ilhan Omar. 'She is a member of the Republican conference, so it's not the Democratic party's responsibility to police Republicans,' Clyburn told Axios on HBO in an interview that aired Sunday. 'We've got a hard enough job with our own,' Clyburn continued. The South Carolina Democrat added: 'The problem is there's no leadership on the Republican side and that's why these people are running willy-nilly, because there's nobody providing them leadership.' Boebert if facing backlash and calls for removal from her committees after making a suicide bomber joke about Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar (pictured at a press conference on November 30) House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Democrats shouldn't have to 'police Republicans' Boebert, a Colorado pro-Trump Republican, currently sits on the Committee on Natural Resources where she is on the Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States and Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife; and is a member on the Committee on the Budget. She is facing calls to be removed from those committees after the Republican Party refused to take action against Boebert after she made Islamaphobic remarks aimed at Representative Omar of Minnesota. When asked about potential action against Boebert during a press conference last week Pelosi said: 'When I'm ready to announce that, I'll let you know.' 'It's just an intensification of their neglect of honoring Rule 23, that says we all have a responsibility to honor the House of Representatives, serve in a way that brings honor to the House,' Pelosi said when she was pushed on how Boebert's situation is different rom Representatives Paul Gosar and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who were immediately punished for incendiary comments. 'It's their responsibility to deal with their people,' Pelosi said of the Republican Party refusing to take formal steps to condemn or punish members of the GOP. 'How we deal with the fear that they have instilled in the Islam - with their Islamophobia and the rest is something that hopefully we can do in a bipartisan way,' she added. 'But the responsibility is on them.' McCarthy made clear shortly after the comments emerged that he would not take action against Boebert because she apologized to Omar. He also pointed out hypocrisy in the Democratic Party pointing out Omar's previous anti-Semitic comments. Many advocates have condemned Pelosi for her failure to reprimand Omar for her anti-Semitic remarks and called for her to removed the lawmaker from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Over the summer, Omar came under fire for a controversial tweet stating: 'We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the US, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.' She later tried to clarify that she did not mean to equate Israel and the U.S. with terrorist organizations. She has also made other incendiary remarks about Jewish people and Israel since becoming a congresswoman. In May, Omar accused Israel of committing 'war crimes' in the conflict with Hamas, which was operating in Palestinian territory of Gaza. She also used a stereotype about Jewish people being greedy when she tweeted in 2019, 'It's all about the Benjamins baby' when talking about sending U.S. funding to Israel. Boebert said in video released of comments this fall: '[I]n that elevator, we were joined by Ilhan Omar... I do have to say she doesn't have a backpack, she wasn't dropping it and running so we're good' A group of three dozen House progressive lawmakers, led by Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley, introduced legislation last week to strip Boebert of her assignments. They hope the action will force Democratic leadership to punish Boebert before the end of the year. Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, a member of the so-called progressive 'squad' with Omar, shed tears on Wednesday during a press conference on Democrats' resolution. Tlaib and Omar, both elected in 2018, are the first and so far only Muslim women to serve in the U.S. Congress. The Michigan lawmaker was one of several Democrats who appeared last week to publicly denounce Boebert and the Republican party, telling the absent congresswoman: 'You know exactly what you were doing and you have to be held accountable.' 'I'm not only a colleague up here, but I'm also a fellow Muslim,' Tlaib starts to say before her voice begins to crack. 'You know I get emotional but let me tell you, all of you - your solidarity means so much.' Soon after, tears could be seen running down the congresswoman's face as she accused Boebert of knowingly calling for 'violence' when the Republican joked at an event that Omar was a suicide bomber. 'When she said that, she was evoking violence on Muslims all across our country - and so it's important to know - of course, Ilhan Omar, when I check up on her, she's like 'Sis, I survived war, I can survive this.' She says that so that I can stop crying,' Tlaib said. Representative Rashida Tlaib was visibly emotional when it was her time to speak at aa press conference calling for punishment against Boebert The Squad member was referencing Omar's childhood fleeing Somalia during the country's brutal civil war, taking shelter as a refugee in Kenya with her family for four years before moving to the United States. Tlaib was apparently referencing Republicans like Boebert when she said, 'They have Muslims in their communities - I know they do. They call me to say, 'How can I talk to them?'' 'It is hard being Muslim in our country right now, and this makes it worse,' she said. 'This is a national platform that we cannot allow her to use to evoke not only - this is not only hate ... it's not just hate speech, which is God awful, but it's also hate speech that's evoking violence and danger towards a whole people in our country.' She continued to address Boebert directly, though she wasn't in the room: 'You called a colleague a suicide bomber. You called her a terrorist. By saying that, you said it about all Muslims in our country and you know it.' Representative Jimmy Gomez of California, who also spoke at the press conference last week, recounted his own unpleasant experience when denouncing Republican lawmakers' conduct as a whole. Gomez claimed he was on his way to vote for Biden's Build Back Better bill when a GOP colleague joined him in the Capitol elevator. 'You people are effing ruining this country,' Gomez, who is the son of immigrants, said he was told. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who was the subject of a violent video posted on Twitter by Arizona GOP Rep. Paul Gosar, accused Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of fostering an environment where such things can happen. 'I would argue at this point, the pattern is now established that Leader McCarthy encourages and is accepting of this targeting - particularly of women of color - in the United States Congress,' Ocasio-Cortez said. 'The people inflicting this type of violence and aggression don't have to live with the consequences of it. they don't have to ride around in a 20,000lb armored truck and need six people to go to them - to go with them just so they can go to the grocery store.' Gosar was stripped of his committee assignments in November over the video he posted. All but two Republicans voted to defend him. 'Representative Boebert, whatever her intentions may be for her racism and flagrant bigotry, needs to experience a consequence for her actions,' Ocasio-Cortez said. Mounting pressure has ensued for Boebert to face punishment after a video clip surfaced from an event in September where the Colorado Republican made a suicide bomber about Omar, who is a hijab-wearing Muslim woman. 'For a Member of Congress to repeatedly use hateful, anti-Muslim rhetoric and Islamophobic tropes towards a Muslim colleague is dangerous. It has no place in our society and it diminishes the honor of the institution we serve in,' Pressley said in a statement about her bill that would stop Boebert of her committees. House Democrats, led by Representative Ayanna Pressley (left) released a resolution last week to strip Boebert of her committee assignments after the GOP refused to punish her. The bill is is co-sponsored by three dozen Democrats including fellow squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (right) 'Without meaningful accountability for that Member's actions, we risk normalizing this behavior and endangering the lives of our Muslim colleagues, Muslim staffers and every Muslim who calls America home. The House must unequivocally condemn this incendiary rhetoric and immediately pass this resolution. How we respond in moments like these will have lasting impacts, and history will remember us for it,' Pressley added. Omar told CNN on Sunday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised 'decisive action' against Boebert soon, and said she trusts that will happen. 'I have had a conversation with the speaker, and I'm very confident that she will take decisive action next week,' the Minnesota progressive lawmaker said. 'When I first got to Congress, I was worried that I wasn't going to be allowed to be sworn in because there was a ban on the hijab,' Omar added. 'She promised me that she would take care of it. She fulfilled that promise.' Omar said earlier this month she trusts Pelosi to take 'decisive action' soon against Boebert 'She's made another promise to me that she will take care of this. And I believe her.' There are three dozen Democratic lawmakers co-sponsoring the bill with Pressley, including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman of New York; Rashida Tlaib of Michigan; Cori Bush of Missouri; Pramila Jayapal of Washington; Andre Carson of Indiana; and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas. It's unclear, however, whether Pelosi will be persuaded to take action once the resolution is introduced as leadership is not required to immediately consider it on the floor. 'Let me be very clear,' McCarthy said at a press conference earlier in December. 'This party is for anyone and everyone who craves freedom and supports religious liberty. Lauren Boebert, as I called her, when it came forward we talked, she apologized publicly, she apologized personally.' Omar called out McCarthy for refusing to condemn Boebert's comments. 'McCarthy's a liar and a coward,' Omar said in an interview earlier in December. 'He doesn't have the ability to condemn the kind of bigoted, Islamaphobia and anti-Muslim rhetoric that are being trafficked by a member of his conference.' 'Why doesn't he have the ability to do that?' CNN State of the Union host Jake Tapper asked her. 'Because this is who they are,' she responded. 'And we have to be able to stand up to them, and we have to push them to reckon with the fact that their party, right now, is normalizing anti-Muslim bigotry.' Advertisement South Africa's daily Covid cases rose by just 10 per cent in a week today while hospitalisations fell for the first time since Omicron mutant strain first took off. Data from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases showed 24,785 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, up 11 per cent on last Thursday. It is the second smallest week-on-week rise since South African doctors raised the alarm about the variant on November 24. Cases rose by just 5 per cent in a week this past Saturday. The NICD data shows there were 347 admissions today, down almost a quarter from 507 a week ago. It marks the first time since November 27 that admissions have declined. Just 36 Covid deaths were registered today compared to 22 last Thursday. Scientists have cautioned against reading into one day of data but there are increasing signs that South Africa's Omicron crisis may not be growing exponentially anymore, and may have peaked. In another promising sign, infections fell in ground zero Gauteng province by 42 per cent in a week, with 6,744 positive tests. Today is a public holiday in South Africa, which may have played a role in the relatively low infection and hospital numbers. But there were still 80,000 tests processed today, down only slightly on yesterday. South African scientists have been saying for weeks that the super-mutant variant is milder than its rivals, and calling on other nations including Britain not to over-react to the strain. But Professor Chris Whitty warned against comparisons between the two countries last night, saying that it was difficult to use South Africa as a barometer for the UK's outbreak because it has many more young people. Daily Covid cases in South Africa have risen 10 per cent in a week today. But the country is currently enjoying a public holiday, which likely skewed the figures Hospitalisations in the country fell 23.4 per cent in a week today after another 374 people were admitted. But this could also be down to the holiday, with fewer people available to process data The NICD data shows the seven-day average for daily infections is also now pointing downwards in Gauteng, in a sign its outbreak may have peaked. The province also home to the country's largest city Gauteng is now recording an average of 9,235 daily infections a day, dipping from 9,645 a week ago. Study claims ultra-infectious variant replicates in airways 70 TIMES quicker than Delta The Omicron variant multiplies 70 times faster than Delta in the airways, according to a study. Hong Kong University researchers also found the new variant replicates 10 times slower in the lungs than predecessors. The finding may explain why the mutant virus is spreading at a ferocious pace, and also lends weight to the theory it is milder than the past variants, something which doctors in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. The researchers exposed lung tissue in a laboratory to the original Covid strain that was identified in Wuhan last year, along with the two variants, to compare how the viruses behave after infection. Omicron replicated faster in the bronchus tubes connecting the windpipe and lungs suggesting people with the strain may be more infectious. Higher viral loads nearer the throat means people are more likely to breathe out viral particles. Delta was found to duplicate much quicker in the lungs, where more of the virus can lead to the most severe illness. The finding may be the biological clue behind why doctors insist people infected with the strain only suffer cold-like symptoms. Advertisement There are also signs that the surge in cases in neighbouring Limpopo province is slowing. Today, they were up 52 per cent in a week to an average of 872 a day. But this time last week they were rising by more than 250 per cent every 24 hours. South Africa does not publish an up-to-date breakdown of swabs carried out by region, making it impossible to establish whether the fall in cases is down to less testing. But cases have been slowing for several days now in a sign that the fall is likely real, rather than down to the number of swabs carried out. Latest figures showed there were 80,304 swabs carried out across the country in the last 24 hours, up 6.7 per cent on the previous week. But the positivity rate the proportion of swabs that detect the virus dipped slightly to 30.9 per cent. The figures could have been skewed by a public holiday in South Africa called the Day of Reconciliation. On this day South Africans are encouraged to take the day off to foster national unity. There are no messages on the Government's official accounts warning people not to mix today. President Cyril Ramaphosa also made a statement where he mentioned the pandemic, but did not advise people to stay home this year because of the spread of the Omicron variant. Public holidays in the UK tend to see a drop in daily cases, hospitalisations and deaths because fewer people are available to process data on positive swabs and admissions. England's chief medical officer yesterday downplayed reports from South Africa that Omicron triggers more mild disease, saying that lower hospitalisation rates were to be expected because more people have immunity against the virus now than when Delta took off. He told the nation: '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 over-interpreted. '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.' Experts have told MailOnline that while the drop in Covid cases is encouraging because it shows Omicron is no longer spreading exponentially there, it was still within the margin of error. Omicron first exploded in South Africa in late November, sending cases spiralling in Gauteng before they also surged upwards in other nations. But the nation's Government did not impose any new restrictions keeping the country on lockdown alert level one which requires face masks to be worn in most public places. There is also a curfew in place from midnight to 4am, and mass gatherings are limited to 750 people indoors and 2,000 outdoors. It did, however, ramp up its vaccination campaign. Some 25 per cent of South Africans are double-jabbed, according to Our World in Data, but it is thought many more have immunity against the virus from previous infection. 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. Professor Dingwall 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.' A mother-of-four is facing charges of neglect and DUI after allegedly leaving her children home alone while she went to work and drank at a bar. Police were called Perla Aguilar's house in southwest Oklahoma just after 1.30am on Sunday to check on her four young children - aged five, eight, nine and nine-months-old - who were allegedly left home alone. The eldest child, nine, told officers she was left to care for her siblings and claimed Aguilar, 27, was at a bar and leaves them at home 'all the time', according to News9. The girl left in charge reportedly tried to feed her nine-month-old sibling pizza and told officers that she did not know what she should feed the baby. Perla Aguilar (pictured), 27, is facing charges of child neglect and driving with a suspended or revoked license after allegedly leaving her four young children at home alone Police were called Aguilar's house in Oklahoma after 1.30am Sunday to check on her children, aged five, eight, nine and nine-months-old. Pictured: Oklahoma County Detention Center, where Aguilar is being held Master Sergant Gary Knight, Oklahoma City Police Department, told the TV station: 'The 9-year-old was somewhat overwhelmed, unable to take care of the others.' According to police, Aguilar then arrived home and told officers she had been drinking alcohol at the bar where she works and that it was normal for her to drink while working. Police claimed she was intoxicated and was 'slurring' her speech when she arrived at the house, where she allegedly told officers that she does this 'all the time'. Police arrested Aguilar on complaints on DUI and child neglect and she was taken to Oklahoma County Detention Center at around 4.30am on Sunday. Aguilar is facing charges of child neglect and driving with a suspended or revoked license, according to jail records. She has not yet been formally charged by the Oklahoma County district attorney, according to local media reports. The children have been placed in the care of another family member, who drove from Texas to collect them. Advertisement Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie have today revealed the name and first picture of their new born baby. Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, who is one week old today, is the couple's second baby together and at least the Prime Minister's seventh child. By choosing Romy as a nod to Carrie's aunt Rosemary, the couple followed in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by using a relative's nickname rather than the person's actual moniker - like the Sussexes did by opting for the Queen's pet name Lilibet, rather than Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Iris is from Greek word for rainbow - a nod to the fact the new born is a 'rainbow baby' - a child born after miscarriage or stillbirth. Her second middle name is a tribute to the Prime Minister's mother Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who passed away earlier this year. Romy was pictured in a Natural Knitted Moses Basket from ethical brand Little Green Sheep alongside the Downing Street Christmas tree, with her big brother Wilf peering over the side. Rosemary Suarez, 75, who lives in Italy, is believed to be the sister of Carrie's mother, Josephine McAfee - a former lawyer who formed a bubble with Carrie and Boris to help look after Wilf when he was a newborn. The image shows the baby's full face, whereas Carrie, 33, and Boris, 57, obscured most of Wilf's with a blanket in his first photo, and only share pictures of the toddler from behind. Carrie said in an Instagram post today: 'Welcome to the world darling Romy. Born on December 9 at 9.02am. 'Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson. Romy after my aunt, Rosemary. Iris from the Greek, meaning rainbow. Charlotte after Boris' late mum who we miss so much.' She added: 'Wilf has been stroking Romy's hair, giving big kisses and playing with his matchbox cars right next to her crib, just in case she feels like joining too.' Carrie also paid tribute to NHS staff who helped deliver Romy, describing the maternity unit at University College Hospital as 'amazing', adding: 'We are so, so grateful'. The picture of baby Romy, in a cot beside a Christmas tree with their eldest Wilf looking over, was posted on Carrie's Instagram page earlier today. The image shows the baby's full face, the couple have only shared pictures of Wilf from behind. The image differs from the first of baby Wilf (shown above) - a candid shot of Carrie holding the little one, in which most of his face was obscured by a blanket Mrs Suarez, previously said she was 'thrilled' for Carrie, following the news of her engagement to the Prime Minster in 2020. She added the pair are close. It comes as the Prime Minister revealed the name Romy to NHS staff during a vaccination centre tour earlier today. Speaking in Kent, the Prime Minister was asked if he and Carrie had chosen a name for their little girl. He replied: 'She's going to be called Romy'. Mr and Mrs Johnson announced the birth of a 'healthy baby girl' at a London hospital on 9th December. The ethical Moses basket used by baby Wilf and Romy First image of new born baby Romy shows her in a Moses basket by a Christmas tree with her big brother Wilf. The basket is believed to be from The Little Green Sheep''s natural linen range which costs 122.90. It is the same Moses basket the couple used last year after welcoming baby Wilf. Advertisement The Prime Minister said to have been present during the birth. The pair and their new born baby daughter returned to Downing Street earlier this week following the birth. A spokeswoman for the couple said: 'Both mother and daughter are doing very well. 'The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support.' The couple announced they were expecting their second child together at the end of July, as the environmental campaigner spoke of having a miscarriage earlier in the year. In August, Carrie was praised for revealing a miscarriage in her announcement that she is expecting another baby. The Prime Minister's wife said she decided to be open about the tragedy she suffered because she 'found it a real comfort to hear from people who had also experienced loss'. Announcing the news in a post on Instagram at the weekend, she added: 'I hope that in some very small way sharing this might help others too.' The former Tory PR chief said she and husband Boris were 'hoping for our rainbow baby this Christmas'. A rainbow baby is the term given to a child born to a family that previously lost another to miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. Carrie and Mr Johnson, 57, pictured on their wedding day in the Garden of 10 Downing Street, had their first child, Wilfred, in April last year. Romy is believed to be the Prime Minister's seventh child Who was Charlotte Johnson Wahl? Boris Johnson's late mother and the namesake of Prime Minster's new daughter was a famed painter who passed away in September Boris Johnson has named his new child after his later mother, Charlotte Johnson Wahl. Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, who is one week old today, is the Prime Minister's second with wife Carrie and at least his seventh child in total. Her middle name is a tribute to his mother, painter Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who passed away aged 79 in September. Charlotte died 'suddenly and peacefully' at St Marys Hospital in Paddington, London last month. Her death was recorded in a notice placed by the family in the Times. Despite raising two sons who became Conservative politicians, along with journalist Rachel and entrepreneur Leo, Mrs Johnson Wahl said she herself had grown up around 'rich socialists'. And in a candid 2015 interview with the Radio Times, she admitted that she had 'never voted Tory'. She is pictured with Boris and Rachel Boris Johnson is said to have called his mother, a professional artist who painted stars such as Joanna Lumley, the 'supreme authority' in his family. The Prime Minister also previously credited her with instilling in him 'the equal value of every human life'. But, despite raising two sons who became Conservative politicians, along with journalist Rachel and entrepreneur Leo, Mrs Johnson Wahl said she herself had grown up around 'rich socialists'. And in a candid 2015 interview with the Radio Times, she admitted that she had 'never voted Tory'. Mrs Johnson Wahl had an unhappy marriage to Boris' father Stanley, who was accused of breaking her nose in the 1970s. Born Charlotte Fawcett in Oxford in 1942, Mrs Johnson-Wahl was the daughter of the barrister Sir James Fawcett - who was president of the European Commission for Human Rights in the 1970s. One of five children, she studied English at Oxford University. But she interrupted her education to travel to America with Stanley Johnson, whom she met at Oxford and married in 1963. Charlotte Johnson Wahl who died last month aged 79. Lara Johnson-Wheeler is pictured with Charlotte Johnson Wahl and Boris Johnson in 2014 in London Speaking about meeting Stanley, she told Tatler magazine in 2015: 'I was engaged to somebody called Wynford Hicks, who was extraordinarily beautiful to look at but actually quite boring. 'Anyway, [after the dinner] Stanley sent me a note asking if he could come to tea and go for a walk. 'So a few days later we went for a walk and he suddenly said, Love is sweet. Revenge is sweeter far. To the Piazza. Ah ha ha har!", which made me laugh so much I fell in love with him.' She returned to complete her degree as the first married female undergraduate at her college, Lady Margaret Hall. Advertisement The couple have previously only shared pictures of their son Wilf from behind - but the new image shows Romy's face. Carrie is pictured with Wilf and Jill Biden in June The birth came after the Prime Minister announced he would be plunging England into so-called 'Plan B' restrictions including vaccine passes, compulsory facemasks and orders to work from home in a bid to combat the spread of the Omicron variant. The meanings behind Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson's names Romy According to an Instagram post by Carrie Johnson, Romy is after her aunt Rosemary. The name itself is a girl's name of German origin. German-French actress actress Romy Schneider, who was prominent in the 1950s, is perhaps the most famous person to have been called Romy. US news presenter Matt Lauer also has a daugther called Romy, while director Sofia Coppola also has a daugher named Romy Mars. Iris According to Carrie, Iris is from the Greek word Rainbow. Famous namesakes include Welsh singer Iris Williams and novelist Iris Wedgwood. Charlotte Charlotte is a nod to Boris Johnson's mother Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who died in September. She was a professional portrait painter who painted the likes of Joanna Lumley and Jilly Cooper. Advertisement As well as facing Tory anger over the latest curbs, Mr Johnson is also under fire over a series of scandals including alleged rule-breaking Christmas parties in Number 10 last year. Downing Street said Mr Johnson intended to spend some time with his family in the coming days although he is unlikely to take an extended period of paternity leave. The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'I think there's a recognition the Prime Minister has a unique role and this is a particularly challenging time for the country, and the Prime Minister will continue to lead, as the public would expect, while making time for his family.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sent his congratulations to the couple on the arrival of their baby saying: 'Wishing your family health and happiness.' It comes as Boris Johnson today denied imposing a 'lockdown by stealth' as Professor Chris Whitty faced a Tory backlash after telling the nation to restrict socialising in the run up to Christmas. The Prime Minister said this morning that 'we have got to be very cautious' due to the spread of the Omicron variant but he insisted 'we don't want to make your choices for you about your social life, we are not closing things'. Prof Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer, sparked Tory fury last night when he used a Downing Street press conference to urge people to limit and prioritise their social contacts in the coming days. Conservative MP Joy Morrissey tweeted: 'Perhaps the unelected covid public health spokesperson should defer to what our ELECTED Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister have decided. I know it's difficult to remember but that's how democracy works. This is not a public health socialist state.' Ms Morrissey, who is a Government parliamentary private secretary, the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder, subsequently deleted the tweet as she faced a wave of criticism. Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting called her comments 'outrageous' and demanded that she apologise while Tory former cabinet minister Julian Smith said 'personal attacks by any politician' on members of the civil service are 'completely unacceptable'. Prof Whitty said this morning that he did not want to dictate what people can and cannot do, but told MPs: 'This is about saying to people, look, this is a period to prioritise. And also to be clear, (this) was a message the Prime Minister also said last night.' It comes as the Prime Minister earlier today revealed the name Romy to NHS staff during a vaccination centre tour (pictured) Pictured, Carrie entering University College Hospital in London on Thursday, December 9 A spokeswoman for the couple said: 'Both mother and daughter are doing very well. The couple would like to thank the brilliant NHS maternity team for all their care and support'. Pictured on holiday in Scotland last year Who are Boris Johnson's seven children? Lara Lettice Johnson-Wheeler Boris Johnson's eldest child. Aged 28. She is the daughter of barrister Marina Wheeler. She is a writer, editor and broadcaster. Milo Arthur Boris's second child with Ms Wheeler. He is 26 and was educated at the 27,174 a year Westminster School. He previously had an internship at men's magazine Esquire Middle East, based in Dubai. Cassia Peaches The Prime Minister's third child with Ms Wheeler. She is 24 and studied at the 18,000 per year Highgate School in North London. She is a writer and was the student editor of her school's alumni magazine Cholmeleian. Theodore Apollo The youngest of Johnson's children with ex-wife Ms Wheeler. He attended Cambridge University - whereas his dad went to their rival Oxford. It was reported last year that he wrote a play about Brexit. Stephanie Stephanie is the third youngest of Johnson's children and was born in 2009. Her mother is Helen Macintyre, with whom Mr Johnson is accused of having an affair. Mr Johnson denied paternity and wasn't named on the birth certificate. However, his relations were revealed after a 2013 court battle in which he sought an injunction to prevent her existence being reported. Wilfred Johnson His youngest with partner Carrie Johnson, whom he engaged in late 2019. In the same year Ms Symonds announced she was expecting baby Wilf, who was born on 29 April 2020 at University College London. Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson His youngest child and his second with Ms Symonds. She was born at University College London on December 9 and is named after Ms Symond's aunt Rosemary. Her middle name Charlotte is a tribute to Boris Johnson's mother Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who died in September. Advertisement Prof Whitty made the comment to the Health and Social Care Select Committee as he also warned pandemic disruption is likely to continue for another 18 months until vaccines and antiviral drugs are capable of doing 'almost all of the heavy lifting' when it comes to tackling Covid variants. He also said he believes the Omicron peak of infections could fall faster than in previous waves. He said the 'upswing' for Omicron will be 'incredibly fast' and the peak will therefore be 'really quite fast' before infections 'may then come down faster than previous peaks'. Millions of Britons are now expected to be adjusting their festive plans in an attempt to ensure they can see their family on Christmas Day. Mr Johnson last night stopped short of telling people to cancel their plans but called for caution while Prof Whitty went further as he said people should restrict socialising. The comments triggered a 'tsunami of cancellations' for pubs and restaurants as many people are now voluntarily staying at home in a bid to avoid catching coronavirus. Anyone who tests positive from yesterday will have to isolate for 10 days, forcing them to miss festivities. The hospitality industry has accused Mr Johnson of imposing a 'lockdown by stealth' and is demanding the Government urgently bring forward fresh financial support to help the sector survive. Health Minister Gillian Keegan today said the Government is 'not intending to make any more restrictions' between now and Christmas Day. But she said Mr Johnson 'won't hesitate' to recall Parliament over the festive period if he believes he does need to bring in extra curbs amid growing fears that a Plan C could be rolled out immediately after Christmas. MPs voted in favour of Mr Johnson's Plan B measures of compulsory face masks and Covid passes for nightclubs and large venues on Tuesday evening but the PM suffered a huge Tory rebellion. Candles have lit up the streets of a tight-knit Tasmanian town as the community mourns the tragic deaths of five children from a freak jumping castle accident at a primary school end-of-year celebration. Three are still fighting for life after a wind gust blew a jumping castle 10 metres into the air at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in the state's north-west, at about 10am on Thursday. Bouquets of flowers and teddy bears have also been laid at the base of the school's entrance sign on Lawrence Drive as the community honours the victims. The mound of tributes at the scene is just one of a number of moving acts the heartbroken Devonport community has displayed since the tragedy unfolded as it grieves alongside the families. As news of the catastrophe spread, members of the coastal town, home to around 26,000, quickly rallied together to show their support to the families affected. A graphic designer created an image showing a map of Tasmania split in two with a red broken heart superimposed over the crack in the middle of the island. Flowers and teddy bears have started to pile up around the school's sign as the community pays tribute to the victims Zane has been identified as one of the victims in the Devonport jumping castle tragedy Addison Stewart (pictured) was also one of the five students who was tragically killed when the jumping castle lifted 10 metres in the air By midnight Thursday, the symbol went viral as hundreds of people made it their profile picture, some sharing a post advising others to follow the trend. 'I'm sharing this in honour of the poor kids who lost their lives or were injured today,' the post reads. 'In support of all the families who are grieving, for the families of the children still fighting and for the children themselves. For the teachers and emergency service workers who have been impacted. My heart goes out to you all. 'This image was created by someone who has given permission for it to be used. So let's all share it and show our support.' Another woman organised a vigil, urging others to leave candles alight out the front of their homes in memory of the young victims and their families. 'We as a family will be lighting a candle tonight and placing it in our driveway/footpath in respect to the angels that have flown away today,' her post read. 'We welcome anyone to join us in lighting a candle in respect to everyone involved in the tragedy that has unfolded today.' Bouquets of flowers have been laid at the base of the fence as the community mourns the tragedy Devonport locals have left lit candles out the front of their homes as a show of respect for the victims, their families, and first responders A woman initiated the candle light vigil, which has morphed into a 'Lights On' for Hillcrest event to take place again on Friday Members of the community flocked online to share photos of their candle displays in honour of the victims Her idea was picked up and spread throughout the community, with locals flocking online to share photos of wax shrines set up by their kerbs. Others have now vowed to keep the observance going for another night, planning an official 'Lights On' for Hillcrest Primary to be held on Friday. 'All we ask is tomorrow night to show your support is to turn your front porch light on. If you don't have one, light a candle,' a post reads. 'In our little world Tasmania, and even Australia as a whole, we are mourning the loss of todays terrible tragedy that occurred at Hillcrest Primary School today. 'As parents and humans, we are brought together with pure heartfelt hugs, tears and the deepest of sympathy, to the sweet young children who were tragically taken. 'To the parents, families, friends, the school children, witnesses, emergency personnel and to anyone this will affect forever in a day, we truly are so sorry for your losses.' Tributes have begun pouring in online for the first of the victims to be identified, Addison Stewart and Zane. The pair were due to start high school next year and were celebrating their last day of Year 6 when their lives were tragically cut short. A design depicting a broken heart overlaid onto a map of Tasmania has gone viral, with hundreds of members from the local community making it their profile picture The beloved students have been remembered by loved ones as a 'beautiful, caring boy' and a 'precious' girl with a 'sweet, kind, old soul'. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Zane's grieving family financially through this devastating time. 'Zane was such a beautiful caring, gentle soul who had challenges growing up with his autism and ADHD but that never set him back he kept achieving,' the fundraiser reads. 'This has shook so many people and the community and we want to do anything to help make things a little easier for [his mum] at this hard time.' Addison's aunt has also launched a GoFundMe to help her parents as they 'navigate life without their precious daughter'. 'My niece was tragically taken in the accident at Hillcrest Primary,' she wrote. 'I'm hoping to raise some money for my brother and sister in-law to help pay for funeral costs and to pay off some bills for them while they try and navigate life without their precious daughter. 'I don't even know what to write at this stage. Everyone is devastated , she was always such a sweet kind, old soul. 'We all love you Paddi Melon.' Harrowing accounts came from eyewitnesses at the scene, who described seeing distraught parents broken down in the gutter, sobbing. Distraught police officers were seen consoling each other at the scene of the tragedy, while desperate parents were seen at the gates trying to find out if their children were dead or alive. Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after five children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School where five children died in a jumping castle incident The victims, which include another boy and girl, were Year 6 students. Four others are in hospital - three of them in a critical condition and one is described as having 'serious' injuries. 'On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss,' Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said on Thursday afternoon. 'Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.' Detectives are investigating how many children were on the jumping castle when the tragedy unfolded. 'It's an emotional day for everyone who is tragically impacted by today,' Commissioner Hine said. 'I've already seen pictures of police officers quite upset, as you'd expect. Any emergency services and teachers, everyone is affected in some way.' The jumping castle was blown into the air by a freak gust of wind, killing five kids and leaving several injured (paramedics are pictured at the scene) A local man, who wished to only be known as Connor, told Daily Mail Australia his colleague lives across the road from the primary school and ran over when she heard sirens. 'She first thought there was a shooting,' he said. 'She said the scene as horrific and confronting, with children everywhere on the ground. '[But] what got her the most was the parents sitting in the gutters, on the side of the road head in hands, crying.' Connor added: 'The community is just devastated.' A schoolboy who watched the horrific scene unfold revealed he was almost involved in the tragedy. 'It was our turn next,' he told The Mercury. 'Grade five and six went first.' Bob Smith, who lives near the school, said he saw kids on the ground. Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured) 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,' he said. 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein passed on his thoughts to the community. 'My thoughts are obviously with the parents of the children that have been injured and with the emergency services,' he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as 'unthinkably heartbreaking'. 'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,' he said while on a visit on the NSW Central Coast. 'It just breaks your heart.' Awful scene at Tasmanias Hillcrest Primary School. Multiple students seriously injured after a jumping castle flipped in a gust of wind @abcnews pic.twitter.com/OTsRUzmDym Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021 The inflatable castle was part of a celebration to mark the last day of school, which also included zorb balls, a slippery slide and a wet play zone. 'A wind event caused a jumping castle to lift into the air,' police said in a statement. 'Several children fell from a height of about 10 metres about 10am.' A teenager has died after and a child is injured after a jet ski collided with them on the River Murray at Murbko, northeast of Adelaide. Emergency services were called to the location about 2:20pm Thursday. A 14-year-old Roxby Downs boy was pulled from the water unconscious but sadly died at the scene. A teenager has died after and a child is injured after a jet ski collided with them on the River Murray at Murbko, northeast of Adelaide (stock) Emergency services arrived to the scene around 2:20pm on Thursday where the 14-year-old boy died at the scene A younger child suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution. The rider of the jet ski, a 43-year-old Hindmarsh Island man, is speaking with police. Anyone who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. Two women have been arrested north of Brisbane after one of them allegedly paid the other to receive a COVID-19 vaccination on her behalf. The women, aged 20 and 28, have each been charged by Queensland Police's specialist COVID-19 response team Taskforce Sierra Linnet with one count each of attempted fraud and fraud. Two women have been arrested north of Brisbane after one of them allegedly paid the other to receive a Covid-19 vaccination on her behalf (stock) Police allege the 28-year-old North Lakes woman paid cash for the 20 year old to receive the jab on her behalf at Kippa-Ring on December 10. The duo will appear in a Redcliffe court on January 4. Advertisement During the both the First and Second World Wars, one of the only things that kept soldiers sane were the letters they received from loved ones back home. But the logistical operation required to shift hundreds of thousands of letters from places of danger back to countries such as the UK and US was enormous and costly. Now, historian Dr Mark Felton has shed light on how British experts pioneered a revolutionary system in 1941 that transformed the sending and receiving of letters. The 'Airgraph' process which was adopted in the form of 'V-Mail' by the Americans in 1942 involved the sender writing a letter on a special form which was then collected and photographed. Rolls of film containing the letter images were then sent to the front before being printed out, put into envelopes and then given to soldiers - who could make use of the same system to reply to communications. V-Mail has since become better known because it was used on a far wider scale than Airgraph. Whilst it normally required 37 mail bags to hold 150,000 single-page letters that weighed 2,575lbs, by using V-Mail the same quantity could be reduced to one mail bag that only weighed 45lbs. Dr Felton said in a recent Youtube video on the subject: 'It was much faster than regular mail, as huge amounts of letters could be flown on aircraft on rolls of film, meaning communications was much more immediate and morale was concomitantly increased.' The Airgraph system was first introduced in April 1941 after it was developed by British Imperial Airways which became today's British Airways in the 1930s, working with photography firm Kodak and US airline Pan Am. Above: An Airgraph letter The revolutionary system transformed the sending and receiving of letters to soldiers in the Second World War. The 'Airgraph' process involved the sender writing a letter on a special form which was then collected and photographed. Rolls of film containing the letter images were then sent to the front before being printed out, put into envelopes and then given to soldiers. Pictured: Workers are seen tending to printed letters (left) and one of the cameras used to photograph them (right) The Airgraph system was first introduced in April 1941 after it was developed by British Imperial Airways which became today's British Airways in the 1930s, working with photography firm Kodak and US airline Pan Am. The first time the system was used, 70,000 letters were sent - including one from King George V's wife Queen Elizabeth. She wrote to General Sir Claud Auchinleck, the Commander-in-Chief of Britain's forces in the Middle East. Her letter, which was dated August 1941 and bore the address of Buckingham Palace at the top, read: 'In this first message by the new Airgraph service to the Middle East, I wish to tell you, on behalf of all the women at home, how constantly all our thoughts turn to all those under your command. How did the Airgraph system work? The Airgraph system was first introduced in April 1941 after it was developed by British Imperial Airways which became today's British Airways in the 1930s, working with photography firm Kodak and US airline Pan Am. Britons who wanted to use the service needed to get a special Airgraph form at a post office. They would then write their letter on the sheet before it was photographed along with thousands of other letters. The roll of film containing the letters was then sent abroad to troops. Initially, soldiers posted in Egypt were the first to benefit from the new service. The Airgraph service was later extended to Canada, East Africa, Burma, India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon and Italy Advertisement 'I know how grievous is the separation which parts wife from husband, and mother from son, but I would assure those whose achievements have already filled us all with pride that their example is an inspiration, and I do not doubt that ever greater accomplishment lies before them'. 'Many of them come from homes in the Dominions, and to them I send a special message of greeting. Their valour has been the admiration of the world and to one and all I wish a speedy victory and a safe return to their homes and those they love. 'I am, yours sincerely, Elizabeth R.' The Daily Mail reported on the introduction of the system the first of its kind in the world - in April 1941. 'The secret of this sweeping change in the speed and cost of better transmission is the reduction of weight by photography. 'Weight is always the big problem in sending freight by air. Four thousand five hundred normal air mail letters weigh one and a half hundredweight which is why, in these times, they have to travel some of the way by sea. 'The same number of airgraph 'letters' will weigh just one pound.' They added: 'Of course, the original you or your soldier friend writes will not make the journey. It will be photographed and a tiny negative about 1in wide 1in long will travel by plane in company with thousands of similar negatives. 'On arrival this will be printed and the 'letter' received will be, in effect, a photostatic copy of the original.' They reassured readers that, due to the censorship system which meant letters were already read before they reached their destination, privacy was 'immaterial'. Britons who wanted to use the service needed to get a special Airgraph form at a post office. They would then write their letter on the sheet before it was photographed and the film flown to its destination. The Daily Mail report continued: 'The letter will be delivered in the usual way, and the original after being kept long enough to make sure of delivery will be destroyed by the Post Office authorities. Special filming equipment, along with an expert from Kodak, also had to be sent to the British troops fighting in the Middle East who were the first to take advantage of the service. This was then used so that the soldiers could reply to the letters in the same way. The Airgraph service was later extended to Canada, East Africa, Burma, India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon and Italy. Dr Felton said in his video: 'The sheer bulk of letters and parcels heading overseas to units was astounding and required an enormous logistics organisation that could have been better employed moving munitions, vehicles, supplies, men and equipment. 'Mail remained absolutely central to military life as it was all that connected the soldier at the front with loved ones and family back home. The V-Mail system which was short for 'Victory Mail' was used between 1942 and 1945. Overall, more than 1billion letters were sent in this way. Whilst the use of V-Mail was not made compulsory, it was strongly urged because it saved shipping and air space Posters such as the one above encouraged US citizens to use V-Mail to communicate with their loved ones V-Mail has since become better known because it was used on a far wider scale than Airgraph. Above: A V-Mail envelope Women from the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), who were dubbed 'Micro-Girls' are seen tending to the machine that printed the Airgraph letters Postal workers are seen stamping the Airgraph forms. The Airgraph service was later extended to Canada, East Africa, Burma, India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon and Italy ATS 'Micro-girls' are seen working on the machine that printed the letters. Britons who wanted to use the service needed to get a special Airgraph form at a post office A US Newsreel filmed during the Second World War shows the slick V-Mail process in action The rolls of print which contained individual letters were seen on a production line as a worker tended to them The rolls of film were printed at their destination before being put onto rolls of paper which were cut into individual letters Whilst V-Mail followed the same process as Airgraph, it was on a much larger scale. According to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, 2.5billion letters went through the Army Postal Service in 1945, with a further 8million going through the Navy post offices 'Morale was seriously eroded when mail supplies were interrupted due to combat actions or supply difficulties, often caused by bad weather events. 'The military constantly looked at how the great bulk of mail could be reduced in volume and weight, and how the delivery system could be simplified and most importantly speeded up.' Whilst V-Mail followed the same process as Airgraph, it was on a much larger scale. According to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, 2.5billion letters went through the Army Postal Service in 1945, with a further 8million going through the Navy post offices. Coping with this volume of post required an enormous amount of manpower and logistical muscle. The V-Mail system which was short for 'Victory Mail' was used between 1942 and 1945. The Daily Mail reported the introduction of the system the first of its kind in the world - in April 1941 Dr Felton explained in his video how mail remained 'absolutely central' to military life because it was all that connected the soldier to loved ones and family back home Overall, more than 1billion letters were sent in this way. Whilst the use of V-Mail was not made compulsory, it was strongly urged because it saved shipping and air space. The machine used to photograph the letters could film 40 per minute, with 1,600 accommodated on a single roll of film. An additional advantage was that it was far less likely that letters would get lost when sent in this way. However, there were also drawbacks. One was that only a certain number of words could be used. The photo prints were also the size of an original letter, meaning that sometimes the print was too small to read. There is a dangerous trend that poses a serious challenge to the integrity of America's election system. Yet, no one is talking about it; not the political world, not the media, not even elections experts. In fact, most of the people in these groups are strengthening this clear attack on the integrity of America's elections, rather than helping solve the problem What I'm referring to is the constant drumbeat of manufactured stolen election crises and the corrosive effect this narrative has on American's faith in their ability to choose their leaders. The idea that elections were stolen, will be stolen, or are being stolen right now, right in front of the American people, has become the talking point of the day. It is almost impossible to open a newspaper, turn on the TV, or listen to a political speech without someone claiming that there is a deep, QAnon-style effort to steal an election underway. To be clear, Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans, if not more. Raffensperger, a Republican, is Georgias secretary of state. (Above: Raffensperger announces the start of a hand recount of the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election during a briefing outside of the Georgia State Capitol building.) Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams' false stolen election campaign is as culpable as Donald Trump's. Mainstream media pundits are as responsible as dark web bloggers. Abrams still refuses to concede the 2018 Georgia governor's race to now-Governor Brian Kemp. As recently as October of this year, she told a Virginia crowd that 'just because you win doesn't mean [you've] won.' Back in March 2019, only a few months after her failed campaign, Abrams claimed she 'did win my election. I just didn't get to have the job.' In March 2020, Abrams' voter activist group Fair Fight Action released an ad putting an asterisk next to Governor Kemp's name 'to suggest [Kemp]'s 2018 victory was illegitimate.' Fresh off -- rightly -- warning the American people that the stolen election claims regarding the November 2020 elections do unprecedented damage to democracy, liberals and major media outlets repeat their own stolen election claims with reckless abandon. It seems the extreme liberals and their allies in the media have taken a page out of the stolen elections playbook, one used by Abrams, to great effect. Through constant fear-mongering, they are getting Americans used to the idea that their elections will be stolen and set the stage for Americans to reject any election result that does not declare their chosen candidate as the winner. Case in point, liberal leaders continue to challenge the 2000 presidential election and the 2016 presidential election. Democrats are also no stranger to challenging outcomes in Congress either. Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams' false stolen election campaign is as culpable as Donald Trump's. (Left) Trump speaks at a rally on the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, shortly before his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. (Right) Abrams made remarks on a federal lawsuit challenging the 'gross mismanagement' of Georgia elections A handful of Democrats in the House of Representatives attempted to challenge the results of the 2016 election but failed to get a Senator to go along with it. Democrats in Congress filed objections to Ohio's electors after the 2004 presidential election due to alleged 'serious election irregularities,' even though President George Bush won Ohio's presidential election by 118,00 votes. In 2000, the Congressional Black Caucus 'attempted to block Florida's electoral votes from being counted.' In addition, the years-long Russia collusion conspiracy theory gave credibility to the ultimately baseless idea that the Trump campaign had colluded with Russia to steal the 2016 election. Special Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice Robert Mueller found there was no evidence of collusion in March 2019. It turned out that the Steele Dossier, on which much of the Russia narrative was based, relied on unverified rumors from Democratic Party-aligned individuals and sources with clear political bias. That didn't stop major political figures from constantly challenging the elections though. In September 2019, months after the U.S. Department of Justice found no collusion, Hillary Clinton called Trump an 'illegitimate president.' So did late Rep. John Lewis in 2017. Before the Special Counsel's report came out, countless major media outlets had already spent years repeating the conspiracy theory that Trump had stolen the election. After the report, the New York Times said 'it's not our job to determine whether or not there was illegality.' CNN claimed 'we are not investigators. We are journalists.' MSNBC's Rachel Maddow was a fixture on cable news alleging repeatedly and without evidence that President Trump was compromised. There were no mea culpas. In September 2019, months after the U.S. Department of Justice found no collusion between Trump and the Kremlin, Hillary Clinton called Trump an 'illegitimate president.' (Above) Hillary Clinton made her concession speech after being defeated on November 9, 2016 These outlandish claims are not just about past elections, but future electoral contests as well. News outlets including The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, spend countless column-inches warning their readers that the next election, whether 2022 and 2024, will be stolen. All of this has an eroding effect on the confidence of the American public and the cornerstone institutions that help democracy survive. A May 2017 poll found that 65 percent of Democrats believed their own party did not accept that 'Trump won fairly and is a legitimate president.' A March 2018 YouGov poll found that 66 percent of Democrats believed 'Russia tampered with vote tallies in order to get Donald Trump elected President.' The same effect can be seen in Georgia's 2018 election where Kemp carried the state by 55,000 votes over Abrams, more than 4 times the size of Trump's loss. In the days, months, and years since the election, liberal politicians fanned the flames of Abrams' stolen election claims. Though there has been no evidence of voting machines changing votes, in 2018 or 2020, a 2017 poll found that 85 percent of Democrats thought it was likely or very likely that 'obstacles to voting or problems with voting machines affected the outcome of Georgia's 2018 gubernatorial election.' There is little hope that this will change. These outlandish claims about stolen elections are not just about past elections, but future electoral contests as well. (Above) The Atlantic's Barton Gellman wrote, 'Donald Trump may be capable of winning a fair election in 2024. He does not intend to take that chance.' Again, it seems that, in almost the same breath, major media pundits and political leaders will criticize Trump and his supporters for repeating baseless stolen election claims, then push some of their own. With the advent of Georgia's new election law, which expanded early voting days, wrote absentee ballot drop boxes into law for the first time, and put in commonsense rules so voters could get their absentee ballots early enough to actually return them, a whole new wave of stolen election claims has taken over. Abrams, Biden, and their allies in the media have compared the new law to Jim Crow, a system of segregation that ensured black people were treated separately under American law and did everything possible to disenfranchise them (as a legislator, Abrams voted for and defended a bill to cut early voting in Georgia in half). The allegedly centrist Brookings Institution called the bill an 'assault on our democracy.' Then, the Washington Post and others have claimed Georgia's election law is part of a plot to steal future elections. What happened after the bill passed? The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported 'minor glitches and short waits' during the recent November election. Fulton County, Georgia's most populous county with a decades-long history of poorly managed elections, reported 'short lines and no major technical issues.' The stolen election claims have become an unfortunate fixture in American politics. Biden compared the new Georgia election law to Jim Crow, a system of segregation that ensured black people were treated separately under American law and did everything possible to disenfranchise them. (Above) Biden condemns Republican election reforms during White House news conference in March Politicians can raise millions by claiming they didn't in fact lose their elections. But rather, the system was rigged against them. They can create or maintain a national profile, get lucrative speaking gigs, and hold sway over their parties by continuing to push baseless or disproven stolen election lies. Mainstream media outlets are clearly too conflicted to be of help either. The appeal of more clicks online and more eyeballs on the TV screen make stolen election claims too appealing for even those trying to be responsible journalists. The constant warning of an impending crisis of democracy and the chance to blame one party or the other attracts too much attention for major media outlets to not take part. This is the real threat to democracy. As the country remains trapped in a cycle of progressively more extreme apocalyptic rhetoric about the coup around the corner, more and more Americans are going to believe it. They in turn, are primed to listen to the next politician, biased talking head, or unreliable blog, that proclaims to know the truth about how the election was stolen. It shouldn't be a shock that after 4 years of major politicians, prime time journalists, and supposed election experts talking about how Russia stole the last election, Trump would be able to convince a large number of people that the system was rigged against him. The greatest challenge American democracy faces, pure and simple, is the constant stream of end-of-democracy rhetoric that is entirely divorced from reality. Aided and abetted by news cycles that reward this kind of nonsense, political doomsaying about threats to democracy are a self-fulfilling prophecy. Tell people enough times that their democracy is being stolen, they will start to believe it. Mr. Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, is Georgias secretary of state. A Las Vegas man free on bail despite several domestic abuse arrests faces murder charges after being caught on camera mowing down his estranged wife's new boyfriend as he rode his motorcycle. Michael Daniels, 32, was wearing an ankle monitor when he was captured on surveillance video ramming his pickup truck into a motorbike ridden by 24-year-old Ryian Pollare on November 7. Daniels was 'driving around town looking for the victim because the victim was the guy who had been sleeping with his estranged wife,' according to Clark County District Attorney Chris Hamner. The father of two had been arrested three times since 2018 for violent incidents against his wife, but either beat the rap after allegedly intimidating witnesses or getting sprung with little or no bail. In 2019, Daniels was arrested for an alleged 2017 burglary but was allowed to remain free with electronic monitoring. This time, he remains locked up on $2 million bail as he faces at least 23 charges in the fatal hit-and-run. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 17. Michael Daniels, 32 (pictured above), was caught on video running down and mowing over his estranged wife's new boyfriend Pollare, 24, had an affair with Daniels' estranged wife, investigators learned. His death was ruled a homicide The truck pictured and circled above is confirmed Daniels' truck, which he used to pursue Ryan Pollare, 24 The video shows Daniels running down Pollare's motorcycle (pictured left) and murdering him Daniels appears in court. The 32-year-old father of two has been arrested several times before In the video released by Las Vegas police, Pollare is seen riding his motorcycle when Daniels' pickup truck races down the street and intentionally crashes into Pollare near Washington Avenue and Michael Way. Pollare died shortly after the incident. He himself had a prior arrest record, having been charged with grand larceny for stealing a package from someone else's porch in 2019. Hamner argued that Daniels' troubling history of criminal behavior shows how he had gamed the court system to stay free. In 2018, Daniels was arrested after investigators said he tried to murder his estranged wife, her boyfriend and her dad. 'He pulls out a gun, he fires multiple times at the wife, at the boyfriend, at the dad, strikes the house, and takes off,' said Hamner at the November bail hearing in Las Vegas Justice Court. Evidence from a 2018 case against Michael Daniels, when he was accused of trying to kill his wife, her boyfriend and her dad via gunfire In addition to the shooting, Daniels has been arrested twice for trying to strangle his estranged wife Despite ample evidence showing guns and bullets used by Daniels, he frequently would intimidate and threaten potential witnesses that would prevent him from facing trial over the accusations, prosecutors said. 'This could have been prevented because that second case demonstrated how dangerous he was to the community and dangerous to the process of the justice system, because three or four cases don't actually get to go through the normal channels because he is threatening witnesses,' Hamner said. Also in 2019, Daniels was arrested for trying to strangle his wife. He was released on his own recognizance before the case was dismissed after he allegedly threatened his wife out of testifying. Last year, Daniels was arrested for another attempt to strangle his wife, this time with an electrical cord. A judge put bail at $20,000 and Daniels was free again after posting the bond. Democrats need to 'get on the defense committees' if they want to shape policy, experts have said after the party came away from negotiations empty handed while Republicans secured a $25 billion boost. Progressives were largely absent from the process of writing the final version of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, an annual must-pass piece of legislation. As a result their priorities were left out of the final bill, while conservatives landed big wins - including a five percent increase in spending despite Democrats pushing for cuts. The Senate voted 89 to 10 on Wednesday to authorize $770 billion in defense spending over the next fiscal year. Among the additions, Republicans secured safeguards for soldiers who refuse to comply with Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for the armed forces. Meanwhile a left-wing effort to ban the military from supporting the Saudi-led war against the Houthis in Yemen did not make it into the final draft. 'If progressives ever want to get serious about influencing defense, they must develop the expertise to know what to change and how to change it,' said Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He told Defense One: 'That means they need to get on the defense committees and start shaping defense policy and spending bills from the inside. Offering amendments on the floor is not an effective way to do it. Democrat top brass: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, left, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer 'Saying you want to cut 10 percent of the defense budget without having a plan for what specifically you would cut is just posturing. At this point, I think defense is just not that important to progressives one way or the other. They are spending far more time and energy on domestic issues.' Although Democrats hold a narrow majority in the House Armed Services Committee, and have just one fewer seat than the Republicans in the Senate committee - progressive presence is lacking. Except for a few heavyweight left-wingers like Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) few progressive liberals serve on these committees which hold the reins on military legislation. Despite this some Democrats were surprised that they came away with nothing. The amendment to end support for Saudi Arabia's war in the Yemen was cut out. However, a similar effort in 2019 was supported by then-vice presidential national security advisors Jake Sullivan and Colin Kahl, who are now serving the White House as national security advisor and Pentagon policy chief respectively. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) who backed the Yemen policy told Defense One: 'My amendment was stripped out in conference ... I understand why it was stripped with Trump. I don't understand why it was stripped this time.' Throughout the year progressives publicly railed against defense spending while failing to get work done behind closed doors. In August, Democrat Representatives Mark Pocan (Wisc.) and Barbara Lee (Calif.) wrote to the House Armed Services Committee slamming it for authorizing $25 billion more than Biden requested. 'At a time when America's largest national security threat is a global pandemic, our spending priorities should embrace efforts such as increased COVID vaccination efforts abroad instead of continually increased military spending,' the letter signed by 27 Democrat lawmakers said. Of those two dozen lawmakers, only Khanna - who is vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus - serves on the House Armed Services Committee. Rep. Ro Khanna (pictured at a summit in Portugal in November 2019) said progressives needed 'a more compelling message than just saying, "Cut, cut, cut," without a reorientation of a smarter defense strategy' The NDAA has become law every year for six decades and is written by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. While lawmakers who are not part of those committees can push for amendments on the House floor, it is much more difficult for them to secure policy changes. The committees are able to limit the number of amendments and shape the broad outlines of the legislation. Khanna told Defense One that progressives needed 'a more compelling message than just saying, "Cut, cut, cut," without a reorientation of a smarter defense strategy.' Biden is expected to sign the bill, but the White House did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. 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. Advertisement Andy Corren knew that getting his large family and his mother's 'approximately 7,000' friends together for her funeral was out of the question. Instead, the talent manager and writer, 52, from Upstate New York decided to publish an honest obituary for anyone to read to honor his late mother's 'bawdy, rowdy life lived large, broke and loud.' Renay Mandel Corren, 84, succumbed to a series of health complications she had battled for nearly two decades and died in El Paso, Texas, on December 11. She is survived by her five sons - Andy, Michael, Jeffery, Scott and Marc - and their loving families. Andy's heartfelt and hilarious remembrance of his 'plus-sized Jewish redneck Tough Gal' mother 'who never cooked and was terrible with money' has since gone viral. 'I had a mother who perfected the art of turning her pain into art and her art was her life, and for better or for worse, however you view her... that is a powerful lesson for everybody,' he told DailyMail.com. Renay was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, 'where she first fell in love with ham, and atheism,' her son wrote in her obituary, which was posted online on Wednesday. She 'then went on to become the bawdy, fertile, redheaded matriarch of a sprawling Jewish-Mexican-Redneck American family,' Andy told DailyMail.com on Thursday. 'Here's what Renay was great at: dyeing her red roots, weekly manicures, dirty jokes, pier fishing, rolling joints and buying dirty magazines,' her obituary reads. Renay Mandel Corren's obituary has gone viral after one of her sons, Andy Corren, published an honest and hilarious tribute to his 'plus-sized Jewish redneck Tough Gal' single mom. Pictured: Renay, left, with her son Andy and her grand-dog Hudson Renay is lovingly remembered for her talents, including 'dyeing her red roots, weekly manicures, dirty jokes, pier fishing, rolling joints and buying dirty magazines,' as well as her lack of cooking and money management skills, Andy writes 'I had a mother who perfected the art of turning her pain into art and her art was her life, and for better or for worse, however you view her... that is a powerful lesson for everybody,' Andy Corren told DailyMail.com The grieving son said he took a note from his mother and turned his pain into a comical but touching viral moment. 'Life is not so overwhelming or so bitter or impossible that you can not take the reins and turn it into a story. I hope the world celebrates people like my mother,' Corren told DailyMail.com. Renay Mandel Corren, 84, succumbed to a series of health complications she had battled for nearly two decades and died in El Paso, Texas, on December 11 'Yes, she was a bit of a scammer but we need those people, too. We need characters. We need those people who teach us how to endure and be resilient,' he said. Renay lived all across the country in her eight decades, not calling one specific place home - but 'she was at home wherever somebody else was paying,' Corren said. 'Where she lived was where she was either spending money, making money and taking money,' he reminisced, laughing. Renay moved to El Paso, Texas, 15 years ago after the loss of her 'badass b**** of a daughter,' Cathy Sue Corren Lester Trammel Webster, 'who lost one eye 'in a near-fatal Pepsi bottle incident,' Andy wrote. She lived with 'her favorite son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Lourdes Corren,' Renay's obit reads. Andy Corren describes the 'Gay-Mexican-Jewish-Redneck branch of America' that his mother was the matriarch of as 'real American people.' 'People wanna talk about real America? Take five seconds with my family,' he told DailyMail.com. 'She was America through and through.' Andy Corren says he's happy to see the extent to which his honest obituary has been enjoyed, but it comes as no surprise. 'Thats her, she had a big reach,' he said. The obituary colors Renay's life with charming anecdotes including her 'affair' with Larry King in the 60s - which Corren says he wholeheartedly believes - and her claim that she named the gas station company Sunoco, which he also chooses to believe. 'Yes, Renay lied a lot. But on the plus side, Renay didn't cook, she didn't clean, and she was lousy with money, too,' Corren writes. 'It's who she was in living color,' he told DailyMail.com. 'My mommy was large and she contained multitudes.' Corren is survived by her five sons Andy, Michael, Jeffery, Scott and Marc and their loving families. Pictured: Renay Mandel Corren, left, with her daughter-in-law Laura Corren 'It's who she was in living color,' Corren told DailyMail.com. 'My mommy was large and she contained multitudes.' Pictured: Renay Mandel Corren, left, with her daughter-in-laws Laura Corren, right, and Lourdes Corren, center 'She spent it all, folks. She left me nothing but these lousy memories,' Corren quipped lovingly in his mother's obituary 'The family requests absolutely zero privacy or propriety, none what so ever, and in fact encourages you to spend some government money today on a 1-armed bandit, at the blackjack table or on a cheap cruise to find our inheritance,' the obituary reads. 'She spent it all, folks. She left me nothing but these lousy memories,' Corren quips lovingly. While the obituary pokes fun at Renay and her way of life and child rearing, the larger-than-life grifter was loved for being exactly who she was. 'What we are is what we got. We're all we got. We're the family and there isn't a back-up family waiting. This is it. It's not perfect,' Corren told DailyMail.com. He explained that while the obituary teases his mother and is sure to make readers laugh, the family is still grieving its beloved matriarch. 'There will be a very disrespectful and totally non-denominational memorial on May 10, 2022, most likely at a bowling alley in Fayetteville, North Carolina,' the obit reads. The remembrance went viral after it was shared online by New York Times columnist Sarah Weinman who tweeted: 'This obit, my god.' Many people lauded Corren's honest humor with several claiming that they wanted to road trip and attend the memorial service next year. 'Andy Corren, you are a tremendous writer and you raised the dead. I think her last act was to give your writing the shine it deserves,' Twitter user @karion commented. Another fan of the obit, @joel_grant tweeted: 'Definitely with profound love. I have no doubt the author, the subject's son, can vividly picture his mother reading it and raising a drink in approval.' 'If the Pulitzer committee had an award for obituaries, this would be a lock. Or do they?' @nofatnoflavor questioned. One person even wished that Corren could write her own obituary, @Flarvik, tweeted: 'Im kinda with wishing I knew the obit writer Andy Corren well enough for him to write mine. Way to slide into home, lady.' 'I want to know if we can attend the May memorial service. ROAD TRIP FOR RENAY, @peacebang wrote. 'I was about to ask the same question. I want to celebrate this bada** bubbes life with her gay son and his family. Can we road trip it? I'll bring snacks. And glitter,' @JessieLosch replied. Advertisement Twelve people - including eight children, two of whom were infants - living on one Kentucky street were killed when a tornado ravaged through their Bowling Green neighborhood on Friday night. The entire Brown family - four children, their parents and grandmother - were found dead after the storm left the tidy homes on the Moss Creek Avenue cul-de-sac reduced to mounds of lumber and rubble, with residents' belongings spewed across the street. Victoria Smith, the 64-year-old Brown family matriarch, was found dead in a field near the neighborhood. Smith's daughter, Rachael Brown, 36; Brown's husband Steven, 35, and the couple's youngest child, 4-year-old Nyles Brown, were found together near their family home, relative Cierra Bryant told WKYT. The couple's daughter Nariah Brown, 16, was found in a creek and their son Nolynn Brown, 10, on a neighbor's property. On Thursday, police said they found the couple's 13-year-old daughter, Nyssa Brown, about a quarter mile southeast of the family home. 'There was nothing they could've held onto, nothing they could've tried to shelter themselves, everything is gone,' Bryant said. The Besic family, who lived two doors down from the Browns, also lost five people in Friday's storm. The house located between the two family homes was heavily damaged by the storms. The residents appeared to have survived the incident, however their conditions remain unknown. 'It's hard to believe that mother nature could be so cruel,' rescuer Jeffery Bark, 36, told DailyMail.com. 'I've seen stuff that I hadn't seen since war times - like body parts and intestines, stuff you would expect to see in a war town but not in your home time, not in a peace time.' Bark and his dog Chichi, 2, have been aiding in search and rescue of the community all week. 'It's heart-wrenching to see infants passed away,' he added. Rachael Brown, 36, and Steven Brown, 35, are pictured with three of their kids (from left: Nolynn, Rachel, Nyssa, Nariah and Steen). Rachel and Steven were found dead after a tornado ripped through their Bowling Green, Kentucky neighborhood. Their daughter Nariah, 16, and sons Nolynn, 10, and Nyles, 4, were also killed A view of the destroyed Brown family home as seen on Thursday, Dec. 16 Officials confirmed Nyssa's (left) death Thursday afternoon after she had been was missing since Saturday. She was found about a quarter mile southeast of the family home (right) An aerial view of Bowling Green, Kentucky showing where the Besic (far left) and Brown (far right) family homes once stood The above map shows where the Brown and Besic families' homes were located in Bowling Green, as well as where officials found Nyssa Brown's body Two houses down from the Browns, the storm took the life of Alisa Besic, a mother of three, and two of her children, Elma Besic, 7, and Alma Besic, an infant. They were found behind their home with Alisa clutching the baby in her arms. Alisa's sister-in-law, Selveta Besic, told the Courier Journal the mother leaves behind a 2-year-old boy. The large Besic family also lost Selmir Besic, 6, and Samantha Besic, who was not even one year old. Each of the unnamed twin brothers, one of whom is married to Alisa, lost two children. Selveta noted that her brothers and their younger 25-year-old sister, who is likely paralyzed, are among four Besic family members being treated for life-threatening injuries at hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee. 'We were just shocked,' Selveta said. 'One minute you're alive and just playing with them and then the next 15 minutes they are gone.' Kentucky was hardest-hit by the storms that rolled through the Midwest last weekend and left at least 88 people dead across five states. Seventy-four were killed in Kentucky; six in Illinois; four in Tennessee; two in Arkansas; and two in Missouri. The Kentuckians killed range in age from a 2-month-old to a 98-year-old and at least 12 of the victims are children. Officials say more than 100 people remain missing. President Joe Biden visited the twister-torn state Wednesday to survey the destruction, promising residents: 'We're not going to leave I promise you. The federal government is going to be here until this gets rebuilt.' Biden approved federal disaster declarations for Kentucky and the neighboring states of Tennessee and Illinois, offering residents and local officials increased federal aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has sent search-and-rescue and emergency response teams to the state, along with teams to help survivors register for assistance. Nearly 450 National Guard members were mobilized to Kentucky and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead. 'I have not seen this much damage from a tornado,' Biden added, telling local officials, 'Don't hesitate to ask for anything.' Steven Brown is pictured with Victoria Smith, the 64-year-old matriarch of the Brown family. Victoria was also killed in the storm. Her body was found in a field near the neighborhood All four of the Brown children were killed in the storm (Pictured from left: Nyssa, Nariah, Nolynn, and Nyles Brown) Cierra Bryant said the Brown home (pictured on Dec. 14), where the seven deceased family members lived, is now unrecognizable after being completely destroyed by the twister Cierra Bryant said the Brown family's home, where seven people lived, is now unrecognizable after being completely destroyed by the twister. 'My mother-in-law's truck was sitting in their living room. Where the living room would've been,' she told WKYT. Her husband has been receiving calls, one-by-one, confirming his loved ones were victims of the EF-3 tornado that struck the Bowling Green community. Bryant said she checked in with her sister-in-law, Rachael Brown, on Facebook after the tornado blew through the town but never got a reply. 'I got on Facebook and her messenger said online,' Bryant explained. 'I messaged her again and said, 'hey sis, are you ok?' and still nothing back. And then she went offline.' At first she didn't think much of the lack of response given much of Bowling Green was without power, however, on Saturday morning she saw drone video footage of the family's home and knew to expect the worst. 'On the drone video, the drone stops right over their house and pauses. That was terrible,' Bryant said. Victoria Smith (right) is pictured with Rachael and Steven Brown's children (From left: Nolynn, Nariah, Nyssa and Nyles) Cierra Bryant is pictured with her nephew, Nyles Brown When she first saw the destruction, Bryant saw her mother-in-law's truck 'sitting in their living room' (Brown family home pictured on Dec. 16) Bryant wants the family to be remember as strong, loving people and not as tornado victims. 'Miss Vicky was a strong woman, she loved all of her grand babies,' she shared. Bryant said Rachael was 'fearless' and had a 'beautiful heart for other people' and that Steven was a loving and supportive man, who loved his wife and even adopted her daughters. 'He truly adored [Rachael]. He called her the love of his life,' she said. 'He adopted both of those girls and gave him his last name.' Bryant also said a man who was helping with the clean-up reached out to her on Facebook after finding a muddy photo album that belonged to the family. He cleaned the album and bought frames for each of the pictures in an effort to preserve them. 'Such incredible, nice people out there,' she added. Most of the Brown family members were found shortly after the twister struck, however, it took nearly a week for searchers to locate Nyssa. Police said during a press conference Thursday after finding Nyssa, all missing persons in Warren County have been accounted for. 'What makes this even more tragic is that Nyssa is the final member of the Brown family to be located. Her mother, her father, her three siblings and her grandmother also perished in this terrible storm,' said Bowling Green Police Officer Ronnie Ward. 'We ask that you pray for [the family]. This is a tough time for them. It's a tough time for our community and we just need people to pray.' The county's search efforts, which began with 244 missing persons, have no come to an end. 'Along with the Brown family, there were many families lost and we want you to remember those as well,' he said. 'We want you to pray for those families as well.' Seventeen members of the Bowling Green community died as a result of the tornado. Sixteen were killed by the tornado or died from injuries sustained in the storm. One man died after he suffered a heart attack while cleaning up debris at his daughter's house, the Warren County coroner confirmed. Officer Ward reiterated: 'We need your prayers.' The location where authorities confirmed that the body of missing teen Nyssa Brown was recovered Thursday morning (pictured). Nyssa was the last person unaccounted for in Bowling Green after 244 reports of missing people The Besic family lost five people, including two infants, in Friday night's tornado and has four more family members fighting for their lives in a Tennessee hospital (Pictured: The destroyed Besic home as seen on Dec. 16) Selveta Besic, who lost five relatives in the storm and has four more fighting for their lives, echoed the devastation felt by Bryant. 'We were a family of 21, now it's 16,' Besic told the Courier Journal Tuesday afternoon. Selveta, who lives less than a half-mile away from Moss Creek Avenue, said she was asleep on the upper level of her townhome Friday night when the sirens started blaring. She quickly threw herself on top of her 9-year-old daughter as the twister ripped the roof. They then slid to the ground floor and took shelter in the bathroom. Selveta said the storm passed within seconds. Afterwards, she called her brothers - twins that lived with their wives and kids on Moss Creek Avenue - but got no response. Worried, she picked up her daughter, carrying her through the rain, and ran to her brothers' neighborhood. When she arrived she found little left of the homes and bodies being pulled from the rubble. She said Alisa was found lifeless and holding her baby in her arms. One Besic family member was seen breaking down in tears as he surveyed what used to be their home Besic family members are seen retrieving their loved ones' belongings from the destroyed Moss Creek Ave. home on Dec. 16 Selveta Besic, who lives nearby, ran to her family members' home Friday night after the storm passed. When she arrived she said she found little left of the homes and bodies being pulled from the rubble. Her sister-in-law Alisa was found lifeless and holding her baby in her arms (Pictured: Remains of the Besic home as seen on Dec. 16) A view of what remains of the Besic family home, as seen on Dec. 16 Jeffery Bark, 36, and his dog Chichi, 2, (pictured) who have been assisting in search and rescue, said they've been marking human remains all week and they've seen things no one should ever have to see The twister has left members of the community - which features a diverse population with families from Bosnia, Myanmar and Nigeria - stricken with grief. 'There were places down here where you can tell houses used to be, but it's just a concrete path,' Bark told DailyMail.com. 'It's devastating. I feel so bad for people. They lost everything - family, friends, their homes. Especially those who just moved here to get a better life and now everythings been took away.' 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 told the Associated Press. 'I just think about all those babies.' '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 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.' A home located directly next to the Brown family house is seen on Dec. 16, completely leveled from the storm Bowling Green resident Ganimete Ademi (pictured), 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 A teddy bear is among the items found in the rubble in Bowling Green on Dec. 15 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?' A mentally ill killer has been accused of raping and suffocating his 83-year-old mother with a pillow, in a case that has shocked Greece. The allegations were made even more shocking when it was revealed that the same 59-year-old murdered his grandmother 28 years earlier. According to the medical examiner, the death of Victoria Papastergiou was caused by strangulation. She was killed near the town of Grevena, northern Greece on Tuesday, according to Greek newspaper ProtoThema. Pictured: A man accused of raping and killing his own mother near the town of Grevena, northern Greece is escorted into a police station by officers on Wednesday Local reports said the man washed and dressed his mother's body in a bid to disguise her true cause of death, while authorities believe he raped her while he was suffocating her. He has been charged with manslaughter and rape, as 'recent findings of sexual intercourse were also identified' by the medical examiner, officials said. The man reportedly confessed to killing his mother to police after he was arrested. According to news website GRTimes.gr, he allegedly told officers he committed the horrific crime because his mother burned his food. The alleged murder came to light when the owner of a funeral home in Grevena was asked on Tuesday by the 59-year-old to undertake the funeral for his mother. He told the funeral director that he had found her dead in her bed, and unusually asked for the burial to take place immediately. This raised the suspicions of the director, who informed officials. The man is also reported to have killed his grandmother in 1993 in the same village. Local news reports said the man (pictured right) washed and dressed his mother's body in a bid to disguise her true cause of death, while authorities believe he raped her while he was suffocating her A police officer is said to have made a link between the two deaths, remembering a previous case in which the son of the deceased 83-year-old had also killed his grandmother when he was 32 years old. The man at the time was considered to be a psychopath, and was hospitalised for many years, according to local reports, but was later released and worked in a school as a gym teacher. The funeral director's suspicions and the police officer's recollection of the previous case led to an autopsy being carried in Thessaloniki on the mother's body, which found evidence of foul play. On Wednesday, officers were dispatched to the man's home in the small mountain village of around just 130 people, but could not find him. Eventually, they were able to track him down after a long search on Wednesday. He is currently in custody, with local media reporting that it is expected he will undergo further psychological evaluation. Shocking video captures the moment a father in Portland, Oregon, fights off a man who tried to kidnap his young child - less than an hour after the same suspect stalked a mother pushing a baby stroller. Portland police released footage of the unidentified suspect as he attempted to snatch the six-year-old boy in the Pearl District in broad daylight on Tuesday in one of the safer neighborhoods in a city ravaged by crime since the pandemic. There have been 73 abductions in Portland through the end of the November, according to the latest available data, compared with 62 kidnappings in 2020. Surveillance footage shows the young boy walking a few feet behind his dad near The Fields Park on Northwest Overton Street when the suspect pounces on the boy at around 3:20 pm. Scroll Down For Video: Surveillance footage shows the terrifying moment the suspect walks in front of the young boy and pounces on him, trying to snatch him up Surveillance footage captures the moment the boy's father catches up with him and scoops him up while the suspect appears to flee The stunned father quickly realizes the danger and the two struggle for the boy off camera near a parked van. The young boy walks back into frame towards the street and his father catches up with him and scoops him into his arms as the suspect flees. Police spokesman Sgt. Kevin Allen said that the father's vigilance 'may have saved his son from some unknown fate.' 'You shudder to think of what might have happened if he hadn't been so quick on responding to what was happening,' he told KGW8.com. Police described the suspect as a heavyset Hispanic male in his 20s with dark hair who is between 5-foot-1 and 5-foot-3 inches tall. He was wearing a black hoodie with 'white wash jeans,' black-and-white shoes and a grey beanie with a ball on top. The attempted kidnapper was later connected to a 'second concerning incident' that took place in the same neighborhood less than an hour before. Police say they believe the same man followed a woman pushing a baby in a stroller on Northwest Northrup Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues about 2:30 pm. When a man continued to follow a mother and her baby she confronted him snapped this picture of him walking away and posted it to the Nextdoor app A mother who says that a man followed her while she was pushing her baby in a stroller snapped this picture of him after he walked away from her The mother told police that a man matching the suspect's description approached her and followed her, leading her to cross the street to avoid him. When the man continued to follow her she confronted him and he walked away but not before the quick-thinking mother snapped photos of him and posted it to the Nextdoor app. Police are still looking into whether or not the events were connected but said if so, it could mean the suspect was on the prowl for a victim. 'Were still vetting it but if that's true that means that this guy was walking around in that neighborhood, potentially looking for a victim,' Allen told KGW8.com Police released images of the suspect and are looking to speak to anyone with information on the case. 'We do feel an urgency here,' Sgt. Allen said. Portland has suffered through unprecedented crime this year as cops continued to quit the force over the woke city's push to defund the police. Since August 2020, about 200 officers have left the Portland police department, many of whom cited low morale, a lack of support from city officials and burnout from months of racial justice protests in their exit interviews. The department is now operating with a force about 128 officers below its authorized strength. The shortage forced the police department to warn residents to expect delays in cops answering all but the most serious 911 calls. Last week, Portland Police were only responding to priority 1 and priority 2 calls - codes that refer to incidents that are life-threatening or with a potential for physical injury, as well as major property crimes. The city also shattered its record for homicides in a year with 80 murders as of December 7, surpassing the 67 killed in 1987. Last year, Portland recorded 55 murders, nearly triple the total of 20 in 2016. With a population of 650,000, the liberal bastion has had twice as many murders as neighboring Seattle, which has about 100,000 more people. The Pacific Northwest city has seen more than 1,000 shootings this year, with 314 bystanders injured by bullets. Deaths by gun violence have accounted for three-quarters of all homicides. Melania Trump has joined the NFT frenzy by auctioning off a recording of her delivering a message of 'hope' over a watercolor painting of her eyes to raise money for foster children. The first NFT is a watercolor painting of the former first lady's eyes that she signed and includes a quick audio message: 'My vision is: Look forward with inspiration, strength and courage.' Non-fungible tokens or NFTs are unique and non-interchangeable units of data stored on a digital ledger or blockchains, the same technology behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. They have been gaining popularity as of late, especially with viral cryptocurrency hits like Dogecoin and Bitcoin. 'Melania's Vision' by French artist Marc-Antoine Coulon is worth about $185 at time of publication. Trump's first sale ends December 31, the minute before midnight on New Year's. Before becoming first lady, Melania had a successful career as a model where she became known for her piercing blue eyes. 'Melania Trump's personal journey has been enlightening; from Slovenia through Europe and into the United States of America including as First Lady,' the page selling Trump's first NFT reads. Melania Trump launched her own non-fungible token (NFT) on Thursday. The first sale is a watercolor painting of her eyes with a short audio message: 'My vision is: Look forward with inspiration, strength and courage' 'The beauty and hardships of individuals, majestic landscapes and profound architecture have entered her lens and remain in her heart,' the description adds. 'Marc-Antoine Coulon's breathtaking watercolor embodies Melania Trump's cobalt blue eyes, providing the collector with an amulet to inspire. Melania's Vision provides the collector with strength and hope.' It notes: 'A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the artwork will be donated to support children in the foster care community.' More specifically, some of the funds from the sale will assist children aging out of the foster care system and will give them access to resources to develop skills in computer science and technology. Melania Trump has kept quite a low profile since leaving Washington D.C. Here the former first lady and Donald Trump attend a gala at Mar-a-Lago in November What are NFTs? What is a NFT? A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is a unique digital token encrypted with an artist's signature and which verifies its ownership and authenticity and is permanently attached to the piece. What do they look like? Most NFTs include some kind digital artwork, such as photos, videos, GIFs, and music. Theoretically, anything digital could be turned into a NFT. Where do you buy them? At the moment, NFTs are most commonly sold in so-called 'drops', timed online sales by blockchain-backed marketplaces like Nifty Gateway, Opensea and Rarible. Why would I want to own one? There's an array of reasons why someone may want to buy a NFT. For some, the reason may be emotional value, because NFTs are seen as collectors items. For others, they are seen as an investment opportunity similar to cryptocurrencies, because the value could increase. When were NFTs created? Writer and podcaster Andrew Steinwold traced the origins of NFTs back to 2012, with the creation of the Colored Coins cryptocurrency. But NFTs didn't move into the mainstream until five years later, when the blockchain game CryptoKitties began selling virtual cats in 2017. Advertisement NFTs are typically used to identify proof of ownership of reproducible digital or physical assets such as pictures, videos and audio files. The 45th first lady has kept quite a low profile since leaving Washington, D.C. following Donald Trump's 2020 reelection loss. She told conservative outlet Breitbart News of her NFT endeavor: 'Since leaving the White House, I have envisioned creating a new platform where Freedom of Speech can flourish.' 'My new NFT gallery, MelaniaTrump.com, uses the decentralized nature of Blockchain Technology, and gives a direct connection to people worldwide,' she added. 'My love of the arts is showing in my first NFT, Melania's Vision, which I created with artist, Marc-Antoine Coulon. A portion of the sales from NFT will be donated to children in the foster community. My Be Best initiative, Fostering the Future, will provide students a range of technology skills to prepare them for the workforce. I am excited to inspire America's next generation of entrepreneurs.' Melania Trump's NFTs will be sold exclusively on her website MelaniaTrump.com. The assets will be purchased through the Solana blockchain with SOL, the platform's native cryptocurrency. The NFT went on sale for 1 SOL, which is approximately $185 as of Thursday morning. A Solana representative clarified to DailyMail.com that 'to avoid any confusion' Trump's choice to use the Solana blockchain was 'completely organic.' 'This project is not part of any Solana-led initiative,' the representative added. Future NFTs will be in three different elements digital artwork, physical artwork and a physical accessory of historic note. The latter is scheduled to go on auction in January. Video footage captured the heartwarming moment a Kentucky tornado survivor was reunited with her beloved dog Nola after searching for days through the rubble-strewn neighborhood. The unidentified woman was filmed by a Dutch journalist as she frantically scoured for her pooch in Mayfield, site of some of the worst devastation after the deadliest twister to hit the state in more than 130 years killed at least 74 people across Kentucky. The journalist, Lucas Waagmeester, followed the woman before pointing at a dog that was running out of a pile of debris in a now-viral video posted Tuesday. The overcome dog owner sprinted to her pet - shouting 'Nola! Nola!' - before their tear-jerking reunion. 'It's okay. It's okay. Come here my baby,' she said as she hugged the excited animal. Video footage captured the heartwarming moment a Kentucky pet owner was reunited with her dog following the devastating tornado on Friday night The woman had lost her dog Nola after her Mayfield home had been displaced The woman told the journalist that the powerful tornado destroyed her home, blowing it '20 foot back from where it started' and separating her from Nola in the pile of debris. 'Friday night when this all happened we were in the house and we lost her,' she said describing the damage. 'The power went out, the house started shaking, we were lifted up and we lost the dog. 'When we finally landed we were surrounded by gas lines and power lines.' The woman approached Dutch journalist Lucas Waagmeester , who had been covering the storm, to ask him if he saw her dog She explains that the power went out and her home had been lifted up in the storm before she lost the animal Waagmeester pointed out the animal roaming around a rubble-filled yard and reunited the pair The reunion provided a brief moment of joy among the tragic ruins of the once-vibrant town. However, she was not the only Mayfield resident who was able to find their pet. Deanna Badillo found her dog after believing that the pet was killed in the storm. Badillo said that her and her friend had been in their home during the storm and had gotten to safety just in time. 'My friend and I both said we've cheated death. I think it's because of God's grace and I'm not done on this planet,' she told KHOU11. She found out her dog was alive after a neighbor found the animal and given her to a dog shelter until he could find its owners. Badillo also cherished be reunited with her pet. 'It's the little things that matter. That little dog every bit of her matters,' she said. Fellow Mayfield resident Deanna Badillo was also reunited with her dog after her home had been damaged The Mayfield Graves County Animal Shelter has taken up to 100 injured animals and displaced pets since the storm Volunteers and workers were seen preparing dogs and cats for a big move out of the Kentucky shelter as it expects to be inundated with rescues the remainder of the week The animals are being outfitted with microchips and taken by the Humane Society of Kentucky to Massachusetts and other states where there is currently more space for them Organizations such as the Kentucky Humane Society and Mayfield-Graves County Animal Shelter have been taking care of displaced animals since the aftermath of the storm and are working to reunite them with their owners. Speaking to DailyMail.com, David Spalding, Board President of the Mayfield-Graves County Animal Shelter, described how the shelter was lucky enough to remain standing, but now is tasked with taking in and transporting dozens of animals. 'Today we're moving a little over 100 animals to other rescue organizations just to make room,' Spalding said on Wednesday. 'We've never been through a situation like this. From what I'm told from the people who have been through disasters like this is that after about three or four days to expect a large influx. 'Cats, dogs, right now the animals are scared, especially the ones that have completely lost their home. That was their comfort zone.' DailyMail.com got a first look at the displaced animals being held in crates as they hope for their owners' return. Volunteers and workers were seen preparing dogs and cats for a big move out of the Kentucky shelter as it expects to be inundated with rescues the remainder of the week. The animals are being outfitted with microchips and taken by the Humane Society of Kentucky to Massachusetts and other states where there's more space for them. 'Friday night we had massive destruction from an unprecedented tornado,' Spalding said. 'It happened to go right through the center of our town. 'Right now we're working with Kentucky Humane Society and other organizations to help remove the animals that we've already had here and take to other rescue organizations so we can take in other animals, the hurt and the injured, that have been affected during the storm,' he said. 'Most of them are large animals because they're easier for people to see. The smaller pets we're just starting to see today because people are a little more focused on what's going on.' The city of Mayfield, Kentucky was hit particularly hard, including a candle manufacturing factory that was operating at the time the twister hit The damage of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory that was hit by the storm on Friday Many Mayfield residents have been displaced from their homes after residential neighborhoods had been reduced to rubble US President Joe Biden surveys storm damage from the tornadoes and extreme weather in Dawson Springs, Kentucky Spalding added that they expect to see far more animals rescued in the coming days. 'The animals don't have a place to go back to so it may take a while for them to calm down and come out where they're visible and we can actually catch them and bring them in,' he said. Spalding said they will be adding microchips to animals so if in the future their owner returns, they can properly keep track and identify them for a reunion. 'We figure that some of these folks may be displaced for one or two weeks,' he said. 'I haven't been sleeping much,' Spalding added. 'I'm overwhelmed, yes, but manageable.' Kat Rooks, Initiatives Director at the Kentucky Humane Center, was in one of three vans that left Louisville to pick up 27 dogs and eight cats from the Mayfield shelter. 'This is going to be a long, long recovery there,' Rooks told told the Courier Journal Monday night after unloading animals. 'Animals are coming in surrendered by good Samaritans. Animals coming in as strays. [Workers] are going out and assisting search-and-rescue teams and helping to remove animals from properties that have been devastated. They are already seeing an influx and expect that to continue.' 'There were a lot of tears on Saturday,' she added. 'These are my friends, people that I know, I work with closely. People that I know lost everything there.' Jeremy Tremaine Williams, 37, has been charged with Capital murder in connection with the death of Kamarie Holland, 5 An Alabama man with a lengthy history of child abuse charges is now accused of murdering a 5-year-old girl. Jeremy Tremaine Williams, 37, was arrested Monday and charged Tuesday with capital murder in connection with the death of Kamarie Holland, 5. He faces the death penalty if convicted. Police said she died by asphyxiation and showed signs of sexual assault. They are not ruling out more charges against Williams. Kamarie was kidnapped from her mother's home in Columbus, Georgia, on Monday morning December 13, and was found dead later that night near a home where Williams had lived previously in Phenix City, Alabama. The two cities are just minutes apart. Kamarie's mother, Kristin Hoskins, knew Williams, but law enforcement has not specified how, due to a gag order issued by Russell County Circuit Court Judge David Johnson. Hoskins said she picked up Kamarie to spend the weekend with her. Kamarie lived in Phenix City with her father, Corey Holland, who had custody of her. 'I'm a mommy. I did not have nothing to do with this,' Hoskins told local ABC News. 'She was my life. I lived for her daily. She was my only girl. I have 3 boys and her.' Williams has been charged with child abuse in the past, but was never convicted. A week prior to Kamarie's death, he pleaded not guilty to slapping his wife in front of a child. Williams was also a suspect in the murder of a one-year-old boy in Alabama and was accused of lowering a three-year-old boy into a bowl of boiling water in 2009. Kamarie's mother, Kristin Hoskins (pictured with the child), knew Williams, but law enforcement has not specified to what degree due to a gag order issued by Russell County Circuit Court Judge David Johnson Williams had been charged with child abuse crimes in the past but was never convicted. Pictured in court Tuesday Kamarie was a very loving child, her mother said. She lived with her father, Colley Hollands, in Phenix City, Alabama Kamarie was a very loving child, her mother said. On Wednesday, Hoskins said she wanted to gift Kamarie's toys to children in need to honor her daughter. 'We were at the gas station one time and we saw a family out there and one of the little girls didn't have shoes on and she said, 'Mommy we can help them? Mommy because I have so many pairs of shoes at home',' said Hoskins. According to Hoskins, she has been left out of funeral arrangements by the girl's father. She also said that the media's narrative has painted her as 'an evil person' and that is untrue. 'You could not harm that little girl, because she was just so innocent, so smart, she was fantastic. She was fantastic,' Hoskins told WTVM. 'I'm innocent, and I had nothing to do with it...whoever can do that is disturbing, very sick in the head,' she added. During a press conference on December 14, Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said he believed Kamarie had been sexually assaulted. During a press conference on December 14, Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor said he believed Kamarie had been sexually assaulted 'We were at the gas station one time and we saw a family out there and one of the little girls didn't have shoes on and she said 'Mommy we can help them? Mommy because I have so many pairs of shoes at home',' said Hoskins The cordoned-off abandoned house where Kamarie's body was found 'She was deceased and the manner of death at this time looks to be asphyxiation. It did appear from the scene that there was some sexual abuse,' said Taylor. 'He [Williams] had several involvements in the past with children. He has a couple of cases where he was actually charged with abuse of children by the Sheriff's Office here in '09 and then he was acquitted by a jury in '12 of that case,' he added before the gag order was used. 'And he has been charged in Columbus, as well, of abuse of a child.' Taylor also said that Williams was a suspect in the death of a one-year-old child in Alaska, but was never charged. Williams was arrested on August 1 in Muscogee County, Georgia, and was charged with simple battery, family violence and cruelty to children for allegedly slapping his wife in the face in front of a minor, local news station WSAV reported. He pleaded not guilty in state court last week. 'You could not harm that little girl, because she was just so innocent, so smart, she was fantastic. She was fantastic,' said her mother A GoFundMe created to cover funeral funds, has raised almost $11,000 out of the $15,000 goal 'It's a difficult time. It's been a very difficult time. Corey is basically beside himself. We are out trying to take care of everything for him,' said Kamarie's cousin, Adrienne Davis about the child's father Williams was accused in 2009 of lowering a three-year-old boy into a pot of boiling water and was charged with aggravated child abuse. His defense argued that the boy had poured the water on himself. Williams was acquitted in 2012. 'It's a difficult time. It's been a very difficult time. Corey is basically beside himself. We are out trying to take care of everything for him,' said Kamarie's cousin, Adrienne Davis about the child's father. Davis, who created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the funeral, said the family has received an outpouring of support. 'The community is coming together and giving us so much support. They are dropping by the house. They are giving to the GoFundMe page. They are supporting the father,' she told WSAV. Almost $11,000 has been raised out of the $15,000 goal. Davis also thanked first responders. 'We would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts for everything they have done. For bringing people to justice for what has occurred. For our cousin and keeping the family in the loop as far as what's going on. We really want to say thank you.' A Florida man wearing red women's underwear as a face mask was kicked off an airplane prior to takeoff - followed by other passengers who also got off in support. Video footage of the Wednesday morning incident shows staff on United Airlines confronting Adam Jenne, who had underwear covering his nose and mouth, as he waited onboard for his flight from Fort Lauderdale to Washington to take off. 'You're going to have to come off the airplane. We're not going to let you travel,' said a flight attendant in a cell phone video recorded by a passenger. 'Why?' responded Jenne in the video, which was obtained by Fox4. 'You're not in mask compliance,' said the attendant in the video. Jenne, 38, of Cape Coral, Florida, told the outlet that the underwear was within TSA guidelines - a federal law until at least May - despite the fact that he doesn't agree with the rule requiring passengers to wear masks on planes. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Video footage shows United Airlines staff confront Adam Jenne, pictured, with underwear covering his nose and mouth, onboard a flight from Fort Lauderale to Washington DC Pictured: Jenne exiting his seat after being kicked off of a United Airlines flight for not complying with the face mask rule, despite wearing underwear on his face, on Wednesday Jenne said that the underwear complied with TSA guidelines - a federal law until at least May - despite the fact that he disagrees with the rule requiring passengers to wear masks on a plane He added that wearing the underwear as a face mask was intended to show the absurdity of masking on a plane until it reaches cruising altitude, when passengers are then allowed to remove their masks to eat and drink. 'There's nothing more absurd than having to wear a mask until I get to cruising altitude so that I can order Tito's by the double and snack on pretzels, and illustrating that absurdity by wearing womens underwear on my face sounds perfect,' said Jenne. Moments after Jenne was kicked off, the video shows several other passengers also exiting, in a show of support. 'Did he just get kicked off for wearing a mask' said one man in the video. 'I'm out of here, forget it. I'm out of here,' said the man. Jenne expressed gratitude to fellow passengers for leaving the plane in protest. 'Thank you to them, because they saw something, an injustice, something that didn't make sense, and they stood up,' Jenne told Fox4. Pictured: Several other passengers exit the plane in a show of support moments after Jenne was kicked off United Airlines remained steadfast that Jenne and his underwear mask were not in compliance. 'The customer clearly wasn't in compliance with the federal mask mandate and we appreciate that our team addressed the issue on the ground prior to takeoff, avoiding any potential disruptions in the air,' it said in a statement. Shortly after the incident, Jenne said he received an email from United Airlines saying he is now banned from the airline as his case is reviewed by its Passenger Incident Review Committee. Meanwhile, Jenne said he made the right decision to protest the industry's mask rules. 'Your rights end where mine begin. You don't get to tell me how I conduct myself,' Jenne added. According to United's website, masks should fully cover the mouth and nose, and not have openings or vents, but Jenne said his underwear mask followed those guidelines. However, he did reveal that this isn't the first flight he's been kicked off of for disobeying airline's mask mandates. He said he was asked to leave a Delta Airlines flight also for wearing underwear as a face mask. Jenne said he received an email from United Airlines, pictured, saying he is now banned from the airline as his case is reviewed by the Passenger Incident Review Committee American Airlines CEO Doug Parker (left) and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly (right) testified Wednesday that they don't believe travelers should be forced to wear masks on flights any longer On Wednesday, the CEOs of two of America's biggest airlines said they do not think masks should be required on planes any longer - even as new cases of the Omicron variant spread across the nation. At a Senate hearing about the financial support airlines received in 2020 and 2021, Sen. Roger Wicker, the ranking Republican on the Senate committee, asked American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly their thoughts on the federal government's mask mandate for flying. 'I think the case is very strong that masks don't add very much, if anything, in the air cabin environment,' Kelly said. 'It is very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting.' Both he and Parker pointed out that airlines improved airflow on board their planes in the wake of the pandemic, noting that high-grade HEPA air filters on planes capture almost all airborne contamination and the cabin air is often exchanged with fresh air from outside. 'I concur,' said Parker, according to CNN. 'An aircraft is the safest place you can be. 'It's true of all of our aircrafts - they all have the same HEPA filters and airflow.' The Transportation Safety Administration first announced its mask mandate for all travelers last year, and extended it in April, with an expiration date of September 13, before extending it again in August through March 2022. Navy officials have begun terminating the 5,731 active-duty sailors, or 2 percent of its active branch, who remain unvaccinated two weeks after the established deadline, leaders of the military branch confirmed on Thursday. This news comes as the Army announced it is prepared to ax 3,800 unvaccinated soldiers beginning in January and after the Air Force has already discharged 27 service members who refused the vaccine order. The Navy has the highest vaccination rate of all military branches with 336,000 sailors - or 98 percent - vaccinated from COVID-19. 'If a sailor gets their shot, we will honor that and make every effort to retain them,' Rear Adm. James Waters, the Navy's director of military personnel plans and policy said. 'On the other hand, those who continue to refuse the vaccine will be required to leave the Navy.' Navy officials had previously announced that unvaccinated officers and enlisted sailors eligible to retire or leave the service before June 1, 2022, will be allowed to do so with an honorable discharge. The US Army is prepared to discharge 3,800 active-duty soldiers - 2 percent of its total - for disobeying orders to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Pictured: a soldier received a COVID vaccine on September 9, 2021 in Fort Knox, Kentucky Those who an ineligible for retirement or leave by that date will still receive an honorable discharge but 'will be processed for separation on the basis of misconduct for refusing the lawful order to be vaccinated,' Waters explained. However, those with more than six years of service 'will be processed with the least favorable characterization of service, being general, under honorable conditions, barring other misconduct,' he said. Army officials said on Thursday that more than 3,800 soldiers - nearly 2 percent of the military branch's active duty force - had flatly refused to get at least one dose of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine as of this week's deadline and could be fired as early as next month. Thursday's news comes just days after the Air Force became the first US military service to begin firing personnel for rejecting the jab, with more than two dozen service members being discharged for disobeying orders. The Pentagon announced earlier this year that the COVID-19 vaccine was mandatory for all service members, including the National Guard and Reserve. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger was adamant that the military is 'not bluffing' when it comes to enforcing the 'direct order' of the. vaccine requirement and removing those who do not comply. COVID VACCINATION RATES ACROSS US MILITARY SERVICES: Navy - 98 percent Army - 97.9 percent Air Force - 97.5 percent Marine Corps - 95 percent Advertisement 'It's not one any of the services made up. If you could rewind the clock and remove all the political football of it a year ago, I'd love to find a way to do that. But we can't,' Berger said. All unvaccinated Marines without pending or approved exemptions will be processed for administrative separation officials confirmed. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said repeatedly that getting the vaccine is critical to maintaining a heathy, ready force that can be prepared to defend the nation. The Pentagon is also weighing making the vaccine booster shots mandatory for service members. The Army had the last vaccine deadline among the services for their active duty troops, Wednesday. And it scored the second-highest rate for those who have gotten at least one shot, 97.9 percent. The Navy leads with more than 98 percent, while the Air Force is at 97.5 percent and the Marine Corps is at 95 percent, which means roughly 10,000 continue to refuse. The other services had earlier deadlines. The Air Force required vaccines for the active duty by November 2, while members of the Navy and the Marine Corps had until November 28 to get the shots and their Reserve members have until December 28. Air Force Guard and Reserves had until December 2, and the Army Guard and Reserve soldiers have until next June. The Army, the US military's largest service with 478,000 active duty soldiers, reported the lowest number of service members seeking a religious exemption - just over 1,700 soldiers - compared with the other three smaller services. In comparison, there are more than 4,700 in the Air Force, 3,000 in the Marine Corps and 2,700 in the Navy who are requesting the rarely given religious exemptions, according to data released by the branches in the past week. None of the requests have yet to be approved. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said repeatedly that getting the vaccine is critical to maintaining a heathy and ready force The Air Force on Monday said it has already discharged 27 airmen for refusing to obey a lawful order and get the COVID-19 vaccine, making them what officials believe are the first service members to be removed for disobeying the shot mandate. The airmen were formally discharged for failure to obey an order. It is possible that some had other infractions on their records, but all had the vaccine refusal as one of the elements of their discharge. None of those discharged had sought any type of exemption, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told The Washington Post. According to data released by the Army, more than 2,700 soldiers who refused the vaccine have already been given written reprimands, and six soldiers have been fired from leadership positions, including battalion commanders. The Army has said that soldiers who refuse the vaccine should not be in leadership jobs. 'Vaccinating our Soldiers against COVID-19 is first and foremost about Army readiness,' stated Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth. 'To those who continue to refuse the vaccine and are not pending a final decision on a medical or administrative exemption, I strongly encourage you to get the vaccine. If not, we will begin involuntary separation proceedings.' Procedures to begin discharging those who refuse the vaccine are slated to begin in January, giving soldiers a bit more time to change their minds before being forced out. Students at the US Military Academy at West Point who refuse the vaccine and do not get an approved exemption will not be commissioned as officers. The Air Force on Monday said it has already discharged 27 airmen for refusing to obey a lawful order and get the COVID-19 vaccine. Pictured: an Airman gets a COVID-19 shot on June 8 on Dobbins Air Force Base, Georgia The US Navy has highest vaccination rate at more than 98 percent. Pictured: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John London is vaccinated against COVID in December 2020 The Marine Corps had until November 28 to get the shots and their Reserve members have until December 28. Pictured: Military medical personnel at Camp Lejeune, N.C., administer coronavirus vaccines to Marines in January Overall, the Army said that more than 6,200 soldiers are seeking some type of temporary or permanent exemption, including 641 medical requests and the 1,746 religious requests. Of those 6,200 requests, nearly 3,900 have received an approved temporary exemption. Four got a permanent medical exemption. Temporary exemptions can be for a variety of reasons ranging from medical, such as pregnancy, to administrative, such as someone who is retiring or is in a remote location where there are no readily available vaccines. Across the military, the vaccine reaction has mirrored that of society as a whole, with thousands of members seeking exemptions or refusing the shots. But overall the percentage of troops - particularly active duty members - who quickly got the shots exceeds the nationwide numbers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 72 percent of the US population age 18 or older has gotten at least one shot. Members of the US military are already required to get as many as 17 vaccines, depending on where they are deployed. The requirements - which include shots for smallpox, hepatitis, polio and the flu - also provide for a number of temporary and permanent exemptions for either medical or administrative reasons. This is the shocking moment Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans nephew and his cohorts opened fired inside a packed bar in the western Mexico city of Culiacan, wounding one customer before allowed to go free by local police. Never-before-seen footage captured by a bargoer shows Aureliano El Guanito Guzman shooting into the ceiling of the Casanova bar last Friday. Guzman, the youngest son of Aureliano El Guano Guzman-Loera, let off at least eight shots and then aimed his gun at another individual in the area. Last month, the US State Department offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of his father for drug-trafficking, including fentanyl. Aureliano 'El Guanito' Guzman opens fire inside a Culiacan, Mexico, bar last Friday. The gun shots fired by him and another man in his party left a customer with wounds to the leg and face. El Guanito and his accomplices were intercepted by the Sinaloa state police outside the bar but allowed to leave because they were outnumbered. The cops then initiated a pursuit after backup arrived but were not able to produce any arrests Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman (pictured in January 2016) is serving a life sentence in the United States Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's brother, Aureliano 'El Guano' Guzman-Loera, is accused by the U.S. Department of State of 'international' drug trafficking. The agency announced a $5 million reward for information that could lead to his arrest and/or conviction In the video, another member of Guanito's party fired at least two more shots and another man could be seen pointing his gun towards the crowd as customers scrambled for safety. One man was wounded in the leg and face. The extent of his injuries are unknown. Additional video footage shows three men confronted by the police outside the bar and being instructed by one of the individuals to stand down and lower their weapons. The cops obliged before Guzman and the rest of the group sped off in five vehicles, Sinaloa state security chief Cristobal Castaneda said. Castaneda added that the police officers, who were patrolling the area aboard four motorcycles, allowed Guzman and the other gunmen to leave the scene because they were outnumbered. The cops and a backup unit initiated a pursuit, but were unable to make any arrests. El Chapo's nephew, Aureliano El Guanito' Guzman, aims his gun at an individual inside a bar in Culiacan, Mexico, last Friday Still image of a video shows gunmen linked to El Chapo's nephew, Aureliano El Guanito Guzman, in a stare down with Sinaloa state police officers, whom they told to lower their weapons before the escaped from a restaurant where they shot a customer in the leg and face last Friday in the western Mexico town of Culiacan Guanito's father and three other high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel members have been accused in an Arizona federal court of running 'the international distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.' Mexican media outlets have reported that El Guano and El Chapo's four sons, known as 'Los Chapitos,' have been involved in an internal conflict over the control of the Sinaloa Cartel since the feared drug lord's extradition to the United States, where he is serving a life sentence. El Guano is wanted by Mexican authorities for reportedly orchestrating the September 29, 2016, ambush that left six soldiers dead and 10 people, including a paramedic, wounded after his henchmen freed Julio Oscar Ortiz Vega following his arrest in the Sinaloa municipality of Badiraguato. El Guanito, his wife, Giselle Zepeda Lopez, and five other people were taken into custody in October 2015 while the military was in pursuit of El Chapo in the Sinaloa municipality of Tierra Blanca. However, they were all released from jail months later after authorities determine there wasnt enough evidence to charge them with any crime. Pima County Deputy Chief Richard Kastigar, 66, lost part of his thumb due to a defective feature in his luxury Mercedes 2020 GLE 450. He's suing the car company for $15 million Catching the bad guys won't be as easy for Pima County Chief Deputy Richard Kastigar after a defective auto-close feature in the door of his luxury Mercedes SUV sliced off his thumb. The Arizona law man, 66, who was the chief investigator in the shooting of then-Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in 2011, had just returned home from shopping at Costco with his wife on October 8 when he was disfigured by the 2020 GLE 450 SUV. His wife, Denise, went into the house and when Kastigar put his right hand on the door to push it closed, he instead watched in horror as it trimmed off the top knuckle of his thumb like it was bratwurst. 'I watched it literally be sliced off. I couldn't believe what I was seeing,' Kastigar said. 'It was spurting blood all over the place.' The nub was still in the car doorjamb when paramedics responded, he said. Kastigar filed a $15 million federal lawsuit this month against the German car manufacturer for not fixing the bug. The 'automatic soft-close' door, one of the bells and whistles found on Benzes, Jaguars, BMWs and now Teslas, was designed to keep loud slamming to a minimum. A motor takes over and seals the door the last quarter of an inch after the passenger has already started shutting it. But there are a growing number of drivers from around the world who have watched their digits be guillotined by the feature. EMTs said that he went into shock. They rushed him to St. Joseph's Hospital, which has a hand specialist on duty, but the doctor couldn't reattach the crushed piece. The EMTs said that he went into shock. They rushed him to St. Joseph's Hospital, which has a hand specialist on duty, but the doctor couldn't reattach the crushed piece. Now, the deputy sheriff says he can't perform the basic duties of his job like firing his gun or slapping on the handcuffs. 'My wife has to help me button my shirts. My signature looks different, I have trouble holding a pen,' he told DailyMail.com. Kastigar has lost feeling in his thumb. 'I cant unzip my pants in a smooth and easy way,' he said. "You take for granted the things that now I cant do.' As a sworn law officer for about 40 years, Kastigar is no shrinking violet. The 6-foot-6-inch, 250-pound chief was the lead investigator in the shooting of then-Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, which left six people dead and the representative clinging to life. He's also run the patrol division, accident investigations and the SWAT team in the Tucson-based department. As a bit of a car nut, Kastigar said he took pains to read the Mercedes manual and leased the car with its specific features. Kastigar won't let his grandchildren ride in the car with him anymore for fear of the same fate befalling the little ones Pictured: A 2020 GLE SUV Mercedes Benz, which was the same model car that severed Kastigar's thumb OUCH: The Southwestern lawman, who was the lead investigator in the shooting of then-Rep. Gabby Giffords, was returning from a trip to Costco when he was permanently disfigured 'I looked in my manual. Theres no warning,' he said. He pointed out that other automatic car features, like electric windows, moonroofs and truck lids have safety features that halt closing when an obstruction is in the way. 'Their slogan is "The best or nothing,"' he said. 'How ironic that they compromise safety. I won't buy a Mercedes.' The law man said that he won't allow his grandkids to ride in the vehicle for fear that something will happen to their little pointers. 'There are a bunch of cars out there that have this feature waiting for the next unassuming individual or child to get their fingers chopped off,' the deputy sheriff said. 'Somebody needs to make a change to this technology and Mercedes needs to step to the plate and fix this problem.' Cases of digits being cut off by the 'soft-close' door feature have proliferated across the globe. In 2011, German driver Kordula Schweinberg also lost the top of her thumb to his BMW 530d-je. Thorsten Poppen of Hungary had his finger crushed in his BMW X5 Oseva, causing him to lose consciousness, according to Autobild, which wrote about the issue in 2017. Lawsuits have been filed in Long Island and now Arizona by drivers who say they've been victimized by the feature. Avi Cohen, the lawyer representing Kastigar and several other drivers in litigation against various car companies for the same issue, said that manufacturers have been aware of the problem since 2011, but haven't fixed. 'It's a sad situation where you have companies who have so much impact on on consumers in their daily lives and they put them in the way of such harm,' Cohen said. 'The benefit doesnt outweigh the risk of injury.' Mercedes Benz declined to comment to DailyMail.com. Downing Street has rebuked a Tory MP who lashed out at Professor Chris Whitty after he advised people to limit socialising in the run up to Christmas. Joy Morrissey said on Twitter that England's Chief Medical Officer should 'defer' to what MPs and Boris Johnson decide when it comes to slowing the spread of Omicron. Ms Morrissey, who is a Government parliamentary private secretary (PPS), the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder, suggested Prof Whitty was behaving like the UK is a 'public health socialist state'. Her comments prompted a ferocious backlash as Labour demanded an apology while her own Tory colleagues said it was 'completely unacceptable' to attack civil servants. Ms Morrissey deleted the tweet but later was accused of 'doubling down' as she tweeted she is 'increasingly concerned at public health pronouncements made in the media that already seem to exceed or contradict decisions made by our elected representatives'. Number 10 defended Prof Whitty as it said he is a 'hugely respected and trusted public servant who provides independent, evidence-based advice'. Joy Morrissey said on Twitter that England's Chief Medical Officer should 'defer' to what MPs and Boris Johnson decide when it comes to slowing the spread of Omicron Ms Morrissey, who is a Government parliamentary private secretary (PPS), the lowest rung on the ministerial ladder, suggested Prof Whitty was behaving like the UK is a 'public health socialist state' Prof Whitty said at a Downing Street press conference last night that people should limit and prioritise social contact amid a growing wave of coronavirus infections Prof Whitty said at a Downing Street press conference last night that people should limit and prioritise social contact in the coming days amid a growing wave of coronavirus infections. His comments went beyond what Mr Johnson said, with the Prime Minister advising the nation to be cautious over the festive period. Responding to a tweet about Prof Whitty's call to reduce social interactions, Ms Morrissey said: 'Perhaps the unelected covid public health spokesperson should defer to what our ELECTED Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister have decided. 'I know it's difficult to remember but that's how democracy works. This is not a public health socialist state.' Downing Street dismissed the claim that Prof Whitty was acting as if Britain is a 'public health socialist state'. Asked if Mr Johnson agreed with the comment, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'No. Professor Whitty is a hugely respected and trusted public servant who provides independent, evidence-based advice. 'I think he himself has been clear that he provides advice and it is rightly for ministers and elected politicians to decide. 'He has been a hugely trusted and valued part of our pandemic response and continues to be so.' Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting described Ms Morrissey's comments as 'outrageous' as he said the Tory MP should apologise. Tory former Cabinet minister Julian Smith appeared to criticise his Conservative colleague as he said 'personal attacks by any politician' on members of the civil service are 'completely unacceptable'. Ms Morrissey deleted her original tweet but sent another this afternoon which stated: 'I am increasingly concerned at public health pronouncements made in the media that already seem to exceed or contradict decisions made by our elected representatives. Ms Morrissey deleted her initial tweet but later said she is 'increasingly concerned at public health pronouncements made in the media that already seem to exceed or contradict decisions made by our elected representatives' 'Expert advice is important but decisions must be made by those we elect, who are democratically accountable.' Mr Streeting accused Ms Morrissey of 'doubling down' on her earlier post as he said: 'The Conservative Party has spiralled into disarray and Boris Johnson is too weak to act.' Ms Morrissey is a PPS at the Ministry of Justice and Labour is now calling on Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to tell her to apologise or face the sack. Labour's shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said: 'It is vital, especially during this pandemic, that our leading scientists have the freedom to give public health advice to the public and to offer their expertise without fear of reprisal. 'As the Omicron variant spreads rapidly through Britain, there must not be any sign of the Government censoring or intimidating our leading scientific experts.' Jeffrey Epstein was dating a Norwegian heiress at the same time he was with Ghislaine Maxwell, the socialite's former assistant testified as the defense kicked off its case in in the alleged madam's sex trafficking trial. Taking the witness stand Thursday morning was Cimberly Espinosa, 55, who worked at Epstein's Madison Avenue office between 1996 and 2002, first as a legal assistant and then a month into her employment Maxwell asked her to be her executive assistant, a job she held until she left. Espinosa, wearing a black jacket, top and trousers, described a parade of women visiting Epstein in his office, one of them being Celina Midelfart, a Norwegian heiress who also once dated Donald Trump Espinosa said that she remembered ordering some flowers for Midelfart on Epstein's behalf during the early years of her employment in the 1990s. That was the time that Epstein was dating Maxwell as well, the court heard. Maxwell's defense lawyer Christian Everdell asked: 'Did you get the impression there was a romantic relationship?' referring to Epstein and Midelfart. Espinosa said: 'I felt like Jeffrey liked herI felt they were a couple, they were together. A couple'. Everdell asked: 'Did this happen during or after the time when it appeared to you that Ghislaine was in a romantic relationship with Epstein?' Espinosa said: 'It was at the very beginning of my employmentthey could have been concurrent for a little bit of time'. Everdell asked if Maxwell knew that Espinosa was buying flowers for Midelfart. Despite being Maxwell's executive assistant at the time, Espinosa said: 'No, she did not.' The pedophile Epstein was seeing Celina Midelfart in the mid 1990s around the same time he was dating other women, it was claimed Ghislaine Maxwell's defense kicked off its case in the British socialite's sex abuse trial on Thursday, calling a former assistant to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein as its first witness Midelfart later dated former President Donald Trump and is allegedly the woman he dumped to be with his eventual third wife, Melania Asked how old the women visiting Epstein were, she said: '18 and over. Young women.' 'We were together just about every day,' she told the court. Epstein appears with his arm around Ghislaine as he takes a phone call in this evidence photo Among the women Espinosa saw was Shelley Lewis, who Espinosa said was 'English' - Lewis is said to have dated Epstein from 1999 to 2002. Another woman Espinosa recalled was Gwendolyn Beck. Espinosa said Maxwell, 59, was a demanding boss but that she learned a lot from her. 'I highly respected Ghislaine,' Espinosa said. 'I looked up to her very much.' Earlier Espinosa described how she thought that Epstein and Maxwell were 'together' when she first met them. Asked why she said it as the 'way they interacted together, they were a little flirtythey behaved like a couple'. Espinosa said that she recalled that Maxwell dated computer millionaire Ted Waitt some time in the 2000s and was still with him when she applied for a job with Waitt some time before 2010 - she didn't get it. Everdell asked Espinosa about Jane, the accuser who claims that Maxwell and Epstein recruited her at 14 and that he repeatedly raped and abused her. Espinosa said that the first time she met Jane she thought she was 'probably 18' and that she visited Epstein's office around five times, usually with her mother. Espinosa said that Jane's mother told her that she was Epstein's goddaughter which meant she was 'treated with utmost respect' and that the women who worked in the office 'considered her (Jane) family of Jeffrey's'. Taking the witness stand Thursday morning was Cimberly Espinosa, 55, who worked at Epstein's Madison Avenue office between 1996 and 2002, first as a legal assistant and then a month into her employment Maxwell asked her to be her executive assistant, a job she held until she left Epstein was a regular at Mar-a-Lago resort. He is pictured with Midelfart at Mar-a-Lago in 1995 Celina Midelfart, Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump attend Valentine's Day Birthday Party for Trump's first wife Ivana in 1998 Everdell asked what was Espinosa's 'impression of the relationship' between Epstein and Jane. She said: 'It was a loving relationship'. After Jane moved to California and no longer associated with Epstein, she sent Espinosa head shots of herself on the cast of the soap opera where she was working as Espinosa was a fan. Jane wrote on one: 'To Cimberly, with love'. On another Jane wrote: 'Thank you for always being so sweet and such a great help. Take care, Jane. Earlier Jane described how Maxwell could be a 'demanding' boss and would give her checklists of between 25 and 50 things to do each day such as booking flights or shipping items. Espinosa said that Maxwell was 'obviously important to Jeffrey' because she managed all of his properties. She said that her interview for the job with Epstein's company was 'rather unique' because Maxwell asked if they could do it in a limousine as they drove around Manhattan. Kevin Maxwell the brother of Ghislaine Maxwell arrives at the courthouse in New York City on Thursday Ghislaine's sister Isabel is seen arriving at court Thursday. She has shown up each day to support her sister Espinosa said that she 'highly respected' and 'looked up' to Maxwell. She credited her success as an executive assistant to 'what I learned supporting Ghislaine'. She said: 'She treated me fairly and was nice and it was fun. 'She was demanding, in a way where every task that was given had to be done ASAP or yesterday, 'I enjoyed the challenge and I was able to do my jobs and everything that was needed to be done by the end of the day'. Espinosa described how Epstein was so exacting he wanted a specific kind of bread flown from New York to be in his properties so it would be fresh in case he arrived. He had sand flow out to his private island in the Caribbean because he wanted more sand on the beach, she told the jury. Espinosa described Epstein as a 'giver' for his numerous donations to philanthropic pursuits. She said: 'He was generous and I always knew him to be donating to charities and just being a kind person'. Before the jury came in Maxwell's defence got off to a bumpy start when it emerged that one of her witnesses, called Alexander Hamilton, had contracted Covid. Judge Alison Nathan said that he would likely be allowed to give evidence via video link. The judge ruled that lawyers for the accusers could not be called to give evidence about whether they told their clients if giving evidence at Maxwell's trial could help their claims for compensation from Epstein's estate. Only one question to one lawyer was to be stipulated and entered into the record. Judge Nathan got into a protracted discussion with Everdell who wanted to introduce evidence that showed Maxwell did not own the property in London until 1997. The significance was that the accuser Kate claimed that Maxwell led her to Epstein there before that time. Judge Nathan said the documents did not address whether Maxwell was living there before buying it and said: 'They don't rent places in London?' Maxwells defense will likely finish on Friday, the court heard. Maxwells lawyers said that one witness may last until early Monday but that it wouldnt take long. Judge Nathan said that if that were the case then there would be closing arguments and the charging of the jury on Monday meaning they could start deliberating that day or Tuesday. Maxwell has so far called five witnesses and plans to call at least four more: a man called Alexander Hamilton and three women called Eva, Michelle and Kelly. Segregation seems to be returning to the USA but not from the direction that consumers of modern mainstream media might expect. During the past few years, Evanston Township High School, located in the leafy Northern suburbs of Chicago, has begun offering pre-calculus, calculus, and AP calculus classes exclusively for students who 'identify as Black.' Other students can obviously take the same courses, but not in the same classrooms as most of their Black peers. For good measure, the school has removed all aptitude-based tracking from the mathematics program, and incorporated word problems about analyzing 'racial disparities in traffic stops by the Evanston Police' into the curriculum. While this is not the focus of this article, such an innovative attitude toward teaching mathematics is spreading inside the United States. The USA Today article I have been quoting opens by praising 'algebra classes taught by Nadine Erbri,' where students learn math skills 'through singing, dancing, and drawing,' and 'problem solving is a team sport.' More to the point, a 'woke' form of racial separatism is spreading as well: the example of ETHS hardly stands alone. A Denver public elementary school recently went viral on Twitter after announcing a 'Playground Night' event open only to minority families. A 'woke' form of racial separatism is spreading. (Left) Black high school students gathered at segregated Frederick Douglass High School, Baltimore, Maryland, 1945. (Right) Denver's Centennial elementary school recently went viral on Twitter after announcing a 'Playground Night' event open only to minority families. The entire New York City school system faces criticism and a potential lawsuit, after announcing that it planned to separate all students by racial category as part of a 'social justice exercise.' Down south in Atlanta, an already outstanding parent complaint accuses that city's Mary Lin Elementary of segregating students by race. Apparently, black children at the school were forced into specific classes and had access to only two of six early-grades teachers. Here, what might at first look like Old South revanchism takes a surprise turn the principal responsible was a black woman, who segregated the African-American children to 'build community.' This sort of thing is not confined to elementary and high schools. As the Daily Mail recently noted, Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington has been 'slammed' for creating openly segregated student housing, classifying the 4th floor of sizable Alma Clark Glass Hall as 'Black affinity housing' not open to Caucasian students. By doing so, Western Washington University does not stand alone in emulating the past, but rather 'joins American University, Stanford University, (the) University of Colorado at BoulderCornell University,' and other well-known and highly ranked institutions of higher learning. Adding to the back-to-the-50s vibe at most of these schools and many others are formally segregated graduation ceremonies (i.e. 'The Black graduation'). These, while generally optional all students can opt to also participate in the 'big' general graduation currently take place at roughly 75 universities. Many thinkers on the contemporary left believe that facially neutral institutions within society are in fact designed to oppress people of color. (Left) Eighteen-year-old Ernest Green (3rd from R), one of nine black students to integrate Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, graduated in 1958. (Right) Graduates raises their fists in celebration as they take part in the Black Commencement at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on May 23, 2017. Obviously, the process of segregating, ranking, and even graduating students on the basis of race requires that they all first be classified into racial categories. In the diverse United States of 2021, this is no longer the simple exercise it likely was when the national population was composed almost entirely of blacks and whites, and attempts at it have produced some entertaining results. Most notably, Asian Americans are increasingly finding themselves classified as 'white.' In its latest 'equity report,' the 16,000 student North Thurston School District located just outside of Seattle on our West Coast - simply lumped all academic outcomes for Asian students together with those for whites, and contrasted these with the results for a 'students of color' category composed of blacks, Latinos, and Native American Indians. Several other districts have done the same, and it seems inevitable that the practice will grow more common, in an era when the success and perceived conservatism of minority immigrants has been dead-seriously described as 'multiracial whiteness.' Underlying both the modern push for segregated 'safe spaces' for minority students and the temptation to re-label high performing minority students as 'white' is a specific belief system, which I describe as Wokism and the writer John McWhorter calls the ideology of The Elect. Many thinkers on the contemporary left believe that facially neutral institutions within society, such as standardized testing, are in fact designed to oppress people of color (or women, the poor, gays, the over-weight, etc), that any gaps in performance between large groups within these systems are evidence of racism/bigotry, and that the solution to this problem is 'equity' which can basically be defined as proportional representation of every group across every positive outcome regardless of actual performance. Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington has been 'slammed' for creating openly segregated student housing, classifying the 4th floor of sizable Alma Clark Glass Hall (pictured above) as 'Black affinity housing' not open to Caucasian students. Within the context of this ideology, it is easy to understand both the idea that any system which produces somewhat unequal outcomes such as the traditional process of academic tracking at Evanston Township High School must be done away with and the idea that members of any minority group who succeed in a system designed to 'oppress' them must somehow actually be members of the majority. However, to those of us who remain agnostic toward the new creed or who follow older paths, all of this seems like ridiculous nonsense. Importantly, this perception is correct. In reality, one glance at U.S. Census data demonstrates that either seven or eight depending on how you decide to classify South Africans - of the 10 richest and most successful groups in contemporary America are made up of 'oppressed' people of color. As I have noted elsewhere, Indian Americans currently hold our pole position, pulling in $126,705 per year. Following closely are Taiwanese Americans ($102,405), Filipino Americans ($100,273), and a presumably diverse pool of South African Americans ($98,212). Together, these groups fill four of the top five slots. A bit further down the list, one of the highest-earning exclusively black groups Nigerian Americans is also the most educated population in the USA. As the center-right writer Rav Aurora, himself a 'POC,' has noted, this is a 'peculiar kind of racist patriarchy, ' given that more than a dozen minority groups finish ahead of whites in our allegedly rigged race. Indeed. For that matter, the Census figures for whites certainly don't indicate any sort of consistent and univariate racial privilege. These vary wildly, with Australian Americans ($100,856) and presumably Jewish Yanks out-earning Cajuns, Appalachians, the Pennsylvania Dutch, and the touchingly large pool of people who identify simply as 'Americans' by tens of thousands of dollars each year. Nigerians also finished ahead of all of these latter white groups. Further, these widely divergent performances are not a matter of mere luck, or of karma. Serious social scientists like Tom Sowell and June O'Neill have pointed out for years that while racism certainly exists - taking into account basic factors like median age, aptitude test scores, and where people live explains many contemporary gaps between groups. 'Disparities' are not 'Discrimination,' as the title of Sowell's best-selling book reminds us. In this complex real world, it simply doesnt make sense to define success and failure as de facto, probative evidence of racism. Fortunately, for those of us who deplore actual bigotry while remaining sane, a better definition already exists. Racism remains what it has always been (and what dictionaries mooooostly still say it is): the ugly practice of disliking other human beings because of the color of their skin. As adult U.S. citizens, capable of thought, we have a moral duty to resist this when we see it, and to object to policies which seem to be based on it. However, no duty exists to assume racism where we do not truly see it, because gurus and fakirs tell us to or to engage in practices traditionally associated with the worst sort of bigotry in order to fight it. One such practice is segregation. In the total absence of evidence that one-race math tests and housing units and collegiate graduations are necessary responses to real prejudice hidden somewhere, these should be ended. Students need to learn to get along with their peers of all shades now before they enter the real world, and start demanding a return to what theyve gotten used to on campus. McDonald's has clawed back more than $105 million in compensation from a former CEO accused of lying about inappropriate workplace relationships. British executive Steve Easterbrook agreed to return the cash and equity awards, and issued a groveling apology saying he failed to 'uphold McDonalds values' as part of the settlement announced Thursday. McDonald's fired Easterbrook in 2019 after he was busted sending racy videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee, and later sued him to get back benefits, saying he lied about consensual affairs with three other workers. Easterbrooks severance was valued at nearly $42 million when issued in 2019, according to an analysis at the time by executive-pay firm Equilar, but the company's stock has since risen by more than a third. From 2015 to 2019, Easterbrook realized $62 million in compensation, according to Equilar, suggesting that the massive clawback revokes nearly all he earned during his tenure as CEO. 'During my tenure as CEO, I failed at times to uphold McDonalds values and fulfill certain of my responsibilities as a leader of the company,' Easterbrook said in a prepared statement issued Thursday by McDonald's. 'I apologize to my former co-workers, the board and the company's franchisees and suppliers for doing so.' McDonald's fired Easterbrook in 2019 after he was busted sending racy videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee McDonald's has clawed back more than $105 million in severance benefits from former CEO Steve Easterbrook (right) who is accused of lying about inappropriate workplace relationships Easterbrook is pictured with his former girlfriend Denise Paleothodoros, whom he dated from 2014 to 2018 when she was assigned to the McDonalds account by her PR firm McDonalds fired Easterbrook in late 2019 after he acknowledged exchanging videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee. At the time of his firing, Easterbrook told the company there were no other similar instances and an inspection of his cell phone seemed to back that up. McDonalds board approved a separation agreement 'without cause' that allowed Easterbrook to keep tens of millions in stock-based benefits and other compensation. Then, in July 2020, the company received an anonymous tip from an employee claiming that Easterbrook had engaged in a sexual relationship with another employee. After an investigation, McDonalds confirmed that relationship as well as two other physical, sexual relationships with employees in the year before it fired its top executive. The company said Easterbrook had removed evidence of those relationships from his phone. Easterbrook also dated Denise Paleothodoros when she was assigned to the McDonalds account by her PR firm. The affair came to light in 2015 but McDonald's concluded the relationship did not violate its policies. Paleothodoross employers, Golin, moved her to another account. McDonalds board sued Easterbrook in August 2020, saying it wouldnt have terminated him without cause if it had known the extent of his misconduct. 'That evidence consisted of dozens of nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photographs and videos of various women, including photographs of these company employees,' the complaint stated. McDonalds fired Easterbrook in late 2019 after he acknowledged exchanging videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee It added that Easterbrook had sent the photographs, which were allegedly taken in late 2018 and early 2019, as attachments to messages from his company e-mail account to his personal e-mail account. In his response to the lawsuit, Easterbrook had claimed that McDonald's had information about his relationships on its computer systems when it negotiated his severance package. The company sought the return of equity awards granted in 2018 and 2019, since Easterbrooks separation agreement made clear he would forfeit those if the company determined he had engaged in 'detrimental conduct.' The settlement announced Thursday holds Easterbrook accountable and affirms the board's decision to pursue the case, McDonalds Chairman Enrique Hernandez Jr. said in a prepared statement. The settlement announced Thursday holds Easterbrook accountable and affirms the board's decision to pursue the case, McDonalds Chairman Enrique Hernandez Jr. said 'The resolution avoids a protracted court process and allows us to move forward,' Hernandez said. The action against Easterbrook came amid a larger reckoning at the company over sexual harassment in its ranks. Over the last five years, at least 50 workers have filed charges against the company, alleging physical and verbal harassment and, in some cases, retaliation when they came forward. In October 2019 -- a month before Easterbrook was fired -- McDonalds introduced a new harassment training program for its 850,000 U.S. employees, but franchisees werent required to provide it. McDonald's went further in April saying it would require new training at its restaurants to fight harassment and discrimination. Scarface actor Steven Bauer witnessed an alleged rape by a man now arrested in the suspected overdose deaths of a Los Angeles model and her designer friend, he has told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. And former Scorpions bassist Ralph Rieckermann also told DailyMailTV that the suspect, actor David Pearce, kept a stack of womens IDs in his apartment which he handed out to young girls, as well as dozens of credit cards not in his name and several high-end laptops. Pearce, 39, a self-professed movie producer and club promoter, is allegedly one of the last people to see model Christy Giles and interior designer Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola alive. He and two other men allegedly took Christy and Hilda from an East LA warehouse party to his West Hollywood apartment in the early hours of November 13, according to the womens phone location records. Three men have been arrested in connection with the deaths of Christy Giles (left) and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, last month David Pearce (right) attended a function at Les Deux Nightclub in Hollywood with Scarface actor Steven Bauer in 2008, Now he has been arrested in connection with the death of two women Pearce (pictured at an event in San Francisco), allegedly raped a woman after locking her in a room at a party around 2008, according to his ex-roommate, Scarface actor Steven Bauer Christy and Hilda were not seen again until that evening when their bodies were dumped at two different hospitals by unidentified men in masks driving a car with no plates. Christy was pronounced dead at Southern California Hospital in Culver City around 5pm that day. Hilda was in a coma in Kaiser Permanente West L.A., until her family took her off life-support on November 28, the day before she would have turned 27. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Bauer, 65, revealed that he lived with Pearce for a few weeks around 2010 in that same West Hollywood apartment and made a shocking allegation against the 39-year-old. David Pearce (left) and Mike Ansbach are seen with Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola on the night she and Christy Giles went partying in East LA Mike Ansbach (left) and Brandt Osborn were also arrested on suspicion of felony offenses linked to the deaths of model Christy Giles and interior designer Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola Steven Bauer (right) played Manny Ribera, a Cuban drug lord and Al Pacino's right-hand man in the 1983 gangster movie Scarface Ralph Rieckermann (right) was bassist for the German rock band The Scorpions. He says David Pearce kept a stack of womens IDs in his apartment which he handed out to underage girls Bauer, who played Cuban drug lord Manny Ribera in the 1983 movie Scarface, said Pearce repeatedly made comments to him about drugging women to have sex with them, and that at a Beverly Hills party the two men attended, a girl told him Pearce had locked her in a room and raped her. The actor said that while at the house party around 2008, Pearce disappeared for a while with a young Latina woman, and her female friend became concerned. Bauer said that as he and the female friend started looking for the missing woman, she burst out of a room sobbing, shortly followed by Pearce. He was trying to hustle me out of the party so that nobody else would hear, Bauer told DailyMail.com. He said, Dont listen to her. This is a stupid party, lets get out of here Get in the car, get in the car. Bauer said he told Pearce to drive the two women home with them. He said as Pearce sped off, they sat in the back, one crying and the other asking her what happened. Then she made a startling accusation. She said he cornered me and he locked the door. And I told him I didn't want to do anything. I didn't like him. And he said yes you like me. And he forced himself on me. I said, Did he hurt you? And she said, He raped me. So I asked him straight out I said Answer me. What shes saying is that you raped her. David Pearce pictured at events with Paris Hilton in 2007 and adult film star Ron Jeremy in 2009 Giles's husband Jan Cilliers was in San Francisco visiting his father when her lifeless body was dumped outside a hospital last month. Bauer went to a 35th anniversary reunion of Scarface with Michelle Pfeiffer, director Brian De Palma and Al Pacino in 2018 He goes, She's a liar. What, you're going to believe her? She's a f***ing maid. She's gonna brag about this later. He goes, Stop being a p***y. She's a liar. She's a housekeeper or something. I said, I'm going to start walking, and I'm going to tell the police where you live. If you don't let the girl out, I'll get her home. He called me all kinds of names. He called me a p***y and that I was a party pooper and I was a hypocrite and that I knew all along what was going on. Bauer appeared in this year's Love on the Rock, a Christian action movie. He was at a screening in October He would do that, he would deflect and spin whatever worked for him. Bauer said that all the while, Pearce was speeding through Beverly Hills while drinking an alcoholic drink in a glass tumbler he took from the party, and when Bauer told him to put the drink down, Pearce threw the glass out the window. I was going to strangle him while he was driving, Bauer said. I just lost my temper. I grabbed him by the hair and I said, Listen, youd better focus right now. Pull over. And he said, Oh, you're a girl, you pulled my hair. And that was probably the last time I saw him, or hung out with him. I told him I wanted to get all my clothes out of his apartment, that I was done. I didn't want to see him anymore. The Scarface actor told DailyMail.com he first met Pearce at a party shortly after moving back to LA, and when the self-described movie producer learned Bauer needed a place to stay, he offered his spare room. Bauer said Pearce was on his best behavior for the first week or so, but that he began to make dark and troubling comments about drugging women in order to sleep with them. He didn't show his colors until he finally basically lost his patience with me, the actor said. Photographs and videos taken late the night before the women were left at the hospitals show Giles and Cabrales dancing and laughing at a warehouse party. Their friend told DailyMail.com that four 'crazed' men and one woman 'targeted' the young women LA Sheriff's Department booking records obtained by DailyMail.com show Pearce is being held on $1million bail He was always implying that he had either Quaaludes or date rape drugs. He would say, What do you think I'm going to do with her? And I'd say, Yeah, but you can't just scam your way past all young females, and he said You want to bet? I have other ways as if you don't know what I'm talking about. I'd say, Don't even joke about that around me. You know I don't approve of that. I hope you're kidding. And he'd say, Watch me. Bauer said when he asked what drugs his temporary roommate intended to use on women, Pearce refused to elaborate. Hed say, Forget it. I'm not telling you. Youre liable to go crazy and turn me in or something. In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, Rieckermann said that about 15 years ago he would regularly see Pearce at parties at the Playboy Mansion and other celebrity house parties in Hollywood and Beverly Hills. The former Scorpions bassist said he once visited Pearces apartment to meet Bauer, his close friend, but was instead greeted by Pearce and shown around. He had extremely large televisions, which was unusual for an apartment at that time, and a lot of electronics standing around, like 3-5 laptops, Rieckermann said. All of a sudden he came out of the bedroom, which by the way, had porn playing in the late afternoon. He came out and showed me a whole stack full of IDs of girls. He said these are the IDs I use to get girls into the clubs. I said, Why do you need IDs to get girls in clubs? Well a lot of the girls were hanging out with are underage. I said, Why are you hanging out with underage girls? That was an extremely weird, big red flag to me. Rieckermann said he also saw a stack of 50-70 credit cards on Pearces desk not in his name, which Pearce refused to explain to him. Ralph Rieckermann said he saw a stack of 50-70 credit cards on Pearces desk not in his name, which Pearce refused to explain to him. Then a few girls started showing up and they were very, very young, and very insecure. My gut feel was they were definitely underage, the 59-year-old retired rock star said. He said he was going to go out with them later and he was passing out all these IDs to these girls. That's when I said okay, I'm out of here. I gotta go. Rieckerman said he wanted to speak out to encourage witnesses to come forward and for police to investigate all possibilities in Christy and Hildas case. He said he later discovered Pearce had been blacklisted from further house parties after a host allegedly caught him on security cameras stealing a laptop. Court records show Pearce was convicted of a petty theft in April 2015, though it is not clear whether the incident was related to any alleged theft from a house party. He was also charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance in 2015, but the case was designated as dismissed or not prosecuted in March that year. In 2018 Pearce made a hoax call to police claiming there were men with guns in his hotel room and they werent letting him leave. A Swat team showed up at the room of the unsuspecting victims of the prank at the upscale Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, until they realized the call was fake. A cloud of suspicion has hung for weeks over Pearce, Ansbach and Osborn, who were said to be the last to see the women alive. Phone location data showed Giles and Arzola went back to Pearce's apartment near Beverly Hills with the three men in the early hours of November 13 after the warehouse party. About 12 hours later the women's cold bodies were dumped at two hospitals by men in balaclavas driving a black Toyota Prius with no plates, caught on CCTV according to Giles's husband, Jan Cilliers. Texts from Christy's phone reviewed by DailyMail.com showed the two women seemed uncomfortable after arriving at Pearce's apartment (pictured) and called an Uber to take them home but were never picked up Texts between the two women showed Christy sent a message to Hilda at 5:30am when they were at the apartment, reading: 'let's go.' Hilda replied: 'Yes. I'll call an Uber' - however, the two were never picked up While both Giles (left) and Cabrales (right) were found with heroin in their systems, their family and friends insist the women never would have willingly taken the drug Giles and Cabrales-Arzola were at SoHo on Friday, November 12, when they left for a warehouse party. Giles husband said he traced her phone to an apartment complex before the women were dropped off at their respective hospitals A car matching the Prius was photographed parked in Pearce's driveway after the incident. Giles was pronounced dead shortly after she was found, and Arzola passed away on November 28 after lying in a coma for two weeks. Pearce has been charged with manslaughter. He was arrested at 11am on Wednesday by LAPD's West Bureau and is being held in a department jail. LA Sheriff's Department booking records obtained by DailyMail.com show he is being held on $1million bail. Pearce's roommate Osborn, 42, was arrested shortly after at 12:30pm the same day and assigned $100,000 bail. Ansbach was arrested at 11:10am on Wednesday and held on $100,000 bail. The other two men are charged with accessory to manslaughter. At least 16 Britons have been hospitalised with Omicron but health officials have yet to reveal patients' vaccination status or even if Covid is the reason they need care. The continued lack of transparency prompted a fresh blast of fury, with one expert describing it as a scaremongering 'conspiracy of gloom'. The UK Health Security Agency revealed that 16 patients were hospitalised with the mutant strain in England by December 14, and that one patient had died. In an update to MPs of the Health and Social Care Committee, Britain's chief medical officer Chris Whitty said the real hospitalisation number will be 'much bigger than that' because of the time it takes to analyse positive tests for variants. However, whether these individuals are vaccinated or not, and if Omicron is why there were in hospital or if it had been detected while they in care for another reason, remain unanswered questions. Karol Sikora, a consultant oncologist and professor of medicine, said the nation had to right to know more and accused health officials of scaremongering. 'We have a right to know, they can't go scaring people like this without giving any information,' he said. 'They have a duty to put in the domain so doctors around the country can assess what is going on. Professor Sikora, who helps care for people with cancer, argued there were real risks involved by letting speculation fill the gap and imaginations run wild. In South Africa, the epicentre of the new variant, data suggests that up to three-quarters of patients counted as Covid hospital admissions were 'incidental' cases, meaning they tested positive after being admitted for a different reason. Professor of medicine and consultant oncologist Karol Sikora said the Government was not providing the nation with enough information about individual Omicron cases Professor Chris Whitty has said the known hospitalisations with Omicron are just those that have been proven, and real number is much larger Professor Sikora told MailOnline: 'It scares people, if I had a bit of tummy pain and weight loss I'd be too scared to go the doctors. 'Nobody knows what's going to happen...but it's a conspiracy of gloom. It's scary but we need data and information.' It came amid unconfirmed reports that the UK's first Omicron death was an anti-vaxxer pensioner who refused the a Covid jab after becoming convinced it was part of a Government conspiracy to control the population. Speaking anonymously, an LBC caller claiming to be the deceased's step-son, said the victim was in his early 70s but had shunned the jab after being brainwashed online by antivaxxers. The pensioner apparently fell ill in early December and died in hospital in Northampton on Monday. His passing was announced by Boris Johnson earlier this week - but the lack of transparency over the UK's first Omicron death prompted fury, as critics including senior doctors told the Government to release more details to stop 'unnecessary alarm'. Four days on, there are still no further details from health officials. The Department of Health did not deny the LBC report was true - but declined to comment saying they don't discuss 'individual cases'. The first Omicron case was recorded in the UK on November 27 - an estimated 1million people per day will be infected by Sunday, current estimates suggest. UK's first Omicron death: What do we know? There are almost no details available on the UK's, first death from Omicron Was the person unvaccinated? Unclear. There are unconfirmed reports he was an unjabbed pensioner. But UKHSA have said most people hospitalised with Omicron had two doses of Covid vaccines. Were they vulnerable? Undetermined. There are reports he was in his 70s and older people have an increased risk of dying from Covid, which is why they, and the health and care staff who look after them, have been prioritized in the vaccine rollout. Where did the person catch Omicron?. Unknown. Where a person caught Covid can be tricky to pin down unless a large number of infections can be traced to a single-event, known as a super-spreader. In which part of the UK the person lived has not been disclosed but reports say he died in Northampton. Were they in hospital for another reason when they died? Unsure, but UKHSA have said the person who died was diagnosed with Omicron in hospital. This could mean that the person was in hospital for Covid, which was later determined to be the Omicron variant, or they were in hospital for a sperate reason, such as a heart attack and later found to have Omicron when they died. There is also the possibility they caught Omicron while in hospital for a procedure, like a planned surgery, and then caught Omicron and died. Why haven't we been told? Patient confidentiality has been cited a reason. Will we know more? And when? UKHSA prepare a weekly report on Covid cases and deaths. More information on this, and any more Omicron deaths, may be provided in that report that comes out at the end of the week. Advertisement The stepson of the victim of the first UK fatal case, named only by LBC as John from Smithfield to protect the identity of the dead man, claimed he was a pensioner who had lived alone in a block of flats and died a fortnight after catching the virus. 'He was a recluse to be honest. He never left the house, had all his food delivered and only left the house to go to the bins and the postbox. He was one of the cleanest guys I'd ever known', John said. 'But this is the important thing. He wasn't vaccinated. My sister is gutted but on the other hand she's a little bit angry that he never took the vaccine. She did have an argument with him about it in October about this very thing. 'He thought it was a conspiracy. He read it online. He was an intelligent man', John said, adding: 'Had he been vaccinated, he would probably still be here.' John said his stepfather had died in hospital on Monday, around a week after being admitted. He said: 'He started to look good but went downhill just like that. He wasn't able to speak, he was scared. I think if you're in hospital, having 80 per cent oxygen fired at you, you would regret it (not having a jab) wouldn't you. I would. He was fit. He ate healthy, he didn't smoke and didn't drink in 30 years'. Asked about Chris Whitty and Boris Johnson's warnings about the dangers of Omicron by Nick Ferrari, he said: 'It might be an overreaction but we don't know. It's the people who haven't been vaccinated - they're the ones that need to be worried now. The key thing is that he wasn't vaccinated and he'd probably still be here. He might be ill, but he'd still be here'. The lack of clear data on individual cases of Omicron came as daily Covid cases in Britain rocketed to another record high today with more than 88,000 people diagnosed in the last 24 hours. Today's count marks a 74 per cent rise in a week and is 12 per cent higher than the toll yesterday, which eclipsed the previous record of 68,000 during the second wave in January. Professor Whitty has warned that 'records will be broken a lot' by the ultra-infectious Omicron variant, believed to be doubling every two days and spreading faster than testing can keep up. A third of today's 88,376 Covid cases were in London which has rapidly become the country's Omicron epicentre, with infections now rising in every age group except young children. Professor Whitty also said today that Omicron is spreading so quickly it could send daily hospital admissions above the previous high of 4,500. However, he admitted there were still several key questions about Omicron such as how severe it is and how well vaccines protect against severe disease. Daily Covid deaths which are a lagging indicator fell today with 146 fatalities down by around 1 per cent on last Thursday. Latest hospital data shows there were 849 admissions on December 12, up 4 per cent in a week. Boris Johnson insisted that the Government does not want to 'lock stuff down', with Britons instead urged to 'prioritise' social events, get a booster and do a lateral flow test before meeting people. How Omicron went from one UK case to 1million per day in just three weeks November 25: The UK Government relaunches its red travel list and hotel quarantine for six African countries including South Africa November 27: The UK Health Security Agency confirms that the first cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 - known as Omicron - was identified in the UK. December 12: 3,137 Omicron cases reported in the UK, mostly in England. But just ten people are in hosiptal. December 13: Britain's first Omicron death is announced. Boris Johnson gave no details on the death other than the person had been diagnosed in hospital. Health Secretary Sajid Javid says the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, he said. December 14: Experts say cases are doubling every 2.5 days and predict 1million cases per day by Sunday December 15: The travel red list is scrapped due to the spread of the Omicron variant in the UK December 16: The stepson of the first Omicron fatality says he was unvaccinated when he died in hospital in Northampton on Monday Advertisement But fears about the variant are already creating a de facto lockdown in London, where tens of thousands of workers stayed at home today to avoid isolating over Christmas. With Covid cases now rising in every age group except young children in London there are fears about how this will translate into NHS pressure. Department of Health data shows London is now seeing just as many cases as last January, when it was battered by the Alpha variant and put under harsher measures than the rest of the country. London's spiralling crisis was initially driven by teenagers and adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s, who were seeing an uptick in cases two weeks before the ultra-infectious strain was first detected. Infections started to rise in the over-60s days after Omicron was confirmed to be in Britain, according to MailOnline analysis. In another warning sign for the country, UKHSA data published today revealed the capital now has the 25 areas with the fastest growing outbreaks in England. Experts have admitted the capital's crisis will inevitably slow down because the virus will simply run out of room, and people adhere to dire warnings from Boris Johnson and Professor Whitty's plea to 'prioritise' the most important social events in the coming days. Today's news came as a study found the Omicron variant multiplies 70 times faster than Delta in the airways, which may explain why the mutant virus is spreading at a ferocious pace. Hong Kong University researchers also found the new variant replicates 10 times slower in the lungs than its predecessor. That finding lends weight to the theory it is milder than the past variants, something which doctors in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. The researchers exposed lung tissue in a laboratory to the original Covid strain that was identified in Wuhan last year, along with the two variants, to compare how the viruses behave after infection. Omicron replicated faster in the bronchus tubes connecting the windpipe and lungs suggesting people with the strain may be more infectious. Higher viral loads nearer the throat means people are more likely to breathe out viral particles. Delta was found to duplicate much quicker in the lungs, where more of the virus can lead to the most severe illness. The finding may be the biological clue behind why doctors insist people infected with the strain only suffer cold-like symptoms. Advertisement The remaining 12 American and Canadian missionaries from a group kidnapped in October in Haiti have been released, police said on Thursday, ending an ordeal that brought global attention to the Caribbean nation's growing problem of gang abductions. The group of 17 children and adults was taken after visiting an orphanage on a trip organized by Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM). They were abducted by a gang known as 400 Mawozo on October 16 - exactly two months before all were rescued. The group had demanded $1 million per missionary. It's unclear if the ransom money was paid or not. Five of the hostages had already been freed in recent weeks, and the final dozen were found by authorities on a mountain called Morne a Cabrit, said police spokesman Garry Derosier. He declined to provide further details on the release. 'Join us in praising God that all seventeen of our loved ones are now safe,' CAM said in a statement on Thursday. 'Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months. We hope to provide more information as we are able.' A man embraces a missionary at the Christian Aid Ministries headquarters at Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the twelve remaining members of a U.S.-based missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago have been freed Five of the hostages had already been freed in recent weeks, and the final dozen were found by authorities on a mountain called Morne a Cabrit, said police spokesman Garry Derosier. They have now been released The group of 17 children and adults was taken after visiting an orphanage on a trip organized by Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM). Pictured some of the kidnapped children are loaded into the car The remaining 12 American and Canadian missionaries from a group kidnapped in October in Haiti have been released Thursday. They are pictured boarding a car A woman takes a photo of members of the Christian Aid Ministries who are departing to the airport from the group's headquarter at Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Dec. 16 Unidentified people carry bags to a vehicle before departing to the airport from the Christian Aid Ministries headquarters at Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, after the victims were released A caravan drives to the airport after departing from the Christian Aid Ministries headquarters at Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti CAM, which is based in the US state of Ohio, said the hostages were 12 adults aged 18 to 48, and five children ranging in age from eight months to 15 years. The 400 Mawozo gang, which controls territory to the east of the capital Port-au-Prince, had said it was seeking a ransom of $1 million for each of the missionaries. CAM has refused to comment on the circumstances surrounding their release - including whether a ransom was paid. The group has not responded to DailyMail.com for comment. Both the US and Canadian governments have said they do not pay ransoms for kidnapped citizens. But officials from the State Department and FBI have been working in Haiti to help secure the safe release of the hostages. The group were abducted by a gang known as 400 Mawozo on October 16 - exactly two months before all were rescued. The group had demanded $1 million per missionary. It's unclear if the ransom money was paid or not A young child is seen through the fence at the Christian Aid Ministries headquarters in Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday A visitor reads the signs on the locked doors at Christian Aid Ministries in Berlin, Ohio Thursday, where the group are from A sign for the Christian Aid Ministries offices is shown in Berlin, Ohio Thursday. Their missing missionaries are finally heading home after being abducted for two months The gang's leader, Wilson Joseph, aka Lanmo Sanjou or 'Death Without Days,' has appeared in internet videos wearing a Spider-Man mask, had said he was willing to kill the hostages. Haitian police have sought the gang's leader since December 2020 for crimes including assassination, kidnapping, vehicle theft and hijacking of cargo trucks. Authorities said they were trying to negotiate with Joly 'Yonyon' Germine, a jailed gang member considered to be the second-in-command of 400 Mawozo. The widely-feared group, whose name loosely translates to '400 inexperienced men,' is responsible for approximately 80 per cent of the kidnappings in Haiti and is often associated with 'collective kidnappings' in which they abduct entire cars or buses of people. Members are known to use rape, assassination and abduction, among other methods, to maintain their hold on Haiti's streets, businesses and power players. Dan Hooley, a former CAM director, said that some of the missionaries had not been in Haiti for long. One family had lived there for 'a couple of months,' he told The Times, and another man had arrived on Friday to work on a relief project related to an earthquake that struck in August. The 400 Mawozo gang had demanded a ransom of $1 million per person. Pictured: People protested in October for the release of kidnapped missionaries near the missionaries' headquarters in Titanyen, north of Port-au-Prince The remaining 12 hostages kidnapped by the notorious '400 Mawozo' gang in Haiti have been rescued. Pictured: People protest against kidnappings and a fuel crisis in Haiti in November He described Christian Aid Ministries as 'the big dog in the mission world,' capable of importing containers full of medicines into Haiti whereas others 'just can't get it done.' The group was founded in 1981 'to be a trustworthy and efficient channel for Amish, Mennonite, and other conservative Anabaptist groups and individuals to minister to physical and spiritual needs around the world.' It reported a revenue of more than $130 million in 2019, largely through donations, and operates in 126 countries. A person familiar with the situation claimed one of the abducted Americans posted a cry for help in a WhatsApp group as the kidnapping was occurring. 'Please pray for us!! We are being held hostage, they kidnapped our driver. Pray pray pray. We don't know where they are taking us,' the abductee wrote. Pictured: 400 Mawozo gang leader Wilson Joseph also known as Lanmo Sanjou stands in front of his fellow gang members in a video posted to YouTube 'Death Without Days' (right) is wanted on numerous charges including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and auto theft Wilson Joseph aka Lanmo Sanjou has been wanted by Haitian police since December 2020 Gangs have extended their control of territory in Haiti since the assassination in July of President Jovenel Moise. One gang coalition in October created a nationwide fuel shortage by blocking access to storage terminals. Haitians say everyone from well-heeled elites to working class street vendors face the threat of abduction by the gangs. The US State Department travel advisory warns US citizens to avoid visiting the Caribbean nation, noting 'kidnapping is widespread and victims regularly include US citizens.' Previously confined to the poorer districts of the capital, gangs have recently extended their reach and increased the number of kidnappings, as the country, already struggling with a years-long social and economic crisis, was hit by a presidential assassination and a major earthquake. Hundreds of people have been kidnapped for ransom since January in Haiti, according to the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights (CARDH). Kim Potter's defense team has slammed the case against her as a 'confusing mess' and asked for the trial be to be halted with a judgment of acquittal at the start of the seventh day of testimony. Defense attorney Paul Engh made the request immediately after the state rested Thursday morning and set the stage for the defense, which is expected to call Potter to the stand. Addressing Judge Regina Chu in Hennepin County District Court, Engh characterized the state as presenting evidence 'inconsistent with a verdict of guilt' in the shooting of Daunte Wright and called for the decision to be taken out of jurors' hands. Engh pointed to the 'conflicting testimony' of the state's own witnesses. Several officers took the stand to say that Potter was justified in using her taser and would have been justified in using deadly force. Former Brooklyn Center Police officer Kim Potter (pictured with her defense team at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis during the seventh day of her trial) confirmed Thursday that she will testify in the case Defense attorney Paul Engh asked for the trial be to be halted with a judgment of acquittal at the start of the seventh day of proceedings Thursday 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 But the prosecution's own Use of Force expert, Professor Seth Stoughton later testified that neither could be considered reasonable. According to Engh: 'The state has presented witness after witness who've indicated that the taser was quite reasonable and should have been used. 'So, we have discordant [evidence]It's a confusing mess really and I say that with all due respect to my colleagues on the other side.' After hearing a brief argument from Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank, Judge Chu ruled that the trial should continue. She reasoned that in making such a decision the evidence had to be 'viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution.' The prosecution rested its case early into the proceedings Thursday after having called more than 20 witnesses across six days of testimony, some of whom appeared to do more for the defense than their own case. Jurors will now hear from the defense that will have Potter directly addressing the jury. It wasn't clear when Potter would take the stand. Her attorneys also planned to call several character witnesses to testify on her behalf, though the judge ruled Wednesday that they would be limited to three. Judge Regina Chu denied the defense's motion Thursday and reasoned that in making such a decision the evidence had to be 'viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution' The prosecution (pictured) rested its case Thursday after having called more than 20 witnesses across six days of testimony. After hearing a brief argument from Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank (right) Judge Chu ruled that the trial should continue Defense Use of Force expert Stephen Ijames demolished testimony given by the state's expert yesterday. Ijames was the first witness called by the defense as they began their case in chief. He disagreed with Stoughton's assessment of Potter's use of force on every count. Potter, 49, is charged with first and second-degree manslaughter in the April 11 shooting of Daunte Wright Stoughton on Wednesday characterized Potter's use of force as 'unreasonable' and 'disproportionate.' Today Ijames told the court that Potter's decision to use a taser was 'completely consistent' with training and practice. As for Stoughton's assertions that Wright was too close to use a taser and that the proximity of other officers rendered it reckless Ijames said this was 'completely untrue.' The vastly experienced police officer of 44 years explained that the Taser 7 was designed to have close range capability and drew from his own career saying: 'We shoot close all the time. You can make a mistake but it doesn't prevent you from doing what you need to do in most scenarios.' Engh asked Ijames for his view on Stoughton's assertion that the officers could simply have let Wright go despite the outstanding bench warrant against him. Ijames rejected this outright and said: 'Police officers enforce the law and an order from a judge is literally the highest order. Potter is white and Wright, 20, was Black. The fatal 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 The defense on Thursday called its first witness, Use of Force expert Stephen Ijames, who demolished testimony given by the state's expert the previous day 'A court order says they will be arrested and if they're not there are repercussions. It's not a request. It's not a suggestion. It's an order to arrest and that's what people do. It's a dereliction of duty not to.' Ijames also cautioned jurors over placing too much emphasis on bodycam footage. According to him: 'The video records exactly what is happening without any of the processes a human being goes through.' Where Stoughton spoke from the standpoint of an academic, Ijames spoke as a practiced officer of the law. In his experience, he told jurors, human beings in moments of great stress get tunnel vision, find loud noises silent or quiet sounds magnified. 'Almost no-one,' he concluded, 'can actively speak to exactly what happens [in a critical incident] because their body cannot record [or process] exactly what happens.' Many of the jurors took notes as Ijames testified, with several apparently noting that he had won an award for bravery as well. Former Brooklyn Center Police Department Chief of Police, Potter's ex-boss, Tim Gannon took the stand to tell the court that Potter was a 'fine officer' and that her actions on April 11 did not violate department 'policy, procedure or law.' In fact, the former chief doubled down on testimony from other police officers who said that Potter was not only justified in using a taser but would have been justified in using a gun to prevent her fellow officers suffering bodily harm or death. The defense has claimed that Potter's actions were motivated in part by an awareness that her fellow officers could have been injured had Wright driven off or thrown the car into reverse. Former Brooklyn Center Police Department Chief of Police, Potter's ex-boss, Tim Gannon took the stand Thursday to tell the court that Potter was a 'fine officer' Gannon doubled down on testimony from other police officers who said that Potter was not only justified in using a taser but would have been justified in using a gun to prevent her fellow officers suffering bodily harm or death Today, Gannon revealed to the court that he himself had been dragged by a car in a critical incident. He recalled his, 'sheer terror,' and, 'trying to recall my training what I had been exposed to before that and simply trying to survive.' Asked by Earl Gray if he was 'doing any favors to Ms Potter' by giving his opinion Gannon said, 'I am not.' Officer Colleen Fricke, 40, told the court that Potter was her friend and mentor and that they worked together on the DART team Speaking Thursday afternoon Gannon explained, 'When I viewed both camera angles and had the details in front of me, I saw no violation of policy, procedure or law.' Gannon admitted that Officer Luckey's failure to move Wright away from the side of the car and the open driver's door was an error. He described it as something that would have been 'a coaching call' for Potter as Luckey's Field Training Officer after the incident. But, he added, 'One thing I hate to do is Monday morning quarterback but I stand by the fact that it would have been preferable for [Officer Luckey] to move him back away from that open door frame.' According to Gannon, who resigned the day following the shooting, his departure from the department was due to the 'political pressures within the city.' He said that his handling of the riots that followed the shooting was a factor in his leaving as well as his refusal to fire Potter immediately. Family friend and defense witness Thomas Hall testifies during the trial of former Brooklyn Center police Officer Kim Potter, on Thursday Former Brooklyn Center Police Sergeant and Potter's one-time supervisor Frank Roth was among the four character witnesses Potter's defense team called as they presented their case in chief He told the court that under the circumstances he had 'resigned in lieu of termination' Potter resigned before he left. Gannon expanded on his view that Potter was a 'fine officer' by detailing the additional work she had done while in the force, including her role in LEMA (Law Enforcement Memorial Association) supporting the families of fallen officers and DART (Domestic Abuse Response Team). Asked by Gray if he would lie under oath to help Potter, Gannon colored up and said firmly, 'Sir, there's a reason I'm an ex-police chief. Nobody gets me to say something or do something I don't believe in. 'I wouldn't lie for anyone.' Potter's defense team ended their first day of testimony by calling four character witnesses: former colleague Officer Colleen Fricke, 40, family friend Thomas Hall, 23 former Brooklyn Center Police Sergeant and Potter's one-time supervisor, Frank Roth and Brooklyn Center Police Officer Samuel Smith. Each was limited to speaking only to Potter's reputation for being peaceable and law-abiding due to an earlier ruling by Judge Chu. Officer Colleen Fricke, 40, told the court that Potter was her friend and mentor and that they worked together on the DART team. Sgt Mike Peterson, BCPD's taser training officer, gave evidence Wednesday bolstering the defense's case that Potter's accidental fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, 20, was a terrible mistake rather than a criminal act Professor Seth Stoughton (pictured) - the state's Use of Force expert - later 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 In this image provided by the prosecution shows the difference between a Taser and a Glock She was with Potter on the day of April 11 and escorted her from the scene back to Brooklyn Center Police Department. She told the court that she had witnessed Potter, 'curled up in the corner of a meeting roomcrying.' When she started to describe Potter as a 'remarkable person and a remarkable police officer,' Frank rose to object, and Judge Chu told jurors to disregard the comment. Hall, a former military signal system support specialist, described Potter as a 'second-mother figure.' Brooklyn Center Patrol Major Mychal Johnson, who assisted officers at the scene on April 11, took the stand last Friday Roth estimated that he had spent 18,000 hours as Potter's direct supervisor and said that he considered her a friend. He described her reputation within the community as 'sterling,' and said that she was a 'very good' police officer. He referenced her work with LEMA, DART and the hostage negotiation team of which he was a supervisor. As hostage negotiators Roth said, 'We were trained to get peaceful ends to tragic situations. Given the opportunity Kim got peaceful resolutions.' Officer Smith described Potter as, 'a calming force with lots of new officers.' During the sixth day of trial on Wednesday, a Taser expert testifying for the prosecution had told jurors in the that, 'mistakes happen' in policing and described the former cop as 'peaceful and law-abiding.' 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. A struggle ensued when Potter and her trainee officer tried to arrest Wright (pictured) after learning during a traffic stop that he had an outstanding warrant against him 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 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.' In this screen grab from video, a photo of a Glock 9mm handgun carried by Potter was entered into evidence Prosecutors argued that Potter betrayed her badge and oath by using her weapon 'rashly or recklessly' on the day of the botched traffic stop However, Stoughton later 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'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. 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. Boris Johnson tonight snubbed a plea from Nicola Sturgeon for direct talks as she accused him of 'sleepwalking' into an Omicron crisis. Downing Street said there are no plans for a call with the SNP leader despite her 'urgent' demand to speak to him. The response came after Ms Sturgeon insisted the UK Government must provide more cash to support the tough guidance on socialising at Christmas she issued earlier this week. In a hint that furlough and grants for businesses should return, she told Holyrood that the scale of funding should be the same as earlier in the pandemic. Mr Johnson has dismissed claims that he is imposing 'lockdown by stealth' in England, with stricken bars and restaurants complaining that customers have abandoned them after grim warnings at a Downing Street press conference last night. He stressed that a package of support is still in place, but the government's main focus is on keeping establishments open as much as possible. Hospitality firms have been holding talks with Chancellor Rishi Sunak as they push for more financial backing. Speaking to MSPs, Ms Sturgeon said she had written to Mr Johnson 'appealing to him to put the necessary support schemes in place'. She said she was 'profoundly concerned by the scale and the immediacy of the challenge' that the new strain of the virus poses. Downing Street said there are no plans for Boris Johnson (left) to have a call with Nicola Sturgeon (right) despite her 'urgent' demand to speak to him If the number of people testing positive doubles every three days, then there would be 463,704 daily cases on Christmas Eve. That would force the 1.9million people testing positive between now and then into isolation for 10 days, the equivalent of 3 per cent of the population Omicron is likely to be the dominant strain of coronavirus in Scotland from tomorrow, she said with 5,951 new coronavirus cases reported on Wednesday, of which almost half were likely to be the new variant. Earlier this week, the First Minister issued guidance for people to reduce their social interactions, calling for any festive meet-ups to be restricted to a maximum of three households. She said today that she was 'acutely aware of and deeply concerned about the considerable impact' this could have on businesses. To help them cope, she said the 'scale of financial support' that was put in place earlier in the pandemic was needed once again. But Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood: 'There are simply no mechanisms available to the devolved administrations to trigger the scale of finance needed to support such schemes. 'We need the UK Government to act urgently and in the same way some other countries are already doing.' She said the issue needs the 'urgent engagement' of both the PM and Mr Sunak. 'We must not sleepwalk into an emergency that for both health and business will be much greater as a result of inaction than it will be if we act firmly and strongly now,' she said. 'I have therefore written to the Prime Minister this morning appealing to him to put the necessary support schemes in place. Such is the urgency I've asked to speak to him directly later today.' Ms Sturgeon said: 'Omicron is doubling every two to three days in Scotland. In parts of the UK the doubling time is currently less than two days. Lives again are at risk here, livelihoods are at risk, and the NHS is at risk.' With the virus 'raging', she hit out at Mr Sunak for travelling to California on official business. Ms Sturgeon said: 'What businesses want, and what businesses need more than anything right now, is the Chancellor of the Exchequer at his desk putting the financial support schemes in place that will stop them going to the wall.' Asked whether Mr Johnson would talk to Ms Sturgeon, a spokesman for the PM said: I think you are aware that yesterday there was a Cobra meeting that involved the devolved administrations that was led by Michael Gove. That meeting was in place to discuss our ongoing commitment to work together to tackle Covid-19 and an agreement to stay in close touch in the lead up to Christmas. Pushed on the prospects of a meeting, the spokesman said: I havent got any calls or meetings to update you on but as I say we continue to regularly speak to devolved administrations and we will continue to work with them as we have done throughout the pandemic. The spokesman went on: We understand this is a concerning time for hospitality sector and we are closely monitoring the impact of the virus on the economy. You are aware that there is already significant support in place until spring next year, including business rates relief and VAT reduction for hospitality businesses in England. And as we said this morning the Chancellor and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury have been speaking to businesses in the hospitality sector this afternoon. LONDON -- Westminster Bridge looks very quiet during the morning rush hour in London today as Britons stay at home Such huge numbers could partially paralyse the country, causing 'huge disruption from people being off work' and threatening key services including the NHS and police, experts claimed. Graph shows: The number of NHS staff off work with Covid every day over the last two weeks. Dips on December 5 and 12 occurred on Sundays, when fewer staff are working and therefore less absences are expected. Figures are expected to increase in the coming weeks But again, you are aware of the support that is already in place. While the Scottish Government is providing 100million to help businesses in sectors such as hospitality, which are now struggling because of the new advice, the First Minister conceded this was 'not enough'. She added this is 'why we need the Chancellor and the Prime Minister to do their jobs and to get proper financial support in place for businesses as quickly as is possible'. Ms Sturgeon warned MSPs that it 'seems likely that by tomorrow Omicron will be the dominant strain circulating in Scotland'. She added that 'because of its much higher transmissibility, this will drive an even more rapid increase in cases'. 'Omicron is spreading exceptionally fast, much faster than anything so far experienced in the pandemic,' she said. 'I am profoundly concerned by the scale and the immediacy of the challenge it poses.' Ms Sturgeon added: 'We must understand Omicron is currently running faster than even the fastest rollout of vaccines.' Rishi Sunak is under fire after going on a work trip to California while the Omicron coronavirus variant wreaks havoc with the UK economy. The Chancellor is still in the US for what Downing Street has described as a 'long planned trip'. The timing of the visit has prompted criticism as hospitality firms continue to urge the Treasury to bring forward new financial support to help pubs, bars and restaurants survive the winter. Boris Johnson's advice to the nation to be cautious and Professor Chris Whitty's call for people to limit their socialising in the run up to Christmas has caused a wave of hospitality cancellations. Industry bosses are now demanding Mr Sunak 'show up' and agree to prop up the sector amid claims that the Government has imposed a 'lockdown by stealth'. The Chancellor and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Simon Clarke, held calls with hospitality chiefs this afternoon to discuss the impact of the variant. Rishi Sunak is under fire after going on a work trip to California while the Omicron coronavirus variant wreaks havoc with the UK economy The timing of the visit has prompted criticism as hospitality firms continue to urge the Treasury to bring forward new financial support to help pubs, bars and restaurants survive the winter The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman was asked this morning why the Chancellor's trip had not been included on a list of Government engagements for the week. He replied: 'I don't know, I'd have to refer to (the) Treasury on that for when it was finalised, but I believe my understanding is a long-planned, long-standing trip.' A Treasury spokesman said: 'The Chancellor is in the US on a long-planned trip conducting government business. 'He is in constant contact with staff back home and will be speaking to UK hospitality businesses today to hear their concerns.' Mr Sunak and Mr Clarke held one-on-one meetings with business and hospitality chiefs this afternoon. Downing Street said some of the companies and organisations who took part were Prezzo, Black Sheep Brewery, Nando's, Greene King, Whitbread, Adnams, the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses, British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Wholesale Distributors and UK Hospitality. Number 10 said it recognised the 'difficult position' that the hospitality sector is in but did not commit to bringing forward additional financial support. The boss of pub group Young's has called for Mr Sunak to 'show up' and re-introduce a lower rate of VAT and business rates holidays. Patrick Dardis, chief executive of the 220-strong group, said: 'I have no idea where Rishi Sunak is right now but he needs to show up and give the industry his backing.' Labour had called on the Government to announce a new package of business support by the end of today. Boris Johnson's advice to the nation to be cautious and Professor Chris Whitty's call for people to limit their socialising in the run up to Christmas has caused a wave of hospitality cancellations. Shadow Treasury minister Pat McFadden said of Mr Sunak: 'Why did he decide to proceed with a trip to California on Tuesday when it was already clear that UK businesses were struggling to cope with what the Prime Minister himself has called a 'tidal wave of Omicron'? 'Even if he's abroad, California is not exactly a communications desert. They have television there, I've even heard they have the internet, but it's still radio silence from the Chancellor tumbleweed rolling through the Treasury.' Mr McFadden said the Chancellor needed to talk to UK businesses who are 'losing bookings by the hour and watching their December profits vanish into thin air'. The mother of a black sixth-grader with developmental issues has accused her son's overwhelmingly white district of discrimination after the minor was stripped-searched twice by staff who accused him of having a gun. Eleven-year-old Xavier Miles also was placed in isolation at West Intermediate Middle School in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, in a room his mother said looked 'like a jail cell' during a separate incident with classmates. Cheyenne Johnson, 29, said those two incidents have been the latest in a series of attacks against her son, triggered by his skin color and Mount Pleasant School District's inability to accommodate Xavier's needs as someone with ADHD. Johnson, who acknowledges her son was been accused of bullying others, is suspicious that the school did not immediately notify her that Xavier had supposedly made gun threats to school staff and students. 'They call me countless times, day after day after day, to tell me my kid is misbehaving. And I get it...But if you can call me constantly for small things, why the hell didn't you call me when you supposedly thought he had a gun?' she told The Black Wall Street Times. She also claimed Xavier has been bullied for being black and called 'ni****' at school. He is now being homeschooled. The district, which is 70 percent white, said in a statement it takes gun threats very seriously and acted accordingly. Eleven-year-old Xavier Miles was also placed in isolation at West Intermediate Middle School in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, inside a room his mother said looked 'like a jail cell.' No gun was ever found 'They call me countless times, day after day after day, to tell me my kid is misbehaving. And I get it. But if you can call me constantly for small things, why the hell didn't you call me when you supposedly thought he had a gun?' Xavier's mom, Cheyenne Johnson, said The district, which is 70 percent white, said in a statement they took gun threats very seriously Xavier was searched after one of his classmates told a teacher the 11-year-old said he had a gun during lunch on November 10. The next day, Xavier was stripped-searched again after allegedly making gun threats in front of a school worker, The Black Wall Street Times reported. 'He was asked to remove articles of his clothing, pull his pants down, remove shirts, you know. His skin was showing and he, he will tell you himself, he feels humiliated,' Johnson told local news station WNEM. After a separate altercation with students on November 19, Xavier was placed inside a windowless room with no desk, chair, schoolwork or adult supervision. He then sent a video to his mom that showed him sitting on the floor, surrounded by concrete in what school officials called 'in-school suspension.' '...It wasn't in-school suspension. He was locked in an isolated room. There were no desk, no teacher, no chair, no schoolwork. He was sitting on the floor,' Johnson said. 'I was outraged. I couldn't wrap my head around it. How do you put a child with disabilities in a room like that?' she told ABC News. Johnson said her son has been suspended several times. 'I texted his teacher and asked him if this is their version of in-school suspension. And can you explain to me why my kid with disabilities is sitting in a room in conditions similar to the county jail,' Johnson said. When she went to the school to pick up her son, she said she spoke to the assistant principal but nothing was done to address her concerns. 'He took notes, told me [he was going] to investigate and get back to me. I never got a response back. So I went to the superintendent's office and they basically did the same thing,' Johnson said. After a separate altercation with students on November 19, Xavier was placed inside a windowless room with no desk, chair, schoolwork or adult supervision. He then sent a video to his mom that showed him seating on the floor, surrounded by concrete walls in what school officials called 'in-school suspension' '...It wasn't in-school suspension. He was locked in an isolated room. There were no desk, no teacher, no chair, no schoolwork. He was sitting on the floor,' Johnson said 'All's I want is my child to be able to receive an education just like any other child. Like, he has barriers. He needs a little bit of extra help, but that doesn't mean that he should be locked in a room,' Johnson added. The mother accused the district of not being equipped to handle Xavier's developmental issues and said it is turning a blind eye to the bullying her child has endured for being black. Johnson said Xavier told her he 'didn't want to be black anymore' after a classmate had called him a 'n*****' when he was in the fifth grade. The National Parents and Johnson have reportedly filed complaints with the Department of Education and the Department of Justice. In September, Mount Pleasant Public Schools were sued by Jimmy Hoffmeyer on behalf of his daughter, Jurnee, alleging racial discrimination after the school's librarian, Kelly Mogg, and teacher's assistant Kristen Jacobs reportedly cut the biracial girl's hair without her parents' consent. 'There needs to be accountability behind what has taken place with Jurnee Hoffmeyer and behind Xavier. The district has failed to hold itself accountable,' said Christina Laster, director with the National Parents Union. 'Because there seems a pattern and a history of poor practices that would really constitute discrimination against the black, brown, and indigenous children and families,' she continued. In September, Mount Pleasant Public Schools were sued by Jimmy Hoffmeyer on behalf of his daughter Jurnee, alleging racial discrimination after the school's librarian, Kelly Mogg, and teacher's assistant Kristen Jacobs reportedly cut the biracial girl's hair without her parents' consent Meanwhile, the school denied any wrongdoing in handling Xavier's needs and supposed threats and said that an internal investigation had concluded staff had acted accordingly to the circumstances Meanwhile, the school denied any wrongdoing and said that an internal investigation had concluded staff acted appropriately for the circumstances. 'We take all threats, reports of threats, and any allegations raised by parents regarding their children very seriously and thoroughly investigate all allegations in a timely manner consistent with district policy and procedures,' the statement read. 'We are proud of our school employees who work tirelessly to support all our students and make our schools a safe and welcoming place to learn.' The district also said it was bound by federal law to protect the privacy of individual students and therefore would not comment further. 'Our initial review, which included interviews and review of available video evidence, showed the allegations are without merit. Having said that, we have also asked a third party to review the allegations raised by the parent and will update our community when this review is finalized,' the statement concluded. A judge approved a request to wipe clean the court record of a black woman arrested for refusing to move to the back of a segregated Alabama bus in 1955, nine months before Rosa Parks gained international recognition for doing the same. A judge granted the request by Claudette Colvin, now 82, in a brief court order made public Thursday by a family representative. Parks, a 42-year-old seamstress and activist with the NAACP, refused to give up her bus seat to a white man on December 1, 1955. But months before that, a pregnant 15-year-old Colvin also refused to give up her seat for a white teenager when on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. 'I said I could not move because history had me glued to the seat...it felt as though Harriet Tubman's hand had me pushed down on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth's hand was pushing me down on the other,' she said she told the driver when he asked her to move at the time. Colvin was charged with violation of segregation law, causing public disorder and found guilty of police assault, even though she claims she did not attack officers. She went to college, became a nurse's aide and raised two sons, but after seeing the George Floyd protests in May 2020 her passion to fight for her rights reignited. Colvin knew she had to show her children and grandchildren she still had one fight left, she said. The death of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, at the hands of a Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officer became the catalyst for last year's summer of unrest, marked with national and international protests denouncing police brutality and systemic racism and demanding change. A judge granted the request by Claudette Colvin (right), now 82, in a brief court order made public Thursday by a family representative. Pictured on October 26 Colvin was charged with violation of segregation law, causing public disorder and found guilty of police assault, even though she claims she did not attack officers Colvin told CBS News that civil rights leaders had thought that Parks, who was a well respected and lighter-skinned figure, would be more appealing for the movement. She added that the leaders' decision didn't take anything away from Parks' influence history. 'I think of myself as a survivor of the Civil Rights struggle,' she told the outlet. Parks' treatment led to the yearlong Montgomery Bus Boycott, which propelled Martin Luther King Jr. into the national limelight, is often considered the start of the modern civil rights movement despite Colvin refusing to shift seats on the segregated Montgomery bus before Parks. Rosa Parks (left), a 42-year-old seamstress and activist with the NAACP, gained worldwide notice after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man on December 1, 1955. But months before that, a pregnant 15-year-old Colvin (right) had also refused to give up her seat for a white teenager when on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. Colvin went to college, became a nurse's aide and raised two sons, but after seeing the George Floyd protests in 2020, her passion to fight for her rights reignited. She knew she had to show her children and grandchildren she still had one fight left, she said On March 2, 1955, a bus driver called police to complain that two black girls were sitting near two white girls in violation of segregation laws. One of the girls moved toward the rear when asked, a police report said, but Colvin refused and was arrested. The case was sent to juvenile court because of Colvin's age, and records show a judge found her delinquent and placed her on probation 'as a ward of the state pending good behavior.' Colvin never got official word that she had completed probation through the ensuing decades, and relatives said they assumed police would arrest her for any reason they could. Colvin said civil rights leaders thought that Parks, who was a well respected and lighter-skinned figure, would be a more appealing image for the movement, but added that the leaders' decision didn't take anything away from Parks' influence history. Above, Rosa Parks sits in the front of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, after the Supreme Court ruled segregation illegal in 1956 At the time she asked a court in October to expunge her record, Colvin said she did not want to be considered a 'juvenile delinquent' anymore Claudette Colvin, civil rights activist, speaks on stage during the 2020 Embrace Ambition Summit by the Tory Burch Foundation in New York In October, when she first asked a court to expunge her record, Colvin said she did not want to be considered a 'juvenile delinquent' anymore. 'I am an old woman now. Having my records expunged will mean something to my grandchildren and great grandchildren. And it will mean something for other black children,' Colvin said at the time in a sworn statement. Now that Juvenile Court Judge Calvin L. Williams has approved the request, Colvin said in a statement that she wants 'us to move forward and be better.' Williams, who is African American, said of his decision to CBS: 'When she did that in 1955, there were not African American judges in Montgomery. She stood up for right and now I am the beneficiary and byproduct of that, and can correct the wrong that was done to her,' he said. Colvin never had any other arrests or legal scrapes, and she became a named plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit that outlawed racial segregation on Montgomery's buses. 'When I think about why I'm seeking to have my name cleared by the state, it is because I believe if that happened it would show the generation growing up now that progress is possible, and things do get better. It will inspire them to make the world better,' Colvin said. A Dubai national alleged to be a kingpin behind the moving of more than 100million in crooked cash from the UK to the UAE has been charged with money laundering. Abdullah Mohammed Ali Bin Beyat Alfalasi, 46, was arrested at his upmarket flat in Lowndes Square, Belgravia, on Tuesday. After being questioned by detectives he was charged today with one count of conspiring to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or remove criminal property between December 3, 2019 and last December 31. Prosecutors allege Alfalasi arranged the removal of around 110m from the UK via major airports to the United Arab Emirates using cash mules. Abdullah Mohammed Ali Bin Beyat Alfalasi, 46, who is alleged to be a kingpin behind the moving of more than 100million in crooked cash from the UK to the UAE, has been charged with money laundering. Pictured: Some of the money found by authorities which was destined for Dubai Pictured: Bundles of money which were seized by authorities, which couriers had been attempting to transport to the UAE from the UK Authorities claim he could have organised the travel of at least 26 couriers who are thought to have shipped tens of millions in criminal cash from the UK to Dubai. Two of those couriers are already in prison - including Tara Hanlon, 31, who was jailed for nearly three years in July after being caught taking around 2million from the UK to Dubai. She had already smuggled 3.5m in five suitcases on three different trips over a four-month period when Border Force officers stopped her at Heathrow Airport last October with the latest haul. Alfalasi is accused of being a key figure in the global money laundering racket and was arrested during a raid on a posh flat in Belgravia, central London, where a three-bed property can sell for more than 11m. Two of those couriers are already in prison - including Tara Hanlon, 31, (pictured) who was jailed for nearly three years in July after being caught taking around 2million from the UK to Dubai He is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates today. This probe into the international money laundering gang was described as the largest the National Crime Agency has ever investigated. In total 10 other suspected members of the money laundering racket have been arrested - eight in a series of raids in May. All were later released under investigation, the NCA said. So far 21 more suspected couriers linked to the network have been questioned by National Crime Agency investigators. H.E. Hamid Al Zaabi, Director-General of the UAE's Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, said: 'This case is a practical example of how the UAE and UK are working closely to increase cooperation and coordination on illicit financial flows as intelligence sharing and joint operation capabilities are enhanced. 'This is the essence of the partnership's ambitions, as illustrated by the new strategic partnership signed in September this year and following the most recent meeting the UAE held with the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) on November 25. 'The individuals in question are currently under investigation by the UAE authorities, and all related assets linked to them have been frozen. 'We will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the UK in the global fight against illicit finance.' Police in New York City are hunting for a suspect who was caught on video spray-painting and drawing swastikas on several landmarks, including City Hall and the world-famous Charging Bull statue in Manhattan. According to the NYPD, at least three acts of vandalism that have taken place in Lower Manhattan within the past two weeks have been attributed to the same person. Police are now appealing to the public for help in identifying the culprit, whose actions have drawn strong reactions from top officials, including the city's mayor and New York's governor. The NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force is looking for a suspect accused of drawing and spray-painting swastikas all over Lower Manhattan within the past two weeks This white male walking with a limp was caught on video drawing a swastika on a pillar outside City Hall at Beekman Street and Park Row on December 13 On December 3 at around 1pm, the suspect allegedly scrawled three swastikas at a construction site at 10 Maiden Lane. On December 13 at 6.30pm, the same man was caught on surveillance video drawing the same hateful symbol of anti-Semitism on a pillar near the City Hall subway station at the corner of Beekman Street and Park Row. The bandit was seen fleeing southbound on Park Row. A day later, just after 10pm, the perpetrator was back it, this time spray-painting a swastika on the iconic bronze Charging Bull statute in front of 25 Broadway, before fleeing northbound on Morris Street. On December 14, the same culprit defaced the famous Charging Bull statue on Broadway by spray-painting a swastika on the iconic artwork The NYPDs Hate Crime Task Force is now investigating the string of distressing incidents. The suspect is described as a man with a light complexion who appears to walk with a limp. He was last seen wearing a black-and-gray poncho, black jeans and multicolored sneakers, and carrying a black backpack. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio promised in a tweet on Wednesday that the criminal will be brought to justice. 'This would be outrageous anywhere in our city but it's especially galling for it to happen outside the building where the people's work is done,' he stated. Gov Kathy Hochul also released a statement condemning the spate of hate-fueled acts of vandalism. 'I am appalled and disgusted that a swastika was scrawled on the wall of the Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall subway station,' Hochul wrote. 'No one should walk the streets in fear of hate, bigotry and antisemitism. 'An attack on a Jewish New Yorker is an attack on all of us. If you commit a hate crime, you are picking a fight with 20 million New Yorkers. We are united in saying that hate has no home here in New York. The suspect was last seen wearing a black-and-gray poncho, black jeans and multicolored sneakers, and carrying a black backpack Mayor Bill de Blasio condemned the hate-fueled attacks in a tweet on Wednesday 'I am directing the New York State Police to assist in this ongoing investigation.' Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the person seen in videos and photos released by the NYPD drawing swastikas in Lower Manhattan is being asked to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. New York City has been in the throes of a massive crime wave over the past year. The latest data from the NYPD indicate that as of December 12, the hate crime rate has jumped an astonishing 91.6 percent compared to this time last year. Nearly all other crime rates, including murder, rape, robbery, felony assault and gun violence, have seen significant year-to-date increases. Almost 48 hours after being asked to name President Biden's biggest foreign policy wins, Press Secretary Jen Psaki came up with an answer on Thursday: restoring American leadership, rebuilding alliances and taking action in the Indo-Pacific. But the president's most consequential decision - ending the U.S. war in Afghanistan - merits no mention, even though Biden himself described the resulting evacuation of Kabul as an 'extraordinary success.' Her response quickly renewed criticism of an administration that has trumpeted its foreign policy expertise. 'Thanks to Patsy Widukaswara for a thoughtful question about our single biggest foreign policy success this year,' tweeted Psaki, referring to the the softball query she was asked on Tuesday. 'Thoughtful questions deserve thoughtful answers so here are 3 of the accomplishments [the president] and our team are proud of this year. More to come. She listed the Biden administration's role in international institutions and convening world leaders to make progress on the pandemic, climate change and economic recovery; restoring our alliances, including with Europe, and ending some significant trade disputes; and in the Indo-Pacific, developing new platforms such as the A.U.K.U.S. deal with Australia and the United Kingdom. Jen Psaki struggled to find an answer on Tuesday when asked for President Biden's biggest foreign policy achievement, but listed three when she tweeted her answer two days later Psaki used a Twitter thread to trumpet restoring U.S. leadership to the world, rebuilding alliances and making progress in the Indo-Pacific region as successes Too little, too late, according to Brett Bruen, director of global engagement in the Obama White House. He said not only was the delay a 'missed opportunity' but it exposed a lack of confidence in the administration's achievements. 'And if, for instance, we are to believe that the withdrawal from Afghanistan went as successfully as they led us to believe and was as historically important as they argued,' he continued, 'why not hold that up as an important accomplishment for the administration? The hurried withdrawal of U.S. troops continues to cast a shadow over the administration. Some 13 service personnel died in the final days of the evacuation when an ISIS suicide bomber detonated explosives at Kabul airport, and chaotic scenes of refugees falling from departing planes provided the defining image of the departure. Yet Biden cast the exit, as the Taliban seized the capital and control of the country 20 years after the U.S. invaded, as a triumph. 'The extraordinary success of this mission was due to the incredible skill, bravery, and selfless courage of the United States military and our diplomats and intelligence professionals,' he said as he announced the end of America's 20-year war in the country. But allies such as the U.K. have said they felt blindsided by the hasty exit and fear rivals such as Russia and China may sense weakness in Washington. Missing from Psaki's answer was any mention of the Afghanistan exit, which will be remembered for the desperate scramble of Afghans to find safety on departing planes Biden said the evacuation was an 'extraordinary success' despite images of chaos Psaki was asked about what lessons had been learned in Afghanistan by Widukaswara, a reporter with Voice of America, along with a gentle softball on Tuesday. 'What does the administration consider your biggest achievement in foreign policy in this first year? And also what lessons have you learned from what is arguably the biggest failure which is Afghanistan,' she asked. Psaki responded: 'You know, this is a great question. 'I want to be thoughtful about it. I want to talk to the president about it. 'And I'm happy to do that.' The result was surprise among some foreign policy experts, and open ridicule by Biden's opponents that she was apparently unable to list his successes. Sean Spicer, who served in the same role as Psaki under President Trump, tweeted: 'If you can't name one you have a PROBLEM.' The families of 737 MAX crash victims have said the U.S. Justice Department violated their rights when it struck a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing in January. Relatives filed a motion on Thursday arguing the United States government 'lied and violated their rights through a secret process' by allowing Boeing to escape criminal charges. As part of the deferred prosecution deal, Boeing test pilot Mark Forkner is the only person to be criminally charged in the two disastrous 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019. Now the families of two victims have asked a U.S. judge to declare that the order violated victims families' rights to rescind Boeing's immunity from criminal prosecution that was part of the $2.5 billion agreement. The families of 737 MAX crash victims have said the U.S. Justice Department violated their rights when it struck a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing in January. Pictured: Family members hold photos of Ethiopian 302 victims during a Congressional hearing People walk past a part of the wreckage at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 10, 2019 The motion was brought by the families of Mick Ryan (left) and Jared Babu Mwazo (right), who both perished in the Ethiopian Flight 302 crash 'Boeing and the Government deliberately excluded those who were most concerned with the negotiations: the families of the victims,' said attorney Paul G. Cassell, a former federal judge who is currently a professor of law at the University of Utah and considered one of the nation's leading experts on crime victims' rights. 'If the Government is going to craft a DPA for a serious felony crime, including one that gives a corporation like Boeing immunity, it cannot do so secretly. In concealing its negotiations from Boeing's victims, the Government plainly violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act a broad bill of rights protecting victims of federal crimes.' The motion was brought by the families of Mick Ryan and Jared Babu Mwazo, who both perished in the Ethiopian Flight 302 crash. The victims' families are seeking an order for the government to confer with them and provide evidence related to Boeing's crimes and require Boeing to appear for a public arraignment where the victims can be heard. They also ask the court to exercise its supervisory powers over the DPA which may include rescinding the immunity provision. 'If the U.S. Justice Department had advised us of our right to confer with it about the crimes associated with the crash, we would have urged the Department to hold Boeing accountable to the full extent of U.S. criminal law,' said Mick Ryan's widow Naoise Connolly Ryan in a statement to DailyMail.com. Investigators with the U.S. National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) look over debris at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 on March 12, 2019 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia 'We would have pointed out that the Boeing employees whose conduct form the basis of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement were acting in furtherance of Boeing's program goals, set at the highest levels of the company,' she added. 'Boeing should be fully prosecuted. The agreement reached under the Trump administration is merely a slap on the wrist that wrongly holds no executive accountable.' Forkner, Boeing's former chief technical pilot, was charged with fraud for deceiving federal regulators evaluating the company's 737 MAX jet. Boeing test pilot Mark Forkner is the only person to be criminally charged His attorneys said this week that a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official called him a 'scapegoat' for two fatal crashes. Lawyers for Mark Forkner said the FAA official with personal knowledge of the 737-MAX contacted the government and said Forkner 'is a 'scapegoat' and should 'not be charged.' The court filing on Monday did not disclose the official's name. Boeing did not respond to a request for comment. The FAA did not immediately comment. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Northern Texas, where the case is being heard, declined to comment. The filing also included parts of a PowerPoint from an unnamed FAA employee that defense lawyers said contain new disclosures about a key system known as MCAS that should have been disclosed by Boeings engineering team. The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is a software feature designed to automatically push the airplanes nose down in certain conditions. It was tied to two crashes of the 737 MAX in Indonesia and Ethiopia over a five-month period in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people and led to the FAA's grounding the plane for 20 months, an action lifted in November 2020. The filing said Boeing engineers did not disclose key details of MCAS to Forkner or the FAA - including that MCAS could activate when it was not intended after a single faulty sensor. In January, Boeing agreed to a $2.5 billion deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department over the MAX crashes, which cost Boeing more than $20 billion The PowerPoint said the 737 MAX crashes 'were caused by a failure of the engineering processes' and argued the focus on training and the Forkner criminal charges 'is not only incorrect and misguided, it is detracting from the real lessons.' Excerpts of the presentation made public said it was to address a 'potential miscarriage of justice.' Lawyers asked a U.S. judge to allow current or former FAA officials permission to talk with Forkner's defense team ahead of a trial set to begin in February. A redacted filing appears to show Forkner's team wants to talk to two current officials and a former FAA employee. Forkner was indicted in October on six counts of scheming to defraud Boeing's U.S.-based airline customers to obtain tens of millions of dollars for Boeing. His lawyers said they have not been allowed to speak to the PowerPoint author. According to the indictment, Forkner, largely in the run-up to the FAA's decision to approve the 737 MAX in 2017, provided the FAA Aircraft Evaluation Group with 'materially false, inaccurate, and incomplete information' about MCAS. He has pleaded not guilty. Disgraced former Health Secretary Matt Hancock appears to have breached Covid regulations again - this time by forgetting to wear his mask inside a Tube station. The ex-minister, 43, apologised after he was seen without a face covering while entering an underground station in London on Saturday. He had been watching Capital's Jingle Bell Ball at the O2 Arena in Greenwich - one of a number of public appearances in recent weeks. Mr Hancock was filmed in a steamy clinch with married aide and millionaire lobbyist Gina Coladangelo in his Whitehall office in June - spelling both the end of his time as a minister, and his 15-year marriage to wife Martha. The infamous kiss broke social distancing guidelines, that he himself pushed for as Health Secretary, forcing him to step down. And it now seems that Mr Hancock flouted the rules again, despite his previously high-profile role in assisting the management of the country's pandemic response. Disgraced former Health Secretary Matt Hancock appears to have breached Covid regulations again - this time by forgetting to wear his mask inside a Tube station Mr Hancock had been watching Capital's Jingle Bell Ball at the O2 Arena in Greenwich - one of a number of public appearances in recent weeks The ex-minister, 43, apologised after he was seen without a face covering while entering an underground station in London on Saturday Mr Hancock was forced to resign for breaching social distancing guidelines after he was shown in CCTV footage kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo inside his ministerial office Mr Hancock was spotted in North Greenwich station at around 10:45pm on Saturday December 11, after the festive music bash - and without a mask. MailOnline understands he attended the Capital gig with his daughter, where his choice of outfit - a turtleneck - set tongues wagging. One frustrated onlooker, who asked not be named, caught the maskless Mr Hancock on video, at the bottom of the escalators, before he had reached the turnstiles. They said: 'Everybody else in the station was wearing a mask - I think that's why we took a double look. 'We confronted him. He said sorry and put one on. I do question if he would have if we hadn't confronted him.' According to Transport for London's website, it is a condition of carriage for passengers to wear face coverings correctly over their mouth and nose or they could be thrown off and risk a fine - starting at 200 and rising up to 6,400. Transport for London (TfL) rules state that masks must be worn for the 'full duration of journeys' in the capital, including 'inside stations'. On November 30, the use of face coverings on public transport was reinstated into law as part of tougher rules to curb rising Covid cases. A spokesman for Mr Hancock told MailOnline: 'Matt was on his way to the tube and put his mask on as he was making his way into the tube station. 'Matt is careful to wear his mask on the tube, which he travels on a lot, and is very sorry for not putting it on sooner in this case.' The onlooker said they also challenged Mr Hancock about the recent revelations over Christmas parties at No10 - but he refused to comment. Mr Hancock lost his job earlier this year when it emerged he and Gina Coladangelo were seeing each other despite her being his 15,000-a-year aide and them breaking social distancing rules that he had himself created. The Hancocks, who met while they were both students at Oxford University and married in 2006, had lived with their daughter, 14, and two sons, 13 and eight, in London and West Suffolk until earlier this year when Mr Hancock's affair was exposed. Disgraced former minister Matt Hancock today continued his 'comeback tour' by debuting a bold new look at a red carpet event in London The jaw-dropping footage was taken on May 6 - less than a fortnight before the Government relaxed safety rules including giving permission to hug. The father-of-three ended his 15-year marriage to wife Martha and has pursued a relationship Ms Coladangelo, a former university friend who was also married with three children. The pair, who met while studying at Oxford University, have been pictured together at public gatherings for nearly two years, with one image dating back to the Conservative Party Conference in September 2019. In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Hancock said ministers 'owe it to people who have sacrificed so much in this pandemic to be honest when we have let them down'. Earlier this week Mr Hancock was pictured holding hands with lover Gina on an early morning stroll just days after he publicly apologised for the affair and admitted the infamous kiss was 'a failure of leadership'. The West Suffolk MP has made several media appearances in recent weeks, including on 'Good Morning Britain' and ITV's Peston. The Supreme Court on Thursday returned a case over Texas' six-week abortion ban back to a federal court that twice upheld it, in the latest setback for pro-choice activists. In handing it back to the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, the justices rejected abortion providers and pro-choice advocates' wish to have the case sent to US District Judge Robert Pitman in western Texas, who previously blocked the ban. The decision was signed off on by Donald Trump-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch. Texas abortion providers scored a small victory last week when the conservative-majority court ruled that their case against the law can move forward. However they also allowed the law, which is known as S.B.8 deputizes private citizens to go after women seeking abortions and those who help them, to stay in effect while it's being litigated in a 5-4 vote. 'Every day S.B. 8 is in effect, it is causing devastation in Texas and surrounding states, forcing countless people to carry pregnancies against their will as they are unable to get the essential health care they need,' the American Civil Liberties Union told DailyMail.com. 'Today's decision by Justice Gorsuch means that the narrow path the Court afforded us is now blocked, and there is no relief on the horizon. Last week's decision was far from a "victory" for providers and Texans, and Justice Gorsuch's order is yet another blow to that effort.' The conservative-leaning Supreme Court ruled on December 10 that abortion providers' lawsuit against Texas could proceed but with a limited scope On Thursday the court sent the case back to a conservative-leaning appeals court rather than the district could requested by pro-choice advocates and abortion providers Abortion providers asked the high court earlier this week to issue its judgement as soon as possible so they can move ahead with the trial, and it did so despite the traditional 25-day waiting period. Lawyers for the state of Texas opposed the rush. Chief Justice John Roberts seemed to support moving expeditiously in his dissenting opinion, writing: 'Given the ongoing chilling effect of the state law, the district court should resolve this litigation and enter appropriate relief without delay.' But instead of sending the case back to Pitman, Gorsuch - who wrote the majority opinion - sent it to the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which covers Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Marc Hearron, an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights who argued the case before the Supreme Court, also blasted the decision. Gorsuch, who authored the court's opinion on the case, signed off on passing the case to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals 'Texans have been without abortion access for more than 100 days, and there is no end in sight. The Supreme Court has let Texas nullify constitutional rights and upend our system of justice,' Hearron said in a statement the Center for Reproductive Rights provided for DailyMail.com. With six judges appointed by Trump on the bench, it's among the most politically conservative federal courts in the country. The circuit court stymied efforts to block the law in late August. And less than two days after Pitman blocked the ban in October and called it an 'unprecedented and aggressive scheme to deprive [Texas] citizens of a significant and well-established constitutional right,' the 5th Circuit Court reversed his decision and allowed it to go into effect again. Even before Gorsuch handed Whole Women's Health v. Jackson to a conservative court that's likely to strike it down a third time, the Supreme Court's December 10 decision whittled the case's scope down significantly. The high court ruled that the case could not apply to state officials like judges, clerks or the attorney general. Instead they only allowed it to proceed against Texas licensing officials overseeing doctors and others, and could have a role in enforcing the law. It would also not prevent private US citizens from being able to sue anyone having or aiding an abortion for civil penalties of $10,000, a key facet of the bill that placed it into murky legal waters and aided in the delay over how to proceed with it. Hearron criticized justices for only leaving 'a small sliver of our case intact,' adding 'its clear that this part of the case will not block vigilante lawsuits from being filed.' 'Its also clear that Texas is determined to stop the plaintiffs from getting any relief in even the sliver of the case that is left,' he said. Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office has not returned a request for comment. Planned Parenthood told DailyMail.com it was 'disappointed' in Thursday's decision. Pro-choice demonstrators protest for abortion rights and Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court as the justices hear oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on December 1 Pro-life demonstrators were present in DC that day as well as the topic of abortion rights once again takes center stage in the American culture war debate 'Patients and providers urgently need relief from S.B. 8, and the state is yet again blatantly attempting to introduce further delay. We will call on the court of appeals to send the case back to the district court as soon as possible, consistent with the Supreme Court's order,' a statement from Julie Murray, an attorney at Planned Parenthood Federation of America said. Pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List lauded Gorsuch and the conservative justices' decision on Thursday. 'We are encouraged by the news that the Fifth Circuit will take up this case and remain pleased that, as long as the Texas Heartbeat Act remains in effect, unborn children are being saved and their mothers protected,' SBA List Vice President of Communications Mallory Quigley told DailyMail.com. What could happen if the Supreme Court sides with Mississippi in Dobbs case The state is fighting to keep its ban on abortions after 15 weeks in place, and in a separate filing asked the high court to overturn Roe v. Wade altogether. Twelve states have already enacted 'trigger laws,' where if Roe is overturned, abortion in the state would be made illegal immediately without action from the legislature. Twenty-six states are likely to ban or restrict abortion quickly if such power is returned to the states. Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Texas have all passed heartbeat bills, but none except Texas' have gone into effect due to court intervention. The JWHO has said that since a law in Texas banning abortions after six weeks took effect Sept. 1, one-fourth of its patients come from the Lone Star State. If the justices move to uphold the 15-week ban but not overturn Roe, the right to an abortion would likely remain in place but with a drastically shortened legal window. Current precedent established by Roe allows abortions up until the point of fetal viability outside the womb, about 24 weeks. Mississippi's law would shave off roughly two months and also signal a green light that states like Texas that want shorter timelines could have a case The law also does not make exceptions for rape or incest - which if approved by the Supreme Court could be a feature of anti-abortion laws throughout the country. Advertisement 'Meanwhile, we eagerly await the Courts decision in the Dobbs case, which is our biggest opportunity to modernize our nations abortion laws by allowing the will of the people to protect life to be enacted and enforced. 'We are hopeful the Court will return the issue back to the people to decide through their elected representatives, letting democracy and consensus prevail.' Earlier this month the Supreme Court heard another challenge to abortion rights, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. It deals with a Mississippi law, passed in 2018, that bans abortions after 15 weeks. It directly contradicts the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, where the court decided that abortion must be legal pre-viability, or around 24 weeks. In a follow-up Mississippi asked the court to revisit Roe directly, as well as another landmark 1992 case that upheld abortion rights but allowed some restrictions, Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The court's six-justice conservative majority signaled they were leaning toward revisiting where the proper cut-off for an abortion could be. But Chief Justice John Roberts, who's swung more toward the liberal minority in recent years than he had in the past, appeared more hesitant than his other conservative colleagues to overturn Roe v. Wade altogether. However Roberts signaled that he may be open to scrapping the more than 20-week window established in the previous decisions, telling Julie Rikelman, the lawyer representing the Mississippi abortion clinic at the center of the case, that the shorter window 'is not a dramatic departure from viability.' In what could be a blow to pro-choice activists, Roberts asked her if the issue at hand was one of freedom to choose or establishing a viability timeline - questioning 'If it really is an issue about choice, why is 15 weeks not enough time?' The court's three liberal justices claimed that overturning the landmark 1974 ruling was driven by political and religious motivations, suggested sticking with precedent and compared the physical reactions of unborn babies to brain-dead people. But Roberts questioned why 15 weeks is 'not enough time' for a woman to choose, Brett Kavanaugh hinted that abortion rights should be left up to the states and Amy Coney Barrett brought up alternatives to termination including adoption. Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart had told the court that the landmark 1972 case Roe v. Wade and 1992's Planned Parenthood v. Casey 'poison the law' and that Mississippi is looking to unequivocally overturn them. Meanwhile the liberal justices on the court attempted to claim overturning Roe would undermine public confidence in the government and the apolitical high court. An elderly Kentucky couple, married for 56 years, died holding hands after devastating tornadoes struck last week, according to family members. Billy and Judy Miller were two of 11 victims killed as storms tore through Muhlenberg County, northwest of Bowling Green in western Kentucky, late Friday night. 'They had passed away together, holding on to each other,' their granddaughter, Serenity Miller told KHOU. 'Their love was so deep for each other, we knew they wouldn't be able to survive without each other.' Miller said that despite half a century together and losing a son, Billy Miller Jr, and a daughter, Heather Miller Brooks, her grandparents' love for each other never dimmed. Pictured: Billy and Judy Miller, who died while holding hands during last week's deadly tornadoes that ripped through Kentucky Billy and Judy Miller, pictured, were two of 11 victims who died when a tornado tore through Muhlenberg County, northwest of Bowling Green, in western Kentucky Friday night The couple, pictured, got married in 1966 as Billy Miller was heading off to fight in Vietnam 'They grew really deep bonds after the loss of two of their children and that bond - I don't think anyone could break.' Family told the outlet that they frantically attempted to contact the two early Saturday morning after the tornado hit; Serenity Miller lives about 15 miles away and her parents, five miles away. from the couple's Bremen home. However, they already had died, and their home was reduced to rubble. The elderly couple, who were hastily married back in 1966 as Billy was heading off to fight as a Marine in Vietnam, got a chance to renew their vows in a proper wedding ceremony recently at their 50-year anniversary. 'When he went off to Vietnam, they got married, but it wasn't the wedding she wanted,' their granddaughter said. 'They went and she got the wedding that she wanted with all of us grandchildren. That there was everything to them,' said Serenity Miller. The family has since been sifting through the debris, pictured, that was once Billy and Judy Miller's home, with nearly everything having been destroyed or blown away in the tornado Pictured: debris and rubble where the Miller's home used to be after it was destroyed in Friday's deadly tornadoes The family is sifting through the debris that was once their home, but nearly everything was destroyed or blew away in the tornado. However, they did recover one item - Billy's Marine uniform jacket, which was covered in mud but otherwise intact. 'Once I found it, I remember I broke down,' Miller said, before adding that both he and Judy took a lot of pride in the jacket. A dry cleaner in nearby Owensboro offered to clean it for free while residents in Kentucky and Indiana are helping the family find any scattered pictures. So far, the family has recovered four pictures of the couple from their home. 'Their love was so deep for each other, we knew they wouldn't be able to survive without each other,' said Miller. However, they did recover one item - Billy's Marine jacket, which was covered in mud but otherwise still intact The city of Mayfield, Kentucky, was hit particularly hard, including a candle manufacturing factory that was operating at the time the twister hit The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory was hit by a tornado on Friday Many residents in the area have been displaced from their homes after residential neighborhoods had been reduced to rubble US President Joe Biden surveys storm damage from the tornadoes and extreme weather in Dawson Springs, Kentucky The family added that they are grateful the couple were together, both in life and in death. The tornadoes left a trail of wreckage in their wake stretching from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear said the death toll could grow as authorities continued to work around debris that slowed recovery efforts. Nearly 450 National Guard members were mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead. Across the state, about 26,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, according to poweroutage.us, including nearly every Mayfield customer. 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. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden arrived in Kentucky to survey the tornadoes' devastating damage, while saying the federal government will pay for 100 percent of Kentucky's tornado recovery for the first 30 days, according to WLKY. UFC fighter Jon Jones has accepted a plea deal in Nevada to avoid a domestic violence charge stemming from a September incident in which he smashed his head into the hood of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police car while being arrested for allegedly roughing-up his fiancee. Jones pleaded no contest Tuesday to a lesser charge of misdemeanor destruction of property and will pay $750 in restitution to the victim. He also must stay out of trouble and attend anger management counseling, which he has already completed, according to court records. Jones was charged with felony tampering with a vehicle -- a police car -- and misdemeanor domestic battery stemming from an incident on September 24 in Las Vegas. SCROLL DOWN FOR 911 CALL UFC fighter Jon Jones has accepted a plea deal in Nevada to avoid a domestic violence charge stemming from a September incident in which he smashed his head into the hood of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police car. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police were called to Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino after Jones's fiancee Jessie Moses (far right) said he had gotten physical with her. Jones smashed his own head into the hood of the police car upon being taken into custody, denting the vehicle Las Vegas Metropolitan Police were called to Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino after Jones's fiancee Jessie Moses said he had gotten physical with her. Jones smashed his own head into the hood of the police car upon being taken into custody, denting the vehicle. According to his arrest report, obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a security guard noticed Moses's bloody lip and more blood on her clothes, which prompted the call to police. Moses said the couple argued earlier that evening, but denied that Jones had hit her. 'He touched the back of my head and pulled my hair a little bit but he did not hit me or anything,' police wrote in the report, according to the Review-Journal. Jones was later apprehended by police on the strip, but became 'irate and smashed his head' into the hood of the Las Vegas police car during the arrest. The 6-foot-4 Jones left a 'medium size dent' and chipped some paint on the cruiser. Jon Jones celebrates his victory over Dominick Reyes in their light heavyweight championship bout during the UFC 247 event at Toyota Center on February 8, 2020 in Houston The 34-year-old Rochester, New York native has since pledged to give up alcohol. 'I have way too much trauma to consume alcohol, my brain simply can't handle it anymore,' Jones said on Instagram. 'Now is the time to work harder than ever.' He also shared video of himself kissing his fiancee to show that they remained a happy couple. Jones was in the city for the ceremony marking the induction of his first fight with Alexander Gustafsson in 2013 into the UFC Hall of Fame. Jones' record is 26-1-0, with his only UFC loss coming in 2009 to Matt Hamill in a disqualification that remains controversial. He last fought at UFC 247 in February 2020, defeating Dominick Reyes. A teenage girl and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a newborn baby boy was found dead at a home today. Police officers and the ambulance service were called to the property on Norman Crescent in Rossington, Doncaster, at 12.15pm but the infant was pronounced dead at the scene. A 17-year-old girl and woman, 45, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody, South Yorkshire Police have said. Police officers and the ambulance service were called to the property in Rossington, Doncaster, at 12.15pm. Pictured: GV of the street Temporary Superintendent Jamie Henderson said: 'This is an extremely tragic case and I know the local community, and those further afield, will be very upset to hear about what has happened. 'At this time, our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the baby's death is in the very early stages and we ask the public not to speculate about the case.' A cordon now remains in place on the street and the force has asked people to avoid the area. Police are appealing to anyone with information which could assist with enquiries i to call 101, quoting incident number 325 of 16 December. Alternatively, you can stay completely anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers via their website Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling their UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111. President Joe Biden on Thursday awarded the Medal of Honor to three U.S. soldiers for actions 'above and beyond' the call of duty in the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The president at a White House ceremony hailed all three, saying: 'Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude today as we honor unparalleled courage, commitment to duty and indisputable gallantry.' It was the first time Biden had awarded the nation's most prestigious for the most recent wars, including the war in Afghanistan where the U.S. pulled out its final troops in August. Among those being honored was Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, 35, who suffered fatal injuries in Iraq while rescuing fellow soldiers from a burning vehicle in 2005. He is the first African American recipient since the Vietnam War, Biden said. He called Cashe 'a warrior who literally walked through fire for his troops.' Biden also awarded the medal to Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz, an Army Ranger who died after stepping between Taliban fighters and a U.S. helicopter evacuating wounded in 2018, and Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee, a Special Forces soldier who fought off Taliban insurgents after massive attack in Afghanistan in 2013. Biden called Celiz an 'Army Ranger through-and-through.' He told how Celiz undertook the operation in an Afghan province that was 'not a very friendly place.' He exposed himself to enemy fire in order to retrieve a heavy weapons system amid a firefight. He 'knowingly and willingly stepped into the enemy's crosshairs' and 'used his body as a shield' to protect the helicopter and his comrades during an evacuation. Plumlee, the only of the three recipients still living, stood next to the president while he put the Medal of Honor around his neck. Biden told of how Plumlee responded after an insurgent blew up a car bomb, blowing a 60-foot hole in the perimeter of his forward operating base. Approaching the site of an insurgent attack, Plumlee 'used his own body to shield the driver' when exiting. 'Outnumbered with no regard for his own safety, at times armed with only a pistol, staff Sgt. Plumlee attacked the insurgent forces, taking them on one by one,' Biden said. 'This recognition has been too long in coming,' Biden told Plumlee. But he told him 'no one will ever forget how you sprang into action when the enemy attacked our base.' President Joe Biden stands to present the Medal of Honor to Army Sgt. First Class Alwyn C. Cashe for his actions in Iraq on Oct. 17, 2005, as his widow Tamara Cashe stands to accept the posthumous recognition during an event in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in Washington Unspoken at the ceremony dedicated to the recipients was the conclusion to the two-decade Afghan war with the final withdrawal of U.S. troops. The U.S. still has troops in Iraq. On hand for the event were Vice President Kamala Harris and first gentleman Doug Emhoff, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as well as family of the recipients and three past medal of honor recipients. Biden began by lauding Cashe for his 'indisputable gallantry' as he struggled to save his comrades from a burning vehicle. 'It's hard to explain,' Biden said, as he spoke of Cashe's heroism before a military aide read the official citation. He told of how Cashe went back to the vehicle repeatedly to rescue his comrades. He 'went back and got everyone out of that inferno,' Biden said. Then when he awoke in a military hospital, 'He asked first thing: how are my boys,' said Biden. By law, Medals of Honor - the nation's highest form recognition for battlefield valor - must be awarded within five years of the combat action recognized. However, Congress passed legislation earlier this year for additional consideration for Cashe, Plumlee and two other soldiers. For each recipient, a military aide read a citation citing an act of Congress in 1863, and reading through the specifics of their 'acts of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.' Cashe's widow, Tamara, accepted the award in his stead. President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to Army Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee in the East Room of the White House December 16, 2021 in Washington, DC. Plumlee, an Army Green Beret, is receiving the medal for his efforts to repel a suicide attack by Taliban fighters at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan in August 2013 President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Honor to Army Sgt. First Class Christopher Celiz for his actions in Afghanistan on July 12, 2018, as his widow Katherine Celiz and daughter Shannon Celiz accept the posthumous recognition during an event in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in Washington First lady Jill Biden listens as President Joe Biden speaks during a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in Washington. As Biden noted, the room was filled with holiday decorations during the event The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest award for military valor in action. And while over 150 years have passed since its inception, the meaning behind the Medal has never tarnished. Cashe is the first Black U.S. service member to receive the Medal of Honor for actions since Vietnam, Biden said. He was on patrol near Samarra, Iraq in October 2005 when the Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was commanding was attacked with small arms fire and a roadside bomb that set it flame. Cashe pulled six fellow soldiers from the burning wreckage and suffered devastating burns himself. Cashe, who grew up in Oviedo, Florida, died from his burns at a Texas hospital the following month. Three of the soldiers he pulled from the flaming vehicle also perished. Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, 35, will be awarded the Medal of Honor, 16 years after suffering fatal injuries in Iraq while rescuing fellow soldiers from a burning vehicle Celiz, 32, was leading an operation to clear an area of enemy forces in Paktia Province, Afghanistan, when his team came under attack. As a medical evacuation helicopter arrived to recover a casualty, it came under sustained sustained enemy fire. Celiz exposed himself to heavy fire as he led the evacuation. As the casualty was loaded into the helicopter and his team returned to cover, Celiz remained at the chopper, returning fire and constantly repositioning himself to shield to the aircraft and its crew. As the helicopter lifted off, Celiz was hit by enemy fire. Though injured, he motioned to the aircraft to depart rather than remain to load him and risk further casualties. Celiz was a South Carolina native and had enlisted in the Army in 2006. Christopher A. Celiz, 32, an U.S. Army Ranger, was killed in action on July 12 2018 in Paktiya province, Afghanistan, during combat operations in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. At the time of his death, he was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia Sgt. 1st Class Earl D. Plumlee (right), assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), is presented the Silver Star Medal by Maj. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl (left), I Corps Deputy Plumlee was serving at a base in Ghazni, Afghanistan, when it came under massive attack, with insurgents blowing a sixty-foot breach in the bases perimeter wall. Ten insurgents wearing Afghan National Army uniforms and suicide vests poured through the breach. Plumlee and five Special Operations members mounted two vehicles and raced toward the site of the detonation. He killed two insurgents, one with a well-placed grenade and the other by using precision sniper fire to detonate the insurgents suicide vest. He engaged several others at close range. At one point in the battle, an insurgent detonated his suicide vest, mortally wounding a fellow U.S. soldier. Plumlee ran to the wounded soldier, carried him to safety and rendered first aid. He is currently serving with the 1st Special Forces Group at Fort Lewis, Washington. Advertisement Poorly-lit and sparsely decorated Christmas trees have sparked both amusement and anger from residents across the nation hoping for some festive cheer after two years of Covid. The Christmas tree has long been the centre-piece of civic festive celebrations up and down the country, but many have not only failed to meet expectations but seemingly banished the magic of the holiday season altogether. And some locals have gone as far as to demand a refund on their council tax after being consumed with rage at these pitiful attempts. Shabby attempts from councils include undecorated tress, partially-lit pine and even firs erected on roundabouts, sparking fury from taxpayers. One poor effort in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, saw the council's festive pine take the form of a cone-shaped wireframe, decked with bunting. One person joked: 'Where is the tree?' Another resident wrote: 'To be fair... it's a pretty poor Christmas tree... and the bunting is not even christmassy!!!' And a third added: 'It's hardly going to bring people in to visit the town and spend money, is it?' One poor effort in Stalybridge (pictured), Greater Manchester, saw the council's festive pine take the form of a cone-shaped wireframe, decked with bunting Further disappointment was found in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, where locals likened the town centre tree to a cactus (pictured) Is your local Christmas tree woeful? Send us your pictures tips@dailymail.com Advertisement Residents displayed spruce-envy with a neighbouring village, with one saying: 'It's a godawful wire thing! The next town along Dukinfield had a proper tree!' Further disappointment was found in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, where locals likened the town centre tree to a cactus. One child was captured on video dejectedly remarked the tree had 'just a bit of yellow lights!' Other residents also panned its illumination ceremony, with one local saying: 'Wow amazing. Might do a live switch on of my tree would look better.' Another agreed, adding: 'Get more satisfaction turning my bedroom light on.' Things went from bad to worse for the town when vandals ripped down what few lights were on the spruce. Officials in St Helens, Merseyside, decided to forgo illuminations altogether, using only a few oversized ornaments as decoration, much to the dismay of locals. Paul Whittaker, who took a picture of the sun peeking through the spruce's leaves, joked that it was 'the only light' that had featured on mostly barren fir. Residents in Worcester were coming to terms with their own festive nightmare, after their tree was branded a 'laughingstock'. Officials in St Helens (pictured), Merseyside, decided to forgo illuminations altogether, using only a few oversized ornaments as decoration, much to the dismay of locals The 20ft spruce had lights adorning just one side, but even more bizarrely, Town Hall bosses had decided to place the Christmas tree on a roundabout. Estate agent Faye Hall, 31, a mum-of-one, said: 'As I passed by, I noticed there no lights on the other side and couldn't help but laugh because it just looks ridiculous. 'It has got to be one of the worst Christmas trees in the country, I'm not sure what they were thinking.' In Grimsby, Lincolnshire, locals were in uproar a the 'disgraceful' quality of their bare spruce, after it was revealed that officials paid in excess of 1,000 for it. Residents in Grimsby were shocked to learn that more than 1,000 had been spent on the tree in the town (pictured) One local resident bristled: '1,152 for a ten-foot tree, methinks the Grimsby folk need to be questioning their conservative Council leaders!!' Another added: 'They could have gone to B&Q and bought one for much less. Who had pocketed 1,150 for that scrap piece?' While in Teignmouth, Devon, locals were scratching their heads at the quality of their festive fir, which seemed to follow a nautical theme. On some of the branches, organisers had doted colourful orbs, which looked similar to buoys that fishermen use out at sea to mark their nets. In Teignmouth, Devon, locals were scratching their heads at the quality of their festive fir (pictured), which seemed to follow a nautical theme, with organisers having used colourful orbs, which looked similar to buoys that fishermen use out at sea to mark their nets, to decorate the tree This led one local to ask on Facebook: 'Is this the worst Christmas tree in the UK?' It comes after Calderdale Council were slammed for failing to light up the top half of its tree in Bailiff Bridge, West Yorkshire, for health and safety reasons. Calderdale Council explained the tree had grown 'significantly larger' than expected, so they couldn't safely light the upper sections. After it was unveiled, Conservative councillor George Robinson fumed: 'We've had a torrid year with Covid and lockdowns, we just want a Christmas tree to enjoy. 'It's a shambles, the worst Christmas tree in the North.' A Florida doctor licensed in two states was arrested on Thursday for the murder of a produce truck driver in Vermont over two years ago after cops pieced together evidence from surveillance footage and GPS data. Doctor Jozsef Piri, 49, an internist with the Physician Regional Medical Group in Naples, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for allegedly gunning down Boston driver Roberto Fonseca-Rivera, 44, on November 1, 2019. Fonseca-Rivera was a delivery driver for the Massachusetts-based company Katsiroubas Produce and was found dead in his truck with a gunshot wound to the head and neck on a Vermont highway. Police have not released a motive for the murder and claim that the men did not know each other prior to the incident but evidence points to Piri shooting the driver in an apparent a road-rage incident. DailyMail.com reached out to Vermont State Police for further information. Florida doctor Jozsef Piri, 49, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly murdering a produce driver in November 2019 Produce delivery driver Roberto Fonseca-Rivera, 44, had been fatally shot in the head and neck on Route 103 in Vermont Fonseca-Rivera was a delivery driver for the Massachusetts-based company Katsiroubas Bros. Piri, who lived in Connecticut at the time where he is also licensed, was driving a 2018 Toyota Tundra while returning from his property in Londonderry, Vermont, where he had been fixing an issue with a well pump on the night of the murder. The Romanian-born doctor was driving directly in front of Fonseca-Rivera on Route 103 when he fired shots between 1 and 1:30 p.m. that struck Fonseca-Rivera in the head and neck, Vermont authorities said, according to the Boston Globe. Fonseca-Rivera was found dead at the wheel of his truck along Route 103 in Rockingham. Investigators identified Piri as a possible suspect after going through information such as surveillance footage, GPS data and photographs. Fonesca-Rivera had been been reported missing by his company on November 1 after he did not return to the warehouse while making deliveries that night. Following further investigation, cops discovered that Piri had concealed weapons in his home after police searched through his properties in both Connecticut and Vermont as well as his truck. Pieces of a firearm that he been found to be consistent with the murder of Fonseca-Rivera had been found in his Vermont property. Police also learned that Piri had made a series of gun purchases over a two-year period after he had been flagged by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. It is not clear why the doctor was flagged. He was arrested at a Publix in Florida on Thursday afternoon after officials obtained a warrant for his arrest on Tuesday. Piri is currently being held at the Collier County Jail in Naples and will be extradited to Vermont for his arraignment scheduled for December 17. If convicted of the charges, he faces life in prison. A checkpoint was set up by Vermont state police to further investigate the 2019 murder Police asked motorists if they had seen Fonseca-Rivera or if they had any more information on the murder Fonseca-Rivera had been remembered by his former employer as a 'very dedicated employee' before his unexpected death. 'When I first heard of what happened, I was in shock,' Ted Katsiroubas told CBS Boston in 2019. 'Every interaction I had with him was positive, always smiling, shook my hand. One thing that Ive been hearing a lot is that he was always in uniform, always on time, very dedicated employee.' The company also released a statement on Fonseca-Rivera's behalf following Piri's arrest. 'We are pleased that a suspect has been identified two years after the horrific killing of Roberto, a good man just doing his job driving down the highway in Rockingham, VT,' the statement read. 'We are gratified that Vermont state police stayed on this difficult investigation. We hope that justice may be done for Roberto and that it may bring his family some peace.' The White House was forced to confirm on Thursday that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will run together in 2024 after the vice president said in an interview that the two had not discussed reelection. A slew of recent reports has assessed the prospects for other candidates if Biden decides he does not want to stand for a second term that would end after his 86th birthday. Fresh questions emerged after the vice president claimed she did not think about whether or not the president would run again. 'Ill be very honest: I dont think about it, nor have we talked about it,' she told the Wall Street Journal when asked if she assumed the president would run again, something Biden has already publicly said he planned to do. Her comments were raised during the daily briefing. Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked why Harris had said the two had not discussed it when the president himself had said he would rung again. 'I can't speak to a conversation that the vice president and the president have. I could only say what and reiterate what [Press Secretary Jen Psaki] and what the President has said himself: That he is planning to run for reelection in 2024.' And does he plan to have Harris as his running mate? 'He does,' said Jean-Pierre. 'There's no change. Yes.' Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had to answer questions about whether President Joe Biden still planned to run with Kamala Harris in 2024 after the vice president said in an interview that she had not discussed reelection with Biden After weeks of negative headlines and plunging poll ratings, Kamala Harris sat down with the Wall Street Journal for an interview that was published on Thursday She said that she has not discussed reelection with President Biden and does not even think about whether the 79-year-old will run again in 2024 The confusion follows a series of articles profiling the likely Democratic runners in the event of Biden stepping aside. And a growing chorus of voices is suggesting that the president should publicly announce he will not run again to give Democrats the best chance of organizing ahead of 2024. For her part, Harris, 57, said reelection had not been discussed. 'I'm not going to talk about our conversations, but I will tell you this without any ambiguity: We do not talk about nor have we talked about reelection, because we haven't completed our first year and we're in the middle of a pandemic,' she said. Harris has been mentioned as a possible 2024 candidate in her own right ever since she was picked for Biden's running mate. But her popularity has slumped in office. A series of missteps and a lack of progress in slowing the arrival of migrants at the southern border after she took on the role of tackling the root causes of migration from Central America has turned her into a punchbag for the right. This week a Hill/Harris X poll found that only 43 percent of registered voters approved of her performance. She insisted she and the president remained focused on leading the nation rather than thinking about the next election. 'Were building back up our economy, and we are re-establishing Americas role in the context of our allies and partners around the world,' she said. Harris gave the interview after two weeks of negative headlines that focused on reports of dysfunction in her office and the departure of key staff. Asked whether she was going to change the way her office was run, she said simply that she valued her team's work. And she sidestepped another question about her work on migration and how, during a trip this year to Guatemala, she had told migrants: 'Do not come.' When asked whether she would use the same phrase, words that angered progressives, she replied that she remained focused on the root causes of migration. Despite the controversy she leads the hypothetical 2024 primary in the absence of a Biden run. She wins 31 percent of Democratic support, ahead of Pete Buttigieg on 11 percent, and Elizabeth Warren tied with Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez on eight percent, according to a Morning Consult/Politico poll published on Wednesday. A Morning Consult/Politico poll published on Wednesday found that only 60% of registered Democrats want Biden to run again in 2024 It also found that only 60 percent of Democrats believe Biden should stand in 2024. The White House has taken pains to quell any sort of speculation that Harris might succeed Biden. Last month Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the president planned to run, telling reporters: 'That's his intention.' Even so, Biden's age means the question is never far away. This week the New York Times, hardly an enemy of Biden, ran an opinion piece saying Biden needed to announce he would not stand again. 'He should announce, much sooner than later, that he will not run for a second term,' wrote Bret Stephens, one of the newspaper's conservative-leaning columnists. 'The argument against this is that it would instantly turn him into a lame-duck president, and thats undoubtedly true. 'But, news flash: Right now hes worse than a lame duck, because potential Democratic successors are prevented from making calls, finding their lanes and appealing for attention.' Days earlier, the newspaper ran the rule over 11 possible candidates to succeed him. CNN, also not known as hotbed of Biden criticism, did the same a day later. The Met Police has announced it will speak to two attendees of the lockdown-busting party hosted at the Tory Party Headquarters last December. The force, which has faced stinging criticism from some over a perceived lack of action regarding investigations into alleged gatherings at Downing Street, announced the news on Thursday evening. It comes after pictures showed a rule-breaking event for Shaun Bailey's mayoral campaign took place inside the party's Westminster HQ on December 14, 2020. Several hours earlier, then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock had announced London would move into Tier 3 restrictions - meaning the mixing of separate households indoors was strictly prohibited. Members of Downing Street staff joined the party, which included dancing into the early hours of the morning, despite London's Covid rules barring indoor socialising at the time. Mr Bailey bowed to pressure after a week of intense demands for him to quit, and four staff members have been disciplined over the 'raucous' gathering, in which a door was reported to have been damaged. Pictures showed a rule-breaking event for Shaun Bailey's mayoral campaign took place inside the party's Westminster HQ on December 14, 2020 Ex-mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has quit as chairman of the London Assembly's police and crime committee following revelations of a Chistmas gathering he attended last year, in breach of Covid regulations An image taken on the night last December shows Mr Bailey, 50, standing in the middle of a crowd of some 24 people huddled closely together at Conservative Party HQ with platters of food nearby. Mr Bailey, who is teetotal, is understood to have left the party early in the evening, shortly after the picture was taken. Eight days after the gathering, he took to Twitter to urge people to follow the rules, saying the restrictions were 'tough on every Londoner'. Labour, Lib Dem and Green Party politicians on the London Assembly have written to Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick to demand an investigation. None of the partygoers are pictured wearing masks and some of them including billionaire Tory donor Nick Candy are seen raising their drinks to toast the night; while millions of Londoners were forced to self-isolate in line with Tier 2 restrictions. At the time Britain was in the grip of a second lockdown, and London later in Tier 3 restrictions, with all indoor social gatherings banned unless they involved a single household bubble. Despite widespread outcry - as millions of families were kept apart amid rising case numbers last year - the Met chief Cressida DIck told a phone-in on LBC radio that her force would not be investigating any alleged parties. But the Met today said it has received a 'significant amount of correspondence relating to allegations' that the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations were breached at Downing Street in November and December 2020. A string of parties attended by politicians in November and December 2020 are currently being investigated by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case. If any evidence arises from the Cabinet Office's inquiry that shows actions that could be deemed to have been criminal offences, that will be passed onto Scotland Yard. In a public statement, a spokesperson for the Met said: 'The Met has received a significant amount of material in relation to the allegations reported in the media. 'All the material has been considered by detectives in detail and it does not provide evidence of a breach of the Health Protection Regulations, but restates allegations made in the media. 'The Met is also aware of a gathering at an address in Matthew Parker Street, SW1 on 14 December 2020. 'Officers will be making contact with two people who attended in relation to alleged breaches of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations. The Met, which has faced stinging criticism from some over a perceived lack of action regarding investigations into alleged gatherings at Downing Street, announced it will interview two attendees of the lockdown-busting party hosted at the Tory Party HQ 'In line with our policy where we do not normally investigate breaches of these regulations when they are reported long after they are said to have taken place, unless there is evidence from the Cabinet Office or other evidence comes to light, the Met will not at this time commence an investigation.' 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'. '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.' 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.' Dalal Muhye Aldeen Sadeh, was found guilty of unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree assault by a jury on Wednesday and was sentenced to six years in prison A homeless man will spent six years in prison for stabbing an 84-year-old Portland man after the elderly man, who had given him cash and tried to get him a job for a year, refused to give him more money. Dalal Muhye Aldeen Sadeh, stabbed retired architect Bill Hawkins, 84, three times with an ice pick on the 1400 block of the Portland's Goose Hollow neighborhood on November 23, 2020. Sadeh then left Hawkins, who suffered a colon puncture and had to undergo surgery, alone on the sidewalk until first responders arrived. A jury found the homeless man guilty of unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree assault. He was sentenced to six years in prison at the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Hawkins, who had been trying to get Sadeh a job and connect him with social services, said he denied him money that evening because he realized Sadeh did not want to change his life for good, The Oregonian reported. 'I've never had anything like this happen to me before, where I had actually helped someone, and they turned on me and they stabbed me,' Hawkins said Wednesday, during Sadeh's sentencing. Sadeh then left Hawkins, who suffered a colon puncture and had to undergo surgery, alone on the sidewalk until first responders arrived at the scene Hawkins was stabbed by Sadeh three times on a sidewalk on the 1400 block of the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Southwest Portland, Oregon, on November 13, 2020 Hawkins helped Sadeh financially and offered him resources for a year. They crossed paths because Sadeh lived in his car, which was usually parked near Hawkins' former office. Hawkins still goes to the building to do volunteer work. Sadeh repeatedly refused to stay in shelters and disregarded social services Hawkins advised. Sadeh, who is originally from Jordan and reportedly suffers from mental health illnesses, also refused to speak to counselors after his arrest. Around 3pm November 23, 2020, police went to Goose Hollow neighborhood where they found Hawkins wounded. 'He was left alone on his back on the sidewalk,' said deputy DA Trista Speer. She added that Sadeh perpetrated a 'vicious, violent attack on an elderly member of our community who did nothing but try to help the defendant.' During the trial last month, Hawkins said he believed he was going to die after being stabbed. He survived after being taken to a local hospital and undergoing surgery for the injuries, but had a long recovery, Speer said During the trial last month, Hawkins said he believed he was going to die after being stabbed. He survived after undergoing surgery for the injuries, but had a long recovery, Speer said. Sadeh was arrested the next morning and was sent to Multnomah County Jail for second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Sadeh's defense argued that he should receive a three-year jail sentence under Oregon law instead because there was no concrete evidence that Hawkins was at risk of dying. However, Judge Benjamin Souede said he believed due to Hawkins' age and circumstance of his injuries, he could have died. Hawkins is a beloved member of the Portland community and has received several civic awards. The teenage boy who plunged the knife into the heart of 18-year-old Barnard College freshman Tessa Majors during a botched robbery when he was 14 years old pleaded guilty to her murder on Thursday. Rashaun Weaver, who is now 16, appeared before Judge Robert Mandelbaum in Manhattan Supreme Court this afternoon and entered a plea of guilty to second-degree murder in connection with Majors' brutal killing in 2019, which sent shockwaves through New York City. Weaver also pleaded guilty to felony counts of robbery stemming from two unrelated incidents, including the violent attack on a man in East Harlem on Valentine's Day 2020, two months after the killing. He faces 14 years to life in prison, the judge ruled on Thursday. His sentencing is scheduled for January 19. Weaver's attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, told DailyMail.com after the hearing that his client is 'just a kid' and feels 'horrible' about what happened. This whole thing has been incredibly mortifying for him, and scary,' said Lichtman, who took the case pro bono after representing Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. 'He's horrified about what he did.' Rashaun Weaver, 16, on Thursday pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the brutal killing of Barnard College freshman Tessa Majors, 18 (right), in December 2019 Weaver also pleaded guilty to felony counts of robbery stemming from two unrelated incidents Inman Majors, Tessa father (center), attended Thursday's hearing Views of the crime scene in Morningside Park four days after Majors was knifed to death during a botched robbery committed by three teenage boys Lichtman added that while there is 'no excuse' for Weaver's actions, he believes the sentence of 14 years is excessive. 'I don't think it's right,' the lawyer said. 'It does not take into account the horrible upbringing that he had.' Lichtman recounted that Weaver grew up in a broken home, where every male relative was incarcerated, leaving him with no positive role models. 'The system really failed both of them,' he said of Weaver and Majors. During the hearing, Lichtman said of his client: 'I saw something in him. There is some decency in him,' Lichtman said according to ABC 7 News. Weaver was arrested on February 14, 2020, just hours after robbing another person Majors' father, Inman Majors, was present in court to hear his daughter's killer publicly admit his guilt. 'No sentence or outcome will bring back 18-year-old Tessa Majors, whose life ended face up in a pool of her own blood in a dirty New York City street,' Bogdanos told the New York Post. The grieving dad added that 'for months [Weaver] had been bragging to his friends at school how he had been doing robberies and making money to buy new sneakers.' Majors was stabbed multiple times in the chest, with at least one of the blows piercing her heart. She collapsed on a flight of stairs and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Weaver was the third and final suspect to plead guilty to charges related to Majors' slaying two years ago. Jeffrey Lichtman (center), Weaver's attorney, said he is 'just a kid' and feels remorseful One of his accomplices, Luchiano Lewis, now 16 years old, was sentenced in October to nine years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Both Weaver, who stabbed Majors, and Lewis, who was holding her down, were charged as adults. Their co-defendant Zyairr Davis, who was 13 years old at the time of the botched robbery, was charged as a juvenile. Davis pleaded guilty to robbery last June and was sentenced to 18 months behind bars, the maximum for a juvenile. Both Lewis an Davis cooperated with Manhattan prosecutors against Weaver. In a statement during sentencing earlier this year, Lewis said that he and his two friends headed to Morningside Park on the night of December 11, 2019, looking for someone to rob. At first they tried to go after a man, but he was walking too fast for them to keep up. Luchiano Lewis, 16, who held Majors during during the attack, was sentenced to nine years to life in October, after pleading guilty to second-degree murder When Majors walked by, she was looking down at her phone, and Lewis and Weaver ran up behind her, kicking her in the back and demanding she hand over her phone and money, according to Lewis. 'Are you seriously trying to rob me?' Majors asked the trio, according to Lewis, who said that he stood by and watched, warning of potential witnesses, as Weaver wrestled the girl to the ground. Majors yelled for help and attempted to fight off the three boys while Lewis held her in a headlock position Majors was looking down at her phone when she was accosted in the park by Weaver, Lewis and their 13-year-old friend, who were looking for someone to rob Lewis said that he knew Weaver had a knife and saw feathers flying from Majors' down jacket, but wasn't sure exactly when in the scuffle the stabbing occurred. Davis told investigators that he was the one who handed Weaver the knife that was used in the stabbing. Weaver was arrested just hours after the brutal murder when he and a quartet of his accomplices brutally beat up a man and robbed him of his phone, $130 in cash and his shoes. Four days before the deadly attack on the Barnard student, Weaver and Lewis allegedly robbed a man at knifepoint in Morningside Park. Weaver is expected to plead guilty to first-degree robbery in that case. In September 2020, police said Weaver allegedly confessed to killing Majors in a wire-tapped phone conversation with his father Clifford Weaver, who was behind bars upstate at the time on a parole violation. Longtime Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone will invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering lawmakers' questions in an interview with the House committee investigating the Capitol attack, Stone's lawyer said on Thursday. Stone is expected to face an intense grilling during his scheduled appearance before the Democrat-led panel on Friday. Stone's attorney, Grant Smith, said in an e-mail that his client will appear for his closed-door deposition before the House of Representatives committee tomorrow but will not answer any questions, invoking his rights under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Fifth Amendment protects a person from being forced to reveal to investigators information that might subject them to criminal prosecution. At least two other high-profile witnesses who received subpoenas from the House Select Committee have indicated they would invoke the Fifth Amendment: John Eastman, a former lawyer for former President Trump, and Jeffrey Clark, a former top Justice Department official during the Trump administration. Roger Stone, left, speaks as Jackson Lahmeyer and his wife, Kendra, appear at a news conference, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Tulsa, Okla., to announce Jackson Lahmeyer's candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Stone's lawyer announced the former Trump adviser intends to avoid what's expected to be an intense grilling by invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination The committee issued a subpoena to Stone on November 22, saying it wanted his testimony about his appearances at pro-Trump rallies in Washington on January 5. Members of the Oath Keepers, a far-right anti-government group, provided security to Stone on January 5 and January 6. Several members of the Oath Keepers are facing criminal charges over their breaching of the Capitol on the day of the insurrection. Stone was previously indicted by Robert Mueller, the former special counsel tasked with investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. A federal jury in Washington convicted Stone of lying to Congress, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Trump pardoned Stone in December 2020, wiping away the criminal conviction. A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 in a failed attempt to prevent formal congressional certification of his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. The committee is scrutinizing Trump's actions relating to those events. More than 700 people have been charged with taking part in the riot at the Capitol. The committee has already recommended criminal contempt charges for two Trump allies who have refused to cooperate More than 700 people have been charged with taking part in the riot at the Capitol on January 6 Earlier this week the bi-partisan House committee investigating the attack voted to hold Mark Meadows, Trump's Chief of Staff at the time the insurrection took place, in criminal contempt of Congress. It's now up to President Joe Biden's Justice Department whether to charge Meadows - who is a former House lawmaker himself. Meadows previously agreed to cooperate with the committee but withdrew his support after already handing over thousands of documents and communications. If the DOJ moves forward with charges for Meadows, he could face up to a year in jail and as much as a $100,000 fine for each contempt count. Those are the same charges on the table for Stone's fellow Trump adviser Steve Bannon. 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, compared to just two who voted for Meadows'. Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, the only two Republicans on the committee, joined Democrats. More than $233,000 has been raised to support the families whose children died or were injured after a jumping castle was blown into the air in Tasmania. Three children are still fighting for life after a wind gust blew a jumping castle 10 metres into the air at Hillcrest Primary School, near Devonport in north-west Tasmania, at about 10am on Thursday. Addison Stewart and classmate Zane were due to start high school next year and were celebrating their last day of year six when their lives were tragically cut short. Tributes have poured in online while a local resident has kickstarted a GoFundMe campaign to raise money and support the families affected. 'My name's Zoe and I'm a local girl who grew up in Devonport,' the campaign reads. 'I don't know of or are related to any of the affected children but this is something close to my heart and it was something simple I could do . Zane has been identified as one of the victims in the Devonport jumping castle tragedy Addison Stewart (pictured) was also one of the five students who was tragically killed when the jumping castle lifted 10 metres in the air 'I was moved by the tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School and wanted to do something to support the families throughout Christmas. 'All funds will go to the families of the children who were tragically killed and injured too not only support them but provide them with much needed gifts in this time of such sadness.' 'All the funds will be donated to the school and the Parents and Friends commitee to be distributed to the families affected!' The beloved students who have been remembered as a 'beautiful, caring boy' and a 'precious' girl with a 'sweet, kind, old soul'. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Zane's grieving family financially through this devastating time. 'Zane was such a beautiful caring, gentle soul who had challenges growing up with his autism and ADHD but that never set him back he kept achieving,' the fundraiser reads. 'This has shook so many people and the community and we want to do anything to help make things a little easier for [his mum] at this hard time.' Addison's aunt has also launched a GoFundMe to help her parents as they 'navigate life without their precious daughter'. 'My niece was tragically taken in the accident at Hillcrest Primary,' she wrote. 'I'm hoping to raise some money for my brother and sister in-law to help pay for funeral costs and to pay off some bills for them while they try and navigate life without their precious daughter. Flowers and teddy bears have started to pile up around the school's sign as the community pays tribute to the victims Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air 'I don't even know what to write at this stage. Everyone is devastated , she was always such a sweet kind, old soul. 'We all love you Paddi Melon.' Distraught police officers were seen consoling each other at the scene of the tragedy, while desperate parents were seen at the gates trying to find out if their children were dead or alive. The victims, which include another boy and girl, were Year 6 students. Four others are in hospital - three of them in a critical condition and one is described as having 'serious' injuries. 'On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss,' Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said on Thursday afternoon. Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School where several children died in a jumping castle incident 'Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon.' Detectives are investigating how many children were on the jumping castle when the tragedy unfolded. 'It's an emotional day for everyone who is tragically impacted by today,' Commissioner Hine said. 'I've already seen pictures of police officers quite upset, as you'd expect. Any emergency services and teachers, everyone is affected in some way.' Flowers and teddy bears have been placed at the base of the school's sign as the community pays tribute to the victims. The jumping castle was blown into the air by a freak gust of wind, killing five kids and leaving several injured (paramedics are pictured at the scene) A local man, who wished to only be known as Connor, told Daily Mail Australia his colleague lives across the road from the primary school and ran over when she heard sirens. 'She first thought there was a shooting,' he said. 'She said the scene as horrific and confronting, with children everywhere on the ground. '[But] what got her the most was the parents sitting in the gutters, on the side of the road head in hands, crying.' Connor said the tragedy had rocked the tight-knit coastal town, which is home to around 26,000 people. 'The community is just devastated,' he said. A schoolboy who watched the horrific scene unfold revealed he was almost involved in the tragedy. 'It was our turn next,' he told The Mercury. 'Grade five and six went first.' Bob Smith, who lives near the school, said he saw kids on the ground. 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,' he said. Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured) 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein passed on his thoughts to the community. 'My thoughts are obviously with the parents of the children that have been injured and with the emergency services,' he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as 'unthinkably heartbreaking'. 'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,' he said while on a visit on the NSW Central Coast. 'It just breaks your heart.' Awful scene at Tasmanias Hillcrest Primary School. Multiple students seriously injured after a jumping castle flipped in a gust of wind @abcnews pic.twitter.com/OTsRUzmDym Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021 The inflatable castle was part of a celebration to mark the last day of school, which also included zorb balls, a slippery slide and a wet play zone. 'A wind event caused a jumping castle to lift into the air,' police said in a statement. 'Several children fell from a height of about 10 metres about 10am.' 'Counselling is being made available to the families affected by this in the school community along with the first responders.' Images at the scene showed a wall of tarpaulin sheets set up as paramedics worked desperately to save those who had been injured. Comm Williams said officers were called to 'a very confronting and distressing scene'. The school had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents. 'Students will have the opportunity to rotate through a range of activities with their cohort,' the school wrote. The school is in Devonport in northern Tasmania (pictured). Hillcrest Primary School had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents Ambulance Tasmania said in a statement that it was responding to a 'major incident' A GoFundMe was launched shortly after news of the tragedy broke, raising $23,958 in three hours. The organiser, who grew up un Devonport, said she moved by the tragedy and wanted to do something to support the families through Christmas. 'All funds will go to the families of the children who were tragically killed and injured too not only support them but provide them with much needed gifts in this time of such sadness,' she wrote. 'Any donation is much appreciated and hopefully we as the incredible community of Devonport can rally to support such deserving and hurting people.' An off-duty security guard remained behind at the site of a horrific jumping castle tragedy that left five children dead to console grieving families in Tasmania. The security guard offered hugs to mourners for the entire night as devastated locals turned up to pay tribute at a memorial site set up at Devonport on Thursday. ABC news reporter Monte Bovill captured the devastating impact of the incident on the community after photographing two inconsolable police officers collapsed on the ground in grief. 'Today was tough for many, but mostly for the Hillcrest community and first responders,' he later wrote on Twitter. 'At the height of awfulness when I arrived, I put down my camera. A parent came up to me and hugged me. She sat with me and said "we're human".' Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air Addison Stewart (pictured) was also one of the five students who was tragically killed when the jumping castle lifted 10 metres in the air Zane Gardam has been identified as one of the victims in the Devonport jumping castle tragedy The two officers photographed were among the first emergency responders to arrive at the scene following the incident. They were so overcome with sadness the pair collapsed onto the ground before attempting to console each other. An officer is seen resting her head on the shoulder of her colleague who holds her face with her hand in disbelief. Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine confirmed five children died in the incident with the first victims identified as year six students Addison Stewart and classmate Zane Gardam. Another five children were taken to hospital with four in a critical condition and one with serious injuries. Tasmania Police said the children fell from a height of about 10 metres after the wind picked up the jumping castle and several inflatable zorb balls. Students had been celebrating their last day of school when the terrible incident unfolded. Commissioner Darren Hine said an investigation will take 'some time' as many witnesses needed to be interviewed. Police have not revealed many details about how the incident unfolded. 'We'll be supplying a report to the coroner in conjunction with WorkSafe Tasmania,' Commissioner Hine told reporters on Thursday afternoon. 'That will take some time to complete and once that's completed it will be handed to the coroner for an inquest.' Tasmania's Education Department will provide support to children, families and staff in coming days and into the school holidays, while counselling has also been offered to first responders. 'Our approach is being guided by our senior psychologists, who are trained in trauma-informed practice,' Secretary Tim Bullard said. Flowers and teddy bears have started to pile up around the school's sign as the community pays tribute to the victims Bouquets of flowers have been laid at the base of the fence as the community mourns the tragedy Devonport locals have left lit candles out the front of their homes as a show of respect for the victims, their families, and first responders Members of the community flocked online to share photos of their candle displays in honour of the victims 'What has occurred is a tragedy and there are no words that I can give that would take away the grief that those impacted families are feeling right now.' Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein passed on his sympathies to loved ones. 'On a day when schoolchildren were celebrating the end of term so close to Christmas, it's simply inconceivable something this shocking has occurred,' he said. 'My thoughts are obviously with the parents of the children that have been injured and with the emergency services.' Hillcrest Primary School closed on Thursday and told parents to urgently pick up their children not long after the fatal accident. Several rescue helicopters were used to transport the children to hospital. Shaken residents recalled seeing the moment the jumping castle was swept up by the wind. 'Then I saw kids on the ground,' Bob Smith told the Mercury. 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day. Hillcrest Primary School graduate Zane (pictured right with dad Tim) was the first of the five victims to be identified Zane (pictutred) was enjoying his last day of primary school when his life was tragically cut short 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Local resident Connor told Daily Mail Australia his colleague lives across the road from the primary school and ran over when she heard sirens. 'She first thought there was a shooting,' he said. 'She said the scene as horrific and confronting, with children everywhere on the ground. '[But] what got her the most was the parents sitting in the gutters, on the side of the road head in hands, crying.' 'The community is just devastated.' Bob Smith, who lives near the school, said he saw kids on the ground. 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,' he said. The jumping castle was blown into the air by a freak gust of wind, killing five kids and leaving several injured (paramedics are pictured at the scene) Paramedics and police are pictured at a scene at Hillcrest Primary School where five children died in a jumping castle incident Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured) 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Within an hour of the tragedy, dozens of frantic parents had rushed to the school and were forced to wait at the entry gates, not knowing whether their children were dead or alive with one claiming they were left in the dark. 'I'm here now they won't let us in, it was (child's name) grade but no one knows who was hurt yet,' she wrote. 'I have a friend with children there and he hasn't heard anything yet,' another added. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as 'unthinkably heartbreaking'. 'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,' he said while on a visit on the NSW Central Coast. 'It just breaks your heart.' The school is in Devonport in northern Tasmania (pictured). Hillcrest Primary School had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents A British former CEO of McDonald's has agreed to pay the company more than 78million in compensation after he was accused of lying about inappropriate workplace relationships. Steve Easterbrook, from Watford, agreed to return the sum in the form of cash and equity awards after he was sued by McDonalds for allegedly lying about consensual affairs with three other workers. He was fired in 2019 - and given a 31million severance package - after racy videos and text messages he had sent to an employee with whom he had a non-physical, consensual relationship, emerged. But McDonald's sued Easterbrook, 54, to return the sum last year after the fast food chain found the former CEO had three sexual relationships with employees and stored dozens of nude photos of the women on his email. Announcing the settlement on Thursday, Easterbrook issued a grovelling apology for failing to 'uphold McDonald's values and fulfil certain of my responsibilities as a leader of the company'. 'I apologise to my former co-workers, the board and the company's franchisees and suppliers for doing so.' McDonald's fired Easterbrook in 2019 after he was busted sending racy videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee McDonald's has clawed back more than 78million in severance benefits from former CEO Steve Easterbrook (right) who is accused of lying about inappropriate workplace relationships Easterbrook is pictured with his former girlfriend Denise Paleothodoros, whom he dated from 2014 to 2018 when she was assigned to the McDonalds account by her PR firm At the time of his firing in 2019, Easterbrook told the company there were no other similar instances and an inspection of his cell phone seemed to back that up. McDonald's board approved a separation agreement 'without cause' that allowed Easterbrook to keep tens of millions in stock-based benefits and other compensation. The severance deal was valued at nearly 31million when issued in 2019, according to an analysis at the time by executive-pay firm Equilar, but the company's stock has since risen by more than a third. From 2015 to 2019, Easterbrook realised 46million in compensation, according to Equilar, suggesting that the massive clawback revokes nearly all he earned during his tenure as CEO. But, in July 2020, the company received an anonymous tip from an employee claiming that Easterbrook had engaged in a sexual relationship with another employee. After an investigation, McDonald's confirmed that relationship as well as two other physical, sexual relationships with employees in the year before it fired its top executive. The company said Easterbrook had removed evidence of those relationships from his phone. Easterbrook also dated Denise Paleothodoros when she was assigned to the McDonalds account by her PR firm. The affair came to light in 2015 but McDonald's concluded the relationship did not violate its policies. Paleothodoross employers, Golin, moved her to another account. McDonalds fired Easterbrook in late 2019 after he acknowledged exchanging videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee McDonald's board sued Easterbrook in August 2020, saying it would not have terminated him without cause if it had known the extent of his misconduct. 'That evidence consisted of dozens of nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit photographs and videos of various women, including photographs of these company employees,' the complaint stated. It added that Easterbrook had sent the photographs, which were allegedly taken in late 2018 and early 2019, as attachments to messages from his company e-mail account to his personal e-mail account. In his response to the lawsuit, Easterbrook claimed that McDonald's had information about his relationships on its computer systems when it negotiated his severance package. The company sought the return of equity awards granted in 2018 and 2019, since Easterbrook's separation agreement made clear he would forfeit those if the company determined he had engaged in 'detrimental conduct.' The settlement announced on Thursday holds Easterbrook accountable and affirms the board's decision to pursue the case, McDonald's Chairman Enrique Hernandez Jr. said in a prepared statement. The settlement announced Thursday holds Easterbrook accountable and affirms the board's decision to pursue the case, McDonalds Chairman Enrique Hernandez Jr. said 'The resolution avoids a protracted court process and allows us to move forward,' Hernandez said. The action against Easterbrook came amid a larger reckoning at the company over sexual harassment in its ranks. Over the last five years, at least 50 workers have filed charges against the company, alleging physical and verbal harassment and, in some cases, retaliation when they came forward. In October 2019 - a month before Easterbrook was fired - McDonald's introduced a new harassment training program for its 850,000 U.S. employees, but franchisees wee not required to provide it. McDonald's went further in April saying it would require new training at its restaurants to fight harassment and discrimination. A purple-haired Instacart driver ran over an elderly couple's groceries that she had just delivered after seeing a Blue Lives Matter flag in the driveway of their Minnesota home and scribbled F*** the police' on a receipt she pinned to their door. Tara Plum, 36, of Coon Rapids, was delivering the couple's groceries from Cub Foods on December 6 when she spotted a pro-police sign reading 'Thank you Blaine PD' with a Blue Lives Matter flag in the front yard of their home. After noticing the sign, she left them a derogatory note and ran over $50 worth of groceries in the driveway of their home, police said. The disgruntled driver allegedly yelled at the couple as she peeled away from their and told them to check the wreath on their front door. Plum wrote 'Instacart doesn't pay employees. Sry [sic] find another slave. F*** the police,' as well as calling them 'racist pigs' on a receipt, according to the Blaine Police Department. She has since been cited for criminal damage to the property and could face a 90 day sentence if convicted. A court date for Plum has not been set yet. The couple was reimbursed for the damaged groceries and Plum has been fired by Instacart, the mobile app delivery service. Instacart driver Tara Plum, 36, ran over an elderly couple's $50 worth of groceries after noticing a pro-police sign in their yard Plum scribbled 'Instacart doesn't pay employees. Sry find another slave. F*** the police,' as well as calling them 'racist pigs' on a receipt The couple's Instacart receipt featuring an image of Plum after they had placed the order with CubFoods Police in Blaine, a Minneapolis suburb located 17 miles north of the city, are continuing to investigate the incident, which they say may not classify as a hate crime. 'We would have to prove the act was committed based on the victim's perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or national origin,' Captain Mark Boerboom said. Since receiving the citation, Plum posted to Facebook in anger over the incident. 'Disorderly conduct and property damage for running over Instacart groceries that I wasn't paid to deliver and the customer got reimbursed by Instacart, but somehow I damaged their property that they weren't getting because the delivery person and shopper of the order didn't get f***ing paid,' she said. The couple's relatives have since organized a grocery fund with $13,920 raised as of Thursday Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany told Fox 9 that he understands that not everybody likes them but there was no reason for Plum to take her anger out on the innocent couple Instacart released a statement saying it was 'appalled by the unacceptable actions of this shopper, who has been removed from the Instacart platform as a result.' 'We'll continue to provide support to the impacted customers and will also work directly with local law enforcement on any investigations into this matter,' it added. A grocery fund set up by the couple's loved ones on GoFundMe three days after the incident has already accumulated $13,920 - far exceeding the $500 goal. 'Tara probably doesn't know how carefully those $50 in groceries were budgeted for. Or how devastating the recent medical diagnosis has been. Or how scared and vulnerable her vile act of hatred made them feel,' Amber Gray, one of the fundraiser organizers, wrote. Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany told Fox 9: 'We're law enforcement. We get not everybody likes us, we understand that. But don't take that out on innocent people out there, especially people who are trying to contribute to this person's livelihood.' A petition to grant clemency to the driver of an 18-wheeler sentenced to 110 years in prison for causing a huge crash that killed four on a Colorado interstate has garnered 1.65 million signatures on Change.org. Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, was driving a semi on April 25, 2019 down Interstate 70 in Lakewood, Colorado, when he crashed into two dozen vehicles - including four other semi-trucks stuck in rush-hour traffic. The impact caused a fireball explosion that incinerated cars and trucks, and killed four people. More than two years later, on Monday, Aguilera-Mederos, of Texas, was sentenced to 110 consecutive years in prison by county court Judge A. Bruce Jones, who said his hands were tied due to mandatory minimum laws in the state. He sentenced Aguilera-Mederos to the minimum in the range available to him on all 27 criminal counts, the Denver Channel reported. 'Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, 23, has nothing on his driving record, or on his criminal history,' the Change.org petition for Aguilera-Mederos' clemency, which was addressed to Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Jefferson County courts, reads. The governor is the only person who can grant clemency at the state level. Polis most recently commuted four sentences and issued 18 pardons in December 2020. Clemency usually results in a sentence reduction or a pardon. 'He had complied with every single request by the Jefferson County courts, and investigators on the case.' Pictured: a screenshot of the 1.65 million signature Change.org petition for clemency for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, the driver of an 18-wheeler jailed for 110 years for killing four people Pictured: a screenshot of the petition for Aguilera-Mederos, who was sentenced to prison for 110 consecutive on Monday for causing a fireball crash that killed four people Aguilera-Mederos, pictured, of Texas, as he was sentenced Monday to 110 consecutive years in prison, who said his hands were tied due to mandatory minimum laws in the state 'He's passed all of the drug and alcohol tests that were given including a chemical test.' 'This accident was not intentional, nor was it a criminal act on the drivers part. No one but the trucking company he is/was employed by should be held accountable for this accident.' 'We are trying to hold the person who needs to be held responsible, responsible. The trucking company has had several inspections since 2017, with several mechanical violations.' The petition goes on to say that Rogel could have 'done things differently to avoid the courts,' but ultimately commended him for taking responsibility and apologizing to the victim's families. 'Some of the families even offered forgiveness,' the petition continues. 'Rogel is not a criminal.' It will become one of the website's top signed petitions after it reaches 3 million signatures, according to the Change.org page. One of website's petitions successfully forced AT&T, Ernst & Young, Intel, and UPS to cease donating to the Boy Scouts after the organization came under heavy scrutiny for its controversial exclusionary policy against gay scouts and leaders this year. Before his sentencing on Monday, Aguilera-Mederos pleaded with a judge to give him a lighter sentence, claiming he is not a criminal and did not mean to hurt anybody Among the vehicles he crashed into were four other semi-trucks Prosecutors say Aguilera-Mederos, of Texas, was driving at 85mph when he crashed into two dozen cars on April 25, 2019 near the Denver West Colorado Mills Parkway A giant fireball formed from the impact of the crash, incinerating some cars and trucks And 14-year-old Julia Bluhm successfully petitioned Seventeen magazine on Change.org to stop doctoring photos of its teen models. The magazine announced it would no longer Photoshop its models in July, making it the first mainstream teen magazine to take the 'no Photoshop' pledge, Business News Daily reported. Aguilera-Mederos, of Texas, was working for a Houston-based trucking company at the time of the fatal crash. He was driving an 18-wheeler loaded with lumber. Prosecutors said he was eastbound coming down the interstate from the mountains at about 85mph. They said he also swerved at times, forcing others off the road before he crashed into two dozen vehicles causing a giant fireball, FOX 31 reports. It left behind a scene of 'significant, just unbelievable carnage,' Lakewood Police Spokesman Ty Countryman said in a news conference following the crash, noting that some bodies were still in the wreckage hours later. Video showed cars stopped in every direction as the huge fire spread, sending smoke billowing. 'This is looking to be one of the worst accidents we've had here in Lakewood,' Countryman said. Four were killed in the crash, including: Doyle Harrison, 61, of Hudson, Colorado; William Bailey, 67, of Arvadal; Miguel Angel Lamas Arrellano, 24, of Denver; and Staney Politano, 69, of Arvada. Six others were taken to the hospital for their injuries. He was found guilty in October on 27 criminal charges including vehicular homicide, assault and reckless driving for a fiery crash in April 2019, and a county court judge on Monday said he had to sentence Aguilera-Mederos, pictured with his attorney, according to state minimums Among the victims of the deadly crash were Stanley Politano, 69, of Arvada, Colorado, left, and Miguel Angel Lamas Arrelano, 24, of Denver, right, Doyle Harrison, pictured, was also killed in the inferno Victim William Bailey is pictured with his wife, Gage Evans Aguilera-Mederos had claimed the brakes in his truck had failed and he lost control, but prosecutors argued in court that he could have taken steps to prevent the crash, including using a runaway truck ramp miles before the wreck. He made a 'bunch of bad decisions' instead, they said. Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, was sentenced on Monday to 110 consecutive years in prison But his defense attorney claimed he did not know that his truck brakes were smoking or that he would not be able to stop. He also argued that Aguilera-Mederos' actions were a series of negligent decisions, and that he did not intend to hurt anybody. But in October, a jury found him guilty of 27 criminal charges, including: Four counts of vehicular homicide Two counts of vehicular assault Six counts of assault in the first-degree with extreme indifference 10 counts of criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree One count of reckless driving Four counts of careless driving causing death He was also found not guilty of 15 counts of criminal attempts to commit assaults in the first degree. Before his sentencing on Monday, Aguilera-Mederos pleaded with the judge to be lenient, breaking down in tears as he spoke. 'It's hard. This was a terrible accident, I know,' he said. 'I take the responsibility, but it was an accident. Some of the lumber Aguilera-Mederos was transporting was strewn across I-70 as traffic was stopped in both directions Smoke billowed throughout the sky in the aftermath of the crash 'I have never thought about hurting anyone in my entire life and Jesus Christ, he knows that, he knows my heart,' he continued. 'I am not a criminal, I am not a murderer.' 'The accident - it wasn't intentional, it wasn't intentional, Your Honor. I did all that I can as a man. I put myself in harm's way to avoid harming anyone else.' He claimed that he tried to avoid the traffic, and noted that he did not flee in the aftermath 'because I respect the laws. 'I want to say sorry, sorry for the loss, sorry for the people injured,' he concluded, noting: 'I ask ... God many times why them and not me.' The ACLU vowed to take Joe Biden's government 'back to court' in a statement provided to DailyMail.com after the civil rights group announced that settlement talks to compensate migrants separated under Donald Trump broke down The Biden administration is withdrawing from settlement talks to compensate migrant families separated under former President Donald Trump, the American Civil Liberties Union revealed on Thursday. The civil rights group accused President Joe Biden of 'playing politics' for pulling out of the negotiations. 'After our government deliberately abused young children by separating them from their families, today they've walked away from negotiations to help those who were traumatized heal,' the ACLU stated on its Twitter account. 'Candidate Biden promised to help these children and families. But today, President Biden is shamefully playing politics with their lives and futures. We will never forget who takes action to help these families and who turns their backs on them.' The government will instead defend itself in individual lawsuits brought forth by the ACLU and other groups on behalf of migrant families rather than distribute class-wide payments. His administration's decision comes after eight months of negotiations and weeks after reports of a proposed settlement that would include payments of several hundred thousand dollars to each family sparked outrage among Biden administration critics in Congress and elsewhere. Justice Department officials informed lawyers for the plaintiffs in a conference call that the government would not offer a global settlement in family separation cases and will defend each individual suit in court, Deputy Director for the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project Lee Gelernt said. 'It would be an understatement to say we are disappointed that the Biden administration allowed politics to get in the way of helping the little children deliberately abused by our government,' Gelernt said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com by the ACLU. A migrant rests during their stay at House of the Pilgrim San Juan Diego waiting continue their journey heading to the United States border on December 15 About 5,500 children were separated from their parents at the border under Trump's presidency (photo taken at House of the Pilgrim San Juan Diego on December 15) Reports from October detailed that payments to those who were separated could be as much as $450,000 per person or $1 million per family - and could cost US taxpayers $1 billion or more (picture also taken December 15) He vowed to restart the ACLU's lawsuits on behalf of migrant families he says were victimized by the United States. 'We are going back to court. The trauma inflicted on these children and parents at the hands of our very own government is unfathomable. We need to do the right thing,' Gelernt said. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Justice Department for comment. In a statement to NBC, the DOJ said, 'While the parties have been unable to reach a global settlement agreement at this time, we remain committed to engaging with the plaintiffs and to bringing justice to the victims of this abhorrent policy.' Settlement talks over compensating migrant families for the trauma of being separated at the border were relatively quiet until a report from the Wall Street Journal blasted them wide open. Reports from October detailed that payments could be as much as $450,000 per person or $1 million per family - and could cost US taxpayers $1 billion or more. The federal government reportedly thought the $450,000 payments were a nonstarter but the plaintiffs refused to budge, an official told the Washington Post. But Zachary Manfredi, litigation director for the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, told the outlet that that's not the case. 'Plaintiffs were awaiting the governments new proposal at the time the government unilaterally withdrew from discussions,' Manfredi said. Biden caught heat from immigrants' rights groups including the ACLU in November when he dismissed the reported payments as 'garbage.' The ACLU first revealed that talks broke down on Thursday afternoon and accused Biden of going back on his promises The White House was forced to walk back the president's comments, with Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre telling reporters: 'If it saves taxpayer dollars and puts the disastrous history of the previous administrations use of zero tolerance and family separation behind us, the president is perfectly comfortable with the Department of Justice settling with the individuals and families who are currently in litigation with the United States government.' About 5,500 children were forcibly removed from their parents in 2017 and 2018 under President Donald Trump as his administration sought to stop an increase in people crossing the US-Mexico border with criminal prosecutions, even if the migrants were presenting themselves to authorities to seek asylum as permitted under the law. The parents of hundreds of children have still not been located. Trump halted the practice in June 2018 amid widespread outrage, including from many Republicans, just six days before a judge ordered an end to the program in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU. The suits filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act are intended to help compensate families for the psychological damage of the separation, but critics argue it would reward people for illegally crossing the border. In defending against the suits, the Biden Justice Department will also be defending senior Trump administration officials named individually in the ACLU suit, including former senior adviser Stephen Miller and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In October when they were first revealed, Arkansas GOP Senator Tom Cotton described the plans as 'insanity' while likening the migrants as 'burglars who broke into a home'. 'It's unthinkable to pay a burglar who broke into your home for the 'psychological trauma' they endured during the crime. Yet the Biden admin wants to reward migrants who illegally entered our country with up to $450,000 each for just that reason. Insanity,' Cotton wrote on Twitter. Fellow Arkansas Rep. Steve Womack shared Cotton's view. 'Insanity. Rewarding illegal immigrants with hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars is the ULTIMATE insult to law-abiding citizens. President Biden wants to send the IRS to surveil your bank account while cutting checkswith your moneyto people who've broken our laws,' Womack said. Michigan Rep. Tim Wahlberg said it was 'pure madness and an insult to hardworking taxpayers.' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the reported payments were 'a slap in the face.' 'The Biden administration is reportedly looking to pay $450,000 to illegal immigrants who knowingly broke the law. It's a slap in the face to our law-abiding citizens who wake up, go to work, and pay their taxes,' he tweeted at the time. One of Australia's top doctors has unleashed on some medical commentators he claims are 'increasing fear' about the recent outbreak of Omicron. Dr Nick Coatsworth said the large daily Covid-19 case numbers being seen in Victoria and NSW wasn't cause for concern, due to the country's high vaccination percentage. 'We've been held back by some medical commentators who insist on focusing on case numbers,' he said while appearing on ABC News on Thursday night. 'It's disappointing they've been unable to move forward.' He said medical experts needed to 'bring our community forward without fear'. Dr Nick Coatsworth has unleashed on some medical commentators he claims are 'increasing fear' about the recent outbreak of Omicron 'That means we do need to focus on hospitalisations and getting ourselves boosted and then the most modest restrictions we can possibly have to live our lives as freely as we can.' The former deputy chief medical officer also hit back at claims from the Australian Medical Association that the country's booster roll out was 'falling behind'. Dr Coatsworth referred to the AMA as the 'peanut gallery association' in a scathing tweet and later told the ABC their comments were 'irresponsible'. 'We are four weeks into the Omicron variant. To suggest that we are in any way behind on the booster program is in my view an irresponsible contribution to increasing fear among the Australian population,' he said. Lockdowns should also not be enforced amid the spike in cases, the infectious disease physician added. NSW and Victoria have seen large spikes in Covid infections this week but Dr Coatsworth says it isn't cause for concern due to Australia's high vaccination rate 'We have done as much as the public will tolerate now in terms of significant restrictions on their ability to live a full and free life,' he said. 'And in the face of a variant that's milder but more infectious, we can't go on with a suggestion that we're going to have snap lockdowns.' He added that it is reasonable for some concern over the Omicron variant, but evidence had shown it was a 'milder' strain. On Thursday NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Stuart Ayres said the government would not rule out localised lockdowns, following worrying case numbers in Newcastle. 'As we reopen the economy. If we believe it is the right thing to do, that is an option on the table,' he said. 'This is why we are asking people to do the right thing, be cautious, get your booster shot, that is the most important thing you can do.' It comes after the state recorded its highest every daily case total with 1,742 infections. Meanwhile Victoria suffered another 1,622 cases. The U.S. Department of State has offered $5 million rewards for any information that could help federal agents arrest the sons of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, but Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador declared that American federal agents won't be able to step on Mexican soil and apprehend them. The bounties for the jailed Sinaloa Cartel co-founders four sons were announced Wednesday after President Joe Biden signed an executive order that would widen the U.S. Treasury Departments capabilities in the fight against the illicit trade of narcotics across the world, including in the United States where more than 100,000 Americans have died from overdose during a stretch of 12 months that conclude in April. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, Jesus Alfredo Guzman - otherwise known as Los Chapitos - assumed leadership roles within the Sinaloa Cartel along with their uncle Aureliano El Guano Guzman and co-founder Ismael El Mayo Zambada after the infamous drug lord was arrested in Mexico in 2014 before his 2016 extradition to the United States, where he is serving a life sentence. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman were identified as leaders of a cartel faction, according to the Department of Treasury. All three had been previously indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. The U.S. Department of State announced Wednesday $5 million rewards for information leading to the arrest of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman's four sons, including Ivan Archivaldo Guzman (left) and Ovidio Guzman Lopez (right) Joaquin Guzman Lopez is one El Chapo's four sons who are wanted by the United States. They are all charged with drug trafficking With Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman serving a life sentence in the United States, his four sons have assumed control of the transnational drug trafficking organization For years, the United States has been in the grips of the worst drug epidemic in its history, driven by overdose deaths involving heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl and an increase in methamphetamine availability, the Department of State said in a statement. Transnational criminal organizations are largely responsible for bringing these drugs and related violence to our communities. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman and Jesus Alfredo Guzman were all sanctioned by the Department of Treasury. Aureliano Guzman Loera, who is accused by the U.S. Department of State 'international' drug trafficking', also has $5 million bounty, which was announced in November. The Department of State tripled its reward for Zambada to $15 million in September. Despite the massive reward, Mexico President Andre Manuel Lopez Obrador warned the United States that their federal agents cant simple step on Mexican soil and apprehend El Chapos sons. "If they are in national territory, it is up to the national authorities to stop it, foreign agencies are not allowed to do so, Lopez Obrador said during a press conference Thursday. Jesus Guzman and his two brothers donated laptops, tablets, computer monitors, televisions and school supplies to the impoverished Culiacan neighborhood of Bicentennial Extension Ovidio Guzman Lopez escaped being extradited to the United States on October 17, 2019 when the Mexican military tracked him down to a home in Culiacan, Sinaloa, after an arrest warrant was issued by a Washington, D.C., federal court judge as the U.S. sought to dismantle the cartels alleged fentanyl trafficking operations. Chaos followed throughout the streets of Culiacan as cartel fighters led an assault that appeared to overwhelm the military and local police, who were met with grenade launchers and rifles. Video showed Ovidio Guzman Lopez instructing Ivan Archivaldo Guzman to order their operatives to stand down. Under orders of President Lopez Obrador, security forces released Ovidio Guzman Lopez and withdrew from the residence. By then at least 13 people had been killed in the military-like assault that was waged by cartel henchmen, who had also kidnapped military officials before releasing them. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday warned the United States that American federal agents will not be allowed to just enter the country and arrest El Chapo's four son because 'if they are in national territory, it is up to the national authorities to stop it, foreign agencies are not allowed to do so' Ovidio Guzman stands down after the Mexican military raided his home in Culiacan, Mexico, on October 17, 2019, resulting in a violent response ordered by one of his siblings before Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ordered his release Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's Aureliano Guzman-Loera is accused by the U.S. Department of State of 'international' drug trafficking. The agency announced a $5 million reward for information that could lead to his arrest and/or conviction Lopez Obrador in June 2020 revealed that it was his decision to release Ovidio Guzman Lopez because he wanted to save hundreds of innocent lives that were at stake. He reiterated his ruling Thursday, indicating that only time will tell if he made the right choice. That was a very special circumstance, it was an operation that was not executed well, with very few personnel, without supporting those who carried out the operation, Lopez Obrador said. "If we did well or did wrong, history will tell, I was the one who made the decision. Britain and Australia signed a historic deal last night designed to unlock 10billion in extra trade in a huge boost for Brexit Britain. It will eliminate all tariffs on exports and will mean Britons will be able to work in Australia for three years. The deal, agreed in principle in June by Lis Truss, was signed during a virtual ceremony last night by her successor as International Trade Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan. It is the UKs first from scratch trade deal since leaving the EU. Other deals have built upon previous agreements with the EU. A good day: Liz Truss, now Foreign Secretary, with Australian trade minister Dan Tehan earlier this year Miss Trevelyan said it set new global standards in digital and services, and creating new work and travel opportunities for Britons and Australians. She added: Our UK-Australia trade deal is a landmark moment in the historic and vital relationship between our two commonwealth nations. This agreement is tailored to the UKs strengths, and delivers for businesses, families, and consumers in every part of the UK helping us to level up. We will continue to work together in addressing shared challenges in global trade, climate change and technological changes in the years ahead. Today we demonstrate what the UK can achieve as an agile, independent sovereign trading nation. This is just the start as we get on the front foot and seize the seismic opportunities that await us on the world stage. The deal was agreed in principle by Boris Johnson and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison in London in June, and negotiators have now finalised all its chapters. After being signed last night, it will now be laid before Parliament for a period of scrutiny. The deal is expected to unlock 10.4billion of additional trade, boosting the British economy and increasing wages across the UK, while eliminating tariffs on 100 per cent of UK exports. It is a deal tailored for our economy with cutting-edge agreements in areas where Britain is a world leader, including in digital and tech, along with increased access to Australia for the UKs powerhouse service sectors. It gives UK firms guaranteed access to bid for an additional 10billion worth of Australian public sector contracts per year. It will allow young people to work and travel in Australia for up to three years at a time, removing previous visa conditions. For the first time UK service suppliers including architects, scientists, researchers, lawyers and accountants will have access to visas to work in Australia without being subject to their skilled occupation list. This is more than Australia has ever offered any other country in a free trade agreement. The deal removes tariffs on all UK exports, making it cheaper to sell iconic products such as cars, Scotch whisky and fashion to Australia, while making Australian favourites like Jacobs Creek and Hardys wines, Tim Tam chocolate biscuits and surfboards more accessible for British consumers. The deal is also a gateway into the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region and will boost our bid to join CPTPP, one of the largest free trade areas in the world, covering 8.4trillion of GDP and 11 Pacific nations from Australia to Mexico. The deal was agreed in principle by Boris Johnson and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison in London in June, and negotiators have now finalised all its chapters Nicola Watkinson, managing director of financial trade body TheCityUK, said: This agreement with Australia is further evidence of the UK breaking ground with new trade deals with key trade partners. It rightly focuses on issues important to the services sectors representing 80 per cent of the UK economy. Stephen Phipson, chief executive of manufacturers body Make UK, said: Achieving a new preferential trade arrangement with Australia is welcome for Britains manufacturers who will benefit from day one with tariff-free access on goods sold. Dan McGrail, chief executive of RenewableUK, the green energy trade association, said: This free trade agreement will make it easier for UK and Australian companies to export green technologies and expertise, speeding up the transition of both countries to our net zero goals. Labours international trade spokesman Nick Thomas-Symonds said they supported a free trade deal, but added: We will scrutinise the details of this agreement very carefully and will hold the Government to promises made to farming communities, its pledges on environmental protections, and on food and drink standards. Anger at the Governments silence over Britains only Omicron death was growing last night after a caller to a radio station claimed the victim was an anti-vaxxer in his 70s. So far, just 16 patients are known to have ended up in hospital with the new variant, and only one has died with it. But the NHS and the Department of Health refuse to give any details about the victim, four days after the death was announced. Critics say it could help calm fears about Omicron if the Government made it clear that the only person who had died was someone who had not been vaccinated. They demanded ministers publish more details, to avoid unnecessary alarm. A caller to LBC said the victim, who was in his early 70s, had refused the jab after becoming convinced that it was part of a government conspiracy to control the population. He said the victim died in hospital in Northampton. Because of the information vacuum, there was no way to verify his claims. To add to the confusion, NHS England said last night that the death did not occur there. But it would not clarify where it did happen, saying it could not comment because they do not discuss individual cases. That was in stark contrast to the approach last year, after the UKs first known death from Covid, when the Government revealed she was an older patient who had underlying health conditions and died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. Critics say it could help calm fears about Omicron if the Government made it clear that the only person who had died was someone who had not been vaccinated A caller to LBC said the victim, who was in his early 70s, had refused the jab after becoming convinced that it was part of a government conspiracy to control the population The caller who said he was the victims stepson and was referred to on LBC as John from Smithfield in London claimed the victim was a pensioner who had lived alone in a block of flats and died on Monday, a fortnight after catching the virus. John said: He was a recluse to be honest. He never left the house, had all his food delivered and only left the house to go to the bins and the postbox. He was one of the cleanest guys Id ever known. But this is the important thing. He wasnt vaccinated. 'My sister is gutted, but on the other hand shes a little bit angry that he never took the vaccine. 'She did have an argument with him about it in October about this very thing. He thought it was a conspiracy. He read it online. He was an intelligent man. Had he been vaccinated, he would probably still be here. How Omicron went from one UK case to 1million per day in just three weeks November 25: The UK Government relaunches its red travel list and hotel quarantine for six African countries including South Africa November 27: The UK Health Security Agency confirms that the first cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 - known as Omicron - was identified in the UK. December 12: 3,137 Omicron cases reported in the UK, mostly in England. But just ten people are in hosiptal. December 13: Britain's first Omicron death is announced. Boris Johnson gave no details on the death other than the person had been diagnosed in hospital. Health Secretary Sajid Javid says the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, he said. December 14: Experts say cases are doubling every 2.5 days and predict 1million cases per day by Sunday December 15: The travel red list is scrapped due to the spread of the Omicron variant in the UK December 16: The stepson of the first Omicron fatality says he was unvaccinated when he died in hospital in Northampton on Monday Advertisement John said his stepfather died around a week after being admitted. He said: He went downhill just like that. He wasnt able to speak, he was scared. 'I think if youre in hospital, having 80 per cent oxygen fired at you, you would regret it (not having a jab) wouldnt you? I would. 'He was fit. He ate healthy, he didnt smoke and didnt drink in 30 years. He added: Its the people who havent been vaccinated theyre the ones that need to be worried now. Cancer specialist Karol Sikora said earlier this week that the Government was not providing the nation with enough information about the death, and that this was unnecessarily alarming. Were they in hospital for Covid or were they there because they had been run over by a bus?, he said. Have they had a booster? Are they elderly? There are all sorts of nuances to this thing, and were not being given proper information. 'No details have been released, I suspect its just some old boy thats tested positive, he may have died in his sleep or with a heart attack, who knows? It is unnecessarily alarming. Professor Sikora said his suspicion is that the silence regarding whether the person was vaccinated or not indicated to him that the person died of another cause while they had Omicron. I suspect that its a death, which is unfortunate, but is due to something else, and it just happens to be Covid positive thats why theyre not making a big noise about them being vaccinated or not, he added. The Prime Ministers spokesman said: Obviously when it comes to individual deaths there is a right to patient confidentiality so we are limited in what we can say. He is one of the most high-profile figures in Silicon Valley with a role as a Facebook executive and a 7million mansion to boot. But Sir Nick Clegg has said he is extremely relieved social media wasnt around when he was young as it could have stood in the way of his success. The former deputy prime minister, 54, said he would never have made it in public life if social media had been around to record his numerous very, very bad misdemeanours in his teens. And Sir Nick, who is now vice-president for global affairs and communications at parent company Meta, admitted that social media had a dark side and that it was best to use it in moderation. The tech giant has come under intense scrutiny recently after a whistleblower released internal documents suggesting it was aware its algorithms were fuelling hate and worsening teenagers mental health. Sir Nick Clegg (centre) with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg Having been accused of keeping the studies secret and denying the negative effects publicly, several of the companys bosses including chief executive Mark Zuckerberg have spoken out to deny the allegations. Now in a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times, Sir Nick has said that he is a keen user of Meta-owned WhatsApp but logs onto Facebook and Instagram far less. Yet he was keen to highlight the positive impact social media could have, explaining how he had seen it help his own children aged 12, 17, and 19 stay connected with people during lockdown. , Particularly during the pandemic, the way I see that my kids have maintained friendships and, in an imperfect fashion, their education, and just generally theyre super-engaged in the world outside, he said. Like anything, youve got to use [social media] in moderation. Like anything, its got a dark side. Sir Nick, who currently lives in the Silicon Valley neighbourhood of Lindenwood and drives a second-hand Tesla, said that his heart belongs in Europe. And he insisted that he wasnt a wildly extravagant guy, adding: We live a comfortable life, but we dont live a Beverly Hills life at least I dont think we do. Nick Clegg can look forward to relaxing in his pool and hot tub after a hard day at Facebook's head office He would not reveal his salary simply saying that he was well-paid however a more junior position in his team is being recruited on an annual wage of 1.9million. Yet the former Liberal Democrat leader, who was the Sheffield Hallam MP from 2005 to 2017, said that his heart still lies in politics. He added: There was a considerable amount of organ rejection. I would have loved to be British prime minister. But I hit the buffers... 'I couldnt get my head round the idea that I was going to spend the next 20, 30 years possibly pontificating to absolutely no impact whatsoever, sitting on a few boards making ponderous observations, maybe lecturing here and there, popping up on the Today Programme as a ghost from the past. 'I thought, Ive got far too much energy for that. When asked about his anti-establishment reputation during his political career, he was quick to take a pot shot at the current situation in Britain, saying: I think the British political establishment is in deep trouble. I think its an unreformed set of institutions which are really holding the country back. Sir Nick, who took up his current role in 2018, has played a pivotal part in several high-profile decisions including banning Donald Trump after the US Capitol riots in January. Yet Facebook has been rocked by controversy this year after former employee Frances Haugen released a series of damning internal reports which some believe contributed to the rebranding. The devastated father of a schoolboy who tragically died when a 'mini-tornado' lifted a jumping castle 10 metres into the air has remembered him as a 'mischievous' boy who dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Peter Dodt was celebrating his last day at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, northern Tasmania, on Thursday morning when a freak gust of wind lifted the bouncing house off the ground, along with nine children who were playing inside. The 12-year-old was killed in the disaster, along with four of his classmates - including Addison Stewart and Zane Mellor. Police revealed on Friday afternoon that Jye Sheehan, 12, also lost his life in the disaster, along with 12-year-old Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones. Three more are fighting for life at Royal Hobart hospital, and one was released and will continue to recover at home. Peter's aunt Tamara Scott broke down on Friday morning when telling Daily Mail Australia that the boy's father Andrew Dodt was 'beyond shattered'. 'He went to the school this morning to collect his school bag - he felt he had to do that, and he just cuddled it and cried,' Ms Scott said. 'He's unrepairable.' Pictured: Peter Dodt, 12, who tragically died at a jumping castle disaster on Thursday morning Peter (pictured) was remembered as a 'mischievous' boy who wanted to become an astronaut Peter is pictured with his father Andrew and his sisters, Chloe (pictured right) and Cassie (pictured left) Tasmanians flocked to Hillcrest Primary School on Thursday and Friday to pay their respect (pictured) The devoted aunt explained Andrew is a single father with sole custody of his four children, but that he and Peter shared a special bond. 'He loved his dad with everything he had,' she said. 'It was him and his dad against the world.' On Thursday night, Andrew wrote a heartfelt tribute to his 'baby boy'. 'My baby boy Peter Dodt has grown his wings this afternoon and left me so heart broken,' he shared on Facebook. 'I would do anything in this world just to have him back. 'Dad loves you so much. Peter, till I see you again in heaven xxxx.' Ms Scott said her nephew was determined to overcome his ADHD and become an astronaut. The family set up a Go Fund Me campaign to help Andrew with living and funeral expenses. Peter Dodt (pictured), 12, lived in Devonport, Tasmania, with his dad Andrew and his sisters Peter, 12, was excited to start at Reece High School next year (pictured at the school gates) Peter (pictured left as a baby and right with his older sisters) was the youngest in his family At a press conference on Friday morning, police refused to say whether the jumping castle was tied down when into flew the air. 'Was the jumping castle tethered at all?' one reporter asked. 'That forms part of the investigation,' Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said. 'It is fair to say that those injured were inside the castle. We need to piece the movements of the individuals together so we can present a full picture to the coroner.' Seven zorb balls, which are large and inflatable balls that children get stand inside, also took flight during the strong wind gust - but the commissioner again remained tight-lipped about the details. 'What was the connection with the zorb balls, were they inside the castle or outside?' a reporter asked. 'That will form part of the investigation,' he said. 'But my understanding is that the zorb balls were outside. But it will form part of the investigation.' Zane Gardam has been identified as one of the victims in the Devonport jumping castle tragedy Addison Stewart (pictured) was also one of the five students who was tragically killed when the jumping castle lifted 10 metres in the air Pictured: Community members laying flowers and toys near where five children lost their lives at Hillcrest Primary School When another journalist tried to ask whether all the young victims were inside the jumping castle at the time, the commissioner gave a very similar response. 'Again, that forms part of the investigation,' he said. 'It is fair to say that those injured were inside the castle. We need to piece the movements of the individuals together so we can present a full picture to the coroner.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday described the tragedy as 'horrific' and said he's been in contact with the Tasmanian Police Commissioner. 'I want to extend on behalf of the Government, and Jenny and I, our deepest sympathies to all the families and all the community in Devonport for this horrific tragedy that's occurred with the loss of five young precious lives, and more that hang in the balance,' he said. 'I want to thank all the first responders. Our first responders each and every day are trained to deal with some of the most unimaginable things, but on this occasion it goes beyond what they could have imagined at the scene on the ground.' Zane (pictutred) was enjoying his last day of primary school when his life was tragically cut short Hillcrest Primary School graduate Zane (pictured right with dad Tim) was the first of the five victims to be identified The Prime Minister, who has two school-age daughters and is a Pentecostal Christian, said he was praying for the victims' families. 'As a parent there are no words. There can only be prayers,' he said. Police commissioner Hine also said there were close to 40 Year 5 and 6 students taking part in the end-of-term activities at the time. 'Several adults were also in attendance when the inflatable equipment lifted into the air and they rendered first aid until emergency services arrived,' he said. Harrowing accounts came from eyewitnesses at the scene, who described seeing distraught parents broken down in the gutter, sobbing. Flags at the Devonport Council chambers were at half mask on Friday morning to honour the young victims. Pictured: Bouquets of flowers and cards at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, on Friday Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein and Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the situation as a tragedy Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein described the tragedy as 'beyond comprehension'. 'It is devastating, heartbreaking. It's just simply incomprehensible. What should have been a celebration for the end of the school year turned into an unfortunate tragedy for our young children at Hillcrest Primary.' 'As a parent, I cannot understand how the parents of those who have lost children must be feeling. 'But as a parent, I hope that they can understand that we are all feeling for you as well.' Tributes have begun pouring in online for the beloved students who have been remembered as a 'beautiful, caring boy' and a 'precious' girl with a 'sweet, kind, old soul'. Zane's aunt wrote a gut-wrenching tribute to her nephew on Friday morning. 'My heart is so heavy and broken, how do I even write this,' she shared on Facebook. 'Never would I have imagined I would have to say goodbye to you my boy. Yesterday we lost the most beautiful soul my sisters first baby, my first nephew, our heart and our soul. 'Thankyou for the out pour of love and support we have all received. Rest easy our beautiful boy, ill live my life everyday for you.' Two police officers console each other at Hillcrest Primary School, in Tasmania, after four children were killed when a jumping castle flew ten metres into the air The school is in Devonport in northern Tasmania (pictured). Hillcrest Primary School had posted online before the accident advertising its 'Big Day In' celebration to parents A GoFundMe page has been launched to help Zane's grieving family financially through this devastating time. 'Zane was such a beautiful caring, gentle soul who had challenges growing up with his autism and ADHD but that never set him back he kept achieving,' the fundraiser reads. 'This has shook so many people and the community and we want to do anything to help make things a little easier for [his mum] at this hard time.' Addison's aunt has also launched a GoFundMe to help her parents as they 'navigate life without their precious daughter'. 'My niece was tragically taken in the accident at Hillcrest Primary,' she wrote. 'I'm hoping to raise some money for my brother and sister in-law to help pay for funeral costs and to pay off some bills for them while they try and navigate life without their precious daughter. 'I don't even know what to write at this stage. Everyone is devastated , she was always such a sweet kind, old soul. 'We all love you Paddi Melon.' Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine (pictured right with the Tasmanian premier) would not say whether the jumping castle was tied down before the disaster struck Flowers and teddy bears have started to pile up around the school's sign as the community pays tribute to the victims Distraught police officers were seen consoling each other at the scene of the tragedy, while desperate parents were seen at the gates trying to find out if their children were dead or alive. Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said on Thursday that an investigation will take 'some time' as many witnesses needed to be interviewed. 'We'll be supplying a report to the coroner in conjunction with WorkSafe Tasmania,' Commissioner Hine told reporters on Thursday afternoon. 'That will take some time to complete and once that's completed it will be handed to the coroner for an inquest.' Tasmania's Education Department will provide support to children, families and staff in coming days and into the school holidays, while counselling has also been offered to first responders. Bouquets of flowers have been laid at the base of the fence as the community mourns the tragedy The jumping castle was blown into the air by a freak gust of wind, killing five kids and leaving several injured (paramedics are pictured at the scene) 'Our approach is being guided by our senior psychologists, who are trained in trauma-informed practice,' Secretary Tim Bullard said. Local resident Connor told Daily Mail Australia his colleague lives across the road from the primary school and ran over when she heard sirens. 'She first thought there was a shooting,' he said. 'She said the scene as horrific and confronting, with children everywhere on the ground. '[But] what got her the most was the parents sitting in the gutters, on the side of the road head in hands, crying.' 'The community is just devastated.' Two rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were sent to the scene on Thursday (pictured) Bob Smith, who lives near the school, said he saw kids on the ground. 'There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day,' he said. 'At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.' Within an hour of the tragedy, dozens of frantic parents had rushed to the school and were forced to wait at the entry gates, not knowing whether their children were dead or alive with one claiming they were left in the dark. 'I'm here now they won't let us in, it was (child's name) grade but no one knows who was hurt yet,' she wrote. 'I have a friend with children there and he hasn't heard anything yet,' another added. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as 'unthinkably heartbreaking'. 'Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy. At this time of year, it just breaks your heart,' he said while on a visit on the NSW Central Coast. 'It just breaks your heart.' The full damage to Britains businesses caused by the new lockdown by stealth was laid bare yesterday. It was the day that the country shut down despite Boris Johnson insisting that he did not want festivities to be cancelled. High streets and roads were deserted as shoppers and office workers heeded scientists dire warnings about the new wave of Covid cases caused by the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Pubs and restaurants left staring at empty tables as customers cancelled bookings were forced to shut up shop at what should be their busiest time of the year. And the curtain came down on Londons West End as some of the biggest theatre shows were hit by virus outbreaks among performers and ticket-holders having to isolate. Even home deliveries were last night at risk as warehouses and delivery firms suffered staff shortages. Industry leaders warned of a nightmare before Christmas for hospitality firms, with fears they will miss out on as much as 4billion in takings this month. Hospitality bosses are struggling with a wave of cancellations and a major drop in sales in recent days as a result of Omicron and tightening COVID measures UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: Christmas trade is always crucial for the hospitality industry, making up as much as a quarter of the years profit for many businesses. Last Christmas was cancelled and so much rested on this December for businesses already struggling under a burden of debt from the pandemic and facing rising costs across the board. If operators are unable to trade profitably over the next month, many will simply not survive. New statistics reveal the stark impact of the Prime Ministers order to work from home as of Monday followed by Wednesdays grim warning over festive socialising from chief medical officer Chris Whitty. They came as Tory MP Joy Morrissey blasted unelected Professor Whitty and said the UK was not a public health socialist state in a now-deleted tweet. Empty cafes and restaurants at lunch time around Leicester City Centre on Thursday 16th December 2021 Yesterdays morning rush-hour was among the quietest since the end of the summer holidays, according to TomTom traffic data. Congestion levels have plunged 27 per cent in a week in Manchester, with similar drops around the country. Google figures suggest that up to half of City of London staff did not turn up to their desks in the Square Mile on Monday while Tube usage yesterday morning was down 31 per cent on the week before. Footfall in the West End is down 8 per cent in a week and theatres said they suffered a 27 per cent drop in business on Monday compared with a week earlier. An estimated 37million fewer pints will be sold this Christmas than had been expected, according to the British Beer And Pub Association. A total of 3million bookings in pubs have been cancelled in recent days. Sales in some London pubs are down as much as 70 per cent compared with the same week in 2019, according to the boss of Greene King, Nick Mackenzie. He said: The guidance from Government to limit social interactions and shift to working from home has put our industry into lockdown in everything but name. Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin accused Professor Whitty of scaring the smalls off the public while Youngs pub group chief Patrick Dardis slammed the latest fear campaign. Hospitality firms are ramping up calls for support from the Government for hard-hit pubs and restaurants as the Omicron variant sweeps the country and consumer confidence is knocked by new restrictions and increasing health warnings. Picture date: Thursday December 16, 2021 - Bull and Dog Pub, Omskirk Live music venues have also suffered badly. Greg Parmley, of industry body Live, said: The current lockdown by stealth is quickly pushing the live music sector to the edge. We are now facing a crippling blow as individual venues scramble to cover the spiralling costs of Covid-related cancellations, which will inevitably result in permanent closures. The Prime Minister denied the stealth claims. On a visit to Kent, he insisted: Were not saying that we want to cancel stuff, were not locking stuff down. And the fastest route back to normality is to get boosted [with vaccines]. Told that the hospitality sector was a zombie economy because of Government advice, he insisted financial support was in place. Former Wallabies captain David Pocock will run for the Senate at the next federal election, citing a 'crisis of trust' in Australian politicians. The 78-cap legend, who has been a passionate advocate for climate change action throughout his career will run as an independent, aims to fill one of the ACT's two seats. And much like the ruthless attitude with which he approached his rugby career, Pocock is confident he can make an impact, stating 'I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I could win'. Former Wallabies captain David Pocock will run for the Senate at the next federal election, citing a 'crisis of trust' in Australian politicians The man who led the Wallabies said it was leadership that was missing from Australia's current political landscape. 'That's something that we're missing from politics - leadership that's actually looking beyond the next three years, actually looking to make decisions that are going to make our future better as Australians,' he said. 'For me that's having people in politics who aren't career politicians, who are there to represent their communities, not having to toe the party line.' His commitment to fighting for a cause is difficult to question. He refused to get married until it was open for same-sex couples, chained himself to a digger in protest at a NSW coal mine, and founded a charity to assist underprivileged communities in his birth country, Zimbabwe. The man who led the Wallabies said it was leadership that was missing from Australia's current political landscape Pocock, who attended the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow, said the 'tide has turned' towards more ambitious climate action. 'Australians recognise we need urgent and meaningful climate action,' he said. 'Australians recognise now this is no longer an economic cost - this is an economic opportunity for us. Australia is getting left behind on climate action.' Like many independents, Pocock said creating a federal anti-corruption watchdog was toward the top of his agenda. Pocock, who attended the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow, said the 'tide has turned' towards more ambitious climate action 'We're facing a crisis of trust in politics,' he said. 'We clearly need an independent commission who can look at this and hold politicians to a higher standard and actually begin to change the culture.' He is backed by proACT, an organisation demanding an independent senator that will listen to communities and demand action on a number of issues. The ACT's current senators are Labor's Katy Gallagher and Liberal's Zed Seselja. Pocock retired from rugby last year to focus on conservation. Advertisement Lindsay Lohan's mother, Dina, was spotted running errands in her hometown on Long Island following her release from prison for drunkenly crashing into an Outback Steakhouse before driving away. The 59-year old mother-of-four was released from jail on Friday after serving only seven days of an 18-day sentence on a driving while intoxicated charge and leaving the scene of an accident in January 2020. She was seen on Thursday running errands in her hometown of Merrick, on Long Island, wearing large sunglasses and hoop earrings as she visited a bank and the Merrick Family Eye Care. As her license has been revoked for 18 months for the hit-and-run crash, Lohan was driven by her 27-year-old daughter, Aliana. Lindsay Lohan's mother, Dina Lohan, was pictured spotted running errands in her hometown on Long Island on Thursday She carried a large black purse and some files in her left hand as she walked into the bank and eye doctor As Dina's license was revoked, she was driven by her 27-year-old daughter, Aliana Lohan, right Dina, 59, has two daughters - Aliana, left, pictured in her car on Thursday and celebrity Lindsay Lohan, 35, right, pictured in her car on December 6 Dina was pictured on Thursday afternoon carrying some files in her left hand with a large black purse as she entered the Citibank in Merrick and the Merrick Family Eye Care. She had a pair of glasses attached to the collar of her black long-sleeve shirt with stars on the elbows, and had a mask in hand to comply with New York's reinstated mask mandate. She also wore a tan-colored lined vest, dark pants and some heels as she ran her errands. Aliana waited inside the car for her mother to return, apparently spending the time on her phone Dina carried her mask and had her eyeglasses draped over the collar of her black shirt as she ran the errands on Thursday Dina was seen leaving the Citibank in Merrick, not looking very happy She then went back to her car, parked in front of a convenience store at the shopping center Her daughter, Aliana, let her back into the car after apparently spending the time on her phone The Outback Steakhouse in Merrick, Long Island, where Dina crashed into a Honda in January 2020. She was twice the legal drinking limit Dina was sentenced at Nassau County Court, in Mineola, Long Island, earlier this month, after accepting a plea deal for her drunken driving incident. She crashed her Mercedes into a Honda in the parking lot of an Outback Steakhouse in Merrick in January last year. She then tried to flee the scene but was chased down by the Honda driver. Police said they found Dina in the driver's seat of her car outside her home. She was taken into custody after allegedly refusing to take a breathalyzer test and cursing at officers. Dina Lohan is shown after her sentencing hearing on Friday being put into the back of a police van to be taken to Nassau County jail for 18 days Dina, 59, was shown being escorted into the back of the van outside the court room on Friday Dina was sentenced at Nassau County Court, in Mineola, Long Island after accepting a plea deal. She arrived at court earlier this month accompanied by her three other children - but Lindsay was not there The arresting officer noted that her breath smelled like alcohol and her eyes appeared 'glassy and bloodshot'. Police said she was unsteady when she got out of the car and fell onto the ground face-first. Dina's January arrest is her second for a DWI. She was arrested in 2013 for drunk driving after police stopped her for speeding at 77mph in a 55mph zone. Her blood alcohol level at the time was found to be more than twice the legal limit. Dina's famous daughter, Lindsay, was not at the sentencing, with pictures on her Instagram indicating that she was on a ski trip. Dina's famous daughter, Lindsay, left, was not at the sentencing, and was apparently on a ski trip Lindsay looked happy with fiancee Bader Shammas in a picture she shared on Instagram Monday The Mean Girls star, 35, shared photos of herself earlier this week enjoying a winter vacation with her fiancee, Bader Shammas. She also posted a snap with her brother, Dakota Lohan, proving it was a family affair. 'No1 else I'd rather freeze with,' Lindsay captioned a black-and-white pic with Bader, who wore black jacket over a t-shirt and black trousers, as she donned a long black down jacket with sported black and white snow boots and black gloves. Dakota voiced his approval of the happy couple in the comments, writing, 'Y'all are so cute!!!' Alec Baldwin has denied that he requested a larger Colt gun before the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust in a tweet today, sent after Sante Fe sheriffs in New Mexico issued a search warrant for his iPhone. The 63-year-old actor tweeted an article from Newsweek which claimed that he had requested a bigger gun before the accidental shooting. 'This, in fact is a lie,' Baldwin wrote over the article link. 'The choices regarding any props by me for the film RUST were made weeks before production began. To suggest that any changes were made "before fatal shooting" is false,' he added. Alec Baldwin, 63, tweeted for the first time since he and his wife, Hilaria, 37, deactivated their accounts on the social media platform on December 6. The actor labelled Newsweek's article on his request for a larger gun after the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust on October 21st as a 'lie' on Thursday evening Alec Baldwin is seen on October 21, after speaking to investigators about the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin's phone is now being sought by the team probing Hutchins's death His tweet came after police in New Mexico issued a search warrant for his iPhone, following the fatal October 21 shooting. The search warrant, requested by Santa Fe sheriffs, authorizes police to review all text messages and photos on the actor's iPhone, as well as any stored location data, as part of their investigation. Baldwin was seen on his phone making a call shortly after the shooting. Judge David Segura, a magistrate in Santa Fe, approved the request on Thursday afternoon. Detective Alexandria Hancock - referred to in the warrant as the 'affiant' - said that they requested Baldwin hand over his phone, but the actor and his lawyers said that they require a warrant first. 'Affiant requested Alec's phone from him, as well as his attorney, and was instructed to acquire a warrant,' the warrant request states. Hancock, in the request for the warrant, spelt out in detail what she wanted to obtain from Baldwin's phone - a list that included his contacts, call records, photos, videos, and text messages. Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (center) died after being shot by Baldwin during a rehearsal on October 21 in New Mexico Halyna Hutchins was described by Baldwin as 'fantastic', as he paid tribute to her vision and professionalism The set of Rust, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside of Santa Fe 'Affiant is requesting a warrant for the seizure and search of Alec Baldwins' cell phone to search for any evidence relating to the death investigation of Halyna Hutchins,' the warrant request states. 'Affiant believes there may be evidence on the phone, due to individuals using cellular phones during and/or after the commission of crime(s). 'Such information, if it exists, may be material and relevant to this investigation. 'Affiant was also made aware there were several emails and text messages sent and received regarding the movie production 'Rust' in the course of interviews.' Baldwin is seen on December 9, at the RFK Ripple of Hope gala in Manhattan She was shot just moments after the crew entered a church set to rehearse a scene (above) According to the search warrant, Baldwin told police that he exchanged emails with the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, regarding what style of gun to use in the film. They ultimately decided on a Colt .45 pistol. Baldwin, 63, had been handed the antique pistol for the scene, and was told that it was 'cold' - not loaded. He was rehearsing a scene in which he pulls out his gun and, in an interview with ABC on December 2, said that he never pulled the trigger, but the gun went off anyway. Hutchins, a 42-year-old cinematographer, was shot and killed. The director of the film, Joel Souza, was shot in the shoulder and survived. It is unclear why it has taken so long for New Mexico police to seize Baldwin's phone. The actor has insisted that he has fully cooperated with the investigation. Baldwin on December 2 gave an emotional interview to ABC's George Stephanopoulos, in which he said he did not pull the trigger, and felt no guilt because he believed he had done nothing wrong. 'I let go of the hammer, bang. The gun goes off. Everyone is horrified. They're shocked. It's loud,' he said. Following the interview, New York Post's Jon Levine attempted to quiz the actor about the claim. Baldwin refused to engage, and his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, repeatedly asked the journalist to leave and 'please go away,' and trained her cellphone camera on him. Levine met the couple as they were leaving Woody Allen's townhouse, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. An irate Baldwin was caught on video lunging at a New York Post reporter while gripping an umbrella The confrontation took place outside Woody Allen's Upper East Side home, where reporter Jon Levine was waiting for Baldwin to quiz him about the shooting on the set of Rust When Levine would not stop asking questions about the shooting, Alec charged at him while grasping his umbrella and yelling that he was not allowed to be on someone's private property. He did not make contact with the reporter, who pointed out to him that the sidewalk was, in fact, public property. Baldwin has spoken of his devastation at Hutchins's death, and paid tribute to her as a wonderful cinematographer and a great person. He told Stephanopoulos that he didn't know she'd died until hours later, at the end of his police interview when he was photographed in the sheriff's parking lot in Santa Fe. He said that he has been told by people 'in the know' that it is 'highly unlikely' he'll face criminal charges. 'Someone is responsible for what happened, and I can't say who it is, but it's not me,' Baldwin told Stephanopoulos. 'Honest to God, if I thought I was responsible I might have killed myself. And I don't say that lightly.' He also took a swipe at former President Donald Trump, his media foe who he impersonated on Saturday Night Live, for suggesting that he 'loaded the gun himself.' 'He said that I did it deliberately. Just when you think things can't get any more surreal, here's the president of the United States making a comment on this tragic situation.' Alec Baldwin, 63, spoke to George Stephanopoulos for an interview which aired on December 2 Baldwin, after the interview aired, posted to Instagram a photo of him cradling one of his six young children. 'No matter what happens to me. No matter what I suffer. If I win or lose, anything. Anything. No one can take away from me the joy and love you have given me, @hilariabaldwin,' he wrote. 'These are tough times. The world is choked with fumes of hate. But you have given me a reason to live. Our life with our family is all I care about. Nothing else. I owe that to you.' Baldwin described in detail for the first time the immediate aftermath of the accident on October 21. He was filming a scene inside a church on the set of the movie when the gun was handed to him. 'She's getting me to position the gun - everything is at her direction. I draw the gun, to her marker. I'm not shooting to the camera lens, I'm shooting just off. In her direction. This was a completely incidental shot, that may not have ended up in the film.' Baldwin says he cocked the gun, and was discussing with Hutchins how it looked on camera. 'I'm just showing. I go, 'How 'bout that? Does that work? You see that? Do you see that?' And then she goes, "Yeah, that's good." 'I let go of the hammer, bang. The gun goes off. Everyone is horrified. They're shocked. It's loud. They don't have their earplugs in. Hutchins' October 19, 2021 Instagram post showed cast members and staffers, including Baldwin alongside Hutchins herself and armorer Gutierrez-Reed (circled left to right) on the set of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico Baldwin's version of on-set tragedy 'I'm just showing. I go, 'How 'bout that? Does that work? You see that? Do you see that?' 'And then she goes, 'Yeah, that's good.' 'I let go of the hammer, bang. The gun goes off. Everyone is horrified. They're shocked. It's loud. They don't have their earplugs in. 'No one was - the gun was supposed to be empty. I was told I was handed an empty gun. 'If they were cosmetic rounds, nothing with a charge at all, a flash round, nothing. 'She goes down, I thought to myself, 'Did she faint?' 'The notion that there was a live round in that gun did not dawn on me 'till probably 45 minutes to an hour later.' He added: 'Well, she's laying there and I go, 'Did she hit by wadding? Was there a blank?' 'I never pulled the trigger. No, no, no. You would never do that. 'The gun was supposed to be empty. I was told I was handed an empty gun. 'Nobody gave a f*** who you are any more until this. You see a lot of people with their phones now, in a coffee shop,' he said, showing them filming him. Advertisement 'No one was - the gun was supposed to be empty. I was told I was handed an empty gun. If they were cosmetic rounds, nothing with a charge at all, a flash round, nothing. 'She goes down, I thought to myself, "Did she faint?" The notion that there was a live round in that gun did not dawn on me 'till probably 45 minutes to an hour later.' He added: 'Well, she's laying there and I go, "Did she hit by wadding? Was there a blank?" Sometimes those blank rounds have a wadding inside that packs, it's like a cloth that packs the gunpowder in. Sometimes wadding comes out, it can hit people, and it could feel like a little bit of a poke. 'But no one could understand. Did she have a heart attack? Because remember the idea that someone put a live bullet in the gun was not even in reality." 'I never pulled the trigger. No, no, no. You would never do that.' Dave Halls, the assistant director who was watching, confirmed Baldwin's account, through his lawyer. He said he stood over her for 'about 60 seconds' and was then ushered out. Was she conscious?' Stephanopoulos asked. 'My recollection is yes,' said Baldwin. He said 'no one had any idea' there was live ammunition used until a police officer showed a photo of the shrapnel removed from Souza's arm. He said then began 'the agony, insanity, that someone put a live bullet in the gun. She was laying there and she was there for a while I was amazed at how long they didn't get her in a car or get her out, but they waited until a helicopter came,' he said. 'And by the time the helicopter took off with her we were literally all glutted to that process outside. 'When she finally left, I don't know how long she was there for. She kept saying, she's stable, just as you disbelieve there was a live round in the gun, you disbelieve its going to be a fatal accident. 'At the end of my interview with the sheriff's department, they told me 'we regret to inform you she didn't make it,' they told me then and there.' He added: 'That's when I went outside and called my wife.' Advertisement Four 'sweet' children under five years old - believed to be two sets of twins - have died days before Christmas after a fire tore through a house in south London last night. The victims, who are understood to be related, were pulled from the inferno in Sutton by firefighters but could not be saved despite frantic resuscitation attempts in the street. MailOnline can reveal that the young children were alone in the house when London's fire service arrived - but it is not yet known if anyone had escaped the blaze before the rescue began. Heartbroken neighbours claimed that the children, all under five, were two sets of 'sweet natured and happy twins'. It is not yet known of anyone was in the house with them when the blaze broke out, or how the fire started. The Metropolitan Police said the children's next of kin were 'aware' and being supported, but there have been no arrests. More than 60 firefighters in eight engines raced to the 'intense' blaze on Collingwood Road at around 7pm last night. Footage from the scene shows flames erupting from the front door of the terraced property. Smoke is also seen billowing from the ground-floor front window. A bystander can be seen attempting to get close to the blaze but is forced back. Firefighters in breathing apparatus battled their way into the fire to rescue the children, London Fire Commissioner Andy Row said. He said the tragedy had left his crews 'numb with profound sadness' and they would be offered counselling. The blaze tore through the terraced property in Collingwood Road, Sutton, at around 7pm. Footage filmed by neighbours showed flames erupting from the front door Emergency crews were called to the property on Collingwood Road in Sutton at around 7pm Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters scrambled to the scene following reports of a fire Mr Roe said: 'My thoughts are with the family and friends of the children, the whole local community and all those who will be affected by this fire. 'Fire crews arrived quickly and located the children inside the property. 'They were brought out of the house and given immediate emergency care. 'The welfare of our staff involved in this incident is very important to us and all of them will be offered counselling as a priority.' The fire was brought under control 90 minutes after crews arrived, he added. The cause of the blaze was being investigated and there had been no arrests, police said. Superintendent Rob Shepherd said: 'The thoughts of everyone at the South Area Command Unit are with the family and friends of these four young children, who have suffered such a devastating and tragic loss tonight. 'I know these sentiments will be shared by the local community, Sutton and London as a whole. 'We remain on scene with our emergency service colleagues and will be working through the night and beyond. At this very early stage the cause of the fire is unknown and will be investigated.' Graham Norton, assistant director of operations at London Ambulance Service, said: 'We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, paramedics in fast response cars, incident response officers and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). Firefighter at the scene after four children were pulled from the burning house tonight An incident response unit at the scene after four children died in the blaze tonight Police officers stand at the scene and a cordon remains in place following the blaze The London Fire Brigade said the children were rushed to two south London hospitals where they died. Pictured: Emergency rescue teams at the scene The Metropolitan Police have said no arrests have been made but road closures are in place. Pictured: Fire crews at the scene of the fire Firefighters stand outside the property in Sutton, south London, after a blaze tore through a house 'We also dispatched trauma teams from London's Air Ambulance and Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex - both teams consisted of a paramedic and a doctor in a car. 'We treated four children at the scene and took them to hospital. 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the four young children and everyone affected by this devastating tragedy. ' Graham Norton, assistant director of operations at London Ambulance Service, said: 'We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, paramedics in fast response cars, incident response officers and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). 'We also dispatched trauma teams from London's Air Ambulance and Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex - both teams consisted of a paramedic and a doctor in a car. 'We treated four children at the scene and took them to hospital. 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the four young children and everyone affected by this devastating tragedy. ' Grizzly bears living around Glacier and Yellowstone national parks have been federally protected since 1975, but Montana is petitioning the Biden administration to have the ban lifted to allow hunting of the majestic creatures. The effort is being led by Governor Greg Gianforte, who says lifting the hunting ban will allow his state to maintain the bear population of just 1,100 the largest concentration in the Lower 48 states. The petition, which is also backed by livestock and hunting groups, notes the grizzly bear population is becoming a problem, causing conflicts with humans, attacking livestock, with some animals also mauling people. However, wildlife advocates are on the other side of the fence and say lifting protections will lead to overhunting of the bears an act that could land the animals right back on the federally protected list. Scroll down for video Montana is asking the Biden administration to lift the federal ban on hunting grizzly bears, claiming the animals are becoming a threat Gianforte is also asking officials in Wyoming and Idaho to get on board with the plan, as parts of the Glacier and Yellowstone national parks spill into the surrounding states. When grizzly bears were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1975, there only hundreds of them living in the Lower 48. In 2018, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a population objective for the ecosystem to maintain a population size above 800 bears with at least 90 percent certainty. This would also mean state officials are responsible for managing the more than 1,000 grizzly bears. FILE - A grizzly bear walks through a back country campsite in Montana's Glacier National Park, on Aug. 3, 2014. Montana is asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to lift threatened species protections for more than 1,000 grizzly bears in the northern part of the state, including in and around Glacier. (Doug Kelley/The Spokesman-Review via AP, File) 'Due to the work and sacrifice of many Montanans over decades, Montana has been successful in recovering grizzly bears in the NCDE,' Governor Gianforte said in a statement. 'With the grizzly bear recovered, keeping the species listed under the Endangered Species Act will only continue to impact communities, farmers and ranchers, and recreationists around the state. It also limits Montana's options when it comes to dealing with conflict bears.' 'We've achieved the goals set for us. It's time for the state to take over management.' As many as 50,000 grizzly bears once ranged the western half of the US, but a large number were killed by hunting, trapping and habitat loss following the arrival of European settlers in the late 1800s. The last grizzly hunts in the US 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. However, a federal judge stepped in at the last minute and restored protections, a decision later upheld by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. As grizzly bear numbers have grown, their distribution has expanded, particularly in the prairie areas east of the Rocky Mountain Front, where they have not been in more than a century. This expansion has led to increased conflicts with communities, livestock producers and landowners. 'We worked on grizzly bear recovery for decades. We were successful and switched to a focus on conflict management years ago,' US. Fish and Wildlife Protections (FWP) director Hank Worsech said. 'We've shown the ability to manage bears, protect their habitat and population numbers. It's time for us to have full authority for grizzly bears in Montana.' Montana insists it will retain a population of around 1,100 of the animals, but animal rights advocates are opposed to plans to lift the ban But wildlife advocates cautioned against giving the state control over grizzlies, after Republicans including Gianforte have advanced policies that make it much easier to kill another controversial predator, the gray wolf. Environmentalist John Horning from WildEarth Guardian told AP : 'We don't believe that there should be hunting of these iconic, native carnivores.' 'I have no doubt the state would push it to the absolute limit so they could kill as many grizzlies as possible.' 'Weve shown the ability to manage bears, protect their habitat and population numbers,' Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Hank Worsech said in a statement. 'Its time for us to have full authority for grizzly bears in Montana.' The Fish and Wildlife Service had not received the state's request and had no immediate comment, spokesperson Joe Szuszwalak said. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who oversees Fish and Wildlife Service, co-sponsored legislation while in Congress to increase protections for bears and reintroduce them on tribal lands. Haaland declined to say how she would approach the issue when questioned during her February confirmation hearings. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who oversees Fish and Wildlife Service, co-sponsored legislation while in Congress to increase protections for bears and reintroduce them on tribal lands. Haaland declined to say how she would approach the issue when questioned during her February confirmation hearings. Archaeologists have been investigation the unexplored interior of limestone caves of Haida Gwaii, an archipelago off British Columbia's north coast, for 20 years of work and announced they have found remains of the oldest domestic dog in the Americas. The team, led by Hakai Institute, uncovered a tooth that dates back 13,100 years, which they confirmed to be a canine from a domestic dog using DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating. Prior to this discovery, the earliest evidence of dog domestication in the Americas was the 10,190 to 9,630-year-old domestic dog remains found in Illinois. The DNA analysis reveals the dog was related to the grey wolf, which can now be found among North American wolves. The team, led by Hakai Institute, uncovered a tooth that dates back 13,100 years, which they confirmed to be a canine from a domestic dog using DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating The Canadian caves also held ancient human artifacts, including stone tools and spearpoints, which suggests humans occupied this region 200 years than previously believed and likely used the dog for hunting. The study, published in Quaternary Science Reviews, highlights three karst caves in the south of Haida Gwaii: K1, Gaadu Din 1 and Gaadu Din 2. The team investigated K1 in 2000 through 2003, when they found more than 1,000 remains of ancient animals, including those belonging to brown bears that lived 17,200 years ago. The second cave, Gaadu Din 1, sits on the east side of the island and was explored from 2003 through 2007. The Canadian caves also held ancient human artifacts, including stone tools and spearpoints, which suggests humans occupied this region 200 years than previously believed and likely used the dog for hunting The team investigated K1 in 2000 through 2003, when they found more than 1,000 remains of ancient animals, including those belonging to brown bears that lived 17,200 years ago The team found bones from bears, deer, canids, salmon and other animals that range from 13,400 to 11,200 years old, along with the 13,100-year-old canine tooth. The DNA analysis shows the dog was related to the grey wolf, which at the time, was native to east Asia. The researchers say the dog likely crossed over the Bering Strait bridge with ancient humans, but it then bred with other wolves when it came to what is now Canada the analysis shows a connection between the ancient dog and today's North American wolves. A near complete bear skull was also found in Gaadu Din 1, which suggests the ancient bears were killed by humans and brought to the cave to treat it before eating it. The team found bones from bears, deer, canids, salmon and other animals that range from 13,400 to 11,200 years old, along with the 13,100-year-old canine tooth The second cave, Gaadu Din 1, sits on the east side of the island and was explored from 2003 through 2007. The team found bones from bears, deer, canids, salmon and other animals that range from 13,400 to 11,200 years old, along with the 13,100-year-old canine tooth 'The Haida Gwaii karst cave data show that people were hunting bear in this area at least 12,600 years ago. If the 13,100-year-old Gaadu Din 1 dog was part of a hunting team, this tradition may extend back another millennium,' reads the study. 'It is plausible that these maritime-oriented people arrived on Haida Gwaii via the same corridor that the [ancient] brown bears traversed to reach southeast Alaska and Haida Gwaii.' And the Gaadu Din 2 cave was the last to be investigated. A near complete bear skull was also found in Gaadu Din 1, which suggests the ancient bears were killed by humans and brought to the cave to treat it before eating it And the Gaadu Din 2 cave was the last to be investigated. This cave, however, only held fossilized remains of 150 different animals, including rockfish, rodents and bears This cave, however, only held fossilized remains of 150 different animals, including rockfish, rodents and bears. Quentin Mackie, an archaeologist with the University of Victoria and one of the cave-combing experts told Hakai Magazine: 'We had no expectation that we would find artifacts in those caves. 'All three of [the caves] had archaeological evidence, so my guess is that there are hundreds of comparable caves on the coast.' Neanderthals left an impact on their environment, having cleared part of a forest in Germany either through their fire use or tool production 125,000 years ago. This is the conclusion of archaeologists led from Leiden University, who studied an archaeological site called Neumark-Nord some 20 miles west of Leipzig. Evidence from pollen deposits indicates the flora at the lakeside site changed from closed forest to open vegetation for some 2,000 years of Neanderthal occupation. The findings, the team said, highlight how modern humans are not the first member of the Homo genus to have exerted a significant influence on their environment. Neanderthals left an impact on their environment, having cleared part of a forest in Germany either through their fire use or tool production 125,000 years ago. Pictured: in this documentary reconstructions, Neanderthals by a lake can been seen using fire and tools This is the conclusion of archaeologists led from Leiden University, who studied an archaeological site called Neumark-Nord (pictured) some 20 miles west of Leipzig NEANDERTHALS AT NEUMARK-NORD Evidence of Neanderthal activity at Neumark-Nord was first uncovered in 1985, with the site the subject of numerous excavations since. The hominins are believed to have occupied the lakeside site year-round for some two millennia. Finds at the site, Dr Roebroeks told the Wall Street Journal, have included 'tens and thousands of stone artefacts, hundreds of thousands of bone fragments [and] the remains of many hundreds of butchered animals.' Archaeologists have also uncovered abundant traces of fire usage at the site, including charcoal as well as the burnt remains of seeds and wood. Despite the Neanderthals' significant impact at Neumark-Nord, the ancient lakeside would have been far from what we might recognise as a village settlement. In fact, Dr Roebroeks explained, the hominins there may have been less mobile but would have still remained huntergathers who travelled from place-to-place during the Last Interglacial period. Advertisement During the Eemian period (also known as the 'Last Interglacial' and which spanned from 130,000115,000 years ago) the area around Leipzig was dotted with small lakes left behind after the retreat of the glaciers from the northern European plain. The withdrawal of the ice sheets also let hominins return to these lands that they had previously abandoned, with excavations at Neumark-Nord since the mid-1980s having turned up evidence of around 2,000 years' worth of Neanderthal occupation. In their study, Wil Roebroeks and colleagues analysed paleoenvironmental data including samples of pollen and charcoal from sediments at both Neumark-Nord and two similarly-aged former lakesides elsewhere in the eastern Harz mountains. These sites Grobern and Grabschutz are similar to Neumark-Nord, but have yielded only the slightest traces of former Neanderthal occupation in the form of a handful of stone artefacts at the former and 13 flint flakes at the latter. The researchers found that the composition and proportion of pollen at these baseline sites were indicative of a closed, forested region, unlike at Neumark-Nord, where the data pointed to an environment characterised by open vegetation. 'Initially a forested area, [Neumark-Nord] became open when Neanderthals arrived and stayed open for about 2,000 years,' Professor Roebroeks explained to the Wall Street Journal, describing the forest clearing as a 'hominin ecological footprint'. According to the team, the vegetation at Neumark-Nord was initially dominated by birch and pines trees, but this soon gave in to much smaller plants as the hominins returned to the lakeside setting. 'Upon their leaving, the forest closed in again,' Professor Roebroeks added. The fact that the three sites the team studied are all located in the same area allowed them to rule out the possibility that other factors like differences in precipitation or temperature might account for the environmental variations. The team also found sediment layers at Neumark-Nord with higher concentrations of charcoal, a sign of fire that matches the previous discoveries of burnt seeds and wood from the site. The researchers believe that the Neanderthals activities which would have included hunting, tool production, animal processing and building campfires led to the deforestation of the lakeside at Neumark-Nord. Whether or not they specifically intended to open up the landscape or merely a by-product of their lifestyle, however, remains unclear. The findings, the team noted, may complicate previous studies that have regarded the Last Interglacial as a sort-of reference period in which the landscape was presumed to have been unscathed by human influence. Evidence of Neanderthal activity at Neumark-Nord was first uncovered in 1985, with the site the subject of numerous excavations since. Finds at the site, Dr Roebroeks told the Wall Street Journal, have included 'tens and thousands of stone artefacts [as pictured], hundreds of thousands of bone fragments [and] the remains of many hundreds of butchered animals' In their study, Wil Roebroeks and colleagues analysed paleoenvironmental data including samples of pollen and charcoal from sediments at both Neumark-Nord and two similarly-aged former lakesides elsewhere in the eastern Harz mountains. Pictured: spores of stoneworts, a type of algae, and the charred remains of seeds from the Neumark-Nord site The researchers found that the composition and proportion of pollen at these baseline sites were indicative of a closed, forested region unlike at Neumark-Nord, where the data pointed to an environment characterised by open vegetation. Pictured: the pollen (centre-left) and charcoal (centre-right) concentrations with depth in the sediments at Neumark-Nord 'Modern humans today are impacting ecosystems on a global scale,' University of Tubingen paleoanthropologist Katerina Harvati, who was not involved in the present study, told the Wall Street Journal. This action, she added, is having 'severe consequences for biodiversity and habitats around the world.' The finding of the new study, she continued, is 'pointing to a significant impact of human activities on ecosystems even by small hunter-gatherer groups predating the arrival of modern Homo sapiens.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal Science Advances. The researchers believe that the Neanderthals activities which would have included hunting, tool production, animal processing and building campfires led to the deforestation of the lakeside at Neumark-Nord (pictured). Whether or not they specifically intended to open up the landscape or merely a by-product of their lifestyle, however, remains unclear Ex-US navy commander Victor Vescovo has become the first person to reach the bottom of all four of the world's deepest ocean trenches. Vescovo reached the bottom of the Kermadec Trench in the South Pacific Ocean at the weekend in the submersible DSV Limiting Factor a two-person submersible built by Florida-based company Triton Submarines. In doing so, the 55-year-old explorer completed a personal goal of diving to the four deepest known areas on Earth. Following the nine-hour expedition, Vescovo and a small team reached a maximum depth of 32,818 feet (10,003 metres) at the bottom of Kermadec Trench. Limiting Factor's cameras captured footage of 'one of the deepest jellyfish ever seen on film' and a 'brilliant gold' bacterial mat living off the minerals and gases in the rocks, he said. The four deepest-known points on Earth are Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench; Horizon Deep, Tonga Trench; Emden Deep, Philippine Trench and Scholl Deep, Kermadec Trench. All have been visited by Victor Vescovo Vescovo (left) and a small team reached a maximum depth of 32,818 feet (10,003 metres) at the bottom of Kermadec Trench aboard Limiting Factor a two-person submersible built by Triton Submarines The Kermadec Trench just off the coast of New Zealand is the world's fourth-deepest trench and also one of the coldest due to inflow from Antarctica DEEPEST POINTS ON EARTH 1. Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench, Pacific Ocean: 35,843 feet (10,925 metres) 2. Horizon Deep, Tonga Trench, Pacific Ocean: 35,488 feet (10,817 metres) 3. Emden Deep, Philippine Trench, Philippine Sea, NW Pacific: 32,956 feet (10,045 metres) 4. Scholl Deep, Kermadec Trench, Pacific Ocean: 32,818 feet (10,003 metres) Source: British Geological Survey Advertisement The jellyfish appears to be a 'comb jelly' (Ctenophora) and is somehow surviving over 7 tons per square inch of pressure. On Twitter, when asked how the jellyfish can possibly live under such pressure, Vescovo said: 'They would probably say the same about us: "How can humans live in an environment with so little pressure?" Every creature adapts to their environment. Evolution is a power thing.' Footage also shows a jagged seafloor lit up by Limiting Factor's lights. The environment is characterised by perpetual darkness, intense pressures and freezing temperatures. 'Until this expedition no one knew what the Kermadec Trench looked like and how deep it was,' Vescovo has told The Times, speaking from the LF's mothership, DSSV Pressure Drop. 'If you consider the conditions more than seven tons of pressure per square inch and just about freezing temperatures and salt water it's remarkable that there is life in these deep trenches.' Vescovo has now reached the four deepest known points on Earth. He's visited Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench the deepest point on Earth at 35,843 feet (10,925 metres) a dozen times. In June 2019, he reached the bottom of the Horizon Deep in the Tonga Trench in the Pacific Ocean, at 35,488 feet (10,817 metres). Vescovo and Filipino oceanographer Deo Florence Onda performed the first descent to Emden Deep in the Philippine Trench (the third deepest point on Earth, 32,956 feet or 10,045 metres) in March this year. Victor Vescovo (pictured) is an American former intelligence officer turned millionaire financier of exploration missions Scholl Deep in the Kermadec Trench, Pacific Ocean is known to by 32,818 feet (10,003 metres) Some sources put Kuril-Kamchatka Trench in the northwest Pacific as the fourth-deepest point on Earth and Kermadec Trench as the fifth-deepest. However, Dr Heather Stewart, a marine geoscientist at the British Geological Survey, told MailOnline that a German team of surveyors failed to find any depths at Kuril-Kamchatka over 31167 feet (9,500 metres). 'The Germans went there, surveyed using their deep-water multibeam and published in 2016 that they failed to find any depths over 9,500 metres, so, the Kermadec Trench is the fourth deepest place on Earth,' she said. Vescovo has now reached the four deepest known points on Earth. He's visited Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench the deepest point on Earth at 35,843 feet (10,925 metres) a dozen times The bottom of Kermadec Trench (pictured) has a 'rather chaotic geology and marine life', Vescovo said DEEPEST POINTS OF THE WORLD'S FIVE OCEANS REVEALED Data from the Five Deeps Expedition (FDE) led by Victor Vescovo has confirmed the deepest points of the five oceans. The deepest point of the Indian Ocean is at 7,187 metres, within the Java Trench, just off the coast of Indonesia, the data reveals, while the deepest point of the Southern Ocean has a depth of 7,432 metres, within the South Sandwich Trench. Prior to FDE, the deepest parts of some oceans were relatively well known, such as lowest point on Earth the Challenger Deep, inside the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. At a whopping 10,924 metre (6.8-miles), the Challenger Deep still holds the record for the deepest point on Earth, the expeditions confirmed. Read more: Deepest points of the world's oceans revealed Advertisement Vescovo paid for the design and construction of Limiting Factor, the only submersible in the world capable of diving to the deepest ocean depth. The privately funded exploration vehicle, is specialised for the hadal zone of the deep ocean, which exists at in V-shaped depressions at up to 36,000 feet. At such depths only specialised microorganisms can survive. Water pressure at the deepest points on Earth is so intense that it would dissolve the bones of land-based animals, according to Vescovo. In particular, the bottom of Kermadec Trench has a 'rather chaotic geology and marine life', Vescovo said. 'When people think about life on other planets, they may think it will look like humans or animals that we know of,' he told the Times. 'What's more likely because of the extreme conditions on other planets is that it will look more like what we find in the deep ocean on Earth animals more adapted to the extreme environment,' Vescovo said. The nine-hour expedition was 'not all fun and smooth sailing, however Vescovo faced 'pretty rough weather', days of poor sleep and a heavily rocking Pressure Drop en route to the Kermadec Trench. Vescovo is known for leading the Five Deeps Expedition (FDE), a successful mission to travel to the deepest point in each of the world's five major oceans Atlantic, Southern, Indian, Pacific and Arctic over the course of 10 months from 2018 to 2019. The American former intelligence officer turned millionaire financier who was aboard Limiting Factor for all five missions. Triton DSV Limiting Factor can dive to depths of 36,000 feet and fits two passengers plus a pilot The hadal zone of the ocean - named after Hades, the ancient Greek god of the dead - exists around 20,000 to 36,000 feet below the ocean surface In May 2019, Victor Vescovo became the fourth person in history to reach Challenger Deep as part of the expedition. Over the course of seven days, Vescovo made fives dives in the Mariana Trench. As well as three new species of marine life, and the deepest piece of recovered mantle rock, Vescovo and his team found a plastic bag and a candy wrapper a stark reminder of the scale of plastic pollution. Artificial intelligence systems have been developed to predict whether someone will develop dementia within two years, with 92 per cent accuracy, its developers claim. Data from 15,300 patients in the US was used to train the AI by researchers from the University of Exeter, teaching it who would and wouldn't go on to develop dementia. The technique works by spotting patterns in the data and learning who is most at risk, with researchers hoping it could cut the number of people wrongly diagnosed. Artificial intelligence systems have been developed to predict whether someone will develop dementia within two years, with 92 per cent accuracy, its developers claim WHAT IS DEMENTIA? Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) which impact memory, thinking and behaviour. There are many different types of dementia, of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common. Some people may have a combination of types of dementia. Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience their dementia in their own unique way. Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age. Currently there is no cure for dementia. But new drugs can slow down its progression and the earlier it is spotted the more effective treatments are. Source: Alzheimer's Society Advertisement Professor David Llewellyn, an Alan Turing fellow based at the University of Exeter, who oversaw the study, said the machine learning algorithm can predict who will develop dementia within two years. 'We're also excited to learn that our machine-learning approach was able to identify patients who may have been misdiagnosed,' he said. 'This has the potential to reduce the guesswork in clinical practice and significantly improve the diagnostic pathway.' Prof Llewellyn added that it would help 'families access the support they need as swiftly and as accurately as possible.' Between 2005 and 2015, one in 10 attendees (1,568) at a memory clinic received a new diagnosis of dementia within two years of their visit. The researchers found that around eight per cent (130) of the dementia diagnoses appeared to be made in error, as the diagnosis was subsequently reversed. According to the study, published in JAMA Network Open, machine-learning models accurately identified more than 80 per cent of these inconsistent diagnoses. The research suggests AI can not only accurately predict who will be diagnosed with dementia, but has the potential to improve the accuracy of the diagnoses. Machine learning works by using patient information routinely available in the clinic, such as memory and brain function, performance on cognitive tests and specific lifestyle factors. The team plans follow-up studies to evaluate the practical use of the machine-learning method in clinics, to assess whether it can be rolled out to improve diagnosis, treatment and care. The researchers analysed data from people who attended a network of 30 National Alzheimer's Coordinating Centre memory clinics in the US. The attendees did not have dementia at the start of the study, though many were experiencing problems with memory or other brain functions. Dr Janice Ranson, Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, involved in the study, said 'we know that dementia is a highly feared condition.' Data from 15,300 patients in the US was used to train the AI by researchers from the University of Exeter, teaching it who would and wouldn't go on to develop dementia 'Embedding machine learning in memory clinics could help ensure diagnosis is far more accurate, reducing the unnecessary distress that a wrong diagnosis could cause,' she added. Dr Rosa Sancho, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, which funded the research, said it has a huge potential for improving disease detection. He said: 'Artificial intelligence has huge potential for improving early detection of the diseases that cause dementia and could revolutionise the diagnosis process for people concerned about themselves or a loved one showing symptoms. 'This technique is a significant improvement over existing alternative approaches and could give doctors a basis for recommending lifestyle changes and identifying people who might benefit from support or in-depth assessments.' The findings have been published in the journal JAMA Network Open. SpaceX is moving forward with its plans to construct a new Starship launch pad at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. The Elon Musk-led company requested the American space agency conduct environmental assessments of its Launch Complex 49, which is an unbuilt launch facility located at the northern end of the center. Musk announced plans of setting up an orbital launch pad for the massive rocket on December 3, but only sharing in a tweet that construction has begun. The 175-acre site, located north of Launch Complex 39B within the centers security perimeter, would support the launch and landing of the companys Starship and Super Heavy launch vehicle, NASA shared in a press release released Wednesday evening. NASA and SpaceX are moving forward with the initial environmental analysis before concluding a potential agreement to develop the property. Scroll down for video SpaceX has requested NASA conduct environmental assessments of its Launch Complex 49, which is an unbuilt launch facility located at the northern end of the center. When Musk announced plans to move his Starship launches to Florida, it was believed the launch pad would be located at Complex 39 where SpaceXs Falcon 9 rockets launch into space. Cape Canaveral is also the companys spot to launch Starlink satellites into orbit, along with cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station - but Wednesday's announcements shows it is Complex 49. Tom Engler, Kennedys director of center planning and development, said in a statement: LC-49 has been a part of Kennedys master plan for several years. However, the spaceport sits on land that is shared with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore, which means it is home to threatened and endangered species. The launch site would host SpaceX's Starship rockets, which currently only fly out of its Boca Chica, Texas facility Cape Canaveral is also the companys spot to launch Starlink satellites into orbit, along with cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station - which is done from Complex 39 (pictured) And therefore, NASA must complete environmental assessments before SpaceX can break ground. We work hard to achieve a balance between spaceport growth and operations and environmental stewardship, Dankert said. Its through the environmental programs that we are able to preserve and protect our unique and valuable natural resources while achieving NASAs mission and values. NASA will begin inter-agency and public scoping for the proposed LC-49 Environmental Assessment in early 2022. Scoping is a part of the NEPA process through which a federal agency describes a proposed action and potential alternatives. Musk announced plans of setting up an orbital launch pad for the massive rocket on December 3, but only sharing in a tweet that construction has begun SpaceX is currently awaiting the results of another environmental review from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before it can launch a Starship from its facility in Boca Chica, Texas The agency will then seek input from other agencies, organizations, and the public on potentially affected resources, environmental issues, and the agencys planned approach to analysis. SpaceX is currently awaiting the results of another environmental review from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before it can launch a Starship from its facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The FAA announced in November that it would complete the review on December 31, which means SpaceX could get back to testing its Starship rockets a key player in Musks goal to colonize Mars. The massive rocket, once perfected, will shuttle millions of people and tons of cargo from Earth to the Red Planet. A last full moon of 2021 is set to rise in the dead of night on Saturday and be seen around the world. This moons is called the cold moon, which is a Mohawk name that refers to the frigid weather conditions that sweep across most of the US this time of year. In Europe, ancient pagans called it the 'Moon Before Yule' in honor of the Yuletide festival celebrating the return of the sun heralded by winter solstice. The cold moon, which is also the longest full moon of the year, will be at its brightest at 11:37pm EST on December 18 and is expected to still be visible throughout the entire evening. However, it will also appear full on Friday although peaking on Saturday and stay that way until Monday. Scroll down for video A last full moon of 2021 is set to rise in the dead of night on Saturday and be seen around the world. Pictured is the cold moon in 2020 over Los Angeles, California The cold will be visible Venezuela, Bolivia, Manaus, and Canada's Atlantic time zones eastward across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia to the International Date Line. 'For the Washington, D.C., area, [where NASA is headquartered] on Saturday evening into Sunday morning, Dec. 18 to 19, 2021, the Moon will be in the sky for a total of 15 hours 33 minutes, with 14 hours 34 minutes of this when the Sun is down, making this the longest full Moon night of the year,' NASA shared in a statement. And then on Tuesday, December 21, we will welcome in winter solstice at 10:59am ET. The winter solstice happens when the North Pole is at a 23.5degree tilt and marks the onset of winter and falls on the shortest day of the year. The cold moon, which is also the longest full moon of the year, will be at its brightest at 11:37pm EST on December 18 and is expected to still be visible throughout the entire evening However, it will also appear full on Friday although peaking on Saturday and stay that way until Monday. Pictured is the cold moon of 2020 in New York City 'For the location of NASA Headquarters, the time from sunrise to sunset will be 9 hours, 26 minutes, 12.9 seconds,' according to NASA. 'Solar noon will be at 12:06:22 p.m. when the Sun will reach its lowest daily high of the year, 27.71 degrees. Although the winter solstice is sometimes has the shortest period of daylight, it is the longest solar day of the year. Around the solstices, the solar days are slightly longer than the 24-hour average that 'our clocks use,' NASA shared in the blog post. 'Because of this, the earliest sunsets of the year occur before and the latest sunrises of the year (ignoring Daylight Saving Time) occur after the solstice. 'For Washington D.C., at least, the longest solar day of the year (measured from noon to noon on a sundial) will be from solar noon on Dec. 21 to solar noon on Dec. 22, 2021, 29.8 seconds longer than 24 hours.'. Antibody-like proteins found in a shark's immune system could be a natural COVID killer that not only prevents the virus that causes it, but also different variants such as Omicron that is currently spreading across the globe. The proteins, known as VNARs, are one-tenth the size of human antibodies, making them small enough to 'get into nooks and crannies that human antibodies cannot access,' Aaron LeBeau, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of pathology who helped lead the study, said in a statement. LeBeau and his team identified three candidate VNARs from a pool of billions that effectively stopped the virus from infecting human cells. However, the researchers note that the new VNARs will not be available as a preventative during the current coronavirus pandemic, but the team is preparing the shark proteins to combat future outbreaks. Scroll down for video Antibody-like proteins found in a shark's immune system could be a natural COVID killer that not only prevents the virus that causes it, but also different variants such as Omicron that is currently spreading across the globe On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic. From then, the virus took hold of the world shuttering businesses and forcing people into their homes for months. Although lockdowns have since eased worldwide, the coronavirus is still running rampant and is mutating into new variants that are harder to stop from spreading. The Chief Medical Advisor to the President of United States, Dr Anthony Fauci, announced Thursday that the new omicron variant's 'extraordinary' ability to spread will double cases every three days. LeBeau and his team identified three candidate VNARs from a pool of billions that effectively stopped the virus from infecting human cells Confirmed US Omicron cases jumped by a third overnight, from 241 on Wednesday to 319 on Thursday. With all of this in mind, LeBeau and his team have been working double time to help stop a similar outbreak from occurring in the past. 'The big issue is there are a number of coronaviruses that are poised for emergence in humans,' said Aaron LeBeau. 'What we're doing is preparing an arsenal of shark VNAR therapeutics that could be used down the road for future SARS outbreaks. It's a kind of insurance against the future.' The researchers tested the shark VNARs against both infectious SARS-CoV-2 and a 'pseudotype,' a version of the virus that can't replicate in cells. And this allowed them to narrow down three VNARs candidates that could be used as treatments. One VNAR, named 3B4, attached strongly to a groove on the viral spike protein near where the virus binds to human cells and appears to block this attachment process. 'This groove is very similar among genetically diverse coronaviruses, which even allows 3B4 to effectively neutralize the MERS virus, a distant cousin of the SARS viruses,' the researchers shared in the press release. 'The ability to bind such conserved regions across diverse coronaviruses makes 3B4 an attractive candidate to fight viruses that have yet to infect people.' The 3B4 binding site is also not changed in prominent variations of SARS-CoV-2, such as the delta variant. Although this work was completed before Omicron was identified, LeBeau says his initial models this VNAR will still be effective at combating the new variant. the researchers note that the new VNARs will not be available as a preventative during the current coronavirus pandemic, but the team is preparing the shark proteins to combat future outbreaks. Pictured is a map showing coronavirus cases by state in the US The second-most-powerful shark VNAR, 2C02, seems to lock the spike protein into an inactive form, but its binding site is was observed to change in some SARS-CoV-2 variants - this means its potency will likely decrease overtime. The treatments will likely be designed with a cocktail of multiple shark VNARs to maximize their effectiveness against diverse and mutating viruses. LeBeau is also studying the ability of shark VNARs to help in the treatment and diagnosis of cancers. Using sharks as a COVID-19 treatment has been on scientists' radars for at least a years. A natural oil in the predator's liver, known as squalene, is used in other medicines, but was also determined to be an effective ingredient in coronavirus vaccines and was used in some potential jabs. The ingredient is used as an adjuvant to increase the effectiveness of a vaccine by creating a stronger immune response. However, extracting it from sharks has become a controversial topic among animal activists, as the predator has to be killed in order to harvest the oil. Alexandre Lacazette believes Arsenal have a number of potential captains. Striker Lacazette has been handed the armband for now, replacing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was stripped of the honour this week after a number of disciplinary breaches. Lacazette's long-term future is currently uncertain with his contract up next summer though the Frenchman says manager Mikel Arteta will not be short of captaincy options. Alexandre Lacazette captained Arsenal in their 2-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the honour due to disciplinary breaches 'Yes there are a quite a few,' he said, assessing the candidate among Arteta's young squad. 'Big Gabi [Gabriel] has got a huge presence and leadership at the back for example. I think when he is more fluent in English that is going to help the team even more. Ben White as well is a leader at the back. He's maybe more quiet but by the way he plays he can be a good leader and I think age that will build up more. 'Also [Albert] Sambi Lokonga but he has already been a captain in the past [at Anderlecht] in the past so that's no surprise. 'Also I think Kieran Tierney has been a captain in the past, maybe for the national team so you can see we have plenty of leaders in the squad.' Lacazette, one of the members of Arsenal's leadership group, is currently the man in possession having led Arsenal out in their last three games, including Wednesday's 2-0 win that took the Gunners into the top four for the first time. Lacazette said that defender Gabriel is already an influential figure in the Arsenal squad The striker also paid tribute to midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga's leadership attributes Arteta said: 'Well he's the next in line and he's taken it the way everybody saw today - with such a pride and commitment, and I'm really happy with the way he played. 'Absolutely [he is relishing the role] but Laca has always been like that in the dressing room. You see the way he acts with the young players, how willing he is to help. 'It's in his nature. He's not a selfish player. He's happy when he makes the rest better, and he's like that in the dressing room as well.' She's known for posting some sensational snaps online. And on Wednesday, Lucie Donlan took to Instagram yet again with another scorching image. The Love Island star displayed her jaw-dropping figure and perky posterior as she posed in a multicoloured tiny turquoise bikini. Sun-sational: The 24-year-old beauty displayed her jaw-dropping figure and perky posterior as she posed in a multi-coloured turquoise bikini The 24-year-old beauty looked heavenly as she stood in the clear ocean water for the stunning bikini snap following her engagement to boyfriend Luke Mabbott. With her head over her shoulder, she smouldered for the hot shot placing her hands on her derriere. The surfer, who took part in the 2019 series of the ITV series, showcased her sun-kissed tan in the image and wore her trademark wavy locks down. The steamy snap comes after the beauty flashed her engagement ring in a sweet picture of the pair kissing on Sunday, with Luke revealing he had popped the question as they watched the Northern Lights during their trip to Finland. Congrats: Fellow Love Island stars were soon offering up their congratulations In the sweet photo, both stars are wrapped up in matching winter coats, sharing a kiss as Lucie flashes her ring. While Luke takes the obligatory engagement selfie, their eyes are closed but visibly smiling through the smooch, with the stunning Northern Lights visible behind them. 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. Luke reached the final of the winter series of Love Island in 2020, but split from Demi Jones shortly afterwards. Demi was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in May after discovering a lump on her neck. Finally! Demi Jones, 23, looked happier than ever as she announced she is Cancer free with a smiling snap on Instagram on Monday Journey: She wrote alongside the snap: 'IM CANCER FREE!!!! I did it! I got my full body scan results back and theres not a single cancer cell left in my body' The disease develops in the cells of thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland found just below Adam's apple in the neck. She announced she was cancer free on Monday just seven months after being diagnosed. Will Arnett and his girlfriend, Alessandra Brawn, were seen taking their baby son Alexander for a walk for the first time through Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon. The 51-year-old Arrested Development actor and his partner, 34, appeared to be enjoying their time with their child as they had a conversation while making their way along the Big Apple's crowded sidewalks. The pair welcomed Alexander into their lives in May of last year after announcing that they were expecting to start a family that February. Stepping out: Will Arnett and his girlfriend, Alessandra Brawn, were seen taking their baby son Alexander for a walk through Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon Arnett stayed warm in a black bomber jacket worn on top of a gray t-shirt, and he also sported a set of dark jeans and high-top boots. Brawn sported a fashionable button-up jacket as well as a light beige scarf and a set of blue jeans. The happy couple began dating sometime in 2019 and accompanied each other at that year's Creative Arts Emmys, according to People. The actor was previously married to his first wife, Penelope Ann Miller, from 1994 until the following year, when their union was formally dissolved. Comfortable clothing: Arnett stayed warm in a black bomber jacket worn on top of a gray t-shirt, and he also sported a set of dark jeans and high-top boots Going public: The happy couple began dating sometime in 2019 and accompanied each other at that year's Creative Arts Emmys, according to People The former couple did not welcome any children during their time together. Arnett went on to marry fellow comedian and actress Amy Poehler in 2003 after they appeared together in several productions. The two went on to welcome a pair of sons named Archie and Abel, aged 13 and 11, respectively. Former spouse: Arnett went on to marry fellow comedian and actress Amy Poehler in 2003 after they appeared together in several productions; they are seen in 2012 The performers eventually separated in 2012, and they went on to finalize their divorce in 2016. Brawn was previously married to her former husband, Jon Neidich, with whom she tied the knot in 2014. The two welcomed a son named Nash prior to their split, which occurred in 2018. In the past: Brawn was previously married to her former husband, Jon Neidich, with whom she tied the knot in 2014; she is seen with Arnett in 2019 The news about her newest pregnancy was initially reported by Us Weekly last February. An insider also spoke to the media outlet and expressed that the happy pair were 'very happy and thrilled' about the idea of welcoming another child into their lives. Arnett previously spoke about being a father during an interview with Us Weekly, where he expressed that his children were very excited to have an actor for a father. 'I'm really happy that I can do stuff that makes my kids so genuinely happy,' he stated. Influencer and public health advocate Abbie Chatfield has received a horrifying death threat from an anti-vax extremist who tracked down her home address. On Wednesday, the 26-year-old shared a private message she had received on Instagram from a troll account with zero followers. The anonymous sender said they knew where she lived and warned: 'Watch your back door, could be now or in five years from now hahaha they're watching you.' Credible threat: Influencer and public health advocate Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has received a horrifying death threat from an anti-vax extremist who tracked down her home address The same account messaged her a day later: 'Good luck, you will need it.' Abbie, who is known for her pro-vaccine stance, posted the threatening messages and asked her followers: 'Any suggestions of how to deal with this?' She said she'd already contacted the police but they 'don't do anything' about anonymous death threats on social media. 'They either gaslight you and say you're being dramatic and to "block them" or they say they can't do anything until they actually kill you,' she wrote. Abbie rents an apartment in Sydney's eastern suburbs and also recently bought a home in Byron Bay. It's unclear which address was threatened specifically. Horror: Abbie, 26, shared a private message she'd received on Instagram from a troll account with zero followers. The anonymous sender said they knew where she lived and warned: 'Watch your back door, could be now or in five years from now hahaha they're watching you' It's not the first time Abbie, who is dating former Bachelorette star Konrad Bien-Stephens, has spoken out about online trolling. In October, she said she feared for her safety after receiving a string of anonymous death threats from anti-vaxxer trolls. Abbie spoke about her ordeal during an interview with HIT Queensland's Cliffo & Gabi radio show. When asked how she deals with online criticism, Abbie explained that while trolling usually 'doesn't both her', things had changed since the pandemic took hold. 'The anti-vaxxer trolls, they're a new breed,' she said. Response: She said she'd already contacted the police but they 'don't do anything' about anonymous death threats on social media 'Voice note death threats are the worst ones; the text ones are fine, but the voice notes are scary,' she added. 'And the cops can't do anything, so you just have to put [the evidence] in a folder. I just screen-record it... just in case something happens to me, they'll know who did it.' The radio hosts asked Abbie whether the messages had left her feeling afraid, and she replied: 'Yeah, I'm pretty scared... I do double check my locks at night.' Worrying: In October, the former Bachelor star said she feared for her safety after receiving a string of anonymous death threats from anti-vaxxer trolls Dancing With The Stars vet Jordan Fisher, 27, announced on his Instagram account on Tuesday that he is expecting his first child with his wife Ellie Woods, 23. Jordan and Ellie both posted a sentimental video announcing the pregnancy. In the clip, Ellie can be seen surprising Jordan by putting the pregnancy test in his jacket pocket. The Secret Life Of The American Teenager actor burst into tears and hugged his wife, celebrating the expectancy of their son. Soon to be parents: Dancing with the Stars Jordan Fisher, 27, announced on his Instagram on Tuesday that he is expecting his first child with his wife Ellie Woods Surprise! Jordan and Ellie both posted a sentimental video on Instagram announcing the pregnancy. Ellie surprised Jordan by putting the pregnancy test in his jacket pocket Jordan and Ellie took a different take on a gender reveal. The couple sent their family and friends cupcakes with the filling inside being blue, letting them know once they took a bite that they are having a boy. Jordan and Ellie announced their engagement in May 2019, but had to reschedule their original wedding date of July 25, 2020 due to Covid. The couple ended up getting married in November 2020 and just celebrated one year of marriage together. The Fisher's got married at a private ceremony at Walt Disney World in Florida. An emotional moment: The Secret Life of the American Teenager actor burst into tears and hugged his wife, celebrating the expectancy of their son Gender reveal: The couple sent their family and friends cupcakes with the filling inside being blue, letting them know once they took a bite that they are having a boy Best friends: Jordan and Ellie posted their reaction to their family and friends biting into their gender reveal cupcakes Jordan and Ellie have known each other since they were 13 and growing up in Birmingham, Alabama. They were both enrolled in the same theatre program and were best friends. The duo didn't start dating until 2017. Jordan has stared in many movies including: Work It, Teen Beach Movie and Liv and Maddie. Ellie had a few acting roles of her own including Murder Capital and A Man Down. Bridget Malcolm is known for ruffling feathers in the fashion industry. And the outspoken Australian model, 29, has revealed she's not afraid to cause a stir with her left-wing political beliefs either. Bridget shared a gallery of photos to Instagram on Wednesday from her recent travels around America, including her visit to Pennsylvania's notoriously conservative Juniata County. Political: Left-wing Australian model Bridget Malcolm, 29, 'bravely' wore a Bernie Sanders T-shirt to Thanksgiving dinner while staying in conservative rural Pennsylvania One photo taken in Juniata County showed Bridget posing in a T-shirt emblazoned with Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign logo. 'One of these photos is me dressing for Thanksgiving dinner in rural (conservative) PA,' she wrote in the caption. Bridget's T-shirt featured Bernie's famous campaign slogan: 'Bernie 2016 For President, feel the Bern!' 'Brave': Fans praised the former Victoria's Secret model for her courage, with one writing: 'Oh my!! A Bernie shirt in Juniata County?! You are brave! Good for you!' A self-described democratic socialist, Bernie Sanders advocates for progressive policies such as economic equality and social justice. Fans praised the former Victoria's Secret model for her courage, with one writing: 'Oh my! A Bernie shirt in Juniata County?! You are brave! Good for you!' 'Hahahaha, thank you, thank you!' Bridget responded. Feel the Bern: A self-described democratic socialist, Bernie Sanders (pictured) advocates for progressive policies such as economic equality and social justice Bridget, who hails from Western Australia but now lives in America, first threw her support behind Sanders in 2016 during his election campaign. At the time, she uploaded a photo to Instagram of herself wearing her beloved Sanders campaign T-shirt, along with the caption: 'Ootd today with @freepeople and @berniesanders #feelthebern.' It comes after Bridget made headlines in September for slamming the toxic culture she claims to have experienced working for Victoria's Secret. Support: Bridget, who hails from Western Australia but now lives in America, first threw her support behind Sanders in 2016 during his election campaign (pictured) 'Exploitative': It comes after Bridget told 60 Minutes in September she was so malnourished during her time working for Victoria's Secret it once took her 10 minutes to walk up a flight of stairs The model, who walked the runway for the lingerie giant in 2015 and 2016, said the message from Victoria's Secret management to be super skinny was 'pretty clear' in an explosive interview with 60 Minutes. Describing the pressure she felt to lose weight, Bridget recalled a time when she was so malnourished it took her '10 minutes to climb a flight of stairs'. 'I had an eating disorder, I was relying on anti-anxiety medication, I was having panic attacks constantly, I was exhausted,' she added. 'My body was malnourished, my mind was malnourished, it was relentless. What that company represented for me and for so many other women was extremely exploitative at that time. To me it felt like controlling women.' CSI: Vegas has been renewed for a second season on CBS, but William Petersen will not return to play the role of Gil Grissom. Petersen will continue as an executive producer with the series, which finished its 10-episode debut season last week, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Petersen had only signed onto appear on the first season, sources told THR, adding that Paula Newsome, Matt Lauria, Mandeep Dhillon and Mel Rodriguez have all signed on for a second season. Jorja Fox remains in talks to come back to the show, the outlet reported. The latest: CSI: Vegas has been renewed for a second season on CBS, but William Petersen will not return to play the role of Gil Grissom. (L-R) Jay Lee, Petersen, Sarah Gilman and Paula Newsome were seen in a recent episode 'The incredibly talented CSI: Vegas creative team and cast did a superb job this first season, brilliantly updating and portraying the CSI universe with fresh stories and a new crime lab, proving that after 20 years, the CSI fan base is still hungry for more and ready to embrace a new chapter in this illustrious franchise,' CBS exec Amy Reisenbach said in a statement. The show averaged 3.71 million viewers and an 0.4 rating among adults 18-49 in same-day ratings, according to the outlet, and another 3.09 million and 0.8 among adults 18-49 in delayed viewing numbers. The renewal marks the first new show to be renewed by the network for a second season in 2022-23. Other new shows such as Ghosts, FBI: International and NCIS: Hawaii were given back/full season orders, according to Deadline. While Petersen will not appear on the show's second season, Jorja Fox remains in talks to come back to the show Both Matt Lauria and Mandeep Dhillon are set to appear on the show's second season Robert Curtis Brown, Dhillon, Lauria and Mel Rodriguez were seen in a scene from the show that aired last month CSI: Vegas began with a storyline about a problem with the crime lab that presented the possibility of thousands of convicted killers being released. A new squad of detectives, led by Maxine Roby (Paula Newsome) brought in veterans Gil Grissom (Petersen) and Sara Sidle (Fox) to probe a case about one-time peer David Hodges (Wallace Langham). Pregnant influencer Tammy Hembrow enjoyed a fun night out at fashion label Oh Polly's Christmas party on the Gold Coast on Wednesday. The soon-to-be mother of three, 27, seemingly left her underwear at home while attending the soiree in a figure-hugging beige dress. She showcased her risque outfit in a trio of photos shared to Instagram. Oh, baby! Pregnant influencer Tammy Hembrow enjoyed a fun night out at fashion label Oh Polly's Christmas party on the Gold Coast on Wednesday In one photo, she cradled her baby bump while posing in the foyer of the luxury venue, which had floor-to-ceiling chandeliers. She displayed her curvy derriere in another snap, with no sign of an underwear line. Tammy then turned around to show off her pregnant figure with her hands placed at her side. Going commando? The soon-to-be mother of three, 27, seemingly left her underwear at home while attending the soiree in a figure-hugging beige dress Bumping along: She showcased her risque outfit in a trio of photos shared to Instagram Her sexy gallery comes after Tammy was forced to deny rumours of a 'shotgun proposal' with fiance Matt Poole. During YouTube Q&A last week, she insisted it was Matt's decision to pop the question and confirmed it wasn't rushed because of her pregnancy. Tammy addressed the issue on Friday after a fan asked if her Ironman beau had proposed just because she was expecting. All planned: Last week, Tammy and her fiance Matt Poole (left) denied rumours of a 'shotgun proposal' after she revealed she was expecting their first child together Matt answered: 'No, good question but no. I was actually planning the proposal a fair bit before.' He proposed to Tammy last month on a private yacht decorated with roses, with her two children, son Wolf, six, and daughter Saskia, five, by their side. Tammy called his romantic gesture 'cute' and added she didn't know about his plans. Romantic: 'I was actually planning the proposal a fair bit before,' Matt said. He proposed to Tammy last month on a private yacht decorated with roses (left), with her two children, son Wolf, six, and daughter Saskia, five, by their side (right) Coincidence: 'It all happened very quickly,' Matt added. 'So no, I was planning the proposal before and then when Tammy announced that she was pregnant' Matt said: 'Well, obviously you didn't. That's a harder surprise.' 'So no, I was planning the proposal before and then when Tammy announced that she was pregnant, it all happened very quickly,' he added. And another fan asked if Tammy planned to stop working out during her pregnancy. Workout: Another fan asked if Tammy planned to stop working out during her pregnancy. She explained that in her previous pregnancies she didn't stop working out Keeping active: 'I'm not going to stop working out this time as long as it's safe for me to do so. If my doctor told me to stop working out, obviously I would stop,' she added She explained that in her previous pregnancies she didn't stop working out. 'I'm not going to stop working out this time as long as it's safe for me to do so. If my doctor told me to stop working out, obviously I would stop. But yeah I don't plan on stopping any time soon,' she added. Tammy announced her engagement on November 24 in a video on Instagram. That was followed with news of her pregnancy in another video on December 5. Jed Mercurio has revealed he'd 'love to do more' episodes of his critically-acclaimed drama Line Of Duty, after dividing fans with a jaw-dropping sixth series. Speaking in a Q and A for his upcoming ITV drama Trigger Point, the producer said he wanted to pen a new series that returned to the classic release method, with viewers tuning in each week as opposed to binging the whole series at once. Vicky McClure, who starred in both Line Of Duty and Trigger Point, added that she 'isn't concerned' by comparisons between her characters in both shows because they were 'roles she wanted to play.' Coming soon: Jed Mercurio has revealed he'd 'love to do more' episodes of his critically-acclaimed drama Line Of Duty, ahead of the release of his new ITV drama Trigger Point Asked whether Line Of Duty will return to screens for a seventh season, Jed told MailOnline: ''We would love to do more series if people like it. We'll see. We wanted to do this new show as one episode released every week. 'It's about serving the experience. Some people still love scheduled TV, They love the mystery and it adds to the show's shared experience, you can avoid spoilers and everyone talks about it together afterwards.' Trigger Point focuses on bomb squad operative Lana Washington and her tea when London is threatened by a terrorist campaign, with the operatives at the centre of discovering who is behind the bombings. Hinting: The producer said he wanted to pen a new series that returned to the classic release method, with viewers tuning in each week (Vicky McClure is pictured in Line Of Duty) Discussing her role, Vicky said: ''The story unfolds in many ways. The two main characters have a beautiful friendship, we set that up really nicely. 'There are some explosive moments too. It was fascinating learning the details of the equipment etc. 'We also filmed in a heatwave and the helmet was huge. The suits were very hefty.The first episode was filmed over three weeks in the same place. 'We all really got to know each other. I had to pinch myself working with people like Adrian [Lester]. We had a lovely connection and we got on in real life.' Action-packed: Trigger Point focuses on bomb squad operative Lana Washington and her tea when London is threatened by a terrorist campaign Trigger Point also saw Vicky reunite with Jed, after playing DI Kate Fleming on Line Of Duty since its inception in 2012. Asked about working with Vicky again, Jed joked: 'It was fantastic. It was good without Adrian [Dunbar] and Martin [Compston] getting in the way! Vicky is the real talent!' Since Trigger Point was announced, many viewers have noted an eery similarity between Vicky's character Lana, and her role as DI Fleming in Line of Duty. But the actress told MailOnline that comparisons between the characters don't phase her. Views: Vicky McClure added she 'isn't concerned' by comparisons between her characters in Line Of Duty and Trigger Point because they were 'roles she wanted to play' She said: 'I'm not concerned. This is what actors do. I fell into the genre. I can't worry about doing the same genre again. Lana and Kate are very different. 'They are both brave and strong women and they are the roles that I want to play. I always want to take the male roles too whenever I read a new script. People loved Line of Duty so if there are comparisons that's a good thing.' 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. Coming soon: Trigger Point also saw Vicky reunite with Jed, after playing DI Kate Fleming on Line Of Duty since its inception in 2012 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.' Trigger Point will premiere on ITV in early 2022. A recent episode of Netflix's Selling Sunset featured an awkward blind date between Chrishell Stause and Robert Drenk, a friend of Heather Rae Young and Tarek El Moussa. After it aired the two engaged in a back and forth dialogue on social media with conflicting recollections of how the meeting went down. Drenk accused the 40-year-old realtor of being in a relationship with her current boyfriend Jason Oppenheim when she agreed to meet him back in June, but Chrishell maintains that she was single. Cringy: A recent episode of Netflix's Selling Sunset featured an awkward date between Chrishell Stause and Robert Drenk, a friend of Heather Rae Young and Tarek El Moussa It started when the real estate mogul responded to a fan's tweet about a scene from the show, which saw members of the cast dancing on a yacht where the blind date was arranged. Chrishell joked that she and her costars looked 'manic' in the clip and wrote on Twitter, 'Ok but in our defense this is not the song we were dancing to. Petition to release the unedited dancing footage bc agreed we look manic.' The guest star then took the opportunity to chime in and say, 'In your defense would you say the real reason the date went sideways from the second I showed up was because your boyfriend Jason was right there? 'I guess hiding your man from the man that came to a blind date makes for lots of cringe.' He said-she said: After it aired the two engaged in a back and forth dialogue on social media with conflicting recollections of how the meeting went down The date went left after Chrishell separated from Robert to enjoy time on the dance floor with her friends. According to Drenk, producers urged him to follow her and show his interest, which resulted in him physically picking up the Kentucky native and taking her to another part of the yacht, which didn't sit well with her. Stause hit back on Twitter as she said, 'Oh hi Robert! Jason was not my boyfriend here. In fact that step came much later. But if thinking that makes you feel better about your behavior, I get it.' Conflict: Drenk and Stause went back and forth in a series of tweets on Tuesday Robert clapped back: '...and by much later you mean when we were all in Vegas a week after? Sure looked that way.' The businessman included a screenshot of the exchange on Instagram and added, 'Step came much later, 5 whole days lmao.' It didn't end there. The reality TV personality replied by saying, 'Robert, take the L. You never pick up a woman w/o permission & if she wants to leave, refusing to get up to let me out was ridiculous. 'Jason & I did hook up in Vegas that weekend actually after he had put it out there but I wasnt sure. Thank you for showing me what I did NOT want.' Questionable timeline: Drenk accused the realtor of being in a relationship with her current boyfriend Jason Oppenheim when she agreed to meet him back in June, but Chrishell maintains that she was single The argument spilled over to Instagram after Drenk shared a screenshot from the episode and wrote a lengthy caption claiming Chrishell and her boss Jason were secretly dating during the boat date. 'Once I walked on to the boat it was very awkward and not inviting, like me, the producers and film crew had no idea Chrishell and Jason were a thing, nor did anything go as planned in regards to the date,' he wrote to his audience of 13.7k followers. 'I meant no disrespect by picking her up, I was trying to be sweet but show interest as requested by the producer. I was honestly lost and confused as to why I was on this date with a woman that was interested originally then wouldnt even give me two seconds of her time once I was there.' His perspective: The argument spilled over to Instagram after Drenk shared a screenshot from the episode and wrote a lengthy caption claiming Chrishell and her boss Jason were secretly dating during the boat date Attempting to end the conversation, Chrishell wrote one final comment before blocking Robert: 'Please stop tagging me in things. I was 100% single on this boat and free to date whoever I want. 'I would have understood if you were nervous and acted differently because of that. But to be on here and Twitter defending your actions is making it worse. I originally enjoyed meeting you until I started to see things I didnt vibe with.' Then she added even more context as she said in the comments, 'But picking me up & then not getting up to let me out was not great. Cameras didnt see but Im glad you mentioned, then you were also very rude to me when I went to say that it was nice to meet you & say goodbye. 'I wish you all the best and it sucks this all went so downhill. But tagging me in multiple posts on multiple platforms to trying to defend behavior that isnt defendable isnt it. I was single. You were rude. It wasnt a match. Lets all move on please.' Uncomfortable: Attempting to end the conversation, Chrishell wrote one final comment before blocking Robert Speaking with Vulture about the faux pas Chrishell recently said, 'That was so uncomfortable. Its still uncomfortable, cause Im like, "Oh my God, hes going to see this." 'It really truly was awkward. Those are the moments where now at least its funny I mean, its funny until I have to run into him, I guess. But in the moment, it seemed crazy. 'And then he wouldnt let me out. It was a lot of not-great stuff. There was a little bit of like, Whatever side of the boat hes on, Im going to the other side.' After finalizing her divorce from actor Justin Hartley earlier this year, Stause began a relationship with Jason, who's her boss and co-owner of Oppenheim Group. Just days after his hit HBO series Succession wrapped up its third season with a shocking finale, Jeremy Strong was spotted out and about. The 42-year-old actor was seen checking his phone while walking the streets of New York City on Wednesday afternoon. The outing was also just days after a controversial profile on him was released in The New Yorker, which has brought some famous friends like Jessica Chastain to his defense. Jeremy out: Just days after his hit HBO series Succession wrapped up its third season with a shocking finale, Jeremy Strong was spotted out and about Strong was wearing a light brown t-shirt over a dark brown hooded coat as he took to the streets. He kept warm with a light brown stocking cap and brown-tinted aviator-style sunglasses as he walked while checking his phone. The Trial of the Chicago 7 star completed his look with a pair of blue jeans and a pair of white sneakers with abnormally thick laces. Jeremy's look: Strong was wearing a light brown t-shirt over a dark brown hooded coat as he took to the streets Strong came under fire, so to speak, after a profile in The New Yorker showcased his 'method acting' tendencies, with the piece starting with a quote about his character Kendall Roy: 'I take him as seriously as I take my own life.' The profile opens by discussing his childhood acting idols - all of whom are notorious for going great lengths to portray their characters - Daniel Day Lewis, Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman. Succession executive producer Adam McKay, who directed the pilot episode, said of Strong, 'Hes not playing it like a comedy. Hes playing it like hes Hamlet.' Profile: Strong came under fire, so to speak, after a profile in The New Yorker showcased his 'method acting' tendencies, with the piece starting with a quote about his character Kendall Roy: 'I take him as seriously as I take my own life' After the profile was released, a number of Strong's collaborators came to his defense, including Jessica Chastain, who starred alongside Strong in their 2017 film Molly's Game. 'I've known Jeremy Strong for 20yrs & worked with him on 2 films. He's a lovely person. Very inspiring & passionate about his work,' she said. 'The profile that came out on him was incredibly one sided. Don't believe everything you read folks. Snark sells but maybe its time we move beyond it,' she added. Collaborator: After the profile was released, a number of Strong's collaborators came to his defense, including Jessica Chastain, who starred alongside Strong in their 2017 film Molly's Game Strong's co-star Brian Cox, who plays his on-screen father Logan Roy in Succession, added on Late Night with Seth Meyers that he's worried Strong will get 'burned out.' 'He does get obsessed with the work. And I worry about what it does to him, because if you cant separate yourself because youre dealing with all of this material every day,' Cox said, adding, 'Eventually, you get worn out.' 'Like, to me, Daniel Day-Lewis got worn out at 55 and decided to retire because [he] couldnt go on doing that every day. Its too consuming,' Cox added. He's been a media mainstay having served as a radio host for decades before taking on morning talk shows. And Ryan Seacrest shows no signs of slowing down with his career even to start a family despite thinking more about future planning with girlfriend Aubrey Paige, 24. The 46-year-old talk show host admitted he does 'want to have kids' but hasn't quite yet gone down the path, and joked his mother has mostly washed her hands of the idea of becoming a grandmother. Media man: Ryan Seacrest shows no signs of slowing down with his career even to start a family despite thinking more about future planning with girlfriend Aubrey Paige, 24; seen in 2020 Having children has become a more important goal for Ryan now that he has Aubrey in his life. The Live With Kelly and Ryan co-host has been romantically linked to the Texas-born brunette since May 2021 a year after it was reported he and longtime girlfriend Shayna Taylor, 29, had split for the third and final time. 'I start thinking about blocking off certain times in my month or year or week to focus on my personal life,' he told WSJ. Magazine. 'I do want to have kids. But I haven't even gone down that path, which is nuts at my age.' Model behavior: The Live With Kelly and Ryan co-host has been romantically linked to the Texas-born brunette since May 2021 a year after it was reported he and longtime girlfriend Shayna Taylor, 29, had split for the third and final time 'I think in the last year, it's become clear to me that yes, I do want to do that ... I want to be available and present.' The longtime American Idol host's busy schedule has impacted his decision to become a father, much to the dismay of his mother, Connie, who has practically given up on her dream of being a grandma. 'She's given up on me,' he told the publication. 'I think in the last year, it's become clear to me that yes, I do want to do that ... I want to be available and present,' he said (seen in 2019) Vision is clear: Having children has become a more important goal for Ryan now that he has Aubrey in his life Babies were on the brain for Seacrest in October when he chatted about fatherhood during a segment on his On Air With Ryan Seacrest radio show. 'I said a few weeks ago, "I'm not so into it," and then I saw some of my friends' kids get excited about it. Then I see my niece, and she's so beautiful,' he told listeners. 'Then I see you, [co-host Sisanie], with twins, and I see how happy you are, and I would never in a million years actually if you asked me when I was 40 a few years ago "Do you want kids?" [I'd say], "I don't know" and now, all of a sudden, all I can think about is, "Wow, how do I do that? I'm getting older. What are the options?"' Advertisement Bethenny Frankel is again looking to sell her apartment in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. The 51-year-old former Real Housewives Of New York City star relisted the loft-style space for $6.995 million, according to Dirt. The businesswoman and philanthropist is working with a new set of real estate agents on the listing, after previously taking it off the market in September. Back on the market: Bethenny Frankel, 51, has relisted her apartment in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood for $6.995 million, according to Dirt Bethenny hasn't raised the price on her apartment at all, but she's now listing the space with Noble Black, David Son and Erik Ternon of Douglas Elliman. She first listed it for the same price in April of this year with Ryan Serhant, who is a fixture on Bravo's Million Dollar Listing New York. The reality star first purchased the 4,034-square-foot loft in 2017 for $4.2 million, so she could be poised to make a pretty profit. Part of her desire to move seems to be that she's just not spending as much time at the Manhattan apartment as she once did. New team: Bethenny hasn't raised the price on her apartment at all, but she's now listing the space with Noble Black, David Son and Erik Ternon of Douglas Elliman. She first listed it with Bravo's Ryan Serhant in April 2021 but took it off the market in September; seen December 10 in NYC Making bank: The reality star first purchased the 4,034-square-foot loft in 2017 for $4.2 million, so she could be poised to make a pretty profit Redone: The Real Housewives Of New York City star had to refurbish the loft, and she repainted it for a more minimalist vibe and added new partitions for extra rooms New look: She added a bar with a marble accent wall to the living room, which features gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows Spiffy: The refurbished kitchen features sleek cabinets with a gray island and top-of-the-line appliances Frankel has more recently been living in a townhouse in Bostons Back Bay with her fiance Paul Bernon, a film producer, and when she's not there she has been staying at her home in the Hamptons. 'I wasnt even looking to move but this was an opportunity I couldnt pass up,' she said of purchasing the loft in a 2018 piece for Architectural Digest. Frankel was drawn to the space because it was undervalued for that area, and it also happened to be near her office. However, the space required extensive renovations, and she added several partitions to make it seem less cavernous. Her changes included giving the floors a light gray finish, while painting the radiator and window frames a contrasting black. The kitchen area also got a new look and now features pleasingly minimalist boxy cabinets and sleek surfaces, as well as top-of-the-line appliances. An island in the center makes an ideal spot both for food preparation and for relaxing with guests. Couldn't pass it up: 'I wasnt even looking to move but this was an opportunity I couldnt pass up,' she said of purchasing the loft in a 2018 piece for Architectural Digest . Frankel was drawn to the space because it was undervalued for that area, and it also happened to be near her office Open to change: She currently has the space set up with two bedrooms and three bathrooms, but the design allows future owners to partition the apartment with more bedrooms if they choose Cozy: The master bedroom includes a large croissant-shaped sofa and coffee table, while just beyond the partition is a counter and mirror spanning one way that's ideal for working on hair and makeup Secluded: The family room is set away from the floor-to-ceiling windows for a more intimate feel Staying toasty: It features a slot for a built-in television in the wall above the fireplace Taking it easy: The space is ideal for a more relaxed evening in, or a low-key night with friends The massive apartment was perfect for entertaining, so she had a bar and a marble accent wall installed. Frankel also downplayed the loft's industrial vibes with two new fireplaces, one for the family room and another for the master bedroom. She currently has the space set up with two bedrooms and three bathrooms, but the design allows future owners to partition the apartment with more bedrooms if they choose. The master bedroom includes a large croissant-shaped sofa and coffee table, while just beyond the partition is a counter and mirror spanning one way that's ideal for working on hair and makeup. The family room is set away from the floor-to-ceiling windows for a more intimate feel, and it features a slot for a built-in television in the wall above the fireplace. One room is set up as a home office, with a minimalist desk covering on wall, while there's also a large sofa for relaxing during a break or catching up with a client. Getting work done: One room is set up as a home office, with a minimalist desk covering on wall, while there's also a large sofa for relaxing during a break or catching up with a client Spacious: Frankel's master bedroom includes an enormous walk-in closet with gray wood cabinets to match the hardwood floors, along with a delicate chandelier for some extra glamour Enormous: One could get lost in the luxurious master bathroom, which is covered in white and gray marble. It includes a long counter along one wall with expansive mirrors and two sinks spaced far apart Fully stocked: The bathroom has a large walk-in shower in one corner, as well as a bathtub located in the middle of the room Frankel's master bedroom includes an enormous walk-in closet with gray wood cabinets to match the hardwood floors, along with a delicate chandelier for some extra glamour. One could get lost in the luxurious master bathroom, which is covered in white and gray marble. It includes a long counter along one wall with expansive mirrors and two sinks spaced far apart. The bathroom has a large walk-in shower in one corner, as well as a bathtub located in the middle of the room. The other bedroom appears to currently be set up for Bethenny's 11-year-old daughter Bryn Hoppy, and the space includes a modest desk with expansive windows, a stylish chandelier and 'LOVE' written in large light-up letters above the bed. The room includes a smaller, but no less elegant, bathroom with large black floor tiles and smaller white wall tiles. More modest: The other bedroom appears to currently be set up for Bethenny's 11-year-old daughter Bryn Hoppy, and the space includes a modest desk with expansive windows, a stylish chandelier and 'LOVE' written in large light-up letters above the bed Minimalist: The room includes a smaller, but no less elegant, bathroom with large black floor tiles and smaller white wall tiles Penelope Cruz shined bright on Tuesday night in a yellow Chanel blazer and matching skirt while arriving at NBC Studios in New York City. The 47-year-old Spanish actress wore lemon for her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and showed off her lean legs with a short skirt. Penelope completed her look with open-toed black collar heels. Yellow outfit: Penelope Cruz shined bright on Tuesday night in a yellow Chanel blazer and matching skirt while arriving at NBC Studios in New York City She had her dark brown hair down around her shoulders and accentuated her natural beauty with dark eye makeup. Penelope also covered her mouth and nose with a black face mask amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Oscar-winning actress was later spotted leaving NBC studios bundled up in a long black coat over blue jeans. She wore a tan newsboy cap and covered up with a face mask as she left. Talk show: The 47-year-old Spanish actress wore lemon for her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and showed off her lean legs with a short skirt Penelope was honored on Tuesday at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York City for being 'an artist of global importance'. The benefit has been presented since 2011 by Chanel and Penelope, who has been an ambassador for the fashion house since 2018, wore a long red Chanel v-line dress with an open back to the event. Penelope specifically thanked Spanish movie director Pedro Almodovar, 72, while praising all of the directors she's worked with during her career. Natural beauty: Penelope had her dark brown hair down around her shoulders and accentuated her natural beauty with dark eye makeup Mask on: The actress also covered her mouth and nose with a black face mask amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Penelope and Pedro have worked together on seven films. The latest film by the director starring Penelope, Parallel Mothers, opens on December 24 in the United States. The film received two Golden Globe nominations on Monday for Best Original Score and for Best Picture Non-English Language. Exit attire: The Oscar-winning actress was later spotted leaving NBC studios bundled up in a long black coat over blue jean Parallel Mothers follows two single women who meet in a hospital as they are about to give birth on the same day. Penelope can next be seen in the upcoming action spy film The 355 that also stars Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong'o, Diane Kruger, Bingbing Fan, Sebastian Stan and Edgar Ramirez. The film's title is derived from Agent 355, a female spy for the Patriots during the American Revolution. The movie follows a CIA agent who teams up with other international agents to recover a top-secret weapon. Cool cap: She wore a tan newsboy cap and covered up with a face mask as she left The 355 will be released next month on January 7 by Universal Pictures after being delayed more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film will be made available on the Peacock streaming service 45 days after its release in theaters. Penelope has been married to Javier Bardem, 52, since 2010 and they have children Leo, 10, and Penelope, eight, together. He's a rising country star with a new fiancee. And Payton Smith dropped down to one knee and proposed to Hannah Wooten at the Grand Ole Opry on Monday night in Nashville, Tennessee. The 21-year-old musician admitted he started to 'feel the nerves' before the big moment when he stepped onto The Circle, the stage that was originally built in 1902. Congratulations! Payton Smith dropped down to one knee and proposed to Hannah Wooten at the Grand Ole Opry on Monday night in Nashville, Tennessee 'At that point, every part of my body was shaking,' he told PEOPLE. 'But the moment she said 'yes,' my nerves faded away and I immediately felt this sense of gratefulness.' He added: 'I'm just so thankful that I get to spend my life with a girl like Hannah, someone that loves The Lord and loves me the way that she does.' 'My sweet friends r engaged,' one pal shared on Instagram shortly after their epic proposal. 'Thank you Jesus,' Hannah, 22, wrote on Instagram announcing the engagement. 'I get to marry my best friend. I love you forever Payton Smith. 'My sweet friends r engaged,' one pal shared on Instagram shortly after their epic proposal 'We're gonna be the greatest love story this world has ever seen.' Wooten had no idea about the proposal and thought she was tagging along for one of his interviews at the Opry before seeing Christmas lights. 'It's funny because I wasn't going to get dressed up to come out here with him, but my mom convinced me to put on a dress and look cute to come with him and now I'm glad she did,' she said. The couple first met when they were teenagers, but remained friends until 2020 when they officially began dating. Blessed: The couple first met when they were teenagers, but remained friends until 2020 when they officially began dating 'I've known she was the one since I was 15. She's always had this thing about her something different; and I've never felt this way about anyone else,' he said 'I've known she was the one since I was 15. She's always had this thing about her something different; and I've never felt this way about anyone else,' he said. 'The night of my Opry Debut, Hannah was watching from the side stage and that's the night when we rekindled our friendship. But seeing her there that night, I had this feeling that I was going to marry her one day.' Smith said he can't wait to 'grow old with his best friend' and to 'raise a family together.' 'She's always supported me in what I do and I will always be there to support her in whatever she does,' he added. 'It's cool to see what God put on our hearts when we were younger.' Kirstie And Phils Love It Or List It Rating: The Lie: Murder In Suburbia Rating: The inside of your telly is a small world. Theres nearly 70 million of us watching across Britain, but just a tiny number squeeze their way onto the screen. And once there, the same faces seem to crop up every night across all the channels. On Tuesday, for instance, Monica Galetti was visiting a modernist hotel made of glass beside Croatias gorgeous coast on BBC2 at 8pm, before judging the final of MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC1 an hour later. As for Monicas co-presenter, Gregg Wallace, as soon as he polishes off the last plateful tonight hes off to C5 tomorrow, touring Copenhagens Christmas Market. And its easy to name half a dozen others who are ever-present on our screens: Bradley Walsh, Joe Lycett, Gordon Ramsay, Romesh Ranganathan, Ashley Banjo and, of course, Kirstie Allsopp. Love It Or List It is a format that could run unchanged for decades. Every episode is the same: a couple who have outgrown their home must decide whether to extend and renovate, or simply move somewhere else, while Phil and Kirstie offer conflicting advice Kirsties Christmas crafting show featured on this page yesterday, and she was back a matter of hours later with a new series of Love It Or List It (C4), the property show she co-hosts with Phil Spencer. The duo made it plain they have no intention of easing back on their TV workload. We probably will be 99 when we finish making this series, Phil said. And theyll probably still be flirting madly with each other. Last night, Phil inquired about her undies and Kirstie teased him that she might not be wearing any: Leaving the house in a dress, youre always at risk of having no knickers on. (TMI, Kirstie!) Love It Or List It is a format that could run unchanged for decades. Every episode is the same: a couple who have outgrown their home must decide whether to extend and renovate, or simply move somewhere else, while Phil and Kirstie offer conflicting advice. But every episode is also different, because no two couples are alike. This time, we met the worlds most stubborn man, a builder in Poole named Roy, and his long-suffering wife Sue. They had been living with a half-finished extension for 20 years. Roy was adamant that he wasnt going to move. I suspect Sue didnt really want to either this was just her clever way of encouraging her husband to finish those little jobs hed been putting off since the turn of the millennium. Plumbing the shower in, fitting some doors, those sort of minor details. This show was devised to blend house-hunting with DIY tips, but the real pleasure is in nosing around other peoples homes and marvelling at the way they live. Its all very watchable. Its also hard to switch off a gripping true-crime documentary. But the ones really worth seeing are those that offer either a new twist on the investigation or an insight into the psychology of murderers. The true-crime documentaries really worth seeing are those that offer either a new twist on the investigation or an insight into the psychology of murderers. The Lie: Murder In Suburbia (C5) does neither The Lie: Murder In Suburbia (C5) does neither. This two-parter, concluding tonight, examines the killing of mother-of-two Rachel OReilly at her home outside Dublin in 2004. The murder was clumsily staged to look like a burglary gone wrong, and police had strong suspicions about Rachels husband Joe from the first day. Even viewers who knew nothing of the case will have shared those instincts, from the moment we first heard Joes clumsy phone messages to his wife before her body was found. Rachels mother Rose said she realised her son-in-law committed the crime when she heard her daughters voice in her head, saying: Mam it was him. Luckily, the police didnt have to rely on psychic evidence. Its a strange story, but this programme adds little to it. Father daughter team Danny and Dani Dyer have been working to solve their listeners dilemmas with 'straight talking wisdom'. And on Wednesday the EastEnders star, 44, sat down with his eldest child, 25, to help listeners with their problems for their latest installment of Sorted With The Dyers. A listener reached out regarding the loss of contact with an old friend that she felt had 'ghosted' her and Danny put it down to one logical explanation - alien abduction. Danny Dyer claims he's 'seen a few' aliens and believes 'they are among us'... as his lends his explanation of 'ghosting' to alien abduction on Wednesday Speaking on the podcast, UFO nut Danny said: 'I have seen a couple. I wont go into it now. Dani then confirmed that she too believed in extraterrestrials although, asked her dad not to scare her. Jokingly her father added: 'Well if you were to wake up with six of them around you in bed, that's what happens you don't know they're there' One answer: A listener reached out regarding the loss of contact with an old friend that she felt had 'ghosted' her and Danny put it down to one logical explanation - alien abduction 'Aliens, they are among us. Theyre about at the moment because they can see how much were destroying this f***ing planet. Giving more detail he said: 'Theres the Greys which are the commonest ones with the massive heads. You can go right back to the Egyptian times and some of the stuff they were scratching on walls says it all. 'They were being visited quite often by aliens and of course then you didnt have mobiles or the internet so no-one could really declare it. 'The only way you could declare that you were visited by an alien was by scratching it on a f***ing wall.' Scary! Dani then confirmed that she too believed in extraterrestrials although, asked her dad not to scare her with the thought of them standing around her bed Giving more detail he said: 'Theres the Greys which are the commonest ones with the massive heads. You can go right back to the Egyptian times Danny's speculations have been well documented in the past in the 2010 BBC film, I Believe In UFOs: Danny Dyer. This comes as he recently revealed his wife 'resents' him as she had given up her own dreams to allow him to follow his acting career. The EastEnders star said: 'The idea of one partner sacrificing a potential career to let the other one go off and roll the dice and be free, and fly, she did allow that. She resents me for it now,' Support: This comes as he recently revealed his wife 'resents' him as she had given up her own dreams to allow him to follow his acting career (pictured 2018) Speaking on last week's podcast he continued: 'She sacrificed a lot for me. 'The idea that I was going to be an actor, coming from where I come from, I didn't stand a chance.' The couple began dating in 1992 and share three children together, Dani, Sunnie, 14, and son Archie, eight. The actor also acknowledged how hard it must be for Joanne when he leaves to film for weeks on end. Tammy Hembrow recently announced she was expecting her third child. And the 27-year-old flaunted her baby bump while attending the Christmas Party for fashion brand Oh Polly on the Gold Coast on Wednesday. She went braless in a skintight beige dress with a plunging neckline and cut-out details down the midsection. She's glowing! Tammy Hembrow flaunted her baby bump while attending the Christmas Party for fashion brand Oh Polly on the Gold Coast on Wednesday She teamed her look with white heels and a matching Jacquemus purse. The Saski Collection founder was joined by her younger half-sister Starlette Thynne. The 21-year-old university student teamed a white halterneck top with beige trousers that featured cut-outs along the hips Sister act: The Saski Collection founder was joined by her younger half-sister Starlette Thynne Mixing it up: Love Island Australia's Rachael Evren wore the same dress design as Tammy but in blue. She also opted to clash colours with her outfit, pairing her frock with green heels Meanwhile, Love Island Australia star Rachael Evren wore the same dress design as Tammy but in blue. Rachael, 21, opted to clash colours with her outfit, pairing her frock with green heels. Tammy's appearance at the event comes after she denied rumours of a 'shotgun proposal' with fiance Matt Poole. All planned: Tammy's appearance at the event comes after she denied rumours of a 'shotgun proposal' with fiance Matt Poole in a YouTube Q&A last week During YouTube Q&A last week, she insisted it was Matt's decision to pop the question and confirmed it wasn't rushed because of her pregnancy. Tammy addressed the issue on Friday after a fan asked if her Ironman beau had proposed just because she was expecting. Matt answered: 'No, good question but no. I was actually planning the proposal a fair bit before.' Romantic: 'I was actually planning the proposal a fair bit before,' Matt said. He proposed to Tammy last month on a private yacht decorated with roses (left), with her two children, son Wolf, six, and daughter Saskia, five, by their side (right) He proposed to Tammy last month on a private yacht decorated with roses, with her two children, son Wolf, six, and daughter Saskia, five, by their side. Tammy called his romantic gesture 'cute' and added she didn't know about his plans. Matt said: 'Well, obviously you didn't. That's a harder surprise.' 'So no, I was planning the proposal before and then when Tammy announced that she was pregnant, it all happened very quickly,' he added. Workout: Another fan asked if Tammy planned to stop working out during her pregnancy. She explained that in her previous pregnancies she didn't stop working out Keeping active: 'I'm not going to stop working out this time as long as it's safe for me to do so. If my doctor told me to stop working out, obviously I would stop,' she added And another fan asked if Tammy planned to stop working out during her pregnancy. She explained that in her previous pregnancies she didn't stop working out. 'I'm not going to stop working out this time as long as it's safe for me to do so. If my doctor told me to stop working out, obviously I would stop. But yeah I don't plan on stopping any time soon,' she added. Tammy announced her engagement on November 24 in a video on Instagram. That was followed with news of her pregnancy in another video on December 5. Bali jailbird Schapelle Corby has turned her life around after her stint in prison and has announced a rather surprising career change. The convicted drug smuggler, 44, is now a clock maker, selling handmade epoxy resin pieces for $199 each. Schapelle told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday she's so passionate about her new project she even dreams up ideas for clock designs in her sleep. Didn't see that coming! Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, 44, has revealed her very surprising career change. She now makes resin clocks, which sell for $200 each 'Epoxy resin has become more than just a hobby for me; it really occupies most of my thoughts,' Schapelle said. 'This creative art form has given me so much purpose to my days; I absolutely love this passion of mine.' Schapelle said she sells her pieces through Instagram and does 'all the work' herself, including drilling and sanding. Passionate: Schapelle told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday she's so passionate about her new project she even dreams up ideas for clock designs in her sleep She added that each piece, typically with a beach design, is made with love. 'I remember each shell I find and while I'm working on my creations I really feel love for each piece of the process,' she said. It comes after Schapelle's stints on Seven's Dancing with the Stars and SAS Australia. TV stints: It comes after Schapelle's stints on Seven's Dancing with the Stars and SAS Australia She made her debut as a reality star in November 2020, appearing on SAS Australia. However, she quit just two days into the military-style show, after Firass Dirani's antics forced the recruits to run a series of laps as a punishment. In October 2004, Schapelle became a household name when she was arrested at Bali airport with 4.2kg of cannabis wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag. The world watched in May 2005 as she broke down in the Denpasar courtroom after being sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in Kerobokan Prison. Following a series of sentence reductions, Schapelle was released on parole in February 2014, having served nine years behind bars. Zendaya took a moment to gush over her beau Tom Holland ahead of the release of their highly-anticipated film Spider-Man: No Way Home. On Wednesday, the 25-year-old actress shared snaps of Tom playing Spider-Man on screen and dressing up as the web-slinging hero as a child. 'My Spider-Man, Im so proud of you, some things never change and good thing,' captioned Zendaya, who also tagged the 25-year-old actor in the post. So proud: Zendaya took a moment to gush over her beau Tom Holland ahead of the release of their highly-anticipated film Spider-Man: No Way Home; Tom and Zendaya seen December 13 The current snapshot of Tom as Spider-Man showed him, presumably, on set of the most recent feature which hits theaters on Friday, December 17. Tom appeared to be shooting an intense web scene that required the English star to be suspended in the air. The throwback snap showed a very young Tom dressed in the beloved comic book hero's red and blue suit for either a birthday party or Halloween-related festivity. Zendaya's post comes just two days after the couple put on a loved up display at the world premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home on Monday. Sweet: On Wednesday, the 25-year-old actress shared snaps of Tom playing Spider-Man on screen and dressing up as the web-slinging hero as a child Destiny: 'My Spider-Man, Im so proud of you, some things never change and good thing,' captioned Zendaya, who also tagged the 25-year-old actor in the post They were seen affectionately posing alongside one another at the Regency Village theatre, where they beamed bright ahead of the screening of their latest Marvel film. The Euphoria star showed off her modelesque 5 10 physique in a plunging dress with bedazzled webs, while at Holland looked dapper in a chocolate suit, with the 5 8" actor adding to his frame in heeled boots. Tom and Zendaya who star as Peter Parker and MJ had previously spoken about their height difference being overly scrutinized, with Zendaya recently branding the comments 'stupid.' The pair had arrived separately to the big premiere, with Holland stopping dead in his tracks as he heard screams that indicated his leading lady had arrived at premiere. Loved up: Zendaya's post comes just two days after the couple put on a loved up display at the world premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home on Monday 'I think Zendaya just showed up,' Holland said as he stopped mid-chat with ET. 'That sounds like Zendaya just showed up,' he reiterated before watching her make her grand entrance. The sweet pair seemed to confirm they were a romantic item as they were captured kissing in July, though both have not spoken about the status of their relationship publicly. Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third film in the franchise starring Zendaya and Holland. The movie comes after 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming and 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home. Perfect pair: The Euphoria star showed off her modelesque 5 10 physique in a plunging dress with bedazzled webs, while at Holland looked dapper in a chocolate suit, with the 5 8" actor adding to his frame in heeled boots Costars: Tom and Zendaya who star as Peter Parker and MJ had previously spoken about their height difference being overly scrutinized, with Zendaya recently branding the comments 'stupid' The 2021 film sees Peter Parker grappling with life and his reputation after his identity as a superhero was exposed by Mysterio (played by former Spider-Man star Jake Gyllenhaal) in the last movie. With his life further on the line, he seeks out Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to help restore his secret identity, but this breaks open the multiverse as five supervillains from alternate realities who fought other versions of Spider-Man arrive. The movie also stars Marisa Tomei as Parker's aunt May, Jamie Foxx as Electro, Benedict Wong as Wong - a master of the mystic arts and Strange's mentor, Jacob Batalon as Parker's best friend Ned, Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin, Jon Favreau as Parker's bodyguard/head of Stark Industries security and J.B. Smoove. She tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK last week. But Jessika Power isn't letting her time in isolation get her down, and has instead spent the last few days making raunchy content for Instagram and OnlyFans. The Married At First Sight star, 29, gave her followers a festive treat on Wednesday by sharing a video of herself dressed as a sexy Mrs Claus. So festive! Covid-stricken Married At First Sight star Jessika Power, 29, gave her followers a festive treat on Wednesday by sharing a video of herself dressed as a sexy Mrs Claus The busty blonde danced around to a Christmas song by Ariana Grande while showing off her assets in a figure-hugging red outfit. The Big Brother VIP star caught coronavirus in England last week. She is isolating at her home in Manchester and is having a 'tough time', her manager Max Markson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday. Jessika was filming the UK reality show Celebs Go Dating when she contracted the virus. Several cast members have since gone into isolation. Eyes up here, Santa! The busty blonde danced around to a Christmas song by Ariana Grande while showing off her assets in a figure-hugging red outfit Diagnosis: The Big Brother VIP star caught coronavirus in England last week 'She's doing it tough,' Mr Markson said. 'She'll definitely get better; she's not coming home anytime soon. She'll be back on set in no time, as long as she's clear of Covid.' A Celebs Go Dating spokesperson added: 'The health and safety of cast and crew remains our top priority. Rigorous Covid-19 protocols are in place and are continuing to be followed at all times across the production. 'Some cast are currently completing periods of self-isolation following current [UK] Government guidelines. Isolation: Jessika has not addressed her health battle on social media, but has shared several videos of herself at her home 'The production maintains a safe environment to continue scenes with other cast, with further filming being rescheduled to ensure everybodys safety.' Mr Markson also told The Herald Sun: 'Yes, Jessika was the first one [of the Celebs Go Dating cast members] to get Covid. 'She has been travelling between Manchester where she lives to London where filming is. 'She's doing it tough,' her manager Max Markson said. 'She'll definitely get better; she's not coming home anytime soon. She'll be back on set in no time, as long as she's clear of Covid' 'She is now in her home in Manchester, not feeling well but thank goodness she has been double vaxxed so just like Tom Hanks and Idris Elba and Donald Trump she will get better.' Jessika has not addressed her health battle on social media, but has shared videos of herself at her home. She flew out to the UK in October, to join the cast of Celebs Go Dating. He's been keeping a low profile in the days since his ex-girlfriend Hayley Love gave birth to their daughter. But Farmer Wants A Wife star Will Dwyer returned to social media this week to show his appreciation for a very special woman. And no, it wasn't the mother of his child. Priorities: Farmer Wants A Wife star Will Dwyer (left) was caught liking one of Elizabeth Hurley's (right) racy Instagram posts this week. He recently became a father but has yet to acknowledge the birth of his child On Wednesday, British actress Elizabeth Hurley uploaded a racy throwback photo on Instagram of herself in a plunging black top. It took just a few hours for Will, who goes by the username 'the_natural_81', to like Elizabeth's saucy post. Meanwhile, his ex Hayley has been flooding her social media accounts with photos of their newborn daughter Daisy. The 25-year-old gave birth earlier this month and is raising Daisy as a single mother. Like what you see? On Wednesday, British actress Elizabeth Hurley uploaded this throwback photo on Instagram of herself in a plunging black top. It took just a few hours for Will, who goes by the username 'the_natural_81', to like Elizabeth's saucy post Congratulations! Meanwhile, his ex Hayley has been sharing photos of their newborn daughter Daisy. The 25-year-old gave birth earlier this month and is raising Daisy as a single mother In July, Hayley shocked Farmer Wants A Wife viewers when she revealed she was 22 weeks pregnant with Will's child, but said they were no longer together. The cancer survivor was originally matched with farmer Matt Trewin on the Channel Seven dating show, but he dumped her shortly before the finale. She went on to briefly date Will and became pregnant with his child, but they split. Single mum: Will doesn't appear to be involved in his daughter's life at the moment Hayley and Will had a short-lived romance after the FWAW finale was filmed in December, and after he'd split from his winner Jaimee. But they ended things around April. Will later released a statement addressing Hayley's pregnancy in which he vowed to be 'the best dad I can be... when the time comes'. Shock news: In July, Hayley (left) shocked Farmer Wants A Wife viewers when she revealed she was 22 weeks pregnant with Will's (right) child, but said they were no longer together Sam Frost has quit Channel Seven's Home and Away ahead of Channel Seven's Covid vaccine mandate. The former Bachelorette star, 32, will film her final scenes on Friday at Sydney's Eveleigh Studios. The actress will then move to Melbourne to be closer to her friends and family. Sam Frost (pictured) has QUIT Home and Away ahead of vaccine mandate and will film her last scenes tomorrow before moving to Melbourne Sam has played Jasmine Delaney on the television drama series since 2017. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment. It comes after Sam recently called restrictions on the unvaccinated 'segregation' after revealing she was unvaccinated. In an emotional video posted to Instagram in October, Sam said: 'I was really hesitant about doing a video or even speaking up about this sort of thing, but I feel like it's getting to a point now in the world where there's a lot of segregation.' 'There's a lot of harsh judgement and opinions being thrown around a lot and it's taking its toll on my mental health for sure, and I know people around me are struggling - particularly if they're on the side of they don't want to get vaccinated, for whatever reason.' Final scenes: The former Bachelorette star, 32, will film her final scenes on Friday at Sydney's Eveleigh Studios Relocating: The actress will then move to Melbourne to be closer to her friends and family 'There are lots of different reasons why people are not getting vaccinated and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns, they might have family history, it could be religious reasons.' Sam then said she hadn't been vaccinated, but claimed she had spoken to her medical doctor as well as a psychologist about her decision. She added tearfully: 'It's a really hard time to be in society right now and you feel like you are less of a human and you feel like people judge you. Criticism: It comes after Sam recently sparked outrage by calling Covid-19 rules 'segregation' and revealing she was unvaccinated 'And you're too scared to talk about your opinion or your feelings and part of you wants to go, "Well it's none of your damn business why I'm not! And there's good reasons why I'm not and I don't want you to judge me".' She explained it was important for the unvaccinated to look after their mental health, especially as freedoms return for fully vaccinated Australians. After facing widespread criticism for her video, Sam deactivated her main Instagram account and blocked all comments on the account for her mental health charity Believe By Sam Frost. She also split from boyfriend Jay Bruno amid claims her controversial vaccine stance 'drove a wedge' between the couple. Backlash: After facing widespread criticism for her video, Sam deactivated her main Instagram account and blocked all comments on the account for her mental health charity Believe By Sam Frost. Pictured Sam and co-star Lynne McGranger Channel Seven later announced a Covid vaccine mandate across all its shows. Director of Production at Seven West Media, Andrew Backwell, sent an email to staff informing them the network 'will only engage fully vaccinated presenters, cast and crew'. Staff at Seven Productions, which includes Home and Away, will need to be double vaccinated from January 10 to continue work. A Seven spokesperson said: 'To provide the safest possible work environment for cast, crew and presenters, Seven Productions have made the decision to only engage those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, taking effect in January next year. 'Seven strongly encourages vaccination to protect our people, their colleagues and their families.' Mandate: Channel Seven later announced a Covid vaccine mandate across all its shows. Director of Production at Seven West Media, Andrew Backwell, sent an email to staff informing them the network 'will only engage fully vaccinated presenters, cast and crew' Earlier this week, Sam announced her new book, Believe, is due out on March 30. 'I'm very excited to announce, I wrote a book!!!!!!' she captioned a photo of herself holding a copy. 'I teamed up with my beautiful sister Kristine, and @hachetteaus to create BELIEVE - it's all about mental health from my own personal experience. 'It's raw, honest and real. I don't pretend to have all the answers, I'm still working it out myself.' Sam then went on to speak about her own struggle with mental health, revealing it's still something she deals with. 'I know what it feels like to lose all hope, to be surrounded by darkness... not knowing how I can possibly get through another day,' she continued. 'I've lived it, and I have got through it... (and tumbled backwards many, many times).' She concluded: 'This is my story. One I feel very proud to share. It's about finding strength, courage, resilience and hope while learning life's big lessons along the way. She threw her support behind the baby supplies charity Baby2Baby at the organization's holiday party over the weekend. But it was back to business on Wednesday for Jessica Alba when she was spotted taking care of errands in Los Angeles. The 40-year-old L.A.'s Finest star look casual and comfortable in a loose-fitting crimson sweater as she grabbed a cup of coffee. No fuss: Jessica Alba, 40, looked totally at ease in a comfortable ensemble as she took care of errands in Los Angeles on Wednesday Jessica contrasted the sweater, which was covered in light dots, with a high-waisted, loose-fitting set of jeans. She rocked a cool pair of brown leather boots and accessorized with both a thick black handbag and a large backpack that she slung over one shoulder. The actress and entrepreneur wore her brunette tresses swept back in a bob and decorated with a red-and-blue plaid headband. She completed her casual look with a silver chain around her neck and a white cloth mask decorated with colorful cacti illustrations. Woman in red: Jessica stayed warm in a crimson sweater covered in light-colored dots, and she paired it with a high-waisted, loose-fitting set of jeans Rugged: She rocked a cool pair of brown leather boots and accessorized with both a thick black handbag and a large backpack that she slung over one shoulder The actress appeared to be out on her own without her husband Cash Warren or their three children: Honor, 13, Haven, 10, and Hayes, three. The whole family was seen out together earlier in December as they went hunting for the perfect Christmas tree in West Hollywood. Jessica seemed to be a fan of her relaxed-fit jeans, as she wore a similar pair for the Baby2Baby holiday party in Inglewood, California, along with what appeared to be the same brown boots. Short hair, don't care: The actress and entrepreneur wore her brunette tresses swept back in a bob and decorated with a red-and-blue plaid headband Round two: Jessica seemed to be a fan of her relaxed-fit jeans, as she wore a similar pair for the Baby2Baby holiday party in Inglewood, California, along with what appeared to be the same brown boots She was joined at the event by Chrissy Teigen and her husband John Legend, along with Eiza Gonzalez, Vanessa Bryant and the comedian Ali Wong. The party doubled as a charity event to help supply children in need with essential supplies. According to Baby2Baby's Instagram account, the charity provided 'warm jackets, healthy snacks, blankets, hygiene items, diapers and more plus the special toys and holiday experience they deserve' for children who had been negatively impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Talk show host Stephen Colbert has roasted German-Australian actor Ingo Rademacher for refusing to get the Covid vaccine. The popular Late Show host singled out Rademacher after he sued US TV network ABC for firing him from General Hospital for failing to comply with the broadcasting company's vaccine mandate. Colbert, 57, pulled no punches when he began his grilling of Ingo on his show, starting off by joking about the actor's unique name - calling it a 'random collection of consonants'. Roasted: American talk show host Stephen Colbert has grilled Australian actor Ingo Rademacher (pictured) for refusing to comply with the Covid vaccine mandate on the General Hospital set 'Sorry, buddy, but you have to follow the medical advice - you're on General Hospital, not General Stuff I Read On Facebook,' Stephen quipped. After touching on Ingo's 25-year role as Jasper Jacks on General Hospital, Colbert intimated a cliche plotline written into daytime soaps, where he pretended that it was Ingo's evil 'twin brother' actually suing ABC. 'Now, a lot of people say Ingo Rademacher is being ridiculous. Unless, that's not Ingo Rademacher! It's Ingo Rademacher's twin brother Vigo Rademacher, who just woke up from a coma.' Pulling no punches: The Late Show host began joking about Rademacher's unique name before addressing him on his show and stating, 'Sorry, buddy, but you have to follow the medical advice - you're on General Hospital, not General Stuff I Read On Facebook' Career: Ingo is suing ABC after he was fired from General Hospital for refusing to comply with an on-set vaccination mandate. The actor had played Jasper Jacks on the ABC daytime soap for 25 years - moving to Los Angeles from Australia shortly before he was cast Two different cameras dramatically zoomed in on the talk show host's face to mimic shots used on soap operas when a twist in a story is playing out on screen. 'After being pushed down a flight of stairs by...the wealthy heiress Lady Zanzibar, who is secretly his long lost sister, Sandra Gilbertson Gilbertson, who is also his....lover. Which he doesn't remember because he has amnesia!' 'Or maybe, in just one final twist, none of that is true and Ingo Rademacher is in reality just a stupid dingus,' Stephen joking added. Rademacher is suing ABC after he was fired from General Hospital in November for refusing to comply with an on-set vaccination mandate. 'It's Ingo Rademacher's twin brother Vigo Rademacher!': Colbert intimated a cliche plotline written into daytime soaps, where he pretended that it was Ingo's evil 'twin brother' actually suing ABC. Two different cameras dramatically zoom in on the talk-show host's face to mimic shots used on soap operas when a twist is playing out The actor had played Jasper Jacks on the ABC daytime soap for 25 years - moving to Los Angeles from Australia shortly before he was cast in the role. Rademacher filed a lawsuit on Monday, claiming he had previously applied for religious exemption from getting the Covid vaccine, after fellow cast member Steve Burton tested positive for COVID in August. However, his application along with Burton's, were denied by ABC. The pair had previously been outspoken opponents of the vaccine mandate. Roxy Jacenko shared video of the emotional moment her children were reunited with their father, Oliver Curtis, in Tasmania on Thursday. In a post on Instagram, the 41-year-old celebrity publicist shared video of daughter Pixie, 10, and son Hunter, seven, running into their dad's arms. As they navigated the busy airport, Roxy turned the camera onto Pixie, who appeared tentative but excited. Back together: Roxy Jacenko shared video of the emotional moment her children, Pixie and Hunter, were reunited with their father, Oliver Curtis, in Tasmania on Thursday After rounding the corner, both Pixie and Hunter spotted their dad, and proceeded to run into Oliver's outspread arms. Pixie wrapped her arms around her father's waist, while Hunter leapt into one of his arms, with Oliver expertly lifting him up into the air. 'Excitement levels at an all time high,' Roxy captioned the heartfelt post. Reunited and it feels so good: In a post on Instagram, the 41-year-old celebrity publicist shared video of daughter Pixie, 10, and son Hunter, seven, running into their dad Oliver Curtis' arms Oliver appeared to have just come from work, with the former investment banker wearing a Hi-Vis shirt to pick up his family from the airport. Meanwhile, Pixie shared a family selfie with her mum and brother on her respective Instagram page on Thursday. The photo showed Roxy and her two children huddled together at the airport ahead of their flight to Tasmania. Daddy's girl: As they navigated the busy airport, Roxy turned the camera onto Pixie, who appeared tentative but excited 'Tasmania see you very soon,' she captioned the sweet photo. Earlier this week, it was revealed Oliver was preparing to take bitcoin mining business Firmus Grid to the ASX for 2022, five years after he was jailed for insider trading. The father-of-two is not permitted to run or serve as a director of a business until June 2022 as part of a court-ordered mandate. On the run: After rounding the corner, both Pixie and Hunter spotted their dad, and proceeded to run into Oliver's outspread arms He serves as the company's chief operating officer while his father Nick - who made his fortune in mining selling rare minerals - is chairman. The Tasmania-based bitcoin mining operation is seeking to raise $55 million to land on the ASX market next year, the Australian Financial Review reported. In addition to the bitcoin mining, Firmus operates a renewables-powered cloud service and 'innovative data centre company'. Sofia Vergara stepped out to do some Christmas shopping while staying warm and stylish simultaneously. The 49-year-old Colombian beauty was spotted stepping into Saks 5th Avenue in Beverly Hills, California, on Wednesday afternoon. The Modern Family star also stayed safe and masked up as the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus continues spreading throughout Los Angeles. Staying warm: Sofia Vergara stepped out to do some Christmas shopping while staying warm and stylish simultaneously The actress was spotted in a stylish black sweater with glittering dove designs and a makeshift sun in the center, while seen heading into the store. She stayed safe with a white face mask covering her mouth and nose with a stylish black Chanel purse slung over her shoulder. The Hot Pursuit star completed her look with form-fitting blue jeans and thick black combat boots for the shopping outing. Sofia shops: The actress was spotted in a stylish black sweater with glittering dove designs and a makeshift sun in the center, while seen heading into the store The actress made headlines last month, just before Thanksgiving, when she celebrated her sixth wedding anniversary with husband Joe Manganiello. 'Feliz Aniversario mi amor ! 6yrs. To many more! Love u!' Sofia wrote in the caption, adding several heart emojis. The couple announced their engagement on Christmas Day in 2014 after dating for just six months, and they tied the knot on November 21, 2015. Congratulations: Sofia Vergara paid tribute to her husband Joe Manganiello as she celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary Vergara just wrapped up an 11-season run on ABC's Modern Family, and now she's moving into a new TV series entitled Griselda. The actress will be portraying notorious drug trafficker Griselda Blanco, who became known as the Black Widow. She ran one of the most profitable drug cartels in history, whose, 'lethal blend of charm and unsuspecting savagery helped her expertly navigate between family and business,' according to the Netflix description. New series: Vergara just wrapped up an 11-season run on ABC's Modern Family, and now she's moving into a new TV series entitled Griselda 'Griselda Blanco was a larger-than-life character whose ruthless but ingenious tactics allowed her to rule a billion dollar empire years before many of the most notorious male kingpins we know so much about,' Vergara said in a statement. 'We are thrilled to have found the perfect partners in Eric (Newman), Andres (Baiz) and Netflix to help us bring this story of her life to the screen,' she added. Baiz will direct all six episodes of the series and executive produce with Vergara, Newman and Ingrid Escajeda (Justified, Empire) who co-wrote the first episode with Doug Miro. Jeff Garlin is abruptly exiting his popular ABC sitcom series The Goldbergs following an HR investigation into claims of inappropriate 'verbal and physical conduct' on set. The 59-year-old actor came to a mutual agreement with Sony Pictures Television to leave the production immediately, Deadline reported on Wednesday. So far, representatives for Sony have not commented on Garlin's swift departure. According to the publication, Garlin only had a single day of shooting left for the series' ongoing ninth season, which began airing in September. It's unclear if ABC will now renew the series for a tenth season. The standup comedian admitted in a lengthy interview with Vanity Fair earlier this month that he had been investigated multiple times by HR over complaints of inappropriate touching and offensive language, though claimed at the time that he had not been fired. He's out: Jeff Garlin, 59, has mutually decided with Sony to leave ABC's comedy The Goldbergs immediately following several HR investigations, Deadline reported Wednesday; seen November 26 in Burbank According to The Hollywood Reporter, a producer on the The Goldbergs informed the cast and crew on set Wednesday that Garlin wouldn't be returning after reaching an agreement with the studio. Sources claimed that he wasn't expected to stick with the series if it was renewed, and it's currently unknown how the show will address his absence. Following Garlin's interview with Vanity Fair, in which he defended himself against complaints from on set, his coworkers spoke with Deadline anonymously. The described conditions on set as being relatively professional and cordial, though the atmosphere allegedly turned sour when he was on set to film. 'He is extremely verbally and emotionally abusive,' one employee claimed. One source alleged that a camera assistant complained to her department head about Garlin's use on set of the word 'vagina,' which he admitted to using in his interview. After he learned of the complaint, Garlin reportedly put his hands around the camera assistant's face and repeatedly said the word to her. He also allegedly made a variety of off-color sex jokes that offended some crew members. The comedian reportedly had a tendency to refer to some female crew members by nicknames, some of which they found offensive. Elsewhere in his Vanity Fair interview, Garlin defended himself after he was accused of having a 'physical and verbal' incident with a stand-in. Speaking out: Following a defensive interview with Vanity Fair, his coworkers anonymously claimed that he was 'extremely verbally and emotionally abusive' on set; seen with Wendi McLendon-Covey on The Goldbergs Rude behavior: Garlin allegedly told a female stand-in to 'get the f*** out of my way' after filming a scene and repeated the comment to her husband, who is also a stand-in; still from The Goldbergs A person who claimed to have witnessed the incident said that he screamed at a female stand-in, 'Why are you always in my way? Get the f*** out of my way,' as she walked in front of him down a ramp. He allegedly then told her husband, also a stand-in, to 'tell your wife to get the f*** out of my way.' Sources described this incident as 'the straw that broke the camels back,' and it allegedly led to new HR complaints. 'Not just would he intimated that woman, he would then turn around and belittle and embarrass her husband,' the eyewitness said. 'This is just the grossest abuse of power.' Sources contended that during the few times when Garlin was on set after the incident, his offensive behaviors continued and he even mocked the HR investigations. Jeff Garlin is speaking out and denying claims that he behaved inappropriately on the set of his ABC comedy series The Goldbergs. The 59-year-old standup comedian, who has been part of the main cast since the series premiered in 2019, claimed that he was still part of the series in a lengthy interview with Vanity Fair published Friday. The actor also downplayed allegations that he told inappropriate language on set and defended himself as a 'person who hugs' after sources reportedly complained about being touched by him. Pleading his case: Garlin previously denied claims he had 'engaged in a pattern of verbal and physical conduct on set that made people uncomfortable' in an interview with Vanity Fair; seen in 2018 in Burbank, Calif. Garlin, who plays the father on the family sitcom, was said to have 'engaged in a pattern of verbal and physical conduct on set that made people uncomfortable' from three people who formerly worked on the show. One of the sources noted that they weren't personally made uncomfortable by his behavior, though they other people thought it was 'demeaning or unprofessional.' The insiders claimed that some people on set were made uncomfortable by the actor touching or hugging them, though it's unclear if any of the offended parties told him that they were uncomfortable. 'He got away with it because he would call himself out for it saying he was a big teddy bear, saying things like, "Oh you know me, just a big bowl of mush, Im a hugger. I just love you,"' one source claimed. In his interview, Garlin made it clear that he was still working on the series. 'No, I was not fired from The Goldbergs. I have not been fired from The Goldbergs,' he said. In a statement sent to People, a spokesperson for Sony Pictures Television wrote: 'The well-being of our cast and crew is of utmost importance to us. This is an employment matter and it is being addressed by HR and production.' Fighting back: Garlin stressed that he hadn't been fired from ABC's The Goldbergs and claimed that one complaint about him from a stand-in was over a joke 'that was completely missed'; still from The Goldbergs After he was asked about an incident with a stand-in that was described as both 'physical and verbal,' Garlin denied that there was any physical component to the altercation. 'And the verbal part was a joke that was completely missed,' he continued, adding that he personally like the man and his wife, who were unnamed. 'If someone misses a joke, thats unfortunate to me. I dont like it,' he said, though he refused to disclose what the joke was, only calling it 'silly' and saying it was 'misconstrued.' The comedian, who is currently on a stand-up tour to aid comedy clubs harmed by the coronavirus pandemic, denied that he had ever 'sent a text to a Goldbergs colleague saying that they should go to the next table-read wearing only panties.' 'I didn't write those words. And I'd like to see the text and who I sent it to,' he replied. 'But everything that I write like that is about joking. I am respectful of women and women's bodies. And I don't make jokes about that, because I don't find it funny.' Garlin claimed there was 'no story' behind the allegations, and suggested it was all a misunderstanding over his attempts to bolster his humor. 'My opinion is, I have my process about how Im funny, in terms of the scene and what I have to do. [Sony] feels that it makes for a quote unsafe workspace,' he said. 'I am always a kind and thoughtful person. I make mistakes, sure. But my comedy is about easing peoples pain,' he continued. 'Why would I ever want to cause pain in anybody for a laugh? Thats bullying. Thats just uncalled for.' Garlin continued, saying that 'HR has come to me three years in a row for my behavior on set.' He didn't say what set off the investigations but claimed they were over 'silly' matters. 'If I said something silly and offensive, and Im working at an insurance company, I think its a different situation,' the comic argued. 'If I, as the star of the show, demanded a gun range and on set, and I was firing guns every day and I was a little bit loose to me, thats an unsafe work atmosphere,' he continued. 'If I threatened people, thats an unsafe work atmosphere. Touchy feely: Garlin admitted he's a 'person who hugs for sure' after he was confronted with complaints, but said he wished offended people would have told him or a producer before HR; seen in 2019 in NYC with Netflix COO Ted Sarandos 'None of that goes on ever with me. Thats not who I am,' he said, adding that there was 'no big story' unless it was framed around 'political correctness.' Garlin then denied any kind of physical misconduct and and said that anyone complaining about his verbal conduct on set 'has it out for' him. As for the question of unwanted hugs, the Curb Your Enthusiasm star said people on set who never want to be hugged by him tell him that. 'I am a person who hugs for sure. And its quick hugs, but I didnt realize that anyone was feeling so if you want to write that story, thats a true story,' he said. 'It puts the onus on them to say something, and I would gladly respect anyone who said, "Please dont hug me. I dont feel comfortable."' However, he said that 'HR has never said a word to me about hugs.' Garlin did agree that hugging that made someone uncomfortable would be 'wrong.' In response to a question about Garlin allegedly 'saying things on set that make people feel uncomfortable and demeaned,' he claimed it was just his 'silliness on set' and said he thought it was acceptable behavior in the workplace, while again saying he wished the offended parties had told him or one of the producers about their concerns before bringing the matter up with HR. Although he again reiterated that he had not been fired, he indicated that negotiations were ongoing about his future with the series. 'Were trying to come to a place where we come to an agreement,' he said. 'Either I can behave the way [they want] or not. Well see, but Im not being fired and Ive not been fired.' He also said he would 'not be doing any of my silly stuff or anything, out of respect,' when he returned to work. Garlin wound down the interview by claiming he almost hadn't returned for the ninth season because he was 'bored' by filming on it, and he suggested the series might not even be renewed for a tenth season. Noella Bergener bawled after being served with divorce papers on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo. The 36-year-old show newcomer called Shannon Beador, 57, crying and told her the news. Noella said the documents were all in Spanish, but fortunately her nanny was able to translate. Noella said she didn't know where her husband was. 'His wardrobe is here, his stuff is here, his cars are here, his life is here,' said Noella. 'He shut off the credit cards.' Divorce papers: Noella Bergener bawled after being served with divorce papers on Wednesday's episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo Shock split: Noelle was blindsided when her husband James Bergener filed divorce papers. They married last year in June 2020 and share a two-year-old son, James Bergener II, together. She has an older daughter from a previous relationship Kinky: During the season opener of RHOC, Noella boasted about her wild private life and even showed off the couple's 'sex dungeon' In a confessional, Noella said that she was in shock when she learned about her husband's tax debts. She said they fought when she told him they were going to sell a property in Puerto Rico that they recently purchased to satisfy the debt. 'Initially it was one lien for $4 million dollars,' she said. 'Ten days later I found out that it was two liens and closer to $6 million dollars.' After being served with the papers that were in Spanish, Noella said, 'I'm lost. I'm completely lost. I don't know what to do.' She said it 'was a bad dream.' Feeling lost: After being served with the papers that were in Spanish, Noella said, 'I'm lost. I'm completely lost. I don't know what to do' Noella told Shannon over FaceTime that she thought her husband made an error, but never believed it would mean the end of her marriage and that she would be a single mom. 'I want my husband back,' she cried. 'I want him to tell me what the hell is going on.' Shannon was shocked. Noella said she needed a breath and also revealed that her son was diagnosed with autism in May and that her mother was hospitalized in June. Video call: Noella told Shannon over FaceTime that she thought her husband made an error, but never believed it would mean the end of her marriage and that she would be a single mom 'My heart is breaking for you,' said Shannon. The episode called Gone Guy started with Shannon going to Dr. Jen Armstrong's office to see about dissolving some of the fillers in her face. Noella accompanied her. Shannon said in a confessional that after she got six vials of filler in her face that she couldn't recognize herself. Heart breaking: 'My heart is breaking for you,' said Shannon When the needles started going into Shannon's face, Noella tried to put her at ease. She shared with her how she had her share of needles when she went through IVF. Noella said she miscarried once and then had a surrogate carry her son. 'It's been a journey,' said Noella. 'At least we have him and he is perfect and yummy and everything's fabulous.' She added that autism has been a 'curveball that we didn't anticipate.' Face work: When the needles started going into Shannon's face, Noella tried to put her at ease In a confessional, Noella shared that her son James Jr. was diagnosed with autism. She said she was very proud of him. Noella also then shared that she had a house in Puerto Rico that she couldn't wait to get rid of. She told Shannon it was a big stressor for her marriage. Shannon said in a confessional that after the infidelities in her marriage that she had a 'day of truth' where she asked all her questions. She said she didn't like all the answers and worried for Noella going forward. Shannon also thanked Noella for staying with her in the kitchen during the fight at Heather Dubrow's house. Shannon said she planned to have several lunches to talk to the women and specifically Nicole James about what happened. Autistic son: In a confessional, Noella shared that her son James Jr. was diagnosed with autism At Heather's party, it was revealed that Nicole had sued Heather's husband over her boob job but later dropped the suit. She said she had been pressured into filing the lawsuit and that Terry did nothing wrong and because of that never informed Heather. Noella also opened up about her marriage problems to Gina Kirschenheiter, 37, when they went to try cryotherapy. Gina asked her about the recent headline regarding the tax debt. Noella said she wanted to talk about it. Gina asked if he was in financial trouble. Noella said there was an asset to sell that would cover all the debts but that her husband was fighting her on that. Noella started crying and said her husband was her best friend. 'I want to get it through to him that I'm not fighting against you but let's come up with a plan together,' she said. 'Right now we are not in a good space.' Opening up: Noella also opened up about her marriage problems to Gina Kirschenheiter, 37, when they went to try cryotherapy Gina told her she would be okay and the two hugged. The two then undressed and got into the Cryo Haus chamber. When she got out and was sipping champagne, Noella shared with Gina that she fell asleep last night in her sex dungeon. 'For sex, we have a dungeon,' she said. Noella told her it was a beautiful little room with a king bed, satin sheets and with mirrors on the ceiling. Sex dungeon: When she got out and was sipping champagne, Noella shared with Gina that she fell asleep last night in her sex dungeon 'Oh my god,' said Gina. At her apartment, Gina shared with her boyfriend Travis and she joked that maybe she thought that Noella was hitting on her at Heather's party. She told him that she liked that they could joke around then brought the idea of a sneaky proposal. Travis said they had plenty of time. Gina said in a confessional that she didn't like being a girlfriend at this stage of her life. She said she was a little embarrassed to introduce him as her boyfriend when she was a grown woman with three kids. Going strong: At her apartment, Gina shared with her boyfriend Travis and hinted about a getting a proposal from him Gina told Travis that she was still really upset at what happened at Heather's party with Shannon. Travis told her that it seemed that Heather understood her more than Shannon. Gina said in a confessional that Shannon was consumed with saving face and making herself look good. Heather Dubrow, 52, went to visit her husband Terry, 63, at work. She told him that Nicole called her on her way over to his office and that she was sweet and apologetic that she ruined her party. Heather said that it wasn't her fault. Saving face: Gina said in a confessional that Shannon was consumed with saving face and making herself look good Heather told Terry that she didn't know what Shannon's goal was at the party and then shared with him that she texted her. 'This is going to be good,' said Terry. In the text, Shannon said 'I feel badly about the way things ended between us the other night. I would like to continue the conversation if you are open to it.' Work visit: Heather Dubrow, 52, went to visit her husband Terry, 63, at work Heather told him that she wrote this back 'Shannon I'm surprised I'm just hearing from you now, but I don't care to adjudicate your behavior over the past few weeks via text nor do I have time in my schedule to listen to more of your rhetoric.' The text continued and said 'The point isn't so much what you said, since there's nothing to hide, it's that you would pass on information that could be twisted and could have hurt my husband, his career, and thereby our family.' She added: 'Oh, and please spare me your supposed 'intentions.' It's your actions that matter - and they are indefensible and inexcusable. I sincerely hope you have reached out to Nicole for humiliating and spreading PRIVATE information from 20 years ago that was none of your business. Heather.' Heather said Shannon wrote her back and said that she was sorry she felt that way but her apology was genuine. Long text: 'This is going to be good,' said Terry before Heather read her long text to Shannon 'There was no apology in her text,' Heather said to Terry. She said she didn't see how she could move forward with Shannon without her taking accountability. Later, Gina called Shannon and said it would be good for them to sit down and talk after Heather's party. Shannon agreed. Catching up: Later, Gina called Shannon and said it would be good for them to sit down and talk after Heather's party Emily Simpson, 45, had a bbq with her family at her house. Emily said after Shane suffered though battling COVID that she understood why people had faith. Their daughter was going to be baptised in the Mormon Church and she said she was now in favor of it. Noella met Nicole and Shannon for lunch. Shannon arrived late. She apologized to Nicole for what happened. 'I don't think it is ever the time or place to discuss somebody's medical history,' Nicole said. 'This wasn't even an issue then. It was over before it started.' Party drama: 'I don't think it is ever the time or place to discuss somebody's medical history,' Nicole said. 'This wasn't even an issue then. It was over before it started' Nicole said she felt attacked at the party by Emily when she asked her if she sued Terry over a messed up boob job. Shannon told her she trusted two people and shared the information with them, but that she would take full responsibility for what happened. Nicole told her that she forgave her. Shannon said she reached out to Heather to talk to her but that she had no interest. At Jen's house, her husband Ryne picked up her mother Maggie and her daughter Cece at the airport. Her mother came for a visit for them to spend time together. Family time: At Jen's house, her husband Ryne picked up her mother Maggie and her daughter Cece at the airport Jen said in a confessional that her mother was very strict with her growing up but that now that she was grandmother she was more relaxed. Jen told her mother she had been thinking recently about her father and wondered if he would be proud of her. In a confessional, Jen shared that her father Robert died the day before she took the test to get into medical school. She said her father was riding his bike when a motorcyclist going the wrong way hit him. She said he hit his head and got a concussion. She said her father was the glue that held her family together. She said her mother was really depressed after his death. Later, Shannon then met Gina to talk about what happened at Heather's party. Gina shared that Noella called and told her that her husband filed for divorce. They called Noella and asked her to join them for drinks. Late father: In a confessional, Jen shared that her father Robert died the day before she took the test to get into medical school Gina told Shannon that she didn't want to fight with her. Shannon said she wanted to believe that they were friends. Gina said she told Heather about Nicole because she had been humiliated after she learned her husband had an affair and that everyone else seemed to know about it. Gina said Shannon just seemed to be focused on that she was right. Gina then said that at the end of the day that she really cared about her. The two agreed to put their disagreements to bed. Noella showed up to join them. She told them that she was happy to see them. She told them that the shutting off of their credit cards was a 'big no-no.' Catching up: Noella showed up to join Gina and Shannon In a confessional, Noella said that she didn't have a bank account with savings or access to any other line of credit. She said she didn't understand why this happened. Noella told them that they fought because she wanted to sell a house in Puerto Rico that they owned for seven months. She said her husband was Mormon from Utah and wasn't even from Puerto Rico so she couldn't understand why this was happening. 'It's a weird time in my life,' said Noella. 'To divorce!' The Real Housewives Of Orange County will return next Wednesday on Bravo. Advertisement Sex And The City's eagerly-anticipated reboot And Just Like That... returned to screens on Thursday, with fans seeing the aftermath of Mr Big's (Chris Noth) shock death in the opening episodes. Episode three of the series, entitled When in Rome, is just as dramatic, as it follows widow Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) as she struggles to cope after Big's heart attack, while she's also forced to confront one of his exes in a bid to find out more about her late husband's dealings. The show begins with grieving Carrie back at work recording her woke sex podcast with Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez) as she admits it's been a 'rough few weeks' but comforted by knowing she was 'never happier' than in her final weeks with Big. And Just Like That... Episode Three: Grieving Carrie was dealt yet another blow as Mr Big's secrets and lies were revealed with a shock face from the past returning to confront her With no time to sit and wallow, the columnist is next seen meeting up with Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) as she heads to Big's will reading alongside his longtime assistant Gloria (Brenda Vaccaro). The emotional situation soon turns tense, however, as it transpires that Big has left his ex-wife Natasha Naginsky 1 million in his will. Big famously shocked SATC fans in season two when it was revealed he was engaged to 26-year-old Natasha (Bridget Moynahan) having known her for just five months. Carrie and Big then embarked on a brief affair during his marriage, resulting in a tense showdown between the love rivals when she learnt of the infidelity. With a shocked Carrie struggling to process the news, the executor of the estate muses that in his experience money is usually used to put an end to any 'unfinished business', leaving the ladies reeling. Talk of the scandal continues as Carrie and Miranda meet Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) and Stanford Blatch - played by the late Willie Garson - for lunch. When in Rome: The episode follows widow Carrie Bradshaw ( Sarah Jessica Parker ) as she struggles to cope after Big's heart attack, while she's also forced to confront one of his exes in a bid to find out more about her late husband's dealings Still reeling from the news, Carrie exclaims, 'I'm just one of the wives Big was taking care of... Why is she in there at all?' while Miranda muses, 'he did destroy her life'. As Carrie continues to question why Big kept the plan a secret, Miranda is seen desperately searching for the wine she's ordered, adding yet more fuel to the claims she has an alcohol problem in the reboot. A disparaged Carrie then reasons: 'I can't believe it. Big is gone, and Natasha is back.' Shock: It transpires that Big has left his ex-wife Natasha Naginsky 1 million in his will, leading to a shock return to the series by Bridget Moynahan Back in her New York apartment, Carrie desperately tries to get into Big's laptop while searching for clues to why he made the decision, while across town Charlotte is reading stories to Rose (Alexa Swinton), who admits she's uncomfortable being called a girl. Rose, who is 12 in the reboot, admits 'I don't feel like a girl', with a baffled Charlotte trying to diffuse the situation by announcing 'I sometimes don't feel like a girl too!' The following morning, Charlotte meets with old friend and Stanford's husband, Anthony Marentino (Mario Cantone) to discuss Rose's confession, with Anthony noting he should just 'ignore it' and move on, dismissing the notion as child-like fantasy. Surrounded by friends: Talk of the scandal continues as Carrie and Miranda meet Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) and Stanford Blatch - played by the late Willie Garson - for lunch Amid the drama over Rose's gender identity, Carrie is still attempting to piece together why Big left money to Natasha, and after a fruitless rummage through his belongings, takes it upon herself to email Natasha directly. Explaining her decision to Miranda, Carrie reveals: 'It wasn't easy... the sixth stage of grief is stalking!' expressing her anger that she is yet to respond, she adds: 'I can't sleep in this apartment anymore. It's haunted. Him, her', before tracking Natasha down on Instagram to DM her - only to be immediately blocked in response. With no other way of contacting Natasha, Carrie enlists Miranda and Charlotte to hide out and stalk Natasha outside her office in order to confront her and find out if she was still in touch, or worse, having an affair with Big. As Charlotte and Miranda wait across the street for Carrie, it transpires that Miranda is hoarding mini bottles of alcohol in her purse, and also that she's been having marriage troubles with Steve (David Eigenberg), admitting they haven't slept together in years. Searching for answers: Back in her New York apartment, Carrie desperately tries to get into Big's laptop and mobile while searching for clues to why he made the decision There's no time to talk further on her issues, however, as Carrie comes storming in having been blown off yet again by Natasha at her office before accidentally locking eyes with Natasha through her office window and being forced to run away. The following morning, Carrie is no closer to calming down and admits to Miranda: 'I'm really mad at Big. After all these years, this what I'm left with. He ruined our happy-sad ending.' Heading on a walk to clear her head, Carrie then stops in at a coffee shop to use the restroom, only to accidentally barge in on Natasha using the toilet. The showdown then ensues with a scathing Natasha saying: 'At a coffee shop? At my job? Where are you going to hunt me down next Carrie? What the f**k do you want from me?' Unexpected: Charlotte's daughter Rose admits she's uncomfortable being called a girl, so Charlotte meets with old friend and Stanford's husband, Anthony Marentino to discuss Rose's confession As Carrie pleads with Natasha to sit down and talk, a formerly furious Natasha reluctantly takes a seat and reveals she now has two children and also doesn't want the money from Big's will, revealing she hasn't spoken to her ex-husband since the divorce. Natasha admits she will never understand why Big married her when he was still in love with Carrie, with Carrie speculating that it may have been his way of apologising for the affair. With Carrie finally having had the closure she needed, she takes the girls out to watch boss Che's standup routine, in which the comedian discusses her struggle with her gender identity as well as her sexuality - which seems to strike a chord with Miranda. What could it be: With no other way of contacting Natasha, Carrie enlists Miranda and Charlotte to hide out and stalk Natasha outside her office in order to confront her and find out if she was still in touch, or worse, having an affair with Big After the show she hangs around to speak to Che before sharing a marihuana joint with her in a particularly intimate moment. Meanwhile, in their taxi home, Charlotte admits to Carrie that she's concerned about Miranda's drinking and believes she has a problem, but Carrie is quick to dismiss her. The episode ends with Carrie deciding to return to her old rent-controlled brownstone apartment instead of the suite she shared with Big, with the closing lines: 'And just like that... I walked myself... home.' Problematic: As Charlotte and Miranda wait across the street for Carrie, it transpires that Miranda is hoarding mini bottles of alcohol in her purse, and also that she's been having troubles with Steve, admitting they haven't slept together in years. And Just Like That... comes 23 years after the original TV series debuted - and 11 years since the second movie, with Sarah, Cynthia and Kristin all returning without Kim Cattrall's Samantha Jones. Filming started in New York City back in June, with production wrapping just weeks ago. Photos taken from the Paris set caused quite the uproar among fans, as Carrie was spotted kissing a new character, played by Jon Tenney. Fans began wildly speculating about the marital status of Carrie and her long-time on-and-off lover Mr. Big (Chris Noth), who finally tied the knot at the end of the first Sex and the City movie. Awkward: Heading on a walk to clear her head, Carrie then stops in at a coffee shop to use the restroom, only to accidentally barge in on Natasha using the toilet The trailers released for the new 10-episode series seem to indicate that they're still quite the happy couple, though given their on-and-off history, it's possible they could split at some time in the series. Still, while promoting the show night on The Late Show with Steven Colbert recently, Cynthia and Kristin essentially confirmed that they filmed 'fake scenes' to throw rabid fans off. 'Yes, definitely!' Kristin exclaimed, while Cynthia shook her head with a wry smile and said, 'Absolutely not.' Intimate: Carrie takes the girls out to watch boss Che's standup routine, where Miranda shares a marihuana joint with her in a particularly intimate moment Colbert pointed at Kristin and said, 'I believe you,' and when Colbert asked again, Cynthia shrugged and conceded, 'It might be true.' They didn't mention any specific scenes, so it's unclear if the Paris kissing scene with Jon Tenney was 'fake' or not. Other returning stars include Evan Handler (Harry Goldblatt), David Eigenberg (Steve Brady), and the late Willie Garson, who filmed three episodes as Carrie's longtime friend Stanford Blatch, before passing away from pancreatic cancer in September at age 57. And Just Like That... was created by Michael Patrick King, based on the books by Candace Bushnell. She's back: The episode ends with Carrie deciding to return to her old rent-controlled brownstone apartment instead of the suite she shared with Big, with the closing lines: 'And just like that... I walked myself... home' Episode three comes after fans 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 , 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's character lay 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. 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.' And Just Like That... Episode Four airs in the US on HBO Max on Thursday at 12:01 a.m. PT/3:01 a.m. ET. In the UK, the show airs on NOW TV at 8am and Sky Comedy at 8am and 9am and 9pm and 10pm They are two of the most well known supermodels of all-time. And Helena Christensen and Cindy Crawford proved that they are ageing like fine wines as they met up together on Thursday evening and took some stunning selfies. Helena, 52, took to her Instagram to gush over her friend, 55, sharing a photo of the two of them embracing. Gorgeous duo: Helena Christensen and Cindy Crawford proved that they are ageing like a fine wine as they met up together on Thursday evening and took some stunning selfies The Danish model wore a black coat, and let her dark tresses cascade over her shoulders as she smiled, finishing her look with eyeliner to make her blue eyes pop. Meanwhile, Cindy wore her caramel locks in bouncy waves and opted to wear a camel coat with a black bag slung across her shoulder, and a smoky eye look. Helena sweetly captioned the snap: 'They dont come any cooler, smarter, sweeter and more beautiful inside out.' Sweet tribute: Helena, 52, took to her Instagram to gush over her friend, 55, sharing a photo of the two of them embracing She also took to her Story to share another snap of the fashionable duo, writing underneath: 'So good to see you again my beautiful friend'. Helena's dazzling modelling career was launched when she won the Miss Universe Denmark title in 1986 and went on to reach staggering heights. She went on to become one of the original 1990s supermodels alongside Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer and Cindy. Stunning: She also took to her Story to share another snap of the fashionable duo, writing underneath: 'So good to see you again my beautiful friend' Since her break into the fashion industry, Helena also has become an accomplished photographer and was a co-founder of Nylon magazine that published from 1999 to 2017. In 2019, the stunning model spoke to the Daily Mail about some of the fitness secrets that have helped her maintain her bombshell figure. 'I think it's important to shake it up and do as many different forms of workout as possible, but also to incorporate nature into them,' she said. Top model: She went on to become one of the original 1990s supermodels alongside Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer and Cindy (Pictured together in 2017) 'Swim in the ocean, swim in rivers, swim in lakes. Hiking, trekking, chopping wood... 'It's the best way of working out, because it doesn't really feel like a workout. It feels like you're alive,' Helena explained. The Copenhagen native is the mum to a 20-year-old son named Mingus, who she shares with Norman Reedus, who she dated between 1998 and 2003. Ashley Roberts put on another fashion parade as she arrived at London's Global Radio Studios on Thursday. The dancer, 40, slipped into a glittering pink sequin and mesh dress which displayed her legs and cleavage as she headed to work. The dress boasted black mesh across the decolletage and a corset-style top and stripes. Leggy: Ashley Roberts put on another fashion parade as she arrived at London's Global Radio Studios on Thursday She slipped on sheer tights and boosted her height with black sandals. She layered up in a black coat and sported sunglasses. Her blonde tresses were styled in soft waves and she wore a radiant palette of make-up. Wow: The dancer, 40, slipped into a glittering pink sequin and mesh dress which displayed her legs and cleavage as she headed to work Busty: The dress boasted black mesh across the decolletage and a corset-style top and stripes It comes after Ashley enjoyed some quality time with her mother Peggy last week after she jetted over from the US for the first time in two years. The pair appeared on the Heart FM breakfast show together, with Ashley saying on the programme: 'Well, guess what I do love. The fact that I've got my mom in the house today. 'All the way from America, this is the first time she's been over in the UK in a couple of years now. Two years!' Strut: She slipped on sheer tights and boosted her height with black sandals Taking the microphone, Peggy added: 'Good morning. Hello!' Ashley also took to Instagram to share some snaps of herself with her mother. Posing in front of a Christmas tree at the Heart FM studios, the pop star could be seen kicking her leg in the air as she hugged her parent. She captioned the image: 'My heart!!' It's only nine days until Christmas. And Amanda Holden was clearly feeling the festive spirit as she slipped into a sexy elf costume as she left her Heart FM show on Friday. The presenter, 50, looked stunning in the red pinafore embroidered with the words 'Elf in charge' on the front, and boasting green pockets and candy cane detailing. Christmas cheer: Amanda Holden was clearly feeling the festive spirit as she slipped into a sexy elf costume as she left her Heart FM show on Friday She layered the dress over a figure-hugging white turtleneck and a pair of Christmas themed green trousers decorated with presents. The Britain's Got Talent star added a green Santa hat on her head, some black lace up boots and a small black purse slung across her chest. Her honey coloured locks were styled straight and left to tumble down her back while she completed her ensemble with a smoky eye look. 'Elf in charge': The presenter, 50, looked stunning in the red pinafore embroidered with the words 'Elf in charge' on the front, and boasting green pockets and candy cane detailing Accessories: The Britain's Got Talent star added a green Santa hat on her head, some black lace up boots and a small black purse slung across her chest Stunning: Her honey coloured locks were styled straight and left to tumble down her back while she completed her ensemble with a smoky eye look Excited: She beamed for the camera as she chatted animatedly on the phone She was joined in the festive fun by her co-host Jamie Theakston, who was dressed in a Santa Claus jacket and black trousers. He sported white trainers for the walk into the studio, but carried more costume appropriate black boots under one arm. Amanda later changed out of her costume and emerged wearing a glittery bronze two piece suit. Ho Ho Ho: She was joined in the festive fun by her co-host Jamie Theakston, who was dressed in a Santa Claus jacket and black trousers Santa Claus is coming to town: He sported white trainers for the walk into the studio, but carried more costume appropriate black boots under one arm The star dazzled in the sparkly blazer and tight fitted trousers which showed off her toned pins. She teamed the ensemble with a black top underneath and a pair of coordinating black strappy heels as she strutted out of Global Studios. She carried a large Harrods bag with her and sported a bright red manicure and matching pedicure. Power suit: Amanda later changed out of her costume and emerged wearing a glittery bronze two piece suit Sparkling: The star dazzled in the sparkly blazer and tight fitted trousers which showed off her toned pins Matching: She teamed the ensemble with a black top underneath and a pair of coordinating black strappy heels as she strutted out of Global Studios It comes as Amanda recently took to social media to share a gushing tribute to her 'fit' husband Chris Hughes as they celebrated 20 years together on Sunday. The star posted a series of cute images of the loved-up pair as she shared a heartfelt message to her 1.8M followers. She couldn't resist going in for a kiss as she posted the adorable selfie, captioning the image: 'Happy anniversary darling 20 together 13 married.' Amanda beamed as she shared a series of cute snaps of them both enjoying an afternoon together. Jess Wright has paid tribute to her grandmother Nanny Pat as she marked the sixth anniversary of her death on Thursday. The former TOWIE star, 36, shared an edited photo of herself cradling her baby bump along with Nanny Pat leaning in to kiss it. In a touching post, Jess said she wished Pat, who died in 2015 aged 80, was able to meet her baby, who is due in spring 2022. Emotional: Jess Wright has paid tribute to her grandmother Nanny Pat as she marked the sixth anniversary of her death on Thursday. Jess wrote: 'Our last chat together will always remain in my heart you were truly the best & taken too soon Nan. 'I wish you could meet my baby so much. Love you always my angel, 6 years today' Jess wrote: 'Our last chat together will always remain in my heart you were truly the best & taken too soon Nan. 'I wish you could meet my baby so much. Love you always my angel, 6 years today.' Jess was inundated with kind words from her fellow TOWIE stars along with sister Natalya who wrote: 'Made me tearful'. Amy Childs commented: 'Beautiful nanny pat,' while Chloe Sims added a praying emoji. Reaction: Jess was inundated with kind words from her fellow TOWIE stars along with sister Natalya who wrote: 'Made me tearful' Jess announced she was expecting her first child with husband William Lee-Kemp late last month. Pat - offically Patricia Booker - was born in 1935, and initially turned down the chance of appearing on TOWIE alongside her family as she said she wanted to watch television, not be on it. But she soon changed her mind and became one of the most loved characters on the show. She once said of her late husband: 'It's a shame that my Charlie wasn't around to see us all on television. He wouldn't believe it, but it's really lovely.' Memories: Pat - offically Patricia Booker - was born in 1935, and initially turned down the chance of appearing on TOWIE alongside her family as she said she wanted to watch television, not be on it In 2012, she told the Daily Mail: 'Mark started filming for the show and he kept talking about me to the producers and before I knew what was happening I was starring. 'I told him it would just be a one-off thing but I can't get out of it now. I can't go anywhere without getting recognised these days because of the fame.' She gained a fan following thanks to her frank attitude and witty one-liners. She said: 'I am a typical Essex girl, well I hope so! I am nice, but I am just plain, unlike all the young girls with their fake tans and big heels. I do love handbags though.' They were one of the most successful girl groups of the 90s with a string of hits to their name. And three of the members of All Saints reunited this week for a fun filled Christmas dinner, looking identical to their 90s heyday. Natalie Appleton, 48, shared a slew of stunning photos of herself with Melanie Blatt, 46 and Shaznay Lewis, 46 to her Instagram on Friday. Reunion: Three of the members of All Saints reunited this week for a fun filled Christmas dinner, looking identical to their 90s heyday (L-R Natalie, Shaznay and Melanie) She donned a leather dress for the occasion, which boasted puffed sleeves and a matching belt to emphasise her svelte waist. The trio of ladies all wore their long tresses straightened and cascading over their shoulders as they beamed for the pics, clearly thrilled to be reunited. Natalie revealed the dinner had been hosted by Melanie, and gushed about her bandmates, writing: 'My girls my sisters... when I look into your eyes I see your souls that I love to my core..' Gorgeous girls: Natalie Appleton, 48, shared a slew of stunning photos of herself with Melanie Blatt, 46 and Shaznay Lewis, 46 to her Instagram on Friday (L-R Shaznay, Natalie and Melanie) 'Thank you mel for the most amazing Xmas dinner! I want more now.' Addressing her missing sister and bandmate Nicole Appleton, she added: 'nick, we missed you sooooo sooo much.' Nicole commented saying: 'Ahhhh. Im gutted I couldnt be with you all!! I love you all sooo much!! #love #love #love' alongside a string of heart emojis and kisses. Missing quartet: Addressing her missing sister and bandmate Nicole Appleton, she added: 'nick, we missed you sooooo sooo much' All Saints were formed back in 1993 by music manager Ron Tom who later went on to found the Sugababes. Their debut self-titled album released in 1997 went on to become the third best-selling girl group album of all time. Their single Never Ever is the second best-selling girl group single of all-time in the UK after the Spice Girls' Wannabe. Early days: All Saints were formed back in 1993 by music manager Ron Tom who later went on to found the Sugababes (pictured in 1998) Success: Their debut self-titled album released in 1997 went on to become the third best-selling girl group album of all time (pictured in 1998) Their second album Saints & Sinners, released in 2000, went straight to number one, however they split the following year following reports of in-fighting in the group. All Saints eventually reformed in 2006 and released their third studio album Studio 1 but were dropped by their label when the record didn't meet expectations. Following a second split in 2009, All Saints reformed once more in 2014 and released the albums Red Flag in 2016 and Testament in 2018. The Los Angeles Police Department is not investigating Sex and the City star Chris Noth 'at this point' on claims that he raped a woman in his LA apartment in 2004 - after she and a second accuser came forward with allegations of sexual assault against the actor. 'There is no investigation at this point,' Officer Drake Madison told Deadline on Thursday evening about the 2004 rape claim. On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter published an article in which one woman said she was attacked by Noth when she was 22 and he was 49, an encounter that she says left her needing stitches. Deadline had previously reported that the actor was indeed under investigation, citing LAPD sergeant Bruce Borihanh as saying, 'We are still looking into the nature of the report and trying to narrow down where, when and if where the report was filed.' Noth has vehemently denied all allegations of sexual assault, but he's admitted to having 'consensual encounters' with both of his accusers. His 'recently retained' lawyer Andrew Brettler told Deadline that the actor has not yet been contacted by law enforcement, but that he plans to 'cooperate fully... if anyone does reach out'. The news comes just hours after THR published allegations of sexual assault against the star from two women - who used the pseudonyms Zoe, now 40, and Lily, now 31. In the report, both accusers claim that Noth had sex with them from behind in front of a mirror, with the first attack allegedly taking place in 2004, while the second reportedly occurred in 2015, three years after Noth married his wife, Tara Wilson, with whom he has two children. The two women both also allege that the attacks took place in one of Noth's homes - the first in his Los Angeles apartment and the second in his New York City property - after the actor invited them over. Allegations: Married Sex And The City star Chris Noth - pictured with his wife Tara Wilson this month - has been accused of rape and sexual assault by two women Noth, now 67, has vehemently denied the accusations, made to The Hollywood Reporter by two women, who claim that he raped them in his homes in New York and Los Angeles Signature role: Noth's most famous role is as Carrie Bradshaw's (Sarah Jessica Parker) love interest John James 'Mr. Big' Preston The first, Zoe, said she visited the actor's home in West Hollywood to return a book that he had lent her, while the second stated that she went back to Noth's apartment in Greenwich Village after a date, when he invited her to sample 'his collection of whiskeys'. Both women claim that the recent publicity surrounding the Sex and the City reboot - And Just Like That - 'stirred painful memories' of their encounters with Noth, who has featured heavily in the news in the past week as a result of the shock death of his character, Mr Big, in the first episode of the new series. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Noth, who has two sons with Wilson - Keats and Orion - admitted that he had 'consensual encounters' with the two women, both of which reportedly took place while he was in a relationship with his wife, but he strongly denied any accusations that he assaulted them. 'The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false,' the statement reads. 'These stories couldve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago no always means no that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual. 'Its difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I dont know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.' The two women told THR that the recent publicity surrounding the release of Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That - and Noth's resulting resurgence as a high-profile star - 'triggered' them to go public with their claims. Zoe says she first met Noth while working 'in an entry-level position at a high-profile firm where Noth and other celebrities regularly had business' in 2004. She claims that the actor - who was then at the height of his Sex and the City fame and, according to Zoe's then-boss was seen as a 'god' by her and colleagues - began flirting with her in the office. At the time, Noth had been dating his now-wife Wilson for three years; the pair began their relationship in 2001 after first meeting at The Cutting Room, a New York jazz club owned by the actor, where Wilson, who was in her early 20s at the time, worked as a bartender. However, according to Zoe, the actor began leaving 'flirty' messages on her voicemail - which her boss alerted her to. Speaking to THR, the boss confirmed that she was aware of the messages, saying that it struck her as strange that the actor would be reaching out to her much younger employee, however she insists she was not in any way concerned by them. 'It was very painful and I yelled out, "Stop!"' Noth's alleged first victim says actor left her bleeding after attack in his LA home Noth's first accuser - Zoe, now 40 - claims that the actor invited her to his Los Angeles apartment to return a book in 2004, before raping her from behind. She claims that he 'kissed her as she stepped through the door' and that she 'tentatively kissed him back' before trying to leave his home. Zoe alleges that the actor then 'pulled her toward him, moved her toward the bed, pulled off her shorts and bikini bottom, and began to rape her from behind' while they were 'facing a mirror'. 'It was very painful and I yelled out, "Stop!"' she claims. 'And he didnt. I said, "Can you at least get a condom?" and he laughed at me.' Following the alleged incident, Zoe says she saw 'blood on her shirt' and returned to a friend's apartment, which was located in the same building as Noth's home, to try and wash it out. It was there that her friends urged her to go to hospital - where she says she had to get stitches. 'I had stitches. Two police officers came. I wouldnt say who it was,' she says, claiming that she feared she would 'not be believed' and could 'be fired' if she publicly accused Noth of rape. Advertisement 'I was crying as it happened': Actor's alleged second victim claims he raped her in his New York apartment The second accuser - a woman using the pseudonym Lily, now 31 - alleges that Noth assaulted her in his apartment in Greenwich Village in 2015 after he invited her on a date at Italian restaurant Il Cantinori. According to Lily, the kitchen at the restaurant had closed by the time they arrived, so they drank wine together at the bar. She claims that she 'had too much to drink' but was 'nowhere near blacking out' when Noth suggested that they go back to his home to 'sample his collection of whiskeys'. She says they spent time 'listening to music' and discussing his collection of 'books about art and fashion', before he 'tried to make out with her'. Lily says she 'cautiously entertained' him, but that he became more forceful as time went on. 'He kept trying and trying and trying, and I should have said no more firmly and left. And then the next thing I knew, he pulled down his pants and he was standing in front of me,' she says, alleging that he then 'thrust his penis into her mouth'. She claims that Noth - who was married to wife Tara Wilson and had one child with her at the time - told her 'marriage is a sham' and that 'monogamy is not real', before raping her. '[Suddenly] he was having sex with me from the back in a chair,' she said. 'We were in front of a mirror. I was kind of crying as it happened.' After the alleged attack, Lily says she 'went to the bathroom and put on her skirt', adding that she 'felt awful... totally violated'. Advertisement Zoe claims that she was raped by Noth in his West Hollywood apartment when she was just 22 and he was 49 - alleging that the actor invited her and a friend over to the pool at his building. Her unnamed friend confirmed that the two visited the pool and recalled that they sat in the jacuzzi with Noth, who then left a book with Zoe while he went to his apartment to take a call. She states that Noth then asked her to return the book to his home, telling her that he'd 'love to know what she thought'. When Zoe went up to his home to give the book back, she says Noth 'kissed her' as soon as she walked through the door, however she says she was not initially concerned by the kiss - and in fact thought it would be a 'funny story' she could tell her friends about. However, she says Noth then pulled her towards him, moved her to his bed and removed her shorts and bikini bottoms, before raping her 'from behind' while they were 'facing a mirror'. She also claimed that the actor did not use protection, that he 'laughed at her' when she asked him to get a condom - and says she was left bleeding after the assault, and had to go to the hospital to get stitches. 'It was very painful and I yelled out, "Stop!"' she told THR. 'And he didnt. I said, "Can you at least get a condom?" and he laughed at me.' After the alleged assault, she says she returned to a friend's apartment, which was located in the same building as Noth's home, and tried to wash the blood out of her shirt, before being urged by her friends to go to Cedars-Sinai, where she told hospital workers that she had been assaulted. 'I had stitches. Two police officers came. I wouldnt say who it was,' she says, claiming that she feared she would 'not be believed' and could 'be fired' if she publicly accused Noth of rape. Both women told THR that the recent publicity surrounding the release of the Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That prompted them to come forward with their claims Noth has featured heavily in the press in the past week after his character, Mr. Big, died of a heart attack in a shocking twist in the first episode of the new reboot Noth has two sons with Wilson - Orion (left), 13, who was born in 2008, seven years before the alleged second attack took place, and Keats (right), one, who was born in 2020 When contacted about Zoe's story, Cedars-Sinai told The Hollywood Reporter that it does not have records dating back to the time of the alleged attack. Although Zoe has not previously accused Noth of assault or rape, she says did speak to several people about the attack - including her boss at the time, who told THR that Zoe phoned her after the alleged rape and told her Noth had attacked her. Speaking to the outlet, Zoe's now-former boss said that her ex-employee sounded 'upset' and was 'in shock' during the phone call while relaying details of the 'horrible' incident, however she says Zoe insisted that she not tell anyone about it. 'I was 25 at the time. It was a lot. I didnt know what to do,' the unnamed woman said. Noth's second accuser, Lily, who is now working as a journalist, told a similar story to THR, alleging that the actor raped her in his home in Greenwich Village after they struck up a flirty relationship while she was working as a server at former New York nightclub No.8 in 2015, when she was 25. At the time, Noth - who was then 60 years old - had been married to his wife for three years and the couple had one child together, Orion, who was born in 2008. They have since had a second son, Keats, born in 2020. Describing herself as a long-time fan of the actor - whom she knew from his days starring in Law & Order, as well as his role on Sex and the City - Lily says she was 'truly star-struck' when he began 'hitting on her'. 'He was hitting on me, for sure. I was flattered. I knew he was married, which is shameful of me to admit,' she said. According to Lily, Noth asked for her number and later asked her out for dinner; they arranged to meet at Italian restaurant Il Cantinori - which featured in an episode of the original Sex and the City series. However, by the time the pair met at the eatery, the kitchen had closed, so Lily says they 'had wine at the bar' and discussed Noth's lack of interest in appearing in a potential third Sex and the City movie. Lily admits that she 'had too much to drink' but insists that she was 'nowhere near blacking out' when the actor invited her to his nearby home in Greenwich Village so that they could 'sample his collection of whiskeys' together. The woman - who describes herself as being 'not super sexually active' at the time - insists that she did not believe he would try and have sex with her, and that she simply though they would 'drink whiskey and talk about his acting career'. Once inside his 'amazing' home, Lily says the pair listened to music and discussed the actor's collection of art and fashion books, before he began trying to 'make out with her'. The second woman - Lily - claims that the alleged attack took place in Noth's Greenwich Village apartment (building pictured) after they met while she was working as a server in a club Lily says she was working as a server in the VIP section of New York nightclub No. 8 (pictured), which has since closed, when Noth 'hit on her' in 2015 According to Lily, she and Noth went on a date to Italian eatery Il Cantinori - however the kitchen was closed by the time they got there, so she says they drank wine at the bar The restaurant actually featured in season four of Sex and the City, serving as the location for lead character Carrie Bradshaw's 35th birthday party (pictured) Although she admitted that she 'cautiously entertained' him, she says that she was hesitant because he was 'older and looked older' than her. However, Lily says he became more forceful as time went on, claiming that he 'kept trying and trying and trying'. 'I should have said no more firmly and left,' she said, claiming that 'the next thing she knew' he had pulled down her pants and 'was standing in front of her', before 'thrusting his penis into her mouth'. She says that she mentioned the fact that he had a wife and child, only for the actor to tell her that 'marriage is a sham' and 'monogamy is not real'. Lily claims Noth then raped her from behind in a chair in front of a mirror. 'He was having sex with me from the back in a chair. We were in front of a mirror. I was kind of crying as it happened,' she says. After the alleged assault took place, Lily says she went to the bathroom and put on her skirt, claiming that she 'felt awful' and 'totally violated'. 'All of my dreams with this star I loved for years were gone,' she added. While in an Uber home, Lily says she spoke to a friend - who was named Alex by THR - on the phone, whom she told that Noth had sex with her 'pretty forcibly'. Despite her friend insisting that Lily should phone the police, she says she refused to. Speaking to the publication, Lily's friend Alex confirmed her story and claimed that she listened to a voicemail Noth left on Lily's phone after the incident. According to Alex, Noth said in the message: 'Hey, hope you didnt take anything wrong last night. We had fun. Just want to make sure you didnt take it the wrong way.' Although Noth and Wilson (pictured in 2004, the same year that the first alleged attack took place) did not tie the knot until 2012, they have been dating since 2001 Noth and Wilson (pictured in 2002) met while she was working as a bartender at New York jazz club The Cutting Room, which the actor owns However Lily offered a different recollection of the message, claiming that Noth told her: 'I had a nice time and would really appreciate it if you wouldnt talk to your girlfriends. If we could keep this between you and me, that would be great.' Lily also handed over text messages sent between herself and Noth in March and April 2015 to The Hollywood Reporter, in which the pair seemingly discussed the incident, with the actor asking whether Lily 'enjoyed their night last week', adding that he 'thought it was a lot of fun' but that he 'wasn't quite sure how she felt'. According to the outlet, Lily responded that she 'certainly enjoyed [Noth's] company' but that she 'felt slightly used', before suggesting that they continue their conversation on the phone. Noth went on to propose that the pair meet up for another date, sending her messages suggesting that they 'have a drink' and telling her that it 'didn't have to be at his place although he has the best whiskey'. In another message seen by THR, Noth reportedly asked Lily: 'Oh mysterious one where did you go.' Lily says she agreed to see him for dinner on one occasion but ultimately canceled and the two did not meet again. Neither she nor Zoe have spoken publicly about their accusations until getting in touch with The Hollywood Reporter 'months apart' after being prompted by the frenzy of publicity surrounding the news about the new Sex and the City reboot, which was first announced in January of this year. The accusations against Noth come just one week after he hit headlines the world over while reprising his role as Mr. Big in the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That - in which his character controversially dies of a heart attack after doing a workout on a Peloton bike. Mr Big's shock death sparked outrage among viewers - and prompted furious backlash from Peloton, whose shares dropped 11 per cent in the wake of the debut episode's premiere last Thursday. Three days after the first two episodes aired on HBO Max, Peloton hit back at the show by airing a commercial featuring Noth in his role as Mr Big - alongside real-life instructor Jess King who starred as his trainer in And Just Like That. That commercial has now been deleted from Peloton's social media accounts - as well as from the account of King, who featured in it alongside Noth. In a statement made to DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for Peloton addressed the allegations made against Noth, saying: 'Every single sexual assault accusation must be taken seriously. 'We were unaware of these allegations when we featured Chris Noth in our response to HBOs reboot. As we seek to learn more, we have stopped promoting this video and archived related social posts.' HBO Max has yet to publicly comment on the allegations; DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Noth and the streaming site. Tyler Perry has been involved in car crash minutes after leaving Burbank airport in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday night. The 52-year-old film director got into a T-bone smash while driving home via Sherman Oaks in his Bentley SUV when the accident took place. TMZ reports that the colliding vehicle - a Honda Accord - cut across three lanes of traffic and into Perry's way. Lucky escape: Tyler Perry wrecks his Bentley in car crash as he left Burbank airport in LA after colliding with another vehicle, but there were no serious injuries (Pictured this month) Perry then ended up smashing his car into the female driver's vehicle. Per the report, the driver confessed liability and there were no serious injuries. Polices sources reportedly informed TMZ that no one went to hospital, no police report was required, and the matter will now be dealt with privately. Wreckage: Tyler's Bentley SUV is seen above shortly after the crash Write-off: The female driver's Honda Accord was seen smashed at the scene What's the damage: Police say the matter will be handled privately Crash: The driver is said to have cut across three lanes of traffic Perry - who is worth an estimated one billion dollars - is known for his love of cars. In 2018, he gifted Oprah Winfrey with a Bentley for Christmas. The famously generous star also briefly put up Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, at one of Perrys houses in Southern California, that included a full security detail. Georgina Rodriguez says she has no fear of critics trolling her over her upcoming Netflix series because she is 'strong with personality.' The 27-year-old model, who is five months pregnant with twins, also has daughter Alana, three, with Cristiano Ronaldo and is stepmother to his son Cristiano Jnr, 11, and twins Eva and Mateo, four. And in the new documentary focusing on her rags-to-riches life she is waiting for partner Cristiano to pop the question more than five years after they began dating. Strong: Georgina Rodriguez says she has no fear of critics trolling her over her upcoming Netflix series because she is 'strong with personality' The start date for the show, called Soy Georgina, has yet to be announced, but Georgina has insisted she is ready for any bad reviews that come her way. Speaking to the Spanish edition of Cosmopolitan, she said: 'Ive always been very strong and had a lot of personality.' The Argentinian-born beauty, who met and started dating Cristiano in June 2016 after he walked into the Madrid clothes boutique where she was earning 10-an-hour, added: 'I believe firmly in destiny and even more so in Karma. You receive what you give.' Georgina wows in the cover shoot for the magazine, slipping into a sparkly red dress which hides her baby bump. Ready: In the new documentary focusing on her rags-to-riches life she is waiting for partner Cristiano to pop the question more than five years after they began dating Georgina's interview comes ahead of spending Christmas in the UK after Cristiano relocated to return to Manchester United. Cristianos family including his doting mum Dolores Aveiro and his three siblings are due to get together for a mass reunion in Manchester this Christmas. Dolores, who revealed earlier this year she lost her sense of smell and taste after a life-threatening stroke in March last year, confirmed at the weekend she would be doing the Christmas cooking. Tough: She said of her response to any potential trolling, 'Ive always been very strong and had a lot of personality' Destiny: She said of dating Cristiano after he walked into the Madrid clothes boutique where she was earning 10-an-hour: 'I believe firmly in destiny and even more so in Karma' She told Madeiran magazine Improvavel in an interview she would be preparing Cristianos favourite Madeiran dishes including garlic wine marinated pork and salt cod with cream. Dolores, who put paid to claims she has a rocky relationship with Georgina in September by describing her as a 'good girl' and a 'great support' to Cristiano, said: 'Its always a very happy Christmas when were together. 'Its a big party. We exchange presents and tell jokes. Its a beautiful experience. 'I like to gift people clothes. And Im happy with whatever people want to give me. Thanks God Ive got everything I need.' Dolores also signalled she expects the Man United striker to jet to Madeira to see in the New Year with her after celebrating her 67th birthday. The Premier League side play Burnley on December 30 and Wolves on January 3. Dolores Aveiro is organising a celebration in Madeira for her birthday on December 31 before she toasts the arrival of 2022. Tom Holland revealed that he is planning on taking a hiatus from acting in order to start a family. During a recent interview with People the 25-year-old performer told the media outlet that he wanted to 'to take a break and focus on starting a family and figuring out what I want to do outside of this world.' The actor has been dating his Spider-Man co-star Zendaya for the past several years, though he did not bring up her name during the discussion. Future plans: Tom Holland revealed that he is planning on taking a hiatus from acting in order to start a family during a recent interview with People; he is seen earlier this month His lady love: The actor has been dating his Spider-Man co-star Zendaya for the past several years, though he did not bring up her name during the discussion; seen on Monday in LA When asked about his reasoning for his decision, the actor noted that he had devoted an extended period of time to acting and wanted to slow down in the future. Holland expressed that he had 'spent the last six years being so focused on my career.' The star then noted that he was looking forward to becoming a father in the future. The performer expressed: 'I love kids. I can't wait to be a dad I can wait and I will, but I can't wait!' Holland made a point of saying that he was particularly good with children and spent much time with his younger relatives at social events. Anticipation: The Spider-Man franchise star noted that he was looking forward to becoming a father in the future; he is seen on Monday 'If I'm at a wedding or a party, I'm always at the kids' table hanging out,' he stated. The actor went on to express that he inherited many of his personality traits from his father and gave the media outlet a bit of insight into what his life would be like had he not entered acting. 'My dad's been such a great role model for me. I think I've got that from him. So I think I'd be a primary school teacher or something like that,' he said. Holland also spoke about ending his work in the Spider-Man franchise after appearing in Spider-Man: Far From Home during the sit-down. Hanging up the suit: Holland also spoke about ending his work in the Spider-Man franchise after appearing in Spider-Man: Far From Home during the sit-down The performer notably remarked that he was happy to pass on the role of the superhero, who was previously played by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, to other performers. 'I don't want to be responsible for holding back the next young person that comes in who deserves it just as much so,' he said. Holland noted that he was not exactly ready to leave the role, although he was seriously considering departing the franchise. No regrets: The actor expressed his gratitude for being able to portray the superhero over the past few years, which he viewed as a life-changing experience; seen with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon 'I don't want to say goodbye to Spider-Man but I feel like we might be ready to say goodbye to Spider-Man,' he said. The actor expressed his gratitude for being able to portray the superhero over the past few years, which he viewed as a life-changing experience. 'I've loved every minute of it. I've been so grateful to Marvel and Sony for giving us the opportunity and keeping us on and allowing our characters to progress. It's been amazing,' he said. Peloton has deleted its viral commercial starring Chris Noth as Mr. Big from its social media pages, after rape and sexual assault allegations against the Sex and the City star. Noth, 67, has vehemently denied the claims against him after two unnamed women told The Hollywood Reporter that the married father-of-two sexually abused them. A third accuser, actress Zoe Lister-Jones, came forward on Thursday claiming that he was 'sexually inappropriate' to women who worked at a New York City club he owned, and sniffed her neck while drunk on set of Law and Order. Since then a National Enquirer story from the 1990s has gained renewed attention for its claims by model Beverly Johnson that Noth had attacked her and threatened to kill her while they were dating in the 1990s. The first claims surfaced just four days after Noth teamed up with Peloton to cash in on his character's controversial death scene while riding an exercise bike in the SATC reboot And Just Like That. In statement, Peloton confirmed to DailyMail.com on Thursday: 'Every single sexual assault accusation must be taken seriously. We were unaware of these allegations when we featured Chris Noth in our response to HBO's reboot. As we seek to learn more, we have stopped promoting this video and archived related social posts.' The commercial was produced by movie star Ryan Reynolds and his marketing company Maximum Effort, with the actor also narrating the clip. Axed: Peloton has deleted its viral ad starring Chris Noth as Mr Big from social media in wake of bombshell allegations of sexual assault... after Ryan Reynolds made clip in record time Zoe Lister-Jones, left, has claimed that actor Chris Noth was 'sexually inappropriate' to female workers at a club he owned in New York City and once sniffed her neck as she guest starred on an episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent in 2005. Noth, right, has vehemently denied the claims of sexual abuse No longer available: In statement, Peloton confirmed to DailyMail.com on Thursday: 'As we seek to learn more, we have stopped promoting this video and archived related social posts.' It was pulled together in a record-setting time of just 36 hours, four days after And Just Like That... aired on HBO Max last week. Lister-Jones, 39, became the first woman to publicly call out Noth for alleged sexually inappropriate behavior in her Instagram story Thursday night. She wrote that she was inspired to come out with her story after the two women - who used the pseudonyms Zoe, now 40, and Lily, now 31 - told The Hollywood Reporter their stories. The actress known for her work on Life in Pieces began her statement: 'Last week, my friend asked me how I felt about Mr. Big's death on And Just Like That, and I said honestly, I felt relieved,' she wrote, referring to Noth's role on Sex and the City and its spin-off. 'He asked why, and I told him it was because I couldn't separate the actor from the man, and the man is a sexual predator. 'My friend was alarmed at my word choice. And to be honest, so was I. 'I hadn't thought of the man in so many years, and yet there was a virility to my language that came from somewhere deep and buried.' Lister-Jones then explained: 'In my twenties, I worked at a club in New York that Chris Noth owned and on the few occasions, he would show up, he was consistently sexually inappropriate with a fellow female promoter.' 'That same year, I was a guest star on Law and Order, and it was his first episode returning as a detective after "SATC,"' In her Instagram story on Thursday, Lister-Jones said she was 'relieved' by the death of Chris Noth's character on And Just Like That because she remembers him being 'consistently sexually inappropriate' with a female promoter and sniffing her hair when she guest starred on Law and Order: Criminal Intent She claimed that her experiences were small in comparison to the other allegations against Noth that were reported on Thursday She concluded her statement by cursing out Noth's character on Sex and the City, claiming that he capitalized on the role to seduce women An old newspaper clipping posted to Instagram on Thursday appeared to show court documents accused Noth of 'battering' model Beverly Johnson back when they were dating 'He was drunk on set,' she alleged in her statement, noting: 'During my interrogation scene he had a 22 ounce beer under the table that he would drink in between takes. 'In one take, he got close to me, sniffed my neck and whispered, "You smell good." 'I didn't say anything. My friend at the club never said anything. It's so rare that we do.' 'Part of being a woman in this world is taking a certain amount of pride in knowing how to handle yourself in these situations,' she continued. 'In denying their impact as a means of survival. And burying the feelings that come with the transgressions that we have been taught are simply to be expected. 'My experiences are small in comparison to the accounts of assault that have so bravely been shared today. 'Navigating predation at any level is a burden all woman have to bear. And for the most part there is no accountability and no consequence. 'Chris Noth capitalized on the fantasy that women believe Mr. Big represented,' she alleged, concluding: 'F*** Mr. Big.' Lister-Jones guest starred on Law and Order: Criminal Intent in 2005, the first year Noth returned to the series following the original run of Sex and the City, in an episode entitled Diamond Dogs. It was unclear which club she claims Noth was 'sexually inappropriate' at. According to Page Six, Noth co-owns The Cutting Room in Manhattan and was an investor in The Plumm, which closed in 2009. Reynolds - who has now deleted the advert starring Noth from his Twitter - came up with the idea for the 38-second commercial with Peloton CMO Dara Treseder. Ryan Reynolds - who produced the ad - has also removed it from his Twitter account Jess King, senior fitness instructor at Peloton who stars in the clip as fictional trainer Allegra, also deleted the ad from her account and it has been removed from the company's YouTube channel. Last week, Peloton shares nosedived 11 percent after Noth was killed off after his character was last seen using the bike. The company responded by issuing a statement through Cardiologist Dr Suzanne Steinbaum, insisting that Mr Big riding a Peloton bike would have helped delay his fatal heart attack. They insisted the character's death shouldn't be attributed to his work out methods but to his 'extravagant lifestyle including cocktails, cigars and big steaks.' Then, taking a more creative approach to the damage control, the company released the Reynolds-produced ad on Sunday. The record-breaking commercial cost $80,000 to produce, and made global headlines upon its release. The moment the story about Noth broke on Thursday morning, angry fans rushed to social media to demand the ad be pulled. 'And now Chris Noth has been accused of sexually assaulting two women. losers all of you, delete this,' one angry fan tweeted at Peloton's official Twitter account. Another user tweeted at Peloton, asking: 'So now you are using an accused rapist Chris Noth in your ads ? That's what happens when you put hype before integrity. Maybe don't take 24 hours to plan your ads next time?' Co-founder and CEO of Peloton John Foley was also directly tweeted at, with the question: 'Are you sorry for hiring Chris Noth ? Don't hire sexual predators to be in your ads.' 'Please give as much attention to these two women and their story about Chris Noth as you gave to the Peloton jokes,' survivor Abby Honold tweeted at THR's account. Controversy: Jess King, the senior fitness instructor at Peloton who plays a fictional instructor named Allegra in the clip alongside Noth, also deleted the ad from her account Hitting out: Many took to social media to call out Peloton following the claims of sexual assault against Noth who starred in the ad Honold added: 'And don't forget that coming forward about sexual assault does NOT mean that you get showered with money, fame, or compliments. It's brutal, painful, and scary.' Another tweet said: 'So should peloton just pack it up and call it a day? Not a great look with the Chris Noth accusations coming out now.' Both of the women, who used the pseudonyms Zoe, now 40, and Lily, now 31, claim that Noth had sex with them from behind in front of a mirror, with the first attack allegedly taking place in 2004, while the second reportedly occurred in 2015, three years after Noth married his wife, Tara Wilson, with whom he has two children. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Noth, who has two sons with his wife Wilson - Keats and Orion - admitted that he had 'consensual encounters' with the two women, but he strongly denied any accusations that he assaulted them. 'The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false,' the statement reads. 'These stories couldve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago no always means no that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual. 'It's difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I dont know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.' Claims: Co-founder and CEO of Peloton John Foley was also directly tweeted at with a tweet accusing Noth of being an alleged sexual predator And Just Like That: The actor teamed up with the company to cash in on the viral moment from the show The two women both also allege that the attacks took place in one of Noth's homes - the first in his Los Angeles apartment and the second in his New York City property - after the actor invited them over. The first, Zoe, said she visited the actor's home in West Hollywood to return a book that he had lent her, while the second stated that she went back to Noth's apartment in Greenwich Village after a date, when he invited her to sample 'his collection of whiskeys'. Both women claim that the recent publicity surrounding the Sex and the City reboot - And Just Like That - 'triggered' their memories of their encounters with Noth, who has featured heavily in the news in the past week as a result of the shock death of his character, Mr Big, in the first episode of the new series. The two women told THR that the recent publicity surrounding the release of Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That - and Noth's resulting resurgence as a high-profile star - 'triggered' them to go public with their claims. Zoe says she first met Noth while working 'in an entry-level position at a high-profile firm where Noth and other celebrities regularly had business'. She claims that the actor began flirting with her in the office, before he began leaving messages on her voicemail - which her boss alerted her to. Both women told THR that the recent publicity surrounding the release of the Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That prompted them to come forward with their claims Noth has featured heavily in the press in the past week after his character, Mr. Big, died of a heart attack in a shocking twist in the first episode of the new reboot She claims that she was raped by Noth in his West Hollywood apartment in 2004 when she was just 22 and he was 49 - alleging that the actor invited her into his home to return a book that he had lent her, before 'raping her from behind' while they were 'facing a mirror'. She also claimed that the actor 'laughed at her' when she asked him to use a condom - and that she was left bleeding after the assault, and had to go to the hospital to get stitches. 'It was very painful and I yelled out, "Stop!"' she told THR. 'And he didnt. I said, "Can you at least get a condom?" and he laughed at me.' After the alleged assault, she says she returned to a friend's apartment, which was located in the same building as Noth's home, and tried to wash the blood out of her shirt, before being urged by her friends to go to Cedars-Sinai hospital, where she told workers that she had been assaulted. 'I had stitches. Two police officers came. I wouldnt say who it was,' she says, claiming that she feared she would 'not be believed' and could 'be fired' if she publicly accused Noth of rape. Although Zoe has not previously accused Noth of assault or rape, she did speak to several people about the attack - including her boss at the time, who told THR that Zoe phoned her after the alleged rape and told her Noth had attacked her. Speaking to the outlet, Zoe's now-former boss said that her ex-employee sounded 'upset' and was 'in shock' during the phone call while relaying details of the 'horrible' incident, however she says Zoe insisted that she not tell anyone about it. 'I was 25 at the time. It was a lot. I didnt know what to do,' the unnamed woman said. Noth's second accuser, Lily, told a similar story to THR, alleging that the actor raped her in his home after they struck up a flirty relationship while she was working as a server at former New York nightclub No.8 in 2015, when she was 25. At the time, Noth - who was then 60 years old - had been married to his wife for three years and the couple had one child together, Orion, who was born in 2008. They have since had a second son, Keats, born in 2020. The second woman - Lily - claims that the alleged attack took place in Noth's Greenwich Village apartment (building pictured) after they met while she was working as a server in a club Lily says she was working as a server in the VIP section of New York nightclub No. 8 (pictured), which has since closed, when Noth 'hit on her' in 2015 Describing herself as a long-time fan of the actor, Lily says she was 'truly star-struck' when he began 'hitting on her'. 'He was hitting on me, for sure. I was flattered. I knew he was married, which is shameful of me to admit,' she said. According to Lily, Noth asked for her number and later asked her out for dinner; they arranged to meet at Italian restaurant Il Cantinori - which featured in an episode of the original Sex and the City series. However, by the time the pair met at the eatery, the kitchen had closed, so Lily says they 'had wine at the bar' and discussed Noth's lack of interest in appearing in a potential third Sex and the City movie. Lily admits that she 'had too much to drink' but insists that she was 'nowhere near blacking out' when the actor invited her to his nearby home in Greenwich Village so that they could 'sample his collection of whiskeys' together. The woman - who describes herself as being 'not super sexually active' at the time - insists that she did not believe he would try and have sex with her, and that they would just 'drink whiskey and talk about his acting career'. Once inside his 'amazing' home, Lily says the pair listened to music and discussed the actor's collection of art and fashion books, before he began trying to 'make out with her'. Although she says she 'cautiously entertained' him, she says that she was hesitant because he is 'older and looks older' than her. However, Lily says he became more forceful as time went on, claiming that he 'kept trying and trying and trying'. 'I should have said no more firmly and left,' she said, claiming that 'the next thing she knew' he had pulled down her pants and 'was standing in front of her', before 'thrusting his penis into her mouth'. She says that she mentioned the fact that he had a wife and child, only for the actor to tell her that 'marriage is a sham' and 'monogamy is not real'. Lily claims Noth then raped her from behind in a chair in front of a mirror. Penelope Cruz was prepared to fly in style as she arrived to JFK Airport on Wednesday. The beauty, 47, was a sight to behold in an elegant black coat, quilted Chanel bag, and messenger cap propped over her flowing brunette locks. Even though she was going on a flight, Cruz touched up her striking brown eyes with a touch of a smoky eye. So fly! Penelope Cruz was a sight to behold in an elegant black coat, quilted Chanel bag, and messenger cap as she arrived at JFK Airport in New York on Wednesday She added a comfortable touch with a pair of loose blue jeans and chunky black heels. And, as a precaution against COVID-19, she wore a black face mask which perfectly coordinated with her look. The Volver actress carried her passport through the terminal as she prepared to present identification ahead of her flight out of the Big Apple. It has been a big week for the star, who was honored at the Museum Of Modern Art on Tuesday for being 'an artist of global importance'. Winter fashion: Cruz was the epitome of winter style in a black zigzag coat and designer purse slung over her shoulder The benefit has been presented since 2011 by Chanel and Penelope, who has been an ambassador for the fashion house since 2018 and wore a long red Chanel v-line dress with an open back to the event. Penelope specifically thanked Spanish movie director Pedro Almodovar, 72, while praising all of the directors she's worked with during her career. Penelope and Pedro have worked together on seven films. Hat's off to her! The beauty adjusted her stylish cap as she strode through the transport hub The latest film by the director starring Penelope, Parallel Mothers, opens on December 24 in the United States. The film received two Golden Globe nominations on Monday for Best Original Score and for Best Picture Non-English Language. Parallel Mothers follows two single women who meet in a hospital as they are about to give birth on the same day. It's an honor! It has been a big week for the star, who was honored at the Museum Of Modern Art on Tuesday for being 'an artist of global importance' Penelope can next be seen in the upcoming action spy film The 355 that also stars Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong'o, Diane Kruger, Bingbing Fan, Sebastian Stan and Edgar Ramirez. The film's title is derived from Agent 355, a female spy for the Patriots during the American Revolution. The movie follows a CIA agent who teams up with other international agents to recover a top-secret weapon. The 355 will be released next month on January 7 by Universal Pictures after being delayed more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film will be made available on the Peacock streaming service 45 days after its release in theaters. Penelope has been married to Javier Bardem, 52, since 2010 and they have children Leo, 10, and Penelope, eight, together. Ashley Benson and longtime friend Remi Franklin were spotted walking the streets of New York City having fun and laughing together. The 31-year-old actress wore a Chanel bag and a black trench coat, with matching black slacks and boots. Remi sported a black beanie, with a jean jacket and colorful sneakers during their casual outing in the city. Long time pals: Ashley Benson and long time friend Remi Franklin were spotted walking the streets of New York City having fun and laughing together Remi is the co-founder of Prive Revaux, a designer eyewear company. Ashley is rocking The Victoria, from the collection she collaborated with the brand on. The Pretty Little Liars star went on her Instagram stories on Wednesday, posting a video of Remi to her 22million followers, captioning it 'Single'. She appears to be putting the dating rumors to rest after the two have been spotted out together numerous times this year. Ashley was last linked romantically to G-Eazy, who she started dating in May 2020. She ended up slitting from the rapper in February of this year. Just friends: The Pretty Little Liars star went on her Instagram stories on Wednesday, posting a video of Remi, captioning it 'Single' Laughing in New York City: Ashley is rocking The Victoria, from the collection she collaborated with Remi on for his brand, Prive Revaux The actress initiated the split after they had been fighting and she never felt like he was fully committed to her. Prior to dating the Bay Area rapper, Ashley was in a committed relationship with model Cara Delevingne from 2018 to 2020. Ashley has been spending her time with her friends, going out to dinners and enjoying being single. Paris Hilton's wedding: Ashley attended Paris Hilton's wedding, where she wore a gorgeous, very low cut floral dress with black tights and thick, black belt; also seen here are Paris and Nicky Hilton as well as agent Cade Hudson (in a suit and tie) She attended Paris Hilton's wedding, where she wore a gorgeous, very low cut floral dress with black tights and thick, black belt. The actress switched up her look recently, by dying her hair blonde in the beginning of December. 'We did a thing,' the Her Smell actress posted to her Instagram. Her fans and friends love her new look, with her post getting over a thousand comments, all in support of a blonde Ashley. He has been an outspoken advocate for science throughout the 'pandemic of misinformation' that swept across social media with the emergence of Covid-19. And former Bachelor Dr Matt Agnew has now offered the perfect counterargument for when conspiracy theorists try to claim the coronavirus vaccine isn't safe. He pointed out that 'about eight billion vaccines have been administered globally' as of December, meaning that if it was in fact unsafe, health authorities would have sounded the alarm by now. Health advocate: Former Bachelor Dr Matt Agnew has offered the perfect counterargument for when conspiracy theorists try to claim the coronavirus vaccine isn't safe. Pictured getting his booster shot in Sydney on Thursday Dr Agnew, a qualified astrophysicist who now works as a data scientist, stressed the sheer number of doses administered in comparison to the small number of reported side effects after getting his Pfizer booster shot on Thursday. He decided to speak up after an Instagram user commented below his post that mRNA vaccines were supposedly 'killing' athletes on live television. This comment was likely in reference to a video circulating on social media app Telegram of sportspeople collapsing on the field. But these incidents weren't related to the vaccine and many of the athletes weren't even vaccinated. Fact-checkers have dismissed the video as misinformation. Numbers don't lie: He pointed out on Thursday that 'about eight billion vaccines have been administered globally' as of December, meaning that if it was in fact unsafe, health authorities would have sounded the alarm by now Elsewhere in the comment thread, Dr Agnew encouraged his fans to follow health advice from experts instead of influencers and podcast hosts. Contrary to claims made by conspiracy theorists, serious vaccine side effects are closely monitored by health authorities and remain extremely rare. The majority of side effects are temporary and mild, with nausea, fatigue and a sore arm being the most common examples. Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, is reported in 1-2 in every 100,000 people who receive the Pfizer vaccine. As of December 5, the TGA has received 389 reports which have been assessed as likely to be myocarditis from about 24.8 million doses of Pfizer. It is usually temporary, with most people getting better within a few days. Logic: Dr Agnew has been an outspoken advocate for science throughout the 'pandemic of misinformation' that swept across social media with the emergence of Covid-19 For AstraZeneca, about two in every 100,000 vaccinated people develop the rare blood-clotting syndrome thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). However, you are far more likely to develop blood clots as a result of Covid-19. Adverse effects to the vaccine are reported each week by the TGA, contrary to claims by anti-vaxxers that side effects are being 'covered up'. Anyone who suspects they've had a side effect is encouraged to report it. As of Friday, 89.91 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated. Ben Affleck's debut on SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show this week made more than a few headlines - mostly for the bit where he seemingly blamed ex-wife Jennifer Garner for his addiction. However, while chatting with the famed shock jock to promote his new movie, The Tender Bar, Ben opened up about being snubbed for both acting and directing Argo at the Oscars in 2013. The film ultimately took home Best Picture that year, which the 47-year-old called his most 'self-satisfying moment', but admits he 'f**ked up' for failing to score solo nominations. Looking back: Ben Affleck told Howard Stern this week that he 'f**ked up' for failing to score solo Oscar nominations in 2013 for Argo, despite the film's 'self-satisfying' win for Best Picture 'I'm not going to lie, that was the single most sort of self-satisfying moment,' Ben told Howard of Argo taking home the Oscar. 'For so long, I felt I gotta prove I belong here. I gotta show these people I mean something, I'm worth something.' Argo was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 2013 and took home three, including the piece de resistance - Best Picture. Ben, however, was snubbed in both directing and acting categories. He recalled to Stern how he'd be built up by everyone in his circle who told him he was not only a lock for nominations - but a lock for winning. His bubble was burst in a big way when nominees were announced and he was locked out of both the directing and acting categories. 'I'm not going to lie, that was the single most sort of self-satisfying moment,' Ben told Howard of Argo taking home the Oscar. 'For so long, I felt I gotta prove I belong here. I gotta show these people I mean something, I'm worth something.' 'I did assume I was going to get nominated because everybody said it,' he said. 'I'm proud of the movie,' he went on, adding with a laugh: 'The only guy who f**ked up was the lead and the director? I can do the math on who the a**hole is here.' 'I did assume I was going to get nominated because everybody said it,' he said. 'I'm proud of the movie,' he went on, adding with a laugh: 'The only guy who f**ked up was the lead and the director? I can do the math on who the a**hole is here.' Ben is currently promoting his new film, The Tender Bar, which is a poignant coming of age drama. He and girlfriend Jennifer Lopez took to the red carpet earlier this week at the premiere of the film. She was also by his side Wednesday ahead of his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The optics of JLo standing by her man fly in the face of claims that the mogul is 'p***ed' at remarks he made elsewhere in his Stern interview where he said he was driven to drinking after feeling trapped in his marriage to Jennifer Garner. His moment: Argo was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 2013 and took home three, including the piece de resistance - Best Picture - but Ben was snubbed in both directing and acting categories The actor, who has been to rehab for his addiction to alcohol multiple times, explained that feeling 'trapped' contributed to his drinking in the final days of his marriage to Jennifer Garner. '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.' Ben and Jen split in 2015, just a day after their 10-year anniversary, and they finalized their divorce in 2018. Following the interview, several fans and critics lambasted Affleck on social media for the comments, which many interpreted as him blaming Garner for his relapse with drinking. Disconnect: The actor, who has been to rehab for his addiction to alcohol multiple times, explained elsewhere in the interview that feeling 'trapped' contributed to his drinking in the final days of his marriage to Jennifer Garner; pictured with Garner in 2013 However, he never explicitly pointed the finger at Jennifer whom he complimented on her parenting during the conversation with Stern, and he appeared to suggest the two were simply over the long term. 'I knew she was a good mom. I always hoped that she knew that I was a good dad; I knew I was,' he told Stern. 'I had to get sober, and I knew that too and I acknowledged that.' It was the couple's children Violet, 16, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, nine who kept them together as long as they were. 'Ultimately, we tried, we tried, we tried because we had kids, but both of us felt like we didn't want this to be the model that our kids see of marriage,' he added. Ben stirred up controversy in the interview after he equated his alcoholism with his ex-wife, and a source told Page Six: 'Jennifer is p***ed. 'She is getting pulled into this because she is dating him. She doesn't want to be dragged into this. The source added: 'She has met Jennifer Garner. She is trying to get to know her and Ben's kids - it's reckless and cavalier of him.' MailOnline has contacted Jennifer's representatives for comments. Kim Cattrall stars a grown up version of Hilary Duff's unlucky-in-love character in the very first trailer for the upcoming Hulu spin-off, How I Met Your Father. Kim, who plays the future version of Hilary's character Sophie, narrates the preview and can heard telling her kids: 'This is the story of how I met your father.' 'It was hard to live in the moment in 2022. There was always someplace else you could be, someone else you could be with,' Kim, 65, says as footage of Duff shows her doing a Pilates class with a friend and texting in the shower. Kim's appearance comes after the release of the Sex And The City reboot And Just Like That..., which she famously declined to take part in. Putting Samantha behind her: Kim Cattrall plays the future version of Hilary Duff's character in the new show How I Met Your Father after turning down a role in the Sex And The City reboot And Just Like That Leading lady: The first trailer for Hulu's How I Met Your Father shows Duff's character Sophie struggling to find love The trailer chronicles Sophie's struggles at finding love as a New Yorker with her tight-knit group of friends cheering her own in her journey. After going on 87 Tinder dates in less than a year, the 34-year-old Younger star complains to her friends that every suitor is seemingly worse than the last. 'My last date was the worst one yet,' she teases, before revealing the man told her he actually went on a date before theirs and 'just had sex.' As her two male friends shake their head in outrage, she teases: 'And, that's not even the worst part.' Yikes: After going on 87 Tinder dates in less than a year, the 34-year-old Younger star complains to her friends that every suitor is seemingly worse than the last While she may be unlucky in love, her friends seem to have her back as one encourages her to repeat: 'Today is the first chapter of my next great love story.' Sophie's prospects seem to get better as she dines with Drake & Josh star Josh Peck, who has a recurring role in the series, and other hunks. 'Screw being mature!' she later shouts while partying with a pal. 'We can still make bad choices for a few more years.' 'My last date was the worst one yet,' she teases, before revealing the man told her he actually went on a date before theirs and 'just had sex' 'It was hard to live in the moment in 2022. There was always someplace else you could be, someone else you could be with,' she says as footage of Duff showing her texting in the shower. Working on herself: Duff's character is seen doing an at-home Pilates class with a friend Even as romances seemingly develop, Sophie's frustration is evident as she tells one date they 'live in confusing times.' 'It's really hard to meet someone!' she adds. 'And connect, and have it feel easy.' The former Disney Channel star will be starring in the show alongside Suraj Sharma, Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran and Chris Lowell. More than friends? While she may be unlucky in love, her friends seem to have her back as one encourages her to repeat: 'Today is the first chapter of my next great love story' Looking for The One: Sophie's prospects seem to get better as she dines with Drake & Josh star Josh Peck, who has a recurring role in the series, and other hunks Reboot: The show will document their thirty-something shenanigans and dating lives in New York City All of them will be starring as a group of friends living in New York - signified by the first-look picture which shows the cast on a set of Brooklyn Bridge. The spin-off, out next month, will have the same framing device as the original - children being told about the way their parents got together. Within that framing device the bulk of the show will be told through flashbacks where the leading lady will be played by Duff. Impressive cast: The former Disney Channel star will be starring in the show alongside Suraj Sharma, Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran and Chris Lowell The spin-off will have the same framing device as the original series - children being told about the way their parents got together Classic: How I Met Your Mother was a smash hit network sitcom that ran for nine seasons on CBS before airing its finale in 2014 While the flashbacks will be set in 2022, the framing device will feature an older version of Hilary's character played by Cattrall. Kim, 65, famously declined to be a part of the upcoming spin-off of the show that made her a global star, Sex And The City. Her decision not to join the Sex And The City reboot came after years of reports alleging she had a strained relationship with her co-stars. Tackling it all: While the flashbacks will be set in 2022, the framing device will feature an older version of Hilary's character played by Cattrall Hoping to be as successful: How I Met Your Mother was a smash hit network sitcom that ran for nine seasons on CBS before airing its finale in 2014. Over the years Kim herself has taken multiple public jabs at Sarah Jessica Parker who fronted the series as sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw. How I Met Your Mother was a smash hit network sitcom that ran for nine seasons on CBS before airing its finale in 2014. On that show Bob Saget played the older version of the leading man Ted Mosby, whose younger version was portrayed by Josh Radnor. Other members of the main cast included Cobie Smulders, Jason Segel, Neil Patrick Harris, Cristin Milioti and Alyson Hannigan. Hilary at one point was going to star in a revival of her hit sitcom Lizzie McGuire, the show that shot her to fame. Star-studded: On that show Bob Saget played the older version of the leading man Ted Mosby, whose younger version was portrayed by Josh Radnor Lots of projects: Shooting had even begun on the reboot before the coronavirus lockdowns swept the country but that project has now died on the vine Shooting had even begun on the reboot before the coronavirus lockdowns swept the country but that project has now died on the vine. Showrunner Terri Minsky was fired last January and then in December Hilary announced that the show had been canceled entirely. The month after Terri was fired Hilary hinted at some of the creative issues behind the scenes by writing on Instagram: 'I'd be doing a disservice to everyone by limiting the realities of a 30 year old's journey to live under the ceiling of a PG rating.' Olivia Wilde was wintry stylish when she was spotted stepping out in Los Angeles the week before Christmas. The 37-year-old actress and director wore her dark hair down under a white fleece cap, accessorizing with a sleek pair of shades. She fashionably clashed a pair of flared black trousers against an off-white Bella Freud sweater reading: 'HONEY PIE.' Holly jolly: Olivia Wilde was wintry stylish when she was spotted stepping out in Los Angeles the week before Christmas Olivia accented the look with a personalized monogrammed book bag from the brand The Vampire's Wife for her latest outing. Earlier this week she was spotted wearing a black jacket advertising her boyfriend Harry Styles' Love On Tour concerts. They met while she was directing him in the upcoming movie Don't Worry Darling, in which he replaced the scandal-struck Shia LaBeouf. Olivia and Harry became a public couple this January when they were seen holding hands at Jeff's wedding to Glenne Christiaansen. Mover and shaker: Olivia accented the look with a personalized monogrammed book bag from the brand The Vampire's Wife for her latest outing She received a bit of blowback over the fact that she is 10 years older than Harry, whose boss she was when the romance rumors began circulating. In a new Vogue interview she addressed the criticism of their relationship saying: 'Its obviously really tempting to correct a false narrative.' She added: 'But I think what you realize is that when youre really happy, it doesnt matter what strangers think about you. All that matters to you is whats real, and what you love, and who you love.' Chic: She fashionably clashed a pair of flared black trousers against an off-white Bella Freud sweater reading: 'HONEY PIE' Last November Olivia and her fiance of seven years Jason Sudeikis, 46, announced that they had called it quits on their romance. Although their separation only went public in November 2020 a People source maintained: 'The split happened at the beginning of the year.' Jason and Olivia got together in 2011 and welcomed two children, Otis, seven, and Daisy, five, before they broke off their engagement last year. Looking fab: Olivia has covered the latest issue of Vogue and in her interview she addressed the criticism of her relationship with Harry Styles who is a decade her junior Olivia made her directorial debut with the rollicking 2019 high school comedy Booksmart starring Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. Before her relationship with Jason, Olivia was married to Tao Ruspoli, the son of playboy aristocrat Alessandro Ruspoli and actress Debra Berger. Olivia married Tao in 2003 and they announced their separation in February 2011, finalizing the divorce that September. Home and Away actress Sam Frost went out partying with a co-star on Thursday night as news broke she was leaving the Channel Seven soap after four years. Sam, 32, who has played nurse Jasmine Delaney since 2017, quit the long-running series after copping backlash in October when she revealed she hadn't had the Covid vaccine. As her exit from the show made headlines, Sam appeared to celebrate as she visited a hookah lounge in Sydney with Nicholas Cartwright, who plays Cash Newman. Exit: Home and Away's Sam Frost (right) went out partying with co-star Nicholas Cartwright (left) on Thursday night as news broke she was leaving the Channel Seven soap after four years The pair documented their night out on Instagram Stories, with one video showing Nicholas inhaling from a hookah pipe alongside the caption 'Celebrate!' Sam, a former Bachelorette, will film her last scenes for Home and Away on Friday at Sydney's Eveleigh Studios, according to The Daily Telegraph. The actress will then move to Melbourne to be closer to her friends and family. Moving on: Sam, 32, who has played nurse Jasmine Delaney since 2017, quit the long-running series after copping backlash in October when she revealed she hadn't had the Covid vaccine She left the show after Seven Productions announced a vaccine mandate for all cast, crew and presenters, which takes effect on January 10. Sam had revealed she was unvaccinated in a tearful Instagram video uploaded in early October. She also admitted she was struggling with her mental health due to other people judging her for her vaccination status. Last days: Sam, a former Bachelorette, will reportedly film her last scenes for Home and Away on Friday at Sydney's Eveleigh Studios. She was on location in Palm Beach on Thursday (pictured: an on-set video from her Instagram Story) 'I was really hesitant about doing a video or even speaking up about this sort of thing, but I feel like it's getting to a point now in the world where there's a lot of segregation,' she said. 'There's a lot of harsh judgement and opinions being thrown around a lot and it's taking its toll on my mental health for sure, and I know people around me are struggling - particularly if they're on the side of they don't want to get vaccinated, for whatever reason. 'There are lots of different reasons why people are not getting vaccinated and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns, they might have family history, it could be religious reasons.' Sam then said she hadn't been vaccinated, but claimed she had spoken to her doctor as well as a psychologist about her decision. Reasons: She left the show after Seven Productions announced a vaccine mandate for all cast, crew and presenters, which takes effect on January 10 She added tearfully: 'It's a really hard time to be in society right now and you feel like you are less of a human and you feel like people judge you. 'And you're too scared to talk about your opinion or your feelings and part of you wants to go, "Well, it's none of your damn business why I'm not! And there's good reasons why I'm not and I don't want you to judge me." 'I'm struggling a lot with my mental health and I like to think that I'm pretty on to it. I see a psychologist regularly. So I can't imagine what it's like for people who don't have a support network around them.' Her video caused a great deal of controversy, mainly because of her use of the word 'segregation' when referring to the way society 'judges' unvaccinated people. 'Segregation' is typically used to describe societies that are divided due to race, religion or sexual orientation. Relocating: The actress will soon move to Melbourne to be closer to her friends and family In the following weeks, Sam was pictured on the Palm Beach set of Home and Away. However, Seven announced a vaccine mandate across all shows in late October. The network said it 'will only engage fully vaccinated presenters, cast and crew' from January 10, meaning Sam was essentially told: 'Get the jab or face the sack.' She later confirmed on November 2 she would be fully vaccinated by late February - about seven weeks after the vaccine mandate comes into effect. Her character would be 'written out temporarily' in the meantime, she said. Judgement: Sam had revealed she was unvaccinated in a tearful Instagram video uploaded in early October (above). She also admitted she was struggling with her mental health due to other people judging her for her vaccination status At the time, she claimed she wasn't able to get the jab sooner because of an unspecified 'medical procedure booked in for January'. She also insisted she wasn't leaving the soap permanently and that she had the full support of Seven executives. When it comes to pets, Bindi Irwin's daughter Grace Warrior is spoilt for choice. And the adorable tot was thrilled this week when she met the newest addition to the Irwin's family zoo. Australia Zoo have welcomed Sumatran elephants to the popular Queensland park, and the adorable bub was seen waving to the majestic animals as her uncle, Robert Irwin, officially introduced them in a video posted on Twitter. A tonne of love! Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell took Grace Warrior, eight months, to meet elephants at Australia Zoo for the first time this week Dressed in a cute onesie and a bow band on her head, Grace waved enthusiastically to the elephants as her mother cradled her in her arms. They were also joined by Bindi's husband and Grace's father - Chandler Powell. The family were also seen looking at and cuddling toy elephants in the gift shop at the zoo. Cute! Australia Zoo have welcomed Sumatran elephants to the popular Queensland park, and the adorable bub was seen waving to the majestic animals as her uncle Robert Irwin officially introduced them in a video posted on Twitter It comes after Bindi took Grace 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 also taken at the Irwin family's Australia Zoo. Hi! Dressed in a cute onesie and a bow band on her head, Grace waved enthusiastically to the elephants as her mother cradled her in her arms Koal-ity time: It comes after Bindi took Grace 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. Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock saw assets in her personal firm away from her bandmates hit almost 1 million this year. Accounts for Madeinthe90s Limited, owned by Leigh-Anne, 30, show her assets rose to 935,000 dwarfing ex bandmate Jesy Nelson, whos company revealed assets of 200,000. After taking into account a 117,000 tax bill and other costs, Leigh-Annes wealth in the company went up by 500,000 to 771,000. Kerching: Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock saw assets in her personal firm away from her bandmates hit almost 1 million this year The figures cover the 12 months up to the end of March this year and the company provides business support according to official documents. In comparison figures for Jesys company Jessica Louise Limited show reserves rose 78,000 to 169,000 after creditors were paid. Both women are millionaires many times over after years of success with Little Mix, but the companies both established in 2018, are channelling individual earnings. Money talks: Accounts for Madeinthe90s Limited, owned by Leigh-Anne, 30, show her assets rose to 935,000 dwarfing ex bandmate Jesy Nelson, whos company revealed assets of 200,000 Jesy, 30, has so far released one single and is planning a solo album in the new year. The remaining members of Little Mix revealed they are taking time out after next years tour but plan to get back together after the break. It's recently been reported that the girls could be set to earn billions in the future as they pursue their solo careers. Jesy left the group last December, with it now coming to light that she scooped her 3million pay cheque before departing to go solo. Earnings: After taking into account a 117,000 tax bill and other costs, Leigh-Annes wealth in the company went up by 500,000 to 771,000 Finances: In comparison figures for Jesys company Jessica Louise Limited show reserves rose 78,000 to 169,000 after creditors were paid And now the girls could be in line for some serious cash too, with Perrie reportedly set to launch a wellness brand. The Newcastle-born star, 28, has spent over two years secretly working on luxury brand Disora, and has filed a trademark application to cover jewellery, clothing and cosmetics, and her new venture is expected to launch very soon. A source told The Sun: 'Music is Perrie's first love and by no means has she ruled out doing solo songs in the future. But she is keen to do other things too and knows there is a huge market for women in their twenties and thirties who want a little bit of luxury in their lives.' A representative for Perrie was contacted by MailOnline at the time. Alessandra Ambrosio, 40, looked incredible as she showed off her toned arms and stomach in a two piece set for The Cut Brazil. The Victoria's Secret veteran was wearing a two piece, gold cheetah print skirt set that highlighted her chest in a low cut top. The long skirt she paired it with was high waisted, perfectly showing off her toned stomach. Alessandra paired the skirt with a black belt with a gold buckle. Alessandra Ambrosio, 40, looked incredible as she showed off her toned arms and stomach in a two piece set for The Cut Brasil In her Instagram caption she said, 'Golden touch.' The mother-of-two finalized the look with a gold watch, bracelet and black painted fingernails. The golden touch photoshoot was from behind the scenes of HBO Max's The Cut Brasil. Alessandra hosted the competition where 12 of Brazil's best hairdressers compete for the title. Alessandra is Brazilian-American, so it is understandable why she was chosen to be a spokesperson for one of the biggest shows in Brazil. Victoria Secret angel: The long skirt she pairs it with is high waisted, perfectly showing off her toned stomach. Alessandra pairs the skirt with a black belt with a gold buckle Mother-of-two: The Victoria Secret model is wearing a two piece, gold cheetah print skirt set that highlights her chest in a low cut top Alessandra is internationally known for her work as a Victoria's Secret Angel and she was also chosen to be the first spokesmodel for the company's PINK line. Now she has her own swimsuit line GAL Floripa. The supermodel has two children with Jamie Mazur, Anja, 13, and Noah, nine. Jamie is a business man from California who co-founded the iconic denim brand Re/Done. The couple went separate ways in 2018, after trying to keep their relationship out of the public eye. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal count alleging he willfully deprived George Floyd of his rights during the May 25, 2020, arrest that led to the Black man's death. He also pleaded guilty to an unrelated but similar count stemming from the use of force against a then-14-year-old boy, who is also Black, in 2017. Here's what the guilty pleas mean for Chauvin, and for the three other officers charged in Floyd's death. WHAT DOES THE PLEA IN FLOYD'S CASE MEAN? Essentially, it means Chauvin has acknowledged for the first time that he violated Floyd's rights. Chauvin admitted he knew what he did to Floyd was wrong and that 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." Floyd's family members said the plea brings a certain accountability, but they also said Chauvin didn't have much of a choice. "Hearing him accept accountability was nice. But I didnt feel a thing," said Brandon Williams, Floyds nephew. "That guys a monster ... He knew what he was doing. He had nine minutes and 29 seconds to understand what he was doing and stop kneeling. He chose not to." Terrence Floyd, George Floyd's brother, speaks during a news conference after former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of violating George Floyd's civil right on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 in St. Paul, Minn. Chauvin's plea Wednesday means he will not face a federal trial in January, though he could end up spending more years behind bars. (AP Photo/Nikolas Liepins) DOES CHAUVIN FACE MORE CRIMINAL CHARGES? No. Once he's sentenced on these federal counts, that will wrap up the criminal cases against him. However, he is in the process of appealing his state convictions. WHAT'S NEXT? U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has ordered a presentence investigation, and must still formally accept the guilty plea. Then Magnuson will sentence Chauvin at a date that's yet to be scheduled. With the guilty plea, Chauvin avoids the possibility of a life sentence. Instead, the defense and prosecutors have agreed to a sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years, with prosecutors saying they will seek 25. With credit for good time in the federal system, he would serve anywhere from 17 years to 21 years and three months behind bars. Chauvin is already in state prison, serving a 22 1/2-year sentence on state murder and manslaughter convictions. In the state system, he would've been released on parole after 15 years. So if Magnuson sticks to the range outlined in the agreement, Chauvin will end up spending more time behind bars overall. The plea agreement says it's expected that the federal and state sentences would be served at the same time - not one after the other. WHERE WILL HE GO? The agreement says it's expected that Chauvin will serve his time in the federal prison system, and that means he could go anywhere in the U.S. The judge may recommend a location, but that's not binding, said Ted Sampsell-Jones, a professor at Mitchell-Hamline School of Law. The Bureau of Prisons says it has a system in which it assigns a security level to all institutions, and also assigns a security level and custody level to all inmates. Classifying people is necessary to make sure each person goes to the most appropriate facility, the bureau says. WAS THIS PLEA SMART FOR CHAUVIN? Experts say yes. With this plea, it's expected that Chauvin won't serve a sentence much longer than he's already serving, said Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Moran said that since Chauvin already has the state conviction and would be looking at a possible life sentence on the federal charge, the plea is "kind of cutting your losses." Tom Heffelfinger, a former U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, showed good judgment in reaching a plea deal, because the federal case would have been just as strong as the state's. A federal prison is also preferable, Heffelfinger said: "You can assume that a state prison is not a safe or hospitable place for him to do such a long sentence." He also said the plea deal is good for the Floyd family because it gives them some justice. COULD HE BE FORCED TO TESTIFY? Moran said that's an open question. The plea agreement doesn't require Chauvin's testimony in the upcoming trial of three other former officers involved in Floyd's arrest. Chauvin gave up his right against self-incrimination by pleading guilty in the federal case, but he hasnt done so in the state murder case - and a pending appeal there could provide grounds for him to resist testifying in detail at the federal trial of the other former officers, Moran said. Heffelfinger said Chauvin also technically hasn't given up his Fifth Amendment right in the federal case either - because Magnuson could still reject the plea. Heffelfinger said it's rare for a judge to do that, but he has seen it happen. IS THERE POTENTIAL CIVIL LIABILITY? Yes. While Floyd's family and the city of Minneapolis have already reached a $27 million settlement in Floyd's death, the teen who was injured when Chauvin arrested him in 2017 intends to sue Chauvin, the city, police Chief Medaria Arradondo and possibly others, said Bob Bennett, an attorney for the man, who was 14 at the time. Bennett said the plea agreement proves the elements of the case involving the teenager beyond a reasonable doubt - and the burden of proving that the boy's civil rights were violated will be lower in a civil case. Bennett said this plea agreement is robust - laying out each element of the crime, and requiring Chauvin to admit to all of it. "What are they going to say?" Bennett said of the city, noting that Chauvin wasn't disciplined after the 2017 incident and was kept on the street. "He just admitted to a civil rights violation from soup to nuts." WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THREE FORMER COPS? The other three former officers involved in Floyd's arrest - Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao - face a federal trial alleging they violated Floyd's rights in January, and a state trial in March on charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter. There's nothing in the public record that suggests Chauvin's guilty plea will delay their trials. The three men had wanted their federal trial to be separated from Chauvin's - which happened with Chauvin's plea. "They just dont want the shadow of Derek Chauvin's guilt looming over them," Moran said. "It still will in a way, but not having him there ... might be helpful to the other three." ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd 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) On December 15, the Cabinet passed a bill to raise the minimum marriageable age for women from 18 to 21 years. This will bring the legal age for marriage for girls on par with boys, which is at 21 years. The bill comes after a 2020 Task Force report revealed that bringing the legal age of marriage for girls on par with boys will reduce the maternal mortality rates, and improve nutritional levels in women. However, it is still a bill. Now, a law is required to be passed in the Parliament to amend the laws that govern marriage such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, Special Marriage Act, and personal laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. But there are countries in this day and age that legally allow child marriages. Child marriages can be defined when one or both spouses are under 18 years. In some places, the legal marriageable age is even ridiculously low. And it is a no-brainer that young girls are the disproportionately affected group. Cabinet passes bill to raise the minimum marriage age for girls. Illustration: Seemon, DailyO Here are 10 facts on the minimum marriageable age around the world, and some might leave you in shock: 1. AUSTRALIA Are you surprised to find this country on the list? In Australia, an 18-year-old can marry his/her partner who is as young as 16, but with judicial approval. Basically, one person in the group of two has to be 18 years of age. The law doesnt specify any gender. 2. THE UNITED STATES Another surprise! Yes, child marriage is legal in the United States (with terms and conditions applied). Who would have thought? According to the human rights organisation Equality Now, child marriage meaning two or one of the people getting married can be below 18 years of age is legal in 44 states of the US. Only 6 states have the minimum marriageable age set at 18 without any exceptions. And in 20 states, the minimum age for marriage is not required if with parental or judicial approval. And whats the result? Equality Now reported that there were nearly 2,48,000 children who were married off in the US between 2000 and 2010; the vast majority of them were girls who were wed to adult men or much older men. 3. SUDAN The Pew Research Center reported that the African nation Sudan has the highest gender gap when it comes to legal marriageable age. Girls in Sudan can marry as young as 10, while boys can marry at 15 or at puberty without any parental or judicial approval. 4. NO MINIMUM AGE FOR MARRIAGE Almost all countries specify a legal minimum age for marriage for boys and girls, according to Pew Research Center. However, there are 6 countries that dont have any minimum age for marriage. These countries are Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. 5. MARRIAGE WITH PARENTAL PERMISSION In countries such as Iraq, Jamaica and Uruguay, children can legally marry, but with parental permission. 6. LESOTHO According to the Pew Research Center, about 1 in 5 countries in the world, that is 38, have different age minimums for men and women. And in 37 of the cases, the minimum age for girls is lower than the two. But not in this African country - Lesotho. The country has the same marriageable age for men and women, which is 21 years. Now, if India also passes a law to increase the minimum marriageable age for girls, it would be the second such country after Lesotho. 7. CHINA China seems to have the highest minimum age for marriage in the world. Men are supposed to be 22 years old to legally marry, while women need to be 20. 8. SINGAPORE While the majority of countries recognise 18 years as the legal age to marry, 27 countries require one or both spouses to be older than 18. And 14 of 27, or nearly half of the countries are in the Asia-Pacific region. We have already talked about Lesotho, the African nation to have above 18 legal marriage age. In Singapore too, couples need to be 21 to legally marry. And under-21 couples need special permission to legally marry. 9. BASED ON RELIGION In some countries, including India, the Philippines and Tanzania, the legal age for marriage differs by religion. The Philippines requires couples to be 21 to marry without permission, but not if they are Muslim. Muslim boys in the Philippines can marry as young as 15 and Muslim girls can marry at puberty. According to Pew Research Center, in Tanzania, a country in East Africa, Muslim and Hindu girls can marry at 12. But the marriage cannot be consummated until the girl attains the age of 15. 10. INDIA Speaking about religion, there are some ups and downs when it comes to the minimum marriageable age in India. The minimum marriageable age is different as per the Muslim personal law. It dictates that a child who has attained puberty can be legally wed. Usually, puberty is considered at 15 years of age. Recently, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that an under-18 Muslim girl can marry if she has attained puberty. On the other hand, the Karnataka High Court had ruled that the PCMA takes precedence over the Muslim personal law. Child marriages in India, across the religious spectrum, are a social evil that the country is still fighting. Its a different debate altogether whether raising the minimum age of marriage for girls will benefit or backfire. India may become one of the few countries in the world, like Lesotho, with the same minimum age for marriage for men and women, if it manages to pass a law, and also among the countries where the minimum age for marriage is above 18 years. 27.12.2021 2021 , , , . , , , . . , , . , , The DairyNews -, , , . Hyderabad: The management of Karvy Stock Broking Limited (KSBL), which indulged in bank frauds, have diverted Rs 550 crore to other accounts. The investigation officers (IOs) have filed a charge-sheet in connection with IndusInd Bank stating that the chairman and managing director C Parthasarathi had played a key role in the fund-diversion. Five cases were registered by Hyderabad CCS police and IOs filed a charge-sheet in one of the cases finding fault with Parthasarathi. In the five cases, police have identified a fraud of Rs 3,520 crore. At least Rs 2,700 crore worth shares and securities of customers were diverted to other accounts. A senior official said that they have filed a charge-sheet in the IndusInd case in which the accused duped a number of its customers by diverting Rs 550 crore. The investigation officers have obtained data of KSBL from RBI, SEBI, NSE, Income-Tax department and others. Investigation officers have collected witnesses from 120 persons in connection with the bank fraud. Parthasarathi established 20 shell companies and diverted funds to them. In the balance sheets, the accused showed business loss to divert the attention of investigation agencies. The KSBL had availed credit facilities of Rs 137 crore from IndusInd Bank by pledging securities and shares and personal guarantee of its CMD while suppressing the facts that the pledged securities belonged to the customers. It was also found that the KSBL management transferred Rs 1,000 crore to Karvy Realty company between 2016 and 2019. The Investigation officers are all set to file charge-sheets in the remaining cases before the court. With Christmas and New Year coming up, many multiplexes are planning to grow their business with new strategies. (iStock Image) The recent past has been a dreadful time for the cinema industry, as for so many others - but the big screen isn't ready to vanish! Back-to-back films featuring superstars have wooed fans back to cinema halls and multiplexes in Chennai. While Superstar Rajinikanths Annaatthe brought audiences back to theatres after pandemic-induced restrictions were lifted, the STR-starrer Manaadu proved how much film buffs had missed the theatre experience. Meena Chabria, an industry insider, says "The superstar factor in these recent releases was big. But it was the audience's need for a theatre experience that brought them back. They missed it and were craving it. Watching movies at home doesn't quite capture the thrill of going to the movies. The feeling of togetherness was missing and the conversations that they would have had with their friends was missing. So it's not a fluke that the multiplexes are filled. Theatre owners and cinema industry insiders are thrilled with the developments. Multiplexes and theatres around the country welcomed fans back with drum rolls and served sweets. In Chennai, mega cut-outs of superstars wowed movie-goers. With Christmas and New Year coming up, many multiplexes are planning to grow their business with new strategies. "A lot of activities are on the agenda this month, says Meena. In order to make the place more lively and happy, we are putting up special decorations. For Deepavali we put up great decor. For the Christmas season we are coming up with a wish tree where people can write notes about their wishes for Christmas and the New Year, she shares. Meena believes the Government directive that only those with double vaccinations should enter cinema theatres is a good step. She hopes things will get better when people learn to cope with the new situation. ED officials have seized an additional amount of Rs 51.23 crore lying in bank accounts and with payment gateways of NBFC. (Photo: Representational Image) Hyderabad: Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials attached Rs 51.23 crore worth assets of PC Financial Services Private Limited (NBFC) under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act - 1991 (FEM) for illegal activities in offering loans to customers based on mobile apps by which it collected huge amounts. According to ED officials, they have seized an additional amount of Rs 51.23 crore lying in bank accounts and with payment gateways of NBFC. Following the latest attachments, the total assets have been to the tune of Rs 288 crore. The firm runs a microloan application CashBean, which is operated by some Chinese nationals. A number of victims have obtained loans based on the app and were duped by its management. Earlier, ED officials attached properties of the company of up to Rs 131 crore belonging to Chinese- monitored companies and seized Rs 106.93 crore. One K Mounika (24) committed suicide due to harassment of CashBean app management after its staff posted abusive content on Mounika in December, 2020. Following the incident, the loan apps illegal activities came to light in Telangana. Police have found that Mounika first borrowed Rs 16,832 on November 1 from CashBean. As the due date of November 7 arrived, she borrowed Rs 22,000 from CreditBean on November 5. Mounika took a loan of Rs 2.70 lakh and paid Rs 2.50 lakh. However, CashBean staff began harassing her by sending fake FIRs, legal notices, and messages to her family members and relatives. Following Mounika's suicide, police banned more than 60 loan apps in Telangana and removed them from Google Play store. Visakhapatnam: The authorities are scouting around to trace 277 Indian nationals who returned from various foreign countries in recent days and vanished into thin air in north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. Police said 2,389 Indians as also one Malawian student from Southeastern Africa landed in Visakhapatnam since December 1. Some 2,389 people arrived from December 1 to 14. The medical personnel could trace 1,364 of these and the remaining are untraced arrivals, whose list is now with the police. The police traced 861 of these, but there was no clue on the whereabouts of 164 persons. Most of them are NRIs who usually visit their homes during the winter. They casually gave the name of the locality of their homes without any landmarks while boarding flights from the countries of their domicile. At times the phone numbers in the form filled by them were wrong, spelling of localities was changed. With much difficulty, we could trace 861 persons. We will trace the remaining very soon, said a police officer. A foreigner from Malawi who arrived on December 12 took the RT-PCR test the following day. He was isolated in a single room in an international hostel and the test results showed him negative. We have conducted RT-PCR tests on all those who have arrived in Vizag except the 164 untraced, said district medical and health officer Dr Tirupati Rao. Similarly 614 returned to Srikakulam, including one from South Africa whose test results are yet to be released by CCMB, from foreign countries and of them 520 could be traced so far. Search on for remaining 94 persons. In Vizianagaram, 338 returned from abroad and of them 312 were traced. Seven are from other districts. The medical teams are looking for remaining 19 persons. Meanwhile, Andhra University has admitted 80 students hailing from various foreign countries since November 5. The highest of 17 was from Angola and 15 from Swaziland. University authorities said two students from South Africa were also enrolled. The fate of the Afghanistan students is not known yet. Despite sanction of scholarship from ICCR and admissions by Andhra University and others, the fate of 400 students arriving in India is not known. Those who went for a short holiday after the Taliban takeover have also not returned, said dean of International Affairs, AU, Prof Dhananjay Rao. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm following the Opposition's protest in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and their demand for the immediate resignation of Minister Ajay Misra Teni. (Representational Image/ PTI) New Delhi: The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday following the Opposition's protest in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and their demand for the immediate resignation of Minister Ajay Mishra Teni. Several Congress MPs in Lok Sabha, including Rahul Gandhi, earlier on Wednesday have moved an adjournment motion in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident demanding the removal of Ajay Kumar Mishra as Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs. Speaking at the Lok Sabha today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "We should be allowed to speak about the murder that was committed in Lakhimpur Kheri, where there was an involvement of the Minister and about which it has been said that it was a conspiracy." "The Minister who killed farmers should resign and be punished," he added. Notably, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case on Tuesday termed the Lakhimpur violence that led to the death of eight people as "a pre-planned conspiracy". Local farmers had blamed Ajay Kumar Mishra 'Teni' and his son Ashish for the violence that claimed the lives of four farmers and a local journalist among others during a farmers' protest. Allegedly, they were mowed down by a vehicle that was part of the convoy of the minister in Lakhimpur Kheri. Videos were being circulated on social media, where a Mahindra Thar was seen knocking down protesters from behind. The minister and his son have denied the charges. However, Ashish Mishra and several others have been booked for murder. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm following the Opposition's protest in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and their demand for the immediate resignation of Minister Ajay Misra Teni. New Delhi: The third India-Central Asia dialogue will be held on December 19 in the national capital and it will be attended by the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday. It said the dialogue is expected to discuss further strengthening trade, connectivity and development cooperation between the two sides besides exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interests. The foreign ministers are also scheduled to jointly call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. HYDERABAD: The bike riders or cab and auto drivers who cancel the customers rides booked online can be brought before law under Section 178 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Cab-drivers will be challaned by a minimum of Rs 500 (for four-wheelers and above), said Vijay Kumar, additional commissioner of Hyderabad traffic police. The residents have been complaining about the abrupt cancellation of online bookings by cabs, autos, and bikes and of the long waiting hours till a vehicle comes in. Vijay Kumar said, Not many are aware that the police can help a complainant if he or she sends details of the rider or driver who cancels a ride or refuses to do the pickup, through twitter handle @hydp. They can also contact the Hyderabad Traffic Police helpline number at 9010203626. We immediately take action. City residents said they have to endlessly try to book a cab for around 30 minutes arguing and pleading. Mehul Kumar, a 26-year-old businessman, who often uses cabs to commute, said, Its a hassle to book a cab as it takes around 40 minutes. On an average I cancel bookings five times before a driver agrees to take me to my destination. They usually ask for the location by calling me and if the place takes about 25-30 minutes to reach, they simply cut the call. It would be difficult for them to get rides on return run. The issue is also about them being fooled by drivers by saying they would reach the location soon but do not. Phebe Beri, a 24-year-old corporate hand said she mostly books an auto online and waits for long till the auto driver accepts the request. If he does, she will have to wait for a longer time till he comes to the location, and eventually cancels the ride or asks the customer to cancel it. Sometimes it is not even about the distance. They just dont want to take the rides and they keep calling. Once they know the location, they at times cancel the rides, said Phebe. Fortunately, I have not been in trouble. But what about those who urgently need to get out of a place and cannot find a ride, she asked, adding that The charges are exorbitant. Most of the cab users say cabs are not at all reliable even when they pre-book and pre schedule it. Also, cab drivers sometimes pressurise customers to cancel the rides themselves and ask them to change their mode of payment from online to cash. Siddharth Ved, a 27-yearold businessman who uses cabs, said he gets repeated calls before finding a driver who finally agrees. He has stopped telling them the location because he might not come. It gets irritating and is very time-consuming. It is not even about day or night, they just do not want to go to suburbs as they would often have to return without a ride and waste fuel. They also ask me to change my payment mode from online to cash as the company pays them the money after 15 to 20 days, said Siddharth. He said the pre-book and pre-schedule option is of little help as even those rides are cancelled at the end moment. Other residents who use cabs also said the drivers are not paid the entire amount by the company and thus they demand cash payment on the spot. Most of those who are raising the complaints are Ola and Uber drivers and riders. However, when Deccan Chronicle spoke to those in a cab service provider company, they said, It gives the drivers the authority to take the ride or not take the ride if they cancel too much, they are even penalised. Several background checks are also conducted and if a driver cancels a lot of rides, he will be penalised. Belagavi: The Karnataka government has issued orders to raise the cash reward being given for gallantry and non-gallantry award recipient military personnel, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced here on Thursday. The Chief Minister who paid tributes at the War Memorial in Maratha Light Infantry Regiment Training Center as part of the Swarna Vijay Divas celebrations to mark the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Indian victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan said, he was proud to pay his respects for the martyrs who laid down their lives in defending the country. Announcing the state government's decision he said, "The reward for Param Vir Chakra awardees has been raised from the present Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1.5cr, similarly for Mahavir Chakra from Rs 12 lakh to Rs1cr, Ashok Chakra from Rs 25 lakh to Rs1.5cr, Keerthi Chakra from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 1cr, Veera Chakra from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, Shaurya Chakra from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, Sena/Nauka/Vayu Sena Medal from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and Mention in Dispatches from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 15 lakh." The reward has been raised by almost five times. Thus, their longtime demand has been fulfilled. "We take pride in honouring our armed forces," said Bommai. Apart from defending the country from external aggression, the defence forces are playing an important role in internal security too. They have contributed immensely to the technological advancement of the country as well, he said. Praising the valour of the Indian military, especially in the 1971 war against Pakistan, Bommai said, "It exemplified the power, tact, valour, and coordination of our armed forces. In the 13 day war, 3863 were martyred and over 9000 injured. India scored a resounding victory as over 90,000 Pakistani troops surrendered. It was a great example of battle management." Referring to the importance of technology in defence forces he said, technology is playing a bigger role in the military worldwide. India too is second to none in this aspect. "Our Prime Minister has empowered India in defence technology," added Bommai. "I am proud to be participating in this Vijay Diwas celebrations. Bangladesh is celebrating its Independence Day because of the helping hand extended by Indian military forces," he said. Tributes were also paid on the occasion for Chief of Defense Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and others who lost their lives in the recent helicopter crash. Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, Major General J V Prasad, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. It was sometime around 10 a.m., that the city police were alerted that a 23-year-old Somali national, who tested positive for the Omicron variant, was missing from a private hospital. (Representational Image/ PTI) Hyderabad: A man who went missing while undergoing treatment for Omicron variant of the Coronavirus gave some tough moments to Hyderabad police who launched a manhunt and traced him to a residential colony in the state capital within hours. It was sometime around 10 a.m., that the city police were alerted that a 23-year-old Somali national, who tested positive for the Omicron variant, was missing from a private hospital. The plan was that once the Somali man was found, he would be immediately transferred to the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences at Gachibowli and admitted to the special Omicron ward in that hospital for treatment and observation. Even more important was to find out just where all he went and how many people he may have come into contact with. When one of our teams found him in Paramount Hills Colony, Tolichowki, about two hours later, he was wearing a mask, a police official said. The official, involved in the frantic search for the man, also told Deccan Chronicle that initial suspicions led them to estimate that the Omicron positive individual might have come into contact with some 150 people before he was traced in Paramount Hills Colony. Hyderabad city police commissioner Anjani Kumar said, We formed 17 special teams to trace and hold the Somalia native who tested positive for Omicron and left the hospital without informing the hospital authorities. The teams included officials from the Commissioners Task Force, Special Operations Team, local police and the Special Branch. We took less than two hours to track him. As they set about their task of searching the city for the Omicron positive man on the loose, all the police officials had was a name, and a picture. However, the network of CCTV cameras in the city came in handy, in addition to information provided by officials at the RGI Airport, for zeroing in on possible locations where the 23-year-old Somali could have headed to. The 23-year-old is a student who arrived in the city from Sharjah and was admitted by his father to a private hospital in Jubilee Hills, and once he was informed that he tested positive for Omicron, he walked out and left the hospital. We tracked the path he took via visuals from CCTV cameras, a police official from the Task Force told Deccan Chronicle. Hyderabad: The state government appears to be setting the stage for a moderate, if not steep, hike in power charges to resolve the financial crisis being faced by the distribution companies in the state. A high-level committee, comprising finance minister T. Harish Rao and energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy and chairman and managing director of both generation and transmission utilities D. Prabhakar Rao arrived at a conclusion after three days of brain-storming that discoms had been suffering losses despite the strong backing from the government. It also felt that there was a need for finding alternative measures to reduce losses. An official press release sought to explain in great detail the financial burden faced by discoms on account of two flagship programmes of the government free and uninterrupted power supply to the farm sector and low-income groups on the domestic front. It also made a lengthy comparative analysis with other states. Telangana set a record for supplying 24 hours power, despite it being the newest state. Comparing the electricity tariffs of BJP and Congress-ruled states, the ministers expressed satisfaction that quality power was being provided to the customers at reasonable costs. For instance, Rs 1.45 paise is being collected per unit from customers utilising less than 50 units power per month. To give relief to the lower-middle and middle class families, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao extended Rs 10,000 crore annual subsidy to Discoms, the officials said. Among other states, Rs 3.30 per unit is being charged in Gujarat, Rs 3 in Uttar Pradesh, Rs 3.49 in Punjab and the highest of`4.02 per unit in West Bengal for less than 50 units of consumption. Even on the slabs front, Telangana has the lowest tariff. Telangana discoms are incurring expenses of Rs 7.24 per unit of power and they have been supplying at Rs 1.45 per unit in the less than 50 units slab, Rs 2.60 per unit in the under 100 units slab and Rs 4.30 per unit in the under 200 units slab. The variation in costs is being covered by the state government. For agriculture connections, Gujarat, UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal collect monthly charges from farmers, whereas Telangana provides free power, the officials said. The officials said that the state supplies power to the industrial sector at cheaper rates. TSNPDCL CMD G. Raghuma Reddy, JMD D. Srinivas Rao, TSSPDCL director Srinivas, Swamy Reddy and others took part in the review Kochi: Right to dignity and fair treatment is available to a person after death also and laws of procedure cannot be a hurdle to early burial of a body even it is a case of unnatural death, the Kerala High Court said on Thursday while directing the state to provide adequate infrastructure in five government medical colleges to carry out night autopsies there. The high court said that nowadays, in cases of unnatural death, bereaved family members as well as people's representatives -- like MLAs, Panchayath presidents and ward members -- can be seen queuing outside the police stations and hospitals for early conduct of inquests and post-mortems, respectively, for early release of the body so that they can pay their respects and carry out the last rites. The court said the first hurdle in getting the body to the relatives was probably autopsy timings as "from time immemorial" post-mortems are conducted during daytime as there was a belief that such procedures can not be done at night. The court also noted that in cases of unnatural death, even the inquest proceedings take time as "the police authorities will not reach immediately" and thereafter, an authorised or senior officer conducts it "after a long time". It also said that the Health department had issued an order in 2015 for implementing 24 hours autopsy and accorded sanction for post-mortems at night in five Government Medical Colleges namely, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, and Kozhikode and also in the General Hospital Kasaragod as a pilot project. The court said that after issuing the order in 2015, the government did not withdraw it but was even now saying that there were no infrastructure facilities for implementing night autopsy. "This stand itself is surprising. What has the government been doing for the last six years," it asked. Justice P V Kunikrishnan said it was the duty of the state to complete the legal formalities forthwith if an unnatural death happened and the officials of the government should hand over the body to the kith and kin of the deceased person immediately. "It is part of the fundamental right of a person under Article 21 of the Constitution of India to live with dignity and the dignity includes not only the dignity of a person when he is alive but also the dignity following his death. Society should not be permitted to show any disgrace to the deceased. "A decent burial of the dead body immediately after death without unnecessary delay in completing legal formalities is also a part of the constitutional right. The state cannot say that there is no adequate infrastructure or insufficient staff in the hospitals and there are financial difficulties to create such additional facilities for early completion of legal formalities in unnatural death cases," the court said. The high court directed the state government, its Director of Health Services and its Health department to do the needful to "forthwith" implement the 2015 order and allow night autopsy at the five government medical colleges at Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, and Kozhikode. It also directed the state to ensure that adequate infrastructure as well as medical and paramedical staff is provided at the five government medical colleges as expeditiously as possible and at any rate, within 6 months from receipt of the judgement. The court said medical experts also should understand that the financial condition of our state was not good. "..if the government is providing a minimum facility without any luxury because of the poor financial condition, they should cooperate with the government especially in a situation like the conduct of night autopsies "In other words, when the government is providing an 'air conditioned Maruti car with full facilities', the doctors cannot claim or demand a 'BMW car with its royal facilities'," the court said. Besides that, the Chief Secretary of Kerala was asked to "convene a meeting of the officials of the Home Department including the State Police Chief and the officers of the Health Department to see that the inquest and post-mortem of a body which is involved in unnatural death cases are completed within a time limit." "The Chief Secretary will issue a circular fixing the time limit for conducting the inquest and also fixing a time limit for conducting the post-mortem. It should be done within six months from the date of receipt of this judgment and a copy of the same should be produced before the Registrar General of this court," Justice Kunikrishnan said in his 42-page judgement. The judge said that the Chief Secretary should also order that once an unnatural death is reported it is the duty of the state machinery to complete the inquest and post-mortem within the fixed time frame and the body should be released to the bereaved family. "In the circular, it should be mentioned that disciplinary proceedings will be taken against officers who delayed the conduct of inquest and post-mortem within the time limit to be prescribed by the Chief Secretary," the court said in its judgement. The court said that the Chief Secretary should also declare in the circular that the expense for taking the body in unnatural cases to the hospital for post-mortem and to other places if necessary for conducting the inquest should be at the state expense. It further said that the state government will constitute a committee as per Kerala Medico Legal Code to find out whether the night autopsy is possible in all the hospitals, where the facility is available and "if the experts recommend the same, the government will accept the same and will do the needful". With these directions the court disposed of the plea moved by the Kerala Medico-Legal Society seeking directions to the state to provide the manpower and facilities for implementing the 2015 order of the Health department. The petitioner society had also sought directions to the state not to compel its members to perform autopsies on a 24-hour basis till the personnel for conducting autopsies and essential infrastructure are made available. The Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has also convened a meeting with all district collectors on December 18 at Pragathi Bhavan to discuss Dalit Bandhu and other issues. (DC File Image) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday returned to Hyderabad after a three-day visit to Chennai. Soon after his return, the Chief Minister announced a busy schedule to engage in government programmes and party activities across the state till December 20. He has decided to convene an emergency meeting of party leaders from state-level to district-level on Friday at the Telangana Bhavan. All the ministers, party MPs, MLAs, MLCs, zilla parishad chairpersons, District Marketing Cooperative Marketing Society (DCMS) presidents, District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCB) presidents, Rythu Bandhu district committees presidents, state-level corporation chairpersons and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) state executive committee members were directed to attend the meeting without fail. The Chief Minister has also convened a meeting with all district collectors on December 18 at Pragathi Bhavan to discuss Dalit Bandhu and other issues. Ministers, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and other senior officials will attend this meeting. He will undertake tours of districts from December 19 to launch various development programmes. The Chief Minister will visit Wanaparthy district on December 19 and inaugurate new integrated collectorate complex. He will also lay the foundation for the construction of new government college and also inaugurate the TRS district office in Wanaparthy. He will tour Janagoan district on December 20 to launch various development programmes besides inaugurating the new integrated collectorate complex. He has decided to visit a few more districts later. The schedule for Chief Minister's tour to Atchampet Assembly constituency, Nizamabad district, Jagtial distirct, Yadadri Bhongir district and Vikarabad district will be finalised soon where he will inaugurate new integrated collectorate complexes and launch several development programmes. Rao's sudden decision to conduct an extended party meeting on Friday at such a short notice has raised political heat in the TRS circles. The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of the TRS government completing three years in office in its second term on December 12. Party sources said the TRS boss was expected to chalk out the next phase of agitation programmes across the state to step up pressure on the Centre to procure paddy from Telangana in rabi. The TRS has already held two major agitation programmes against the Centre on paddy procurement issue in November. All ministers, party MLAs and MLCs staged demonstrations in all the Assembly constituencies across the state to press their demand on November 12. The Chief Minister himself sat on a dharna on November 18 at Indira Park along with his entire Cabinet ministers, MLAs, MLCs and MPs demanding the Centre procure paddy from Telangana in rabi. As the MLC poll code in the state which came into force on November 9 ended with MLC results on Tuesday, the Chief Minister has decided to keep the government administration and party activities on fast track mode. There have been no major administrative activities for the past one month due to election code of conduct. These apart, the Chief Minister is also expected to give a roadmap to party leaders on how to deal with opposition parties in the remaining two year tenure of the TRS government and retain power for the third term in 2023 Assembly polls. 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 dramatic shift towards an emphasis on the majority religion may have come about after a historic ruling in the Supreme Court settling the Ayodhya dispute and paving the way for the construction of the Ram temple. (Representational Image/ PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first phase of the impressive Kashi Vishwanath temple corridor project on Monday and 11 BJP chief ministers went to Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on Tuesday to offer prayers at the Ram temple project that has just taken off. The message is starkly clear as the calendar is all set to flip to 2022, a year of crucial Assembly elections, including in Uttar Pradesh, a state that holds the key to political power at the Centre. The images of a Prime Minister who holds a constitutional post in a democracy, secular by definition, performing religious rituals may have rekindled the debate about the role of religion in Indian politics. The fact is religion can never be separated from politics in India and has never been. The dramatic shift towards an emphasis on the majority religion may have come about after a historic ruling in the Supreme Court settling the Ayodhya dispute and paving the way for the construction of the Ram temple, years after the BJP was voted to power in New Delhi in 2014. What is seen today in the backdrop of high-profile religious events is that the UP elections are round the corner. The Opposition is aware of it too as was made evident by the prominent Congress leader Rahul Gandhi voicing that he is a Hindu but not a Hindutvadi and denouncing the concept of Hindutva as promoted by politicians for power. The message that he is a Hindu only stresses the point that religion is never far from politics in India, which in the last several years has tended to define it sharply in the decline of the Congress as a national party and the rise of the BIP. The play of politics should not take away the sense of aesthetics with which the cleaning up of the ancient Vishwanath temple in Kashi has been undertaken. That the redevelopment is a State enterprise is questionable but that it is driven by the ideological thrust of the right is understandable. The optics around the Prime Ministers opening of the corridor to the river Ganga might have been overwhelming but it does not defeat the argument that religion is the hottest political issue, especially in a region from which the ruling party gains its mandate to govern the whole country. The Oppositions stance on religion in politics ranges from the lefts unambiguous criticism of Rahul Gandhis soft Hindutva to the more ambivalent outlook of regional parties that are not averse to playing their own brand of minority politics, or appeasement as it is often described by the right. The fact remains that religion plays a part in the electoral politics of India in which vote banks are built by playing up to the sentiments of various groups among those of the majority religion or in appealing to shape the loyalty of the minorities. There is a distinction between promising welfare for all and offering development as a plank while tilting all power towards majoritarianism. But governance is often clouded by the ideological methodology the two opposing forces use when in power at the Centre or in the states. Ideally, State and religion should be clearly separated. It is a pity that it does not appear even remotely possible now in a country that once prided itself on unity amid diversity. By Bibhudatta Pradhan and Vrishti Beniwal, Indias 15 million gig workers are taking up the chant of their peers abroad and pressing for improved pay and benefits. Theyre addressing their demands not only to the creators of the apps that funnel them work but also to the federal government. In one call, we can mobilise thousands of drivers and delivery boys to come out to the streets, says Shaik Salauddin, president of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union. If millions of people are ignored the way it is happening, then surely it will reflect in the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is mindful that gig workers could coalesce into a new voting bloc and also influence the public mood if more of them take to the streets to demand better treatment. Yet his administration has been slow to implement a package of labor reforms approved in 2020 that would make app-based workers eligible for social security benefits, including retirement pensions and access to the health-care system. With several state elections scheduled for early next year, Modi wants to avoid sparking a popular backlash to other provisions in the legislation that would make it easier for companies to fire workers. That would risk a repeat of the recent showdown with farmers, tens of thousands of whom camped out around New Delhi for a year, forcing the government to repeal three farm bills approved in 2020. Indias gig economy has the potential to generate as many as 90 million jobs over the long term, according to a March report by the Boston Consulting Group and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, with total transactions rising to more than $250 billion. International giants such as Uber Technologies and Amazon.com are present, alongside homegrown unicorns like Zomato and Swiggywhich in the parlance of investors are food logistics companiesand Urban Company, an app that offers an assortment of at-home services including beauty treatments, cleaning, and repairs. Also read: SC seeks Centre's reply on plea for social benefits to 'gig workers' of Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Uber There is a lot of potential for these segments to grow at a significantly faster pace than you have seen in some of the traditional sectors, says Sonal Varma, an economist at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Singapore. The leaders of the next cycle may be very different from the traditional sectors we have been used to. As in other countries, the Covid-19 crisis has boosted demand for food delivery, ride-hailing, and other app-based services, potentially in a lasting way if consumers become hooked on the convenience. Its also focused attention on the needs of freelance workers, whether its access to toilets or pensions. The pandemic has highlighted the contribution of gig workers and made them more visible, says Nalini Gulati, an economist at the London-based think tank International Growth Centre. The pandemic has also underscored the vulnerability of this expanding workforce. Indias tech-savvy gig workers are becoming more vocal as their numbers rise. On social media they highlight their poor payas low as 20 rupees (26) per order for a food deliveryand hostile working conditions. In some cases theyre even urging users to downgrade ratings of the apps. In October, a festive month on the Indian calendar when at-home salon services are in high demand, beauticians on Urban Company took to social media and the streets to protest issues such as the companys high commission rates and late-night shifts that put women in danger as they travel to and from appointments. The company responded with a 12-point plan that included higher prices and lower commissions on some services and a new SOS helpline. Similarly, food delivery workers cannily took advantage of the buzz surrounding Zomatos initial public offering in July to stage a social media campaign highlighting their long hours and low pay. We believe in freedom of expression and welcome any constructive feedback, even if its from anonymous accounts, says a spokesperson for the company. Also Read | Centre may extend employment ambit to include gig workers Rinku Sharma, vice president of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, which claims more than 35,000 members in 12 cities, says her organisation is trying to put pressure on the government as well as companies to improve working conditions for gig workers. We work in unhygienic conditions. There arent enough public toilets, and thats causing a lot of health issues, says Sharma, whos based in Mumbai. So we all have to pool in money when something happens to one of us. Dandu Lakshmi, a 38-year-old cabdriver in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad who relies on ride-hailing apps for fares, is prepared to flex her political muscle to get Indias leadership to pay heed. My support will be for the political party which listens to me, says the single mother of two. I want a roof over my head. Some experts doubt gig workers will be able to wield the kind of influence Indias farmers do. Even as they are very active on social media, in the lack of an umbrella organisation that binds them together, they are unlikely to become a traditional vote bank, says R. Srinivasan, a professor of strategy at the Indian Institute of Management in Bengaluru. Salauddin, the union president, maintains that gig workers will be in a position to show their strength in numbers when a situation presents itself. That could be in Uttar Pradesh, a bellwether state where voters will head to the polls early next year. Salauddin says 12,000 platform workers in Lucknow, the state capital, are organised. In the meantime, Indias gig workers have petitioned the Supreme Court to compel the government to implement the social security provision of the labour reforms Parliament approved last year. On Dec. 13 the court announced it would hear the case in January. Check out DH's latest videos: Domestic premium electric bike maker EMotorad has expanded its international footprint with the launch of motorcycles in Japan and Nepal. The company had earlier entered the UAE market after making a debut in the domestic electric vehicle space. After rolling out its products among Indian and UAE consumers, EMotorad is excited to showcase its international range of EV products on a global level, the company said in a statement. "We have launched our e-bikes in Japan and Nepal," said EMotorad founder Rajib Gangopadhyay. The company has introduced T-Rex and EMX bike models in Nepal, while Glyder Xplorer and Dolphine models have been launched in Japan, the company said. Founded in 2020, EMotorad currently manufactures eight bike models -- T-Rex a Glyder, Xplorer, Dolphine, Doodle, Trible and Ener-G -- at its Pune facility, which has a capacity to produce over 90,000 bikes per year, according to the company. However, in the UAE, the company has a presence through four products, namely Doodle, T-Rex, Ener-G and Trible. Also Read Parliament panel suggests increased subsidy for electric vehicles EMotorad said it has big plans for Japan and Nepal in terms of driving e-mobility, adding that the company is also looking to introduce Doodle in Nepal and EMX in Japan in the near future. "Japan was a difficult market for us to tap but it is a good market to showcase the EMotorad product range there," it said. EMotorad co-founder and CEO Kunal Gupta said the bikes launched in Japan have especially been designed keeping the demography and customers requirement of the country. "The Japanese market is an evolved and futuristic one and never compromises on quality. Moreover, all the models are shorter versions, considering the physical appearance and likings of the people in Japan. So, we have made sure that all our quality parameters are up to the standard and match the Japanese market," Gupta said. EMotorad has its presence across 170 offline dealers in 65 cities in the country. The company claims to have sold over 16,000 e-bikes in India since its launch besides exporting 6,300 of its bikes to the UAE, Japan and Nepal. The Indian subsidiary of US-based helicopter transport firm BLADE has launched its scheduled by-the-seat services on Bengaluru-Coorg and Bengaluru-Kabini routes in Karnataka. BLADE first entered the state in December 2020 with its weekend private charter services. With the launch of the services on the two routes, travel time to the two cities from the state capital will be reduced from 6-7 hours by road at present, the company said in a release. BLADE India said it aims to connect congested and inaccessible surface routes in the country through an efficient air transport system and provide an all-around holistic experience through its baggage and ground transfers and partner benefits. Amit Dutta, MD, BLADE India, said, Karnataka boasts of some of the most beautiful destinations in the country, however, their accessibility is a pain point. 6-7 hours of road travel from Bangalore eat into the precious time that travellers could otherwise spend enjoying their holiday. BLADE mitigates this pain with an hour's seamless experience." BLADE India said that it has tied up with Evolve Back Resorts to enable customers to book their flight and stay at once; land at the property directly in an hour and be more accessible. We are excited to partner with BLADE India as they offer Helicopter Transfers from Bangalore to our resorts in Coorg and Kabini," said Thomas Emmanuel Ramapuram, Director-Sales at Evolve Back Resorts. This will give a huge boost to luxury travel in Karnataka and will transform the leisure tourism industry in the months to come, he added. BLADE India, a joint venture between BLADE Urban Air Mobility Inc, headquartered in New York, and New Delhi-based venture capital firm Hunch Ventures, started operations in Maharashtra in 2019. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Activists have started an online petition to save a grove in the All Saints Church compound from being axed for the Gottigere-Nagavara metro line. Addressed to the chief minister, the petition by members of the Environmental Support Group (ESG) has clocked over 4,500 signatures. The church is located at the junction of Richmond Road and Hosur Road. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) plans to cut 20 trees but the church congregation fears it may affect many more. These trees are over 150 years old and the roots have outgrown the canopy by five times, Ebenezer Premkumar, a member of the congregation for 35 years, explains. Felling the trees will affect peacocks, paradise fly-catchers and 23 other bird species that call the sacred grove their home. It will also rob a recreation space from people living in the old age home and students going to the special school within the compound. It is not possible for us to let go of this space, Ebenezer insists. Leo Saldanha, founder-trustee with ESG, informs that the patch has been used to hold funeral masses, weddings and fellowship functions. Such spaces add to the living heritage of the city. They should be held on to, he says. If Vidhana Soudha or Cubbon Park can be left untouched for metro projects, then why not the church, asks Leo. We are asking the CM to save it as a part of his legacy, he adds. It is one of a kind Its not just the grove these citizens are rallying to save but also the 152-year-old church, which according to an Intach report, qualifies to be a heritage site. It was designed by Robert Fellowes Chisholm, a pioneer of Indo-Saracenic style architecture. The church has an unusual truss (assembly of beams). It boasts of an aesthetically-done curved truss, designed by French military engineer Paul-Joseph Ardant. Thats why its called Ardant truss. The steel girder and truss used in the church are one of a kind in the whole of Bengaluru, Ebenezer explains why church members and residents around the area take pride in its heritage. If the metro work takes off and blasting begins, it may strain the churchs building and also the stained glass windows at the entrance and the altar. The church was built on a small budget, unfunded by the British government. It was built with uncut stones, and the foundation using lime and mortar. All these are at a risk, he says. The church is built on a lower level and the concretisation around it can lead to flooding, its another of their concerns. They also fear the encroachment of the church. Leo says the metros Detailed Project Report (DPR) states there will be no encroachment but BMRCL suddenly started acquiring properties around the Church. Where is the transparency, asks Leo. Move to Vellara instead Leo says the location around the All Saints Church is not ideal for a metro station. It will lead to traffic jams. Even if one vehicle breaks down or stops, there will be chaos. The triangulation of Residency Road, Richmond Road and Brigade Road will get jammed, he explains. He feels the station should be moved to Vellara junction instead. The DPR says metro stations should be equidistant from each other. So the Vellara junction is better, he says. Once the Vellara junction gets the metro connectivity, authorities should think of developing it into a nice hub for students of St Josephs College, Sacred Heart Girls High School and others in the vicinity, complete with libraries, coffee shops and socialising spaces. Check out DH's latest videos Existing vaccines and booster shots against Covid are sufficient to prevent Omicron infections, said top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci, as he advised against changing the vaccines to fight the new, highly contagious strain of the virus at this time. It has been known that Omicron evades efficacy from the current two-dose shots. A study from South Africa showed that protection from the two-dose vaccine against infection dropped to 33 per cent compared with 80 per cent before the emergence of Omicron. However, two doses are still 70 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation in Omicron patients in South Africa, Fauci told the public during a White House Covid update on Wednesday, the CNBC reported. "Our booster vaccine regimens work against Omicron. At this point, there is no need for a variant-specific booster. "Obviously, this is significantly down but there is the maintaining of a degree of protection against hospitalisation," Fauci said. As a result, a booster dose has been advised by several countries. A booster dose increases protection against symptomatic disease to 75 per cent, Fauci said, citing data from the UK Health Security Agency, the report said. "And so 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," he said. The unvaccinated are eight times more likely to end up in the hospital and 14 times more likely to die compared with people who are fully vaccinated, said White House Covid response coordinator Jeff Zients, citing data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, 36 states in the US have detected Omicron so far, and the variant makes up about 3 per cent of Covid cases nationwide. However, Omicron infections are likely much higher in New York and New Jersey, she said, making up about 13 per cent of cases. "Early data suggests that Omicron is more transmissible than delta with a doubling time of about two days," Walensky said. Sixty-one per cent of Americans are fully vaccinated against Covid and 27 per cent of them have received a booster shot, according to CDC data. About 68,000 Americans are hospitalised with Covid-19, according to a seven-day average of Department of Health and Human Services data as of Tuesday, up 9 per cent over the previous week and 21 per cent over the last two weeks. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Ten years after Kim Jong Un assumed power North Korea is better armed but deeply isolated and more dependent on China, despite actions by the young leader that raised - and dashed - hopes of economic transformation or international opening. Kims pursuit of nuclear weapons defined his first 10 years in power, but analysts say the path has left him isolated and facing perhaps the greatest challenges yet. Those weapons may stand in the way of political breakthroughs needed to improve a shattered economy and prevent millions from starving, as ongoing anti-pandemic lockdowns and sanctions that have left him over-reliant on China. Kim embraced a different style than his idiosyncratic father, seeking to "normalise" North Korea by institutionalising and delegating more leadership; winning international respect through nuclear weapons and summits with foreign leaders; and displays of transparency and empathy toward improving the lives of everyday citizens. At times that raised expectations of economic reform in the socialist state, or changes in its relationship with longstanding rivals such as the United States and South Korea. But systemic change has failed to materialise as Kim continued many of his father's worst practices, from political prison camps and brutal executions to tight control over the economy and society. "I think the experience of Kim's rule for ordinary North Koreans was a moment of hope in those early years followed by regression to the mean," said Christopher Green, a Korea specialist at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Kim will have to make hard decisions over whether to trade any of his arsenal to win sanctions relief, or find other ways to boost the economy, such as through a distrustful but vital relationship with China or allowing more economic and social opening without losing political grip. "(Sanctions) put an upper limit on what he can do with his economy but doesnt mean he cant get to a point thats much more comfortable for people than where he is now," said Robert Carlin, a former CIA officer now with the Washington-based Stimson Center. After the damage done by the pandemic, calls for controlled openness may again be heard from within the regime elite, but the challenges of turning the international situation in North Korea's favour are as big as ever, Green said. "Without a big uptick in foreign capital, the cause of economic reform is almost certainly doomed," he added. Weapons for sanctions Under Kim, North Korea conducted four of its six nuclear weapons' tests - including what appears to be its first hydrogen bomb - and developed a series of intercontinental ballistic missiles with the range to strike as far as the United States. For Kim that arsenal is the "treasured sword" that will protect North Korea - and his rule - from outside threats, while making the country an equal with other nuclear powers. But it also brought North Korea to the brink of war with the United States in 2017, and prompted even the country's partners in China and Russia to approve strict U.N. sanctions. Kim's attempts to win sanctions relief and a breakthrough in relations with the United States led to historic and unprecedented summits with US President Donald Trump, but talks have since stalled with Washington demanding Pyongyang surrender some of its weapons before any sanctions are eased. Kim will likely continue to "play tough" in nuclear diplomacy because further nuclear weapons development will increase his political leverage and bargaining power both in negotiations and during stalemates, said Duyeon Kim, with the US-based Center for a New American Security. "We can expect to see him continue to shape his personal and his countrys image as normal, modern, and advanced across all sectors particularly nuclear and economic, and even foreign affairs when the pandemic subsides," she added. After sending the China-North Korea relationship to a historical low by prioritising nuclear weapons and missiles development then harshly criticising Beijing for supporting sanctions, Kim managed to quickly repair ties, said Zhao Tong, a strategic security expert in Beijing. China now accounts for the vast majority of North Korea's limited international trade, and the current governments in both countries share the goals of promoting socialist ideology and countering Western influence, Zhao said. "Despite Kims preference of diversifying North Koreas international partnerships, he is likely to continue relying heavily on support from China and a small number of other like-minded countries," he said. Tightening control In his early years, Kim Jong Un experimented with economic reform in order to generate the surpluses he needed to run the patronage networks that sustain autocratic rule, said Green. "But it appears the risks of and opposition to this became too great in time, and he dialled it back," he said. A United Nations rights investigator has warned that vulnerable populations in North Korea risk starvation if the economic and food situation is not reversed. The pandemic has seen the government further strengthen its grip on the economy, casting doubt on the future of the black markets and as well as official businesses that many North Koreans had come to rely on. Kim's rule has seen the proliferation of new technologies such as cellphones in North Korea, but activists say he has simultaneously adopted a more high-tech approach to surveillance and oppressive political control as he seeks to outlaw and stamp out foreign influence and any hint of domestic protest. Still, it's not too late for Kim to make good on promises to improve lives in North Korea if he embraces diplomacy, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at King's College London. Ultimately, Kims time in power could be defined by his ability to raise the living standards of ordinary North Koreans once the pandemic is over," he said. Check out DH's latest videos The former chairman of Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue Shabbar Zaidi has said that the country is "bankrupt" and it is better to recognise the reality than "living in illusion". Zaidi -- who was chairman of the apex tax authority from May 10, 2019 to January 6, 2020 -- also called for transparency in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, saying he himself had not yet fully understood what it was. Addressing a seminar at Hamdard University here on Wednesday, he said everyone in governance kept on saying that everything is good and the country is running well. They say we have achieved great success and we brought tabdeeli (change), but this is wrong. In my view, the country is, at the moment, bankrupt and not a going concern, Zaidi said. Going concern is an accounting terminology referring to a business that is operating and making a profit. "It is better if you decide first that we have reached bankruptcy and we have to move forward compared to saying everything is running well and I will do this and that. These are all things to deceive the people," Zaidi said. Zaidi also called for transparency in the $60 billion CPEC project, saying that he himself had not yet fully understood what it was. He lamented about confusion over which projects were part of CPEC. The CPEC is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea. India has objected to the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. A video clip of Zaidi's speech was shared widely on social media. As soon as the video went viral, Zaidi on Thursday claimed that his speech was being "misreported" and only a three-minute portion of it was cherry-picked". "Yes I said that with this constant current account & fiscal deficit there are issues of bankruptcy & going concern but look at the solution," he tweeted. Zaidi said his statement had been made on a "basis & conviction". "I only want to say that (the) whole speech is to (be) read and listened (to)." In another tweet later on Thursday, the former FBR head said Pakistan's total foreign debt stood at over $115 billion, while its current account deficit was between $5 billion to $8 billion. "When will we be able to pay that debt? It is better to recognise the reality than living in illusion. We need to have a reality check," he said. Check out DH's latest videos Nepal's Defence Minister Minendra Rijal resigned on Thursday after he was defeated by younger leaders in the election to the post of general secretary of the ruling Nepali Congress party. The Nepali Congress (NC) delegates elected its youth leaders Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma as general secretaries during the 14th General Convention of the countrys largest democratic party. Also Read: Some forces out to spoil India-Nepal ties: Rajnath Singh The election comes a day after Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was re-elected as the president of the party for a consecutive second four year term after defeating his rival Shekhar Koirala in a run-off. Thapa, 46, secured 3,023 votes, while Sharma, 50, got 1,984 votes in the election. Former Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, 62, and Defence Minister Minendra Rijal, 64, among others, who contested for the post of general secretaries, were defeated in the election. Rijal on Thursday tendered resignation from the post of Defence Minister on moral grounds. Earlier, leaders Purna Bahadur Khadka and Dhanraj Gurung were elected Vice Presidents of the Nepali Congress party in the election. Khadka secured 2,121 votes, while Gurung received 1,908 votes to emerge victorious for the post, according to the NC sources. There is a provision of two general secretaries and two vice-presidents in the central working committee as per the party statute. NC leaders Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Chandra Bhandari, Mahesh Acharya and Sujata Koirala, daughter of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala lost the election to the post of vice president of the party held on Monday. Vote counting for other posts including deputy general secretary and central members are in progress. There is a provision to elect 134 central members, including party president, vice president, general secretary and deputy general secretary as per the statute of the Nepali Congress. Treasurer will be nominated by the party president from among the central committee members. The grand old party went to the polls to elect 13 office bearers - president, two vice presidents, two general secretaries, eight joint general secretaries and 121 Central Working Committee members. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The United States on Thursday put Chinese biotechnology firms on a trade blacklist, accusing them of advancing high-tech surveillance on the Uyghur minority. The Commerce Department restricted sensitive exports to the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and 11 of its research institutes over its biotechnology work including "purported brain-control weaponry," a notice said. Human rights groups have recounted unprecedented surveillance of the mostly Muslim Uyghur people in the northwestern region of Xinjiang including tracing with DNA and artificial intelligence operations to recognise and monitor faces. The research institutes targeted by the latest US actions include centres focused on blood transfusions, bioengineering and toxicology. Also read: Uyghur genocide report 'deeply disturbing', says UN "The scientific pursuit of biotechnology and medical innovation can save lives. Unfortunately, the PRC is choosing to use these technologies to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. "We cannot allow US commodities, technologies and software that support medical science and biotechnical innovation to be diverted toward uses contrary to US national security," she said. Rights experts, witnesses and the US government say that more than one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims are incarcerated in camps in an effort to root out their Islamic cultural traditions and forcibly homogenise them into China's Han majority. The United States has described the campaign as genocide and, citing the rights concerns, plans a boycott of official representation at the Beijing Winter Games next year. Beijing describes the sites as vocational training centres and says that, like many Western nations, it is seeking to reduce the allure of radical Islam following deadly attacks. Check out latest videos from DH: The 1971 Indo-Pak war is the golden chapter in India's military history, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the country's victory over Pakistan that led to the birth of Bangladesh. Singh also paid rich tributes to the armed forces personnel who fought the war. "On the occasion of 'Swarnim Vijay Diwas' we remember the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces during the 1971 war," Singh tweeted. On the occasion of Swarnim Vijay Diwas we remember the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces during the 1971 war. The 1971 war is the golden chapter in Indias military history. We are proud of our armed forces and their achievements. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 16, 2021 "The 1971 war is the golden chapter in India's military history. We are proud of our armed forces and their achievements," he said. The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh. India is hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the war Around 93,000 Pakistani troops had surrendered before the joint forces of the Indian Army and the "Mukti Bahini" on December 16, 1971, that paved way for the birth of Bangladesh. The defence minister also shared on Twitter a number of photos relating to the war as well as an image of the 'Pakistani Instrument of Surrender'. Check out the latest videos from DH: Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech has announced a donation of two lakh doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to the Republic of Vietnam. Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director, Bharat Biotech said that "the donation represents a goodwill gesture to provide access to the WHO approved, indigenously developed Covaxin to fight the Covid-19 pandemic across borders." Covaxin had received Emergency Use Listing in Vietnam. Also Read | Bharat Biotech studying if Covaxin will work on Omicron Ella made the announcement while speaking at an event hosted by Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly in New Delhi on Thursday. Bharat Biotech leadership was invited by the Embassy of Vietnam for a one-on-one meeting with Hue to discuss avenues of cooperation, supplies, and technology transfer possibilities. Ella wished that Covaxin contribution will help boost Vietnam's national vaccination program and recovery from the pandemic. We believe in vaccine equity, global public health ... I hope everyone in Vietnam will take advantage of having access to the widely administered, safe and efficacious Covaxin, said Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Biotech. Also Read | Results provide evidence for effectiveness: Bharat Biotech on Covaxin study Bharat Biotech had earlier announced the completion of Phase-2 and 3 trials of Covaxin for children in the age group 2 to 18 years. The data was submitted to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and final approval is awaited. In Vietnam, Bharat Biotech has been working with Duc Minh Medical JSC, towards the commercialisation of INDIRAB (Inactivated Rabies Vaccine). Duc Minh is Bharat Biotech's local partner in Vietnam. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The city police have registered a case against a person, who reportedly linked the Prime Minister with the recent helicopter crash near Coonoor in which Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and others were killed, in a social media post. Despite both the Indian Air Force and police asking the public not to post any opinion on the social media based on speculation, pending inquiry, one 'Naan Than Kovai Bala' (I am Kovai Bala) had posted some derogatory comments with regard to the crash, attracting condemnation from the general public. The person had on Facebook posted derogatory comments about Rawat and the crash and also linked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to it, which went viral, police said on Thursday. Also Read | Mortal remains of Group Captain Varun Singh airlifted to Bhopal The post drew condemnation from various quarters, including the BJP and other Hindu outfits and also from members of the public, they said. Based on the post, Saravanampatti police in the city registered the case under three sections including promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place or ill-will between different religions against Kovai Balan, the account holder, they said. Investigations are on, police added. General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 12 other defence personnel were killed when the Mi17V5 helicopter carrying them crashed near Coonoor on December 8. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Centre has agreed to set up the western zone office of the assistant commission for linguistic minorities in Mumbai, instead of re-establishing it at Belagavi, Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant said in New Delhi on Thursday. A delegation of Shiv Sena MPs led by senior leader Sanjay Raut met Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and requested him to set up the office in Mumbai. "Naqvi has assured us to locate the office in Mumbai and urged the Shiv Sena leaders to impress upon the Maharashtra government to provide space for the same," Sawant said. The office was originally located in Mumbai but was shifted to Belagavi after the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute flared up. However, due to a shortage of staff, recently, the Belagavi office was merged with the South Divisional at Chennai. Several leaders from Maharashtra also demanded re-establish at Belagavi. With Shiv Sena MPs demanding to shift office from Chennai to Mumbai, the Union Minister agreed, Sawant said. Does the government expect linguistic minorities from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Karnataka to travel all the way to Chennai to seek redressal of their grievances? the Shiv Sena leader asked. Check out latest videos from DH: A parliamentary committee on Thursday recommended setting up a statutory media regulatory authority for the regulation of the contents on social media platforms irrespective of the platform where their content is published, whether online or print. The Joint Committee on Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, headed by BJP MP PP Chaudhary, tabled its report in both the Houses on Thursday said that the authority can be on the lines of the Press Council of India. The panel said, at present, there is no single unified agency that regulates the various forms of media, specifically news media, in the country. The existing media regulators such as the Press Council of India are not appropriately equipped to regulate the journalism sector that seeks to use modern methods of communication such as social media platforms or the internet at large. Following this, there is a need for the establishment of a statutory body for media regulation, the panel said in its report. The Joint Committee of Parliament, had, last month, adopted the report. The proposed legislation seeks to provide the government with powers to give exemptions to its probe agencies from the provisions of the Act, a move that has been strongly opposed by the opposition MPs who filed their dissent notes. However, the suggestions made by the panel are not binding. Also Read Data Protection Bill first step towards new legal framework, says IT minister Chandrasekhar The Committee also recommended that no social media platform should be allowed to operate in India unless the parent company handling the technology sets up an office in India. All social media platforms should be treated as publishers and be held accountable for the content they host, the panel said. It also recommended replacing social media platform with social media intermediary. A mechanism should be devised where social media platforms, which do not act as intermediaries, will be held responsible for the content from unverified accounts on their platforms. "Once application for verification is submitted with necessary documents, the social media intermediaries must mandatorily verify the account," said the report. The panel has also favoured a framework to regulate hardware manufacturers, who also collect data along with the software. The panel also sought to widen the sphere of data protection legislation by including personal and non-personal data, saying defining or restricting the new legislation only to personal data protection or to name it as Personal Data Protection Bill is "detrimental to privacy". "The committee, therefore, recommends that since the DPA (Data Protection Authority) will handle both personal and non-personal data," it said. As soon as the provisions to regulate non-personal data are finalised, there may be a separate regulation on non-personal data in the Data Protection Act to be regulated by the Data Protection Authority, it mooted. In an incident straight out of a movie, a 22-year-old woman opened fire on her boyfriend of four years in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district over "increasing distance" in their relationship, just after kissing the man and smoking cigarettes with him, police said on Thursday. The man, also aged 22, was, however, left unhurt as the bullet grazed his abdomen, while the accused was later arrested, an officer said. The incident took place in Keshiya village in Katwa police station area on Wednesday night, he said. As per the police complaint lodged by the man, his girlfriend asked him to meet at a local circus ground upon her return home from Jharkhand, where she had gone a few months ago for a job, the officer said. The woman hugged the man, kissed him, they smoked cigarettes, and suddenly she pulled out a gun and opened fire at him, as per the complaint. However, the bullet missed his abdomen and the woman escaped the spot as the man raised an alarm. She was, however, later arrested and the firearm and cartridges seized from her possession. As per the preliminary investigation, the incident took place due to increasing distance between the two over the last few months, the officer said, adding that further investigation is underway. Check out latest videos from DH: At the completion of 50 years of the victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan, General V K Singh, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and former Chief of Army Staff, feels that the people of India need to know more about the valour of our brave soldiers and the Army during the war. The former soldier said that during the 1971 war, India not only defeated Pakistan decisively but also gave a message to the world by forcing 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to surrender before the Indian Army. This was unprecedented in the military history of the world. In an interview with IANS, General V K Singh spoke about the sequence of events that led to the war between India and Pakistan in 1971 and how the Indian Army made 93,000 Pakistani troops surrender before them and ended the war in just 13 days. He spoke in length about the preparations made by the Army in the run-up to the war against Pakistan and how the 1971 victory increased India's stature and its professional Army on the global level. How did the war start between India and Pakistan in 1971? In 1971, I had spent nearly one and a half years of service in the Indian Army. The Indian Army declared war against Pakistan in December 1971, but the activities at the border had been taking place several months earlier since April 1971. The Pakistani soldiers, who were stationed on the side of East Pakistan (currently known as Bangladesh) used to keep firing on the border along the Indian side. Many refugees were coming to India from across the border during that time. Apart from this, a lot of activity was taking place along the border during this time and the situation on ground remained the same till December 1971. There was a formal declaration of war only on December 3 after which the Indian Army achieved what was never repeated in the military history of the entire world. I am saying this because we fought in an area where there were rivers and sewers flowing and it was extremely difficult for the movement of vehicles or even to walk. Fighting there on foot and defeating the enemy in only 13 days and forcing 93,000 Pakistani troops to surrender before the Indian Army was a historic feat in itself. The more research is done and the more said about this extraordinary victory, the better it is because it will make the country aware about what our brave soldiers, the Army and the valiant Army commanders had achieved in 1971. You are absolutely right that there will not be any other battle in military history, which can lead to a decisive victory in just 13 days and 93,000 soldiers surrendering. What was the strategy of your senior military officers in 1971? The entire strategy of the 1971 war was made by Air Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. General Jacob of the Eastern Command did a lot of work and followed the strategy to win the battle. Lieutenant General Sagat Singh of the Army Corps under which we were commanded, played a decisive role in the surrender of Dhaka from the control of Pakistani troops. "Had General Sagat Singh not marched forward decisively and crossed the Meghna river, perhaps the condition of the Pakistani Army would not have been so bad nor would the Pakistani Army have collapsed so quickly to lose Dhaka." Apart from this, important victories were also achieved on many other important fronts in the battle. Be it the Battle of Hilli, the crossing of the Meghna and the Madhumati rivers speaks about the indomitable courage with which our army fought and won the war will always be recorded in history. By making a special strategy in the Battle of Mainavati, the way we deceived the Pakistani Army, they had to lay down their arms and surrender before our Army. It was a great fight in terms of strategy and valour and the results of the war were witnessed by the whole world. You said the formal declaration of war was made on December 3, 1971, but from the month of April, a lot of activity had started taking place along the border. How was the Indian Army preparing for the war during these months? Till December 1971 the Indian Army did not know that it would declare a war against Pakistan, but still our strategy was clear on how to strengthen ourselves and prepare in time before the war. We were busy with our preparations and were preparing together on many fronts. Our Bengali brothers who were in 'Mukti Bahini' (liberation army) consisting of the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary and civilians during the War of Liberation that transformed East Pakistan into Bangladesh in 1971. They played a significant role during the war. After the historic victory in the 1971 war, how did the stature of India and the Indian Army rise on the international stage? From the month of April 1971, the Indian Army had started strengthening itself. The entire strategy for the war was made by Air Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Our brave soldiers and Army commanders on the front showed immense bravery and forced 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to surrender before us. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi must be praised for the way she had prepared a political strategy during 1971 because she did everything that a good strategist ought to have done at that time. Watch latest videos by DH here: Hours after being accused by the main Opposition party, the Congress of sexually exploiting a widow from Bihar, Goa's Urban Development Minister Milind Naik on Wednesday resigned from his post to "ensure a free and fair probe" into the accusations leveled against him. In a statement issued late on Wednesday, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that Naik's resignation had been accepted by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. "Shri 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 Hon'ble Governor," the statement said. The accusation against the Cabinet minister and his subsequent resignation comes at a time when the state is heading to state Assembly polls in early 2022. Also Read | Goa Congress accuses BJP minister of sexually exploiting woman Earlier on Wednesday, State Congress president Girish Chodankar named Naik's involvement in the sex scandal, which according to the Opposition party leader involved in sexual exploitation of a Bihar-based woman in 2019. The woman, whose husband was working in Goa had met with a fatal accident and she had approached the minister for official work. "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 treated with kid gloves or the people of Goa will not forgive me," the state Congress president said at a press conference on Wednesday. Chodankar had also urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to help her with the issue. Youth Congress workers had also filed a complaint against Naik at the Women's police station in Panaji and also submitted evidence. Check out DH's latest videos President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday attended the Victory Day Parade as the "Guest of Honour" here as Bangladesh marks 50 years of victory in the Liberation War against Pakistan by showcasing its military might which included spectacular aerobatics and display of defence acquisitions. A 122-member strong tri services contingent from India also took part in the parade watched by Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as well as ministers, diplomats and other dignitaries at the National Parade Ground. The Indian contingent drew loud cheers from the crowd as it marched past with the announcer acknowledging India's contributions to Bangladesh's Liberation War of 1971. Read | Kovind gifts replica of 1971-era MIG 21 to Bangladesh President Kovind, who is here on a maiden three-day State Visit, joined as the "Guest of Honour" at the National Parade Ground to mark the golden jubilee of the Victory Day of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Hasina was seen excitedly applauding the march-past, the flypast, aerobatics display, armoury acquisitions of different regiments and contingents of the armed forces, on the parade ground. Earlier, President Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar. On this day in 1971, Lt. Gen. Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, heading 93,000 Pakistani troops, surrendered to the Indian Army under the command of Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora in Dhaka, and East Pakistan was declared as the newly liberated "Bangladesh". Watch latest videos by DH here: An important factor for Indias victory over Pakistan, while liberating Bangladesh, was the strong coordination between the political leadership and the army, senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has said, highlighting the strong role of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in the war. Indira Gandhi didnt show pride that I know everything. Main dupki lagata hoon is liye main sub kuch jaanta hoon (I take a dip, so I know everything). She had listened because the one who knows has to be listened to, Chowdhury said, as he addressed a gathering at state Congress headquarters in Kolkata, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Chowdhury recalled how Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw had told Indira Gandhi that fighting during the rainy season wont be possible as Bangladesh is a land where amid rain and flood army movement wasnt possible. Rather winter was an option. Indira Gandhi had accepted this suggestion. The politicians and the army... this coordination between them is a great factor for Indias victory, he said. Also read: Indira Gandhi took 32 bullets for country but ignored on 1971 War anniversary: Rahul Talking to DH, after the event, when asked if Indira Gandhis role is being underplayed, Chowdhury said, Once the issue of independence (of Bangladesh) will come up, certainly Indira Gandhis name will be cited. I do not know (if its being underplayed). He added that the independence of Bangladesh should be given due priority by celebrating it pompously. Its the liberation of Bangladesh. It's a historical episode in the subcontinent. For decades we have been nurturing good and cordial relations with the Bangladesh government. If any government doesn't think it prudent, it is up to the discretion of the government. But the fact is, cordial relations will ensure the security of our country also, he said "When our arch-enemy China has been exhausting all its resources to surround the country, India, at a time when China has been playing all kinds of nefarious designs to weaken the country, Bangladesh has been standing like the Rock of Gibraltar with us. As a gesture of goodwill and cooperation with Bangladesh, India should officially celebrate the golden jubilee of independence, he added. Check out latest videos from DH: Indian School of Business has entered into a knowledge partnership agreement with the Capacity Building Commission, an initiative of the central government to augment the capacity of Indias 25 million civil servants. CBC was constituted on April 1 this year with the mandate to drive standardisation and harmonisation across the Indian civil services landscape. As the custodian of civil services capacity building reforms, the commissions role is described as central to the overall institutional framework of Mission Karmayogi. The National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) known as Mission Karmayogi was approved in September last year with the objective of enhancing governance through Civil Services Capacity Building. Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean of Indian School of Business and Hemang Jani, Secretary, Capacity Building Commission, signed the agreement on behalf of the respective institutions, on Wednesday. ISB, through its research and training capacity abilities, would support CBC and government departments in realising the vision "to enhance the execution capacity of the Indian state by radically improving the governments human resource management practices." Dr R Balasubramaniam, member-HR, CBC said, While the commission strives to inculcate a culture of learning and building competencies to make the civil service a catalyst for growth, we are confident that the partnership with ISB would usher in new insights to achieve the grand vision of Mission Karmayogi. ISB would work with CBC as a training and content partner as part of the partnership. ISB would also create learning resources and teaching material, including commissioned research and a bank of case studies generated from the Indian public sector. Check out latest videos from DH: Family members of Group Captain Varun Singh participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Yelahanka Air Force base on Thursday morning. The body was subsequently moved aboard an An-32 aircraft, with the aircraft departing the airfield for Bhopal at around 12.30 pm. Singh, a decorated Indian Air Force officer who succumbed to injuries sustained in the December 8 helicopter crash which claimed the life of General Bipin Rawat and 12 others, participated. Five members of the family were present for the ceremony, including the Group Captains father, Colonel (retired) K P Singh, his mother Uma Singh, his wife Geetanjali Singh, son Radduman Singh and daughter Aradhya Singh. The event was also attended by senior officers from HQ, Training Command. The event was also attended by Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot who paid his last respects. Family members had said on Wednesday that the funeral is planned for Friday, 17 December, at Bhopal. In a statement yesterday, Colonel (retired) K P Singh described his son as a fighter, adding that he will continue to remain an inspiration for the young generation. We are proud of him." Watch the latest DH Videos here: It was Ajay Mishra's caste, which had played a crucial role in his induction in the union cabinet in its second expansion and it is his caste, which appears to have come to his aid at a time when the opposition is gunning for his head over his son's alleged involvement in the killing of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in October. Mishra, a 'brahmin', had been inducted into the union cabinet with a view to 'douse' the perceived anger in the electorally influential Brahmin community against the saffron party in Uttar Pradesh, where assembly poll is scheduled to be held two months later. Also Read | 'He is a criminal': Opposition demands immediate resignation of Ajay Mishra over Lakhimpur violence Although Mishra, who was popularly known as 'Maharaj' and had an image of 'muscelman' in Lakhimpur Kheri, was not known to be a familiar 'Brahmin' face in the state, his sacking could result in a 'backlash' from the community which the BJP could not afford as the community was considered to be among its 'core' vote bank. In fact, the BJP got prominent Brahmin Congress leader Jitin Prasada to cross over and inducted him in the UP cabinet to further woo the community ahead of the state assembly polls. ''We cannot afford to do anything that provokes the Brahmins at a time when the election is so close....there may be a backlash,'' admitted a senior BJP leader while speaking to DH on Thursday. Also Read | Yogi Adityanath's play: What the new charges in the Lakhimpur Kheri case mean A section of the BJP leadership was of the view that the demands for Mishra's resignation by the opposition parties could turn out to be a ''blessing in disguise'' for the party. ''We can paint the opposition as anti-brahmin,'' the leader added. BJP's worries over a possible 'Brahmin backlash' stemmed from the voices of discontent from among its own leaders, including MLAs, who had alleged that the Brahmins were being 'persecuted' under the current dispensation (Yogi Adityanath). A BJP legislator from Lambhua Assembly seat in Sultanpur district Deomani Dwivedi, who hailed from the 'Brahmin' community, had sought to know from the state government about the number of 'Brahmins' murdered in the state since the BJP came to power in UP and in how many cases the police were able to arrest the culprits. 'Brahmins' who form around 10 per cent of the electorate in the state, are a deciding factor on around a dozen Lok Sabha and over 50 Assembly seats. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Opposition stepped up pressure on the government for the sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra inside and outside Parliament with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence with the MPs disrupting the proceedings of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, even as the government on Thursday remained non-committal on his resignation. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi led the Opposition charge in Lok Sabha while in Rajya Sabha even before Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge could raise the issue, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the morning session of the House. Both the Houses did not transact any meaningful business during the day as Opposition MPs shouted slogans insisting on the sacking of Mishra, whose son was arrested in connection with the killing of four protesting farmers and journalists in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, leading to the adjournment of the proceedings for the day. Also read: Derek O'Brien feels Ajay Mishra Teni now in 'un-TENI-able' position as Opposition demands his immediate resignation In Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla called Rahul to pose his question on the MSME sector and the Congress leader used the opportunity to call for the resignation of Mishra. "This minister should be removed from the government...Action should be taken against him...We should be allowed to speak about it," Rahul said in Lok Sabha. As the din continued, Birla first adjourned the House till 2 pm. When re-assembled, similar scenes repeated in Lok Sabha with the Chair adjourning the House for the day. In Rajya Sabha, Opposition members attempted to raise the issue but Naidu adjourned the House till 2 pm. Deputy Chairman Harivansh also adjourned the House soon after the House re-assembled at 2 pm as he could not take forward the debate on the situation arising out of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron. "The Supreme Court-monitored investigation is going on in the case. Parliament is a place for discussions. We want to take constructive suggestions from the Opposition. We call them for discussions but they refuse," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi told reporters. Also read: Youth Congress protests demanding dismissal of Ajay Mishra While Youth Congress activists staged a protest near Parliament, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not sacking Mishra and said carefully curated spectacles of piety and wearing religious attire will not change the "fact that you are protecting a criminal". "The government's refusal to sack Ajay Mishra Teni is the starkest indication of its moral bankruptcy. @narendramodi-ji, carefully curated spectacles of piety and wearing religious attire will not change the fact that you are protecting a criminal... Ajay Mishra Teni should be sacked and charged in accordance with the law," she tweeted. Ajay Mishra Teni should be sacked and charged in accordance with the law. 2/2 Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 16, 2021 Kharge told reporters, "If the Prime Minister is not taking action against Mishra even after the SIT report, then we are forced to say that the PM is protecting the Minister." Referring to Naidu adjourning the House "without even allowing" them to mention the issue, he said, "Even before we could mention our notice on Lakhimpur Kheri, the Chairman adjourned the House till 2 pm. The moment we got up to raise the issue, the House was adjourned. What does it mean? The Chairman is supposed to protect our rights." Watch the latest DH Videos here: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid protests by Opposition members demanding sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The Opposition members, including Trinamool leaders, trooped to the Well of the House as soon as Speaker Om Birla called for the Question Hour. As the Speaker called Congress member Rahul Gandhi, who had a question listed on Thursday, he demanded removal of Mishra from the council of minister. "This minister should be removed from the government. He is a criminal," Gandhi said adding that Mishra was "involved" in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The Speaker asked Gandhi to limit his supplementaries to the question related to the MSME sector that was listed against his name. As Gandhi continued demanding the ouster of Mishra from the Council of Ministers, BJP members stood up and raised slogans. As the sloganeering continued, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings. Eight people, including four farmers, were killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in October. The SIT has arrested 13 people including the Union minister's son Ashish Mishra in the first FIR in connection with the death of the four farmers and the 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. Watch latest videos by DH here: Russia has proposed a trilateral summit among its President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping notwithstanding Chinas continued belligerence all along its disputed boundary with India. However, New Delhi remained non-committal on the proposal. Putin had a videoconference with Xi on Wednesday and one of the issues the two leaders discussed was the prospects of trilateral cooperation within the framework of the Russia-India-China (RIC). They agreed to continue exchanging opinions in this regard and to endeavour to hold the next summit within the RIC framework in the near future, Putins aide, Yury Ushakov, was quoted by Russias TASS news agency on Thursday. New Delhi, however, remained non-committal on the proposal from Moscow. Also Read In India visit, Putin's message to the US and China Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Thursday recalled the last virtual meeting of the Russian, Indian and Chinese Foreign Ministers on November 26, but declined to confirm any further development on the RIC. He was responding to questions from journalists about the possibility of Modi, Putin and Xi holding a trilateral summit, as indicated by the aide of the Russian President in Moscow. Modi, Putin and Xi had held the second RIC summit on the sideline of the G-20 conclave in Buenos Aires in December 2018 almost 12 years after the then leaders of the three nations had held the first trilateral meeting. This was followed by the third RIC summit on the sideline of the G-20 meet in Osaka in June 2019. The summit, however, could not be held in 2020 and 2021, as the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world and Indias relations with China hit a new low over the military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two nations in eastern Ladakh. The Russian President held the videoconference with the Chinese President less than 10 days after he visited New Delhi and had a bilateral summit with the Prime Minister of India. The Modi-Putin summit in New Delhi on December 6 was preceded by the India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue, held between foreign and defence ministers of the two sides. The back-to-back engagements saw India underlining its enhanced requirement of military and military-technical cooperation with Russia to meet the security challenges it was confronted with, particularly the aggression by China along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Also Read Putin, Xi hail Russia-China ties during virtual summit The proposal for a trilateral Putin-Modi-Xi summit came amid the continuing stand-off between the Indian Army and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army along the LAC the de facto boundary between the two nations in the western sector. The stand-off started in April-May 2020, when the Indian Army had to deploy additional troops in response to the Chinese PLAs move to amass a large number of troops near the LAC, seen as an obvious attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the disputed boundary and the push the line westward. It reached a flashpoint on June 15, 2020, when 20 Indian Army soldiers and at least four Chinese PLA personnel were killed in a violent clash at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. The Modi-Putin summit on December 6 saw the two sides agreeing to intensify cooperation among Russia, India and China within the RIC framework to promote common approaches to pressing issues on the global and regional agenda, according to a joint statement issued both in New Delhi and Moscow after the meeting. In an all-out attack on the Lakhimpur Kheri issue, the Youth Congress on Thursday held a protest against the Central Government demanding the dismissal of the Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni. Youth Congress President Srinivas BV, addressing the workers said that the country has understood the chronology of the BJP, now BJP's policy of 'crush and destroy' will not work. The country is demanding the dismissal of the minister to bring justice to the farmers who died in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre. He said, days before the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, the Prime Minister's beloved minister was threatening farmers to 'mend your ways or I will mend you' and a few days after that Lakhimpur Kheri massacre took place. Also Read | LS adjourned for the day amid uproar over Lakhimpur Kheri violence He alleged that the Prime Minister's speeches are beyond the truth. The Prime Minister, who praised the farmers in the speeches, should tell - "why is the father of the accused of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre is not being sacked from the post of the minister?" he added. The involvement of the minister's son in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre has been proved. Even after this, the government and the administration are engaged in doing injustice, so it is necessary to raise a voice, he said. Youth Congress in a statement said, "The level at which the government has come down to save the culprits of the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre is not hidden from anyone. By not sacking the Minister of State for Home, the BJP high command has exposed its anti-farmer face. He also said that we will not leave them until the Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni resigns. Check out the latest videos from DH: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the BJP government doesnt want a hearing of petitions challenging the validity of revocation of Article 370 in Supreme Court as it would be impossible for them to defend it. If the petitions challenging revocation of Article 370 had been in favour of the Centre, the hearing would have taken place in the Supreme Court a long ago. They (BJP government) know they cant defend it that is why there has not been a single hearing so far, he told reporters on the sidelines of a party convention in north Kashmirs Bandipora. On August 5, 2019, the Parliament scrapped J&Ks special status under Article 370 and also bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. Around two dozen petitions filed by various political parties and individuals have challenged the validity of the J&K Reorganisation Act and the nullification of Article 370 in the Supreme Court. However, the petitions remain pending before the apex court for over two years. Also Read 96 civilians, 366 terrorists killed in Kashmir after Article 370 repeal: Nityanand Rai On August 28, 2019, the Supreme Court had referred these petitions to a five-judge Constitution Bench. In March last year, it had refused to refer it to a larger bench of seven judges. The Supreme Court can always turn the clock back, a five-judge Constitution Bench had said on October 1, 2020, when it took up the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 and the August 5 Presidential Orders nullifying Article 370 that gave special status to J&K. Abdullah said that the BJP government knows that its 2019 decision was unconstitutional and undemocratic and they are afraid to face it in the court, which is why there has been no hearing. If the BJP gets a majority during elections in Jammu and Kashmir, it will pass a resolution in the assembly to support its August 5, 2019 decision. To get the majority in J&K Assembly, they have created new political parties here to divide votes, the former CM alleged. Replying to a question on land purchased in Jammu and Kashmir by outsiders, he said that Article 370 is not about land, but about the identity of the erstwhile state. Asked whether the NC will participate in Delimitation Commissions December 20 meeting in New Delhi, Omar said, There should be only one agenda before the Commission that this (delimitation of assembly seats) should be done on the basis of 2011 census and not support few political parties. Two local militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/The Resistance Front (TRF) were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmirs Kulgam district on Thursday. #KulgamEncounterUpdate: 02 unidentified #terrorists killed. Search going on. Further details shall follow, Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. The gunfight broke out in Redwani Bala village of Kulgam during the wee hours of Thursday after the security forces cordoned off the area following inputs about the presence of militants there, reports said. A police official said as the security forces approached the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, as they tried to break the security cordon. However, the two were killed during the encounter that lasted several hours, he said. While the police were yet to identify the deceased militants, sources said, they were affiliated with TRF, an affiliate of Pakistan-based LeT outfit and were locals. In the last five days, six militants have been killed in various encounters across Kashmir. On Wednesday, a top Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant, Feroz Ahmad Dar, was killed in the neighbouring Pulwama district. Also Read | Top Pakistani LeT terrorist killed in encounter with Army in Poonch On Monday, two more militants were killed at Rangreth on the outskirts of Srinagar city. Another militant was killed in the Awantipora area of Pulwama on Sunday. 159 militants have been killed in the Valley so far this year, of which 137 were locals and 22 Pakistanis. In 2020, the number of militants killed in the Valley stood at 195. According to official estimates over 200 militants were still active in the Valley. Check out the latest videos from DH: Four new cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant has been reported in Delhi, taking the total tally in the national capital to 10. Of the six, a 37-year-old from Ranchi, who was the first Omicron patient in Delhi, has been discharged, while the remaining nine are all stable with mild symptoms. Four more cases were reported from Telangana in the evening, while Karnataka added five more cases to its Omicron tally. Come back tomorrow for the latest Coronavirus updates from across the world on Deccan Herald. States are carrying out significantly fewer Covid-19 tests, which can provide the first signal of a new surge caused by the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, scientists and public health officials said on Wednesday, as the number of such cases crossed 70. Since November 26, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) described Omicron as a variant of concern, the number of daily Covid tests in India never crossed the 1.3-million mark, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which monitors Indias daily Covid-19 testing. Compared to November last week, there is a marginal increase of 20,000 daily tests on an average now, which could be due to the increased surveillance at airports after the new variant spread to 60-plus nations. But the level of testing in India is nowhere close to what the experts suggest. Also Read Covid: Micro-containment zones in Bengaluru double in just two weeks Five million daily tests would have been a good figure for now, distributed across all states, with the option of ramping it up to 20-25 million in a surge situation, Gautam Menon, professor of physics and biology, Ashoka University, who is tracking the pandemic since last year, told DH. The maximum that was achieved was nearly 1.29 million tests conducted on December 8 and 9 after which the numbers dropped again. Since last week, the Health Ministry twice asked the states to augment testing and active case search. The need to increase surveillance was also highlighted at a high-level review meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi on November 27 a day after the WHO declaration. India already has community transmission and it will spread. Everyone showing up in a hospital for anything from fever to flu symptoms to pneumonia should also be tested. Remember thats how South Africa caught its first cases, explained virologist Shahid Jameel. Jameel and other experts fear Omicron cases would rise manifold by January. After West Bengal reported its first Omicron case, eight states have now reported the new variants, with Maharashtra leading the chart with 32 cases followed by Rajasthan (17) and Delhi (6). Jameel and other experts fear Omicron cases would rise manifold by January and airport testing will only delay a surge that will come from local transmission not travelers. Fortunately, all the cases reported in India so far are mild ones. People with symptoms should be tested. The syndromic approach should be expanded to any symptoms rather than ILI, SARI and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). This is mainly because of the atypical symptoms associated with the Omicron variant, said Giridhara Babu, an epidemiologist at the Public Health Foundation of India, Bengaluru. Check out DH's latest videos 'Operation Searchlight' carried out by the Pakistani forces in 1971 is one of the most "horrific examples of mass atrocities and brutal killings in recent history", Union minister S Jaishankar said Thursday on the 50th anniversary of India's victory over Pakistan in the war. The external affairs minister was speaking at a BSF event held to commemorate the day and to honour the role of the troops of the paramilitary force. Delivering his keynote address, Jaishankar said the Border Security Force played a critical role in the liberation of Bangladesh and the country salutes the officers and men whose resolve and valour created history in 1971. This victory of the Indian Army along with the BSF led to the birth of Bangladesh. "Operation Searchlight truly remains one of the most horrific examples of mass atrocities and brutal killings in recent history. Also Read 1971 war golden chapter in India's military history: Rajnath Singh "But the people of Bangladesh rose against this brutal aggression under the heroic leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," the minister said. 'Operation Searchlight' was the codename the Pakistani Army used for its action against the Bangladeshi nationalist movement. Jaishankar said there was spontaneous support in India for the people and freedom fighters of the eastern neighbour and "our political, diplomatic and military efforts in support of people of Bangladesh in their struggle to uphold democratic rights is now well recognised." Jaishankar said the BSF, which guards the 4,000-kilometre-long India-Bangladesh border, was a "key stakeholder" in India- Bangladesh friendship. He said the force, which was raised in 1965, was still in infancy when the 1971 war took place. "In many ways, the experience of 1971 was its initiation by fire. Yet, the exceptional bravery displayed by BSF battalions, both at eastern and western fronts, contributed to an outcome that was in India's favour. None of us can ever forget the genocidal campaign launched by Pakistani forces against the people of Bangladesh in March 1971," he said. Jaishankar said the BSF, during this war, "grappled" with the immediate consequences as 10 million refugees had come to India and they were living in tents in border areas. "The people of India opened their hearts and extended support...the BSF managed the evolving situation on the ground with unmatched tact and compassion." "Often the generosity of people of India found their way through the BSF personnel on the ground as they provided moral and material support to those who were fleeing from the atrocities of Pakistani forces and taking part in the freedom struggle of Bangladesh," Jaishankar said. Also Read PM Modi recalls valour, sacrifice of Bangladeshi freedom fighters, India's forces on Vijay Diwas He said the people of 'Awami League' took shelter in India and the BSF played a key role by supporting the government in exile and the Mukti Bahini..." The minister said both the countries shared "deep historical bonds" and the BSF and its counterpart BGB were jointly undertaking the task of taking the ties between the two neighbouring countries forward. He said guarding this front was an important task "given the unique nature of this porous border where people live close to the border and share ethic and cultural ties. The BSF has been undertaking this complex and multi-faceted task for the past five decades and its contribution in ensuring peace at the borders in close cooperation with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is critical in sustaining friendship between our people in partnership," the minister said at the event, which was also attended by the diplomats of Bangladesh and some 'Muktijoddhas' who fought for their country. Talking about the road ahead, Jaishankar said, Any contemporary policy naturally rests on our historical foundation and the BSF can truly claim to have shaped both in equal measure. He said the border force "continues to play a crucial role in India's robust engagement with Bangladesh and maintaining a peaceful border, preventing trans-border crimes and other illegal activities." There has been a significant progress in terms of opening up of new and pre-existing railways, roads and waterways between India and Bangladesh and several efforts are under way to further boost multi-modal cross-border connectivity for seamless movement of people and goods, he said. As a result, both countries share a growing trade partnership, he said. Jaishankar said Bangladesh was India's largest trade partner in South Asia and "despite Covid related impediments bilateral trade between the two nations has now touched $10 billion." Also Read RSS chief pays tribute to soldiers on Kargil Vijay Diwas He concluded by saying that BSF was a "key partner" in this whole government approach. The Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Md Nurul Islam, also spoke at the event and said the ties between the two neighbours were "ever growing". He added that "sensitive" issues between the two countries required to be dealt with in a "more humane" manner. BSF director general Pankaj Kumar Singh said the force was proud of the fact that it was the "first point of contact" for the Bangladesh freedom fighters in 1971. As per official records, a total of 125 BSF personnel were killed and 392 injured, while 133 were reported missing after the war ended on December 16 of 1971, with the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops before the Indian forces in Dhaka. Proceedings in both Houses were adjourned till 2 pm. Lok Sabha session was adjourned following the Opposition's protest in the House over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and their demand for the immediate resignation of Minister Ajay Misra Teni. Stay tuned for updates on today's House proceedings. President Ram Nath Kovind has presented a replica of the 1971-era MIG 21 aircraft to his counterpart Abdul Hamid here to commemorate the joint sacrifices made by the armed forces of India and Bangladesh during the 1971 liberation war. President Kovind is here on a three-day state visit, his first trip abroad since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, to participate in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Victory Day on Thursday at which he is the guest of honour. The original aircraft has been installed at the Bangladesh National Museum. This is also in tribute to the memory of the over 1,660 Indian Armed Forces personnel who sacrificed their lives for a common cause in the liberation of Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said. 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. Also read: Bangladesh has 'special place' in Indias neighbourhood first policy, says President Kovind President Kovind has also announced the gifting of the Bapu Bangabandhu Digital exhibition to Bangladesh, which will be now housed in the Liberation War Museum, the Foreign Secretary during a press briefing here on Wednesday night. The Indian government has also decided to review the Nutan India-Bangladesh Maitree Muktijodha Sonatan Scholarship Scheme for the heirs of Bangladesh muktijodhas. The scheme was launched in April 2017, during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, Shringla said. During this scheme, the Government of India had sanctioned over 10,000 scholarships for heirs of Muktijodhas for over five years. Undergraduate students will get a one-time grant of Taka 50,000 and Higher Secondary students Taka 20,000 respectively. These scholarships for Bangladeshi students were introduced to further enhance relations between the two countries. Shringala also welcomed the appointment of the Bangabandhu Chair at the Delhi University. In March this year, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations had established this position to honour Bangladeshs founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On Wednesday, former Bangladesh secretary Shahidul Haque was appointed the first occupant of the prestigious Bangabandhu Chair at the Delhi University by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. When our Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh in March this year, he announced the creation of the Bangabandhu Chair at Delhi University. The first occupant of this chair was announced today by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Shringla explained. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Supreme Court Collegium is learnt to have refused confirmation to Justice Pushpa Ganediwala as a permanent judge of the Bombay High Court in view of her controversial skin-to-skin judgement. The woman judge faced widespread criticism after she granted bail to a man accused of groping a minor, saying that there was no skin-to-skin contact and hence, it cannot be termed as sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The top court had subsequently overturned the judgement. Also read: SC Collegium approves proposal for appointment of 3 additional judges as permanent judges In its latest recommendations, the Collegium approved the proposal for the appointment of three additional judges of the High Court Justices Madhav Jayajirao Jamdar, Amit Bhalchandra Borkar and Shrikant Dattatray Kulkarni, as permanent judges. Additional judge Abhay Ahuja was granted a fresh term of one year as an additional judge. However, Justice Ganediwala has neither received an extension nor confirmation. Once her term ends in February 2022, she will have to return as a district judge. Check out latest videos from DH: Five years after it wrapped up excavation in Keeladi in Tamil Nadus Sivaganga district, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has set in motion the process to write a detailed report on the findings in the first two phases of the exercise, during which over 5,800 artefacts were unearthed. The ASI, which successfully conducted the first two phases in 2015 and 2016, had announced in 2017 that the third phase yielded no significant findings leading to an uproar in Tamil Nadu, where allegations of the Union government trying to bury the past glory of Tamils flew thick and fast. A PIL was filed in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court as the ASIs declaration came after the superintending archaeologist who oversaw the first two phases was transferred to Assam and a new person was brought in. The court then asked the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) to take over the excavation from the fourth phase in 2018. The TNSDA has now sought permission for conducting the eighth phase of excavation in Keeladi from the Central Advisory Board for Archaeology (CABA). Also Read Archaeological excavation at Keeladi, Sivagalai to resume in 2022 K Amarnath Ramakrishna, the superintending archaeologist who discovered the Sangam-era site and transferred out, is writing the report along with his team of archaeologists since he is now back in Tamil Nadu as Superintending Archaeologist, Temples Survey Project, Chennai Circle. The documentation, classification, and analysis of the first two phases of the Keeladi excavation carried out by the ASI have begun. This will be followed by a detailed report on the excavation. It is a work in progress, and I cant give a timeline on when it will be over, Ramakrishna told DH. The ASI also came under criticism in the past for not publishing the reports of the excavation, which created a huge buzz in Tamil Nadu. The report, once published, will throw more light into the excavation at Keeladi and findings, with experts maintaining that the Sangam-era site will throw up more surprises with continued digging and detailed analyses of the artefacts unearthed. Although seven phases of excavation in Keeladi have been completed, a detailed report for only the fourth phase has been released in the public domain. The TNSDA, which conducted the fourth phase, released its report in 2019 pushing back the Sangam era further behind by at least 300 years, based on carbon dating of artefacts found during the session. Ramakrishna also said the ASI has collected over 80 samples to be sent for carbon dating. Ten samples have been sent to Beta Analytical Lab in Florida in the US for carbon dating and this is being sponsored by the Tamil Nadu government. Twenty samples will be sent to Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) in New Delhi for detailed analysis, he said. Tamil Nadu government has been sending carbon samples for dating to the Beta Analytical Lab. While the samples sent from Keeladi were found to be 2,600 years old, those from Sivagalai dated back to 3,200 years. Also Read Stalin visits Keeladi excavation site Researchers and archaeologists in Tamil Nadu call the findings significant as they narrow down the gap between the Tamil urban settlements and the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC). However, they say more evidence should be forthcoming before arriving at a definite conclusion. The findings in Keeladi encouraged the TNSDA under the then AIADMK government to launch the excavation at many sites. The new DMK government gave much-needed impetus to the TNSDA by allotting enough funds and pushing for more excavations in the state to dig deep into the past glory of Tamils. TNSDA has now sought permission to resume or start excavations in seven locations in 2022. Once the approval is received, the excavation will start in January. Permission has been sought for resuming the excavations in Keeladi (eighth phase), Sivagalai (third phase), Gangaikondacholapuram (second phase), and Mayiladumparai (second phase). The previous phases in these sites ended in September this year after which permission for resuming the excavations was sought, a top TNSDA official said. The Keeladi cluster includes Agaram and Konthagai, a habitation and burial site, respectively. Sediments scrapped from the burial urns and skeletons found from the site have been sent for carbon dating and DNA analysis for further studies. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine a plea by the Tamil Nadu government and others against the Madras High Court's judgment which quashed the law on internal reservation of 10.5 per cent to the Vanniyar community under the Most Backward Classes category. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna issued notice to those, who challenged the law before the HC, and sought their response in the matter. The top court posted the matter for consideration on February 15 and 16 and clarified that no adjournment would be granted in view of importance of the matter and its implications on admission to educational institutions and appointments to jobs. The court also said the High Court's interim order would continue and that admissions or appointments already made under the quota will not be disturbed. The Tamil Nadu government, political party PMK and others challenged validity of November 1, 2021 judgement of the Madurai bench of the High Court, which had declared Tamil Nadu Special Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and Appointments or Posts in Services under the state within the Reservation for the Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities Act, 2021 as ultra vires the provisions of the Constitution. The High Court found that the state lacked competence to allow such a sub-classification without any study of their backwardness. In its plea, the state government claimed that there were copious materials including various reports and data available to indicate Vanniyars were more backward among the Most Backward Classes. Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the state government, contended that Indra Sawhney judgement (Mandal Commission) recognised the concept of sub-classification among backward classes. The bench, however, said that arguments have to be made on the point of the competence of the state Legislature to enact the law. The High Court had also said the state lacked the competence to pass the law as it was brought before the 105th Constitutional Amendment which restored the power of states to identify Socially and Educationally Backward Classes by nullifying the effect of the Maratha quota judgement. Watch latest videos by DH here: Causing embarrassment to the Opposition party in Kerala, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised the development outlook of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Tharoor already caused embarrassment to Congress the other day as he did not sign on a memorandum submitted by all Opposition MPs from Kerala to the Union Railway Minister against the semi high-speed rail project mooted by the Kerala government. Tharoor later clarified that he needed to study the project. Tharoor's praise for Vijayan came during the inauguration of a mall in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. He said that Vijayan was trying to remove the hindrances in Kerala's development and trying to make Kerala investor-friendly. Being a person who welcomes development he would appreciate it, said Tharoor who represents Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha. The Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front had already announced protests against the 530-kilometre long semi high-speed rail line project across Kerala. A large section of people who fear eviction and environmentalists are also up in arms against the project citing adverse environmental impacts. Financial experts were also raising concerns about whether cash strapped Kerala could take up the project with an estimated cost of estimated cost of Rs. 64,000 crore that may even cross Rs. one lakh crore mark. Despite the protests, the Chief Minister has been reiterating that the government would take forward the project that could bring down the travel time between the southern district of Thiruvananthapuram and the northern district of Kasargod by less than four hours, while it now takes around ten hours by road and rail now. The left-front government's stand is that the project would be a major boost to Kerala's development and would generate many job opportunities. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin will be on a three-day official visit here beginning Saturday during which he will hold talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar and discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. The visit of the foreign minister of Tajikistan will sustain the momentum of high-level exchanges and further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Also Read: Jaishankar flags 'sharpening of tensions' on territorial issues across Asia amidst China's rise Muhriddin will meet Jaishankar on December 18. The two ministers will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest and undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation, the MEA said. Minister Sirojiddin is also expected to meet other dignitaries during his visit, it said. There has been an active exchange of visits between both sides during the year, it noted. Jaishankar has visited Tajikistan thrice this year -- for a bilateral visit as well as for participating in the 'Heart of Asia' Conference in March, for the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in June, and for the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in September. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Tajikistan in June for SCO meetings. From the Tajik side, the secretary of the Security Council visited India in February and again in November for the Regional Security Dialogue. Separately, the MEA said it will be organising the second Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lecture on December 24. The lecture will be delivered by Dr Michael Fullilove, executive director of the Lowy Institute of Australia. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will preside over the event. The lecture will be on "Australia, India and the Indo-Pacific: The need for strategic imagination". This is the second edition of this lecture series that was instituted in memory of former prime minister and external affairs minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The third India-Central Asia dialogue will be held on December 19 in the national capital and it will be attended by the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, the Ministry of External Affairs announced Thursday. It said the dialogue is expected to discuss further strengthening trade, connectivity and development cooperation between the two sides besides exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interests. The foreign ministers are also scheduled to jointly call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Cabinet 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 mans wife is entitled to be enrolled as a service voter, but a woman army officers 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 ECs 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 National 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. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A parliamentary panel has asked the Centre to verify caste certificates of employees of the Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes Community within six months of joining to deal with the "inordinate delay" in the verification of caste certificate of the SC and ST Community. The panel asked the Centre to issue guidelines to this effect by the Budget Session to ensure that pending cases of withheld pension of pensioners from the SC/ST are addressed. In the ninth report of the parliamentary committee on the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, where it examined cases of atrocities in public sector undertakings (PSUs), public sector banks and other organisations, with special reference to cases related to withholding pensions and retirement benefits of SC/ST employees, the panel said that the Department of Personnel and Training should issue guidelines so that an employees caste verification is one within six months of joining. The panel noted that there are several cases where the verification of caste certificates of SC/ST employees took place at the end of their career in several government departments. This led to the withholding of pension and other emoluments of these employees, the panel said, and termed it as gross harassment of the employee, both mental and physical. The panel further said that the organisation should be held responsible, and not the employee. SC/ST employees in several ministries, departments, PSUs, banks and autonomous bodies were facing the same problem, the panel said. The Committee... strongly recommended that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in consultation with DoPT, Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) and State Government must draft a suitable legislation keeping in view the observation made by the Parliamentary Committee after approval of Cabinet, introduce it in the next Session of the Parliament 2022 to get it passed. "The Committee are of the firm view that after passing of Prevention of false caste certificate Bill by incorporating suitable provision to protect the interest of the SCs and STs community, the panel said. The committee said that pension guidelines should also be issued. As per representations from the Delhi-based Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, there were complaints from 136 pensioners from Tamil Nadu alone whose dues were pending in various ministries. Seven of these complainants had passed away and in 11 cases, dues were finally settled. With 33 complaints, the ministry of railways had the maximum complaints, followed by ministry of shipping with 29 complaints and the finance ministry with 19 complaints. Check out latest videos from DH: BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Thursday sought to know from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) whether a Maharashtra minister was also present at a dinner party held at Bollywood director-producer Karan Johar's house, after attending which actor Kareena Kapoor and a few other celebrities tested positive for coronavirus. Addressing mediapersons, Shelar said, "I want to know whether a Maharashtra minister was present at the dinner party organised at Karan Johar's residence here. There is discrepancy in the details of the attendees provided by the celebrities such as Seema Khan and Kareena Kapoor. Is it an attempt to hide some names?" "As per the information shared by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials with me, Seema Khan did not reveal all the names of people who were present at the dinner at Johar's house. I think it was held on December 8. The names she omitted came to light when Kareena Kapoor was contacted by BMC officials for contact tracing. It raises suspicion about the exact number of people who attended that party," he said. Also Read Kareena Kapoor Khan, Amrita Arora test Covid-19 positive after partying with friends The BMC officials have been quoted in media saying that only eight persons had attended the dinner, he added. "I wrote a letter to the BMC asking whether it has secured the CCTV footage of the Regency building where Johar resides. If not, why is it delaying it as it would reveal the number of guests present there. I am told by the BMC officials that no such footage has been obtained so far," the former minister added. Kareena Kapoor, Amrita Arora and Seema Khan, who had attended the party at Johar's residence, tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week. In a successful conservation story, the Panje wetland in Uran in Raigad district across Mumbai harbour has come back to life with the resumption of free flow of tidal water. The water started attracting migratory birds after a gap of close to two years and the fishing community too started having a good catch. This signals the tremendous potential the wetland has, said Nandakumar Pawar, head of Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishthan. Crabs and fish are found in the saline water and most importantly, they breed in the adjoining mangroves, said Pawar, who hails from the fisherfolk community. He added, "The quality of fish caught here is so good that they fetch over Rs 400 a kg in the market, crabs sell at over Rs 1,800 a kg and lobsters Rs 700 a kg." This wetland with its fantastic biodiversity can contribute to the socio-economic development of the fishing community-dominated four villages Panje, Diongari, Funde and Bokadvira - surrounding the 289-hectare water body, said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation. Studies by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have shown that over 50 species of birds numbering close to 2,00,000 land at the Panje wetland during the October-May season of avian flights via the Central Asian Flyway. Supporting the NatConnect idea of conserving the wetland as a Biodiversity Park of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), BNHS director Bivash Pandav said, "Panje is best suited for these birds... we must conserve it at any cost." NatConnect has appealed to the State Government to implement its decision taken in December 2015 to maintain Panje (and NRI/TSC wetlands) as bird sanctuaries. The Wildlife Board, presided over by then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had taken such a decision. Fadnavis himself had posted this on CMs official Facebook page. BNHS correspondence with the Fadnavis government also showed that the decision to conserve Panje wetland has already been taken. The Shiv Sena, which leads the Maha Vikas Aghadi government now, was also part of the BJP-Sena alliance government. Any delay would only cause damage to the biodiversity property, Pawar said and pointed out that vested interests have managed to block tidal water entry and exit at Panje wetland to render it dry to suit plans to convert the place into a concrete jungle. It was at Pawars instance, the National Green Tribunal had ordered the clearing of the choke points at Panje, he said. Check out latest videos from DH: On November 18, based on specific intelligence, officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a consignment aboard a ship flying under the Singapore flag that had landed at Mundra port in Gujarats Kutch district. It was material that Pakistan was sending from its Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, K-2, to a Chinese nuclear facility in Shanghai. Indias two nuclear-armed rivals were exchanging nuclear material between them, using an Indian port! What was the material? It was likely spent nuclear fuel, perhaps being sent back to China for reprocessing, although Indian officials havent confirmed that this was indeed the case. The consignment had seven containers, with four barrels in each container. Pakistans Foreign Office was quoted days after the seizure that the containers were empty and had been used for transporting nuclear fuel from China. Why Pakistani authorities thought it fit to send it via India is a question that needs to be asked. The case was highlighted after Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), which operates the Mundra port, issued a statement saying that Customs and DRI officials had seized several containers from a foreign vessel at the port on concerns that they contained undeclared hazardous cargo. Following scientific examinations of the consignment of empty nuclear fuel containers, the DRI is set to issue show cause notices to the parties concerned, including the cargo ship that brought the consignment, before it initiates the process to formally confiscate the material for violation of several laws and for serious breach of national security. The examinations, sources said, have found that the consignment not only fell under the hazardous goods category, it also breached several laws, including the Indian Arms Act, Customs Act, Weapon of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act and also violated Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) rules as these specialised containers are regulated under the Export of Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET) list. Tests have confirmed that although the containers didnt have radioactive substances, it (the consignment) breached laws that prohibit the import-export of nuclear fuel and related materials without authorisation, a senior officer with knowledge of the investigation told DH on condition of anonymity. It has been confirmed that these are specialised containers meant to carry nuclear fuel. There are stickers showing them as hazardous class-7 (radioactive substance), but the bill of entry mentioned only empty fuel containers. This is a serious breach of Indias security, even if the consignment was not meant for landing at Mundra port, he said. Two other sources told DH that it was surmised that China had sent the fuel directly to Pakistan some months ago. We believe that after using the fuel, Pakistan tried to transport the empty containers back through commercial sea route disregarding local laws. Since the consignee violated major Indian rules and undermined our security, these expensive and specialised containers are going to be confiscated. Discussions are also on to register a criminal case as well. Not the first breach The November 18 seizure is not the first time that such a security breach has been reported. In the past, at least two major incidents were reported from Kandla and Mundra ports. The Customs department needs to change its policy on consignments which are not supposed to land at our ports, known as remain on-board (RoB), so that we have all the details before a ship arrives. Our current system is not as robust as that of other nations, such as the US. Our investigation is still going on. More than the value and misdeclaration of the consignment, it concerns national security. We dont know if the nuclear fuel was used for power generation or for making weapons. We cant rule out nuclear proliferation, either. The case is still under investigation, said a fourth source in the know of the investigation. Ballistic missile parts In February 2020, Customs officials seized an industrial autoclave a dual-use technology machine that can be used in the production of rocket motors for ballistic missiles from a Hong Kong-flagged ship at Kandla port. The shipment had been loaded at Chinas Jiangyin port and was headed to the Karachi port in Pakistan. Then, too, the consignment had been mis-declared as Heat Treatment Furnace Casing System. When DRDO scientists were called in to inspect the machine, they declared that it had critical defence applications in the vulcanisation of insulation in small motors and for chemical coating of parts used in missile launchers. Sources in Customs told DH that earlier this year, the department had sent a show cause notice to three entities associated with the seizure, including the master of the vessel, the shipping firm based in Mumbai, and the sub-agent of another shipping firm. These three entities were found in violation of section-2(b) of Indian Arms Act read with Customs Act, Section 30(2) of Customs Act, Section 11 and 13 of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Delivery System Act, Import Manifest Regulations, 1971, and SCOMET regulations. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) also registered an FIR in this case. NIA did not respond to a request for comment on the case. Aircraft-launching gear In November 2019, officials had discovered two military-grade aircraft launching gears used to launch aircraft from aircraft carriers in containers marked empty that had been unloaded at Mundra port. Sources said that no information regarding them had been declared in the shipping manifest. Investigations revealed that Aircraft Launching Gear, Skyhook Mark 3, manufactured and sold by Insitu Inc. and shipped from the US, was officially marked as being meant for the Royal Saudi Land Forces, and were to be unloaded at Jeddah port. There is evidence suggesting that cargo handlers and shipping firms were aware of the glitch but failed to take remedial steps. They didnt feed data into their systems. They didnt try to sort out the glitch, and the same came up only after their lapses were detected by Customs when it arrived. They were strategic military goods and their import posed a serious threat to national security, an investigation found. 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. Apophis was once thought to be the asteroid that posed the greatest threat to Earth. After its discovery in 2004, astronomers rated its chance of hitting our planet in 2029 as high as 1 in 37, the highest in recorded history for any asteroid. At 1,000 feet across, it would not end life on Earth if it hit but would decimate an area hundreds of miles across. It was very scary, Nolan said. Updated analysis later showed that the asteroid, which dances around Earths orbit, would not impact our planet. But it will still make a close pass in April 2029 at a distance of 20,000 miles, inside the orbits of some geostationary satellites, and close enough that it will be visible to the naked eye in Europe, Asia and Africa. By coincidence, if mission controllers on Earth directed Osiris-Rex to complete three flybys of the planet after dropping off its samples, it would be able to reach Apophis. When the asteroid flies through Earths skies, Osiris-Rex would be just an hour behind, ready to sidle up in June 2029. Its sort of a fluke, Nolan said. Also Read | Russia hopeful of space rides from NASA to ISS from 2022 While Apophis poses no threat to Earth at least for the next century or so studying it could tell scientists a great deal about asteroids of this size. No other mission is planned to visit Apophis in 2029, although there are proposals to do so. Next month the Osiris-Rex team will put forward its proposal to NASA to extend the mission, with a decision expected by April. If it goes ahead, the spacecraft will spend 18 months studying Apophis after it arrives. While orbiting Apophis, Osiris-Rex would swoop down over the surface to take high-resolution images. This would include looking for evidence of landslides caused by the gravitational tug of Earth as the asteroid flew past. The spacecraft would also attempt to descend to the surface and use its thrusters to blast a hole in its surface. The goal would be to expose underground material, helping to work out what the asteroid is made of. Apophis is compositionally the kind of asteroid thats most likely to become a hazard, Nolan said. The material properties will help us understand what its structure is. Also Read | Musk on mission to turn atmospheric carbon dioxide into rocket fuel This in turn could inform a future mission to save Earth from Apophis or another asteroid. By working out its mass, density and structure, scientists will know how spongy or hard the asteroid is, telling them how best to deal with similar objects. We really need to understand what were dealing with, said Jim Bell, an astronomer at Arizona State University who is not involved in the Osiris-Rex mission. Is this a solid hunk of rock? Can we change this things orbit? Could we destroy it, blow it up into tiny bits, if we had to take some drastic measures? NASAs ongoing Dart mission, which launched last month, is performing a not-too-dissimilar experiment by slamming into a small asteroid to see if scientists can change its orbit. Davide Farnocchia, from NASAs Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, said the close pass of Apophis was an amazing opportunity to observe an asteroid of this size up close. It would also lead to a better understanding of whether Apophis poses a future threat to Earth. After Apophis, Osiris-Rex might even have enough fuel to visit yet another asteroid. Or, it could be placed on the surface of Apophis and act as a tracking beacon, Nolan said. Budget constraints or other issues, such as concerns that Osiris-Rex could inadvertently alter the orbit of Apophis and make it a threat to Earth, could dictate whether the extended mission is approved. But it could prove an exciting next chapter for the mission. Its once in a millennium that something this big comes to Earth, Bell said. We should take advantage of that. Check out the latest videos from DH: A friend once said that the ability to innovate is man's greatest gift. While this pearl of wisdom applies to several things, food is not always one of them as experimenting on this front can leave a bad taste in the mouth (pun intended). Last year, netizens were horrified to learn about abominations such as ice cream parantha and Nutella biryani. This year, which is set to end in a couple of weeks, has (sadly) not been any better for food purists as several unusual combinations went viral, leaving foodies in a state of disbelief. We've put together some awful food combos from 2021 that are weirder than Cousin Itt from The Addams Family. Maggie Milkshake: Tasty, delicious and deeply satisfying are just some of the words that nobody used to describe this unappetising cocktail that gave several netizens sleepless nights. A Twitter user shared a photo of the said that it proves that some people have strayed 'further from god's light'. Maggi milkshake. Everyday we stray further from Gods light. Via @YearOfRat pic.twitter.com/Me0VsOayJs Angad Singh Chowdhry (@angadc) September 11, 2021 Chips Curry: A page called 'Kolkata Food Trotters' shed light on his combination, which tweeple described as a 'confession of murder'. Minimum 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for this confession of Murder pic.twitter.com/wKVaceg1rl Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) June 7, 2021 Maggi Oreo: A few feathers were ruffled when Instagram user Chahat Anand posted a video highlighting the process behind preparing a fusion that no one really asked for. She apparently prepared it by adding crushed biscuits to boiled noodles and topping it up with chocolate ice cream. Rasgulla Chaat: While rasgullas and chaat are fabulous delicacies when served separately, combining them isn't a particularly good idea. The ungodly 'cocktail', which may have been around for a long time, gained prominence this year when a Twitter user posted a video about the same. It is prepared by squeezing the syrup out of the rasgullas and mixing whatever remains with yogurt and tamarind chutney. Chocolate Biriyani: July was a particularly bad month for Biriyani lovers as FHM Pakistan, a YouTube channel, posted a video in which they mixed the tasty preparation with hot thick chocolate, leaving viewers flabbergasted. Watch latest videos by DH here: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday denied allegations that the police used hacker Srikrisha Ramesh aka Sriki to get Bitcoins. Jnanendra said this in the Legislative Council, adding that Sriki was interrogated by the police in the presence of experts from the IISc. "If the police forced him to hack Bitcoins, he can say it ss he is out on bail now," Jnanendra said. Also Read | Hacker Sriki goes missing, cops to seek bail cancellation He also said that the government was not protecting Sriki and asserted that the police were investigating cases against the hacker properly. The minister was responding to Congress MLC UB Venkatesh who charged that the police booked cases against Sriki under bailable sections whenever he was arrested, suggesting foul play. The government is trying to bury this case, and the speedy probe isn't on. Politicians and officials are said to be involved in this case, and their names should be revealed. Also, the full amount was not recovered in the e-procurement portal hacking case," Venkatesh said. Also Read | CCB left out key details in Sriki bail hearing Jnanendra said that 11 cases related to the Bitcoin scam were filed in the last three years, and Sriki is the accused in two of them. The minister stated that after Sriki was caught in a case of drugs supply on the dark web, it was found that he had hacked Bitcoins. "A huge network was involved in the Bitcoin scam, and many people who invested in Bitcoins lost money," he said. Also Read | Bitcoin scam: Sriki lured Bengaluru doctor with high returns promise Venkatesh also said that Srikis father had alleged that the police had drugged his son in custody. The police got his stomach washed, he said. Responding to this charge, Health Minister K Sudhakar said Sriki was taken to Bowring Hospital for tests and samples were also sent to the forensic science laboratory for confirmation. Consumption of drugs was not found in the tests, Sudhakar said. Venkatesh claimed to have information that Sriki's skills were used to fudge the marks of 22 candidates in the PSI exams conducted by the KPSC last year. Watch the latest DH Videos here: On Thursday, as Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri was struggling to impose order in the Assembly, senior Congress leader KR Ramesh Kumar proffered some advice. Theres a saying... when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. Thats exactly the position into which you are," said Kumar, a former Speaker. The statement provoked a hearty laugh from Kageri. None in the Assembly raised an objection. Kumars remarks came when Kageri lamented that he was unable to bring the Assembly under control as MLAs continued to speak one after another on the recent spate of floods and crop losses. Having tried, in vain, to end the spree of speeches, Kageri threw his hands up. You know, Ramesh Kumar, I now feel that we should just enjoy the situation. I have decided to give up on trying to control and streamline this situation... Ill just let them talk, Kageri said, prompting Kumar to come up with the rape remarks. Kumar is no stranger to controversy. He was the Speaker in February 2019 when he had made a similar remark that drew the ire of women MLAs. Then, he was battling a bribery charge as claimed in an audio clip. Kumar had said he felt like a "rape victim" and elaborated thus: "I got raped once. But like every rape victim, I am being made to feel like I was raped multiple times. Congress' KGF MLA Roopakala M, one of the 10 women in the 224-member Assembly, said she missed Kumar's statement although she was in the House. "However, I personally don't support such remarks. Some of us women MLAs have, in the past too, requested both the ruling and opposition party leaders not to use this word in the Assembly," she said. "A woman who faces sexual assault suffers trauma all her life. It is wrong to use this as an analogy to something else. This does not have my support," she said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Karnatakas anti-conversion bill has generated concerns that the new law may become a tool for the BJP government to target specific religions. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is scheduled to chair a Cabinet meeting on December 20 where the bills fate will be decided. Home Minister Araga Jnanendra sat down with DHs Akram Mohammed on the sidelines of the Belagavi Winter Session of the legislature to discuss the controversial topic. Excerpts: When will the anti-conversion bill be tabled? The bill will first be discussed in the Cabinet before it is tabled in the Assembly. Mostly, it will be tabled on Monday after a Cabinet meeting. If the draft bill is ready, what are the changes the government is looking at? In a bill like this, every word is crucial. Its not an easy job. We have sought assistance from private advocates to discuss the terminology used. After the bill becomes a law, it should not be challenged in the Supreme Court or High Court. Is the bill still being revised? It's almost in the final stages now. A few elements of the bill will be discussed again in the Cabinet meeting and changes will be made before the final version is tabled. Also Read Karnataka anti-conversion bill may face JD(S) roadblock What are the major takeaways of the proposed bill? Article 25 of the Constitution says that forced conversion or conversion by allurement is not allowed. It does not specify the penal clauses for violating this, which we are introducing in the bill. Were not stopping anyone from converting as the Constitution allows for it. Its my choice which religion I should follow. The bill allows conversions, but they should inform local authorities. They should declare it to the deputy commissioner (DC) using a prescribed application with details about the religion he or she belonged to and the new religion being adopted. Whoever is facilitating - be it a priest, purohit or maulvi - should also declare the conversion. Following this, the DC will review these applications to see whether those who converted were under pressure or allurement, after which permission will be granted. Is there a time limit for deputy commissioners to grant permission to convert? Yes, there is. Time limit is currently being finalised. During the review, if the DC discovers any pressure or allurement, FIR will be filed immediately. Penal clauses will be invoked subsequently to imprison those converting people. Those guilty can face 3-10 years in prison. What happens after the DC grants permission? The DC will write to various departments with details of the conversion. If he or she is a government employee, the DC will write to the head of the department concerned. He or she will lose the facilities granted by virtue of their original religion or caste. In case he or she was getting benefits from the Social Welfare Department, after conversion, benefits of the Minority Welfare Department will be given. There is much opposition to the bill. Christians are protesting. The bill we are tabling is not against anyone. Nobody will stop anyone from converting, if a person wills it. The only thing is that the DC should grant permission. This will bring transparency in conversions and prevent cases where entire villages are converted to Christianity or Islam. Also Read Cops, MLAs colluded with vigilantes for hate crimes against Christians in Karnataka: Report The CM reportedly wants to table the bill only after weighing the pros and cons. Is the government going to go slow? We started the process of drafting the bill some 8-10 days ago. We have been holding regular meetings about the bill in the last 2-3 days. Until recently, we had the election model code of conduct, so we could not work on the legislation. What about Love Jihad. Is the government considering a separate bill on that? It will be part of this (anti-conversion) bill only. 'Love Jihad' involves marriage and there are provisions to curb marriages for the purpose of conversion. The government was considering a separate bill. But, if this bill ends up covering the issue, then it wont be necessary. Karnataka, Delhi and Gujarat together on Thursday reported 10 fresh cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus taking the countrywide tally of this strain to 83 even as the national capital with a total of 85 new Covid cases recorded its highest single-day rise in the last 137 days. Karnataka, Delhi and Gujarat reported five, four and one fresh cases of the Omicron variant to take the total to eight, ten and five respectively, according to a tally of the new infections from the states. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, meanwhile, reviewed the Covid -19 situation in the country and the preparedness of the health infrastructure of all Union territories, according to a home ministry spokesperson. Also Read | 113 countries accept India's Covid vaccination certificate: Govt in RS Maharashtra has so far reported the highest number of Omicron cases at 32, followed by Rajasthan at 17. These cases have also been reported in the states of Karnataka (8), Gujarat (5), Kerala (5), Telangana (2), Tamil Nadu (1), West Bengal (1) and Andhra Pradesh (1) and Union Territories of Delhi (10) and Chandigarh (1). The country's first two cases of the Omicron variant were detected in Karnataka on December 2. Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said five more cases of the Omicron variant were detected in the state to take its tally of the new strain to eight. Five more cases of #Omicron have been detected in Karnataka today: 19 yr male returning from UK 36 yr male returning from Delhi 70 yr female returning from Delhi 52 yr male returning from Nigeria 33 yr male returning from South Africa @BSBommai #Omicronindia Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) December 16, 2021 "Five more cases of Omicron have been detected in Karnataka today: 19 yr male returning from the UK, 36 yr male returning from Delhi, 70 yr female returning from Delhi, 52 yr male returning from Nigeria, 33 yr male returning from South Africa," Sudhakar tweeted. The country's first two Omicron cases-- a South African national who has left the country, and the other a local person, a Doctor with no travel history-- were detected in Bengaluru. CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the Omicron variant was detected in 10 people so far in the national capital and none of them has developed a "severe" disease. He said 40 people have currently been admitted to the special facility at the Lok Nayak Hospital meant for isolating and treating suspected Omicron cases. Of them, 38 are Covid positive. "Ten Omicron cases have been detected in Delhi so far. One of them has been discharged," Jain told reporters. There has been no "severe" case so far, he said. Also Read | EU agency backs Pfizer Covid pill for emergency use The minister said many international travellers are turning out Covid positive upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. "Eight such people were admitted to the hospital today (Thursday)," he added. On Tuesday, Jain had said the Omicron variant of coronavirus has not spread in the community so far and the situation is under control. On August 1 this year, Delhi had logged 85 Covid -19 cases at a positivity rate of 0.12 per cent along with one fatality. It was on June 29 when the positivity rate was recorded at 0.15 per cent that the number of fresh cases stood at 101 and four deaths were reported. Also Read | Omicron could have been prevented, says WHO's Soumya Swaminathan: Report The 85 cases that were recorded on Thursday came out of 56,027 tests, including 50,879 RTPCR tests, and there was no death due to Covid -19 in the last 24 hours in Delhi, according to the Delhi Health government data. There are currently 475 active cases of coronavirus in the national capital which include nine cases of the Omicron variant. About the rise in Covid cases, a senior doctor from Delhi government-run GTB Hospital, requesting anonymity, said, "The last three-four months went off smoothly, but the spurt in cases was impending. Also Read | Omicron: Inadequate Covid-19 tests worries experts "World over, a spike in cases is being seen and some countries have even imposed lockdown. People only wake up when they see a rise in cases. It is essential that people wear masks and maintain social distancing because it is expected that the cases may rise again." In Gujarat, a 41-year-old woman health worker was found infected with the Omicron variant at a village in Vijapur tehsil of Mehsana district on Thursday, officials said. "The woman serves as an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA). She does not have any history of foreign travel, but she recently came in contact with her relatives who had arrived from Zimbabwe, one of the 'at at risk' countries," Chief District Health Officer Dr Vishnubhai Patel said. She is currently undergoing treatment in an isolation ward created in a government hospital at Vadnagar town of Mehsana and her condition is stable, he said. Also Read Covid: Micro-containment zones in Bengaluru double in just two weeks "The woman recently lost her husband to cancer. To attend the condolence meet, her husband's elder brother and his wife came from Zimbabwe last month. Both of them tested negative for Covid-19 in all the three tests conducted on them," Patel added. But the authorities decided to carry out contact tracing as a precautionary measure and the woman was found positive for coronavirus on December 10, following which her samples were sent to the Gandhinagar-based Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) for genome sequencing, the official said. "The woman's genome sequencing on Thursday established that she is infected with the Omicron strain. Her mother-in-law and another relative, who came in her contact, also tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday. We have sent their samples to GBRC to know if they are also infected with this variant," Patel said. In Kerala, Health Minister Veena George said those who have come from abroad and have been asked to practice self-observation, as per central government guidelines, should not be complacent in doing so. Also Read | Omicron infects 70 times faster than Delta but may cause less severe disease: Study The minister, at a high-level meeting, said such persons should avoid social interactions, crowded places, theatres and malls and should wear an N-95 mask if they go out, according to a state government release. She also said that such persons should observe if they have any symptoms and if they show symptoms, they should immediately quarantine themselves and inform the health workers. The decision was taken after a person who had come from Congo, a non-high-risk African nation, tested positive for Omicron and now has a large contact list as he went to shopping malls and restaurants instead of practising self-observation. Check out DH's latest videos on Covid: A Limavady man has been banned from keeping animals for five years after being convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog. Paul Hassan, of College Mews, was sentenced at Ballymena Magistrates' Court today, after being convicted for abandoning without reasonable cause, causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the welfare of his terrier type dog . The charges were brought against Hassan by Derry City and Strabane District Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011. Proceedings followed an investigation by Council's Animal Welfare Officers, following a complaint received in June 2020 that a dead dog had been found in a property at Slievemore Park, Derry. Animal Welfare Officers entered the defendant's property and found the remains of a small terrier type dog which appeared to have been pushed up against the wall with a brush on top of it. There was a pungent smell of urine and faeces in the property which was in a bad state of hygiene. The dog was very thin and had begun to decompose. The dog was seized by animal welfare officers on recommendation of the Council instructed vet. Hassan admitted all offences. District Judge King disqualified Hassan from owning, keeping or participating in the keeping of animals and from being party to an arrangement under which that person is entitled to control or influence the way in which animals are kept for a period of five years. Hassan was fined 500 and ordered to pay legal costs totalling 138. Commenting after the proceedings, a spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council, said: "Council gives a high priority to the welfare of domestic pets and horses and operates a rigorous enforcement policy to ensure full compliance of regulatory requirements. "Complaints are investigated thoroughly and where necessary formal action is taken, which may include the service of Improvement Notices or, in extreme cases, the seizure of animals." Local rail campaigners Into The West are calling on anyone who wants better infrastructure for the North West region to participate in a public consultation on the new All-Ireland Rail Review Strategy. The north-south initiative was launched earlier this year by the North's Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, and the Republic's Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan. The review is designed to consider how and where rail should be improved on the island to boost sustainable connectivity and address regional imbalance - with a specific focus on the north west of the island, where rail links are largely absent. The review process has now reached the consultation stage, with members of the public being asked to submit their thoughts on how to improve rail. Steve Bradley, chairperson, Into the West. Local lobby group Into The West campaigns for better rail in counties Derry, Donegal, Tyrone and Fermanagh, and sees the all-Ireland review as a big opportunity for the North West and are urging people in Derry to take part in the consultation, and has created a list of seven key improvements its calling on people to request when doing so. Steve Bradley, chairperson of Into The West, Steve Bradley, said: The All-Ireland Rail Review is an important project - taking for the first time a view of rail and required improvements across the island as a whole. Weve all seen the map of the rail network in Ireland with that massive gap in the North West corner, and public opinion is increasingly viewing the situation as no longer acceptable. The strategy that comes out of this all-Ireland review will, hopefully, identify ways in which that gap should be addressed. Into The West has identified seven key projects that would achieve that and transform rail across the north west of the island. However, there will be a lot of voices contributing to this consultation and calling for improved rail in other parts of the island too. Thats why its essential that as many people as possible from the North West have their say. We want this to be the largest public consultation ever held in Ireland, leaving Stormont and Dublin in no doubt that the public demands better rail. And we want the North West to comprise the largest number of responses, as otherwise there is a danger other places which shout louder could become the main focus of the new strategy. Mr Bradley concluded: The deadline for responses to the consultation is 21st January 2022, but please dont leave it until then to take part. Its essential that as many people as possible here contribute to ensure there is a strong voice demanding better rail for the North West. So please take the short time required to take part in this consultation today. And please ensure you request the seven improvements outlined above in your response. The seven key improvements that Into The West are suggesting people ask for when responding to the consultation are : 1. Faster and more frequent trains between Derry and Belfast (Including departures every half hour, and a 90-minute express service).. 2. Reopen the Derry-Portadown rail line (via Newbuildings, Strabane, Sion Mills, Newtownstewart, Omagh, and Dungannon). 3. Reopen the Derry-Letterkenny rail route. 4. Reconnect Limavady to the rail network. 5. Complete the Limerick to Sligo Western Rail Corridor (and continue it on north through Donegal to Derry). 6. Reconect Enniskillen to the rail network (both north to Omagh and south to Sligo). 7. Connect NIs 3 airports to the rail network (includes City of Derry Airport). Information on the all-Ireland rail review and details on how to submit a response to the public consultation can be found at www.strategicrailreview.com A local couple have continued their tradition to light up their home with a Christmas bonanza display of lights and decorations in aid of a children's charity. Dermot Bradley and his partner Gary Bailie have teamed up with local retailer Lidl Northern Ireland to help raise more than 7,000 for NSPCC Northern Ireland. They have been decorating their home with spectacular festive displays for almost a decade and hope to smash their previous fundraising record as they reveal their dazzling Christmas light display for the first time at their brand new home in the Waterside area of the city. Having recently moved to the Brunswick Road, Dermot and Gary have once again decorated their house from top to bottom in fantastic Christmas lights and decorations with a Lidl help from local retailer, Lidl Northern Ireland. Partnering with the retailer as part of its Christmas Lights for Charity campaign, Dermot and Gary are inviting visitors from near and far to enjoy their impressive display to raise vital funds for Lidl Northern Irelands charity partner NSPCC Northern Ireland by making a donation to the charity buckets located outside their home. Dermot said: We are delighted to partner with Lidl Northern Ireland this year to raise money for NSPCC Northern Ireland. Decorating our home at Christmas just started out as a bit of fun for us, but it has turned into an incredible fundraising initiative which we have now been facilitating for almost a decade. We just love Christmas and are thrilled that locals and people from further afield enjoy coming to see our display. Weve added a few new pieces this year to add a bit of extra sparkle, so were hoping that more people than ever come by to visit us and donate to NSPCC Northern Ireland. The couple have previously raised funds for local cancer charity Pauls Campaign and Foyle Search and Rescue. They laugh off any competition or friendly rivalry with residents at Racecourse Drive now branded Christmas Drive - who have also been decorating their street n the Shantallow area of the city to raise funds for charity. Dermot added: We have friends who live there actually. We are all raising money for a good cause and people should visit us all to get in the festive spirit, so we can all come together to raise much needed funds for great causes. If youre in the area, or travelling up to see Derrys dazzling displays, dont forget to visit us on Brunswick Road and help us reach our fundraising target to support NSPCC Northern Irelands amazing work at a crucial time of year. Lidl Northern Ireland supports children across the region and works to prevent abuse, help rebuild childrens lives and support families. The charity also operates Childline bases in Foyle (Derry) and Belfast. Angela Connan, cor- porate social responsibility manager at Lidl Northern Ireland, said: Lidl Northern Irelands partnership with NSPCC Northern Ireland has been hugely successful over the past four years with a wide range of fundraising initiatives taking place across the region. Were thrilled to light up Christmas this year with a fantastic new initiative and to partner with Dermot and Gary who have created a truly spectacular display at their home. We are constantly in awe of the generosity of the local community in supporting Lidl Northern Irelands charity fundraising initiatives and were thrilled to invite them to experience Dermot and Garys incredible display this Christmas. Its a real feast for the eyes and the perfect way to get into the festive spirit! We wish all of our customers and team a very safe and merry Christmas. Dermot and Garys Christmas lights display will be operating until the new year at Brunswick Road in the Waterside, with 100% of donations going directly to NSPCC Northern Ireland. Foyle MP Colum Eastwood called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign in a feisty exchange at the House of Commons. The SDLP leader said that the Prime Minister has eroded public trust and shredded public confidence at the worst possible moment in a health emergency. His call came in the light of revelations of a Christmas party taking place at the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street last year when strict Covid directives were in place prohibiting the public from staging or attending parties. The Prime Minister also managed to get legislation on mandatory Covid passes passed but only after 100 of his own Conservative Party MPs had voted against him in the House of Commons. Mr Eastwood said: Whether the Prime Minister wants to admit it or not, his actions over the last number of months have eroded public trust at the worst possible moment in a public health emergency. Excusing rule breaking by his own MPs in this house and ignoring rule breaking by his advisors in his own house has shredded public confidence in him and in this government. Given that he cant even lead Tory MPs to back the governments public health guidance, how can he continue to pretend that hes leading anyone and when will he realise that the best thing he can do in the public interest is resign? In response, the Prime Minister said he would not be quitting as he was focused on steering the United Kingdom through the pandemic. He replied: No. I am going to get on protecting the public of this country and making sure we get through this pandemic together as one United Kingdom and making sure we protect trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the way that I know he [Mr Eastwood] would want it protected. Statement by Ambassador Byrne Nason at the UNSC Briefing on UNOCA - Central Africa Statement Mr. President, I would like to thank SRSG Fall for his briefing today and as others have done, Mr. President, I wanted to recognise your own contribution on these issues during your term on the Council, it has been very important to our work here at this table. Ireland would like to commend the extensive activities being carried out by UNOCA to maintain and improve regional cooperation, including with the Economic Community of Central African States and other regional organisations. We certainly applaud the efforts to pursue peace and security, to combat hate speech, and to address the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 by advancing vaccination campaigns. I would like to say a special thank you to you, Special Representative, for your participation in regional stabilisation, peacebuilding and sustainable development meetings. We very much welcome the work that you did in a joint visit to Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria, alongside Special Representative Annadif of UNOWAS. We know that you assessed the impact of the crisis in the Lake Chad basin, in the course of that visit, and for us that is the type of practical cooperation between UN regional missions that is really critical in addressing the many cross-border security and humanitarian challenges that we have heard about today which face the region. So, we very much welcome that ongoing cooperation. Mr. President, Earlier this week, as you know, Ireland and Niger brought a draft Resolution on Climate and Security to a vote at the Security Council. This resolution attracted 113 co-sponsors from right across the UNs membership and we believe it would have been an important first step in establishing a strengthened framework for future action. Unfortunately, despite the broad support, the resolution was not adopted by the Council. We continue to see its value, not least in a discussion like the one we are having here today. We cannot ignore the reality and impact of climate related security risks. Last week, the Council heard from almost sixty members of the UN, who under the able Chairmanship of President Bazoum of Niger debated the topic of security in the context of terrorism and climate change. It was really striking that the briefers on the day referred to the interlinkages between the adverse impacts of climate change and recruitment by terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, particularly in the Sahel and Lake Chad basin. The activities of Boko Haram and the expansion of Islamic State West Africa Province are a concern. Ireland strongly supports efforts to address root causes of conflict and remains firmly committed to the implementation of a triple nexus approach. Mr. President, Intercommunal clashes around the Lake Chad basin are deeply troubling. According to UNHCR, the climate crisis has heightened tensions along the tributaries of Lake Chad in recent decades, where the reduction in water levels is sparking violent clashes between fishermen and herders. This fighting has caused the displacement of thousands of people to Cameroon and Chad. We are concerned that this displacement also has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable in society, and for that we say women and children, and is likely to further exacerbate existing tensions, as well as, as we heard today, create new ones. Ireland is pleased to note, as we heard today, that UNOCA has collaborated with the UN Climate Security Mechanism and other partners to conduct an analysis on the key security risks and threats aggravated by climate and environmental changes in the sub-region, including a field visit to Cameroon. Ireland is a proud supporter of the Climate Security Mechanism, and we very much look forward to the presentation of the findings of this analysis, including its recommendations. Ireland commends the holistic, regional, approach taken by UNOCA, ECCAS, the African Union and the Peacebuilding Fund in supporting the important transition process in Chad, but we remain concerned by the significant security, political and humanitarian challenges in the country and indeed their impact on the wider region. Ireland also commends the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) for their work leading to the adoption of the Joint Roadmap for Peace in the Central African Republic, and welcomes the subsequent ceasefire. However, we continue also to have concerns about the humanitarian and human rights situation in the country. We echo the Secretary Generals call for respect of the ceasefire, and a return to the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. We have heard again today of the dire humanitarian situation in Central Africa, and the staggering numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance. At the same time, attacks against humanitarian, health and education personnel and facilities continue with impunity. We condemn such attacks and we call for perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses to be held accountable, and brought to justice. Finally, Ireland welcomes the important work that UNOCA is carrying out to further the Women, Peace and Security agenda across the region. The role of women in governance, in mediation and in peacebuilding processes, is fundamental for advancing the stability and prosperity of the region. Engagement with women-led civil society, and ensuring that those women are engaged directly in diplomatic and political processes - I always say, in the room and at the table - is crucial to bringing about peace and security in Central Africa. We urge all of the Governments in the region to further embed this approach in their own work. It is the smart thing to do. Thank Previous Item | Next Item DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake today released the following statement after a visit to Childrens Wisconsin in Milwaukee with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy: Protecting the health and safety of Wisconsins children is a top priority for Governor Evers and all of us at DHS. We are so proud to partner with organizations like Childrens Wisconsin who are pioneering family-centered approaches to ensuring children, their families, and caregivers have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Childrens Wisconsin is a leader in this work, vaccinating children at their appointments and also providing opportunities for the whole family to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu. We thank our federal partners for recognizing Wisconsins vaccination efforts during todays visit. We offer a special thanks to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden for all of her work across the country to encourage pediatric COVID-19 vaccination. We appreciate the opportunity to celebrate the dedication of Wisconsins health care workers and vaccinators today. We know this work would not be possible without the commitment of local, state, and federal partners working hand-in-hand to protect all Wisconsinites. We urge every Wisconsinite who is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose to get it, especially as cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. To find a COVID-19 vaccine provider in your community, visit Vaccines.gov or call 211" Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol is connected to lower risks of cardiovascular disease and morality compared to drinking no alcohol, a new study has revealed. A team of academics assessed more than 18,000 older adults across the US and Australia from a previous ASPREE study by the Monash University. The study is the first to examine the link between cardiovascular disease and morality, and alcohol consumption. Participants had an average age of 74 and were healthy at the start of the study with no previous cardiovascular complications, diagnosed dementia or independence-limiting physical disabilities. More than 55 per cent of participants were female and the average BMI was 28.1 kg/m2. Researchers gathered the data surrounding alcohol intake (how many days per week they drank and how much per day) from a self-reported questionnaire filled out by participants. They omitted people from the study who had previously drunk alcohol and then stopped due to their health. Researchers evaluated alcohol intake as grams per week. The categories consisted of zero, one to 50, 51 to 100, 101 to 150, and over 150. Results showed that: 6 per cent drank no alcohol 3 per cent drank one to 50g per week 7 per cent drank 51g to 100g per week 6 per cent drank 100g to 150g per week 9 per cent drank more than 150g per week Participants were monitored for more than four years on average and results show that participants who consumed 51g to 100g, 101g to 150g, and more than 150g per week were less likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared those who never drank alcohol. Drinking 51g to 100g per week of alcohol was associated to a lower risk of all-round mortality. The lead author of the study, Dr Johannes Neumann, from School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, noted that the results should be interpreted carefully as participants were all healthy prior to the study, with no previous cardiovascular diseases, and were possibly more active than the current aging population. It is also important to consider that excessive drinking of alcohol is a major cause of disease and high risk of mortality. Overall, the study concluded that moderate drinking of alcohol caused no cardiovascular disease or mortality issues amongst the studied group. Dr Neumann believes that more research is needed into the area to better understand and comprehend the effects of alcohol on health and probable benefits of social drinking and interacting. The study was published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The official support page for the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is now live on the Samsung India website Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has officially launched in Europe and is soon headed to the US, India and more regions. The Galaxy Tab A8 (2021) has a large 10.5-inch display and is powered by an octa-core chipset. Powering the Galaxy Tab A8 is the massive 7,040mAh battery that supports 15W charging speeds. The official support page of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 has also gone live in India hinting at its imminent launch. Heres everything you need to know about the Galaxy Tab A8. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 specifications and pricing The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 features a large 10.5-inch Full HD+ (1920x1080 pixels) resolution TFT display and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The Tab A8 (2021) measures 6.9mm in thickness and weighs 508 grams. Samsung is offering the Galaxy Tab A8 in three colours: Gray, Pink Gold and Silver. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is powered by Unisoc Tiger chipset that has an octa-core CPU running at 2.0GHz along with Mali-G52 GPU. This is paired with upto 4GB RAM and 128GB storage options to choose from. It runs on OneUI 3 which is based on Android 11 out-of-the-box. There is an 8MP rear camera on the back and a 5MP selfie camera on the front. The Galaxy Tab A8 also has four stereo speakers and supports dual-band WiFi. The power button doubles up as a fingerprint reader and the Tab A8 comes equipped with a 7,040mAh battery that supports 15W charging speed. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is priced starting at EUR 229 for the base variant with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage and EUR 359 for the 4GB+128GB storage option. It goes on sale in Europe this month and will be available in the US and other regions in Q1 2022. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra shows up on Samsungs South Korean website Subscriber content preview SEATTLE On Monday, the DJC reported on the city of Seattle's plans to build the Burke-Gilman Trail missing link in Ballard. The My Ballard blog now reports that a local law group is getting ready to file a lawsuit against the city and Ballard Terminal Railroad on behalf of a group of bicyclists who have suffered injuries along the proposed trail site. Washington Bike Law is representing several clients who have suffered serious injuries along the 1.4-mile stretch of currently undeveloped trail. The lawsuit follows opposition to the city's plans from local groups. . . . StoryBuilt gains $1B in backing StoryBuilt, of Austin, has a number of residential projects underway in our market. Those will be supported, along with its national multifamily and single-family development portfolio, with $1 billion real estate joint venture, which the company just announced. It's joining forces with Swiss firm Partners Group, which also has past experience as an investor here. Seventeen projects in the pipeline will initially benefit from the fund. StoryBuilt's Anthony Siela said in a statement, This joint venture propels StoryBuilt forward in its goal of serving the current and future residents of the most dynamic neighborhoods and cities in the United States. He further cited the goal of becoming a leading national infill developer, owner, and operator of residential and mixed-use communities. Partners Group's Scott Egarian added, Growth cities, such as Austin, Dallas, Denver and Seattle, are often characterized by rising populations and vibrant economies. The lack of housing in these cities, especially in the infill market close to urban cores, should underpin demand in the years ahead. Down in Columbia City, StoryBuilt is planning 215 units in its two-building Felix development. The European Union has held a summit focused on preventing a Russian military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine with threats of unprecedented sanctions for Moscow and the promise of diplomatic talks. On a day of diplomatic moves, Russia said it had submitted draft documents to the US outlining security arrangements that would preclude Natos expansion to Ukraine. A Russian military build-up on Ukraines border took centre stage at the summit of the EUs 27 leaders on Thursday, coming on the heels of a plea from Ukraines president for more sanctions to be imposed before any possible incursion rather than after. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the EU should not underestimate the threat Russias troop build-up poses, adding that he sees Moscows actions as creating the worst security situation since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Im talking not only about Ukraine, Mr Nauseda said, stressing that Natos eastern flank and the Baltic region should also be concerned. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Moscow not to cross the line. The inviolability of borders is one of the very important foundations of peace in Europe and we will all do everything together to ensure that this inviolability actually remains intact, Scholz said as he entered the one-day summit. Many of the leaders said they looked towards diplomatic talks to stave off military action in Ukraine. Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia, which holds the EUs rotating presidency until the end of the year, suggested talks between France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia. Maybe there are some open channels for some serious negotiations over the coming days, Mr Jansa said. Moscow denies that it has any plans to attack Ukraine, but did so in 2014 when it annexed the Crimean Peninsula. US intelligence officials say Russia has moved 70,000 troops and is preparing for a possible invasion early next year. It is not normal for regular military exercises, Mr Jansa said, adding that there was no doubt that Russia was using its military might to put Ukraine under pressure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged EU leaders on Wednesday to swiftly impose new sanctions on Russia before it invades his country, warning that acting after any conflict would be far too late. Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine stood ready to enter into talks with Russia to ease tensions, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not appear willing to come to the table. France and Germany brokered a peace agreement in 2015 that helped to end large-scale hostilities in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russia-backed separatists since 2014. But the conflict, which has left 14,000 people dead, has simmered. EU leaders are widely expected to approve a draft summit conclusion that warns any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe cost in response. European officials argue that it is a better deterrent to keep Mr Putin in the dark about what measures might be used against him. Asked by reporters whether Europe would act on Mr Zelenskyys call, European 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. Despite Moscows threat, Lithuanias president still has a sense of optimism. I think we have enough tools in order to stop Russia from its aggressive behaviour, Mr Nauseda said. The US and the EU have been coordinating their response to Russia, but no real details of any sanctions have emerged. The Kremlin on Thursday again prodded western leaders to provide legally binding guarantees precluding Natos expansion to Ukraine and the deployment of the alliances weapons there, calling such moves a red line for Moscow. The US and its allies have refused to make such a pledge, but Mr Putin and US President Joe Biden agreed last week on further talks to discuss Russian concerns. Ahead of his two gigs at the Spirit Store this January, the Democrat chatted to American comedian Reginald D. Hunter about his new tour, Ireland and performing comedy in 2021. Your new show is called Bombe Shuffleur, what does it mean? A Bombe Shuffleur is somebody whos always shuffling bombs, somebody whos getting himself into interesting situations and juggling the bombs that get thrown at him, sometimes to protect himself and sometimes to protect the people around him. Thats what I hope to do on stage, get a few bombs, maybe some controversial topics and see how well I can juggle them. A firm favourite with Irish audiences hes been performing here now for almost 24 years, with Dundalk always featuring on his tour dates. I really like the energy of Dundalk you know, the audiences are always switched on and I really have a fun time there. Asked why a comedian from Georgia, USA, should have such a large fan base in Ireland, Reginald thinks its down to a sort of shared mentality. I think that there are many aspects to the Irish culture and character that arent found in other white cultures. For example, I know when I go back home to my people in Georgia, the way they show me they love me is by being shitty to me, and I know they dont do it to be mean, its how they express affection. I cant think of anything more Irish than that! He recalls his first night playing a gig in Ireland at the Empire in Belfast, incidentally the best performance of his career up to that point. It was the first time in my career that I was completely present and in the zone, every punchline hit, every tag landed, the audience were amazing and I thought to myself, I know exactly how to do comedy. So of course the next night I went out and learned that wasnt the case. Was the next gig in Ireland, too? No, no, it was in England, he laughs. Working out the material for his new gigs, has he noticed any differences in post pandemic audiences? I think all of us have a duty to keep each others spirits up. Most people are just grateful to be able to get out of the house, theyre just sick of looking at each other which maybe has led to a heightened disgruntlement with some audiences, which means theyll definitely let you know if youre funny or not. Reginald D. Hunter takes his Bombe Shuffleur show to Dundalks spirit store on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd of January, with tickets for the Thursday show still available from spiritstore.ie/. Louth Fianna Fail Senator Erin McGreehan, has welcomed the announcement that the cabinet has approved amendments that will bring about changes to the Forestry Act 2014, to make it easier to plant small areas of native trees. The amendment will enable the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to increase native tree planting as part of a scheme by removing the requirement for an afforestation licence for areas up to 1 ha and to allow increased planting of small areas of riparian woodland. Welcoming the proposed changes, Senator McGreehan said in a statement today: These new arrangements will enable the Department of Agriculture to further incentivise the planting of native tree species which will contribute to Irelands targets, including climate change, biodiversity, habitats and water quality. The Department will consult with industry stakeholders to ensure that the schemes and measures developed will complement existing tree planting schemes. Importantly the requirement to comply with environmental law is not undermined by making this change, as all works are controlled by regulation through a Departmental scheme. The development of a scheme will be undertaken following the completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. Eligibility criteria will be incorporated into the scheme which will ensure that all tree planting works are undertaken in a legally compliant and sustainable manner. Senator McGreehan added, I am confident that these changes will be particularly important in terms of creating new native woodlands and undisturbed water setbacks that can be used to deliver meaningful ecosystem services that protect and enhance water quality and aquatic ecosystems. "The creation of these permanent semi-natural landscape features alongside streams, rivers and lakes will protect and enhance water quality and aquatic habitats into the future. Senator McGreehan adds in her statement that stakeholder consultation will take place on any proposed measures to ensure that existing tree planting measures are complementary. She also adds that the next CAP and Forestry Programme will provide opportunities to encourage more tree planting and the Department welcomes engagement with stakeholders in the months ahead as the detail of schemes are developed. CITESTE IN ROMANA EBRD, EIB and EU to finance energy efficiency renovations in public buildings in Moldova, including hospitals, schools and kindergartens Improved energy efficiency is key to Moldova`s energy independence, faster transition to a carbon-neutral economy and the success of global climate action This Team Europe operation is part of a flagship initiative in Moldova under the European Union`s Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the bank of the European Union and the European Union (EU) will jointly provide 75 million to improve energy efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of public buildings in Moldova. This is the first national energy efficiency project implemented in the country. The EBRD and EIB are supporting Moldovas energy efficiency of public buildings by lending 30 million each, with the European Union complementing the investment with 15.2 million in grants from its Neighbourhood Investment Platform (NIP) and Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund (EPTATF). EU grants will finance the technical assistance in support of project implementation with 2.8 million and increase the number of energy efficient renovations of public buildings with 12.4 million.The EIB will manage the EU grant. About 60 per cent of final energy consumption in Moldova relates to the buildings sector. Greater energy efficiency will be achieved through improving the insulation of buildings, installing more energy efficient lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation systems, integrating renewable energy sources and introducing efficient energy management practices. Mark Bowman, EBRD Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, said: Greener buildings and related energy savings will help Moldova reduce its overall energy consumption and, no less important, its energy bill. Energy and resource efficiency, as well as greater renewable energy generation capacity, represent the main ways to reduce dependency on imports of energy sources. The project is expected to attract private sector expertise and include energy performance provisions and technical specifications in construction contracts. It will be a major opportunity to create local jobs and boost the construction sector in Moldova. Teresa Czerwinska, EIB Vice-President, who is in charge of operations in Moldova, said: The success of climate action to save the planet from the devastating effects of global warming will depend significantly on our ability to make our cities more energy efficient. Cities consume most of the planets energy and create most of the CO 2 emissions, which makes projects like this one immensely important for a green, safe and sustainable future for Moldova, Europe and the entire planet. Benefits to society at large include reduced pollution and improved health and working environments in buildings. The European Investment Bank is very proud of our contribution and our fast-growing partnership with the Republic of Moldova and stands ready to step up our activities and accelerate the social and economic growth of the country. Janis Mazeiks, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, said: Investing in energy efficiency is a win-win strategy that increases the energy security of the Republic of Moldova. The European Union contributed with a considerable grant to the Moldova Energy Efficiency programme, the first nation-wide energy efficiency initiative in the country. This support will improve the central and local governments ability to undertake comprehensive energy efficiency measures. We are glad that the successful work done on energy efficiency, with EU support, over the last years will be scaled up with such an ambitious programme. It will refurbish public buildings with a direct and tangible benefit for the citizens. The programme will drive economic development and prevent CO2 emissions, as per scope of a Green Transition. Andrei Spinu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, commented: The Republic of Moldova, like other countries, has gone through a period of energy crisis that has motivated the strengthening of a better strategy, but also the use of this crisis as an element to increase energy security and efficiency. This financial support from European partners is a great step towards becoming more independent, competitive, and resilient in energy issues. We are very grateful that the EU is always with us through extraordinary projects for our citizens. Such financing agreements bring us closer to European standards at the highest level. The operation is a part of a wider Team Europe effort to support Moldova, accelerate its green and sustainable social and economic growth, achieve energy independence, and decarbonise its economy. It also supports global climate action by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a major contributor to global warming. This project supports improved energy efficiency as one of the five flagship initiatives of the European Union`s Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership for Moldova. The operation was announced today at the EU Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels. EU-Armenia SME Fund raises further funds to support Armenian SMEs Increase in funding to boost equity investments in Armenias private sector EBRD and EU expect additional contributions to strengthen economic development The EU-Armenia SME Fund, a private equity fund managed by Amber Capital Armenia and supported by the European Union (EU) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is to receive additional funding from a number of partners, increasing its size to US$ 50 million. The fund has been operating since January 2020 with investments from the EU, the EBRD, Amundi-ACBA Asset Management, the Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation and the investment team of Amber Capital Armenia. It has since raised further capital from the Armenia National Interests Fund, C-Quadrat Ampega Asset Management Armenia, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) and the government of Armenia. The fund aims to become the leading equity investor in Armenia. Through its investments, it will seek to boost the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country, also by enhancing their corporate governance and transparency and helping them to internationalise while having a positive, sustainable impact on the domestic economy. The fund is currently exploring investment opportunities in key sectors of the Armenian economy, including renewable energy, information technology, high-tech agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, healthcare and textiles. It has made two investments to date, providing capital and fostering improvement in governance standards and financial reporting. The Fund works closely with the EU-supported EBRD Advice for Small Businesses programme, which aims to enhance the investment readiness of SMEs and to promote their competitiveness. The funds investments are expected to support the sustainable growth of investee companies, increase efficiency, reduce leverage and decrease their cost of debt. The funds involvement is expected to act as a catalyst for the development of local capital markets, by introducing listing prerequisites such as audited financial statements and corporate governance standards and by helping companies to grow. INDUSTRY NEWS Shrimp imports into the US declined in January, both in terms of value and volume. Average price per kilogramme was also cheaper at $8.83 compared with $10.71/kg in January 2015. LOWER DEMAND IN JANUARY? Shrimp imports into US slump Shrimp imported into the US during the first month of this year dropped 18.9% year-on-year to $441.43 million. Volume was also slightly down at 49,968 metric tonnes from 50,841 metric tonnes in January 2015 Average price per kilogramme was $8.83 compared with $10.71/kg in January 2015. India was the top exporter in January, up 12.17% year-on-year, to 10,57 metric tonnes, followed by Indonesia, with 9,616 metric tonnes, down from 9,946 metric tonnes in January 2015; Thailand with 6,654 metric tonnes, up 5.36% year-on-year; Ecuador with 6,177 metric tonnes, down from 6,837 metric tonnes in January 2015. Vietnam was the fifth-biggest exporter with 4,713 metric tonnes, down 15.83% year-on-year. MOU SIGNED Thai Union Group works with gov't to improve fishers' quality of life Mr. Thiraphong Chansiri, President & CEO of Thai Union Group PCL has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dr. Vinaroj Supsongsuk, director general of the Cooperative Promotion Department, and Mr. Wirat Iam-Ua-Yut, chairman of the Fishery Cooperatives Federation of Thailand, signalling Thai Union's cooperation and support for the government's Civil State Policy. The Civil State Policy works to improve the fishermen's quality of life, reduce income inequality, and increase employment and income. It also aims at capacity-building for civil societies. It is expected that more than 50 million baht (US$1.44 million) worth of value will be added to aquatic animal farming, as well as help reduce the operational costs of over 3,000 fish farmers in Thailand and the likelihood of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. The MoU signing was held at the Cooperative Promotion Department in Bangkok, Thailand. A FIRST Ecuador firm offers 4-star BAP-certified shrimp Omarsa S.A. has become the first Ecuadorian shrimp supplier to earn the highest four-star Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification. It is also Latin America's second company qualified to offer four-star BAP shrimps, and could do so on confirmation that it sources feed from Inbalnor S.A. in Ecuador and Vitapro S.A. in Peru, both of which attained BAP certification last year. Omarsa's processing plant, two of its farmsCachugran and Punaand its hatchery, Mar Bravo, have been BAP-certified since 2007. "Having three-star BAP status for our processing plant, farms and hatchery was an achievement we celebrated years ago," said Sandro Coglitore, CEO of Omarsa S.A. "Having our entire aquaculture production chain BAP-certified is a whole new level we can proudly announce to all of our customers. This next step shows our commitment to a sustainable production that includes environmental and social responsibility, food safety, animal welfare and traceability." COMPREHENSIVE AND SYSTEMATISED Book on shrimp biotechnology Shrimp, being a high-value commodity, makes shrimp aquaculture one of the major industries in the Philippines. With the various challenges and opportunities in shrimp aquaculture, there is a need for a comprehensive and systematised information about shrimps. "Biotechnological Advances in Shrimp Health Management in the Philippines", a book compilation of researches on shrimp, was published to provide up-to-date information on shrimp biotechnology. The book contains 10 chapters, each written by different experts. It comprises discussions on challenges currently encountered by the industry, a complete documentation and management practices of the diseases caused by viral pathogens, and potential biotechnological interventions that can be employed as part of good aquaculture practices. It also contains molecular approaches to better understand the shrimp immune system and the development of biotechnological interventions for the industry's development. The book was an output of the Shrimp Biotechnology Program funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It caters to diverse stakeholders like scientists, shrimp farmers, aquaculturists, researchers and students.DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Service FISHMEAL UNSUSTAINABLE? Shift to plant-based aquafeed The aquaculture industry is moving away from traditional feed made from fish and increasing the use of plant-based ingredients in its feed, a new analysis from the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and McGill University said. Until recently, manufactured feed was typically composed of high levels of fishmeal and fish oil derived from wild fish, but it has become unsustainable to catch more wild fish to feed growing numbers of farmed fish, so the industry has shifted the makeup of the feed. Soybean meal, for example, was twice as much used in commercial aquaculture feed in 2008 as compared to fishmeal, and the use of crop-based ingredients is projected to increase 124% between 2008 and 2020. "Our review found that increasing plant-based ingredients can change the fatty acid content in farmed fish, which can affect human nutrition", said study leader Dr. Jillian Fry, director of CLF's Public Health and Sustainable Aquaculture Project and a faculty member at the Bloomberg School. Graham MacDonald, assistant professor in the Department of Geography at McGill University said, "Currently, only a small fraction of terrestrial agriculture is used to feed farmed fish. However, the aquaculture industry is growing rapidly. A clearer picture is needed of where and how these crop-based feed ingredients are produced so we can assess the implications of this growing industry for agriculture and the environment". NOT DISEASE-FREE AFTER ALL Philippine shrimp farms hit by EMS So the Philippines is not EMS-free after all. The dreaded early mortality syndrome (EMS) has hit a major shrimp-producing province in the Philippines, Negros Occidental, the state-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported. Raoul Flores, vice chairman of Negros Prawn Producers, said the emergence of the EMS was aggravated by the hot weather caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon. Flores added that as preventive measure, the province's shrimp and prawn producers have used various equipment in checking and monitoring the disease in around 1,000 hectares of production areas. The PNA report did not elaborate on the extent of the EMS outbreak. Producers were also advised to maintain ideal temperature and water salinity level in their ponds. Negros Occidental accounts for 30% of the Philippines' total annual prawn production, next only to Central Luzon, with 40%. It produces mostly vannamei, or whiteleg, shrimp (about 95%) and the rest tiger prawn (5%). "Vannamei or whiteleg shrimp, a more resistant and easier-to-raise kind of shrimp, wiped out and replaced prawns in the pond," Flores pointed out, adding the province had no more prawn hatcheries left. The Philippines had heretofore prided itself as disease-free in comparison with other shrimp-producing countries in the Southeast Asian region, which have been hit for years by EMS. The value of Philippine shrimp production has remained flat at US$50 million (P2.35 billion), according to Philippine Shrimp Congress president Roberto Gatuslao. US$4.071-BILLION INDUSTRY Philippines boosting swine production through genomics Swine production in the Philippines is a 191-billion-peso (US$4.071-billion) industry and is the largest among the livestock and poultry industries of the country. The Philippine swine industry is ranked eighth in the world, in terms of the volume of pork production and number of breeding sows. Despite being dynamic and technologically advanced, the local pig industry is still confronted with inefficiency of production due to low sow productivity. Thus, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) is supporting an R&D initiative to improve the productivity of the Philippine swine industry through the gene marker application. The application of gene marker was developed by the Philippine Carabao Center and Bureau of Animal Industry in partnership with the Accredited Swine Breeders Association of the Philippines (ASBAP). Sixteen gene marker protocols associated with high litter size, fast growth rate and meat qualities, as well as seven markers for screening of genetic defects and disease resistance, were optimised. The adoption of the gene marker technology by swine breeder farms is expected to increase productivity and efficiency in terms of number of pigs weaned and live weight produced per sow per year. In other swine-producing countries, the application of gene markers that are associated with economically important traits has resulted in significant improvement in the number of pigs produced and consequently the hog live weight produced per sow per year. In addition, gene-marker-assisted selection also facilitates genetic improvement in terms of productivity and production efficiency, meat quality, disease resistance, and in screening against genetic defects in swine breeding herds. The R&D initiatives for swine aim to increase pigs produced per sow per year by 4.6 piglets, which is equivalent to an additional 460 kilogrammes of hog live weight, or a 25%-30% increase in pork production without increasing the breeder pig population. Meanwhile, DOST-PCAARRD showcased swine genomics including other agri-aqua S&T research and development outputs on March 2-4, 2016, during a livestock and aquaculture show in its headquarters in Los Banos town, Laguna province.DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Service PRODUCTION BELOW DEMAND Lack of feed ails Russian aquaculture Lack of government support, outdated equipment and production technologies, and lack of feed are major constraints to the further development of the aquaculture sector in Russia. Annual production of farmed fish is estimated at 160,000 tonnes, or 3%-4% of total fish and seafood production, the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) said in a recent report. Experts believe that the initial capital needed for the sector is 1.5 billion rubles (US$21.16 million), versus the RUB400-million ($5.65 million) allocation made by the "Development of Fisheries Sector" programme of the Russian government for the compensation of the costs of investment. They also believe that businesses are unlikely to invest in the aquaculture sector because right now it is viewed as very risky and complex. They identified the lack of feed and raw material for aquaculture production as one of the problems constraining the further development of the aquaculture sector in Russia. Production of aquaculture feed in Russia in 2015 is estimated at about 100,000 tonnes, while the demand for feed is 250,000 tonnes. According to the objectives stated in the federal program "On Development of the Fisheries Sector," demand for feed will increase to between 400,000 tonnes and 450,000 tonnes by 2020. TO BOOST EXPORTS Kerala opens vannamei shrimp hatchery India's Kerala state has opened its first vannamei shrimp hatchery. Located at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), the hatchery will initially produce two million seeds a year. "With the establishment of the hatchery in KUFOS, the farming of this shrimp species will get a major boost", State Fisheries Minister K. Babu said at the inauguration of the hatchery. Babu added the hatchery would boost shrimp exports from Kerala. There has been a significant increase in vannamei production in India in the past five years, and more than 60% of the production comes from Andhra Pradesh, followed by Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra. De Heus Asia's business model Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit To Gabor Fluit, Business Group Director Asia of De Heus, the agricultural industry is a meaningful industry that provides food to the growing world population. It is a simple notion, that nonetheless drives Fluit and his company to "create new things". Bound by rules and the strong hierarchical structure in the banking sector, the entrepreneurial bug in Fluit had wanted to break free to create new things. The opportunity occurred when Fluit came into contact with global top-15 feed supplier De Heus, and was very much attracted to some features of the business. "For one, De Heus is involved in a meaningful industry that provides food to the growing world population. I find an element of pride in contributing to and playing an active role in the further development and the professionalisation of the agricultural sector," Fluit comments. De Heus aims to be a major player in the Asian feed and livestock supply chain, and to use Vietnam as a bridge to strengthen its position in the region. "Having the responsibility and opportunity of creating such things was really appealing to me," adds Fluit. Joining De Heus' Asian operations meant that Fluit had to relocate from his hometown in the Netherlands to the Far East in Vietnam. "If you look at it, moving from the Netherlands to Vietnam was indeed a big step. But at the same time, I was already familiar with the Vietnamese language and culture since I am married to a Vietnamese woman. Vietnam is a fast developing country and I know that I would face many challenges here, and opportunities as well, both personally and professionally," he quips. So perhaps for Fluit, the decision to join De Heus was inevitably bound by fate. The De Heus model As described by Fluit, De Heus is a strongly entrepreneurial organisation that operates horizontally so that it can move forward quickly to respond to new opportunities. The direction of the company is very clear, as pointed out by Fluit. "Because we are not part of a large integrated company, our sole objective is to provide farmers with the best quality feed, nutritional and farm management knowledge." The deepening of nutritional knowledge is supported by the company's research facilities worldwide and local application R&D centres, such as its new Aqua Research and Development centre which is undergoing construction in Vinh Long city in Vietnam. In so doing, the company has helped farmers to increase their productivity and scale up their farms, and thus support them in realising the highest possible conversion of feed into animal protein to optimise business results. It is widely known that during the past few years, prices of feed grain have been fluctuating substantially. Fluit admits that while there is unfortunately not much that either they or the farmers can do about fluctuating prices, what they could all do is to continuously improve the quality and traceability of the end product, and reduce the cost of production. The company's advisors from all over the world continue to visit and stay in close contact with its customers. "The feedback we receive from the field provides us with a flow of constant new insights and knowledge that is transferred to our knowledge centres. By gathering this global knowledge and experience and making it available to our specialists all over the world, we are able to translate this knowledge into tailored solutions for every customer," Fluit elaborates. The De Heus Feed Academy plays an important role in that knowledge transfer which the company says would mean better service to farmers every other day. De Heus, as an entrepreneurial private company, treats its farmers and other partners of the supply chain as entrepreneurs in their own regard. Each partner has to focus on its own strengths, as De Heus has learnt from experience that this approach will lead to continuous improvement of both quality and cost price. "The cooperatives in the Netherlands are also step by step changing their business models, but I believe that different models can exist next to each other, and we will focus on further building on our chosen strategy De Heus as the preferred partner of the independent farmer," shares Fluit. Exporting to more than 50 countries Since it was founded in 1911, De Heus has grown into one of the largest players in the Dutch compound feed industry. Today, the company exports to more than 50 countries and has operating companies on many continents. In Europe, De Heus also operates in Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Serbia and Russia. Far from acknowledging that the Western European feed industry is in its sunset days, as some critics might put it, Fluit finds "tremendous value" there, "even if growth is limited". "Our whole organisation profits from the knowledge and experiences from our European business units, and we apply this knowledge to further develop our operations in developing countries like Vietnam," stresses Fluit. The company has factories in Vietnam from which it exports to several countries in the region. To countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Bangladesh, De Heus supplies only very specific products, Fluit admits, as the company cannot compete on price with local companies in these markets on more standard products. Exporting to these countries therefore brings the additional advantage for De Heus to prepare itself for possible future feed mill investments in these countries. Fluit shares some developments. "This autumn we will open our first production facility in Myanmar. In China we have a joint venture company with a successful Chinese company, Wellhope. On the African continent we're active in South Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt. We also operate in South America from Brazil. We expect growing demand of the services and products we can supply in the major markets we are active in, especially in the developing economies of Asia, South America and Africa." Fluit notes that within Southeast Asia, one of the key similarities is that there is still a huge market of small-scale backyard farmers. At the same time, in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, large professional farms are being developed. "I do expect this situation to continue for some more years, but the share of the larger and more professional farms will of course increase. Because of the characteristics of the market, most farms are still being supplied with feed in bags instead of in bulk. Small farmers pay a lot of attention to the physical characteristics of the feed (smell, colour), instead of only looking at growth rate, FCR and quality of the end product. This leads to an adjusted way of feed formulation and the choice of certain raw materials," shares Fluit. The Vietnamese opportunity Looking at the demography of Vietnam, it of course helps a lot to make the investment decision knowing you are active in a country with more than 90 million people, Fluit remarks. "A substantial part of this population is young, hard-working, eager to learn and eager to develop. That fits very well with our focus and strategy here." In a recent study by the Boston Consulting Group, the middle and affluent class in Vietnam will double in size between 2014 and 2020. This is increasing demand for meat and other animal proteins and, as a result, Fluit sees a lot of potential in the Vietnamese feed market. Moreover, there is a growing trend of Vietnamese consumers expressing concern over food safety issues, especially health risks associated with chemical hazards and growth promoter residues. "As you know, among the European countries, the Netherlands uses antibiotics least frequently, so we already have a lot of experience in the production of high quality and AGP-free feeds. In 2015, we also partnered with The Fresh Studio Innovations Asia on Safepork project with the ultimate aim to provide safe and traceable pork meat to Vietnamese consumers produced in a sustainable way," Fluit highlights. He gives us some final advice. "If you want to be successful, you have to adapt your products and services to the needs of the local market. We have spent a lot of energy and money in local research, in the fields of pig, poultry, cattle and aqua. In our Aqua R&D centre project, we closely work with the Can Tho University and the Wageningen University of the Netherlands. We are also setting up a demonstration and R&D pig farm and an R&D poultry farm, by working together with Nong Lam University and the universities of Can Tho and Hue. We plan to expand this cooperation with more universities and other educational institutions in both Vietnam and in the region in the coming years. We also always want to be a first mover. We made bulk feed solutions to reach out to medium and large sized independent farmers and have built a strong four-party cooperation among the day-old chicks supplier (our Bel Ga joint venture), the farmer, the slaughterhouse, and, De Heus in the broiler chain. That is an example of how we want to develop ourselves further, by coordinating close-chain cooperation, so that all partners have a fair share of the pie and be able to provide a high quality end product for the consumer." And one thing is for sure - just like how De Heus is here to stay in the land of opportunities which Vietnam provides, Fluit has very much called it his second home. Spanish authorities have given the green light to anti-Covid booster shots for 50 to 59-year-olds as well as the members of the wider public who received the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first two jabs. This was approved by Spain's public health committee, after analyzing the proposal from the vaccine commission and giving its approval to these population groups. A third dose of an anti-Covid vaccine is now recommended for Spanish residents between 50 and 59 years old, starting with the older part of the age group, and in Catalonia, the CatSalut authorities will advise when on-line bookings for these are to begin. As with the booster shot campaigns already underway for older age groups, the third dose will be carried out using a messenger RNA vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna, and will be available six months after the person had their second dose. Subsequently, the committee advised, the booster shot will also be extended to the 40 to 49 age group. What about those who had AstraZeneca jabs? AstraZeneca vaccinations were largely received by workers in essential sectors in Spain, such as people in teaching professions, as well as police officers. Booster shots for these people - not just those over 60 but the entire population - have also been approved. However, they do not have to wait for six months, but rather will be able to book a booster shot three months after their previous dose. Nevertheless, Spain's public health committee has stated that vaccination should prioritize those under 12, who have not yet received a vaccine jab at all, as well as the most vulnerable groups: those over 60 years of age. The same body also stated that people who received the Janssen (or Johnson and Johnson) jab - the single-dose vaccine - can also opt for the booster dose. In all cases, the vaccine for the booster shot will be a messenger RNA vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna, which testing has shown to be fully compatible with the other varieties. Vaccination of children underway This Wednesday, Catalonia started vaccinating children between 5 and 11 years old. At one of the key vaccination points, the Fira de Barcelona at Montjuic, a hundred Pfizer doses were administered. For the weekend, there are already 1,800 appointments, 1,200 on Saturday and 600 on Sunday. In addition, coordinators are working to make more jabs available - "in all shifts and hours" in the coming days. A new "circuit" has been created for the smooth processing of those children arriving for their shot, in order to speed up the logistics of vaccination with the under-12s. The jab given to this group is the Pfizer vaccine, but the dose administered is different. For this age group, a dosage that is one-third (10 mcg) of the adult shot (30 mcg) is administered. The dosage is the same for a 5-year-old as for an 11-year-old, and two doses should be given, between 4 and 8 weeks apart. A Catalan-language information sheet of FAQs on vaccine doses for kids is available here. They are few in number, and have a marked political character, but there are voices that, from within Spain's police forces, denounce the campaign of the right and the extreme right in Catalonia. One was heard this Wednesday in the committee of the Spanish interior, in the Congress of Deputies, when the director general of the National Police, Francisco Pardo, answered MPs' questions. In particular, with Popular Party (PP) deputy Ana Vazquez, who was denouncing the "daily harassment" of police forces by the Catalan pro-independence groups. The head of the police body responded to the attack: "It is clear to everyone that social coexistence in Catalonia has improved significantly in the last three years, that is, it has improved since your party left the government." In her questions, Ana Vazquez complained that the Spanish government is "permitting the harassment and abandonment of the police so as not to upset separatism." She used the withdrawal of a budgetted sum to finance the remodelling of the Via Laietana police station - as was agreed by Catalonia's ERC with the Spanish executive - to criticize the "complicity" of the left-wing coalition. "They are harassed every day. They have to enter through the back door so that they cannot be identified", claimed the PP deputy in reference to the central Barcelona police station, affirming that she has a cousin based at Via Laietana who is going to return to Galicia "because she can no longer stand the harassment". She took the opportunity to relate it to the language immersion case in the town of Canet: It's not just this five-year-old boy. It's every day." Far from agreeing with her, the director general of the National Police Force stated his regret that the PP had not learned from its mistakes and that it was spending hours searching for or fabricating a daily apocalypse. In this regard, Francisco Pardo criticized that instead of working for social coexistence, they insist on looking for elements of confrontation because anything goes. Addressing the MP, he called on the party, if they love the police and the Civil Guard, to stop making use of them for their partisan battles. "Don't be prophets of catastrophe. You are intent on manufacturing an image of exceptionality in Catalonia as an electoral strategy, and that's how you go", insisted Francisco Pardo, who also refuted the deputy's arguments: "When you refer to harassment, are you referring to the police officers lodged at Pineda del Mar who had to take flight from their hotel when you were in power? And he added with another barb: Senora Ayuso is unbalancing all of you. Get back to the centre, because lately you are centred well beyond the right. The citizens want coexistence and dialogue." Spanish police reinforcements in Catalonia Beyond the attacks on the PP, the head of the Spanish National Police affirmed that the safety of the officers of his body and the Civil Guard is absolutely guaranteed, and that any possible case of harassment is investigated and referred to the courts if appropriate. He also recalled that the size of the police corps had increased by 23% and that the police relationship with Catalonia's Mossos d'Esquadra police, "which was broken", had now been restored. He concluded: "You should stop acting like arsonists and do your job like firefighters." 12 17 year olds vaccine clinic cancelled to further increase booster rollout The vaccine clinic that was due to be held this weekend for 12-17 year olds to receive a COVID vaccine is now cancelled. Instead, the clinic will be used to offer COVID booster vaccines to eligible adults in an attempt to increase the number of individuals protected against the virus. This follows the UK Governments announcement and subsequently the Islands message that providing a booster to all eligible adults is a matter of urgency. Lawrie Hooper MHK, Minister for Health and Social Care said: The vaccination team have reviewed the very low attendance at previous clinics for young people, including the most recent one last weekend, and the increased pressure to offer boosters as quickly as possible and made the decision to cancel the clinic for 12-17 year olds. With new data suggesting that two doses of the vaccine does not provide the level of protection needed against this virus, it is clear that we need to do all that we can to get boosters into arms. By cancelling the clinic for 12-17s, it means that the team will be able to use these appointments and prioritise giving the booster to those who are in older age groups. The clinic on Saturday 18 December will be appointment based only, with those aged 40 and over encouraged to book an appointment online. The team will also look to invite those who have chosen the short notice option to attend this clinic. Please do not call 111 in an attempt to move your appointment forward. The team will look to organise clinics for children and young people as soon as possible in the New Year. Six weekly flights to operate from IOM to Dublin Aer Lingus have announced they will operate six weekly flights to Dublin from the Isle of Man from next Spring. The flights operated under a franchise agreement by Emerald Airlines will commence on 17th March 2022 as Aer Lingus Regional. The announcement sees the re-establishment of services to regional points across the U.K including Newquay Cornwall, Exeter, and Manchester. Emerald Airlines will be the only airline offering these services from Ireland. Conor McCarthy, Emerald Airlines CEO, said: Were delighted to be able to commence operations under our franchise agreement with Aer Lingus well ahead of plan in line with the recovering customer demand. The time is right for Emerald Airlines to begin operations under the Aer Lingus Regional brand and we truly look forward to welcoming our customers onboard our flights as soon as February next. Our customer-focused schedules will offer choice, convenience and great value for both regional and transatlantic air travel. This announcement is a great boost for connectivity from Ireland to the U.K, including cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds and the Isle of Man. Emerald Airlines will be offering a high-frequency schedule with convenient flight timings to facilitate both business and leisure passengers." Apple has now, for the fourth time, had to adjust its return-to-office plans. Workers were slated to begin a hybrid schedule in February, though the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has thrown a wrench in those contentious plans. Over the course of the pandemic, Apple has repeatedly attempted to set guidance for when in-person work would begin again. The initial target of September 2021 was been received poorly by some employees who formed a "remote work advocates" Slack channel and circulated a letter critical of the policy proposal. The Delta variant necessitated further delays, which were targeted to January, and then February of 2022. The rapid transmissibility of Omicron has brought back mask mandates for Apple stores around the country this week. Three retail locations in Annapolis, Ottawa and Miami were also closed after outbreaks of the virus. Lyft, Uber and Google parent Alphabet have also pushed back their office returns, with the latter two, like Apple, setting no new target date. It's nearly certain that other companies with the option of remote work will follow suit in the coming days and weeks. Google researchers have described NSO Group's zero-click exploit used to hack Apple devices as "incredible and terrifying," Wired has reported. Project Zero researchers called it "one of the most technically sophisticated exploits we've ever seen" that's on par with attacks from elite nation-state spies. The Project Zero team said it obtained one of NSO's Pegasus exploits from Citizen Lab, which managed to capture it via a targeted Saudi activist. It also worked with Apple's Security Engineering and Architecture (SEAR) group on the technical analysis. NSO's original exploit required the user to click on a link, but the latest, most sophisticated exploits require no click at all. Called ForcedEntry, it takes advantage of the way iMessage interprets files like GIFs to open a malicious PDF file with no action required from the victim. It does so by using old code from the 1990s used to process text in scanner images. Once inside a device, the malware can set up its own virtualized environment and run javascript-like code, with no need to connect to an outside server. From there, it gives an attacker access to a victim's passwords, microphone, audio and more. The exploit is extremely hard to detect and is "a weapon against which there is no defense," Project Zero researchers said. Apple recently filed a lawsuit against the group to "hold it accountable" for governments using it to spy on iOS users. Apple alleged that targets are often activists, journalists and other critics of regimes that routinely suppress political dissent. It also accused NSO of "flagrant violations" of federal- and state-level laws in the US. Last month, the US Department of Commerce added NSO Group to its "entity list", essentially banning it for use in the US. Reddit has taken a big step towards going public. In a press release, the company has revealed that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission regarding "the proposed initial public offering of its common stock." The announcement offers very little detail about its planned IPO, which is expected to take place after the SEC's approval. The social network also said that it has yet to determine how many shares will be offered and for how much. It will likely reveal an initial valuation in the near future as it prepares for an IPO, but it's worth noting that it raised $700 million in a funding round back in August at a valuation of over $10 billion. According to Reuters, Reddit sought to hire investment bankers and lawyers in September as advisers for a planned IPO in New York. While the IPO's timing will depend on market conditions, Reddit was apparently hoping that the company will be valued at over $15 billion by the time it takes place next year. In March, the company also hired hired Drew Vollero, who led Snap's IPO back in 2017, as its first chief financial officer. Reddit was founded in 2005 and has shot up in popularity as a news aggregator, messaging board and social media website since then. In the second quarter of this year, it generated $100 million in advertising revenue 192 percent more than what it generated in the same period of 2020 for the first time. Going forward, it intends to find more way to incorporate video and audio into its website, which could lead to even bigger ad earnings. Uber and autonomous vehicle company Motional announced a partnership today for "autonomous deliveries" through Uber Eats. As you might imagine, there are some caveats. The pilot is slated to launch at some point in "early 2022," though Motional (itself a partnership between Hyundai and Aptiv) would not provide further details on timing. The full array of food options normally available through Uber Eats also won't be available. Instead customers will pick from "a curated set of meal kits from select restaurants." Nor will this joint venture really be "driverless" per se. A Motional spokesperson told Engadget that "we will be launching the service with safety operators present in the vehicle." Not-quite-autonomous meal kit deliveries will be confined to Santa Monica, California, where a large portion of Motional's team works. Other lingering questions, for instance the number of vehicles Motional plans to put on public roads, or what types of weather they'll be allowed to operate in, remain unanswered. Under its original leadership, Uber initially planned to convert the semi-professionalized cab driver workforce into a contingent one, and then remove those overhead costs entirely by investing in self-driving vehicles. "The reason Uber could be expensive is you're paying for the other dude in the car," former CEO Travis Kalanick said in 2014, "When there is no other dude in the car, the cost of taking an Uber anywhere is cheaper." Six years later the company sold off its self-driving arm, known as the Advanced Technologies Group, to Aurora. Since then, Uber has pursued partnerships with outside self-driving firms, like Waymo. Motional has an ongoing partnership with Uber's chief rival, Lyft, to launch an autonomous fleet in 2023. You'll have to say goodbye to Via's personal on-demand rides. Bloomberg reports Via is shutting down its ride-hailing operations, currently in New York and Washington, DC, after December 20th. After that, the company will shift its attention to mass transit systems like buses, shuttles and vans. You might still use Via to arrange pickups (including for paratransit) or check schedules, but you won't have much more control and will likely share the vehicle. The company isn't shy about its reasoning: its public transportation business is more successful. Via chief Daniel Ramot told Bloomberg his firm's transit business is "growing quickly," and it's a more reliable revenue stream thanks to long-term contracts. Via would have needed a "major investment" to return its ride-hailing business to pre-pandemic levels, and the company didn't want to incur those costs when transit was thriving. Via's challenges contrast sharply with its ridesharing rivals. Lyft and Uber have been scrambling to find drivers as demand picks back up. They have far larger slices of personal ride hailing than Via, however. Even if Via were to remain committed to personal rides, it would be competing for a small slice of a market with two clear incumbents. The ride-hailing shutdown lets it sidestep that battle entirely and corner a segment Lyft and Uber have largely left untouched. Ok. First of all. I want to say that this is not a "kids these days" article. After you're done reading this, you're not going to go to Facebook or your mom friend Cheryl or Fox News and tell them "TikTok is making children violent." It's not. Kids have always been like this. But something is making it easier, and it's not the social media apps. The news this past week has been littered with strings of threats about school shootings on TikTok. Many of the trends have become widespread enough that the schools have had to take evasive action and even cancel classes, like in Citrus County near Tampa Florida, where administration has been made aware that the district has been mentioned several times in TikToks that are part of a wider national trend to shut down schools on December 17. The trend has been largely concentrated in Florida, but other areas are being affected as well, threats Utah and Puerto Rico increasing as this article is written. TIKTOK SCHOOL THREATS This is terrifying. Even if it's just a coordinated plot to get out of a day of school, the fact that this is the excuse they came up with is an indication of a much larger problem in the US, and it's one we've known about for years. School shooting threats are the new fire drill. That's not an exaggeration. This is a problem for SO MANY REASONS, not the least of which is the risk that if it happens this regularly, we won't be truly prepared for when one of these gun violence threats is real - and we all know how painfully real they can be. That's why this is happening in the first place. We can't blame Tiktok for this, because kids have been running scams like this for as long as there have been kids in schools. If scams to get out of school is the art form, the actual rumor is the medium - and gun violence is a very concerning medium to choose, because it means school shooting threats are THAT commonplace. Just look at this graph put together by CNN: This entire situation is dystopian. We know this is a problem and we just can't fix it. I could talk about Parkland or Columbine or Sandy Hook, but I don't even have to, because I have my own school shooting scare story. We all do. When I was sixteen, my entire school got out early due to a shooting threat. I knew the kid who brought the gun to school. Not well - I had gone to elementary school with him. He was one of the sweetest kids - I barely knew him, but he actually once gave me a compliment so kind and personal that still gives me strength to this day. He brought his dad's gun to school because he got into a fight with another kid who said he was going to kill him, and he believed it. The whole school was on edge about it when it was reported. I think we were dismissed early. They found the gun in his backpack. He ended up in juvie. I'm not here to comment on that incident, or the motives behind this Tiktok trend, because these are kids we're talking about. Kids are too young to be held responsible for the way they are influenced by the culture they were born into - they didn't create it, they're just trying to learn to navigate it as best they can. And the fact that these kids see guns as such a central piece of the culture is, I can't believe I have to say it, A HUGE PROBLEM. That's what I'm here to talk about. The fact that I'm 26 years old and every single person I know has a school shooting scare story - or worse, one about an actual school shooting. The fact that these teenagers are so used to the concept that they see these TikTok threats the same way our parents saw pulling the fire alarm: A credible way to freak out the adults and get school cancelled. The fact that it was so easy for that kid I knew, not only to get his hands on a gun, but that he found it so believable that the other kid had access too. I'm almost too tired to finish making this point, because it's one that we have literally known about for generations now. We need more gun control in this country. We're living in a dystopia where every child lives in fear of the day one of the kids in their class will snap and kill them all. It's not okay. It never has been. Asturias Localizan los cuerpos sin vida de los dos desaparecidos en el derrumbe del colegio San Vicente de Paul (Gijon) HEIDELBERG, Germany, and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Novaliq, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on the unique EyeSol water-free technology, today provided a development update on the phase 3 trial of SHR8058 eye drops (perfluorohexyloctane) for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED) associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) conducted by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. ("Hengrui Pharma") (SSE: 600276) in the People's Republic of China showing statistically significant topline results compared to 0.6% sodium chloride solution.[1] Hengrui Pharma has completed the Phase 3 clinical trial (SHR8058-301) which enrolled 312 patients at 17 clinical sites in the People's Republic of China. SHR8058-301 was a multi-center, randomized, double-masked, saline-controlled clinical trial and was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SHR8058 eye drops (100% perfluorohexyloctane) for the treatment of signs and symptoms of DED associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction. SHR8058-301 evaluated its primary efficacy at eight weeks.[2] The trial met its prespecified primary sign endpoint improvement of total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS) and its prespecified primary symptom endpoint improvement of eye dryness score of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at eight weeks with high statistical significance. The trial showed an excellent safety and tolerability profile for SHR8058 eye drops (perfluorohexyloctane) comparable to placebo. Hengrui Pharma expects to submit a pre-NDA communication application to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)'s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) in the People's Republic of China in the near term future. About SHR8058 eye drops (perfluorohexyloctane)SHR8058 eye drops is an investigational, proprietary, water-free and preservative-free solution, based on Novaliq's EyeSol technology. In 2019, Hengrui Pharma and Novaliq announced a strategic collaboration under which Hengrui Pharma secured exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize NOV03 (local drug name SHR8058 eye drops) and CyclASol (local drug name SHR8028 Eye Drops) in China. About NovaliqNovaliq is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on EyeSol, the worldwide first water-free technology. Novaliq offers an industry-leading portfolio addressing today's unmet medical needs of millions of patients with eye diseases. Novaliq GmbH is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany and Novaliq Inc. has an office in Cambridge, MA, USA. The long-term shareholder is dievini Hopp BioTech holding GmbH & Co. KG, an active investor in Life and Health Sciences companies. More on www.novaliq.com. References Any product/brand names and/or logos are trademarks of the respective owners. 2021 Novaliq GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1359866/Novaliq_Logo.jpg Jasper, IndianaThe New York Tri-State Film Festival has honored Kevin Schewe's original screenplay, based on his book Bad Love Strikes, with the Best Sci-Fi Screenplay award. The Tri-State Film Festival's stated mission is to "play an important part in the emergence of new talents in the world of cinema." This marks the 10th award for the Bad Love Strikes screenplay, a story which has holds all the elements for a successful movie, or even an extended mini-series. BLS has picked up awards at prestigious film festivals in Asia, Europe and across the United States. The first in Schewe's critically acclaimed sci-fi adventure series, with four books to date, starts in the 1970s with the Bad Love Gang discovering The White Hole Project. This top-secret time machine, created by Albert Einstein during WW II in case the A-bomb failed, allows the Gang to travel back to 1945 to rescue victims of Nazi Germany's brutal Holocaust. Comprised of gifted and unlikely teenage heroes, they defy the odds in the service of others and never lose sight of the big picture. In the exciting first sequel, Bad Love Tigers, the Gang use the White Hole Project to travel back to 1945 to thwart Russian spies and protect the secrets of the White Hole Project and Area 51. In Bad Love Beyond, the Gang travel not just through time but through space as well to learn the reason behind Blue Nova One's mysterious visit to earth and to get the cure for breast cancer. Then, in Bad Love Medicine, the Bad Love Gang has a two-fold mission: reunite a love-struck couple separated by time (while saving one of them from a future fate of breast cancer) and, at Winston Churchill's personal request, stop Hitler and the Nazis from creating a time machine of their own. The Audible version of Bad Love Medicine, the fourth installment, is now available on Amazon. The popular series, which is time travel sci-fi mixed with science fact and history is now available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and Audible formats. Each of the Bad Love series audio books are narrated by Alan Carlson, an award-winning narrator with credits in non-fiction, academic, romance fiction and many other categories. You can purchase the audio book at Amazon's Audible. The entire four book set is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Love-Collection-Sci-Fi-Adventure-ebook/dp/B09LPPDBMM/ or www.jancarolpublishing.com. The gift of knowledge within the Bad Love sci-fi adventures provides a look at the history of World War II, the Manhattan Project to build the first atomic bomb, pop culture with musical interludes, 1970's Cold War espionage and more. Kevin Schewe, a history buff with a keen interest in high tech, made sure real-life characters in the books, like Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Adolph Hitler, were portrayed with precise accuracy. "If history was taught this way in school, everyone would be a scholar and educating ourselves not only about our accomplishments but the horrors of the past that should awaken and give insight to the path of a better future. A rare gem!" David Holladay, MD, 5-Stars "Skillful writing (both historical and fantastical), a zesty sense of humor, an appreciation for pop culture, and the ability to create memorably entertaining characters combine to make this an immensely impressive series and experience! Very highly recommended." Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Reviewer, 5-Stars Watch the book trailers for each book at https://bit.ly/BadLoveStrikes-Trailer or https://bit.ly/BadLoveTigers_Trailer or https://bit.ly/BadLoveBeyondTrailer or https://bit.ly/BadLoveMedicineTrailer About Kevin Schewe: Kevin L. Schewe, MD, FACRO, is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for over 34 years. He is an entrepreneur, having founded Elite Therapeutics and Bad Love Cosmetics Company, LLC. Why Caregivers Don't Get the Help They Need CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson +1 303-810-1816 Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com Denver, Colorado December 16, 2021 Golden CO- Caregiver subject matter expert Pamela D. Wilson hosts Episode 116 of The Caring Generation podcast show for caregivers and aging adults. This week's program, Why Caregivers Don't Get the Help They Need, looks at the patterns of help and information seeking for caregivers and care receivers. Why Caregivers Don't Get the Help They Need From a broad perspective, society has generally been unsupportive of family caregivers. Caregiving for older adults is viewed as a family responsibility. However, the pandemic has brought caregiver concerns out of the closet. Employers have become more aware of family care issues for employees with aging parents. While the focus has primarily been on family care programs for having and raising children, companies have begun supporting internal employee caregiver groups who have input into education and caregiver programs. Organizational support for caregivers is a positive step forward to support working caregivers who are stretched between pursuing a career and raising young children or caring for sick parents or a spouse. Even still, much of the public and government support remains focused on chasing the problems and costs associated with aging instead of a more long-lasting solution: health prevention. Until education about health prevention is included at all levels in public and private school systems and offered to the general public, caregiving and aging programs of Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and gap programs will continue to consume more than 50% of the federal budget. In this week's episode, Wilson addresses the lack of insight about planning for care, denial by family members that care is needed, and how information gaps prevent caregivers and the persons for whom they care from taking positive actions to support health. Family and Group Caregiver Support Programs Wilson supports family caregivers, groups, and corporations worldwide by offering education for caregivers about managing, planning, and navigating health and aging issues. More about Wilson's online courses for elderly care, individual elder care consultations, caregiver support, webinars, speaking engagements, and brand collaborations are on her website www.pameladwilson.com. Pamela may also be contacted at +1 303-810-1816 or through the contact Me page on her website. # Veteran-owned Black Rifle Coffee Co. has opened three new stores in Texas in the last month. The coffee chain, which has received endorsements from conservative figures such as Donald Trump Jr. and Fox News host Sean Hannity, added shops in the West Texas city of Midland and the Central Texas cities of Temple City and Harker Heights. On ExpressNews.com: Here is where Black Rifle Coffee Co. is expanding in Texas All three cities have a strong military presence, a target demographic for the company that plays up its military ties to appeal to veterans, service members, first responders and gun enthusiasts. Midland is home to Midland Army Airfield. Temple City and Harker Heights are about 30 miles from U.S. Army base Fort Hood in Killeen. Combined, the three cities have 20,440 veterans living there, according to U.S. Census data. Black Rifle Coffee, which maintains corporate offices in both San Antonio and Salt Lake City, has its sights on a national expansion funded by the $225 million it hopes to raise from going public. Black Rifle Coffee Company The company plans to add 78 company-owned and franchised stores in the United States. Texas is one of its biggest markets. Black Rifle Coffee plans to add seven stores in San Antonio as well as nine coffee shops in Houston and 13 stores in Dallas Fort Worth. The company already had three Texas locations in San Antonio, Boerne and in North Richland Hills, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth. Additional stores are planned for Plano, New Braunfels and Converse. On ExpressNews.com: 'Is Black Rifle coffee actually good?': 7 things to know about the company with ties to San Antonio In addition to coffee shops, the company says it will bolster its online sales of apparel and coffee, as well as its reach through retailers such as H-E-B, Walmart, Bass Pro Shops, Sams Club and CVS. Black Rifle Coffee Co. has made national headlines several times since it was founded in 2014. On Jan. 6, some of the rioters who stormed the Capitol were photographed and recorded wearing the Utah-based company's pro-military brand. Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who who fatally shot two people during protests last summer in Wisconsin, was photographed wearing a Black Rifle shirt after posting bail. The photo was shared all over social media. The company's founders have since tried to distance themselves from the people who they say have hijacked the brand. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net Working at H-E-B, one of San Antonios largest employers, is almost as good as working at Google, according to Glassdoor. Current and former employees of the H-E-B told the website that they had a favorable experience working at the grocery empire. On ExpressNews.com: Readers weigh in on their favorite H-E-B brand products and what they skip H-E-B took the No. 10 spot on Glassdoors Best Places to Work in 2021 ranking, just below Californias In-N-Out Burger (No. 3) and Texas Delta Airlines (No. 7). There were 97 other companies on the list, including Facebook, Zoom and Pfizer, one of the companies to develop the coronavirus vaccine. Glassdoor is a website that allows current and former employees to anonymously review their employers. The rankings were based on rankings and employee feedback, according to a Glassdoor news release. Employees generally praised H-E-B for its flexible schedules, its pay and benefits and for its understanding management, according to reviews posted on Glassdoor. Other employees complained about not getting enough hours. On ExpressNews.com: Texas woman accused of threatening to shoot people over a parking space at H-E-B H-E-B has more than 360 supermarkets, superstores and gourmet markets throughout Texas. In addition to groceries, the company owns a variety of local restaurants. The company manufactures dairy, bread, salty snacks and other products in San Antonio. The grocery chain has about 20,000 workers employed in Alamo City. Brian & Company a management consulting firm was named Americas No. 1 employer, according to Glassdoor. Google was No. 6. Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in 2021 list features employers across a range of industries, including technology, health care, biotech and pharmaceuticals, retail, travel and tourism, consulting, finance and more. Heres a list of Glassdoor's top 10 companies to work for: In October, San Antonio Symphony violinist Angela Caporale had to decide between going to Kansas to help her dad celebrate his 90th birthday or taking a paying gig with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. She took the gig. I had to take the work, said Caporale, 53. They paid too much. She wont be spending Christmas with her dad, either. Shes too worn out from cobbling together enough to meet her expenses with gigs and private lessons to make the 12-hour drive up there. Nearly three months into a strike and with no end in sight, Caporale is not alone. San Antonio Symphony musicians are all scrambling to make up for the wages they have lost. Some are saying yes to gigs they would have turned down before; some are taking on additional students for private lessons; and some are contemplating career changes. Three musicians have signed one-year contracts with the Phoenix Symphony, and one has signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Symphony. The 72 musicians went on strike in late September amid a labor dispute with the Symphony Society of San Antonio, the nonprofit board that runs the orchestra. The musicians and the board had been renegotiating the contract for the 2021-22 season. The musicians unanimously rejected a proposal that would reduce pay and eliminate 30 full-time positions. Musicians who lost their full-time jobs would be offered part-time contracts with no health insurance. Jessica Phelps /Jessica Phelps After the board imposed the contract in September, the musicians went on strike. Since then, the board has canceled the musicians health insurance and other benefits, and both sides have filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board. Six concerts have been postponed or canceled. The board and the musicians last met Nov. 23. The board proposed going to arbitration, which the musicians turned down. On ExpressNews.com: Why does the SA Symphony keep having financial crises? The symphony base pay the minimum amount a musician earns already was low. The contract negotiated in 2019 called for $35,775 a year, well below the national average for symphony musicians, which is $47,706, according to job site ZipRecruiter. The musicians were accustomed to taking on extra work to make ends meet. But they say its hard to scrounge up even more work on top of what they already were doing. If the stalemate drags on, more dramatic steps may be necessary. Caporale has even pondered selling her violin. Every dollar counts Karen Stiles, 57, who has been with the symphony since 1991, has supplemented her symphony paycheck since 1998 through performances with the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Its a part-time orchestra, and she sometimes has thought about giving it up. Now shes glad she didnt. Those gigs pay about $156 for each rehearsal or performance, and every dollar counts right now. This year, I am playing everything that they have to offer, said Stiles, who is assistant principal second violin with the San Antonio Symphony. Her holiday plans are modest. Most of her friends are in the same boat as she is, she said, and instead of buying presents for each other, theyll spend time together. Stiles relationship with the Austin orchestra led to her playing with the Austin Opera, too. She also has driven to Fort Worth to perform with the orchestra there. Those kinds of performances earn her about two-thirds of what she would make from a week with the San Antonio Symphony, and no benefits are included. Theres also the stress of all that driving as well as the wear and tear on her car. Stiles estimates she has lost about $15,000 in wages so far during the strike. She makes some money from teaching, too, which she said she enjoys and hopes shell be able to continue regardless of what happens with the symphony. I dont consider my gigs and teaching as making up my salary because my gigs and teaching were always in addition to my salary, which was necessary to make ends meet because our salary is so low to start with, Stiles said. Stiles also has taken some online courses to lay the foundation for a possible new career, though she didnt want to disclose what it was. On ExpressNews.com: SA Symphony musicians go on strike It just feels good to have that option, she said. I hope I dont use it. I cant imagine an 8-to-5 job. Playing is what its about Riely Francis, 54, is principal percussionist and assistant principal timpani for the symphony. He has done the same things many of his colleagues have done to try to meet his expenses since the start of the strike. Hes economizing as much as he can, including planning scaled-back holidays with his partner, and has dipped into savings. He gives some private lessons, and he recently started conducting Youth Orchestras of San Antonios percussion ensemble. Jessica Phelps /Staff photographer Francis said he likes sharing what hes learned in a lifetime of performance. But what he really loves is playing. So hes trying to balance the additional work he has to do with the time he needs to keep his chops sharp so he can maintain a high level of musicianship. Hes played holiday performances at churches, which usually earn him between $300 and $500, and has driven to Houston and Midland to play with the orchestras there, gigs that bring in between $900 and $1,100. Sometimes those performances include a small travel allowance, but he usually has to cover at least some of those costs himself. Francis will be heading to Maryland in January, where he will play 18 tuned Thai gongs with three other percussionists for a performance of John Adams The Dharma at Big Sur with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Im just so thrilled to be a part of something like this, he said. Playing is what its about. He said he is weighing the possibility of playing more in Houston, which has more opportunities to work with small ensembles as well as the citys symphony. Its very vibrant and its like worlds within worlds of creativity and music and things happening, he said. The idea that I could be part of that is just thrilling. And its sad that San Antonio would be left behind. When he was starting out as a professional musician, Francis said, he had to take a variety of side jobs. He cleaned houses in San Francisco. He worked as a substitute teacher and a delivery person in Honolulu when the orchestra he was playing with there went through a financial crisis that meant that paychecks often were delayed. He may have to return to that kind of work. Driving for Uber has crossed his mind. I could do it again, but Im at a point in my life where I dont know if I could sustain the playing and do it the way I used to, he said. It might require a sea change. And the fact is, if I were to do that and just let go of the requirements of the orchestral music, it would be devastating to me. Working on a Plan B Violinist Eric Siu, 38, who has been with the orchestra since 2013, has been able to say yes to some opportunities he would have turned down before because of the symphonys rehearsal and performance schedule. He played at the Festival of Texas Fiddling in Blanco this month and has played with the Austin and Fort Worth symphonies. He spent the past week rehearsing with Symphony Viva for Alamo City Arts four-performance run of The Nutcracker. And hes played some weddings, which pay between $125 and $300. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer Im lucky to be playing the violin, he said. Theres not the same kind of demand for lessons and for weddings and church gigs and whatnot for other instruments. Siu said he makes about $160 per rehearsal or performance with the Fort Worth and Austin orchestras. For periods where he worked with them for a week at a time, he made about $1,000. Hes gotten to venture well outside his comfort zone, too, including playing an electric violin at The 1902, a new nightclub near downtown. He wore an all-black ensemble, including a vision-obscuring rabbit mask topped by enormous ears. Billy Calzada /Staff photographer Siu said he is hopeful that the strike will be resolved soon, but hes also started formulating a Plan B in case that doesnt happen. He might try to explore another field, or he might teach full time, he said. For the past seven years, he has been on the faculty of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. The teaching and the side gigs hes gotten to do the past few months have kept him busy and allowed him to stay afloat. Siu is one of the musicians who would be offered a part-time position under the new contract. That makes it less likely that he would stay here for the long haul. On ExpressNews.com: SA Symphony postpones, cancels concerts because of strike The quality will suffer, and the kind of programming that we do, the level of conductor that we attract, the soloists all of thats going to change, he said. So it wouldnt be as fulfilling any more, even if you take away the financial aspect. For the time being, Siu said, hes doing all right. Hes single and doesnt have children, so he just has to support himself. I can afford to take my time to figure it out, he said. Im doing OK financially. I dont have to force myself to take something just to make ends meet. A drastic step To keep it together financially, violinist Caporale has taken on more students she teaches 34 now, up from the 20 she typically taught before the pandemic and she performs pretty much any time shes invited to do so if she can squeeze it in. On a recent weekend, she drove to Waxahachie to perform with the Fort Worth Symphony on a Saturday, drove back to San Antonio so she could play a church service Sunday morning, then gave private lessons at her home from 12:30 to 5 p.m. The extra work doesnt come close to what she would have made if she were playing for the symphony right now, she said. So far, shes lost about $12,000 and hasnt been able to make it up. I cant say no to anything now, she said. So I just have to push myself. Itll probably let up in January, but I dont know. If Fort Worth keeps calling, Ill keep going until I break. Im already noticing, because of the stress and the tiredness, Im making stupid mistakes. So far, theyre not dangerous ones forgetting peoples names or forgetting to show up at a lesson or whatever. The most drastic step shes considered is selling her violin, an Italian instrument that dates to the 1890s. She declined to share its value, though Italian-made violins from the same era as Caporales are listed for sale on the website of Bishop Instruments & Bows in London for up to 50,000 pounds, which is about $64,565. I have my mothers instrument that I could use if I were to gig, she said. Im not going to do anything rashly. But I would definitely put it on the market if the orchestra shuts down and theres no hope for another orchestra. She has considered the possibility of seeking a job in retail, but her heart is with music. She recently played works by Brahms and Mendelssohn with the Fort Worth Symphony, and it was rejuvenating. It just refreshed my whole being, and I was able to come back and teach better because of it, she said. Ill talk a big story like Im going to quit, but I still love to play. Violinist Stiles said she has thought about moving back to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, where she lived before she moved here, but shes built a life in San Antonio and would prefer to stay. She also has thought about going all in on teaching and opening a school, though she goes back and forth on the wisdom of that. If theres no orchestra, whats the point? she said. But then the other side of me is like, well, we have to fight for whats right in the world. I read a lot of history, and you read about these people who had all the odds against them and they just kept fighting for whats right. The worlds cyclical, so maybe it will come back again in 50 years. Ill be dead, but thats OK. I still believe the orchestra is just the most amazing art form. It shouldnt be lost. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN Ken Branca A woman was shot and killed outside an East Side bar early Thursday morning, San Antonio police said. According to officials at the scene, the woman was standing near the intersection of New Braunfels Avenue and Hays Street at around 1 a.m. when she was shot. Police said only a single shot was fired. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz can add the 2022 Bum Steer Award from Texas Monthly to their list of accomplishments this year. Abbott was named the worst Texan by the magazine while Cruz nabbed Texas Monthlys first runner-up for the category. On ExpressNews.com: Ted Cruz keeps joking about fleeing to Cancun as experts warn of future blackouts In a scathing opinion piece published on Tuesday, Texas Monthly wrote that Abbott was absorbed by the Governor's Mansion thanks to more than 20 years of public life and 12 years as Texas Attorney General. Abbott only became governor because it was his turn, the magazine said. He inherited education and health-care and foster-care systems that were among the worst in the nation and a state government built on shortcuts and accounting tricks, Texas Monthly wrote. However, in lieu of focusing on improving those areas, Abbott has instead taken hard-right stances to appeal to the 4 percent of Texans who decide Republican primary elections. On ExpressNews.com: Extreme weather unlikely in Texas, San Antonio this winter, NWS says This has been especially apparent in 2021, Texas Monthly wrote. This has been a hard year for everyone, and no governor in the U.S. has had it easy, the magazine said. (At least we dont have Andrew Cuomo, Texans could say.) But every step of the way, Abbott has made it harder for nearly everyone, rendering life more difficult, the death tolls higher, and the experience of being a Texan more demoralizing. And Texas couldnt even keep the lights on this year, the magazine said. Texas Monthly criticized Abbott for blaming renewable energy for causing statewide power outages in February, even though the blackout was caused mostly by problems with the distribution of natural gas. Millions were without power and hundreds died thanks in large part to a power grid that wasnt winterized. After the storm, Abbott failed to push the Legislature to pass laws that would ensure that gas companies and power generators properly weatherize. The laws signed by Abbott contained loopholes big enough to run a pipeline through and would unlikely lead to any changes, the magazine wrote. Texas Monthly also lambasted Abbotts comically erratic approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. He ordered a lock down and then, under pressure from his right, crusaded to free Texans imprisoned by his lockdown, the magazine wrote. He gave orders preventing local leaders from enacting their own coronavirus protections but included fine print to allow them to do exactly that. The desire to keep normal life going was, on some level, understandablethe human toll of the shuttered economy was also vast." Texas Monthly added: "By the end of the year, Texas had roughly as many deaths from the coronavirus as California, a state with 10 million more residents. As for Cruz, the state's U.S. Senator earned his title of Bum Steer from his actions six days into the beginning of January. Texas Monthly lambasted Cruz for going soft after losing the 2016 election to former President Donald Trump and for serving as the outgoing presidents lackey. Cruz did so by ginning up anger and by legitimizing false claims about a stolen election, Texas Monthly said. But even that was less shameful than what would have happened if Cruz, in violation of the very Constitution that he frequently claims to value, had succeeded in helping an incumbent president who lost reelection stay in power. Bum Steers are normally judged on the basis of an entire years worth of bad behavior, but Cruz had earned one six days in. Six weeks later, he escaped to Cancun on a United Airlines flight during the deadly winter storm in February. Cruz was widely criticized for fleeing the state and initially blame the trip on his daughters. Texas Monthly also criticized Cruz for picking a fight on Twitter with Sesame Streets Big Bird after the yellow bird encouraged children to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Maybe bloodying up the yellow brute will help Ted get his mojo back, Texas Monthly wrote. Or maybe an award will cheer him up: Ted, youre a runner-up for Bum Steer of the Year. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net Two former San Antonio police officers accused of barging into a Black mans East Side home, tackling him and repeatedly punching him in January 2020 were indicted Wednesday a rare instance of officers being criminally charged for using excessive force. Carlos M. Castro and Thomas H. Villarreal were charged with aggravated assault by a public servant, a first-degree felony, and warrants were issued for their arrest, three sources said Thursday. If convicted, the officers face up to 99 years or life in prison. The indictment, which was not available Thursday, comes nearly two years after Castro and Villarreal, then active police officers, forced their way into the home of Eric Wilson, now 50, who they claimed didnt use his turn signal 100 feet before an intersection and failed to follow a police command. Police Chief William McManus later suspended both officers indefinitely, which is tantamount to firing, for breaking a handful of administrative rules. In the disciplinary records, McManus called the officers actions indefensible. On ExpressNews.com: Man beaten by San Antonio police officers remains in prison even after charges against him were dismissed and the officers were fired The two officers have denied the accusations. They are seeking reinstatement through the arbitration process outlined in the citys contract with the police union. McManus also forwarded the case to the FBIs San Antonio field office for review of possible civil rights infractions, something he regularly does with high-profile use-of-force cases. It is not clear what the outcome of the FBI inquiry was. The San Antonio Police Departments integrity unit simultaneously conducted a criminal investigation into the officers actions that was forwarded to the Bexar County District Attorneys Office, leading to Wednesdays indictment. Wilson applauded the grand jury indictment but said its too soon to be relieved. Justice will never completely be served, Wilson said Thursday. Ive been punched on, beat on. I get nervous when I see a cop car. I wont ever be able to forget what happened. Police officers rarely face criminal charges for using force against civilians. In most cases locally and nationally prosecutors and grand juries determine that officers actions were justified. The law gives officers wide latitude to use force on the job. That was the case in a number of high-profile deaths at the hands of San Antonio police officers, including the killings of Jesse Aguirre, Marquise Jones, Antronie Scott and Charles Roundtree. In the past several years, a handful of San Antonio police officers have been criminally charged for their on-duty conduct but rarely for allegations of excessive force. Earlier this year, Officer Marshall Shepard, 29, was indicted for knowingly and recklessly injuring a suspect after a traffic-related call on the Northeast Side. Situation turns violent Wilsons case was made public last year weeks after George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was murdered while he was handcuffed and in police custody in Minneapolis. Public reaction to a video of an officer kneeling on Floyds neck, pinning him to the ground, prompted mass protests and calls for police departments to be held accountable for officers abuse of power. According to police records and interviews with witnesses, Castro and his partner, Joshua Kies, followed Wilson home Jan. 16, 2020, after the alleged traffic violation. The two officers got out of their car and told Wilson to stop. Wilson, wary of law enforcement and certain that he had done nothing wrong, went inside and tried to shut the door, he said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News last year. Earlier in his life, when he was 17, Wilson was convicted of murder in what he described as a gang-related shooting. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the 1988 shooting and released about nine years later in 1999. At the house, the two officers tried to kick in the door, but Wilson pushed back against it. In his report, Kies wrote that the officers attempted to enter the house because they deemed the incident to be a fresh pursuit and Wilson was accused of evading arrest, a misdemeanor. The SAPDs general manual states that officers may enter a persons home without consent or a warrant only if public safety is endangered or if officers believe a person has an immediately dangerous weapon. The officers also alleged that they smelled an odor of marijuana coming from Wilsons car a detail he and his family dispute. After several minutes, Villarreal took out his Taser and reached inside the door in an attempt to shock Wilson. The prongs from the Taser briefly pierced Wilsons hand, but he tore them out. Wilson stopped pushing against the door. The officers rushed inside and tackled him. Eddie Wilson Sr., Eric Wilsons father, heard the commotion and came to the front of the house. He said his son complied with all the officers commands. But in the officers report, Kies wrote that Wilson continued to resist arrest by placing his hands underneath his body. Both officers punched him in his head, face, back and torso. At one point, Eddie Wilson said, one of the officers jumped into the air and stomped on his sons head. The force shook the living room floor, making the furniture rattle. At another point, Eddie Wilson said, the officers began referring to Eric Wilson by racial slurs a detail he doesnt recall. On ExpressNews.com: FBI reviewing actions of four San Antonio police officers fired after accusations of excessive use of force Later, Villarreal and Castro reported that they found about 7 grams of ecstasy and 31 grams of marijuana in Eric Wilsons car. They arrested him on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest-second offense, both felonies, and possession of marijuana and resisting arrest, misdemeanors. Wilson denies having drugs on him that morning. About a week after his arrest, he filed a complaint against the officers with the Police Departments internal affairs unit. A life altered The criminal charges against Wilson were later dismissed but that reversal came too late for Wilson. Because of the officers accusations, the U.S. Parole Commission sent Wilson back to prison for 21 months, saying he violated the terms of his parole stemming from an earlier, unrelated federal conviction on drug and gun charges. At the time, Wilson was four months shy of a commission review to determine whether he could be released from parole. After the officers were fired and the charges were dismissed, Wilson urged parole officials to review his case, but the pleas fell on deaf ears. He served the 21-month sentence and was released in August. The beating left Wilson with severe injuries, including broken bones near his eye socket, according to medical records. Hours after his arrest, doctors performed emergency surgery to reduce swelling in his eye and prevent vision loss. Nearly two years later, Wilson still has peripheral vision loss and must squint to read. He also has a bump on top of his head that his family said wasnt there before the beating. Sometimes, his father and brother said, Wilson will have no recollection of their conversations. Other times, hell pass out unexpectedly and wake up a few seconds later. Police officers need to be held to a higher standard, said Wilsons brother, Eddie Wilson Jr. You cant just do that because you have a badge. The family said they were disappointed the other two officers who were present at the time werent formally disciplined or indicted. They didnt try to stop it, Wilson said. If they were trying to be part of the solution, it never would have gone that far. Wilson said hes trying to move on. Hes got a job fixing windows at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, and hes trying to spend more time with his two daughters. But, he said, justice will never truly be served. I wont be able to get that time back that I spent in prison, Wilson said. I wont ever be able to forget what happened. Now, Im just trying to survive and be free. eeaton@express-news.net San Antonio's new 10-year plan for affordable housing got the green light Thursday from the City Council, allowing the city to develop strategies to increase homeownership and the number of rental units for low-income families. The new Strategic Housing Implementation Plan, dubbed the SHIP, comes three years into San Antonios last 10-year affordable housing plan. City officials said it was time to revamp their goals after surpassing many of the targets initially set in the Housing Policy Framework from 2018. San Antonio needs a new plan because housing supply isnt keeping pace with growth, officials said. Costs are outstripping incomes in San Antonio, putting an increasing number of residents at risk of spending too much of their money on housing, or risk of displacement from their homes. Of the 95,000 households most at risk for housing instability, renters earning 30 percent or less of the area median income - the citys poorest residents - represent the most need. Those families are prioritized in the new plan. 2 1 of 2 Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Billy Calzada, Staff / Billy Calzada Show More Show Less We have this great opportunity to take a step on a complex issue that addresses generations of inequities, of redlining, of a system we know weve lived in, said District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran. Today I believe we have a plan that has been very thoughtful oftaking into considerations the personality of the San Antonio community and doing all of this in the midst of a housing crisis, she said. Higher affordable housing targets The city could spend $3.37 billion over the next decade to produce and preserve 28,000 units, most of which would be for residents who make at or below 50 percent of the area median income, or around $22,000 to $37,000, depending on family size. The previous frameworks goal was 18,681 homes over 10 years. But just three years into that plan, officials said the city has surpassed its targets on production of new rental units. San Antonio has moved more slowly on homeownership goals but is apparently still more than halfway toward meeting its targets. The last plan aimed to produce 8,498 rental units, and the city says 11,882 have been produced since then. It also aimed to deliver 3,985 homes for ownership and has so far seen 2,090 homes produced. The new goal of 28,000 includes almost 13,000 owner-occupied homes and more than 15,000 rental units. The bulk of that is the construction of nearly 6,900 rental homes for people making 30 percent or less of the area median income. Another 3,700 rental units would be produced for those who make between $22,000 and $44,000 annually, depending on household size. The city also plans to preserve more than 4,500 rental units to ensure housing stock isnt converted into something too expensive for tenants. On the homeownership end, the goal is to preserve more than 5,700 homes for people with very low incomes. To make that happen, the spending plan includes a proposed $150 million housing bond, for which a citizen committee recently wrapped up recommendations. The city also expects another $150 million housing bond in 2027. San Antonios regular affordable housing budget would make up another $277 million. Other funding sources include a one-time federal grant of $18 million, tax increment reinvestment zones, tax exemptions and SAHA federal capital funds. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios affordable housing budget balloons beyond bond funding. Heres what it includes With its new budget and the SHIP, the city changed what counts as affordable. To revise its definition of affordability, the city shifted toward lower incomes than federal guidelines: down to 60 percent of the area median income for rentals, instead of 80 percent of the area median income. Thats because federal guidelines take into account the metro area and suburbs outside the city, where incomes may be higher than within city limits. The citys new definition of affordability impacts housing targets in the plan. In order for the rentals to be considered affordable, they must be restricted to households making no more than 60 percent of the area median income, which is $40,020 for a family of three. The city will prioritize rental funding for projects at that level. It didnt change the maximum for affordable homeownership, keeping it at 120 percent of the area median income. Bexar County, the San Antonio Housing Trust and the San Antonio Housing Authoritys board will all consider adoption of the new SHIP early in 2022. Was it rushed through? City Councils adoption of the plan came amid concerns that the final document was rushed through at the end of the year without enough time for residents to look it over and provide any last feedback. Some citizens who spoke Thursday said they supported the SHIP but were concerned it would hurt the citys trust with residents to not allow more time for public review. District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo moved to delay the vote for about a month, but that didnt gain enough support. She abstained from voting on the SHIP, and District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval was absent for the vote. Everyone else voted to adopt it. Other council members said they thought the SHIP was a good compromise among various nonprofits and housing advocates and stressed the city has already put 18 months of work into the plan. The city extended the public comment period twice, District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia said. It was originally slated for a City Council vote two weeks ago. Mayor Ron Nirenberg also did not support a delay, saying the SHIP is a living document that will continue to change based on public feedback. This public participation is vital, he said. It doesnt end today; it kicks off in a new way today. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio reconsiders affordable housing for areas poorest residents The only other proposed change Thursday came from District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, who moved to change how the city conducts displacement studies, saying it's a huge issue on the East Side. The current policy is to study displacement after a development is given the go- ahead. Instead, he wanted the SHIP to include those studies as part of the evaluation before City Council considers approving a project. Other council members supported the change but said it can be made after the SHIP is approved and shouldn't hold it up. McKee-Rodriguez did ultimately vote to adopt it. Public feedback The citys public comment period on the SHIP ran from Nov. 1 to Dec. 6. San Antonio held five public meetings, one of which was in Spanish only. In all, the city said 784 people visited the SHIP website, 30 people watched videos and 35 people or organizations gave written feedback. District 9 Councilman John Courage said he knows theres still some disagreement on feedback that San Antonio should focus more on the people with the lowest incomes, below 30 percent of the area median income. But he said he had no complaints or ideas for changing the plan. Its one thats going to evolve and change as we start to implement it and continue to get feedback, Courage said. megan.stringer@express-news.net Bexar County is one of three Texas counties where juries sentenced people to death this year, placing it third behind Harris and Dallas counties in the number of death sentences imposed since 1974. Still, the use of capital punishment locally and throughout the state remains at historically low levels, according to a new report by the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, a statewide advocacy group. As Texas moves away from the death penalty, what remains is an arbitrary, unfair and biased punishment that puts innocent lives at risk, disproportionately impacts Black defendants and those with intellectual disability, and refuses to recognize the humanity of those condemned by society, Kristin Houle Cuellar, executive director of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, said in a news release. Texas death penalty is a mess, and its a mess of its own making, Cuellar said. The report comes about a year and a half after the COVID-19 pandemic largely halted executions and in-person jury trials, which could have yielded new death sentences, because of public health concerns. Texas, which typically carries out the highest number of executions nationwide, executed three people in 2020, the lowest number in nearly 25 years. None of the people executed was from Bexar County. On ExpressNews.com: Decline in death penalty driven by COVID-19 pandemic, shift in prosecutor support The report found that the use of capital punishment remained at historic lows this year, but for different reasons ongoing challenges, first considered by the U.S. Supreme Court, regarding the free exercise of religion in execution chambers or the assessment of intellectual disability in defendants. Those challenges resulted in stays or withdrawals for nine death row inmates, or more than three-fourths of inmates scheduled for execution, the report found. In the first case, earlier this year, the Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for John Henry Ramirez, who was convicted for a 2004 murder in Corpus Christi, and agreed to review his claim that the states denial to allow his pastor to lay hands on him or pray audibly during the execution violated his First Amendment rights. The court heard oral arguments in the case in November and has yet to issue its final decision. The second case involves Supreme Court decisions in 2017 and 2019 in Moore vs. Texas, which found that Texas courts were using outdated, nonmedical criteria to assess intellectual disability in defendants. Those challenges resulted in similar claims for other inmates that are still being considered by lower courts, the report found. Cuellar said the challenges should prompt Texas officials to rethink use of the death penalty. Given this continued dysfunction, the current pause in executions as the U.S. Supreme Court considers the exercise of religion in the execution chamber should compel Texans to conclude it is time for the state to abandon the death penalty altogether, Cuellar said. Declining support The number of death sentences and executions in Texas and across the U.S. has steadily decreased over the last two decades. Texas executions peaked in 2000, when 40 people were put to death, the report states. In 2019, nine inmates were executed. The decrease comes as public support for the death penalty has waned, especially as alternative sentences, such as life in prison without the possibility of parole, have become available. Prior to 2005, when then-Gov. Rick Perry signed a law allowing juries to sentence defendants to life without parole, the alternative was life in prison with the chance of parole after 40 years. Opponents of capital punishment argue that the death sentence is unfairly applied based on race and poses the risk of killing people with credible claims of innocence. According to the report, two-thirds of death sentences over the last five years have been imposed on people of color. Of those, 40 percent were Black defendants, the report found. In comparison, nearly 13 percent of Texas population is Black, according to 2020 figures from the Census Bureau. On ExpressNews.com: Jury delivers death sentence to Otis McKane for killing San Antonio officer A Black man in Bexar County was among the three people who were sentenced to death in Texas this year. On Aug. 6, after deliberating for nearly eight hours, a Bexar County jury sentenced Otis McKane to death for killing San Antonio Police Detective Benjamin Marconi in 2016. According to the report, it was the first new death sentence imposed by a jury in Texas since March 2020 and the first in Bexar County in more than five years. Advocates against the death penalty say another reason use of the death penalty continues to wane is that several district attorneys including those in Dallas, Harris and Nueces counties have vowed to curtail use of it. Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales, who took office in 2019, has said he will seek the death penalty in only the worst of the worst cases. So far, he has chosen to seek the death penalty twice: for Brian Flores, accused in the 2015 deaths of two teenagers, and McKane. Flores case was later resolved after he pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On ExpressNews.com: Convicted killer of 2 in San Antonio is off death row, resentenced to life in prison In another case this year, Gonzales office chose not to pursue the death penalty after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that the defendant should get a new punishment hearing. Noah Espada had been sentenced to death in 2005 for suffocating a woman he encountered while on his way to kill the manager of a downtown dance club. In 2015, the Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Espada should get a new punishment hearing because a witness lied during the initial punishment phase. Earlier this year, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty as part of a plea deal. Espada, now 37, pleaded guilty to two murder charges and received two sentences 20 years in prison and life in prison that will be served consecutively. With credit for time served, Espada will be eligible for parole as a 71-year-old, in 2055. eeaton@express-news.net A San Antonio man admitted Wednesday to embezzling more than $1.1 million from Johnson City. Anthony Michael Holland, who was the city secretary and chief administrative officer for Johnson City, pleaded guilty in Austin to one count of theft from a state or local government that receives federal program funds. Holland, 36, embezzled the funds from 2015 through September 2020, and used the money for his personal benefit, including buying a home in San Antonio, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Holland concealed the embezzlement by falsifying city financial records and other documents. News reports show Johnson City residents had expressed concern over irregularities, but Holland had assured them that audits were being conducted. Court records show federal authorities have moved to seize his home in the 24600 block of Glass Canyon on the far North Side. A sentencing date has not been set. Holland faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland Two-hundred San Antonio kids will wake up in a new bed Christmas morning thanks to the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The nonprofit is on track to deliver the beds including the wooden frame, mattress, bedding and pillows to families in need on Christmas Eve. Its part of the groups effort to provide kids ages 2 to 18 with twin-size beds. The nonprofit estimates that about 2% of the countrys kids do not have appropriate sleeping arrangements, said San Antonio chapter President Eddie Arnold. For the past couple of years, Arnold said the chapter has delivered more than 100 beds on Christmas Eve, but he set the goal at 200 this time to touch more lives. I was just hoping to make a bigger impact on Christmas Eve this year, he said. On ExpressNews.com: Junior high athletes give back by building beds for kids without Community members can add the finishing touch by donating bedding and pillows, Arnold said. Those contributions can be dropped off at the chapter warehouse at 10616 Sentinel St., San Antonio, this Saturday and Christmas Eve morning. People can apply for a bed and make monetary donations through the website at shpbeds.org. Local donations should be earmarked for the San Antonio chapter. Fifty-six delivery teams are set to venture out to one or two homes each. Arnold said the parents and kids who sometimes help put the bed together. Building beds is fun, but when you see a kid get a bed who has been sleeping on the floor or on a couch and theyre just excited beyond belief to get their bed; its a great feeling, Arnold said. Its awesome to see their faces and how excited and happy they are. The chapter has a list of 400 to 500 children in need of beds at any given time, Arnold said. Once someone signs up for one, the wait could be one to four months to receive it. Arnold said he hopes to bring that lag down next year. There is no income or other requirement to apply for a bed. On ExpressNews.com: Nonprofit builds, delivers beds to children in need for Christmas Since the chapter first started four years ago, volunteers have helped give beds to 2,500 children. This year the group is close to 1,000. Arnold said he hopes the team can deliver 2,000 in 2022, a number to which none of the 280 chapters across the country has come close. He said most chapters average 300 to 600 beds per year, with about half a dozen that come near 1,000. megan.rodriguez@express-news.net A San Antonio student may face criminal charges after a firearm was found inside the students backpack at a West Side high school. Officials at Warren High School received a report Wednesday that the student might be in possession of illegal substances, and when Northside Independent School District police searched the backpack, they found the weapon, NISD spokesman Barry Perez said. The student never brandished the weapon nor made threats against the campus or people on campus, Perez said. In a letter to parents, Warren High School Principal Melissa Hurst assured them that disciplinary and criminal action will be taken swiftly. It is unclear what charges the student may face. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net Americans who try to keep track of whats going on in Congress frequently fall back on a cry of Why dont they just It comes up when theres an apparently endless string of crises that appear to have simple, at least partial solutions. So why dont they just The answer is almost never satisfactory. Obscure rules. Joe Manchin. Congressional Budget Office report still pending. On ExpressNews.com: Collins: Why no progress in gun safety? One good, terrible example is mass shootings. Its easy to throw your hands up in despair our lawmakers should have spent a lot more time trying to avoid disasters like that hideous school bloodbath in Michigan. The shooter was a student, using a gun that his parents had given him as a present. Mom and Dad are charged with involuntary manslaughter by a wildly frustrated prosecutor, but its hard to tell if this will work. Still, whether the charges stick or not, its clear the parents were the problem. LOL, Im not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught, Jennifer Crumbley texted her son after a teacher found him looking at ammunition online. Jennifer and her husband, James, seemed to believe that sharing weaponry with your son was a great way of bonding. According to prosecutors, Ethan Crumbley, 15, got a gun from a drawer in his parents bedroom Michigan is among the majority of states that dont have enough rules requiring secure storage. And very soon, four of his fellow students were dead. Guns, often loaded, are left lying around a terrifying number of homes. Why doesnt Congress at least pass a law requiring they be kept under lock and key? Well, its not as if nobody thought about it. Im really trying to seize the moment, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Whenever terrible gun issues come up, its a good idea to talk to the lawmakers from Connecticut, where, back in 2012, a former student killed 20 first graders and six educators at a school in Newtown. Many, many Americans remember the Newtown shooting how they felt when they heard about it and, possibly, the confident expectation that this horror would mean the beginning of powerful gun safety legislation. Nah. And Blumenthal says that so far, hes still nowhere near the 60 votes needed in the Senate to overcome a Republican filibuster and pass a bill mandating safe storage. Opponents, to the degree that they bother to justify themselves at all, say that if all guns were locked up, owners might not be able to get their hands on their weapons fast enough in case murderous intruders broke into their home. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, snarled Wayne LaPierre, the deeply disgraced and yet still CEO of the National Rifle Association. Thats Waynes world vision. Or you can look at it this way: Based on a study published in Preventive Medicine, guns were actually used for self-defense at home in approximately 1 percent of crimes surveyed between 2007 and 2011. Meanwhile, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, this year there were at least 322 unintentional shootings by children in American homes, resulting in 132 deaths and 206 injuries. And weve been through hundreds of school shootings since Newtown. The only real, serious response seems to have been the education of our children in what to do when a classmate starts spraying bullets. The United States is a world leader in teaching youngsters how to duck and cover behind their desks. Even the modest gun regulation the country has managed to pass gets mangled, mauled and dismembered over time. Connecticuts other senator, Chris Murphy, has been laboring endlessly on the law requiring background checks for gun purchasers. Theres a large hole in the rules when it comes to weapons bought from private sellers. I spent a lot of time earlier in the year trying to negotiate a compromise, he said. But nada. Last week, Murphy asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to take up his background check bill. I understand the low likelihood of success, he said accurately, as it happens. But given the tragedy in Michigan, he thought it was the least he and his colleagues could do. On ExpressNews.com: Collins: At last, no more Cuomo Actually, its always possible to do less. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Judiciary Committees top Republican, blocked Murphys request. This frustration is a very familiar story. Back in 1994 the Senate passed a ban on assault weapons those rapid-fire guns that figure so prominently in mass shootings. It was under the leadership of one Sen. Joe Biden, who allowed the inclusion of a 10-year expiration date. Whoops. After a decade, assault weapons came back like the swallows to Capistrano. The arctic terns to Greenland. The gray whales to Baja. All attempts to get rid of them have flopped. Well, at least Biden is back in power, ready to restart a fight for real gun safety. Unfortunately, so far he hasnt even been able to get Congress to confirm a nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Or, it seems, pass a law requiring gun owners to keep their weapons stored in a safe place. At this time, more than 1,100 people in the U.S. are dying each day from COVID-19. One way to think about this is every three days we are losing more Americans than were killed on 9/11. Just because we dont see COVID sneaking up on our families, does not mean the COVID terrorist is defeated. While deaths, at this time, are mainly in 12 northern states, it is highly likely we will again experience a similar problem in Texas and across the U.S. If we wait until the situation is bad locally, the surge will be even harder to control than if we act now to prevent it. I want us to act as a country united against a common foe, and I hope you will join me. Every day I evaluate risk and probabilities of bad things happening to my patients so I can prevent them. If I did not look at a patients medical history, I might be surprised at what is happening and my patient would be less safe. We only need look to other states to see what is likely to happen in Texas. According to Bloomberg, Connecticut is experiencing a huge delta COVID surge. The unvaccinated make up 77 percent of those hospitalized with COVID. A chief medical officer in Pennsylvania said, Its worse already than it was a year ago, and it may get even worse. Its been estimated unvaccinated people have about 14 times the risk of dying from COVID-19. Each adults risk of serious disease drops dramatically with being vaccinated and boosted. Those who have had COVID are at risk of getting it again if they are not vaccinated. Even though children usually do not get a severe case of COVID, those with underlying medical problems may be at much higher risk. It is important all children be vaccinated as soon as possible so they do not spread it to others who might have severe disease. Even if your child is healthy, get him or her vaccinated now because a small percentage of healthy kids will develop long COVID symptoms and may not be well for many months. We would be safer if schools reinstate all preventive measures. This includes masks. The American Academy of Pediatrics has said it is safer if everybody wears a mask in school. Some parents tell me masks are bad for their childs mental health and I believe them. Schools should offer a choice of either face shield or mask for all students and staff. This would not violate Gov. Greg Abbotts order to make masks optional. A mask is the safest option, but a face shield is a good backup. Medical workers wear masks every day to protect your safety. The longest I have worn a mask in one day is 22 hours. That was unpleasant, but it was necessary for my patients. If your friends hassle you for wearing a mask, you can unapologetically tell them, I am doing it for someone who loves me and wants me to be around next Christmas. Everyone is at more risk of getting a serious case of COVID with a higher transmission rate in the community, so the goal should be to do everything to stop the virus from infecting anyone. With surges in our colder states, lets act to prevent another devastating surge in Texas. I want you to get vaccinated or boosted soon and wear a mask or face shield in public. Children will be safer if vaccinated. If we wait for local conditions to worsen before we act, we will only let the COVID terrorist get closer to our family and to taking our freedom. Dr. Robert Luedecke is an anesthesiologist in San Antonio. The chart that should frighten Democratic strategists appears in the 23rd slide of a newly released report from Equis Research, which tries to explain the Hispanic shift toward the Republican Party in the 2020 election. It shows how favorably Hispanic voters responded to a variety of Donald Trumps positions and policies, on COVID and the economy and immigration more favorably, in many cases, than many liberals would have expected. Some responses arent all that surprising: 77 percent favorability for pandemic stimulus, 74 percent favorability for rapid vaccine development, 69 percent for middle-class tax cuts (who could be against middle-class tax cuts?). Some of them offer interesting evidence that Trumps COVID insouciance, his attempt to prioritize economic reopening over precaution, was popular with Hispanic voters: reopen economy at 66 percent, COVID policy set by states at 62 percent, living without fear of COVID at 55 percent. But its the numbers on immigration and border policy that are particularly notable. Trumps family-separation policy, not surprisingly, polls at 28 percent. But more border spending gets 55 percent approval, limiting refugees/asylum receives 51 percent and even reducing legal immigration gets 49 percent. At the same time, more deportations and build the wall poll lower, at 42 percent and 39 percent. But then recall that Trump got only 38 percent of the Hispanic vote overall. Which means that in an important sense, despite overperforming expectations, he arguably underperformed his potential with Hispanics. He didnt even consolidate the full share of voters who favored building his border wall, let alone the share that supported other forms of immigration restriction, let alone the share that agreed with his COVID response. Or as the report puts it, Absent any context, the numbers might even suggest that the incumbent should have done better than he did. This is just one survey, but its congruent with a lot of different data sources suggesting that Trumps improvement with Hispanics in 2020, rather than an outlier that other Republicans wont hit, represents a foundation on which the GOP could potentially build further gains. Ruy Teixeira, the analyst whose famous emerging Democratic majority thesis (shared with John Judis) was welcomed and then misinterpreted by Democrats banking on the inevitable march of demographic change, has been particularly aggressive in warning about this scenario. In a recent post, he rattled off several polling results suggesting that Republicans could be moving close to parity in the Hispanic vote a true political earthquake if it ever happened. In the long-ago days of the George W. Bush presidency there was a lot of talk from pro-immigration Republicans about how Hispanics were natural Republicans meaning family-oriented, religious, hardworking, in love with the American dream. But as the political parties were aligned in those days Hispanics fit pretty comfortably in the Democratic coalition. Even if they were more culturally conservative than white Democrats, they prioritized issues like health care and jobs and education and generally trusted the Democratic Party more on a range of domestic policy questions. The Republican elites who imagined that they could make inroads with Hispanics by passing a comprehensive immigration reform bill werent completely out of touch, since there was often strong Hispanic support for that kind of measure. But the Republican Partys core obstacle was always economic policy. Bushs compassionate conservatism probably helped him to a relatively strong showing with Hispanics in 2004, although one overstated by flawed exit polls (he probably got about 39 percent, not the oft-quoted 44 percent). But thereafter the party moved right on economics, and the sequence of Bushs push for Social Security privatization, the Tea Partys anti-spending zeal and then the Romney-Ryan tickets promise of entitlement cuts all made the Republicans too economically libertarian to appeal to most Hispanics. Since then, though, three crucial things have changed. First, the shape of immigration is different: Both legal and illegal immigration have become less Latin American and more global, with a new pattern of rushes to the border by asylum-seekers who are more likely to come from Central America than Mexico. A simple story in which American Hispanics effectively saw themselves in every subsequent wave of migrants never quite fit reality, but for, say, a second-generation Mexican American in Texas it fits the reality of 2021 less than the reality of 15 years ago. As this shift was happening, the Democrats were moving leftward on most fronts, following public opinion at first (on same-sex marriage, for instance) but then arguably outpacing it. On economic policy, what counts as centrism from Joe Manchin today would have placed him to the left of Barack Obama in 2010; on cultural and racial issues, the radicalization of white Democrats has moved them to the left of many Hispanic voters; on social issues, the kind of anti-abortion Democrat who once held the balance of power in the House of Representatives has mostly gone extinct. Then Trumps ascent in 2016 suspended the Republican commitment to austerity, entitlement cuts and other features of its Tea Party-era agenda. That didnt help Republicans make gains with Hispanics in 2016 because Trumpian bigotry was front and center though keen observers noted that he did no worse than Romney in 2012. But the subsequent strength of the Trump economy, the sidelining of his partys deficit hawks and his administrations willingness to spend money in the face of the pandemic all created an opening for Republicans to cast themselves as pro-capitalism moderates and to portray the leftward-moving, Bernie Sanders-influenced Democrats as socialists. That frame was effective the apparent potency of the socialism charge is discussed in the Equis Research report and much more to the GOPs advantage than a clash between stringent government cutters and moderate-welfare-state liberals, which was how the parties often appeared in the Obama era. Its emerging opportunity with Hispanic voters, then, crystallizes the larger Republican Party opportunity right now where its clear enough that a party that was genuinely moderate on economics, Trumpishly populist without being Trumpishly toxic, could lay claim to a lot of swing voters, and all without making the sweeping moves leftward on issues like immigration that were urged on Republicans 10 or 15 years ago. The question, as always, is how much of the partys core of donors and activists and voters wants to be economically moderate or wants to be nontoxic; I still think the answer is not enough. The Democrats Hispanic challenge likewise distills their larger political problem: How to re-create some version of their early Obama-era messaging, which presented a moderate liberalism that appealed more effectively to working-class voters of all races, in a very different social and economic landscape, in a party with a much more powerful and demanding progressive wing. One way or another, that adaptation will be fraught and painful. But this is the moment when the Democrats need to do it when the Hispanic realignment is still more hypothetical than real, still more visible in issue surveys than electoral results, still only a harbinger of an epic political defeat rather than the thing itself. 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 publics 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 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 anti-vaxxers, 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. We had high hopes for the recent Alamo Colleges Districts Community Vision Event: Evolution of Journalism & Media, but it has left us disappointed. Were not convinced administrators are sold on the value of journalism. While they have touted a re-imagining of a journalism program theyve allowed to languish, their plans to revive it are weak. After San Antonio Colleges award-winning, 95-year-old student publication, the Ranger, published an Oct. 5 article reporting administrators planned to shut down the publication this month, San Antonio College President Robert Vela Jr. released a statement saying administrators had no intention of discontinuing student journalism. On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: Journalism saved the Ranger, for now Two members of our opinion team as well as Laura Garcia, president of the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists and an Express-News health care reporter, were among the 50 or so people in attendance at the Nov. 30 community meeting. Officials said it would be the first of other such meetings. And, again, Vela said plans are to keep the publication going. But actions speak louder than words. Laura Restrepo Posada /The Ranger, San Antonio College Three members of the Ranger staff were in attendance to cover the meeting, for one of their final articles, since the future of the publication is unknown. Vela noted a sharp decrease in enrollment in journalism courses at SAC, where the programs three faculty retired this month but there are concerning reasons behind those factors. Its amazing to think that at a time of immense public concern about the future of journalism, spiking digital engagement and spiraling civil discourse, Alamo Colleges leadership can neither see, nor embrace, the obvious importance and opportunity of journalism education. Its clear the drop in student enrollment isnt necessarily that students are not interested in journalism be it as a career or developing an understanding but that the college doesnt offer it as a degree. At the Nov. 30 meeting, Vela said SAC hasnt had an official journalism program under the eyes of the state of Texas since 2014. Our review of SACs journalism program budget shows administrators have been cutting funding to the program for years. For this fiscal year, Sept. 2020 to Aug. 31, 2021, the approved budget dropped to a dismal $7,000. Eight years ago in fiscal year 2012-2013, SACs journalism program had an approved budget of $46,000. The budget reached its highest of $50,000 in 2014-2015 when the journalism degree was no longer offered. There was an abundance of talk at the community meeting about re-imagining and evolution, but for whatever reason, the voices of student journalists and Ranger alums were not included. Instead, the meeting featured guest speaker Richard Sear, partner and chief solutions officer at Frost & Sullivan, which advises Fortune 100 CEOs. He focused on advancing technology in his presentation, Future of Journalism & Media, with slides featuring images of robots. He spoke of alternate realities and the role of people using digital tools instead of journalism. Journalism continues to evolve, but core standards, ethics and skills are timeless. So, too, are the need for journalism and the importance of an informed citizenry. Vela said the plan is to leverage SACs radio, television and broadcast program to focus on digital media but thats not necessarily journalism. We are concerned SAC wont offer vital foundational journalism coursework, the fact-digging, ethical standards, writing techniques and production of real stories that are essential to a robust program. Again, actions speak louder than words. So far, there are plans to hire only one faculty member at SAC for the spring 2022 semester to oversee and save the student publication and journalism program. Its not too late for administrators to put more effort into reviving the journalism program but do they value journalism? We wonder. Its tragic that it has taken the brutal death of a young woman to push Congress toward urgently needed changes in the way the military handles allegations of sexual assault, murder and other serious crimes. Whatever small measure of comfort it gives to the family and friends of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, murdered at Fort Hood last year, they no doubt welcome historic reforms they have urged this past year that should make it easier to combat the scourge of sexual assault in the military. With an estimated 20,000 assaults occurring in the armed forces each year, the changes are long overdue. Guillen, a 21-year-old Houston native, was missing for weeks before her body was discovered just outside the massive Central Texas Army post. Frustrated family members insisted she had been attacked after she reported a supervisor sexually harassed her, even though the Army denied it initially and seemed less than concerned about her disappearance. The reforms contained in legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Cal., including removing decisions on whether to prosecute service members from the militarys chain of command, are included in a $768 billion defense authorization bill that passed the House last week. The bill is expected to win approval this week in the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer predicted bipartisan support. We commend Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz for being among those supporters: It is clear that changes have to be made so those who serve in our military are able to to report crimes without fear of retribution, Cruzs spokesman Dave Vasquez told us last week. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill when it reaches his desk. This is transformative, said U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, who represents the district where the Guillen family lives. But for the death of Vanessa Guillen and the movement that mushroomed after that, Im convinced this would not have happened. Guillen, a graduate of Houstons Cesar Chavez High School, disappeared in April 2020, after telling family members she had been sexually harassed. A U.S. Army investigation later showed she had reported being harassed by a fellow soldier two times but her superiors never reported it up the chain of command. Her body was found two months later in a shallow grave. She had been bludgeoned to death by a different soldier who buried her remains and later killed himself when police closed in, authorities reported. The three-month investigation prompted by Guillens death resulted in a 136-page report that detailed damning charges about the failure of Fort Hood officers to protect soldiers under their command. According to the report issued by the five-member independent review panel, failed leadership fostered a permissive environment for sexual assault and sexual harassment . . . . A sexual assault prevention program was so ineffective it resulted in a pervasive lack of confidence, fear of retaliation and significant underreporting of cases, particularly within the enlisted ranks . . . . Female soldiers were left feeling vulnerable and preyed upon, but fearful to report and be ostracized and re-victimized.. . . . Fort Hood leadership knew or should have known of the high risk of harm to female soldiers. The scathing report resulted in the firing, suspensions and demotions of 14 Fort Hood leaders, including Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, the Fort Hood commander at the time of Guillens disappearance and death. The Army also removed the leaders of Guillens unit, Col. Ralph Overland and Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Knapp of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. The Fort Hood investigation mirrored a Pentagon report that found 7,825 sexual assault reports involving service members both male and female as victims or subjects of sexual harassment in fiscal year 2019, an increase of 3 percent over the previous year. The reform measure the Senate is now considering makes it the responsibility of an independent prosecutor, not military commanders, to decide whether to bring charges in cases involving 11 different crimes, including manslaughter, kidnapping, stalking and domestic violence. The bill criminalizes sexual harassment and allows survivors of sexual assault to call a help line to report an assault, rather than having to do so in person. It gives victims the right to know about administrative actions taken against offenders and would require the Pentagon to track retaliation against service members who report harassment or assault. It also calls for an assessment of racial disparities in military justice and discipline. Still, supporters of more substantial reform, including U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, who has led the effort to reform the military justice system since 2013, are right to point out the bills shortcomings and demand more. How can victims truly get a fair shake in court when commanders would still have the power to pick juries and select witnesses? When the commander is so deeply involved in a case, theres no independence for the prosecutor and theres no perception of independence for the accused or the accuser, she said at press conference last week. Shes right. The flawed bill poised for passage would indeed represent the most significant changes ever to the military justice system. But Congress should finish the job by backing a separate bill by Gillibrand that would enhance the independence of the prosecutor. Co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, it has the support of several Republicans, including Sen. Cruz. If America is truly, finally, serious about protecting those who have sworn an oath to protect our nation, we shouldnt stop until gaping loopholes are closed and justice is assured. It took at least a decade to get this far. Congress shouldnt squander the momentum that got us here. In memory of a young soldier from Houston, her life senselessly cut short, Congress needs to act and act fully without delay. LAS VEGAS (AP) New Years Eve fireworks that were called off last year on the Las Vegas Strip due to the coronavirus pandemic are returning with hopes for big crowds, even as the emerging omicron variant spreads in more states. Tourism and elected officials, most wearing masks, stood Thursday on an indoor stage with sparkling pyrotechnics and a background emblazoned with 2022 to announce the Deuces Wild-themed event and the addition of an eighth hotel-top fireworks launching spot. Aside from last year, Americas Party has been the culminating event of the entire year for more than 20 years, said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, a nonprofit agency created to produce and support big events. Thousands of revelers still congregated on casino-lined Las Vegas Boulevard to ring in 2021 despite the canceled fireworks. There was no mention during Thursday's event of the possible effect of the emergence and spread in recent weeks of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Reported cases of COVID-19 have generally declined in Nevada in recent weeks, including in and around Las Vegas. But health officials reported the first identified case of a person with the omicron variant in the state this week in the Las Vegas area. Nationwide, at least 36 states have detected the variant as the delta virus continues surging in many places. Experts said Tuesday that an omicron surge is probably already underway in the United States, outpacing the nations ability to track it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that omicron accounted for about 3% of genetically-sequenced coronaviruses nationally. Percentages vary by region, with the highest 13% in the New York/New Jersey area. Nevada has reported 8,263 people dead from the coronavirus since the pandemic began in March 2020, including 6,358 in Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County. Masks are required for everyone indoors in Clark County unless they are actively eating or drinking, although compliance is not universal. All but two of Nevada's 17 counties have similar rules. Almost 70% of eligible people in the Las Vegas area have received at least one shot of coronavirus vaccine, and 55% are fully vaccinated, according to the local health district. Statewide, health officials put those numbers at 63% and almost 54%, respectively. The Southern Nevada Health District reported a seven-day test positivity rate of 9.8% in the Las Vegas area. The measure of the number of people tested for coronavirus and found positive was 6.8% in mid-October. The World Health Organization goal is 5% or below to relax restrictions. Fireworks were first held on the Strip on the last night of 2000. The display has helped make New Years Eve one of Las Vegas biggest events, drawing more than 300,000 revelers, according to tourism officials, and filling more than 250,000 hotel rooms. Being able to host this event again is so special because it allows us to close out the year in a memorable way, Christenson said in a statement accompanying Thursdays announcement. Fireworks by Grucci designs and choreographs the eight-minute pyrotechnic display from atop resort properties that last year included MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Venetian and The STRAT tower. It is accompanied by a soundtrack airing on two on FM radio stations in Las Vegas. This year the show will add Resorts World Las Vegas, which opened last June. A Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority executive, H. Fletch Brunelle, noted that entertainers booked at various venues for New Years weekend include Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Usher. BALTIMORE (AP) A Baltimore police officer is in critical condition after being ambushed and shot while sitting in a patrol vehicle early Thursday, authorities say. Dr. Thomas Scalea said at a briefing outside the University of Maryland Medical Center's Shock Trauma Center that the officer, later identified as Keona Holley, was shot multiple times and was on life support, The Baltimore Sun reports. She's critically ill, Scalea said at a late-afternoon news conference. She remains on full life-support measures at this time. Holley's injuries are significant, Scalea said, declining to provide details based on the family's wishes. Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the officer was on duty but not responding to a call in the Curtis Bay area of southern Baltimore about 1:30 a.m. when the shooter approached from behind and opened fire and the officer's vehicle, which had been parked near a building, accelerated and crashed. Officers responding to a report of a crash found Holley, who appeared to be suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds, then worked to get the wounded officer to Shock Trauma as quickly as possible, police said in a news release. Harrison told the afternoon news conference that a vehicle of interest has been identified and is being held by police. Investigators were interviewing people possibly connected to the shooting, he said, noting that video footage has been recovered as well as information from citizens. This was a heinous, violent, cowardly, very targeted act, the commissioner said. Harrison said the shooting didn't appear to be a domestic incident. The officer's sister, Lawanda Sykes, told the news conference that Holley had a life-long goal of working for the Baltimore Police Department. She urged anyone with information to come forward, and she had words for the suspect. The person who did this to my sister, you are a coward, Sykes said. You tried to snuff her and take something that you can't. She is stronger than you will ever be. Kevin Kreamer, who lives across the street from Curtis Bay Park, said he heard a loud crash that he now knows was the officers patrol vehicle hitting a fence and going over a ledge toward the playground. He said his wife heard several gunshots. Its terrible, Kreamer told The Baltimore Sun. My kids play at this park sometimes. About 30 police cars were in the neighborhood, blocking off the parks perimeter, but they were gone around daybreak, Kreamer said. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan tweeted that he has offered the full resources of Maryland State Police to help with the investigation after the officer was shot in a despicable, ambush-style attack. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also assisting city police with the investigation. The city police union, Metro Crime Stoppers, ATF, FBI and U.S. Marshal Service were offering rewards totaling $59,000 for tips in the case. Hogan tweeted Thursday evening that the state would match the rewards for a total of $118,000. The Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 tweeted early Thursday that city and state police union leaders were at the hospital and asked people to keep the officer in their prayers. Harrison said he and Mayor Brandon Scott met with the officers family members, who are, like us, obviously angry, confused, in search of answers, and have an expectation that we will find who did this and hold one or as many people responsible for this as possible. Personally, I am outraged, disgusted and heartbroken all at once, Scott said. ... I know that Officer Holley did not deserve this. Officer Holley's loved ones and family don't deserve this. Holley had volunteered to work an overtime shift, according to Scott. The police knew few details on the shooting and were asking the public for help finding more information. We have a coward on the loose in Baltimore that we must and will find, Scott said. Senate President Bill Ferguson, who represents Curtis Bay, told WBAL-AM's C4 and Bryan Nehman Show Thursday morning that he visited the Southern District police station, where officers were in shock. Its a level of depravity that just shakes us to our core, Ferguson said. I hope its wake-up call that we are on a trajectory that does not work. There must be a coordinated plan and every resource must be at the table, whether at the state or local level, he said. "Everyone has to put their ego aside, get around a table and say, This cannot continue, Ferguson said. HARTFORD Edith Prague, a former veteran state lawmaker from eastern Connecticut who twice served as commissioner of the state Department of Aging, has died at age 96, officials said. A reliable liberal who was the co-chairwoman of the legislative Labor Committee, Prague, from the town of Columbia, served in the Senate from 1995 until 2013, following four terms in the state House of Representatives. We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend and former colleague Edith Prague, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said in a joint statement with Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, of Norwalk. To say that Edith Prague was energetic, determined, principled and loyal would be a grave understatement, Duff and Looney said. During her time in the General Assembly, she was a relentless fighter in her advocacy for workers, for the elderly, and for her constituents. If you found yourself allied with her on an issue of passion, you were in luck. If you were on the opposite side of her, you knew you were in for a battle. But along with her passion was a profound empathy and a deep respect for others. Duff and Looney said Prague often served as a guiding light and voice of conscience for the Senate Democratic caucus. Edith Prague was a state treasure, she was a faithful crusader for working people and the elderly, and the positive impact of the public policies that Edith championed and passed into law will be felt in Connecticut for decades to come," said state Sen. Cathy Osten, who now represents that district. Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, remembers assisting Prague in the 1994 primary campaign that vaulted her to the Senate, where she often teamed up with the late Sen. Edwin A. Gomes, of Bridgeport, a retired steelworker union representative, in pursuing progressive legislation. Edith definitely made a difference and didnt care what anyone thought about her, Swan said Thursday. She drove so many people bonkers, it was beautiful. I loved Edith. She was true champion for working folks, and she and Ed Gomes were quite the tag team. Edith Prague is the jewel of eastern Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont said in a noontime statement. She is a legend, whose feisty and caring personality will never be forgotten. She was as compassionate as she was bold, and through her entire life had an energy that was nothing short of infectious. Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, who served with Prague in the legislature, remembered her as a powerful voice for workers, who continued to support workers on picket lines into her 90s. As commissioner of the Department on Aging, she was unafraid to speak truth to power, no matter the consequences. Simply put, she was a model public servant. According to Ballotpedia, Prague graduated with an education degree in 1965 from from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1965 and earned a masters in social work from UConn 10 years later. Prior to her election to the state House of Representatives in 1982, she served on the Columbia school board. She was widowed and had four children. Pragues predominantly rural senate district included the towns of Franklin, Hebron, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Marlborough, Montville, Norwich and Sprague. Prague suffered a stroke in late 2011, but returned to the Senate in time for the start of the 2012 legislative session. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT Zoning laws should remain in local control Local zoning rights and home rule continues to be under attack in Connecticut and residents need to be aware that more draconian changes to our zoning regulations will likely be on the agenda by our state lawmakers. We must remain vigilant and expect that our representatives in Hartford advocate for our property rights. Zoning legislation (HB 6107) passed last session by Democrats in Connecticut's House represents a path towards our local zoning commissions losing more control and giving more power to Hartford bureaucrats. The push behind the changes comes from housing advocates and developers who want to see towns around Connecticut build more dense housing in towns like Fairfield. Having more dense housing in communities like Fairfield doesnt address the affordability issue nor helps struggling individuals and only enriches developers. We need visionary solutions to address the lack of affordable housing in our area, not more mandates. As the former state legislator in the 132nd District in Fairfield and Southport, I was disappointed that my successor, Jennifer Leeper, did not advocate for her constituents nor challenge the shortcomings of the legislation. Our legislators in Fairfield need to advocate for local control and champion legislation that protects homeowners and helps address affordability issues. A top-down, one-size fits all approach to zoning is not the answer nor a solution that recognizes the uniqueness of our towns in Connecticut. Putting aside Ms. Leepers support of the legislation passed last session (HB 6107), Democrat leaders in Hartford have publicly stated that the bill passed last session was only the beginning. Standing silent or on the sidelines is no longer an option. It is not leadership. Differing opinions is a strength to our great democracy but when elected officials refuse to offer where they stand on an issue, especially when the item is a direct attack on the people you purport to represent, it is inexcusable. We deserve better representation in Hartford. Brian Farnen, former state representative 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. SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) Some former vaccine skeptics in Eastern Europe have shifted over to the other side as coronavirus infections surge, countries are making it more difficult for the unvaccinated to travel abroad and authorities battle against government distrust and vaccine disinformation. When she rolled up her sleeve in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo to take her first COVID-19 vaccine dose, Fata Keco was afraid of possible adverse side effects. But she said the worst she had to contend with over the next few days was moderately discomforting pain in her left arm around the site of the injection. More significantly, the 52-year-old self-employed cleaning woman has joined the global community of vaccine-believers after months of being very susceptible to what she now describes as the most ridiculous theories. She told The Associated Press that some of those that she heard were that the coronavirus does not exist, that journalists were paid to spread panic, that planes were spraying us with viruses at night, that vaccines were being used by the powers that be to implant us with tracking microchips. Now I feel relief for having done something to protect my health after putting myself in danger for a long time, Keco said. Also, I dont mind that it will make my life easier if I decide to take a trip abroad." She isn't alone in her transformation, especially after numerous European countries started tightening their anti-virus rules, including by requiring proof of vaccination from foreign visitors. I want to travel and study abroad and for that I have to be vaccinated, said Esma Dzaka, 18, after getting her first dose Tuesday in Sarajevo. This week, health authorities in Sarajevo stepped up their efforts to administer COVID-19 vaccines as widely as possible, stymied so far by public mistrust and an onslaught of disinformation. They started dispatching nurses to dispense vaccines in local council offices and shopping centers around the city in hopes that easy access will persuade more people to get their shots. Sarajevos top health official, Haris Vranic, said he believed that some vaccine skeptics have been having a change of heart recently, not just because they want to travel abroad freely, but also because the numbers do not lie. The statistic is clear between 92% and 94% of our people who died in the third and the (current) fourth wave (of COVID-19) were not vaccinated, Vranic said. Bosnia, which is still struggling to recover from a devastating ethnic war in 1992-95, has so far inoculated just under a quarter of its 3.3 million people, one of the lowest vaccination rates in Europe. But while such a level of mistrust in vaccines, which have been widely available since late last spring, may not be surprising in the poor, corruption-plagued and ethnically divided Bosnia, similar woes have befallen many of its Balkan neighbors, including some European Union members. In Romania, a EU nation of about 19 million, the vaccination rate hovered around 28% until mid-October, when a sharp spike in new COVID-19 infections and deaths forced some hospitals to put body bags in their hallways as morgues ran out of space. Fear combined with stricter anti-virus measures introduced by authorities, including a nighttime curfew and requiring proof of vaccination, a recent recovery or a recent negative test to enter most public venues has sent the vaccination rate in Romania spiking to over 40% by Dec. 10, according to Our World in Data. I was scared, there are so many (negative) rumors about vaccines, said Ofelia Gligor, who got her first COVID-19 jab on a frigid December day this week in the main vaccination center in Sighisoara, a small, historic Romanian town 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Bucharest, the capital. The 18-year-old trainee nurse had to overcome her fears for a practical reason without proof of vaccination, she wouldn't be allowed to attend her training program at the local hospital. My advice to people now is to get vaccinated, because sooner or later vaccines will become mandatory for all, she said. A similar scenario played out in Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013. Amid a major surge in daily COVID-19 infections and deaths, Croatian authorities introduced a vaccine mandate on Nov. 15 for all public sector workers and all citizens using their services. Despite sporadic protests against the COVID-19 restrictions, Croatias overall vaccination rate has since been steadily rising over 1.2% per week to encompass nearly 55% of its population of 4.2 million on Dec. 11. In ethnically and administratively fragmented Bosnia, where jurisdiction over pandemic management is divided between 14 different levels of government that don't always move in lockstep, the introduction of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination passes is still on hold. While indoor mask-wearing and social distancing mandates remain, their enforcement is haphazard. Bosnia has seen over 12,900 COVID-19 deaths, but for some people like Keco, it took more than just mortality statistics to come to terms with the reality of the pandemic. It took a dispute with her daughter, Mahira. She said: Mom, vaccines work 100%. Millions of people were vaccinated by now and they are all doing fine, dont be silly, Keco recalled, adding that her son-in-laws friend who claimed he would not be caught dead getting vaccinated got infected and COVID-19 had left him feeling broken. I finally realized that I need to get vaccinated if I want to be safe, Keco said, shaking her head in bafflement. People and their chatter crazed me. For a time at least, I believed in all their silly stories. ___ Eldar Emric in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Stephen McGrath in Sighisoara, Romania, contributed to this story. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic Organisers of the Oxford Real Farming Conference have announced their decision to move the January 2022 event entirely online as fears of new Covid restrictions grow. The event, taking place 5-7 January, will now be online only due to "rapidly increasing Covid cases and anticipated restrictions over the coming weeks". The conference is the latest industry event to succumb to fresh concerns surrounding the new coronavirus variant, Omicron. Agritechnica's organisers confirmed last week that their 2022 Hanover event will not go ahead, blaming a 'deteriorating' pandemic. The show has been pushed back to November 2023. And machinery giant New Holland recently announced it will not attend next month's LAMMA event due to similar concerns. Oxford Real Farming Conference's organisers said an in-person event of this scale at the beginning of January was 'no longer possible'. "It is with heavy hearts that we have taken the decision to move ORFC 2022 entirely online," the conference's organisers said in a statement. "Everyone who has booked a ticket to ORFC will receive details of how to access the online conference later today, when the full programme will also be published. "Our programme of global sessions will continue as planned, so its going to be an incredible online line-up again. "With the in-person conference now going online, we will be hosting 500 speakers across 135 sessions. "Whilst we are incredibly disappointed not to be able to see you in person, we are really looking forward to hosting another great online ORFC." Two farmers have pleaded guilty to polluting a river in a Ceredigion following the collapse of a slurry store leading to the release of approximately 75,000 gallons of slurry into the water. The incident, affecting the Afon Peris, which flows through the village of Llanon, occurred in June 2020 and was investigated and prosecuted by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). The cause was the 'catastrophic failure' of a 40-year-old slurry store that had never received formal maintenance and assessment. Dewi and Barry Jones of Glanperis Farm pleaded guilty to water pollution charges under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 and the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. Following sentencing guidelines, Aberystwyth Magistrates Court fined Barry Jones a combined amount of 1,332 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of 133. Dewi Jones was fined a combined amount of 1,136 and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 113. Both defendants were ordered to pay NRWs full costs of bringing the prosecution forward, a cost of 12,467 to be paid between them equally. The hearing was held at Aberystwyth Magistrates Court on Tuesday (14 December). Dr Carol Fielding, NRWs Ceredigion Environment Team Leader, said the incident had a 'devastating impact' on aquatic life in the Afon Peris. "Assessing the number of dead fish was often impossible because the extent of the pollution made the water too thick to see through. "I am pleased that we were able to thoroughly investigate and hold those responsible to account. This incident was foreseeable, avoidable and should never have happened. It shows the importance of regular and proper maintenance of slurry stores. An Oxfordshire livestock farm which is preparing for its busiest time of the year is giving other agri-businesses an insight into its seasonal diversification enterprise. DOyleys Farm, located in Stadhampton, is a 650-acre mixed farm which has been run by generations of the White family. Phil White and his wife Fiona took over in 2010 and inherited cows, sheep, chickens and 250 turkeys an area expanded over the years to cater for growing demand. This year they have 1,000 turkeys, many of which will be sold directly to a loyal customer base through the farms online shop and a weekly pop-up store in its grounds. We have had poultry on the farm since the late 1960s. It started with chickens, but has evolved to also include turkeys," Phil explained. As BPS payments are phased out and diversification becomes more important than ever, its another way to generate additional income. Although we sell some to butchers, our main focus is the individual customers as it has the best reward in terms of both margin and feedback. We have built-up a loyal customer base and its fantastic to feel like you have played a part in their Christmas day. For those who celebrate it, Christmas dinner is seen as one of the most important meals of the year, so we really enjoy being part of this." The Whites have a weekly pop-up shop at the farm where they sell meat, and this has also evolved over the years. The farming family work with other small farm shops to sell their produce, such as vegetables, and they sell theirs. The Whites have a weekly pop-up shop at the farm where they sell meat, and this has also evolved Covid also saw an increase in demand for doorstep deliveries, and this year they will be delivering turkeys to customers on 23 and 24 December. This will be alongside their weekly meat box delivery service, which was launched earlier this year. Phil said: Hopefully this will give us an opportunity to convert some of our longer standing turkey customers from a once a year sale to into meat customers who shop with us all year round. Last year we reared 750 turkeys and completely sold out, so this year weve gone for 1,000 to cater for the growing number of people who want a high-quality, high welfare product. Speaking about the logistics of turkey farming, Phil said that his busiest time, understandably, comes in December. We get the turkeys in July when they are a day old. They require warmth for a couple of weeks, then they are in an enclosed run where they can graze grass before they go out into a larger paddock at five-weeks-old. They feed on a mix of grass and herbs and are also given home grown oats. The feeding process isnt very time consuming at all and only takes around 30 minutes every day. On December 10 we pluck the birds which are then hung for a week before being prepared for collection or delivery." Phil said turkey farming might suit someone with a spare building or polytunnel But there are certainly challenges when it comes to turkey farming, particularly the issue of labour. Phil said: "Weve heard of some people who have struggled with staffing, but were lucky that we have two children in university who have plenty of friends in the area, so we have everyone mucking in with the plucking. Last year we also invested in a wax dip tank which makes plucking a lot quicker and streamlines the process reducing the requirement for seasonal labour which is becoming more of a challenge. The turkeys certainly meet our end goal of adding another dimension to the farm business." For those thinking of diversifying, he said turkey farming might suit someone with a spare building or polytunnel, perhaps one which is used for lambing but sits empty from June to December. Another option for someone having a go for the first time would be to buy the birds in as poults to manage the risk a bit. Its an area of the business we very much enjoy, and we couldnt imagine the farm without it, Phil added. DOyleys Farm has been provided with business advice by David Kinnersley, of rural property consultancy Fisher German. He said: Since taking over the farm, Phil and Fiona have made a conscious effort to focus the business on connecting directly with the customer as much as they can. They have thrown themselves into regenerative farming practices to improve not just the environmental sustainability of the business but build its financial resilience by adding value to their produce. Their vision for the farm and hard work is an inspiration, particularly to those who may be thinking about diversification as BPS payments are phased out. A new project aims to help futureproof Scottish beef and sheep farms by highlighting the benefits of work-based learning to young people, career influencers and to farm employers. The Beef and Sheep Farming Careers project will follow a range of agriculture students who are at different stages within their farming career journeys. The project, by NFU Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland and Borders College, will highlight different routes towards an apprenticeship whether direct from school, college, as a career changer or through a pre-apprenticeship. The project will help raise awareness of what is involved to both the learner and the employer and showcase the benefits work-based on-farm learning can bring. The groups hope this will help ensure there is a pipeline of future farm employees who have the relevant skills and knowledge required for the sector. It will address numerous recommendations raised in the NFU Scotland's Education and Skills in Farming report, which was derived from a series of focus groups within the industry. They highlighted a number of perceived barriers to employers in hiring an apprentice, with the new project aiming to address some of these barriers. Planned activity includes a series of case studies showcasing personal experiences from both apprentices, work placement students and employers, shareable infographics, links to existing resources to support employers and a social media takeover. George Jamieson, skills policy manager at NFU Scotland, said: Borders College are one of the many high quality organisations delivering apprenticeships in Scotland. "We are excited to work with them to highlight how they are including sustainability, biodiversity, technology as well as traditional agricultural skills into their programme. "We look to work closely with the wider college sector and potentially schools on information and collaboration. One of the apprentices who will be sharing their story is Rhianna who is currently undertaking a Modern Apprenticeship on Pilmuir Farm, a livestock farm near Hawick. Matthews Thomson from Pilmuir Farm, who originally took Rhianna on as a work placement student, has encouraged her to move onto her Modern Apprenticeship. As a young person myself running a farming business I know opportunities are hard to come by," he said. "Its been great to be able to give another young person an opportunity to learn about the industry in a positive manner. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category , Miss Universe 2021 has become a household name after bringing back thecrown 21 years after Lara Dutta did in 2000. Today, she returned home from Israel with the prestigious Miss Universe crown. Sandhu received a warm welcome on her arrival. She was presented with several flower bouquets and cheering fans pouring in appreciation and blessings. She looked stunning in the red embellished gown adorned by her, accentuating her glamour and glow. She also had her star moment as she asked the paparazzi in Punjabi to join her in saying Chak De Phatte, India. The final question answered by Harnaaz which cemented her position as Miss Universe was "What advice would you give to young women watching on how to deal with the pressures they face today?" To this, she replied "The biggest pressure the youth of today is facing, is to believe in themselves. To know that you are unique makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourselves with others and let's talk about more important things that are happening worldwide. Come out, speak for yourself, because you are the leader of your life. You are the voice of your own. I believed in myself and that is why I am standing here today." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filmfare (@filmfare) Harnaaz Sandhu became the 3rd Indian woman to win the glorious title of Miss Universe for India. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Scryb Inc. (CSE: SCYB) (OTCQB: SCYRF) (FSE: EIY2) ("Scryb" or the "Company"), an applied intelligence Company, is pleased to host the fifth episode of "The Impact of Supply Chain Transparency in the medical sector"1 on January 11th at 1pm EST, and featuring renowned industry leaders in the cybersecurity sector. The industry panelists include Suzanne B. Schwartz, Director of Office of Strategic Partnerships & Technology Innovation at U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Nimi Ocholi 2, Senior Director for Product Security at Medtronic Technical Fellow and Ken Hoyme3, Sr. Fellow of Product Security at Boston Scientific. The panel will be moderated by Evgeniy Kharam4, co-founder of the security architecture podcast. Image 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/952/107763_7005d665740b4ad5_001full.jpg Register for the 'The Impact of Supply Chain Transparency in the Medical Sector' Free Webinar using the link below: https://medicalsectorcybeats.splashthat.com The requirement of the Software Bills of Materials (SBOM) is leading to fundamental changes in software suppliers. In the medical sector transparency and accountability are matters of life and death. Join us as we discuss how this movement towards software transparency and accountability impacts the reliability and efficacy of medical systems. As leaders in SBOMs, these panelists will discuss how those in the medical sector can better create and utilize SBOMs. The event will be hosted live on the Cybeats YouTube5 channel on January 11th at 1pm EST. Panelists will discuss the increasing demand for SBOMs and the greater importance of the longevity and credibility of software, ultimately showcasing how it offers a vital solution. About Cybeats Cybeats is holistic software supply chain security that builds certainty through visibility, comprehensive protection and proactive response, from launch to legacy. Cybeats. Software made certain. Website: https://www.cybeats.com/ About Scryb Scryb is a platform that powers businesses and technologies with applied intelligence, real-time analytics, and actionable insights. The platform boasts proven adaptability across diverse markets, from digital health and diagnostics to cybersecurity and manufacturing. The cloud-based platform is composed of crucial elements including sensor technology, IoT, predictive analytics, and computer vision. SUBSCRIBE: For more information, or to SubScryb to the Company's email list, visit: https://www.scryb.ai Contact: W. Clark Kent President Office. 647-872-9982 TF. 1-844-247-6633 Email: info@scryb.ai Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates 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 anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for the technology described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com ____________________________________ 1 https://www.linkedin.com/events/6834623376489779200/ 2 https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-wright-8044b3154/ 3 https://www.linkedin.com/in/timroxey/ 4 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckbrooks/ 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlWPPNuCZTQ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107763 Wolters Kluwer's Finance, Risk Regulatory Reporting (FRR) business has won a number of major awards for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Regulation Asia has named Wolters Kluwer's OneSumX for FRR the "Best Solution in Regulatory Reporting" in its prestigious Awards for Excellence for the third time in four years and APAC Insider has recognized the company's leading position in risk and regulatory reporting, as has RegTech Insights. The company's Managing Director for APAC, Rainer Fuchsluger, has also won an executive leadership award from CEO Monthly magazine. Regulation Asia is a leading online publication, providing actionable regulatory intelligence for APAC markets. Since its inception in 2013, its audience has grown to include regulatory bodies, exchanges, banks, asset managers and service providers, allowing it to play a key role in the regulatory agenda. Its free to enter Awards for Excellence program recognizes companies that have shaped the regulatory landscape across APAC, providing independent verification of excellence and innovation. Regulation Asia judges noted how "in July, more than 30 banks in Singapore went live with the revised MAS 610 reporting requirement, smoothly and without incident, using OneSumX." The judges also noted how "OneSumX for Regulatory Reporting enables financial institutions to address increasingly complex regulatory data and reporting requirements, leveraging an upgraded regulatory engine that dramatically improves execution speed and performance." CEO Monthly magazine, meanwhile, has recognized the regional leadership of Fuchsluger, naming him RegTech Executive of the Year, APAC, 2021. With 20 years of experience in leading various financial services teams, Fuchsluger joined Wolters Kluwer in 2018 from SS&C Technologies where he was Regional Managing Director, Asia, of the Institutional and Investment Management business. Prior to this he held senior leadership roles at global FinTech firms across Europe and Asia. He is an Executive Member of Wolters Kluwer's Sustainability Governance Board. Other independently judged awards recently won by Wolters Kluwer FRR APAC include: RegTech Insights: Best Vendor Solution for MAS 610, APAC, 2021 RegTech Insights: Best Regulatory Reporting Solution, APAC, 2021 APAC Insider: Regulatory Reporting Provider of the Year Singapore, 2021 APAC Insider: Best Risk Firm of the Year, APAC, 2021 APAC Insider: Best Regulatory Reporting Technology Firm of the Year, APAC, 2021 Wolters Kluwer's FRR business, which is part of the company's Governance, Risk Compliance (GRC) division, is a global market leader in the provision of integrated regulatory compliance and reporting solutions. These solutions support regulated financial institutions in meeting their obligations to external regulators and their own boards of directors. Last month Wolters Kluwer announced that it has enjoyed its most successful year ever in the widely followed Chartis RiskTech100 report. The company has been named this year's Category Winner in four areas Regulatory Reporting Banking, Liquidity Risk, Regulatory Intelligence and OpsTech Tax Processing. This comprehensive and independent study of the world's leading risk and compliance technology companies is compiled by Chartis Research, part of Infopro Digital, publishers of Risk.net and Waters Technology The other banking and regulatory compliance business of Wolters Kluwer GRC is Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions a market leader and trusted provider of risk management and regulatory compliance solutions and services to U.S. insurers, banks and credit unions, and securities firms. The division's legal solutions businesses are Wolters Kluwer CT Corporation and Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk Compliance Governance, Risk Compliance is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to help ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2020 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,200 people worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005569/en/ Contacts: Paul Lyon Global Corporate Communications Director: Global Marketing, Communications Planning Governance, Risk Compliance Division Wolters Kluwer Tel: +44 20 3197 6586 Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com SINGAPORE, Dec 16, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Homegrown medical technology Company, Acumen Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. ("Acumen Diagnostics" or the "Company"), a 51% owned subsidiary of Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited ("Q&M Dental") and 49% owned by Aoxin Q&M Dental Group Limited ("Aoxin Q&M Dental"), today announced that it has been granted a license by the Ministry of Health, Singapore to provide offsite COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction ("PCR") swab services and serology sample collection.The Company will roll out its testing services via Q&M Dental's network of clinics, and also at Acumen Diagnostics' headquarters located at The Gemini, 41 Science Park Road, Singapore.Dr Ong Siew Hwa, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Scientist of Acumen Diagnostics and Executive Director of Aoxin Q&M Dental, said "Vaccination coupled with a robust testing regime remains the best strategy to tackle the virus enabling a safe and more sustainable re-opening of the economy.PCR tests remain the gold standard for accurately detecting COVID-19 cases and with the potential higher transmissibility of new variants such as Omicron, testing needs to be deployed quickly and provide highly accurate results to control the spread of the virus."With the onset of the Omicron variant and Vaccinated Travel Lane arrangements with more countries being added, the Company will ramp up its COVID-19 PCR testing services in anticipation of the increased demand for PCR testing, at an initial 10 Q&M Dental outlets plus the Company's headquarters, by 31 December 2021. See Annex A below for details of the 10 Q&M Dental outlets. More sites will be added in the next few months to the rest of the Q&M Dental network, with a potential capacity to activate 100 sites island-wide.Dr Ng Chin Siau, Chief Executive Officer of Q&M Dental said, "Through Q&M Dental's extensive network of clinics, with capacity to roll out to 100 sites island-wide, we as a Group are committed to provide highly accurate and accessible PCR tests to make COVID-19 testing hassle-free and convenient for all Singapore residents.And with one of the most competitive pricing available in Singapore, we will ensure that our tests remain affordable for everyone who needs to be tested. We will continue to do our part to contribute to the national effort to combat the COVID-19 virus and progress towards living with endemic COVID-19."Those who require their PCR test results on urgent basis can also visit Acumen Diagnostics' headquarters at The Gemini, 41 Science Park Road, Singapore. With its headquarters located in close proximity to the Company's two laboratories, PCR test results will be available in as early as 4 hours. For an additional fee, the Company also provides doorstep PCR testing services to your home or workplace.Acumen Diagnostics possesses deep technical capabilities and the supporting infrastructure in molecular diagnostics, spanning R&D, manufacturing, and clinical laboratory testing, with 2 laboratories that are able to process over 7,000 COVID-19 diagnostics tests daily.Recently, on 3 December 2021, Acumen Diagnostics also announced that its proprietary, locally-manufactured PCR test kits Acu-Corona 2.0 and Acu-Corona Duplex are able to detect COVID-19 positive cases infected with the Omicron variant. In addition to detecting COVID-19 positive cases infected with the Delta variant, the Company's proprietary PCR test kits are able to pick-up COVID-19 positive cases infected with the Omicron variant as well.Annex A: Initial testing sites at Acumen Diagnostics and Q&M Dental branches by 31 December 2021S/N - Acumen HQ & Q&M Dental Outlet - Address - TelephoneHQ - Acumen Diagnostics (Headquarters) - 41 Science Park Road #01-02 Gemini (Lobby B) (S) 117610 - 6980 00801 - Canberra - Blk 126 Canberra Street #01-03 Multi Storey Car Park (S) 750126 - 6518 31152 - Geylang - 1 Lorong 22 Geylang #01-01 Grandview Suites (S) 398664 - 6741 20713 - Jurong East - 2 Jurong East Street 21 #02-61A IMM Building (S) 609601 - 6980 39994 - Jurong - Blk 353 Jurong East Street 31 #01-107 Yuhua Place (S) 600353 - 6980 38685 - Kim Seng - 1 Kim Seng Promenade #03-117 Great World City (S) 237994 - 6734 06036 - Kim Tian - Blk 126 Kim Tian Road #01-03 Kim Tian Green (S) 160126 - 6979 76687 - North Bridge - 107 North Bridge Road B1-37/38 Funan Mall (S) 179105 - 6979 92968 - Potong Pasir - 51 Upper Serangoon Road #03-10/11 The Poiz Centre (S) 347697 - 6968 51319 - Sembawang Way - Blk 355 Sembawang Way #01-07 (S) 750355 - 6235 278210 - Tanjong Katong - 11 Tanjong Katong Road B1-13 Kinex (S) 437157 - 6241 6562About Acumen Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. (www.acumen-research.com)Acumen Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. ("Acumen Diagnostics") is a homegrown Singaporean, award-winning medical technology company. It is fully integrated with functions in research and development, manufacturing, as well as commercialisation of molecular diagnostics by distribution as well as conducting clinical laboratory testing services for (including but not limited to) infectious diseases, cancer, and COVID-19. It has also actively established frontline services such as COVID-19 on-site swabbing operations.Acumen Diagnostics is a 51% subsidiary of SGX-listed Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (SGX: 1D4.SI) and 49%-owned by SGX-listed Aoxin Q&M Dental Group Limited (SGX: QC7.SI).About Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited (QC7.SI) (www.QandMDental.com.sg)Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited ("Q&M" or together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is a leading private dental healthcare group in Asia. The Group owns the largest network of private dental outlets in Singapore, operating 90 dental outlets across the country. Underpinned by about 270 experienced dentists, 7 doctors and more than 350 supporting staff, the Group sees an average of 40,000 patient visits a month in Singapore. The Group also operates 5 medical clinics and a dental supplies and equipment distribution company.Outside of Singapore, the Group has 38 dental clinics and a dental supplies and equipment distribution company in Malaysia, as well as a dental clinic in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). Q&M is also the substantial shareholder of Aoxin Q&M Dental Group Limited, a dental Group listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange, which operates dental clinics and hospitals primarily in the Northeastern region of the PRC. The Group aims to expand its operations geographically and vertically through the value chain in Malaysia, the PRC and within ASEAN.In 2018, the Group made inroads into the development of advanced technology in healthcare with the establishment of EM2AI Pte. Ltd. ("EM2AI", formerly known as Q&M Dental AI Pte. Ltd.). EM2AI focuses on developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) ethical enhanced guided treatment plan.In 2019, the Group expanded into dental postgraduate education with the establishment of the Q&M College of Dentistry. It offers Singapore's first private postgraduate diploma programme in clinical dentistry.In 2020, the Group also expanded into the medical laboratories and research industry with the incorporation of Acumen Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. ("Acumen Diagnostics"). Acumen Diagnostics currently focuses on the manufacture, sale and distribution of COVID-19 diagnostic test kits, as well as COVID19 testing.The Group was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ("SGXST") on 26 November 2009.About Aoxin Q&M Dental Group Limited (Stock Code: 1D4.SI) (www.aoxinqm.com.sg)Aoxin Q&M Dental Group Limited ("Aoxin Q&M Dental" or together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is a leading provider of private dental services in the Liaoning Province, Northern People's Republic of China ("PRC"). The Group operates 16 dental centres, comprising 10 dental polyclinics and 6 dental hospitals, located across 8 cities in Liaoning Province, namely Shenyang, Huludao, Panjin, Gaizhou, Zhuanghe, Jinzhou, Dalian and Anshan. We currently have 400 dental professionals, including 170 dentists, 180 dental surgery assistants and 50 laboratory technicians. A majority of the dental centres are accredited as Designated Medical Institutions of Medical Insurance. Additionally, the Group is engaged in the provision of dental laboratory services, as well as the distribution and sale of dental equipment and supplies in the Liaoning, Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces in Northern PRC.Aoxin Q&M Dental was listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited on 26 April 2017.Media and Analysts: please contact below for more information:Waterbrooks Consultants Pte. Ltd.+65 6958 8008, query@waterbrooks.com.sgWayne Koo (M): +65 9338 8166, wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sgDerek Yeo (M): +65 9791 4707, derek@waterbrooks.com.sgSource: Acumen DiagnosticsCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. BEIJING, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation's (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") has reported another strategic breakthrough of shale oil exploration. This time, its subsidiary Sinopec East China Petroleum Bureau has recorded high-yield shale oil flow in three prospecting wells in Subei Basin. Among which, the Qinye 1HF well has tested daily oil production of 55 tons, the Shuaiye 3-7HF well has tested 20 tons per day, and the previous deployed Shaduo 1 well has a cumulative production of 11,000 tons over 392 days of continuous flow. Preliminary evaluation shows that Sinopec's establishment of a 420-square-kilometer favorable area with 350 million tons of shale oil resources in the Qintong sag has exhibited good prospects for exploration and development in the region and will inaugurate crude oil resources strategic replacement in China's Subei Basin. The shale oil in the Subei Basin has a burial depth of more than 3,000 meters, where development is difficult as the pressure is high and the storage space is thinner than a hair, bringing great challenges to processing techniques like drilling and fracturing. Sinopec East China Petroleum Bureau has achieved this major breakthrough in shale oil exploration by combining the actual exploration facts of Subei Basin to strengthen research on formation conditions and enrichment patterns of continental shale oil. Sinopec has continued to expand and further its exploration efforts of shale oil. In January 2021, Sinopec Exploration Branch conducted test production of Taiye 1 well of shale oil and gas, preliminary estimation has showed shale gas reserves of 200 billion cubic meters and condensate of 280 million tons. In November 2021, Sinopec Shengli Oilfield achieved a major breakthrough of shale oil exploration in the East Exploratory Area, the first batch of shale oil geological reserves has reached 458 million tons by current predictions. Initial estimates of shale oil resources in the region amount to 4 billion tons, making it a new frontier for increasing reserves and production in eastern China. In the exploration and development of shale gas, Sinopec established China's first 10-billion-cubic-meter major shale gas field, the Fuling shale gas field which has produced 40 billion cubic meters of shale gas cumulatively. As of now, the shale gas field has proved new reserves of 104.883 billion cubic meters, making the cumulative total to reach 900 billion cubic meters which accounts for 34 percent of the total proved shale gas reserves in China. In addition, Sinopec discovered China's first deep shale gas field, the Weirong shale gas field, the first phase of which has built a production capacity of 1 billion cubic meters in 2020. For more information, please visit Sinopec. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1711315/SINOPEC.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/960416/SINOPEC_Logo.jpg Mannedorf, Switzerland, December16,2021 - Tecan Group Ltd. (SIX Swiss Exchange: TECN) announced today that its Board of Directors will propose the election of Myra Eskes as a new independent member of the Board at Tecan's next Annual General Meeting on April 12, 2022. Tecan, a pioneer and global leader in laboratory automation for life sciences and diagnostics, expanded into the medical devices sector with the acquisition of Paramit Corporation in August 2021. With more than 20 years' experience on three continents in the medical devices and life sciences industries, Myra Eskes' appointment would deepen the Board's strong technical and cultural expertise. Myra Eskes currently serves as President, Asia Pacific, of Smith+Nephew (LSE:SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business. Prior to joining Smith+Nephew in 2019, she held leadership roles within GE Healthcare, with responsibilities in the US, Europe, Central Asia, Russia, Middle East and most recently, Asia Pacific. As President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Healthcare Southeast Asia, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Myra Eskes was responsible for the diagnostic and interventional imaging, patient monitoring, healthcare digital and life sciences businesses. The Board will also propose the reelection of all current members Dr. Lukas Braunschweiler, Heinrich Fischer, Dr. Christa Kreuzburg, Dr. Karen Huebscher, Dr. Daniel R. Marshak and Dr. Oliver Fetzer for a further one-year term. About Tecan Tecan (www.tecan.com) helps to improve people's lives and health by empowering customers to scale healthcare innovation globally from life science to the clinic. Tecan is a pioneer and global leader in laboratory automation. As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Tecan is also a leader in developing and manufacturing OEM instruments, components and medical devices that are then distributed by partner companies. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has more than 3,000 employees, with manufacturing, research and development sites in Europe, North America and Asia, and maintains a sales and service network in over 70 countries. In 2020, Tecan generated sales of CHF 731 million (USD 778 million; EUR 683 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TECN; ISIN CH0012100191). For further information: Tecan Group Martin Braendle Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & IR Tel. +41 www.tecan.com Attachment Denali Phase 3 co- funded equally by Nicox and Ocumension Therapeutics Phase 3 program supportssubmission of both U.S. and ChinaNDAs December 16, 2021 - release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis, France Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced that the first patient has been screened in China in the ongoing Denali Phase 3 clinical trial, opening the way for New Drug Application (NDA) submissions in both the United States (U.S.) and China for NCX 470, Nicox's lead clinical product candidate in glaucoma. Denali, which also includes a long-term safety extension, has been recruiting patients in the U.S. since November 2020. Approximately 670 patients are expected to be randomized at approximately 60 clinical sites in the U.S. and China, with approximately 80% of the patients to be recruited in the U.S. and the remaining ~20% of the patients to be recruited in China. This is the first patient to be enrolled in the Chinese part of the trial. Results from Denali are expected by the end of 2023. The Denali Phase 3 trial evaluates the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering efficacy of once-daily dosed NCX 470 ophthalmic solution 0.1% compared to latanoprost ophthalmic solution 0.005% in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Denali is a multiregional (U.S. and China) clinical trial financed equally by Nicox and Ocumension, Nicox's exclusive licensee for China, Korea and Southeast Asia. The inclusion of Chinese patients in the Denali trial is essential to satisfy the requirements of Chinese regulatory authority, the National Medical Products Administration. The Denali trial was designed to fulfill the regulatory requirements to support NDA submissions of NCX 470 in the U.S. and China. Gavin Spencer, Chief Business Officer of Nicox commented "The initiation of the Chinese part of the Denali trialmarks an important step forward in the realization of the multiregional clinical strategy that we have adopted through our agreements with Ocumension. By supportingdual regulatory submissions in high-value markets - the U.S. and China - we can bring next-generation intraocular pressure-lowering treatments rapidly and efficiently to patients.Our partnership with Ocumension potentially accelerates the development of multiple programs, not only NCX 470 but also ZERVIATE and NCX 4251." NCX 470 is a novel nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin analog with the potential for greater IOP lowering activity than currently marketed products. In addition to the Denali trial, NCX 470 is also being evaluated in the Mont Blanc Phase 3 clinical trial, with its results expected in Q1 2023. "NCX 470 is one of the key development assets in our pipeline, allowing us to bring an efficacious, novel therapeutic into the Chinese glaucoma market, which is expected to grow exponentially over the next decade. The approach of Nicox in designing a multi-regional, US-China Phase 3 program has accelerated the development of NCX 470 for us, and we are pleased with the Nicox collaboration on all fronts." added Victor Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Ocumension Therapeutics. Nicox has licensed exclusive rights to Ocumension for NCX 470 in China, Korea and Southeast Asia. Ocumension has paid 18 million to Nicox, and is also funding 50% of the Denali Phase 3 clinical trial costs. Nicox also stands to receive tiered royalties of between 6% and 12% on sales of NCX 470 by Ocumension. Ocumension is a Chinese ophthalmology company that listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 2020 (HKEX: OCUMENSION-B (1477), Market Capitalization USD $1.4 billion). Ocumension also has rights to ZERVIATE in China and the majority of Southeast Asia, and is currently running a Phase 3 clinical trial intended to support an application for regulatory approval for allergic conjunctivitis in China. Ocumension also has rights in China to Nicox's second clinical product candidate, NCX 4251. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Swiss reinsurer Swiss Re Ltd. (SSREY.PK) announced Thursday the appointment of Pravina Ladva as Group Chief Digital & Technology Officer and member of the Group Executive Committee, effective January 1, 2022. The company noted that Group Chief Operating Officer Anette Bronder will leave the company, and Group Operations will be reorganised. In the new role, Ladva will lead all technology-related responsibilities. Corporate Real Estate & Services and Communications will report into Group Chief Human Resources Officer Cathy Desquesses, and other functions will report into areas of the organisation that align with their mandates. Group Chief Executive Officer Christian Mumenthaler said the company is confident that Ladva will continue to advance digitalisation of its entire value chain in her new role. Ladva is currently Swiss Re's Group Digital Transformation Officer, a role she has held since July 2020. Prior to this, she served as Chief Technology and Operations Officer for Swiss Re's digital white-label provider of property & casualty and life & health insurance, iptiQ. Prior to joining Swiss Re in 2017, she held various roles at Barclaycard, including COO Digital Marketplace and CIO Barclaycard Business Solutions. 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. 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. M701JAC gas turbine for the Fujairah F3 power plant TOKYO, Dec 16, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has shipped a total of three M701JAC gas turbines to the Fujairah F3 power plant in the UAE from its Takasago Machinery Works in Hyogo Prefecture. The plant will use an efficient combined cycle technology in the region and will be the largest natural gas fired gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) facility in the UAE, playing a crucial role in the country's power generation sector, while also contributing to the GCC's power grid.The M701JAC is the world's leading gas turbine with an efficiency greater than 64%, reliability of 99.6%, and the lowest carbon emissions per unit of power when used in combined cycle. Capable of operating on a mixture of up to 30 percent hydrogen and 70 percent natural gas, the turbines can be increased to 100 percent hydrogen in the future.These generators will be the core facility for the natural gas-fired GTCC plant, owned and operated by Fujairah Power Company F3 LLC, a special purpose company (SPC) jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Mubadala Investment Company, as well as Marubeni Corporation and Hokuriku Electric Power Company. The plant is being built by the South Korean firm Samsung C&T Corporation. This shipment comprises a total of three units ordered in 2020, that includes the core facilities of this newly constructed plant, along with auxiliary machinery and accessory equipment.The JAC-Series gas turbines shipped for this project will be installed in a power generation plant being built in a coastal area of Fujairah (Qidfa), approximately 300km northeast of the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi. The plant will have a generation capacity of 2,400 megawatts (MW), the highest output ever for a gas- fired GTCC plant in the UAE. Full commercial operation is scheduled to commence in 2023.Mitsubishi Power is also dispatching engineers to provide support until the start of commercial operations, and under a Long-Term Service Agreement (LTSA) for the project, will handle maintenance and repair of the generating facilities.In June 2021, Mitsubishi Power expanded its operational footprint across EMEA with the establishment of a GTCC EMEA Business Unit headquartered in Dubai, UAE.Commenting on this shipment, Khalid Salem, president of Mitsubishi Power MENA (Middle East & North Africa) and GTCC Business Unit Leader for EMEA, said: "Mitsubishi Power's core expertise is providing reliable, innovative and environmentally friendly energy solutions to our customers. The establishment of our new business unit earlier this year enabled us to partner more closely across the value chain to offer high quality, reliable solutions that further support the rapid transformation of the region's power supply and the Fujairah F3 project is testament to that.""This project is the first in the Middle East to utilize our advanced JAC-Series gas turbines. We are pleased that by supplying gas turbines that boast the world's highest level of generating efficiency, we are meeting the UAE government's expectations in achieving both a reduced environmental load and stable power supply, while contributing to the country's sustainable economic growth," he added.Moving forward, Mitsubishi Power aims to demonstrate further, the impact of adopting high-efficiency, environment-friendly GTCC generating facilities, that contributes to the stable supply of power, essential for economic development across the globe, and the realization of a sustainable, decarbonized world.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on www.spectra.mhi.com.Source: Mitsubishi CorporationCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. TOKYO, Dec 16, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) today announced the development of a secure biometric authentication technology that allows users to authenticate themselves with encrypted face information. This technology reduces the risk of misuse if face information is leaked and contributes to the expansion of safe and secure biometric authentication use cases.With the application of this technology, all face information handled by service providers is encrypted. Therefore, even if encrypted face information is leaked, the risk of being misused for spoofing is low. Moreover, since users have a secret key for decryption, service providers cannot decrypt face information, enabling users to take advantage of the face recognition service with peace of mind.Face recognition is increasingly being introduced as a means of identity verification, but in the unlikely event that registered face information is leaked, it may lead to misuse, such as spoofing. As a result, greater attention is being paid to technologies that perform biometric authentication while encrypting information, such as face information. Specifically, homomorphic encryption(1) is known to perform authentication processing while biometric features are encrypted, and without deteriorating the accuracy of certification.However, homomorphic encryption can only perform simple operations, and processing speed is greatly reduced when performing the complex processing required by biometric authentication. As a result, it has been limited to "1:1 Identification," which is used for logging into online services with relatively light processing. Conversely, the method has been difficult to apply for "1:N Identification," such as facility entry control and transaction settlements, which require greater processing speed.In order to overcome this challenge, NEC developed a secure biometric authentication technology that can be applied to 1:N Identification by streamlining the processing of face recognition using homomorphic encryption.Conventionally, 1:N Identification has required authentication processing that includes complex arithmetic operations that are difficult for homomorphic encryption. However, this technology reduces processing by focusing on promising candidates through simple operations, rather than processing all registered users. This narrowing down greatly reduces the number of authentication operations, including complex operations, so that 1:N Identification can be performed at high speed, even with homomorphic encryption.With 1:N Identification for 10,000 registered users, for example, NEC's new technology can narrow down the number of user candidates in about 0.01 seconds. If the system narrows down the number of candidates to about 1% of the total number, it can perform face authentication processing in a speed of about 1 second.In addition, the use of this technology does not impact the accuracy of certification.Going forward, NEC will further develop this technology combined with Bio-IDiom(2), the company's portfolio of biometric authentication technologies, in order to enhance the safety and security of personal information, entrance control, transaction settlements and more.(1) Homomorphic EncryptionCryptographic technology that can perform operations such as addition and multiplication while encrypting data(2) Bio-IDiomhttps://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/biometrics/index.htmlAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - Therma Bright Inc. (TSXV: THRM) ("Therma" or the "Company"), developer of its smart-enabled AcuVid COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Saliva Test and other progressive diagnostic and medical device technologies, is pleased to confirm that antibodies incorporated in its AcuVid COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Saliva Test have been tested and can successfully detect the new, highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron B.1.1.529 variant. Ever since the SARS-CoV-2 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) became a global pandemic in early 2020, a variety of new variants have emerged, and the scientific community has worked tirelessly to evaluate each strain and its impact on the public's health. The Omicron B.1.1.529 variant, discovered in early November 2021 in South Africa and Botswana, has now become a growing global concern, and has been discovered in numerous countries around the world; including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and several Western and Eastern European nations. In fact, on December 3, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the Omicron variant has been detected in at least 38 countries, and early data suggests it's more contagious than the Delta B.1.617.2 variant.1 The variant "is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant," the head of WHO said. "I need to be very clear: Vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis." 2 To date, Therma Bright's AcuVid saliva test solution has successfully detected not only the original Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), but other WHO Variants of Concern, including the P.1 and P.2 variants discovered in Brazil, the B.1.1.7 variant from the UK, the highly contagious Delta B.1.617.2 variant from India and now the Omicron B.1.1.529 variant from the South Africa region. "We're pleased to confirm that the antibodies incorporated in our saliva test have been tested and can successfully detect the Omicron variant," shared Rob Fia, CEO of Therma Bright. "Now, as our partners finalize our U.S. AcuVid clinical performance study to submit to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), our team is making sure we checkoff each new EUA Guidance; including the September 23, 2021 guidance3 on testing all COVID-19 Variants of Concern, and the November 15, 2021 guidance4 on production capabilities of a minimum of 500,000 tests per week." The Company advises that is has issued 100,000 warrants pursuant to a securities for services agreement previously announced on August 12, 2021. Each warrant is exercisable for one common share for two years at a price of $0.39. All of these securities are subject to a hold period expiring April 26, 2021 in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSXV. Therma Bright is not making any express or implied claims that its test product has the ability to eliminate or cure COVID-19 or the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In other news, Therma Bright has begun fulfilling the first 2500 Venowave 2-unit kit order to DME Authority, the Company's exclusive U.S. Distributor based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Furthermore, Therma Bright officially launched its Venowave.com ecommerce site for direct-to-consumer sales, as highlighted earlier in its Benepod.com ecommerce site announcement. Sources: 1. "WHO says Covid omicron variant detected in 38 countries, early data suggests it's more contagious than delta." (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/03/who-says-omicron-covid-variant-has-spread-to-38-countries.html) 2. Omicron 'most significant threat' since pandemic began, U.K. health authority warns ( https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/omicron-significant-threat-pandemic-began-uk-health-authority-warns-rcna8828 ) 3. Establishing additional Conditions of Authorization for the EUAs of Certain Molecular, Antigen and Serology IVDs related to viral mutations. (https://www.fda.gov/media/152406/download) 4. Policy for Coronavirus Disease-2019 Tests During the Public Health Emergency (Revised): Guidance for Developers and Food and Drug Administration Staff. (https://www.fda.gov/media/135659/download ) About Therma Bright Inc. Therma Bright, developer of the smart-enabled AcuVid COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Saliva Test, is a progressive medical diagnostic and device technology company focused on providing consumers and medical professionals with quality, innovative solutions that address some of today's most important medical and healthcare challenges. The Company's initial breakthrough proprietary technology delivers effective, non-invasive and pain-free skincare. Therma Bright received a Class II medical device status from the FDA for its platform technology that is indicated for the relief of the pain, itch, and inflammation of a variety of insect bites or stings. The Company received clearance for the above claims from the U.S. FDA in 1997. Therma Bright Inc. trades on the TSXV (TSXV: THRM) (OTCQB: TBRIF) (FSE: JNX). Visit: www.thermabright.com. For further information, please contact: Therma Bright Inc. Rob Fia, CEO rfia@thermabright.com Follow us on Twitter FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events such as development and commercialization of a rapid COVID-19 viral assay and related instrumentation, regulatory applications and manufacturing scale up as described in the news release. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and 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, except as required under applicable securities regulations. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. 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 any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107824 The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has namedthreeoutstanding agricultural innovations from Case IH andone from New HollandAgriculture in their annual AE50 Awards. The awards honor the year's most innovative designs in engineering products and systems for the food and agricultural industries. London, December 16, 2021 Case IH and New Holland Agriculture, the global agriculture brands of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI), have won four 2022 ASABE AE50 awards. These prestigious awards, conferred by a panel of international engineering experts, recognize the 50 best global products featuring advanced engineering for the food and agriculture industries. The awards will be officially presented at the ASABE Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference (AETC) in February 2022. Case IH's three AE50-winning products help farmers increase productivity, profitability and safety: The Patriot 50 series sprayer uses a range of integrated, connected solutions to ensure consistent and accurate applications. Its cab-forward, rear-engine design and strong, durable boom enable operators to maximize productivity through accurate, timely spraying. The WD5 series windrower is one of the fastest in the industry, allowing operators to get to the field quickly without sacrificing harvest quality. Its integrated AFS Pro 700 display manages auto guidance, controls key machine functions and monitors the machine's performance, enabling the operator to provide precise cutting accuracy and virtually eliminate pass-to-pass overlap. The Fast Riser 6100 series 3-section front-fold planter features an agronomic three-section front-fold toolbar for growers and contractors who frequently need to access public roads. The operator can convert the implement from a 13-meter planting width to 3.2-meter regulatory road transport width from the tractor cab in one minute, enhancing overall transport efficiency. New Holland Agriculture was recognized by the panel of experts for the innovative Horizon Ultra tractor cab for the T7 Heavy Duty tractor range. Providing the operator with maximum protection and comfort, it is the quietest cab in the industry, registering no more than 66 decibels. Its spacious and comfortable functional working space benefits from an automatic climate control system with zone selection. The Auto Comfort seat has a heating and ventilation system that cools and removes moisture ensuring maximum comfort for operators who spend extended time in the field. The cab's industry-leading status is reinforced by the new SideWinder Ultra armrest, user-friendly IntelliView 12-inch display and CenterView display embedded into the steering wheel. The cab also introduces integration with New Holland's next-generation PLM (Precision Land Management) Intelligence technologies, where precision and interconnected farming assist farmers in planning all operations, managing the operation and in-field performance of each machine in real time, and achieving maximum efficiency. These latest awards recognize CNH Industrial's continued excellence in the field of innovative engineering and design, providing farmers with the equipment and technology they need to succeed. CNH IndustrialN.V. Sign up for corporate news alerts from the CNH Industrial Newsroom: bit.ly/media-cnhindustrial-subscribe Media contact: Rebecca Fabian Tel: +1 312 515 2249 Email: mediarelations@cnhind.com Attachments Minimum of 250 sites Over the next 24 months 10-year NaaS agreement CAD $57 Million in revenues Potential for more sites QUEBEC, QC / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2021 / NuRAN Wireless Inc. ("NuRAN Wireless") (CSE:NUR) (OTC:NRRWF) (FSE:1RN), specialist in rural telecommunications company, announces it has signed an agreement for a minimum of 250 sites with MTN Group Limited (JSE: MTN) for the deployment of rural sites under the network-as-a-service model ("NAAS") in Republic of South Sudan ("South Sudan") for the deployment of sites through the build, own, operate, and transfer ("BOOT") revenue share model. The 10-year agreement is estimated to represent approximately CAD $1,800 of revenue per site and per month or CAD $57 Million in revenues over the course of the contract, with the potential for more sites to be added and the ability to leverage terrestrial backhaul networks to deliver inexpensive data capacity that is intended to drive higher ARPU and revenues. The estimated revenues are subject to associated project expenses to generate over 65% gross margin including expenses associated with satellite bandwidth, site lease, network operation center operational expenses, curative and preventative maintenance fees, project management and monitoring fees, and insurance. "We are extremely pleased to have concluded this Agreement with MTN, a leader in bringing connectivity to the African continent. We signed the initial MOU in July 2021 and having concluded this agreement within a few months is a testament to our growing relationship with MTN. Adding South Sudan to the NuRAN portfolio is another important step towards achieving our goal of 10,000 sites. Bringing connectivity to the unconnected is at the heart of our business strategy and the benefits extend beyond communication including e-commerce, education and healthcare" stated Francis Letourneau, CEO at NuRAN Wireless Inc. "We are excited to be partnering with NuRAN in this very important project. At MTN we believe that everyone deserves a connected life therefore our strategy is to bring connectivity to these rural parts. We hope that this is the beginning of a growing relationship with NuRAN." said Diatile Zondo, CFO of MTN South Sudan. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement with MTN, the parties intend to install a minimum of 250 rural networking sites in the Republic of South Sudan within the next 24 months. An initial 50 sites will be launched from existing tower infrastructure owned by MTN and allowing for an extremely accelerated project launch. Site surveys on these existing sites has already begun to evaluate site conditions. NuRAN will partner with Tandem Solution LTD ("Tandem"), a local partner and already familiar to MTN. Tandem is fully licensed for infrastructure work in the country. Tandem was incorporated originally in Uganda and formed by dynamic professionals with vast engineering experiences totaling over 30 years whose expertise in project, network planning and optimization, contract planning, implementation, management, and administration is combined with expertise in a number of sectors. The NuRAN NAAS model facilitates network expansion for mobile operators by managing and controlling the build, operation, and maintenance of cellular sites along with associated capital expenditures. The sites are then monetized by providing connectivity on a paid for service basis. Leveraging its carrier-grade mobile network infrastructure solutions as well as its extensive expertise in the building of cost-effective cellular infrastructure, NuRAN can setup network operations from the ground up with an exceptional return on investment. While deployments under the NAAS model require the Company to make upfront investments, they generate significant value whereby NuRAN benefits from long-term recurring revenues with compelling returns. The Company intends to fund such deployments mostly through asset-based project financing or similar debt-oriented facilities. Such financing options and sources are being investigated with a view of carrying out deployments in the most efficient manner. About MTN: MTN is an emerging market mobile operator at the forefront of technological and digital changes. They provide a diverse range of voice, data, digital, fintech, wholesale and enterprise services to more than 280 million customers in 21 markets. Established in South Africa at the dawn of democracy in 1994 as a leader in transformation, they offer services to communities across Africa and the Middle East. MTN South Sudan is a Mobile Operator in the country and has a strong focus on improving rural connectivity for the more than 10 million South Sudanese living outside of major urban areas. About the Republic of South Sudan: South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011. The country is landlocked with borders to Sudan, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of The Congo and Uganda. With one of the youngest populations in Africa, South Sudan has an estimated population of 11 million of which over 500,000 live in Juba, the Capital of South Sudan. The country also hosts approximately 200,000 refugees from neighboring countries in various camps organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner ("OHCHR"). About NuRAN: NuRAN Wireless is a specialist telecommunications company that meets the growing demand for wireless network coverage in remote and rural regions around the globe. With its affordable and innovative scalable solutions of 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies, NuRAN Wireless offers a new possibility for more than one billion people to communicate effectively over long distances efficiently and affordably. "Bridging the Digital Divide, One Connection at a Time." Additional Information: For further information about NuRAN Wireless: www.nuranwireless.com Francis Letourneau, Director and CEO Francis.letourneau@nuranwireless.com Tel: (418) 264-1337 Frank Candido Investor relations Frank.candido@nuranwireless.com Tel: (514) 969-5530 Cautionary Statement: Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as, "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include those relating to the Company's NAAS agreements, proposed revenue under the NAAS agreements with MTN, the Company's proposed build out of network sites and ability to obtain project financing in relation to same. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected, expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated 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, such as the uncertainties regarding include risks such as the uncertainties regarding the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, and measures to prevent its spread, risks relating to NuRAN's business and the economy generally; NuRAN's ability to refinance its long term debt that is currently in default; NuRAN's ability to adequately restructure its operations with respect to its new model of NAAS service contracts; the capacity of the Company to deliver in a technical capacity and to import inventory to Africa at a reasonable cost; NuRAN's ability to obtain project financing for the proposed site build out under its NAAS agreements with Orange, MTN and other telecommunication providers, the loss of one or more significant suppliers or a reduction in significant volume from such suppliers; NuRAN's ability to meet or exceed customers' demand and expectations; significant current competition and the introduction of new competitors or other disruptive entrants in the Company's industry; NuRAN's ability to retain key employees and protect its intellectual property; compliance with local laws and regulations and ability to obtain all required permits for our operations, access to the credit and capital markets, changes in applicable telecommunications laws or regulations or changes in license and regulatory fees, downturns in customers' business cycles; and insurance prices and insurance coverage availability, the Company's ability to effectively maintain or update information and technology systems; our ability to implement and maintain measures to protect against cyberattacks and comply with applicable privacy and data security requirements; the Company's ability to successfully implement its business strategies or realize expected cost savings and revenue enhancements; business development activities, including acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; the Company's expansion into markets outside of Canada and the operational, competitive and regulatory risks facing the Company's non-Canadian based operations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis that is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The estimates included in this news release relating to the calculation of the gross revenue of the agreements with MTN are based on multiplying an average population per site by the expected penetration rate which yields the number of mobile customers. This is then multiplied by the average revenue per customer per month (ARPU) to derive total revenue. MTN's direct costs associated with this revenue are deducted and the resulting amount is shared by both parties. The revenue share only applies to revenue in excess of a guaranteed amount which is the minimum paid to NuRAN. A penetration rate reduction factor has been used to mitigate risk. The base data used to calculate the total potential revenue of this agreement was provided by MTN based on average population, penetration rate and ARPU. Management of the Company believes that the estimates have been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting best estimates and judgments, and based on a number of assumptions management believes are reasonable as well as information provided to the Company by MTN. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks, including the risks discussed above, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. SOURCE: NuRAN Wireless Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/678020/NuRAN-Signs-Agreement-For-A-Minimum-Of-250-Sites-With-MTN-In-The-Republic-Of-South-Sudan VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2021 / Barksdale Resources Corp. ("Barksdale" or the "Company") (TSXV:BRO) (OTCQX:BRKCF) is pleased to announce completion of the Phase I, 5,000-meter drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone, San Javier project Sonora, Mexico as well as the latest assay results from 16 additional drill holes. Importantly, all 36 drill holes from the current program have intersected various concentrations of visually apparent copper mineralization and each of the 16 drill holes discussed in this press release have assay-confirmed intercepts of copper mineralization above a 0.20% copper cut-off grade. These latest results continue to confirm continuity of drilled mineralization, as well as expansion of the oxide copper footprint. Drilling Highlights: Barksdale's inaugural 5,000m drilling program at Cerro Verde has successfully concluded with all 36 holes encountering copper mineralization (assay confirmed and visually estimated from core logging). Drilling has continued to confirm and expand the footprint of the Cerro Verde zone with key results including significant near-surface oxide mineralization including 57m grading 0.74% copper from surface (SJ21-09), which included a 15m intercept of 1.74% copper from 12-27m. Additional shallow oxide intercepts include 15m grading 1.47% copper from surface (SJ21-07), and 66m grading 0.49% copper (SJ21-15). from surface (SJ21-09), which included a from 12-27m. Additional shallow oxide intercepts include from surface (SJ21-07), and (SJ21-15). Step-outs from the Cerro Verde footprint of mineralization include 12m grading 0.85% copper from 6-18m and 12m grading 0.54% copper from 33-45 (both from SJ21-08) as well as 12m of 0.45% copper from 30-42m (SJ21-18). Rick Trotman, President and CEO of Barksdale commented: "This is a great follow-up to the initial holes that we announced in mid-October. Not only has the team demonstrated the robust nature of the supergene copper zone but we are now starting to see the results of some of the step out holes that show that Cerro Verde's footprint still has room to grow. With 15 drill holes still at the assay laboratory, including our last batch of samples which was submitted during the first week of December, we anticipate additional results to be announced during January and potentially into early February." Geology Discussion Iron oxide copper gold deposits ("IOCG deposits") are generally recognized as containing significant amounts of iron oxide minerals, such as magnetite and various forms of hematite. The San Javier deposit is classified as an IOCG due to the occurrence of large amounts of hematite, specularite and goethite associated with the copper gold mineralization, as well as its lack of porphyry-style veining. Mineralization at San Javier was likely originally deposited as sulfide minerals, principally chalcopyrite with lesser amounts of pyrite. As the deposit was exposed to oxide weathering, primary sulfides precipitated secondary (oxide) copper mineral suite consisting of malachite, azurite, chrysocolla and tenorite. In San Javier drill core these minerals are often seen as fracture coatings and breccia-fillings. Typically, as weathering progressed, acidic fluids that were generated from sulfide oxidation, then further leached and mobilized the copper until it encountered ground water. At this point leached copper participated to form zones of enriched secondary sulfide copper mineralization. At San Javier the predominant secondary sulfide mineral encountered in drill core to date is chalcocite. This suite of primary oxide and secondary sulfide copper minerals can generally be processed using industry standard heap-leach techniques. The San Javier deposit is complex due to post-mineral faulting including numerous low-angle faults found within the deposit area. From drill evidence, the amount of displacement along these low-angle faults suggests that mineralization in the Cerro Verde zone has likely been subjected to post-mineral displacements, where blocks of mineralization have been separated from their original point of deposition. Barksdale believes that continued geologic mapping and evaluation of the surrounding district may find additional blocks of mineralization that were originally part of the same mineralizing system but subsequently were dismembered and transported by faulting. Figure 1. Plan view of the Cerro Verde zone showing the historic mineralization footprint relative to recently completed drilling by Barksdale. The zone remains open in multiple directions. Based on assay data and visual copper estimates from drill core, the 2021 drilling has successfully extended mineralization laterally from previous known drilling and indicates that the Cerro Verde mineralized zone remains open particularly to the south, west, and northeast (see Figure 1). At depth, drilling has frequently encountered a sharp boundary between zones of secondary sulfide copper mineralization (chalcocite) and primary copper mineralization (dominantly chalcopyrite), again, indicating the presence of post-mineral faulting. Additionally, the primary copper mineralization zones typically exhibit weak propylitic alteration with disseminated chalcopyrite, suggesting that these zones are distal to the core of the IOCG mineralizing system. Figure 2. Three-dimensional view of the Cerro Verde zone highlighting select drill intercepts. Table 1. Significant Drill Hole Results (Copper above 0.20%). True widths vary between 60-100% and average 80%. From To Interval Cu Au Type of Hole (m) (m) (m) (%) (g/t) Mineralization SJ21-06 183.0 250.0 67.0 0.59% 0.02 Oxide SJ21-07 0.0 15.0 15.0 1.47% 0.04 Oxide 45.0 48.0 3.0 0.68% 0.02 Enriched 54.0 57.0 3.0 0.25% 0.01 Oxide 72.0 84.0 12.0 0.54% 0.01 Enriched/Primary 90.0 150.0 60.0 0.30% 0.03 Primary 156.0 183.0 27.0 0.36% 0.02 Primary 192.0 195.0 3.0 0.32% 0.00 Primary SJ21-08 6.0 24.0 18.0 0.64% 0.03 Oxide / Enriched 27.0 30.0 3.0 0.29% 0.02 Primary 33.0 45.0 12.0 0.54% 0.03 Enriched / Primary 57.0 66.0 9.0 0.26% 0.04 Primary SJ21-09 0.0 57.0 57.0 0.74% 0.08 Oxide including 12.0 27.0 15.0 1.75% 0.03 Oxide / Enriched 66.0 72.0 6.0 0.39% 0.01 Primary 114.0 120.0 6.0 0.25% 0.03 Primary 129.0 132.0 3.0 0.22% 0.10 Primary 135.0 150.0 15.0 0.32% 0.14 Enriched / Primary SJ21-10 54.0 57.0 3.0 0.26% 0.04 Enriched 60.0 63.0 3.0 0.26% 0.03 Enriched 69.0 72.0 3.0 0.36% 0.02 Enriched 171.0 216.0 45.0 0.52% 0.09 Oxide /Enriched SJ21-11 15.0 87.0 72.0 0.36% 0.01 Enriched / Primary 147.0 150.0 3.0 0.21% 0.02 Enriched 162.0 165.0 3.0 0.20% 0.06 Primary 171.0 175.5 4.5 0.33% 0.02 Primary SJ21-12 90.0 93.0 3.0 0.21% 0.02 Oxide 102.0 105.0 3.0 0.21% 0.03 Primary 150.0 153.0 3.0 0.22% 0.06 Enriched 159.0 165.0 6.0 0.20% 0.04 Oxide SJ21-13 75.0 87.0 12.0 0.32% 0.14 Oxide/Enriched SJ21-15 0.0 6.0 6.0 0.30% 0.03 Oxide 42.0 108.0 66.0 0.49% 0.01 Oxide 120.0 123.0 3.0 0.22% 0.06 Enriched SJ21-16 0.0 6.0 6.0 0.38% 0.03 Oxide / Primary 9.0 12.0 3.0 0.25% 0.74 Primary 27.0 30.0 3.0 0.20% 0.00 Primary 33.0 42.0 9.0 0.36% 0.03 Primary SJ21-17 0.0 27.0 27.0 0.29% 0.04 Oxide / Primary 42.0 45.0 3.0 0.27% 0.01 Primary SJ21-18 30.0 42.0 12.0 0.45% 0.23 Enriched/ Primary SJ21-19 6.0 7.5 1.5 0.22% 0.07 Primary 24.0 33.0 9.0 0.63% 0.23 Oxide / Enriched SJ21-20 0.0 12.0 12.0 0.24% 0.02 Oxide 15.0 18.0 3.0 0.20% 0.01 Primary 30.0 33.0 3.0 0.28% 0.01 Primary 48.0 51.0 3.0 0.20% 0.02 Primary 84.0 87.0 3.0 0.34% 0.01 Primary SJ21-21 3.0 18.0 15.0 0.32% 0.04 Oxide / Enriched 27.0 30.0 3.0 0.47% 0.04 Primary SJ21-22 3.0 9.0 6.0 0.22% 0.01 Oxide / Primary 18.0 21.0 3.0 0.21% 0.03 Enriched Resource Calculation and Economic Studies The Company has completed logging and sampling 36 drill holes from the recently completed 5,000m drilling program and is presently working to complete an updated geologic model in early Q1 2022. Once the remainder of the assay results have been received and incorporated into the model, Barksdale will be able to calculate an initial resource for the Cerro Verde zone. The Company is looking to complete a resource calculation during the first quarter of 2022. In total, there are over 100 historic and new drill holes that define a zone of copper mineralization that has a footprint of approximately 1.2km long by 350m wide, which is exposed at surface on the eastern hillside at the Cerro Verde. Based on the results from the planned resource calculation and ongoing metallurgical program (detailed in the next section), Barksdale would be in a position to undertake a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") at the Cerro Verde zone in the first half of 2022. The Company is currently soliciting and reviewing bids from various leading technical consulting firms that would complete the PEA as well as the resource calculation, with oversight provided by Andrew Pooler, Barksdale's SVP of Project Development. Mr. Pooler has overseen the delivery of dozens of economic and technical studies during his career and has built and/or been responsible for the production performance of open pit and underground mines in North, Central and South America with both heap leach and mill recovery circuits. Metallurgical Program Barksdale currently has eight metallurgical column tests ongoing with McClelland Laboratories in Sparks, Nevada that represent material from four composite samples. Each composite has been crushed to 80% passing 25mm (1 inch) and each composite has two tests. For each composite, one column is tested using an acid agglomeration cure and the other column is tested without an acid agglomeration cure. The raffinate used for the tests contains 5 grams per liter of sulfuric acid with an irrigation rate of 6 liters/hour/m2. The column tests will provide Barksdale with metallurgical recovery data with respect to how well the copper mineralization, both oxide and sulfide, respond to heap leach processing. The table below highlights the parameters of the ongoing tests and initial results: Table 2. Metallurgical Program Data Test # Composite # Total Cu (%) Acid Soluble Cu (%) NaCN Soluble Copper (%) Cu Extracted (%) at 40-Days Acid & NaCN Soluble Cu Extracted (%) at 40-Days 1 4726-001 0.416% 0.077% 0.147% 17% 32% 2 (cure) 4726-001 0.416% 0.077% 0.147% 14% 27% 3 4726-002 0.601% 0.531% 0.051% 52% 53% 4 (cure) 4726-002 0.601% 0.531% 0.051% 53% 55% 5 4726-003 0.388% 0.352% 0.013% 65% 69% 6 (cure) 4726-003 0.388% 0.352% 0.013% 61% 65% 7 4726-004 0.640% 0.519% 0.012% 50% 60% 8 (cure) 4726-004 0.640% 0.519% 0.012% 49% 60% The tests are designed with a 90-day leach cycle and will conclude in late January. Based on preliminary data collected after 40 days of irrigation, copper extraction is performing very well and the impact of the acid agglomeration cure on recovery is negligible, suggesting that not only is the mineralization amenable to cost-effective heap leaching processing, but a lower capital heap leach design (with no agglomeration equipment) could be achieved. Figure 3. Copper recovery curves from the ongoing metallurgical column testing. The graphs highlight copper extraction rates versus time under irrigation with sulfuric acid. Following completion of the 90-day irrigation cycle, the columns will be disassembled, and the residual material will be assayed. The breakdown process is estimated to take approximately 30-days. Results of the final metallurgical recovery data will be announced once completed. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Drilling was completed using HQ size diamond drill core and core was logged by geologic consultants engaged by the Company. Drill holes were logged and marked for sampling prior to being sawn in half using a diamond blade saw, with one half of the sawn core being placed in a cloth sample bag, with a unique sample tag, while the second half was returned to the wooden core box for storage on site. Sample assays are being performed by Skyline Assayers & Laboratories, which is an accredited laboratory (ISO 9001). Core samples are analyzed for total copper, acid soluble copper, cyanide soluble cooper, as well as well as a multi element ICP Analysis. The analytical work has been and is subject to a QA/QC program that includes certified reference standards from OREAS North America. These standards are of similar composition to the rock types at San Javier. Several different standards are included in each batch of samples submitted to the lab. These controls are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. Results are all within acceptable limits. Table 3. Drill Hole Information Hole Easting Northing Elevation Depth Azimuth Dip Status SJ21-01 623292 3160798 942 100 0 -90 Met Hole SJ21-02 623138 3160631 967 100 0 -90 Met Hole SJ21-03 623140 3160622 967 90 180 -45 Met Hole SJ21-04 623341 3160588 1007 61 0 -90 Met / HQ Hole (HQ announced) SJ21-04 623341 3160602 1007 201 0 -90 Previously Announced SJ21-05 623258 3160598 1006 260 90 -72 Announced in This Release SJ21-06 623258 3160602 1019 250 45 -50 Announced in This Release SJ21-07 623432 3160791 922 200 90 -70 Announced in This Release SJ21-08 623554 3160599 829 285 270 -50 Announced in This Release SJ21-09 623462 3160563 893 150 270 -55 Announced in This Release SJ21-10 623229 3160482 960 231 45 -50 Announced in This Release SJ21-11 623440 3160641 903 176 0 -90 Announced in This Release SJ21-12 623016 3160344 869 180 90 -51 Announced in This Release SJ21-13 623332 3160401 896 120 0 -90 Announced in This Release SJ21-14 623331 3160401 896 140 270 -55 Assays Pending SJ21-15 623129 3160534 924 155 90 -59 Announced in This Release SJ21-16 623529 3160750 815 53 270 -51 Announced in This Release SJ21-17 623529 3160750 815 55 0 -55 Announced in This Release SJ21-18 623435 3160408 875 60 0 -90 Announced in This Release SJ21-19 623435 3160408 875 80 245 -55 Announced in This Release SJ21-20 623533 3160852 768 170 270 -45 Announced in This Release SJ21-21 623533 3160852 768 30 0 -45 Announced in This Release SJ21-22 623655 3160882 709 30 225 -50 Announced in This Release SJ21-23 623584 3160911 768 30 260 -55 Assays Pending SJ21-24 623406 3161005 853 120 90 -64 Assays Pending SJ21-25 623602 3161009 791 195 90 -55 Assays Pending SJ21-26 623195 3160750 962 120 270 -80 Assays Pending SJ21-27 623200 3160549 968 63 0 -90 Assays Pending SJ21-28 623257 3160557 1006 185 0 -90 Assays Pending SJ21-29 623302 3160553 992 140 0 -90 Assays Pending SJ21-30 623352 3160556 996 185 0 -90 Assays Pending SJ21-31 623311 3160435 921 147 0 -50 Assays Pending SJ21-32 623138 3160586 947 167 0 -90 Assays Pending SJ21-33 623025 3160500 852 165 270 -60 Assays Pending SJ21-34 623017 3160600 850 130 270 -60 Assays Pending SJ21-35 623010 3160650 850 84 270 -60 Assays Pending SJ21-36 623200 3160000 788 95 0 -90 Assays Pending Scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lewis Teal, Senior Consultant to the Company and a 'Qualified Person' as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. The discussion related to the metallurgical program has been reviewed and approved by Steve Dixon, a Consultant to the Company and a 'Qualified Person' as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Barksdale Resources Corp. is a base metal exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. that is focused on the acquisition, exploration and advancement of highly prospective base metal projects in North America. Barksdale is currently advancing the Sunnyside copper-zinc-lead-silver and San Antonio copper projects, both of which are in the Patagonia mining district of southern Arizona, as well as the San Javier copper-gold project in central Sonora, Mexico. ON BEHALF OF BARKSDALE RESOURCES CORP Rick Trotman President, CEO and Director Rick@barksdaleresources.com Terri Anne Welyki Vice President of Communications 778-238-2333 TerriAnne@barksdaleresources.com For more information please phone 778-238-2333, email info@barksdaleresources.com or visit www.BarksdaleResources.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 news release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes "forward-looking information" under applicable securities legislation including, but not limited to, the ability of Barksdale to verify or replace historic estimates at San Javier as current resources, the proposed technical and drill program at San Javier and the timing thereof, the prospective deposits, targets and mineralization at San Javier and the anticipated receipt and timing of necessary governmental or third party approvals and permits. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on a number of estimates and assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company that, while considered reasonable, are subject to 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 information. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information is neither a promise nor guarantee, and is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, delays in obtaining governmental or third party approvals and permits, actual results of exploration activities, unanticipated geologic formations, structures and characteristics, environmental risks, future prices of base and other metals, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, and other risks in the mining industry as well as general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain and volatile equity and capital markets and lack of available capital. There are no assurances that the Company will obtain the necessary permits for and successfully complete the proposed technical and drill program at San Javier as currently contemplated or at all. In addition, there is uncertainty about the spread of COVID-19 and variants of concern and the impact they will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access mineral properties, conduct due diligence or procure equipment, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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, except as required by law. SOURCE: Barksdale Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/678010/Barksdale-Intercepts-15m-of-174-Copper-15m-of-146-Copper-and-67m-of-059-Copper-at-San-Javier-in-Sonora-Mexico WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Philadelphia-area manufacturing activity grew at a substantially slower rate in the month of December, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia revealed in a report on Friday. The Philly Fed said its diffusion index for current activity tumbled to 15.4 in December after jumping to 39.0 in November, although a positive reading still indicates growth. Economists had expected the index to slump to 30.0. With the much bigger than expected decrease, the Philly Fed Index fell to its lowest level since hitting 11.1 in December 2020. The sharp pullback by the Philly Fed index reflected significant slowdowns in the pace of growth in both new orders and shipments. The new orders index plummeted to 13.7 in December from 47.4 in November, while the shipments index plunged to 15.3 from 32.1. Meanwhile, the number of employees index climbed to 33.9 in December from 27.2 in November, indicating an acceleration in the pace of job growth. The report also showed the prices paid index slid to 66.1 in December from 80.0 in November, while the prices received index fell to 50.4 from 62.9. Looking ahead, the Philly Fed said its future general activity and new orders indexes moderated but noted surveyed firms remained generally optimistic about growth over the next six months. The diffusion index for future general activity slumped to 19.0 in December from 28.5 in November, hitting its lowest reading since February 2016. 'Manufacturers in the Philly Fed region look poised to maintain positive attitudes in 2022 as solid demand and a heavy backlog of orders keep them working in a high gear,' said Oren Klachkin, Lead U.S. Economist at Oxford Economics. 'However stubborn supply-chain blockages will limit their ability to keep up with demand.' On Wednesday, the New York Fed released a separate report 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. The uptick surprised economists, who had expected the index to pull back to 20.5. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2021 / FALCON GOLD CORP. (TSXV:FG)(GR:3FA)(OTCQB:FGLDF); ("Falcon" or the "Company") previously announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated October 20, 2021 to acquire the Viernes project located 122km SE of Antofagasta City in Northern Chile. The claims encompass 13 claim blocks covering 3,300 Ha. The western portion of the project offers prospectivity for epithermal gold veins as evidenced by outcrops of the Chile-Alemania Paleocene volcano-stratigraphic sequence, which is the same host rock at the El-Penon Gold Deposit owned by Yamana Gold. Additionally, Barrick Gold in 2015 sold a 50% stake in Zaldivar Mine for a $1.005 Billion in cash forming a partnership with Antofagasta PLC one of the worlds leading copper companies. Antofagasta has an outstanding track record of building and operating mines in Chile, the Zaldivar project is approximately 35kms NE of our claims. "We are entirely pleased to have acquired such a prominent land position in one of the richest copper producing hubs in the world. We are directly adjacent to Yamana's El-Penon Gold-Silver mine, which produces 160,000 ounces of Gold per year and 5,000,000 million ounces of silver. It's also just 30kms from the Escondida porphyry Copper-Gold-Moly cluster, operated by BHP and Rio Tinto, Barrick - Antofagasta's Zaldivar Copper Mine is 35 NE of our project and is expected to produce shortly. It's a very competitive area and near impossible to get in this camp," States Karim Rayani Chief Executive Officer. Viernes project is located at moderate elevation of approximately 2000 meters above sea-level and is 5km east of Yamana Gold's highly profitable El-Penon low sulfidation gold and silver mine, and 35kms southeast of the world class Escondida-Zaldivar copper hub. The project has year-round access via paved and gravel roads from the mining capital of Chile, known as Region II, Antofagasta. The Viernes claim block presents Falcon a tremendous opportunity to explore for potential bonanza-grade with epithermal low to intermediate sulfidation gold-silver, and porphyry copper-moly mineralization in one of south Americas greatest mineral endowed Paleocene-Eocene belts. The project is located within a world class cluster with extensive development by Yamana, BHP-Rio Tinto, Antofagasta Minerals amongst others. The property is highly prospective and is adjacent to the epithermal vein-hosted Gold-Silver producing El-Penon mine in which Viernes may host similar geochemical and structural features. Yamana's latest 43-101 complaint resources and reserves estimates published in March 2021 states total proven and probable mineral reserves of 921,000 ounces of gold and 29.2 million ounces of silver. Since the 1990's this area has produced 30.6 million tons of copper - 57 times the annual Canadian production, 9.2 million Ounces of Gold - 1.5 Times the Canadian production, 129.3 million ounces of Silver - 8.6 times the Canadian annual silver production and has generated multiple discoveries. The Definitive Agreement On October 20, 2021, the Company announced it had signed an MOU to acquire the Viernes project, this allowed the Company enough time to complete the necessary due diligence to move forward on the acquisition. The Company has agreed to make share payments over a 4-year period totaling 500,000 shares and issue 500,000 share purchase warrants. Each warrant will entitle the vendor to purchase one Falcon common share for a period of 24 months for a purchase price set on each date of issuance at 125% of the closing price of Falcon shares traded on the TSX Venture Exchange. During the 4-year option period Falcon is to make minimum expenditures on the property amounting to US $250,000. Upon completion of share payments and expenditures Falcon will hold an 80% interest and the vendors will retain 20% ownership in the property. Following which for a period of 30 months, Falcon will have the exclusive right to purchase the Vendors 20% ownership in the property (Falcon's total Ownership of 100% in the property) for a further payment of US. 1.5 million which includes a 1% NSR buy back with the Vendors retaining a 1%. Qualified Person Dr. Daniel Rubiolo, P. Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historical information on the Viernes property, particularly regarding historical exploration, neighbouring companies, and government geological work. The news indicates the exploration potential of the property but may not be representative of expected results. About Falcon Gold Corp. Falcon is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on generating, acquiring, and exploring opportunities in the Americas. Falcon's flagship project, the Central Canada Gold Mine, is approximately 20 km southeast of Agnico Eagle's Hammond Reef Gold Deposit which has currently estimated 3.32 million ounces of gold (123.5 million tonnes grading 0.84 g/t gold) mineral reserves, and 2.3 million ounces of measured and indicated mineral resources (133.4 million tonnes grading 0.54 g/t gold). The Hammond Reef gold property lies on the Hammond shear zone, which is a northeast-trending splay off the Quetico Fault Zone ("QFZ") and may be the control for the gold deposit. The Central Gold property lies on a similar major northeast-trending splay of the QFZ. The Company holds 8 additional projects. The Esperanza Gold/Silver/Copper mineral concessions located in La Rioja Province, Argentina. The Springpole West Property in the world-renowned Red Lake mining camp; a 49% interest in the Burton Gold property with Iamgold near Sudbury Ontario; and in B.C., the Spitfire-Sunny Boy, Gaspard Gold claims; and most recently the Great Burnt, Hope Brook, and Baie Verte acquisitions adjacent to First Mining, Benton-Sokoman's JV, and Marvel Discovery in Central Newfoundland. CONTACT INFORMATION: Falcon Gold Corp. "Karim Rayani" Karim Rayani Chief Executive Officer, Director Telephone: (604) 716-0551 Email: info@falcongold.ca Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, etc. 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. This news release may contain forward looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, etc. 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. 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: Falcon Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/678105/Falcon-Signs-Definitive-Option-to-Purchase-Viernes-Project--Next-to-Yamanas-El-Pen-GoldSilver-Deposit-in-Chile Cravath, Swaine Moore LLP is pleased to announce that Daniel K. Zach, a leading antitrust lawyer and former Assistant Director, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has joined the Firm as a partner. Mr. Zach will advise clients on a wide range of antitrust issues, including mergers, business practices and litigation. "Dan's experience as first-chair litigator trying groundbreaking merger cases, along with the successful relationships he has built with antitrust enforcers around the world, will enhance Cravath's ability to advise our clients in navigating today's dynamic antitrust environment," said Faiza J. Saeed, Cravath's Presiding Partner. "We are delighted to welcome him to the Firm." Mr. Zach served as Assistant Director of the FTC's Mergers I Division, which oversees the health care sector, including merger review in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, medical devices and technology. He was responsible for managing all aspects of the division's antitrust merger investigations. He earned multiple awards while at the FTC, including the Commission's Excellence in Supervision Award, the Bureau of Competition Director's Award and the Janet D. Steiger team awards for several cases. Mr. Zach received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center with honors in 2004. He received a B.A. with highest honors from the University of Notre Dame in 2001. Cravath, Swaine Moore LLP was founded in 1819 and is widely recognized as one of the world's premier law firms. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215006083/en/ Contacts: Naren Daniel Manager of PR Communications 212-474-3417 ndaniel@cravath.com Global engineering firm has over 900 employees across eight offices BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2021 / DPS Group, a privately-owned global consulting, engineering, and construction management company, serving high-tech industries around the world, celebrated its tenth anniversary in the U.S. this past year. Founded in 1974 in Dublin, Ireland, to service the country's burgeoning pharmaceutical sector, DPS Group opened its first office in the U.S. in 2011 with a staff of less than 10 based in Framingham, Massachusetts (outside of Boston). The company has since grown its U.S. presence to over 900 employees across eight offices in Albany, New York; Cary, North Carolina; Framingham, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon; Kansas City, Kansas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; and Wall Township, New Jersey. Serving high-tech industries around the world, DPS Group delivers full Engineering-Procurement-Construction Management-Validation (EPCMV) services across a range of disciplines, including project management, procurement, architectural and engineering design, construction management, health and safety management, commissioning, qualification, and validation (CQV), facility start-up and client-side technical services. "We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate 10 years in the United States," said Aidan O'Dwyer, president of U.S. project operations. "Over the past decade we've invested heavily in growing our U.S. presence. That investment has allowed us deliver world class service for our clients and has created a culture of professional satisfaction and career fulfillment for our staff." Aidan continued, "We devote a huge amount of time and effort into finding and recruiting the best people to our team and providing professional development opportunities to our employees. We partner closely with colleges and universities near our offices, providing internship opportunities and scholarships to develop the next generation of talent. Once someone joins our team we invest heavily in their professional development, always conscious of preparing them to advance to the next step of their career." DPS has evolved from its process engineering roots to deliver services across the engineering and construction value chain, including feasibility studies, architecture, procurement, construction management, CQV, and client-side technical services. "Covid-19 has been a really tough period for everyone, and DPS is fortunate to be able to play a small part in the fight against the pandemic," continued Aidan. "In the life sciences sector, DPS has supported 16 COVID-related projects ranging from vaccines and therapeutics to diagnostic tests, while in the semi-conductor sector we executed numerous projects in response to the global shortage of microchips. As a company and as human beings, we are very grateful for the opportunity to help our clients and support their vital work during this unprecedented period." The company enjoys an unrivaled reputation for innovation, ingenuity, and continuous improvement. Within the life sciences sector there has been a significant focus in recent years on designing facilities for novel therapies, including mRNA, microbiome, oligonucleotide, cell, and gene therapy. Modalities that either didn't exist or were in the very early stages of development a decade ago are now prominent and require DPS to respond to novel processes in terms of facility design, construction, regulatory compliance, and licensing requirements. In the semi-conductor sector, DPS employees design and build some of the most advanced microchip manufacturing facilities in the world. "Our people are intellectually curious and like a challenge," said Aidan. "The opportunity to deliver a new solution, design a new approach to a problem, or improve further on existing methodologies is both exciting and fulfilling." Most recently DPS-designed facilities have been recognized by the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) with two prestigious Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA). In 2019, Moderna's new clinical development manufacturing facility in Norwood, Mass. was the category winner for Facility of the Future and ElevateBio's BaseCamp project in Waltham, Mass. was the 2021 category winner for Operational Excellence. DPS as a company is dynamic, adaptable, honest, and human. In line with these core values, DPS has a commitment to their clients and deep connections to the communities they serve. Through scholarships, donation drives, financial contributions, sponsorships, and the time and effort of employees, each DPS office immerses itself in actions that support their localities. Employees are encouraged to participate in individual volunteer opportunities as part of their personal and professional development trajectories. In tandem with these efforts, DPS has implemented an official company-sponsored volunteer initiative where employees come together and spend a workday lending a hand in support of a common recipient. This year alone, the initiative has allowed DPS to contribute time and funds to organizations including Cradles to Crayons, Household Goods, Inc., Daniel's Table, Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Gift of Life Family House, Feeding America, Nourish Phoenix, Americares, Department of Children and Families, Boys and Girls Clubs, local animal shelters, and more. DPS Group has contributed to or participated in numerous charitable endeavors over the past ten years. Most recently, DPS established the Indu Conley Memorial Scholarship at Tufts University in 2021 to celebrate the legacy of Indu Conley, an industry subject matter expert and process department manager in the Boston office. "Indu was instrumental in establishing DPS in the US and its Boston office to where it is today, from a small newcomer to an industry leader," said Eddie Skillington, vice president of business development. "Indu felt very strongly about gender equality in the industry, and she was an advocate for women in pharma and the under-represented in general. We are proud to create a four-year scholarship which will support a student pursuing a degree in engineering in her memory." The School of Engineering at Tufts is committed to making an engineering education accessible to underrepresented groups and -attracting a wide array of perspectives and talents in solving the 21st century's technology and engineering challenges. "Our approach has always been to take care of our clients and serve their needs first," continued Aidan. "We are excited about the future and look forward to partnering with our clients to bring cutting-edge discoveries to market." About DPS Group DPS Group is a global engineering, consulting and project management company, serving high-tech industries around the world. DPS delivers services for clients across the complete engineering and construction value chain including feasibility studies, concepts, consulting, architecture, engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning, qualification, and validation as well as client-side technical services. DPS applies its extensive process engineering expertise built over 46 years, as well as significant Lean construction experience to assist clients in high-end process sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotech, and semiconductors to deliver manufacturing facilities speedily, safely, and cost effectively. What sets the firm apart is the partnerships it builds with clients through a fundamental understanding of their businesses and its own agility, flexibility, original thinking, and high-caliber people. DPS has grown substantially in recent years and now employs more than 2,000 people in 18 offices and on client sites in Ireland, U.K., Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Israel, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. For more information, visit www.dpsgroupglobal.com. Media Contact Susan Shelby, FSMPS, CPSM Rhino PR 978.985.4541 dps@rhinopr.com SOURCE: DPS Group - Boston View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677827/DPS-Group-Celebrates-10th-Anniversary-in-the-US Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - Palladium One Mining Inc. (TSXV: PDM) (FSE: 7N11) (OTCQB: NKORF) (the "Company" or "Palladium One") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing of 15,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company that will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (collectively, the "Flow-Through Shares") at a price of C$0.29 per Flow-Through Share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$4,350,000 (the "Offering"). The gross proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") on or before December 31, 2022 (or such other period as may be permissible under applicable tax legislation), and to renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers of the Flow-Through Shares effective on or before December 31, 2021. The Offering was made by way of private placement in Canada pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities issued under the Offering are subject to a hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws which will expire on April 17, 2022. The Offering is subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. Desjardins Capital Markets (the "Finder") acted as a finder in connection with the Offering, and Sprott Capital Partners LP and Echelon Capital Markets acted as financial advisors (the "Advisors"). In consideration for their services in connection with the Offering, the Company paid the Finder and Advisors an aggregate cash fee of $261,000 and issued to the Finder and Advisors 900,000 non-transferable common share purchase warrants of the Company (the "Compensation Warrants"). Each Compensation Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.29 per share until December 16, 2023. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. About Palladium One Palladium One Mining Inc. (TSXV: PDM) is focused on discovering environmentally and socially conscious Metals for Green Transportation. A Canadian mineral exploration and development company, Palladium One is targeting district scale, platinum-group-element (PGE)-copper-nickel deposits in leading mining jurisdictions. Its flagship project is the Lantinen Koillismaa (LK) Project in north-central Finland, which is ranked by the Fraser Institute as one of the world's top countries for mineral exploration and development. LK is a PGE-copper-nickel project that has existing Mineral Resources. PDM's second project is the 2020 Discovery of the Year Award winning Tyko Project, a high-grade sulphide, copper-nickel project located in Canada. Follow Palladium One on LinkedIn, Twitter, and at www.palladiumone.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Derrick Weyrauch" President & CEO, Director For further information contact: Derrick Weyrauch, President & CEO Email: info@palladiumoneinc.com 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. Information set forth in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in palladium and other commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume; and tax consequences to Canadian and U.S. Shareholders. All of the Company's forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions listed below. Although the Company believes that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements. The key assumptions that have been made in connection with the forward-looking statements include the following: the impact of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, and the regulatory regime governing the business of the Company. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107836 Fredericton, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - TRU Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV: TRU) (OTCQB: TRUIF) (FSE: 706) ("TRU" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated November 15, 2021, it has completed the acquisition of 100% ownership of a mineral license covering 200 hectares (the "Purchased Assets") contiguous with the Company's flagship Golden Rose Project ("Golden Rose") (Figure 1). As previously disclosed, the vendor of the Purchased Assets received $25,000 in cash and 135,000 common shares in the capital of TRU at a deemed price of $0.16 per common share as consideration. All such common shares of TRU are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from December 15, 2021. TRU has also granted the vendor a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty from any future mineral production on the Purchased Assets, of which 1.0% can be repurchased by TRU for $1,000,000. As announced on November 18, 2021, TRU identified a large horseshoe-shaped IP chargeability anomaly in the King George IV area of Golden Rose, and carried out targeted diamond drilling in the area to test this and other IP geophysical targets. The horseshoe-shaped IP anomaly is located immediately on the eastern claim boundary of the Purchased Assets and thus increases the potential prospectivity of the Purchased Assets. Figure 1: Purchased Mineral License & Recently-Staked Licenses To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5993/107835_2e5393de645c4b9e_001full.jpg The acquisition of the Purchased Assets remains subject to regulatory approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. Qualified Person Barry Greene, P.Geo. (NL) is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the contents and technical disclosures in this press release. Mr. Greene is a director and officer of the Company and owns securities of the Company. About TRU Precious Metals Corp. TRU is drilling for gold in the highly prospective Central Newfoundland Gold Belt, and has an option with a subsidiary of TSX-listed Altius Minerals Corporation to purchase 100% of the Golden Rose Project, located along the deposit-bearing Cape Ray - Valentine Lake Shear Zone. TRU also owns 100% of the Twilite Gold Project, located along the same Shear Zone, and earlier-stage properties in the region. TRU's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TRU", on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "TRUIF", and on the Frankfurt exchange under the symbol "706". TRU is a portfolio company of Resurgent Capital Corp. ("Resurgent"), a merchant bank providing venture capital markets advisory services and proprietary financing. Resurgent works with promising public and pre-public micro-capitalization companies listing on Canadian stock exchanges. For more information on Resurgent and its portfolio companies, please visit Resurgent's website at https://www.resurgentcapital.ca/ For further information about TRU, please contact: Joel Freudman Co-Founder, President & CEO TRU Precious Metals Corp. Phone: 1-855-760-2TRU (2878) Email: ir@trupreciousmetals.com Website: www.trupreciousmetals.com To connect with TRU via social media, below are links: Twitter https://twitter.com/corp_tru LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/tru-precious-metals-corp YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHghHMDQaYgS1rDHiZIeLUg/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TRU-Precious-Metals-Corp-100919195193616 Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information 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 certain forward-looking statements, including those relating to the prospectivity of the Purchased Assets, and to regulatory approval. These statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Purchased Assets and the execution and success of exploration plans that are believed by management to be reasonable in the circumstances, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Purchased Assets or at the Golden Rose Project; the exploration potential of the Purchased Assets and the nature and style of mineralization at same; risks inherent in mineral exploration activities; volatility in financial markets, economic conditions, and precious metals prices; and those other risks described in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements herein except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107835 - StoreDot has exceeded all its 2021 targets ahead of schedule and remains firmly on track for the mass production of extreme fast charging - XFC - battery cells by 2024 - StoreDot accomplishes major goal of producing silicon dominant XFC cells that charge in 10 minutes and maintain at least 80% of energy after 850 consecutive extreme fast charging cycles with an outstanding energy density of 300Wh/kg and 680 Wh/l - Significant progress in areas of StoreDot's global expansion, innovation leadership, manufacturing readiness and industry expertise - 12 allowed patents accelerating transition towards mass adoption of electric vehicles - Momentous news on StoreDot's solid-state advancements due in early 2022 HERZELIYA, Israel, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- StoreDot, the pioneer of extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles, has achieved a major landmark by being the first company to produce silicon dominant XFC cells that are capable of charging in 10 minutes and maintain 80% energy retention, or more, after 850 consecutive fast charge cycles with an outstanding energy density of 300Wh/kg and 680 Wh/l. The breakthrough milestone of 1000 consecutive XFC cycles is expected early in 2022. StoreDot's latest standout results are achieved at room temperature with zero applied pressure - concluding a remarkable year for the company that exceeded all the milestones that it had laid out, accelerating its mission to reduce charging times - currently the major barrier to electric vehicle ownership. Its achievements across the areas of global expansion, innovation leadership, manufacturing readiness and industry expertise - including a dozen of ground-breaking patents - position StoreDot at the forefront of the electrification revolution of the automotive industry. In addition to its battery cell exceptional performance, StoreDot's major achievements this year include: Global expansion: it expanded its global footprint with partnerships in China (EVE Energy), and the US (Group 14 Technologies) as well as announcing its own R&D innovation hub in California. Innovation leadership: it was allowed 12 patents including ones that rapidly increase the crucial 'miles per minute' of charging ratios, give EV batteries fixed capacity and driving range throughout their lifespan, as well as (earlier this month) allow battery cells to regenerate while they are in use. StoreDot also won Frost & Sullivan's new Product Innovation Award. Manufacturing readiness: it became the first company to reveal fast-charging 4680 cylindrical cells that can be fully-charged in 10 minutes and produce silicon-dominant extreme fast charge (XFC) cells for electric vehicles on a mass production line. Industry Expertise: it grew its senior leadership team, announcing former head of BP Ventures, David Gilmour as Executive Chairman, appointing a global advisory board as well as ramping up its US West Coast R&D facility. Dr Doron Myersdorf, StoreDot CEO: "We're delighted to conclude our best year yet by hitting all our key milestones earlier than anticipated. We will look back on 2021 as one of the years where we took significant strides forward benefiting the entire EV industry in many areas, while fostering our leadership position in the EV battery space. We are now looking towards an even busier 2022 where we continue to drive forward the adoption of EVs. We will not only build upon this year's achievements, but shortly be sharing exciting news for our upcoming solid-state cell technologies. StoreDot has a bright future where we aggressively continue to execute on our vision of giving automotive manufacturers a clear technology roadmap for a seamless and rapid transition to electrification and we continue to promote a zero-emission world for generations to come." StoreDot focuses on delivering technologies that improve driving experiences and help reduce range and charging anxiety with more miles of driving range per minute of charging. StoreDot remains committed to its targets of bringing Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) to mass production by 2024 followed by Solid State, Extreme Energy Density (XED) technology by 2028. About StoreDot: StoreDot is a pioneer and leader of extreme fast charging (XFC) batteries that overcome the critical barrier to mainstream EV adoption - range and charging anxiety. The company has revolutionized the conventional Li-ion battery by designing and synthesizing proprietary organic and inorganic compounds, making it possible to fully charge an EV in minutes - the same time it takes to refuel a conventional combustion engine vehicle. StoreDot's battery technology is optimized for best driver experience with XFC Li-ion batteries, as well as future Solid State technologies for extreme energy-density (XED). StoreDot's strategic investors include BP, Daimler, Samsung Ventures and TDK. In 2019, the company achieved a world first by demonstrating the live full charge of a two-wheeled EV in just five minutes. In 2020, the company demonstrated the scalability of its XFC batteries for other industries, by fully charging a commercial drone in five minutes in another world first. Moving XFC battery technology from the lab to a commercially-viable product for the first time, StoreDot has launched engineering samples of its XFC batteries that are designed to be manufactured at scale on traditional battery production lines. For more information see: www.store-dot.com . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1709315/StoreDot_1000_XFC_cycles.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1709316/StoreDot_Management.jpg Contact: Tom Green, Tom@influenceemobility.com AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb+" (Good) of The Bahrain National Insurance Company BSC (c) (BNI) (Bahrain). The outlook of the Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect BNI's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. BNI's balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), robust liquidity and a well-diversified investment portfolio by asset class. Offsetting factors include high reinsurance dependence. Reserve strengthening was required in 2017 and 2018 following an external actuarial review and led to the company adopting more-conservative reserving practices. AM Best expects BNI's risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at the strongest level over the medium term, despite the company's elevated exposure to equities, real estate and other unlisted securities (58% of shareholders' equity at the end of 2020), which exposes capital adequacy to potential volatility. BNI's operating performance in 2020 remained at a strong level, demonstrated by a robust combined ratio of 81.6%, compared with 106.2% in 2017, and a return on equity of 18.4%. AM Best expects the company's prospective returns to be at a similar level to 2020. BNI has a well-established franchise as one of the largest non-life insurance companies in Bahrain, where it holds a leading market position in the motor line of business. Although BNI benefits from a strong brand and good reputation locally, the company's business profile assessment is constrained by its concentration in Bahrain, which has a small insurance market that offers limited profitable growth opportunities. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005840/en/ Contacts: Anna Sheremeteva Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 4397 anna.sheremeteva@ambest.com Michael Dunckley, CFA Associate Director +44 20 7397 0276 michael.dunckley@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com SHENZHEN, CHINA, Dec 16, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Shenzhen this week hosted the 2021 Shenzhen Global Investment Promotion Conference, to attract and focus greater international investment. The Conference highlighted the development directions of Shenzhen's strategic emerging industries and those of the future as well as key industries and projects in each district, while gathering global investors and quality resources to further develop Shenzhen as a premier choice for global investment.2021 Shenzhen Global Investment Promotion Conference was hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and jointly organized by the Commerce Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Information Office of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, and Foreign Affairs Office of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government. Themed "New Era, New Journey -- Invest in Shenzhen, Build a Winning Future", the Conference was held on December 15 at Wuzhou Guest House, Shenzhen, showcasing to global investors the economic vitality, innovative impetus, city charm and investment potential.Representatives from the VP level and above from Fortune Global 500 and China's Top 500 corporations, large SOEs, leading private enterprises, listed companies, and unicorn companies were invited to participate at the Conference. Invitations also went to those in charge of international organizations such as foreign embassies and consulates in China, major business associations and others, all companies and institutions having actively signed up for the Conference. Due to the cross-border travel limits, some senior executives of multinational enterprises, international institutions and representatives of major cities extended video-linked congratulations to Shenzhen and the Conference.The Conference was organized in the format of a "1+12+N" series of events. In other words, it consisted of 1 main event, 12 district-level investment promotion conferences, and N overseas parallel sessions and industrial investment promotion activities, forming a complete series of investment promotion campaigns. In addition to the main session in Shenzhen, 12 overseas parallel sessions were staged in 12 cities across five continents, including Los Angeles, New York, Toronto and Sao Paulo in the Americas, London, Paris, and Brussels in Europe, Hong Kong and Tokyo in Asia, Sydney and Brisbane in Oceania, as well as Johannesburg, South Africa, promoting the city brand "Invest in Shenzhen, Build a Winning Future" to all parts of the world.This was the third time that Shenzhen has hosted the Global Investment Promotion Conference since 2019. At the Conference, the International Headquarters Enterprise, Investment Advisor of Shenzhen, and Outstanding Registered Enterprise were awarded, and shared in the "Shenzhen Moments" of investment promotion. A number of major projects were also signed, demonstrating the attractiveness and innovation of Shenzhen as well as the confidence of investors from around the globe in the future development of Shenzhen and its districts.Media Contact:Commerce Bureau of Shenzhen MunicipalityWang YandanE: swj@commerce.sz.gov.cnU: http://commerce.sz.gov.cnSource: Commerce Bureau of Shenzhen MunicipalityCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - New Break Resources Ltd. ("New Break" or the "Company") is pleased to release the results its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders held on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 (the "Meeting"). Results of Annual General and Special Meeting A total of 11,768,300 common shares were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting, representing 32.5% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. All directors nominated as listed in the Management Information Circular dated December 3, 2021 (the "Circular"), were re-elected, as shown in the following table below: Nominee Votes For Votes Withheld Joshua Bailey 11,768,300 100.00% - - Michael Farrant 11,768,300 100.00% - - Ashley Kirwan 11,768,300 100.00% - - C. Nigel Lees 11,748,300 99.83% 20,000 0.17% Thomas Puppendahl 11,768,300 100.00% - - Michael Skutezky 11,748,300 99.83% 20,000 0.17% At the Meeting, the shareholders of the Company also approved: The re-appointment of McGovern Hurley LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as the auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and authorized the directors to fix their remuneration; the Company's Stock Option Plan as described in the Circular; a special resolution to amend the articles of the Company to remove the share transfer restrictions contained therein; and the adoption of a new By-Law No. 1 as described in the Circular, to replace the existing By-Law No. 1. Matters Voted Upon Votes For Votes Withheld Appointment of Auditors 11,768,300 100.00% 11,768,300 100.00% Amendment to Company Articles to Remove Share Transfer Restrictions (1) 11,068,300 94.05% 700,000 5.95% Matters Voted Upon Votes For Votes Against Re-approval of the Stock Option Plan 11,068,300 94.05% 700,000 5.95% Adoption a New Company By-Law No. 1 to Replace the Existing By-Law No. 1 (1) 11,068,300 94.05% 700,000 5.95% (1) Administrative items required in connection with the Company's plans to go public in Q1 2022. About New Break Resources Ltd. New Break is a private Canadian mineral exploration and development company with a dual vision for value creation. In northern Ontario, New Break is focused on acquiring highly prospective gold projects in well-established mining camps, within proximity to existing infrastructure, while at the same time, through our prospective land holdings in Nunavut, we provide our shareholders with significant exposure to the vast potential for exploration success in one of the most up and coming regions in Canada for gold exploration and production. These complimentary visions are supported by a highly experienced team of mining professionals committed to placing a premium on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance, respecting the values and interests of all our stakeholders. For further information on New Break, please visit www.newbreakresources.ca or contact: Michael Farrant, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: 416-278-4149 mfarrant@newbreakresources.ca No stock exchange, regulation securities provider, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates 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 anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to comments regarding the timing and expectations for finalizing property agreements, timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains etc. Forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions and therefore involves inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise any forward-looking information, except as may be required by law. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's financial statements and management's discussion and analysis (the "Filings"), such Filings available upon request. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107845 27% of its sites now ISO 9001 certified in Europe 53 facilities in France ISO 9001 certified by AFNOR Certification Regulatory News: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005905/en/ Presentation of ISO 9001 certification on December 16, 2021 to 53 Korian facilities, with Nicolas Merigot, Managing Director of Korian France (left) and Julien Nizri, Managing Director of AFNOR certification (right) (Photo: Business Wire) Korian's (Paris:KORI) mission is to care for elderly and fragile people and their families, while respecting their dignity, and to contribute to their quality of life. The Group has chosen quality as the first pillar of its business plan, and as such, has embarked on a global certification process to become the first care network to obtain ISO 9001 certification for all its European sites by 2023. As part of this process, Korian has announced today that the first 53 French facilities have been certified ISO 9001 by AFNOR Certification. In total, the Group has now certified 27% of its facilities, which represents a significant increase compared to 2020 (11%), surpassing the 15% target set for 2021. "ISO 9001 certification is a demanding means of promoting consistent quality management in all aspects of a network's activity. It enables teams to be involved, to strengthen cohesion and to increase their skills. It is an extremely rich and powerful tool, both individually and collectively, which structures and strengthens our organisation," emphasises Didier Armaingaud, Medical, Ethics Quality-of-Service Director of the Korian Group. In France, the project is the culmination of two years' work: 41 nursing homes and 12 post-acute and rehabilitation care facilities and mental health clinics initially underwent a self-assessment on the management and operational processes outlined in the Group's European quality standards. From there, they defined and implemented action plans to guarantee service quality and customer satisfaction, in accordance with ISO 9001 certification requirements. They were assisted in this process by central and regional support teams covering care, quality, human resources, maintenance and safety, etc.). Finally, in October 2021, AFNOR Certification audited a sample of facilities, after having audited Korian's head office departments. Its report, which highlighted numerous strong points and a few areas for improvement, awarded these 53 facilities the initial ISO 9001 certification. Acceleration lies ahead with more than 150 new facilities committed to this process in 2022 and nearly 200 additional facilities in 2023. For the record, 100% of post-acute and rehabilitation care facilities and mental health clinics currently have A or B certification from the Haute Autorite de Sante "Based on an internal quality approach already in place, we have opted for ISO 9001 certification by recognised and impartial external bodies. This guarantees high and uniform quality standards in all our facilities. I salute our support and operational teams for their commitment to this approach, which enhances patient and resident satisfaction as well as employees' quality of life at work," emphasises Nicolas Merigot, Korian France Executive Vice-President. What is ISO 9001 certification? With more than one million certificates worldwide, ISO 9001 certification is undoubtedly the most widely used and internationally recognised management system certification. As the most widely used tool for managing a company's organisation and activities, ISO 9001 certification provides a basis for optimising a company's internal operations and controlling its activities. It demonstrates the company's ability to regularly provide a service that meets its customers' requirements as well as applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and its commitment to increase customer satisfaction. Korian France has chosen AFNOR Certification; each country within the Group has chosen its own certification body. About Korian Korian, the leading European Care Services Group for elderly and fragile people www.korian.com About AFNOR Certification AFNOR Certification is the activity of the AFNOR group, the leader in France thanks to its certification and assessment services for systems, services, products, and skills. A subsidiary of the AFNOR association, AFNOR Certification offers a local service thanks to 39 agencies on five continents and 14 regional offices in France. It mobilises 1,850 qualified auditors to meet its customers' needs at nearly 60,000 sites worldwide. AFNOR Certification runs the NF certification system and offers several signs of trustworthiness such as AFAQ certification, CSR Engaged, Diversity and Professional Equality labels. https://certification.afnor.org/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216005905/en/ Contacts: INVESTOR RELATIONS Sarah Mingham VP Investor Relations Financing sarah.mingham@korian.com Tel: +33 (0)1 55 37 53 55 Carole Alexandre Deputy Head of Investor Relations carole.alexandre@korian.com Tel: +33 (0)7 64 65 22 44 MEDIA Jean-Marc Plantade Group Communications Director jean-marc.plantade@korian.fr Tel: +33 (0)7 62 90 32 58 Cyrille Lachevre Deputy Head of Press Relations cyrille.lachevre@korian.fr Tel: +33 (0)7 61 53 54 86 Marjorie Castoriadis Head of Media Relations marjorie.castoriadis@korian.fr Tel: +33 (0)7 63 59 88 81 OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2021 / GaN Systems, the global leader in GaN (gallium nitride) power semiconductors, unveiled today customer products that will be shown at CES 2022: The world's smallest fast-charging GaN charger and chargers from Dell, Philips, Harman, and other market leaders. One of TIME's 100 Best Inventions of 2021, the Syng Alpha Cell speaker, and several high-performance audio solutions. A revolutionary design in LED lighting, Signify Philips built-in GaN driver into the LED bulb. Automotive EV on-board charger, traction inverter, DC/DC converter, power modules, and more. GaN Systems has seen acceptance beyond consumer electronics into automotive, industrial, data center, and renewable energy industries. In addition to unlocking the value of smaller, lighter, more efficient, and lower-cost power electronics, GaN has become a vital component to reducing companies' environmental impact. It is enabling them to create more energy-efficient power electronics that require fewer scarce resources and materials. Faster Charging in Miniature Sizes Consumers are demanding more from their electronics, including smaller, sleeker, higher efficiency, and faster-charging devices for their laptops, smartphones, and other devices. GaN delivers the fast-charging speeds in small, lightweight form factors that consumers want. GaN Systems will show an array of 30W to 240W chargers from leading brands and others. On display will be Greenworks' vacuum cleaner that features multiple USB charging ports. Visitors can also get a sneak peek at the world's smallest 65W GaN fast charger. Revolutionizing the Audio Experience GaN is transforming audio, helping companies launch better sounding, higher-performance, smaller, and more eye-catching audio systems. In Class-D audio, GaN is on track to become the de-facto standard. In addition to the Syng Cell Alpha wireless speaker, acknowledged for its immersive sound and innovative design, GaN Systems will showcase Orchard Audio's Starkrimson Stereo Ultra amplifier and all-in-one Starkrimson Streamer Ultra. The Streamer Ultra is a system delivering commanding sound quality and performance in a discreet package, performing the same functions that once required a rack full of components. Powering the Next Generation EVs Technological advances in electric vehicles (EVs) reduce costs and provide the increased driving range consumers demand. GaN Systems continues to support automotive companies in their e-mobility journey by delivering lighter, smaller, and significantly more efficient DC/DC converters, on-board chargers (OBC), and traction inverters. The overall increase in EV efficiency and decline in weight deliver an incremental 6% increase in driving range. GaN endorsement is accelerating across the EV platform shown by the recent announcements from GaN Systems with BMW, Vitesco Technologies, and USI. Imagining a World Without Wires Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technology is evolving, with innovations breaking through the barriers in spatial freedom, high power, high efficiency, and high frequency, enabling a new generation of genuinely wireless "drop and connect" applications. GaN Systems will highlight how GaN is embraced for wirelessly charging phones, drones, robots, and various micro-mobility applications. "The breadth of GaN-enabled products we're showing at CES clearly demonstrates how much the consumer electronics and automotive industries have embraced our GaN transistors," said Jim Witham, CEO of GaN Systems. "We take pride in knowing that this tiny semiconductor is improving our quality of life and improving the health of our planet." Visit GaN Systems at CES 2022 GaN Systems will demonstrate the latest designs and products in power supply, wireless power, audio, and automotive solutions at Tech East, Renaissance Hospitality Suites (next to the Las Vegas Convention Center). Please contact mary@triercompany.com for an editorial briefing or online to reserve an appointment with GaN Systems. About GaN Systems GaN Systems is the global leader in GaN power semiconductors with the most extensive transistors portfolio that uniquely addresses the needs of 'today's most demanding industries, including consumer electronics, data center servers, and power supplies, renewable energy systems, industrial motors, and automotive electronics. As an industry-leading innovator, GaN Systems makes it possible to design smaller, lower cost, more efficient power systems. The 'company's award-winning products provide system design opportunities free from the limitations of 'yesterday's silicon. By changing the transistor performance rules, GaN Systems enables power conversion companies to revolutionize their industries and transform the world. For more information, please visit: www.gansystems.com or on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and scan this QR code for our WeChat. Media Contact: Mary Placido Trier and Company for GaN Systems Email: mary@triercompany.com Phone: 415-623-9006 SOURCE: GaN Systems View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/678160/GaN-Systems-Showcases-Worlds-Smallest-Charger-Groundbreaking-LED-Lighting-Driver-and-One-of-TIMEs-Best-100-Inventions-at-CES-2022 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2021 / Northern Lights Resources Corp. ("Northern Lights" or the "Company") (CSE:NLR, OTCQB:NLRCF) is pleased to announce the results of the Annual General Meeting on December 7, 2021. The following resolutions were passed at the Annual General Meeting: Elected Messrs. Albert (Rick) Timcke, Jason Bahnsen, Graham Keevil, Richard Kelertas and Gordon Tainton to the board of Directors until the next Annual General Meeting; and Appointed Davidson & Company LLP as auditor for the financial year ending April 30, 2021. Subsequent to the annual meeting, the board of directors appointed the following officers: Mr. Albert (Rick) Timcke, Executive Chairman and President; Mr. Jason Bahnsen Chief Executive Officer; and Leon Ho, Chief Financial Officer For further information, please contact: Albert Timcke, Executive Chairman and President Email: rtimcke@northernlightsresources.com Tel: +1 604 608 6163 Jason Bahnsen, Chief Executive Officer Email: Jason@northernlightsresources.com Tel: +1 604 608 6163 Shawn Balaghi, Investor Relations Email: shawn@northernlightsresources.com Tel: +1 604 773 0242 About Northern Lights Resources Corp. Northern Lights Resources Corp is a growth-oriented exploration and development company that is advancing two projects: The 100% owned, Secret Pass Gold Project located in Arizona; and the Medicine Springs silver-zinc-lead Project located in Elko County Nevada where Northern Lights, in joint venture with Reyna Silver are earning 100% ownership. Northern Lights Resources is a member of the Arizona Mining Association. Northern Lights Resources trades under the ticker of "NLR" on the CSE and "NLRCF" on the OTCQB. This and other Northern Lights Resources news releases can be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.northernlightsresources.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the terms and conditions of the proposed private placement; use of funds; the business and operations of the Company after the proposed closing of the Offering. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to 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; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; and the uncertainties surrounding the mineral exploration industry. 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 disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: Northern Lights Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/678164/Results-of-Annual-General-Meeting Millicom (TIGO), a leaderin its region in Climate Change performance by CDP Millicom's efforts to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change across its Latin Americanbusinessesare a key area of focus. Luxembourg, December 16, 2021 - Millicom , a leading provider of fixed and mobile services operating under the TIGO brand in Latin America, has obtained a score of 'B' in CDP's Climate Change report for the third consecutive year. The score cements Millicom's position as a leader in Latin America in addressing the challenges posed by climate change. Moreover, Millicom's score places it above the global average and on par with the European region average. CDP(Carbon Disclosure Project) is a not-for-profit organization that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. It is recognized as the gold standard for environmental disclosure, a critical element for measuring climate action globally. Climate change is a key area of concern for Millicom's business and stakeholders. The company plans to announce Paris-aligned emissions reduction targets in the near future, recognizing and embracing its role as an agent of positive change for communities, employees and customers in Latin America. Millicom tracks its performance in managing climate risks on an ongoing basis to provide shareholders with a comprehensive analysis of its strategy for managing climate risks and opportunities. In its investments to develop state-of-the art technology to connect its markets and expand its services, Millicom contemplates how it can become more energy-efficient, and gradually decarbonize electricity consumption by relying on innovative energy sourcing models and market instruments, such as the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) it has in Panama. Last year, Millicom ran a successful pilot in Honduras to deploy solar and smart power management systems, delivering enhanced service stability and energy/fuel efficiency. These systems are expected to be rolled out in three additional country operations over the next five years. Karim Lesina, Millicom's EVP Chief External Affairs Officer, said: "At Millicom, we believe that our industry overall has an important role to play in impacting climate change. It's also a key pillar of our environmental, society and governance agenda. Our yearly CDP submission goes a long way in providing us objective and quantifiable analysis of how we perform so that our climate-related actions and decisions are data based. As we look into the future, we want to contribute in creating a business environment which is responsible and sustainable; this is a priority in connecting our communities through our digital highways." To learn more, visit Millicom's websiteor explore CDP's 2021 scores. -END- For further information, please contact: Press: Vivian Kobeh, Director Corporate Communications +1 786-628-5300 press@millicom.com (mailto:press@millicom.com) Yocasta Valdez, Group Manager Digital Media & Communications +1 305-929-5417 press@millicom.com (mailto:press@millicom.com) Investors: Michel Morin, VP Investor Relations +1 786-628-5270 investors@millicom.com (mailto:investors@millicom.com) Sarah Inmon, Director Investor Relations +1 786-628-5303 investors@millicom.com (mailto:investors@millicom.com) About Millicom Millicom. Connect with Millicom on Twitter, Instagram, Facebookand LinkedIn. Attachment Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - TNR Gold Corp. (TSXV: TNR) ("TNR", "TNR Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has arranged with its lender a new long-term investment loan in the amount of CAN $6.9 million maturing on July 31, 2023. The loan was granted under the previously established long-term investment loan facility. Other terms and conditions of the investment loan facility (as previously announced on January 15, 2019, January 5, 2016 and May 31, 2012) have not changed. The Company will repay in full the existing long-term investment loan, including all accrued interest, on the maturity date of January 31, 2022. "I am very pleased that the TNR Gold team finds the full support of our major shareholders as well as the Company's investment loan capital provider who continues to approve our business plan and long-term strategic initiatives," commented Kirill Klip, Executive Chairman of TNR. "It is clear that this decision of our investment loan capital provider is a resounding show of confidence in TNR Gold's long-term business strategy, our management team and all recent positive developments in our portfolio of assets. "We can now concentrate our efforts on building this green energy metals royalty and gold company by maximizing the value of our royalty portfolio of lithium, copper, gold and silver projects that are instrumental in the electric vehicle and green energy sectors. We believe that our royalty holdings are undervalued, and their appropriate values are not reflected in Company's share price. TNR Gold has industry interest in our assets and the Company is working on potential new strategic partnerships to provide benchmarks for the market valuations of our royalty holdings. "Our Net Profits Royalty ("NPR") holding on the Batidero I and II properties with Josemaria Resources represents future growth potential for our royalty portfolio. We are also investigating new potential acquisitions while our main focus remains on the development of the Shotgun Gold Project in Alaska. The essence of our business model is to have industry leaders like Ganfeng Lithium, McEwen Mining and Lundin Group as operators on the projects that will potentially generate royalty cash flows to contribute and develop a significant long-term value for our shareholders. "I would like to thank all our shareholders for your support and on your behalf to thank our very talented team at TNR Gold who have achieved all these remarkable milestones for our Company." Mariana Lithium NSR Royalty Holding On October 21, 2021, TNR Gold announced that, further to the Company's news release dated September 27, 2021, International Lithium Corp. ("ILC") announced the completion of the sale to Ganfeng Lithium of ILC's remaining 8.58% stake in Litio Minera Argentina S.A., the owner of the Mariana Lithium Project in Salta, Argentina. The deal included confirmation that Ganfeng's subsidiary, Litio Minera Argentina, would assume all rights or obligations that ILC had in respect of the Mariana property. TNR Gold holds a 2.0% net smelter returns ("NSR") royalty on the Mariana Lithium Project. ILC's news release issued on October 20, 2021 stated, "The Company announced on September 21, 2021 that it had contracted to sell its remaining 8.58% stake in Litio Minera Argentina S.A. and the Company's remaining rights and obligations related to the Mariana project to ILC's partner Ganfeng Lithium. The deal included confirmation that Litio Minera Argentina would assume all rights or obligations that the Company had in respect of the Mariana property. On October 4, 2021 the Company announced that it expected this sale to complete in mid-October. Completion has now taken place." Kirill Klip commented, "We are pleased with the news regarding Ganfeng Lithium, our NSR Royalty holding and advancement of the Mariana Lithium Project to construction. I am also very pleased to see that this deal between ILC and Ganfeng Lithium included confirmation that Ganfeng's subsidiary, Litio Minera Argentina, assumes all rights and obligations that ILC had in respect of the Mariana Lithium Project, including in respect to TNR Gold NSR Royalty Holding. Ganfeng Lithium has now consolidated 100% of the Mariana Lithium Project and advanced it to the construction stage. This news comes after a 55% increase in the measured and indicated resource estimate from the previously announced 2020 increase of more than 250% in measured and indicated resources at the Mariana Lithium Project. We extend our congratulations to Ganfeng and salute the people of Argentina on the successful approval of the Environmental Impact Report by the Salta regional government in Argentina and approvals for the construction of a plant with a designed annualized capacity of 20,000 tonnes per annum of lithium chloride. "We are very pleased to see that this new plan represents a 100% increase of the previously planned lithium annual production rate presented in the Mariana Project preliminary economic assessment ("PEA"), announced in our news release of January 28, 2019. It was the first PEA on the project and provided a potential value for the total NSR Royalty from Mariana's life of mine cashflow, which has now been very significantly increased. We welcome the news from the Salta regional government, following its discussions with Ganfeng, that the likely project expenditure to bring the Mariana Project to full production is approximately US$600 million. "TNR does not have to contribute any capital for the development of the Mariana Project. The 2.0% NSR Royalty on the entire Mariana Project with Ganfeng Lithium is an important part of TNR Gold's portfolio, (TNR holds a 0.2% NSR on behalf of a shareholder). The essence of our business model is to have industry leaders like Ganfeng Lithium as operators on the projects that will potentially generate royalty cashflows to contribute significant value for our shareholders." The ILC press releases and website material appear to be prepared by Qualified Persons and the procedures, methodology and key assumptions disclosed therein are those adopted and consistently applied in the mining industry, but no Qualified Person engaged by TNR has done sufficient work to analyze, interpret, classify or verify ILC's information to determine the current mineral resource or other information referred to in its press releases. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned in placing any reliance on the disclosures therein. Los Azules Copper, Gold and Silver NSR Royalty Holding On November 10, 2021, TNR announced that, further to the Company's news release dated October 4, 2021, McEwen Copper Inc. ("McEwen Copper") is advancing its work program at the Los Azules Copper Project in Argentina. The news release issued by McEwen Mining Inc. on November 3, 2021, stated, "Activity at McEwen Copper's Los Azules project is moving ahead quickly. The exploration road has been reopened, three work camp sites have been established, an expanded local labor force and preparations are underway for starting a 10-drill, 174,000-foot (53,000 m) drilling program. Drilling will focus on conversion of Inferred mineral resources to the Indicated category, as well as deeper exploration targets, where drilling ended in strong copper mineralization. Drills are expected to turn towards the end of November and continue through the end of Q2 2022. "Construction of the new access road for providing the necessary year-round access to the project is advancing as planned. As part of our ongoing involvement with local communities and businesses, local contractors are being sourced for the construction. "The contract for delivery of a pre-feasibility study (PFS) is at the tender stage and work is expected to begin in Q4. Whittle Consulting has been engaged to assist in identifying opportunities to improve the project that will be investigated during the PFS preparation." "We are very pleased to see this very exciting and significant development for the Los Azules Copper Project and continued support by Rob McEwen of the newly created McEwen Copper," stated Kirill Klip. "It's encouraging to see the start of a major drilling program on this giant copper, gold and silver project. The personal commitment from Rob McEwen and his investment of US$40 million enables the rapid advancement for this major deposit to this new phase of development in an appropriate corporate structure which will allow financing and further stages of development of Los Azules. "TNR Gold holds a 0.4% NSR royalty on the entire Los Azules Copper Project (TNR holds a 0.04% on behalf of a shareholder). TNR Gold does not have to contribute any capital for the development of Los Azules. The essence of our business model is to have industry leaders like McEwen Mining as operators on the projects that will potentially generate royalty cashflows to contribute significant value for our shareholders." Batidero I and II Net Profits Royalty Holding TNR Gold holds a 7% NPR holding on Batidero I and II properties with Josemaria Resources Inc. Josemaria Resources is part of the Lundin Group, a portfolio of companies producing a variety of commodities in over 20 countries worldwide unified by a singular viewpoint: creating long-term value for shareholders. ABOUT TNR GOLD CORP. TNR Gold Corp. is working to become the green energy metals royalty and gold company. Over the past twenty-five years, TNR, through its lead generator business model, has been successful in generating high-quality exploration projects around the globe. With the Company's expertise, resources and industry network, it identified the potential of the Los Azules Copper Project in Argentina and now holds a 0.4% NSR Royalty on the project, which is being developed by McEwen Mining Inc, (TNR holds a 0.04% NSR on behalf of a shareholder). In 2009, TNR founded International Lithium Corp. ("ILC"), a green energy metals company that was made public through the spin-out of TNR's energy metals portfolio in 2011. ILC held interests in lithium projects in Argentina, Ireland and Canada. TNR retains a 2.0% NSR Royalty on the Mariana Lithium Project in Argentina with Ganfeng Lithium, (TNR holds a 0.2% NSR on behalf of a shareholder). Ganfeng's subsidiary, Litio Minera Argentina, has a right to repurchase 1.0% of the NSR Royalty on the Mariana Project, of which 0.9% relates to the Company's NSR Royalty interest. The Company would receive $900,000 on the completion of the repurchase. The project is currently being advanced by Ganfeng Lithium International Co. Ltd. TNR holds a 7% NPR holding on the Batidero I and II properties with Josemaria Resources Inc. Josemaria Resources is part of the Lundin Group, a portfolio of companies producing a variety of commodities in over 20 countries worldwide. TNR provides significant exposure to gold through its 90% holding in the Shotgun Gold porphyry project in Alaska. The project is located in Southwestern Alaska near the Donlin Gold project, which is being developed by Barrick Gold and Novagold Resources Inc. The Company's strategy with Shotgun Gold Project is to attract a joint venture partnership with one of the gold major mining companies. The Company is actively introducing the project to interested parties. At its core, TNR provides significant exposure to gold, copper, silver and lithium through its holdings in Alaska (the Shotgun Gold porphyry project) and Argentina (the Los Azules Copper and the Mariana Lithium projects) and is committed to the continued generation of in-demand projects, while diversifying its markets and building shareholder value. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Kirill Klip Executive Chairman www.tnrgoldcorp.com For further information concerning this news release please contact +1 604-229-8129 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 Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "will", "could" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "could" occur, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements made in relation to: TNR's corporate objectives, changes in share capital, market conditions for energy commodities, the results of McEwen Mining's, Ganfeng Lithium's and Josemaria Resources' PEAs, and improvements in the financial performance of the Company. Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled "Risks" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's interim and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. While management believes that the assumptions made and reflected in this news release are reasonable, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. In particular, there can be no assurance that: TNR will be able to repay its loans or complete any further royalty acquisitions or sales; debt or other financing will be available to TNR; or that TNR will be able to achieve any of its corporate objectives. TNR relies on the confirmation of its ownership for mining claims from the appropriate government agencies when paying rental payments for such mining claims requested by these agencies. There could be a risk in the future of the changing internal policies of such government agencies or risk related to the third parties challenging in the future the ownership of such mining claims. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements included herein are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied on. In formulating the forward-looking statements contained herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting TNR and its royalty partners, McEwen Mining Inc., Ganfeng Lithium and Josemaria Resources will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information herein and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107858 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - Mountain Boy Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: MTB) (OTCQB: MBYMF) (FSE: M9UA) ("Mountain Boy" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to C$1,000,000 from the sale of up to 5,882,353 flow-through units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of C$0.17 per FT Unit (the "Offering Price"). Red Cloud Securities Inc. will be acting as a finder in connection with the Offering. Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.26 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for the exploration of the Company's projects in the prolific Golden Triangle of northern British Colombia. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Shares will be used for "Canadian Exploration Expenses" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2021 to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares. If the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each subscriber of FT Units for any additional taxes payable by such subscriber as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures. The closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the TSX Venture Exchange. Finder's fees will be payable in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The FT Shares, Warrant Shares and any common shares of the Company that are issuable from any finder's warrants will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day following the closing date of the Offering in accordance with applicable securities laws. The securities offered 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 U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction. About Mountain Boy Minerals Mountain Boy has six active projects spanning 604 square kilometres (60,398 hectares) in the prolific Golden Triangle of northern British Columbia. The American Creek project is centered on the historic Mountain Boy silver mine and is just north of the past producing Red Cliff gold and copper mine (in which the Company holds an interest). The American Creek project is road accessible and 20 km from the deep-water port of Stewart. On the BA property, 182 drill holes have outlined a substantial zone of silver-lead-zinc mineralization located 4 km from the highway. Surprise Creek is interpreted to be hosted by the same prospective stratigraphy as the BA property and hosts multiple occurrences of silver, gold and base metals. On the Theia project, work by Mountain Boy and previous explorers has outlined a silver bearing mineralized trend 500 metres long, highlighted by a 2020 grab sample that returned 39 kg per tonne silver (1,100 ounces per ton). Southmore is located in the midst of some of the largest deposits in the Golden Triangle. It was explored in the 1980s through the early 1990s, and was overlooked until Mountain Boy consolidated the property and confirmed the presence of multiple occurrences of gold, copper, lead and zinc. The Telegraph project has a similar geological setting to major gold and copper-gold deposits in the Golden Triangle. The MTB geological team assembled the results of work spanning several decades by more than 50 companies, each working on small target areas. The technical disclosure in this release has been read and approved by Andrew Wilkins, B.Sc., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43- 101. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Lawrence Roulston President & CEO For further information, contact: Fraser Ruth Investor Relations (416) 274-3195 Kirsti Mattson Corporate Communications/Media Relations (778) 434-2241 NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107870 Enhances financial optionality to progress towards a pre-feasibility study while targeting new areas of nickel-copper mineralization to establish 'district' status Tamarack, Minnesota and Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - Talon Metals Corp. (TSX: TLO) ("Talon" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project ("Tamarack Nickel Project"), located in central Minnesota. "Over the last year, our in-house team and drilling assets consistently delivered high-grade nickel-copper mineralization at the Tamarack Nickel Project," said Brian Goldner, Vice President of Exploration for Talon. "For 2022, we plan to be focussed on progressing the Tamarack Nickel Project towards completion of a pre-feasibility study, while continuing to find new nickel rich areas along the Tamarack Intrusive Complex, with the goal of showing that Tamarack has 'district' scale potential." Talon has built an in-house team of drillers, geologists, and geophysicists that are all employed by the Company and focussed solely on the Tamarack Nickel Project. The in-house team has the necessary tools to efficiently collect and interpret data and then rapidly test each new exploration hypothesis. These include LF-90 diamond core drill rigs, Bore Hole Electromagnetic (geophysics) survey tooling, Surface Electromagnetic (geophysics) survey tooling, and the recently added Cross-Hole Tomography geophysical equipment. Talon's multidisciplinary team has been able to significantly reduce the cost of exploration below what would be expected from a traditional exploration program, while simultaneously finding new high-grade massive sulphide mineralization. In 2022, in addition to an aggressive infill drill program to progress the Tamarack Nickel Project towards its pre-feasibility study, the Talon team will also turn its focus to a larger area of the Tamarack Intrusive Complex with the singular objective to find additional economically viable nickel and copper massive sulphide mineralization to demonstrate that Tamarack is a nickel-copper 'district'. Talon intends on expanding the exploration within three areas of high priority in 2022 that are marked by high-grade assays: 264 Zone: Drill hole 18TK0264 intersected 0.25 meters of massive sulphide grading 9.95% Ni, 5.74% Cu at 539.04 meters depth approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) northwest of the Tamarack Zone (Resource Area) (see Figure 1); Drill hole 18TK0264 intersected at 539.04 meters depth approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) northwest of the Tamarack Zone (Resource Area) (see Figure 1); 221 Zone: Drill Hole 15TK0229 intersected 9.88 meters of nickel-copper mineralization grading 2.35% Ni, 1.40% Cu (3.04% NiEq) starting at 693.79 meters, including 1.63 meters of massive sulphide grading 9.33% Ni, 5.14% Cu at 702.04 meters depth approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) northeast of the Tamarack Zone (Resource Area) (see Figure 1); and Drill Hole 15TK0229 intersected starting at 693.79 meters, at 702.04 meters depth approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) northeast of the Tamarack Zone (Resource Area) (see Figure 1); and 164 Zone: Drill Hole 12TK0164 intersected 2.89 meters of massive sulphide grading 3.67% Ni; 1.97% Cu at 473.43 meters depth approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) south of the Tamarack Zone (Resource Area) (see Figure 1). During the first half of 2022, Talon expects to finish exploration drilling around the margins of the Tamarack Zone (Resource Area), while the geophysics team conducts further electromagnetic surveying and the new Cross-Hole Tomography imaging to refine the targets listed above. Thereafter, drill rigs will be deployed in the subsequent months to drill the massive sulphide targets. Talon has demonstrated that successfully located new zones of massive sulphides at the Tamarack Nickel Project requires an iterative process of geophysical surveying followed by precision drilling of the targets integrated with other supporting data. This allows small zones of high-grade massive sulphides to be traced to large bodies of nickel and copper rich mineralization. Talon will continue to use its low-cost exploration techniques and in-house team with the objective of finding the next nickel-copper resource in the Tamarack Intrusive Complex. Figure 1: Locations of exploration focus in 2022 along the Tamarack Intrusive Complex To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2443/107855_53d9610c64d9d819_001full.jpg Corporate Update Talon is pleased to announce that it has established an at-the-market equity program (the "ATM Program") that allows the Company to issue and sell up to C$25 million of common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") from treasury to the public from time to time, at the Company's discretion. "The US government and US auto leaders are prioritizing the domestic EV battery supply chain as a matter of national priority. In our conversations with US officials and potential customers in the EV battery supply chain, it is clear that there is strong interest in additional domestic supply for battery grade nickel," said Sean Werger, President of Talon. "The Talon exploration team has shown that the Tamarack Intrusive Complex has the potential to be a crucial source of carbon neutral domestic nickel for US battery manufacturing. Today's announcement that we have established an ATM Program provides us with additional capital raising flexibility to ensure that we have the resources to meet the US battery priority." Any Common Shares issued pursuant to the ATM Program will be sold through the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") or any other "marketplace" as defined under applicable securities laws, at the prevailing market price at the time of sale and, as such, prices may vary among purchasers during the period of the ATM Program. Sales under the ATM Program will be commenced at the Company's discretion, and the net proceeds of any sales of Common Shares under the ATM Program, if any, will be used for general corporate purposes and working capital needs. Distributions of the Common Shares through the ATM Program will be made pursuant to the terms of an equity distribution agreement (the "Distribution Agreement") dated December 16, 2021 entered into among TD Securities Inc., BMO Capital Markets, Paradigm Capital Inc. and Sprott Capital Partners LP, as agents (collectively, the "Agents") and the Company. The volume and timing of distributions under the ATM Program, if any, will be determined at the Company's sole discretion. The Company is not obligated to make any sales of Common Shares under the ATM Program. The ATM Program will be effective until the earlier of the issuance and sale of all of the Common Shares issuable pursuant to the ATM Program and December 31, 2022, unless terminated prior to such date by the Company or the Agents in accordance with the Distribution Agreement. The ATM Program is being established pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 16, 2021 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated December 7, 2021 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus") filed with the securities commissions in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus, and the Distribution Agreement are available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Alternatively, the Agents will send copies of such documents to investors upon request by contacting: (i) TD Securities Inc., attn: Symcor, NPM, 1625 Tech Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5P5 or by email at sdcconfirms@td.com or by phone at 289-360-2009; or (ii) BMO Capital Markets, Brampton Distribution Centre C/O The Data Group of Companies, 9195 Torbram Road, Brampton, Ontario, L6S 6H2 or by telephone at (905) 791-3151 Ext 4312 or by email at torbramwarehouse@datagroup.com. The ATM Program remains subject to final acceptance by the TSX. The Common Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the Common Shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSONS Please see the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) #3 of the Tamarack North Project - Tamarack, Minnesota" with an effective date of January 8, 2021 prepared by independent "Qualified Persons" (as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Leslie Correia (Pr. Eng), Andre-Francois Gravel (P. Eng.), Tim Fletcher (P. Eng.), Daniel Gagnon (P. Eng.), David Ritchie (P. Eng.), Oliver Peters (P. Eng.), Volodymyr Liskovych (P.Eng.), Andrea Martin (P. E.) and Brian Thomas (P. Geo.) for information on the QA/QC, analytical and testing procedures at the Tamarack Nickel Project. Copies are available on the Company's website ( www.talonmetals.com ) or on SEDAR at ( www.sedar.com ). The laboratory used is ALS Minerals who is independent of the Company. Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be consistently calculated for comparison purposes between holes because of the irregular shapes of the mineralized zones. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Talon. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Talon. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company. The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate. Dr. Etienne Dinel, Vice President, Geology of Talon, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Dr. Dinel is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, and he has reviewed, approved and verified the technical information disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information. ABOUT TALON Talon is a TSX-listed base metals company in a joint venture with Rio Tinto on the high-grade Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in central Minnesota. Talon has an earn-in to acquire up to 60% of the Tamarack Nickel Project. The Tamarack Nickel Project comprises a large land position (18km of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts outside the current resource area. Talon is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel mineralization resource prepared in accordance with NI 43-101; identifying additional high-grade nickel mineralization; and developing a responsible processing capability in the United States. Talon has a well-qualified exploration and mine management team with extensive experience in project management. For additional information on Talon, please visit the Company's website at www.talonmetals.com / Media Contact: Todd Malan 1-(202)-714-8187 malan@talonmetals.com Investor Contact: Sean Werger 1-(416)-361-9636 x102 werger@talonmetals.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to progressing a pre-feasibility study on the Tamarack Nickel Project; strategies in respect of exploration programs; potential discoveries of additional economically viable nickel and copper massive sulphide mineralization; the timing and results of the exploration program, including assay results, grades, geophysical results and drilling plans; an increase to the size and extent of the known nickel and copper mineral resource; the timing and results of a new resource estimate; the Tamarack Intrusive Complex having the potential to be a crucial source of carbon neutral domestic nickel for US battery manufacturing, and other statements relating to the EV battery supply chain in the US; issuances of Common Shares under the ATM Program; the use of proceeds, if any, raised from the ATM Program; and the final acceptance by the TSX of the ATM Program. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks outlined in the Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference therein. Even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Not for dissemination in the United States or to U.S. newswire services To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107855 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - Radio Fuels Energy Corp. (formerly, Mainstream Minerals Corporation) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated September 14, 2021, the Company has acquired (the "Transaction") all of the issued and outstanding shares of Radio Fuels Resources Corp. ("Radio Fuels"), pursuant to the terms of a share purchase agreement dated September 14, 2021, entered into between the Company, Radio Fuels shareholders of Radio Fuels (collectively, the "Vendors"). Radio Fuels' sole asset is a 100% interest in certain mineral claims and leases located in the Mining District of Sault St. Marie, Ontario. As consideration for the Transaction, the Company issued an aggregate of 58,823,529 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Consideration Shares") to the Vendors at a deemed price of $0.34 per Consideration Share. The securities issued in connection with the Transaction will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Management of the Resulting Issuer In connection with the completion of the Transaction, other than Arvin Ramos, who will continue to be the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, the current board of directors and management of the Company resigned, and as a result, the following persons were appointed, in the capacities listed below. Brief biographies of the current management team are as follows: Cejay Kim, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director - Mr. Kim is the Chief Business Officer of GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. He previously served as Chief Investment Officer of Palisade Global Investments and in a senior capacity at ReQuest Equities, a merchant bank in the junior resource sector supported by the KCR Fund, a $100 million resource fund. Mr. Kim holds a BA in Economics (2005) from the University of Calgary, an MBA in Global Asset and Wealth Management from Simon Fraser. Jack Campbell, Chairman and Director - Mr. Campbell participated as an investor in the uranium cycle of the early 2000s. Subsequently, he worked as the Head of Corporate Communications for Concentric Energy, which was acquired by Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC) in 2011. He brings over 15 years of experience in the financial analysis of public companies within the mineral resource sector. Mr. Campbell is a Professional Engineer and holds a B.Sc. (2005) from the University of Maryland. Denis Laviolette, Director - Mr. Laviolette is the Executive Chairman and President of GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. and President of New Found Gold Corp. Mr. Laviolette has over 10 years of experience in exploration, mine operations, and capital markets. Mr. Laviolette has previously worked as a Mining Analyst with Pinetree Capital Ltd., and subsequently served as Mining Analyst and VP of Corporate Development for ThreeD Capital Inc. He is also a Director of Xtra-Gold Resources Corp., New Found Gold Corp., and Nevada King Gold Corp. Mr. Laviolette has a BSc Earth Sciences (Geology) (2009) from Brock University. In addition, further to its press release of December 15, 2021, has acquired an additional mining property in the District of Algoma, Elliot Lake, Ontario (the "Acquisition") from 2362516 Ontario Inc. (the "Vendor") pursuant to a mining claim acquisition agreement dated December 14, 2021, entered into between the Company and the Vendor. As consideration for the Acquisition, the Company issued 2,000,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") in the capital of the Company to the Vendor. The Common Shares issued pursuant to the Acquisition will be subject to a regulatory four month hold period. For further information, please contact: Cejay Kim President & Chief Executive Officer Tel: (778) 886-1826 Email: cejay.kim@gmail.com 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 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/107868 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2021) - StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF) ("StraightUp" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Rod Husband as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Husband is an accomplished entrepreneur and economic geologist with over thirty years of experience in the international commodity and finance sectors and has served as director and officer of several Canadian public companies. Mr. Husband holds a Geology degree, is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia and has raised over $150 million dollars for the exploration and development of multiple companies. Commentary StraightUp's President and Director, Mark Brezer says, "We are excited to have Mr. Husband's calibre of leadership and operational experience on board, especially during this phase of the Company's growth and expansion into international markets. This appointment strengthens management and brings a new layer of expertise to the team. Of further importance to the Company is the recent news of our neighbours, Great Bear Resources Ltd., is potentially being acquired by Kinross Gold Corporation for well over a billion dollars. Our commitment to adding shareholder value remains our primary focus alongside of continued exploration into next year." About StraightUp Resources StraightUp is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Canada. Its objective is to locate and develop economic, precious and base metal properties of merit. StraightUp intends to conduct exploration on the RLX North, RLX South, Belanger and the Ferdinand Gold Property, all located in the Red Lake Mining Division, as well as the recently acquired Bear Head Gold Project, located within the Meen-Dempster Greenstone Belt of the Uchi Subprovince, approximately 80 km west of the Pickle Lake Gold Camp. The Company's recently acquired West Cat Mine includes an Unpatented Mining Claim on federal land, located in the Historic Beatty Mountain Nevada Mining District / Nye County, Nevada, about 15 km east of U.S. Route 95, approximately 20 km from Beatty, Nevada, at the base of the Bare Mountain Range. For more information, visit: www.StraightUpResources.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors Mark Brezer, President and Director For further information, please contact: Mark Brezer President and Director (604) 989-6275 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. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107869 AM Best has downgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to "bb" (Fair) from "bb+" (Fair) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) of Al-Sagr National Insurance Company P.S.C. (ASNIC) (United Arab Emirates). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) has been revised to negative from stable. The ratings reflect ASNIC's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management. The Long-Term ICR downgrade reflects the ongoing erosion of ASNIC's capital base following an AED 39.2 million net loss for the nine-month period ended 30 September 2021. At the end of third-quarter 2021, ASNIC reported capital and surplus of AED 281.1 million a 12% decline from year-end 2020. This follows declines in the company's capital position in 2019 and 2020. At the end of third-quarter 2021, ASNIC held regulatory capital equal to 111% of its solvency requirement. AM Best expects this to fall to under 105% by year-end 2021, presenting an elevated risk of breaching regulatory solvency. The company's risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), is expected to deteriorate at year-end 2021, albeit remaining narrowly at the very strong level. The Long-Term ICR downgrade also considers ASNIC's increased financial leverage as a result of its overdraft increasing by AED 90.8 million to reach AED 138.2 million at the end of third-quarter 2021; ASNIC has required support from its overdraft facilities to manage the elevated claims experience. The company's investment portfolio has a high concentration of volatile domestic real estate and equity assets. The negative outlooks reflect the potential for further weakening in balance sheet strength metrics, due to the potential for further operating and/or investment losses. ASNIC has a track record of adequate operating performance over recent years, evidenced by a five-year (2016-2020) average combined ratio of 95.8%. However, volatile investment results and finance costs to service the overdraft facility have weighed on overall earnings and the company has achieved only a moderate five-year average (2016-2020) return-on-equity ratio of 3.3%. Operating results deteriorated significantly in 2021, with a net loss of AED 39.2 million for the nine-month period, driven by underwriting losses on motor business and a share in net losses of an associate, Al Sagr Co-operative Insurance Co. ASNIC has a modest business profile as a midtier insurer in the UAE market, generating gross written premiums of AED 525.5 million in 2020. There is some product diversification, but the company's primary focus is on the motor and medical lines of business. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216006163/en/ Contacts: Algirdas Karvelis Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 0285 algirdas.karvelis@ambest.com Michael Dunckley Associate Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0276 michael.dunckley@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2021 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of a new interviews with Logiq, Hill Street, and Lithium Chile 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. Logiq (NEO:LGIQ) completes transfer of AppLogiq assets into publicly-traded subsidiary Logiq (LGIQ) has finalized the terms of its agreement with Lovarra to transfer Logiq's AppLogiq assets into Lovarra. The agreement supports Logiq's plans to separate its DataLogiq and AppLogiq businesses into two independent publicly traded companies. Logiq is also applying to FINRA to change the name of Lovarra to GoLogiq and obtain a new trading symbol. Eligible Logiq shareholders will receive shares in Lovarra/GoLogiq on or about June 30, 2022. Brent Suen, President of Logiq sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the news. For the full interview with Loqic, click here. Hill Street (TSXV:BEER) provides business update one year after acquiring the usage rights to DehydraTECH It has been one year since Hill Street's acquisition of the usage rights to DehydraTECH. The acquisition has fueled a 129 per cent increase in gross profit for the quarter and a 13 per cent increase in profit margin over fiscal 2020. The B2B licensing model does not require the levels of product inventory and working capital investment required to operate its legacy beverage business. Craig Binkley, Co-CEO of Hill Street, sat down with Caroline Egan to provide an update. For the full interview with Hill Street, click here. Lithium Chile (TSXV:LITH) completes production test well preparation on the Salar De Arizaro Property Lithium Chile (LITH) has completed the preparation of the production test well on its 23,300-hectare Salar de Arizaro Property in Salta, Argentina. The Arizaro prospect is a potentially transformational project for Lithium Chile. The earlier exploration hole, located 100 meters east of the production test well, returned average lithium grades of 850 mg/l over 6 separate samples. Steve Cochrane, CEO of Lithium Chile sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the news. For the full interview with Lithium Chile, 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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Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. 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/678208/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-Logiq-Hill-Street-and-Lithium-Chile Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is to acquire AFD.TECH, an independent network services company specializing in network engineering, operations and business services. The financial terms of the deal which requires prior consultation with the relevant works councils and would be subject to customary closing conditions were not disclosed. The transaction would enhance Accentures ability to drive comprehensive transformation across core network, edge and next generation networks including 5G and fiber in Europe. 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. Founded in 1998 by Jerome Picard, co-founder and CEO, 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 follows Accentures acquisition of Arca last November and of umlaut in October 2021. FinSMEs 16/12/2021 Anchorage Digital, a San Francisco, CA-based digital asset platform for institutions, closed a $350m Series D funding round. The round, which valued Anchorage at over $3 billion, was led by KKR with participation from 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. The company intends to use the funds to enhance its infrastructure solutions, specifically for global financial firms and fintech innovators, 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. Led by Diogo Monica, President and Co-Founder, Anchorage Digital is an advanced digital asset platform for investors. From custody and trading to staking, governance, and financing, the company offers a full range of crypto-native financial solutions that are compliant, built to adapt to 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. FinSMEs 16/12/2021 Manav Gupta, Brinc founder and CEO, with Yat Siu, the executive chairman and co-founder of Animoca Brands. Brinc, a Hong Kong-based global venture accelerator, closed its US$130M funding. This includes: US$30m Series B fundraise and a further US$100m for startup investments, led by Hong Kong company Animoca Brands, an investor in NFT-centric and Web 3.0 companies. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate global platform expansion across new locations and verticals allowing more investors and corporate partners to leverage funds, accelerators and bespoke-deal sourcing to access high-quality investment opportunities and emerging technologies in food, health, energy, climate and deep tech. In addition, the capital will enable Brincs expansion into Web 3.0 including the launch of new blockchain-focused accelerator programs across culture, music, art, collectibles, gaming, decentralized finance and data. Startups and corporates will also be supported in developing blockchain ventures to integrate sustainability, inclusion and equitability into their business models. This investment represents a strengthening of the growing relationship between Brinc and Animoca Brands, who jointly launched the blockchain and NFT accelerator Launchpad Luna earlier this year. Its first cohort is in the process of closing investments into 30 game-changing Web 3.0 companies, supporting founders with tokenization, product development and fundraising. The programs panel of mentors and experts boasts leading names in the blockchain industry, including Binance, Dapper Labs, Enjin, The Sandbox and more. Next year, Brinc and Animoca Brands plan to accelerate over 100 companies through LaunchPad Luna. Launched in 2014 by Manav Gupta, CEO, Brinc is a leader in global venture acceleration, operating 18 multidisciplinary accelerator programs in 7 countries. Brinc accelerates startups focused on Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, connected hardware, drones, robotics, clean energy and food technology all within a sustainability mandate. The firm has invested in and supported the growth of more than 200 startups to date, and currently operates 18 multi-disciplinary acceleration programs across seven offices around the world. Global corporations (Manulife, Huawei, Schneider Electric, Puma, Batelco, Merck, Omantel, Linrun Group, Zhihui Park), Government Organizations (Hong Kong Science Park, NEOM, MBRIF, Guangdong Soft-tech Park), Universities (HK City University, National University of Singapore) and leading venture funds (Artesian, LeverVC, Tamkeen, EDB) have all run programs with Brinc over the years. In 2020, Gupta announced Brincs mission to invest in more than 1,000 startups that are developing solutions to combat climate change and build a more inclusive and equitable society within the next five years. In 2021, Brinc launched BrincArtesian, a Singapore fund manager, to provide LPs access to emerging market Series A+ co-investment opportunities. FinSMEs 16/12/2021 Continual, a San Francisco, CA-based company building a next-generation AI platform for the modern data stack, announces its public beta launch with $4m in seed funding. The round was led by Amplify Partners, with participation from Illuminate Ventures, Essence, Wayfinder, and Data Community Fund. The company intends to use the funds to grow its team over the next year with new hires for sales and engineering roles, expand into new AI/ML use cases such as NLP, realtime, and personalization, and broaden support for additional cloud data platforms. Led by CEO Tristan Zajonc and CTO Tyler Kohn, Continual enables modern data and analytics teams to build continually improving machine learning models directly on their cloud data warehouse without complex engineering. The company is offering a 14-day trial with its open beta release, enhancements for dbt users, and support for Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery, and Databricks. FinSMEs 16/12/2021 eLeapPower, a Toronto, CA-based maker of a smart inverter system for electric vehicles, raised $21m CAD in Series A funding. The round was led by a consortium of pension funds and BDC Capitals Cleantech Practice. The company intends to use the funds to open an engineering center in Shenzhen, China, and use its technologies across a broader range of commercial and passenger electric vehicles. Led by Russell Pullan, CEO, eLeapPower has developed a suite of over 50 patented technologies working across all manufacturers, vehicle types, motors, and batteries, eliminating the need for on-board chargers and lowering manufacturing costs. The companys portfolio of technologies includes wireless charging that allows for alignment of charging fields without requiring either the vehicle or charging plates to physically re-align. eLeapPower works closely with research institutes, utilities, logistics companies and Tier1 automotive parts suppliers to electrify commercial fleets and passenger vehicles. Its initial contract is with a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in China that will use its smart inverter technology to drive its line of fully electric commercial fleet vehicles. FinSMEs 16/12/2021 Noname Security, a Palo Alto, CA-based API security company, secured $135m in Series C funding at a $1 Billion valuation. The round was led by Georgian and Lightspeed, with participation from existing investors including Insight Partners, Cyberstarts, Next47, Forgepoint, and The Syndicate Group (TSG). The company intends to use the funds for the global expansion of its go-to-market and R&D teams. Led by Oz Golan, co-founder and CEO, Noname Security is an API security company which covers the entire API security scope across three pillars Posture Management, Runtime Security, and Secure API SDLC. The company, which has offices in Tel Aviv and London, counts among its customers pharmaceutical firms, large retailers and telecoms. The company grown its workforce to more than 200 employees worldwide. FinSMEs 15/12/2021 Parallel Learning, a NYC-based digital health company that provides psychoeducational services to families, educators and students dealing with learning and thinking differences, raised $2.8M in funding to date. The funding was led by Eric Reiner and Dan Povitsky of Vine Ventures, with participation from Global Founders Capital, Great Oaks and social media influencers Josh Richards, Griffin Johnson and Noah Beck of Gen Z-focused venture capital fund Animal Capital, among others. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its growth by expanding nationwide, increasing access to special education services for students across the country. Led by Diana Heldfond, Founder and CEO, Parallel Learning provides cross-disciplinary support services to diagnose, teach and empower students with learning and thinking differences directly to families and to school districts on a contractual basis. The company employs licensed psychologists, learning specialists, occupational therapists and more in each state and matches students with providers based on their referral concern and desired services. The digital health company worked with prominent research institutions and testing publishers including Riverside to develop its American Psychological Association (APA)-compliant evaluation platform. FinSMEs 16/12/2021 6 Key Moments from Flaglers First Baccalaureate A new tradition is unfolding for Flagler College seniors. This year, graduating seniors enjoyed the first Baccalaureate ceremony, followed by a Senior Celebration. The Baccalaureate reception allowed seniors to celebrate their achievements with the professors and faculty members who aided in their success during their time at the college. Keynote speaker Professor Sandra Gehring addresses the crowd at Baccalaureate. Here are the six key moments from Baccalaureate 2021. #1 President Delaney's Well Wishes Flagler College President John Delaney took the stage to deliver his congratulations and praise our seniors for their resilience and determination. From rewarding friendships to character-shaping challenges, President Delaney took a moment to acknowledge the once-in-a-lifetime experience provided at the college. #2 Professor Sandra Gehring's Exceptional Keynote Speech The senior class selected Professor Sandra Gehring, visiting lecturer, public speaking coordinator, to give the keynote speech at the reception. Professor Gehring, who shared she was honored to stand before the graduating class, gave a heartfelt and motivational speech infused with humor, wit, and encouragement. Professor Gehring opened her address by telling our seniors, "You are the future." Then, using her one-of-a-kind storytelling ability, she took the audience back in time to 2017, when the graduating class was wrapping up high school and just beginning their collegiate journey, and then 2020 to revisit the news stories that captured the nation. This journey back in time illustrated the point that the senior class had navigated a myriad of challenges yet our Saints persevered and emerged kind, thoughtful, brave, and strong. #3 The Charming Student Speakers The Baccalaureate ceremony featured three talented and charismatic student speakers. Katelyn Zimmerman gave the invocation, Lindsey Williams recited an original poem that showcased the unique experience the class has shared at Flagler. Finally, Lauren Hembree closed out the reception with a benediction. #4 A Captivating Choir Performance Led by Kip Taisey, associate professor of musical theatre and music program director, all eyes were on the Flagler College Choir when they performed their rendition of "Rise Up" and the Alma Mater. #5 Inspiring Closing Remarks by Dr. Woelfel Dr. Craig Woelfel, interim dean of academic life, left the students with an inspiring anecdote and a poem about heading into the unknown. Dr. Woelfel encouraged students to embrace the dark, not fear it, as that's where change, possibility, and creativity can be found. #6 The Senior Celebration Students spilled into the dining hall to kickstart their weekend of celebration. There, they enjoyed a champagne toast and had the opportunity to take headshots for their LinkedIn profiles, write a postcard to their future self, and grab their first of many Flagler College Alumni t-shirts. To hear the speeches and performances in full, or see more from Flagler's first Baccalaureate, click here to watch the live stream. Photos of the event can be viewed here. Tagged As Hardcopy cards in regular mail (addressed to a specific customer) Softcopy offers in email (addressed to a specific customer) Digital offers in your FordPass app Online popups The Ford VINCENT customer system tracks all PCOs, and we have seen situations where a PCO is in a customers file without any other notification via FordPass, mail or email If you are already a Ford customer and receive mail and email from Ford, you are probably already in their database If you browse ford.com you will occasionally get popups asking if you would like more information. Fill these in with your name and address There are also certain pages on the ford.com website where you can enter your data. Call the Ford marketing department in Florida at 1-800-334-4375. They can check your file and see if you already have a PCO, send you a hardcopy printed brochure for certain vehicles (yes, there are still printed brochures!), make sure your name and contact details are up to date, or enter you into the system if you dont have an existing file. They CANNOT give you a PCO, only tell you if you already have one. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU A PCO. *New 2019/2020/2021 vehicles: $2,000 on F-150, Super Duty or Expedition only. $1,250 on Ranger, Explorer, Edge, EcoSport, Escape or Mustang only. $750 on most other vehicles. Excludes Bronco, Ford GT, F-150 Raptor, Mustang Mach-E or Mustang Shelby GT350/350R/50 mit one per household. U.S. residents. Prior purchases not eligible. Take new retail delivery from an authorized Ford or Lincoln Dealer's stock by 9/30/20. See dealer for details. Dealer: Claim in VINCENT using #30594 and customer ID. MSRP $ 45,678 Negotiated Dealer Discount: -$ 4,200 Sales Tax 9.5% $ 3,940 Doc Fee $ 150 License/Registration/Title $ 200 Subtotal $ 45,768 Current Incentive -$ 500 Private Cash Offer -$ 2000 TOTAL, Out the door $ 43,268 MSRP $ 45,678 Invoice $ 41,978 X-Plan Discount 0.4% -$ 167 X-Plan Admin Fee $ 275 Sales Tax 9.5% $ 3,998 Doc Fee $ 100 License/Registration/Title $ 200 Subtotal $ 46,384 Current Incentive -$ 500 Private Cash Offer -$ 2000 TOTAL, Out the door $ 43,884 MSRP $ 45,678 Invoice $ 41,978 Costco Discount -$ 1,700 Sales Tax 9.5% $ 3,826 Doc Fee $ 150 License/Registration/Title $ 200 Subtotal $ 44,454 Current Incentive -$ 500 Private Cash Offer -$ 2000 TOTAL, Out the door $ 41,954 Private Cash Offers (PCOs), also known as Exclusive Cash Rewards, are occasionally provided by Ford to actively-seeking customers in the US. These rewards are typically a couple thousand dollars for the Full-Size Pickups and Expedition, and less for other Ford vehicles. This provides a great incentive to buy a new vehicle!The information here may help increase your chances of getting a PCO. This is based on the accumulated knowledge from the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum. The information may be outdated, and Ford may change the program details at any time. Hopefully it will help everyone to have all this in one place.We are aware of several different ways that PCOs are provided to potential customers:Ford hires a third-party marketing and data science company to figure out to whom to offer the PCOs, and how. While we dont know the exact algorithms used to determine who receives an offer, we expect they are based on various demographic data that may indicate the customer is preparing to buy a vehicle in the next few weeks.The key to obtaining a PCO is to make it known to the Ford systems that you are a potential customer.1. Make sure you are in the Ford customer database.2. Research vehicles online. You need to make sure your browser allows cookies and popups first. When you are at certain websites such as nadaguides.com or edmunds.com and build a vehicle to see MSRP or Invoice pricing, you will often see banner ads on the website from Ford or competitors. If you click on the Ford ad (not one from a local Ford dealer) you will go to the Ford vehicles page or Incentives page. This will look like the regular Ford webpages but the URL will have additional stuff added on the end like:Everything after the bannerid is a tag telling the marketing company what ad you clicked, so they can better target ad money in the future. Sometimes when on that Ford webpage you will subsequently get a popup saying Exclusive Cash Reward. This is the infamous and elusive PCO Popup. Click the Claim Your Code button and youll be able to enter your name, address, phone and email. Then you will get a PCO Code shown on the screen and in your email. If you dont get an email right away, check your SPAM folder.3. Get a link on FTE. There are a couple long-running threads on the forums such aswhere folks share a link from one of the banner ads seen above that has proven to produce popups. You can open that link and eventually a PCO popup might appear.4. Ask another FTE member for assistance. If youve tried clicking on banner ads, or on known-good links from other members without success, there may be something about your PC or phone that is preventing you from getting a PCO popup. In this case you can try asking another forum member for assistance. Often folks may have multiple windows open and each is sent a PCO popup. In this case, since they can use only one, they may post a note saying they have extra popups and are willing to enter your name, address, phone and email for you. Send them a PM with the info. (Note: to send PMs to other members, youll need to be a member for at least 10 days with at least five posts).This is against FTE forum Terms of Use and probably against Ford policy as well. Besides, its unnecessary, as you may be able to get one for free from a fellow FTE member.Note that PCOs seem to be provided by an algorithm. There is no guarantee that you can get one at the same time you are purchasing a vehicle. And even when some seem to be available, you may not be able to get one to show up on your PC, or from a forum member. We understand your disappointment, but there is nothing we can do.And, if you ever get a PCO popup that you wont be using, dont close it! Leave it open and post on the FTE forums that you have one. Someone is likely to be looking for one!The PCOs are separate from the current manufacturer incentives on a model, but are figured into the sale in much the same way.Once you have obtained the PCO, it will show in your file in the Ford system and any Ford dealer can log in and see it, and apply it to your purchase. This does not affect the dealers profit, so they will gladly take the code and gain a sale! The easiest way to let the dealer look it up is to forward your email from Ford with the code.Some vehicles, particularly popular and performance vehicles, may be exempt from this program and the PCO will not be valid. This typically includes the Ford GT, Mustang Shelby, Bronco, and F-150 Raptor.Purchasers using the Ford A/Z/D plans (employees, retirees, or dealers) cannot use the PCO.You cannot give a PCO to someone outside of your household, as it is tied to the address in your Ford file. The dealer will check your ID to verify your name and address match.Some private/club incentives such as First Responder, American Quarter Horse membership, may not be combined with a PCO. Typically public offers such as manufacturer's incentives can be combined with each other, but with onlyprivate offer such as club incentives or PCO. Ask your dealer for details.PCOs cannot be combined with each other. However, if you have more than one, you can choose the best one to use. Or buy more vehicles.Here is the fine print from a recent PCO:0. May not combine with other private or commercial offers, conquest cash, owner loyalty and lease renewal programs. A/Z/D Plan ineligible. Nontransferable out of household. LiPCOs are good for a limited time only, typically a few weeks or months. You have to take delivery before that expiration date. One exception is if you order a vehicle. See later notes on that.Because PCOs are provided directly by Ford, they are applied AFTER any deal you can arrange at the dealership. Note that some dealers will look in the Ford system and see that you have a PCO, and be more firm in their dealing, while others will realize you are a serious buyer and that you are ready to buy immediately. Dont let a dealer increase their offer because you have a PCO!Note that some dealers also advertise with Cash Offers that are made to look like a Ford PCO, but are actually from the dealership. Just use that in negotiating but make sure you get the full PCO on the paper you sign. Or the "online price" already includes the PCO. Make sure you understand all the numbers, and keep it simple.Yes, you can combine a PCO with Plan pricing such as Costco or the Ford X-Plan! The pricing of those is calculatedthe PCO is considered. The PCO will then be deducted AFTER that price is figured out.Here is an example of what the PCO would look like on the bill of sale. This is not a real vehicle, so dont use the discounts, fees or tax rate as what youll see. Also, your state will have different Title/Reg/Tax rules on how it is all calculated. And your dealer discount depends on how good a negotiator you are!Here is an example with X-Plan pricing. Again, all amounts are made up. You can get X-Plan by owning Ford stock, working for a Ford partner company, or joining the Mustang Club of America, or the EAA. You generally need to be a member of the clubs for 60 days prior to purchase. X-Plan ends up being roughly equivalent to negotiating the dealer down to invoice.Finally, here is an example with Costco pricing. Again, all amounts are made up.If you are planning to order a vehicle, you have two options.1. You can lock in the PCO at the time of order, along with incentives that are in effect at the time of order. The order date needs to be before the PCO expiration date, but you wont need to take delivery before it expires. The Ford technical term for locking in the PCO at order time is Incentive Protection.OR,2. You can wait until the vehicle shows up at the dealership, and use the PCO and whatever incentives are available then. But the PCO cannot have expired before delivery.Since you cant know what the incentives or PCO amounts will be at the date the vehicle arrives, or even when it will arrive, it is probably best to lock in the PCO when you order. Then, if you get better PCO plus incentives when the vehicle arrives, have the dealer switch to the new set. You cannot combine the old PCO with the new incentives, or vice versa. One way or the other. If you pick the new PCO or incentive at time of delivery, you lose the Incentive Protection from time of order.Note that some sales folks at some dealerships may not be familiar with how to use, lock in, or change the PCO and incentives when ordering a vehicle. The information in this post may help: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post19255480 . It is a document from 2012, but tells them what they need to know.Hopefully this information will help some of you be able to purchase your new vehicle. Its always nice to get some extra cash off the purchase. And soon youll be driving a new Ford! If you have any questions, you can post them in the forums. Fujitsu Puts Additional 500 AI Experts at Customers Fingertips with New uSCALE Pay-per-Use AI Service News facts: New consumption-based AI service creates cloud-like agility for customers seeking to leverage machine learning for business advantage Partnership with Brainpool expands Fujitsus AI resources with access to a further 500 AI experts and some of the worlds leading AI professionals One of five new as-a-Service offerings combining hardware, software & services as part of latest additions to Fujitsus uSCALE pay per use offering Munich, December 16, 2021 Fujitsu today puts an additional 500 AI experts at its customers fingertips with the introduction of a new pay-per-use agile AI service for organizations pursuing data-driven transformation strategies. The move is part of a new push to help customers get to value faster with more focused as-a-Service offerings. The new consumption-based service enables organizations to quickly reach for and attain new AI-driven capabilities without commitment to either slow and costly recruitment or unnecessary capital costs. It puts advanced AI capabilities within reach of customers with data pools large enough to leverage with machine learning (ML) but without the dedicated data scientists, AI-experienced business consultants, or high-end server infrastructure necessary for ML data training. Complementing and extending its extensive AI expertise and resources, Fujitsu has joined with ecosystem partner Brainpool. The partnership gives access to over 500 AI experts and some of the worlds leading AI professionals, combined with hardware and software stacks to get AI projects moving quickly. Fujitsu is making the new service available through its uSCALE pay-per-use product, which helps organizations achieve cloud-like agility across entire IT landscapes, including on-premises data centers, with a consumption-based model. Leigh Schvartz, Head of Consultative Sales at Fujitsu, says: Fujitsus AI ecosystem addresses a key challenge that many companies currently face: the difficulty in finding high quality, cross-disciplinary technical resources. We achieve this by enabling collaboration between some of the brightest minds and best technology start-ups in the region to spark innovation. This expertise, combined with the industry-leading flexibility in our uSCALE pay-per-use model, means exciting AI projects can be paid for as they scale, and directly linked to business value. The new AI-as-a-Service launch is one of five new as-a-Service offerings in Fujitsus data-driven transformation services. The others are: Hybrid Cloud Business Resilience partnering with NetApp, Fujitsu offers a seamless solution to optimize cloud storage between private and public clouds Hybrid Cloud for SAP for cloud flexibility and on-premise security in hybrid SAP environments Private Cloud Starter Kit - partnering with VMware, Fujitsu enables scalable private clouds with the ability for hybrid extension, as needed Agile Data Platform data platforms-as-a-service to enable customers to consume the platform powering data-driven transformation, paying only for what is used All offerings are consumable as-a-service using Fujitsus uSCALE pay-per-use model. They are designed to include all the services and consulting needed to reach business value as quickly as possible. Pricing and availability All offerings are available across Europe both directly from Fujitsu or via the channel, with pay-per-use components available in markets where uSCALE is available (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and UK&I). Online resources Fujitsu uSCALE pay-per-use: https://www.fujitsu.com/global/microsite/uscale/ Customer case - The agility to power growth in data management with Harbor Solutions: https://www.fujitsu.com/emeia/imagesgig5/CS_2020Jul_Harbor-Solutions.pdf Read the Fujitsu blog: http://blog.ts.fujitsu.com Follow Fujitsu on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Fujitsu_Global Follow us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/fujitsu Find Fujitsu on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FujitsuICT Fujitsu pictures and media server: http://mediaportal.ts.fujitsu.com/pages/portal.php For regular news updates, bookmark the Fujitsu newsroom: https://www.fujitsu.com/emeia/about/resources/news/newsroom.html About Fujitsu Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see https://www.fujitsu.com/ Fujitsus Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 represent a set of common goals to be achieved worldwide by 2030. Fujitsus purpose to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation is a promise to contribute to the vision of a better future empowered by the SDGs. All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice. Date: December 16, 2021 City: Munich New Botnet Variant Steals $500k Worth of Cryptocurrency from Thousands of Victims by Substituting Malicious Wallet Addresses at Transactions December 2021 by Check Point Research (CPR) Check Point Research (CPR) spots a botnet variant that has stolen nearly half a million dollars worth of cryptocurrency through a technique called crypto clipping. The new variant, named Twizt and a descendant of Phorpiex, steals cryptocurrency during transactions by automatically substituting the intended wallet address with the threat actors wallet address. CPR warns cryptocurrency traders to beware of who they send funds to, as 969 transactions have been intercepted and counting. Twizt can operate without active C&C servers, enabling it to evade security mechanisms. In 12 months, 3.64 Bitcoin, 55.87 Ether, and $55,000 in ERC20 tokens were taken 26 ETH hijacked in one instance Majority of victims reside in Ethiopia, Nigeria and India Check Point Research (CPR) has spotted a new variant of Phorpiex, a botnet known for sextortion and crypto-jacking. The new variant, called Twizt, operates without active command and control servers, meaning each computer that it infects can widen the botnet. CPR estimates that Twizt has taken nearly half a million dollars worth of cyptocurrency. New features to Twizt has led CPR to believe that the botnet may become even more stable and, therefore, more dangerous. How Twizt Works Twizt leverages a technique called crypto clipping, which is the theft of cryptocurrency during transactions through the use of malware that automatically substitutes the intended wallet address with the threat actors wallet address. The result is that funds go into the wrong hands. Victims In a one-year period, between November 2020 to November 2021, Phorpiex bots hijacked 969 transactions, stealing 3.64 Bitcoin, 55.87 Ether, and $55,000 in ERC20 tokens. The value of the stolen assets in current prices is almost half a million US dollars. Several times, Phorpiex was able to hijack large amounts transactions. The largest amount for an intercepted Ethereum transaction was 26 ETH. Alexander Chailytko, Cyber Security Research & Innovation Manager at Check Point Software: There are three main risks involved with the new variant of Phorpiex. First, Twizt uses peer-to-peer model and is able to receive commands and updates from thousands of other infected machines. A peer-to-peer botnet is harder to take down and disrupt its operation. This makes Twizt more stable than previous versions of Phorpiex bots. Second, as well as old versions of Phorpiex, Twizt is able to steal crypto without any communication with C&C, therefore, it is easier to evade security mechanisms, such as firewalls in order to do damage. Third, Twizt supports more than 30 different cryptocurrency wallets from different blockchains, including major ones such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Monero. This makes for a huge attack surface, and basically anyone who is utilizing crypto could be affected. I strongly urge all crypto currency users to double check the wallet addresses they copy and paste, as you could very well be inadvertently sending your crypto into the wrong hands. Security Tips Check wallet address. When users copy and paste a crypto wallet address, always double check that the original and pasted addresses match. Test transactions. Before sending large amounts in crypto, first send a probe test transaction with minimal amount. Stay updated. Keep operating system updated, do not download software from unverified sources. Skip the ads. If you are looking for wallets or crypto trading and swapping platforms in the crypto space, always look at the first website in your search and not in the ad. These may mislead you as CPR has found scammers using Google Ads to steal crypto wallets. Look at URLs. Always double-check the URLs! SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Nov. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Protein Industries Canada announced a new project to strengthen the use and understanding of fermentation processing technology in ingredient and food processing. The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre (Food Centre), the University of Saskatchewan, the Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) and Ag-West Bio are combining expertise to create a new fermentation and training program at the Food Centre. The project will build capacity in Canadas plant-based ingredient and food ecosystem by marrying the addition of new technology with a skills development and training program. Protein Industries Canada continues to create new possibilities for Canadian crops, said the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. By bringing together key players, this project will help find new ways to produce premium healthy and sustainable food products and provide good jobs for people across Canada. Todays announcement will develop and leverage emerging fermentation technology to produce novel plant-based ingredients, food, and feed products for Canadians and international markets. Building the fermentation ecosystem starts with attracting and training the right talent for Canadas small- and medium-sized plant-based food and beverage sector. This project will increase capacity to utilize fermentation technology, commercialize opportunities, and create higher paying jobs, said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The addition of fermentation technology and expertise will allow for new plant-based ingredients and food products to be created and commercialized, supporting the growth of Canadas value-added food sector. The expansion of fermentation processing technology is an emerging opportunity for Canada. This method of processing can help the countrys plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector increase its competitive edge in the global market and attract new talent as its considered more sustainable and offers a higher profit margin than many processing methods previously used by the sector. The program will support collaborative innovation, expertise and skill development between small- and medium-sized enterprises and the consortium, enabling the commercialization of new technology while attracting and fostering a pipeline of future talent for Canadas plant-based ingredient and food ecosystem. Increasing the availability of emerging technologies, while recruiting and training future experts, is key to driving innovation in Canadas plant-based food and ingredient sector. In order to advance our sector and reach $25 billion in sales by 2035, we need to both invest in collaborative R&D projects and build capacity within the ecosystem, Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said. This project is a great example of how working collaboratively across the ecosystem can support the growth of the sector. Increased access to fermentation processing technology guarantees our innovative companies are creating new products that meet ever-growing consumer demand, while ensuring a strong labour force is in place to support the growing ecosystem. A total of $1.3 million will be invested into the project. The project partners are together investing $600,000, with Protein Industries Canada investing the remaining $700,000. The Food Centre is excited to collaborate with our partners to grow capacity in fermentation technology, Food Centre President Dan Prefontaine said. This project will provide new opportunities to develop innovative products from proof of concept to commercialization and further our creation of new expertise in innovative processing for ingredients. It will help to support our protein sector to build industry expertise to transform plant-based material from western Canadian proteins, starches and fibres using fermentation. This timely collaboration will provide a fertile training environment for the next generation of researcher experts along with a highly qualified workforce for advancing Canadas competitiveness in fermentation processing technology, and in particular, of fermented plant-based foods, University of Saskatchewan Professor and Department Head of Food and Bioproduct Sciences Darren Krober said. The Food Centre has a history of working with small and large food producers to help in their product development and market-readiness challenges, and expanding capacity in the fermented plant-based food sector will help companies take advantage of what appears to be the next big consumer trend. GAAP is happy to be part of this collaboration, interim President and CEO of the Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership Jay Robinson said. Each partner brings its own unique capabilities to the ecosystem. This type of collaboration is exactly what this industry needs. Advanced technology is the key to dealing with global challenges, Ag-West Bio President and CEO Karen Churchill said. Having both the technology and the expertise gives Saskatchewan an advantage. We are thrilled to be part of this initiative. This is Protein Industries Canadas 27th project announcement, and the fifth under its capacity building stream. Together with industry, Protein Industries Canada has invested more than $425 million to Canadas plant-based food, feed and ingredients ecosystem. Media may contact: Miranda Burski Protein Industries Canada Regina, SK 306-581-1340 miranda@proteinsupercluster.ca About the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre The Food Centre is a recognized globally as a key innovator in the food industry. The Centre works with local and international clients in ideation, prototyping and manufacturing of new food and beverage products, specializing in the utilization of plant-based protein. Our combined expertise in product development, novel ingredient validation and application and extrusion processing can transform plant proteins to innovative commercial products. About the University of Saskatchewan The University of Saskatchewan is one of the top research-intensive, medical doctoral universities in Canada, and is home to world-leading research in areas of global importance, such as water and food security and infectious diseases. Study and discovery are enhanced by their facilities, including the Canadian Light Source synchrotron, VIDO-InterVac, the Global Institute for Food Security, the Global Institute for Water Security and the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation. About the Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) The Global Agri-Food Partnership (GAAP) is a new entity resulting from collaboration between Ag-West Bio, the Global Institute of Food Security, the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, Innovation Place and private sector partners. GAAP was created to support early- and rapid-growth-stage companies within all areas of agriculture and food. GAAP combines the benefits of significant investment capital and long-term incubation in a world-class facility (up to three years, with access to laboratories, greenhouses and offices) with guidance and training from sector-specific experts. About Ag-West Bio Ag-West Bio is Saskatchewan's bioscience industry association. A catalyst for industry growth, the companys goal is to move research to market and grow biobusiness in the province. Ag-West Bio supports commercialization of technologies in the areas of sustainable crop production, value-added food processing, health, environment and bioproducts. The company aids strategic alliances, provides support for early-stage businesses, disseminates industry information, and hosts events to create connections and build community. Ag-West Bio is a not-for-profit, member-based organization. Funding is provided by the Government of Canada and Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP). A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/629d3a2f-c369-4556-9c4c-b9911dabacc7 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/Tajikistan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW It has achieved this by providing state-owned telco Tajik Telecom with 100% control over international connectivity; all internet traffic must pass through a single access point, with Tajik Telecom (in collusion with the state telecom regulator Communications Service, or CS) throttling data speeds and charging high access fees to local ISPs and competitor mobile operators for the privilege. The result is Tajikistan suffering from being one of the slowest ten places in the world for internet speed in 2021, according to data from Cable.co.uk, with an average download speed of just 1.82Mb/s. International as well as domestic criticism of Tajik Telecoms monopoly over internet traffic (including from the World Bank) has led to a somewhat muted response from the government, merely issuing decrees to the CS to introduce measures to improve the speed and quality of internet connections in the country. Given the mutually beneficial relationship the CS has with one of the major telecom operators that it is supposed to be regulating, it is unclear what actions, if any, will be taken to produce something more akin to a free market. Key developments: Three MNOs MegaFon, Tcell, and ZET Mobile launch commercial 5G services. The government orders the CS to introduce measures to improve the speed and quality of Tajikistans internet connections. ZET Mobile signs an MoU with Smart City to develop an LTE-based IoT and smart city infrastructure in Dushanbe. MegaFon launches the first commercial VoLTE service in Tajikistan. Tcell launches a GPON fibre-based fixed broadband service in Dushanbe. RADNOR, Pa., Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against ON24, Inc. (ON24) (NYSE: ONTF). The action charges ON24 with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the companys February 2021 initial public offering (IPO). As a result of ON24s materially misleading statements made in connection with the companys registration statement and prospectus, investors have suffered significant losses. CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR ON24 LOSSES LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: January 3, 2022 CLASS PERIOD: February 3, 2021 through November 3, 2021 CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS: James Maro, Esq. (484) 270-1453 or Toll Free (844) 887-9500 or Email at info@ktmc.com ON24S ALLEGED MISCONDUCT ON24 markets products and services based upon webcasting, virtual event and environment technology via an AI powered platform that enables businesses to scale engagement, conversions, and pipeline to drive revenue growth. On February 3, 2021, ON24 conducted its IPO at $50 a share, selling 8.6 million shares of stock and generating nearly $430 million in new capital. On August 11, 2021, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, ON24 reported a net loss of $2.5 million, compared to a net income of $5.3 million for the same period in the prior year. Following this news, ON24s stock price fell $10.00 per share, or 30.95%, and closed at $22.31 on August 11, 2021. Since then, ON24s stock has continued to plummet, and as of November 3, 2021, the companys stock has declined over 60% from the IPO price. WHAT CAN I DO? ON24 investors may, no later than January 3, 2022 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages ON24 investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF? A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. At the end of the day, we have succeeded if the bad guys pay up, and if you recover your assets. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP James Maro, Jr., Esq. 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 (844) 887-9500 (toll free) info@ktmc.com A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d365b2ca-59df-4f45-a276-f4bdbf796e7b PLANO, Texas, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NYSE: GRBK) Green Brick Partners, Inc., (the Company), today announced it has commenced an underwritten registered public offering of 2,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/1000th fractional interest in a share of the Companys Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per depositary share, to raise anticipated gross proceeds of $50.0 million before deducting transaction expenses, subject to market and certain other conditions. The Company expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional depositary shares in connection with the offering. The Company expects to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate and working capital purposes, which may include expansion of the business, repurchases of its common stock under the Companys authorized plan, and repayment of debt. BTIG, LLC is acting as sole book-running manager for this offering. InspereX LLC and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC are acting as co-managers for this offering. The offering of these securities is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which was initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on November 25, 2020 and declared effective by the SEC on December 4, 2020. The offering of these depositary shares will be made only by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement. A copy of the prospectus and prospectus supplement relating to these securities may be obtained, when available, from the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting: BTIG, LLC, 65 East 55th Street, New York, NY 10022, email: equitycapitalmarkets@btig.com. 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 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. About Green Brick Partners, Inc. Green Brick Partners, Inc. is a diversified homebuilding and land development company. Green Brick owns five subsidiary homebuilders in Dallas, Texas (CB JENI Homes, Normandy Homes, Southgate Homes, Trophy Signature Homes, and a 90% interest in Centre Living Homes), as well as a controlling interest in a homebuilder in Atlanta, Georgia (The Providence Group) and an 80% interest in a homebuilder in Port St. Lucie, Florida (GHO Homes). Green Brick also owns a noncontrolling interest in Challenger Homes in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and retains interests in related financial services platforms, including Green Brick Title, Green Brick Mortgage, and BHome Mortgage. The Company is engaged in all aspects of the homebuilding process, including land acquisition and development, entitlements, design, construction, marketing, and sales for its residential neighborhoods and master-planned communities. For more information about Green Brick Partners Inc.s subsidiary homebuilders, please visit greenbrickpartners.com/homebuilders. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These statements concern expectations, beliefs, projections, plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts and typically include the words anticipate, believe, consider, estimate, expect, feel, intend, plan, predict, seek, strategy, target, will or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the terms and conditions and timing of the offering and the intended use of proceeds. These forward-looking statements reflect the Companys current views about future events and involve estimates and assumptions which may be affected by risks and uncertainties in its business, as well as other external factors, which could cause future results to materially differ from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These risks include, but are not limited to, market conditions and the risk that the offering cannot be successfully completed on the anticipated terms, or at all. For a more detailed discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company and the offering, please see the prospectus supplement related to the offering and the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances except as required by law. For inquiries regarding Green Brick Partners, Inc., please contact the following persons: VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Hotel Properties Inc. (TSX-V: AHP) (the Company or Allied) is pleased to announce the voting results from Mondays special meeting (the Meeting) of the holders (the Shareholders) of common shares of the Company (the Shares). At the Meeting, the Shareholders were asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, pass a special resolution (the Arrangement Resolution) approving a statutory plan of arrangement with Allied Holdings Ltd. (Allied Holdings) pursuant to Part 9, Division 5 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the Arrangement). Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Company will redeem all of the issued and outstanding Shares (other than those Shares currently owned by Allied Holdings) (the Minority Shares) by paying $0.28 in cash for each Minority Share (the Consideration). To be effective, the Arrangement Resolution required the approval of at least: (i) two-thirds (66%) of the votes cast by the Shareholders (including Allied Holdings) at the Meeting in person or represented by proxy; and (ii) a simple majority of votes cast by holders of Minority Shares (Minority Shareholders) (other than those excluded for the purpose of such vote under the terms of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101), present at the meeting in person or represented by proxy. The Arrangement was approved by 99.99% of the votes cast by Shareholders and 99.96% of the votes cast by Minority Shareholders excluding the votes cast in respect of Shares held by the Shareholders required to be excluded pursuant MI 61-101. The Supreme Court of British Columbia (the Court) hearing for the final order to approve the Arrangement is expected to occur on December 16, 2021 and closing of the Arrangement is expected to occur on December 20, 2021, subject to final approval by the Court. About Allied Hotel Properties Inc. Allied is involved in the ownership, management and development of hotels and real estate in Canada, having a history of real estate development particularly where such development can be undertaken on hotel lands. On January 6, 2020 the Company completed the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. Interested parties can find further information at www.alliedhotels.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors: (signed) Michael F. Chan Michael F. Chan President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director For more information please contact: Allied Hotel Properties Inc. Tel: 604-669-5335 Fax: 604-682-8131 e-mail: mikechan@alliedhotels.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. Forward-Looking Information This release may contain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as will and expected or variations of such words and phrases. Forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Court granting the final order to approve the Arrangement, and the expected timing for the closing of that Arrangement. Such statements are based on managements current expectations and assumptions. Those expectations and assumptions are currently considered reasonable by management but are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Allied to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law. Risk factors include, among others: the risk that the Court will not grant the final order to approve the Arrangement, the risk that the Arrangement may not close on a timely basis, the risk that the Arrangement Agreement may be terminated, the risk that all conditions precedent to the closing of the Arrangement may not be satisfied and the risk that Allied will incur costs. For additional information on these risks and uncertainties, see Allieds most recently filed Annual MD&A (MD&A) and interim MD&A (Interim MD&A), which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The risk factors identified in the MD&A and Interim MD&A are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect Allied. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Allied does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release, unless required by law. SINGAPORE, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bholdus has recently released its Cross-chain function on December 15, 2021. Bholdus Cross-chain function is designed to prioritize cyber security, lower fees and create the smoothest experience for users. This is considered one of the most important features since it has the capability of helping Bholdus network establish a better interoperability with other huge ecosystems. Cross-chain is a solution for storing/transferring digital assets (including coins, tokens & NFTs); initiating actions across multiple networks (interoperability); as well as sending information across different Blockchains. Additionally, users can also use this Cross-chain feature to exchange assets in GameFi, connect DeFi applications and optimize the interface being used. At the moment, Bholdus is developing a Decentralized Heterogeneous Cross-chain protocol, aiming to solve the current unresolved defects of Cross-chain: security issues and high transaction fee. With Heterogeneous Cross-chains, networks such as Bitcoin, Ethereum (ERC), Binance Smart Chain (BSC), Solana, etc. will become easily interoperable with Bholdus Chain (BHC20). Regarding Polkadot, Bholdus will build a separate Sidechain that has the ability to communicate and interoperate freely with all existing Parachains. The Sidechain and Cross-chain will be connected via a bridge, built by Bholdus technical team. Bholdus Mainnet (launching this December), which is integrated with the BSC Cross-chain feature, will be verified by a 3rd party that specializes in network auditing. This will assist in ensuring users safety as well as preventing any potential dangers that might arise. According to the initial roadmap, Bholdus Cross-chain function will be further developed and expanded to other prominent Blockchain networks such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot and so on in the near future. Nhat Phan, Co-Founder and CEO of Bholdus, shared: Cross-chain will assist Blockchain in breaking down barriers and becoming decentralized in its true sense. This Cross-chain function will help Bholdus establishing a solid platform for further development of its own ecosystem with GameFi and DeFi projects. Bholdus also wants to be a blockchain intermediary for transferring digital assets between networks and ecosystems. Ultimately, the cross-chain functionality is a commitment of Bholdus with users and investors: ensuring important project milestones in the roadmap and creating demands for real-life usage of BHO tokens. Follow Bholdus on: - Website: http://bholdus.com - Twitter: https://twitter.com/bholdus - Facebook: https://fb.com/bholdus - Telegram News Global: https://t.me/Bholdus - Telegram Chat Global: https://t.me/Bholdus_ENcommunity https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37ae0132-d28d-45b1-9638-521a21fa6f39 VIENNA, Austria, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- invIOs (innovative Immuno-Oncology) GmbH, a privately held biotechnology company developing novel therapies for cancer, is pleased to announce it will commence operations on 1 January 2022. invIOs, a fully owned subsidiary of APEIRON Biologics AG has been assigned APEIRONs innovative cancer immunotherapy activities and all related clinical and preclinical R&D projects. invIOs CEO Peter Llewellyn-Davies and his management team have taken this step to realize the full potential of its cutting-edge development projects and to create an early clinical-stage focused entity to allow investors to benefit from significant upside potential, especially specialized international biotech investors. The proprietary cell therapy technology platform for the modulation of intracellular Immuno-Oncology targets enables rapid treatment of patients using their own cells with short out-of-body time in an out-patient setting. The groundbreaking concept allows access to indications that have previously not been addressable by earlier cell therapy approaches. The first clinically validated target is the immune master-checkpoint Cbl-b; the clinical-stage lead candidate APN401 will show results in the near term on safety with data from an ongoing Phase 1b trial to be finalized in Q2 2022. A discovery pipeline with two additional promising candidates could give rise to new effective therapies for cancer patients, namely INV441 aiming to activate TILs (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) in solid tumors and INV501, an oral small molecule for tumor specific immune activation. Peter Llewellyn-Davies, CEO of invIOs, comments: Our passion is to develop life-saving therapies for patients suffering from cancer where there currently exist only limited treatment options. invIOs highly experienced team has a proven track-record of taking drugs to market with a core competency in immuno-oncology. The new company is geared towards enabling innovation and growth and will facilitate access to funding from specialized investors and partners. invIOs novel approach represents an investment opportunity with significant upside potential and important benefits for healthcare professionals and patients. invIOs is headquartered in Vienna, Austria and will streamline the development of novel therapies in immuno-oncology backed by the acumen of the existing team. Accordingly, all current APEIRON employees are assigned to invIOs. About invIOs GmbH invIOs is a privately held biotech company based in Vienna, Austria, focused on the discovery and development of innovative cancer immunotherapies. The proprietary cell therapy technology platform for the silencing of intracellular IO targets, enables rapid treatment of patients using their own cells, by employing short out-of-body times in an out-patient setting. The novel concept allows access to and treatment for indications that had not previously been addressable by cell therapy. APN401 is the first clinically validated candidate based on the cell therapy platform. The clinical program is a first-in-class ambulatory autologous transient cell therapy to strengthen immune reactivity via an intracellular master checkpoint inhibitor, Cbl-b. It is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1b clinical trial in patients with advanced-stage solid tumors. The second candidate of the platform is INV441, an early-stage cell therapy approach aiming to activate tumor-associated immune cells. Thirdly, the orally administered small molecule candidate INV501 is being developed to target tumor-specific immune activation via this different entry-point. Further information, visit www.invios.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About APEIRON Biologics AG APEIRON Biologics is a privately held biotech company based in Vienna, Austria. APEIRON received EU marketing approval for APN311 (dinutuximab beta, Qarziba) in 2017 for the treatment of pediatric neuroblastoma patients and out-licensed global, exclusive rights for this product to EUSA Pharma Ltd. The Company is also developing a promising drug for COVID-19: APN01 (rhsACE2, alunacedase alfa), a soluble recombinant version ACE2, which is regarded to be the cell receptor allowing SARS-CoV-2 to enter the body. APN01 has shown potential clinical benefits for COVID-19 and has completed a double blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in Europe and Russia. An inhalative drug delivery of APN01 is currently being evaluated in a clinical phase 1 study. For further information please contact: invIOs GmbH Peter Llewellyn-Davies CEO Email: investors@invios.com www.invios.com Media and Investor Relations MC Services AG Raimund Gabriel, Andreas Jungfer T +49 89 210 228 0 Email: invios@mc-services.eu FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of invIOs and related companies as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. MOL and Vopak reach agreement to jointly own and operate the FSRU for the new LNG terminal in Hong Kong 16 December 2021 - Tokyo, Japan / Rotterdam, the Netherlands Vopak will acquire 49.99% of the vessel owning company of MOL that owns a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) MOL FSRU Challenger, to be renamed Bauhinia Spirit. MOL and Vopak will jointly own and operate the FSRU and provide jetty operations & maintenance and port services for a new FSRU-based offshore LNG terminal in Hong Kong. MOL and Vopak through the new FSRU based-terminal contribute to the energy transition in Hong Kong. MOL and Vopak aim to explore further downstream opportunities for bunkering of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel in Hong Kong. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) and Royal Vopak (Vopak) announce an agreement has been reached, whereby Vopak will acquire 49.99% of the shares in the vessel owning company of MOL FSRU Challenger, whose name will be changed to Bauhinia Spirit. This new joint venture company between MOL and Vopak in Hong Kong will own the worlds largest floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) and have a long-term contract with Hong Kong LNG Terminal Limited 1. The FSRU has a storage and regasification capacity of 263,000 cbm and 800 mmscfd, respectively. Under the contract, the joint venture will provide the FSRU as well as jetty operations & maintenance and port services. The offshore jetty platform for the mooring of the FSRU and LNG carriers are owned by Hong Kong LNG Terminal Limited. The terminal is currently under construction and is expected to be operational around mid 2022. The terminal will be located offshore about 25 km southwest of Hong Kong Island. The terminal will provide natural gas feedstock to the customers dedicated power plants. It is being developed to support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) governments target to improve air quality and environmental conditions by increasing the percentage of power generation by natural gas. Both MOL and Vopak are excited to contribute to the success of Hong Kong's first ever LNG import terminal based on the companies complementary strengths, combining their experiences related to the LNG industry including FSRU, and offshore jetty platform operations & maintenance respectively. Being the global market leaders in their respective fields, MOL is involved in over 100 LNG carrier and FSRU projects with Vopak having a portfolio of 4 LNG terminals in operation and more than 300 jetties across its global terminal network. An ideal complementary relationship works by combining Vopaks many years of experience as a terminal operator for oils, chemicals and liquefied gas with MOLs know-how of LNG carrier and FSRU operation. MOL looks forward to further working with Vopak on this promising project and feels confident that with our joint forces, we will be able to establish a safe and reliable operation structure for the Hong Kong FSRU project. said Takeshi Hashimoto, President & CEO of MOL. Eelco Hoekstra, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO of Royal Vopak, said We very much look forward to further strengthening our partnership with MOL and to actively contribute together to the energy transition policy of the government in Hong Kong. This cooperation gives Vopak an excellent entry in the growing LNG market in Hong Kong and fits our ambition to diversify our service offering in LNG by investing in FSRUs. This agreement follows MOLs earlier announcement whereby MOL has entered into a long-term contract with the customer and an agreement with Vopak for jetty support. The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including closing, refinancing and obtaining (regulatory) approvals, with the expected completion after the commissioning of the terminal around mid 2022. Based on these joint initiatives, MOL and Vopak also aim to explore further downstream opportunities for bunkering of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel in Hong Kong, which is one of the major bunkering ports of fuel oils for marine transportation. MOL has a plan to operate approximately 90 LNG-fueled vessels by 2030, which is a part of MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1, aiming for Net Zero GHG emission by 2050. The FSRU outline Length : 345.00 m Beam : 55.00 m LNG storage capacity : 263,000 m3 Regas discharging capacity : 800 mmscfd Delivery : 2017 1. Hong Kong LNG Terminal Limited is a joint venture between the two utility companies in Hong Kong, the Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO) and The Hongkong Electric Company, Limited. CAPCO is a joint venture between CLP Power Hong Kong Limited and China Southern Power Grid International (HK) Co., Limited. Profile MOL Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. is a multi-modal international shipping company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MOL is one of the largest shipping companies in the world and the largest LNG carrier operator. Our fleet includes dry cargo ships, liquefied natural gas carriers, ro-ro car carrier ships, tankers, and also diversified assets in maritime related industries. We will develop a variety of social infrastructure businesses in addition to traditional shipping businesses and will meet the evolving social needs including environmental conservation, with innovative technology and services. MOL group aims to be a strong and resilient corporate group that provides new value to all stakeholders and grows globally. For more information, please visit https://www.mol.co.jp/en/index.html Profile 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 www.vopak.com. For more information: Vopak - Press Liesbeth Lans, Manager External Communication, global.communication@vopak.com Vopak - Analysts and investors Fatjona Topciu, Head of Investor Relations, investor.relations@vopak.com MOL Media Relations Team, Corporate Communication Division, +81 (3) 3587 7015, mrtmo@molgroup.com Attachments Pune, India, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global unified communications and collaboration market size are expected to grow from USD 47.26 billion in 2021 and reach USD 113.81 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.4% during the forecast period. The growing adoption of cloud services among end-users can have a tremendous impact on this market growth in the forthcoming years, states Fortune Business Insights, in a report titled Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) Market, 2021-2028. The market size stood at USD 41.83 billion in 2020. Unified communications and collaboration comprise effective communication services designed to enhance organizations efficiency and productivity. The rising adoption of cloud-based services is expected to boost the products adoption. Additionally, major players focus on the development of effective cloud-based communication services. For example, Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS) launched its cloud-based solution named smart flow in January 2021. The solution offers an excellent communication platform that requires low capital spending, is easy to set up, and eliminates installation charges. These factors are likely to promote market growth in the upcoming years. Request a Sample Copy of Report : https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/unified-communications-and-collaboration-uc-c-market-106182 The Report Lists the key Companies in the Market: Cisco Systems, Inc. (California, U.S.) Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Washington, U.S.) Hewlett-Packard (Texas, U.S.) IBM Corporation (New York, U.S.) Zoom Communications (California, U.S.) Siemens Enterprise Communications (Unify) (Munich, Germany) Verizon Communications (New York, U.S.) Aastra (Vaughan, Canada) Alcatel-Lucent (Nokia) (Boulogne-Billancourt, France) At&T (Texas, U.S.) Avaya (North Carolina, U.S.) Report Scope & Segmentation Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 13.4% 2028 Value Projection USD 113.81 Billion Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2020 USD 41.83 Billion Historical Data for 2017 to 2019 No. of Pages 140 Segments covered Type, Organization Size, Industry and Geography Growth Drivers Increasing Acceptance of Innovative Technologies to Spur Lucrative Opportunities Presence of Prominent Companies to Boost Growth in North America Partnerships and Collaborations among Major Companies to Consolidate Business COVID-19 Impact : The epidemic has sparked interest in UC&C technologies throughout the world. The increase in demand is largely due to organizations increased use of remote work, establishing bring your own device policies, and other similar initiatives. During lockdowns, the remote work increased dramatically, providing sufficient opportunities for the prominent companies operating in the unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) market amid the global pandemic. The epidemic prompted a surge in demand for standardized collaboration tools across enterprises and organizations, which aided them in reorganizing their plans through the use of digital technology. As a result, it has expedited the adoption of communication solutions for corporate meetings worldwide, such as team collaboration, team messaging, video conferencing, and other unified communication technology. This hybrid workforce was able to keep connected throughout the epidemic credits to appropriate collaboration technologies. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. : https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/unified-communications-and-collaboration-uc-c-market-106182 Competitive Landscape : Partnerships and Collaborations among Major Companies to Consolidate Business To meet industry-specific demand, key companies focus on building product ranges by merging modern technologies with UCC. The development of modern unified communication solutions by major businesses is increasing their product offering. As an example, Airtel launched BlueJeans, a video conferencing app in India, in July 2020. Airtel has collaborated with Verizon-owned BlueJeans in the U.S. to develop a video conferencing software for Indian consumers. Notable Development : June 2020: 88 has introduced the 88 Open Communications cloud contact center for Microsoft Team users to serve the enterprises with communication needs. It offers several solutions such as voice, team chat, meetings, and many other solutions. Users of Microsoft Teams can avail the 88s voice for Microsoft Teams to create user engagement through integrated voice communications. Market Segments : The global market is split into telephone, conferencing, unified messaging (e-mail, voicemail, SMS & fax), and others, depending on the kind (live streaming, contact center). Conferencing is likely to increase at a rapid pace in the future. The market is classified into small & medium scale and large-scale organizations based on the organization size. Based on industry, the market is classified into BFSI, IT & telecom, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, government, education, and others. Geographically, the market is classified into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. They are further categorized into countries. Driving Factor : Increasing Acceptance of Innovative Technologies to Spur Lucrative Opportunities Growth in IT expenditure across various industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, BFSI, and retail, would open up various market possibilities for industry participants. According to a Gartner survey conducted in 2020, worldwide IT spending hit USD 3.6 trillion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 3.8 trillion in 2023 due to the rapid adoption of digital platforms and digitalization. The need for communications tools is increasing as technologies like voice over internet protocol (VoIP), real-time web communication (WebRTC), voice over long-term evolution (VoLTE), and others become more widely adopted. The expansion of the market is projected to be aided by the rise in corporate strategies. Cisco System, Inc., for example, formed a collaboration with Quickchannel in April 2021. The partnership was formed to help businesses engage staff and consumers cost-effectively, long-term, and secure manner. Quick Buy Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/106182 Regional Insight s: Presence of Prominent Companies to Boost Growth in North America The market is expected to be dominated by North America. The presence of major businesses such as Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, Siemens Enterprise Communications (Unify), AT&T, Cisco System, Inc., and others has contributed to the expansion. In addition, owing to pandemics, which necessitate unified communications solutions on mobile devices, companies across the area have embraced remote work for their employees. For example, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that about 34% of individuals in the United States will be working remotely by 2020. Several end-user companies in Europe are using enterprise collaborative communications technologies. Due to growing online education, business meetings, and online event markets throughout the pandemic, countries such as Germany, the U.K., France, and Italy have demonstrated a huge demand for unified collaboration solutions. Additionally, a rise in end-user investment helps to promote unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) market share across European countries. Major Table of content: Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Methodology/Approach Data Sources Key Takeaways Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 Short-term Impact Long-term Impact Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Global Market Share Analysis and Matrix, 2020 Key Market Insights and Strategic Recommendations Profiles of Key Players (Would be provided for 10 players only) Overview Key Management Headquarters etc. Offerings/Business Segments Key Details (Key details are subjected to data availability in public domain and/or on paid databases) Employee Size Key Financials Past and Current Revenue Geographical Share Business Segment Share Recent Developments Annexure / Appendix Global Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2017-2028 By Type (USD) Telephony Conferencing Unified Messaging Others (Contact Centers, Livestreaming) By Organization Size (USD) Small & Medium Scale Large scale By Industry (USD) IT & Telecom Banking & Finance Services Healthcare Retail Manufacturing Education Government Others By Region (USD) TOC Continued! Speak To Our Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/unified-communications-and-collaboration-uc-c-market-106182 Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Access Control Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Hardware, Software, and Services), By Type (DAC, MAC, RBAC), By Application (Homeland Security, Commercial, Residential, and Industrial), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 Wireless Sensor Network Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Component (Hardware, Software, and Services), By Sensor Type (MEMS Sensors, CMOS-based Sensors, LED Sensors, Motion and Position Sensor), By Application (Home and Building Automation, Industrial Automation, Military Surveillance, Smart Transportation), By End-User (Automotive and Transportation, Aerospace and Defence, Oil and Gas, Healthcare) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Payment Processing Solutions Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Payment Method (Debit Card, Credit Card, e-Wallet, Automated Clearing House (ACH), and Others), By Industry Vertical (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Manufacturing, IT and Telecommunications, Travel and Hospitality, Retail and Consumer Goods, Healthcare, Transportation and Logistics, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 Predictive Maintenance Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Component (Solution, Services), By Techniques (Power System Assessments, Infrared thermography, Fluid Analysis, Circuit Monitor Analysis), By Deployment (On-Premises and Cloud), By Organization Size (Small and Middle Enterprises (SMEs) and Large Enterprises), By End-User (Manufacturing, Government, Energy and Utilities, Transportation, Healthcare) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Competitive Intelligence Tools Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (On-Premise, Cloud-Based), By Application (BFSI, IT & Telecom, Automotive, Retail, Health Care, Energy, Industrial, and Education), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. We aim to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fortune-business-insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortuneBusinessInsightsPvtLtd TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Even before COVIDand the response from governments worldwideglobal freedom was on the wane, finds a study released today by Canadas Fraser Institute and the U.S.-based Cato Institute. When people are free, they have more opportunity to prosper and pursue happier healthier lives for themselves and their families, said Fred McMahon, resident fellow at the Fraser Institute and co-author of this years Human Freedom Index. The index covers the period from 2008, the earliest year of comprehensive data, to 2019, the most recent year of comprehensive data. The index measures personal freedom the rule of law, safety and security, identity and relationships (i.e. the freedom to choose your relationship partner), freedom of movement, speech, assembly and religionalongside economic freedom, the ability of individuals to make their own economic decisions. From 2008 to 2019, 83 per cent of the worlds population experienced a decline in freedom. These data are pre-COVID so the percentage will likely increase in future reports and the country rankings will likely also see significant variance, McMahon said. Switzerland tops this years freedom index followed by New Zealand, Denmark, Estonia and Ireland (Canada tied with Finland for sixth place). The five least-free countries are (in descending order) Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Venezuela and Syria. Overall worldwide rankings for other significant countries include the United Kingdom (14), Germany, Japan and the United States (tied at 15), Taiwan (19), Chile (28), Hong Kong (30), Brazil (78), Mexico (93), India (119), Nigeria (123), Russia (126), Turkey (139), China (150), Saudi Arabia (155) and Iran (160). Regionally, North America (Canada and the United States), Western Europe and Oceania have the highest levels of freedom while the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have the lowest levels. Crucially, people in freer countries are more prosperous than those in less-free countries. For example, the average per-capita income for the top-quartile countries on the index was US$48,748 compared to US$11,259 for the least-free quartile in 2019. When government limits the ability of people to move, assemble and speak freely, people are less able to lead the lives they want to live, said Ian Vasquez, report co-author and Cato Institute Vice President for International Studies. Ryan Murphy, Research Associate Professor Southern Methodist University, and Guillermina Sutter Schneider, data scientist and project manager at Cato Institute, are co-authors. The complete index, a joint project of the Fraser Institute and the Cato Institute, is available as a free PDF download at www.fraserinstitute.org. The 10 freest and the least-free countries in 2019: The 10 freest jurisdictions The 10 least-free countries 1. Switzerland 156. Libya 2. New Zealand 157. Iraq 3. Denmark 157. Burundi 4. Estonia 159. Somalia 5. Ireland 160. Iran 6. Finland (tied) 161. Egypt 6. Canada (tied) 162. Sudan 8. Australia 163. Yemen 9. Sweden 164. Venezuela 10. Luxembourg 165. Syria MEDIA CONTACT: Fred McMahon, Dr. Michael A. Walker Research Chair in Economic Freedom Fraser Institute To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact: Mark Hasiuk, Fraser Institute (604) 688-0221 ext. 517 mark.hasiuk@fraserinstitute.org Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter and Facebook Oslo, 16 December 2021: Building on Scatecs strong renewables position in Egypt and the recently announced plan for a 100 MW green hydrogen plant in Egypt, Scatec CEO, Raymond Carlsen, (OSE: SCATC) met yesterday with HE President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, to discuss plans for large scale seawater desalination, hydrogen and ammonia production based on renewable power in the country. The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Dr. Mohamed Shaker, CEO of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, Mr Ayman Soliman and the Norwegian Ambassador, Hilde Klemetsdal, and is proof of Egypts great ambitions to develop a range of green energy projects, and Scatecs intention to take an important role in these projects as the largest renewable energy producer in the country. "It was a great honour to meet with HE President El-Sisi, where he shared the governments ambition to develop Egypt into a renewable hub for the region. Power from solar and wind, green hydrogen, green ammonia and water desalination are all key components of this plan and Scatec is well positioned to take part in it. We are impressed by the strong commitment shown by the countrys leadership, which bodes well for the future of renewable energy and its applications in Egypt", says CEO Raymond Carlsen. Supported by the governments ambitions, Scatec is now exploring opportunities for large scale green seawater desalination plants with local partners, to secure the fresh water supply in Egypt. Scatec has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) to study the development of a new green ammonia manufacturing facility, fuelled by green hydrogen produced from renewable power, mainly for export. We are excited to announce our participation in the development of a largescale green ammonia manufacturing facility in the SCZone, which is a key milestone in the implementation of Scatecs Power-to-X strategy. We are very proud to be partnering again with the Egyptian government to turn Egypt into a green ammonia hub for export, leveraging the Suez Canal strategic location and the support of the countrys leadership for green initiatives, commented CEO Raymond Carlsen. Eng. Yehia Zaki, Chairman of the General Authority for the SCZone, commented: The SCZone welcomes the opportunity to host the project at its prominent industrial areas and vital seaport, as a significant, integrated project in one of the most substantial sectors capturing the worlds attention at the moment. For further information, please contact: For analysts and investors: Andreas Austrell, VP IR, tel: +47 974 38 686, andreas.austrell@scatec.com For media: Stian Tvede Karlsen, Communications Manager, tel: +47 920 67 460, stian.karlsen@scatec.com About Scatec ASA Scatec is a leading renewable power producer, delivering affordable and clean energy worldwide. As a long- term player, Scatec develops, builds, owns and operates solar, wind and hydro power plants and storage solutions. Scatec has more than 3.5 GW in operation and under construction on four continents and more than 500 employees. The company is targeting 15 GW capacity in operation or under construction by the end of 2025. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 'SCATC'. To learn more, visit www.scatec.com or connect with us on Linkedin. WINNEMUCCA, Nev., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. (NYSE American: PZG) (Paramount) (the Company) announced today that it has submitted a modified Plan of Operation (Plan) to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), for its proposed mining operations in Eastern Oregon. The modified Plan addresses comments received from the BLMs review of the initial Plan, requests from state agencies and modifications that the Company has made to its proposed mining operations based upon a robustly economic Feasibility Study Paramount President and COO Glen Van Treek stated: In our goal to successfully move to the next phase in the permitting process, we have timed the state and federal application submissions to coincide with each other. With the submission of the Plan of Operations our expectation is that we will see the initiation of the EIS in the very short term. Once the application is deemed complete by the BLM, they will register a Notice of Intent (Notice) in the Federal Register notifying the public of the upcoming environmental analysis. The registration of the Notice initiates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which in turn triggers the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in which the BLM and the public collaborate to define the range of issues and potential alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. HDR Inc., an independent contractor selected by the BLM, will complete the final EIS, in a process expected to take approximately 12 months The EIS process ends with the issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD) that explains the BLMs decision regarding the proposed mining operations. Paramount requires permits from Malheur County, the State of Oregon and at the federal level from the BLM in order to construct and operate its proposed high-grade, underground Grassy Mountain gold mine. The Company has received and renewed all County permits, expects to submit a modified CPA to the State prior to year-end, and as such, the submission of the modified Plan to the BLM represents the final application required for operation. Paramount CEO and Director, Rachel Goldman, stated: Following many months of collaboration by our team and permitting consultants with the regulators, we are thrilled to have attained this milestone of submitting a modified Plan. We look forward to working through the next required steps to move Grassy into production. Paramount expects to submit a modified Consolidated Permit Application (CPA) to the State of Oregon prior to the end of 2021. The CPA and the Plan must coincide to fulfill each others requirements; accordingly, the modified Plan also includes changes requested at the State level but not necessarily requested by the BLM. We are extremely pleased with the high quality work and support weve received from our consultants (SLR International, Ausenco, Golder (Member of WSP), Mine Development Associates, SPF Water Engineering and EM Strategies) in advancing Grassy to this next phase of permitting, Van Treek added. About Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. is a U.S. based precious metals exploration and development company. Paramounts strategy is to create shareholder value through exploring and developing its mineral properties and to realize this value for its shareholders in three ways: by selling its assets to established producers; entering joint ventures with producers for construction and operation; or constructing and operating mines for its own account. Paramount holds a 100% interest in four gold projects: Grassy Mountain; Frost; Sleeper and Bald Peak. The Grassy Mountain Gold Project consists of approximately 8,200 acres located on private and BLM land in Malheur County, Oregon. The Grassy Mountain Gold Project contains a gold-silver deposit (100% located on private land) for which results of a positive Feasibility Study have been released and key permitting milestones accomplished. Frost is comprised of 84 unpatented lode claims covering approximately 1,730 acres located 12 miles southwest of the Companys proposed high-grade, underground Grassy Mountain gold mine in Malheur County, Oregon (Grassy). An initial drill program is ongoing. The Sleeper Gold Project is located in Northern Nevada, the worlds premier mining jurisdiction. The Sleeper Gold Project is host to a large gold deposit (over 4 million ounces of mineralized material) and the Company has completed and released a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment. With higher gold prices, Paramount has begun work to update and improve the economics of the Sleeper project and search for additional high-grade deposits similar to the former producer. The newly acquired Bald Peak Project in Nevada, consists of approximately 2,260 acres. Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements This release and related documents may include "forward-looking statements" and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) pursuant to applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. Paramounts future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable securities laws. Words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although these words may not be present in all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included in this news release include, without limitation, statements with respect to the use of proceeds from the Offerings. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Management believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conclusions made in the feasibility study for the Grassy Mountain Gold Project (the FS); the quantity and grade of resources included in resource estimates; the accuracy and achievability of projections included in the FS; Paramounts ability to carry on exploration and development activities, including construction; the timely receipt of required approvals and permits; the price of silver, gold and other metals; prices for key mining supplies, including labor costs and consumables, remaining consistent with current expectations; work meeting expectations and being consistent with estimates and plant, equipment and processes operating as anticipated. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: uncertainties involving interpretation of drilling results; environmental matters; the ability to obtain required permitting; equipment breakdown or disruptions; additional financing requirements; the completion of a definitive feasibility study for the Grassy Mountain Gold Project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, between actual and estimated development and operating costs and between estimated and actual production; the global epidemics, pandemics, or other public health crises, including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global health pandemic, and the spread of other viruses or pathogens and the other factors described in Paramounts disclosures as filed with the SEC and the Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta Securities Commissions. Except as required by applicable law, Paramount disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this document. Paramount Gold Nevada Corp. Rachel Goldman, Chief Executive Officer Christos Theodossiou, Director of Corporate Communications 866-481-2233 Twitter: @ParamountNV OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eko , a cardiopulmonary digital health company, has been named to the 2021 CB Insights Digital Health 150 list . The third annual ranking honors 150 of the worlds most promising private digital health startups transforming healthcare. Recognized in the screening, monitoring, and diagnostics category, Ekos stethoscopes and smart assessment software with FDA-cleared artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms assist healthcare professionals in detecting leading indicators of heart disease such as atrial fibrillation (AFib) and murmurs at the point of care. A peer-reviewed publication in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that Ekos AI algorithm detects clinically significant murmurs comparable to that of expert cardiologists. With the first data-driven AI-powered stethoscope, Eko is changing the way heart disease is screened globally. Its telemedicine integration makes in-person and remote patient care possible. Healthcare professionals in rural or non-office settings now have access to expert clinical decision-making support, increasing patient access to early detection and quality care. It is an honor to be recognized among CB Insights Digital Health 150 for the work Eko is doing to ensure equal access to early cardiac and pulmonary disease detection and high-quality patient care, said Connor Landgraf, CEO and Co-Founder, Eko. At the heart of this recognition is our commitment to providing clinicians with industry-leading digital tools to help them to care for their patients and communities as best as possible. "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, 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." The Digital Health 150 were selected by CB Insights research team from a combined applicant and nominee pool of over 11,000 companies. Honorees were evaluated using evidence-based criteria across several categories, 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 future growth potential of private companies. 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 Eko Eko, a cardiopulmonary digital health company, is elevating the way clinicians detect and monitor heart and lung disease with its innovative suite of digital tools, patient and provider software, and AI-powered analysis. Its FDA-cleared platform is used by hundreds of thousands of clinicians around the world, allowing them to detect with higher accuracy, diagnose with more confidence, manage treatment effectively, and ultimately give their patients the best care possible. Eko believes that if you can hear clearly, you can care confidently. The company is headquartered in Oakland, California. To learn more about Eko, visit ekohealth.com. Media Contact: Alexandra Pony alexandra@ponycommunications.com 250.858.0656 An image accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a70e5b7c-fb99-422b-a73b-e4f95746f8d9 HIGHLIGHTS Commencement of >2,000 m diamond drilling program, testing multiple high-order gold targets at the 50%-owned Malmsbury Gold Project ( Malmsbury Project ), 50 km SSW of the high-grade Fosterville gold mine in Victoria, Australia ), 50 km SSW of the high-grade Fosterville gold mine in Victoria, Australia Drill targets defined through systematic exploration in 2021 including mapping with alteration vectoring, grid soil and rock chip sampling, historic drill core review/re-sampling and historic data compilation with 3D modelling The Malmsbury Project is under-explored and highly structurally complex, with multiple orientations of high-grade gold mineralization and in excess of 1,500 historic workings and old trenching Several target styles are present, including Fosterville-type anticline-fault related targets, large scale planar faults and fault breccias, Woods Point-A1 style intrusion-hosted orogenic gold targets and an intrusion-related gold ( IRG ) system ) system Drilling will target a shoot on the Leven Star trend where historic reverse circulation (RC) drilling intersected 7 m @ 4.84 g/t Au (LSCR014) including 3m @ 9.38 g/t Au from 54 m and 4.1 m @ 13.1 g/t Au from 66.3 m (LSDDH08) 1 . These historical results are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Malmsbury Project . These historical results are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Malmsbury Project Within the most complex part of the system, drilling will also target a highly altered gold-mineralized Devonian monzogranite which is rare in Victoria and outcrops over 340 m strike and 40 m width Forward work program includes a further second phase of drilling in 2022, 2D/3D induced polarization (IP) to define disseminated sulphide haloes around various gold targets, further expansion of systematic soil geochemistry, mapping, and rock chip sampling VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (TSX: NVO, NVO.WT & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to advise that drilling has recently commenced (Figure 1) on a number of high-priority gold targets (Figure 2) at the Malmsbury Project (RL6587), approximately 50 km SSW of the high-grade Fosterville gold mine. Targeting has relied on significant exploration work conducted by the Novo/GBM team throughout 2021, including detailed 1:500 scale mapping, rock chip and grid soil sampling, 3D modelling and an airborne FALCON gravity survey. Novo acquired a 50% interest in the Malmsbury Project from ASX-listed GBM Resources Limited (ASX: GBZ) (GBM) in May 2021 and has the initial right to earn up to an additional 10% interest by incurring A$5 million in exploration expenditure over a four-year period2. GBM are currently managing the project. The historical results and technical information referred to in this news release, published by AuStar Gold Limited (ASX: AUL) (AuStar) and included in geologic reports filed on the GeoVIC Earth Resources website, are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Malmsbury Project. This historical data was disclosed in ASX announcements, other public disclosure documents, and exploration reports filed on the GeoVIC Earth Resources website (collectively, Disclosure) issued by AuStar and others, as identified in the GeoVIC Earth Resources filings. Certain of the technical information contained in this news release has been extracted from this Disclosure. Reference should be made to the relevant Disclosure which is available online at the links provided in various footnotes throughout this news release. A qualified person has not verified the technical information contained in the Disclosure for Novo, and Novo is unaware of the existence of any current technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects or the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves in connection with the technical information contained in the Disclosure. Novo is unable to comment on the reliability of the technical information contained in the Disclosure and therefore, reliance should not be placed on such technical information. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a13c2709-16da-4aa7-ad3c-1ab1ed3ce7d8 (Figure 1 Track mounted diamond drill rig on site at the Malmsbury Project 14/12/2021.) Exploration Results and Summary from 2021 Mapping and Petrology Detailed 1:500 scale mapping was conducted by Novo staff in the first half of 2021, aiding in defining the deep-seated regional Taradale Fault in the west of the Malmsbury Project, four main anticlinal structures trending the length of the project, zones of intense silicification, sulphidation and stockwork quartz veining, and the broad structural framework of the project area. Mapping (Figure 2) has highlighted significant anticlines and mineralized west dipping fault zones similar to the setting of the high-grade Fosterville deposit and extended the Leven Star mineralized trend to the SW of its previous known extent. Coupled with mapping, historic workings (>1,000) and historic exploration costeans (>500) were field verified (GPS located) and accurately mapped with the aid of high-resolution LIDAR imagery acquired in 2020. Rock chip sampling also relied on mapping and historic workings location for selection criteria. Importantly, mapping also defined a porphyritic monzogranite intrusion in the Belltopper Hill area with an outcrop expression over 340 m strike and up to 40 m width. The central portion of the granite, known as the Missing Link Granite, has incredible unidirectional solidification textures (UST) (Figure 3) typical in the carapace of IRG systems3 and these are overprinted by gold mineralized sheeted to stockwork quartz veins (Figure 3) and intense greisen style alteration defined by petrological studies. The intrusion will be targeted as an IRG system but also as a brittle host to orogenic vein style mineralization, similar to historic deposits including the Morning Star-Woods Point diorite-hosted ladder vein deposit owned by AuStar which produced over 800,000 oz of gold at 26.5 g/t Au tonne4. One historic diamond drill hole (DDHMA3)5 intersected the Missing Link Granite, which was not recognized. Assaying of the hole by Novo/GBM, which was collared near the contact of the granite (top 18 m of hole missing as roller bit was used) yielded 23 m @ 0.46 g/t Au (at 0.1 g/t Au cut-off) from 18 m. Surface sampling yielded assay results up to 9.74 g/t Au from quartz veins within the granite. Rock Chip Sampling - Results for 413 rock chip samples were received throughout the year, providing critical information on gold endowment and multielement associations and providing a useful targeting parameter. Over 17% of the samples assayed >1g/t Au with peak assay results of 27.1 g/t Au and 14.2 g/t Au on the Leven Star trend (Table 1). Soil Sampling - Results for 474 grid soil samples taken in 2021 were recently received, with a further 150 results pending. Sampling was aimed at infilling older soils grids and expanding coverage across the RL. Approximately 11% of the samples assayed >100 ppb Au with a peak assay of 1.47 g/t Au and 89 ppm Sb. Soil sampling has provided an excellent vector for drill targeting with strong Au, As and Sb anomalies defining key targets (Figure 4). Soil sampling has also defined zoned multielement patterns around the Missing Link Granite with intrusion-related geochemical signatures, including a strong Mo core (Figure 4) zoning outward to Sn, Bi and W and potentially Sb and Au, The aforementioned results are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Malmsbury Project. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b20c54dc-9cea-4f52-a352-4e871b90c062 (Figure 2 Malmsbury Project location and major targets in the north of the project area, with geology and historic workings.) https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/416bea9d-3362-4d6f-9371-bd5c29f0bce0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a39a04c7-c910-40fb-9c4c-ddf11f58277b (Figure 3 Unidirectional solidification textures (USTs) in the Missing Link Monzogranite overprinted by gold bearing stockwork quartz veins on the Malmsbury Project.) FALCON Gravity - A FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer and aeromagnetic survey was flown in May 2021, totalling 537.6 line kilometres. The gravity survey identified a large gravity low (1.5 x 0.8 km) potentially related to the monzogranite intrusion which crops out in the western edge of the gravity low feature. The Leven Star Lode lies on the edge of and is parallel to the gravity low (Figure 5). Drilling Program 2021 - 2022 A minimum of 2,000 m of diamond drilling is planned during late 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 to test multiple high-ranking targets (Figure 2). Drilling will target a shoot on the Leven Star Lode where historic reverse circulation ( RC ) drilling intersected 7 m @ 4.84 g/t Au (LSCR014) including 3 m @ 9.38 g/t Au from 54 m 1 . Drilling will also test up and down dip positions adjacent to high-grade intersections on the main Leven Star Lode for deposit extension and metallurgical test work purposes. ) drilling intersected 7 m @ 4.84 g/t Au (LSCR014) including 3 m @ 9.38 g/t Au from 54 m . Drilling will also test up and down dip positions adjacent to high-grade intersections on the main Leven Star Lode for deposit extension and metallurgical test work purposes. As a preliminary test, one 350 m drill hole will extend west along the Leven Star Lode to intersect the junction of a number of mineralized trends including Leven Star, Panama South and Missing Link (Figure 2). Surface mapping and soil and rock chip sampling have highlighted strong gold and multielement geochemistry and intense sheeted quartz veining and silica alteration are present at surface. The newly discovered Missing Link Granite, including Missing Link and Hanover West historic reefs (Figure 2) will be drill tested with one 400 m drill hole as an initial scout to identify the geometry and gold endowment of the monzogranite at depth. As stated above, the intrusion will be targeted as an IRG system but also as a brittle host to orogenic vein style mineralization. The Never Despair historic workings are centred on a convergence of four separate reefs. Rock chip sampling from waste rock spoils yielded consistent grades averaging 1.96 g/t Au and 260ppm Sb and peak results of 5.66 g/t Au. Drilling will aim to intersect the target down plunge at depth Drilling of two holes initially will test beneath the Queens-Egyptian and OConnors Historic reefs to test down dip continuity of high-grade historic reefs. The aforementioned results are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Malmsbury Project. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7162289e-e591-4047-82bd-724424e75ea1 (Figure 4 soil geochemistry overlying geology.) https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/555055d9-6fb4-49b7-b3f1-924bebabd4cd (Figure 5 FALCON vertical gravity gradient image highlighting the gravity low associated with outcrop of gold mineralized granite. The Leven Star deposit is parallel to and lies on the edge of a major gravity gradient.) Forward Work Program 2022 Subsequent to the 2,000 m drilling program, future work programs include a further second phase of drilling in late 2022, IP to define disseminated sulphide haloes around various gold targets including potential IRG mineralization, further expansion of systematic soil geochemistry, mapping and rock chip sampling. Analytic Methodology Soil sampling is 20 to 60 cm depth B horizon sampling sieved to -80 mesh at the lab and analysed at ALS Brisbane for Au using four acid digest 30g charge fire assay with ICPAES finish (method Au-ICP21) and multielements using four acid digest Super Trace Lowest detection limit ICPMS (method ME-MS61L). Rock chip samples and drill core is assayed at ALS Brisbane using the using four acid digest ore grade 30g charge fire assay with AA finish (method Au-AA25) and multielements using four acid digest ICPMS (method ME-MS61) after pulverization. QAQC for soil samples is completed at the rate of 4 field duplicates, 2 standards and 2 blanks per 100 samples. QAQC for rock chip samples and drill core was completed at the rate of 3 standards and 3 blanks per hundred samples. To date, there have been no limitations to the verification process and all relevant data has been verified by a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101 by reviewing analytical procedures undertaken by the various laboratories. QP STATEMENT Dr. Quinton Hennigh (P.Geo.) is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release other than the technical information extracted from the Disclosure. Dr. Hennigh is the non-executive co-chairman and a director of Novo. ABOUT NOVO Novo operates its flagship Beatons Creek gold project while exploring and developing its prospective land package covering approximately 13,250 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its shareholders. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Novo Resources Corp. Michael Spreadborough Michael Spreadborough Executive Co-Chairman Forward-looking information Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, that the drilling and future work programs described in the news release will be undertaken at the Malmsbury Project. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novos managements discussion and analysis for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, which is available under Novos profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. Table 1 2021 exploration program rock chip assay results >1 g/t Au Sample North GDA94 Z55 East GDA94 Z55 Au ppm Ag ppm As ppm Bi ppm Mo ppm Sb ppm W ppm MR0483 5880458 264166 27.1 1.69 14350 23.5 7 5610 1 MR0784 5880804 263840 16.7 0.63 563 553 14 35 43 MR0435 5879965 263401 14.65 1.03 2630 1.56 1 14 31 MR0762 5880283 263920 14.55 0.25 2000 0.5 1 8510 3 MR0814 5880075 263757 14.2 0.2 4380 19.7 3 80 111 MR0450 5880626 263665 9.74 0.04 1660 78.2 112 220 69 MR0804 5880359 263718 9.53 0.49 931 212 41 30 16 MR0811 5880184 263360 8.35 1.76 3840 52.6 3 649 32 MR0725 5880489 263374 6.89 0.2 2510 4.71 1 121 57 MR0761 5880296 263932 6.06 0.07 1255 15.3 1 122 22 MR0505 5880975 263544 5.49 0.1 2100 4.87 1 22 12 MR0793 5880724 263887 5.41 0.04 1840 70.6 19 206 169 MR0695 5880751 263491 5.01 0.15 1415 5.38 1 52 33 MR0521 5880053 263604 4.83 5.71 48.1 1100 4 58 73 MR0737 5880570 264026 4.82 0.33 245 704 38 379 450 MR0428 5880842 263471 4.55 0.16 2890 8.97 2 8 15 MR0433 5880067 263374 4.43 0.22 1675 12.7 1 64 9 MR0511 5880248 263523 4.11 3.54 1530 32.6 16 182 18 MR0764 5880287 263904 3.44 0.01 215 0.93 1 24 6 MR0724 5880431 263377 2.96 0.28 1290 24 5 123 27 MR0723 5880356 263366 2.94 0.09 1440 2.36 1 57 29 MR0437 5879889 263429 2.9 0.32 2080 1.88 1 20 397 MR0606 5882231 264015 2.78 0.04 3140 0.27 0 42 13 MR0514 5880263 263535 2.76 1.85 6520 2.59 3 116 29 MR0430 5880849 263506 2.69 0.49 951 938 20 15 6 MR0835 5880148 263708 2.57 0.11 1610 16.8 12 158 225 MR0489 5880945 263989 2.41 1.45 6420 2.7 6 25 8 MR0697 5880684 263399 2.37 0.11 4060 150 3 101 14 MR0791 5880726 264043 2.36 0.25 849 723 99 17 309 MR0692 5880778 263567 2.34 0.04 2540 1.1 2 26 670 MR0446 5880780 263477 2.27 0.22 5230 2.14 4 14 12 MR0707 5880563 263519 2.25 0.01 3050 5.91 85 1885 366 MR0649 5881292 263796 2.24 0.63 2080 11.8 56 9 32 MR0507 5881000 263538 2.23 0.16 2280 1.76 0 16 25 MR0524 5880014 263656 2.23 0.52 2060 211 5 68 195 MR0420 5880823 263473 2.04 0.1 3820 2.41 12 13 16 MR0476 5880346 264379 2.04 1.05 547 574 20 1480 5 MR0613 5881734 263634 2.02 0.03 1380 0.27 0 22 6 MR0712 5880477 263467 1.97 0.03 1020 2.44 6 26 19 MR0850 5880349 263562 1.88 2.7 1760 844 18 605 291 MR0767 5880356 263949 1.84 0.29 1210 55.3 19 40 75 MR0442 5879831 263475 1.83 0.4 4350 2.16 0 7 16 MR0485 5880486 264160 1.82 0.18 1650 7.94 0 710 3 MR0711 5880474 263501 1.78 0.37 3850 1.2 14 26 31 MR0475 5880364 264376 1.77 1.22 189 1.11 5 103 35 MR0848 5880358 263559 1.76 0.2 499 32.4 4 37 20 MR0672 5880900 263603 1.65 0.1 2210 1.83 0 15 10 MR0847 5880417 263515 1.6 0.17 1335 16.6 4 193 88 MR0796 5880796 263965 1.59 0.18 2060 437 15 26 85 MR0445 5880781 263479 1.58 0.27 1880 236 9 17 7 MR0616 5881799 263725 1.54 1.81 1500 57.5 1 47 8 MR0716 5880451 263451 1.48 0.02 2060 8.4 3 16 25 MR0813 5880083 263763 1.46 0.63 1120 180 33 62 78 MR0627 5881588 263817 1.45 0.21 2430 2.14 0 84 17 MR0538 5880487 263692 1.42 0.02 1290 10.6 117 76 14 MR0787 5880830 263904 1.4 0.13 1620 102 34 15 46 MR0559 5881314 263809 1.39 0.12 1370 54.2 1 159 38 MR0732 5880600 263991 1.39 0.17 1480 267 31 27 100 MR0506 5880992 263542 1.37 0.09 1040 0.81 1 7 7 MR0460 5880543 263691 1.36 0.03 1930 20.6 76 29 32 MR0451 5880636 263667 1.33 0 999 28.1 51 39 76 MR0754 5880700 263825 1.3 0.05 4900 1.14 10 45 142 MR0805 5880341 263732 1.26 0.08 1605 30.7 39 265 48 MR0550 5881316 263999 1.25 0.27 1480 1.05 1 10 15 MR0714 5880462 263452 1.22 0.05 2140 64.5 11 50 25 MR0474 5880392 264370 1.2 0.51 544 89.1 10 18 65 MR0438 5879888 263436 1.18 0.39 1390 18.3 9 40 200 MR0685 5880998 263348 1.18 0.27 629 0.74 19 176 3 MR0590 5881571 263997 1.09 0.04 233 0.03 1 7 5 MR0465 5880522 263676 1.07 0 284 14 18 59 10 MR0512 5880258 263523 1.07 0.3 2400 5.96 314 2940 7 MR0530 5879836 263475 1.05 0.11 3380 2.21 0 6 10 MR0799 5880535 263726 1.01 0.84 508 128 11 14 175 MR0520 5880054 263608 1 6.88 120.5 381 12 23 113 ___________________________________ 1 Refer to relevant reports filed on the Geological Survey of Victorias website. 2 Refer to the Companys news release dated May 13, 2021. 3 Kirwin D.J., 2005. Unidirectional solidification textures associated with intrusion-related Mongolian mineral deposits, IAGOD Guidebook Series pp 63-84. 4 Refer to AuStars public disclosure record which is available here. 5 Refer to relevant reports filed on the Geological Survey of Victorias website. EBENE, Mauritius, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xange.com, a sustainably run securities exchange operated in partnership with the United Nations, announced today that it will develop a Carbon Credit Solution on the carbon neutral XRP Ledger (XRPL). Xange.com is working hand in hand with the UN Development System (UNDS), focusing on African market infrastructure solutions for carbon markets and to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, Xange.com is preparing the launch of the implementation of its voluntary carbon credit infrastructure to channel Carbon Credit Offsets from the African Great Green Wall Initiative. Xange.com will develop a Carbon Credit Solution on the XRP Ledger for the issuance of tokenized carbon credits, in accordance with standards set by the leading industry working groups like the InterWork Alliance (IWA), a Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) initiative, and the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM), of which Xange.com is a member. The IWA Sustainability Business Working Group created the Voluntary Ecological Markets (VEM) Taskforce to define the standards for tokenization of key elements for carbon credits, including contractual extensions, workflows, and analytics for creating a standards-based ecological market. These standards, based on the IWA's Token Taxanomy Framework (for token standards) and InterWork Framework (for smart contract standards), will serve as foundations for the Xange.com Carbon Credit Solution on the XRP Ledger. Xange.com chose to build on the XRP Ledger given its performance, scalability and inherently green attributes. The XRP Ledger was built with sustainability in mind and is one of the first major carbon neutral blockchains. Due to its Federated Consensus algorithm, the XRPL is significantly more energy efficient compared to proof-of-work blockchains and ensures low-cost transactions. Key focus points of Xange.com include the role of climate change and climate security, the prevention and mitigation of illicit financial transactions and on carbon emission initiatives using blockchain technology to bring transparency to carbon accounting by avoiding double counting of emission reductions or removals. No Offer, Solicitation, Investment Advice or Recommendations This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, nor does it constitute an offer to provide investment advisory or other services by Xange.com or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees. No reference to any specific security constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that security or any other security. Nothing in this release shall be considered a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any security, future, option or other financial instrument or to offer or provide any investment advice or service to any person in any jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this release constitutes investment advice or offers any opinion with respect to the suitability of any security, and the views expressed in this release should not be taken as advice to buy, sell or hold any security. In preparing the information contained in this release, we have not taken into account the investment needs, objectives, and financial circumstances of any particular investor. This information has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any specific recipient of this information and investments discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Any views expressed in this release by us were prepared based upon the information available to us at the time such views were written. Changed or additional information could cause such views to change. All information is subject to possible corrections. Information may quickly become unreliable for various reasons, including changes in market conditions or economic circumstances. Xange.com is not a registered broker-dealer, funding portal, underwriter, investment bank, investment adviser or investment manager, and is not providing brokerage, investment banking or underwriting services, recommendations or investment advice to any person, and does not provide any brokerage services. Xange.com takes no part in the negotiation or execution of secondary market transactions for the purchase or sale of securities and, at no time, has possession of investor funds or securities in connection with such transactions. About Xange.com Xange.com Limited (Mauritius) has been the selected partner of the United Nations, as the preferred private sector counterpart to establish and sustainably run a securities exchange in the Republic of Mauritius. Xange.com will carry the ethical banking stamp from UNODC as the custodian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), and thus, shall be held as an example of a financial platform that upholds the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals (UN SDGs). Xange.com is a private sector company with vast experience in digitalization, blockchain and fintech solutions. Xange.com democratizes access to private assets by providing a simple, automated, and efficient trading venue to broker-dealers, institutions, and investors. For more information on Xange.com, please visit https://www.xange.com. About the InterWork Alliance (IWA) The InterWork Alliance (IWA), an initiative of the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), empowers organizations to adopt and use token-powered services in their day-to-day operations, across use cases and networks, bringing inclusivity to globally distributed applications. Founded in 2020, and merged in 2021 with the GBBC, the leading global industry association for the blockchain ecosystem, IWA is a key rallying point for organizations to collaborate on market-driven interwork standards and taxonomy to transform digital interchanges of value. Our global membership includes leaders, adopters, innovators, developers, and businesses representing the best practices for every use case the token-powered ecosystem has to offer. To join the IWA, please reach out to membership@gbbcouncil.org. To learn more about the IWA, please visit https://interwork.org/. About the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM) The Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM) is a private sector-led initiative working to scale an effective and efficient voluntary carbon market to help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Taskforce was initiated by Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance; is chaired by Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered; and is sponsored by the Institute of International Finance (IIF) under the leadership of IIF President and CEO, Tim Adams. Annette Nazareth, senior counsel at Davis Polk and former Commissioner of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, serves as the Operating Lead for the Taskforce. McKinsey & Company provides knowledge and advisory support. The TSVCM's over 250 member institutions represent buyers and sellers of carbon credits, standard setters, the financial sector, market infrastructure providers, civil society, international organizations and academics. An advisory board of 20 environmental NGOs, investor alliances, academics and international organizations provide guidance on TSVCM recommendations. The Taskforce's unique value proposition has been to bring all parts of the value chain to work intensively together and to provide recommended actions for the most pressing pain-points facing voluntary carbon markets. To learn more about the TSVCM, please visit https://www.iif.com/tsvcm. Press Contact Xange.com PR Team: press@xange.com Related Images Image 1: Xange.com Logo Xange.com Trademark Black and Blue This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment San Antonio, TX, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plus One Robotics, the leading 3D vision software maker for logistics robotics published new research findings from a study that examined warehouses in the US and Europe to understand warehouse footprints, square footage and number of employees working in the locations. The company commissioned the research, carried out by market intelligence firm Interact Analysis, to also study which roles are carried out by these workers. Plus One sought to understand how many people are performing common warehouse tasks in environments such as ecommerce fulfilment and distribution centers that could potentially be automated. The research found that automation is driving sustained jobs growth, as automation creates a virtuous circle: robots arent being used to displace manual workers rather, robots are used alongside personnel to augment overall productivity. Warehouse operators and logistics companies face a critical struggle to meet the ever-increasing consumer demands that far outweigh anything that could be met with human manpower alone. The International Federation of Robotics has often pointed out that Germany and Japan have some of the highest concentrations of industrial robots per head of manufacturing workers in the developed world. And yet it will come as no surprise to most to learn that Germany and Japan also have amongst the largest numbers of manufacturing jobs in the developed world. The same logic applies here," said Ash Sharma, Senior Research Director, Interact Analysis. He continues, Our research shows that warehouse automation is an understandable necessity in a fast-growing market. As automation gets more advanced, it makes fulfillment cheaper and more efficient, resulting in more consumers choosing to shop online leading to greater warehousing demand. On this basis, and assuming the overall warehouse market keeps growing, the warehouse companies that automate the most will also grow the most, and therefore it will be these companies that create the most jobs of all types including manual warehouse roles." The evidence suggests that many of the people who gravitated to e-commerce temporarily during COVID-19 will stick with it permanently. During the lengthy periods of lockdown, huge numbers of consumers bought essentials from light bulbs to shoes to prescriptions that they wouldnt previously have purchased online. For many, they will not be going back, and they want their orders sooner. The average package delivery time in the US decreased from 2.1 days before the pandemic to 1.7 days by the end of 2020, according to ParcelLab.* The research, which involved speaking to almost every single significant warehouse automation provider globally, revealed: -The US had 1.6 million warehouse employees in 2019 which is forecast to grow to just under 2 million in 2024, while Europe had 2.5 million warehouse employees in 2019 which is forecast to grow to 3.1 million in 2024. -Both Europe and the US are forecast to grow with a similar CAGR of approximately 4% between 2019 and 2024, With demand forecast at this rate, the research found that one million additional warehouse employees will be required, or 25% growth in five years. Plus One was founded on the notion that people and robots working together is the best solution in the warehouse. Our goal has been to help humans move to value-added positions by building software that functions intelligently on its own, but also recognizing that no fully autonomous software solution will be perfect on its own. Robots are useful tools, but they function best with intelligent software and human oversight. We see first-hand the challenges our customers are facing to meet labor shortages, and this research confirms that even with the forecast levels of automation, well need more humans in the loop," said Erik Nieves, CEO and co-founder, Plus One Robotics. The survey also examined which tasks required the most workers, and which were the fastest growing areas for automation. Goods-to-person (G2P) picking is the fastest growing warehouse activity where items are delivered to sorting and packing stations. G2P picking leverages AMRs and is scalable, enabling warehouse operators to economically automate in existing environments. Packing and conveyor induction were also in the top three fastest growing positions. These three sectors represented 17% of all warehouse roles in 2019 (over 693,000 jobs), but this figure will be 21% by 2024 (over 1,000,000 jobs) a CAGR of 9.3%. Download the white paper, The Great Exploding Warehouse, for more details. Research publication date: May 2021. https://plusonerobotics.com/resources/white-paper-the-great-exploding-warehouse/ *Interact Analysis Warehouse Automation 2021 ### About Plus One Robotics, Inc. Plus One Robotics was founded in 2016, with a mission to bring leading-edge 3D and AI vision to industrial robots, enabling hand-eye coordination for material handling in the warehouse. Founded by computer vision and robotics industry veterans, Plus One's novel approach to human/robot collaboration and supervised autonomy ensures fast, accurate, and scalable solutions, with one person able to manage many robots simultaneously. Plus One's customers include logistics and ecommerce leaders in the Fortune 100; the company is headquartered in San Antonio, TX, with offices in Boulder, CO and The Netherlands. Visit www.plusonerobotics.com for more information, and follow us on www.linkedin.com/PlusOne-Robotics. Attachment Ramsey, NJ, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A, Inc. (Konica Minolta) is proud to announce it has received a Buyers Lab (BLI) 2022 Pick Award in the Document Imaging Software category. This accolade recognizes the most impressive solutions evaluated by Keypoint Intelligence during the previous 12-month test cycle. Konica Minoltas Dispatcher Phoenix advanced document workflow solution won the award for Outstanding Workflow Automation Platform. As employees continue to demand better ways of working, technology needs to keep up with the transforming workplace, said Manuel Couceiro, Vice President, Solutions Engineering Center, Konica Minolta. Thank you to Keypoint Intelligence for recognizing that Konica Minolta understands the needs of our customers. This award confirms we are providing companies with the most efficient and intelligent solution for their business and document processing needs. With Dispatcher Phoenixs innovative workflow automation, our customers can optimize their productivity and reduce their costs while streamlining their business and day-to-day document workflows. According to Keypoint Intelligence, Konica Minolta Dispatcher Phoenix is ideal for businesses looking to automate frequently recurring, document-centric processes. Not only does the solution free employees from time-consuming, error-prone tasks so they can focus on more important matters, but it also reduces mistakes, double-work and wasted motion from eating way at profitability. Businesses are in constant pursuit of a better, faster, less expensive way of doing things. They are always asking, How can I do more with less? How can I be better than my competition? To many, the answer to both those questions and more is digital transformation, said Lee Davis, Associate Director of Software/Scanners at Keypoint Intelligence. We spent the last year testing all kinds of document imaging solutions that enable businesses to undergo digital transformation, from embedded print apps and print/fleet management solutions to full-blown content management and workflow automation software. This years winning solutions stand out for a variety of reasons, such as their productivity-enhancing features, ease of use, exceptional value and other key attributes. Konica Minoltas Dispatcher Phoenix provides organizations of all sizes, from small-to-medium sized businesses to the enterprise, with the opportunity to increase their efficiencies, secure important business information, drive productive collaborations, and distribute documents directly to content management systems via its powerful, automated processing features, batch scanning/indexing tools, secure print release system and direct connectors to other vendors systems. Learn more online about Konica Minoltas award-winning Dispatcher Phoenix advanced document workflow solution. About Konica Minolta Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the workplace to achieve true connectivity through the Intelligent Connected Workplace. The company guides and supports its clients digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), intelligent information management, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRNs MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for fourteen consecutive years, and is proud to be ranked on the Forbes 2021 America's Best-in-State employers list. The company received Keypoint Intelligences BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. About Keypoint Intelligence For 60 years, clients in the digital imaging industry have relied on Keypoint Intelligence for independent hands-on testing, lab data, and extensive market research to drive their product and sales success. Keypoint Intelligence has been recognized as the industrys most trusted resource for unbiased information, analysis, and awards due to decades of analyst experience. Customers have harnessed this mission-critical knowledge for strategic decision-making, daily sales enablement, and operational excellence to improve business goals and increase bottom lines. With a central focus on clients, Keypoint Intelligence continues to evolve as the industry changes by expanding offerings and updating methods, while intimately understanding and serving manufacturers, channels, and their customers transformation in the digital printing and imaging sector. About BLI Document Imaging Software Pick Awards Buyers Lab Document Imaging Software Picks stand alone in the industry and are hard-earned awards as they are based on rigorous testing, including evaluation of key attributes such as features, usability, and value. Each product that passes its Keypoint Intelligence lab test earns a Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating, with the best performers qualifying as Pick contenders. # # # # # Attachments SAN DIEGO, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shareholder Rights Law Firm Johnson Fistel, LLP, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of IronNet, Inc. (NYSE: IRNT). Specifically, Johnson Fistel's investigation seeks to determine whether the Company issued false or misleading statements or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. On December 15, 2021, IronNet announced its financial results for the third quarter ended October 31, 2021, and issued revenue guidance for the year. For 2022, IronNet expects revenue of approximately $26 million; previous guidance, issued in September 2021, was $43-45 million. Following this news, IronNet stock was trading down 25%, in pre-market trading, on December 16, 2021. If you have information that could assist in this investigation, or if you are an IronNet shareholder and are interested in learning more about the investigation, please contact Jim Baker (jimb@johnsonfistel.com) at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number. Additionally, you can [Click here to join this action]. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Johnson Fistel, LLP: Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact: Johnson Fistel, LLP Jim Baker, 619-814-4471 jimb@johnsonfistel.com [Click here to join this action] Dublin, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Construction Equipment Market - Strategic Assessment & Forecast 2021-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. U.S. construction equipment market size will be valued at USD 32.68 billion and to reach a volume of 191,836 units by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.23% by volume during 2021-2027 The reopening of manufacturing plants after COVID-19 and building more manufacturing plants to reduce the growth of unemployment going to be driving factors for the demand of construction equipment market by manufacturing. The construction sector at various levels under private, state, and federal governments are all expected to boom away with double-digit growth at least through 2022 and 2023 due to the increase in arms exports from the United States to boost the construction equipment market. U.S. CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT MARKET INSIGHTS The demand for construction equipment is strong in the US primarily due to the government's significant support for technologically advanced equipment in manufacturing, energy, and power, transportation, hybrid vehicles, and other industries. The use of prefabricated units in the construction of buildings is likely to boost the construction equipment market. The construction equipment market is expected to fuel due to the high demand for electric vehicles. KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT By switching to intelligent systems driven by IoT and data analysis for service, networking, and sustainability. The construction equipment market is booming in the US. Although end-users still buy most construction equipment, an increasing proportion are being bought by construction equipment companies from domestic players in the US. UNITED STATES CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT MARKET - SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS Due to the US government's increase in construction spending, equipment used in the construction industry accounted for the largest market share of nearly 50% in 2020. Demand for earthmoving equipment in the US is increasing rapidly due to several infrastructure projects introduced by the US government, such as Airport Development Projects. Its excavation feature carries large amounts of weight. VENDOR LANDSCAPE The construction equipment market is consolidated, with Caterpillar the leader, followed by John Deere and Komatsu. Hitachi Construction Machinery dissolves joint venture John Deere outlines a bold vision for HCMA in the Americas. Hitachi ZW180-6 Wheel Loader Presented 2020 Top 100 New Products Award by Construction Equipment Magazine. KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: What is the current size of the United States construction equipment market? What are the new market trends impacting the growth of the construction equipment market in the U.S.? Who are the key players in the US heavy construction equipment market? Which market segment holds the highest share of the construction equipment market? What are the applications in the United States construction equipment market? Major Vendors Caterpillar Komatsu Hitachi Volvo Terex Corporation Liebherr John Deere SANY Group Hyundai Heavy Industries Kobelco Construction Machinery. Other Prominent Vendors Manitowoc JLG Industries Kubota Corporation ASTEC Industries Bobcat Distributor Profiles M&B Construction Equipment Lulich Implement Lindstrom Equipment WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS REPORT? This report is among the few in the market that offers outlook and opportunity analysis forecast in terms of: Volume (Unit sales) Excavator Type Application Value (USD) Excavator Type Application Gain competitive intelligence about the economic scenario, advantages in the United States, major projects and investments, market dynamics, and market share Examples of latest technologies Get presentation-ready format and easy-to-interpret data. Enable decision-makers to make informed and profitable choices Gain expert quantitative and qualitative analysis on value/volume growth projections of the United States construction equipment market share. Complete supply chain analysis Get COVID-19 impact analysis of the market. Company Profile of 15 significant vendors Key Topics Covered: Section 1 - Introduction Market Snapshot Executive Summary Section 2 - Market Overview Current Economic Scenario, Foreign Direct Investment, Competitive Advantages Enjoyed by US, Key Economic Regions, Import/Export Trends, Supply Chain Analysis, COVID-19 Impact Section 3 - Technological Development Advent of New Technology Section 4 - Market Dynamics Market Drivers, Restraints, & Trends Section 5 - US Construction Equipment (Type & Application) 5.1 US Construction Equipment Market by Type (Volume & Value) 5.1.1. Earthmoving Equipment 5.1.2. Road Construction Equipment 5.1.3. Material Handling Equipment 5.2 US Construction Equipment Market by Application (Volume & Value) Section 6 - Competitive Landscape 1. Competitive Landscape Overview 2. Company Profile of Major Vendors (Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Volvo Construction Equipment, Terex Corporation, Liebherr, Deere & Company, SANY America, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, Kobelco Construction Machinery U.S.A) 3. Other Prominent Vendors 4. Distributors Profile Section 7 - Report Summary 1. Key Insights Section 8 - Report Scope & Definition For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/u5qwuj LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via CryptoCurrencyWire -- SiGMAs flagship event, SiGMA Europe, was held to great acclaim at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre in Malta last month. Following nearly two years of an unexpected disruption, SiGMA Europe brought four key conferences together for SiGMAs largest event to date - the week-long Malta Week, a multidisciplinary celebration and exploration of the commercial and technological synergies within the emerging tech, digital & affiliate marketing and gaming sectors. Segments featured Ferraris and experimental cocktail bars on the gargantuan expo floor as well as Malta Prime Minister Robert Abela and pop star Akon as keynote speakers. This years SiGMA Europe conference was an incredible event for the 10,000+ guests and 100s of corporate exhibitors in attendance. The first day of SiGMA Europe played host to the Sigma Europe Gaming Awards, one of the most prestigious and renowned rewards within the iGaming industry today. The event attracts a host of top-tier companies and gaming representatives worldwide. Presented by Jon Thompson and SiGMAs Lorraine Sammut, the awards highlighted some of the standout performers over the year across a series of different categories, including Online Casino Provider, Esport Product, Sportsbook Operator and Online Payment Solution. The event commenced with a rousing speech delivered by the SiGMA Foundations Keith Marshall, who urged attendees that it was now their opportunity to make a difference, stating, With you guys on board the skys the limit. Dont sit on the fence of indifference this is your opp to shine. The awards show was immediately followed by an art auction, with proceeds going to the SiGMA Foundation. The auctions highlight was undoubtedly a piece entitled King of Cards by Derek Mason, which sought to explore the synergy between fiat and crypto with the artwork attracting a staggering 8,000 EUR winning bid. The inaugural session also played host to the first Startup Pitch competition. Over 100 startups were meticulously selected to showcase their products and initiatives at the conference. Ten exceptional business startups were chosen to take to the stage to battle it out for a prize pool that included mentorship, media exposure and investment opportunities. The ultimate winner was HyperSKU, a unique startup designed to provide eCommerce businesses with a one-stop drop shipping solution. In addition to a variety of award and network events, this years conference featured a myriad of world-class speakers, industry experts and thought leaders presenting on three distinct tracks, including the Main Stage, the Workshop Stage, and the Ikigai Ventures Stage, with the latter hosted by the eponymous early-stage venture capital firm. In addition, roundtable discussions and keynote speeches throughout the event covered a wide array of thought-provoking topics such as Finding Alpha in Todays Markets: All-Start Venture Capitalists Discuss, Money for Play: Credit without Banks?, The Shift towards Equity Takeaways from four years of Blockchain-related transactions, Akons Vision for Crypto Adoption in Africa and The Next Frontier: Emerging Investment Areas. As part of its collaboration as the official newswire, CryptoCurrencyWire syndicated articles throughout its multifaceted network of 5,000+ downstream partners and further enhanced media exposure through dozens of IBNs investor-oriented brands, which collectively have 2+ million social media likes and followers. The media campaign also included ongoing outreach to crypto-friendly journalists and wire-grade press releases. Following the exciting and successful conclusion of the conferences comprising the Malta Week 2021, the SiGMA Group plans to take the world by storm, with the golden steeples of Kiev and the snowy city of Toronto set to be upcoming hubs, bringing together the best and brightest of the iGaming world together. First, however, the SiGMA Asia expo travels to the bustling metropolis of the United Arab Emirates on March 21-24, 2022. You wont want to miss these three days of networking, panel discussions and festivities. About Malta Week For the first time ever, SiGMA Group brought its 4 leading shows together for the mother of all conferences. From the 15th to the 19th of November, SiGMA, alongside AGS and AIBC, brought the best in the business to a first-class meeting point at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre (MFCC). Malta Week was a chance for investors to leverage the significant crossover potential for multi-faceted business deals and to double down on opportunities to connect with some of the leading affiliates, policy makers, thought leaders, suppliers and operators in the industry. About CryptoCurrencyWire CryptoCurrencyWire (CCW) is a financial news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets, (3) enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) to nearly 2 million followers, and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CCW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, CCW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CCW is where news, content and information about crypto converge. To receive instant SMS alerts from CryptoCurrencyWire, text CRYPTO to 77948 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information, please visit https://www.CryptoCurrencyWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CryptoCurrencyWire website applicable to all content provided by CCW, wherever published or re-published: https://CCW.fm/Disclaimer Corporate Communications The 6th Installment in the Award-winning Series by Dr. Sanjay Gupta will Air on Sunday, December 19th at 9pm ET BALTIMORE, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greater Cannabis Company, Inc. (GCANRx or the Company) (OTC: GCAN) a biopharmaceutical company pioneering development of next generation cannabinoid therapeutics is pleased to announce that its strategic advisor and developer of GCANRxs licensed cannabinoid therapeutic, Dr. Adi Aran, M.D., will be interviewed as a world-renowned thought leader and pioneer in cannabis research on CNNs Award-winning Series airing Sunday, December 19th at 9 pm ET. In the original Award-winning documentary CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta sets out around the globe to investigate the medical benefits of medical marijuana. WEED, which premiered in 2015, highlights the remarkable benefits of CBD and the changing laws granting parents and doctors the ability to use CBD in treating children. In this documentary, Gupta follows several families who have seen the miraculous benefits of the plant on their children struggling with autism. Dr. Aran is regarded as a world-renowned expert on autism and cannabinoid research and is credited with conducting pioneering clinical studies on the use of cannabinoid therapeutics in autism. CNN Special Report WEED 6: Cannabis and Autism will stream live for cable subscribers via CNNgo ( CNN.com/go and via CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV and Android TV) and on the CNN mobile apps for iOS and Android. The special will be available on demand beginning Sunday, December 19th via cable/satellite systems, CNNgo platforms and CNN mobile apps. For more information about the special visit https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2021/12/02/cnn-special-report-weed-6-cannabis-and-autism/ About Dr. Adi Aran, M.D. Dr. Aran is a physician, scientist, respected key opinion leader and inventor of the cannabinoid neuropsychiatric therapeutic that the Company has licensed from Shaare Zedek Scientific Ltd. He is also the Director of Pediatric Neurology at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Dr. Aran is well known for his pioneering study on cannabinoids in autistic children. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related genetic disorders. His research is focused on the endocannabinoid system involvement in ASD and related genetic disorders and the evaluation of new therapies for the treatment of these disorders. Dr. Aran serves as a member of the International Society for Autism Research. He completed his medical studies at the Hebrew University and continued his training as Postdoctoral research fellow in Stanford, CA. Dr. Aran is regarded as a pioneer in the research of medical cannabis in Autism, a subject that is currently receiving public attention worldwide. ENDS For GCANRx Investor Relations inquiries visit www.gcanrx.com , or contact info@gcanrx.com . To receive the latest information about GCANRx sign up to the investor email at https://bit.ly/2ZNlBoj or follow @GCANRX on Twitter. About Greater Cannabis Company: The Greater Cannabis Company (OTCQB: GCAN ), (GCANRx or the Company) is a fully reporting publicly traded biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new and effective cannabinoid therapeutics. The Company conducts medical research, and is pursuing clinical trials, to develop innovative cannabis-based treatments for various medical conditions and their symptoms with an initial focus on neuropsychiatric disorders. GCANRxs mission is to bring its products to the global market for the benefit of patients seeking better solutions for their unmet medical needs. Disclaimer: Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are 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. These statements involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty, are predictions only and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include the uncertainty regarding viability and market acceptance of the Companys products and services, the ability to complete development plans in a timely manner, changes in relationships with third parties, product mix sold by the Company and other factors described in the Companys most recent periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain 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 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the Company's product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statement that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management's current beliefs and assumptions. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential, "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Attachment Denver, CO, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- CBD Global Sciences, Inc. (OTC: CBDNF) (CSE: CBDN) (Frankfurt:GS3), CBD Global or the Company), is pleased to share their Q3 2021 results with highlighted details on the Companys progress. The Company filed its Q3 financials and MD&A on November 29, 2021 to the regulators and the Canadian Securities Exchange. The financials submitted reflect some of the positive results of the debt restructuring that followed activities that dealt with the impact of the global pandemic in 2020 and the filing of Chapter 7 bankruptcies for two of its subsidiary companies in US Federal Bankruptcy courts in March of 2021. The revenues for brands Aethics (www.aethics.com) and CannaOil (www.cannaoilshop.com) grinded to a halt with the bankruptcy of Global NV, a subsidiary of the Company that owned both brands. During the bankruptcy process all sales generated from those brands were the property of the estates for the two subsidiaries and were not recognized by the Company. Since then, the Company has successfully re-acquired both brands, their trademarks, URLs, websites and all related inventory from the Federal Trustee overseeing the bankruptcies of the subsidiaries. Prior to that event it was not beneficial for the Company to engage in any activities that promoted the brands while the brands were the property of the estate. This included pursuit of large retail sales and e-commerce sales. For that reason, top line revenue prior to and including Q3 2021 are lower, relative to what was seen prior to 2020. With that background information we are pleased to see in the Q3 2021 financial report signs of success that will preview more of what is to come in the new year. Same quarter revenues increased by $20,491.00 USD for Q3 2021 and the gross profit for that activity increased by 2654%, mainly due to reduction in operating costs that resulted from proactive cost reductions in response to the global pandemic the year prior. Now that the brands are being reactivated we anticipate improvement to both topline revenues and profit in the new year. The acquisition of Resinosa LLC, a cGMP manufacturing company that CBDGS acquired in October 2021, will enhance both top line revenue and profitability of the Company, which should impact the financials beginning in Q4 2021. Investors will also see an operating net income of $3,403,412.00 for Q3 2021 that is due to the positive effect of the deconsolidation of the two bankrupt subsidiaries from the Companys financials. This will carry over to a year-to-date Operating Net Income of $1,554,502.00 USD for the company compared to a $(3,032,455.00) USD loss for same period in 2020. For the balance sheet we reported a reduction of liabilities down from $8,747,885.00 USD to $6,157,883.00 USD YTD. This is anticipated to continue to improve through Q4 2021, all from the deconsolidation and debt restructuring efforts. When the Companys debt restructuring activities are completed, we anticipate to report a total liability for the Company of less than $1M USD (1) as a result of the continued efforts of the company to restructure its liabilities. Brad Wyatt, CEO of CBD Global Sciences, shared, Our Company has endured a very tumultuous period of time with all that has transpired over the past 18 months. I am pleased to share the fruits of our labor and will highlight that the best is yet to come. I am extremely thankful for those behind the scenes that continue to support our efforts to get our Company positioned where we should be in our industry - at the top. ABOUT CBD GLOBAL SCIENCES INC. CBD Global Sciences, Inc., is a hemp-based CBD producer and branding investment vehicle which currently owns two brands, branded under the name Aethics (www.aethics.com) and CANNAOIL (www.cannaoilshop.com), which include CBD Oil tinctures (liquid products), CBD capsules, CBD topicals, Hydration products and Confectionary products. CBD Global Sciences hemp-derived CBD extracts are sold through select distributors, brick and mortar retailers, and online. CBD Global Sciences, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Global Sciences Holdings, Resinosa LLC (www.resinosa.com) and Legacy Distribution Group, (www.legacydistributiongroup.com), is delivering quality CBD products both in a retail and e-commerce formats nationwide. The Direct Store Delivery (DSD) provides distribution services for multiple vendors of CBD infused products and non-CBD products throughout the Colorado and Wyoming territories that are currently servicing over 750 C-store and large box retailers with expansion plans to exceed 5,000 stores in the next 12-24 months. In addition to Legacy Distribution it has added a manufacturing division, Resinosa LLC (www.Resinosa.com ), with its capabilities to provide cGMP manufacturing to the CBD industry with both private label and white label CBD and non-CBD product lines. (1) Excluding any new debt secured by the company to fund capital expenditures or operational overhead. For further information, please contact Investor Relations at 720-881-2541 or email info@cbdglobalsciences.com NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future developments and the business and operations of the Corporation after the CSE listing. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to 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; and delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. OTTAWA, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skills/Competences Canada and Lets Talk Science have once again joined forces to engage students in career discovery and exploration in another round of the Lets Talk Careers Competition. The fall competition was held from October 25 to December 3, 2021, on the ChatterHigh platform. Participating students learned about careers in the skilled trades, technologies and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This round of the Lets Talk Careers Competition had great participation from students across Canada which included 6,347 students from 241 schools in 115 school districts who visited 544,704 web pages to explore post-secondary, career and labour market information. In addition, 377 students won bursaries. The top schools, who received cash awards, were W.J. Mouat Secondary in BC, Bathurst High School in NB, Grace Christian School in PEI, and Ecole Saint-Jacques in NB. Skills Canada Saskatchewan shared their perspective on the impact of this competition as they recently held a Saskatchewans Most Informed School/Student provincial competition. Online competitions like these are important for Skills/Competences Canada and its Member Organizations because we are normally in the classroom providing hands-on programming with the students, but we cant do that during the pandemic. Virtual competitions help us overcome these challenges because we can get right in front of the students, we are on their devices and computers, which helps them learn and get interested in skilled trade and technology careers. Also, this provincial competition allowed us to reach more remote and isolated communities in the province of Saskatchewan, said Colin Phippard, Executive Director of Skills Canada Saskatchewan. The ChatterHigh platform is simple to use and fun for students and teachers. It connects students to career opportunities and they can also win cash prizes. Every time a student answers a question during the competition, they are directed to the website of a company, college or university where there is information that can positively affect their lives. The Lets Talk Careers Competition is a great tool to engage students and allows them to make connections to educational pathways in the skilled trades, technologies and STEM. When I went to school I didnt have the opportunity to explore all of these careers and I think its awesome because every time students were on ChatterHigh, I got a new question from them. This competition piques their curiosity and opens up options for them, said Mr. Dzuba, teacher at St. Theodore School, SK. I learned quite a bit about skilled trades and about universities and colleges. I only knew about one university before I took ChatterHigh and now I know lots of them! said Ronnie G., student at St. Theodore School, SK. Skills Canada Saskatchewan will be hosting a provincial competition from April 4 to 13, 2022. In addition, the next national competition will take place from April 11 to May 20, 2022. Canadian schools can participate for FREE. Learn more at: resources.chatterhigh.com/lets-talk-careers. About Skills/Competences Canada Founded in 1989 as a national, not-for-profit organization with partner Skills Canada organizations in each of the provinces/territories that work with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. Its unique position among private and public sector partners enables it to work toward securing Canadas future skilled labour needs while helping young people discover rewarding careers. Skills Canada offers experiential learning opportunities including skilled trade and technology competitions for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians through regional, provincial/territorial, national and international events, as well as skilled trade awareness programs. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Skills/Competences Canada is the Canadian Member Organization of WorldSkills. Follow Skills/Competences Canada on Twitter , Facebook , YouTube , Flickr , Instagram and LinkedIn . About Lets Talk Science Lets Talk Science is a national charitable organization committed to inspiring and empowering Canadian youth to develop the skills they need to participate and thrive in an ever-changing world. To accomplish this, Lets Talk Science offers a comprehensive suite of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based programs to support youth, educators and volunteers across Canada. For more information about Let's Talk Science, visit www.letstalkscience.ca . Media Contacts: Michele Rogerson, Skills Canada, micheler@skillscanada.com, T. 613-266-4771. Kate Soper, Lets Talk Science, ksoper@letstalkscience.ca T. 709-689-4303. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/68319758-b0c4-4d84-af87-4d220b7ecc82 DENVER, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axcient, a leader in business availability software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has awarded Axcients x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud (D2C) with Local Cache a top product for 2021 in the Storage Category. Axcients x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud provides full disaster recovery capabilities for multiple business casesfrom local endpoint backup to full cloud-based Disaster Recoverywith a single, affordable, easy-to-use solution. Local Cache enables MSPs to offer their clients the speed of local recovery with the choice to use any hardware, including low-cost USB devices, to quickly recover in the case of data loss. The CRN Products of the Year Awards are given to standout products and services representing the best-in-breed technological innovation backed by a supportive channel partner program. The companies being recognized in this years Products of the Year Awards provide innovative offerings to meet the continuously evolving needs of the IT market. Axcient is committed to innovating for channel partners who are taking on challenges like serving the remote workforce and protecting client data against threats like ransomware, said David Bennett, Chief Executive Officer at Axcient. We are thrilled that CRN recognizes x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud with Local Cache as one of the 10 Coolest Storage Products of 2021. The feature is a game-changer, speeding file and bare metal recovery, and slashing the time required for production failback operations. The CRN editorial team selected finalists in 30 different technology categories. Finalists were then rated by solution providers who have real-world experience with the products, scoring them on several criteria in areas such as Technology, Revenue and Profit, and Customer Need. This years survey received more than 5,000 ratings. CRNs Products of the Year Awards are one of the most anticipated lists each year. This years honorees include top-notch vendors who exhibit industry excellence for channel partners and their customers, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. Were proud to honor these innovative products and services and provide the industry guide for solution providers looking to expand their portfolio based on technological innovation, financial opportunity, and market need. To learn more about Axcients x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud solution and the Local Cache feature, please visit https://axcient.com/solutions/axcient-direct-to-cloud/. About Axcient Axcient is an award-winning leader in business availability software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Axcient x360 empowers MSPs to Protect Everything by combining SaaS Backup, BCDR, and secure File Sync & Share into one platform and experience for MSPs. Trusted by MSPs worldwide, Axcient protects businesses data and continuity in the event of security breaches, human error, and natural disasters. For more information, visit www.axcient.com. Follow Axcient on LinkedIn , Facebook, and Twitter . About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. Learn more at thechannelcompany.com. Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook Media Contact: Amanda Lee ARL Strategic Communications for Axcient Amanda.lee@arlpr.com CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dresner Partners, a leading FINRA-registered, middle-market investment bank and Mergers Alliance member firm, is pleased to announce that Lindsey M. Wendler has joined Dresner Partners as Managing Director. Ms. Wendler will lead the firms entry into the Dallas market. Ms. Wendler has experience in leading transactions across a diverse range of industries and situations, including distressed companies. Her expertise includes sell-side M&A advisory, buy-side M&A projects, restructuring advisory, refinancing, valuations, and capital raising. Ms. Wendler has completed transactions in numerous industries with extensive experience in the Industrials sector, including infrastructure related products and services, construction services, building products, equipment manufacturing and leasing, engineering, and logistics. Ms. Wendler also has experience on engagements in Fintech and Ecommerce services. Prior to joining Dresner Partners, Ms. Wendler served in Managing Director roles at Skystone Securities and National Transaction Advisors. Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Wendler said, Im very excited to join Dresner Partners award-winning investment banking team. The firm is an established leader in the middle-market with a reputation for outstanding client service, as well as cross-border transactions. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients. Steven M. Dresner, President of Dresner Partners, said, Lindseys diverse experience as an investment banker, entrepreneur and international business owner makes her uniquely qualified to advise many of our prospective clients. We are very pleased to have her join the firm and lead our entry into the Dallas market and the south-central U.S. Early in her career, Ms. Wendler founded a business in the luxury goods industry headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland where she succeeded in raising growth capital to expand the companys international distribution. She later sold the business through an M&A process and gained extensive experience in forming international business entities, capital raising, material and product sourcing, hiring and team building, international negotiations, and business development. These experiences fueled her passion to support other entrepreneurs through M&A and corporate finance initiatives. Lindsey holds multiple leadership positions within the local Dallas and national M&A community including: President of the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) DFW Chapter Chair of AM&AA National Chapter Leadership Committee Member of AM&AA National Advisory Council Investment Banking Chair on Board of Directors of The Association for Corporate Growth (DFW Chapter) Co-Founder of Women in Finance Roundtable Breakfast Series Member of Dallas CEO Forum Ms. Wendler holds a Master of Arts in Applied Art and Design from Royal College of Art in London, U.K. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (pre-med) and a minor in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She is a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA), FINRA Series 79 and 63, and is a Certified Business Appraiser (CBA). About Dresner Partners Dresner Partners is a FINRA-registered, middle-market investment bank headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York City, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Palo Alto, Calif. For more than 30 years, Dresner Partners has provided financial advisory services to middle-market companies throughout the world including merger and acquisitions advisory, institutional private placements of debt and equity, financial restructuring, valuations, and strategic consulting services. Dresner Partners has extensive international and cross-border transaction experience and is a member of Mergers Alliance, one of the worlds leading global mergers and acquisitions partnerships focused on the middle market. An affiliated company, Dresner Corporate Services, is a strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, investor relations and corporate development. More information is available at www.dresnerpartners.com. You can also follow Dresner Partners on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DresnerPartners. For Media Inquiries David Gutierrez, Head of PR, IR and Corporate Development, (847) 533-5082, dgutierrez@dresnerco.com For Transaction Related Inquiries Steven M. Dresner, President, (312) 780-7206, sdresner@dresnerco.com Lindsey M. Wendler, Managing Director, (214) 273-2316, lwendler@dresnerco.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b331ade1-8614-4738-abe2-1a597d29f80e CINCINNATI and PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultimus Fund Solutions (Ultimus), a leading independent provider of full-service fund administration, accounting and investor solutions to traditional and alternative fund managers, announced today that it has acquired FD Fund Administration. FD Fund Administration, headquartered in Philadelphia with additional offices in New York City and Minneapolis, is an independent provider of accounting and administrative services to investment fund managers. The firm has a wide array of private equity strategy experience with a focus on real estate, credit, and infrastructure funds. In addition, FD Fund Administration has deep experience supporting the fund administration needs of wealth management platforms. Ultimus will merge the FD Fund Administration team with its private fund business unit, Ultimus LeverPoint Private Fund Solutions (Ultimus LeverPoint). The newly combined private fund business unit will provide fund administration services for approximately $150 billion in AUA (assets under administration) across 250 clients, servicing over 730 funds. Post the merger, Ultimus will service over $400 billion of AUA, more than 450 clients, representing over 1,500 funds with approximately 825 associates. The transaction enhances Ultimus private markets service offering and provides additional scale with a larger geographic presence and enhanced capabilities in real estate, credit, and infrastructure funds. Being culturally aligned in delivering truly client-centric services was a key driver of the deal for both firms. The integration is expected to be seamless given the additional operating scale and the fact that both firms leverage the same industry leading technology platforms across accounting and investor services. Tom DiEgidio, current FD Fund Administration CEO, will serve as President of Ultimus LeverPoint. This is a great day for FD Fund Administration. My team and I are excited to join Ultimus, which shares our teams dedication to client service, said Tom. I look forward to working with the team at Ultimus and Im confident the combined team will continue to provide the differentiated, high-quality service we pride ourselves on, while delivering a deeper set of capabilities. Were delighted to join forces with FD Fund Administration and look forward to working together, continuing to elevate our shared reputation for high-quality client service and leading technology platforms, said Gary Tenkman, CEO of Ultimus. This merger provides us even more scale and enhances our ability to invest further in technology and service capabilities. Ultimately, the merger demonstrates our commitment to scaling our private fund administration business. Ultimus possesses a unique position in the marketplace as a leading independent fund solutions provider for both registered and alternative fund managers. Ultimus acquisition of FD Fund Administration was backed by Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR. PL Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisor and Nelson Mullins provided legal counsel to FD Fund Administration. Latham & Watkins provided legal counsel to Ultimus and GTCR. Closing occurred December 15, 2021. About Ultimus Ultimus Fund Solutions is a leading provider of full-service fund administration, accounting, and investor solutions to support the launching and servicing of registered funds, private funds, and public plans. The company offers customized structures designed for the unique needs of pensions, endowments, foundations, and other large institutions. Ultimus deep commitment to excellence is achieved through investments in best-in-class technology, compliance programs, organization-wide cyber security efforts, and hiring seasoned professionals. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with offices in other major cities such as Chicago and New York, Ultimus employs more than 825 seasoned accountants, attorneys, paralegals, application developers, fund administrators, compliance specialists, and many others with years of experience in the financial services industry. Servicing over 1,500 total traditional and alternative funds, Ultimus helps investment managers and fund families flourish in todays increasingly sophisticated and dynamic investment landscape. For more information, visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com. About FD Fund Administration FD Fund Administration provides highly customizable fund administration services to meet the needs of complex real estate and private equity funds. FD Fund Administration offers a robust suite of services, including fund accounting, investment reporting, tax administration, valuation services, investor servicing, company reporting and portfolio analytics and other services. FD Fund Administration is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. About GTCR Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies in the Healthcare, Financial Services & Technology, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, and Growth Business Services industries. The Chicago-based firm pioneered The Leaders Strategy - finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and organic growth. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $20 billion in over 250 companies. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com. 8656 UFS 12/15/2021 NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archipelago , an AI-driven technology platform that connects and transforms property risk data for large commercial property owners and enables them to use their own data to improve their insurance outcomes, has named Erroin Martin and Sarah Mears Kim to their executive team. Martin joins the company as Chief Revenue Officer and Kim as Chief Financial & Business Officer. The Archipelago platform enables large commercial property owners to connect, manage and analyze detailed and high-quality risk and insurance data about their insured exposures and communicate and securely share these data and insights with their insurance brokers and carriers across the market. Underwriters use this enriched, verified commercial property data to evaluate the risk as they write commercial property insurance, better facilitate analysis and drive better decision making by all parties (insurance buyers, brokers and carriers) throughout the property life cycle. Since publicly launching in August 2020, the advanced data analytics and insights generated by Archipelagos platform has empowered the largest commercial property owners and managers in the world (such as Prologis, JLL, Alexandria Real Estate Equities) to manage their risks, improve their portfolios resiliency and improve their insurance outcomes. Over 600,000 commercial properties with total insured values of $5 trillion are currently on the Archipelago platform. Erroin Martin joins the company as an experienced revenue leader, having managed international business, finance, planning, and business development, as well as over ten years in enterprise technology sales. Martin will lead sales, marketing, customer support, corporate development, and RevOps for Archipelago. Prior to joining, Martin served as Vice President at Wire, an encrypted communications software company. Hes also served as Senior Vice President of Sales at two prior AI companies, Qordoba and Conversica. Sarah Kim joins Archipelago with more than twenty years of experience as an investor and operator in technology, insurance and financial services. Kim will lead all aspects of financial management for the company, including financial planning and analysis, corporate development, capital raising, legal, and accounting. She will be partnering with the CEO and founders on corporate strategy, business models and partnerships. Before joining Archipelago, Kim was the Senior Director of the Investment Strategy Group at ICONIQ Capital, where she led investing efforts in private equity and venture capital. Sarah also served on the Board of Directors for ABR Re, a Bermuda-based insurance carrier. Sarah previously served as the Vice President of Finance at The Climate Corporation, an insurance technology company. Earlier in her career, Sarah worked in Corporate Development at Willis, the third largest global insurance broker. I am thrilled to be starting the new year by adding two outstanding leaders to our team, said Hemant Shah, CEO and co-founder of Archipelago. Bringing data-driven transparency to the commercial property risk management and insurance market will be a dynamic transformation across the ecosystem. Im thrilled to partner with them on this journey. Archipelago is Hemant Shahs second company. He previously co-founded Risk Management Solutions (RMS - acquired recently by Moodys), the leading catastrophe risk modeling firm serving the global insurance industry. Hemant founded RMS as a graduate student at Stanford University and grew it from zero to the market leader with over 1200 employees. About Archipelago Archipelago is an AI technology and data analytics company that is transforming how commercial property risks are understood and managed by their owners, operators and risk managers as well as how brokers and insurers more efficiently connect to high-quality data to deliver innovative services and coverage solutions to their customers. Learn more at OnArchipelago.com . LONDON, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unruly , a leading global video and Connected TV (CTV) advertising platform, today revealed the most emotionally engaging holiday ads of 2021 using its content testing tool, UnrulyEQ , that measures consumer responses to video advertising. Unrulys global data shows holiday ads sparking high emotional responses include those from Disney, Wegmans, Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Tesco, Macys, Australia Post, IKEA and McDonalds. The full list of global results can be found on Unrulys Holiday Ad Hub. As December 2020 approached, brands went out of their way to relate to the uncertainty of holidays amidst a global pandemic. Messages last year reflected the change in storied traditions and adaptability of consumers as they still attempted to bring cheer into their holiday season. By comparison, many in the 2021 crop of holiday ads do not reference or allude to Covid-19, and instead seek to create nostalgia for Christmases past, and excite consumers about gathering and celebrating with their nearest and dearest. Other trends observed in the top-rated ads: Top performing ads have high EQ scores (above 6 or 7) and demonstrate a combination of intense emotional response, brand favorability and purchase intent by viewers. The use of animation as exemplified by Chick-fil-As Whoopsery ad, a part of their fully animated Stories of Evergreen Hills series, and Macys Tiptoe and the Flying Machine, which is reminiscent of the iconic stop motion animation holiday movies of the 1960s and 70s. Nostalgic pop music tested very well this year, with repurposed hits by Queen and Hall & Oates. A heavy presence of diversity (both in age and race, often together) in the US as well as in ads from the UK and the Philippines. Methodology Unruly analyzed the emotional responses of approximately 9,700 consumers around the world to over 50 global festive ads released this year using its content measurement tool, UnrulyEQ. UnrulyEQ helps advertisers maximize the impact of their video content across multiple screens, to more effectively land brand metrics and target receptive audiences at scale. Unrulys Christmas Ad Effectiveness Chart uses Unruly's combined metric, EQ Score, to rank the most popular festive ads based on their emotional, social and business impact, as well as mark them against the average level of emotional response to advertisements in each market. The intensity of emotions viewers felt while watching, brand favorability, authenticity and purchase intent all contribute to an ads final score. About Unruly Unruly is a global video and CTV programmatic advertising platform that enables advertisers and publishers to buy, sell and optimize online advertising in a premium, brand-safe and transparent environment. Part of the Tremor International group, Unruly is on a mission to transform digital advertising for the better. Its unique proprietary programmatic technology combines unique audience data, predictive analytics and creative optimization to deliver exceptional advertising experiences to engaged audiences around the world. Media Contact: Caroline Smith, VP Communications, Tremor International csmith@tremorinternational.com Webinar to be held on December 22nd @ 12pm EST NLC Pharma and Todos agree to extend closing date for formation of 3CL Sciences to December 31, 2021 while the companies complete legal due diligence New York, NY, Alpharetta, GA and Tel Aviv, ISRAEL, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Todos Medical, Ltd. (OTCQB: TOMDF), a comprehensive medical diagnostics and related solutions company, together with its 3CL biology joint venture partner NLC Pharma, Ltd., announced today that it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) webinar entitled Tollovir: a Potential Treatment for Covid-19 on December 22, 2021 at 12:00pm ET. This webinar will feature presentations from KOLs Yossef Av-Gay, Ph.D., from the University of British Columbia, and David Greenberg, MD, Faculty Member of Health Sciences of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Dr. Av-Gay will discuss the mechanics of SARS-CoV-2 viral replication, 3CL protease biology and the relevant benefits of targeting 3CL protease with respect to viral replication, NEMO cleavage inhibition and its role potentially downregulating innate immune response to infection. Dr. Greenberg will present a review of SARS-CoV-2 virus biology and what the relevant therapeutic targets are for antiviral intervention, which interventions are being evaluated, and what occurs in the state of hyper-inflammation and cytokine storm that occurs. A presentation by Dr. Dorit Arad, NLC Pharma, JV partner with Todos Medical, will discuss 3CL protease inhibition and the various medicines targeting it. Todos will examine the competitive landscape referencing past studies as well discuss what is upcoming, including Todos Medicals Tollovir 3CL protease inhibitor oral antiviral Phase II Covid-19 trial results in hospitalized patents, expected to be released to the public in December 2021, or early January 2022. A question and answer session will follow. To register for the event, please click here. David Greenberg, MD is an Associated Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is serving as the Chairman of the Israeli Clinical Pediatric Society. Dr. Greenberg is a member of the COVID vaccines advisory team for the Ministry of Health in Israel. Dr. Greenberg obtained his MD from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer-Sheva, Israel in 1991, was boarded in Pediatrics in 1996, and did his fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at The Childrens Hospital in Vancouver from 1997 to 1999. He was boarded in Infectious Diseases in Israel in 2000. He joined the Department of Pediatrics and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit of Soroka University Medical Center as a pediatrician and a senior consultant in Pediatric Infectious Diseases in 1999. In collaboration with various researchers from several universities worldwide, Dr. Greenberg was a member World Health Organization Pneumonia Vaccine Trial Investigators Group and of the Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network (PMEN). Dr. Greenbergs research activities focus on respiratory infections such as pneumonia and otitis media, on vaccines such as the pneumococcal conjugated vaccines and on invasive infections such as bacteremia and meningitis mostly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. He is particularly interested in epidemiology, molecular epidemiology and carriage of S. pneumoniae as well as in and the spread of antibiotic resistant pneumococci in the community. He is author or co-author of over 80 publications. Yossef Av-Gay, PhD is a University of British Columbia (UBC) professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and is an associate member of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Sciences. He is also an associate member of the department of microbiology and immunology and holds an adjunct professorship at the medical school of Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Prof. Av-Gay received his BSc in Biology, MSc in Microbiology, and PhD in Microbial Genetics all from Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, and advanced training at John Innes Institute, Norwich, UK, Albert Einstein Collage of Medicine, New York and UBC Microbiology. Prof. Av-Gay authored over 100 peer review scientific publications, review articles, book chapters and 15 patents. Prof. Av-Gay served as an editor for the Journal of Biological Chemistry (2010-2015), and on scientific advisory boards of several biotechnology companies. Prof. Av-Gay is a member of the scientific review panels of the Canadian Institute of Health Research Microbiology and Infectious Disease (2009-2016) and Foundation and Project Grants (2016-), the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Innovative Medicine Innovations, The UK Wellcome Trust, US National Institute of Health, and the European Commission FP6, FP7 and Horizon 2020 programs. Concurrent with this announcement, the Company, along with NLC Pharma, have agreed to extend the closing date for the formation of their new joint venture 3CL Sciences (60% owned by Todos / 40% owned by NLC Pharma) to December 31, 2021 in order to allow for the completion of legal due diligence by both companies. For more information, please visit www.todosmedical.com. For more information on the Companys CLIA/CAP certified lab Provista Diagnostics, Inc. please visit www.provistadx.com. About Todos Medical Ltd. Founded in Rehovot, Israel with offices in New York City, Todos Medical Ltd. (OTCQB: TOMDF) engineers life-saving diagnostic solutions for the early detection of a variety of cancers. The Company's state-of-the-art and patented Todos Biochemical Infrared Analyses (TBIA) is a proprietary cancer-screening technology using peripheral blood analysis that deploys deep examination into cancer's influence on the immune system, looking for biochemical changes in blood mononuclear cells and plasma. Todos' two internally-developed cancer-screening tests, TMB-1 and TMB-2, have received a CE mark in Europe. Todos recently acquired U.S.-based medical diagnostics company Provista Diagnostics, Inc. to gain rights to its Alpharetta, Georgia-based CLIA/CAP certified lab currently performing PCR COVID testing and Provista's proprietary commercial-stage Videssa breast cancer blood test. Todos is also developing blood tests for the early detection of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. The Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (LymPro Test) is a diagnostic blood test that determines the ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and monocytes to withstand an exogenous mitogenic stimulation that induces them to enter the cell cycle. It is believed that certain diseases, most notably Alzheimer's disease, are the result of compromised cellular machinery that leads to aberrant cell cycle re-entry by neurons, which then leads to apoptosis. LymPro is unique in the use of peripheral blood lymphocytes as a surrogate for neuronal cell function, suggesting a common relationship between PBLs and neurons in the brain. Todos has entered into distribution agreements with companies to distribute certain novel coronavirus (COVID-19) test kits. The agreements cover multiple international suppliers of PCR testing kits and related materials and supplies, as well as antibody testing kits from multiple manufacturers after completing validation of said testing kits and supplies in its partner CLIA/CAP certified laboratory in the United States. Additionally, Todos has entered into a joint venture with NLC Pharma to pursue the development of diagnostic tests targeting the 3CL protease, as well as 3CL protease inhibitors that target a fundamental reproductive mechanism of coronaviruses. For more information, please visit https://www.todosmedical.com/. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. For example, forward-looking statements are used when discussing our expected clinical development programs and clinical trials. These forward-looking statements are based only on current expectations of management, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including the risks and uncertainties related to the progress, timing, cost, and results of clinical trials and product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval or patent protection for product candidates; competition from other biotechnology companies; and our ability to obtain additional funding required to conduct our research, development and commercialization activities. In addition, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; delays or obstacles in launching our clinical trials; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; lack of validation of our technology as we progress further and lack of acceptance of our methods by the scientific community; inability to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties that may develop with our process; greater cost of final product than anticipated; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition; and laboratory results that do not translate to equally good results in real settings, all of which could cause the actual results or performance to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Todos Medical does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Todos Medical, please refer to its reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Todos Corporate and Investor Contact: Richard Galterio Todos Medical 732-642-7770 rich.g@todosmedical.com Bedminster, NJ, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- This holiday season Peapack-Gladstone Bank announced the return of the nostalgic annual Boonton Christmas Tree Sale. The inaugural event was reminiscent of past sales sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club. Held November 26 to December 5, the live tree sale was orchestrated entirely by Peapack-Gladstone Bank volunteers who teamed up, helping families find their perfect tree. Offering a wide variety of species and selling more than 250 trees, one hundred percent of this years sales and donations totaling $27,750 will benefit nourish.NJ in Morristown, supporting their efforts to alleviate the struggles of homelessness and hunger in our municipalities. The sale was held at the Banks newest retail location at 104 Ely Place, Boonton. Peapack-Gladstone Bank knows how important a Christmas tree is to a familys holiday tradition, so we decided to start the sale the day after Thanksgiving, said Robert Plante, Executive Vice President and COO at Peapack-Gladstone Bank, but we never expected to run out so quickly. The Bank planned this festive event to bring back an old-fashioned quality to the community, and we were excited to see the large number of families that came out to enjoy the festivities and select a tree to support a local charity. This years Boonton Christmas tree sale was the first in the return of this annual holiday tradition, where each year, a new community beneficiary will be named. Founded in 1921 and celebrating its 100th Anniversary, Peapack-Gladstone Bank values its ties with community. The Boonton Christmas Tree Sale will be a place where families can make long lasting memories, said Daniela Oldham, Vice President, Retail Private Banker at the Banks Boonton location. The Bank is committed to making a difference in our municipalities both now and for many Christmases to come. About the Company Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation is a NJ bank holding company with total assets of $6.2 billion and assets under management/administration of $10.3 billion as of September 30, 2021. Peapack-Gladstone Bank is a commercial bank that provides innovative wealth management, investment banking, commercial and retail solutions, including residential lending and online platforms, to businesses and consumers. Peapack Private, the Banks wealth management division, offers comprehensive financial, tax, fiduciary and investment advice, and solutions, to individuals, families, privately held businesses, family offices and not-for-profit organizations, which help them establish, maintain and expand their legacy. Together, Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Peapack Private offer an unparalleled commitment to client service. Visit www.pgbank.com and www.peapackprivate.com for more information. Attachment MIAMI, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- If winning marketing awards is a measure of mastery and accomplishment, then the team at Best Doctors Insurance has it in spades. In just over 24 months, the Marketing Team at Best Doctors Insurance has won a total of five awards ranging from National Top Team to Best in Show Website and Podcast Development. The Business Intelligence Group announced that the BDI marketing team was again 2021 winner for the second consecutive year for the Public Relations and Marketing Excellence Award, which is a nationwide award. This is along with dotCOMM's First Platinum Marketing Team Achievement Award and two Davey AIVA 2021 awards for Best Website Design and Best in Show Podcast series. Against incredible odds that include the loss of a key team member to COVID-19, the team has launched a myriad of initiatives that include high-quality video content creation, an in-house trilingual magazine, and their signature podcast show. The Marketing Department has been under the leadership of Marketing Director- Whilly Bermudez since September 2019. "It's about being highly creative and highly organized. It is important to always have vision and continuously work towards that end. But these five awards are due to the amazing team that consists of Olga Plaza (Senior Marketing Manager), Alexandra Gratereaux (Marketing Specialist), Gerardo Vazquez (Media & Copyright Specialist), Jerlyn Cespedes (Graphic Arts Specialist), and Raymond Garcia (Graphic Arts Specialist)," said Bermudez. About the Awarding Agencies The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry and business award programs, business executives with experience and knowledge judge the programs. The organization's scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers. The Davey Awards is an international award focused exclusively on honoring outstanding creative work from the best small shops from across the world. The 17th Annual Davey Awards received over 2,000 entries from ad agencies, digital agencies, production firms, in-house creative professionals, graphic designers, design firms and public relations firms. dotCOMM Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), one of the largest, oldest, and most respected evaluators of creative work in the marketing and communication industry. Since its inception in 1994, AMCP has judged over 200,000 entries from throughout the world. Two of AMCP's competitions, MarCom Awards, and Hermes Creative Awards, each attract about 6,500 entries each year. About Best Doctors Insurance Since 1989, Best Doctors Insurance has been a leading international health insurance company in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. The company provides their members the very best access to healthcare by delivering unique health plans of the highest quality. For more than 30 years, its insurance products have been the premier staple in the industry, and its medical standards, along with a wide range of exclusive benefits, are the key differentiator in the lives of its members. Media Contact Alexandra Gratereaux AGratereaux@bestdoctorsinsurance.com 1.866.902.7775 BestDoctorsInsurance.com Related Images Image 1: Members of Best Doctors Team From left to right: Ray Garcia, Alexandra Gratereaux, Whilly Bermudez, & Olga Plaza This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment NEW YORK, NY, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- ILUS International Inc (OTC: ILUS) remains focused on its M&A strategy of acquiring and growing global technology companies. The company completed 3 acquisitions in the first two quarters of 2021 and has since signed agreements for a further 4 acquisitions, of which it is planning to fully complete at least two of these acquisition transactions before year end. ILUS has also recently made significant progress on its much-anticipated European deal, which has now been approved at European government level and the first phase is awaiting sign off, following standard administrative procedures. During this first phase, ILUS is acquiring a large manufacturing site from the government for the manufacture of its Commercial Electric Utility Vehicle (UTV) range and component parts for supply to the electric vehicle and renewable energy industries. In the first phase of the deal, ILUS has agreed the acquisition and privatization of a 652,000 square foot manufacturing site from the government in South-Eastern Europe. ILUS will be using this site to manufacture its complete commercial Electric UTV range as well as Other Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) component parts for the electric vehicle and renewable energy industries. The agreed Manufacturing Investment Project involves several incentives provided by the European government to ILUS for the manufacturing of innovative technology to be exported globally. Some of these government incentives include but are not limited to the provision of manufacturing facilities, substantial rebates for all staffing requirements and manufacturing plant machinery, assistance with necessary licensing and approvals and preferred bidding for large government manufacturing and supply contracts in the region. The commercial electric vehicle market is currently valued at $315 billion per year and is expected to triple in the next 5 years. In partnership with the local government of the region, this Manufacturing Investment Project is expected to create 150 jobs and generate $8 million in 2022, with the partnership projecting 2,000 jobs and $45 million by 2025 followed by 5,000 jobs and $100 million in revenue by 2030. ILUS will be acquiring a Brownfield site with further details on the specific location and site details and plans to be unveiled as soon as all administrative documentation has been signed off. With existing industrial warehouses and administrative buildings already in place, ILUS will begin by making some site upgrades and commissioning the manufacturing plant whilst immediately recruiting the first of the 150 staff that will operate from the site in 2022. A wide range of jobs will be created including engineering design, fabrication, assembly, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, finance, administration, operations, quality assurance, human resources, information technology, supply chain, logistics, maintenance, sales, account management, marketing, and management. To illustrate the sheer scale of the manufacturing operation, ILUS is establishing an end-to-end production facility for its specialist commercial electric vehicles, with departments to include: Finance and Cost Control, Sales and Marketing, HR, Industrial Relations and Administration, IT, Research and Development, Supply Chain and Logistics, Production Planning and Control (PPC), Production Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production/Manufacturing, Quality Assurance and Quality Systems, Testing and Validation, Packaging and Dispatch and finally, Maintenance and Service Level Agreements. The production and manufacturing engineering departments will operate the very latest in CNC machining, aluminium, steel, plastic bending, and welding machinery whilst the manufacturing department will operate several production lines for each component category such as: Chassis, E-Motors, Batteries, Suspension, Brakes, Wheels and Tyres, Steering pump and system, Interior, Assembly and Testing. A phased approach to production will be in place with production lines being scaled up as manufacturing demand increases. ILUS aims to begin manufacturing with 45 staff per shift in the Production department, with this being increased to two shifts per day after 9 months. Once final approvals are in place, ILUS expects to begin commissioning the manufacturing facility at the start of January 2022, with some manufacturing to begin in February and full production to be underway by the end of the first quarter. Recruitment is underway and three senior managers have already been appointed to lead key departments in the facility. ILUS also has an existing team in place in the country that is working closely with the government to ensure that administrative procedures progress efficiently over the coming weeks and months. ILUS already sells its E-Raptor 6-wheeled electric UTV across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. This vehicle is currently the only 6-wheeled electric UTV available globally. Whilst this vehicle itself has been completely redesigned, ILUS is currently designing a whole range of new vehicles to add to it. This entire range of commercial electric vehicles will be made at the European manufacturing plant. In addition, ILUS has also subsequently been in positive discussions with a prominent North American Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) manufacturer, with this and other similar global opportunities potentially leading to sizeable manufacturing contracts for the European manufacturing plant. Having met with senior Government representatives again early this week, ILUS still expects to announce the signing off on this Manufacturing Investment Project before the end of the year. With this deal representing the first phase of a much larger deal with the European government, the company is still on track to announce the second phase early next year. The second phase is a monumental privatization deal whereby ILUS will be taking over existing manufacturing facilities from the government, with 1,500+ staff already employed at the manufacturing facilities. The manufacturing facilities will produce innovative ILUS vehicles for the emergency response and military industries and the agreement is expected to involve long-term government supply contracts. John-Paul Backwell, ILUS Managing Director stated, This first phase European deal will represent a milestone achievement for us as it presents a significant upside to ILUS and its Shareholders, given that such a significant revenue generating opportunity is being acquired at almost zero cost to ILUS, through the way the deal is structured, and the incentives involved. I am so glad that we can play such a pivotal role in creating thousands of new jobs and I believe that through this deal and its next phase, followed by other deals which are linked to this, we will play a major role in transforming the entire region into an innovative global economic hub. This deal should see our commercial electric vehicles being put onto the global map and it will mean our supply of electric vehicle technology to some of the worlds largest global EV manufacturers and renewable energy suppliers. ILUS CEO, Nick Link added, As the holiday season approaches, we are busier than ever. We have several contracts in the hands of attorneys and acquisition targets. We know that some should complete before Christmas and before year end, followed by others as we kick off the new year. I am pleased with the latest progress on this European deal, and we are eager to get going with production early in January. Thanks again to the ILUS team who could easily say they have achieved more than enough this year and started to slow down, but they have remained focused on making further improvements and getting contracts signed. For further information on the companies please see the ILUS communication channels. Website:https://ilus-group.com Twitter: OTC_ILUS Email:IR@Ilus-Group.com Source: ILUS Related Links https://ilus-group.com Forward-Looking Statement Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (I) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has provided guidance to issuers regarding the use of social media to disclose material non-public information. In this regard, investors and others should note that we announce material financial information via official Press Releases, in addition to SEC filings, press releases, Questions & Answers sessions, public conference calls and webcasts also may take time from time to time. We use these channels as well as social media to communicate with the public about our company, our services, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, considering the SEC's guidance, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the following social & media channels: website:https://ilus-group.com Twitter: OTC_ILUS Note: ILUS Coin does not sit within ILUS International Inc (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc), so the public are recommended to follow the correct Media Channels relating to the public company OTC: ILUS. Out of 221 products tested, only 40% matched the labeled CBD strength, many contained the wrong type of CBD TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Leafreport.com (Leafreport'' or the Company), the CBD industry's peer-reviewed watchdog website, announced today the results from a comprehensive review of cannabidiol (CBD) products that they have tested throughout 2021. Aimed at understanding if CBD products provide the advertised amount of CBD, the findings found that over half (60%) of the CBD products sent for testing didnt match their labels by more than 10%. Among the findings, the Company found that 28% of products received the worst (F) grade for having CBD levels that differed from the label by more than 30%. On average, the CBD content of the products was off from the label by nearly 25%. Beverages had the worst results, with only 18% of products matching the label and two products containing no CBD at all. Out of 97 products advertised to contain broad or full-spectrum CBD , 44% were mislabeled. In the beverage, topical, and edible categories, more products got an F than an A. Our mission was simple: send the products for third-party testing and compare the results to the amount and type of CBD listed on the product label, said Lital Shafir, the head of product at Leafreport. Leafreports goal is to help promote transparency across the CBD industry and educate consumers so they can access products that are safe and offer the contents being advertised. Reports like this show that the industry still has a long way to go in terms of meeting acceptable standards for consumers. We hope that reports like this help educate those who want to use CBD and make them more informed in their purchasing decisions. In total, the Company sent 221 CBD products from 111 brands for third-party testing. These included 35 CBD oil, 40 topical, 40 edible, 22 beverage, 55 pet, and 29 coffee & tea products. For each one, Leafreport compared the amount and type of CBD shown on the test to the label. To be considered accurate and receive an A grade, products needed to be within 10% of the labeled CBD content. Products that were off from the label by a higher percentage received a B, C, or F grade. This analysis is a deep-dive into the many reports completed by Leafreport aimed at informing consumers about various aspects of the CBD industry. The Company has previously sent CBD products to the cannabis testing lab Canalysis to see if they contained the advertised levels of CBD, among other tests. These reports include recent deep-dives into Delta-8 , topicals , edibles , beverages , and more. To read the full report from Leafreport, visit: https://www.leafreport.com/education/cbd-market-report-over-half-of-cbd-products-are-mislabeled-15084 . Visit LeafReport.com for additional reports and product information for consumers related to CBG and other topics. About Leafreport: Leafreport is a science-based, peer-reviewed website designed to help consumers navigate the landscape of CBD. The company's mission is to introduce transparency into the CBD industry through its patient-focused, educational content and medical reviews. The company medical review team consists of physicians, chemists, nutritionists, pharmacists, and naturopaths. Contacts: Gal Shapira Leafreport.com gal.shapira@empire.media Kyle Porter CMW Media CMWMedia.com leafreport@cmwmedia.com SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Judicate West, one of Californias leading providers of private dispute resolution services, welcomes Geoffrey Gray, Esq. to its roster of neutrals. He is based in the Orange County office and available for mediations and arbitrations statewide. With experience both on the litigation front lines and in the mediation of a wide array of civil matters, Geoff is an outstanding addition to our neutral line-up. He has spent the past three years honing his negotiation skillset as a full-time mediator, and we are excited that he can reconnect with his trial lawyer mentor, Jay Horton, at Judicate West. Jay has been one of our most successful mediators and arbitrators for the last 17 years, and we are excited to pair the two once again, said Alan Brutman, President of Judicate West. Geoffs incredible medical acumen and particular expertise in medical negligence and elder abuse matters make him a terrific asset for Judicate West clients statewide. With a legal career spanning more than 40 years, Gray has represented clients in litigation, mediation and arbitration in all types of civil matters, including personal injury, product defect, public entity liability, premises liability and medical negligence. After decades as a trial lawyer, in 2019, Gray retired from active litigation to form his own mediation practice, Gray Mediation. Additionally, he has served as a judge pro tem for the Orange County Superior Court for the past 36 years, providing support for the courts settlement office and managing settlement conferences. Gray also sits on the Federal Mediation Panel, and since 2015, he has mediated litigation matters for the Central District of California. Gray served on the board of directors for the Orange County Trial Lawyers for 10 years, and he is an active member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). In 2021, he received the Orange County Chapter of ABOTA Joseph D. McNeil Civility Award. Gray also has been named to Southern California Super Lawyers from 2010-2013 and from 2017-2022. Gray is a United States Marine Corps veteran and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. He earned his J.D. from Western State College of Law (1980) and his B.S. from the University of California, Irvine (1977). He received his mediation certificate from the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law. About Judicate West Judicate West is one of Californias leading providers of private dispute resolution services with a distinguished roster of proven neutrals, including retired state and federal court judges plus professional attorney mediators and arbitrators from a wide variety of practice areas. Founded in 1993, the firm prides itself on maintaining the utmost integrity in delivering innovative solutions to all types of civil disputes. The firms successful formula involves top-tier neutrals, a great company culture and an experienced team of ADR professionals dedicated to delivering gold standard service in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Judicate West has offices in Santa Ana, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco. Contact: Traci Stuart / Michael Panelli Blattel Communications 415.413.4522 / 415.413.4527 traci@blattel.com / mpanelli@blattel.com NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE, AS DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED BUY-BACK OFFER DOCUMENT. Reference is made to the stock exchange notification published by Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS or the Company) on 16 December 2021 wherein the Company announced its intention to launch a voluntary, partial buy-back of bonds with an aggregate nominal value of up to USD 4,000,000 under the Companys outstanding bond issue FRN Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA Senior Unsecured Convertible USD 32,500,000 Bonds 2018/2023. EMGS has today published the attached Buy-Back Offer Document. All capitalised terms used and not defined in this stock exchange notification are references to those terms as defined in the Buy-Back Offer Document. The Buy-Back is offered to all Bondholders on equal terms. The Buy-Back Offer Period will commence on 17 December 2021 at 09:00 CET and end on 22 December 2021 at 16:00 CET, and may be extended by EMGS at its own discretion. Announcement of the result of the Buy-Back is expected on or about 23 December 2021 and the Buy-Back Settlement Date is expected to be on or about 28 December 2021. Further details regarding the Buy-Back, including the tendering process and contact details for submission of the Bondholder Offer Form, are set out in the Buy-Back Offer Document. Contact Anders Eimstad, CFO, +47 948 25 836 About EMGS EMGS, the marine EM market leader, uses its proprietary electromagnetic (EM) technology to support oil and gas companies in their search for offshore hydrocarbons. EMGS supports each stage in the workflow, from survey design and data acquisition to processing and interpretation. The Company's services enable the integration of EM data with seismic and other geophysical and geological information to give explorationists a clearer and more complete understanding of the subsurface. This improves exploration efficiency and reduces risks and the finding costs per barrel. CSEM technology can also be used to detect the presence of marine mineral deposits (primarily Seabed Massive Sulphides) and EMGS believes that the technology can also be used to estimate the mineral content of such deposits. The Company is undertaking early-stage initiatives to position itself in this future market. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachment CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marketing professionals, from brands to agencies, interested in taking their skills and careers to the next level can now register for the 20th Annual BrandSmart Conference. One of the brand marketing community's most prestigious conferences, this year's event will feature keynote speakers from both Kimberly-Clark and Twitter and will be held in person in the AON Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier in Chicago on Wednesday, April 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST. BrandSmart is produced by the American Marketing Association Chicago, the nation's largest chapter. More than 300 marketing decision-makers and brand innovators - a who's who of brand marketing leaders and influencers - will come together to share proven tools, learn about emerging marketing strategies, and hear stories from the field. Individuals and groups can register at AMAChicago.org/BrandSmart Recently published marketing industry reports[1] reveal that in 2022, marketing strategy and planning are the top areas marketers are investing in for their innovation initiatives. However, marketing innovation isn't only being addressed by big brands; the social media platforms that help drive brand connections are also exploring how to better connect, serve and monetize their mediums. BrandSmart attendees will hear first from Beverly W. Jackson, who joined Twitter last year as its Vice President of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing, as the opening keynote speaker. Jackson is a pioneer in the area of social media, content strategy and brand campaigns. Her creative campaigns for some of the world's most iconic brands have been nationally recognized for their innovative storytelling and business impact. She is responsible for leading Twitter's global consumer marketing, brand, social, and consumer product marketing teams. In a statement, Jackson noted that, "Twitter is real, unfiltered, raw, and I've seen the incredible work the teams here have done to bring that energy to its campaigns and real-world activations. I'm honored to have the opportunity to be a part of that work and help shape how one of the most culturally significant brands of our time shows up in the world." Co-headlining the BrandSmart 2022 Conference is Zena Arnold, the Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Kimberly-Clark. Arnold, who has both CPG and tech experience, is known for her innovative approach to holistic marketing and was named to the 2021 Brand Innovators 'Top 100 Women in Brand Marketing' list. She also received a 2020 CMO Rising Star Award by the CMO Club. As a cutting-edge marketing leader, Arnold drives initiatives to accelerate the digital transformation of Kimberly-Clark's iconic brands and businesses, including Huggies, Kleenex, Cottonelle and Kotex. In her role, Arnold leads Kimberly-Clark's global teams for consumer relationships and engagement, media, analytics and insights, and marketing capabilities. "It's an exciting time at Kimberly-Clark as we move numerous employees in sales, marketing and executive management to Chicago in 2022. It's a wonderful opportunity for us to be in a city that has a lot of energy and to be close to a lot of our agency and platform partners," said Arnold. "I'm excited to have an opportunity to speak at this year's BrandSmart about digital transformation and how to go beyond traditional marketing to reach consumers where they are today via powerful, purpose-driven experiences," she added. Now in its 20th year, BrandSmart is the longest-running conference of its kind in the country. This year's in-person event is designed to inspire, provide insights and highlight smart strategies destined to catapult brands to success. BrandSmart is produced by the American Marketing Association's Chicago Chapter (AMA Chicago). In addition to a full-line up of marketing and brand presentations, attendees will meet the winners of the 2022 BrandSmart Awards, which will be presented during the Conference starting at 3:30 p.m. Award submissions are now being accepted from all brands, agencies and marketing campaigns. Guidelines for submission are available at BrandSmartAwards.org. "BrandSmart has been a 'must-attend' event for brand marketers for 20 years," said BrandSmart 2022 Conference and Awards Program Producer Harvey Morris. "We are delighted to welcome two exemplary marketing leaders among our first-announced keynote speakers for BrandSmart 2022. It's an incredible opportunity for marketing professionals to come together to learn from the best and connect with peers." Ultra early bird tickets are available until Jan. 10 for $295 (AMA members) and $395 (non-members). For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the website at https://amachicago.org/brand-smart/. Contact: Bonnie Massa, Executive Director AMA Chicago Email: executivedirector@chicagoama.org [1] The Role of Marketing in Digital Transformation and Innovation Insights From Gartner's Annual CMO Spend Survey Related Images Image 1: BrandSmart Conference 2022 BrandSmart Conference is April 27, 2022, in the AON Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier in Chicago. Registration is now open. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Ottawa, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global insulin pump market is driven by various factors such as rising prevalence of diabetes among the population, rising consumer expenditure on healthcare, rising demand for innovative drug delivery devices, and constant investments in the development of innovative and convenient drug delivery solutions. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the global diabetic population is expected to reach at 552 million by 2030. Get the Report Sample Copy for more understanding@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1413 The diabetic patients are required to regularly monitor their blood glucose levels and take regular insulin shots to control diabetes. The alarming rise in the diabetic population owing to the unhealthy food habits and rising consumption of various drinks that contains sugar. Moreover, the increasing penetration of the retail pharmacies and rising awareness regarding the availability of the insulin pumps is exponentially fostering the demand for the insulin pumps across the globe. Regional Snapshot North America dominated the global insulin pump market in 2020. North American nations like the US and Canada has increased presence of highly aware population that significantly spends on the healthcare products. The increasing prevalence of diabetes among the population is a major factor that drives the demand for the insulin pumps in North America. According to the CDC, around 10.5% or about 34.2 million of the US population had diabetes in 2018. Furthermore, the high disposable income and increased penetration of the retail pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics in the region are supplementing the market growth. Scope of the Insulin Pump Market Report Coverage Details Market Size in 2020 US$ 3.8 Billion Growth Rate From 2021 to 2030 CAGR of 13.5% Largest Market North America Fastest Growing Market Asia Pacific Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2021 to 2030 Companies Mentioned Medtronic Plc, Insulet Corporation, Medzer, Microport Scientific, Eoflow, Debiotech S.A., Lenomed Medical, Microtech Medical, Cequr SA Asia Pacific is expected to be the most opportunistic market during the forecast period. The rising prevalence of diabetes along with the surging awareness about the benefits of the insulin pumps is boosting the demand. Moreover, rising healthcare expenditure along with the surging penetration of online retail channels is fueling the growth of the insulin pump market in this region. The nations like India, China, South Korea, Australia, and Japan are the most prominent market in Asia Pacific, owing to the rising adoption of the innovative drug delivery technologies. Moreover, as per the IDF, around 79% of the adult diabetic population in the globe is living in the low and middle-income economies in 2019. View Full Report Information@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/insulin-pump-market Market Dynamics Driver The rising prevalence of the diabetes across the globe As per the IDF Diabetes Atlas Ninth Edition 2019, around 463 million people of age 20 to 79 years were suffering from diabetes and this number is projected to reach 700 million by 2045. In 2019, around 4.2 million deaths were recorded due to diabetes. Moreover, the children are now diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Around 1.1 million adolescents and children were living with diabetes in 2019. Furthermore, around 374 million people have higher risks to develop type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the surging prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are expected to drive the growth of the global insulin pump market during the forecast period. Restraint High costs of the insulin pumps and inadequate reimbursement facilities Most of the patients depend on the reimbursements for getting the treatment for various diseases. The high cost of the insulin pumps along to the inadequate reimbursement facilities are restricting the adoption of the insulin pumps and this may hamper the growth of the global insulin pump market. Opportunities Integration of latest technologies with the drug delivery devices The latest technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to encourage the adoption of the automated insulin pumps in the forthcoming years. Moreover, the latest insulin pumps are facilitating the smartphones to be connected with the insulin pumps and are offering the control of doses and acting as a blood glucose monitoring devices. Challenges Lack of access to proper healthcare infrastructure The inadequate healthcare infrastructure in the developing and underdeveloped regions is resulting in the lack of awareness regarding the diabetes and insulin pumps. According to the IDF, around 232 million diabetic people remained undiagnosed in 2019. This is a major challenge to the insulin pump market that may restrict its growth. Ask here for customization study@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/customization/1413 Report Highlights Based on the pump type, the patch pump is estimated to be the most opportunistic segment during the forecast period. This is due to the rising adoption of the patch pumps as it offers convenience and easy attachment to the skin surface and efficient drug delivery. It is gaining popularity among the patients owing to its compact size. Based on the accessories, the reservoirs segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period owing to the rising adoption of the tethered insulin among the diabetic population. The capacity of the reservoirs is around 300 doses that can go for 3 days is offering improved conveniences. Based on the end user, the homecare segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR. The increasing penetration of the online and the offline retail pharmacies across the globe is facilitating easy availability of the insulin pumps and the increased awareness regarding the insulin pumps is fueling the growth of the homecare segment. Segments Covered in the Report By Pump Type Tethered Pump Patch Pump By Application Battery Insulin Set Insertion Devices Insulin Reservoir By Disease Indication Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes By End User Hospitals Clinics Homecare Laboratories By Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany France Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Rest of the World Click Here to View Full Report Table of Contents Buy this Premium Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/checkout/1413 You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact at sales@precedenceresearch.com | +1 9197 992 333 About Us Precedence Research is a worldwide market research and consulting organization. We give unmatched nature of offering to our customers present all around the globe across industry verticals. Precedence Research has expertise in giving deep-dive market insight along with market intelligence to our customers spread crosswise over various undertakings. We are obliged to serve our different client base present over the enterprises of medicinal services, healthcare, innovation, next-gen technologies, semi-conductors, chemicals, automotive, and aerospace & defense, among different ventures present globally. For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/precedence-research/ https://www.facebook.com/precedenceresearch/ https://twitter.com/Precedence_R Ottawa, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The rising prevalence of various chronic diseases, growing geriatric population, rising number of road traffic accidents, and rising number of hospital admissions across the globe is augmenting the demand for the medical electronics across various healthcare units. The proliferation of digital technologies coupled with the rising adoption of the medical electronic devices to offer quick and enhanced patient care diagnostic and therapeutic services is propelling the growth of the global medical electronics market. Moreover, the rising demand for the minimal-invasive surgeries and non-invasive diagnostic devices are expected to drive the demand for the medical electronics across the globe. Get the Report Sample Copy for more understanding@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1412 Regional Snapshot North America dominated the global medical electronics market, garnering a market share of around 45% in 2020. North America is characterized by the increased healthcare expenditure and the presence strong healthcare infrastructure. Moreover, the increased prevalence of chronic diseases among the US population and increased demand for the various diagnostic services has fueled the growth of the market.As per the data providedby the CDC,approximately 45 million outpatient surgeries, more than 900 million physician visits, and around 155 million emergency department visits in US were recorded in US in 2019. Further, according to the American Heart Association, over 40% of the US adults are forecasted to be affected with hypertension by 2030. Around 60% of the US population is suffering from at least one chronic disease and hence, the demand for the medical electronics is higher in North America. Scope of the Medical Electronics Market Report Coverage Details Market Size In 2030 US$ 248.9 billion Growth Rate From 2021 to 2030 CAGR of 11.8% Largest Market North America Fastest Growing Market Asia Pacific Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2021 to 2030 Companies Covered Renesas Electronics Corporation, GE Healthcare, Siemens AG, ON Semiconductor Corporation, Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated, Tekscan, Inc., STMicroelectronics N.V., Philips Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., NXP Semiconductors N.V. Asia Pacific is estimated to be the most opportunistic market during the forecast period. The rising government and corporate investments in the development of smart and advanced healthcare units in order to serve the huge population in Asia Pacific region is expected to boost the growth of the market. The rising geriatric population and growing number of road accidents is fueling the number of hospital admissions in the region. According to the WHO, around 93% of the road traffic accidents occur in the low and middle-income countries. Moreover, around 80% of the geriatric population are expected to be residing in the underdeveloped and developing nations by 2050. Therefore, the growing demand for the medical electronics in Asia Pacific region is expected to drive the market growth in the foreseeable future. Get more information@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/medical-electronics-market Market Dynamics Driver The growing healthcare expenditure across the globe The burden of various chronic diseases and infections is growing and so as the healthcare expenditure of the people. The improving lifestyle, growing geriatric population, rising disposable income, rising penetration of the healthcare insurances, and improved access to healthcare facilities are the major factors that drives growth of the medical electronics market. The consumers are increasing spending on their healthcare. In 2018, the per capita healthcare expenditure in US was over US$ 10,500. This number is expected to increase during the forecast period. Restraints High cost of the advanced medical electronics There is a huge capital investment involved in the acquisition and installation of the latest medical electronics in the healthcare units. The lack of proper healthcare infrastructure and weak economic conditions in the developing and underdeveloped markets may hamper the growth of the global medical electronics market during the forecast period. Opportunities The rising adoption of the digital and sensor technologies in the electronic devices The proliferation of the digital technologies is boosting the adoption of the sensors, artificial intelligence, and internet of medical things technologies in the medical electronics. These technologies helps in providing quick, efficient, and cost-effective patient care services, which in turn fuels the demand for the medical electronics among the population. Challenges The increased complications in designing the medical electronics The demand for the portable, efficient, and cost-effective electronic devices is growing exponentially across the healthcare sector. With the rising miniaturization of the electronic medical devices, the manufacturers are facing difficulties in designing the small and portable medical electronics that can also offer cost-effectiveness. These growing complications in the medical electronic devices may present a more challenging and complicated manufacturing process in the upcoming future. Get Customization Study@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/customization/1412 Report Highlights Based on the product, the diagnostics is estimated to be the most opportunistic segment during the forecast period. The rising awareness among the population regarding the benefits of early detection of the various chronic diseases is augmenting the demand for the various diagnostic devices. Moreover, the growing geriatric population across the globe is significantly fueling the patient monitoring diagnostic devices as they are more susceptible to the chronic diseases. Based on the application, the hospitals segment dominated the market, accounting for over 45% of the market share in 2020. The rising government and private sector investments in the development of multi-specialty hospitals and smart hospitals is surging the adoption of the latest and enhanced medical electronic devices in the hospitals. Moreover, the increased presence of various government and private hospitals across the globe is fueling the growth of this segment significantly. Segments Covered in the Report By Product Therapeutics Implantable Medical Devices Surgical Robots Pacemakers Neuro stimulation Devices Respiratory Care Devices Diagnostics CT/PET Devices Patient Monitoring Devices Ultrasound Devices X-Ray Devices MRI Scanners CT Scanners Others Others By Application Hospitals Ambulatory Centers Homecare Others By Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany France Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Rest of the World Click Here to View Full Report Table of Contents Buy this Premium Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/checkout/1412 You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact at sales@precedenceresearch.com | +1 9197 992 333 About Us Precedence Research is a worldwide market research and consulting organization. We give unmatched nature of offering to our customers present all around the globe across industry verticals. Precedence Research has expertise in giving deep-dive market insight along with market intelligence to our customers spread crosswise over various undertakings. We are obliged to serve our different client base present over the enterprises of medicinal services, healthcare, innovation, next-gen technologies, semi-conductors, chemicals, automotive, and aerospace & defense, among different ventures present globally. For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/precedence-research/ https://www.facebook.com/precedenceresearch/ https://twitter.com/Precedence_R NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Correction Notice to Press Release: Please note that this updated news release refines several of the percentage points cited throughout. The corrected release follows: Informa Pharma Intelligence, the global business intelligence provider for the biopharma industry, released its Q4 2021 Clinical Trials and the COVID-19 Landscape report, which uncovered key consumer perceptions around COVID-19 clinical developments nearly a year since the first vaccine was approved for emergency use. The study, conducted online with third-party research firm YouGov, suggests that many Americans are keeping a close eye on changes in the COVID-19 vaccine and treatment pipeline and have specific expectations for how pharmaceutical companies should continue innovating in this space as well as other therapy areas moving forward. Americans Want Big Pharma to Expand Their Response to COVID-19 The pandemic spurred unprecedented innovation in the pharmaceutical sector, and Americans arent ready for this rapid advancement to stop anytime soon: For example, 29 percent believe a better COVID-19 vaccine will be available in the near future. Americans have additional priorities in mind regarding COVID-19, including: 32 percent think pharmaceutical companies need to conduct more clinical trials to measure how well the current vaccines protect against the latest variants think pharmaceutical companies need to conduct more clinical trials to measure how well the current vaccines protect against the latest variants Nearly a quarter (24 percent) think pharmaceutical companies need to invest in more COVID-19 preventive measures for those who are unable to get a vaccine think pharmaceutical companies need to invest in more COVID-19 preventive measures for those who are unable to get a vaccine Just over one in five (21 percent) think pharmaceutical companies need to have a stronger role in tackling vaccine inequity Additionally, Americans have an acute awareness of the sectors key partnerships (i.e., Merck and Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and BioNTech, etc.), and 42 percent expect pharmaceutical companies to keep working together in the future to develop more COVID-19 preventive care and treatments. Notably, this expectation for collaboration extends beyond the COVID-19 space: 39 percent of Americans say they expect pharmaceutical companies to keep working together to speed the pace of innovation in other areas such as cancer, other infectious diseases, and more. Despite this desire for the pharma industry to tackle COVID-19 variants and expand protections, one in four (25 percent) Americans say theyre worried that other key drug treatments and innovations not related to COVID-19 are being sidelined because of a focus on COVID-19. In turn, companies looking to quell these concerns will likely need to invest in public outreach to publicize additional drugs and clinical developments in their trial pipeline. Consumers Demand Clinical Trial Transparency We can assume Americans are aware that additional research is still needed around COVID-19, and nearly one in seven (13 percent) say theyd be open to enrolling in a clinical trial to help develop new COVID-19 therapies. Notably, 15 percent said theyd be more likely to participate in trials for future COVID-19 vaccines/treatments if they provided increased protection against the latest variants, signaling to the industry that a focus on new strains like Omicron could be the linchpin to boosting participation and working toward long-term immunity. But many Americans are still expecting more from big pharma when it comes to trial transparency, especially surrounding COVID-19 vaccine/treatment development. For instance: 22 percent dont think pharmaceutical companies are sharing enough regular updates around the ongoing clinical trials for COVID-19 booster vaccines or treatments, like the oral antiviral pill dont think pharmaceutical companies are sharing enough regular updates around the ongoing clinical trials for COVID-19 booster vaccines or treatments, like the oral antiviral pill One in five (20 percent) dont think pharmaceutical companies are sharing enough details on diversity within the ongoing clinical trials for COVID-19 booster vaccines or treatments COVID-19 Makes Personalized Medicine Top of Mind for Consumers Even though the pharmaceutical industry has been working with mRNA technology since the 1970s, 28 percent of Americans say they didnt know what an mRNA vaccine was before they heard about the COVID-19 vaccines. Now, over one in five (23 percent) say they understand the difference between how an mRNA vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech) and viral vector vaccine (J&J) works. Similarly, 90 percent of Americans say theyve heard of personalized medicine and gene editing, reinforcing the industrys investment in this area. However, nearly one in five (17 percent) Americans say they still dont understand what an mRNA vaccine is or how it works in this way, companies looking to expand their mRNA product pipeline must invest in more public education resources to see the commercial payoff and get consumers on board with this new technology. COVID-19 has pushed pharmaceutical innovation into the broader public consciousness, said Mike Wenger, VP of Patient Engagement at Informa Pharma Intelligence. Americans not only have a much deeper understanding of and willingness to participate in the clinical process to develop new therapies, but theyre also forming distinct opinions about how pharmaceutical companies should be prioritizing their pipelines moving forward. All attention will be on big pharmas response as the latest COVID-19 variants like Omicron continue to spread across the U.S., from their approach to improving vaccines to their transparency around ongoing clinical trials and concerted efforts to mitigate vaccine inequities. The full report will soon be available online at Informa Pharma Intelligence. Research Methodology All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was adults 1244. Fieldwork was undertaken between November 16 and 17, 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults (aged 18+). About Informa Pharma Intelligence Informa Pharma Intelligence powers a full suite of analysis products Datamonitor Healthcare, Sitetrove, Trialtrove, Pharmaprojects, Biomedtracker, Scrip, Pink Sheet and In Vivo to deliver the data needed by the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry to make decisions and create real-world opportunities for growth. With more than 400 analysts keeping their fingers on the pulse of the industry, no key disease, clinical trial, drug approval or R&D project isnt covered through the breadth and depth of data available to customers. For more information, visit pharmaintelligence.informa.com Media Contact Diffusion PR for Informa Pharma Intelligence informapharma@diffusionpr.com (213) 318-4500 A global grassroots campaign led by persons living with a rare disease and their families has succeeded in securing the adoption of the first-ever UN Resolution on Addressing the Challenges of Persons Living with a Rare Disease and their Families. BRUSSELS, Belgium and NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rare Diseases International (RDI), the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, and EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe announced today that the UN General Assembly formally adopted a resolution recognising the over 300 million Persons Living with a Rare Disease (PLWRD) worldwide and their families. The Resolution focuses on the importance of non-discrimination and advances key pillars of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including access to education and decent work, reducing poverty, tackling gender inequality, and supporting participation in society. Adopted by consensus by the 193 UN Member States The Resolution, proposed by Spain, Brazil, and Qatar and co-sponsored by 54 countries, was adopted by consensus with the support from all 193 UN Member States of the General Assembly. This follows the UN Third Committees adoption of a ground-breaking text as part of its agenda on Social Development and is a significant turning point that places the rare disease community firmly on the agenda of the UN. Addressing the specific challenges faced by Persons Living with a Rare Disease is a necessary step toward making this vulnerable population visible and contributing to the UN Agenda 2030 SDGs, said Flaminia Macchia, Rare Diseases International Executive Director. The consensus in support of the Resolution sends a clear message that Leaving No One Behind is a priority for the UN. Presenting the proposal to the UN Third Committee, Maria Bassols, Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to the UN, affirmed on behalf of the Core Group of Member States that "Persons Living with a Rare Disease are at greater risk of stigmatisation, as well as intersecting forms of discrimination that are obstacles to their full participation in society. The global, landmark campaign for equity that achieved the Resolution was the outcome of coordinated and tireless advocacy led by civil society partners, including the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, RDI, and EURORDIS, and engages national rare disease groups active in over 100 countries. The civil society partners worked to frame the needs of PLWRD beyond health and to illustrate the holistic impact of life with a rare disease on the whole family. The impact of the Resolution This first Resolution on PLWRD represents a major shift in the global policy landscape, promising greater integration of rare diseases in the agenda and priorities of the UN system. "This UN Resolution provides the rare disease community in the US with a greater platform for dialogue and action to address the challenges that impact the quality of life for the over 25 million Americans living with a rare disease," said Peter Saltonstall, President and CEO of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). Anders Olauson, Chair of the NGO Committee, stated: The UNGA Resolution illustrates the power of the global community. Individually, rare diseases are rare, but together PLWRD constitute a significant community deserving of UN support and recognition. Together, we are a powerful and inspirational voice. Civil society partners are now working to approach the World Health Organization (WHO) to continue the momentum from this historic achievement and call for a resolution that focuses on health equity and strengthening care systems for PLWRD. Additional Information About rare diseases There are over 300 million PLWRD worldwide. PLWRD worldwide. There is a lack of public awareness of rare diseases which results in greater risk of social exclusion and multiple forms of discrimination against PLWRD. of rare diseases which results in greater risk of social exclusion and multiple forms of discrimination against PLWRD. There are over 6,000 identified rare diseases, most of which start in childhood. Rare diseases are often chronic, progressive, and frequently life-threatening. About the civil society partners The NGO Committee for Rare Diseases is a substantive committee established under the umbrella of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO). It aims to promote collaboration and actions for PLWRD within the UN. is a substantive committee established under the umbrella of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO). It aims to promote collaboration and actions for PLWRD within the UN. Rare Diseases International (RDI) is the global alliance of PLWRD and their families. RDI is a network of 81 organisations representing groups active in over 100 countries worldwide. (RDI) is the global alliance of PLWRD and their families. RDI is a network of 81 organisations representing groups active in over 100 countries worldwide. EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe is the alliance of 984 rare disease patient organisations that work together to improve the lives of the 30 million PLWRD in Europe and beyond. is the alliance of 984 rare disease patient organisations that work together to improve the lives of the 30 million PLWRD in Europe and beyond. The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals living with rare disease. NORD represents more than 300 rare disease patient advocacy groups and the 25-30 million Americans living with rare disease. Media Contacts: Hlawulani Mkhabela, RDI Strategic Engagement Manager, Hlawulani.Mkhabela@rarediseasesint.org Florence Hugenholtz, FTI Consulting (EU), Florence.Hugenholtz@fticonsulting.com Rachel Kleiman, FTI Consulting (US), Rachel.Kleiman@fticonsulting.com LONGVIEW, Texas, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A federal jury in Florida awarded $22.5 million, the highest amount to date, to United States Army veteran Theodore Finley on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. The Tallahassee jury found that earplugs designed by 3M Corporation caused Finley irreparable hearing damage. "The federal jury's decision on Dec. 10 shows that 3M are wholly responsible for failing our men and women in uniform and putting profits over the safety of Americans in uniform," said Douglas Monsour, lead counsel in the case. "Jury after jury is deciding that 3M provided faulty equipment to American soldiers, resulting in hearing loss and tinnitus. The justice system continues to show that 3M misled the federal government and the military to secure its contract on false grounds and this litigation is holding 3M accountable." Theodore Finley served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2014 and was exposed to noise from mortars, machine guns, RPGs, mechanized vehicles, and aircraft while using the 3M earplugs. The verdict included compensatory damages in the amount of $7.5 million dollars and punitive damages in the amount of $15 million. The Dec. 10 case is the eighth trial to reach a verdict related to 3M earplugs. In November 2021, a separate Florida federal jury awarded an Army sergeant $13 million for hearing loss from 3M earplugs. Four other cases have awarded a combined $29 million with juries siding with 3M in three other cases. 3M plaintiffs allege that the CAEv2 earplugs used by the United States military were defective and failed to protect against service-related tinnitus and hearing loss. Monsour is the lead counsel of the Monsour Law Firm in Longview, Texas. Co-lead counsel was Neil Overholtz from Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz in Pensacola, Florida. Other lawyers assisting were Katy Krottinger of the Monsour Law Firm, Jennifer Hoekstra of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, and Andre Mura of Gibbs Law Group. The case is Theodore Finley v. 3M Co. et al., case number 7:20-cv-00170, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. Chief Judge Mark Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida oversaw Finley's trial. Contact: Katy Krottinger, katy@monsourlawfirm.com Related Files 12.10 Redacted Verdict Form.pdf Related Images Image 1: Monsour Law Firm Logo Thie is the logo for Monsour Law Firm, a Personal Injury Law Firm in Longview, Texas. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Lansing, Mich., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Scott R. Forbush returns home to the Foster Swift Collins & Smith law firm where he worked from 1993-2005 as a trial lawyer after holding multiple roles as in-house counsel. Scott is based in the firms Lansing office where, among other activities, he focuses on alternative dispute resolution concentrated primarily in the financial services industry. At Foster Swift, Scott was an successful litigator and was recruited to go to Jackson where for the last 15-plus years, Scott has been an Officer and Litigation Counsel for Jackson, one of the leading annuity and insurance providers in the nation. In that time, he held two parallel positions at Jackson: Assistant Vice President: Investigations, Regulatory Enforcement and Litigation and; Vice President for National Planning Holdings, a sister company to Jackson where he was Deputy General Counsel for their independent securities broker-dealer network consisting of four firms and over 3200 financial advisors. He collaborated with senior management and numerous teams across the network, including compliance, product due diligence, governance, audit and surveillance. I wasnt looking to leave and in all that time away from the firm, I never lost contact with Foster Swift and continued to have fond memories of the people I worked with. Scott said when asked about returning to the Lansing office. I have spent my career in litigation, with the past 15 years devoted to disputes in all areas of the financial services industry. In that effort, I have engaged in hundreds of arbitrations and mediations across the country covering the spectrum of issues and I look forward now to carrying forward my experiences in a dispute resolution practice through Foster Swift. ### Since 1902, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC has provided comprehensive legal services to businesses, municipalities and individuals. The firm employs 100-plus attorneys and over 100 support staff in six locations; Lansing, Detroit, Southfield, Grand Rapids, Holland and St. Joseph. For more information about the firm, its attorneys and to access recent publications, visit www.fosterswift.com. Attachment HELENA, Ala., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mspark, a marketing services company that specializes in activating consumers for both national and local B2C businesses throughout North America, today announced Greg Bogich as Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Bogich is a longtime print and digital media veteran with more than 25 years of experience in the space, serving on numerous industry boards and associations. He has worked firsthand with many of Msparks longtime clients and prospects throughout the verticals Mspark serves today. Bogich returns to Mspark from North American Bancard, a leader in the business solutions, credit, e-commerce and payment industry, where he served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Im very excited to be rejoining Mspark as CEO. Its a great company, with great solutions and exceptional people, Bogich said. I believe theres a world of potential in helping advertisers reach rural America. Its an underappreciated, undervalued, and often misunderstood segment of the marketplace. Bogich previously spent over 4 years as Senior Vice President of National Sales at Mspark, in a period where he led the company to levels of unprecedented growth. While I have been gone for a few years, one thing hasnt changed: Msparks ability to deliver proven solutions to clients needs. The expanding portfolio of products and services we integrate to ensure success is impressive, Bogich said. I cant wait to get back and begin collaborating with our team and our clients as we move into 2022! Prior to Mspark, Bogich spent over a decade at Valassis (now Vericast) leading various sales and marketing teams within the Retail, Business Development and National Sales Divisions, culminating as Senior Vice President of Digital Media, helping to launch the division and their rapid hyper-growth post-launch. Bogich spent the early parts of his media career with Marc Advertising/Market Place Print, a Pittsburgh based media buying and planning agency that worked with many of the nation's top advertisers, including Home Depot and Best Buy. About Mspark Mspark has been delivering value-oriented advertising solutions since 1988. We provide measurable results and a solid return on the customer's marketing investment through national reach, precision targeting and integrated campaigns. Mspark has the capability to reach 116 million U.S. households each month through shared mail advertising and 2.3 billion unique devices via complementary digital campaigns. The Mspark portfolio of 3,000+ clients includes consumer packaged goods manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and service providers across the United States. For additional information, visit mspark.com. Contact: Mspark 5901 Highway 52 East, Helena, AL 35080 Phone: 205.620-6200 Email: contactus@mspark.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1b4ed8da-6330-4075-a3c7-6d7debe985bc Dallas, Texas, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC PINK: ALYI) and WaterPure International, Inc. (OTC PINK: WPUR) today published an overview of the two companys partnership agreement on the implementation of an off grid electric vehicle (EV) charging solution to be rolled out in Kenya. The overview is included in its entirety below: Off Grid Electric Vehicle (EV) Charing Solution Partnership Overview The off grid electric vehicle (EV) charging solution to be rolled out in Kenya is one component of a larger partnership developing between the two companies. WPUR has recently refreshed its commitment to delivering water management technologies to the water utilities market and added electric technology innovations for the electric utilities market as an additional focus. ALYI is separately building a comprehensive EV Ecosystem concentrating efforts first on developing solutions for the East African market where per capita transportation is low and EV solutions have the potential to be a first to market transportation solution rather than a replacement of an existing solution. WPUR has recently announced a pending acquisition of an electric technology asset anticipated to close before the end of this year. WPUR has also recently announced the acquisition of an operating company in East Africa that provides WPUR with the management resources and local relationships for conducting operations in East Africa. The transaction also included the CEO of ALYI, Dr. Randel Torno joining the WPUR Board of Directors. The acquired operation also came with some non-core assets, but assets that can be monetized nonetheless (more details in a separate coming soon update). ALYI and WPUR have agreed for WPUR to participate in ALYIs EV Ecosystem by leading the charging station solution in East Africa. In conjunction with the partnership, ALYI and WPUR are discussing the possibility of an ALYI manager, not the ALYI CEO, moving to WPUR in a CEO capacity. The current WPUR CEO, Sean Mathis is serving as an interim CEO. It is just a discussion at this stage. WPUR has a specific off-grid solution it plans to implement as the first pilot charging solution in East Africa for ALYIs EV Ecosystem. ALYIs funding partner, Revolt Token (RVLT) has agreed to fund the pilot. The pilot will begin with an initial technology proof of concept in the U.S. Look for an announcement on the details of the proof of concept coming soon. ALYI has designed its EV Ecosystem solution to include democratized participation. ALYI has partnered with Revolt Token to finance ALYIs growth by offering participation in the EV Ecosystem through the sale of Revolt Tokens. In a move to accelerate ALYIs EV Ecosystems expansion, ALYIs cryptocurrency funding partner, Revolt Token (RVLT) will now be developing direct investment partnerships with ALYI EV Ecosystem partners. WPUR is the first ALYI EV Ecosystem partner targeted for a Revolt Token investment. To learn more about Revolt Token and how to participate in ALYIs electric vehicle ecosystem through the purchase of Revolt Tokens, visit https://rvlttoken.com/ . For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com . To learn more, visit https://www.wpurinc.com/ . Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. Contact: WaterPure International, Inc. Sean Mathis info@wpurinc.com 972-918-5256 RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- All 274 SECU branches got into the festive spirit spreading goodwill among local public schools across North Carolina. Branches from all 100 counties delivered gift cards to a local public school in their area as a token of appreciation. SECU aimed to give back to public school employees after arguably one of the most difficult years to be in public education, due to COVID-19. Our Credit Union prides itself on supporting our public school employees the same way each of our members supports us, said Jim Hayes, CEO, SECU. While all state employees have continuously managed our communities with additional challenges this past year, our public school employees have really stepped up to those challenges and this is a small way for us to show our gratitude through random acts of kindness. The branches are choosing the schools theyll support by a random drawing in each branch. Pictured here is Principal of North Ridge Elementary, Robert Soutter in Raleigh, NC accepting a random act of kindness from the staff at SECUs Raleigh-Strickland Road branch in Raleigh, NC. Soutter commented on the gift, Thanks so much for the gift card and supplies. These are much appreciated and will be put to good use. Not only are these gifts helpful, but they are a symbol that our educators are seen and appreciated. We are grateful for you and your investment in our school. SECU branches will continue to spread their goodwill into the coming weeks. About SECU and the SECU Foundation A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 84 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the U.S. with over $51 billion in assets and serves over 2.6 million members through 274 branch offices, over 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone, www.ncsecu.org and a Mobile App. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of over $216 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide. Contact: Sandra Jones, SVP Member Communications Office: 919-508-8773 | sandra.jones@ncsecu.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19f583f0-1163-48c1-98d3-543a74a7e467 Washington DC , Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogue One, Inc, a publicly traded company trading under the ticker symbol ROAG (OTC Pink: ROAG) (hereinafter the "Company") is pleased to announce Shinju Japanese Whisky has been awarded Gold in the 2021 John Barleycorn Awards, a taste competition honoring the distillers, marketers, writers, and designers whose work is truly exceptional and deserving of industry recognition. The judges avow Shinju is, a silky smooth, restrained whisky with the soft touch of velvet and honey cream. Delicious and soft, it's easy to drink without thinking too hard about it. Under the provision of spirits journalist, author, mixologist, bar consultant, and founder of the John Barleycorn Society, John McCarthy, the elite team of judges composed of authoritative and influential spirits journalists included Fred Minnick, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, Robin Robinson, Wayne Curtis, Frank Caiafa, G. Clay Whittaker, Tony Sachs, Brad Japhe, Rachel DelRocco Terrazas, Amanda Schuster, Susie O., Clay Risen, Susannah Skiver Barton, Susan Reigler, Jonah Flicker, and David Moritz. The John Barleycorn Society is an assemblage of the worlds top journalists and industry professionals who foster a modern approach to recognizing excellence in the spirits industry from seed to glass. The society recognizes Shinju Japanese Whisky as an excellent product that meets very high standards. We are honored to have Shinju, our flagship whisky brand, recognized for its taste, appearance, aroma, and finish. When the judges articulate our teams vision for the product, its a reminder that we are on the right track with the direction and positioning of the brand, shares COO, Janon Costley. The fast growing Shinju Japanese Whisky is currently distributed in many markets across the United States including Texas, Florida, California, New York (Tristate) which account for roughly 33% of the US population according to the latest US census data. Please continue to follow the Company on Twitter, IG and Facebook @rogueoneinc or visit www.rogueoneinc.com for further Company news and updates. About Rogue One. Inc: Rogue One, Inc ( www.rogueoneinc.com ) is a holding company that focuses on acquisition opportunities in the multi-trillion-dollar spirit/adult beverage sector and related industries. ROAG primarily targets companies, and/or exclusive production and supply agreements in the tequila industry. ROAG will also seek opportunities involving uniquely positioned, specialized retail/ hospitality locations and brands that will be supported by our underlying business activities. About Cap City Beverage Shinju is imported exclusively in the U.S. market by CapCity Beverage, LLC (the import division of Rogue One, Incs wholly owned subsidiary Human Brands Intl Inc.), a publicly traded company under the ticker symbol (OTC Pink: ROAG) IG: instagram.com/Shinjuwhisky FB: facebook.com/shinjuwhisky About Human Brands: Human Brands International, Inc. ( www.humanbrandsinc.com ) is a diversified holding company in the spirit and hospitality sectors with a primary focus on the tequila industry. The company was established in late 2014 to capitalize on the growing alcohol beverage market and changing consumer habits in the industry. The companys Ground to Glass platform currently consists of several wholly owned subsidiaries that focus on five key areas of business: Agave, Bulk Tequila Production, Brand Development, Import/Export and Hospitality. Human Brands diversified operating divisions currently own and manage over 400k agave plants, several premium spirit brands such as Armero Tequila, Three hospitality concepts (Santo Coyote, Santa Cantina, Museo by Santo) and holds exclusive import/export rights for a variety of spirit brands (CapCity Beverage). The companys core foundation is built upon its bulk tequila production operations. The Company currently has supply contracts with well-known tequila brands, large distilleries, restaurant groups as well as celebrities and athletes. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. 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. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. Attachment HOUSTON, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the Company) (NYSE: KYN) announced today a quarterly distribution of $0.175 per share for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2021. This distribution is payable to common stockholders on January 11, 2022 (as outlined in the table below). Ex-Date Record Date Payment Date Distribution Amount Return of Capital Estimate (1) 1/3/22 1/4/22 1/11/22 $0.175 100% (1) The return of capital estimate is based on the Companys anticipated earnings and profits. The final determination of the tax character of distributions may differ substantially from this preliminary information. The Company expects the next distribution to be declared in March 2022. Payment of future distributions is subject to the Board of Directors approval, as well as meeting the covenants of the Companys debt agreements and terms of its preferred stock. Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: KYN) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, whose common stock is traded on the NYSE. The company's investment objective is to provide a high after-tax total return with an emphasis on making cash distributions to stockholders. KYN intends to achieve this objective by investing at least 80% of its total assets in securities of Energy Infrastructure Companies. See Glossary of Key Terms in the Companys most recent quarterly report for a description of these investment categories and the meaning of capitalized terms. The Company pays cash distributions to common stockholders at a rate that may be adjusted from time to time. The amount of distributions is not guaranteed and may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio holdings and market conditions. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale is not permitted. Nothing contained in this press release is intended to recommend any investment policy or investment strategy or consider the specific objectives or circumstances of any investor. Please consult with your investment, tax, or legal adviser regarding your individual circumstances prior to investing. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This communication contains statements reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events. These and other statements not relating strictly to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties. These risks include, but are not limited to, changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal changes; energy industry risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in detail in the Companys filings with the SEC, available at www.kaynefunds.com or www.sec.gov. Actual events could differ materially from these statements or from our present expectations or projections. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Kayne Anderson undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Companys investment objectives will be attained. Norfolk, VA, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Old Dominion University researchers have discovered a potential major treatment approach to overcome cancer therapy resistance through successful exploitation of a common vulnerability in the survival of cancer cells. Cancer therapy resistance is responsible for approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths. As published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) of the United States of America, researchers report in a laboratory study that a specially engineered gas discharge, composed of charged and highly reactive molecules known as cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), was highly effective in killing drug-resistant cancer cells without harming the surrounding healthy cells. Counterintuitively, this was achieved not by maximizing CAP intensity for blunt killing but by reducing its intensity for simultaneous blockade of multiple cancer cell survival pathways. Cancer cells are exceptionally flexible in evading therapy by adapting to alternative ways to proliferate, survive and acquire drug resistance. As a consequence of aerobic life, many cancer cell survival pathways are intimately influenced by oxygen and its products of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This vulnerability has been recognized as an important therapy target; however its effective exploitation remains elusive. At present, scientists are developing a number of ROS-generating approaches to explore when cancer cells become particularly vulnerable. The study was led jointly by co-corresponding authors Michael Kong, Ph.D., and Hai-Lan Chen, Ph.D., at Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics (FRRCBE) at ODU. They noted a common irony with many types of ROS, which at a high dose may kill cancer cells but almost always promote cancer cell survival, or conversely an ROS at low dose may suppress the survival of cancer cells but is ineffective in killing cancer cells. Indeed, this may be a limiting factor in many ROS-generating therapies. Kong and Chen pondered whether a unique collection of different ROS may suppress the survival pathways of cancer cells at their low dose and kill them with their synergy. They had found that their idea worked with drug-resistant cancer cell lines from different types of tumors. However, they were keen to test the idea in clinically relevant settings using drug-resistant cancer cells from patients. In need of appropriate clinical samples, they approached Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah, where the HCI Hematology Biobank provided patient-donated leukemia samples with the precise characteristics needed to conduct the study to determine whether CAP blocks the survival strategies used by leukemia cells. Our entire team of study coordinators, specimen processors, database specialists and healthcare providers spent many years collecting thousands of samples donated by thousands of patients at Huntsman Cancer Institute so we could have just the right diagnosis, cell type, cell count, treatment histories and mutations for this study, said study co-first author Tony Pomicter, MS, who leads the team that runs HCIs Hematology Biobank. Kong, Batten Endowed Chair in Bioelectrics at ODU, reflected on how the journey to the discovery started in a different field. In our work in developing CAP to overcoming drug-resistant microbial pathogens, we noted that an excellent antimicrobial activity of CAP is centered on the cooperation of its many components, he said. We reasoned that potent anticancer activity may be achieved by engineering such cooperation of CAPs many components at very low doses to kill cancer cells. To our surprise, the strategy of leveraging the cooperation of diverse, low-dose reactive oxygen species, ions and other effectors actually enables simultaneous blockade of three fundamental cancer cell resistance pathways, leading to a very high-rate of death in drug-resistant leukemia cells. Kong cited the central importance of the interdisciplinary cross-fertilization between gas plasma physicists, biomedical engineers and molecular biologists as well as the catalyst of working with Huntsman Cancer Institute. Chen, research associate professor in molecular biology, and Bo Guo, Ph.D., study co-first author, both agree. Chronic myeloid leukemia is an exceptional model to test CAP since it is caused by a single molecular event and the mutations are well understood, Chen said. Efficacy data with chronic myeloid leukemia cells allowed us to establish a clear picture of the underlying mechanisms with little risk of ambiguity. We look forward to future collaborations with Huntsman Cancer Institute to take this work forward on leukemia and other cancers. Kong and Chen worked with the HCI team to identify the specific samples from its biobank for study. Using the detailed records the HCI team developed for its biobank, they identified blood samples with the most-difficult-to-treat mutation, as well as samples from healthy donors. These leukemia and healthy cells were cultured in the lab so the team could conduct experiments using different formulations of CAP. It was critical to evaluate healthy cells alongside leukemia samples, Pomicter said. We always need to understand whether a novel agent is killing all cells, which means it is a toxin, or selectively killing cancer cells, which means it is potentially a drug. The ODU-HCI team found that the cold atmospheric plasma appears to be effective at killing the leukemia cells, but not the healthy cells, making it a promising approach for possible future use in the clinic on other difficult-to-treat hematologic malignancies like acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as drug-resistant solid tumors. This is a highly promising and novel approach to drug resistance and I look forward to clinical studies by this team and others, said Brian Druker, MD, director of the Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute. Druker, who was not involved in the study, is widely recognized in the field for his work in the development of a new drug for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. The researchers acknowledge the critical role of all study authors, including Guo, who helped to formulate Trident CAP and performed experiments. Michael Deininger, M.D., Ph.D., at HCI at the time of the study and now executive vice president and chief scientific officer at Versiti Blood Research Institute, provided critical leadership in the expansion of HCIs Hematology Biobank. Other study authors include Francis Li, Sudhir Bhatt and Chen Chen of Old Dominion University; and Wen Li, Miao Qi, Dei-Hui Xu and Chen Huang of Xian Jiotong University in China. HCIs Research Informatics and Biorepository and Molecular Pathology Shared Resources were instrumental in the work. The study was funded by Batten Endowed Chair Fund at Old Dominion University and Huntsman Cancer Foundation. ### About Old Dominion University: Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, is Virginias forward-focused public doctoral research institution with approximately 23,500 students, rigorous academics, an energetic residential community and initiatives that contribute $2.6 billion annually to Virginias economy. About the Frank Reidy Research Center of Bioelectrics at Old Dominion University: Frank Reidy Research Center of Bioelectrics (FRRCBE) at Old Dominion University represents the largest research concentration in the field of biological effects of pulsed electric field and gas plasma in the US. With diverse expertise in physical and life sciences and close collaborative links medical schools, FRRCBE faculty members focus on basic and translational research as well as education of next-generation scientists and technologists About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah: Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah is the official cancer center of Utah and the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Mountain West. The campus includes a state-of-the-art cancer specialty hospital, and two buildings dedicated to cancer research. HCI provides patient care, cancer screening, and education at community clinics and affiliate hospitals throughout the Mountain West. HCI is consistently recognized among the best cancer hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report. The regions first proton therapy center opened in 2021 and a major hospital expansion is underway. HCI is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for staff, students, patients, and communities. Advancing cancer research discoveries and treatments to meet the needs of patients who live far away from a major medical center is a unique focus. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at HCI than at any other cancer center, including genes responsible for breast, ovarian, colon, head and neck cancers, and melanoma. HCI was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman. Attachment NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Zhangmen Education Inc. (NYSE: ZME) in or traceable to Zhangmen Educations initial public offering conducted on or about June 8, 2021 (IPO), pursuant to the IPO prospectus (the Prospectus) and Form F-1 registration statement, as amended (together with the Prospectus, the "Registration Statement"), of the important January 18, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Zhangmen Education 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 Zhangmen Education class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2213.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com 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 18, 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Registration Statement was false and/or misleading and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Chinese authorities were in the process of implementing sweeping new regulatory reforms on the private education industry in China including, among others, prohibitions on (a) profit-making by private education companies, (b) engaging in core-curriculum tutoring on weekends and vacations, and (c) capital-raising by companies like Zhangmen Education; (2) the known risks, events, and uncertainties noted in the Registration Statement were reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Zhangmen Educations business; and (3) based on the foregoing, the statements in the Registration Statement concerning Zhangmen Educations historical financial performance, market demand, and industry trends were materially incomplete, inaccurate, and misleading. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Zhangmen Education class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2213.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com 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 investors 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 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com COLUMBIA, Tenn., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Upright Education and Columbia State Community College have partnered to bring Upright's award-winning coding bootcamps to the learners Columbia State serves in the Southern Middle Tennessee area. Upright Education is proud to be working with Tennessee's first community college to make Columbia State's Coding and UX/UI Design Bootcamps available to the many working individuals seeking career enhancement in this market. The college's Workforce and Continuing Education department offers trainings online, on campus, and in the workplace to nine counties in Southern Middle Tennessee. Upright's online career enhancement vehicles will expand Columbia State's current offerings in the area to include certificate programs providing increasingly in-demand technology skills. "I am thrilled that we have found a partner that not only allows us to offer career-ready training in the tech industry to our service area, but that also genuinely cares about helping participants complete the program and find jobs once they have completed," said Melody Murphy, Director of Workforce and Continuing Education at Columbia State Community College. Projections for employment trends in the new working economy suggest that job creation in the tech industry will continue to increase at scale and remote work requiring a variety of tech skills will remain a new standard in many sectors of the workforce. Nashville, Tennessee, the main urban center in Middle Tennessee, has just launched a citywide initiative to double its tech workforce by 2025. Upright's career accelerators in software development (coding) and user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design (UX/UI) boast high rates of placement in competitive tech careers upon graduation, the former for 91% of students. "The demand for tech talent in Tennessee is growing at a tremendous clip," says Upright Education CEO and founder Benny Boas. "Upright's partnership with Columbia State Community College is not only aimed at helping adults enter the growing industry but also companies that need emerging talent. Our online bootcamps provide an opportunity for the counties in Southern Middle Tennessee to get involved in the State's growing tech economy from the comfort of their home." Upright's coding bootcamps are open to anyone over the age of 18, regardless of prior work experience or college education. Students enrolled in Upright bootcamps through Columbia State will learn cutting-edge skills alongside peers in immersive live classroom sessions and will receive industry-specific career mentorship. The first Columbia State Upright bootcamps are open for enrollment now and will commence at the beginning of the coming Spring semester. Columbia State Community College and Upright Education are hosting a Bootcamp Info Session on January 10th, 2022 to discuss their upcoming courses and meet prospective students. The live informational session will take place remotely online at 6:00 PM CST (7:00 PM EST). Interested students can register via Eventbrite . Press Contact: press@uprighted.com +1 (802) 242-0561 Related Images Image 1: Columbia State Coding & UX Design Bootcamps Columbia State student learning technology skills from home. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the high level of uncertainty over the effects of the newest COVID-19 variant Omicron, the Canadian Association of PPE Manufacturers (CAPPEM) fully supports the Ontario Hospital Associations (OHA) newest recommendations issued yesterday evening. According to the OHA, which has also issued a letter to the Ontario Ministry of Health urging stronger emergency response to the latest wave of the pandemic, any healthcare workers (including those in long term care homes) who are dealing with a confirmed or potential COVID-19 case should be wearing at minimum an N95 respirator. Recently updated Public Health Ontario guidance now recommends that health care and environmental workers wear a fit-tested and seal-checked N95 respirator when caring for or entering and cleaning the room of patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. Furthermore, the chief medical officer of health (CMOH) of Ontario, Dr. Kieran Moore, recently stated that there is a potential that Omicron can spread through the air, with Dr. Adalsteinn Brown of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table noting that COVID-19 is an airborne disease at a recent press conference on Ontarios latest case modelling. Dr. Brown advises Ontarians to wear the highest quality mask that they can access. The OHAs recommendations are absolutely bang on, says CAPPEM President Barry Hunt. This latest variant is more transmissible and it is spreading like wildfire. Immediately, we need to protect our healthcare workers and the most vulnerable and, as quickly as possible, get this equipment into our schools, businesses and homes, adds Mr. Hunt. Accepting the OHAs recommendations, Ontario can fully expect a surge in demand, and Canadian PPE producers are ready and able to ramp up production of some of the best PPE in the world to meet the needs across the province and throughout Canada. Thanks to investments by our government and a host of manufacturers, we are not only self-sufficient in critical PPE, we also have new, innovative products based on world-leading technologies that are BETTER than imported or old school products. No longer do we need to rely on unstable supply chains and volatile markets. We have locally produced equipment that is better, more reliable, and, in many cases, less expensive, concludes Mr. Hunt. For example, the Health Canada approved Pro+ mask made in Collingwood fits better and performs BETTER than a disposable 3M N95 and it lasts for 300 hours before it is RECYCLED. That means it is less expensive, more effective and environmentally friendly. Ultra-breathable products made with new nano fiber material produced in Cambridge can provide healthcare workers with the ultimate in comfort and protection. CAPPEM was created to prepare us for the next pandemic. Its here already. Its name is Omicron. CAPPEM represents Canadian manufacturers of PPE including masks, respirators, medical gowns, surgical gloves, disinfectants, and more. Canadian PPE producers invested over $100 million and hired over 1,000 people in response to the pandemic. For more information, please contact: danielle.cane@cappem.ca A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5c88c0a3-2de7-4251-aabe-c52146253746 The Chaotic Election of 1800 Aaron Burrs Victory in New York Alexander Hamiltons Infamous Letter The Enemy of My Enemy The Two U.S. Constitutions Afterword: One-Term Presidents Some Trump supporters and advisers have suggested that if the certification of the 2020 election can be delayed beyond Dec. 8, Republican-controlled state legislatures could step in to name their own set of presidential electors who would cast their Electoral College votes for Donald Trump, not the individual who appears to have won the election in those swing states. Others have speculated that perhaps electors might be persuaded to vote for Trump in spite of the expectation that they would cast their ballots faithfully for the winner in their states. In the minds of some diehard Trump supporters, including individuals at the highest reaches of the Congressional establishment, whatever it takes to get Mr. Trump to 270 Electoral College votes is fair game.There is nothing illegal about these contrivances. In fact, the Founding Fathers actually intended the nations Electoral College electors to be somewhat independent of the will of the majority . Nothing in the Constitution itself requires the electors to vote for the winner of the popular vote in their state. It was assumed that they would routinely do so, but the Founders posited that if the people voted for a person the electors thought was unsuited for the presidency, they could use their discretion to advance the prospects of someone else. Most states now have laws requiring the electors to endorse the winner of the election in their state, but it is at least possible that what are known as faithless electors could award the presidency to Donald Trump rather than Joe Biden, who won the national popular vote by more than 5.6 million votes.There are lessons for them and those who oppose them in the election of 1800, generally considered to be the nastiest in American history.It might be useful to examine another such moment in American political history, the tumultuous presidential election of 1800, in which the challenger Thomas Jefferson of Virginia unseated his old friend, now his rival, the incumbent President John Adams of Massachusetts.The election of 1800 was one of the most contested and vituperative elections in American history. The incumbent John Adams was not well liked, even by his fellow Federalists. His craggy independence and his inconsistent handling of the quasi-war with France (an undeclared naval war) had perplexed almost everyone in the United States. He was being characterized by the emerging Republican Party (no relation to today's) as a monarchist and a lover of aristocracy, and he stubbornly refused to clarify his views or campaign for re-election in any way. His challenger Thomas Jefferson was regarded by his admirers as a friend to liberty and a friend of the people, an advocate for severely limited government, isolationism, fiscal responsibility, and states rights. Jefferson was characterized by his detractors as a political radical and demagogue who had spent too much time in revolutionary France, where he served as the American minister between 1784-89.In the end, Jefferson defeated Adams in the Electoral College 73 to 65. Adams skulked out of Washington, D.C., on the dawn stage on March 4, 1801, to avoid seeing Jefferson installed in his place. Adams was actually less angry at Jefferson than at the American people, for retiring him after a single term.For Jefferson to win the election of 1800, he would need all or most of the Electoral College votes in the southern states, some votes in the middle states, and most of all New York. It was expected that Adams would win all of New Englands Electoral College votes, perhaps a few in South Carolina, and several middle states. New York would determine the election. At that early point in American political history, there was no common date for national elections. Each state had its own system and its own election calendar. It wasnt until 1845 that Congress determined that the presidential election would be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.Because they must win New York to win the 1800 election, the Jeffersonian Republicans selected Aaron Burr to be Jeffersons running mate (though Jefferson never really trusted him), knowing that Burr would work tirelessly to deliver New Yorks electors, if only out of self-love. In an era when men of political ambition had to pretend that they were high-minded gentlemen and that politics was a vulgar business beneath their dignity, Burr was a candid political opportunist, who gleefully engaged in the kind of ward and street electioneering that we associate with modern politics.Burr ran an outstanding campaign against the aloof and self-restrained Federalists under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton. He out-maneuvered Hamilton at every turn. He transformed his own house in lower Manhattan into an election headquarters, threw down mattresses in some of the rooms so his hectic operatives could rest, and maintained an open refreshment table, so that he could maintain party discipline and concentrate on getting tradesmen, craftsmen, small business owners, and others normally ignored by both parties to the polls.In the May 1800 election that determined who would be New Yorks presidential electors in the fall, Burr won a stunning insurgent victory that appalled the New York Federalist establishment, partly because it felt to them like a violation of the code of respectability. But the simple fact is that Burr outsmarted, out-maneuvered, and out-hustled Hamilton, who never quite got over it. One contemporary reported that after the election results were known, Hamilton exhibits a figure of rage and despair.In the wake of the election, Hamilton, perhaps the single most brilliant public figure of the founding generation, convened a caucus to assess the situation and determine if something could be done to forestall the election of Jefferson. The anti-Federalist newspaper thenoted, when it was urged that it [stealing the election after the fact] might lead to a civil war a person present observed that a civil war would be preferable to having Jefferson. Thats how passionate the politics of the early national period could be.Under Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, each state is empowered to determine its own method of choosing electors for the presidential election. In that bit of ambiguity, Hamilton saw a path to defeat Jefferson after the fact. Hamilton, the undisputed leader and political strategist of the Federalist Party, now a private citizen in New York pursuing a lucrative career as a lawyer, wrote a letter that has done more to damage his historical reputation than anything else he did in his extraordinary life. The letter was addressed to his friend John Jay, the governor of New York.Jay had been a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1775, where he spoke against separation from Great Britain. He despised the people, arguing that those who own the country ought to govern it, and that the wise and the good should do everything they can to prevent the ascendancy of the wicked and the weak. He had, moreover, negotiated a compliant 1795 commercial treaty with Great Britain now known as Jay's Treaty , which made him a hated figure in southern and western circles and for which he was burned in effigy throughout the United States. He was, in short, no democrat and no admirer of Thomas Jefferson.In his letter to Jay on May 7, 1800, Hamilton urged the governor to call a special session of the outgoing, lame-duck, Federalist-dominated New York Legislature to change the method of choosing New Yorks electors so that the just-elected Republican (Jeffersonian) Legislature would not be able to select them in the fall of the year. Hamilton knew he was suggesting an unethical and anti-democratic stunt to avoid accepting the will of the people of New York. I am aware, he wrote, that there are weighty objections to the measure; but . . . in times like these in which we live, it will not do to be overscrupulous. It is easy to sacrifice the substantial interests of society by a strict adherence to ordinary rules. In other words, winning is sometimes more important than adhering to established American norms.Then, to cover his tracks, Hamilton wrote, In observing this, I shall not be supposed to mean that anything ought to be done which integrity will forbidbut merely that the scruples of delicacy and propriety, as relative to a common course of things, ought to yield to the extraordinary nature of the crisis. It turns out that every American election is the most important in our history. The rules that apply in the common course of things should not apply when so much is at stake.In his appeal to Gov. Jay, Hamilton said he could not countenance an Atheist in Religion, and a Fanatic in politics as the next president. Jefferson was neither of these things. He was a deist (God as physicist and clockmaker) and as time went on a unitarian, but he was never an atheist. In politics, although he was a utopian pragmatist and his dream of a Virgilian agrarian republic was more poetic than practical, Jefferson was never a fanatic. Warming to his theme, Hamilton told Jay that some members of Jeffersons party advocated the overthrow of the government by stripping it of its due energies, others . . . a revolution after the manner of Buonaparte. None of this was true, of course, but Hamilton needed some alternative facts to justify his rash proposal. This was no time for ethical fastidiousness, Hamilton said, and it seems to me that there is a very solemn obligation to employ the means in our power. Hamilton told Jay that while his proposed maneuver was of questionable propriety, the reasonable part of the world will, I believe, approve it.Hamiltons father-in-law Philip Schuyler wrote his own letter to Gov. Jay endorsing Hamiltons plan to steal the election. He admitted that although such a Machiavellian maneuver would cause some embarrassment, it was justified given the amount of mis-rule the country could expect from Jefferson.Hamiltons early 20th-century biographer Henry Cabot Lodge (a Hamiltonian, and the best friend of a greater Hamiltonian Theodore Roosevelt) concluded: The proposition was, in fact, nothing less than to commit under the forms of law a fraud, which would set aside the expressed will of a majority of voters in the state [of New York].Governor Jay never answered Hamiltons letter. But on the back of the letter he wrote, Proposing a measure for party purposes which it would not become me to adopt. Jay was a high Federalist who despised Jeffersons politics (though not the man), but he refused to countenance Hamiltons irresponsible proposal. Even Hamiltons most generous biographer Ron Chernow was harsh in his judgment: Hamiltons appeal may count as the most high-handed and undemocratic act of his career.This story ends in varieties of irony. Hamilton could not abide Jefferson, but he knew that Jefferson was a fellow gentleman who could be counted on to adhere to the Constitution in his administration of the country. Hamilton hated Burr, whom he regarded as a dangerous self-promoter and a rash adventurer who had no respect for constitutional niceties or the code of gentlemanly behavior. Hamilton didnt like or respect John Adams either. In fact, he wrote a 58-page pamphlet disparaging his partys nominee entitled, Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams, Esq. President of the United States . Although the pamphlet was intended to be quietly circulated among Federalist political leaders, it was leaked to the press and published before the election. Naturally, this enraged Adams, who called Hamilton the bastard brat of a Scotch pedler [sic], and delighted the Jeffersonians, who watched the Federalist Party self-destruct before their eyes.Jefferson defeated Adams in the election, but he tied with his running mate in the Electoral College with 73 votes. That threw the election of 1800 into the House of Representatives, where a number of Federalists decided to press for the election of Burr, whom they thought they could manage or even induce to embrace their political point of view, rather than Jefferson, whom they knew they could not possibly control. The tie thus precipitated the first constitutional crisis in American history, when the party that lost attempted to supplant the duly elected president to preserve their power and place in the national government. In fact, the crisis might have led to civil war. Gov. James Monroe of Virginia was prepared to invade the national capital, if necessary, to take back the election for Jefferson.When Hamilton learned of the Federalist efforts to form an alliance with Burr, he threw his considerable political weight behind his old enemy Jefferson. In a letter to James Bayard of Delaware, dated Jan. 16, 1801, Hamilton argued that all responsible men must prefer Jefferson to Burr, even though I admit that his [Jeffersons] politics are tinctured with fanaticism, that he is too much in earnest in his democracy, that he has been a mischievous enemy to the principal measures of our past administration, that he is crafty & persevering in his objects, that he is not scrupulous about the means of success, nor very mindful of truth, and that he is a contemptible hypocrite. Amazing: thats Hamiltons characterization of the man he preferred! Of his personal and political enemy Burr, Hamilton wrote, these things are admitted and indeed cannot be denied, that he is a man ofambitionthat he isto a degree which excludes all social affections & that he is decidedly. Burr was, said Hamilton, inferior in real ability to Jefferson.This would seem to reinforce the adage that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Seldom has any political candidate been damned with such faint praise. Hamilton was right about Jefferson in one key respect, however. He told Bayard that Jefferson is as likely as any man I know to temporizeto calculate what will be likely to promote his own reputation and advantage; and the probable result of such a temper is the preservation of systems, though originally opposed, which being once established, could not be overturned without danger to the person who did it. To my mind a true estimate of Mr. J.s character warrants the expectation of a temporizing rather than a violent system. In other words, Jefferson was unlikely to destroy the fiscal system Hamilton had devised for the United States or eliminate the army and navy (as many Federalists feared). Jeffersons ideas and ideals were always more visionary than his actions. He turned out to be a decidedly moderate president, and some historians have even said he proved to be a quasi-Hamiltonian in his administration actions.What this extraordinary story tells us is that we have two constitutions the capital "C" Constitution drafted in 1787, ratified in 1788, and amended just 27 times in the course of American history. That Constitution is a brief document of just 4,543 words, which provides a general recipe for American governance but declines to specify exact procedures for many important American political institutions. Many provisions were left, as one historian puts it, in studied ambiguity.Then there is the lowercase "c" constitution of the ways and means and norms that have emerged in the 232 years since ratification, including the cabinet, executive orders, executive privilege, senatorial courtesy, and much more. Those constitutional norms include the gracious concession of the loser in a presidential election, cooperation in the transition from one administration to another, faithful electors, mutual acceptance that the people have spoken, the losers appearance at his rivals inauguration, and a high degree of self-restraint by former presidents in not opinionating on the leadership of their successors.Theodore Roosevelt actually left the country on a yearlong safari in 1909 to give his hapless successor William Howard Taft the chance to establish his own regimen and presidential style, without everyone looking over Tafts shoulder to see how the former president infinitely more energetic and charismatic reacted to his every utterance and every decision.In the election of 1800, Hamilton, who saw his lifes work slipping away with the coming of the democrats into power, assaulted the barely rooted norms of American political tradition. He attempted to void the results of the election by what even he regarded as unscrupulous means. His nasty pamphlet about his own partys nominee for the presidency broke later President Ronald Reagans Eleventh Commandment, Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican. In doing so, Hamilton split the Federalist Party and weakened its chances of holding onto the presidency. By 1805, after Jefferson won a second term by a landslide, the Federalist Party essentially blinked out of existence, in part because of Hamiltons misguided actions in the election of 1800.Hamiltons hostility towards Aaron Burr, and Burrs resentment of Hamiltons abusive words and deeds, would percolate for the next four years until it became clear that New York was not big enough to contain both of these titans of American politics. They finally met in a duel on the west bank of the Hudson River at Weehawken, N.J., on July 11, 1804, where Hamilton appears to have thrown away his shot (i.e., missed deliberately) and Burr fired to kill and did. The most famous duel in American history thus has some roots in the chaotic election of 1800, which Jefferson blithely called the Second American Revolution Even Hamiltons close friend Gouverneur Morris, who delivered the eulogy at his funeral in New York City on July 14, 1804, wrote in his diary that his friend was indiscreet, vain, and opinionated. These things must be told, or the character will be incomplete.Such were the political machinations of Alexander Hamilton, one of the greatest secretaries of the Treasury in American history, and, of course, the darling of the recent Broadway musical.John Adams became the first of 10 presidents who have been denied a second term by their party or by the American people: John Adams, John Quincy Adams (his son), Martin Van Buren, Franklin Pierce, Benjamin Harrison, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. The expectation is always that an adequate president will be granted a second term. The last time an incumbent was denied re-election was 28 years ago, when Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush. Being relegated to the one-term club is a source of bitterness to its members, some of whom continue grumbling about it for the rest of their lives.If Mr. Trump, who has made a career out of deriding losers, winds up losing the Electoral College vote on Dec. 14, he will bear a double stigma. In addition to being a one-term president, he will be just the third president impeached by the House of Representatives. If (as seems unlikely) Trump resigns before the end of his term to secure a pardon from his short-term successor Mike Pence, he would bear a third historical stigma as the second American president to resign.Its 2020, the year when things fell apart. With Record Economic Success, Governor Northam Proposes Budget with Unprecedented Investments in Working Virginians Governor Northam is the most progressive and economically successful governor in the Commonwealths history RICHMONDGovernor Ralph Northam today proposed his biennial budget for 2022-2024. The proposed budget is a reflection of Governor Northams historic progressive leadership as the most economically successful governor in Virginia's history. In the past four years, Virginia has generated record economic growth, with $80 billion in capital investment, and created more than 100 thousand new jobs. Under Governor Northam, Virginia generated a $2.6 billion surplusthe largest in the Commonwealths history. This record economic growth and fiscal responsibility have allowed Governor Northam to build on the priorities of his last four budgets: education, equity, and investments in working Virginians. The Governors proposed budget sets the incoming administration up for success in virtually every facet of state government: education, the environment, broadband, behavioral health, public safety, and economic development. Governor Northam noted that Virginia is stronger and more forward-looking as a result of the last four yearsand his budget is a roadmap to continue this success. Over these four years, we have steered this state in a prudent manner, invested wisely for our long-term needs, and created more opportunities for our communities and our people to thrive, said Governor Northam. I am confident that this state is stronger and more forward-looking than it was when I took office nearly four years ago. This budget is a roadmap to continue Virginias success. The Governors remarks as prepared for delivery are below and the key highlights of the Governors budget amendments can be found here. AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY: Good morning. Chairman Torian, Chairwoman Howell, Chairwoman Watts, Speaker Filler-Corn, members of the General Assembly, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for the privilege of speaking with you this morning. I would like to recognize Attorney General Mark Herring, my wife Pam, and members of our Cabinet and staff. And I want to welcome Lieutenant Governor-elect Winsome Sears and Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin. I invited the incoming administration today because once the campaigns are over, we all should work together to help Virginia succeed. I want to thank our Department of Elections, all of our local registrars, and the thousands of volunteers who all work to make our elections run. And we are at a unique moment, when we have the funding to catch up on long-delayed We had a nearly-flawless election of Governor elect Youngkin this year, just as we did last year when Virginia voted for President Joe Biden. Our elections are always well-run, theyre free and fair, and theyre transparent. This is a hallmark of our democracy, and I am proud of all Virginians whose efforts help ensure that our elections go well. We saw record turnout last monthand thats a direct result of our work to make it easier to vote in the Commonwealth. So Governor-elect, welcome. I want you and your administration to be successful, because if you are, Virginia will continue to be successful. Its good to be gathered here together today. Im glad that I can deliver my last budget speech to you all in person. When we first met here, I was not quite a year into my term. Back then, a four year term seemed like a long time. But those years have gone by very fast. And today I present to you my last budget. Im biased, but I also think its our best one yet. Thats because Virginias economy is doing very well. State revenues are at record investments, while also putting money back into the pockets of the hardest working Virginians. We need to be clear about how this has happened. It is because over these four years, we have consistently taken a prudent, cautious approach to budgeting. We have strengthened our balance sheet to keep our finances stable. Weve madetargeted long-term investments to help Virginia grow. And weve made choices that ensure moreopportunities for more Virginians. In 2018 I spoke to you about strengthening our balance sheet, making historic investments, positioning Virginia for potential future downturns, and targeted tax relief.I am glad to see that despite everything that has happened over these four years, our priorities really havent changed. We still want to take care of our neighbors. We still want to make sure Virginia has money put away for a rainy day. We still want to strengthen this Commonwealth in every way possible, by making investments that will help us in the long run. We still want to do the most good possible with the resources we have. We have kept the promises we made four years ago. When I presented our budget in 2018, I told you our economy was headed in the right. And those booming revenues show us that the things weve been doing these four years And while weve had some ups and downsparticularly in the early months of the pandemicI can confidently say that our economy today is the strongest weve seen in a very long time. We ended the last fiscal year with the largest surplus in the Commonwealths history. And while weve benefitted from federal pandemic funding, please dont fall into the trap of believing thats the reason for the surplus. Pandemic funding is one-timerevenues are are working. Weve made targeted investments for the future, helped people get through the pandemic, and put money aside as a buffer for the future. This is possible because of strong, steady fiscal We have built a strong Commonwealth that works for more Virginians than ever before. The budget I propose to you today will leave a roadmap to continue the strong economic success that we are seeing. We will keep making the investments that Virginia needs, and we will keep putting resources into supporting Virginians who need it. First, we have built this budget as we have every budgetwith Virginias long-term fiscal stability in mind. When I started this job, Virginia was on a negative credit watch. My goal was to get our credit back on the positive side of the ledger, and to set aside the equivalent of 8 percent of our budget in reserves. That goal would have meant we had more in reserves than any previous governor, of either party. Well, we did that, and much more. Im happy to say that our AAA rating is safe and sound, and this budget puts $1.1 billion in our Revenue Stabilization Fund. Weve also added a voluntary deposit, another $564 million. Because when youre doing well, the first thing any financial advisor will tell you to do is put money in the bank. Altogether, this brings our reserves to more than $3.8 billion. Thats 16.8 percent, more than double the 8 percent I set as a goal four years ago. I am proud that even as we weathered the worst pandemic in our lifetime, weve rebuilt our reserves so that Virginia is prepared against future downturns. That financial advisor would also tell you that when you have a surplus in cash, it makes sense to pay down some bills. So this budget sets aside nearly $1 billion to the Virginia Retirement System. This will reduce unfunded liabilities, making sure we can meet our retirement obligations for thousands of state employees, folks like social workers and road And it also commits $42.5 million in each year for the payments we expect to make under our deal with Amazonpayments that are contingent on them meeting their promises on investments and job creation. And, finally, the financial advisor would tell us that if we want to make long-needed renovations to the house, it makes more sense to use cash than credit. So were budgeting $2 billion for capital projects, including maintenance needs in state government and higher education buildings. And weve also got to protect our houseso this budget includes over $60 million for cybersecurity upgrades across state government. All of these actions mean that Virginia will have more tools in the toolbox next time theres an economic downturnbecause we planned ahead today. That means our historic investments wont disappear when the next downturn comes. Strong revenue years, like this one, are the right time to make strategic, long-term. Thats true whether the investment is in asphalt and concrete, or the people who. With local matching funds, Virginia teacher pay will finally meet the national truly make up this state government. And we want to invest in people. Thats why our budget includes pay raises for the people who make public services run. For teachers, were proposing a 10 percent raisefive percent in each of the next two averageand thats good news. This is the right way to say thank you to our teachers for all they do every dayespecially for all they have done during this long pandemic. I am proud that every budget I proposed as governor included a pay boost for teachersincluding the largest single-year raise in 15 years, in 2018. There is power in every childteachers give a child the tools to unlock that power. They go above and beyond every day, and these raises are one way to show our gratitude. Im also proposing pay raises for law enforcement officers and corrections officers. For years they have faced what we call pay compressionwhen we raise starting salaries, it means junior officers start earning almost as much as senior officers. The structure weve proposed raises both starting salaries and those of officers with more experience. Law enforcement is not an easy jobofficers put themselves at risk every day, and they deserve to be better compensated for it. And finally, Im proposing a 10 percent pay raise for all state employeesfive percent in each of the next two budget years. Our state workforce is what makes government run. They are the service in public service. None of the services we all rely on from fixing roads, to keeping state parks open, to the public health services weve needed so much these past 20 monthsnone of that would happen without state employees, and this is a way to thank them for their hard work. The pandemic affected many state servicesand in some cases, put a spotlight on longstanding problems. It put additional strain on our already-challenged behavioral health system, as our state and community systemsand the people who provide those servicesstruggled to provide care during the pandemic. In July, I committed to using millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan to alleviate pressure in state hospitals, boost community services, and provide greater support for substance abuse treatment and prevention efforts. We also put ARPA funding toward staff bonuses, and we committed to staff salary raises to better compensate the people who do this tough job. Today, Im announcing this budget includes $560 million to address our behavioral health challenges, on a variety of fronts. Were proposing $164 million to give pay raises to direct care staff in our state hospitals and training centers, along with discharge assistance. Well also provide $263 million for community-based services. This includes fully funding STEP VA services at our community services boards, enhancing crisis services, and expanding permanent supportive housing. Im budgeting $75 million for new behavioral health care standards in jails, and to increase the number of counselors in the Department of Corrections. And well provide $33 million to expand access to community-based addiction treatmentsomething that we need now more than ever, unfortunately. Well also boost services for developmental disabilities, with an historic $675 million to strengthen community-based services and allow more people to be eligible for Medicaid waiver services. This includes revising rates to providers for the first time since 2016, and adding 1,200 new waiver slots for community services. Every state is facing the long-term challenge of behavioral health, and how to best provide treatment. These issues, especially in our state hospitals, are challenging and have been building for a long time. This funding package will help ease the strains on the system, while compensating our hardworking staff, and providing additional community support for the patients who need and deserve help and treatment. We are unfortunately living at a time when a variety of health issues are pressing enough to be considered public health emergencies. One of those is the persistent crisis of gun violence in our communities. Every year, we lose more than a thousand Virginians to gun violence. Thats more than three Virginians every day, in communities across the Commonwealth. Whether those deaths are homicides, suicides, or accidents, every one of them is a family that will never be the same. This isnt the first time weve proposed school construction loans in fact, we I am proud to have passed comprehensive gun safety measures in 2020. But there are still important gaps in our knowledge about the problem, and how to prevent it. Thats why my budget provides $27 million to establish and staff the Virginia Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention. This center will collect and report data on firearm violence in all its forms. It will provide resources and support to localities and community-based organizations that are addressing firearm violence, and it will coordinate state and local responses to such violence. The center will collaborate across both public health and public safety state agencies, so we can address this crisis in a data-driven way. Our revenues allow us to make investments weve needed for a long time. And one problem that has festered in Virginia for decades is the issue of crumbling schoolsschools with leaky roofs and ceilings, and antiquated classrooms. Its hard for children to learn when the school itself is distracting. Many school divisions have old schools, and not enough money to build new ones. But school construction has traditionally been a local responsibility, not a state one. While I understand the reasons for that, I believe that when we have the means to help, we should. So my budget includes $500 million to help localities construct or renovate school proposed it through the Literary Fund in 2018. But this is the most weve ever proposed to help ensure students have a healthy and safe learning environment. Overall, were proposing more than $2.3 billion in direct aid for education. Well also increase support for at-risk students by more than $268 million. In 2019, we proposed investing $140 million to support high-poverty school divisionsthe most we had ever been able to give to support at-risk students. This investment nearly doubles that, helping schools offer additional support to students who need it. Every child, no matter who they are or where they live, should get a world-class education in Virginia. And that education should start as young as possible. Early education has been a priorityof mine, and of the First Ladys, throughout my term in office. This budget expands access to the Virginia Preschool Initiative for three-year-olds, and increases the Child Care Development Fund by more than $73 million each year. It also expands the early reading initiative, investing more than $77 million over the two. I want to thank Pam, and all the dedicated people across government and around Virginia who have worked to make early learning more available and accessible to all of our children. Were also making important investments in safe, affordable housing. Weve increased our support for the Housing Trust Fund in past budgets, and were able to do it again. I am proposing $190 million over the two years to create more housing that is safe and stable, and that people can afford. When I came into office, we were putting just $11 million in the Housing Trust Fund. Our administration has made historic investments$145 million so far. The importance of affordable housing, as well as supportive housing, has been even more evident during this You cant tell people theyre safer staying home if they dont have a home to stay in. Thats why these housing investments are so important, and Im proud that weve been able to increase this funding during my term. One of the most important investments we have been able to make is in broadband. Broadband is to todays economy what electricity was generations ago. It is quite simply a necessary service for students to connect to education, businesses to connect to the wider world, and citizens to connect to work. It helps make economic opportunity more equitable. But when I came into office, we were spending $4 million a year on connecting the thousands of Virginians that still lacked broadband access. We bumped that up to $50 million a year. And earlier this year, we made the decision to put $700 million in federal pandemic funding into broadband. When we leverage local and private funding, Virginia is deploying $2 billion into broadband and high-speed internet. Because of this decision, earlier this week we were able to award grant projects to dozens of communitiesprojects that will close 90 percent of the digital divide. Were on track to have universal broadband on its way to every community by 2024far faster than expected, and faster than most other states. That funding is built into the base of this budget, and its vital to Virginias economic health that we keep this project moving forward. This is an infrastructure investment that will help Virginians for years to come. Last week, I announced additional funding for our state parks and multi-use trail systems. Were also making investments in other environmental prioritiesespecially those that help ensure clean water and protect land for future generations. I am proud to say that with this budget, we have put $1 billion toward our efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. That is more than any other governor has ever been able to invest in the Bay. As someone who grew up with the Bay as my backyard, this is personal to meI want to ensure that my grandchildren, and your grandchildren, can enjoy beautiful, clean water the same way I did. This money will go to a variety of programs that make our water cleanerreducing nutrient runoff, conserving forest and farm land, fully funding the BMP cost share, and helping localities update old sewer systems. It will help us meet our statewide goals for Bay cleanup by 2025. We must meet those want Virginia to be the state that doesnt carry its share. As part of this effort, were also providing funding for the cities of Richmond, Lynchburg, and Alexandria, to improve their wastewater systems, through what we call combined sewer overflow projects. Their CSO projects will deliver cleaner water for everyone. Thats why were using federal ARPA dollars for those projects. When we announced how wed use that funding earlier this year, we purposely set some aside for other needs. This is an excellent way to use those resources to solve a decades-old health problem. We also are taking steps to protect land and cultural sites that are important to Virginias tribal nations, Black Virginians, and other Virginians of color. As we strive to tell a fuller and more inclusive story of Virginia, its important to preserve and protect physical places and spaces that represent the history of all Virginians. Well set aside $12 million to help Virginias tribal nations conserve and expand their tribal lands for future generationssomething weve already started on, with actions in recent years to protect land for the Chickahominy and Mattaponi tribes. Weve also budgeted $10 million to preserve historic sites related to Black and indigenous Virginians. Clean air and water are an important legacy to leave for future generations. And its important to prepare our Commonwealth for the climate changes that are having an impact now. Im so proud of the work weve done to make this state more resilient. And the country is once again turning to Virginia for leadership. In fact, President Biden has nominated Admiral Ann Phillips, our special assistant for coastal adaptation, to serve as the next U.S. Maritime. Admiral Phillips is in the midst of her confirmation hearing as we speak. I know she will serve the United States as well as she served our Commonwealth. I am incredibly proud that during my term, we have brought in a record $80 billion in economic investment, creating more than 100,000 new jobs. And CNBC has named Virginia the best state for business three years runningproof that when you treat people right, its the right thing to do, and its good for business. CNBC uses more than 70 different metrics to score that ranking, about half of which touch on the business and tax climate. Both Republican and Democratic governors compete for this rankingand were the only state to get it in successive years. For comparison, were in company with states like Texas, Georgia, and North Carolinanot exactly liberal hotbeds. I want to thank the Commerce and Trade team, everyone at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and our local economic development officials, all of whom work hard to showcase all that Virginia can offer to companies. And I thank the MEI team, which includes several of you legislators. Weve brought thoughtful projects to you, and weve been able to help them succeed. But we can do morespecifically to attract large manufacturing projects and others who need large sites prepared and ready to go. Weve been losing projects, along with their jobs and capital investments, that are looking for this specific kind of site. So Im proposing $150 million to address this issue. The majority, $100 million, will establish a mega site development fund, which will prepare our largest sites for future mega projects. These are the kinds of projects that represent thousands of potential jobs, and billions in capital investment. The remaining $50 million will be used for midsized sites that are priorities for our economic development programs around the Commonwealth. Together, this investment will make our communities as competitive as possible, and help ensure that every region of Virginia can participate in this economic growth. Our strong economic development track record, and being the best state for business, arent things that happen in a vacuum. They happen because we have put the pieces in place to make them happen. Our inclusive, commonsense policies have encouraged business investment. Being named best state for business is a testament to our workforce, our education system, our commitment to diversity, and our strong business climate. And it shows that when you treat people right, good things. Because of this investment, Mr. Youngkin, you will one day find yourself in a rural community to cut the ribbon on a megasite during your term. And because of this, I also expect to see Virginia as the best state for business for the fourth year in a row. We got good marks with CNBC for our education system, including our world class colleges and universities. These days, if you want to get a good job and get ahead, you need additional skills training or education beyond a high school diploma. Im proud that in Virginia, we have everything from training focused on skills, to outstanding advanced degree programs. But we cant rest on our laurels in higher education. Last week, I announced additional funding for our historically black colleges. Theyve long been underfunded, which is why we have increased funding for them in every budget I have proposed. We have budgeted support for capital improvements, and for student access. Our schools are not serving their purpose if students cant afford to go thereespecially the first-generation students, for whom college can make a huge difference. My budget adds $40 million over two years for Norfolk State University and Virginia State University for affordable access. We also include $20 million over two years to help support scholarships at Virginia Union, and at Hampton University. And weve budgeted for capital improvements, student support, and other needs$297 million altogether. With these investments, well have put half a billion dollars into HBCUs during my term, an increase of 87 percent. We also know that student access is an issue at every school, public and private, HBCU or not. Thats why were increasing tuition assistance for students in other ways. This budget provides $150 million to increase undergraduate financial assistance at our schools, and $10 million to increase graduate financial aid. Were providing $97 million for affordable access. And were raising the level of Tuition Assistance Grants to students at private colleges and universities to $5,000 per student over the next two years. That means that over my term, well have increased TAG by 50 percent. This year, roughly 23,000 Virginia students are being helped by the TAG program. Thats no small number of students who might have been able to get an education because of this. Our private colleges do an outstanding job of helping students who might not have thought they could afford a private collegeor afford to go to college at all. In fact, here is a remarkable statistic about Virginias private collegesof our student body attending Virginias private colleges, more than 44 percent of the student body is eligible for Pell grants, with many of our colleges exceeding 55 percent. It takes a village, as they say, and these colleges are committed to access to higher education for all, and I thank them. Not every student wants or needs a four-year degree to get a good job. There are many high-paying jobs that dont require four years of school, but they do require training programs. We have excellent community colleges. When I ran for governor, I campaigned on an idea to make community college tuition free for low and moderate income students, if they were getting training in high-need areas. Last year we were finally able to keep that promise and fund the G3 program. It covers the cost of school for qualifying studentsand it helps pay for other needs, like transportation and child care, that can prevent someone from getting the education they need. This budget puts another $38 million in to G3. It is a critical program to help Virginians get the training they need for the jobs they want. Well also put more than $11 million into UVA Wise to help expand programs, particularly those focused around economic development. UVA Wise is doing great things in Southwest Virginia to help the regions economy grow and diversify. And at my own alma mater, VMI, well provide nearly $12 million to implement the One Corps, One VMI steps to a more inclusive and supportive campus. Our strong economy is making a lot of these budget investments possible. But its important to remember that these past two years have not treated everyone the same. If youre a white-collar professional, your work probably moved online, and you made it through the pandemic pretty well. But workers whose jobs require close contact have had a rougher time. Some jobs simply cant move onlinerestaurant workers, teachers, law enforcement, home care attendants, and many, many others. Many of these folks are still struggling. And for years, weve seen the gap between the wealthiest Americans, and the least wealthy ones, widen. In 2017, when I ran for governor, I campaigned on a promise to reduce taxes for the Virginians who need it most. And one of the tax cuts I proposed in 2017 was that we eliminate the sales tax on In Virginia, weve applied the sales tax to groceries since 1966the year the Commonwealth first established a sales tax. Since that time, Virginia has reduced the state portion to 1.5 percentplus a one percent local sales tax. Weve gone from being on a credit watch when I took office, to having a record surplus. So the time has come. I am sending you a budget that will finally eliminate the 1.5 percent state sales tax on groceries. This will help working families in every corner of Virginia, and keeps a promise I made on the campaign trail. In 2018, I also proposed giving working families a tax cut. The federal government had made tax changes to help wealthy people, but it did little for everyone else. I wanted to make sure everyday Virginians benefitted too, so we proposed making Virginias earned income tax credit refundable. This is the right thing to do, and its a policy that was first created by President Richard My budget makes up to 15 percent of the earned income tax credit refundable for eligible families, which will give a tax break to working families who need it the most. And just like we did in 2019, were going to offer one-time tax rebates to Virginians$250 for individuals, $500 for married couples. We did this in 2019 because revenues were good. This year, revenues are great. We want to offer some help to Virginians who could most use it. Im also proposing to finally eliminate the accelerated sales tax, a budgeting move that required retailers to pre-pay a portion of their sales tax. Now, lets be straight with each other. We know that Virginia is going to cut taxes in. I want to make sure that happens in the right way. Every day, I get an email with the previous days numbers. Consistently, somewhere relief needs to be focused on those who need it mostworkers who have lower incomes, workers who have struggled in this pandemic. Workers who need it, not just those who want it. My plan focuses tax relief in the right way, helping keep a few more dollars in the pockets of working families. When we met four years ago, we could not have predicted the biggest challenge looming aheadthe biggest, I think, that any of us have ever faced. The covid-19 pandemic. It has touched every facet of our lives. And it has made almost everything more difficult. But a year ago, we had the first ray of hope. The first vaccines were being authorized by the FDA. And by the end of December 2020, shots were going into arms. Now, a year later, 87 percent of our adult population has had at least one shot. Virginia has been in or near the top ten states for vaccination ratesdoing better than many other large states and all of our southern neighbors. Vaccines, paired with masking and people continuing to be cautious, have helped keep our covid numbers per capita among the nations lowest. I am incredibly proud of how we have handled Covid following the science, and always taking actions based on protecting Virginians health and safety. But unfortunately, people are still dyingmore than 15,000 Virginians have died of between 20 and 40 Virginians die every day from this virus. Many Virginians have lost a loved one. In the state Senate, we lost one of our own. Now, as the omicron variant spreads, we cannot say with certainty what we face next, from a health perspective or an economic one. We have been grateful for federal funding over the past two years that has helped us respond to this pandemic on many different fronts. Thats why this budget sets aside $424 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, to address future impacts of the pandemic. I hope that as Virginia continues to fight this virus, the same focus on science and health will continue to drive decisions. And if anyone who is listening has not been vaccinated yetplease, get the shot. It will save your life. Four years, as I said, only seems long when youre looking aheadnot when youre looking back. I am incredibly proud of what weve accomplished in that time. When I stood here at the end of 2018, we had already worked together for a major victoryexpanding Medicaid. While we couldnt know it back then, that decision was critically important when this pandemic hit. That decision means more than 600,000 Virginians have access to health care access they did not have in 2018. Imagine if those 600,000 people had gone through the pandemic with no health coverage. Expansion was a good thing to do, and it has made Virginians healthier. In 2018, we were on a negative credit watch, and I promised to get us back to a more positive footing and shore up our reserve funds. Now we have kept that promise, and we have record amounts in our reserve fundsensuring that Virginia is in a very good position for the next economic downturn. Keeping that promise was a good thing to do. In December 2018 we had just announced that Amazon would bring its HQ2 project to Virginia, bringing thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact. Every new job means another Virginian who can provide for their family. Now, we have broken records for economic investment$80 billion dollars invested in this state, four times any previous governor, creating more than 100,000 jobs. Every job created is a good thing to do. In 2018, I said we needed to cut regressive taxes that take more out of a small paycheck than they do a large one. Today I have again proposed tax cuts and tax refunds that will help working families the most. Keeping that promise is a good thing to do. We have accomplished the things I set out to accomplishsteering this state in a prudent manner, investing wisely for our long-term needs, and creating more opportunities for our communities and our people to thrive. I am confident that this state is stronger and more forward-looking than it was when I took office nearly four years agobecause of the work you and our administration have done With this budget, I leave you with a roadmap to continue Virginias success. And I am leaving you with my friendship, and my best wishes. I am confident that you will continue to steer this ship in a steady, forward directionin a way that is open and welcoming to all, treats people right, and works to build a brighter future for every Virginian. Thank you, and have a safe and happy holiday season. # # # According to the Daily Mail Lewis Hamilton has played a crucial role in Mercedes announcing on Thursday that the protest will be withdrawn. Indeed, Mercedes' lawyer would expect a good final result. After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix there was a lot of controversy. Max Verstappen had won the GP and with that the world title, but something had gone wrong. Mercedes went to the stewards and took a lawyer with them. That lawyer also advised to protest after the first protests were rejected. Hamilton stops Mercedes Mercedes has until Thursday evening to present a new protest with evidence, but according to the British media it won't go that far. Hamilton is reported to have told Mercedes, according to the Daily Mail, that he does not want to win an eighth world title on the court. In doing so, the Briton would have played a crucial role in stopping the protest. Mercedes is now of the opinion that it is better for Formula 1 if they leave it at that, although this is against the advice of their lawyer, Paul Harris, who is convinced that a good case can be made. Mercedes is said to have already informed the FIA, who in turn will launch an investigation in order to avoid this kind of situation in the future. Korean electric car manufacturer Edison Motors signed an agreement with Plug Power to develop and to bring to market a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered electric city bus. Plug Powers 125kW ProGen fuel cell engine will provide power to Edison Motors electric bus platform. The companies expect to have a fuel-cell-electric-bus prototype completed by the second half of 2022 and be prepared to launch a mass-market platform by the first half of 2023. The fuel cell electric city bus project is just the beginning of strategic cooperation between Edison Motors, and Plug Power. In the future, we hope to partner on other mobility applications including trucks, vessels, drones, and PAVs. We believe that our combined technology and know-how in electric buses will position us to sell fuel cell-powered electric buses not only in Korea but also in other overseas markets. Chairman Young-kwon Kang of Edison Motors Edison Motors sold the largest number of electric buses in Seoul this year, for the second consecutive year, and the company is actively expanding its electric bus platform with the launch of a new inter-city long-range electric bus platform. A Florida doctor was arrested Thursday in the fatal shooting of a Boston delivery truck driver in southern Vermont more than two years ago, Vermont State Police said. Jozsef Piri, 49, of Naples, Florida, was arrested in the death of Roberto Fonseca-Rivera, 44, on Nov. 1, 2019, Vermont State Police said. 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. Connecticut has reached another grim COVID milestone: More than 9,000 residents have now died with the disease, according to state data released Thursday. The states COVID-related death toll has reached 9,002 after 56 more Connecticut residents died with the illness in the past week. Earlier this week, the United States surpassed 800,000 COVID deaths, according to data tracked by The New York Times and Johns Hopkins University. "This milestone is a tragic one for our state and for the thousands of families who have experienced loss during the pandemic," said Max Reiss, Gov. Ned Lamont's chief spokesperson. "It's incumbent upon all of us to urge our friends, families and neighbors to get vaccinated and receive booster shots, as those are the best ways to prevent even more severe illness and death." About two-thirds of the Connecticut deaths just under 6,000 were recorded in 2020, well before vaccines were widely available to prevent the worst effects of the illness. Nationwide, however, the COVID death toll in 2021 has surpassed 2020s total. But many of Connecticuts deaths early on in the pandemic were among residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. In total, about 4,000 residents of Connecticut nursing homes and assisted living facilities died from COVID in 2020. The exact total is unclear due to changes in how the state recorded the data in July 2020. Excluding those associated with long-term care facilities, around 500 more COVID deaths have been reported in 2021 than in 2020 in Connecticut, the data shows. The most COVID deaths in 2021 were recorded in January when 1,124 Connecticut residents died with the disease amid the winter surge of infections and before vaccines were widely available. As of this week, more than 91 percent of those age 5 and older have received at least one dose of a vaccine, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. A little under 78 percent of the eligible population are fully vaccinated. About 32 percent of those who are fully vaccinated have received a booster shot, according to the agencys data. On average, Connecticut is now recording between five and nine deaths from COVID-19 every day, state data shows, less than a third of the daily deaths on average reported the same time last year. Thats despite daily infections surging higher than they were a year ago. On average, more than 2,500 cases are being reported every day now in Connecticut higher than when daily infections peaked in the late summer and early fall from the delta variant. Medically, I think we did amazing, said Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, reflecting on the year. He pointed to the development of the vaccines as well as monoclonal antibodies and therapeutics used to treat the illness. But, he said, as a society, we have not done well. I feel like the large part of the population has given up, he said. The masking is almost non-existent. The people who need primary vaccination are not getting them. Statewide, Connecticut recorded 2,085 new infections on Thursday, reflecting a 7.14 percent positivity rate out of 29,187 tests. There were six fewer hospitalizations, dropping the statewide total to 710. The surge in wintertime infections also comes as health officials are monitoring the omicron variant. A few dozen cases of the new variant have been confirmed in Connecticut. Lab studies have shown the strain may be able to evade the protection offered by an initial round of the vaccines, but health experts say booster shots appear to offer protection against it. Omicron is also believed to be more infectious than the delta strain, which remains dominant in Connecticut and the U.S. As of Thursday, 40 cases have been confirmed in Connecticut through genomic sequencing, though many more are likely present and have gone undetected due to limits in the lab testing. More Information See More Collapse I wont be surprised at all if in another week, two weeks, its roughly 50 percent of whats circulating and in a month, it could be the predominant strain overall, Commissioner Manish Juthani, of the state Department of Public Health, said Thursday about the omicron variant. Health officials are now trying to determine how severe of a disease is caused by the variant. We dont know the answer to that yet, Juthani said. What I can tell you is that hospitalizations have been rising. Theyve been rising at a rate that is concerning to me. And were watching it very, very closely. Its a moving target thats going to continue to move. While she said the state is much better off than we were a year ago, she pointed to staffing issues at health care facilities where workers have struggled for two years amid the pandemic, mental health issues and medical and surgical needs that have been put off by people frightened by the virus. We have a community that is in need of health care and were seeing it at multiple levels, she said. The trial that Jeffrey Epstein's suicide made impossible would have answered a relatively simple question: Did the wealthy investor habitually abuse teenage girls? Now a jury is weighing a more complex question involving Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime girlfriend and manager of his home affairs: As the nation confronts the problem of sexual assault, is the justice system prepared to hold to account people who enable abusers? The Maxwell case, now at its midpoint in a Manhattan federal courtroom, has attracted much of the attention that would have saturated an Epstein trial if he hadn't killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019. It centers on whether the wealthy, British-born socialite recruited, groomed, trained and trafficked young girls to be Epstein's sexual servants. But it is also a test of the criminal justice system's ability to determine why people such as Epstein, movie magnate Harvey Weinstein and R&B star R. Kelly are able to get away with abuses for years on end. "This is the next frontier in getting at the root causes of this kind of abuse," said Deborah Tuerkheimer, a law professor at Northwestern University, former prosecutor and author of "Credible," a book on the credibility of sexual abuse victims. "This case really upends the familiar #MeToo scripts. Maxwell does not look like the standard sexual abuser, so this trial is pushing outward the boundaries of what the public - and the criminal justice system - considers an abuser." In the first two weeks of the trial, prosecutors presented four women who say Epstein abused them when they were teens. They portrayed Maxwell as the person who invited them to Epstein's 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." "She is a sexual predator who groomed and abused me and countless other children and young women," Annie Farmer, one of the women who testified against Maxwell last week, told U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan after Maxwell's arrest last year. The role of enablers has gone relatively unexamined in courtrooms even amid a cultural shift toward focusing on sexual abuse on college campuses, in workplaces and within private relationships, many attorneys said. "We kind of look the other way from anyone other than the actual perpetrator," said Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. "But do any of us really think . . . that nobody had any indication of what Harvey Weinstein was up to? If you want to change what was going on, you have to change the culture and hold the enablers accountable." And when the alleged enabler is a woman, another set of expectations and stereotypes enter the courtroom, both in the public's perception and in the way jurors might evaluate witnesses and evidence, according to lawyers who have worked on sex abuse cases. From the first day of the trial last month, both sides made clear that Maxwell's gender would be an inescapable focus of the case. "Ever since Eve was accused of tempting Adam with the apple, women have been blamed for the bad behavior of men," defense lawyer Bobbi Sternheim said in her opening statement to the jury. "And women are often villainized and punished more than the men ever are." In this case, Sternheim argued, the government is scapegoating a woman for the acts of a man "who behaved badly" and cannot be brought to justice. The sex-trafficking and related charges for which Maxwell faces up to 70 years in prison "are for things that Jeffrey Epstein did, but she is not Jeffrey Epstein," Sternheim said. "She is not like Jeffrey Epstein. And she is not like any of the other men - powerful men, moguls, media giants - who abuse women." To the contrary, said prosecutor Lara Pomerantz. That's exactly what Maxwell was - the enabler who abused girls by walking them "into a room where she knew that man would molest them." "And there were times when she was in the room when it happened, making it all feel normal and casual," Pomerantz told jurors. "She preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them, and served them up to be sexually abused." How the focus on Maxwell's gender will play with the jury of seven women and five men is hard to predict, but "women are often seen differently in the criminal justice system," said Levenson, a former federal prosecutor. In Courtroom 318, where the defense is scheduled to begin making its case Thursday, the judge and most of the lawyers on each side are women. Like all women, Levenson said, the lawyers in the Maxwell trial most likely have had "some experience with what these victims went through. And everybody has to question why a woman would be a party to this behavior? It seems a bit traitorous." The fact that Maxwell is a woman can cut both ways, according to Tuerkheimer: On one hand, "we are fairly quick as a society to demonize women." But some jurors may be more sympathetic to a female defendant, assuming she's less dangerous than a man in the same fact pattern, "even if there's plenty of evidence that has come in that she's worthy of demonizing," the professor said. Maxwell's defense lawyers have given no indication that she will take the stand when the trial resumes, which would mean subjecting herself to cross-examination. Instead, they have tried aggressively to identify inconsistencies in the stories told by Maxwell's accusers - an approach that, in the #MeToo era, risks being perceived by some as victim-shaming. One alleged victim, "Jane," an actress who used a pseudonym in court, testified that when she first visited Maxwell and Epstein at age 14, she assumed they were married - and then that Maxwell worked for Epstein. The first time Jane visited Epstein's swimming pool at his Palm Beach estate, she said, "there was at least four women and Ghislaine all topless, and some of them were naked. . . . I was just shocked because I hadn't seen that before." Shortly after she was first abused by Epstein in his pool house, Jane said, she was alone in a room with Maxwell and Epstein, who were both naked and "fondling" each other, giggling as Epstein masturbated. But under cross-examination by defense attorney Laura Menninger, Jane conceded that she had told FBI agents two years ago that she didn't know when Maxwell first took part in her sexual encounters with Epstein. "That memory has come back to you in the last two years?" Menninger asked. "Well," Jane replied, "memory is not linear." A little while later, in a tense exchange, Menninger pushed again: "You have come up with that memory in the last two years, correct?" "I've come up with - " Jane stumbled. "I don't believe I've come up with a memory, no." Over and over, defense lawyers pressed Jane and others who testified that Maxwell had groomed them to admit that they'd exaggerated or made up the accounts they gave in court. The going sometimes got rough. Menninger to Jane, who works on a soap opera: "You consider yourself an actor?" "Yes." "An actor plays the role of a fictional character for a living?" "Yes . . . " "You're able to cry on command?" "No, not always. It's not really how it works." Prosecutor Alison Moe tried to salvage Jane's account: "Do you know the difference between acting on television and testifying in court?" "Acting on television is not real, and testifying in court is real, is the truth," Jane said. "I am here to hopefully finally find some sort of closure to all of this. This is something that I have been running from my entire life up until now, and I'm just tired of it." Although such questioning is standard for defense attorneys, experts said some jurors may react poorly to it - and especially to the sight of women pushing to discredit other women when they are testifying about emotionally devastating events. "Some jurors might say, 'Well, you're hurting your own kind,' " Levenson said. Yet such harsh cross-examination tactics "are used because they're more likely to be effective than anything else," Tuerkheimer said. "Defense attorneys have a job to do." It's unfair to hold women attorneys to a different standard than men face, said Jill Filipovic, a journalist and lawyer in New York: "I don't think female attorneys should have to follow a different rule book than male ones, and I think the public understands that." Still, the defense's choice to aggressively challenge the victims - Sternheim called one witness, "Kate," a "jet-setter" and focused on her history of drug and alcohol abuse to cast doubt on her memory - is a "decidedly anti-feminist strategy," Filipovic said. In an exchange over whether to show jurors a topless photo of Virginia Roberts, a vocal Epstein accuser who did not testify in the trial, defense attorney Menninger complained that prosecutors had accused Maxwell's side of "slut shaming." Moe, one of the prosecutors, replied that it was "not our practice, frankly, your honor, to humiliate women with naked photographs of themselves when they're in a courtroom." Such sparring happens all the time in trials, Filipovic said, but having women do the aggressive questioning may ease any sense that the defense has gone too far. "The choice to hire female defense attorneys was a strategic one," she said. "If you're going to have an attorney questioning an alleged victim's credibility, better for the optics for it to be a woman than a man." The defense has also questioned the motivations of Maxwell's accusers, saying they are seeking financial gain. And lawyers plan to call an expert in so-called "false memories" to testify that the women's recollections from decades ago could be wrong. Similar efforts made by the defense at the sexual abuse trials of Weinstein and Kelly did not succeed: Both men were convicted. Other than questioning the victims' memories and denying that Maxwell played any role in recruiting or grooming teens for Epstein to abuse, Maxwell's attorneys have not yet indicated the full scope of their defense. They seem unlikely to portray Maxwell as a victim of Epstein, since that would entail admitting that Maxwell played a larger role in Epstein's life than she has so far conceded. "Maxwell was an adult woman with significant resources," Filipovic said. "She had every ability to opt out of her relationship with Epstein, and she certainly had the choice not to procure victims for him. But Maxwell, so far, hasn't presented evidence that she's a victim of anything other than her own choices." Whatever the jurors decide, they will deliver a verdict that extends well beyond Maxwell's personal fate. "An acquittal sends the message that when it comes to criminal accountability, the enablers of these abuses probably continue to enjoy impunity," Tuerkheimer said. "A conviction could give prosecutors room to cast a wider net going forward," targeting enablers as well as the central bad guy in cases of serial abuse. - - - Jacobs reported from New York. LOS ANGELES (AP) Federal prosecutors blamed a Texas oil company's negligence for a crude spill that fouled Southern California's coastline, in a criminal indictment that said fatigued workers failed to properly act when repeated alarms signaled an offshore pipeline rupture. Houston-based Amplify Energy Corp. and two subsidiaries were indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on a single misdemeanor count of illegally discharging oil. The companies operate three oil rigs and a pipeline off Long Beach near Los Angeles. Investigators believe the San Pedro Bay Pipeline was weakened when a cargo ships anchor snagged it in high winds in January, months before it ultimately ruptured Oct. 1, spilling up to about 25,000 gallons (94,600 liters) of crude oil in the ocean. U.S. prosecutors said the companies were negligent six ways, including failing to respond to eight leak detection system alarms over a 13-hour period that should have alerted them to the spill and would have minimized the damage. Instead, the line was shut down then restarted repeatedly, as workers on an offshore platform struggled to determine the leak site and oil kept spewing from the broken pipe miles away on the ocean floor, according to the indictment. Amplify blamed the unnamed ship for displacing the pipeline. It said company workers on and offshore believed they were responding to false alarms from a malfunctioning system that was signaling a potential leak at the platform, the company said. Had the crew known there was an actual oil spill in the water, they would have shut down the pipeline immediately, the company said. The Associated Press first reported last week that Amplifys leak detection system was not fully functional. AP in October reported on questions surrounding the companys failure to respond to an alarm. Amplify wants to repair the pipeline over the next several months and plans to start work as soon as Friday, said spokesperson Patrick Creighton. Federal pipeline safety officials have only approved the first phase of that work: patching the rupture and removing the oil still inside the pipeline, Creighton said. He could not provide an estimate on the volume of crude remaining. Pending further approvals of its plans, the company wants to remove 282 feet (86 meters) of damaged line and replace it with new pipe. The new section would be covered with concrete mats to protect against future anchor strikes, according to an emergency repair application submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Miyoko Sakashita with the Center for Biological Diversity, which wants to end offshore oil production, questioned whether the work should be considered an emergency. She said more environmental studies were needed before the line resumes operation. The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday conducted an overflight to investigate a reported sheen about a half-mile (0.8 kilometers) off the coast of Bolsa Chica State Beach, in the general vicinity of the October leak. No impacts were found on the shoreline, where beach cleanup crews remained on standby. Boats used booms to surround the small sheen area. Protection measures were taken at Talbert Marsh, Bolsa Chica ecological reserve and the Santa Ana River, but no oil was observed at those locations. Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley told KNBC-TV that a different pipeline under repair had a pinhole leak and that is possibly the source." The owner of that pipeline wasn't identified. The Coast Guard planned to analyze samples of the sheen in coming days to help identify its source. When the line ruptured, the first alarm went off at 4:10 p.m. Oct. 1, but the leak was not discovered until well after sunrise the next morning and was reported about 9 a.m. Just days after the spill, Amplify CEO Martyn Willsher had refused to answer questions at news conferences about the timeline surrounding the spill and a report that an alarm at 2:30 a.m. Oct. 2 alerted controllers about a possible spill. He maintained the company didnt learn of the spill until a boat saw a sheen on the water at 8:09 a.m. that morning. Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said the indictment validates residents who had detected the spill a day earlier and reported it. They basically lied to the community during the press briefings and caused people to believe that what they saw with their own eyes or smelled or knew was actually not true, she said. "The alarms went off like they were supposed to, and nobody did anything. Even after the eighth and final alarm sounded, the pipeline operated for nearly an hour in the early morning, prosecutors said. Pipeline safety advocate Bill Caram said the indictment paints a picture of a reckless company. The fact that they kept hitting the snooze button and ignoring alarms, stopping and starting this pipeline and all the while leaking oil in the Pacific Ocean is reckless and egregious, he said. Prosecutors also found that the pipeline was understaffed and the crew was fatigued and insufficiently trained in the leak detection system. That points to a long-standing industry problem, said pipeline expert Ramanan Krishnamoorti with the University of Houston. Fatigue and overworked staff is old and trite and inexcusable, he said. This has been demonstrated over and over again as being the single most important vulnerability. Its not clear why it took so long for the 1/2-inch (1.25-centimeter) thick steel line to leak after the apparent anchor incident, or whether another anchor strike or other incident led to the rupture and spill. The spill came ashore at Huntington Beach and forced about a weeklong closure of the citys beaches and others along the Orange County coast. Fishing in the affected area resumed only recently, after testing confirmed fish did not have unsafe levels of oil toxins. If convicted, the charge carries up to five years of probation for the corporation and fines that could total millions of dollars. ___ Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Associated Press reporter Amy Taxin contributed. NEW YORK (AP) A judge rejected arguments Wednesday that were aimed at dismissing sex assault charges against a former New York gynecologist. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman also rejected a request by lawyers for Robert Hadden that his upcoming trial be moved outside of New York. The Englewood, New Jersey, resident was arrested last year. A former gynecologist, Hadden has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of sexually abusing dozens of young and unsuspecting female patients for over two decades including a young girl hed delivered at birth while trying to make the victims believe the abuse was appropriate and medically necessary. Hadden, 63, remains free on $1 million bail. Trial is scheduled for March 28. Prosecutors said they began their probe last year before obtaining an indictment charging Hadden with bringing patients, including multiple minors, across state lines for the purpose of sexual abuse from approximately 1993 to 2012. Among arguments he rejected Wednesday, Berman noted that defense lawyers asserted the federal government was prosecuting the case as a tool of state prosecutors. He called the theory far-fetched, speculative, conclusory and said that although there was no referral of the case from a New York district attorney to federal authorities, it would not be improper if it had happened. The judge also rejected a request to move the trial to another venue, saying pretrial publicity was not pervasive and half of the jury pool in Manhattan federal court comes from outside Manhattan anyway. A message seeking comment was sent to Haddens lawyers. The indictment said the abuse took place at medical offices and Manhattan hospitals while Hadden worked as a medical doctor at Columbia University and at New York Presbyterian Hospital. The two institutions announced a settlement earlier this month with 79 women who say they were abused by Hadden, and established a $71.5 million compensation fund. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Three media organizations and their reporters sued Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday, alleging she has repeatedly violated the state's open records laws by ignoring requests for government records. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa is representing Laura Belin, who operates the liberal-leaning Bleeding Heartland blog; Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council; and Clark Kauffman, a reporter for the Iowa Capital Dispatch. The reporters say they have tried to get public records from Reynolds office starting as early as April 2020 without success despite waiting for months and in some cases, well over a year. Often, the governor's office didn't acknowledge the records requests or respond to inquiries. The ability of journalists like our clients to access public records is one of the essential safeguards of our democracy. The open record law ensures the publics access to open records in order to assure transparency and the public accountability of our elected officials to the people they represent," said ACLU of Iowa Legal Director Rita Bettis Austen. The lawsuit seeks an order finding that Reynolds office violated the law, compelling her office to provide the requested records to the reporters and an order for the governors office to comply with future requests in a timely manner. A spokesman for the Republican governor did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the lawsuit. Belin has sought video messages Reynolds may have recorded for meatpacking plant employees during the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic and communications asking the governor to sign or veto certain legislation. She also sought records about the use of the governor's mansion, Terrace Hill, for events held by private organizations. Iowas open records law was written expressly so that politicians and others couldnt do exactly this kind of stonewalling. Gov. Reynolds is not above the law, Belin said. Evans made a request in August for specific records regarding Iowa State Patrol employees being deployed at taxpayer expense to assist Texas with border security. The council he oversees is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of newspapers, radio and television stations, media associations, educators, publishers, broadcasters, and others interested in open government and First Amendment rights. The Associated Press is a member. Evans said Iowas public records law has been on the books for 40 years and has been regularly followed by past governors but that Reynolds has acted as if it does not apply to her. "She has acted as if there is an asterisk in this law that says the governor is excused from having to comply with its requirements if it is inconvenient or might prove to be embarrassing, Evans said. Kauffman sought information about the governor auctioning off a dinner with her at Terrace Hill to benefit the Des Moines Christian school and communications regarding the former director of the Iowa Veterans Home, who was terminated after allegedly receiving salary overpayments. Iowas Open Records Law is designed to guarantee the public has access to the public records of government bodies at all levels, with no exception for the governors office. The law does not allow public officials to delay access to records for an unreasonable amount of time. Reynolds also has been seeking to dismiss lawsuits filed by Utah attorney Suzette Rasmussen, who asked for documents from Reynolds office and the Iowa Department of Public Health in March that included information about the states contracts with Utah-based Nomi Health for COVID-19 testing. Reynold and the health department provided information months later, after the lawsuit was filed, then argued the cases were moot because the state complied. 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. Hikers are invited to a Boonie Stompers Inc. trek to Upper Lonfit Waterfall Valley on Saturday. Hike the upper reaches of the Lonfit River past an endless series of waterfalls, including swimming, jumping, a flume canyon and a rope swing. The hike is rated very difficult and will take place over 5 hours for 4 miles. Participants should wear hiking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses and gloves. They should also bring 3 liters of water, insect repellent, a swimsuit, lunch and a camera. Special conditions include sword grass, steep slopes, slippery rocks, mud and walking in water. To join the hike, meet at 9 a.m. in the center court of Chamorro Village in Hagatna. The cost is $5 for hikers over the age of 17. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult, and hikers should provide their own transportation. If you complete 10 hikes, you get a free Boonie Stomp T-shirt. Upcoming hikes Dec. 25: Sella Bay, medium, 3 hours for 2 miles Kersha Taitano, Pacific Daily News own digital content strategist, has earned a coveted spot in an international cohort of grassroots community leaders. As a member of GivingTuesdays Starling Collective, Taitano will have the opportunity to develop her original educational initiative throughout the course of the six month fellowship and with the help of a $2,000 microgrant. Her program, The Inspo Initiative, will serve high school students and young adults eager to connect with people working in industries they hope to pursue professionally. Taitanos inspiration for the program comes from her personal experience growing up on Guam and attending college at Seattle Pacific University. Ive heard the term, We cant do it, because were on Guam, or, We only have this on Guam, so we cant. And I was very fortunate to grow up in a family that knew what I needed to do in order to get to where I wanted. So Ive always known I want to work in marketing and business, and so I had family who was able to help me get there. But I always think about others who didnt have those kinds of connections, or maybe theyre interested in industry that hasnt reached our island yet, Taitano said. So when I went to college I worked in our admissions department, as well as the Career Development Center. And in both of those places, they had so many programs for college students and prospective high school students to explore careers, learn about different fields. And I kept wondering like, if students on Guam had this same opportunity, how would this change the next generation growing up? Serving Guams youth Taitano, who graduated from Harvest Christian Academy in 2016, was a committed high school student and took advantage of opportunities such as JA Guam and volunteering at Guam Cancer Care. These experiences developed her commitment to community service, which is integral to her goals as an adult, but she knows she would have benefitted from industry specific opportunities as well. The thing that I lacked the most compared to other students was maybe just the exposure to different industries, or even what it was like to work at different kinds of companies. I knew what I wanted to do, I had the resources to kind of develop that on my own. But just to see if I actually liked it, to test it out there wasnt really a place for me to do that, Taitano said. Taitano used her exposure to these early career networking practices at Seattle Pacific University to build out her vision for The Inspo Initiative. She dreams of connecting young people on Guam to professionals at home and stateside who have either CHamoru or Guamanian backgrounds, and can understand the importance of supporting students this way during their transitions to college or to the workforce. I want to bring the practices and the different opportunities they have in the states here, putting together a program that will help students prepare for college in terms of getting them information, scholarships, just what colleges or options are available to them or even just education beyond high school, whether thats in a creative field, maybe they want to go into a skill based industry, Taitano said. International fellowship As a member of Giving Tuesdays Starling Collective, Taitano is in rarefied company. She is one of 50 leaders to be selected from over 2,000 applicants in 90 countries. In a statement to the press, GivingTuesdays CEO Asha Curran spoke highly of Taitanos cohort. These leaders are doing extraordinary things to unleash generosity and have the ambition to create even more positive change. The quality and ingenuity of Starling Collective applicants this year was impressive. There are too many grassroots organizers and community leaders who are overlooked and often dont get the chance to tap into more learning and resources. The Starling Collective is designed to change that, Curran said. The path to a more generous world the world we wish to create together will depend on these emerging talents and proximate leaders like them who are stepping up regardless of experience or background to strengthen and heal their communities. Building her vision The current Starling Collective cohort began their six month fellowship in November, and will continue meeting once a month as a cohort and as a regional group. Taitano is a part of the Asia Pacific region, and has found the experience and connections so far to be full of support. The first month, we worked on our beliefs and our missions, really taking like two to three hours for each meeting, really developing what we want that to be. And they helped lay the foundation for my initiative, which is really special. Because to join the collective you can have an idea or you can have a full nonprofit behind you, Taitano said. Some people that Im in the program with have been working in the nonprofit industry for 20 years, they have a full staff, they have companies under them, but I only have an idea. And so theyre able to scale it all back and really help us align our ideas with what were doing. I love, too, that theyre really flexible. Theyre not putting in any guidelines of what has to be done in alignment with them. Its really just how can they best help us get off the ground. In addition to monthly meetings and resources members of the collective can share with one another, having direct access to the team behind the global nonprofit GivingTuesday is a boon in its own right. We have full access to their resources, the mentors that they have, chats with the CEO, direct connections to their team just to strengthen what we have in our communities, Taitano said. The Inspo Initiative is still in its early stages of development, but Taitano is laying the groundwork for long-term plans. Within the next year, especially as Im still in the fellowship, I plan to just be reaching out to people in our community, gathering as much data as I can before actually starting. But ultimately, I would love for this to be here forever. To eventually go from an idea in my head to a program kids can get familiar with that they can recommend to their friends, hopefully getting into all the high schools and inspiring generations moving forward, Taitano said. Id love one day to even have a building or a center that kids could go to, a place where they can host an art gallery or practice their piano or something thatll help them with their passion. And just have it be on island forever. To stay connected to The Inspo Initiative as it develops, follow @inspoinitiative on Instagram. Guam has had 270 COVID-19 -related deaths, the Joint Information Center stated in a news release. The fatality occurred Nov. 3 at Guam Memorial Hospital. The patient was a 76-year-old unvaccinated woman who tested positive on Sept. 25. While we prepare for the Christmas holiday, we must continue to keep those weve lost in our thoughts, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero stated in the release. Be there for one another, to console each other, safely. Cases The Department of Public Health and Social Services reported nine new cases out of 715 tests performed Dec. 15, according to the release. Three of the cases were identified through contact tracing. There have been a total of 19,357 officially reported cases of COVID-19. There are 209 people in active isolation and the CAR Score is 0.4. There were five people hospitalized with COVID-19. There were two people in intensive care and one person is on a ventilator. Of those hospitalized, four were vaccinated, one wasnt. Vaccinations As of Dec. 15, a total of 127,874 of Guams eligible population those ages 5 and older have been fully vaccinated and 4,230 residents ages 5-11 years old received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech two-dose series. There have been 35,059 boosters administered to eligible residents. Get the shot The COVID-19 vaccination clinic operated by the Guam National Guard will be held at the Guam Community College Multi-purpose Auditorium Dec. 17-18 and will resume at the University of Guam Calvo Field House Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 27-30. Walk-ins are accepted, but residents are encouraged to make appointments at tinyurl.com/vaxguam. A family vaccination clinic will be available from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Yona Gym. After over 38 years of service, local pet shop Feathers N Fins has announced that it will permanently close by the end of this month. Bonnie Twogood, vice president of Feathers N Fins and daughter of owner Barbara Zimmerman, said the decision to close wasnt easy. After Zimmerman was diagnosed with cancer in July, Twogood said that for the past few months, they have been trying to get another buyer for the business, but to no avail. Unfortunately through some circumstances, (buyers) fell through and now the space has been leased to someone else in January, said Twogood. Were in a position that were just going to have to close down and call it quits. Although Twogood and Zimmerman were not the original owners of the store, they have been involved since its establishment in 1984. Its bittersweet. Its been a great business that has become a fixture on the island and its unfortunate we have to close. Barbara has always been passionate to customers and their pets, said Twogood. Our staff has been amazing over the years, some have been with us for the past 10 to 20 years. Theyre the heart and soul of the business. Thanks Despite this, Twogood and Zimmerman, want to thank the community for all of their support over the years. We thank them for their loyalty, their patronage and I know mom has enjoyed for the pets to come in and take photos and decorating during the holidays. Its just been a good 30-some years, said Twogood. Due to her illness, Zimmerman resides in San Diego, California, to continue treatment while Twogood is residing in Seattle, Washington. Currently, the store is continuing its pictures with Santa event on the weekend. The Guam Community College campus. GCC was one of 14 nonprofit organizations and government of Guam agencies awarded Qualifying Certificate Community Contribution Grant Program Series 5 funds by the Guam Economic Development Authority. Taiwans Taoyuan will endorse Guam as a tourist destination, the citys mayor said during a virtual economic summit Wednesday morning. The summit, organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam, culminated with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Mayor Wen-tsan Cheng signing a sister-city agreement. Taoyuan, which is in northern Taiwan, has a population of 2.2 million. Its economy is driven by technology and industry. I see this signing as a beginning, giving us a long friendship and relationship, Leon Guerrero said, adding there are opportunities for Guam and Taoyuan to share expertise in medicine and aquaculture. I see this whole thing as tourism being the greatest influence for other kinds of opportunities. Im especially grateful to see Guam as a major destination for fun for your people. We have many, many cooperation opportunities, and these opportunities will not be limited, Cheng said. We will try every way possible to promote the people-to-people exchange and government-to-government. And after the pandemic runs its course, we will put Guam as one of our priority destinations for our people. Cheng said Guam has longstanding ties with Taiwan, including several visits by former Guam governors and Taiwan government leaders. Guam is a popular tourist destination. Many Taiwanese people prefer to travel to Guam, to Okinawa and also to Palau. Guam has a lot of facilities and amenities. It has a diverse culture. For many people, Guam is a place with a lot of memories, Cheng said. The mayor thanked Guam for organizing the Air V and V vaccination tourism program for Taiwan visitors earlier this year, when Taiwan was short on vaccines. Taiwan now has plenty of vaccines and the demand for vaccination package tours has declined, he said. However, looking into the future, I believe we can still work on many industries, including medical tourism and Taiwan providing fresh produce and daily necessities for Guam, he said. By 2030, we hope to become a bilingual nation and Guam is a perfect place for summer camps for students because its a three-hour flight away from us, the mayor said. We hope that we can have further collaboration in education as well, perhaps for college students or high school students. A judge requested to speak with the family members of a murder suspect in person before deciding whether to release him from custody. Superior Court of Guam Magistrates Judge Jonathan Quan asked to speak with potential third-party custodians of murder suspect, Donovan Elliot Alianza Carriaga. The request came after Carriagas attorney Samuel Teker argued his client should be put on house arrest and electronic monitoring instead of paying a $200,000 cash bail. Teker cited Carriagas lack of criminal record and the case involving the alleged murder of Adam Messier in 2017 was being built on witness testimony of a known criminal. One of the witnesses is currently being held on several pending criminal charges and it wasnt until she was caught by police that she gave this story, Teker said in reference to a witness seeing Carriaga and three other men allegedly killing Messier in 2017. This principle witness in this case has every opportunity, every motive to lie to cover her involvement to possibly implicate others so, in my opinion, the case is not airtight, Teker added. Standards In response, the Office of the Attorney General argued that the case, although 4-years-old, has reliable witnesses. Following the arguments, Quan expressed his desire to speak with Carriagas family members who would be supervising him if he gets released despite probation giving clearance. I want them in court in front of me because they have to take an oath, I need to question their suitability to meet my standards, Quan said as the family members appeared virtually. Im not doing this over zoom, Quan added. Carriagas family members will appear before Quan on Monday afternoon. Carriaga was indicted with murder in connection to the disappearance of Messier in 2017, according to court records. The Guam Police Department is having a two-week edition of Project U over the holiday season. From Dec. 20-23 and 27-30, GPD will have kids between the ages 13 to 16 work closely with police and other community partners. Its something that we wanted to do to get ourselves, our partners involved with our youths and provide them a positive outlet during the period theyll be with us, Chief of Police Stephen Ignacio said at GPDs Tiyan Headquarters. The community partners include the Guam Department of Education, Department of Youth Affairs, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center and the GCA Trades Academy. Although this edition will be shorter than the four-week summer program earlier this year, Project U officer-in-charge Sgt. Maggie Naputi said she learned ways to improve the quality of the program despite the time frame. Weve learned that instead of focusing on the quantity of time that we have to interact, we need to focus more on a holistic approach, a community approach, Naputi said at a press conference. In addition to similar activities done in the summer, such as classroom and outdoor activities, Project U will focus on the holiday spirit of giving. This Christmas program is community-centered, so were celebrating them giving back, Naputi explained. Along the two weeks well be going out to some of our villages and doing small restoration projects to perpetuate the practice and sense of community. Youth Affairs Director Melanie Brennan emphasized the importance of community. Its really important to understand that community issues should be dealt with in this manner. It should be a collaboration, Brennan said. So coming together like this is really huge. The Guam Womens Chamber of Commerce unveiled Guams first Womens Business Center on Monday, according to a news release from the organization. The Womens Business Center, located at 204 Hesler Place in the Ada Plaza Center, Building B, Suite 104, boasts up to 1200 square feet of usable space for its members and women in business. The center has a private conference room, workstations and an ergonomically designed area for workshops or classes, according to the release. This is a remarkable milestone for our community and women in business, group President Laura Nelson-Cepeda stated in the release. It is an honor for our Womens Chamber to make Guams first Womens Business Center a reality. The completion comes at a perfect time as we continue to support, develop and elevate women in business for years to come. The mission of the Guam Womens Chamber is to advance women in business through advocacy, networking, mentorship, and access to resources. A womens business center for Guam has been the vision of its founders. The center is fitted to host its members, Elevate Cohort (Guam Womens Chamber of Commerce entrepreneurship program students), mentorship meetings, workforce development activities, entrepreneurial use, and its workshops and classes. The center has been a long time coming for our Womens Chamber. Once all the pieces fell in place, our committee moved quickly to complete the center before we closed out the year. We are ecstatic to be able to offer this space for businesswomen, stated Jessica Leon Guerrero, chair of the womens business center. The Womens Business Center was an active community effort, according to the news release. Sponsors include Adas Trust, the Pacific Daily News and Sorensen Media Group. The organization thanked Matson, M80 Systems, the Graphic Center and East Island Tinting for support to complete the space. The Womens Business Center will be open for rental space use for business training, mentorship meetings, membership activities and workspace in 2022. Michael Lujan Bevacqua is an author, artist, activist and the curator for The Guam Museum. A rendering of the University of Guams School of Engineering. Among the approximately 250 graduates who will receive degrees at the Fanuchanan 2021 Commencement Ceremony Sunday at the Calvo Field House will be the first 12 graduates to earn civil engineering degrees from the University of Guam. Haiti - Health : The Cuban Brigade celebrates 23 years of care in Haiti 23 years ago, following the passage of Category 4 Hurricane Georges [Sept. 1998], a group of doctors and nurses from Cuba arrived as reinforcements in Haiti. This is how the long history of the Cuban Medical Brigade (BMC) began in our country. For more than two decades now, the Brigade has kept the promise of the late Leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1995-haiti-health-fidel-castro-12-years-of-cuban-cooperation.html , to continue to help the Haitian people in all circumstances. Luis Orlando Oliveros, coordinator of the BMC recalled that the Cuban brigade in addition to cyclone Georges, were among other things also in action during the serious flooding of Gonaives, during the earthquake of 2010, during the cholera epidemic, at the passage of Hurricane Mathew in the southern region and more recently with the Covid-19 pandemic. During its 23 years of uninterrupted work, the Cuban Brigade has carried out in Haiti nearly 35 million consultations, 660,000 surgeries and 192,414 deliveries. Rehabilitation services treated 200,741 patients and the orthotics and prosthetics workshop manufactured 2,558 devices, Oliveros summed up. Currently, Cuban doctors and specialists are present in Haiti in 18 referral community hospitals, various health centers, 19 rehabilitation rooms and two departmental hospitals. Read also on the Cuban Brigade : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31304-haiti-health-the-cuban-medical-brigade-fights-against-the-epidemic-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30008-haiti-flash-thanks-to-castro-and-chavez-the-cubans-have-restored-the-vision-to-more-than-72-000-haitians.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29988-haiti-health-remarkable-2019-results-of-the-cuban-medical-brigade-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26009-haiti-health-cuba-sends-medical-reinforcements-in-haiti-at-the-request-of-the-ministry.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25965-haiti-cuba-20-years-of-cuban-medical-aid-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25769-haiti-humanitarian-cuba-alongside-the-victims-of-the-earthquake-in-the-north.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-20213-icihaiti-health-cuban-medical-brigade-in-panyol.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-19642-icihaiti-health-cuban-emergency-response-group-treated-more-than-105-000-haitians.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6137-haiti-health-donation-of-$800-000-to-the-cuban-medical-brigade.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5021-haiti-health-free-eye-surgical-operations-cubans-in-the-southwest.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2747-haiti-epidemic-the-fight-against-cholera-depends-on-international-partners.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1995-haiti-health-fidel-castro-12-years-of-cuban-cooperation.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1953-haiti-epidemic-fidel-castro-keeps-its-commitments.html S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Cap-Haitien : A monument in memory of the victims The Town Hall of Cap-Haitien will proceed with the destruction of all the houses affected by the disaster in the Samarie area following the explosion of the tanker truck https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35489-haiti-flash-the-toll-of-the-tragedy-in-cap-haitien-strongly-increase-and-stands-at-134-victims.html . Instead, the town hall will build a monument with the names of the victims engraved, said Mayor Yverose Pierre. It also announces symbolic funerals. DR : Haitians steal a herd of cows A Dominican herder was assaulted, molested, gagged and tied up by 3 Haitians including an employee working on his farm near La Mina (Province of Dajabon), less than 100 meters from the border with Ouanaminthe. These 3 individuals stole a large part of his cattle and took away 36 cows. 6 cows were collected by members of the 10th Army Battalion in Dajabon, belonging to the Fourth Brigade. The thieves and managed to flee with the rest of the animals in Haiti. Port-de-Paix : 3 victims burned alive Two adults and a baby were killed in a fire that broke out at a house in Port-de-Paix that illegally stored black market fuel. The former DG of PNG in court Wednesday, December 15 the former Director General ai of the PNH Leon Charles was heard by Judge Garry Orelien as part of the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html . Leon Charles declined to comment on the conduct of his hearing, citing the secrecy of the investigation. USA repatriations On Wednesday, December 15, the Biden administration repatriated 233 Haitian migrants to Port-au-Prince, including 23 children on two flights. By next week and until further notice, there will be 3 repatriation flights per day. Scheduled daily arrival times : 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Drama of Cap-Haitien : Condolences Cuban Chacellor : On Wednesday December 15, Bruno Rodriguez the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs sent his condolences to the Government of Haiti "We extend our sincere condolences to the people and to the Government of Haiti for the loss of life and injuries caused by the explosion of a tanker in the city of Cap-Haitien." Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the North The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the North expresses its warmest sympathies to the parents of the deceased and we are wholeheartedly with the injured and the disaster victims. More work must be done in the world of civic education of our fellow citizens and continued efforts must be made so that such a tragedy never happens again." HL/ HaitiLibre By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/12/15 There's a nice bookend here of when that Woong and Yeon-soo started dating back in high school. As Woong tells the story, he was trying to be cool because Yeon-soo was setting the mood. As Yeon-soo tells the story, the whole experience was extremely awkward. Yeon-soo choosing to date Woong implies that regardless of the awkwardness, she found Yeon-soo's attention flattering. We're told how Yeon-soo was so aloof that boys at school considered her unapproachable despite her clear attractiveness. Advertisement This is a running theme with "Our Beloved Summer" and its structure. There's a genuinely excellent idea here- the story of a first love that blossomed in high school into a long-term relationship, as told five years after the breakup by unreliable firsthand witnesses. The documentary framing device is well-used to emphaisze how Woong and Yeon-soo both aren't trustworthy, as the stories they tell are in service of their own personal narratives. The problem with "Our Beloved Summer" is that the bulk of the runtime is dedicated to surrounding worldbuilding that makes very little sense. Ji-woong's role as documentary producer is in jeopardy because he can't find usable footage. But it's a documentary! They take far more footage than they're planning to air, just so they can edit the few good parts into someting informative! That's how documentary production works! The baffling part is, I thought the production team already knew this. We were explicitly told in backstory that clips of Woong and Yeon-soo's high school interactions only went viral long after they graduated. But so much of the worldbuilding just makes no sense upon further analysis. Very little is made of the fact that Woong's agreeing to participate in the documentary at all effectively outs his identity. Anonymous artists in South Korea aren't anonymous just for the fun of it. The use of screen names is deliberately designed to protect their privacy. This entire aspect of Woong's character is simply abandoned for the sake of a plagiarism accusation subplot. Which is good, in the context that Yeon-soo can actually prove that Woong didn't commit plagiarism but isn't knowledgable enough to know the best way to explain it. Yet the subplot is abruptly abandoned for the sake of a thinly contrived excuse to make Choi Wooshik wear fashionable clothes for a party I had assumed was just business casual. Incidentally Lee Joon-hyuk continues to show up as a special appearance, despite his role seeming far more like regular supporting cast. Review by William Schwartz ___________ "Our Beloved Summer" is directed by Kim Yoon-jin-I, written by Lee Na-eun-I, and features Choi Wooshik, Kim Da-mi, Kim Sung-cheol, Roh Jeong-eui, Ahn Dong-goo, Park Won-sang. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/12/06~Now airing, Mon, Tue 22:00 on SBS. jsw313689jsw Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help The omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 has still not been confirmed in Montana, but the variant is rapidly spreading across the U.S. and is surging in other parts of the world, especially Europe. On the federal level, the U.S.' messaging on the new variant has remained consistent: people should continue to try to avoid spreading or catching the virus by wearing masks in public places, avoiding large gatherings, regularly washing hands and, most importantly, getting vaccinated and a booster if already vaccinated. President Joe Biden and his administration have urged the public to be vigilant but not to panic as scientists are still studying the variant and there is much that remains unknown. Indeed, omicron is still being studied, with the CDC saying more data is needed to know if infections, and especially reinfections and breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated, cause more or less severe illness or death than infection with other variants. Some reports seem to show that omicron is causing less severe infections, but most experts and organizations caution that more data is needed to draw conclusions. However, one thing data does suggest more definitively is that omicron is far more easily transmissible than the delta variant, which itself far surpassed its predecessors in terms of how easily it spread, quickly becoming the dominant strain in the U.S. not long after its discovery. The CDC says current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the omicron variant, but breakthrough infections will happen. As with other variants, like delta, vaccines have remained effective and the recent emergence of omicron further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters, the CDC says on its website. Scientists are also working to determine how well existing treatments for COVID-19 work. Based on the changed genetic make-up of omicron, some treatments are likely to remain effective while others may be less effective, the CDC says. Despite some evidence suggesting omicron causes less severe infection the higher rates of spread will lead to more hospitalizations and deaths regardless of the severity of the virus, officials are pointing out. Omicron, first confirmed in southern Africa, was reported to the World Health Organization Nov. 24, and has since spread across the world. Leaders in many other countries are saying the new variant could become the dominant strain by the end of this week, and experts in the say the U.S. will eventually follow suit. Experts are also pointing out that the more people that are vaccinated, the lower the spread will be, and the less opportunity there will be for the virus to mutate and create new, possibly vaccine-resistant, variants. CDC is recommending that everyone 5 years and older protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated, and everyone ages 18 years and older should get a booster shot at least two months after their initial J&J/Janssen vaccine or six months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. Experts also stress that wearing masks in public places by all people, vaccinated or unvaccinated, is key to slowing the spread. Vaccines for initial vaccinations and boosters are available at multiple locations in the area. The Blaine County Health Department, 406-357-2345, and the Fort Belknap Health Center, public health nurse 406-353-3250 and pharmacy at 406-353-3104, can schedule vaccinations and booster shots. In Hill County, vaccinations and booster shots are available through Bullhook Community Health Center, 406-395-4305; the Hill County Health Department, 406-400-2415; Northern Montana Health Care's Specialty Medical Center at 406-265-7831 or its Family Medical Center at 406-265-5408; Western Drug Pharmacy, 406-265-9601; Gary & Leo's Pharmacy, which takes walk-ins; Walmart; and the Rocky Boy Health Center 406-395-4486. Vaccine is available in Chouteau County at the Chouteau County Health Department, 406-622-3771, and Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588. People can call Liberty County Health Department at 406-759-5517 to schedule a vaccination. Since November 10 no PCR tests were available in North eastern Syria but after relentless efforts made by the Health Body of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria it was announced that PCR tests were active again as of today. The PCR is the sole of its kind in the whole region. Joan Mustafa Co-chair of Health Body of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria told ANHA that '' these items and materials that are essential in carrying out PCRs are not available in NES and they cannot enter except via official border crossings that have been closed since a very long period of time due to the blockade imposed on north eastern Syria that impedes among others entry of medical materials to north eastern Syria''. Joan Mustafa noted these PCRs would render tests for a limited period of time adding they received promises from international bodies to deliver another batch to North Eastern Syria. On the fourth variant Mustafa said they are all hope they would overcome the new variant as they did in the past. According to a statistic released by the Health Body of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria on 10 November the toll of all cases of the pandemic in North eastern Syria reached 36960 cases with 1478 deaths and 2498 recoveries. L..A ANHA Mills River Town Council elects mayor and welcomes new members District Court Judge Kim Gasperson-Justice swears in Shanon Gonce as the new Mayor of Mills River on Thursday night. Gonces wife, Barbara, stands by his side holding the Bible. The Town Council in Mills River elected a new mayor and welcomed two new council members Thursday night during a meeting filled with photographs, thanks and well wishes. I appreciate what youve done. I appreciate your time served, council member Shanon Gonce told outgoing council members Brian Caskey and Brian Kimball and outgoing Mayor Chae Davis shortly after the new council elected him to be the towns next mayor. Gonce, a 53-year-old Mills River native, was first elected to Mills Rivers town council in 2005 and served for 12 years before he stepped down to help his wife, Barbara, with health problems. He said he decided to run again this year after his wifes condition stabilized and Davis declined to seek another term. As mayor, Gonce said he wants to keep the town running smoothly and maintain consistency in its staff. He said he would also like to meet with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office about his departments contract to provide law enforcement in Mills River. I want it to be fair, he said. I want it to be a fair deal. The council elected Gonce as mayor and council member Randy Austin as mayor pro tem after District Court Judge Kim Gasperson-Justice swore him and newly elected members Sandra Goode and James Cantrell into office. With their hands on a Bible and their spouses at their sides, the council members took the oath of office, administered by Gasperson-Justice. The judge drew laughter from the audience when she noted she had attended high school both with Goode and one of Cantrells parents. Davis presented Kimball and Caskey each with a plaque and thanked them for their service to the town before they turned their council seats over to Goode and Cantrell. Gonce presented Davis with a plaque and thanked her before he took over the mayors seat. Family members and town staff members photographed both the outgoing and newly elected members before and during the ceremony at town hall. In its first official act, the new council appointed its members to various area boards and committees. A reception followed the meeting. Goode unseated Mayor Pro Tem Caskey in the District 1 seat and Cantrell narrowly defeated Kimball in District 2 seat in the November election. Gonce won Daviss District 3 seat without opposition. A portion of the exhibits at the Penny Lane museum and Bobby Enter, founder of the museum. (Jewish Press of Pinellas County via JTA) - Bobby Entel didn't watch The Beatles' Feb. 9, 1964 performance on the Ed Sullivan Show. He was seven years old at the time and in bed. Nor did he ever see them in person, visit their hometown of Liverpool, or cross Abbey Road. But he's more than made up for that. When he's not working as a radiologist in Dunedin, Florida, he can often be found at Penny Lane, the free museum he opened in 2018 that features his extensive collection of Beatles memorabilia. That's where he goes to escape the realities of life. "This is my happy spot, my relief area," Entel said, seated in a nook at Penny Lane while "Something" from the Abbey Road album played softly in the background and a pair of nearby tourists studied a guitar signed by Paul McCartney. "It's a very fulfilling hobby and a labor of love." There are several museums dedicated to The Beatles in England and one in Holland. But except for a floor dedicated to them at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Entel believes his is the only permanent Beatles exhibit in the United States. "In the years we've been open, nobody's ever come in and said, 'You should see the one in New York or Wyoming.'" England is where Entel's fascination with The Beatles began in earnest. "My interest in them evolved from just liking their music to being intrigued with their cultural influence, the impact they had on politics, on hair styles, on clothing and on the music world," he said. "It happened for me over a period of time...and I didn't start collecting anything until I was in my 20s and spending a few months as a medical student in London." Entel bought his first Beatles memorabilia at the Portobello Road Market in London and brought them home to Florida, where he started going to flea markets and antique stores in the Tampa Bay area where he usually found lower-end items buttons, pins, records. "I'd also meet people who'd say, 'I know a dude who's got a bunch of Beatles stuff he wants to move out. Want his number?' And I'd say, 'Sure,' and I'd offer maybe a hundred bucks for a whole care package of junk that maybe had a few good items." By the time Entel was in his 30s, his Beatles collection had outgrown the closet space he had allotted to it. He started decorating his walls and buying more expensive and rare items from online auction houses like Heritage and Sotheby's, not to mention eBay. "I went from pins and buttons and posters to signed guitars and their clothing. I also have pieces of their hair," Entel said. At first when friends suggested he open a museum, he dismissed the idea. "I'd tell them, 'I'm a doctor. What do I know about a museum?'" But he knew George Ann Bissett, then the director of the Dunedin Fine Art Center and now its president and CEO, and her husband Colin, a native of Liverpool who "really had a sense of the Beatles' early days," Entel said. Colin Bissett is now the curator of Penny Lane and a museum guide. "I went to school with Rory Best, Pete Best's brother and we used to go see them," Bissett said. Pete Best was the Beatles' drummer for two years before being replaced by Ringo Starr on Aug. 19, 1962. Bissett added: "They were nothing like they turned out to be. They were just local guys." With just 600 square feet for its exhibition space, the museum holds about 1,000 items, only about a quarter of Entel's collection, and receives about a thousand visitors per month. "I have stuff at home that I can't display here because it's a small place. I have Ringo Starr's drum set that he played on a Super Bowl commercial. I have Beatles pinball machines, Beatles juke boxes, a couple of Beatles slot machines from Las Vegas." Not to mention Beatles puppets and marionettes, gold and platinum records, posters, lunchboxes, toys, a serape worn by Ringo, and John Lennon's electric razor and the TWA bag he put it in when he traveled. Now Entel is looking for a larger space, "maybe a place where we could show films. Maybe a kitchen, a space for a band." He said he's been contacted by potential sites in St. Petersburg, Florida and Washington, D.C. "But I want to stay in Dunedin. It's where I grew up and downtown is charming." And Entel likes the way the museum inspires visitors to share their own recollections of The Beatles and their music's impact on their lives. "There are times I'll see something I've looked at a hundred times and I'll think, 'Wow, I didn't even notice I had that.' It's a visual overload but I kind of want it to be that way," Entel said. "What I love the most is the people who come in and tell their stories, their memories." A version of this story was originally published in the Jewish Press of Pinellas County. Students from Battery Park City School watch as silver maple was planted in Battery Park outside the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The dedication ceremony was held on Dec. 2. By (New York Jewish Week via JTA) - In January of 1943, Irma Lauscher, a teacher at the Theresienstadt concentration camp in Czechoslovakia, smuggled a tree into the camp so that the Jewish children imprisoned by the Nazis could celebrate Tu B'Shevat in a secret ceremony. The children used their water rations to nurture the sapling. Of the 15,000 children who were imprisoned in Theresienstadt during the Holocaust, fewer than 200 survived. But the tree was still standing when the camp was liberated in 1945, and a sign was placed at its base marking it as a symbol of resilience. "As the branches of this tree, so the branches of our people!" said the sign under the tree, which survivors named "The Tree of Life." Lauscher, who survived the Holocaust, eventually was buried alongside the original tree in 1985. In the 1980s, branch saplings were cut from the tree and planted in Jerusalem, as well as in San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia to accompany a traveling exhibit of treasures nearly lost in the Holocaust. Now, New York City - home to the largest community of Holocaust survivors and their descendants of any city outside Israel - will also nurture a descendant of the original tree. Dr. Roger Pomerantz, a Jewish philanthropist who owns a farm in Pennsylvania that holds seven trees grown from cuttings of the original tree, has donated one to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City. "The Children's Tree," as it will be known, will be unveiled to the public today during a dedication ceremony held jointly by the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Battery Park City Authority. Currently 15 feet tall, the silver maple tree will have a permanent home in Battery Park City, in front of the museum. "We want everybody in Battery Park City to be able to walk by and see a piece of history," Jack Kliger, the president and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage, told the New York Jewish Week. "To not only remember but to understand what resilience means in the face of tremendous odds." Calling the project "a labor of love," Kliger said transporting the tree involved hiring a horticulturist to uproot the tree from Pennsylvania and working with Battery Park City Authority to find the right space for the tree. As at Theresienstadt, the tree will be cared for by children - in this case, students at PS/IS 276: The Battery Park City School, a public elementary and middle school located just across the street from the museum. In collaboration with the museum, the school will make the tree part of an ongoing curriculum in Holocaust education. "They were planting a tree that would live in a world that they would not live in, as sort of a physical expression of belief in the future and a form of spiritual resistance," said Michael Berenbaum, a Holocaust historian who was instrumental in the transplant of the tree to New York, of the imprisoned children who cared for the original Tree of Life. "Now their legacy can continue," he added. "Resilience is represented by both humans as well as trees," Kliger said, comparing their abilities to survive as well as endure such a long, roundabout journey to New York. Speakers at the ceremony will include Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. representative to the United Nations; Theresienstadt survivor Fred Terna; Czech Consul General Arnost Kares; and Battery Park City Authority President and CEO B.J. Jones. The student choir at PS/IS 276 will also perform. (JTA) When Ed Shames described his Jewish self, he used the term tough SOB. Shames, the oldest surviving member of the legendary Easy Company parachute infantry regiment, could also have added patient. Shames, who died Dec. 3 at age 99 at his home in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1945 secured bottles of cognac designated for Hitlers use only from the palace of the man who wanted to wipe the Jews from the earth. He waited until 1961 to open one: The occasion was a bar mitzvah his sons commitment to a Jewish future. The exploits of Easy Company were immortalized in the 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. In a 2015 interview with the Jewish News of Southeastern Virginia, Shames described how growing up Jewish on the Virginia coast shaped him. Things were tough at that time for Jewish boys, he said. There were times when you had to fight your way through. One thing people learned about me they never called me dirty Jew twice. I was a tough SOB; not mean, just tough. Being Jewish saw him through excruciating training, he said. Because I was a Jew, I didnt want to wash out, and lots of guys did, he recalled in the interview, conducted when he was 94. Heck, they had 7,000 volunteers they had to whittle down to 2,500 soldiers. They wanted to discharge me after I hurt my knee on my first parachute jump. I wouldnt let them. After walking 149 miles from our training base at Camp Toccoa to Ft. Benning in full gear over three and one-half days, there was no way. His determination to give antisemites no quarter carried over into his military service. He recalled organizing an outing to a Passover seder for Jewish troops while they were training in England ahead of D-Day. We had 18 men from the regiment sign up and this officer made a disparaging remark about Jews, he said. I could have received a general court-martial for what I told him. Easy Company saw some of the most consequential battles during World War II; Shames was at Normandy on D-Day and at the Battle of the Bulge, among other pivotal battles, the obituary posted on the funeral homes website said. He was a noncommissioned officer who got his officers stripes on the battlefield. He retired as a colonel. Shames was one of the first U.S. troops to enter the Dachau concentration camp but would not speak of the experience. About his prize of Hitlers cognac, he was more voluble. When Germany surrendered, Ed and his men of Easy Company entered Hitlers Eagles Nest where Ed managed to acquire a few bottles of cognac, a label indicating they were for the Fuhrers use only, the obituary said. Later, he would use the cognac to toast his oldest sons bar mitzvah. Revenge served cold in a shot glass seemed worth it, although Shames said the bottle he opened at his sons bar mitzvah was soon gone. My buddy Lee Kantor finished that bottle and I threw it out, he said in 2015. Do you know it would be worth $15,000 today? After the war, Shames worked for the National Security Agency. His wife Ida, whom he married at Temple Beth El in Norfolk, predeceased him after 73 years. She too was pretty good at keeping a secret. Before heading to England I visited her where she was working as a hospital volunteer, he recalled. She gave me a goodbye kiss on the cheek and that made an impression on me. At the time, Ida was engaged to a Naval officer from New York named Joseph. I got to her just in time after the war. You know, to this day, she wont tell me his last name. Shames survivors include two sons, four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. (JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday that his governments goal is to utilize the window of opportunity between rounds of the nuclear talks in Vienna to tell Washington that the time has come for a different toolkit against Irans progress in uranium enrichment. The Islamic Republic must start paying for its violations, said Bennett at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, according to a statement released by his office. The goal of the Iranian regime is the lifting of sanctions, he said, adding, For this, it went to Vienna with dozens of advisers and sanctions experts the ability to do what they are doing now regarding terrorism and in the nuclear sphereonly this time, they want to be strengthened by tens of billions of dollars and a tailwind for all of their activity. Referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency report on Wednesday that Tehran had begun to enrich up to 20 percent purity in advanced centrifuges at Fordow, Bennett added, I call on every country negotiating with Iran to make it clear that it is impossible to negotiate and enrich uranium at the same time. Bennett conveyed the same message during a phone conversation on Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Tehran, he told Americas top diplomat, was engaging in nuclear blackmail as a bargaining tactic. During his remarks to the Cabinet, Bennett also pointed to Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapids trip to Europe last week, as well as to Defense Minister Benny Gantzs and Mossad director David Barneas upcoming departure for Washington, to discuss the issue. The seventh round of negotiations over a return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Iran and world powers paused on Friday, with Blinken telling Reuters, What weve seen in the last couple of days is that Iran right now does not seem to be serious about doing whats necessary to return to compliance. (JNS) Democratic consultant Aaron Keyak, 36, has been appointed to serve as U.S. Deputy Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism after recently directing U.S. President Joe Bidens Jewish outreach during the 2020 election campaign. As first reported in The Forward, Keyaks role will not require Senate confirmation, allowing him to begin serving immediately as acting envoy until the Senate moves on the nomination of Holocaust historian and Emory University professor Deborah Lipstadt to serve as the U.S. Envoy for Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism. Lipstadts nomination has been delayed by Republicans in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee over a tweet she sent criticizing statements by committee member Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). An Orthodox Jew, Keyak previously worked on the Jewish outreach team of the Obama campaign in 2012, as well as serving as communications director for Reps. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). Keyak also served briefly as interim executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council in 2013. In 2014, he and Democratic consultant Steve Rabinowitz started the communications firm Bluelight Strategies. When Deborah is God willing is Senate confirmed, Aaron will make a terrific compliment. He respects her tremendously, as we all do; shes incomparable, after all, Rabinowitz said via email. But in the meantime, hell also be a great acting U.S. special envoy in his own right for as long as it takes. In my mind, its like a recess appointment. I cant say enough how outstanding I think it is. However, earlier this year, Keyak drew some criticism over a tweet where he suggested that Jews remove Jewish symbols like a kipah or Magen David (Star of David) if they fear for their safety. It pains me to say this, but if you fear for your life or physical safety take off your kippah and hide your magen david. (Obviously, if you can, ask your rabbi first.) Aaron Keyak (@akeyak) May 21, 2021 Ellie Cohanim, former deputy anti-Semitism envoy during the Trump administration and JNS contributor, welcomed the Biden administrations decision to continue the position. I am glad to see that the Biden administration is continuing this Trump administration policy as we see increased levels of anti-Semitic incidents and attitudes around the world, it is critical for the State Department to have the resources and staffing necessary to bring American leadership to the fight against global Jew-hatred, she said. It is my hope too that the Biden administration will also uphold the Trump administration policy that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism and combat the hatred of Israel, the Jew among nations. Attempts to reach Keyak for comment were not immediately returned. (JTA) Chelsea Clinton took Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to task Wednesday for allowing groups to use the social network to organize book burnings. Clinton compared the phenomenon to Facebooks past resistance to banning Holocaust deniers from the platform. Come for the book burning, stay for the smores, Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, said in a tweet Wednesday. Not terribly surprising #Facebook would platform book burning events in the image of 1933 Nazi Germany. After all, Mark Zuckerberg spent years defending the rights of Holocaust deniers to spread hateful lies and coddling fascists. Clinton quoted a tweet by a journalist with screenshots of a page on Facebook titled book burning event and inviting people to borrow books they deemed objectionable from school libraries and burn them in Fredericksburg, Virginia on Dec. 13. Fredericksburg neighbors Spotsylvania, where the country school board made headlines recently after calling for a review of every book in school libraries. By early Thursday morning, the event appeared to have been removed from Facebook. Two school board members also called for books the review deemed to be sexually explicit to be burned. In the wake of a backlash, the school board rescinded the review and one of the two school board members said he regretted calling for the book burning. Facebook in 2020 reversed a longstanding policy of allowing Holocaust deniers to use it as a platform. In a 2018 interview, Zuckerberg said he found the denial offensive because he is Jewish, but also said he would not deplatform the denial because he could not be sure of its intent. Clinton, whose husband Mark Mezvinsky is Jewish, has used her platform to speak out against antisemitism, including among other Democrats. (New York Jewish Week via JTA) Over the weekend, bagel lovers across the five boroughs (read: Jews and everyone else) were shaken to the core when the New York Times announced a cream cheese shortage in the city. It was news no one expected to hear. A cream cheese shortage affecting bagel shops: so niche, yet so terrifying. The piece, by Ashley Wong, detailed a frightening shortage of cream cheese base that New York bagel sellers use to make their signature cream cheeses. Supply chain issues have plagued the United States for months, causing scarcities of everything from cars to running shoes, the Times story reads. Now, New Yorks bagel purveyors are starting to feel the effects in a sudden and surprising development that has left them scrambling to find and hoard as much cream cheese as they can. Not surprisingly, Twitter was aflutter with commentary. One person called the news a schmear campaign. Others were quick to shift blame, insisting that supply-chain issues notwithstanding, bagel shops brought this scourge upon themselves New York Citys bagel places are notorious for spreading their schmear so thick that its a common practice to wipe off massive globs of cream cheese with a cheap paper napkin before taking a bite. Lets be real: the cream cheese shortage is entirely self-inflicted from NYC bagel shops loading each bagel with a pound of cream cheese, tweeted Jake Anbinder on Sunday. So what, exactly, does a cream cheese shortage mean for those of us who consume bagels on the regular? Is this as bad as it sounds? And does this mean that bagel shops might actually give us less cream cheese with our orders (something that a cadre of New Yorkers seem to want)? At the New York Jewish Week, it was clear that it was time to investigate. So I headed to the East Village where I was able to hit up several bagel shops within a 10-block radius. My first stop was Tal Bagels at 357 First Avenue. The workers behind the counter there had heard of the shortage, but they assured me they had enough cream cheese. Its not going to affect your order, they told me. Youll still see the same amount of cream cheese on your bagel. They insisted I shouldnt worry so much but thats easier said than done. Theres a cream cheese shortage? the man in line next to me asked as a look of concern crossed his face. Clearly he had spent the weekend in a state of ignorant bliss. No, no, were OK! the guys behind the counter reassured him. At Bagel Boss, 263 First Avenue, no one in the store had heard of any cream cheese shortage. Its the same as always, the man behind the counter told me. The only shortage hed noticed, he added, was of coins, which has been going on since the beginning of the pandemic. At Ess-A-Bagel, at 324 First Avenue, the staff there acknowledged the shortage, but said it wasnt anything new. There have been shortages in everything since the pandemic started cups, lids, napkins its not particularly a cream cheese shortage thats affecting us, explained Beverly Wilpon, the stores chief operating officer. Its something weve learned to accept. We have no choice. Tompkins Square Bagels, 184 Second Avenue, was the first place I visited that acknowledged the magnitude of the shortage. Ive never seen anything like it in my 45 years in the industry, Frank Russo, director of operations, told me. Were used to getting pallets of 50-pound packages, and for the last two weeks weve been getting it in 3-pound blocks. Still, Russo explained, the shortage is less of true scarcity and more about inconveniences (i.e., the labor involved in unwrapping 3-pound packages versus 50-pound packages). Sure enough, the stores glass cases were filled with mounds of cream cheese in a variety of flavors, from scallion to peanut butter cookie dough. Its now a matter of finding new and farther-flung suppliers to acquire the 1,800 pounds of cream cheese needed to get through the week, Russo said, adding that the average bagel patron is unlikely to notice the cream cheese shortage in their day-to-day lives. Russo also remarked upon the various supply-chain issues that Tompkins Square Bagels has experienced the only flavor of Snapple theyve been able to carry, for example, is Raspberry Tea. As at Ess-A-Bagel, Wilpon also described a shortage of paper and plastic products such as napkins, lids and coffee cups. The Times story detailed many bagel sellers scramble to source enough cream cheese. But perhaps there is another approach: As Brooklyn-based civil rights attorney Joel Wertheimer a former White House staff secretary to President Obama tweeted on Saturday, echoing Anbinder: Have they considered not putting a pound on each bagel? I love a good schmear but bagel places put enough cream cheese on a bagel that it overflows, Wertheimer told me over Twitter DM. It seems like they could cut down by like 25% and nobody would notice. I floated the idea of using less schmear at all the bagel stores I visited and was met with resounding pushback. Imagine if Katzs didnt serve a 6-inch-thick pastrami sandwich, Russo said. It wouldnt be Katzs. Wilpon at Ess-A-Bagel concurred. Wed rather say we have no cream cheese left than give someone less of the product theyve ordered, she said. Absolutely not, said the guys at Tals Bagels. I have very high standards of quality, Russo said. Part of that is getting the cream cheese-to-bagel ratio just right. I would never alter that. The Netherlands far-Left BIJ1 party has called for the cancelation of the countrys annual Holocaust commemoration ceremony, calling the event inherently racist, according to a Dutch report picked up by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The BIJ1 party, which defines itself as devoted to antiracism and decolonialization and advocates for official apologies for slavery and colonial occupation and bearing of the legal consequences, made the call in a draft of its program in the March 2022 municipal elections in Amsterdam, the news site Jonet.nl reported last week, the JTA wrote. The BIJ1 draft said it was inherently racist that Indonesian, Surinamese, Korean, Iraqi etc. victims of Dutchmen (or violence supported by the Netherlands) are not commemorated. Party member Jazie Veldhuyzen told Dutch broadcaster RTVNH that BIJ1 doesnt really want to cancel the Holocaust commemoration, just make it more inclusive. Holland has ruled numerous overseas territories in South East Asia, Southern Africa and in the Americas. The South East Asian countries cited by BIJ1 were all places where the Dutch were defeated by Japan during World War II. Critics argued that while theres nothing wrong with commemorating other peoples killed during the war, only the Jews were singled out for death by the Nazis with a network of death camps. According to the Anne Frank House website, the more than 100,000 Dutch Jews killed by the Nazis represented three-quarters of Dutch Jewry. Most were deported to the Auschwitz and Sobibor death camps in Poland. An estimated 57,000 Jews live in the Netherlands today. According to Dutch websites cited by the JTA, BIJ1 supports a blanket boycott of Israel. In 2018, BIJ1 members of Amsterdams city council were the only members of that body not to sign a multi-party declaration against antisemitism because the statement endorsed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances definition of antisemitism. BIJ1 holds just one seat in the Netherlands 150-seat House of Representatives and has no seats in the Dutch Senate. Antisemitism made Dutch headlines at the beginning of November. Taco Dankers, a top executive at a right-wing television network, resigned after he was linked to a think tank promoting antisemitic propaganda and conspiracy theories. (New York Jewish Week via JTA) Speaking to a group of college students, Rep. Jamaal Bowman expressed no regret about taking a recent trip to Israel and the West Bank with the liberal pro-Israel group J Street, despite intense backlash from his socialist allies. He did, however, have harsh words for Israels government. I left less optimistic about a two-state solution because of the reality on the ground, he said in the question-and-answer session Monday. Of course, I still believe in it and working toward making it happen but I think the U.S. has to make some very bold moves that dont even have to be related to threats, in my opinion. Bowman, the first-term Democratic member of Congress from the Bronx and Westchester, took part in a congressional delegation earlier this month to Israel and the Palestinian areas of the West Bank. The delegation visited Israel and met with leaders there, including Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and also saw Hebron and Palestinian areas. The delegation asked to visit Gaza but, according to Bowman, was denied for security reasons by Israel and the United States. Bowmans participation in the trip was notable because he is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, which supports a boycott of Israel. He is also a member of the Squad, the group of progressive Congress members including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush, who have likewise endorsed the boycott movement. Last year, Bowman unseated longtime Rep. Eliot Engel, a pro-Israel stalwart in his district, which includes the heavily Jewish Bronx neighborhood of Riverdale and other Jewish communities in Westchester. He has angered pro-Israel activists with some of his votes, including one to place conditions on how aid to Israel is used though he recently voted for supplemental funding for Israels Iron Dome missile defense system. In the weeks since the trip, hes felt heat from the other side of the political spectrum. Groups within the DSA have called to expel Bowman from the movement for not heeding the boycott, and he met with DSA leadership more than a week ago regarding those complaints. Others voices in the group have spoken up in his defense, arguing that his expulsion would be counterproductive. But in the Zoom call Monday night with dozens of college students from J Street U, the lobbys campus arm, Bowman did not mention the DSA once and gave full-throated praise to the trip and the liberal Zionist group that led it. He called J Street incredible and said it was on the right track because it has opponents to its right and left. (In the middle of the J Street U meeting, the DSAs working group on Palestine called on the DSA to formally begin the process of expelling Jamaal Bowman.) When I told people I was going with J Street, people on the right of J Street were critical, he said at the meeting. And then people on the far left were also critical, like, Oh, you know, theyre a Zionist organization. You shouldnt go with them. But Bowman said that hed want to return to Israel and the West Bank, telling the students that I have to go back three or four times to gather even more. Throughout the call, he was critical of Israels government and its approach to the West Bank. He cited Israeli suffering from terrorism and violence from Hamas, which governs Gaza, but said that was no excuse for Israel to continue its occupation of Palestinian territory. He noted that Israels foreign minister, Yair Lapid, supports the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel but felt Lapids commitment to that policy was not firm. He also said that he felt the Israeli government displayed arrogance toward American Jews who oppose the occupation. The two-state solution has become a talking point, he said. In my opinion, theres no real policy or political movement in that direction. He added multiple times that he didnt feel that Israelis acknowledge the experience of Palestinians, including the Nakba, the word meaning catastrophe that Palestinians use to refer to Israels creation, when many Arabs fled from Israel and were prevented from returning. While we use it here as a talking point, the current Israeli leadership, Naftali Bennett, was not for a two-state solution, Bowman said. There didnt seem to be any appetite for it there, and there also didnt seem to be any appetite, or any real acknowledgement of Palestinian pain, the Nakba or anything else. It wasnt really talked about. Bowman said that its obvious and absolutely true that Israel has a right to defend itself. He praised Israeli groups that oppose the occupation, such as Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli combat veterans that gave the delegation a tour of the West Bank city of Hebron. Working with Israeli activists on the ground is really, really important because Im telling you, I felt it, he said. There was this, Yall arent over here, yall in America, yall cant tell us what to do kind of vibe coming from some of the leaders that we met with. Bowman also said he hopes the Jewish community continues to lead on this issue. He discussed his visit to Yad Vashem, Israels Holocaust museum, and condemned antisemitism. But he said that his criticism of Israel was not antisemitic, and he dismissed opposition from some of his Jewish constituents on that account. Criticizing Israel, he said, definitely will upset more right-wing Jews in this district, it just will, because sometimes they dont want any kind of criticism, he said. Its a critique of the Israeli government. Its not a critique of you because youre Jewish. That has nothing to do with it. (JTA) Just ahead of Chanukah, the Jewish Federation of Broward County in Florida tried to purchase an ad on Facebook, a simple post calling attention to the problem of antisemitism as a part of a new nationwide campaign called Shine a Light. But Facebooks automated system rejected the ad without explanation, leading federation officials to suspect the post was accidentally ensnared by a filter designed to block hate speech. Unfortunately, Facebook inexplicably rejected our ads, presumably because they contained the words hate and anti-Semitism, wrote the federations board chair Alan Cohn and interim president and CEO Mark Freedman in a letter to the company on Tuesday. This, we believe, is an unintended, but calamitous consequence of your effort to curb hate speech. If they are right, it wouldnt be the first time such a thing has happened. From the moment Facebook banned Holocaust denial on its platforms last October, Jewish museums and other institutions doing education and outreach on antisemitism have reported trouble getting content published. Its a real problem for us, an official at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in June. As algorithms governing what can be published appear to get tripped up, human reviewers are supposed to step in and distinguish hate from efforts to combat it. But many have found that getting their posts reviewed by a person and then approved can take months, if it happens at all. In one notable recent instance, Chabad rabbis across the country reported that their efforts to promote a four-part course about antisemitism on Facebook were blocked, although it was not clear whether the algorithm applied to prevent hate was to blame. The letter from the Broward County federation, addressed to Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, said efforts to restrict hate speech are appropriate but that Facebooks current system does as much harm as it does good. The federation asked that Facebook let its ad run and called on the company to amplify voices that combat hate. MUNICH (JTA) Three political parties in Germany presented a coalition agreement which reiterated commitments to ensure Israels security and fight antisemitism and, for the first time, also pledged to promote Jewish life. The agreement, whose main focus is addressing climate change, was presented Wednesday by the coalition parties, which include the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Free Democratic Party and the Greens, in Berlin. The coalition agreement determines the division of ministerial positions and major policy themes and marks a milestone toward establishing a government after the departure from politics of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. A center-left politician for the Christian Democrats who had served four terms since 2005, Merkel is to be replaced by Olaf Scholz of the center-left Social Democrats. The Central Council of Jews in Germany released a statement welcoming the agreement. We are confident about the plans of the future federal government. A successful fight against right-wing extremism and antisemitism are of crucial importance for the future of Germany, the statement read. Charlotte Knobloch, a previous president of the organization and current leader of the Jewish Community of Munich, was more reserved in commenting about the agreement. I think it sounds good, it has some positive declarations, but I will form my opinion on the new government not based on these words, but on action. So Im suspending any judgment and waiting for those actions, Knobloch told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The agreement will help Germany become a pioneer on climate protection, the main focus of the agreement, and its government will invest massively to maintain Germanys status as a world leader, Scholz said, according to the Financial Times. The parties agreed to end dependency on coal ideally by 2030 (the previous deadline was 2038) and switch to 80% renewable energy by 2030 (the previous target was 45 percent.) On Jewish issues, the new agreement states: We will protect Jews and their institutions together with the federal states. It is a shameful and painful state of affairs in Germany that they must be permanently guarded. The government will strengthen initiatives that promote Jewish life and promote its diversity, and combat all forms of antisemitism. The previous coalition agreement, signed in 2019, mentioned the fight against antisemitism but not the promotion of Jewish life. The new agreement also states that Israels security is a national interest of Germany, and vows to block antisemitic attempts to condemn Israel, also at the UN. It states Germany will continue to support the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and it welcomes normalization of ties between Israel and Arab countries. The Greens and the future ruling party of Germany, the Social Democrats, or SPD, have criticized Israel frequently. Former SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel in 2012 said the situation in the West Bank city of Hebron was apartheid, sparking condemnations that eventually prompted his party to apologize for that remark. (JNS) European diplomats said on Tuesday that if Iran does not demonstrate seriousness in nuclear negotiations with world powers this week, there will be a problem. Andrea Stricker, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on the Iran nuclear program, told JNS that if Iran comes to talks with maximalist demands for sanctions relief and refuses to resume discussing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the P5+1 will quickly realize that Tehrans game is one of extortion, and they could pivot to a united pressure front. The P5+1 is made up of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, plus Germany. Diplomats from France, Britain and France said on the sidelines of talks in Vienna that the issue of what to do with advanced centrifuges Iran is using to enrich uranium remains unresolved, reported Reuters. Stricker said, If Iran asks for massive sanctions relief in return for a limited nuclear deal, talks could drag on for months. The Biden foreign-policy team may accept a weaker deal than the JCPOA simply to check a box on the Iran problem and move on, she asserted. Iran has made irreversible knowledge gains regarding higher enrichment, advanced centrifuges and uranium metal production, among others, continued Stricker. Interestingly, she said it is increasingly likely that Tehran has decided that it can live without Western sanctions relief and is using talks as a cover to move closer to the nuclear threshold. If so, what we could be seeing is a slow-motion breakout, she said. Two unnamed Israeli officials told CNN in a report published Monday confirming a story first reported by Axios that Israel shared intelligence with U.S. officials recently that showed that Iran is preparing to enrich uranium up to 90 percent. While the P5+1 focuses on debate, they could lose precious time to unite and stop Irans advances, noted Stricker: Iran could be positioning itself so close to making nuclear weapons that if Tehran chose to break out, countries mighty be deterred from intervening. Furthermore, through current inaction at the IAEA Board of Governors and U.N. Security Council, and in the absence of multilateral sanctions, the P5+1 are narrowing their options to military intervention or accepting a nuclear-armed Iran. Regarding the possibility of a military attack against Irans nuclear program, Stricker estimates it not as an easy target, and it is unlikely that strikes could end the program, as facilities, people and capabilities are widely dispersed. Talks are achieving no desirable outcome Efraim Inbar, president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies, was pessimistic regarding the chances of a good result from the renewal of talks with Iran. We are on our own, he stated starkly. If Jerusalem chooses to strike, the situation could escalate dramatically and force Washington to consider intervening. Stricker sees Israeli sabotage of the nuclear program and alleged operations against infrastructure as middle ground. For its part, Israel has been warning that it can make life very tough for the regime if Tehran continues its nuclear advances. In a Twitter post on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sent a message to the Western powers negotiating with Iran stating: Dont give in to nuclear blackmail. He went on to say in the video, Iran wont just keep its nuclear program. From today, theyll be getting paid for it. A report by David Albright, Sarah Burkhard and Stricker for the Institute for Science and International Security said the IAEAs latest report notes that Iran has enough enriched uranium enriched to nearly 20 and 60 percent to produce a single nuclear weapon in as little as three weeks. Even if Iran continues to permit the IAEA to service agency equipment, the verification process may now face such serious gaps that it is impossible to restore the IAEAs continuity of knowledge of Irans nuclear activities, which is so vital to verification, it stated. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said as much, warning that it would soon be unable to effectively monitor material produced at the factory in Karaj because of a lack of access. As Inbar summed up: The talks are achieving no desirable outcome and serve as no more than a debate club. (JTA) After an outcry and a rebuke from the University of Toronto president, the student union at a satellite campus modified a proposed ban on kosher foods in any way affiliated with Israel, but a campus Jewish campus group said the change made matters worse. The board of directors of the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Student Union convened for an emergency meeting Dec. 1 to address the outcry after a Nov. 24 resolution affirming the unions boycott, divestment and sanctions policy regarding Israel placed restrictions on kosher food distribution. The emergency meeting removed from the earlier pro-BDS resolution a passage that said: Efforts should be made to source kosher food from organizations that do not normalize Israeli apartheid, however recognizing the limited availability of this necessity then exemptions can be made if no alternatives are available. The revision came after condemnations by Jewish students on campus, the university leadership and Canadian Jewish organizations. Bnai Brith Canada said the original resolution would have effectively shut down Jewish life on the campus because the union controls clubs funding, room booking and many other aspects of student life at the Scarborough Campus. Meric Gertler, the university president, said that the original resolution was inconsistent with the universitys core values of freedom of speech and inclusion. A requirement that providers of food as a religious accommodation be required to apply for an exemption, or even be asked about their views about issues elsewhere in the world is unacceptable, Gertler said. A Jewish student campus group, UTSC Jewish Student Life said the revision made matters worse because the pro-BDS resolution retains a passage that says the union will refrain from engaging with organizations, services, or participating in events that further normalize Israeli apartheid. Jewish Student Life said this requirement could conceivably apply to kosher food providers that have anything to do with Israel and there was no longer an exemption for kosher food, however restrictive that exemption was. With the new motion there is still a ban on affiliation or even interaction with organizations that normalize Israeli apartheid,- and this still includes food providers who identify as Zionists as do the vast majority of Canadian Jews, Jewish Student Life said on its Facebook page. Now, however, there is no opportunity for an exemption. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported erroneously earlier this week that a separate resolution upholding the rights of Jewish students had replaced the pro-BDS resolution. That was not the case; the resolution on Jewish student rights passed simultaneously with the pro-BDS resolution on Nov. 24. Jewish students on campus had advanced the pro-Jewish rights resolution knowing that the pro-BDS resolution was sure to pass and sought to mitigate its effects, said Renan Levine, a political science professor at the university who advises the JSL. The pro-Jewish rights resolution passed, albeit with some passages stripped out. Levine said the removal of the passages weakened the resolution, because it preserved rights for individual Jewish students, but did not extend them to Jewish organizations like Hillel. The effect, he said, could prevent Jewish student organizations from receiving financial and promotional support and access to student activity spaces controlled by the student union. Levine said that the passage of the Jewish rights resolution would still have positive effects because of elements that addressed an increase in hostility after the Israel-Gaza conflict in May. In light of multiple controversies about hateful messages about Jews and Israel posted in May when there was an escalation in violence in the Middle East, we find important language preserved in the motion that prohibits hostile, hateful and abusive behavior on social media by both student leaders and in forums controlled by the students, and protects Jewish students from being blamed for actions taken by the Israeli government, Levine said in an email. Two years ago, an official of the universitys Graduate Student Union said the union would not back a Hillel initiative to bring kosher food to campus because Hillel is pro-Israel. The union later apologized. (JTA) The Christian Zionist pastor of a major church asked forgiveness for allowing the church to host an event where Michael Flynn said that the United States should only have one religion. Last week I allowed an event to be held at Cornerstone Church by an outside organization, Pastor Matt Hagee said in a statement Thursday. Regrettably, the organization was not properly vetted. It was not appropriate to allow this event at our church. The church is not associated with this organization and does not endorse their views. Hagees father is Pastor John Hagee, who founded Christians United For Israel, the powerhouse Christian pro-Israel group. The event took place on Saturday and was part of ReAwaken America, a Christian-themed speaking tour backed by the Christian news network America Faith. Flynn, former President Donald Trumps first national security adviser, gave a speech at the event calling for a single U.S. religion. Flynn is also one of the most ardent defenders of Trumps false claim that he won last years presidential election. If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion, Flynn said. One nation under God, and one religion under God. The church distanced itself from the rally earlier this week, but video subsequently emerged of Matt Hagee greeting the rally at its outset, which spurred the stronger statement on Thursday. The rally had come under fire from other evangelical Christians because it was political in nature and held in a church, and because it embraced some of the most vituperative themes of the current moment. The crowd chanted Lets Go Brandon, a euphemism for an obscene phrase targeting President Joe Biden. I was invited to welcome the crowd where I thanked veterans for their service and thanked the crowd for their commitment to their faith, Hagee said in his statement. I deeply regret, and ask forgiveness, for what took place in the Cornerstone sanctuary as a result of my oversight. In the future, Cornerstone Church will ensure that organizations using our facility are an appropriate reflection of our mission and vision. Hagees father founded Cornerstone and launched his signature Nights to Honor Israel at the church in the early 1980s. Those rallies and their popularity led the elder Hagee to found CUFI in 2006. Jewish organizations including the American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, the Zionist Organization of America and Bnai Brith International have condemned Flynns remarks. (JNS) United Kingdoms Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that she is seeking to declare the entire Hamas organization as a terrorist group. While the military wing of Hamas, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, is currently declared a terror group by the United Kingdom, its political wing is not. Patel said that parliament will add the designation next week, which Jewish groups have long called for. Under U.K. law, it is a criminal offense to belong to or invite support for a proscribed organization or wear clothing which could be to support the group, which carries a maximu... (JNS) Renewed negotiations over a return to or revision of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers from which former President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018 kicked off in Vienna on Monday with feigned fanfare. The Islamic Republic has made it clear that no agreement can be discussed, let alone reached, unless all sanctions hindering the regimes operations are removed. It has also been engaging in double-speak, bragging about its strides in uranium-enrichment, on the one hand, while insisting that its nuclear program is for p... The major instigators of antisemitism today come from the radical right, radical left and radical Islam. Even though these three major groups despise each other, and would like to destroy each other, they are united in their irrational hate of the Jewish people. These haters of Israel and Jews, are distorting and manipulating the important concepts of advancing human rights, fighting foreign occupations, pursuing peace and equality, in order to make them fit into a new narrative of intersectionality. Meaning, antisemites and anti-Zionists are hijacking solidarity by joining othe... (JNS) When is a terrorist not a terrorist? When hes a Palestinian Arab, of course. In any other part of the world, under any other circumstances, somebody who, for nationalistic reasons, fires a submachine gun into a crowd of civilians is recognized as a terrorist. But when Fadi Abu Shkhaydam opened fire with a submachine gun into a group of Jewish civilians in Jerusalem earlier last month, murdering tour guide Eliyahu (Eli) Kay and wounding four others, the word terrorist was nowhere to be found. The opening sentence of The New York Times article about the attack re... (Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security via JNS) Ahead of the return to nuclear talks in Vienna, the Biden administration declared that the United States would not allow Iran to become a nuclear power and that the preferred way to achieve that goal was through a diplomatic solution. If negotiations fail, the United States has other means at its disposal, according to the administration, but unfortunately, it has not elaborated. These statements by the administration have hindered rather than encouraged efforts to block Irans race to the bomb. Most of the shortcomings in... (JNS) Though Palestinian leaders are sworn enemies of Israeland have vowed to destroy the Jewish state they still have many supporters among radicals on the far left in the United States and Europe. Much of this support comes not from a factual analysis of the issues surrounding this hundred-year conflict, but rather from sympathy for the perceived underdog. In many cases, Israels enemies are misinformed; others cynically support the Palestinians by telling lies about Israels apartheid, genocide or occupation of Palestinian territory. While the... Recently, the gods smiled on us, and my children were allowed to visit for the briefest of m Pipeline 16 December 2021 Almashreq Hotel Riyadh, Curio Collection by Hilton is set to open in 2024. This week, Hilton announced plans to debut Curio Collection by Hilton in Saudi Arabia with a new build property in the capital city, Riyadh. Almashreq Hotel Riyadh, Curio Collection by Hilton has been signed together with Mashareq Investment and is due to open its doors in 2024. Featuring 185 guest rooms, Almashreq Hotel Riyadh, Curio Collection by Hilton will be located in the upcoming Laysen Valley development, opposite the city's diplomatic quarter. Opening its first phase in 2022, Laysen Valley will consist of over 50 residential, commercial and retail buildings set to include offices of major corporations and government departments as well as gourmet dining outlets. Guests will have access to a range of facilities within the property, including an indoor pool and fitness center, six meeting rooms and multiple F&B outlets to cater to hotel guests and the neighbouring community. The hotel will participate in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton's 18 world-class brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can't be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Now Open 16 December 2021 Newstream Capital Partners has announced the opening of its 10-story, 143-key IHG Hotel Indigo New Orleans - French Quarter. The complete renovation and conversion of the former Royal St. Charles was orchestrated by Newstream, who managed the hotel's property improvements. HP Hotels assisted on the rebranding and will be the hotel's third-party property manager. Newstream Capital Partners President, CEO and Partner Tim Nystrom made the announcement. Hotel Indigo is an upscale boutique brand of the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) that emphasizes an authentic guest experience and connection to neighborhood. With its premier location at 705 Common Street and St. Charles steps from the French Quarter, the Hotel Indigo New Orleans - French Quarter will offer exceptional convenience and a high level of service for both business travelers and tourists to the Crescent City. Located in a Historic Commercial and Mixed-Use District, the Hotel Indigo New Orleans - French Quarter, whose original hotel on the property opened in 1837, sits along the historic St. Charles streetcar line, the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world; just steps from the French Quarter and within walking distance of other key area attractions, including Harrah's Casino, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, the Shops at Canal Place, the Mercedes Benz Superdome, Smoothie King Center, National World War II Museum, and the New Orleans Memorial Convention Center. The hotel's Common Interest Restaurant & Lounge is designed to capture the diverse convergence of all this unique corner has to offer. From pampered hotel guests, to celebrities, and the "who's who" of New Orleans, each group has a Common Interest and this location provides a destination for them to gather and discuss all aspects of New Orleans' culture they are experiencing together. The Hotel Indigo New Orleans - French Quarter is pet friendly and features Common Interest Restaurant & Lounge; Concierge Services; complimentary Internet access; an on-site Health and Fitness Center; and a total of 3,000 square feet of meeting space. Valet parking is available. Renovation 16 December 2021 The Iconic Resort, Located on World-Renowned Seven Mile Beach, Will Welcome Guests with Newly Imagined Public Spaces, Rooms and Suites by the Acclaimed Designers of Champalimaud Design. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is pleased to announce the reopening of the iconic resort today, on the date it celebrates its 16th anniversary of opening its doors in the Cayman Islands. The resort debuts beautifully reimagined interiors brought to life by Champalimaud Design, and alongside the legendary service of The Ritz-Carlton brand's Ladies and Gentlemen, is set to deliver a memorable guest experience rooted in thoughtful design, local artwork, and expanded amenities. The resort features a refined new design inspired by the rich history and diverse cultural influences of the Cayman Islands. Blending modern coastal elegance with mid-century British Caribbean style, completely renovated spaces reflect an updated color palette featuring the deep blues of Cayman's night sky, lively shades of green inspired by the islands' botanical wonders, the whites and beiges of the island's smooth sands, and the sparkling shades of turquoise found in the Caribbean Sea. Textured inlays and crisp borders accentuate the Neoclassical architecture, leading guests through their journey to new discoveries. Enclosed behind majestic, ebonized wood arches is the lobby lounge, welcoming guests with a comfortable environment that invites connection. Similarly, the guest rooms and suites nod to the destination's history with the rugged sophistication of British West Indian style while paying homage to the island's colorful present and bright future with purposefully chosen artworks, fixtures and rich natural textures. The incorporation of indigenous and inspired materials further connects guests to the beauty of Cayman. Retaining its spirit, the resort's iconic Silver Palm Lounge features completely new interiors and a custom-built hardwood cabinet, which will offer guests a collection of indulgent discoveries from rare rums to premium hand-rolled cigars of the Caribbean and sweet and delightful chocolates created from the region's finest cacao. In addition to the public spaces and guest accommodations, the resort's meeting spaces which are known to host Grand Cayman's grandest galas and corporate groups from around the globe were updated as well. These palatial spaces were reimagined in luminous neutrals from cream to Champagne with rich, warm accents on the soaring ceilings and rope detailing in the wall coverings. The pre-function area evokes a classic thatch pattern while the ballroom deconstructs those designs into a beautiful field of woven elements. Light fixtures transpose undersea life to the to the ceiling, with sculptural coral colonies of organic forms with each dome a unique shape, just like in nature. An impressive collection of commissioned and collected local artwork fosters a deeper connection with the culture, history, and creativity of Cayman with the goal of creating an immersive experience for guests. Complementing the public art collection is The Gallery, the longstanding art exhibition space, which has represented the resort's deep connection to its community and its stunning seascapes and heritage for many years through the work of talented artists. The Gallery will continue to highlight Grand Cayman's vibrant visual arts culture, enhancing the guests' journey as they transition from the Resort Tower to the Ocean Tower. An enclave of relaxation and effortless elegance, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is a Forbes Five-Star resort, which offers unparalleled service and thoughtful amenities. Much like the Cayman Islands itself, the resort's new design blends worldly influence with the one-of-a kind character of Cayman, resulting in an elevated yet spirited tapestry. Wholly unique in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands is a respite of sophistication, comfort, quality, and luxury, created through the celebration of its diverse residents, stewardship of its natural beauty, and culture of mutual respect. A microcosm of what makes the island so special, the Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman hail from a myriad of nations, while sharing a passion to create meaningful memories and exceptional experiences for guests. Appointment 16 December 2021 JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group today announced the appointment of Jonathan Law Kai Chung as Vice President, Hotel Investment Sales, Asia to spearhead its market-leading hotel investment practice in Hong Kong and serve clients' hotel-specific needs. Jonathan joins Julien Laloye, Vice President of Hotel Advisory & Asset Management in Hong Kong, together providing JLL's full suite of dedicated hospitality investment and advisory services. Jonathan will report to Nihat Ercan, Head of Investment Sales, Asia Pacific, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, and be an integral part of JLL's one-of-a-kind regional and global hotel platform with over 100 hotel specialists in Asia Pacific and over 400 worldwide. A consummate real estate professional and Certified Public Accountant, Jonathan was most recently with seasoned Hong Kong investor, Joint Treasure International Limited, where he was instrumental in the acquisition and asset management for a number of hotel and commercial properties including those in Japan, UK, the US and Europe. Prior to Joint Treasure, Jonathan worked within the Real Estate Division of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited in Hong Kong. He graduated from Bentley College in Boston, Massachusetts. Author Jochen puts the customer at the center of his approach. With efficient use of resources and well-determined activities, Jochen commits to creating significant added value for the customer and therefore a positive return on investment for the business. He is convinced that digital transformation, constant innovation, employee education and customer focus are fundamentals for a successful business. Prior to joining EHL Advisory, Jochen worked in the online hotel distribution and hotel technology industry. He has proven outstanding results in customer acquisition, business development in new markets and relationship management across various markets in Europe. Jochen operated in demanding and fast evolving work environments. This setting helped him to collaborate and think with the team so as to stay ahead of competition. Jochen holds an academical degree in economics and business administration, a post graduate degree in hospitality operations and an Excecutive MBA from IESE business school. He is a native Dutch speaker, business fluent in English, German, French and can communicate in Russian. Areas of Focus: Customer service design, Online hotel distribution, Digital transformation, Business development, Digital marketing, Business analysis of SME and start-ups. More about Jochen de Peuter Press Release 16 December 2021 Key Takeaways The typical US Host earned more than $8,000 in from January through September 2021, which represents nearly an extra month and a half of pay for the median US household. Advertisements Yesterday, Airbnb Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Nathan Blecharczyk joined US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and other business leaders in a roundtable discussion on the importance of broadband to the foundation of an ownership economy an economy that keeps more of the returns of online marketplace activity with the communities and the people who power these platforms. During the discussion, Blecharczyk spoke to new data that was released via an economic impact report sent to the US Department of Commerce. The report details our emergence as a platform that generates important income for our 4 million Hosts and revenue for their approximately 100,000 cities and towns around the world. According to the report: The typical US Host earned more than $8,000 in from January through September 2021 1 , which represents nearly an extra month and a half of pay for the median US household and is more than most Americans received in government-provided stimulus payments 2 . , which represents nearly an extra month and a half of pay for the median US household and is more than most Americans received in government-provided stimulus payments . Women Hosts in the US, who make up 60 percent of our US Host community, earned more than $4 billion in the first three quarters of 2021 3 . . To date, Hosts around the world have earned more than $140 billion welcoming guests through our platform, including more than $54 billion in the US alone 4 . . In Rhode Island, the home state of Secretary Raimondo, Airbnb Hosts have earned $210 million since 2010. 5 We have collected and remitted more than $4 billion in tourism taxes around the world, including $520 million in US communities from May through August 20216. The roundtable discussion centered on how broadband-enabled platforms such as Airbnb have helped create a new kind of economy in which platform earners and their communities share in the platforms success, and the platforms are invested in helping their earners and communities succeed. Blecharczyk referred to this virtuous circle as an ownership economy in contrast to an economy in which people and their communities provide and pay for the services (such as drivers using and having to maintain their own cars, or cities funding the upkeep of historic sites), while the platform keeps most of the returns for itself, including by avoiding local taxes. The world is undergoing a revolution in how we live and work. Technologies like Zoom make it possible to work from home Airbnb makes it possible to work from any home. This newfound flexibility is bringing about a revolution in how we travel. Millions of people can now take more frequent trips, longer trips, travel to more locations, and even live anywhere on Airbnb. As this travel revolution unfolds, Airbnb looks forward to working with local governments to expand the ownership economy, helping more people and places own their futures in tourism. Press Release 16 December 2021 Professor Peng Liu and Terence Loh 97, MBA 06 challenge students to solve a real-world business problem in their case study, Real Estate: Private Equity Investment in Shanghai. This research was published jointly by the Center for Hospitality Research and the Center for Real Estate and Finance. Advertisements The case study gives the reader both a qualitative and quantitative understanding on how buy-side companies invest in the real estate market, says Liu. Given Chinas growing importance as a global real estate market, this case provides useful insights on how real estate projects are acquired and structured. I am delighted to share my deal experience, says Loh, whose real estate deal is featured in the case study. This case provides unique insights on how private equity firms underwrite potential opportunities by considering a myriad of factors. Peng Liu is the Singapore Tourism Board distinguished chair professor in Asian hospitality management at the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration. He is also an associate professor of real estate and finance at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. Lius research focuses on real estate investment and securitization. Terence Loh is senior vice president of CDIB Capital International. Loh has 24 years of investments experience. He graduated with distinction from the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration and earned an MBA from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Opinion Article 16 December 2021 Mews Unfold 2021 may be over, but the insights live on. If you missed any of our two-day hospitality extravaganza, you can wipe away those tears: well be recapping the most interesting moments in the form of the written word (i.e. these blogs) and you can also watch any of our sessions here. This article covers the content from the first Unfold session, in which Matt and Richard pick through the state of our industry today and explore the five trends that we think are here to stay. Without further ado: 1. The modern guest is blurring travel For a long time, business was business and leisure was leisure and never the twain shall meet. But a combination of changing attitudes and improving technology means that hybrid travel is here, and blend and extend will be a phrase you hear more and more of. Heres Airbnb CEO, Brian Chesky, talking about it: Before the pandemic, people disproportionately travelled to the same iconic tourist destinations: Rome, London, Paris, Las Vegas, New York. Travel meant visiting for two or three nights on business or a week or two on vacation. Now, the lines between travelling and living are blurring. Remote workers arent just travelling on Airbnb, theyre living on Airbnb for months at a time. So what does this mean in practical terms if youre a hotelier? For one thing, it gives you the opportunity to diversify your customer base. If you always thought of yourself as primarily a business hotel or focussed mainly on leisure guests, you can tap into another segment by making a few simple changes to your marketing and upgrades to your property like super fast WiFi. Much of the change in habits is being driven by the Millennial demographic, who tend to have more flexibility and high disposable incomes. However, its the mindset shift thats perhaps most interesting for hoteliers: theres a big focus on personal wellness in combination with a preference for eco-friendly travel. Hotels that promote sustainability will reap the benefits, as will those who focus on experiences that go off the beaten track. If youd like to know more about the modern guest, weve written a whole report about them. Check it out here. 2. The war on talent shows no signs of slowing Its no secret that theres a staff shortage in hospitality right now. And its not only hotels its hospitality tech too. A combination of retraining during the pandemic and trepidation to return to the sector because of perceived uncertainty means that companies are finding it increasingly difficult to fill roles that previously they had multiple options for. So how do you attract the best talent, whether youre hiring a receptionist or a revenue manager? As Richard said in the webinar, Your staffs expectations of you as employers has really shifted. We have to make sure that were really thinking about the employee experience, the desirability of being at a company. Think about how much effort you put into attracting guests; the same attention is required to ensure you find the right people for your team. Often this starts with investing in your recruitment or people (HR) teams, making sure they have enough resource to find the best talent. And just as theres lots of value in customer loyalty, the same is true for employee loyalty. More than anything, fast job turnover means a big chunk of time spent searching for and training new staff and that could have a knock-on effect on your guests. Take some inspiration from some of the things weve done at Mews to attract talent and keep them engaged. We have a monthly onboarding session for all new hires that goes beyond just job-specific training and spends time immersing them in our values. We conduct regular salary and benefit reviews and have an increasing focus on wellness with perks like unlimited holidays. And we encourage everyone to feel as though they are a part of the company by allocating shares and championing employee-led CSR initiatives. Not everything here will work for your business, but its important to invest in your team. Other options include rethinking your hotel job roles. Use technology to automate repetitive tasks that no one likes doing, and youll be able to transform job responsibilities from boring to engaging, shifting the focus to being more customer-centric. 3. Long stays are here to stay Initially, there was some doubt about whether the pivot to long stays would be a lasting trend or if it was only a flash-in-the-pan as a result of Covid. We think the former. As Richard said, Many properties moved to long stays as a survival mechanism, but now you really see this trend coming to the fore. There is a change in the concept of work. You can see this even within Mews, when last winter a third of our product team went to work remotely from the Canary Islands. People really need to think about capturing this market that is going to Airbnb, and we think this is a market that belongs to hotels, hostels and serviced apartments. Its a trend thats born out in the data too: the average length of stay has increased as people find a new balance between work and leisure. So what does this mean for your property? There's more onus on keeping guests engaged and satisfied, as theyll be staying with you for longer. Think about what you can do with your spaces, whether thats providing space for yoga classes or co-working. Go beyond the heads in beds mindset and think about the wellness of your guest. Could you partner with local restaurants and delivery services to offer more variety? WFA (working from anywhere) is linked to the rise of digital nomads and its possible for you to capitalize on these long stay guests. Citizen M, for example, launched a subscription for remote workers to use their property, with a bundled package of 30 nights at a fixed rate. 4. Seamless payments and experiences are paramount Part of the changing expectations for hospitality is that everything should be easy and connected, from booking a room upgrade to eating at the onsite restaurant. A huge part of that on the consumer side is around the payment process. Heres an extract from the webinar where Matt talks about it: Think about it like a budget airline: you sell the seat and then build on that. I always wonder whos the one buying the perfumes on the trolley, but they actually make a lot of profit. Its the same thing with hotels. Were really good at selling the rooms, but what about the ancillary revenue? How are you driving that with these new customers who want and end-to-end experience? Throughout that journey you need to have payments built in. You should never have to ask for a credit card at any point of the journey because they gave you their card at the start of it, and the rest should be completely built in. We see that hotels have started selling merchandise or having iconic bars and award-winning restaurants. Essentially, however big you build out your brand or your guest experience, everything should always be connected so that payments are seamless, even invisible. For this, you need a hospitality cloud with a modern payment system, as well as a focus on guest-facing technology like online check-ins and kiosks. Plus, upselling tools will be a big help. 5. Maximizing your real estate potential Were already touched upon this regarding changing guest behavior, but thats only one element of maximizing your real estate potential. Do you really need a big, imposing reception desk in your lobby, or could you convert it into a coffee bar? During the day, when your restaurant is empty, could you rent the space out or convert it into a shared working space? When it comes to measuring success, its time to look beyond traditional metrics and redefine what 100% occupancy actually means. We wont go into detail here, but metrics like RevPAG, TRevPAR and true occupancy point the way to ensuring you increase revenue. You can find out more about them in our guide to the Metrics that Matter. And dont just think about your own guests can your gyms, spas and co-working spaces be opened up to local residents to boost revenue further? Becoming a part of your local community is not only a great way to diversify your customers, its also good for your brand. Parking applies here too, as you can offer spaces for guests and non-guests heres how parking works with Mews. To do all this, as Matt says, you need to make sure you have the technology in place so you can be much more flexible with your space. Its one thing to say: lets offer our rooms for day use. Its another thing to actually put that into action. Fortunately, tech is now being built with this in mind. For instance, Mews is developing multiple space functionality with different time units and day use hotel rooms are a great example. Summing up I could write a neat summary of the above, but instead Ill leave it to Richard who put it very well at the end of the session: Its time to rethink the way we think about hospitality. Rethink occupancy. Rethink high season and low season. Think about what time of year your real estate is going to be suited to the customer, and how can you build in this reliance into our models so were not caught unaware in the same way we were for the last year and a half. Its really about rethinking the type of accommodation you want to offer to the modern guest. A new drilling rig put into service by the Houston company Nabors Industries recently completed its first well in the Permian Basin, drilling to a depth of nearly 20,000 feet. That might not seem like a big deal. But in this case, the task was accomplished without a single worker on the rig floor. Nabors Pace-R801 is the worlds first fully automated land rig, and its introduction in West Texas marks a milestone in the automation of the oil and gas industry. Robots, such as the robotic arm that lifts and connects drill pipe on the new rig, are transforming the industry, promising to save billions of dollars while further shrinking a labor force that has shed tens of thousands of jobs in recent years particularly oil field laborers. At least one in five drilling jobs could be replaced by automation over the next decade, according to Rystad, a Norwegian energy research firm. Robots are already widely used in offshore oil and gas. Remotely operated underwater vehicles with propellers and robotic arms roam the oceans, inspecting and cleaning equipment. Four-legged robotic dogs prowl offshore platforms, reading gauges and monitoring for methane leaks. On land, shale producers in West Texas use drones to detect gas leaks from wells and pipelines. This is the direction that the industry is heading and should head, said Travis Purvis, Nabors senior vice president of global drilling. This robotic technology really is game-changing. Over the next five to 10 years, its going to be really exciting to see the innovation that happens around that. Nabors autonomous rig is more evidence of the technological transformation progress to some, disruption to others that has taken place in many industries, including farming, manufacturing and banking. Big Oil, which has always relied on new technologies to extract more fossil fuels from the ground, is the latest to embrace robotics and automation. On HoustonChronicle.com: Will all the oil and gas jobs lost during the pandemic ever return? The global pandemic accelerated adoption of robotics and automation, said Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli. The pandemic imposed social distancing requirements and financial pressures, which forced oil companies to turn to technology to keep employees safe and cut costs. Many rigs and platforms in West Texas already are remotely controlled and operated from central offices in Houston. More than 90 percent of Baker Hughes wells are drilled using remote technology, up from about 60 percent two years ago, according to the Houston oil field services company. Digital allows you to go into remote operations so we can do the same activity that previously needed people in the field from a central location, Simonelli said in an October interview. Our customers were starting to adopt it, but when we got into the pandemic, you suddenly had the inability to move people as easily and freely. Added safety, fewer workers Nabors, the worlds largest land drilling contractor with 10,000 employees, began developing its autonomous rig technology about five years ago to improve drilling efficiency and safety. In 2017, Nabors acquired Robotic Drilling Systems, a robotic drilling company. Pace-R801, which was built in Houston, uses a combination of robotic hardware and automated software to drill a well. A blue robotic arm, called a pipe handler, lifts drill pipe horizontally up the rig, rotates and turns it vertically and spins it into place. Another robot roughneck on the rig floor connects the drill pipes and tightens them together. Purvis said Nabors autonomous rig aims to make drilling safer by removing workers from the rig floor, where the combination of slippery mud and heavy equipment can lead to injury and death. Although the Pace-R801 doesnt have any workers on the rig floor, Purvis said the autonomous rig still requires humans to operate, including a drilling manager, control engineers and maintenance workers. The autonomous rig employs five or six workers, about the same number as Nabors traditional rigs, although some of these jobs require higher levels of education and training. However, the rise of robots has raised concerns about the future of roughnecks on drilling rigs. Rystad estimates robotic drilling systems can speed the time it takes to drill a well by as much as 40 percent. The efficiency gains mean oil companies will need fewer rigs to drill wells and consequently, fewer workers. On HoustonChronicle.com: Who benefits from Big Oils big profits? Not Houstons laid-off oil workers. The number of laborers on U.S. drilling rigs could decline by as much as 30 percent, or 140,000 workers by 2030, according to Rystad, saving U.S. oil producers more than $7 billion in wages. It will take time to replace the whole fleet of rigs, said Audun Martinsen, Rystads head of energy service research. Since these rigs still have to be proven, we dont expect this technology to really take off until closer to 2030. Getting smaller The oil industrys robot revolution could compound job losses after recent oil busts. Texas lost 60,000 drilling and extraction workers during the pandemic last year after the number of drilling rigs in Texas plunged by more than 60 percent to a record-low of 100. The state has recovered 25,900, or 43 percent, of those jobs lost as coronavirus vaccines have lifted economies. The state has about 183,000 oil drilling and production workers, about 17 percent fewer than the 220,000 before the pandemic began in January 2020 and more than 35 percent below the 297,000 workers at their peak of employment in December 2014. Exxon Mobil, which reduced its global workforce by 15 percent last year in response to the pandemic-driven oil bust, contracted with Nabors to drill three horizontal wells using the Pace-R801 rig. The autonomous drilling contract was part of the Irving oil giants annual research and development of ways to increase operational safety and efficiency. The Texas oil major, which has remotely monitored its drilling rigs since the late 1980s, has significantly increased the number that are controlled remotely over the past two years. On HoustonChronicle.com: Power couple: This BP husband and wife are major players on opposite sides of energy industry's future Exxon said it has evaluated additional opportunities to deploy autonomous drilling technology, including in deepwater Guyana and on its Hebron platform near Newfoundland. We see the potential to move crews away from the rig floor, making drilling operations safer, Exxon spokeswoman Sarah Nordin said. This technology also has the potential to reduce the number of drilling days, increasing drilling efficiency and consistency. New skills The Pace-R801 robotic arm eliminates the need for floorhands and derrickhands, who on traditional rigs move, guide, connect and drive drill pipe into the well. While robots would replace roughneck jobs, automation would create other jobs on rigs, such as engineers, supervisors and maintenance crews. Purvis said autonomous drilling rigs free up workers to focus on other tasks and provide employees an opportunity to train for new jobs as electricians, mechanics and maintenance workers to operate this technology. Were moving some of these positions around, and there are just different skill sets that are required, but were absolutely committed to giving opportunities to our employees to evolve and develop into those new roles, Purvis said. At the end of the day, these rigs have a fairly large footprint. It does require human intervention to move and maintain these rigs, so there will always be a human element. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi Last year, as Tierra Smith got to work at her new media company, Wins for Black Girls, a pattern quickly emerged: more and more Black women in Houston had started businesses during the pandemic and they needed a platform. To serve them, she created Black Women Marketplace, a pop-up market for Black women with retail businesses. This weekend Smith will host a holiday market featuring 20 Black woman-owned vendors at a Black woman-owned event space near downtown Houston. The market runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Elevate Experiences, at 1919 North Main. Shops will be selling items including clothing, candles, beauty products and art. On HoustonChronicle.com: Walmart memberships, Twitter alerts and hourlong drives: How Houstonians scored the elusive PlayStation 5 More shoppers have looked to buy from Black-owned businesses as a way to contribute to the Black community after George Floyds death, Smith said. This gives them an opportunity, she said. Smith, a former journalist, started Wins for Black Girls in 2019 as a way to tell positive stories about Black women. She started a newsletter that gained traction during the early months of the pandemic as she learned about more and more Black women opening their own businesses. The sudden unpredictability of the job market during the pandemic accelerated the wave of Black-owned small businesses, she said. Opening businesses gave the entrepreneurs something they could fall back on if they lost a job a kind of financial stability for themselves and their families. 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. A lot of them are trying to change generational wealth in their families by doing this, she said. More of these women were also working from home during the pandemic, affording them more time to focus on their new businesses, Smith said. They took steps such as creating and sourcing new products, building marketing plans and taking entrepreneurship courses, she said. Smith hopes the market helps connect the new businesses with customers looking for last-minute gifts as well as those who have set aside money to buy from Black-owned businesses during the holidays. Its feeding this new generation of Black-owned business, she said. It really starts here. amanda.drane@chron.com Twitter.com/amandadrane Perry Homes is expanding in Jordan Ranch with a new section of the planned community to open in 2022. According to Johnson Development Corporation, a new section of the community has opened for sales. According to a news release, the Brookshire communitys new section includes 40-foot homesites with prices starting in the low $300,000s. 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%. 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. A man was fatally shot in Southside Wednesday night, Houston police said. Officers were near the area of Madrid Street and Yellowstone Boulevard around 10:18 p.m. working on a report of an earlier incident when they heard at least one gunshot, according to police. On HoustonChronicle.com: Man attacks bailiff, punches Houston judge in fit of courtroom rage Police checked the area and found a man outside a duplex in a parking lot with an apparent gunshot wound to his chest, Detective Jason Escobar said. Officers rendered first aid before HFDs arrival at the scene, where the man would be pronounced dead. At the time of a media briefing, Escobar said authorities did not have an ID on the man or a description of any suspects. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. South Texas College of Law Houstons board has elected Genora K. Boykins to be its chair, making her the first woman and first Black to hold the post. Boykins, an alumna, became the new head of the board during a Dec. 8 board meeting of Houstons oldest law school, according to a school spokeswoman. I am excited to take on the leadership role as chair of the STCL Houston board as we continue to excel in providing an exceptional legal education to our diverse student body, Boykins said in a statement. MAJOR MILESTONE: Rice, still reckoning with its racially fraught roots, names first-ever Black, immigrant president I look forwarding to working with the board, Dean Michael Barry, faculty, staff, alumni and students as we provide an innovative and transformative legal education, she continued. South Texas produces an inclusive community of future lawyers and leaders that values, celebrates and supports the diversity of our global community. Boykins, originally from Prairie View, earned her law degree in 1985. She served as regional assistant general counsel of NRG Energy, Inc. and Reliant Energy before retiring in 2018. There, she was on the Reliant Energy Minority and Women Business Enterprise Advisory Council and the Diversity Council, where she worked to improve contracting opportunities, hiring, advancement and retention for minorities in the workforce, according to the college. 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. Along with her husband Dwight, a former Houston City Councilman, Boykins is active in several community organizations, STCL spokeswoman Michelle Morris said. She was formerly co-chair of the State Bar of Texas minority counsel program and is also a founder, president and board chair of the faith-based Pyramid Community Development Corp. Boykins serves in several other capacities around Houston, including with the Downtown Management District and Dress for Success Houston. Boykins previously served on the boards of the Houston Area Urban League and the Houston Area Womens Center. In 2010, she helped launch La Maison in Midtown, an upscale bed-and-breakfast. More from Samantha Ketterer: New program addresses traumatic process of sexual assault reporting for victims at Houston colleges J. Ken Johnson was the previous board chair, serving from 2014 to this year. We have been truly blessed by Kens wise leadership for the past seven years, and we are delighted to have another esteemed South Texas graduate become chair of our collaborative, exceptional board, said Michael F. Barry, president and dean of the law school. Genora is a true trailblazer and an inspiration for South Texas diverse and forward-thinking community, and I look forward to working closely with her as we near our centennial in 2023. samantha.ketterer@chron.com Houston is seeing early signs of another wave of COVID-19 infections, fueled in part by a fast-spreading omicron variant, as public health officials warn of a nationwide spike in cases as early as next month. The daily average of positive cases in the Texas Medical Center more than tripled last week, from 232 to 721, and Houston Methodist on Tuesday recorded nearly five times the number of positive cases in its system compared to the previous week. Harris County Public Health on Tuesday reported 483 new cases, the highest single-day total in more than two months. The number of omicron cases in Houston detected through genome sequencing is small but rising, with Houston Methodist reporting 54 samples of the new strain Wednesday, compared to 31 four days earlier. The variant now makes up roughly 32 percent of cases in the hospital system, up from 13 percent on Saturday. Traces of omicron are also being detected at a growing number of citys wastewater treatment plants. With little data available in what is considered the early stages of the new variants spread, experts are uncertain about the degree to which it could overwhelm the healthcare system a critical question in the months ahead. They are, however, growing more confident of an imminent swell of sickness. GETTING VACCINATED: Houston hospitals see uptick in demand for booster shots as omicron spreads in Texas Were going to have a wave. I dont doubt it at all, said Dr. Rodrigo Hasbun, professor of infectious diseases with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. Its just the magnitude of it and the duration thats in question. Omicron first became known on Thanksgiving in South Africa, drawing widespread concern because of its mutations that allow it to dodge antibodies and possibly become more transmissible than earlier strains. Since then, it has already become the dominant strain in South Africa. Infections have exploded in Britain, which on Wednesday reported its highest-ever total of new cases in a single day with 78,610. European Union officials said omicron could become the dominant strain across the continent by mid-January. Omicron is also making inroads in the United States. It has now been detected in all but 17 states and accounts for 2.9 percent of the countrys cases, a jump from 0.4 percent last week. In Houston, there are signs that omicron could usurp delta, still the countrys most dominant strain, in a matter of weeks. Given the increase we are seeing in omicron, we could very possibly be at 100 percent omicron by January, said Dr. Wesley Long, medical director of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist. That would be a faster sweep than even the delta variant, which took about a three-month span to sweep prior variants and achieve 100 percent. It is also possible that delta remains in some equilibrium with omicron over time. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday warned that the nation could see a major surge in both delta and omicron as early as next month. Another possible scenario, they said, is a smaller surge in the spring. Throughout the pandemic, Houstons wastewater treatment plants have been a reliable indicator of future local spread, usually preceding new infections by about two weeks. During the week starting Nov. 29, the city found traces of omicron in seven treatment plants. By the following week the most recently available data that number jumped to 25. We can see how quickly this variant is going to spread, said Hasbun. Early findings from South Africa suggest that omicron causes less severe disease than earlier strains, though several factors, such as the countrys younger population, cloud the data. COMING FRIDAY: Houston, Texas Children's aim to vaccinate 5,000 people at convention center Some experts offer cautious optimism despite the bleak outlook. Dr. Annamaria Macaluso Davidson, associate vice president of medical operations for Memorial Hermann Medical Group, is hopeful that pockets of highly vaccinated areas in the city and new COVID treatments arriving on the market will stave off a dire situation at hospitals. Two new pills to treat less severe COVID infections could receive emergency use authorization by early 2022. Weve got more tools at our disposal that I think are really promising, even if were facing another surge, she said. The latest developments highlight the urgent need for vaccinations and booster shots ahead of the Christmas holiday. The initial vaccines series offers some protection against an omicron infection, but early findings from Pfizer and Moderna show the new strain significantly reduces their effectiveness. Breakthrough cases are expected, but booster shots from either vaccine appear to offer substantially better protection. About 60 percent of the country is fully vaccinated, of which 27 percent have received a booster dose, according to the CDC. The fundamental message is, just as weve done before when the situation on the ground changes, its time for us to change our behavior, said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist. To me the most important message is, if you havent been vaccinated, get vaccinated. Schedule boosters. julian.gill@chron.com A former top Houston ISD official and vendor were indicted Thursday in connection with an alleged bribery scheme over the last decade that federal prosecutors estimate cost the district millions of dollars and resulted in plea agreements with at least five other former district officials, including a former president of the districts Board of Education. Federal authorities arrested former Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby, 43, and contract vendor Anthony Hutchison, 60, both of Houston, on Thursday, hours before their initial court appearance. Both men pleaded not guilty to all counts and were expected to be released under conditions that include no contact with current and former HISD employees with the exception of Busbys wife, who prosecutors said has filed for divorce. Prosecutors accused Busby of helping award HISD construction and grounds maintenance contracts to Hutchison in return for cash bribes and hundreds of thousands of dollars in home remodeling, according to a 26-count indictment unsealed Thursday. This investigation and resulting indictments reflect my offices commitment to rooting out public corruption, Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery said in a statement. We will not stand idly by when there are people in positions of trust who are suspected of such wrongdoing. Dick DeGuerin, Busbys lawyer, denied any wrongdoing by his client. For most of his adult life, Brian Busby has been a loyal employee of HISD, rising from the lowest employment to chief operating officer, DeGuerin said. He has never taken a penny from any contractors or any illegal money ever. I am sure that a fair jury will find him innocent. The indictments and plea agreements stem from a corruption probe that began in February 2020 when authorities raided HISDs headquarters and Busbys Cypress-area home. They arrived as the district continues to fight an attempt by the state to takeover due to a chronically low-performing school, the continued presence of a state-appointed conservator and a state probe that found misconduct among board members. On HoustonChronicle.com: Top HISD administrator on paid leave after FBI, IRS search Investigators found more than $186,000 in cash during the searches of Busby and Hutchisons homes in 2020, federal prosecutors said Thursday, and have estimated about $7 million in false billing and $2.6 million in cash deposits connected to the scheme. The two men were scheduled to have a hearing Monday in federal court in a civil forfeiture case connected to the cash. Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who served two terms as HISD trustee between 2012 and 2019, and as board president in 2015 and 2018, was among the former officials charged in connection with the alleged bribery scheme and pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. She currently serves as a Houston Community College Trustee. It was not clear Thursday whether she would have to resign or be fired. A spokesman for the college did not respond to a request for comment. She also worked for Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis community and government affairs team until Thursday. The news today came as a shock to us, and we never had any indication of such inexcusable wrongdoing during her time at Precinct One, Ellis office said in a statement. Upon learning of this news today, her employment was immediately ended. Attempts by the Chronicle to contact Skillern-Jones, as well as the other former officials who entered plea agreements, were unsuccessful Thursday. Those other former employees were identified by prosecutors as Derrick Sanders, 50, Missouri City, officer of construction services; Alfred Hoskins, 58, Missouri City, general manager of facilities, maintenance and operations; Gerron Hall, 47, Missouri City, area manager for maintenance; and Luis Tovar, 39, Huffman, area manager for maintenance. Sanders had joined Aldine ISD in September 2020 and voluntarily resigned Oct. 22, school officials there said. On HoustonChronicle.com: DeGuerin denies ex-HISD official involved in kickback scheme, says seized money obtained legally Saying he was extremely outraged, HISD Superintendent Millard House II, who began leading the largest public school district in Texas in July, told the Chronicle he had ordered a review of the internal team and systems for contracting and vendors, as well as an external review of the districts procurement procedures before he was even made aware of the charges. He said he had made changes to make sure everyone on my staff knows it is a new day inside HISD. I am outraged. Outraged that were talking about this. Outraged how adults who are supposed to be working for the public trust may have taken money from children, House said. In my 26 years as an educator in Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee I have never seen such a failure. As a parent, as a teacher, as a taxpayer, I promise you - HISD will do everything in its power to never be vulnerable to this kind of alleged misconduct again. He added: I will not be deterred by 10 years of corruption, waste, and fraud that came before me. My team did not create this problem, but we will solve it. Permanently. Court documents made public Thursday offered the most comprehensive outline to date of the alleged corruption. Starting in 2011 and stretching to 2020, according to court documents, Hutchison overbilled the district and inflated bills, paying Busby a portion of the profits in cash and free home remodeling. Federal authorities also accused him of obtaining purchase orders for construction, repair, landscaping and maintenance jobs at specific HISD campuses by paying cash bribes and kickbacks to district personnel, including the individuals who entered plea agreements. Hutchison also is accused of maintaining a bribe ledger in 2017, which he later told Hoskins to falsely tell the FBI was for gambling, according to court records. Sanders, Hoskins, Hall and Tovar have admitted to helping award or refraining from interfering in the awarding of HISD jobs to Southwest Wholesale LLC, a longtime HISD contractor owned by Hutchison, according to federal authorities. Meanwhile, Skillern-Jones admitted to putting the expenditure of funds of funds for landscaping and construction projects on a 2017 Board of Education agenda and voted to approve it, according to federal prosecutors. The projects eventually were awarded to Hutchison. Busby personally delivered thousands of dollars in bribe payments to Skillern-Jones from Hutchison, according to federal authorities, who said she made the admission in her plea agreement. Federal prosecutors also accused Busby and Hutchison of interfering in the federal criminal investigation once they learned of the probe. During Thursdays court appearance, a prosecutor told the federal judge neither man was a flight risk but the government had concerns they would tamper with witnesses. The investigation remains open and FBI officials asked that anyone who may have information about the alleged scheme report to it to the bureaus corruption unit. Todays arrests and related charges are the result of a lengthy, multifaceted FBI Houston investigation, acting special agent in charge Richard A. Collodi said in a statement. Houston taxpayers and the thousands of HISD students, along with their teachers and staff, are the potential victims of this alleged multimillion-dollar public corruption scheme. The alleged corruption was the latest related to HISD. In 2016, a jury found that another former board president, Larry Marshall, had participated in a kickback scheme, causing millions of dollars in damages to a local construction contractor. In 2020, a senior manager resigned after disclosure of a document alleging he had assisted the kickback scheme involving Busby. House, the superintendent, said it was his job to set the standard for meaningful accountability district-wide. I have been here less than four months, and my heart goes out to the tens of thousands of hard working educators and staff of HISD whose only desire is to put Houstons children first, and who share my outrage and frustration with todays revelations, he said. We will not waver in our commitment to create a better district and a brighter future, and we will raise the bar for accountability at every level of our district. alejandro.serrano@chron.com Ten immigrant and civil rights groups have filed a complaint with the United States Department of Justice arguing that Gov. Gregg Abbotts Operation Lone Star - a new state-run border arrest program - is unlawful and discriminatory. Under Operation Lone Star, Texas law enforcement officials arrest, jail and prosecute suspected border crossers on state criminal trespassing charges. U.S. border enforcement is typically handled by the federal agencies, like Customs and Border Protection. The complaint calls on the Department of Justice to investigate the border enforcement program on the grounds that it violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race or nationality in any program that receives federal funding. The true intent of this program is to punish migrants, expand Texas massive correctional system and deter future migration, said Liz Castillo, organizer with the Detention Watch Network. Operation Lone Star under fire: Texas DPS ripped online for 'inappropriate' meme-like tweet of migrant pursuit Some 2,200 people have been arrested on misdemeanor state criminal trespass charges under the program, according to the legal complaint, signed by attorneys from the ACLU of Texas, Texas Civil Rights Project and Texas Fair Defense Project. State and local officials who have initiated and implemented the program are motivated by animus, motivated by racism and xenophobia, and they are seeking to punish Black and brown migrants for coming to the United States, said Kate Huddleston, ACLU of Texas attorney. The complaint notes that migrants are sent to a separate criminal system from that for non-migrants, with designated state jails and processing centers, dockets and public defenders. People are then sent to this separate criminal system that is rife with civil rights violations and abuses. And they languish in that system for extremely long periods of time, weeks or months, on misdemeanor criminal trespass charges, said Huddleston. The complaint also argues that the trespassing arrests lack probable cause and therefore violate the 4th Amendment. And, in some cases tracked by civil rights groups, migrants said they were encouraged by law enforcement agents to cross onto private property, 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. The complaint includes the account of one Venezuelan migrant who was jailed for 63 days on trespass charges that were eventually dismissed. In the complaint, the Venezuelan man, who remained anonymous, described the circumstances of his arrest. Officials signaled to us to come toward them. So, obeying their hand signals, we walked through the gate to talk to them. I told them I was seeking asylum, and they said to me in English, Sit down here. After a law enforcement official arrived, he told us that we had committed the crime of trespass to private property and that we would be taken to jail as prisoners. Abbotts office was unable to provide comment on the legal complaint prior to publication. Abbott has made the border his top issue ahead of his re-election campaign and received $1.8 billion from the Legislature to continue arresting and incarcerating migrants and build a physical barrier along parts of the southern border with Mexico. Last week, Abbott thanked Tennessees governor on his decision to send 50 members of the Tennessee Guard to aid in Operation Lone Star. Galveston County, along with Val Verde and Kinney County, were also named in the legal complaint, as violating anti-discrimination law. Galveston Countys Sheriffs Office and constables have contributed to migrant arrests in Kinney County while utilizing federal funds. They are treating us in a discriminatory manner, said another anonymous asylum seeker in Spanish, who was arrested under Operation Lone Star, They are treating immigrants like criminals, but were not. elizabeth.trovall@chron.com Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, may or may not know much about the Lone Star States vigilante heritage. Given his East Texas roots, he ought to at least be aware of the sordid history of the Klan and lynch mobs and citizens militias, but then we dont like to discomfort ourselves by thinking about such blotches on the pages of our past (and, goodness, we certainly dont want our school children learning about them!) So, given our self-imposed ignorance about such ignominies, Hughes may have missed the connection between dangerous vigilantism and his now-notorious Senate Bill 8, legislation that allows private citizens aka, bounty hunters to sue anyone who aids or abets an abortion after about six weeks. He may be unaware that its dangerous to unleash the bounty hunters, however honorable the motive is perceived to be. Like most inclined toward vigilantism, Hughes and those who support his tactic for outlawing abortion, are impatient sorts. They may espouse law and order, but for them the wheels of justice either grind too slowly or turn in the wrong direction. SB 8 is designed not only to practically outlaw abortion in Texas but also to circumvent legal challenges by relying on private citizens, rather than government officials, to enforce it. Leave it to a slick Californian to call Hughes and friends on their blatantly unconstitutional hypocrisy. In response to the U.S. Supreme Courts decision last week to allow the Texas abortion ban to stay in effect while legal challenges proceed, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his intention to push for a new state law modeled after SB 8. Newsoms law, however, would allow private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes or sells an assault weapon or ghost gun kit or parts in California. The proposed law would allow bounty hunters to seek damages of at least $10,000 per violation, plus costs and attorneys fees. Just like in Texas. If enacted and in a Democrat-dominated California Legislature, theres a chance it will be gun shops would surely be hurting. Just like abortion clinics in Texas. I am outraged by yesterdays U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing Texas ban on most abortion services to remain in place, Newsom said in a statement. But 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 peoples lives, where Texas used it to put women in harms way. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that whats good for a Texas goose could be equally good for a Golden State gander (though not in those words, exactly). By blessing significant portions of the laws 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 SB 8 are coming. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Ohio and other states already are planning to copy the Texas law in the event that the U.S. Supreme Court allows it to stand. Notice, however, that Sotomayor alluded to any right, which means gun rights, religious rights, any constitutional right a vigilante group might target. The raging liberal who serves as chief justice also expressed concern. If 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, Justice John Roberts wrote in a minority opinion, the constitution itself becomes a solemn mockery. Roberts, an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush, isnt the only conservative to imply that Texas evasive legislative mechanism for upending law and order is actually very anti-conservative. Hughes, the abortion laws author, claimed in a Texas Tribune story that Newsoms proposal wouldnt work because gun rights are firmly established in the constitution and abortion rights arent. But thats not what Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone indicated when Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked him if Texas citizen enforcement tool could be used to evade court oversight in targeting Second Amendment rights. Say everyone who sells an AR-15 is liable for a million dollars to any citizen. ... Would that kind of law be exempt from pre-enforcement review in federal court? Kavanaugh asked. Yes, Stone replied. Its hard to know how serious Newsom is, even though he announced that he will be working with his staff, the California Legislature and his attorney general to craft private-lawsuit legislation. He sounded serious: 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. Its hard to believe the governor actually believes that a copy-cat SB 8 is the most efficient way. . . , given that earlier he blasted the Texas law as a cynical attempt to undercut federal law. Its more likely that he has at least a couple of ulterior motives: One, feeling empowered after handily surviving a recall effort in October, he may be positioning himself for higher office in 2024 or beyond. Newsom has never lacked for ambition, or self-regard. Two, hes alarmed, as all Americans ought to be, at the willingness of Republicans in Donald Trumps thrall to resort to vigilantism, whether its storming the Capitol on January 6 (or at least excusing the outrage), intimidating election officials, lionizing a foolish teen-aged vigilante who killed two people in Kenosha, Wis., encouraging anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers to bully pharmacists and physicians, or crafting anti-abortion legislation to thwart legal challenge. Newsom may be trying to wake up his stunned and benumbed fellow Democrats. Sen. Hughes anti-abortion law has been labeled a stunt. Unfortunately, its a stunt that is working, with the Supreme Courts tacit blessing. The Golden State governors gun proposal is likely a stunt, as well. If it wakes up Americans Democrats, Republicans, independents and enough Supreme Court justices to the vigilante danger we face, his ploy will be worth it. Regarding Some Texas religious leaders live in lavish, tax-free estates thanks to obscure law, (Dec. 9): The excellent Undue Burden series brings up a larger question why do religious organizations receive any tax deductions at all? Giving a tax break to any religious organization favors religion over atheism, agnosticism or those in general who are not religiously inclined. Why should those who do not believe or care about a deity subsidize those who do? If the argument is religious organizations provide a public benefit, then the deductions should be limited to their charity work not the day-to-day expenses. Religion has a product to sell called faith, customers who attend services, marketing via proselytizing, revenues from collections and tithes, and expenses. How is that different from Home Depot? I used to be Hindu but am now atheist. Vishnu Brahmandam, Spring Cheers to the Houston Chronicle and the investigative reporters who did the digging to reveal tax-free parsonages that violate qualifications in state law. The Texas Constitution says a tax-free parsonage cannot be more than one acre. It is now up to the county tax collectors to send tax bills to the dozens of parsonages that are in violation. I wonder why any parsonage regardless of acreage should be tax-free property? All church property should at least pay the taxes needed to provide police and fire protection. Jimmy Dunne, Houston A dreadful habit we have in this country is to add all sorts of exceptions and exemptions every time we pass a law. When it was decreed that property owners should pay a real estate tax, then all owners should pay the tax, including state and federal government buildings, nonprofits, religious and educational institutions everyone who gets to their property via a public street, is plugged into public water and sewer systems, and gets fire and police protection. It should be no more complicated than that. Tony Serba, Houston It is appalling and sad to read how, one after another, all over Texas and infecting almost every religion, congregants and their leaders are corrupting the very meaning of their beliefs. Christian scripture, for example, models repeatedly in lives and words: self-sacrifice, warnings about acquisition of possessions and preference for the poor. Yet the huge acquisition of worldly wealth described in this series in itself represents clear contradiction with foundational spirituality. Add to that the injustice of withholding tax funds needed for the state to provide services that the churches say should be a responsibility for all good followers: education, health care, safety and sanitation. Let us hope the Legislature will read this series and end at least the tax abuses. Mary E. Schultz, Houston Dangerous duplicity Regarding Editorial: Jan. 6 text messages reveal dangerous duplicity of Fox News anchors, (Dec. 15): You say the influential trio of Fox News anchors and the propaganda they spew from the television sets will never be confused for actual journalists. Is this a choice of words you reserve for Fox? I doubt you would use them to describe what spews nightly from CNN. To be clear, none of these folks, Fox or CNN, are journalists. They are commentators. If you want journalism (which I often do) go to BBC (which I often do). Alan Nicholson, Houston I listened to Laura Ingrahams show last night in which she replayed many of her comments the night of the so-called insurrection. She was completely against the Capitol riots, as she is against all riots. In no way was she being two-faced in her comments, as you say in your editorial. You describe the disconnect between her (and others on Fox) true feelings and the propaganda they spew. I challenge you to get on the Fox News website, listen to Ingrahams actual comments from Jan. 6, and then make a heartfelt retraction of the propaganda that you are spewing. . Rich Akin, Houston Honor and compromise Regarding Dole: 'Genuine hero' paid war's price, triumphed in Senate, (Dec. 9): I was struck by the praise uttered by members of both parties, and others, hailing Bob Dole as a patriot. Where have these leaders gone? What happened to the civility and the cooperativeness and compromise that used to exist in Congress as well as with our state and local elected officials? Isnt that what most Americans really want today? We want those whom we elect to work together to get things done. We want them to have integrity. Compromise is not a dirty word. Gary Blumberg, Houston WASHINGTON With Texas primaries just weeks away, Democrats in the U.S. Senate are pushing yet again to pass new voting rights laws aimed at the state, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer saying they want to get them enacted before the midterm elections. Schumer said Thursday that Democrats are having detailed conversations about how the Senate will get voting rights done in time for the 2022 elections. To do so, however, the party would almost certainly have to change Senate rules, which require at least 60 votes to pass most legislation and have derailed past attempts because of the Democrats slim majority. There is growing pressure within the caucus to make a change, even as some moderates still oppose such a move. BACKGROUND: Voting bill gets no GOP votes in Senate; Democrats vow to keep pushing it U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said Democrats are delusional if they think theyll pass any new voting laws by the next election. Republicans have labeled the bills a power grab. Our primary is in March in Texas and filing for office is closed now, and this idea that this could somehow impact the 2022 election is a pipe dream, Cornyn said. I dont expect the votes, which so far have not been enough to pass it, that that will change at all. But they may want to talk about it some more, which is their right. The voting bills, which Texas state lawmakers spent weeks advocating in D.C. this summer, are aimed at undoing new voting laws passed this year in GOP-led states including Texas and requiring them to get approval from the U.S. Department of Justice for future changes to election laws. It comes as the Biden administration sues Texas over the new voting laws and redrawn political maps, claiming theyre discriminatory against Black and Latino voters and individuals with disabilities. In state after state, Republican-led Legislatures are approving the most draconian voter laws since segregation, and doing it entirely on a partisan basis, Schumer said. Senate Democrats are working to find a path forward to respond to these attacks. DOJ SUES: Biden administration claims new political maps discriminate against minority voters Schumer said Democrats are discussing ways to restore the Senate so it can once again work as its supposed to, as it has worked for generations before the gridlock of the past decade or so. The ceiling of our Democracy is crashing Also Thursday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris joined nine Senate Democrats including U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who has opposed changing the filibuster for a video meeting. In a statement afterward, Biden called for the Senate to press forward on voting rights legislation, and make progress on this as quickly as possible. I had a productive conversation today with several Senators about how we can get this vital legislation passed, Biden said. Our democracy is at stake. Without a change to Senate rules, any future attempt to pass voting laws will almost surely see the same outcome as Democrats multiple other attempts this year: Blocked by Republican filibusters. But there are growing calls for Democrats to at least tweak the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass most legislation especially as progress appears to have stalled on a $1.85 trillion spending bill with major expansions of the nations social programs that Democrats had hoped to pass before Christmas. Some Senate Democrats have pointed to a recent agreement with Republicans that allowed them to raise the debt ceiling on a simple majority vote. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, has said the Senate should not recess for the holidays until it does the same to pass voting rights legislation. We need to acknowledge that the ceiling of our democracy is crashing in on us; it needs to be raised and repaired, Warnock told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. And voting rights needs to be next in the queue. It is the very next thing we should take up. And we should not leave for recess until we, at minimum, have a clear path that weve all agreed on to get there. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox But key Democratic holdouts remain. U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has said repeatedly shes opposed to changing the filibuster rule. Manchin told reporters this week that Democrats were talking about everything, including the Senate rules. But he said any change to the rules needs to be part of a bipartisan agreement, which seems unlikely. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat who was in the virtual meeting with Biden, told reporters that Manchin isnt there yet. But were working on him, he said. Well continue to work on him. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday said a rules change would be an attack on the Senate. Senate rules have been changed before by both parties including under McConnells watch. In 2017, Republicans lowered the vote threshold to confirm Supreme Court nominees. I understand my colleagues are frustrated they may not get to spend $4.9 trillion on their way out the door for Christmas, McConnell said. But believe me, lashing out at our democracyat the Senate itself is not going to solve anything. ben.wermund@chron.com As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Double Elvis to launch LUST FOR LIVE audio network connecting fans with local music, events Double Elvis, the company behind hit podcasts like DISGRACELAND, BADLANDS, and 27 CLUB is launching a new local audio network under the umbrella, LUST FOR LIVE. LUST FOR LIVE will consist of distinct local podcasts designed to keep listeners informed of upcoming live events and introduce them to national and local acts through a mix of interviews, performances and curated recommendations. LUST FOR LIVE will launch its first podcast in Boston in February of 2022, with additional cities like New York and Los Angeles launching later in the year. Each podcast will be helmed by a creator living in that city. An audio alt-weekly Early in my career, I sold the record store ads for the Boston Phoenix and Jake Brennan, Co-Founder of Double Elvis and host of DISGRACELAND considers his new podcasts an audio replacement for the now defunct newspaper and others like it. Before digital completely disrupted print, my key to the city was the now mostly defunct alt-weekly In my town of Boston, it was The Boston Phoenix, says Brennan. Every week it told me which bands were rolling through town that I had to hear, what movies to see, which records were coming out that week. Every city had their version of The Phoenix, he continues. Those solutions are either dead or dont fit into our newly digitized attention spans. Through the power of audio, we are going to solve this problem. Each episode of LUST FOR LIVE: BOSTON and the cities that follow will include upcoming event highlights, interviews from visiting national acts and local artists, exclusive live performances, arts and culture news, as well as syndicated content from other Double Elvis productions. At Double Elvis, we value music and storytelling as tools to entertain and propel creativity itself. LUST FOR LIVE will help us take this even further, by clearly and succinctly communicating information to listeners about events in their cities, said Brady Sadler, Co-Founder of Double Elvis. As the trend of local marketing within audio grows, LUST FOR LIVE will allow Double Elvis and our trusted local creators to grow with it, enabling us to deliver valuable impressions to brand partners. Share on: The Retired Investor: Has Labor Found Its Mojo? Workers in America are rethinking who they are and what they want. For the first time in decades, the stars have aligned to give the labor movement a much-needed lift. Will this prove to be a flash in the pan or something more lasting? The share of American workers who claim union membership has been declining for years. There is a myriad of reasons for this decades-long decline. U.S. legislation and the court system has created enormous challenges to forming unions. The transfer of jobs to low-paying countries overseas has also devastated union membership. Labor membership can also be expensive with high monthly dues. In the past thirty years of declining real wages, most workers were grateful to just keep their jobs. Paying union dues when they had a family to feed was not a high priority. At the same time, the decline of those willing to obtain skills through education or apprenticeship in the U.S. has contributed to a rise in unskilled, service industry jobs. Unfortunately, these jobs suffer from high turnover and minimum wages, and were not a target market of the existing labor union movement. Everything changed with the arrival of COVID-19. The pandemic ushered in massive unemployment, huge safety risks for employed workers in essential sectors, and a wholesale movement towards work-at-home solutions. It was a tiring time for the American worker. And from the ashes a new attitude towards labor was born. Workers employed in "essential industries" who showed up to keep the country running were no longer taken for granted. Nurses, truck drivers, food industry workers and more became the new American heroes. Local media outlets, politicians, and even the White House honored and featured ordinary laborers, who made extraordinary efforts in our time of crisis. But the pandemic was also the match that forced many Americans to rethink their relationship to work overall. We are, for example, one of the few nations where health care benefits are dependent on your employment. As health care risks and unemployment skyrocketed simultaneously, holes in our private health insurance became readily apparent. "Life is too short" became more than just a quaint slogan. Many Americans, obsessive belief that "work first, ahead of everything else" as life's pre-eminent goal, might need to be re-examined. For others, long-buried work issues such as safety, benefits, wages, and more rose to the surface. Burnt-out workers simply decided to resign or retire rather than remain at their jobs. Others are taking a more aggressive approach to the workplace. Unionization, for many, has been perceived as a viable instrument for change. In 2020, union membership ticked up to 11 percent; about half that gain came from the public sector. It is early days, but through November 2021, union actions have increased. The Department of Labor reports 13 labor strikes so far this year, but they only include strikes that include 1,000 workers or more. As such, they did not report, for example, a seven-month strike here in Massachusetts of 700 nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester. Under the surface, labor experts say that well over 225 strikes is a more accurate number if you include smaller company workforce actions. The nation's attention, however, has been focused on several high-profile union actions. Some big companies like Amazon, Starbucks, John Deere and Kellogg's, have been targets of the labor movement. Amazon, the country's number two employer, fought a massive campaign to defeat union organization in Bessemer, Ala., this year. The vote to organize was defeated a major blow to unions nationwide. But soon after, the National Labor Relations Board determined that the company improperly pressured warehouse staff not to join the union. That was no surprise to union organizers. It is a part of an ongoing trend dating back to the 1970s where companies have engaged in unfair labor practices that were largely supported by labor laws favoring employers over workers. However, times are changing Thanks to the pandemic-induced change in attitude towards workers, positive union sentiment, for example, is at a generational high in the U.S., with 68 percent of Americans supporting unions, according to new data from a Gallup poll. The Biden administration is also supportive of unions as are many in the progressive wing of the Democrat Party. The PRO Act, currently being debated in the U.S. Senate, for example, would make it easier for employees to unionize and establish tougher penalties for employers who illegally attempt to stop their efforts. It would also allow gig workers and contractors to organize alongside traditional employees. These trends, together with the present labor shortage, has strengthened the hand of labor unions going forward. Amazon workers are slated to vote again in Alabama. Kellogg's workers, on strike since Oct. 5, 2021, are still holding out for better wages after rejecting a five-year, 3 percent offer from the company. In November 2021, John Deere's 10,100 production and maintenance workers won their strike with management and signed a new six-year agreement. Only last week, workers in Buffalo, N.Y., a city with a pro-union history, voted to form a union at Starbucks. It was one of three Starbucks locations in the city that held a vote (the second branch ended in a tie, while the last voted to reject unionization). The workers in the winning branch want better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Observers are watching these actions carefully, given that there are 8,000 corporate Starbuck locations across the U.S. It is the first successful attempt to unionize an unskilled labor force in the leisure and hospitality sectors. As such, a better, union-negotiated contract could spur more unionization efforts across the country. Whether these union efforts end with a bang or a whimper, bringing the American worker's condition to the forefront of the American agenda, is an absolute positive in my book. Williamstown Select Board Offers Financial Support to Louison House Shelter WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Select Board on Monday supported a plan to allocate a portion of the town's American Rescue Plan funds to support a winter homeless shelter in Adams to serve the Northern Berkshire community. Williamstown resident Michael Goodwin, the current president of the board of Louison House, told the board that the non-profit has secured $175,000 in state funds toward a $200,000 project to establish a shelter at the Mount Royal Inn on Route 8 in Adams. Louison House officials are appealing to Adams, North Adams and Williamstown to help address the shortfall. "This is a community issue we've been addressing for years, and we can't rely solely on the Community Chest, United Way and donations from individuals," Goodwin said. Goodwin told the Select Board that Louison House receives a lot of referrals from Williamstown residents who use the non-profit's facilities. Board Chair Andrew Hogeland said that he is confident that Adams' and North Adams' contributions should be able to make up the remainder of the $25,000 shortfall if Williamstown contributes up to $10,000. The board Monday did not vote a specific allocation from its ARPA funds but instead authorized Town Manager Charlie Blanchard to follow up with Louison House to see what funds are required and provide town support from the federal aid. On Monday, Blanchard laid out for the board a number of areas where the town already has spent ARPA funds and proposals for how to spend the rest of the more than $2.2 million it is eligible to receive from the federal program. That money can be allocated by the town through Dec. 31, 2024, and actually spent through Dec. 31, 2026, according to guidance from the commonwealth, Blanchard reported. To date, the town has committed more than $191,000 of the $2.2 million on items ranging from a $5,000 grant to the Chamber of Commerce to boost summer tourism to $70,000 to pay out vacation time to employees unable to use that time due to the pandemic. Other items recommended by Town Hall staff include $580,000 toward a sewer replacement on South Street, $500,000 to replace lost revenue in the current fiscal year due to the pandemic, $60,000 to replace the antiquated water system in the White Oaks neighborhood and $30,000 for design work to address erosion issues on the Hoosic River near North Street that threaten the town's sewer main. If the town adopts all those measures, combined with the money already spent, that would leave about $669,000 for other projects, according to the figures Blanchard showed the Select Board on Monday. The board also saw a list of suggested expenditures received from the public to date that had not all been fully vetted to see what ideas would be eligible for ARPA funding. The Louison House donation was one item on that list. Select Board member Jane Patton made it clear that is the kind of thing the town should be funding. "Everyone can call me a bleeding heart liberal, and I will wear that label with pride, but I think that to whom much is given, much is expected," Patton said. The Select Board on Monday took one other step to address the needs of economically disadvantaged residents when it appointed the current trustees of the town's Affordable Housing Trust as members of the town's currently defunct Affordable Housing Committee. Hogeland, who fills the Select Board's seat on the AHT, explained that the Affordable Housing Committee ceased to operate several years ago when it was apparent that the trust had more clout due to its ability to retain funds and hold property for the purpose of addressing the town's subsidized housing needs. The issue is that the Affordable Housing Committee still has $59,000 in its coffers from previous allocations by town meeting, and the trust is hoping to access those funds, Hogeland said. The Select Board voted unanimously to appoint Hogeland and his six AHT colleagues as members of the Affordable Housing Committee for a term of six months, at which time, Hogeland said, it would be appropriate to either let the AHC dissolve or lapse for lack of membership. The Select Board was scheduled to hear a proposal from a group of residents interested in utilizing town property to help meet the needs of "individuals and families experiencing hardship. The volunteers have approached the town about establishing a center in the former police station space at town hall to distribute "personal care, hygiene items and basic home goods free of charge," according to a memo distributed to the Select Board. Hogeland informed the board that the potential applicants asked to be taken off the agenda so they can work on their proposal. But at Blanchard's request, the board authorized him to continue conversations with the group. North Adams Council Rejects Mayor-Elect's Request to Delay Appointments NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The mayor-elect used hearing of visitors at the beginning of the City Council on Tuesday night to ask the council to reject two issues on the agenda: the sale of the Mohawk and the appointments to committees. She got most of one but nothing of the other. Jennifer Macksey, who will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2022, as the city's first mayor, said it made no sense to "make a decision of this magnitude" regarding the Mohawk in the waning days of Thomas Bernard's term. "Why would deny the incoming mayor the opportunity to be part of this process and to have my own input on this?" she asked. She asked that the council rescind the motion and reject the proposal. The City Council, in part, agreed that it didn't want to get into making decisions during a transition period but, more importantly, it wanted to maintain its own control over the sale of the iconic property. The sale of the defunct theater, which the council postponed to the second meeting in January , has been controversial both in terms of the bidder and the way the mayor has gone about sale agreement. Councilor Keith Bona had asked to rescind the 2019 vote to declare the former movie house as surplus property after the mayor proposed to sell it without the panel's approval on the opinion on of the city solicitor. Several councilors had also expressed concern over voting so close to the administrative change and objections by some residents on the "speed" of the sale. There had been the expectation that the council would vote to rescind 2019 order, motion to authorize with conditions and then move forward with approving the sale on Tuesday. A compromise designed by Bona and Councilor Benjamin Lamb saw Bona's motion to rescind changed to amend by adding a condition that the council have final approval over any sale of the theater and then vote to postpone. This doesn't kill the sale but it does allow Macksey to consider if she wants to honor the agreement with bidder Veselko Buntic. She also said she had asked the mayor not to make any appointments to boards unless it was an emergency. "I want to build my own team, and tonight there are many appointments in front of you," Macksey said. "And I asked that you put them on hold and refer them to the mayor elect so I can consider these people." The council had five appointments in front of it: Jesse Lee Egan Poirer, a council candidate in the last election, to fill the seat of Lawrence Taft on the Planning Board and Michael Leary on the three-person Redevelopment Authority; Dale Osef on the Human Services Committee, for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2024; Eric Kerns to the Mass MoCA Development Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2023; and reappointment of Randall Kemp to the Commission on Disabilities for a term to expire Dec. 1, 2024. All five appointments were made, though not unanimously. Macksey's use of the word "team" rubbed several councilors and the current mayor the wrong way. "This is a difference of opinion," said Bernard. "I have not taken the approach that members of boards and commissions who are independent volunteers of the city are part of my team." He added that the idea of building them as an extension of the administration was "a little concerning." "I think we sell our volunteers short when we consider them an extension of the administration," he said. Lamb agreed, saying, "I do think that it's a slippery slope to dictate or indicate that the commissions and boards are in fact part of one administration's team." He noted that in the establishing the new Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Commission, the council had worked to make it "mayor proof" so no one administration could have control of the body. This "mayor proofing" was also done in the creation of the Public Arts Commission. "If we do postpone this, I would like to see good reason as to why these individuals that have been brought forward would not be offered the position in the next administration," he said. Councilor Michael Obasohan said if the city was trying to have a diverse group of individuals on its boards than the term "building a team" shouldn't be used. "We should be building up a diverse set of people who have different ideas and different ways of contributing and going back to the folks who are wanting to serve for the community," he said. Councilor Marie T. Harpin pointed out there had been eight appointments since the November election and suggested postponing. "I have a hard time making appointments with just a few weeks left in the term," Harpin said, comparing the numbers to the one appointment made after the 2017 election. "It doesn't seem like it was something that was done in the past. And there have been a lot of appointments that have been made already so I will be voting no on these." Bona said it was not opposed to the individuals up for appointment but agreed with Harpin that there were a lot of them compared to the last two transitions. "I just feel is the case, sort of like I did with the Mohawk, at this point it should move on to the next administration," he said. "Nothing against these people. I just feel the ones being selected here are not working under this administration, they'll be starting under the next administration and that administration should have a say in the whole thing." Bernard said the new administration would be able to appoint about 15 new people and, during the meeting, repeated his assertion that his term has not yet ended. "We have a hard enough finding people that have really wanted to serve the city. Not a lot of people do," said Councilor Wayne Wilkinson. "So what we should do here is quit playing politics and welcome these people on board." Four of the appointments passed 7-2 with Harpin and Bona voting no; Councilor Bryan Sapienza joined them in voting against Kerns' appointment to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Development Commission. Kerns has been a member of the Public Arts Commission. Bona questioned whether Kerns had any financial stake in a business leasing on the museum campus and how would that affect his ability to vote. Bernard said Kerns, to his knowledge, has no financial stake in the business and it would be up to him to check with the Ethics Commission if he did. Harpin objected forcefully that one of the candidates "Mayor Bernard has personally written a letter stating that he was not compliant with our harassment policy." She made that revelation of personnel information during discussion of the first candidate and was called into order by Council President Lisa Blackmer for straying from the agenda items. When Kerns' appointment came up, she began talking about the mayor and other councilors being involved in the Men Initiating Change group and Wilkinson called a point of order. The New Kimbell Building, owned by David Carver for 20 years, has been sold to an out of town investor. 85 Main Street Bought by New York Man Crews have been working on 306 Union St. intermittently since it was bought from the city at auction last year. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. A significant downtown building changed hands on Wednesday, the third notable structure to be sold in the past week. The New Kimbell Building, better known as 85 Main St., was purchased by PKC Capital LLC for $1.65 million from 85 Main Street Nominee Trust. David Carver bought the building in 2001 for $1.3 million from Gabriella and John Bond. The property is most recently assessed at $988,500 and contains and estimated 55 units. The block that encompasses 81 to 91 Main St. was built at the turn of the last century by two daughters of Jenks Kimbell, owner of the "old" Kimbell building that had been the city's first commercial livery. It's been the home of notable businesses over the past century, including Apothecary Hall and McClelland's. It currently hosts a variety of accounting, investment and insurance firms, and offices. MountainOne Insurance and Investments has taken over much of the first floor. The principal of PKC Capital LLC also purchased a different investment property last fall. Charalabos P. Bakalis of Glen Head, N.Y., picked up 306 Union St., a decrepit apartment building, for $50,000 at the city's fall 2020 auction of municipal-owned properties. Operating as KCS Materials LLC, Bakalis applied for demolition and construction permits for an estimated $300,000 worth of work. The seven-unit building has so far been gutted, had new windows and doors installed and the exterior repaired and painted. Work has not been consistent, but people have been on the site for bursts of construction over the summer. That property had been one of nearly three dozen in North Berkshire owned by Richard Doherty early this century. Many of those were cited for health and safety violations and eventually went into foreclosure within a few years or were taken for back taxes. Another major downtown building, the hotel, was purchased by NA Hotel LLC on Friday for $4.45 million . The structure is being called Hotel Downstreet and is expected to undergo a renovation in the coming months. And the third address, albeit smaller, is just as well known. The former Molly's Bakery at 27 Eagle St. was purchased by Catherine Cusack of Lakeville, Conn., on Monday for $292,500 from 27 Eagle Street LLC. The building dates to the early 19th century and was home to Molly's for 71 years until the business's closure in 2008. Since then it's been home to craft and novelty stores. There are rumors of several other ownership changes afoot, including a potential purchaser for the vacant TD Bank on Main Street that closed last year. Adams Health Board to Hold Public Hearing on Potential Mask Mandate ADAMS, Mass. The Board of Health discussed the possibility of implementing an indoor mask mandate for the town and plans to hold a public hearing on the matter on Jan. 5. "I would like to hold a public hearing at our next meeting to consider whether to issue an indoor mask mandate," said David Rhoads, chair of the Board of Health. "There are pros and cons for this, but it would be important that we invite the public. There are a lot of individuals out there that are in favor. And I would like to hear from both sides." Rhoads said he wants to have a public hearing to see what the community wants, rather than telling them. A mask mandate, if implemented, would be the second recent COVID-19 prevention measure after the board approved an emergency order last meeting. Code Enforcement Officer Mark Blaisdell said he is not sure how effective a mask mandate would be because of how much people travel to and from other communities. "I will also say that there are a lot of Adams businesses that do mandate masks for their employees and their customers," he said. Adams would not be the first community in Berkshire County to issue an indoor mask mandate. Pittsfield's Board of Health voted to initiate an indoor mandate for their community early last month. "Several communities in Massachusetts have done so," Rhoads said. "State government is very reluctant to issue an indoor mandate. Some towns have made it a mandate unless an enterprise is fully vaccinated. There are nuances here and there." Board Vice-Chair Joyce Brewer said she hopes the board can provide more statistics for the hearing. She said this would help the public understand why a mask mandate might be necessary. "I think that was a sticking point with a lot of people last time," she said. "So we need to have all our ducks in a row and make sure that we have a good, solid presentation so people can see." Rhoads also gave updates on COVID-19 numbers at the meeting. He described the situation in Adams as being on extreme alert, with 58 new COVID-19 cases in the town between Dec. 3 and Dec. 9 and 129 total since Nov. 21. "You can see December last year is like December this year. We have a rise [in cases] going on," he said. "And what happened after the rise, we doubled in January and had a peak last year. And the question is, are we going to see a similar thing this year? We can't see the future, but we can see the past." Despite seeing a similar rise to last year at this time, Rhoads said vaccinations will make potential cases much less severe. He said 2000 children between the ages of five and 12 received a COVID-19 vaccination from Berkshire Public Health Alliance. "So we're basically through that," he said. "Continue to vaccinate. Boosters are available." Also discussed at the meeting, the board heard a presentation on the Berkshire Overdose Addiction Prevention Coalition. Jennifer Kimball, principal planner of public health for Berkshire Regional Planning Commission; Sarah DeJesus, harm reduction manager for Berkshire Health Systems and EMS/Harm Reduction Consultant Stephen Murray ran the presentation. The presenters hoped the board could vote to allow a mobile syringe services program in Adams, which could help to prevent overdoses in the community. The board plans to vote on potentially allowing this at their next meeting. The board approved the lodging permit for Mount Royal Inn, pending Board of Selectmen approval. 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. ASUS Philippines, together with Microsoft, launched their latest campaign to upskill students both in hardware and software. Both ASUS and Microsoft aims to provide empowerment for all students, whether in the face-to-face setup or continued distance learning. The current best laptop for K-12 students, ASUS BR1100, has got even better with its exclusive Microsoft 365 Personal bundle. ASUS BR1100 is the perfect online learning solution thanks to its features such as AI noise-cancelling microphone, 3D Noise reduction web camera, and dedicated mute button to name a few. It also comes in two models: The traditional clamshell ASUS BR1100C and the premium flip ASUS BR1100F that has a touch-enabled display. The ASUS BR1100F also has a precision stylus included to get every detail just right when drawing, note-taking, or marking up documents. This can also help students let their creativity flow as well as assist them on their traditional writing skills. The Microsoft Office 365 Personal provides powerful apps needed in school productivity with security features for their documents. Students can enjoy their theme writing with MS Word, produce excellent presentations using MS PowerPoint and complete research data with MS Excel. The ASUS BR1100 and Microsoft 365 Personal exclusive bundle starts at Php18,625 and also comes with a free ASUS EOS bag as well. The promotional event started last December 01, 2021, and will last until January 15, 2022 or while stocks last. Both ASUS BR1100C and ASUS BR1100F will have this exclusive bundle and it is currently available over at the official ASUS Expert Series Flagship Shopee store. ASUS also launched the ASUS Edukasyon School Partnership Program, which aims to assist schools and learning institutions in the modernization of their IT facilities and to support teachers and students so they can excel more both in teaching and in learning. Partner schools will enjoy development funds, computer laboratory decoration, learning seminars for educators and students, among others. For more information regarding the ASUS Edukasyon School Partner Program, you can head over at the microsite. Also stay tuned for more news on the incredible ASUS for Business products on the ASUS Facebook page and the ASUS for Business website. For inquiries, you can also send us a message on ASUS for Business page. The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has unveiled its most advanced command and control center to date -- the Operations Platform and Telecommunications Integrated Command Center (OPTIC), which now manages all information, communication, and technology (ICT) systems across the Company. The first of its kind among electricity distribution utilities in the country, the OPTIC is a state-of-the-art facility that aims to reduce unplanned downtime of critical ICT systems, increase the productivity of employees, and enhance service delivery to Meralco customers. Operated by highly skilled ICT engineers, the OPTIC provides a centralized monitoring system that allows faster fault detection and restoration of technology services. The underlying platform is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) that analyzes all systems logs, provides actionable information and insights, and enables predictive and proactive maintenance. With the pandemic encouraging millions of Meralco customers to rely on digital touchpoints, the OPTIC improves the distribution utilitys resiliency and service reliability by providing real-time application, IT network, and communication link outage alerts to support teams to immediately restore these services. The new OPTIC is an intelligent communications and response coordination platform that covers and serves all our facilities, operations, and people. This platform plays a pivotal role in the effective management of Meralcos daily operations, resulting in higher efficiency, improved incidents mitigation and response capabilities which translate to consistent and reliable services to our customers and workforce. This is especially crucial at this time with the pandemic making us highly dependent on technology, according to Meralco Vice President and Head of Information Communication Technology and Transformation Rocky D. Bacani. Aside from its smart features, Meralcos OPTIC is secure, safe, and sustainable. The command center is operational 24/7 and boasts of an industrial grade and energy-efficient LED display wall, as well as a smart and audible alarm system for alerts and incidents. It is also equipped with a 360-degree video conferencing system to coordinate activities during major incidents and emergency response scenarios. Moreover, OPTIC heightens its physical security system and CCTV monitoring by using computer-vision AI not only to check compliance with health and safety protocols, but also to ensure that only authorized personnel can enter the premises. Meralco President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Ray C. Espinosa highlighted that the platform serves as an essential foundation in achieving Meralcos goal of becoming smarter and innately digital. Meralcos OPTIC revolutionizes the way data is harnessed and used to closely monitor our mission critical systems in real-time, proactively identify and address issues, make intelligent operational and business decisions, and eliminate barriers to heighten collaboration. We are excited as the launch of the command center lays the groundwork upon which we will expand technologies and enable more innovations, ultimately leading to excellent service to delight our customers, Espinosa added. On Wednesday, Apple announced that it would once again postpone its plan to bring employees back to the office. It isn't the first time, and Apple isn't the first company to put plans on hold as Covid-19 cases surge in many areas across the world. Apple had said it planned to implement a hybrid work arrangement starting in February, with most employees coming to the office three days a week. Now, however, Apple says it's taking a different approach, and it might be the first return to the office plan that makes sense. That's according to a report from Bloomberg, which cited a memo from Tim Cook to employees. "We are delaying the start of our hybrid work pilot to a date yet to be determined," Cook wrote. "Our offices remain open and many of our colleagues are coming in regularly, including our teams in Greater China and elsewhere." The idea is that employees who feel comfortable returning to the office can do so. For everyone else, the company is keeping everything the same. Well, with the exception of the fact that Apple is now giving employees $1,000 to use for their work-from-home needs, as a part of the company's "commitment to a more flexible environment." According to Bloomberg, that includes retail employees. "These funds are intended to help you with your home workspace and can be used as you see fit," Cook said in the memo. There are two things that stand out. The first is that the company seems to finally have recognized that the best thing you can do for your employees is to give them flexibility and control over their work environment. That's why those three words stand out--Apple wants to create a "more flexible environment." That isn't something Apple has been historically good at. Of all the tech companies, Apple had seemed the most committed to bringing its employees back to the office. As a result, the company has faced public pushback from employees who wanted the company to provide more flexibility and not require them to return to a hybrid work arrangement. The other thing that I can't help but notice is that this isn't complicated at all. In fact, it's hard to really imagine it has taken tech companies this long to figure it out. Apple is simply waiting to announce a date to bring people back to the office until it can be sure it's safe to do so. That seems like common sense, but it's taken a while to come around from the idea that the best place to get work done is in an office. If anything, the past two years have shown that not to be true in many cases. Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have all taken a similar approach--waiting until conditions have improved enough that it makes sense to bring larger numbers of employees back to the office before setting a date for that to happen. Even Facebook announced last week that it was introducing an "office deferral program," for those employees who planned to return. Certainly, Apple is motivated to bring as many employees as it can back to the office as soon as it is safely possible. It spent a lot of money to create a campus in Cupertino, California, where employees can collaborate on the iconic products the company is known for. Having all of those employees working from home is definitely not what Apple considers an ideal situation. At the same time, the company seems to have finally realized that setting an arbitrary date in the future just doesn't make sense. The pandemic isn't going away, and conditions continue to change rapidly. That makes it difficult--if not impossible--to come up with a plan a few months out. So, Apple isn't going to try. It might seem like that would introduce a lot of uncertainty. Except, the greatest source of uncertainty right now is the pandemic. The greatest source of uncertainty is not knowing when the next variant might arrive, or whether your children will suddenly have to attend school virtually when a wave of cases hits their classrooms. What Apple is telling employees is that it's prioritizing their need to have certainty over the company's desire to have everyone back in the office. Kimberly McGlonn knows the power of a good story. In July, the education PhD and English teacher-turned-entrepreneur won first prize in the Small Biz Challenge, hosted by Inc. and the UPS Store. In doing so, she secured $25,000 for her company, Grant Blvd, a Philadelphia-based sustainable apparel startup that makes and sells upcycled clothing and accessories. And what set her apart in the competition was universal--deft improvisational skills and fluency with her business and its mission. "It's about owning your 'why' and using your business to align with your life and your sense of purpose," McGlonn says. "Not only will you attract people who respect what you're aspiring to build, but you'll attract loyal customers as well." But the ability to spin a good yarn was only part of what helped McGlonn craft a winning pitch. In addition, there was Grant Blvd's social mission of sustainability--using upcycled garments rather than pumping out fast fashion--and its commitment to finding value that others overlook. Besides two full-time employees and six part-timers, Grant Blvd relies on formerly incarcerated contract workers to sew garments made with materials from secondhand stores and scrap. McGlonn says she recruits from within halfway houses and work-release programs with the support of a nonprofit, Sankofa Healing Studio. The effort, she says, is critical for overcoming employment barriers faced by those with convictions. McGlonn didn't realize this mission until 2016, when, as a high school teacher, she screened Ava DuVernay's 13th, which explores how the American prison system has been used as a means of racial control. She felt moved to address the fallout of mass incarceration. Looking to harness the power of entrepreneurship, the fashion fan launched her company the next year. Since then, McGlonn has been on a winning streak. Besides the Small Biz Challenge, in which she bested more than 2,000 other businesses, she's also won $10,000 through Beyonce's philanthropic organization, BeyGood, which partnered with the NAACP to make grants to Black-owned small businesses. McGlonn says she's using the collective funds to invest in equipment and staff. And, surely, she'll keep on telling her story. You have to, she says, since doing so attracts like-minded folks and creates a virtuous cycle of support: "You really have to surround yourself with a tribe of people who are helping to remind you of your 'why,' so you can stay hungry and stay going after it." Pitch Perfect Second-Place Winner "It's important to be transparent about the challenges you face and the successes that customers can really relate to." --Julie Sullivan Loos, co-founder of Ground Up Nut Butters, a Portland, Oregon-based nut butter maker that hires, trains, and mentors women overcoming adversity and challenges, such as employment gaps, mental health issues, and homelessness Third-Place Winner This holiday season, Americans can do their part to circumvent the supply-chain problem, support entrepreneurship, and revitalize our communities amid the Covid pandemic. The solution is simple: Shop creatively for the holidays at small businesses close to home. Every state in the nation--and every region within every state--has its own distinctive identity reflected in its small businesses and their products, artistry, and craftsmanship. I've met many such businesses in my travels. From New Mexico to Maine, from Louisiana to Minnesota, our diverse cultures are expressed through our businesses. What differentiates each place is local, small businesses, not large corporations. It's the entrepreneurs who run shops on the waterfronts in Maine, who create legendary meals and music in Louisiana, who evolve artistic traditions of New Mexico, and who manufacture goods in Minnesota that make each place distinctive. Entrepreneurial ingenuity--reflected in local businesses--makes America a mosaic. So why not embrace local entrepreneurs with distinctive products this holiday season? Imagine for a moment what you would buy friends and family if you shopped only at small businesses within a specified distance--say, 100 miles (or less than a two-hour drive)--from your home. You could buy locally crafted products. Or products sold in local shops but made elsewhere, like books. Or farm shares to get meals year-round. Or gift cards to local restaurants. Or yearlong passes to neighborhood museums. Or tickets to arts events. No matter where you live--in a small town or a large city--you can apply this approach. You'll find fascinating products. And if you can't apply this approach completely--because, say, a certain child craves a certain toy--then try it as much as possible. By doing so, you would do your part to boost local shops and other small businesses battered by the pandemic. Small purchases can sustain small businesses, if enough of us make them. Gift cards are an especially powerful way to energize ongoing patronage--and introduce new customers to small businesses you value. By revitalizing local small businesses, you strengthen your community. One lesson we've learned during this pandemic is how much small businesses define our communities. The closing down of many shops and restaurants cuts the fabric that enlivens and binds our neighborhoods together. That fabric can be restored by supporting local entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is also vital for our nation, as young businesses create virtually all job growth in America. New businesses drive higher productivity, raise incomes, and diversify business ownership. Homegrown businesses reflect the breadth of local talent and heritage. On top of that, shopping at local small businesses will help circumvent the supply-chain problem and ensure that your presents are in-hand for the holidays. If you choose products that are already on shelves, you don't have to worry about empty shelves. And you reduce your environmental footprint at the same time. Even in normal times, the global supply chain is costly to the environment, as products are shipped and flown around the world. Complicated supply chains are more likely to cause delays that raise prices. Bangladeshs stable economic development is creating new opportunities for Indias northeastern states and work on a CEPA trade agreement is ongoing. The two countries are celebrating 50 years of India-Bangladesh friendship and Indias President Ram Nath Kovind is currently on an official trip to Bangladesh. 2021 marks the golden jubilee of the liberation of Bangladesh and fifty years of India-Bangladesh diplomatic ties. Indias President Ram Nath Kovind is currently on a three-day state visit to Bangladesh from December 15 to 17, 2021; this is his first state visit since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. Speaking on the state of bilateral ties in November, Indias Defense Minister Rajnath Singh affirmed that India Bangladesh relations are going through a golden phase. As Bangladesh attains developing nation status (upgrading from less developed country status), India has reiterated its commitment to deepen trade and economic ties with Bangladesh as partners rather than competitors. That Bangladesh is Indias biggest trade partner in South Asia, with a volume of over US$10 billion, is testimony to this commitment. In the same pursuit, both countries are working to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Bangladeshs holistic development is also viewed positively by New Delhi with new opportunities arising along Indias northeast region. Bangladesh and India share a 4096-kilometer-long (2545 miles) international border, the fifth-longest land border in the world, including 262 km (163 mi) in the state of Assam, 856 km (532 mi) in Tripura, 318 km (198 mi) in Mizoram, 443 km (275 mi) in Meghalaya, and 2217 km (1378 mi) in West Bengal. Economic and commercial partnership between India and Bangladesh Bangladesh is Indias biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has grown steadily over the last decade and the exports of Bangladesh have tripled over the last decade to cross US$1 billion in 2018-19. In FY 2019-20, Indias exports to Bangladesh were US$8.2 billion and imports were US$1.26 billion. A deeper economic and trade engagement becomes all the more relevant, given the success of phenomenal and uninterrupted supply chains during the pandemic. An augmented connectivity infrastructure is imperative to actualize the bilateral trade and investment potential between the two countries. Indias Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has recognized five focus areas to bolster bilateral economic ties technology, connectivity, entrepreneurship, health, and tourism. Bangladesh is also important for aiding Indias connectivity in the Southeast Asian region through Chittagong and Mongla ports. Both India and Bangladesh are also working towards holding the first meeting of the India Bangladesh CEOs Forum to provide policy level inputs in various areas of trade and investment and also to facilitate exchanges among the business communities of both the countries. Additionally, a bilateral textile industry forum has also been constituted to facilitate cooperation in the textile sector. India and Bangladesh have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a high-speed diesel pipeline from Numaligarh in Assam to Parbatipur in Bangladesh, a joint venture between Numaligarh Refinery Limited and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation. As an indication of goodwill, an initial consignment of 2200 ton of diesel has already been transported from Siliguri in West Bengal to Parbatipur in 50 wagons by the Indian Railways Furthermore, India-Bangladesh cooperation in the power sector too has become an important aspect in this bilateral relationship. Bangladesh is currently importing 1160 MW of power from India. The Joint Working Group (JWG)/Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on power provides an institutional framework to promote bilateral cooperation in cross border trade of electricity. How is India aiding Bangladesh as a development partner ? Presently, Bangladesh remains Indias biggest development partner. Over the past eight years, India has extended three Lines of Credits (LOC) to Bangladesh, amounting to US$8 billion for development of infrastructure in various sectors, including roads, railways, shipping, and ports. Additionally, India has also been providing grant assistance to Bangladesh for various infrastructure projects, including construction of Akhaura-Agartala rail link, dredging of inland waterways in Bangladesh, and construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. Further, High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) also form an important part of Indias developmental assistance to Bangladesh, with India having funded 68 HICDPs, including construction of, academic buildings, cultural centers, skill development and training institutes, student hostels, and orphanages etc. in Bangladesh. 16 additional HICDPs are being implemented. 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. MAM | Marketing BYJU'S in talks to go public via SPAC deal: Report Indian edtech giant BYJU'S is in advanced discussions to go public through one of Churchill Capital's special-purpose acquisition companies (SPAC), Bloomberg News reported. BYJU'S has held talks with several potential SPAC partners and was working out an agreement with Michael Klein's Churchill Capital, it was reported. Read More... MAM | Marketing Cleartrip's latest ad gives travellers liberty to 'Book Abhi, Travel Kabhi Bhi' While people had just resumed their travel journeys, conversations around the new Covid-19 variant have curbed some of the enthusiasm once again, adding to the hassles around planning a trip. Keeping this in mind, online travel company Cleartrip has launched its latest advertising campaign. Read More... MAM | Marketing Good Glamm onboards Sukhleen Aneja as CEO of beauty & FMCG brands Beauty and personal care unicorn Good Glamm Group has onboarded Sukhleen Aneja as the CEO to head the brands business in order to step change its growth ambition of creating digital first House of Brands. In her new role, Aneja will be responsible for creating a strategic road map for leading digital first brands. Read More... MAM | Marketing LinkedIn launches new campaign 'Kyonki Linkedin Ab Hindi Mein Bhi' Global professional network, LinkedIn has launched a new brand campaign to support the launch of Hindi language on the platform. With the tagline, 'ab hongi kaam ki baaten Hindi mein, kyonki Linkedin ab hindi mein bhi,'. Read More... Staff and students throughout the Upper Canada District School Board are turning the page on a new learning experience through outdoor Storytime Trails. Five schools within the UCDSB are participating in an outdoor book walk program in which large signs are set up as a pathway through the outdoor areas of schools. Each sign includes a page from a story, and the students walk from sign to sign to read the entire book. Created by One World Schoolhouse Foundation, Storytime Trails use stories written by Canadian authors focused on themes of diversity, inclusion, and acceptance. The signs also contain built-in extras such as QR codes that link to specially made authors and illustrator videos. "These outdoor signs include beautiful stories with many opportunities to engage student thinking, reflection, and meaningful conversation," says UCDSB Principal of Teaching and Learning Amanda Nieman. "Ensuring that the trails spark meaningful discussion, they come equipped with incredibly rich and diverse teacher lesson plans so that our students, and educators, get the most out of this outdoor reading experience." The five participating schools include Front of Yonge Elementary School, Pineview Public School, Bridgewood Public School, Commonwealth Public School, and Maple Grove Public School and so far, the trails are getting rave reviews. "The students were so excited to get to a Storytime Trail at our school," explains Jennifer Peters, UCDSB Learning Partner, who lead the project at the school. "They ran from poster to poster to get to the next page! They noticed the features like the QR codes and icons and were excited to take a closer look at these elements in the classroom." The program launched in November 2021 and the long-term intent is to create a library-borrowing system in which schools can sign out the titles for their outdoor use. "The value the Storytime Trail brings to a school community can be endless. The students have a chance to connect to the outdoors while exploring literacy, and they can also make connections with science, mathematics, equity, inclusion and social-emotional learning," says Front of Yonge Elementary School Principal Rich Tamblyn. The UCDSB will introduce the program to more schools in 2022 and has plans to expand on the existing titles in the Storytime Trails library. "When we've had to get creative with our learning experiences over the past 18 months during the pandemic, Storytime Trails have been a welcomed and refreshing approach for our schools to adopt," says Nieman. "We can't wait to see what the winter lessons will bring our way." The historical surrender of 93,000 Pakistan soldiers in 1971 Bangladesh war is perhaps the brightest feather in the glittering cap of the mighty Indian Army. And Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora was the man of the moment when Pakistani Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi signed historical accord of unconditional surrender of 93,000 plus Pakistan army in Bangladeshs capital Dhaka on 16 December, 1971. British newspaper The Guardian had described that picture as "the glum Pakistani officer bowed over his signature. The turbaned figure beside him, showing not a scrap of elation". Today is the birthday of Lt Gen Aurora who became flagbearer of Indias historic victory over Pakistan. There is hardly any Indian (and Pakistanis as well) who havent seen that picture which marked the dawn of freedom for crores of Bangladeshis who suffered unparalleled humiliation at the hands of Pakistan army. Lets know more about Lt Gen Aurora: Birth and early life Lt Gen Aurora was born on 13 Februrary, 1916 in a Sikh family in Kala Gujran, Jhelum district of United Punjab. His father was an engineer. Career in British Indian Army Lt Gen Aurora graduated from Indian Military Academy in 1939 and was commissioned into the 1st Battlaion, 2nd Punjab Regiment. He straightaway saw action just after two-three years of commission on Burma during Japanese campaign in WW-II. After Independence Lt Gen Aurora was a commissioned officer and saw action in 1947 war against Pakistan in Kashmir. He also witnessed the action in 1962 Sino-Indian war as well as 1965 war against Pakistan. Lt Gen Aurora became GOC, Eastern Command Since Lt Gen Aurora was destined to be part of a historical moment which would immortalise him in the annals of wars, he became Commander In Chief, Eastern Command just two years before the war of 1971. Then came 1971 With Pakistan launching Operation Searchlight to curb Bengali nationalist movement in then East Pakistan, Pak army unleashed a fury of unfathomable atrocities on poor Bangladeshis. Lakhs of women were raped whereas the men were killed. The Bengalis started fleeing into India and Calcutta because the centre of refugees storming in from East Pakistan. Chapati Mystery India had no option, but to intervene. Therefore on 3 December India opened the Eastern Front and challenged Pakistanis. But before that as a commander in chief of Eastern Command, Lt Gen Aurora had ensured the logistical preparations of the Indian Army on the Eastern front, including the improvement of roads, communications and bridges, as well as the movement of 30,000 tons of supplies close to the border with East Pakistan. Total War: Alternate Reality Wiki-wikipedia When India launched an offensive, Lt Gen Aurora meticulously planned operation. He broke forces into small combat teams and launched a four-front attack with the strategy of confronting and defeating the Pakistani forces on selected fronts while bypassing Pakistani forces on others. In under two weeks, his forces advanced from the Indian border to capture Dhaka, the capital of East Pakistan. Then came 16 December 1971 Indian armys repeated attacks forced Pakistan forces to surrender and Pakistan General, Lt Gen Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi who was earlier bragging about "killing all Indians present in East Pakistan" was forced to sign an unconditional Instrument of Surrender. www.thedailystar.ne The photograph of Niazi and Aurora at the signing of the Instruments of Surrender became an iconic image of the war. The 90,000 Pakistani troops under Niazi's command surrendered to Gen Aurora as prisoners of war. Retirement and death Lt Gen Aurora retired from the Indian Army in 1973. Aurora was honoured with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Padma Bhushan for his role in the war. Aurora died on 3 May 2005, at age 89, in New Delhi. After his death, Bangladesh offered its gratitude for the favour Lt Gen Aurora did to Bangladesh while serving his country. The Morshed Khan, the then Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, stated in honour of Lt Gen Aurora Aurora will be remembered in the history of Bangladesh for his contribution during our war of liberation in 1971, when he led the allied forces. Puerto Rican health authorities have confirmed that 17 people involved with the Miss World 2021 pageant have tested COVID positive, as per The National News. While initially, it was not clear as to how many participants were infected, the Miss World Organisation said around seven "isolated" candidates with possible COVID infections were there, according to Puerto Rican daily Primera Hora. "In the case of Miss World, there are 17 positives ... yesterday there was talk of seven, but that number went up," Puerto Rico's health department spokesperson Lisdian Acevedo told Primera Hora. VOI.in All affected vaccinated Acevedo added that the cases include candidates as well as technical personnel. Also, those infected were all vaccinated. Knowing the seriousness of this global situation that we all face, we took steps to capture the unique talent of each contestant so that, in case they couldn't join us, they could still win the crown as Miss World 2021. The panel of judges will review your pre-recorded video content to make their final decision, said Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley while speaking to Primera Hora. The National The Miss World Organisation is following national guidelines. We are an experienced and responsible global organisation that is very excited to celebrate our 70th anniversary in Puerto Rico and we remain dedicated to the health and safety of our participants and the people of Puerto Rico," she added. We are living through an international crisis. We have to handle it, now the situation made me stronger, she went on to say. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic began, theories about its murky origins have plagued the internet. Even though there is scientific consensus that Covid-19 is a zoonotic virus, i.e., it jumped from an animal like a bat to humans who came in contact with it, a Harvard scientist recently told British members of parliament that the lab origin theory might hold some weight. Dr. Alina Chan from Harvard University told the Science and Technology Select Committee on Wednesday that the Wuhan lab leak theory is now the "most likely origin" of Covid-19. Chan also told them that it's possible for Covid-19 to have been engineered in China. DailyMail + AFP Artificial origin of Covid-19? According to Chan, the initial cover up of the outbreak in Wuhan by Chinese authorities and attempts to dilute the World Health Organization (WHO) enquiry into Covid-19 origins point to its artificial origins. In addition, Lord Ridley who co-authored a book on Covid-19 origins with Dr. Chan told British MPs that the inability to pin down the host animal of Covid-19 makes it more likely that the virus emerged from a lab. Also read: Scientists Create Face Mask That Glows After Contact With Covid-19 Particles "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," Dr. Alina Chan was quoted as saying by DailyMail. COVID-19 new variant omicron "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," she added. Also read: Air Filters Can Effectively Kill Covid-19 Particles, Says New Hospital Study During the same session, editor of The Lancet journal, Richard Horton was made to explain why the publication of a letter denouncing the lab leak theory as a conspiracy was allowed. Turns out, its author Dr. Peter Daszak had financial links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Unsplash/Representational image What do you think - did Covid-19 originate in a lab or is that another conspiracy theory? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of science and tech, keep reading Indiatimes.com. Citation Davies, J., & Wright, J. (2021, December 16). Covid-19 UK: Wuhan lab leak now the most likely origin of Covid, MPs told. Mail Online. Mumbai Police's social media handles have always been a winner among netizens for their humour and the quirky manner in which they keep reminding people about different safety rules and guidelines. However, the city police stepped aside for their usual shares and posted something different. They posted a heartwarming video showing a Mumbai traffic cop helping a specially-abled man cross a road. Our #MrMumbaiPolice, winning hearts across the 'universe'! HC Rajendra Sonawane spotted at CSMT road doing what we do best - lending a helping hand to those in need!#MumbaiPoliceForAll pic.twitter.com/PTbCJCQXa1 Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) December 13, 2021 In the clip, head constable Rajendra Sonawane was seen lending a helping hand to a differently-abled man. Sonawane is seen holding the hand of the man and helping him cross the busy junction at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) road. At one point in the clip, the person recording the video is also heard saying "hats off". Screengrab/Twitter "Our #MrMumbaiPolice, winning hearts across the 'universe'! HC Rajendra Sonawane spotted at CSMT road doing what we do best - lending a helping hand to those in need!," the video is captioned. The video which is doing rounds on social media has garnered more than 7,000 views. People are showering praise on Sonawane for the kind gesture. Salute HC Rajendra Sonawane Saundankar Mickey (@AhireMickey) December 13, 2021 Hats off to the police man. There is still some values left. Suree Sharma (@SureeSharma) December 13, 2021 Respect Jayanti Dey (@jdey63) December 13, 2021 Salute to our Mumbai Police, glaring example for others to follow in which ever humble way. Jai Maharashtra INVICTUSian (@InvictuSian) December 13, 2021 Salute to Mumbai Police Jsk Mody (@jskmody) December 13, 2021 Ek number salute to @MumbaiPolice Anand Pandya (@anandbalkrishna) December 16, 2021 Last month, a video went viral showing a woman cop in Chennai carrying an unconscious man on her shoulders to safety as rains caused havoc. The video was posted by news agency ANI which shows woman cop Rajeswari overseeing rescue work hands-on in a waterlogged area. As the rescue crew cut branches of a tree felled by strong winds, Rajeswari, trousers rolled up, is seen pulling at the felled branches to get them out of the way. She then spots the unconscious man and takes her towards the auto. #WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: TP Chatram Police Station's Inspector Rajeshwari carries an unconscious man, on her shoulders, to an autorickshaw in a bid to rush him to a nearby hospital. Chennai is facing waterlogging due to incessant rainfall here. (Video Source: Police staff) pic.twitter.com/zrMInTqH9f ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021 She puts the unconscious man on the rear seat of the three-wheeler and as the vehicle drives away, the policewoman turns back to her job of clearing the area in the rough weather. Speaking to the ANI later, the woman officer said, "I gave first aid after which I carried him. An auto came there, we sent him to hospital. I visited the hospital, his mother was there. I assured them not to worry and that the police department will support them. The doctor said that treatment is on and there's nothing to worry." Rajeshwari who is a police inspector with Chennai's TP Chatram Police Station has actively been involved in rescue and relief activities ever since the onset of monsoon and has been feeding the shelterless every day with her team. For more such inspiring stories, click here. A New York restaurant owner and his nephews wife are facing up to 25 years to life in prison after being charged with first degree arson. Zef Gjurashaj, of Newburgh, and his nephews wife, Marina Gjurashaj, of Yonkers, were indicted by the Orange County Grand Jury and charged with crimes including arson in the first degree, conspiracy in the second degree, insurance fraud in the second degree, tax fraud in the fifth degree and related offenses. The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired with each other to intentionally burn down Andiamos Restaurant in September of 2017. It alleged that Zef, who operated the restaurant in the fall of 2017, knew that the business was struggling financially and decided to burn it for insurance purposes. Approximately three weeks before the fire, Zef hired Marina to work at the restaurant. The investigation into the fire revealed that on September 6, 2017, Marina intentionally set fire to the building for the financial benefit of her uncle. Beginning in December 2017, Zef presented to his insurance company a fraudulent proof of loss seeking payment for damage caused by the fire. In support of the fraudulent proof of loss, Zef submitted further fraudulent documents to the insurance company through 2018. It is alleged that on two occasions in 2018, Zef testified falsely during an examination under oath conducted by the insurance company regarding observations of the scene of the fire. The Town of Newburgh Police were assisted in the investigation of the fire by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York State Department of Financial Services, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the Orange County District Attorneys Office. The defendants were arrested on November 27, 2021, and were remanded without bail to the Orange County Jail where they remain. Both defendants face 25 years to life in prison on the top charge of arson in the first degree. The utter disregard for human life and property exhibited in this case is appalling, said Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler in a press release issued by his office. The defendants selfish actions in this case were allegedly motivated by pure greed. The case is being prosecuted by special counsel to the District Attorney Stewart Rosenwasser. This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the state of New Yorks burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Source: Orange County District Attorneys Office Topics Fraud Arson Mosaic Insurance, the Bermuda-headquartered startup and Lloyds specialty insurer, operates with a unique structural twist. Its hybrid model has the flexibility of a managing general agent (MGA), the stability of a carriers long-term capital, plus the ratings, global licenses and distribution reach of Lloyds of London. Launched in February 2021, Mosaic is the brainchild of insurance industry veterans Mitch Blaser and Mark Wheeler, who conceived the new model and now serve as co-CEOs. With 40 years of industry experience, Blaser helped found Ironshore in Bermuda in 2006 after previous executive roles with Swiss Re and Marsh. He met Wheeler when Ironshore bought Pembroke Managing Agency, a company that Wheeler founded. Wheeler joined Mosaic in April 2021. The name Mosaic was chosen for the company because it aims to combine the best pieces of the industry, making a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, said Wheeler. Centered on its Lloyds Syndicate 1609, Mosaic operates a network of wholly owned capital management agencies, or distribution offices, in Bermuda, London and New York. Additional hubs are expected to be launched next year in Asia, Canada, the Middle East and Europe. Each hub has full underwriting authority, bringing new regional retail business directly to Lloyds. The structure effectively syndicates global capacity into local markets, said Wheeler in an interview with Carrier Management. Mosaic deploys syndicated capital, enabling it to export Lloyds insurance paper anywhere in the world. Our Syndicate 1609 is the lead syndicate on those binding authorities issued to our underwriting hubs, Wheeler said, noting it was essential Mosaic had a physical presence with underwriters located in its chosen jurisdictions. Were not just a postbox in those cities. (The number 1609 refers to the year Bermuda was settled by English colonists when they shipwrecked en route to America.) Within its global network, Mosaic sources third-party insurance capital, or trade capital, to build out additional capacity, enabling the insurer to provide a pre-syndicated line-slip to its insurance clients. Wheeler described this syndicated structure as one of the most important aspects of the companys business model. By third-party insurance capital, Wheeler was referring to both Lloyds and non-Lloyds insurers who want to participate on a risk. In essence, they are hiring and paying a fee to Mosaic for its underwriting expertise and distribution. The pre-syndicated slip allows for a pre-set determination of terms and the layer of risk in which the insurer wants to participate. This type of syndicated product wasnt available anywhere else in the world outside the London market, prior to Mosaic. Were effectively pre-syndicating the risk, then selling that syndication in major hubs around the world. Its Lloyds syndicate provides Mosaic with global licenses, rating and brand strength. The company operates a single P&L across all its businesses, which Wheeler said helps it maintain responsibility and accountability in different offices and product lines while avoiding the antagonism that can occur within an organization that balances separate P&Ls across geographies. Mosaic has two groups of clients: There are the insureds, who buy the policies we underwrite, deploying our proprietary capital, and we also underwrite on behalf of third-party, trade capital, Wheeler said. In effect, we are then an underwriters underwriter, providing specialty underwriting expertise and market access for a fee. By doing so, Mosaic leads syndicated underwriting risks for its third-party capacity providers in six specialty lines: political violence (war and terror, strikes, riots and civil commotion), cyber, transactional liability (M&A), political risk, financial institutions and professional liability. Next year, it will begin offering environmental liability. Most of the companys insured clients are midsize to large corporates. Mosaic underwriters are operating as market makers, said Wheeler, so were a lead market rather than providing follow-market capacity. In a separate interview, Co-CEO Blaser said Mosaic aims to be at the top three in these lines within five years. We want to have a billion dollars that we write in total in four to five years and continue growing at a rapid pace, but always sticking to our knitting and focused on our specialty lines of business. High Technical Barriers to Entry Long before the company was launched, the decision was made to focus only on specialty lines with high technical barriers to entry. Weve chosen lines we believe are going to have increased relevance and resonance with clients and third-party capital providers, Wheeler said. This enables standard property/casualty companies to diversify with specialty products that complement their portfolios. Specialty capital typically will only delegate if it doesnt have in-house underwriting expertise or distribution reach in lines of complex business, he said. Since the companys launch, it has spent the remainder of the year developing products and building out underwriting teams, growing from about 15 employees at launch to a projected 75 by the end of the year. Blank-Slate Brainstorming Mosaic was born from a process of blank-slate brainstorming to determine the best lines to underwrite. One criterion was to provide a growth run rate that exceeds normalized gross domestic product. The decision was made to avoid commoditized, short-tail products, such as property catastrophe. We want to be able to demonstrate to our non-aligned capital that we expect to outperform the market in terms of growth and profitability, Wheeler explained. Blaser said that Mosaic developed a model that could be profitable regardless of market conditions. We chose high-value, non-commoditized lines of business with strong growth trends, not only in the current market but looking ahead to the coming years as well. Then we focused on getting the best people and most agile technology as key drivers for success. The flexibility of being able to leverage both proprietary and trade capital also allows us to adjust nimbly to market conditions. During those early conceptual sessions, the optimal business model was carefully contemplated before any money was raised. Mosaics team decided against conventional balance-sheet models that would mimic what many other Bermudian startups do: raise a billion dollars, then seek to deploy capital as quickly as possible, usually in property-catastrophe business. Such business can be very profitable, but it is much more volatile. Its the easiest way to get volume on the books, but we didnt want to go down that route, said Blaser, noting that with a conventional balance-sheet model, the company would have to launch separate pools of capital in each of its underwriting hubs. We couldnt be sure at what speed the business was going to develop. And all of these things would be risks in terms of return on equity and whether you have the money in the right location, he added. Wheeler further explained that once capital has been launched in a regulated entity, its very hard to move it around afterward, which highlights the frailty of a balance-sheet model. Mosaic does not write any natural-catastrophe exposures. Considering an MGA Structure The founders also looked at another alternative: an MGA structure with no capital, just underwriting expertise. This is where underwriters would be paying you for product expertise and for distribution, explained Wheeler. In financial modeling terms, its incredibly attractive. It requires minimum equity capital and no underwriting capital. Such a structure can provide a superior ROE if its done right, he admitted. But there are structural problems with MGAsfirst and foremost is that, ordinarily, an MGA has limited claims-settling authority. If youre in an MGA environment, its very hard to look a client in the eye and say, I know who our lead capital providers going to be in four, five, six years time when your claim gets paid, and feel good about that promise youre making. By contrast, claims handling is key at Mosaic; its integrated into the process of every risk we write. Unlike a traditional MGA, Mosaic doesnt have to go to its third-party insurers and pitch a product idea with rating proposals, with wording and an underwriting business plan, he noted. Lead Capacity Mosaic underwriters provide lead capacity and control their own underwriting parameters, a significant difference between its model and an MGA. We have the first line on the slip and the line that agrees the claims. We have the lines that agree what the selection criteria might be, what the contract language is, the deal structures and the pricing. Another difference is Mosaics capital support. The company is backed by Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm that operates a perpetual fund that allows less restriction over the length of time governing an investment, Wheeler said. Mosaic should not be viewed as an opportunistic company thats looking to gorge itself for the next two or three years and then look for an exit, he emphasized. We feel very confident we have a backer in Golden Gate that understands our longer-term aspirations. Blaser said Mosaic aims to have a very strong ownership culture, with every employee provided an equity stake. We want to be entrepreneurial. We want our people thinking, feeling and being owners of the company. Thats something not many firms can offer. Technological Advantages Mosaic also has an important competitive edge, Wheeler said, because it has neither a legacy balance sheet nor legacy technology. That plays a key part in how we inform our underwriters about risk exposures and processing, and also data sharing with our syndicated capital partners. Through a partnership with DXC Technology announced in August, Mosaic deploys cutting-edge tech to inform underwriting decisions, share real-time data and analytics, and streamline every process along the way, said Wheeler. Our focus on governance allows capital partners to gain equal access to discerning risk selection performed by our team, he said, noting the creation of syndicated placements allows stakeholders to participate alongside Mosaic using its plug-and-play InsurTech platform. Its groundbreaking, and it really does underscore the fact Mosaic is doing things differently and reshaping the way our industry operates. Blaser and Wheeler The co-CEOs of Mosaic Insurance, Blaser and Wheeler, first met in 2008 when Blasers company, Ironshore, acquired Pembroke Managing Agency, which had been founded by Wheeler. Theres a really high level of trust between us, and we enjoy working together. It is a good partnership, Wheeler said, noting the co-CEO arrangement works well because both men bring complementary skills and experience to the equation. Wheelers background is more on the underwriting side of the business, while Blaser has corporate and operational expertise. I think the overarching comment about us working together is were totally aligned on the business strategy and the purpose and direction of Mosaic, said Wheeler. While the Mosaic model is very different from Ironshore and Pembroke models, he said, Mosaics development was informed by their early career experiences. Based in Bermuda, Blaser has more than 40 years of experience in international insurance. In 2006, he joined Robert Clements as a founding executive of Bermuda-based Ironshore with $1 billion in private-equity capital and helped drive its growth to become a global P/C insurer with over 800 employees in 15 countries. In 2017, Ironshore was acquired by Liberty Mutual Group, and he became chief transformation officer of the companys commercial lines division. Earlier in his career, Blaser was chief financial officer, Americas, for Swiss Re, and a member of the leadership team at Marsh, which included roles as both global chief financial officer and head of technology & corporate services. Also based in Bermuda for Mosaic, Wheeler has served in a variety of leadership roles during his more than three decades of industry experience across global markets and product lines. He was the founder of Lloyds Syndicate 4000 and Pembroke Managing Agency, purchased in 2008 by Ironshore, where his current co-CEO Blaser was a founding executive. Wheeler served as CEO of Ironshore International, overseeing expansion to 14 countries. He later held executive roles in global client engagement and international markets for Liberty Mutual Group following its 2017 acquisition of Ironshore. Prior to Pembroke, Wheeler spent 17 years at Lloyds, 14 at SVB where he was active underwriter of the groups flagship Syndicate 1007 in 2000. This article first was published in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management. Topics InsurTech Excess Surplus Startups MADRID (AP) Authorities in the Spanish city of Zaragoza braced Tuesday for a critical surge in the level of the Ebro River, after flooding further upstream in recent days was blamed for two deaths. The rivers flow rate climbed to 2,000 cubic meters (70,600 cubic feet) a second _ almost double Sundays rate as water from torrential rain and thawing snow rushed down the Ebro valley. In the last major floods in the area, in 2015, the flow rate reached 2,400 cubic meters (84,700 cubic feet) a second. The swollen river cuts through Zaragoza, a city of around 700,000 people in northeastern Spain. Flood waters have already submerged large areas of nearby farmland. City authorities attempted to minimize any potential damage by taking precautionary measures along the riverbank, including evacuations and traffic diversions. Trucks carrying dirt were on standby to help shore up riverbanks and protect urban areas. Emergency crews had to rescue two people from a van which broke down as it tried to cross a flooded area of countryside. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on a visit to the affected areas that his Cabinet will on Friday declare them catastrophe zones, which enables aid for farmers and others to be expedited. He said floods have in recent times become much more frequent in Spain because of climate change. The Ebro is the second-longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, stretching 930 kilometers (about 580 miles) from the mountains of Cantabria to the Mediterranean Sea. Photograph: A rescue team helps a woman in her home in a flooded area near the Ebro River in Tudela, northern Spain, on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. Photo credit: AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood BRUSSELS/BANGKOK Tens of millions of migrants may be denied COVID-19 vaccines from a global program because some major manufacturers are worried about legal risks from harmful side effects, according to officials and internal documents from Gavi, the charity operating the program, reviewed by Reuters. Nearly two years into a pandemic that has already killed more than 5 million people, only about 7% of people in low-income countries have received a dose. Vaccine deliveries worldwide have been delayed by production problems, hoarding by rich countries, export restrictions and red tape. Many programs have also been hampered by hesitancy among the public. States Braced for a Wave of COVID Lawsuits. It Never Arrived. WHO to Form COVID Insurance Scheme for Vaccine Side-Effects in Poor Nations The legal concerns are an additional hurdle for public health officials tackling the coronavirus even as officials say unvaccinated people offer an ideal environment for it to mutate into new variants that threaten hard-won immunity around the world. Many COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers have required that countries indemnify them for any adverse events suffered by individuals as a result of the vaccines, the United Nations says. Where governments are not in control, that is not possible. The concerns affect people, such as those displaced by the Myanmar, Afghanistan and Ethiopian crises, who are beyond the reach of national governments vaccination schemes. For refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers, as well as people afflicted by natural disasters or other events that put them out of reach of government help, the global program known as COVAX created a humanitarian buffer a last-resort reserve of shots to be administered by humanitarian groups. Gavi, the vaccine alliance, is a public-private partnership set up in 2000 to promote vaccination around the world. But that buffer does not have any mechanism to offer compensation. Gavi, which operates COVAX with the World Health Organization (WHO), says that where those applying for doses, mainly NGOs, cant bear legal risks, deliveries from that stockpile can only be made if vaccine-makers accept liability. The companies that are willing to do so under these circumstances provide only a minority of the programs vaccines, according to people familiar with the matter and the documents, written by Gavi staff for a board meeting starting at the end of November. More than two-thirds of COVAX doses have come from Pfizer Inc. and its partner BioNTech SE, AstraZeneca PLC and Moderna Inc., Gavi says. Moderna declined to comment. AstraZeneca and Pfizer said they were in talks with Gavi but declined to comment further. All three said they are committed to making doses available to poorer nations at relatively low prices. Pfizer said it was collaborating directly with governments in Jordan and Lebanon to donate doses for refugees. Mainly because of the legal concerns, less than 2 million doses have so far been sent from the buffer, Gavi says. About 167 million people risk being excluded from national programs, according to United Nations data cited in the documents. Unless all the firms accept legal liability, access to vaccines for some populations will remain a challenge, the Gavi documents say, adding that new crises will generate additional demand to cover displaced populations. The vaccine makers reluctance to take on the legal risks is a major hurdle in attempts to provide vaccines for the buffer, a spokesperson for Gavi told Reuters. Gavi did not comment on the details in the documents, but said applications for vaccines are confidential until the doses are delivered. In September, Gavis CEO, Seth Berkley, tweeted an appeal to drugmakers to waive their requirements for legal indemnity. Three Chinese drugmakers have agreed to shoulder legal risks when their shots are delivered through the buffer: SinoVac Biotech Ltd., Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd., and Clover Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., according to the Gavi document. The drugmakers did not respond to requests for comment. Johnson & Johnson of the United States confirmed it would waive a requirement for indemnity for deliveries from the buffer: We are proud to be part of this effort to protect the worlds most vulnerable people, said Paul Stoffels, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer. He did not elaborate. However, less than one-third of COVAX supplies have come from these four firms, COVAX data shows: Clovers shot has not yet been approved so is not in use. The global industry association, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), said no company has refused to consider taking on the legal risk. However, in the case of shots delivered from the buffer, it said some firms felt they could not do so without full knowledge of where and how vaccines would be used. It would be hard to continuously monitor vaccines for safety in refugee camps, and delivery is logistically very challenging and not suitable for all types, said the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), which represents large pharmaceutical companies in Europe. People may blame vaccines for problems that emerge afterwards even if they are unrelated, it said. This could then lead to an increased number of litigation cases during which the safety and efficacy of the vaccine would be publicly questioned, it said in a statement to Reuters. That might lead to increased vaccine hesitancy and a slower recovery from the pandemic, it said. So far there is scant information on COVID vaccine litigation, but claims made to out-of-court compensation programs are one measure of the risk. A program in the United States has so far not paid out anything, public data show; neither has one set up by the WHO for lower income countries, the WHO said. In Europe, a handful of compensation awards have been granted for undisclosed amounts of money, official data from Denmark, Germany, Norway and Switzerland show. Globally there have been few reported COVID infections among refugees, migrants and asylum-seekers testing is not always systematic, and infections can generate only mild symptoms especially in younger people. But cramped conditions and weak healthcare expose them to high infection risk. This, combined with low levels of vaccination in a mobile population could favor the emergence of new variants and be a vector for infection, said Mireille Lembwadio, Global Vaccination Coordinator at the International Organization of Migration (IOM), a U.N.-related body that advises governments and migrants. Leaving them unvaccinated could help spread the virus and its variants across the world, she said. Waiting for Doses Francois Nosten, a French professor who helps coordinate healthcare for people from Myanmar living on the border with Thailand, is one of those waiting for vaccines. In June, he put in a request from the Humanitarian Buffer for 70,000 doses some for some of the 90,000 or so who are sheltering in camps along the border, but most for unregistered migrants in the border town of Mae Sot and nearby villages. Nosten, whose main work is researching malaria, is expecting the doses a fraction of the more than 8 billion administered worldwide this month. He has been told they will come from Sinopharm, and he hopes they can help inoculate key at-risk groups in Thailands Tak province. Gavi said delivery arrangements are still being finalized. About 20,000 doses will be given to people in the camps by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian group working with Nosten. At this point whatever vaccine we can secure we are grateful for, said its Thailand Director, Darren Hertz. He added that the IRC believed the likelihood that a member of the refugee population would attempt to take legal action in case of side-effects was extremely low. Hertz said the IRC has received a handful of ad hoc vaccine donations from the Thai government and is currently tackling significant outbreaks in five of nine camps on the border, where about 3,000 cases have been confirmed, including at least 26 deaths. A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed the government was working with the IRC on providing vaccinations in shelters along the border. Nostens charity, Border Health Foundation (BHF), is one of eight organizations worldwide that have applied to distribute the shots from the Humanitarian Buffer and one of three to be approved, Gavi said. Ann Burton, Chief of Public Health at the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, said the liability issue was one reason agencies have been slow to apply. The program has also been delayed by the general shortage of vaccines and administrative hurdles. Organizations applying for supplies from the buffer may not choose which vaccines they receive. Working with displaced people, Nosten said it would be more convenient to give them Johnson & Johnsons vaccine, which offers protection after a single dose instead of the two doses needed for Sinopharms. But the Sinopharm version will be better than nothing, he said. More than 100 national governments have promised to offer vaccines where possible to all the displaced people on their soil, according to the IOM. However, the U.N. group says migrants and refugees are often effectively excluded from such schemes because of administrative or cultural hurdles. In cases where governments arent in charge or have not agreed to vaccinate migrants, COVAXs Humanitarian Buffer is the only option. At least 40 countries have yet to include unauthorized migrants in their vaccination programs, according to the IOM it and the UNHCR declined to name the countries. Gavi set up the buffer in March 2021, planning to reserve up to 5% of vaccine doses as they become available to COVAX, which would amount to roughly 70 million doses so far. The only shots delivered from the buffer so far just over 1.6 million Sinopharm doses landed in Iran in November, where high numbers of displaced Afghans have arrived, UNICEF Iran said. Thats enough to inoculate about 800,000 people; more will likely be needed, UNICEF said. Need for Speed The vaccine makers legal concern is rooted in the unprecedented speed of the effort to develop the COVID shots, the EFPIA said. In normal circumstances, drugmakers buy insurance to cover liability for vaccines potential adverse effects. But COVID forced them to develop drugs so quickly that some side effects for instance, a rare blood-clotting condition in some of those who took the AstraZeneca vaccine are emerging as shots go into peoples arms. Drugmakers Shielded from COVID Vaccine Liability But Funds for Injury Claims in Doubt Many governments and international agencies have set up compensation schemes to reimburse victims and avoid lengthy litigation. An emergency law invoked by the U.S. government provides legal immunity for drug companies for side effects from their COVID-19 vaccines used in the country. The only exception is for instances of wilful misconduct. For drug companies, accepting potential liability runs counter to standard practice. Vaccine manufacturers try to minimize legal risks in almost every setting, said John T. Monahan, Professor at Georgetown University. The gold standard is full immunity from lawsuits. If they accept carve-outs, it may become more difficult to reach that goal. (Edited by Josephine Mason and Sara Ledwith) Related: Topics COVID-19 The parents of a 17-year-old girl who was shot in the neck at Oxford High School during a mass shooting that left four students dead filed a pair of lawsuits seeking $100 million each against a Michigan school district, saying Thursday that the violence could have been prevented. The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Detroit and Oakland County Circuit Court by Jeffrey and Brandi Franz on behalf of their daughters, Riley, a senior who was wounded Nov. 30, and her sister Bella, a 14-year-old ninth grader who was next to her at the time she was shot, attorney Geoffrey Fieger said. The parents attended a news conference Thursday with Fieger in his Southfield offices. Jeffrey Franz appeared stoic, staring ahead as the personal injury lawyer accused school officials and staff at Oxford High of not doing enough to prevent the shooting and protect students. Brandi Franz sat, often with head bowed. The parents did not address reporters. The lawsuits are the first known civil suits filed in connection with the shooting. Named in the suits are the Oxford school district, Superintendent Tim Throne, Oxford High School principal Steven Wolf, two counselors, two teachers and a staff member. The Associated Press sent an email Thursday seeking comment from the district. Ten students and a teacher were shot at the school in Oxford Township, roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit. Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, was arrested at the school and has been charged as an adult with murder, terrorism and other crimes. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, later were charged with involuntary manslaughter and arrested. Personal-injury lawyers have expressed doubt that the school district could be successfully sued for letting Crumbley stay in school. Thats because Michigan law sets a high bar to wring liability out of public schools and other arms of government. You have to show that the administration or faculty members were grossly negligent, meaning they had a reckless disregard for whether an injury was likely to take place, said attorney A. Vince Colella. Fieger acknowledged Thursday that state law makes it difficult to successfully sue public bodies like school districts. He said a federal lawsuit allows him to subpoena the school district for records and evidence connected to Crumbley and the shooting. I understand that this is not going to be easy, Fieger said. However, now is the time to do something about it. The gun used in the shooting was bought days before by James Crumbley and their son had full access to it, prosecutors said. The morning before the shooting school officials met with Ethan Crumbley and his parents after the school after a teacher found a drawing of a gun, a bullet and a person who appeared to have been shot, along with messages stating My life is useless and The world is dead. The Crumbleys flatly refused to take their son home, Throne has said. The Franz family lives in Leonard, just northwest of Oxford. One of the lawsuits criticized school officials for not expelling, disciplining or searching Crumbley prior to the shooting which allowed Crumbley to return to his classroom and carry out his murderous rampage. The lawsuit alleges civil rights violations under the 14th Amendment and also said the school district knew or should have known that the policies, procedures, training supervision and discipline staff members named in the suit were inadequate for the tasks that each defendant was required to perform. Theres a responsibility that our society shares in protecting our children, Fieger said. There is a responsibility among teachers, counselors and school administrators who could easily have prevented and stopped this slaughter. Riley Franz was hospitalized following the shooting. She now is recovering at home, Fieger said. A 17-year-old student _ the remaining victim hospitalized from the shooting _ was removed Thursday from an intensive care unit, the Oakland County sheriffs office said. She was moved to a standard room and was expected to remain in a hospital for the next four to six weeks while undergoing rehabilitation. On Wednesday, a statement posted on the districts website by Throne said that after all the facts have been obtained and released through the course of the prosecution, he will recommend to the Oxford Board of Education that the district initiate a review of its entire system as other communities have done when facing similar experiences. Our goal with all of this is to bring together all of the facts of what happened before, during and after this horrific incident, he wrote. We are committed to doing this in a way that allows our community to move forward and does not re-traumatize our community members, who are reeling and suffering from this horrible event. The criminal cases against Ethan Crumbley and his parents are being overseen by the Oakland County prosecutors office, and Michigans attorney general said Tuesday her office will review events that occurred before the mass shooting, despite the districts rejection of her offer to be its third-party investigator. The districts lawyer told the attorney generals office Monday it was fully cooperating with local law enforcement. Topics Lawsuits Michigan Education K 12 President Joe Bidens nominee to serve as the top auto safety regulator will vow to address the massive increase in U.S. road deaths, according to congressional testimony seen by Reuters. Steven Cliff, who was tapped to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will tell a Senate panel Thursday the United States has seen an unprecedented rise in roadway fatalities. I am committed to turning this around. He will add the U.S. must learn how to change a culture that accepts the loss of tens of thousands of people in roadway crashes as inevitable. U.S. traffic deaths soared by 18.4% https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-traffic-deaths-soar-184-first-half-2021-20160-2021-10-28 in the first six months of 2021 compared to the same period a year earlier, representing the most deadly first half of a year on American roads since 2006, NHTSA said. It was the largest six-month increase recorded since the current tracing system has been in use since 1975. Cliff is a former California Air Resources Board official who since February has served as NHTSAs deputy administrator. Cliff said a new infrastructure bill increases NHTSAs budget by 50% and will improve our understanding of where and how crashes happen by improving data quality and expanding electronic reporting to move from paper-based data collection systems to digital systems. Cliff has been a key figure in the Biden administrations proposed rewrite of vehicle fuel economy standards through 2026 and is overseeing its safety investigation of electric car maker Tesla Inc. The agency, part of the U.S. Transportation Department, faces a backlog of pending auto safety regulations and has not had a Senate-confirmed administrator since January 2017, the month when Republican former President Donald Trump took office. NHTSA and the Environmental Protection Agency in August proposed reversing the Trump administrations rollback of Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has experienced a sustained increase in traffic deaths that NHTSA attributes to impaired driving, speeding, a failure to wear seatbelts and other unsafe behavior. The Biden administration could unveil final fuel economy and vehicle greenhouse gas emissions rules as soon as next year, officials told Reuters. I am committed to making the transportation fleet as efficient as possible, to save consumers billions of dollars at the pump, to improve the nations energy security and to protect the environment, Cliffs testimony says. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) Topics Auto Nasty winter tornadoes like the deadly ones last week that hit five states are likely to be stronger and stay on the ground longer with a wider swath of destruction in a warming world, a new study shows. The combination of a longer and wider track with slightly stronger winds means some rare winter tornadoes that are killers now will have nine times more the power by the end of the century if carbon dioxide levels continued to rise, according to a study presented at the American Geophysical Union conference this week. The study, which pre-dates the devastating Mayfield, Kentucky, tornado outbreak, looks at strength and not frequency of big tornadoes as climate change progresses. Not peer reviewed yet, it was presented in poster form as a peak at new research to be published later. There is a potential for events in the future that are more intense that would not have been as intense in the current climate, said study author Jeff Trapp, head of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Bearing in mind that these high end events are still going to be rare. Trapp took the conditions during two large tornado strikes in 2013 the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, tornado that in February of that year injured 82 people with winds of 170 mph and the Moore, Oklahoma, tornado that killed 24 people with winds up to 210 mph (340 kph) in May and put them into dozens of computer simulations of worst-case climate change scenario by 2100, which other scientists say is increasingly unlikely. The worst-case scenario, which the world used to be on track for, would have another 6 degrees (3.3 degrees Celsius) or so of warming between now and the end of the century. Trapp said he will soon run simulations based on a scenario closer to the current trajectory for carbon dioxide emissions of about 3.2 degrees (1.8 degrees Celsius) warming above current levels. Trapp found a big change on the winter storm, significantly longer and wider tracks and windspeed increases around 14% that added up to the nine-fold increase in power when using a formula that takes wind speed, rotation and size of path into account. Power increased 1.5 times for the spring storm, he said. Trapp said thats because there are two key ingredients needed for tornadoes: unstable stormy weather and wind shear. Wind shear, the difference between winds up high and near the ground, is usually stronger in the winter, but theres not as much stormy weather because it requires warm humid conditions near the ground. But as the world warms there will be more opportunity for instability in the winter, he said. Three outside scientists said there may be something to the research, but they arent yet completely convinced. Im not 100% sold on the technique, but its a very interesting approach, said Harold Brooks, a scientist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma. To me the really interesting result seems to be the longer-tracks for the cool season. A single study always raises uncertainty issues, but the results make sense, said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini: One of the major components to Fridays outbreak was the broad and anomalous warm (swath of temperatures) which permitted the storm to last for what will likely be a record-breaking path length. Photo: In this aerial photo, destruction from a recent tornado is seen in downtown Mayfield, Ky., Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. According to a study presented at the American Geophysical Union conference on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, nasty winter tornadoes like the deadly one last week that hit five states are likely to be stronger and stay on the ground longer with a wider swath of destruction in a warming world. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Federal regulators have announced plans to make Louisiana and a suburban New Orleans fuel plant clean up emissions that have violated air quality standards since at least 2013. The Environmental Protection Agency says a plant owned by Rain CII Carbon LLC of Stamford, Connecticut, spews sulphur dioxide into the air of St. Bernard Parish, The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate reported. The plant in Chalmette said in March 2013 that it was responsible for most of that chemical in the parishs air, the newspaper noted. The plant and Louisiana were given a cleanup deadline of October 2018, and the EPA says that hasnt been met. People have until Jan. 6 to comment on the proposal published earlier this month. Rain Carbon Inc. did not respond to requests for comment, the newspaper reported. The EPA proposal calls for giving the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality a year to submit a cleanup plan. The agency cited the parish in 2013 for failing to meet sulfur dioxide standards _ a complaint based on data from 2009 through 2011, according to the proposal in the Federal Register. Past citations by the state agency have included at least $75,000 in fines and $7,200 in enforcement costs to settle almost 150 violations of state regulations between 2006 and 2013, the newspaper reported. Rain turns an oil refinery byproduct into calcined coke, a rock-like fuel used to make aluminum. Coke production releases large amounts of sulfur dioxide, a colorless gas that can irritate noses and throats, impair breathing and cause lung illnesses. People with asthma, particularly children, are highly sensitive to sulfur dioxide. State officials say Rain has significantly reduced emissions. But the EPA said combined sulfur dioxide emissions from Rain and other plants in St. Bernard still exceed the federal standard for sulfur dioxide. That allows no more than 75 parts per billion of the chemical during a one-hour period, with that average maintained for three years. As part of a state plan required under federal law, the Department of Environmental Quality in 2017 and 2018 ordered Rain to change its manufacturing processes to keep sulfur dioxide levels in check. However, Rain said conventional meters melted, making it difficult to find a way to monitor the heat and flow of gases and other materials. In 2019, when Donald Trump was president, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., joined the state agency in convincing EPA to delay the plan. Now, under Democratic President Joe Biden, the agency is acting. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Louisiana Energy Oil Gas Pollution A North Carolina workers compensation claimants attorney has agreed to close his practice after he was disbarred for settling a claim against his clients wishes, then billing her for expenses. Bright Lindler, a Rockingham comp and personal injury lawyer since 1987, also failed to pay more than $1 million in income and employment taxes, the state Bar said in its Dec. 3 disbarment order. Defendant has admitted that the material facts and allegations upon which the State Bars complaint, incorporated herein by reference, is predicated, are true, reads the order, signed by Donald Prentiss, chair of the Bars disciplinary hearing commission. The chair finds that the misconduct alleged in the complaint has been established. The order explained that in 2008, Lindler represented an injured worker and negotiated a settlement with the employer for $2,500. The worker, unnamed in the disciplinary proceedings, at first agreed, then decided against the settlement. Nonetheless, Lindler signed off on a settlement agreement and submitted it to the states Industrial Commission. The commission awarded Lindler $625 in attorney fees, deducted from the settlement. The lawyer did not inform his client of the payout, and kept the money, the Bar said. Then he sent her a letter, saying the claimant owed $2,553 in expenses to Lindlers office. The client found out about the settlement only after she contacted the Industrial Commission. She then wrote a letter to the agency, detailing Lindlers actions. Meanwhile, Lindler had failed to pay income taxes for 2009 through 2014, and the Internal Revenue Service filed liens against him for just over $1 million. The state Department of Revenue also placed liens on Lindlers property, for more than $90,000. By willfully failing to pay to the IRS the funds he was required to withhold from the paychecks of his law firms employees defendant committed criminal acts that reflect adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness and fitness and a lawyer, in violation of conduct rules, the Bars disciplinary order reads. Lindler has until early February to wind down his practice. Topics North Carolina The family of a woman who died in a Las Vegas fire two years ago has filed a lawsuit against the companies that maintained the buildings fire alarm system. Six people died in the December 2019 blaze at the Alpine Motel Apartments, which authorities said was the deadliest residential fire in Las Vegas history. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that the family of 59-year-old Tracy Cihal filed the suit last week in District Court against the Alpines owners and other companies in charge of safety equipment. Cihals family had previously filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the buildings owner. A jury trial in that case is set for October. Court documents state that when the fire broke out, the Alpines back door was bolted shut, the fire alarm system was malfunctioning and the building didnt have a working sprinkler system. According to the Review-Journal, the building constructed in 1972 had gone almost three years without a city fire inspection at the time of the fire. In the aftermath of the Alpine fire, investigators cited more than 40 fire code violations including the sealed rear exit and a faulty fire alarm system. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Juan Carlos Martinez, 56, of Yorba Linda, California, has been charged with 12 counts of grand theft, 34 felony counts of forgery, 34 counts of insurance fraud, and one count of money laundering, after allegedly collecting premium payments from customers and forging bogus insurance documents he then provided to his victims as proof of insurance. Martinez, a former licensed insurance broker, doing business as Leeds Insurance Services Inc., allegedly embezzled more than $27,000 from customers and diverted the funds to a personal investment account where he withdrew the funds as cash, according to the California Department of Insurance. Martinez was arrested by the Buena Park Police Department at a booth in the Knotts Christmas Crafts Village, and was booked into Orange County Jail with bail set at $25,000. The case was investigated by the CDI and is being prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorneys Office. Martinez insurance license expired in September 2016 for failure to renew. Martinez is scheduled to be arraigned in March 2022. Topics California Agencies Fraud Abuse Molestation Hub International Ltd. acquired the assets of JP Griffin Companies LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jeff Griffin, Founder and President of JP Griffin Group, and his team will join Hub Southwest. JP Griffin Group is a national employee benefit consulting firm focused on the design, implementation and management of multi-site, multi-state employee benefit programs. They help companies ranging in size from 10 to more than 30,000 employees. Chicago, Illinois-based Hub is an insurance broker and financial services firm providing risk management, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management products and services. Topics Mergers Arizona Hello its Rosealeen here in Ballydesmond. Isnt it well for ye up in Cork city with 40 miles of premium farmland between yeerselves and the shower of savages in Limerick and Kerry? Myself and Berna went into the chemist in Mallow yesterday to get our Covid booster shots and who did we pass going in but Billy OConnors cousin from the Kerry side of the border in Scartaglin. How dare you steal boosters from Cork people? screamed Berna, barely disguising the fact that she was half-pissed before lunch. This is my third booster in Cork this week says your one in her dilapidated gene pool of a Scartaglin accent, I love getting things for free. Well, didnt I rear up at her, with the kind of anger youd expect from a Kiskeam man on the receiving end of a court order to cut his toenails. Go back across that border now says I, and pass word around east Kerry that rebel jabs are for rebel arms. This got a huge cheer from the people of Mallow, and they wouldnt have much to cheer about. So Audrey, is it legal to tell browls from Kerry to shag off and get their own booster? Rosealeen, Ballydesmond. My niece is a barrister, she walked out of Kings Inns with an honours degree and an English accent. I asked her, what would be your legal advice to people in north Cork. She said, MOVE! Cmere, whats with the story with art? I seen this thing there during the week about a German outfit called the Crespo Foundation, that will put you up in this class gaff in West Cork for six months and all you have to do is produce a work of art. Theyll even give you a car as well, so you dont have to walk around talking to gomies that live in the vicinity of Ballydehob. Now, I can barely draw breath, let alone a painting, but Budgie no bother boy, art isnt about drawing any more, its more about doing controversial stuff that will appeal to billionaires. This seems like a great opportunity to explore my creative side and maybe have a bit of doo-daw with a hot European artist one in West Cork, dont tell the old doll. Budgie says I need to get a portfolio. I said, no way boy, Im not driving a Fiat, but he said, no, you need to show them some of your work. So Im going to get going now, but all I need is an arty name. So, what do you reckon? Dowcha Donie, Blackpool Theres only one name for you Dowcha Donie The Banksy of My Own Lovely Lee. Its getting competitive on our WhatsApp group, Douglas Road Stunners Whose Santa Went to Pres. Katie_EssentialOilRange said there is no way shes bringing her little Fifi to some group Santa Experience theres nothing magical about wandering through a fake North Pole with a family from Glanmire. Prue_BetterThanYou said couldnt agree more and they have all these unpronounceable Irish names like Sadbh and Eoghan, because their parents are just dying for them to vote Sinn Fein. We banned Prue for six weeks because we pride ourselves on knowing which way the wind is blowing on the Douglas Road, and this week, were foolish for Sinn Fein. Fifi_WhitePrius said its a disgrace that you cant get exclusivity these days by going to the most expensive Santa, because theyre paying Ballincollig types a fortune now just to sit on Zoom calls with their multi-national overlords. Katie came back with a dinger of a suggestion why dont we just set up a Santa experience of our own, you have to produce a 20-year-old McWilliams sailing bag to get in? Thats up and running now Audrey do you mind discreetly passing the word around to the people that matter? Jenni, Douglas Road. I rang the Posh Cousin there and said are you bringing your kids to see Santa? She said, no, I stopped believing. I said, in Santa. She said, no, in doing anything that doesnt involve child-minders and prosecco. Now listen up Paddy. Ive just come from a meeting of the British establishment, where this chap came in and gave us all a dose of electric shock therapy to get over the loss of India. I dont think well ever get over you colonial types can be very ungrateful. Anyway, Bunty Von Luxembourg invited me to his place in Eire for Christmas, its near some place called Mitchelstown, Bunty says it basically Wales with a bad smell of cheese. The thing is, he gave me the lowdown on Yule time in Ireland and for some reason you say St Stephens Day instead of Boxing Day. Thats a chin scratcher Bunty, I roared across the room, I would have thought Paddy would be aching for fisticuffs. Anyway, why dont you call it Boxing Day, you filthy Micks? Lord Edmund DServant-Spanker, Monte Carlo, if the taxman is asking. My nephew is an amateur historian, you should see the state of his clothes. I said, what is the story behind St Stephens Day? He said, Stephen was the first Christian martyr, stoned to death. I said, why do we commemorate that on December 26? He said, because most of us would rather be stoned to death than spend another day with our family. Miniature mobile phone SIM cards are being smuggled into Limerick jail in prisoners foreskins, according to a prison source. The SIM cards used in tiny mobile phones, that are also smuggled in people internally into prisons, allow prisoners to illegally communicate with the outside world from their cells. Unregistered SIM cards are untraceable, making it difficult to prosecute those smuggling the illegal contraband into jails. Thats how its done, these tiny SIM cards for miniature phones can be hidden in the foreskin, among other ways, said the source. This method of smuggling can allow a prisoner or visitor to bypass security, they claimed. Theres not much metal in these things, theyre really tiny, so they're not picked up by metal detector, so theres no notification that theres been a security breach. This is just another way of smuggling phones and SIM cards into jails, its been going on for quiet a while now. Irish Prison Service response When asked if it was aware of this, a spokesman for the Irish Prison Service (IPS) replied that preventing the access of contraband (including mobile phones) into prisons will always remain a high priority for the Irish Prison Service and that a suspension of visits for significant periods since March 2020, as a result of Covid-19, has forced a shift in the methods used for trafficking contraband into prisons. We have seen an increase in the number of 'throw overs' ie contacts on the outside attempting to throw mobile phones and drugs into exercise yards. Due to the regimes currently in operation in our prisons, prison staff have been able to identify and intercept many of these 'throw-overs' ensuring they do not reach the prison population, and in addition, staff have increased the use of random and intelligence led cell searches on a daily basis, said the spokesman. The prison service canine unit which is responsible for carrying out searches around prisons, includes a greater focus on searching deliveries. The spokesman cited a recent example of this, in Mountjoy Prison, where two of the biggest seizures of contraband to date was recorded. He said the prison service has noted an increase in drugs found in post, parcels, and prisoner clothing has also increased as a result of visits being suspended but that it has had success in tackling this through advancements in our drug detection technology, which has proved particularly effective in identifying drugs that are sprayed onto letters, newspapers, and other prisoner property. The Irish Prison Service works in close co-operation with An Garda Siochana with regard to the sharing of information and the carrying out of joint operations aimed at targeting the smuggling of contraband into prisons, he added. Recent seizures Thousands of weapons, drugs, and mobile phones have been seized in Irish jails, according to latest information on prison contraband seizures released by the IPS. Over the past six years, between 2016 and up to November 27 this year, there have been 6,798 drug seizures in prisons, and 5,884 mobile phones and 2,769 weapons recovered. Drugs have also been smuggled into prison via stamps on letters or postcards which have been pre-dipped in illegal substances, as well as by concealing powdered cocaine or cannabis in between two postcards which are glued and pressed together to make it appear as if there is only one post card. The prevalence of drones has also led to alleged attempts by drug gangs to courier drugs into prison yards from the air. Last January, gardai foiled an attempt by a criminal gang to deliver a 5,000 drugs package, mobile phones and chargers into Portlaoise Prison using a drone. A man from Kyrgyzstan who first came to Ireland as a stowaway in a container and lived here for 20 years under a fake identity has pleaded guilty to charges after a detection assisted by Interpol. Leonti Belikov, with an address at 37 An Bruach, Ballinhassig, in Co Cork, pleaded guilty before Bandon District Court on five charges. They are that on November 11 last he failed to produce a valid passport at Bandon Garda Station in breach of the Immigration Act, that he was remaining in the State without permission of the minister, two charges that he had a Lithuanian driver's licence which gardai believe is not legitimate, and that he had a Lithuanian passport which he knew to be false. Sgt Paul Kelly told Judge James McNulty that on November 4 last year Mr Belikov made an online application to Bank of Ireland in Ballincollig under the name of Alex Radanov and date of birth of April 27, 1973. The application included supporting documents, among them an AIB statement and a Lithuanian passport, all with the Radanov name. However, the application was rejected and the bank complained to gardai in June of this year. Gardai worked with Interpol Det Garda David Barrett was assigned and he contacted the Lithuanian authorities via Interpol, and confirmation was received that the passport was fake. On November 11, gardai searched Belikovs home under warrant. He produced a Lithuanian driving licence, again featuring the false name. This was also later confirmed as fake via Interpol. In custody, fingerprints were taken, and these were found to match with those of Belikov, who then admitted the passport and driving licence were fake. Sgt Kelly said gardai believe he is from Kyrgyzstan. He had five previous convictions in Irish courts, all for larceny and the most recent dating from April 2003. Belikovs solicitor, Plunkett Taaffe, said his client had come to Ireland in a container in 2001 and had lied to establish residency here. He first applied for asylum before discontinuing that process, and in the early days in Ireland was impoverished and had an alcohol problem. He then started working literally, whatever he could do, he would do in maintenance and as a handyman, and Mr Taaffe said friends were in court to vouch for this. The court heard Mr Belikov had also paid taxes. Judge McNulty noted the accused had still failed to reveal the truth when initially contacted by Gardai and Mr Taaffe said his client had been fearful. He was living off the radar, effectively off-grid, Mr Taaffe said. He was living a lie for a period of time. Sentencing deferred for 24 hours Mr Belikov, who has a date of birth of April 27, 1971, appeared in court from custody and he had been first charged with the alleged offences on November 12 last. He will now have to re-apply to stay in Ireland under his actual identity, the court was told. He had brought 500 to court and Mr Taaffe said every effort would be made to pay any fines. Judge McNulty convicted Mr Belikov but deferred sentencing for 24 hours, releasing him on his own bond of 1,000 to produce 3,000 in court. The judge said Mr Belikov had been living a lie for 20 years, adding: We will give him 24 hours for him to show his intentions to be honourable. Its time to give something back. "Even the most disciplined of us will indulge over the Christmas period and Tesco has something for every indulgence," says Barra McFeely, buying manager for Tesco Ireland. Tis the season to be jolly after all and also the season to indulge a little bit or a lot. Tesco, as always, has plenty in the line of indulgences, with sweet treats a-plenty to sample this yuletide. The Tesco Finest range also has some new and exciting flavours in its array of sweet treats, making for a fabulously festive Christmas in 2021. Whether its tasty tipples or tempting desserts, Tesco customers seeking a little bit of what they fancy will be spoiled for choice this year. A new flavour for Tesco is speculoos, which traditionally refers to the spiced gingerbread shortcrust cookies made and eaten on Christmas Day in Belgium. Tesco has now incorporated this gorgeous seasonal flavour of ginger and cinnamon into a number of desserts, such as the Tesco finest 4 All Butter Pastry Speculoos Tarts. These are all butter pastry with a rich speculoos spiced filling, layered with spiced sponge and topped with a swirl of speculoos spiced buttercream for a sweet and subtle warmth, McFeely explains. Another seasonal flavour is maple and orange, which can be found in the Tesco Finest Florentines Maple and Orange. These nutty biscuits are absolutely delicious, says McFeely. Tesco Finest Orange and Maple Florentines. They are lovely to have in the house for visitors. Theyd also be ideally suited for putting on the dining table on Christmas Day because they are very impressive to look at and they are a lovely indulgence. They would also pair well with other desserts, ice-cream for example. But of course, this time of year is all about tradition, and Tescos beloved version of a classic will be back in store in time for Christmas its Finest Belgian Chocolate Yule Log being a particularly decadent example of the festive favourite. There will also be a wide selection of local Irish branded chilled cakes available in Tesco stores in the run-up to Christmas. For many, Christmas just wouldnt be Christmas without mince pies, and the good news is that Tesco has two different types in its Free From range. We are bringing delicious gluten-free mince pies to the Christmas table and people can choose from iced topped mince pies or deep filled mince pies in this range, McFeely says. Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Latte. To accompany these, or any of the other mince pies in store, Tesco has a particularly strong range of seasonal creams this year, such as its Finest Brandy Extra Thick Cream and Baileys Extra Thick Cream, as well as brandy butter and its brandy sauce. We have one of the widest ranges in the market, both in our Tesco range and the Finest range, McFeely explains. Our Irish-produced whipped cream is a big favourite and is produced in Clonakilty down in west Cork. Of course, indulgence isnt simply confined to a few hours on Christmas day and Christmas seems to start earlier and last longer every year. Tesco makes entertaining at home a cinch over the festive season. Try offering guests a touch of luxury with the Finest Salted Caramel Cream Liqueur Alcohol, winner of a silver award at 2021 Blas na hEireann. This is the perfect after-dinner drink, in lieu of or in addition to dessert, says McFeely. If salted caramel is your thing, then the Finest Salted Caramel Truffles, another silver winner at Blas na hEireann, will also make your tastebuds tingle, he adds. Tesco breakfast brunch cocktails. Those in search of a lighter digestif could pair their tipple of choice with Tesco low-calorie tonic with elderflower. Produced in Tipperary, this was the winner of a coveted Gold award at Blas, perfectly illustrating that reducing the calories does not necessarily compromise on the taste. For those who prefer their drinks neat, McFeely recommends Tesco Finest whiskey, a 12-year old blended whiskey produced by West Cork Distillers in Skibbereen. Those seeking indulgence this Christmas will find pure luxury in the Tesco Finest range, McFeely says. Putting the Finest label on a product means they really have to have a point of difference. You can trust it wholeheartedly and you are assured it is going to be the best you can find anywhere. Discover more tasty Christmas treats in store or on tesco.ie Burma China Facilitates Myanmar Junta and Ethnic Armies Talks Mong La town in 2019 / The Irrawaddy The Myanmar juntas peace negotiation committee met with representatives of six ethnic armed groups based in the countrys north in Mong La on Wednesday, with the help of China. Notably, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) did not participate. The six EAOs are all members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), led by the United Wa State Army (UWSA). Wednesdays talks were joined by the UWSA, Mong Las National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), Arakan Army (AA), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Kokangs Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army North (SSPP/SSA-N). Lieutenant General Yar Pyae, the juntas minister for the Union Government Office and the chairman of the juntas National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee, had met the EAOs on two earlier occasions since the coup. But this time the meeting was held as per Chinas reconciliation policy, said a source close to the talks. A representative from China was present at the meeting, the source said. China has been urging the northern groups and the junta to hold talks. During the latest visit to Myanmar by Chinese Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang in November, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing reportedly requested that he help facilitate talks between the northern-based EAOs and the junta. The committees secretary, Lieutenant General Min Naung, and other members including former lieutenant general turned peace commissioner Khin Zaw Oo accompanied Lt-Gen Yar Pyae at the meeting. The Irrawaddy has learned that the junta wants to resume its talks with the FPNCC members on the multilateral, bilateral and nationwide ceasefire agreements, which were discussed under the ousted National League for Democracy government. As the initial plan to hold further talks in February was postponed due to the Feb. 1 coup, the generals are eager to resume talks on the issues, according to the source. The juntas delegation said they want to listen to the EAOs desires and also to reduce military tensions with the MNDAA and TNLA on the ground. According to one source, a junta delegate urged the northern-based EAOs not to be afraid of holding talks with them so that the negotiations will become smoother, while talking to AA representatives in conciliatory tones. The northern-based EAOs are not signatories to the NCA and did not sign bilateral ceasefire agreements with any previous governments since Myanmars peace process commenced in 2011. The FPNCC has rejected the NCA and demanded an alternative path to it. One EAO representative also reiterated to the juntas peace negotiation committee that the NCA does not work. He said the current conflict can only be resolved once the junta wants peace for sure, and it needs to show it. Additionally, the sources said, the juntas delegation highlighted COVID-19 assistance and vaccination in the EAOs areas in Rakhine and Mon states. The source said the KIA might be holding separate talks, as Kachin peace brokers from the Kachin Peace-Creation Group were reportedly in the area. Since the Feb. 1 coup, fighting with junta troops has been reported in areas controlled by the KIA, MNDAA and TNLA, while Wa, Mong La and AA troops have not been involved in clashes. An observer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the meeting was held to maintain the status quo and did not even reach the level of talks for peace building. Other sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the junta pushed for the talks as they are greatly concerned that the northern-based EAOs will stand together with the increasing number of Peoples Defense Force groups. Even as the juntas men were holding the talks, regime offensives against MNDAA troops were intensifying. The MNDAA has urged the military to stop the offensives and aerial attacks against its forces. Junta and MNDAA forces have clashed for territorial control for months in Shan State, with the former using artillery. Ten times on Monday, junta fighter jets bombed MNDAA outposts in Mongkoe town in Muse Township on the Chinese border. The area has seen heavy fighting in recent months, an MNDAA spokesman said this week. The spokesman added that the fighting is expected to intensify as the junta continues its troop deployments and surveillance via drones and helicopters. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Seizes Civilian Justice Ministers Home Hotelier Uses Ties to Myanmar Junta Chief to Build Hospitality Empire Myanmar Civilian Forces Claim Dozens of Junta Troops Killed in Mine Attacks, Ambushes Burma Hotelier Uses Ties to Myanmar Junta Chief to Build Hospitality Empire U Aung Myo Min Din was a student of Daw Kyu Kyu Hla when he was in high school. Amazing Hotels & Resorts Group has emerged as the most successful hotelier in Myanmars hospitality industry since coup leader Min Aung Hlaing became the military chief in 2011. The group was founded by U Aung Myo Min Din, a tour operator and hotelier who is the current chairman of the Myanmar Hotelier Association. When he was in high school, U Aung Myo Min Din was a student of Min Aung Hlaings wife, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, who was a teacher at the time. Business sources told The Irrawaddy that U Aung Myo Min Din is a favorite with Min Aung Hlaings family because he is polite and hard-working. It was U Aung Myo Min Din who brought Ko Aung Pyae Sone, the son of the military chief, into the hospitality industry, a Yangon-based businessman told The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity. The Azura Beach Resort at Chaungtha Beach in Ayeyarwady Region is owned by Aung Pyae Sone. Before 2010, U Aung Myo Min Din reportedly operated a tour company, Adventure Myanmar Travel, and four hotels including the Hotel Amazing Kaytu in Bagos Taungoo. Over the next seven years his business grew to encompass 12 Amazing-branded hotels and resorts, an unusually rapid expansion for Myanmar, where it is extremely difficult to obtain bank loans and raise capital. The multimillion-dollar premier hotels are located in the countrys most popular destinations including the commercial capital Yangon, as well as Mandalay and on a number of beaches. Amazing Hotels & Resorts Group says it is currently building a new hotel with more than 300 rooms and a luxury residence with 87 apartments in Yangon, as well as expanding its resorts at Shan States Inle Lake and Rakhine States Ngapali Beach. Every businessman knows from whom large sums of capital can be obtained, and who can help expand ones business in a short time in Myanmar, said a tour operator. Myanmars tourism and hospitality industry boomed between 2011 and 2019 following the introduction of reforms in the country. However, no other tour operator or hotelier was able to match the hundreds of millions of US dollars that U Aung Myo Min Din was able to invest in just five or six years during that period, said the tour operator, who has been in the business for more than two decades. Among the 12 hotels that U Aung Myo Min Din has added to his hotel chain since 2010 is the Amazing Ngapali Resort, a property built on controversial land in the popular Rakhine State seaside destination. The land was seized by Myanmars military in 2000, supposedly to be used for the expansion of a compound occupied by a local military unit. However, the military compound was never built and from around 2013 the land was leased for hotel construction to a number of companies including Max Myanmar Co. owned by military crony U Zaw Zaw. U Aung Myo Min Din bought the hotel, which was still under construction, from U Zaw Zaw in 2015, and rebranded it as the Amazing Ngapali Resort. When asked about it by The Irrawaddy, U Aung Myo Min Din firmly denied receiving any support for his business from Min Aung Hlaings family. He also denied being close to the coup leaders family. It is 100 percent untrue that [Min Aung Hlaings family] is financially backing [my company] from behind the scenes. I made bids when they [the government] invited tenders, and I received contracts only when I submitted the winning tenders. There were many occasions when my tender lost, he said. He said his hotel group is fully owned by him, and financed by his own profits and bank loans, which he said he secured by presenting contracts. Because of the recent economic downturn, U Aung Myo Min Din said, he currently owes 28 billion kyats (US$15.75 million) to two local private banks, CB Bank and AYA Bank. When asked about his ties to the coup leaders son U Aung Pyae Sone, he said, Frankly speaking, I havent spent much time with him. Though the land in the Ngapali Hotel Zone is said to be military property, ownership is in fact shared between a number of military top brass including former dictator Than Shwe, former military spy chief Khin Nyunt and the family of late dictator Ne Win. They lease the land and related permits to their cronies. Another military-linked property for which U Aung Myo Min Din has acquired a long-term lease is the Kengtung Hotel. The hotel sits on the site of Kengtung Palace, which was built by Sao Kawn Kiao Intaleng, the 40th saopha (hereditary chief) of Kengtung, and completed in 1906. The palace was seized by the Myanmar military during its 1962 coup, and used as a government office until its demolition in 1991 to make way for hotel construction. Over the years the hotel occasionally changed hands, but only between those with ties to the militarys top generals. In 2015 it was taken over by U Aung Myo Min Din, who rebranded it as the Amazing Keng Tong Resort. Despite U Aung Myo Min Dins denials, he has clearly obtained concessions beyond what is available to ordinary businessmen. When Min Aung Hlaings relatives, including his wife Kyu Kyu Hla, travel, they usually stay at Amazing hotels, sources told The Irrawaddysomething U Aung Myo Min Din does not deny. We are businesspeople. Under the previous government, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited Bagan and she stayed at my hotel. When President U Thein Sein visited Kengtung [he stayed at my hotel]. The same year, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi came to Kengtung and she also stayed at my hotel. As we run a hotel, we have to accept anyone who comes to stay at our property, U Aung Myo Min Din said. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Civilian Forces Claim Dozens of Junta Troops Killed in Mine Attacks, Ambushes Mandalay Resistance Fighters Claim to Have Killed Two Myanmar Troops Dont Bother Me Hun Sen Tells Critics of Plan to Meet Myanmar Junta Leader Burma Myanmar Junta Seizes Civilian Justice Ministers Home Junta troops in Mandalay during the Feb. 22 nationwide general strike. / The Irrawaddy Myanmars military junta has seized the house of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) justice minister U Thein Oo in Mandalay. The parallel government said junta soldiers on Wednesday morning raided the house in Sein Pann ward, Maha Aung Myay Township, and sealed it off. U Thein Oo has called the juntas ruling council an unlawful organization. In October, his ministry warned that judges and court staff working for the regime were committing crimes by handling the regimes cases, jailing political detainees and neglecting evidence of fraud, torture and unlawful arrests. The junta has started seizing the properties of those with links to the National League for Democracy (NLD) and NUG and other political activists. The junta has branded the NUG, along with its parliamentary committee known as the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the peoples defense forces (PDFs) as terrorist organizations, and warned that anyone who makes contact with them will have their property seized and face prosecution under the Counterterrorism Law. The CRPH was mostly formed by NLD lawmakers who won seats in the 2020 general election but were prevented from taking them up by the Feb. 1 coup. The CRPH set up the NUG, which includes ethnic groups, to rival the military regime. The PDFs were formed to organize armed resistance to the regime. On Tuesday, NLD Lower House lawmaker U Win Naings house in the Kachin State town of Namti in Mogaung Township was sealed off by regime forces. The NUGs interim president, prime minister and ministers of federal affairs, health and education are also among those whose houses and assets were seized in recent months. The NLDs central working committee said at least 57 houses belonging to party officials, elected lawmakers and members had been seized by Nov. 30. You may also like these stories: Hotelier Uses Ties to Myanmar Junta Chief to Build Hospitality Empire Myanmar Civilian Forces Claim Dozens of Junta Troops Killed in Mine Attacks, Ambushes Mandalay Resistance Fighters Claim to Have Killed Two Myanmar Troops Burma Villagers Flee Myanmar Junta Raids Near Thai Border Displaced Karen State villagers in temporary shelters on the Thai border on Dec. 16. / The Irrawaddy More than 1,000 residents have fled their homes near the Thai border due to fighting between Myanmars junta and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), with many civilians seeking shelter in Thailand. Relief workers say the numbers will increase. Military tensions rose after some 200 junta soldiers raided Lay Kay Kaw new town in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, on Tuesday, on suspicion that democracy activists and civilian resistance groups were in hiding. The junta claimed last month that the Karen National Union (KNU), Myanmars oldest revolutionary force, was supporting and sheltering striking civil servants and armed resistance groups. Several clashes occurred between junta troops and the KNLA, the armed wing of the KNU, in Lay Kay Kaw on Wednesday. Around 40 democracy activists were reportedly detained during the raid on the new town this week. The junta has not commented on the number of detainees. Junta troops allegedly sustained around 10 fatalities, including a commander. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. On Thursday, fighting broke out in nearby Mae Htaw Talay village when junta reinforcements and its border guard force allies tried to enter Lay Kay Kaw. A relief worker said fighting broke out when troops tried to reinforce trapped troops in the new town. More than 50 artillery shells have been fired indiscriminately with Pahikalaw and Mae Htaw Talay villagers fleeing to Htee Mae Wah Khi village, the source said. Lay Kay Kaw has around 3,000 residents with hundreds still trapped by fighting, residents said. Karen armed groups are reportedly planning to help residents escape. A KNU source said: People are sheltering in monasteries and temples. If there is another battle, those places will not be safe. Our troops are planning to relocate them. Displaced residents also face hardships because of the cold weather. A displaced villager said: We have few clothes as we could not carry much. I dont know what will happen. It is very cold. He said the junta has been firing artillery into civilian areas since Wednesday night. The artillery is getting more frequent. It is non-stop. It makes the children cry. It is very loud, he added. You may also like these stories: China Facilitates Myanmar Junta and Ethnic Armies Talks Myanmar Junta Seizes Civilian Justice Ministers Home Hotelier Uses Ties to Myanmar Junta Chief to Build Hospitality Empire Longer lines for COVID-19 testing and higher than normal positive test numbers on Key Biscayne this week arent causes for alarm, said Dr. Roland Samimy, the Villages Chief of Resiliency and Sustainability. That, despite health officials warning that Omicron is rapidly spreading and could soon become the dominant variant in the U.S., according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A lot of people are getting ready to travel for the holidays, or people are getting back from Thanksgiving, Dr. Samimy said. He did note the rate of positivity on Key Biscayne has been trending steadily upward since early December, climbing from 2.8% to 3 to 6 to 10%. But whether or not that is (related to) Omicron, Id be afraid to say. Florida reported 4,127 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the most for a single day since Oct. 1. Three cases of the new Omicron variant have been reported in Florida, including the first in Miami-Dade County, reportedly from an asymptomatic, unvaccinated patient. In Miami-Dade County, the seven-day average number of cases as of Tuesday was 380, a 63% spike over the previous 14-day span. But, the rate of positivity remained relatively low at 3%, according to The New York Times statistics, which indicate testing capacity is adequate for evaluating COVID-19 spread in the area. At Ethos Wellness Pharmacy on Key Biscayne, business was picking up this week, and so were positive test results. Generally, at our testing facility, the ones who are coming to us are folks getting ready for travel, said Loren Blandon, Director of Programs and Experiences at Ethos Wellness. She said even during the high points of the pandemic, wed see maybe 8-12 positive cases a day, and that hasnt happened in a very long time, but we maxed out at 15 yesterday (Tuesday), so it was a bit unusual. Blandon noted that the increase in activity at Ethos has been due, in part, by people coming in for the monoclonal antibody treatment, which was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late November. Test results from Ethos can be made available the same day (if done early enough) or usually in 24 hours, but positive tests wont indicate which variant of COVID-19 it is. However, she has noted that those who are vaccinated and test positive will show typical flu symptoms, but those who are not have a significant chance of being hospitalized or the need for more intervention. Blandon said the higher positivity results might have a seasonal tie. During the holidays, more and more people get together, and Key Biscayne is kind of a closed community, so maybe it can spread a little more on the island, she said. But, it could be anything. Confirm before you travel Tuesday, the U.S. surpassed 800,000 deaths as the pandemic gets ready to enter its third year. The CDC advises Americans not to travel internationally until they are fully vaccinated. Effective Dec. 6, the CDC posted new requirements for those entering the U.S., calling for anyone age 2 and older to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than one calendar day before departure regardless of vaccination status. When traveling internationally from the U.S., expect to show proof of being fully vaccinated to avoid potential quarantine measures imposed by certain countries. However, COVID protocols vary from country to country. For most of the countries, you do have to have the card, but it all depends (on your destination), said Tatiana Dominguez, owner of Gallo Travel Agency in Miami. The best source for that information is from the airlines because theyre the ones following the government guidelines. When you buy your ticket, it will be in the same confirmation. Certainly, some places like the Caribbean and flying internationally do require a fully vaccinated immunization card, a JetBlue reservations crew member said Wednesday. And, in locales such as Costa Rica, some businesses require the card just to enter. The CDCs latest report recommends avoiding such destinations as Venezuela, Nicaragua, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United Kingdom because of uncertainty regarding the current situation. Israel and Morocco are temporarily closing their borders to foreign travel to contain the spread of the variant. Within the U.S., only Hawaii requires proof of vaccination. On Key Biscayne, Curative offers Rapid PCR testing at Village Green from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 1-2. Click here to schedule an appointment. The Village, in conjunction with the Miami-Dade County Health Department, has added two pop-up vaccination sites at Paradise Park at 530 Crandon Blvd., Thursday Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first hour is set aside exclusively for seniors 65 and older. The sites are open to the general public. To make a Jan. 6 appointment for children 5-11 from 1:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., click here. Australias tech industry peak body the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) says its support for the growth of Australias ICT workforce has seen more than 1,340 Queenslanders participate in the two pilot Queensland Government supported ICT micro-credentialing courses in the past 12 months. Over 820 people have completed the joint AIIA and QUT co-designed Cyber Security course and over 500 people have completed the IT Enabled Innovation course. The AIIA says that with demand for ICT jobs in Australia greatest in South-East Queensland, graduates of the AIIAs Skills Hub courses have work-related skills with industry recognised credentials. The two pilot courses were co-designed by AIIA members in partnership with QUT to ensure that the skills acquired by participants met industry needs. The first course focuses on improving the professional skills of digital workers aimed at supporting digital innovation and the second course is designed to improve the cyber security capability for non-cyber professionals within Australias digital workforce. AIIA CEO, Ron Gauci, said: The pilot for our micro-credentialing courses has been embraced by industry and workers. Thanks to the Queensland Governments funding, we have provided high-quality courses with QUT that have upskilled Australian ICT workers and we are committed to continue to work with them to expand the program. This successful pilot demonstrates that we need an ongoing commitment from government, with the AIIAs expertise, to roll out this program as a statewide co-designed Cyber security course with QUT as well as across other higher educational and VET providers to continue boosting skills across Queensland. ICT has grown to become Australias third-largest sector of the economy. The high participation rate by Queenslanders in these two microcredentials goes a long way towards government being able to achieve its objectives of the Digital Professional Workforce Action Plan. Australias ICT workforce is struggling to keep up with this growth and demand for skills. With 1.1 million people expected to be employed in the ICT sector by 2026, we must provide opportunities to grow and develop our workforce. The way our micro-credentialing courses have brought education providers, the ICT industry and workers together demonstrates that we need these types of courses across the country. There is massive demand for skilled ICT workers across Australia, and we are contributing by training and upskilling Australian workers to meet the evolving needs of the ICT industry, Gauci said.. QUTs Director of Open Professional Education, Dr Peter Beven, said: QUT is proud to partner with AIIA to deliver these courses. We pride ourselves on delivering real-world courses that deliver work-ready skills. We have seen strong demand from professionals to grow their digital skills to support their career journey. The Cyber Security Coursework and the IT Enabled Innovation courses were developed with the skills needed by todays digital workers. Australia has the chance to be a world leader in digital innovation, we must grasp this opportunity and provide a framework to build around. It is time for governments to realise the digital change that is occurring and to act now to support Australias ICT growth, Gauci noted. Australia and the US have signed an agreement to make it easier to share data about crimes in either country. The CLOUD Act Agreement was signed in Washington on Wednesday by Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews and US Attorney-General Merrick Garland. The US signed into law its own CLOUD [Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data] Act in 2018. This agreement paves the way for more efficient cross-border transfers of data between the US and Australia so that our governments can more effectively counter serious crime, including terrorism, while adhering to the privacy and civil liberties values that we both share, said Garland. According to an Australian legal expert, information that Australian law enforcement authorities collate using the country's 2018 encryption laws will be freely available to their US counterparts. Helaine Leggat, managing partner of law firm ICT Legal Consulting Australia, told iTWire back in 2020: "The extra-territorial reach of TOLA [the encryption laws] means that it will ease access to encrypted data and work hand-in hand with the CLOUD Act to facilitate access to electronic data held by 'communications-service providers'." Andrews said the agreement would enhance law enforcement co-operation and help keep communities in both countries safe, while protecting the values, principles and sovereignty of the two countries. As we saw in Operation Ironside known in the United States as Operation Trojan Shield the Australian Federal Police and the FBI are already capable of smashing serious, organised crime networks using sophisticated digital techniques, she said. By strengthening both nations ability to fight crime, and giving our law enforcement agencies more efficient access to evidence, were ensuring the safety, security and prosperity of our citizens. COMPANY NEWS: Globalization Partners, which makes it fast and easy for companies to hire anyone, anywhere within minutes without setting up foreign subsidiaries via its global employment platform, today announced the launch of G-P Recruit. The new product offering enables customers to find the right talent, anywhere in the world, both quickly and efficiently. Today, growing companies are facing increasing pressure in a highly constrained labor market to find talent, and being able to find the right team members is critical to success. G-P Recruit will leverage Globalization Partners extensive recruitment partner network to give customers access to an unprecedented selection of recruiting specialists in key markets around the world. Through G-P Recruit, companies can find the perfect fit based on their unique combination of requirements including hiring location, industry sector, functional area, expertise, or prior roles all through Globalization Partners industry leading technology platform. The war for talent is real and is affecting businesses everywhere, and that means companies need new ways to find the team members they need, said SHRM president and CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr. Additionally, working on global teams has great benefits for employees too since they are more likely to have a much deeper cultural understanding. This contributes to improving the employees ability to appreciate and value other points of view, leading to successful business interactions. A lack of recruiting resources can severely hinder a companys ability to execute on their talent strategy, and many rapidly expanding companies do not have the expertise or resources to find and hire global talent, said Globalization Partners vice president of talent recruiting Mark Hedley. Great talent is everywhere, and Globalization Partners is leveraging this reality by providing our customers with access to thousands of recruiters who can identify and access specialised talent in key markets around the globe, giving our customers a competitive advantage on a global scale. The new solution will be rolled out in a phased approach, initially launching in January 2022 for hiring in Canada, UK, Australia, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, UAE, and Hong Kong, with new markets being added throughout the rest of 2022. The solution will: Automatically match customers with recommended recruiting agencies to find them the perfect fit based on the customers unique combination of hiring location, industry sector, functional area, and level of the role Be fully integrated with Globalization Partners best-in-class technology platform, so customers can create job orders, view matching status with the recruiting agencies, and track progress on candidate sourcing Support a unified customer experience incorporated through a single, industry-leading global employment platform, enabling customers to manage the complete HR process of talent identification, hiring, onboarding, managing, and offboarding without setting up subsidiaries around the globe, and eliminating legal compliance headaches Todays business environment calls for creative solutions to the multitude of recruitment hurdles companies are facing such as resignations, skills gaps, and talent shortages, said The Recruitment Network co-founder James Osborne. Partnerships between organizations like TRN, their members and companies like Globalization Partners provide innovative ways to navigate these types of challenges and are driving opportunity for both companies and talent. COMPANY NEWS: Sysdig, the unified container and cloud security leader, today announced it has raised a US$350 million Series G funding round at a valuation of US$2.5 billion bringing total funding to US$744 million and more than doubling the companys valuation in eight months. The financing was led by Permiras 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. Sysdig empowers organisations 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 Sysdigs 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 companys 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: Annualised 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, and includes nearly 700 customers. Sysdig has an average annual recurring revenue (ARR) of more than US$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 recognised as a Representative Provider in 2021 Gartner Innovation Insight for Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms Report. Sysdig has emerged as the clear unified container and cloud security leader. The company has experienced a 300% 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 1 November, Sysdig announced all deals outside the Global 500 will be indirect. Weve 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, says Sysdig CEO Suresh Vasudevan. 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, Permira principal Alex Melamud says. 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, Accel partner Ping Li says. 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 capitalise on the significant opportunities ahead of them, comments Guggenheim Investments vice president Rory Twomey. 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 organisations, led IPO readiness, and supported ten acquisitions. Paul has significant international experience supporting organisational 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. IBM found that the average cost of a breach for companies operating in public cloud is US$4.8 million. According to the IBM report, companies that are further along in their cloud modernisation maturity were able to identify and contain breaches 77 days faster than those in the early stages of modernisation. The study also found that reducing time to identify and contain a breach significantly reduces the cost of breach. After another year of disruption and uncertainty, Australias business leaders are now turning their attention to what lies ahead in 2022. When it comes to technology, the outlook is a mixture of challenges and opportunities. Businesses need to review the changes made in the early days of the pandemic and determine whatneeds to be adjusted. Everything from the support provided for remote workers to the robustness of data storage routines has to be carefully assessed and bolstered where required. During the coming year, there will be some clear shifts in business strategies and the approach taken to technology and data. Six key trends that will emerge are: 1. The focus of data strategies will shift from mechanics to business outcomes: Businesses are increasingly aware of the value of data. For this reason, rather than focusing attention on the mechanics of moving and storing data, businesses will increasingly expect their IT teams to drive data health and enable data-driven business decisions to be made with confidence. As artificial intelligence-driven automation continues to transform the way businesses operate, many are beginning to realise that AI/ML tools are only as good as the data fed into them. If businesses can ensure they are using healthy data at scale, they will be able to truly unlock the power of analytics and deliver successful business outcomes. 2. Business leaders will see the subjective qualities of data and realise the need to treat it as an asset: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for businesses to digitally transform and rely on data to increase their operational efficiency. However, according to a recent survey1 , 78% of executives have challenges making data-driven decisions and 60% dont always trust the data they use. Treating data as an asset that can be measured, trusted, and acted on will provide healthy data for businesses to make critical decisions that drive better strategies. 3. Internal data sets will increasingly be augmented with data from external sources: As businesses become even more reliant on data, increasing numbers will combine it with data provided by third parties to allow more informed decision making. For example,retailers could ingest weather data to help guide what products to promote based on forecasted conditions. 4. The Great Resignation will continue unless a Great Re-Evaluation takes place: Everyone has been under significant pressure during the pandemic. Many have also reassessed their jobs to determine if they are actually what they are seeking. Across the board,employees are looking for jobs that not only take care of them financially but also match their values and authentic selves. As employees re-evaluate their careers, companies will need to re-evaluate what working looks like to retain and attract talent. Benefits and perks will evolve with the new way of working and new employee priorities. 5. The rise in salaries for IT professionals will continue: The talent shortage that has plagued organisations around the world for the past few years appears set to continue during 2022. According to the Technology Council of Australia2 (TCA), 286,000 people are needed to join the tech sector over the next four years. Qualified people with real-world experience are difficult to attract and retain, which has led to a rise in salaries being offered. Expect this to remain the case throughout the year. 6. Businesses will be reminded of the proximity principle: When you get good people together in the same location, good things tend to happen. Fresh ideas are sparked and strategies discussed. With many staff continuing to work remotely and the office no longer the centre of activity, it will become critical to create intentional, in- person shared experiences. Corporate culture thrives through such experiences and technologies cannot replace human connection. Companies cannot rely completely on digital communications to replicate human connections. Rather, they must be deliberate in creating those connections, such as planning extending in-person sessions or creating micro-regional events close to where employees live. These shared experiences must anchor and lead corporate planning rather than being an afterthought. The to do lists of many IT teams will be long as they gear up for a busy year ahead. Those that deliver maximum value to their organisations will be the ones that successfully harness data and work to ensure hybrid working patterns are fully supported. Just as 2021 was a year of constant challenge and change, so 2022 is shaping up to be more of the same. Consider the steps your organisation needs to take to be ready. 1 https://info.talend.com/rs/347-IAT- 677/images/DH_Survey_report.pdf?_ga=2.34920548.453785815.1634569527-1396507412.1631628315 2 https://techcouncil.com.au/newsroom/2021sept-jobs-roadmap/ Eighty percent of incidents reported to the F5 Security Incident Response Team in Australia and New Zealand in 2021 so far were DoS (denial-of-service) attacks, according to a cyber attack research conducted by security and delivery company F5 in collaboration with Effluxio. The incidents targeting user profiles and remote administrative tools were seen alongside criminals launching sophisticated campaigns designed to seek out and target vulnerable business executives, the study reported. "What we found is attackers have developed the capabilities to do extremely deep research on personas inside of organisations. While these attacks are not always targeting a C-level executive, it could be a pathway to them such as a personal assistant, with the express purpose of reaching those who are the most vulnerable to exploitation, remarks F5 security solutions architect David Arthur. "We've even had cases of cyber criminals impersonating elite, military intelligence groups in an attempt to extort businesses, Arthur recalls. If you're not somebody who's living and breathing security, you'll be unfamiliar with how these groups operate, which is what they're counting on," Arthur says. The research also uncovered APCJ to be the global leader in reported DoS attacks from 2018-2021, as criminals focused their attention on regions and markets such as ANZ, which are viewed as easier and more vulnerable targets. Arthur explains why ANZ are more vulnerable. "The reason we've seen such a spike in DoS incidents across APCJ and ANZ is other regions tend to have their defences already primed to deal with these attacks. Organisations have finite resources, and with the rate new technology is entering the market, you can't solve every single problem to the highest level that you'd want to." Findings also revealed financial services had 78% more authentication attacks than government and services providers, in addition to more than 45 million scans targeting port 5900, the network port responsible for VNC, a desktop sharing and remote access control application. "Attacks targeting remote access solutions were already showing up in the data well before COVID, but it skyrocketed after the pandemic began. What you had was the use of fast, cheap and easy ways to provide remote access to employees who were suddenly working from home, and attackers realised that and just followed right along, comments F5 senior threat researcher Malcolm Heath. "These systems are not always subject to a company's password requirements, so you end up with individual employees setting basic passwords such as 'ABC 123', and there you go, it's as if I'm sitting right at your desk, Heath says. Its clear that attackers are quick to adapt to change in the world and will move quickly towards the newest, weakest links. For every new service or change to our environments, we must consider how attackers can use this to their advantage, and reconsider our defences as well, Heath concludes. Implementing a major system upgrade in the middle of a global pandemic is no small feat, but one Pennsylvania's Department of Revenue (DOR) took up when it overhauled its suite of dozen-plus tax systems into one modernized system. The nearly realized goal is to implement the Pennsylvania Tax Hub (PATH), a system that will merge at least a dozen legacy systems, some of them on 40-year-old mainframe equipment. That way the department leaders can more easily reconcile more than $40 billion worth of revenue streams from various taxes into the state's accounting systems. The department is on track to finish the almost-five-year project on time. "It was a very large coordination effort," said John Kaschak, CPA, CGMA, Pennsylvania's executive deputy secretary for revenue. "Everything needed to move in sync to make sure that we were still able to provide certain services on an ongoing basis while continuing to modernize. That effort to coordinate was massive." The benefits to both consumers and the agency are enormous. The project gives Pennsylvanians a unified view of the personal and business taxes they owe, while reducing annual mainframe maintenance costs by $500,000. Kaschak and Allison Morgan, the revenue department's project manager who is overseeing the process, offer lessons learned and best practices when embarking on modernization projects of this scale. Get buy-in on shared principles. The first step was developing guiding principles to focus the overall project goals. That included buy-in from the DOR staff managing the project. The ultimate principles that the group agreed upon were: Leverage out-of-the-box functionality. Replacement of existing functionality takes priority over enhancements. All employees are project contributors to some degree. DOR will make and support the best decision with the time and information available. Decisions must weigh long-term benefits against short-term discomfort. Having those guiding principles in place allowed the project team and the agency to focus on outcomes without getting sidetracked by the inevitable conflicts or challenges that pop up in projects of this size, Morgan said. Choose the product and vendor carefully. In a prior modernization project, the department went with a vendor who implemented a system built by a third party. That ended up being problematic because it meant the vendor didn't have the necessary in-depth product knowledge and flexibility. Another downside was that the previous project didn't focus on the end-user experience, an eventual regret for the department. So, going into this most recent project, Kaschak said they knew they wanted to have a vendor that was not only familiar with but had also built the new system. It was also important to be able to see past successes, even if the Pennsylvania project was likely to be larger in scope. Crafting a precise request for proposal attracted quality, knowledgeable vendors during the bidding process. The agency included requirements about the post-implementation relationship to assure that the vendors would continue working with in-house support staff to keep things running smoothly. "We ended choosing a vendor who's had great success," with more than 30 implementations in the United States, Kaschak said. "They have always been on time and always been on budget." Adjust to new challenges. With any large-scale modernization project, things will go wrong, so flexibility is key. That was certainly the case with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 700 DOR employees were sent home to work remotely in mid-March 2020, presenting an unprecedented challenge. "When we shut down, we didn't have enough laptops for everyone to work remotely," Kaschak said. "Some 200 laptops had to be borrowed from other state offices. Employees were sent home with cheat sheets for logging in to the department's virtual private network." A shipment of 400 laptops that arrived in July and August helped keep the project on schedule to meet the November 2020 deadline for the third rollout, out of five, of the modernization initiative. Users were trained remotely for the two rollouts completed since telework began, Morgan said. In addition, when the lockdown began, much work remained to configure the new system. "Not only did we have to train those people, but coming up to it, we had to continue to configure the system remotely and also have people test the system," Kaschak said. "Before you can train on it, you have to do the testing make sure everything processes the way it's expected to." It was more complicated than initially conceived, but the flexibility shown by leaders allowed for the project to stay on track even as the global pandemic upended work life in the United States. Recognize improved results. Though the project isn't complete, the department is already seeing the results of its hard work, including more automation in many processes and greater analytics. Though Morgan said it is too early to provide detailed measurements about the project's efficiency improvements, each phase of the project has brought additional benefits to taxpayers through enhanced or new electronic services. One benefit has been that taxpayers who had never been able to file or make payments online can now make them electronically. "The feedback internally and externally has been very good in terms of how much it's an improvement," she said. "There's even more potential, so we are still trying to keep reminding people that it will continue to improve, we just have a strict timeline, and a lot of our bigger improvements have to wait until those timelines are met." Encourage engagement. Change can be difficult for people to embrace, and the DOR's leaders have worked to emphasize that the pain of learning new processes now will lead to a much more efficient, and less stressful, work environment. Having all the tax systems merged into one platform has helped the DOR's leadership manage staff and keep employees more engaged with their jobs, Kaschak said. "If everything's in one system, it's way easier to train and cross-train people, and it's way easier to shift people where you need extra resources," he said. "Now it's all the same system, so now you can cross-train people, and say, 'Well, that might be a different tax type, but it all works the same.'" Kaschak also said DOR employees will likely realize that the PATH upgrade gives them more career advancement opportunities. Employees may gain the confidence to apply for promotions that they may have felt unsure about pursuing with the cumbersome old systems. For example, an employee from the call center where they field taxpayer phone calls may now have the confidence to apply for a promotion with a different team in the department as exposure to the new modern system increases. "It opens more opportunities for them," Kaschak said. Finance officials embarking on big projects can look at this project for reassurance that developing a plan at the start that's laser-focused on the results will lead to success, he said. "It is a very business-driven project," Kaschak said. "That is what has helped make it successful from an end-user standpoint as well, both internal and external, because we have the business side driving it." Joseph Radigan is a financial writer based in New York. Sarah Ovaska is a freelance writer based in North Carolina. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Drew Adamek at Andrew.Adamek@aicpa-cima.com. Kidnapping has been the most infamous practice of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The images of prisoners in cages, chained in the middle of the jungle, have captured the attention of the worlds media. These crimes will soon be the first to be tried before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. A trial that defines the Colombian transitional deal, between reparations and punishment. Recommended reading Rodrigo Granda: the diplomatic storm that shook Colombia DONT STAY ON THE SURFACE Check out our special focus (41 articles so far) to go deeper into the story: SPECIAL FOCUS Transitional Justice: The great Colombian challenge Illustration Amalia Satizabal for JusticeInfo.net No country in the world has conceived and decided to implement such comprehensive and multifaceted justice process as Colombia. This transitional justice was born out of the historic peace agreements, at the end of 2016, between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Trials, truth-seeking, reparations, land and other reforms, the rights of indigenous peoples, the search for the disappeared, the reintegration of ex-combatants, reconciliation initiatives, remembrance work, and so on: in a polarized political context, Justice Info reports and analyzes how the country is implementing an extremely ambitious project, each component of which is linked to the others. An experiment that will inevitably be scrutinized and studied all over the world. CHECK OUT THE SPECIAL FOCUS ALL OUR ARTICLES ON COLOMBIA In life, you always have that one person whose path was different, with whom you were not even close friends in the true sense of the word, but who, along the way, gives you another perspective on things. And that changes you. For me it was Ephrem Rugiririza, whom I had listened to since childhood on the French-language news [on Radio Rwanda] and whom I met in Arusha [headquarters of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ICTR] in 2010 for training on judicial reporting organized by Fondation Hirondelle. Since then, Ive become interested in it for good, says Fulgence Niyonagize, currently a journalist at Pax Press. I remember the way he spoke slowly but every word carried weight, and those moments of sharing in Arusha, with Ephrem making sure that I learn [and] that I return safely after the training. Oh yes, I remember that! And now, the unexpected moment has come, and he is gone, our Ephrem. Absent from this world but always present in my memory. Born on January 5, 1964, Ephrem joined Radio Rwanda in 1991, at the same time as Justice Infos Rwanda correspondent Emmanuel Sehene Ruvugiro, who paid him a powerful personal tribute on December 3, the day Ephrems body was returned to the land of his forefathers. At the beginning of the 1990s, Rwanda was already plunged into civil war and at the same time undergoing democratization, while extremists of what was soon to be called Hutu Power were mobilizing. This was a movement of people who wanted to exterminate the Tutsis, a plan they would carry out three years later. There are probably only a handful of Rwandan journalists who experienced this terrible period without being killed, without becoming a killer, and without ever abandoning their profession. This was Ephrem Rugiririzas exceptional story that of an outstanding journalist caught up in an unprecedented national cataclysm who never lost his moral compass, his rigour and independence, nor his dedication to his profession. It was a tour de force for this son of a Hutu farmer from northern Rwanda who had become passionate about information as well as languages Kinyarwanda, Swahili and French. Like good music If today I speak good French, it is because he contributed greatly to it, he who was a true scientist and couldnt help laughing at his literary professional career. He was a genius! says Solange Ayanone, who first met him at Ruhengeri secondary school where Ephrem taught French. In class, no one wanted to miss his lessons: we were happy to see such an energetic, passionate teacher who loved French and made us love it ourselves. Solange recalls the indelible mark left by his knowledge and his human qualities. Ephrem later welcomed Solange to the French section of Radio Rwanda. When I was teaching you, you didnt know that French was going to be so useful, he told her. He supported me throughout the beginning of my career as a journalist, happy to take his former pupil in hand! When he presented the news, it was not so much the content that interested me, but his art of presenting. It was always a lively edition in which he put all his energy and art, like good music. It was this man, she says, who contributed a lot to who I am today. Calm, lucid and hard-working Khassim Yussuf joined Radio Rwanda at the same time as Ephrem. After working with him at the Rwandan Information Office (Orinfor), Ephrem was his supervisor at Agence France Presse in Kigali. He speaks of a man with a big heart, always listening to others, very magnanimous. Journalist Barore Cleophas worked with Ephrem in the aftermath of the genocide. I recognized in him a calm, lucid, helpful and hardworking man. He did not like to hustle people but could tolerate all temperaments. At first seemingly quite introverted, he was more open than we thought, but generally calm, says Kennedy Ndahiro who was his colleague at the Hirondelle News Agency, where they covered the ICTR trials in Tanzania. Ephrem was a key journalist there for more than a decade, starting in 2003. Now executive director of The New Times newspaper in Rwanda, Kennedy remembers a very studious man, very supportive, very humble but very smart. He had an alert mind and liked to do research. We have lost a good man and an outstanding professional. What could have been more sensitive, more delicate, than covering these genocide trials with rigour, clarity of vision and open-mindedness? In 2015, Hirondelle News Agency closed as the ICTR closed its hearings in Arusha, but Ephrem immediately joined Justice Info, a website created by the same Fondation Hirondelle to cover transitional justice around the world. Ephrem had become the most experienced and sharpest African journalist in this field. He was the Africa hub of this news site. And he continued to train journalists across the continent to cover these difficult and terribly human cases. Where in the east do you live? Goma, Rutshuru, Butembo? Among them is Claude Sengenya, a young reporter based in Butembo, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region scarred by armed groups and epidemics. No sooner had I submitted my three proposals [for articles] than I received the reaction of a man who struck me with his knowledge of my area: Nice to meet you. Where do you live in the East? Goma, Rutshuru, Butembo?, Ephrem Rugiririza asked me. I was reassured that I was working with an experienced journalist who had a good grasp of my volatile Kivu region. When I reported on the hope raised by military justice in dealing with mass crimes in the Congo, on the link between war and environmental crimes in Kivu, on the difficult search for justice and truth by specialized tribunals in the Central African Republic or in Gambia, Ephrem had this well-informed eye that allowed him to look at the facts in all their facets, to cross-check them with sources in his rich address book. Sometimes Ephrem would give me an interesting source who lived in my region without my knowledge! This knowledge coupled with rigour led Ephrem to push me further for the smallest details to make the transitional justice process in my country understandable. I was convinced that Ephrem held a truth about the crimes of the Great Lakes, a truth that we read in his articles. Ephrems death means loss of a witness to the truth, because in the course of his work as a journalist, Ephrem listened to and reconstructed the testimonies of victims, witnesses and executioners. Ephrems death is also the loss of a key to the truth, especially about the crimes in the Great Lakes region of Africa. We have lost a pillar, a man of rigour, available to teach us young people in our careers. I would have liked to see him read this message in which I say to him in Kiswahili, which we sometimes liked to speak to each other: shukrani Mzee Ephrem kwa mema yote uliyo tu tendeya thank you, dear Ephrem, for all the blessings and he would reply to me, as in one of his first e-mails, aksanti mdogo wangu thank you, my young brother. Very saddened to learn of the death of Ephrem Rugiririza, a colleague and Africa editor at @justiceinfonet. His 20 years covering transitional justice in Rwanda were evident in his pointed, nuanced, complex writing, like here https://t.co/fGsqPA76Frhttps://t.co/UXw3oJBdyM Andres Bermudez Lievano (@bermudezlievano) December 3, 2021 Intellectually and ethically demanding Covering mass crimes and the trials of those accused requires listening to all voices. Ephrem did indeed have a rich address book, as Claude says, but he was also respected by all parties, victims advocates as well as prosecutors, defence lawyers and experts. Those close to him and his colleagues will remember his sensitivity, his listening skills, his understanding and his discretion. In choosing to specialize in post-genocide criminal justice issues, he set the bar very high in terms of intellectual, deontological and ethical standards. To this end, he chose to work for independent structures, the price of freedom. His proximity to the field and his intimate knowledge of judicial cases related to the war, the genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda, and more globally to African conflicts, drove him continuously. His numerous articles illustrate his vast knowledge of national and regional judicial contexts, his intimate and motivated perception of the multiple issues that underlie the strengths and failures of this field, writes sociologist Andre Guichaoua, a researcher on Rwanda and the sub-region as well as an expert witness in numerous trials on the 1994 genocide. His priority was not to give an account of the comparative performance or lack thereof of judicial policies. Instead, he retained the lessons that would allow us to understand the genesis and the reasons for the criminal policies that have been inflicted on so many countries, and he constantly reminded us that it is the judicial institutions responsibility to defend the rule of law, to promote the conditions of a lasting peace by establishing the basis of a plural society and a shared history. () Out of humility, he wanted to be a demanding servant of the Truth as it emerged in his eyes from investigations, testimonies and judicial decisions. He thus reminded us that telling the truth (Veritatem dicere) is the essence of Justice. In this conviction lies the strength of his analyses and the scope of his contribution. Saddened to learn of the death of Ephrem Rugiririza of @justiceinfonet. He always sought out both sides of an issue and wrote about #Rwanda with an uncommon fairness and objectivity, He will be missed! https://t.co/5FaUlE8XbP Peter Robinson (@PeterRobinMICT) December 3, 2021 Ca va un peu Every Monday, the five members of the Justice Info editorial team, scattered in different cities and countries, meet in an editorial conference via Skype. Ephrem lived in Kampala, where his three children have completed or continue their brilliant studies. His health problems often punctuated the beginning of the session. Comment ca va, Ephrem? (How are you?) Ca va un peu (not too bad), he would reply with that typical regional phrase, so you could never tell if it was just a turn of phrase or a source of concern. It sometimes put us in a good mood sometimes worried us. On Monday, November 29, there was no particular reason to be more worried. The rooster in his yard was crowing as usual, giving the conference its rural tune. The shaky Internet connection added to our strange virtual companionship. I can still see your smile, which could light up a room, and hear your voice. You were an illuminating presence and our reality check, writes Julia Crawford, journalist and English translator for Justice Info who worked with Ephrem for more than a decade. Whether you knew it or not, you were an exceptional African journalist, an invaluable colleague in good times and bad. You were a pillar of Fondation Hirondelle and Justice Info, of wisdom, generosity and professionalism right up to the last. Ephrem now rests in the land to which he was viscerally attached, in Musanze, in the heart of the majestic Rwandan mountains. It is here that his wife lives, where he always returned and where he should have already fully retired if his devotion to his children and his passion for work had not made him extend his stay in Uganda. I will always remember him saying that he who has not climbed up the mountain will not see the valley, says his old colleague Aimable Twahirwa. So, as Fulgence Niyonagize says, may the earth of your ancestors be light upon you, dear Ephrem. If you wish to participate in the Leetchi fund set up for the benefit of Ephrems family, to support them in their grief, click on the following link: https://www.leetchi.com/c/ephrem-fh A French court on Thursday sentenced a former hotel driver to 14 years in jail over complicity in Rwandas 1994 genocide for involvement in transporting Hutu militiamen who massacred hundreds of Tutsis. French-Rwandan Claude Muhayimana, 60, was found guilty of complicity in genocide and in crimes against humanity. The verdict in the trial came after four weeks of proceedings involving around 50 witnesses, some whom were flown in from Rwanda. 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. During the trial, the prosecutor had sought 15 years imprisonment, describing Muhayimana as an opportunist and accusing him of contributing to the genocide by driving and transporting the killers over three months. Muhayimana, who was married to a Tutsi woman at the time, has denied the charges. 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. 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. A representative for Myanmars Rohingya minority community testified in an Argentine court Thursday as a part of an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity by the Asian countrys military rulers. The court agreed to investigate the allegations based on the principles of universal jurisdiction, which holds that some acts including war crimes and crimes against humanity are so horrific they are not specific to one nation and can be tried anywhere. A 2017 army crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, which the UN says could amount to genocide, has triggered an exodus of more than 740,000 members of the community, mainly to Bangladesh. Recently they announced new orders of restrictions for the Rohingya people, Tun Khin, president of the British-based Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, told reporters outside the court in Buenos Aires ahead of the hearing. We worry that the situation may get worse so that is very important that we push the international community seeking justice, not only this court, but other cases for the international community to support. Other proceedings against Myanmar and its leaders are already under way at the International Criminal Court and the UNs International Court of Justice. It is not the first time Argentine courts have taken up cases of universal jurisdiction, having done so in relation to ex-dictator Francisco Francos rule in Spain and the Falun Gong movement in China. In August, six women testified remotely to the court from refugee camps in Bangladesh, claiming to have been the victims of sexual violence and to have lost family members during the crackdown. In a statement, the UK Rohingya organization said, Tun Khins testimony will focus on his personal history, which in many ways reflects the tragic modern history of the Rohingya people. His parents were forced into exile in Bangladesh in 1978, and Khin himself left Myanmar in the 1990s after he was unable to attend university simply because he was a Rohingya, the statement said. On Thursday, Khin said he appreciated the humanitarian aid the Rohingya have received, but that he wanted more support for court cases and much stronger action to restore the rights of the Rohingyas and to stop this genocide. Myanmar denies committing genocide, justifying the 2017 operations as a means of rooting out Rohingya militants. South Dakotas largest hospital system warned on Wednesday that they were nervous and delayed medical services as the states hospitals were crowded with the largest number of COVID-19 patients since the beginning of this year. We are still worried that as our hospitals are full of COVID-19 patients, we will not be able to provide timely, high-quality care to patients with other medical needs, said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mike Wilde. Sanford Health Officer. Officials from Sanford, Avera Medical Group and Sioux Falls delivered speeches at a press conference on Wednesday, urging people to get vaccinated and take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus during holiday gatherings. Since last winter, the state has seen a more severe virus surge, when hundreds of people died. We just stepped back, climbed, climbed, climbed again, said Dr. David Basel, vice president of clinical quality at Avera. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, one in 351 people in the state tested positive for the virus in the past week. Health officials reported eight new deaths on Wednesday. Although the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital dropped slightly to 271, the number of hospitalizations on Tuesday was the highest in nearly a year. Basel described how his wife, who worked as a doctor in the intensive care unit, saw more death and pain last year than she saw in her 20-year career. Basel said Avera postponed non-urgent medical procedures until spring. We just dont have beds, he added. Although Sanford did not cancel the medical procedure, Wilde said the situation is changing every day. Officials urge people to get vaccinated, including booster shots, and wear masks in crowded indoor places. Think about what we can do to save lives, said Dr. Charles Chima, director of public health at Sioux Falls. What can we do to keep this holiday safe. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has less than a week to extend its Emergency interim standard COVID-19 prevention in medical institutions, but no action has been taken to make the policy permanent, and stakeholders are not sure what will happen next. OSHAs emergency interim standards should be completed within six months of publication. An OSHA spokesperson wrote in an email that the policy will remain in effect until it is replaced by a final action. The spokesperson would not say whether failure to extend the current standard will be considered a final action. The standard will expire on December 21, unless OSHA issues a final rule. Fisher Phillips partner Kevin Troutman (Kevin Troutman) said that suppliers should continue to monitor developments, but it seems unlikely that there will be permanent federal rules. There are still no signs of change, so I dont think there will be OSHA activities there, he said. The interim policy of medical institutions that took effect on June 21 instructs employers to provide employees with paid leave to vaccinate against COVID-19, set up physical barriers in spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained, and record all employees COVID-19 infections, etc. The provider believes that The rules are unnecessary and repetitive, and many people ask OSHA to align them with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and postpone the compliance date. We urge OSHA to withdraw this [emergency temporary standard]However, if the agency refuses to do so, we recommend that[emergencytemporarystandardsexpireattheendofsixmonthsandnotbepublishedasfinalrulestheAmericanHealthAssociationwrote[emergencytemporarystandardbeallowedtoexpireattheendofthesixmonthsandnotbepublishedasfinalruletheAmericanHealthAssociationwrotein[?????????????????????????????????????[emergencytemporarystandardbeallowedtoexpireattheendofthesixmonthsandnotbepublishedasafinalruletheAmericanHealthAssociationwroteinComment Regulations in August. However, opposition to OSHA standards is not widespread.For example, National Nurses United requires regulators to develop a permanent rule letter last month. The pandemic is not over. The spread in the United States and many parts of the world is still severe. The possibility of increasingly dangerous mutations poses a serious threat to the safety of nurses, other medical staff, and public health, Deborah Burr Grid, the chairman of the union wrote to the Ministry of Labor. Melanie Paul, the principal of Jackson Lewis, wrote in an email that if OSHA does not publish permanent standards, the law will remain silent about what will happen. Because the virus is constantly changing, permanent standards for the prevention of COVID-19 in medical institutions may be difficult to implement. Paul writes that as more employees are vaccinated since June, the standard may not even be necessary. The U.S. Department of Labor announced on Friday the 2022 regulatory agenda, which includes the release of broader rules About infection control Being in a healthcare setting, but not knowing anything about COVID-19 standards, indicates that the agency does not intend to expand them. Paul wrote: The most important thing is that there is a lot of confusion surrounding these issues, and the lack of guidance and clarity on COVID-19 safety measures makes it difficult for employers to plan for the future. Claire Ernst, director of government affairs for the Medical Group Management Association, said that many providers thought from the beginning that the COVID-19 prevention rules in the interim standard were unnecessary because they had already taken precautions to protect patients and employees . Ernst said: Regardless of the way the government takes, if the news clearly indicates whether it will fail, we would be grateful. OSHAs separate emergency standards guide businesses with 100 or more employees Vaccinated or tested workers To complicate matters. Court policy Temporarily blocked, Will not affect healthcare facilities that meet COVID-19 prevention standards.However, if the prevention policy is abandoned and the vaccine requirements are restored, the vaccine policy may be applicable to medical institutions not covered by the vaccination tasks of the Medicare and Medicaid Service Center, which also Shelved Because of a lawsuit. Troutman said that if the temporary standards expire, suppliers should continue to follow other pandemic-related OSHA guidelines so that regulators know they are taking precautions to protect workers from COVID-19. If you deviate from that guidance, you better be prepared to explain why, Troutman said. Approximately one in eight Californians who died of COVID lived in a nursing home. They are one of the weakest residents in the state: Californians entrust nearly 9,400 mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles to nursing homes. Another 56,275 confirmed COVID cases among nursing home residents are not fatal. The number of COVID infections and deaths in Californias professional nursing facilities is truly shocking, Jim Wood, a Democrat who chairs the State Assemblys Health Committee, said at a nursing home hearing he convened recently. I hope we can do better. The unrelenting spread of COVID-19 has exposed deep-rooted and systemic problems in the quality or lack of care in nursing homes across the country. In the most populous state of the United States, the industrys track record during the pandemic has prompted leaders to fundamentally rethink how it pays and monitors them. The government of Governor Gavin Newsom is drafting a proposal to link state funding more directly to performance: Of the approximately 1,200 skilled nursing facilities in the state, those that meet the new quality standards will be better than none. Compliant institutions receive a larger share of state funding. However, how Golden State will measure quality care and allocate the approximately US$5.45 billion that nursing homes receive each year is far from certain and is expected to trigger one of the biggest healthcare struggles in 2022. When the legislature debated these details as part of state budget negotiations, the nursing home industry vowed to oppose any proposal linking Medicaid payments to quality indicators such as staffing levels, salaries, and turnover. In fact, the industry plans to argue that it needs more money to provide better resultsand it has tremendous power in the Capitol. According to KHNs analysis of campaign financial records, in the past ten years, it has spent at least $10 million to influence lawmakers and provided Newsom and at least 105 current members of the legislature one or more times. Donate. But advocates and family members of patients who lost their loved ones in nursing facilities during the pandemic are launching a counterattack to convince lawmakers that it is time to reform the system. People have complained about a lot of problems for a long time, said Charlene Harrington, emeritus professor of social and behavioral sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, and nursing home expert. This is an opportunity to correct these problems. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 140,790 COVID deaths have been reported in nursing homes in the United States. The elderly are at higher risk of dying from COVID, and the coronavirus is more likely to spread in institutional settings such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This is one of the reasons why Craig Cornett, CEO of the California Association of Health Facilities, believes it is unfair to attribute the high COVID infection rate to nursing homes, especially in the early stages of the pandemic. He said that not only their residents are naturally at higher risk than other members of the public, but these facilities are also forced to accept hospitals that have not been tested for the virus to transport patients. They cannot obtain sufficient supply of personal protective equipment. When staff are infected with COVID in the community Then when they put it into work, they suffered. Konet also pointed out that federal statistics show that California has one of the lowest COVID mortality rates in nursing homes in the country and one of the highest employee vaccination rates. However, multiple studies in California and elsewhere have found that nursing homes with fewer nursing staff have significantly higher rates of COVID infection and mortality. This devastating result is supporting the two-year-old argument put forward by patient advocates that nursing homes must hire more workers. If the nursing homes were adequately staffed, some of the problems we saw in the pandemic could have been avoided, said Harrington, a co-author of the California Medical Foundation in December 2020. The study showed earlier that year At that time, the rate of COVID cases with lower staffing levels in nursing homes was twice that of cases with higher staffing levels. (California Healthline is an independent editorial publication of the foundation.) Some legislators and patient advocates believe that the best way to improve care is to increase staffing, and the best way to achieve this goal is to change the complex formula that determines the daily cost of nursing homes, which is paid by Medicaid, which is covered by the government insurance plan Approximately two-thirds of residents of nursing homes. Currently, Medicaid reimburses part of the nursing homes expenditure on staff, administration and other expenses, and the staff costs paid to them are higher than the administrative costs. Facilities can receive bonuses for meeting quality standardsalthough bonuses are limited and criticized for not improving the performance of the facilities that need it most. The California Department of Health Care Services is responsible for managing the states Medi-Cal Medi-Cal program. The Department is drafting a plan that will eliminate bonus payments and incorporate quality measures into the Medi-Cal payment rate that nursing homes receive each day middle. The department is considering a variety of methods to measure quality. Spokesperson Anthony Cava said in a statement: Nursing homes that provide more employee education and training can get a higher daily allowance, and those with more employees and less employee turnover The same is true of the nursing homes. For the nursing home industry, this is not the beginning. It does not consider staffing to be an appropriate measure of residents performance. Conversely, Cornetts lobbying group represents more than 800 nursing homes, and he said that facilities should be graded based on the number of patients falls and infections and their ability to perform daily activities. We need more employees and want to pay our employees, Connet said. But we need the state to change the system so that we can get more funding for staffing. And this will require more funding. The nursing home warned that excessive attention to staffing would neglect other critical costs of operating the facility safely. They said that even under the current reimbursement system, the facilities are barely maintained. Not all costs in the facility are borne by employees. Like other healthcare providers, professional nursing organizations have various costs, including medical supplies, consulting, real estate, taxes, administrative services, management fees, etc., Mark Johnson Said, an attorney for Brius Healthcare, one of Californias largest care chains. It is questionable whether legislators will sympathize with the industrys request for more funding. They are increasingly demanding transparency in how skilled nursing organizations make money and spend money. Like hospitals and other health care providers, nursing facilities have received billions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds to help offset the cost of hiring temporary workers, testing, and protective equipment. Legislators have not forgotten that this $12 billion industry is attracting more and more private investors to buy ownership shares in its facilities. This tells me that there is money there, and there is profit, said Wood, who is also a member of the budget subcommittee, which will review the governments proposals. If they dont have a chance to get a considerable return, private equity will not enter the facility. The states approximately 400,000 nursing home residents face many risks, and the industry is Sacramentos large and powerful force. According to records submitted to the California Secretary of State, the California Health Facility Association provided more than US$2 million in donations and spent US$5.67 million in the past 10 years from January 1, 2011 to September 30, 2021. Lobbying legislators. office. Its chief executive, Cornett, is a veteran of the State Capitol and served as the highest budget assistant to four former Speakers of the House and two Senate leaders. During this period, the owners and operators of the 50 largest individual and corporate nursing homes in California directly provided a total of $2.6 million in funding to legislators, Republican and Democratic state parties, and voting measures. This number may be underestimated because it is difficult to determine that everyone owns the nursing home or chain store. Facilities are usually partly owned by real estate investors, venture capital companies, and other business interests not included in government records. Konet played down the influence of his industry and said that trial lawyers are financially strong participants and are funding patient advocates, and these groups dispute the allegation. But a 2018 report by California auditors found that the three major private operatorsBrius Healthcare, Plum Healthcare Group, and Longwood Management Corp.are very profitable. By 2015, the most recent year analyzed by state auditors, their net income in 2006 was US$10 million, which had increased to between US$35 million and US$54 million. Patience advocates say these profits negate the argument that the industry needs more taxpayer funding. In a way, the state is confused by the idea that the money they are paying now is not enough to do the work we ask them to do, said Tony Chicotel, an attorney for the California Nursing Advocate. Family reform. The most important thing is that it can be profitable. Yoon Kye Sang, Go Ara and Kang Nam Gil totally showed a gripping performance in the 2008 MBC body swap rom-com classic "Who Are You?," which is surprisingly still relevant in the modern television industry. Missing the cast of the drama? Here's what's next for them. Keep on reading! Yoon Kye Sang Yoon Kye Sang graced the silver screen with his amazing acting in the films "Come Closer," "Minority Opinion" and "Moonlight of Seoul," in which he was praised by The Korea Times for his performance. He also appeared in many MBC dramas "Triple," "Road No. 1" and "The Greatest Love." In 2013, he confirmed his relationship with actress and beauty queen Lee Honey. The two actors' relationship was pure bliss, however, the two called it off in 2020. The actor decorated the small and big screens with popular dramas and movies "The Outlaws," where he bagged multiple best actor awards, "Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission" and "The Good Wife." In June 2021, he revealed his relationship with his non-celebrity girlfriend, whom he married in the same year. Yoon Kye Sang is currently starring in the crime thriller Seezn drama "Crime Puzzle" alongside Go Ah Sung and Yoon Kyung. The drama airs every Friday and Saturday on Seezn and SKY. Go Ara Award-winning actress Go Ara decorated the small screen with her top-rating dramas "Reply 1994," "Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth," "Black," "Ms. Hammurabi" and "Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol." Go Ara also worked together with veterans Lee Je Hoon and Kim Sung Kyun in the noir action comedy film "Phantom Detective," where she bagged an award in Korea Film Actors Association Awards (KFAAA). The actor is currently in the middle of filming her upcoming movie "Sad Tropical" with "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" heartthrob Kim Seon Ho. It follows the story of a Korean-Filipino aspiring boxer who travels to South Korea in hopes to find his father who abandoned him. "Sad Tropical" is scheduled to be released in 2022. Kang Nam Gil Veteran actor Kang Nam Gil participated in many popular K-Dramas, after "Who Are You?," such as "Gourmet" with Kim Rae Won and Nam Sang Mi "Playful Kiss" with Kim Hyun Joong and Jung So Min. Kang Nam Gil also appeared in KBS dramas "Trot Lovers" and "You Are the Only One." In 2016, he made his silver screen comeback with action comedy film "Chasing" along with Kim Seung Woo, Kim Jung Tae, Han Sang Hyyuk and more. He also starred in tvN's drama "Another Miss Oh." His recent drama, "The Beauty Inside," with Seo Hyun Jin, Lee Min Ki and Ahn Jae Hyun bagged the Best K-Drama Award, exceeding "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon." Kang Nam Gil is gearing up to return to the small screen with a new action drama "The Driver" with fellow stars Ahn Jae Wook, Lee Tae Ran and Ahn Kil Kang. It follows the story of a jobless man who becomes a surrogate driver overnight, and it is scheduled to decorate the first half of year 2022. Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Elle Korea introduces Shin Min Ah as its newest muse for its January 2022 issue. Following the success of "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha," the actress is to star in forthcoming Korean drama "Our Blues" with long-time beau Kim Woo Bin. Shin Min Ah Gears for New Drama 'Our Blues' With Kim Woo Bin and Lee Byung Hun The "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" actress displayed her gorgeous charms as she graced fashion magazine Elle Korea cover. Following the success of her romance drama, Shin Min Ah is now gearing up for a new project with her real-life boyfriend Kim Woo Bin. In a subsequent interview, the 37-year-old star shared some sneak peek of her plans and forthcoming projects in 2022. To begin with, Shin Min Ah already confirmed she has been filming the drama "Our Blues." "Our Blues" is an omnibus series that tells the different life stories of diverse characters in the beautiful and lively place of Jeju island. Shin Min Ah plays the role of Min Sun Ah, a lady who has a secret and unexpectedly arrives at Jeju to start a new life. She will work with Kim Woo Bin, Lee Byung Hun, Han Ji Min, Cha Seung Won, Lee Jung Eun, and Uhm Jung Hwa. Shin Min Ah Still Lives as Yoon Hye Jin of 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' The "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho" actress said that she will be able to show a different side of herself from her previous works. Shin Min Ah added that she is focused and excited to work again. She shared that "Our Blues" has rich stories and how each actor portrays their own characters will give comfort to the viewers. Shin Min Ah also mentioned her latest role as Yoon Hye Jin, in tvN's "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha," a dentist from Seoul who moves to the seaside village of Gongjin. According to her, she became more flexible after playing Hye Jin's character. She continued, "Even though I start a new project, it doesn't mean that my previous roles disappear from inside me. I'll be playing Sun Ah in 'Our Blues' and right now, I am Hye Jin and Sun Ah. The "Oh My Venus" star confessed that she has been living and thinking as Yoon Hye Jin for months and wanted to say goodbye to her character properly, but she's struggling to bid farewell to the character since she immediately started filming her new drama right after "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" concluded. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Dimple Couple and 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' Stars Kim Seon Ho and Shin Min Ah Reign Top TV Actor/ Actress in 2021 Gallup Korea Poll Are you excited for Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin's new drama "Our Blues"? Share your comments with us! For more Korean drama and celebrity updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. EXID Hani talked about her recently concluded drama, her brother Ahn Tae Hwan and more in a recent interview, following the conclusion of her drama "IDOL: The Coup." She starred in the JTBC drama that follows the story of idols who failed to achieve success, as the leader of the girl group Cotton Candy. She worked together with fellow idols LABOUM Solbin, WJSN Exy, Redsquare Green and Han So Eun. EXID Hani Dishes Out Honest Thoughts on 'IDOL: The Coup' In a recent interview following the conclusion of her drama, EXID Hani talked about the difficulties she experienced while filming. According to the actress, the drama made her realize that she's not a great dancer after Han So Eun, the only one who isn't an idol among the actresses, learned the choreography faster and better than her. Hani also talked about her concerns about the drama, especially its viewership ratings. The idol and actress shared that the low ratings scarred her, yet no one cared about it. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 7 Korean Films You Should Watch This Christmas "The drama airs late at night and it depicts the story of idols, so I kind of expected it. But when I saw how low it was, I didn't feel really good about it," Hani admits, "Because I'm the lead actor, I tried not to let it get to me, or the rest of the team, because I want to be someone that they could rely on, cheer them up and do my best." EXID Hani Looks Back at Her Experiences as an Idol Hani admittedly shared that her character in the drama brought back memories from her experiences as an EXID member. The scene where Jenna announces on the radio that she failed as an idol in hopes to make her group known hit closer to home for the actress. According to Hani, playing the role of Jenna reminded her of EXID Solji as both strong women were leaders of their respective groups. Because of this, she realized how difficult it must have been for Solji to be the leader. Siblings Goals: Actors Hani and Ahn Tae Hwan Hani finally talked about her brother Ahn Tae Hwan, who is also an actor, who appeared on Channel A's variety program "Steel Unit." As a veteran in the industry of show business, Hani told her brother to follow his dreams and do whatever he wants without inhibitions. When Hani was asked about how she feels when Tae Hwan is known as "Hani's brother," she answered with a laugh, "I'm worried about it, too, but Tae Hwan told me not to dwell on it too much." YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: BLACKPINK Jisoo Displays Tight Bond With College Roommates Jung Shin Hye, Kim Mi Soo and Choi Hee Jin in 'Snowdrop' With his brother's quirkiness, Hani concluded, "Tae Hwan said in one of his interviews that he'll make me famous as "Ahn Tae Hwan's sister." He's really funny." EXID Hani's melodrama "IDOL: The Coup" concluded on Tuesday, December 14. The drama is available for online streaming on iQIYI. Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. tvN's "Happiness" concluded with good ratings and favorable comments from the viewers. During his previous interview, Park Hyung Sik confessed how he felt while filming the last scene of the drama. Park Hyung Sik Shares His Experiences Working in 'Happiness' After wrapping up the drama filming, Park Hyung Sik gets real and confessed he was emotional during his last sequence with co-star Han Hyo Hoo. In the behind-the scenes interview released by tvN. The idol-actor said that he could not still process in mind that it was already the last day of shoot. He added, "When I filmed the emotional scenes, the narratives all made sense to me and realized that I have already done a lot and we (team) have already shared a lot from the pre-production until our last filming day." Since it was his first drama after military discharge, Park Hyung Sik was easily attached to his character and to the people he worked with. He also expressed his gratitude towards their director who always stayed motivated and in good spirits all throughout the filming and the teamwork of the cast that made the work easier and fun. The "Hwarang" actor concluded the interview by saying that he had a great experience working with the "Happiness" team. Hyung Sik said that he learned a lot and was delighted to have been part of the drama. Han Hyo Joo and Park Hyung Sik Post Adorable Photos on Instagram The apocalyptic thriller series "Happiness" finished with good standing on viewership ratings. And after its final run last December 11, lead stars Han Hyo Joo and Park Hyung Sik showed their gratitude to the fans and crew who have been with them since day one. The two stars posted on their respective Instagram accounts with almost the same snaps displaying their overflowing chemistry and adorable friendship that was built in the process of making the drama. Han Hyo Joo flooded Hyung Sik's post with compliments and expressed how thankful she was to be able to work with him. They also posed cool photos together that the fans were satisfied to see. Meanwhile, following his first drama this 2021 with "Happiness" Park Hyung Sik will immediately proceed filming his upcoming romance series "Soundtrack #1" which is also known as "Why Did You Come to My House." He is confirmed to team up with promising actress and "My Name" star Han So Hee. The drama will be helmed by "Vincenzo" director Kim Hee Won. "Soundtrack #1" is scheduled to premiere sometime in 2022. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: CONFIRMED! Han So Hee and Park Hyung Sik Team Up in Upcoming Kdrama Helmed by 'Vincenzo' Director What are your thoughts about Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Joo's latest drama "Happiness"? 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. Written by Shai Collins. CENTRAL POINT, Ore. Wednesday saw the conclusion of weeks of preparation and planning for students at Scenic Middle School in Central Point, after collecting and donating hundreds of toys for less fortunate members of the community. Each year, community organizations partner with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Jackson County to donate new toys to children with open court cases who are newly reunified with one or both parents or living in foster or relative care during the holiday season. It's an opportunity for CASA, the community, and the trained volunteers who advocate for these children to ensure they have a holiday season filled with love, hope, and joy. Throughout it all teachers and staff of the high school have been proud of the work students have put in the work to make this all possible. To wrap it all up, officials with the Central Point Police Department arrived at the school Wednesday to load toys and other gifts in their patrol sleighs, where they then transported them to CASA. WILLIAMS, Ore. On March 2 of 2017, 46-year-old Kimberly Ann Mericle disappeared from the Williams area. Her family and friends have been pushing desperately for clues to her location or information about what may have happened ever since. On Friday, the Oregon State Police (OSP) issued a statement once again asking for information from the public that could help investigators find some sign of her. "Oregon State Police has been investigating this disappearance and is again reaching out to the public for assistance," the statement read. Investigators have confirmed that her vehicle, a red Isuzu Rodeo, has since been recovered. According to social media posts from Mericle's friends and family, the vehicle was located in Grants Pass behind a group of hotels by the northernmost exit, near I-5. Unfortunately, recovery of her car did not lead investigators to her location nor have they publicly issued any theories about what may have happened to her. UNSOLVED: The disappearance of Kimberly Mericle has been part of NewsWatch 12's "Unsolved" section since May of 2017. Mericle is described as being 5'3", about 120 pounds, with blue eyes and chin-length brown hair at the time of her disappearance. Family and friends are now offering a reward of $25,000 for information that leads to Mericle's whereabouts. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Ms. Mericle please contact Detective Cory Sweet at 541-618-7982 or the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 541-776-6111 and refer case number SP17-153979 GRANTS PASS, Ore. Yet another Southern Oregon school district will lobby Governor Kate Brown and state officials, asking them to relieve state-level COVID-19 countermeasures in schools in favor of "local control." The Grants Pass School Board approved its letter during a meeting on Tuesday night. The Medford School District made its bid for local control at the beginning of December, not long after the Oregon Department of Education introduced its "test to stay" policy for quarantining COVID-19 exposures and Governor Brown lifted the outdoor mask mandate. Those steps from the state, while positive, did little to actually help schools with the specific problems that they're encountering, MSD Superintendent Dr. Bret Champion said at the time. A draft letter from the GPSD board of directors did not similarly specify what they need to change, but echoed Medford in a plea for local control of decision-making. "With COVID-19 case rates declining and the vaccine now available to all students and staff in our system, the GPSD Board of Directors is asking for a return to local decision-making of the management of COVID-19, allowing staff to continue to work with Josephine County Public Health to determine the appropriate mitigation strategies for our schools," the board wrote. The board noted that it understood the challenge of operating schools in a world transfigured by COVID-19, acknowledging that it might require "difficult, unpopular decisions," but saying the responsibility belonged with them. "Please note that with the return of local control, GPSD does not have plans for immediate changes to the requirements, but rather to begin a discussion with local public health and our community regarding what makes the most sense for our students and staff," the board said. Board members voted unanimously in favor of sending the letter to Governor Brown, Oregon Health Authority director Pat Allen, and Oregon Department of Education director Colt Gill. GRANTS PASS, Ore. Investigators from the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) and Grants Pass Police converged on a Grants Pass home Wednesday morning, arresting a man on child pornography charges. Grants Pass Police said that investigators served a search warrant at a home in the 800-block of NE D Street after finding that "numerous images of child pornography" had been uploaded from the place. After conducting interviews, police arrested 22-year-old Dalton Bateman. Bateman was charged with six counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and six counts of second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. He was taken to the Josephine County Jail. During the raid, investigators seized digital devices that will be forensically examined by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force for evidence of child exploitation. The investigation began with tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led to subpoenas and a search warrant issued for Bateman's place. PORTLAND, Ore. Just a day shy of the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccination in Oregon, state officials say that more than 3 million people have gotten at least one dose. The first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was administered in Oregon on December 16 of 2020. Since then, according to the Oregon Health Authority, more than 3 million people have sought vaccination about 70.4% of the total Oregon population. There is likely an even larger share of Oregonians who have received the vaccine, as the OHA data does not include people who received doses through federal providers such as the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Vaccines continue to be our most effective tool in our ongoing response to pandemic, said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA. All of the vaccines now authorized for people ages 5 and older in the United States provide protection from COVID-19 infection and illness, including the more transmissible variants. Thank you to everyone who has taken this important step to protect themselves, their families and loved ones. We continue to ask all Oregonians who have not received a shot to get vaccinated as quickly as they can, and for those who already started their vaccine series, to get their next shot or schedule a booster as soon as they are able. OHA continues to encourage Oregonians to get vaccinated, get booster shots where eligible, and wear masks in indoor public settings as impacts from the Delta variant linger and the first Omicron cases appear. Scientists are still studying how the Omicron variant differs from others like Delta. While some data has suggested that it could be more transmissable and with less severe symptoms, there has not been enough data on large populations to reach a scientific consensus. "COVID-19 illness remains the greatest threat to anyone who is not yet vaccinated," OHA underlined. The vast majority of Oregonians hospitalized or who recently died with COVID-19 illness had not received a COVID-19 vaccine, and the per capita rate of COVID-19 cases are lowest in the five counties with vaccination rates in excess of 70%. 1 Shares Share In June 2021, the Biden administration announced bipartisan support for federal legislation to rebuild our nations crumbling infrastructure. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act seeks to revive highway, transit, rail, and public work systems, as well as improve broadband internet access, mitigate the supply chain crisis and combat climate change. Like most Americans, I am grateful that we are finally addressing our deficits in infrastructure. Nevertheless, this recently signed law forgets one blatantly obvious thing our deficits in health care infrastructure, as demonstrated vividly by the COVID-19 pandemic. The past almost two years of the COVID-19 pandemic halted our economy and our daily lives, more importantly resulting in 5.2 million deaths. Emergency legislation such as the CARES Act and HEROES Act supported already thinly-stretched hospitals but only reflected a fraction of their lost revenue. Despite the best intentions, these band aid-solution approaches resulted in minimal improvement of health care capacity to meet the new demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to flatten the curve were necessary simply because the American health care delivery system was already broken and unable to support the growing number of COVID-19 cases. Many U.S. hospitals faced bankruptcy and were shut down, particularly in rural areas where access to care and resources were already limited. Others had to make tough decisions regarding how they would allocate ventilators, space, staff, and other scarce resources. To this day, health care and government leadership still have not conducted the post-mortem analysis to understand fundamentally how and why our health care and public health systems have been so devastatingly incapable of preventing and responding to this threat. Over the past several years, the number of natural and man-made disasters in the United States and globally has increased, ranging from terrorism and cyber-attacks to shootings and contagious infectious diseases. These disasters have severely impacted health care delivery and population health in the United States. Even climate change has taken a toll; Hurricanes Sandy, Harvey, and Katrina disabled the operating capacity of entire hospitals and resulted in the loss of lives, both inside and outside of hospitals. Hurricane Marias impact in Puerto Rico resulted in critical shortages of saline across the United States. Candidly, such threats become disasters when the new demands placed on our society exceed the supplies, staff, space, and systems able to respond. These demands often fall entirely upon our health systems, yet U.S hospitals and public health systems lack the infrastructure to rise to the occasion. As a practicing physician who has seen hospital ceilings collapse and flooding during mere thunderstorms, I see how our health care infrastructure is crumbling every day. High-consequence events demonstrate one truth that biosecurity and emergency management experts have been screaming for decades: Unless we seriously invest in public health and health care delivery, we will be unable to meet the demands of emerging threats, resulting in profound economic and societal loss as well as the loss of lives. However, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act lacks explicit funding for health system preparedness and infrastructure. Have we learned nothing from the COVID-19 pandemic? This infrastructure law adopts a broad definition of infrastructure, mindful that the physical plants, spaces, and policies we create in service of the public ultimately impact the well-being of a nation and its people. The laws noble efforts to address the detrimental impacts of climate change and replace lead pipes in our water systems have notable societal consequences and implications for improving population health. Still, investing in our health care delivery and public health systems has historically been deficient and continues to elude the current conversation, likely because disaster preparedness and health care resilience are not revenue-generating in the short term. The last large-scale investment in health care infrastructure was accomplished through the Hill-Burton Act (1946), which attempted to construct and repair hospitals across the United States. It resulted in inequitable, segregated allocation of funding, but proved that infrastructure investment could launch an era of health care transformation. Nevertheless, the mere fact that government funding for already-outdated hospital systems has not happened in 75 years is alarming. Thoughtful investment in health care delivery with an eye toward disaster preparedness and health equity would improve population health for generations to come. As politics continue to be divisive, perhaps the lessons we have yet to learn from this pandemic could be common ground. Recognizing public health as an essential element of Americas national security would make public health an attractive business value proposition. Our nations health and our national security are intertwined, and our health care financing should reflect this. A thoughtful approach through infrastructure development could support and sustain a range of physical plant, supply chain, and other improvements in public health and health care systems. It would create large numbers of well-paying health sector jobs, improve health care access and equity, and lead to sustainable economic growth. Upstream interventions have been desperately required for some time. We should be repairing and replacing our bridges, tunnels, internet, power grid, and the entire American infrastructure and these efforts will certainly improve population health. However, these interventions are too little, too late, and they represent only an infinitesimal portion of what is required to repair many years of neglect. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us what happens in times of disaster, and it makes sense to start with rebuilding our society and economy. But now, almost two years into a global pandemic with an embarrassingly uncoordinated, underwhelming response, we urgently need to start with health care. Our safety net has been, and will continue to be, our health systems. Health care infrastructure demands our immediate attention, not just another emergency act of Congress the next time we are in trouble. With the emergence of ever-new COVID-19 variants, our future depends on reviving our health care infrastructure. Now, at this moment, health care delivery and public health should be our highest priority, greatest return on investment, and most pressing infrastructure allocation. Charles Sanky is an emergency medicine resident. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 13 Shares Share Please also read the contrasting opinion article, Doctoring during Kyle Rittenhouses acquittal. The Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal. We need to know the truth: There has been much misinformation and some downright lies on social media and mainstream media regarding this. Some social media outlets have blocked any positive comments regarding Rittenhouse. A man who contributed $25 to a GoFundMe site to support Rittenhouse, (before the social media platform canceled the website) was fired from his job. In this context, I try to present truthful facts about the case. And this is why I will be anonymous. I do not want to be canceled or harassed for espousing an unpopular, politically incorrect position. But the actual facts of the case need to be told. Instead of relying on hysterical, hyped-up media, I urge folks to consult the actual trial record and the actual video evidence of what took place. This can be found on YouTube. The actual videos and still shots can be found in the cross-examination segment of Gaige Grosskreutz, one of the shooting victims. The first fact to consider is that there is a false perception that Rittenhouse shot Black people. Not true. The truth is, all three victims of the Rittenhouse shooting were white men. Second fact: The trial showed no credible evidence whatsoever that Rittenhouse was associated with any white supremacist or racist groups. His emails and public postings were searched extensively. Not one connection was found to white supremacist groups. In a later interview, Rittenhouse said that he supported Black Lives Matter. And furthermore, it was proven in the trial that, as opposed to his attackers who had extensive violent criminal histories, Rittenhouse had absolutely no criminal record. As for the three white victims in the shooting, here are the facts: Not even the prosecuting attorney could deny these: 1. The first victim, Joseph Rosenbaum, knocked Rittenhouse down twice and then attempted to kick him with lethal force to the head. Rosenbaum was a convicted child rapist and pedophile. In Arizona, he had been charged on 11 counts of sexually assaulting and abusing preteen boys. That same day he had been released from a mental hospital. 2. The second victim Anthony Huber was a two-time convicted woman beater. He had previously been charged with holding a butcher knife to his brothers throat, threatening to gut him like a pig. Huber had hit Rittenhouse over the head with a skateboard, a blow that could have damaged his brain. Huber and Rosenbaum were shot and killed by Rittenhouse. The jury found that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense to save his own life. (Even though the prosecution team argued Rittenhouse should have been a man and taken a manly beating by these violent felons.) 3. The third victim Gaige Grosskreutz, injured by a gunshot to his arm, illegally concealed a Glock pistol at the time of the attack on Rittenhouse. Later when questioned, Grosskreutz lied by omission to the police on two occasions, failing to admit he had a firearm in his possession. He had a previous criminal record of being armed while intoxicated. And perhaps the most revealing, incontrovertible truth of the entire trial, Grosskreutz confessed that he pointed his Glock pistol at Rittenhouse before Rittenhouse shot at him. 4. Actually, the only Black person in any way associated with the Rittenhouse incident was someone called, Jumpman. The video of the attack shows him stomping on Rittenhouses head, then running away. He never apparently was apprehended, nor did he appear at the trial. 5. While the media reported Rittenhouse as a total outsider, crossing state lines to shoot and kill, Rittenhouse was living with his mother in Illinois, only 20 miles from Kenosha. Rittenhouses father and grandmother, and many friends lived in Kenosha, where he had spent much of his early life. Nor did Rittenhouse cross state lines with a gun; A friend gave him a gun in Kenosha, and there was no law broken. Was it a wise decision for the 17 years old Rittenhouse to be there in the first place? Probably not. I personally think he got in way over his head. But this 17 year old believed that he was trying to defend the city that he grew up in, a city being racked by burning, looting, and assaults on innocent people, and a city in which police were told to stand down and seemed unable or unwilling to protect the lives and property of its citizens, Black and white. But the fact is this: Rittenhouse broke no law. In spite of the fact that none of the victims in the Kyle Rittenhouse shooting were Black, some Black people have expressed concern that because of the acquittal, they no longer feel safe. In regard to feeling safe, lets fast forward to another Wisconsin town, Waukesha, 60 miles from Kenosha, two days after the Rittenhouse acquittal. Six people, including an eight-year-old child, were murdered in that town, and over 60 more were injured while attending a Christmas parade. The perpetrator, Darrell Brooks, a Black man, with a twenty-year criminal record, mowed down the victims in his red SUV. Mr. Brooks had five open arrest charges against him. One of these charges involved trying to murder the mother of his child also by running her over in his SUV. He had been out on the streets on a ridiculously low $1,000 bail. Initial reports from investigators revealed that Mr. Brooks had expressed racial hatred toward whites and Jews on social media. I wonder how safe the good citizens of Waukesha, Black and white, feel now? And what truly saddens me more than anything about this case is that I have heard colleagues in the medical profession asking themselves whether they can continue to be objective and compassionate toward anyone supporting the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. And I think this opens up the broader and more important question for all of us physicians: Can we be objective, can we be compassionate toward those who think differently than us, toward those who hold different political beliefs than us, toward those who vote for a candidate we might despise? We are all of one race: the human race. We are all brothers and sisters of this planet. And as physicians, are not all of our imperfect brothers and sisters worthy of our compassion and our healing? I hope all of us will continue our soul searching. I hope we will answer with a resounding, Yes! The author is an anonymous physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com EUGENE, Ore. -- Eugene School District 4J has implemented a new program with the goal of keeping its students safe. The district has hired eight full-time campus safety monitors. The monitors started this fall. "I think it's great. They're nice. I see them walking around school. They always say, 'Hi,' and they're just looking out," said Oliver Verga, a senior at a high school in the district. According to the district's website, the monitors' responsibilities include engaging with students, helping to solve conflicts between students, and monitoring 4J facilities and grounds for damage or hazards, such as a graffiti or broken locks. They are also tasked with investigating incidents and contacting police officers when necessary. Click HERE for more. RELATED: 4J SCHOOL BOARD DECIDES TO REMOVE POLICE FROM ITS CAMPUSES Some parents said they support the program and that their children have had positive interactions with the safety monitors, but others said they would have preferred having a school resource officer (SRO) in the district's buildings. Geoff Smith, a 4J parent, weighed in. Smith said he remembers having positive interactions with his school's SRO growing up. "It kind of gave a little bit more of a different type of authority that allowed you as a student to have a little more accountability," Smith said. The 4J school district's contract with the Eugene Police Department ended on Dec. 31, 2020. "The campus safety and security monitors hold unarmed private security certification from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards & Training and are trained in first aid and CPR/AED, QPR and ASIST suicide prevention training, MANDT de-escalation training, and safety assessments," according to the district's website. "Additional training is planned in issues related to restorative justice, equity and students with special needs." NORTH BEND, Ore. Months after a doctor was murdered in his North Bend home, the case remains unsolved. Now, the family of Craig Jackson is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible. Police first responded to the home at 3721 Stanton Avenue at about 3:30 the morning of Aug. 2 after a call related to a medical emergency. RELATED: MURDER OF COOS COUNTY DOCTOR LIKELY WAS TARGETED HOME INVASION, DA SAYS Officers arrived to the scene and found the 45-year-old man dead. The mans wife told authorities she witnessed two unknown men come into the home and fight with Jackson, causing his death before leaving the scene. The autopsy revealed Jackson died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. District Attorney Paul Frasier said shortly after the murder that it appeared the doctor had been the victim of a targeted home invasion. Jackson was a doctor at Bay Clinic in Coos Bay. EUGENE Ore.-- Illegal marijuana grows have increased over the past year. Now, lawmakers say if they don't act now, things won't improve in the new year. In a special session, Oregon lawmakers passed Senate Bills 893 and 5561, which allow $25 million to be distributed among local counties to help fight against the problem. The amount would vary from county to county. Sen. Jeff Golden of Ashland said they had to act fast because of how serious the issue has become. "We just have not had the resources. We're talking about probably thousands of grows, some of them with dozens or hundreds of hoop houses," Golden said. He said the money would be distributed among four main groups within each county: law, code, labor and a huge chunk to water enforcement. "Had we waited until spring session, we wouldn't have any improvements at all for 2022 over the horrible conditions of 2021," Golden said. He said these illegal operations have been draining a limited water supply. Water Masters monitor stream flows and suspicious water use. "The reason we had to act in special session was that the time to employ the new folks we need out in the field for enforcement would have run into several months," Golden said. Golden hopes the money gets out fast, possibly no later than February 2022. Rep. Pam Marsh is a leader in the effort. She told KEZI they've never seen anything like this. "Frankly, the number of busts hasn't been enough, and that's why we need additional funding," Marsh said. She said it's more than better access to essential resources, but a human rights issue as well. "We do not want to hear stories about workers being trafficked to work in illegal hemp operations," Marsh said. As part of the grant process, counties will be instructed to work with community-based organizations to ensure this doesn't happen. SALEM, Ore. -- Republican state senator Dallas Heard of Roseburg was kicked out of the Oregon legislative special session on Monday after taking his mask off. Towards the end of the meeting, Heard took his mask off, and Senate President Peter Courtney asked him to put it back on. In response, Heard said, "Mr. president, respectfully I think it's very interesting that our very governor, who has put our children of Oregon under these mask mandates, was recently photographed many times not wearing a mask at an indoor event." A similar incident happened with Heard in December 2020 in protest of the mask mandate. RELATED: ROSEBURG SENATOR'S MASKING PROTEST CAUSES STIR IN STATE CAPITOL On Monday, Courtney and Heard went back and forth before Heard eventually complied and was escorted out of the senate chamber. Below is a statement from Dallas Heard's Facebook: "At the conclusion of Mondays Oregon special legislative session, I was expelled from the Senate floor by the super majority Senate Democrats through the authority of the Senate President. Not for foul language, not for violence, not for infringing on the rights of others, but for exercising constitutionally protected speech in the form of political protest of overreaching mandates against all Oregonians. It is important to remember not all speech is verbal. There are many across the world who cannot verbally communicate for one reason or another. Speech simply put is the open expression of ones values and or beliefs. It is arguably the most holy and sacred of God given rights we have possessed in the United States. If you are wondering what crime was committed it was that I refused to let government force a covering over my face. I took this stand for others. I did it for you. There are literally billions of men, women, and children across the globe who are being stripped of their rights to make their own choices. "If free men and women want to seek elected office, they need to be prepared to make great sacrifices. They may even need to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom and liberties of those who entrusted them to be their voice. "The current threat of being politically exterminated has now been publicly put on the table by the elected Democrats of the Oregon Senate in yesterdays special session. "They have been messaging this to me behind the scenes for the past 12 months since I first removed my mask on the Senate floor on December 21st, 2020. "Monday was the first time in nearly a year that I have returned to my Senate desk. The open hate and discrimination against we the people of Oregon who demand that we decide our own medical choices needs to be confronted and pushed back. "Many will criticize me. Many will seek to destroy me. Those are some of the true costs for standing up for freedom and liberty. Our fundamental rights are being bleached away by radicals and big business. Big government and big business are allies in this takeover of our lives. I am calling on you to stand with me for your rights and the rights of others. We must fight the good fight for our children and for those who cannot stand for themselves. "We must never allow political dissent to be criminalized. We must never allow persecution to stop us from doing what must be done. Martin Luther King Jr. had firm beliefs in the importance of peaceful protests as he stood against the persecution and oppression of the powerful." To read more, CLICK HERE. EUGENE, Ore. --- Following a string of racially motivated threats on social media, the Eugene Education Association hosted two Standing Together Against Hate rallies near both South and North Eugene high schools Wednesday afternoon. In total, more than a hundred teachers, students, and community members arrived in support of the demonstration. According to the EEA officials, the purpose of the two events was to bring people together in response to those incidents which targeted Black, LGBTQ, and Jewish students within the district. One of the instances involved a student in the district being called the n-word, along with several other racist terms in an Instagram direct message. RELATED: SOUTH EUGENE HIGH PARENT SHARES CONCERNS ABOUT SCHOOL THREATS Many of the teachers in attendance said they feel it was important to denounce those behaviors. "Showing up for racial justice is incredibly important. It is our job especially as educators showing our students and standing for our students making sure they know we are here and will not stand for hate, Katrina Allen, a music teacher at Camas Ridge Elementary said. READ MORE: SCHOOL OFFICIALS TAKE ACTION AGAINST RACIST SOCIAL MEDIA THREATS A common theme among both rallies was accountability within the district and the desire for the administration to take a stronger stance. "I think we need to say as a collective this is not okay. We will not stand for hate, we will not tolerate it, and let's bring people in and teach them why, Allen said. Both rallies were hosted off-campus because they were not school-sponsored events. They lasted from 4-5p.m. Five local charities and community organisations have become the latest beneficiaries of Aldis Community Grants programme, with each receiving a 500 grant from the Aldi store teams in County Kilkenny. 500 grants were presented to Paws Animal Rescue, Teac Tom, St. Lachtain's National School, Waterford Womens Centre and Graiguenamanagh Elderly Association. Aldis Community Grants programme helps fund local charities and community organisations that contribute vital work and services in their local communities. Each local charity supported is chosen by Aldi employees, enabling them to help the good, local causes they are passionate about. The Community Grants programme has supported 850 donations to local charities to date. By the end of the year, the programme will have donated over 450,000 since its inception in 2016. Commenting, John Curtin, Group Buying Director, Aldi Ireland said: We are proud to continue supporting local charities across the country through the Aldi Community Grants programme and were pleased to see the impact of our donation in the local communities for County Kilkenny. The Community Grants programme is one example of how Aldi is committed to investing and partnering with local communities and charities across Ireland and we look forward to continuing this engagement into 2022. Operating five stores in County Kilkenny, Aldi is deeply involved in the local community. Aldi partners with a variety of Irish food and drink producers across Co. Kilkenny and spent over 51M with its Kilkenny suppliers in 2020. To date, Aldi has donated a total of 2.9M worth of meals to FoodCloud as well as 400,000 (raised from donated Aldi stock sold in-store, on-pack donations, voucher donations, partnership support and staff/customer donations) to Barnardos since partnering in November 2020. With input prices expected to rise across the agricultural sector, there will be an increase in working capital requirements at farm level in 2022. Farmers across Kilkenny, Carlow and Laois are facing into a period of increased costs with fertiliser prices expected to increase by up to and, in some cases, over 100% and feed costs are up by 30%. Cultivate Credit Unions are continuing to support Irish farmers who are looking for access to an increased level of working capital to manage this challenging period. Cultivate loans are a source of farmer friendly finance provided by 117 credit union locations throughout Ireland. Tom Mc Wey, from St. Canice's Credit Union, commented on the increased costs being experienced by farmers: We are encouraging our farmer members to act early and identify whether they may have a cashflow challenge in 2022. Analyse your fertiliser and feed costs for 2021 and then estimate what you expect your likely 2022 spend to be. This will allow you to see relatively quickly whether you will need additional working capital in the Spring in particular. Commenting on the increased costs of building materials, Tom MC Wey said: We understand the importance of continued on-farm investment. Farms have to be developed to maintain the viability of the business. Cultivate loans are ideal for this investment as well as being ideal for farmers working capital needs or for the purchase of stock or machinery. Cultivate loans are unsecured loans of up to 50,000. For any farmer who wants to find out more about how to access a Cultivate loan, they can go to www.Cultivate-CU.ie or call 056-7722042. In Kilkenny 94% of the population of those aged over 12 are now fully vaccinated and the HSE is encouraging maximum take up of the 'Booster' vaccine when opportunity to avail of it presents. The 'Booster' Covid-19 vaccine is available on a 'walk-in/no appointment necessary' basis in clinics at the five vaccination centres in the South East for those aged 50 and over, including the centre at Cilin Hill.. South East Community Healthcare, the South/South West Hospital Group, the Ireland East Hospital Group and the National Ambulance service have been involved in the administration of the vaccines in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford. Vaccination Centres dispensing the 'Booster' vaccine (in addition to facilitating first and second doses) are operational in: Carlow (the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Eircode R93 N207), Clonmel, Co. Tipperary (the Clonmel Park Hotel, Eircode E91 XON7), Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford (the CWCW Astro Centre, Bellefield, Enniscorthy, Eircode Y21 W640), Kilkenny (Cillin Hill Events Centre, Eircode R95 T294) and Waterford (WIT Arena, Carriganore, Waterford, Eircode X91 XD96). Up until December 12 and including the 'Booster', the South East has seen a total of 496,734 vaccinations being carried out at the five dedicated vaccination centres in the South East 164,960 in Waterford (including University Hospital Waterford), 126,396 in Enniscorthy (including WGH), 104,879 in Kilkenny (including St. Lukes General Hospital), 72,760 in Carlow and 68,346 in Clonmel (including Tipperary University Hospital). An additional 329,577 such vaccinations have been carried out by GPs across the five counties. A total of 41,189 vaccines have been given at the regions pharmacies, 40,605 to staff across four acute hospitals in the South East and 29,039 at residential care and private nursing home type settings. Another 3,611 vaccinations were administered at mental health care and other residential facilities and 232 through the National Ambulance Service. For more see www.hse.ie Lynn Grooms writes about the diversity of agriculture, including the industrys newest ideas, research and technologies as a staff reporter for Agri-View based in Wisconsin. I am currently a senior in the J-school at Mizzou. Coming from the Minneapolis area, I have always had a strong passion for journalism. I am proud to be apart of the best journalism school in the nation! Follow Brandon Antony 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today KONFRONTASI-Bangladesh has marked 50 years of victory over Pakistan in a bloody war for independence by hosting a military parade with the Indian president as a guest of honour. Huge crowds paid tribute to Bangladeshs war heroes in the capital Dhaka and other cities on Thursday. Veterans who lost their limbs in the war laid wreaths watched by thousands of solemn observers at the National Martyrs Memorial, a concrete monument near Dhaka symbolising the campaign against Pakistani rule. Women across the country wore saris of green and red, matching the national flag, as they watched concerts where musicians performed patriotic songs. On December 16, 1971, Pakistani soldiers surrendered to a joint India-Bangladesh force, formally making Bangladesh a new nation under the leadership of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The war began on March 26 and continued for nine months killing as many as three million people before victory was declared in December, aided by India under then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Thursdays celebrations were attended by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, who was on a two-day visit to the Muslim-majority country. After arriving on Wednesday, Kovind held discussions with Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid in Dhaka. Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, said the two leaders discussed issues of interest, including connectivity and trade, cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and development partnerships. Hasina and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen also received Kovind. In 10 years, we will see very changed and different countries. We are looking at green technologies, renewables in this era of climate change to create employment, IT and digital platforms, startups, said Indias Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Bangladesh has held celebrations throughout the year to mark the golden anniversary of its independence, though some events were called off because of the coronavirus pandemic. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the guest of honour in March to mark the outbreak of the conflict a recognition of his countrys crucial aid and support at the time. I recall the great valour and sacrifice by the Indian Armed Forces, Modi, who laid a wreath in New Delhi to mark the anniversary, tweeted on Thursday. Together, we fought and defeated oppressive forces. [mr/aje] President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, second from left, and first lady of Uzbekistan Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, left, are greeted as they arrive in Korea, Thursday. Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan in Korea On Dec. 16, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in the Republic of Korea on a state visit at the invitation of President Moon Jae-in. The flags of the two countries were raised and a guard of honor was lined up at the Seoul Airport in honor of the President of Uzbekistan. The head of state was greeted by officials of the Republic of Korea. After the ceremony, the Uzbek delegation left for their residence. This visit is a logical continuation of regular high-level meetings between Uzbekistan and South Korea, which makes it possible to discuss a wide range of issues of bilateral relations, establish cooperation priorities, exchange views on topical regional and international issues. The talks at the highest level will discuss a wide range of issues of cooperation, prospects for the further development of interstate relations in the political, trade, economic, financial and investment, scientific, technical, cultural and humanitarian spheres, and exchange of views on regional and international issues. It is expected that following the visit, the presidents of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea will adopt a joint statement, as well as sign a number of intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents, trade agreements and contracts to strengthen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. Despite today's pandemic environment, high level mutual cooperation continues between two countries. In 2020, the presidents of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea have held two telephone calls. President of Uzbekistan Mirziyoyev participated and delivered a speech in the Second International Forum for Northern Economic Cooperation and the P4G Virtual Summit that was held in Seoul. In January of this year, the first online summit was held between the presidents of two countries. The heads of states made important decisions aimed at further strengthening bilateral trade, economic and investment ties. Following the summit, a memorandum of cooperation in the field of "digitalization" was signed to promote the fourth industrial revolution. In the complex global economic situation, the volume of bilateral trade between the countries has been maintained. A portfolio of new investment projects worth more than $3 billion has been prepared with the participation of leading Korean companies and banks. Today, hundreds of priority investment projects in various sectors of the economy have been implemented by leading South Korean companies. Currently, about 900 enterprises with the participation of Korean investors operate in Uzbekistan. In total, the volume of investments attracted from the Republic of Korea exceeded $7 billion. In November, on the eve of the state visit, the 11th Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Korea and Uzbekistan was held. The event was attended by the heads of key ministries, departments, specialized agencies and industry associations of the two countries. During the meeting, issues of bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, industry, agriculture, infrastructure development, energy, information and communication industry and healthcare were discussed. The constructive dialogue allowed the exchange of views on key agenda items. A firm commitment was expressed on both sides to expand multifaceted interaction and increase the number of jointly implemented projects, initiatives and programs. Speaking as part of the event program, the committee co-chairs noted the stable nature of relations between the two countries, which maintained the pace of development despite the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy. A number of proposals were put forward and comprehensively considered for the further expansion of investment cooperation, acceleration of the elaboration of the draft Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea, enhancing interaction in the field of consultations on Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO, cooperation in the field of quarantine of agricultural products, implementation of infrastructure and energy projects, establishment of industrial cooperation, introduction of innovative technologies in agriculture, healthcare and trade, development of partnerships in the fields of geological exploration, mining minerals, metallurgy and textiles. An open dialogue at the intergovernmental level made it possible to clearly identify areas of mutual interest for deepening further cooperation and to identify new "points of growth" for economic partnerships. This article is provided by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Korea. A roundtable is attended by Uzbek government delegation and representatives of large South Korean business and state corporations in Seoul, November. Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul By Kim Deok-young Kim Deok-young President Moon Jae-in and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will hold summit talks this week about topics including trade, supply chains and health care, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Thursday. The Uzbek leader will make a state visit to Seoul from Thursday to Saturday at Moon's invitation, and the two will meet Friday for a summit followed by lunch and dinner. "The two leaders will discuss ways to increase future-oriented cooperation aimed at deepening the special strategic partnership relationship," the official told reporters. "The two leaders will reaffirm their strong commitment to advancing negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement," the official said, noting that such a pact would help South Korea tap further into Central Asia's largest market and establish a foothold for expansion into other nations in the region. Uzbekistan is rich in natural resources such as copper and tungsten, and the leaders will look for ways to secure high-quality rare metals for immediate use in high-technology sectors. Moon and Mirziyoyev will also share ideas on expanding cooperation in the health care sector to help enable a return to normal, the official said. This will be the fourth summit between the leaders. Next year, the two countries will mark the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. (Yonhap) A boy receives a dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11, in Rome, Dec. 15. AP-Yonhap Europe stepped up vaccinations of children aged five to 11 against COVID-19 Wednesday, as the EU's health agency warned immunization 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 center, 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." 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 immunization campaign for five to 11-year-olds. The country has around 3.3 million children in that age group. Shoppers walk on Oxford Street in London, Britain, Dec. 15. The UK government has warned the public that the country is facing a "tidal wave" of Omicron infections with currently sixty thousand infections a day. EPA-Yonhap 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. 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. A child seeks comfort in his mother after receiving a shot of COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11, in Rome, Dec. 15. AP-Yonhap In this Oct. 2, 2019, file photo, EU flags flutter in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. Reuters-Yonhap There is a "very high" risk the Omicron variant of COVID-19 will become dominant in Europe by early next year and lead to a growing number of hospital admissions and deaths, the European Union's public health body said on Wednesday. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in a report that the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) was likely to overtake Delta within the first two months of 2022. ECDC said data was not yet sufficient to assess the severity of disease caused by the Omicron variant. However, even if the severity of COVID-19 it caused was lower than that caused by Delta, the increased transmissibility would rapidly outweigh any potential benefits. "It is therefore considered very likely that the Omicron VOC will cause additional hospitalizations and fatalities, in addition to those already expected in previous forecasts that only take into account the Delta VOC," ECDC said. The ECDC said that, without further measures to reduce social contact or increased booster vaccinations, the levels of transmission could overwhelm healthcare systems. European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said EU countries should immediately plan for increased health care capacity. "As Europeans we prepare for the end of the year festivities, we cannot throw caution to the wind," she said in a statement. ECDC said booster doses would increase protection, according to current evidence, with a higher impact if doses were given to the adult population within a short interval. Kyriakides said the coming months would be difficult, with Omicron likely to come in a big wave, but with boosters as a "wave-breaker". Over 66 percent of Europeans have received initial vaccinations, but Kyriakides said it was "very worrying" that some countries were lagging, such as Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia with uptake below 50 percent. (Reuters) By William G. Howell and Susan C. Stokes Last week, the Biden administration hosted the Democracy Summit a convening of leaders and organizations representing democracies around the world. The political context for these meetings is at once urgent and dire, including, and perhaps especially, here in the United States. Just look around. Signs of democratic breakdown are everywhere: partisan manipulation of electoral procedures, disbelief in election outcomes, distrust in political institutions and legislative gridlock that just never seems to break. Harvard's recent Youth Poll revealed that 52 percent of young Americans believe U.S. democracy is either "in trouble" or "failing." Post-summit, as a reform agenda takes shape, leaders in Washington must be on notice: Democracy will not be saved through strictly legal or technocratic interventions. Its redemption requires a diverse coalition of attorneys and politicians, yes, but also activists, organizers, businesspeople, journalists, clergy and academics. Our legislative systems and separation of powers make broad coalitions a virtual prerequisite for major policy change. And when this change is in the service of democracy itself, diversity is indispensable to combat the cynicism, demagoguery and divisive strategies that sit at the center of the autocrat's project. President Joe Biden seems to understand this. In a speech in July, Biden denounced the efforts of some state legislatures to politicize the administration of elections as "21st century Jim Crow." Biden advocated not only for congressional action, but also for a broad movement in the service of democratic renewal: "We have to forge a coalition of Americans of every background and political party the advocates, the students, the faith leaders, the business executives and raise the urgency of this moment." Indeed we do. But Biden's rhetoric has not always translated into practice. For example, though Biden should be applauded for assembling a bipartisan commission to analyze potential reforms to the Supreme Court, the commission consists of an extraordinarily narrow constituency: The 36 commissioners consist of former federal judges, law professors and law scholars. Biden all but ensured that foundational questions would not be explored; that deliberations instead would circle around narrow, procedural concerns; and that the country, when all was said and done, would still lack anything approximating a road map or mandate for systemic change. We can learn from the lessons of past democracy movements. In the United States, the progressive era of the early 20th century was a time of economic and social upheaval that resulted in new checks on corporate power, a slew of labor laws and a modern civil service. But it also was a time of democratic revival. Reformers established the nation's first direct primaries, ballot initiatives and recall elections that were intended to guard against political corruption and patronage. Through the 19th Amendment women were finally given a voice in the democratic process. Reformers also sought to expand and empower the presidency, the only government office for which all Americans can cast a ballot. These were the hard-fought victories of a coalition of social scientists, philosophers, Social-Gospel Christians, novelists, muckraking journalists, teachers, social workers and others. And so it was during the civil rights movement that followed, when racial minorities joined coalitions of faith leaders, students and activists to demand the fuller benefits of citizenship. Their efforts made politically possible the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Yet again, meaningful and enduring democratic reform depended upon the participation of a diverse array of interest and identity groups. Similar examples of diverse coalitions defending democracy can be found abroad. In countries as diverse as Mexico, Turkey, Serbia and the Czech Republic, aspiring autocrats seek to eliminate judicial checks on their rule. The autocrat's playbook elements of which we have seen in the United States includes changing procedures for nominating and appointing judges, imposing mandatory retirement ages to rid the courts of independent judges, placing the courts under executive power and, as a last resort, simply ignoring and refusing to publish unfriendly decisions. To the extent that opposition groups and international bodies have succeeded in resisting these strategies, it has come from a diverse assembly of grassroots organizations, civil society groups and social movements. In Chile, a government-mandated subway fare rise sparked sustained protests that eventually involved an estimated 1.2 million people. The protesters included organizations of high school students, truck drivers and grandmothers, among others. Their leadership was decentralized, and their demands went well beyond the reversal of the public transit fare increases. The protesters argued that Chile's constitution desperately needed reform. In November 2019, Chile's president, Sebastian Pinera, agreed to hold a referendum that asked the public whether a new constitution should be drafted. Voters resoundingly favored reform. In 2022, with a new constitution to consider, Chilean voters will once again participate in a referendum, this time to decide whether to enact it. Worldwide, the movements that have defended and improved democratic governance have largely been broad, involving multiple classes and organizations. They have drawn upon the expertise and commitments of lawyers and politicians, but also of journalists, academics, community organizers, activists, artists and the business community. If Biden is to do his part to meet the profound challenges of this moment, he, too, must raise the voices of a truly diverse coalition of democracy reformers. William G. Howell and Susan C. Stokes are professors at the University of Chicago. Howell is director of the Center for Effective Government, and Stokes is director of the Chicago Center on Democracy. This article was produced for Chicago Tribune and distributed by Tribune Content Agency. A robot is pictured as activists from the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations opposing lethal autonomous weapons or so-called "killer robots," stage a protest at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, March, 21, 2019. Reuters-Yonhap Angola, IN (46703) Today Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 20F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 12F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' starring actor Alia Bhatt in the lead role, is heading to Berlinale 2022 for its world premiere. Bhansali Productions took to their Instagram account to share the news. The caption read, "The power of this has no bounds. #GangubaiKathiawadi officially selected for the #BerlinFilmFestival2022. In cinemas on 18th February, 2022." Spider-Man No Way Home Ending Explained: Decoding the Climax and Post-Credits Scenes to Tom Holland's Marvel Film and How the Secret Cameo Teases an Exciting Future! (SPOILER ALERT). The magnum opus, which was delayed multiple times owing to the coronavirus pandemic, also stars Ajay Devgn in a pivotal role and marks his reunion with SLB after their iconic movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The period drama, which has been adapted from one of the chapters of noted author Hussain Zaidi's book, 'Mafia Queens of Mumbai', features Alia in the lead role of Gangubai, one of the most powerful, loved and respected madams from Kamathipura during the 1960s. Adam Devine and Chloe Bridges Tie the Knot in an Intimate Ceremony in Mexico (View Pic). Check Out Bhansali Productions' Post Below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bhansali Productions (@bhansaliproductions) Gangubai Kathiawadi also stars Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari, and Seema Pahwa. The film was earlier supposed to release in January 2022 when it would have clashed with 'RRR', starring Alia, Jr NTR, Ram Charan, and Ajay Devgn, as well as Prabhas-starrer 'Radhe Shyam'. Gangubai Kathiawadi is slated to release in theatres on February 18, 2022. (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 16 (ANI): A day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Rajya Sabha that over 10,000 teachers' posts are vacant in Central Universities, IITs and IIMs, Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the central government, saying that this is a "year-end gift from the government. Former Finance Minister Chidambaram tweeted, "Another year-end gift from the Modi government: There are over 10,000 teaching posts vacant in central universities, IITs and IIMs. Of these 4126 are reserved for SC, ST and OBC". Also Read | Delhi: Man Arrested For Stabbing Restaurant Worker After He Refuses To Share Liquor With Him. In the second tweet, he said, "We thought teaching through teachers is their primary objective I wonder what these institutions do without sufficient teachers." In a written response, Pradhan told the Upper House, "6,535 full-time teaching posts in central universities, 403 in 20 IIMs and 3,876 in 23 IITs were vacant." (ANI) Also Read | Sensex Rises 142 Points; Bajaj Finance, Infosys Climb. (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 16 (PTI) A local court has framed charges against 10 persons in a Delhi riots case, saying they were members of an unlawful assembly formed with an objective to create fear and panic amongst the Hindu community and threaten them to leave the country. According to the police, the 10 accused men resorted to violence and loot, and set ablaze the properties belonging to "members of the Hindu community" at Delhi's Bhagirathi Vihar area on February 25, 2020. Also Read | Bharat Biotech To Donate 2 Lakh Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine Covaxin to Vietnam. Relying on the statements of witnesses, Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat said, "Material on record prima facie discloses that the accused were the members of an unlawful assembly which had been formed with the object to create fear and panic amongst the people belonging to Hindu Community, to threaten them to leave the country and to cause arson, loot." The judge, in an order dated December 13, framed charges against Mohd Shahnawaz, Mohd Shoaib, Shahrukh, Rashid, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvez, Mohd Faisal, Rashid, and Mohd Tahir. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: 40-Year-Old Man Drowns Wife In Kapila River, Attempts To Kill Children In Mysore District; Arrested. It has invoked sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 436 (mischief by fire), 452 (house-trespass with preparation to assault), 454 (lurking house-trespass), 392 (robbery), 427 (mischief) read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR was registered on a complaint filed by one Jagdish Prasad who said the rioters burnt his son's auto spare parts shop. Prasad also claimed that the mob threw a petrol bomb into the shop as a result of which it got burnt. He further stated that he, along with his two brothers, managed to escape from the rear gate to save their lives. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi in February 2020 after violence between the supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those protesting against it spiraled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and over 700 injured. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji (Goa) [India], December 16 (ANI): Alina Saldanha, 'expelled' BJP MLA from Goa, on Thursday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the assembly elections in the state next year. Taking to Twitter, AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, wrote, "I am happy to welcome Alina Saldanha, sitting BJP MLA from Cortalim to Aam Aadmi Party. Together, we will take forward the legacy of Late Shri Matanhy Saldanha and steer Goa to a path of prosperity and corruption free governance." Also Read | Maharashtra Board HSC, SSC Exams 2022 To Be Conducted In Offline Mode From March 4; Health & Well-Being Of Students Remains Our Priority, Says Varsha Gaikwad. However, the BJP said that the party has expelled the MLA for anti-parties activities. Speaking to the media, BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said that Saldanha was expelled from the party even before she tendered her resignation as MLA. He said that she has been expelled for involvement in anti-party activities such as opposing various party supported projects, attending meetings against the party etc over the last 2 years. Also Read | Fake Call Centre Busted in Delhi, 7 Arrested on Cheating Charges in Tilak Nagar. "Even though Alina joined Aam Admi Party(AAP) today evening. Her resignation from the party was received by the party via email late in the evening. The legal cell of the party will examine the action to be taken against Alina," said Tanavade. BJP's expulsion notice to Saldanha read, "You have been a member of Goa Legislative Assembly from Cortalim Assembly Constituency for two terms and on both occasions, you have contested on BJP candidature. However, your constant acts of making comments against party policies of BJP on public fora and participating in agitations against the ruling government have been in blatant disregard to the rules and regulations of the party. Hence, it has been decided to expel you from the party with immediate effect." (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 16: Facing increasing pressure from Opposition parties to quit over his jailed son, who is accused of running over farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni on Thursday joined office and held department related meeting with officials. The MoS reached the Ministry of Home Affairs around 10.15 am and later engaged in official works, a day after he was seen in a video lunging at a journalist and throwing abuses at the media. Also Read | Delhi: Man Arrested For Stabbing Restaurant Worker After He Refuses To Share Liquor With Him. The Minister took detailed information related to his department and subsequently held a meeting with Home Ministry officials. The Minister was seen in the video in Lakhimpur Kheri where he had visited to inaugurate an oxygen plant, a day after his son Ashish Mishra was sent in jail. Also Read | Sensex Rises 142 Points; Bajaj Finance, Infosys Climb. The video shows the Minister shouting and hurling abuses at a reporter. Opposition demands for Mishra's sacking from the Union Cabinet have become louder after a Special Investigation Team report said the killing of farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3 was a "planned conspiracy". The farmers were crushed, allegedly by an SUV driven by Ashish Mishra, "with intent to commit murder" and it was "not death by negligence", the report said. It also recommended that the charges of rash driving against Ashish Mishra and the others be modified and an attempt to murder charge and the charge of voluntarily causing hurt to be added. Ashish Mishra and others are already facing murder and conspiracy charges. The Lok Sabha also adjourned on Wednesday and on Thursday till 2 pm over ruckus created by Opposition leaders on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. The Congress leaders on Wednesday also moved notice over the issue a day after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence incident demanded the 13 arrested accused, including MoS Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish, to be charged with attempt to murder. 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. (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 16: The Supreme Court allowed on Thursday the resumption of bullock-cart race in Maharashtra on the same conditions and regulations as mentioned in the state amendments to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar said the validity of the Maharashtra amendments too will be decided by the constitution bench alongside those of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The challenge to the validity of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu state amendments is pending before a Constitution Bench of the apex court since 2018. The top court in 2014 had banned Jallikattu, bull-race, and bullock-cart races across the country while holding that these violated provisions of the PCA Act. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had amended PCA Act to allow regulated bull races, which are under challenge and pending in Supreme Court. The apex court was hearing an application of the Maharashtra government urging to permit it to conduct a bullock-cart race, at par with the States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Supreme Court Issues Notice To Centre After App-Based Workers File Petition Seeking Social Security Benefit From Uber, Ola, Swiggy, Zomato. In February 2018, the top court had referred the pleas related to 'Jallikattu' to a five-judge Constitution Bench which would decide if the bull-taming sport fell under cultural rights or perpetuated cruelty to animals. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, Dec 16: Ahead of 2022 state Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has announced a 3 per cent point increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees, from the existing 28 per cent to 31 per cent. The increase will be applicable with retrospective effect from July 2021 and the arrears will be transferred to the employees' Provident Fund account. The last revision was announced on July 28, 2021 when the DA was revised to 28 per cent, the rate at which employees have been receiving the allowance since. 7th Pay Commission: When Will Centre Hike DA Rate Again? Here Are Latest Reports and Updates. A revision of the DA was withheld in 2020 due to Covid-19 at which point it was 17 per cent. An official said the DA is increased twice annually, on January 1 and July 1 but in April 2020, the Centre and then the state announced that there would be no revision in DA till July 1, 2021 in order to help the government financially tide over the Covid-19 pandemic. State government sources said for those who are members of the National Pension Scheme, some amount of the revised DA will be deposited in the NPS accounts. Those who retired before the decision was announced will have dues paid to them in cash. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 16, 2021 10:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The Sheena Bora Murder Case Refuses to die down. Former Media Executive Indrani Mukerjea who is accused of murdering her daughter Sheena Bora in 2012, has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that Sheena Bora is alive and the central agency should look for her in Kashmir. Sheena Bora Murder Case: Peter Mukerjea Claims He Was 'Misled' by Indrani Mukerjea About Her Daughters Disappearance According to a report in India Today, Indrani in her letter wrote that she recently met a woman in prison who said she met Sheena Bora in Kashmir so she has asked the CBI to look for Sheena Bora in Kashmir. Indrani has also moved an application before the special CBI court, which is likely to be heard soon. Indrani Mukerjea, accused of murdering her daughter Sheena Bora, has been lodged in Mumbai's Byculla jail since she was arrested in 2015. The Bombay High Court had rejected her bail application last month and she is now expected to approach the Supreme Court through her lawyer. Three months after she was arrested, her husband Peter Mukerjea was also arrested on charges of helping Indrani. Investigation by Mumbai Police and then Later by CBI concluded that Sheena Bora was murdered by Indrani Mukerjea, who was helped by her driver Shyamvar Rai and her second husband Sanjeev Khanna. Sheena Bora Murder Case Prime Accused Indrani Mukherjea Smuggled Anti-Depressants Inside Byculla Jail, Says Probe Report Indrani did it because she was enraged with Sheena over her relationship with Rahul Mukerjea - Peter Mukerjea's son from an earlier marriage - according to investigators. The CBI also said Sheena Bora had threatened to expose her mother after a financial dispute between them. After the murder, Indrani told friends that Sheena - she had claimed to the world that she was her sister - had moved to the US. The murder surfaced when Indrani Mukherjee's driver was arrested in a separate case. Based on the driver's statement, Sheena's half-burnt body was dug up from a forest near Mumbai. Some 60 witnesses have recorded their statements in the trial, which started in 2017. Peter Mukerjea was released on bail last year. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 16, 2021 12:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). A man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a restaurant worker in Delhi. As per reports, the accused committed the crime after the restaurant worker refused to share his liquor with him Two women have come forward to accuse Sex And The City star Chris Noth of sexual assault, which he has denied. The women who do not know each other contacted The Hollywood Reporter about the incident. Chris Noth. The accusers said that the incidents dated way back to Los Angeles in 2004 and in New York in 2015, respectively. Check Out the Tweet Below: Chris Noth Accused of Sexual Assault by Two Women The Hollywood Reporter https://t.co/E0ckcQNxvV Kim Masters (@kimmasters) December 16, 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.) Two terrorists affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba were gunned down in an encounter in #SouthKashmir's Kulgam district, officials said on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/h4KiLcqJ7m IANS Tweets (@ians_india) December 16, 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 latest security report from Mexico revealed that the recent turf wars in its tourist destinations involved not only Mexican gangs but also the mafia and local politicians vying for upcoming positions. Tourists Caught in Mexico Turf Wars' Crossfires According to Business Insider, security reports and sources disclosed that the latest armed attacks witnessed by authorities and visitors in Mexico's top tourist beaches involved Mexican gangs, Romanian and Russian Mafia, and local politicians. The last three months have been deadly for Mexico's top tourist beaches. Before October ended, an attack inside a bar in the popular city of Tulum killed two foreign tourists, which included a California-based travel blogger Anjali Ryot. Just days after, during the first days of November, tourists visiting Puerto Morelos, situated south of Cancun, were locked down in their hotels after gunmen opened fire on a beach and pursued their target into a resort in the area. The shooting incident left two individuals dead in the area. Moreover, on the morning of December 7, three men riding ski-jets opened fire on a group of individuals at Playa Langosta beach in the tourist hotspot of Cancun. Despite no injury or death recorded, the shooting gave a traumatic experience to some tourists, especially another attack that happened a few weeks later spiked anxiety among travelers. READ ALSO: Texas-Based Expert on Drug Cartels Warns Tourists Not to Visit Mexico Local Politicians, Mafia Join Drug Cartels' Turf Wars in Mexico's Tourist Spots Based on another Insider report, the tourist spot of Tulum alone saw 65 homicides between January and September. Based on the statistics from Mexico's national system of public security, the coastline town in Mexico experienced an 80.5% increase compared to the same period last year, with 36 homicides recorded. The recent spike in violence was caused by a dozen local gangs who are looking to control the streets of Mexico in terms of drug-dealing business. The prosecutor in the state of Quintana Roo, Oscar Montes de Oca, where Cancun and Tulum are located, said that "about 10 groups of drug dealers" were fighting each other; but in reality, it is more complex. The state of Quintana Roo very recently had local elections in its 11 municipalities, including for mayor and most police chiefs. The positions were considered by the director of Lantia, a Mexican consulting agency specializing in criminal organizations and security analysis, Eduardo Guerrero, as a key factor in the uptick of armed attacks. "Most gang leaders had agreements in place with the leaving administration; and with a new chief of police, new mayors, and city officials, they are fighting to be the ones breaking a permissive deal that allows them to operate their illegal businesses freely," Guerrero said. Furthermore, in May, the Mexican government captured Romanian businessman Florian Tudor in Quintana Roo. Tudor is accused of being the leader of a Romanian mafia that operated in several tourist spots in Mexico. The Attorney General's Attorney Office said in a press release that they captured Florian Tudor and that they complied with an extradition request by the Romanian government for allegedly being involved in various crimes. The investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project stated that Adrian Enachescu, the step-brother of Tudoe, opened a Delaware-based business with offices in New York and San Francisco, which were allegedly used to transfer money from illegal operations in Romania to Mexico. The Romanian mafia was considered by authorities as a unique group because its base of operations is situated in Mexico. READ MORE: 14 Clandestine Graves Found in Mexico Amid Brutal Battles Between Rival Mexican Drug Cartels Over Territory This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Indian Origin Techie Killed In Shootout Between Rival Mexican Gangs -India Today A charter plane with nine passengers, including six American citizens had crashed and burst into flames while trying an emergency landing in the Dominican Republic. All passengers of the plane did not survive the crash, according to authorities. The Gulfstream IV aircraft took off from La Isabela International Airport in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday for a flight to Orlando in Florida, according to a BNO News report. Helidosa Aviation Group was operating that plane when the crash happened. Data from FlightRadar24 noted that the plane was having problems almost immediately after it has taken off. It then tried to make an emergency landing at Las Americas International Airport. The plane crashed near the runway of the airport, with four fire crews deployed to the airport. A local media reported that a rescue operation was launched by emergency services, according to The Mirror report. Shortly after taking off, the pilot of the plane declared an emergency. However, there is no clear nature of the incident yet. Helidosa said in a brief statement that the HI1050 aircraft with two crew members and seven passengers had an accident at Las Americas International Airport, adding that none of them survived. Helidosa said that they are still working on trying to obtain more details regarding the plane crash. There has been no official report from the airport yet, according to The Sun report. A large black cloud above the airport at the site was shown through images and videos posted on social media platforms. READ NEXT: Makeup Artist Gets Plastic Surgery in Dominican Republic, Dies of Infection Second-Deadliest Plane Crash Affecting Dominican American Community American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Queens, New York on Nov. 12, 2001, wherein all 260 people were bound for the Dominican Republic died. About 90 passengers of the particular flight were of Dominican descent, according to an NBC News report. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of the crash was due to a combination of pilot error and a design flaw in the plane, according to an NBC News report. Many Dominicans felt the mainstream media was quick to move on once terrorism was ruled out as a cause of the crash. Ramona Hernandez, director of the Dominican Studies Institute at the City College of New York, said that all New Yorkers and Americans went through grief and trauma together, with the occurrence of 9/11. She added that the Dominican community experienced an additional catastrophe on top of 9/11. The incident was initially thought to be another al-Qaeda terror attack. However, it was ruled as an accident by the investigatory board. The aircraft's officer, Sten Molin, had overused the rudder controls in response to wake turbulence from Japan Airlines Flight 47. Molin's overcompensation placed stress on the plane's vertical stabilizer, which resulted in a sideslip causing it to separate from the aircraft, according to an Independent report. Belkis Lora, one relative of one of the victims, said that every Dominican in New York knows someone who has taken the flight or had been part of the flight. The incident prompted Airbus to make a series of technical improvements to its planes to ensure the same disaster could not be repeated. READ MORE: "No One Owes You or Your Family Anything"- Texas Mayor Resigns After Calling Residents 'Lazy' Amid Winter Storm This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: BOEING 757 AIRCRAFT CRASH: SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS - from AP Archive The U.S. offered reward money amounting to up to $5 million in exchange for each information leading to the arrest of Sinaloa Cartel leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's four sons. The announcement was made by Secretary Antony Blinken in a press statement released by the U.S. Department of State on Wednesday. Blinken said that the rewards are part of the "significant steps" from the United States to "enhance" the efforts and deter transnational criminal activity across the globe. Blinken added that the U.S. was caught in the "worst" drug epidemic in history driven by deaths due to overdose involving heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He furthered that the transnational criminal organizations are the ones responsible for bringing the said drugs into the communities inside the U.S. According to the statement, the reward announcement made by the Department of State complements the Department of Treasury's designation of 25 individuals and entities under a new executive order which was signed by President Joe Biden on Wednesday, Mexico News Daily reported. READ NEXT: 12 Killed After Deadly Clashes Between Jalisco Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, and National Guard in Mexico El Chapo's 4 Sons Sought by the U.S. Department of State According to New York Post, the four sons is sought by the U.S. Department of State were Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar. The four were known as "Los Chapitos" and were reportedly at the top of the government's list. Blinken pointed out that the four sons of El Chapo were all "high-ranking" members of the Sinaloa Cartel and are subject to indictment. "All four [El Chapo's sons] are high-ranking members of Sinaloa Cartel and are each subject to a federal indictment for their involvement in the illicit drug trade," the secretary of state said in the statement. Furthermore, the four sons also took over their leadership roles in Sinaloa Cartel when their father El Chapo was arrested in 2014. Aside from the four sons of El Chapo, the State Department is also offering rewards in exchange for information about Chinese Chuen Fat Yip and Fujing Zheng and Guanghua. Chuen Fat Yip is known to be a major drug dealer while Fujing Zheng and Guanghua are accused of being fentanyl traffickers. El Chapo's Wife Sentenced The move from the U.S. Department of State came after El Chapo's wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to helping her husband run Sinaloa Cartel. El Chapo's wife pleaded guilty to three federal charges, including knowingly and willfully conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Coronel Aispuro also pleaded guilty to transacting with foreign narcotics traffickers, as well as a money-laundering conspiracy charge. A day after she was sentenced to three years in jail, the restitution Coronel Aispuro have to pay was decreased by Federal Judge Rudolph Contreras from $1,499, 970 to $511, 734. Although Coronel Aispuro's restitution payments were decreased, El Chapo's wife needs to pay $300 for three counts she pleaded guilty to during a court hearing in June. READ NEXT: Stepson of Jalisco Cartel Boss El Mencho Became One of U.S. Most Wanted Fugitives With $5 Million Bounty on His Head This article is owned Latin Post Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: The Sinaloa Cartel Is Alive And Thriving Without El Chapo - From VICE News Democrats embracing socialism is costing the political party the Latinos' support and Latino votes, according to a Democratic research firm's analysis. Equis found in a poll that more than 40 percent of Latinos feel Democrats are embracing socialist policies, according to The Hill report. Concerns about socialism increase by a generation, with 45 percent of immigrants concerned about socialism, as compared to 59 percent of fourth-generation Hispanics. The poll found out that there are differences between first and second generations Latinos compared to third and fourth generations regarding the meaning of socialism. The first and second generations of Latinos defined socialism as the government telling people what to do. Meanwhile, third and fourth-generation Latinos described socialism as "People will become lazy and dependent on government." READ NEXT: Latinos in the U.S. With Darker Skin Face More Discrimination, New Study Shows Democrats and Latino Votes Equis said that some four in 10 Latinos who participated in the 2020 election expressed their concerns about Democrats adopting socialism. The research firm stated that Latinos' concern about socialism has created a gap for the defection of voters, according to an NBC News report. Republicans were then given a way to move in on Democrats areas where Democrats have usually done well with Latinos by promoting the party as the better option for workers looking for the American Dream. Equis's research showed that the concern about socialism is more prominent in Florida. However, it is not confined there. Latinos who voted for Donald Trump in 2020 were more likely to say they were concerned about Democrats embracing socialism and leftist policies by 71 percent. In addition, about 30 percent of Latinos who voted for U.S. President Joe Biden in 2020 also expressed the same concern. Equis' report said that GOP's messaging on socialism propaganda is sometimes reduced to disinformation. Stephanie Valencia, co-founder and president of Equis Labs, said that closed media ecosystems are feeding the modern "red panic," adding that it is weaponizing the American Dream. Valencia said that GOP is peddling socialism as the opposite of the American Dream and is something that will destroy the dream, which creates fear around the socialism label. U.S.-born Cubans and mainland-born Puerto Ricans have the highest fear of the Democratic party embracing socialist or leftist ideas. Equis argued that the 2020 focus on the economy and away from immigration have given an opportunity to Trump and the Republicans to make gains. Last week, a Wall Street Journal poll showed that Hispanic voters evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Ivan Zapien, a Democratic lobbyist, said that both parties should always have a sense of urgency in communication with Latinos, according to another The Hill report. Zapien is also a former executive director at the Hispanic Leadership Council of the Democratic National Committee. Biden won 63 percent of the Latino vote in the 2020 race, which is about 30 percentage points more than Trump. The Journal's poll also found that just 44 percent of Hispanics would vote for Biden if the 2024 presidential election were held today. Meanwhile, 43 percent would vote for Trump. READ MORE: Latino Residents Among Groups Who See Less Progress in COVID Cases in Los Angeles County This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Stephanie Valencia: Democrats Need To Lean In To Win Latino Voters - from MSNBC Local School Districts across the United States saw a "historic" decline in enrollment continue to become an epidemic in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. According to NPR, the rate of public school enrollment dropped by three percent in 2019-2020 nationwide, erasing a decade of slow gains. KENS 5 noted that area enrollment dropped by as many as 15,000 students from 2018-2021. READ NEXT: First Lady Jill Biden Promotes COVID Vaccine for Kids as U.S. Joins Countries Vaccinating Children Under Age 12 Local School Districts Record Enrollment Decline According to the latest headcount from more than 600 districts in 23 states and Washington D.C., few local schools districts, including the larger ones, have returned to their enrollment rate when the pandemic has not yet occurred. Most school districts post a second straight year of declines in their enrollment. "There's a lot of concern right now," Chicago Schools Chief Pedro Martinez said. "Pre pandemic, we're already seeing enrollment decline. So it wasn't that we had stability. What happened during COVID-19, we just saw an increase in the number that didn't come," Martinez added. Some school districts that posted "historic" enrollment decline are the school districts located in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In Los Angeles, the student population diminished by 17,900 students last school year and this year; New York and Chicago school enrollments dropped by 58,000 and 24,000, respectively, in the past two school years. Alex Vardell, the director of research from the North East Independent School District (ISD), said that the decline in enrollment is affecting their funding and ability to staff. The Urban Institute also noted that the decline in enrollment could affect every public school's funding. "Most of the money for K-12 education comes from state and local sources. Through local funding is based primarily on taxes, state funding is typically allocated through a formula that considers, among other factors, the number of students enrolled in each district," Urban Institute noted. Cause of Enrollment Decline Among School Districts According to educators and researchers, there were various reasons for a continuous decline in enrollment among school districts. The experts noted that an increase in homeschooling and a shift to private schools play a role. Furthermore, another year of delays in entering the kindergarten is also a factor in the decline. "We think we found most of them, but there are still probably a thousand kids out there, we just don't know what happened to them," Dallas Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said. Meanwhile, Independent School Districts said that another factor for the enrollment decline is the pandemic. "Like many districts across the country, NISD has also seen a fluctuation in enrollment as a result of the pandemic," a Northside ISD spokesperson said. A Harlendale ISD spokesperson added that students moving out of the city, state, or even country also play a role in the fluctuation. Furthermore, other students are still at home while others moved to other schools. READ NEXT: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Says He Will Not Allow 'Fauci-ism' in Their State; Promises No Lockdowns Despite Omicron's Emergence This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: After Enrollment Declines, Schools Need Kids Back to Avoid Budget Cuts - From Wall Street Journal Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing new legislation that would target the critical race theory teachings in schools. The legislation would also allow parents to sue school districts if their children are taught critical race theory in classrooms, according to an NBC News report. The governor said that the new legislation will defend any money for K-12 going to "CRT consultants." DeSantis added that "no taxpayer dollars" should be allotted to teach children to hate the country or hate each other. DeSantis referred to the critical race theory as "crap," when he said that nobody "wants this crap, OK?" according to an ABC News Go report. The Republican governor further said that the concept is being driven by bureaucratic elites, "elites in universities," and in corporate America. READ NEXT: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Wants to Establish 200-Strong Florida State Guard Solely Controlled by Him Legislation on Critical Race Theory Teachings DeSantis announced the legislation called the "Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees," also known as WOKE Act. The governor described the legislation as the strongest of its kind, according to The Hill report. On the other hand, critical race theory is a graduate-level concept taught at the university level more than in K-12 schools. The bill also gives workers the ability to file a lawsuit against companies that promote the theory and other sensitivity and racial awareness training. DeSantis said they are taking a stand against "state-sanctioned racism," referring to critical race theory. The new bill includes a similar provision as a Texas bill restricting access to abortion, which allows citizens to sue people who provide and aid in the provision of abortions. DeSantis said that the ideology is an attempt to "really delegitimize out history," while delegitimizing the institutions. The Florida governor said that it "really" wants to tear at the "fabric of our society. DeSantis earlier directed the Florida Department of Education to ban critical race theory in schools in June. At least 16 states are eyeing or have already enacted legislation that would limit how schools frame American history. Critical Race Theory Critical race theory hypothesizes that racism is embedded in U.S. history, laws, and institutions while also seeking to promote equity, according to The Hill. It first emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as a response to what scholars saw as a lack of racial progress after the civil rights law in the 1960s. The theory postulates that racism functions in systems to maintain the dominance of white people in society. Meanwhile, conservatives slammed the teachings. They claimed that it is a world view derived from Marxism, wherein it divides society by defining people as "oppressors and oppressed." Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones said that the governor wants to use the legislation as his new tour message is insincere to Black people. The senator is Black. Jones added that the term woke is being used by African Americans to describe being aware of racist policies. He noted that the proposal is an effort to "ignore racism in the country's past and present." READ MORE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces State Will Officially File Lawsuit Against Pres. Joe Biden's COVID Vaccine Mandate This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Gov. DeSantis introduces 'Stop Woke Act' to keep 'critical race theory' out of classrooms - from News4JAX A Mexican woman who was shot in the head by a U.S. Border Patrol agent has announced her intent to sue the U.S. government. The 37-year-old woman, Marisol Garcia Alcantara, filed a claim on Wednesday with the Border Patrol as it is necessary prior to filing a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Tucson, Arizona, according to a Newsweek report. Garcia was shot in Nogales, Arizona, wherein the bullet entered her head above her left eye. There are still fragments in her brain, placing her at risk of seizures. She noted that she still experiences memory loss, dizzy spells, and headaches over a half year later. Garcia said during an interview that she wants to know why they did that to her and why her. She said that she is looking for justice and wants an apology from the Border Patrol agent. Garcia is also seeking medical care and medicine as she cannot work at the time. Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection, the agency overseeing the Border Patrol, said they cannot comment because there is still an ongoing internal investigation by its Office of Professional Responsibility, according to The Guardian report. The case will also be reviewed by the CBP's National Use of Force Review Board. Meanwhile, the agency did not reveal the agent's identity. READ NEXT: Gov. Ron DeSantis Says He Will Send Undocumented Migrants to U.S. President Joe Biden's Home State Delaware if He Won't Stop With Migrants' Secret Flights to Florida Mexican Woman Shot in The Head Garcia was going to visit her mother and look for work to support her three daughters in the United States. She was riding in an SUV with a group of people in Nogales, sitting behind the driver. Garcia heard a siren, experienced pain in her head, and had a blurry vision while people in the car tended to her wound. The Mexican woman said that she was taken to a nearby hospital, but was transferred to another one in Phoenix through a helicopter. Garcia underwent surgery in a hospital in Phoenix that night. She spent two days in the Phoenix hospital and was taken to a detention center for several weeks. Eventually, Garcia was returned to Mexico. The Southern Border Communities Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group, calls for a congressional investigation into the shooting on Wednesday, according to a U.S. News report. Rep. Raul Grijalva said that the shooting incident was not unique, adding that it is a pattern that needs "to be dealt with." Grijalva is a Democrat representing southern Arizona and supports such an inquiry regarding the issue. CBP noted that Critical Incident Teams are not responsible for managing investigations. The teams collect evidence for other agencies, which is, in this case, under the direction and supervision of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Garcia said that American officials did not ask her about the shooting, adding that no one investigated. Garcia noted that she was returned to Mexico without making a declaration. Attorney Eugene Iredale, who is representing Garcia, called the teams an "anti-internal affairs squad" responsible for protecting the agency from any liability. Garcia's legal team said that the Border Patrol is not in a position to investigate the shooting on June 16 independently. READ MORE: Border Patrol Agents Arrested Haitian Migrants After Landing on Florida Beach This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Woman allegedly shot in the head by a Border Patrol agent speaks out - from ABC15 Arizona A coalition of more than four dozens of organizations called on a House Panel to push through with a bill that will enact a "Yes or No" on Puerto Rico statehood. The Hill reported that at least 51 organizations called on the House Natural Resources Committee through a letter, asking the panel to mark up the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act. The said letter was addressed to Committee Chairman Raul Grijavala from Arizona and Bruce Westerman from Arkansas. READ NEXT: Puerto Rican Music Producer Flow La Movie, Wife, Kids Among Casualties in the Dominican Republic Plane Crash Organizations Wrote House Panel to Move Forward with Puerto Rico Statehood In the letter sent to the House panel, the groups urged them to resolve the "undemocratic" and "unequal" status of Puerto Rico. "After more than a century of uncertainty, it is time for Congress to stop delaying and take action to definitively resolve Puerto Rico's unequal and undemocratic territory status," the group claims. The group also said in their letter that they are willing to a compromise bill that will allow Puerto Rican voters to choose between statehood, full independence, and free association. The group furthered that "it would make sense" if the Hose Panel of Committee will arrange for a "markup" vote on Puerto Rico's statehood bill or establish a "markup consensus bill" that would offer Puerto Ricans a choice between choosing a "direct and implementable choice on statehood" or a constitutionally viable non-territory option which is "independence." Meanwhile, the executive director of Puerto Rico Statehood Council, George Laws Garcia, urged Congress to hear the pleas of the Puerto Ricans to pass the statehood admissions act. "We are calling on Congress to listen to and respect the will of the majority of Puerto Rico's voters through passing the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act," Garcia underscored. The letter from the organization came after more than a year Puerto Ricans voted for a non-binding referendum or statehood for the seventh time, CBS News reported. In the voting that happened in November of 2020, 52 percent of Puerto Rican voters said yes to the idea of becoming the 51st U.S. State. "We are very much part of America... We want to have the same rights. We want to vote for president, have congressional representation, and equal treatment in all the federal programs," Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Pierluisi said in an interview. Puerto Rico has been a territory of the U.S. since 1898. Luis Munoz Marin, the governor of the island in 1952 established the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with the idea of their island having a relationship with the U.S. while still having some of their independence. 2 Bills Introduced for Puerto Rico Statehood In the light of the push to Puerto Rico's statehood, 2 bills were introduced in Congress to push through with Puerto Rico's statehood. In April and June, Grijalva held hearings where witnesses discussed bills introduced by Representative Nydia Velasquez, called Puerto Rico Self Determination Act, and Representative Darren Soto called the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, which is a yes/no proposal. According to Soto, his bill seeks to establish a "framework" for admission as well as a presidential proclamation in its passage, ratification vote, and the election of U.S. senators and representatives and the continuity of government, obligations, and government. Soto's legislation mirrors the process used by Hawaii and Alaska into the union to be state of the U.S. The debate about Puerto Rico's status had a foothold in Washington during the Trump administration. However, the pandemic and the political climate surrounding the 2020 election placed Capitol Hill's attention on other issues. READ NEXT: Bombings in Colombia Airport Kill 2 Police Officers, Attacker This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: The Shocking History of Puerto Rico Statehood - From Crooked Media 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. A woman charged with theft from Shaws appeared at Portlaoise District Court last week. Catherine Farrell, 34, of 19 Clen na Glaise, Ballyroan was charged with theft from Shaws on September 20 this year of a makeup pallet worth 33.95, and a bottle of Scandal perfume to the value of 100. Sgt JJ Kirby outlined to the court that at 11.30pm on the date in question Ms Farrell had put the items under her cardigan and walked out. Appearing for Ms Farrell, solicitor Philip Meagher said she was ashamed and apologetic. She could offer no great explanation for her actions. She had a history of substance abuse and had undergone a residential course in St. Francis Farm and had gone to the UK where she had got blocker medication. She had relapsed after this and had then gone to St. Francis Farm. She had now engaged with CADS. Judge Catherine Staines sought a probation report for March 10. She said that compensation would be needed. Ms Farrell had 50 in court but would need another 85. A man took a foolish risk to drive a jeep home, even though he was disqualified at the time, the District Court heard last week. Dan Bruha, 39, of 53 Triogue Manor, Portlaoise was charged with no insurance and no driving licence at his address on November 15 this year. The court heard he had one previous conviction for no insurance and one for drink driving. Judge Catherine Staines noted he was in breach of two disqualifications and had no insurance. Appearing for Mr Bruha, solicitor Barry Fitzgerald acknowledged he was disqualified at the time of the offence. He was from Czechoslovakia and was employed in maintenance in a shopping complex. A jeep with his tools in it were at his place of work and he had taken the foolish risk of driving it home. It was a once off and he had not been driving continuously. He was completely wrong. He was hard working and his family were too. Judge Catherine Staines said that court orders had to have meaning. She sentenced him to one month in the Midlands Prison, suspended for one year, and disqualified him from driving for four years. She warned him that if he drove again he would go to prison. The ESB has rejected claims by Laois councillors at a council meeting that it is in breach of planning regulations. The claims are regarding the Laois construction site of a new electricity sub station in Coolnabacca near Stradbally. Councillors had made their claims at the December meeting of Laois County Council. They say that there are 10 breaches to the planning conditions by Eirgrid / ESB. they say Eirgrid did not put a membrane around concrete structures. They also say that there is no planning permission for two tanks containing 300,000 litres of oil, expressing fears that if there is a fire, the underground water source serving a wide area of Laois could be contaminated. The ESB has responded to say their works are compliant with planning. "ESB is carrying out the works at the site in compliance with planning, with all relevant documents being publicly available through Laois County Council. Planning enforcement is a matter for Laois County Council. "At all times, ESB and Eirgrid have acted in good faith and have engaged fully with the community and sought to address any issues raised," an ESB spokesperson told the Leinster Express. They gave a completion date. "Works are ongoing at the site with final energisation of all elements to this project scheduled for 2025." They describe why the substation and reinforced electricity lines are being built. "The Laois/Kilkenny Reinforcement Project is a vital project in terms of strengthening the electricity network in Ireland, which is essential in order to facilitate the development of the county and wider region for the overall benefit of its communities. "EirGrid proposed the project to address problems related to the quality of supply across Laois, Carlow, Kildare and Wicklow and a security of supply issue that affects County Kilkenny. These problems are caused by weaknesses and a lack of reliability on the transmission network across the region as a result of continued growth in demand for electricity. The problems are starting to become critical," the ESB spokesperson said. Last Monday, Laois County Council CEO John Mulholland left the council meeting while Cllr Padraig Fleming spoke about a claimed lack of compliance with planning conditions. Read below. A big Dublin maternity hospital that is closely linked to Portlaoise hospital's maternity unit has had to lock down its computer systems due to a cyber attack. The Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital confirmed on Thursday, December 16 that its IT system was attacked. "We can confirm that the Coombe has been the subject of a cyberattack overnight. We wish to reassure all accessing our services that services are continuing as normal. We have locked down our IT systems on a precautionary basis and are working with the HSE to resolve this matter," it said. The Coombe is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group which also includes Portlaoise, Tullamore, Naas and St James's and Tallaght in Dublin. The Coombe and Portlaoise hospital are closely linked due to the shared maternity service network set up in recent years. The HSE said its teams are working with the Coombe. "We are aware of a ransomware attack on IT systems at the Coombe. This has impacted several systems in the hospital. HSE teams are working with colleagues in the Coombe and have disconnected the facility from the National Health Network. "At this point we have not seen evidence of an impact external to the Coombe Hospital but we are continuing, with external support, to assess whether there is any broader impact. We will share further information as we have it," the HSE said. Its the second big attack on the Irish health service in a year. The entire service was hit earlier in 2021. Independent TD for Laois-Offaly Carol Nolan has described the numbers of primary school age children who are still waiting for their routine 2nd and 6th class dental check-up as deeply alarming. Deputy Nolan was speaking after the HSE confirmed that there are 1,560 sixth class children in Laois on the dental waiting list while there are 1,312 sixth class children waiting in Offaly: This is a persistent issue of concern for many parents, and indeed children, in Laois-Offaly, Deputy Nolan stated. In fact, one of the most striking things about the information supplied by the HSE is that they have no data on the number of 2nd class children in either county who are waiting for a routine dental check-up," she said. The TD said this means that the 2,872 children that we do know are on the list is clearly a severe under-calculation. "I have repeatedly raised these, and other dental services related matters at the highest levels with both the Taoiseach and the HSE. "We know there are currently only 48 remaining dental practices across the Midlands who operate within the medical card treatment scheme and that a mere 13 of these are operating within counties Laois and Offaly. "Many of these practices have been unable to take on any additional patients as they simply do not have the capacity to meet the ever-increasing demand. This situation is made worse by the fact that there are currently no new applications being processed to join the Dental Treatment Scheme within the entire HSE dental Midlands area," she said. Dep Nolan said it is clear that the current contractual model is one that dentists feel they can no longer operate within. "That has to change. We need to ask why dentists are leaving the service in their droves and then tackle those causes immediately in order to stop the exodus from the treatment schemes. "Failure to tackle the dental problems that our children may be experiencing not only means that they will have an increased likelihood of experiencing dental pain and unnecessary extractions, it also means that we are just adding to the ever expanding list of people who may one day need more extensive treatment," she said. She called on the HSE and the Minister for Health to engage with the Irish Dental Association, who she said want to resolved the core issues affecting the collapse in service. Each year Intel employees spend the month of December supporting a variety of fundraising activities and collections in support of local St. Vincent de Paul organisations. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) is the largest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland and focuses on providing a practical approach to dealing with poverty, alleviating its effects on individuals and families. The important work of the society is particularly critical at this time of the year and with this in mind Intel once again decided to devote volunteering and charitable activities in December 2021 towards supporting the SVP. One of the key activities supported by employees was the donation of over 200 specially assembled gift boxes as part of a shoebox appeal for St. Vincent de Paul. The shoeboxes were assembled for children of a variety of ages and typically contain practical items, such as toiletries, along with toys, books and treats etc. for the recipients. Intel employees also created and sold specially designed Santa Letters to raise some funds for the organisations. In addition to the shoeboxes, Intel made a donation of 15,000 to the organisation. This donation was split between the three local branches of the SVP Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth to support their critical work in our local communities. Intel Ireland External Relations Manager Lisa Harlow said, The work of St. Vincent de Paul is so important in our communities and I am delighted and proud of how our employees have continued to support our local societies again this year. I hope that our contribution will help make a difference to the wonderful work that they do. Conor McGregor has been urged to stand for the Dail and fight for votes if he has political ambitions. The UFC star (33) has been tipped by the latest edition of Old Moore's Almanac to dip his toe into politics in 2022 onwards. And as he has a 3m home in Castledillon, Straffan, the Dubliner may be tempted to run in any future general election for the North Kildare constituency. But veteran local TD Bernard Durkan has called on any potential candidates like McGregor to put themselves before voters if they want to get elected. Mr Durkan (76) who has recently slammed Lottery bosses for Lotto jackpots not being won for six months, said: "It is the right of anyone, anywhere to stand for election and allow the public to make the judgment." Old Moore's Almanac magazine, founded by Irish mathematician and teacher Theophilus Moore, cites its "in-house psychic" on the political ambitions of McGregor in 2022. It says: "As for Conor McGregor, he will even enter politics delicately to test the waters and why not? He dresses the best out of any politician. "He is far from embarrassing considering the alternatives." In the past, the 258-year-old publication foresaw the rise of cryptocurrency and Donald Trump failing to secure his second term as US president. Outspoken McGregor has taken to social media in the past to criticise the response by the Government, the HSE and NPHET to the Covid-19 pandemic. He called for a full lockdown in Ireland at the very start of the pandemic and later purchased and supplied a large consignment of PPE to hospitals. In a series of tweets last month, the Dubliner claimed he was frustrated with mixed messages from authorities and called for more clarity for people in the battle against the virus. Educate Together has welcomed the announcement of urgently needed plans to expand educational provision in South Kildare, while expressing surprise and disappointment that these plans will not provide an additional option for parents seeking diversity of school choice in the area through a trustee partnership. It was announced on Monday that the Curragh Post Primary School will be expanded to 1,000 pupils and moved to an 8-acre site on the Magee Barracks site in Kildare town. Parents in South Kildare have been campaigning for an Educate Together second-level option for the area since 2014. In December 2018, the then Minister for Education Joe McHugh TD announced the replacement and expansion of the Curragh Post Primary School with a new 1,000 pupil school building, with the potential for Educate Together to become a Trustee Partner for the school. Educate Together said it agreed to work with Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) to explore whether a partnership could be established to meet the demand for school places in the area. A statement from Educate Together said: "Educate Together held meetings with the ETB between 2018 and 2020 and proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). "However, the ETB has now declined to enter into a partnership arrangement, preferring instead to continue to operate Curragh Post Primary School without Educate Togethers involvement as a Trustee Partner. While Educate Together welcomes the provision of these additional school places, the school patron body is extremely disappointed for the many families who have campaigned over the years, that Kildare Wicklow ETB has declined an offer to work with Educate Together in relation to an ETB / Educate Together partnership school, as originally envisaged." Educate Together said it will be seeking clarity from the Department of Education about how it intends to address the demand for Educate Together provision in the area. Speaking about yesterdays announcement, Dr Emer Nowlan, CEO of Educate Together said: We welcome the announcement that the Magee Barracks site is to be used for much-needed additional school places, and wish the staff and school community of Curragh Post-Primary School well in their move to Kildare town. "However, we share the disappointment of hundreds of families in South Kildare who campaigned over many years for the choice of an Educate Together second-level school for the area. Educate Together is patron of three primary schools in Kildare, and is joint patron with KWETB of Celbridge Community School. Speaking separately, 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, co-educational 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. The Minister for Defence has said that the contract for the new Cadet School is expected to be signed early in the New Year. The project is expected to cost in the region of 1m. Simon Coveney was responding to a question tabled by North Kildare TD Catherine Murphy in the Dail. Mr Coveney said: "It is intended that the contract will be signed early in the New Year, with a construction programme of 12 months expected to complete the project." The new facility, which will be located in the Defence Forces Training Centre, is provided for under the National Development Plan. Last June, expressions of interest were sought from contractors for the construction of the project which includes the refurbishment and partial demolition of the existing building which is 250 square metres in size. Also involved is the construction of a new two-storey extension spanning 650 square metres which combined will form the new Cadet School HQ building. The HQ building will include offices and conference rooms as well as teaching, administration and communal spaces. The Curragh Racecourse today announced an increased prize fund for the Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup to be run in May 2022 as the feature races of a three-day Irish Guineas Festival meeting. This has been made possible through the increased support of Tattersalls, Europes leading bloodstock sales company, whose support includes sponsorship of three Group 1 races the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival takes place over three days from Friday May 20 to Sunday May 22, 2022 with the Tattersalls 2000 Guineas on the Saturday and the Tattersalls 1000 Guineas and Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday. The full race schedule for all three days will be announced in the new year. Prizemoney for the Tattersalls Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas is supported by Horse Racing Ireland, the Curragh Racecourse and Tattersalls, with both races increasing in value next year from 400,000 to 500,000, while the Tattersalls Gold Cup will be worth 400,000 in 2022, an increase of 100,000 from 2021. This year, the Jim Bolger-trained Mac Swiney gave jockey Rory Cleary his first Classic success in the Tattersalls 2000 Guineas, beating English 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare, while Empress Josephine landed the Tattersalls 1000 Guineas to give trainer Aidan OBrien a remarkable tenth success in the race. The Tattersalls Gold Cup saw Helvic Dream give trainer Noel Meade a day he will never forget with his first Group 1 success on the Flat, beating the odds-on favourite Broome. The first entry stage for both Classics closed recently and features some of the highest rated two-year-olds in training. Luxembourg, Native Trial, Modern Games, Dubai Legend, Royal Patronage, Go Bears Go, Angel Bleu and Duke De Sessa feature among the entries for the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, while Agartha, Discoveries, Inspiral, Sandrine, Tenebrism and Sacred Bridge are among the eight three fillies entered in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas. There is a second entry stage for both Classics on April 6. Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony, said: To see the prizemoney for all three Tattersalls sponsored Group 1 races at the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival increase by a total of 300,000 is fantastic news for Irish racing and reflects the status of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival as one of the most prestigious race meetings in the European calendar. The Tattersalls sponsorship of these three great races demonstrates our continued commitment to Irish racing and we are already looking forward to three competitive races which will without doubt be amongst the highlights of our global race sponsorship portfolio." Curragh Racecourse Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh, said: The Curragh has had a long and successful partnership with Tattersalls who have been sponsors with us since 1984. We are delighted that they have agreed to continue their sponsorship and increase their support in 2022 it is greatly appreciated within Irish racing. "The Guineas meeting is the start of the Classic season in Ireland and it is important that our Group 1 Races offer prizemoney which is attractive to the best horses and on a par with our international equivalents. With the support of Tattersalls and Horse Racing Ireland, the Curragh is committed to doing that. Next year the Guineas Festival will be a three-day meeting and the team at the Curragh are working on some exciting plans for the event which will be announced in the new year. A Monaghan man has become the second male to admit to his involvement in the thefts of ATMS by a destructive cross-Border gang, after he pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing stolen cash. Five men have been charged before the non-jury court in relation to an investigation into the theft of an ATM in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in April 2019 and the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia, Co Cavan, in August 2019. Today (Thursday) at the three-judge court, Stephen Duffy (35) of Tullynahinera, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, pleaded guilty to possessing cash at The Yard, Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath, on August 20, 2019. The registrar said that Duffy was charged with a serious offence, to wit: the possession of cash for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Duffy spoke only to acknowledge his name and reply "guilty" when the registrar read out the charge. Duffy was remanded on continuing bail by presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt to January 14. Last month, Niall Finnegan (39) was jailed for four-and-a-half years with the final 18 months suspended for possessing the cash, which was the proceeds of the ATM thefts carried out by the gang. Finnegan of Cherry Grove, Cullyhanna, Co Armagh, pleaded guilty in July at the court to possessing or handling 103,000 at Tullypole in August 2019. In sentencing Finnegan, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said Detective Sergeant Mark Looby had given evidence to the court regarding an investigation into six ATM thefts in Cavan and Monaghan between September 2018 and August 2019. The judge said these ATM thefts had been carried out by what gardai believed to be a cross-border gang based in east Monaghan and south Armagh. Det Sgt Looby said the gang had used excavators to rip the ATMs from their locations and they had caused significant amounts of criminal damage during six raids and attempted raids in the Border region. He also said the gang had stolen 790,000 before arrests were made two years ago by undercover detectives monitoring the activities of suspects. There is vast uncertainty as to whether the dried extract from certain types of cacti plants which contain mescaline could be regarded as a controlled substance under current legislation, a court was told today, December 16. The State had claimed the powder Alexander Rojas Rey (44) was caught with had contained mescaline and he was charged with two drugs offences. Rey, of River Towers, Lee Road, Cork city, later pleaded not (NOT) guilty to being in possession of mescaline for sale or supply, contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, and to possessing the same drug, contrary to section 3 of the same act, at his home on January 23, 2018. He was found guilty after a trial, however, and in November 2019 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court was given a community service order of 100 hours in lieu of 12 months imprisonment. Rey is appealing the conviction on the grounds that the trial judge, Judge James McCourt, erred in principle by refusing to determine as a matter of law whether the substance the defendant was in possession of was a controlled drug as defined by the Misuse of Drugs act. It is further claimed in submissions that Judge McCourt erred in allowing the jury to decide on a question of law as to whether the substance the appellant was in possession of was prohibited under the act. Defence barrister Peter OFlynn BL told the Court of Appeal today it was uncertain whether the powder his client had comes within the ambit of the schedule of current drugs legislation. There is a vast uncertainty, Mr OFlynn noted. He said the substance his client had was a dried plant, no more. Mr OFlynn also told the court there were several types of cacti plant which contained mescaline and from which the prohibited drug could be extracted. This plant is not controlled by the [Misuse of Drugs] Act, he said. Counsel conceded, however, that the dried extract from some cacti could be added to water and then boiled before being consumed. There is a mild effect from it, he said. Dermot Sheehan BL, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the case involved a chemical called mescaline which has chemical formula. Mescaline is specified in the schedule and the evidence is the powder contained mescaline, he said. The legislature, very wisely, has not sought to prohibit cacti, Me Sheehan continued. They have sought to prohibit mescaline. What we are dealing with here is dried plant material that clearly represents a product that contains mescaline. The trial judge was quite clear: mescaline is a controlled substance, Mr Sheehan added. Judgment has been reserved. During his trial, Reys lawyers claimed the powdered plant derivative found at his flat could be extracted from a cactus plant available in flower shops in Ireland. To prove the point, Mr OFlynn showed the jury a cactus which the defence purchased in a nearby shop for 35. The States expert witness, counsel said, had agreed that the plant had contained mescaline. Mr OFlynn said the State could simply add any cactus containing mescaline to the list of prohibited substances. Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell are expected to start making their case that the British socialite is not to blame for Jeffrey Epsteins crimes. A New York City jury has heard four women detail accusations that they were teenagers when they became victims of a sex abuse scheme devised by Maxwell and Epstein. Maxwells trial will resume on Thursday with the defence calling its own witnesses in federal court in Manhattan. The governments case lasted only two weeks and the defence case could take just two days. Both sides streamlined their witness lists without revealing why, meaning the trial should end well short of an original six-week estimate. The start of the defence case has sparked speculation about whether the high-profile defendant will give evidence in her own defence a gamble that is almost never taken. Either way, US District Judge Alison Nathan will have to receive direct confirmation from Maxwell about her decision before the defence can rest. Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges she acted as Epsteins chief enabler, recruiting and grooming young girls for him to abuse. She was once Epsteins girlfriend before becoming a trusted employee. Witnesses said the pair exploited them between 1994 and 2004 at Epsteins homes, including an estate in Palm Beach, Florida, his Manhattan townhouse, and a ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The defence has insisted that Maxwell is being made a scapegoat for alleged sex crimes by Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019. Her lawyers have sought to show that the accusers exaggerated her involvement at the behest of lawyers seeking payouts for the women from civil claims against the Epstein estate. A man told Naas District Court that he wants a theft allegation dealt with in that court. Before Naas District Court on December 8 was Jordan Wyse, 24, whose address was given as Derrymullen, Allenwood on allegation of theft at the Centra store in Roseberry, Newbridge, on November 28. Its being alleged cans of alcohol and a can of coke were stolen. The value of the items was 24, the court heard. The defendant appeared in court via video link. He is also facing an allegation of a breach of the Public Order Act and assault at the Janet Dillon pharmacy in Newbridge on November 23. Read more Kildare news Gda Orla Higgins told the court a week before she feared the defendant would not turn up in court again if granted bail. She alleged the November 28 incident was captured on CCTV. It was claimed that on November 23 the defendant and others were shouting and throwing items at a man. The defendant also said he wanted to go to jail for two weeks to get my head together. He said he never had stability in his life and had been in and out of foster care. On December 8 Sgt Kelly told the court that the allegations are relatively recent and he sought an adjournment to secure further directions. Solicitor Tim Kennelly said the defendant has a bail application pending. Judge Desmond Zaidan adjourned the case to December 22 and remanded the defendant in custody. Judge Zaidan added that he would accept jurisdiction, meaning he will hear the case. As anyone who is currently paying the higher rate of Income Tax will testify, it has become increasingly difficult to find methods of reducing your overall tax liability. Traditionally pensions are the most common method used to reduce your tax bill but they do have some drawbacks. One of the most common complaints I hear is that you cant access your pension pot until aged 60 and any contributions made must be in relation to earned income. If you are someone who has other sources of income such as Rental Income, Dividend Income, Deposit Income and ARF income, what options do you have if you want to reduce your tax bill. The Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme (EII Scheme) is one of the few remaining tax relief schemes that applies to Income from ALL sources. The EII Scheme is an income tax relief incentive scheme which can provide all income tax relief to Qualifying Investors for investments made in certain qualifying Irish small and medium sized companies (SMEs)* The Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS) is a source of equity funding for Irish small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Qualifying companies must use the monies for research and development, expansion, and the creation or retention of jobs. This investment can be made either directly into a company (commonly known as a private placement) or through a Designated Investment Fund. The funds invest in an array of companies to diversify the risk of the investment. Additionally, Funds tend to be regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and are covered under the Investor Compensation Scheme against fraud. Each year over 40 million was invested through the EII scheme in 80-100 companies. This has been much higher than in previous years and it is expected that this figure will grow to 60m per annum over the next couple of years. You can claim relief once you have received a 'statement of qualification' from the company. It is your responsibility that you meet all of the necessary investor conditions prior to claiming relief. The main terms of the EII Scheme are as follows; The minimum investment period is four years from the date the fund invests in the respective companies. The investor earns up to 40% relief on their income taxes. The investment amount can be deducted from gross income for income tax purposes. An individual investor can obtain income tax relief on investments made with the minimum value being 10,000 up to a maximum of 250,000 per annum or 500,000 per annum for those who invest for a minimum of 7 years. A married couple may each invest individually. The 40% tax relief is obtained for the year the investment is made, i.e. for an investment made in 2020, the investor will get 40% relief in his/her 2020 tax return (usually filed in 2021). Prospective Investors should determine the suitability of the investment based on an assessment of their own personal circumstances, attitude to and capacity for investment risk. The investment may be suitable for investors: Eligible to claim tax relief of up to 40% on investment amount for offset against income arising in year of qualifying investment. One of the last remaining sources of total income relief can be offset against rental income. Potential for additional capital return on exit subject to investment agreement. An EIIS investment will benefit indigenous Irish companies. Investing in a fund can provide access to invest in larger and more established companies, not normally accessible through the private placement market. There are some drawbacks as follows; EIIS investments are subject to a minimum four-year holding period. Equity risk is being taken on by the investor, which ranks behind debt in the company. A poorly structed transaction may result in loss of tax relief or may inadequately protect the rights of investors. An EIIS investment is subject to investment risk. Return of investor funds is not guaranteed. From a company perspective, Irish companies looking to fundraise and grow can raise up to 15m in equity capital under the EII Scheme, subject to a limit of 5m in any 12-month rolling period. This money can be used for new products, or to expand into new markets, for the construction of a new warehouse or office facility and numerous other options. There is a number of small restrictions on the type of trade a company can carry out to access the EII Scheme but most trades qualify. The most common trade that is non-qualifying would be professional services. Some of the main benefits for a company raising funds this way are that it is a competitive way of funding for equity, the company carries equity on balance sheet and not debt, cashflow benefits versus traditional debt products requiring repayments and it can be accessible for earlier stage companies or ones struggling to gain traction with the pillar banks. Like all investments you should seek professional advice and be sure that it fits with your appetite and ability to absorb risk. It is certainly worth investigating to see does it suit you. Conor Harte is a Financial Planner with Wealthwise Financial Planning who are based in Block C, Hartley Business Park , Carrick on Shannon, www.wealthwise.ie All details and views contained within this article are for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. Wealthwise Financial Planning makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness or suitability of any information and will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses arising from its use. Wealthwise Financial Ltd T/A Wealthwise Financial Planning is Regulated by the central Bank of Ireland.#CI66141 There is just over a week left to peak festive madness, but chances are you're well on the way to wanting to switch off the brain. Anyway, here's a list of 18 things about Christmas that anyone from Leitrim, or anyone who has ever experienced a Christmas in Leitrim, will understand only too well: 1. In the past you will have attended at least one (and possibly more) switching on of the Christmas lights in December, because, Christmas isn't Christmas until the lights are on! Admit it, this year there may have been few turning on the light ceremonies but you definitely came over all festive when you drove into town and the Christmas lights were actually on. Sigh, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!! 2. This year the 'will the be home or won't they be home for Christmas?' debate will peak early as those stranded overseas for the last 2 years forge through repeated antigen tests and the prospect of delays and quarantines just to be home in Leitrim for December 25. Don't feel too sorry for these souls as they have probably spent the last two years in sunnier climes with far less restrictions. Although do brace yourself for a lot of emotional outbursts and maudlin reminiscing..... when they discover their favourite pubs/nightclubs/restaurants are no more because of the pandemic. 3. You will be going to mass/service on Christmas Day. Even if you haven't been the entire year, you will be expected to turn up in your best clothes on Christmas morning so the parish won't be talking about what a godless heathen you have become since you went to college/moved to Dublin. 4. Christmas morning is the only morning of the year where it is universally accepted that a handful of Cadbury Heroes and a bacon sandwich does constitute a proper meal. 5. At about 4.05am on December 25 anyone under 12 in your house will be wide awake - even those that never rise before 9am without a fight on a school morning. At about 4.10am you will be greeted by that ever grateful chorus of "Santa forgot the batteries". Modern children, completely unable to process something like using their imagination, will wail for hours until you ring every neighbour in the parish to find batteries. Ah, the joys of parenthood. 6. The age-old debate over why Santa wraps presents for some families, but not for others, causes much head-scratching. 7. There's always that local shop which opens its doors on Christmas morning for an hour or two so anyone without milk, butter or some other perishable good can grab it before the Christmas dinner preparations begin in earnest. 8. Someone will go vegan and mammy won't be happy. Yes we're all about doing our bit for the environment but telling the mammy that you've decided not to eat meat at 5pm on Christmas Eve will not win you any friends for the 25th. To the Irish mammy, stating you've gone vegan is the equivalent of saying you have decided to join a convent or monastery, it's all great for the soul in theory but she's having none of it for her baby. Just a word of advice, if you have decided against the turkey provide for yourself or face a plate of soggy roast veg and brussel sprouts for your festive fare! 9. The brussel sprouts will start a heated debate on the 25th. Depending on whether your mammy thinks its ok to boil the bejasus out of the sprouts (it's not by the way) or follows some fancy smanzy recipe which includes almonds and honey (why would you do that?), the sprouts will be the main bone of contention at the dinner. There will be fights about liking them or hating them. Fights about how many you have to eat before you qualify for the dessert. Fights about how smelly they are (before and after they are consumed). Pray one of the siblings has gone vegan so you can foist the sprouts off on them.....just make sure you don't have to share a room with them that night. 10. By 5pm on Christmas Day you've had enough turkey to last you a decade. But, bully for you my friend, there's another three days of that thankless bird to endure! Starting with leftovers on St Stephen's Day and then turkey curry the day after, with a final helping of turkey soup on that third day. WAY TOO MUCH TURKEY. You may finally decide to abandon the carnivore ship and follow the vegan sibling into a turkey free world. Good for you, that's the New Year's resolution sorted. 11. The RTE Christmas movie used to be the last stand for those brave souls that have managed to keep their eyes open for the long haul. But now that most films have been streamed illegally almost straight after their cinematic release, the Christmas movie is no longer a major festive event. But you'll watch it through heavy lids all the same. Snorting mince pies in a zombie-like frenzy. Keep an eye out for the likes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Superman (1 to 1001 or whatever number they are at now) and a slew of straight to tv festive films....and avoid them all like the plague. It's like Christmas purgatory. 12. Mince pies are not made from mince. FACT! 13. Board games should come with a Christmas warning. DO NOT, and I cannot emphasise this enough, DO NOT attempt to play any board games on Christmas Day. A game of monopoly when you were 9 could be the reason your sister never speaks to you again. The violence perpetrated on the 25th as a result of board games is the reason why A&E's have to have extra staff across Christmas. So, unless you like having to remove a small red plastic hotel from an orifice it was never intended to go in on the 26th then just watch the telly like a normal person. 14. Traditionally St Stephen's Day involves standing (possibly bearing the worst hangover of your life) on the sidelines of a charity GAA match. However with Covid and the never ending pandemic this may be scuppered this year. If it is, please still support the charity. It won't help the hangover but you may get a good word in with god if the Christmas celebrations does actually end in your demise (rather than just feeling like it will!). 15. You will spend your festive break being berated by your extended family members for the following: for getting fat; not being seen for weeks in the parish; failing to make better than the junior B team; not having a significant other; having a significant other no one can stand (probably someone who wasn't born into a farm family) or getting married and failing to produce a grandchild in the first 9 months. You will be squeezed, pinched, assessed and found wanting. Resist the urge to thump anyone but feel free to declare you're giving up all material possessions and joining a hippy commune in Nepal - that'll shut them up. 16. Between St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day you will have already decided you're leaving your current job and you'll finally chase that dream job you've always said you'll go for. Don't worry, this resolution will probably wear off by January 2 when you decide it's not worth the effort it will take to update your CV. 17. New Year's Eve is a miserable night that never meets the unrealistic expectations lumped upon its festive shoulders. With the additional complication of Covid the disappointment will be tenfold as you now have even less chance of shifting the face off anyone with all this social distancing. Sleep off the Christmas induced coma and start the New Year on January 2 instead. 18. At some point your father will declare. "Thank God we reared that second bin of turf this year with this cold change coming". This will be despite the fact that you still have three full sheds of turf and the temperature hasn't dipped below 10 degrees in weeks. You will still be really, really bitter about having to rear that second bin of turf in the only three glorious weeks of summer we had this year. Seethe quietly and plan to be unavailable for the turf season next year. Happy Christmas Leitrim! The guests have been revealed for this week's Late Late Show on RTE One. This Friday night marks the final Late Late Show of 2021 at the end of an extraordinary year which began in January with the live vaccinations of health care workers. Throughout the year The Late Late brought the Irish Diaspora together in a global session on St. Patricks night, gave a much-needed leg-up to Irish business on the Taking Care of Business special, put the children in charge for a record-breaking Toy Show and raised another 6.6 million for childrens charities through the Toy Show Appeal bringing the total of monies raised for Irish charities on The Late Late Show in 2020/2021 to an incredible 26 million! And to wrap up 2021, this Friday nights show will highlight the remarkable work of the St. Vincent de Paul Annual Appeal, as the charity prepares to help thousands of families across Ireland to have a brighter Christmas. Writer, producer, actor, comedian Brendan OCarroll will be joined on the couch by his wife, business partner and co-star Jenny Gibney to talk to Ryan about their special connection to the St. Vincent de Paul charity and their plans for a proper family Christmas at home in Ireland. Hollywood actor, proud Dubliner, Colin Farrell will be lending his support to the call for St. Vincent de Paul as will the irrepressible Majella O'Donnell. TikTok sensation magician Joel M, also supporting the SVP, will demonstrate some of the festive magic that has helped him amass almost 2 billion views and 18 million followers across social media. And its a family affair as father Pat Shortt and daughter Faye will be on the show to talk about their plans for Christmas and an update on their comedy duo act. And in a very special moment for The Late Late Show, The Corrs frontwoman Andrea Corr and The Rolling Stones rock and roll legend Ronnie Wood will perform the Elvis classic Blue Christmas in-studio - their charity single in support of Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services. The duo will also join Ryan on the couch to chat about their collaboration. Theres more music from the outstanding Irish musical talent, Susan ONeill, with a beautiful performance of Joni Mitchells River'. Catch The Late Late Show on RTE One, Friday, December 17th at 9:35pm. A LIMERICK-BASED company has made a donation of 100,000 to three charities just in time for Christmas. The donation - from Kirby Group Engineering - will be shared by Focus Ireland (50,000), Womens Aid (25,000) and UNICEF (25,000). This is the second year in a row in which the company, which is headquartered in Raheen, has made a donation of this amount and continues its longstanding tradition of supporting those in need. Group Managing Director Mark Flanagan says its an important feature of their calendar: Weve come through another very difficult year in Ireland in 2021 and this is a good opportunity for Kirby to support some of those whove felt the tough times the most. Were proud to play our part in helping three fantastic charities doing great work in Ireland and around the world. Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Focus Ireland, Amy Carr has welcomed the funding boost: Kirby has been long-standing supporters of Focus Ireland and this Christmas the impact of this gift will be keenly felt by those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Over the next few months, this donation will ensure up to 30 families will receive the expert support they need to exit homelessness for good. I dont think there is a greater gift you can give this festive season. CEO of Womens Aid, Sarah Benson said: We are sincerely grateful to Kirby Group for this incredibly generous donation to Womens Aid, which will help to provide a vital range of practical wrap-around supports for women who are experiencing domestic abuse and violence. Demand for Womens Aids services has never been higher, so this significant donation will ensure we can reach more women with our vital, life-changing services. Former Limerick City TD and UNICEF Irelands Executive Director, Peter Power commented. As the pandemic continues to impact the lives of children, and their families, around the world, this generous donation allows UNICEF to support the most vulnerable." The Christmas donation follows contributions worth a further 160,000 from Kirby to local, national and international charities during 2021, including Galway Hospice, Pieta House, Alone, ReSurge Africa and The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. In addition to donations made by the company, its employees organised numerous events raising additional funds for various charitable organisations. Mark Flanagan paid tribute to the fundraising efforts made by Kirby team members over the past 12 months. People is our number one core value at Kirby and the efforts made by our team to support those in need symbolise that so well. Its been a busy year for the company and its wonderful to see how our team has still made time to help others. It looks set to be a generally cloudy day on Thursday with mostly dry conditions. However, there will be some patches of mist or drizzle about, especially on hills. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in light to moderate southerly breezes. NATIONAL OUTLOOK Overview: High pressure dominating bringing mostly dry and settled weather conditions albeit with plenty of cloud. Thursday night: Some clear spells on Thursday night, especially across the north and northwest of the country but it will be mostly cloudy elsewhere. Minimum temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees under clear skies but ranging 6 to 9 degrees elsewhere in light or moderate southeast breezes. Friday: Much of the country will be dry on Friday with lots of cloud but there will be some sunny intervals, especially across northern counties. A little colder than preceding days with highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in light to moderate southeast breezes. It will be mostly cloudy on Friday night albeit with some clear spells, especially across the north of the country. A chilly night where skies clear with a touch of frost possible as temperatures dip back to between zero and +3 degrees. Temperatures holding between 4 and 7 degrees under cloud. Saturday: Saturday is expected to be another generally cloudy day with lots of dry weather but also scattered patches of mist or drizzle. Highest temperatures will range from 7 to 10 degrees in a moderate east or southeast breeze. Staying mostly cloudy overnight with lows of 5 to 8 degrees. Sunday: Little change is expected on Sunday with mostly dry conditions with lots of cloud and a few patches of mist or drizzle. Highs of 7 to 11 degrees. Early next week: Early indications suggest high pressure will remain the dominant feature during the early days of Christmas week with lots of dry and settled weather expected. Turning somewhat colder as the week progresses. THE boys and girls of Carrigkerry National School have been named as the Healthy Heroes School of the Month for November 2021, thanks to the students efforts in promoting healthy eating. The school is one of hundreds of primary schools across the island of Ireland that are participating in the Healthy Heroes initiative, which is run by the Irish Bread Bakers Association and Bord Bia. The aim of Healthy Heroes is to educate children on nutrition and how to improve their lunchtime habits. And in a novel learning process, sixth class pupils take the lead and play the role of mentors to younger pupils. This is a new initiative in our school and the biggest change I have noticed in our pupils is the eagerness with which the children approach the Healthy Heroes structured activities, said Anne Horan, sixth class teacher in Carrigkerry. The pupils get so much enjoyment from talking about their healthy lunchboxes and how they prepare their lunches daily, she added, Were delighted to see that Healthy Heroes is helping to make a real difference, added Ailbhe Byrne who oversees the programme on behalf of the Irish Bread Bakers Association. School lunchtime is an important opportunity to develop positive attitudes towards food choices and nutrition. Incorporating healthy eating habits from a young age and in a playful environment is a vital stepping stone to their future food habits, she concluded. A JUDGE has described a Limerick man loudly coughing, sneezing and spitting at two gardai after saying I have the virus, as completely and utterly reprehensible. Jonathan Kelly, aged 30, who has an address at OMalley Park, Southill pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers in Henry Street Garda Station. Giving evidence at Limerick Circuit Court, Sergeant Fergal Hanrahan said gardai responded to a call at a hostel in Lord Edward Street in the city on March 24, 2020. He agreed with John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, that Kelly was refusing to leave the hostel and was abusive to staff and gardai. Mr OSullivan said Kelly continued to be aggressive on the journey to Henry Street and within the garda station. He was taken to the search room where he announced he had coronavirus. He sneezed and coughed loudly in the direction of gardai. He refused to let them search him. When gardai went to restrain him he filled his mouth with saliva and was coughing, sneezing and spitting at gardai, said Mr OSullivan. The barrister said Kelly told one of the gardai he was going to get him when he took the handcuffs off. The garda asked, Is that a threat?. Mr Kelly said, No. Its a promise, said Mr OSullivan, who added that saliva landed on the chin of one of the gardai and on the pocket of his stab vest. CCTV footage was shown to the court. Mr OSullivan outlined the gardais fears for themselves, their families and their colleagues. The gardai were aware there was a person in the hostel waiting for the result of a Covid test. The barrister made the point that this incident occurred early on in the pandemic when there wasnt as much information as there is now. There were no masks, no vaccines. There were significant deaths in Italy. It was a very frightening time, said Mr OSullivan. Both gardai had to move out of their homes as they were living with their parents. Sgt Hanrahan said Kelly has 111 previous convictions. Karl Quinn BL, who represented Kelly, said his client wished to apologise unreservedly to the two men. Im not making any excuses. He had a room booked in the hostel. When he went down to get a room he was told there were no rooms available. He was angry. He didnt want to stay on the streets. He had taken an intoxicant. He lost control, said Mr Quinn, who described Kellys behaviour as inexcusable. Judge Tom ODonnell described Kellys actions as outrageous. A gardas lot is not a happy one as they often deal with members of the public in an aggressive mood. The gardai must be complimented for showing remarkable restraint, said Judge ODonnell, who spoke of the anxiety experienced by the gardai and their concern over contracting and transmitting Covid to loved ones. It was completely and utterly reprehensible. This court must send out a strong message in matters of this nature, said Judge ODonnell, who sentenced Kelly to 18 months in jail. It was backdated to July 9, 2021, when he was remanded in custody. UNIVERSITY of Limerick graduate Brian McManus has featured in a new report that found YouTube supports over 1,600 jobs in Ireland as well as contributing 30 million to GDP. The From Opportunity to Impact report assessed the economic, societal, and cultural benefits of the video hosting website in Ireland. Brian left his job in 2016 to pursue a career as a YouTube creator and five years later his two channels - Real Engineering and Real Science - have 3.1 million and 518,000 subscribers respectively. Brian employs four people full-time and regularly hires freelancers who work as editors, animators, and writers in his production team. Commenting on his success, Brian said: I could see that people watched a lot of educational content on YouTube, but I could not find anyone creating engineering videos that represented how important the career was to the world. I began to teach myself animation and video editing in my spare time, and when I felt I was ready, I quit my job to start the channel." The content creator says his first YouTube channel grew very quickly and within six months, he had replaced his income. Im now doing something I love and Im also employing a vastly talented production team as well as hiring many more freelancers and all based from the West of Ireland," he stated. The report, commissioned by YouTube, found that the platform's creative ecosystem supported the equivalent of 1,600 full-time jobs in Ireland in 2020. Oxford Economics also estimated that the total contribution of YouTubes creative ecosystem to Irelands GDP was 30 million in 2020. As well as measuring the economic impact, the report outlined the value of YouTube as a place to learn, as an amplifier of diverse voices and creative entrepreneurs and, as a source of relevant information during the Covid-19 pandemic. Commenting on the report, Pedro Pina, Head of YouTube EMEA, said: It is inspiring to see the many ways YouTube is touching the lives of Irish people, including those like Brian. As the only open platform that allows people to both share their voice and the revenue derived from their work, were bringing to an entire new generation of creative entrepreneurs regardless who they are or where they come from the chance to build thriving businesses on YouTube. LIMERICK City and County Council is looking for five communities in the Metropolitan area to work on a special project looking at how we can reduce our carbon footprint. The chosen communities will collaborate with a creative partner in a project known as Decarbonising Together. The council are looking for five community groups to explore how they can decarbonise, to identify an aspect that matters to them, and to describe a challenge or opportunity relevant to their day-to-day lives and activities. Decarbonising is about reducing our carbon (CO2) emissions to combat climate change. "As a society, we need to generate less carbon and find ways to absorb more. This is the major challenge of our lifetimes, but it also brings with it many opportunities for better living and for a healthier, fairer and happier city," said a spokesperson. Decarbonising Together is funded by Creative Ireland with each community receiving 2,000 and 12,000 for the corresponding creative partners to cover each project. Total project funding is 70,000. Each group will be paired with an artist or creative industry partner to explore their challenge and tackle climate change in Limerick city. Creative partners can be drawn from a range of fields including design, music, publishing, architecture, film and video, crafts, visual arts, fashion, TV and radio, advertising, literature, computer games and the performing arts. Some of the questions that will be posed include: What climate challenge matters most in your community? How could your community start to make a difference? The project will focus on learning and doing together, and will use Limericks new Citizen Innovation Lab due to open in the New Year on Sarsfield Street, as a collaboration hub. This is a new space for observation, co-creation and experimentation that places citizen creativity at the heart of Limericks mission to decarbonise by 2050. Successful participants can also access Fab Lab Limerick, a maker space and digital fabrication laboratory run by the School of Architecture at University of Limerick and co-located with the Citizen Innovation Lab. Sinead Hourigan, Project Manager with Limerick City and County Council said: Decarbonising Together will be a great opportunity for communities to engage with climate action in a fun and meaningful way. Im looking forward to hearing and developing ideas from the communities and how they can be implemented to ensure we all play our part in climate action. Helena Fitzgerald, Research Fellow at University of Limerick and CommunityxChange lead said: It is not just that we decarbonise by 2050 that is important, how it happens is important too. Communities who participate in Decarbonising Together can creatively engage with climate action in their area with their community and help shape how decarbonisation can happen in Limerick. Decarbonising Together builds on the collaborative work of the +CityxChange H2020 project which is currently underway in Limerick and explores how cities can become climate neutral by 2050. Decarbonising Together is supported by Limerick City and County Council, University of Limericks Department of Economics and the School of Architectures Fab Lab Limerick, with partner companies Colaborativa.eu and Space Engagers. This project is funded by Creative Ireland through the Creative Climate Action Fund. For more information and how to apply, log on to MyPoint, Limerick City and County Councils public engagement platform. Further queries on the project can be sent to Sinead Hourigan at cityengage@limerick.ie. An online information session will be held on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 from 7-8pm. You can register for that session on Eventbrite. 2-day bank strike from today: Employees of public sector banks (PSBs) including the State Bank of India (SBI) went on a two-day strike starting today against the move to privatise public sector banks impacting normal banking operation across the country. However, the private sector, especially new-generation private-sector lenders, like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank, are working as usual. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which is an umbrella body of 9 bank unions has called a two-day bank strike starting today to protest the government's decision to privatise several banks in the country. Here are 10 things to know about the 2-day bank strike: 1) Many branches across different parts of the country were shut as UFBU, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) had given two-day strike call. 2) Services such as deposits and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearance and loan approvals were affected due to the strike. But ATMs are functioning as usual. 3) Close to nine lakh employees of various state-run banks are participating in the strike. 4) Bank unions have called a strike on December 16 and 17 against the proposed public sector bank privatisation. 5) The unions have been protesting ever since the Centre in its Budget 2021-22 announced its intent to privatise two public sector lenders. 6) State Bank of India (SBI) had already warned customers about the nationwide strike's possible impact on banking operations. We have been advised by the Indian Banks' Association (lBA) that United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has served a Notice of Strike, informing that the members of the constituent Unions of UFBU viz. AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF and INBOC propose to go on a nationwide Bank Strike on 16th & 17th December 2021 in support of their demands. We advise that while the Bank has made necessary arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices on the days of strike, it is likely that work in our Bank may be impacted by the strike," SBI said in an exchange filing earlier. 7) SBI in a tweet urged its staff members to reconsider their decision and refrain from participating in the strike. "Furthermore, considering the ongoing pandemic situation, resorting to a strike will cause great inconvenience to the stakeholders," the tweet said. 8) Earlier lenders including Canara Bank, PNB, Punjab and Sind Bank, among others had urged the employee unions to reconsider their plan 9) The government has decided to introduce the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 during the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament. The bill aims to privatise public sector banks. 10) The employees and trade unions had started a protest campaign Bank Bachao, Desh Bachao at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on December 1. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The Federal Reserve, caught embarrassingly offside in its view of U.S. inflation, had to do something to wrest back the narrative with its final policy decision of 2021. What appears to be a sharply hawkish pivot a forecast for three interest-rate increases in 2022 is likely a gambit that a tougher stance today will make for a softer economic landing in the coming years. The U.S. central bank said Wednesday that it would accelerate the tapering of its bond purchases, scaling back by $30 billion a month rather than the $15 billion pace it announced just last month. That moves the end date to March instead of June, opening up the possibility that policy makers could raise the fed funds rate from its current range of 0% to 0.25% as soon as the first half of 2022. Indeed, the updated dot plot" forecast of the short-term benchmark shows a median expectation among policy makers for three interest-rate increases next year, up from less than one in September. And two officials expect to increase rates four times in the coming 12 months, potentially putting the March decision in play for liftoff from the zero lower bound. In case it wasnt already obvious, inflation is weighing heavily on the minds of Fed officials, who badly underestimated the staying power of consumer price growth. The median forecast among policy makers is now for the personal consumption expenditures price index to be 2.6% in 2022, up from 2.2% in Septembers projections, and the core measure to be 2.7%, up from 2.3%. Former New York Fed President Bill Dudley, writing for Bloomberg Opinion, correctly anticipated that policy makers would signal three interest-rate increases in 2022, while the consensus among economists was for just two. However, he thought the dot plot would show four more in 2023 and enough in 2024 to get the projected target rate to 2.5%, which is considered neutral." Instead, officials penciled in just three rate increases in 2023 and two more in 2024, leaving the central bank in an accommodative stance. Of course, its far from a sure thing that even three interest-rate increases in 2022 will do much to jolt inflation back toward 2%, so the Fed may yet have to do more in future years. Still, the sharply hawkish turn now, combined with the expectations that inflation will return close to 2% by 2023, leaves little doubt that the Fed is aiming to jawbone price growth lower now to avoid having to follow through with a larger number of rate increases later, which could in a worst-case scenario push the economy into a recession. Powell has said before that were going to need a long expansion" to get back to the pre-pandemic labor market, which in turn will require getting inflation under control. In the mind of the recently re-nominated Fed chair, that means interest-rate increases coming sooner. Part of the central banks new longer-term monetary policy framework involved somewhat deliberately falling behind the curve on inflation requiring officials to observe price growth at or above 2% for a while to make up for persistently undershooting the target. But the inflation narrative has moved too swiftly against Fed officials in recent months, with the consumer price index just hitting a nearly four-decade high. It reached the point that without more quickly ending bond purchases, which opens the door to interest-rate increases starting early next year, the central bank risked losing credibility on maintaining price stability. Recall that Powell was pressed in September 2020 to define each of the central banks benchmarks to lift rates from zero. He largely ducked the question, but this was how he described the requirement that inflation moderately exceed 2% for some time": What does moderate mean? It means not large. It means not very high above 2%, it means moderate. I think thats a fairly well-understood word. In terms of for a time, what it means is not permanently and not for a sustained period. Were resisting the urge to try to create some sort of a rule or a formula here, and I think the public will understand pretty well of what we want. Its actually pretty straightforward." It turns out it actually wasnt. Fed policy makers, and, by extension, Biden administration officials, spent most of 2021 using the term transitory," only for Powell to abruptly say on Nov. 30 that its a good time to retire" that word. Soon thereafter, Novembers U.S. consumer price index rose at the fastest annual pace since 1982. The New York Feds survey of consumer expectations shows the median estimate of inflation three years from now is 4%, hovering near the highest since at least 2013. A year from now, Americans expect a 6% rate hardly moderate. In an important exchange during his press conference, Powell discussed what used to be called the balanced approach provision," which kicks in when the central banks goals of full employment and price stability are in tension. It is a provision that would enable us to, in this case because of high inflation, move before reaching maximum employment," he said. He added that were making rapid progress toward maximum employment" and I dont know well have to invoke that." But just bringing it up hammers home the point that he and his colleagues will start tightening next year to bring price growth back to trend. Heres another crucial comment on the trade-off between inflation and the labor market from Powell, which will likely be the Feds party line in the months ahead: One of the two big threats to getting back to maximum employment is actually high inflation. Because to get back to where we were, the evidence grows, its going to take some time. What we need is another long expansion." Thats what it would really take to get back to the kind of labor market wed like to see. And to have that happen, we need to make sure that we maintain price stability." The Fed hasnt raised interest rates yet, but make no mistake: Its lining up on the starting blocks. Policy makers are hoping that a sprint in 2022 to catch up to the inflation reality will allow the economy to settle into a marathon pace rather than run short of breath. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Brian Chappatta is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering debt markets. He previously covered bonds for Bloomberg News. He is also a CFA charterholder. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Copperhead snakes are some of the more commonly seen North American snakes. They're also the most likely to bite, although their venom is relatively mild, and their bites are rarely fatal for humans. These snakes get their name, fittingly, from their copper-red heads, according to the biology department at Pennsylvania State University. Some other snakes are referred to as copperheads, which is a common (nonscientific) name. Water moccasins (cottonmouths), radiated rat snakes, Australian copperheads and sharp-nosed pit vipers are all sometimes called copperheads, but these are different species from the North American copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). Copperheads are pit vipers, like rattlesnakes and water moccasins. Pit vipers have "heat-sensory pits between eye and nostril on each side of head," which are able to detect minute differences in temperatures so that the snakes can accurately strike the source of heat, which is often potential prey. Copperhead "behavior is very much like that of most other pit vipers," said herpetologist Jeff Beane, collections manager of amphibians and reptiles at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Characteristics Copperheads are medium-size snakes, averaging between 2 and 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) in length. According to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, female copperheads are longer than males; however, males possess proportionally longer tails. According to Beane, copperheads' bodies are distinctly patterned. Their "dorsal pattern is a series of dark, chestnut-brown or reddish-brown crossbands, each shaped like an hourglass, dumbbell or saddlebag on a background of lighter brown, tan, salmon or pinkish," Beane said. He further described the saddlebags as "wide on sides of body, narrow in center of back the crossbands typically have darker margins and lighter lateral centers." Meanwhile, "some crossbands may be broken, and sometimes small dark spots may be in the spaces between the crossbands." Several other nonvenomous species of snakes have similar coloring, and so are frequently confused for copperheads. However, copperheads are the only kind of snakes with hourglass-shaped markings. In contrast to its patterned body, the snake's coppery-brown head lacks such adornments, "except for a pair of tiny dark dots usually present on top of the head," said Beane. He described copperheads' bellies as "whitish, yellowish or a light brownish, stippled or mottled, with brown, gray or blackish, often large, paired dark spots or smudges along sides of [its] belly." Copperheads have muscular, thick bodies and keeled (ridged) scales. Their heads are "somewhat triangular/arrow-shaped and distinct from the neck," with a "somewhat distinct ridge separating [the] top of head from side snout between eye and nostril," said Beane. Their pupils are vertical, like cats' eyes, and their irises are usually orange, tan or reddish-brown. Young copperheads are more grayish in color than adults and possess "bright yellow or greenish yellow tail tips." According to Beane, "this color fades in about a year." Habitat Copperheads reside "from southern New England to West Texas and northern Mexico," said Beane, advising those interested to check out range maps in a number of field guides. A copperhead snake, like the one pictured here, had a litter of four offspring in 2009. But the snake hadn't had any contact with a male in five years. Scientists confirmed recently the female copperhead was the first evidence of virgin birth in a pit viper snake. (Image credit: Credit: Chuck Smith) There are five subspecies of copperhead distributed according to geographic range: the northern, northwestern, southern and two southwestern subspecies. According to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, the northern copperhead has by far the largest range, from Alabama to Massachusetts and Illinois. According to Beane, copperheads are happy in "an extremely wide range of habitats," though usually "at least some semblance of woods or forest habitat is present." They are "particularly fond of ecotones," which are transition areas between two ecological communities. They like rocky, wooded areas, mountains, thickets near streams, desert oases, canyons and other natural environments, according to Penn State; Beane added that they like "almost any habitat with both sunlight and cover." According to the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, copperheads are "quite tolerant of habitat alteration." This means that they can survive well in suburban areas. Copperheads can sometimes be found in wood and sawdust piles, abandoned farm buildings, junkyards and old construction areas. They "often seek shelter under surface cover such as boards, sheet metal, logs or large flat rocks," said Beane. Behaviour Copperheads are semi-social snakes. While they usually hunt alone, they usually hibernate in communal dens and often return to the same den every year. Beane said that populations in the "montane" (a forest area below the timberline with large, coniferous trees) often spend the winter hibernating "with timber rattlesnakes, rat snakes or other species." However, "Piedmont and Coastal Plain snakes are more likely to hibernate individually," Beane said.They also can be seen near one another while basking in the sun, drinking, eating and courting, according to the Smithsonian Zoo. According to the Ohio Public Library Information Network, copperheads are usually out and about during the day in the spring and fall, but during the summer they become nocturnal. They especially like being out on humid, warm nights after rain. While they usually stay on the ground, copperheads will sometimes climb into low bushes or trees in search of prey or to bask in the sun. Sometimes, they even voluntarily go swimming. According to Animal Diversity Web (ADW), a database maintained by the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, scientists have hypothesized that copperheads migrate late in the spring to their summer feeding area, then return home in early fall. Diet He described copperheads as being "mobile ambush predators." Mostly, they get their prey by "sit-and-wait ambush"; however, they sometimes do hunt, using their heat-sensing pits to find prey. The ADW explains that when attacking large prey, copperheads bite the victim, and then release it. They let the venom work, and then track down the prey once it has died. The snakes usually hold smaller prey in their mouths until the victim dies. Copperheads eat their food whole, using their flexibly hinged jaws to swallow the meal. According to Penn State, adult copperheads may eat only 10 or 12 meals per year, depending on the size of their dinners. Reproduction Copperhead mating season lasts from February to May and from late August to October, and it can be a dramatic affair. "Males may engage in ritual combat (body-shoving contests) when two or more meet in the presence of a receptive female," said Beane. According to Penn State, the snakes that lose rarely challenge again. A female may also fight prospective partners, and will always reject males who back down from a fight with her. Copperhead snakes don't lay eggs - babies are born live. (Image credit: Matt Jeppson Shutterstock ) Copperheads are ovoviviparous, which means that eggs incubate inside the mother's body. Babies are born live. After mating in the spring, females will give birth to "from two to 18 live young in late summer or fall," said Beane. According to The Maryland Zoo, after mating in the fall, the female will store sperm and defer fertilization for months, until she has finished hibernating. Baby copperheads are born with fangs and venom as potent as an adult's, according to the Smithsonian Zoo. Young copperheads are 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) long and are born with both fangs and venom, according to Penn State. They eat mostly insects, especially caterpillars. Beane pointed out that young copperheads may exhibit different hunting patterns than adults. "Young snakes may sit otherwise motionless, flicking their yellow tail tips," he said. "This is known as 'caudal luring'; the tail resembles a small caterpillar or other insect and may attract a lizard or frog [to come] within striking range." Classification and taxonomy According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), the taxonomy of copperheads is: Kingdom: Animalia Subkingdom: Bilateria Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Infraorder: Alethinophidia Family: Viperidae Subfamily: Crotalinae Genus & species: Agkistrodon contortrix Subspecies: Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix (Southern copperhead), Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus (broad-banded copperhead), Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen (Northern copperhead), Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster (Osage copperhead) Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster (trans-Pecos copperhead) Bite Copperheads bite more people in most years than any other U.S. species of snake, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service. Fortunately, copperhead venom is not very potent. Unlike most venomous snakes, copperheads give no warning signs and strike almost immediately if they feel threatened. (Image credit: getty) Unlike most venomous snakes, copperheads give no warning signs and strike almost immediately if they feel threatened. Copperheads have hemotoxic venom, said Beane, which means that a copperhead bite "often results in temporary tissue damage in the immediate area of bite." Their bite may be painful but is "very rarely (almost never) fatal to humans." Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems may have strong reactions to the venom, however, and anyone who is bitten by a copperhead should seek medical attention. Despite this, Beane thinks you should still let a Copperhead snake live in your back yard. He told North Carolina's Blue Ridge Public Radio that, "if you encounter them and they're coiled up somewhere where they want to be, they'll remain completely still and hope that you don't see them or bother them... If you do disturb them, the first thing they'll probably do is try to get away. If you move them... they're going to try to get back to something that's familiar." Bean also talked about the benefits of having a Copperhead near your house: "They eat a lot of species that we don't like, like mice and rats, that can cause diseases and problems. And [by] eating a lot of rodents, snakes are swallowing a lot of ticks. And ticks cause things like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. One study showed that snakes are significant tick destroyers in Eastern forest sites." Research According to recent research on the US National Library of Medicine, snake venom in general is "recognized as a potential resource of biologically active compounds" that can be used in cancer treatments. Scientists have found that a chemical in copperhead venom may be helpful in stopping the growth of cancerous tumors. Researchers at the University of Southern California injected the protein contortrostatin from the southern copperhead's venom, directly into the mammary glands of mice where human breast cancer cells had been injected two weeks earlier. The injection of the protein inhibited the growth of the tumor and also slowed the growth of blood vessels that supply the tumor with nutrients. The venom's protein also impaired the spread of the tumor to the lungs, one site where breast cancer spreads effectively. Other facts The length of a copperhead's fangs is related to the length of the snake the longer the snake, the longer the fangs. When touched, copperheads sometimes emit a musk that smells like cucumbers. The penny is sometimes called a copperhead. Northern Democrats who opposed the U.S. Civil War were called Copperheads, according to the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. Additional resources Click here to read the full article. Byron Allens Allen Media Group has added another TV station to its broadcasting holdings with the purchase of Fox affiliate WCOV-TV in Montgomery, Ala. Allen Media Group paid $28.5 million in cash to Woods Communications for the station, which offers some 16 other channel feeds in addition to Fox through its multicast channels. The acquisition will bring Allen Media Groups TV station holdings to 36, after a buying spree in recent years. WCOV-TV is an excellent asset and has been extremely well-managed for decades by the Woods family, who Ive known for over 35 years, said Byron Allen, chairman-CEO of Allen Media Group. Over the past two years, weve invested approximately $1 billion to acquire best-in-class, top-tier, Big 4 broadcast network affiliates and we plan to invest significantly more to acquire additional ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox television stations with the goal of being the largest broadcast television group in America. All of our media assets work in concert to amplify our free-streaming services theGrio.TV, Sports.TV, HBCUGo.TV, The Weather Channel en Espanol, and Local Now. The deal also brings to Allen Media Group two low-power channels, WIYC-TV and WALE-TV, also in Montgomery. The acquisition by Allen Media Group will allow WCOV, WIYC and WALE to become even more competitive in the future and well-positioned for the advancing world of broadcast television, said David Woods of Woods Communications. Byron Allen has a reputation for hiring the best executives in each of the companies he owns. We have observed his growth for over 40 years and admire what he has achieved. Byron Allen is a true American entrepreneur. We feel blessed to become part of the Allen Media Group family. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Several appellate justices said Wednesday that they worried that Harvey Weinstein had been subjected to overkill at his criminal trial in New York last year. Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer, is appealing his conviction on charges of sexual assault and third degree rape, which resulted in a sentence of 23 years in prison. At a hearing before the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, on Wednesday, three of the five justices expressed serious concerns that Justice James Burke had erred by allowing prejudicial evidence at trial that could impugn Weinsteins character. Youre really arguing this was not overkill? Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels asked Valerie Figueredo, the assistant district attorney representing the Manhattan D.A.s office. The defense has argued that Burke should not have allowed three women Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff and Lauren Young to testify at the trial. Each of them alleged that Weinstein had sexually assaulted them after they had visited him for a business meeting. The womens testimony called Molineux evidence in New York was used to show a pattern of sexual misconduct in support of the allegations for which Weinstein was on trial. Burke also allowed so-called Sandoval evidence, which can be used to rebut a defendants testimony at trial. Weinstein did not testify in his own defense. His appellate attorney, Barry Kamins, argued that was partly because Burke had granted the prosecutions request to bring up as many as 28 other incidents to attack Weinsteins credibility. Justice Angela Mazzarelli noted that one of those incidents involved Weinstein throwing a table full of food at an employee in the late 1980s, and questioned why that was permitted. Justice Burke reached a fair compromise, Figueredo said. He did not allow general brutish behavior. Thats not general brutish behavior? Mazzarelli responded. She later noted another alleged incident, in which Weinstein allegedly threatened to sever someones genitals. Two justices suggested that Burkes ruling on the Sandoval motion lacked balance. Manzanet-Daniels said that some evidence might have been appropriate, but that Burke had perhaps gone too far. Lets inflame the jurys heart by telling them that he beat up his brother during a meeting, she said. I dont see how theres a balance there on that. Manzanet-Daniels challenged the relevance of another incident that Burke allowed prosecutors to use to rebut Weinsteins testimony. What did leaving his employee on the side of the road in a foreign country have anything to do with this sex crime case? she asked. Other than, Lets put in as much as we can to show that guy is a terrible guy.' Justice Judith Gische noted that jurys verdict should be based on the charges, and not based on the fact that this is just a horrible person. She, too, suggested that the number of acts allowed in the Sandoval ruling may have been excessive. The fact that there were so many is only indicative of how the defendant lived his life, Figueredo responded. The court was not required to unduly sanitize that. Gische shot back: Youre saying, This is just him. Hes a bad guy. Theres a lot of acts because hes just bad. To say its indicative of how he led his life he doesnt get convinced because hes a bad guy. He gets convicted for these particular crimes. So that argument I have to admit, its rubbing me the wrong way. Manzanet-Daniels asked why the three women whose allegations were charged Jessica Mann, Miriam Haley and Annabella Sciorra were not enough. She worried that the Molineux witnesses were used to demonstrate a propensity to commit crimes, rather than a signature pattern. She added that judges typically bar prosecutors from going deep into a defendants rap sheet. To pile on with three uncharged complainants is leaning really close to that propensity line, she said. Two other justices Cynthia Kern and Ellen Gesmer mostly refrained from asking questions, though Gesmer did ask the district attorney to cite a precedent supporting the Molineux ruling. Kamins also argued that Juror 11 at the trial should have been excused because she misrepresented the subject of a novel she had written. The justices seemed far less interested in that issue. The justices will likely take at least several weeks, and perhaps a few months, to issue an opinion. They could overturn Weinsteins conviction, leaving the Manhattan D.A.s office to decide whether to try him again. Weinstein is currently housed at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, where he is awaiting trial on 11 other charges. That trial is not expected to begin before next summer. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 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. Click here to read the full article. If youre watching taste-making artists perform on a stage built into a skate bowl inside a 118-year-old mansion, chances are youre at the brand new House of Vans outpost in Mexico Citys Mixcoac neighborhood. The facility, which joins permanent Vans venues in Chicago and London, opened its doors to the public with a free Dec. 9-11 blowout featuring performances by Japanese Breakfast, Hot Chip, Molotov and a host of local artists, including Girl Ultra, Noa Sainz, Rosa Pistola, Los Cogelones and Bonnz. Beyond catering to music fans, House of Vans Mexico City boasts a rooftop skate bowl with a spectacular view of the sprawling metropolis, an art gallery, a movie theater, a kitchen to host world-class chefs and a studio for Vans eclectic, worldwide Channel 66 radio station. On opening day, Vans VP of events and promotion Steve Van Doren served waffles to hundreds of eager people who patiently waited outside the entrance to be let in for some pre-music skating. We want House of Vans Mexico City to serve both the local community as well as provide a cultural beacon for all of Latin America, Vans global brand president Doug Palladini tells Variety. The focus of House of Vans is to inspire, educate and entertain. As much as we excel on interactive platforms, when Vans is face-to-face with our fans, we are truly in our natural habitat as a brand. Much as how House of Vans 2019 pop-up in Detroit took over a former school on the National Register of Historic Places, the Mexico City edition is nestled inside a giant home built in 1903 by attorney Francisco Serralde Martinez and utilized by his family until 1996. Afterwards, it was converted into a music venue called the Bulldog Cafe, which was integral in promoting the new wave of Mexican rock bands who came to prominence in the 90s and 2000s. For touring artists like Japanese Breakfast, the opportunity to perform in such a unique place is a welcome alternative to your average American club. It was also an especially nice way to wind down an action-packed 2021 for the Michelle Zauner-led group, which was just nominated for two Grammys, including best new artist. I dont know how financially plausible it might have been for us to come to Mexico City on our own, Zauner tells Variety. So its really special to have Vans bring us here and have this free event for 1,000 kids to come see us. The whole band has been touring really hard this year under some tougher circumstances. Now we get to cut loose for four days go to the Frida Kahlo house, climb some pyramids and eat good food. Palladini says the decision to set up shop in Mexico City was somewhat of a no-brainer, given that Vans is in its fourth decade serving the Mexican marketplace. Fifty percent of the population in Mexico is under 30 years of age, which aligns with Vans emphasis on youth culture, he says. Then you pile on the truly one-of-a-kind venue our Mexico team found, and the stars were fully aligned. Zauner has already championed Channel 66, for which she has created custom DJ sets of her favorite songs of 2021, songs with only womens names as the title and another with music she loved as a teenager. I just turned it into my own thing where I got to interact with my fans, she says. Adds Palladini, one of Vans most valuable and cherished assets is our extended global Vans family of creators: artists, musicians, athletes, designers and brand ambassadors. Channel 66 gives all of these amazing humans a platform to share their talents with our fans in an accessible and understanding way. Palladini politely declined to reveal whether additional House of Vans locations were in the works, but in light of last weeks successful Mexico City launch, he notes, House of Vans can come to life anywhere in any space at any time: It is a concept not bound by walls or borders, but only by the limits of our creativity. Whether we are in Hong Kong for a weekend or in Chicago for a lifetime, our off the wall state of mind is what binds all of these activations together. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday presented the Medal of Honor, the nations highest military award for valor in combat, to three soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. Two were recognized posthumously. Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude today as we honor the unparalleled courage, the commitment to duty, and the indispensable, indisputable gallantry," Biden said at a White House ceremony. Those honored were: Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee, a Special Forces soldier who fought off Taliban insurgents after an attack in Afghanistan in 2013. Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz, 32, an Army Ranger who died after stepping between Taliban fighters and a U.S. helicopter evacuating wounded in 2018 in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, 35, who died as a result of burns he suffered while rescuing fellow soldiers from a burning vehicle in Iraq in 2005. Kate Celiz and Tamara Cashe accepted the medals of behalf of their families. As honored as you are, it's gotta be tough to be here today, Biden told Cashe's family. Cashe is the first Black service member to receive the Medal of Honor for military actions since Vietnam, according to the White House. He was on patrol in Iraq in October 2005 when the Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was commanding was attacked with small arms fire and a roadside bomb. Cashe repeatedly returned to the burning vehicle and pulled six soldiers from the wreckage. Despite his burns, Cashe refused to board the medical evacuation helicopter until the other soldiers were evacuated first. Cashe, who grew up in Oviedo, Florida, died the burn at a Texas hospital the following month. Three of the soldiers he pulled from the flaming vehicle also died. Celiz was leading an operation to clear an area of enemy forces in Afghanistan in 2018 when his team came under attack. He used his body to shield his unit from enemy fire as a casualty was loaded on to a medical evacuation helicopter. Celiz stayed behind to cover the aircraft. As the helicopter lifted off, Celiz positioned himself to shield the cockpit. He was hit by enemy fire. Despite his injuries, he motioned to the aircraft to depart rather than remain to load him at the risk of further casualties. Celiz was a South Carolina native and had enlisted in the Army in 2006. Plumlee was serving at a base in Afghanistan when it came under attack, with insurgents blowing a 60-foot breach in the perimeter wall. Ten insurgents wearing Afghan National Army uniforms and suicide vests poured through. Plumlee and five other soldiers drove toward the explosion to head off the attack. Armed with just a pistol, Plumlee killed two insurgents and engaged several others at close range, despite heavy enemy fire and his own injuries. At one point, Plumlee ran to a wounded soldier, carried him to safety and rendered first aid. Plumlee is currently serving with the 1st Special Forces Group at Fort Lewis, Washington. ___ Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report. Packed with rifles and explosives, the SUV hurtled down a Florida interstate beneath bright blue autumn skies, passing other motorists with little notice. It was November 2018, and the driver, Tyler Sumlin, was uncomfortable. Clammy. The husky, bearded former U.S. Army soldier was getting a cold, and understandably tense: He was transporting a platoons worth of stolen rifles, enough C4 to blow up his car and those around him, a live hand grenade. He would recall thinking, Is it too late to turn around? Riding shotgun was Sumlins military blood brother, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Jarvis, a soldier on active-duty from Fort Braggs 18th Ordnance Company in North Carolina Sumlins old unit. The two men, whod been close since they served in Afghanistan, tried to distract themselves with idle road-trip chatter. Their wives, war stories, favorite movies. A few months earlier, Jarvis had reached out to ask if Sumlin had interest in making some money. Jarvis was looking to sell stolen military equipment from an armory at Bragg. Sumlin said he might be able to find a buyer. Now they were headed to El Paso, Texas, to sell the stolen weapons. The two men had heard from contacts that the customers were taking the haul into Mexico. In a series of stories, The Associated Press has detailed how the U.S. military has a problem with missing and stolen guns and explosives, and how some weapons have been used in domestic crime. But the inside story of how two men whod forged a deep bond amid the violence of the battlefield attempted to sell stolen Army weapons reveals another kind of threat: an organized group of soldiers and veterans taking advantage of flaws in the militarys system to make fast money. This story is based on extensive interviews, text messages associated with a federal criminal case, private Facebook group messages, court records and documents from military investigative proceedings. While information about Sumlin and Jarvis has come to light before, this account offers new details about a case that left other soldiers appalled and enraged betrayed, they believed, by two of their own. ___ A photograph captures a day in 2009 as Sumlin and Jarvis sat together on a rock in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. A rifle rests on Sumlins lap, and he wears a tactical vest, his T-shirt sleeves cut off to expose a farmers tan and tattoo on his left shoulder. Jarvis is off to his side, his rifle in hand. The two young men had become brothers amid the breakneck tempo of wartime Afghanistan. Sumlin and Jarvis specialized in explosive ordnance disposal, or EOD, the kind of work with its stifling, hulking bomb suits given the Hollywood treatment in The Hurt Locker. Their work eliminating improvised explosive devices set by the Taliban was nonstop, and gave them little time to process what they saw, heard and smelled. It was a pressure cooker of a job inside a pressure cooker, intense even in the high stakes world of the battlefield. They stashed traumatic experiences and images deep inside themselves, and their comradery helped blunt the stress. When they returned stateside both struggled with adjusting to the slower pace of life. Like many soldiers, they found some balm in the friendship of others whod seen what theyd seen. Like many military subcultures, the tight-knit EOD community has its own code of conduct, ethics and language. Sumlin joined a private Facebook group where the EOD community commiserated, argued and pranked one another. They also held each other to account, debating whether a members conduct violated the brotherhoods code. Sumlin left the Army in December 2017, but deployed again to do bomb disposal with a private defense contracting company. Meanwhile, Jarvis remained in the Army. At Fort Bragg, home to some of the Armys most elite units, Jarvis worked in an armory. And that gave him access to a wealth of military firearms, parts and other equipment such as night vision goggles and explosives. ___ Inside the Fort Bragg armory, Jarvis took photographs of weaponry and then he stole it, and set out to sell it. His buddy, Sumlin, sent the photos and an inventory list of the pilfered weapons and explosives to an accomplice who called himself Mr. Anderson. Anderson, a former Army combat engineer who had served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was one of several other soldiers or veterans connected to the scheme. In May 2018, Sumlin and Jarvis began mining their contacts to offload the haul. They would find a promising lead with the help of a man identified as Evan, who they hadnt met but who said he had connections with a willing buyer. Inventory: NVG-13, Aimpoint-8, ACOG-18, PEQ2A-10, DD Rail-24, DD-Barrel-15, Various Troy toys, Anderson texted Evan, including Jarvis photos. The letters and numbers described a litany of arms and night vision goggles, rifle optics and lasers designed for aiming, and rifle parts. Wow, items are good, any idea on price if I took everything? Evan texted back. Ill let you know as soon as I hear back from him, Anderson wrote, referring to Sumlin. Over the next few days, the conversation continued, copies of messages show. Anderson and Evan complained about the weapons high prices. They sounded paranoid when they discussed dealing with amateur gun dealers like Sumlin and Jarvis, and feared they would attract attention from law enforcement. As soon as he named his price (for the gunsights) I thought he was joking since theyre definitely USED, Anderson wrote. Im not sure if its his first time or not. But its the last time I ask around for (Sumlin). After a few days, Evan said hed found a buyer who wanted it. All of it. What Anderson didnt know is that Evan was a longtime confidential informant working with Homeland Security Investigations, an arm of the Department of Homeland Security. In his communication with Sumlin and Anderson, Evan said, he represented a buyer who claimed to be connected to narcotraffickers. (Sumlin has denied that the weapons were meant to be sold to drugrunners.) I didnt know (the buyer) was south of Texas, Anderson wrote. Yep he goes between Texas and Mexico all the time, Evan wrote back. I wouldnt sell anything to anyone down there, Anderson replied. Lol well he has always been a cash buyer without question and never any issues at all, Evan responded. It sounds like theyve made a deal. I hope so. They still have to meet and conclude, wrote Anderson. By mid-November 2018, Jarvis had rented a Chevy Tahoe SUV in North Carolina and drove the stolen cache south. He met Sumlin in Inverness, a small town in central Floridas lakes region, so they could prepare the weapons for sale, according to a federal criminal complaint. Sumlin would say he and Jarvis had initially sought $250,000 for the firearms and explosives. After some back-and-forth, they settled on a much lower price: $75,000. It seemed a paltry amount, considering the risk, but the weapons sale may have been just one in which they were involved. According to the Army Criminal Investigation Divisions case file, Jarvis and Sumlin would later tell agents about criminal transactions in Colorado, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Texas. In the document, another soldier confessed to stealing multiple rifle optic systems and a bomb suit, which were given to Sumlin. In Florida, Jarvis and Sumlin cleaned the firearms to remove their fingerprints. They also paid to have some parts modified to fit the rifles. With the cache assembled, cleaned, packed in storage containers and loaded for delivery, the men got into the SUV for the 24-hour drive to Texas. Arriving in El Paso, they pulled into a truck stop the morning of Nov. 14, 2018. A man they thought was the buyers contact, known as Andy, waited with some others. They told Sumlin and Jarvis to follow them to a nearby warehouse and into the trap. There, the agents confirmed that the two men were indeed carrying multiple firearms, military equipment and C4 plastic explosives. A SWAT team pounced, arrested them and secured the cache. Homeland Security agents seized more than 30 firearms; several blocks of C4; a hand grenade; shaped charges; body armor; night vision devices; binoculars; ammunition; lasers and magazines. In Mexico, where drug traffickers have fought openly, the equipment could unleash carnage. Yet the weapons recovered did not account for all that was missing from Braggs armory. According to the report by Army criminal investigators, the items stolen between Sumlin, Jarvis and their accomplices between 2014 and 2018 were valued at close to $180,000. But the U.S. government only recovered roughly $26,000 worth. The Army referred questions to Homeland Security Investigations, which initially promised to discuss the case with AP, then canceled the interview and, later, did not respond to written questions. Jarvis and Sumlin were indicted on eight different federal charges, including conspiracy and gunrunning. Holy hell they had to be planning a crazy something for sure, Evan texted a Homeland Security agent. Boss is extremely happy ... It was a good hit, the agent replied. Bad guys thought we were narco traffickers from Mexico ... Using their weapons against troops. ____ Sumlin posted bail and returned to his Florida home to pick up the pieces. He faced a possible 70 years in prison, and struggled under the weight of PTSD. He logged onto the EOD community's private Facebook group page and saw a message directed at him. Dude is this you? an EOD brother asked. There on the page for everyone to see was a copy of his indictment, which had not been made public or attracted any media attention. Yup, Sumlin typed. Mistakes were made, a fellow EOD member responded, glibly. Alot of them, Sumlin wrote. In the months after the arrests, word had swirled in the small EOD community about fellow soldiers whod tried to sell firearms and explosives. But the Army sent no official press release and there were no news reports. The chatter was dismissed as a rumor traded among troops. The indictment confirmed the rumor, and some of Sumlins brethren were livid. Explosive ordnance disposal technicians work on the border amid Mexican drug-related violence. What if the weapons had ended up with narcos? They might have been used against the good guys. Bro, (obscenity) you AND your service. Youre a piece of (obscenity), wrote one EOD group member. You betrayed everyone you ever worked with as soon as you tried to sell weapons and explosives to a cartel. In response, Sumlin indicated there had been six others involved in the conspiracy. Pressed to identify them, he refused. Why, asked another community member, was he protecting the other conspirators? Id like to hope they learned from whats going to happen to me, Sumlin explained. He said he didnt think any of them had been arrested, and he wanted to keep it that way. He hoped his and Jarvis punishment would dissuade them from future arms dealings. For many in the EOD community, Sumlins mea culpa and excuses about needing money were not enough. He had crossed a line by selling items that could have killed one of their own. Sumlin and Jarvis had faced decades in prison, but both reached deals with federal prosecutors. They pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle goods from the United States. The other seven counts were dropped. The maximum term was now 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. But they didnt even get that. Each was sentenced to five years probation, and Jarvis was ordered to mental health counseling and required to take prescribed medication. Jarvis and Anderson did not return messages seeking comment. Sumlin declined to be interviewed for this story, but said in a 2019 interview that he planned to finish his probation and complete a psychology degree. I want to try and help veterans that have lost their way and try to help veterans transition out of the military and back into civilian life ... people that have gone through the issues of losing that rush ... that spark in life, he said. The investigators, meanwhile, were incensed. They speculated that the federal judge was moved by the defendants service records and claims of post-traumatic stress disorder. I dont mind getting my ass kicked in court fair and square ... but when they take a plea agreement and admit to everything we charged him with ... I just dont know what to say, a federal agent wrote to Evan. Its like if they pulled over (Timothy) McVeigh on the way to Oklahoma City and gave him probation because he didnt actually blow up the building, Evan responded. As for Sumlins insistence that drug traffickers were never discussed when he was negotiating the deal with undercover agents, Evan is adamant: The veteran was lying. They definitely planned to steal the weapons, the C4, the blasting caps and everything and they were going to sell it to the Mexican cartel, period, Evan told the AP. The legal record is unclear. Sumlin told federal officials he believed the weapons were going to be exported to Mexico. But the federal complaint does not mention drug cartels. To Evan, Sumlin and Jarvis are terrorists. If they were Muslim or Black, he said, they wouldnt have gotten off so easily. It was very frustrating that so many risked their lives, so many undercover people. There were all kinds of agencies involved and this is the outcome? Evan wrote a Homeland Security agent. Theres other guys who got much worse for much less. ___ LaPorta reported from Boca Raton, Florida; contact him at https://twitter.com/JimLaPorta. Dearen reported from New York; contact him at https://twitter.com/JHDearen. Randy Herschaft in New York contributed. ___ Email APs Global Investigations Team at investigative@ap.org or via https://www.ap.org/tips/. See other work at https://www.apnews.com/hub/ap-investigations. / 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. 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. Erik Charles Maund, whose family runs Volkswagen and Toyota dealerships in and around Austin, has been charged for allegedly hiring hit men to kidnap and kill his former girlfriend and her boyfriend, federal prosecutors stated in a news release on Monday, December 13. The three-count federal indictment comes 21 months after the brutal murders of Nashvillians Holly Williams, 33, and William Lanway, 36. Maund, 46, has been indicted on charges that he paid a purported former Israeli soldier and two ex-Marines $750,000 to kill the victims in March 2020, according to a release from the Nashville Police Department. In early February 2020, Maund emailed Williams, with whom he had a prior relationship, to see her during his visit to Nashville, the indictment state. Nashville Police Department After his visit on March 1, 2020, Maund, who is married, received a series of text messages from Lanway, who had a romantic relationship with Williams. Lanway had demanded payment and threatened to expose Maund's "relationship" with Williams if he did not receive it, the indictment stated. Maund then allegedly enlisted three men to deal with the threats: Gilad Peled, a former member of the Israeli Defense Forces from Austin; Bryon Brockway, a former active-duty U.S. Marine from Austin; and Adam Carey, from North Carolina, also a former active-duty Marine. It is believed that Peled, Brockway, and Carey traveled out of state to Nashville to surveil Williams and Lanway, the release noted. The trio used a Pinger account to communicate with the alleged couple. On March 12, 2020, Brockway and Carey confronted Williams and Lanway in the parking lot of Williams' apartment complex in West Nashville and murdered Lanway by shooting him multiple times, according to the indictment. Nashville Police Department They then kidnapped Williams and drove her and the body of Lanway to a construction site on Old Hickory Boulevard in West Nashville, where they murdered Williams by shooting her several times. The bodies were then discarded at the construction site and within hours of the murders, the Pinger account used to communicate was deleted and a rental car rented by Brockway was returned. The indictment also alleges that since March 11, 2020, Maund transferred in excess of $750,000, via wire, from his bank account to an account controlled by Peled, as payment to the three men for the kidnapping and murders of Williams and Lanway. According to the release, Maund and the three alleged hit men have all been charged in a three-count indictment with conspiracy to commit kidnapping; kidnapping resulting in death; and carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, prosecutors said. If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison. 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 A Longford principal has said it "makes sense" to close schools early if public health officials believe the move will have an impact on rising Covid-19 cases. St Mel's Principal Declan Rowley said he remained open to the idea of bringing forward the date in which schools finish up for the festive holidays if it meant the move slowed case numbers on a broader scale. "We have been on a real good run of it for the past 17 weeks in a row and if the health experts think we should close a couple of days early in order to make that break in the chain of the transmission of this virus which seems to be travelling at a rapid rate in the UK then I think it makes sense," he said. His comments come after a prominent Fine Gael Senator has called for primary schools to shut on Friday. Jerry Buttimer told the Seanad that Covid was running riot in these schools and he urged the Education Minister to close them this week. Mr Rowley, meanwhile, also indicated he had no qualms about the prospect of the Christmas holidays being extended by a couple of days given that most schools are not due to return until towards the latter end of the first week in January. "Normally we would lose some days but that hasn't happened on this occasion and I believe we are in a good position and we are where we want to be with the curriculum and if the health experts make that call I think the Government should follow it," he said. The St Mel's College principal's remarks were given further credence by Moyne Community School principal Des Cullen. He too said talk for an earlier than expected end to the school calendar year was one that was a narrative he was very much conscious of, adding that it was a decision he would leave to senior health bosses. "We have always gone by the advice of the health professionals and we will be leaving it up to them (Nphet)," he said. "As things stand, we are here until next Wednesday. In terms of his own take on an extended Christmas break to try and halt an expected rise in case numbers owing to the increasing presence of the Omicron variant, Mr Cullen said: "That's something for the health professionals to decide on as to where things (Covid cases) sit nationally and how that fits into the bigger plan." Specialist financial services recruitment firm, Coopman Search & Selection has become the first recruitment company headquartered in Ireland to become a Certified B Corporation. Established in 2019 by Longford-born Mark Fallon and his business partner Andrew Murphy, Coopman Search & Selection is just one of seven other companies, including Danone Dairy Ireland, Strong Roots, Cully & Sully, Earth's Edge, Urban Volt Limited and Vagabond Tours Ltd, headquartered in Ireland to achieve the certification. Other global Certified B Corporation brands include Lemonade, BrewDog, Patagonia, Chloe and Ben & Jerrys. Born and raised in Longford by parents James and Maureen, along with his four other siblings, Jason, Enda, Shane and Megan, Mark Fallon attended Fermoyle National School in Lanesboro and St Mels College. He was an avid young GAA player with Rathcline and he now resides in Multyfarnham with his wife Nancy and their two children, Anna Beth and Henry. Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to use business as a force for good. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as a means to a greater end and strive to ensure that there is positive impact for their employees, customers, communities and the environment. Speaking about the certification, Coopman Co-Founder and Director, Mark Fallon said, Since commencing business, our mission has been to make a positive impact in the lives of professionals, that is our employees, clients, and partners. "When we came across B Corp, we believed it was an excellent framework, incorporating the interests of all of our stakeholders so that we can grow in the most sustainable manner. "We are delighted to join this community of leaders who are driving such an incredible movement and while we are only at the start of our journey, I am excited to see where it takes us and how we can grow our business to have an even greater impact socially and environmentally. Katie Hill, CEO B Lab Europe added, B Lab Europe congratulates Coopman on certifying as a B Corp and welcomes them to the growing, committed and energetic B Corp community in Ireland. We anticipate that this announcement will trigger many others in and beyond the financial services sector to follow Coopman's lead. Coopman Search & Selection works across all sectors of financial services, providing personnel for front office, risk, compliance and accounting opportunities on a permanent and interim basis. The team of eight works with qualified professionals through to the executive level, bringing individuals and clients together through a consultative approach across the Irish, UK and US financial services markets. Coopman Search & Selection is a proud partner of the Irish Youth Foundation and supports One Tree Planted, planting trees for every placement made in financial services (circa 400 trees planted to date). The company is headquartered in Dublin and has a presence in the UK. In addition to being certified a B Corp, Coopman Search & Selection has been selected by the Small Firms Association (SFA) as a finalist in the National Small Business Awards 2022, winners of which will be announced in April next year. Every classroom in Ireland should receive air filters as part of a New Year resolution to bolster safety in schools, a primary principal has said. Lisa Callanan said applying for minor works grants to secure HEPA filters is cumbersome for under-pressure schools already struggling to keep a lid on Covid-19 cases. The principal of Rathbeggan national school in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, says using the portable systems could also end uncertainty over whether schools will be allowed to re-open after the Christmas break. Longford principals 'open' to prospect of early school closures in bid to stem Omicron spread A Longford principal has said it "makes sense" to close schools early if public health officials believe the move will have an impact on rising Covid-19 cases. Nine machines have been installed by Irish company Mia Air in her 173-pupil school, removing the constant need to leave windows and doors open. What we are able to do now is close more windows and doors as the filters run and open everything again when the children are on outside breaks to let fresh air through the building, she said. It is another preventative measure and with case numbers on the rise with the new variant, we feel we are doing extra in the hope of keeping everyone safe and the school open. Man who caused a nuisance to Longford rail staff to escape conviction A man who caused difficulty for Irish Rail staff in Longford is to make a contribution to the court poor box. Opening windows for ventilation at the coldest point of the year, particularly in a 61-year-old school such as Rathbeggan, is not ideal for teaching or learning, she said. A fund of up to 72 million euro was announced earlier this week to allow schools and childcare services improve ventilation but Ms Callanan says filters suitable to different classroom types should have been supplied directly. We are pushed to the limit in terms of resources with the substitute crisis and in trying to keep continuity in teaching and learning. Minor works grant applications take time and that takes from an already overloaded schedule, she added. I would have preferred more definitive guidance. Schools are incredibly busy places. Ideally, HEPA 14 filters should arrive in every classroom in the country once assessments are made on which ones suit best; that would make it crystal clear that every school would have that extra layer of protection. Introducing them at an earlier juncture, rather than almost two years later, would have been more effective. Until Mia Air filters arrived at the school of 18 staff last Monday, every external door apart from the front door, was left open all day, while internally, communal room windows were constantly open. The high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) systems work by trapping and destroying airborne particles and viruses before pumping out clean air through a fan and can be controlled on smartphone apps. Ms Callanan said providing HEPA filters to schools should be the natural solution to tackle all forms of airborne viruses and bacteria, even beyond Covid. Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the school has had to deal with just 10 positive cases of Covid-19, the result of a huge collaborative effort by children, staff, and parents. Every measure suggested in terms of prevention in our school community, we have taken on board, the principal added. Children have adapted so well and parents have prepared them so well. They are layered up with base layers underneath their uniforms and have the option to wear their coats in class if they wish. She does not believe changes should be made to school Christmas holidays given the disruption to education so far. The best thing is to keep the natural school calendar as it is, breaking on December 22 and returning on January 6. The Government is seeking advice from the Attorney General as to whether it can publish the full Brandon report into the prolonged sexual abuse of intellectually disabled residents in Co Donegal. The HSE published the executive summary of the report, completed by the National Independent Review Panel (NIRP). The report found that a former resident of a HSE-run disability centre carried out more than 100 sexual assaults of 18 intellectually disabled adults between 2003 and 2016 The resident, given the pseudonym Brandon, carried out the sexual assaults with the full knowledge of management and staff. It is critically important that the Brandon Report into serious incidents of abuse at HSE-run facilities in Donegal is published in full. The Irish public deserves full accountability and we must ensure that lessons are learnt so this never, ever happens again. @PadraigMacL pic.twitter.com/p683MoOsI5 Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) December 16, 2021 Sinn Feins Padraig Mac Lochlainn called for the full publication of the report. The Donegal TD said it has been a long and harrowing road for the families of those who suffered the horrendous abuse. They hoped that this report would finally give them answers that theyve been waiting years for, Mr Mac Lochlainn told the Dail. We now know that there were over 100 occurrences of sexually inappropriate behaviour carried out by one resident. It was the most awful of situations. These victims were the most vulnerable in our society. They were non-verbal and placed all of their trust in the centre and the HSE to protect them. That obviously did not happen. Those victims were failed. But even after all of this, even after all of the public cries for the publication of the report, the full report is still not being published. The executive summary, while detailed, is still not the full report. The families and the Irish public need to know all of the facts. Why continue to drag this out? Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said he was horrified by what was contained in the report. He told the Dail that Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State for Disability, met the HSE on Tuesday to discuss the publication of the report. In relation to the full report, Minister Rabbitte is seeking advice from the Attorney General (Paul Gallagher) as to whether she can publish it either fully or in redacted form, Mr Varadkar added. The HSE at the moment says its not possible, but Minister Rabbitte isnt accepting that at this point in time and is seeking advice from the attorney as to whether she can publish it in full or if not in full at least in redacted form. Mr Varadkar added: Im very conscious that in discussing this matter, there are families who have been deeply impacted and are deeply hurting. I think for anyone whos read or listened to the reports on the issue, theyre going to be shocked and theyre going to be upset about what has happened. Certainly, when I read about it, at first I was horrified that this could have happened and even felt disbelief that something like this could happen and continue to happen for a period of time. Our thoughts are in the first instance with the individuals and families affected. I cant begin to imagine what theyve been going through this morning and indeed, in the years gone. He said it is important that lessons are learned and changes are made and that the recommendations in the report are fully implemented. The HSE has assured the minister that theres no ongoing risk service users and that national governance and accountability structures overseeing the implementation recommendations arising from the report are now in place, Mr Varadkar added. Amte Power PLC - developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery cells - Wins UK government part-funded project to develop EV charging systems. Amte will develop high power pouch cells into a cylindrical cell format and provide these cells as the rapid charging cell technology that sits at the heart of the system. The grant funding relating to this project was anticipated in the Company's forecasts for future grant income. Amte will partner with Sprint, BMW AG and BP PLC to reduce electric vehicle charge times to 12 minutes. Chief Executive Officer Kevin Brundish says: "A key focus of this project is to target BMW's future battery specifications and requirements with each partner bringing innovations to the battery platform. It is therefore an excellent opportunity to contribute as well as demonstrate the capabilities of our cell technology to the other partners not just for fast charging but also for fast discharge (acceleration) and ultimately vehicle range." Current stock price: 150 pence, down 14% from 175p IPO price By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak is cutting short a trip to the US for crisis talks with business chiefs as the spread of Omicron and health warnings wreaked havoc on hard-hit pubs and restaurants. The Chancellor has been criticised for going on the trip as the coronavirus variant's spread led to a wave of cancelled bookings and falling takings across the hospitality sector. UKHospitality boss Kate Nicholls and pub chiefs have made a plea for business rates relief and VAT discounts to be extended, warning that the sector has been knocked harder than expected by the new restrictions. Nicholls said hospitality sales have already plunged by more than a third over the past 10 days with GBP2 billion of trade already lost in December. It comes as the CBI also urged the government to provide support "in lockstep with future restrictions". Sunak and the Treasury team spoke to both organisations a as well as hospitality firms including Prezzo, Nando's, Whitbread PLC, Greene King, Black Sheep Brewery and Adnams a on Thursday. Speaking to broadcasters from the US, Sunak insisted the government was "not telling people to cancel things" and was "not closing down businesses". But he said: "I appreciate that it is a difficult time for the hospitality industry, that's why I was on the phone earlier today with various industry leaders from the hospitality space." The "good news" was that support measures already existed for the sector, Sunak said, highlighting business rates relief, a reduced rate of VAT and around GBP250 million of public money available through local authorities. "My immediate priority is to make sure that money gets to those businesses as quickly as possible," he said. The Chancellor said his "long-planned" trip to the US was aimed at "bringing investment and jobs and new products and services to the UK". "But of course I understand the concerns of businesses at the moment, given everything that's going on, that's why I have been in touch with hospitality industry leaders today, my team are hosting roundtables and talking to them. "And it's why I have curtailed my trip and I will be leaving earlier tonight and I will be back in the UK tomorrow." Shadow Treasury chief secretary Pat McFadden said: "Why did he decide to proceed with a trip to California on Tuesday when it was already clear that UK businesses were struggling to cope with what the prime minister himself has called a 'tidal wave of Omicron'?" Consumer confidence has been knocked by new restrictions and increasing health warnings. England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has advised Britons to consider cutting back on socialising around Christmas, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people should "think carefully" before going out to celebrate. Nicholls said: "Christmas trade is always crucial for the hospitality industry, making up as much as a quarter of the year's profit for many businesses. "Last year, Christmas was cancelled and so much rested on this December period for businesses already staggering under a burden of debt incurred from the pandemic and facing rising costs across the board. "If operators are unable to trade profitably over the next month, many will simply not survive a and those that do make it through face a return to 20% VAT in April. "The government must step in now and provide measures that support the businesses and jobs in the sector a by committing to keeping VAT at 12.5%, suspending business rates payments for the first quarter of 2022 and reinstating recovery grants." The British Beer and Pub Association wrote to the Chancellor to highlight the "devastating impact" of the latest coronavirus restrictions and guidance, with an estimated three million Christmas bookings cancelled in the past week. The combination of the Plan B restrictions and Whitty's comments meant "consumer confidence has been hugely undermined", chief executive Emma McClarkin said. The boss of Greene King, one of the UK's biggest pub groups, said some its London pubs have seen sales down as much as 70% compared with the same week in 2019 amid a wave of cancellations. Chief executive Nick Mackenzie said: "The guidance from Government to limit social interactions and shift to working from home has put our industry into lockdown in everything but name." Patrick Dardis, chief executive of the 220-strong Young's pub group, told the PA news agency: "I have no idea where Rishi Sunak is right now but he needs to show up and give the industry his backing." Firms across the sector are asking for an extension of the discounted 12.5% VAT, which is due to revert back to the original 20% rate in March next year, with UKHospitality also pushing for a deferral of business rates. Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund said Sunak should be "ready to deploy" a mini form of furlough support in the event of widespread closures to help sectors suffering the most, such as hospitality. Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief economist, added: "Further support for struggling firms will be needed if fresh government public health measures prevent firms trading their way to recovery." Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge has highlighted the suffering in the sector when he revealed one of his restaurants has seen more than 650 cancellations in the past six days due to Omicron fears. Dominic Paul, chief executive of takeaway chain Domino's Pizza Group PLC, said parts of the hospitality industry "are going to have a really tough few months". He added: "The government showed a real willingness to support the industry before and I think they probably will again." By David Hughes, Holly Williams and Henry Saker-Clark, PA source: PA Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. 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Well, perhaps I can give a few suggestions: (1) Scrap the 90 day rule which has hit British holiday home owners in Spain hard, meaning that they are effectively excluded from their Spanish home if they do not become Spanish residents. This move will severely hit British investment. Perhaps the Spanish government could introduce a temporary residence system which would allow British tourists to enjoy Spain and their second homes without the need to become a resident. This system has actually existed in the past so it could be easily reintroduced. (2). Ensure that British food products are readily available in Spain. It is amazing how many food items which were readily available in Spanish supermarkets have disappeared. (3). Scrap all the red tape and taxes on British imports and exports. Even sending a letter or parcel from Britain to Spain now costs more. (4.) As Spain is the principal holiday spot for British tourists a joint agreement on Covid or even a common Covid passport which will make it easier for British tourists to come to Spain. Since Brexit a great deal of red tape has been introduced by both the European Union and the British government. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Britons and of course Spaniards to move easily between both countries. This is my wish list, please consider! Manchester Center, VT (05254) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High 28F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies with late-night snow showers. Low 22F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. 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 Erling Haaland might have scored twice against Greuther Furth on Wednesday night, but it was his activity after the final whistle that made the headlines. Haaland made his way around all four sides of Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park, waving to supporters and patting his heart as he went, in a gesture that was unusual for a fixture of relatively little note. Was it simply reflective of the time of year, with the Norwegian knowing it would be the last time he would play in front of his home fans this year and wanting to thank them for their support in 2021? Or does the Norwegian expect it to be the last time he plays at the ground as a Dortmund player? Whatever the truth, it got tongues wagging and, with super agent Mino Raiola in Haaland's corner, it's likely that the 21-year-old will leave at some point, particularly as there is believed to have been a tacit agreement between them and the Dortmund hierarchy that the striker would only stay at the club for two years, which it has now been. The 2021/22 Bundesliga title race Haaland's two goals saw Dortmund keep the pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga and the striker continues to have a remarkable strike rate in the competition, registering a goal every 62 minutes. That's better than Robert Lewandowski and Patrick Schick, the only two players with more league goals than him this term. In his short Dortmund career, Haaland now has 76 goals and 20 assists in just 74 games. It's no wonder Europe's heavyweights continue to covet him. Borussia Dortmund play their last fixture of 2021 on December 18 when they travel to face Hertha Berlin. They will return to league action in 2022 on January 8 against Eintracht Frankfurt. After the all-time blockbuster that was Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Allu Arjun is returning to the big screen with possibly the biggest film of his career, Pushpa: The Rise - Part 1. The movie is slated to be a pan-India release and is touted to be Allu Arjuns official introduction to a majority of the North Indian audiences. Mythri Movie Makers Besides Telugu and Hindi, Pushpa is also releasing in other Indian languages like Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. However, ahead of the films nationwide release this Friday, Kannadigas (Kannada people) took to Twitter and called for the boycott of the film. #BoycottPushpaInKarnataka is trending on Twitter and the reason behind it is that the distributors have allotted only a number of shows of Pushpa in Kannada dubbed version in the state. Kannadigas are furious that most of the shows of Pushpa are in the original Telugu version despite the movie being dubbed in Kannada. Mythri Movie Makers Expressing their anger and disappointment over the allotment of the shows in Karnataka, they have started calling for the films boycott in the state. One user wrote, Dear @alluarjun, why are you dumping Telugu version in Karnataka when you have Kannada version? You and your marketing team has got it all wrong. This is not going well with Kannadigas. I won't watch Pushpa unless released in Kannada across Karnataka. #BoycottPushpaInKarnataka. Mythri Movie Makers Another user tweeted, Special Ops, Arya are 2 major series and Jai Bhim, Soorarai potru are 2 movie watched in Kannada on OTT and have loved them, connected to them. So I wish all movies hereby that comes to Kar from outside should be in Kannada. #BoycottPushpaInKarnataka. Check out some of the tweets below: Dear @alluarjun,why are you dumping Telugu version in Karnataka when you have Kannada version? You and your marketing team has got it all wrong. This is not going well with Kannadigas. I won't watch Pushpa unless released in Kannada across Karnataka.#BoycottPushpaInKarnataka (@sharankannadiga) December 16, 2021 Special Ops, Arya are 2 major series and Jai Bhim, Soorarai potru are 2 movie watched in Kannada on OTT and have loved them, connected to them. So I wish all movies hereby that comes to Kar from outside should be in Kannada.#BoycottPushpaInKarnataka / Bhanu Prakash Error! Filename not specified.(@Banunbc) December 16, 2021 #BoycottPushpaInKarnataka I am allu arjun fan from my childwood but this movie we expected in Kannada but there are no shows around in Karnataka in kannada pls release more shows for kannada Srinivas u n (@srininag4) December 16, 2021 Some places in #Karnatakathey prefer original version of the film , but the problem here is the places where 90-95 % people speak kannada and you don't get enough screens in that district .#BoycottPushpaInKarnataka- is not the solution , anyway we have to healthy relationship Yogesh_Vishwanath (@yogesh_offcl) December 16, 2021 If you want to release ur movie in Karnataka better release Kannada version more than any version. What is this? Telugu version200+,hindi vsn 10+,malayalam vsn 4+, tamil vsn 4+ & Kannada version 3 shows just 3 that too in Karnataka Error! Filename not specified.#BoycottPushpaInKarnataka#PushpaTheRise#Banpic.twitter.com/09FbUp96dd MadhuRSYCult (@Madhu_RSYCult) December 15, 2021 3 shows have less than 5% fillings correct. But these 3 shows aren't in prime screens. Waste theaters. Release in mantri, orion like that. seats will fill. (Similar to AMB , Prasad's in HYD) If there was no dubbed versio no one would trend #BoycottPushpaInKarnataka Mack Ja (@Mack_Jaa) December 16, 2021 @MythriOfficial@swagathofficlEven pushpa movie dubbed to Kannada and you guys think can get away with more shows to Telgu version in Karnataka, sorry we #BoycottPushpaInKarnatakapic.twitter.com/TapfmNOztB Jayateerth Nadagouda (@jayateerthbn) December 16, 2021 Utter shameless folks in KFI. I was planning to watch #PushpaTheRise in Kannada this weekend. Now decided not to watch.#BoycottPushpaInKarnataka Until these numbers in the picture reverse for Telugu and Kannada, Kannadigas should boycott #PushpaTheRise . pic.twitter.com/Oxxve5hne6 Abhi Nandan (@Abhinandan248) December 16, 2021 On the other hand, there were also those who defended makers opting for more Telugu version screening in Karnataka over the local language Kannada dubbed version. One user wrote in response, Why will market forces allot more shows to Kannada when even the 3 shows allotted are not filling up? We may come up with the old reason of but that won't cut ice anymore. #BoycottPushpaInKarnataka. Mythri Movie Makers Another posted, Really!! #BoycottPushpaInKarnataka ? It's all about SUPPLY - DEMAND. If they rls Telugu version there say 100 they can have 50+ shows in full occupancy basis get packed. Whereas if they release 100 in Kannada version merely 10-20 may get filled. What's wrong here. #Pushpa. Check out the tweets below: Why will market forces allot more shows to Kannada when even the 3 shows allotted are not filling up? We may come up with the old reason of but that won't cut ice anymore. #BoycottPushpaInKarnataka pic.twitter.com/Ro4wCP4ON6 S Shyam Prasad (@ShyamSPrasad) December 16, 2021 Really!!#BoycottPushpaInKarnataka ? It's all about SUPPLY - DEMAND. If they rls Telugu version there say 100 they can have 50+ shows in full occupancy basis get packed. Whereas if they release 100 in Kannada version merely 10-20 may get filled. What's wrong here.#Pushpa Gokul (@IamGokulVJ) December 16, 2021 Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa also stars Rashmika Mandana and Fahadh Faasil in lead roles. The movie is slated to release on December 17. People say, love is blind, and as someone who has lost sight of a lot of things (and red flags) while in love, I wholeheartedly agree. However, even in that short or no sightedness, there are a few things that must never be overlooked. Someones marital status, for that matter. You see, polygamy is good. To each his own, after all. But what makes it better is transparency. Because in the absence of that and in the presence of multiple partners, your love is reduced to cheating and the consequences to that are never pretty. iStock As was the case recently in Jaipur when a man had to jump from the balcony of a fifth floor in order to avoid getting caught by his partners husband. Now, most people at this point would either think back to a time theyve done the same to avoid parents of a lover or even partner for that matter, but what they mustnt have anticipated is that sometimes things can go terribly wrong. Like in this case, where the alleged man who jumped, died after making that jump. The deceased, 29-year-old and identified as one Mohsin was in a live-in relationship with a married woman and her minor daughter, however, the circumstances of this relationship were a tad bit unconventional. iStock Turns out, the woman had eloped with her lover from Nainital to Jaipur 2 years ago and was living in a rented flat in a building under Pratap Nagar police station. The husband, all this while, was still looking for his wife and traced her to Jaipur. Upon visiting the wife, as the husband noticed Mohsin, things got intense and an intimidated Mohsin panicked and jumped from the balcony to escape his wrath. And while his wrath he did escape, what he couldnt was his own misfortune. iStock Having been seriously injured, the man was taken to the SMS Government Hospital by his lover, where he died on Monday. After the incident, both the woman in question and her husband have been missing, as police are searching for them. The body of the deceased was handed over to his family members after a post-mortem examination on Tuesday. Thank you for subscribing! By signing up to this free newsletter you agree to receive occasional emails from us informing you about our products and services. You can opt out of these emails at any time. The two DRI plants will each have a production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year, while the two EAFs will be capable of producing more than 3 million tpy of slab. The plant will also be... Michigan expands neighborhood testing sites to offer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 through 11 years Michigan expands neighborhood testing sites to offer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 through 11 years FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 16, 2021 CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112 LANSING, Mich. - To provide greater access to more Michigan residents, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is expanding COVID-19 vaccinations at its neighborhood testing sites to also offer the vaccine to children ages 5 through 11 years. To date, vaccines have only been offered at these sites to adults and children ages 12 years and older. "We're proud of the progress that's been made vaccinating more Michigan residents, but there is still work to be done," said MDHHS director Elizabeth Hertel. "Expanding access at our neighborhood testing sites make it easier for families to vaccinate their children by bringing vaccine clinics to where people are in our communities, including rural and other areas that are harder to reach. Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19, and we urge everyone to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible." More than 5.4 million Michiganders 16 and older, or 72.3%, have received at least their first dose of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Michigan is working to increase awareness of local vaccination opportunities for residents. On Nov 2., Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 pediatric vaccine, which had received emergency use authorization for children ages 5 through11 years from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MDHHS is recommending that parents vaccinate their children ages 5 through 11 years as soon as possible. Data from the CDC demonstrate that children in the 5 through 11 age group account for approximately 10.6% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. COVID-19 has infected 1.9 million children ages 5 through 11 years nationwide and resulted in the hospitalization of 8,300 children. About one-third of hospitalized children required treatment in the ICU. At least 94 COVID-19-associated deaths occurred in children aged 5 through 11 years. Over 5,200 have developed Multisystem Inflammatory Disorder (MIS-C) (187 in Michigan). To help raise awareness of upcoming local community COVID-19 vaccination clinics and testing sites, the MDHHS is releasing a weekly list of clinics for publication through media outlets. Michigan residents seeking more information about the COVID-19 vaccine can visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. ### City of Benton Harbor Water Resource Fair is today Information to help reduce lead exposure, on site blood lead testing and bottled water available during the event happening 4 to 7 p.m. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 16, 2021 CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112 LANSING, Mich. - The City of Benton Harbor Water Resource Fair is slated for today at Benton Harbor High School, 870 Colfax Avenue, from 4 to 7 p.m. Families will be able to get information about services and resources available to City of Benton Harbor residents to help reduce or eliminate lead from their homes. Resources will include health services, food assistance, water use instruction, nutrition options and information on lead. Free bottled water will also be available at the event. InterCare Community Health Network will be offering on-site blood lead testing for attendees of all ages. Although blood lead tests cannot tell you if you were exposed to lead in the past, testing is particularly important for young children and pregnant persons because exposure to lead early in life has been shown to potentially cause problems with learning, behavior, hearing and growth. For individuals who have elevated blood lead levels, the goals are to identify the source of lead, stop the lead exposure and to talk with their doctor to discuss any other tests or follow-up that might be needed. The resource fair is a collaborative effort that will include information and representatives from local community organizations, the City of Benton Harbor, Berrien County Health Department, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Attendees are asked to wear masks and masks will be available at the event, if needed. Free bottled water continues to be provided by MDHHS and local, paid residents as City of Benton Harbor residents are being encouraged to use bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, rinsing foods and mixing powdered infant formula. This action is part of an accelerated, across-the-board effort to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water while the city replaces all lead service lines. Community volunteers from the following organizations available to assist City of Benton Harbor residents pick up water at Benton Harbor High School, 870 Colfax Avenue as follows: Saturday, Dec. 18 12 - 2 p.m. - Volunteers from Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor 2 - 4 p.m. - Volunteers from New Covenant Community Baptist Church 4 - 6 p.m. - Volunteers from Harbor of Hope Seventh-Day Adventist Church Sunday, Dec. 19 2 - 4 p.m. - Volunteers from Abundant Life C.O.G.I.C. 4 - 6 pm - Volunteers from Brotherhood of All Nations Monday, Dec. 20 12 - 2 p.m. - Volunteers from Abundant Life C.O.G.I.C. 4 - 6 p.m. - Volunteers from New Covenant Community Baptist Church Tuesday, Dec. 21 12 - 2 p.m. - Volunteers from Abundant Life C.O.G.I.C. 4 - 6 p.m. - Volunteers from Ebenezer Baptist Church Wednesday, Dec. 22 12 - 2 p.m. - Volunteers from Purpose Church Ministries 4 - 6 p.m. - Volunteers from Purpose Church Ministries Thursday, Dec. 23 12 - 2 p.m. - Volunteers from Ebenezer Baptist Church 4 - 6 p.m. - Volunteers from Brotherhood of All Nations Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, will host self-serve water pickup as follows: Friday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Additional dates and locations for bottled water pick up will be added to make sure community needs are met. Information will be posted on Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe. To arrange water delivery to homebound or residents without transportation in the city of Benton Harbor, contact 211, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The upcoming schedule for bottled water pickup is: The ongoing response in Benton Harbor includes the city, Berrien County Health Department, local community organizations, MDHHS and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. MDHHS is engaging in a long-term effort to eliminate lead action level exceedances, educate communities on the effects of lead in drinking water, and remove lead service lines. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for the replacement of lead service lines in Benton Harbor in 18 months and the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration has provided just under $20 million to Benton Harbor to speed up their service line replacement timeline. There is no cost to City of Benton Harbor residents for lead service line replacement. To assist with assuring the work can be completed as soon as possible, residents are encouraged to complete the Water Service Line Replacement Agreement available online. Contractors cannot begin work on any property without property owner authorization. Completed forms can be returned to Abonmarche, 95 West Main Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 or emailed to bvasher@abonmarche.com. These efforts also include recently approved funds to remove lead from homes in the city. Families living in Benton Harbor can apply for this service by filling out and mailing in an application that is available online. Residents also can call 866-691-5323 to obtain information. For questions about lead, MDHHS can be reached at 866-691-5323 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. # # # Note to media: Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad is attending the City of Benton Harbor Water Resource Fair at 4 p.m. and will be available for interviews at that time. Governor Whitmer Statement on Passage of Legislation Empowering Michigan to Create Thousands of Good-Paying Jobs, Support Small Businesses Governor Whitmer Statement on Passage of Legislation Empowering Michigan to Create Thousands of Good-Paying Jobs, Support Small Businesses FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 15, 2021 Contact: Press@michigan.gov Governor Whitmer Statement on Passage of Legislation Empowering Michigan to Create Thousands of Good-Paying Jobs, Support Small Businesses Game-changing bills will support small businesses and invest in a $1 billion economic development fund to ensure Michigan can compete for billions in investment and create tens of thousands of jobs LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after the Michigan Legislature passed a series of bills empowering Michigan's economic development efforts and supporting new and existing small businesses. "Yesterday, legislative leadership from both parties came together to pass critical bills that will back small businesses and empower Michigan to grow and attract billions in investment and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "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. I am confident that, together, we can continue to create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and uplift our communities by setting up this critical economic development fund. The bills also deliver resources directly to new and existing small businesses, building on the work we have been doing for over 18 months to ensure they can thrive. Our efforts prove that when we put Michiganders first, we are capable of extraordinary progress. I will continue working with anyone to deliver meaningful change on the kitchen-table priorities that make a difference in people's lives." Economic Development The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has several transformational projects in its pipeline that would invest billions of dollars into Michigan, create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs for Michiganders, and continue the state's strong economic growth. These programs will support business retention and attraction efforts across regions through improved site readiness efforts and create a new "home court" advantage for automotive, electric vehicle, and advanced manufacturing growth in the state. Small Business Support Through COVID-19, the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration set up 23 economic relief programs delivering over $240 million to small businesses in all 83 Michigan counties. These grants supported over 25,000 companies, retained over 200,000 jobs with nearly 75% of the support going to restaurants, bars, retailers, and other service industry small businesses. ### Gov. Whitmer Calls Active Duty Michigan Troops on Thanksgiving Gov. Whitmer Calls Active Duty Michigan Troops on Thanksgiving FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 25, 2021 Contact: press@michigan.gov Gov. Whitmer Calls Active Duty Michigan Troops on Thanksgiving LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer called currently deployed members of the Michigan National Guard to wish them a happy Thanksgiving and extend to them our state's sincere gratitude for their continued service. "The men and women of the Michigan National Guard have been called on in an unprecedented manner over the past nearly two years," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "They are always willing and able to answer this call to service and for that we are all truly grateful. On this day of thanksgiving, we should recognize their service and honor the sacrifices they make on behalf of all of us. As we get to spend time with our loved ones at home, these service members and countless other Michiganders who serve in the other branches of our armed forces are on the frontlines, away from their families. I hope we all take some time to give thanks to our service members and their families this Thanksgiving and pray for their safe return home." "I want to thank our soldiers and airmen of the Michigan National Guard who are currently deployed supporting ongoing COVID-19 response missions here in Michigan, assisting with efforts at the Southwest Border and serving overseas during this Thanksgiving holiday," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "Their selfless service and defense of our freedoms is why we are able to gather and give thanks today. I also want to recognize and thank the family members that share in the sacrifices related to their loved one's service. While they may be apart on this Thanksgiving, we look forward to many more joyous holiday celebrations in the years ahead upon their safe return." The governor spoke to members of the: 110th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard 1775th Military Police Company of the Michigan Army National Guard 1776th Military Police Company of the Michigan Army National Guard The Michigan National Guard service members Governor Whitmer spoke to are serving in Lebanon, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Yuma, Arizona. These brave men and women are tackling a wide range of challenges in each of their respective missions, bringing their expertise in operations, logistics, engineering, and communications to get the job done. ### Gov. Whitmer Puts Economy First by Announcing Tax Credits to Help Small Businesses Fill Labor Gaps and Hire Michiganders Gov. Whitmer Puts Economy First by Announcing Tax Credits to Help Small Businesses Fill Labor Gaps and Hire Michiganders FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2021 Contact: press@michigan.gov Gov. Whitmer Puts Economy First by Announcing Tax Credits to Help Small Businesses Fill Labor Gaps and Hire Michiganders LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer announces tax credits up to $9,600 to help employers and small business owners hire Michiganders for good-paying jobs to help fill labor shortages and grow the economy. The governor is encouraging employers to apply for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, prioritizing funding for veterans and returning citizens, to ensure that the state continues its strong job growth after adding 67,000 jobs in the last three months and 145,000 jobs over the year. "The Work Opportunity Tax Credit puts Michiganders first by helping small businesses save money and fill labor gaps by hiring Michiganders for good-paying jobs," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Thanks to this tax credit, we will be able to add even more jobs to the 145,000 jobs that we've created this year alone. Small businesses in communities across our state can save thousands of dollars for hiring workers who are seeking a good-paying job, including our veterans, those who have paid their debt to society, and others who are traditionally left out or left behind. We will continue finding ways to invest in small businesses and help them thrive as we usher in a new era of prosperity for Michigan." With the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, employers who hire from certain targeted groups, including qualified long-term unemployment recipients, can earn tax credits from $2,400 to $9,600 for each employee hired. Generally, the credit is 40% of qualified wages paid to individuals who work 400 hours or more in their first year of employment. "This program encourages employers to expand their hiring pool to applicants who are often overlooked, such as military veterans, returning citizens and others who traditionally are at a disadvantage in efforts to find employment," said Julia Dale, UIA director. This is a one-time tax credit for each new hire. There is no limit to the number of new hires who can qualify an employer for the tax credit. Eligible worker categories include: Long- or short-term Temporary Assistance to Needy Families recipients Qualified veterans Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients Designated Communities - Empowerment Zone and Rural Renewal County. Michigan Rehabilitation Services customers Returning citizens Supplemental Security Income recipients Qualified long-term unemployment recipients According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about $1 billion in tax credits are claimed each year under this credit. Employers must apply for and receive a certification verifying that a new hire is a member of one of the target candidate groups before they can claim the tax credit. Employers interested in taking advantage of this tax credit are encouraged to visit the UIA Work Opportunity Tax Credit webpage to learn more and get started. ### SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Jurors in the case of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes on Thursday heard starkly different interpretations of her motives and actions as her long-running criminal trial nears the finish line. A federal prosecutor cast Holmes as a desperate con artist who brazenly lied to get rich, while her lawyer depicted her as a well-meaning entrepreneur who never stopped trying to perfect Theranos' blood-testing technology and deliver on her pledge to improve health care. The closing arguments are the final act in a three-month-old trial revolving around allegations that Holmes duped investors, business partners and patients into believing that Theranos had invented a more humane, quicker and cheaper way to test blood. The case could be handed over to the jury Friday. Prosecutor Jeff Schenk opened his closing argument by painting a sordid portrait of Holmes, once a Silicon Valley billionaire on paper now trying to avoid conviction on fraud charges that could result in a 20-year prison sentence. As he methodically walked the jury through the testimony of the 29 witnesses called by the government, Schenk emphasized that Holmes had a critical choice to make on several occasions during her 15-year reign running Theranos. Holmes could have acknowledged troubling flaws in Theranos blood-testing technology, Schenk contended, but she covered them up instead as part of her pursuit of fame and fortune. She chose fraud over business failure, Schenk told the jury at the outset of a three-hour presentation. She chose to be dishonest. This choice was not only callous; it was criminal. Holmes' lawyer, Kevin Downey, quickly countered that assertion when he got his turn to sway the jury. Elizabeth Holmes was building a business and not a criminal enterprise, Downey said before trying to convince the jury that the federal government had presented a distorted snapshot of her dealings at Theranos. Instead of relying on needles to draw vials of blood from a vein, Holmes spent years promising Theranos would be able to scan for hundreds of diseases and other health problems with just a few drops of blood taken with a finger prick. It was such a compelling concept that Theranos raised more than $900 million, struck partnerships with major retailers Walgreens and Safeway and turned Elizabeth Holmes into the subject of cover stories on business magazines. But unknown to most people outside Theranos, the companys blood-testing technology was flawed, often producing inaccurate results that could have endangered the lives of patients who took the tests at Walgreens stores. After the flaws were exposed in 2015 and 2016, Theranos eventually collapsed and the Justice Department filed a criminal case in 2018 that charged Holmes with 11 felony counts of fraud and conspiracy. While Schenk made the case for conviction, Holmes peered at both the prosecutor and the jurors from across a packed courtroom in San Jose, California. Just a few feet behind her, Holmes' mother and current partner, Billy Evans, sat in the front row listening intently, as did Holmes' father, who hadn't previously attended the trial in the presence of the jury. Schenk occasionally played recordings of separate conversations Holmes had with a group of Theranos investors in December 2013 and with a Fortune magazine reporter in May 2014. In both recordings, Holmes makes a series of inaccurate and exaggerated comments about the capabilities of Theranos' technology and purported contracts with the U.S. military that never materialized. In other evidence displayed by Schenk, Holmes distorted the scope and prospects of partnerships that Theranos had allegedly struck with Walgreens and major drug makers such as Pfizer. You should find her guilty, but you shouldn't find her guilty because of my words," Schenk said. You should find her guilty because of her words." In his presentation, Downey urged jurors to carefully pore through evidence that includes more than 900 exhibits to get a fuller picture and understanding of what she was trying to do. He pointed to contracts that Theranos had with several pharmaceutical companies that the government didn't mention during its case as a example of the half-baked story that he said prosecutors presented. The prosecution focused at a series of events at Theranos that look bad, but at the end of the day when all the evidence flows together, isn't that bad," Downey said. Downey also emphasized to the jury needed to be convinced beyond a reasonable step" to declare Holmes guilty on any count. To illustrate the difficulty of that challenge, he displayed a graphic showing the seven steps that had to be scaled before reaching that threshold. The verdict could hinge on how the jury reacts to seven days of testimony from Holmes in her own defense. During a particularly pivotal two hours on the stand, Holmes told the court she was raped while she was a freshman at Stanford University before dropping out in 2003 to found Theranos when she was 19. Around the same time, Holmes testified, she became involved in a lengthy romance with a successful technology executive, Sunny Balwani, who eventually became Theranos' chief operating officer while the couple were secretly living together. During that time, Holmes said, Balwani controlled everything from her diet to her friendships while subjecting her to mental, emotional and sexual abuse that she implied affected her judgment as Theranos' CEO. Balwani's attorney has adamantly denied Holmes allegations, but the jury in her trial never heard from Balwani, who intended to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination had he been been called to testify. He faces a separate trial on similar fraud charges in February. Schenk urged the jury to disregard Holmes' abuse revelations as an irrelevant attempt to garner sympathy. If you return a guilty verdict, you are not saying you don't believe her abuse allegations," Schenk said. The closing arguments are expected to wrap up Friday, setting stage for jury deliberations to finally begin. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A former West Virginia elementary school counselor has been indicted on more child pornography charges, according to court documents. Todd Roatsey, 42, of Elkview was charged with nine counts including using two girls to produce child porn, according to new superseding indictments filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court of Southern West Virginia, news outlets reported. He was previously charged with a single count of possessing child pornography and pleaded not guilty last month. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Some Indiana doctors and health experts warned Thursday that a Republican-backed proposal aimed at limiting workplace COVID-19 vaccination requirements would hurt efforts to stem the illness as the states hospitals are strained with their highest-ever overall patient counts. They were vastly outnumbered, however, by dozens of people during a nearly seven-hour-long legislative hearing on the bill who questioned the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines, argued against the proposed federal vaccination mandates and brought up a litany of grievances about government-ordered lockdowns and mask requirements. The House committee hearing was held as Republicans aim to quickly advance the proposal once the legislative session starts Jan. 4. The bill includes administrative actions that Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb says would allow him to end the statewide COVID-19 public health emergency order thats been in place since March 2020. House Republicans have taken up the effort they maintain would protect individual rights by forcing employers to grant exemptions to workers who claim medical or religious objections to any workplace COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Major business organizations argued against the proposed vaccination exemptions, which employers would have to accept from workers without further inquiry. The head of the state chamber of commerce said the proposal would discourage employers from requiring vaccines even if they believe it is best for their workers and customers. Dr. Gabriel Bosslet, an Indiana University Health critical care physician, told the committee that hes seen people die needlessly because they didnt get vaccinated and was frustrated with an intensive care unit where nearly all COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated. The message this bill sends is that vaccines are not important, Bosslet said. Vaccines are important. They are the only way to end this. Indiana is averaging about 35 COVID deaths per day this month and hospitalizations with the illness have topped 3,000 people this week for the first time in nearly a year amid the states ongoing infection surge, according to tracking by the state health department. That is up about 150% in the past five weeks and the most such patients since just before Christmas Day last year. About a quarter of those patients are in hospital intensive care units. Those COVID cases and other severe illnesses have given the states hospitals their highest-ever total patient counts of about 12,000, according to the Indiana Hospital Association. Republican leaders had planned an extraordinary fast-track approval of the vaccine requirement limitations but called off a planned one-day session for the Monday after Thanksgiving after similar testimony during a Nov. 23 hearing that divided medical and business groups from an array of vaccine objectors. Republican House Majority Leader Matt Lehman of Berne, who is sponsoring the bill, described the measure Thursday as ensuring individual liberties so that people wouldnt lose their jobs over not being willing to get the COVID-19 vaccination. We must protect Hoosier workers, Lehman said. The genesis of this, the reason that we need to continue, is that we need to make sure Hoosier workers are protected. Indiana has the countrys ninth lowest rate for a fully vaccinated population at 51.5%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eight rural counties scattered around the state have vaccination rates below 40%. Holcomb has criticized President Joe Bidens proposed vaccine requirements for businesses but hasnt backed Lehmans bill, saying he supports the rights of businesses to make their own decisions. Holcomb has said he would end the statewide public health emergency if lawmakers approved steps that would allow the state to keep receiving enhanced federal funding for Medicaid expenses and those eligible for food assistance programs, along with allowing the state health commissioner to issue a standing doctors order for the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 to 11. Holcomb said Wednesday he believed those items had universal agreement and should be dealt with separate from the vaccine requirement issue. Why not deal with what we agree on, get that out of the way and then have our discussion? Holcomb said. 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 A National Guardsman who was part of the mob that rampaged through the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 has been sentenced to probation and a fine for his actions, but will avoid jail time, court records show. His state says he's still in the Guard. Pfc. Abram Markofski, who serves in Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, a National Guard unit based in River Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced in federal court Dec. 10 to two years of probation and $1,500 in fines and restitution on one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Markofski pleaded guilty to the one charge out of a total of four similar charges in September as part of a plea agreement. Federal prosecutors had asked the court to impose a two-week prison sentence. Read Next: The Navy Is Getting Ready to Boot Vaccine Refusers, But Is Offering an Olive Branch On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Wisconsin National Guard confirmed that Markofski was still serving with the Guard, writing in an email that "there has not been a change to his status." The spokesperson, Maj. Gretel Weiskopf, cited privacy regulations when asked for more details about Markofski, including whether he was part of the mission to secure the Capitol after it was overrun by rioters. Markofski's unit was part of the Guard's massive response to the events of that day. "Any details into his status within the Wisconsin National Guard will not be disclosed to protect his privacy," Weiskopf told Military.com in an email Wednesday. Military.com reached out to Markofski's lawyers for comment but did not receive a response. In the run-up to his sentencing, several of the Guardsman's colleagues and leaders wrote statements vouching for his character and asking the court not to impose a punishment that would keep him from continuing his service. "In my professional opinion as one of his mentors, and as a witness of PFC Markofski's moral character, I truly believe that he is an asset to the United States Army," 2nd Lt. Joel Stevenson, Markofski's platoon leader, said in a letter filed with the court. Markofski's case is an example of the slow pace at which the military branches have been addressing members who face legal action for their actions on Jan. 6. Cpl. Jacob Fracker, an infantryman with the Virginia Guard who is also facing charges stemming from the riot, is in a non-drilling status but hasn't been removed from the service component. Marine Corps Maj. Christopher Warnagiris, who was arrested in May, had a hearing at the end of September in which he had to argue his case for staying in the service, according to Capt. Ryan Bruce, a spokesman for the Marine Corps. He is still on active duty, and the recommendations from that hearing are currently with the deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs before they are sent to the secretary of the Navy for consideration, Bruce said. Furthermore, the tepid reaction to these allegations and convictions stands in sharp contrast to the speed that the military often employs for infractions of its own policies. For example, soldiers who are caught with marijuana in their system are supposed to be dismissed from service immediately, according to Army regulations. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Fellow Guardsmen Push for Soldier in Jan. 6 Mob to Be Allowed to Continue Serving The Marine Corps announced that it is restricting its amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs) from operating in the water for the foreseeable future -- a major limitation for a vehicle designed to take Marines from ship to shore. Eight Marines and a Navy corpsman died when an AAV sank hundreds of feet into the ocean during exercises on July 30, 2020. A series of four subsequent investigations by the Marine Corps and the Navy found that no single problem caused the AAV to sink that day. Instead, a combination of poor maintenance and training, safety shortcuts, and mechanical failures led to the fatal mishap that Marine leaders have said was "preventable." Read Next: The Navy Is Getting Ready to Boot Vaccine Refusers, But Is Offering an Olive Branch The decision to keep the AAVs out of the water comes two months after the release of the last of those reports. "The Commandant of the Marine Corps has decided the AAV will no longer serve as part of regularly scheduled deployments or train in the water during military exercises; AAVs will only return to operating in the water if needed for crisis response," Marine Corps spokesman Maj. James Stenger said in a statement emailed to Military.com on Wednesday. The AAVs have been in service since the 1970s. Stenger said that the Corps "stands by the efficacy of the recommendations that came from the multiple investigations into the AAV mishap" and that "the AAV is a safe and effective vehicle for amphibious operations." The vehicle is being restricted to land "in the interest of the long-term health of the amphibious vehicle programs and future capabilities." Military.com asked for more details on what this means but did not immediately get a response. The service emphasized that "76% of [the AAV's] tasks are land-based." The news also comes amid troubles for the AAV's replacement -- the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). Stenger's statement noted that "ACVs were temporarily suspended from open ocean waterborne operations as we worked to solve an issue that was identified with the towing mechanism." "We expect that issue to be resolved soon and for ACVs to return to the water early in the New Year." The Marines said that they "reserve the capability to reverse this decision should the need arise." -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Navy Investigation into Deadly AAV Mishap Finds Issues But No Direct Link to the Sinking of Landing Craft More than 96% of the Army's 478,000 active-duty soldiers met the service's requirement for being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 15, with an additional 2% receiving one dose -- leaving slightly more than 10,000 personnel needing a waiver or facing punitive action for refusing the vaccine. Already, according to an Army announcement Thursday, two battalion commanders and four others have been relieved from leadership positions, while 2,767 soldiers have received written reprimands from general officers for refusing the order. When the service set its deadline for active-duty personnel in mid-September, roughly 80% of the active-duty force had already gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Read Next: Congress Gives Thumbs Up to Global War on Terrorism Memorial at Prime Spot on National Mall The Army set a longer deadline than the other military branches to give commanders in the largest service time to counsel members and allow for soldiers to get vaccinated. But soldiers also were supposed to be fully vaccinated -- meaning they needed to have their second dose or receive the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine, by Dec. 1 to meet the requirements of the order. Still, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth thanked those who helped the Army drive toward its deadline, described as a "goal." "Thank you to the medical staff who have been supporting the pandemic response at home and to the vaccinated soldiers who put the health and welfare of their fellow soldiers and families first," Wormuth said. She added a stern warning for those who continue to refuse. According to the service, this includes 3,864 soldiers who have outright refused, or less than 1% of the force. "To those who continue to refuse the vaccine and are not pending a final decision on a medical or administrative exemption, I strongly encourage you to get the vaccine. If not, we will begin involuntary separation proceedings," Wormuth said. The Army and its components have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with roughly 35% of all U.S. military cases and 48 of the 80 deaths among U.S. troops. The most recent was Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Ray Vucinaj, 50, with the 5032nd U.S. Army Reserve School in Flint, Michigan. He died Dec. 11. Army officials said that, across the components, roughly 83% of soldiers have received at least one dose or are completely vaccinated, but the data is less concrete because members of the Reserve and National Guard may have received their vaccines from civilian medical providers. More than 6,250 soldiers have a temporary medical or administrative exemption, including those who have asked to be waived for the requirement for medical or religious reasons. The service has received 1,746 requests for a religious exemption. To date, it has approved none. It has denied 85 and is processing the remainder; two of the denials are in the appeals process. It also has received 621 requests for permanent medical exemptions, has approved four and denied 516. The remainder are under review. The Air Force said Monday that it has dismissed 27 airmen for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the first active-duty service members to be ousted for disobeying the order. The service previously dismissed 40 recruits from training after they refused the vaccine. The basic military and technical trainees were discharged under entry-level separation mechanisms. As of Tuesday, 97.5% of active-duty Air Force and Space Force personnel had received at least one dose, and 1,039 members have refused. Roughly 1,100 have received a medical or administrative waiver. An additional 4,742 have requested a religious exemption; none has been approved. The Navy has yet to publish its updates this week, but according to the latest figures from Dec. 9, roughly 1,65% of the Navy's active-duty force remains unvaccinated. The 5,731 sailors include 333 with medical exemptions and 2,705 who have asked for religious accommodations. As of Dec. 16, 94% of the Marine Corps was fully vaccinated, with an additional 1% having received one dose. The Marine Corps has approved 1,007 administrative exemptions for various reasons, which include Marines nearing the end of their service obligation. The Corps has received 3,144 requests for religious accommodation and has processed 2,863. None has been approved. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Nearly 9,000 Marines Didn't Get Vaccinated By The Deadline. Many Risk Getting Kicked Out of the Corps. Congress created exceptions to the law Tuesday to authorize a choice spot on the National Mall for a Global War on Terror Memorial to honor those who served in the nation's longest conflict, which is symbolically bookended by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the disastrous fall of Kabul, Afghanistan, in August. "Now we definitely have our work cut out for us," said former Army Capt. Marina Jackman, president of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. The authorization was only the opening move in a 24-step process, including approvals from the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the National Park Service and other agencies before the monument can be built. Read Next: The Navy Is Getting Ready to Boot Vaccine Refusers, But Is Offering an Olive Branch The foundation also will have to come up with a design to memorialize a war that was launched to avenge the worst attacks on American soil, rout "evildoers" and remake nations, but left many in the general public and veterans to question whether the price in blood and treasure was worth the effort. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, at a joint Pentagon press briefing with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sept. 1, acknowledged the doubts but said there was "one thing I am certain of. For any soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and their family, your service mattered." The final design for the GWOT Memorial will come from an arts competition, but the foundation said the overriding theme is expected to avoid the why and how of the war to focus on what mattered in the service and sacrifice of troops and their families. "The GWOT Memorial will be a lasting tribute to the courage and sacrifice of all who have served -- especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice -- in the nation's longest ongoing conflict to protect our country, while inspiring all Americans to stand united behind those who continue to serve," the foundation said in a release. Although the design is still unsettled, there is precedent in the Global War on Terrorism Memorial on a plaza at the National Infantry Museum just outside Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, which was dedicated in 2017 and built with the same themes of service and sacrifice that the GWOT Memorial in Washington, D.C., hopes to enshrine. The memorial in Georgia features two stone pillars bridged by a 13-foot beam pulled from the wreckage of the collapsed World Trade Center and donated by New York City firefighters. Behind the pillars are nine, 7-foot bronze statues of soldiers, representing a squad of infantry on eternal patrol, and panels listing the names of the fallen since 9/11. The panels now list 7,401 names. At a rededication ceremony each year, additional names can be inscribed on the $2 million memorial, which was funded by donations from companies and individuals, said retired Air Force Col. Andy Redmond, chief operating officer of the National Infantry Museum Foundation. "We believe what we have here is the right thing in the right place," Redmond said of the memorial. But he welcomed a new GWOT Memorial on the National Mall. "You can't have enough" memorials in tribute to the sacrifice of those who served since 9/11, he said. "If there's one on the Mall in DC, obviously that's a popular tourist attraction." "We wanted to wait until we had a site designation" before addressing the design of a GWOT Memorial on the Mall, Jackman said, and the designation came in the form of an amendment to the $770 billion-plus defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act. The NDAA received final approval from the Senate in an 88-11 vote Wednesday, with President Joe Biden promising a quick signing. The amendment authorized that a GWOT Memorial "shall be located within the Reserve," the core section of the 1.8-mile National Mall stretching from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial that now is home to the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. "Location matters," Jackman said, and was "the heart and soul" of the bill authorizing the GWOT Memorial. "The fact that we now know it's in the core really tells us how they value our service." In authorizing the GWOT Memorial, Congress made exceptions to the Commemorative Works Act barring additional memorials on the Reserve and also barring war memorials until at least 10 years after the conflict has ended. There are still about 2,500 troops in Iraq and about 800 in Syria. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation must come up with at least 75% of the projected $50 million cost of the GWOT Memorial -- all through private donations -- before it can be built, but Jackman was confident that ground could be broken in 2024. The foundation won approval from former President Donald Trump in 2017 to pursue establishment of a GWOT Memorial in the District of Columbia, and Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, an Iraq veteran with the Iowa National Guard, and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., lobbied for a spot on the Mall. In a joint press release Wednesday, Ernst said, "This memorial will be a place of healing for so many who served, or had loved ones who served, in our nation's longest war." Hassan said passage in the NDAA is "welcome news for so many service members and their families who have worked hard to see this happen." This is a Phase 1 early concept for the National Desert Storm Memorial. The approved design will be unveiled in December 2019. Architect's rendering Although the GWOT Memorial now appears closer to becoming a reality, it's far from the only memorial to U.S. veterans being lobbied for by advocates. A bill to create a National Medal of Honor Monument in the District of Columbia was not included in the NDAA but was passed by the House in July and approved by the Senate Energy and National Resources Committee on Nov. 18. A spokesman for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a main sponsor, said the lawmaker is "fighting to get it passed before the end of the year" by the full Senate, but it is unclear whether the Senate, now consumed by the infighting over other areas of Biden's legislative agenda, has the bandwidth to take on the Medal of Honor Monument proposal before the Christmas break. The proposed bill has the backing of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, which is in the midst of fundraising for construction of a National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, and also for a National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington, D.C. In a November press release when the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the MoH Monument in D.C., Chris Cassidy, the MOH foundation president and CEO, said the monument would be a tribute to the ideals represented by the recipients of the nation's highest award for valor. "Recognizing the values of the Medal of Honor in a permanent, national way will help bring Americans from all walks of life together around the ideals to which we, both individually and as a nation, should aspire," said Cassidy, a former Navy SEAL and astronaut. While Congress considered new memorials, the National Desert Storm Memorial Association was pressing ahead with fundraising to break ground for a Desert Storm Memorial, which has already won site designation and design approval. The site to commemorate the 1991 swift victory over the forces of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and the liberation of Kuwait would be located off Constitution Avenue and 23rd Street NW at a site that was not technically on the core section of the National Mall but still at a prime spot just down the rise to the Lincoln Memorial and across a driveway from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "It's at the Mall but not on the Mall," said Scott Stump, president and CEO of the National Desert Storm Memorial Association and a former Marine lance corporal who served in Desert Storm. The association had hoped to break ground for the Desert Storm Memorial for Veterans Day 2021, but Stump said the plan now is to have construction underway by year's end in 2022 if sufficient funds can be raised through private donations. Stump said the association currently has about $9.8 million in private donations plus a pledge from Kuwait for another $10 million, which is well short of the 75% of the projected $40 million cost required to begin construction. However, "We're pretty optimistic based on [a] lot of activity going on" with fundraising, Stump said. "There are some significant asks that are out there. We are hopeful and optimistic that several of those asks are going to come through to put us over the top." A Desert Storm Memorial deserved a site near the other war memorials to solidify its place in the nation's collective memory of a conflict that brought together a coalition of 35 nations in common purpose to defeat tyranny, Stump said. "It should not be a footnote to history due to its brevity," he said. Desert Storm "put to bed a lot of the Vietnam syndrome and the resulting tension between the American public and the military," Stump said. "That's part of the story of this memorial." Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: The Pearl Harbor Memorial Is Littered with Errors. This Navy Vet Is Trying to Get Them Fixed. Jim Absher is a benefits columnist for Military.com. The Department of Defense has created an online memorial to honor military members who died in their service to the nation. The Military ln Lasting Tribute memorial, unveiled on Veterans Day 2021, allows visitors to view and share tributes and remember their loved ones online. Surviving family members can add a deceased veteran's name and information to the memorial by completing an online form. You must have access to DD Form 1300, "Report of Casualty," in order to add a veteran's information to the memorial at this time. Deceased service members will not have their names entered into the memorial without a surviving family member's request. Each fallen service member will have a dedicated page on the memorial website that lists their name, branch of service, rank and date of death. Family members are able to upload a photograph of their loved one as well. If no photo is shared, the veteran's tribute page will have the service branch's seal. Visitors to the site will have the option to share the link to a memorial via email or social media. Currently, the online memorial is accepting applications for inclusion only for those who died on active duty since Jan. 1, 1985 which includes more than 47,000 military members, according to the DoD. In the future, all military members who died on active duty will be included in the memorial. Deaths prior to 1985 require validation through the National Personnel Records Center before being included on the memorial website. The DoD will begin accepting submissions to the memorial for those who died prior to 1985 once the pandemic and post-pandemic workload returns to normal, it says. The Department of Veterans Affairs has also created an online memorial page for nearly 4.5 million veterans interred in national, state, territorial and tribal veterans cemeteries. Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox. Five Republican governors this week asked the Defense Department to exempt their Guardsmen from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, as friction between states and the Pentagon grows. In a letter sent Tuesday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, governors from Wyoming, Alaska, Iowa, Mississippi and Nebraska conceded that Guardsmen can be ordered to be vaccinated on federal orders. But on state orders, which troops spend the bulk of their time under, the governors argue that service members are untouchable and do not have to follow federal military policy, saying, "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." The request is the latest move by Republican officials to rebuke COVID-19 vaccines and pandemic-related mandates, which have become a rallying cry for the party and a part of escalating political fights ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Read Next: The Navy Is Getting Ready to Boot Vaccine Refusers, But Is Offering an Olive Branch None of the governors raised issues with the more than a dozen other vaccines Guardsmen are required to have. The governors' letter comes a month after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt made the same request, which was rejected by the Pentagon, with Austin saying Guardsmen refusing inoculation could have their paychecks withheld and eventually be booted from the force. Yet dismissing a service member is usually initiated at the unit level, and commanders were directed by Oklahoma not to take administrative action against unvaccinated troops. It is unclear how the Pentagon would enforce its threat, or whether it has the authority to do so. Stitt fired back with a lawsuit against the Biden administration, saying that the Guard is under his control unless troops are placed on so-called Title 10 orders, which are typically reserved for federal deployments abroad. He insisted that airmen and soldiers under his command do not have to follow medical rules set by the Pentagon. Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino, adjutant general for the Oklahoma Guard, said in a statement last week that Stitt granted troops a "limited safe harbor" to not be subject to punitive actions from the Pentagon for refusing the vaccine. But he said that it is unclear how extensive the governor's authority is, saying that Congress or the courts would need to figure that out. He conceded that all troops in Oklahoma will likely have to get vaccinated if they want to continue their service. "Continued service in the National Guard will require connections with Title 10 authority," Mancino said. "Such connections including training events, schools, and mobilizations are going to eventually force you out of that safe harbor, and subject you to title 10 authorities. This is reality." Given the Guard's murky and centuries-old militia policy, its dueling obligations to both the state and federal government set up an unclear chain of command amid conflicting orders, which has never been fully articulated in court or military policy. The pandemic recently reached a grim milestone of 800,000 deaths in the U.S. due to the virus. As of Dec. 6, the most recent data from the National Guard Bureau, 66.2% of Guardsmen nationwide are fully vaccinated, above the 61% rate in the overall U.S. population. However, given that units do not automatically track inoculations from civilian clinics, the data may not be accurate and might be undercounting the actual vaccination rate. Of that, the Army National Guard is 55.4% vaccinated with a June 2022 deadline before soldiers face dismissal from the force. The Air National Guard is 90.8% vaccinated and has already passed its Dec. 2 deadline. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: The National Guard Is Stuck in the Middle of Political Infighting, and It's Getting Worse Military families struggling to pay their bills may get some relief late next year in the form of a basic needs allowance to cover food and other necessities. The National Defense Authorization Act approved by the Senate on Wednesday and set to be signed soon by President Joe Biden includes a provision that will give lower-income military families a new, non-taxable stipend to make ends meet. Advocates who lobbied for the legislation are disappointed in the way Congress determined eligibility by including service members' Basic Allowance for Housing in the income caps, which may exclude most troops. Read Next: 2 Battalion Commanders Fired for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine, But 96% of Active Army Meet Deadline Those who will be eligible for the allowance include service members whose gross household incomes do not exceed 130% of the federal poverty level, based on their pay and size of family. In 2021, the limit was $21,960 for a family of three and $26,500 for a family of four, meaning that eligible military families in these categories would need to make less than $28,548 or $34,450 to qualify. "Ultimately ... Congress chose a path that helps far too few military families -- serving only a fraction of the thousands of hungry military families," said Abby Leibman, president and CEO of MAZON, a national organization fighting to end hunger, in a press release following Senate passage of the bill. "As housing prices continue to go up in many areas, families need every penny of their BAH -- and then some -- to cover housing costs. It shouldn't count against them when it comes to getting much needed help to pay for food," officials with the National Military Family Association said in a post on their website. The provision does include a way for the defense secretary to skirt the inclusion of BAH in determining eligibility for some service members, however: It allows the Defense Department to discount any "portion of the BAH" in the case of a member who resides in "an area of high cost living," as determined by the secretary. "The language provides wiggle room," officials with the National Military Family Association wrote in a press release. "But it also leaves lots of questions unanswered: What portion? And what constitutes a high-cost area?" According to the legislation, service members would be required to apply for the allowance and could start receiving it beginning a year after the bill is signed. The bill does not spell out that process. It only states that the services will notify members that they may be eligible for the new allowance and allow them to apply. In November, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the department to develop a strategy over the next three months to help hungry service members and their dependents. About 14% of enlisted active-duty families reported "low" or "very low" food security in an annual 2020 survey, according to Denise Hollywood, the chief community and programs officer for Blue Star Families. The group Feeding America estimates that as many as 160,000 active-duty enlisted service members have difficulty getting enough food, and 29% in junior enlisted ranks reported food insecurity over the previous year. Nearly 33% of 5,600 people surveyed on an unnamed Army installation reported some type of food insecurity in the past year, meaning they faced hardship or had problems making their food budgets stretch across a month. The legislation also calls for the defense secretary to conduct a study on food insecurity in the armed forces, to include examining food deserts -- places that lack a nearby grocery store -- and analysis of areas with high costs of living. The provision is a modification of a bill introduced in the Senate by Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and in the House by Reps. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., and Don Young, R-Alaska. "Far too many of our military families experience hunger because of unintended barriers that make them unable to access nutrition assistance programs," Duckworth said following passage of the legislation. "As someone whose family relied on public nutrition programs after my father lost his job, and who served in the uniform for most of my adult life, I'm so glad this provision to help make sure our service members and their families have enough to eat has been included in the NDAA." -- Military.com reporter Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report. He can be reached at Konstantin.Toropin@Monster.com. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: As US Troops and Families Go Hungry, They Don't Trust the Pentagon for Help Carlos Correa entered the offseason as the top name on most free-agent rankings including here at MLBTR and remains unsigned as MLB and the MLBPA navigate a lockout that certainly doesnt look anywhere near a resolution. Theres been plenty of discussion and speculation as to where hell ultimately land, but ESPNs Buster Olney sheds some light on interest that Correa has already received, reporting that the Tigers put forth a 10-year, $275MM offer at one point this winter. Presumably, that offer came before Detroit signed Javier Baez at six years and $140MM, although its at least possible to see how Detroit could make room for both players on the roster and payroll alike. Its a notable offer, to be sure, but its also $66MM shy of what Francisco Lindor received from the Mets, $50MM shy of Corey Seagers deal with the Rangers and a ways south of the range many pundits projected heading into free agency. The reported Detroit offer also further underlines that the Astros recent offers to Correa are well shy of meeting the mark. Houston was said to have put forth an offer of five years and $160MM just prior to free agency, but that seemed like a nonstarter from the jump. Olney writes that Astros owner Jim Crane has told colleagues that he wont make an offer of more than six years in length, which only reinforces the expectation that Correa is likely to sign with a new team for the 2022 season. Of course, the burning question for most MLB fans and onlookers is a simple one: where? The Rangers nabbing a pair of high-end shortstops (Seager and Marcus Semien), on the surface, should have strengthened Correas market. Two of his top competitors signing with the same team should have kept another spot open elsewhere. However, the Tigers have signed Baez to that aforementioned six-year deal, and the Yankees at least according to multiple pre-lockout reports werent interested in the top-of-the-market shortstops, instead preferring shorter-term options to serve as a bridge to prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza. It remains plausible that the Yankees and several other big-market teams will more aggressively jump into the market post-lockout, once a (presumably) new luxury-tax threshold is set in stone. Olney hears from some agents who believe the Yankees and Dodgers could engage in the market for stars like Correa or Trevor Story once the forthcoming luxury tax structure is known. Those players representatives are surely hoping that will be the case, although even if the Yankees, Dodgers, etc. choose to eschew a mega-deal, that shouldnt necessarily leave Correa out in the cold. Houstons interest will remain in place, barring a signing of Story or the acquisition of another notable infielder. Mark Berman of Fox 26 reported earlier this month that each of the Red Sox, Cubs and Braves have also been in contact with Correas representatives at some point during the offseason. When those clubs reached out and the extent of each respective teams interest isnt clear, but it stands to reason at least some of that group will reengage with Correas reps whenever the transaction freeze ends. Thats a nice safety net (for lack of a better term), and as the Braves and Cubs reported interest reflects, unexpected suitors tend to emerge for players at the top of the market. Few gave the Padres legitimate consideration when Manny Machado hit the market following the 2018 season, for instance. Broadly speaking, the top free agent each winter tends to get paid, particularly when said player is atypically young to reach the market as is the case with the 27-year-old Correa. Itd be entirely unsurprising for other unexpected teams to join the bidding, viewing Correa as a rather unique opportunity to add an All-Star-caliber player who remains squarely in his prime. Correa is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, having hit .279/.366/.485 with 26 home runs across 640 plate appearances. That offensive production was 34 points above the league average, by measure of wRC+, and it came over Correas biggest workload since 2016. Advanced defensive metrics were also particularly high on his work on the other side of the ball, for which he received his first Gold Glove award en route to a fifth-place finish in AL MVP voting. The High Court in Pretoria has ruled that disgraced former President Jacob Zuma must return to prison. Justice K.E. Motojane found the medical parole granted to Zuma last September was unlawful. Medical parole He ruled that none of the time Zuma was on medical parole will count as time served for early release on his 15-month sentence for contempt of court. Zuma was jailed last 11th July for failing to appear as ordered before the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, which is South African argot for corruption. Today's ruling is a legal slap in the face for former Correctional Service head Arthur Fraser who released Zuma on medical grounds, overruling the medical parole board that found Zuma was not eligible for early release on health ground. The court found Fraser's action irrational. Zuma And Fraser are ordered to pay the costs of the action brought by the Helen Suzman Foundation, right-wing pressure group Afriforum and the official opposition party the Democratic Alliance. Rule of Law DA leader John Steenhuisen said: "We welcome the order that Mr Zuma's medical parole be revoked immediately, that he be returned to the custody of Correctional Services to serve out the remainder of his sentence, that no time spent on medical parole is to be counted as time served and that he and Mr Arthur Fraser pay all legal costs. He said the DA recognises the rule of law. "If we allow these to slide, we will severely weaken the foundation of our constitutional democracy. We are greatly encouraged by the firm and unambiguous position taken by Justice KE Matojane in this regard," he said. The Suzman Foundation said in its tweet that the ruling is a victory for the rule of law, although it is sure Zuma will appeal the judgment. Security fears Zuma's supporters, on the other hand, vowed to put their bodies on the line to prevent the former president going back to jail. The ANC has played a straight bat to the ruling, It declared on twitter that Correctional Services is expected to issue a statement on the development and they were awaiting this pronouncement. The ruling raised security concerns because demonstrations against the jailing of Zuma in July, which are widely believed to have given rise to the sporadic opportunistic looting that trashed buildings and caused losses of billions of rands to businesses in the commercial capital Johannesburg and Zuma's home province of KwaZulu/Natal. Minsk, Belarus Amid the tense migration situation in Belarus, where thousands of migrants are still stranded, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is scaling up its support to migrants who wish to voluntarily return to their countries of origin. During recent visits to the warehouse close to the Belarusian-Polish border, where still close to 1,000 migrants are accommodated, IOM has continued delivering essential humanitarian aid and relief items, as well as informing migrants about assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) options. Since 4 December, IOM has also been offering AVRR services at Minsk Airport. To date, 36 migrants have been supported by IOM to return to their country of origin on commercial flights. More return flights are scheduled in the coming days. Many people have told us that they have nothing to return to, and therefore we are committed to supporting them in their journey," said Mohamed Refaat, IOMs Senior Operations Coordinator on the Belarus/Poland border. "IOMs AVRR programme is a dignified and safe option for those wishing to return to their countries of origin but who lack the means to do so without help, including reintegration support to re-establish their lives back home. Hogr and his family have decided to return to the Iraqi city of Erbil with IOMs support. They spent 55 days in Belarus, 22 sleeping in a forest: I had little sleep for several days as I had to watch the fire during the nights to keep my family warm, said Hogr, a former chef. Over recent months, IOM has received multiple assistance requests from stranded migrants and has recorded a significant increase in the AVRR requests more than 60 per cent of the returns in 2021 happened between September and early December, with a significant number of Iraqi nationals opting to return home. 15.12.2021 LISTEN I write with utmost respect to apprise my adorable King, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II to exclude himself from political comments and concentrate on his good works for Asanteman and all Ghanaians. I am an Ashanti, an Adansinii to be specific and hails from Adansi Akrofuom, popularly called Amankyem in Obuasi area. I have always admired my king but I feel disappointed in his recent comment about the unpopular e-levy policy and his statement against the Members of Parliament (MPs) who are fighting a good cause for the good people of Ghana. I would like to ask if Nana is aware that the MPs are currently struggling against the government to liberate the citizens from paying double taxes? If someone pays 1.75% of the value of electronic transaction for the payment of items that are already taxed, is the person not paying double taxes? Nana, I totally agree with you that tax collection is a sure way by which countries are developed, as you clearly stated. Your comment was intended to support the introduction and approval of the 1.75% levy on electronic financial transactions in the 2022 budget. However, in my view, the government should not introduce such an unreasonable taxation system that is aimed at double-taxing the citizens, stealing from the people and eroding the gains made in the electronic financial inclusion drive in the country. Please Otumfuor, can you mention how many countries in the world impose double taxation on their citizens? This proposed e-levy tax system is unconscionable! Your majesty, before you publicly supported the government and admonished the legislators to stop frustrating the government, it would have been better if you had ordered your fotosanfohene, the treasurer of the Great Ashanti Throne to organize apolitical, genuine, knowledgeable and experienced economists to conduct financial analysis on the e-levy and Agyapa deals in the budget to determine their legitimacy, fairness and uprightness. The government rather needs to focus on proper utilization of the countrys immense natural resources to minimize unemployment, increase revenue from widened tax net and transform the nations dwindling economy. Also, you could use the occasion to caution the government to spend the nations resources wisely, instead of wasting taxpayers money on needless expensive travels. My King, I can confidently declare to you that the unfriendly e-levy is a gratuitous taxation system which doesnt make any economic sense but orchestrated by this government to impose severe suffering on the poor taxpayers. Again, in my opinion as a Mining Engineer and Mineral Economist, the Agyapa deal is a diabolic plan by few nation wreckers to own our mineral resources and save the huge profitable returns in tax haven to avoid future investigations and subsequent prosecutions. I was left totally flabbergasted when I heard you supporting these two dangerous policies. Nana, you are admired by your consideration for the plight of the poor taxpayers so what has changed this time? Why are you supporting the wrongs by this government? Otumfuor, lots of Ghanaians were confused when your Commemorative Gold Coin launch was used as a political platform to defend the governments friendless policies. A section of Ghanaians, including myself are wondering if you are throwing your support for the government because they have promised to pay the cost of your faulted electrical gadgets due to the recent power fluctuation, popularly called dumsor? Nana, it would have been nice if you had used that opportunity to also advocate for the other residents in Ashanti Region who lost their gadgets because of the same dumsor. Surprisingly, you seemed to be supporting the criminally-minded policies in the budget. Instead of defending such unfavourable policies, I wish to suggest to Your Highness that; use your influence to admonish the government to seal the financial leakages in the system, lower taxes and put strategic measures in place to include those who do not currently pay taxes to the ambit of taxation. Lots of business owners, especially those in the oil and gas industry evade taxes. Nana, I would like to remind you about a quote from an American Governor in 2015, Higher taxes still does not create prosperity for all. And, government still does not grow jobs Bobby Jindal. Reducing taxes can incentivize the private sector to create more jobs, boost investment drive, generate more revenue from taxes and likely increase GDP over the long term. This particular government has spearheaded amazingly corrupt practices that have led the state to lose gargantuan amount of money to certain individuals who are walking freely without facing the full rigours of the law. The Auditor-Generals report from 2016 to 2020 indicates that Ghana has lost approximately GHS 34 Billion due to corrupt practices from public officers. Again, the report shows that Ghana lost about GHS 12 billion in only 2020. If the e-levy is estimated to generate GHS 7 billion, why dont we combat corrupt practices to minimize financial malfeasance, protect the public purse and generate more revenue instead? In addition, the state has lost money through the PDS deal, Ameri deal, PPA deal, Banking Sector Fraud, Galamsey Missing Excavators, Missing Gold, among others. Your Highness, Nana Otumfuor Osei Tutu II, you know that the core duty of the lawmakers is to represent the interest of Ghanaians and hence, challenge unpopular policies from the government that can result in unprecedented hardships. Ghanaians will be glad if you use your higher authority to counsel the Executive Body of government led by President Akufo Addo to listen to the pleas of the people, abolish the e-levy and discontinue the Agyapa deal. This will help stop the entrenched positions held by the minority and majority caucuses in parliament, restore tranquility and pave way for the approval of the 2022 budget. God bless Asanteman! God bless Ghana!! Solomon Owusu, PhD Colorado, USA. Mr Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said the Minority in Parliament should focus on how the monies to be accrued from the E-levy would be expended on specific projects, instead of completely opposing it. Addressing a media briefing organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Mensah Bonsu said, as part of Parliament's oversight responsibility of ensuring accountability and transparency, Parliament should demand for how much monies from the E-levy would be specifically be expended on road infrastructure, education, health, and other social facilities. The Minister expressed optimism that Parliament would make a headway in approving the E-levy as the Minority Caucus in Parliament had now moved from "Zero tolerance for E-levy" to at least one percent E-levy during the committee meetings to discuss the budget estimates. The government, in the 2022 Budget, proposed 1.75 percent E-levy on mobile money transactions, bank transfers, and internal remittances. However, the Minority Caucus in Parliament has opposed it, saying it would worsen hardship in the country and collapse businesses. Mr Mensah Bonsu, also the Majority Leader and MP for Suame, said the government needed revenue to develop the country and believed the E-levy would accrue GH8m annually to government, instead of the GHC78 million accruing from the road tolls. The Minister said an opposition party had the responsibility of critiquing government budget and policies but not to the extent of physically throwing blows over it. With the global Covid-19 pandemic, he said, government needed to raise revenue internally to execute its programmes and policies. Mr Mensah Bonsu indicated that both the Majority and Minority groups in Parliament had been dialoguing and building consensus on a number of issues and believed it would inure to the benefit of Ghanaians in terms of development. He urged the media to be concerned about the stability and integrity of the country's democracy instead of raising tension. GNA The President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has rubbished claims that receiving the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine jab would make one vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against their will in the 2024 general elections. This he said is one of the many outrageous claims made by some anti-vaccine campaigners in the country to discourage people from taking the jabs. Addressing the nation on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to ignore the mischief. He said contrary to the unfounded claims, vaccines do not have the power to change the political preference of anyone. Contrary to the mischief being peddled by some that getting vaccinated will not cause you to vote for the NPP in the 2024 election if you do not want to. This is an outrageous claim. Vaccination cannot change your political preferences. That is not its purpose. Let me say clearly as I can. The vaccines are safe. They will not harm you. They will protect you and your family, President Akufo-Addo said in his address. With millions of vaccines procured by the government, the President used the opportunity to encourage unvaccinated Ghanaians to visit the nearest centre to receive the jabs to stay protected. Meanwhile, Ghanaians are advised to adhere to all the Covid-19 safety protocols especially during the Christmas period where a lot of people are expected to travel for the holidays. The President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lamented the low compliance to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) safety measures by Ghanaians. Addressing the nation on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the President said it is unfortunate that Ghanaians are no longer observing the safety protocols. In as much as our active cases are now relatively low, the wearing of masks, unfortunately, remains low and compliance with the safety protocols is still problematic, H.E Nana Akufo-Addo bemoaned. The President noted that as government plays its part in the fight against the pandemic, it is crucial that the citizenry takes the adherence to the Covid-19 protocols seriously. In what could be his final address to the nation as the year inches closer to an end, President Akufo-Addo called on all unvaccinated citizens to get the jab to stay protected from the virus. Whiles government does its part to secure the necessary numbers of vaccines to help vaccinate all Ghanaians, we cannot afford to disregard the social distancing, hand washing, mask-wearing, and enhanced hygiene protocols that have brought us this far. They must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily lives and routines. Getting the jab is the best route out of the pandemic, President Akufo-Addo added. The President in his address confirmed that millions of vaccines have been secured and available for the citizenry who are yet to receive the jabs. 16.12.2021 LISTEN President Akufo-Addo has announced that airlines will be fined $3,500 for each passenger who arrives at the Kotoka International Airport without being fully vaccinated against Covid-19. President Akufo-Addo in his 27th addressed to the public said unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents in Ghana, who departed the country before 14th December, and who return by 28th December, will be offered vaccination on arrival at the airport. The measures are the latest to be taken by the Ghana Health Service, and has been described as one of the strictest coronavirus-related restrictions in West Africa. President Akufo-Addo, however, said that the country is expecting, in this month of Christmas, a large number of visitors, overseas Ghanaians and foreigners, into the country. With the Immigration Service doing a yeoman's job by intercepting many foreign nationals trying to enter the country through unapproved routes, Government's concern has been to limit the importation of the virus through the Kotoka International Airport, he said. He explained that as things stand, international passengers arriving at Kotoka constitute the highest source of infections in the country, which has resulted in the drastic measures taken recently to prevent the importation of the virus. The Ghana Health Service tells us that an overwhelming majority, that is seventy-five percent (75%), of the positive cases recorded at Kotoka have come from passengers who are not vaccinated, he said. *Travel Requirements* Furthermore, President Akufo-Addo said all persons seeking to travel outside the country must be fully vaccinated. In addition fully vaccinated passengers coming to Ghana must, be in possession of a negative PCR test of not more than 72 hours, and also take a mandatory Covid-19 test upon arrival at the airport excluding children aged five to 12. Any passenger, testing positive at the airport, will be kept in isolation, at a designated isolation facility, and a non-Ghanaian will receive treatment at his or her own cost, he said. These are stringent measures, I know, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. The ravages of Covid-19 have been devastating on our economy, and I am determined to return us to our normal way of life as quickly as possible, by helping to defeat the pandemic. DGN online Kenyan asylum seeker Pallo Mandela dreamt of freedom on his seven-day bus journey to South Africa. His brother had found him in bed with a man, and now he was fleeing for his life. "He became very wild and very toxic," said the 27-year-old, conjuring the painful memories from a small suburban house outside Pretoria, where he now lives. "He came with a bottle to hit my head and said he was going to kill me," said Mandela, who arrived in South Africa in February 2020. Gay sex is banned in Kenya, and the police arrested him on the spot. Days later, queer activists paid bribes for his release and told him to "disappear". "The only option I had was to come to South Africa," Mandela told AFP. "That was the only safe space where I knew the government accommodated queer people." But his dreams of finding a more accepting society were short-lived. With some of the world's most progressive LGBTQ+ laws, South Africa attracts queer migrants from the continent and beyond escaping prosecution and homophobia. The country in 1996 was the first to constitutionally ban discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. In 2006, it became the only nation to legalise same-sex marriage in Africa, where social codes are often conservative and many countries consider homosexuality a crime. Mulaisho says he has come up against xenophobic sentiment in South Africa despite its "beautiful laws" and relatively progressive outlook compared with neighbouring countries. By Guillem Sartorio (AFP) Yet gay rights are often only protected on paper. Many queer migrants say South Africa is more close-minded than they expected. As foreigners, they are also victims of widespread xenophobic sentiment. "I have been harassed so many times walking with my transgender friends, people who are who they are," said Mandela, gold earrings framing his worried features. "We get judged, robbed, insults and death threats," he sighed. "Imagine dealing with xenophobia and insecurities about your sexuality at the same time." 'Queer' and 'black' Anold Malushio used to dream of taking part in the colourful South African gay prides he watched on his phone from his home town in Zambia. The 26-year-old has joined several parades since he migrated in 2017, waving a Zambian flag in tight rainbow shorts. But he is still battling for paperwork. Immigration authorities rejected Malushio's application for refugee status after months of uncomfortable interviews. "Once, the manager took out a Bible and started preaching to me about homosexuality," said Malushio. "South Africa has got the most beautiful laws," he said. "But the people they put in their offices are so ignorant about queerness." Being in legal limbo and easily jeered by officials makes migrants like Malushio easy targets for street crime. Kenyan asylum seeker Kevin Aruwa says he has come up against harassment in South Africa -- "but not like in Kenya... where you cannot even dress a certain way". By Guillem Sartorio (AFP) He avoids walking into town for fear of being mugged. One night in 2017, he was sexually assaulted by two men and then chased away from a police station where he sought refuge. It took returning with a white male friend for officers to open a case. "It is more difficult to be queer as a black person" in South Africa, Malushio said, comparing his experience to a white queer friend from Australia. "He got his documentation, is dating and working," he said. "He is never called migrant or queer... it's easier when you are white." Kevin Aruwa, a Kenyan model who Malushio befriended, sat quietly by the window. Members of the LGTBI community celebrated Pretoria Pride on December 4. By GUILLEM SARTORIO (AFP/File) In hiding and on the run since 2017, he finally found some solace when he landed in South Africa last year. "I have been harassed," he said. "But not like in Kenya... where you cannot even dress a certain way." Corruption in Ghana exists in any government, even though it has been the toughest issue to deal with, some few African leaders never give up hope in fighting against this destructive chronic problem. One of them was the former Ghanaian leader, late John Atta Mills. The impact of corruption in Ghana is so strong because politicians and government workers have taken the weak judiciary system and leadership as opportunities to commit fraud and theft with impunity. A serious government convinced to fight against corruption should set a good example, but the NPP government protects and keeps politicians seriously involved in corruption scandals in its administration. Is this the fight against corruption the government wants us to believe? One of the places where corruption has increased rapidly affecting businessmen, traders, and Ghanaians in the Diaspora, are the harbours, especially, the Tema habour. In the time of the late John Atta Mills, this problem exists, therefore, he went to the Tema port to investigate, this is something despite the increase of corruption at the ports, Nana Akufo Addo has failed to do. I can remember vividly that a businessman describing the hopeless situation at the port, accusing Ghanaian leaders of taking the harbours as their "Cocoa farms," to enrich themselves, at the expense of sufferers." That particular article entitled Ghaspora TV Discusses About Corruption At Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, was published by ModernGhana news on September 16, 2020. Even though that article was written after watching the program on local television in Belgium, as usual, I was attacked: Reference: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1029894/ghaspora-tv-discusses-about-corruption-at-ghana.html We have a leader called Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, who thinks leadership is only to be a president of a country, escorted by the police wherever you go, and travel in luxurious jets. He never even bothered to investigate corruption at the ports. My second article about corruption at the harbours, published on November 11, 2021, entitled IGP Dampare, I am confident youll stop the chronic crime taking place daily at the harbors, revealed the sad story of a businessman. Read More: Ghaspora TV Discusses About Corruption At Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority The man appeared on Captain Smart Onua TV to narrate how both his vehicles Hummer and Sprinter truck, were sold at auction even though he has paid the duties. Read More: IGP Dampare, I am confident you'll stop the chronic crime taking place daily at the harbours Its sheer wickedness for someone who has toiled in Europe to purchase a Hummer and Sprinter Pickup truck into Ghana for corrupt custom officials to capitalize on the coronavirus situation in the country to sell his vehicles at auction at a cheap price to unknown buyers. The president from time to time convinces Ghanaians that he cares about them but he doesnt. If Akufo Addo really cares about the problems Ghanaians, including those in the Diaspora are facing, he would have long gone or ordered the minister in charge of the ports and harbours to start an investigation immediately but nothing has been done about it. Now another man has appeared on Captain Smart Onua TV again but this time, to reveal how a customs officer stole a car from the port, evaded the payment of customs duty, and prepared fictitious documents to own the car. How can such crimes take place in Ghana without the law reacting to that? What kind of country is Ghana that weak leadership has generated corruption and crime throughout the country with impunity? All these crimes are taking place daily, yet nobody cares and if anyone writes about them, he will be attacked, called anti-NPP, or if possible, be killed. If the president wants Ghanaians to beg him before doing his job, then I will be the first person to beg him to stop that massive corruption at the habours because the problem has overflowed its banks. Kwame Nkrumah said "Action without thought is empty. Thought without action is blind, therefore if Nana Akufo Addo claims he is fighting against corruption, he should follow the steps of former President John Atta Mills. Government has set aside 20 million (euros) for the establishment of a National Vaccines Institute to oversee the domestic production of vaccines, especially for COVID-19, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said. The quest to manufacture vaccines domestically is to help the country mitigate the impact of vaccine supply constraints and disruptions at the global level that has led to supply delays and shortages in many countries. The funding for the project is part of an 82.5 million facility that the European Investment Bank approved for Ghana to invest in healthcare delivery, which includes the provision of specialist medical equipment and medicines to health facilities across the country. The President said this on Wednesday in his 27th update on measures being taken to address the coronavirus pandemic. He said the country was expecting additional delivery of 8,529,090 doses of vaccines by the end of the year to augment the 17,736,710 received so far by the Ghana Health Service (GHS). With 6,420,973 doses out of the 17.7 million administered so far, he assured of the safety of the vaccines and encouraged the citizenry get vaccinated, stressing that the vaccines are safe. They will not harm you. They will protect you and your family. He said getting the jab was the best route out of the pandemic and that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had emphasised the potency of the vaccines in reducing the risk of death, hospitalisation, and the spread of the virus. President Akufo-Addo said despite difficulties occasioned by border closures, reopening of the country's land borders would not be now, especially when the country looked to preventing a fourth wave of the pandemic. The President admonished the citizens to be responsible throughout the yuletide by ensuring that their actions and inactions did not contribute to the spread of the virus. Our best bet in the fight remains to adhere to the enhanced hygiene, social distancing, and mask-wearing protocols, and getting vaccinated, he said. GNA The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, (GHS) Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye says the service will fashion out new strategies to engage Ghanaians in an effort to reduce the incidence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Large quantities of vaccines deployed to parts of the country have expired due to the reluctance on the part of many to take the COVID-19 jab. Speaking to Citi News, Dr. Kuma-Aboagye said the Ghana Health Service will ramp up efforts to get a greater number of residents vaccinated. He added that the GHS will continue to engage Ghanaians more to ensure smooth administration of the vaccines. There is some form of reluctance in the taking of the vaccines, and I will say it is not only in the Volta Region, its also across the regions. So it is about the strategy and the engagement of the people because the more we continue to engage, the more the people take the vaccines. Vaccines expire in Volta Region Large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines in the Volta Region have expired amid vaccine hesitancy in the region. According to the Ghana Health Service in the 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. The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, also used his address on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, to the nation to rubbish misinformation surrounding the vaccines. According to him, the vaccines are safe and wont make anyone vote for the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections. He thus asked Ghanaians to avail themselves to be vaccinated. So far, we have been able to administer only six million, four hundred and twenty thousand, nine hundred and seventy-three (6,420,973) doses out of the 17.7 million we have at our disposal. Let me state, as clearly as I can. The vaccines are safe. They will not harm you. They will protect you and your family. Contrary to the mischief being peddled by some, getting vaccinated will not cause you to vote for the NPP in the 2024 elections, if you do not want to. This is an outrageous claim. Vaccination cannot change your political preferences. That is not its purpose. citinewsroom Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery, has reviewed the curfew imposed on the Bawku Municipality and its environs in the Upper East Region. The curfew, which was reviewed from 6pm to 6am will now be from 8pm to 5am. According to the Ministry, the revised time is effective Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Ministry made this known in a press statement. The Minister for the Interior has on the advice of the Upper East Regional Security Council and by Executive Instrument reviewed the curfew hours imposed on Bawku Municipality and its environs in the Upper East Region from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am to 8:00 pm to 5:00 am effective, Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Ministry also placed a ban on carrying of arms, ammunition, or any offensive weapons. Meanwhile, there is a total ban on all persons in the aforementioned communities and their environs from carrying arms, ammunition, or any offensive weapons, and any persons found with any arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted. The sector Minister has also asked the chiefs and the people of Bawku to exercise restraint. He thus asked them to use non-violent means in addressing their grievances. Government calls on the Chiefs, Elders, Opinion Leaders, Youth, and people of the area to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them as well as to use non-violent means to channel their energies into ensuring peace. The government has on several occasions imposed a curfew on the town to calm tensions and maintain law and order. There was a shooting incident on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, which led to the imposition of the curfew in the Municipality. At least five persons were arrested in Bawku over the disturbances in the area. citinewsroom 16.12.2021 LISTEN The Northern Regional Secretariat of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said the charges filed against its Member of Parliament for the Savelugu constituency, Jacob Iddrisu, are misplaced. Commenting on the charges to Citi News, the Northern Region Secretary of the NDC, Mohammed Abdul Salaam, said the case is being fuelled by the New Patriotic Party with the view of getting a better advantage in Parliament. One doesn't need to add so many factors together to draw a conclusion that the hung Parliament is what is pushing the NPP to try to fish around some of these issues to see if some of them can make headway. He indicated that the MP has no connection to the office in which the weapons were found. We have the foreknowledge that that office does not belong to our candidate. He doesnt own the office, and if anybody has any evidence, let them fully prove it. Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Salaam stressed that the office is branded in broad NDC colours and everyone knows that is where the business of the NDC party is carried out in Savelugu. According to him, the chief, who was charged alongside the MP, owned the building housing the NDC office. Mr. Iddrisu was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm without lawful excuse. He was charged alongside Naa Mohammed Ahmed, the Chief of Duko, who is facing five counts of similar charges. The Savelugu MP is said to have had an AK-47 rifle in his possession, alongside 60 rounds of ammunition. Naa Mohammed Ahmed was said to have a round of G3 ammunition, a BB live cartridge, and 72 rounds of AK-47 ammunition. Police found an AK-47 in an office said to be linked to the MP on December 9, 2020, two days after the general election. At the time, the Northern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress said the party office was an open space and the weapon may not have been in the possession of the MP. The party also complained that no NDC official was invited by the police before the search was conducted. The search followed the death of a girl after she was shot a day after the election during celebrations by the NDC. The Western Regional treasurer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Anna Horma Miezah has been appointed the Deputy Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA). The newly-appointed Deputy Director-General will be assisting former NPP youth organiser, Sammi Awuku who is currently the Director-General of the NLA. A letter of appointment signed by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare said: I am pleased to inform you that the president has appointed you to act as the deputy director general of the National Lottery Authority, pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the governing board of the Authority, given in consultation with the Public Services Commission. The NLA, was first established in 1958, as the Department of National Lotteries with a mandate to organise prize raffles for the public. It was established as a public service institution to provide a corporate platform that encourages best management practice, creativity and innovation. With the passing into law of the Lotto and Betting Act (Act 94) in 1960, it was launched into a lottery aimed at raising revenue in order to support the countrys development. The NLA has become an autonomous institution with a legal monopoly over the countrys organisation of lotteries. classfmonline.com The Ministry of Education (MoE) has clarified that it is not in its plans to increase the duration of Senior High School (SHS) education to six years as reported in the media. Reports were rife on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 that the duration for SHS will be increased to six years starting from 2023 attributed to the Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Adutwum. To set the records straight, the Education Ministrys Public Relations Officer (PRO) Kwasi Kwarteng has issued a statement rubbishing the media reports. In the statement, Kwasi Kwarteng explains that Dr. Adutwum never said SHS education will move to six years but rather the six years for Junior High School and Senior High School combined will be strengthened. The Minister only spoke about strengthening the existing 6 year secondary school system(based on the 1987 Educational Reform; of 3 years of JHS and 3 years SHS) by resourcing the neglected lower secondary (JHS) so that after 3 years of JHS and 3 years of SHS, secondary school graduates will have an experience of a true 6-year secondary school system introduced by the 1987 education reform. We should be mindful not to confuse Secondary Education with senior High Education. At no point did the Minister say in yesterdays press forum that SHS was to move from the current 3yrs to 6yrs, the MoEs statement has explained. Below is the full statement: Re: SHS education to move to 6yrs. The Minister only spoke about strengthening the existing 6 year secondary school system(based on the 1987 Educational Reform; of 3 years of JHS and 3 years SHS) by resourcing the neglected lower secondary (JHS) so that after 3 years of JHS and 3 years of SHS, secondary school graduates will have an experience of a true 6-year secondary school system introduced by the 1987 education reform. We should be mindful not to confuse Secondary Education with Senior High Education. At no point did the Minister say in yesterdays press forum that SHS was to move from the current 3yrs to 6yrs. With the crucial role of the media in shaping public discourse & national conversation it is important for the media to be factual & responsible in their reportage. SOURCE: Kwasi Kwarteng, MOE, PR #ghteachersdiary 16.12.2021 LISTEN The National Executives Committee (NEC) of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been accused of treading on dangerous religious grounds with its proposed amendment to redesignate the position of Nasara Coordinator to Nasara Organiser. According to a former Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs in the John Agyekum Kufour administration, Mr Daniel Christian Dugan, the proposal to elect Nasara Organisers at the polling station level in addition to the status quo: national, regional and constituency levels, smacks of a deliberate ploy to tilt the scales toward one religion and one flag bearer hopeful ahead of the 2024 general elections a situation he fears could haunt the party in the future. Mr Dugan said if care was not taken, Christians in the party will also start agitating for a similar dispensation. In any case, he observed, the Christians are in the majority and, thus, it will be only fair for them to make such a demand. Mr Dugan noted that the proposed constitutional amendment to the NPPs constitution could be interpreted by members of the party as a ploy to favour Muslims in the party as far as its internal contests are concerned. Mr Dugan served this warning when he spoke to Accra-based Happy FM on Wednesday, 15 December 2021 ahead of the NPPs upcoming National Delegates Conference scheduled for Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, at the weekend. According to him, there are certain polling stations across the country that do not have Muslims at the polling station levels and, thus, wondered what will happen in such a situation. He also expressed suspicions about the partys drive for Muslim membership. In his view, if the amendment is accepted, it will mean the Muslim constituency of the party will have about 40,000 delegates. Classfmonline.com 16.12.2021 LISTEN Two Police officers have been killed in the line of duty during a violent crime at Zuarungu in the Upper East Region. Modernghana News can report that the incident occurred on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at the market grounds of Zuarungu. The Police officers according to information gathered from sources were killed during a robbery attack on one of the shops at the market called Baba Store. Confirming the sad news, the Ghana Police Service through a Facebook post on Wednesday said, Black Wednesday for the Ghana Police Service as we have lost 2 of our officers through the activities of criminals, while on patrols this night within the Zuarungu Township to safeguard life and property. In line with the tradition of the Ghana Police Service, the families of the fallen officers will be contacted and informed before any detail is released to the general public including the identities of the officers. Meanwhile, the Police are appealing to members of the public in Zuarungu that witnessed the dastardly act to be circumspect with information pertaining to the incident. All teacher unions in Ghana have given government up to Wednesday, December 22 to refund the deductions of GH509 from their Professional Development Allowance or they will mass up in protest. Per the intended demonstration, teachers would mass up in their regional education and union offices across the country to express their displeasure against the deduction for what they termed as 'sub-standard laptops'. The government has deducted one month of GH509 from the Professional Development Allowance of all teachers at the basic and secondary levels in the country towards the government's 'One teacher, One laptop policy. Per the arrangement, the government will pay 70% of the cost of the laptop while the teachers pay the 30% themselves through deductions from Professional Development Allowance. This has raised eyebrows as some teachers explained the deductions were not justifiable because they were not consulted. The other concerns being raised by the teachers were that the lap tops were substandard while non-teaching staff have also been deducted. This compelled one of the teacher unions, All Teachers Alliance of Ghana, to demonstrate against the move on Wednesday, December 15, in Accra. Speaking on the way forward on 3FM's Sunrise hosted by Helen Appiah Ampofo on Thursday, the General Secretary of All Teachers Alliance Ghana , Albert Dadson Amoah, explained that it is the power of arrogance of the GES that has brought all these. We wrote to them to receive our inputs. We petitioned the Minister [of Education] but there was no reply. We went to CHRAJ and later resorted to the court to stop [government] from deducting such an amount from our Professional development Allowance. He added: If by next Wednesday the monies have not been refunded into our accounts, all teachers and other unions will embark on demonstration again across the country. GNAT, NAGRAT and others joined our demonstration [Wednesday] and they have promised to join us again by Wednesday. We will be massing up again and it will be done at the regional educational office. Mr. Amoah said we have directed Central, Ashanti and Eastern regions to embark on demonstrations in their regional education offices and union offices. Members will also lock up our offices. As for the demonstration they should prepare for more until our monies are refunded. 3news.com The French government has said it will bolster controls on travellers arriving from Britain after a steep rise in infections linked to the Omicron coronavirus variant in the UK. The measures, which come into effect on Saturday, include reducing the validity of antigen and PCR tests to 24 hours from 48 hours for arriving travellers, and limiting reasons to travel from Britain to France. Speaking on BFMTV this Thursday morning, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said: "We are going to put in place a control....even more drastic than that which is currently in place. "Tourism and business travel for people who are not French nationals nor Europeans, people who are not French residents will be limited," he added. UK infections highest since start of pandemic Travellers from Britain arriving in France will have to self-isolate for seven days though isolation will be lifted after 48 hours if their test conducted in France is negative. These restrictions until now applied only to non-vaccinated travellers from Britain. "Our goal is to limit as much as possible the spread of Omicron across our territory," Attal said, adding there were currently 240 confirmed Omicron cases in France. The latest figures released on Wednesday showed new Covid-19 infections in the United Kingdom reached the highest daily level since the early 2020 start of the pandemic, with more than 78,000 reported. On Wednesday, France reported 65,713 new coronavirus infections over 24 hours, bringing total cases since the start of the epidemic to 8.4 million. The total number of deaths in France since the start of the epidemic has reached 120,983. A failed parliamentary candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Tano South Constituency in the Bono Region, Mr Kwadwo Genfi Bondu Jr has asked the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, to come clear on some reports about reforms in the education sector. The government of Ghana, according to Dr Adutwum, is undertaking reforms that will result in a 6-year consolidated secondary education which will result in the reduction of the countrys 13,000 junior high schools to just 2,500. Dr Adutwum told journalists on Tuesday, 14 December 2021 that at the heart of the ongoing reforms are science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Weve awarded contracts for about 15 schools that are going to be what we call lower secondary. The facilities we are providing [are] just like any high school facility and every one of those schools has a library, biology, chemistry and physics lab; beautiful school buildings and they are coming to a community near you very soon, he announced. And, in 2023, when we open those schools, you are going to see how we are going to provide six years [of] quality secondary education and not three years plus some three years old middle-school-led education that we call a high school, he clarified. Explaining the mechanics of the reforms using a practical example, Dr Adutuwm said: If you go to Abenase and Onyuie, they have about 12 junior high schools. Within the next week or so, God willing, well cut sod for the construction of a new lower secondary school there. Now, all those 12 schools will be out of commission a year from now, he noted, explaining: Theyll no longer exist as junior high schools; well move all the students into this new building that has biology, chemistry and physics labs, libraries and everything. Therefore, he pointed out, these students who are now going to grow up in Onyuie or Abenase are going to get the highest level of science education: Robotics is going to be taught there, the space is provided for that and their level of proficiency, by the time they get to junior high three, will be very different. But the good news about that is instead of 12 headmasters, we are going to have one. So, we have 13,000 junior high schools; if these reforms go on as planned, we are going to reduce that to about 2,500, he added. Dr Adutwum mentioned that with the government pursuing strategies aimed at increasing the Gross Tertiary Enrollment Ratio (GTER) from the current 18.84% to 40% by 2030, it is in our interest to continuously expand the infrastructural base of the various tertiary institutions. We are all aware of the many ongoing projects on our tertiary campuses, some of which have been abandoned for years, while others are in urgent need of additional government funding for completion. Speaking on Accra100.5FMs morning show Ghana Yensom, however, Mr Bonsu Jr said although Dr Adutwum lofty ideas for the sector, such policies must tie into the NPPs manifesto. As far as Im aware, there is nothing like this contained in the manifesto of the party, Mr Bonsu Jr pointed out, insisting: As it stands now, there is no such information in the 2020 manifesto of the NPP. Mr Bonsu Jr also said he is yet to see any Cabinet decision to that effect and, so, implored Dr Adutwum to engage further on the decision so as to save the NPP from any unwarranted embarrassment. The ex-parliamentary candidate also urged Ghanaians to exercise restraint on the matter as they await clarity from the minister. He was of the view that the proposed changes may be among the laudable ideas of the minister aimed at bettering Ghanas education sector for the ultimate good of the economy but they nonetheless must be discussed with the necessary stakeholders. If the stakeholders do not come to terms with the reforms being pushed by the minister, they will come to nought, he argued. ---Classfmonline.com Former Mayor of Tamale in the Northern region, Iddrisu Musah, affectionately called Musah Superior has declared his intention known to vie for the New Patriotic Partys (NPP's) General Secretary position. According to him, as a party man, he remains committed to the NPP's course and will readily avail himself for service whenever he's needed. I have reflected on my contributions to the New Patriotic Party since the days of the Danquah/Busia Club in the 1990s through to the days the Party was formed and launched in July, 1992. As a foundation member of the party, I have decided to contest for the position of General Secretary in the 2022 National Delegates' Congress of our great Party, he declared in a statement released Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Musah Superior was the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly in the first term of the administration of President Nana Akufo-Addo. Currently, the former National Organizer, John Boadu is the General Secretary after he acted when Kwabena Agyapong was on indefinite suspension. Some political watchers anticipate that John Boadu will run for the General Secretary position again during the NPP's next congress after successfully leading the party to capture power from the NDC party in the 2016 and helping the party to win the 2020 general elections. Other aspiring general secretary contenders are Justin Kodua Frimpong, Youth Enterprise Agency (YEA) Chief Executive and Fredrick Opare-Ansah, former MP for Suhum among others. Musah Superior, who is now the deputy Chief Executive Officer of Forestry Commission believes he has the backing of the rank and file of the party who are yearning for him to contest and win the position. My decision to contest for the General Secretary position has been made even stronger by calls from the rank and file of the party on me to serve in that role. As a true, loyal and dedicated member who is desirous in serving the New Patriotic Party in any capacity, I feel obliged to respond positively to the calls by the numerous party people across the country. The government of the New Patriotic Party has performed well; and we must build on the successes chalked by the government as part of our strategy to secure victory in 2024. It is for this reason that I offer myself for the General Secretary position to lead in galvanizing the grassroots to re-build a stronger, thoughtful and more efficient Party capable of energizing and mobilizing first our supporters and sympathizers, and then millions of non-NPP voting citizens across the country to compete meaningfully in the 2024 general elections. He believes that the party is losing it identity hence he has the capability to restore the identity and revive dormant party structures. The spirit of our Party must be brought back. We must be ready now and at all times to properly plan and execute an efficient and innovative campaign for victory in the 2024 General Elections. I have the capacity and the strength to find the lost spirit, revive the dormant party structures across the country and serve the party people with purpose, greater assertion and conviction in the mandate I seek, he added. He therefore declared his intention to travel the length and breadth of the country to interact with the party supporters about his vision. ---DGN online 16.12.2021 LISTEN By the Grace of God I live and work in Accra as a lawyer, making money from land and chieftaincy disputes and defending criminals. Even though I am no more Member of Parliament for Berekum, I keep going there very frequently because my late mother's family have appointed me Head of family of the Nana Yaw Woro Royal Family of BIADAN a suburb of Berekum. In March this year, I was in Berekum when my mother's direct brother died, and eventually we buried him in October. The battle for succession began after his death, not so much for his estate but more for three grand uncles plenty houses, cocoa farms and farm lands which were all being raped due to poor supervision. A lecturer in a Sunyani Tertiary Institute lobbied me for the job and I had no objection. We finally fixed Saturday 11th December 2021 to appoint a successor to my mother's brother, to oversee the rich heritage left by three grand uncles. Reader, customary law is most interesting. My dead uncle had no personal estate for anybody to succeed, but he, in his lifetime was the 'customary' successor of our three grand uncles, each of them a patriarch. In fact, two of them, Nana Mensah and Nana Hinneh took care of me for 7 years in Achimota School. I left Accra Friday night for Berekum and was in town by 0500 hrs. At 9 O'clock I drove to the family House but there was nobody there. I left a message that I am going to my base and when they are ready they should call me. Later, circa 1100hrs a message came that they were ready and we drove there, to see a full house all in mourning cloth..several old ladies, several elderly men, all seated. I greeted them and took charge, as Head of family of the Royal Nana Yaw Woro Family of Biadan. After opening prayers I told them the object of this meeting is very simple: to appoint a customary successor to our dead uncle, so the old ladies should go into caucus meeting and bring a nomination. For about 15 minutes the old ladies were in session, and finally they came to join us. When I welcomed them back and asked for their report, their spokesman stood there, just smiling, until a family elder hinted me that according to custom I have to open her mouth with raw cash. I laughed good naturedly and pulled out two ten cedis notes for her. Yes, tell us. What are the old ladies saying? The stool belongs to Effah Dartey. Did I hear right? What are you saying? I became dumb founded. Completely speechless. Last year you guys made me Head of family against my will, now you want to add the stool of my dead uncle? The Sunyani lecturer came to my rescue. He rose up and spoke vehemently against the nomination but some family young lady who did not attend the old ladies caucus meeting fought him off bitterly with solid arguments. Finally the lecturer gave up, question settled, the stool goes to Effah Dartey who now has to say Thank you. As a Court going lawyer saying thank you is the least of my problems. Just as I started to quote Shakespeare, Chinua Achebe and Cameron Duodu, Ama Ata Aidoo one elder openly protested that the thank you is not a speech but cash, the quantum of which must be decided by the elders who should go into caucus meeting. Reader I started shivering. The only free money in my pocket was imprest totaling Gh200, every other envelope had a specific assignment. Pretty soon the elders returned from their caucus meeting to announce that the stool given to me was extremely very heavy so the Aseda must be proportional TEN MILLION cedis!! I nearly collapsed. Meekly and humbly, I begged for a review and they reduced it to 700 Ghana cedis. I emptied all the envelopes in my pocket and managed 700 Gh cedis for them. Before we could end proceedings my personal assistant seated by me raised his hands. Yes? Now that we have settled the issue of succession the Family has a duty to inform the Head of family of the Nana Yaw Woro Royal family.. One elder reminded all of us that the customary successor is the same person as the overall Head of family and quickly I responded that I am not aware that you people have appointed a customary successor to my dead uncle.. uncontrollable laugher broke out. Matters were resolved when One Hundred Cedis was released from the 700 Gh cedis for my Personal Assistant to travel to inform me about the news of my installation as the customary successor. But before we could rise I was told that as the customary successor, my uncle's wife his widow, was now my wife!!! Eeh!!! Gloria would skin me alive when she hears this. By Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey Cassava farmers in the Central Region have heaved a sigh of relief over the restoration of the Ayensu Starch Company. The farmers, who are in a jubilant mood, expressed joy over the development, saying the reopening of the factory would inure to their benefits and help boost the local economy. "It presents us with the much needed guaranteed market to safeguard our livelihoods," they said. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the farmers said the company was a source of motivation to work harder, knowing that they would be able to recoup their investments. The Ayensu Starch Factory, expected to produce 60 metric tonnes of food-grade tapioca starch daily, is currently undergoing a test run to start full operation in January 2022. With an estimated annual expenditure of at least GHS25 million on raw materials alone, the facility is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs in the rural economy. We are very excited because when cassava is in season, they will help us. We are unable to make the right sales when we take it to the market. But if we bring it here, we will get paid regardless of how long it takes, a cassava farmer from Agona Kwanyako, Madam Gifty Koomson said. She, however, complained about the price the company was offering for a tonne of cassava, saying it was a little too low and appealed for upward adjustment. Farming is very difficult and agrochemicals have become very expensive nowadays, with transportation alone costing GHS200 because of the high cost of fuel," she noted. Another farmer, Emmanuel Agomadzi, said he nearly lost hope in farming but had now been inspired to work harder. He said he sold his produce to the local market at very cheap prices because he could not afford to let them go to waste. Today, we have hope that after the hard work, the factory will buy and we are very happy about that, he said. A 64-year-old farmer, Johnson Zonu, said he was happy because buyers would no longer abscond with their monies. The factory will not give us stories," he added. GNA 16.12.2021 LISTEN Five people have been confirmed dead following a fatal accident that occurred on the Accra-Kumasi Highway on Thursday, December 16, 2021. The accident according to information gathered from sources occurred when three vehicles collided at Akyem Anyinasin junction near Bunso. The vehicles include an unregistered Toyota Corolla, Toyota Hiace passengers bus, and a Pathfinder aboard by a senior Police officer identified as Ransford Duah. Eyewitnesses narrate that the accident occurred around 09:00am when the Toyota Corolla from the Kumasi direction allegedly attempted a wrong overtaking to drive past a stationary cargo truck in the middle of the road to the lane of oncoming vehicles. The Corolla, unfortunately, collided with the Pathfinder resulting in injuries to several people. Five people including three males and two females in the Toyota Hiace died instantly. Meanwhile, the other passengers of the two vehicles sustained various degrees of injuries and had to be rushed to the Kibi government hospital and the Savior Memorial hospitals in Osiem for treatment. The Police have since made efforts to tow the accident vehicle and the stationary cargo truck from the road. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has placed a GH50,000 bounty on the heads of the armed robbers who shot and killed two police officers at Zuarungu in the Upper East Region. He made the announcement when he arrived in the area on Thursday to commiserate with the regional police command over the deaths of the two police officers. The two officers Constable Emmanuel Akowuah and Constable Mohhamed Sule who were on night patrols were both killed by suspected armed robbers on Wednesday night. The robbers shot at the tank of the police motorbike and partially burnt constable Mohammed Sule while constable Emmanuel Akowuah was shot in the head. The IGP, Dr. Dampare assured residents that the police will be merciless in apprehending the suspected armed robbers dead or alive. He further called on the public to volunteer useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspected robbers. The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has arrived in Zuarungu in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region to commiserate with the families and colleagues of the two officers killed in a violent crime. The two Police officers were killed in the line of duty during a violent crime at Zuarungu market in the Upper East Region on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Police officers according to information gathered from sources were killed during a robbery attack on one of the shops at the market called Baba Store. Confirming the sad news, the Ghana Police Service through a Facebook post on Wednesday said, Black Wednesday for the Ghana Police Service as we have lost 2 of our officers through the activities of criminals, while on patrols this night within the Zuarungu Township to safeguard life and property. Today, IGP George Akuffo Dampare and some leading members of the security service have visited the families and colleagues of the fallen officers. This visit is in line with the tradition of the Ghana Police Service before details of the death of the officers including names are released officially to the general public. As the Police service mourns the demise of the officers, members of the public in Zuarungu that witnessed the dastardly act are advised to be circumspect with information pertaining to the incident. Meanwhile, Modernghana News has learned that the Ghana Police Service has set aside a reward of GHS50,000 for any individual that will provide useful information that will lead to the arrest of the cop killers. Anybody who offers information that would lead to the arrest of the criminals who murdered two police officers in Zuarungu, Upper East Region, stands to gain GHS50,000 as a reward, IGP George Akuffo Dampare has promised. He announced the bounty on Thursday, 16 December 2021 when he arrived in Zuarungu to mourn with the bereaved families. The policemen, Constable Emmanuel Akowuah and Constable Mohammed Sule were shot and killed by robbers while on night patrol duties on Wednesday, December 15. They shot Sule in the head and caused Akowuah to suffer burns by shooting the fuel tank of his motorbike which caused an explosion that engulfed the late officer. The IGP said the police will smoke out the suspects, dead or alive. ---classfmonline.com A former Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho has alleged that former President John Dramani Mahama wanted some key members of the party who were occupying executive positions out during his time as the leader of the party. He mentioned names like Kwabena Adjei, Asiedu Nketia and Yaw Boateng Gyan. According to him, John Mahama and his group got people to contest both Kwabena Adjei and Yaw Gyan, so, they decided to persuade him [Koku Anyidoho] to contest Johnson Asiedu Nketia. He said, when he asked the rationale behind such motive, he was told that John Mahama wanted all Atta Mills people out from the partys top leadership positions. John Mahama wanted to remove Kwabena Adjei, Asiedu Nketia and Yaw Gyan in 2014. President Mills had died on July 24, 2012, on the night, Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as the President and I [Samuel Koku Anyidoho] was in Parliament during the swearing-in, I stayed at the Castle for the period, that is, from July till December 2012. I worked and let me state that in the period, the new President never invited me to his office. I am a servant and when the master and the king do not invite you into his palace, you dare not go because you can lose your lifePresident Atta Mills will invite me to his officeI had no authority, no power to prevent Vice President John Dramani Mahama from seeing his boss the PresidentIt is in that humble spirit that I could leave the presidency and go and work as Deputy to Johnson Asiedu Nketia, people didn't understand it, Koku Anyidoho explained to Okay FM on Wednesday, December 15. So, you John Dramani Mahama, after we won 2012 your agenda was to get rid of Kwabena Adjei, Asiedu Nketia, and Yaw Gyan; so, you found people to contest them. You got somebody to contest Kwabena Adjei, you got somebody to challenge Yaw Gyan, it was me, Koku Anyidoho, that your people came to and said I should contest Johnson Asiedu Nketia. This was in 2014. Anyidoho continued: I asked the rationale behind it and I was told that John Dramani Mahama wanted to kick out all those perceived to be in Atta Mills' campYou, Asiedu Nketia, you drove to me let him come and swear on anything that he believes in and thank me for not contesting him. Let me tell you, he drove to me at the CastleKwadwo Asiedu Nketia, if you want to die today, pat yourself on your chest and say you did not come to me at the Castle, to thank me for not contesting you. He even told me that, he is going for the third time but not the fourth. So, come as my Deputy and after, you can take over as the General Secretary. On that day, he said, George Lawson and Kofi Adams did not respect him as Deputies and he cannot leave things with them to handle but for me [Koku Anyidoho] he can leave things for me to handle Koku Anyidoho further noted that he did not desire to contest Johnson Asiedu Nketia and he will not contest Asiedu Nketia even today as General Secretary. I did it because Asiedu Nketia said he will not go and said I should go. He came back later and betrayed himself, his trust and everything but I, Samuel Koku S. Anyidoho, I shall not contest again for the position of General Secretary of the NDC, he stressed. ---DGN online Akuapem Poloo 16.12.2021 LISTEN Ghanaian actress, Rosemond Alade Brown, known in showbiz as Akuapem Poloo is set to be released from prison today after settling a fine of GHS12,000. The popular actress was earlier this year sentenced to three months in prison by an Accra Circuit Court, over the publication of obscene material and domestic violence. This was after she was arrested for posting a naked picture with her seven-year-old son to celebrate his birthday. After a successful appeal of her sentence this month, the lawyer of Akuapem Poloo has managed to get the Appeals Court to overturn the custodial jail sentence. In what comes as a piece of good news to the controversial actress, she was rather fined 1000 penalty units equivalent to GHc12,000 as a replacement for her 90-day custodial sentence. Today, Modernghana News has learned that Akuapem Poloo has paid the fine in full and is expected to be released from the Nsawam Prison to reunite with her son and family. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will not write off the almost eight-year power debt owed it by the people of Krobo, as proposed recently by two youth group in the area, the Managing Director of the power distributor, Mr Kwame Agyemang, has told journalists. The suggestion was made by Kloma Hengme and Kloma Gbi in a joint statement following the restoration of power to the area after several days of a total blackout, which the ECG claimed was caused by some unscrupulous persons, even though the locals insisted it was a planned plunge to punish the entire ethnic group for the continuous aggression toward the company by one particular youth group known as United Krobo Foundation. At a press conference on Thursday, 16 December 2021, Mr Agyemang said: The proposal of the association is not workable. We have had several engagements with our stakeholders in the Krobo district and have continuously strengthened the need for those indebted to ECG to pay their bills, he said. He noted: Whereas some customers see the need to sustain ECG as a national asset by paying their accumulated, others are not paying because they think the power consumed must be free. This attitude may be due to an alleged MoU [signed] between Kwame Nkrumah, our late president, and the Krobo elders, exempting Krobos from paying electricity bills. However, the ECG MD said: The Krobo chiefs and other prominent Krobo citizens have debunked this fallacy. He also denied perceptions that the recent protracted outage, which coincided with the relocation of ECGs Somanya office to Juapong in the Volta Region, was deliberate. Theres a misconception that the outage experienced in the Krobo district last week was to punish faithful customers for the wrongs of a few. We want to state categorically that in our announcement that followed the outage, we explained that it was due to technical challenges and as a preventive measure, Mr Agyemang stressed. He said: When we relocated operations to Juapong, we made mention of the fact that we would need security escort to maintain the system or repair faults in the Krobo area because of their threat and other issues. Unfortunately, he noted, within that period, we lost two transformers. After a diagnosis of the event that led to the loss of these transformers, we discovered that some unauthorised persons transferred load from a transformer that was down, due to an overload, to an adjacent transformer, which eventually, got overloaded, too, he explained. This meant that we lost two transformers due to the actions of some faceless persons, he said. He argued that in that circumstance, the outage became necessary to avert any destruction. In order to save lives and properties, we had no option than to isolate the feeders from serving the area, he said. As to when ECG would return to its Somanya office, Mr Agyemang said it all depended on the security situation. He said the Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo chiefs, as well as MPs for Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo and Upper Manya Krobo constituencies, together with presiding members and other high-ranking opinion leaders, came to ECGs head office in Accra to engage with ECG management. They made a passionate appeal for ECG to reopen the Somanya office and resume full operations in Somanya, he said. However, he said that can only happen is certain conditions were met. I wish to say that the security agencies are assessing the situation on the ground. Based on security advice, the Somanya office will be open for commercial operations. The security situation will be reviewed periodically and when the experts assure us of the safety of our staff, we will mobilise and resume full operations from Somanya district, he noted, but added: Until the total safety of staff is guaranteed, it will be difficult to convince them to return. They also have the right to life. ---classfmonline.com The CEO of MASLOC, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah has been honoured by the Voiceless Media and Consult, for her services to society and exemplary leadership. For the past two years, the Voiceless Media has been researching and appreciating individuals and organisations who are contributing in diverse ways to bring about positive change in their organisations and societies. The media organisation have since awarded some prominent and equally hardworking government appointees, individuals and charity organisations across the country. Managing Director of the media organisation, Chief Akilu Sayibu said there was the need to recognise the efforts of Hajia Abibata. He noted that for the past five years, she has been tremendously helping women entrepreneurs, as well as farmers in the Yendi constituency. She has also helped to secure jobs for many and contributed significantly to advancing the course of education by securing admissions for eligible students. She has also secured scholarships for many students across the country. "Hajia Abibata in the view of the Voiceless media is certainly the first female from the Northern region to have ever been appointed to steer the affairs of a huge institution such as MASLOC and this is worth emulating to young females from the Northern part of Ghana." Chief Akilu also stated that it is pertinent to pay attention to the few females who are doing their utmost best in societies and encourage the young ones to toe their paths. "In fact, I'm extremely happy presenting this award as a man, to a woman", Chief Akilu intimated. The award package included a colourful citation and a personal accident insurance cover to a tune of Ghc100,000 from GLICO General. Hajia Abibata upon receiving the award acknowledged the contributions of her hardworking staff of MASLOC and thanked the Voiceless Media for the good works it has been carrying out for some time now. A former Presidential candidate, Mr. Kwame Pianim has bemoaned the impasse in parliament especially in relation to the conversation on the 2022 budget statement. Since Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta presented the 2022 budget statement and economic policy proposal to parliament on November 17, there has been a standoff between the Majority and Minority. While the Majority is keen on approving the budget, the Minority has raised several issues and insists that unless they are addressed they will do everything in their power to reject the budget. Having followed the issues in Parliament, Ghanaian economist Kwame Pianim says it is unfortunate that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo does not have the backing of Parliament to execute his agenda. It is a misfortune for Ghana that the president doesnt have the parliament to implement his agenda. This is his last term. But, as the Chinese say, Every crisis presents an opportunity, so you dont let it go to waste, Kwame Pianim said in an interview with Asaase Radio. According to the celebrated businessman, the current impasse in parliament could be solved if H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo invites ex-President John Dramani Mahama to the table to have deliberations. I had expected the president and then former president [John] Mahama to sit down quietly and say, How do we make this thing work? Dont leave it to Parliament to do, Mr. Pianim said by way of advise to the president. This week, talks on estimations on the budget have continued with both Majority and Minority MPs in Parliament. Although there are still issues to be addressed, it has become increasingly likely that the 2022 budget could be approved before Parliament goes on recess for the Christmas holidays. A coconut seller, Kwame Basabasa has been fallen dead at Saltpond in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region. The coconut seller believed to be in his forties, was found dead in a gutter under a coconut tree on Thursday, 16 December 2021. Well-known for plying his trade in either a wheel barrow or pan at the Taxi rank located at the Saltpond junction, the coconut seller, was found with a sack of coconuts beside his body with a bunch of coconut scattered under the tree. ClassFMs Central Regional Correspondent Raymond Kwofie who visited the scene reported that, the deceased is believed to have fallen off from the coconut tree under which he was found dead. Some persons in the community had made several complaints to the Saltpond Police over counting losses from their coconut farms. The deceased according to sources, did not own a coconut tree and was alleged to have been stealing from peoples trees to sell to his customers. People who climb coconut trees in the community usually do so with sacks behind them, the deceased is therefore suspected to have employed the same method. However, he is believed to have lost his balance in an attempt to reposition himself or the sack while on the tree. While some residents of the community are suspecting he was hit with a catapult by someone who saw him climb the tree and landed dead in the gutter, others attribute his death to a spiritual cause, noting that the tree belonged to an old man, thus, it was the deceased's punishment for stealing from people. The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Saltpond Government Hospital Morgue by the Police, awaiting identification by his family. ---classfmonline.com Former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, has expressed regrets of not having the opportunity to extend gratitude to former President Jerry John Rawlings before he passed away. A statement issued by the Office of the late former President, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said former President Gbagbo who called on former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and the family, said he had looked forward to saying thank you to President Rawlings so much so that news of his loss came as a real shock to him. President Rawlings was the strongest amongst us his compatriots, so it was difficult to believe he had passed. He was very authentic and real, Mr Gbagbo said. The former Ivorian leader said he was very much aware of the significant support President Rawlings gave him and how he spoke passionately about the error of his incarceration while others conveniently kept quiet. President Gbagbo returned to Cote d'Ivoire in June this year after being incarcerated for ten years by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He was acquitted in 2019 and the court upheld the acquittal earlier this year. Former President Gbagbo said soon after his return he yearned for an opportunity to come and commiserate with the Rawlings family and was finally relieved that he had fulfilled that mission. The statement said President Gbagbo also visited the tomb of President Rawlings on Saturday with members of his delegation, where he laid a wreath. It said receiving the former Ivorian President, Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings, said she was extremely happy to see Mr Gbagbo. She added that she was "waiting for a time when Africans can say enough is enough with Europeans deciding how we should manage our countries". Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings recalled how late President Rawlings did not hesitate to bring up the subject of how shabbily President Gbagbo had been treated. Each time President Rawlings met a delegation he will talk about you (President Gbagbo) so that the media will carry it; that what is being done to President Gbagbo is unfair, unacceptable and how Africans cannot do the same to any European Head of State, Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings recalled. The statement said the former First Lady thanked former President Gbagbo and his colleagues for fighting for his liberties and was happy he looked well after all the pain he had been through. It said she was hopeful that the former President will continue to impart his ideas and ideals to his people to encourage national development. Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, said her father, former President Rawlings, took the matter of President Gbagbo personally and lamented bitterly about how he had been treated. She said President Rawlings felt the failure of ECOWAS to impartially intervene in the matter was the ultimate betrayal by the regional body. The statement said former Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, also called on Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings and her family to commiserate with the family. It said former President Sirleaf was in Accra to participate in the second Kofi Annan Peace and Security forum organized by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC). It noted that the former Liberian leader who had a long-standing relationship with Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings said she decided to check on the family after her condolence visit last December. The statement said she was delighted to see Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings and the rest of the family doing well. The meeting also discussed political developments on the continent, it said. GNA Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, has proposed a constitutional amendment to the current provision on the creation of additional constituencies. To him, with a population of about 31 million, Ghana should not have more than 200 parliamentarians. The Minister, also the Majority Leader in Parliament and MP for Suame, made the proposal in an answer to a question at a media briefing in Accra. He said the National Democratic Congress (NDC), when in power, created additional 105 constituencies while the New Patriotic Party Administration created 30 extra parliamentary seats. Such developments, he said, did not help the country's finances as it increased government's expenditure. Currently, Ghana has 275 parliamentary seats with both the NPP and NDC having 137 seats each with one independent parliamentarian. Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said both the Majority and Minority groups had been engaging in dialogues and consensus building on a number of issues in Parliament adding that issues of national interest should supersede those of political party interests to entrench democratic governance and patriotism. He called for a review of the 1992 Constitution to decouple the Legislative Arm of Government from the Executive to ensure efficient governance. On the proposed electronic levy (E-levy) in the 2022 Budget Statement of Government, he said the Minority should focus on how monies to be accrued from the levy would be expended instead of completely opposing it. As part of Parliament's oversight responsibility of ensuring accountability and transparency, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu called on members to demand how much monies from the E-levy would be expended on road infrastructure, education, health and other social facilities. He expressed optimism that Parliament would make a headway in approving the E-levy as the Minority Caucus had now moved from "Zero tolerance for E-levy" to at least one per cent E-levy during the committee meetings to discuss the budget estimates. Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said government needed revenue to develop the country and believed the E-levy would accrue eight billion Ghana cedis annually instead of the GHC78 million accruing from road tolls. With the global Covid-19 pandemic, he said, government needed to raise revenue internally to execute its programmes and policies. He urged the media to be concerned about the stability and integrity of the country's democracy and avoid raising tension through their reportage. GNA Government has budgeted GHc9.6 million for the Green Ghana Project next year to plant 20 million trees nationwide. The Green Ghana initiative, which officially commenced on Friday, June 11, 2021, saw Ghanaians planting over seven million tree seedlings. Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Forestry, told the media in Accra on Thursday that an evaluation and monitoring the National Intelligence Bureau conducted between September and November showed 85 per cent survival rate of the seedlings planted on the Green Ghana Day. The Ministry observed that the 15 per cent non-surviving seedlings could be attributed to planting on rocky patches while stray animals also destroyed the unprotected ones. Mr Owusu-Bio said no budget was allocated for the 2021 Green Ghana Project but received about two million cedis as support from donors and agencies under the Lands Ministry. The Deputy Minister said it would erect cages around seedlings that would be planted next year, especially in urban areas, and make sure the seedlings were planted on appropriate locations. That, he said, would require the Ministry embarked on education campaign to sensitise the public on the correct locations to plant specific types of tree species. Mr Owusu-Bio, on behalf of the Government, expressed profound gratitude to all well-meaning Ghanaians who supported the project with cash and seedlings to make the exercise a success. He asked for more support from companies, public and private sector institutions and individuals in the coming years to achieve government's goal of restoring the degraded forest cover. Mr John Allotey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, updating the media on the Commission's programmes and activities, announced that Cabinet had approved the Wildlife Resources Management Bill for consideration by Parliament and when approved, would help manage the ecotourism parks and sites. Ghana had exported 220,000 metric tonnes of timber products, amounting to 108 million euros as at the end of September this year, he said. On the wildlife sector, Mr Allotey said the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission had exported 105,125 live animals including pythons, zebras and cobs that were bred in the country at the end of September this year. On Ghana's current forest cover, he said the country had 6.57 million hectares of forest comprising 5.3 million hectares open forest and 1.2 million closed forest. GNA The government has presented an Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) bill to parliament despite the agitations by Ghanaians since it was first announced. The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta while presenting the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy Proposal of government to Parliament on November 17 revealed plans to introduce the E-Levy. The proposal was met with stiff opposition in the house by the Minority. But government has this week gone ahead to present a bill for the controversial levy to parliament with no changes. Just like it was announced during the budget presentation, the bill for the E-Levy has a charge of 1.75% for all financial transactions that will exceed GHS100 including Mobile Money. In the past weeks, the Majority and Minority have been at eachother's throats over the levy. There have been recommendations for the levy to be reduced and the threshold of GHS100 increased. However, it is now clear government is unwilling to back down on its stance. Sources say the Minority are unhappy and bent on rejecting the E-Levy even if it will mean outrightly rejecting the entire 2022 budget. 16.12.2021 LISTEN The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) says it has revised its operations amid threats of terrorism and other transnational crimes. According to the army, the sophisticated nature of threats demands strategic planning and execution to deal with them. The General Officer Commanding Southern of the Ghana Army, Brigadier Michael Amoah-Ayisi made the remarks at the commissioning of a 124-bed transit quarters at the unit. Our rapid deployment force is being upgraded into a full company strength with a good armour which will be on standby for emergency deployments. This has become necessary in view of the growing threats of terrorism and other security challenges in the country. Adequate measures have been put in place to deal with possible terror attacks in Ghana, according to Ghana's National Security Advisor, Brig-General (Rtd.) Emmanuel Okyere. Brig-General (Rtd) Emmanuel Okyere maintains that recent terrorist attacks in neighbouring West African countries have prompted the government to put measures in place. The National Security Advisor has vowed that his outfit will clamp down on all forms of criminal activities in the five regions of the north, following growing concerns of insecurity within some mining communities in the northern part of the country. ---citinewsroom Policy think tank African Centre for Health Policy, Research and Analysis has kicked against the decision by the Ministry of Health to embark on compulsory vaccination of Ghanaians. Dr Thomas Anaba, Executive Director of the Centre, told Accra 100.5FMs mid-day news on Thursday, 16 December 2021 that compulsory vaccination is not the way to go. He said the government cannot force the citizenry to take the vaccine against their will since it would infringe peoples human rights. The Public Health Act, he noted, does not make provisions for compulsory vaccination. Dr Anaba warned that any move to compulsorily vaccinate the citizenry will land doctors in trouble since a lot of them would end up before the Medical and Dental Council for punitive sanctions. He wondered why Ghana would force the vaccines on her citizens when even the countries that manufacture them are not compelling their citizens to go for the jab. Dr Anaba also said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told an untruth on Wednesday, 15 December 2021 when he said in his 27th COVID address that the vaccines were totally safe. He said even the WHO has admitted publicly that the vaccines had side effects and still being studied, thus, urged the government to be seen persuading people to take the vaccines rather than attempting to force it on them. Dr Anaba believes the citizenry should be educated about the side effects and benefits of the vaccines so that people can make their own decision. You cant just lie about something that is obvious, he said. He mentioned instances where people got paralysed after the jab while others experienced other forms of malaise as a result of the vaccination. ---Classfmonline.com 16.12.2021 LISTEN The Ghana Police Service has commenced a Special Anti-Robbery Operation in Zuarungu in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region to arrest the suspected armed robbers who killed two police officers on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Preliminary investigation by the Police has revealed that three suspected robbers attacked a provision shop at gunpoint and succeeded in robbing the victim of an amount of Two Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH 2,000.00). The two now-deceased Police officers while on their routine patrols unexpectedly appeared at the robbery scene and were fired by the three suspected robbers who were attempting to bolt. The two Police officers, No. 56205 General Constable Emmanuel Akowuah and No.57658 General Constable Adam Suley after being shot sadly lost their lives. Today, the Police Administration has launched a special anti-robbery intelligence-led operation to track down and arrest three suspected robbers. Meanwhile, the Police Administration has further offered an amount of Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 50,000) reward for any information leading to the arrest of the three suspects who committed the heinous crime. Find more in the statement below issued by the Ghana Police Service: The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has assured that he will not oversee a Parliament that will frustrate the ruling government. However, he noted that he will also not preside over a weak House or be tagged as an errand boy of the Executive arm of government. His comment follows the tug of war between the Majority and Minority in Parliament over the 2022 budget. Speaker Bagbin resume his seat today, Thursday, December 16, 2021, after being away from duties for weeks. In his absence saw the Majority and Minority clash over the 2022 budget statement and economic policy proposal of the government. This was after the First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu led the Majority side of the house to overturn Speaker Bagbin's decision which had the 2022 budget rejected by the Minority. Amid the inconclusiveness on the budget issues, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has today assured Ghanaians of his readiness to guide members of parliament to work together. In a speech delivered by the Speaker in Parliament today, he pledged that he will not be part of a house that works to frustrate the sitting government. Hon. Members, to conclude on these matters, let me reiterate my solemn pledge to the people of Ghana which I canvassed in my first formal communication to this House. I would not superintend over a Parliament to frustrate Government business, But, I will equally not preside over a weak House or be tagged as an errand boy of the Executive arm of government, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin stressed. Now in charge, he noted that Parliament will be fully focused in discharging its mandate and will do so without any fear or favour, affection or ill-will in ensuring the ultimate best interests of the Ghanaian people are served. Speaker Alban Bagbin further called on all Members of Parliament to work together by committing to the needed dialogue and stakeholder consultations. Let us continue to strengthen our channels of communication, foster dialogue, encourage broader stakeholder consultation and allow the processes we have adopted for our burgeoning democracy to thrive, the Speaker concluded. 16.12.2021 LISTEN Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has reacted to the decision of the First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu to preside over proceedings that overturned his (Mr Bagbins) earlier ruling that rejected the 2022 budget statement. During proceedings in Parliament on Thursday December 16, he said As to whether a vice president can preside over a cabinet which had earlier on taken a decision on a subject matter presided over by the President and without consulting the president to rescind the decision earlier taken, is for your kind debate as instructed but Who am I to say my deputy , the First Deputy Speaker , the Honorable member for Bekwai Constituency , Honorable Joseph Osei Wusu , Joewise, he might have indulged in an act of misconduct tantamount to insubordination? Parliament has on Tuesday November 30, approved the 2022 budget statement after the House had rejected it. The First Deputy Speaker who sat in for the Speaker said on Tuesday took part in the voting exercise to approve the 2022 budget. He declared as null and void Parliaments rejection of the governments 2022 budget and economic policy statement. According to the sit-in Speaker of Parliament, the rejection of the budget statement by 137 minority members was unconstitutional, and that the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, erred in his ruling. Joseph Osei Owusu based his ruling on Tuesday on Article 104 of the 1992 constitution, which forbids parliament from taking certain decisions until it has half of the number of MPs present in the chamber. My attention has been drawn to the record, page 10 of the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, which showed that the confirmed numbers of the Members of Parliament at the time the question was presented was less than half of the Members of Parliament. Records show that 137 members were present. That is less than half of the full Members of Parliament. Article 104 and our standing order clearly spell out the process of decision-making in the house. It clearly states that a question shall not be put on any matter unless at least half of the members are present in Parliament. Below is his full statement Formal Statement by the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin , Speaker of Parliament, on the rejection or rescission of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government Introduction Hon Members, before I proceed to address the topic of my official communication, permit me to praise and glorify the Almighty God/Allah, my fortress and my Lord, for the travelling mercies and the regeneration and renewal of my body and life. Thanks be to you, oh Lord, the creator and master of the universe. I am eternally grateful to you for your grace and love. I also thank Hon Members for holding the fort in my absence, despite the fact that the conduct of some Members raises fundamental issues bordering on a complete disregard of parliamentary practice, procedure and process of the House. I have taken my time to read the Order Paper, Votes and Proceedings and the Official Reports of the days in issue. And I am convinced we should accept the view of the conscience of the nation that we owe Ghanaians an apology and I will proceed to do just that. As the Head of Parliament, the voice of the Legislature, who speaks for and on behalf of Parliament, hence the title Speaker, I, with all humility apologize on behalf of the House and all the members, for the aberrations of conduct and behavior of members on those days. I take responsibility for what happens in the House and I admit the House is neither dignified nor exalted by those rancorous and unruly behavior of members. I promise to do everything within my power and authority to lead the House to chart a path of transformation, decency and change, a change for the better. The conduct of members on those days also touches on the legality of the decisions arrived at in the House and how we arrived at those decisions. It will help for members to look at these issues dispassionately, in humility, devoid of egos and partisanship. As a House of honor, dignity and measureless might and majesty, members of Parliament should, for a while, allow the 1992 Constitution, the enabling laws, precedents and the Standing Orders of the House to lead the way. Members need to think about how to strengthen the work of this House and by extension, strengthen Ghana's democratic governance. Members need to consider the precedents we set by every decision and action we take in this house. Over and above that, members must bear in mind that as Members of Parliament, they also represent the people the citizenry not just political parties. Hon Members, just try to recollect, or view a playback of the proceedings or read the Official reports of those sittings, and you will appreciate what I am referring to. What happened was grave disorder with its resultant comedy of errors and I will not take lightly a repeat of such disorder and indiscipline in the House. Hon Members, I will not bore you or our audience with a recount of the scenery of those proceedings, it is however, incumbent on me to make a pronouncement on these matters and provide some direction on the path to be taken as a House to ensure we are taking steps to fulfil our sacred duty to the people of Ghana. To do this, it is necessary to summarize a few proceedings in order to lay a foundation for me to propose the way forward. Quorum for the Conduct of Business and Quorum for Voting in Parliament Hon. Members the first matter that requires some pronouncement is the matter of a quorum which formed the basis for the decision taken by the House to rescind the rejection of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government. Admittedly, the Constitution prescribes the quorum for the conduct of business of the House; a lack of quorum meant the business cannot be done. A quorum for one-third of members is required for the commencement of business; a quorum of not less than one-half of members is required to determine, for example, a resolution for approval of international loans and a quorum of not less than two-thirds of members is needed to amend some provisions of the constitution. Depending upon whether it is just to legitimize it to conduct business of Parliament, or take an ordinary decision or make a resolution. See Articles 69 (11), 75 (2) (b), 82 (1), 95 (2) (d), 102, 104, 106 (10), 113 (2), 174 (3), 181 (1), 268 (2), and 291(3). The provision that deals with the basic components of a quorum to transact business are; One-third of all members of Parliament, except the one presiding. Hon. Members, the question of whether or not a quorum exists either for the conduct of Parliamentary business or for taking of vote in Parliament is therefore a question of fact. The practice in all Parliaments since the inception of the 4 th Parliament has been to raise the issue of quorum on the floor of Parliament at the time the business or the vote is being taken. Parliament has been to raise the issue of quorum on the floor of Parliament at the time the business or the vote is being taken. Hon. Members, admittedly it is a responsibility of the Chair to make a determination if there is a quorum at the beginning and at any time during the sitting of the House. However, there is a presumption of quorum to undertake business unless a question is raised. The Chair may in the absence of an objection to the contrary, presume that the House is duly constituted for its work. It is only when such an objection has been raised that the Speaker may then take steps in compliance with Order 48 of S. O. of the House. This is due to a practical challenge of the Speaker knowing at every time the number of members present in the House. Suffice it to say, however, that where the fact of the absence of a quorum is notoriously obvious to the chair, then perhaps it may be incumbent on the Chair to raise the issue suo moto. Be that as it may, Hon. Members, the precedents and the practices and conventions of this House, require that the issue of quorum be only raised on the Floor. When the matter is not raised on the floor, the only prima facie indication of the number of Members present is in the record of the Votes and Proceedings of the House. The following instances are quite instructive on this account; On the 20 th of June 2002, the sitting of the House was suspended after an objection was raised by Hon. Kwakye Addo, MP for Afram Plains South for the absence of a quorum to commence public business. The Rt. Hon. Peter Ala-Adjetey began the process of adjourning the House until his attention was drawn to the fact that Members had begun to fill the chamber. It is important to reiterate the comments of the then Majority Leader, Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah who cautioned that the issue of quorum be looked at since members could be in attendance at Committee sittings, and be conducting Parliamentary business, but not present on the Floor of the House and thus, not counted for the purpose of forming a quorum. Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah's premise is viewed on a point of law. The issue of quorum is on members present in Parliament and not on the floor or in the Chamber of Parliament. Refer to Articles 102, 104, etc. of June 2002, the sitting of the House was suspended after an objection was raised by Hon. Kwakye Addo, MP for Afram Plains South for the absence of a quorum to commence public business. The Rt. Hon. Peter Ala-Adjetey began the process of adjourning the House until his attention was drawn to the fact that Members had begun to fill the chamber. It is important to reiterate the comments of the then Majority Leader, Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah who cautioned that the issue of quorum be looked at since members could be in attendance at Committee sittings, and be conducting Parliamentary business, but not present on the Floor of the House and thus, not counted for the purpose of forming a quorum. Hon. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah's premise is viewed on a point of law. The issue of quorum is on members present in Parliament and not on the floor or in the Chamber of Parliament. Refer to Articles 102, 104, etc. Similarly, on the 22 nd of February 2014, this House stood adjourned when the issue lack of quorum was raised by Hon. Afenyo-Markin. of February 2014, this House stood adjourned when the issue lack of quorum was raised by Hon. Afenyo-Markin. Again, on the 9 th of November 2018, it was Hon. K.T Hammond who raised the issue of lack of quorum in the House during the consideration of the RTI Bill. of November 2018, it was Hon. K.T Hammond who raised the issue of lack of quorum in the House during the consideration of the RTI Bill. On 20th November 2019, Rt. Hon. Speaker Prof. Ocquaye suspended sitting after the Hon. Mahama Ayariga indicated that the House did not have the numbers to continue the debate on the 2020 Budget. Again, in this instance the issue of quorum was raised by a member during the proceedings. Hon. Members, what the precedents tell us, and they abound, is that the issue of lack of quorum is usually raised by a Member of the Hose or the Speaker himself having regard to the numbers in the House may ask for an adjournment or suspension of sitting due to the absence of a quorum. Hon. Members, staging a walk-out is a legitimate form of protest and is part of our Parliamentary norms and practices. Indeed, there have been several walk-outs since 1997 and each side of the aisle has used it as a legitimate tool to register their displeasure with one issue or the other. The staging of a walk-out, however, does not render Parliament incapable of performing its functions. Hon Members, may I refer to three (3) instances where walkouts and boycotts have been deployed and the business of the House has continued despite the walkouts. On August 22, 2003, the Minority staged a boycott of the House in protest against the NHIA Bill. Business of the House continued despite boycott. The total number of majority members used to justify a quorum was the number 101, recorded on the Votes and proceedings of the day and not the number on the floor. On the 23 rd of February 2005, the Minority staged a walkout of the House because of the consideration of the Customs & Excise Petroleum Taxes Bill. Despite the walkout, proceedings continued and the quorum relied upon was the number of members recorded on the Votes and Proceedings as present, including names of the minority who had all walked out. of February 2005, the Minority staged a walkout of the House because of the consideration of the Customs & Excise Petroleum Taxes Bill. Despite the walkout, proceedings continued and the quorum relied upon was the number of members recorded on the Votes and Proceedings as present, including names of the minority who had all walked out. On the 19th November 2014, the Minority staged another walkout of chamber because of the Bill on the introduction of 17.5% Special Petroleum Tax levy. Again, despite the walkout, Votes and proceedings recorded 274 members present which was more than half of all members to take decisions of the day It suffices to note that, the failure to register an objection for a lack of quorum meant any decision to be taken in respect of the purported absence of a quorum should have had regard for the numbers as enunciated in the Votes and Proceedings of the House on the said date. The actions of the House on Tuesday 30 th November 2021 bring into sharp focus the powers of a Deputy Speaker vis a vis that of the Speaker. November 2021 bring into sharp focus the powers of a Deputy Speaker vis a vis that of the Speaker. On that day, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament presiding found that the vote taken on the 26 th of November rejecting the budget was null and void as the requisite number was not present in accordance with Article 104 of the Constitution. of November rejecting the budget was null and void as the requisite number was not present in accordance with Article 104 of the Constitution. The decision taken on the 30 th of November 2021 which decision suggested I acted ultra vires the Constitution when I put the question on the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government appears strange to me. The House was duly constituted for its work for the purposes of business and voting in accordance with Articles 102 and 104 respectively and the public record of the Votes and Proceedings of the House on the 26 th of November lends credence to this position. of November 2021 which decision suggested I acted ultra vires the Constitution when I put the question on the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government appears strange to me. The House was duly constituted for its work for the purposes of business and voting in accordance with Articles 102 and 104 respectively and the public record of the Votes and Proceedings of the House on the 26 of November lends credence to this position. It is persuasive to note what Erskine May, an authority in Parliamentary Practice says on this matter; The Speaker's rulings constitute precedents by which subsequent Speakers, Members, and Officers are guided. . . Such precedents are noted and in the course of time may be formulated as principles or rules of practice. They are an important source of determining how the House conducts its business. Hon Members, as to whether a Vice President can preside over a cabinet which had early on taken a decision on a subject matter presided over by the President, and without consulting the President, get the Cabinet to overturn the decision earlier taken, is for your kind debate. But who am I to say my Deputy, Ist Deputy Speaker, the Hon Member for Bekwai Constituency, Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu, the Wise, might have indulged in an act of misconduct tantamount to insubordination. Hon. Members, we ought to be mindful of the precedents that exist in this House to guide our conduct. This will ultimately prevent an interpretation of our rules that provides us with problems. Deputy Speaker being counted for the purposes of Quorum Hon. Members at this point, it is important for me to address the decision of the Hon. First Deputy Speaker in declaring that the quorate number of 138 required to take a vote had been met when the House sat on the 30 th of November 2022. of November 2022. Without a doubt, our Standing Orders and the 1992 Constitution outlines clearly the bar on the one presiding in Parliament in respect of participating in debates or voting on any matter. Article 102 of the Constitution is to the effect that the person presiding, be it the Speaker, a Deputy Speaker or a Member presiding does not form part of the quorate number. Whether or not the principle applies in pari materia with Article 104 is immaterial because a different issue at law arises which respectfully, the Hon. First Deputy Speaker may not have averted his mind to. with Article 104 is immaterial because a different issue at law arises which respectfully, the Hon. First Deputy Speaker may not have averted his mind to. A distinction must be drawn between the temporary absence of the Speaker from the chamber in which case any of the Deputy Speakers may preside, and when the Speaker is unavoidably absent as provided for under Order 13(2). In fact, Order 13 creates two different types of instances under which the Deputy Speaker may preside in accordance with Article 101 of the Constitution. Under Order 13(1), any of the Deputy Speakers may be asked to take the Chair whenever Mr. Speaker so requests due to his temporary absence from the Chamber. The Deputy Speaker presides until such a time that Mr. Speaker is able to resume the Chair to preside over the proceedings. It must be noted that, under this ambit, the Deputy Speaker may be counted as forming part of the Quorate number required for either business or voting because at the beginning of the sitting, he was not exercising the powers of the Speaker. Order 13(2) presents a different situation. Under this order, the Speaker's unavoidable absence from the precincts of Parliament means the First Deputy Speaker assumes the authority of the Speaker and performs all the duties of the Speaker in relation to the Chamber. In this role, the First Deputy Speaker takes on the cloak of an Acting Speaker and for the purposes of our rules and the Constitution assumes all the powers of the Speaker in relation to the business of the House. In this sense therefore, the First Deputy Speaker for the period of my unavoidable absence from Parliament was the Acting Speaker of Parliament and thus all rules and limitations applied to him in a manner that applies to the substantive Speaker of Parliament. By and large, the reasoning of the First Deputy Speaker outlining the fact that he is not the Speaker, he holds his membership and does not lose his privileges as a member when he takes the Chair can be said to be correct. However, in so far as he takes on the role as the Acting Speaker of Parliament, his decision to be counted as part of the numbers forming a quorum raises procedural challenges. Hon. Members, although our Standing Orders are silent on this, many Standing orders and rules from several sister Parliaments provide persuasive rules which suggest that when Deputy Speaker's or acting Speakers are in the Chair, whatever happens in the House is that officer's responsibility and the Speaker cannot be called upon to overrule it. Similarly, the reverse is also the case that when a Speaker is in the Chair, whatever happens in the House is the Speaker's responsibility and the Deputy Speaker or acting Speaker cannot be called upon to overrule it However, Hon. Members we are where we are because we need to make progress on this matter in a manner that is consistent with our laws, and ensures we are allowing the governance of our country to thrive. Letter presented by Minister Responsible for Finance on Concessions and Modifications to the 2022 Budget Statement Hon. Members, I am aware of a letter originating from the Minister for Finance which letter purports to make some concessions and modifications to the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government. The legal basis of the laying of such a letter and what actions Parliament may take as a result leaves a lot to be desired. I have however held discussions with the Leadership of the House to find a path that is faithful to law, respects our rules and processes and ensures the governance of the country does not grind to a halt. In that vein the Leadership and I agree that the following steps be taken; The Minister responsible for Finance comes before the House with an amended statement of the Budget with the said modifications and concessions. These modifications and concessions will then be adopted by the House and the revised document with the estimates will stand committed to the various Committees of Parliament. I am aware the Committees have begun consideration of the estimates. It would thus be their responsibility to reconcile the revised estimates with what they have hitherto considered and submit a report for the consideration of the House. Conclusion Madam Kati Csaba, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, has described her one year in Ghana as great pleasure. So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay, especially working with the everyday Ghanaian, officials and business people. I am very impressed with the dedication and seriousness people attach to the work they do to better their lives and the nation, she said. The show of love by people in every part of the country including the markets is also very special to me. Madam Csaba, who was sharing the experience of her first year of stay and working in Ghana, with the Ghana News Agency, mentioned that it had been a positive feeling. One of the special moments has been traveling to the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi and being warmly welcomed by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, she recalled. On her low points, the High Commissioner noted that the pandemic had had serious implications for the people of Ghana and that some things were difficult to see and understand, especially how much people had been affected. The High Commissioner also said the restrictions occasioned by the new normal of COVID-19, limited to some extent, the opportunities for her to perform some of her functions and prevented her from traveling to many parts of the country. Sadly, we ourselves had some travel limitations and could not go out as I would love to. She said COVID-19 had a huge socio-economic impact on Ghana just as it had had on the rest of the world and that Canada's biggest focus was on supporting Ghana towards inclusive recovery through a number of projects. GNA 16.12.2021 LISTEN The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources responsible for mining, Hon. George Mireku Duker has said plans are far advanced to establish an audit scheme next year for the mining sector. He said this during an interaction with representatives from the Small Scale mining companies at Alisa Hotel today, 16th December 2021. Hon. George Mireku Duker in his opening remarks indicated that the purpose of the Audit Scheme is to familiarize and identify gaps and find plausible solutions to challenges facing the mining companies. The Minister further added that government was also committed to the charge for youth employment, by ensuring concessions and job opportunities are made available for the youth in the country. The stakeholder engagement brought together industry players from the large scale mining sector, the minerals commission and the chamber of mines. Hon. George Mireku Duker alluded that the audit of the mining sector will be systematic, documented, and periodic with the objective being the evaluation of how well the mining or environmental regulatory requirements and commitments are met by the various mining companies in Ghana. At the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr. Sulemanu Koney commended the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources for the 3% withholding tax that has been abolished by government. Large-scale miners will from January 1, 2022, no longer be required to pay the three-percent withholding tax on gold at the point of export through the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC). The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has applauded the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor for his exemplary leadership in tackling matters relating to lands and natural resources of the country. According to Otumfuo, since the assumption of office, Hon. Jinapor has discharged his duties and responsibilities with lots of hard work, humility, truth and integrity. This, he said, will take the Minister very far in his political career, among others. The Asantehene made these remarks at the end of year meeting with the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs at Manhyia in Kumasi on Thursday, 16th December, 2021. The occasion was also to enable the Hon. Minister address the 39 member Regional House of Chiefs on government's policies in the lands and natural resources sector. Otumfour Osei Tutu II further called for an amendment of the constitution to make chiefs signatories to mining concessions. Again, he suggested that traditional leaders be given equities in mining companies that operate within their areas to enable them also benefit from the natural resources on their land. According to him, if the chiefs owned equities in the mineral resources, they would be the first to protect the resources and prevent the menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. He tasked chiefs in his jurisdiction not to engage in multiple sales of land and warned that any chief found culpable will be destooled. Hon. Jinapor, in an address, described the New Land Act 2020 as a composite law that encompasses all issues regarding land administration in Ghana. He said Section 2 of the Act, criminalised landgaurdism and grant a sentence of 10 years to anyone who engages in that "forceful conduct" The Act, he noted, also stipulate the establishment of customary land Secretariat across all traditional areas adding that foreigners cannot purchase and own land for more than 50 years in the country. Hon. Minister also announced the setting up of a committee to look into matters and concerns raised by the Chiefs relating to the entry of forest reserves by miners. He bemoaned the rate at which 80 percent of the country's forest since 1900 has been depleted and reiterated that government has currently banned reconnaissance, prospecting and mining in forest reserves and declared it "No go areas". Hon. Jinapor pleaded with the Chiefs to draw his attention to anyone or company prospecting in forest reserves, saying "prospecting for over 3 to 10 years is mining and must be stopped immediately". He also expressed gratitude to the Asantehene for the invitation and assured the House that his ministry will continue to collaborative with Otumfour and his Council to mitigate the challenges in the sector while improving performance at all levels. The Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, Mr. James Dadson said the Commission is poised to open more district offices to help decentralise their services. We will work with you, Nananom, to register all boundaries to prevent overlaps and bring peace, he concluded. The First Deputy Speaker, Joe Osei-Owusu erred by counting himself as a Member of the House while presiding over parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, this is according to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin. Speaking during parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, December 16, 2021, Mr. Bagbin said although Joe Osei-Owusu was not wrong in upholding his membership while acting as Speaker of the House, his decision to be counted during the formation of a quorum was problematic. The 1st Speaker for the period of my unavoidable absence in Parliament was the acting Speaker of Parliament, and thus all rules and limitations apply to him in a manner that applies to a substantive Speaker of Parliament. By and large, the reasoning of the 1st Deputy Speaker outlining the facts that he is not the Speaker [and that] he holds his membership and thus does not lose his privileges as a member when he takes the chair can be said to be correct. However, in so far as he takes on the role of the acting Speaker of Parliament, his decision to be counted as part of the numbers forming a quorum raises procedural challenges, he explained. A headcount by the Clerk of Parliament showed that there were 137 Members of Parliament [only the Majority members] who were present in the House on the day in question, but the acting Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, said he was also present, making the total members in the House 138. Subsequently, he agreed for a motion to be moved to overturn the rejection of the 2022 budget done by the Minority. Quoting, standing order 13(1) of Parliament, Mr. Babgin explained that any of the Deputy Speakers may be asked to take the Chair whenever the Speaker so requests due to his temporary absence from the Chamber. In such a situation, the Deputy Speaker may be counted as forming part of the Quorate number required for either business or voting because, at the beginning of the sitting, he was not exercising the powers of the Speaker. He was however quick to add that order 13(2) presents a different situation where the Speaker's unavoidable absence from the precincts of Parliament means the First Deputy Speaker assumes the authority of the Speaker and performs all the duties of the Speaker in relation to the Chamber. In this sense, therefore, the First Deputy Speaker for the period of my unavoidable absence from Parliament was the Acting Speaker of Parliament and thus all rules and limitations applied to him in a manner that applies to the substantive Speaker of Parliament. Other standing orders on voting in Parliament Order 108 of the standing orders talks about voting in Parliament. It stipulates that, no question for decision in the House shall be proposed for determination unless there are present in the House not less than one-half of all the Members of the House, and, except otherwise provided in the Constitution, the Question proposed shall be determined by the majority of votes of the Members present and voting. Also, the Speaker shall have neither an original nor a casting vote and if upon any question before the House the votes are equally divided the motion shall be taken to be lost. ---citinewsroom 16.12.2021 LISTEN The Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) has filed three different defamation suits against Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist and three others at the Human Rights Court (High Court Division). The Church, in its statement of claim, held that Mr Azure, an Editor, together with one Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa, Edwin Appiah, a co-editor and the Media Foundation for West Africa, an entity, had among others, published articles, one, titled "Darkness in A Lighthouse" allegedly seeking to launch a scathing and disparaging attack on the Church and its founder, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills. The articles of the defendants were premised on a suit instituted by the Church's former pastors. The suit said, Mr Azure and others, although knew that the matter was pending before the court, allegedly went ahead to make some pronouncement prejudicial to the matter before the court. The Church is praying for an injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, or agents from further publishing or causing to be published similar words, which are defamatory. It is also praying for "an order directed to the defendants to ensure the removal of the defamatory articles as well as their re-publication on other media sites from the internet." The LCI is praying for damages including, "special aggravated and exemplary damages for libel contained on websites published by the defendants and republication by many local and international media." The suit filed on December 10, this year, is further seeking costs involved in the prosecution of the suit. In the Church's statement of claim, it said that the LCI was a religious organisation registered in Ghana and shared a common vision of propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ nationwide, including the training of pastors. The Church averred that since its establishment in 1998, it had been law abiding Church and that the hard work of its founder, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, made itself and worldwide partners, a model for many churches both in Ghana and worldwide. The plaintiff said the defendants were authors of a website dubbed the "Fourth Estate'' and had "hundreds of Thousand followers on other social media handles or platforms like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. The plaintiff said in the issue of the Fourth Estate dated April 23, this year,the defendant allegedly wrote an article with the headline "Darkness in a Lighthouse Part I: Pastors recount abuse and trauma". The Church alleged the defendants used further defamatory statements such as " Six Ministers of God laboured for a cumulative 42 years and five months without the payment of their pension contributions. The plaintiff said those publications suggested that the Plaintiff as a Christian organisation, falsely and deceptively pretended to give light and spiritual direction to persons seeking God while indeed and in fact, the plaintiff practised the exact opposite. According to the plaintiff, the publication sought to portray that the Church used means of cunning and subterfuge to lure people desirous of doing God's work into its fold and " makes a shipwreck of their faith, leading them to hell instead of heaven. GNA The GIZ-funded Cassava & Maize Value Chain Project has established 60 cassava commercial seed entrepreneurs in Ogun and Oyo state as part of efforts to revamp the seeds system and create jobs in local communities. The project, which is under the Green Innovation Centers of GIZ was created in response to the economic fragility due to COVID 19 pandemic which hurt the seeds system of several crops including cassava; and the livelihoods of millions of farmers especially women and youth that depend on the root crop. Using the BASICS model, researchers screened and selected the commercial seed entrepreneurs and linked them to IITA GoSeedan early generation seed company at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)for the procurement of healthy cassava seeds of improved varieties. We are glad that the project is establishing a sustainable seed system for cassava in these key states (Oyo and Ogun), serving as a model to other states, Dr Godwin Atser, IITA Project Leader of the Cassava & Maize Value Chain Project said. Last farming season, prices of cassava stems rallied to a record high of N1500 per bundle, up from N400. Prices were partly driven by increased demand for improved varieties from growers and disruptions caused by COVID 19. The Cassava & Maize Value Chain project working with resource-constrained farmers facilitated the planting of over 1.2 million of improved cassava cuttings on 60.95 hectares. Dr Mercy Diebiru-Ojo, IITA Component Lead for Cassava Seed Systems said the intervention offered hope for increased income and food security in the cassava sector in Nigeria. Mr Patrick Akpu, the Project Support Officer, attested to the farmers joy when full packaged trainings were conducted. In his words, the farmers applauded the project as one of the best things that has happened to them as it is very practical and involving. In 2020, demand for improved disease-free cassava stems was between N6 billion to N10 billion after the Central Bank of Nigeria okayed the use of improved stems. Mrs Esther Solomon, one of the cassava seed entrepreneurs who is growing Foundation Seeds said investment in cassava seeds makes a good business decision for cassava farmers. With the cassava seed farm, I have the option of expanding my hectarage as well as selling stems to other farmers in alignment with National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) standards, she said. Besides, I am so excited because my cassava fields are looking great, she added. Last year, Mrs Solomon was among those that were looking for improved stems to buy after she partook in the GIZ Farmer Business School. Before onboarding Mrs Solomon and several of her colleagues, the Project trained the seed entrepreneurs on weed control using the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management & Best Planting Practices toolkit. The capacity building efforts contributed to the success of Mrs Solomon and her colleagues. The TVET Service is a laudable achievement in the development of TVET in Ghana since it not only gives a new outlook to the sector but importantly, it ensures increased coordination of all TVET institutions under the 19 Ministries under only one, which is the Education Ministry. The launch of the Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET) Service by the Vice President (Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia) on Tuesday, December 14 2021 in Accra is a fulfilment of article 55 of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act (Act 1049). Importantly, the TVET Service is mandated to manage, oversee and implement policies and programmes in the TVET sector. This is to help revive the interest of the youth in TVET as well as increase the choice of TVET among prospective youth in their quest for technical education The TVET Service establishment is among the many interventions by government since 2017 to revamp and reform the sector. Few weeks ago, government announce that the TVET reformation process has seen an investment of $1 billion since 2017 with support of development partners (DANIDA, EU, GIZ, KfW, the Chinese Government among others) [1] . The investment has been channelled into the provision of massive infrastructure and equipment including upgrading 34 NVTIs, the building of modern TVET laboratories in 17 technical schools and TVET institutions; retooling of all the 10 technical universities in the country with modern equipment and a University of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship has also been established. The result has shown that, students who sat for their final year in technical examinations increased to 24,000 from the 2019 figure of 17,000 according to the deputy minister responsible for TVET. That said, many in the media and CSO circles have expressed worry that the changing priorities of donors could impact the TVET sector in future especially when domestic financing has averaged 2.86% of the total education budget from 2011-2018. Recently government committed $60 million at the opening of the fifth Skills Development Fair in Accra, November, 2020 under the Skills Development Fund (SDF [2] ) now (Ghana-SDF [3] This commitment was announced because a major donor DANIDA i.e., the Danish government, which is one of the major donors of the SDF since its inception in 2011, will no longer fund the project in subsequent years. It is against this background that the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) in collaboration with CITI TV and with the support of OXFAM and partners organized the National Forum on TVET Financing and Youth Employment to call on government to; Increase Domestic Financing of TVET considering sourcing from the Communication Service Tax (CST). Since 2008 the CST has made GHS 3.52 billion. Develop a TVET Financing Policy to ensure consistent and sustainable financing of TVET in Ghana to match up with the ECOWAS average of 5.6% in the short to medium term and exceed it in the long term. The withdrawal of DANIDA from the SDF should be a wake-up call for government to work towards addressing donor shocks such as this one, in order to chart a path for sustainable domestic financing in the future if the donor support stops flowing-in. It is important to also note that the call for increased financing is not out of place because research has established that the cost of financing TVET is between 5 to 6 times the cost of traditional secondary education. Government must not get tired of increasing investment in TVET; this will help to reap the full benefits of the sector and eventually reduce the menace of youth unemployment. Theodora W. Anti Programmes Manager Contact No. 0205336268 Email: [email protected] This story was originally published by ProPublica. In the early 1900s some of the wealthiest Americans claimed their fortunes would never last through the generations. A century of tax avoidance later, the dynasties are going strong. President Franklin D. Roosevelt pounded on his desk and swore. His treasury secretary had handed him a series of memos detailing the many ways the wealthy were avoiding taxes. Enraged by a rich businessmans schemes, Roosevelt asked his treasury secretary to publicly denounce the man as a son of a bitch. Roosevelt, himself an heir, earlier had warned that economic royalists had carved dynasties off the backs of Americas working men and women. Now he saw a chance to address the unfairness in the nations tax system. The time has come when we have to fight back, and the only way to fight back is to begin to name names of these very wealthy individuals, Roosevelt told the treasury secretary, who detailed the May 1937 scene in his diary. That summer, the Treasury Department released one name after another at a packed meeting of a joint committee of the House and Senate. Americans saw how many of the countrys wealthiest families gamed the tax system with tricks that Roosevelt described as so widespread and so amazing both in their boldness and their ingenuity that further action without delay seems imperative. Some businessmen stashed their profits in secret accounts in the Bahamas. Ethel Mars, the widow of candymaker Frank Mars, was singled out for equine tax avoidance. She deducted the losses from her Milky Way horse racing stables from the candy manufacturers corporate taxes. The internal revenue commissioner testified that the late E.W. Scripps and his son, whose newspapers championed the working man, avoided an estimated half a million dollars in taxes (nearly $10 million in todays dollars) by directing income to holding companies derided by the commissioner as merely ephemeral subdivisions of the personalities of the individual owner to take advantage of lower tax rates and deductions. The starring villain in Roosevelts crackdown on aggressive tax avoidance was the Mellon family, which controlled banks, aluminum production and oil interests. Roosevelt summed up the stakes of this historic probe in a letter to Congress. Taxes are what we pay for civilized society, he wrote, invoking former Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. He then added his own knife twist: Too many individuals, however, want the civilization at a discount. In the more than eight decades since the hearings, tax avoidance has hardened into a way of life for the ultrarich. Over the past year, ProPublica has analyzed confidential IRS data covering thousands of the nations wealthiest people and revealed the largely legal strategies they use to drastically winnow down their tax bills , sometimes to zero. The Scripps, Mellon and Mars families are living proof of the triumph of tax avoidance and the durability of dynastic fortunes: Their combined wealth today is pegged by Forbes at $114 billion. Over the years, members of all three families have played prominent roles in the modern anti-tax movement and have helped shape tax policy. And in a centurylong cat-and-mouse game, Congress has scrambled to keep up with their tactics. Drawing on the trove of secret IRS data as well as letters, diaries, books, congressional records and court documents, ProPublica traced how these families managed to preserve their wealth over the last century despite congressional efforts to clip dynastic fortunes. With each new rewrite of the tax code, the superrich deploy clever trusts and armies of lawyers and lobbyists to find ways not to pay. Even legislation specifically designed to prune fortunes before they pass to the next generation has not been much of an impediment. Take the estate tax, which was established in 1916, and has never quite worked the way Congress intended. Over the years the rates have changed, but the goal of taxing the wealthiest Americans has remained. This year, the estate tax applies to couples worth more than $23.4 million. Faced with taxes at death, some of the rich simply passed their fortunes to their heirs while they were alive. So Congress enacted a tax on those gifts. Enterprising parents got around the full bite of estate taxes by skipping their kids and giving their wealth to their grandchildren. Then came the 1976 tax imposed on gifts that skip a generation. Throughout, the ultrarich have stayed one step ahead. The Income-tax (I-T) department, which carried out search and seizure operations on four asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), has found a nexus between the borrower group and ARCs and a maze of shell or dummy companies used in acquiring non-performing assets (NPAs). In a release, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) says, The search has revealed that the minimum cash payout made out by the ARCs to lender banks for acquiring the stressed assets or NPAs have usually been using the funds of the borrower group. Such funds have been routed through several layers of dummy companies controlled by the borrower group or through hawala channels. The search and seizure operation covered 60 premises spread over Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Delhi belonging to four ARCs. The I-T department has not revealed the names of the ARCs searched. The I-T department found that the ARCs have been following non-transparent methods in the disposal of assets acquired by them from the banks. It says, More often than not, the underlying assets had been re-acquired by the same borrower group, albeit at a fraction of their real values. The ARCs are found to have concealed the profits on disposal of the underlying assets by diverting the actual profit to their related concerns, under the garb of consultancy receipts or unsecured loans or investments. Through this method, the ARCs have not only evaded the payment of due taxes but also deprived the lender banks of their share of actual profits, it added. One of the ARCs was found to be maintaining a parallel set of accounts on Tally accounting software, in a pen drive, recovered from the custody of the trusted employees of the promoter. This parallel set of accounts contained cash transactions aggregating to more than Rs850 crore. Handwritten diaries have also been found during the search, containing detailed entries substantiating the deliberate act of layering transactions by the promoter group and using a network of middlemen for the same. There are also pieces of evidence of routing of funds through offshore structures to acquire the assets, the I-T department says. The tax authorities also seized cash of Rs4 crore during the search operation. It says, Large volumes of documentary and digital evidence seized are being further analysed for detection of violations under the income tax and allied acts. The Supreme Court on Thursday appointed two retired top court judges - Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice Kurian Joseph - as mediators to settle the family dispute between former Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi and his mother Bina Modi. During the hearing, senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Harish Salve, appearing for both the sides, urged the top court to appoint mediators in the matter. "Please appoint SC judges... we leave it to the court," they said. A bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana suggested the names of two judges as mediators. The counsel for the parties agreed on the judges to mediate the matter. The bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli, also suggested the parties utilise the facilities at the recently-inaugurated International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC) in Hyderabad. The mediators were asked to complete the mediation proceedings possibly within a period of three months. The matter is in connection with a Family Trust Deed executed in London by K.K. Modi as settlor/managing Trustee and Bina, Lalit, Charu, and Samir as Trustees. One of the counsel representing the parties said: "Requesting to appoint names not there on either of the lists." The bench, while deliberating on the names of the judges, said: "Judges who have recently retired - Justice Deepak Gupta, Justice (R.F.) Nariman, Justice Kurian Joseph." Salve, who is appearing for Lalit Modi, submitted, "Your lordships need not ask us, just take two names." The Chief Justice then said: "I am suggesting Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice Kurian Joseph." Counsel for the parties agreed on the names. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi represented Bina Modi. Concluding the hearing in the matter, the bench asked the parties to use the facilities of Hyderabad mediation centre. It added, "We also direct parties to maintain confidentiality and mediators to undertake Non-Disclosure Agreements before commencing mediation." The top court was hearing an appeal against a Delhi High Court order, which held the suit filed by Lalit Modi's family members challenging initiation of arbitration proceedings in Singapore by him regarding family property, is maintainable. 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 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." 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. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) The remaining members of a U.S. missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago in Haiti have been freed, Haitian police and the church group said Thursday. The spokesman for Haitis National Police, Gary Desrosiers, confirmed to The Associated Press that the hostages had been released, but did not immediately provide additional details. We glorify God for answered prayer the remaining 12 hostages are FREE! Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement. All 17 of our loved ones are now safe. A convoy of at least a dozen vehicles, including U.S. Embassy SUVs and Haitian National Police, brought the missionaries to the Port-au-Prince airport late Thursday afternoon from the missionary groups offices in Titanyen, north of the capital. Earlier, people at the Christian Aid Ministries campus could be seen hugging each other and smiling. News of their release spread quickly in and around Berlin, Ohio, where CAM is headquartered. Its an answer to prayer, said Ruth Miller, who was working at the front desk of the town's Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center. Berlin is in Holmes County, Ohios Amish heartland, and many Amish and Mennonites volunteer in CAM ministries and donate to it. Wes Kaufman, who attends a church where some CAM leaders also worship, said many congregations had heeded the mission group's recent request to devote three days to fasting and praying over the situation. Its amazing how God works, Kaufman said as dined with family in nearby Walnut Creek at Der Dutchman, a restaurant featuring traditional Amish and Mennonite fare. In Washington, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised the law enforcement work and Haitian officials who helped get the hostages freed. "We welcomed reports that they are free and getting the care that they need after their ordeal, she said. The missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There were five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian, including an 8-month-old. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization. The gang's leader had threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands were met. Authorities have said 400 Mawozo was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasnt clear if that included the children. It remained unclear whether any ransom was paid or what efforts led to the hostages freedom. Carleton Horst, a member of Hart Dunkard Brethren Church in Hart, Michigan, whose members were among the hostages, said church members received a text message Thursday morning from someone connected to the situation that all of the hostages had been released. A mother and her five children, two of them adults, who belong to the church were among the hostages. Horst, who is friends with the family, said the church is rejoicing and hes elated that that portion of things is finally over, just praise the Lord for that. Were feeling great, said the Rev. Ron Marks, a minister at the church. From what I gathered, they were treated relatively well, Marks said later in a news conference held on Zoom. Two of the hostages were released in November, and three more earlier this month. They were not identified, but members of the Hart congregation told local media in Michigan that two were from Hart. In addition to Michigan, the hostages are from Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ontario, Canada, according to the missionary group. Today is the day we have been hoping for, praying for and working so hard to achieve, said Congressman Bill Huizenga, whose western Michigan congressional district includes Hart. I want to thank members of the hostage negotiation team for their diligence in securing the safe release of all the hostages. This is a great day for families in Michigan and across the nation who have been worried about the safety of their loved ones, Huizenga said. Christian Aid Ministries is mainly staffed and supported by conservative Anabaptists members of various Amish, Mennonite and related churches characterized by such things as plain dress, a belief in non-resistance to violence and separation from the dominant society. The organizations roots date to the 1980s, when it began working in then-communist Romania. It has since expanded worldwide but has been particularly active in Haiti. CAM's work ranges from starting churches and providing food, school supplies and other materials to those in need, to disaster relief and putting up billboards with evangelistic messages. ___ Smith reported from Berlin, Ohio. AP writer Anna Nichols in Lansing, Michigan, and Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that a woman and five children who belong to the church were hostages, not four children. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Syria will host an Arab energy conference in 2024, the country's energy ministry said Thursday, the latest sign that Arab countries are moving to re-engage with the government of Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad. The announcement followed a unanimous vote from members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries during a virtual meeting Thursday, the ministry said. The conference will be held in Damascus, according to a ministry statement on Facebook and the official state news agency SANA. Qatar is hosting the 2023 conference. Arab countries have in recent months been making limited moves to improve relations with Syria, a decade after it was shunned and kicked out of the Arab League at the onset of the countrys civil war in 2011. The rapprochement has included the reopening of several embassies, visits by Arab officials to Damascus and restoring some commercial ties with the war-torn country. The moves are a recognition of the facts on the ground after years of war and despite the initial support by some Arab countries to his opposition, Assad's government has survived and his forces have regained control of much of the country. Syrias civil war has displaced half of its population, killed hundreds of thousands and driven the countrys economy into the ground. Before the war, Syria produced 350,000 barrels of oil a day, exporting more than half of it. It now averages around 24,000 barrels a day, covering only a fraction of domestic needs. Most of its oil fields are in the hands of Kurdish-led forces, who administer an autonomous region in the country's northeast. Assads government has relied on a top ally, Iran, for oil supplies. In recent weeks, a deal was signed with Egypt to extend natural gas through Syria to Lebanon using an Arab oil pipeline that has been out of service for a decade. OAPEC was founded in Beirut in 1968 with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Libya as its first members. Its headquarters are in Kuwait. Algeria, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain joined three years later. The organizations charter was later changed to allow members where petroleum is an essential source of income, though not the main one. Syria and Egypt also subsequently joined the group. The organizations website says the total reserves of the member states are estimated at 704 billion barrels a year. A Meredosia man accused of first-degree murder has rejected a plea deal offered by the Morgan County State's Attorney's Office, instead electing to proceed with trial. Dustin A. Finlaw, 22, appeared in court Wednesday for a pre-trial conference in preparation for a jury trial in January. During court Wednesday, State's Attorney Gray Noll said Finlaw previously has rejected a plea deal offered by his office. "We did convey an offer where we gave a specific number of years in the (Illinois Department of Corrections)," Noll said. "He declined that offer and there were no counteroffers made." Assistant State's Attorney Chad Turner later said the deal would have dismissed all but one first-degree murder charge and Finlaw would have served 35 years in prison. Finlaw is charged in the stabbing death of Robert L. Utter, 42, of Rushville, who was found dead May 24, 2018, in a car in Meredosia. Finlaw also is facing charges of aggravated assault on two police officers, resisting arrest and obstructing justice/destroying evidence. The first-degree murder charges carry possible penalties of 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, while the aggravated battery charge carries a sentence of three to seven years; the obstructing justice and resisting a peace office charges carry penalties of one to three years. Turner said the plea offer expired at the end of Wednesday's hearing, and Judge Jack Davis confirmed Finlaw's rejection before the closing of the hearing. In addition to rejecting the proposed plea deal, Finlaw was walked through court procedures, including jury selection, which is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Jan. 25. Judge Davis also ensured that all evidence had been entered and witnesses subpoenaed. He directed the state to assist Finlaw in issuing subpoenas for his witnesses. Finlaw next will appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 24 for any final matters prior to jury selection. VIRGINIA Virginia's city council discussed during its Monday night meeting a new ordinance governing the use and regulation of UTVs in city limits. The ordinance allows UTVs to cross any street in town that has a stop sign, crossing at a 90-degree angle. One resident who said they live near a busy intersection had expressed concern about UTVs, saying people may get run over trying to cross the intersection. The council said the plan is to get police out to the intersection in question to monitor the area for a while, until the situation is straightened out. There was a motion to accept the ordinance, which board members all approved. People will be stopped and ticketed if they do not follow the ordinance, Virginia Mayor Randy McClure said. Also during Monday night's meeting, McClure took a moment of silence in recognition of Friday's devastating storms and expressed his gratitude that Virginia and its residents were spared. Weather officials confirmed an EF-2 tornado struck Cass County on Friday, but no injuries were reported. Longtime state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer said Wednesday that he will seek re-election next year in the 100th District, despite it being redrawn by majority Democrats to slice out his hometown. Davidsmeyer, 42, is a Jacksonville Republican. He was appointed in 2012 to fill a vacancy resulting from the resignation of Jim Watson and has handily won re-election to the district since then. But that district will change next year, following a contentious redrawing of legislative districts. Morgan County will be split between two districts, with Jacksonville and South Jacksonville among the communities moving into the 99th House District from their current home in the 100th District. State House and Senate districts must be redrawn every 10 years based on numbers from the latest U.S. Census. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said while campaigning in 2018 that he would reject politics-influenced mapping but approved the Democrat-drawn borders despite calls to turn the process over to an independent group. That means Davidsmeyer will be seeking to represent a district that extends north from just above Alton to just below South Jacksonville. It still will include all or part of Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Morgan, Pike and Scott counties. "I am happy to announce that I am running for state representative of Illinois 100th District," Davidsmeyer said Wednesday. "After talking with so many friends and constituents, I have been encouraged by the number of people asking me to continue to serve them in this district." It has been clear the changes did not sit well with Davidsmeyer, who has been assistant Republican leader in the House since 2019. "The Illinois Democrats drew a blatantly partisan map that would put Republicans against Republicans, forcing them to spend their time and resources fighting among themselves. I am here to tell you that I am not going to do that. In order for Illinois to create opportunities for the next generation, we need balance, not one-party rule, he said. Despite the circumstances, Davidsmeyer said he would embrace the opportunity to serve the district. He said he hopes to continue "the hard work of bringing common sense back to our great state." "This requires us to pass truly balanced budgets, pay our bills on time, protect downstate values, and get out of the way so that businesses can create good-paying jobs for our working families," he said. Davidsmeyer graduated from Jacksonville High School and Miami University in Ohio. He was a legislative aide for former Congressman John Shimkus and served on Jacksonville City Council from 2008 to 2012. "I first ran for office on the promise that I would remain a good person, that I would fight against big-government intrusion, and that I would work to create a better future for the next generation of Illinoisans," he said. He has been a frequent critic of Pritzker's pandemic mandates and said he is a "common-sense conservative who believes in limited government, is pro-life and pro-family values, and is a strong supporter of our Second Amendment gun rights." Davidsmeyer is vice president of IRC Inc., a road maintenance services company. He and his wife, Kristen, have two sons, Lennox and Pax. Has anyone calculated the positive health or economic impacts of international efforts to protect the stratospheric ozone layer beginning in the late 1980s? The 1987 Montreal Protocol, a landmark international agreement calling on the nations of the world to ban the production and distribution of man-made chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, has been billed as one of the greatest examples of international cooperation to date. And while everyone party to the Montreal agreement agreed that the substance of the treaty banning so-called chlorofluorocarbons and related ozone-stripping chemicals was a big win for the environment and human health, we have had no idea how to quantify just how many lives have been saved or improved as a result. Until now, that is. Researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, ICF Consulting and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that the Montreal Protocol and its subsequent amendments will have prevented some 443 million cases of skin cancer and 63 million cases of cataracts in the U.S. alone by the end of the 21st century. They used computer models to plot how much ultraviolet radiation would have reached the Earths surface through holes in the ozone layer without the ban on chlorofluorocarbons and other fluorocarbons, extrapolating from there. "We peeled away from disaster," National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist Julia Lee-Taylor, a co-author of the study, told ScienceDaily. "What is eye popping is what would have happened by the end of this century if not for the Montreal Protocol. According to projections from the researchers modeling, without the agreement, UV radiation would triple by 2080. After that, our calculations for the health impacts start to break down because we're getting so far into conditions that have never been seen before." "It's very encouraging. she added. "It shows that, given the will, the nations of the world can come together to solve global environmental problems." Indeed, recent attempts to forge a global carbon drawdown have the potential for perhaps even bigger health impacts for the human race (and others) moving forward. The World Health Organization considers global warming the greatest health threat ever facing humanity. This United Nations-backed international body charged with directing and monitoring global public health initiatives expects climate change to cause 250,000 additional deaths per year from a combination of factors including malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress. Additionally, global warming will end up tacking some $2 billion-$4 billion per year onto our global health care bill. And sadly, but not surprisingly, lesser developed countries and regions will fare worse given their weaker health infrastructures. Indeed, the success of the Montreal Protocol and the urgency of the climate crisis provide all the reasons we need to encourage the leaders of the United States and other nations around the world to forge ahead with the strongest possible international climate agreement with binding and meaningful emissions reduction targets. Our future may very well depend upon it. Tiger King Joe Exotic delaying treatment for resentencing View Photo OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The former Oklahoma zookeeper known as Tiger King Joe Exotic is delaying prostate cancer treatments until after his resentencing on convictions for a murder-for-hire plot and violating federal wildlife laws, according to a motion filed in federal court. Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage and is referred to as Joseph Maldonado in the Wednesday filing, announced last month that he has prostate cancer. He was transferred weeks later from a federal medical center in Fort Worth, Texas, to a federal medical center in Butner, North Carolina. Federal officials have said Maldonado-Passage will need up to eight weeks of radiation treatments and would be unable to travel during the treatments. The motion said Maldonado-Passage was told by his physicians that his condition can currently be safely monitored. Postponing radiation treatment until after resentencing would not be detrimental to his health as it is unlikely to affect his prognosis or outcome, according to the document. Given the declination of radiation and the ability to postpone it pursuant to his own doctors, Mr. Maldonado does not want his resentencing hearing postponed any longer, and asks for a sentencing date between Jan. 20 and Jan. 31. Additionally, if Mr. Maldonado is released within the next 6-18 months, more advanced options are available to him, the filing states. Maldonado-Passage, who was prominently featured in the Netflix documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, was convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill Florida animal rights activist Carole Baskin and violating federal wildlife laws. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison, but a federal appeals court ruled in July that he should get a shorter prison sentence because the trial court wrongly treated the two convictions separately in calculating his prison term under sentencing guidelines. By KEN MILLER Associated Press Russia hands draft security pacts to US, expects quick talks View Photo MOSCOW (AP) The Kremlin said Thursday that Russia submitted draft documents outlining security arrangements it wants to negotiate with the United States and its NATO allies amid s piraling tensions over Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a senior Russian envoy stood ready to immediately depart for talks in a neutral country on the proposal. Peskov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have another call with U.S. President Joe Biden before the years end to discuss the security issue, but he said it hasnt been agreed to yet. In a video call with Putin last week, Biden voiced concern about a buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine and warned him that Russia would face severe consequences if Moscow attacked its neighbor. Putin has denied plans of launching an invasion and reversed the conversation by prodding Western leaders to provide legally binding guarantees precluding NATOs expansion to Ukraine and the deployment of the alliances weapons there, calling such actions a red line for Moscow. The U.S. and its allies have refused to provide such pledges, but Biden and Putin agreed last week on further talks to discuss Russias concerns. In a statement late Thursday, NATO ambassadors said they are gravely concerned by the substantial, unprovoked, and unjustified Russian military build-up on the borders of Ukraine in recent months, and reject the false Russian claims of Ukrainian and NATO provocations. But they signaled that the 30-nation alliance might be ready to discuss Russias security proposals. We are clear that any dialogue with Russia would have to proceed on the basis of reciprocity, address NATOs concerns about Russias actions, be based on the core principles and foundational documents of European security, and take place in consultation with NATOs European partners, they said. Should Russia take concrete steps to reduce tensions, we are prepared to work on strengthening confidence-building measures, the statement said, adding that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe could be the forum for this. Peskov said Russia has submitted drafts of a treaty and an agreement to the United States, but he refused to specify what specific arrangements they contained and who could be the signatories. He said Putins foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, discussed the Russian drafts with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during a call Wednesday, and that Moscow was ready to start negotiations. Moscows proposals were passed on to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, who visited Moscow on Wednesday and met with Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Ryabkov would be ready to depart for talks on prospective agreements in a neutral country, Peskov said without giving details. Speaking last week, Ryabkov warned that the failure to stem mounting Russia-West tensions could push them to a showdown similar to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that put the world on the verge of a nuclear war. U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has moved 70,000 troops to its border with Ukraine and is preparing for a possible invasion early next year. Moscow has denied an intention to attack and accused Ukrainian authorities of planning an offensive to reclaim control of rebel-held eastern Ukraine an allegation Ukraine has rejected. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine began after Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. It has killed over 14,000 people and devastated Ukraines industrial heartland called Donbas. ___ Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report. By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press Calaveras County Public Health reports the death of a man in his 80s. There are 11 new Covid cases, active cases increased five to 26 with five hospitalized. The total number of confirmed cases is 4,512. Five of the new cases are age 17 or younger and none are age 65 and older, in total 831 under age 17 and 759 over 65 have been identified with covid. There are five more recovered cases for a total of 4,394 cases recovered and 54.99% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated in the county. There are 92 Covid deaths in Calaveras since the pandemic began. There were 8 Covid deaths in October, 6 in November and 3 this month for a total of 18 Covid deaths since October in Calaveras. Tuolumne County Public Health reports 15 new Covid cases since yesterday, 12 are unvaccinated. Tuolumne Countys active cases remain at 70 including three unvaccinated people who are hospitalized. Todays newly reported cases include five cases age 17 or younger and four cases age 60 or older. New Covid cases by gender and age: one girl and two boys age 0 to 11, two boys age 12 to 17, two women age 18 to 29, one woman and two men in their 30s, one woman in her 40s, one woman in her 60s, one woman and one man their 70s and one man in his 80s. The total current case rate, a 14-day average for Tuolumne County increased to 19.9 from 19.4 per 100,000 population. A total of 15 individuals were released from isolation, in all 6,204 have been released from isolation. There have been 6,422 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. California Public Health As detailed here 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, and issued a new travel advisory. Mariposa Public Health shares the CDC added multiple studies to their Science Brief on Community Use of Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 as detailed here. 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 LHI testing site at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds will be open next Friday, Dec. 24th from 7 AM to 1 PM and will be closed Saturday, Dec. 25th for the Christmas holiday. The Tuolumne County State testing site is generally 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 at the YARTS Park and Ride beside Rite Aid and is open 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). Tips To Deal With Stress Mariposa Public Health shares We spend so much time taking care of others, whether at work, at school, or at home, that we can sometimes forget to care for ourselves. Building self-care practices into your regular routines can help you minimize stress and maximize peace and joy. They detail, understanding how stress affects you, it could be mental or physical, but pay attention to signs like headaches, low energy, insomnia, and more. Protect your physical health: exercise, eat well, get enough sleep, avoid alcohol and drugs, practice relaxation exercises or meditate. Also make connections, spend time with and reach out to loved ones, recharge, take time for yourself and do things you love. They recommend, avoiding guilt. Take stock of your feelings, but try not to feel bad about feeling them, notice the positive, pause to appreciate positive moments in your day or practice weekly gratitude writings, gather strength from others, remember, you are not alone. Learn more about self-care strategies by visiting namica.org County/Date Active New Total Deaths Amador 12/15 37 6 3,883 60 Calaveras 12/15 26 11 4,512 92 Mariposa 12/15 28 3 1,661 18 Mono 12/15 62 0 1,750 5 Stanislaus 12/15 1,057 188 82,591 1,424 Tuolumne 12/15 70 15 8,043 148 California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his latest thoughts on the fight against COVID-19. Newsom was Thursdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Since the early days of the pandemic, California has led the nations fight against COVID-19 through robust vaccination efforts rooted in science and data. This has helped slow the spread of the virus and save countless lives, especially in our most vulnerable communities someones parent and friend, and each of them a Californian. Weve been meeting people where they are, from partnering with local grocery stores, schools, and barbershops, to developing media content in more than 19 languages to reach Californias richly diverse communities. Californias public health measures are working, and much of our success can be attributed to our greatest tool to ending the pandemic: vaccines. December 14 marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in California. We began by prioritizing vaccinations for our frontline health care workers and vulnerable older adults. Today, after a year of working in partnership with the federal government, local public health and community partners, millions of Californians aged 5 and older are now protected and helping to protect others from this deadly virus. Weve administered 62 million doses more than any other state. Eighty six percent of all eligible Californians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than 6 million adults have received a booster. I am so proud that Californians are quite literally rolling up their sleeves to help end the pandemic and keep each other safer. The state has also made tremendous strides in closing vaccination equity gaps among our most vulnerable communities. Thanks to our dynamic partnerships with more than 130 faith-based and 700 community-based organizations, 77 percent of Californians living in our least healthy neighborhoods ages 12 and up have received at least one dose. Our work is far from over. We must continue to practice basic safety tips to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities against COVID-19. This starts with getting fully vaccinated if you havent already, and getting your booster. Simply put, vaccination can help you avoid serious illness, hospitalization and death. It is also important that we wear a mask indoors especially when we are uncertain of everyones vaccination status keep gatherings short, small and outside if possible, get tested if youre exposed to the virus, experiencing symptoms, or planning to travel, and stay home if youre feeling sick. It is especially important for those who are fully vaccinated to get their booster. This includes those 16 and up who received the Pfizer vaccine at least six months prior, those 18 and up who received the Moderna vaccine at least six months before, and those 18 and over who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago. Its critical that we keep our immunity strong, not just for ourselves, but for our communities. Even with the emergence of the Omicron variant, Californians have many reasons to remain hopeful because our state continues to move forward in the right direction. I want to end this column with a personal note to each and every Californian. Californians have met every challenge with vigor and courage, and together, we will continue to lead the nation in the fight against COVID-19. I wish you all a very happy holiday season with heartfelt wishes for a happy, safer, and brighter new year to come. For the latest information on the Omicron variant go to CDPH.ca.gov and to find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster dose, visit MyTurn.ca.gov. To find a COVID-19 testing site, call (833) 422-4255 or visit your local county public health website. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. JERUSALEM (AP) At least one Palestinian gunman opened fire Thursday night at a car filled with Jewish seminary students next to a West Bank settlement outpost, killing an Israeli man and lightly wounding two other people, Israeli officials said. Israeli leaders vowed to catch the attacker, and the military said it had dispatched additional troops to the area as part of the manhunt. The security forces will get their hands on the terrorists very soon and well ensure that justice is served, said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The shooting occurred near Homesh, a former settlement in the northern West Bank that was dismantled as part of Israels withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. In recent years, however, settlers have established an unauthorized outpost at the site. It is among dozens of outposts in the occupied West Bank that are considered illegal by Israel but which are often tolerated by the government. Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, a military spokesman, said the passengers in the car came under fire after leaving a Jewish seminary in the outpost. He said some 10 bullets were fired at the vehicle. Shefler said additional soldiers and special forces troops were rushed to the area to search for the attacker. He said it was not yet known if there was more than one gunman, and whether the attacker had acted alone or been dispatched by an organized militant group. Israels national rescue service, Magen David Adom, confirmed the death of a man in his 20s. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Hamas militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, praised the attack. Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for the group, called it a heroic operation against the soldiers of the occupation army and its murderous settlers. The shooting came amid an uptick in Israeli-Palestinian violence. Early this month, a Palestinian attacker stabbed and seriously wounded an ultra-Orthodox Jew outside Jerusalems Old City. And just over a week earlier, a Hamas militant opened fire in the Old City, killing an Israeli man. In both cases, the attackers were killed by Israeli police. Both attackers appeared to have acted on their own. Shefler, the military spokesman, said Thursdays roadside ambush was a different level of attack but said it was not known whether the various attacks were linked. At the same time, the northern West Bank has seen a sharp jump in settler violence against Palestinians in recent months. In mid-November, Jewish settlers attacked a group of Palestinian farmers with pepper spray and clubs in the farmland near Homesh, wounding four people. There also has been a rise in settler vandalism of Palestinian property. Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war. More than 700,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the two areas. The Palestinians, along with most of the international community, consider all settlements, including the outposts, to be illegal obstacles to peace. Israel has annexed east Jerusalem in a step that is not internationally recognized and says the fate of the West Bank should be determined in peace talks. The Palestinians seek both areas as parts of a future independent state. ___ Associated Press writer Jack Jeffery in Ramallah, West Bank, contributed to this report. By JOSEF FEDERMAN Associated Press Ex-Epstein worker says she never saw misconduct by Maxwell View Photo NEW YORK (AP) The jury in the sex trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell is expected to hear closing arguments Monday after defense lawyers said they only have a few remaining witnesses and could finish presenting their case as early as Friday. Maxwell, 59, was not among the remaining defense witnesses identified by lawyers as those who might still testify when U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan asked who remained to be called to the witness stand after testimony ended for the day Thursday. The defense began presenting its case earlier in the day as a former office worker for financier Jeffrey Epstein testified that she did not witness misconduct by Maxwell while working closely with her for six years. Never, Cimberly Espinosa, 55, responded when asked if she ever saw Maxwell or Epstein engaged in any misbehavior. Espinosa also testified about seeing a key accuser in the case who testified for the government as Jane to protect her privacy visiting Epsteins New York City office on Madison Avenue a few times in the late 1990s. She said Janes mother had told workers she was Epsteins goddaughter. Because of that, she was treated with utmost respect, Espinosa said. Janes interactions with Epstein gave her the impression it was a loving relationship, she added. Espinosa told the jury in Manhattan federal court she assisted Maxwell in managing Epsteins multiple high-end properties between 1996 and 2002. I looked up to her very much, she said. When defense attorney Christian Everdell finished his questioning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz tried to convince jurors that Espinosa was an irrelevant witness by asking her only whether she had ever worked at any of Epsteins homes. When Espinosa said she had not, Pomerantz said she had no other questions. The defense case began after the jury heard four women detail accusations, including Jane, that they were teens when they became victims of a sex-abuse scheme devised by Maxwell and Epstein. The British socialites attorneys are expected to make their case that Maxwell isnt the one to blame. The governments case lasted only two weeks and the defense indicated that it could finish on Friday or possibly spill into early Monday. Both sides streamlined their witness lists without revealing why, making the trial end well short of an original six-week estimate. The start of the defense case had already sparked the usual speculation about whether the high-profile defendant would take the witness stand in her own defense a gamble that is almost never taken. With no mention of Maxwell considering testifying, the judge said shell seek direct confirmation from Maxwell on Friday about her decision before the defense can rest. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to charges she acted as Epsteins chief enabler, recruiting and grooming young girls for him to abuse during sexual massages. Maxwell was once Epsteins girlfriend before becoming a trusted employee. Witnesses testified the pair exploited them between 1994 to 2004 at Epsteins homes, including an estate in Palm Beach, Florida; his posh Manhattan townhouse; and a Santa Fe, New Mexico, ranch. The defense has insisted that Maxwell is being made a scapegoat for alleged sex crimes by Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019. Her lawyers have sought to show that the accusers exaggerated Maxwells involvement at the behest of lawyers seeking payouts for the women from civil claims against the Epstein estate. The defense also tried Thursday to show that the recollections by the women are flawed. To support that argument, they relied on testimony from cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus, who has for decades studied false, repressed and unreliable memories. Loftus also testified last year at Harvey Weinsteins New York City rape trial. Maxwells lawyers are trying to cast doubts about the womens allegations after using cross-examination to highlight inconsistencies in some of their accounts. In some cases, the encounters the women were recalling happened more than two decades ago. As memories fade, Loftus said, people become more vulnerable to post-event information, including media reports that can distort what they remember. People can grow attached to false memories in a way that they can be confident about them, they can be emotional about them, even when theyre false, she added. By LARRY NEUMEISTER and TOM HAYS Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) Opponents of a $400 million grain terminal planned in a small Louisiana community may continue their challenge to zoning they contend was granted decades ago to further a corrupt plot, a state judge ruled Wednesday. But state District Judge J. Sterling Snowdy refused to give the immediate ruling requested by opponents who include descendants of people enslaved between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. He did not throw out the case entirely. He said it was of significant importance to the community, Lou Buatt, who represents Greenfield Louisiana LLC, the company that wants to build the terminal, said afterward. Rather, he said, the judge said opponents couldnt use a procedure that is supposed to be quick and easy and fast that doesnt have a trial. The good news is that our lawsuit can proceed, Joy Banner, one of the opposition leaders, said in a livestreamed video after the hearing in Edgard, seat of St. John the Baptist Parish. We were asking for the zoning to be thrown out today. That was a big ask. The zoning was changed in 1990, when Formosa Plastics Corp. wanted to build a rayon plant there. Six years later, former parish President Lester Millet Jr. was convicted of extortion, money laundering and a racketeering-related charge connected with the sale of land to Formosa. Formosa had dropped its plans in 1992, partly because of public opposition and partly because of Millets activities, a federal appeals court wrote in upholding Millets conviction and five-year prison term. Millet was convicted 25 years ago. So theyve had 25 years to address the zoning issue, Buatt said. He said he thinks that since Greenfield can now present its side, it can win without a trial, based on written arguments. Greenfield is connected to San Francisco investor Christopher Medlock James, whose Engine No. 1 investment firm unseated three ExxonMobil board members earlier this year. The company says its grain elevator, loading terminal and 54 silos, said the project would be clean, safe and provide more than 100 jobs while exceeding air quality standards. Wallace residents see the project as a grave threat not only to their health and way of life but to the very existence of their community, said a news release Wednesday from the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents the opponents. The board that runs nearby Whitney Plantation and Museum, which casts a cold eye on slavery, also opposes the plans. The miles of sugarcane fields nearby show visitors in a visceral way the immense pain of sugar plantation labor, a Dec. 6 statement said. The construction of the grain terminal would permanently change this and forever destroy this cultural landscape. By JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) New witness accounts allege that thousands of ethnic Tigrayans have been forcibly expelled, detained or killed in one of the most inaccessible areas of Ethiopias yearlong war in the latest wave of abuses carried out with machetes, guns and knives. Following a report by The Associated Press early last month citing people who fled, Thursdays joint statement by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International is based on interviews with more than 30 witnesses and relatives. It comes ahead of a U.N. Human Rights Council session Friday on Ethiopia, whose government objects to what it considers meddling by the West over the war that has killed tens of thousands of people. They said they will not be responsible for any beating and killing that would happen to us if we fail to go, one witness told the AP late last month, saying even people who are part Tigrayan like him are targeted. Like others, he spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. I cannot escape anywhere, he said, noting the many checkpoints surrounding the western Tigray region. There is no way out of this trap. Ethnic Tigrayans have been targeted throughout the conflict as Ethiopian and allied forces battle the Tigray fighters who long dominated the national government before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office three years ago. Some of the worst abuses have been reported in the western Tigray region, which has been occupied by authorities and fighters from the neighboring Amhara region and soldiers from neighboring Eritrea. The latest alleged abuses appear to be linked to the Tigray forces recent momentum, which Ethiopias government asserts has been blunted after the prime minister, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former soldier, went to the battlefront himself. Witnesses told the AP that authorities in western Tigray warned in public meetings against supporting the Tigray fighters, who themselves have been accused of a growing number of abuses in the war. The new joint statement by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International says Amhara security forces are responsible for the latest wave of expulsions, detentions and killings, and it warns that Tigrayans in detention are at grave risk. It says security forces systematically rounded up Tigrayans in the communities of Humera, Adebay and Rawyan, separating families and expelling women and children. They separated the old from the young, took their money and other possessions. ... Older people, parents were loaded on big trucks (going) east. They let them go with nothing, while the young remained behind, one witness in Rawyan told the human rights groups. In Humera, witnesses described seeing as many as 20 trucks carrying people away. Its not often clear where they are taken. They said they will send the pure Tigrayans first and then send those are half Tigrayans, one western Tigray resident told the AP. Tigrayans disappear all the time these days, a Humera resident told the AP. There is no way of finding out who took them, or where they are being kept or whether they are alive or not. He asserted that different detention centers are run by Ethiopian, Eritrean and Amhara forces. A spokesman for the Amhara region, Gizachew Muluneh, in a statement rejected the allegations as totally groundless and unjustifiable. First of all, there is no place called western Tigray in Amhara region underlining the claim that Amhara authorities are simply retaking land they see as theirs. He also urged the international community to investigate alleged widespread abuses by Tigray forces against civilians in the Amhara region. The United Nations has estimated that 20,000 people were recently evicted from western Tigray, most of them women, children and the elderly. The U.N. has said more than 1 million have been displaced from there since the war began in November 2020. But not all can leave. Witnesses have alleged that hundreds, if not thousands, of Tigrayans are held in makeshift, overcrowded detention centers in western Tigray, part of thousands being held elsewhere across Ethiopia amid suspicions fueled by hate speech by some senior government officials. The government has said it is targeting only the Tigray forces. One detainee in Humera told the human rights groups he escaped last month while loading the bodies of fellow detainees onto a tractor, and asserted that he knew of at least 30 people who died in detention. They couldnt handle the torture, thats why they were dying, he said. Witnesses described beatings with rifle butts and electric wires along with the denial of food and medicine. Witnesses told the AP, and the human rights groups, that some people trying to flee the roundups in Adebay were attacked and killed, with some Amhara fighters searching house-to-house with axes. The whole town smelled with dead bodies, one man said. The human rights groups are calling on Ethiopian authorities to end the attacks on civilians and immediately grant access to western Tigray for aid groups. They also call on the U.N. Human Rights Council to establish an independent mechanism to investigate the wars abuses, including by Tigray forces, and urge the U.N. Security Council to put Ethiopia on its formal agenda. The global paralysis on Ethiopias armed conflict has emboldened human rights abusers to act with impunity and left communities at risk of feeling abandoned, Human Rights Watchs Laetitia Bader said. Ethiopia's government has sought to restrict reporting on the war, detaining some journalists including a video freelancer accredited to the AP, Amir Aman Kiyaro, and barring others from entering the country. ___ Follow AP stories about the war in Ethiopia at https://apnews.com/hub/Ethiopia JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged people and government officials to refrain from traveling abroad after the country detected its first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in a cleaning worker at a hospital in Jakarta. The patient has no symptoms and is being quarantined at the Athletes Village emergency hospital, where the person worked. The government created the facility in March 2020 to treat COVID-19 patients and as a quarantine venue for Indonesians returning from abroad. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Kim Potter s police chief at the time she shot and killed Daunte Wright testified in her defense at her manslaughter trial on Thursday, calling her a fine officer and saying he saw no violation of policy in her actions at the scene. Tim Gannon resigned two days after the April 11 shooting, saying he believed he had to quit because I would not immediately fire Kim Potter. Potter resigned the same day. Potter, 49, is charged with manslaughter in Wrights death. She was expected to testify Friday. During an April 11 traffic stop in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, the 20-year-old Black motorist pulled away from officers as they were trying to arrest him and got back into his car before Potter shot him. Body-camera video captured Potter, who is white, shouting Ill tase you! and Taser, Taser, Taser! before she fired once. Under questioning from Potter attorney Earl Gray, Gannon testified that he viewed body-camera video immediately after the shooting and dashcam video recently, and when he had all the data in front of me, I saw no violation." Violation of what? Gray asked. Of policy, procedure or law, said Gannon, who also testified that he and Potter are friends. On cross-examination, prosecutor Matthew Frank asked Gannon whether it was consistent with policy for an officer to not know they have their firearm in their hand when they shoot it. Potters attorneys have argued that she would have been within her rights to use deadly force even if she had intended to do so because a fellow officer was endangered by Wrights attempt to flee. Gannon testified that it appeared to him from dashcam video that Sgt. Mychal Johnson, who was assisting in the stop, was leaning into Wrights car. He said it was his opinion that deadly force was reasonable. Gannon recalled his own experience in a situation where he was dragged by a car. He said he felt sheer terror and a feeling of simply trying to survive. Before resting their case, prosecutors called police witnesses to build their argument that Potter was an experienced officer who had been thoroughly trained in use of a Taser, including warnings about the danger of confusing one with a handgun. They have to prove recklessness or culpable negligence if they are to win a conviction on the manslaughter charges. The death of Wright set off angry demonstrations for several days in Brooklyn Center. It happened as another white officer, Derek Chauvin, was standing trial in nearby Minneapolis for the killing of George Floyd. Gannon said Potter was known for handling calls, acting professionally and writing good police reports. He testified that she volunteered with a group that helped families when officers were killed in the line of duty. She also worked with domestic abuse victims and was a field training officer. Earlier Thursday, the defense opened its case by calling to the stand use-of-force expert Stephen Ijames, a former assistant police chief in Springfield, Missouri. Ijames testified that officers were legally bound to arrest Wright after discovering he had a warrant for an outstanding weapons violation. Ijames, who said he wrote the Taser policy for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, also testified that it was very unlikely Wright could have driven away had Potter actually used her Taser. That contradicted a prosecution use-of-force expert who testified earlier that using either a gun or a Taser on Wright would have made things worse because he could have been incapacitated and his vehicle could have become a weapon. After Potter shot Wright, his car took off and crashed seconds later into an oncoming vehicle, hurting his passenger and someone in the other car. Ijames said a Taser is the most effective tool to incapacitate someone when used properly, second only to a gunshot to the head. He also said officers had to assume that Wright very likely could have a gun because he had one in the past, and that it would have been a dereliction of duty for them not to have tried to arrest him. But Ijames said deadly force is warranted if an officer is halfway inside a vehicle that is about to be put into drive. In Wrights case, two other officers were trying to get him out of the car when Potter shot him. He later agreed under questioning by the state that deadly force would not have been reasonable if an officer in Potters position didn't know that another officer couldn't get out of the car. The defense also called several character witnesses for Potter who described her as a peaceful person. Former Brooklyn Center Officer Colleen Fricke told the jury about her time working alongside Potter, saying she saw her as a mentor and friend. Fricke was asked to watch over Potter after the shooting. I saw her curled up in the corner of the room" by herself and crying, Fricke said. After Fricke testified that Potter was law-abiding, prosecutor Joshua Larson said: In terms of following the law, though, generally speaking, youd agree that following the law on one day does not absolve you from accountability the next day. The defense objected, stopping that line of questioning. The case is being heard by a mostly white jury. ___ Associated Press writers Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, and Doug Glass in Minneapolis contributed to this report. ___ Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright Click here to read the full article. A cause of death of compression asphyxia has been determined for the 10 people who died at Travis Scotts Astroworld Festival in Houston last month. The Harris County Medical Examiners office released a report Thursday, Dec. 16, detailing the cause of and manner, which was ruled an accident for all 10 people as well. Only one victim, 27-year-old Mirza Danish Baig, was listed as having any contributory causes, which were combined toxic effects of cocaine, methamphetamine, and ethanol. The Harris County Medical Examiners office did not provide any additional comment on the matter. The youngest victim of the Astroworld crowd surge was nine-year-old Ezra Blount, while Baig was the oldest. In addition to the 10 casualties, hundreds were injured after crowds rushed to the stage toward the start of Scotts set. In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, Tony Buzbee the lawyer for the family of one of the victims, Axel Acosta said, The report confirms what the family already knew, which is that Axel was crushed and killed that night by the crowd, through no fault of his own. It is also important to note that Axels blood contained absolutely no intoxicants or other like substances. Now that we have received the official results, I want to say to our police chief: Shame on you. Shame on you for perpetuating and giving credence to a silly rumor that people were being injected at the concert. In doing so, you added more pain to an already unbearably painful situation for Axels family. Axel Acostas family looks forward now to presenting their case in court, in front of a jury, in the hopes that all those accountable are held legally responsible, and that a preventable tragedy like this never happens again. Nearly 300 lawsuits have been filed in Harris County since the Astroworld tragedy, the majority of them naming Scott as well as other groups involved in the festival like Live Nation, the promoter ScoreMore, the venue NRG Park and various security companies. Scott and other defendants have denied the allegations against them, though Scott has also requested he be dismissed from multiple lawsuits hes named in. Last week, Scott made his first public comments since the tragedy in an interview with Charlamagne Tha God. Scott claimed he only learned that people had died after the festival set ended and claimed he didnt hear fans screaming between songs for him to stop the concert. The rapper said the show continued for an additional 40 minutes after Houston police determined it was a mass casualty event because he claimed he was only told that the show must end after the guests (in this case, Drake) appeared on stage. As for his own responsibility, Scott said: Im the face of the festival, Im the artist, so the media wants to put it on me, but at the end of the day I dont think its more so about that, its more so about stepping up to figure out what the problem is. And I could take that. I could take stepping out to figure out what the problem is, I could take stepping up to figure out what the solution is so that it never happened again. The families of several victims, however, slammed Scotts interview and pushed him to take accountability. Jennifer Pena, oldest sister of one victim, 23-year-old Rudy Pena, told Rolling Stone, The first minute they told [Scott] to stop the concert early, he could have been like Stop. He should have been like, Okay, and then investigated what was happening. But he still continued. I think he could have avoided all of this. He could have stopped the concert and avoided all of this death. One of the longtime General Hospital actors fired from the iconic soap opera last month for refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19 has filed a lawsuit against ABC claiming the productions on-set mandate violates his civil rights. Ingo Rademacher, who has played Jasper Jax Jacks on the daytime show for more than two decades, had his contract terminated Nov. 5 after he submitted a request for a religious exemption that was denied, according to his lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. A copy of his exemption request letter was attached to the complaint and obtained by Rolling Stone. I am entitled to a religious exemption against mandatory vaccination for Covid-19 on the basis of my deeply and sincerely held moral belief that my body is endowed by my creator with natural processes to protect me and that its integrity cannot ethically be violated by the administration of artificially created copies of genetic material, foreign to nature and experimental, it reads. According to his lawsuit, There is no need for everybody to get the Covid-19 shot, even if the president demands it. Rademacher, who is not a doctor, has posted about his anti-vaxx stance on Instagram, at one point sharing a photo with fearmongering vaccine foe Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He was not alone in losing his job due to his outspoken revolt against the mandate. Fellow General Hospital actor Steve Burton, who played Jason Morgan, said in an Instagram post last month that he also was let go for refusal to comply with the rule for actors who work unmasked on set. An ABC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Rolling Stone. General Hospital is not alone in asking its actors to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but theres still no uniform requirement for the film and TV industry. Rademacher faced prior controversy for sharing a transphobic post on his Instagram Stories that misgendered U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine, the nations first openly transgender person to hold an office requiring Senate confirmation. That post led his General Hospital costar Cassandra James, a trans actress who portrays Dr. Terry Randolph on the soap, to express her disappointment online. I am aware of a transphobic post shared by a fellow General Hospital actor. Shame on you. You have some serious unlearning and education to do. I feel deeply disappointed that such a public display of ignorance could come from our GH family. Cassandra James (@cassandrajames_) November 8, 2021 Shame on you. You have some serious unlearning and education to do, she wrote in a tweet to Rademacher last month. Rademacher responded with an Instagram video that apologized for not crossing out dude and putting transgender.' Perhaps you're still cleaning up from that Thanksgiving feast, or maybe you need a last-minute reservation. Either way, let these restaurants do the cooking for you on Christmas Day. We compiled a list of San Antonio eateries open on Saturday, December 25, 2021, offering the perfect place for your holiday meal. 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. San Antonio Police Department The San Antonio Police Department and Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward for information on the murder of former WOAI-TV account executive Christopher Olivarez, who was found dead with trauma to his body on September 25 at his home in the 300 block of Kirk Place. He was 40. An autopsy later revealed that Olivarez was stabbed, according to SAPD. Detectives believe the suspect or suspects fled in the victim's vehicle, which was recovered days later on September 28 outside the city limits. Three San Antonio neighborhoods are among the hottest in the nation. According to Redfin's annual Americas Hottest Neighborhoods of 2022, these local ZIP codes have seen soaring growth this year, and are expected to keep that momentum through the next 12 months. In order to determine the buzziest communities in the country, the online listings and real estate brokerage examines two factors. The first is how much Redfin.com listing views grew year-over-year. The second is the "Redfin Compete Score," a measure of how difficult it is to win a home in these 'hoods based on factors including days on market, share of homes that sold above their listing prices, and sale-to-list price ratio. While it's debatable whether or not these neighborhoods are all affordable (one has a median home price above $700K), Redfin notes that as they trend upward, their cost is expected to follow. Now that remote work is the norm for many Americans, the most popular neighborhoods are in suburbs with natural beauty and homes that are more affordable than those in major coastal cities like New York and San Francisco, said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather in the report. Many of the hottest neighborhoods on Redfins 2022 list check all three boxes and likely wont stay much more affordable for long. Though no ZIP code in San Antonio (or Texas for that matter) made Redfin's top 10, the online listings company did break out the the three hottest ZIP codes in the Alamo City by analyzing its data for September 2021. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News 78132 The boundaries of 78132 run along the northwestern edge of New Braunfels towards Canyon Lake. Despite being called a "remote Texas town" earlier this year by the New York Times, this San Antonio suburb has seen explosive growth in recent years. According to Redfin, the median home price for 78132 is now $515,000, a 23 percent jump (!) over last year. Listings in this area spent an average of just 14 days on the market in September. And of those homes purchased, nearly half 49 percent went above asking price. 78257 Closer into town is 78257, a funky shaped ZIP code bound by I-10 on its west, 1604 to its south, and includes Eisenhower Park and parts of Camp Bullis, such as its combat medic training site, FOB Courage. Of the three San Antonio neighborhoods, this is the most expensive, with a median home price of $702,500, a 14 percent increase over 2020, and nearly triple that of city's median home price, which Redfin says was $260,000 in September. (For context, this is much lower than other experts. For example, Realtor.com puts San Antonio's median at $305,400 while the San Antonio Board of Realtors says its $307,200.) Homes in 78257 spent an average of 26 days on the market, with 14 percent selling for above asking price. B. Kay Richter for mySA 78130 This time we're heading inside the New Braunfels city limits for the third and final "hottest neighborhood" in the San Antonio region. This has the most affordable homes of the three, with a median price of $315,000, according to Redfin. Still, that's a 24 percent jump from last year, illustrating exactly how hot this suburb has become. New Braunfels also had the shortest amount of time on the market just 12 days. It also had the highest percentage of homes that went above asking price, with 54 percent of sales coming in higher than their listing price. As mentioned, Florida dominated the top 10 hottest neighborhoods in America, with eight spots: South Sarasota (1), East Venice (2), Englewood (3), Venice (4), Nokomis (5), The Meadows (6), Weston (8), and Downtown Fort Meyers (10). Chatham, on Cape Cod, (7) and Lake Lure, North Carolina (9) rounded out the list. If the pandemic has been good for one thing (anything, anything at all even if just a silver lining!) its the global shift towards remote working. Suddenly, your commute is gone, you may or may not be working in pajamas or tracksuit pants from time to time, and theres no reason why you cant have fish or eggs for lunch. Of course, freelancers have been aware of this for years. Decades, even. But remote work doesnt have to mean work from home. It can mean work from a beach in the Maldives or sign into your Zoom call from Morocco. It could even mean work from a street side cafe in Paris, croissant in hand. I legitimately did spend a few days working from a beach in the Maldives earlier this year, and have also worked across the world in airports, museums, cafes, apartments, and boats. As much as I love home, I also love the freedom to be able to travel and work from anywhere to suit my schedule. But it wouldnt be possible without a few key gadgets that come everywhere with me. A long charging cable A looooong charging cable seems obvious, but also seems like an unnecessary purchase you already have one perfectly good cable. Dont be fooled! A good, long cable is an investment. Youll reap the benefits for years to come, and youll quickly realise after taking four phone calls or typing emails the whole morning from your phone that a normal charging cable has two problems. Firstly, youre not always going to be able to sit or stand near a power outlet. Secondly, even if you are near an outlet, being able to move exactly 10 cm in each direction quickly gets limiting. Even in the Maldives, where all you really want to do is sit in one spot with a drink and occasionally go for a swim. Multi 3 in 1 USB Long Charger Cable, 3M/10Ft Bawanfa amazon.com $12.99 Shop Now An adaptor Secondly, youll need to make sure you can actually power all your devices, be they phones, laptops, or tablets. Which means youll need an adaptor which works almost everywhere in the world (seriously, it covers over 150 countries) and can charge up to six devices at a time. Then you pair that with a powerbank which powers literally everything, including ethernet cables, ports for external monitors, and more standard ports for your phone and so on. Now, you basically have the perfect power duo, so youve always got enough juice to check your emails or video call your boss. Anker USB C Hub, PowerExpand 11-in-1 Anker amazon.com $99.99 Shop Now Sim card Ok, so power is sorted. But youll still need to stay connected, which is where a GigSky Sim Card comes in, meaning you always have a way to connect to the internet wherever you are. And you wont have to spend ages searching for a local SIM card when you arrive, keeping track of your various data plans, or going out of service whenever you change country on a train. And if youre in Europe, this is a real and regular consideration! GigSky 4G LTE/3G Data SIM Card GigSky amazon.com $9.99 Shop Now World clock Add a world clock, so you don't have to keep googling "time in California" every time you want to set up a meeting or set a deadline. These little clocks are great if you work in a distributed team with people across multiple time zones, but theyre also really useful if youre travelling around between countries and dont want to accidentally plan something for London time when youve just arrived in Moscow, for example. Travel Alarm Clock Flashlight Lsaardth amazon.com $16.69 Shop Now Noise canceling headphones Now, lets get to the logistics. Working on the beach or from a remote campsite might be cool, but itll wreak havoc on your neck and back if you do it long term without making some adjustments to your portable office. And by adjustments, Im not talking about the addition of a cocktail in each hand. An adjustable laptop stand will let you make a desk out of anywhere, whether its an airplane seat or a bed in a villa in Bali. Youll also want a few portable gadgets which will help make the transition to remote working seamless. And if youre moving around a lot and boarding planes and trains, things which are foldable and/or lightweight always get bonus points. As long as theyre functional too, as is the case with portable, lightweight, foldable noise canceling headphones. Now Im not advising this or anything, but if you want your boss to think youre somewhere really quiet and studious when thats umm.not the casethese are great for canceling background noise and for taking calls easily. Plus, the battery life is great and should last you a few days at least, so you wont need to use one of those six charging ports from your worldwide adaptor every night. Jabra Elite 45h On-Ear Wireless Headphones Jabra amazon.com $99.49 Shop Now Portable second monitor Flitting between screens is annoying at the best of times, so a portable second monitor which attaches to your laptop is essential if you do a lot of spreadsheets, presentations, video editing, or anything else which requires you to have more than one window open at a time for maximum efficiency. SideTrak Swivel 14 Attachable Portable Monitor for Laptop SideTrak amazon.com $369.99 Shop Now Folding bluetooth keyboard And rounding off the trio of portable goodies to make remote working a possibility anywhere in the world is a folding bluetooth keyboard. Unlike bluetooth headpieces which definitely became less cool and useful once we hit the new millennium, a bluetooth keyboard is actually really handy (pun intended) for working on the go. Were all adept at typing on our phones nowadays, but if you need to write something a bit more meaty, a bluetooth keyboard makes everything much more manageable. And this one feels sturdy enough to type on easily, but folds up to a nice compact size so it doesnt take up snack space in your carry on bag. Portable Bluetooth Keyboard iClever amazon.com $36.99 Shop Now A Chromecast or Roku Finally, youll also want to add a Chromecast or Roku. Technically, you can work without one of these. But it certainly makes things a little bit more comfortable. After a long day of work, sometimes you just want to unwind and watch TV on a big screen, wherever you are in the world. Because ultimately, remote working is all about achieving a better work-life balance. Yves here. As indicated in Links, this outcome comes as no surprise, even if the particulars of Manchins machinations might be. If Manchin could be moved by any bribes or threats or punishments that Biden were willing to deliver, this bill would have been passed months ago. And not passing this bill doesnt just mean that the Biden Administration is prematurely in lame duck territory. It also means less spending just at Omicron is about to give a big pounding to travel, hospitality and brick and mortar shopping, as well as do secondary economic damage, like lead to the postponement of elective surgeries. By Jake Johnson. Originally published at Common Dreams The Build Back Better Act is teetering on the brink of collapse following reports Wednesday that right-wing Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin wants to eliminate the boosted child tax credit, a move that would push millions of kidsacross the U.S. back into poverty. Meanwhile, Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Wednesday voted in favor of a sprawling $778 billion military spending billthe 11th consecutive Pentagon budget hes supported without complaining about the cost. The legislation easily passed in bipartisan fashion, 88-11. Citing an unnamed source, Manu Raju of CNN reported that Manchin (D-W.Va.) wants to zero it out, referring to the expanded child tax credit (CTC). The Washington Postsimilarly reported that Manchin hopes to defund [the CTC] from the bill in full. If you wanted to kill BBB completely, this is how you would do it, Judd Legum, author of the Popular Informationnewsletter, wrote of Manchins approach. Manchins latest objection all but ensures that Senate Democrats wont vote on their flagship reconciliation bill before Christmasa target set by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)and could imperil the partys chances of passing the $1.75 trillion legislation at all, given the need for unanimous Democratic support in the upper chamber. If the bill doesnt pass before years end, monthly CTC payments will lapse, depriving millions of struggling families of cash that theyve used to pay for food, child care, and other necessities amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic. Unless we pass #BuildBackBetter, today will be the LAST #ChildTaxCredit payment for families. That money has been used for everything from diapers to school lunches to rent. Nationally, it's cutting child poverty in half. Keeping it is a moral imperative. Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) December 15, 2021 The West Virginia Democrats reported push to slash the boosted CTCwhich he didnt deny Wednesday when confronted by journalistsprompted immediate outrage from progressive commentators and Democratic senators, who said any attempt to cut the program is unacceptable. Put the bill on the floor and make him explain that he voted it down because he wanted to cut all of the money for families with children, writer Zach Carter suggested. Manchin has already given Republicans the Virginia governors race. You cannot let him drag this out indefinitely, again. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told reporters Wednesday that we need the child tax credit, which currently sends eligible families monthly payments of up to $300 per child under the age of six and $250 per child between the ages of six and 17. As it stands, the Build Back Better Act would extend the enhanced CTC for just another year. Manchin and other right-wing Democrats tanked efforts to make the program permanent. It has cut childhood poverty in America by nearly half, Warren said of the CTC expansion. Yves here. This piece describes is what is coming to pretty much everywhere in the US soon. Hospitals and medical providers are effectively rationing care in Colorado, which is merely in the midst of s Delta wave. It is also sadly presenting vaccines as the only defense against Covid, and ignoring wearing protective masks (N95/KN95), limiting interactions, and ventilation. By John Daley, Colorado Public Radio. Originally published at Kaiser Health News Harold Burchs home has a spectacular view in Paonia, a rural part of Colorados 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 wouldnt 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 hasnt 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 states coronavirus website reported 1,294 patients hospitalized with covid-19. Half of the states 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. Burchs 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. Hes 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. Burchs 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 doesnt 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 states 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 dont 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. Theres 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 youd 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 didnt get vaccinated. Its a decision he came to regret. I guess my recommendation would be to get vaxed, you know, even if youre 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. My position with Nashville Post has evolved since 2000 when I began work with the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister pub in 2008 (when I began some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have worked mainly with the Post since late 2011. Follow William Williams 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. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Like what you read? Click here to make a contribution to the Scene and support local journalism! (Natural News) The abrupt disappearance of a live feed showing Taiwans digital minister occurred because the White House panicked over a map showing Taiwan in a different color than China, Reuters claimed on Monday. (Article by Frances Martel republished from Breitbart.com) Audrey Tang, formally a minister without portfolio in the Taiwanese government, was speaking during President Joe Bidens Summit for Democracy, a series of video addresses from some of the worlds states. Biden included the island nation of Taiwan despite the fact that the American government does not recognize Taiwans sovereignty as doing so would immediately sever all diplomatic ties with communist China. Taiwan is a free, democratic sovereign nation. The Chinese Communist Party falsely claims that Taiwan is a rogue province of China and that its president, Tsai Ing-wen, and her administration are dangerous separatists with no legitimacy, despite being freely elected by their own people, unlike anyone in the communist Chinese government. Beijing, which has historically never ruled Taiwan, automatically cuts all diplomatic ties to any country that recognizes Taiwans sovereignty. Xi Jinping has threatened that anyone who acknowledges that Taiwan is a country will have their bones ground to powder. Tang attended the virtual summit to discuss how Taiwan uses the internet and emerging technologies to improve its diplomatic governance. In doing so, Tang showed a map of Asia created by the South African human rights organization Civicus showing Taiwan as the freest country on the continent. Civicus uses various shades of green, yellow, and red to rate freedom around the world, using bright green to mean freest and bright red to mean most repressive. Taiwan received the NGOs only bright green rating in Asia; China appeared in bright red. Tangs feed momentarily cut off when the map appeared on screen and returned in audio-only form. The White House aired a disclaimer reading, any opinions expressed by individuals on this panel are those of the individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States government as Tang described Taiwan correctly as a country. Ironically, Tangs statement was part of a panel discussion on countering digital authoritarianism. Bidens State Department called the disturbance a technical issue and an honest mistake. The State Department has uploaded the full video, including the map, onto YouTube and shared a link to it on the State Department website. Much of Tangs statement urges the maintenance of a fully open internet and emphasizes access to the internet to foster democratic participation. Tang calls broadband access a human right and explains how Taiwan has used popularly sourced contract tracing systems rather than a centralized government database of private medical information to contain the Chinese coronavirus, which Taiwan was the first nation to warn the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) about outside of China (the agency mostly ignored Taiwan as, at Chinas behest, it does not recognize Taiwan as a country or allow it to participate in global health initiatives). We believe that a completely open environment with free speech uncensored is perfect for letting democracy flourish, Tang said. They choked, an unnamed source said of the White House to Reuters. This was completely an internal overreaction, a second anonymous source confirmed. According to the Reuters report, White House officials feared the different colors on the map were meant to highlight the fact that Taiwan is a different country from China despite the fact that China, Laos, and Vietnam are all the same color. One source said the map generated an instant email flurry among U.S. officials and the White House National Security Council angrily contacted the State Department, concerned it appeared to show Taiwan as a distinct country, Reuters reported. Washington complained to Taiwans government, which in turn was angry that Tangs video had been cut. Among the concerns from Biden officials was the fact that the map apparently had not appeared in dry-run versions of the presentation before the summit. One of the anonymous sources speaking to Reuters noted, however, that the map was not a political one meaning it was not showing the borders of sovereign states and that little dispute exists that Taiwan is a significantly freer society than China, the point the map was made to show. The National Security Council (NSC) denied the claim that the White House cut the feed intentionally in a statement to Reuters. Tang told Reuters of the incident, No, I do not believe this has anything to do with the Civicus map in my slides, or US allies in Asia for that matter. On Twitter, Tang applauded the event as stellar. https://twitter.com/audreyt/status/1469213565785894912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1469213565785894912%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.breitbart.com%2Fasia%2F2021%2F12%2F13%2Freuters-biden-censored-taiwan-map-at-digital-authoritarianism-panel-on-purpose%2F The Chinese Communist Party repeatedly complained that Biden had not invited it, arguably the worlds most repressive regime, to the Summit for Democracy. On Taiwans invitation, however, Chinese state media outlets appeared unimpressed, calling the invite a wimpy move to anger Beijing. The bizarre video feed incident adds to a rapidly growing catalog of confusing Biden administration messages on Taiwan. Biden himself has repeatedly asserted that the United States has a sacred commitment to go to war with China if it invades Taiwan, at one point this year comparing that alleged duty to the obligations established by the North Atlantic Treaty, which created NATO. In reality, America has not treaty bound itself to defend Taiwan with military action, as it does not even recognize its basic existence as a country. The White House has eagerly urged the world to disregard Bidens comments. The U.S. defence relationship with Taiwan is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act. We will uphold our commitment under the act, we will continue to support Taiwans self-defence, and we will continue to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo, a White House spokesperson said in October. Beijing has crafted an image of not taking Biden seriously. Notoriously misogynistic Chinese government propagandist Chen Weihua said in October, the last time Biden claimed America had a commitment to militarily defend Taiwan, that the president was just too old to think clearly. The state-run Global Times newspaper asserted, Biden does not have the political authority to announce that the U.S. military will defend Taiwan when a war breaks out, nor does he have the confidence to have a strategic collision with [China] in the Taiwan Straits. During a video conversation with Biden, Xi threatened the United States just in case Biden did consider acting on Taiwan. Such moves are extremely dangerous, just like playing with fire, Xi said, according to Chinese government media. Whoever plays with fire will get burnt. Xis threat was notably absent from White House summaries of the conversation. Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) California recently reinstated a statewide order requiring people to wear masks in indoor public spaces as Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) case rates rose almost 50 percent in the last two and a half weeks and COVID-related hospitalizations increased by nearly 15 percent over the same period. This order, which will last a month from December 15 through January 15, will affect roughly half of the states population including San Diego and Orange Counties, the Inland Empire, the Central Valley and rural Northern California. We know people are tired and hungry for normalcy. Frankly, I am too. That said, this is a critical time where we have a tool that we know has worked and can work, said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. California lifted its statewide mask mandate back in June 15 for those who are vaccinated. However, despite Governor Gavin Newsom heralding the date as the states grand opening, the county governments still had to impose their own indoor mask mandates as case rates surged with the arrival of new variants. CDC: Masks dont protect against COVID-19 The new mask mandate will cover everyone else, but state officials remain unclear about how it will be enforced. Ghaly said that the enforcement will likely be stricter in some cases than others, but he still urged Californians to heed the warnings and wear their masks for safety despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already admitting that face masks do not provide protection against COVID-19. 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. On March 5, the CDC published a report saying that face masks dont protect against the disease and may actually worsen infection risk. Authored by more than a dozen medical doctors, PhD researchers and attorneys, the research found that wearing a mask or not wearing a mask produces roughly the same outcome in terms of the number of cases and deaths associated with COVID-19. (Related: New research shows that wearing a mask will not protect you against the coronavirus.) Between March 1 and Dec. 31 of last year, 2,313 of Americas 3,142 counties were under a statewide mask mandate. County-by-county data shows a statistically insignificant difference in health outcomes between masked versus unmasked counties. Several other states mandate mask wearing indoors California is the latest state to issue indoor mask mandate, following Washington, Oregon, Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Hawaii and New York. There are some Democratic governors who have resisted reinstating mask mandates, including Jared Polis of Colorado. Polis told a public radio last week that the emergency is over and that public health officials dont get to tell people what to wear. State officials in California are afraid to see a repeat of the problems from last winter, when the state averaged over 100 cases per 100,000 people during the surge of the virus, and 20,000 people died during an eight-week period. Today, the state is only averaging a little more than 14 cases per day per 100,000 people. Still, Ghaly said that hospitals in several counties are struggling with lots of patients including parts of Southern California such as Riverside, San Bernardino, Mono and Inyo counties. Ghaly also warned that hospitalizations usually increase in the weeks following a jump in new cases. Ghaly also said that they are proactively putting the indoor masking mandate in effect to avoid a darker cloud of concern and despair over the holidays. Further, California is also tightening testing requirements by ordering unvaccinated individuals to have a negative test within one or two days prior to attending indoor events of over 1,000 people. Travelers, meanwhile, have to get tested upon their return to California within five days of their arrival. Watch the video below about the return of mask mandates. Read more news related to the coronavirus pandemic at Pandemic.news. Sources include: LATimes.com SteveKirsch.SubStack.com PBS.org (Natural News) (Op-ed) Even though there is no actual climate crisis taking place, climate fanatic Michael Mann personally believes that there is. And because of how strongly Mann believes in the fairy tale of man-made global warming, he now wants everyone who disagree with his position to be censored. There is a line that cannot be crossed when it comes to free speech, Mann essentially told Democracy Now! in a recent interview. And that line is denial of Manns climate theories, which he says are directly to blame for the recent tornado disaster in Kentucky. Even worse than this fictitious climate crisis itself, though, is denial of it, Mann maintains. Denying that climate change exists is responsible for taking more lives than climate change itself, he insists, as well as more lives than the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic. Here we saw nearly 100 people, you know, uh, die from these unprecedented tornadoes, Mann rambled to his interviewer. But if you look at the total impact of climate change around the world, um, wildfires, droughts, floods, heat waves, coastal inundation, climate change is already costing far more lives than Covid-19. It is deadlier. And so, the denial of climate change is deadlier even than the denial of, the, the basic science behind, uh, Covid-19. If global warming is real, then why not let the arguments in its favor stand or fall on their own? Mann went on in the interview to blame the fossil fuel industry for every natural disaster that has happened in recent years. He also blamed tech companies like Facebook (Meta) and Twitter for those same disasters because of their failure, in his opinion, to censor climate denial content. Get more news like this without being censored: Get the Natural News app for your mobile devices. Enjoy uncensored news, lab test results, videos, podcasts and more. Bypass all the unfair censorship by Google, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Get your daily news and videos directly from the source! Download here. Mann is extremely pleased with the way that Big Tech has been censoring contradictory content about the Tony Fauci Virus. This, he says, is because there isnt a huge global lobby, the worlds most powerful industry the fossil fuel industry, that has a stake in the Covid-19 debate. If there were, then perhaps the tech giants would not be censoring free speech about Chinese Germs, Mann went on to suggest. This is what he claims is occurring with regard to climate change in that the tech giants refuse to censor climate denial content. Rather than let his arguments stand or fall on their own, Mann wants to silence his opponents so that only his opinions are presented as truth. Everything else he wants pulled from the web so that it does not have a chance to enter peoples minds and thought processes. The social media companies are being complicit and, you know, why are they being complicit? Well, many of them are getting a lot of advertiser money from the fossil fuel industry, Mann believes. So its inconvenient to their business model to challenge that industry. This is quite the conspiracy theory, but it is one that Mann feels strongly about. And because he feels strongly about it, he wants to take Big Tech to task and basically force it to start censoring climate denialism in the same way that it censors Fauci Flu skepticism. It seems he has failed to notice how Big Pharma spends their profits on Big Tech and the mainstream media to motivate the behaviors hes looking for. Mann also appeared on MSNBC, by the way, to suggest that Congress needs to pass fake president Joe Bidens Build Back Better (6uild 6ack 6etter) bill in order to prevent tornadoes like the ones that hit Kentucky from getting worse. One person on Twitter, commenting on Manns tirades, said it best about Manns position: My case isnt strong enough to prove this, so lets censor all debate against it science expert. Another pointed out that Mann comes from the same sect of people who have successfully silenced covid voices that are counter to the pre-determined zeitgeist. More related news about the climate farce can be found at Climate.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) American companies are now walking back on vaccine mandates they earlier imposed on workers as three federal judges overturned the Biden administrations executive order requiring workers to get injected with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. The Daily Gazette reported on Dec. 8 that GE employees are no longer required to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The company made the announcement through a letter penned by Kevin Cox, the companys chief human resources officer. Coxs letter said that uploading proof of vaccination into the companys tracking portal is no longer mandatory. However, employees must still mask up in indoor settings unless they can maintain at least six feet of social distance. Prior to the suspension, the company was requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8. Those unable to get injected or fail to show a medical or religious exemption would be terminated. About 200 GE employees in the companys Schenectady, New York plant walked out to protest the mandate. The participating workers were also members of the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) Local 301. Christopher DePoalo, the labor unions business agent, dubbed GEs pause of the mandate as a victory. I think its a win. Hopefully, we can move forward, he said, adding that many Local 301 members are pleased with the pause because the choice to get vaccinated is going to be theirs. The U.S. Navy shipbuilder HII also walked back on its vaccine mandate through a Nov. 16 letter. HII CEO Mike Petters wrote that employees will no longer be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 4, 2022. With respect to Ingalls Shipbuilding and Newport News Shipbuilding, our customer has confirmed that our contracts do not include a requirement to implement the [vaccine] mandate. In light of this development, we are hereby suspending the deadline for vaccination, except where specific [HII] Technical Solutions contracts require it, the letter stated. The company initially announced that its 25,000 employees must be vaccinated by Dec. 8 as a condition of continued employment. HII later moved the vaccination deadline to January 2022, until its Nov. 16 suspension. (Related: Navy shipbuilder suspends vaccine mandate after employees threaten to quit.) However, the shipbuilder clarified that the suspension of the vaccine mandate will be lifted the moment it becomes a contractual requirement and that HII may choose to implement other measures aimed at improving workforce vaccination rate. Biden bullying workers through vaccine mandates Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity (RPI) Executive Director Daniel McAdams commented on companies such as HII and GE rescinding their vaccine mandates. [The] nationwide annihilation of [President Joe] Bidens federal contractor vaccine mandate at the hands of U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker has resulted in a landslide retreat of cowardly mega-corporations from their so-called bullying of American workers, he wrote in a Dec. 10 piece. According to NBC News, the Georgia-based Baker ruled on Dec. 7 that allowing the mandate to take effect would force plaintiffs to comply, requiring them to make decisions which would significantly alter their ability to perform federal contract which is critical to their operations. The federal judges ruling is the third decision striking down the Biden administrations vaccine mandate, following rulings by other federal judges in Louisiana and Kentucky. (Related: HUGE: Federal judge blocks Bidens nationwide covid vaccine mandate for employees of federal contractors.) The RPI official added: Bidens mandates have always been a bullying gamble [and] an admission. [They] knew they were engaging in illegal acts, but they would continue to use the not-insignificant weapons of the executive branch to blast as much harm as possible until the courts stepped in and noted the obvious. With the welcome disintegration of this evil government decree, one by one the mega-corporations also see their position as shifting to the untenable. They are bailing out as fast as possible. Check out this video by Tammy Cuthbert Garcia of Naturally Inspired that talks about Bakers Dec. 7 ruling against the vaccine mandate. Resist.news has more about companies rescinding vaccine mandates for employees. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca DailyGazette.com WTKR.com RonPaulInstitute.org NBCNews.com (Natural News) For parents who are debating whether or not to get their kids vaccinated against COVID-19, one analysis of publicly available data reached a disturbing conclusion: The jabs may be killing twice as many children as the virus itself. This is according to Steve Kirsch, who made some calculations using data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database. He began with the overall death toll from the virus in those aged 18 and younger. The reported figure from January 4, 2020, to December 4, 2021 was 757 deaths. Of course, Kirsch points out, many of these could be children who died with COVID-19 rather than from it, as were seeing many adult deaths being attributed to the virus in this way these days. Therefore, it is likely that fewer than 757 kids actually died directly due to the virus. Nevertheless, he decided to go with the figure of 757 just to avoid accusations of playing with the numbers. Then, he performed a VAERS search limited to the U.S. for the age range from 5 to 18. The total number of reports in which the patient who got the vaccine died was 35. We are all well aware that not all of the deaths reported to VAERS are necessarily caused by the vaccine; some may have merely been coincidental. To account for this, Kirsch subtracted the number of deaths reported in the previous year to determine excess deaths, even though that years figure would have also included coincidental deaths as well as actual vaccine deaths. Once again, he chose to err on the side favoring the vaccines, just to keep detractors at bay. The total number of deaths for 2019 was 3. When subtracted from 35, that means there were 32 excess deaths reported in VAERS since weve had COVID-19 vaccines. However, VAERS is believed to be 41 times underreported, according to a computation made using the CDCs own methodology. So, when you multiply those 32 reported excess deaths by 41 to account for the underreported, you get 1,312 deaths. Thats nearly double the 757 deaths from (or even just with) COVID-19. In other words, it is possible that nearly twice as many kids have been killed by the vaccine as by the virus itself. This is an absolutely unacceptable situation, and it is particularly scary when you consider the fact that not all kids under the age of 18 have gotten the jab yet not even close. This means the numbers could well climb in the months to come, especially as many areas are pulling out all the stops in their campaigns to vaccinate kids in the 5 to 11 age range. Recent VAERS reports paint a grim picture LifeSiteNews recently published a rundown of some of the reports in VAERS involving children, and it paints a grim picture of what is happening to young people around the country. For example, an 11-year-old girl in Georgia died the same day she was given the Pfizer vaccine intended for people aged 12 and above. Fifteen days after getting the Pfizer jab, a 13-year-old from Maryland had a fatal heart attack. In another report, a healthy and active 8-year-old Wyoming boy was hospitalized in intensive care with myocarditis just two days after getting his first dose of the Pfizer jab. A 14-year-old North Carolina boy had to be taken from his school by ambulance the day after his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine due to being in an altered state; he was diagnosed with a stroke and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. How many more children will have to suffer before authorities admit there is a problem with these vaccines? Sources for this article include: SteveKirsch.com LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) Some of the countrys largest hospital systems have been forced to rescind their Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates for their employees in the wake of several court rulings. Concerns regarding labor shortages also prevented them from coercing their workers to get the vaccine under the threat of unemployment. Health systems all over the country either voluntarily instituted COVID-19 vaccine mandates or did so after the Biden administration ordered them to do so. President Joe Bidens rule affected some 10 million workers in the healthcare industry. The order forced healthcare workers to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. But in November, a federal judge in Louisiana ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services does not have the authority to enforce the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. (Related: Federal judge blocks Bidens covid vaccine mandate for health care workers.) In response to the federal judges ruling, some of the countrys largest hospital systems have started rolling back their mandates. They claim that the rescinding of the order is also in response to the fact that the vaccine mandate has aggravated their staffing shortages. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals around the country already struggled to find workers and retain the ones they did hire. Once the pandemic hit, labor costs soared through the roof. Hospitals were forced to lure new staff in with higher pay rates. Those that could not afford to keep up with the rise in labor costs struggled to retain enough staff, leading to shortages in nurses, technicians and even janitors. This led to their inability to handle higher hospitalization rates in recent months caused by post-vaccine outbreaks among the fully vaccinated. Millions of workers no longer have to deal with vaccine mandates Some of the largest hospital groups that have rescinded their COVID-19 vaccine mandates include Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, Christian non-profit healthcare system AdventHealth, the Cleveland Clinic and HCA Healthcare. Combined, these health systems comprise more than 300 hospitals and employ nearly 600,000 people. We continue to strongly encourage our colleagues to be vaccinated as a critical step to protect individuals from the virus and the majority of HCA Healthcare colleagues have been fully vaccinated, wrote a representative for HCA Healthcare in a statement. He added that the vaccine mandate stays in place in California and Colorado, states that have their own mandates for healthcare workers. AdventHealth and Tenet also said they would stop requiring their employees to be vaccinated after the courts decision. But they added that workers in states that mandate vaccination must comply with local laws. To circumvent the vaccine mandate, the Cleveland Clinic said it would impose safety measures on its unvaccinated staff, such as regular forced COVID-19 testing. Many other healthcare systems were relieved to hear that the federal mandate for healthcare workers was blocked. I dont think the mandates were helpful, and I think the court in Louisiana did everyone a service, said Alan Levine, CEO of Ballad Health, which runs 21 hospitals in Tennessee and Virginia. Levine has 14,000 employees, about 2,000 of whom remain unvaccinated and did not request an exemption to the federal mandate. That many people having to be terminated would have been devastating to our system. Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, said that many hospital administrations that are part of his association expressed the same concerns as Levine. Some rural hospitals are determining we cant keep our doors open if we proceed with a mandate, said Morgan. Were not against the mandates, but there has to be a plan in place, or else there will be shortages in rural towns. Hospital administrators are particularly concerned with paramedics and ambulance drivers, many of whom outright refused to get the vaccine. Almost every single hospital physician I talk to brings up the problem of EMS [emergency medical service] staff, said Morgan. Many other hospital systems are refusing to get rid of their vaccine mandate despite the federal judges ruling. Kaiser Permanente, which runs 39 hospitals and hundreds of medical offices and employs more than 200,000 people, has already fired 352 of its workers for refusing to get vaccinated. Another 1,500 are set to be terminated in early January unless they get fully vaccinated or receive an exemption. Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in New York with over 77,000 employees, also announced that its mandate remains in place. It has already terminated 1,400 employees for refusing to take the experimental and deadly vaccine. The health system has also pledged to discriminate against the unvaccinated by refusing to consider them for employment. Watch this Brighteon Conversations episode as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Mike Hamilton talked about the legal truths behind the concept of bodily autonomy and the COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Vaccines.news has the latest information regarding the fight against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Sources include: WSJ.com FierceHealthcare.com DallasNews.com (Natural News) The Liberty Man John Moore warned Health Ranger Mike Adams and his viewers about Chinas next moves against the U.S. during the Dec. 13 of Health Ranger Report on Brighteon.TV. According to Moore, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate for military officers is a form of Chinas biological warfare. He shared a story of an active-duty member of the U.S. Army and three of his colleagues who got injected with the vaccine. Of the four vaccinated soldiers, three died within two weeks following the shot. This is happening all over the military. The military is a fairly close-knit organization. People know each other: They communicate by word of mouth, email and so forth like all other civilians do. Theres no doubt that word of whats happening with the clot shot is spreading like wildfire throughout all branches of the military, and any man or woman who has not yet gotten it is probably going to be highly reluctant, he said. Moore said the vaccine mandate is designed to reduce the number of military personnel available. The service members discharged for noncompliance with the vaccine mandate, alongside those experiencing serious reactions following injection, put the U.S. military in a precarious position. About two thirds of the military will either be gone, sick or dead. Adams said: It seems like all China has to do is just wait for this vaccine to kick in with the maiming, the injuries, the myocarditis, everything. Were going to be so vulnerable at some point, probably in the next year or so. 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. Moore agreed with the Brighteon.TV founder. These people are smart. They may be evil, they may be satanic, but theyre not stupid. They know if they started killing everybody at the same time, people would immediately stop rolling up their sleeves. So its a brilliant plan, Moore said. Colonizing America using biological warfare The Liberty Man pointed out to Adams that the U.S. military being decimated by the COVID-19 vaccine without firing any guns aligned with a speech by a retired Chinese general. The 2003 speech delivered by former National Defense Minister Gen. Chi Haotian outlined a plan to colonize America with no Americans through the use of biological warfare. Only countries like the U.S., Canada and Australia have the vast land to serve our need for mass colonization. Therefore, solving the issue of America is the key to solving all other issues. This makes it possible for us to have many people migrate there and even establish another China under same leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, Haotian said in the speech. Only by using non-destructive weapons that can kill many people will we be able to reserve America for ourselves. There has been rapid development of modern biological technology, and new bio-weapons have been invented one after another. Of course, we have not been idle; in the past years, we have seized the opportunity to master weapons of this kind. We are capable of achieving our purpose of cleaning up America all of a sudden. Moore said: They plan on two things: colonizing America with no Americans, and using biological warfare to accomplish that. That is their stated goal. Well, were seeing the details unfold in front of us. The COVID-19 vaccinations, thats part of the plan to destroy the United States, destroy our health, kill our people. (Related: PLANDEMIC: China had a covid vaccine ready and waiting long before the pandemic.) He added that with a weakened military force, the Chinese could attack at any time they deem ideal. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) are definitely students of Sun Tzu and his book, The Art of War. The Chinese would be smart to attack while were at our weakest, before we can rebuild our military. That time is coming not too far off, Mike three months, six months, a year. Which country will China attack first? Moore and Adams also touched on Chinas offensives against Taiwan. The episode comes four days after China has announced it will attack any U.S. forces that come to the aid of the island nation. (Related: China says it will attack any American forces that come to the defense of Taiwan.) The communist countrys warning came in the form of a Dec. 9 op-ed by the Chinese tabloid Global Times, directed at National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. It is credible that the PLA will heavily attack U.S. troops who come to Taiwans rescue. Resolving the Taiwan question by force will become the inevitable and only choice for the Chinese mainland, it said. Moore remarked that the question of whether Beijing will attack the U.S. or Taiwan first is a debate that has no end. But he himself believes that China will set its sights on the U.S. first. He explained: If the U.S. is conquered, Taiwan will have no choice but to surrender. Without us being their big brother, theyre toast and they know it. Why would China waste resources attacking Taiwan and then come to attack us when all they only need [to do is] to attack us first, and Taiwan would be left with no choice but to capitulate? On the other hand, Adams explained the dangers of China attacking Taiwan first before heading west. What a lot of Americans dont realize is that if China moves against Taiwan [and] theyre successful, then they can shut down or take over Taiwans entire semiconductor industry. The Health Ranger noted that the island nation is the No. 1 supplier of semiconductors to the West. If China takes over Taiwan, shuts down the semiconductor factories and imposes an embargo of exports the U.S. economy would be crippled. They could instantly put the U.S. into severe shortages of medicines, electronics, consumer goods, raw materials, everything imaginable. They would literally shut down the entire U.S. economy overnight. Watch the full Dec. 13 episode of the Health Ranger Report below. Tune in to the Health Ranger Report with Mike Adams from Monday to Friday at 3-3:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. CommunistChina.news has more about Chinas latest offensives against the United States. Sources include: Brighteon.com JRNyquist.blog GlobalTimes.cn (Natural News) The National Guard is being deployed to numerous states across America to replace unvaccinated medical workers who were fired from hospitals for refusing Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. In Indiana, the Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health, the states largest hospital system, has requested that National Guard troops take over the posts of medical workers at all facilities except for Riley Childrens Hospital. Hospitalizations in the Hoosier State have reportedly jumped by 47 percent over the past two weeks. As COVID cases continue to increase and hospitalization of COVID and non-COVID patients reach all-time highs, the demand and strain on IU Healths team members, nurses and providers has never been greater, IU Health said in a statement to Beckers Hospital Review. To best support our team members and patients, IU Health will leverage all available resources and enlist members of Indianas National Guard, in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Health, to assist in areas of critical need. Teams of six National Guard troops with both clinical and nonclinical members will be deployed to IU Health hospitals in two-week increments. In Maine, Gov. Janey Mills is supplying about 75 National Guard troops to fill nonclinical support roles, including at the Portland-based Maine Medical Center (MMC). MMC CMO Dr. Joel Botler issued a statement claiming that his facility has had no critical care beds available after more than six operating rooms had to be shut down in addition to six others that had been closed previously due to the systems jab mandates. 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. Militarization of American health care is well underway Over the next few weeks, New Hampshire will be doing much of the same after Gov. Chris Sununu told reporters at a press conference that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is deploying a 24-person team to help out at hospital facilities across the Live Free or Die state. In New York, the new Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that 120 National Guard troops will be deployed to overburdened nursing homes, as well as to 32 hospitals that now have limited capacity due to her injection decrees. The state defined limited capacity as below 10 percent staffed bed capacity, or as determined by the health department based on regional and healthcare utilization factors, reported Zero Hedge. New daily COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state have climbed 33 percent over the last two weeks, according to data tracked by the New York Times. Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire and New York are just the first four of likely many American states that will be bringing in the troops to handle the onslaught of fully vaccinated patients expected to flood emergency rooms after their vaccines take full effect. Theyre not just bad people; theyre criminals Pfizer CEO God-King Albert Bourla, on people who refuse to take his companys COVID vaccine,' wrote one Zero Hedge commenter about Bourla the tyrants recent statement against health freedom. I told you they were going to use martial law before the implants/digital totalitarianism slave monetary system, responded another. Create a problem try to fix the problem tax to fix the problem declare war on the problem adopt the problem to last forever: this is how your government works, wrote another about how this is all so obviously scripted to maximize medical martial law and the growing police state. Im in New Hampshire and its amazing how we didnt have a staffing shortage before they fired everyone that didnt take the jab! noted yet another. This can all go away if the mandates END! More related news about the deployment of National Guard troops to hospitals across the country can be found at Fascism.news. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A single, ominous question now hangs over the White House: What could possibly cause President Trump to put the interests of Russia over those of the United States? Senator Schumer insinuated in 2018. (Article by Daniel Greenfield republished from FrontPageMag.com) Why is Schumer putting Russias interests ahead of those of the United States by blocking Nord Stream 2 sanctions on Putins pet pipeline into Europe? Schumer, along with a number of other top Democrats, is a beneficiary of campaign contributions from top Democrat fundraiser Vincent Roberti whose lobbying firm was paid over $8.5 million by Nord Stream 2 which is owned by Putins state-run Gazprom energy monopoly. Roberti, a former Dem politician, has maxed out his donations to Schumer and to Rep. Eric Swalwell, who may have been cheating on Fang Fang with Vladimir, and threw in a generous $171,000 to the DCCC, as part of the over $545,000 donated to the Democrat political machine. The top Dem bundler is reportedly lobbying on issues related to the U.S. position toward the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, including potential financial sanctions affecting the project. Suddenly, Schumer, who was accusing the GOP and Trump of being in bed with Putin, and demanding that they vote on sanctions, was refusing to hold a floor vote on Russia sanctions. Millions of Americans will continue to wonder if the only possible explanation for this dangerous behavior is the possibility that President Putin holds damaging information over President Trump, Schumer had smeared back then. What damaging info does Putin have on Chuck? President Trump, at the time, had urged that, we should start an immediate investigation into Schumers ties with Russia, and described him as a total hypocrite. That is an understatement. Three years ago, Schumer was clamoring that putting off sanctions on Russia, is an extreme dereliction of duty by President Trump, who seems more intent on undermining the rule of law of this country than standing up to Putin. That describes Schumer in a nutshell. But not just Schumer. With him, all roads lead to Putin, Pelosi had ranted. I dont know what the Russians have on the president, politically, personally, or financially. Roberti plowed $46,100 into Pelosis Victory Fund. He also appears to have maxed out his contributions to the House Majority Leader and gave $5,000 to her PAC to the Future. Thats not too shocking since Pelosi toasted Roberti and his wife at their wedding. Trump denial of Russian collusion rotten at core and doomed to unravel, Senator Richard Blumenthal had tweeted. Expect more serious convictions and indictments early in 2018 as the Special Counsel climbs the ladder of criminal culpability. The serious convictions and indictments, along with the criminal culpability, unraveled. Meanwhile Roberti maxed out his donations to Blumenthal. Yet another reason to call for an independent prosecutor into the #TrumpRussia ties, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto tweeted after having accused President Trump of endangering national security. Roberti also maxed out his contributions to Masto. Senator Patty Murray had called for a special prosecutor to examine the Trump campaigns ties to Russia. Murray, like Schumer and Mastro, got the maximum amount from the Nord Stream 2 lobbyist, along with Senator Maggie Hassan, who had also demanded a special prosecutor for Trump. Senator Cory Booker alleged that President Trump had betrayed his role and that he was weak and submissive to Putin. The New Jersey hack, who always has one hand out, got a cool grand from Roberti. But the real lobbying effort to stop the Nord Stream 2 sanctions is coming out of the Biden White House with top associates of the notoriously corrupt politician pushing Senate Dems to let Putin have his pipeline. And thats after Biden shut down the Keystone XL pipeline for America. Biden falsely claimed that waiving sanctions on Putins pipeline was in U.S. national interests. Roberti is a longtime Biden pal who boasts of having advised him on his 2008 presidential bid and reportedly flew him out to his hometown during the campaign. Another Biden donor and lobbyist working for the foreign companies that partnered on Nord Stream 2 signed a check to Bidens victory fund that Democrats refused to return until they were shamed into doing so by the New York Post. Where are the Republicans who know in their heart the president is giving away the store to Vladimir Putin? Schumer had demanded. Where are the Democrats who know Biden is giving away the store? Cashing their checks. Secretary of State Blinken claimed that refusing to sanction Putins pipeline would rebuild relationships with our allies and partners in Europe. Had a Trump administration cabinet member said something like that, wed already be in the middle of three investigations, one by the FBI, another by the CIA, and a third by Rep. Adam Schiffs poolboy, but no one cares now. After years in which Schumer could talk about nothing so much as Putin, he hardly has anything to say about the Russian ruler over the past year. Thats understandable considering that Biden joined Putins phony arms pact when President Trump wouldnt do it, and refused to sanction Nord Stream 2. If Schumer has anything to say about Putin now, its, Da, Comrade. Theres no more talk of special prosecutors and no suggestions that Putin is rigging elections. Not when a lobbyist for a Swiss company owned by the Putin regime is signing the checks. There are no more of Schumers ominous questions when the answers are all too clear. Read more at: FrontPageMag.com (Natural News) Four aging Air Force veterans on Tuesday, Dec. 7, finally spoke about their strange and extraordinary encounters with unidentified flying objects (UFO) during a conference held in Washington, D.C. Three of the Air Force veterans personally appeared in the hearing while a fourth one was brought into the National Press Club conference via video feed from the Ozark Mountains in Missouri. The story of each veteran was different but they share one important claim: UFOs tampered with Air Force nuclear weapons in the 1960s, which both terrified and mystified the airmen and made them remain silent for decades. (Related: Former US military officer claims UFOs shut down nuclear missiles.) Also capturing the attention of Washington were the reports of Navy encounters with unknown flying objects or unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) that have made national headlines and put UFOs back into political attention for the first time in years. I waited 40 years before I opened my mouth, and thats a long time, said David Schindele, a retired captain who worked as a nuclear missile launch control officer at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. I had this terrible secret on my mind for all that time, and I felt such great relief to finally admit to my friends and close relatives what I experienced in the Air Force. Veteran Robert Salas told his story about a glowing red-orange craft that hovered at a Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile silo in Montana and his account has been told for decades and has become a part of the growing UFO lore. Through the years, the government has remained aloof to reports of UFOs flirting with the most powerful arms during the Cold War. But a different Capitol heard the stories of Salas and his fellow veterans this year. The group claimed that UFOs have appeared since the 1960s and theyre backed up by the current accounts of Navy witnesses and fighter jet footage of UAP. Salas has also gathered other Air Force veterans who have written witness affidavits describing their own alleged encounters years ago. He claimed that UFOs appeared at different times and put 20 Minuteman ICBMs off-line at different sites. Schindele, on the other hand, shared that he and his commander visited a missile launch site near Minot in September 1966, and he was told that 10 missiles at silos in the area suffered guidance and control malfunctions when an 80- to 100-foot wide UFO with bright flashing lights lingered over the site. Salas, who was a first lieutenant stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, in 1967, said he was working as a deputy missile combat crew commander in the underground nuclear missile control room when a flight security controller called in a panicky manner after seeing a large glowing, pulsating red oval-shaped object linger at the front gate. Robert Jacobs, who graced the conference via video link from Missouri, said he was an Air Force first lieutenant based at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, in 1964 when he set up a telescope video camera to catch an Atlas rocket test. Jacobs said the video showed a disc-shaped object flying over the dummy warhead as it soared over the Pacific Ocean, circled it and shot it down with beams of light. He said the film footage was cut and taken by men in gray suits. His commander ordered him not to say anything about it but Jacobs offered the story to media and it was eventually sold to the National Enquirer tabloid. Meanwhile, former Navy pilot Lieutenant Ryan Graves disclosed that the Navy spotted UFOs in restricted American airspace daily for years. He disclosed the UAP incidents during an interview on CBS News 60 Minutes, which was aired May 16. Graves, in an interview with Bill Whitaker, said that his F/A-18F Super Hornet squadron spotted UFOs southeast of Virginia Beach in 2014. The squadron, which has upgraded radar, zeroed in with infrared cameras on the UFOs. Another encounter that his squadron recorded on video was a UFO hovering over Jacksonville, Florida in 2015. Graves, who worked for the Navy for more than a decade, confirmed that his squadron regularly spotted UFOs every day for at least a couple of years. UFOs are a threat to national security The retired lieutenant believes that UFOs are a threat to national security but agrees that they might be something else. He cited that other pilots think UFOs were one of three things, namely a secret American technology, an enemys spy plane or something out of this world. I would say the highest probability is its a threat observation program, Graves said, adding that UFOs could either be a Chinese or Russian technology. If these were tactical jets from another country that were hanging out up there, it would be a massive issue. But because it looks slightly different, were not willing to actually look at the problem in the face. Were happy to just ignore the fact that these are out there, watching us every day, he added when asked whether he is worried about the presence of UFOs in restricted U.S. airspace. The Department of Defense already has a special unit known as the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force that is dedicated to UFO research. It was established in August last year to gain understanding into the origins and nature of UAP, which is the preferred term for UFOs given by the Pentagon. The task force replaced the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), which secretly existed from 2007 to 2012. The AATIPs existence was never known to the public until the New York Times wrote about it in 2017. UFOs are real and they do exist Luis Elizondo, who led the AATIP in its final two years, confirmed that UFOs are real and the government itself said that they do exist. He added that unanswered questions still remain like what are UFOs and what are their intentions and capabilities. The former AATIP head noted that some sightings remain unexplained. According to Elizondo, some of the UFOs could perform extraordinary feats. Imagine a technology that can do 6-to-700 g-forces, that can fly at 13,000 miles an hour, that can evade radar and that can fly through air and water and possibly space, noted Elizondo, who added that the UFOs had no propulsion engine yet were able to defy gravity. The Pentagon did not take his findings seriously, Elizondo said. He decided to quit out of frustration in 2017 and one of his last achievements was declassifying three UAP videos that the Pentagon made public last year. The videos were leaked to the New York Times by Christopher Mellon, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence under former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Elizondo said he was troubled that the government was doing nothing about UAPs. Its bizarre and unfortunate that someone like myself has to do something like that to get a national security issue like this on the agenda, Elizondo stressed. Watch the Health Ranger Report video below to know more about UFOs or UAPs. Follow UFOs.news for more news and information related to UFOs. Sources include: StrangeSounds.org CBSNews.com (Natural News) A letter written last year to the Justice Department by a Democratic whistleblower in Arizona claims that fellow Democrats in Pima County added as many as 35,000 votes to the partys candidates during the 2020 election, and of course, nothing was done about it. This information came out Monday, during an ad hoc hearing in Tucson, where Arizona State House and Senate members met to discuss election integrity issues in Pima County, American Greatness reporter Debra Heine wrote this week. Heine noted further that during the hearing, witnesses gave testimony and provided evidence regarding alleged voting irregularities that occurred during the 2020 election, including ballots from people not living where they voted, and inflated voter rolls across the Democrat-leaning county. The letter, dated Nov. 10 and addressed to the Justice Departments criminal division, was read into the record by state Rep. Mark Finchem (R), a candidate for Arizona secretary of state next year who has received former President Donald Trumps endorsement. Per American Greatness, the letter, in full, says: Please be advised the Pima County Recorder, located at 240 N. Stone Avenue in Tucson, Arizona, 85701 in Pima County, Arizona, and the Democrat Party added fraud votes. In the initial count of the vote by mail (VBM) totals released at 8 pm on November 3, 2020. There are approximately 35,000 fraud votes added to each Democrat candidates vote totals. Candidates impacted include County, State, and Federal Election candidates. Through the utilization of the automated ballot count machines in Pima County Elections, My understanding is that 35,000 was embedded into each Democrat candidates total votes. Below are the meeting notes. In a meeting I was invited to by the Democrat party in Pima County, Arizona on September 10, 2020, no phones or recording devices were allowed. A presentation was given including detailed plans to embed 35,000 votes in a spread configured distribution to each Democrat candidates vote totals. When I asked, How in the world would 35,000 votes be kept hidden, or from being discovered? It was stated that spread distribution will be embedded across the total registered vote range and will not exceed the registered voter count. And the 35,000 was determined allowable for Pima County based on our county registered voter count. It was also stated total voter turnout versus total registered voters determined how many votes we can embed. The embedding will also adjust based on voter turnout. Because the embedded votes are distributed sporadically, all embedded votes will not be found if audited because embeds are in groups of approximately 1,000. This is so the County Recorder can declare an oversight issue or error, as a group of 1,000 is a normal and acceptable error. Maricopa Countys embed totals will be substantially larger than Pima, due to embeds being calculated based on the total number of registered voters. When I asked, Has this ever been tested, and how do we know it works? the response was, yes, this has been tested and has shown significant success in Arizona judicial retention elections, since 2014. Even undetectable in post audits because no candidate will spend the kind of funds needed to audit and contact voters to verify votes and the full potential of the total registered voters, which is more than 500,000 registered voters. This year our Secretary of State has removed precinct level detail from election night releases, so candidates cant see precinct over-votes. This is what I have from this meeting. Just thought Id report this. Not sure if you can do anything since I was unable to have a recording device at this meeting. Thank You. The whistleblower chose to remain anonymous and did not want to be involved in any subsequent investigation. Finchem noted that state lawmakers were cced on the email, adding that in the months that followed, they conducted a very quiet, but fruitful investigation. He added that investigators managed to verify the IP address of the computer from which the email was sent, and that was located in Tucson, Ariz., which is located in Pima County. However, they were not able to identify the whistleblower not that it matters, because Bidens DoJ never responded. Trump is aware of the discrepancies, as evidenced by the fact that his spokeswoman, Liz Harrington, has tweeted them out. Topawa, Arizona Voting Age Population: 182 Registered "Voters": 288 158% Registration Rate With single locations having 173 registered "voters" pic.twitter.com/N7j8KrITEO Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) December 13, 2021 40 registered voters at a CBP office in Lukeville, Arizona pic.twitter.com/hhyvyZjAND Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) December 13, 2021 Keep in mind, Trump supposedly only lost Arizona by about 11,000 votes oh, and the state now has two Democratic senators though it is governed by Republicans (and convincingly so). Its obvious Democrats have stolen our electoral system. Read more on this subject at VoteFraud.news. Sources include: AmGreatness.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) More than 15,000 physicians and scientists from all over the world have signed a declaration stating that they are opposed to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for children, especially the vaccines made using mRNA technology. This is according to Dr. Robert W. Malone, the inventor of mRNA technology behind the creation of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Malone, who has worked for over three decades in vaccine research and development, warned parents that the decision to give their children the dangerous COVID-19 vaccine is irreversible. Malone highlighted three main issues with the vaccines, specifically the COVID-19 vaccines based on mRNA technology. First, Malone said that the mRNA vaccines inject a viral gene into a persons body. This gene forces the body to create toxic spike proteins that can cause permanent damage to childrens organs, including their immune, reproductive and nervous systems. It can also damage the brain, heart and blood vessels and cause deadly blood clots. Second, he said that the mRNA technology is still in its development stage and has not been tested enough. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were introduced for wide public consumption less than a year after development began. Malone pointed out that it takes at least five years of testing and thorough research before a vaccines full risks can be properly understood. Ask yourself if you want your own child to be part of the most radical medical experiment in human history, said Malone. Third, Malone said that the main reason politicians and public health officials want children to be vaccinated is based on a lie. When weighing the benefits against the risks of vaccinating children, Malone said there is no tangible benefit for them to get the vaccine. Your children represent no danger to their parents or grandparents. Its actually the opposite. Their immunity, after getting COVID, is critical to save your family, if not the world, from this disease, he said. As a parent and grandparent, my recommendation to you is to resist and fight to protect your children. Many parents are concerned about giving their children the COVID-19 vaccine According to a recent poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), most parents still are not confident that the vaccines will provide safety for their children against COVID-19. The KFFs survey was conducted between Nov. 8 to 23 and involved 1,196 parents with at least one child under the age of 18. After an initial wave of vaccinations over the summer due to the governments mass vaccination program, the number of children and teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 getting vaccinated has significantly gone down. According to the KFFs survey, only around half of the parents surveyed 49 percent reported their adolescents having received at least one dose of the vaccine. Just one percent of parents of adolescents now say they will get their adolescent vaccinated as soon as they are able. Thirteen percent said they want to wait and see how well the vaccine has affected other teenagers before doing so. Around 30 percent said they will not get their teenager vaccinated. Parents of younger children, between the ages of five and 11, are even less excited about the vaccine. Only 16 percent said their child has already been vaccinated. Thirteen percent said they will get their young child vaccinated immediately. Thirty-two percent of parents said they want to wait and see if the vaccine works for other young children first. Around 29 percent said they will never get their young child vaccinated. (Related: 8-year-old girl differs stroke and brain hemorrhage less than a day after getting Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.) There are about 25 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 and 28 million younger children between the ages of five and 11 in the United States. Listen to this special situation update of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talked about how nations that fail to protect children from the experimental, dangerous and demonic COVID-19 vaccines will suffer the wrath of God. Learn more about how dangerous the COVID-19 vaccines are for children by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news. Sources include: WND.com TheTelegraph.com (Natural News) Fairview Elementary School teacher Jonathan Ullrich was arrested Monday, Dec. 13, and charged with nine counts of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated sexual exploitation of a child, eight counts of rape, incest and eight counts of rape of a child. Ullrich is being held on a $200,000 bond in the Maury County Jail. District Attorney General Brent Cooper announced that there are two minor victims and neither are students at Fairview Elementary School. The Williamson County Schools (WCS) said the 50-year-old Ullrich was placed on unpaid leave after his arrest. It also sent letters to families of the victims and the staff notifying them of Ullrichs arrest. Ullrich, named FES Elementary School Teacher of the Year at the WCSs annual employee of the year celebration in 2020, had a history of sexual harassment complaints against him dating back to 2014. He was the first principal at Longview Elementary School in Spring Hill, which opened in 2007 and served in that position until 2014. Ullrich was reassigned by the WCS to the district office after an investigation into allegations that he violated the districts anti-harassment policy by making inappropriate comments to a staff member but was allowed to get back into the classroom that fall. He served previously as an assistant principal at Heritage Middle and Bethesda Elementary schools and taught at Chapmans Retreat Elementary School. Sexual assaults increase sharply in K-12 schools Meanwhile, the Department of Education last year said that sexual assault reports sharply increased at K-12 schools. Data showed that reports of sexual assaults at elementary, middle and high schools increased sharply between 2015 and 2018, underscoring the need for schools to be prepared in handling reports of sexual violence. The finding came from the Civil Rights Data Collection, which is a compilation of data drawn from surveys of every public school, charter school and juvenile justice facility in the nation. (Related: Public school is now transsexual child abuse indoctrination as the NEA colludes with LGBT groups to exploit schoolchildren.) The collection of data aims to help the Education Department enforce civil rights law and has been a critical tool for advocates who seek to ensure schools are treating every child fairly, regardless of race, gender or disability. The department found that reports of sexual violence at schools rose from about 9,600 in the 2015-2016 school year to nearly 15,000 in the 2017-2018 school year. Thats an increase of more than 50 percent. We hear all too often about innocent children being sexually assaulted by an adult at school. That should never happen. No parent should have to think twice about their childs safety while on school grounds, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in an issue brief published alongside the report. The discourse around sexual assault has typically revolved around college campuses, where surveys found that up to one in five women experience sexual violence. But less attention were focused on K-12 setting, where administrators are far more likely to be unprepared or unaware of their obligations under federal law when it comes to handling allegations of sexual assault. Unlike colleges, where students often get training or information about where to go to report a sexual assault, grade school students might not know who to tell. There is so much more that needs to be done in the K-12 space to increase awareness around sex discrimination and sexual harassment, said Shiwali Patel, senior counsel at the National Womens Law Center. Watch the video below showing how the Federal Bureau of Investigation got caught covering up child abuse sex crimes. Follow Violence.news for more news related to crimes. Sources include: WilliamsonHerald.com Politico.com (Natural News) Well-vaccinated Cornell University is forced to shut down just a few days before the end of the semester due to a recent surge of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). According to the Ivy League schools website, 97 percent of the overall population on the Ithaca, New York campus are fully vaccinated including 100 percent of professional faculty, 93 percent of other employees and 99 percent of undergraduate students. Cornell University President Martha Pollack said on Tuesday, Dec. 14, that final exams will be held online after the universitys surveillance testing found that COVID-19 continues to spread to its well-vaccinated population. There are currently 469 active student cases, including 214 newly confirmed positives. Pollack said the lab team detected the highly-transferrable omicron variant in a significant number of student samples. While faculty and staff case numbers currently remain low, just last evening our COVID-19 testing lab team identified evidence of the highly contagious omicron variant in a significant number of Mondays [Dec. 13] positive student samples, she said. All university activities involving undergraduates and all university-sponsored events, including the Dec. 18 graduation ceremony, will be canceled. Libraries and gyms will be closed. Students are also advised to get a negative COVID-19 test result before any travel. Visitors and guests are not allowed on campus, except those coming to pick up students for break. Any student who has not tested negative in the past 48 hours should get a supplemental test as soon as possible, Pollack said. Students are encouraged to stay in Ithaca, in their residences, until their test results are received, and severely limit interactions with others during that time. Pollack said the university has suspended all classes, and that students have until March 29 to move out except international students who cannot return home. Undergraduate students and professional masters students with research or other projects will not be able to continue them on campus. Cornell had already imposed strict measures in hopes of limiting the spread of the virus prior to Pollacks announcements. According to Pollack, Cornell has a role in reducing the spread of the disease in the broader community. While I want to provide reassurance that, to date, we have not seen severe illness in any of our infected students, we do have a role to play in reducing the spread of the disease in the broader community, Pollack said. The fact that we have not experienced severe illness among our student population may lead some to ask why we are imposing such serious steps. More than a dozen U.S. states have reported omicron variant cases earlier this month. Among the measures implemented are the wearing of mask at all times indoor regardless of vaccination status, except when eating or drinking or alone in a private space like an office or a dorm room. The few remaining unvaccinated students are required to maintain a six-foot physical distance with others whenever possible. As of Dec. 12, New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls office has reported 38 confirmed omicron cases across the state, including two in Tompkins County, where Cornell is located. Pfizer propaganda targets the immunocompromised A new study conducted by Pfizer researchers found that breakthrough COVID-19 cases are more common and severe in people with weakened immune systems. Breakthrough infections are those that occur in vaccinated people. They analyzed nearly 1.2 million records from the HealthVerity database and published their findings in the Journal of Medical Economics. The researchers found that immunocompromised vaccinated people were three times more likely to contract COVID-19. While immunocompromised people only represented 18 percent of those studied, they accounted for over 38 percent of infections, nearly six in 10 hospitalizations and all the deaths. (Related: Smoking gun: Pfizer logs 1,223 deaths, 42,086 adverse reactions after just three months of vaccine rollout.) The results supplement other real-world studies, and support the introduction of a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to increase protection among the immunocompromised individuals, Manuela Di Fusco, the lead author and a part of Pfizers health economics and outcomes research team, said in a statement. However, a study from Israel showed that three doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine do not provide enough protection against the post-vaccine omicron variant. The study actually found that the vaccine provides four times less protection against omicron than against the delta variant. Researchers from the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Avid and the Ministry of Healths Central Virology Lab conducted the study. The researchers used data exclusively available to the Sheba Medical Center as part of a larger serology study conducted among the hospitals healthcare workers. Watch the video below to know the hidden truth behind the global pandemic. Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to the coronavirus pandemic. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com 1 KGET.com TheEpochTimes.com 2 JPost.com (Natural News) Former vice president of the World Health Organizations (WHO) European Advisory Group of Experts in Immunization Christian Perronne has warned that the real threat to public health is not unvaccinated people, but rather vaccinated people who took the jabs in obedience to the government. A specialist in tropical pathologies and emerging infectious diseases, Perronne says that vaccinated people are the ones who should be put in quarantine and isolated from the society because they are the ones shedding illness onto others. Unvaccinated people are not dangerous; vaccinated people are dangerous for others, Perronne is quoted as saying. Its proven in Israel now Im in contact with many physicians in Israel theyre having big problems, severe cases in the hospitals are among vaccinated people, and in U.K. also, you have the larger vaccination program and also there are problems. News of this utterly panicked a working group on the Chinese Virus plandemic in France, Perronne further explained, because the spread of this news could spark pandemonium among the general populace. Israeli doctor Kobi Haviv reportedly further told the media that 95 percent of all seriously ill patients in his country are vaccinated, and that almost no unvaccinated people are getting sick. Fully vaccinated people account for 85-90% of hospitalizations, he said. We are opening more and more COVID branches. The effectiveness of vaccines is declining or disappearing. 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. Covid vaccines are genocide Early on in the plandemic, Perronne had challenged the governments then-resistance to using the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for early treatment of the Fauci Flu. He was quoted by Edmund Fordham in discussing the history of chloroquine, which was used for many years to try to control dysentery. Fake government doctor Tony Fauci also praised the use of hydroxychloroquine back in 2013 to treat MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), a type of coronavirus similar to the current Fauci Flu. Somehow, the entirety of established science went out the window the moment the plandemic arrived. Suddenly, there were only vaccines and blind trust in the government available as cures for this newly modified coronavirus, which is little more than a bad cold or flu. Another drug of interest that has been squelched by the establishment is ivermectin. Because it actually works, ivermectin has been restricted from use by the government, which is barely even allowing pharmacies to dispense it for other FDA-approved reasons. Isnt it sad we have to get the truth about these shots from foreign countries because our government and media lie to us? wrote one commenter at the Americas Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) website about how it took Perronne, a French man, to say what millions of American doctors refuse to say. Why are they so intent on all of us taking these shots that they would bribe, bully, force and lie to us to make us take them? Something is fishy here and I would rather take my chances on surviving the virus. My odds are over 90%. Another commenter recommended the use of ivermectin alongside vitamin D as a powerful prophylaxis though getting your hands on ivermectin could require a little bit of hands-on sleuthing. Start taking ivermectin immediately when symptoms appear (fever, etc.), this person wrote. Your odds approach 100%. I got 100 12mg ivermectin from India for $170, including shipping. The recommended dosage is 24mg for 5 days or sooner if fever subsides, so my cost to get to 100% is $17. And the beauty is: NONE of that $17 goes to Pfizer. Another pointed out that the reason governments do not want anyone to have ivermectin is because governments want people dead, not cured. More of the latest news about the death toll from Fauci Flu shots can be found at Genocide.news. Sources for this article include: AmericasFrontlineDoctors.org NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Stella Moris, the fiance of imprisoned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, is sounding the alarm about her partners plight at the hands of Deep State tyrants who are trying to murder him in prison. The 50-year-old Wikileaks publisher, who is being held on remand in a maximum-security prison while he fights extradition to America, recently suffered what is now believed to be a mini-stroke. The claim is that Assange is under so much stress due to the ongoing U.S. court action against him that his health declined to the point of neurological damage (either that or they are injecting the guy with mystery vaccines). According to reports, Assange now has a drooping right eyelid and memory problems. The Daily Mail (U.K.) says he suffered a transient ischaemic attack, also known as the interruption of blood supply to the brain. Assange is now said to be taking anti-stroke medication because of worries that he might soon suffer a full-blown stroke if the condition and stress causing it continue, which appears likely based on his dire circumstances. Julian is struggling and I fear this mini-stroke could be the precursor to a more major attack, said Moris, who is also a lawyer. It compounds our fears about his ability to survive the longer this long legal battle goes on. Assanges father says he was coerced into getting vaccinated for COVID while in prison As we reported last year, the CIA was already caught trying to poison Assange and steal his DNA from his family members. A Spanish security company called UC Global leaked information about how an intrusive and sophisticated secret surveillance apparatus was planted inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where Assange has been living. Now, Assange seems to be under a new kind of attack that his father during a recent live-streamed event suggested could be due to vaccinations that his son received while in prison. Due to fear of retaliation if he rejected the shots, Assange reportedly agreed to get the jabs, which are supposedly meant to help keep him safe against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). He has been vaccinated, of course, stated John Shipton, Assanges father. So he has no choice in this. No choice about anything. He has no control over his body. Every medicine Assange takes or does not take goes on the record and that information likely ends up in court. Because of this, Assange supposedly complied with getting Fauci Flu jabbed in an attempt to increase his chances of seeing a positive outcome. While there is not technically a jab mandate in place in the prison where Assange is being held, his father insists that Assange still has no control over his own body. All actions, as I understand it, are noted and available to [the] prosecution, Shipton said. The psychiatric staff and medical staff write reports which are available. If [the] vax [is] not taken, I presume prison administration would report it. Thus a freedom which in practice does not exist. Perhaps these COVID jabs are part of the CIAs intrusive and sophisticated crusade against Assanges life. This would make sense, seeing as how Assange is now suffering from cardiovascular and neurological issues that are commonly associated with Fauci Flu injections. Whatever Assange has on the Powers That Be, now would be a good time to dump the information, suggested one commenter at Information Liberation about the matter. At least a partial dump. Assange is not an American citizen, why is he even being extradited here? asked another. Is he accused of a war crime or something? The U.K. government has no right to even have him in prison. The whole thing stinks. More news about Assange and the Deep States quest to destroy him can be found at Tyranny.news. Sources include: InformationLiberation.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) MPs have been told by experts that a Wuhan lab leak is now the most likely origin of COVID-19 and that theres also a high risk it was an engineered virus. (Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Summit.news) The Telegraph reports on the comments of Dr. Alina Chan, a specialist in gene therapy and cell engineering at MIT and Harvard, who was speaking to the Science and Technology Select Committee. I think the lab origin is more likely than not. Right now its 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, said Dr. Chan. 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, she added. We know this virus has a unique feature, called the furin cleavage site, and without this feature there is no way this would be causing this pandemic. A proposal 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 Im going to put horns on horses and at the end of 2019 a unicorn turns up in Wuhan city. Lord Ridley, who co-wrote a book with Chan, also said it was incredibly surprising that after nearly two years we still havent found a single infected animal that could be the progenitor. Viscount Ridley called on bad actors who think that unleashing a pandemic is something they could get away with, to be exposed. The fact that the source of COVID-19 is now likely to have been the Wuhan lab is quite the turnaround from last year, when mere discussion of this possibility was branded a ludicrous conspiracy theory and people who circulated it were banned from social media. As we previously highlighted, Dr. Peter Daszak, President of the EcoHealth Alliance, a group that has extensive ties to the Wuhan lab gain of function research, thanked Dr. Anthony Fauci for dismissing the lab leak theory early on in the pandemic. Daszak was also tasked by Facebook with fact-checking (censoring) information related to the hypothesis, while Google, which via YouTube also censored information about the theory, also funded Daszaks virus research. Read more at: Summit.news (Natural News) In New Zealand, the government says getting the Covid clot shots and participating in orgies of 25 people or less is very safe, but for some reason recognizes tobacco as bad for your health, so they are banning smoking forever for everyone, starting in 2025. Yet, how many New Zealanders will die from the deadly Covid clot shots and sexually transmitted diseases by then? If you think the New Zealand government cares about their citizens health, think again. What government literally promotes orgies, and where did they come up with the number of 25 people being safe, but 26 is very dangerous? These are the same authorities giving advice on Covid safety and gene-altering spike protein injections? The same authorities in New Zealand about to make smoking illegal due to health concerns are promoting Chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea and syphilis as nothing to worry about. The same government goons in New Zealand who are so concerned about smoking dangers believe in sex as a vehicle for infertility, not fertility. In fact, Chlamydia remains the most commonly diagnosed STD in the Pacific island country of 5 million people, according to surveillance reports, and Chlamydia, if left untreated can lead to infertility in both males and females. This deadly infection can be passed on to infants, resulting in neonatal conjunctivitis and pneumonia. Still think the New Zealand government cares about their people? The number of cases of Chlamydia, genital warts and syphilis continue to increase because the government promotes wild sex orgies, even during the Covid pandemic. Dont forget to wear your mask! 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. Time for your deadly blood-clotting, disease-promoting spike protein injections, for the safety of all New Zealanders, but no more smoking The New Zealand government does not want people dying from lung cancer, but rather from heart attacks and sexually transmitted diseases. Why? Nobody knows. It must just be easier to fool the populace by picking some evil scarecrow to burn, all while promoting deadly medical and social practices. If you are age 14 or under right now in New Zealand, you will never (legally) smoke a cigarette in your lifetime, because its so dangerous, but you can go get myocarditis today by getting a Covid clot shot injection, thats being heavily promoted by the same government outlawing tobacco use. As the health minister has proclaimed, This is a historic day for the health of our people. Welcome to smoke-free New Zealand, where people are dropping dead like flies from clotted blood and orgy-spread venereal diseases A venereal disease is contracted and transmitted by sexual contact where microorganisms (pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and parasites) live in mucus membranes or on the skin and are spread via vaginal secretions, semen or blood (often anally) during sex. The New Zealand government says this is safe practice as long as there are 25 infected people all having sex together at the same time, but never 26 or more. New Zealanders are going to definitely want to see the science behind that claim. Now, if everyone in New Zealand dies from the Fauci clot shots and STDs over the next three years, there will be no need to ban smoking, because there wont be any humans on the island to smoke anything. These policies are welcomed by public health experts as game changer type of legislation, yet the same government promotes promiscuity and sexually deviant activity. It just doesnt make sense. In the end, thousands will die from prion diseases from the Covid clot shots and become infertile from sexually transmitted diseases that the government of New Zealand promotes, and theyll still act like some kind of heroes for outlawing nicotine use. Yet, the last time anyone checked, murder by vaccine is not legal, and no government should be promoting sex among 25 people at once. For reliable health news on the internet, tune to Vaccines.news for updates on experimental vaccines (all of the Covid shots) that cause blood clots and other horrific side effects. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news TruthWiki.org NaturalNews.com TheGuardian.com TheGatewayPundit.com (Natural News) Russian Deputy Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Monday, Dec. 13, said that Russia may be forced to deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe to counter the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO) plans to do the same. Ryabkovs statement followed a month of escalating U.S.-Russia tension over Ukraine sparked by widespread Western media reports alleging that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for an invasion of Eastern Ukraine by deploying tens of thousands of extra troops near Crimea and the border region. The Russian threat raised the stakes significantly higher in the U.S.-Russia standoff. Ryabkov said Russia believes that NATO is moving closer to its own redeployment of intermediate-range nuclear forces. In 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty to prevent a nuclear standoff on Europe. Former President Donald Trump suspended American participation on February 2, 2019 amid Russian and global warnings that Washingtons exit would trigger a new post-Cold War era arms race. The Kremlin accused NATO of building up previously banned weapons in Europe. Ryabkov pointed out that NATO is close to restoring the 56th Artillery Command, which operated nuclear-capable Pershing missiles during the Cold War. Lack of progress towards a political and diplomatic solution to this problem will lead to our response being of a military and technical military nature, said Ryabkov. That is, it will be a confrontation. Right now there arent any, we have a unilateral moratorium. We call for NATO and the U.S. to join this moratorium. 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. Observers say that the fresh threat coming from the Kremlin is geared towards having greater leverage to bring NATO back into direct dialogue at the negotiating table. President Joe Biden and Putin already held a two-hour summit wherein the Russian leader pressed Biden on legal guarantees that NATO would not conduct any further eastward expansion. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has issued an open invitation for Putin to station nuclear-capable missiles in Belarus, which would be very near NATO-member Poland as well as U.S.-backed Ukraine. (Related: Russia warns Ukraine of full-scale conflict along the countrys eastern border.) Reuters reported that Lukashenko wants Russian nuclear-capable Iskander missile systems to deploy in the south and west of the country. Lukashenko also told National Defense magazine that he needed the Iskander mobile ballistic missile system. Iskander has a range of up to 500 kilometers (311 miles) and can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. Declassified documents show NATOs promise not to expand Newly declassified documents revealed that NATO gave former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev assurances that it would not expand past what was then the East German border in 1990. The documents also showed that multiple national leaders considered rejecting Central and Eastern European membership in NATO from early 1990 through 1991. George Washington University National Security Archives researchers Svetlana Savranskaya and Tom Blanton wrote: That discussions of NATO in the context of German unification negotiations in 1990 were not at all narrowly limited to the status of East German territory, and that subsequent Soviet and Russian complaints about being misled about NATO expansion were founded in written contemporaneous memcons and telcons at the highest level. Russian leaders accused NATO of extending invitation to Hungary, Poland and what was then Czechoslovakia to joint the alliance in 1997 at the Madrid Summit. This, according to the Kremlin, is in contravention of assurances offered to the Soviet Union before its 1991 collapse. Russian Presidents Boris Yeltsin and Putin have complained bitterly about the expansion of NATO towards their borders despite what they believed were assurances to the contrary. What happened to the assurances our western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those declarations today? Putin said at the Munich Conference on Security Policy in 2007. No one even remembers them. But I will allow myself to remind this audience what was said. I would like to quote the speech of NATO General Secretary Mr. Woerner in Brussels on May 17, 1990. He said at the time that, The fact that we are ready not to place a NATO army outside of German territory gives the Soviet Union a firm security guarantee. Where are these guarantees? The Russians may have a point. The declassified documents show that Gorbachev only accepted German reunification because he received assurances that NATO would not expand after he withdrew his forces from Eastern Europe. The British also reassured Gorbachev that they could not foresee circumstances under which NATO might expand into Eastern and Central Europe. But former President Bill Clinton decided in 1994 to expand NATO eastward despite the repeated warnings of legendary diplomat George F. Kennan. Follow WWIII.news for more news related to tensions between Russia and the United States. Sources include: Zerohedge.com WSJ.com ArmsControl.org NationalInterest.org (Natural News) In the Terminator sci-fi movie series, scientist Miles Dyson is given an exotic microchip from the AI cyborg sent from the future and uses it to pursue radical new developments in microprocessors. This research ultimately becomes Skynet, the global AI supercomputer system that achieves self-awareness and decides to eliminate humanity by initiating nuclear war. This story line isnt far from reality. Transistor technology was first studied and developed in the 1940s by studying non-terrestrial craft crash hardware that was first acquired by the US military in the Roswell crash of June, 1947. This technology was quickly handed to powerful American corporations who soon announced the discovery of the transistor. This topic is too detailed to explore here, but a good overview of the reverse engineering of non-terrestrial technology is found at this link on UFOinsight.com, which writes: In December 1997, Jack Shulman, as president and CEO of the American Computer Company in Cranford, New Jersey, would claim to have in their possession proof that technology recovered from the crash site of Roswell was reverse engineered [1] and then patented as great American scientific breakthroughs in technology. Shulman would particularly focus on the patenting of the transistor by the Bell Labs company. And asked a vaguely disguised question as what if they hadnt actually invented their technology? But merely reverse-engineered it? According to these documents, the transistor developed at Bell Labs, most notably credited to Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley, was, in fact, provided to the company. Whats more, when some researchers have investigated the history of the transistor prior to Bells groundbreaking technological marvel, there is no obvious developing point between all that came before and Bell Labs version. Get more news like this without being censored: Get the Natural News app for your mobile devices. Enjoy uncensored news, lab test results, videos, podcasts and more. Bypass all the unfair censorship by Google, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Get your daily news and videos directly from the source! Download here. By December of 1947 and seemingly out of nowhere Bell Laboratories had managed to demonstrate the first Earth-made transistor, which by any honest analysis appears to violate the laws of physics. (All transistors are quantum devices.) Transistor technology was then heavily researchers and refined throughout the 1950s and beyond. The global surveillance grid would have never been possible without MOSFET transistor technology In 1959, the MOSFET transistor was created. It stands for MetalOxideSemiconductor Field-Effect Transistor, and it allows microchips to go into mass production. There are more MOSFET devices in existence on planet Earth than any other device that has ever been manufactured in the history of the known world. It is crucial to note that the widespread usage of MOSFET devices is now ushering in the digital technocracy surveillance state that allows tyrannical governments to surveil and monitor citizens: their movements, transactions, internet activity, speech histories and more. Today, billions of people carry spy devices with them at all times. These are called mobile phones and they watch and listen to people while uploading surveillance details to the cloud where it is analyzed by highly complex computing systems in order to control and manipulate humanity. (People also foolishly install Alexa and Ring devices in their homes, literally inviting spy devices into their own private spaces.) The mass monitoring of humanity through digital means is the necessary step for non-terrestrial AI systems to surveil and control the entirety of the human race. We have covered this in great detail in a recent article and podcast about exopolitical Artificial Intelligence and the plot to depopulate planet Earth. Right now, Earth is being prepared for a post-human future, and the humans who currently populate Earth are being persuaded to commit biological suicide via vaccine bioweapons injections. This is a species-wide self-immolation campaign under the guise of a pandemic that doesnt even exist. Importantly, the crash of non-terrestrial craft in the 1940s just coincidentally allowed these microprocessors to fall into the hands of humans who then built the global technology surveillance grid that is now enslaving humanity and forcing billions into vaccine suicide. (Hint: There are no coincidences.) IBM and Samsung announce skynet breakthrough in microprocessor hardware miniaturization and power consumption Now, 74 years after the Roswell crash, IBM and Samsung have announced an historic leap in semiconductor manufacturing that defies conventional design, as they say in their own press release on PR Newswire. IBM, the same technology company that provided punch card technology machines to the Nazi regime to make the Holocaust mass murder more efficient, is now rolling out this powerful new semiconductor manufacturing tech that will revolutionize microchip manufacturing. In our assessment, this new chip design is the skynet tipping point moment that will enable widespread AI supercomputing systems that will track and monitor everything that humans do. Combined with neuralink technology that allows AI supercomputers to interface with human neurology, these microchips will enable digital surveillance of human thoughts, emotions, actions and inner speech narratives. Once fully interfaced with optic nerves, the inner ear and other sensory processing neurological centers of the brain, this will enable digital control over a persons entire reality, including digital augmented reality without any need for goggles or glasses. The augmented reality will simply be digitally overlaid, directly into the persons neurology. The full Matrix, in other words, is about to become a reality. Evil Zuckerbergs Metaverse project wont just live in the cloud, it will live in your head because every human being will be neuralinked into the AI supercomputer simulation, or they will be ostracized from society as it currently happening with vaccine passports. The entire world is about to be blue-pilled into the Matrix. (That is, if you agree to have these systems embedded in you.) IBM skynet microprocessor design allows radical improvements to computational density, wearable supercomputers and processors embedded in humans The IBM / Samsung technology is truly revolutionary for a variety of reasons. The manufacturing breakthrough allows transistors to be stacked in the Z plane (not just X and Y), which allows for extremely high computational densities. From the IBM press release: IBM (NYSE:?IBM) and Samsung Electronics jointly announced a breakthrough in semiconductor design utilizing a new vertical transistor architecture that demonstrates a path to scaling beyond nanosheet, and has the potential to reduce energy usage by 85 percent compared to a scaled fin field-effect transistor (finFET). Historically, transistors have been built to lie flat upon the surface of a semiconductor, with the electric current flowing laterally, or side-to-side, through them. With new Vertical Transport Field Effect Transistors, or VTFET, IBM and Samsung have successfully implemented transistors that are built perpendicular to the surface of the chip with a vertical, or up-and-down, current flow. The press release specifically cites the potential for such microprocessors to be embedded in all sorts of new systems, greatly expanding the Internet of Things (IoT), which is the global digital surveillance system for the total enslavement of humankind: Continued expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) and edge devices with lower energy needs, allowing them to operate in more diverse environments like ocean buoys, autonomous vehicles, and spacecraft. The greatly reduced power consumption of this configuration also means far less heat production. Since heat dissipation is one of the key challenges of computational density (microprocessors create so much heat, they can melt themselves), the 85% reduction in energy usage translates into 85% less heat production. Because theres less heat to deal with, high-density microprocessors using this new breakthrough technology can be stacked in all three physical planes (X, Y, Z) into densities that go far beyond whats currently possible. In addition, the 85% energy consumption reduction means that smaller microprocessors can be embedded in clothing and wearable devices that generate electricity through kinetic movement. Even smaller systems can be embedded in human bones and tissues (in the skull, for example) and simply operate based on bioavailable electrical potential. In other words, human beings are about to become actual copper top cyborgs. Do not forget what I explained in my previous article and podcast: Moving transistors technology from the micro scale to the nano scale, when considering all 3 dimensions (X, Y, Z) results in a 10 ^ 9 increase in computational density. Why? Because its a factor of 1,000 (or 10 ^ 3) in each of the three dimensions. So a pico-scale microprocessor will express 10 ^ 9 more computational density than a nano-scale microprocessor. (The scale goes like this: Micro, nano, pico, femto) IBM is currently manufacturing 2nm microprocessors, which means the company is already in the low single-digit nano-scale realm of microprocessor technology. This new Z-axis breakthrough allows stacking at the 2 nm level (or even smaller), and with the next incremental improvement, IBM will have achieved pico-scale microprocessors, perhaps at 800 pm (picometers) in size. According to my sources, IBM has already achieved this scale of microprocessor design, although pico-scale microprocessors are not yet in actual production. They exist in the lab, however. This is not good news for humanity. This is, in fact, the end of humanity as we know it. The borgification of the human species is now unstoppable, and it will end with the obliteration of everything it means to be human. Get full details in todays Situation Update podcast: Brighteon.com/e69c5bf3-0a36-41de-a045-1e49859c5659 Discover a new podcast tomorrow and each day at: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport (Natural News) The White House panicked and censored a video feed of Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang during President Joe Bidens Summit for Democracy last week after a map in her slide presentation showed Taiwan in a different color to China. In her presentation, Tang stressed the importance of a fully open internet and having internet access to foster democratic participation. She described broadband access as a human right and explained how Taiwan has used popularly sourced contract tracing systems in place of centralized government database of private medical information to contain the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Problems emerged when Tang showed a digital map of Asia created by the South African human rights organization Civicus. It showed Taiwan as the freest country on the continent. Civicus used shades of green, yellow and red to rate freedom around the world using bright green to mean freest and bright red to mean most repressive. Taiwan received the only bright green rating in Asia, while China appeared in bright red and labeled as closed. Taiwan was the only regional entity portrayed as open, while all the others, including several U.S. allies and partners, were labeled as closed, repressed, obstructed or narrowed. Also appearing in bright red and labeled as closed were Laos, Vietnam and North Korea. Tang joined the virtual summit to discuss the importance of the internet and emerging technologies so that Taiwan can improve its diplomatic governance. She stressed that completely open environment with free speech uncensored is perfect for letting democracy flourish. State Department blames technical issue The feed was cut off and returned in audio-only form. The White House also issued a disclaimer saying: Opinions of individuals on this panel are those of the individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States government. The Department of State blamed technical issue for the problem. It also called the disturbance an honest mistake. It uploaded the full video, including the map, on YouTube and shared its link on the departments website. China has never ruled Taiwan, but the former cuts all diplomatic ties to any country that recognizes the latters sovereignty. Chinese President Xi Jinping said that those acknowledging Taiwan as a country will have their bones ground to powder. (Related: China says it will attack any American forces that come to the defense of Taiwan.) White House officials feared the different colors on the map were meant to highlight the fact that Taiwan is a different country from China despite the fact that China, Laos, and Vietnam are all the same color, according to Reuters. An unnamed source told Reuters that the White House choked and overreacted internally. Washington reportedly complained to Taiwan, which in turn was angry that Tangs video had been cut. The map apparently did not appear in dry run versions of the presentation. One of the anonymous sources speaking to Reuters noted that the map was not a political one meaning it was not showing the borders of sovereign states. China: American democracy is dead American democracy is dead because of wealth, racism and too many checks and balances. This is the contention of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which used its media arms for the past month to complain that Biden did not invite China to the summit. China is one of the worlds most repressive regimes and its most prodigious human rights abuser. The Biden administration has formally accused China of genocide of the Uyghur people. While complaining about Taiwans participation, communist regime outlets expressed outrage that the U.S. excluded China and fellow autocracy Russia from its list of democratic invitees. The State of Democracy in the United States, a 30-page tirade about freedom in America, was published by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The U.S. political system has far too many checks and balances, raising the cost of collective action and in some cases making it impossible altogether, the Chinese Foreign Ministry report stated. Play the video below and listen to learn more about the conflict between China and Taiwan and to know how the Chinese are threatening Americans for defending Taiwan. Follow JoeBiden.news to know more about Joe Bidens relationship with China. Sources include: Breitbart.com 1 Reuters.com Breitbart.com 2 Two lions that were sedated after they escaped from their container at the Changi airport on Sunday being Dec 12 have regained consciousness. Where Could the Lions Come From? Mandai Wildlife Group veterinary and quarantine specialists are actively monitoring the big cats, thought to be part of a seven-lion consignment on its way to a foreign facility, according to The Strait Times. In order to ensure the safety and well-being of the lions, the organization has quarantined them in Mandai. A Singapore Airlines spokesman stated Sunday that the lions did not break through the container's protective netting at any point during the shipment's delivery. One lion was said to have climbed on top of the other's cage before they were drugged. Due to "commercial sensitivity and confidentiality reasons," SIA refuses to speak more on the issue. On Sunday, it was reported that an investigation had been launched. Mandai Wildlife Group's "professional guidance" will continue to be sought by the airline in order to guarantee that the lions are suitable for travel before they continue their voyage, according to the airline. A black panther, a hippopotamus, a jaguar, and an African wild dog have all escaped from their cages in Singapore throughout the years. Also Read: 3-Year Old Lion at Denver Zoo Euthanized After Severe Medical Condition Reasons Why the Animals Were Sedated Singapore Airlines (SIA) requested that VICE World News work with Mandai Wildlife Group, the organization in charge of running Singapore Zoo, to help ensure the lions' well-being. The lions had to be sedated so that the veterinarians can safely transfer the enormous predators to their facility in the north of the city-state, and the lions have recovered very well from the anesthetic, according to an emailed statement. Scientists are keeping an eye on the animals, making sure they're safe and comfortable, SIA said. A VICE reporter called Singapore Airlines (SIA) to inquire about the lions' shipping, as well as when they would begin their journey, and also the nature of the trip. Investigation of the Incident An investigation has been launched by Singapore Airlines International (SIA), the country's primary carrier and one of the world's top airlines. SIA notified state media that it was managing the lions' transportation. The zoo's "veterinary and carnivore care teams" were also contacted by the airline to help with the issue. While the event is being examined, the lions' welfare is the most important consideration, a SIA representative stated. In a statement, the airline said there had been no disturbance to the carrier's operations, but did not explain where the giant cats had come from or where they had been going. Singapore is an important transit hub for wildlife smuggling from Indonesia and Malaysia's neighboring countries. The worldwide wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC has classified it as one of the world's top ten illicit smuggling centers, and that was in 2010. Related Article: Experts Uncover How Yawning Helps Group of Lions Be Synchronized For more news, updates about lions and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Scientists have detected disconcerting and worrying indicators near the planet's southern end, notably in one of the ice shelves protecting the Antarctic's so-called "Doomsday glacier." In contrast, the planet's fast warming terrain transforms the topography of the Arctic area up north. Researchers presented satellite images taken just last month at the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting on Monday, indicating that the critical ice shelf holding together the Thwaites glacier in western Antarctica - an essential defense against global sea-level rise - could shatter within the next three to five years. Doomsday Glacier The Thwaites glacier in Antarctica is known as the "Doomsday glacier" because of the grave danger it poses throughout its melting process. It has poured billions of tons of ice into the sea, and its extinction might have catastrophic consequences for the rest of the world. The glacier, which is the size of Florida or the United Kingdom, contributes about 4% of annual global sea-level rise, loses about 50 billion tons of ice each year, and is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change. The ice shelf's disintegration might lead to the eventual collapse of Antarctica's most important glacier. Rising Sea Levels Researchers estimate sea levels would rise by several feet if the Thwaites fell, putting coastal populations and low-lying island nations in danger. However, Ted Scambos, a glaciologist at the University of Colorado Boulder and a leader of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, believes it will be decades before the world sees a genuine acceleration and an increase in sea-level rise. "What's interesting about Thwaites is that the shift will be pretty severe and detectable within the next several decades," Scambos told CNN. Related Article: Zombie Fires in Siberia Burns Under 75 Degrees Below Zero What's Holding the Glacier? A major floating ice shelf is currently holding the glacier back. "What's most alarming about the current discoveries is that they indicate to the collapse of this ice shelf, this type of safety belt that keeps the ice on the ground," said Peter Davis, an oceanographer with the British Antarctic Survey, to an interview. "If this ice shelf is lost, the glacier will flow more swiftly into the ocean, leading to sea-level rise." Oceanic Warming Warming ocean waters are a major contributor to the fast degradation. According to the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, which is directing continuing research in the Antarctic, discovered the ocean floor is deeper than previously thought, with deep passageways allowing warm ocean water to melt the underside of the ice report published in 2020. The findings suggest that the Thwaites' vital ice shelf is losing its grasp on the underwater mountain, or seamount, which functions as reinforcement against the ice river pouring into the warm ocean. The so-called "ice tongue" of the Thwaites Glacier has also been discovered to be little more than a "loose cluster of icebergs" that no longer impacts the stable section of the eastern ice shelf. The so-called "grounding zone," where the ice meets the seabed, is also threatened by warm water. Davis and his crew drilled access tunnels through the ice shelf's surface and deep into the ocean cavity underneath it using hot water. They determined that the ocean waters at the grounding line are warm by arctic standards and salty, preparing the environment for additional erosion. Grounding Zone The physical qualities of the grounding zone, such as warm water, rough ice, and a steep, sloping bottom that permits the water to rapidly melt the ice sheet from below, reveal signals of disorder, according to Peter Washam, a Cornell University research associate. He is also engaged with the project. "We predict the Thwaites grounding line in the region to gradually retreat up the seabed slope it now sits on in the coming years as the heated ocean eats away at its underbelly," Washam said. His team employed Icefin, an underwater vehicle that allows simpler studying ice and water around and beneath the ice shelf. The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, according to Davis, is quickly degrading. Warm ocean water is gradually erasing the ice underneath it, causing water to flow faster, shattering more ice, and posing the possibility of collapse. "We're seeing these large cracks spreading throughout the ice shelf surface, effectively weakening the fabric of the ice; kind of like a windshield crack," he added, referring to satellite data. "It's steadily expanding across the ice shelf, and it'll ultimately shatter into several pieces." A Helpful Study While the process is exceedingly slow and the major effects will not be realized for decades, Scambos believes it is practically difficult to halt. "This is a geologic phenomenon," he explained, "but it's happening on a human-lifetime scale." "As a calamity for humans alive today, it is extraordinarily slow-moving; the best approach is to delay the forces driving the ice in this direction." As the effects of the climate crisis extend worldwide, the researchers argue that boosting scientific study to understand changes in both the Arctic and Antarctic areas is crucial for developing mitigation techniques like coastal defenses in vulnerable communities. "Aside from slowing things down," Davis added, "we can't really do much to stop this from happening." "We're basically taking the repercussions of what we've been producing for the last couple of decades, if not longer, because of the way we've been going with our carbon emissions so far." Also Read: Experts Warn of Dramatic Sea Level Rise if Antarctic Volcanoes Erupt For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! This aerial picture shows a house covered with lava and ashes following the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, in Las Manchas, on the Canary Island of La Palma on December 14, 2021. - The Cumbre Vieja volcano has been erupting since September 19, forcing more than 6,000 people out of their homes as the lava burnt its way across huge swathes of land on the western side of La Palma. (Photo : Photo by JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images)) The Cumbre Vieja volcano was known to be an active volcano on the island of La Palma, and has been spewing lava in the Canary Islands in the past three months. However, experts are concerned that its recent seismic inactivity could mean a threat in the Spanish Island. This year's eruption was considered the longest volcanic eruption in more than three centuries. Thousands of people were forced to flee as lava from the volcano go closer to their homes. "Every day there was something new - the thread of lava redirecting and coming our way," said a resident who lives on the island of La Palma. However, experts had recorded no seismic activity since Monday night and had warned that the calm could mean the eruption was not over. The longest eruption on record The Cumbre Vieja volcano last erupted on Sept. 19 and was considered to be the longest volcanic eruption on the island in 343 years. With no seismic activity recorded recently; Spanish scientists are cautious as La Palma volcano quietens. "That does not mean the eruption has finished, because in the past this has been followed by a new surge in activity," the Canary Islands' volcanology institute tweeted. "This is the longest length of time with no earthquakes since the eruption began." Ruben Lopez, a volcanologist, said there was minimal activity at the volcano that first erupted on 19 September. "Hopefully it will stay that way and we can start thinking about the end of this." Aside from having swallowed more than 1,400 homes, the lava had destroyed many of the island's livelihood including its precious banana trees, and triggered several earthquakes. Also read: Volcanic Eruption at La Palma Becomes the Longest Eruption in the Island After 85 Days A volcanic attraction As crazy as it sounds, the volcanic action has also become a tourist attraction and was overwhelmed with the local's attention. Passengers even had to wait at least an hour to board in a shuttle service that goes to the vantage point for observation of the volcanic eruption. "The buses take half an hour to get to the other side. We've been thinking about coming for a while, but we were a little bit reluctant because the people [who live on La Palma] were having a bad time. But when you see that the rest of the island is inviting people to come and see the volcano, we made our mind up. It's a way of supporting them," says a 47-year-old from Tenerife, another of the Canary Islands. The September eruption had destroyed about 3,000 local buildings, and entombed large areas of farmland, but luckily no injuries or deaths have been directly linked to it on the island of about 80,000 people. In fact, life in the island had continued normally despite having an entire section of the south-western side as the hardest hit. "We have asked for support, and this is that, to solve some of the problems that we have on the island. This confirms what we have said every day, that the island is safe," according to Miguel Angel Morcuende, the technical director of the team of experts monitoring the phenomenon. Also read: Eruption in Indonesia's Tallest Volcano Leaves Thousands Displaced and 30 Dead VALLES MARINERIS, MARS - Mars' own Grand Canyon, Valles Marineris, is shown on the surface of the planet in this composite image made aboard NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft. The image was taken from a video featuring high-resolution images from Arizona State University's Thermal Emission Imaging System multi-band camera on board the spacecraft. The mosaic was then colored to approximate how Mars would look to the human eye. Valles Marineris is 10 times longer, five times deeper and 20 times wider than Earth's Grand Canyon. (Photo : Photo by NASA/Arizona State University via Getty Images) NASA is currently following two expeditioners as they travel through Antarctica for 2,268 miles to discover information regarding civilization's potential to thrive on Mars. British voyagers Justin Packshaw as well as Jamie Facer Childs are now on their 32nd day of an 80-day journey throughout Antarctica. The Exploration to Mars The said voyage could provide aerospace companies with a greater grasp of the psychosocial effects of other realms on the mortal mind and spirit. To first accomplish the 1,342-mile leg from the Harbour of Novolazarevskaya to the geospatial South Pole, and then to Union Glacier Shelter, which is 926 miles past Hercules Inlet, the alpha males are enduring winter weather and topics ranging breezes of up to 200 mph as they find their route over the continent. According with Chasing the Light expedition portal, "like the severe circumstances observed on celestial bodies, Antarctica provides a hard climate that is beneficial for a spectrum of living organism and scientific studies." Aside from nets that harness beneficial wind gusts to carry them ahead, the gentlemen are traveling with no support structure, the explorers march and ski their trip south, NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Stanford University are getting information from smart wearable gadgets. They are also hauling two 440-pound snowmobiles, which hold not only their sustenance and supplies, but also plasma, saliva, pee, and excrement samples collected along the way. "Justin and Jamie's journey will provide academics with a remarkable empirical account of human adaptation, which will undoubtedly result to human-centered space research." Also read: Japanese Billionaire Soars into Outer Space with Russian-Built Capsule NASA Assessing Voyagers Before Expedition NASA is also assessing the adventurers' capacity to accurately calculate range, which may be incorrect when people are put in an unfamiliar habitat. As during the Apollo 14 expedition in 1971 the unforsaken event took place. Wherein explorers Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell ventured out to explore a remote canyon while trekking over the moon gathering sediment cores, but turned back upon calculating it was over a mile down the road. In reality, they were barely 50 feet away from the crater's edge. The soldiers have been entrusted with gathering important ecological measurements such as sea ice extent, radiation levels, and air velocity. While as per the Chasing the Light project, observatories do not hover precisely over the South Pole, the parameters measured by the two will bridge a remotely sensed deficit and might give significant information into global warming. The duo's voyage was initially lengthier, with an extra leg carrying them to the Antarctic's Pole of Inaccessibility, the most difficult section of the territory to visit. Unfortunately, the path had to be modified because gale force winds stopped the adventurers from moving on turbulent times. "This region needs tolerance as well as adaptability because you can be certain that nothing will go as planned so we could really simply trust that you can react correctly and make the call at the opportune timing," Packshaw said in his day 27 update to the league's live diary. "Which is what we believe we are accomplishing with this call, moving forward." Also read: A Massive New Source of Greenhouse Gases is Warming Up the Planet BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 09: Downed tree branches cover a truck during an early season snow storm on September 9, 2020 in Boulder, Colorado. The storm brought more than five inches of snow to areas along Colorado's front range, but temperatures are expected to return to the 80s this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. (Photo : Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) Traffic delays and destruction due to precipitation, snowfall, and air currents were seen as a thunderstorm formation approached the West Coast. Most of those eastern California mountains, including Carson Pass and Sonora Peak, were forecast to receive several inches of snow. Severe and Heavy Snow Resulted to Road Closure String restrictions and closed roads were still expected, said to the National Weather Service (NWS) headquarters in Sacramento. Snow-covered highways could be seen in the California Sierra on Monday as circumstances worsened. Carson Pass was shut down due to landslide management owing to the heavy snow extremes in the Sierra. Motorists are advised to dodge the area by CalTrans. As per CalTrans, California State Highway 172 was blocked from Mineral to Mill Creek due to the weather and freezing rain circumstances. Shackles were necessary in Oregon for individuals who traveled over Cougar Peak Crest connecting Noti and Walton and subsequently were stranded when the route locked. Hazardous winter storm factors on the pass resulted in an accident, prompting the shutdown, thankfully, there had been no reports of major damage as a result of the incident. "Commuters should choose short cuts and postpone journey until circumstances stabilize," urged the Oregon Transportation department. Most roadways of Cougar Mountain Peak between Noti and Walton were blocked on early Tuesday. While the KVAL remarked that, ruptured automobiles were detected east and west of the summit. Snow fell over Snoqualmie Pass in Washington by the afternoon. Monsoon also wreaked havoc on the West Coast, causing landslides and torrents in Northern California. Also read: More than 55 Earthquakes Shake Oregon Coast's Ocean Floor for 2 Days The Subsequent Rain Damage on West Coast On Monday, landslides and waste flows blocked California County Road 70 in the Feather Valley Canyon. Following the next day, Tuesday morning, there was still blocked across Jarbo Gap and the Greenville Wye, with no expected restoration schedule. At around 9:50 a.m. Monday morning, just north of Quail Creek Road, a tree collapsed into all lanes of Interstate 49. The Transportation Department cautioned that the pine might be encircled by electricity cables. However, the rain appears to be providing at least some relief from the nation's water shortages. Sacramento has received 8.00 inches of rain ever since commencement of the water year on October 1. According to NWS statistics, the city received only 7.87 inches of rain from October 2020 to September 2021. Numerous waterways and tributaries in the North Bay commenced rapidly surging, according to the Weather Network Bay Area. Pilarcitos Creek has climbed over moderate water levels, nearly reaching the historic elevation of 13.1 feet before falling back. The stream was remained above slight high water as of Tuesday morning. On Tuesday, rain totals neared 10 inches in Three Peaks and Scotts River. Due to heavy rains, the San Lorenzo Creek in California reached near-flood status on Monday. Inundation has been observed on the town's highways. Adverse circumstances arose as a result of the tide's gusty winds. Alpine Meadows saw a wind speed of 121 mph, while Olympic Valley had a gale of 114 mph. Breeze has caused electrical disruptions in California. According to PowerOutage.us, over 77,000 consumers in California were without electricity on Monday afternoon. With nearly 20,000 consumers without power, San Joaquin County had the most disruptions. Wind gusts of 40-50 mph were noted in Santa Cruz State, forcing numerous trees to collapse and impede roads. Also read: Death Toll Rises After 50 Tornadoes Leave Trail of Destruction in Southern, Central US The Arctic temperature record of 38 degrees Celsius measured in Siberia in 2020 was formally acknowledged by the United Nations on Tuesday as the highest, raising "alarm bells" concerning global warming. High Temperature in the Arctic On June 20, 2020, the Russian town of Verkhoyansk had a scorching temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the hottest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic Circle, according to the World Meteorological Organization. When it comes to severe weather reports, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has never before included record temperatures in the Arctic to its collection, the UN body stated. In a statement, WMO Archive head Petteri Taalas stated that the new Arctic record is one in a series of discoveries that raise the alarm bells about changing climate. Temperatures have been recorded in Verkhoyansk, a city 70 miles north of the Arctic Circle, since 1885, according to CBS News. Agency officials noted the temperature was more matching Mediterranean than Arctic conditions when it was recorded at a meteorological station in Siberia during an unusually protracted Siberian heatwave. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that temperatures in Arctic Siberia were up to 10 degrees Celsius above normal for most of last summer, contributing to wildfires and catastrophic sea ice loss. As a result of the heatwave, 2020 was named one of the three hottest years on record worldwide. The Antarctic continent reached a record high last year of 18.3 degrees C (64.9 degrees F), according to Taalas. Also Read: Study: Global Temperatures Will Rise By 2 Degrees Due to Gases Released Changes in Ocean Radiation Properties The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is still looking into the 54.4 C (129.92 F) temperatures reported in Death Valley, California, the world's hottest spot, in 2020 and 2021. A new European temperature record of 48.8 C (119.8 F) was recently recorded on the Italian island of Sicily, and its specialists are now attempting to validate it. Archives at the World Meteorological Organization never had so many active simultaneous investigations, as per Taalas According to Mr Taalas, the Russian Arctic's melting snow and ice is contributing to the country's warming. A shift in soil and ocean radiation characteristics, he said, is to blame. The surface radiation properties are considerably different from black soil or open sea whenever there is snow cover, he remarked. High temperatures in the Arctic Circle have been added to the World Meteorological Organization's record of global weather extremes. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) claims that the Arctic is warming at a rate more than double the worldwide average. Thawing of Permanently Frozen Permafrost Scientists are concerned because the thawing of permafrost releases trapped carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. In a vicious loop known as positive feedback, these greenhouse gases may induce greater heat and further melting of the permafrost. Increased temperatures also hasten the melting of Arctic land ice, contributing to sea level rise via increased runoff into the ocean. Because of human activity, global temperatures are rising, posing a danger to all aspects of human existence. Humans and the natural world are on the verge of a global warming so severe that droughts will increase, sea levels will rise, and a great number of species will go extinct. Related Article: Countries on Pacific Island Lead the Report on Global Warming, According to Experts For more news, updates about global warming and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Through the middle of the week, the northern Plains will receive a dose of snow from a powerful storm that has already dumped several feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada of California. However, snow won't be the storm's only problem, as AccuWeather meteorologists warn that the potent winds from the storm might increase the risk of fast-moving wildfires for regions farther south. Snow in California One of the country's busiest roadways was shut down for a period of time Monday night to early Tuesday because of snow from a storm in California. Donner Pass, California, Interstate 80 was blanketed with several inches of snow each hour, according to Accuweather. As the same storm moves from California and Nevada to Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, it will bring with it substantial snowfall. There is a possibility of extra road closures in this area due to the severe weather. This storm will not bring snow to Denver because it is traveling further north than the storm from last weekend. However, it will bring snow to the Dakotas and northwest Nebraska, as well as the northwestern half of Minnesota, on Wednesday and Thursday. A senior AccuWeather Meteorologist says that this storm's fast movement and lack of moisture will generally limit the amount of snow to 1-6 inches with locally higher amounts. Also Read: Meteorologists: Chances of White Christmas Across US is Changing Freeze-up May Lead to Dangerous Driving Condition This week's snowfall will be concentrated to the north and west because of the storm track. When temperatures fall quickly in conjunction with this storm, the roads and sidewalks under the snow may quickly freeze over, creating a slippery surface for drivers and pedestrians. I-29, I-90, and I-94 in the northern Plains will be closed from Wednesday to Thursday because of the freeze-up, which will make the wintry accumulation more difficult to remove. Poor visibility is also expected, according to the forecasts. From the deserts of the Southwest to much of the Plains and Upper Midwest, strong winds are likely to be the storm's primary legacy. AccuWeather Local StormMaxTM wind gusts of up to 120 mph are possible in the southern Rockies, which can easily flip over trucks, cause property damage, and lead to widespread power outages. Regions Facing Wildfire Risk As dry brush, dry air, and wind gusts combine, the central and southern Plains are at risk of wildfire. According to the United States Drought Monitor, soil and brush conditions in this area are abnormally dry to extremely dry. High winds may carry desert dust hundreds of kilometers to the northeast. A few hundred feet of reduced visibility is possible in the most extreme cases of dust storms. However, in this case, the haziness of the sky can be a result of the dust in the air. From Wednesday afternoon to Wednesday night, a squall line is expected to form over the central Plains, bringing strong winds and the threat of severe thunderstorms. It is possible that the squall line will be preceded by some tornadoes. The dramatic temperature swings that have become the "norm" in the first half of December will come to an end following the storm. Instead, the northern half of the country will experience a fast west-to-east airflow for the rest of the month. The pattern is expected to continue producing snowfall and brief gusts of wind as mild Pacific and cold Canadian air swap places. Related Article: Developing Storm in Atlantic Coast Can Bring Strong Winds and Flooding in US Coasts For more news, updates about powerful winds and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! According to Izumi Ishii, the submarine offered for the Australian SEA1000 program will be "a quite different submarine compared to the Japanese Soryu because of its American combat system, larger size and increase range but it will have some commonality with the Soryu". MHI envisions two design centers: One in Japan and one in Australia with a growing Australian portion as the program transitions from concept design to basic design and eventually detailed design. A full scale mock-up of the submarine would be built in Australia for basic training (but no shore integration center is planned for now). While both MHI and KHI (Kawasaki) build Soryus for the JMSDF, only MHI is involved in the competitive evaluation process for SEA1000. The Japanese government has set up a website to help Australian companies getting in touch with Japan industries for the program. MHI will be conducting 1 on 1 meetings with companies accross Australia over the next few weeks. Soryu Class SSK Technical datasheet By: Gabriel Gomane, Sr Product Marketing Manager, Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company. The ability to converge existing networking and security functions into a single SASE vendor is a compelling proposition. Afterall, a full-stack solution offers convenience and a relatively straight-forward deployment paradigm; however, such an approach may come with unforeseen downsides, including gaps in functionality along with a reduction in flexibility required for todays networks that must serve an increasingly hybrid, work-from-anywhere environment. In response, Aruba recommends selecting market-leading SD-WAN and cloud security services versus the single SASE vendor option, enabling network administrators to protect and optimize the network, primarily due to four reasons: 1. No single vendor can offer the best of WAN edge and future-proofed security services Networking and security, while heavily interrelated, are two different yet very complex domains of expertise. Security must constantly evolve to ensure protection against an ever-changing environment of cybersecurity risks. Meanwhile, network administrators are charged with creating wide-area networking solutions that providefast, robust, and flexible connections across potentially long distances and diverse transports. Against this landscape, SASE providers are consolidating these two domains into respective single offerings, yet none can deliver best-of-breed capabilities in both security and the WAN edge. In reality, most SASE providers evolved from security backgrounds, such as antivirus protection solutions, firewall, and identity management services. These security-centric vendors are attempting to address the cloud-first future of networking without the experience and product depth that established networking players have created through SD-WAN. The reverse is true for networking incumbents suddenly becoming cloud security services experts. This convergence of services has often manifested through security vendors adding basic SD-WAN capabilities into the firewall. Yet, these basic capabilities bely the full potential of a robust SASE architecture. In truth, the full benefit is not realized until advanced WAN edge functions are combined with comprehensive security services delivered in the cloud. In other words, SD-WAN is in fact a foundational component of a complete SASE architecture. Starting with an advanced SD-WAN solution eases SASE implementation, offering a native, automated integration to the best cloud security vendors for the business. At the end of the day, IT does not want to compromise on the quality of experience, flexibility, or security. 2. The best-of-breed approach significantly improves flexibility while reducing risk Much like when a financial advisor designs an investment portfolio, where investments are spread across a diverse and non-correlated array of financial instruments and assets to minimize risk, so too must IT decision makers diversify. The financial trader and the IT administrator alike dont want to lose everything betting it all on a single stock, or in this case, a single vendor. In the worst-case scenario, that single-vendor, full-stack bet could place the viability of an entire business at risk via a data breach or other nefarious hacking events. More importantly, security threats are dynamic, requiring constant vigilance along with the flexibility to choose and adopt security innovations from othervendors that may have developed better solutions for emerging threats. Furthermore, the flexibility afforded by a multi-vendor approach can also maintain or increase bargaining power, with the ability to compel competitive bids while forcing vendors competing for your business to reduce fees. With a multi-vendor approach, vendors are incentivized to offer the best prices on the best solutions. 3. Securing the data center and the cloud As a cloud-first framework, SASE does not offer the end-all-be-all solution for how most organizations still operate today. A significant portion of organizations, especially in highly regulated or confidential industries from banking, to insurance, and the military, rely on legacy data center applications and may continue to do so for the foreseeable future. With a multi-vendor strategy, organizations can move applications to the cloud or back again at the pace of their choosing while bolstering security in specific areas, as appropriate, across on-premises, private cloud, hybrid cloud, etc. This is where an advanced SD-WAN solution can help steer traffic intelligently and efficiently in support of granular quality of service (QoS) and security policies. 4. Managing the IoT explosion and the hybrid workplace SASE focuses more on protecting internal users that access internal or external resources, and less on external users or IoT devices. Network-connected IoT devices, such as security cameras, point-of-sale terminals, or smart building sensors, and many more, continue to explode in number, drastically increasing the size of the threat area. Compounding the issue, IoT devices usually include rudimentary security features only, often without the ability to run zero-trust network access agents or VPN clients. Therefore, additional security capabilities are required beyond what is defined by SASE to secure those devices and the corresponding application traffic. Best practices call for organizations to ensure that users or devices can only connect with destinations on the network that are consistent with established role-based policies. Advanced network solutions with identity-based access control capabilities can unify policy enforcement across wired and wireless networks whilesegmenting the network into multiple zones based on specific roles. For example, IT might define a security policy that creates a segment for IoT devices, a segment for critical app traffic, and another for guest users. In response to emerging security issues and trends, Aruba has developed a modern, cloud-first SASE architecture.The Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN edge platform provides industry-leading SD-WAN capabilities including dynamic path selection, automatic failover, WAN optimization, internet breakout on the first packet, and a stateful zone-based firewall for micro-segmentation. In addition, it offers advanced, automated orchestration and native integration to deploy multiple security partners from Netskope to Zscaler, in minutes. Aruba EdgeConnect is the foundation for a robust SASE architecture that lets organizations choose from best-of-breed, cloud-delivered security service providers now and in the future. To learn more, visit us here. Aruba Automate orchestration based on application type with Aruba EdgeConnect Visit the Aruba EdgeConnect SD-Wan edge platform webpage for more. HPE (Aruba and Silver Peak) was also recently named a leader for the fourth year in a row in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for WAN Edge Infrastructure - Get the Report. After nearly two years of adopting major network and security changes wrought by COVID-19 and hybrid work, weary IT network and security teams didnt need another big issue to take care of, but they have one: Stemming potential damage from the recently disclosed vulnerability in open source Java-logging Apache Log4j software. Log4j or Log4Shell has been around a long timeit was released in January, 2001and is widely used in all manner of enterprise and consumer services, websites, and applications. Experts describe the system as an easy-to-use common utility to support client/server application development. The Log4j weakness, defined in CVE-2021-44228 and CVE-2021-45046 in the National Vulnerability Database, basically lets an unauthenticated remote actor take control of an affected server system and gain access to company information or unleash a denial of service attack. There is a remedy to the problem, so organizations should immediately upgrade to Log4j Version 2.17.0 to be protected against both CVEs, experts say. Still, the impact of the vulnerability could be extensive because it has been in the wild so long and becaise Log4j is so widely used. The Log4j library is embedded in almost every internet service and application including Twitter, Amazon and Microsoft, according to Check Point. Log4j worms could damage critical infrastructure, and it is a national security threat already, said Tom Kellermann, head of Cybersecurity Strategy for VMware. Bad nation state actors are already exploiting it as we speak. For example, Check Point says it has seen over 2.8 million attempts to exploit the vulnerability and over 46% of them were made by known malicious groups as of Dec. 16. We have so far seen an attempted exploit of over 47% of corporate networks globally, Check Point stated. Ciscos Talos security research unit stated that it has seen attempts to place the Log4j Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) attack string in email. At this time we have not identified widespread email campaigns attempting to use email messages to trigger the vulnerability. It is potentially recon as many threat actors and researchers are essentially trying everything in an attempt to find something that eventually hits log4j, the group stated. The biggest issue for enterprise customers is the amount of systems that could be impacted because logging systems are so widespread and while Internet facing servers might be highly vulnerable, its the downstream servers linked to them that are also problematic, said Nick Biasini, head of outreach with Cisco Talos. In addition organizations batch process logs that may not be processed for weeks so the exploit effects will be felt a long time out. The Log4j vulnerability is extremely widespread and can affect enterprise applications, embedded systems and their sub-components, Jonathan Care a research director at Gartner Research said in a statement. Java-based applications including Cisco Webex, Minecraft, and FileSilla FTP are all examples of affected programs, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. The vulnerability even affects the Mars 2020 helicopter mission, Ingenuity, which makes use of Apache Log4j for event logging. Care noted that the security community has created lists cataloging vulnerable systems and it includes major network players such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Palo Alto, and VMware as well as other big industry players such as IBM, AWS, and Google. However, its important to note that these lists are constantly changing, so if a particular application or system is not included, dont take it as assurance that it isnt impacted, Care stated. Exposure to this vulnerability is highly likely, and even if a particular tech stack does not use Java, security leaders should anticipate that key supplier systemsSaaS vendors, cloud hosting providers and web server providers do, Care stated. Remediation There are a number of things enterprises can do to respond to the Log4j vulnerability, experts said. Enterprise users should deploy the Log4j 2.16 patch immediately, but they can also microsegment outbound traffic to prohibit new connections, said Kellermann. They also need to monitor for abnormal traffic flows in those environments and expand their threat-hunting capacity. VMware said that it has responded to the Log4j situation in a number of its products. For example NSX Distributed IDS/IPS and NSX Network Detection and Response (NDR) signatures have been released that detect Log4J exploit attempts, including obfuscation methods seen in the wild. These signatures will detect and prevent attempts to exploit vulnerabilities regardless of origination, VMware stated. Cisco, Palo Alto, AWS and others have also responded to the vulnerability. Gartners Care said cybersecurity leaders need to make identification and remediation of this vulnerability an absolute and immediate priority. Start with a detailed audit of every application, website and system within your domain of responsibility that is internet-connected or can be considered public-facing. This includes self-hosted installations of vendor products and cloud-based services, Care stated. Pay particular attention to systems that contain sensitive operational data, such as customer details and access credentials. Once this audit is complete, turn your attention to remote employees, and ensure that they update their personal devices and routers, which form a vital link in the security chain, Care stated. This will likely require a proactive, involved approach, as it is not sufficient to simply issue a list of instructions, given vulnerable routers provide a potential entry point into key enterprise applications and data repositories, Care stated. Youll need the support and cooperation of the broader IT team. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends organizations take three additional, immediate steps regarding this vulnerability: Itemize any external facing devices that have log4j installed; Make sure that your security operations center is actioning every single alert on the devices that fall into the category above; and Install a web application firewall (WAF) with rules that automatically update so that your SOC is able to concentrate on fewer alerts. Other Log4j activities IBMs X-Force created a scan tool to detect Log4Shell. You can access it, at no cost, here: https://github.com/xforcered/scan4log4shell. Microsoft stated that because this vulnerability is in a Java library, the cross-platform nature of Java means the vulnerability is exploitable on many platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. As many Java-based applications can leverage Log4j 2 directly or indirectly, organizations should contact application vendors or ensure their Java applications are running the latest up-to-date version. Developers using Log4j 2 should ensure that they are incorporating the latest version of Log4j into their applications as soon as possible to protect users and organizations. Microsoft also stated that Azure App Service and Functions does not distribute Log4J in the managed runtimes such as Tomcat, Java SE, JBoss EAP, or the Functions Runtime. However, applications may use Log4J and be susceptible to this vulnerability. Customers are recommended to apply the latest Log4j security updates and re-deploy applications. Cisco Talos has released seven new ClamAV signatures for CVE-2021-44228 and CVE-2021-45046. A new Snort Signature ID, 58795, has also been released. Several lawmakers, from a U.S. Senator to the highest-ranking legislator in the Connecticut General Assembly, said they want to see increased funding to better address intimate partner violence in response to a Hearst Connecticut Media Group investigative series. The yearlong investigation uncovered various ways in which public systems, often struggling due to resource shortages, have failed to adequately support the tens of thousands of residents who are victimized by intimate partner violence each year, and most critically, those who are lost to abuse. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, said the series highlighted a pressing need to bolster resources, which have been stagnant for far too long. This series is so immensely powerful and it presents such a powerful graphic and gripping real life picture of how domestic violence can kill, said Blumenthal. It shows the life shattering and real life impact and in a sense how we can repair the system. Resources for victims If you need help or just someone to talk to, please visit CTSafeConnect.org or call or text (888) 774-2900. Advocates are available 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For more resources, click here. See More Collapse At the state level, Connecticut legislators vowed to push for increased funding. One key finding of the series was that many courts across the state lack the staff and resources to run special domestic violence court hearings in line with best practices, even though the model was established 25 years ago and is considered particularly effective when run properly. Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said his delegation will work with the chairs of the Joint Committee on Judiciary and the Appropriations Committee to find ways to bolster resources for the hearings, which are called domestic violence dockets. I think the idea of fully funding what the best practice model is for domestic violence dockets should be our best immediate response in terms of allocating more budget resources, and I would certainly support that in the next session, Looney said this week, days after Hearst Connecticut Medias investigation published. House Majority Leader State. Rep. Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, and State Rep. Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme, also said the state needs to increase its investment on the issue and find ways to improve the operation of domestic violence dockets. The investigation found the use of domestic violence dockets has actually been declining in recent years due to funding deficiencies and other issues. Due to the pandemic, the operation of the hearings slowed to a near halt, creating delays and backlogs, even as the hearings importance grew with service data suggesting that lockdowns and social distancing made matters worse for victims living in abusive situations. We have had the program for a while, but it works best when its fully staffed so that you can have the vertical structure of the same judges, prosecutors, public defenders and domestic violence support staff all working systematically and following a whole case from beginning to end, Looney said. A lack of funding was a common theme behind why efforts to address intimate partner violence have fallen short, the investigation found. For all of the many legislative changes the state has made in an effort to curb such violence, public investment around the issue has hardly budged in recent years. As a result, on a daily basis in Connecticut, dozens of victims seeking help cant get it and are turned away from critical services, including shelters. Its really hard, Rojas said. This is one of those policy areas where all the laws in the world, even with that it may not be something we can completely prevent. But we should do everything we can to mitigate it to the furthest extent possible. Gov. Ned Lamonts office in response to questions this week stopped short of pledging to increase funding on the issue. But Lamonts office said he is committed to providing additional resources for counselors for victims of domestic violence, as needed. Before the series published, Lamonts office did not respond to repeated requests for comment. After publication, Lamont was asked about the states priorities on domestic violence when he fielded questions from reporters at an unrelated event. Domestic violence has ramped up, like a lot of extreme behavior, Lamont said. I know that the legislature wisely accelerated arraignments involving domestic violence so you dont have to wait to get a virtual, immediate or next day arraignment, which is really important. If we need additional help in terms of counselors and therapists to be there alongside the police, well be there. Connecticut averages about 14 intimate partner homicides per year a figure that has held largely steady over the past two decades, even amid repeated legislative measures and other efforts to prevent such cases. Since 2000, nearly 300 people have been killed by intimate partners in Connecticut. Intimate partners include spouses, dating partners or exes, and people with children in common. The problem extends well beyond fatal cases. An estimated 37,000 victims of domestic violence in Connecticut sought help in 2020. Across the country, the number of victims is well into the millions each year, according to federal estimates. Looking at the data in the stories, theres some sense of relief that the numbers have largely stayed stable. But, being stable doesnt make anyone feel better given the impact on people this issue has, Rojas said. Behind each number is pain and suffering. Rojas said it was gut-wrenching to read stories of individuals who were killed by intimate partners. One in four women and one in seven men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Rojas said he has learned a lot about the issue from working with the Interval House, a domestic violence agency in Hartford, to raise awareness about men who are victimized. The investigation found that despite being disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence, people of color, the LGBTQ community and those from low-income households often get overlooked in the public sphere. Experts said race and wealth often still dictate which stories of domestic violence get told. Cheeseman said the issues highlighted by the investigation permeate every corner of the state. Theres not a single legislator of whatever party who wont have in his or her district victims of domestic violence, Cheeseman said. There should be no political element to this. I hope it brings the conversation to the rest of the legislature, because its a conversation that wont go away, Cheeseman added. Cheeseman, a ranking member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, also said she wondered if there is something more the state can do to make sure the states judiciary system is better funded to provide for a better level of service. She referenced how many issues highlighted by the investigation were connected to judicial functions, including the handling of protective order violations and support services for victims who seek restraining orders. It comes down to money. I think weve made some good strides on domestic violence, but I think so many things come down to funding, Cheeseman said. Hearst Connecticut Medias review found that charges for violating protective orders lead to convictions at a significantly lower rate than other crimes. Many such charges are dismissed because offenders complete diversionary programs. Even so, advocates say, the consequences offenders face for these violations are often too lenient and, they worry, weaken the effectiveness of the orders. The investigation also found that even when victims in Connecticut proactively seek out and receive court-issued civil restraining orders against their abusers a step that research shows in the short-term can heighten the risk for further abuse it typically remains their burden to get additional support. Victims sometimes get nothing more than a brief informational pamphlet outlining ways to seek more help. And, advocates say, the limited support available to victims is poised to be cut significantly due to sharp declines in federal funds. Debra Greenwood, president and CEO of the Center for Family Justice in Bridgeport, said the impact from diminished federal funding is concerning. We need to light up Connecticut with this issue, she said. We cannot go backwards. When someone goes to court, we need our attorneys there. We need our advocates there. In addition to pushing for more funding, Rojas said he also wants to find ways to improve education in high schools about domestic violence. Improving education and awareness of the problem is critical to preventing it, advocates said. Greenwood said the centers phone rang recently with a woman seeking out services because she saw the center mentioned in Hearst Connecticut Medias investigation and now is safely housed, along with her children. She was in jeopardy of losing her life, Greenwood said. She said she saw the article in the [Connecticut] Post online that we were mentioned in, and she sought us out. Because of that, that life was saved. Suzanne Adam, executive director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center based in Stamford, works with people experiencing domestic abuse on a daily basis. Adam said she and her staff have used the series to start conversations in their community, with donors, board members, volunteers and friends. Its a tool to explain to someone whats happening, she said. It created an environment through the article that not only explains domestic violence, it explains the challenges and explains that help is available. Its a tool for our volunteers, for our donors, for our friends. Adam said there are still many challenges with portraying and explaining domestic abuse and even greater challenges changing how society approaches the issue. Adam said people can create a culture shift to get there, especially when they start asking what victims really need and set aside funding for agencies to help victims beyond obvious needs, like counseling. Adam gave an example of a victim who once needed money for car repairs so they could move forward with their plan to leave an abusive situation. My question is why do victims get harmed for reaching out for services, and why are all of us bystanders to this?, she said, including police, attorneys, advocates and anyone else who may come into contact with a victim. Why are we not still taking part in genuine solutions that will help a victims life? Adam said. Its the shift of taking the responsibility away from the victim. Why are we as a culture, as a community, as a state still bystanders to this? Why are we abdicating responsibility to these systems and not creating a community where every victim is safe in their home. Reporter Ethan Fry contributed to this story. If you need help or just someone to talk to, please visit CTSafeConnect.org or call or text (888) 774-2900. Advocates are available 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For more resources, click here. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health conditions are increasing worldwide. In recent times the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the increased use of social media have been implicated. Contrarily some think increasing mental health problems are a myth. Especially before the appearance of COVID-19 patchy data and increased self-reporting was deemed responsible for a mythical epidemic in mental health that was, in any case, difficult to assess. Image Credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com This article looks at some of the statistics and finds mental health problems do appear to be rising and the substantial investment currently being recommended to avert a looming crisis. Mental health: An increasing cause for concern? There are many kinds of mental illness from common conditions such as anxiety and depression which affect millions worldwide, to the less common disorders such as Capgras syndrome most observed in those with dementia or schizophrenia, this syndrome causes the irrational belief in the sufferer that someone they know has been replaced by an imposter. It is thought that around 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health condition each year in England. Numbers have been increasing in recent years. For example, the number of people with a common mental health condition rose by 20% between the years 1993 to 2014. Suicide and self-harm are also on the rise although a dramatic increase since 2018 for UK statistics is partly attributable to changes in the way deaths are reported meaning more deaths are now officially recorded as suicides compared to in the past. Having a diagnosable mental health condition can impact all areas of life school, work, personal relationships, and the ability to participate in the community. A persons diagnosis may also change several times throughout their life. What are the most common mental illnesses? Amongst the most common mental health conditions are: Clinical depression a more severe form of depression where the sufferer can feel persistently sad for weeks or months. Other symptoms include loss of joy, feeling unhappy or hopeless, low self-esteem, loss of appetite, and problems sleeping Depressive disorders affect millions of people globally each year Anxiety intense, persistent worries and fears, avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations. In acute cases can lead to phobias and panic attacks Bipolar disorder extreme mood disturbance. The disorder consists of two types; Bipolar I which involves episodes of mania and depression and Bipolar II where the sufferer has more frequent periods of depression with fewer, lower key, manic episodes Schizophrenia a severe long-term condition often characterized as a type of psychosis. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, muddled thoughts, lack of care over personal hygiene, avoiding others Substance abuse affects millions worldwide it becomes a disorder when users of intoxicating substances struggle with control, compulsion, and withdrawal Post-traumatic stress disorder caused by a past stressful event that is then re-lived, sometimes years after it occurred. Symptoms include depression, loss of concentration, mood, temper, sleep, energy, and control Dementia decline in brain function and impairments in thinking, remembering, and reasoning Who do mental health conditions affect the most? Mental health conditions are indiscriminate and can affect anyone. A good way to think of mental illness is to think of a spectrum we all sit somewhere along the continuum. Some groups are more likely to be affected than are others. According to the charity Mind based on statistics for people living in England, the most affected groups are: People who identify as LGBTIQ are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience a mental health condition Black or Black British people 23% will experience a mental health difficulty over the course of a week compared to 17% of white British people Women aged 16-24 26% in any given week Those with overlapping problems such as a substance use disorder, homelessness, and contact with the criminal justice system around 40% The risk factors for causation of mental health difficulties include: Inequality and social disadvantage Discrimination and social exclusion Traumatic experiences Differences in physical health Also, according to WHO around 20% of children and adolescents have a mental health condition. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the 1529-year-old demographic (WHO). Alarmingly research indicates an increase in internalizing symptoms in girls internalizing symptoms have a basis in emotions linked to distress such as fear and sadness which may exacerbate depression, loneliness, anxiety, and somatic complaints (e.g., headaches and stomach-aches). The costs of mental health The WHO has reported that substantial investment is urgently required to ensure: Increased mental health awareness more understanding and less stigma Access to quality mental health care and treatments Research to improve existing treatments and to identify new ones Amongst the most common mental health conditions are depression and anxiety. The cost to the global economy for depression and anxiety alone amounts to US$ 1 trillion each year and yet the government spending on mental health amounts to only less than 2% (WHO). Although mental health conditions are on the rise it's wrong to think of this as an epidemic. As Rice-Oxley (2019) put it, Its not a disease of Western capitalism. But having noted this it is nevertheless possible to treat many mental health conditions at a relatively low cost. There is a substantial gap between those who require care and those with ready access. References: Anon. (2011) Internalizing Disorder. Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Anon. (2017) What is Capgras syndrome? Online: https://www.healthline.com/health/capgras-syndrome Bor, W. et al. (2014) Are child and adolescent mental health problems increasing in the 21 st century? A systematic review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1177/0004867414533834 century? A systematic review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1177/0004867414533834 Mind (2020) Mental health facts and statistics. Online: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/ NHS (2019) Overview Schizophrenia. Online: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/schizophrenia/overview/ Rice-Oxley, M. (2019) Mental illness: is there really a global epidemic? The Guardian. Online: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/03/mental-illness-is-there-really-a-global-epidemic WHO (2021) Mental health. Online: https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab_3 Further Reading One in every 100 babies is born with a congenital heart disease (CHD), and CHD is the major cause of death in newborns however 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." Dr Hieu Nim, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute 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." Use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) does not lead to poorer mental health in children across adolescence and young adulthood, according to a large observational study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found a slightly higher risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder for those born after ART but this was explained by parental background factors. These findings are overall reassuring with respect to the psychiatric health of adolescents conceived with ART, a group that we are now for the first time able to follow into early adulthood." Chen Wang, study's corresponding author, doctoral student, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet Since 1978, more than 9 million children have been born following the use of assisted reproductive techniques. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) has so revolutionized the treatment of infertility that Robert G. Edwards was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2010 for the development. Prior studies have however linked the use of ART to some undesired birth outcomes such as an increased risk of birth defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight. The knowledge about the long-term health of children conceived with ART is still limited. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have conducted the first major study on mental health in young adults born in Sweden following ART. Using individually linked population-based data, the researchers were able to follow more than 1.2 million people born in Sweden between 1994 and 2006, including 31,565 participants conceived with ART. The participants were between 12 and 25 years of age when the study concluded. The researchers also had access to registry-based information on clinical diagnoses of mood disorders such as major depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or suicidal behavior. Aside from the potential effects of the intervention, certain traits and characteristics that may be more common in couples that undergo ART could also play a role in the long-term health of their children.In the study, the researchers therefore took particular care to separate the role of the treatment from the influence of a wide range of parental background factors, such as infertility, maternal and paternal age, education, and mental health history. "In the end, we did not find that use of ART had any adverse influence on children's psychiatric health as they go through adolescence. Individuals conceived with ART had a slightly elevated risk of OCD compared with the general population but this was explained by differences in the background of the parents, as this excess risk was no longer present after adjustment for various parental characteristics," says last author Sara oberg, associate professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet. The study was supported by grants from Forte and NIH. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was first discovered in patients with severe pneumonia at the end of 2019, has since infected over 272 million worldwide and caused the deaths of over 5.3 million people. SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 are both members of the beta coronaviruses, a coronavirus subfamily. SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 utilize the same angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to gain entry into host cells, which are found in a variety of human organs. Previous studies have found that SARS-CoV-1 patients are at an increased risk of suffering from post-infection reproductive system difficulties. Study: An Update on the Relationship of SARS-CoV-2 and Male Reproduction. Image Credit: Anna Tryhub / Shutterstock.com In a recent Frontiers in Endocrinology study, researchers provide a review on the molecular mechanism of viral tropism, post-infection clinical characteristics, and potentially harmful consequences on the male reproductive system in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, the findings from the current study provide acceptable conclusions about the impact of COVID-19 on male reproduction and propose new research directions. Can SARS-CoV-2 be detected in semen? SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted through the air by droplets containing virions according to research published in early 2020. These infected droplets then enter the nose and mouth, where they can ultimately reach and infect the upper respiratory tract. The recognition of the ACE2 receptor is required for SARS-CoV-2 entrance into host cells. Because the viral spike (S) protein binds to the extracellular domain of the ACE2 receptor, the transmembrane protease serine protease-2 (TMPRSS2) is needed for S protein cleavage at the S1/S2 location, which subsequently leads to viral membrane fusion. After SARS-CoV-2 reaches host cells, the viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome begins to multiply and instruct host cell ribosomes to translate structural proteins and polyproteins for the viral capsid. In order to disseminate the infection, viral particles are formed in the reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) and then released by exocytosis. COVID-19 can cause erectile dysfunction. The potential mechanism of how COVID-19 infection is related to erectile dysfunction through impairing endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell (top panel); Ang1-7 is a potential novel drug target to treat erectile dysfunction in COVID-19 patients (bottom panel). ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; ED, erectile dysfunction; ROS, reactive oxygen species; AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; Ang1-7, angiotensin 1-7; Ang II, angiotensin 2; PDE, phosphodiesterase; 5GMP, Guanosine-5-monophosphate; cGMP, cyclic guanosine monophosphate; PKG, Cyclic GMPdependent protein kinase; NOS, nitric oxide synthase. This scheme was created using BioRender, accessed on Sept. 29, 2021. Several viruses, including Zika and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), have been known to penetrate the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and transfer sexually. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sperm is currently debatable. A semen test of 38 specimens revealed that 6 samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2, including 4 of 15 patients in the acute stage of infection and 2 of 23 individuals recovering from COVID-19. During the acute stage, patients may have a high blood viral load, which permits the virus to have a better chance of reaching the testes and entering the BTB through local and/or systemic inflammation. In most studies, there was no evidence of viral infection in the sperm. Recently, there has been some skepticism about favorable outcomes, as ejaculation and semen collection processes may be polluted. To understand the situation, more data must be collected in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to avoid virus infection. However, the sensitivity and specificity of the reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods used to detect SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid have not been assessed in almost all instances. It remains unclear whether existing detection methods for nasopharyngeal swabs are suitable for virus detection in sperm. Although most studies show a low risk of seminal infection, infection in sperm and gametes remains a concern. Thus, more epidemiological data on viral transmission from male recovered patients to previously unaffected sexual partners is needed. It is also critical to identify SARS-CoV-2 in cryopreserved semen samples, as the virus can maintain its biological pathogenicity in liquid nitrogen. COVID-19 and erectile dysfunction Concerns regarding the potential for COVID-19 survivors to develop erectile dysfunction (ED) (ED) as a result of the infection's high transmissibility and greater severity rates in males than in women have also been raised. After addressing the probable bias coming from age and body mass index (BMI), characteristics that contribute to both higher prevalence of ED, a preliminary investigation showed that ED and COVID-19 appear to be substantially linked. In previous studies, most male COVID-19 participants had lower testosterone levels, thus indicating hypogonadism. Hypogonadism in COVID-19 patients may be caused by testis injury, including decreased Leydig cells and poor steroidogenesis. Low testosterone promotes vascular smooth muscle cell atrophy by suppressing the production of nitric oxide synthase. Furthermore, testosterone suppresses the immune system. Low testosterone in COVID-19 patients can indicate poor prognosis and mortality. Implications COVID-19 appears to have an impact on various areas of male reproduction, including the reproductive tracts, hormones, gametes, and sexual function. COVID-19 has the potential to cause orchitis or epididymitis, compromising testicular integrity and spermatogenesis. Patients with COVID-19 have lower sperm concentration and motility. However, there appears to be some disagreement regarding the presence of SARS-COV-2 in the sperm and testis. Furthermore, because COVID-19 patients have a significant risk of ED, the authors proposed angiotensin as a novel therapeutic target for ED in COVID-19. The current review also examines the toxicity of medications targeting COVID-19 on the reproductive tract, as well as recent research in adjacent disciplines and how developing models might be used to assist in such studies. Taken together, there are still unanswered questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the male reproductive system. Declines in adolescent use of illicit drugs reported in 2021 were the largest and most sweeping ever recorded in the past 46 years, according to the Monitoring the Future study. A research team of professors at the University of Michigans Institute for Social Research has conducted annual, nationally representative surveys of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 since 1975. The survey is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health. The percentage of youth who had ever used any illicit drug other than marijuana decreased by more than 25% in 2021. Specifically, in 12th grade this percentage was 27% smaller in comparison to the previous year, in 10th grade the decline was 31%, and in 8th grade the drop was 30%. Put in context, in 12th grade this one-year decline is three times larger than the previous record (a 9% drop in 2014), in 10th grade it is more than twice as large as the previous record (a 13% decrease in 2008), and in 8th grade it is 50% larger than the previous record (a 19% decline in 2002). In 2021, the percentage of students who used an illicit drug other than marijuana in their lifetime was 13% in 12th grade and 9% in both 8th and 10th grades. Significant declines in use took place across a wide range of drugs, including cocaine, hallucinogens and nonmedical use of amphetamines, tranquilizers and prescription opioids. These declines are an unintended consequence of the pandemic. Among the many disruptions adolescents have experienced as a result of the pandemic are disruptions in their ability to get drugs, disruptions in their ability to use drugs outside of parental supervision, and disruptions in peer groups that encourage drug use." Richard Miech, principal investigator of the study and research professor, Institute for Social Research As a result, this year, it appears that a sizable portion of adolescents have not used drugs who otherwise may have done so. Will these declines stick with these cohorts as they age? It is possible that this delayed onset of drug use will lower these adolescents levels of drug use for the rest of their lives. This could be the case if delayed drug onset reduces their involvement with peer groups that encourage drug use, and/or these adolescents have been spared psycho-neural changes that increase their susceptibility for future drug use." In contrast, it is also possible that these declines will be fleeting, and drug use may surge among these adolescents once they are free of the constraints imposed by the pandemic. In the coming years, we will find out as we continue tracking the drug use patterns of these unique cohorts. Declines also took place among the three most commonly used drugs in adolescencemarijuana, alcohol and vaped nicotine. In 2021, the proportion who had ever used marijuana (which is not legal for youth under age 21) was down by 12% in 12th grade compared to the previous year, falling to 39%. In 10th grade, the proportion dropped 34% from the prior years level, to 22%. In 8th grade, the decline was 31%, down to 10%. In 2021, the proportion who had ever used alcohol (more than just a few sips) in 12th grade decreased by 12% from the previous year, falling to 54%; in 10th grade, the proportion dropped by one-fourth, to 35%; and in 8th grade, it fell by 15%, down to 22% (the 8th grade decline was not statistically significant). The proportion of 12th graders in 2021 who had ever vaped nicotine was 13% smaller in comparison to the previous year, down to 39%, and in both 10th grade and 8th grade, the decline was 27%, falling to 28% and 17%, respectively. With declines in the student population that had ever used drugs also came declines in the proportion who had used them in the last 12 months and in the last 30 days. Self-reported changes in drug use and mental health since the pandemic began Monitoring the Future also asked students how their drug use had changed since the start of the pandemic in spring 2020. Students who reported using a drug in the past 12 months in 2021 were asked if their use of it had decreased, stayed the same or increased since the pandemic began. Teens who had vaped nicotine in the past 12 months reported that their levels of use had not changed since the start of the pandemic, a finding present in 8th, 10th and 12th grade. This suggests that cessation did not play a large role in the substantial, overall declines in past 12-month nicotine vaping in 2021, Miech said. Instead, the declines likely stem from fewer initiates to nicotine vaping in 2021, as indicated by the large declines in lifetime use. Students who had smoked or vaped marijuana in the past 12 months reported that their levels of use since the start of the pandemic had not changed in 8th grade, and actually went up slightly in 10th and 12th grade. Miech said this indicates that cessation did not play a large role in the substantial, overall declines in past 12-month marijuana use in 2021. The decreases, instead, are likely the result of fewer initiates to marijuana smoking and vaping in 2021, as evidenced by the large declines in lifetime use. Students reported a drop in use of other drugs, among those who had used them in the past 12 months. These drugs include alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana edibles and nonmedical use of opioids, sedatives, tranquilizers and amphetamines. The results suggest that both cessation and decreased initiation contributed to the 2021 declines in use of these drugs. Teens also reported increases in mental health issues since the start of the pandemic. In 2021, all students were asked if they experienced increases or decreases in feeling anxious, feeling angry, feeling annoyed or irritable, feeling bored, feeling sad, feeling lonely, feeling depressed, feeling worried, difficulties with sleeping, difficulties being interested in normal activities and difficulties concentrating. As a whole, students reported significant increases for each of these mental health measures, in all three grades. These results point to pandemic-related mental health issues among adolescents that require consideration by parents, schools and all people who work with adolescents, Miech said. In addition, the findings raise the possibility that the pandemic may leave a lasting impact on the mental health of todays adolescents, even after the pandemic recedes. 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." Jenny Chang, M.D., breast medical oncologist and director, Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center 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. This work was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (grant number U54 CA210181), the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Moran Foundation, Causes for a Cure, and philanthropic support from Dr. Mary and Mr. Ron Neal, and the Center for Drug Repositioning and Development Program (CREDO). The United Nations General Assembly today declared 2021-2030 the Decade of Healthy Aging. "Today's announcement of the UN Decade of Healthy Aging sends a clear signal that it is only by working as one, within the United Nations system and with governments, civil society and the private sector, that we will be able to not only add years to life, but also life to years," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, in response to today's development. By adopting a UN-wide approach in support of healthy aging, we will be able to galvanize international action to improve the lives of older people, their families and communities, both during the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond." Dr Etienne Krug, Director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health at WHO Health is central to our experience of older age and the opportunities that aging brings. Initiatives undertaken as part of the Decade will seek to: change how we think, feel and act towards age and aging; facilitate the ability of older people to participate in and contribute to their communities and society; deliver integrated care and primary health services that are responsive to the needs of the individual; and provide access to long-term care for older people who need it. The UN Resolution (75/131), which follows recent endorsement of the Decade by the World Health Assembly, expresses concern that, despite the predictability of population aging and its accelerating pace, the world is not sufficiently prepared to respond to the rights and needs of older people. It acknowledges that the aging of the population impacts our health systems but also many other aspects of society, including labor and financial markets and the demand for goods and services, such as education, housing, long-term care, social protection and information. It thus requires a whole-of-society approach. The Resolution also calls upon the World Health Organization to lead the implementation of the Decade, in collaboration with the other UN organizations. Governments, international and regional organizations, civil society, the private sector, academia and the media are encouraged to actively support the Decade's goals. "Today's announcement is the culmination of many years of collaboration with partners across the world," said Alana Officer, who leads WHO's Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing team. "But it also represents a new beginning. If we are to be successful in delivering the change envisaged under the Decade, we need new ways of working". WHO and UN partners are seeking inputs from all interested stakeholders to help build a collaborative Platform where all knowledge on aging can be accessed, shared, and produced in one place by anyone, anywhere in the world. If you're feeling more sudden urges to run to the bathroom as you age, you're not alone. A new study suggests postmenopausal women aged 45 to 54 years are more likely to have overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. Additionally, obesity and multiple births put a woman at greater risk for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Urinary incontinence symptoms are common in women and typically worsen as women age. In the United States, the prevalence of urinary incontinence is 17.1% in women aged 20 years or older and 38% in women aged 60 years and older. There are two main types of urinary incontinence-;urinary urge incontinence (UUI) and SUI. Urinary urge incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine associated with the urge to urinate. Stress urinary incontinence, in contrast, is the involuntary loss of urine because of effort or physical exertion, including sporting activities, sneezing, and coughing. Of the two, women are more likely to be diagnosed with SUI. Overactive bladder syndrome is characterized by urinary urgency and is usually accompanied by increased daytime frequency and/or nocturia, with urinary incontinence. Multiple studies have been conducted on these urinary issues that can adversely affect a woman's quality of life. However, this is the largest known study, with data from more than 12,000 women. The goal of this new study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with urinary symptoms. Although the study showed a significant association of OAB in women aged 45 to 54 years and postmenopausal status, it also demonstrated that SUI symptoms may likely become less frequent after menopause. Stress urinary incontinence symptoms, however, were shown to increase as a result of a high body mass index and the number of times a woman has given birth. Other factors studied included smoking status, history of diabetes, hysterectomy, and the use of hormone therapy. The researchers suggest that additional studies should be conducted to consider the association between time since menopause and OAB symptoms in the perimenopause period. Study results are published in the article "Prevalence and factors associated with overactive bladder and stress urinary incontinence in the Japan Nurses' Health Study." This study underscores how common urinary incontinence is in women, with nearly one in five Japanese women reporting urinary incontinence related to OAB or SUI in the last month. Midlife women were particularly affected by SUI (18.2% in women aged 50 to 54 years). Given the significant negative effect on quality of life and the presence of effective strategies for management of these burdensome symptoms, clinicians should routinely ask women about urinary incontinence." Dr. Stephanie Faubion, NAMS medical director 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 countries -; including the US, Canada, Australia, UK, China, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, France and Spain -; identified 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." 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 policies these 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. The percentage of adolescents reporting substance use decreased significantly in 2021, according to the latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey of substance use behaviors and related attitudes among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders in the United States. In line with continued long-term declines in the use of many illicit substances among adolescents previously reported by the Monitoring the Future survey, these findings represent the largest one-year decrease in overall illicit drug use reported since the survey began in 1975. The Monitoring the Future survey is conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. The 2021 survey reported significant decreases in use across many substances, including those most commonly used in adolescence - alcohol, marijuana, and vaped nicotine. The 2021 decrease in vaping for both marijuana and tobacco follows sharp increases in use between 2017 and 2019, which then leveled off in 2020. This year, the study surveyed students on their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that students across all age-groups reported moderate increases in feelings of boredom, anxiety, depression, loneliness, worry, difficulty sleeping, and other negative mental health indicators since the beginning of the pandemic. "We have never seen such dramatic decreases in drug use among teens in just a one-year period. These data are unprecedented and highlight one unexpected potential consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused seismic shifts in the day-to-day lives of adolescents," said Nora Volkow, M.D., NIDA director. "Moving forward, it will be crucial to identify the pivotal elements of this past year that contributed to decreased drug use - whether related to drug availability, family involvement, differences in peer pressure, or other factors - and harness them to inform future prevention efforts." The Monitoring the Future survey is given annually to students in eighth, 10th, and 12th grades who self-report their substance use behaviors over various time periods, such as past 30 days, past 12 months, and lifetime. The survey also documents students' perception of harm, disapproval of use, and perceived availability of drugs. The survey results are released the same year the data are collected. From February through June 2021, the Monitoring the Future investigators collected 32,260 surveys from students enrolled across 319 public and private schools in the United States. While the completed survey from 2021 represents about 75% of the sample size of a typical year's data collection, the results were gathered from a broad geographic and representative sample, so the data were statistically weighted to provide national numbers. This year, 11.3% of the students who took the survey identified as African American, 16.7% as Hispanic, 5.0% as Asian, 0.9% as American Indian or Alaska Native, 13.8% as multiple, and 51.2% as white. All participating students took the survey via a web-based survey - either on tablets or on a computer - with 40% of respondents taking the survey in-person in school, and 60% taking the survey from home while they underwent virtual schooling. This difference in location between survey respondents is a limitation of the survey, as students who took the survey at home may not have had the same privacy or may not have felt as comfortable truthfully reporting substance use as they would at school, when they are away from their parents. In addition, students with less engagement in school - a known risk factor for drug use - may have been less likely to participate in the survey, whether in-person or online. The Monitoring the Future investigators did see a slight drop in response rate across all age groups, indicating that a small segment of typical respondents may have been absent this year. To address these limitations, the Monitoring the Future investigators conducted additional statistical analyses to confirm that the location differences for the survey, whether taken in-person in a classroom or at home, had little to no influence on the results. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to using data and evidence to guide our prevention efforts so it is important to identify all the factors that may have led to this decrease in substance use to better inform prevention strategies moving forward. The Administration is investing historic levels of funding for evidence-based prevention programs because delaying substance use until after adolescence significantly reduces the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder." Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy The 2021 Monitoring the Future data tables highlighting the survey results are available online from the University of Michigan. Reported declines in the use of substances among teens include: Alcohol: The percentage of students who reported using alcohol within the past year decreased significantly for 10 th and 12 th grade students and remained stable for eighth graders. Eighth graders: 17.2% reported using alcohol in the past year in 2021, remaining steady compared to 20.5% in 2020 (not a statistically significant decrease) 10 th graders: 28.5% reported using alcohol in the past year in 2021, a statistically significant decrease from 40.7% in 2020 12 th graders: 46.5% reported using alcohol in the past year in 2021, a statistically significant decrease from 55.3% in 2020 and 12 grade students and remained stable for eighth graders. Marijuana: The percentage of students who reported using marijuana (in all forms, including smoking and vaping) within the past year decreased significantly for eighth, 10 th , and 12 th grade students. Eighth graders: 7.1% reported using marijuana in the past year in 2021, compared to 11.4% in 2020 10 th graders: 17.3% reported using marijuana in the past year in 2021, compared to 28.0% in 2020 12 th graders: 30.5% reported using marijuana in the past year in 2021, compared to 35.2% in 2020 , and 12 grade students. Vaping nicotine: Vaping continues to be the predominant method of nicotine consumption among young people, though the percentage of students who reported vaping nicotine within the past year decreased significantly for eighth, 10 th , and 12 th grade students. Eighth graders: 12.1% reported vaping nicotine in the past year in 2021, compared to 16.6% in 2020 10 th graders: 19.5% reported vaping nicotine in the past year in 2021, compared to 30.7% in 2020 12 th graders: 26.6% reported vaping nicotine in the past year in 2021, compared to 34.5% in 2020 , and 12 grade students. Any illicit drug, other than marijuana: The percentage of students who reported using any illicit drug (other than marijuana) within the past year decreased significantly for eighth, 10 th , and 12 th grade students. Eighth graders: 4.6% reported using any illicit drug (other than marijuana) in the past year in 2021, compared to 7.7% in 2020 10 th graders: 5.1% reported using any illicit drug (other than marijuana) in the past year in 2021, compared to 8.6% in 2020 12 th graders: 7.2% reported using any illicit drug (other than marijuana) in the past year in 2021, compared to 11.4% in 2020 , and 12 grade students. Significant declines in use were also reported across a wide range of drugs for many of the age cohorts, including for cocaine, hallucinogens, and nonmedical use of amphetamines, tranquilizers, and prescription opioids. "In addition to looking at these significant one-year declines in substance use among young people, the real benefit of the Monitoring the Future survey is our unique ability to track changes over time, and over the course of history," said Richard A. Miech, Ph.D., lead author of the paper and team lead of the Monitoring the Future study at the University of Michigan. "We knew that this year's data would illuminate how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted substance use among young people, and in the coming years, we will find out whether those impacts are long-lasting as we continue tracking the drug use patterns of these unique cohorts of adolescents." Earlier findings from a different NIDA-supported survey, conducted as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, showed that the overall rate of drug use among a younger cohort of people ages 10-14 remained relatively stable before and during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, researchers detected shifts in the drugs used, with alcohol use declining and use of nicotine products and misuse of prescription medications increasing. Adolescents who experienced pandemic-related severe stress, depression, or anxiety, or whose families experienced material hardship during the pandemic, or whose parents uses substances themselves were most likely to use them too. In addition, a follow-up survey of 12th graders who participated in the 2020 Monitoring the Future study found that adolescent marijuana use and binge drinking did not significantly change during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite record decreases in the substances' perceived availability. This survey was conducted between mid-July and mid-August 2020. It also found that nicotine vaping in high school seniors declined during the pandemic, along with declines in perceived availability of vaping devices at this time. These results challenge the idea that reducing adolescent use of drugs can be achieved solely by limiting their supply. Kaiser Permanente research published on December 15, 2021 in The British Medical Journal showed 2 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were highly effective against all SARS-CoV-2 variants; however, vaccine effectiveness against the delta variant moderately declined with increasing time after vaccination. We conducted a previous study that showed the high effectiveness of the 2-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, but as the delta variant became predominant in early summer of 2021, questions arose about effectiveness against variants." Katia Bruxvoort, PhD, lead author of the study, adjunct investigator, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation "This study confirmed effectiveness against all variants during the study period, although we did find a drop in effectiveness over time against delta infection, from 94% effectiveness in the first 2 months after vaccination to 80% effectiveness after 6 months. Protection against hospitalization due to the delta variant remained high at 98% effectiveness." At Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, molecular diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 is free for members who request it regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms. Testing also is done prior to hospital admission and many medical procedures. Beginning in March 2021, Kaiser Permanente in Southern California began sending positive SARS-CoV-2 specimens from both symptomatic and asymptomatic people to a contracted laboratory for whole genome sequencing. This study, funded by Moderna, included 8,153 people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with specimens collected from March 1 to July 27, 2021. Among them, 91.3% were unvaccinated, 1.4% had received 1 dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and 7.3% had received 2 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Variants were identified for 5,186 of those samples; 39.4% were delta, 27.7% alpha, 11.4% epsilon, 6.9% gamma, 2.2% iota, 1.4% mu, and 11.1% other variants. At the time of this study, the omicron variant had not yet been detected in the Southern California region. The researchers compared people who tested positive with those who tested negative. Researchers found: The 2-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against infection by variant: Delta: 86.7% Mu: 90.4% Alpha: 98.4% Other identified variants: 96 to 98% People who received the 2-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were strongly protected against COVID-19 hospitalization associated with the delta variant: Vaccine effectiveness against delta hospitalization was high at 97.5% Vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization for non-delta variants was not estimated because there were no hospitalizations with non-delta variants identified among vaccinated people Among people who had received the 2-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, no hospitalized deaths occurred Vaccine effectiveness of 2 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine against delta infection was 87.9% among people ages 18 to 64, and 75.2% among people ages 65 and older "While this study provides reassuring evidence of the effectiveness of 2 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in preventing COVID-19 infection and hospitalization due to variants including delta, it also has implications for booster shots," said the study's senior author, Hung Fu Tseng, PhD, a researcher with the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation. "The findings of moderately reduced vaccine effectiveness of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine over time against delta infection supports current booster dose recommendations." About 1 in 8 Californians who have died of covid lived in a nursing home. They were among the state's most frail residents: nearly 9,400 mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles whom Californians entrusted to a nursing home's care. An additional 56,275 confirmed covid cases among nursing home residents weren't fatal. "The number of covid infections and deaths that happened in skilled nursing facilities in California is truly appalling," Jim Wood, a Democrat who chairs the state Assembly Health Committee, said at a recent hearing he convened on nursing homes. "I expect better from us." Covid-19's unrelenting spread exposed deep, systemic problems with the quality of care or lack thereof at nursing homes across the country. In the nation's most populous state, the industry's track record during the pandemic is spurring leaders to radically rethink how it pays and oversees them. Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration is drafting a proposal to tie state funding more directly to performance: Among the state's roughly 1,200 skilled nursing facilities, those that meet new quality standards would get a larger share of state funding than those that don't. But exactly how the Golden State would measure quality care and allocate the roughly $5.45 billion a year that nursing homes collectively receive is far from settled and promises to spark one of 2022's biggest health care fights. When the legislature debates those details as part of state budget negotiations, the nursing home industry vows to oppose any proposal tying Medicaid payments to quality metrics such as staffing levels, pay and turnover. In fact, the industry plans to argue it needs more money to deliver better results and it wields substantial power in the Capitol. In the past decade, it has spent at least $10 million to influence lawmakers and has given one or more political donations to Newsom and at least 105 current members of the 120-member legislature, according to a KHN analysis of campaign finance records. But patient advocates and family members who lost loved ones in nursing facilities during the pandemic are mobilizing a counterattack to convince lawmakers that now is the time to overhaul the system. "There are a lot of problems people have complained about for a long time," said Charlene Harrington, a professor emerita of social and behavioral sciences at the University of California-San Francisco and an expert on nursing homes. "This is an opportunity to correct those problems." At least 140,790 covid deaths have been reported in U.S. nursing homes, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older adults have a heightened risk of dying of covid, and the coronavirus spreads more easily in institutional settings such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. That's one reason Craig Cornett, CEO of the California Association of Health Facilities, thinks blaming nursing homes for high covid infection rates, especially early in the pandemic, is unfair. Not only are their residents naturally at higher risk than the rest of the public, he said, but the facilities were forced to accept hospital transfer patients who had not been tested for the virus, they couldn't get adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, and they suffered as staff members got covid in the community and then brought it into work. Cornett also pointed to federal statistics that show California has among the lowest nursing home covid death rates in the country and one of the highest staff vaccination rates. But multiple studies in California and elsewhere have found that nursing homes with fewer nursing staff members experienced significantly higher covid infection and death rates. That devastating outcome is bolstering a two-decades-long argument by patient advocates that nursing homes must hire more workers. "Some of these problems that we saw in the pandemic could have been avoided if nursing homes had adequate staffing," said Harrington, who co-authored a December 2020 study for the California Health Care Foundation that showed nursing homes with lower staffing levels earlier that year had twice the covid case rates than those with higher staffing levels. (California Healthline is an editorially independent publication of the foundation.) Some lawmakers and patient advocates suggest that the best way to improve care is to boost staffing, and that the best way to achieve that is to alter the complicated formulas that determine the daily rate nursing homes are paid by Medicaid, the government insurance program that covers about two-thirds of nursing home residents. Currently, Medicaid reimburses a portion of what nursing homes spend on staff, administrative and other expenses, paying them a higher proportion for staff costs than administrative costs. Facilities can receive bonus payments for meeting quality standards although the bonuses are limited and have been criticized for not boosting performance at facilities that need it most. The California Department of Health Care Services, which administers the state's Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, is drafting a plan that would do away with the bonus payments and integrate quality measures into the daily Medi-Cal payment rates nursing homes receive. The department is considering multiple ways to measure quality, spokesperson Anthony Cava said in a statement: Nursing homes that offer more staff education and training could receive higher per diem rates, as could those that have more staff and less staff turnover. That's a non-starter for the nursing home industry, which doesn't consider staffing to be an appropriate measure of how well residents do. Rather, Cornett, whose lobbying group represents more than 800 nursing homes, said facilities should be graded on the number of patient falls and infections, as well as patients' abilities to perform daily activities. "We want more staff and want to pay our staff," Cornett said. "But we need the state to change the system so we can get more money into the staffing line. And that's going to require a higher amount of money." Nursing homes warn that a heavy focus on staffing misses other critical costs of running a facility safely. Even under the current reimbursement system, they say, facilities are scraping by. "Not all of the costs in a facility are for staff. Skilled nursing facilities, like other healthcare providers, have a variety of costs including medical supplies, consulting, real estate, taxes, administrative services, overhead and many others," said Mark Johnson, an attorney for Brius Healthcare, one of the largest nursing chains in California. Whether lawmakers will be sympathetic to the industry's plea for more money is questionable. They are increasingly demanding transparency about how skilled nursing facilities make and spend their money. Like hospitals and other health care providers, nursing facilities have received billions of dollars in federal covid relief funding to help offset the costs of hiring temporary workers, testing and protective gear. It isn't lost on lawmakers that this $12 billion industry is attracting a growing number of private investors who are buying ownership shares in their facilities. "That tells me there's money out there, there's profit out there," said Wood, who also sits on the budget subcommittee that will review the administration's proposal. "Private equity is not going to go into facilities if they don't have a chance to make a pretty significant return." There's a lot at stake for the roughly 400,000 residents of nursing homes in the state and for the industry, which is a big spender and a powerful force in Sacramento. The California Association of Health Facilities has given just over $2 million in contributions and spent $5.67 million lobbying lawmakers in the past 10 years, from Jan. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2021, according to records filed with the California secretary of state's office. And Cornett, its CEO, is a veteran of the state Capitol who worked as the top budget aide to four former Assembly speakers and two Senate leaders. During that time frame, 50 of California's largest individual and corporate nursing home owners and operators have given a combined $2.6 million directly to lawmakers, the Republican and Democratic state political parties and ballot measures. That figure is likely an undercount because it is difficult to identify everyone with an ownership stake in a nursing home or chain. Facilities are often partially owned by real estate investors, venture capital firms and other business interests not listed on government records. Cornett downplayed his industry's influence and said trial lawyers are the players with deep pockets and are funding the patient advocates, an allegation those groups dispute. But a 2018 report by the California State Auditor found that the three largest private operators Brius Healthcare, Plum Healthcare Group and Longwood Management Corp. are highly profitable. Their combined 2006 net income of $10 million grew to between $35 million and $54 million by 2015, the most recent year the state auditor analyzed. Patient advocates say those profits negate the industry's argument for needing more taxpayer dollars. "To some extent, the state is being bamboozled with this idea that the money that theyre paying now is not enough to do the job that weve asked them to do," said Tony Chicotel, an attorney with California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. "The bottom line is it goes to profit." Methodology KHN analyzed campaign finance records filed with the California secretary of state's office from Jan. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2021. We downloaded contributions made by the California Association of Health Facilities, the organization that represents the industry in Sacramento. To determine how much nursing homes have contributed directly to political campaigns, we identified 50 of California's largest individual and corporate skilled nursing home owners using data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. We connected those owners to nursing home chains and management companies that run nursing homes. We then searched each entity and individual on the secretary of state's website to see if they made any political contributions. We did not include money they gave to the California Association of Health Facilities to ensure we did not double-count contributions. To track lobbying, we created a spreadsheet of expenses reported on lobbying disclosure forms from Jan. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2021, also available on the secretary of state's website, by the California Association of Health Facilities. None of the nursing home companies we identified spent any money directly lobbying lawmakers. Instead, they gave money to the association. Phillip Reese, an assistant professor of journalism at California State University-Sacramento, contributed to this report. This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. When children ages 5 to 11 were approved for Pfizer's lower-dose pediatric covid-19 vaccine in November, Annie Edwards was eager to get her daughter Hannah, then 5, the shot because of underlying health conditions she has stemming from her premature birth. "She was on a ventilator for the first month of her life. Throughout this whole covid ordeal, I just keep thinking of those memories," Edwards said. Many parents in more urban areas of Montana quickly found the vaccine when it became available. The search was more challenging for Edwards, who lives in rural Dawson County, where just 38% of the eligible population in the eastern Montana county of 9,000 residents is fully vaccinated. She called the Dawson County Health Department, but officials said they were waiting for more parents to show interest before scheduling a clinic for kids to get the shots. The local hospital wasn't offering the vaccine for younger kids either. Waiting wasn't an option for Edwards. So she and her daughter made the nearly 500-mile round trip to Billings while visiting family for Thanksgiving weekend. They are scheduled to return Dec. 19 for the girl's second dose. "How many people can say, 'Yeah, I'll make two trips to Billings?' That's a lot of miles," Edwards said, acknowledging that she was fortunate to have the means to do so. Dr. Lauren Wilson, a Missoula-based pediatrician and the vice president of the Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has heard from parents like Edwards across the state who can't find the shot in their hometowns. "I think availability of the vaccine in rural areas is absolutely a factor in Montana's struggle to vaccinate as quickly as other states," she said. The state and many local public health agencies have not produced targeted campaigns to educate people about where children ages 5 to 11 can get vaccinated, making it that much harder on parents. Wilson said a lack of access and a lack of promotion are both playing a role in Montana's lagging vaccination rate for younger kids. So far, about 15% of the estimated 90,000 children in that age group statewide have received a first dose of the pediatric covid vaccine. Montana ranks 33rd among states on vaccination rate for younger children, and its rate lags behind the national one of nearly 17%, according to a KFF analysis of federal data. Twenty-two of Montana's 56 counties had vaccinated fewer than 5% of kids ages 5 to 11 as of Dec. 10, according to data gathered by the state health department. A half-dozen counties reported vaccinating no children younger than 12: Carter, Daniels, Dawson, Garfield, McCone and Wibaux. All six are in rural eastern Montana, where driving distances between towns are great. In both McCone and Wibaux counties, health officials said that they aren't offering the shot because of low demand and that it would be difficult to go through the minimum order of 100 doses within the 10-week period that shots can be stored in a regular freezer or refrigerator. The shots can be stored longer in special ultracold storage units that are few and far between in rural areas of Montana. Parents in McCone and Wibaux counties who want their young children to be vaccinated must drive 40 to 100 miles round trip. Despite storage issues and low demand, some rural health departments, like the one in Richland County, are offering the pediatric shot. Public health nurse Kathy Helmuth said she's seen parents from parts of eastern Montana where the pediatric shot isn't available make the trek to vaccine clinics she has put on at local schools. In November, Helmuth vaccinated nearly 40 kids, more than she expected. Some shots had to be thrown out, she said, because the demand was too low to get through a 10-dose vial. "I keep having to remind myself everyone we get vaccinated is important and that's more important than the dose or doses I might be wasting," she said. Local health departments that are struggling to provide vaccines because of storage or low demand are encouraged to reach out to state health officials, according to Jon Ebelt, a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Ebelt declined to answer questions about what areas the department had identified as vaccine deserts or whether any local health departments had reached out for help. Jennifer Kates, senior vice president of global health and HIV policy at KFF, said the number of kids being vaccinated nationally had slowed by the Thanksgiving holiday and has continued to decline. "If it's not very easy, very accessible and top of mind, they're not going to do it for reasons that are complicated," she said. Kates said politics may be affecting people's willingness to get their children vaccinated in deeply conservative states like Montana. According to KFF's latest survey data, about half of Republicans said they won't get their 5- to 11-year-olds vaccinated, and an additional 10% said they'd do so only if required. Kates said educating parents about how the pediatric vaccine is safe and effective will take more effort than was necessary for earlier rollouts for older kids. That burden will largely fall to state and local health departments, she said. Montana's state health department has said it will continue to promote covid vaccines for everybody who is eligible but doesn't plan to promote the shots for kids, as Utah has done. The Montana Medical Association is planning a statewide campaign directed at families. And Matt Kelley, CEO of the Montana Public Health Institute, said his organization is working with local health departments to promote the shot for kids. "It's a chicken-and-an-egg thing. You need to have a certain amount of demand to have a clinic be sustainable, but in order to have a demand, you have to have that access out there," Kelley said. Kelley said mobile vaccine clinics can be part of the solution. Pharm406, a Billings-based mobile pharmacy, has been offering vaccine clinics in eastern and central Montana throughout the pandemic. Owner Kyle Austin said he's put on about 15 pediatric vaccine clinics. He said that turnout was low for his clinic in Glasgow but that he vaccinated 60 kids in Red Lodge. "It's really hard to tell where the demand is," Austin said. In Sanders County, on the western edge of Montana, getting to the closest pediatric shot requires a 70-mile round trip into Idaho or a drive of more than 100 miles to and from western Montana's larger communities. So far, 99% of the county's children ages 5 to 11 have yet to receive a first dose. "We most certainly will see lower vaccination rates because of that barrier," said Nick Lawyer, a local medical provider and the county's former health officer. A gene that is overexpressed in some aggressive cancers also appears to be key to the excessive cell proliferation that thickens the walls of pulmonary arteries and ultimately causes the right ventricle of the heart to fail, scientists report. They have the first evidence that PBK, or PDZ-Binding Kinase, is upregulated in both animal models and the lung tissue of patients with progressive and deadly pulmonary hypertension, says Dr. David Fulton, director of the Vascular Biology Center at the Medical College of Georgia. They've found that in pulmonary hypertension, PBK is "robustly" upregulated in the middle layer of the walls of pulmonary arteries, called the tunica media, where smooth muscle cells reside and where they along with elastic and connective tissue, help regulate the size of the passageway for blood." Dr Scott Barman, Pulmonary Vascular Biologist, MCG Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University The scientists also have found that adjustments they make, up and down, in PBK expression impact the proliferation of those smooth muscle cells. Fulton and Barman are now principal investigators on a $2.5 million grant (1R01HL156646-01A1) from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute that is helping them further explore the pathway, including the impact of PBK inhibitors already under study for some of those aggressive cancers. In their rat and mouse models of pulmonary hypertension, they have early evidence that PBK inhibitors reduce unhealthy remodeling of blood vessels and improve heart and lung function. In what is called a reversal model, which mimics how drugs would be used in people, when the animal models start to show signs of the disease, treatment is given and they get better, Barman says. The new grant is enabling them to learn more about just how PBK regulates smooth muscle cell proliferation in the pulmonary arteries, including using a rat where the PBK gene has been knocked out. They are using two main PBK inhibitors -; OTS514 and TOPK-32 -; at different doses to see if, for example, higher doses mean further reduction in cell proliferation, Barman says. Small doses used in their work to date yielded "amelioration." PBK is known to be overexpressed in cancers, like bladder, lung, liver and brain tumors where its high expression is generally associated with a worse prognosis. In fact, the rapid cell division and resulting excessive cell production is similar in pulmonary hypertension and cancer, the scientists say. "We were looking for genes involved in promoting smooth muscle proliferation that also are in cancer," says Fulton. "It's the uncontrolled proliferation that is the problem, and we are looking for targets that we could exploit to decrease it." Current treatments, like vasodilators and oxygen therapy, address symptoms but don't halt disease progression. A lung transplant is considered the only potential cure. "People need help and we think this offers one avenue toward helping. That is why we like it," Fulton says. "We think it's a good target." The MCG scientists are the first to look at PBK in pulmonary hypertension. Fulton categorizes it as a -; not the only -; regulator of cell proliferation, and when it's knocked out, animals still develop. But in pulmonary hypertension it's an early player. Looking upstream of PBK, they found that YAP1, yes associated protein 1, known to activate other genes that enable cell proliferation and quieten those that cause cell death, or apoptosis, (which can kill off excessive or otherwise unhealthy cells) also is upregulated in pulmonary hypertension, where it increases the activity of PBK in those smooth muscle cells inside the walls of pulmonary arteries. Looking downstream they have found PBK in turn upregulates protein regulator of cytokinesis 1, or PRC1. Cytokinesis is when one cell divides into two cells and all together the bottom line is unhealthy remodeling of pulmonary arteries and pulmonary hypertension. "We think YAP is an upstream driver of proliferation that activates PBK expression in the pulmonary smooth muscle cells," Fulton says. What is driving YAP activation is unknown but the scientists are more focused on what's happening downstream. YAP is expressed in a lot of different cell types, but its unique ability to activate PBK makes PBK itself a good, druggable target, he notes. When they are done with the five-year term of the new NHLBI grant, they expect to have solid scientific evidence about whether PBK is the solid target they think, Barman says. The fact that inhibitors already exist should expedite the process of pursuing trials in humans from there, he says. They anticipate PBK inhibition would be an adjunct therapy for patients that will more directly target a clear point of action in the disease process. In cancer, as an example, Korean and China investigators have the first laboratory evidence that OTS514 stops the abnormal proliferation of cancer cells and growth of cancer stem cells and induces natural cell death, or apoptosis, in human myeloma cell lines, resulting in a significant reduction in tumor size. Scientists also have some laboratory evidence that TOPK-32 can reduce colon cancer cell growth and increase death of those cells and may have benefit in the aggressive brain tumor glioblastoma. All of our blood volume -; the average human has about 10 pints -; must continuously go through the billions of air sacs in the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension is characterized by an unhealthy remodeling of the pulmonary arteries, which take deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart into the capillaries of the lungs where carbon dioxide can be removed and oxygen replenished. The blood then goes to the left ventricle, the major pumping chamber of the heart, which pumps the now oxygen-rich blood back out to the body. But with this condition, the blood passageway, called the lumen, shrinks. The resulting increased resistance inside pulmonary arteries can result in enlargement and ultimately failure of the right ventricle of the heart from having to constantly work so hard against the resistance, Fulton says. As with most things in the body, some cell growth and death is normal. "When the balance gets shifted is when you start having problems," says Barman. There also is recruitment of other cell types to the site, like immune cells and fibroblasts which secrete collagen to help tissue be compliant, but the smooth muscle cells are the primary culprit, Barman says. Pulmonary hypertension is a rare, progressive condition, most common in women between the ages of 30 and 60. The cause is unknown in about 25% of cases, genetics may be a factor in another 15-20% of individuals. Pulmonary hypertension also may result from numerous other conditions like scleroderma and congenital heart abnormalities as well as some drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine; infections like HIV and schistosomiasis; and cirrhosis of the liver, according to the American Lung Association. The MCG scientists had earlier identified another novel treatment target for the condition, galectin-3, a gene and protein also highly expressed in pulmonary hypertension, specifically in the middle layer of the blood vessel wall, where they have now found high expression of PBK. They have similarly found that turning galectin-3 expression up and down, affects cell proliferation. "We have identified that galectin-3 also is important in pulmonary hypertension, that it is also a druggable target and we have a new grant pending on the mechanism by which this occurs," Fulton says. For these studies their drug is a neutralizing antibody, a term made commonplace by the Regeneron treatment for the COVID-19 virus. Hormone levels in the womb before birth have been potentially linked to the risk of developing migraine in adulthood, reveals a new study of genetic and environmental information from the world's largest database of twins. The research is also the first to show that genetic factors related to migraine risk may be different for men and women. The researchers hope these findings will enable more effective and targeted treatment options for this debilitating disease. The risk of experiencing migraine in adulthood has been linked to factors in the womb, finds a new study published in Frontiers in Pain Research. It also found evidence to suggest that different genes influence migraine risk in men and women. We are the first to show that females with a male co-twin have a higher risk of migraine compared to females with a female co-twin, suggesting that prenatal factors, possibly relating to in utero hormone levels, may contribute to migraine risk. We are also the first to present evidence that genetic factors related to migraine risk may be different between females and males." Morgan Fitzgerald, Study Lead Author, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California Debilitating disease Migraine is a severe, debilitating neurological disease that affects more than 12% of the world's population. Females are more likely to suffer from migraine by a factor of nearly seven to one, and it is a leading cause of disability in young women. "Despite its prevalence, the factors that contribute to migraine are poorly understood," said Dr Matthew Panizzon, principal investigator of the study, also based at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. "With the data from the Swedish Twin Registry, the largest twin registry in the world, there was a unique opportunity to probe factors contributing to female-male differences in migraine." The researchers examined data from 51,872 individuals who had participated in prior Swedish Twin Registry studies. They identified those who experienced migraine without aura based on criteria set by the International Headache Society Classification of Headache Disorders. "Since the data were collected from twins, we were able to use analytic methods that allowed us to test whether migraine risk was driven by different genes in females and males, and whether the presence of an opposite-sex twin in utero, which is believed to impact prenatal hormone levels, had an influence," explained Fitzgerald. "We found that the prenatal environment may contribute to migraine risk, and that some of the genetic factors that contribute to migraine risk may be different between females and males." Improved treatment options "The findings of our study are important because the more we understand the factors that contribute to migraine, and especially the differences between males and females, the more opportunity there is to improve clinical care, diagnostic abilities, and therapeutic interventions for both men and women," added Panizzon. Further questions remain, such as what factors dictate the presence or absence of aura with migraine, and at what age and in what stage of life does migraine begin. "Unfortunately, age at onset was not available in the Swedish Twin Registry data. In fact, most studies do not ask individuals when their migraine attacks first start," explained Fitzgerald. "In the future, we hope to examine how age at migraine onset coincides with the timing of critical hormonal events like puberty." Sleep disorders and insufficient sleep are major global problems contributing to, e.g., increased health care costs and sick leaves, and reduced quality of life. According to recent estimates, sleep apnea alone affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide, and up to half of the worlds population suffers from insomnia at some point in their lives. In Finland alone, sleep apnea is estimated to affect the lives of nearly 1.5 million people despite most of them remaining undiagnosed. Simpler and more cost-effective methods for screening and diagnosing sleep disorders are urgently needed. A recent review by the Sleep Technology and Analytics Research group, STAR, at the University of Eastern Finland examined future trends in sleep disorder measurement technology, focusing on the possibilities of at-home measurements. Polysomnography, currently performed in sleep laboratories in specialized health care, is the most comprehensive method for diagnosing sleep disorders. However, due to the high price and limited availability of in-laboratory polysomnography, other methods, such as simple self-applied home sleep recordings, are also used in the diagnosis of sleep apnea. Technological advances in measurement technology, as well as in analysis methods based on machine learning and artificial intelligence, enable the use of simpler and more affordable measurements in hospital settings without compromising clinical accuracy. In research, a number of automated methods to analyze sleep recordings have been developed, and their introduction to clinical practice could free up health care resources. In addition, simpler sensors could enable multi-night sleep recordings, thus providing a more accurate picture of the natural structure of sleep. Although self-applied home sleep recordings cannot fully replace comprehensive polysomnography performed in a sleep laboratory, their use will certainly increase in the future. With the current technology used in self-applied home sleep recordings, it is challenging to determine the exact structure of sleep. Traditionally, sleep stages are identified based on electroencephalogram (EEG). However, EEG is usually not included in self-applied home sleep recordings as current clinical electrodes require extensive skin preparation before they can be applied, as well as accurate placement in different areas of the head. A recent study by the STAR group examined the electrical properties of novel textile-based dry electrodes and the quality of the EEG signal captured by them. The study showed that dry electrodes require a longer period to form stabilized electrode-skin contact than silver/silver chloride electrodes, which are widely used in clinical practice. However, in measurements performed in laboratory settings, the EEG signal captured by textile electrodes was found to correspond well to the quality of the signal captured by clinical electrodes. Textile electrodes are considerably easier to use and more patient-friendly, and thus a viable alternative to be used in self-applied home sleep recordings. Matias Rusanen, Early Stage Researcher, Lead author, University of Eastern Finland Better-quality at-home measurement methods may also be useful for monitoring of the progression of sleep apnea, as the severity of the disease typically develops over several years. Breathing cessations in sleep apnea usually lead to transient drops in blood oxygen saturation, which puts a significant strain on the patient's body at night. This so-called hypoxic load has also been found to predispose patients to many other diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Another recent study by the STAR group examined the reverse causality of how existing diseases affect the development of the hypoxic load over several years. The study showed that in patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease, the worsening of nocturnal hypoxic load was significantly greater during a five-year follow-up than in patients without comorbidities typically associated with sleep apnea. Our findings suggest that patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease could benefit from the screening, and especially continuous monitoring of sleep apnea, and thus from the necessary treatment, Early Stage Researcher, lead author Tuomas Karhu from the University of Eastern Finland says. Since comprehensive polysomnography is an expensive and complex measurement, it is not very well suited for continuous monitoring. One solution to this problem could be the methods presented above, in which the patients sleep is monitored by self-applied and reusable sensors in the home environment. Nurses and health care workers across the country are finding strength in numbers and with labor actions not seen in years. In California, which has a strong union tradition, Kaiser Permanente management misjudged workplace tensions during the covid-19 crisis and risked a walkout of thousands when union nurses balked at signing a four-year contract that would have slashed pay for new hires. In Colorado, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Massachusetts, nurses have been embroiled in union battles over staffing and work conditions. As deadly coronavirus cases spiked this year, daily pressures intensified on hospital floors. Some nurses retired; some became travel nurses, hired by agencies that advertised more than double, even triple, the day rates for intensive care unit, telemetry and emergency room nurses. Others gave up their jobs to avoid possibly carrying the covid virus home to their families. "Things had gotten particularly stark for nurses," said Rebecca Kolins Givan, an associate professor of labor studies at Rutgers University. 'They can make more at McDonald's' It was so grim in Pittsburgh that registered nurses at West Penn Hospital, part of the Allegheny Health Network, voted this year to authorize a strike less than a year after they unionized with SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. Chief among their complaints: The hospital system had balked at improving staff ratios even as it offered bonuses, up to $15,000 for some, to hire registered nurses to fill vacancies. Kathleen Jae, a member of the bargaining team that reached a pact without a work stoppage, said nurses wanted management to work harder to retain veteran staff members: "We had to face the fact that nurses are retiring, nurses are leaving the bedside out of frustration, and, in certain instances this year, nurses had more patients than they felt comfortable taking care of." Allegheny Health Network said the first-ever pact with RNs at West Penn provides "competitive wages and benefits" to help it "recruit and retain talented, experienced nurses." Liz Soriano-Clark, a teacher-turned-nurse on the bargaining team, said the pandemic had made workers across the health sector more careful and choosier about what jobs they'll take. "There's a nursing shortage and a shortage of nursing instructors, nationwide. They've seen aides leave. They've seen cleaners leave," Soriano-Clark said. "Why is that? Because they can make more at McDonald's and not have to clean up vomit." In September, the American Nurses Association alerted the Biden administration to an "unsustainable nurse staffing shortage facing our country" in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services. The ANA said a "crisis-level human resource shortage" was evident: Mississippi had 2,000 fewer nurses than it did at the beginning of 2021. Tennessee called on its National Guard to reinforce hospital staffs. Texas was recruiting 2,500 nurses from outside the state. Union membership among U.S. nurses has inched up over the past 15 years and held steady, at about 17%, for five years, according to unionstats.com, an academic website. But 2021, a year of union organizing and holdouts in such disparate workplaces as Starbucks cafes and John Deere tractor plants, might well be a turning point for essential workers in health care. "If you ask nurses what they want," said Givan, who interviewed dozens of nurses for a 2016 book on health care workers, "they want working conditions where they can provide a high level of care. They don't want appreciation that is lip service. They don't want marketing campaigns. They don't want shiny new buildings." Still, Givan noted, the health care sector has spent handsomely to fight unions. After years of staff retention issues at Longmont United Hospital in Colorado, nurses are awaiting the results of a vote on whether to join National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the U.S. Stephanie Chrisley, a registered nurse in the hospital's ICU, said nurses are regularly caring for double the number of patients considered appropriate often three to four "ventilated, sedated, critically ill patients." She and others protested outside the hospital in early December. They said the company that runs the hospital, Centura Health, this year had employed aggressive union-busting tactics, including disputing a handful of votes, which dragged out the union election for about five months. In another instance, her colleague Kris Kloster said, Centura, founded by Catholic nuns, issued company-wide emails announcing raises and retention bonuses for everyone except nurses at her hospital. "Where there should have been newly hired nurses, there were anti-union consultants roaming around the hospital," Chrisley said. Since July, she added, the hospital has lost nearly 80 RNs, "nearly a third of our nursing staff." Longmont United Hospital Interim CEO Kristi Olson said in a statement that the hospital "will remain open and fully operational" and that "we are committed to making sure that all voices were heard" in the union election. Organizing can take a long time, Givan said, pointing to tense labor negotiations in Massachusetts, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. "But when there is a crisis what we call a hot shop you can get workers to organize quite quickly." Nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association walked off the job March 8 in Worcester. A chance to break the bitter impasse collapsed when management, Tenet Healthcare, refused to allow nurses to return to their original jobs. In North Carolina, registered nurses at Mission Hospital in Asheville ratified a contract with the HCA management that locked in 17% raises over three years and set up a committee to review patient care conditions. A recent poll by Gallup, the global analytics firm, found that the share of Americans who say they approved of unions was at 68%, its highest point since 1965. Sal Rosselli, president of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, said that in the past year "there has just been an explosion of leads," queries from health workers exploring how to unionize. Rosselli, whose organization represents about 15,000 health workers, said the pandemic exposed practices that had long antagonized employees. Too many hospitals scrambled for masks, gloves and gowns, he said, and front-line workers were on round-the-clock schedules and facing ghastly daily deaths. "They weren't keeping their employees and their patients safe," Rosselli said, "and all because these systems were focused on profit over anything else. That has been coming on for a long, long time." Registered nursing is among the U.S. occupations expected to experience the greatest levels of job growth in the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employment Projections 2020-2030. Also among the fastest-growing occupations are nurse practitioners, home health care aides and assistants. Shortages of RNs and other health care workers are expected to be the most intense in the South and West. Some of the most powerful nursing unions in the nation operate out of California, representing employees in Western states. "The nurses in California have the hours they have, the care they have, the protections they have because of the union," said Soriano-Clark, who has worked at hospitals in California and Pennsylvania. Ready to picket in a pandemic Douglas Wong, a physician assistant, never imagined hoisting a "strike" sign outside Riverside Medical Center. But that nearly happened after a sobering breakdown in talks between Kaiser Permanente and a top nurses union at the facility, part of the KP system. Nurses, pharmacists and operations staffers are among the insurers' 160,000-plus unionized employees, according to KP spokesperson Marc Brown. The California-based health system giant tried to force a two-tier pay schedule that would have cut wages for new nurses by 26%. Wong and thousands of allies many who dryly noted they had been heralded as "heroes" in the covid crisis prepared to picket in the middle of a pandemic. Kaiser Permanente's demands crumbled when dozens of affiliated unions threatened one-day sympathy strikes. The tiered-pay demand and an attempt to lower wages in some markets were dropped. Staffing ratios were adjusted to ease safety concerns. Wong said that, despite the pact, the bruising negotiations "felt like a betrayal." "Make no mistake: This was an enormous win for labor, especially pushing back on the two-tier. At the end of the day, they pulled back. And we made huge strides toward improvement in our staffing," said Wong, a six-year KP employee and an official with the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. The negotiations were a marked shift for Kaiser Permanente, which for most of three decades has relied on a labor-management partnership with its unions, emphasizing cooperative decision-making and robust discussions. Talks were held with teams, set around circular tables, hashing out concerns. KP was known for much of the past decade as a market leader in wages and quality of care, and the labor-management partnership was received by academics and labor experts as an innovative, successful approach to managing a workforce. The health system recently hired new top executives, and, to the surprise of the unions, Kaiser Permanente used negotiations this year to offer the two-tier pay regimen, a tactic used by auto- and steel-makers during economic downturns in the 1980s. The union negotiators noted this: The health care giant's management wanted to scale back wages after notching $6.8 billion in net revenue from 2018 to 2020. On Thursday, workers voted to ratify a four-year contract with KP. The company declined to comment for this article. In a news release, Christian Meisner, KP's chief human resources officer, said: "This contract reflects our deep appreciation for the extraordinary commitment and dedication of our employees" during the pandemic. "We look forward to working together with our labor partners," he said, to "further our mission of providing high-quality, affordable care." The Wall Street Journal recently reported that nurses' pay was sweetened in 2021 by thousands of dollars in raises handed out without union wrangling as hospitals competed for workers. Premier, a health care consultancy hired by the Journal, analyzed 60,000 registered nurses' salaries and found that average annual pay, not including overtime or bonuses, grew about 4% in the first nine months of the year, to more than $81,000. That compares with a 2.6% rise in 2019, according to federal data. Raises don't necessarily mean retention. "There always seems to be a shortage of nurses," said professor Paul Clark, who is a former director of Penn State University's School of Labor and Employment Relations and has studied nursing and labor organizing. "But it's important to realize there's not a shortage of RNs. There's a shortage of RNs willing to work under the conditions they've been asked to work." Aya Healthcare, a national travel nurse provider, has found that the pandemic aggravated historical understaffing at hospitals, spokesperson Lisa Park said in an email. "There were over 100,000 vacancies at the start of the pandemic. And now, that number has increased to over 195,000," Park said. Travel nurses account for fewer than 2% of the nursing workforce, she added, but "with the increase in permanent vacancies due to burnout/resignations, the demand for temporary healthcare workers has increased." David Zonderman, a professor of labor history at North Carolina State University, noted that nurses unions have grown more political and more outspoken in Washington, D.C., and their home states. Nurses on the hospital floor lived through a crisis fearing for their lives amid shortages of protective equipment much like the trials of American workers in the mining and manufacturing industries in decades past. "This may sound weird," Zonderman said, "but nurses are a little like coal miners. They tend to help each other. They are watching each other's back. They have solidarity." "And," he said, "if you treat people badly long enough, they finally say, 'I'm done.'" Rocket scientists and brain surgeons are no smarter than the general population, suggests a study in the Christmas issue of The BMJ. Despite the commonly used phrases "It's not rocket science" and "It's not brain surgery" the findings show that both aerospace engineers and neurosurgeons have similar levels of intelligence to those in the general population. As such, the researchers say that both specialties might be unnecessarily put on a pedestal, and that phrases unrelated to careers such as "It's a walk in the park" might be more appropriate. To help settle the age-old argument of which phrase - "It's not brain surgery" or "It's not rocket science" - is most deserved, researchers compared the intelligence of 329 aerospace engineers and 72 neurosurgeons with 18,257 members of the general population. All participants completed a validated online test to measure six distinct aspects (domains) of cognition, spanning planning and reasoning, working memory, attention, and emotion processing abilities. Potentially influential factors, such as gender, handedness, and experience (years) in their specialty, were taken into account in the analysis. The results show that aerospace engineers and neurosurgeons were equally matched across most domains but differed in two respects: aerospace engineers showed better mental manipulation abilities, whereas neurosurgeons were better at semantic problem solving. When these scores were compared to the general population, aerospace engineers did not show significant differences in any domains. Neurosurgeons were able to solve problems faster than the general population but showed a slower memory recall speed. These results suggest that, despite the stereotypes depicted by the phrases "It's not rocket science" and "It's not brain surgery," all three groups showed a wide range of cognitive abilities." They acknowledge that this is an observational study that does not represent the global range of aerospace engineers and neurosurgeons. They say their results suggest that both neurosurgeons and aerospace engineers might be unnecessarily placed on a pedestal and that "It's a walk in the park" or another phrase unrelated to careers might be more appropriate. University of Michigan Regent Ron Weiser has committed $30 million to Michigan Medicine to establish an innovative, patient-focused program in prostate cancer. The Ronald Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer will aim to elevate and optimize the health care experience for patients with prostate cancer and their families by investing in staff, infrastructure, technologies and education as well as research into the disease and its treatment. The goal is to make this center the easiest and best place to be treated for prostate cancer in the country, if not the world. Ganesh Palapattu, the George F. and Sandy G. Valassis Professor of Urology and Chair of the Department of Urology at Michigan Medicine The center will draw on the already immense resources of the U-M Rogel Cancer Centers renowned prostate cancer program, including state-of-the art urology, radiation oncology and radiology programs; multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinics; cutting-edge technology; highly sought-after training opportunities and a robust research program that seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment and survivorship of prostate cancer. The Ronald Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer will be a clinically focused entity within the Rogel Cancer Center that combines expertise from three departmentsUrology, Radiation Oncology and Radiologywith representatives from each discipline collaborating and serving in leadership roles. We already have a very strong program, but the new center should allow us to take our collaborative clinical care to the next level, said Theodore Lawrence, the Isadore Lampe Professor of Radiation Oncology and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology. The ability to combine drugs and radiation and surgery will be facilitated by being together in one place to deliver better care. We have more than a critical mass of clinician experts, investigators, educators and thought leaders in the field, Palapattu said. This center is going to be the mortar that keeps all those bricks together. A portion of the gift will be used to recruit and retain the best and the brightest, including those who are underrepresented in the field of prostate cancer, to serve as trainees and faculty in the center. The gift will also fund advanced equipment and materials that will further the centers approach of using precision medicine to diagnose and treat patients. With this gift, we can increase timely and convenient access to the latest technology and treatments that will allow us to provide a superior experience for our patients, regardless of means, said Vikas Gulani, the Fred Jenner Hodges Professor and chair of the Department of Radiology. Weiser, one of the universitys top donors, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019, and the experience caused him to reflect on how he could help combat the countrys second-leading cause of cancer-related death among men. Im grateful for the excellent care at U-M that has helped me fight the cancer that invaded my body, Weiser said. But going through this has made me realize more could be done to support so many other men and their families who face this terrible disease, too. Regent Weisers generous gift to Michigan Medicine will enhance our research, education and patient care while providing new levels of hope to the hundreds of thousands of patients around the globe who are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, said U-M President Mark Schlissel. The Ronald Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer will unite the life-saving work of researchers and clinicians in multiple disciplines and further U-Ms commitment to excellence in health care. The continuing generosity of Ron Weiser will help our prostate cancer program reach even more people in need and ensure they receive not only the most evidence-based care but also the most coordinated, collaborative, compassionate care, said Marschall Runge, executive vice president for medical affairs, dean of the U-M Medical School and CEO of Michigan Medicine. Weiser will work with Michigan Medicine on fundraising efforts for the new center and encourages others to join him in supporting this transformational initiative. Weiser and his family have committed more than $150 million to the University of Michigan to date. He has served on the Board of Regents since 2016 and was a vice chair of the Victors for Michigan campaign. His gifts have helped establish centers including the Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute, Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center and Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center at Michigan Medicine, as well as the Weiser Center for Real Estate, Weiser Diplomacy Center, Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies and Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia on the main campus. Vaccination is thought to be crucial in bringing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak to an end. Inequities in vaccine distribution, as well as the emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, pose a threat to this strategy. In the last year, a number of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) have developed, with the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) presently dominating the pandemic. Increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion are characteristics of these VOC, which have been connected to mutations in the viral spike protein (S). The Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, a unique VOC, was recently discovered in South Africa, and its development was linked to a sharp increase in cases and hospitalizations. Infected air travelers brought the Omicron form into various European, African, and Asian countries, as well as the United States. Local transmission events were observed in the United Kingdom, with case counts doubling every two to three days as of December 2021. The Omicron variant's S protein has a disproportionately high number of mutations, which could promote immune evasion and/or transmissibility. Indeed, according to a recent study, the Omicron variant is more effective at infecting convalescent people than previously circulating versions. As a result, the Omicron variant is a fast-developing public health danger that could jeopardize worldwide attempts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The Omicron variant's sensitivity to antibody-mediated neutralization, on the other hand, has yet to be determined. In this study, a group of researchers from various German institutions found that the Omicron S protein evades antibodies with a 44-fold higher efficiency than the Delta variant's spike, rendering therapeutic antibodies ineffective and likely negatively impacting antibody protection induced by infection or vaccination with two doses of BNT162b2 (BNT). A preprint version of this study, which is yet to undergo peer review, is available on the bioRxiv* server. The study The authors used vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) particles pseudotyped with SARS-CoV-2 S proteins to study host cell entrance. These pseudotyped particles accurately imitate critical aspects of SARS-CoV-2 entrance into target cells, such as receptor and protease selection, as well as antibody neutralization. The authors first questioned if the Omicron spike differed from other VOC spikes in terms of target cell selection and entry efficiency. Since this virus circulated early in the pandemic and does not include changes identified in the S proteins of VOCs, the spike from SARS-CoV-2 B.1 (which is identical to the S protein of the Wuhan-Hu-1 isolate except for the inclusion of mutation D614G) was studied in parallel. The cell lines Vero (African green monkey, kidney), 293T (human, kidney), A549 (human, lung) modified to express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), Huh-7 (human, liver), Caco-2 (human, colon), and Calu-3 (human, lung) cells were used to study cell tropism. VSV-G and SARS-CoV-2 B.1 spikes were particularly sensitive to penetration in all cell lines. In addition, all VOC S proteins facilitated robust entrance into the cell lines studied, but there were minor discrepancies. According to published research, the Delta spike enabled enhanced access into Calu-3 and Caco-2 cells, whereas the Omicron spike facilitated increased entry into Vero, Huh-7, and particularly 293T cells. Furthermore, B.1 and Omicron spike facilitated similar entry into A549-ACE2 cells, whereas the other S protein-mediated less efficient entry. Finally, the Omicron spike linked to human ACE2 efficiently and used ACE2 to enter the host cell, demonstrating that the receptor-binding domain (RBD) mutations do not impact ACE2 interactions. The next question was whether the Omicron spike can enter target cells using human ACE2 and ACE2 orthologues from diverse animal species, such as horseshoe bats, masked palm civets, raccoon dogs, and pangolin. The B.1 and Delta spikes, as well as VSV-G, were used as controls for entry. The expression of the ACE2 orthologues had no effect on VSV-G-driven entry, but it did allow robust and somewhat equivalent entrance from the B.1, Delta, and Omicron spikes in most cases. There were two exceptions. The Delta spike exploited murine ACE2 more efficiently than the B.1 spike, and it facilitated entrance triggered by the Omicron spike with the maximum efficiency. Finally, B.1 spike was unable to exploit ACE2 from Pearson's horseshoe bat for entry, whereas Delta and, in particular, the Omicron spike, were successful. These findings show that the Omicron spike uses ACE2 orthologues extensively for host cell penetration, implying a significant zoonotic potential. Implications The use of pseudotyped virus and the lack of investigation of T cell responses are two of the study's limitations. Given the critical role that antibodies play in immune protection against SARS-CoV-2, these findings imply that preventive and therapeutic strategies for the Omicron variant should be revised. While these adaptations are underway, heterologous or booster vaccines, as well as traditional control measures such as face masks and social distancing, will serve to reduce the Omicron variant's impact on public health. *Important notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Sanofi one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies have signed a new agreement for donations of medicines to sustain specific efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This decades-long collaboration exemplifies a successful publicprivate partnership that has created meaningful impact in several countries and has brought sleeping sickness closer to elimination. In a world severely disrupted by the current pandemic, Sanofi's renewed commitment and support to end this disease will immensely benefit and improve the lives of marginalized populations." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, The World Health Organization Under the new five-year US$ 25 million agreement (20212025), Sanofi will support WHO's global programme for elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, control and prevention of Chagas disease and integrated control of the skin NTDs. Sanofi has been collaborating for 20 years with the World Health Organization in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The renewal of this collaboration today speaks volumes about our longstanding engagement in global health" indicated Paul Hudson, CEO Sanofi. "We also welcome the recent endorsement of the new NTDs roadmap by the World Health Assembly. Sanofi is committed to further contribute to the elimination of sleeping sickness, including advancing research and development for vulnerable communities exposed to the disease." Beyond elimination of human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem Sanofi's commitment to eliminate sleeping sickness has been unfaltering. At the turn of the century, when thousands of cases were detected annually, the company supported investments in research and development of new medicines. With the donation of medicines, combined with work of motivated health care workers, the number of sleeping sickness cases has decreased from 33 000 in 2000 to fewer than 1000 in 2019, eclipsing the original target of elimination as a public health problem by 2020.2 The recent addition of fexinidazole an oral treatment for sleeping sickness, has been largely supported by Sanofi and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative. This has boosted the more ambitious prospects of interruption of transmission by 2030, even more so as Sanofi continues its investment in improving therapeutic tools with the development of new medicines such as acoziborole, currently under advanced clinical trials The agreement signed during a virtual meeting between Dr Tedros and Mr Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi on 10 December 2020, will enable WHO to coordinate the delivery of donated medicines. Under this new agreement, funding will also be earmarked for in-country capacity-strengthening and training of health workers, improved epidemiological surveillance, and renewed efforts for case-finding and treatment for several diseases, including leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and the skin NTDs. Two decades of collaboration Collaboration between WHO and Sanofi started in 2001 when the company, then known as Aventis Pharma, committed US$ 25 million to support the control and prevention of sleeping sickness, initially for a period of 5 years. The agreement was renewed in 2006 and included support for other NTDs such as Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and yaws. Subsequently, it was renewed every 5 years. Since 2001 and with this new commitment, Sanofi's in-kind and in-cash support is reaching US$ 125 million. Of the 20 NTDs, more than half present with skin manifestations and are associated with long-term disability, stigmatization and mental health problems. These include Buruli ulcer, cutaneous leishmaniasis, leprosy, mycetoma, yaws, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis and scabies. All these diseases require similar detection and case-management approaches. Elimination as a public health problem is defined by achieving measurable global targets set by WHO in relation to a specific disease. When reached, continued actions should continue to maintain the targets and/or to advance the interruption of transmission. The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 10 additional imported COVID-19 cases, nine of which involve the L452R mutant strain while the other one carries the N501Y mutant strain. The newly reported cases concern six men and four women, nine of them arrived in the city from high-risk places and one from a medium-risk place. Eight patients tested positive upon arrival in Hong Kong and one tested positive during quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel. The remaining case is a sea crew member who arrived in Hong Kong from Japan via the cargo vessel Glory Sky on December 1. There were confirmed cases involving sea crew members of that vessel earlier. The patient tested positive during quarantine on board. Meanwhile, the centre is investigating a COVID-19 case in Taiwan involving a 51-year-old female patient who lives at Silver Waves Court in Mui Wo. She tested negative in Hong Kong on November 30. She travelled to Taiwan on December 2 by flight CX494 and her specimen collected in Taiwan on the same day tested negative. She then tested positive on December 12 with a cycle threshold (Ct) value of about 20. According to information provided by the patient, she developed symptoms on December 11. She has received two doses of the BioNTech jab in Hong Kong. The centre is following up on the case with the Taiwan health authority. As a prudent measure, the places where the patient visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a compulsory testing notice. Plus, as Nepal Airlines flight RA409 from Kathmandu, Nepal, arriving in Hong Kong on December 14 had four passengers confirmed to have COVID-19 by arrival testing, the Department of Health invoked a law to prohibit the landing of the carriers passenger flights from Kathmandu from December 16 to 29. In view of a preliminary imported case who had stayed in Hong Kong during the incubation period, 12 specified premises are included in the compulsory testing notice. The mobile specimen collection stations at various districts will provide free testing services to those subject to compulsory testing. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. (Newser) Update: The man who plowed his vehicle into a parade in Germany in February 2020 received a life sentence Thursday for 89 counts of attempted murder. Identified as 31-year-old Maurice P., he was also convicted of 88 counts of grievous bodily harm at a trial that began in May, reports AFP. His vehicle traveled 42 yards into the crowd in Volkmarsen, sending bodies flying while dragging others. Witnesses seized him before police arrived. Prosecutors said he'd accelerated, intending to kill a "large number of people." They also said he'd parked his vehicle in a strategic spot the day before the rampage and installed a dashcam, indicating premeditation. Evidence suggested he suffered from paranoia and schizophrenia. Our original story from Feb. 24, 2020 follows: story continues below A man intentionally drove a car into a crowd of people at a Carnival parade in a small town in central Germany, injuring dozens of people including children, police said Monday. The driver was arrested, but police couldn't immediately provide details about the man's motivations for crashing into the celebrations in Volkmarsen, about 175 miles southwest of Berlin, per the AP. "We are working on the assumption that it was a deliberate act," police spokesman Henning Hinn said. Some of the injuries were life-threatening, he said. Witnesses said the car drove around a barrier blocking off traffic from the parade, according to the paper. Video from the scene showed a silver Mercedes station wagon with local license plates on a sidewalk, its front windshield badly smashed and hood dented, and its hazard lights blinking, while emergency crews walked by. Forensic experts could be seen taking photos and measurements around the crashed car, walking around fragments of Carnival costumes that littered the ground. The crash came amid the height of Germany's celebration of Carnival, with the biggest parades in Cologne, Duesseldorf, and Mainz. Police in Western Hesse state tweeted that all other Carnival parades in the state Monday were ended after the crash as a precaution. (Read more Germany stories.) (Newser) US cybersecurity officials have warned companies of a software vulnerability that could put millions of electronic devices at risk from hackers. The warning was delivered to executives Monday in a phone call involving officials of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CNN reports. "We expect the vulnerability to be widely exploited by sophisticated actors, and we have limited time to take necessary steps in order to reduce the likelihood of damaging incidents," Director Jen Easterly told them, adding that it might be the most serious vulnerability she's ever seen. story continues below The problem is in Log4j, Java-based software that large organizations use to log information in their applications. The logging library flaw would "allow remote attackers to easily take control of the system in which they exploit it," said another agency official. The organizations, including tech giants, will need to clean up their code quickly, analysts said. Amazon Web Services and IBM have started. Consumers could be affected in time, because the software is used so widely. The Apache Software Foundation has made a security fix available, per CyberScoop, but that's just the beginning. "Theres no single action that fixes this issue," said Jay Gazlay of CISA, who called it a mistake to assume an organization is "going to be done with this in a week or two." The agency is launching a website to provide information about the threat to critical infrastructure and counter "active disinformation." Other nations have issued warnings, as well. Ransomware attacks are among the possibilities, officials said. (Read more cybersecurity stories.) (Newser) Italian journalist Riccardo Ehrman has died at age 9232 years after he asked a question that changed the world. Ehrman was Italian news agency ANSA's East Berlin correspondent in the fall of 1989 as protests against the communist East German regime gathered steam. At a Nov. 9 press conference, Ehrman pressed Politburo member Gunter Schabowski about a relaxation of border controls Schabowski had not been briefed on, the BBC reports. "You mentioned mistakes," Ehrman said. "Don't you think that it was a big mistake to introduce this draft travel law that you announced a few days ago?" story continues below Schabowski denied a mistake had been made. Reading from a note he had been given before the press conference, he said East German citizens would be allowed to leave the country "without prerequisites." When pressed by Ehrman and another reporter, Schabowski looked through his papers uncertainly before saying that as he understood it, the change would take effect "immediately, without delay." After the press conference, thousands of East and West Germans rushed to the wall; overwhelmed border guards opened checkpoints. In a 2009 interview, Ehrman said that while East Germans immediately realized the importance of the statement, other journalists were slow to react. He wasn't, saying he rushed to call ANSA with the news flash "The Berlin Wall has collapsed. "ANSA had an amazing 31 minutes advantage over the competition," he said. "I must also add that, as colleagues later told me, in ANSA there were some who immediately said 'Riccardo has lost his mind.' Luckily for me and for Germany and perhaps even for the world, I had not gone mad." Ehrman was born in Florence in 1929. When he was 13 years old, he was sent to an internment camp for Jews, which was liberated by the British Army in 1943. His final posting for ANSA was Spain, where he remained after his retirement. (Read more Berlin Wall stories.) (Newser) "We won't put up with a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists trying to impose its will on the whole of our society," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Wednesday, hours after police raided the homes of anti-vaccination activists suspected of plotting to assassinate a state governor. Prosecutors said predawn raids at several locations in Dresden targeted five men and one woman suspected of preparing to carry out violent acts, Deutsche Welle reports. Police said they found "crossbows, parts of weapons, and weapons" in the raids. Police declined to confirm whether arrests were made. story continues below Police said the raids followed an investigation of an anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown Telegram group in which people "uttered plans to murder Saxony's governor and other members of Saxony's state government," per CNN. The state governor, Michael Kretschmer, initially opposed tight COVID restrictions but changed course after Saxony, which has the lowest vaccination rate in Germany, was hit hard by a surge in cases, the BBC reports. With Germany on course to make COVID vaccination mandatory early next year, authorities have warned that a collection of anti-restriction groups known as the Querdenken movement is becoming increasingly radicalized, the AP reports. Scholz, in his first speech to lawmakers as chancellor, said Wednesday that while debate on COVID restrictions is welcome, "the denial of reality, absurd conspiracy theories, wanton disinformation, and violent extremism" will not be accepted. A "small extremist minority," he said, has "not only turned its back on science, rationality, and common sense, but also on our society, our democracy, and our community." (Read more Germany stories.) (Newser) First the date for Apple employees to return to the office was set for last June. That ended up getting shifted to September, and then three more times after that, with the latest target mapped out for Feb. 1. Now, once more thanks to COVID, yet another postponement, and this one is indefinite. "We are delaying the start of our hybrid work pilot to a date yet to be determined," CEO Tim Cook told workers Wednesday in a memo confirmed by Bloomberg, CNN Business, and other sources. The reason: "rising [COVID] cases in many parts of the world and the emergence of a new strain of the virus," per Cook. story continues below The move for the company based in Cupertino, Calif., comes just after it reimplemented a mask mandate at all of its US retail sites, a few of which have been shut down due to worker infections. CNN notes that Apple isn't alone in its struggle to get back to the office, especially now with the omicron variant floating around: Amazon, Google, Uber, and Lyft have seen similar delays. When a new return date is set, Cook assures employees they'll get at least a month's notice to prepare, with any such decision made "based on local conditions," according to his memo. A bit of good news for Apple employees was also included in Cook's missive, with an announcement that all employees, including retail workers, will be getting a $1,000 bonus "in support of our commitment to a more flexible environment." The funds are meant to be used to help employees better set up a work-from-home space if needed, though Cook noted the money "can be used as you see fit." (Read more Apple stories.) (Newser) As European governments scramble to deal with the spread of the omicron variant, France has placed tough restrictions on travel to and from the UK, which currently has a far higher number of omicron cases. In a statement, the French government said it had reintroduced a requirement to have a "compelling reason" for travel between the UK and France for vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike, Guardian reports. Testing requirements have also been stepped up. The French statement noted that in the British government's own words, the UK is expected to face a "tidal wave" of cases in the coming days. The UK reported a record 78,610 new COVID cases Wednesday. story continues below France has also stepped up its booster vaccination campaign and tightened its health pass system, France24 reports. Health passes for people over 65 will now be invalid unless the holder has received a third dose of vaccines. The passes are necessary for visiting restaurants and cafes as well as venues like movie theaters. Elsewhere: EU wants common policy for all 27 members . European Union leaders will meet Thursday to try to hammer out a policy that will allow travel between the 27 member states to continue, though vaccination rates vary widely, the AP reports. Portugal, France, and Greece already require negative COVID tests from arriving visitors, vaccinated or unvaccinated. . European Union leaders will meet Thursday to try to hammer out a policy that will allow travel between the 27 member states to continue, though vaccination rates vary widely, the AP reports. Portugal, France, and Greece already require negative COVID tests from arriving visitors, vaccinated or unvaccinated. Dutch royals apologize . In the Netherlands, the Dutch royal family has apologized for hosting a party on the palace grounds for heir apparent Princess Amalia's 18th birthday last week, though it says all regulations were followed, the BBC reports. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said King Willem-Alexander admitted to him that it was a bad idea to organize the gathering while COVID cases were surging and tight restrictions were in place. . In the Netherlands, the Dutch royal family has apologized for hosting a party on the palace grounds for heir apparent Princess Amalia's 18th birthday last week, though it says all regulations were followed, the BBC reports. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said King Willem-Alexander admitted to him that it was a bad idea to organize the gathering while COVID cases were surging and tight restrictions were in place. South Korea brings back controls. The Washington Post reports that South Korea reintroduced restrictions Thursday after case numbers hit a record high for the fourth time this month. The new rules ban gatherings of more than four people and require restaurants and nightclubs to close at 9pm. (Read more COVID-19 stories.) (Newser) Update: A Louisiana judge caught on video saying the n-word has resigned. Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet had already taken an unpaid leave of absence after the clip of her using the racial slurrecorded as she watched surveillance footage of an attempted burglary outside her homecirculated online last month. Now, she's stepping down for good, reports CNN. "I take full responsibility for the hurtful words I used to describe the individual who burglarized the vehicles at my home," Odinet wrote in a letter dated Friday to the Louisiana Supreme Court's chief justice, adding she was resigning "after much reflection and prayer." She asked for forgiveness, adding, "I am sorry for the pain that I have caused my community." Per the New York Times, her lawyer conceded on Friday it would've been impossible for her to continue as a judge, noting, "There was never going to be a situation where African Americans would appear before her and not file motions to recuse." Our original story from Dec. 16 follows: story continues below A Louisiana judge will take a leave of absence without pay after using a racial slur in a video widely shared on social media. The video shows a TV set on which plays security footage showing at least two people capturing and holding another person during an attempted burglary at the home of Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet early Saturday, per CBS News. Off camera, viewers comment on what they're seeing. "That's me," one person says. "And Mom's yelling 'n---, n---.'" Another person adds, "We have a n-----. It's a n-----, like a roach." Odinet had written on Facebook about attempted burglaries in her neighborhood. She also told attorneys about leaving money in her vehicle as a trap, reports the Acadiana Advocate. Odinet's lawyer, Dane Ciolino, confirmed Wednesday that his client had used a racial slur in the video, per CBS, though Odinet initially told KLFY that she had no recollection of the video taken in her home or "the disturbing language used" as "I was given a sedative at the time." "Anyone who knows me and my husband, knows this is contrary to the way we live our lives," she noted at the time. She also said she and her children had been victims of an armed robbery, which "shook me to my core and my mental state was fragile." However, police said no weapon was found on the suspect, a Black man identified as Ronald Handy, 59, who is charged with two counts of simple burglary and held in Lafayette Parish Jail. She feels "humiliated, embarrassed, and sorry for what she has done and the harm she has caused to the community" and will now take a leave of absence, Ciolino told the Advocate on Wednesday. "What happens in the long term is something she is going to think about in the weeks to come." Local leaders have been calling for her to resign. If she doesn't, "we request that the Louisiana Judiciary Commission immediately appoint an ad hoc judge to hear cases in her division, investigate this incident and ultimately remove her," said the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. One law firm has already asked the judge to recuse herself from its defendants' cases. (Read more racial slurs stories.) (Newser) The earliest known burial of a female infant in Europe has convinced some archaeologists that humans living 10,000 years ago considered females as members of society at birtha find that might be surprising considering many women didnt gain personhood under law until the 20th century. The child, who died at less than two months old, was wrapped in a shroud decorated with more than 60 beads and four pendants made from shell in a grave inside a cave in what is now northwestern Italy. An eagle-owl talon found nearby may also have been meant as a gift, per Smithsonian. It appears the items were "worn for a long time by the adults" and might even have been passed down to the child, archaeologist Fabio Negrino, co-author of a study published Tuesday in Scientific Reports, tells NBC News. story continues below "It suggests to us that personhood, or recognition of individuals within a society, was passed to very young females," another study co-author, UC Denver paleoanthropologist Caley Orr, tells National Geographic. That's also indicated with the graves of two female infants who lived 11,500 years ago in what is now Alaska, per Smithsonian. The earliest human and Neanderthal graves found in Africa also indicate children had personhood, though any differences between male and female children were not clear. The study's lead author, archaeologist Jamie Hodgkins, notes it's "very, very rare" to find human burials from the early Mesolithic, which began about 15,000 years ago in Europe. And it's even rarer to find bones of infants from this period. In other words, the partial skeleton of this child, dubbed Neve after a river near the the Arma Veirana cave in Liguria, "is in a gap where we don't have much of anything at all," says Hodgkins. Luckily, it was well enough preserved to extract DNA, revealing the infant's sex. "Without DNA analysis, this highly decorated infant burial could possibly have been assumed male," Hodgkins says in a release, per Smithsonian. Tests on the infant's teeth showed she lived for 40 to 50 days. They also showed the teeth temporarily stopped growing in the womb due to stress at two periods: 47 days and 28 days before she was born, per NBC. (Read more discoveries stories.) (Newser) All of the missionaries kidnapped by a gang in Haiti two months ago have been freed, reports the AP. Haitian police spokesman Gary Desrosiers announced the development on Thursday. Seventeen members of Christian Aid Ministries, based in Ohio, were originally abducted by the 400 Mawozo gang in October. Five had been freed in earlier releases. The gang, known for mass abductions, originally demanded $1 million per hostage, and it wasn't immediately clear how much, if any, money was paid. The group included five children, and one of the kidnap victims was Canadian. All were abducted while visiting an orphanage outside the capital of Port-au-Prince. (Read more Haiti stories.) (Newser) Actor Chris Noth of Sex and the City and Law and Order fame has been accused of sexual assault by two women who spoke to the Hollywood Reporter. The 67-year-old actor flatly denies the allegations. The women use pseudonyms. Zoe, 40, says Noth assaulted her in Los Angeles in 2004 when she was 22. Lily, 31, says her assault took place in New York City in 2015 when she was 25. THR says the women do not know each other and approached the outlet separately. Noth statement: The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false," he says in a statement sent to media outlets, including NBC News. "These stories couldve been from 30 years ago or 30 days agono always means nothat is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual. Its difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I dont know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women. (Noth has been making headlines lately because of a surprise plot twist in the new SATC movie.) story continues below Zoe: She worked for a "high-profile firm" in L.A. that dealt with celebrities, including Noth. She says he struck up a flirty relationship that led to her being in his apartment. There, she says, he raped her, refusing to stop when she asked and refusing to wear a condom. She says she went to the hospital afterward with blood on her shirt and said she'd been assaulted, then spoke to police but did not identify Noth. THR speaks to her friends (including a woman who accompanied Zoe to the hospital) and her former boss at the time who corroborate the story. She worked for a "high-profile firm" in L.A. that dealt with celebrities, including Noth. She says he struck up a flirty relationship that led to her being in his apartment. There, she says, he raped her, refusing to stop when she asked and refusing to wear a condom. She says she went to the hospital afterward with blood on her shirt and said she'd been assaulted, then spoke to police but did not identify Noth. THR speaks to her friends (including a woman who accompanied Zoe to the hospital) and her former boss at the time who corroborate the story. Lily: Now a journalist, she worked as a server at the time, and says she accepted Noth's invitation to dinner and afterward, to visit his apartment. "He kept trying and trying and trying (to make out), and I should have said no more firmly and left," she says. "And then the next thing I knew, he pulled down his pants and he was standing in front of me. In THR's words, "he thrust his penis in her mouth" and then began intercourse. "I was kind of crying as it happened," she says, adding that she felt "totally violated" afterward. A friend tells THR that a "hysterical" Lily called her that night and told her that Noth "pretty forcibly" had sex with her, but that Lily rejected her advice to go to police. Now a journalist, she worked as a server at the time, and says she accepted Noth's invitation to dinner and afterward, to visit his apartment. "He kept trying and trying and trying (to make out), and I should have said no more firmly and left," she says. "And then the next thing I knew, he pulled down his pants and he was standing in front of me. In THR's words, "he thrust his penis in her mouth" and then began intercourse. "I was kind of crying as it happened," she says, adding that she felt "totally violated" afterward. A friend tells THR that a "hysterical" Lily called her that night and told her that Noth "pretty forcibly" had sex with her, but that Lily rejected her advice to go to police. Texts: THR looked at texts between the two afterward. "I have to ask did you enjoy our night last week," wrote Noth. "I thought it was a lot of fun but I wasnt quite sure how you felt. Lily replied: HmmI certainly enjoyed your company. Great conversation. Not to go into specifics over text message, but I did feel slightly used Perhaps this is better as a phone conversation but I cant talk at the moment. Noth suggested another meeting, but they never met again. (Read more Chris Noth stories.) (Newser) President Biden on Thursday presented the Medal of Honor, the nations highest military award for valor in combat, to three soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. Two were recognized posthumously, per the AP. Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee , a Special Forces soldier who fought off Taliban insurgents after an attack in Afghanistan in 2013. , a Special Forces soldier who fought off Taliban insurgents after an attack in Afghanistan in 2013. Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz , 32, an Army Ranger who died after stepping between Taliban fighters and a US helicopter evacuating wounded in 2018 in Afghanistan. , 32, an Army Ranger who died after stepping between Taliban fighters and a US helicopter evacuating wounded in 2018 in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, 35, who died as a result of burns he suffered while rescuing fellow soldiers from a burning vehicle in Iraq in 2005. story continues below Kate Celiz and Tamara Cashe accepted the medals of behalf of their families. As honored as you are, it's gotta be tough to be here today, Biden told Cashe's family. Cashe is the first Black service member to receive the Medal of Honor for military actions since Vietnam, according to the White House. He was on patrol in Iraq in October 2005 when the Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was commanding was attacked with small arms fire and a roadside bomb. Cashe repeatedly returned to the burning vehicle and pulled six soldiers from the wreckage. Despite his burns, Cashe refused to board the medical evacuation helicopter until the other soldiers were evacuated first. Celiz was leading an operation to clear an area of enemy forces in Afghanistan in 2018 when his team came under attack. He used his body to shield his unit from enemy fire as a casualty was loaded on to a medical evacuation helicopter. Celiz stayed behind to cover the aircraft. As the helicopter lifted off, Celiz positioned himself to shield the cockpit. He was hit by enemy fire. Despite his injuries, he motioned to the aircraft to depart rather than remain to load him at the risk of further casualties. Plumlee was serving at a base in Afghanistan when it came under attack, with insurgents blowing a 60-foot breach in the perimeter wall. Ten insurgents wearing Afghan National Army uniforms and suicide vests poured through. Plumlee and five other soldiers drove toward the explosion to head off the attack. Armed with just a pistol, Plumlee killed two insurgents and engaged several others at close range, despite heavy enemy fire and his own injuries. At one point, Plumlee ran to a wounded soldier, carried him to safety and rendered first aid. Plumlee is currently serving with the 1st Special Forces Group at Fort Lewis, Washington. (Read more Medal of Honor stories.) Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced a fiscal 2023 spending plan that puts a special emphasis on public safety across Alaska. Hes seen here on Oct. 22, 2021, addressing Fairbanks residents prior to a ribbon-cutting for the rebuilt University Bridge. Alena Naiden/News-Mine Angela Rodell, who directed the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. since 2015, was removed from her position by the board of trustees that oversees the multi-billion-dollar fund. Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. 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In response to a national TikTok challenge that has led to rumors and threats of violence against U.S. schools on Friday, some local districts plan to have increased police presence on campuses. New Fairfield, New Milford and Brookfield are among the school districts in Connecticut that will increase police presence, although Connecticut State Police said they have not deemed any threats to be credible. The rumors of violence come as schools across the state and country have seen a series of hoaxes in recent weeks, prompting some schools to take extra precautions and some even close. New Fairfield Superintendent Pat Cosentino said New Fairfield Middle School will be among those in the area with an increased police presence after a threatening TikTok video was brought to the attention of school officials Wednesday morning. Some of our students saw this and thought that New Fairfield Middle School was being threatened, Cosentino said. Although the threat was not against New Fairfield Middle School, she said an increased police presence will be on campus Friday out of an abundance of caution and for our students and staffs sense of safety. State police said the posts typically begin on TikTok and spread in recent days across other social media sites. They say it is possible the threats originated from a TikTok challenge that encouraged students to skip school Friday. We handle even rumored threats with utmost seriousness, which is why were working with law enforcement to look into warnings about potential violence at schools even though we have not found evidence of such threats originating or spreading via TikTok, the social media app said Thursday afternoon. Any school threat that is made in Connecticut is immediately taken very seriously by law enforcement, state police said. If a threat is determined to be a hoax, there will be a thorough investigation and arrests will be made. This could also lead to further consequences within the school district. Cosentino said New Fairfield school officials commended students for bringing the video to their attention and urge families to speak to their children about social media and the importance of letting an adult know when they see something dangerous or inappropriate. We ask that you remind (them) that threats on social media are investigated by the police and are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, she wrote in a letter to families on Wednesday. New Milford and Brookfields districts have decided to increase police presence at their schools in response to what Brookfield Superintendent John W. Barile describes as the recent nationwide TikTok message threat. Barile said theres been no mention of Brookfield schools, but the district isnt taking any chances all four public schools will have increased police presence Friday as a cautionary measure and to promote a sense of student, parents and staff safety. Should we be made aware of a credible threat, you will be notified immediately, Barile wrote in a Thursday morning letter to parents. New Milford will have increased police presence not just on Friday, but until the start of winter break. Although no specific threat has been made against New Milford, Superintendent Alisha DiCorpo said the district takes matters of safety very seriously and will have increased police presence at and around all its schools out of an abundance of caution. DiCorpo is urging parents to talk to their children about the importance of thinking through their social media posts, as well as their statements to others. Social media is a powerful tool that can have a very strong influence, she said. We want to help guide students in making good choices and understanding the consequences associated with making bad decisions, including those influenced by social media. DiCorpo said the district has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to threats of violence and any threat that is made against the schools and school district will be met with serious consequences, up to and including expulsion from school and possible legal action for making threats. Several threats have been made against area schools in recent weeks one of which resulted in the arrest of a juvenile, who police say sent threatening emails that caused an early dismissal at Danbury High School two weeks ago. OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday proposed a host of efforts to address homelessness in the state, including a plan to help people stay in their homes, increasing emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing and expanding services for addiction or mental health issues. Inslees plan looks to spend about $815 million, with more than two-thirds covered by federal coronavirus funding the state has received. His proposal looks to build on nearly $2 billion of state and federal money that was approved by the Legislature earlier this year for housing and homelessness programs. A policy brief released by Inslee's office says that before the pandemic, about 30 out of every 10,000 Washingtonians were experiencing homelessness, and that preliminary data indicates that there was a 2% increase from January 2020 to January of this year. This is a statewide problem, not just Seattle, not just King county, Inslee said at a news conference outside of a Habitat for Humanity project site in Seattle. And it calls for a statewide solution. Among the spending he is asking the Legislature to approve: $100 million in federal money to help with unpaid utility bills in order to prevent eviction. $100 million in federal money to build about 1,500 permanent supporting housing and permanent affordable housing units to serve a variety of populations, including those with chronic mental illness who need services. An additional $334 million, mostly federal funds, for housing ranging from tiny homes to enhanced emergency shelters. $100 million in state funds to expand homeless shelter capacity. $60 million in federal funds to expand treatment beds for chronic behavioral health conditions. More than $48 million in state money to increase access to supportive housing and employment, and to help people maintain both even during behavioral health crises. Nearly $51 million in state funds to transition people from unsanctioned encampments on public right of way, like areas along highways, to shelter or housing and to clean up and restructure the former encampments to prevent new ones from forming. $3.5 million in state funds and passage of a new statewide policy to expand where housing supply like duplexes and other types of middle housing" can be built. The proposal would overturn local bans on those types of housing in cities with a population of 10,000 or higher, and would allow duplexes, triplexes and quads on all lots within a half-mile of major transit stops in large cities, those with populations of 25,000 or higher. It would also allow lot-splitting and duplexes on all lots in large and mid-size cities. Inslee's office said the proposal would give cities flexibility on what type of middle housing it would allow, and that while cities with populations under 10,000 are not required to build middle housing they are encouraged to do so and can access resources from the state's Department of Commerce if they do. $6 million to expand programs for homeless youth and young adults, including additional case managers, housing and rent assistance and other support services. We need to build more affordable housing and we need to provide the services that are necessary to get unsheltered people, to help them through their challenges, to become sustainably housed, Inslee said. Seattle Mayor-elect Bruce Harrell said he appreciated the conversations with the governor and others on how to better unite to address the challenge like the crisis it is. "That will mean connecting people living unsheltered with the housing and the services and the trust that meets their needs to leave encampments with safety, humanity and dignity," he said. Inslee has been unveiling policy proposals through the week ahead of Thursday's official supplemental budget plan rollout. On Monday he addressed several climate-related measures and on Tuesday he discussed a salmon recovery plan. His overall budget is just the first of three budget proposals the public will see. The Democratic-controlled House and Senate will each present their own budget plans during the 60-day legislative session that begins Jan. 10. Union Minister, Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, joined us for an exclusive interview as part of India News Manch and spoke the various mission conducted by the Modi-government such as Namami Gange Programme and the BJP's stance in the upcoming Punjab elections. Read excerpts. The India News Manch was held today in the National Capital, with the whos who of Indian politics in presence. The massive conclave managed to bring together Indias most influential political leaders and voices, including Union Cabinet ministers, state cabinet ministers and members of parliament, chief ministers, party presidents, general secretaries, and spokespersons, to witness some of the most compelling panel discussions and exclusive interviews ahead of the election period. Union Minister, Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, joined us for an exclusive interview as part of India News Manch and spoke the various mission conducted by the Modi-government such as Namami Gange Programme and the BJPs stance in the upcoming Punjab elections. Read excerpts. Speaking about the goal of the government to supply water to every household by the end of 2024, the Union Minister said, Our Prime minister took an oath on 15th August for the second time; he expressed this resolution in front of the nation that as a part of his successful development schemes over the years, the woman of India wont have to step out of their houses to fetch drinking water by the end of 2024. Every house in this country will have drinking water by that time. In the 2019 iconic speech, Modi revealed that the country has a population of over 19 crore villagers. Through the efforts of the last 70 years, the Indian government had managed to provide water supply to only 16% of households. So, 4.5 times the amount of work that had been conducted in the last 70 years had to be obtained by the Modi government in 48 months. The people of the country were a tad skeptical over the Jan dhan Yojna and the Swachh Bharat Mission, but by 2019 the public had unparalleled trust in Modi ji and they showed total confidence in him. As we know that the department of water supply comes under the state government, our government had in depth consultation with the state ministers and on 25th December PM Modi issued guidelines for the same. Since almost 2 years now, even under the distress of the pandemic, I proudly announce that our government with the help of the state government has successfully started providing water to almost 8 crore 70 lakh households. Further discussing about the Namami Gange Programme, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat exclaimed, See, the river Ganga is on-going and it shall remain on-going. This is the wish of every citizen of India. We have to accept the fact the due to increasing population, the pressure on the water bodies is increasing. However, the damage that has been done since the last 50-100 year has to be repaired. Therefore, with this goal in sight, PM Modi began working on Namami Gange Programme. He went on to say that, Even before this, in the year 1945, the Ganga action plan was launched. But since last 35 years, the work was being done in bits and pieces. Whereas, PM Modi made a holistic plan to obtain this goal of cleaning Ganga. There has been a noticeable change in the narrative of this issue, people have now started acknowledging that some change can be witnessed in Ganga now. During the Kumb Mela last year, people have 125 countries have vouched for this change. Through the process of micro irrigation coverage, we have started to contain the river water around the river area only. With complete trust me my words, I can affirm that the river area from Gangotri to Rishikesh is completely free of pollutants of any kind. Sharing insights on the effect of the farmers protest in the upcoming Punjab polls, the minister said, Whenever there is discussions about farmers and farming industry, one topic that has always been bought up is that of the report of Dr. Swaminathan. I am sure that most of the people sitting on protests did not read that report carefully. Dr. Swaminathan is talking about land reforms and how there should be a robust structure in the agricultural sector and many more matters. Dr. Swaminathan wrote in an article that only Narendra Modi considered all this and made this law. There has been a massive shift in the way people saw the agricultural sector in India. We have a profit centric approach for the farmers now. Indias biggest political conclave of 2021- The India News Manch is being held today in the National Capital, with the whos who of Indian politics adorning the stage. The mega conclave witnessed the presence of Indias biggest political leaders and voices on one stage Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia joined us for an exclusive interview as part of the conclave. Talking about the progress in the civil aviation sector, Scindia said, There used to be a time when air travel was meant for just a few. In the last seven years, our PM has taken the step to democratize civil aviation under the Udey Desh Ka Har Nagrik scheme. This step is revolutionizing the aviation sector. The archaic notion used to be that development brings airports. This idea has now been turned onto its head. Now the idea is that airports bring development. If someone is setting up an industry anywhere in the world, the first question that comes is about the availability of an airport. Before 2014, 74 airports were built in the 70 years since independence, and we built 65 new airports in just the last seven years. Today, India has a total of 149 airports, heliports, and waterdromes. I believe that the economic progress of a nation is tied to the development of its aviation sector. For a fair comparison, 18.5 cr people travel in railways AC 2 Tier and upwards classes whereas 14.5 cr people travel by air, however, the CAGR of passenger traffic that the railways is witnessing is at a stable 5.6% whereas the CAGR of passenger traffic in the civil aviation sector is increasing and already at 10.5%. So I can say this with a guarantee that there will be more people travelling by air than people travelling by AC 2 Tier or AC First Class, in the next 6-8 years. This is the potential that this country wields. Speaking about further reforms in the aviation sector, the civil aviation minister said, Theres this ambitious helicopter policy that I announced in Dehradun on October 8, and under the policy, I am pushing for dedicated helicopter hubs one in Guwahati, one in Mumbais Juhu, one in Gurgaon, and one in Akshardham. Scindia also spoke about efforts to check the rise in air-fuel prices. He said, We will also have to focus on the structural economics of the civil aviation sector. There is hardly any other sector in the industry where the price of a single component of raw material is 29% of that industrys cost structure. The civil aviation sector is the only such industry where air-fuel(ATF) is 39% of that cost structure. And the industry thats witnessing huge losses- our airlines saw losses worth 19,000 crores last year- the cost structure of that industry also becomes its revenue structure. So if youre earning a rupee, and the 39p from that Re.1 goes to buy the raw material, then that means you have to recover all the other costs and earn your profit from the remaining 61p which is impossible. So its my duty as the Civil Aviation Minister to make that economical cost structure more economical because if that doesnt happen then these airlines wont remain afloat for long because the industry thats witnessing losses worth Rs.19,000 cr wont survive for long. And this is the reason why my focus has been on making the cost structure of ATF affordable. I have had discussions with the Finance Minister about reducing the excise duty on ATF from the current 11% because the excise duty used to be 8% when oil used to cost 40-50$ per barrel but now when the price is around 80-85$ per barrel you can imagine the immense pressure on the airline industry when the excise duty on the current fuel price is 11%. So the central government will have to reduce that excise duty. Then we have the states that impose VAT on air-fuel. While some states impose a VAT of 1-5%, most states impose it at a rate from 25-30%. So, first, we have the high fuel prices, then comes the Centres excise duty, and finally comes the VAT imposed by states. Who can afford air travel like this? So I held dialogues with CMs of 22 states and UTs and their governments got the VATs reduced from 25-30% to a mere 1-2%. Those states and UTs are Andaman & Nicobar, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. Our next question to Jyotiraditya Scindia was about the oppositions attack on the BJP government for economic reforms like disinvestment and monetization of assets. Scindia replied, The public knows and understands these tactics. The party that, while in power, disinvested assets worth Rs. 99,000 cr of 35 PSUs What credentials do they have to criticize the current government? One should always remember words and actions shouldnt differ. And as far as disinvestment is concerned, the problem is that they either dont understand or they dont want to understand. In the civil aviation sector, there is neither any disinvestment nor are public assets being sold off. We have definitely handed over 6 airports to private players, but we have done that under long-term leases. After the lease period is over, the government will get back the ownership of the airport with all the investments of the private player. How is that disinvestment? We then asked him about youth leaders deserting the Congress party, to which Scindia said, It takes years to groom a leader. My first priority has always been in the present or the future. My responsibilities as a minister and a party member are my priority. I dont waste my time dwelling over the past and neither am I present here to answer on any other partys behalf. I have to do my job, help the country progress, thats where my need focus is right now. Putting his views about the upcoming UP polls and the politics surrounding it, the junior minister said, I dont think we have seen such an atmosphere in decades where attempts have been made to revive the cultural legacy of the nation. Kashi Vishwanath temple has been connected to the Ganga river through a corridor. The people of UP can very well differentiate between Kaamdaar and a Naamdaar. The Westport Wheels2U shuttle service is providing free rides to its users beginning Monday and continuing through Dec. 31. Wheels2U is the Westport Transit Districts on demand, group ride, door-to-train platform shuttle service. The free rides are a holiday gift to the town and its residents. The fare is normally $2. Rides will be available between 5:45 and 9:45 a.m., and 4 and 8 p.m. each day. Rides will take passengers to and from the Saugatuck and Greens Farms train station platforms and the passengers homes in Westport. Pickups should be requested on the Wheels2U app about 20 minutes in advance of when riders would normally leave to drive to one of the aforementioned train stations. People who commute by train or are traveling to New York City can consider taking advantage of the public service. Visit wheels2uwestport.com for more information, including how to download the app and book a ride. Visit westporttransit.org for more information about the Westport Transit Districts services for the elderly and people with disabilities. There will be no Wheels2U service on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Holiday book party celebrating fashion designer The retail store Kerri Rosenthal is having a free holiday book party event with fashion designer Christian Siriano from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 17, at 181 Main St. in Westport. The event celebrates Sirianos new book, Dresses to Dream About. There will be a book signing, and a meet and greet with Siriano. Dresses to Dream About, takes a personal, introspective look at his work, and career, including the creation of some of his most beloved gowns. There is no upfront cost to attend. Siriano will have copies of his book available for purchase. He will also have a selection of his artwork for sale. Rosenthal will also have her collections available throughout the store. There will also be a bartender for attendees to sip, shop, and enjoy the atmosphere. Register at kerrirosenthal.com/pages/rsvp, or at shop@kerrirosenthal.com. Walk-ins will also be accepted on the day of the event. Visit kerrirosenthal.com/pages/flagship for more information. Kerri Rosenthal is a luxury fashion brand with a collection of apparel, art prints, home decor, and more. December Students of the Month announced Staples High School has announced its December students of the month. They are: John Kuster, Westley Dick, Isabel Brookbanks, Franca Strandell, Molly Liles, Samatha Sheldon and John Whittle. Service of Christmas lessons, carols happening The Christ and Holy Trinity Church is having A Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols event at 5 p.m. on Sunday. The parish coir and Middle Choristers will present a candlelit service of Christmas Lessons and Carols, accompanied by a harp and organ. There will also be a free-will offering collected to support the nonprofit Homes with Hope. Masks will be required for all people attending. Interested people are encouraged to arrive early for the popular service. The Christ and Holy Trinity Church is located at 75 Church Lane in Westport. Astronomical society program considers extraterrestrial life The Westport Astronomical Society is welcoming Harvard University Professor of Science Avi Loeb for the next virtual event in the Astronomical Societys free science virtual lecture series at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The Extraterrestrial Life: Are We the Sharpest Cookies in the Jar? talk will be held as a livestream and in-person from the classroom of the Westport Observatory, at the Astronomical Society, located at 182 Bayberry Lane. Viewing the event will be available via a Zoom webinar, and a YouTube livestream. A proof of vaccination will be required to attend in person. Attendees are invited to participate and ask questions. Town issues reminder about wetlands permit requirements The Westport Conservation Department reminds residents, and contractors, who are doing work in the town that they should call before they dig if their property has, or is adjacent to wetlands, a watercourse and/or a pond. Contact 203-341-1170 if there is any uncertainty about whether the property contains wetlands. Unitarian Church having community carol sing The Unitarian Church in Westport is having a community carol sing event from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sunday in the church parking lot at 10 Lyons Plains Road. The event is suitable for all ages. Classic Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs, and seasonal favorites will be sung, accompanied by a french horn. There will also be hot chocolate. Visit uuwestport.org for more information. With parties on both sides pursuing pending litigation, controversy over a proposal to build a private school in town continues to brew. Residents with properties near the proposed construction site are challenging the Inland Wetlands Commissions approval of the project with an appeal that raises concerns about the potential environmental impacts of the development. Meanwhile, the Slate School, which already has a campus on Mansfield Road and is seeking to establish a second at 5100 Ridge Road, has appealed a Planning & Zoning Commission vote denying its application. The residents challenge to the IWCs approval alleges the construction significantly would degrade nearby wetlands and claims the IWC wrongly approved the Slate School project. It was filed in Superior Court in New Haven in April The complaint names as defendants the IWC and the Slate School. The school denies the development would adversely affect the environment. Administrators contend they would work to improve the ecological health of the property. When the application went before the IWC early this year, much of the opposing argument aired hinged upon consultants claims that the schools septic system would load nitrogen into adjacent wetlands at concentrations significantly higher than healthy streams can handle. Those conditions could threaten vulnerable species and create algal blooms, environmental experts said at the time. But the Slate Schools own expert witnesses said the concerns were without merit. The predictions about nitrogen loading were based on erroneous calculations, consulting engineer Thomas Daly said when the application was under consideration. The commission favored the latter argument, voting unanimously to approve the application. Asked about the residents appeal, Jennifer Coppola, an attorney representing the town, said the IWC reviewed all evidence presented and ultimately did not find that there were impacts sufficient to deny the application. When justifying his vote to approve the application at a meeting in March , Commissioner John Whitcomb said he felt the oppositions arguments fell short of achieving proof that there would be any negative impacts in the wetlands. Stating why he believed the application should go forward, Vice Chairman Steven Miller said the Slate School made design improvements to mitigate potential silt migration and that the septic system had been approved by the Quinnipiack Valley Health District and deemed appropriate the town engineer. I think the commission can judge the credibility of the experts, and in this case they found the experts from the Slate School to be more credible, Timothy Lee, an attorney representing the Slate School, said recently when asked about the claims made by the projects opponents. The expert testimony presented at the (IWC) hearing showed that the development of the Slate School ... would not have an adverse impact on any wetlands (or) watercourses in North Haven, Lee said. Jeffrey Bausch, an attorney representing the plaintiffs appealing the IWC approval, did not return requests for comment. Plaintiffs in the case include Gary de Simone, Elizabeth Knope, Richard and Johanne Mangi, Albert Perino and Anita Bourque, all of whom own property on Ridge Road, according to the complaint. Three limited liability companies also are listed as plaintiffs. Those companies, too, own Ridge Road properties, the complaint says. Connecticuts business database lists Denise Acampora, John Acampora and Maria Acampora as the principals of the LLCs. Maria Acampora previously has spoken out against the proposal, as has de Simone. If built, the school would abut their properties. The plaintiffs complaint incorporates the claims about nitrogen loading from the septic system, also alleging the developments proposed stormwater management system has design defects that will impact the wetlands, upland regulated areas and the water quality of such receiving waters for reasons including, but not limited to, release of excessive nitrogen and other pollutants. It further alleges the soils on the property are highly erodible ... which will cause sedimentation and degradation of receiving waters. It also claims excessive nitrogen ... will result in the destruction of the stream habitat and reduce diversity of flora and fauna in the nearby wetland. Asked about the allegations, Lee said, the commission found that (they) were not credible. Julie Mountcastle, who heads the Slate School, and school founder Jennifer Staple-Clark told the New Haven Register in an email that they sought to improve the ecological health of the property at 5100 Ridge Road. The organization has received numerous awards for environmental stewardship of its Mansfield Road campus, the email says, noting the school maintains the site as a nature conservancy. At that property, We eliminated several acres of invasive species which previously dominated our 25-acre property; bamboo and many other invasives were destructive on the previously-abandoned property, according to the email. Today, our nature conservancy is free of invasive species, and instead is dominated by abundant plants and trees for pollinators and wildlife. The Slate School meticulously (cares) for our several acres of beloved wetlands on site, whose school buildings are among the most environmentally-friendly in the country, Mountcastle and Staple-Clark wrote. The Mansfield Road campus, known as the Slate Lower School serves kindergarten through sixth grade. The Slate School is seeking to establish an upper school for grades seven through twelve on the Ridge Road site, which currently is home to a decommissioned church. The developers have proposed repurposing the church and constructing a second building on the site. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a bill raising the nation's borrowing limit by $2.5 trillion, avoiding a potentially catastrophic default and resolving the turbulent issue until after the 2022 midterm elections. The House voted early Wednesday to raise the debt limit, amid urgent warnings from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that further delay would jeopardize the full faith and credit of the United States. The near-party-line 221-209 House vote, with only Illinois GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger joining Democrats, came after the Senate Democrats also voted to raise the government's borrowing authority. 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. Christine Ostrowski, of Fairfield, has won the Maritime Aquariums naming competition for its new shark exhibit with her submission of Shark Haven. People were able to vote online on Dec. 4 and 5 for the new name. Shark Haven, received more than half of the votes. Other finalist choices were: Sandbar Ridge and Life of Sharks. The three finalists were chosen by aquarium staff based on creativity and alignment with the exhibits theme of animal care and welfare. Ostrowski said she chose Shark Haven because the name invokes the sense of a safe and happy habitat for the fish. In addition to seeing Shark Haven over the exhibit door, Ostrowski will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of Martime Aquarium, including the chance to watch the feeding of the large sand tiger sharks from above their exhibit at the aquarium. Shark Haven opened Nov. 26 and offers guests a behind-the-scenes look at the complex care that is needed by four new sandbar sharks. The sharks growth will be charted in the exhibit. They will also be screened for health issues, and taught to feed in a safe and controlled way. Learn more about the exhibit at maritimeaquarium.org. Church hosting a lessons and carol service The St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Fairfield is having a A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service at 5 p.m. on Sunday on the Town Hall Green. All people are welcome. There is no admission fee, but there will be a free-will offering. Free parking is available on the streets near the church at 661 Old Post Road and the town hall lot adjacent to the church. The church choir and congregation will sing carols and hymns. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is one of a series of Sunday afternoon services that St. Pauls offers throughout the general year. Keepsake pewter ornaments of Fairfield landmarks offered The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce is offering six different historic keepsake pewter holiday ornaments for sale this year. The ornaments were handcrafted by Woodbury Pewter. Available ornaments are: Bronson Windmill from 1998, Sherman Green Gazebo from 2000, Burr Mansion from 2001, Pequot Library from 2002, Old Academy from 2003 and Ogden House from 2004. Ornaments cost $20 each or $100 for a set of six ornaments. Order online at http://www.bit.ly/FFOrnaments, or by phone at 203-255-1011. The ornaments can then be picked up at 200 Mill Plain Road in Fairfield, Mondays through Fridays, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. People are encouraged to place their orders quickly because inventory stock is limited. RTC unanimously elects new officers The Fairfield Republican Town Committee recently elected three longtime residents to officer positions. Sarah Matthews was elected chariwoman, Chris Tymniak was elected vice chairman, and Gwynne Magness Alperovich was elected secretary. Matthews returned to Fairfield in 2015 with her husband to raise their three children and has deep ties to the town. Her father, Jeff, served on towns school and finance boards. Her mother, Nancy, is a former Fairfield RTC chairwoman and was also the last woman to serve as chair of the committee. Tymniak is a former Fairfield selectman and current chief administrative officer for Stratford. He is also from a political family. His father, Paul, and his mother, Cathy, both served in the Connecticut General Assembly. Alperovich graduated from the Fairfield Public School district, and along with her husband, chose to return to Fairfield, and raise their family. She currently works in customer relations, and while she is a political newcomer, is energized, and excited to be part of the team expanding the Fairfield Republican Party. HARTFORD Stymied this year by a General Assembly that was reluctant to join a regional effort in the battle against climate change, Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at supporting energy efficiency in state buildings and tackling transportation-related air pollution that hurts the health of urban communities along Connecticuts interstate highways. The order, enlisting a variety of state departments in an effort toward resiliency that was outlined in a January report from Governors Council on Climate Change, received mixed reviews from the states environmental activists who warned that major commitments are needed right now to slow down the accelerating effects of climate change. Lamont signed the order outside the east entrance of the State Capitol Thursday morning. Much of the funding depends on President Joe Bidens Build Back Better legislation, which is stalled in the U.S. Senate. What we werent able to do through legislation here in Connecticut over the last year or two, so were taking the lead right now with this executive order, Lamont told reporters and a small crowd. Its really important that we lead by example. State government leads by example. More efficient appliances, tougher building codes and support for more solar power in state buildings is among Lamonts objectives to reduce energy costs. There will also be an increase in the states air-monitoring program, expanding the number of stations that track pollutants. As much as $60 million will be invested in adding more charging stations for electric vehicles. The No. 1 source of pollution right now is our transportation system, Lamont said. Connecticut is doing really well when it comes to the electric grid. Were doing really well when it comes to getting zero carbon in our electric grid over the next 10, 15 years. Planned uses of federal funding include converting state buses to electric-powered. We need all of government involved in this to take the lead and we need the business sector as well, Lamont said, backed up by several representatives of agencies, including the departments of Insurance, Agriculture, Public Health, Economic and Community Development and Transportation. This is the market calling us to do this. We know that this is the crisis of our time and it calls on all of us to get involved and get engaged, said Katie Dykes, commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. No members of the General Assembly attended the event, but state Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford, co-chairwoman of the legislative Environment Committee, praised the order. There are a lot of forward-looking planning and action items in the governors new executive order, as well as some more immediately achievable items to reduce motor vehicle emissions, reduce building greenhouse gases, recycle food waste, engage in more air monitoring, and update our stormwater drainage systems, Cohen said in a statement. All of those items many of which private-sector businesses across America have been engaged in for several years can and should be undertaken as a soon as possible in Connecticut. House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, blasted the governors move. This is pandering in its truest form, Candelora said in a statement. Gov. Lamont is going around the General Assembly by installing concepts that failed to make it through the committee process, all in a bid to appease the frustrated environmentalists in his political base. The worst part is that Democrats serving in the legislature wont care theyll continue to remain silent while the governor noodles around with policies and programs that carry consequence and cost for their constituents. The order calls for nearly two dozen actions, including local, shovel-ready resilience projects; tightening emission standards in line with California rules on medium and heavy-duty vehicles; and supporting carbon sequestration in forests and agriculture. While environmental advocates favor the overall goals, they warn that the governors initiative will not meet Connecticuts needs amid the accelerating global trend in weather extremes. Rising temperatures force schools to shut down and businesses to curtail operations on sweltering days, said Chris Phelps, state director of Environmental Connecticut. Farmers struggle with devastation to crops from extreme weather. Families face growing threats to their homes and safety from flooding and deadly storms. Phelps warned that the General Assembly, which this year rejected Lamonts plan to join the regional Transportation and Climate Initiative, which would have generated about $1 billion over 10 years through cap-and-trade taxes on the fossil-fuel industry, is endangering the state by not acting boldly. They have failed to cap pollution from transportation, failed to commit to 100-percent clean renewable energy, and put off serious climate action for the future, Phelps said in a statement. The rejection of the governors proposal was a victory for Republicans and industry lobbyists who used the projected 5-cents per-gallon increase in gasoline as a way to drum up public opposition, even at a time when the market was pushing up consumer prices $1 or more per-gallon. Gov. Lamonts executive order has good ideas, Phelps said. Purchasing clean electricity for state properties and requiring manufacturers to produce more efficient appliances that use less energy are good steps to take. But they represent only a small down payment on the work necessary to win the race to stop climate change. Charles Rothenberger, attorney for the advocacy group, Save the Sound, supported Lamonts attempt to get state agencies to consider climate change. Adopting vehicle miles traveled reduction targets by DOT, making greenhouse gas reductions a core consideration in state building code updates, and establishing new administrative entities to focus on environmental justice will be instrumental in meeting Connecticuts economy-wide greenhouse reduction obligations in an equitable manner that accelerates the clean energy economy and reduces climate-related public health impacts, he said in a statement. We look forward to working with the administration to ensure that the directives result in robust, real-world emissions reductions, Rothenberger said. For example, while we applaud the adoption of a 100 percent electric bus fleet by 2035, a 100 percent EV mandate for the states light-duty vehicle fleet is equally essential to our continued progress in reducing transportation-sector greenhouse gas emissions. Asked if he was still disappointed that the General Assembly backed away from TCI, with the uproar over a nickel-a-gallon more in consumer costs, Lamont said he was looking forward, but wasnt planning on pushing the issue in 2022. Look, the market has added about a buck fifty per-gallon of gasoline over the last nine months or something, Lamont said. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT In five years, Connecticut Metro-North riders will have direct service to Penn Station, officials announced. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved a contract for the Penn Station Access Project, which will provide direct Metro-North Railroad service from the Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut to Penn Station and Manhattans west side. The $2.87 billion project is expected to be completed in 2027. These additions are expected to drastically reduce travel times for people living and working in the East Bronx, an area of New York currently without any rail service, Metro-North said on Wednesday. The contract was awarded to Halmar International LLC/RailWorks. Improved service on our rail system, with an eye on the future, means a transportation system that works for everyone when it comes to quality of life and economic development for residents and businesses in Connecticut and New York, Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. It means more transit-oriented development, more people out and about, and more opportunities for tens of thousands of people to get to their jobs every day and earn a living. This is the latest joint venture between Connecticut and New York showing how important our relationship is for our residents and the success of the region. Metro-North said it will build four new New York stations in Co-Op City, Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest and Hunts Point. This service will save East Bronx riders up to 50 minutes in each direction to Penn Station, and up to 75 minutes in both directions for Connecticut riders. Riders on Metro-Norths New Haven Line with destination on the west side will save up to 40 minutes a day since they would no longer have to travel through Grand Central Terminal. There are nearly 250,000 residents and over 100,000 jobs within half a mile of each of the four new stations that will open. Metro-North said some stations will have service as frequently as every 20 minutes during peak hours. 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. NEW HAVEN Michael and Kenia Massey are working long hours for little money to establish their Black Corner store, yet they are living their dream of helping the neighborhood. Its struggle until it wont be, Kenia Massey said. Weve been able to give a lot. The couple, who married on Thanksgiving, are feeding dozens of children after school on Mondays, and they have collected so many items of clothing, furniture and other goods after their story appeared in the Register that theyve opened a free thrift shop in back. They are continuing to collect items, including food. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media I put a family of seven in a home from a pool of donations, Kenia Massey said. In keeping with their mission to support other Black-owned businesses like theirs, the couple will hold a pop-up expo from 2 to 6 p.m. Feb. 5 to showcase Black businesses from around the state, the first of many planned. The cost per vendor is a spot in the store for $25 or a shelf in front for $50. The store has been open for less than a year in a spot once known as the Green Corner store. Kenia Massey said although they embrace customers of all races, their clientele at Black Corner, 275 Edgewood Ave., is mostly Black, and theyre about promoting Black-owned businesses. Theyre our people first and foremost. Im for everyone, but Im for my people first, said Kenia Massey, who houses someone elses Black-owned gift-type store within hers, called The Spot. Simone Darby, a nurse who started crafting during the COVID-19 pandemic to relieve stress, will be among those participating in the expo. Her business personalizing candles, pillows, ornaments and other items, Charices Creations, started as a hobby and blossomed into a side business. I think its an awesome concept to get the community involved to know your neighbor, Darby said. Darby said she and her husband of 32 years heard about all the Masseys are doing for the neighborhood including feeding kids from throughout the city and started supporting the Black Corner. Shes taking it to a whole other level by helping the kids. ... I love what shes doing, Darby said. Kenia Massey said she also is looking for products from Black-owned businesses to add to her shelves and already carries Wavy Faith Natural Products for hair and skin by Corey Andrews. They are doing great things for their community, Andrews said. The couple fell in love when they were introduced after Michael Massey had been released for about a year from a decade in prison, where he said he reformed and treated that imprisonment as a time to learn, he said. He said he didnt have positive role models as a child, as the men he looked up to were drug dealers, gang members and/or aspiring rappers. Now hes back in the same neighborhood, owning the same corner store he once frequented, and is dedicated to serving as a role model. Michael Massey, who said he loves helping people, and is working on remodeling the basement for storage, said the store has already been important to neighborhood kids. Kids are very pro us, he said. The couple have had some kinks and setbacks they didnt see coming, including that some child visitors for Monday dinner were shoplifting items like candy. They had to halt the dinners for a couple of Mondays until they addressed the issue with the kids. Michael Massey got a chance to teach a lesson. I told them, I dont want to hurt all the kids, (by halting the dinners) because of something you did, he said. One child kept taking candy, and Kenia Massey had a talk with the child and said she told the child that the next time, she would tell the childs mother. I do plan to teach them to not steal out of my store and teach them consequences, she said. When we see one that steals, we let them know. There have been other setbacks that go along with business. They are awaiting approval to take EBT, key in the neighborhood, Kenia Massey said. Recently, a pricey compressor went and what they thought was going to be a $500 job turned into $2,000. This is the life of a business owner, Kenia Massey said. Children hang out before and after school and donations of anything including food would be helpful, the Masseys said. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Michael Massey said he realized after being jailed that Black people have the option of becoming business people through hard work but dont see it because they dont have role models. Where we are, we need someone like him, Kenia Massey said of her husband. He is really a role model in this neighborhood. She said people who knew the old Michael are astonished by the change. Massey has his own contracting company, GMF Improvement LLC, and said he gets treated with respect by kids when hes at Black Corner, which was not Black-owned when he was a kid. The GMF in his company name stands for God, Family, Money. Massey said he talks to as many kids as he can about the importance of business plans and honest ways to make money. The social media site TikTok is at the center of rumors about threats targeting schools nationwide on Friday, prompting concerns in Connecticut where there has been a series of school incidents in recent weeks. Connecticut State Police said Thursday that members of the Department of Emergency Services are monitoring a series of social media rumors alluding to possible threats directed at schools on Friday. Some Connecticut school officials said Thursday they were alerted to the rumors by members of their community, including concerned students. State police said the Connecticut Intelligence Center has not identified any specific or credible threats to any schools in the state. Any school threat that is made in Connecticut is immediately taken very seriously by law enforcement, state police said. If a threat is determined to be a hoax, there will be a thorough investigation and arrests will be made. This could also lead to further consequences within the school district. State police said the recent posts have originated on TikTok and have then spread across other social media sites in recent days. The agency said its possible the threats originated from a TikTok challenge to skip school on Friday. In a statement released Thursday, TikTok said it is working with law enforcement agencies to investigate the threats. We handle even rumored threats with utmost seriousness, which is why were working with law enforcement to look into warnings about potential violence at schools even though we have not found evidence of such threats originating or spreading via TikTok, the social media app said in a statement Thursday. As a precaution, a number of Connecticut municipalities, including Middletown, Norwalk, Stamford, Shelton, Stratford, Wallingford, Weston, Westport and Wilton, said they plan to increase police presence at schools on Friday. Bridgeport Public Schools said it may have an increased police presence in its buildings Friday as well. There have been multiple incidents statewide over the last several weeks, prompting police investigations, early dismissals and canceled school in some cases, including in Danbury, Hamden, New Haven, Trumbull, Ansonia and Norwalk. One of the most recent threats was in Windham on Wednesday, when schools were put into a soft lockdown after a threat about a weapon that was deemed to not be credible, officials said. Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said some students have struggled returning to school full-time this fall for the first time since the start of the pandemic. As students are attempting to settle into the school year, there have been threats across the state, reappearing over and over again, Dias said. I think it really disrupts the sense of community and safety at schools, she said. Officials take every threat seriously, but investigating each of them takes time, Dias said. Were spending a lot of time figuring out what is real and whats not, she said. These threats are exhausting to people who are already exhausted, she added. Every time we have to track down a threat, it eats away at that trust. Dias is asking anyone who sees something out of the ordinary to alert a school administrator. Theres no report that is too small, she said. She is also asking parents to have open and honest communication with their children about these threats and how they make their children feel. Dias also wants to have conversations with state legislators about holding TikTok and other social media platforms accountable and develop ways to prevent these threats from circulating. In a statement to the school community on Thursday afternoon, Westport Superintendent Thomas Scarice said the district was notified late Wednesday afternoon of a disturbing trend of school violence threats on social media. Scarice said the posts have mentioned acts of school violence on Friday. Stratford Public Schools Superintendent Uyi Osunde called the threats deplorable and unnecessary. Overall, although we began the school year relatively bumpy, our students collectively are improving their decision making and how they interact with each other, Osunde said. This will be the expectation [continued improvement] through the rest of the academic year. Bridgeport Public Schools Superintendent of Schools Michael Testani said the situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff, Testani said. We ask our families to monitor their childrens social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Thursday that he is proposing a 5% pay raise for all state employees along with a one-time bonus of 2.5% to offset inflation. Justice was joined at an announcement at the state Capitol by Senate President Craig Blair and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw. All are Republicans. The raises will be considered by lawmakers at their three-month session that starts in January. Justice said the states positive fiscal status allows the raises to be considered. West Virginia had an $88 million revenue surplus in November, pushing the surplus since the July start of the fiscal year to $269 million. Weve pumped out surpluses, and with those surpluses we want to reward our people," Justice said. We want to reward our people for a lot of great work that they have done. According to the National Education Association, West Virginia ranks 36th in average starting teacher salaries at about $38,000, compared with the national average of about $41,000. The state was 48th in overall average teacher salaries at about $50,200, compared with the national average of $65,000. West Virginia teachers received pay raises in 2018 and 2019. The first raise ended a statewide teacher strike that helped launch similar movements in several others states. The following year, state teachers went on another strike, this time over a wide-ranging bill that addressed West Virginias first charter schools. The bill eventually failed but a similar measure, which contained another teacher raise, was resurrected and passed in a special summer legislative session, undercutting the threat of a third strike. WEST HAVEN A person was shot overnight on Platt Avenue, according to police. Sgt. Patrick Buturla said officers responded to the residence in the 100 block of Platt Avenue on report of a person shot, finding a wounded victim in the home. The person was taken to the hospital, but their condition was not immediately released on Thursday. The Detective Division soon arrived, and a crime scene has been established. This investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time, Buturla said. Department officials noted the incident in a 5:16 a.m. post on Facebook, saying that police personnel are currently investigating an incident that took place near 175 Platt Avenue. There is an increased police presence that will impact the morning commute to the High School. Please allow extra time in your travels or utilize an alternate route, officials said. Officials with the West Haven Public Schools noted the incident on Twitter, saying students and staffers can proceed to school as usual. The incident is contained and it is safe for students and staff to report to school. We do expect bus delays at all schools due to the road closure, officials said. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, has called on north-west governors and other stakeholders to accept their responsibility in fighting ba... Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, has called on north-west governors and other stakeholders to accept their responsibility in fighting banditry in the region. Masari spoke in Abuja 0n Thursday when he led a delegation of the North-Western Governors Forum on a condolence visit to Aliyu Wamakko, senator representing Sokoto north. About 23 travellers were burnt to death when a bus was attacked by bandits in Gidan Bawa village in Isa LGA of the state on Monday. The governor said all stakeholders must show commitment to fighting the menace. We were in Sokoto state earlier to sympathise with the government and immediate families of those who were brutally killed in the name of banditry, Masari said. The issue of banditry in north-western part of the country is not beyond us. We know the problem and the solutions are something that we as a people are capable of doing. This is provided that all of us take responsibility and stop the blame game. Banditry, especially our own in the north-western part of the country can easily be dealt with if all hands are put on deck. This is because it has no religious colouration, no ethnic colouration, it is not ideological. It is simply pure criminality. While acknowledging that the police have limitations in fighting insecurity, Masari said the security agencies require technology to effectively tackle the challenge. We need to know where the bandits are recruited, at what price are they recruited, all these are issues that are very well known to us, he said. Also speaking, Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, said blaming each other would not bring any solution to the security challenge. We have seen a lot in this country. The issue started with cattle rustling that looked so simple and so indigenous. We did not even investigate it to find out what was its root course, Ganduje said. Cattle rustling has graduated to kidnapping, kidnapping graduated to banditry while we are fighting Boko haram on the other side. We have to break that cycle. Our first challenge is how we reclaim our forests without being affected by the bandits. There must be planning, there must be data, there must be commitment, there must be timeline for whatever we are going to do. How far have we involved communities? he asked. We must go back to the drawing board. The communities need to be involved, there must be community policing. While appreciating the delegation for the visit, Wamakko, said the approach to the fight against banditry should be modified. The peaceful approach we are giving to security matters will not solve the problem. The fight cannot be done by merely repelling alone, we have to be on the offensive, he said. We have spoken enough. What we are to do is to start implementing. No amount of money can solve this problem until there is determination to take the right and proper action. The federal government and national assembly have made enough provision in the 2021 budget to security agencies to overcome these challenges nationwide. Concerned Indigenes of Moriki in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the incr... Concerned Indigenes of Moriki in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the increased insecurity in the area by deploying more troops for the provision of security to the people. In a letter written to Buhari titled, Incessant bandits attacks in Moriki town and environs, on behalf of the group, Salis Muhammad Moriki and made available to newsmen, the letter stated that in the last one month, Moriki town has come under the control and influence of bandits leading to killings, kidnapping and all sort of terrorism, alleging that no effort from the authorities concerned to curb the problem. The indigenes noted that more than a hundred houses have been invaded by bandits within a month, saying that they have been carved out from the rest of the state and country at large because the road to Moriki is now impassable as it has been taken over by bandits and their cohorts. The letter reads, Sir, we would like to let you know that in the last one month, Moriki town has come under the control and influence of bandits raging havoc to residents via kidnap, killing and all sort of terrorism with no effort from the authorities concerned to curb this problem. More than a hundred houses have been invaded by bandits within a month. We have been carved out from the rest of the state and country at large because the road to Moriki is now impassable it has been taken over by bandits and their cohorts. The letter added, From Kaura to Moriki to Shinkafi have become a dead zone for motorists and residents. Theres no day bandits would not attack either the road, towns or both with no resistance from security personnel. The road has been deserted by motorists and other lawful users. It lamented that following its security challenges, it hardly have commercial cars that would board passengers from Kaura to Moriki to Shinkafi for fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, stressing that the bandits are having field days in the road because they now operate at any time of the day. They operate in the morning, afternoon, evening or in the night depends on when they wish to. They are now the unofficial custodians of this road, the letter explained. The letter further stated that the bandits have taken several days operating along Kaura Moriki Shinkafa way, comfortably kidnapping, robbing and killing innocent people at will, pointing out that Moriki town and its environs have now become the bandits centre for operations and other illicit activities. Within a month, bandits have killed tens of people and kidnapped hundreds along Moriki Shinkafi road. Some of the flashpoints of bandits operation along this road include Gidan yan bita, Kwanar Boko, Hawan Bakwai, Dabin Jaya, Kwanar Jalaf, Junction to Shinkafi Gidan Gobirawa. These are the most deadly spots, the letter stated. It said that the health system of the entire Moriki town has collapsed as the General hospital has been deserted by the people, stressing that relatives of patients evacuated them for security reasons. It stated that the people of the town are farmers and traders, saying that all their economic activities have been collapsed as they couldnt attend to their farms for fear of being killed or kidnapped and they couldnt visit the markets because bandits have taken over the road. It added that they are now being confined and incarcerated in the town alone, adding that they could not go out of the town as they are also not safe in their houses. The Concerned Indigenes of Moriki explained that the state government is out of idea as this phenomenon had gone beyond the confines of the states while their Senator, member, House of Representatives, Assembly members, their minister of humanitarian affairs, who happens to be from their local government and other political appointees have all abandoned them. Rising from its meeting held in Damaturu, Yobe State, the North-East Governors Forum have commended the Federal Government for its various i... Rising from its meeting held in Damaturu, Yobe State, the North-East Governors Forum have commended the Federal Government for its various initiatives towards stabilising the North-East subregion, noting that there is significant improvement in the security situation in the sub-region as evident by the mass surrendering of Boko Haram fighters. This is contained in the communique, signed by the chairman of the Forum, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, who is the Borno State Governor, issued at the end of the meeting and made available to newsmen in Bauchi. The governors, however, made a case for the establishment of a sustainable programme for the handling of repentant terrorists. While expressing worry over kidnapping and farmer/herder clashes, among others, in the sub-region, the forum resolved to undertake necessary measures to curtail the menace. The governors called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to make adequate budgetary provision in the 2022 appropriation bill for the implementation of the Mambilla hydroelectric project, which they stated they deliberated extensively on. They then expressed concerns over the non-commissioning of the Dadin Kowa and Kashimbila hydro-power plants, noting that this was stalling development of the sub-region. They, however, appealed to the Federal Government to increase its investments in the sub-region to guarantee peace and economic prosperity. Though they acknowledged that the 2022 budget is in its final stages, the governors called on the National Assembly to look critically at the North-East sub-region with a view to ensuring that adequate budgetary provisions are made for all major capital projects in the sub-region. The communique stated that the governors deliberated on a presentation by the Minister of Power on planned and on-going power projects in the North East, which highlighted the challenges of steady power supply to the sub-region. They noted with dismay the near one year lack of electricity in Maiduguri and its environs and urged the Federal Government to urgently find a lasting solution. According to the communique, in attendance at the meeting were the Governors of Borno, Gombe and Yobe, while the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi and Taraba States were represented by their deputies. Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, has asked the federal government to recruit special forces to fight bandits in their enclaves in the f... Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, has asked the federal government to recruit special forces to fight bandits in their enclaves in the forest. According to NAN, Tambuwal spoke on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the North-west Governors Forum led by Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina. The delegation was in Sokoto to commiserate with the state over the security challenges including the recent attack on a bus which led to killing of 23 travellers. Tambuwal said the special forces will complement the efforts of security personnel in tackling banditry. Bandits have no religious, ideological or ethnicity inclinations; they are notorious criminals terrorising law-abiding citizens, the governor said. The recruited persons shall serve as special forces equipped with right skills and modern firearms to confront bandits since the locals know the terrains. After the special mission, the recruited persons could be re-engaged as forest guards to prevent new security challenges. In Sokoto state, we outlawed the self-styled vanguards referred at Yansakai whose activities of extra-judicious killings led to reprisals and escalation of the situation. The governor said the situation in the country requires everyone involved in tackling the menace irrespective of political persuasion. All hands must be on deck to check banditry and to support President Buhari at all levels to contain the situation, he said. This situation calls for specialised approach with a holistic support from community groups, religious leaders and other individuals to tackle. On his part, Masari expressed his condolences to Sokoto state on the recent attacks by bandits, noting that measures are being put in place to address the situation. Bandits behave worse than animals in view of the atrocities they perpetrate; people need to protect themselves, he said. Police and other security personnel are inadequate, so we shall not wait for those barbaric bandits to maim and kill people at random. We shall confront them and deal with them the way they are supposed to be dealt with. It is no longer a blame game, rather we shall shun political differences to support authorities on containing the situation. The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, influential individuals, who visited the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) pavilion as well as te... The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, influential individuals, who visited the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) pavilion as well as telecom consumers, who participated at the NCC Special Day at the recently-concluded 42nd edition of the Kano International Trade Fair, 2021 in Kano State, have commended the Commission for its various consumer-centric initiatives. Bayero engaged the Commissions staff at the NCC Pavilion, asking a series of questions about the activities of NCC as it relates to service delivery and subsequently commended Management of the Commission led by its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, for being consumer-focused in its regulatory activities. The monarch charged other regulatory organisations across the country to emulate NCCs template of constantly creating platforms, leveraging different fora and emplacing frameworks and initiatives to enhance consumer protection in their respective sectors which they supervise. Another eminent visitor to the Commissions pavilion on the exhibition ground at the trade fair was the Karaje in Kano State, Ibrahim Abubakar II. Several other telecom consumers also thronged the NCCs Stand where representatives of various mobile networks, namely MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile were on hand to resolve all complaints referred to them by the Commissions officials at the pavilion. Aside from having their complaints resolved, the NCC officials also shared Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on various topical telecom issues to consumers both at the NCC Pavilion and, more importantly, at the NCC Day event which held later in the afternoon of December 6, 2021. Addressing a large gathering of telecoms consumers at the NCC Day event, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, thanked the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), organisers of the fair, for the constant invitation to NCC to leverage the trade fair platform as an avenue for engaging telecom stakeholders, especially the consumers. Danbatta, who was represented by the NCCs Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, spoke on the theme of the trade fair: Consolidating the Challenges of Covid-19 Pandemic to Opportunities for Growth and Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, and promised that the Commission will continue to stimulate the increased access to digital infrastructure to support businesses and individuals, as well as constantly protect consumer rights and privileges. According to Danbatta, the telecommunications sector has been a major driver of the digital economy agenda of the Federal Government, as it continues to provide the needed digital sinews that support the economy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant restriction period. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, government institutions, businesses and individuals have relied heavily on telecoms services to carry out their daily operations and official routines. In response to the increased demand for telecoms services, the Commission put a number of regulatory measures in place to ensure seamless access by Nigerians to telecommunications services and protect them against any adverse impact on the quality of service enjoyed by consumers, he said. He said as the Commission continues to drive the remarkable digital transformation being witnessed in the Nigerian economy, one area that the Commission pays greater priority to is how consumers are treated by the service providers. This is why at NCC, we continue to treat consumers as Kings and Queens. Of course, that is who they are because, without the consumer, both the regulator and the service providers have no business being in business, he said. Danbatta reiterated NCCs commitment to protecting and empowering consumers whether individuals and corporate consumers from unfair practices willingly or unwillingly orchestrated by the service providers. This is based on our regulatory mandate of ensuring that consumers of telecommunications services deserve to get value for their money, and to be treated right as very important stakeholders in the scheme of things, he added. In the same vein, the NCCs Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Efosa Idehen, in his address, took a great deal of time enlightening the consumers on various consumer-centric initiatives put in place by the Commission to protect consumer rights. The initiatives explained in great detail include the NCCs various channels of lodging complaints, the NCC toll-free Number 622, the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) shortcode 2442, the NCCs Emergency Number 112, among several other consumer-focused programmes. In his remarks, KACCIMA President, Dalhatu Abubakar, applauded NCC for prioritising consumer protection in all that it does. I commend you for your efforts in ensuring that telecoms continue to play a critical role in not only transforming the way people live, work and play but also contribute significantly to the growth of Nigerian economy, as evidenced in the sectors impressive contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), he said. Telecom consumers, who won various prizes in a raffle conducted to excite them at the event, also expressed appreciation to the Commission for being one of the leading public institutions championing the interest of the consumers. The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, has spoken on the decision to give a title to Yusuf, the son of President Muhammadu Buhari. Y... The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, has spoken on the decision to give a title to Yusuf, the son of President Muhammadu Buhari. Yusuf, the only son of the President will, on Saturday, be turbaned as Talban Daura and District Head of Kwasarawa. Speaking at his palace during the turbaning ceremony of four new village heads, on Thursday, the emir said development will prevent the new Talba from strolling around and Abuja and Yola, his mothers hometown, when the presidents tenure is over. We are giving him this title to reciprocate the all the good things his father, President Muhammadu Buhari, has done to Daura. Even if you dont like Buhari, you know that Daura of today is different from what it were six years ago. So, to reciprocate this gesture, we gave him the title of Talban Daura, which he gave to his only son, Yusuf. This will prevent him from strolling around Yola (his mothers hometown) and Abuja. From University of Transport Technology to Federal Polytechnic, to good roads networks and many other development projects, Daura is today better than some states in the country, development-wise. We have many sons in Daura who excelled have excelled, but do not want to be associated with it, so Buhari stand out among them, the emir added. The new Village Heads turbaned include Armayau Bello, the new Sarkin Gabas Kwasarawa and Village Head of Fatautawa among others. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Snow likely. High 29F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches. Heavier amounts in persistent snowbands.. Tonight Snow in the evening will taper off as a few snow showers overnight. Low 19F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. The Jefferson Parish Library has a number of small study rooms at the East Bank Regional, North Kenner, Old Metairie, Wagner, and West Bank Regional libraries. Larger study rooms are also available at EBR (four rooms), River Ridge (two rooms), WBR (one room), and Westwego (one room) libraries. All of the rooms are available free to individuals for study or conferencing during regular library hours on a first come/first served basis. The small rooms can be used by a maximum of two people, depending on the room. Scheduling is done by staff at the circulation desk and in special collections at EBR, the information desk and childrens desks at WBR, and the service desks at the other libraries. In the larger study rooms, there should be no more than four individuals in the room at River Ridge and Westwego, six at EBR, and eight individuals at WBR. The staff at the information desk at WBR and in reference at EBR is responsible for scheduling the use of these rooms. The rooms cannot be used as a primary meeting place for groups or individuals or a place to conduct business. Rooms may be used for tutoring as long as tutoring is done free. Rooms should not be used for any other activities for which fees are charged. The user should have a valid Jefferson Parish Library card or Jefferson Parish drivers license or Louisiana ID card. BROMELIADS: The Greater New Orleans Bromeliad Society meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Old Metairie Library, 2350 Metairie Road for its usual fourth-Tuesday session to discuss these tropical plants that are mostly grown indoors. Sessions focus on tips and care for the pineapple-like plants, including soil and growing conditions, as well as propagation issues. The meeting is open to the public. HOT TOPICS: NewsBank has added a new science segment about NASAs Double Asteroid Test, an experiment to see how effective a man-made spacecraft can be in bumping an asteroid to change its course should it be necessary to prevent a collision with Earth. To access this report, go to the librarys website, then click on the Databases tab at the top of the page. Scroll down the left-hand side of the page for NewsBank. Among more than two dozen other new reports are those on the split-up of Johnson & Johnson and a focus on a new republic Barbados. BAG DISPLAY: Thirty-five unique purses are on display in a cabinet in the Special Collections Department, East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie. The purses feature uncommon designs of birds, cats and other animals. They have been collected through the years by Gwen Kelley, Special Collections librarian. EBR Computer Classes Receive free computer training at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie. Seating is limited, and online registration is required. Visit the Computer Classes page at www.jplibrary.net/training and click East Bank Regional Schedule. Upcoming classes include: One-on-One Instruction 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 22. Microsoft Excel 3 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, Dec. 27. One-on-One Instruction 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 29. PowerPoint 1 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 30. PowerPoint 2 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 30. Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library. If shopping is thirsty work for you, theres some good news at Lakeside Shopping Center. The Metairie mall now has its own bar. Vine & Tap opens officially Thursday just off the atrium near the middle of the mall. Its a cafe-sized space with a marble bar for walk-up counter service and a collection of tables around the room for full service. After the holidays, Vine & Tap will add more tables to the atrium, a space that is now taken up by a stage for photos with Santa and the North Pole Express train ride. Its the next project from New Orleans-based Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, which operates many restaurants around the area. That includes a Tavola Restaurant & Wine Bar in a separate building adjacent to the mall, in the address that had long been home to Bravo! It opened last year, and company CEO Marv Ammari said the response to happy hour at the restaurant was part of the reasoning for adding this new bar inside the mall itself. Weve gotten to know Lakeside, and theyve gotten to know us, and this different opportunity came up, he said. Vine & Tap has a full bar, with beer and cocktails and frozen drinks including a frozen eggnog for the holiday season. Wine is the specialty, with a dozen wines on tap in addition to the bottle list. The bar also sells bottles of wine for retail, for people who want to bring home what they sampled. In the weeks ahead, Vine & Tap will add a short food menu with cheese and charcuterie boards, salads, panini and other snacks. The idea, said Ammari, is to offer another amenity to shoppers who want to take a break between stores. It might also give someone who is just along for the ride on mall visit a place to relax while others keep shopping. 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 Ammari said he was inspired by wine bars hes seen in malls in other cities. One difference here, though, are go cups. Customers are able to take their drinks with them to keep strolling the mall. This is New Orleans. Without that, it might be a tough sell, he said. The new wine bar is in the location formerly occupied by a Godiva Chocolatier store. Earlier in 2021, Godiva began closing all 128 of its retail stores and cafes in North America to focus on wholesale and online sales. Vine & Tap will mirror the mall's hours. That means it will be pouring before noon most days. Thats the reason the bar has a bloody Mary on the menu, said company COO Zeid Ammari. A bloody Mary and shopping sounds good to me, he said laughing. Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts runs a wide array of restaurants and bars, including the historic Broussards, Cafe Maspero and the Bombay Club. Lately, it has been growing in Jefferson Parish and has its first north shore project underway. A Covington location of its Boulevard American Bistro is slated to open early in 2022. Vine & Tap Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Blvd. +20 Sizing up the biggest New Orleans restaurant closures of 2021, and whats replacing them Fine bistros and sandwich shops, restaurants that stood apart and spots that were just always there, maintaining their own traditions. These w Yes. We need to do more to get this wave under control. No. The vaccine is here and we're done with mask rules. I never stopped wearing my mask. Vote View Results The helicopter pilot killed in a crash on Interstate 10 on the Bonnet Carre Spillway on Tuesday has been identified. The pilot was Joshua L. Hawley of Livingston Parish, according to the St. Charles Parish Coroner's Office. Hawley's Bell 407 helicopter was heading from Gonzales to New Orleans' Lakefront Airport where it was scheduled 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. State health officials have identified 48 more cases of the omicron variant in Louisiana, bringing the states total to 93 infections that have been found since Dec. 3. In a news release Wednesday from the Louisiana Department of Health, officials said the prevalence of omicron in the region that includes New Orleans and surrounding areas far outpaces other areas in the state. So far, 81 cases have been identified in the region. Other areas with cases include Baton Rouge, which has two cases; Acadiana, with one case; the northwest region, with six cases; and the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, with two cases. Of the states 93 total cases, 77 are awaiting confirmation but have been flagged by a testing platform that can identify features of the variant. The number of omicron cases, while still small, is worrying Louisiana public-health experts, who have cautioned that the highly transmissible new variant will almost certainly lead to rising cases and hospitalizations in the coming weeks and months. Getting vaccinated and taking other precautions while cases remain low could help limit the spread, they've said, echoing comments from federal officials who noted Wednesday that vaccines and boosters appear to offer protection against severe disease despite the latest variant's mutations. In New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and health department director Dr. Jennifer Avegno are expected to address the omicron variant Thursday. City spokesperson Beau Tidwell said they will discuss possible changes to COVID restrictions, according to WWL-TV. Omicron is more prevalent in Louisiana than the U.S. average. As of Dec. 4, the variant accounts for 4.3% of total cases, the rest of which are nearly all the delta variant. Nationwide, omicron makes up about 2.9% as of Dec. 11. One week prior, it was 0.4%. In places like New York, New Jersey and Washington State, the variant makes up about 13% of cases. +2 Louisiana health experts warn of coming COVID surge, say now is time to prepare for omicron A year after Louisiana began rolling out coronavirus vaccines in what many hoped would bring an end to the pandemic, the omicron variant has s The state health department said omicron outbreaks have been identified at "universities, and cases have been identified in high-risk settings such as K-12 schools and nursing homes." Many of those cases may be from Tulane University. Over 100 students tested positive at Tulane University on Tuesday, according to the schools dashboard. The positive cases yesterday accounted for about 10.8% of the 972 tests the school administered on Dec. 14. At least 22 of the omicron variant cases were from Tulane University, according to an international database called GISAID. Thirty-four of Louisiana's cases have been uploaded to the database, which scientists around the world use to track variants. In the last seven days, 259 Tulane students and 6 employees have tested positive, making up nearly half of all cases detected during the entire semester. Tulane, where 97% of the community is vaccinated, regularly tests students and faculty, conducting an average of about 5,000 tests weekly. Cases among the general population in Louisiana and New Orleans are not increasing as quickly, although there is far less testing. In Louisiana, cases increased by 601 on Wednesday, with an additional 245 probable cases reported. Cases have increased by 28% over the last week and 42% over the last month. 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 Hospitalizations increased by 6, for a total of 204 patients statewide, with 36 of those on ventilators. The highly mutated omicron variant, which is quickly gaining steam abroad and in the U.S., may be better at evading protection from the initial vaccine series, according to recent studies, resulting in more breakthrough infections in vaccinated people. However, a third dose can restore protection, Dr. Anthony Fauci said at a White House briefing Wednesday. About 50% of the population in Louisiana is fully vaccinated, with about a quarter of people having received a booster shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first two shots from Pfizer and Moderna also continue to offer protection against severe disease, according to new studies from South Africa, the U.K. and the National Institutes of Health, though less so than earlier variants. In a South African study, the two-dose series of Pfizer provided 70% protection against hospitalization and 33% protection against infection. Pre-omicron, the two-dose series provided about 95% protection against hospitalization and 80% against symptomatic infection. Vaccination is still the best way to protect against omicron, health experts said. "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," said Fauci. Dr. Julio Figueroa, an infectious disease expert at LSU Health New Orleans, said he understands people are tired of the virus after nearly two years. But the public should be ready to distance and mask if necessary to prevent a larger surge that could overwhelm hospitals, he said. "If you think back to May and early June, there was a lot of declaration of victory," said Figueroa. "What weve learned since that time is we have to have all those pieces of surveillance in place and be very ready to introduce mitigation as soon as possible." There is a suggestion from South Africa data that infection from the omicron variant may be less severe. But experts have cautioned against putting too much stock in that preliminary data because South Africas population is relatively young and less at risk for severe complications. More information about the variant's severity should be available by the end of the month, said Figueroa. Tulane is aware of only a small number of hospitalizations associated with its community, according to its dashboard, but did not elaborate for privacy reasons. The school reinstated a mask mandate earlier this week and gave the option for all students and faculty to go remote. Susan Hassig, an epidemiologist and professor at Tulane, took her classes remote last Friday after seeing numbers start to spike on campus. The time to get a handle on it is when its at a low point, said Hassig. If omicron is more infectious than delta, its going to go up really quickly. In response to increasing COVID-19 cases and the rise of a more infectious variant as the holidays and Carnival approach, Mayor LaToya Cantrell expanded New Orleans' indoor vaccine or negative test requirement Thursday to children ages 5 to 11 and the New Orleans public school system mandated vaccination for students age 5 and older. The indoor mandate will go into effect Jan. 3, when children will be required to show proof of at least one vaccine dose. On Feb. 1, four weeks before Mardi Gras, the requirement will be two doses. The school requirement goes into effect Feb. 1, Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. said. New Orleans is the first city in the U.S. to announce a school vaccine requirement for children as young as five. Only Los Angeles United School District the nation's second largest has imposed a similar mandate for children ages 12 and up. After an initial December deadline, the school district pushed back the start date to fall 2022 because 28,000 students had not complied. Officials in California and New York have indicated the school mandate will expand to all ages once the shot is fully approved by federal agencies. The two-shot Pfizer vaccine, the only one available to children under 16, remains under emergency use for kids. Dr. Jennifer Avegno, head of the New Orleans Health Department, said she expects some pushback from parents. Louisiana has laws that allow for religious or philosophical exemption from required school immunizations, along with a medical exemption. "The exemptions for immunizations are so broad in Louisiana that if you don't want this, you can sign the form," said Avegno. But Avegno pointed out that because immunization compliance in New Orleans is typically high, she is hopeful that the new requirement will provide the needed push for parents to get their kids the COVID shots. "Our parents generally favor immunizations," said Avegno. "I'm sure some folks will be unhappy, but they have the ability to opt out." Earlier this week, Gov. John Bel Edwards moved forward with adding the COVID-19 vaccine to Louisiana's list of required immunizations for schoolchildren. That rule will go into effect in the 2022-2023 school year, but not until the vaccines move from emergency use authorization to full approval. Pediatric rates of COVID-19 vaccination are low in New Orleans compared to adult vaccination rates. About 80% of adults in New Orleans are vaccinated compared to 32.5% of children ages 5 to 17. "This is being very proactive in our approach ahead of the holiday season and before the start of the New Year letting you know what will be expected in Orleans Parish," said Cantrell. New Orleans will also join only a handful of other cities in requiring vaccination or a negative test for children as young as five to enter some businesses. Only San Francisco and New York City have enacted similar mandates. The mayor said the city is also considering a reinstatement of the mask mandate on February 15, the start of the busy parade season leading up to Mardi Gras Day on March 1, but that would depend on cases and hospitalizations. Omicron cases reach 93 in Louisiana, outpace U.S. average, as health officials prepare for more State health officials have identified 48 more cases of the omicron variant in Louisiana, bringing the states total to 93 infections that hav 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 The adjustment to the city's existing mandate came amid rising cases in Louisiana and a troubling surge at Tulane University, which frequently tests its community. On Wednesday, more than one in nine tests from Tulane University came back positive, a rate of 11.4%. Of 1,651 daily tests, 175 students and 6 employees were positive, adding to a steady, record-breaking rise of cases at the university starting Dec. 7, about two weeks after Thanksgiving. The adjustments to the city's policies are aimed at keeping cases low as the heavily mutated omicron will almost undoubtedly cause a rise in cases, Avegno said. "We have just a few weeks before omicron predominates and we need to prepare accordingly," Avegno warned, encouraging boosters for everyone 16 and over. Officials hope the precautions will lower cases and deaths and limit quarantine disruptions in schools, but said they are also necessary to preserve precious hospital resources during winter, typically a hospital's busiest time without factoring in a COVID surge. "All over the country, hospitals are at their breaking point," said Avegno. "There is no one to come for help, whether it's an ambulance company, whether it's traveling nurses. They are all somewhere else." In Louisiana, there have been 2,914 cases over the last seven days, an increase of around 46% from last week and 37% from one month ago. Cases have been exponentially increasing in New Orleans, with an average of 88 cases over the last seven days. Throughout November, cases did not rise above 28 for the seven-day average. The Louisiana Department of Health announced 93 total cases of omicron have been found in Louisiana since Dec. 3, 81 of which are in the New Orleans area. The number of omicron cases, while still small, is worrying Louisiana public-health experts, who have cautioned that the highly transmissible new variant will lead to rising cases in the coming months. Omicron is more prevalent in Louisiana than the U.S. average. As of Dec. 4, the variant accounts for 4.3% of total cases, the rest of which are nearly all the delta variant. Nationwide, omicron makes up about 2.9% as of Dec. 11. One week prior, it was 0.4%. Other areas of the country are already seeing an increase. New York reported over 18,000 positive tests in a single day on Thursday, nearing the state's pandemic record. Deaths and hospitalizations have remained steady in Louisiana over the last few weeks, with 196 hospitalized statewide and 35 deaths over the last seven days. +2 Louisiana health experts warn of coming COVID surge, say now is time to prepare for omicron A year after Louisiana began rolling out coronavirus vaccines in what many hoped would bring an end to the pandemic, the omicron variant has s CORRECTION: Earlier versions of this story incorrectly stated it was Cantrell who mandated vaccines for public school students. With concerns rising about the highly-transmissible omicron variant, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and health department director Dr. Jennifer Avegno plan to update residents Thursday on the city's plans to tackle what is expected to be another wave of the pandemic. UPDATE: Eyeing omicron, New Orleans expands indoor vaccine mandate to children ages 5 to 11 Omicron cases have already been detected in the New Orleans area. And while the number of people hospitalized with the virus is at very low level across the the state, a growing COVID outbreak at Tulane University, which has been at the vanguard of testing and vaccinations, has prompted public health experts to issue notes of caution. Some are recommending a return to masking, social distancing and other efforts that can slow the spread of the virus. 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 Follow along with our journalists who are covering the press conference. Can't see the module below? Click here. Omicron cases reach 93 in Louisiana, outpace U.S. average, as health officials prepare for more State health officials have identified 48 more cases of the omicron variant in Louisiana, bringing the states total to 93 infections that hav +2 Louisiana health experts warn of coming COVID surge, say now is time to prepare for omicron A year after Louisiana began rolling out coronavirus vaccines in what many hoped would bring an end to the pandemic, the omicron variant has s The executive director of Arc of Greater New Orleans has been arrested on five counts of video voyeurism and one count of sexual battery, according to court records. Stephen Sauer, 59, remains behind bars in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, pending a court hearing Thursday. ArcGNO, with headquarters in Metairie, provides services to mentally disabled people in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes. Sauers LinkedIn profile says he has been at the helm of the nonprofit since January 2017. Records also show Sauer was a Jesuit priest, listing him as pastor of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in New Orleans from 2008 to 2012. A spokesperson for the Society of Jesus said Sauer left the order at his own request in 2020. Sauer, who lives in Metairie, posted on LinkedIn that he has served on a number of local boards, including as a trustee of Loyola University in New Orleans and Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. He also lists himself as cofounder and former chairman of Hotel Hope, a New Orleans nonprofit that provides shelter for homeless families. By Tuesday evening, about 24 hours after his arrest, Sauer had been erased from ArcGNO's website. 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 "Mr. Sauer is no longer employed by Arc of Greater New Orleans, and chief administrative officer Sandee Williamson has been appointed to serve as acting executive director," the organization said. "Ms. Williamson and the ArcGNO team will focus on ensuring the organizations work continues with minimal disruption. The stability of ArcGNO and safety of its clients are the organizations top priorities. We have pledged our full cooperation to the authorities in this matter." Details of the crimes Sauer is accused of committing have not been disclosed, particularly whether the allegations are linked to his work. Video voyeurism is punishable by a prison sentence of as long as two years, while sexual battery carries a maximum of 10 years. Capt. Jason Rivarde, spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, said Sauer was arrested Monday at about 5 p.m. He said he couldnt elaborate on the arrest, and that detectives are in the early stages of the investigation. Its going to be a very extensive investigation, a minimum of several weeks, Rivarde said. We do believe there may be more victims. Sauer was being held without bail under a provision of a 2014 Louisiana law that allows authorities to keep suspects locked up for up to five days without bail as a cooling-off period. That law typically applies in cases of domestic abuse, but a section does apply to people accused of committing sexual battery against someone who is not a domestic partner, Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino said. He is scheduled for a bond hearing Thursday. Rivarde said anyone with additional information may call the Sheriff's Office personal violence section at (504) 364-5300. Stephen Sauer, a former Jesuit priest who served as executive director of the Arc of Greater New Orleans, is accused of taking hundreds of sexually explicit photos of unconscious men without their consent, according to authorities. The photos, which were found on Sauer's computer hard drive, include "adult males asleep, unconscious or under the influence of an unknown substance in various stages of undress," with their genitals exposed and being fondled. In some of the photos, there was evidence of ejaculation on the men's faces, Jefferson Parish Assistant District Attorney Kellie Rish said in a bond hearing Thursday in Jefferson Parish Magistrate Court. "Five victims were identified and denied willful participation with any act," Rish said. "Nor did they consent to be photographed with any devices." Sauer, 59, of Metairie, was arrested Monday by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office and booked with five counts of video voyeurism and one count of sexual battery. All of the victims were adults, but authorities did not say how Sauer knew the men. Sauer ran the Arc of New Orleans, a non-profit that provides services to mentally disabled people, since January 2017. He was removed from the agency after his arrest Monday. Records also show Sauer served at a variety of Jesuit institutions locally and in other states, including at Loyola University and as pastor of Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church in New Orleans. It's not clear when he was ordained, but a spokesperson for the Society of Jesus said Sauer left the order at his own request last year. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office opened the investigation after detectives were contacted in July by the New York District Attorney's Office. Sauer had allegedly sent an external hard drive to a New York-based company, though it's not clear why. The business found "a couple hundred images of adult men subjected to sexual assaults" and turned it over to authorities there, Rish told the court. The device was given to JPSO, which conducted a forensic analysis of the hard drive. Investigators found more images, including photos of the male victims' driver's licenses and other types of photo identification, Rish said. 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 The images appeared to be taken inside a red 2016 Nissan Rogue and a home with a distinct interior, according to Rish. Sheriff's Office detectives served search warrants for Sauer's house and vehicle, a Nissan Rouge, and found them consistent with the backgrounds in the photos, Rish said. Detectives also found prescription sleep medication, liquid diphenhydramine (an allergy medication known by the brand name Benadryl), syringes, metal spoons and condoms, according to Rish. Authorities did not say whether Sauer is suspected of using the sleep medication in any way related to the allegations. Criminal Commissioner Patricia Joyce set Sauer's bond at $75,000 bond and ordered him to submit to home incarceration should he be released. Joyce also issued orders of protection barring him from contacting the five victims. The case is still under investigation, and detectives believe there may be other victims, Rish said. In addition to serving as pastor at Immaculate Conception from 2008 to 2012, Sauer was also elected to the Loyola University Board of Trustees in 2010. He served two terms at the Jesuit university from 2010 to 2016, said Patricia Murret, Loyola's Associate Director of Public Affairs. Afterwards, Sauer taught some classes, primarily online, to graduate students in the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2019. "We know of no complaint against him tied to his associations at Loyola," Murret said in a statement Thursday. Sauer grew up in Metairie and attended Georgetown University for undergraduate liturgical studies, according to a biography from his time as a Loyola board member. His Linkedin profile notes that he served as the vice president of student affairs at Spring Hill College in Mobile and was a theological studies faculty member at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Sauer was being held Thursday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. There wasn't much that Joshua Hawley couldn't do once he set his mind to it, according to his relatives. The 13-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran was an Eagle Scout, a paramedic, a boat mechanic, an airplane mechanic, the family IT guy, an electrician, a husband and a devoted father to his three boys, ages 3, 4 and 7. "He was about the smartest guy I've ever met," brother David Hawley, 40, said Wednesday. Joshua Hawley, 42 of Denham Springs, also had a passion for flying. A helicopter pilot and instructor, his brother described him as a conscientious aviator who took safety very seriously. That's why family members and colleagues were left stunned by the news that Hawley had been killed in a helicopter crash on the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish Tuesday afternoon. "He was well respected and a huge advocate of safety. They're all just flabbergasted," Hawley's cousin, Tiffany Patrick, 43, said after speaking with some of his fellow pilots. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation into the cause of Hawley's crash, which occurred about 12:30 p.m. on the Interstate 10 bridge over the Spillway. Hawley was the only person aboard the Bell 407 helicopter, which was en route from Gonzales to the Lakefront Airport in New Orleans to pick up three passengers, according to authorities. With heavy fog in the area, Hawley's helicopter reportedly hit an Entergy Louisiana transmission line before crashing into the highway's eastbound lanes. A by-the-book pilot, Joshua Hawley was a local representative of the Federal Aviation Associations Safety Team, which helps promote pilot safety. He routinely read NTSB reports and chatted with David Hawley, also a private pilot, about the best way to stay safe in certain situations. "He was a good and capable pilot," David Hawley said. "I don't know if I'll ever get a satisfactory answer about how this happened." Joshua Hawley grew up in Prairieville, part of a large family, according to Patrick. He had always been a tinkerer who could fix just about anything that moved. After graduating from St. Amant High School in Ascension Parish in 1997, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps and served for 13 years as an aircraft mechanic, David Hawley said. Joshua Hawley received his emergency medical services certification and volunteered as a paramedic while in the military. He also gave his time as a volunteer firefighter, according to his brother. 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 "Joshua was always a helper. He was calm and level-headed. If you needed something done, he was there," David Hawley said. After leaving the Marines, Joshua Hawley worked for four years as a paramedic with the East Baton Rouge Emergency Medical Services Department and wore a second hat helping the agency with technology upgrades, EMS spokesman Mike Chustz said. Hawley's father was a small-airline pilot and flight had been a lifelong family fascination, David Hawley said. Joshua Hawley began training to become pilot while still working as a paramedic, spending many of his days off at the Baton Rouge airport. "You could see he was determined to achieve that goal of becoming a pilot, and there was nothing that was going to stop him," Chustz said. "It was something that was kind of in his blood." Joshua Hawley earned his pilots license about seven years ago and was finally able to get a job flying, David Hawley said. In addition to working for various companies, Joshua Hawley opened Airspeed Flight Service, a part-time business that offered aerial survey flights and helicopter instruction. Hawley was working for Five S Group construction as a fleet and technology manager at the time of his death, according to relatives and his LinkedIn page. The Baton Rouge company declined to comment on Wednesday. Hawley kept it strictly professional at work. But when it came to his family, "He was Mr. Wonderful. Everything was flowers and ranbows," said Todd Tessier, a helicopter mechanic who worked with Hawley. "I know he loved his children. I know he loved his wife," Tessier said. Hawley could also be a bit of a goofball with a passion for bad jokes, the cornier and groan-inducing, the better, his family said. "He definitely had a lot of bad and dad jokes in his repertoire," Patrick said. Hawley's family have circled around his wife, Carley, and his sons, Wyatt, Daniel and James, as they try to process his loss. "It has certainly taken us by surprise," David Hawley said. "He was doing what he loved." In addition to his wife, children, brother and father, Joshua Hawley is survived by his sister, Jessica Harrison, his stepmother, Raye Ann Hawley, and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins. Relatives and friends have created a GoFundme to help support Joshua Hawley's wife and children. Those who wish to donate may do so at by visiting https://bit.ly/325rA8X. Lea Skene, Matt Sledge and Missy Wilkinson contributed to this report. After receiving a $5 million gift from Bobby Savoie, the University of New Orleans has put his name on its College of Engineering. Its the largest gift to an academic college in UNO's 63-year history. The money will endow a support fund for need-based scholarships, research and facility improvement, UNO President John Nicklow said. Savoie has served as CEO of numerous technology and engineering firms and worked as an engineer and consultant for NASAs Space Launch System. He obtained a doctorate in engineering from UNO in 2009, and received the universitys Homer L. Hitt Award for distinguished alumni. A New Orleans-area firms radiation shield could save astronaut lives A New Orleans-area company has spent years developing a new, high-tech coating to protect astronauts and equipment from harmful radiation in s We have often heard that the University of New Orleans built the middle class of New Orleans, Savoie said. But this step is about the future, not the past. Its about helping President Nicklow and the incredibly talented people at the University of New Orleans to complete the vision of making an engineering degree from UNO recognized as the outstanding degree I know it to be. 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 When it opened in 1958, as Louisiana State University in New Orleans, UNO was the first fully integrated public university in the South. Built on the site of a former naval base, its newly renamed Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering offers New Orleans only civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering programs and one of the countrys few schools of naval architecture and marine engineering. With in-state tuition hovering around $9,000 per semester, UNO is among the most affordable four-year colleges in the United States. U.S. News & World Report counts it on a list of 20 schools where students have the least amount of debt after graduation. With their gift, the Savoies hope to continue that legacy. +2 Dillard University receives $5 million to fund civil rights internships Law firm donates its earnings from settlement in suit over money for historically Black colleges I am forever grateful to Bobby and Lori for their generosity and multifaceted support of our university, Nicklow said. The Savoies commitment comes at a time when affordable, high-quality education in the engineering disciplines is more important than ever for students, employers and communities. People who fish for a living want offshore wind turbines as far away as possible, but those who fish for fun want to get as close as they can. That's what Gulf of Mexico commercial and recreational fishing groups told federal energy regulators at a virtual workshop Wednesday. The Bureau of Energy and Ocean Management, or BOEM, is beginning to gather public comment on the likely development of offshore wind energy in the Gulf within a few years. The input will help guide the planning and permitting of wind farm lease areas, and potentially lead to aid for fishers affected by turbines, transmission lines and related infrastructure. While commercial shrimpers worried that turbines might crowd them out of prime harvesting areas, recreational fishing groups wanted assurances they could get as close as possible to turbines, which can act as artificial reefs. Like offshore oil platforms, wind turbines offer attractive real estate for corals, sea fans, sponges and algae, which in turn draw the types of fish that anglers prefer, including red snapper and jacks. Our biggest concern is access to these structures, said Richard Fischer, executive director of the Louisiana Charter Boat Association, which represents recreational fishing guides. Its good there are no access restrictions on the East Coast. BOEM officials said the Coast Guard hasnt prohibited boats from floating near the two wind farms on the East Coast, and there are no plans for new restrictions in the Gulf. There should not be any restrictions on vessels operating near [wind] facilities, BOEM environmental scientist Brian Hooker said. Off the coast of New England, commercial fishers are fighting plans for large offshore wind farms. They say the farms will overlap some of the best spots to catch squid, lobster and other species, and could make fishing more dangerous and costly. Gulf shrimpers, however, have long had to coexist with oil and gas platforms, pipelines and other industrial infrastructure. But the addition of wind farms wont make their jobs any easier, and could increase the financial burden from damaged nets and other gear, said Glenn Delaney, a lobbyist for the Southern Shrimp Alliance. Shrimpers will be affected Gulf-wide, he said. There will be cumulative impacts on shrimping activities and access to grounds. +3 Exxon oil rig becomes tallest structure converted to artificial reef in Gulf of Mexico An oil rig taller than the Empire State Building is now undergoing conversion into a habitat-boosting artificial reef about 50 miles south of Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Most wind energy developers interested in the Gulf are eyeing the waters off Texas and west Louisiana, where wind speeds are strongest and theres easy access to industrial ports and oil and gas service and construction businesses eager to transition to the offshore wind industry. But the western Gulf is also where the best shrimping is, drawing boats from all five Gulf states and beyond. Weve got shrimpers from every port in the Gulf [who] fish off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, Delaney said. We even have some Atlantic-based shrimpers coming in to shrimp over there. Shrimpers who snag a net on oil and gas infrastructure can tap into a special, federally managed gear compensation fund. No such fund exists for damages related to the offshore wind industry. BOEM acknowledged theres strong interest in creating such a fund, but officials say their hands are tied. Mike Celata, BOEMs Gulf region director, suggested shrimpers to take the issue up with Congress. Crabs and shrimp are looking for love, finding sickness at the polluted Deepwater Horizon spill site Deep-sea crabs and shrimp have been appearing in droves at the oil-soaked site of the Deepwater Horizon rig. The likely reason, according to n Id encourage organizations like yours to move in that direction," he said. "As federal employees, we cant lobby Congress, unfortunately. BOEM plans to issue its final guidance on the development of offshore wind energy in the Gulf next summer. Comments on fisheries issues may be made at regulations.gov/document/BOEM-2021-0083-0001. The Paris Road Bridge that connects New Orleans East to St. Bernard Parish will get a $41.6 million facelift under President Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter said Wednesday. The bridge, often called the "Green Bridge" for the many years it was painted green, will be cleaned, structurally repaired, and painted green once again, said Carter, D-New Orleans, at a press conference to announce the project. The repairs are under design, and the project will to go to bid in April. It is just one of the many bridges, roads, and highways that are being funded under Louisiana's $7 billion share of the infrastructure law. "The East deserves investment, and I'm determined to see that it gets here," Carter said during a press conference Wednesday kicking off a district tour of sites in line for funding. "Thanks to the infrastructure law, we can start with the Green Bridge." Biden signed into law last month the nation's largest investment in its infrastructure in more than a decade, money aimed at repairing shoddy roads and bridges, modernizing public transit, and updating ports, airports and railways, among other priorities. Biden then tapped former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to oversee that plan's implementation, a move widely seen as a win for Louisiana and New Orleans. In Louisiana, $4.8 billion of the money will go to highways. Another $1 billion will go to bridges, and another $470 million will help improve public transit, state officials have said. 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 +3 Baton Rouge to New Orleans passenger train inches closer as Canadian Pacific commits to service The long-held dream of a passenger rail link between Baton Rouge and New Orleans inched closer after officials from Canadian Pacific Railway, Airports will receive $179 million; the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner will get over $15 million of that total, Carter said. Another $73 million will be used to build infrastructure for electric vehicles, while $20 million will help build more climate-ready transportation systems. The so-called Green Bridge, which stretches over the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet to connect Chalmette to New Orleans East, is an important evacuation route during hurricanes, Carter said. Its repair is also critical given its proximity to major job anchors like the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, the U.S. Coast Guard base, and GE and Blade Dynamics, added City Council President Helena Moreno, who joined Carter Wednesday. "Infrastructure is a vital component to creating a region including New Orleans East with a thriving economy and an excellent quality of life where everyone can get ahead," Moreno said. Carter said the bridge is his first stop on his tour that will see him announce various infrastructure investments across the 2nd Congressional District, which covers almost all of New Orleans and stretches north and west along the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge. His next stop is Thursday in Grammercy, where he will announce tens of millions of dollars in repairs for the Veterans Memorial Bridge, he said. Edward Michel, New Orleans' interim inspector general, was permanently appointed Wednesday to the position to root out corruption, waste and abuse in municipal government. He is the fourth permanent appointment since voters agreed to create the Office of Inspector General in 2006. Michel assumed the interim job in 2020 after Inspector General Derry Harper resigned when it was discovered that he rarely showed up to work. Michel joined the office in 2019 after a 23-year career with the FBI, most recently as assistant special agent in charge in the bureaus Houston office. A New Orleans native who once worked as a police officer in his hometown, Michel was one of three finalists whom the Ethics Review Board interviewed Monday after a national search for Harper's replacement. The other two were Peter Schleck, a county court operations manager from Maine, and Jeffery Walsh, deputy chief inspector at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's headquarters in Washington. +3 Grand jury to consider charges in 'really technical' Hard Rock Hotel collapse case, DA says Exactly two years after the Hard Rock Hotel collapsed and killed three construction workers, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams s Members of the ethics board, which oversees the Office of Inspector General, praised Michel for stabilizing the office and increasing its productivity after Harpers departure. Even apart from that, I would consider him by far the best qualified person for this job, board member Michael Cowan said. He brings some of the best of both roots and history and appreciation, but also having been out in the broader world and understanding the state of good practice in his field. I take some reassurance from that. Also speaking on Michels behalf was Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, which Goyeneche said worked closely with the office under previous inspectors general until Harpers administration quit responding to the commission's referrals. When Michel took over, Goyeneche said, the relationship immediately resumed. Some of the [earlier] referrals that we made under the Harper administration were quickly processed and worked, and we saw action with that, he said. 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 In his interview on Monday, Michel said that under his leadership the office assisted in securing the federal conviction of City Hall's assistant chief mechanical inspector in a bribery scheme and uncovered homestead exemption fraud. Michel has also recently overseen reports on the Sewerage and Water Board, the Orleans Parish Communications District and procurement policies. +2 Inspector General recommends felony charges against city inspector in Hard Rock collapse probe: WWL-TV The New Orleans inspector generals office has filed a long-delayed report with the district attorney recommending felony charges against a fo Pride and ownership is reflective in everything we do now, Michel said. Michels interim tenure has not been without controversy. Soon after taking over from Harper, Michel fired the lead investigator looking into the Hard Rock Hotel collapse, Kristen Morales, who is now alleging wrongful termination in a federal lawsuit. Critics questioned whether Moraless firing impeded the Hard Rock investigation, although Michels office has since recommended criminal charges against three former building inspectors. A Louisiana state grand jury investigation is underway. Last month the ethics board heard a formal complaint accusing Michel of abusing his authority by calling the workplace of someone who had criticized him on Twitter. While the allegations disturbed some members, the board ultimately determined Michel did not violate any rules. Board member Torin Sanders voted against Michels appointment Wednesday, the only one of the seven-member board to do so. Presumably referring to the recent complaint by the Twitter critic, Sanders said he had a concern over something that has been made public that I pray is not a red flag for the future. A beer delivery truck caught fire and closed Interstate-10 eastbound for a portion of Wednesday evening in Kenner, officials say. Kenner police are investigating the incident that occurred around 7:25 p.m. Officers were called to the scene on I-10 at Williams Boulevard on top of the crossover. Flames were seen coming from underneath the cab of the Budweiser delivery truck on the driver's side, police said. The driver pulled to the right lane of the interstate and exited safely before the entire vehicle caught fire. The interstate reopened around 2:45 a.m., according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The Kenner Fire Department extinguished the fire and no injuries were reported. Honor has presented the Play 30 Plus, a cheap smartphone with a few eye-catching features. The Play 30 Plus starts at CNY 1,099 (~US$172) in China with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. 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 Honor has revealed the Play 30 Plus, a new budget smartphone. Positioned as a cheaper alternative to Honor X30 5G, the Play 30 Plus has a 6.7-inch IPS display that runs at 720p and 90 Hz. Unsurprisingly, the Play 30 Plus has thicker bezels than the X30 5G. Additionally, Honor has included a small notch, within which sits a 5 MP selfie camera. The Play 30 Plus also has two large camera modules, but only two cameras and an LED flash. The device relies on a 13 MP primary camera and a 2 MP sensor for calculating depth of field information. These sensors are powered by a Dimensity 700 SoC, a mid-range chip that has a 5G modem and up to 8 GB of RAM at its disposal. Honor states that the Play 30 Plus supports 2 GB additional 'virtual RAM', but this is only a page file stored on its 128 GB of built-in storage. Moreover, Honor equips the Play 30 Plus with a 5,000 mAh battery that supports up to 22.5 W charging. Like the X30 5G, the Play 30 Plus arrives with Magic UI 5.0 based on Android 11. Honor will sell the Play 30 Plus in China from CNY 1,099 (~US$172) with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Microsoft has declared that the Windows Terminal app will be the default command line on Windows 11 PCs during 2022. Other third-party terminals will also have full functionality and users will be able to set them as default more easily. The intended change will begin with Windows Insiders, who, along with other users, can test the Windows Terminal app and provide feedback to Microsoft. 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 Microsoft has announced that the Windows Terminal app will be the default command line experience on Windows. Windows Console Host, conhost.exe, has been the default since the conception of Windows. Thus, Command Prompt and PowerShell utilised the Windows Console Host. This is about to change as Kayla Cinnamon, a program manager for the Windows Terminal app, declared in a blog post that Microsoft intends to set Windows Terminal as the default command line on Windows 11 systems during 2022. Windows Terminal is an open-source project and features multiple tabs, custom themes, configurations, Unicode and UTF-8 character support and a GPU accelerated text rendering engine. Moreover, Microsoft will be making the task of changing the console host less cumbersome and is even enabling other third-party terminals to have full functionality and be used as the default. Developers can certainly appreciate the robust features that Windows Terminal offers and they can make the app the default on Windows 11 in the Developer settings page as well as in the Windows Terminal settings. Cinnamon stated that the default change will commence with the Windows Insider Program and then eventually reach all Windows 11 users. Users can send their feedback and help Microsoft to improve the app on the GitHub page. Buy the Microsoft Surface Pro X on Amazon Resilient and Ready: NREL Helps Large Federal Campuses Examine Their Energy and Water Posture The Technical Resilience Navigator Prepares Federal Agencies for Smarter, Stakeholder-Informed Resilience Planning Dec. 16, 2021 Federal agency leaders tour NREL's Flatirons Campus. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL Energy and water infrastructure resiliencethe ability to prepare for and adapt to changing conditions and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptionsis front of mind for federal agencies around the country. The federal government owns or manages hundreds of thousands of federal buildings, and agencies have a vested interest in ensuring their buildings and energy and water infrastructure assets can withstand and recover from deliberate attacks, accidents, or naturally occurring hazards or incidents. With a massive portfolio of diverse assets facing a wide range of potential natural hazards and man-made threats, federal agencies are calling on resilience planning experts at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Resilience planning helps organizations identify opportunities, prioritize funding, and develop a pipeline of projects to strengthen their operations against a range of hazards and threats. Increasing climate change impacts coupled with priorities such as electrification, decarbonization, and efficiency create the need for a systematic approach to resilience planning. Resilience planning helps organizations identify opportunities, prioritize funding, and develop a pipeline of projects to strengthen operations against a range of threats. To aid federal agencies in resilience planning, NREL researchers use the Technical Resilience Navigator (TRN)a tool that leads users through a series of modules to build stakeholder engagement, an organizational assessment, and an actionable plan. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) funded NREL and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to create the TRN, recognizing the need for risk-informed resilience planning to help organizations manage the risk to critical missions from disruptions in energy and water services. The TRN was built with flexibility in mind to support a range of agency- and site-specific requirements. Several large federal campuses have worked with NREL to pilot TRN modules and start developing tailored resilience plans. TRN Offers a Holistic Vantage to Resilience at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Training Academy at Marine Corps Base Quantico On a 547-acre campus inside a Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, the Federal Bureau of Investigations Training Academy carries out multiple critical missions using dozens of buildings and a central utility plant that powers operations, security gates, and water and energy infrastructure. At the Quantico site, the most critical operations are tied to training. Using the TRN, the site is thinking through critical missions and operations and defining the energy and water systems that support those operations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation laboratory at Quantico. Image courtesy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Senior Research Engineer Alicen Kandt leads NREL technical support for Quanticos use of the TRN. Kandt said, It is fundamental to the TRN methodology to look at the hazards and risks that could threaten those operations. This has been helpful to the Quantico team as they've found they have several different training divisions. They're seeing the need to do this at a holistic, site-wide level, assisted by the TRN. According to Kandt, They're really excited about this work. Our two primary on-site partners are great champions for resilience planning. They understand its importance, are supportive of it, get us the data that we need, and have pulled a team together on their side to support our work. Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Deepen NREL-DHS Partnership for Long-Term Resilience Researcher David LoVullo leads NREL support for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), located in Glynco, Georgia. With FLETC we've already completed and reviewed with the client the Site-Level Planning and Baseline Development modules. Now we're working through the risk assessment module to characterize their loads, identify their threats and hazards, and identify their vulnerabilities. General training at FLETC in Glynco, Georgia. Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security This is not the first resilience-focused collaboration between NREL and FLETC. LoVullo has partnered with the FLETC team on several projects evaluating the robustness of their site and operations over the past five years. In the spring of 2019, he attended an FLETC workshop on their internal resilience efforts and long-term planning strategy. When the TRN came up as an option to further dive into targeting risks for their energy, water, natural gas, and utility supply, LoVullo said, FLETC volunteered to be a part of that pilot. Resilience Planning Fulfills Additional Reporting Requirements for Federal Sites NREL Energy Resilience Analyst Alex Young was the Fiscal Year 2021 lead for NRELs FEMP-funded resilience projects, which initiated the use of the TRN at several federal sites. Young said these sites can use the tool for more than just resilience planning. We're investigating how using the TRN can fulfill other federal site requirements related to energy and water planningsites can assess their risks while building a foundation to complete other requirements, Young said. These include reporting requirements, as well as federal requirements to assess their energy and water posture. Assessing Resilience at a Department of Energy Laboratory As Department of Energy facilities, NRELs two Colorado campuses are participating in the TRN pilot as well. NREL kicked off the process in 2021 by assembling a core team, identifying stakeholders, developing a set of resilience priorities, and developing a scope and boundaries for the assessment. NREL's South Table Mountain campus in Golden, Colorado, is participating in a TRN pilot for federal facilities. Photo by Joshua Bauer, NREL By the end of the pilot in the spring of 2022, NREL will have identified and prioritized resilience strategies for both campuses. A top priority of the laboratorys TRN pilot is to evaluate ways to integrate resilience planning and strategies into NREL operations, policies, and procedures. Ready To Evaluate Your Sites Resilience Posture? Some Advice From the Experts For federal agencies seeking to systematically evaluate energy and water resilience gaps with risk-informed decision making, the TRN may be the right tool to start identifying actionable steps. Kandt advised, Attacking this in smaller pieces could be helpful. Its an iterative process; its not set in stone, and it's okay to take your best guessflag it and move it along. LoVullo believes it is important to work with each organization where they are. Every federal site and agency is unique in its mission, capabilities, and expertise. From NREL's perspective, we want to cater to their needs and provide them the best value, whether its hands-on workshops walking through the data and tools, or providing a high-level overview and then stepping back and letting them work through the tool themselves. There's a wide range in terms of how much the agency wants or has the bandwidth to be involved. The TRN provides significant flexibility, allowing agencies to choose the level of analysis that fits their needs and that can be completed with the information they have. All members of the NREL TRN team agree that it is absolutely critical to have a resilience champion on site. According to LoVullo, That would be the first step I'd take. You need a point of contact or a small team focused on this task. Without that, you can lose the thread. Six Modules Provide a Clear Path to Improved Site-Wide Resilience The TRN is used by organizations to identify resilience gaps and prioritize solutions that reduce risk from energy and water service disruptions and incorporate agency requirements and goals. Individual modules take teams step-by-step through site-level planning, baseline development, risk assessment, solution development, and then prioritizing solutions. The TRN features six modules to aid organizations in establishing a baseline, identifying risks, prioritizing solutions, and creating a plan for action. Image by Fred Zietz, NREL At last summers annual FEMP Energy Exchange, NREL and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory unveiled the TRNs newest module: Roadmap to Action. Sheila Hayter, laboratory program manager leading NRELs work with FEMP, said this new module is all about project execution and making the business case for your projectgaining leadership buy-in, finding funding streams, and procurement. Interested in using the TRN for your organization? Learn more about FEMPs resilience planning and implementation approach and the Technical Resilience Navigator. Interested in working with NREL to assist with your site's resiliency planning? Visit NREL's federal partnerships page to learn how. Learn about NRELs energy system resilience research. BP plans to roll out automated checkout at its Amoco and ampm convenience stores. The London-based energy giant, which runs the BP Whiting Refinery on the lakeshore and operates gas stations across the Region, is teaming up with Grabango for its largest multi-store rollout ever of checkout-free technology. BP was looking to offer more technology as it grows its convenience store brand, such as with its recent acquisition of Thorntons. "We believe this technology will positively change the scale of retail and create a wave reaction in the marketplace," said Lisa Blalock, vice president of marketing, mobility and convenience Americas for BP. "Today its just our first 10 locations. Tomorrow, there is potential to bring Grabangos technology to our entire network. It will initially test the checkout-free locations in northern California and western Pennsylvania with an eye toward rolling it out more widely. Available in mid-2022, the systems will allow shoppers to pay by downloading the Grabango app. They shop as they normally would and payment is automatic when they leave. The state also tallied 87 additional deaths due to COVID-19. The coronavirus has now killed 18,272 Hoosiers when confirmed (17,649) and suspected (623) COVID-19 deaths are combined. State and local health officials are urging Hoosiers to protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting vaccinated as soon as possible and getting a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot when they are eligible. The free COVID-19 vaccine is available to anyone age 5 and up at more than 1,400 pharmacies, health clinics and hospitals across the state often without an appointment. A full list of COVID-19 vaccine sites is available online at ourshot.in.gov. Since the start of the pandemic, unvaccinated Hoosiers have accounted for 97.6% of COVID-19 infections, 99.95% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 99.97% of COVID-19 deaths, according to the Indiana Department of Health. At the same time, more 3.5 million Hoosiers have gotten vaccinated against COVID-19 since the vaccine first became available exactly one year ago. Arrgh, the Progressive Insurance Chicago Boat Show has lifted anchor and canceled its planned return to McCormick Place in January. For more than 90 years, the Chicago Boat Show, held at the convention center at 2301 S. King Drive in Chicago, has been the largest of its kind in the Midwest. It typically features 600 boats, 100 RVs, 50-foot luxury yachts one can board, a Huck Finn trout pond and extra service from the South Shore Line dropping Region residents off there. The National Marine Manufacturers Association planned to bring the annual expo back Jan. 12-16, after a coronavirus pandemic hiatus in 2021. But now it's being postponed another year until 2023 because of supply chain disruptions and historically low inventory of boats and other maritime products. VALPARAISO The Indiana State Police have concluded the investigation into the police-involved shooting that injured a 58-year-old man charged with counts of child molesting and sexual battery, police said. ISP Sgt. Glen Fifield announced the investigation's end on Wednesday, stating that his agency has submitted a complete report to the Porter County Prosecutor's Office for review. The Porter County Prosecutor's Office received the case file and it remains under review. No further information could be released by the office at this time. James Filby, of Porter Township, was shot by a Porter County police officer a month ago and has since been booked into the county jail on accusations of molesting a young girl and sexually attacking her sister and mother in separate incidents, records show. Filby faces felony counts of child molesting, vicarious sexual gratification, two counts of attempted sexual battery and sexual battery, records show. He left jail on a $5,000 cash bond and is represented by the Alvarez Law Office in Crown Point, court documents show. House Republicans are moving forward with their plan to limit COVID-19 vaccine requirements at Indiana companies, notwithstanding surging COVID-19 hospitalizations and unequivocal opposition from the GOP's usual allies in the state's business community. On Thursday, the House Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions convened prior to the Jan. 4 start of the regular, 10-week legislative session to hear some seven hours of testimony on House Bill 1001. The proposal would compel all Indiana businesses with a COVID-19 vaccine requirement to allow any full- or part-time employee with a medical, religious, or general objection to the vaccine, or a recent COVID-19 infection and recovery, to automatically opt-out of the company's vaccine mandate. Employers could then require those employees participate in weekly COVID-19 testing. But the cost of the testing could not be passed on to the worker, according to the legislation. The sponsor of the measure, state Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, said it's needed to protect Hoosiers who don't want to be vaccinated against COVID-19 from losing their jobs because they failed to comply with their employer's vaccine mandate. Lake County home values are among the fastest-growing in Indiana, a new study found. SmartAsset, a website that offers consumers financial tips and advice, looked at home values in Indiana's 92 counties from 2016 to 2021. Lake County, the second biggest country in Indiana by population after Marion County, ranked seventh in the Hoosier State in growth of residential property values over that five-year period, the SmartAsset study found. Madison, Allen, Johnson, Floyd, Monroe and Tippecanoe all ranked ahead of Lake County. Hancock, Elkhart and Hendricks counties rounded out the top 10 for home value growth. Lake County experienced home value growth of 42.33% over the last five years, SmartAsset found in its analysis. Neighboring Porter County had a home growth rate of 34.78% over the same period. Porter County had a median home value of $178,100, Lake $143,500 and LaPorte County $137,700. "It was worth the wait," Winfield Town Councilman Tim Clayton said. Work in the Winfield project, which started in mid-August, included removing the hills from 109th Avenue; adding dedicated northbound turn lanes off 109th, and a passing lane on the south side of 109th; raising Grand to meet the new height of 109th; and adding dedicated eastbound and westbound turn lanes onto Grand going south. The project also included replacing a large culvert under the intersection as well as installing storm sewers along the road, Winfield Town Administrator Nick Bellar said. Uran, during a brief speech Wednesday, also spoke of the timing of the Crown Point project, which was initiated last year with the completion of the Delaware and Mississippi parkway extensions. He also emphasized how private, state and federal participants played a part in going forward as well as all the people who played a pivotal role, from Gov. Eric Holcomb on down. Uran said the project was well planned out and executed. "Tasers are a less-than-lethal option for officers to use to defend the public and themselves," Evans said. "It gives them the ability to effectively defend themselves without resorting to lethal force." In addition, the first quarter to six months, language on the duty to intervene will be adopted in police policies. "The Gary Police Department had a high-profile case which we terminated an officer this year where the officers involved did report that to us," Evans said. "Had it not been for the officers having the bravery to come forward, put their feelings on paper and making sure it got to their supervisors and the chief's office, this case wouldn't have gone forward the way it did. We were able to get rid of an officer who needed to be terminated and that was solely because the officers involved reported it to their supervisors." Evans said the department is also working on mandating the use of body cameras. At the same time, Repay and Commissioner Kyle Allen Sr., D-Gary, insisted a new jail medical contract will not be signed until Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. permits representatives from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), a nonprofit organization that evaluates health services available to jail and prison inmates, to visit the Lake County Jail and determine whether the level of medical services are appropriate for the facility. The commissioners said CHI's costs have increased exponentially over the past 10 years and an outside entity is needed to assess the services the county is receiving for the amount of money it is spending roughly a quarter-million dollars every two weeks. "The reality is I don't think (Martinez) wants anybody to look at it, and I think that's unfortunate," Repay said. Martinez previously said the evaluators were kept out because nearly everyone was kept out of the jail amid the COVID-19 pandemic due to the potential for increased spread of the coronavirus. He's also said the contract renewal delay "is strictly a political move by Commissioner Repay that threatens to jeopardize the operations of the department and the safety of officers and the public." Local campuses of Ivy Tech Community College recently honored two of their alumni for their outstanding records of helping their communities and serving others. Marsha Eriks from the Valparaiso campus and Chaz Jackson from the Lake County campus were two of 19 individuals across the state selected to receive the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor given to recognize Ivy Tech alumni. Selected through a highly competitive process, each recipient has made a lasting impact on their community and on Ivy Tech through outstanding professional, philanthropic or volunteer accomplishments. These individuals are examples of how Ivy Tech can change lives, Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann said. Whether they went on to pursue additional education or went straight to the workforce, our distinguished alumni make a difference in our communities every day. We are proud and honored to be part of their stories. Eriks was nominated for working as a surgical technologist while mentoring other Ivy Tech students before she was offered a job as a clinical instructor at Ivy Tech. After 20 years at Ivy Tech Community College, Eriks says she still loves what she does and loves inspiring students in the same way she was inspired. The owners of a Valparaiso health care business admit they owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal income taxes. Robert T. Wilson, 58, and his wife, Shelly A. Wilson, 56, of Valparaiso appeared Wednesday morning before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge John E. Martin for a change of plea hearing. They previously had pleaded not guilty to tax evasion, conspiracy charges and failure to file tax returns over an eight-year-period. They were set to be tried next month and if convicted were facing possible imprisonment. They signed plea agreements early this week with the U.S. Attorneys office offering to give up their right to require the government to prove their case against them at trial. Robert and Shelly Wilson told the magistrate Wednesday they would plead guilty to the lesser charges of failing to file tax returns for the tax years of 2014 through 2016. Federal prosecutors are agreeing to drop the more serious charges of conspiracy and evasion against the Wilsons and recommend the couple receive a sentence of no more than three years probation. EU lawmakers said in a resolution that any new sanctions package should include the Russian officer corps and flag officers involved in the planning of a possible invasion, as well as the immediate circle and oligarchs in the orbit of the Russian President and their families. They said it should involve the freezing of financial and physical assets in the EU, travel bans, the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT payment system for international financial transfers, target key economic sectors and disrupt the financing of the intelligence services and the armed forces. The lawmakers have no decision-making powers on sanctions, but their experts often have detailed knowledge of what member countries are thinking on joint foreign policy initiatives. Meanwhile, the Kremlin again prodded Western leaders to provide legally binding guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO or that its members weapons would ever be deployed there, calling such moves a red line for Moscow. The U.S. and its allies have refused to make such a pledge, but Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed last week on further talks to discuss Russian concerns. Associated Press writers Frank Jordans in Berlin and Vladimir Isachenkov 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 Beasley, who got into the race in April, has been the top fundraiser among all candidates for Burrs seat during the past two quarters. Beasleys campaign had nearly $1.7 million in the bank entering October, while Jackson had almost $1.2 million. In addition to fundraising pressures, an additional 10 weeks of primary campaigning also could have induced Jackson into going negative against Beasley, said Catawba College political science professor Michael Bitzer. I was surprised at the (announcement's) timing, but I think the inevitable writing on the wall really, probably pushed him to a point that he had to make a decision, Bitzer said in an interview. Getting out now could help Jackson, 39, build party goodwill in the years ahead with a future run for statewide office, Bitzer said. The seat of North Carolina's other senator Republican Sen. Thom Tillis isn't up for reelection until 2026. We understand the interest of citizens in everything that happens in connection with the project, and we will continue to provide information on all aspects of the project for which we are responsible and in which we participate," the statement said, according to independent Beta news agency. Although Rio Tinto said it would adhere to all the latest environmental protection standards, organizers of the weekend protests said the lithium excavation could inflict lasting ecological damage to rivers and farmland in the region. Now that the lithium mine plans are on hold, Vucic said earlier this week that from now on we will have to speak in a different way to Rio Tinto and others. Throughout its almost 150-year history, the company has faced accusations of corruption, environmental degradation and human rights abuses at its excavation sites. Lithium, which is used in batteries for electric cars, is considered one of the most sought-after metals of the future as the world shifts to more renewable energy sources. As Serbia faces an electricity shortage, Vucic has ignored European Union pleas for countries to reduce CO2 emissions and pledged to continue and even expand coal mining for power plants. 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. Before the vote, Alderman Maria Hadden said the council decision to pay the money was the correct way of admitting we were wrong and that the city did something wrong. We need to fix the system and fix the policies so we dont keep making the same mistakes, she 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. WELLINGTON, New Zealand Like many New Zealanders before her, Cat Moody chased the broader horizons of life abroad, unsure if she would ever return to a homeland she saw as remote and limiting. But when the pandemic arrived, it changed the calculus of what she valued, she said. Suddenly, fresh air, natural splendor and a sparse population sounded more appealing, as did the sense of security in a country whose strict measures have all but vanquished the coronavirus. In February, Ms. Moody, 42, left her house and the life she had built in Princeton, N.J., and moved back to New Zealand with her husband, a United States citizen. She is among more than 50,000 New Zealanders who have flocked home during the pandemic, offering the country a rare opportunity to win back some of its best and brightest. The unexpected influx of international experience and connections has led to local news reports heralding a societal and industrial renaissance. Policymakers are exhorting businesses to capitalize on the fundamental competitive advantage offered by the countrys success against the coronavirus. Bruce Springsteen has sold his music rights to Sony Music Entertainment in what may well be the biggest transaction ever struck for a single artists body of work. News of the deal, which covers the entirety of Springsteens work as a recording artist and songwriter, emerged late Wednesday, with no comment from Sony or Springsteen. But on Thursday, Sony which owns the Columbia label, the home for Springsteens recordings for five decades confirmed the sale. I am one artist who can truly say that when I signed with Columbia Records in 1972, I came to the right place, Springsteen said in Sonys statement. During the last 50 years, the men and women of Sony Music have treated me with the greatest respect as an artist and as a person. Im thrilled that my legacy will continue to be cared for by the company and people I know and trust. A grand jury on Wednesday indicted three companies involved in an early October oil spill off the coast of Southern California, according to the Justice Department. The department said that Amplify Energy and two subsidiaries that own and operate the pipeline that leaked and offshore platforms had not properly responded to eight alarms from an automated leak-detection system over more than 13 hours. It said the companies had also improperly restarted the pipeline after it was shut down after the alarms went off. As a result of the allegedly negligent conduct, what is estimated to be about 25,000 gallons of crude oil were discharged from a point approximately 4.7 miles west of Huntington Beach from a crack in the 16-inch pipeline, the Justice Department said in a statement announcing the misdemeanor charges. Amplify said its crews investigated after each alarm went off but incorrectly concluded that the alarms were false because the leak-detection system was malfunctioning. The company said the detection system was repeatedly and wrongly signaling a potential leak at the platform where no leak could be detected by the platform personnel and where no leak was actually occurring. The Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham vociferously defended themselves for sending text messages on Jan. 6 that urged Mark Meadows, the last White House chief of staff under Donald J. Trump, to persuade the then-president to take action to stop the Capitol attack. The texts made vivid something that was already not a secret that key players at the network have acted as informal advisers to Mr. Trump. It is a situation that flouts journalistic ethical norms but does not appear to dissuade Fox viewers. In November, Fox News was the most-watched network not just in cable news but in all of cable television, with an average audience of 1.5 million. Mr. Hannity and Ms. Ingraham said on Tuesday that their texts which were read aloud in Congress Monday night by Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming did not differ from their public statements that day. The two said that in their view, the pro-Trump siege on Jan. 6 in which rioters breached and entered the Capitol building, police officers were injured, millions of dollars of damage was done and one rioter was fatally shot was similar to previous instances of civil unrest, adding that it had been overblown by other news media outlets. Their on-air statements continued their strong defense of Mr. Trump, 11 months after his attempt to subvert the election and his encouragement of the mob that carried out the violence. At a World Health Organization meeting on Wednesday, scientists offered some encouraging findings about immunity against the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Several laboratory studies suggest that so-called T cells in vaccinated people can put up a strong defense against the variant, which could help prevent severe disease, hospitalization and death. The findings are a welcome departure from a torrent of worrying new data about Omicron. The variants mutations enable it to evade many of the antibodies produced either by vaccination or infection with previous variants. But antibodies are not the only important player in a persons immune response to the virus. The good news is that T cell responses are largely maintained to Omicron, said Wendy Burgers of the University of Cape Town during a presentation of new research she and her colleagues have carried out in recent days. Over the past week, it has become increasingly clear that Omicron can deftly evade antibodies, part of the bodys first line of defense, which likely explains why infections with the variant have exploded in many countries. One woman went to the landlord of her building for help because she was worried she wouldnt be able to pay her rent. Another tenant was having trouble finding a new home and wanted to know if she could stay in her apartment. The landlord, who owned several buildings in Elizabeth, N.J., helped both of them but only after they performed the sexual acts on him that he demanded, according to a federal civil rights lawsuit that was settled this week for $4.5 million, the vast majority of which is supposed to go to victims. If the agreement is approved by a judge, federal officials said it would be the largest settlement the Justice Department has ever secured in a case involving sexual harassment in housing. The suit, filed last year, accused the landlord, Joseph Centanni, 74, of harassing tenants in the nearly 20 buildings he owned in and around Elizabeth for at least 15 years. Many of the tenants were vulnerable or in precarious situations, including older people, low-income families and people with disabilities. The storm system that cut across the central United States on Wednesday was expected to drift north of the Great Lakes on Thursday, the National Weather Service said. Gusty winds across the region would slowly diminish around the same time, the Weather Service said in a separate forecast. However, an area of deep low pressure over Central Ontario will produce high winds over the Upper Midwest into the Great Lakes on Thursday, meteorologists said. Storm warnings were in effect for Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and parts of Lake Huron. Light snow and rain will develop over parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley and Upper Great Lakes, with isolated pockets of freezing rain, meteorologists said. The rain will eventually change over to all snow by the afternoon and end overnight. WASHINGTON President Biden said on Wednesday that he would nominate two high-profile women who were early supporters of his candidacy, the former ambassador Caroline Kennedy and the decorated figure skater Michelle Kwan, to ambassadorships in his administration. The president tapped Ms. Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and the ambassador to Japan under President Barack Obama, to be ambassador to Australia. He said he would nominate Ms. Kwan, who earned Olympic silver and bronze medals as a skater before pursuing a career in diplomacy and politics, to be ambassador to Belize. Ms. Kennedy, 64, endorsed Mr. Biden for president in February 2020, in the heat of the Democratic primaries. She wrote in a Boston Globe opinion piece that Mr. Biden was a president who can bring people together, who knows how to get things done at home and abroad, whose word we can count on, and who can nurture the next generation of leaders. In a news release announcing her nomination, White House officials praised Ms. Kennedys tenure as the first female ambassador in Japan from 2013 to 2017. Mr. Trump approached the dais soon after and said the vice president did not have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our country and our Constitution. We will never give up, Mr. Trump said. We will never concede. Roaring their approval, many in the crowd began the walk down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol, where the certification proceeding was underway. Amped up by the speakers at the rally, the crowd taunted the officers who guarded the Capitol and pushed toward the buildings staircases and entry points, eventually breaching security along the perimeter just after 1 p.m. By this point, the six lawmakers were inside the Capitol, ready to protest the certification. Mr. Gosar was speaking at 2:16 p.m. when security forces entered the chamber because rioters were in the building. As the melee erupted, Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, yelled to his colleagues who were planning to challenge the election: This is what youve gotten, guys. When Mr. Jordan tried to help Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, move to safety, she smacked his hand away, according to a congressional aide briefed on the exchange. Get away from me, she told him. You fucking did this. A spokesman for Mr. Jordan disputed parts of the account, saying that Ms. Cheney did not curse at the congressman or slap him. The back-and-forth was reported earlier by the Washington Post reporters Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker in their book I Alone Can Fix It. A chartered jet bound for Miami crashed minutes after takeoff on Wednesday night in the Dominican Republic, killing all nine people on board, including a prominent Puerto Rican music producer and members of his family. The Gulfstream IV-Sp jet crashed while attempting an emergency landing at the International Airport of the Americas in Santo Domingo, the capital, officials told reporters. The operator of the plane, Helidosa Aviation Group, identified one of the victims as Jose Angel Hernandez. Music industry news outlets and Spanish-language news media identified him as the Puerto Rican music producer known as Flow La Movie. Helidosa said in a statement that the other passengers killed were Debbie Von Marie Jimenez Garcia, Jayden Hernandez, Kellyan Hernandez Pena, Yeilianys Jeishlimar Melendez Jimenez, Jassiel Yabdiel Silva and Veronica Estrella. Two crew members, Luis Alberto Eljuri and Victor Emilio Herrera, were also among the dead, the plane operator said. MELBOURNE, Australia Thursday was the last day of the school year for most children in the Australian island state of Tasmania. A primary school in the small city of Devonport wanted to celebrate with dancing, games and a bouncy castle on the big field behind the building. By 10 a.m., a tragedy was unfolding because of a freak accident on the school field. While some schoolchildren were on the inflatable bouncy castle, the police said, a significant gust of wind sent it, along with giant inflatable Zorb balls, flying into the air. Nine students plunged more than 30 feet to the ground. The police confirmed the first death at midday, the second by 1:45 p.m. and the third and fourth by late afternoon. By the early evening, five students at the school, Hillcrest Primary, were dead. Some adults present administered first aid as ambulances and helicopters rushed to the scene. The Department of Education hurriedly checked to see if any other bouncy castles were being used around the state, intending to stop them. Alice M. Greenwald, 69, the president and chief executive of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan, on Thursday announced that she expects to leave the institution in 2022, after 16 years there. In 2006, Greenwald became the director of the museum, which honors victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and contextualizes the traumatic events of that day. Previously, she oversaw programs at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. She entered the role in New York wearing a hard hat and holding an olive branch: Ground zero was still a construction site, and the plans of two cultural organizations for the premises had fallen through when outspoken 9/11 family groups denounced them. Greenwald navigated the anger of those early years. More recently, she was criticized by some historians for what they called the museums narrow view of the attacks and their aftermath. Former employees said that her administration was monitoring research and limiting free speech at the site. Everyone had a legitimate point of view, and often those legitimate points of view were not compatible, Greenwald said in an interview on Wednesday, adding that she considered the museum one of her lifes greatest accomplishments. This was a project of empathetic listening. HARTFORD As early as 1971, with her landmark essay Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? the art historian Linda Nochlin made it clear that if you go hunting for forgotten female equals to Michelangelo or Poussin, you are going to be disappointed. European women were of course painting, drawing, sketching, weaving, but much more than their literary counterparts female artists faced institutional obstacles to their development that outweighed any individual gift. No admission to life drawing classes. No apprenticeships in large studios. No easy hobnobbing with patrons. No access to prizes or residencies, or even sometimes paint. If the sexism of art was structural, then the solution would have to be structural too. Raising a few lesser-known (and, to Nochlins eye, less significant) women to the canon of old masters was not going to cut it. A feminist art history would require a critique of the very idea of greatness, and a root-and-branch reconstruction of how we assign artistic value: what the feminist art historian Griselda Pollock would later call differencing the canon. Still, there were more women than weve known who beat the odds to become professional artists before the age of revolutions. In 1972, just a year after Nochlins salvo, the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore presented the exhibition Old Mistresses, which brought to the fore Lavinia Fontana, Angelica Kauffman, and other European women. Larger and more influential was Women Artists: 15501950, organized by Nochlin and Ann Sutherland Harris, which connected painters from Artemisia Gentileschi to Alice Neel at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1976 and the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 1977. The last four years have brought monographic museum exhibitions the standard application format for canon membership of not only Gentileschi and Kauffman but Fede Galizia, Michaelina Wautier, Elisabetta Sirani and Giovanna Garzoni. You dont need to know anything about art to be stopped in your tracks by whats on the walls of El Museo del Barrio these days: the fantastic ballpoint pen drawings by Consuelo (Chelo) Gonzalez Amezcua (1903-1975), a Mexican immigrant to Texas; the stupefyingly intricate collages of Felipe Jesus Consalvos, who was born in Havana and died in Philadelphia, where in 1983 his lifes work was found in a garage sale; and the pictographic paintings of Puerto Rican-born Eloy Blanco (1933-1984), who came to New York City to study art and learned from fellow Latinos about the Indigenous Taino culture of his homeland a culture he ended up making the wellspring of his work. This season has brought a bounty of historical shows of Latin American and Latino art, two cultural categories that are closely related without being interchangeable. Latin American is generally understood to designate art originating in the southern hemisphere of the Americas. Latino (with its Latina and Latinx cognates) refers to work by artists of Latin American descent working in the United States. But both terms are spacious and mutable. Making a western is a little like building a time machine out of wooden planks, leather straps and canvas sheets. But when the cast and crew of the new Paramount+ series 1883 headed into Americas frontier past, some wondered if they would ever make it back. The shows writer-producer (and sometime director) Taylor Sheridan created 1883 as a prequel to his popular Paramount Network series Yellowstone, which tells the present-day story of John Dutton (Kevin Costner), an aging Montana rancher trying to hold on to the enormous spread his family has owned for generations. Premiering Sunday on Paramount+, 1883 is a Dutton origin story, following the original settlers of the Yellowstone land as they endure the hardships of the Oregon Trail, accompanied by European immigrants and a few skilled frontiersmen. Telling this story required a challenging five-month shoot that is still going it began in August in a 100-degree Texas swelter and is continuing into the single-digit chill of winter in Montana. The locations have been remote, the days long, and in striving for authenticity Sheridan and his team have pushed themselves to the limit. Calling from the set while putting the finishing touches on the 10-episode series at press time, shooting was scheduled to wrap in early January, a few weeks after the first episode debuts Sheridan recalled one particularly draining day when they struggled with something pioneers did all the time: piloting a wagon across a river. France bans most U.K. travel over Omicron A record-breaking surge of coronavirus cases in Britain, fueled by the Omicron variant, raised worries that France would soon face the same fate. The French government on Thursday banned nonessential travel to and from Britain and tightened testing requirements. Frances prime minister, Jean Castex, said that faced with the extremely rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the United Kingdom, the government had decided to act. Starting Saturday, only those traveling for urgent reasons would be allowed to go. France had already closed nightclubs for four weeks and tightened some rules in schools. President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out additional lockdowns. The numbers: Britain reported 88,376 new cases on Thursday, a second consecutive daily record. Englands chief medical officer warned that further records were likely to be broken in the coming days. In some areas, Omicron case numbers are doubling faster than every two days. Omicron breaks records in Britain Britain reported 78,610 new coronavirus cases yesterday, the highest number in a single day since the pandemic began, as the Omicron variant rampages across the country. Officials have not announced any further restrictions, though the prime minister, Boris Johnson, urged the public to be judicious in socializing during the holidays. Chris Whitty, Englands chief medical officer, warned that further records would be broken in coming days, with cases of the Omicron variant doubling nearly every two days in parts of the country. While the effects on hospitalizations and deaths remain unclear, the countrys health services face a deluge of patients because of the growth in case numbers, he said. Johnson has redoubled his campaign for people to get vaccine boosters. The government hopes to deliver boosters to all adults by the end of the month, a target that would require administering more than one million shots a day. About 650,000 people received shots on Tuesday, another record. Quotable: This is a really serious threat, Whitty said. It is moving at an absolutely phenomenal pace. The families said that the Justice Department not only left them in the dark about the settlement, but also misled them by falsely telling them that there was no criminal investigation into Boeing. Those actions, the families said, violated the federal Crime Victims Rights Act. The law, first passed in 2004 after a decades-long push for it by activists, originally enumerated eight rights for victims or their representatives, including the right to confer with government lawyers and to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victims dignity and privacy. In 2015, Congress added the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement. The law was designed to fix a system that kept erasing or silencing victims thats the intent, said Meg Garvin, the executive director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School. The institute, a nonprofit, strategically files legal arguments in support of victims in court cases and might join the families of the crash victims, Ms. Garvin said. In addition to asking that the court force the Justice Department to share evidence against Boeing and remove a provision granting it immunity from further criminal prosecution, the families also asked it to require that Boeing appear for a public arraignment and refer the agencys failings in the case to House and Senate oversight committees. In the motion, the families also noted that just months after the deferred prosecution agreement was announced one government lawyer involved in negotiating it left the Justice Department for Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm that represented Boeing in the case. The families said that they were not accusing the lawyer of specific wrongdoing, but rather calling attention to a revolving door that provides a potential motive for the government to have failed in its responsibility to the families. The lawyer, Erin Nealy Cox, was one of three people quoted in the Justice Departments Jan. 7 announcement and one of only a handful of government lawyers whose names were on the settlement itself. Kirkland announced last summer that Ms. Cox would join its government, regulatory and internal investigations group, which is led by the lawyer who signed the deferred prosecution agreement on Boeings behalf. Ms. Cox did not respond to a request for comment. The federal government has faced widespread criticism for its handling of the Max crisis. The Federal Aviation Administration has acknowledged failings in how it oversaw the planes development and certification. Senator Maria Cantwell, the Democrat from Washington State who is chairwoman of the Senate commerce, science, and transportation committee, issued a report this week detailing what she called a troubling erosion of safety oversight and asking the F.A.A. to investigate a number of whistle-blower allegations. The World Economic Forum is planning to go ahead with its annual meeting of the global elite in Davos, Switzerland, next month, even as coronavirus cases spike around the world. We are hopeful that Delta will be on its way down by the time of our annual meeting, and we are hoping that the Omicron wave will not be as bad as some people think, Peter Vanham, a spokesman for the organization, said on Thursday. But everything depends on the pandemic. Mr. Vanham said a final decision on whether to cancel the event which drew roughly 3,000 people before the pandemic will be made by Jan. 6, 10 days before it is scheduled to start. For more than 50 years, the World Economic Forum has brought together luminaries from the worlds of business, politics and nonprofit organizations to the Alps for a weeklong series of lectures, panel discussions and dinners. At the event, held in an upscale ski resort town, world leaders mingle with the chief executives from many of the worlds largest companies and the top bosses of Wall Street. Thousands more gather to attend unofficial conferences, dinners and parties on the sidelines of the main meeting. Mr. Easterbrook initially decided to fight the lawsuit, and his lawyers filed a motion to dismiss, calling it meritless and misleading. During his time as chief executive, Mr. Easterbrook sold more than $64 million in stock; when he departed in 2019, the value of the stock and options he had been awarded was worth $41 million. But as McDonalds stock has soared to $264 a share from $193 in 2019, the value of those stock and options has grown to $89 million, according to the executive compensation consulting firm Equilar. It is not clear whether Mr. Easterbrook sold any of his shares after he left the company. Nonetheless, with his agreement to return the huge sum of cash and stock to the company, Mr. Easterbrook has effectively conceded what was shaping up to be a long and costly legal battle. Mr. Easterbrook apologized in a statement released by the company. During my tenure as C.E.O., I failed at times to uphold McDonalds values and fulfill certain of my responsibilities as a leader of the company, he said. I apologize to my former co-workers, the board and the companys franchisees and suppliers for doing so. Under Mr. Easterbrooks successor, Chris Kempczinski, McDonalds has emerged as a clear winner during the pandemic the past two years. Thanks to a combination of increased drive-through business; a robust push of its mobile app and loyalty programs; and meal collaborations with various celebrities and groups, including the K-pop sensation BTS, revenues at McDonalds are on track to top $23 billion this year, the highest level in five years. Earlier this year, Mr. Kempczinski defended the boards handling of Mr. Easterbrooks firing. I thought they handled it as best as they could, he said. Still, despite the companys financial gains, a new training program for its restaurants and efforts to improve diversity and inclusion, some critics say not enough has been done to fix other problems that run deep in McDonalds culture. The fast-food giant has faced myriad lawsuits and claims in recent years, some involving allegations of sexual harassment and others around racial discrimination. Its just hard to explain where your soldiers got the courage they got, he said. The medals were the first Mr. Biden has awarded since the United States completed the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan he ordered soon after taking office. That withdrawal plunged quickly into turmoil, stranding American citizens in the country as it returned to Taliban control after nearly two decades of war and culminating with a bomb attack at the Kabul airport that killed 13 American service members. In his remarks, Mr. Biden returned repeatedly to the bravery of the honored soldiers, the brutalities of war and the responsibility of the nation to safeguard its troops, which he called the nations one truly sacred obligation. Sergeant Cashe was traveling in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Salahuddin Province, Iraq, on Oct. 17, 2005, when it came under attack from enemy fire and an explosive device, catching fire. He helped to pull the driver to safety, but in the process, Sergeant Cashes uniform was soaked with fuel and caught fire. Even as he suffered severe burns, he pulled four of his peers from the rear of the vehicle, then returned to rescue two others. Despite severe pain from his burns, he refused to be evacuated by medical helicopters until all other wounded soldiers were taken away. When he eventually awoke at a hospital in Texas and regained his ability to speak, Mr. Biden said, his first words were for his fellow soldiers: How are my boys? Sergeant Cashe died about three weeks after the attack, at age 35. Mr. Biden said he was the seventh person to receive a Medal of Honor for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Alwyn Cashe was a soldiers soldier, the president said, a warrior who literally walked through fire for his troops. A former nominee for director of the so-called blank-check company that plans to merge with former President Donald J. Trumps social media start-up is suing, claiming he was frozen out of the deal. Brian Shevland, the former nominee, is seeking monetary damages over what his suit calls a brazen act of fraud. The lawsuit, which is aimed at the chief executive of Digital World Acquisition Corp., the special purpose acquisition company that raised nearly $300 million for the merger, was filed in Miami federal court on Tuesday. Mr. Shevland, who runs his own investment management firm, says that he only found out that he was no longer a nominee for the companys board when Patrick Orlando, Digital Worlds chief executive, filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission that no longer included his name. The lawsuit says the unexplained removal from the filing in August, a month before the Digital Worlds initial public offering, cemented the freeze-out of Mr. Shevland, who said he was owed 7,500 shares of Digital World and was deprived of his right to buy more shares at a low price. The suit says Mr. Orlando also broke a commitment to involve Mr. Shevland in other SPACs. WASHINGTON The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday will announce its intention to propose stricter limits on the amount of lead allowable in drinking water and to begin replacing millions of lead pipes that snake throughout the country and pose a significant public health threat. Lead is a neurotoxin that can damage the brain and kidneys and interfere with red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of the body. It poses particular dangers to children, whose nervous systems and brains are still developing. From the earliest days of municipal water systems, lead was commonly used in pipes, where it can leach into drinking water. Today, as many as 10 million lead service lines deliver water to schools, offices, homes and day care centers throughout the country. By one industry estimate, it could cost as much as $60 billion to replace them all. Congress approved just a fraction of that amount $15 billion for lead pipe replacement as part of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law signed last month by President Biden. Karen Harbert, president and chief executive of the American Gas Association, an industry group, said efforts to disconnect homes and businesses from the extensive network of gas pipelines would make it difficult to supply those buildings with low-carbon alternatives that might be available in the future, such as hydrogen or biogas. Eliminating natural gas and our delivery infrastructure forecloses on current and future innovation opportunities, she said. The question of whether to use natural gas in homes has become part of the culture wars, pitting climate activists against industry and other interest groups. Some chefs and restaurant owners have argued that they wont be able to cook certain dishes as well without gas. Environmentalists counter that gas stoves are a source of indoor air pollution, contributing to diseases like asthma. Like many climate policies, the push to phase out natural gas in buildings began in California. In 2019, Berkeley became the first city to ban gas hookups in most new homes and buildings, citing climate change. Since then, at least 50 California cities, including San Francisco and Sacramento, have adopted similar rules, often over the objections of local gas utilities. The movement quickly spread. This year, Seattle and Eugene, Ore., put forward measures to ban gas hookups in new buildings. Last month, Denver approved an ordinance requiring large buildings to shift to electric heating and cooling when cost effective. And on Wednesday, New York City became the largest city in the world to ban gas in new buildings, requiring those up to seven stories tall to go all-electric by 2023 and larger buildings to do so by 2027. (The bill would not affect existing buildings.) But as the push for electrification has sped up, the gas industry has mounted a counteroffensive. In March 2020, Sue Forrester, a lobbyist for the American Gas Association warned a meeting of utility executives that the campaign against natural gas was growing quickly, and that the industry needed to really change the narrative and say that we are part of Americas clean energy future, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by The New York Times. WASHINGTON A provision to permanently ban new offshore drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts has been stripped from a draft version of a $2.2 trillion climate change and social spending bill after objections by Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia. Draft language of the bill circulated by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, which is led by Mr. Manchin, does not include the drilling ban. According to people who were briefed on Mr. Manchins position, he rejected the coastal drilling plan and also raised concerns about a provision that would cancel drilling leases and block future oil and gas extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, although that part remains in the section of the bill that he handled, according to a draft. The drilling ban was the latest in a string of climate provisions that have been dropped from the pending legislation because of objections from Mr. Manchin. As the swing Democratic vote in an evenly split Senate, Mr. Manchin enjoys an outsize role and has been able to single-handedly set the limits for the presidents climate agenda. A spokeswoman for Mr. Manchin declined to comment. With direct negotiations with President Biden over the legislation souring in recent days, Mr. Manchin has largely brushed off questions about the bill, known as the Build Back Better Act. Carbon emissions the villainous byproduct of so many industries are the greenhouse gas most responsible for climate change. The emissions play a key role in our extreme weather patterns, and in many of the general environmental catastrophes that are becoming more and more frequent. While capping carbon dioxide from being freely dumped into the atmosphere is turning into a very long deliberation among our world leaders, capturing and repurposing it is another option. And that alternative has proved promising by Air Company, a four-year-old start-up that uses carbon dioxide in all of the products it creates. Its latest creation is a perfume Air Eau de Parfum and the first fragrance made largely from air. Perfume involves an alcohol base, which when combined with a bit of water and a measured ratio of fragrance oil, becomes the juice that you spray onto your pulse points so that you radiate whatever aroma you desire. Ethyl alcohol (or ethanol) is most widely used because its inexpensive, smells neutral and evaporates quickly, so it serves as an efficient delivery vehicle for the fragrance oil. What Air Company is able to do is transform carbon dioxide into a very pure form of ethanol. And with the addition of water and fragrance oil, you get perfume made primarily from air. The federal government on Thursday permanently lifted a major restriction on access to abortion pills. It will allow patients to receive the medication by mail instead of requiring them to obtain the pills in person from specially certified health providers. The decision, by the Food and Drug Administration, comes as the Supreme Court is considering whether to roll back abortion rights or even overturn its landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that made abortion legal nationwide. The F.D.A.s action means that medication abortion, an increasingly common method authorized in the United States for pregnancies up to 10 weeks gestation, will become more available to women who find it difficult to travel to an abortion provider or prefer to terminate a pregnancy in their homes. It allows patients to have a telemedicine appointment with a provider who can prescribe abortion pills and send them to the patient by mail. Earlier this year, for the duration of the pandemic, the F.D.A. temporarily lifted the in-person requirement on mifepristone, the first of two drugs used to end a pregnancy. The decision to make this change permanent is likely to deepen the already polarizing divisions between conservative and liberal states on abortion. In 19 states, mostly in the South and the Midwest, telemedicine visits for medication abortion are banned, and these and other conservative states can be expected to pass other laws to further curtail access to abortion pills. Mother/Android, written and directed by Mattson Tomlin, offers exactly what it says on the tin. The protagonist, Georgia (Chloe Grace Moretz), is a college student unsure about her relationship with her boyfriend, Sam (Algee Smith), when she discovers she is pregnant. That same night, the servant androids that occupy most well-off American homes (including Georgias) collectively glitch and turn murderous, and the country becomes a war zone. There is a mother. There are androids. This film pulls the former off more elegantly than the latter, due in large part to a stunning performance from Moretz. The bulk of the film takes place nine months after that fateful night. The countrys remaining humans occupy the military camps that dot the country, protected from androids by electromagnetic transmitters. Sam and Georgia, now past her due date, hope to flee to Korea via Boston, but they have to brave the wilderness ahead a.k.a. No Mans Land first. Unfriendly soldiers, bloodthirsty robots and the pregnancy all complicate their plan. Eight months after Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe autocratically for nearly 40 years starting in 1980, was ousted in a 2017 coup, the nation was set to elect a new president in its first democratic election since the start of Mugabes rule. Camilla Nielsson gives viewers a front-row seat to that July 2018 election in President, a riveting documentary that follows Nelson Chamisa, a charismatic 40-year-old lawyer, as he runs against Emmerson Mnangagwa, the strongman who unseated Mugabe. As for Hill, Baker was impressed by her comfort on camera in the documentary What You Gonna Do When the Worlds on Fire?, which partly chronicles her efforts to hold onto the bar she ran in New Orleans. Hill said the director of that film, Roberto Minervini, connected them. And Deiss was a former secretary Baker met when she had car trouble. I used that opportunity, while we were jumping her car, to get to know her, he said, and then by the end, just before she was driving away, offer her the role. For Brittney Rodriguez, walking her dog one day led to walking the red carpet at Cannes. Baker approached Rodriguez, who plays June, Leondrias daughter and enforcer, while she was out with her Chihuahua, Rico, in Port Arthur, Texas. She had lost her job at a refinery, where she built scaffolds, when the company downsized because of the pandemic. Rodriguez recalled Baker handing her a card through a car window. After watching The Florida Project, she wrote him. Baker said he not only expanded the part of June after beginning to work with Rodriguez, but also sought advice from her on regional accuracy. Would hard hats be doing this? Would they say this? Help us with a line here, Baker said. Working with an actor from the location that youre focusing on can help on multiple levels. Rodriguez is now acting in a short film. Baker likened street casting to speed dating because youre getting to know the person, and you have to also get that person to trust you, he said, adding that he usually pursues prospects hes really sure about. It reveals a lot in the first 30 seconds in which youre talking with them. So youre either on board and you continue to push, or you just give up in the moment. There were moments during The Scary of Sixty-First when I was convinced I was watching a botched horror-comedy. But while this witless slurry of onanism and conspiracy theories is certainly laughable, it is never, for one second, even remotely funny. What, then, was its director and co-writer, Dasha Nekrasova, hoping to achieve beyond childish provocation? The dialogue is empty-headed, the visuals crudely exploitative and the plot about two college friends who rent a swanky, suspiciously affordable apartment on Manhattans Upper East Side so ludicrous as to be well nigh incoherent. All of which inspires some measure of sympathy for Madeline Quinn (who co-wrote the screenplay) and Betsey Brown as the roommates Noelle and Addie, and whose passive-aggressive dynamic is further ruptured by the arrival of a shifty stranger (Nekrasova). It turned out to be a great experience that she said gave her clarity about her career goals. Instead of going specifically into a software engineering role, I want to go into product management, said Ms. Mack, who was able to travel to Seattle for a week to visit Microsofts main campus in Redmond, Wash. When Howard shut its campus in Washington, D.C., last year and began holding courses remotely, Ms. Mack had to leave the dorm room that she had been excited to move into and stay with her foster mother in Brooklyn. It wasnt easy for her to focus on her studies while her younger brother and another child also attended school online in the living room. Ms. Mack, 20, returned to Howard in the fall of 2020, after working two jobs during the summer. She had worried about finding housing ahead of her sophomore year. Childrens Aid, one of the nine organizations supported by The Neediest Cases Fund, helped her find an off-campus residence and has since been paying her part of the nearly $1,100 rent on the four-room apartment she shares with three roommates. Now studying mathematics as a minor, Ms. Mack relies on an $800 monthly stipend from Childrens Aid for her everyday expenses, and she is paying for her education through scholarships and endowment funds, eliminating the need for loans. Now that the fall semester is over, Ms. Mack is eager to learn whether her overall 3.87 G.P.A., which rose after she earned a 4.0 in the spring, has edged higher. Facing the threat of the fast-spreading Omicron variant, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York said on Thursday that her administration would create a portal through which residents could request that coronavirus tests be sent to their homes, and Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City announced a six-step plan to combat a winter surge. Under Ms. Hochuls plan, New York will join a handful of states, including neighboring New Jersey, in offering home delivery of tests as part of a growing effort to ensure broad access. Mr. de Blasios plan includes expanding the hours and capacity of testing sites, distributing a million free KN-95 masks and 500,000 home tests through community organizations, increasing enforcement of mask and vaccine mandates, and encouraging more New Yorkers to get boosters. Ms. Hochul said the state would not be able to mail tests to all New Yorkers, suggesting that they would be microtargeted to areas where vaccination is lagging and cases are high. She urged New Yorkers to get vaccinated and boosted, and described at-home tests as a tool that unvaccinated people could use to avoid infecting others. Were making sure they at least know if theyre contagious, so they have the sense to stay home, she said. The union leaders have praised Mr. Adams as he prepares to take office, and some flanked him and Mr. Molina at the news conference in Brooklyn Borough Hall and applauded when the new commissioner was announced. Mr. Adams framed his views on solitary confinement as a matter of safety and basic fairness to detainees and the correction officers who guard them. He said he could not restore order to the complex without removing and punishing those who have helped tip it into chaos. He said his correction department would also do so without it being inhumane. But a return to the regular use of solitary confinement could be more complicated to implement than Mr. Adams has let on. The city Board of Correction, an independent agency overseeing the jail system, instituted a rule earlier this year restricting the use of solitary confinement that would not be easily overturned. Mr. Adams will also soon be constrained by a new state law, effective in April, that restricts jails from holding people in solitary confinement for more than 15 consecutive days. Still, the incoming mayors comments drew swift rebukes from left-leaning Democrats and groups that advocate for incarcerated people. They demanded Mr. Adams reverse himself and warned that his stance on solitary confinement would undercut a broader pledge to make Rikers more humane and reduce recidivism in the citys criminal justice system. This proposal throws away years of progress undoing the physical and mental harms caused by solitary confinement, and it reveals the new administrations intent to reinstate regressive and violent policies over modern and more effective practices, the Legal Aid Society said in a statement. In his own statement, Mr. de Blasio sought to downplay the conflict. The mayor-elect and I both want the same thing a secure environment for our staff to work in and a safe setting for detainees, he said, adding that his plan would still separate dangerous individuals from the broader jail population. Mr. Adamss remarks came as he tasked Mr. Molina, the current chief of the Las Vegas public safety department, with what amounted to a complete overhaul of the institution. Sometimes I think it gets lost when we talk about all these horrific things. We forget that this doesnt just happen out of the blue, Mr. Lichtman said. It takes a village, so to speak, to make what happened here. The prosecutors considered Mr. Weavers troubled childhood when crafting a sentencing recommendation, Mr. Bogdanos said. But the teenager had also been involved in more than a dozen assaults of counselors and other incidents at his detention center since April 2020, he said, which needed to be weighed as well. Inman Majors, the father of Ms. Majors, declined to comment as he left the courtroom. But prosecutors said the deal was acceptable to the family. Mr. Weaver was the final teenager to plead guilty. A second boy, who was 13 at the time, confessed when he was interviewed by the police the day after the stabbing. He identified the other teenagers, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced last year to up to 18 months in a juvenile detention facility. (The New York Times is withholding his name because he is a minor and was not charged as an adult.) Last month, Luchiano Lewis, 16, was sentenced to nine years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. On several occasions before the murder, Mr. Lewis said, Mr. Weaver had encouraged him to join him on trips to Morningside Park to find people to rob. Prosecutors have said robbery was the three teenagers mission when they entered the park on the December evening and encountered Ms. Majors, a student from Virginia who sang and played bass guitar in a band that had just performed its first New York gig. Ms. Majors was not the groups initial target, but the teenagers turned their attention to her when they spotted her walking up a set of stairs, prosecutors said. The Common Wind, Ms. Bressler wrote, traces a vast communication network (not unlike the scholarly one that circulated the text itself) through the plantation societies of the Caribbean during the height of French, British and Spanish imperial control. Dr. Scotts unpublished work, she noted, has been reverently passed from academic to academic, transforming from an impressive doctoral thesis to a cornerstone in the study of the 18th-century Caribbean. No one was more surprised by this than Dr. Scott. I started getting royalty checks every year from the people who make dissertations available in print, he told Publishers Weekly. I realized it was being sold. People were reading my dissertation and learning something from it. When an editor at Verso Books asked Dr. Scotts friend Marcus Rediker, a history professor at the University of Pittsburgh, to suggest possible publications, The Common Wind was finally lofted into book form in 2018. It won the Stone Book Award, given by the Museum of African American History, and the Frederick Douglass Book Prize, given by the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition at Yale University. I couldnt believe it! Dr. Scott said. Initially, I didnt want to dredge up those failures from over 30 years ago. My life had changed: I went on dialysis, Im on disability. But I went ahead and published it, and Im glad I did. Reviewers lamented only that Dr. Scott had not updated his dissertation with subsequent scholarship. Otherwise, most sang its praises. The Common Wind, David Bell wrote in The New York Review of Books, captures the voices sometimes only whispers that carried radical ideas and information around the Caribbean, and beautifully evokes bustling ports and markets, remote jungle and mountain hideaways, wind-swept ship decks and fetid, cargo-laden hulls. In 2020, David Coman-Hidy, president of the Humane League, told me about his work trying to persuade companies to shift from live shackling of chickens to atmospheric killing. In live shackling, which remains the dominant method, workers turn chickens upside down to shackle them by their legs to a conveyor. These are birds that have barely ever moved being handled by low-paid workers with inhuman production quotas. The birds flap and squawk in terror, and the shackling can leave them with broken legs or dislocated hips. The conveyor is supposed to drag them through electrified water, stunning them before their throats are slit. But the panicked, spasming birds sometimes miss the bath, and their throats are cut while they are conscious and terrified. If the kill isnt clean, they are pulled through boiling water that defeathers them while still conscious. You can watch the process here, if you have the stomach for it. The Humane League, and others, are trying to persuade chicken producers to simply gas the birds to death. Ive never forgotten what Coman-Hidy said when I asked him how he could bear to spend his days negotiating over the finer points of chicken slaughter: The thought experiment that helped me is if I could die, or have a member of my family die, by being euthanized by gas, or have what I just described happen to them, what would I give to get the gas? And the answer is everything. This is activism that does not permit itself the comforts of purity. The Humane League and Mercy for Animals have become, in a way, part of a system they loathe. They are fighting to see farm animals treated in a way thats far beneath what they believe to be moral, but far above whats become normal. And theyre succeeding. Battery cages, for instance, are small cages where egg-laying hens are kept for almost the entirety of their mature lives. According to 2017 guidelines by the industry group United Egg Producers, each bird should have 67 to 86 square inches of usable space within the cage. As the Humane League notes, a typical piece of paper is no more than 90 square inches. The European Union has phased out battery cages and India has declared them illegal. In the United States, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington have either banned them or are in the process of doing so. Dozens of companies have pledged to source only cage-free eggs, including Trader Joes, Unilever, Pizza Hut, Mars and Hormel Foods. By no means do these pledges render the lives of these chickens luxe, and many cage-free hens still suffer terribly. There is simply no way to humanely raise so many birds, in such close quarters. But better is better. Most meat, of course, is produced outside the United States. And so the Humane League founded the Open Wing Alliance, which now has 80 member organizations in 63 countries, to share strategies and drive global campaigns, like the successful effort to convince Yum! Brands to go cage free. Mercy for Animals works in Brazil, Canada, India and Hong Kong. To the Editor: Re I Refused to Vote for Trump, but Im Grateful for His Court Picks, by Erika Bachiochi (Opinion guest essay, Dec. 9): Ms. Bachiochis argument rests on a false dilemma: that we can either expand abortion access or build a robust safety net to support pregnant and parenting people. The reproductive justice movement shows that its possible and necessary to advocate for both the right to end a pregnancy and to have a child, and to raise that child in a safe, healthy environment. The movement was born nearly three decades ago, when activists of color mobilized to expand a public reproductive rights discourse that largely centered on the needs of white middle-class women. Ms. Bachiochis essay represents an ongoing strategy by the anti-abortion movement to reframe itself as pro-woman, even feminist. The rhetoric might be softer than the fire-and-brimstone condemnations coming from the movements more militant wings. But the ideology birth at all costs remains as oppressive as ever. Megan Lessard Brooklyn The writer is an organizer with New York City for Abortion Rights. To the Editor: Erika Bachiochi writes that the vision of Betty Friedan expressed in the original statement of purpose for the National Organization for Women does not call for abortion on demand (or abortion at all) but instead for the country to innovate new social institutions which will enable women to enjoy the true equality of opportunity. About 50 years ago, Eduard Arzunyan was in his 30s and started on a quest to discover the origins of his surname, passed down from his Armenian father who eventually settled in Soviet Ukraine. It amused him to find that the Arzunyans descended from ancient nobility and that his maternal Hungarian grandfather was a head of state security forces under the Hungarian Soviet Republic. The exercise was also liberating. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, in the lead-up to World War II and raised largely under the cultural influence of Russia, Mr. Arzunyan knew well that learning about your ancestors was fraught. But in his six decades as a writer in Ukraine and New York, risk rarely deterred Mr. Arzunyan from writing about subjects, like Eastern European political ideologies and Joseph Stalins rule. For Mr. Arzunyan, 85, such academic pursuits and the work they entail like performing an online search or doing research at the New York Public Library are more important than ever. They have helped provide stability since his wife of 56 years, Valentina, died last winter after her heart stopped. Mr. Arzunyan lost not only his partner but also the person who deftly managed nearly every aspect of his writing career. Ms. Arzunyan helped research his books, transcribed his dictated notes and gave feedback. It also fell to her to take care of household duties, including preparing their meals and paying the bills. In nearly every way, Mr. Arzunyans wife afforded him the opportunity to write. She was my best friend and the system for everything I wanted to do, Mr. Arzunyan said. We live in a world where the monsters have either disappeared or are domesticated and not in the slightest bit scary. The savage beasts and cruel dragons, even the werewolves and vampires, are no longer violators of damsels and devourers of children; they are tragic, wounded, misunderstood creatures that act not out of inherent evil but because the world has compelled them to. When Francis Ford Coppola turned Dracula into a widower devastated by the loss of his beloved, it was effectively an end to vampires and, for that matter, all other monsters, since they too had a measure of humanity irrevocably conferred on them. Sure, they might be a little different, but in a world as diverse as this, who isnt? I am one of the beneficiaries of this shift in perspective. In the past, I would have been classed among the monstrous; now, I have to explain what makes me feel that Im a monster: It is my skin. Im 42, and for the past 20 years Ive had a severe form of psoriasis. During some outbreaks, itching, bleeding scales will cover more than 80 percent of my body. There have been summers when I couldnt wear T-shirts or shorts because I was so ashamed. But thats nothing compared with the pain that I experience every day. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease; my body is attacking itself. Society may no longer condemn me, but I am still an ugly and misunderstood creature. Historians have made the case that during the Middle Ages in Europe, psoriasis and other skin diseases were mistaken for leprosy, which had been endemic to Asia, and that most of the people thought to be lepers were in fact, like me, sufferers of cutaneous illnesses that were not at all contagious and, in most cases, no more serious than being unpleasant to look at. And so that they didnt have to be looked at, these individuals would get cowbells hung around their necks so that they could be heard coming, or they would be sent off to the thousands of lazarettos that can be seen to this day across the fields and hillsides of Europe. (Some of these would become our modern-day hospitals, where people are sent to recover rather than to die in neglect.) I am lucky enough to be living in the 21st century and to receive advanced medical attention instead of a bell or a cell inside one of those prisons. I am free and happy. Nobody apart from myself calls me a monster. But I also live in a society obsessed with physical appearances, a place where millions suffer horribly because they dont have the kind of body or skin considered beautiful or acceptable. The cosmetics industry wields huge power, and few branches of medicine are as lucrative as plastic surgery. SAN JOSE, Calif. For Elizabeth Holmes, it all boils down to intent. On Thursday, prosecutors and defense lawyers laid out their closing arguments in the fraud trial of the founder of Theranos, the failed blood testing start-up. In what was effectively their last shot at convincing jurors, each side framed their arguments around the question of whether Ms. Holmes, 37, had deliberately chosen to lie, mislead and dissemble about her start-up. She chose fraud over business failure, Jeff Schenk, an assistant U.S. attorney and one of the lead prosecutors, said of Ms. Holmes in his closing address to the jury. Kevin Downey, a lawyer for Ms. Holmes, argued that she believed her own claims and had never meant to deceive. If someone is acting in good faith, you have no reason to find them guilty, he said. The closing arguments capped 15 weeks of a trial that has stood out in the world of white-collar crime. Ms. Holmess case is being closely watched as a referendum on the worst excesses of Silicon Valleys start-up culture, which prizes change-the-world claims and fast growth. The verdict could influence whether prosecutors pursue similar white-collar cases at a time when tech start-ups are swimming in funding and hype. Nearly a year later, it is still uncertain why Ms. Razdan and the other women were targeted. Although the scammers expressed support online for the Hindu nationalist movement in India, they shed little light on their decision to trick reporters. The perpetrators have successfully covered their tracks at least, most of them. The New York Times reviewed private messages, emails and metadata the scammers sent to the women as well as archives of the scammers tweets and photos that the scammers claimed were of themselves. The Times also relied on analysis from researchers at Stanford University and the University of Toronto who study online abuse, and from a cybersecurity expert who examined Ms. Razdans computer. The identities of the scammers remain a secret. Its not like anything Ive ever seen, said Bill Marczak, a senior research fellow at Citizen Lab, an institute at the University of Toronto that investigates cyberattacks on journalists. Its a huge amount of effort and no payoff that weve identified. This hotel fine for you? One at a time, the scammers selected their prey. The first known target: Rohini Singh, an outspoken female journalist who had broken some big stories that powerful men in India didnt like. Ms. Singh delivered a blockbuster article in 2017 about the business fortunes of the son of Indias current minister of home affairs. She is a freelance contributor to an online publication called The Wire that is among the most critical of the Hindu nationalist government in India. She has also amassed nearly 796,000 Twitter followers. In mid-August 2019, Ms. Singh received a Twitter message from someone calling himself Tauseef Ahmad, who said he was a masters student at the Harvard Kennedy School and from Ms. Singhs hometown, Lucknow. They chitchatted about Lucknow and then he invited her to participate in a high-powered media conference. Harvard would pick up all expenses. She was intrigued. But she grew suspicious after Tauseef connected her to a colleague, introduced as Alex Hirschman, who wrote to her on Aug. 19 from a Gmail account rather than an official Harvard.edu email address. On top of that, both Tauseef and Alex had telephone numbers that were not based in the United States. Alex and Tauseef then asked her for passport details and some photos, which were to be used for promotional purposes. A few days later, convinced their entreaty was a scam, Ms. Singh ceased communication. The next target was another female journalist, Zainab Sikander. An up-and-coming political commentator, Ms. Sikander campaigns against discrimination toward Muslims, a growing problem under the Hindu nationalist government. She has also written and posted many critical observations of the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Aug. 22, 2019, Ms. Sikander, too, received a Twitter message from Tauseef Ahmad, inviting her to participate in a high-powered media conference at Harvard. It was the same message sent to Ms. Singh, though neither woman knew the other had been targeted. Though much is still unknown about the variant, early indications suggest that it infects vaccinated people at higher rates than previous variants. One small study found that the majority of the 43 people first identified with Omicron in the United States were fully vaccinated when they tested positive. There have been some early indications that the variant might cause milder disease than other variants and scientists expect that its less likely to become severe in vaccinated people. Boosters should decrease a vaccinated persons odds of becoming infected with multiple variants. Early data suggests that booster shots for the Moderna and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines offer substantial protection against Omicron, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, President Bidens top medical adviser, said Wednesday. Booster shots start having an effect in many people in just a few days, meaning that its not too late to reap the benefits even if youre traveling soon, said Dr. Aaron Milstone, a professor of pediatric infectious disease at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who is studying the immune response to booster doses. Even stronger protection is likely to kick in 10 to 14 days after the shot, he and other experts noted, so the sooner you get one, the better. If I test positive while traveling within the United States, will I have to stay put? When driving across a state border, no one is going to ask you to flash negative test results. Neither states, airlines, airports or most other forms of transportation require negative coronavirus tests from domestic travelers with a few exceptions: Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If you do end up testing positive perhaps because a private gathering requires a test the responsible course of action would be to isolate yourself from others because you are contagious, said Dr. Emily E. Volk, the president of the College of American Pathologists, an organization of physicians who perform biopsies and diagnose disease. Its the morally and ethically correct thing to do, she said. But in most of America its up to the individual to decide how to proceed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises isolating for at least 10 days after testing positive, even if a person never develops symptoms. In a recent article for The Atlantic magazine, the writer Katherine J. Wu argues that this recommendation is outdated and that vaccinated people should be able to test out of isolation sooner. Dr. David Freedman, the president-elect of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, made a similar point in a recent interview: Once youve tested negative, you should feel OK about traveling again, he said. When the story appeared last week on a local news site, a spokesman for Mayor Dave Bronson of Anchorage denied it. Then the spokesman acknowledged it was true: Mr. Bronson went to a city water treatment plant in October and shut off the fluoride in the water system. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr. Bronsons spokesman, Corey Allen Young, said the mayor made the decision on Oct. 1 after his team was informed that fluoride was burning the eyes and throats of workers who handled it. He said the fluoride was turned back on five hours later, after he learned that the city code required that Anchorages tap water be fluoridated. But some local leaders say the mayors story doesnt add up because no workers have reported any injuries related to fluoride, according to the union that represents them. I was pretty shocked to see the statement that the mayors administration put out, said Aaron Plikat, an official at the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local 367, which represents workers at the Eklutna Water Treatment Plant. Weve never had a complaint or even a phone call or a voice of concern that came from the plant there. The Biden administration on Thursday pulled out of negotiations to offer financial compensation to thousands of migrant families for the harm inflicted on them by a Trump-era policy that separated parents and children at the border. Lawyers representing the families said that Justice Department lawyers had advised them that they were terminating negotiations to settle claims for damages and would instead go to court to determine any compensation due to individual families. Talks had stalled, they said, after a leak in late October suggested that up to $450,000 could be paid to each of the families affected by the policy. The premature news, which was seized on by conservatives, complicated a nearly yearlong effort to compensate migrant families. However, the lawyers said that they had not expected the administration to walk out of the discussions entirely. The policy, they have argued, was developed at the highest levels of government with the goal of deterring migrants who were seeking entry into the United States, often to claim protection from gang violence in their home countries. Some said I was hurting the priesthood and was being disloyal to my brother priests, he said in a 2018 interview with Cleveland.com. But there were many people a cardinal, bishops, priests and laity who told me I was writing about issues that needed to be addressed. Image Father Cozzens most influential book, The Changing Face of the Priesthood (2000), was among the first to explore the root causes of clerical sexual abuse and how the church had covered up the crimes of predatory priests. Despite his challenges to the churchs teachings, Father Cozzens was not a rogue priest but rather a loyalist who remained in good standing. He said his writings sprang from his love for the church and a desire to make it healthier. I write to convince the reader of nothing, he wrote in the introduction to Faith That Dares to Speak (2004). Convincing is the job of politicians and debaters, he said; speech that rises from faith should serve as an invitation to ponder and consider. Father Cozzenss acceptance of gay priests was at odds with the official church. Under Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican restated Catholic teaching that being gay was objectively disordered and that gay men should not be admitted to the priesthood. Pope Francis has signaled a more tolerant attitude, but has not changed policies. Two years after The Changing Face of the Priesthood was published, the church was engulfed in the clergy abuse scandal, in which it was found to have protected hundreds of priests who had sexually molested children in their care. The scandal started in Boston and spread nationwide. That framed the rest of his work and writing on the priesthood, because it was such a dramatic manifestation of all the problems he was seeing, Edward P. Hahnenberg, a professor of systematic theology at John Carroll University in Cleveland and a close friend of Father Cozzens, said in a phone interview. As some more conservative church figures wanted to blame gay priests for the abuse scandal, he added, he made it clear that the issue was more about unhealthy patterns of authority and power. Storm teams from the National Weather Service were crisscrossing the Midwest on Thursday surveying the damage, and the extent was still coming into full view. The storm system, which was moving into Canada on Thursday, came five days after tornadoes whipped through Kentucky and five other states, killing at least 88 people, which might have prompted many people in the Midwest to take a cautious approach when faced with storms on Wednesday night. What prompted the unusual December weather events is unclear. The ingredients that give rise to tornadoes include warm, moist air at ground level; cool dry air higher up; and wind shear, which is the change in wind speed or direction. Each of these factors may be affected differently by climate change. Residents of communities across Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa were still struggling with widespread power outages on Thursday. Most were in Michigan, with more than 200,000 customers without power by the evening, according to PowerOutage.us, which aggregates data from utilities across the country. Another 80,000 were still experiencing outages in Wisconsin. WASHINGTON The Senate voted unanimously on Thursday to approve legislation that would ban the import of a wide array of products made in Chinas Xinjiang region in a drive to prevent companies from sourcing goods produced through forced labor by persecuted Muslim minorities. Its passage was a victory for supporters of an aggressive human rights measure that faced a fierce corporate lobbying campaign from businesses that argued it was too onerous and would disrupt global supply chains. The vote sent the measure to President Bidens desk, where he was expected to sign it into law. The bill represents the most forceful legislative response yet to Chinas campaign against the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group, which the Biden administration has called a genocide. It would impose a high standard for companies seeking to import products from the region, banning goods made in whole or in part in Xinjiang unless companies are able to prove to customs officials that the products were not made with forced labor. Many companies have already taken steps to clean up their supply chains, said Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida and one of the authors of the bill. They should have no concerns about this law. For those who have not done that, theyll no longer be able to continue to make Americans every one of us, frankly unwitting accomplices in the atrocities, in the genocide thats being committed by the Chinese Communist Party. The Senate passed final legislation this week that would prohibit the service branches from dishonorably discharging any member who refused to get the coronavirus vaccine. The measure, which was supported by Republicans in the House and the Senate, allows those who declined the vaccine to receive certain benefits after leaving the military. On Thursday, right after three branches of the military released their latest vaccine numbers after passing a deadline for troops to be inoculated, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas made public a letter he sent to the Pentagon that said the state would not impose a vaccine mandate on members of its National Guard. As governor of Texas, I am the commander in chief of this states militia, Mr. Abbott wrote. If the federal government keeps threatening to defund the Texas National Guard, I will deploy every legal tool available to me as governor in defense of these American heroes. Earlier this week, five other Republican governors wrote a joint letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III asking that their National Guard troops be exempted from a federal coronavirus vaccine mandate, escalating what had been a single state conflict over inoculations. While National Guard troops helped oversee large vaccine sites for Americans across the country last year, they have lagged behind their active-duty counterparts in getting shots. Thank you to the medical staff who have been supporting the pandemic response at home and to the vaccinated soldiers who put the health and welfare of their fellow soldiers and families first, Christine Wormuth, the secretary of the Army, said in a statement. To those who continue to refuse the vaccine and are not pending a final decision on a medical or administrative exemption, I strongly encourage you to get the vaccine. If not, we will begin involuntary separation proceedings. On Jan. 4, associates of Mr. Waldron spoke to a group of senators and informed them about the allegations of election fraud in the PowerPoint, Mr. Waldron told The New York Times recently in an interview. On Jan. 5, he said, he personally briefed a small group of House members whom he did not identify; that discussion also focused on baseless claims of foreign interference in the election. He said he had made the document available to the lawmakers. Mr. Waldron told The Washington Post that he had contributed to the creation of the document and had visited the White House several times after last years election, and spoken with Mr. Meadows maybe eight to 10 times. Mr. Waldron, who specialized in psychological influence operations and once was deployed to Iraq, retired from the military in 2016 after 30 years of service. He appears to lead a quieter life these days, describing himself on his LinkedIn page as the founder, forklift driver and floor sweeper at One Shot Distillery and Brewery in Dripping Springs, Texas. But almost as soon as the 2020 polls closed, he joined a wide-ranging effort to persuade the public and key Republican politicians that the vote count had been marred by rampant fraud. By mid-November, Mr. Waldron was in contact with Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Trumps personal lawyer, who at the time was overseeing challenges to the election. Mr. Waldron fed Mr. Giuliani information about alleged attempts by foreign powers to hack American voting machines and about suspected left-wing operatives who were working for the vote tabulation company Dominion Voting Systems. Some of these baseless claims ultimately made their way into federal lawsuits attacking Dominions role in the election that were filed by the pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell. WASHINGTON The Biden administration said on Thursday that it would put limits on doing business with a group of Chinese companies and institutions it says are involved in misusing biotechnology to surveil and repress Muslim minorities in China and advancing Beijings military programs. In announcing one set of the moves, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said China was employing biotechnology and medical innovation to pursue control over its people and its repression of members of ethnic and religious minority groups. The administration said those efforts included the use of biometric facial recognition and large-scale genetic testing of residents 12 to 65 in the mostly Muslim region of Xinjiang. China has used such technology to track and control the Uyghurs, a predominately Muslim ethnic group. In a separate move, Facebook now called Meta warned 50,000 users that they may have been the targets of surveillance software, largely by firms that were working for nation-states, and some working for private clients. The company announced that it was banning from its social media sites seven commercial surveillance-for-hire services that target journalists, dissidents and human rights activists. The 12 released hostages were expected to travel to Miami Thursday afternoon, according to one of the relatives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and did not provide further details to safeguard the missionaries safety. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti declined to comment on the news of their release. The group, which included children, was made up of 16 Americans and one Canadian. They were taken in October by a gang called 400 Mawozo in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince after visiting an orphanage. Dan Miller, a farmer in Ohio and the father of Matt Miller, one of the hostages released in November, said the families of the hostages, most of whom did not know one another before the kidnapping, have grown close over the past two months of fearful waiting. Now were all rejoicing together, he said. Gangs have steadily taken over new sections of the capital after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, in July, effectively seizing control of all overland supply routes to and from the city. Gang violence has greatly aggravated Haitis already acute economic crisis, leaving supplies of fuel, medical equipment and other essential goods in the capital at the mercy of gang leaders. The violence has also deadlocked Haitis political crisis. Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the leaders of several major Haitian parties have said Haiti cannot hold free and fair elections to replace Mr. Moise until the police win back control of the capital from the gangs. But some police units have been implicated in Mr. Moises assassination, further undermining confidence in Haitis weak security forces and complicating the struggle against organized crime. The French government on Thursday banned nonessential travel to and from Britain and tightened testing requirements for travelers, as a record-breaking surge of Omicron cases across the English Channel raised worries that France would soon face a similar tsunami of new infections. Jean Castex, Frances prime minister, said in a statement that, faced with the extremely rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the United Kingdom, the government had decided to act. He urged people planning to travel to Britain to postpone their trips. British authorities reported 88,376 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest number of known infections in a single day since the start of the pandemic. Englands chief medical officer warned that further records would likely be broken in the coming days, with cases of the Omicron variant doubling less than every two days in parts of the country. PARIS Omar Raddad, the Moroccan gardener convicted in the grisly killing of a French socialite three decades ago, succeeded Thursday in his bid to have the case re-examined, reopening a new chapter in one of Frances most enduring murder mysteries. Judges on Frances top appeals court decided to reopen the case after Mr. Raddads lawyers presented new DNA evidence that they say exonerates him in the 1991 killing of his employer, Ghislaine Marchal, in her villa on the Cote dAzur in southern France a killing made famous by a grammatical mistake. The court ordered an inquiry into an analysis of the new DNA evidence, according to the courts three-page ruling. It is the first step in what Mr. Raddads supporters hope will be a rehearing of his initial trial, 27 years after his conviction. It is extremely rare for this French court to reopen a case, though legal reforms in 2014 made it easier for lawyers to argue for a rehearing. In 2002, the court had rejected a previous request to review Mr. Raddads case, based then on new testimony and also on earlier DNA evidence. Dr. Charles D. Blanke, an oncologist and a professor at the OHSU Knight Cancer Center in Portland, Ore., who has studied data on physician-assisted dying, said breathing in nitrogen causes a rapid death. But he cautioned that it is untested, including as an alternative to lethal injection in capital punishment. It is not at all clear that nitrogen inhalation would bring a peaceful death, he said, contrary to Dr. Nitschkes claim that death comes quickly after a brief euphoria. The law in Switzerland, where about 1,300 people sought help from right-to-die organizations in 2020, requires confirmation that people seeking to end their own lives are of sound mind and reached the decision without pressure from anyone with selfish motives. Then a doctor writes a prescription for sodium pentobarbital, the lethal medication used there. Sarco would bypass that step because it does not require a prescription for a drug. Some Swiss right-to-die organizations have distanced themselves from Sarco. Exit, which offers living wills, counseling and end-of-life care, and is unaffiliated with Dr. Nitschkes similarly named nonprofit, said it does not see Sarco as an alternative to physician-assisted suicide. Another group, Lifecircle, said there is no human warmth with this method. Dignitas, a clinic near Zurich, said sodium pentobarbital is approved and supported by the vast majority of the public and politics. Pegasos Swiss Association said it was in discussion with the Sarco team but wanted further clarification about the device. Others who have studied the ethics of voluntary assisted suicide welcomed the debate that Sarco has inspired. Thaddeus Pope, a bioethicist at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minn., said the debate about Sarco could lead to a new way of looking at end-of-life options, including by legislators. That might be bigger or more important than the actual Sarco itself, he said, adding that Dr. Nitschke was illustrating the limitations of the medical model and forcing us to think. LONDON Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Britons on Wednesday to think twice about holiday socializing as the Omicron variant rampages through the country. A day later, Queen Elizabeth II canceled her annual pre-Christmas lunch for the royal family, according to people with connections to Buckingham Palace. The queens decision to call off the lunch for the second year in a row comes as Britain reported a record 78,610 new infections from the virus on Wednesday. Palace officials said it was a precautionary measure to avoid putting family members at risk by bringing a large group together at Windsor Castle. The pre-Christmas meal is a longstanding tradition for the House of Windsor, assembling children, grandchildren, cousins and other members of the extended family before the queen leaves for Sandringham, her country estate in Norfolk, where she celebrates the holiday with her immediate family. Elizabeth, 95, has largely receded from public view since October, when she abruptly canceled a trip to Northern Ireland after what palace officials characterized as exhaustion. She has continued to conduct video calls and taped a speech to welcome delegates to the United Nations climate conference in Scotland. Holly Sullivan, who grew up in the Cleveland suburbs, had always wanted to live in a big city. Instead, she settled with her husband, Peter Sullivan, in his hometown in western New York, where he was offered a job. He promised we wouldnt live there long, she said. They stayed for half a century. The couple, who met as college students, raised their three children in Jamestown, near Lake Erie, and later moved to the shores of nearby Chautauqua Lake. Their two daughters, and eight of their grandchildren, now live in the New York area one in Brooklyn, the other in northern New Jersey. (Their sons family, with one granddaughter, is in Seattle.) The Sullivans, who are now retired, visited often, staying on their daughters pullout sofas or kicking them out of their beds. During their many Thanksgiving visits, they would watch the parade (a highlight, for sure, Ms. Sullivan said), and they eventually turned those trips into longer vacations, staying at a different New York hotel each time. We got to know the city from different neighborhoods and different experiences, said Mr. Sullivan, 76, who worked in finance. Ms. Sullivan, 73, is a former teacher and travel agent. Finally, after years of daydreaming about online listings, the Sullivans resolved to buy a pied-a-terre in Manhattan. Were getting older, and if were ever going to do this, now is the time, Mr. Sullivan said. [Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com] The couples daughter in Brooklyn connected them with a friend, Ria Browne, an agent at Compass, and they hunted in Midtown, awash with conveniences. We are both in our 70s, so we need access to old peoples kinds of things transportation and stores nearby, Ms. Sullivan said. They were hoping to find a place with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, preferably on a sunny, high floor with a layout that allowed privacy for guests. Having an in-unit washer and dryer, they thought, would be ideal, as would a balcony, so you could step out to know what the weather is like, Ms. Sullivan said. They focused on condominiums. Being from out of town, they felt resale of a condo would be easier than resale of a co-op, Ms. Browne said. And the buying process was less onerous. The couples budget climbed from just over $1 million to $1.5 million and beyond. In Midtown, there is a lot of luxury product, Ms. Browne said, and $1 million is entry level. Midtown is popular with pied-a-terre buyers. The couple skipped places along the Hudson River, despite the views, as Mr. Sullivan has mobility issues from a 20-year-old ankle injury. I never knew Manhattan had any elevation, Ms. Sullivan said. I think of it as flat, but it is definitely a hill. Among their options: A MAN convicted of a littering offence must pay a further 1,200 to Tullamore Tidy Towns as well as completing 240 hours of community service. Mihails Rizijs, 36, of 30 Carraig Cluain, Clara Road, Tullamore was ordered to pay a total of 1,500 for the offence at Tullyhill, Rahan on April 2 last year. He had been summonsed for allegedly possessing waste likely to cause environmental pollution and creating litter visible from a public place. The District Court heard that the offence involved domestic waste and a witness had reported it. The Latvian man had 300 at Tullamore Circuit Court last week and defence counsel Rory Hanniffy (instructed by Patrick Martin) said he was seeking an adjournment to pay further monies because he had suffered a broken jaw at work. Mr Rizijs told Judge Keenan Johnson he was working two jobs at present, one with sheds and another in the repair of scooters. The accident occurred when he was fixing the brakes of a scooter and he slipped and fell, resulting in him being in a Dublin hospital with a broken jaw. He had been out of work for seven weeks and had been back for the previous five weeks and hoped to be able to do community service next year. Judge Johnson ordered him to complete the community service in lieu of three months in prison and he adjourned payment of the rest of the compensation to April 6 next. The judge warned that if the money was not paid the amount required by the court would go up. THE jury is considering its verdict in the trial of a Laois man accused of assaulting a construction worker in Edenderry with a brick mallet. Christopher Doheny, 51, Derrin Oliver, Pike of Rushall, Mountrath, denies assaulting Alan Fisher, causing him harm, when both were working for a Mountmellick company, Dunne Brothers, which was contracted by Offaly County Council to repair a footpath on the street in Edenderry. The assault allegedly occurred on October 27 last year and Mr Doheny also denies a charge of producing a brick mallet in the course of a dispute. During two days of evidence at Tullamore Circuit Court, the jury of eight men and four women heard that the accused and his son, Christopher Doheny Junior, were working on cobblelock at JKL Street in Edenderry. A few metres away Mr Fisher and his brother Darren Fisher were carrying out similar work and following a verbal exchange between Mr Doheny Junior and two foremen, Alan Fisher went up to the accused's son and punched him twice. The jury were then told that Mr Doheny Senior struck Alan Fisher on the head with a brick mallet, resulting in his hospitalisation where he was diagnosed with a broken jaw. In his charge to the jury, Judge Francis Comerford said among the matters the jury would have to decide was if the accused had a lawful excuse for striking Mr Fisher. The trial heard that when he was interviewed by the gardai, Mr Doheny Senior said he had hit the other man with the mallet but had meant to hit him with his fist and did not realise the mallet was in his hand. He told the gardai he had "lost it" when his son was "under attack" by two or three men. JURY HEARS MAN WAS STRUCK ON HEAD WITH MALLET: https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/midland-tribune/707827/update-defendant-accused-of-assault-with-mallet-in-edenderry-said-he-meant-to-punch-man.html SIPTU members employed in Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Clubs in Offaly and Laois have suspended their strike action to allow for talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The strike began last week following a Government decision to close the service at the end of this year. The staff staged a protest outside the offices of TD Barry Cowen this week. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Adrian Kane, said, our members in the SIPTU Dispute Committee, which was overseeing this industrial action, have accepted an invitation by the WRC to talks concerning this dispute. In order to give these exploratory talks the best chance of success our members have agreed to a WRC request to suspend the current industrial action at LES and Job Clubs in Laois and Offaly, as well as lift their lunchtime protests outside the Department of Social Protection in Dublin. Our members on the picket line have shown great resolve in this long running dispute. They would like to thank union members and the public from across the country who have expressed support for their action and the wider campaign to save LES and Job Clubs as community run enterprises. It is now imperative that all the parties take up the invitation to talks by the WRC and show a commitment to resolve this dispute. Our representatives will enter this process with an aim to resolving all the outstanding issues. PAULINE Clooneys Charlotte & Arthur, an imaginative recreation of the Charlotte Brontes honeymoon in Wales and Ireland, is an exciting combination of fact and fiction. The extensive historical research which preceded the writing of the book is evident throughout and this coupled with the creation of less historic characters and the weaving in of more fictional nuances ensures a work that is at once refreshing and convincing. While the sources of history are comparatively plentiful for this episode due to Charlottes prolific letter writing and an abundance of biographies of the two main characters, it is the richness of Pauline Clooneys writing that makes the work engrossing and appealing. From the outset the particulars are resonant with the historic reality often amplified by a series of recollective flashbacks but always coloured by a warm creativity. Details of the turbulence that Arthurs proposal caused in the Haworth parsonage are vividly recalled but as the violent opposition of Charlottes father is gradually overcome so too is Charlottes own reluctance. As she grapples with her emotions, initially dominated by compassion and pity for her suitor, she grows to "like" her fiance and during the wedding ceremony "instead of feeling the weight of commitment she felt an approaching freedom and her own words floated before her eyes, above her head in the air of the chancel: no net ensnares me'." Following a trip across North Wales the happy couple arrive in Kingstown, Dublin where Arthur is eager to share the cultural highlights of the Hibernian metropolis. Conscious of her enthusiasm for the Napoleonic era he points out the Martello towers which they pass en route to the city and surprises her by stopping their carriage outside the birthplace of the Duke of Wellington. Unfortunately, such attentiveness was in vain as Charlotte, always prone to illness, had begun to feel unwell. Over the following days she was greatly impressed when meeting the first of her Banagher in-laws in Dublin. The good taste and erudition of Arthurs brother Alan and cousins Joseph and Mary Anna and their familiarity with the hallowed halls of Trinity College and other Dublin treasures, were a pleasant surprise. However, her flagging spirits dictated that their stay in the capital be curtailed and that they leave for Banagher earlier than planned. The portrait of Cuba Court and its inhabitants is among the most enjoyable aspects of this book. Arriving at the stone pillared gateway Charlotte would have observed an imposing edifice which symbolized the Bell familys gentrified upbringing and their relatively privileged place in local society. Sensing her unease as she anticipated the large welcoming party of relatives and servants dwarfed against the imposing facade, Arthur reassured her: "Dont be put off by that block of stone, its harsh, masculine exterior belies the softness youll find within" Very soon such confidence was realised in the persona of the matronly Aunt Harriette who soon undertook to nurse Charlotte "back to ruddiness". The characterisation of Aunt Harriette, Arthurs foster mother, is a triumph and very much in keeping with the novelists letters to friends in Yorkshire. The account of the newlyweds attendance at Sunday service is another highlight. The stroll to church from Cuba Court along a rustic roadway afforded her a first proper view of the town as it stretched downhill to the Shannon, rivalling the steepness of her native Haworth: "Inside the church was radiant with red velvet cushions brightening the wooden pews, and vases of flowers perfumed the air. The Bells pew was to the right of the altar, and as their guest, Charlotte was seated in the front row, next to Arthur, Aunt Harriette and William. As the other parishioners came in, Aunt Harriette whispered their names: Armstrongs, Molloys, Purefoys and many others, who waved hellos to Charlotte, or approached to shake her hand and welcome her to Banagher." Other interludes in Banagher included musing on the origin of the phrase "That Beats Banagher and Banagher beats the devil", discussion on the Harp Hotel and its famous literary resident Anthony Trollope. Local strolls brought Charlotte to view the Bridge of Banagher and its well-armed fortifications including an early morning ramble to the fog-bound Shannon banks and the curiously named Fort Eliza. The extensive stay at Banagher, ten days at least, afforded time for longer excursions which brought the newlyweds to Birr Castle and Clonmacnoise. Both these occasions are cleverly reimagined. Charlotte is ill at ease in the castle as she is aware that the social divide between the Bells and the Parsons families mirrors that between herself and her fellow Yorkshire woman, Mary Field, of Heaton Hall, wife of the third earl of Rosse. The trip to Clonmacnoise by steamer is enhanced when George Petries account of the site was relayed to her. Pauline Clooney has done a great service for the promotion of the Bronte Irish connection, particularly the associations with the towns of Banagher and Kilkee. The various episodes are touched with a pervasive happiness. Arthur, far removed from the reserved image he presented in Haworth, is giddy, proud and at times euphoric. Charlotte is more reflective but is gradually accepting of her new status which may at once obviate the looming difficulties of her fathers ill-health and great age, and her own prospects of living alone. Writing from Kilkee to her friend Catherine Winkworth after one month of marriage she leaves us in no doubt that she is assured she has married a good man: "My husband is not a poet or a poetical man and one of my grand doubts before marriage was about congenial tastes and so on. The first morning we went out to the cliffs and saw the Atlantic coming in all white foam, I did not know whether I should get leave or time to take the matter in my own way. I did not want to talk but I did want to look and be silent. Having hinted a petition, license was not refused, covered with a rug to keep off the spray I was allowed to sit where I chose and he interrupted me when he thought I crept too near the edge of the cliff. So far he is always good in this way, and this protection which does not interfere or pretend is a thousand times better than any half sort of pseudo sympathy. I will try with Gods help to be as indulgent to him whenever indulgence is needed." Alas this lingering image with all its exaltation lures us away and off our guard we forget the short-lived final reality. Charlotte Bronte died just nine months later during pregnancy. Pauline Clooneys epilogue is succinct but nonetheless harrowing. A devastated Arthur remained at Haworth living in harmony with his father-in-law until his death in 1861. Arthur was then bitterly disappointed when he was not appointed as Mr Brontes successor and so returned forthwith to Banagher. Soon after he married his cousin Mary Anna and for the ensuing forty years devoted himself to the memories of Charlotte and the preservation of her memorabilia and protection of her legacy. In this undertaking he was fully supported by Mary Annas generous spirit. Their home became a Bronte shrine and it was a portrait of Charlotte that overlooked Arthur when he died on December 2nd, 1906. Arthur & Charlotte was published by Merdog Book. The book costs 15 and is available from Feeney's Day Today newsagents and Paul Flynn's newsagency, both on Main Street, Banagher. Also from Offaly History at www.offaly history.com or James Scully (085) 710 7569 or jsmeelick@gmail.com . Every classroom in Ireland should receive air filters as part of a New Year resolution to bolster safety in schools, a primary principal has said. Lisa Callanan said applying for minor works grants to secure HEPA filters is cumbersome for under-pressure schools already struggling to keep a lid on Covid-19 cases. The principal of Rathbeggan national school in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, says using the portable systems could also end uncertainty over whether schools will be allowed to re-open after the Christmas break. Nine machines have been installed by Irish company Mia Air in her 173-pupil school, removing the constant need to leave windows and doors open. What we are able to do now is close more windows and doors as the filters run and open everything again when the children are on outside breaks to let fresh air through the building, she said. It is another preventative measure and with case numbers on the rise with the new variant, we feel we are doing extra in the hope of keeping everyone safe and the school open. Opening windows for ventilation at the coldest point of the year, particularly in a 61-year-old school such as Rathbeggan, is not ideal for teaching or learning, she said. A fund of up to 72 million euro was announced earlier this week to allow schools and childcare services improve ventilation but Ms Callanan says filters suitable to different classroom types should have been supplied directly. We are pushed to the limit in terms of resources with the substitute crisis and in trying to keep continuity in teaching and learning. Minor works grant applications take time and that takes from an already overloaded schedule, she added. I would have preferred more definitive guidance. Schools are incredibly busy places. Ideally, HEPA 14 filters should arrive in every classroom in the country once assessments are made on which ones suit best; that would make it crystal clear that every school would have that extra layer of protection. Introducing them at an earlier juncture, rather than almost two years later, would have been more effective. Until Mia Air filters arrived at the school of 18 staff last Monday, every external door apart from the front door, was left open all day, while internally, communal room windows were constantly open. The high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) systems work by trapping and destroying airborne particles and viruses before pumping out clean air through a fan and can be controlled on smartphone apps. Ms Callanan said providing HEPA filters to schools should be the natural solution to tackle all forms of airborne viruses and bacteria, even beyond Covid. Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the school has had to deal with just 10 positive cases of Covid-19, the result of a huge collaborative effort by children, staff, and parents. Every measure suggested in terms of prevention in our school community, we have taken on board, the principal added. Children have adapted so well and parents have prepared them so well. They are layered up with base layers underneath their uniforms and have the option to wear their coats in class if they wish. She does not believe changes should be made to school Christmas holidays given the disruption to education so far. The best thing is to keep the natural school calendar as it is, breaking on December 22 and returning on January 6. By shifting our perspective a bit and seeing what shared values we have with migrants, we can begin to change the narrative, says Fiona Servaes. If we focus on humanity, were taking big steps towards a different story on migration. Servaes was born to a Belgian father and a Thai mother in the Netherlands. Growing up, home was never one place: as a child, she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia and the US, and, as an adult, is now living in Thailand. Her personal experience as a migrant was one of the driving factors that led her to the work she does today. Servaes has an academic and professional background in migration issues, and is currently Advocacy and Campaigns Officer on Refugee and Migrant Rights at ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) based in Bangkok, Thailand. In her current role, she supports parliamentarians on migrant issues in the region, much of the work focusing on the rights of the Rohingya in Myanmar, Bangladesh and other ASEAN countries, as well as the rights of migrant workers. There has been so much hate speech and discrimination against migrants in the region, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, explains Servaes. We believe that promoting positive and hopeful messages can challenge the dominant narrative. Servaes and her colleagues are currently in the process of planning a public campaign to be rolled out in 2022, which will focus on shifting the migrant narrative in Malaysia. By promoting unifying and uplifting messages, it will also encourage parliamentarians to engage in a counter narrative. We have a lot to learn from each other The pandemic has thrown challenges at everyone, but often migrants have been disproportionately affected, says Servaes. This is where kindness and solidarity are key, she says. Were all human, facing similar experiences and emotions. We all want the best for our families and to be able to support them. Showing kindness towards migrants shows that we care and that we can connect. Servaes acknowledges her position of privilege: her family was able to make the choice to move countries when she was a child. Now as an adult, she can exercise that same choice. So many migrants dont have that choice, she says. Speaking to migrants and refugees who have been forced from their homes has given me a deeper understanding of the challenges they face and has empowered me to help more. Its the conversations we have with the people around us that can really strengthen empathy, and really make a difference, she says. We have a lot to learn from each other. A focus on shared values Servaes strongly believes we need to move away from fearful narratives towards emphasising shared values. Spreading fear and the use of hateful rhetoric will only create further barriers, she says, and it builds distrust among people. To build greater trust and a more inclusive society, we need to look at what we have in common, she says. Resilience, compassion, hard work, determination: these are characteristics and values that anybody can have, and remembering this can help us connect to each other, no matter where we come from. Servaes recognises that narrative change on migration may take time, but stresses that it is achievable. Anything that requires social change takes a long time, she says. But by showing more humanity and empathy, by using inclusive terminology, and by allowing for diverse perspectives, we can eventually reach a more hopeful narrative. To do this, says Servaes, the voices of migrants and refugees themselves are not only important, they are essential. Giving migrants and refugees a seat at the table and allowing them to be involved in decisions that are affecting them is crucial if we want to build a new and more inclusive society. Migration has always been a part of the human story, says Servaes, and in recognising that, we can go a long way to showing more empathy towards migrants. We can only really create a better world for everyone if we all do it together, she says. And that starts with uplifting each other, empowering each other and standing up for people when they can't themselves. UN Human Rights launched the #StandUp4Migrants campaign in 2020 to help reshape the narrative on migration. Ahead of this International Migrants Day on 18 December, share your stories and the vision of the world you want to see with us on social media by using the hashtag #StandUp4Migrants. Disclaimer: the views, information and opinions expressed in this article are those of the persons featured in the story and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. 16 December 2021 John Fitzgerald Kennedy, often referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination near the end of his third year in office. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his work as president concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A Democrat, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the U.S. Congress prior to his presidency. Lincolnshire Echo 28 May 2021 The 1,200 mph Eurofighter is to perform at more than 30 air shows in Britain and Europe The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of a Toronto police officer who was convicted of brutally assaulting a young Black man. Health authorities have urged people to start wearing masks as the reopening of Queenslands borders led to a boost in community cases. 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. FOX Sports 22 Dec 2021 RJ Young discusses No. 1 recruit Travis Hunter committing to Deion Sander's Jackson State Rams and why this is the latest win for a.. The DDMA has decided to extend the COVID-19 restrictions in Delhi till December 31, to control the spread of the virus during the festive season. How a photo found on a Kentucky farm is being returned to its owner thanks to social media sleuths. A judge said social media posts by far-right MP Thierry Baudet went beyond 'robust public debate' and 'instrumentalised human suffering in the Holocaust'. Wibbitz Top Stories 14 Dec 2021 First Omicron Death , Reported in the UK. First Omicron Death , Reported in the UK. 'USA Today' reports the first known.. British tourists are to be banned from France amid concern over the rise in Omicron cases in the UK. Cologne police have raided several properties in an operation against suspected far-right extremists. They seized bomb-making materials and a "not insignificant amount" of narcotics. There is a puzzling disconnect between the dire warnings from government scientists over the threat from Omicron - and their advice to the public on what they should do to minimise the risk. Another three of 17 abducted members of a US missionary group have been freed in Haiti. The gang, who abducted the group in October, is still holding another 12 people for ransom. The US Commerce Department sanctioned Chinese surveillance and biotechnology companies over rights abuses. The Biden administration expressed concern that US technology could be used in abusing Uyghur people. The Hungarian government claims last week's Constitutional Court ruling on EU migration rules as a victory for self-determination. The reality is more complex, writes lawyer Zsolt Szekeres. Sky News 21 Dec 2021 A group of missionaries, who trekked for up to 10 miles by moonlight with a baby and a toddler to escape their kidnappers in Haiti,.. Wibbitz Top Stories 30 Dec 2021 As Pandemic Continues, Americans , Recieve Less Federal Aid. The world has almost entered its third year of the COVID-19.. Alberta will allow unvaccinated adults to attend indoor private holiday gatherings despite the threat posed by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Premier Jason Kenney said Wednesday. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Leicester Mercury 20 Dec 2021 City have seen their last two league games postponed due to an outbreak at the club and are due to play in the Premier League on.. The remaining 12 of 17 North Americans kidnapped in Haiti in October have been freed, police said Thursday, after weeks of negotiations with the "400 Mawozo" criminal gang. BANG Showbiz 04 Jan 2022 Spider-Man: No Way Home marked the first appearance of a Marvel Netflix character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Charlie.. Downtown Los Angeles, CA, USA, Jul 02, 2020 -- Andrew Jones Auctions upcoming Design for the Home and Garden Auction on Sunday, July 26th, will feature over 250 lots of important fine art, design, antiques and accessories from collections across the country and throughout California. This will be an online-only auction, with no live bidding. Phone and absentee bids will be taken. The sale will be led by property from the Beacon Medical Germany, a subsidiary of Canadas VIVO Cannabis Inc. officially announced today that Medical Pharma Resource (Medical Pharma) GmbH is the first German company authorized to distribute VIVOs premium cannabis products in Germany. Medical Pharma is the exclusive distributor for medicinal cannabis flowers of the Beacon Medical products and additionally takes over the complete support handling to the pharmacies. Medical Pharma has already set up a health professional section and MANISTEE The Manistee County Library celebrates the winter holidays with books. One of the ways the library does that is to share new titles and revisit old favorites, start new traditions or learn about other cultures. The title My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories is an audiobook that shares romantic stories over the winter solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas. Holiday Baking: New and Traditional Recipes for Wintertime Holidays by Leigh Beisch offers lovely treats for these holidays. Children can enjoy discovering the festivals and celebrations while reading Miss Holly is too Jolly by Dan Gutman. Hanukkah was celebrated from Nov. 28 through Dec. 6 this year. Also known as the Festival of Lights, the Jewish festival celebrates the victory of a small group known as the Maccabees, who succeeded in defeating the much larger Syrian Army. To celebrate, a menorah was lit using the one-day supply of oil. A miracle occurred when the menorah lasted for eight days. The Hanukkah Mice by Kevin Kroll finds a mouse family enjoying the Hanukkah gift received by a young girl. Small gifts that appear each night make the holiday more festive until the eighth night when a surprise for the mouse family allows them to celebrate Hanukkah. The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol by Arthur A. Levine combines the giving spirit of Hanukkah and Christmas with a holiday champion who allows families the ability to share what little they may have over the festival season. Adults may enjoy The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer featuring a Jewish girl who secretly loves Christmas. After successfully hiding her career writing Christmas romance novels from her family, her publisher requests that she write a Hanukkah romance. Unable to find inspiration for this assignment, Rachel decides to attend the Matzah Ball on the last night of Hanukkah and discovers more than she bargained for. Kwanzaa will be celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. This holiday festival celebrates African American families, their history, unity, and creativity. Each day of the festival focuses on a different principle. On the final day of the celebration, a feast is held. Kwanzaa Kids by Joan Holub teaches children the importance of this holiday. Kwanzaa: From Holiday to Everyday: a Complete Guide for Making Kwanzaa a Part of Your Life'' by Maitefa Angaza introduces the seven principles of Kwanzaa, shares planning tips and recipes, and introduces popular songs. Christmas will be celebrated on Dec. 25. Manistee County Library has new titles and some old favorites for children. The Night Before Christmas by Rosie Butcher features the beloved poem and beautiful illustrations. What the Dinosaurs Did the Night Before Christmas by Refe Tuma is a hilarious variation on that story. Santas Year by Rik Peters follows the jolly old soul throughout the year as he relaxes and then gears up for his big night. The Wishing Tree by Meika Hashimoto finds a boy trying to help his town rediscover the joy of Christmas. New titles for adults include: A Christmas Courtship'' by Shelley Shepard Gray, book three in the Berlin Bookmobile series, in which a bookmobile librarian uses the power of the written word to create a Christmas romance. The Christmas Promise by Paul Richard Evans finds Christmas magic healing a lost soul after an accident takes away the last chance to fulfill a deathbed promise. Susan Mallerys The Christmas Wedding Guest starts The Wishing Tree series. Her parents' vow renewal ceremony sparks something in Reggie, who didnt believe shed find her one and only. Dena has chosen to be a single mother until a writer comes to stay at her inn and falls for her. Can he win her over? New titles are also available on audio. The Christmas House by Victoria James (Playaway), in which a dysfunctional family comes together with the intention of healing the past. However, the opposite happens and the family is forced to confront their history. As Christmas draws near, will this family find its way back to one another? The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan (CD Book) features an unemployed woman with few prospects except to turn to her sister, which is the last thing she wants to do. When her sister finds her a job at an antiquated bookshop, Carmen thinks this may be just what she is looking for. Can she bring the little shop back to life for the holidays and reunite with her family? Holiday titles for books and movies abound at the Manistee County Library. The online catalog is available at manisteelibrary.org. Additional titles can be found on digital media platforms, Up North Digital and Hoopla. Check for holiday hours of operation. The staff at the Manistee County Library wishes everyone a happy holiday season. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Andrew Mullin. Tuesday, Dec. 14 10:52 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Hope Township residence to locate and pick up a 14-year-old male juvenile runaway. The deputies located the juvenile, and he was taken into custody. The juvenile was transported to the juvenile care center without incident. 9:18 p.m. Officers responded to a domestic verbal situation on Abbott Road. 7:31 p.m. Deputies responded to a Warren Township residence about a breaking-and-entering report. The 61-year-old male homeowner said approximately $4,000 of property was stolen from the residence. This incident is currently under investigation. 5:39 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to Greendale Township regarding a possible crash. The deputy spoke with the 21-year-old Ingersoll Township male driver who said he lost control of his vehicle but did not hit anything. The male thought he may need a crash report, but no report was needed. 5:35 p.m. An unknown subject in a red short bed pickup truck pumped $75 in gas and left without paying. No plate number was obtained. 4:40 p.m. A 36-year-old Mount Haley Township female reported receiving an unwanted text, possibly from a 56-year-old Bay County male. The female is already working with another deputy about this incident. The female was advised how to re-contact the original deputy investigating the incident. In the meantime, the female was advised to block the number and to not respond. 3:27 p.m. Deputy dispatched to a Jerome Township residence regarding a larceny of $200 in scrap. 3:27 p.m. Officers responded to a domestic situation on West Hines Street. 2:46 p.m. An animal control deputy was dispatched to the area of Letts and Waldo roads for dogs running loose. The dogs were identified as two that have run loose in the past. The owner was contacted and was issued an appearance citation. 2:32 p.m. A 51-year-old female reported seeing an unknown person walking down her driveway. Nothing was taken from the outside of the residence. The area was checked, and the person was not located. 1:47 p.m. Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Eastman Avenue. 11:55 a.m. A deputy was dispatched to Jerome Township to speak with a 61-year-old Jerome Township male regarding a suspicious person. He said his 31-year-old daughter/neighbor had a male on home surveillance video on her property late at night. Nothing was taken but wanted law enforcement aware of the situation. 9:24 a.m. An animal control deputy was dispatched to Hubbard Road, near Waldo Road, regarding some loose goats in the roadway. Upon arrival, the goats were no longer in the roadway. The owner was located and a verbal warning was given. 8:21 a.m. Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on East Sugnet Road. 1:14 a.m. A Warren Township gas station reported $40.04 in gasoline was stolen by a subject in a truck. No plate number or vehicle description was obtained, and there are no suspects at this time. Monday, Dec. 13 11:46 p.m. A 38-year-old Lee Township male was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and another controlled substance during a traffic stop in Jerome Township. The male was transported and lodged at the Midland County Jail. 8:49 p.m. A 19-year-old Geneva Township male was cited for minor in possession of alcohol during a traffic stop in Jerome Township. 4:13 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence after a 31-year-old Midland City female reported she was assaulted by her estranged husband's 63-year-old father. A report was sent to the prosecutors office for review. 4:06 p.m. A 34-year-old Midland Township woman reported a male followed her home and yelled at her about her driving. The woman acknowledged that she was in a hurry to get home prior to the man following her to her residence. She did not know the man but wanted it reported in case of further issues. 3:34 p.m. A deputy assisted the Midland City Police with a high-risk traffic stop in the city of Midland. 3:26 p.m. A driver called 911 because the vehicle in front of them was weaving within their lane. A deputy located the 91-year-old driver at their home and spoke to them about their ability to operate a vehicle. The driver said they are getting over a cold and will be more careful. The driver was given a warning. 12:24 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township residence for a verbal argument between a 34-year-old male and his 32-year-old wife. Upon the deputies arrival, the female had left, and deputies contacted her by phone. Both parties said no assault occurred and that it was only verbal. 11:18 a.m. Officers responded to a felonious assault on Jefferson Avenue. 11:08 a.m. An animal control deputy followed up on a dog bite complaint that occurred in Homer Township. The dog owner was issued an appearance citation for the dog running at large. 10:49 a.m. Deputy were dispatched to a Midland location regarding a speeding vehicle. The vehicle was not located. 10:37 a.m. An animal control deputy received a call reference an injured cat that had been struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, it was determined the cat had succumbed to its injuries. 12:26 a.m. Deputies were sent to a Warren Township residence for a report of a verbal argument between a male and female. Contact was made with the male and female, who both stated there was no assault only a verbal argument. The female and her daughter were given a ride to a gas station where they were picked up by a friend. 12:03 a.m. A 30-year-old Warren Township female was arrested on an outstanding Michigan State Police warrant for resisting and obstructing. The arrested female was at a residence that deputies were initially sent for a verbal argument. Courtesy of City of Midland The City of Midland is pleased to announce that Joshua Mosher has been promoted to chief of the Midland Fire Department effective Jan. 1, 2022. He succeeds Chief Chris Coughlin, who will retire effective Dec. 31. Mosher joined the Midland Fire Department as fire marshal in 2012 and was promoted to his current role, assistant fire chief of training and safety, in 2017. During his tenure with the city, he has led the Firehouse Software Committee, assisted with implementing and training on the departments I Am Responding call back system, and was instrumental in the implementation of MFDs Subject Matter Expert and Acting Fire Inspector programs. TOKYO (AP) Japan's exports jumped 20% and imports rose at an even faster pace in November as disruptions to manufacturing supply chains eased. Preliminary trade data reported Thursday showed imports surging nearly 44% from a year earlier, pulling the country into a deficit, as surging oil prices pushed costs sharply higher. Iron and steel exports jumped 88%, while exports of vehicles and other transport equipment rose 20%. Shipments of computer chips also revived, rising more than 20%. The jump in exports in November suggests that most supply chain constraints in the automobile sector had already eased last month. We think that exports will remain strong over the coming months as motor vehicle exports recover further and external demand for capital goods continues to rise," Tom Learmouth of Capital Economics said in a commentary. However, global growth in trade has been moderating at a time when a new wave of coronavirus cases in many countries could stall recoveries from the pandemic. The 7.4 trillion yen ($64 billion) in exports compared with 6.1 trillion yen in November 2020. Imports rose to 8.3 trillion yen ($72 billion), leaving a deficit of 954.8 billion yen ($8.36 billion). Japan's exports to the U.S. rose 10% from a year earlier to 1.3 trillion yen ($11 billion), while imports from the U.S. soared 43% to 855 billion yen ($7.5 billion). Exports to China, Japan's biggest overseas market, climbed 16% to 1.6 trillion yen ($14 billion). Japan's imports from China rose 17% to nearly 2 trillion yen ($17 billion). Imports from the Middle East, mainly of crude oil, more than doubled thanks to the rise in oil prices from pandemic lows in 2020. But Japan also imported more soy beans, iron ore, good and manufacturing inputs such as chemicals and semiconductors. Looking ahead, we expect a further normalization in auto production and the robust capital goods demand to support exports," Norihiro Yamaguchi, senior economist at Oxford Economics, said in a report. However, the recovery is likely to be moderate amid slower global trade growth partially due to weaker growth momentum in China." A Midland couple is seeking local support to help the victims of the weekend's deadly tornadoes in Kentucky. The weekend storms left at least 88 people dead across multiple states in the South and Midwest, according to the Associated Press. 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. Of the dead, seven children were killed on just one Kentucky street (Moss Creek Avenue). 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, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. Melinda Allen-Ray told the Associated Press she 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. In the spirit of giving, Midland resident Derek Nadolney said he was compelled to offer services here in Midland to provide for the tornado survivors in the south. A collection site is planned for 8 a.m. throughout Wednesday, Dec. 22, at Valley Lanes on Bay City Road. Donations will be collected on the west side of the parking lot near Rockwell Drive entrance (a side street access across from Costco). Nadolney first partnered with his wife, Melanie, then began the grassroots process to facilitate donations. The couple is making it their goal to collect the following items: Nonperishable food Water cases and jugs Personal hygiene products Winter clothing: Jackets, hats, gloves, socks and boots in all sizes for children, men and women (gently used and/or new) Blankets, sleeping bags Flashlights Batteries Assorted cutlery Paper plates, towels and bowls Large-size tarps for an effort to "patch up" homes Construction tools such as hammers, staplers and nails Trash cans, large bags for cleaning debris Generators, heaters, propane As of Wednesday afternoon, Derek said those impacted don't have access to electric power or water services. The list comes to Derek from a Kentucky woman who is working to organize truck drivers for donation deliveries. The organizers of Facebook page, "Trucks with Room to Spare Inc.," are in communication with the Nadolneys. According to Derek, the needs are developing as the impact of weather event develops. "We decided to do this as a grassroots effort to try and help is all," Derek said. The Nadolneys are truck drivers themselves, who have taken frequent trips through Kentucky, and have their own tractor to transport items with a trailer. He said the couple were on I-24, a route that was just 30 miles north of where a town faced devastation from the tornado. "It was shaking our truck," he said. "My wife was driving ... radio was going off with emergency alerts, I'm like 'I think we're just ahead of it.'" "We know these people," he added. "We stop at their truck stops, we see them (and) hear their stories. We travel it... but that's just from the interstate." In addition to next Wednesday's collection site, a donation drive will take place Thursday. These plans are still in the works, however, Derek said a parking lot next door to Valley Lanes should be available on Thursday, Dec. 23. As of publication, Derek said a manager of a business near Valley Lanes said residents with donation items can park on the property next to the US-10 off ramp in Midland. Derek said information will continue to be shared as it develops. Local residents interested in participating in this local effort can visit an event listing at https://fb.me/e/1ozltTNwg, a Facebook page titled, "Tornado relief donation drive Mid Michigan," or search @MidMichiganTornadoReliefDrive on Facebook for updated information. The Nadolneys have their own semi-truck under Straight Up Logistics LLC; once a donation haul is prepared in Midland, a friend of Derek's with Signature Consultants Inc. plans to donate a trailer for them to use in this effort, Derek said. "(The) right timing and opportunity is available, so let's try this," he said. The current plan is to provide the Midland-based donation items to a small country school where some Kentucky residents and families are displaced due to the tornado's impacts. DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (AP) Tightknit communities still digging out from the deadly tornadoes that killed dozens of people across eight states in the South and Midwest are turning to another heavy-hearted task: honoring and burying their dead. The storms that began Friday night destroyed lives and property from Arkansas to Illinois and in parts of neighboring states, carving a more than 200-mile (320-kilometer) path through Kentucky alone. The National Weather Service recorded at least 41 tornadoes, including 16 in Tennessee and eight in Kentucky. Along the violent storm path, a funeral home in western Kentucky prepared to serve the families of those who lost loved ones while grieving losses of its own. Beshear Funeral Home in Dawson Springs was preparing for at least four services in coming days for storm victims, while also catching up with funerals delayed by the massive storm, said funeral home owner Jenny Beshear Sewell, a second cousin of Kentucky's governor. The storm-related deaths include those of two sisters who had worked at the funeral home, the only one in town. Eighty-year-old Carole Grisham and 72-year-old Marsha Hall decided to ride it out in their home as the tornado barreled down in the dark of night, Sewell said by phone Wednesday. The home, which lacked a basement, was demolished. Hall, a fixture at the funeral home, had a hard day's work Friday, hours before she died in the storm, Sewell said. As she left work, Hall's parting words were: "Well, Ill see you. As the tornado approached, Sewell texted Hall with an update on the storms path and urged the sisters to shelter in the funeral homes basement or a church basement. Hall replied OK the last communication Sewell received from the longtime employee whom she considered a member of the family. Arrangements were still pending for Grisham and Hall, but a double funeral is expected, Sewell said. Meanwhile, the funeral home is also preparing services for other storm victims and for a woman whose funeral was delayed since last Saturday, the day after the storm hit. If the building's natural gas hasnt been restored once services resume, everybody will just need to bundle up," Sewell said. Thats the best we can do. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has pledged $5,000 payments to each of the victims' families to help with burial expenses. The state was the hardest hit, with 74 deaths reported so far. In the western Kentucky town of Madisonville, family and friends were mourning a couple killed when the twister ripped through nearby Dawson Springs. Jeffrey Eckert, 70, was remembered as mysterious and cool" by his nephew Mike Eckert, who recalled his uncle playing in various bands, always owning a boat and buzzing his home after he'd earned his pilot's license to let the family know it was time to meet him at the airport. Many of the mourners wore animal prints in honor of Jeffrey Eckert's wife, Jennifer Eckert, 69, who loved to wear them and was remembered by her niece Kathy Moore for her chocolate meringue pies and the love of her grandchildren. Moore said her grief was tempered by the memories and the relationships Jennifer Eckert left behind. When it's all said and done, relationships are all that matters," Moore said. Life has to end. Love does not." The grieving, meanwhile, has extended beyond the states hardest hit and into Florida, the home of a father and son killed while staying at a west Tennessee resort. Steve Gunn and his 12-year-old son Grayson were staying at the Cypress Point Resort, a popular destination for hunters and anglers. They will be buried in Florida this weekend. You couldnt go to Walmart with him without a hundred people stopping him," said Steve Gunn's sister, Sandy Gunn. His son was the kid you grew up dreaming to have. Sandy Gunn's brother-in-law, Jamie Hall, also was part of the hunting group and remains missing. Our world has been shattered, she 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. At the heavily damaged courthouse in downtown Mayfield, Makayla Wadkins, 24, helped set up a makeshift memorial. Flyers with color photographs and the names of victims were taped to the fence surrounding the building. Were just going to allow the families to have a place to come where they can grieve and see their loved ones surrounded with flowers and beauty, said Wadkins, from neighboring Kirksey. Across town, a vigil was held earlier this week for the eight victims of a Kentucky candle factory flattened by a tornado. A deputy jailer, Robert Daniel, who was escorting a group of inmates working at the factory, was one of those who died. He will be buried Saturday. Some surviving factory workers filed a lawsuit in state court late Wednesday claiming that Mayfield Consumer Products demonstrated flagrant indifference by refusing to allow employees to go home early as the storm approached the western Kentucky town. A spokesman for the company has previously insisted that employees were free to leave anytime. The spokesman did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Thursday. ___ Associated Press writer Kim Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report. Photo: (Photo : Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) "Counting On" star Jana Duggar isn't denying that she's involved in a child endangerment case in court and has entered a plea of "not guilty." While she is due to be in a hearing in January 2022, Duggar revealed that the authorities have determined "it was an accident." Speaking with E! News, the reality TV star, the eldest daughter in the popular Duggar family, confirmed that she was charged in September for child endangerment. However, court documents will show that the child welfare staff on the case determined that she had no intention of harming the child she was looking after. Duggar said that she was babysitting some children when one of them got outside. Someone saw the child alone in the streets and called the cops, resulting in a citation and a follow-up investigation from the child welfare staff. Read Also: Apple Releasing New Feature To Scan iPhones for Child Sex Abuse Materials An Innocent Mistake Jessa Duggar Seewald, the younger sister of Jana, also broke her silence to defend her sister. Jessa posted an Instagram story stating that what happened was "an innocent mistake" and that it could happen to anyone taking care of more than one child. Jessa said that the media sensationalized the incident without realizing that her sister is "one of the most amazing women" in their large family. Jana may face up to three months in prison if she is convicted of child endangerment, but she clarified that she was never arrested during the accident despite some reports in the media. Her court date isn't until January 2022. The TV star also thanked the authorities for handling her case with the professionalism she expected. She added that what matters is the child in question was not harmed and was home safe. It's unclear who Jana was babysitting for. Josh Duggar's Conviction Jana's legal troubles came after her brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted of child pornography and possession of child pornographic materials. He is currently awaiting his sentence, and reports cited that Josh could face up to 20 years in prison. Sources close to the family said that the Duggars are divided and "torn apart" over Josh's guilty verdict. While parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar try to stay strong for their daughter-in-law, Anna, and their grandchildren, some of the Duggar siblings are disappointed and horrified with Josh. During the trial, friends of Josh testified that the pastor's son admitted to them that he molested young girls in his teenage years. Two of his sisters, Jessa and Jill Duggar Dillard, revealed in 2015 that Josh inappropriately touched them. Jill expressed her gratitude for the law enforcement that worked on this case against her brother. Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth also released a statement saying that she and her husband agreed with the verdict and thanked the people who worked tirelessly to bring this case to justice. "When a professing follower of Jesus is exposed as a hypocrite, the response of many will be to challenge the integrity of Jesus himself," posted another sister, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, on their Instagram account. Jessa and Jana have yet to issue a statement about Josh's conviction. Related Article: Ohio Mayor Wants School Board to Resign Over Racy Writing Assignments for High School Kids Photo: (Photo : Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIME) Tech billionaire, TIME Person of the Year, and father-of-six Elon Musk has expressed his concerns about the world's dwindling birth rate and encouraged parents to have more babies because "there are not enough people" who could sustain civilization. Musk said in a profile on the Wall Street Journal that many "good, smart people" are choosing not to have children, which he believes should not be the case. He doesn't subscribe to the expert opinion that overpopulation will destroy the earth's resources because civilization will "crumble" if "people don't have more children." The SpaceX and Tesla owner said he's setting a good example of what he preaches by having six children. Musk is dad to 17-year-old twins Griffin and Xavier, 15-year-old triplets Damian, Kai and Saxon, and toddler X A-Xii. Read Also: Grimes Reveals Son With Elon Musk Does Not Call Her Mama The Movement to Not Have Kids Data from the World Bank showed that the world's birth rate has declined since the 1960s. However, in a recent analysis to its investors, Morgan Stanley stated that there is a growing movement of people deciding not to have kids because of climate change, which has also impacted fertility rates. Studies from UCLA revealed the links between extreme heat incidents across the globe and the infertility rate. One incident in China showed that fertility has declined by 20 percent due to the rising temperature. In May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published findings showing that births in America in 2020 were down by four percent and the fertility rate of women between 15 to 44 years old was also at a record low. The coronavirus has also contributed to the dip in the population. Apart from the deaths from the virus, more women are choosing to delay their pregnancies during a crisis. Before the pandemic, however, many women have been putting off having children because they still prefer to pursue other goals and interests. However, studies have also shown that low birth rates will not be economically and politically sustainable because no children will grow up to continue to work in the labor force, as Musk has stated. If the labor force shuts down for lack of human resources, countries will suffer. Musk's Stand on Aging Musk also stated his stand against aging amid the advances of technology that could extend a human's life. The tech boss, who plans to build a robot workforce for repetitive tasks, said that "no one should live forever" because death is important for new ideas to flourish. He clarified that he's not taking a jab at aging or aging people. However, Musk believes that those in important positions such as leading countries and businesses, should "have sufficient presence of mind and cognitive ability" when making decisions that impact thousands or billions. Musk also believes that no one above 70 years old should be running for political office anymore. If there's a minimum age requirement, he said there should be a maximum age requirement as well. Related Article: Study Says 1.5 Million Children in 21 Countries Lost Parents, Grandparents to COVID-19 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 Seasoned Journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says he supports any person who would like to take legal action against the Ghana Health Service over their compulsory vaccination directive. Ghanaians are torn in their opinions on the directive that all unvaccinated Ghanaians and people with residential status returning to Ghana must be vaccinated on arrival. This new rule came into effect from Tuesday, December 14, 2021. However, there seems to be a possible legal threat against the new order as some people have kicked against the directive. Ningo Prampram MP Sam George, reacting to the directive, raised human rights concerns. "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," he tweeted. Also, the NDC Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi argues that the "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". Speaking on the matter during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", Kweku Baako believed going to the court will help clarify issues for the public. "I'm not against the idea of going to the Supreme Court. That's okay. After all, that is the way we are developing our democracy. The democratic consolidation, the constitution gives every person the right to do that and it's sometimes [is] good. It helps. It clears the unanswered questions to bring clarity to bear on our constitutional processes. So, in principle, I have absolutely nothing against any litigation on this matter at the Supreme Court. It may help," he said. He encouraged individuals who want to litigate it in court to go ahead with it, saying, "I would not suggest that going to the Supreme Court on this, it's an ugly initiative . . to that extent, I would like that someone rushes to the Supreme Court. I would have gone to do it myself but I don't have the time". 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 Zimbabwe has been hit by a huge exodus of health professionals amid the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 2,200 leaving to take jobs in the US, UK, Australia and neighbouring states, according to the government's Health Service Board. This is more than double the number of doctors, nurses and pharmacists who left last year, and three times the number that left in 2019. Despite repeated government promises to improve wages they remain low. An average worker in the public sector takes homes less than $200 a month, while in the UK - which relaxed visa restrictions for health workers in 2020 - they can earn 10 times as much. Officials say the exodus has affected an already fragile health system, which suffers from a lack of medical equipment and medicines. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of 23 doctors per 10,000 people, which Zimbabwe is far from meeting. When the last survey was done in 2015, there was an average of just 1.6 doctors per 10,000 people. 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 Malawi will make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for key staff, including health workers and journalists, from January, the health minister has said, as the government tries to boost its vaccination campaign amid a spike in cases. "Uptake of vaccines has not been high enough towards reaching our goal of vaccinating at least 60% of eligible Malawians by the end of next year. The vaccine remains our best preventive tool," Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. Official statistics show that about 641,000 people are fully vaccinated in Malawi. This amounts to just over 3% of the population, according to Reuters. The southern African nation has seen a spike in daily Covid infections, with 318 new cases reported this week compared to less than 20 on most days in recent weeks, it adds. The Omicron variant was discovered in the country last week. Here are the latest Covid statistics tweeted by Malawi's health ministry: 122 new recoveries pic.twitter.com/iM3k12ugFv Ministry of Health, Malawi (@health_malawi) December 15, 2021 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 Two policemen have been shot dead by suspected robbers at the Zuarungu Market in the Upper East Region, the police administration confirmed on Wednesday (15 December). The cops who are yet to be identified were killed during a robbery attack on a popular shop Baba Store. The Ghana Police Service described the incident as Black Wednesday. Black Wednesday for the Ghana Police Service as we have lost two of our officers through the activities of criminals, while on patrols this night within the Zuarungu Township to safeguard life and property, it said in a Facebook post. According to eyewitnesses, the two officers had stopped at the market at about 7pm to buy food when the armed men who were fleeing the robbery scene attacked and shot them. The sources said the officers who died on the spot were also partly burnt by fire which they suspect emanated from a leakage in the fuel tank of their motorbike. The robbers fled the scene after the incident on a motorcycle before a police team arrived at the scene. The remains of the two cops have been deposited at the Bolgatanga Hospital morgue. Source: asaaseradio.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 camp of soon-to-be Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, aka Chairman Coka has pulled down giant billboards it mounted ahead of the partys National Delegates Conference in Kumasi. In line with the directive of the Party, Friends of Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah have taken steps to remove all mounted billboards that has his picture. Giant billboards mounted by the camp of Coka at Amakom, Anloga junction, Tech, Oforikrom, and other major streets within Kumasi have been removed. In a statement issued by the COKA team indicates We are also by this very action notifying all well-wishers to abide by the party regulations on this conference by not bringing T-Shirts and any other fashionable item branded with the image of Chairman Odeneho to the conference. It is hoped that our collective effort will make this conference successful and that we will collectively uphold the image of the Party now and after the conference. The move is in relation to a directive from the leadership of the NPP for all campaign billboards mounted close to the venue of the conference and within the greater Kumasi area to be removed. Ahead of the conference, however, billboards and banners of persons seeking to contest key positions in the party have been erected by major streets and interactions within Kumasi. The party issued a statement a couple of days ago warning against these developments and wants, billboards erected, scrapped out. The party in a statement said the 2021 National Annual Delegates Conference was a time of renewal for the party and that though it cherishes the party tradition of democratic competition, the leadership believes well-meaning aspirants will appreciate the need for such measures, which are necessary to enable a clear focus on the aims of the conference. Despite billboards of other potential aspirants are still being displayed along the principal streets of Kumasi, the camp of Coka (Afigya Kwabere South NPP Chairman) said they remain law-abiding party members. A position like the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship of the NPP has already split delegates and supporters in the region. Two people, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (Coka) and Kwabena Owusu Aduomi are seeking to contest incumbent Bernard Antwi Boasiako also called Chairman Wontumi. 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 Senior Presidential Advisor, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo has described the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government which is currently before Parliament as one of the best the country has ever produced. This he said is because the budget makes provision for youth employment through entrepreneurship as well as skills development as well as the introduction of the Electronic levy (E-levy) to fund entrepreneurship ventures. Mr Osafo-Maafo made this known today at the launch of the Ghana TVET Service today in Accra. "Indeed, this current budget is one of the best this country has ever produced," Mr Osafo-Maafo said. "Because, there are two things in it which are fundamental and these are some entrepreneurship training that we are putting as part of a 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 charged the country's youth to move beyond the "I want a job mentality" to embracing a mentality of "I am creating a job for myself and others". Opposition to budget Some stalwarts of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by the General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, have argued that the budget in its current state would increase the tax burden of the people, raise the cost of living and collapse businesses. They mentioned that the planned introduction of the E-levy, the reversal of a discount policy on benchmark values of imports and the 15 per cent increase in the cost of all government services as some of the policies that would make the people worse off. They described as misleading, the position of the government that proceeds of the new taxes would be used to tackle employment and entrepreneurship. Additionally, the party has said it would marshal all its 137 Members of Parliament (MPs) to reject the budget which it has christened "AwudieBudget". 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 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 STC Chief Executive Officer, Nana Akomea, has rebuked the people behind the mounting of billboards of Presidential hopefuls for the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) and the leading members who have allowed themselves to be on the billboards. Contributing to Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme Tuesday, Nana Akomea said it's needless for the party's members and supporters to begin campaigns for who becomes the next Presidential candidate after President Akufo-Addo to lead the NPP into the 2024 general elections. The NPP will on Saturday, December 18, 2021 hold a conference at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, to deliberate on party matters. Ahead of the conference, the leadership has warned their members and supporters not to mount billboards nor campaign for any person. 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 by the party read. It continued; 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. This notwithstanding, there are reports of billboards showcasing some leading members of the party for Presidential positions being mounted in Kumasi ahead of the conference. Nana Akomea, reacting to the issue, is calling on the 'big names' on the billboards to bring their camps to order. "Many of these people mounting these billboards are the same ones telling Ghanaians to tighten their belt; that they should accept the e-levy, so we can work with it. You are telling us to tighten our belt and doing these big billboards. So, that doesn't help the party. It doesn't help the government. It doesn't help you. They should pull the brake." To him, such things will disturb the NPP's fortunes, so should be stopped immediately. "They are all trauma to the party; it's needless. Focus on your work and do it effectively. When you have efficiently done your work well, that will be your testimony. That's what you can use to market yourself," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi. 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 Seasoned Journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says President Nana Akufo-Addo should expel from his government any of his appointees who aspire to become flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). The NPP will on Saturday, December 18, 2021 hold a conference at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, to deliberate on party matters. Ahead of the conference, the leadership has warned their members and supporters not to mount billboards nor campaign for any person. 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 by the party read. It continued; 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. This notwithstanding, there are reports of billboards showcasing some leading members of the party for Presidential positions being mounted in Kumasi ahead of the conference. Recounting a similar thing that happened during the reign of Ex-President J.A Kufour, Kweku Baako charged President Akufo-Addo to crack the whip on his officials who cannot discipline themselves but reveal their intentions now to contest the flagbearership race. Making his submissions on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', he said; "It was in 2007 that this thing started, meaning the third year in the second term. This is the first year in the secon term. It doesn't make sense. I believe the President should begin to use reshuffle as part of his bargaining chip . . . He should start using it; crack the whip indirectly there and then!" He urged the President not to favour any person stating emphatically that, "no matter how big you are, if in the first year, you can't hold onto your Presidential ambitions in check, then you must as well just not be in the system . . . if they will prematurely ejaculate before even the third year, if I were the President, I would adopt this method . . . if you won't reshuffle them, get them to resign". 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 Foreign Trained Physiotherapists wanting to work in the Australia To work as a physiotherapist in Australia, you need to apply for and be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia. You may also need to apply for a visa issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Australian Immigration Department). These two application processes are entirely separate and success in one does not automatically guarantee success in the other. Most overseas qualified physiotherapists need to have their qualifications assessed by the Australian Physiotherapy Council to meet one of the eligibility requirements for General Registration. There are two assessment pathways for the purpose of General Registration available to overseas qualified physiotherapists: The Standard Assessment Pathway comprising of an Eligibility Assessment, a Written Assessment, and a Clinical Assessment. The Equivalence of Qualification Pathway is an accelerated assessment process which measures evidence of overseas training courses and qualifications against the requirements for accreditation of Australian physiotherapy programs. If an overseas qualified physiotherapist is not an Australian permanent resident or citizen, an appropriate Australian visa needs to be obtained for working in the country. Some visas require an assessment of skills and qualifications for migration purposes and the Council conducts Assessments for Skilled Migration for physiotherapists. To find out which assessment is suitable for you, click here. As of 4 February 2015, a new process applies for checking criminal history outside of Australia. This new approach requires certain applicants and registered practitioners to apply for an international criminal history check from an approved supplier. For more information, please refer to the international criminal history page on the AHPRA website. New Zealand Registered Physiotherapists wanting to work in Australia On December 14, the Belarusian state news agency Belta published an article headlined "Belarusian MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Slams EUs belligerent attitude to migrant crisis." The story quotes Anatoly Glaz, head of Digital Diplomacy for the Foreign Ministry press office. Glaz claimed that the policies of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member states are most responsible for migrants massing at the Belarusian borders with Poland and other European Union countries. Glaz specifically called out Josep Borrell, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. "He (Borrell) has kept mum, again, on the main thing: Over the past decade, NATO countries, including EU members led by the United States, have become a real machine producing refugees on a global scale, Glaz proclaimed. The world still remembers well the events of 2015-2016 when refugees spent months sheltering under the open sky in European capitals. Not to mention the ongoing loss of life in the Mediterranean region, the English Channel and the Polish forests. This narrative is misleading and appears designed to deflect from the Lukashenko regimes documented actions to entice migrants (not necessarily refugees) to Minsk, where they are driven to sometimes even pushed across the border into Lithuania and Poland. Firstly, many are in fact Kurdish migrants from Iraq. But the leading country of origin for refugees is Syria, where the decade-long civil war has displaced millions. The primary responsibility for the refugee crisis of 2015-2016 lies with the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad and its ally, the Russian Federation. It was in October 2015 that Russia sent a contingent of its air force to directly intervene in the Syrian war, which had been raging since 2011. Officially tasked with fighting Islamic State (IS) militants, Russias sophisticated air force spent most of its time attacking non-IS rebel factions to back up the Assad regimes militia forces. The effect on civilians was devastating. In 2016, the city of Aleppo fell after a long siege that included Russian bombing. Either out of fear of reprisal, being left homeless, or both, Syrians from Aleppo and other cities suffering from bombing fled in massive numbers. That year, the U.N. refugee agency summarized the situation in a strategic plan: Over the last 12 months, the number of registered Syrian refugees in the Republic of Turkey, the Lebanese Republic, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Iraq, and the Arab Republic of Egypt has increased by more than 1 million, bringing the overall total to almost 4.3 million. Based on the most recent trends in displacement and population growth, and with access to safety in some countries becoming increasingly managed, it is expected that some 4.7 million Syrian refugees will be registered in the region by the end of 2016. Fighting has intensified in almost all Syrian governorates, driving thousands more people from their homes. The 2016 Syria Humanitarian Response Plan estimates that there are 13.5 million people in need, of whom 6 million are children and 6.5 million are internally displaced persons (IDPs). Reporting on the Aleppo bombing campaign, Human Rights Watch accused Russia and Syria of war crimes: A global coalition of 223 nongovernmental organizations on December 1 called upon U.N. member states to request an Emergency Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly to demand an end to all unlawful attacks on civilians in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria, and immediate and unhindered humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can reach all those in need. Member states should also explore possible avenues to bring those responsible for serious crimes under international law on all sides to justice, the organizations said. The appeal comes in response to Russias October 8 veto of a draft U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an end to all aerial bombardment of Aleppo, the fifth time Moscow has blocked council action since the conflict began in 2011. To be sure, U.S. actions in Syria are not above criticism: Witness recent exposes by The New York Times reporting that bombing caused many civilian casualties in the rush to mop up Islamic State, with special military units allegedly disregarding protocols meant to protect innocents. (In response, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered an investigation into one strike the Times said may have killed dozens of civilians near the town of Baghuz.) With regard to migrants moving through Belarus, however, the Foreign Ministry is deceptively blaming other governments for a crisis of its own making. Earlier this year, it was revealed that President Alexander Lukashenkos regime had been advertising cheap trips to Minsk and giving out visas in locales such as Iraq. Lithuanian officials cited reports and documents shown to them by some of the migrants as evidence that Minsk has been encouraging travel to Belarus. The Reuters news agency found evidence that smugglers in Iraq were distributing airline tickets to Belarus for more than $10,000 per person. The Assad regimes state-owned airline, Cham Wings, helped fly would-be migrants to Minsk. Upon arrival, migrants reported being conveyed to the border by Belarusian authorities and in some cases reported being pushed across. Due to winter conditions at the border, some have perished from exposure. In two speeches delivered in the summer of 2021, Lukashenko all but acknowledged his plan to flood his neighbors with migrants. If some think that we will close our borders with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine and become a camp for people fleeing Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Tunisia, they are mistaken, Lukashenko said in a speech in July. We wont hold anyone. They are coming not to us but to enlightened, warm and cozy Europe. In November, the European Union announced new sanctions against the Belarusian regime, which already was being punished for its treatment of protesters and dissidents after the disputed August 2020 election, in which Lukashenko claimed victory. In December, the United States expanded sanctions against the regime, this time targeting 20 individuals and 12 entities. The new measures also sanction Belarusian sovereign debt. COLUMBIA South Carolina lawmakers have taken another stab at redrawing the state's congressional districts, this time making Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace's coastal district more competitive for a Democrat. The state House proposal, released ahead of a Dec. 16 hearing, is vastly different from a Senate plan that's been criticized as carving up the Lowcountry along racial and partisan lines to benefit Mace, who flipped the seat back to Republican last year. The latest proposal would give Democrats more of a chance of winning it back. It redraws the voting lines considerably for not only Mace's 1st District but also Jim Clyburn's Black-majority 6th District, while keeping it solidly blue. Big changes would also come for Joe Wilson's 2nd District, which would stretch from Lexington County all the way to Beaufort County along the state's western border. Despite changes statewide in the House map, only Mace's seat would be a toss-up in a general election. Under the state Senates proposed changes for Maces highly competitive district, former President Donald Trump would have won the 2020 presidential election by 9 percentage points instead of 6. Under the House proposal, Trumps advantage in House District 1 would fall to just 1.7 percent, according to an analysis of precinct data. Instead of following the coastline from the state's southern tip all the way to the Georgetown line, Mace's district would move more inland, keeping only Charleston County's beaches. The House lines keep nearly all of Charleston County intact in her district, except for portions of North Charleston that Clyburn would keep. And it would move into the upper parts of Berkeley and Colleton counties. Clyburn's district, meanwhile, would be concentrated more in the Midlands, while taking the lower half of Berkeley County as a hook into North Charleston. The release is part of the 10-year reapportionment process in which both the S.C. House of Representatives and the S.C. Senate draw their own representation lines and also those for the state's seven congressional districts. The chambers' changes for their own legislative districts have already been signed into law. The House and Senate must agree on a new map for the congressional seats. Their separate proposals will be debated on their chamber floors after the session resumes in January. Critics still argue the House proposal could marginalize Black voting populations in the increasingly purple Lowcountry, which has seen a significant influx of younger, Democratic-leaning voters over the past decade. "The newly released map that was proposed by the House and released to the public earlier this week, while better than the Senate's proposal, still falls short," Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham, who used to represent the 1st District in Congress, said in a statement. "Although it keeps more of Charleston County together, it still intentionally carves out North Charleston in a blatant attempt to pack African-American voters into the Sixth Congressional District," he added. "There is no logical reason Charleston County should be split into two congressional districts, especially based on race." The S.C. chapter of the League of Women Voters was also critical of the new lines. Spokeswoman Lynn Teague questioned the wisdom of including a number of predominantly Black precincts from the Charleston area in the same district as predominantly Black precincts in Columbia, more than 100 miles away. I feel like a broken record on this, but we can keep communities of interest together in a congressional map, she said. And the House has chosen not to do that. Redistricting subcommittee chairman Jay Jordan, R-Florence, did not return a request for comment. Teague reiterated that the lines affecting Charleston and the Lowcountry remain problematic. Its a naturally competitive area, she said. If it's drawn as a true community of interest, it is competitive, possibly more competitive even than the staff map shows. Charleston Democratic Chairman Greg Perry agreed that the lines do not maximize what could be a competitive district. If the redistricting criteria is to not divide cities and counties and precincts to avoid voter confusion, we've still not accomplished that, Perry said. "I think what we've been seeing is our elected officials choosing their voters and not the voters choosing our elected officials," he added. "That's what they're doing. And that's what they're going to continue to do. This story has been updated to correct that this is the S.C. House's first draft of proposed congressional lines. A state judge this week said the Medical University of South Carolina failed to prove it would suffer irreparable harm from the defection of several of its head-and-neck cancer doctors to a rival practice, denying a request for temporary injunction against their new employer, competitor Trident Medical Center. The Dec. 15 ruling by Judge Jennifer McCoy follows the dismissal last week of all allegations against the six former MUSC doctors who left that hospital to help Trident establish a similar cancer treatment center. The ruling does not end the underlying lawsuit in which MUSC is accusing Trident and its HCA Healthcare parent of civil conspiracy, breach of contract, interference with contractual relationships, violations of the states Trade Secrets Act and Unfair Trade Practices Act and other allegations. No hearing date has been scheduled for those claims. Trident, in a written statement, applauded the ruling and said it "will help us further build a multi-disciplinary program that treats patients from around the region with mouth, throat, skin and voice box cancers and patients with parathyroid adenomas and salivary gland tumors." The doctors said in a written statement that their roles with HCA's national cancer network "will bring new and accessible treatments to our area," adding they will "continue to collaborate with trusted physicians and dental colleagues from around the country." A Trident spokesman said the new practice has already treated 75 head and neck cancer patients within the past week. An MUSC spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment. The doctors initially named in the lawsuit were dismissed from the case after they agreed to pay damages from broken employment contracts and to destroy any related MUSC documents in their possession. MUSC had argued that doctors in its oncology department, if allowed to defect to a rival practice, "may seek to use MUSCs confidential and proprietary information to duplicate treatment services. MUSC also alleged that without the help of its doctors, Trident would not be able to quickly establish the facilities, processes and procedures to perform these complicated head and neck procedures and that Trident does not have adequate facilities ... to perform the types of complex surgeries historically performed at MUSC. Trident disagreed with that assessment, saying physicians frequently move their practice locations and affiliations and adding that parent HCA Healthcare is "a global leader in cancer care and research." Two of the nearly dozen airlines serving Charleston will launch new nonstop routes next year to large metropolitan areas in the Midwest and Northeast. Dallas-based Southwest will offer seasonal flights on Saturday only starting June 11 to Kansas City and St. Louis, while JetBlue Airways will begin service up to three times a day starting June 9 to LaGuardia Airport in its home base of New York City. "This is exciting news for Charleston," airport spokesman Spencer Pryor said. "Anytime we can increase the frequency of flights to New York, it's a win-win for business and leisure travelers. It's also an opportunity for us to provide air service to some of the most popular cities in the Midwest." The two-hour flight to St. Louis leaves Charleston at 7:55 p.m. while the two-and-a-half-hour leg to Kansas City departs from the Lowcountry at 3:05 p.m. The new routes go until Labor Day weekend, according to Southwest's flight schedule. JetBlue's schedule currently shows two daily flights to LaGuardia on June 9, but a third one could be added, according to the airline. One flight leaves Charleston at 1:30 p.m. while another departs the Lowcountry at 5:01 p.m. Departure times can vary, and both flights are under two hours. JetBlue's booking schedule goes through Nov. 12. JetBlue already offers flights twice a day between the Lowcountry and John F. Kennedy International Airport and once a day between Charleston and Newark Liberty International Airport in the Big Apple's metro area. Southwest had previously planned to offer a Saturday-only route to Kansas City, starting in June 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined the service. The carrier will be the second airline to offer flights to the St. Louis area. Las Vegas-based Allegiant will bring back seasonal flights twice a week, starting April 14, to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport near Belleville, about 18 miles east of downtown St. Louis. Southwest will fly into St. Louis Lambert International Airport in the city. The airlines' new flights come on the heels of several other carriers' announcements recently of additional routes. Breeze Airways is adding new East Coast service twice a week to Long Island, N.Y., and on Saturday only to Palm Beach, Fla., in February. Delta Air Lines will add a daily route to Minneapolis in April along with Charleston's newest carrier, Sun Country Airlines, and its twice-weekly flights to the Twin Cities area starting that same month. Southwest also will offer daily flights to Austin, Texas, in March. COLUMBIA Irmo High School Principal Robin Hardy is stepping down this summer after four years on the job. Hardy said shes leaving the Lexington-Richland Five school on June 30, when the current academic year ends. She was hired in 2018 from Hand Middle School in Columbia. There are new opportunities on the horizon for School District Five and for Irmo High School new academic programming, new educational philosophy, new construction and a new paradigm, she wrote in a Dec. 15 letter to parents and obtained by Post and Courier Columbia. You can all expect my full engagement and assistance for a smooth and successful transition. In a statement, Lexington-Richland Five leaders said Hardys announcement came as a surprise, while praising her leadership. We thank Dr. Hardy for playing an instrumental role in the successful conclusion of this school year, spokeswoman Amanda Taylor said. The nearly 1,447-student school is set for a $50 million overhaul that will modernize its classrooms, bring additional safety features and boast a new media center as part of a districtwide capital funding plan. Irmo High is also a pilot site for the districts 1st Jobs Initiative, a school-to-work pipeline that will employ high school students within the district in such needed areas as custodial duties, landscaping and food services. I leave this chapter of my professional life hopeful that our schools motto, Proud Past, Bright Future, will resonate with new resolve for all students at Irmo High School, Hardy wrote. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Hardy earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2010. During the 2017-18 year, Hardy was named the S.C. Council of Teachers of English outstanding administrator. Ballet is an art form filled with finesse, technical precision and the ability to improvise. In many ways, a ballerinas skill set mirrors that of a chef, and witnessing a successful performance feels similar to experiencing an unforgettable meal. Since opening Dec. 3, Three Sirens has impressed with plates of crunchy potato rosti with smoked trout roe resting on a bed of creme fraiche, breadcrumb-topped char-grilled oysters, smoked fish dip croquettes and grilled black bass with field pea ragout. All this inside a small space that was transformed from a casual Mexican eatery into a place with a completely different ambiance in four months; that's no small feat in Charleston. So it makes sense that Three Sirens logo comes from the 1581 Ballet Comique de la Reine thats believed to be the first ever ballet performance even if the path to that logo, name and even the new Park Circle restaurants location and chef is a little less direct. Hey neighbor When owners Matt Tunstall and Justin Croxall open Three Sirens orange doors and step outside onto East Montague Avenue, they can see Stems & Skins, their buzzing wine bar that opened in 2016. In the past, the two Park Circle residents had discussed opening a full-service seafood-focused restaurant, but the right opportunity never came up. One finally did when YoBo Cantina Fresca owner Katharine Gottfried put the 1067 E. Montague Ave. space on the market. We had always jokingly dreamed of getting a place across the street and once we got that opportunity we were like We need to make this happen, Croxall said. They were ready to go; well, once they landed on a name. As Croxall put it, the name fell into place while the two were kicking around a more casual fish camp-style restaurant, shortly after signing the lease. Croxall said the word allure, which made them think of luring in a fish. That tangent (naturally) led to the sirens'' that lured sailors to destruction in many Greek mythologies, including Homers Odyssey. Its a little dark, but there was something that resonated about it, Croxall said. When Croxall found the illustration of the three sirens, or mermaids, from the Ballet Comique de la Reine, the ideation phase was complete and Three Sirens was born. Planned improvisation Julian Lippe walked into Stems & Skins a year and a half ago with the goal of making a few extra bucks to fund his new private dining business. During his interview, the Florida-born chef impressed Croxall and Tunstall enough for them to hire him to be the wine bars executive chef on the spot. Lippe thrived, adding handmade pasta and elevated small plates to a menu that previously only offered light fare like cheese and tinned seafood to pair with the wines. Still, Croxall and Tunstall knew he could do more with a full kitchen. When Julian first showed up at Stems, I think Matt and I really saw the potential for growth outside of Stems, Croxall said. His level of professionalism, his commitment, its just someone Matt and I want inside the organization. As Three Sirens executive chef, Lippe has a clear direction for his menu, but that doesnt mean its set in stone. The main idea behind what were doing here is utilizing fish out of our waters and (see) what we can do with those guys, Lippe said. The quintessential Three Sirens dish might just be Lippes grilled bone-in whole fish currently, he's using black bass. Fish benefit from being prepared on the bone just like a steak or chicken does, according to Lippe, but the preparation requires patience. That grill can be your best friend or your worst nightmare, Lippe said. To me, theres just nothing better in the world than bone-in fish. You just get all these things that are usually cut out of the fish and saved. In the seafood department, diners will also find raw and char-broiled oysters, barbecue shrimp and grouper, among other options. During a Dec. 4 visit to Three Sirens, our server said the fish croquettes were a must-try small plate on the menu. Well echo that sentiment. According to Lippe, the croquettes cream cheese-based filling was originally supposed to contain shrimp, but he instead opted to use Abundant Seafoods smoked amberjack. (Abundant Seafood owner) Mark Marhefka had this really beautiful smoked amberjack that hes been making for a while and its always really delicious, said Lippe, calling smoked fish dip one of just a handful of dishes people associate with Florida. I was like Heres my one little nod to Florida. The filling gets a panko breading crust, and then the croquettes hit the fryer. Theyre served with a sweet and spicy roasted pepper jam made with apple cider vinegar and sugar. Many of Charlestons renowned restaurants in the seafood category have a must-have meat dish. Chubby Fishs lamb ribs. 167 Raws 10-hour pork carnitas tacos. Delaney Oyster Houses braised beef short rib. At Three Sirens, its Lippes grilled chicken. We really wanted to make sure that everyone who came in was able to pick something and feel good about it, he said, describing Three Sirens non-seafood options. To make the chicken, Lippe starts with a Storey Farms bird that he debones, presses and brushes with tare, a sauce composed of tamari, sake, mirin, chicken stock, kombu and bonito flake. The chicken is grilled until crispy and served with sweet potato puree and fried brussels sprouts. Its actually one of my favorite dishes on the menu, Lippe said. That way of pressing it like that is, to me, the best way to cook a boned-out chicken. Thats not all patrons will find in the non-seafood category. Order a pillowy Parisian gnocchi for the table perhaps as an in-between course before the entrees arrive. The nutty brown butter sauce allows the gnocchis texture to shine through, along with the hakurei turnip puree it rests on. Three Sirens isnt necessarily seasonally focused, meaning the beverage program must stand up to a wide range of flavors. Luckily, Croxall and Tunstall have experience in that department. Cocktails and a combination of craft and easy-drinking beers flow from the bar, which of course offers an expansive, curated wine list that will be tweaked as needed. Same goes for Lippes menu. Its kind of just ever-evolving rather than a set menu for a season, he said. Really, its just kind of whatever we want to eat ... rather than feeling forced to change or forced to stay the same. Fit for any occasion Croxall isnt afraid to admit that the Three Sirens team completed most of the renovations themselves in order to cut costs. It doesnt show. Fresh paint, wallpaper, two stained-glass windows inspired by one in Croxalls childhood home and lights by Cassie Carter, lead bartender Kevin Carters wife, have given the two-part dining room new life. Church pews left over by the previous owners serve as banquettes at two tables: one facing the bar in the lively front room and another in the back dining room. We knew we wanted to have some good energy, so the front room obviously makes sense for that, Croxall said. And then the back room, we really just wanted to make it somewhere thats a little bit quieter (and) calmer. Croxall has been pleased with the response to Three Sirens, a restaurant thats further cementing Park Circle as a dining destination. Like some of its neighbors, Three Sirens is the place to go for an anniversary on Saturday night before rolling in on Tuesday and saying, Ill have the regular. Isnt that what most restaurants strive for? NORTH CHARLESTON A pedestrian bridge linking West Ashley and North Charleston could cost somewhere between $25 million and $60 million and give walkers and bicycle riders enough space to avoid the dangerous stroll they now face crossing the North Bridge. Residents got their first glimpse on Dec. 15 at the three alternatives for the Better North Bridge Project, which would establish a 14- to 16-foot-wide bridge to the east side of the existing World War II Memorial Bridge, also known as the North Bridge. The least expensive is a stripped down model; the costliest would sweep pedestrians over Interstate 26, where a dangerous series of intersections is a constant threat. Five people have been killed along the existing bridge, which crosses the Ashley River, in pedestrian or cyclist collisions since 2017. The three alternatives connect the proposed bridge to the existing Northbridge Park on the West Ashley side of the North Bridge. They also create a shared-use path from the new bridge to Azalea Drive on the North Charleston side. Part of the goal of the meeting was to solicit public feedback. "We want to know what the surrounding communities want and how they'll use this," Project Manager Sheila Parker said. The project's first alternative provides two routes. One route takes walkers and bikers from the new bridge, over the Ashley River marsh, and to Harvey Street near The Bend park, before tying into Azalea Drive. The other route goes in the opposite direction toward the city of Charleston, and connects to Speisseger Drive before passing under Interstate 26 in the Neck Area. The county estimates this plan would cost $30 million to 35 million. "It's not as direct of a route as the other two," she said. "We still try to connect in the same vicinity of these neighborhoods." The second alternative passes under the pedestrian bridge and over the Ashley River marsh. It crosses four I-26 ramps before ending at Azalea Drive. Signs would be installed to order cars to stop for pedestrians and cyclists at the ramps. The estimated cost for that proposal is $25 million to 30 million. The third alternative rises over I-26 using a combination of ramps, bridges and elevators before ending at Azalea Drive. This alternative is projected to be the most expensive at $55 million to 60 million. "People are coming off of those ramps pretty fast," Parker said. "That's a safe alternative, but it costs a lot more money." The county's Dec. 15 public meeting took place at the Lowcountry Food Bank in North Charleston. A video presentation gave an overview of the project, which seeks to improve bike and pedestrian connectivity and promote recreational opportunities for the surrounding communities. Four stations included visual display boards outlying the alternatives. County project leaders answered questions and explained the different alternatives to residents. About an hour into the event, roughly 50 or so persons had attended the three-hour drop-in. "I think we had a great turnout," Parker said. The county developed the alternatives based on input from the surrounding communities, the cities of North Charleston and Charleston, and the state Department of Transportation. Oscar Wright, president of Dorchester Terrace's neighborhood association, attended the meeting. He prefers the first alternative, which takes bikers and walkers away from the interstate. He feels that forcing cyclists to cross the ramps at I-26 poses safety issues. "It's going to be just as dangerous as if you didn't have a bike lane," he said. Wright is glad biker safety is being addressed at the North Bridge. He's seen people risk their lives trying to walk the structure. The bridge's raised median has poles that attempt to discourage people from walking the platform. Still, pedestrians often attempt to walk around the poles to get to the other side of the bridge. "Sometimes they try to push their bike through (the poles)," Wright said. Charleston County will accept public comments until Feb. 11. Residents can submit comments via the project website at www.betternorthbridge.com/publicmeeting, or by emailing the project team at roads@charlestoncounty.org. Written comments may be submitted by mail to: Better Northbridge Project c/o Reveer Group, 2971 West Montague Avenue, Suite 101 North Charleston, SC 29418. A second public meeting has been scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Jan. 12 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at 1157 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in West Ashley. After spending the past year and a half in storage, the 125-year-old statue of John C. Calhoun may head from the South to the West. The Charleston Commission on History voted 7-4 on Dec. 15 to recommend that the city lend the statue to a group of Los Angeles-based art exhibitors. The final approval will have to come from City Council, likely in January. Having John C. Calhoun is great, but having Charlestons participation given the Emanuel Church massacre as the start of the conversation about decommissioning these monuments, thats what is in my mind of greater importance, co-curator of the exhibit Hamza Walker told The Post and Courier. A congressman and vice president, Calhoun died years before Southern states launched the Confederacy, but he is also remembered as a fierce defender of slavery and, to some, represents the citys dark past. In June 2020, city leaders voted to take the statue down. For weeks before the announcement, the city saw protests almost daily prompted by the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Tentatively called Monuments, the exhibit has been in the works since 2018, Walker said. It gathered new momentum in the wake of Floyds death. Debuting in the fall of 2023 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the show will display decommissioned Civil War and antebellum monuments alongside newly commissioned art. Some existing works of art will be incorporated into the exhibit, and it may travel to other museums as well. So far, Walker and his project manager, Hannah Burstein, have received approval from cities to borrow nearly a dozen other decommissioned antebellum and Confederate-era monuments. Some commission members pushed back on the idea that Calhouns legacy should be strictly tied to slavery while others said it is the part of his legacy that has the most impact on the present day. "His likeness was not put on Marion Square because of his views on slavery," said commission member Dale Theiling, who voted against lending the statue to the exhibitors. "Now someone wants to take him across nine state lines and three time zones to display him as a racist," he said. Commission member Mickey Rosenblum, who voted in favor of the proposal, pushed back on comments that put Calhoun's other accomplishments on the same level of importance as his promotion of slavery. "You just cant make him into a wonderful person. He is responsible for the deaths and torture of these people, and you can't hide it," Rosenblum said. "It's the truth, and our job on the history commission is to be truthful to the people." At a November meeting, commission members postponed a vote for one month on whether to recommend the statue be loaned. Some of the commission members took issue with the fact that the art exhibitors planned to publish a catalogue to accompany the exhibit, explaining each of the statues' historical context. "In my opinion, we should continue our apolitical approach in regards to proposals," said commission member David McCormack, who voted to oppose sending the statue to the exhibit. Other commission members were supportive of the proposal and wary of any suggestions that the catalogue entry should not highlight the historical figure's impacts on Black Americans. "I know what has happened in my 73 years here," said commission member and Councilman Robert Mitchell. "My mother and father and my grandmother and grandfather told me about it way back when, and theyre older than everyone here today." Mitchell, who is Black, also referenced the threats City Council faced when the statue was taken down. "It's getting sickening," said Mitchell, who voted in favor of lending the statue. Organizers of the exhibit put together a list of scholars they hoped would agree to write the catalogue description for the Calhoun statue. The curators agreed to ask Thomas Brown, a professor at the University of South Carolina, to write the passage. The description will also come back to the history commission for approval, the exhibitors wrote in an email to the commission. "Were looking for partners in the exhibition," Walker said. "It isnt a question of borrowing the object as a formal loan and that's the end of the relationship." In addition to Rosenblum and Mitchell, commission members Angela Mack, Michael Allen, Nicholas Butler, Wilmot Fraser and Harlan Greene voted in favor of the proposal. Commission members Robert Rosen and Peg Eastman joined Theiling and McCormack in voting no. Commission members Damon Fordham and Harry Griffin, who is also a councilman, were absent. The first South Carolinian to be sentenced for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 wont spend any time behind bars. Instead, a federal judge sentenced Newberry trucker Andrew Hatley, 34, to three years of probation for his role in a historic assault aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election. "Far better than I deserve, your honor," Hatley told Judge Thomas Hogan during the hourlong hearing Dec. 16. Sentences like Hatleys have become common for scores of Jan. 6 defendants who, like him, joined the mob that swept through the Capitol building but werent accused of assaulting the police officers who guarded it. Federal prosecutors recommended no prison time for Hatley, even as they stressed that Hatley's participation contributed to the mobs strength in numbers. As this Court knows, a riot cannot occur without rioters, and each rioters actions from the most mundane to the most violent contributed, directly and indirectly, to the violence and destruction of that day, prosecutors wrote in Hatleys case. Federal investigators have charged more than 700 people from all 50 states with breaking into the Capitol building and briefly stopping Congress from affirming Democrat Joe Biden as the countrys next president. More than 220 of them are charged with assaulting or impeding police that day some with their fists, others with clubs or flagpoles. A Post and Courier analysis of the cases of South Carolinas 11 Capitol defendants found they were devoted to then-President Donald Trump and believed his false claims that Democrats stole the 2020 election with strategic fraud in battleground states. Five of those S.C. defendants have already pleaded guilty, and a sixth plans to do so next month, court records show. Before handing down Hatley's sentence, Hogan noted he had no prior criminal record and didnt fight with police or vandalize the Capitol. He also appreciated that Hatley has shown great remorse for his involvement since his Jan. 19 arrest. Going in there wasnt right, Hatley told Hogan. And probably coming down here (to Washington, D.C.) wasnt right to begin with. I wish I hadnt. Hatleys attorney, Joseph Conte, asked Hogan to impose just probation and community service. Prosecutors asked for two months of house arrest, three years of probation and 60 hours of community service. Hatley had already agreed to pay $500 in restitution to help cover the estimated $1.5 million in damage that the riot caused to the Capitol building. Hatley drove to Washington from South Carolina on Jan. 5 to join a rally the next day protesting the 2020 election results. After hearing Trump speak, he joined the throngs of people marching toward the Capitol. He would later tell investigators he witnessed a chaotic, "very overwhelming" scene on the west side of the Capitol building as rioters climbed scaffolding, banged on doors and windows and clashed with police. But he continued toward the Capitol anyway. Hatley climbed into the building through a smashed window around 2:50 p.m. on Jan. 6, about 20 minutes after police ordered Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress to evacuate for their own safety. Wearing a gas mask and a black cowboy hat, he strolled around the buildings interior for about 15 minutes. He snapped selfies of himself and the mob, including one in front of the statue of former Vice President John C. Calhoun, a South Carolina native. At one point, Hatley apparently second-guessed his decision to enter the building. He left the building through the same window he entered, but then reentered after just two minutes. Hatley walked around until a Capitol employee suggested he leave. Like most of South Carolinas other Capitol defendants, Hatley was turned in by tipsters who knew him. The first Hatley tip came in at 4:18 p.m. on Jan. 6, less than 90 minutes after he entered the Capitol building and before security officers had even cleared the building of rioters. Hatley was arrested on Jan. 19, becoming the Palmetto States first Capitol defendant. In September, he became the first South Carolinian to plead guilty in connection with the riot. And on Dec. 16, he became the first to be sentenced. Hatley initially faced four charges but pleaded down to a single misdemeanor. He has been out of jail on bail since Jan. 22. Judge Hogan spoke at length during Hatley's sentencing hearing about the need for harsh penalties for people who helped attack the seat of U.S. democracy and interfered with the peaceful transition of power. There is a narrative being pushed by certain groups in this country that nothing really happened (on Jan. 6)," Hogan said. "That is a narrative that we need to dispel. He also expressed that so many self-described patriots fell victim to Trump's "big lie" about 2020 election fraud, describing the former president as a "false prophet." Over 140 police were injured as a result of this attack by people who were claiming to be patriots and defending the United States, Hogan said. But Hogan also said he didn't believe incarceration was an appropriate punishment for Hatley, a first-time offender who has repeatedly apologized for his role in the riot. And house arrest isn't practical, Hogan said, since Hatley mostly lives out of his truck and only sleeps on a friend's couch in Newberry a handful of nights each month. For his part, Hatley said he has lost friends since his arrest. "Half the people that I've known all my life won't speak to me anymore." He said he regrets that the country has become so divided, turning "politics into something ugly where people can't talk anymore," but recognizes his role in making things worse. "I've only got one lifetime, your honor," he said, "and I don't think it's enough to make up for it." 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. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. The Department of Justice sent out a press release yesterday afternoon on the Chauvin plea deal following the hearing before Judge Magnuson yesterday morning. It is posted online here. The release fabricates this quote for Attorney General Garland: Defendant Chauvin has pleaded guilty to two federal civil rights violations, one of which led to the tragic loss of George Floyds life, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. While recognizing that nothing can repair the harm caused by such acts, the Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those who violate the Constitution, and to safeguarding the civil rights of all Americans. I have a few comments and observations, increasingly tentative, that reflect points I have not seen raised elsewhere. I think they are at least worthy of mention. Chauvin had already been convicted of murder in state court. The prosecution of Chauvin in the Floyd case has little justification beyond politics. The press release identifies no separate federal interest in the civil rights case against Chauvin. It doesnt even try. It is simply silent on this point. The Department of Justice Manual devotes a section to principles of federal prosecution. The subsection on Initiating and Declining Charges Prosecution in Another Jurisdiction takes up the question posed in this case. The factors stated support the silence of the government on this point. Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and 1/2 years on the state court conviction and agreed to imposition of a sentence between 20 and 25 years in the federal case. Judge Magnuson noted during the hearing, however, that federal sentences generally result in service of 90 percent of the term imposed whereas Minnesota state sentences generally result in service of 2/3 of the term imposed. The sentences in the state and federal cases are to run concurrently. The federal case may result in a slightly longer term of incarceration for Chauvin, but the federal case also disposed of a separate federal case against Chauvin involving a former juvenile. The plea agreement provides that Chauvin is to serve his sentence in federal custody. I would guess that this is at Chauvins insistence and that he deems it a benefit of the agreement. The Supreme Court sees no double jeopardy issue in state and federal prosecutions of an individual for the same offense. I believe its most recent opinion on the subject is in Gamble v. United States (2019). The Harvard Law Review note on the case is posted online here. The prosecution of the three other officers on the civil rights charges is set for trial before Judge Magnuson next month. Their prosecution on the state court charges has been delayed in light of the federal prosecution. Were it not for the federal case, the state court charges against the officers would already have been tried. The federal case has disrupted the state court proceedings. The plea agreement is silent on Chauvins possible testimony in the case against the three officers. Chauvins appeal of the state court convictions continues. Chauvins Fifth Amendment right to remain silent continues as well. Chauvins strongest issue on appeal of his state court convictions must be the venue of the case in Hennepin County. If not the strongest issue, it is certainly one of the strongest. If Chauvin were to secure a retrial in another judicial district on appeal and be acquitted on retrial, then what? Its highly unlikely to happen. Moreover, the dual sovereignty doctrine set forth in the Supreme Courts double jeopardy jurisprudence should protect the plea agreement and any convictions entered on it from attack. In that sense, when Judge Magnuson enters convictions based on the plea agreement, the federal case against Chauvin should achieve finality that the state court case lacks at this point. The paper edition headline to this Washington Post article is Trumps outburst over Netanyahu shocks allies. I wrote about that outburst here. Why is anyone shocked that Trump said what he said? The outburst is vintage Trump. Netanyahu is the umpteenth former ally Trump has thrown under the bus for disloyalty. Trumps absurd claim that he prevented the destruction of Israel is fully consistent with his I alone can fix it boasting. And how is it surprising that Mr. Art of the Deal expressed frustration with Netanyahu for being fussy about deal making with Israels enemies? The Posts article considers whether Trumps attack on Netanyahu will hurt him among evangelicals. The Post quotes Mike Evans, one of Trumps early evangelical backers, who says he was horrified by Trumps statements which, he believes, will offend significant numbers of evangelical voters. According to the Post, Evans, once an adviser to Trump, sent a letter to the former president imploring him to understand that Benjamin Netanyahu has much greater support among evangelicals in America than you. He added: There is no possibility you can win again if Bible-believing evangelicals see you as the Fk Netanyahu president who . . . blames the State of Israel, and not the Palestinians, for not making peace. One can only imagine Trumps delight at reading that Netanyahu is more popular than he is among committed evangelicals. Talk about disloyalty! Is Evans statement true? Other evangelical leaders suggest that it isnt. Johnnie Moore, a former Liberty University official who helped organize Trumps evangelical advisory board in 2016, told the Post: The relationship between American Evangelicals and Bibi preceded the relationship with President Trump by many, many years. But Bibi was an Israeli prime minister, and Trump was an American president. Theres a difference between the two for Americans. So I would imagine. The influential pastor Robert Jeffress said: Even if the alleged comments are true, it doesnt diminish in the least that President Trumps policies have been the most pro-Israel in history. True. But we can get even stronger pro-Israel policies from certain other conservative Republicans who arent so eager to make a deal with the Palestinian leaders and who dont blame Israel for being reluctant to enter into one. Im not qualified to speculate about the extent to which Trumps attack on Netanyahu and his expression of sympathy with the Palestinian Authority (and indeed his reference to something like a father-son relationship with its head) will cost the former president evangelical support. My assumption is it that it will cost him such support only at the margin, but thats just an uneducated guess. Trump doesnt rely much on support from Jews, of which he gets little. Nonetheless, it may be worth a moment to consider whether his support among politically conservative Jews will diminish after his remarks about Netanyahu and the Middle East. Joel Pollak, a senior editor at Breitbart and, Im told, an Orthodox Jew, wasnt pleased with what Trump said. He noted that the Palestinian Authority, the subject of Trumps praise, currently provides stipends to convicted Palestinian terrorists in Israeli jails, and the families of Palestinian terrorists killed by Israel. It also names public buildings and parks after famous Palestinian terrorists. Pollak added: Netanyahu has, in fact, negotiated agreements with the Palestinians in the past, and embraced Trumps framework for peace in early 2020. He has, however, resisted further removals of Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, or security concessions. Notably, Netanyahu refrained from annexing the West Bank to Israel under the Abraham Accords, despite domestic pressure from right-wing parties for him to do so, out of deference to the Trump Administrations efforts to negotiate in the region. Pollak also made the same point I did above that many potential Republican candidates for the presidency. . .have strong records on Israel, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and others. I think Trumps ill-advised remarks will cause many conservative Jews to lean towards another pro-Israel candidate, assuming one is willing to take on Trump in the 2024 primaries. But again, the importance of Jewish support pales in comparison to the importance of evangelicals. Jay Rosen is a journalism professor and media critic. Like most who make their living this way, hes a hardcore partisan leftist. Rosen considers the GOP an authoritarian party. He views it as abnormal, unlike the Democrats. He believes, therefore, that its a mistake for journalists to report on politics as if there are two normal parties. Rather, their reporting should reflect the fact (as Rosen sees it) that we have one genuine political party thats clashing with an authoritarian force seeking to destroy American democracy. What does this mean in practice? When Ross Douthat raised this question during a podcast, Rosen said: One has to report whats happening in politics. I think there are tons of legitimate criticisms to be made of Biden, including some from the left as well as from the right. So its maintaining some sense of proportion when you have a normal president doing normal things within a normal party and trying to act normally like a leader, and a rogue figure who has, through the political movement that he created, the engine of which is the denial of reality or straight-up lying the comparison between the two is bizarre. And so I think this is what journalists have to recognize, not that they should be nice towards Biden, but that, when they are critical, they have to set what hes doing within this larger context, and thats not always what I see. He also suggested that journalists set up a clock to inform readers just how close we are to a Trump-induced collapse. Clearly, then, Rosen doesnt want journalists to cover Republicans and Democrats the same way. Its not just the ludicrous Trump clock. If journalists criticize Biden, they should offset that criticism by reminding readers of the larger context that Biden is what stands between America and collapse due to a rogue figure who leads an authoritarian movement. No such offsetting or discussion of larger context for example, that Republicans are trying to prevent the radical transformation of Americas economy and its institutions (e.g., the Supreme Court and the Electoral College) that many Democrats avowedly seek is in order when journalists attack the GOP. Theres nothing original in this view. Similar thoughts have been expressed by more important media critics than Rosen, for example the Washington Posts Margaret Sullivan. And, indeed, the kind of journalism they call for is practiced quite often at organs like the Post. Rosen may not always see it, but often enough its there for all to see. If Rosen deserves points for originality, its because, at the same time he advocates that journalists cover Democrats and Republicans differently because one is a normal party and the other is not he also says I dont think journalists should put their thumb on the scale for the Democrats. John Sexton calls this an incoherent position. I call it dishonest. The kind of coverage Rosen desires, as described above, obviously amounts to putting a thumb on the scale for the Democrats. Sextons piece draws from Rosens podcast encounter with Douthat. The two of them Sexton and Douthat do an effective job of exposing Rosens incoherent partisanship. I want to add two points. First, Trump isnt the first Republican president whom Rosen deemed abnormal an affront to norms. In this rambling 2007 post, Rosen accused George W. Bush of leading a retreat from empiricism. He claimed that under Bush and Dick Cheney, reality-based policy-makingand the mechanisms for itha[s] gotten dumped. A different pattern. . .appeared under George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. The normal checks and balances had been overcome, so that executive power could flow more freely. As he does now, Rosen claimed to see something in the Bush 43 presidency that departed from the norms established by past presidents, Republican and Democrat: The contrast I would draw is between the actions of Bush, a political innovator, and the behavior of previous presidents, Republican and Democrat. . .[The Bush administration] simply does not behave as previous governments have behaved when presented with the tools of the presidency, which includes [sic] the media, and the greatest public address system in the world: the White House podium and backdrop. Rosens screed did not include any analysis to support his claim that Bushs use of the tools of the presidency differed appreciably from that of Nixon, Reagan, or even Bush 41. He simply asserted a difference so he could pretend that his attack on Bush 43 wasnt based on party favoritism, but rather on the alleged abnormality of the current Republican president. Now, Rosen is trying to do the same thing with Trump. Rosen has a better case with Trump and some of his Republican supporters than he did with Bush. However, he vastly and shrilly overstates that case, while disregarding Democratic abnormalities (its been the better part of a century since Democrats seriously contemplated packing the Supreme Court, to cite just one example). This is the second point I want to make. For a good discussion of how abnormally Democrats are behaving, I recommend this piece by Michael Lind. Unlike Rosen, a committed, long-time leftist, Lind has, at different times in his career, been on both sides of the political/ideological divide. He has two of the traits Rosen lacks perspective and a measure of objectivity. Lind makes a persuasive case that Democrats are departing, in important ways, from constitutional norms. He cites Barack Obamas unconstitutional re-writing of immigration laws, once Obama concluded he couldnt accomplish the re-writing in the normal way by persuading Congress to make the changes and then signing them into law. He also cites Joe Bidens unlawful reliance on OSHA as the basis for an executive order that requires employees of roughly two-thirds of the American workforce to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or be fired. One can agree or disagree with Linds discussion of these two acts and with his contention that American leftists have become Jacobins. But Lind at least makes an argument. With Rosen, its all invective in service of the proposition that journalists should cover the two political parties differently, coupled with the dishonest claim that this isnt really what hes calling for. Joe Biden ran for president largely by blaming President Trump for the fact that people were dying from (or more often, with) covid. Biden said Trump was responsible for all of those deaths. But now, of course, more people have died with covid during the Biden administration than during Trumps. So is Biden responsible for those deaths? One White House reporterI assume it was Peter Doocyhad the temerity to ask that question, and he followed up with a question about Chinas role. Bidens response? A smirk and a wave of the hand: REPORTER: 800,000 coronavirus deaths do you have a statement on your responsibility? And why havent you asked China to do more, to be transparent on the origins? BIDEN: *smiles, walks away* pic.twitter.com/SGWNuJfdLB RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 15, 2021 It is a sign of the times, I suppose, that no one takes seriously the idea that the same standard that Biden applied to Trump should be applied, in turn, to Biden. And speaking of China: I think most scientists in the relevant disciplines now think that the lab leak hypothesis, derided as a conspiracy theory in the early days of the epidemic, when it was merely suggested as a possibility worth looking into, is the most probable explanation for the covid-19 virus. Yesterday an eminent scientist told the British Parliaments Science and Technology Select Committee that a lab leak is the most likely explanation of the viruss origin, and there are strong indications that it was deliberately engineered: A laboratory leak is now the more likely origin of Covid, MPs have heard, because after two years of searching an animal host has never been found. Speaking to the Science and Technology Select Committee, Dr Alina Chan, a specialist in gene therapy and cell engineering at MIT and Harvard, said there was also a risk that Covid-19 was an engineered virus. Dr Chan, said: I think the lab origin is more likely than not. Right now its 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. It isnt just a guess, there is strong evidence that the virus was engineered: We know this virus has a unique feature, called the furin cleavage site, and without this feature there is no way this would be causing this pandemic. A proposal 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 Im going to put horns on horses and at the end of 2019 a unicorn turns up in Wuhan city. More: Lord Ridley [who co-authored a book on the origin of the virus] told MPs: I also think its 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 havent found a single infected animal that could be the progenitor, and thats incredibly surprising. *** We know now that experiments were being done at biosecurity level 2 (similar to a dentists office) that resulted in 10,000 times increases in infectivity of viruses and three or four times their lethality. The important thing is to stop doing these experiments that are risky. The lefts attempt to suppress scientific inquiry into the origins of covid, as well as into the most effective treatments for the virus, is a scandal. Nigeria has the lowest ratio of agricultural extension workers to farmers in Africa, a new report has said. The African Seed Access Index (TASAI) 2020 Report ranked Rwanda as the country with the highest ratio of extension workers to farmers, followed by Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Zambia and Mali. Nigeria is at the bottom of the index, alongside Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Uganda and Kenya. Nigerias performance in 2019, the study year, was still worse than two years earlier. Nigeria has struggled to reform its agricultural sector to reduce dependence on crude oil and gas. In March 2021, the government announced it will hire 75,000 additional extension service workers as part of efforts to increase food production. The Ministry of Agriculture said there were 14,000 extension officers as of 2019, of which 6,000 were in the public sector and the remaining 8,000 were privately employed. The government said the countrys agricultural extension system has declined over the years as a result of decreased funding, policy changes, reduced man-power and lack of interest of young people in agricultural entrepreneurship, Vanguard reported. The 2020 TASAI report, published in October, focused on the economic performance in Nigerias formal seed sector. The report said a well-functioning agricultural extension services is critical to the successful adoption of improved seed by smallholder farmers. To produce the report, researchers tracked the average number of agricultural households served by an extension officer. Of 95 seed companies surveyed in Nigeria, 25 or 26 per cent employed extension services in 2019, lower than 34 seed companies that said they employed extension services in 2017. The 25 seed companies surveyed said they employed a total of 188 extension officers (146 males and 42 females). The report assumed a baseline of one extension officer to 7500 farmers. The lower this ratio, the better access farmers have to expert information and advice on how to access and use improved seed and other relevant agricultural technologies, the report said. Concerned about insecurity in the country, China has offered to send a high-level delegation of criminal investigation experts to meet with Nigerian security agencies. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking to journalists on the sideline of the October 1, China-Nigeria friendship award to students of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Mr Cui said that the move by China is part of its support to tackling the insecurity bedeviling Nigeria, disclosing that the security experts are expected to arrive Nigeria soon. Chinas Central government is really concerned about the security situation in Nigeria and also the Chinese Nationals in Nigeria. We are working hard on how we can get support from China. I think that it really concerns every Nigerian and I believe this is not only about the Nigerian people and government but also, we need international support. So now the Central government made the decision to send a High-Level delegation from the criminal investigation experts with real experience. They come to Nigeria and get to talk to the people, the government, how can they find a way to work together to overcome the challenge they are facing, Mr Cui said. Kabiru Bala, Vice Chancellor, of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria thanked the Chinese government for its support and the Nigerian government for its efforts in curbing insecurity. Mr Bala said that the University Campus has been secured to a large extent following the interventions of the government after the institution requested for reinforced security. Let me sincerely appreciate the efforts of government. When we began to see signs of insecurity around the campus, we made a special visit to the Inspector General of Police. To other government agencies, security agencies and I am happy to say that the response was quite appreciated. There are things that I might not mention publicly but just to say the response was very good. The Inspector-General put a lot of reinforcement around the campus with equipment and men. So far, the Campus is secured, Mr Bala said. On the October 1 award to students of the University, Mr Bala said the gesture from the Chinese government through the Embassy is a great encouragement to the students. It is very edifying, when students excel there is need to recognize that excellence and this is one of those gestures by the Chinese government through the Chinese Embassy, Bala said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award is part of the Chinese Embassys programme tagged Oct. 1 Scholarship for Nigeria-China Friendship. Fifty students were awarded N5 million by the Chinese Embassy under the event which is in commemoration of the 50 years of China-Nigeria friendship and bilateral relations. (NAN) The World Bank on Wednesday announced a 93 billion dollars replenishment package of the International Development Association (IDA) to help low-income countries respond to the COVID-19 crisis and build a greener, more resilient and inclusive future. This is according to a statement issued by the bank on Wednesday in Washington, adding that Africa would receive over 70 per cent of the funds. It said that the financing brings together 23.5 billion dollars of contributions from 48 high- and middle-income countries with financing raised in the capital markets, repayments, and the World Banks own contributions. The financing package, agreed over a two-day meeting hosted virtually by Japan, is the largest ever mobilised in IDAs 61-year history. IDAs unique leveraging model enables it to achieve greater value from donor resources, every one dollar that donors contribute to IDA is now leveraged into almost four dollars of financial support for the poorest countries. The bank said that the funds would be delivered to the worlds 74 poorest countries under the 20th replenishment (IDA20) programme, which focuses on helping countries recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. In these countries, the ongoing pandemic is worsening poverty, undermining growth and jeopardising the prospects of a resilient and inclusive development. Countries are struggling with falling government revenues; increasing debt vulnerabilities; rising risks to fragility, conflict and instability; and dropping literacy rates. About a third of IDA countries are facing a looming food crisis, it added. It also said that IDA would deepen support to countries to better prepare for future crises, including pandemics, financial shocks and natural hazards. While IDA20 will support countries globally, resources are increasingly benefiting Africa, which will receive about 70 per cent of the funding. With this strong package, IDA will be able to scale up its support in the pandemic and address health challenges, helping 400 million people receive essential health and nutrition resources. The social safety nets programme is also expected to reach as many as 375 million people. According to the bank, to help countries build back greener, a substantial portion of the funds will go to tackling climate change, with a focus on helping countries to adapt to rising climate impacts and preserve biodiversity. The bank said that the IDA20 programme had more ambitious policy commitments that would support countries in prioritising investments in human capital. These investment will cover issues such as education, health and nutrition, vaccines, safety nets and support for people with disabilities. It added that IDA would also increase its ambition in addressing other major development challenges such as gender inequality, job creation, and situations of fragility, conflict and violence, including in the Sahel, the Lake Chad region, and the Horn of Africa. A continued emphasis on governance and institutions, debt sustainability, and digital infrastructure interventions would help foster economic and social inclusion, it said. The bank, however, said that due to the urgent development needs of IDA countries, the replenishment was advanced by one year. This means that IDA20 will cover the period of July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, with the IDA20 policy architecture building on the strong foundation of IDA19, with enhancements to make IDA20 even more ambitious and fit for present day challenges. World Bank Group President, David Malpass, said that the generous commitment by its partners was a critical step toward supporting poor countries in their efforts to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. We are grateful for the confidence our partners have in IDA as a non-fragmented and efficient platform to tackle development challenges and improve the lives of millions of people around the world. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDA, established in 1960, helps the worlds poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programmes that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor peoples lives. (NAN) As the festive season approaches and travel restrictions are being resolved between Nigeria and other countries, indications have emerged that the country may be inching closer toa fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Since the third wave eased, Nigeria for the first time crossed 1,000 new daily infection mark on Wednesday with a total of 1,424 new cases. The country, however, recorded no fatality from the pandemic in the latest update. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which disclosed this on its Facebook page late Wednesday night, said the new infections were recorded across 14 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The new infection figure, which ranks the highest daily tally since the surge in cases began a few days ago, has increased Nigerias infection toll to 220,020. The countrys infection toll has been on the rise in the last six days with over 4,500 infections recorded within the period. According to the NCDC, the fatality toll still stands at 2,983 with no fresh fatality recorded while a total of 211,292 have so far been successfully treated and discharged. Breakdown The breakdown of the NCDC data shows that Lagos State, with 796 new cases on Wednesday, maintained its position as the countrys epicentre of the pandemic. Within the last 24 hours, more than 1,000 cases have been recorded in the densely populated city which doubles as Nigerias commercial hub. Delta State in the South-south followed Lagos on the log with a backlog of 152 cases for December 13 and 14, 2021. The FCT came third with 130 cases, and closely followed by Edo State with 129 cases; Oyo State, 82; Ondo and Rivers States recorded 39 cases each. Kaduna State reported 15 cases; Enugu and Anambra States recorded nine and eight cases respectively while Kwara and Ogun states reported seven cases each. While Bayelsa and Kano states reported four cases each, Akwa Ibom recorded only three cases to report the lowest number of cases on Wednesday. The NCDC added that Bauchi, Ekiti, Osun and Zamfara States reported that they recorded no cases on Wednesday. Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State says a declaration of a state of emergency on banditry would enable security operatives to access to clear bandits enclaves and other hideouts. Mr Tambuwal made the suggestion on Wednesday in Sokoto when he received a delegation of the North-west States Governors Forum. The delegation was led by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State on a condolence visit over the killing of about 23 travellers in Sokoto State by bandits. He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency so as to give security operatives additional operational laws to ensure maximum successes in their operations. Mr Tambuwal said such a declaration would allow operatives to work without concerns about rights violations as the bandits were enemies of humanity. Bandits have no religious, ideological or ethnicity inclinations; they were notorious criminals terrorising law-abiding citizens, he said. He added that the Federal Government should initiate processes for recruiting locals in the areas affected by banditry to complement the efforts of mainstream security personnel to tackle the menace. The recruited persons shall serve as Special Forces equipped with right skills and modern firearms to confront bandits since the locals know the terrains. After the special mission, the recruited persons could be re-engaged as forest guards to prevent new security challenges. In Sokoto State, we outlawed the self-styled vanguards referred to as `Yansakai whose activities of extrajudicial killings led to reprisals and escalation of the situation, he said. The governor added that legitimate vigilante groups were being trained and teamed with mainstream security operatives to support the latters activities. All hands must be on deck to check banditry and to support President Buhari at all levels to contain the situation. This situation calls for a specialised approach with holistic support from community groups, religious leaders and other individuals to tackle, Mr Tambuwal stressed. He urged the citizenry to expose people supporting banditry in any form, especially the informants. He also expressed appreciation of the governors forum for the solidarity visit and the donation of N50 million to support affected families. Earlier, Governor Masari said the visit was to commiserate with Mr Tambuwal over the unfortunate attacks and the loss of lives. He noted that states in the North-west are faced with a similar challenge and that the governors had been collaborating to tackle banditry. Mr Masari stressed also that it was time citizens and communities stood up to protect themselves. Bandits behave worse than animals in view of the atrocities they perpetrate; people need to protect themselves. Police and other security personnel are inadequate, so we shall not wait for those barbaric bandits to maim and kill people at random. We shall confront them and deal with them the way they are supposed to be dealt with. It is no longer a blame game, rather we shall shun political differences to support authorities in containing the situation, Mr Masari said. In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State called for the deployment of scientific techniques in forest surveillance as forests remained the hideouts of the bandits. Advertisements Mr Ganduje said communal approaches to solving the situation was paramount considering the loss of lives and valuables to banditry in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on December 6 in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, bandits set 23 passengers ablaze in a bus. (NAN) In 2019, members of the House of Representatives spent over N5.2 billion at different intervals and on different projects, an audit report has revealed. These expenditures ranged from running costs to some lawmakers to repairs and maintenance. However, the spendings could not be accounted for, and there was no evidence to show what the funds were used for. Besides those mentioned above, the lower chamber also made payments from a salary account, in billions, without payment vouchers, as required by extant regulations. Details of the discrepancies in the House spendings are contained in the annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF) for 2019. The legislature is among the many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government indicted and queried by the Auditor-General for incessant violation of extant rules, some of which include non-retirement of personal advances within a financial year and grant of cash advances above the approved limit and payments without vouchers. The Auditor-General, in the report, had said these financial offences could translate to loss of government funds and/or diversion of public funds. In the report, there was no response to the queries and concerns raised by the Auditor-General either by the House or the management of the National Assembly. The queries Top of the discrepancies discovered in the books of the House is how it granted N2.55 billion to members as running cost between July and December 2019. A regional breakdown of the payment made includes the North-east 187 million, South-south 272 million and South-east 442 million. Others are North-central 391 million, South-west 629 million and North-west 629 million. There was no evidence to show what the funds were used for, and there were no retirement documents despite requests. The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Federal House of Representatives of the National Assembly, the report read. The Auditor-General said this violates Paragraph 1011(i) of the Financial Regulations which states that all standing imprests must be retired on or before the 31st December of the financial year in which they are issued while Special Imprests shall be retired immediately the reasons for which they were granted cease to exist. Retirement will be effected by the production of vouchers and/or cash for the full amount of the imprest. The Clerk to the National Assembly was, therefore, asked to provide reasons why running costs granted to members were not retired, recover unretired running costs of N2.55 billion and remit to the treasury. And also forward evidence of remittance to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly otherwise face necessary sanctions. In another query, the Auditor-General said the House granted advances of N258 million to 59 staff and additional advances were granted even when they were yet to retire the previous grant. This, the report says, violates Paragraph 1420 of the Financial Regulations, which states that, it is the responsibility of all accounting officers to ensure that all advances granted to officers are fully recovered. Again, the anomalies were attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the House. In, this regard, the Clerk was asked to: provide reasons why advances granted to officers were not retired; recover unretired running costs of N258 million; and remit to the treasury. Another N107 million was said to have been granted to two staff for repairs and maintenance of unspecified residential quarters. The Federal Government was deprived of the statutory Value Added Tax and Withholding Tax of N10.7 million accruable if the work had been awarded to contractors, and there was no evidence to show the advances were retired. Advertisements Therefore, the Clerk was asked to account for the sum of N107.9 million advances granted for unspecified purposes; recover and refund to the treasury. More discrepancies In the same year, the House paid N1.6 billion to revenue authorities, between February and December 2019. The payment included Pay As You Earn (PAYE) from six members, car loan recovery from five members, and housing loan recovered from six members for N488 million, N401.2 million and N705.4 million, respectively. The payments were, however, made without acknowledgement receipts from the relevant revenue authorities, thereby violating Paragraph 220(i) of the Financial Regulations which states sub-accounting officers who function as revenue collectors will bring their collections to account direct into their cash books, the receipt being acknowledged on General Receipt Form (Treasury Book 6) or the appropriate receipt or license form. While he was asked to explain the non-acknowledgement on Treasury Book 6 of revenue collections, the Clerk was asked to recover and refund to the treasury, the sum of N1.6 billion with acknowledgement Treasury Book 6 as evidence. Another N1.01 billion was discovered to have been paid from a salary account. The payments were made without the preparation of payment vouchers as required by extant regulations. According to the report, this violates Paragraph 601 of the Financial Regulations, which says, all payment entries in the cash book/ account shall be vouched for on one of the prescribed treasury forms. Voucher shall be made out in favour of the person or persons to whom the money is actually due, under no circumstances shall a cheque be raised or cash paid for services for which voucher has not been raised. And to this regard, the Clerk was asked to provide reasons for making payments from a salary account without payment vouchers. He was also asked to account for the sum of N1.01 billion, remit the sum to treasury and forward evidence of remittance to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly. The National Assembly, particularly its public accounts committee, is known for always talking tough and issuing threats (including arrest warrants) to MDAs whenever they are indicted in the Auditor-General report. Threats without actions The Senate public accounts committee, had, on several occasions, threatened heads of major agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Information and the Niger Delta Development Commission. The committee had even threatened not to approve the annual budgets of these MDAs but it all fell to the ground. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had also threatened to name, shame and prosecute defaulting MDAs. However, with the latest audit report indicting the legislature, Nigerians wait to see how the lawmakers will address the discrepancies pointed out. The National Judicial Council (NJC) has punished three judges who issued conflicting orders in the leadership crisis that dogged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) this year. Okogbule Gbasam of the High Court of Rivers State, Nusirat Umar of the High Court of Kebbi State and Edem Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross River State, were barred by the NJC from elevation to either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. While Mr Gbasam and Ms Umar were blocked from promotion to the higher bench for two years, Mr Kooffrehs sanction carries five years. It would be recalled that in one week, three courts in different states also issued counter-orders about the office of the national chairman of the PDP. On August 24, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt restrained Uche Secondus from parading himself as PDP national chairman. However, in another twist, the Kebbi State High Court in Birnin-Kebbi restored Mr Secondus mandate as the national chairman of the opposition PDP on August 27. A day after Mr Secondus reinstatement, another the High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, issued an interim order restraining him from resuming office as PDP chairman. This development compelled the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, to grill the Chief Judges of six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), last September. Mr Muhammad had warned the judges to immediately stop the nonsense, threatening that three of the judges who issued the controversial order would be made scapegoats. Your job as Heads of Court is a sacred one, therefore, includes you vicariously taking the sinsmof others. There must be an end to this nonsense, a statement by the National Judicial Council (NJC) had quoted the CJN as saying. Sanctions In a statement on Thursday by Soji Oye, NJCs Director of Information, The National Judicial Council rose from its two days meeting held on 14 and 15 December 2021, with a resolution to bar the three judges of courts of concurrent jurisdiction who granted conflicting exparte orders in matters with same parties and subject matter from promotion to higher bench for a period ranging from two to five years whenever they are due. Even though there was no written petition, allegations of corruption or impropriety against the subject judges, the statement revealed. However, Council nevertheless, initiated investigation pursuant to its inherent disciplinary powers under the Constitution to unravel the circumstances that led to the spate of Exparte Orders granted by these Courts of coordinate jurisdiction over matters bearing same parties and subject matter, it explained. The meeting which was chaired by the Deputy Chairman of Council, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, CFR agreed with the recommendations of the Investigation Committee set up in September 2021 that Hon. Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the High Court of Rivers State be barred from elevation to higher bench for two years whenever he is due, as he failed to exercise due diligence in granting the Exparte Order in Suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 between IBEALWUCHI EARNEST ALEX & 4 ORS AND PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS & ANOR, as there was no real urgency, in the circumstances of the matter, that would have required an Exparte Order. His Lordship is also issued with a warning letter to be circumspect in granting such Exparte Orders in the future. Council also resolved that Hon. Justice Nusirat I. Umar of the High Court of Kebbi State be barred from elevation to higher Bench for two years whenever due, having found fundamental defects and non-compliance with the law in granting the Exparte Order in Suit No: KB/HC/M.71/2021 between YAHAYA USMAN & 2 ORS AND PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS & ANOR. He is also issued with a warning letter to be circumspect in granting such Exparte Orders in the future. Hon. Justice Edem Ita Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross River State will not be promoted to higher Bench for five years for allowing himself to be used as a tool for forum shopping and abuse of Court process in Suit No: HC/240/2021 between Mr. ENANG KANUM WANI AND UCHE SECONDUS as it was evident that, in granting the Exparte Order, he was seised of earlier Orders of the High Courts of Rivers and Kebbi States, being Courts of coordinate jurisdiction with his. He is also to receive warning letter to be circumspect in granting such Exparte Orders in the future. The Council also placed him on its Watch-List for a period of two years. Appointment of new Judges The NJC also approved the appointment of 63 judges for 16 states. Nine of the appointees are heads of court. Council also received notification of retirements from Hon. Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Bello Duwale of the High Court of Sokoto State, Hon. Justices S. A. Omonua and O. S. Uwuigbe of the Edo State High Court, Hon Justices M. A. Pindiga and Beatrice L. Iliya of the High Court of Gombe State, Hon. Kadi Muhammad O. Abdulkadir, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kwara State and Hon. Justice S. M. C. Ururuka-Ogeshi, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Abia State. It also received notification of deaths of Hon. Justice A. K. Fowe, High Court, Ekiti State, Hon. Justice Chinonyerem Onii, High Court, Imo State and Hon. Dr. Kadi Shehu Ibrahim Ahmad, Grand Kadi, Kaduna State. Advertisements Finally, Council approved the promotion of 84 members of staff ranging from salary Grade levels 7 to 17 as submitted by its Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, the statement read. President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to release the salaries of health workers, including doctors, that were seized while enforcing the no-work, no-pay policy. Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, confirmed this development when he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday. He said the president has since approved the authority letter to release the funds of the resident doctors for September and October 2021. The minister, who earlier met behind closed door with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, said the presidential approval for the releases of the salaries was on compassionate ground and to encourage the affected workers to perform better in their respective places of work. According to Mr Ngige, the approval covers members of the Joint Health Services Union (JOHESU) who went on strike in 2018. He said: The President graciously approved that we pay back some funds, some wages, which we did not pay health workers. First, section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act says that when a worker goes on strike, especially those on essential services, the employer can also refuse to pay. That is what they call it the No Work, No Pay Rule. But these health sector workers; doctors, pharmacists, nurses and members of JOHESU, are trying to make sure that we create an equitable environment for them to function. As a first step, Mr. President last week directed the Minister of Finance to release the funds of the resident doctors for September and October 2021, which was seized in conformity with the law. In the same vein, the approval also covers members of the JOHESU who went on strike in 2018 for three months. After the first month, after March, when they couldnt come back, we asked that their pay be suspended. This is in tandem with the ILO principles at work. You have a right to strike, but the employer has a right to stop your remuneration and if possible, use it to keep his enterprise going by taking new hands, where possible, especially in essential services. So, that same money for 2018 April and May, Mr President has again approved that the Finance Minister refunds or re-imburses them on compassionate grounds. This is predicated on the grounds that this group of workers has been showing a lot of dedication and concern to the COVID-19 and that their Hazard Allowance for 2021 had remained what it was before. So, on compassionate grounds andwe agreed that they should be getting this money to keep their morale high. Were not yet free of COVID-19 and the new mutants, we need to doeverything to keep the health workers here happy. In the same vein, President Buhari has also directed us to conclude the discussions on the other allowances for the health workers so that they can enjoy it anytime from now. The minister announced that the meeting of Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages would be convened on December 17 to ratify the new pay hazard structure for health workers. He disclosed that the president had also directed relevant agencies to conclude the discussions on the other allowances for the health workers to uplift their standard of living quality. The minister said efforts must be made to ensure industrial harmony in the country to allow all sectors to operate well. ASUU threat Reacting to the threat by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume strike over non-implementation of the 2020 Memorandum of Action (MoA) reached with the union, the minister said the union should educate its members on the quantum of money the federal government had already paid to them. He maintained that ASUU had no moral justification to embark on another strike because the federal government had already made some huge payments to address some of their demands. According to him, the 2009 agreement, which is the other dispute that the union has, is still at the level of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). On the side of ASUU, you will also notice that theres been some brewing crisis. ASUU and their direct employer, which is the Ministry of Education, theres a tango and the tango is running round the MoA, the Memorandum of Action signed in 2020. Advertisements Refreshing your minds, they were on strike last year and they were at home for nearly nine months and last December, the President magnanimously gave them a blanket clemency and we paid them their money for the nine months, spanning into January, February of this year. We gave them back nearly nine months pay. After doing that, we also gave them a revitalisation fund for N40 billion, early this year, for the revitalisation of the university system. In the MoA, we agreed that they should get another revitalisation this year and by last July, August. The money for revitalisation was paid to them, for the university system that were entitled to N30 billion. Last week, N22.127 billion was also released to the university system for the unions, workers university system to benefit in consonance with the MoA we signed in December 2020. The altercation going on now and for which ASUU is asking their union branches to vote on is that a lot of them dont know that we have paid this quantum of money. Mr Ngige said he also briefed President Buhari on bilateral agreements between Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar on employment. According to the minister, Nigeria wants to formalize labour migration policy so that Nigerians in the Middle Eastern countries will be guaranteed descent work. He said: So, we have some emerging issues that are both of national and internationalisation importance and local. Internationally, we have some bilateral agreements on employment with the Republic of Qatar and with the UAE. That of Qatar is ready for us to sign the bilateral agreements. So, Ive come to brief Mr. President on that. We want to use it to formalise labour migration policy, so that Nigerians who are there, about 7,000 of them, in different spheres of work, will be assured of decent work. (NAN) The police have arrested the wife of a former Comptroller of Customs, Rahila Yakubu, for allegedly battering her step daughter, Hafsat Argungu, with a pestle. The teenage Hafsat suffered fractures on her hand and bruises on her head, legs and other parts of her body. Mrs Yakubu is married to Abdullahi Argungu, a former Comptroller of Customs, who is Hafsat father. The teenager has been under her stepmothers care for 16 years since her mother was divorced a year after her birth. She was accused by her stepmother of theft and dirtiness. The police arrested Mrs Yakubu after the news of the battering went viral on social media, with pictures of the girl circulated She nearly killed me Speaking with journalists Tuesday evening at a hospital in Sokoto, Ms Hafsat said her step mother nearly killed her, saying she had been suffering in the hands of her step mother and brother. They beat me for every small mistake and sometimes even for no mistake. They barbed (cut) my hair although I protested, she said. She asked me to do the dishes in the morning and when I didnt do it, she started beating me. After that she also asked me to go and wash some clothes but I decided to run away because of the level of pain in my body. She used pestle and shoes to beat me which resulted into all these wounds. There was a day she beat me and when I didnt cry, she decided to barb my hair. She pour cold water on me, she said. The Commissioner of Women and Child Development in the state, Kulu Sifawa, said the state government has formally taken over the matter to ensure that the suspect, if found guilty, is punished. This is too bad. I am following the case and during the review I discovered that the girl was wounded badly. It is not good to beat someone to such level no matter what the offence is. Mrs Sifawa said the case has been handed over to the police, expressing hope that the case will be treated judiciously. The commissioner also said the state ministry of justice has been directed to investigate the case and prosecute the culprit. It is cruel Human rights commission The Coordinator of National Human Rights Commission in Sokoto state, Hali Tambari, described Mrs Yakubus alleged act as cruel. He added that the commission would ensure that justice is done to serve as a deterrent to others. When you look at the pictures once, you cannot watch it again because it is horrendous. We will not fold our arms to watch things like this happen in the state. Our commission is saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring that human rights are protected while those who commit the offences are prosecuted. We will ensure justice is done, Mr Tambari said. Governors wife steps into case Premium Times gathered that the wife of Governor Aminu Tambuwal has vowed to follow up the case to its logical conclusion. Mariya Tambuwal said her project, MTDI, is collaborating with the Human Rights Commission to follow up the prosecution of the suspect if found guilty. The police spokeperson in Sokoto, Sanusi Abubakar, did not respond to calls and SMS but a police officer in the state said the suspect was being held at the C.I. D wing of the command and would be taken to court later on Wednesday. The Zamfara State House of Assembly has recalled two of its members it suspended for alleged links with bandits. The lawmakers took the decision after unanimously adopting the report of their Ethics and Privilege Committee. The two lawmakers, Ibrahim Tudu-Tukur (Bakura) and Yusuf Anka (Anka) were suspended in October over alleged links with bandits in their respective areas. A member, Yusuf Kanoma, had moved the motion for their suspension, alleging that Messrs Anka and Bakura were jubilant over the kidnap of the father of the Speaker, late Alhaji Muazu Magarya. But the lawmakers denied the allegation and later said their suspension was politically motivated. Interestingly, the two local government areas the lawmakers represent are among the hardest hits by bandits attacks and kidnappings. Cleared of aiding banditry At the plenary sitting of the lawmakers on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Ethics committee, Kabiru Dansadau, presented the report of the committee to the House. The committee cleared the two lawmakers of the allegation of aiding bandits activities in their areas. A member of the House from Zamfara West, who sought anonymity, told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone that the members were recalled because nothing was found against them and because some elders in the state have intervened in the issue. The spokesperson of the speaker, Mustapha Jafaru, confirmed the recall of the suspended lawmakers but denied that it was because of external intervention. I can only tell you that the House accepted the recommendations of its own committee. The Speaker commended the committee for a thorough job and commended the suspended lawmakers for respecting the law, he said. He said the lawmakers would resume sittings in the new legislative year. The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Gas Resources to meet the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Timipriye Sylva, to find a solution to hike in the price of Liquified Natural Gas. The lawmakers also asked the executive to develop effective mechanisms and explore different mitigation options to cushion the effect of persistent rising in the price of cooking on gas on the common citizens. These resolutions were reached following a motion moved by Rasheed Olalekan (APC, Osun) on Thursday during plenary. According to Mr Olalekan, the price of cooking gas has almost increased by 300% in the past months despite Nigeria having one of the largest gas reserves in the world. He noted that gas is an essential commodity used by households, therefore, the government should intervene. He noted that Nigerians are already faced with several challenges and do not need more. He said: A kilogram of gas which was initially sold for N300 is now sold within the range of N700 to N850, which has further plunged Nigerians into untold hardship as such basic necessity is increasingly becoming unaffordable. Mr Olalekan noted further that prolonged hike in price could affect Nigerians during the festive period. A prolonged increase in the prices of essential items especially during the Yuletide season could have grave social consequences as it could worsen the economic hardship, thus forcing people into resorting to crime and other vices in order to survive, Mr Olalekan added. READ ALSO: PREMIUM TIMES had in a special report, detailed the impact of the hike in the price of cooking gas on Nigerians, as many have resorted to firewood despite the health and environmental consequences of the practice. The hike according to the report is affecting small businesses. On Tuesday, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari announced that the government is working to increase supply, in a bid to force down the price of gas. The motion was adopted after the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who presided over the session, put it to vote. The leader of Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, has dispelled the claim by a former governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, that the national leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Bola Tinubu, built the house the Yoruba leader currently lives. The 95-year-old Adebanjo said in a statement on Wednesday that he took a loan from a commercial bank and sold a number of properties to build the house, situated at Lekki, Lagos. Mr Adebanjo was reacting to a claim by Mr Akande in his new book titled My Participations, where he described Mr Adebanjo as a blank politically-minded leader who does not have what it takes to contest for high political positions. In the book, which was launched in Lagos last Thursday, Mr Akande also said the Afenifere leader pestered Mr Tinubu to build a house for him. There has been a lot of pressure on me not to react to Chief Bisi Akandes tantrums, he is a neophyte, a beneficiary of a struggle he never took part in, Mr Adebanjo said. I have been urged to keep to the adage not to Answer a fool less you reduce yourself to his level, but there is also an adage that says, Answer a fool less he thinks he is wise. A lot has been said in the press and the social media to demolish tantrums. But I owe a duty to myself and to put the record straight for posterity about the big lie that Bola Tinubu built my house in Lekki for me. I, therefore, deny categorically that my house at Lekki was built with my resources through the sale of three developed properties, loan from GTBank and the sale of undeveloped landed property given me by my late leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory. Read Mr Adebanjos full statement below: CHIEF BISI AKANDE, HIS PARTICIPATIONS & MATTER ARISING THEREFROM: PRESS STATEMENT BY CHIEF AYO ADEBANJO, LEADER OF AFENIFERE IN RESPONSE TO THE ALLEGATION MADE BY CHIEF BISI AKANDE IN HIS BOOK MY PARTICIPATION TO THE EFFECT THAT CHIEF BOLA TINUBU BUILT MY HOUSE IN LEKKI FOR ME, ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021. AT MY HOUSE PLOT 25, AYO ADEBANJO CLOSE OFF ADEBAYO DOHERTY STREET, LEKKI PHASE 1, LAGOS STATE. Gentlemen of the press, About a week ago, last Thursday, 7 December to be exact at the presentation of the book MY PARTICIPATION by Chief Bisi Akande it was said that Chief Bisi Akande stated in the book that I brought pressure on Bola Tinubu to build the house for me. But since Bola Tinubu himself was present at the presentation I expect him within a few days to refute such a malicious falsehood about me emanating from his Man Friday. I hold this view because Bola Tinubu just some 3 years ago on the occasion of the presentation of my auto-biography SAYING IT AS IT IS that for my incorruptibility and strength of character he Bola Tinubu would not have been Governor of Lagos State in 1999. What then could he be demanding from me after his two term governorship to make me pressurize him to build a house for me, when I did not get a naira from him before he became the governor? There has been a lot of pressure on me not to react to Chief Bisi Akandes tantrums, he is a neophyte, a beneficiary of a struggle he never took part in. I have been urged to keep to the adage not to Answer a fool less you reduce yourself to his level, but there is also an adage that says, Answer a fool less he thinks he is wise. A lot has been said in the press and the social media to demolish tantrums. But I owe a duty to myself and to put the record straight for posterity about the big lie that Bola Tinubu built my house in Lekki for me. I therefore deny categorically that my house at Lekki was built with my resources through the sale of 3 developed properties, loan from GTBank and the sale of undeveloped landed property given me by my late leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory. The details are as follows: 1. A 4 bedroom duplex with 2 bedroom flat enclosed with 2 undeveloped plots at plot 4, block 14, Nuru Oniwo Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos State, this is where I was living before moving to Lekki. The house was commissioned in 1972 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. A wing of the duplex was once occupied by a staff of the security outfit then known as special branch headed then by the late Alhaji M.D. Yussuf who later became Inspector General of Police when General Olusegun Obasanjo was the Head of State. It was later occupied by one of the wives Chief Pius Akinyelure, who often visit his wife there in company of Senator Bola Tinubu. The gate of this property was forced open by Abacha security forces when NADECO was holding a sendoff party for American ambassador Walter Carrington in my house, I took the Federal Government to court for damages and I was awarded #1million naira which has not been paid till today by the Federal Government, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, was my counsel. The house was sold to St Baths Aglican Church, Aguda, Surulere. 2. Two storey building at Odedola Street, Surulere, Lagos State. I bought it through an Estate Agent by name Mr. Shiwoniku who has relocated to UK, he has a brother who is a legal practitioner in Abuja. The house was sold to a Ghanaian by name Mr Akappo. He is still alive and he lives in one of the flat in the building. 3. Four storey building with a warehouse on the ground floor and six flats on top. It was commissioned by Chief Awolowo in 1977. I inherited the plot of 45X100 from my mother Salamotu Anomo-Adebanjo, who built a bungalow on it. She bought the land when I was in primary school in 1940 from one Pa. Idowu Onitiri for 20, which she paid by installment of 10, 7, 3. His son Akanbi Onitiri, executed the conveyance for me without extra payment after showing him the purchase receipts from his father, when I was developing it in 1976. Akanbi Onitiri is the father of Sumbo Onitiri, a well known estate surveyor in Lagos. The building was sold to a woman through an estate agent. I then took a loan from GTBank to complete the house in Lekki where I am living now. When the interest on the loan became unbearable, I was compelled to sell the undeveloped land given to me by Chief Awolowo in Dide-Olu Estate in Maroko Victoria Island. One Mr. Ade Otusanya a friend of my son Femi Ayo-Adebanjo bought the land. The contractor who built my Lekki house is Engr. Hakeem Sulaiman, Senior Partner of Messrs HA associates. The Electrical and Mechanical Contractor is Engr. Tokunbo Oshokoya, Senior Partner of Messrs Oshea Projects. Advertisements The Architect is Mr. Deji Johnson The Quantity Surveyor is the late Otunba T.B Adebayo. The Lekki property, the house in my village, Isanya Ogbo, and 3 Bedroom flat in a town house, at Omorinre Street in Lekki are the properties I have in the whole world. I hereby authorize the EFCC to verify the above facts. It is alleged that Chief Bisi Akandes building at Ila-Orogun, which I understand is more than double in expanse of my house in Lekki and some other properties he has in Lagos and abroad were financed by Bola Tinubu. His house in Ibadan was also alleged to have been built by the contractor that built the secretariat in Oshogbo, when he was the Governor of Osun State. I hereby challenge Chief Bisi Akande to clear the air by disclosing the source of financing these properties as I have done above. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the great philanthropist should also disclose the source of his wealth with which he bankrolled the elections of APC in the Southwest and that of General Muhammad Buhari and his various properties in Lagos. He should also authorize the EFCC to verify such details as I have done above. Thank you very much. God bless Nigeria CHIEF AYO ADEBANJO 16/12/2021 The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate tax compliance by car-hailing companies and other tech transport firms. Following the adoption of a motion moved by Ganiyu Johnson (APC, Lagos) on Thursday, the House resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to probe the tax returns of the companies. The yet-to-be constituted committee is to investigate the level of compliance of all Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-aided transport companies with the countrys extant tax laws and report back within four weeks for further legislative action. Mr Johnson said while car-hailing firms take 20-25% as commission from drivers using their platforms and also use roads built by the government, it is unclear if they are complying with the tax laws of the country. He said ICT has had significant impacts on the way organisations operate, as it offers tremendous opportunities such as storing, processing, retrieving, disseminating and sharing of information. Average weekly earnings of Bolt and Uber drivers are about N60,000 to N120,000 while the companies take off 20% and 25% respectively as commission from the earnings of each driver operating on their platforms. The companies have benefited from facilities of the federal government such as road and security network which grant them ease of doing business, thus they ought to be fully accountable and up to date in tax remittances, he said. Mr Johnson, therefore, expressed concerns whether the companies are fully compliant with the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, considering that the services are made online. When the motion was put to question by the Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), the ayes had it. The government has been making efforts to generate money from international technological companies. On Monday, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed that the government was making efforts to make platforms like Amazon, VAT collectors. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has uncovered additional $72,870,000 milllion connected to its investigation of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. In a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, on Wednesday, the commission said it had arrested a former Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, in relation to the just-discovered fund. The commission recalled that Mr Okonkwo, who is currently the Chairman of First Bank Holding, alongside others, had earlier been grilled over the sums of $153 million and $115 million by its investigators. Okonkwo, who is currently the Chairman of First Bank Holding, alongside others, had earlier been grilled over a sum of $153 million and $115 million by the Commission. While all the $153 million were recovered by the EFCC, the cases involving $115 million, as it relates with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, bribery matter, are in various courts, the statement added. PREMIUM TIMES reported that EFCC had on April 28, 2016, detained Mr Okonkwo over the same matter. Okonkwo and Charles Onyedibe are currently being detained by the EFCC over the whereabouts of the new $72.8m, EFCC said on Wednesday. The board of FBN Holdings Plc had on October 28 appointed Mr Okonkwo the new GMD of the company with effect from January 1, 2022. He will succeed U.K. Eke, who will step down on December 31, according to the companys note to the Nigerian Exchange Limited. Mrs Alison-Madueke, who is at the centre of the ongoing investigations has since left the country shortly after leaving office in 2015. Various sums of money and other assets, including jewelry and houses linked to her had been seized and forfeited to the federal government. But EFCCs efforts to extradite her from the United Kingdom, where she is believed to have fled to, to face trial back home have failed to yield results. President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday leave Abuja for Istanbul, Turkey to attend the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey. According to the organisers, the theme of the Summit is Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity and the agenda includes reviewing the cooperation between African countries and Turkey since the last summit in 2014. The third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit is coming on the heels of President Erdogans recent State Visit to Nigeria during which several agreements in the fields of energy, defence industry, mining and hydrocarbons were signed to expand existing bilateral ties. The Turkish leader had, during the visit to Nigeria, affirmed his commitment to immediately expand the volume of trade between the two countries to 5 billion dollars and the Nigerian delegation will seize the opportunity of the gathering in Istanbul to enhance cooperation with other partners for more trade and investment opportunities in the country. It is expected that the Summit would provide guidelines and direction for cooperation with African countries for the next five years. President Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by his wife, Aisha Buhari; the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Defence, Bashir Magashi; FCT, Mohammed Bello; Health, Osagie Ehanire; Agriculture, Mohammed Abubakar; Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar. The president is expected back in Abuja on Sunday, December 19. Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) Four children have died and five others critically injured after falling more than 30 feet from a jumping castle that was lifted into the air by a gust of wind at a school in Australia, the authorities said. The accident occurred about 10 a.m. at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, on the Australian island state of Tasmania, Al Jazeera reports. The network quoted police officials confirming that two girls and two boys, all in year 6, died in the tragedy on Thursday morning. A wind gust had reportedly caused the jumping castle and inflatable balls to lift into the air, Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said. Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon, he added. Thursday is the last day of the school year for most Tasmanian children, and the school was having a big day in to celebrate. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the accident as unthinkably heartbreaking. Young children having a fun day out at school and it all went horribly wrong. I cannot begin to imagine what those families are feeling. Its just shattering. My deepest condolences and prayers are with the family and friends of the children who lost their lives, as well as with the injured and all those who witnessed this terrible event, including the school staff, he wrote on Facebook. There have been other fatal bouncy castle incidents. In 2019, two children were killed and 20 others injured in a similar accident in China. In 2018, a girl died in the UK after being thrown from a bouncy castle that eyewitnesses say exploded on a Norfolk beach. Two years earlier, two fairground workers were jailed for manslaughter by gross negligence after a bouncy castle blew away a seven-year-old in England. The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN) has faulted the threat of a strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The committee described the notice as ill-advised and insensitive to the plight of the students and their sponsors who will have to bear the brunt. While appealing to the union to jettison the idea of embarking on a fresh strike action, it, however, appealed to the Nigerian government to ensure adherence to the extant laws guiding labour relations in the university, particularly the provision of no work, no pay, should the lecturers insist on its decision to down tools. The lecturers union had, during the week, in statements issued by its various zones after their meetings, hinted of a possible shutdown of the university system nationwide, accusing the Nigerian government of insincerity and poor commitment to the various memoranda of understanding and actions reached with the union. The strike threat was coming a few days after the Nigerian government confirmed the payment of N55.5 billion to the federal government-owned universities as part of revitalisation funds and the earned academic allowances owed the institutions. But ASUU described the payment as a paltry sum compared to what it said it owed the university system, even as it demanded the replacement of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) with its own University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for the payment of university workers salaries. COPSUN intervenes A statement issued by the committee of the pro-chancellors of the state-owned universities, after its 54th quarterly meeting held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, suggested continued negotiation and dialogue to the aggrieved lecturers union, saying embarking on industrial actions at the slightest provocation is unacceptable. The statement, which was signed by the committees chairman, who doubles as the chairman of the governing council of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, Yusuf Ali, said a fresh strike is not a good omen for the future of tertiary education in Nigeria. It said Nigeria has hardly recovered from the negative impacts of the previous nine-month prolonged strike which was suspended by the union in December, 2020. The committee noted that while the crave for reforms in the education sector is healthy and should persist, negotiations with the Federal Government on policy implementation is encouraged but the penchant to proceed on the total shutdown of the university system at the slightest provocation is ill-advised and quite insensitive to the plight of the students and their sponsors who will have to bear the brunt. Intervention As part of its intervention strategies, the committee disclosed that it has set up a high-powered committee to mediate between ASUU and the federal government for the growth and development of tertiary education in Nigeria, appealing to ASUU to rescind the strike decision and embrace dialogue. The statement added; As part of its efforts to promote national dialogue, peace and reconciliation on the lingering crisis between the Federal Government and ASUU, COPSUN has set up a high-powered committee to interface and mediate in the matter for the growth and development of tertiary education in Nigeria. The group, therefore, appealed to ASUU to reconsider its position on the planned strike and allow more opportunities for dialogue and negotiation, adding that as stakeholders, we all stand to benefit better in a peaceful environment. Constitution review on wages law Meanwhile, apart from seeking dialogue as a resolution strategy, the committee also called for the removal of labour and wages from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list to enable state-owned universities operate and relate with their employees under the rules establishing the universities and not under the rules of the Federal Government-owned universities as is presently the case. It said the staff union should also allow each state the liberty to negotiate with its employees on its own terms and conditions and avoid the tendency of regarding the country as operating a unitary system, rather than a federal system. It, therefore, appealed that its representatives during negotiations with labour be accorded authoritative mandate and not as mere observers. Insecurity The group also appealed to the government to intensify its war against terrorism and banditry beyond the battlefield. There could be no meaningful development in (the) education system as long as the schools consistently remain the target of attack by terrorists, the statement said. The Abuja #EndSARS panel probing allegations of human rights violations perpetrated by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian police, on Wednesday, summoned Ogbeh Ochogwu, a commissioner of police in charge of legal matters at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. In the panels ruling on Wednesday, the chairperson, Suleiman Galadima, who is a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, ordered Mr Ochogwu and three other police officers to appear over the alleged arbitrary arrest, detention, and disappearance of John Alozie. The three other police officers summoned Uzo Emeana, Sunday Okpe and Obiazo were all members of the defunct SARS in Awkuzu, Anambra State. The defunct Awkuzu SARS in Anambra State had the notoriety of gross human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings. The petition on Mr Alozie, who is said to have been missing after his arrest by the police on June 15, 2017, was filed by his wife, Nnenna Alozie. Earlier in the proceedings on Wednesday, the panel stood down the case for 30 minutes to enable lawyers in the matter to reach out to the police officers accused of complicity in the case. But, when the panel resumed sitting on the case, Chino Obiagwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel for the panel, informed the panel that several phone calls made to Mr Ochogwu rang out. This development corroborated the difficulties expressed by Kenneth Igbochuwa, a police lawyer, in getting his colleagues to appear before the panel. My Lord, I pray the order of this panel compelling the respondents to appear, Mr Igbochuwa urged the Galadima-led panel. In response, the 11-member panel decried the flagrant disobedience of its earlier summons by the police officers allegedly involved in Mr Alozies disappearance. We further order that the case file in this matter be produced by the CP Legal, Mr Galadima said. Mr Galadima directed James Idachaba, a police lawyer, to convey the panels orders to the recalcitrant police commissioner and his subordinates. Meanwhile, Mr Obiagwu who also helps petitioners to present their case, said a member of the police team that investigated Mr Alozies case, simply identified as ACP Asuquo, disclosed that its findings were with Mr Ochogwu. At one of its previous sittings, a member of the Abuja #EndSARS panel sitting at the headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), John Aikpokpo-Martins, condemned the polices conduct in the case. Background The case has suffered setbacks, owing to the difficulty in locating key respondents linked to the matter. Appreciable progress was, however, made after a retired police officer, G. C Ijeoma, provided the names, telephone numbers and current locations of the officers linked to the matter. Mrs Ijeoma also informed the panel that the case file on the arrest and detention of Mr Alozie was transferred from Anambra State to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Abuja. In view of the information, Mr Galadima, while commending the efforts of the retired cop, adjourned the matter until December 15 (Wednesday) for the police to open their defence. Petition Mrs Alozie, in a petition to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, demanded the enforcement of her husbands fundamental rights. She said, in her petition, that her husband was arrested by SARS operatives from their home at Lekki area of Lagos and whisked to Anambra State on June 15, 2017. They arrested my husband at our gate while driving the children to school, Mrs Alozie said. Giving details of the morning raid on their home, she revealed that her husband was handcuffed as armed operatives, led by one Mr Obiazo ordered him to their bedroom. The officers ransacked our bedroom looking for AK-47, of which they didnt see any, the petitioner narrated. Advertisements In the process of the search, Mrs Alozie alleged that a briefcase containing cash, birth certificates of their children and the couples marriage certificate, as well as two Lexus and Ford cars were carted away by the police officers. She said since her husbands arrest in 2017, the police had yet to offer any convincing explanation concerning his whereabouts. The United States National Archives Wednesday made public nearly 1,491 documents related to the U.S. governments investigation into the 1963 assassination of John F Kennedy, the 35th American President. The disclosure of secret cables, internal memos, and other documents satisfies a deadline set in October by U.S. President Joe Biden. It is also in keeping with an American statute that calls for the release of records in the governments possession. John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection, established by the National Archives in November 1992, consists of approximately five million pages. The vast majority of the collection has been publicly available without restrictions on access since the late 1990s. Additional documents are expected to be made public next year, the National Archives said in a statement. Mr Biden provided agencies with a temporary certification until December 15, 2022, to allow for a review of all documents withheld in full or in part under section 5 of the JFK Act. He also directed agencies to ensure that the United States Government maximizes transparency, disclosing all information in records concerning the assassination, except when the strongest possible reasons counsel otherwise. Any information currently withheld from public disclosure that agencies do not propose for continued postponement beyond December 15, 2022, will be released to the public on that date, the statement read. There was no immediate indication that the records contained revelations that could radically reshape the publics understanding of the events surrounding the November 22, 1963 assassination of Mr Kennedy in Dallas at the hands of Lee Harvey Oswald. But the latest tranche of documents was nonetheless eagerly anticipated by historians and others who, decades after the Kennedy killing, remain sceptical 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. Oswalds Ties to Cuba, Russia The documents include CIA cables and memos discussing Mr 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 of Cuban involvement in the killing of Kennedy. One CIA cable describes how Mr 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 October 3, more than one month before the assassination, he drove back into the U.S. through a crossing at the Texas border. Another memo, dated the day after Mr Kennedys assassination, says that according to an intercepted phone call in Mexico City, Mr Oswald communicated with a KGB officer while at the Soviet embassy that September. After Mr Kennedy was killed, Mexican authorities arrested a Mexican employee of the Cuban embassy with whom Mr Oswald had communicated, and she said Mr Oswald had professed to be a communist and an admirer of Castro, according to the cable. A former U.S. Marine officer, Mr Oswald was accused of killing Mr Kennedy. While in police custody, Mr Oswald was murdered by Jack Ruby two days after the death of Kennedy. 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 about Mr Kennedys assassination. In blocking the release of hundreds of records in 2017 because of concerns from the FBI and the CIA, former President Donald Trump cited potentially irreversible harm. Even so, about 2,800 other records were released at that time. As Libyans plan to go to polls on December 24, doubts abound as to what the outcome of the elections will be owing to the volatility of the state. Two elections will be held at about the same time; the presidential and parliamentary elections. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafis administration in 2011, Libya has been a conflict zone. Libya has remained a fragmented state burdened with conflicts between the eastern and western regions. The fall of Mr Gaddafi saw the proliferation of heavily armed non-state actors. Many of those fighters are still in Libya but others like the Tuaregs who fought alongside Mr Gaddafi returned to Mali where they launched an insurrection against the Malian state. The situation in Libya and Mali is believed to have contributed to the worsening security situation in sub-Saharan Africa. The international community pushed for parliamentary and presidential elections as key elements of the UN-backed process to bring peace and stability to Libya. Libya, a Northern Africa country with a population of about 7.1 million people, is one of Africas oil-rich nations. It became an independent state in 1951 and a member of the Arab League in 1953. It was referred to as a poor nation until the discovery of petroleum in the late 1950s. The oil-rich nation has been split between a government in the east, backed by the renegade commander, Khalifa Haftar, and a UN-brokered administration in Tripoli, aided by Western-backed Libyan armed groups. The December 24 election is expected to bring an end to the decade long violent chaos in Libya. However, the list of candidates vying for the highest seat of power in the country raises more questions than answers. Analysts, critical of the process, are sceptical about holding an election in the country given its current state. The President of Libya is elected through a two-round system for a five-year term. The two-round system is a voting method used to elect a single candidate, where voters cast a single vote for their preferred candidate. The election proceeds to a second-round only if in the first round, no candidate receives a simple majority (more than 50 per cent) of votes cast or at least some other prescribed percentage. Usually, only the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round, or those candidates who received above a prescribed proportion of the votes will be candidates in the second round. The first round of the presidential election will be held on December 24. The second round, as well as the parliamentary elections, are set to take place 50 days later. All final results will be announced simultaneously. According to Jan Kubis, the United Nations special envoy, who recently resigned, the political climate remains heavily polarised ahead of the presidential and parliamentary polls. Even though Libyans are eager to cast their votes, vocal opposition persists surrounding the legal framework for the elections, said Mr Kubis. Despite the red flags, more than 2.8 million of Libyas seven million population have registered to vote, representing about 30 per cent of the Libyan population. More than 3,200 domestic observers, 320 national media representatives, 20 international media, and nine international observation organisations have applied for HNEC accreditation. Registration for parliamentary elections ended on December 7 while registration for the presidential election ended a few days before. So far, more than 2,000 people, including 276 women, have stepped forward as candidates. The contenders for the soul of Libya There are 98 candidates justling to be Libyas next president, including two women: Laila Ben Khalifa, the leader of the National Movement Party in Libya and Hunaida Al Mahdi who is a researcher in social sciences. Out of the 98 Libyans who registered to run for the election, 25 have been disqualified including Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Muammar Gaddafis son who was perceived as a major contender. This decision is pending an appeals process that will ultimately be decided by the judiciary. Advertisements The major contenders in the election include Khalifa Haftar, self-proclaimed field marshal and controversial ruler in eastern Libya; Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the second eldest son of the former ruler, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity; parliamentary Speaker Aguila Saleh, and interim prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Khalifa Haftar Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar born November 7, 1943, is a Libyan-American politician, military officer and commander of the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army (LNA). On March 2, 2015, he was appointed commander of the armed forces loyal to the elected legislative body, the Libyan House of Representatives. Mr Haftar was born in the Libyan city of Ajdabiya. He served in the Libyan army under Muammar Gaddafi and took part in the coup that brought Mr Gaddafi to power in 1969. He took part in the Libyan contingent against Israel in the Yom Kippur War of 1973. In 1987, he became a prisoner of war during the war against Chad after being lured into a trap and captured, which was then a major embarrassment for Mr Gaddafi and represented a major blow to Mr Gaddafis ambitions in Chad. While being held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Mr Gaddafi. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades living in the U.S. in Langley, Virginia, where he is believed to have gained U.S. citizenship. Mr Haftar recently denied being a citizen of the United States in a bid not to lose his presidential bid. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia for crimes against the Great Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Mr Haftar held a senior position among the forces that overthrew Mr Gaddafi in 2011, during the First Libyan Civil War. In 2014, he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Mr Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC but then developed into the Second Libyan Civil War. Mr Haftar heads the eastern-based LNA and waged war on western factions after the country split in 2014, including a 14-month offensive to take Tripoli that was repelled last year after devastating areas of the capital. He named an interim replacement as head of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) until December 24, the date of the legislative and presidential vote. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is the second son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He was a part of his fathers inner circle, performing public relations and diplomatic roles on his behalf. According to American State Department officials in Tripoli, during his fathers reign, he was the second most widely recognized person in Libya, being at times the de facto prime minister and was mentioned as a possible successor, though he rejected this. An arrest warrant was issued for him on June 27, 2011, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for charges of crimes against humanity against the Libyan people, for killing and persecuting civilians, under Articles 7(1)(a) and 7(1)(h) of the Rome statute. He denied the charges. Mr Gaddafis intention is met by mixed feelings as he is remembered for his fathers autocratic reign and the roles he played during the NATO-backed uprising against the Muammar Gaddafi administration. Saif Gaddafi in 2011 was captured by fighters from the mountain region of Zintan while trying to escape to Niger in the wake of the NATO-backed uprising against his father. He has since then remained out of public sight until recently when he announced his intentions to run for office. In 2015, he was sentenced to death by a Tripoli court for war crimes, including the killing of protesters during the uprising, but was later pardoned. Saif Gaddafi was disqualified on the basis of the electoral law stipulating that candidates must not have been sentenced for a dishonourable crime and must present a clean criminal record. He has now been reinstated in the presidential race. According to his lawyer, Khaled al-Zaydi, the court in Sebha accepted his clients appeal. Political analysts suspect he stands a narrow chance as he is up against other strong candidates as well. I dont see him winning an outright victory though. General Haftar is a force to reckon with and so we may likely head for a run off. What is unclear at the moment is who his (Gaddafis) international backers are, said Confidence MacHarry, a geopolitical intelligence analyst with SB Morgen Intelligence. He added that the early signs point to Russia who also backs Mr Haftar, and it remains to be seen how Gaddafi Jr would pivot his way in the wake of an ICC warrant on his head for war crimes. Mr MacHarry said, the Gaddafi name is still a popular one in Libya, and former Gaddafi administration officials are open to the idea of a Saif Al Islam presidency. The other people who would be his likely voters are people who are tired of the decade of political instability that the conflict has caused. Aguila Saleh Aguila Saleh, 77, a native of the eastern city of al-Qubah, has led Libyas House of Representatives since 2014. The body he heads came to power through elections in 2014 that ended up being contested. In the aftermath, the country split further into territories with rival authorities, and the law-making body fled from the capital of Tripoli to the eastern city of Tobruk after a court ruled it was no longer legitimate. Aguila Saleh approved a presidential election law with a controversial clause that analysts said is tailored to allow him and Mr Haftar, his close ally, to run for office without risking their existing positions. The clause, passed when a small number of lawmakers were present, said officials could step down three months before the election and return to their posts if they did not win. The chamber did not vote on the final version of the law. A Tripoli-based advisory body, the High Council of State, has rejected the parliaments election law, raising the likelihood that any vote will be contested as illegal. The parliament, which was elected in 2014 and split soon afterwards into warring factions, has not yet approved a law for a separate parliamentary election, as was demanded by the UN dialogue forum. Abdul Hamid Dbeibah Abdul Hamid Dbeibah is the current prime minister of Libyas interim government. He is a businessman-turned-politician and was born in the western city of Misrata. Mr Dbeibeh earned a masters in engineering at the University of Toronto in Canada. Mr Gaddafi in 2007 charged him with the task of running the state-owned Libyan Investment and Development Company (LIDCO). The firm was responsible for some of the countrys biggest public works projects, including the construction of 1,000 housing units in the leaders hometown of Sirte. Mr Dbeibah had agreed not to run in the elections as a condition to taking on his caretaker role earlier this year. For him to be eligible, Dbeibah would have needed to have suspended himself from governmental duties at least three months before the polling date, which he has yet to do. Experts Opinion Speaking on the importance of a peaceful election in Libya, Mr MacHarry said, Libyas election would draw global attention for the very reasons that it is coming against the backdrop of about five coup attempts on the African continent, and for a country torn apart by conflict, the rebuilding phase will hold important lessons for countries on the continent facing the same problem. In the same vein, Osmond Agbo, a public affairs analyst, believes that a successful election in Libya, accepted by most of the actors, will change the trajectory of armed conflicts causing major crises across Africa, especially in the Sahel region. That Africa today has become the focus of political Islam which is fueling the rise of Jihadists could be traced to a large extent with the situation in Libya, Mr Agbo said. According to Mr Agbo, even though a stable government in Libya will not stop all the troubles since Genie is already in a bottle, it will definitely put a check on the activities of those who even today, still source illegal weapons from gun runners in Libya and prevent further deterioration of violence in the region. Mr MacHarry said he believes that Mr Haftar and Mr Gaddafi Jnr are the candidates to watch. However, Mr Saleh is an important contender, he said. On the female candidates, Mr MacHarry said although Libya has made some progress with womens inclusion with the appointment of a woman as foreign minister, an elected position is a different game entirely. For Mr Agbo, although not impossible, it is highly unlikely that a woman will emerge winner of the elections. He attributed this to the fact that Libya is a predominantly Muslim nation and some Muslims may have a different take on the role of women in the society. You can of course argue that Benaziah Bhutto was once Pakistans Prime Minister but that was an exception rather than the rule. Outside of that, the odds are always stacked against women in politics, even in western democracies. He also spoke about the task ahead of the next Libyan president. The new president will face two important tasks: unification of the country and the demobilisation of several armed militias, which would mean cutting down on the powers of the tribal warlords and renegade generals, or buying their support to ensure stability. He would also need to reconcile Libyas sovereignty with the interests of outside geopolitical competitors who have varied interests and are thus backing different candidates, Mr MacHarry said. Obinwanne Okeke popularly known as Invictus Obi will be released in September 2028, a statement on the website of the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons has revealed. Mr Okeke who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier in the year for his involvement in a computer-based intrusion fraud scheme that caused approximately $11 million in known losses to his victims is being held at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI), Oakdale. FCI, Oakdale located in Allen, Western Louisiana is a low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. It has a population of 1,083 male inmates. It is an all-male inmates facility, with 997 inmates in the FCI and 86 at the camp. FCI, Oakdale will be Mr Obinwannes home until 2028 when he will be released. Backstory Mr Okeke is the founder of Invictus Group, which he claimed to have business interests in oil and gas, agriculture, and real estate, among others. He is said to have a degree in International Studies and Forensic Criminology and Masters of International Relations and Counter-Terrorism Studies from Monash University in Australia He was arrested on August 6, 2019, on a criminal complaint of computer and wire fraud to defraud Unatrac Holding Limited which is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) nabbed him at Dulles International Airport, Virginia, as he prepared to depart the U.S after a visit to witness the birth of his 19-month-old daughter born on July 15, 2019. Mr Okeke, a businessman with international fame, was featured on the Forbes Africa Magazine in June 2016 cover. On September 9, 2019, he was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud. Mr Okeke, who initially denied the charges, later entered into a plea bargain agreement with the U.S. authorities and pleaded guilty to Count 1 on June 18, 2020. The guilty plea helped Mr Okeke to secure the withdrawal of the second charge that carries lesser sentence and fines. PREMIUM TIMES reported extensively on his journey from being on Forbes to ending up in jail. Mr Okeke was also ordered to restitute about $10.7million which he fraudulently obtained from identified victims of his at least five years of wire fraud in the U.S and other places. The Nigerian police said they have arrested a man who allegedly killed his own wife in order to inherit her landed property, houses, money in the bank and a thriving business. The spokesperson for the force headquarters, Frank Mba, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, identified the man as Emeh Kalu, from Nguzu Edda village, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigerias South-east. The slain woman Nneka Kalu was reported missing and later found dead in a cassava farm on August 29 in Nguzu Edda village in Ebonyi, Mr Mba said in the statement. He said Mr Kalu lured the wife to a road junction for her to be abducted by five men from Nguzu Edda village whom he had contracted to kill her. Investigations revealed that the criminals strangled the woman to death after obtaining necessary information on the whereabouts of title documents and other relevant papers of her possessions, the police said. The police said three of Mr Kalus alleged accomplices have also been arrested, while efforts are being intensified to arrest the others. The three have been identified as Irem Mbah, Igwe Chima, and Okorie Okam. Investigations into the death of the victim follow a complaint received from the people of Ngugworo community, Ebonyi State, a border town to Abia State where the victim resided, when the decomposing body of the late Mrs Kalu was discovered in their community. The discrete investigations carried out by the police team led to the arrest of the four suspects, the police said. Mr Mba said the suspects would be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation. A Kaduna State-based lawyer has filed a N1 billion suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the legality of the shutdown of telecommunication networks and internet services in some parts of the state. Gloria Ballason, a human rights lawyer, said in the suit filed on December 8, 2021, that the shutdown was not backed by law or due process, just as she also contended that it impinges on her rights and other citizens. Those sued as respondents in the suit include the Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, the Attorney-General of Kaduna State, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Also sued are four major network providers in Nigeria Airtel Networks Limited, Globacom Limited Emirates Telecommunication Group Company (Etisalat) and MTN Group Limited. The plaintiff, who resides in Chikun Local Government Area and operates her office in Kaduna South Local Government Area, said telecommunications and internet connection went off from early September 2021 until about November 27, 2021 and connection has been epileptic up until the time of filing this case. Security hasnt improved despite network shutdown Ms Ballasson, who recalled that security reasons were cited as the reason for the shutdown, noted that the level of insecurity in the state has not reduced in any manner. Rather, terrorists are still kidnapping, killing, collecting and impoverishing struggling families within Kaduna State. She cited media reports of an instance during the shutdown of telecom services in specified areas of Kaduna State when bandits abducted 66 members of Baptist Church in Kakau area of Kaduna State and killed 2 out of the 66 abducted. According to her, sometime in early November, 2021, bandits also attacked Yagbak and Abuyab communities in Atyap Chiefdom in Zangaon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State wherein 11 persons were killed and several houses burnt. This act of the Governor and Government of Kaduna State has caused agony on me, the residents of the affected areas and citizens are compelled to embrace a retrogressive lifestyle, she said. Impact of shutdown She said the action has crippled my litigation work and Radio/TV businesses as well as businesses of thousands of youths who make legitimate earnings utilizing telecommunication services as businesses that rely on telecommunications services have their means of livelihood (and those who depend on them) truncated. She said on a daily basis on account of the shutting down of telecommunication services, her business, economic and social life (and that of other Nigerian citizens) working and residing in the affected telecom shut down directive was seriously jeopardised. She added that due to the telecom shutdown, House of Justice Annual Summit & Banquet with the theme, Leadership, Governance & National Security, which was slated to hold on November 26, 2021 at Epitome Events Centre Ethiopia Road, Barnawa Kaduna had poor attendance and online participants could not connect nor have access to discussions. That there are no justifiable reasons for the interference with my fundamental human rights (and that of the Nigerian citizens working and residing in Kaduna state). That the telecommunications services shut down directive is not backed up by law or due process but was ordered vaguely, she stated. Prayers Among other prayers, the plaintiff urged the court to declare that the NCC as an independent national regulatory authority failed to be firm, fair and upright when it yielded to the directive of the Governor of Kaduna state which was not backed by law. She sought a declaration that telecommunications shutdown of telephone services and the internet not backed by law or due process impinges on the rights of the Applicant, citizens of a democratic state, is capable of consequential usurping of adjoining or corresponding fundamental rights and is hence unconstitutional. Another of the plaintiffs prayer sought an order of N100million for arbitrary use of powers to interfere with the Rights of the applicant. She also sought an order for specific damages in the sum of N900 million for loss of earnings, apprehension of safety, embarrassment, discomfort and inability to host already invited and confirmed international guests at the 2021 House of Justice Summit, the creation of a frustrating work environment and the boomerang effect for the Applicant and her clients during the time of the shutdown of telephone and internet network. She also asked the court to order that all monetary awards made by the court against the respondents or any of them shall attract interest at the rate of 10 per cent interest per annum until total and final liquidation of same. The respondents have yet to respond to the suit. A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Wednesday, affirmed the final forfeiture of properties worth N1.8billion recovered from a former Executive Director, Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Tuoyo Omatsuli, to the federal government. The spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this in a statement, said the court also dismissed an application filed by Francis Momoh, who was laying claim to the properties. A judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, Chuka Obiozor, had, on December 10, 2018, ordered the final forfeiture of the properties including Block 117, Plot 4, Lekki Peninsula Scheme, TPAO 992, Ikate Ancient City, Eti-Osa L.G.A, Lagos, measuring 1804.089Sqm. The forfeited properties also included Plots 1-18, Block 43, TPAO 992, Ikate Ancient City, Lekki Peninsula, Eti-Osa, Lagos, measuring 10,000Sqm. Others are: Plot 1b, Northern Business District, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, measuring 1000Sqm and Plot 1; Block 25, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1, Eti-Osa L.G.A, measuring 2989.10Sqm. Dissatisfied with the order, Mr Momoh had approached the appellate court seeking to set aside the order of court. But a judgment read by Daniel Kalio, a member of the Court of Appeal panel, held that Mr Momoh did not place any material before the court to enable it to disturb the findings of the lower court. The appellate court also held that Mr Momohs appeal lacked merit and was accordingly dismissed. The judgment of the lower court is affirmed, it further held. Backstory Counsel for the EFCC, Ekene Iheanacho, had while moving ex parte application for the interim forfeiture of the properties at the Federal High Court, referred to paragraph four of the affidavit, detailing how a contractor with the NDDC, Starline Consultancy Services Limited, was paid about N10.2 billion as consultancy fee for levies collected from oil producing companies in the Niger Delta Region. It was further stated that out of the money paid to Starline, about N3.6 billion was paid as kickback to Omatsuli through a company named Building Associates Limited.Some of the funds were used by Building Associates to buy properties in the name of a company, Don Parker Properties Limited, where Omatsuli had majority shareholding, Mr Iheanacho had further told the court. Mr Iheanacho had also told the court that Mr Momoh, whom he described as the majority shareholder in Building Associates Limited, was introduced as a shareholder in Don Parker Properties Limited so as to disguise the nature of the crime. After hearing the submissions, the Federal High Court judge, Mr Obiozor, had granted all the prayers sought by the applicant and ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government. The judge had further directed the commission to publish the irder in any national newspaper within 14 days, notifying the respondents or anyone interested in the properties to appear before the court and show cause why the properties should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. EFCC, in compliance with the courts order, had published the interim forfeiture order in The Nation Newspaper of May 26, 2018. However, the respondents, on October 1, 2018, opposed the application, claiming ownership of the properties. Delivering his judgment, Mr Obiozor had held that the properties were acquired through proceeds from kickbacks received by Building Associate Limited operated by Mr Momoh on behalf of Mr Tuoyo, and ruled that the properties be finally forfeited to the Federal Government. The Indian authorities are making efforts to explain the gruesome murder of another Nigerian national resident in Bengaluru, the capital of Indias southern Karnataka state, on Sunday, December 12. Victor Akuete, a native of Uromi in Esan North East of Edo State, had lived in India for over ten years and was married to a Bengaluru woman with whom he had a child. Initial reports indicated that Mr Akuete, who was in his late 40s, was stabbed to death by friends after a heated argument. According to Bengaluru city police, he was attacked on Sunday night at about 10 p.m. while walking along the road. The police also said they had arrested three persons in connection with the murder. The arrested persons are Arun, Philip Raj, and Neelakantha, all residents of Banaswadi. Deputy Police Commissioner (East), SD Sharanappa, had initially blamed the killing on an African national known to Mr Akuete. But on Monday, he reversed himself, stating that scientific investigation helped to identify the accused persons. He said they have taken the accused to custody and the interrogation is in preliminary stage. We exactly do not know what was the motive behind killing Victor, Mr Sharanappa said. The incident took place around 10pm near Kullappa circle in Kammanahalli and we are yet to ascertain the reason behind the incident. But the deceaseds younger brother, Christopher Akuete, who is resident in Nigeria, told PREMIUM TIMES that the report made available to the family indicated that the assailants had accosted their victim where he was having a beer and wanted him to share it with them. He said his brother was reported to have refused and while he was walking home, they followed him and stabbed him in the chest and abdomen. According to Christopher, the ambulance came late and the bleeding was heavy leading to the death of his elder brother. My brother did not commit any crime, he was not accused of any wrong doing and he cannot just be allowed to die like that, he said. He said the family expects a thorough investigation and those arrested should be brought to justice according to the laws of the land. He also disclosed that efforts were being made to get the remains to be released to the Esan and the Nigerian communities in India for burial. He said once the body is retrieved, he is likely to be buried on Friday. In March this year, a Nigerian national, Leohand Lyeanyi, was murdered under a controversial circumstance while he was arrested by the Indian police in Delhi. Mr Akuetes friends, under the umbrella of his Old Students Association, Auchi College Auchi 1990(ACA90), condemned the killing, saying the incessant killing of Nigerians in the Asian country should stop. He was gruesomely murdered in India on Sunday the 12th of December 2021, the coordinator of the ACA Class of 90, Prisca Idonije, said in a tersely worded statement on Thursday. The reports in the news and dailies have been contradictory which goes to show there is every likelihood of an attempt to cover up or hinder justice. We call on all the bodies responsible for seeing to justice being served in cases like this to help us ensure that this case is properly investigated and the culprits brought to book. When contacted, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) said the information was yet to reach its office as of Thursday. Head of Department of Media and Public Relations, Abdulrahman Balogun, told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone that the commission was yet to receive any information on the death of Mr Akuete from the Nigerian High Commission in India. He, however, urged the family members of the deceased to write a petition to the commission, providing details of his death upon which action could be carried out. Advertisements The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday in Abuja said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot return to power in a free and fair election in 2023. The National Secretary, of the APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), John Akpanudoedehe, said this during a meeting with the partys state caretaker chairmen. The National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, had said APC would not survive 2022. Mr Akpanudoedehe said the electorate were intelligent and now knew that the PDP had nothing to offer Nigerians going by its antecedent. The APC scribe added that the PDP was not an alternative to the APC in the forthcoming 2023 general election. He said the achievements of the APC-led administrations at the state and federal levels were glaring, adding that the PDP had no chance of convincing Nigerians to contemplate voting for it. Mr Akpanudoedehe said that the sponsoring of some youths by fifth columnists and opposition agents to infiltrate and disorganise the APC had failed. He thanked the partys state caretaker chairmen for being statesmen in their respective states and for standing up against youthful exuberance, noting that Nigerian youths were very brilliant and resourceful. Mr Akpankudohede described Mr Ayus claim that the APC would not survive 2022 as false. I learnt that the new PDP chairman made a prophecy that we will scatter before April 2022. Let me send a message to PDP, if we are talking about replacing APC, it can never be the PDP because Nigerians are too intelligent. Nigerians will still choose APC; talk is cheap, even when they sponsored crisis throughout Nigeria, we won most by-elections. We inherited insurgency and we have dealt with it. As we speak, not one inch of Nigerias territory is being taken over by any group; when PDP were in government, they took over everywhere, but today, it is different, he said. The APC scribe said the successes recorded against insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements showed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was working for the well-being of Nigerians. Maybe because the president is not the talking type, I am challenging anyone to show me any social intervention programme better than this government. People are collecting alerts for COVID-19 palliatives, youths, women, civil servants are collecting it, Mr Akpanudoedehe stated. Earlier in his remarks, the Caretaker Chairman of the Delta State APC Chapter, Jones Erue, who spoke on behalf of others, said they came to express their absolute loyalty to the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led CECPC. He pledged the support of the APC State Caretaker Committee Chairmen to the Buni-led CECPC, adding that they would not accept any attempt to destabilise and change the partys leadership unconstitutionally. We dont know the youths who claimed to have changed the leadership of the party, they are not part of us, he said. Mr Erue said the APC State Caretaker Chairmen were determined to ensure that the APC won all future elections at the federal, states and local government areas. He said the APC was greater than any individual, adding that its members should note that the party had mechanisms for checking agents of disorder. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that APC State Caretaker Chairmen had earlier passed a vote of confidence on the Buni-led CECPC. Advertisements (NAN) its not enough for the government to get more slots. Slots and frequencies are assets, not ego massage commodities. Government and beneficiaries have to justify performance at a certain minimum threshold, failing which the slots would be auctioned and well be back to square one This is where the Aviation minister must now earn his brownie points. Its not been a merry run up to Christmas for many Nigerian travellers. It all started with Canada, Saudi Arabia, and then the U.K., red-listing Nigeria (and 10 other African countries) for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in spite of relatively low reported cases. If there were any remaining doubts about COVID-19 racism, these countries shed it and showed the world they could not help wearing bigotry on their sleeve. Countries that were rightly opposed to labelling COVID-19 the China virus, were quick to target Africa, which is not the original source of the new variant, for detecting it among in-bound travellers and quickly reporting it. It was a moment when, as Dakuku Peterside put it in his column, the virus not only infected politics, it also infected any pretences to common sense. The red list wrecked the travel plans of many families, but the worst was yet to come. In a worsening of an already fraught slot-and-frequency war on Monday, the Nigerian aviation authorities announced the restriction of Emirates flights into Nigeria from the present 21 frequencies to once a week, limiting it to a single Abuja slot. According to the aviation authorities, the restriction was in retaliation for the decision of the UAE authorities, which it accused of unilaterally restricting flights of Air Peace, the Nigerian carrier, from three agreed in the winter to one. Even though the UAE denied this, claiming that the fault was with Air Peace for abandoning its slots in Sharjah, Nigeria stood its ground and travellers, mostly Nigerians, bore the brunt. According to one report, Nigerians who had boarded flights to the Emirates, even on other airlines, were deplaned, with hundreds of passengers on scheduled flights stranded, and hundreds more forced to cancel. In a leaked audio, Nigerias Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika explained that he was imposing the restriction on Emirates airlines (Emirates and Etihad) with a heavy heart, especially at this time of the year, but that patriotism and the national pride of 200 million people demanded nothing less. It was not a retaliation, the minister said. Under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the UAE, it is called reciprocity. For at least eight months this year, the UAE and the Nigerian authorities have been locked in a dog fight over COVID-19 protocols, with Emirates announcing the suspension of flights one minute and lifting it the next. And now, the slot/frequency brawl upstages all previous sore points. In the midst of the ruins of shattered travel plans caused by the latest disruption, there are still a number of Nigerian travellers who are prepared to endure the fallouts, out of a genuine sense of frustration that there must come a time when enough is enough. That time did not start with the current dispute. It started when the Nigerian elite replaced Switzerland and London with Dubai as the new destination, not just for leisure, but also for stolen wealth. In a 2020 report by Matthew Page published on the Carnegie Foundation website, the Centre for Advanced Defense Studies carried out an investigation in 2016, which linked 800 properties in Dubai worth about N146 billion ($400 million) or the equivalent of nearly two-thirds of the Nigerian Armys annual budget, to Nigerian politicians. The problem didnt start today. In its heyday, the management of Arik Air complained to Nigerias aviation authorities that it was unfair to give British Airways 14 flights into Nigeria with seven into Lagos and seven into Abuja, apart from the frequencies enjoyed by Virgin Atlantic while Arik Air got only seven into London-Heathrow, for which it was paying about $40,000 weekly. No country whose elite steals this way and hides the money in another country, much less a country that it is in dispute with, should expect to be taken seriously. They know where the skeletons are buried. Rightly, too, they assume that if Nigeria had its house in order, it would not come to the negotiating table ready to accept a deal less than one-third of what it is getting. There are very many areas where Nigeria ought to have said enough long ago, and aviation is one of them. Even though the flight time between London-Heathrow and Accra and London-Heathrow and Lagos is approximately the same, for example, for many years, the cost of flying from Lagos, not to mention the hassle at destination, has been roughly $250 more for a round trip economy ticket, than the cost of flying from Accra. Foreign airlines are happy to land and refuel in Kotoka International Airport and scrape any stray dollars they can find in the neighbourhood from there, than fly into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Many Nigerian travellers route their U.K. flights and increasingly other international flights through Accra. And while the UAE and the Nigerian aviation authorities traded blows, the Benin Republic also became another gateway for desperate Nigerian travellers! Even within Nigeria, the price difference for a round trip economy ticket charged by foreign airlines could be $1,200 higher in Abuja than in Lagos. Thats how utterly shambolic the aviation experience has become for a country that boasts of being not only Africas largest economy, but also one of the worlds most obsessively jet-set population. The problem didnt start today. In its heyday, the management of Arik Air complained to Nigerias aviation authorities that it was unfair to give British Airways 14 flights into Nigeria with seven into Lagos and seven into Abuja, apart from the frequencies enjoyed by Virgin Atlantic while Arik Air got only seven into London-Heathrow, for which it was paying about $40,000 weekly. That, of course, was after the airline vehemently rejected the Gatwick option. The matter was never completely settled. After a bitter and complicated back-and-forth about slot and destination rules, the British authorities passed the complaint to the London-Heathrow authorities. British Airways, whose Nigeria service was being threatened, offered BMIs London-Heathrow slots to calm Arik Air. In the end, however, issues around aircraft type, lack of will by the Nigerian aviation authorities, and Nigerians own appetite for all-things-oyibo, killed the effort. Until recently, local airlines eyeing international routes bore the brunt of arbitrary and punitive charges, poor infrastructure, incompetent support services and corrupt officials who just dont understand that the airline business is a jealous and marginal one. Where major international carriers like Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, South Africa Airways and others get massive government funding because their countries regard the business as a vital part of their strategic plan, Nigeria not only abandons operators to their fate, the authorities also do everything to worsen their misery. Its not for nothing that the U.S. and Europe, the bastions of free market, have refused to sign the Open Skies agreement. Aviation is a vital asset and serious governments know when they must intervene to protect the market. Nigerias current practice of excluding frequencies and slots in BASA agreements leaves us completely at the mercy of the bigger players. But lets leave our sordid history and penchant for self-immolation for a moment. How long will Nigeria survive on the fresh supply of testosterone from Mondays retaliatory action by the Aviation Ministry, which some think may have forced UAE to review its position two days later? BASA is an agreement between countries. But while governments or aviation authorities do the paperwork including frequency allocation, airports assign slots. Slots are assigned on the basis of two major criteria: air traffic capacity and airport infrastructure. Although authorities in a number of developed countries sometimes leave both frequency and slot details to slot committees, it is at the negotiation stage of BASA that serious countries insist on frequencies and slots. The negotiations are usually led by seasoned diplomats, to ensure that their countries get the best deal, while aviators provide technical and logistical support. In Nigerian deals, the dog wags the tail. Also, the point of these negotiations is not only about commercial flights. Forward thinking frequency and slot allocation can also be used to develop trade and boost cargo freight, especially in countries with severely limited road, rail and maritime connections. So, if Nigeria is negotiating seven frequencies with UAE, for example, it could at the point of the BASA signing, insist on designating one or two slots for cargo destinations, based on the countrys strategic commercial trade objectives and growth opportunities. Its not for nothing that the U.S. and Europe, the bastions of free market, have refused to sign the Open Skies agreement. Aviation is a vital asset and serious governments know when they must intervene to protect the market. Nigerias current practice of excluding frequencies and slots in BASA agreements leaves us completely at the mercy of the bigger players. I perfectly understand the frustration of the Aviation minister, who is perhaps one of the most outstanding in Buharis government. But there was really no need to throw tantrums in the dispute with the UAE. In digging ourselves out of the hole we created in the last several decades, we must avoid the low, populist road, however tempting it could be. Advertisements The aviation authorities could have asked the slot allocation committee, if it has one, to reallocate the Emirates and Etihad slots to Enugu, Kaduna, Port Harcourt or Kano on grounds that Abuja and Lagos have exceeded their performance capacity. Emiratis coming into Nigeria for serious business will probably use private, not commercial airliners laden with Christmas travellers. And one more thing: its not enough for the government to get more slots. Slots and frequencies are assets, not ego massage commodities. Government and beneficiaries have to justify performance at a certain minimum threshold, failing which the slots would be auctioned and well be back to square one. This is where the Aviation minister must now earn his brownie points. Azu Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP. Dubem Onyia, a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership in Enugu State to adhere to the existing zoning agreement for governorship position in the state. Mr Onyia made the call in an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Abuja. According to him, as the 2023 general elections draw closer, the zone to produce the next governor of Enugu State seems to be heating up the polity within the PDP. He said the present governor of the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a member of the PDP from Enugu North District, was a product of a zoning formula. The former minister said the zoning agreement was to ensure that power rotates amongst the three senatorial districts of the state. He said the two other zones, Enugu East and Enugu West had also benefited from the zoning agreement, with former governor Chimaraoke Nnamani from Enugu East and former governor Sullivan Chime from Enugu West. Mr Onyia said the present debate on where the next governor of the state would come from was avoidable. As one of the founding fathers of the present Enugu State, I will not fold my hands and watch Enugu State engulfed in turmoil. It is my duty to ensure that there is peace, tranquility and brotherliness in the state, he said. He said the resolution to rotate the governorship position among the three senatorial districts was reached in 2014 at a PDP caucus meeting in Enugu State where he moved a motion. Mr Onyia said the motion was overwhelmingly endorsed at the meeting attended by the then governor, Mr Chime, senators, House of Representatives members, former governors, PDP state leadership and other stakeholders in the State. According to him, the zoning agreement that, after Enugu North, it would be the turn of Enugu East, is contained in the minutes of the PDP caucus meeting. With the adoption of the motion, Enugu North was then endorsed to produce the governorship candidate that saw Mr Ugwuanyi elected into office. It should be the turn of Enugu East now to produce the next candidate for the party. I am appealing to PDP Enugu State to allow Enugu East to take their turn. It will be very unfair, illogical and against the rules of equity for another zone to aspire to produce the next governorship candidate for the state. Enugu East has waited for 16 years since it had its turn, he added. (NAN) Bread makers took to the streets in Lagos on Thursday to protest multi-agencies and ministries taxation by the state government. The protesters under the aegis of the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) kicked off from the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, to the house of assembly with different placards inscriptions. Lagos government: stop duplication multi-agencies functions in premium bakeries, multiple taxations in Lagos is killing premium bakeries, premium bread makers are reeling under the yoke of multiple-agencies levies, rates, and taxes, their placards read. The protesters in a letter signed by their president, Emmanuel Onuorah, addressed to the speaker of the house of assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said 13 state agencies are monitoring their businesses and collecting taxes from their premium bakeries, aside from the ones at the federal levels the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity amongst others. The following are the list of Lagos State ministries, agencies and parastatals claiming that they are authorized by law to monitor/oversee premium bakeries: 1. Lagos State of The Ministry of Environment 2. Lagos State Safety Commission 3. Ministry of Transport (State Carriage) 4. Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) 5. Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) 6. Lagos State Fire Service 7. Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) 8. Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) 9. All 57 local governments and LCDAs in Lagos 10. Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) 11. Yearly papers by LGAs/LCDAS 12. Daily Ticket (Toll) (LGAs/LCDAs) 13. Mid-year Papers (LGAS/LCDAs). Price hike Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, the president said they had earlier submitted a letter to the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on September 14 but didnt get any feedback despite the acknowledgement of the letter. He said if this one isnt responded to within two weeks, there would be a hike in bread prices. We want to shout so that Nigerians would know. If bread prices increase you would know who to hold, Mr Onuorah said. Unfavourable business environment Mr Onuorah said their business operational capacity has dropped by 50 per cent and he has lost over N200 million in the last three years. It is not easy doing business here to produce bread now, the materials ..flour and sugar that is the main constituent of our products have gone up. We have been subsidizing bread for Nigerians and we are not going to subsidize bread if these things continue. By the end of this year we are going to increase our bread prices, Mr Onuorah said. And you know the problem that they would cause for Nigerians. We have been bearing the cost, we have been absorbing it and we are saying no. Every other thing that is making bread is very expensive. Imagine, the Lagos safety commission will come and take 350,000, some of them will come N500,000, sometimes they would say monthly, in local government, we are not resting, if you park (your distribution vehicle) they will come and take money from you, they beat up our workers. What kind of life is that? Are we not Nigerians? Advertisements He said he might have to lay off some of his workers due to the situation. Appeal In the letter to Mr Obasa, the president appealed to the state government to save our businesses from collapse and prevent over one million people in Lagos state under our employment (inclusive of bread distributors) from becoming jobless and being pushed back into an already saturated unemployment market. The bread makers demanded special protection as a major employer of labour in order to sustain the ecosystem of Lagos economy. The Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Victor Akande, promised to deliver their letter to the governor. A house developer in Lagos has allegedly swindled over 100 prospective tenants to the tune of N51,750, 000, a sum paid by the victims for apartments in a building at 53, Obayan street, Akoka, Lagos. The developer, who was identified as Tunde Adewale, (alias Alhaji Adewale) by the victims, was said to have collected rent in varying sums from the victims assuring them that they would move into the house by December. Confusion, however, ensued when some of the prospective tenants went to the building on December 8, and met other tenants cleaning the apartments and said that they had paid for it. This attracted the attention of other people nearby, including those who also paid for apartments in the same building, PREMIUM TIMES source said. The victims, who reported the matter to the Akoka Leaders of Thoughts (ALOT), said they paid for different apartments including miniflats and self-contained apartments in the same building. In a document obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, 113 victims were listed to have been defrauded by the developer. The victims paid varying sums between N200,000 and N700,000, with a cumulative total of N51,750, 000. A leader of ALOT, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the developer collected the rent from the victims when the house was under renovation, with the promise that they would move in when the renovation is completed before the end of the year. The source said the Akoka leaders group escalated the matter to relevant government agencies, including the police. One of the victims, Bayo Aina, who paid N700,000 for a miniflat in the building, said he was introduced to the developer by another agent. I paid on September 23, I went there before that day and asked him whether he truly wanted to rent out the place, he said yes. He called me himself the next day that if I am serious, I should make payment. He said he will hand over the property by December, before Christmas. I said why cant it be November, but he said I should calm down, by December, Mr Aina said. Mr Aina said he made a transfer into an account provided by the developer, Mr Adewale, and was issued a receipt by his younger brother. Another victim, Kalu John, told PREMIUM TIMES that he paid N350,000 for a self-contained apartment, only to find out last Tuesday that several persons paid for the same apartment. Some people we met there have collected the keys and moved in. They are counting themselves as the lucky ones that they are fortunate to collect keys, when the thing affected over 150 people and 11 people moved in, he said. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the victims all presented receipts carrying the name and phone numbers of the developer, Adewal Enterprise. When PREMIUM TIMES dialed the numbers of the developer, both were switched off. The developer is said to be on the run after giving the keys of the property to some of the tenants. Mr John said the matter was reported to the Bariga Police Division and the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). When PREMIUM TIMES contact Adekunle Ajisebutu, the Lagos police spokesperson, he said he would make findings and respond accordingly. The former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has replied his predecessor, Bisi Akande, over comments made in the latters recently released autobiography. PREMIUM TIMES reported the launch of Mr Akandes biography, My Participation, in Lagos last Thursday. At the launch, President Muhammadu Buhari said the author had retained his inflexible integrity, in and out of public office, never accepting or offering bribes. The book has continued to generate debate among Nigerias political class. In his reaction, Mr Oyinlola said some of the things Mr Akande wrote about him are false. I have just read a part of the recently released autobiography of my predecessor as governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, which concerns me. He levelled some allegations against me and also made certain allusions and insinuations, Mr Oyinlola wrote in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Oyinlola said the content of Mr Akandes book questions his forthrightness. I found it strange that Chief Akande who boasted that he was prudent and honest as governor, awarded the construction of a Government House in his last days in office, after he lost the election, and in advance, paid the contractors the entire contract sum of N800million, he wrote. Read the full text of Mr Oyinlolas preliminary response below. Oyinlolas preliminary response to Bisi Akande I have just read a part of the recently released autobiography of my predecessor as governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, which concerns me. He levelled some allegations against me and also made certain allusions and insinuations. My forthcoming autobiography has already taken care of all the issues. Notwithstanding that, however, I have the following preliminary replies to some of the issues he raised where he mentioned my name. This is for the benefit of Nigerians who may be interested in hearing my own immediate side of the story. 1. Bola Ige House contract Chief Akande said I wrongly accused him of corruption in the construction of the Governors Office (Bola Ige House). I did not level any false charges against him. I came into office in May 2003 and discovered that the Governors Office complex which Akande commissioned for use after he lost the election was really not completed. The state government asked the contractor to come back to site and complete the works, more so when evidence in government accounts showed that he had been paid. But the project consultant shocked everyone with his claim that part of the payment was taken back to finance the 2003 re-election bid of Chief Akande. The consultant said the contractor could not go back to work unless he was paid his full dues. One of Akandes own appointees confessed collecting money from this contractor for Akandes re-election. I consulted Chief Akande on this. He denied having any deal with the contractor and the consultant. Some people were subsequently taken to court on a seven-count criminal charge. Stakeholders in the state and Alhaji Arisekola Alao later intervened. I have the details of who collected how much in my forthcoming book. 2. Chief Akande brought into his narrative some names including that of General Alani Akinrinade whom he quoted as calling me on the content of a government file which Akande confessed was stolen by his people and brought to him in Ibadan. I state that General Akinrinade could not have called me Lagun which Akande inserted in his book. General Akinrinade and everyone in the military called (and calls) me Ola or Oyin. In any case, I have records of every document I appended my signature to in my years in government. 2. Akandes full advance payment of N800million on new Govt House Chief Akande wrote on the Government House that he wanted to build on a site on Ilesa road in Osogbo which I stopped. I found it strange that Chief Akande who boasted that he was prudent and honest as governor, awarded the construction of a Government House in his last days in office, after he lost the election, and in advance, paid the contractors the entire contract sum of N800million. Chief Akande confirmed this strange payment on page 393 of his book. This was a man who said there was no money to pay workers and pensioners but he had enough to pay a contractor in advance for a government house after losing his re-election. In any case, the state already had an ongoing Government House started by the military government which Akande refused to complete. I completed the project and added chalets plus a presidential lodge. Everything was completed and commissioned within my first year in office. The state has continued to use the structures till date. Akande, in his book, condemned my decision to opt for that project instead of his own idea. Further details on this are in my forthcoming book. 3. Chief Akande said the 2003 governorship election in Osun State was rigged in my favour. Chief Akande has repeatedly told this lie. The truth is known to everybody in the state that Akande lost the state shortly after he took over in 1999 and started fighting every one in the state. He sacked thousands of workers and did not pay their entitlements. In some instances, the retrenched persons included husband, wife and children. He owed those who were not sacked months of unpaid salaries which I inherited and paid. He deducted 20 percent of workers salaries to fund his projects. He fought obas, chiefs and religious groups and leaders. He sacked the press from government activities, blocked the only access road to NTA Osogbo and locked the gate of the Government House against even press correspondents in the state. He had no word of succor for his victims. These were the ingredients that cooked his defeat in 2003. But it is convenient for him to blame his defeat on everyone else apart from himself. I defeated him comprehensively in all local governments in the state apart from his home council area. Again, the details are in my forthcoming book. 4. I am happy Chief Akande described me in his book as his younger brother. I also hold him in very high esteem. That was why I counselled him at the beginning of his administration when he came to my house in Okuku, around June 1999, that the easiest way to destroy a state government was to draw a wedge between a governor and his deputy. I told him to watch out and prevent this from happening. He told me anyone dreaming of coming between him and his deputy, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, would be wasting their time. The rest is history. 5. Finally, I take responsibility for every action I took as governor. Chief Akande said I apologized to him for my actions as governor. That is not true. As governor, I feared only God and was nobodys errand boy. I say so because I noticed that Chief Akande repeatedly blamed President Olusegun Obasanjo for the steps I took which he didnt like. Ironically, Chief Akande was President Obasanjos favorite and the president always said this to those of us in his party. The saying that came to my mind when I read Chief Akandes attacks on Obasanjo is Eni a fe la mo, a o mo eni to fe ni (We only know those we love, we do not know those who love us). Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola Okuku, Osun State. 16 December, 2021 The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has approved the immediate deployment of Oyediran Oyeyemi as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) in Ondo State. The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. He said the deployment followed the retirement of Bolaji Salami, the erstwhile CP in the state, having completed the statutory years of service in the Nigeria Police. Mr Mba said Mr Oyediran, until the new deployment, was the Commissioner of Police in Charge of the Railway Police Command. He said the newly deployed CP joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1990 and holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Ibadan. He has attended several tactical and leadership courses within and outside Nigeria. Some of the courses include the Strategic Leadership and Command Course (SLCC), Police Staff College, Jos; Strategic Action on Kidnapping and Hostage Taking (UN Senegal), amongst others. He has also served in various operational, investigative, and administrative capacities in Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Ebonyi, and Akwa-Ibom Commands, he said. Mr Mba said the I-G had called on the new CP to bring his vast administrative, operational and intelligence gathering experience to bear, in consolidating and improving on the achievements of his predecessor. He said the call was to ensure increased public safety and security of lives and property in Ondo State. He enjoined the government and good people of Ondo State to give the new police chief maximum support and collaboration in his new role. Mr Mba said the posting was with immediate effect. (NAN) TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Greeneye Technology , the pioneer of AI-enabled precision spraying technology for agricultural applications, today announces the completion of a $22 million (USD) funding round led by JVP . The round also includes participation from Syngenta Group Ventures , the world's largest manufacturer of crop protection chemicals, Hyperplane Venture Capital and One Way Ventures . They are joined by leading agricultural machinery manufacturer, AGCO , and KDT. - Round includes Syngenta Group Ventures and leading agriculture machinery manufacturer, AGCO, signalling the industry's confidence in Greeneye's breakthrough precision spraying technology Each year, farmers worldwide apply millions of gallons of herbicides the vast majority of which are wastefully sprayed onto bare soil or the crop. This overuse of chemicals, which is common practice in the industry, damages the environment, causes weeds to develop resistance to herbicides, and is a financial burden for farmers. Greeneye has developed proprietary AI-enabled precision spraying technology that enables farmers to seamlessly transition from this hugely inefficient practice to precise application of herbicides and other chemicals. This is proven to reduce herbicide volumes by up to 90% while also improving weed control efficacy compared to standard broadcast spraying. The investment will be used to support Greeneye's commercial launch in the U.S. in 2022 and its expansion across North America in 2023. It will also be used to advance the technology's analytical capabilities and extend its usage to new inputs and crops, increasing the financial and environmental benefits of precision spraying to farmers beyond herbicides. Ahead of these milestones, Greeneye will double the size of its R&D team in Israel and its sales and operations team in the U.S. "We are delighted to have concluded this round of funding with such a diverse group of highly experienced financial and strategic investors alongside two of the leading companies in the global agriculture industry," says Nadav Bocher, CEO, Greeneye Technology. "This funding round marks a major milestone in our mission to dramatically reduce chemical usage in agriculture and increase profitability and productivity for farmers, while also providing consumers with safer and healthier food. Precision spraying has a crucial role to play in our essential transition to a sustainable food production system, and this investment signals the industry's absolute confidence that Greeneye is the company to lead the charge." Greeneye is the first company to launch an AI-based precision spraying system in the U.S., where it has already secured dozens of contracts with farmers in the Midwest. It is expected to accelerate mainstream adoption of precision spraying by solving previous barriers including accuracy and cost. This is achieved by utilizing AI and deep learning to detect and spray weeds amongst crops (green on green) with 95.7% accuracy. Further, the system is designed to integrate seamlessly into any brand or size of commercial sprayer, eliminating the need for farmers to invest in costly new machines. Erel Maragalit, Founder & Chairman, JVP, notes: "Greeneye's smart spraying solution promises to transform weed control by reducing the use of pesticides by up to 90%. This will have a dramatic impact on human health, the environment, and on farmers' profitability, especially as farm input costs continue to skyrocket. Our continued investment in Greeneye is part of our wider vision to invest in companies that provide ground-breaking solutions to the world's most critical challenges." "Precision spraying is a key tool for farmers as they look to solve the challenges of the evolving agricultural ecosystem, which include herbicide resistance, financial pressures and sustainability," says Shubhang Shankar, Managing Director, Syngenta Group Ventures. "Our investment and relationship with Greeneye Technology underlines Syngenta's commitment to support farmers in meeting these challenges by investing in companies that have the vision and determination to bring to market cost-effective, scalable solutions that positively impact not just farmers, but also the broader agricultural ecosystem in which we are all stakeholders." Eric Hansotia, Chairman, President and CEO, AGCO, concludes: "Greeneye's precision spraying technology targets real needs voiced by farmers around the world and is expected to enable a more sustainable future for agriculture. While there are a number of emerging technologies around precision spraying, Greeneye has differentiated itself in multiple ways, including the approach to install its precision spraying system on farmers' existing sprayers. This aligns with our retrofit first approach and is just one of the reasons why we are excited to join Greeneye's team of investors." About Greeneye Technology Greeneye Technology was founded in 2017 in Tel Aviv, Israel, with the mission to develop alternative and sustainable solutions to current crop protection practices to meet the growing global demand for food production, while also increasing productivity and profitability for farmers. The company is pioneering the use of precision spraying technology by harnessing AI and deep machine learning to enable intelligent, real-time decisions in the field that are proven to cut chemical use by up to 90% and improve weed control efficacy compared to standard broadcast spraying. Its founders have worked together for 15 years since serving in the Israeli special forces and head up a multidisciplinary team with expertise in computer vision, AI, agronomy, mechanic engineering, and business. In October 2021, Greeneye announced the commercial launch of its technology, signalling a major milestone in unlocking mainstream adoption of precision spraying by overcoming previous barriers of efficacy, speed of delivery, and cost. In December 2021, it closed a $22m funding round led by international venture capital firm, JVP, and including investment from agriculture industry leaders, Syngenta and AGCO. For more information see: www.greeneye.ag Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1711660/Greeneye_camera.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1711663/Greeneye_Spraying.jpg SOURCE Greeneye Technology Tissue biopsies with tumor cell contents that are too low for conventional testing methods can now be rescued due to the ability of MSB's DEPArray technology* to successfully recover low numbers of tumor cells from these difficult samples. The new FFPE Rescue Application* will provide pathology labs with a validated workflow to identify potentially targetable mutations in more FFPE biopsy samples. BOLOGNA, Italy and HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Menarini Silicon Biosystems (MSB), a pioneer of single cell technologies, announced today its new FFPE Rescue Application, to enable molecular testing on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples with low tumor cell contents. Thanks to the sorting capabilities of the recently launched DEPArray PLUS instrument, it is possible to isolate a sufficient number of tumor cells to generate relevant molecular data, even from FFPE tissues that were previously discarded from conventional Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) processing. Thus, the DEPArray PLUS workflow can reduce the failure rates of FFPE molecular analyses and provide clinical researchers with valuable information about actionable mutations, potentially improving clinical trial recruitment and allowing more patients to access new targeted therapies. Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding remains the gold standard preservation method of human tissue for molecular diagnostics. NGS of FFPE tissue is becoming increasingly important to identify targetable mutations and has greatly enhanced the ability of physicians to optimize treatment strategies. However, not all FFPE samples are suitable for molecular analyses. The failure rate for molecular testing of FFPE tissues ranges between 5 and 15%, with the primary driver being low tumor content. The precise digital sorting capability of DEPArray PLUS allows for the isolation of small pools of only a few hundred tumor cells that are then suitable for NGS library preparation and sequencing. According to Dr Javier Hernandez Losa, Director of the Molecular Biology Laboratory within the Pathology Department at the Vall dHebron University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain "the DEPArray platform allows us to conduct unambiguous genetic analyses on FFPE samples that failed the standard NGS procedure and identify potentially targetable mutations". MSB and the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital have recently engaged in a research collaboration to expand the types of complex samples that can be analyzed by DEPArray, such as cytologic samples. The Vall d'Hebron University Hospital Pathology lab provides molecular testing for many hospitals throughout Catalonia. It aims to establish a NGS testing service across the entire region to provide the information that will help physicians improve their decision-making and patient care. Prof Lorenzo Leoncini, MD, Head of the Department of Medical Biotechnology and Director of the Pathological Anatomy Division at the University of Siena, Italy adds that: "the DEPArray technology helped to rescue tissue samples with less than a 5% tumor cell content to generate robust data on cancer mutations. We are now planning to use this technology in different new research projects. For example, we will use DEPArray to study tumor cells in classical Hodgkin Lymphoma tissue biopsies, a setting in which isolation of these rare cells is extremely challenging, as they are present in a very low percentage compared to normal cells". "We are excited to be able to deliver such a unique technology for the analysis of FFPE biopsies with low tumor cellularity," said Fabio Piazzalunga, President and CEO of MSB. "Our DEPArray platform could help pathology labs reduce the significant burden, caused by FFPE biopsies that are rejected from molecular analysis and support pharma companies involved in clinical trials to expedite recruitment". About Menarini Silicon Biosystems (MSB) Menarini Silicon Biosystems offers unique rare cell technologies and solutions that provide clinical researchers with access to unparalleled resolution in the study of cells and their molecular characterization. The company's proprietary DEPArray technology allows for the gentle sorting of single rare cells from heterogeneous samples including low cellularity FFPE tissues. Menarini Silicon Biosystems, based in Bologna, Italy, and Huntingdon Valley, Pa., U.S., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group, a multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics company headquartered in Florence, Italy, with more than 17,000 employees in 140 countries. *For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1362208/Menarini_Logo.jpg Linda PAVY lipavy@pavyconsulting.com SOURCE Menarini Silicon Biosystems 'A model of cooperation in 21st century' During the meeting, Xi highlighted the sound development of bilateral relations and close cooperation between the two countries in various fields. He spoke highly of Russia's support of China in defending its core national interests and opposing attempts of driving a wedge between the two countries. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation and the two sides have decided to extend the treaty for another five years, Xi said the extension has been endowed with new spirit and content. The two countries will firmly support each other on issues of core interests and defend their national dignity and common interests, Xi stressed. He said he is ready to work with Putin to draw up the new outline for the bilateral cooperation based on the achievements the two sides have made this year, so as to continue pushing forward the high-level development of their ties. New record in bilateral trade volume Speaking of the bilateral trade, Xi hailed tremendous political strengths and huge potential as trade between China and Russia in the first three quarters of 2021 has topped $100 billion for the first time. For the whole year, bilateral trade looks to reach a record high, Xi said. Referring to the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation which concluded in November, Xi said a series of strategic major projects have been implemented smoothly and the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union has also strengthened during the time. Seeking common development based on cooperation The Chinese president also called on the two sides to share development opportunities, while highlighting bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy and COVID-19 containment. Xi said China and Russia should step up cooperation in the new energy sector and consolidate traditional energy cooperation, besides advancing cooperation in nuclear energy and renewable energy. Referring to the Global Development Initiative that he proposed at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Xi said it is a public good focusing on addressing market challenges faced by the world, especially emerging markets and developing countries. The initiative also aims to boost the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he added. Noting how China and Russia have been working jointly against COVID-19, Xi said close cooperation not only adds new meaning to bilateral ties but also contributes to the global fight against the pandemic. Putin scheduled to attend 2022 Olympic Winter Games Xi said he looks forward to Putin's upcoming visit to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Stressing that China will deliver a "simple, safe and splendid" Winter Olympic Games, Xi said China is ready to take the opportunity to enhance sports exchanges between the two countries. Since Putin's visit will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders in the past two years, Xi said that he expects to exchange in-depth views on bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues. Xi said that he looks forward to this "get-together for the Winter Olympics" and stands ready to work with Putin "for a shared future" to jointly open a new chapter in post-pandemic China-Russia relations. Democracy the shared value of mankind Explaining China's mission, Xi said it is "both big and simple" because it is all about delivering a better life to all Chinese. "Putting people first is our fundamental philosophy of governance," he stated. The Chinese president opposed the hegemonic moves and Cold War mentality adopted in the name of "multilateralism" and "rules," and noted that some forces were trying to interfere in China and Russia's internal affairs by using "democracy" and "human rights" as their excuse. He called on the two countries to enhance coordination and cooperation in international affairs to safeguard their security interests and make contribution to global governance. Reiterating that democracy is a shared human value, Xi said only the people, and no other country, can judge whether their country is democratic or not. China is ready to enhance cooperation with Russia on this regard to uphold the correct perception of democracy and defend all countries' legitimate rights of seeking democracy. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-15/Xi-Putin-virtual-meeting-begins-160OTxkyFr2/index.html Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVzkD7MYfLM Related Links www.cgtn.com SOURCE CGTN PARIS and NEW DELHI, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4th edition of the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE), the world's largest civil nuclear exhibition organized by RX France, which took place over three days from 30th November to 2nd December in Villepinte, north of Paris, has ended on an upbeat note. WNE once again succeeded in attracting a large international attendance, despite the difficult health context. This 2021 edition kept its promises in terms of audience. An event by GIFEN (the French Nuclear Industry Association), organised by RX France, WNE 2021 brought together 17,000 participants and 612 exhibitors (40% of whom were international) from 76 countries. The 2021 figures once again reflect the popularity of WNE. The numerous cooperation agreements signed at the show reaffirm the business dimension of WNE, while the exhibition also received very strong media coverage abroad. Sylvie Bermann, Ambassador of France and President of WNE, said: "For three days, the global nuclear industry gathered in Paris has demonstrated its ability to meet the challenge of climate change. Because it can produce low-carbon electricity continuously and at competitive prices, but also of innovating and adapting to the multiple challenges of today's world by developing new solutions, our industry confirms that it is, as the theme that has guided us for three days states: a key player for a low-carbon society in a responsible future." "I would like to thank all the high-level personalities who have honoured us with their presence: Bruno Le Maire, Minister for the Economy, Finance and the Recovery ; Agnes Pannier-Runacher, Minister Delegate for Industry, attached to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery; Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA; Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA ; Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy ; Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market ; and Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director General of the World Nuclear Association (WNA). They all expressed their support for our industry; they all recalled the major place that nuclear energy must play in the future energy mix, to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050." LEADING FRENCH AND INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITIES WNE welcomed nearly 1,000 top international decision-makers (governments, institutions, major buyers, etc.) and official delegations from some 20 countries (Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, India, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America). A 2021 EDITION THAT TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE OF A NEW MODEL WITH DIGITAL WNE rose to the challenge and adapted to the health context by changing its format to become a hybrid physical and digital event. The WNE Live & Connect digital platform enabled those members of the community who were unable to attend in person to follow the various sessions online (opening and closing ceremonies, WNE Awards ceremony, sponsors' Tribunes, workshops, panel discussions on waste management and hydrogen, and the 'SMRs and Advanced Reactors Day'). Sessions will also be available for replay shortly. This online presence was reinforced by strong engagement on the social networks LinkedIn and Twitter. During the week of the exhibition, 2.2 million unique users were reached on WNE and the subject of nuclear energy and generated 1,400 mentions of WNE on social networks. NEW FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF WNE 2021 The panel discussions on SMRs and Advanced Reactors, hydrogen and waste management, which have been the main topics of discussion in the industry and among politicians for months, opened up new perspectives and met with the expected success. These subjects were discussed for the first time at WNE. The WNE Fellow Award, presented for the first time in 2021, went to Kirsty Gogan, a person from outside the nuclear industry, whose works and views have highlighted the major role of nuclear power in the fight against climate change. She was chosen by a jury of internationally recognised experts chaired by Bernard Bigot (Director General of the ITER Organization) and received her award on the eve of the exhibition's opening. WNE would not be WNE without the exhibitors' workshops, the business meetings, the Start-up Planet, the Sponsors' Tribunes, the Panel Discussions, and the WNE Awards which celebrate exhibitors' innovation. 7 winners were selected from 21 short-listed entrants in four categories (operational excellence, nuclear safety, products & services, skills and knowledge management). THE WNE AWARDS 2021 THE WINNERS IN THE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE CATEGORY Large groups & ETI : EDF, "Stop Corrosion" EDF, "Stop Corrosion" VSEs/SMEs: Oakridge SAS, "NESTERS stands for: Nuclear Ex-core inStrumentation system (Rpn) System App." THE WINNERS IN THE NUCLEAR SAFETY CATEGORY Large groups & ETI: EDF, "Radiation protection shells" EDF, "Radiation protection shells" VSEs/SMEs: Cathelain and co-applicants, "C-Bolt" THE WINNERS IN THE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CATEGORY Large groups & ETI: Veolia Nuclear Solutions, "Treatment of Problematic Nuclear Waste Streams - GeoMelt Vitrification of Reactive Metals Veolia Nuclear Solutions, "Treatment of Problematic Nuclear Waste Streams - GeoMelt Vitrification of Reactive Metals VSEs/SMEs: Avnir Energy, "SK-DIZI (Surveillance System for Ionized Zones)" THE WINNERS IN THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT CATEGORY Large groups & ETI : CEA, the French alternative energies and atomic energy commission, "Create Your MOOK" : CEA, the French alternative energies and atomic energy commission, "Create Your MOOK" VSEs/SMEs: After careful consideration, the jury decided there would be no award this year for SMEs and VSEs due to the difficulty of scoring and judging against the criteria. The Student Day on 2 December, organised by i2EN (International Institute of Nuclear Energy) in cooperation with GIFEN in a hybrid format, welcomed more than 150 students at WNE while nearly 500 students connected remotely from their respective institutions in France and abroad. The next edition of WNE will be held from 28 to 30 November 2023 in Paris Nord Villepinte. Link to a pictures' selection Picture credit : UXO Click Here www.world-nuclear-exhibition.com Join us #WNE on twitter, linkedin and youtube ABOUT GIFEN : www.gifen.fr GIFEN is the unique professional trade union from the french nuclear industry gathering Prime contractors, Big companies, Midcaps, SMEs, VSEs and associations covering all types of industrial activities and all areas of civil nuclear power. Gathering approximately 270 members, the objective of GIFEN is to build with its partners the French nuclear industry of tomorrow. GIFEN also aims to promote and develop international relations between the world players in the civil nuclear industry. To achieve this purpose, GIFEN believes in the WNE (World Nuclear Exhibition) and as owner GIFEN intents to develop it. About RX France : www.rxglobal.com RX France manages a portfolio of world-class, French and international face-to-face, virtual and hybrid events covering 20 industry sectors including MIPIM, MAPIC, Batimat, Pollutec, EquipHotel, SITL, IFTM Top Resa, MIPCOM, MIPTV, FIAC, Paris Photo and many more. RX France's events take place in France, China, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia and the United States. We serve our clients as we accompany their strategic business development and roll out the best of physical and digital events. RX France is part of RX (previously Reed Exhibitions). SOURCE RX France ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A $1 million gift to the Washtenaw Community College Foundation by Agnes and Stephen Reading will fund 10 annual full-ride scholarships for WCC nursing students. The Ann Arbor philanthropists are longtime supporters of WCC. The first Reading Scholars nursing students will soon be named for the Winter 2022 semester, with a new set of recipients being selected each fall semester starting in Fall 2022. "Nurses are the soul of a hospital." $1 million gift to Washtenaw Community College creates Reading Scholars for nurses Tweet this The Readings said they were motivated to focus on strengthening this region's nursing profession based on their own personal experiences. "Nurses are the soul of a hospital. Ensuring excellent nursing care for people in our community is of utmost importance to us," Stephen Reading said. "I've been in the hospital a lot and have met many nurses. Agnes and I have been moved by the care we've received from nurses and have made good friends." Nurses have faced unique challenges since the pandemic. Registered nurse shortages have been on the rise for nearly a decade, while the pandemic has increased the need for even more nurses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists registered nursing as among the fastest-growing occupations through 2030, with projections of 194,950 openings each year. Reading Scholars will receive tuition, books, exam fees and equipment needed to complete three years at WCC. Students may then transfer to Eastern Michigan University, where they may earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. "We are beyond thrilled the Readings have made this very generous gift to WCC and our nursing students," said President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca. "Now more than ever the world needs excellent, caring nurses, and WCC prepares students by arming them with the education they need coupled with the real-world experiences employers seek." Students often face challenges to finishing their education, including work and family commitments. The Readings want to make earning a degree easier for those who truly have what it takes to become a RN and continue on for their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. "Students can complete three years at WCC for about the cost of one year at a traditional four-year university. Not only is it a bargain, but WCC has an excellent reputation for its rigorous nursing program," said Agnes Reading. Each year, WCC's program graduates nearly 150 nursing students, who are educated in state-of-the-art simulation labs and classrooms on campus. Clinical partnerships with hospitals and other health care facilities ensure that students receive valuable training and experience. The Nursing program takes a holistic approach to student development and focuses on professionalism, competency, high ethics, safety and compassion for the good of the patient, family and community. The Readings' desire is to bring visibility to nursing as both a science and an art. "Nursing is not just charts, procedures and processes. It is the genuine personal engagement between nurse and patient that provides patient healing and timely communication between doctor and patient, an art that is easily overlooked as a meaningful hospital tool," said Stephen Reading, who notes the importance of a nurse's respect and compassion for the patient's perspective, as well as the great pride they take in their profession. "We are grateful for Agnes and Stephen's generosity in support of this program," said Phillip Snyder, Associate Vice President, WCC Foundation. "The Readings' gift is truly transformational and will be life changing for many WCC students, both now and in perpetuity." About Washtenaw Community College Foundation Since its founding in 1983, the Washtenaw Community College Foundation has provided critical support to tens of thousands of students through tuition and book scholarships as well as assistance in overcoming barriers related to food shortages, housing, utilities, and childcare. The Foundation awarded nearly 1,700 scholarships during the 2020-21 school year and helped over 100 students through direct assistance from the Student Emergency Fund. The WCC Foundation is supported through generous donations and grants from people, businesses and foundations who share in the mission of helping students to stay in school and get across the finish line. About Washtenaw Community College Washtenaw Community College (WCC), Ann Arbor, Mich., educates students through a wide range of associate and certificate programs in areas such as health care, business, STEM and advanced transportation and mobility. WCC offers accelerated and online programs and is ranked the number one community college in Michigan, according to schools.com. WCC is committed to student success, with nearly 70% of students intending to transfer to complete a bachelor degree. The college also works through community, business and union partnerships to develop highly specialized training programs to meet the region's workforce talent needs. For more information about Washtenaw Community College, visit www.wccnet.edu. SOURCE Washtenaw Community College 52% of respondents reported being "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to travel during the holiday season, while 48% were "not too likely" or "not likely at all" to travel. 76% of the respondents that are planning to travel have a budget that is either more or about the same as 2019 pre-COVID levels a positive indicator for this holiday travel season. Premise gathered this data from November 24 through November 30 in 23 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, the Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam. In 2021, only 33% of respondents canceled holiday travel plans entirely due to the COVID-19 spike and the emergence of new variants, a number that's down 14% from 2020. Considering that 40% of respondents said they modified travel plans for 2021, up 9% from 2020, the data suggests that travelers are more willing to change plans to deal with COVID-19 variants or spikes rather than cancel holiday travel altogether. 27% of respondents did not change their travel plans at all, up 5% from 2020, a positive holiday travel trend for 2021. A majority of survey respondents supported health screening requirements for travel, with mask wearing, proof of vaccination, and COVID-19 testing having the highest level of support from 2021 holiday travelers. "Holiday travel is clearly ramping up, even though travelers with international plans have more to consider," said Steven Casley, Global Business Development Executive Travel & Hospitality at Premise. "Of the respondents who are planning to travel, 81% are traveling domestically within their country of residence with only 19% planning to travel internationally. Ever-shifting restrictions in countries around the world and the new US requirement that travelers must take a test within one day of a return flight's departure for the United States are all factors negatively impacting international travel recovery." About Premise Premise is a crowdsourced insights company. Our technology mobilizes communities of global smartphone users to source actionable data in real-time, cost-effectively, and with the visibility you need. In more than 125 countries and 37 languages, we find Data for Every Decision. To know more, visit www.premise.com . SOURCE Premise Data DALLAS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Corners Aviation of Dallas, Texas, will market the extra-large cabin ACJ TwoTwenty as the first of an all-new business jet to its clientele for the 'Freedom by Four Corners Aviation' product entitled Corporate Jet as a Service (CJaaS). 'Freedom by Four Corners Aviation' as well as the ACJ TwoTwenty are both industry-disruptive products. The concept is creating a new value proposition to the business and private aviation market by providing all the benefits of their own scalable aviation department with a customized and fully integrated ACJ TwoTwenty financed solution, with crew, operations and supplemental lift, but without the hassles of ownership, such as administration, accounting and cost variabilities. It opens up business aviation to a wider clientele by providing an innovative and packaged solution. Four Corners Aviation, assisted by Mente Group, its sister company, along with ACJ, will market the extra-large cabin ACJ TwoTwenty to the clientele for the 'Freedom by Four Corners Aviation' product. The ACJ TwoTwenty is the first all new business jet dedicated to the 'Freedom by Four Corners Aviation' program entitled Corporate Jet as a Service (CJaaS). Well Suited to North American Market "The ACJ TwoTwenty's superior cabin space and ability to connect London to Los Angeles directly all year long make it an excellent choice for the North American market," said Brian Proctor, chief executive officer of Aquila Aviation Ventures, which holds Four Corners Aviation and Mente Group. "Furthermore, it's a true North American aircraft assembled in Canada, engines in Connecticut and the cabin completion is performed in Indiana." ACJ President Benoit Defforge said, "The ACJ TwoTwenty is a game changer in the business jet market bringing a new value proposition to the market, as is Four Corners' new offer. The 'Freedom' program simplifies the aviation travel experience for executives and high net worth individuals who care about getting to their destinations in comfort yet offering a pioneering solution to aircraft ownership to access the ACJ TwoTwenty," Defforge added. We are very pleased to be able to offer the ACJ TwoTwenty to our clientele," said Cameron Gowans, president, and COO of Four Corners Aviation. The reliability of the Airbus platforms, excellent customer support, a third lower key operating cost drivers and twice better residual value vs. other large business jets, while delivering true intercontinental range, make the ACJ TwoTwenty very attractive to our 'Freedom' customers," he added. Four Corners Aviation Launched in November Four Corners Aviation was launched in November. It is an industry disruptive product, branded as 'Freedom by Four Corners Aviation.' The concept enables customers to have all the benefits of their own scalable aviation department with a customized and fully integrated financed lift solution, including aircraft, crew, operations, and supplemental lift, but without the hassles of ownership such as administration, accounting, and uncertainties. Freedom by Four Corners Aviation is a revolutionary way for clients to enjoy the multiple benefits of private jet travel, without worrying about ownership, financing, operations, insurance, crew management, maintenance, or any of the additional aggravations associated with private jet travel. This radical and sweeping approach to business jet access protects and preserves shareholder and client capital. For more information on Freedom by Four Corners Aviation go to: Four Corners Aviation. About Four Corners Aviation Four Corners Aviation has the most comprehensive suite of solutions in business aviation today. Four Corners offers fresh products and services to support business aviation users such as Corporate Jet as a Service, Aircraft Management and Jet Card Solutions. Four Corners' assets include an aircraft management and charter company and a fleet of Cessna Citation, Embraer Phenom, Bombardier Challenger, and Gulfstream business jets. The business is an ARGUS Platinum Rated Charter Operator, which supports a diverse fleet based throughout the United States and operating around the world. About Aquila Aviation Ventures LLC Aquila Aviation Ventures is an investment company formed to serve unmet industry needs and leverage resources across entities to scale for future growth. The company identifies and invests in high-growth firms within the business aviation sector. The company holds Four Corners Aviation and Mente Group. Aquila recently invested in Mente Group, which has permitted it to recapitalize in order to expand its platform and fund high quality products. About City+Ventures City+Ventures is a premier development and investment company focused on building companies and communities. With Omaha roots, but regional and national assets, City+Ventures owns and operates a wide array of businesses, including automotive dealerships; carwashes; a private jet management and charter company; real estate management; and construction-related businesses, in addition to holding a real estate portfolio. In August 2020, City+Ventures' proven track record of reinvention and financial success earned it the No. 71 spot on the Inc. 5000 Company list. For more information, visit Home - City+Ventures (city-ventures.com). Media Contact: Jim Gregory James Gregory Consultancy LLC (316)558 8578 SOURCE Four Corners Aviation LONDON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MICE Industry is valued at USD 1468.2 Million in 2020 and expected to reach USD 2307.4 Million by 2027 with the CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period., promising a robust forecast. Research Analyzed by Brandessence Market Research & Consulting Pvt ltd. "MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions) Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Meetings, Incentives, Exhibitions), By Application (Academic Field, Business Field, Political Field, Exhibitions, Others) Based On Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2027". The Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions Market: Regional Analysis The global MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market report is divided on the basis of key regions into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Among these, the North America led the highest recovery for global travel sector. The region registered a growth rate or CAGR of 36.8% in 2021, followed by Asia pacific with a CAGR of 36.3%. Regions like Europe, and Middle East also promise substantial recovery with the CAGR of 27.1%, and 23.9% respectively. The global spending forecast for spending remains even more promising, with an improved growth rate of 61.7% in international travels, and 52.6% in domestic travel spending. Leisure spending promises the most robust growth in the global MICE market, with China promising a growth rate of over 60% in 2022, and US with an estimate growth rate of 51.4% in 2022. Surveys in countries like the UK show that travellers are planning a domestic vacation, with staycations expected to rise in countries with longer restrictions. Request a Sample Report: @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestSample/PostId/351 The demand for travelling continues to spring back into action, as travellers remain deeply reminiscent of travel activities, globally. The good news is despite a major decrease (49.1%) in 2020, the travel industry is expected to register growth of over 30% in 2021, followed by 31.7% growth in 2021. Moreover, the covid-19 pandemic has also shifted traditional travel industry, with new trends like demand for longer vacation stays, first-time travellers, higher consciousness about health protocols, and free cancellations features continue to emerge. Overall, consumers also expect a better reflection of how they live their life on how they choose to travel. The comfort and safety of homes amidst a global pandemic has boosted demand for domestic travel globally. The global lockdowns and emergence of new covid-19 variants has also impacted future forecast of the global MICE market. The Mice (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) Industry Key Trends In a study in 2020, over 58% travellers preferred booking flights that offered flexible cancellation policies. On the other hand, over 76% travellers opted for the same in relation to hotel bookings. 55% noted free cancellation as primary concern while booking, and this figure stood at a meager 20% before the pandemic. Furthermore, this preference varies widely between regions, with 89% of travellers from Spain , 87% from France , and 84% from UK highlighted the importance of the free cancellation policies. On the other hand, 82% of travel industry executives noted that they have made changes to their existing policies to accommodate the growing demand for free cancellations. While 69% have eliminated the need to keep a deposit, 61% are changing rules that mandated minimum duration stays. Despite growing demand, financial implication for free cancellation are difficult to accommodate for the industry, and postponement options are increasingly being offered to travelers to tackle their challenges. , 87% from , and 84% from UK highlighted the importance of the free cancellation policies. On the other hand, 82% of travel industry executives noted that they have made changes to their existing policies to accommodate the growing demand for free cancellations. While 69% have eliminated the need to keep a deposit, 61% are changing rules that mandated minimum duration stays. Despite growing demand, financial implication for free cancellation are difficult to accommodate for the industry, and postponement options are increasingly being offered to travelers to tackle their challenges. The pandemic has also resulted in major changes in air-travel bookings, as travellers opt for short-bookings increasingly. The average time-span for air-travel bookings dropped to 23 days, as opposed to earlier trend of 53 days in advance. Furthermore, hotel bookings also have witnessed this trend with advance booking dropping from 32 days in advance in 2019, to 10 days in the first half of 2021. Major hotels like Hyatt have reported that most of their bookings were made just 4 days in advance in 2021, in the US. The domestic travel continues to outgrow the international travel segment globally. It remains to be seen, how this trend will impact growth of the MICE market. However, the international travelling is estimated to outpace growth of domestic travel in 2022. The increased prospect of global vaccination, and ease of restrictions globally remain key drivers of growth. The international travel is expected to grow at a robust CAGR of 9.3% CAGR during 2021, while witnessing a massive projected increase of 93.8% in 2022. The growing active response from tourism industry to emerging consumer trends and eagerness to welcome business prospects lead the way for increased resilience. The trend of 'staycation', meaning a business engagement that leads to longer stays at a destination, combining a vacation, promises new opportunities for growth. Furthermore, the increased eagerness of business travelers also remains a promising driver of future growth. Over 80% business executives report that their travel arrangements have at least some impact on their job offer consideration. Similarly, business clients also convey comfortable and convenient hotel preferences as the top comfort in travelling. The growing demands for domestic exhibitions also promise to remain a key driver of growth in the MICE market. Exhibitions witnessed emergence of 4.5 million exhibitors around the world in 2018. Moreover, over 300 million visitors attended these exhibitions globally, in the same year. Furthermore, new regions like Asia Pacific continue to emerge, thanks to promising investment in global business center development. Regions like Asia Pacific accounted for over 26.9% of all global travellers in 2018, with total number amounting to over 80 million visitors. Similarly, Europe , and North America also promise considerable growth, taking the total financial contribution of the exhibition industry to over USD 300 billion , with over 32,000 exhibitions globally in 2018. Request for Methodology of this report: https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/351 The increased emergence of remote work has also led to increased growth of staycations, or longer work-based vacations. As people increasingly normalize remote work around the world, the vacations to accommodate business remains high, with increased longer stays, increased demand for work-related facilities like WiFi, and booking options like free cancellations. The fears of cancellations remain high in the global travel sector, with travellers preferring isolated place to crowded vacation spots. Furthermore, increased health consciousness driven by covid-19 pandemic has also led to increased demand for wellness centers, and beautiful natural landscapes. The increased stress on children to limit their daily playful activities has also pushed parents to take longer trips, with increased involvement of first-generation travellers. This further drives increased need for health-consciousness on part of travel organizers. Key Players for Global MICE Market Report Capita Travel and Events CWT Meetings & Events IBTM Events Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG) ATPI BCD Meetings and Events Cievents Freeman Grass Roots Meetings and Events Questex 360 DESTINATION GROUP ACCESS DESTINATION SERVICES BCD GROUP (BCD MEETINGS & EVENTS) BI WORLDWIDE CONFERENCE CARE LTD. CREATIVE GROUP, INC. CSI DMC ITA GROUP MARITZ MEETINGS & INCENTIVES WORLDWIDE, INC. ONE10, LLC THE FREEMAN COMPANY THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. Increasing Number of Corporate Meetings and Events from the Business Sectors is Expected to Drive the Market Growth. The demand for MICE is on the rise from the past few years, as business travel seems to be continually increasing along with the increase in number and size of corporate meetings and events. This has created the huge opportunity to expand the tourism services for the corporate world which is beneficial to the event planners, hotels and event spaces. Additionally, corporate travelers are choosing the MICE tours to promote their businesses which is a good combination of business activity and sightseeing relaxation. The MICE industry has been gaining importance over past few years, since meeting planners and travel agents are organizing the corporate incentive travel programs to reward the employees for reaching specific targets. The MICE Market: Notable Developments Government programs promise a notable boost for travel sector, as it is generally acknowledged as the hardest hit sector globally. In countries like Singapore, every citizen has been handed the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers, also known as SRV. The $100 voucher is aimed at boosting domestic travel, with additional incentives for children. Over 1.2 million adults in the country used the voucher with a total spending of over 4178 million in total till September, 2021. On Special Requirement MICE Industry Report is also available for below region: https://brandessenceresearch.com/Checkout?report_id=351 North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain Sweden Netherland Turkey Switzerland Belgium Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific South Korea Japan China India Australia Philippines Singapore Malaysia Thailand Indonesia Rest Of APAC South America Mexico Colombia Brazil Argentina Peru Rest of South America Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Egypt South Africa Rest Of MEA Get Full Research Report: https://brandessenceresearch.com/technology-and-media/mice-meetings-incentives-conferencing-exhibitions-market-size Related Reports At Bellow: i-Factor: Live Market intelligence platform I-Factor is our guaranteed seal to keep our clients ahead of the competition, always. This knowledge platform delivers real-time updates on key economic indicators, competitive landscape, changing demand, trends, customized regional insights, and more. The platform visualizes key data points to help make decision making agile, trustworthy, and holistic. Register for free trail here @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/i-factor/login/userRegister Brandessence Market Research & Consulting Pvt ltd. Brandessence market research publishes market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students. We have a delivery center in Pune, India and our sales office is in London. Website: https://brandessenceresearch.com Blog: Packaging Printing Companies 2021 Mr. Vishal Sawant Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Corporate Sales: +44-2038074155 Asia Office: +917447409162 SOURCE Brandessence Market Research And Consulting Private Limited "These three new routes build on the Customer enthusiasm and strong demand Avelo is experiencing coast to coast," said Avelo Airlines Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. "We are excited to bring Avelo's convenience, reliability and affordability to even more people and places. The launch of these new flights is the latest example of Avelo's mission to Inspire Travel by helping our Customers save time and money." Yesterday, Avelo inaugurates service between Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and North Denver's Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL) in Fort Collins. FNL is the third destination Avelo serves from LAS, in addition to Sonoma County / Santa Rosa, CA and Eureka, CA. Avelo will begin flying to a fourth LAS destination Redding, CA on January 6. LAS is the second destination served by Avelo from FNL in addition to Los Angeles, which commenced service in October. These routes are operated by Boeing Next Generation 737-800 aircraft. Today, Avelo will commence service on two new routes. On the East Coast, the airline's first flight between New Haven, CT and West Palm Beach, FL will take flight. The new route to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is Avelo's fifth Florida destination from its East Coast base at Southern Connecticut's most convenient airport Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). On January 13, Avelo will begin flying to a sixth Florida destination from HVN Sarasota / Bradenton. These routes are operated by Boeing Next Generation 737-700 aircraft. This afternoon, Avelo will also inaugurate its 18th destination, flying between Los Angeles and Tucson. This new route is the 10th destination served by Avelo's West Coast base at LA's most convenient airport Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). This route will be operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft. A Different, Better and More Affordable Travel Experience Avelo's everyday low fares have no change or cancellation fees. There is also no charge for Customers who choose to make reservations by phone. Additionally, Avelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin. Avelo's single-class, fuel-efficient fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 mainline jets offer a more spacious and comfortable experience than the regional jets historically utilized at the smaller airports Avelo serves. Customers may choose from several seating options, including seats with extra legroom, as well as pre-reserved window and aisle seating. Avelo is distinguished by its Soul of Service Culture. The culture is grounded in a "One Crew" mindset that promotes teamwork, understanding and kindness. By caring for one another and owning their commitments, Avelo Crewmembers provide a smooth, enjoyable, reliable and welcoming experience for its Customers. About Avelo Airlines Avelo Airlines was founded with a simple purpose to Inspire Travel. The airline offers Customers time and money-saving convenience, very low fares, and a refreshingly smooth and caring experience through its Avelo Soul of Service culture. Operating a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 18 popular destinations across the U.S., including its West Coast base at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and its East Coast base at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). For more information: visit AveloAir.com. *The one-way $29 introductory fare includes government taxes and fees. The fare must be booked by December 30, 2021. This introductory fare is available on a limited number of flights and seats. Additional fees for carry-on and checked bags, assigned seats and other optional services may apply. For full terms and conditions, please see Avelo's Contract of Carriage. Media Contacts Avelo Airlines Courtney Goff, Communications Manager [email protected] SOURCE Avelo Airlines TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise, closes out 2021 with record-setting growth numbers and entrances into four new markets. The brand further solidifies its position as an industry leader, wrapping up the year with a goal shattering 37 signed agreements and a robust roster of openings lined up for the new year. In total, Blo Blow Dry Bar boasts 140 locations open and in development across the United States and Canada. "We had big goals this year and I'm proud to say we surpassed set expectations," said Patrick Pantano, Vice President, Franchise Development, Blo Blow Dry Bar. "Between our devoted existing franchisees expanding their portfolios and adding new entrepreneurial-minded individuals to our system, the team is set up to continue building the Blo empire across North America." Heading into 2021, Blo Blow Dry Bar set a goal to award 35 franchise agreements which was met and exceeded. Now, the growing franchise spans 30 states, having added new markets to its list including Indiana, New Hampshire and Washington. Earlier this year, the company signed its largest agreement that will bring six bars to Florida. This milestone was then trumped only a few months later by the now largest signed agreement in brand history a 7-unit deal in Texas. This significant growth and success is a result of the brand's unmatched leadership team, hands-on support and committed franchisees who are passionate and believe in the mission of Blo Blow Dry Bar. Additionally, the Blo executive team made systemic improvements that enable franchisees to achieve success quicker and for new bar doors to open sooner. The brand prioritized bringing on the right candidates who are primed to take Blo Blow Dry Bar into its next era of franchise success. With a clear-cut vision and theme of growth in the upcoming year, the company has set its sights on building off this strong momentum with another 30+ signed agreements in 2022. "This was a historic year for our company and we fully expect to keep moving forward at a rapid rate," said Vanessa Yakobson, CEO of Blo Blow Dry Bar. "Each opening and signed agreement marks us being one step closer to painting the globe pink and providing catwalk quality blow outs to women everywhere. Our collaborative team plans to keep a pulse on industry trends and implement innovations so we can solidify our position as the first, best and largest blow dry bar franchise in this space." With a favorable real estate landscape and vast opportunity for market growth, company executives are actively seeking franchisees to continue to expand in key markets across the country. Blo Blow Dry Bar creates a space where people of all ages, ethnicities and orientations are welcomed, represented and made to feel gorgeous while emphasizing the need for self-care and wellness. Combining a sophisticated design with a fun and energetic environment, the blow dry bar cultivates a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests upon their arrival, during and after their services. Expertly trained bloers are available for consultation seven days a week to meet the needs of all guests. The brand's hair menu includes their signature styles, ranging from sleek and straight to lively and bouncy curls, with customizable options such as braids, ponytails and updos for any occasion. Blo also offers makeup services from expert artists on-hand to help guests look and feel amazing for any occasion. The growing franchise is just at the start of the runway, staking its claim as a leader in the $47 billion a year industry and continues to expand at a rapid rate. Every year, more cities across the globe are painted pink. Every day, a new guest discovers how wonderful the Blo Blow Dry Bar experience is. Superior service and consistent results are a top priority for all guests as well as franchisees. The brand goes beyond beauty it is strategically positioned to meet growing customer demands within the wellness and self-care industries with an established foundation for business success. Blo Blow Dry Bar is currently seeking single- and multi- unit operators to join the brand's rapid expansion. For more information about franchise opportunities visit https://franchise.blomedry.com/. About Blo Blow Dry Bar Blo Blow Dry Bar is North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise. The company transformed beauty norms and reinvented the salon industry when it launched the "no cuts, no color" concept: only blow outs. Since opening its first location in Canada in 2007, Blo has grown to over 130 locations across the U.S. and Canada and continues to expand rapidly. With a mission to enhance the lives of those in the community through the power of flawless blow outs and beauty services, Blo Blow Dry Bar offers perfectly styled hair and exceptional customer experiences seven days a week. For more information visit www.blomedry.com. Media Contact: Marisa Beaumont, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847.945.1300 SOURCE Blo Blow Dry Bar Related Links http://www.blomedry.com 43% year-over-year growth and continued positive operational cashflow Management to host earnings call December 17th LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM"), a multi-state operator, is pleased to report its financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2021. Q1 FY2022 Financial Summary (results expressed in $USD unless otherwise indicated): Reported Q1 FY2022 revenue of $7.57 million a 43% increase over Q1 FY2021 revenue of $5.29 million ; a 43% increase over Q1 FY2021 revenue of ; Q1 FY2022 Gross profit of $3.49 million a 94% increase over Q1 FY2021 results of $1.8 million ; a 94% increase over Q1 FY2021 results of ; Q1 FY2022 Net Operating Profit of $0.32 million ; ; Q1 FY2022 Net Loss of $0.68 million ; ; Basic and Diluted loss per share of $0.01 ; ; Positive Adjusted EBITDA of 0.82 million*; Inventory of $3.37 million as of October 31, 2021 ; as of ; At October 31, 2021 , BaM had $7.43 million in cash and a working capital surplus of $8.36 million ; , BaM had in cash and a working capital surplus of ; Total Assets were $48.98 million , Total Current Liabilities were $6.65 million and Total Liabilities were $14.58 million at October 31, 2021 ; , Total Current Liabilities were and Total Liabilities were at ; 110,621,308 shares of common stock outstanding as of October 31, 2021 (113,349,464 as of December 14, 2021 ). Operational Milestones for Q1 FY2022: California: Definitive agreement entered for acquisition of Seaside, California dispensary; dispensary; The Company took over management of Seaside dispensary operations effective December 1, 2021 ; dispensary operations effective ; Approval of change in ownership received from the City of Seaside, California ; ; Manufacturing and Distribution facility in development stage with local approvals in process. Nevada: Optimized distribution license; Electrical power upgrade project for Production facility began to provide increase in distillation capacity; Ohio: Operation commencement of the NMG Ohio production facility; Initial extracted products on dispensary shelves with an expanded product line in progress. Arkansas: Cultivation operations produced first flower with perpetual harvest operations established; First flower sold from Body and Mind cultivation operations. Michigan: Continued vertical market expansion into Michigan ; ; The Company has leased a commercial building in Manistee, MI with the intent of developing a cultivation facility with 50,000 square feet of canopy as well as a production facility; with the intent of developing a cultivation facility with 50,000 square feet of canopy as well as a production facility; Received state and local preapproval licenses, and building permits to advance a Phase 1 cultivation and production facility with approximately 25,000 square feet of indoor cultivation and 5,000 square feet of production/manufacturing; Final drawings and contractor bids for Phase 1 Cultivation and Production in the evaluation process; Received state and local preapproval licenses, and building permits to advance a dispensary facility; and Construction near completion of a wholly owned dispensary in Muskegon, MI. Illinois Announced the Company has management agreements with two entities that have been identified in the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) results of the Social Equity Justice Lottery as recipients of Conditional Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensary Licenses (Conditional Licenses) in the greater Chicago -area zone; and -area zone; and Final license awards by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) delayed due to litigation by other parties. "These strong quarterly results and continued positive cash flow from operations reflect our commitment to lean, focused performance as we continue to add new accretive operations," stated Michael Mills, CEO of BaM. "Supply chain issues with carbon dioxide delivery had a short-term effect of reduced wholesale biomass from Nevada cultivation operations which led to a "one off" decrease in revenue from our prior quarter. The wholesale supply chain issue has been mostly resolved, and our retail revenue increased quarter over quarter offsetting the wholesale reduction. Our growth strategy for FY2022 continues to advance with new operations and developing licenses. Our operations team has been working closely with the new Seaside dispensary as the Company has taken over operations. The Michigan Body and Mind branded dispensary is nearing final inspection with an opening anticipated in the next several weeks. The Michigan cultivation and production operations are nearing final planning stages with construction anticipated in early calendar 2022." *Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP metric used by management that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management defines the Adjusted EBITDA as the income (loss) from operations, as reported, before interest, taxes, and adjusted for removing other non-cash items, including the stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, and further adjustments to remove acquisition related costs or gains. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful financial metric to assess its operating performance on a cash adjusted basis before the impact of non-cash items and acquisition activities. The most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP is net income (loss) from operations, which was presented above prior to the Adjusted EBITDA figure. The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for the quarter ended October 31, 2021 are available on SEDAR and EDGAR and should be read in connection with this news release. The Company will be hosting earnings call on Friday, December 17rd, 2021 at 10:30 AM Eastern Participants can dial 1-888-664-6392 or 416-764-8659 and use confirmation number 65424098. The earnings call with be available for replay until December 24, 2021 by dialing 416 764 8677 and entering replay number 424098 #. About Body and Mind Inc. BaM is an operations focused multi-state operator investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licenses and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, oils and extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup. BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas, Ohio and Michigan and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing time and resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions. Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information. Instagram:@bodyandmindBaM Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its 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. 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 activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, 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. 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. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. SOURCE Body and Mind Inc. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Architecture Guild, an international community of business architecture practitioners with members in over 100 countries, today announced the 10th annual Business Architecture Innovation Summit, to be held in-person in Reston, VA and virtually on March 22 24, 2022. Registration for this hybrid event, which blends in-person engagement with virtual participation, is now available at 10th Annual Business Architecture Innovation Summit. Co-sponsored by the Business Architecture Guild and the Object Management Group, this three-day event features presentations, open discussion, panels and opportunities for in-person and remote attendees to learn about exciting advancements across the global business architecture community and cross-section of industries. The 2022 Summit will feature speakers from financial services, government, healthcare, insurance, logistics, manufacturing, not-for-profits, pharmaceuticals, transportation and other sectors. Summit speakers will share fresh perspectives and new stories about business architecture and how they are using it to enable strategy execution, improve customer experience, accelerate regulatory compliance, manage organization change, modernize technology and more. According to Summit Co-chair and Business Architecture Guild president William Ulrich, "The upcoming Summit will feature the most industry sector, geographic and topically diverse sessions to date, which is a strong sign that not only is business architecture now commonly practiced around the globe, but that the practice is maturing." In addition to a panel discussion about the latest advancements in tools and technologies available to organizations today, special sessions include a Business Architecture Core Metamodel (BACM) Standard update as well as findings from a recent study that correlates the strategy execution gap and the future role for business architecture in graduate school business curriculum. To accommodate attendees from around the global, all sessions will be recorded so that attendees may listen regardless of location. For those new to the discipline, the Summit is preceded by a free, half-day Business Architecture Primer. About the Business Architecture Guild The Business Architecture Guild is an international, not-for-profit, member-based association that provides valuable resources to business architecture practitioners and others interested in the field. The Business Architecture Guild is the source for A Guide to the Business Architecture Body of Knowledge (BIZBOK Guide) and exclusive provider of the Certified Business Architect certification program. SOURCE The Business Architecture Guild Two recent Morgan State graduates are the first to participate in the six-month managers-in-training (M.I.T.) rotational program, launched in September with Concord Hospitality, at the Cambria Hotel Washington, D.C. Convention Center and the Cambria Hotel Nashville Downtown . Upon successful completion of the immersive training program at the hotels, these managers-in-training will have the opportunity to pursue full-time managerial positions with Concord Hospitality. In addition to debuting the management accelerator program, Choice Hotels joined the HBCU Partnership Challenge developed by Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12) and created to strengthen public-private relationships with HBCUs to ensure the schools' future sustainability, increase career prospects for their students, and advance diversity, equity and inclusion within all sectors. Thus far, 78 companies have joined the Challenge. "Choice Hotels is committed to advancing diversity, equity and belonging both within our organization and across the entire hospitality industry. As part of these ongoing efforts, Concord Hospitality has been an important collaborator for us in helping to create a bridge for recent HBCU graduates so they can pursue meaningful careers in hospitality," said Janis Cannon, senior vice president, upscale brands, Choice Hotels. "We look forward to working with Congresswoman Alma Adams, the International Franchise Association, hotel management companies and HBCUs to build a diverse pipeline of talent, seeding future general managers as well as future hotel owners." "At Concord Hospitality, we believe our biggest differences are our greatest strengths and we are committed to living up to our mission to be 'A Great Place to Work for All," said Mark Laport, president and CEO, Concord Hospitality. "It is through initiatives like this that we build a strong associate base not only at Concord, but within the hospitality industry as a whole. We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with Choice Hotels on such an important program and look forward to the bright futures of these hospitality industry employees." Choice Hotels has recently made several enhancements as part of its decades-long commitment to diversity, including: Teaming with the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline and increase the number of successful black executives by adding value to their development, leadership and philanthropic endeavors across the lifecycle of their careers, including funding scholarships for students enrolled in HBCUs and creating career development opportunities for Choice associates. Forming the Choice Hotels Owners African American Alliance (CHOAAA), the industry's only franchisee-focused group dedicated to Black and African American hoteliers, to allow a platform for owners to express their voices and unique experiences directly with the company's leadership. Creating opportunities for minority-owned businesses. As a franchisor, it is the company's vision to fuel small business through proven brands where all are welcome to pursue the American dream of entrepreneurship. To reach underrepresented groups, Choice has a dedicated Emerging Markets Program focused on establishing relationships within the African American, Hispanic, Native American and veteran communities, and women owners as well. Since the program began, the company has awarded and financially supported over 270 franchise agreements, including 24 agreements last year, despite the pandemic. Implementing hiring, promotion and retention benchmarks and goals to improve the diversity of company leadership and employees at all levels of the organization. Similarly, Concord Hospitality has instilled the following ideals, among others, at its hotel properties across the nation and throughout its entire associate footprint: Our biggest differences are our greatest strengths Associates from all over North America are encouraged to share their stories to gain understanding and appreciation for everyone's differences, celebrating "I am free to be me." are encouraged to share their stories to gain understanding and appreciation for everyone's differences, celebrating "I am free to be me." Be authentic Concord believes that when a person feels safe enough to be themselves and be accepted, they are sure to bring their best selves to work which translates into improved performance, innovation and results. believes that when a person feels safe enough to be themselves and be accepted, they are sure to bring their best selves to work which translates into improved performance, innovation and results. Treat each person how they deserve to be treated The company aims to ensure that the associate experience is the same across all levels, genders, ethnicities or other characteristics, regardless of how a person defines him or herself. These ideals are paramount in a number of Concord initiatives, including through its Diversity & Inclusion Council, which was launched in 2017, as well as in more recent endeavors like the 2020 "End Racism Now" initiative, which aimed to increase the level of understanding about the Black community amongst its associates, within the hospitality industry and across the U.S. and ultimately drive change to secure equality, justice and freedom for all Americans. "Applying for the M.I.T. Program has been one of the smartest decisions I have ever made," said Je'lynn Gould, Morgan State alumna and hospitality management accelerator program participant. "Many companies do not offer programs for recent college students and graduates, but I am grateful that Concord has! I honestly couldn't be prouder to work for such a great company! This program is truly necessary for recent graduates who have the passion for this industry, but just need a great starting point to build the experience. Completion of this program will help transform participants into managers, with the flexibility of choosing the department they like best. I can truly say that my time with Concord and Choice thus far has helped me to develop critical skills in every department of the hotel." The Morgan State University Hospitality Management Program facilitates students' higher education by providing financial assistance through numerous scholarship opportunities. Donors can make a tax-deductible gift to the Morgan State University Foundation to support students in Morgan State's Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management Hospitality Management Program: https://www2.morgan.edu/ba/hospitality To learn more about Choice Hotels' initiatives and efforts to promote diversity, equity and belonging, view the company's Environmental, Social and Governance Report. About Choice Hotels Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With more than 7,100 hotels, representing over 600,000 rooms, in nearly 40 countries and territories as of September 30, 2021, the Choice family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travelers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty program offers members benefits ranging from everyday rewards to exceptional experiences. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com. About Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company As an award-winning hotel development and management company, Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company has spent the last three decades successfully growing the company's portfolio, which includes premium-branded properties across the United States and Canada. Recognized as one of the top 10 management companies in North America, Concord Hospitality creates benefits for its partners and associates by leveraging its operations, development, sales and marketing, technology, accounting and operational management expertise to continue to grow its portfolio of best-in-class hotels. The company believes its people are its greatest strength. With the brightest talent, the most innovative processes and a commitment to giving back to the communities where associates live and work, Concord Hospitality is committed to being a great place to work for all. Learn more at concordhotels.com. About Morgan State University Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 2021 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved. SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.; Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company Clementine is committed to providing compassionate and trusted medical and psychiatric oversight to each adolescent with an eating disorder and understands that eating disorders affect all genders, races, and ethnic groups. By making access to treatment more inclusive, those in need of early intervention will have a greater chance of recovery. "With the rise of adolescent eating disorders - particularly due to the pandemic - we have expanded care so that all adolescents can receive proper treatment," said Candy Henderson, MS, Chief Executive Officer of Monte Nido & Affiliates. "By expanding our Clementine programming in The Woodlands to all genders, we achieve our mission to help more people realize their healthy selves." Treatment at Clementine The Woodlands focuses on restoring physiological and nutritional balance and implementing mindful eating and exercise routines. The residential setting ensures the highest level of care outside of a hospital, offering 24-hour nursing, and comprehensive academic and family support. "We have designed our model to meet the specific developmental needs of adolescents," said Melissa Spann, Ph.D., LMHC, CEDS-S, Chief Clinical Officer of Monte Nido & Affiliates. "We provide a personalized treatment which incorporates evidenced-based modalities, backed by research outcomes that demonstrate the efficacy of our care." For more information or to inquire about treatment at Clementine The Woodlands or another Clementine location, please go to www.clementineprograms.com or call 855-900-2221. About Monte Nido & Affiliates Monte Nido & Affiliates is one of the country's leading eating disorder treatment providers, offering inpatient, residential, and day treatment programs for eating disorders. Founded in 1996, Monte Nido & Affiliates operates forty-five programs in thirteen states, with residential programs being Joint Commission accredited. Monte Nido & Affiliates includes five distinct eating disorder program brands: Monte Nido, Walden Behavioral Care, Rosewood Centers, Oliver-Pyatt Centers, and Clementine Programs. Media Contact: Carrie Hunnicutt [email protected] 203-922-2077 SOURCE Monte Nido & Affiliates PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Total deaths in New Jersey last year far surpassed the average numbers in prior years, but not all of those "excess" deaths are directly attributable to COVID-19. A significant rise in at-home deaths in 2020, coupled with a decline in hospitalizations for serious health events like heart attacks and strokes, suggest that delays in seeking care may have cost many New Jerseyans their lives during the pandemic. The New Jersey Hospital Association and its Center for Health Analytics, Research and Transformation examined data from the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data (SHAD) system and hospital discharge data. That review, Excess Deaths: The Hidden Impact of COVID-19 on Mortality in New Jersey, identified a number of trends associated with mortality in New Jersey as COVID-19 peaked in 2020. Key findings include: New Jersey recorded 95,715 deaths in 2020, with COVID-19 listed as the primary cause of death for 16,458 individuals. Even accounting for COVID mortality, the remaining 79,257 deaths in 2020 is 4.3 percent higher than 2017 through 2019, when total deaths never exceeded 76,000 in a single year. recorded 95,715 deaths in 2020, with COVID-19 listed as the primary cause of death for 16,458 individuals. Even accounting for COVID mortality, the remaining 79,257 deaths in 2020 is 4.3 percent higher than 2017 through 2019, when total deaths never exceeded 76,000 in a single year. Deaths that occurred in the home were approximately 28 percent higher last year than the prior three-year average (28,326 versus 21,890). Hospitalizations for emergent medical conditions such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease experienced double-digit declines in 2020 compared with the number of hospitalizations averaged over the prior three years. "This data begins to shed light on the uncounted toll of COVID in individuals who delayed seeking necessary healthcare," said NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett. "During COVID's peak in New Jersey in the spring of 2020, EMS teams throughout the state shared anecdotal reports of individuals who waited too long to seek care for life-threatening conditions. Sadly, this data indicates that those reports were not isolated and, in fact, may be counted among COVID's terrible impact on N.J. residents." The top three causes of deaths at home in 2020 were diseases of the heart, cancer and diabetes, according to the state's SHAD data. The four-year trend shows the significant rise in each category in the pandemic's first year: At-home heart disease deaths numbered 7,583 in 2020, compared with 6,116 in 2019; 6,078 in 2018; and 5,847 in 2017. At-home cancer deaths totaled 7,313 in 2020, compared with 5,957 in 2019; 6,012 in 2018; and 6,161 in 2017. At-home deaths attributable to diabetes numbered 1,245 in 2020, compared with 749 in 2019; 750 in 2018; and 766 in 2017. Meanwhile, hospital admissions for four key emergent conditions (heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease) decreased by more than 16 percent in 2020. In the prior three years, 2017-2019, admissions for these conditions never shifted more than 1.9 percent annually. "It's impossible to know whether these excess deaths could have been prevented with timely access to hospital care," said Sean Hopkins, senior vice president of CHART. "But the trends are troubling, and they reinforce a critical message during a public health emergency: Please don't delay seeking the care you need." The full report and other CHART resources can be found at www.njha.com/CHART. SOURCE New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) ATLANTA, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dassian, Inc., is proud to announce the launch of its new website and enhanced logo. The new site and logo reflect the company's focus on innovative, end-to-end solutions for digital business transformation in the government contracting sector and for project-centric businesses. The updated site emphasizes Dassian's integrated approach through a singular digital thread that results in business process redesign and more efficient, data-driven business operations. As the go-to solutions provider for government contractors and project-centric industries, Dassian helps these businesses adapt to an increasingly fast-paced and competitive market that is demanding technological and business process changes. Dassian's new logo includes a "D" comprised of points connected by a sleek thread. The design represents a visual reminder of the company's emphasis on end-to-end solutions facilitated by a singular digital thread. "Our new website and logo better represent the solutions we provide and the problems we solve for our clients," says Kevin Kane, Dassian's CEO. "Our website now not only reflects our rich history in providing technological solutions for highly regulated and project-centric companies, but also describes how our solutions suite and experts facilitate digital business transformation through a cross-functional, integrated, and single-source approach. "As a certified SAP partner, Dassian extends and enhances SAP's core to deliver seamless, integrated end-to-end solutions for our clients," Kane continues. "Our website better reflects that relationship and its value to clients." The new website also includes an Executive Corner that provides insightful content to support customers engaging in digital business transformation as well as access to Dassian's Guidance Board Resource Center. The Guidance Board is comprised of 35 executives and thought leaders from Fortune 500 companies who provide both feedback and innovative ideas on Dassian's integrated solutions suite. Along with the support portal, Dassian's website now offers both ongoing assistance and thought-provoking content for customers and industry leaders. About Dassian Dassian is a strategic Microsoft, SAP, and global system integrator partner. Dassian's suite of integrated solutions provide an innovative, end-to-end approach to contract management, managerial accounting, program management, and material accounting & logistics solutions for highly regulated and project-centric businesses. SOURCE Dassian, Inc. NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today presents its plan for leading the air travel industry through the next phase of the recovery, powered by an intense focus on customers, the strength of its trusted consumer brand and its values-based, people-centric culture of service. The airline is presenting its strategic priorities at its Capital Markets Day for the investor community, hosted at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. "It's clear that the pandemic stress-tested the people of Delta in unprecedented ways, and our competitive advantages not only endured but were strengthened throughout the crisis," said Ed Bastian, Delta's CEO. "Delta is outperforming the industry, and our path forward to leading the next phase of the recovery is taking shape thanks to the incredible work of our 75,000 people worldwide." During the event, senior leadership will discuss how Delta is expanding its platform to create value over the long term. Highlights from the day will include: Competitive Advantages: Delta's actions during the pandemic further strengthened its competitive advantages and enhanced its position as a trusted consumer brand. Delta's actions during the pandemic further strengthened its competitive advantages and enhanced its position as a trusted consumer brand. Industry Leadership: Delta is leading the industry operationally and financially by demonstrating agility, operational excellence and discipline. Delta is leading the industry operationally and financially by demonstrating agility, operational excellence and discipline. Brand Preference: Delta continues to elevate the customer experience through its best-in-class service and by investing across the travel ribbon, enhancing brand preference and loyalty. Delta continues to elevate the customer experience through its best-in-class service and by investing across the travel ribbon, enhancing brand preference and loyalty. Earnings Power: Delta expects to deliver meaningful profitability in 2022 on its path to improved earnings power beyond pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Delta expects to deliver meaningful profitability in 2022 on its path to improved earnings power beyond pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Financial Foundation: Delta's top financial priority is restoring its financial foundation, with a focus on efficiency and cash generation to achieve investment grade metrics by 2024. "As our profitability improves, we are focused on reducing debt and strategically investing to build on our leadership position," said Delta CFO Dan Janki. "We have a compelling strategy that we believe will allow us to exceed 2019 financial performance, deliver industry-leading margins and generate significant cash to de-lever the balance sheet over the next three years." Delta's financial targets will be discussed in greater detail at the event, and include the following: Financial Targets: 2022 2023 2024 ASMs (vs. 2019) ~90% ~100% 100%+ Total Adjusted Revenue (ex-Refinery) - - > $50B NF CASM (vs. 2019) Up 7% to 10% Up Low to Mid-Single Digits Up Low Single Digits Fuel ($ / gallon) $2.20 - $2.30 $2.20 - $2.30 $2.20 - $2.30 EPS - - > $7.00 Gross Capital Expenditures ~$6B ~$5B to $5.5B ~$4.5B to $5B Free Cash Flow - - > $4B Adjusted Net Debt - - ~$15B Additional Metrics and Assumptions: 2024 operating margin in mid-teens 2024 operating cash flow > $9B 2024 adjusted debt / EBITDAR between 2.0x and 3.0x 2024 ending liquidity between $5B and $6B and 2024 ROIC in the mid-teens "As we look ahead, our priorities are strengthening our trusted consumer brand, restoring our financial performance and building a better future for our people and our planet," Bastian said. "Our ambition is to transcend the industry and create significant long-term value for our people and our owners. As reconnecting the world becomes more important than ever, we are accelerating our path to reshape and redefine air travel." Delta also issued an investor update, raising December quarter financial guidance. The airline now expects to generate an adjusted pre-tax profit of ~$200 million in the December quarter. Capital Markets Day will begin at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and includes presentations from Bastian and Janki as well as Delta President Glen Hauenstein and President-International Alain Bellemare. It also will feature a Q&A with Bastian and Stephen J. Squeri, Chairman and CEO of American Express, in which they will discuss the growing value of the partnership between the two companies in the recovery and beyond. Attendance in person is by invitation only. Presentation slides and a live webcast will be available on Delta's Investor Relations website at https://ir.delta.com. A replay of the event will be available shortly after the event. About Delta Delta Air Lines is the U.S. global airline leader in safety, innovation, reliability and customer experience. Powered by our employees around the world, Delta has for a decade led the airline industry in operational excellence while maintaining our reputation for award-winning customer service. Today, and always, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our customers and employees. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta has moved quickly to transform the industry standard of clean to ensure a safe and comfortable travel experience for our customers and employees. With our mission of connecting the people and cultures of the globe, Delta strives to foster understanding across a diverse world and serve as a force for social good. Forward Looking Statements Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our financial targets, should be considered "forward-looking statements" under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not guarantees or promised outcomes and should not be construed as such. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections, goals, aspirations, commitments and strategies reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the material adverse effect that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our business; the impact of incurring significant debt in response to the pandemic; failure to comply with the financial and other covenants in our financing agreements; the possible effects of accidents involving our aircraft or aircraft of our airline partners; breaches or lapses in the security of technology systems on which we rely; disruptions in our information technology infrastructure; our dependence on technology in our operations; our commercial relationships with airlines in other parts of the world and the investments we have in certain of those airlines; the effects of a significant disruption in the operations or performance of third parties on which we rely; failure to realize the full value of intangible or long-lived assets; labor issues; the effects of weather, natural disasters and seasonality on our business; the cost of aircraft fuel; the availability of aircraft fuel; failure or inability of insurance to cover a significant liability at Monroe's Trainer refinery; failure to comply with existing and future environmental regulations to which Monroe's refinery operations are subject, including costs related to compliance with renewable fuel standard regulations; our ability to retain senior management and other key employees, and to maintain our company culture; significant damage to our reputation and brand, including from exposure to significant adverse publicity; the effects of terrorist attacks, geopolitical conflict or security events; competitive conditions in the airline industry; extended interruptions or disruptions in service at major airports at which we operate or significant problems associated with types of aircraft or engines we operate; the effects of extensive government regulation we are subject to; the impact of environmental regulation, including increased regulation to reduce emissions and other risks associated with climate change, on our business; and unfavorable economic or political conditions in the markets in which we operate or volatility in currency exchange rates. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that could cause differences between actual results and forward-looking statements is contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and our Quarterly Report for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which represent our views only as of the date of this press release, and which we undertake no obligation to update except to the extent required by law. Non- GAAP Financial Measures Delta sometimes uses information ("non-GAAP financial measures") that is derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements, but that is not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"). Under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules, non-GAAP financial measures may be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. Delta is not able to reconcile forward looking non-GAAP financial measures without unreasonable effort because the adjusting items will not be known until the end of the period and could be significant. SOURCE Delta Air Lines SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Democracy Investments, advisor to the Democracy International Fund ETF (ticker DMCY), today announced that Jenny Johnson and Michael Levas will become members of its new advisory board to support the firm's focus on advancing democracy with innovative financial products. "We're excited and honored for our new advisory board to have two such prominent and highly respected members who will bring industry wisdom and diverse expertise to our mission," said CEO Julie Cane. Jenny Johnson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton. Ms. Johnson joined Franklin Templeton in 1988 and has held leadership roles in all major divisions of the business. She was named to Barron's list of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance in 2020 and 2021, and was chosen by her peers as one of Ignites's Most Influential Women in Fund Management. On this appointment, Ms. Johnson stated, "I'm pleased to be supporting a woman entrepreneur in investment management and look forward to contributing to the success of Democracy Investments." Mr. Levas is a Venture Partner at Irongate Capital Advisors, a Senior Managing Partner at Rosc Global and is the Founder & Managing Principal of the Olympian Group. He has extensive experience in business creation, the capital markets, investment management, investment banking, and alternative funds. According to Michael, "The national security missions of my private companies align quite nicely with the publicly available Democracy International Fund. I look forward to serving on their Board and in the longer term, to seeing capital flows shift to promote democracies." Advisory services offered by Democracy Investment Management, LLC. Visit www.democracyinvestments.com for more information. PRESS CONTACT Phone: +1-415-535-1242 Email: [email protected] Democracy Investments: Overview | LinkedIn Democracy Investments (@DemocracyDmcy) / Twitter Risk Disclosure and Important Information Carefully consider the fund's investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Fund's summary or full prospectus, which may be obtained at www.democracyinvestments.com . Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectus can be requested by calling 877-PRO-DMCY (877-776-3629) or emailing [email protected] . Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee or assurance that the methodology used to create the Index will result in the Fund achieving positive investment returns or outperforming other investment products. The fund is subject to the risks associated with International investments, which may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from social, economic, or political instability in other nations; emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume; and investments in smaller companies typically exhibit higher volatility. The funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co, which is not affiliated with Democracy Investment Management LLC. Shares of ETFs are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. SOURCE Democracy Investments LONDON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Commonwealth of Dominica is in talks with Air Canada, United Airlines and Delta Airlines to expand direct flights into the country. The news comes after American Airlines recently started a new nonstop flight between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Dominica's Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM). Direct flights from North America mean that thousands of tourists can now visit the island without lengthy layovers. The creation of quicker and easier air access invites more travellers from all over the world to escape to the island for a bit of relaxation and rejuvenation the perfect winter vacation. "We are aggressively pursuing various methods to ensure that people can come to Dominica on the same day they depart from their country; it is very critical for our destination, so far discussions are advancing positively," said Denise Charles, Tourism Minister of Dominica. Dominica is quickly becoming a popular destination for eco-conscious travellers, particularly those that may want to have a luxury experience but not at the cost of the environment. As the country moves towards complete climate resilience, visitors can be safe knowing that their trip helps preserve and boost the local environment. The Nature Isle is one of the Caribbean's best-kept secrets - boasting natural attractions like the bubbling waters of Champagne Reef, the majestic Trafalgar Falls, and the Titou Gorge where the Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed. One of the island's most famous activities include hiking to the Boiling Lake, the world's second-largest hot lake, situated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The activity was also recently featured in the National Geographic, which stated, "Boiling Lake is a bewitching and historic hiking destination, the path traversing a tropical rainforest overflowing with medicinal and edible flora." In recent years, the nation has welcomed several luxury eco-tourism resorts, invested heavily in small businesses, and is in the process of constructing a new international airport that will open Dominica up to the rest of the world. The Nature Isle is well-positioned to take full advantage of the tourism market. The country's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme largely funds these projects that assist in creating a resilient tourism industry. Launched in 1993, the programme allows vetted foreign investors and their families to become citizens of Dominica after contributing to the island's economy. Successful applicants not only gain second citizenship from a country whose passport opens up visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to over 160 destinations, but they also get to live, work and study in Dominica whenever they want. "Dominica is on a journey of transformation. It's now frequently cited as the new place to put on your to-do list," says Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. [email protected], www.csglobalpartners.com SOURCE CS Global Partners MILPITAS, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Anirudh Devgan, President and CEO of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has been selected to receive the 2021 Phil Kaufman Award for Distinguished Contributions to Electronic System Design. The Phil Kaufman Award is presented annually by the Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), a SEMI Technology Community, and the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA). The award ceremony and dinner will be held Thursday, March 10, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at The GlassHouse in San Jose, California. Registration details will be available soon. Dr. Devgan is being honored for his extensive contributions to electronic design automation (EDA). He is widely recognized as a leading authority in parallel and distributed computing and has made a broad impact in fields ranging from circuit simulation to statistical design and optimization, physical design and signoff, verification and hardware platforms, and system design and analysis. Dr. Devgan's groundbreaking contributions include not just the development of algorithms, but also successfully bringing to market commercial solutions that have gained widespread customer adoption throughout the industry. "Anirudh has a truly rare combination of widely recognized research excellence, exceptional business impact and results, and outstanding leadership in the EDA industry," said Lip-Bu Tan, former CEO and now Executive Chairman of Cadence, who nominated Dr. Devgan for this honor. "Anirudh's overall contributions during his career spanning Carnegie Mellon, IBM, Magma and Cadence have significantly advanced the industry." "I have known Anirudh for over 20 years from his early days at IBM and have since closely followed his spectacular career in the industry," said Alberto Sangiovanni Vincentelli, The Edgar L. and Harold H. Buttner Chair of EECS, University of California, Berkeley, a Cadence founder and a Kaufmann Award winner. "I know of hardly anyone in EDA who has that winning combination of bold vision and deep technical know-how, along with outstanding leadership and organizational skills. Leveraging these unique abilities, Anirudh has been able to constantly innovate in a mature field like EDA and bring to market a sequence of game-changing products that have delivered transformational business results." "On behalf of the ESD Alliance, I would like to congratulate Anirudh on receiving the 2021 Phil Kaufman award," said Simon Segars, ESD Alliance Chairman and CEO of Arm Holdings. "His contributions in technical innovation have been foundational to bringing the EDA industry into the modern parallel and cloud computing era. Anirudh's impact on the industry is well-recognized and celebrated with this distinguished honor." About Dr. Anirudh Devgan, the 2021 Phil Kaufman Award Recipient Dr. Devgan joined Cadence in 2012, has served as President of Cadence since 2017 and has been a member of the Cadence Board of Directors since August 2021. He assumed the additional role of Cadence CEO on December 15, 2021. Dr. Devgan began his career at the IBM Research (Thomas J. Watson Research Center) in 1994. His work at IBM on EDA algorithms and design optimization techniques contributed to IBM's leadership in the 1990s and 2000s in high-performance microprocessor and server designs. He joined Magma Design Automation in 2005 as a key member of its Executive Management Team and General Manager of the Custom Design Business Unit. He initiated and brought to market multiple new products in the areas of circuit simulation, analog mixed-signal design, physical verification, library characterization and 3D extraction among others. The products were successful in both customer adoption and business results. At Cadence, Dr. Devgan has spearheaded technology excellence and driven the re-architecture and revamping of its product lines, notably the entire suite of digital and signoff tools, as well as its functional and mixed-signal simulation solutions. Dr. Devgan established Cadence's Intelligent System Design strategy and is driving breakthrough advancements in cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and system innovation. Dr Devgan's leadership and contributions have had a transformational impact, with a significant increase in Cadence's revenue, profitability and market capitalization as well as in the overall customer and market adoption of its solutions. Dr. Devgan has received best paper awards from both leading conferences in the field Design Automation Conference (DAC) and International Conference on Computer Aided Design (ICCAD). Dr. Devgan is an IEEE Fellow, holds 27 U.S. patents and has published numerous research papers in leading journals and conferences. Dr. Devgan received a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. About the Phil Kaufman Award The Phil Kaufman Award honors individuals who have had a demonstrable impact on the field of electronic system design through technology innovations, education/mentoring, or business or industry leadership. The award was established as a tribute to Phil Kaufman, the late industry pioneer who turned innovative technologies into commercial businesses that have benefited electronic designers. The 2019 recipient was Dr. Mary Jane Irwin, Evan Pugh Professor and A. Robert Noll Chair Emeritus in Engineering in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no Phil Kaufman Award in 2020. About the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) The IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) provides a focal point for EDA activities spread across seven IEEE societies (Antennas and Propagation, Circuits and Systems, Computer, Electron Devices, Electronics Packaging, Microwave Theory and Techniques, and Solid-State Circuits). The Council sponsors or co-sponsors over a dozen key EDA conferences including: the Design Automation Conference (DAC), Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASP-DAC), International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD), Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE), and events at Embedded Systems Week (ESWEEK). The Council also publishes IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits & Systems (TCAD), IEEE Design & Test (D&T), and IEEE Embedded Systems Letters (ESL). The Council boasts a prestigious awards program in order to promote the recognition of leading EDA professionals, which includes the A. Richard Newton, Phil Kaufman, and Ernest S. Kuh Early Career Awards. The Council welcomes new volunteers and local chapters. Stay in touch with IEEE CEDA Website: www.ieee-ceda.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8343531 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ieeeceda/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/IEEECEDA About the Electronic System Design Alliance The Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community representing members in the electronic system and semiconductor design ecosystem, addresses technical, marketing, economic and legislative issues affecting the entire industry. It acts as the central voice to communicate and promote the value of the semiconductor design ecosystem as a vital component of the global electronics industry. Visit www.semi.org/en/communities/esda to learn more. Follow the ESD Alliance ESD Alliance Bridging the Frontier blog Twitter: @ESDAlliance LinkedIn Facebook About SEMI SEMI connects more than 2,400 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA) and the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) are SEMI Strategic Technology Communities, defined communities within SEMI focused on specific technologies. Visit www.semi.org to learn more, contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and Twitter. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Association Contacts Nanette Collins Public Relations for the ESD Alliance Email: [email protected] Michael Hall/SEMI Email: [email protected] Amanda Osborn IEEE Council on EDA [email protected] SOURCE SEMI THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Earthstone Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ESTE) ("Earthstone" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire the assets of privately held Chisholm Energy Holdings, LLC ("Chisholm") located in the northern Delaware Basin of New Mexico (the "Chisholm Acquisition"). Chisholm is majority owned by Warburg Pincus, LLC and its affiliates ("Warburg Pincus"). The aggregate purchase price of the Chisholm Acquisition is approximately $604 million consisting of $340 million in cash at closing, subject to customary closing adjustments, $70 million of deferred cash due over the 12 months after closing and approximately 19.4 million shares of Earthstone's Class A common stock valued at $194 million based on a closing share price of $9.98 on December 15, 2021. The effective date of the Chisholm Acquisition will be November 1, 2021, with closing anticipated in the first quarter of 2022. The cash portion of consideration is expected to be funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company's senior secured revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility"). Earthstone has obtained commitments from a group of existing lenders to increase the borrowing base and elected commitments under its Credit Facility from $650 million to $825 million upon closing. Chisholm Asset Highlights: Current net production of ~13,500 Boepd (61% oil, 79% liquids) (1) $421 million Proved Developed PV-10 (2) as of 11/1/21 with reserves of approximately 25.8 MMBoe (3) Proved Developed PV-10 as of with reserves of approximately 25.8 MMBoe Asset level projected 2022 Adjusted EBITDAX of approximately $190 -200 million (4,5) -200 million Low-cost, high-margin producing assets generating significant Free Cash Flow (4,5) Approximately 36,100 net acres (92% operated, 55% WI, 85% HBP) in the core of the Delaware Basin in Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico Basin in Eddy and Lea Counties, Large, high-return, de-risked drilling inventory with 414 gross / 237 net operated identified locations focused on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd Bone Spring and Wolfcamp A formations with additional potential upside locations , 2 and 3 Bone Spring and Wolfcamp A formations with additional potential upside locations Chisholm is currently operating a two-rig drilling program, which Earthstone plans to maintain on the acquired assets (in addition to the two rigs Earthstone is running in the Midland Basin) Impact on Earthstone: Expected to increase Earthstone's net production by ~39%, Adjusted EBITDAX by ~49% and Free Cash Flow by ~100% in 2022 (vs. Earthstone standalone) (6) , while only increasing share count by 22%, driving significant per share accretion , while only increasing share count by 22%, driving significant per share accretion 2022 preliminary pro forma snapshot (6) : : 44,000-48,000 Boepd of production (53% oil, 75% liquids) $550 -580 million of Adjusted EBITDAX -580 million of Adjusted EBITDAX $385 -415 million of capital expenditures -415 million of capital expenditures $130 -150 million of Free Cash Flow -150 million of Free Cash Flow Maintains conservative balance sheet metrics with low leverage Targeted Debt / Adjusted EBITDAX of ~1.0x by year-end 2022 would be approximately leverage neutral to anticipated year-end 2021 Debt / Adjusted EBITDAX Increases Earthstone's Permian Basin acreage by over 35% to ~138,000 net acres Earthstone anticipates continuously running four rigs in 2022, maintaining the two rigs currently being operated by each of Earthstone and Chisholm in the Midland Basin and the Delaware Basin, respectively Basin, respectively Formal 2022 full year guidance to be announced in conjunction with closing of the Chisholm Acquisition Robert J. Anderson, President and CEO of Earthstone, commented, "The Chisholm Acquisition caps off a series of highly-accretive and value-adding transactions that have dramatically transformed Earthstone during 2021 and further establishes Earthstone as a Permian Basin focused company with increasing scale. When this acquisition is combined with the previous four acquisitions completed in 2021, we will have increased our Permian Basin net acreage footprint by approximately 400%, almost tripled our daily production rate and meaningfully increased Free Cash Flow generation capacity. In particular, the Chisholm Acquisition expands our operations into the Delaware Basin with low cost, high margin assets that are generating significant production and cash flow from existing producing wells while also providing growth opportunities from a high-return drilling inventory. Additionally, the significant size of this transaction increases our scale materially and positions us to build on our corporate and field level operating efficiencies and drive additional cost savings. "Importantly, we have successfully added substantial size and scale while maintaining our balance sheet strength. As in previous acquisitions, we are using a mix of cash and equity to acquire high margin producing assets that generate Free Cash Flow while positioning Earthstone to achieve target leverage of approximately 1.0x Debt to EBITDAX by year-end 2022. "We are especially excited about the size and quality of the drilling inventory included in the Chisholm transaction, and plan to continue the two-rig program in the Delaware Basin in addition to our two-rig program in the Midland Basin. Our increased inventory of high-return drilling locations will enhance our organic growth. Through a four-rig drilling program in 2022 we expect to be Free Cash Flow positive and continue our current momentum." Transaction Consideration and Sources The consideration for the Chisholm Acquisition consists of approximately 19.4 million shares of Earthstone's Class A common stock to be issued to Chisholm, which will represent 18% of total Class A and Class B common stock on a pro forma basis, and a cash amount of $340 million based on the effective date (subject to customary closing adjustments) and an additional $70 million of deferred cash due within the twelve months after closing. Warburg Pincus, a current beneficial owner of ~15.1% of Earthstone's total Class A and Class B common stock, is expected to indirectly receive ~13.2 million shares of Class A common stock through its majority ownership of Chisholm. Adjusted for the equity consideration expected to be issued, Warburg Pincus's beneficial ownership of Earthstone's total Class A and Class B common stock will be increased to approximately 24.7%. Earthstone intends to fund the cash portion of the consideration and fees and expenses with cash on hand and new borrowings under its Credit Facility, under which it has received commitments from a group of existing lenders to increase the borrowing base and available commitments from the current $650 million to $825 million in conjunction with closing of the Transaction. Approvals The audit committee of the board of directors of Earthstone (the "Audit Committee") has independently approved and recommended the Chisholm Acquisition to the full board of directors of Earthstone, which has approved the Chisholm Acquisition. Stockholders holding approximately 55.4% of the outstanding voting power of Earthstone (including disinterested stockholders holding approximately 56.1% of the outstanding disinterested voting power) approved the share issuance by written consent. No further stockholder approval is required. Earthstone plans to mail a definitive information statement to stockholders at least 20 days prior to closing. The Chisholm Acquisition has been approved by the board of directors and members of Chisholm. Investor Presentation and Other Details Please refer to the "Investors" section of Earthstone's website, www.earthstoneenergy.com, for access to a presentation highlighting the Chisholm Acquisition. Further details of the terms of the Chisholm Acquisition are set forth in the Agreement, which will be filed by Earthstone with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and will be available for viewing under its profile at www.sec.gov or under the "Investors" section of Earthstone's website. Advisors Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Earthstone. Jefferies LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Chisholm. Legal advisors included Haynes and Boone, LLP and Jones & Keller, P.C. for Earthstone, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP for Chisholm. About Earthstone Energy, Inc. Earthstone Energy, Inc. is a growth-oriented, independent energy company engaged in the development and operation of oil and natural gas properties. Its primary assets are located in the Permian Basin of west Texas. Earthstone is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ESTE." For more information, visit Earthstone's website at www.earthstoneenergy.com. ____________________ (1) Earthstone management estimate of Chisholm three stream sales volumes for the most recent available 30-day period. (2) PV-10 is a non-GAAP measure that differs from a measure under GAAP known as "standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows" in that PV-10 is calculated without including future income taxes. (3) Earthstone management estimate of proved developed producing and wells being drilled and completed reserve volumes and values as of November 1, 2021, discounting cash flows at a rate of 10% and utilizing NYMEX strip prices as of December 8, 2021. (4) Based on Earthstone management estimates and $70/bbl WTI oil prices and $3.50/mmbtu HH natural gas prices; excludes general and administrative expenses. (5) Adjusted EBITDAX and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP measures. Adjusted EBITDAX is defined as net (loss) income plus, when applicable, accretion of asset retirement obligations; impairment expense; depletion, depreciation and amortization; interest expense, net; transaction costs; (gain) loss on sale of oil and gas properties, net; exploration expense; unrealized loss (gain) on derivative contracts; stock-based compensation (non-cash); and income tax expense. Free Cash Flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDAX (defined above), less interest expense, less accrual-based capital expenditures. (6) Assumes a full year of production from both Earthstone and Chisholm and $70/bbl WTI oil prices and $3.50/mmbtu HH natural gas prices. Expected Earthstone reported 2022 results will be lower based on the timing of the closing of the Chisholm Acquisition. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Statements that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words such as "expects," "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "forecast," "guidance," "potential," "possible," or "probable" or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "will," "should," or "could" be taken, occur or be achieved. The forward-looking statements include statements about the expected benefits of the Chisholm Acquisition to Earthstone and its stockholders, the anticipated completion of the Chisholm Acquisition or the timing thereof, the expected future reserves, production, financial position, business strategy, revenues, earnings, costs, capital expenditures and debt levels of the combined company, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by Earthstone and its management in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to expectations is subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the ability to complete the Chisholm Acquisition on anticipated terms and timetable; Earthstone's ability to integrate its combined operations successfully after the Chisholm Acquisition and achieve anticipated benefits from it; the possibility that various closing conditions for the Chisholm Acquisition may not be satisfied or waived; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Earthstone or Chisholm; declines in oil, natural gas liquids or natural gas prices; the level of success in exploration, development and production activities; adverse weather conditions that may negatively impact development or production activities; the timing of exploration and development expenditures; inaccuracies of reserve estimates or assumptions underlying them; revisions to reserve estimates as a result of changes in commodity prices; impacts to financial statements as a result of impairment write-downs; risks related to level of indebtedness and periodic redeterminations of the borrowing base under Earthstone's credit agreement; Earthstone's ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet the internally funded portion of its capital expenditures budget; Earthstone's ability to obtain external capital to finance exploration and development operations and acquisitions; the impacts of hedging on results of operations; uninsured or underinsured losses resulting from oil and natural gas operations; Earthstone's ability to replace oil and natural gas reserves; and any loss of senior management or technical personnel. Earthstone's annual report on Form 10-K, and as amended on Form 10-K/A, for the year ended December 31, 2020, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, recent current reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings discuss some of the important risk factors identified that may affect Earthstone's business, results of operations, and financial condition. Earthstone undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law. Contacts Mark Lumpkin, Jr. Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer 281-298-4246 / [email protected] Scott Thelander Vice President of Finance 281-298-4246 / [email protected] SOURCE Earthstone Energy, Inc. NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcus Lemonis, the entrepreneur, philanthropist, advocate and TV personality who leads Camping World as CEO and Chairman of the Board and also hosts HGTV's The Renovator and CNBC's The Profit and Streets of Dreams, made a surprise in-person visit to God's Love We Deliver, New York City's leading non-profit provider of medically tailored meals for individuals living with severe and chronic illness. "We are deeply moved by Marcus's support of our staff and mission," says Karen Pearl, President & CEO of God's Love We Deliver. "Every day, our staff put their heart and soul into cooking and home-delivering the delicious, individually-tailored and life-saving meals our clients and their families rely on. We're honored to have Marcus recognize the extraordinary efforts they put in day in and day out. His gift to the organization will help us continue to grow well in to 2022, continuing our commitment to never having a waiting list and addressing the food and nutrition insecurity faced by so many when they are ill." As part of his The Great American Tip Off campaign, a nation-wide call to action to show some extra love to the hard working Americans who serve us every day, Lemonis surprised the staff with a $3,000 tip each for their service over the years. He is also generously grossing up each tip so that staff net $3,000 per person. "God's Love We Deliver, like many organizations across the country, is an example of selflessness. These individuals wake up every day to cook a meal and deliver a meal to nourish someone who cannot nourish themselves. Ultimately, it's about our service providers who serve without expectation and it's important to acknowledge those that provide opportunities for others. These are the real heroes the ones that need the recognition." In addition to the $3,000 tip for each employee, Marcus donated another $1 million to the organization that will further grow their program and reach to New Yorkers living with severe and chronic illness. The organization will use much of this gift for matching appeals at year-end to encourage others to donate. The two immediate additions will be: Address health equity by targeting our outreach to historically underrepresented and under-resourced communities Address food and nutrition insecurity because being sick and hungry is a crisis that demands an urgent response Marcus launched The Great American Tip Off in November and pledged $1 million from his Lemon Aid Foundation to tip servers and workers across the country. Marcus has enlisted some of his friends to join the movement to thank those in the service industry he's made visits across the US to businesses with Amy Schumer, Jason Biggs, Kristen Bell, Rob Dydrek, among others. Last week, Marcus visited his alma mater Christopher Columbus High School in Miami where he gave the largest single tip of $3.1M, where each school employee will get $18,000, and an additional $7M that will fund important educational improvements. Photos and broll from this morning are available in the link below. Video in 4k (footage by Peter Pavlakis): https://godslovewedeliver.canto.com/b/U9DH8 Video in HD (footage by Peter Pavlakis): https://godslovewedeliver.canto.com/b/LGLEH Photos by Rommel Demano: https://godslovewedeliver.canto.com/b/K023K ABOUT MARCUS LEMONIS: To learn more about Marcus Lemonis visit www.marcuslemonis.com ABOUT GOD'S LOVE WE DELIVER God's Love We Deliver cooks and home-delivers nutritious, medically tailored meals for people too sick to shop or cook for themselves. Founded in 1985 as a response to the AIDS pandemic, we now serve people living with more than 200 different diagnoses. To support the health and well-being of our clients, we provide ongoing nutrition assessment, education, and counseling, and advocate for food and nutrition support. God's Love is a non-sectarian organization serving individuals living with illness, and their children and caregivers. With a community of thousands of volunteers, we home-delivered more than 2.5 million medically tailored meals to nearly 10,000 individuals last year. All services are free to clients and full of love. For more information, visit godslovewedeliver.org. Follow God's Love on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SOURCE God's Love We Deliver 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 MAYFIELD, Ky., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the catastrophic tornado outbreak that affected six Midwestern and Southern states, EyeCare Partners, the nation's leading clinically integrated network of ophthalmology and optometry providers, is responding by restoring people's vision as quickly as possible with emergency services for traumatic eye injuries and complimentary replacement eyewear and contacts. "This is our community, and our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends and neighbors who are beginning the recovery process," said David Jaco, O.D., EyeCare Partners optometry medical director for the state of Kentucky and past president of the Kentucky Optometric Association. "As caregivers, we want to be part of the healing process in a tangible way and are providing our expertise as well as complimentary replacement eyewear and contacts to members of the community and first responders." Why: The 1,000 doctors and 7,000 clinical and support team members of EyeCare Partners are integrally tied to the communities in which we live and work. The catastrophic storms of last week have left many without even basic health and personal care items, and EyeCare Partners is doing its part by lending expertise and resources toward restoring vision to the community as we work toward rebuilding. Who: Families, individuals and first responders in need of emergency eye care or replacement eyewear or contact lenses in the wake of the tragic December 10 tornadoes that struck six states: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. What: EyeCare Partners locations in affected areas throughout the integrated network of ophthalmology and optometry providers, will provide emergency eye care and complimentary replacement eyewear or up to a six-month supply of contact lenses to community members in need and first responders. EyeCare Partners will fulfill any vision prescription it does not need to have been prescribed at an EyeCare Partners affiliated location. If prescriptions are not readily available, EyeCare Partners can match existing lenses or conduct vision examinations, as needed. When: Effective immediately, community members affected by the tornadoes and first responders can visit their local EyeCare Partners network ophthalmologist or optometrist for emergency eye care or to receive complimentary eyewear or contacts to replace those lost or destroyed by the historic storms of Friday, December 10. Where: EyeCare Partners ophthalmology and optometry practices located in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee where communities have been affected by the tornadoes of Friday, December 10 are providing traumatic eye care and complimentary eyewear and contacts. More: EyeCare Partners has also committed to donating $25,000 to American Red Cross for tornado relief efforts to assist in rebuilding the affected communities in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. "At EyeCare Partners, we believe that we are better together, and that is never more important than in times of crisis," said EyeCare Partners CEO David Clark. "Our goal is to do what we can to help our communities as quickly as possible by contributing in multiple ways, including what we do best: delivering clear vision when it is most needed." About EyeCare Partners EyeCare Partners is the nation's leading provider of clinically integrated eye care. Our national network of ophthalmologists and optometrists provide a lifetime of care to our patients with a mission to enhance vision, advance eye care, and improve lives. ECP's network of doctors is comprised of more than 300 ophthalmologists and 700 optometrists. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, ECP-affiliated practices provide care in 18 states and 80 markets, providing services that span the eye care continuum. For more information, visit www.eyecare-partners.com. Contact: Cristina Anderson Anderson Public Relations (404) 403-3348 [email protected] SOURCE EyeCare Partners JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairstead, a purpose-driven, vertically integrated real estate company committed to sustainable development and the creation and preservation of high-quality housing, today announced it has acquired the Sable Palms Apartments in Jacksonville, Florida. The acquisition will preserve and extend the affordability of the 200 units and enable investments in improvements to the apartments, buildings, and outdoor space. "Preserving our affordable housing stock is a critical strategy to supporting our neighborhoods and ensuring that families can stay in the communities they love," said Jordan Capellino, Director, Development at Fairstead. "Fairstead's acquisition of Sable Palms Apartments will extend the affordability of 200 homes and bring improvements to enhance the lives of residents." The Sable Palms Apartments features 200 one- to four-bedroom units across 29 residential buildings. The campus includes one community building, where the management office is located, as well as two playgrounds, laundry facilities, and parking. Fairstead will preserve and extend the affordability of these units and provide upgrades to the buildings including improved kitchens, bathrooms, appliances, and common areas. Fairstead recently announced a new $500 million equity commitment to strategically grow the company's operations, including expanding its multi-family housing portfolio and enhancing the firm's prop tech, sustainability, and community impact programming. Fairstead works with community leaders, advocates, and residents to provide programming and services that improve resident health outcomes, provide financial literacy, offer job training, bolster internet access, and provide opportunities for civic engagement. This purchase is part of Fairstead's ongoing commitment to creating and preserving affordable housing across the nation. This week, Fairstead announced the largest affordable housing deal of the year in New York City with the acquisition of 48 buildings in the Bronx. Last week, Fairstead announced the acquisition of Gateway, 160 apartments in Lake Jackson, Texas, where it will preserve and expand its affordability. In Virginia, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) recently announced that it had selected Fairstead in partnership with Mill Creek Residential and The Communities Group to redevelop the Samuel Madden Homes in Old Town Alexandria, nearby the new Amazon HQ2, where the company will create a sustainable mixed-use community with affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing. Photos are available here . About Fairstead: Fairstead is a purpose-driven vertically integrated real estate developer specializing in creating sustainable, high-quality housing. The firm's national footprint includes more than $6 billion in assets and identified pipeline. With offices in New York, Maryland, and South Carolina, Fairstead's team manages 90+ communities across the country and runs its comprehensive real estate platform, which includes acquisitions and development, venture capital investments in prop tech, design and construction, energy and sustainability, property management, marketing, and leasing. The firm also administers one of the industry's most proactive community impact programs to provide on-site support services to residents. For more information, visit www.fairstead.com . Media Contacts: Jovana Rizzo, (917) 836-0618, [email protected] C.J. Mayer, (917) 428-1236, [email protected] SOURCE Fairstead AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gardner White, Michigan's #1 furniture and mattress store, was named the "Best Place to Work" in a national competition organized by Furniture Today, the leading source of news and information for the furniture industry. "We are so honored to be recognized by Furniture Today as a Best Place to Work in the industry," said Rachel Stewart, president, Gardner White. "The Furniture Today survey captured the most important element of our work culture: We love our work and have fun doing it. If you like working with people and design, it's one of the best careers out there." She added: "While we take our jobs really seriously, we don't take ourselves too seriously. That is reflected in our everyday culture. We smile, laugh, and genuinely care about one another. We've also invested in and promoted our internal team as we've grown. People who came here because they needed a job are still here because they have a thriving career and have become industry leaders." To see Gardner White's award acceptance video, click here. "Our people are our number one asset at Gardner White," added Stewart. "I am so proud of this team. They drive every aspect of our family and customer-first culture. We are blessed and amazed at the results this talented team achieves everyday." "We would like to congratulate all those who achieved the recognition this year as a Best Place to Work in the furniture industry," said Bill McLoughlin, editor in chief of Furniture Today. "In today's very competitive marketplace, attracting and retaining great employees is an ongoing challenge. This year's honorees have demonstrated what it takes to attract the best and brightest." Gardner White won this award with seven other honorees and was the only store from Michigan. Gardner White has been a family-owned and operated furniture retailer in Michigan since 1912. Gardner White offers a range of products for everyone from the Design Studio to the main showroom to the Clearance Center, along with Michigan's largest selection of mattresses. In addition to Gardner White, the other honorees were: Big Sandy Superstore, Sarasota, Fla.; Bob Mills, Amarillo Texas; Boulevard Home, St. George, Utah; Broad River Retail (Ashley HomeStore); DutchCrafters, Sarasota, Fla. and Nebraska Furniture Mart. Open exclusively to home furnishings retailers, participating companies underwent a rigorous evaluation of their organization, including assessing benefit programs, training and development, corporate culture, communications, and work environment to qualify. If you would like to become a member of the Gardner White team, visit here to apply and learn about receiving a signing bonus and benefits from Day #1: https://www.gardner-white.com/about/careers. MEDIA CONTACT: Colleen Robar, 313-207-5960, [email protected] SOURCE Gardner White DUBLIN, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Blockchain Market Report 2021 - Global Forecast to 2026" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Blockchain market size is projected to grow from USD 4.9 billion in 2021 to USD 67.4 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 68.4% The major driving factors contributing to the high growth rate of blockchain market include increasing venture capital fundings and investment in blockchain technology; extensive use of blockchain solutions in banking and cybersecurity; high adoption of blockchain solutions for payment, smart contracts, and digital identities; and rising government initiatives. By component, the services segment to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period Based on component, the global blockchain market is segmented into platform and services. Platform refers to the standalone platform that cannot be further segmented. Blockchain platform in the market enables customers to set up private, public, and consortium-based blockchain environments and provide them with capabilities to develop their own blockchain applications and solutions. These platforms enable people, products, applications, and services to interoperate across the blockchain network, cloud providers, and organizations. The services segment includes various services required to deploy, execute, and maintain blockchain platform in an organization, including technology advisory and consulting, development and integration, and support and maintenance. The platform segment is expected to witness high adoption during the forecast period as the enterprises are expected to realize the various benefits offered by the technology, including reduced value chain cost, increased security, and faster operations enabling them to gain a leading edge over competitors. The services segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the services segment would be dependent on the adoption of blockchain platform in the market during the forecast period. Services including technology advisory and consulting, development and integration, and support and maintenance form a critical component of the blockchain solution deployment enabling organizations to effectively utilize blockchain tools and support their core business operations effectively. By Organisation size, the SME's to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period The blockchain market has been segmented by organization size into SMEs and large enterprises. These organizations are categorized based on the number of employees working with them and on global standards. Enterprises of all sizes across the globe are focusing on the blockchain technology to revolutionize the traditional systems in their infrastructure and enhance the customer experience. With the growing need to improve business efficiencies and maintain transparency in the business process, SMEs and large enterprises are focusing on leveraging advanced blockchain solutions for various applications, such as smart contracts, payments, compliance management, supply chain management, and loyalty and rewards management. Organizations with less than 1,000 employees are categorized as SMEs. SMEs face several disadvantages, including high barriers to entry and lower protection from market conditions. The cost of operation is high due to the requirement of several intermediaries for trading across regions, which limits the growth of SMEs with limited resources. The blockchain technology can prove to be an asset in such scenarios, enabling an enterprise to reduce its cost by eliminating these intermediaries. Another area where SMEs can take advantage of the blockchain technology in their basic day-to-day operations is manual or semi-automatic processes, including invoicing, inventory, and payroll. For instance, smart contracts, a critical capability offered by the blockchain solution can prove to be more economical, helping SMEs streamline their operations cost-effectively and at a faster rate. Premium Insights The Increase in Venture-Capital Fundings and Government Initiatives to Drive the Growth of the Blockchain Market Platforms to be the Larger Market in 2021 Technology Advisory and Consulting Services to Account for a Larger Share in 2021 Application Providers to Account for a Larger Market During the Forecast Period Hybrid Segment to be Larger During the Forecast Period Large Enterprises to Witness Higher Use of Blockchain During the Forecast Period of Blockchain During the Forecast Period Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance to Lead the Blockchain Market During the Forecast Period Asia-Pacific to Emerge as the Best Market for Investments in the Next Five Years Market Dynamics Drivers Increase in Venture Capital Funding and Investments in Blockchain Technology Growth in Need of Blockchain Technology in Retail and Supply Chain Management for Transparency and Security in Transactions Simplification of Processes Along with Transparency, Security, and Immutability Lower Operational Costs Restraints Uncertain Regulatory and Compliance Environment High Costs of Implementing Blockchain Technology Opportunities Rise in Government Initiatives to Boost Demand for Blockchain Platform and Services Amalgamation of Blockchain, Iot, and Ai Extensive Use of Blockchain Solutions in Banking and Cybersecurity High Adoption of Blockchain Solutions for Payments, Smart Contracts, and Digital Identities Rise in Demand for Real-Time Data Analysis, Enhanced Visibility, and Proactive Maintenance Potential of Blockchain Technology in Novel Industries Challenges Security, Privacy, and Control of Blockchain Transactions Limited Availability of Technical Skillsets to Implement Blockchain Technology Opposition from Incumbents Blockchain Regulations Steps Involved in the Implementation of Blockchain Technology Comparison Between Centralized/Permissioned Versus Decentralized/Permissionless Blockchain Types of Blockchain Technology Private Blockchain Public Blockchain Permissioned/Hybrid Blockchain Value Chain Analysis Component/Hardware Suppliers Planning and Design Infrastructure and Deployment Solution and Service Providers System Integrators Sales and Distribution Channels End-users Technology Analysis Blockchain and Internet of Things Blockchain and Cloud Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Blockchain and Supply Chain Big Data Analytics Use Cases Smart Dubai Initiative Uses Blockchain Technology for Smart Transformation Id2020 Partnership Blockchain Project for Supply Chain and Inventory Management Adoption of Blockchain Technology Esolutions in the Estonian Government The Use of Blockchain for Smart Contracts IBM Tied Up with Walmart (Us) to Track Pork in China and Mangoes in the Us for Ensuring Food Safety and Mangoes in the Us for Ensuring Food Safety Blockchain for Know Your Customer Compliance in Retail Blockchain Technology for Automated Customer Services Blockchain Project for Supply Chain and Inventory Management Use Case 1: to Reduce the Wastage of Food by Improving Food Safety and Traceability, and to Help Its Online and Offline Consumers Across the Globe, by Ibm Use Case 2: Oracle to Leverage Innovative Technologies Such as Blockchain, Ai, and IoT to Transform Supply Chain Operations in the Shipping Industry Use Case 3: Blockchain Helps Rcs Global Trace Responsibly Produced Raw Materials by Ibm Use Case 4: Carrefour Sa Joined Ibm's Blockchain-Based Food Trust Network Use Case 5: The Virgin Diamond Used Netobjex's Digital Twin Platform Use Case 6: Curry & Company Teamed Up with Intel's Integrated Blockchain-Based IoT Solution to Track Perishable Goods Use Case 7: Bumble Bee Seafoods Collaborated with Sap to Trace the Fish Supply Chain in an Indonesian Village Use Case 8: Group of Banks Leveraged Ibm's Blockchain Platform for Ease in Making Global Payments Use Case 9: Saudi Customs Used Blockchain Technology for Pilot Shipment Use Case 10: Icici Bank and Emirates Nbd Partnered with Edgeverve Finacle to Pilot the First Blockchain-Based Network Use Case 11: Arab Jordan Investment Bank (Ajib) Leverages the Oracle Blockchain Platform for Cross-Border Money Transfers Blockchain Associations and Consortiums Enterprise Ethereum Alliance Hyperledger Consortium Global Blockchain Business Council Blockchain Collaborative Consortium R3Cev Blockchain Consortium Continuous Linked Settlement Group Global Payments Steering Group Financial Blockchain Shenzhen Consortium Cu Ledger Wall Street Blockchain Alliance Companies Mentioned IBM Amazon Web Services Sap Intel Oracle Huawei Accenture Wipro Bitfury Chain Blockcypher Guardtime Cegeka Symbiont Bigchaindb Applied Blockchain Auxesis Group Spinsys Infosys Ntt Data Factom R3 Consensys Leewayhertz Start-Up Profiles Recordskeeper Stratis Blockchain Foundry Blockpoint Dragonchain For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hvzd08 Media Contact: 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 DUBLIN, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Site Management Organizations Market by Therapeutic Areas, Trial Phases, Clinical Trial Components, Type of Interventions and Key Geographies: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2021-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report features an extensive study of the current market landscape and future potential of the site management organizations market. The study features an in-depth analysis, highlighting the capabilities of clinical trial site management service providers engaged in this domain. Clinical trials form an integral part of the overall drug development process, enabling the necessary evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a drug candidate. Studies suggest that around 40% of the total investment made for the development of drug candidate is dedicated to clinical trials; this is equivalent to an expenditure of USD 78 billion annually. However, the conduct of such trials is often fraught with challenges, including scientific and operational complexity, concerns associated with recruitment and retention of suitable patients, issues related to data handling and increasingly stringent regulatory guidelines. Further, owing to the inherent complexity of the overall process and involvement of several different stakeholders, these trials are prone to delays. In fact, over 80% of the clinical trials are delayed by at least one to six months, while only 10% of the studies are completed on time. Therefore, innovators in the pharmaceutical industry are constantly developing ways to improve the process of conducting clinical trials and managing research sites. Amidst other alternatives, outsourcing various trial operations to a specialized service provider, such as site management organizations (SMOs), has emerged as a viable option for various developers. The advantages of engaging such specialized service providers are numerous and enable sponsors to meet their clinical research timelines. In addition, SMOs can facilitate rapid patient recruitment, reduce study timelines, and manage the entire clinical trial processes and administrative work for their clients. Moreover, drug/medical device developers, and even the contract research organizations (CROs), can employ the therapeutic and operational expertise, global site networks and well-established processes and tools offered by SMOs in order to carry out their clinical research and site management activities in a cost and time efficient manner. Currently, around 250 companies claim to be actively providing clinical site management services to drug and medical device developers across the world. Recently, there has been a lot of activity within the site management market, primarily focused on consolidation of affiliated capabilities, service portfolio expansions and collaborations to extend geographical reach. The aforementioned developments may be attributed to the growing preference for one-stop-shops among sponsor companies, and the gradual acceptance of outsourcing as a viable and beneficial operating model for conducting clinical trials and managing research sites. With the growing complexity, as well as rise in the number of clinical trials being registered, the demand for SMOs is anticipated to grow at a steady pace in the coming years. Amongst other elements, the report features: A detailed review of the overall landscape of companies offering clinical trial site management services to various organizations, including CROs, and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices companies, along with information on their year of establishment, company size (in terms of employee count), location of headquarters and geographical reach of the companies. The chapter also covers details related to type of service(s) offered (site identification and selection, study feasibility, study protocol development, patient recruitment, patient retention, project management, regulatory support, clinical monitoring, site management, clinical trial data management, patient follow-up, real-time enquiry/information support, study contract, budget and expense management/contract negotiation, hiring/training study investigator, logistics management, quality control and quality assurance and others) and therapeutic expertise of service providers. An insightful 22 representation of the competitiveness analysis of various service providers segregated into three peer groups based on location of their headquarters ( North America , Europe , and Asia-Pacific and RoW). The companies were further distributed across the geographies, based on their employee count, into three categories, namely small (1-200 employees), mid-sized (201-500 employees) and large (>500 employees), highlighting the top players in this domain, based on their respective capabilities. , , and and RoW). The companies were further distributed across the geographies, based on their employee count, into three categories, namely small (1-200 employees), mid-sized (201-500 employees) and large (>500 employees), highlighting the top players in this domain, based on their respective capabilities. An analysis of the partnerships that have been inked by stakeholders engaged in this domain, during the period 2016-2021 (till August). The various types of partnerships captured in our study include (in alphabetical order) acquisitions, clinical trial agreements, clinical trial site agreements, joint ventures, mergers, product/technology integration agreements, research agreements, service alliances, technology licensing agreements, technology utilization agreements and other related agreements. Further, the partnership activity in this domain has been analyzed based on various parameters, such as year of partnership, type of partnership, focus area and most active players (in terms of number of partnerships). It also highlights the regional distribution of the collaborations. A detailed analysis of various investments received by players engaged in this domain during the period 2015-2021 (till August), based on several relevant parameters, such as year of investment, number of funding instances, amount invested, type of funding (grant, seed, venture capital, secondary offering, other equity, debt and others) and type of investor, along with information on the most active players (in terms of number of funding instances and amount raised), most active investors (in terms of number of funding instances) and geographical distribution (in terms of number of funding instances and amount invested). An in-depth analysis of completed, ongoing and planned clinical studies during the period 2016-2021 (till August), to present clinical trial key insights, based on several relevant parameters, such as trial registration year, number of enrolled patients, trial status, trial phase, type of sponsor and geographical distribution of number of trials and enrolled patient population. An informed estimate of the annual demand for clinical study participants, taking into account the target patient population in ongoing and planned clinical trials, sponsored by both industry and non-industry players. Elaborate profiles of prominent players (shortlisted based on a proprietary criterion) that offer various clinical trial site management services, across North America , Europe and Asia-Pacific . Each profile provides an overview of the company, featuring information on the year of establishment, number of employees, location of their headquarters, details related to its site management service portfolio, recent developments, and an informed future outlook. Key Questions Answered Who are the leading players in the clinical trial site management domain? What is the relative competitiveness of different site management organizations? What type of partnership models are commonly adopted by stakeholders in this industry? What is the capital investments trend in site management organizations domain? Which are the most active clinical trial centers? What are the major market trends and driving factors that are likely to impact the growth of site management organizations market? How is the current and future market opportunity likely to be distributed across key market segments? Key Topics Covered: 1. PREFACE 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. INTRODUCTION 4. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 5. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS 6. COMPANY PROFILES: SITE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA 7. COMPANY PROFILES: SITE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN EUROPE 8. COMPANY PROFILES: SITE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN ASIA-PACIFIC 9. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS 10. FUNDING AND INVESTMENT ANALYSIS 11. KEY INSIGHTS FROM CLINICAL TRIAL ANALYSIS 12. ANALYSIS OF DEMAND FOR CLINICAL TRIAL PARTICIPANTS 13. MARKET FORECAST AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS 14. CONCLUDING REMARKS 15. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS 16. APPENDIX 1: TABULATED DATA 17. APPENDIX 2: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS Companies Mentioned 23andMe 3H Medi Solution 3S Pharma Accel Clinical Services Accell Clinical Research Accelovance accerise Access Clinical Research Ace Research ACI Clinical Acrostar SMO ACTG-CRO Advanced Clinical Aetion Affiliated Clinical Research AiCure Alpha Oncology Research (AOR) Altasciences Amadeus Capital Partners AmberCRO American Liver Foundation American Research Associates (ARA) AmerisourceBergen Analgesic Solutions Andronovo Labs Anteris Bio Antev Antidote AOBiome Therapeutics Apex Medical Research APF Research ApotheCom Apptomics Aptitude Health Ardent Clinical Research Services Asian Eye Institute Associated Medical Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) AstraZeneca Atlant Clinical Aurum Clinical Research AusTrials AutoCruitment Avacare AXELLE Group AXIM Biotechnologies BBK Worldwide Beijing Aisimo Medical Science and Technology Beijing CTSMED Beijing EasyTrial MedTech Beijing Global Pharmaceutical Research (Acquired by EPS International) Beijing Illness Challenge Foundation (ICF) Best Clinical Practice Bioclinica Biomapas Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Biomic Lifescience Biosite Research Box BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Briban Invest Bridge Clinical Research BTC Network Cactus Clinical Research Calmark Canadian Centre for Clinical Trials (CCCT) Cardialysis CaringKind Caris Life Sciences Carpathian Research Catalyst Regulatory Services (Acquired by Veristat) CCT Research Central India Clinical Research Services (CICRS) Centre International de Developpement Pharmaceutique (CIDP) Chase Medical Research ChiG Chrondel Cidara Therapeutics Cinven Clariness Cliantha Research Clin Sol Clinade Clinical Research Clinart MENA ClinChoice ClinEdge Clinerion Clinexa Life Sciences Clinical Accelerator Clinical Development Solutions (CDS) Clinical Endpoints Clinical Investigation Centre (University Malaya Medical Centre) Clinical Research Fastrack Clinical Research Partners Clinical Trial Networking (CT-N) Clinical Trials Management Solutions (CTMS) ClinicalConnection Clinipace CLINISYD Clinixir ClinROtech ClinSmart Clinsol Clinspire Research Clintec Clintract ClinVax Clinverse ClinWin Research Services CLS- Ukraine CluePoints CMIC Group CMX Research CNS Pharmaceuticals COD Research Comac Medical COMPASS Pathways Compass Research Continuum Clinical Cosmic Clinical Services Credevo Crestline Investors CRO Pharmatrendz Croissance Clinical Research CROMSOURCE CRS Clinical Research Services CTC North CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services CTM CX Partners Cyclo Therapeutics Cytespace DAC Patient Recruitment Services Datavant DAVA Oncology DaVita Clinical Research Deep Lens Deerfield Management DEMEDICA Devana Solutions DFnet Dimension Research Direct Biologics dMed Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) eClinical Solutions Edenwell Therapeutics EDETEK Effectus CTR EGeen Elligo Health Research EMMES emovis Empower Capital EPS Associates EPS International EQT ERT ESTERN Medical Estudios Clinicos Latinoamerica (ECLA) Ethicscare Clinical Research Services (ECRS) EthosExcel Everest Clinical Research Evolution Research Group (ERG) Experior F2 Ventures FARMEPO FDAMap Febo FedDev Ontario FHI Clinical Fidelis Research FOMAT Medical Research Foundation Medicine Free to Breathe Frenova Renal Research Fresenius Medical Care Gaea Gama CRO GB Sciences GCP Clinical Studies GCP Research G CURE Healthcare GDD Experts Genentech General Atlantic George Clinical GIC Global Clinical Trials Goldman Sachs Asset Management International (GSAMI) Gratisol Labs GSK GuideStar Research Haihe Biopharma Hatteras Venture Partners Haxon Life Sciences Healing Hands Clinical Research Services (HHCRS) HealthVerity Horizon Research Hospital Alemao Oswaldo Cruz EI Hospital de Especialidades Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hoth Therapeutics hyperCORE International I'rom Group iCo Therapeutics iDD Research Solutions IKCON PHARMA Illingworth Research Group InClin Incred CR Indian Institute of Clinical Research & Management (IICRM) Industrifonden Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) InformedDNA Innoplexus Innovaderm Innovate Research Insignia Clinical Services (ICS) INSPIRE Integrity Capital Wealth Management Inteliquet International Research Networks (IRN) Intouch Clinical Research Center Intrinsic Imaging (Acquired by WCG) Invicro IPHARMA IQVIA ITOCHU ITOCHU Technology Ventures Johnson Clinical Research Juno Research Karyopharm Therapeutics Klinar CRO KlinEra KMR Group Komplett Clinical Research (KCR) KPS Clinical Services KV Clinical Research Services (KVCR) Kyung Hee University Hospital LEADS Clinical Research and Bio Services Limbix Linical Americas Link Health LITMUS LiveRamp LMC Manna Research Lyft MakroCare Marshfield Clinic Research Institute Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Mayo Clinic med fusion (Acquired by Quest Diagnostics) Medable MedAvante-ProPhase (Acquired by WCG) MEDEX Median Technologies Medicor Research Medicus Alliance Medicus Health Partners Medidata Melanoma Research Alliance MENE Health Group Merck Merck Global Health Innovation Fund (GHI) Metrics Champion Consortium (MCC) (Acquired by WCG) Mitsui MMG Molecular Templates Montserrat Day Hospitals MPM Capital MPR Development Group MTIP Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) National Cancer Center National Institute of Clinical Research (NICR) National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) NeoGenomics Newton Clinical Research NextPhase Research Nomad Life Sciences North Estonia Medical Centre Novotech nRollmed Nucleon Therapeutics O4 Research Oaxaca Site Management Organization (OSMO) Octopus Investments Octopus Ventures Okogen OneOncology Optimum CRO Ora Oracle orphan reach Orphanos Ospedale San Raffaele P3 Research Panthera Parallel 6 (Acquired by PRA Health Sciences) Parexel PAS Research PatientPoint Peachtree BioResearch Solutions Penta ID Innovation Pepgra Pfizer Pharmatech Pharm-Olam phaware Physicians Research Group (PRG) Plexus Research Polaris Biopharma Consulting PPC Group PPD Prabhans Clinical Services Praxis Precision for Medicine Precision Health Prime Site Prodia Protocol First ProTrials Research Prudentia Psilera Puerto Rico Consortium for Clinical Investigation (PRCCI) Pulse Clinical Research Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH) Hospital (PNUH) PWNHealth QAscent Research Solutions QPS Quad-C Management Quanticate Quantime World Quest Diagnostics Quintessential Solutions Ravek RealTime Software Solutions Red Maple Trials RemediumOne Research Trials Group RESolutions Reumalab Revive Therapeutics Richmond Behavioral Associates (RBA) Rock Springs Capital Rutherford Health plc S4 Research Sabre Partners Samahitha Research Solutions Sandia Clinical Research Sanjeevani Sanofi Santa Maria Gastroenterology Scandinavian CRO S-Clinical SDS Clinical Sequoia Capital SGS Life Science Services Shanghai Shoujia Medical Clinical Research SiChaGi Medical Solutions SIGAL SMS Signify Health SitePartner Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS) (SRIS) Skylight Health Smedvig Capital SMO - DRA. MARISA VICO SMO Clinical Research (SMO-India) SMO ClinPlus SMO UCT SMOconnect Smooth Drug Development SMO-Pharmina Society for Clinical Research Sites Solutions OP Somaya Research and Health Services SoMex Research & Health Organisation Sonic Clinical Trials Spectral Medical Spectrum Clinical Research Spero Oncology (Acquired by Veristat) SPRI Ukraine Springhill Fund SQN Clinical Statistics Collaborative Superstring Capital Surescripts Syncretic Clinical Research Services Syneos Health Syntax Synteract Syreon Takeda Pharmaceutical Terveystalo TFS HealthScience Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) The Buffalo-Niagara Clinical Alliance (BNCA) The Clinical Trial Company (TCTC) (Acquired by Veristat) The Clinic'les THREAD ThreeWire Tigermed Tiziana Life Sciences Topstone Research Total Clinical Trial Management Translational Research in Oncology (TRIO) Trial Management Group (TMG) Trialbee TrialSpark Trifecta (acquired by WCG) TriNetX Triumph Research Intelligence (TRI) Triumpharma United States Department of Defense (DOD) uMotif Unicorn Protego Site Management Organization (UP SMO) United BioSource (UBC) University of Yamanshi Urgent Care Clinical Trials Vector Oncology Veeda Clinical Research Veeva Systems VeraSci Veristat Vicore Pharma Vigilare International Viomedo Virgo Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) WCCT Global WCG WCG Avoca WCG PharmaSeek WindRose Health Investors Worldwide Clinical Trials WuXi Clinical (a WuXi AppTec Company) Xcene Research Xylem Clinical Research Zagvo Portal Zarta Life Zosano Pharma For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xtf7y6 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 DENVER, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gtmhub , the leading provider of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) software, closed a $120 million funding round, the largest round in the OKRs software industry to date. Led by Index Ventures with participation from Visionaries Club and returning investors, Insight Partners , Singular and CRV , the round will be used for scaling operations, increasing market penetration and expanding product offerings, including predictive and prescriptive capabilities. Gtmhub's latest funding round comes less than 12 months after it raised a $30 million Series B in January 2021. With $161 million in total funding, Gtmhub has raised more than any other organization in the $42 billion OKRs software space. This rapid growth demonstrates Gtmhub's position as a dominant player in the market and validates the increasing demand for enterprise OKRs solutions to enable successful strategy execution. "Gtmhub is the mission control of some of the world's fastest-growing companies," said Martin Mignot, partner at Index Ventures. "We've seen the productivity and velocity of their customers' teams skyrocket time after time, and we're convinced it will become a must-have for every company that wants to remain competitive. They are taking the OKRs space by storm with a sophisticated product that integrates with hundreds of SaaS tools and can automate tons of manual tasks, and we're excited to support them as they scale globally." Businesses often have internal silos, and employees don't understand how their work contributes to the long-term success of the organization. Gtmhub's OKRs platform helps companies stay laser-focused on goals while maintaining transparency and visibility across the organization. With this most recent funding, Gtmhub will double down on platform innovation including prescriptive and predictive capabilities, further solidifying superiority over other players in the industry in terms of capabilities, vision and value. "Putting up the largest round in the industry so far is only validation that our model is working and proof that other players just can't keep up," said Ivan Osmak, CEO of Gtmhub. "We are helping people and companies achieve their goals and get results while continuing to innovate and increase value for enterprise organizations. While our growth is rapid and our goals are ambitious, we have no plans to slow down." Gtmhub's clients include companies like Adobe, TomTom, Red Hat and Experian, and its 500,000+ users span more than 75 countries. The company employs 240 people but is on track to double its headcount and triple its revenue in the coming year. To learn more about Gtmhub and its offerings, visit: gtmhub.com About Gtmhub Gtmhub is the world's leading OKRs and Strategy-Execution management software with offices in Denver, Sofia, Berlin, Paris and London. Their purpose is to enable organizations to improve internal alignment and maintain focus through their world-class OKRs platform. Gtmhub strives to help their 1,000+ clients including enterprises, not-for-profits, startups, and governments achieve their goals with OKRs along their journey of accelerated growth and transformational change. About Index Ventures Index Ventures is a venture capital firm based in London, San Francisco and Geneva, helping entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into transformative international businesses. Since 1996, they've partnered with exceptional entrepreneurs in Europe, the U.S. and Israel, who are using technology to reshape the world around us. The companies they've started include Adyen, Deliveroo, Dropbox, Farfetch, King, Slack and Supercell. Index covers every investment stage, from earliest seed through to explosive growth. They believe that opportunity is a mindset and look for people who spot something others haven't seen; something that they foresee can change the world and are committed to realizing. More than anything, they are passionate about building lifelong relationships with the entrepreneurs they work with, which is why entrepreneurs are their best reference. Media Contact: Emylee Eyler BLASTmedia for Gtmhub [email protected] SOURCE Gtmhub LONDON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HECO Chain, a decentralized, EVM-compatible public chain, announced that it has listed on-chain SocialFi project Torum's XTM token on Huobi Global, one of the world's leading digital asset exchanges. Aside from its social media platform, Torum has developed an NFT marketplace, Defi platform, and other related functions to build Torum into a powerful one-stop social ecosystem. Torum is built on the HECO chain and is an investee project of Huobi Ventures. With Facebook leading the Web 2.0 revolution, social media has completely reshaped the way we communicate on a global scale. However, problems such as user data privacy violations, censorship, etc. are concerning. To address these issues, Torum leverages blockchain and other innovative technologies to protect user privacy. The company provides monetary incentives in the form of its XTM token to help monitor quality content creation. In July, the HECO team partnered with the Torum team, inviting them to participate in its Incentive Program for on-chain projects. HECO provided Torum with significant support in marketing, operations, and analysis. With the joint efforts of HECO and Torum, the number of registered users on the Torum platform reached 100,000, and the maximum number of daily active users reached 30,000. The successful listing of the XTM token on Huobi Global marks a key milestone in Torum's growth trajectory. "HECO Chain provides support for on-chain projects at all stages, ranging from its initial Grant program to its Accelerator Program, Gaming Hackathon, Demo day activities, and HECO Master Builder Event," said Leo, head of HECO. "We are pleased to see another of our on-chain projects list on Huobi Global. We hope that in the future, we can help more HECO projects to thrive and grow. " Projects and companies who are interested in working with HECO can visit here for more information. About HECO HECO is an EVM-compatible public chain that provides blockchain developers with an efficient and low-cost on-chain environment for decentralized applications (dApps), smart contracts, and digital assets. To date, HECO has recorded approximately 16.6 million total addresses with 523 million transactions made on the platform. SOURCE HECO Chain ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The high performance polymers market for automotive is estimated to cross US$ 3.7 Bn in valuation by 2030. The increasing demand for high performance polymers for various composites used in various vehicle parts such as exteriors, interiors, chassis, and structural components is fueling the growth of the high performance polymers market for automotive. Stringent emission control regulations in place by several governments worldwide are emphasizing on component miniaturization and functional integration in the automotive industry. This is leading OEMs to seek novel polymers that offer lower weight and high strength to develop cost-effective components with improved efficiency and performance. Get PDF Brochure for More Insights https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=81328 High Performance Polymers Market for Automotive Key Findings of Report Product Innovations for Improved Automotive Component Design Create Business Opportunities The emergence of electric vehicles is creating a storm in the automotive sector, thus impacting the demand for high performance polymers market for automotive. Manufacturers are developing products that are easy to maintain, dirt resistant, and pleasant for the senses. Ferroelectric polymers, liquid-crystal polymers, and electroactive polymers are some examples of novel high performance automotive polymers that are gaining popularity. For instance, ferroelectric polymers are being used to design acoustic speaker systems to attain sound performance and reduce the weight of vehicles. Furthermore, in order to strengthen this, stakeholders are engaging in R&D to innovate in ferroelectric polymers for high-end vehicles since traditional speakers weigh as much as several dozen kilograms. Manufacturers of automotive components seek advanced plastics and polymer composites that are integral to automotive designs. The unparalleled combination of polymer material properties is transforming vehicle interiors. Ask for Special Discount on Report https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=81328 Substantial Demand from Powertrain & Engine Application Segment The powertrain & engine application is estimated to lead the high performance polymers market for automotive vis-a-vis volume in the upcoming years. The use of high performance polymer in powertrains helps reduce their weight to attain fuel efficiency. This further helps to reduce the total cost of systems at the same time. Besides this, replacing of metal components in powertrain systems with lighter polymers has had a positive impact on their design and production processes. This cements the growth of the high performance polymer market for automotive. Vehicle Emission Control Mandates Rapid Manufacture of Reliable Polymers The safety and performance requirements of vehicles are creating new growth frontiers in the high performance polymers market for automotive. Vehicular emission reduction norms require engine downsizing, light weighting, and reduce fuel consumption. This is mandating companies in the high performance polymers market for automotive to step into advanced emission reduction technologies. Request a Sample https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=81328 Furthermore, companies are increasing the manufacturing of reliable polymers that adhere to city emission norms and satisfy consumer expectations. India stands as the fifth leading automotive manufacturing hub worldwide. However, automotive OEMs in the country face challenges of meeting upcoming CO2 and tailpipe emission standards, due to transformation in technology trends. This opens opportunities in the high performance polymers market for automotive. High Performance Polymers Market for Automotive Growth Drivers Extensive applications of high performance polymers in an array of automotive components that are directly related to weight savings to improve the overall efficiency fuels the growth of high performance polymers market for automotive Role of OEMs to seek novel materials to develop cost-effective miniaturized components to foster growth Buy an Exclusive Research Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=81328200 Tons Mobile Crane Market Size & Forecast (Volume & Value) Section 6 - Competitive Landscape Company Profile of major Vendors (Liebherr, Konecranes, Kobelco, Tadano, Terex Corporation, Manitowoc, SANY, Zoomlion, XCMG) Other Prominent vendors Distributors Profile Section 7 - Report Summary Key Insights Section 8 - Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4rfmin 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 LightHouse, a 120-year-old nonprofit which supports and promotes the independence, equality, and self-reliance of people who are blind or have low vision in northern California, uses ADP TotalSource products for its human resources and payroll needs. ADP is working with a leading web accessibility expert to help enhance the accessibility of its Workforce Now solution for the blind or those who have low vision. The group will audit the ADP Workforce Now web and mobile applications to help ensure they conform to the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), version 2.1, Level AA. ADP is also rolling out an enhanced policy that reaffirms its commitment to accessibility and outlines its procedures for incorporating accessibility into the development and testing lifecycle for its solutions. ADP will also provide enhanced training to ADP TotalSource associates to ensure a deeper level of service that will help them provide greater technical assistance to individuals who use screen readers to access ADP Workforce Now. LightHouse's CEO, Bryan Bashin, said, "This agreement is a major commitment by ADP TotalSource to building an accessible workplace environment for LightHouse's blind employees, managers and executives to participate efficiently alongside their sighted peers. We expect that this commitment represents an important step towards bringing an accessible workplace environment to any blind employee in the vast workforce ADP TotalSource serves." "I am pleased that this work will result in my having greater access to essential human resources and payroll functionality, and I am excited that many other blind and visually impaired users of ADP's services will also benefit from these changes," said Frank Welte, Senior Accessible Media and Braille Specialist at LightHouse. "We are delighted that ADP has committed to the on-going accessibility of its products, through the implementation of an Accessibility Policy that will incorporate accessibility into development and testing of its products," said DRA Senior Staff Attorney Meredith Weaver. "At ADP we highly value digital inclusion and are committed to ensuring our solutions are accessible to our clients and their employees, including those who are blind or visually impaired. We have taken substantial measures to provide quality user experiences and we will continue to evolve our solutions to meet digital access needs," said Bob Lockett, Chief Diversity and Talent Officer, ADP. About LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco Headquartered in San Francisco, California, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides education, training, advocacy, and community for blind individuals in California and around the world. Founded and based in San Francisco since 1902, the LightHouse is one of the largest and most established comprehensive blindness organizations in North America, with a wide variety of programs to suit a wide variety of needs, as well as a rich network of blindness advocates and professionals. Visit www.lighthouse-sf.org for more information. About Disability Rights Advocates DRA is one of the leading non-profit disability rights legal centers in the nation. With offices in Berkeley and New York City, DRA's mission is to advance equal rights and opportunities for people with all types of disabilities nationwide. To advance that mission, DRA regularly advocates for greater access to modern technology. DRA has negotiated access improvements to several types of popular technologies including audio described content on HBO Max. For more information, visit www.dralegal.org. About ADP Designing better ways to work through cutting-edge products, premium services and exceptional experiences that enable people to reach their full potential. HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits and Payroll. Informed by data and designed for people. Learn more at ADP.com SOURCE LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amicus.io , the fintech company with a vision for a more generous world, today announced that its patent-pending philanthropic platform for DAF 2.0 will be used by Ingalls & Snyder to launch a digital donor-advised fund (DAF) platform, making it among the first RIAs to offer clients custom managed DAF accounts. Amicus.io's strategic partner GiveClear Foundation will serve as the digital-first DAF sponsor. The offering will be available to Ingalls & Snyder clients in early 2022. Ingalls & Snyder, the New York-based investment advisor and broker-dealer, will implement a white-label version of the Amicus.io platform. This will allow its financial advisors to offer private clients an Ingalls-branded DAF, accessed through the existing Ingalls & Snyder portal. The Amicus.io digital platform connects Ingalls & Snyder clients, their Ingalls & Snyder financial advisor, and the non-profit DAF sponsor for seamless, frictionless philanthropic planning and charitable giving. The Ingalls & Snyder-branded DAF, powered by Amicus.io technology, will allow Ingalls & Snyder clients to create and monitor their DAF account, as well as initiate gifts - all from within a familiar Ingalls & Snyder client portal. Likewise, Ingalls & Snyder advisors will be able to provide holistic investment management and custody of DAF assets alongside clients' broader portfolios. "We are delighted to extend our custom portfolio management capability to clients' donor advised accounts. Until now, custom portfolio management has been hard for clients to obtain with a DAF, as most DAF offerings are built with mutual funds, or are not integrated with custody of their other accounts," said Bob Case, CEO of Ingalls & Snyder. "We now have a single platform for the custody and management of all client assets, including those in their DAF. This enables complete oversight of philanthropic assets as part of clients' holistic financial plans." According to Cor Hoekstra, co-founder and CEO of Amicus.io, "We're honored to work with Ingalls & Snyder, a leader among independent investment firms. This marks a new era in which charitable planning will be a growth pillar of holistic wealth management." GiveClear Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and acts as a charitable grant making foundation and digital-first donor advised fund (DAF) sponsor. GiveClear Foundation offers financial organizations, advisors, and wealth management firms the opportunity to give clients access to an integrated and seamless digital DAF experience as well as custom managed philanthropic planning and charitable investment services. About Ingalls & Snyder Based in New York City, Ingalls & Snyder provides investment management, brokerage and related financial services to client accounts totaling more than $7 billion. It specializes in custom portfolio management and planning for high-net worth individuals, families, trusts, foundations and endowments. About Amicus.io Amicus.io has a vision for a more generous world, in which anyone can be a philanthropist. The fintech company provides the financial sector with a patent-pending platform of philanthropic services, harnessing a digital donor-advised fund to align the incentives of donors, financial partners and philanthropic organizations for charitable giving at scale. Amicus.io was co-founded by Walt Ruloff, Cor Hoekstra and Paul Welsh in 2017 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an office in Vancouver, Canada. Press Contact Monica Miller (415) 968-9690 [email protected] SOURCE Amicus.io PITTSBURGH, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "I thought there should be a way to provide the security of a gun safe with the accessibility of a gun rack," said an inventor, from Aurora, Colo., "so I invented the A R SPEED STAND. My design enhances security, safety and accessibility for gun owners." The invention provides a secure rifle rack for in-home use. It also offers an exposed storage approach for AR-15 style and other rifles. As a result, it can be quickly and discreetly accessed in the event of an emergency and it provides added protection and peace of mind. The invention features a versatile and adaptable design that is easy to install in a variety of locations so it is ideal for households. Additionally, a prototype is available. The original design was submitted to the Denver sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-DNV-239, 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 NICOSIA, Cyprus, Dec. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Invest Cyprus has welcomed plans by Sword Group, an international consulting, services, and software company, to launch some of its operations in Cyprus. George Campanellas, Chief Executive of Invest Cyprus, said the Sword Group's decision to open an office in Nicosia will bolster Cyprus's reputation as a central tech hub in the European market. The international software consultancy will be joining a number of leading names in the industry already established on the island. With digital business trends gaining serious momentum during the pandemic, Sword Group has chosen Cyprus as its new hub to further support existing customers and expand into the European market. Speaking on the decision, Nasser Hammoud, Operation Director at Sword Group for the Middle East & India, said, "Our intention in opening an office in Cyprus is to offer our existing European clients a second choice of location when it comes to providing Nearshore Support and Services." Mr Hammoud continued ,"Cyprus provides a lucrative market for potential clients and new projects", and went on to highlight the island's prime location for expanding into the European market, He added "We would also like to expand our client portfolio and distribution network by acquiring new projects and clients in Europe and the Middle East. It seemed like the ideal location as Cyprus acts as a bridge for business and trade between Europe and the Middle East." "The support we have received from Invest Cyprus has been very positive and the team we collaborated with have been professional and friendly. We are looking forward to the future of Sword Group within Cyprus and we expect to see the island become a key tech hub in the region." Mr Hammoud concluded, "Cyprus offers a wide range of incentives for tech companies and the support provided to businesses looking to open offices in the island made it all the more enticing." Mr Campanellas, of Invest Cyprus, said "Sword Group joins a number of world-leading tech companies who have taken advantage of the strategic geographical location. Sword Group's new operations base will expand services for their current customer base but will also reward them with a number of new opportunities on the island." "We are very pleased to be able to attract such formidable players in the tech sector, as Sword Group who are working to meet the rapidly growing demands of global businesses." said Mr Campanellas. "At Invest Cyprus, we are committed to supporting businesses throughout all steps of their development on the island from setting up offices, expanding operations, relocating and launching businesses. We aim to ensure any and all business development is seamless and efficient." "The decision of Sword Group to expand operations to Cyprus reflects the country's strong economic recovery following the pandemic and highlights the growing reputation of the island as a European tech hub, attracting significant global investment in the industry." About Sword Group Sword Group is an international Consulting, Services and Software company driving global leaders in their digital & technology transformation. Sword has 2,000+ IT/Digital & Software specialists present over five continents supporting companies in the growth of their organisation in the digital age. Regionally, Sword has been present in Lebanon since 2001 with 80+ experienced staff and also in the UAE with 30+ skilled consultants. As a leader in technological and digital transformation, Sword Group has acquired a solid reputation with more than 20 years' experience in providing state-of-the-art software onshore and nearshore outsourcing services for prestigious clients in Europe, North America and the Middle East. More information on Sword Group can be found here: www.sword-group.com/en About Invest Cyprus Invest Cyprus (Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency) is the national authority of the Government of Cyprus dedicated to attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment into the country. Its mandate is to raise awareness of Cyprus as a destination for FDI across the globe, providing certainty around all aspects of operating a business in Cyprus and supporting potential investors in developing their business case for investment into the country. Investcyprus.org.cy Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1433328/Invest_Cyprus_Logo.jpg SOURCE Invest Cyprus MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Mednet, a healthcare technology company, announced its latest software release expanding the supply depot capabilities in its Trial Supply Manager. The new release includes enhancements to enable auto resupply functionality to work with supply depots, significantly streamlining processes and improving efficiency. In addition, the recent release also includes new functionality to enable users to move inventory across different regions or ship inventory from depot to depot, depot to site or site to site. The new and enhanced Trial Supply Manager, a component of Mednet's Randomization and Trial Supply Management (RTSM) module, was released earlier this year, featuring a new and improved user interface to optimize the user experience, new features to address key supply management requirements and tools to simplify setup of trial supply. The expanded supply depot capabilities in the latest release are critical to the future of clinical trials. As clinical trial designs become more complex, global and decentralized, multiple supply depots are critical to support different geographic regions, sites and models, while also allowing for varying product or dosage types. The automation of resupply significantly streamlines and simplifies supply chain processes for research teams. Mednet's latest release also includes key features to improve the efficiency of other study processes. In addition to the new supply depot capabilities, the release includes improved functionality to simplify the process of including external field-form values when users pull their datasets in iMednet Datasets on Demand (DOD). Previously, the platform enabled users to display key data on additional case report forms using external items, but it required the user to create advanced edit checks to include the data in the raw data output (DOD). Users can now simply select the external values the DOD inclusion criteria and these key datapoints are now included in the output. The recent update continues to build on Mednet's strategic priorities to expand its feature set to address the emerging requirements of clinical trials, while continuing to enhance capabilities to streamline study build and execution processes. The latest release was recently rolled out to existing customers and is also now available for new customers. "Clinical research is becoming more complex, with increasing globalization, a growing trend toward decentralized trials and an increasing pressure to build and execute studies as efficiently as possible," said Rob Robertson, chief executive officer, Mednet. "Mednet prioritizes these emerging demands in its product development strategy and roadmap. This latest release further optimizes the iMednet platform with new features and enhancements to significantly improve the user experience and increase efficiency, while enabling research teams to optimally address today's study design requirements." To learn more about the latest Mednet release and the iMednet platform, contact us. About Mednet Mednet is a healthcare technology company specializing in eClinical solutions designed for the global life sciences community. Mednet's comprehensive, EDC-centric eClinical platform improves the efficiency of clinical studies of all types and sizes. Beyond electronic data capture (EDC), Mednet's solution set provides the tools required to build and manage all types of clinical research, while enabling organizations to adapt to evolving demands and requirements. Pharmaceutical, medical device, biotechnology and Contract Research Organizations (CROs) around the world have trusted Mednet for nearly 20 years to deliver the technology innovation, experience and reliability they need for success. For more information, visit www.mednetsolutions.com. Contact: Barbara Correll, [email protected] SOURCE Mednet TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hailo, the leading edge Artificial Intelligence chipmaker today announced its partnership with NXP Semiconductors, an automotive market innovator, to launch a number of joint AI solutions for automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs). The joint solutions will combine NXP's safe and efficient automotive processors (S32G and Layerscape) along with the high-performance Hailo-8 AI processor. The Hailo-8 outperforms other available AI processors for edge computing with up to 26 tera-operations per second (TOPS) at a typical power consumption of 2.5 W. These scalable solutions will enable power-efficient AI acceleration at low size and energy usage, helping usher in a new era of automotive innovation. Vehicles increasingly require high-performance computing power to process a growing number of sensors' data and provide new data-driven vehicle services. NXP and Hailo's joint solutions enable scalable AI compute while maintaining top safety standards and keeping the entire power envelope low solving major pain points for automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers. The solutions address power efficiency, independent scalability in generic and AI compute, and offer an open software ecosystem for applications and software stacks. "NXP's vehicle processing platforms are designed to meet the needs of next-generation driver demands and support industry innovation," said Brian Carlson, Global Marketing Director for Vehicle Control and Networking Solutions at NXP. "When combined with Hailo's high-performance AI chip, we can provide power-efficient, scalable, and safe AI solutions to the automotive industry for a new era of intelligent vehicles." The first such solution, powered by the Arm based NXP S32G processor combined with up to two Hailo-8 AI processors delivering up to 52 TOPS, offers the automotive industry a high-performance, real-time application and processing solution for service-oriented gateways, domain and zonal controllers, and safe compute platforms. The second solution, powered by the Arm based NXP Layerscape platform and combined with up to six Hailo-8 AI processors, delivers a high-performance of up to 156 TOPS, scalable compute platform with state-of-the-art AI performance. "We are excited to partner with a major player like NXP to demonstrate the true potential of AI for automotive and beyond," said Orr Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Hailo. "This partnership strengthens our position in the automotive sector, enabling us to further address the rapidly growing need for efficient and reliable technologies that process sensory information more efficiently and at greater speeds in order to pave the way towards full autonomy. We look forward to continuing to work with NXP to expand our unmatched edge processing solutions to a broad range of demanding applications including industrial & heavy machinery applications, robotics, and more." The NXP-Hailo joint solutions are already being utilized by multiple customers, including Insurtech company MOTER Technologies, Inc., which is using the Arm-based NXP S32G processor combined with a Hailo-8 M.2 AI accelerator module for Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) applications for automotive. The miriac AIP-S32G274A and miriac AIP-LX2160A NXP-Hailo automotive based application-ready platforms are available from MicroSys, as well as development platforms by NXP: BlueBox 3.0 (Layerscape LX2160A and S32G and GoldBox (S32G). Both are compatible with Hailo-8 M.2 AI Acceleration Modules. About Hailo Hailo, an AI-focused, Israel-based chipmaker, has developed a specialized AI processor that delivers the performance of a data center-class computer to edge devices. Hailo's processor is the product of a rethinking of traditional computer architecture, enabling smart devices to perform sophisticated deep learning tasks such as object detection and segmentation in real-time, with minimal power consumption, size, and cost. The processor is designed to fit into a multitude of smart machines and devices, impacting a variety of sectors including automotive, Industry 4.0, smart cities, smart homes, and retail. For more information visit https://hailo.ai/ Hailo media contact: Garrett Krivicich Headline Media [email protected] +1 786 233 7684 SOURCE Hailo SAN DIEGO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS (SDAR) and its 501(c)(3) Ambassadors Foundation partnered with Operation Homefront to host the annual "Holiday House," an evening of charitable giving in support of local military families during the holiday season. Held at a beautiful home listed for sale in La Jolla, real estate professionals and guests filled the home with donated toys to be distributed to children of San Diego area servicemembers. Local businesses throughout the county also hosted donation bins leading up to the event to contribute to the worthy cause. "The Ambassadors Foundation has a longstanding partnership with Operation Homefront and we are honored to support its mission of building strong military families," said Carla Farley, SDAR President. "As REALTORS we take pride in being good stewards of our community and the Holiday House event provides the perfect opportunity to give back to the military families who sacrifice so much. We are especially proud of the level of involvement from our members, sponsors, and community this year, as we raised a record level of funds and contributions over the 10 years of hosting this event." Operation Homefront assists military families during difficult financial times by providing food assistance, auto and home repair, vision care, travel and transportation, moving assistance, essential home items, and rent-free transitional housing for wounded veterans and their families. This year, the Ambassadors Foundation collected more than 250 toys and $10,000 in contributions which were donated to Operation Homefront's holiday toy drive, held on Saturday, December 11 at BAE Systems. "We are so grateful to SDAR for their continued involvement with Operation Homefront and the generosity of its membership throughout the year," said Sarah Stampien, Area Manager for Operation Homefront. "Thanks to their donation of toys for all ages, we were able to help ease the financial burden for our military families this holiday season." The Ambassadors Foundation was created to provide greater opportunities for REALTOR members to become active community partners in support of families and residents through its focus on seniors, families, the military, and fraud protection. "As REALTORS we work every day with the families and businesses who make up our community, whether helping them to buy, sell, or rent a home or property," Farley added. "Through the Ambassadors Foundation, we are in a unique position to connect with working families by going above and beyond our business services to help strengthen and empower those in need." Local nonprofit organizations interested in partnering with the Ambassadors Foundation for future events or charitable activities are encouraged to contact SDAR at (858) 715-8000 or visit www.ambassadorsfoundation.org. The Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS is the largest trade association in San Diego County and one of the largest local REALTOR associations in California. We help our members, who adhere to a code of ethics and professional standards, sell more homes. We also help people realize the dream of home ownership, and we are dedicated to protecting private property rights. You can follow SDAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. SOURCE Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Medical Board of California has allowed a 25-year repeat offender doctor to surrender his license on a technicality and not face charges before an administrative law judge in an accusation based on the death of a local mother. In a backroom agreement, the Medical Board signed off on a settlement deal that allows Bakersfield OB-GYN Dr. Arthur Park to avoid a public hearing into the young mother's death. He instead surrendered his license quietly based on a probation violation, inferring that he has ceased to practice due to retirement or health reasons, not his responsibility for the young mother's death. The surrender agreement can be found here. Dr. Arthur Park was set to stand before an administrative law judge on January 10, 2022 in Los Angeles to face revocation of his license to practice medicine for the death of Demi Dominguez, a 23-year old mother who died of undiagnosed preeclampsia. Park was already on probation for the 2016 death of another Bakersfield mother, and had faced an earlier probation for the deaths of two babies. Charges of medical negligence and disciplinary actions against Park go back 25 years. "I felt confident that our family was finally going to get some accountability and justice for Demi," stated Demi Dominguez' mother Tracy Dominguez. "When Deputy Attorney General Vladimir Shalkevich told me, on behalf of the Medical Board, that Dr. Park would be facing an administrative law judge and he actually subpoenaed me as a witness at the hearing, I felt that justice might finally be served for Central Valley families. But I was wrong. There is no accountability or justice for families in California." This is not the first time that the Medical Board has offered Dr. Park a deal that allows him to escape accountability for the deaths of Central Valley mothers and babies. Demi Dominguez's family has worked with Consumer Watchdog to expose the many cases of patient harm and deaths linked to Dr. Arthur Park and educate young mothers on their need to engage in their healthcare. Dominguez's family supports The Fairness Act, a November ballot measure that lifts California's nearly 50-year-old cap on quality of life and wrongful death compensation in medical negligence cases that has prevented them getting justice in the courts. Read about and watch Demi Dominguez's story here: https://www.patientsforfairness.org/demidominguez/ The education campaign began following another settlement deal that Deputy Attorney General Shalkevich offered Dr. Arthur Park on behalf of the medical board following the 2016 death of 23-year-old Celeste Ortiz. Similarly, the Medical Board, according to the family, promised the Ortiz family that Dr. Park would face an administrative law judge for possible revocation of his license. Unknown to the family, the Medical Board settled with Dr. Park, offering him probation that allowed him to practice and continue to harm other Central Valley mothers and babies. "Once again the state has failed my family. We completely commited our efforts to not only seek justice for Demi and my son Malakhi but also for all of the mothers and babies in the Central Valley that have suffered at the hands of Dr. Arthur Park." stated Demi Dominguez' fiance Xavier De Leon. Demi Dominguez spent 16 hours in Mercy Southwest Hospital under the care of the on-call doctor Arthur Park. During those 16 hours, Dr. Arthur Park did not see Dominguez, he did not assess her, and he did not offer a plan of treatment. He told nurses to verbally discharge her without a diagnosis or treatment. The California Department of Public Health also investigated Demi Dominguez' case. Following a surprise inspection, Mercy Southwest Hospital was cited for three state deficiencies including one directly linked to physician conduct. The hospital representatives confirmed and verified that Demi Dominguez was discharged without a diagnosis and without a plan of treatment. The Department of Public Health Statement of Deficiencies can be found here. "I am angry and disappointed. I have focused my advocacy efforts for two years trying to get justice for my daughter only to have the Medical Board and the Deputy Attorney General lie to me and once again allow Arthur Park to escape from any accountability for my daughter's death, my grandson's death, Celeste Ortiz's death, and the many mothers and babies that have suffered and died under Park's care," said Demi's mother Tracy Dominguez. Medical Board of California Public Board member T.J. Watkins went on the record at a state legislative hearing, (watch his testimony here), that the Medical Board's priority is protecting doctors. Watkins' testimony and subsequent revelations to news media make clear how the entire Medical Board complaint process is unfair to families, said Consumer Watchdog. The Board focuses on rehabilitation of doctors, settlement deals protecting doctors, and giving back licenses to dangerous doctors who had their licenses revoked, according to his reports. Read Watkins' interview with the Los Angeles Times: TJ Watkins interview. "I have worked directly with Demi and Malakhi's families for two years," stated Michele Monserratt-Ramos, Consumer Watchdog's Kathy Olsen Patient Advocate. "I worked with them to develop the Bakersfield Families Call for Action campaign to help them get justice for Central Valley families. They went above and beyond to get justice for their family and their community and justice was not served." "The Medical Board has shown that they prefer to protect doctors over patients, and now it also appears that the Deputy Attorney General has done the same. Demi and my grandson deserved justice. We have come forward to fight not only for our family but for all Californians and we will continue to do so," stated Monique Himes, Demi's mother-in-law and Malakhi's grandmother. This lack of regulatory board accountability for families has led Central Valley families and families across the state of California to come together to update the 1975 medical negligence cap for wrongful death and quality of life damages. The Fairness for Injured Patients Act will go to a vote of the people on November 9, 2022. You can find Demi Dominguez' and her son Malakhi's stories and the stories of other injured patients whose families are fighting for accountability for all Californians at www.PatientsforFairness.org. Paid for by Consumer Watchdog Campaign for the Fairness for Injured Patients Act Committee major funding from: Consumer Watchdog Campaign Nonprofit 501(c)(4). SOURCE Consumer Watchdog Related Links http://www.consumerwatchdog.org BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A registered nurse and leader with the Massachusetts Nurses Association will describe to lawmakers the forces jeopardizing patient care conditions and negatively impacting the nursing profession during a virtual hearing of the Future of Work Commission on Friday, December 17. The commission, created by legislation signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in January 2021, is studying the impact of new workforce developments on workers, employers, and the economy. While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every industry, and especially healthcare, MNA testimony will demonstrate that the challenges facing the nursing workforce are rooted in changes that predate the pandemic. Future of Work Commission Hearing What: The Massachusetts Legislature's Future of Work Commission will hear testimony from stakeholders on issues affecting the future of work and the workplace, including from Mary Havlicek Cornacchia, OR nurse at Tufts Medical Center and member of the MNA Board of Directors. When: Friday, December 17 at 11 a.m. Where: Virtual Hearing. To watch, go to: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/4133 "My colleagues and I have been on the frontlines of a pandemic for two years and we are yet again riding another wave of increasing hospitalizations and infections. Morale is low, burnout is high, and many nurses are walking away from the bedside with no plan to return. But even before the pandemic, nursing was in a precarious position," said Mary Havlicek Cornacchia, OR nurse at Tufts Medical Center and member of the MNA Board of Directors. "I do want to be clear. This crisis is not a nursing shortage," Cornacchia said. We have plenty of nurses. What we do not have is nurses willing to work under the current conditions at the bedside. These conditions did not start with the COVID-19 pandemic. For years, the hospital industry has been creating the conditions for moral injury among nurses and other healthcare workers. Hospitals increasingly use just-in-time staffing models, scheduling barely enough nurses to be able to move patients through a revenue-generating system. This approach maximizes profits and leads to growing executive pay. It absolutely fails nurses who are trying to fulfill our professional and moral obligations to provide safe, high-quality patient care." Numerous surveys and studies published over the past year have shown approximately 20% of nurses are planning to leave the field within the next year. These nurses are most often the direct care nurses who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic and who, even before that, were burning out and leaving the bedside. According to a survey of Massachusetts nurses completed earlier this year, almost all nurses felt most supported by friends, family, and co-workers, over seven-in-ten (73%) felt support by Massachusetts residents in general during the pandemic, but just over a third (37%) felt supported by the hospital industry. Although nurses feel supported by their closest contacts, COVID has taken a toll on retention over a third (37%) of nurses reported being more likely to leave the nursing profession sooner because of the impact of COVID, according to "The State of Nursing in Massachusetts," a randomized survey of Massachusetts RNs conducted March 25 to March 30 by Boston-based Beacon Research. For new graduates, the numbers are also abysmal. Despite high enrollment in nursing schools enrollment that has increased over the past year new graduate nurses are leaving at alarming rates. Per a decade-long study by the RN Work Project, 17.5% of new nurses left their position within a year of starting a new job, 33% within two years, and 60% within eight years. This leaves Massachusetts with a diminished talent pipeline and threatens the future of healthcare, for without nurses there is no future for healthcare in the Commonwealth or anywhere else. The nursing workforce crisis is having a direct impact on the quality of patient care in Massachusetts. Fifty-five percent of nurses surveyed in "The State of Nursing in Massachusetts" said hospital care was getting worse, compared to only 10 percent who said it was improving. This is a significant acceleration of a trend seen in previous "State of Nursing in Massachusetts" surveys. Since 2014, with only one exception in 2017, more nurses have reported care is getting worse rather than better. This year the number of nurses concerned about care quality exploded. Closely linked to the diminishment of care quality is time nurses can spend with patients. Nearly twice as many nurses (60%) reported not having enough time with their patients as those who felt they had adequate time (33%). This problem saw a marked increase from the 2019 survey, when 47% said not having enough time with patients was a major challenge. The MNA has proposed several recommendations to improve the future of nursing in Massachusetts, including: Increase the number of nurses working at one time to allow for the proper care of patients. This is beneficial to both nurses and patients. More than two decades of scientific research demonstrate that when nurses have too many patients assigned to them at one time, there is an increase in negative outcomes such as infections, injury, longer hospital stays, medication errors, and re-admissions. End "just in time" scheduling where hospitals understaff or send nurses home from work only to have a patient surge overwhelm the staff. Provide full time work for nurses- rather than relying on per diem positions and capping nurse hours to avoid paying for certain employee benefits. Provide adequate support staff. In many cases, hospitals have reduced or eliminated key support staff positions, creating an additional workload on nurses, and impacting the ability of patients to receive quality care and support in a timely manner. Prioritize patients over profits. Despite the pandemic, most hospital systems in Massachusetts are profitable (47 out of 59), benefitting both from federal COVID relief grants and loans and the surge in patient census and procedures this year. Overall acute hospital profitability increased 1.7 percentage points from 2019 levels to an average 5.3% profit margin during the period ending June 30 , according to the Center for Health Information and Analysis. are profitable (47 out of 59), benefitting both from federal COVID relief grants and loans and the surge in patient census and procedures this year. Overall acute hospital profitability increased 1.7 percentage points from 2019 levels to an average 5.3% profit margin during the period ending , according to the Center for Health Information and Analysis. Listen to those doing the work on the frontlines. Generate additional information to help address the worsening staffing crisis through the creation of an independent legislative commission to conduct studies on the state of nursing in Massachusetts . The Workforce Development and Patient Safety Act (S.1422/H. 2398) is sponsored by Senator Diana DiZoglio and Representative Dan Ryan . MassNurses.org Facebook.com/MassNurses Twitter.com/MassNurses Instagram.com/MassNurses Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Orbital Insight , the leader in geospatial intelligence, has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The Phase II contract is a result of the successful outcome of Orbital Insight's Phase I collaboration on the use of synthetically generated data for training object detection models in electro-optical imagery. Orbital Insight will partner with Washington, D.C.-based Rendered.ai and the University of California, Berkeley to deliver a first-of-its-kind computer vision model to detect novel classes of objects trained on little or no real examples of objects. The project will use synthetic imagery that has been optimized via domain adaptation to train the model so that it can detect instances of the novel classes in the wild. The project will lead to a better understanding of how the model is incorporating both synthetic and real training data to generalize to real test data, and ultimately lead to better training techniques when using mixed training data. "There is an influx in imagery and data that humans can't analyze with eyesight alone," said Kevin O'Brien, CEO at Orbital Insight. "While our national security relies on this data, computer vision can help provide the right answers. We're honored to have been awarded this Phase II contract and continue our partnership with the NGA. The results of this project will be instrumental for the defense intelligence community." The NGA delivers advanced geospatial intelligence that provides a decisive advantage to policymakers, warfighters, intelligence professionals and first responders. Orbital Insight has previously collaborated with the United States Air Force's AFVentures Strategic Financing in multiple SBIR phases. Orbital Insight's flagship GO platform is purpose built for the Intelligence Community to deliver insights in a cloud-agnostic, secure and readily deployable environment. The technology supports critical activity-based intelligence by helping spot trends buried within billions of data points, such as economic patterns associated with global ports, airports and real estate. To learn more about Orbital Insight, visit www.orbitalinsight.com . About Orbital Insight Orbital Insight is the geospatial software and analytics company that helps organizations understand what's happening on and to the Earth. Customers including Unilever, Airbus, RBC Capital Markets, The World Bank, and the U.S. Department of Defense use Orbital Insight's self-service analytics platform to make smarter business decisions, build sustainable supply chains, and improve national security. For more information, visit www.orbitalinsight.com . Media Contact: Mission North for Orbital Insight [email protected] SOURCE Orbital Insight BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Senate prepares to debate the Build Back Better Act, nearly 400 companies are urging lawmakers to pass its ambitious climate, clean energy, and environmental justice measures. In a letter to Congress this week, 437 companies, investors, trade groups, and employers including 397 businesses called for the "swift enactment" of the climate investments in the Build Back Better Act, which passed the House of Representatives in November and is undergoing final negotiations in the Senate. The letter underscores business community support for a version of the package that puts the U.S. in the strongest position to address the threat of the climate crisis to the economy and financial markets, lower utility costs with reliable and affordable clean power, and capitalize on the economic opportunities of the clean energy transition. Signatories of the letter, which was organized by the sustainability nonprofit Ceres and several partner organizations, include Adobe, eBay, IKEA, Logitech, Unilever, and many small businesses. Companies and investors also supported the infrastructure package signed into law last month. The letter was originally sent to Congress in support of both packages before either was finalized, and it has since gained hundreds of new signatories. The letter commended the infrastructure bill which included funding for electric grid upgrades, public transit, climate resiliency, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure as a "good step." However, signatories stressed that the larger investments in the Build Back Better reconciliation package are required to achieve President Joe Biden's plan to slash climate pollution by at least 50% by 2030. The package passed by the House includes more than $550 billion for climate programs, including investments in clean power, clean transportation, clean industry, clean agriculture, conservation, and environmental justice. The letter emphasized that the costs of these programs would be minor compared to the costs of addressing climate-related disasters that disrupt business operations, supply chains, and communities' health and safety. "The Build Back Better package is a smart investment in climate and clean energy," said Zach Friedman, director of federal policy, Ceres. "This is a win-win-win for U.S. businesses, and that's why so many of them are urging the Senate to pass the Build Back Better package as soon as possible." Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, [email protected], 617-247-0700 ext. 214 Related Links: https://www.ceres.org/news-center/press-releases/nearly-400-companies-urge-us-senate-unleash-build-back-better-acts SOURCE Ceres Related Links http://www.ceres.org - The app builds on e.GO's tech-first IOP digital architecture. - The launch underscores company's commitment to make zero-emission mobility smarter and more connected. - Release was contemporaneous to the successful production of the 1000th e.GO Life in Aachen micro-factory. - Activation of customer vehicles has started and will be done in batches. 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. The number of domestic passengers increased by 124% compared to November 2020, while international travel volume nearly doubled. From January through November, passenger volume totaled 4,029,441 71.6% higher than the same period in 2020. The numbers of domestic and international travelers increased by 73.6% and 21.5%, respectively. "Ontario International continued on its strong recovery path in November despite the persistence of the global coronavirus pandemic, and continues to lead among airports of its size and larger," said Julia Gouw, an OIAA commissioner. "Even in this challenging environment, Ontario International remains an attractive aviation gateway for area residents who count on those of us who oversee and operate the airport to maintain its hallmark first-rate, hassle-free customer experience." Passenger Totals Nov. 2021 Nov. 2020 Change YTD 2021 YTD 2020 Change Domestic 461,231 205,526 124.41% 3,922,892 2,260,263 73.6% International 14,271 7,200 98.21% 106,549 87,685 21.5% Total 475,502 212,726 123.53% 4,029,441 2,347,948 71.6% Passenger Totals Nov. 2021 Nov. 2019 Change YTD 2021 YTD 2019 Change Domestic 461,231 475,453 -2.99% 3,922,892 4,794,636 -18.2% International 14,271 26,186 -45.5% 106,549 274,307 -61.2% Total 475,502 501,639 -5.21% 4,029,441 5,068,943 -20.5% Shipments of commercial freight and mail were essentially even in November at 75,576 tons compared with 76,586 tons in November last year. Compared with November 2019 though, tonnage increased by 11.7%. On a year-to-date basis, freight and mail volume decreased 4% to 792,856 tons compared to 2020, but increased 14.4% compared with 2019. Air cargo (tonnage) Nov. 2021 Nov. 2020 Change YTD 2021 YTD 2020 Change Freight 70,073 73,207 -4.28 747,887 804,566 -7.0% Mail 5,504 3,379 62.87 44,969 21,973 104.7% Total 75,576 76,586 -1.32 792,856 826,539 -4.1% Air cargo (tonnage) Nov. 2021 Nov. 2019 Change YTD 2021 YTD 2019 Change Freight 70,073 66,319 5.66% 747,887 671,817 11.3% Mail 5,504 1,338 311.21% 44,969 21,116 113.0% Total 75,576 67,657 11.71% 792,856 692,933 14.4% "Ontario International's location near major Southern California freeways, Inland Empire distribution centers and the nation's largest seaport complex makes our airport a prized public asset and highly desirable destination for air cargo shippers," said OIAA Commissioner Jim Bowman, an Ontario City Councilmember. "As our population base continues to grow and businesses take root in the Inland Empire, Ontario International will remain a focal point in Southern California's vibrant economy." 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. 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 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 SEATTLE, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Outreach , the fastest-growing engagement and intelligence platform provider, today announced Mike Zinne has been promoted as Chief Customer Officer (CCO). Zinne has been at Outreach for four years and was previously the Senior Vice President of Customer Success. Zinne leads the customer success organization, solutions consulting, and value consulting services. "This is a well-deserved promotion for Mike, who for years has been a dedicated member of the Outreach team," said Manny Medina, co-founder and CEO of Outreach. "Customers are at the center of everything that we do - without their success, we wouldn't be successful either. As the leader of our customer organization, Mike has done an incredible job scaling the team with seasoned professionals to meet our customers' expanding needs. Under his leadership, our customers are finding success as a result of their deep understanding and connection to our platform." Zinne has deep experience building and optimizing customer delivery teams for SaaS companies. He has extensive experience in a wide range of executive roles and is an asset when it comes to managing efficiency and growth in SaaS organizations. Before joining Outreach, Zinne held successive executive leadership positions in customer experience and success roles at several SaaS leaders, including Zendesk, Kybira, Oracle, and RightNow. "I'm excited and honored to take on this new role at a time of great transformation for Outreach," said Zinne. "At Outreach, we are focused on delivering customer experiences that chart the path for transforming the way our customers' revenue organizations operate. Additionally, I get to work alongside some of the most talented people in the customer industry here at Outreach. I'm looking forward to the next phase of our growth." The announcement comes shortly after several other recent leadership announcements this year, including a chief marketing officer and a global innovation evangelist . About Outreach Outreach is the largest and fastest-growing sales intelligence and engagement platform provider that helps companies dramatically increase productivity and drive smarter, more insightful engagement with their customers. Outreach is the only solution provider to integrate sales engagement, conversation intelligence, and revenue intelligence into one platform. The only sales engagement and intelligence platform to make the Forbes Cloud 100, Outreach was also the fastest-growing vendor in the category on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. More than 5,000 companies such as Adobe, Tableau, Okta, Splunk, DocuSign, and SAP depend on Outreach's enterprise-scale, unparalleled customer adoption, and robust AI-powered innovation. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io. PR Contact: Amanda Woolley [email protected] SOURCE Outreach PURCHASE, N.Y., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PepsiCo, and its philanthropic arm, The PepsiCo Foundation, announced a commitment of $300,000 and donations of food and water to provide holistic disaster relief support to those impacted by a massive tornado outbreak across the Midwest and Southern U.S. In partnership with The Salvation Army and Team Rubicon, resources are being distributed as one of the most severe tornado events in history tore through Kentucky, Mississippi, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri this weekend, causing significant loss of life, widespread damage to homes, power outages for tens of thousands of people, and an immediate need for water, meals, and shelter. Support for the impacted includes: $150,000 to The Salvation Army from PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation to provide immediate nutrition relief, including 75,000 meals through PepsiCo's Food for Good program and additional grants. to The Salvation Army from PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation to provide immediate nutrition relief, including 75,000 meals through PepsiCo's Food for Good program and additional grants. $150,000 to Team Rubicon from PepsiCo, The PepsiCo Foundation and Quaker to provide emergency disaster relief efforts, such as removing debris and rebuilding services in the most vulnerable communities. In addition, Frito-Lay will be donating five pallets of its products to The Salvation Army in Kentucky and donated 10 pallets of its products to the American Red Cross and Kentucky Emergency Management Services, which supports first responders leading recovery efforts in the hardest hit areas of the state. G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Inc. has also donated 2,640 cases of Aquafina water to be distributed throughout Kentucky. "The loss of life and horrendous damage impacting so many families across the Midwest and Southern U.S. is truly heartbreaking. We are committed to providing immediate relief to those impacted by this horrific series of tornadoes to help them begin to rebuild their lives," said Jon Banner, Executive Vice President, Global Communications and President of The PepsiCo Foundation. "That's why we are working with our dedicated partners The Salvation Army and Team Rubicon and also mobilizing our own Food for Good operation - to deliver meals and emergency relief. These communities need our support as they face the immediate impacts of the storm and recover in its wake." "Across the roughly 220 miles of the tornado's path, homes, families, lives, and livelihoods have been destroyed," said David Burke, Chief Programs Officer of Team Rubicon. "Within hours, Team Rubicon volunteers were able to get right to work clearing debris from roadways and residents' homes. This will be an all of community effort and thanks in part to the support from PepsiCo and Quaker, Team Rubicon will be able to provide assistance to these families as they begin the long road to recovery." The PepsiCo Foundation will also match employee donations to organizations that are providing critical relief for impacted communities, including Team Rubicon, American Red Cross and The Salvation Army. Additionally, The PepsiCo Foundation has activated PEPhelp, an employee-to-employee program to support employees of PepsiCo affected by natural disasters with financial assistance. A local team of employees also created an "Amazon Wishlist" and GoFundMe site for those impacted in FEMA declared counties and certain localities. "Our communities and employees are at the core of our business, and this catastrophe truly hit us all," said Derek Lewis, President, South Division, PepsiCo Beverages North America. "While we are thankful our employees are safe, there is plenty of work that needs to be done to rebuild our communities and the spirit of our people. Working alongside The Salvation Army and Team Rubicon allows us to deliver on-the-ground emergency support and critical resources, such as food and water. At PepsiCo, we know that we are Stronger Together, and we want to do as much as we can to help support the road to recovery." The PepsiCo Foundation has a longstanding history of community relief efforts and is a member of the American Red Cross' Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP), granting at least $500,000 annually to ensure the Red Cross can pre-position supplies, secure shelters, maintain vehicles, train volunteers and prepare for future disasters. About PepsiCo PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $70 billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business strategy and brands. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com. About The PepsiCo Foundation Established in 1962, The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we're focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and workcollaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsico.com/sustainability/philanthropy. SOURCE PepsiCo Foundation ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Research Innovations, Inc. (RII) today announced it is Certified as a Great Place to Work for the third year in a row. This year, 97% of employees said RII is a great place to work, which is 38% higher than average for a U.S. company. Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture and employee experience, and certification is earned using validated employee feedback gathered with Great Place to Work's rigorous, data driven For All methodology. "Receiving the Great Place to Work certification is a testament to our employees' passion for creating and maintaining a positive and caring work environment," said Rich Briggs, Founder/CTO of RII. "Our core purpose is to create RIIdiculously Awesome solutions that make the world safer, and the best way to do that is to enable innovation with an engaged and empowered team. Even with the continuing challenges of COVID, we're happy to hear that the support we always aim to provide for employees is felt." "RII's culture differentiates us as a company in this industry, and we work hard to make sure that it fosters innovation and a sense of belonging," said Erin Fristoe, Director of Community and Talent Acquisition at RII. "As our workforce grows, it's our strong and caring culture that continues to make employees feel supported and connected, even with employees working remotely." About Research Innovations, Inc. With offices nationwide, as well as staff embedded with key customers globally, RII supports critical defense, intelligence, and cyber customers across the U.S. Government and with select international customers. RII is a leader in Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) efforts with its cutting-edge solutions, rapidly delivering transformative technology to customers and end-users to achieve its core purpose of "Creating RIIdiculously Awesome solutions that make the world safer." About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All. SOURCE Research Innovations, Inc. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global sacroiliac joint fusion market size is expected to reach USD 661.45 million by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 17.5% from 2021 to 2028. The key factors driving the market include the rising preference for minimally invasive surgeries, the aging population, and initiatives by market players. Key Insights & Findings from the report: In terms of indication, degenerative sacroilitis dominated the market with a share of over 35.0% in 2020 due to the increasing geriatric population and prevalence of chronic conditions Based on product, the implants segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020 as it is the key component of any SI joint fusion system The MIS surgery type segment held the largest revenue share in 2020 owing to the rapidly growing adoption of minimally invasive surgeries By end-user, the hospitals segment captured the largest revenue share in 2020 as hospitals are the primary point of care for treatment. Furthermore, hospitals offer superior care to their patients, and treatment cost is generally reimbursed, which drives the adoption Ambulatory surgical centers are anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. This is attributed to significantly lower costs compared to similar procedures performed in the hospitals, low infection rates, and high patient satisfaction rates Read 150 page market research report, "Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Indication (Degenerative Sacroilitis, Sacral Disruption, Trauma), By Surgery Type (MIS, Open), By Product, By End User, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028", by Grand View Research The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in logistical bottlenecks, decreased sales and marketing activities, low demand, and other challenges for market participants. The major impact during the pandemic, however, was canceled or postponed elective surgeries. As many countries went under lockdown and implemented movement restrictions, the number of elective surgeries plummeted. In addition, several healthcare institutions and regulatory bodies recommended the postponement of elective surgical procedures. Harvard Business Review estimated that an approximately 4.8% GDP decline in the U.S. economy, in the first quarter of 2020, could be attributed to postponed healthcare services, particularly delayed elective procedures. The demand is anticipated to increase with the resumption of elective surgeries. The rising adoption of minimally invasive surgeries is a major factor contributing to the market growth. For instance, in September 2021, CoreLink Surgical reported that its patented Entasis SI Joint Fusion System surpassed 5,000 implants. An aging population in developed countries such as the U.S. and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases are leading to an increase in the number of surgeries performed every year. As per the U.S. Census Bureau in 2019, out of the 328 million U.S. population, about 75 million were aged 60 years and older. This implies that a significant number of the population is vulnerable to degenerative sacroilitis and sacral disruption, thus leading to an increased number of SI joint fusion surgeries. Many companies specializing in spine, orthopedic, or musculoskeletal solutions hold a significant share in the market. These players are involved in increasing their market share through R&D, product launches, geographical expansion, and other partnerships. For example, in March 2021, Aurora Spine, operating in spinal implant and pain management markets, launched the SiLO Posterior SI Joint Fusion System. Genesys Spine, on the other hand, launched its Sacroiliac Joint Fusion system consisting of partially threaded and fully threaded implants in February 2020. Surgalign Spine Technologies, Inc., formerly known as RTI Surgical, entered the market for sacroiliac joint fusion by acquiring Zyga Technology, Inc. in January 2018. In July 2020, the company sold its OEM Businesses to become a pure-play global spine company and changed its name to Surgalign. Grand View Research has segmented the global sacroiliac joint fusion market on the basis of indication, surgery type, product, end user, and region: Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Indication Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Degenerative Sacroilitis Sacral Disruption Trauma Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Surgery Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) MIS Open Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Implants Accessories Sacroiliac Joint Fusion End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Others (Specialty Centers, Research & Academic Institutes) Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Asia Pacific China India Japan Latin America Brazil Mexico MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia List of Key Players of Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Market SI-BONE, Inc. SIGNUS Medizintechnik GmbH Globus Medical Orthofix Medical Inc. Life Spine, Inc. Camber Spine Technologies, LLC CoreLink Surgical Xtant Medical Surgalign Spine Technologies, Inc. Medtronic Check out more studies related to joint and bone treatment, published by Grand View Research: Joint Replacement Market The global joint replacement market size was valued at USD 17.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2021 to 2028. The increase in the prevalence of orthopedic disorders, osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis (OA), and lower extremity conditions are some factors driving the market for joint replacement. The global joint replacement market size was valued at in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2021 to 2028. The increase in the prevalence of orthopedic disorders, osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis (OA), and lower extremity conditions are some factors driving the market for joint replacement. Joint Reconstruction Devices Market The global joint reconstruction devices market size was estimated at USD 18.7 billion in 2016. Global demand for minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical techniques, growing prevalence of orthopedic conditions, and increasing patient base with growing population are the factors expected to drive the market during the forecast period. The global joint reconstruction devices market size was estimated at in 2016. Global demand for minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical techniques, growing prevalence of orthopedic conditions, and increasing patient base with growing population are the factors expected to drive the market during the forecast period. Small Bone And Joint Devices Market The global small bone and joint devices market size was estimated at USD 5.1 billion in 2019 and is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3% from 2020 to 2027. Primary drivers for the market include rising adoption of reconstructive surgeries, incidence of degenerative disorders, such as osteoporosis and arthritis, and cases of road accidents. Browse through Grand View Research's coverage of the Global Medical Devices Industry. Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports 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. ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) has been selected as an inaugural recipient of the Congressional Bone Health Champion award by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. The award recognizes Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of Americans. Senator Cardin's leadership on osteoporosis and bone health has been long standing and unwavering. For well over a decade, he has worked to improve access to bone health screening through the introduction of legislation to assure adequate Medicare reimbursement. He has introduced legislation calling for more research, education and higher priority given to bone health throughout the lifetime. Senator Cardin is the lead co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation, the Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2021. This bill aims to make sure more Medicare beneficiaries get screened for osteoporosis and thereby reduce the number who suffer fractures and second fractures. A 2021 report by the independent actuarial firm Milliman report found that only 9% of women who suffer a fracture are screened for osteoporosis within six months of a new fracture. Other analyses have shown that Medicare payment rates have been cut by 70% and in the last 5 years the osteoporosis diagnosis of older women has declined by 18%. "Americans should be thankful for the leadership Senator Cardin has shown to improve their bone health," said Claire Gill, CEO of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. "Bone health is crucial to your overall health. Congress needs to prioritize bone health on our nation's healthcare agenda, and pass legislation to improve bone health screening. We know it will have a dramatic impact on improving quality of life and reducing costly osteoporotic fractures," concluded Gill. Bone health and osteoporosis have an enormous impact on Americans. An estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass, and studies suggest that approximately 1 in 2 women and up to 1 in 4 men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. Approximately 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries suffered 2.1 million osteoporotic fractures in 2016 and osteoporosis-related bone fractures are responsible for more hospitalizations than heart attacks, strokes, or breast cancer. In Senator Cardin's state of Maryland some 28,000 Medicare beneficiaries suffered over 33,600 osteoporotic fractures in 2016. The total annual cost for osteoporotic fractures among Medicare beneficiaries was $57 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to over $95 billion in 2040 without reforms, as the population ages. About the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation, formerly the National Osteoporosis Foundation, is the leading health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and broken bones, promoting strong bones for life, and reducing human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy and research. Established in 1984, BHOF is the nation's largest health organization dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. Contact: Carina May [email protected] Phone: 703-740-1764 SOURCE Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Transphorm, Inc. (OTC Other: TGAN) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty. To obtain additional information, go to: https://www.zlk.com/compensation2/transphorm-inc-information-request-form or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500. There is no cost or obligation to you. Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized firm with offices in New York, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph E. Levi, Esq. 55 Broadway, 10th Floor New York, NY 10006 [email protected] Tel: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP DUBLIN, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Singapore Construction Equipment Market - Strategic Assessment & Forecast 2021-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Singapore construction equipment market size will be valued at USD 444.2 million by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.36% by volume during 2021-2027 Market Insights In Singapore , the rental business is gaining high traction. With the rise in construction activities, most end users prefer rental equipment due to its cost-efficient option. , the rental business is gaining high traction. With the rise in construction activities, most end users prefer rental equipment due to its cost-efficient option. The demand for large excavators is expected to rise across Singapore . Vendors such as Hitachi, Komatsu, and Kobelco are expected to go with the trend and launch a large excavator segment in the country. . Vendors such as Hitachi, Komatsu, and Kobelco are expected to go with the trend and launch a large excavator segment in the country. The government of Singapore is planning for various infrastructure projects in healthcare redevelopment and transport infrastructure. This initiative will raise the demand for the construction equipment market in Singapore . The shift towards intelligent systems driven by IoT and data analysis for service, networking, and sustainability to create an innovative construction equipment market in Singapore. The government in the country plans to improve manufacturing productivity by 50% in 2030. The government has set up Global Innovation Alliance that is allowing local technology and manufacturing companies to collaborate with global manufacturers and enhance productivity through technology collaboration in Singapore. Construction machinery is creating huge demand especially in construction activities across the country. Key Highlights Investments from developed nations, favorable government policies and FDIs, and anticipated industrial advancement will contribute the highest share in the Singapore construction machinery equipment market. construction machinery equipment market. The surge in infrastructural projects and the steep growth in the manufacturing sectors will drive the demand for construction equipment such as excavators, cranes, and Forklifts in the Singapore market. market. In Singapore , one of the major players, Caterpillar, launched its new next-generation large excavator to boost its growth in the country. The report considers the present scenario of the Singapore construction equipment market and its market dynamics for the forecast period 2021-2027. It covers a detailed overview of several growth enablers, restraints, and trends in the market. The study includes the volume and value sales with a segment analysis of the construction equipment market. Segmentation Analysis The road construction project in Singapore is rapidly growing and is expected to reach USD 35 million by 2027. is rapidly growing and is expected to reach by 2027. In the country, several housing and commercial building projects are planned. Thereby, the construction industry is expected to grow heaving in the future. Market Segmentation by Type Earth Moving Equipment Excavator Backhoe Loader Motor Grader Other Earth Moving Equipment Road Construction Equipment Asphalt Paver Road Roller Material Handling Equipment Crane Forklift and Telescopic Handler Aerial Platforms (Articulated Boom Lifts, Telescopic Boom Lifts, Scissor Lifts, etc.) Market Segmentation by Application Construction Manufacturing Mining Others Vendor Landscape XCMG has integrated technological innovations and development to create a series of products in Singapore construction equipment manufacturing. construction equipment manufacturing. Volvo construction equipment market has partnered and collaborated with other leading companies to capitalize on industrial & construction equipment demand. Kobelco has a significant technological capability backed by access to several manufacturing plants and subsidiaries to boost their Singapore construction equipment industry growth. Major Vendors Caterpillar Komatsu XCMG Sany Volvo Construction Equipment Kobelco Doosan Liebherr Zoomlion Terex Corporation Other Prominent Vendors Hitachi Sumitomo Liugong Hyundai Construction Equipment Kato Works Distributor Profiles Tristan Tiong Lee Haut Machinery & Construction Pte Ltd. Tiong Woon SIA & YEO Heavy Equipment Why You Should Buy This report is among the few in the market that offers outlook and opportunity analysis forecast in terms of- Volume (Unit sales) Excavator Type Application Value (USD) Excavator Type Application Gain competitive intelligence about the economic scenario, advantages in Singapore , major projects and investments, market dynamics, and market share , major projects and investments, market dynamics, and market share Examples of latest technologies Get presentation-ready format and easy-to-interpret data. Enable decision-makers to make informed and profitable choices Gain expert quantitative and qualitative analysis on value/volume growth projections of the Singapore construction equipment market share. construction equipment market share. Complete supply chain analysis Get COVID-19 impact analysis of the market. Company Profile of 12 significant vendors Key Questions Answered: 1. How big is the Singapore construction equipment market? 2. What are the latest trends in the Singapore construction equipment manufacturing market? 3. Who are the key players in Singapore's industrial & construction equipment industry? 4. Which market segment holds the highest share of the construction equipment market? 5. What are the applications in the Singapore construction equipment market? Key Topics Covered: Section 1 - Introduction Market Snapshot Executive Summary Section 2 - The Market Overview Economic Scenario, FDI, Advantage of Singapore, Key Economic Regions in Singapore,Supply Chain Insight, COVID-19 Impact Section 3 - Technological Advancements Advent of new Technology Section 4 - Market Dynamics Market Drivers, Restraints, Trends Section 5 - Singapore Construction Equipment (Type & Application) 5.1 Singapore Construction Equipment Market by Type (Volume & Value) 5.1.1. Earth Moving Equipment 5.1.2. Road Construction Equipment 5.1.3. Material Handling Equipment 5.2 Singapore Construction Equipment Market by Application (Volume & Value) Section 6 - Competitive Landscape 1. Competitive Landscape Overview 2. Company Profile of major Vendors (Liebherr Singapore, Komatsu, Kobelco, Terex Corporation, Caterpillar Singapore, XCMG, SANY, Volvo Construction Equipment Singapore) 3. Other Prominent vendors 4. Distributors Profile Section 7 - Report Summary 1. Key Insights Section 8 - Report Scope & Definition 1. Research Methodology 2. Market Definition, Inclusion & Exclusion For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/icywbh 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 TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BioLabs, a membership-based network of shared lab and office facilities located in key biotech innovation clusters is excited to announce new leadership in the Southern California region. Lindsay Bourgeois will serve as Director for BioLabs at the Lundquist Institute in Los Angeles. Lindsay Bourgeois joins us with several years of experience developing startups as both Site Manager and Director of Operations for Lake Pharma, and Director of Program Management at BioRasi. Lindsay brings key business expertise in the areas of research and development, bench laboratory operations management, and biotech market share development. "I am so excited to help develop the LA bioscience ecosystem, as Director of BioLabs Los Angeles. The energy around science development in LA is palpable and it is clear that we are building the next bio hub" -Lindsay Bourgeois. BioLabs San Diego also welcomes a new Director, Dina Uzri, PhD, MBA. Most recently, Dina worked within the Diagnostics division at Hologic in marketing analytics and commercial operations, supporting new and on market clinical diagnostic tests. Having a long career in the SoCal region, Dina was previously involved in business development for biomanufacturing and synthetic biology technologies at Synthetic Genomics (SGI) and was the COO for Abreos Biosciences one of the early residents at BioLabs San Diego. Having firsthand experience as an entrepreneur in San Diego and at BioLabs, Dina will leverage that knowledge in helping BioLabs residents reach their milestones. "I am thrilled to return to BioLabs San Diego and join the dynamic and growing BioLabs team. What I especially love about the San Diego biotech scene is the collaborative and collegial community that believes in "paying it forward" and promoting other local startups." -Dina Uzri About BioLabs BioLabs is the definitive growth partner for science-based entrepreneurs; empowering entrepreneurs to accelerate their science, grow their business and have a lasting impact on the world. The BioLabs difference is in their sector-defining ecosystem: delivering best-in-class lab space, essential business services, a powerful network of innovators and guides who offer "been-there" insight, and site teams with unparalleled experience guiding founders through the complexities of growing a biotech company. BioLabs' centers are in key innovation hubs across North America and opening in Europe in 2021. Follow BioLabs on Twitter (@BioLabs) and LinkedIn. Contact: Lindsay Bourgeois [email protected] SOURCE BioLabs at The Lundquist Institute As Vice President of Customer Advocacy and an Executive Team member, Rhem oversees the Subaru customer experience across all channels, ensuring the Subaru Love Promise is present at all interactions with Subaru customers. The Customer Advocacy department works to maintain customer and brand loyalty and foster positive partnerships with Subaru retailers to resolve customer issues. Effective November 1, Rhem reports directly to Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. "Since joining our team in 2020, Renee has gone above and beyond to ensure the Subaru Love Promise Customer Commitment shines in all interactions with our valued owners," said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. "We're proud to welcome Renee to the Subaru executive team and are confident she will deliver the strong results that keep Subaru best-in-class for our customer's experience with our brand." Rhem joined Subaru as Vice President of Customer Advocacy in 2020. Prior, she held positions in operations, sales support, and customer service, including roles at Prudential Financial, Independence Blue Cross and Bank of America. Rhem holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Spelman College in Atlanta and is a member of the Board of Directors at Las Americas ASPIRA Academy (Delaware Charter), as well as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College. Rhem lives in Delaware with her husband and two sons. About Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $200 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 63,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Dominick Infante Director, Corporate Communications (856) 488-8615 [email protected] Diane AntonCorporate Communications Manager (856) 488-5093 [email protected] SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc. DALLAS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Noted Texas hospitality industry attorney John Gessner has joined Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal LLP as a partner in the Dallas law firm. "Clients have long relied on John's leadership to help identify short- and long-term goals when they chart a path for growth," said Carrington Coleman Managing Partner Monica Latin. "His experience and expertise are even more vital today to those in the hospitality industry as they address unprecedented challenges coming out of the pandemic." Mr. Gessner has a long track record of representing the Texas restaurant industry and is the immediate past chairman of the Texas Restaurant Association. He advises established and emerging brands in the areas of restaurant development; real estate and leasing; business operations and strategic planning; alcohol licensing; franchising; and formation and governance. He also has significant experience defending clients in employment and commercial litigation, as well as class actions. Mr. Gessner has represented clients before the EEOC, the Department of Labor, OSHA and alcoholic beverage regulatory agencies. A frequent lecturer and author on hospitality-related topics, Mr. Gessner has been a regular participant in the Cornell University Hospitality Roundtable since 2005. He joins Carrington Coleman from Fox Rothschild LLP, where he served as co-chair of the law firm's national hospitality practice. He also previously has served as general counsel to both national franchisees and franchisors, as well as restaurant development and management companies. In addition to holding office with the Texas Restaurant Association, Mr. Gessner served as chairman of the association's political action committee. He also has served on the board of directors and executive committee of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association for more than a decade. Also joining Carrington Coleman are associates Jordan Brownlow and Lara Albright Yost. Ms. Brownlow's practice focuses on employment issues including discrimination and retaliation, ERISA, benefits, compensation, and wage & hour claims, as well as training and counseling. Ms. Yost joins the litigation and construction practices where she represents general contractors, subcontractors and developers in commercial and residential construction matters. About Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP Carrington Coleman is a 51-year-old Dallas-based law firm focused on litigation and transactional services in the real estate, oil and gas, securities, construction, professional services, technology, and health care industries, among others. The firm provides counsel in corporate transactions, corporate governance, banking, bankruptcy/restructuring, intellectual property, litigation and appeals, employment, and family wealth/estate planning. Learn more about the firm at https://www.ccsb.com/. Media Contact: Rhonda Reddick 800-559-4534 [email protected] SOURCE Carrington Coleman CUPERTINO, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Curbee, the car care company that comes to you, applauds its first full year in business. Notes Curbee CEO Denise Leleux, "This holiday season, we want to share our appreciation of the entire Curbee community for making 2021 extraordinary. We look forward to spreading the joy of hassle-free car care in the Bay Area (and perhaps beyond) in 2022." Top Highlights: From 1 market to 41 (and growing). Curbee experienced significant growth in 2021,adding thousands of new customers every quarter. 93 NPS, industry-leading customer retention and loyalty. Curbee seeks long-term relationships with customers by offering stellar hospitality, on-time arrival, quality service, and transparent recommendations. Hundreds of Health Checks completed every week. Every car receives a complimentary Signature Health Check at each appointment. This routine physical for your car provides transparency on what your car needs and when it needs it. New CEO. In April, Curbee welcomed former Tesla executive Denise Leleux as CEO. "Curbee has been moving at lightspeed since its inception, and we are excited to bring Denise onboard to lead the company forward." - Karim Bousta, DVx Co-Founder & Managing Partner. Curbee expansion. This year Curbee added 15 new team members and doubled its fleet across the Bay Area. Over 5,000 remote services completed. Curbee customers have discovered the convenience and efficiency of vehicle service delivered directly to them. Saved customers time and resources. Curbee saved fleet customers 50,000 minutes and the equivalent of 25 full time positions by delivering vehicle service to them. Openbay partnership. Openbay customers can now book services delivered by Curbee. Introduced flat rate, menu-priced services. Curbee's no-haggle pricing is a people-pleaser. Plus you don't have to go anywhere to get it done! Check it out here . Launched a new Referral Product. In December, Curbee announced a new product that allows their customers to share, track and manage referrals in their account profile. ABOUT CURBEE Curbee offers mobile maintenance, tire and repair services to fleet and consumer customers in the greater Bay Area. Curbee's web and app-based scheduling and no-haggle transparent pricing make scheduling simple, and promises predictable charges. Founded in July 2020, Curbee serves consumer and fleet customers in 41 cities and has a 90+ NPS. Curbee is headquartered in Cupertino, CA. Visit curbee.com . SOURCE Curbee SHANGHAI, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The massive decline in China's fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) spending brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020 ended with an equally dramatic rebound in the second half of 2020. That spending resurgence continued unabated into the first quarter of 2021 but the third quarter brought with it an abrupt slowdown, with overall growth dropping to negative .8% compared with the same period last year. These are among the findings of new research released today in Bain & Company's 10th annual China Shopper Report Vol II, done in collaboration with Kantar Worldpanel. As in each of the past nine years, Bain and Kantar analyzed the key 26 categories that span the four largest consumer goods sectors: packaged food, beverages, personal care and home care. Despite the stalled third-quarter growth, strong fundamentals of consumption are still in place. China's middle class continues to expand its ranks and repatriation which is contributing to a steady growth. Following years of 5% growth up until 2019 and flat growth in 2020, FMCG volume gained 3.3% and value rose 3.6% in the first nine months of 2021 for a modest post-Covid-19 recovery, even if average selling prices (ASP) remained depressed, gaining only .3%. Channel shifts have also been shaping China's shopper behavior and this transition accelerated in the first three quarters of 2021, with penetration increasing in online channels at the expense of most offline channels. E-commerce value grew 24% in the first 3 quarters of 2021 while all offline channels except convenience stores lost value (the grocery channel by 13%). However, within online channels, the share of growth has been steadily changing over the past three years. A game that was once mostly limited to two main players is rapidly expanding to include a host of new competitors. "We have seen that COVID-19 has deeply changed the way that Chinese consumer shop, with live-streaming becoming an important marketing and sales channel on eCommerce platforms with top KOLs contributing to sizable sales, and more brands starting self live-streaming due to the unsustainable economic model by KOL-led live streaming," explained Derek Deng, a partner at Bain & Company based in Shanghai. "The sales (GMV) contribution percentage of top KOLs is growing, apparently seeing the consolidation trend in the KOL matrix. Community Group-buy also emerged in 2016 and has accelerated dramatically during Covid, however, the market started to cool down and consolidate in Q3 2021, with new business models created by Alibaba to try to improve overall operational efficiency and service quality." As in previous years, we identified categories that grew very fast and those that grew slowly or declined in 2021. In general, categories associated with improved quality of life, such as cheese, air refresher, mouthwash and ready-to-drink coffee, grew at high speeds while categories popular during the lockdown months, such as instant noodles, biscuits, disinfectants and hand wash, experienced negative growth. "Since 2018, we have tracked 46 insurgent brands to see what determines success or failure. Of these 46, only 17 have continued to do well, while the others faded away or plateaued," explained Bruno Lannes, a partner at Bain & Company based in Shanghai. "In this dynamic market, change is the only constant and quality growth is critical today for both insurgents and incumbents." Of the insurgent brands that were tracked, their successes and failures came down to four critical dimensions, and an insurgent needed to excel across the majority of the four to become a standout. The capabilities that underpinned success were: Brand Power : Earn share of mind with the target consumer group, and scale that group : Earn share of mind with the target consumer group, and scale that group Product Ecosystem : Build superhero SKUs and extend from the core to establish a winning portfolio and a pipeline of innovations : Build superhero SKUs and extend from the core to establish a winning portfolio and a pipeline of innovations Channel Capability : Develop a consumer-centric, omni-channel presence and extensive geographic reach, empowered by digital tools, to go deeper and wider : Develop a consumer-centric, omni-channel presence and extensive geographic reach, empowered by digital tools, to go deeper and wider Organization Capability: Build agile iterative capabilities (empowered by data and insights) to constantly review and improve product development, channel expansion and business model "Both incumbents and insurgent brands will always co-exist in China's FMCG market and contribute in their own ways. The best companies will learn from each other and thrive together. This cross-fertilization will eventually bring more possibilities and excitement to Chinese consumers," said Jason Yu, managing director at Kantar Worldpanel Greater China. Interestingly, in the 2021 class of insurgent brands, which were identified using the same methodology as in 2018, more than 12 brands are owned by large local or foreign companies. This is a positive sign that these insurgent brands can be seeded and nurtured by larger corporations moving forward. Editor's note: To receive a copy of the report or arrange an interview with the authors contact: Calla Payne at [email protected] or +852-6020-7693. About Bain & Company Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world's most ambitious change makers define the future. Across 63 offices in 38 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition, and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster, and more enduring outcomes. Our 10-year commitment to invest more than $1 billion in pro bono services brings our talent, expertise, and insight to organizations tackling today's urgent challenges in education, racial equity, social justice, economic development, and the environment. We earned a gold rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social, and ethical performance ratings for global supply chains, putting us in the top 2% among other consulting firms. Since our founding in 1973, we have measured our success by the success of our clients, and we proudly maintain the highest level of client advocacy in the industry. About Worldpanel Greater China Kantar is one of the world's leading evidence-based insights and consulting companies. Kantar has a complete, unique and rounded understanding of how people think, feel and act, globally and locally in over 90 markets. By combining the deep expertise of Kantar's people with its data resources, benchmarks, innovative analytics and technology, Kantar helps clients understand people and inspire growth. In the China market, the Worldpanel division is one of the services in CTR. Media Contact: Calla Payne Bain & Company Tel: +852-6020-7693 [email protected] SOURCE Bain & Company Related Links http://www.bain.com PFORZHEIM, Germany and MUNICH, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the top-class Restart event of the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry that took place in a compact format in October 2021, the next regular event will be held from May 1113, 2022, in Munich. And that's not the only reason the industry has got something to smile about. The new coalition agreement aims for an annual average installation of around 15 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaics (PV) in Germany for the next nine years to reach a total of 200 GW of installed PV capacity by 2030. According to an initial estimation from the German Solar Association (BSW Solar), this represents a solid contribution to meet the climate targets through solar energy. The international solar industry will meet in May 2022 at Intersolar Europe and 80 percent of exhibition spaces are already booked. Carsten Kornig, CEO of the German Solar Association says: "The coalition agreement presents an opportunity to unleash solar energy in Germany. By 2030, around 140 GW of photovoltaics are to be newly installed and all suitable roof surfaces are to be used for solar energy. This is a goal the government has officially declared. In order to reach the necessary tripled or quadrupled annual PV demand, the new government is planning to clear all hurdles or obstacles for further expansion in the near future. BSW Solar and its members will actively support them in doing so. Let's go!" The PV market is booming the international PV industry will meet in Munich in May 2022 Solar energy is central to reaching climate targets across Europe. According to forecasts from the EU Market Outlook 2020-2024 for Solar Power from SolarPower Europe, the top 5 countries in terms of solar power development in Europe are: Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, France and Poland. The majority of visitors at The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 also came from these countries (amongst the top 10 visiting countries). In total, around 26,000 visitors from 93 countries were in attendance in Munich. Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, explains the development: "Intersolar Europe 2022 comes at the perfect time. Solar energy in Europe is booming, and is forecast to become Europe's largest installed electricity capacity by 2025. The European Green Deal is set to drive solar even further with the publication of the European Union's first dedicated Solar Strategy in Q2 2022. Intersolar Europe 2022 will be the place to be to meet, deepen knowledge and do business, in a pivotal year for European solar industry." Intersolar Europe 2022: Submit your AWARD application & call for abstracts The new energy world needs innovative products, services and business models, which will be recognized by the organizers of Intersolar Europe. From December 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022, market leaders, SMEs, start-ups and project owners are all invited to submit their pioneering solutions and projects for the most important innovation prizes in the energy industry The smarter E AWARD, Intersolar AWARD and ees AWARD. The solar industry's flagship award, the Intersolar AWARD honors companies in the category of Photovoltaics that are setting the future trends in the industry with innovations in cell technology, solar modules, inverters and substructures. Submit your application now at: www.thesmartere-award.com Players of the new energy world who wish to appear on the program for the Intersolar Europe Conference as part of the four The smarter E Europe Conferences (Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe) can submit presentations until January 28, 2022. You can find information about the topics and submission conditions at the Call for Abstracts Center of the Intersolar Europe Conference. Intersolar Europe will be held from May 1113, 2022, as part of The smarter E Europe 2022 at Messe Munchen. For more information, please visit: www.intersolar.de www.thesmartere.de Intersolar Europe Intersolar Europe is the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry. It takes place as part of The smarter E Europe the continent's largest platform for the energy industry and focuses on the photovoltaic, solar thermal technology and solar power plant sectors. Under the motto "Connecting solar business," manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers, project planners and developers as well as start-ups from around the world meet in Munich every year to discuss the latest developments and trends, explore innovations firsthand and meet potential new customers. Intersolar Europe is taking place from May 1113, 2022, at Messe Munchen. It is held in parallel to three more energy exhibitions as part of the innovation hub for new energy solutions: ees Europe, Europe's largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, Power2Drive Europe, the international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility, and EM-Power Europe, the international exhibition for energy management and integrated energy solutions. At the accompanying Intersolar Europe Conference, renowned experts shed light on hot topics in the international solar industry. After three decades of working towards a sustainable energy supply for the future, Intersolar celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021. Having started off as the local "Solar '91" exhibition, Intersolar has evolved to become the most important solar industry platform in the world. The exhibition brings together pioneers and drivers of innovation within the solar industry and has been under the umbrella of The smarter E Europe innovation hub since 2018. For more information on Intersolar Europe, please visit: www.intersolar.de/en Intersolar Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM). Contact: Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim, Germany Horst Dufner | Tel.: +49 7231 58598-0 | Fax: +49 7231 58598-28 [email protected] Press contact: fischerAppelt, relations | Otl-Aicher-Str. 64 | 80807 Munich, Germany Robert Schwarzenbock | Tel.: +49 89 747466-23 | Fax: +49 89 747466-66 [email protected] SOURCE The smarter E Europe TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Board of Directors of Restaurant Brands International Inc. (TSX: QSR) (NYSE: QSR) (TSX: QSP) ("RBI") announced today that Thecla Sweeney is joining the RBI Board of Directors as an independent member effective January 1, 2022. Ms. Sweeney is currently Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer for Motion LP, a privately-held provider of complex mobility and accessibility solutions in Canada, and Operating Partner for Birch Hill Equity Partners Management Inc., a private equity firm, both based in Toronto, Ontario. She has held the position with Motion LP since April 2018 and has been with Birch Hill since April 2004, with a number of positions of increasing responsibility prior to beginning her current Operating Partner role in November 2020. Prior to joining Birch Hill, Ms. Sweeney worked in busines development for Regional Airlines Holdings Inc. and was a consultant for Bain & Company. She serves on the board of directors of Motion LP, Mastermind LP, a privately-held specialty toy retailer, since 2010 and FlexNetworks LP, a privately-held telecom business, since 2019. From 2012 to 2017, she served on the board of Sleep Country Canada, a specialty retailer of mattresses and accessories. Ms. Sweeney will fill the vacancy created when Carlos Sicupira retires from the RBI Board effective December 31, 2021 following over a decade of dedicated service. "We are fortunate to add Thecla to our Board of Directors and will benefit from her extensive experience in Canadian retail, human resources and compensation, logistics and distribution and managing government and regulatory issues," said Daniel Schwartz, Co-Chair of the RBI Board. "We deeply value diversity of thought and experience, and I look forward to working with Thecla in her new role," added Jose Cil, CEO of RBI. "We want to thank Carlos for his immeasurable advice, support and service to our brands over the years, including his time on our Board of Directors since 2010. He is a valued partner and friend and has played an important role shaping the company, including our long-term compensation philosophy and attracting new talent to our Board as part of our nominating and corporate governance committee," said Alex Behring, Co-Chair of the RBI Board. "It's an honour to join the RBI Board of Directors and advise this great management team as they work to build the most loved restaurant brands in the world," said Thecla Sweeney. About Restaurant Brands International Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with approximately $35 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 28,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands TIM HORTONS, BURGER KING, POPEYES and FIREHOUSE SUBS. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees and communities for decades. Through its Restaurant Brands for Good framework, RBI is improving sustainable outcomes related to its food, the planet, and people and communities. SOURCE Restaurant Brands International Inc. DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ThreeFold, an open-source peer-to-peer Internet company, has announced today their plans with Take Action Global (TAG) to provide Internet access to 1 billion people across the globe along with offering climate education and economic inclusion programs to benefit underserved local communities. After starting their partnership in June, ThreeFold and TAG are now advancing their partnership to regenerate the planet through the first carbon negative peer-to-peer internet in the world. ThreeFold's highly energy-efficient Internet infrastructure already offers cloud storage that consumes about 10 times less energy than other storage systems, thanks to its lightweight operating system and peer-to-peer design. Take Action Global ("TAG") is taking another direction towards carbon removal by providing climate education and economic inclusion programs for students and teachers across 140 countries. They support innovative education programs that involve more than 2 million students taking action against climate change while also enhancing the lives of communities around them. This next step in the partnership between ThreeFold and TAG will focus on making the ThreeFold Grid a carbon-negative Internet infrastructure by offsetting its carbon emissions three times in the form of voluntary carbon credits. The ThreeFold Grid is already the world's largest peer-to-peer Internet, formed by independent people or organizations that connect hardware at their homes or offices. For participating in the expansion of this decentralized Internet, they are rewarded with ThreeFold Tokens (TFT), the utility token of the ThreeFold Ecosystem, on a monthly basis. In early 2022, a pilot program will be launched to fine-tune and validate the carbon emissions related to the ThreeFold Grid to start a global tree planting initiative in Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Philippines and Malawi. Once offset, the ThreeFold Grid will continue to produce voluntary carbon credits to finance further initiatives such as fostering climate education and renewable energy grid developments to enhance the life of communities at large. "I'm incredibly excited about the partnership we're building with Take Action Global to regenerate our planet," says Kristof de Spiegeleer, Founder of ThreeFold. "Using our decentralized model to spread Internet access across the world, we will now also provide climate education and economic inclusion to communities at large, which is key to achieve our collective dream of a sustainable world." Koen Timmers, Executive Director of Take Action Global said about the partnership, "The collaboration with ThreeFold is a perfect fit with our shared goal to bring access to the world and inspire change by providing opportunities for students to take action on social good causes through education and technology. We want to raise the bar of education by having experts to teach the students and by initiating teacher training with help of their advanced technology." Climate change is one of the biggest, if not the biggest threat humanity is facing today and urgently needs to be tackled. On top of that, Internet access was declared to be a human right by the UN in 2014. ThreeFold is building a so-called "People's Internet" while their partner TAG facilitates comprehensive education and climate action programs where every penny collected will be allocated to bring internet access to new locations while regenerating our planet. To learn more about the partnership between ThreeFold and Take Action Global, visit www.threefold.io/partners/take_action_global ABOUT THREEFOLD: ThreeFold is the layer 0 infrastructure for an open-source peer-to-peer Internet owned by humanity. Any current or future technology can be hosted natively on the ThreeFold Grid via smart contract, including blockchains, metaverses, IoT network or web 3.0 applications. In 2022, the company will become a DAO, officially making it a fully decentralized Internet ecosystem and inviting the world to collaborate on the decentralization of everything that is digital. ABOUT TAKE ACTION GLOBAL: Take Action Global (TAG) works worldwide with students, teachers, educational institutions, and organizations to use climate education as a force for environmental action. Our work centers on empowering students and communities to take action for the climate and our collective future. Through projects, resources, and other innovative education practices, we support teachers in helping students be curious, learn about the environment, and make a difference in our world. For more information on Take Action Global visit: https://www.takeactionglobal.org/ SOURCE ThreeFold PORTLAND, Maine, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tilson, a national network development and information infrastructure professional services firm, has opened the application period for its 2022 summer internship program as it continues to meet the demands of customers in the rapidly growing wireless and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) sectors. The broadband expansion program is designed to offer students and SkillBridge interns an opportunity to work on impactful infrastructure projects that will provide high-speed broadband services to homes, schools, and businesses in their communities. Applications for both opportunities are now live on Tilson's website. "Tilson's Broadband Expansion Internship Program is a unique opportunity that will provide participants with a hands-on experience building America's information infrastructure," said Joshua Broder, Tilson CEO. "Not everyone wants to work behind a desk. We're excited to offer an internship-to-career path experience in telecommunications where students and transitioning military can learn new skills, earn certifications, work in the field and directly contribute to their communities." Tilson has expanded its outside plant capabilities to include self-performance capabilities in aerial and underground construction. As part of the program, Tilson interns are paired with industry mentors, work on real-time internal or client-facing projects and are exposed to state-of-the-art equipment, facilities, and processes. Participants will directly support Tilson's current Outside Plant FTTH projects in Appleton, Oshkosh, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, Phoenix, Arizona and Jerome and Twin Falls, Idaho and will assist construction crews placing fiber underground providing better broadband service for residents and businesses. Areas of Interest include: Construction Management and Inspection Project Administration and Management Horizontal Directional Drilling Crews Fiber Optic Splicing OSP Engineering Safety The summer 2022 internship application window opens on December 15, 2021 and will close on February 15, 2022. Application review will begin immediately. For more information visit www.tilsontech.com/careers/internship-program. Interested SkillBridge candidates should email [email protected]. Applications for Tilson's SkillBridge program are open year-round. About Tilson: Tilson is on a mission to build America's information infrastructure. Recognized eleven consecutive years on the Inc. 5000, Tilson provides network deployment and information system professional services to telecom, construction, utility, and government clients. As a leading network design, build, and operating firm, Tilson builds high-performing technology project teams who take on the largest and most impactful information infrastructure projects in the country. To learn more about Tilson, please visit www.tilsontech.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. For more information: www.tilsontech.com SOURCE Tilson ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- We are very pleased to announce that Titan Development ("Titan") was recently honored with three awards from NAIOP New Mexico, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. At the 2021 NAIOP NM Chapter Awards of Excellence event on December 10, 2021, Titan Partners Ben Spencer and Kurt Browning were presented with the Chairman's Award, the Association's highest honor, as well as the Eagle Award (Industrial) for the Highlands Skybridge and the Eagle Award (Mixed Use/Multi-Family) for Broadstone Highlands North. For decades, the prestigious Chairman's Award of NAIOP NM has been given only on the occasion of especially noteworthy projects for outstanding individual achievement. For the first time ever, this year NAIOP NM voted to honor a company, Titan Development, citing the firm for investment and development excellence, and the team's success in growing from their New Mexico roots into a major presence throughout the Southwest and beyond. Kevin Reid, Founding Partner at Titan Development, added, "With offices in Austin and Albuquerque, our team can compete with anyone in any locale, and that is reflective of our success and significant activity in the Texas market." Kurt Browning, Partner at Titan Development and NAIOP National Board member said, "It's an honor for us to receive this accolade from NAIOP NM, and for them to recognize our company and vision. This has been a record-breaking year of expansion for Titan Development including our investment platform, and our team is committed and passionate about what we do, from multifamily developments in New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, to our rapidly growing industrial parks supporting our tremendous expansion in Texas." "We are also very gratified to have been awarded two Eagle Awards from NAIOP NM for The Highlands project in Albuquerque," said Ben Spencer, Founding Partner at Titan Development. "They are well-deserved recognition of the Titan team's talent and tenacity. We originated The Highlands 15 years ago with a vision of transforming 12 acres of previously blighted area, and this year our team finally saw their work become living buildings. Albuquerque now has a mixed-use, much-needed multifamily residential community around Presbyterian Hospital connected by Skybridge to the new Ronald McDonald House inside the Springhill Suites hotel. We are proud that hundreds of young patients and their families from the hospital will be served there each year. We thank NAIOP NM for this recognition." About The Highlands The 280-foot Highlands Skybridge is the first of its kind in Albuquerque, linking Presbyterian Hospital to the SpringHill Suites across the iconic Route 66 highway. The entire third floor of the hotel, to which the Skybridge directly connects, is a Ronald McDonald House, providing families with a home away from home as their children seek medical treatment. Broadstone Highlands North is a 92-unit, luxury urban multifamily project with a main four-story building and four surrounding carriage buildings in The Highlands masterplan. Luxurious amenities are matched by the development's walkability to downtown attractions including dining, shopping and the University of New Mexico. The project is part of the ongoing efforts to revitalize the Route 66 corridor with live, work and play appeal. About Titan Development Titan Development is a full-service development and real estate investment firm. Titan's principals have developed 13 million square feet of real estate totaling more than $2.2 billion in project cost since the firm was formed in 1999. Titan Development has a wealth of real estate development experience in many asset classes including private equity fund investment and management, and has offices in Austin, TX, and Albuquerque, NM. Titan Development's first private equity fund Titan Development Real Estate Fund I (TDREF I) raised $112 million and invested in a variety of real estate asset classes. Titan Development Real Estate Fund II (TDREF II) raised $95 million and commenced in November of 2020. TDREF II focuses on industrial and multifamily development in secondary and tertiary markets. TDREF II has identified all fund projects, has committed 80% of the total fund equity to eleven projects and has identified the remaining projects which will commence construction in early 2022. Two new private equity funds will be launched in 2022. To learn more, please visit www.titan-development.com. Media Contact Lisa Baker Lambert & Co. [email protected] 603-868-1967 SOURCE Titan Development Sushil brings with him a bouquet of useful industry experiences acquired through his association with multiple customers & prospects from the industry. Based out of Dubai, Sushil has an in-depth understanding of diverse technologies, domains, and the Middle East geography. Prior to this, Sushil had been associated with Infosys for over 19 years across various roles, where he leveraged knowledge-based IT services to address customer pain points and grow their business. In his most recent position there, he was responsible for driving new business development strategy & leading current account growth across UAE, Kuwait, and Oman. He has successfully spearheaded Infosys' growth across various industry verticals, most notably in the Public Sector in UAE. He was instrumental in acquiring several public sector clients and delivering some of the most noteworthy countrywide initiatives for the UAE Federal Government. Sushil's primary focus will be on growing TO THE NEW's footprint in the Middle East region. He will be accountable for managing the P&L and driving strategic partnerships & customer engagement. Most importantly, he will be supporting customers in their digital transformation journey by effectively addressing their pain areas in the ever-evolving business environment. TO THE NEW provides product engineering services to enterprises & ISVs around the globe. The company has been catering to a broad spectrum of clients in the Middle East for over 5 years now. They have worked with over 25+ clients in the region, providing turnkey services, including digital engineering, UX/UI, cloud consulting, & data engineering. On his appointment, Sushil Jethaliya said, "I am extremely excited to be joining TO THE NEW during a time of exponential growth, driven by high quality services and innovative solutions. TO THE NEW carries a perfect blend - the agility of a startup & the maturity of tech giants. This is what clients expect in a highly dynamic business environment and rapidly evolving technology advancements. I am looking forward to expanding TO THE NEW's footprint in the Middle East market by being a partner of choice for our clients in their transformation journeys." Welcoming him aboard, Narinder Kumar , COO & Co-founder, TO THE NEW, said, "Sushil is a deeply experienced leader with a proven track record of working closely with customers to identify solutions and solve their business challenges. We are excited to welcome Sushil to the TO THE NEW leadership. Given the hyper-growth of TO THE NEW in the Middle East, Sushil's vision and experience will be invaluable in helping us steer forward and deliver exceptional value to our clients in the region." About TO THE NEW TO THE NEW is a technology services company that designs, builds, & runs digital products and platforms for enterprises, SaaS, and consumer tech companies. TO THE NEW is recognised by global analyst firms like Gartner, Everest, ISG, and Zinnov for our capabilities in Digital Engineering, Cloud, and Data & Analytics. The company also leverages its deep partnership with all leading hyperscalers like AWS (Premier Partner), Azure, and GCP to provide end-to-end Cloud professional and managed services to our customers. Founded in 2008, TO THE NEW is one of the fastest-growing companies with a growth rate of over 60% since 2017. Our passionate team of 2000+ "Newers" is spread across our delivery centers in Delhi, Dubai, NYC, and Sydney. TO THE NEW is a consistent winner of the prestigious "Great Place to Work" award since 2015. TO THE NEW was recognized as one of the Top 25 - India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM 2021 and ranked #47 in the Top 100 Companies in India to work for in 2019. To know more, visit https://www.tothenew.com Media Contact: Sahil Bhushan, AVP - Marketing Email: [email protected] SOURCE TO THE NEW SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's largest peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace, Turo, announced today the appointment of Kim Jabal, former CFO at Unity Technologies, to Turo's Board of Directors where she will serve as the company's Audit Committee Chairwoman. "Kim has a stellar track record as CFO of several high-growth tech companies; most recently as CFO at Unity, which she took public in 2020. Coupled with her experience on the Board and Audit Committee of FedEx, her deep expertise makes her the perfect fit as the Audit Committee Chairwoman at Turo," said Turo CEO, Andre Haddad. "I'm looking forward to working with Kim to achieve our mission of putting the world's 1.5 billion cars to better use." Prior to Unity Technologies, Jabal led the finance teams of Path and Weebly as CFO. She has held senior leadership positions at several technology companies, serving as VP of finance at Lytro and in various capacities during her eight years at Google, including director of engineering finance, director of investor relations and director of online sales finance. She currently serves as a board and audit committee chair member of FedEx and Lucid Software, and had previously held the same positions at SVB Financial Group. "Turo is the largest car sharing marketplace with an exceptional CEO and leadership team that are experienced, employee-focused, analytical, and strategic." said Jabal. "I love that the platform encourages and depends on the success of many small business hosts, many of whom have never started a business before. I'm thrilled to be joining the Board of Directors of Turo at this exciting time." In 2021, Turo also announced the appointment of Charles Fisher as the company's CFO, leading the company's finance, investor relations and accounting functions. Additionally, on Earth Day this year, Turo became the first car sharing and car rental marketplace to launch a carbon neutrality initiative to offset 100 percent of its estimated global carbon emissions. About Turo Turo is the world's largest car sharing marketplace where you can book any car you want, wherever you want it, from a vibrant community of trusted hosts across the US, Canada, and the UK. Whether you're flying in from afar or looking for a car down the street, searching for a rugged truck or something smooth and swanky, guests can take the wheel of the perfect car for any occasion, while hosts can take the wheel of their futures by building an accessible, flexible, and scalable car sharing business from the ground up. To learn more about Turo, please visit www.turo.com . SOURCE Turo EUCLID, Ohio, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- US Lighting Group, Inc. (OTC:USLG) and its division Cortes Campers, LLC signed an international distributor agreement for an exclusive territory with Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre in Manitoba, Canada. "We are pleased to bring on our first international distributor in Canada," stated Anthony Corpora, CEO & President of the US Lighting Group. "Expanding our footprint internationally is a long-term strategic goal of the company, so we are very excited that Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre in Canada will be the first international distributor to join the Cortes Campers family. We look forward to an extended partnership with Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre in Manitoba." Mr. Corpora continued, "Canada's RV industry is experiencing an increased demand for new RVs, so establishing a partnership with a well-known RV Dealer in Manitoba positions the company as a premier RV manufacturer for this growing market." Cortes Campers is a revolutionary manufacturer of patents pending recreational vehicles utilizing the highest quality marine materials to create lighter weight, stronger, and more durable RV travel trailers and campers. cortescampers.com About U.S. Lighting Group, Inc. US Lighting Group, Inc. (OTC:USLG) has two divisions, "Cortes Campers", a revolutionary manufacturer of state-of-the-art molded fiberglass travel trailers and campers with revolutionary designs for comfort, style, durability and longevity. Another division of the Company, "Fusion X Marine", is a boat manufacturer. The Company and its subsidiaries have manufacturing and R&D facilities in Cleveland, Ohio. For additional information: uslightinggroup.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. Statements included in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified by the words: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, and similar expressions or which by their nature refer to future events. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these statements. Investor Relations Contact: Andrew Barwicki 516-662-9461 [email protected] SOURCE US Lighting Group, Inc. CAESAREA, Israel and AGOURA, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- V-Wave Ltd., a cardiovascular device company developing proprietary, minimally invasive interatrial shunt devices for treating patients with severe symptomatic heart failure (HF) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), announced today that it has successfully closed all remaining tranches of the Series C extension totaling $98M. The financing assures capital to complete the clinical trial for the VenturaO Interatrial Shunt for the treatment of advanced heart failure and submit a PMA subject to final data for Agency review. It further funds continued development of the V-Wave Ventura Shunt product pipeline including its proprietary adjustable size Magical shunt. The Ventura Shunt is currently being evaluated in an international, multicenter RELIEVE-HF randomized trial in patients with both reduced and preserved ejection fraction who are advanced NYHA Class II, Class III and ambulatory Class IV and on guideline directed medical therapies. The financing was led by Deerfield Management with participation from Aperture Venture Partners, BRM Group, Endeavour Vision, Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC Inc., Pontifax, Pura Vida Investments, GHS Fund (Quark Venture LP), as well as Triventures and Israel Secondary Fund. "The RELIEVE-HF trial is a randomized double-blind pivotal controlled clinical trial currently enrolling in the U.S. and 10 other countries comprising approximately 500 subjects. A parallel open label arm of the study with the first subjects implanted at sites (n=97 patients) has completed enrollment and is expected to complete the 1-year follow-up in 2022. The open label arm, demonstrated the ease and success of the implantation procedure, as well as safety, shunt durability, patency and improvement in quality-of-life metrics." said V-Wave CEO Dr. Neal Eigler MD. V-Wave shunt has been designated by FDA as a Breakthrough device technology and is uniquely designed to reduce left atrial pressure while minimizing thromboembolic events that have historically seen atrial septal defects. Episodic elevations of left atrial pressure cause worsening symptoms of difficulty breathing often resulting in the need for acute hospitalization. The Ventura shunt alters the physiology of HF thereby reducing left atrial pressures and working in concert with all other approved HF therapies, whether drug or device. Once implanted with the Ventura shunt, the patient requires no additional caregiver intervention. "We are excited about the advancement of the next generation precision shunt which will tailor the degree of shunting at the time of implant and will continue over time in correlating to the severity of heart failure. We believe this technology may be a game changer in the management of advanced heart failure in patients with either reduced or preserved ejection fraction" remarked Dr. Andrew ElBardissi, Partner at Deerfield Management, the lead investor in the Series C financing. V-Wave Chairman Dr. Frank Litvack added, "With more than 60 million patients suffering from HF globally and more than 6 million HF patients in the US, there is a huge unmet clinical and economic need for simple, cost-effective new therapies. Advanced heart failure has a prognosis worse than many other disease states, including cancers. HF is one of the leading drivers of hospital expenditures both domestically and abroad. We are looking forward to completion of RELIEVE HF." About V-Wave Ltd. V-Wave is a privately held medical device company with offices in Israel and the U.S. For more information, please visit www.vwavemedical.com About Deerfield Deerfield is an investment management firm committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information and philanthropy. For more information, please visit www.deerfield.com About Endeavour Vision Endeavour Vision a global investor in exceptional medtech companies, led by extraordinary teams, working on big ideas with the potential to meaningfully improve the standard of care. For more information, please visit www.endeavourvision.com. About Quark Venture Quark Venture LP headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, and is focused on equity financing of innovative biotechnology and health sciences companies with breakthrough technology platforms and projects. For more information, please visit www.quarkventure.com. About Aperture Venture Partners Aperture Venture Partners is a healthcare-focused investment firm committed to working with exceptional entrepreneurs to build innovative companies in the medical device, pharmaceutical, healthcare IT/services and diagnostic sectors. For more information, please visit www.aperturevp.com. About Pura Vida Investments Pura Vida is a hedge fund focused on both public and private companies in the healthcare industry. The fund invests across all sectors and stages of healthcare. For further information please visit www.puravidainvestments.com. About Triventures Triventures is a global, early stage fund that invests in exceptional entrepreneurs and partners with disruptive ventures with innovative breakthroughs in healthcare and beyond. For further information please visit www.triventures.vc. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements related to clinical development and potential regulatory approval of V-Wave's products. All forward-looking statements and other information included in this press release are based on information available to V-Wave as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or information. The company's actual results could differ materially from those described in the company's forward-looking statements. CAUTION: The V-Wave VenturaO and Magical Interatrial Shunt Systems are not available for sale in the United States or other countries. Contact Matt Borenzweig [email protected] SOURCE V-Wave Ltd. DUBLIN, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Autoinjectors Market by Type of Autoinjector, Route of Administration, Type of Molecule, Therapeutic Indication and Geography: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2021-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report features an extensive study of the current market landscape, offering an informed opinion on the likely adoption of autoinjectors till 2035. The report features an in-depth analysis, highlighting the diverse capabilities of stakeholders engaged in this domain. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), nearly 52% of the adult population in the US is diagnosed with at least one chronic condition, such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. The annual cost burden associated with chronic disorders in the US is around USD 3.7 trillion; this accounts for nearly 20% of the country's GDP share. A major share of expenses incurred by patients living with a chronic disorder is driven by the frequent need to medicate, which may require repeated visits to hospitals/out-patient clinics. In addition, patient compliance and adherence to the treatment regimen prove to be a challenge. In order to mitigate this challenge, a wide variety of self-administering injectable drugs have been developed, which impart greater independence and psychological benefits to the patients, as compared to drug administration by healthcare professionals. Amongst the various self-injection devices, autoinjectors have steadily gained prominence, especially for the treatment of emergency and chronic conditions, such as anaphylactic shock and rheumatoid arthritis. The additional features of autoinjectors, such as integrated needle safety, Bluetooth connectivity, and monitoring injection dose history, enable them to resolve several injection-related compliance issues faced by the patients. Given the inherent benefits of autoinjectors, a number of players have launched their proprietary products in combination with autoinjectors for use across a wide array of disease indications. One of the most widely recognized autoinjector in the market is EpiPen (Mylan), which is a prefilled epinephrine autoinjector. The generic version of EpiPen received the FDA approval in 2018. Notable examples of other autoinjector-based combination products include Fasenra Pen (AstraZeneca), Gvoke Hypopen (Xeris Pharmaceuticals), NUCALA Autoinjector (GlaxoSmithKline), and VyleesiT Autoinjector (AMAG Pharmaceuticals/Palatin Technologies). Apart from being a patient-friendly alternative to conventional drug delivery methods, autoinjectors also serve as potential life cycle management tools; several pharmaceutical players have reformulated their proprietary drugs as autoinjector combination products to expand market exclusivity period. For instance, Amgen reformulated lyophilized Enbrel for delivery via the SureClick autoinjector to extend the patent protection of the drug by almost 11 years. Further, it is worth mentioning that several autoinjector developers have made significant efforts in developing novel autoinjector technologies, paving the way for new generation of autoinjector devices. The field is presently witnessing several innovations, such as LED/LCD-based visualization, Bluetooth connectivity, dosage recording, safety lock, visual/audible drug delivery confirmation notifications, and automatic drug reconstitution. In this context, it is worth highlighting that nearly 5,000 patents have been filed/granted, since 2015, for autoinjectors and affiliated products/technologies. We believe that such efforts are likely to drive growth in this market over the coming years. In addition to other elements, the study includes: An overview of the current market landscape of autoinjectors that are either marketed/being developed by various stakeholders, providing information on the usability (disposable and reusable), type of primary drug container (cartridge, syringe and vial), volume of container, type of dose (fixed and variable), route of administration (intradermal, intracavernosal, intramuscular and subcutaneous), actuation mechanism (automatic and manual) and feedback mechanism integrated in the device. It also provides details on the developers, highlighting their year of establishment, company size (small, mid-sized, large and very large), and location of headquarters. A competitiveness analysis of various disposable and reusable autoinjectors, taking into consideration supplier power of their developers (based on year of establishment and company size) and key product specifications, such as route of administration, primary drug container used, injector actuation mechanism, type of dose and user friendliness of the product. A detailed brand positioning analysis of leading industry players (shortlisted on the basis of strength of product portfolio), highlighting the current perceptions regarding their proprietary brands by taking into consideration several relevant aspects, such as strength and diversity of product portfolio, route of administration, actuation mechanism, geographical presence/reach and supplier power of each company. An in-depth analysis of the patents that have been filed/granted for autoinjectors, highlighting trends across key parameters, such as type of patent, publication year, issuing authority, CPC classification, emerging focus areas and leading industry players (on the basis of number of patents). It also includes a detailed patent benchmarking and an insightful valuation analysis. A review of autoinjectors being developed in combination with drugs, featuring details on initial year of approval (for marketed products), phase of development, usability of the device, route of administration (intracavernous, intramuscular and subcutaneous), type of drug molecule (antibody, peptide, protein and small molecule), dose strength, therapeutic area and other approved dosage forms (for marketed products). In addition, the chapter provides details on the developers, including year of establishment, company size and location of headquarters. Detailed case studies on the most commonly targeted indications, covering history of development and detailed description of the approved autoinjector products, along with their respective mechanisms of action and historical sales records. The study also includes a list of the drugs that are currently being delivered via autoinjectors. A list of marketed drugs/therapies and pipeline candidates that are likely to be developed in combination with autoinjectors in the near future, shortlisted on the basis of an in-depth analysis that takes into consideration various relevant parameters, such as route of administration, type of drug molecule, target indications, other available dosage forms (for approved drugs) and historical annual sales information (for approved drugs). Elaborate profiles of autoinjector manufacturers that have more than three devices in their respective product portfolios; each profile features an overview of the company, its financial information (if available), information on its product portfolio, autoinjector device specifications, collaborations, recent developments and an informed future outlook. Additionally, the report includes brief profiles of emerging players that have been established in the past decade. A list of key opinion leaders (KOLs) within this domain who were short-listed based on their contributions (such as involvement in clinical trials and research publications); it features a schematic world map representation, highlighting the geographical locations of eminent scientists/researchers engaged in this domain. An analysis of the recent collaborations (since 2016) focused on the development of autoinjectors. It includes partnerships inked by various stakeholders in this domain, covering licensing agreements (specific to technology platforms and product candidates), product development and commercialization agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and other relevant agreements. A SWOT analysis capturing the key parameters and trends that are likely to influence the future of autoinjectors market. A case study on the role of CMOs offering services for drug delivery devices; it features a list of service providers, highlighting the various types of services offered for different types of drug-delivery devices. An overview of the current market landscape of companies engaged in manufacturing prefilled syringes, providing information on year of establishment, company size, geographical location of the headquarters and manufacturing facilities, type of material used (glass and plastic), number of barrel chambers (single chamber and dual chamber), type of needle system (fixed needle system, luer lock and luer cone) and syringe volume. Key Questions Answered Who are the leading autoinjector device developers? For which disease indications are autoinjector-based combination products available? Which partnership models are commonly adopted by stakeholders developing autoinjectors? Which drug candidates are likely to be considered for administration via autoinjectors? How has the intellectual property landscape of autoinjectors evolved over the years? Who are the Key Opinion Leaders across different regions of the world? Who are the leading contract manufacturing organizations providing services for autoinjector devices? What is the share of autoinjector devices, in terms of revenue generation potential, across different disease markets? How is the current and future opportunity likely to be distributed across key market segments? Key Topics Covered: 1. PREFACE 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3. INTRODUCTION 4. PRIMARY DRUG CONTAINERS 5. AUTOINJECTORS: CURRENT MARKET LANDSCAPE 6. PRODUCT COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS 7. BRAND POSITIONING ANALYSIS OF KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS 8. PATENT ANALYSIS 9. THERAPEUTIC PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN AUTOINJECTORS 10. CASE STUDY: AUTOINJECTOR-BASED COMBINATION PRODUCTS AND AFFILIATED THERAPEUTIC AREAS 11. LIKELY DRUG CANDIDATES FOR DELIVERY VIA AUTOINJECTORS 12. COMPANY PROFILES 13. EMERGING PLAYERS 14. KEY OPINION LEADERS (KOL) ANALYSIS 15. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS 16. SWOT ANALYSIS 17. CASE STUDY: MEDICAL DEVICE CONTRACT SERVICE PROVIDERS 18. CASE STUDY: PREFILLED SYRINGES 19. MARKET SIZING AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS 20. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS 21. CONCLUDING REMARKS 22. APPENDIX 1: TABULATED DATA 23. APPENDIX 2: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS Companies Mentioned AbbVie Aktiv Pharma Group ALK-Abello Allergy Therapeutics Alvogen Alvotech AMAG Pharmaceuticals Amgen Amneal Pharmaceuticals Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Androsystems Antares Pharma Aptar Asahi Kasei Pharma Ascendis Pharma AstraZeneca Battelle Bayer Becton Dickinson Bespak (acquired by Recipharm) Biocorp Biogen BioGene Pharmaceutical Boehringer Ingelheim Bristol- Myers Squibb Cambridge Consultants Celltrion ChemProtect.SK Chugai Pharmaceutical CinnaGen Creare Crossject DALI Medical Devices Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Duoject Medical Systems Elcam Medical Eli Lilly EMD Serono Eton Pharmaceuticals F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ferring Pharmaceuticals Fresenius Kabi Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics Genentech (subsidiary of Roche) GlaxoSmithKline Grand Pharma Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Impax Pharmaceuticals (subsidiary of Amneal Pharmaceuticals) Jabil Janssen Biotech Janssen Research and Development JCR Pharmaceuticals Jiangsu Delfu medical device Kaleo King Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer) LG Chem Lincoln Medical (acquired by Bioprojet Pharma) Lineage Cell Therapeutics Lunatus Medical Company Medexus Pharmaceuticals Medicom Innovation Partner (acquired by Phillips-Medisize) Merck Meridian Medical Technologies Midas Pharma MiniEpi Momenta Pharmaceuticals Mylan Nemera Neuma Nipro Novartis Ology Bioservices (subsidiary of National Resilience) Oval Medical Technologies (acquired by SMC) Owen Mumford PA Consulting Group Palatin Technologies Pfizer PharmaConsult Phillips-Medisize (acquired by Molex) Promius Pharma (subsidiary of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories) Rafa Laboratories RAVIMED Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Rx Bandz Samsung Bioepis Sandoz Sanofi Shire (subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical) SHL Medical Stevanato Group Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Survival Technologies Symatese Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries UCB Biopharma Union Medico US WorldMeds Bausch Health Companies (formerly Valeant Pharmaceuticals International) Weibel CDS (subsidiary of SHL Medical) Weiss-Aug West Pharmaceutical Services Windgap Medical Xeris Pharmaceuticals Ypsomed Zion Clinical Pharmacy For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l2o4sm 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 LONDON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new analysis of staff shortages by the World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ), which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, reveals the sector realized a U.S. labor shortfall of almost 700,000 workers during 2021. According to the report, the outlook for 2022 is only slightly more positive, with approximately 480,000 direct* U.S. Travel & Tourism jobs, or one in 13 positions, predicted to go unfilled next year. The figures from WTTC, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics, for the first time analyzed staff shortages across the U.S. and other major Travel & Tourism markets including the UK, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, focusing on the period between July and December 2021 and 2022. As part of its report, the WTTC recommends actions (cited further below) that governments and businesses can use to tackle the Travel & Tourism labor shortage issue. As unemployment rates decrease and travel demand rises, Travel & Tourism businesses have been left struggling to fill available job vacancies. The report details demand for U.S. Travel & Tourism jobs, tallying 6.6 million open positions during the second half of 2021, with labor shortages projected at 690,000, equating to one in nine unfilled vacancies, or a shortfall of 11%. According to officials at WTTC, continued worker shortages in the sector could significantly hamper Travel & Tourism recovery in the U.S., as well as slow the eagerly anticipated return of the industry's robust economic impact in communities across the country. WTTC has developed solutions for governments and businesses to address the issue. Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, said: "The U.S. economic recovery could be put in serious jeopardy if we don't have enough people to fill these jobs as travelers return. "If we cannot fill these vacancies, it could seriously threaten the survival of Travel & Tourism businesses across the U.S. "Companies dependent on tourism have been hanging on for the upside; this is just another blow that many may not survive." The global tourism body also warns reinstating damaging travel restrictions, such as the recent measures aimed at curbing the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, do not stop the spread of the virus and only damage livelihoods. WTTC RECOMMENDS SOLUTIONS WTTC's report outlines recommendations for governments and businesses to tackle the alarming Travel & Tourism labor shortage crisis, recognizing the impact of furlough schemes. These include facilitating labor mobility and remote working, providing safety nets, upskilling and reskilling the workforce and retaining talent, and creating and promoting education and apprenticeships. GLOBAL LABOR OUTLOOK IN THE SECTOR WTTC's recent report revealed the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on the Travel & Tourism sector with 62 million jobs lost globally. However, the proactive measures and actions by many governments enabled the sector to save millions of jobs and livelihoods at risk through various job retention schemes. This year, as the demand for travel began to strengthen in line with the easing of restrictions and the recovering domestic market, the labor supply has been unable to match the rising labor demand, particularly during the second half of 2021. All countries across the UK, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal in addition to the U.S. showed significant staff shortages, with employment demand starting to outstrip the available labor supply. The global tourism body says staff shortages represent a key issue for the global Travel & Tourism sector, and while issues around supply and demand are set to gradually adjust during 2022, the problem is likely to remain. The sector's recovery and economies around the world depend on businesses and governments being able to solve this critical issue to meet the returning demand for travel. For more information, visit www.wttc.org About the World Travel & Tourism Council The World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include over 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector. According to WTTC's 2021 Economic Impact Report , during 2020, a year in which it was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Travel & Tourism made a 5.5% contribution to global GDP and was responsible for 272 million jobs. SOURCE The World Travel & Tourism Council "The Man Behind the Brands", Ullmann brings significant experience in celebrity brand development, brand management, licensing and distribution, and monetization Announcement highlights Company's commitment to global growth VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - YourWay Cannabis Brands (CSE: YOUR) (the "Company" or "YourWay") announced today the appointment of Bernt Ullmann to its previously announced Advisory Board. Chaired by YourWay Board of Directors member Kevin Harrington, the Advisory Board is expected to consist of exceptional industry leaders from diverse backgrounds to support and guide the Company's go-forward strategy. "We are excited to thoughtfully recruit industry leaders who will bring invaluable experience and help guide our business, complementing YourWay's strong leadership team. This starts with the appointment of Bernt Ullmann as our inaugural Advisory Board member," said Kevin Harrington, Chair, Advisory Board, Member, Board of Directors, YourWay Cannabis Brands. "The Company is implementing its "house of brands" cannabis consumer packaged goods strategy and, as one of the most trusted business acceleration experts, Mr. Ullmann's remarkable experience will lend tremendously towards the Company's growth ambitions." Having generated more than six billion dollars in transactions, Mr. Ullmann will lend his significant experience in celebrity brand development, brand management, licensing and distribution, and monetization to the Company. Mr. Ullmann provides mastery in creating, incubating, developing, marketing and distributing leading global lifestyle brands for superstars such as Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Nicki Minaj and Adam Levine. "Bernt is one of the most experienced brand builders and strategists in the world and his insights and experience are anticipated to help to ensure YourWay brands are positioned for success. The Company has made key appointments to bolster its leadership team, which is focused on the next phase of growth and strategic transformation. The addition of Bernt is another key milestone that highlights our commitment to grow the business and drive shareholder value," continued Mr. Harrington. "I am thrilled to be joining YourWay Cannabis Brands' Advisory Board and help contribute to the company's growth strategy," said Bernt Ullmann, Member, Advisory Board, YourWay Cannabis Brands. "The Company and I have a shared passion for building powerful brands that serve our consumers and bring value to our shareholders, and I am excited to leverage my decades of experience developing world-renowned brands in ensuring YourWay's go-forward strategy is fully realized." About Bernt Ullmann, CBA Often referred to as "The Man Behind the Brands", Mr. Ullmann has been the trusted business acceleration expert for top fashion moguls and billionaires such as Daymond John, Eddie Lampert, and Tommy Hilfiger. Mr. Ullmann is arguably the world's leading expert in celebrity brand development, brand management, licensing, distribution and monetization, having contributed to the successful launches of brands for clients including Jennifer Lopez, Adam Levine, Nicki Minaj and many others. The brands he has worked with have generated over 6 billion dollars in global sales, which includes the largest celebrity brand deal in history valued at $3.5 billion. About YourWay Cannabis Brands YourWay Cannabis Brands is a publicly traded multi-state operator with sales and operations in Arizona and California. Through building their own brands, partnering with others, and providing white-labelled product, they are dedicated to expanding their reach; remolding the cannabis industry and ultimately, redefining the way consumers and cannabis brands interact. YourWay aims to connect with the cannabis consumer on a deeper level, utilizing decades of brand-building expertise and an integral understanding of the customer experience to create an intuitive suite of branded products that closely aligns with consumer need states. The YourWay portfolio is an all-encompassing house of brands designed to create a sense of belonging for every cannabis consumer regardless of their relationship with the plant. Please visit www.yourwaycannabis.com for the latest news and information about YourWay and its brands. Website: www.yourwaycannabis.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the composition of the Company's Advisory Board; the implementation of the Company's 'House of Brands' cannabis consumer packaged goods strategy; the anticipated benefits of Mr. Ullmann's appointment to the Company's Advisory Board; and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to 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 information. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance, or achievements of the Company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: regulatory and licensing risks; changes in consumer demand and preferences; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; compliance with extensive government regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; the impact of COVID-19; and the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form dated August 28, 2020, filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the US Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation. While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward nonenforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date of this news release. 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, except as required by law. SOURCE YourWay Cannabis Brands The campaign video tells the story of recent contest winner, ten-year-old Sidnee Rushing. She founded Sidnee's Lemonade with her mom when she was only five in Atlanta, GA. Sidnee is on a mission to do good with her lemonade by donating part of her proceeds to Toys for Tots which gifts toys to children whose parents cannot afford them. "It's important to me because I want to make kids feel like they actually have something, and that they're loved," Sidnee said. But it's not always easy for a food and beverage startup to give back to their community. A lack of funding, customer insights and marketing resources make it difficult for startups to even launch their first product. That's why Sidnee entered Silgan's Free Closures for a Year Contest. Winners receive a year supply of closures which makes a big difference financially. "My hope for Sidnee is that she will always understand that no matter what the circumstance is, she can make a positive impact," said Sidnee's mother Sherri Rushing. "Small businesses and startups need help right now, more than ever," said AJ Miller, director of marketing for Silgan Closures. "Sidnee's story highlights the plight of an entrepreneur and it is inspirational. It's just one of many out there." Watch the Sidnee's Lemonade story here. If you are a food and beverage startup or know someone who is, share this video. The contest is accepting entries now until March 31, 2022. Sidnee's Lemonade has received consumer insights from Datassential, Silgan Closures' research partner who assisted in evaluating all entries against the company's famed SCORES consumer ratings system. They've also selected their closure of choice from Silgan's Stock Closure Program and will get up to a half million of those caps free of charge for one year. Are you ready to join Sidnee's Lemonade and become the next Free Closures for a Year contest winner? Call for Entries Fourth Annual Free Closures for a Year Contest The Fourth Annual Free Closures for a Year Contest is now accepting submissions until March 31, 2022. For more information on the Free Closures for a Year Contest and to enter a concept, please visit freeclosuresforayear.com. For more information on Silgan Closures and the Stock Closure Program, visit the company web site at www.silgancls.com or contact [email protected]. About Silgan Closures Silgan Closures is a global supplier of plastic, metal, and composite closure systems for food and beverage products. It is a member of the Silgan Holdings group of companies, leaders in providing innovative packaging solutions for a wide range of applications. The Silgan Closure U.S. headquarters and innovation center are located in Downers Grove, Illinois. The European headquarters are located in Munich, Germany with global operations across five continents. For more information, visit the company web site at www.silgancls.com or contact [email protected]. SOURCE Silgan Closures On the red carpet, the celebrities dressed in different styling and make-up to act the the most representative Oriental beauty in their own minds. The night we have impressive ELLE cover stars, several gorgeous fashion stars etc. Nearly a hundred ELLE's celebrity and supermodel friends made an appearance and gathered to witness the glorious moment. Daisy Wang, CEO of Hearst Greater China, Guo Miao, the founder and chairman of Mageline brand, and Nicole Xue, Editor-in-chief of ELLE China opened the ceremony after their speeches. The night, several representative fashion industry weathervane heavyweight awards have been announced. Zhang Jiacheng, who is excellent in Oriental Retro aesthetics photography awarded the "Photographer of the Year". He Cong who has been dominating fashion weeks this year, awarded the "Supermodel of the Year". Two talented and internationally influential young designers, RUI Zhou/Cihang Chen MARCHEN, jointly won the "Independent Designer of the Year ". In addition, as a new generation of power in the fashion industry, Nick Yang awarded the "New Photographer of the Year" and Gu Xue won the "New SuperModel Face of the Year". It is worth mentioning that three new "Beyond the Boundary" awards named by the theme of "EAST and BEYOND" have been added to this year's ELLE Style Awards and awarded to brands and organizations that pushed boundaries in their respective fields. Shanghai Fashion Week, which is committed to promoting the simultaneous development of creative design and commercial landing of Chinese fashion industry based on local and international perspective, awarded the "Beyond Boundary Fashion of the Year". Mageline, a high-end skin care beauty brand that creates positive domestic products with artisan spirit, won the " Beyond Boundary Brand Power of the Year" award. WWF, which is committed to environmental protection and actively promotes the sustainable development of the fashion industry, awarded "Beyond Boundary Charity of the Year". SOURCE ELLE China 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 also help you customize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of 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 Footwear Market Share in Footwear Industry is expected to increase by USD 16.85 billion from 2020 to 2025, with an accelerated CAGR of 1.13%. 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 38% among the other regions. China and India are the key markets for footwear. Moreover, 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 footwear market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Burberry Group Plc - In May 2021, the company launched a series of global pop-ups to celebrate the brand signature Olympia bag, with the first opening in Harrods. which is specially designed to offer an even smoother and more cushioned ride. ASICS Corp. - In April 2021, the company launched MAGIC SPEED, which offered high-level performance and energy efficiency to help runners go for longer and faster. Under Armour Inc. - In February 2021, the company unveiled its fastest performance running shoe, UA Flow Velociti Wind. Find additional highlights on the vendors and their product offerings. Download Free Sample Report Regional Market Outlook The footwear market in APAC is expected to garner significant business opportunities for the vendors during the forecast period. China and India are the key markets for footwear in APAC. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. The rising disposable incomes of people, the increasing preference for premium footwear, and the growing health consciousness among people will facilitate the footwear market growth in APAC over 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- Footwear Market Driver: Design and material innovations leading to product premiumization: The vendors are constantly innovating and introducing new patterns and designs due to market competition and evolving customer demand because of continuous changes in the fashion industry. Customers seek footwear for formal, especially leather footwear, and casual, such as sports or canvas shoes, purposes. Therefore, the vendors regularly expand their brand and product lines. Athletic footwear belongs to the promoted product segment. The demand for such footwear has been increasing because of the availability of innovative products, which offer premium appeal, that can also be used as partywear. High demand and premiumization allow manufacturers to increase the price of their products. Innovations in designs and celebrity endorsements of products have enabled vendors to cater to the demand from the high-income customer base. Key vendors design personalized and customized athletic shoes to expand their customer base. Footwear Market Trend: Increasing demand for customized footwear: Customization is available for various types of footwear. The customization of premium footwear includes the application of hard metals, such as gold and silver, and precious stones, such as diamonds. In the last five years, the popularity of customized products has increased in developed regions such as the Americas and Europe. Emerging countries, such as China and India, are also experiencing a growing demand for customized premium goods, including premium footwear. In the premium segment, the leading vendors offer customized products, which have an aesthetic appeal. The extent of personalization can vary from design, logo, color, buckles to embroidery or adding names. The advent of the customization of footwear globally complements market growth through new purchases. During the forecast period, the customization of footwear is expected to increase the revenues of the footwear manufacturers. Find additional information about various other market Drivers & Trends mentioned in our FREE sample report. Here are Some Similar Topics- High Heels Footwear Market by Distribution Channel and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The high heels footwear market share is expected to increase by USD 1.70 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 1.35%. Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Sports Footwear Market by Product, End-user, Distribution Channel, Application, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The sports footwear market has the potential to grow by USD 8.36 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 1.95%. Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Footwear Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 1.13% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 16.85 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) -0.72 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 38% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Germany, France, and India Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled adidas AG, ASICS Corp., Burberry Group Plc, New Balance Athletics Inc., Nike Inc., PUMA SE, Skechers USA Inc., Under Armour Inc., VF Corp., and Wolverine World Wide Inc. 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 LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In its first year, 818 Tequila, the ultra-smooth, award-winning tequila from entrepreneur Kendall Jenner, has become the best-selling new tequila brand of 2021 in the United States (Source: US Sales, IRI Total US, Multi Outlet + Convenience 52 weeks ending 10-31-21. Tequila Brand Family Ranking Report). 818 Tequila Just seven months since launch, 818 Tequila is now available in 32 states. On their California launch day in May, 818 sold out online in less than four hours, with retailers across California reporting Blanco allotments selling out on the first day of sales. To date, the tequila brand has shipped over 136,000 cases, or 1.5MM bottles of tequila. "We are thrilled to see the growth of 818 Tequila and sales continue to outperform our expectations," said Mike Novy, President and COO. "The elevated flavor profiles of 818 Tequila were created to introduce a flourishing market to a tequila experience they can savor. Kendall is a strong female voice in the industry, leading a brand that stands for sustainability, while also delivering award-winning taste." "818 is selling tremendously since it hit shelves of the Lower East Side," said Rhea Duggal, president of East Houston Street Wine and Liquor in New York City. "What 818 has achieved in the past 10 months since its release takes an average brand years to accomplish." "Chicago loves 818 - it's been our best tequila launch to date at Gold Coast Market, and sales are continuing to grow," said Gold Coast Market owner Hani Mahfouz. "818 is an all-around great tequila. It's smooth, drinkable, delicious on its own and just as good in a mixed cocktail," said Miami's David Grutman, the founder of Groot Hospitality RJ Melmen, President of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, agreed, stating; "818 Tequila has been a great new addition to our properties. It's incredibly well crafted and very smooth tasting. We've had many guests ask for it." John Terzian, cofounder of the h.wood Group also said; "818 is so smooth. It's no wonder so many bartenders and guests request it. It makes my job easy." 818 Tequila is also a 16-time award-winning spirit across six major industry competitions, including Best Reposado Tequila from the World Tequila Awards, Platinum Award from the SIP Awards, Chairman's Trophy from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Triple Gold from the MicroLiquor Spirit Awards, Top 100 Spirits from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Double Gold from the SIP Awards, Gold Medal from the MicroLiquor Spirit Awards and Innovation Award from the SIP Awards. From its 1% for the Planet giveback to partnering with local, family-owned businesses in Jalisco, Mexico and sustainable suppliers, 818 Tequila embodies an emerging consumer ethos. For more information, visit www.drink818.com . About 818 Tequila Founded by Kendall Jenner, 818 Tequila is an award-winning, hand-crafted tequila brand committed to uplifting the women and men who make it. Produced using traditional methods in Jalisco, Mexico at a family owned and operated distillery, the brand has won 16 blind tasting awards across six major industry competitions, including Best Reposado Tequila from the World Tequila Awards, Platinum Award from the SIP Awards, Chairman's Trophy from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Triple Gold from the MicroLiquor Spirit Awards, Top 100 Spirits from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Double Gold from the SIP Awards, Gold Medal from the MicroLiquor Spirit Awards and Innovation Award from the SIP Awards. Sustainably produced from one hundred percent Weber Blue agaves, 818 Tequila features three variations a Blanco, Reposado and Anejo. For more information, follow @drink818 on Instagram or visit www.drink818.com . Contact: Meredith Sidman 9145880518 [email protected] SOURCE 818 Tequila '"I am immensely proud of what we continue to accomplish while also working through a pandemic that remains extremely unpredictable," said Terry Forde, President & CEO of Adventist Health Care. Terry adds that strength and achievement run deep in our health system, which serve as models for patients so that they may grow strong in their recoveries. The celebration included a ribbon cutting, blessing of the new space, and remarks by Marc Elrich; County Executive; Brent Reitz, President of Adventist HealthCare Post-Acute Care Services; Rob Grange, Rehabilitation White Oak Administrator, Also in attendance were Delegates Lorig Charkoudian and Jheanelle Wilkins, District 20. Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation White Oak offers all private patient rooms, two therapy gyms equipped with innovative technologies, onsite dialysis, two dayrooms, in-room ceiling track lifts and Avasys telemonitoring for optimal patient safety, functional bathrooms and walk-in showers and an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) simulated home environment. "We are thrilled to welcome our first patients into this new state-of-the art hospital and help them rediscover their independence and abilities to be healthy and happy on their road through recovery," said Rob Grange, Administrator. "Combining our rehab services inside of White Oak Medical Center with the hard work of our amazing team creates a unique powerhouse of comprehensive, coordinated care for this community." Adventist HealthCare is intently focused on whole body wellness, and its new comprehensives and holistic care service ensures the organization is aligned to support patients recovering from neurological disorders and strokes, fall injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, limb loss and other complex conditions. "Families are a big part of the recovery process; thus training is provided and participation in ADL practice is encouraged to support patients' continued safe healing after their return home" said Brent Reitz, President of ACH Post-Acute Care Services. To learn more about the new facility, its services and providers, please call (240) 637-5560 or visit AdventistRehab.com/WhiteOak. About Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation is a faith-based network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and outpatient rehabilitation clinics that span Montgomery County, Maryland. Our team of premier providers and certified medical experts provide one-on-one and team-based care that helps people reclaim their lives following illness, injury, or chronic conditions. Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation inpatient hospitals are fully accredited by The Joint Commission, with Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited specialty programs for amputations, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke. For more information visit AdventistHealthCare.com, or follow us on our Facebook . Media Contact: Kathy Ruxton [email protected] 240-864-6122 SOURCE Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation Whether you are a college graduate seeking professional connections or a stay-at-home mom in need of a social event to unwind, Amulet Society gives women something to look forward to when they need it most. "Members are provided endless unique experiences that encourage women to organically build their personal and professional network," said Co-Founder, Sydni Joseph. "We want to build a sisterhood of supportive individuals who help one another grow and achieve their goals." What does an annual Nashville or Chicago membership consist of? One-time $100 fee includes: Exclusive access to each Amulet Society event for the year. Free welcome gift at the first event. Discounted ticket to Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye 2022. Amazing memories made from a multitude of top-notch experiences. Forever lasting friendships and worthwhile professional connections. Interactive mentorship program. Personalized community calendar of special events and announcements. Creative leadership opportunities such as published blog features. Amulet Society provides a wide variety of exciting plans throughout the year, ranging from a custom hat design experience to pop-ups supporting local women-owned businesses. Amulet Society Nashville member, Kelly K., said, "I would like to invite a group of girlfriends that come from all walks of lifeand I was going to gift a membership to (a friend) for Christmas." Amulet Society's first year of events will take place in Chicago, IL and Nashville, TN - the #1 destination for women-owned businesses. Memberships and holiday gift cards are available for purchase at www.theamuletsociety.com. The amulet society is a non-stationary, collaborative social organization that empowers women to achieve their utmost professional, philanthropic, and personal goals. join our society today at www.theamuletsociety.com. https://www.instagram.com/theamuletsociety/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/3508709935914127/ If interested in future collaborations, membership opportunities, or upcoming events, please contact us here. Media Contact: Katie Larson, [email protected] SOURCE Amulet Society DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per a thorough research by FMI, the Global Analgesics Market is poised to top US$ 77.3 Bn in 2021. Increasing demand for opioid drugs for pain management in the countries such as China, India, the U.S., and Japan is facilitating the growth in the market. Increasing need for palliative care and rising prevalence of neuropathic, inflammatory, and chronic pain is bolstering the demand for pain management solutions. Driven by this, the analgesics market is anticipated to surpass US$ 133.5 Bn by 2031. Request a report sample to gain comprehensive insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1306 Analgesics drugs such as methadone, codeine, acetaminophen, and others provide effective solutions to aforementioned ailments. Hence, increasing palliative care has assisted the market to account for nearly 93% of the pain management sales in 2021. Further, rising government initiatives for providing better prevention and management of chronic pain are favoring the growth in the market. Also, growing prevalence of physiological injuries, phantom aches, and surgeries across China and India are accelerating the sales. As per FMI, the analgesics market is poised to expand at 5.6% CAGR over the forecast period 2021-2031 in comparison to the 4.4% CAGR registered over the past half-decade. Based on drug type, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) segment is projected to register swift growth, expanding at 4.1% CAGR between 2021 and 2031. Growing emphasis on prevention of diversion in prescription opioid medications is a primary factor driving the growth in the segment. "Increasing research and development (R&D) activities for the formulation of opioid drugs with abuse-deterrent properties and non-addictive analgesic drugs to curb the addiction associated with opioid medications is expected to favor the growth in the market," says a FMI analyst. Get a Tailored Scope to Match Your Need, Ask an Expert - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-1306 Key Takeaways from Analgesics Market Study The U.S. is estimated to continue dominating the North America market, accounting for nearly 86.5% of the regional demand share in 2021. market, accounting for nearly 86.5% of the regional demand share in 2021. Germany is anticipated to emerge as the most remunerative market in Europe , contributing nearly 23.2% of the sales through 2031. is anticipated to emerge as the most remunerative market in , contributing nearly 23.2% of the sales through 2031. China is expected to account for 54.3% of the share in East Asia , expanding at a robust CAGR of 9.3% over the assessment period. is expected to account for 54.3% of the share in , expanding at a robust CAGR of 9.3% over the assessment period. Japan analgesics market is projected to register a swift growth, expanding at a CAGR of 6.6% between 2021 and 2031. analgesics market is projected to register a swift growth, expanding at a CAGR of 6.6% between 2021 and 2031. Surgical pain is forecast to account for the lion's share in the indication segment, accounting for around 53.3% of the sales in 2021. Key Drivers Growing number of cancer treatments and rising commercialization of non-abusive drugs across the U.S., Japan , Germany , China , and others are spurring the sales in the NSAID segment. , , , and others are spurring the sales in the NSAID segment. Rising concerns of facial and body aesthetics are increasing aesthetic surgical procedures such as eyelid surgeries, breast implantation, and abdominoplasty, spurring analgesics sales across the surgical pain segment. Key Restraints Side effects associated with opioid drugs such as clouded thinking, nausea, drowsiness, constipation, and psychological & physical addiction are hindering the sales across the opioid drug segment. Stringent government regulations regarding manufacturing, storage, marketing, and selling analgesic drugs are restraining the growth in the market. For critical insights, Get Customized Report as per your Requirements - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-1306 Competitive Landscape Prominent companies in the global market are focusing of introducing novel non-opioid drugs to gain competitive edge. Some of the other players are focusing on entering in mergers, acquisitions, collaboration, and agreement with other manufacturers to expand their product portfolio and strengthen their global foot print. For instance, In July 2020 , Teva Pharmaceuticals, an Israeli multinational pharmaceutical company announced expanding its operations in Japan by focusing on commercializing a selection of complex generics and specialty assets to meet patients' medical needs. This will assist the company to expand its customer base in Japan . , Teva Pharmaceuticals, an Israeli multinational pharmaceutical company announced expanding its operations in by focusing on commercializing a selection of complex generics and specialty assets to meet patients' medical needs. This will assist the company to expand its customer base in . In May 2020 , Assertio Therapeutics, Inc., an American specialty pharmaceutical company, entering into a merger agreement with a produces and distributes pharmaceutical products, Zyla Life Sciences to create a synergistic portfolio of neurology, inflammation, and non-opioid pain products. The merger will assist both the companies to expand their product portfolio and increase their market share. Some of the key players operating in the market profiled by FMI are: Pfizer Inc. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. Sanofi SA AbbVie Inc. (Allergan plc) Teva Pharmaceuticals Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [Johnson & Johnson] Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P. Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Bayer AG GlaxoSmithKline plc. Bausch Health Companies Inc. Novartis AG Others More Valuable Insights on Analgesics Market The recent study by FMI provides a detailed analysis of the global analgesics market, providing credible insights into key factors driving the market over the assessment period. The study also disclosed growth projections on in analgesics market with detailed segmentation: By Drug Class Opioids Morphine Codiene Fentanyl Meperidine Methadone Tramadol Oxycodone Dextromethorphan Buprenorphine Others NSAIDs Local Anesthetics Acetaminophen By Indication Surgical pain Cancer Pain Neuropathic pain Others By Route of Administration Oral parenteral transdermal Others By Distribution Channel Hospital pharmacies Retail pharmacies Drug Stores Online pharmacies For in-depth competitive analysis, Buy Now - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1306 Key Questions Covered in the Report The report offers insight into analgesics market demand outlook for the forecast period 2021-2031 The market study also highlights projected sales growth for analgesics market between 2021 and 2031 Analgesics market survey identifies key growth drivers, restraints, and other forces impacting prevailing trends and evaluation of current market size and forecast and technological advancements within the industry Analgesics market share analysis, covering key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Contact: Future Market Insights, 1602-6 Jumeirah Bay X2 Tower, Plot No: JLT-PH2-X2A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates For Sales Enquiries: [email protected] For Media Enquiries: [email protected] Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/analgesics-market Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/analgesics-market SOURCE Future Market Insights SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AnyRoad , the leader in Experience Relationship Management (ERM), today unveiled a new suite of analytics tools within its Atlas Product Suite, putting the power of in-depth experiential data analysis into anyone's hands. Many leading brands, including Budweiser, Honda, Michaels and Tabasco, turn to AnyRoad's ERM platform to manage and measure their experiences and events, from in-store appointments and classes to experiential marketing activations to brand home tours and more. As in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences play an increasingly important role in customer engagement strategy for brands all over the world, AnyRoad recognized a need to take experiential measurement a step further - beyond ROI - to help brands uncover the exact factors that drive affinity, loyalty and business impact. With AnyRoad, brands can now drill deeper into their experiential data to surface insights, with self-service analytics capabilities that enable users to segment data, compare it across industry benchmarks and optimize programs based on intelligent, context-driven recommendations: Custom Segmentation: Easily analyze rich data across key dimensions to understand the impact of experiential programs. For example, understand the difference in impact of an experience on existing versus new customers to the brand. Industry Benchmarks: Layer benchmarks, based on AnyRoad's customers in the same industry, over your brand's experiential data, to understand where you are over- or under-performing relative to the broader industry, and use this information to prioritize investment. Feedback Analysis: Surface the factors that drive a positive and negative experience by applying natural-language processing (NLP) across all qualitative feedback to quickly understand what changes or further investments would make the biggest impact on your experiential program. "For years, we've been helping brands measure and prove the ROI of their experiential programs, something that had never been done before, but questions about the 'why?' still remained," said Jonathan Yaffe, co-founder and CEO of AnyRoad. "Now, brands can take a closer look at their experiential data to understand exactly why their experiences drove certain outcomes across certain segments. Answering 'did my experience drive a sale?' is certainly valuable, but knowing 'why did my experience drive a sale?' has a longer-lasting impact on both the brand and customer." For more information about AnyRoad, please visit www.anyroad.com/atlas . About AnyRoad AnyRoad is the leading Experience Relationship Management (ERM) platform enabling global brands to properly measure, scale, and implement their offline and online experiences. AnyRoad empowers companies to create brand loyalty, change consumer behavior, and better understand their brand associations by providing them with data intelligence sourced from experience-based marketing. Companies like Budweiser, Honda, Michaels, and Tabasco all count on AnyRoad to measure the impact of their experiential marketing. AnyRoad's software integrates into CRM, loyalty, ERP, and POS systems to complete the loop, building the model of exactly how these experiences build loyalty, increase brand perception, and increase revenue. For more information, visit www.anyroad.com. SOURCE AnyRoad Related Links www.anyroad.com BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Apptio, Inc. , a leading provider of technology business management (TBM) SaaS applications, today announced a collaboration with Microsoft to deploy Apptio's financial decisioning platform on the Microsoft Cloud to help enterprises migrate and optimize workloads. "Cloud adoption, and the wide variety of services and consumption models present, have given enterprises the flexibility to keep pace with the demands of the digital economy. However, that flexibility can lead to surprises when the invoice arrives," said Ralph Loura, SVP and CIO, Lumentum. "The collaboration between Microsoft and Apptio will help enterprise leaders consume Microsoft's cloud services with the visibility and control they need, and their companies are counting on." Every function in the enterprise, including finance, HR, supply chain and marketing, has a business management application that enables them to streamline processes and deliver insights. Building the next generation data-first application for CIOs is a top priority for both Apptio and Microsoft. Through this collaboration, Apptio will offer customers a modern business management application for IT, that lets customers who migrate to the Microsoft cloud utilize data to make real-time decisions, optimize their investments and provide compelling insights. Apptio will utilize the power of Dynamics 365 to ingest human capital management (HCM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other financial and operational data sources into its market-leading cost and planning engine. Apptio will also enable automated extraction of transformed data from Power BI for customizable analytics, insights, reporting and application development. Apptio's rich technology spend data will enhance the Dynamics 365 business management system, so enterprises large and small can get a holistic view of their technology investments. "Microsoft offers cloud services for enterprises from Office 365 to Azure to Dynamics and is one of the most strategic partners for CIOs, CFOs and CDOs. We are excited to partner with Microsoft and further deeply integrate Apptio's business management applications for technology leaders to help customers manage, plan, and optimize their technology investments and accelerate customers' journey to Microsoft Cloud platforms," said Sunny Gupta CEO, Apptio. As part of the strategic collaboration, Apptio will deepen its support for Microsoft Cloud platforms by: Providing powerful financial recommendations and insights to analyze on premises to Azure migrations. Driving infrastructure and application total cost of ownership (TCO), optimization and decisioning. Optimizing spend on platforms including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365. Generating sprint, feature, and product unit economics to enable P&L formulation for new digital development. Creating insight-first applications for IT by integrating with Dynamics Financials, HR and project data, and exporting data to the Microsoft Power BI platform. Having the Cloudability SaaS solution run on the Microsoft Azure platform. The initial go-to-market will focus on providing Microsoft Azure customers with Apptio Cloudability, an industry- leading cost management and optimization solution for public cloud environments. This includes Apptio's intelligent discovery, utilization and cost management software for enterprise SaaS applications. Apptio's solutions will utilize Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 to deliver unparalleled visibility and decisioning to cloud customers. "Customers are accelerating deployment of cloud-based services and solutions to gain efficiencies, reduce costs, engage customers in new ways and facilitate better decision making based on data-driven insights," said Casey McGee, Vice President, Global ISV Partners, Microsoft. "With the availability of their financial decisioning platform on the Microsoft cloud, Apptio can deliver significant benefits to customers, across a wide variety of industries, who are looking to transform their business." Apptio will be available via Microsoft Azure marketplace. Both companies will collaborate in joint marketing and selling efforts. To learn more about Apptio, visit https://www.apptio.com. About Apptio Apptio gives you the power of trusted, actionable insights to connect your technology investment decisions to drive better business outcomes. More than 60 percent of Fortune 100 enterprises trust Apptio to manage to spend across the entire IT portfolio and beyond, so they can focus on delivering innovation. Apptio automatically ingests and intelligently structures vast amounts of enterprise and technology-specific spend and operational data. Apptio enables users across disciplines to report, analyze, plan, and govern their investments collaboratively, efficiently, and with confidence. Learn more at Apptio.com. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Apptio WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In what appears to be a stunning vote of no confidence in his own business plan, Bradley Jacobs, Chairman of XPO Logistics (NYSE: XPO) and GXO Logistics (NYSE: GXO), brought his total stock sales of the two companies to nearly a billion dollars since announcing the spin-off of XPO's warehousing business to GXO last December. According to an SEC filing, in a stock sale last week, Jacobs sold a quarter of a billion dollars in both companies, despite continuing to tout the separation of the two businesses as a win for investors. The sale, coupled with Jacobs' total wealth more than doubling to $3.5 billion during the pandemic and ongoing controversy over his pay package, comes as the company pays tens of millions to settle litigation by mission-critical port drayage drivers who accused XPO of stealing wages and denying them critical rights and benefits by willfully misclassifying them as independent contractors rather than employees. With most of these misclassified drivers drawn from immigrant communities of color, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed a shareholder proposal Friday and sent a letter to Anna Maria DeSalva, Vice Chair, XPO Board of Directors, calling on XPO's board to conduct a third-party, company-wide civil rights audit. "With all eyes on the supply chain crisis and the difficulty port trucking companies face recruiting drivers due to a shortage of good jobs, it is shocking that XPO's board continues to prop up a business model that's bad for business, workers and customers," said Ken Hall, General Secretary-Treasurer of the Teamsters Union. "The only one getting rich here is XPO's CEO Bradley Jacobs through his mastery of financial engineering." In the letter to Ms. DeSalva, Ken Hall said that XPO's recent, record 'wage-theft' settlements totaling nearly $30 million in its port trucking operations in Southern California cast serious doubts over the integrity of XPO's recently trumpeted efforts to protect workers from discrimination and to otherwise promote diversity, equity, and inclusion ("DE&I") in its workforce. The plight of misclassified port drivers in Southern California, referred to by the State of California as the " Last American Sharecroppers ," is well documented and has only become more prominent amid the logjams at the ports. Mr. Hall also calls out XPO's earlier efforts to address high-profile claims of sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination in its warehouse operations. Noting that the effort lost credibility when the company's lead independent investigator, Tina Tchen, stepped down as Chief Executive of Time's Up amid reports she actively undermined alleged victims of sexual harassment in the New York Governor's office. Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters . CONTACT: Dean Pearce, [email protected] SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Astyra Corporation, a black-owned staffing and consulting firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, has earned the 41st spot on the 2021 Inner City 100 (IC100) list. The award, which celebrates the 100 fastest-growing businesses in under-resourced communities in the country, was presented by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) during a virtual ceremony on December 9. IC100 winners were evaluated based on revenue growth from 2016 to 2020, during which Astyra achieved a growth rate of 127.58%. This is the firm's third major national recognition in 2021. In April, the company received Corporate Plus distinction from the National Minority Supplier Development Council for its expertise in fulfilling large national contracts. It was recognized on the Inc. 5000 list in September. "We are thrilled to be honored for our growth and resilience," said Ken Ampy, Astyra CEO. "This award is truly a testament to the drive and talent of our team." "Our firm is laser focused on delivering measurable results," agreed Sam Young, Astyra president. "Every one of our consultants works tirelessly to connect our clients with the innovative solutions that power businesses forward." Astyra launched in 1997. Today, it matches high-profile clients in healthcare, energy and finance with qualified experts in 14 states. "The Inner City 100 class of 2021 have been engines of job growth and a healthy, inclusive economy in these incredibly challenging times," said ICIC CEO Steve Grossman. "They have also been actively engaged in strengthening their communities by donating their time and resources to local organizations and charities. We are truly inspired by our IC100 winners." About Astyra Founded in 1997, Astyra Corporation (www.astyra.com) is an award-winning staffing and consulting firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. They are proven experts in successfully matching highly skilled consultants to innovative business solutions. Clients range from government agencies and financial institutions to major systems integrators. About Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) was founded by renowned Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter in 1994 as a research and strategy organization that today is widely recognized as the preeminent authority on urban economic growth. ICIC drives inclusive economic prosperity in under-resourced communities through innovative research and programs to create jobs, income, and wealth for local residents. Learn more at www.icic.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook at @icicorg. SOURCE Astyra Corporation LAS VEGAS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney-at-Law, Peter Palivos' hard work helping veterans while serving as the Chairman of The Voice of the Vet was acknowledged during a special luncheon held at Bella Vita restaurant on November 10. Military Order of the Purple Heart and Congresswoman Susie Lee (3rd District, Nev.) presented a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. Attorney Honored for Dedication to Helping Veterans Hosted by 15 veteran organizations with over 200 veterans attending on November 10, Peter was honored for his years of pro bono legal services, which have helped hundreds of veterans and their families. Len Yelinek, Nevada State Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, along with Dan Peterson, Commander of the Henderson Chapter of the Purple Heart, made the presentation. "Our country is currently facing difficult social, economic, and political challenges. Therefore, this event, which is centered on our veterans, is very important because our veterans always bring America together," said attorney, Peter Palivos, when he accepted the award. The mission of the Purple Hearts is to honor and help wounded veterans and their families. "We owe every American who served our great nation, much more than just a mere thank you," says Peter. During the luncheon, Peter presented Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (D.-Nev.) with a certificate of appreciation from The Voice of the Vets for her service to veterans. As an attorney, he provides care and pro bono legal services for the veterans. He has also been behind several veteran-oriented initiatives, including the Nevada Veteran Housing Village project. This project has the goal of housing over 100 veterans and their families. In addition, Palivos served over 10,000 lunches to first responders during the pandemic and gave over 1,000 toys to poor children in East Las Vegas. He is also active with philanthropy donating over $5 million for ecological research. "Helping others keep me grounded," explains Palivos. "We all have a moral duty to leave this beautiful country and world in a better condition for our children and grandchildren." The Voice of the Veterans also honored Peter with an award of Appreciation for Service in 2019. This prompted him to volunteer for several years, providing them with pro bono legal and financial assistance before accepting the chairman of the board. Contact: Jennifer Bradley 7022349385 [email protected] SOURCE Peter Palivos DALLAS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mexican avocado industry is celebrating the addition of the Jalisco region to the United States import market, following the recent announcement by Mexican authorities of a new agreement with the United States to allow avocado imports from the Mexican state of Jalisco, officially beginning in June 2022. Avocados From Mexico (AFM) is the number one marketer of avocados in the United States, and billions of avocados are exported from Mexico to the United States every year, with demand continuing to increase. Together, AFM and its two founding avocado organizations: MHAIA (Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association), which represents hundreds of importers and distributors in the United States and APEAM A.C. (Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico), which already represents more than 30,000 small avocado growers and 74 packers, will now further expand the market opportunity for avocados from Mexico into the U.S. Until now, all avocado imports from Mexico came from only the Michoacan region. APEAM A.C., the only cooperative partner for exporting avocados into the United States, will now work closely with Jalisco to deliver even more avocados to the U.S. This new agreement will allow the import of fresh Hass avocados from Mexico to expand and will operate under the Cooperative Service Agreement between the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and APEAM. "Blessed with rich volcanic soil, natural irrigation and a unique topography, Michoacan exports avocados to the United States year-round, and Jalisco's integration makes the avocado industry even stronger," said Jose Luis Gallardo, AFM Chairman and APEAM President. "We're thrilled about this expansion, continuing to help make sure the best avocados are available for American consumers 365 days a year." APEAM's close partnership with the USDA ensures that all avocado growers and packers in Mexico comply with stringent agricultural practices and the highest quality and food safety standards. Avocados imported from Jalisco will adhere to the same standards to provide consumers in the U.S. with the high-quality avocados they know and expect from Mexico. "We're eager to begin this opportunity to further increase avocado imports to the U.S.," said Ron Campbell, Executive Director of MHAIA. "Now, this new region for imports will allow for even larger import numbers, especially during the summer months when the Jalisco region is strongest." For more information on the journey of avocados from Mexico to the United States, visit www.AvocadoInstitute.org. About Avocados From Mexico Avocados From Mexico (AFM) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA), formed for the purpose of advertising, promotion, public relations and research for all stakeholders of Avocados From Mexico. Under agreements, MHAIA and the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers & Packers of Mexico (APEAM A.C.) have combined resources to fund and manage AFM, with the intent to provide a focused, highly- effective and efficient marketing program in the United States. AFM is headquartered in Irving, Texas. Contact: Ana Ambrosi [email protected] 469-506-0244 SOURCE Avocados From Mexico CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation today announced the Board of Directors has authorized regular cash dividends on the outstanding shares or depositary shares of the following series of preferred stock: Series of Preferred Stock Dividend per Share or Depositary Share1 Record Date Payment Date 7.25% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series L $18.125 January 1 January 31 5.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series HH $0.3671875 January 1 January 24 Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series MM $21.50 January 1 January 28 4.375% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series NN $0.2734375 January 15 February 3 4.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series PP $0.2578125 January 15 February 2 Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,200 retail financial centers, approximately 17,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with approximately 41 million active users, including approximately 32 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts. Investors May Contact: Lee McEntire, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.388.6780 [email protected].com Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income) Phone: 1.212.449.3112 [email protected] Reporters May Contact: Jerry Dubrowski, Bank of America Phone: 1.646.855.1195 (office) or 1.508.843.5626 (mobile) [email protected] Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.386.6794 [email protected] 1 Each series of preferred stock, other than Series L, is represented by depositary shares. Dividend payments are made on a quarterly basis for each series of preferred stock, other than Series MM, for which dividends are paid on a semi-annual basis. SOURCE Bank of America Corporation SARANAC LAKE, N.Y., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bionique Testing Laboratories LLC (Bionique; www.bionique.com ), a global leader in mycoplasma testing services for the biologics and life- sciences industries, announced today that it has been 100% acquired by a subsidiary of Japan- based healthcare pioneer Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd. (Asahi Kasei Medical). Bionique joins Austria-based viral and prion safety testing services expert ViruSure GmbH (ViruSure; www.virusure.com ) as part of the global biosafety testing services unit of Asahi Kasei Medical's Bioprocess Division ( www.ak-bio.com ). Both Bionique and ViruSure will continue operations under their existing, widely respected brands. Bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma are frequent and problematic contaminants of materials used in the production of biologics (medicines composed of, or derived from, biological materials). Bionique is a dedicated, FDA-registered provider of mycoplasma testing products and services. It is highly regarded for its comprehensive range of GMP testing services that are utilized by a broad variety of biologics companies during all stages of drug development and manufacture and is renowned for its unrivalled depth of expertise, arising from its specialist business experience of more than 30 years. In recent years, Bionique has become the provider of choice for clients faced with the complex CMC challenges pertaining to mycoplasma testing of emerging and rapidly growing treatment modalities such as cell and gene therapy products, and regenerative medicines. Similarly, Bionique's know-how has become indispensable to clients that span the industry, from top global biopharma companies, cell-culture media & sera suppliers, diagnostic test kit manufacturers, academic and research institutions to biotech start-ups. The acquisition brings together the unique mycoplasma and viral safety proficiencies of Bionique and ViruSure, enabling Asahi Kasei Medical to offer clients expansive and exceptionally reliable biosafety testing support that is based on industry-leading scientific expertise, and is delivered via customized, trustworthy project partnerships. Asahi Kasei Medical is also actively investing in facility and employment expansion at various operating sites of both Bionique and ViruSure, to meet increasing demand for its testing services. "Joining the Asahi Kasei group will enable Bionique to consolidate its leadership position in the global mycoplasma testing arena and afford our clients access to ViruSure's service portfolio, satisfying their end-to-end biosafety testing needs from discovery through commercialization", said Gladis Zamparo, CEO of Bionique. "We are excited to have a strategic partner like Bionique as part of the Asahi Kasei group, and the expertise in mycoplasma testing that they bring will further strengthen our goal to better service our customers in all areas of biosafety testing" said Andy Bailey, CEO of ViruSure. About Bionique Testing Laboratories LLC Bionique offers the full breadth of mycoplasma testing services from lot to final drug product release testing per regulatory guidelines, as well as a GMP-compliant Real-Time PCR assay to support clients' needs from discovery to clinical trials. Bionique specializes in mycoplasma testing of cell therapies, cell banks, raw materials, unprocessed bulk harvest, and final drug products. Additionally, our highly experienced team has expertise in method development and validation to support the emerging applications of Rapid Microbial Methods (RMM) and commercialization for biopharmaceutical and cell & gene therapy products. Additional services such as regulatory and compliance consultancy add to Bionique's unique position in this niche analytical testing space. Located in Saranac Lake, NY, Bionique's facilities include two FDA-registered, GMP-compliant contract testing and contract R&D laboratories. Bionique aims at offering unsurpassed quality mycoplasma testing services, to meet the custom scientific and regulatory needs of each client and partner. Further information on Bionique can be found at www.bionique.com . About ViruSure GmbH ViruSure is an established CRO offering a wide range of services in the areas of virus and prion safety testing for biopharmaceutical products, cell banking and cell bank characterization services and in vivo biosafety studies (adventitious agent testing, tumorigenicity testing, oncogenicity testing) and molecular and potency testing, all required by pharma and biotech companies specializing on biological products (e.g. recombinant proteins, vaccines, human and animal derived biological products, cell based therapies). The company brings a wealth and breadth of expertise to ensure that biopharmaceutical companies meet all relevant pathogen safety testing requirements. Our goal is simple - to offer the highest level of quality, customer service and regulatory compliance for pathogen safety testing. Our state-of-the-art facilities located in Vienna, Austria are validated and certified to both GMP and GLP standards and all testing services are supported by a state-of-the-art risk-based quality management system which ensures we remain cutting edge partner dedicated to providing, first and foremost, a quality service to the biopharmaceutical industry. Further information on ViruSure can be found at www.virusure.com . MEDIA CONTACT Bionique Chris Heard Business Development Manager +1 (518) 891-2356 x1064 [email protected] SOURCE Bionique Testing Laboratories LLC WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bioparker Corporation (Bioparker) submits white paper to revolutionize The US Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Electronic Health Record system. Bioparker provides the only Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) system on the market that exceeds FHIR compliance regulations to offer instantaneous access to health data across the entire continuum of care. Bioparker's white paper submission comes at a time when Cerner Corporations (Cerner), a widely adopted EHR system with approximately 25 percent market share, failed to meet its 2018 contract requirements to provide services to the VA with the goal to modernize and streamline a long-maligned section of the government. The 10-year project, aiming at rolling out the EHR system at 150 locations nationwide, was evaluated at $16 billion, but according to the VA Office of Inspector General, it has been underestimated by as much as $5.1 billion, raising the likely total cost to at least $21 billion. Just two years after rolling out the Cerner system at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, a review found several deficiencies and patient safety issues including lack of adequate training, putting veterans' safety and health at risk, and further facilitating provider burn-out due to struggles with navigating the system. Despite efforts of Cerner and other market leaders, no EHR system has successfully met FHIR compliance regulations, implemented continuous biometric data or provided an end-to-end solution that satisfies the needs of health care facilities, professionals, or their patients. Addressing the goal of improving health care delivery and outcomes for veterans requires an inter-connected system that's reliable, secure and addresses the interoperability issue most EHR systems have failed to deliver on. Achieving interoperability, that is finding, sending, receiving, and integrating electronic patient information from outside providers, has been a challenge for most hospitals in sharing patient data. According to a recent Health Affairs study, only 29.7 percent of hospitals engaged in all four domains of interoperability in 2015. By combining artificial intelligence with the Bioparker Smart Tract Ecosystem, a holistic facility management service and EMR/EHR system, Bioparker provides a full-service solution to manage business operations, facility security, maintenance, emergency services integration, human resources, professional development training, payroll, scheduling, billing, supply chain and other customizable solutions as add-on modules. Furthermore, by collecting and leveraging continuous biometric data from FDA-cleared medical wearable devices across the continuum of care, Bioparker is advancing real-world clinical research, reducing professional burden through automation and actionable insights, and facilitating custom inpatient and outpatient clinical workflows to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. Referring to the recent pause on the EHR modernization efforts, on a Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing in July, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) stated that "transparency and truthfulness, quite frankly, have been absent." Americans, particularly American Veterans, deserve access to a secure, reliable, and trusted health care system. Bioparker's mission is to deliver on the unfulfilled promises of digital healthcare technology by revolutionizing interoperability, efficiency, accessibility, and preventive health initiatives for all. About Bioparker Corporation Bioparker Corporation is a Joint Venture between Biostrap Corporation (Biostrap) and LCA Vantage Healthcare (LCAV) to deliver the world's first and only Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR) compliant electronic health records system and SMART Tract Ecosystem with integrated & continuous biometrics in accordance with new CMS, FHIR, and FDA regulations and policies. By combining continuous biometric with traditional data streams and facility management services, Bioparker leverages an unprecedented amount of health data to develop and validate novel biometrics, algorithms, and actionable insights to refine clinical workflows, remote physiologic monitoring initiatives, prompt proactive intervention, reduce staff and facilities inefficiencies through automation, and standardize healthcare decision making. Bioparker's medical products and services aim to improve patient outcomes while delivering significant cost savings to its partners and the US healthcare system at large- all while maintaining a reduced carbon footprint. Learn more at by visiting https://biostrap.com/bioparker/ Media Contact: Vincent Lopez, [email protected] SOURCE Bioparker Advances in Alzheimer's, innovation in DNA vaccines, increased regulatory collaboration and the evolving impact of Artificial Intelligence, join Covid-19 as key stories and trends of 2021 LONDON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BioWorld published by Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, has announced the six most important biopharmaceutical stories and trends of 2021. BioWorld is a suite of award-winning news services delivering actionable intelligence on the most innovative therapeutics and medical technologies in development. Each year, BioWorld's team of editors and analysts review and assess the market-moving and life-changing stories and trends of the year. This year, BioWorld found therapeutics for Alzheimer's, innovation in DNA vaccines and the evolution of Artificial Intelligence among some of the most pivotal stores and trends of 2021. Despite the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on nearly every industry, the biopharmaceutical industry remained resilient and responsive. While the industry seemed focused on bringing COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics to patients with record-breaking speed, in 2021, the work continued and progressed on other fronts, including technology, the development of human therapeutics, financing and more. In addition, there were multiple notable "firsts," including the first DNA vaccine. The top stories and trends of 2021 identified by BioWorld, are: COVID-19 impacts everything Out of this global pandemic, great science and powerful revenues have emerged. In 2021, progress on preventing and treating COVID-19 was an endless series of starts and stalls. Despite seemingly insurmountable struggles, science and finance took startling steps forward. While biopharma companies across the world collaborated to develop and manufacture COVID-19 vaccines and therapies, the pandemic highlighted supply chain weaknesses, spurring demands in many countries for more domestic manufacturing and less reliance on production in other countries. As a result, governments embraced efforts to strengthen their own biopharma manufacturing capabilities, looking to lessen dependence on other countries for essential medicine. To learn more on how the supply chain has evolved this year to address challenges of COVID-19 faced by biopharmaceutical industry, listen to the BioWorld Insider Podcast: Supply Chain Geeky: Managing through the challenges of COVID-19 with an eye to what's at stake, here. The ongoing efforts to cure Alzheimer's disease The FDA's accelerated drug approval of Aduhelm, the first plaque-targeting therapy for Alzheimer's disease, garnered much attention in 2021- impacting regulators and the market. While the picture is unclear for other Alzheimer's disease prospects, the development of vaccines and treatments for the prevention of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease remain a top priority. To learn more on the impact of Aduhelm on the industry listen to the BioWorld Insider Podcast: Aduhelm's hard lessons and what it means for other Alzheimer's drugs, here. Artificial intelligence as an inventor This year, Australia attracted international attention in July when a Federal Court ruled that artificial intelligence (AI) can be named as the inventor of a patent. In Thaler v. Commissioner of Patents, Federal Court Justice Jonathan Beach ruled that under Australian patent law, inventors don't necessarily have to be human. The case overturns an earlier decision made by the Australian Commissioner of Patents that rejected Stephen Thaler's patent application for his computer program, Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience (DABUS), an artificial neural system. To learn more on whether this ruling on artificial intelligence as an inventor may trigger others to follow suit, listen to the BioWorld Insider Podcast: What happens when your inventor is artificial intelligence, here. Regulatory upheavals, and more While COVID-19 continued to force regulatory officials to face ongoing political and logistical pressures in dealing with drug and vaccine approvals, mergers and acquisitions, manufacturing issues and demands for pricing reforms, these challenges spurred regulatory cooperation. The pandemic exposed fault lines in preparedness for health emergencies with politics, pricing and personalities creating regulatory challenges. Despite these issues, a number of regulatory efforts emerged in 2021, aimed at encouraging companies to develop novel drugs. To review this year's regulatory highlights and learn how, from COVID-19 and cancer to Aduhelm and the broader health care ecosystem, so much has changed, listen to the BioWorld Insider Podcast: Regulatory Gemish: COVID-19's big impacts on the FDA and beyond, here. Record amounts of money flow into biopharma Research shows the volume and value of both public (IPOs) and private (venture capital) financings are at their highest levels in 2021. Fueled by the pandemic from a business financial perspective, it could be the second-best year ever for the industry. In 2021, R&D continued to drive investment. While SPACs dominated, crowding, rising burn rates, new rules and regulations threatened success. To learn more about the record year for biopharma fundraising and where the financing is heading in 2022, listen to the BioWorld Insider Podcast: Another record year for biopharma financings bodes well for 2022, here. The firsts: DNA vaccines arrive, while KRAS drugs and CAR T-cell therapies break new ground in cancer There was no slowing of biopharma innovation in 2021, even as the industry directed significant resources to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The year saw big wins for developers of DNA vaccines and biosimilars, while CAR T expanded its reach and a drug target once considered undruggable was finally conquered. As 2021 gives way to 2022, other potentially game-changing technologies and therapeutics are waiting in the wings. Lynn Yoffee, Publisher, BioWorld said: "Without a doubt, COVID-19 shook humanity to the core, again. And like glioblastoma, the tentacles of COVID-19 invaded far beyond the obvious and ultimately changed the world. So that's our top story of the year. But the biopharma sector is adaptable and responsive. Even though there were tectonic shifts in efforts to bring an armamentarium of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics to patients with record-breaking speed, a great deal of work continued on many other fronts, because people are still getting sick with cancer, succumbing to diseases like Alzheimer's and issues such as the battle over drug prices rage on. Technology is advancing at speeds that only technology such as artificial intelligence can keep pace with. BioWorld's writers and editors have provided not only a look back, but critical perspective on what these top stories mean for the year ahead." Join the conversation, use hashtag #2021biopharmatrends and mention BioWorld on Twitter and Clarivate for Life Sciences & Healthcare on Twitter and LinkedIn. For more exclusive, in-depth analysis of the top biopharma stories and trends of 2021, visit, here. With writers and editors stationed around the globe, BioWorld published by Clarivate, reports the breaking news and provides key perspective on hundreds of therapeutics and devices in development, the companies behind those candidates, the business development transactions that evolve the markets, and the regulatory hurdles that both challenge and guard the processes. BioWorld has a long tradition of excellence in journalism. Collectively, the news services have been honored with 63 awards dating back to 1998, including 15 for our daily news services. About Clarivate Clarivate is a global leader in providing solutions to accelerate the lifecycle of innovation. Our bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of science and intellectual property. We help customers discover, protect and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. For more information, please visit clarivate.com. Media Contact: Catherine Daniel [email protected] SOURCE Clarivate Plc SEATTLE, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blendily has successfully raised fifteen thousand dollars to support the build-out of their second botanic kitchen in Seattle, Washington. This was the company's first crowdfunding campaign and was conducted on Mainvest , a platform that enables small businesses to raise capital from the general public and issue returns in a revenue share agreement. Founder Ivy Chuang is feeling grateful and excited for the momentum the funds give the company. Blendily successfully raises $15K in first crowdfunding campaign. "I had first heard of regulation crowdfunding in the Summer of 2019. Our team spent quite some time researching the various platforms to conduct the campaign. We chose Mainvest because Blendily is an early-stage, pre-seed company. It felt like a good choice to issue a revenue share agreement instead of equity at this juncture. It's amazing that small businesses are able to raise this type of alternative capital directly from the public!" Chuang is enthusiastic about becoming a Mainvest investor herself! "After I saw & read the stories of all these small businesses raising funds all over the U.S., I felt a camaraderie to all the other founders also working to build their dream businesses in their communities. I invested in 4 companies this past month! A french restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, a coffee shop in Phoenix, AZ, a tea bar in Chicago, IL, and a botanic kitchen in Seattle, WA." Blendily will be building out their second location at: 2206 NW Market Ave. Seattle, WA 98107 in 2022. About Blendily: Blendily operates botanic kitchens where bioregional medicinal plants are blended with exotic botanicals to create a spectrum of cosmetic grooming products for selfcare head-to-toe. Blendily's botanic kitchens operate just like 'farm-to-table' restaurants, taking inspiration from the surrounding landscapes and seasonal offerings. Blendily offers a full range of skincare, bath & bodycare, hair care, mama & baby care, and herbal remedies. About Mainvest: Mainvest is a platform for building communities and the American Dream. At Mainvest, people can directly invest in businesses they want to see in their own neighborhoods, generating both potential ROI (return on investment) and ROC (return on community). PR Contact: Ivy Chuang [email protected] (206)488-6481 SOURCE Blendily SINGAPORE, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Breadcrumbs.app, an open blockchain analytics tool, announced a $1.6 million seed funding round today. Led by Distributed Global Capital, and other investment firms including Cadenza Ventures and Spartan Group. With participation from supporters including Signum Capital and Everglades Capital, and other angel investors. Breadcrumbs.app aims to make blockchain data more accessible and more human empowering everyone to make informed decisions about the blockchain. Breadcrumbs.app aims to make blockchain data more accessible and more human empowering everyone to make informed decisions about the blockchain. Founded by Lorne Lantz after being scammed by an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) in 2018, Breadcrumbs was built as an investigation tool that answers the question "where did the crypto come from and where did the crypto go?", but has since evolved to offer a range of tools and services that help make the cryptospace a safer place to be in. Since its move away from Beta last September 2021, Breadcrumbs' popularity has been growing not only within the crypto community, but also among Compliance and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) groups. Breadcrumbs app believes that everyone has the right to investigate the blockchain. Apart from refining its open blockchain analytics tools and supporting more blockchains, the funds raised will be used to accelerate product expansion and cover compliance needs of micro to medium Virtual Asset Service Providers. Breadcrumbs app CEO and Founder, Lorne Lantz quipped, "Apart from staying true to our commitment in helping the crypto industry become a safer space, we also want to push the envelope further to make the crypto industry a brave space where traditionally sidelined communities can take chances and thrive. This is the main reason why we are honing in on micro, small and medium Virtual Asset Service Providers to better understand and serve their needs." Support for this mission is echoed by Cadenza Ventures Partner, Kumar Dandapani in a statement: "Cadenza Ventures strongly supports Breadcrumbs' mission to provide greater transparency in the blockchain by making accurate and reliable data accessible to all market participants in this rapidly growing asset class." With the gradual mass adoption of cryptocurrencies, blockchain analytics tools are becoming more of a necessity. Breadcrumbs App aims to ensure that everyone has access to tools enabling them to make informed decisions about crypto and decentralized finance. About Breadcrumbs Breadcrumbs.app is an open blockchain analytics platform that lets you investigate and monitor crypto addresses and transactions. Contact Info: Rieya Piscano [email protected]; +1 347 400 5014 Isabel Perez [email protected] SOURCE Breadcrumbs App CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] is committing $1 million to assist with disaster recovery and relief efforts across the Midwest and Southern United States in the aftermath of last week's unprecedented tornado outbreak. "The damage caused by these tornadoes is devastating, and Boeing and our employees stand ready to assist our neighbors and colleagues who have been affected," said Ziad S. Ojakli, executive vice president of Government Operations. "We are committed to partnering with organizations that will quickly bring relief to those communities hardest hit by these storms so that residents can begin to pick up the pieces and start the rebuilding process." Funding from Boeing and the Boeing Charitable Trust will support the following organizations: $250,000 to American Red Cross for mental health support, food and water, and emergency shelter in the region; to American Red Cross for mental health support, food and water, and emergency shelter in the region; $250,000 to Feeding America to provide food, water, supplies and support for member food banks; and to Feeding America to provide food, water, supplies and support for member food banks; and $200,000 to Americares to provide medical support and supplies to local health care facilities serving low-income, uninsured and underinsured families. to Americares to provide medical support and supplies to local health care facilities serving low-income, uninsured and underinsured families. $200,000 to Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, an initiative created by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to support funeral expenses and rebuilding efforts; to Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, an initiative created by Gov. to support funeral expenses and rebuilding efforts; $50,000 to Samaritan's Purse to support disaster response units and volunteers with debris cleanup and home repair; and to Samaritan's Purse to support disaster response units and volunteers with debris cleanup and home repair; and $50,000 Humane Society of the U.S. to transport animals out of the affected area, help with search and rescue missions, and provide medical care. "Feeding America and local member food banks are working hard to support our neighbors who were impacted by the recent tornadoes," said Lauren Biedron, vice president of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. "We are deeply grateful for Boeing's support, which will allow us to continue providing food, water and essential supplies to the most heavily impacted areas." "Samaritan's Purse is so thankful for Boeing's support and generous donation to our tornado response efforts," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "This gift is supporting our work in Kentucky and Arkansas as we help families who were devastated by the deadly tornadoes start to recover from the storms. Thank you for providing both physical help and hope to these hurting families." In addition to corporate charitable investments, Boeing employees give to their local communities by participating in volunteer and charitable gift match programs. Consistent with Boeing employee gift match programs, the company will match qualifying employee contributions made in support of tornado relief. Disaster recovery and relief efforts align with Boeing's ongoing commitment to the communities where our colleagues live and work. Boeing employs more than 18,000 people in Missouri and Illinois and employs an additional 1,100 employees in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee. Boeing is active and engaged in the Midwest and Southern U.S., contributing a combined $140 million in charitable contributions across both regions over the last five years. Boeing has donated $13 million to disaster relief and humanitarian efforts globally in 2021. As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Learn more at www.boeing.com. Contact Boeing Communications [email protected] SOURCE Boeing DENVER, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boom Supersonic , the aerospace company building the world's fastest and most sustainable supersonic airliner, and the founding members of its Sustainable Travel Forum today reported learnings from the inaugural Net Good Summit in Lake Tahoe. The Net Good Summit was an intimate, two-and-half-day gathering convening fifty industry leaders, sustainability experts, and creative thinkers to drive action and innovation in sustainable travel. Photo of the "Travel as a Force For Good" panel at the Net Good Summit featuring Dr. Lourdes Maurice, Jerry Mpufane, Chris Allison, and Sheelagh Wylie. "At Boom, we believe that travel is a net good for humanityconnecting us with one another, driving economic growth, and fostering global cultural exchange. We launched the Net Good Summit from a belief in the benefits of travel not just for people, but also for the planet," said Kathy Savitt, Boom president. "I'm thrilled that such a diverse set of leaders joined us at the Summit. Sustainability is core to our business, and we understand the role cross-sectoral collaboration can play in solving the wider challenge of making travel sustainable." With twenty-five speakers from backgrounds including aviation, electric vehicles, clean energy, sustainable fuels, tourism boards, and sustainability nonprofits, the event is centered around the following guiding themes: Decarbonizing Transportation: The future of transportationfrom long-haul flights to ground transportmust be safe, clean, and accessible. The future of transportationfrom long-haul flights to ground transportmust be safe, clean, and accessible. Enabling Technologies: Climate change has become a defining challenge of our time, requiring innovative solutions and radical thinking. Climate change has become a defining challenge of our time, requiring innovative solutions and radical thinking. Sustainability Governance: Transitioning the global travel industry to sustainability requires rethinking reporting, investing, and corporate governance. Transitioning the global travel industry to sustainability requires rethinking reporting, investing, and corporate governance. Responsible Tourism: When responsibly planned and managed, tourism supports the conservation of biodiversity, stimulates economic growth, and empowers communities. Several key learnings emerged from the discussions and informal gatherings at the Net Good Summit. While scientific and technological progress are critical, humanity is core to sustainability. From enrolling employees inside an organization to ensuring the entire value chainincluding customers and usersshares a belief in the importance of sustainability, people are key to bringing about meaningful change. Travel provides significant social benefits, helping people connect with cultures other than their own. Customers want to travel responsibly, and the travel industry has a unique opportunity to accelerate the adoption of clean, renewable energy. The entire travel industry must ignite change and measure the results of their efforts to develop a new future of travel. "Sustainability is not going to be solved by just the travel industry. It's got to be a mixture of the travel industry, legislation, governance, investors, that all come together in a sensible way to try and solve the systemic problems," said Mark Stevenson, futurist, author, entrepreneur and speaker at the Net Good Summit. The Net Good Summit program featured a vibrant mix of science, futurism, design and travel experts, including: Tim Brown , Executive Chair, IDEO , Executive Chair, IDEO Andrew Chen , Principal for Aviation Decarbonization, RMI , Principal for Aviation Decarbonization, RMI Randy Durband , CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council , CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council Franziska Gsell , Chief Marketing Officer, IWC Schaffhausen , Chief Marketing Officer, IWC Schaffhausen Dr. Lourdes Maurice , Former Executive Director, FAA Office of Environment and Energy , Former Executive Director, FAA Office of Environment and Energy Nora Lovell Marchant , VP, American Express Global Business Travel , VP, American Express Global Business Travel Jerry Mpufane, President, South African Tourism North America Lauren Riley , Managing Director, United Airlines , Managing Director, United Airlines Mark Stevenson , Futurist, author, and entrepreneur , Futurist, author, and entrepreneur Madge Thomas , Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, American Express , Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, American Express Christopher Wendel , Co-founder & President, Volta Charging , Co-founder & President, Volta Charging Dr. Donald J. Wuebbles , Harry E. Preble Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and White House Climate Advisor , Harry E. Preble Professor of Atmospheric Science, and White House Climate Advisor Additional speakers from Boston Consulting Group, Climeworks, Local Motors, Tourism Australia, VisitBritain and more. "Corporations are engaging more deeply than ever on sustainability issues, igniting new possibilities for innovators like Boom and our partners at the Net Good Summit to make a difference," said Savitt. "Building on the success of the first Summit, we are excited that planning is underway for next year's event, which will take place in the fall of 2022." Late last year, Boom became the first aircraft manufacturer to sign The Amazon Climate Pledge. Overture, Boom's first commercial supersonic airplane, will be capable of net-zero carbon on a life-cycle basis and will be capable of flying on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In June, United Airlines committed to operate its fleet of up to 50 Overture airliners at net-zero carbon. Net Good Summit Partners American Express : The payments company and Boom investor, that offers travel and lifestyle related services to consumers and businesses around the world, has a multi-pronged sustainability program involving facilities, business operations, customers, and partners. : The payments company and Boom investor, that offers travel and lifestyle related services to consumers and businesses around the world, has a multi-pronged sustainability program involving facilities, business operations, customers, and partners. Belvedere Vodka : The super-premium vodka, that launched this year its first organic certified vodka range, has a range of innovative programs for sustainable farming and packaging and the use of biomass capture to power its production facilities : The super-premium vodka, that launched this year its first organic certified vodka range, has a range of innovative programs for sustainable farming and packaging and the use of biomass capture to power its production facilities IWC Schaffhausen : The Swiss luxury watchmaker, specializing in professional pilot's watches, recently announced a partnership with Boom to advance sustainable business practices in both companies. IWC has pioneered a number of sustainability initiatives in the watch industry, for example reducing the weight and volume of packaging, the responsible sourcing of precious metals, the use of renewable energy globally, and the development of paper-based watch straps. : The Swiss luxury watchmaker, specializing in professional pilot's watches, recently announced a partnership with Boom to advance sustainable business practices in both companies. IWC has pioneered a number of sustainability initiatives in the watch industry, for example reducing the weight and volume of packaging, the responsible sourcing of precious metals, the use of renewable energy globally, and the development of paper-based watch straps. Paravel : Creators of the first-ever carbon-neutral suitcase, Paravel is the premier sustainable travel lifestyle brand. A Climate Neutral Certified company, and winners of the Travel & Leisure Global Vision Award, Paravel's luggage, bags, and organizers are crafted from upcycled and sustainable materials. Through their products, partnerships, and other eco-centric initiatives, the brand has offset 12,266 tonnes of CO2, upcycled over 3.5+ million plastic bottles, and planted over 166k trees through Eden Reforestation Projects. : Creators of the first-ever carbon-neutral suitcase, Paravel is the premier sustainable travel lifestyle brand. A Climate Neutral Certified company, and winners of the Travel & Leisure Global Vision Award, Paravel's luggage, bags, and organizers are crafted from upcycled and sustainable materials. Through their products, partnerships, and other eco-centric initiatives, the brand has offset 12,266 tonnes of CO2, upcycled over 3.5+ million plastic bottles, and planted over trees through Eden Reforestation Projects. United Airlines : United is committed to 100% green by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 100% by 2050, without relying on traditional carbon offsets. The world leader in the usage and support for the development of SAF, an alternative fuel made with non-petroleum feedstocks, United already has agreements to purchase nearly twice as much SAF as the known agreements of all other global airlines combined. SAF has the potential to deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel but with a fraction of its carbon footprint. About Boom Supersonic Boom Supersonic is redefining commercial air travel by bringing sustainable, supersonic flight to the skies. Boom's historic commercial airliner, Overture, is designed and committed to industry-leading standards of speed, safety, and sustainability. Overture will be net-zero carbon, capable of flying on 100% sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) at twice the speed of today's fastest passenger jets. Overture's order book, including purchases and options, stands at 70 aircraft, and Boom is working with the United States Air Force for government applications of Overture. Named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2021, the Boom XB-1 demonstrator aircraft rolled out in 2020, and its carbon neutral flight test program is underway. The company is backed by world-class investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Prime Movers Lab, Emerson Collective and American Express Ventures. For more information, visit https://boomsupersonic.com . Connect with Boom Supersonic on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram, YouTube, Medium Photos and video available at https://boomsupersonic.com/press . SOURCE Boom Supersonic CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Burn Boot Camp, a leading boutique fitness franchise, ends the year with significant growth as the brand is projected to wrap up 2021 with over 60 signed agreements and a break into its 40th state by bringing a location to Eagle, Idaho. Burn Boot Camp now has 300 gyms open and operating, and will continue the momentum with a robust roster in Q1, including its first location in the greater New York City area slated to open in January. The recent growth and success has been recognized by the franchise industry as Burn Boot Camp recently landed on Franchise Times Top 400 List. Named as the only fitness concept to experience growth this past year, the brand jumped 48 spots on its annual ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems. This impressive ranking is a result of an aggressive growth phase that has led to celebrating milestone openings like its 300th ribbon cutting earlier this year and entrance into new states, such as New Mexico. Part of the company's recent success comes with a continued emphasis on internal development, as well as creating new revenue generating opportunities, like the November release of the first-ever Afterburn Protein Bar which is available for purchase online and in locations nationwide. Burn Boot Camp's multi-layered strategic expansion plan is all part of an overarching goal to have 500 gyms open or in development by 2023, with international development also planned for Canada, along with continuing to grow its hard and soft goods product line. Even with this goal, the brand places a stronger focus on getting better versus getting bigger. "Our mission has never wavered which is why we've been able to adapt and perform in spite of factors outside our control," shared Devan Kline, Founder and CEO of Burn Boot Camp. "We consistently show up for our dedicated Members and Franchise Partners, which has allowed us to grow a very strong network that's filled with collaboration and support. Our franchise network has been resilient, motivated and all around incredible during a challenging time, which is no doubt why we've been able to come out ahead. On behalf of the entire network and team, we're grateful to be recognized as a stand-out brand and are excited about what the future holds for Burn Boot Camp." In addition to advancing its rank on the Franchise Times Top 400 List, Burn Boot Camp was also named on the 2021 Inc. 5000 for the second consecutive year, after debuting in 2020 at No. 410. The brand also appeared in the top 100 on Entrepreneur's highly sought-after Franchise 500 each of these prestigious lists track the growth of the best and most innovative brands. One of the core pillars of Burn Boot Camp's mission is community impact, and through a long-standing partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), more than 295 individual Burn Boot Camp locations were able to collectively donate over $500,000 during the annual 'Be Their Muscle' event in October. These funds will support MDA's mission to empower the lives of kids and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and over 43 neuromuscular diseases to fund research, care and advocacy so families can live longer and grow stronger. To become a part of the ever-growing #burnnation community, interested individuals can expect a total investment ranging from approximately $182K-$448K with discounts available for military veterans and multi-unit signings. For more information about Burn Boot Camp, visit: franchise.burnbootcamp.com About Burn Boot Camp Founded in 2012 by husband wife duo Devan and Morgan Kline, Burn Boot Camp is a national fitness concept where like-minded women and men can come together, build confidence and inspire one another through fitness. The national franchise started as a female-focused boutique gym franchise with a mission and passion for empowering communities. Recently, Burn Boot Camp has cultivated a following from both women and men alike, giving an opportunity to families to work out together while taking advantage of Childwatch services that are provided exclusively to members. Burn Boot Camp offers 45-minute Camps through highly innovative daily programming crafted by certified personal trainers. For more information, visit burnbootcamp.com SOURCE Burn Boot Camp Related Links http://www.burnbootcamp.com BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BV Investment Partners (BV), a middle-market private equity firm focused on the tech-enabled business services, software and IT services sectors, today announced a significant strategic investment in intent data software and solutions provider Intentsify to help accelerate growth and product innovation. Intentsify, co-founded by Marc Laplante, Mike Kelly, Ed Laplante and Eric Belcher in 2018, has consistently achieved strong growth fueled by B2B businesses seeking data-driven insights to efficiently identify and engage targeted accounts showing buying intent. Since inception, the company has gained more than 150 customers, quadrupled annual revenue in both 2019 and 2020, and will close 2021 with 3x annual revenue growth. Complementing customers' existing intent data sources, Intentsify's Intent Activation software ingests and layers multiple types of buyer intent dataincluding Intentsify's several proprietary data sourcesto deliver a broader, more accurate view into which targeted accounts are in-market to purchase and the issues they care about. This enables marketing and sales teams to focus time and resources on the right accounts, and use the right channels and messaging. Justin Harrison, Managing Partner of BV Investment Partners, said, "Intentsify uses its proprietary technology backed by a global data science team to power numerous marketing, sales, and customer success use cases. Intentsify's co-founders have long experience in this field and are acknowledged thought leaders in the intent data space who have built a strong company with an impressive leadership team, and we look forward to working with them to scale their business." The intent data space is growing rapidly and primed for disruption. According to an Ascend2 report, while 59% of B2B marketers are already using intent data, 64% of those users face challenges in converting the data to actionable insights or verifying the validity of intent signals. And nearly six out of ten (59%) marketers experience wasted resources and staff time as a major cost associated with these challenges. (Source) "B2B organizations are increasingly leveraging multiple sources of intent data to focus time, efforts, and resources where and how they'll have the most impact," said Intentsify Co-founder and CEO, Marc Laplante. "The problem is most B2B companies struggle to quickly gather, analyze, and act on buyer intent signals, which change on a weekly basis. Intentsify is streamlining all of this so our customers can more effectively scale account-based demand and revenue. We are excited to partner with BV who understand our business and has the expertise to help us take Intentsify to the next level." Eric Ahlgren, Managing Director of BV Investment Partners, commented, "By aggregating and layering multiple data sources into a single, holistic view of target account research activitiesand enabling users to easily act on the resulting insightsIntentsify's technology is reimagining the value of intent data and how it can drive go-to-market strategies. BV and Intentsify have developed an exciting and ambitious growth plan and we look forward to beginning this new partnership." Alantra served as exclusive financial advisor to Intentsify. About Intentsify Intentsify's Intent Activation software and solutions make intent data more actionable and impactful for B2B marketing and sales teams. Building on its proprietary intent data, Intentsify's software layers multiple intent data feeds to identify accounts showing the strongest buy-cycle activitiesas well as the issues they're most concerned withand then converts these insights into actions, helping customer efficiently scale pipeline velocity and revenue. For more information, please visit www.intentsify.io About BV Investment Partners BV Investment Partners is one of the oldest and most experienced sector-focused private equity firms in North America. Since its founding in 1983, the firm has invested approximately $4.2 billion, actively targeting investments in the tech-enabled business services, software, and IT services industries. For more information, please visit www.bvlp.com. Contact: Chris Tofalli Chris Tofalli Public Relations, LLC 914-834-4334 SOURCE BV Investment Partners TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (TSX: CF) (the "Company") announces today that its board of directors has authorized the initiation of a substantial issuer bid (the "Offer") pursuant to which the Company will offer to repurchase for cancellation up to $100.0 million of its common shares (the "Common Shares"). The Company expects to announce the terms of the Offer and commence the Offer on December 22, 2021 and that the bid would then expire on January 27, 2022 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, unless extended or withdrawn. The Offer is expected to proceed by way of a modified Dutch auction, which will allow shareholders who choose to participate in the Offer to select the price, within a price range of not less than $15.50 and not more than $16.50 per Common Share (in increments of $0.10 per Common Share). Upon expiry of the Offer, the Company will determine the lowest purchase price (which will not be more than $16.50 per Common Share and not less than $15.50 per Common Share) that will allow the Company to purchase the maximum number of Common Shares properly tendered to the Offer, having an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $100.0 million. The directors and officers of the Company have advised that they will not tender any of their Common Shares pursuant to the Offer. The Offer will not be conditional upon any minimum number of Common Shares being tendered. The Offer will, however, be subject to other conditions and the Company will reserve the right, subject to applicable laws, to withdraw or amend the Offer, if, at any time prior to the payment for deposited Common Shares, certain events occur. The Company has engaged Kingsdale Advisors to act as information agent for the Offer and Computershare Investor Services Inc. to act as the depositary for the Offer. Questions about the Offer can be directed to Kingsdale Advisors at 1-800-775-3159 or by emailing [email protected]. During the six months ended December 15, 2021, the closing prices of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") have ranged from a low of $12.63 to a high of $16.52. The closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX on December 15, 2021 (the last full trading day before the Company announced its intention to make the Offer) was $14.86. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. Details of the Offer, including instructions for tendering Common Shares, will be included in the formal offer to purchase and issuer bid circular, letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery (collectively, the "Offer Documents"). The Offer Documents will be mailed to shareholders, filed with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and made available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and will also be posted on the Company's website at www.cgf.com/investor-relations. ABOUT CANACCORD GENUITY GROUP INC. Through its principal subsidiaries, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (the "Company") is a leading independent, full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: wealth management and capital markets. Since its establishment in 1950, the Company has been driven by an unwavering commitment to building lasting client relationships. We achieve this by generating value for our individual, institutional and corporate clients through comprehensive investment solutions, brokerage services and investment banking services. The Company has wealth management offices located in Canada, the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Australia. The Company's international capital markets division operates in North America, UK & Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol CF on the TSX. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates, intentions and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations that are not historical facts, including business and economic conditions and Canaccord Genuity Group's growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Specific forward-looking statements include the proposed dates of announcement, commencement and expiry of the Offer and the proposed terms of the Offer, including the purchase price range and the maximum value of the Common Shares to be purchased pursuant to the Offer. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "target", "intend", "could" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and a number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, readers should specifically consider various factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, market and general economic conditions, the nature of the financial services industry and the risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in the Company's interim condensed and annual consolidated financial statements, its annual report and its annual information form ("AIF") filed on www.sedar.com as well as the factors discussed in the sections entitled "Risk Management" and "Risk Factors" in the AIF, which include market, liquidity, credit, operational, legal and regulatory risks. Material factors or assumptions that were used by the Company to develop the forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, those set out in the Fiscal 2022 Outlook section in the annual MD&A and those discussed from time to time in the Company's interim condensed and annual consolidated financial statements, its annual report and the AIF filed on www.sedar.com. The preceding list is not exhaustive of all possible risk factors that may influence actual results. Readers are cautioned that the preceding list of material factors or assumptions is not exhaustive. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Except as may be required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, further developments or otherwise. SOURCE Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Related Links http://www.cgf.com Agreement with Levitee to service over 35,000 annual patient visits with the aim to help treat their patients with substance use addictions and chronic pain Levitee Labs will offer the entire Canntab product lineup throughout all its clinics and pharmacies in Alberta and British Columbia TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Canntab Therapeutics Limited (CSE: PILL.CN) (OTCQB: CTABF) (FRA: TBF1.F) (the "Company" or "Canntab"), the leading innovator in cannabinoid and terpene blends in hard pill form for therapeutic applications, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a service agreement (the "Agreement") with Levitee Clinics Inc. ("Levitee"). Servicing over 35,000 patient visits in last 12 months, Levitee is establishing itself as a leader in the integrative wellness space. Levitee aims to transform mental health and addiction treatments through the integration of alternative medicinal therapies. Levitee also operates three pharmacies in Alberta specializing in filling prescriptions for patients with substance use disorders, mental health conditions and chronic pain. Canntab's full suite of oral tablet products including a comprehensive range of both THC and CBD strengths will be made available to Levitee and their patients. Both Canntab and Levitee believe that a hard tablet delivery format will be the preferred dosage format by many of Levitee's patients including more specifically the senior demographic and patients with several issues related to the use of Opiates and other related painkillers, who are largely interested in a product that is easy to administer and is also titratable due to the availability of multiple strengths. On November 11, 2021, Canntab received its medical sales license from Health Canada for its Markham, Ontario facility, enabling the sale of all products directly to medical consumers. The amendment marked the final regulatory step required to launch the Company's direct to consumer website, allowing patients across Canada with an authorized medical document to immediately order Canntab's unique patented exact dosage tablets and caplets of THC and CBD in various strengths online. Exact dosing and ease of administration are the key elements in the Canntab offering, which specifically addresses the needs of the medical community and patients. Larry Latowsky, Canntab's CEO states, "we are thrilled that Levitee has partnered with us to support their patient's treatments for pain management, addiction and general mental health. Canntab's product offering is well suited to Levitee's professional practitioners who want to prescribe CBD and/or THC for various therapies as part of their integrative health approach, general well-being as well as to address specific indications. Our exact dosage THC and CBD products are best suited to meet the needs of the thousands of Levitee patients across the province of Alberta and beyond. We look forward to working with Levitee to maximize positive patient outcomes with the use of medical cannabis." "We share a vision with Canntab to play a meaningful role in flattening the curve of the opioid crisis in Canada by tapering use of addictive painkillers through the substitution of viable alternatives, which can include cannabinoids like CBD and THC and combination thereof," said Noha ElSayed, B.Sc.Pharm, APA, Executive Director, Levitee Clinics and Levitee Pharmacies, Alberta Region. "Notwithstanding the lack of clinical trials for product specific uses, cannabinoids have shown great promise to provide patients relief for multiple indications in which we specialize. I am eager for Canntab to begin servicing our pharmacies and clinics throughout Canada, as it will both drive additional revenue and better serve our patients. About Canntab Therapeutics Limited Canntab is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the manufacturing and distribution of a suite of hard pill cannabinoid formulations in multiple doses and timed-release combinations. Long referred to as Cannabis 3.0 by the Company, Canntab's proprietary hard pill cannabinoid formulations provide doctors, patients and consumers with medical grade solutions which incorporate all the features one would expect from any prescription or over the counter medication sold in pharmacies around the world. These will include the following formulations: once a day and extended release, both providing an accurate dose and improved shelf stability. Canntab holds a Cannabis Standard Processing & Sales for Medical Purposes License, a Cannabis Research License, and an Industrial Hemp License from Health Canada. Canntab trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol PILL, on the OTCQB under the symbol CTABF, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol TBF1. Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "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 information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the adoption of the Company's products; the ability of Canntab and Levitee to complete the creation of educational resources on Canntab's products; the impact of the Agreement on the Company's business, including Levitee's goals being met and the Company providing its products to Levitee's patients and becoming their preferred dosage format; and Canntab playing a meaning role in flattening the curve of the opioid crisis in Canada. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the continued commercial viability and growth in popularity of the Company's products; continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the continued growth of the Company; the Company continuing to provide its products under the terms of the Agreement; the Company's products becoming Levitee's patient's preferred dosage format; and Canntab playing a meaning role in flattening the curve of the opioid crisis in Canada. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the risks associated with the cannabis and pharmaceutical industries in general; increased competition in the cannabis and pharmaceutical markets; the potential future unviability of the Company's products; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the cannabis products; risks associated with a potential collapse in the value of cannabis products; risks associated with the Company's ability to continue generating a profit; the inability of the Company to launch its direct to consumer website; the Company's ability to generate sustained and growing revenue; risks that the Company's products will not be adopted and/or recommended by healthcare professionals; risks associated with a lack of adoption of the Company's products by the senior demographic; the inability of Canntab and Levitee to complete the creation of educational resources on Canntab's products; risks that the Company's products may not carry out the enumerated functions; risk that Levitee and the Company will terminate the Agreement; risk that Levitee will not meet its goals and its patients will not prefer the Company's products; and risks that Canntab will be unable to play a role in flattening the curve of the opioid crisis in Canada. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, 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 statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Canntab Therapeutics Limited PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Cardiovascular Diagnostic Testing Market by Type (Laboratory Developed Tests and In-Vitro Diagnostic Tests), Panel (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Panel with Score), and End User (Laboratory Testing Facilities, Academic Institutes, and Point-of-Care Testing Facilities): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030". As per the report, the global cardiovascular diagnostic testing industry generated $6.87 billion in 2020, and is estimated to reach $15.43 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2021 to 2030. Download Sample Report- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/14656 Major determinants of the market growth Rise in medical technology innovations, initiatives to spread awareness among patients, and surge in geriatric population along with rise in prevalence of cardiovascular diseases have boosted the growth of the global cardiovascular diagnostic testing market. However, changes in FDA regulation and guidance of LDTs and limited insurance coverage and high cost of devices hinder the market growth. On the contrary, development of healthcare infrastructure in emerging nations is expected to open new opportunities for the market players in the future. Covid-19 scenario: The Covid-19 pandemic has a positive impact on the market as the Covid-19 infection has severe imprecations in the cardiovascular system. The Covid-19 pandemic can promote several cardiovascular disorders such as arrhythmias, myocardial injury, and acute coronary syndrome. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of reliable diagnostic tests and the quick development of novel assays. Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Cardiovascular Diagnostic Testing Market- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/14656?reqfor=covid The in-vitro diagnostic test segment dominated the market By type, the in-vitro diagnostic segment held the largest share in 2020, accounting for more than 90% of the global cardiovascular diagnostic testing market, due to increase in demand for non-invasive diagnostic techniques and technological advancements that allow replacing old conventional devices with new ones. However, the laboratory-developed test segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period, as they offer accurate, quality testing for several cardiovascular diseases. The point of care testing facilities segment to portray the highest CAGR through 2030 By end user, the point of care testing facilities segment is expected to portray the highest CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period, as it enables rapid detection of analytes near to the patient, which facilitates quick medical decisions and better disease diagnosis, management, and monitoring. However, the laboratory testing facilities segment held the largest share in 2020, contributing to more than two-fifths of the global cardiovascular diagnostic testing market, owing to rise in prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and increase in demand for laboratory testing. For Purchase Inquiry- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/14656 North America held the lion's share By region, the global cardiovascular diagnostic testing market across North America dominated the market in 2020, accounting for more than two-fifths of the market, due to high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, rise in awareness about various heart diseases, and presence of large number of domestic manufactures of in-vitro diagnostic machines. However, the market across Asia-Pacific is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period, owing to high per capita income, improvement in healthcare infrastructure, and rise in disposable income. Major market players Abbott Laboratories bioMerieux, Inc. Becton, Dickinson and Company Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Danaher Corporation PerkinElmer, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Siemens AG Tosoh Corporation Official Press Release: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/press-release/cardiovascular-diagnostic-testing-market.html Similar Research Reports for Information, Communication and Technology: Paclitaxel-eluting Stent Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Hysteroscope Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Interventional Oncology Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Intraosseous Infusion Device Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 Orthopedic Consumables Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030 AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model): AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports. Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access About Allied Market Research: 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 domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI. 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. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on: LinkedIn Twitter SOURCE Allied Market Research MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Castlelake, L.P. ("Castlelake"), a global alternative investment manager with 16 years of experience investing in asset-rich opportunities, today announced it has reached an agreement for the sale of BoStad, a leading Danish residential property company with approximately 1,750 rental units in major cities across Denmark, to AP Pension. Castlelake became the majority shareholder of the residential property company in April 2019 and has guided its transformation through accretive strategic and operational initiatives to position the company as a premier developer and manager of Danish residential properties. These initiatives have included installing an experienced management team, restructuring the company's financing and selling non-core assets as well as adding new high-quality residential assets to the company's portfolio. "When we acquired what is now known as BoStad in 2019, we saw an opportunity to unlock its potential by simplifying its capital structure and optimizing its team and portfolio," said Evan Carruthers, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Castlelake. "We were pleased to be able to invest in these high-quality assets and congratulate AP Pension on its acquisition of what we believe to be a differentiated company and asset portfolio." Castlelake has a strong history of investing in Europe, where it has acquired more than 7,000 assets across 12 European countries since its founding in 2005. Castlelake's experience investing in European land and real estate includes an investment in Millenium Hotels Real Estate, a listed real estate investment company that specializes in luxury hotel properties in Spain and Portugal; Prodea Investments, the largest Greek real estate investment company; and Aedas Homes, one of the largest Spanish homebuilders. CBRE acted as sole financial and real estate advisor to Castlelake for this transaction. About Castlelake Castlelake, L.P. is a global alternative investment manager focused on investments in real assets, specialty finance and aviation. Founded in 2005, Castlelake manages approximately $20 billion of assets on behalf of its investors. The Castlelake team comprises more than 200 experienced professionals, including 89 investment professionals, across six offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit https://www.castlelake.com/. Contact Castlelake Media Relations Molly Blemker +1 612 851 3083 [email protected] Prosek Partners for Castlelake Josh Clarkson [email protected] +1 212 279 3115 SOURCE Castlelake SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Commure , a leading health information technology (IT) company building the common architecture for tomorrow's health ecosystem, announced today it has added three executives to its executive leadership team, all with experience at major healthcare and technology companies, to fill the new roles of chief product, growth, and people officers, and also named a new member to its board of directors. Commure appointed: Abhijit Mitra , Chief Product and Engineering Officer Mr. Mitra joins Commure from ServiceNow , where he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Industry Workflows. He previously held technical leadership roles at SAP and Oracle. , Chief Product and Engineering Officer Mr. Mitra joins Commure from , where he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Industry Workflows. He previously held technical leadership roles at SAP and Oracle. Manisha Shetty Gulati , Chief Growth Officer Manisha Shetty Gulati has spent 20 years in healthcare dedicated to organizations' growth and performance, particularly through innovation in the use of data and technology. , Chief Growth Officer Manisha Shetty Gulati has spent 20 years in healthcare dedicated to organizations' growth and performance, particularly through innovation in the use of data and Christine Tibbits , Chief People Officer Ms. Tibbits was part of the founding leadership team for Google Health , acting as both their Head of Human Resources (HR) and Director of Education and Engagement. She joined Google in 2007, and co-led the HR side for the corporate restructuring of Google into Alphabet. In addition, Teresa Carlson, President and Chief Growth Officer at Splunk , a global provider of technology designed to investigate, monitor, analyze and act on data at any scale, has joined Commure's Board of Directors. The three new executives will serve alongside recently named Chief Health and Innovation Officer Saurabha Bhatnager , MD, who was previously at UnitedHealth Group, on Commure's executive team. The team is led by CEO Ashwini Zenooz , MD, whom Commure appointed CEO in September from Salesforce, where she had been Chief Medical Officer. The announcements cap a year that saw Commure double in size through both acquisition and organic growth, secure foundational customer relationships with major healthcare provider networks , and rank among CB Insights' 2021 Digital Health 150 , which showcases the 150 most promising private digital health companies in the world. "Commure is attracting amazing talent at every level," Ashwini Zenooz, MD, Commure's CEO, said. "There are so many challenges left to tackle in healthcare -- related to access, quality, cost, and experience -- all of which stem from the industry's underlying technology silos and data fragmentation. Commure's goal is to drive data-driven collaboration across the ecosystem to mend disruption and replace fragmentation with innovation. We're finding that our collaborative partnership model is not only resonating with the industry, but with prospective talent as well. Our new executives bring experience, knowledge, and skills that will help solidify Commure's unique position and drive our growth." Abhijit Mitra, Chief Product and Engineering Officer Abhijit Mitra has been in the software industry for 25 years, at Oracle, SAP, and most recently at ServiceNow as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Industry Workflows. He brings to Commure a proven track record of creating market leading new product businesses across multiple industries, including Healthcare and Life Sciences, to improve operational performance and deliver outstanding patient care. He holds four U.S. patents, a master's degree in computer science from Southern Illinois University, and a MBA from University of California at Berkeley. Manisha Shetty Gulati, Chief Growth Officer For 20 years, Manisha Shetty Gulati has led healthcare organizations to grow and improve performance, particularly through innovation in the use of data and technology. Prior to joining Commure, Gulati was the Chief Operating Officer at Clarify Health Solutions, which enables providers, payers, and life sciences organizations to deliver better care through advanced analytics and software solutions. Previously, she was a Partner at McKinsey & Company and worked with companies across the healthcare ecosystem in the US and EMEA. Gulati holds a MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College. She serves on the Board of Directors of software company Model N and is Vice Chair of the Board of ReSurge International. Christine Tibbits, Chief People Officer Christine Tibbits knows both the provider side and tech vendor side of healthcare. She worked in clinical mental health managing a team serving the California state hospital and developmental center systems before moving to Google in 2007. Christine was part of the founding leadership team at Google Health and most recently served as Director of Health Education and Engagement where she saw first-hand both the opportunity and the complexity that sits at the intersection of high tech and health tech. Teresa Carlson, Independent Director Teresa Carlson, President and Chief Growth Officer at Splunk, has joined Commure's Board of Directors to help guide the company on its quest to usher in a new era of data-driven, consumer-centric, and wellness-oriented healthcare for every individual who receives or delivers care. Prior to Splunk, Ms. Carlson founded Amazon Web Services' Worldwide Public Sector in 2010, and over time her role at AWS expanded to include the financial services, energy services, telecommunications, and aerospace and services industry business units. Previously, Carlson led sales, marketing and business development organizations at Microsoft, Keyfile Corp/Lexign and NovaCare. Carlson holds B.A. and M.S. degrees from Western Kentucky University, and has been a strong advocate for empowering women in the technology field. About Commure Commure is building the universal platform and common architecture for tomorrow's health ecosystem to enable open collaboration that breaks down long-standing "silos" in health IT and mends fragmentation in healthcare delivery. Commure partners with some of the largest and most innovative health systems like HCA Healthcare and Jefferson Health to advance their digital initiatives, in service of connected care and collective wellbeing. Commure was founded in 2017 by General Catalyst Managing Partner Hemant Taneja, and is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.commure.com . Media contacts : David Domeshek Commure (508) 873-7068 [email protected] Madison Meuse Inkhouse, for Commure [email protected] SOURCE Commure DALLAS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crossroads Systems, Inc. (OTCQX: CRSS) ("Crossroads" or the "Company"), a holding company focused on investing in businesses that promote economic vitality and community development, announced today that it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire Fountainhead, a leading national, non-bank, direct commercial lender specializing in business financing for small to midsize businesses. Founded by some of the most experienced and accomplished Small Business Administration (SBA) lenders in the industry, Fountainhead finances the growth of small business borrowers, in addition to working with referral partners at community banks, credit unions, and others through their industry-leading referral program. The Fountainhead team has collectively been involved in financing over $28 billion in total projects throughout their careers by providing SBA 7(a), SBA 504, and low loan-to-value (LTV) conventional loans across all 50 states and US territories. Fountainhead's SBA products provide capital to deserving small businesses through the SBA 7(a) program. Additionally, their SBA 504 and conventional loan programs provide low leveraged loan opportunities with up to 65% LTV first lien commercial real estate loans on owner-occupied/operated properties. Over the past nearly two years, Fountainhead has also operated at the forefront of providing aid to support America's small businesses through the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) effort. Since the inception of the program, Fountainhead has closed and funded nearly 300,000 PPP loans, becoming the nation's sixth most active PPP lender in 2021 alone. "Our acquisition of Fountainhead, a national SBA and major PPP lender, allows us to further diversify our small business product mix and offer more financing solutions to even more deserving businesses across the country," said Eric Donnelly, CEO of Crossroads. "This combination, when added to our existing partnerships with Enhanced Capital Group and Rise Line Business Credit, two other leading nationwide lending firms, will enable us to capture additional SBA loan business which fit perfectly within our growing pipeline of small business opportunities. On behalf of our entire organization, I'd like to formally welcome Fountainhead to the Crossroads family." Fountainhead Founder and CEO, Chris Hurn added: "We could not have found a better partner to help us expand our mission of providing the smartest, fastest financing possible to owners of every well-run small to mid-sized business in America. We're looking forward to working alongside the Crossroads team over the coming months and years to make that a reality." This agreement was unanimously approved by the members of both Crossroads' and Fountainhead's Boards of Directors. The deal remains subject to the consent of and final approval by the SBA and is expected to close in the first half of 2022. Additional terms have not been disclosed. Fountainhead is one of only 14 nonbank lenders approved to make SBA 7(a) loans under its Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) license. Additionally, Fountainhead has one of SBA's Preferred Lender Partner (PLP) designations, which roughly 10% of participating SBA lenders earn. The PLP is the highest level of approval and status that a lender can hold, offering full delegation of lending authority. About Crossroads Systems, Inc. Crossroads Systems, Inc. (OTCQX: CRSS) is a holding company focused on investing in businesses that promote economic vitality and community development. Crossroads' subsidiary, Capital Plus Financial (CPF), is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Certified B-Corp, which supports Hispanic homeownership with a long-term, fixed-rate single-family mortgage product. About Fountainhead Fountainhead SBF and Fountainhead Commercial Capital (collectively, "Fountainhead") is a nationwide, non-bank, direct lender specializing in the SBA 7(a), SBA 504, and low LTV (<65%) conventional commercial real estate loans. More information is available at fountainheadcc.com or by calling 800-770-1504. Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements that relate to the business and expected future events or future performance of Crossroads Systems, Inc. and Capital Plus Financial and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause its actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "targets," "likely," "will," "would," "could," and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Crossroads Systems' and Capital Plus Financial's ability to implement their business strategy, and their ability to achieve or maintain profitability. The future performance of Crossroads Systems and Capital Plus Financial may be adversely affected by the following risks and uncertainties: economic changes affecting homeownership in the geographies where Capital Plus Financial conducts business, developments in lending markets that may not align with Capital Plus Financial's expectations and that may affect Capital Plus Financial's plans to grow its portfolio, variations in quarterly results, developments in litigation to which we may be a party, technological change in the industry, future capital requirements, regulatory actions or delays and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described or anticipated by these forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of these factors and risks, investors should review Crossroads Systems' annual and quarterly reports. Forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's beliefs and opinions at the time the statements are made. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Crossroads Systems undertakes no duty to update this information to reflect future events, information or circumstances. 2021 Crossroads Systems, Inc., Crossroads and Crossroads Systems are registered trademarks of Crossroads Systems, Inc. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Company Contact: Crossroads Systems [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Gateway Investor Relations Matt Glover and Tom Colton [email protected] (949) 574-3860 Press/Media Contact: dovetail solutions Andy Boian [email protected] (720) 221-9211 SOURCE Crossroads Systems; Capital Plus Financial The amount of friction in digital application processes can make or break a financial institution's success. In fact, Equifax data shows that some financial institutions are seeing as high as 70% in digital transaction abandonment. The CuneXus CPLXpress platform analyzes hundreds of internal and external data points, helping credit unions proactively deliver perpetual, personalized loan offers that are already approved and readily available for creditworthy members. By leveraging Equifax digital marketing data intelligence, these institutions are now able to generate more relevant offers and, at the same time, find the sweet spot of lower risk accounts with high open rates. Equifax data also enables lenders to assess the competitiveness of their pre-approved offers compared to the market, refine credit policies and make improvements for performance in subsequent campaigns. "The Equifax partnership with CuneXus is designed to help credit unions eliminate the loan application process entirely with the unique ability to identify eligible account holders that are pre-approved and present them with digital, menu-like options," commented Joy Wilder Lybeer, US Information Solutions (USIS) Chief Revenue Officer and Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships at Equifax. "This user-friendly experience promotes full transparency and helps institutions optimize their portfolio of existing and new members." This partnership combines advanced data analytics with seamless workflow integration, empowering credit unions to intimately understand their account holders' financial standing, anticipate their needs and extend personalized pre-approved loan offers to members in as little as 10 seconds. Financial institutions who implement this proactive approach create a new level of consumer transparency and awareness, ensuring they are top of mind anytime consumers enter a purchase market. Georgia's Own Credit Union, a $3.2 billion-asset credit union that uses solutions from both Equifax and CuneXus, has a unique perspective on the partnership. Renee Jones, Director of Product Management at the credit union commented, "Making the Equifax and CuneXus capabilities available to CuneXus customers provides lenders with access to a level of personalization and intelligence that can be game changing. The duo has enabled us to transform the way we support our members. We are now able to better segment our members based on their overall lending profile, boost cross-sell capabilities, deepen penetration of services, exceed our member satisfaction goals, and more. Our efficiencies and improved member satisfaction prove that this partnership supports our differentiators and impacts our bottom line." Dave Buerger, co-founder and president of CuneXus, added, "Financial institutions have a unique and timely opportunity to win over a new generation of business with a local positioning that offers a sense of ease and transparency people crave. Now it's time to add a next-level service that can outshine financial alternatives. This partnership with Equifax can strengthen the level of insight that lenders have, allowing them to evaluate and adjust current offers to appropriately target members based on their specific financial needs. This level of support is what consumers need to stay on track with their finances and will ultimately drive customer retention." Additional information on the CuneXus CPLXpress platform can be found at CuneXusonline.com . For more information on Equifax data-driven marketing capabilities, visit Equifax.com. About CuneXus CuneXus is the first-to-market with a digital storefront for financial institution's customers and members, addressing the need for a personalized, on-demand banking experience. The platform eliminates the loan application process, providing consumer transparency and a simple 10-second activation experience. The CuneXus digital storefront has helped the largest lenders in the country to grow wallet share, create sales enabled branches, execute new account holder acquisition, and grow non-interest income. CuneXus client institutions represent over $571 billion in combined assets and 26 million U.S. consumers. For more information, visit www.cunexus.com . About Equifax Inc. At Equifax (NYSE: EFX ), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 12,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com . FOR MORE INFORMATION Dave Buerger for CuneXus [email protected] Kate Walker, for Equifax [email protected] SOURCE Equifax Inc. The launch of the prestigious AED 800 million development marks significant milestones for both the companies: Dar Al Arkan's continued regional expansion by partnering with the world's top luxury brands, and the world's first ever Pagani-inspired exclusive spaces being launched along with the bespoke line of interior furniture. DaVinci is situated in the heart of the city directly on the Dubai Water Canal, with close proximity to Downtown Dubai's top attractions with uninterrupted views of the Dubai Water Canal, making the building a true sculpted heaven within the bustling city. Horacio Pagani, Founder & Chief Designer, Pagani Automobili S.p.A. said "We're delighted to be working with Dar Al Arkan on this project, our first in the region, and we're excited to be designing the interiors of the incredible DaVinci tower. The living spaces will offer exclusive, bespoke environments, reflecting the cornerstones of our creative philosophy that combines form and function to create unique, handmade objects. It's a philosophy that has been transmitted to us through the work of Leonardo Da Vinci who we try, in our own small way, to honor every day and after whom we decided to name this tower. The Dubai real estate sector continues to grow immensely and we're proud of being a part of an exclusive and truly one-of-a-kind development plan." Ziad El Chaar, Vice Chairman of Dar Al Arkan Properties, said: "Dar Al Arkan is proud to collaborate with exclusive partners that help us build the ultimate spaces that awaken the senses in different ways. While we're paying the utmost attention to creating beautiful living spaces, with the finest details, and unmatched quality; we're also delivering the most spacious units in the Dubai market with two-bedroom apartment starting at 2100 sq. ft. up to a 7000 sq. ft. penthouse. A unique design and an ultimate sensory experience, the tower construction is currently underway and is set to be completed before mid-2023.This is a project that will match One Hyde Park of London." DaVinci tower is one of the best representations of contemporary Italian design excellence around the world. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1711569/Dar_Al_Arkan_DaVinci_Tower.jpg SOURCE Dar Al Arkan We're on the cusp of seeing a wave of breakthrough treatments in behavioral health. Tweet this In addition, Awakenings offers cutting-edge treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), including TMS therapy and ketamine infusion therapy for clinical depression. According to a 2021 study by Mental Health America, the states of Missouri and Kansas rank 31 and 43, respectively, in the nation in the rate of clinical depression, a condition which is estimated to affect nearly three million adult Americans. (The higher the ranking, the higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care.) Awakenings is headed by Maria Cristina Davila, M.D., who is double board-certified in psychiatry and neurology. Born in Argentina, she completed her medical school training in Buenos Aires before moving to Kansas City where she completed her psychiatric residency training at University of Missouri, Kansas City Medical School. She has been practicing in the community since 1998 and has served in many positions in local universities and hospitals. Currently, she serves as president of the Midwest chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. "Awakenings offers hope to patients who might have tried other treatment programs without success. We're particularly proud of our ketamine infusion therapies. Because of its rapidness and effectiveness, it can potentially improve symptoms even in patients with treatment-resistant depression and other mental health conditions," says Dr. Davila. Ketamine infusion therapy can have an immediate and lasting impact on clinical depression with minimal disruption to the patient's daily routine. Ketamine is a manmade pharmaceutical first synthesized in 1962 and approved for use in the United States in 1970. It works by stimulating the development of new receptors and synapses in the brain. In 2019, the FDA made a groundbreaking decision to approve a form of ketamine as a clinical treatment for treatment-resistant depression. Discovery Behavioral Health President & CEO John Peloquin notes, "We're on the cusp of seeing a wave of breakthrough treatments in behavioral health that combine evidenced-based medications with personalized counseling. Dr. Davila and her team are at the vanguard of introducing these innovations, and we're thrilled to welcome Awakenings to our growing nationwide network of behavioral health centers." About Discovery Behavioral Health Everyone deserves a happy, rewarding life. That's why Discovery Behavioral Health has made evidence-based, outcome driven healthcare accessible and affordable since inception. With a full continuum of care detoxification, medical residences, residential treatment centers, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, psychiatric, neurocenters and telehealth services, we can offer the right care at the right time for adults or teens struggling with mental health, substance use or eating disorders. With a portfolio of more than 130 treatment centers including service lines in successful operation since 1985, we are a preferred and trusted provider with most insurance companies who value our clinical rigor and remarkable results. When treatment is complete, our patients become part of Discovery's growing family of Alumni, connected through free aftercare programs, support groups, activities, and a caring community for life. Because when quality behavioral healthcare is within reach, so is happiness. Press Contact: Greg Ptacek PR | Communications Discovery Behavioral Health, Inc. 323-841-8002 mobile [email protected] SOURCE Discovery Behavioral Health DonorSearch and CoreLogic Partner to deliver the preeminent national real estate data source preferred by US nonprofits. Tweet this With the addition of CoreLogic's comprehensive and extensively researched real estate data, DonorSearch clients can now: Track ownership changes faster. Rely on more accurate market values. As a result, see a 20-30% increase in name-to-property matches. in name-to-property matches. Employ a new level of matching logic that finds more matches and does an even better job isolating ownership in high-density housing, including co-ops in New York City and shared ownership buildings throughout the coverage. and shared ownership buildings throughout the coverage. Confidently identify even more property owners in states with unusual address conventions like Hawaii . CoreLogic real estate data is available immediately and is already active for Integrated Searches, screening, and AI products. This implementation also enhances the Search Options tab, specifically searching by an address nationally and searching by name. About DonorSearch: DonorSearch connects more causes to people who have an affinity and capacity to give. Through giving insights, wealth screening, and access to secure and accurate donor profile data, we help nonprofits grow giving programs and build donor relationships quickly, efficiently, and securely. We integrate interactively with many CRMS, making the CoreLogic real estate intelligence available from within systems like RE NXT, BBCRM, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Salesforce, Salesforce implementations by SSB's Affiniquest and UCInnovation, Ascend, Ellucian CRM Advance, Microsoft Dynamics, EveryAction, and 35+ others. Kristine Holferty DonorSearch 410-670-7880 [email protected] www.donorsearch.net SOURCE DonorSearch RESTON, Va. and FAIRFIELD, Ala., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, today announced that Miles College has selected Ellucian Colleague SaaS to modernize its technology operations. A new Ellucian customer and one of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Miles College joins more than 1,100 institutions worldwide in the cloud with Ellucian and more than 500 institutions in the cloud with their full SIS/ERP. Miles College will implement Ellucian Colleague SaaS, a comprehensive, modern, and cloud-based ERP to support the institution's digital transformation strategy that focuses on building an accessible learning environment for students. Upgrading systems will provide students with an online, self-service experience for registration and course enrollment, with easy access to grades and a holistic view of financial aid and overall financial standing. Integrated data across platforms will deliver greater insights to campus leaders, and IT administrators will recognize efficiencies and greater security. "Under the leadership of President Knight, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing our students with a seamless enrollment experience, and to do that effectively, we have to improve the way we operate," said Michael Johnson, Chief Innovation Officer, Miles College. "The decision to move forward with Ellucian Colleague SaaS provides a valuable opportunity to improve our technological infrastructure and better serve our students." "Miles College is an innovative leader focused on providing an environment that positions students for success and we are pleased to welcome them to the Ellucian customer community," said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. "Leveraging Colleague's SaaS delivery model, Miles College will streamline processes and modernize operations for an overall improved user experience for students, faculty and staff. We look forward to a strong partnership accelerating the institution's digital transformation to support its growing number of students." For more information on Ellucian Colleague, visit: https://www.ellucian.com/solutions/ellucian-colleague. About Ellucian Ellucian is charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence. Working with a community of more than 2,700 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformationso that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. The Ellucian community also serves the largest number of HESS members promoting collaboration and shared expertise in higher education. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com. About Miles College Miles College, founded in 1898, is a premier liberal arts institution located in metropolitan Birmingham within the corporate limits of the City of Fairfield. The noble founders of the institution saw educated leadership as the paramount need in the black community. Miles, which is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and accredited by Commission on Colleges for the awarding of Baccalaureate Degrees, is the only four-year institution in historic Birmingham, Alabama designated as a member of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Media Contacts Lindsay Stanley [email protected] Brad Jennings [email protected] SOURCE Ellucian BRUSSELS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Commission today announced a revised regulation and new guidance, severely restricting trade in ivory. The new measures are the strongest yet for the European Union (EU), among the largest exporters of legal ivory in the world. IFAW welcomes this as a step in the right direction, but says there is more work to be done to protect elephants. The new EU guidance will considerably restrict domestic ivory trade, as well as imports and re-exports of both raw and worked ivory. Only a few exceptions for antiques and some musical instruments will remain. "After years of campaigning, this announcement is an important milestone in the fight against wildlife crime, and great news for elephants. The nearly full closure of the EU domestic ivory market and the suspension of the imports and re-exports both in raw and worked ivory will hinder criminal efforts to launder illegal ivory and reduce incentives for poaching," said Ilaria Di Silvestre, IFAW's Head of EU Policy and Campaigns. While this new legislation demonstrates that the EU is finally taking action to address the slaughter of thousands of elephants each year by poachers, it is not quite a full 'ban' on ivory trade. Most of the new regulations are not legally binding. It is the responsibility of each EU Member State to implement them, and for the European Commission to monitor progress. This move by the EU follows in the wake of similar actions by the United States and China. In 2016, with the strong support of IFAW, the United States implemented a binding near-total ban on commercial trade in ivory and in 2017, China followed suit with a complete ban on commercial ivory sales. "IFAW thanks the public who called for EU action, and while there is much to celebrate with this historic milestone, our work continues as implementation will be crucial for actual change to take place. IFAW hopes this announcement will not remain mere ink on paper," added Staci McLennan, IFAW's EU Office Director. There are several upcoming opportunities for the EU and Member States to demonstrate their commitment to protecting elephants and all wildlife, and together help to safeguard the world's rapidly declining biodiversity. Most urgent is the long-overdue renewal of the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking (WTAP), as well as the Environmental Crime Directive, which the Commission agreed to strengthen. As a founding member of the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online, IFAW continues to engage with prominent platforms to take quick and effective action to remove illegal wildlife products such as ivory from their online markets. In addition, its 'cyber spotters' initiative trains citizens on how to identify and report suspicious listings onlinea critical tool in the new EU Digital Services Act (DSA) that is currently being drafted. Stricter, more harmonized rules, and the establishment of clear liability for online marketplaces, would make the detection and enforcement of illegal wildlife trade easier for all Member States. Notes to Editors: Photo and video assets can be downloaded here (copyright IFAW, with individual photographer names listed) Today, there are just about 400,000 elephants in Africa; a 70% decline since the 1970s, primarily due to poaching. since the 1970s, primarily due to poaching. The European Union (EU) is among the largest exporters of legal ivory in the world. The existence of legal domestic ivory markets in the EU and elsewhere provides cover for criminals to launder illegal ivory from poached elephants, puts the burden of proving illegality on enforcement officers, and confuses consumers, many of whom misunderstand market availability of ivory for legality of the trade. In March 2018, 1.2 million European citizens called on the EU to ban ivory trade In May 2018, more than 90 Members of the European Parliament called for a total ban on ivory trade and imports in the EU, and a first public consultation released by the European Commission showed that more than 90% of the 90,000 respondents were supportive of an EU ban on ivory trade. The UK passed a ban on ivory trade in December 2018 but has yet to bring this ban into force. Press contact: Stacey Hedman Global Communications, US m: +1 508 737 2558 e: [email protected] About the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) - The International Fund for Animal Welfare is a global non-profit helping animal and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we're up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org. SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare Related Links http://www.ifaw.org I'm really pleased to have a partnership with Even Health. Tweet this The holiday season is generally a stressful period for hospitals and emergency rooms. The Omicron variant has compounded those challenges, leading to more burnout, increased anxiety, and increased risk of depression among healthcare providers. Even Health and Ochsner Health have been partnered since early 2021 to increase peer and emotional support for employees by connecting them with moderated group support and healthcare professionals across the United States through Even Health's flagship product, Cabana. "I'm really pleased to have a partnership with Even Health as we think of honest and innovative ways to support our employees at all times of the year," explains Dr. Nigel Girgrah, Chief Wellness Officer for Ochsner Health. "The holiday season is tough; it's stressful and for some, it can be very lonely. I want our employees to understand they aren't alone at this time of year and Blue Holiday and Cabana's resources are a friendly and candid reminder that there are others to connect with who face the same challenges." Even Health CEO and cofounder, David Black, and Rudy Olivo, Vice President of Relationships, will be onsite to launch the Blue Holiday initiative alongside Ochsner Health personnel on December 16. Please contact our media team with questions or requests regarding this initiative. Additional information is available at www.mycabana.health/holidays Contact Information: [email protected] About Even Health Even Health is a mental wellness company focused on helping individuals find balance and connection during life's expected and unexpected challenges. Even Health is the creator of Cabana, the first digital counseling platform designed for difficult conversations through anonymous group support based in virtual reality safe spaces. Even Health is currently working with our military and healthcare communities, featured in Fast Company's World Changing Ideas 2021, and has been offered a spot in the coveted 1501 Health startup accelerator for established companies pioneering healthcare innovation. For more information, visit www.evenhealth.com. About Ochsner Health Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Ochsner Health has healed 900,000 people from across the globe in 2020, providing the latest medical breakthroughs and therapies, including digital medicine for chronic conditions and telehealth specialty services. Ochsner Health is a national leader, named the top hospital in Louisiana and a top children's hospital by U.S. News & World Report. As Louisiana's leading healthcare educator, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. Ochsner Health is innovating healthcare by investing in new technologies and research to make world-class care more accessible, affordable, convenient and effective. Ochsner's team of more than 32,000 employees and 4,500 providers are working to reinvent the future of health and wellness in the region. For more information, visit www.ochsner.org. SOURCE Even Health PFORZHEIM, Germany and MUNICH, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- E-mobility in Europe is picking up speed and is racing ahead more rapidly in Germany than in any other European country. One in three electric cars newly registered in 2021 drives on German roads, according to figures for the first ten months of this year. The growing international mobility industry will meet from May 1113, 2022, at Power2Drive Europe in Munich. Close to 886,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold from January through October 2021 in 18 European countries according to a market study from electric car data specialists, Schmidt Automotive Research. That's equivalent to an 80 percent increase in the number of newly registered fully electric cars compared to the same period in 2020. The largest vehicle market in Western Europe is also in pole position when it comes to the number of newly registered BEVs: 267,000 registration documents were issued in Germany by October equal to one in every three newly registered BEV in Europe. This marks a rise of 120 percent compared to 2020. Alongside Germany, other large European markets for BEVs are currently the United Kingdom (141,000), France (122,500) and Norway (89,000). Some countries have seen a high increase of newly registered fully electric cars in comparison to the period of previous year despite lower absolute numbers for example, in Italy (166 percent, 52,300 cars), Austria (152 percent, 26,500 cars) and Sweden (126 percent, 42,000 cars). Even Finland, where a total of just 7,612 new fully electric cars were registered as of October 2021, has seen a 160 percent increase in comparison to the period of previous year. 15 million electric cars planned in Germany by 2030 The boom in e-mobility in Germany will continue: State subsidies (such as the innovation premium for purchasing an electric passenger car), enhanced performance and ranges, and the expansion of charging infrastructure will also help the industry drive forward. Head of Tesla, Elon Musk has announced that the first electric cars from the US car manufacturer's first European factory will drive off the conveyor belt in Berlin as early as December. The new German government has also set ambitious goals: At least 15 million fully electric passenger cars are to be on German roads by 2030. Furthermore, the new coalition agreement sets out to have one million publicly accessible charging stations installed by 2030, the majority of which are to be high-speed charging stations. The new German government wants to improve subsidies for the expansion of charging infrastructure and aims to remove any obstacles in connection with approval processes, network infrastructure and grid connection conditions. Charging solutions and electric vehicles at Power2Drive Europe 2022 The international exhibition Power2Drive Europe 2022 with its exhibition forum and accompanying Power2Drive Conference will be held in Munich and will help visitors get their bearings in this dynamically growing market. The international exhibition features charging solutions, electric vehicles and mobility services. Manufacturers, suppliers, installers, fleet and energy managers, distributors and start-ups will be able to make valuable business contacts. Taking place as part of the innovation hub The smarter E Europe together with the energy exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe and EM-Power Europe, the exhibition puts the intelligent integration of electric mobility in a renewable energy system on center stage. The event showcases ways to intelligently connect the electricity, heat and transportation sectors through the use of renewable energy as well as decentralization and digitalization. Exhibitors register now here. Power2Drive Europe 2022 will be held from May 1113 as part of The smarter E Europe 2022 at Messe Munchen. For more information on Power2Drive Europe 2022, please visit www.PowerToDrive.de. About Power2Drive Europe Power2Drive Europe is the international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility. Under the motto "Charging the future of mobility!", Power2Drive Europe is the ideal meeting point for manufacturers, suppliers, installers, fleet and energy managers, distributors and start-ups. The exhibition shines the spotlight on innovative solutions for sustainable mobility and approaches for integrating them into the power grid. Exhibitors and visitors alike benefit from the synergy between renewable energies, storage systems and innovative mobility concepts. Power2Drive Europe takes a look at current global market developments, showcases the potential of e-mobility, and reflects the interconnection of electric vehicles with a sustainable energy supply on a global scale. Meet new customers, catch up with your existing customer base and forge new business relationships with the industry's key decision makers. Power2Drive Europe is part of The smarter E Europe the continent's largest platform for the energy industry. The energy exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, and EM-Power Europe will also be held at the same time. Power2Drive Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM). www.PowerToDrive.de Contact: Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim, Germany Joel Wenske | Tel.: +49 7231 58598-0 | Fax: +49 7231 58598-28 [email protected] | LinkedIn | Power2Drive Europe Press contact: fischerAppelt, relations | Otl-Aicher-Str. 64 | 80807 Munich, Germany Robert Schwarzenbock | Tel.: +49 89 747466-23 | Fax: +49 89 747466-66 [email protected] SOURCE The smarter E Europe FRISCO, Texas, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolve Mortgage Services , a top provider of outsourced mortgage solutions and eMortgage technology solutions, announced today it has acquired Brooks Systems LLC to expand its technical automation regulatory compliance offerings. Brooks and Evolve have a 20-year relationship with the Brooks Math Engine and other regulatory testing products that have been embedded into Evolve's core offerings all along. Rather than just being another business process outsource provider to manage volume capacity, Evolve Mortgage Services has invested heavily in technology to not only be able to scale but more importantly, to deliver a more consistent and fully compliant, automated process that guarantees better data quality and integrity by creating stronger underwriting and compliance results fully backed with rep and warrants. "With our acquisition of Brooks Systems LLC this will help continue to ensure this" said Evolve Mortgage Services CEO Paul Anselmo. Adding, "Bob Brooks has been a great partner and friend and has been at the forefront of compliance since the first days of financial regulation and we at Evolve are honored to carry that torch forward as Bob takes a well-deserved rest." Other key staff members will be joining Evolve as a part of this transaction. Brooks Systems LLC, a West Mystic, Connecticut-based company, provided the Federal Home Loan Bank Board with the first PC module for auditing disclosures in the 12 regions and 39 districts. Brooks Systems also wrote the first reimbursement program for the FHLBB and helped establish disclosure requirements and calculation methods for adjustable-rate mortgages. Any technology-based solution must focus on the complexities of current regulations and at the same time simplify the process for lenders, while also addressing the issues of accuracy, flexibility and ease-of-use. "I am enthused with the acquisition that brings both of our technologies together, as we forge forward together in the Mortgage banking industry" says Robert Brooks II, president and CEO of Brooks Systems. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Evolve Mortgage Services Evolve Mortgage Services is a top provider of outsourced mortgage solutions and eMortgage technology solutions. Evolve enables companies to eliminate roadblocks and focus their valuable resources on growth. The company's services empower mortgage lenders, servicers, and investors to reduce inefficiencies in their mortgage loan process and dramatically improve profitability. Founded and run by a team of industry veterans, Evolve provides seamless component or end-to-end loan services and creates custom strategies for each client. The firm has extensive experience in origination and post-closing services; institutional, whole loan, and servicing acquisition due diligence; collateral recovery HMDA and forensic compliance reviews; whole loan sales; agency deliveries; and TPR securitizations. Evolve is based in Frisco, Texas. For more information, visit www.evolvemortgageservices.com About Brooks Systems LLC Brooks Systems LLC designs and distributes compliance, risk management tools and state-of-the-art software and services. Brooks Systems has been a provider of cutting-edge technology for the residential finance industry for over 20 years and it has serviced and supported over 10,000 clients in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Clients include top lenders in the nation, as well as government organizations, mortgage bankers and brokers, credit unions, attorneys, title companies and many more. For more information, visit www.brookssystems.com. SOURCE: Evolve Mortgage Services Related Links: www.evolvemortgageservices.com www.brookssystems.com SOURCE Evolve Mortgage Services Exro has announced a development partnership with evTS, a speciality EV manufacturer that produces purpose-built, lightweight commercial utility vehicles, to repurpose the batteries from evTS' flagship FireFly ESV for reuse in a second-life energy storage application. The pilot project will aim to optimize and repurpose the FireFly ESV batteries into a second life, supporting 5-10 years of additional second-life use, with its Energy Storage System (ESS), which is equipped with its patented Battery Control System (BCS) technology. Exro is also exploring how its technology can optimize the FireFly ESV batteries' first-life applications, demonstrating its nimble ability to solve additional challenges for existing customers. CALGARY, AB, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Exro Technologies Inc. (TSX: EXRO) (OTCQB: EXROF) (the "Company" or "Exro"), a leading clean technology company that has developed a new class of power electronics for electric motors and batteries, announced today a development partnership with ev Transportation Services Inc. ("evTS"), a Boston-based specialty electric vehicle manufacturer, to repurpose batteries from evTS' pure-electric FireFly ESV commercial utility vehicle for second-life battery energy storage applications. Exro's Energy Storage System (ESS), equipped with its Battery Control System (BCS) technology, can extend the retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries into a second life and demonstrates Exro's ability to reduce both carbon emissions and rare earth material consumption. evTS' flagship product, the FireFly ESV, is a purpose-built, lightweight commercial utility vehicle that is both street-legal and highway-capable. The FireFly ESV is built with safe Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery technology and an advanced battery management system to improve charging and energy efficiency with up to 10 years of useful life. At the end of its first life, the FireFly ESV LFP battery may still have remaining battery capacity, but no longer has the efficiency required for use in EV applications. These cells are ideal for a test bench demonstration of Exro's next-generation 90kW ESS, which allows retired EV battery cells to be efficiently reused for stationary second-life energy storage applications. "By partnering with Exro, we hope to further bolster the environmentally friendly profile of our vehicles providing our batteries with a second-life as an energy storage system," said Greg Horne, Chief Technology Officer at evTS. "Our FireFly ESV will not only help to drive forward the future of last-mile delivery, as through our partnership with Exro, we will help eliminate battery disposal issues and contribute to the circular economy." Exro's patented BCS is an innovative battery management inverter combined with advanced cell control software that can expand the capabilities of batteries by enabling a great depth of control on the cells. In this case, Exro will pilot a test bench demonstrator that integrates its BCS technology with the FireFly ESV LFP batteries to repurpose the retired battery cells and extend them into a second life in an ESS application. LFP batteries are a growing standard in electric mobility applications because of their safety and reliability advantages while improving on access to raw materials. The test bench demonstrator results are expected in Q3 of 2022. "As electric vehicle batteries reach end of first life, we know there is a growing market for LFP batteries that can be repurposed for second-life energy storage applications," said Sue Ozdemir, CEO of Exro. "EV manufacturers can experience significant cost savings by reviving and utilizing second-life batteries and we're excited to partner with evTS on a pilot project to extend the life of their FireFly ESV batteries, while supporting their sustainable electric vehicle repurposing processes." As Exro and development partner evTS collaborate on the second-life ESS solution, the teams are also evaluating how Exro's intelligent control technology can optimize the FireFly ESV for first-life applications. About Exro Technologies Inc. Exro is a clean technology company pioneering intelligent control solutions in power electronics to help solve the most challenging problems in electrification. Exro has developed a new class of control technology that expands the capabilities of electric motors, generators, and batteries. Exro enables the application to achieve more with less energy consumed. Exro's advanced motor control technology, the Coil DriverTM, expands the capabilities of electric powertrains by enabling intelligent optimization for efficient energy consumption. Exro is working with many partners from all over the world to bring their technology to the electric mobility industries and beyond. For more information visit our website at www.exro.com . Visit us on social media @exrotech. About evTS ev Transportation Services Inc. ("evTS") is a specialty vehicle manufacturer that produces purpose-built, pure-electric lightweight commercial utility vehicles and provides fleet management solutions. Founded in 2015, the Boston-based company's flagship product, the FireFly ESV is aimed at the essential services transportation and urban e-mobility markets, which represent an annual domestic replacement market of approximately 400,000 vehicles, or roughly $10 billion annually. End user applications for the Company's vehicles include parking management, security and perimeter patrol, parks and sidewalk maintenance, utility meter reading, property and building management, airports, seaports, sanitation, university and corporate campuses, and last mile on-demand urban delivery. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.evTS.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance 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 times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable 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. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the following: Exro's expectations with respect to its future financial position, technology development, advancement and its ability to take advantage of future opportunities. Some of the risks which could affect future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information and statements contained herein include the risk factors set out in Exro's annual information form and also include, but not limited to: A joint development of the technology by evTS and Exro to allows retired EV battery cells to be efficiently reused for stationary second-life energy storage applications may not realize unless the validation testing is complete and successful; and Delays in completion of the test bench demonstrator results in Q3 of 2022. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulators, including the Company's annual information form for the financial year ended December 31, 2020, and financial statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. SOURCE Exro Technologies Inc. WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) launched a major targeted Spanish and English digital ad campaign this week highlighting misguided amnesty efforts amid the Biden Border Crisis. This is happening in the wake of new data showing the political shifts in Hispanic voting preferences. "Congressional Democrats are still pushing for the largest amnesty in American history amid a border crisis triggered by President Biden, and it's serving no one, including Hispanic Americans who are increasingly showing their independence through shifting voting patterns," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. Despite the nation witnessing a record number of border apprehensions this past year, Congressional Democrats have made concerted efforts to inject an irresponsible and unbalanced amnesty plan into a massive budget reconciliation bill while stridently working to gut immigration enforcement agencies at the same time. If passed in the Senate, the package as it currently stands, would provide some 7 million illegal aliens with amnesty, which would be the largest in American history. "Rewarding lawbreakers, while cutting funding for border security and immigration enforcement, is a disaster waiting to happen and will have detrimental impacts on all Americans and Hispanic voters need to hear all sides of this issue," continued Stein. "This campaign is really in response to Hispanic community needs that have been outright ignored by those in power here in Washington. A number of recent polls indicate that Democrats are losing large numbers of Hispanic support over their party's immigration policies. Hispanic voters deserve strong border controls, immigration enforcement, and a restoration of the rule of law as do all Americans," said Stein. The ad asks voters to express their opposition to the intentionally created border chaos now happening in America. It is running in Texas and Arizona, with room for probable expansion. The ad can be found here, and the English version may be found here. Contact: Matthew Tragesser, 202-328-7004 or [email protected] ABOUT FAIR Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Clancy & Theys is a family-owned construction company with projects in 19 states including apartments, office buildings, hotels, R&D facilities and more. Headquartered in Raleigh, the company, with 40 employees, has had an office presence in Charlotte since 1996. Clancy & Theys will apply its expertise in leading the build-out of its new space at 22EIGHTEEN Toomey, which will feature an open floor plan, informal and formal meeting rooms, a training area and an expansive outdoor patio. Additionally, the team will engage local artists to create unique, custom art installations for the space. "Our relocation to The Quarter South End will provide our company with a dynamic workplace that is representative of our innovative and collaborative culture, as well as drive employee retention and recruitment," said Tom Planishek, vice president at Clancy & Theys. "With many of our employees spending the majority of their time at project sites, we were looking for a well-located and highly amenitized space that would bring our team together, but also provide unparalleled accessibility to our clients and partners. We're confident 22EIGHTEEN will inspire the creativity and camaraderie that Clancy & Theys is known for, and we're looking forward to this next chapter of growth." In addition to the in-process development underway at 22EIGHTEEN, development activity within the 15-acre mixed-use creative district has accelerated over the past month with construction now underway on 23TWENTY Toomey, a 77,362-square-foot adaptive reuse redevelopment of an existing mid-century warehouse building into a 21st-century creative commercial asset. Also, construction of the final commercial phase of The Quarter will begin this month with the start of 22THIRTEEN Toomey, an adaptive reuse office redevelopment that will offer office and retail space. The Quarter South End adaptive reuse buildings offer tenants a range of available spaces from 5,000 square feet to 77,000 square feet. The venture is also announcing the groundbreaking for the ground-up development of a 306-unit surface-parked luxury apartment community with 5,900 square feet of ground floor retail space. The community will offer residents seeking convenient, transit-friendly, walkable apartments, luxury one-, two- and three-bedroom options in a Class A building. Clancy & Theys has been selected as the general contractor for the development. The partners anticipate delivering the creative office assets in phases over 2022 commencing with 22EIGHTEEN Toomey in late Q1. The multifamily phase of The Quarter South End is anticipated to deliver in late 2023. "Abacus Capital is pleased to partner with Clancy & Theys around their new office location in the Charlotte market," said Wes McAdams, managing partner at Abacus Capital. "Located steps from the best retail amenities South End has to offer, in an urban location with the parking ratio of a suburban project, we are excited to see The Quarter South End's pandemic-responsive design and value-oriented rental rate price point validated by such a high-quality space occupier as Clancy & Theys." FCP, Abacus and Big Cypress extend their appreciation to Bryan White, Jim Thorp, Jaime Boast and Conor Brennan of JLL for their representation of Clancy & Theys and to Foundry Commercial's John Ball and Claiborne Dandridge for their work on behalf of the venture. The Quarter's nearly 150,000 square feet of redeveloped commercial space along Toomey Avenue will, when completed, offer tenants a first-generation, Class A creative commercial environment with 1824' ceilings, expansive window lines, and an exposed brick and steel beam aesthetic in one of the most dynamic submarkets in the Southeastern US. More information about the project can be found at thequarterclt.com. Foundry Commercial's John Ball and Claiborne Dandridge have been retained to lease the office portion of the project while Legacy Real Estate Advisors' Adam Williams is handling retail leasing. Foundry Commercial will also property manage the office buildings on behalf of the venture. About FCP FCP is a privately held real estate investment company that has invested in or financed more than $8.6 billion in assets since its founding in 1999. FCP invests directly and with operating partners in commercial and residential assets. The firm makes equity and mezzanine investments in income-producing and development properties. Based in Chevy Chase, MD, FCP invests both its commingled, discretionary funds and separate accounts targeted at major real estate markets in the United States. For further information on FCP, please visit www.fcpdc.com. About Abacus Capital Abacus Capital is a multi-strategy tactical real estate opportunity investor focused on the acquisition and development of differentiated commercial real estate in growth markets across the southeastern United States. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing real estate investment managers in the Charlotte market, Abacus' mission is to identify investment opportunities that we believe offer our investors the most compelling risk-adjusted returns in dynamic capital markets environments. The principals of Abacus Capital have over 25 years of real estate investing experience and have acquired or developed over 16.5M square feet of commercial real estate with a total capitalization in excess of $3.1B. About Big Cypress Capital's Headwaters Strategic Operator Platform Based in Naples, FL, Big Cypress Capital is an emerging investment management firm. Big Cypress Capital's Headwaters Strategic Operator Platform focuses on cultivating capital partnerships with real estate operators and institutional JV partners that result in long-term value creation within their platforms. Please visit bigcypresscap.com for more information. About Clancy & Theys Construction Founded in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1949, Clancy & Theys Construction Company is listed among the top U.S. Contractors. During their 72-year history, Clancy & Theys has grown to be a cornerstone of the Southeast's construction market with five offices located on the East Coast, including Raleigh, Wilmington, and Charlotte, NC, Newport News, VA, and Orlando, FL. For more information, visit www.clancytheys.com. About JLL JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 95,000 as of September 30, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com. About Foundry Commercial Foundry Commercial is a full-service real estate services and investment company with over 380 employees and more than 60 million square feet of management and leasing across the Sun Belt. Since 2007, Foundry has provided leasing, brokerage, building management, corporate services, and project management services, and is the largest real estate service provider to religious and not-for-profit organizations in the country. Foundry also includes a development and investment platform that is fully integrated into its services business, leveraging its local market expertise to control more than $1.5 billion in advantaged investment opportunities with their JV partners. For more information, visit www.foundrycommercial.com. Media Contact: Karen Widmayer KW Communications, LLC [email protected] 301-661-1448 SOURCE FCP LOLO PARIS, created in 2019 by Melissa Perraudeau and Oceane Briere, is particularly innovative in its personalized approach to lingerie, in which technology is put at the service of the female morphology. The startup has developed an algorithm that allows to select the ideal size, among 57 bra sizes, to enhance all breasts, whatever their measurements. The strength of LOLO PARIS consists in offering women innovative underwear, which adapts to their morphology and not the other way around! A confident and committed investor behind LOLO PARIS Through this investment, OBRATORI, L'OCCITANE Group seed investment fund, intends to support the development of the young company. "LOLO PARIS brings together all the fundamental elements to be supported by OBRATORI: talented leaders, high-quality technological expertise, excellent market potential and a strong international ambition", explains Amaury Godron, Managing Director at OBRATORI. Delphine Oung, Investments' manager, shares this point of view: "We are very happy to participate in this fundraising and thus give Melissa, Oceane and their team the means to support their ambition. LOLO PARIS is now a company ready to accelerate, it has designed a product well received by the market, the technological heart of the product is solid and innovative, and the business development plan is promising. We are convinced that LOLO PARIS is able to meet the challenge of this growth". "OBRATORI's support gives us confidence that new technologies must be made available for female well-being. The bra has not changed in 100 years, while 9 out of 10 women wear one every day! The market is huge, and we are convinced that our solution has very strong potential. We are delighted to be able to count on OBRATORI to support us in the next stages of our development", indicate for their part, Melissa Perraudeau and Oceane Briere, founders of LOLO PARIS. Julie Geret [email protected] SOURCE OBRATORI The Congo Basin is the second-largest tropical rainforest and the world's largest carbon sink. Preserving the forest is essential for mitigating the impacts of climate change, maintaining biodiversity, and sustaining 80 million people. For the first time, the webinar convened leaders from the DRC Government, Indigenous people and local communities, and conservation groups to report on the progress made since the Mai Ndombe REDD+ project was started by Wildlife Works and Ecosystem Restoration Associates (ERA Congo) in the Congo Basin in 2011. The project protects over 300,000 hectares of Congo Basin rainforest and achieves an average reduction of 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. It drives climate finance directly to local communities in a way that benefits their overall well-being and biodiversity across the region. The panelists voiced appreciation for the project and discussed how proceeds from the sale of verified emission reductions are used to build schools, healthcare facilities, and clean water infrastructure in exchange for protecting the forest and wildlife. The DRC's Secretary-General of the Environment, Benjamin Toyrambe was the first to speak followed by: Dr. Jean-Robert Bwangoy Bankanza Bolambee, DRC Country Director at Wildlife Works; Chief Basabo Booto of the Indigenous Batwa Pygmies in the village of Ikita; Chief Bantu Bola Bakali Ba Wema who is Chief of the Lokanga Groupement in the village of Lokanga; along with Mai Ndombe community representatives. Benjamin Toyrambe, DRC's Secretary-General of the Environment, said: "The Mai Ndombe REDD+ project is unrivaled in helping the DRC meet its National Determined Contributions and SDG goals. We are incredibly proud of the positive climate, community, and biodiversity impacts this project is providing to our country." DRC Country Director at Wildlife Works, Dr. Jean-Robert Bwangoy Bankanza Bolambee, said: "Forest protection is done in collaboration with members of local communities, where we work with them to identify alternative economic incentives to deforestation that enable them to continue to work whilst preserving their forests." Chief Basabo Booto of the Indigenous Batwa Pygmies in the village of Ikita, a driving force behind the forest conservation work in Ikita, said: "Since the arrival of the project, my community members and I welcome[d] it. Thanks to this project, all of the animals that had fled have returned to the forest and the trees have begun to grow again. [The project] has achieved everything it promised. They built schools, drilled water wells, and teachers are paid. School children receive uniforms, and our community has benefitted from access to healthcare for all." Wildlife Works and ERA Ecosystems Services Group implemented the REDD+ conservation strategy in 2011 to channel carbon credit revenues to create sustainable development opportunities for the local community while protecting the project area from deforestation. Today, it is a Wildlife Works project operated in-country by its ERA Congo subsidiary. An article on the 5 key takeaways from the webinar can be read on the REDDimpact site under Articles. REDD+ REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) is a climate change mitigation strategy introduced by the United Nations to help stop the destruction of the world's forests, the second-largest source of climate change. The carbon market is used to support these efforts that bring direct benefits to communities. REDD+ Verified Emissions Reductions (VERs) are issued on an annual basis after third-party verifiers conduct an on-site audit to confirm the forest has been successfully protected and sustainable economic alternatives have been created for the community leading to local improved livelihoods. Everland Everland represents the world's largest portfolio of high-impact, forest conservation (REDD+) projects that protect wildlife and enhance the well-being of forest communities. The company brings together forest communities and corporations in a common cause to protect some of the world's most important and vulnerable forests. Press inquiries Lori Sinsley 415-308-6970 Email: [email protected] Ciara Dullaghan Phone: +44 7985705232 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Everland Related Links www.everlandmarketing.com CARY, N.C., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cary Medical Management (CMM) experienced impressive growth throughout North Carolina in 2021, and now operates practices in five cities across the state in both urban and rural areas. CMM acquired practices in Rocky Mount, Wendell, Greensboro and Carrboro this year as well as a care management company, in addition to its flagship clinic, Generations Family practice in Cary. This growth and management is already delivering on the company's mission to provide better quality care at lower prices and to support primary care practices with CMM's tech-infused capabilities. Cary Medical Management experienced impressive growth throughout North Carolina in 2021, and now operates practices in five cities across the state in both urban and rural areas. To close out the year, Jonathan Fowler, Vice President of Operations, highlights five challenges that value-based primary care clinics faced in 2021 and lessons learned to benefit other practices in the healthcare industry moving. Jonathan Fowler joined Cary Medical Management as Vice President of Operations this year. With more than a decade of experience leading growth strategies for healthcare organizations, Fowler was the driving force behind one of the largest primary care practices in NC, overseeing 110 multi-specialty providers and 18 service locations. Fowler executed a 20-fold increase in providers, revenue and footprint, while maintaining positive cash flow. To close out the year, Jonathan Fowler, Vice President of Operations at CMM, highlights five challenges he and other value-based primary care clinics experienced in 2021 and lessons learned to benefit other practices in the healthcare industry moving forward. Excerpts from these lessons include: Value Based Care Knowledge is Scarce: Value-based care can provide new revenue through shared savings and incentive programs. But sadly, most independent practices aren't familiar with how to navigate these murky waters and keep their practice independent. The challenge seems to be worse in more rural clinics, which have had less attention from the insurance companies and the ACOs, and even more patients in need. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Make it Worse: With the primary care shortage, 100% of a provider's time should be devoted to caring for patients. Sadly, a huge amount of time is spent documenting in the EHR. Add to this challenge the menagerie of fragmented EHRs on the market, and the lost productivity when a physician must change their EHR, and you have one of the largest challenges facing independent primary care. COVID Makes Everything Worse: Primary care practices struggle with the challenging safety, personnel and supply chain landscape, and we've got a perfect storm of poorly conceptualized processes and systems that have zero resiliency to a global pandemic. COVID keeps patients out of the office during surges and creates a backlog of delayed care that primary care providers scramble to catch up in the valleys between the waves. Regulation is Stifling Innovation: On an average day, primary care practices have to deal with no less than six regulators: DHHS, FTC, DOI, DOL, DEA and FCC. Massive amounts of regulation have been created to address systemic healthcare problems in the United States , and little of it was written with the challenges of a primary care shortage, the innovation of value-based care, and the scourge COVID in mind. Competition is Key: The rules that keep healthcare and technology companies from monopolizing our communities and independent providers can fuel the innovation needed to change the way healthcare is delivered. The more organizations that race with others to build value-based care knowledge and support independent primary care practices will improve innovation. Click here to read the full article . To request an interview with Jonathan Fowler, contact: [email protected] About Cary Medical Management Established in 2019, Cary Medical Management was created by a group of experienced clinic operators, physicians, and executives of leading healthcare technology companies with a vision to drive home the "trillion-dollar transformation to value-based-care" promised by the Affordable Care Act. CMM's role is to leverage their wealth of healthcare experience and strong financial backing to ensure its portfolio clinics succeed in the new era of healthcare quality and value. https://carymso.com/ CMM Contact: - Jonathan Fowler, Vice President of Operations j [email protected] Clinic Contact - Clifford Tse, Vice President of Acquisitions [email protected] Media Contact: April Umminger, Public Relations Specialist 703-340-6716 [email protected] SOURCE Cary Medical Management "Diane, Ronaldo and Kathy are strong leaders who have played important roles in FMC's success following our transformation into a focused agricultural sciences company in 2018," said Mark Douglas, FMC president and CEO. "They have been instrumental in developing and executing our long-range growth strategy, and they continue to lead key areas of our company that have contributed to FMC's above-market growth over the last several years. Their promotions reflect the impact they have on FMC's success today and in the future." Allemang, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, leads Global Strategic Marketing with responsibility for strategic management of FMC's commercial assets as well as the company's extensive new product pipeline. She oversees the positioning, launch and growth of crop protection products throughout the world and has executive oversight for FMC's strategic business partnerships with leading agricultural science companies. Prior to joining FMC in 2015, Allemang was executive vice president with Cheminova responsible for North America and held a variety of regional and global regulatory and commercial roles. Pereira, executive vice president and president, FMC Americas, oversees a significant part of FMC's business, including North America, Latin America, the non-crop Global Specialty Solutions business and the Plant Health business. These regions and businesses account for more than 50% of FMC's global revenue. He has held numerous roles at FMC and other crop protection companies throughout his more than 25 years in the industry, including marketing, business development, sales, product management and country/regional leadership in Brazil and the U.S. Dr. Shelton, executive vice president and chief technology officer, is responsible for the company's R&D strategy, which includes oversight of FMC's significant annual investment in the discovery and development of new active ingredients that protect crops around the world. She leads more than 800 scientists and research staff at laboratories globally, including the company's worldwide R&D headquarters at the FMC Stine Research Center in Delaware. Under Dr. Shelton's leadership, FMC has won numerous awards for its crop protection technologies and industry-leading R&D pipeline. About FMC FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. With approximately 6,400 employees at more than 100 sites worldwide, FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: FMC and its representatives may from time to time make written or oral statements that are "forward-looking" and provide other than historical information, including statements contained in this press release, in FMC's other filings with the SEC, and in reports or letters to FMC stockholders. SOURCE FMC Corporation CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report "Fraud Detection and Prevention Market by Solution (Fraud Analytics, Authentication, and GRC), Service (Managed and Professional), Vertical (BFSI, Retail and eCommerce, and Travel and Transportation), Deployment Mode and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the FDP Market is expected to grow from USD 22.8 billion in 2021 to USD 53.4 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period. Technological advancements, penetration of digital technologies, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend in organizations have greatly influenced work practices and led to an unprecedented rise in data volumes. These factors have led to the adoption of automatic software-based applications for analyzing data in real time, which have replaced the traditional data mining applications and tools. This, in turn, increases the need to update legacy manual fraud detection methods. Hence, FDP vendors are producing new varieties of FDP solutions to detect and prevent all types of frauds committed by fraudsters. Browse in-depth TOC on "Fraud Detection and Prevention Market" 493 Tables 46 Figures 381 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1312 By component, Solutions segment to hold the largest market size during the forecast period On the basis of solutions, the FDP Market is segmented into fraud analytics, authentication, and GRC solutions. The demand for FDP solutions is increasing as they can help enterprises detect fraudulent activities and prevent their occurrence. The number of frauds is growing at a significant rate; however, it is the surge in revenue loss which is driving the demand for FDP solutions. These FDP solutions can work simultaneously to provide fraud-proof enterprise environments. Money launderers or criminals may forge fake signatures and Identifications (IDs) to commit digital frauds using someone's identity. FDP solutions help in reducing digital frauds, illegal transactions, tax evasion attempts, and other payment corruptions by identifying and detecting fraudulent activities in the system and reporting them to assigned authorities on time. In deployment mode, cloud deployment to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period According to Flexera, a computer software company, enterprises are set to spend around 15-16% of their revenue into cloud hosting services by 2020. Another study by Cisco stated that "53% of organizations host at least 50% of their infrastructure in the cloud." The investment in cloud services and shifting of businesses from traditional to cloud are expected to accelerate the adoption of cloud-based solutions and services by enterprises. Owing to the increasing pace of digitalization, security breaches and fraud cases especially identity theft and online fraud has also increased. These increasing trend of eCommerce and online retail and digital payments has increased the adoption rate of online FDP solutions among end-user verticals to combat with fraud and compliance intruders. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=1312 North America to hold the largest market size during the forecast period North America is expected to be the largest contributor in terms of the market size in the FDP Market. It is one of the most affected regions in the world by money laundering and terrorist financing crime activities; as a result, it has the highest number of FDP providers. Banks, governments, and financial institutes in this region face ever-increasing challenges related to frauds compelling them to implement advanced technological approaches for managing fraud protection. Further, organic and inorganic growth strategies among major FDP vendors are expected to drive the FDP Market growth in North America. For example, in July 2020, NewDay, a financial services company partnered with RSA Security, financial crime prevention and predictive analytics company, to deliver advanced fraud protection for digital payments and address the requirements of the EMV 3-D Secure protocol. Key Players: Major vendors in the global FDP Market include BAE Systems (UK), Nice Actimize (US), FICO (US), LexisNexis (US), TransUnion (US), Kount (US), Software AG (Germany), RSA Security (US), Fiserv (US), FIS (US), ACI Worldwide (US), Experian (Ireland), SecuroNix (US), Accertify (US), Feedzai (US), CaseWare (Canada), FRISS (Netherland), MaxMind (US), Gurucul (US), DataVisor (US), PayPal (US), Visa (US), SAS institute (US), SAP SE (Germany), Microsoft Corporation (US), F5, Inc (US), Ingenico (France), AWS (US), PerimeterX (US), OneSpan (US), Signifyd (US), Cleafy (Italy) and Pondera Solutions (US). It also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key FDP Market players, along with their company profiles, business overviews, product offerings, recent developments, and market strategies. Browse Adjacent Markets: Information Security Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Anti-money Laundering Market by Component, Solution (KYC/CDD and Watchlist, Transaction Screening and Monitoring), Deployment Mode, End User (Banking and Financials, Gaming/Gambling Organizations), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 eGRC Market with COVID-19 by Offering (Software and Services), Software (Usage and Type), Type (Policy Management, Compliance Management, Audit Management, and Risk Management), Business Function, End User, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 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, 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: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/fraud-detection-prevention-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/fraud-detection-prevention.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets GARNET VALLEY, Pa., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning in January 2022, the Chichester School District will offer an after-school STEM enrichment program to students in grades 1 through 4. The program is made possible by federal funds and will be conducted by S2STEM, a premier STEM education company based in Garnet Valley. Once a week, students will stay after school for one hour to get homework help and practice science, technology, engineering, and math skills through hands-on STEM activities that range from coding and robotics challenges, to science experiments, and to engineering and team-building games. Led by S2STEM's certified, trained teachers, each club activity will be age-appropriate and related to the real world. "Children are more engaged when the learning is enjoyable and relatable," explains Santhi Chitturi, co-founder of S2STEM. "That's why we focus on hands-on activities that are connected to the real world. They're having fun and learning at the same time." S2STEM's new two-year partnership with the Chichester School District follows a series of successful camp programs that S2STEM organized last summer. Seeing the children's enthusiasm and believing in the importance of STEM education to properly prepare students for a technology-driven world, Chichester School District's Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Diana I. Hanobeck, says, "We are excited to bring a STEM learning experience to all of our elementary schools. Early opportunities in STEM may encourage students to take more challenging STEM coursework as they get older and possibly even pursue a STEM-related career." For more information about the free Chichester School District after-school STEM Club program, please contact Diana Hanobeck at [email protected] For more information about other S2STEM programs, including before and after school STEM clubs, holiday and summer camps, Robotics teams, coding, and Girl Scouts badge programs, visit www.s2stem.com or call 610-255-2525. About S2STEM Established in 2018 by partners Santhi Chitturi and Saleem Shaik, S2STEM offers fun and innovative STEM programs for children ages 4-16 that are STEM.org accredited. S2STEM's team of expert, certified instructors encourage kids to explore, create, and problem solve in a fun way through the tenants of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Whether it's from the safety of their facility in Garnet Valley or at partner locations throughout Delaware and New Castle Counties, S2STEM is teaching, inspiring, and creating tomorrow's leaders and game-changers. At S2STEM, learning is fun. SOURCE S2STEM Inc Related Links www.s2stem.com ATLANTA, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) ("GPC"), a leading distributor of automotive and industrial replacement parts, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which its wholly-owned subsidiary, Motion Industries, Inc. ("Motion") will acquire Kaman Distribution Group ("KDG") from private investment firm Littlejohn & Co., LLC. The acquisition is valued at a total purchase price of approximately $1.3 billion in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 has expired. "We are excited to announce this strategic investment in our Industrial business," said Paul Donahue, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GPC. "Motion's highly synergistic acquisition of KDG significantly enhances our scale and further strengthens our market-leading position. In addition, this combination creates opportunities for accelerated long-term growth, profitability and cash flow. Our Motion team, led by Randy Breaux, is eager to bring together the world-class talent and industrial expertise of these two organizations to build an even stronger business. We look forward to extending our leadership position and creating significant shareholder value together as a premier leader in industrial solutions." Established in 1971, KDG is a power transmission, automation and fluid power industrial distributor and solutions provider with operations throughout the U.S., providing electro-mechanical products, bearings, power transmission, motion control and electrical and fluid power components to MRO and OEM customers. Headquartered in Bloomfield, CT, KDG's 1,700 employees serve more than 50,000 customers. KDG is expected to generate approximately $1.1 billion of revenue in 2022. Additionally, GPC expects the acquisition to be accretive to its adjusted earnings in the first year after closing. Other transaction highlights include: $50M+ annual run-rate synergies, expected to be achieved over three years Anticipated leverage at closing of ~2x, within range of GPC targeted levels Funded at closing via existing revolver and accounts receivable sales agreement Expected to maintain liquidity in excess of $2 billion Ben Mondics, President and Chief Executive Officer of KDG, stated, "Motion is a nationally recognized brand and a market leader in industrial distribution. We are very pleased to combine our two great businesses and leverage our collective resources and expertise to accelerate profitable growth. We appreciate the exceptional efforts of our employees who make our company so great, and we are confident Motion is the natural partner for continued long-term success." Advisors Greenhill & Co., LLC is acting as financial advisor to GPC and King & Spalding is acting as legal counsel. Baird is serving as financial advisor to KDG and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal counsel. Conference Call GPC will hold a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. EDT to discuss today's announcement. Presentation materials will be available before the start of the call. Interested parties may listen to the call and access the presentation on the Company's website. The call is also available by dialing 877-407-0789, conference ID 13725692. A replay will also be available on the Company's website or at 844-512-2921, conference ID 13725692, two hours after the completion of the call. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in the future tense and all statements accompanied by words such as "opportunities," "expected," "estimated," "anticipated," "look forward," "position," "will," or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the acquisition of KDG by GPC's wholly-owned subsidiary, Motion, including those relating to the revenue expected to be generated by KDG in 2022; the expectation that the transaction will be accretive to GPC's adjusted earnings in the first year after closing; the annual run-rate synergies expected to be achieved by the transaction; GPC's anticipated leverage and liquidity levels following the closing of the transaction, including its ability to secure permanent financing (and the amount thereof); and Motion's plans, objectives, expectations, projections and intentions, particularly with respect to opportunities for long-term growth, profitability, cash flow and creating significant shareholder value following the transaction; and other statements relating to the transaction that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to GPC and involve estimates, expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that all such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. With respect to the proposed acquisition, these risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that GPC may not be able to procure permanent financing relating to the acquisition on favorable terms, if at all; the risk that KDG will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings, synergies and growth from the acquisition may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; and the risk that costs associated with the integration of the businesses are higher than anticipated. Additional information regarding other risks and uncertainties that may impact GPC and its operations are also contained in GPC's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond GPC's ability to control or predict. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, actual results may vary materially, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the information currently available to the parties on the date they are made, and GPC does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of such communication, except as required by law. About Genuine Parts Company Founded in 1928, Genuine Parts Company is a global service organization engaged in the distribution of automotive and industrial replacement parts. The Company's Automotive Parts Group distributes automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australasia, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium. The Company's Industrial Parts Group distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. In total, the Company serves its global customers from an extensive network of more than 10,000 locations in 15 countries. Genuine Parts Company had 2020 revenues of $16.5 billion. Further information is available at www.genpt.com. About Motion With annual sales of over $6 billion, Motion is a leading industrial distributor of more than 10 million items, including, bearings; mechanical power transmission products; electrical and industrial automation components; hose, belting, and gaskets; hydraulic and pneumatic components; process pumps; industrial and safety products; seals and accessories; and material handling products and solutions. To increase customers' productivity, the Company offers many valued-added services, including engineering, fabrication, repair, and Industry 4.0 solutions across these product groups. In addition, Mi Automation Solutions and Mi Conveyance Solutions were formed to offer a wide range of specialized, related products and innovative solutions for many applications. Motion North America has over 500 locations, including 16 distribution centers, and Mi Asia Pacific has nearly 200 locations, including eight distribution centers in Australasia. With approximately 9,000 employees, Motion serves more than 170,000 customers in the equipment and machinery, food and beverage, pulp and paper, iron and steel, chemical, mining and aggregate, petrochemical, automotive, semiconductor, wood and lumber, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Motion is a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC). Visit our website at www.Motion.com. About Kaman Distribution Group Headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, KDG is a leading national distributor of highly engineered products and provider of related services with approximately 220 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico. Established in 1971, KDG's technical salesforce has been servicing its customers for over 50 years, providing components and systems for a broad range of applications, along with value-added automation, engineering and integration services. For more information about KDG, visit ec.kamandirect.com/storeus/kamandistribution. About Littlejohn & Co., LLC Littlejohn & Co., LLC is a Greenwich, Connecticut-based investment firm focused on private equity and debt investments primarily in middle market companies. With approximately $14 billion of regulatory assets under management, the firm seeks to build sustainable success for its portfolio companies through a disciplined approach to engineering change. For more information about Littlejohn, visit www.littlejohnllc.com. SOURCE Genuine Parts Company HOUSTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BMC, a global leader in software solutions for the Autonomous Digital Enterprise, is the principal choice to support the automation and orchestration needs of technologically advanced organizationssuch as CARFAX, Itau Unibanco, Colruyt Group, and Navistar delivering increased collaboration among developers, enhanced customer-centric experiences, integrated and automated data pipelines, and reduced vehicle downtime. To accelerate new application and data workflow deployments that drive innovative digital products and transformation projects, companies can benefit greatly by taking a strategic approach to their orchestration platform. A key finding from Mastering Perpetual Change, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of BMC, found that "improving an organization's ability to respond to market changes is the highest priority for application and data workflow orchestration. Seven in 10 respondents noted that their companies are prioritizing enhanced flexibility and agility over the next 12 months. They're seeking advantages such as faster response to customer requests (29%), faster time-to-market (20%), and savings on infrastructure spend (14%)." Control-M customers' demand for exceptional digital-services delivery in production is not new, and the pace of change is challenging. However, the most agile and capable companies reconsider their orchestration architecture to enhance agility, adopt new technologies, and break down silos of automation by looking to the hybrid and multi-cloud capabilities found in the Control-M solution. Empowering Teams and Energizing Collaboration for Faster Digital Transformation As a leading source of vehicle history information, CARFAX's use of data helps customers buy, sell, service, and maintain their vehicles. By extending DevOps collaboration among different teams with Jobs-as-Code and the Control-M Automation API from BMC, the organization has been able to: Consolidate data from more than 100,000 data sources Reduce time to production from months to minutes Give people control over their entire ecosystem Transform Client-Centric Mobile Banking Services Itau Unibanco is one of the largest financial conglomerates in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 94,000 employees, 4,000 branches, and 46,000 ATMs that serve a global customer base. By implementing the Control-M solution from BMC, Itau Unibanco's bank branches have become more efficient, agile, and available to clients. With Control-M as the bank's primary digital business automation platform, it can: Open almost 10 percent of new accounts via its mobile application Deliver new and innovative client experiences "Control-M is a very important tool that we have," said Leandro Araujo, Head of Production and IT Process, Itau Unibanco. "If Control-M stops, the bank stops." Balancing Organizational Growth and Supply Chain Management Colruyt Group is a large European retailer with almost 33,000 employees that distributes food and consumer goods to a number of owned outlets. The organization moves large volumes of goods to customers undamaged and in a timely manner at the lowest prices. With the Control-M solution from BMC, Colruyt Group can: Optimize transportation by filling delivery trucks up to 95 percent through automation Reduce the number of order-picking errors with the use of voice picking "For me, the Control-M environment is like the heart of the human body," said Frank Waegeman, IT Manager, Colruyt. "It delivers oxygen to all the vital organs." Synchronizing, Cleansing, and Analyzing Big Data for Actionable Intelligence Navistar, a leading manufacturer and operator of commercial trucks, buses, defense vehicles, and engines, uses big data to generate value-added services that empower fleet owners and improve vehicle uptime. Its OnCommand Connection remote diagnostics system captures data from over a dozen telematics providers to create 20 million data records per day. Big data teams were spending significant time and resources moving data and running scripts manually to aggregate, normalize, and process this data. Because of the Control-M solution, innovations have resulted in Navistar's: Collection of over 20 million daily records from 250,000+ vehicles Engineers saving 20% of their work time via automatic collection and reporting on cybersecurity vulnerability scan results Reduction of up to 40% in vehicle downtime resulting from insights gained through its predictive maintenance program Connecting Technologies That Drives Innovation BMC continues to earn recognition from prestigious industry organizations and analyst firms. Earlier this year, the Control-M solution won the 2021 Data Solution of the Year Finance award for best solution in the finance sector. Control-M has also earned the top spot in Workload Automation in EMA's last six Radar reports. "I hear stories every day about all the innovative ways our customers are using Control-M to run and reinvent their businesses," said Gur Steif, president, Digital Business Automation at BMC. "We are focused on listening to customers, understanding their unique challenges, and helping them deliver digital transformation with application and data workflow orchestration." Additional Resources Run and reinvent application and data workflow orchestration with the Control-M solution from BMC Review the EMA Radar Report for Workload Automation, here Discover what it takes to become an Autonomous Digital Enterprise, here About BMC From core to cloud to edge, BMC delivers the software and services that enable over 10,000 global customers, including 84% of the Forbes Global 100, to thrive in their ongoing evolution to an Autonomous Digital Enterprise. BMC, BMC Software, the BMC logo, and other BMC marks are the exclusive properties of BMC Software, Inc. and are registered or may be registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or in other countries. Copyright 2021 BMC Software, Inc. BMCRun and Reinvent www.bmc.com Editorial Contact Jannelle Allong-Diakabana BMC [email protected] SOURCE BMC Software, Inc. DUBLIN, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Radome Market by Platform(Ground, Airborne, Naval), Application(Radar, Sonar, Communication Antenna), Frequency(HF/UHF/VHF-Band, L- Band, S-Band, C- Band, X- Band, KU- Band, KA- Band, Multi-Band), Offering, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The radome market is estimated at USD 1.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 3.3 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 15.0% from 2021 to 2026. The radome market is growing at a significant rate across the world, and a similar trend is expected to be observed during the forecast period. The Advancements in composite materials technology for Radome structure, focus on development of compact radome for UAV platforms, demand for technologically advanced radome systems for next-generation aircraft and significance of radomes in warfare are fueling the growth of the radome market. The radome market includes major players Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), Thales Group (France), General Dynamics (US), Saint-Gobain (France), BAE Systems (UK), L3Harris Technologies (US), Raytheon Technologies (US). These players have spread their business across various countries includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Rest of the World. COVID-19 has impacted their businesses as well. Based on material, glass fiber projected to lead radome market by material from 2021 to 2026. Development and procurement of modern aircraft systems, such as targeting and surveillance systems and communication systems, for various applications is driving the demand for radome market globally. The surface of the fiberglass radome is reinforced with additives to enhance the adhesion between them so that the surface paint will not fall off, wrinkle and maintain its color even in severe weather. This also offers excellent electrical insulation and permeability. Based on application, the radar segment will register the highest growth from 2021 to 2026. A radome is often used to prevent ice and freezing rain from accumulating on antennas. In the case of a spinning radar parabolic antenna, the radome also protects the antenna from debris and rotational irregularities due to wind. In November 2020, Meggitt PLC secured a pioneering radome contract with BAE Systems to enable advanced radar technology for the Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet. Based on Platform, naval segment projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Upgrades in communication, navigation, and surveillance systems have helped modernize the maritime industry at a significant pace. An increase in automation, modernization of ships, upcoming autonomous technology, and the increase in unmanned marine vehicles are expected to drive the radome market of the naval platform. The naval platform comprises commercial vessels, military vessels, and unmanned marine vehicles. In January 2021, Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed two agreements with the Swedish navy concerning the next generation of surface ships and corvettes. Based on region, North America is projected to lead the radome market from 2021 to 2026. Significant investments in R&D activities for the development of advanced radome solutions by key players and increased demand for advanced radome systems are some of the factors expected to fuel the growth of the radome market in this region. The US is expected to drive the growth of the North American radome market during the forecast period, owing to easy access to various innovative technologies and significant investments being made by manufacturers in the country for the development of improved military ISR and communication & monitoring systems. Several developments have taken place in the field of radome systems in the region. Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Radome Market 4.2 Radome Market, by Platform 4.3 Radome Market, by Application 4.4 Radome Market, by Frequency 4.5 Radome Market, Major Countries 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market Dynamics 5.2.1 Drivers 5.2.1.1 Advancements in Composite Materials Technology for Radome Structure 5.2.1.2 Focus on Development of Compact Radome for Uav Platforms 5.2.1.3 Demand for Technologically Advanced Carbon Fiber Radome Systems for Next-Generation Aircraft 5.2.1.4 Significance of Radomes in Warfare 5.2.2 Restraints 5.2.2.1 Long Duration of Product Certification 5.2.2.2 Manufacturing Challenges Faced by Product Manufacturers 5.2.2.3 Stringent Regulatory Norms to Ensure Safe Aircraft Operations 5.2.3 Opportunities 5.2.3.1 Emergence of Aircraft Manufacturing in Asia-Pacific 5.2.3.2 New Composites Developed to Improve Radome Properties 5.2.4 Challenges 5.2.4.1 Complexities in Maintenance and Repair of Radomes 5.2.4.2 Reduced Global Demand for Mro due to COVID-19 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 on Radome Market 5.4 Ranges and Scenarios 5.5 Value Chain Analysis of Radome Market 5.6 Trends/Disruption Impacting Customer Business 5.6.1 Revenue Shift and New Revenue Pockets for Radome Manufacturers 5.7 Radome Market Ecosystem 5.7.1 Prominent Companies 5.7.2 Private and Small Enterprises 5.7.3 Application 5.7.4 Demand-Side Impacts 5.7.4.1 Key Developments from January 2020 to July 2021 5.7.5 Supply-Side Impact 5.7.5.1 Key Developments from January 2020 to September 2021 5.8 Average Selling Price of Radomes 5.9 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5.10 Trade Data Statistics 5.11 Regulatory Landscape 6 Industry Trends 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Technology Trends 6.2.1 Use of Wide V-Band for Satellite-Aircraft Communication 6.2.2 Plasma Radome Technology for Space-Based Antennas 6.2.3 Stealth Radomes 6.2.4 Dyneema Crystal Technology for Radomes 6.2.5 Resin Transfer Molding Technology 6.2.6 Multi-Band Radomes 6.3 Use Case Analysis 6.3.1 Use Case: Composite Radome 6.3.2 Use Case: Stealth Radome 6.4 Impact of Megatrends 6.4.1 3D Printing 6.4.2 Shift in Global Economic Power 6.5 Technology Analysis 6.6 Innovation & Patent Registrations 7 Radome Market, by Offering 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Product 7.2.1 Radome Body 7.2.1.1 Material 7.2.1.1.1 Glass Fiber 7.2.1.1.1.1 Growing Demand for High Temperature Resistance in Radomes to Drive the Segment 7.2.1.1.2 Quartz 7.2.1.1.2.1 Need for Exceptional Strength-To-Weight Ratios and Low Electromagnetic Interference (Emi) Characteristics to Drive the Segment 7.2.1.2 Structure 7.2.1.2.1 Sandwich 7.2.1.2.1.1 Need for Rigid, Self-Supporting Structures for Radomes to Drive the Segment 7.2.1.2.2 Solid Laminate 7.2.1.2.2.1 Use of Cost-Effective Options for Commercial Applications to Drive the Segment 7.2.1.2.3 Dielectric Space Frame 7.2.1.2.3.1 Need for Extremely High Wind Structural Performance to Drive the Segment 7.2.1.2.4 Metal Space Frame 7.2.1.2.4.1 Use of Self-Supporting Structures in Satcom, Intelligence Gathering, Surveillance, and Weather Forecasting to Drive the Segment 7.2.2 Accessories 7.3 Service 8 Radome Market, by Application 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Radar 8.2.1 Radar Segment Driven by Need for Electronic Warfare, Isr, and Information Dissemination 8.3 Sonar 8.3.1 Need for Improving Seawater Surveillance in Water Territories to Drive the Market for Sonar 8.4 Communication Antenna 8.4.1 Demand for Customized Communication Solutions Increasing in Aviation 9 Radome Market, by Platform 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Airborne 9.3 Ground 9.4 Naval 10 Radome Market, by Frequency 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Classification of Bands by Frequency 10.2.1 Hf/Uhf/Vhf-Band 10.2.1.1 Hf/Uhf/Vhf Band Offers Benefits During Long-Range Surveillance and Tracking 10.2.2 L-Band 10.2.2.1 L-Band Band Radar Systems are Used Extensively for Fleet Management and Asset Tracking 10.2.3 S-Band 10.2.3.1 S-Band Radar Radomes are Lightweight and Suitable for Corvettes, Offshore Patrol Vessels, and Frigates. 10.2.4 C-Band 10.2.4.1 C-Band Radar Systems and Radome Systems are Used for Long-Range Military Battlefield and Ground Surveillance 10.2.5 X-Band 10.2.5.1 Radomes for X-Band Radar Systems are Specially Designed to Minimize the Attenuation 10.2.6 Ku-Band 10.2.6.1 Ku-Bands Provide Wide Beam Coverage and Higher Throughput in Comparison with Lower Bands 10.2.7 Ka-Band 10.2.7.1 Ka-Band Transmits Data at a Higher Rate as Compared to Ku-Band 10.2.8 Multi-Band 10.2.8.1 Multi-Band Radar Systems are Used for Coherent Detection and Tracking of Moving Target Objects 11 Regional Analysis 12 Competitive Landscape 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Competitive Overview 12.3 Market Share of Key Players, 2020 12.4 Ranking and Revenue Analysis of Key Players, 2020 12.5 Company Evaluation Quadrant 12.5.1 Star 12.5.2 Emerging Leader 12.5.3 Pervasive 12.5.4 Participant 12.6 Startups/Smes Evaluation Quadrant 12.6.1 Progressive Companies 12.6.2 Responsive Companies 12.6.3 Dynamic Companies 12.6.4 Starting Blocks 12.7 Competitive Benchmarking 12.8 Competitive Scenario 12.8.1 Deals, 2018-2021 13 Company Profiles 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Key Players 13.2.1 L3Harris Technologies 13.2.2 Bae Systems plc 13.2.3 Cobham plc 13.2.4 Raytheon Technologies 13.2.5 Lockheed Martin Corporation 13.2.6 General Dynamics 13.2.6.1 Business Overview 13.2.7 Jenoptik 13.2.8 Saint-Gobain 13.2.9 Nordam 13.2.10 Cpi 13.2.11 Flir Systems (Raymarine) 13.2.12 Northrop Grumman Corporation 13.2.13 Comtech Telecommunications 13.2.14 Antennas for Communications 13.2.15 The Boeing Company 13.2.16 Thales Group 13.2.17 Verdant Telemetry & Antenna Systems 13.2.18 Kelvin Hughes 13.2.19 Starwin Industries 13.2.20 Toray Advanced Composites 13.2.21 Royal Engineered Composites 13.2.22 Kitsap Composites 13.2.23 Harbin Topfrp Composite Co., Ltd (Htc) 13.3 Other Players 13.3.1 Delta G Design 13.3.2 Kaman Composites 14 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nfltcv 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 Download our free sample report today to get a detailed understanding of the major forces driving this market across geographies. Download the Sample Report Now! Key Soda Ash Sourcing and Procurement Report Highlights: Market growth 2020-2024: USD 5.33 Billion Growth momentum & CAGR: Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.27% Top Pricing Models: Volume-based pricing, and Spot pricing Key consumer countries: North America , Europe , and APAC Supplier Selection Criteria: Technical specifications, Operational requirements, Acceptance criteria, and Evaluation criteria Top Suppliers: Ciner Resources LP, CIECH SA, and Solvay SA. Know More About This Market: Request for a Free Sample Report Now! Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Soda Ash market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Soda Ash pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as Unit-based pricing, and Bundled pricing, category management strategies and best practices to fulfil their category objectives. For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/report/soda-ash-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. Identify favorable opportunities in Soda Ash TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. To know more about various other market drivers, trends and challenges. Download our free sample report Smart Procurement Starts Here SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy to use platform. STARTER PACK Get 6 Full Reports, View 800+ report samples, Pre-order upcoming reports, Pre-order upcoming reports Subscribe Now for FREE Want to know about various other Subscription packs? Click here Get the Details That You Are Looking for: Buy our detailed market analysis report to uncover: Changing market landscape with yearly forecast till 2025. Analyze the market's competitive and vendor landscape. How much marketing budget to set aside for geographical market expansion? Understanding the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries. Download the FREE sample Report Now! Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge DUBLIN, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Wood Coating Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In-depth Analysis and Data-driven Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 Included in this Global Wood Coating Market Report The global wood coating market was valued at USD 9,665.04 million in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 12,974.56 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.03% during the forecast period. The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the wood coating market during the forecast period: Impact of thriving construction industry Growing middle-class population Rapid Urbanization Market Overview The demand for wood coating solutions is increasing at a rapid rate in every region. The rising living standards, growing disposable income, rapid urbanization, and substantial investment by the government contribute to the accelerated growth of the construction industry. This is positively impacting the demand for cabinets, sidings, flooring, beds, cupboards, tables, and other furniture, thus impacting the growth of wood coating. Major changes are happening in the global coating industry. The continuous adoption of coating technologies to offer better products every time is one such changing trend in the global industry. Key Highlights APAC is the leading market for wood coating and accounted for 56.56% of the market in 2020. Solvent-borne formulation holds the largest share in the wood coating market in 2020 and is growing at a CAGR of 4.86% during the forecast period. UV cured formulation holds 8.05% of the share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.56% between 2020 and 2026. Market Segments Solvent-borne coatings are less prone to environmental conditions such as humidity and high temperatures. Thus, they are preferred more for applications in humid environments that don't allow water-borne coatings to cure correctly. The global stain and varnish wood coating market are expected to reach USD 7,706.47 million by 2026 growing with a CAGR of 5.36%. Varnishes give very good UV protection, while wood stain finish changes or improves the wood color and the visibility of the grains. Segmentation By Formulation Solvent-Borne Water-Borne High Solid Powder-Borne UV Cured Segmentation by Coating Type Stain & Varnishes Shellacs Wood Preservatives Water Repellants Others Segmentation by End-use Flat Stock Wood Furniture and Cabinetry Paneling & Doors Siding Flooring & Others Wood Finishes Furniture Cabinetry Flooring Others Vendor Analysis The key vendors in the global wood coatings market are AkzoNobel N.V, Axalta Coating Systems, PPG, Sherwin Williams , and RPM. , and RPM. The parameters on which vendors compete in the wood protection coatings market are product portfolio, product quality, geographical presence, brand image, cost differentiation, and others. Key Vendors AkzoNobel N.V Axalta Coating Systems PPG Industries Sherwin Williams RPM International Inc Other Prominent Vendors Arkema SA Eastman Chemical Company Angus Chemical Company Lonza Group Ltd. Michelman Inc Cabot Corporation Albermare Corporation The Lubrizol Corporation Solvay Chemicals Kemira Lanxess Croda International Plc Huntsman International Univar Solution Inc Key Questions Answered: 1. How big is the wood coating market? 2. What are the various end-use types in the global wood coatings market? 3. Who are the key players in the wood coating industry? 4. What are the key driving factors for the wood coatings market? 5. Which region has the highest growth rate in the wood coating market? Key Topics Covered: 1 Research Methodology 2 Research Objectives 3 Research Process 4 Scope & Coverage 4.1 Market Definition 4.2 Base Year 4.3 Scope Of The Study 5 Report Assumptions & Caveats 5.1 Key Caveats 5.2 Currency Conversion 5.3 Market Derivation 6 Market at a Glance 7 Introduction 7.1 Overview 7.2 Industry FAQ 8 Opportunity Analysis 8.1 Formulation 8.2 Coating Type 8.3 End-Use 8.4 Geography 9 Market Opportunities & Trends 9.1 Thriving Construction Industry 9.2 Growing Middle-Class Population 10 Market Growth Enablers 10.1 Rapid Urbanization 10.2 Rise In DIY Homeowners 11 Market Restraints 11.1 Increasing Environmental Regulation 11.2 High Cost Of Raw Materials 12 Market Landscape 12.1 Market Overview 12.2 Market Size & Forecast 12.3 Five Forces Analysis 13 Formulation 13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 13.2 Market Overview 13.3 Solvent-Borne 13.4 Water-Borne 13.5 UVCured 13.6 Powder-Borne 13.7 High-Solid 14 Coating Type 14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 14.2 Market Overview 14.4 Stain & Varnish 14.5 Shellac 14.6 Wood Preservative 14.7 Water Repellents 14.8 Others 15 End-Use 15.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 15.2 Market Overview 15.3 Furniture & Cabinetry 15.4 Paneling & Doors 15.5 Siding 15.6 Flooring 15.7 Others 16 Geography 16.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 16.2 Geographic Overview 17 North America 17.1 Market Overview 17.2 Formulation 17.3 Coating 17.4 End-Use 17.5 Key Countries 18 Latin America 18.1 Market Overview 18.2 Formulation 18.3 Coating 18.4 End-Use 18.5 Key Countries 19 Middle East & Africa 19.1 Market Overview 19.2 Formulation 19.3 Coating Type 19.4 End-Use 19.5 Key Countries 20 APAC 20.1 Market Overview 20.2 Formulation 20.3 Coating 20.4 End-Use 20.5 Key Countries 21 Europe 21.1 Market Overview 21.2 Formulation 21.3 Coating 21.4 End-Use 21.5 Key Countries 22 Competitive Landscape 22.1 Competition Overview 23 Key Company Profiles 23.1 Akzo Nobel N.V 23.2 AXALTA COATING SYSTEM 23.3 PPG Industries 23.4 SHERWIN WILLIAMS 23.5 RPM International 24 OTHER PROMINENT VENDORS 24.1 ARKEMA 24.2 EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY 24.3 ANGUS CHEMICAL COMPANY 24.4 LONZA 24.5 MICHELMAN, INC 24.6 CABOT CORPORATION 24.7 ALBEMARLE CORPORATION 24.8 THE LUBRIZOL CORPORATION 24.9 SOLVAY 24.10 KEMIRA 24.11 LANXESS 24.12 CRODA INTERNATIONAL 24.13 HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL 24.14 UNIVAR SOLUTIONS INC 25 Report Summary 25.1 Key Takeaways 25.2 Strategic Recommendations 26 Quantitative Summary 26.1 FORMULATION 26.2 COATING TYPE 26.3 END-USE 27 Geography 27.1 NORTH AMERICA 27.2 EUROPE 27.3 APAC 27.4 LATIN AMERICA 27.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA 28 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cjrs16 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 The Cedar House team will remain in place at the hotel. Existing reservations will be honored and guests can continue booking reservations at www.cedarhousesporthotel.com . Gravity Haus membership is not required to book lodging at Cedar House. The on-site restaurant, Stella, will operate on its current schedule, breakfast 7 days a week and dinner Thursday-Sunday, and will expand dinner with full table service and curated wine menu starting this holiday season. Full details are available at https://stellatruckee.com/ . What is Gravity Haus "In just two years we have grown our membership to more than 2,000 strong as we now expand our community beyond Colorado and into the Truckee-Tahoe region, Reno and the Bay Area," explains Gravity Haus CEO Jim Deters. "Not only is Gravity Haus reinventing how people live and work enabling an active and healthy lifestyle, we are defining a new model of hospitality based upon inclusivity, community and conscious consumerism." Deters adds, "We have built a subscription-based membership solution for where to stay, and also what to do, who to do it with, and with access to the best gear at your finger-tips." Conceptualized by Denver-based entrepreneur Jim Deters and his wife Alicia Deters, Gravity Haus membership offers an unrivaled experience and authentic mountain lifestyle by seamlessly fusing work, play, travel and sustainability through a host of tech-forward yet thoughtful 'Haus' brands. Guided by the fundamental pillars: Good for you. Good for the planet. An amazing experience. Gravity Haus' adventure-focused locations solve the problems of "where to play" and "where to stay," and offer members on-demand outdoor gear access, functional co-working spaces, a watering hole, home base to meet like-minded outdoor enthusiasts + community events, amenities, and a variety of expert-led group fitness and recovery programs; all accessed by Gravity Haus members and hotel guests using the easy-to-use Gravity Haus Mobile App . "We have created a key connection from the Denver-metro area to our three world-class resort destinations in Breckenridge, Winter Park, and Vail," said Jim Deters, founder and CEO of Gravity Haus. "While Cedar House has been a partner hotel, feedback from our members and guests made it clear the Truckee location would be an ideal property and community to expand beyond Colorado. We are excited to work with the local community as a partner in promoting sustainable tourism and an active healthy lifestyle." Benefits for Gravity Haus Members While Cedar House will undergo a refresh before relaunching as Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe, Gravity Haus members will begin to receive benefits immediately, when booking on the Gravity Haus app: 50% off room nights Sunday-Wednesday 25% off room nights Thursday-Saturday 15% off room nights over holidays 25% off food + beverage orders before 3pm Haus Quiver // www.hausquiver.com : sustainable gear access to premium outdoor equipment with ski + snowboard fulfillment at Northstar Gold Club and Adventure Center as well as 12 other mountain resorts in the U.S. and Canada . // : sustainable gear access to premium outdoor equipment with ski + snowboard fulfillment at as well as 12 other mountain resorts in the U.S. and . Co-working: post up in Stella for a few hours at a time to unwind, socialize, check emails, and work in a casual environment. The Plan for Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe As the Gravity Haus community grows in Northern California, Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe will become a "center of gravity" for the local and regional membership. Gravity Haus intends to invest in a property improvement plan and rebrand the property as a community-driven asset, Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe in 2022, including: Gravity Haus member experiences + networking : events, and meet-ups focused on adventure, community development and personal growth. : events, and meet-ups focused on adventure, community development and personal growth. A signature dining experience with a focus on healthy and sustainably-sourced ingredients. with a focus on healthy and sustainably-sourced ingredients. Unravel Coffee // www.unravel.coffee : at Unravel, we believe nothing's better than a great cup of coffee except for a sustainable one. We're on a mission to use coffee as a force for good, bringing people together and empowering our partner farms and communities. We co-produce and import some of the world's best coffee straight from farms in Ethiopia and roast signature taste profiles with our zero emission Bellwether roaster. // : at Unravel, we believe nothing's better than a great cup of coffee except for a sustainable one. We're on a mission to use coffee as a force for good, bringing people together and empowering our partner farms and communities. We co-produce and import some of the world's best coffee straight from farms in and roast signature taste profiles with our zero emission Bellwether roaster. StarterHaus // www.starterhaus.com : modern co-working space, hot desks and meeting space to create and inspire alongside local and roving entrepreneurs, hold conference calls between outdoor adventures, and attend ongoing skill building and social programming. // : modern co-working space, hot desks and meeting space to create and inspire alongside local and roving entrepreneurs, hold conference calls between outdoor adventures, and attend ongoing skill building and social programming. Dryland Fitness // www.dryland.fitness : the Gravity Haus fitness community that makes every mile, summit, and moment outdoors possible through an intentional focus on expert-led functional group fitness classes, flexibility + mobility, and recovery. It's the manual and means to live your best life outdoors and the community to adventure with. Gravity Haus offers four(4) membership levels, starting at just $70/month for 12 months; including a new Truckee-Tahoe Local Membership for members looking for unlimited day access to the local amenities. Learn more: www.gravityhaus.com/membership . Media Assets: Property images of Cedar House Sport Hotel can be found here . Gravity Haus is a social club that enables a modern active lifestylethe seamless merging of work, play and outdoor adventures. Gravity Haus members envision the planet as a playground that fuels amazing experiences, personal growth, and connection with like-minded adventurers. Gravity Haus elevates the outdoor lifestyle for a community that shares a love of nature, sustainability, and stewardship for the planet. Gravity Haus is changing how members live, work and travel sustainably with outposts in Breckenridge, Denver, Vail and Winter Park, Colorado and Truckee-Tahoe, California. Learn more at www.gravityhaus.com . SOURCE Gravity Haus SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton Zanze (HZ) & Graham Street Realty (GSR), two affiliated Bay-Area-based national real estate investment firms and Davidson Kempner Capital Management (Davidson Kempner), a New York-based investment management firm, have closed on the acquisition of a 60-property portfolio spread across Marin and Sonoma counties in California. The properties comprise more than 1.4 million square feet of commercial and multifamily space and were acquired for a total purchase price of $436.5 million. The diverse portfolio's acquisition closed on December 15th. It was transacted through the Federal Bankruptcy Court, where the properties have been held since late 2020. The group was named the winning bidder after the court's open bidding process was held in September. Due to the firms' expertise in the ownership and successful management of both multifamily (HZ) and commercial real estate (GSR), the group was uniquely positioned to absorb the large, multi-faceted portfolio amongst competing bidders. The properties range in size from 3,500 square feet up to 85,000 square feet, encompassing a total of 935 residential units and approximately 680,000 square feet of commercial space. "We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring these properties into our portfolios and deliver successful investment results for our investing partners," said David Messing, Managing Principal of Graham Street Realty. Ashlee Cabeal, Chief Financial Officer of Hamilton Zanze added, "We look forward to investing over $50 million of capital into these properties, which are located in our own communities." Many HZ employees and executives live in Marin County, and most of the multifamily assets represent critical workforce housing, which will receive over half of the projected capital investment to provide safe and appealing housing to households of all income levels. The operation of the 60 properties will be split between affiliated property management firms Mission Rock Residential , overseeing the multifamily assets, and Paramount Property Company , managing the commercial office buildings. The properties were previously owned by Professional Financial Investors. The Hamilton Zanze team's personal and professional roots have been based in the Northern California real estate community, with principals Mark Hamilton, Tony Zanze and Kurt Houtkooper all beginning their real estate careers in the region more than 30 years ago. Throughout the firm's growth and expansion across the country, the Bay Area has remained the organization's headquarters since it was established in 2001. "Closing out Hamilton Zanze's 20th year in operation with this exciting acquisition right here in our hometown has been momentous for us," said Kurt Houtkooper, the company's Chief Investment Officer and President. "We started here and have grown here, and we are looking forward to the immediate growth opportunity the addition of this portfolio will bring to our teams' collective work in the Western region." In a time where many organizations have reengaged with their local marketplaces as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, HZ and GSR anticipate this portfolio acquisition will provide a strengthening of their local presence in the Bay Area. GSR already owned 5 commercial office properties in the Bay Area before the closing of this transaction, and further HZ investment is strategically planned in the region in the years to come as well. A complete list of property addresses is available upon request. ABOUT HAMILTON ZANZE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS Hamilton Zanze (HZ) is a private, San Francisco-based real estate investment company that owns and operates apartment communities. Since its founding in 2001, Hamilton Zanze has acquired over $5.3 billion in multifamily assets primarily in the Western, Southwestern, and Eastern U.S. The company currently owns and operates more than 150 properties across 16 states and 29 market areas. For additional information, visit www.hamiltonzanze.com. ABOUT GRAHAM STREET REALTY Graham Street Realty (GSR) is a San Francisco-based commercial real estate investment firm founded in 2007. Since that time, GSR has purchased over $275 million in assets. As of Q3 2020, GSR currently owns and operates 14 properties in three states. Since its founding, the firm's focus has been on value-add investment in the multi-tenant building market. To learn more, visit www.grahamstreetrealty.com. ABOUT DAVIDSON KEMPNER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Davidson Kempner Capital Management (Davidson Kempner) is a U.S.-registered global institutional investment management firm with more than 38 years of experience and a focus on fundamental investing with a multi-strategy approach. Davidson Kempner has more than $38 billion in assets under management with over 400 professionals in six offices, including New York, Philadelphia, London, Dublin, Hong Kong and Shenzhen. For additional information, visit www.davidsonkempner.com. ABOUT MISSION ROCK RESIDENTIAL Mission Rock Residential was established in 2012. The company now manages 123 multi-family properties and approximately 29,000 residential units across the United States. With a team of more than 700 full time Team Members, the company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with regional offices in Phoenix and Atlanta. The company was also named one of the Best Places to Work by the National Apartment Association in 2021. For additional information, visit www.missionrockresidential.com. ABOUT PARAMOUNT PROPERTY COMPANY Paramount Property Company (PPC) is an independent commercial property management company locally based and operated in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their mission is focused on maximizing return on investment for commercial real estate owners while delivering the highest quality of care and service to property tenants and their team members. For additional information, visit www.paramountpropertycompany.com. Media Contact: Nicole Marshall 504-644-7335 [email protected]email4pr.com SOURCE Hamilton Zanze NACKA STRAND, Sweden, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon AB, a global leader in digital reality solutions, today announced R-evolution's efforts to map the threatened seagrass meadows of the Caribbean islands, beginning with the coastal waters of the Bahamas. In collaboration with Beneath The Waves a leading, global, non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting marine environments R-evolution is leveraging Hexagon's airborne bathymetric LiDAR technologies to detect, map and capture critical details about this vital habitat, including its extent and composition. Blue carbon ecosystems refer to coastal and marine vegetated habitats, such as seagrass meadows, salt marshes, and mangrove forests, that sequester and store carbon from the atmosphere and ocean. These powerful carbon sinks are rapidly disappearing in many parts of the world. Seagrass meadows, the most common among them, are crucial to solving environmental challenges yet remain among the least recognised and least protected ecological habitats. As part of a long-term shark monitoring project to study and protect the oceans, Beneath The Waves discovered that tiger sharks spend a large portion of their life patrolling and foraging dense seagrass meadows. A combination of sensor tagged sharks, satellite data, marine vessel surveys and scuba divers drove the ongoing discovery and mapping of the extensive seagrass meadows of the Caribbean. But to protect and restore these blue carbon sinks, the findings must be validated with high positional accuracy and datasets that can provide efficient, year-on-year change detection and monitoring. R-evolution is helping Beneath The Waves validate their findings by deploying survey aircraft geared with one of Hexagon's airborne bathymetric LiDAR solutions, the Leica Chiroptera 4X. The airborne bathymetry solution enables the cost-effective, rapid survey of large areasaccurately mapping thousands of square kilometres of seabed habitats at up to 30 metres water depth in just a few days. The high-resolution point clouds and aerial imagery will allow Beneath The Waves to scale up their marine research. "We have a planetary need to protect and restore our oceansour biggest life support system harboring more biodiversity than any ecosystem on land," says Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollen. "The protection and restoration of seagrass meadows can not only improve ocean health and productivityfrom purifying water to protecting food chainsbut also aid the natural sequestration of massive amounts of carbon, providing major potential for offsetting pollution and reaching net-neutral carbon goals." While Hexagon and R-evolution focus on reducing the world's carbon footprint, both companies continue to bring innovation, cutting-edge technology and corporate leadership to climate change mitigation strategies. By combining the marine expertise of Beneath The Waves with the technological expertise of Hexagon, the collaborative project expects to yield groundbreaking results for blue carbon conservation. "Hexagon has been a major player in the airborne bathymetric LiDAR industry for many years," continued Rollen. "R-evolution's collaboration with Beneath The Waves is an excellent opportunity to deliver on the commitment to helping the world achieve its environmental goals. We are honoured to be a technology partner in this planet-saving research project, which aims to support, preserve and unlock the power of nature to build climate resilience." Launched in mid-February 2021, R-evolution is Hexagon's business venture focused on reinventing how industry addresses complex environmental challenges, profitably, using Hexagon's digital reality solutions. Learn more about R-evolution's projects that accelerate the world's transition to a sustainable economy. For further information, please contact: Maria Luthstrom, Head of Sustainability and Investor Relations, Hexagon AB, +46 8 601 26 27, [email protected] Kristin Christensen, Chief Marketing Officer, Hexagon AB, +1 404 554 0972, [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/hexagon/r/hexagon-s-r-evolution-expands-its-sustainability-agenda-to-help-protect-coastal-blue-carbon-ecosyste,c3473473 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Hexagon STOCKHOLM, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the power of visual communication, non-profit H&M Foundation and prominent photography museum Fotografiska are joining forces to inspire action connected to the urgent issues addressed in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The two-year collaboration begins with Fotografiska Stockholms exhibition The Changing Room by visual artist and multimedia pioneer Tobias Gremmler. In a scenographic media exhibition, the artist takes Fotografiska's visitors on a mind-blowing journey to picture a world where garments can grow directly on human skin through an array of imaginative notions. In a constantly changing room, the exhibition explores the endless possibilities of innovation. To further raise awareness about how innovation can drive transformation, seven examples of planet positive solutions that can shift the fashion industry are introduced in the 3D inspiration room The Future is Here. This online tour makes it possible for anyone to learn more about these ideas in the comfort of their own home. "We want to create awareness of the powerful impact sustainable fashion innovation can achieve if given the opportunity to scale. In the innovation space you can experience a t-shirt made of trapped carbon dioxide from the air, shoes crafted from wine-making leftovers and lab-grown cotton. These solutions exist and are giving back instead of taking from the planet, which is one of the keys to turning the fashion industry planet positive," says Diana Amini, Global Manager at H&M Foundation. The seven solutions come from across the globe and represent different parts of the fashion industry's value chain. They are examples of H&M Foundation's open-source collaboration with The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel as well as former winners of the annual innovation challenge Global Change Award. In addition, Accenture has estimated the positive impact each of the innovations can have on the planet in 2030, if given adequate support and opportunity to scale. And we are talking no small gains - one of the innovations could save 80,000 million litres of water, which is the same amount 115 million people drink during a year. Another solution could reduce 720,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, comparable to the total life-cycle emissions of 120 million polyester T-shirts. The H&M Foundation and Fotografiska Stockholm collaboration will find unexpected ways to communicate positive change. This first phase explores what a planet positive fashion industry can look like. Next, the spotlight will be on how to accelerate the development for inclusive societies. Note to editors: The exhibition The Changing Room by Tobias Gremmler is displayed December 4, 2021 to April 17 , 2022. by is displayed to , 2022. Explore The Future is Here in 3D: https://hmfoundation.com/fotografiska/ in 3D: https://hmfoundation.com/fotografiska/ To access images and video free to be used, downloaded and shared: https://tinyurl.com/24jzxey4 About the innovations and their potential planet positive impact: https://hmfoundation.com/fotografiska/accenture-innovations-positive-impact/ For more information or scheduling interviews please contact: Jasmina Sofic, Media Relations Responsible, H&M Foundation Mobile +46 73 465 59 59 E-mail: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/h-m-foundation/r/h-m-foundation-and-fotografiska-stockholm-join-forces-to-showcase-planet-positive-solutions,c3471961 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/12183/3471961/a94fa459d9161c92.pdf The Future is Here Communications kit SOURCE H&M Foundation "Thanks to the support of our friends and partners over the past year, HONOR has been able to deliver on our promise to help consumers go beyond as well as expand our brand to provide both premium and accessible technology to a wider range of users," said George Zhao, CEO of HONOR Device Co. Ltd. "I am so proud of the industry breakthroughs we have introduced as a result of the dedication and passion of my colleagues and collaborations with our leading global chain partners. It has really been great to see how we are shaping a shared future together." Evolving into an Iconic Global Technology Brand One of HONOR's top priorities as it transforms into a global technology brand is to create a new intelligent world for all, by continuously introducing new innovations and ways for people to connect. The introduction of 5G and 6G communication network technology has greatly improved the amount of information that can be transmitted. AI processing power has provided unlimited possibilities for imagination, opening up a new era of interconnectivity and making the integration of the physical world and the virtual world possible for everyone. To support the creation of an intelligent world for all, HONOR introduced its "HONOR Multi-screen Collaboration" in 2021, featuring technology for a variety of usage scenarios, and integrating HONOR's 1+8+N strategy. Powerful interconnectivity capabilities allow HONOR's smartphones, laptops, tablets, watches, earphones, smart screens and other smart devices to seamlessly connect together to support the continuous flow of more services down the line. In addition, HONOR spent the past year developing strategic collaborations with its global supply chain partners and established over 30 partnerships with leading suppliers including AMD, Intel, MediaTek, Microsoft and Qualcomm. HONOR launched the MagicBook 16 at the end of September and will be upgraded to the new Microsoft Windows 11 starting from December, it allows users to efficiently manage their workflows and enhance their productivity thanks to a multi-screen collaboration feature which projects the smartphone screen and files onto the laptop. Looking ahead to 2022, HONOR will continue its journey creating a new intelligent world for all through the launch of innovative new products packed with groundbreaking features. Launching Innovative Products for a Wider Range of Consumers HONOR introduced its first global product in 2021 with the launch of the HONOR 50 at the end of October. The HONOR 50 is equipped with GMS and is the first smartphone to feature Qualcomm's SnapdragonTM 778G Mobile Platform. In addition, the HONOR 50's stunning design and innovative vlogging capabilities has raised the benchmark for smartphones in this category. The launch of the HONOR 50 brought HONOR's presence to more than 40 countries around the world along with the support of a powerful global distribution network including high-profile retailers and operators such as Amazon, Esprinet, Fnac, Orange, Telcel, Telefonica and Vodafone as well as HONOR-owned stores in Russia, Malaysia and Peru. "Through both online and offline channels, we have been able to expand our offerings to even more consumers," said Zhao. "We are grateful for the trust of our retail and carrier partners around the world and look forward to introducing more products together in 2022. And, before we bid farewell to 2021, I am thrilled to share a final product launch announcement today. We will be launching a new addition to our popular X series, the HONOR X30, this month in China." Boasting an immersive 120Hz display, the HONOR X30 features a 6.81-inch screen with super narrow 1.05mm side bezels. Inside, it comes packed with a 4800mAh battery for all-day productivity, and is lighter and thinner than the last generation, weighing just 189g and measuring in at just 8.05mm. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Mobile Platform, the HONOR X30 has a 15 percent CPU and 30 percent GPU boost compared to the previous version. Available from December 16, the HONOR X30 will be priced starting at 1499 RMB. To celebrate the brand's 2021 achievements, HONOR developed a short video of its journey for its friends and partners: hihonor.com Honoring the Global Community's Resilience, Positivity and Creativity For many years, HONOR has supported and inspired global design talent to explore the intersection of art and technology. The brand recently hosted its 2021 HONOR Talents Global Design Contest, a global competition that recognizes the outstanding creativity and artistic contributions of designers from around the world. The competition received 5,000 submissions featuring captivating artworks from designers in Asia, Europe, Africa, and America, and showcased how art and technology can fuse together to create real masterpieces. In addition, the brand continued its successful HONOR Magic Moments Awards, a competition that encourages people to explore the beauty of the world around them through smartphone photography and videography as well as providing a global exchange platform for enthusiastic photographers to share their skills. In just 70 days, over 200 thousand images were submitted under the competition's eight themes. And as HONOR celebrates overcoming its own challenges to introduce industry breakthroughs this year, the brand wanted to take a moment to celebrate the inspiring people from around the world who triumphed in the face of adversity, despite 2021 being a difficult year. The brand unveiled its HONOR Your Smile video, which celebrates the resilience people around the world demonstrated over the year and the joy a simple smile can bring to people's lives. The HONOR Your Smile video can be viewed at hihonor.com. About HONOR HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONOR's portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves. For more information, please visit HONOR online at www.hihonor.com or email [email protected] http://community.hihonor.com/ https://www.facebook.com/honorglobal/ https://twitter.com/Honorglobal https://www.instagram.com/honorglobal/ http://www.youtube.com/c/HonorOfficial SOURCE HONOR NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 16, 2021 ,/PRNewswire/ -- Black CannaBusiness Magazine, the premier publisher of B2B content for African Americans doing business in the cannabis industry, is pleased to announce that after a successful inaugural gathering, Black CannaConference & Expo ("Black CannaBizCon"), the only B2B conference for Black professionals in cannabis, will be returning to New Orleans, Louisiana in 2022. Following the event, Black CannaBizCon received a proclamation from the City of New Orleans and local leaders in support of their work and significance to the business community. Black CannaBizCon partnered with multiple organizations including Minorities For Medical Marijuana (M4MM), Illinois Equity Staffing, the Association for Cannabis Health Equity and Medicine (ACHEM), the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) and more. Sponsors who have committed to equity in the Black cannabis business space created activations on the expo floor and supported the conference. Cresco Labs created a tribute to Black Wall Street and Parallel hosted a "pitch" competition that highlighted the works of new business owners while Weedmaps and COOKIES contributed to streamlining and promoting the event. Attendees enjoyed three days of active programming and workshop sessions focused on health, social equity and ownership, business development and community advocacy within the cannabis industry. "We are extremely pleased with the turnout and the caliber of our programming for our inaugural conference, which brought our community together for impactful educational sessions and networking opportunities," said Kristi Price, founder and CEO of KRMA Media, Inc, the parent company of Black CannaBusiness Magazine. "We'd like to thank the City of New Orleans, our sponsors, speakers and, of course, our attendees, for all of the incredible support we've received this year. We can't wait to see you again in the new year!" The first Black CannaBusiness Leadership Award was presented to Roz McCarthy, Founder and CEO of Minorities for Medical Marijuana, for her incredible leadership and advocacy efforts. Through her organization, McCarthy has launched (M) Procure, a social equity supplier diversity training and outreach program, in partnership with Curaleaf; Black Buddha Cannabis, a social equity-driven brand; the Ready Set Grow cannabis internship program; and Let's Talk Cannabis, a community forum for the cannabis industry. "I am so honored to receive this award and can't wait to work on more advocacy, outreach and education projects in the future," said McCarthy. "I would like to thank the advocate community for believing and supporting the mission of M4MM. Your unwavering strength, support and encouragement means the world to me. You are all the best." About Black CannaBusiness Magazine: Black CannaBusiness Magazine is a subsidiary of KRMA Media Inc, a Black woman-owned multi-media company helping Black professionals accelerate their involvement in the cannabis industry through the distribution of curated B2B content, the production of experiential events and the development of original video programming. Our sponsors prioritize diversity and are committed to doing their part to create a more inclusive industry. Media Contact: Renee Cotsis MATTIO Communications [email protected] Black CannaConference Contact: Ru Johnson [email protected] SOURCE Black CannaBusiness RENO, Nev., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ioterra, the marketplace for IoT development, has been selected from a competitive process to be part of a corporate delegation that the Nevada State government will be sending to Dubai for the largest governmental trade mission of 2022. Representatives from Ioterra will be visiting Dubai between March 2-10, 2022 to explore partnerships with high-tech innovation and digital transformation organizations in Dubai. The intent of the trade mission is to foster more business exchange between the US and the UAE. International Trade Administration Logo The trade mission is the Trade Winds Mission and Business Forum . Organized by the U.S. Commercial Service, Trade Winds will involve U.S. commercial diplomats from over 20 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The stated purpose of Trade Winds is to help US companies achieve growth and exposure in specific strategic markets around the world. The upcoming 2021 conference is to be held at the InterContinental Festival City in Dubai. Following the primary Trade Winds conference, Ioterra was additionally selected to participate in a Mission Stop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to assess the potential of setting up an IoT channel partnership with select organizations in the region. Ioterra is a marketplace platform of deals, services, and resources for product development. The Ioterra platform has 8,000+ users, hundreds of sellers, and has supported the launch of millions of product units into the field. Check out www.ioterra.com to learn more about the platform. The Ioterra platform currently has presence in North America, South America, Europe, China, and India. With the upcoming Trade Winds mission, Ioterra will seek to set up strategic partnerships that will bring critical IoT and Industry 4.0 innovations to the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Contact: Katherine Sawicki 1-800-915-1098 [email protected] SOURCE Ioterra CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thursday, December 16, Judge Ann Claire Williams (Ret.) and other Jones Day attorneys will hold a press conference to discuss the Firm's Report on the City of Chicago's Response to the Execution of the Search Warrant at Anjanette Young's Home. 1 Jones Day reviewed the City's response to the execution of the search warrant at Ms. Anjanette Young's home on February 21, 2019, focusing on four City departments: (1) Mayor's Office, (2) Department of Law, (3) Civilian Office of Police Accountability; and (4) Chicago Police Department. Credentialed media wishing to attend should register in advance with Susan Garraty at [email protected] . WHEN: Thursday, December 16, 2021 Doors open to cameras at 8:30 AM Speaking program to begin at 9:30 AM Event concludes at 10:30 AM WHERE: 77 West Wacker Drive Iridium Center Chicago, IL 60601 Media should check-in at security stand in lobby and will then be directed to Iridium Center. All attendees must show their press credentials for admittance and register in advance. Masks must be worn per the building's COVID-19 protocols. Speakers: Honorable Ann Claire Williams (Ret.) is of counsel at Jones Day. She is a former judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She also served as a federal district court judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois . Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Williams served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois for nine years and was a Chief in the Criminal Division. Ted Chung chairs Jones Day's global Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice and has led numerous internal investigations. His experience also includes service as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois , and positions with both the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois . Nicole Henning is a partner in Jones Day's Issues & Appeals and State Attorney General Enforcement, Investigations & Litigation practices where she has played key roles in investigations of Fortune 500 companies, and is often called upon by clients to analyze complex legal issues raised by those investigations. Shireen Matthews is a partner in Jones Day's Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice and a former Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney's Office in the Southern District of California . She has conducted numerous internal investigations and now helps clients build, enhance, and maintain effective compliance programs. The team received assistance from more than 40 Jones Day attorneys in various offices of the Firm. The Jones Day team dedicated more than 9,000 hours of pro bono legal services to this review. ### ____________________ 1 This Report examines the conduct of certain City departments in response to the execution of the search warrant. It does not address the conduct of the CPD officers in executing the warrant, which is the subject of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability's investigation and report of April 27, 2021. SOURCE Jones Day BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kellogg Company is pleased to announce that it has reached a recommended tentative agreement for a five-year labor contract with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union and the four local unions representing 1,400 employees at its U.S. cereal plants in Battle Creek, Mich., Lancaster, Penn., Memphis, Tenn. and Omaha, Neb. "We value all of our employees. They have enabled Kellogg to provide food to Americans for more than 115 years," said Kellogg Company Chairman and CEO Steve Cahillane. "We are hopeful our employees will vote to ratify this contract and return to work." Highlights from the agreement include: Increasing Leading Pay: Employees at our U.S. cereal plants are currently among the highest paid in our industry. The average 2020 earnings for the majority of hourly employees was $120,000 , nearly $36 -per-hour straight time for our most senior "legacy" employees. The agreement includes increased pay for all of our people, including across the board wage increases and COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) starting Year 1 of the agreement. Employees at our U.S. cereal plants are currently among the highest paid in our industry. The average 2020 earnings for the majority of hourly employees was , nearly -per-hour straight time for our most senior "legacy" employees. The agreement includes increased pay for all of our people, including across the board wage increases and COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) starting Year 1 of the agreement. Path to Legacy : Transitional employees have an accelerated, defined path to legacy wages and benefits as compared to the current contract. : Transitional employees have an accelerated, defined path to legacy wages and benefits as compared to the current contract. Improving No Cost Healthcare: Most of our U.S. cereal plant employees pay nothing for their healthcare (no premiums, co-pays, or out of pocket costs for prescriptions.) The balance of our workforce enjoy the same health insurance as our salaried employees, but at a much lower cost to them. The agreement further expands already very attractive healthcare benefits, across the board. Most of our U.S. cereal plant employees pay nothing for their healthcare (no premiums, co-pays, or out of pocket costs for prescriptions.) The balance of our workforce enjoy the same health insurance as our salaried employees, but at a much lower cost to them. The agreement further expands already very attractive healthcare benefits, across the board. Attractive Retirement Benefits: The majority of our U.S. cereal plant employees have pension benefits a rarity these days while others are provided 401(k) plans. The agreement increases those pension benefits. The majority of our U.S. cereal plant employees have pension benefits a rarity these days while others are provided 401(k) plans. The agreement increases those pension benefits. No Takeaways: The agreement does not take away anything from our employees. In other words, we are not requesting any concessions from the union. Kellogg and the union have been engaged in negotiations since Sept. 8 to finalize a master labor contract for its four U.S. Ready to Eat Cereal (RTEC) plants. On Oct. 5, the union decided to strike at all four plants. The union has stated that employees will be voting the tentative agreement by Monday and the company expects to know the results early next week. This is the second tentative agreement between Kellogg and the union. For a summary of the tentative agreement and regular updates, visit Kellogg's negotiations website at kelloggsnegotiations.com. About Kellogg Company At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), our vision is a good and just world where people are not just fed but fulfilled. We are creating better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands. Our beloved brands include Pringles, Cheez-It, Special K, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Eggo, Mini-Wheats, Kashi, RXBAR, MorningStar Farms and more. Net sales in 2020 were approximately $13.8 billion, comprised principally of snacks and convenience foods like cereal, frozen foods, and noodles. As part of our Kellogg's Better Days purpose platform, we're helping to end hunger and are committed to creating Better Days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030. Visit www.KelloggCompany.com or www.OpenforBreakfast.com. SOURCE Kellogg Company NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After a successful VC round on Unicrypt, MetaSpace Real Estate Investment Trust (MREIT) launches on PancakeSwap, decentralized exchange with over $2 billion of daily trading volume. MREIT's founder, Eric Klein, says that the company will focus on buying, leasing, and minting hightraffic virtual real estate in the metaverse with profits flowing back to token holders via smart contracts, much like a traditional real estate investment trust. The company will be fully audited with KYC and will set the standard for traditional real estate investors looking to diversify in the virtual real estate world. Klein comes from the traditional real estate industry, having made big moves in the commercial and residential sectors through the mid-2010s. In his early twenties, Klein assisted in one of Toronto's largest commercial building sales in the popular King West neighborhood. By the age of 26, he began focusing on multi-family units in markets such as Trois-Rivieres and Montreal in Quebec, Canada. However, Klein's original vision shifted after the success of his personal Bitcoin investment. In 2019, he saw the potential to evolve in a way that other real estate companies had yet to do. Klein launched KleinCap Investments, a cryptocurrency and blockchain investment company, which produced nearly 4,000% returns in its first year of business. Now with MREIT, a subsidiary of KleinCap, Klein is looking to become a global leader in the metaverse space by offering access to one of the fastest rising asset classes. "It's the biggest opportunity of our generation," Klein says. "Especially for those of us who work in real estate and have seen the industry shift in unprecedented ways. If you're not on board, you're being left behind. That's just a fact." Klein isn't alone, either. Other real estate veterans have already made the move to the metaverse. On December 9, 2021, Forbes reported that the blockchain infrastructure company, Alchemy, was launching its own venture capital fund. For Klein, Alchemy's move solidifies the direction his industry is going, but he fears many will be operating from a FOMO mentality. "Companies need to understand the groundwork and foundation in order to see where we are going," Klein says. "That's why we spent several months digesting as much as we could before coming to the surface with MREIT. We wanted to make sure we were working with the best of the best. And that's what we're doing." Since its launch on Unicrypt, MREIT has already seen a growth rate of over 30%. The company hit its soft cap target in just 24 hours. Klein and his team of developers have worked around the clock to ensure MREIT is his most successful launch to date. "This is the future," Klein says. "By 2022, we'll have partnerships with leading real estate developers, architects, influencers, and brokers to bring MREIT to the forefront of the metaverse. We'll be announcing an NFT and staking platform by mid-2022 which will attract AAA tenants to secure long-term profitability for our token holders." PRESS CONTACT: Eric Klein SOURCE KleinCap Investments BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pixability (www.pixability.com), the only provider of software and insights for video advertising on YouTube, YouTube on TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and other Connected TV (CTV) platforms today shared results of a landmark campaign developed together with Saucony and media agency iProspect. The major campaign targeted audiences primarily on CTV using Pixability's optimization and insights platform. Relying heavily on YouTube, in conjunction with other leading CTV platforms, the campaign drove record results. In 2020, Saucony launched its first major CTV-focused marketing campaign, working with Pixability and iProspect to optimize targeting across several video platforms. This collaboration recently received a Digiday Technology Award for Best Buy-Side Programmatic Platform. Saucony aimed to expand the scope of the partnership in 2021 to launch the company's new Kinvara 12, Ride 14 and Endorphin Collection, incorporating additional platforms and other shoe franchises. Pixability developed a targeting plan designed for YouTube, Roku and Amazon, optimizing tactics more than 143,000 times on YouTube alone. During the campaign, Pixability deployed behavioral targeting tactics to reach potential customers who previously searched for post-workout and recovery products. The campaign led to a 128% lift in Google searches for the Kinvara 12, Ride 14 and Endorphin Collection; a 28.5% lift in Saucony product searches on Amazon.com and the Amazon app; and a 21.2% lift for awareness, consideration and purchase among Roku audiences. According to independently-verified data, the campaign drove nearly 6,000 purchases, and 65% of purchases tracked on Amazon were new to the Saucony brand. "We were extremely happy with the unprecedented lift and purchases that resulted from this campaign," said Grace Smith, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Saucony. "Our partnership with Pixability demonstrates the reach and results that can be achieved by including YouTube in conjunction with other video platforms in a CTV-focused campaign." According to Comscore, YouTube represents more than 40% of CTV viewing hours among ad-supported platforms but can often be underrepresented in CTV campaigns. Pixability is the only video technology company to offer access to 99% of viewing hours on CTV for any single campaign, including YouTube on TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. "As we continue to see ad dollars shift from traditional TV to Connected TV advertising, many brands are starting to recognize that YouTube is the leading ad-supported platform in CTV in terms of reach," said David George, CEO of Pixability. "We were proud to work with Saucony and iProspect on these campaigns that included YouTube and other key CTV platforms, and that the campaigns drove both reach and measurable bottom of the funnel results." About Pixability Pixability is a technology and data company that empowers the world's largest brands and their agencies to maximize the value of video advertising on YouTube, YouTube on TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Hulu. The company's industry-leading optimization and insights solutions are independently verified by the YouTube Measurement Program, DoubleVerify, Oracle Data Cloud's Moat Measurement, Integral Ad Science and other third parties. Pixability's suite of solutions are used by the top media agencies and brands including Dentsu-Aegis, Havas, Interpublic Group, Omnicom, Publicis, and GroupM, as well as Swatch, Bose, KIND, Hilton, Jack in the Box, and Puma. For more information about Pixability, please visit www.pixability.com . About Saucony: Saucony, the 'Original Running Brand' and a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW), is a leading global performance running brand that fuses innovation, style and culture. Widely recognized for award-winning technologies including PWRRUN PB, PWRRUN+, and SPEEDROLL, Saucony creates innovative technical and lifestyle footwear and apparel across Road, Trail and Originals. Founded in 1898, Saucony exists to inspire and serve all humans to live their best life by providing access to running, self-expression and creating a better world. For more information, go to www.saucony.com. SOURCE Pixability SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeTech Scientific Corporation (LifeTech, 01302.HK) announced that it has extended its agreements with Medtronic to further the strategic collaboration on the "HeartTone domestic pacemaker project" and to start the collaboration on domestically-made MRI-conditional pacemakers. Together with MRI-conditional leads, these products will address growing MRI-related therapeutic needs in China. The agreements also include the extension of the partnership on the "HeartTone domestic pacemaker project" to 2028. Similar to its collaboration on the first generation of HeartTone pacemakers, Medtronic will provide a series of specialized technical consulting services for the MRI-conditional products project. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is recognized as the "gold standard" in diagnosis of tumors, neurological diseases, and chondropathy. However, strong magnetic field environment during an MRI scan can have adverse effects on non-MRI conditional pacemakers, which may cause serious conditions such as myocardial damage and arrhythmias in patients. Therefore, patients with non-MRI conditional pacemaker have long been prohibited from MRI scan. According to statistics, there is over a million of patients needing a pacemaker in China. The demand for MRI scan from patients with bradycardia is increasing as society ages. MRI-conditional pacemakers can meet the demand for MRI scans of patients with implanted pacemaker. Meanwhile, implanting MRI-conditional cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) has been upgraded to Class I recommendation according to the 2021 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy. However, only imported MRI-conditional pacemakers are currently available in China. The collaboration between LifeTech and Medtronic will change this landscape once the MRI-conditional products are approved by NMPA. "This collaboration between LifeTech and Medtronic represents a remarkable step forward in localizing pacing products for China market", said Mr. Xie Yuehui, Chairman and CEO of LifeTech. "With Medtronic's world-leading technology and LifeTech's expertise in China market, plus a long-term collaboration with Medtronic in pacing products for China market, we are pretty confident and are expecting LifeTech MRI-conditional products to soon become a choice of selection by China patients with internationally advanced technology and superior quality, thereby making advanced domestic cardiac pacing therapies more accessible." "Medtronic and LifeTech have been partnering for nearly a decade, and in that time, we have successfully expanded access to pacemakers in China, via the HeartTone pacemaker," said Mike Marinaro, president of Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Management. "We are pleased to extend our collaboration by adding the development of domestically made MRI-conditional pacemakers for the Chinese market." LifeTech began its strategic relationship with Medtronic, Inc. in pacemaker product development since 2014. In December 2017, LifeTech's HeartTone brand implantable cardiac pacemakers were successfully launched in the Chinese market with accompanying leads and programmers, providing a complete resolution for China patients. This latest collaboration will further meet the fast-growing demand for MRI-conditional cardiac pacing therapies in China, benefiting patients who suffer from bradycardia. About LifeTech Established in 1999 and rated as a National High-Tech Enterprise, LifeTech Scientific Corporation (LifeTech, 01302.HK) is a leading company specializing in minimally invasive interventional medical devices for cardio-cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular diseases. The company has multiple innovative products related to structural heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, cardiac rhythm management, and cancer and respiratory diseases and also boasts a unique iron-based bioresorbable technology and has achieved breakthroughs in various treatment fields. As of the end of November 2021, 14 of LifeTech's products have been approved as innovative medical devices by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), and with a global reach of over 100 countries and regions, LifeTech is currently one of the few domestic companies in China with a highly internationalized business structure. SOURCE LifeTech Scientific Corporation Related Links www.lifetechmed.com NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors with losses in excess of $100,000 that they have until January 18, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lightspeed Commerce, Inc. (NYSE: LSPD), if they purchased the Company's securities between September 11, 2020 and November 3, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Get Help Lightspeed investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-lspd/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Lightspeed and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On September 29, 2021, Spruce Point Capital Management reported a range of allegations regarding the Company, including but not limited to, that it overstated its customer count by 85% and its gross transaction volume by 10% in pre-IPO documents; that there was "[e]vidence of declining organic growth and business deterioration through Lightspeed's IPO, despite management's claims that Average Revenue Per User ('ARPU') is increasing"; and that the Company's "[r]ecent acquisition spree has come at escalating costs with no clear path to profitability, while management pursues aggressive revenue reporting practices." On this news, Lightspeed's shares fell $13.73 per share, or 12.2%, to close at $98.77 per share on September 29, 2021. The case is Nath v. Lightspeed Commerce Inc., et al., 21-cv-06365910. 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 NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lument recently underwrote a two-tranche unfunded forward commitment for a Freddie Mac tax-exempt loan (TEL) totaling $16.9 million to construct 1515 North Capitol Apartments, a new affordable housing high-rise development located in Washington, D.C.'s Truxton Circle neighborhood. The 15-story apartment building will feature 136 affordable studio units, with 75 units subsidized through D.C.'s Local Rental Supplement Program (LRSP), 61 units restricted to tenants earning 50% area median income (AMI), and three units reserved for staff. Managing Director Andrew Ellis and Associate Director Tyler Probst led the transaction for Lument. "Closing this project was complex but very rewarding," said Ellis. "We were proud to work with So Others Might Eat (SOME) to help further their goal of breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. This community will create much-needed affordable housing in a high-rent market." To cover all necessary funding, Lument structured two tranches of debt for the Freddie Mac TEL Note A in the amount of $11.8 million with a net operating income based on market rents and a 17-year term and 40-year amortization; and Note B in the amount of $5.1 million based on the D.C.'s Local Rent Supplement Program (LSRP) overhang to fully amortize in a 15-year term, which is coterminous with the LRSP contract term. "This loan was originated in a challenging environment and required keeping track of a lot of moving parts," said Probst. "This project was bid in the post-COVID landscape with escalating construction costs, higher site costs, and a constrained labor market." To facilitate construction of the high-rise, SOME received federal tax credit equity through the sale of 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) organized by Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, a construction loan from a national bank, a subordinate loan from Washington D.C.'s Department of Housing and Community Development, and a sponsor loan from SOME. "On top of everything else, Lument was able to execute this loan on a tight deadline," added Ellis. "This was a high profile project with many interested parties, with some of our weekly phone calls having more than 70 people attending. It was a pleasure to be able to help SOME create a new milestone with a high-quality affordable community in the D.C. area." The project is estimated to be completed in 27 months. The high-rise will offer an extensive list of amenities for residents, including a community room, conference/meeting rooms, classrooms, a library, computer room, fitness center, bike storage, two roof terraces, and a laundry room on every residential level. SOME recently celebrated their fiftieth anniversary of advocating for the homeless and hungry in Washington, D.C. They have developed six multifamily projects over the past five years, including substantial renovation work and new construction. SOME owns and manages nearly 1,000 units for individuals and families in the D.C. area, 747 of which are LIHTC units. About Lument ORIX Real Estate Capital Holdings, LLC, d/b/a Lument, is a subsidiary of ORIX Corporation USA. Lument is a national leader in commercial real estate finance. As the combined organization of legacy industry experts Hunt Real Estate Capital, Lancaster Pollard, and RED Capital Group, Lument delivers a comprehensive set of capital solutions customized for investors in multifamily, affordable housing, and seniors housing and healthcare real estate. Lument is a Fannie Mae DUS, Freddie Mac Optigo, FHA, and USDA lender. In addition, Lument offers a suite of proprietary commercial lending, investment sales, investment banking, and investment management solutions. Securities, investment banking, and advisory services are provided through OREC Securities, LLC, d/b/a Lument Securities, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are provided by OREC Investment Management, LLC, d/b/a Lument Investment Management. OREC Investment Management is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, visit www.lument.com . MEDIA CONTACT Michael Ratliff | Marketing Director 212-588-2163 | [email protected] SOURCE Lument HOUSTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) ("Main Street") is pleased to announce that it recently completed a new portfolio investment to provide growth capital financing and facilitate the minority recapitalization of Johnson Downie, LLC ("Johnson Downie" or the "Company"), a provider of lateral partner placements to law firms across Texas. Main Street, along with its co-investor, partnered with the Company's existing owner and management team to facilitate the transaction, with Main Street funding $14.6 million in a combination of first-lien, senior secured term debt and a direct minority equity investment. Founded in 2006 and based in Houston, Johnson Downie specializes in retained partner-level attorney recruiting engagements. Over the past decade, Johnson Downie has assisted with the launching of over 21 law firm offices and placed more than 700 law firm partners in Texas. ABOUT MAIN STREET CAPITAL CORPORATION Main Street ( www.mainstcapital.com ) is a principal investment firm that primarily provides long-term debt and equity capital to lower middle market companies and debt capital to middle market companies. Main Street's portfolio investments are typically made to support management buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, refinancings and acquisitions of companies that operate in diverse industry sectors. Main Street seeks to partner with entrepreneurs, business owners and management teams and generally provides "one stop" financing alternatives within its lower middle market investment strategy. Main Street's lower middle market companies generally have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million. Main Street's middle market debt investments are made in businesses that are generally larger in size than its lower middle market portfolio companies. Main Street, through its wholly owned portfolio company MSC Adviser I, LLC ("MSC Adviser"), also maintains an asset management business through which it manages investments for external parties. MSC Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Contacts: Main Street Capital Corporation Dwayne L. Hyzak, CEO, [email protected] Jesse E. Morris, CFO & COO, [email protected] 713-350-6000 Dennard Lascar Investor Relations Ken Dennard | [email protected] Zach Vaughan | [email protected] 713-529-6600 SOURCE Main Street Capital Corporation FENTON, Mich., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- They were talking, and we were listening. Providing the highest-level service is of the utmost importance to McDurmon Distributing . So, instead of implementing a short-term solution, we eliminated any future issues by partnering with RECmar Products . Getting high-quality replacement parts for foreign-made motors will now be easier than ever, due in part to a powerful connection with an industry leader and innovator. McDurmon is proud to partner with RECmar McDurmon is proud to partner with RECmar "Over the past season, we've been gathering information and feedback from our current customers and many others in the marine service industry," said Troy Muzer, who has 22 years of service at McDurmon, starting as a Purchasing Agent before transitioning to his current position of Product Analyst. "The most common request, by far, was that the industry needed more aftermarket options for Japanese-brand motors, such as Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Tohatsu. U.S. aftermarket companies have very little coverage in these areas, and that's what led us to RECmar." It was a mutual connection. Based in Barcelona, Spain, Recambios Marinos (RECmar), discovered McDurmon through marketing campaigns. McDurmon had already known about RECmar and its exceptional reputation. Through those channels, a relationship was established. "They reached out to me to introduce their company and their products," said Muzer, who was impressed with RECmar's line. "When I looked at what they had to offer, I was more than surprised. They offered exactly what we were looking for -- a very large line of Japanese outboard products." There are other industry related benefits, such as shipping and robust supply chain/access to inventory -- but the fact that RECmar could immediately supply an intense demand was critical. "That alone was enough to convince me that McDurmon needed to add RECmar products," Muzer said, noting RECmar's 40 years of innovation. Soon after forming a partnership with RECmar, McDurmon began to identify another consumer demand that needed to be satisfied. "As we started ordering and selling more and more of the RECmar parts, it became clear that RECmar had a much larger offering on, not just the Japanese parts, but also the American models, such as Johnson and Evinrude, Mercury and Mercruiser, and Volvo Penta," Muzer explained. "We started to receive orders for items that RECmar offers that no U.S. aftermarket company offers." McDurmon is pleased to announce this partnership with RECmar and is confident that it will benefit our valued clients and consumers. Media contact: Adam Biggers 517-775-5976 [email protected] NileThree.com SOURCE McDurmon Distributing NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Modern Aviation today announced it has closed the acquisition of Hill Aviation LLC, which includes FBO and MRO operations at Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (Isla Grande Airport/TJIG) in San Juan, Puerto Rico and a satellite FBO operation at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport (TJRV) in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, from Tommy Hill and VRM Companies. The San Juan and Ceiba locations will be rebranded Modern Aviation Puerto Rico. Propilot's aircraft management and charter business will remain based at Isla Grande Airport. Hill Aviation operates the sole FBO at Isla Grande Airport where it offers more than 91,000 square feet of hangar space and office space and has a long history of providing excellent customer service. Modern's CEO Mark Carmen, stated, "We are very excited about closing the acquisition of Hill Aviation, our second acquisition this year. Isla Grande Airport is a high growth location that offers significant advantages compared to other regional airports: the FBO's location offers quicker access to/from the main roads in San Juan; and customers can directly access their aircraft on the ramp unlike at comparable airports in San Juan." Carmen added, "San Juan is a highly attractive, growing general aviation market, and we plan to further develop Hill Aviation's leasehold by building additional hangars. Additionally, we look forward to providing industry best practices through Hill Aviation's team of dedicated employees to benefit all stakeholders at Isla Grande Airport." Modern Aviation has distinguished itself in the marketplace by delivering world class customer service, extraordinary quality, and a commitment to safety. Modern enjoys an excellent reputation as a strong partner to the airport authorities at each of its locations and is pursuing a growth strategy of investing in its existing locations and acquiring new premium FBO locations. "Hill Aviation, which has been operating at Isla Grande Airport for more than 30 years, has delivered outstanding customer service through our exceptional team of employees," said Hill Aviation CEO Tommy Hill. "Modern Aviation is well positioned to build on our success at Isla Grande and to further develop the business to reach its full potential. I look forward to working with Modern Aviation to continue to provide a base of operation for our Propilot business and customers. We are confident that Modern will provide a great home for our Hill Aviation team members and our loyal customers." "We are pleased to have been a part of such a successful growth story, and we are proud of and grateful to Tommy and the team for being great partners in delivering this outcome" said Carlos Penzini, VRM Companies Private Equity Managing Partner. About Modern Aviation Modern Aviation is a growing company that is building a national network of premium FBO properties. Modern Aviation's strategy is to acquire and develop FBO operations in growth markets and to focus on providing exceptional service, extraordinary quality and industry-leading safety. Modern Aviation has secured the backing of the growth-oriented infrastructure private equity fund, Tiger Infrastructure Partners. Modern Aviation is actively engaged in pursuing additional FBO acquisitions and development opportunities in North America and the Caribbean. For more information visit https://modern-aviation.com. About Hill Aviation/Propilot Hill Aviation operates the sole FBO at Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport (also known as Isla Grande Airport and TJIG) in San Juan, Puerto Rico and a MRO operation. Hill Aviation also operates a satellite FBO at Jose Aponte De La Torre Airport (Ceiba Airport, code: TJRV), which is located on the East coast of Puerto Rico and has an 11,000-foot runway. Propilot owns and operates a Part 135 aircraft management/charter business based at Isla Grande Airport. About VRM Companies VRM Companies is a real estate and private equity conglomerate with over 45 years of operationally focused experience. VRM Companies owns and manages a diversified private equity portfolio of companies that includes mortgage banking, real estate development, consumer products, consumer services, outdoor advertising, satellite manufacturing, and renewable energy. For more information visit http://www.vrmcompanies.com SOURCE Modern Aviation WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement by Lisa Nicole Matthews, President of the National Press Club and Angela Greiling Keane, President of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the arrest of Amir Aman Kiyaro, a freelance video journalist who works for the Associated Press. "We are closely monitoring the detention of AP freelance cameraman Amir Aman Kiyaro in Ethiopia. We understand Kiyaro was detained November 28. Authorities are reportedly not responding to questions from the AP about Kiyaro, who like any journalist, interviews people on all sides of a conflict. While accused of violating terrorism laws (because he interviews the Tigray Defense Forces), we understand Kiyaro has not been charged although he is detained. If convicted under the terrorism statutes he could serve 7 years or more. We call on the government of Ethiopia to release Kiyaro, who has committed no crime." Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the world. The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's non-profit affiliate, promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement. Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7500 for the National Press Club SOURCE National Press Club Related Links http://press.org DALLAS, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: NREF) ("NREF" or the "Company") announced today that it has launched an offering of its 5.75% Senior Notes due 2026 (the "Additional Notes"). The Additional Notes are being offered as an additional issue of the Company's existing $75 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2026 that the Company issued on April 20, 2021 (the "Initial Notes"). The Additional Notes will be issued under the same indenture as the Initial Notes, will be treated as a single class of debt securities with the Initial Notes and will have the same terms, other than the issue date and offering price. The Company intends to contribute the net proceeds from this offering into its operating partnership, NexPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P. (the "OP"), in exchange for OP units. The OP intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to acquire investments that fit within the Company's investment strategy. Raymond James is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering. The Company is making this offering pursuant to a shelf registration statement that became effective on March 31, 2021. This offering will be made solely by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained from Raymond James & Associates, Inc., 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716, telephone (800) 248-8863, email: [email protected] or through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the notes, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., is a publicly traded REIT, with its shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NREF" primarily focused on originating, structuring and investing in first mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity and alternative structured financings in commercial real estate properties, as well as multifamily commercial mortgage backed securities. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should" and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed offering and the intended use of proceeds. They are not guarantees of future results and forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including the ultimate duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effectiveness of actions taken, or actions that may be taken, by governmental authorities to contain the outbreak or treat its impact, as well as those described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), particularly those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review NREF's other filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of risks and other factors that could affect any forward-looking statement. The statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and except as required by law, NREF does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Contacts NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. Investor Relations Jackie Graham [email protected] 833.463.6697 SOURCE NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- North Park University (North Park) has been awarded a $1M grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) in establishing the One Thriving Seminary initiative. By applying this grant towards strategic alignment and a healthy infrastructure, NPTS will secure a future with unified programming and recognizable outcomes for its diverse constituencies. The project is funded through the second phase of Lilly Endowment's Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, a three-phase initiative designed to help theological schools across the United States and Canada prioritize and respond to pressing challenges and prepare pastoral leaders for Christian congregations both now and into the future. North Park President Mary K. Surridge said, "Our theological seminary has been at the heart of our mission throughout our 130-year history -- and over the past decade it has been the model of traditioned innovation. This high-impact grant from Lilly Endowment's Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative will be tremendously valuable in bringing needed infrastructure -- and the power of strategic alignment -- to all of our programs as we prepare pastoral leaders for lives of significance and service." Through this grant, North Park will: Resource programs to support the flourishing of diverse student populations Integrate cohorts and students across degree programs Strengthen financial models Enhance institutional health and development of faculty and staff Herald our mission amongst stakeholders and the broader world of theological education Backed by Lilly Endowment's long-standing interest in theological schools playing a pivotal role in preparing pastoral leaders for churches, NPTS is one of 84 schools receiving a total of $82 million in grants to support Christian congregations, including pastors from Black, Latino, Korean American, Chinese American, and recent immigrant Christian communities. "Today, these schools find themselves in a period of rapid and profound change," said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment's vice president for religion. "Through the Pathways initiative, theological schools will take deliberate steps to address the challenges they have identified in ways that make the most sense to them. We believe that their efforts are critical to ensuring that Christian congregations continue to have a steady stream of pastoral leaders who are well-prepared to lead the churches of tomorrow." ABOUT NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY North Park University is city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America. SOURCE North Park University VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. (TSXV: ROOF) ("Northstar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce key strategic appointments to its senior management team as the Company prepares for significant business developments in 2022. All appointments are effective December 15, 2021. Chief Financial Officer Rosemary Pritchard Ms. Rosemary Pritchard has joined Northstar as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"). Ms. Pritchard intends to develop the Company's financial strategy and structure with a focus on non-dilutive funding and growth. As well as bringing deep financial expertise, she will also have accountability for the Company's human resources and information technology departments. Ms. Pritchard has 30 years of executive finance experience in a variety of industries. Her roles included 9 years in the construction industry in controllership and COO roles, 5 years in public practice at Grant Thornton LLP, 8 years as CFO of the national furniture retailer Urban Barn, a Vancouver-based company with over 50 locations and more than 650 employees. Ms. Pritchard assisted in growing Urban Barn annual revenues from $20 million to $70 million and locations from 19 stores to 42 stores in 8 years. As CFO of Urban Barn, Ms. Pritchard was responsible for implementing the SAP ERP system, employee policies, internal controls, and infrastructure. She was most recently the CFO of Arterran Renewables, a company in the green energy sector. Ms. Pritchard has a wide variety of executive financial experience including debt financing, stakeholder management, board reporting, and project management. She also has extensive experience in implementing infrastructure, building strong leadership teams, and working with high growth companies. Mr. Aidan Mills, President & CEO of Northstar, commented, "Rosemary is a tremendous addition to our business. She is committed to our strategic objective of making a disruptive difference in the shingle processing business and will lead our drive to secure material, non-dilutive funding through market and government support. Additionally, we will retain Sead Hamzagic in his new role as Director of Finance. Sead has been instrumental in developing the solid financial framework of the current Northstar business, particularly through the Empower amalgamation in late 2020 and TSX Venture Exchange listing in July 2021. We are delighted to have the financial leadership of Northstar in the hands of Rosemary and Sead going forward." Ms. Rosemary Pritchard, CFO of Northstar, stated "I am delighted to join the team at Northstar. We have a clear, defined growth plan for a rollout into key markets across Canada and the United States. We are at a critical juncture as we build a real, operating business and I am excited to be a part of this growth going forward. Through development of our modular asphalt shingle processing facilities, our rollout across Canada and the United States can help provide significant environmental benefits and help avoid major disposal of asphalt shingles into already over-crowded landfills." In conjunction with Ms. Pritchard's appointment as CFO of the Company, Mr. Sead Hamzagic will take on a new role as Director of Finance. Mr. Hamzagic's responsibilities for the day-to-day financial management of the business will continue. General Manager, Alberta Allen Gervais, CPA, CMA Mr. Allen Gervais has joined Northstar as General Manager, Alberta. Mr. Gervais will lead the development of Northstar's planned Alberta business. Mr. Gervais has 15 years of construction materials and project management experience with several major corporations. He has diverse knowledge of the construction industry, including managing several major infrastructure projects with contract values exceeding $100 million. Mr. Gervais also brings extensive experience driving product and service innovation, leading high performing teams, and managing operational excellence. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA). General Manager, Ontario Dave Wood and Tammy Wood Mr. Dave Wood and Mrs. Tammy Wood, as owners of Wood Equipment Inc., have agreed that Mr. Wood and Mrs. Wood will act as Northstar's General Managers, Ontario, leading the development of Northstar's planned Ontario business. Mr. and Mrs. Wood each offer 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, owning and building a successful environmental business, specializing in organic waste diversion and associated logistics. They bring to the table extensive knowledge and experience in waste management, operations management, and asset management. Senior Process Advisor Steve Thomas Mr. Steve Thomas has joined Northstar as Senior Process Advisor and will be responsible for leading the engineering design process for the Company's first scale-up facility, in conjunction with BBA Engineering. Mr. Thomas is an accomplished senior process specialist. His commitment as lead Senior Process Advisor demonstrates his confidence in the Bitumen Extraction & Separation Technology ("BEST") and his commitment to both the successful engineering of the first scale-up facility and the ongoing process improvement of Northstar's existing facilities as we roll out these facilities across Canada and the United States. Mr. Thomas has over 25 years experience in Refinery, Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage ("SAGD"), and Upgrader facility design from global engineering, procurement & construction ("EPC") and owner companies. He has experience from projects of all sizes and from all stages, feasibility through to commissioning and plant optimisation, providing valuable experience in facility design, modularisation, construction, operations, and project management. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the University of Surrey, UK. Securing Additional Senior Management Mr. Gordon Johnson and Mr. Terry Charles, co-founders of Empower Environmental Solutions Ltd. ("Empower"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Northstar, and the developers of the Company's proprietary design process technology, have assumed new roles with the Company as Director of Business Development and Director of Special Operations, respectively. Mr. Johnson will continue to serve as a member of the Northstar Board of Directors. Both Mr. Johnson and Mr. Charles will continue in their previous roles with Empower as President and Chief Operating Officer, respectively. Mr. Aidan Mills, CEO of Northstar, has also been appointed President of Northstar, and CEO and sole director of Empower. Mr. Jim Bird, a Technical Advisor to the Company, has agreed to continue to provide technical direction and leadership to the business. Mr. Carson Sedun will transition from the part-time role of Director of Capital Markets to full-time Director of Corporate Development. Mr. Sedun will lead the corporate development of Northstar, including engagement with equity and debt providers, and government partners. Mr. Aidan Mills, President & CEO of Northstar, stated, "These senior management appointments are the culmination of the hard work we have carried out over the last few months since our C$12.2 million capital raise in July 2021 to build a first-class team to deliver the strategic objectives of Northstar moving forward. I am convinced these appointments provide an incredibly strong team by securing the founders, retaining the expertise that brought the Company to the successful financial stage we are at today, and adding the capability to drive the business forward with clear financial purpose and deep market engagement. This is a significant step in the development of our business and creates a fantastic platform to launch our delivery in 2022. The rollout of our Northstar facilities across Canada is an important part of the business strategy. To successfully complete this, it is key to have a General Manager in each region, leading the engagement in site selection, permitting, government interaction, and customer engagements for both shingle supply to Northstar and product supply to users. The hiring of Allen Gervais as General Manager, Alberta and Dave and Tammy Wood as General Managers, Ontario fully achieves this and puts the Company in a strong position to engage in both markets." Stock Option Grant The Company also announces it has granted 400,000 stock options to employees at an exercise price of $0.35 for a 5-year term and 875,000 stock options to consultants at an exercise price of $0.35 for a 3-year term. All options vest as to 25% on each of 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post-issuance About Northstar Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. is a Vancouver-based clean technology company focused on the recovery and repurposing of single-use asphalt shingles. Northstar has developed a proprietary design process for taking discarded asphalt shingles, otherwise destined for already over-crowded landfills, and extracting the liquid asphalt, aggregate sands, and fiber for usage in new hot mix asphalt, construction products and other industrial applications. Northstar plans to process used or defective asphalt shingle waste back into its three primary components for reuse/resale at its Empower Facility in Delta, British Columbia. Northstar's mission is to be one of the leading shingle material recovery providers in North America, extracting 99% of the recovered components from asphalt shingles that would otherwise be sent to a landfill. For more information on Northstar, please visit www.northstarcleantech.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Aidan Mills President & CEO, Director Email: [email protected] Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information 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. The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This press release may contain forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements with respect to personnel announcements and their impact on the business of the Company, plans for significant business developments for 2022 and for non-dilutive funding and growth, including the proposed development of facilities in Alberta and Ontario. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions. Forwardlooking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forwardlooking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to satisfy all of the conditions to complete the Listing, and the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the final prospectus of the Company dated June 18, 2021. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forwardlooking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended and such changes could be material. The Company does not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law. SOURCE Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Nova Mentis Life Science Corp . (CSE: NOVA) (FSE: HN3Q) (OTCQB: NMLSF) ("NOVA" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company and global leader in first-in-class psilocybin-based therapeutics and complementary diagnostics for neuroinflammatory disorders, and Mycrodose Therapeutics ("Mycrodose"), a US pharmaceutical company focused on developing advanced drug delivery systems for use with psychedelic compounds, announce the successful milestone of merging NOVA's psilocybin-based drug development program with Mycrodose's transdermal technology. The initial permeation studies using human skin are underway at Mycrodose Therapeutics laboratories in San Diego, CA to prove that NOVA's drug compound can successfully be delivered through human skin by way of Mycrodose's transdermal technology. The companies believe that neuroinflammatory conditions, such as Fragile X Syndrome ("FXS"), the most common inherited cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder ("ASD"), may not require a high dose of a psychedelic compound, or a large macrodose amount of drug, for a patient to benefit therapeutically. "This cooperative transdermal delivery technology expands the possibilities of treating chronic developmental disorders such as Fragile X Syndrome without exposing the child or adult to intolerable hallucinogenic side effects," stated Will Rascan, NOVA's CEO & President. "A low dose, or microdose treatment of drug using a transdermal patch is ideal because it can be monitored and changed in a home or in a clinical environment, which goes a long way to save time for our overworked medical community and lower medical costs for families with disabled children." NOVA successfully completed four preclinical studies confirming the therapeutic efficacy of the company's proprietary psilocybin-based drug and established a microdose therapeutic level for psilocybin that can be used in upcoming human studies. NOVA is the first biotech company to receive psilocybin FXS orphan drug designation in the U.S. and European Union, which will greatly assist the company on the pathway to drug approval. "We are thrilled with our ongoing permeability research and look forward to continuing the efforts to co-create a product with NOVA that safely and accurately delivers a controlled dose of drug to a child suffering from Fragile X," said Chad Conner, Chief Executive Officer, Mycrodose Therapeutics. "We believe our sustained microdosing technology is an improved approach to delivering pharmaceutical compounds to patients who are not suited for or unwilling to accept the risks associated with a macrodose." Mycrodose's state-of-the-art laboratory in Southern California offers a wide range of capabilities, integrating an advanced analytical chemistry department with a highly experienced product development unit. The analytical department has the instrumentation needed to quantify and analyze nearly every active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) down to the millionth of a gram and determine all physicochemical parameters critical for the successful and optimum delivery of an API. In addition, stability-indicating assays are being implemented to assess and assure the safety and consistency of the products, and specific preparatory equipment is being used to isolate the individual isomers from racemic mixtures. In October 2021, the two companies entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") to form a Joint Venture ("NewCo") that will accelerate the research and development of psilocybin-based therapeutics by utilizing Mycrodose Therapeutics' patented advanced drug delivery systems with NOVA's proprietary psilocybin-based drug portfolio to treat patients with neuroinflammatory conditions, such as FXS, the most common inherited cause of ASD. NewCo aims to be in clinical FDA trials in Q1 2022 with this novel technology. About Mycrodose Therapeutics Mycrodose Therapeutics is a US-Based pharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California specializing in the development of advanced drug delivery systems utilizing psychedelic compounds to treat mental health and cognitive degenerative diseases. Mycrodose is one of only a few private companies that have been granted a Schedule I License and been approved by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), State of California Attorney General's Research Advisory Board, and The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to research four (4) psychedelic compounds: psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and DMT. The company believes that its IP-Protected Sustained Microdosing Technology is a smarter and safer approach to delivering pharmaceutical compounds to patients of all ages and allows for an expandable and scalable business model. For more information about Mycrodose Therapeutics, please contact: Patrick Eckstrom Chief Operating Officer Mycrodose Therapeutics Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-619-494-1367 Website: www.MycrodoseThera.com About Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. is a Canadian-based biotechnology company and global leader in developing diagnostics and psilocybin-based therapeutics for neuroinflammatory disorders. The goal is to diagnose and treat debilitating chronic conditions that have unmet medical needs, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). NOVA is the first biotech company to receive psilocybin FXS orphan drug designation in the U.S. and European Union, which will greatly assist the company on the pathway to drug approval. For further information on the Company, please visit novamentis.ca or email [email protected] . On Behalf of the Board Will Rascan, President & CEO Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. Phone: 778-819-0244 Toll Free: 1-833-542-5323 Twitter: @novamentislsc Instagram: @novamentislsc Facebook: @novamentislsc Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its 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. This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Nova Mentis Life Science's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. SOURCE Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. RIYADH, Saudia Arabia, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk Saudi, an affiliate of the global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care, has been recently recognized as the top workplace for women in the Kingdom for the second consecutive year. By creating an inclusive culture, Novo Nordisk Saudi succeeded in giving women the ability to reach their full potential and being represented throughout the workforce and the management. The recognition is based on an assessment measuring the extent to which women report their organizations create a positive working environment for everyone and how fairly women's experiences compare to men's reports of the same workplace. The assessment also factors in the representation of women in the workforce and management, compared to industry trends. In a statement from Melvin D'Souza, CVP for Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia commenting on this achievement, he said "Diversity at Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia is a journey which we embarked over the last couple of years. Female empowerment and recognition of being the front runner in Saudi Arabia again is a testimony of this work." Talking about the culture at Novo Nordisk Saudi, Rajiah Meir, Head of HR said "As a diverse team of great talents, we have always put our people at the heart of what we do. In Novo Nordisk Saudi Arabia we are we are all proud to be accredited, for the second year in a row, as the best place to work for women in Saudi Arabia. This reflects our relentless dedication towards female empowerment. Part of living by the Novo Nordisk way is fulfilling that commitment and support our employees in their career progression and help them reach their full potentials. It is, indeed, inspiring to see how Novo Nordisk is investing in emerging female talents based in Saudi Arabia in a mega female leadership-development program." "Novo Nordisk Saudi is a great example of high-performance workplace culture that ensures every decision, activity and policy supports the learning, well-being and personal growth of all the female members in the organization" said Hamza Idrissi, Program Manager for Saudi. Novo Nordisk's ranking on the top Workplaces for Women list is the latest recognition for Novo Nordisk Saudi as a leading workplace. This year, Novo Nordisk was awarded the top position in the ranking of the Best Places to Work in Saudi for the third consecutive year. ABOUT BEST PLACES TO WORK PROGRAM Best Places To Work is a global certification program that certifies and recognizes leading workplaces that lead the way in redefining the employee experience around the world. Our proprietary assessment analyzes a workplace excellence through a two-step process focusing on 8 dimensions including culture, leadership, opportunities for growth and people practices. Beside the employee satisfaction survey, we conduct an HR assessment focusing on people practices implemented in the organization against our global people framework standard. Through the program, we share best HR practices and help other companies learn from the best. For more information, please visit the program website at www.bestplacestoworkfor.org Media inquiries: Press: Maria Mercedes | Email: [email protected] | Tel : +44 208 895 6562 SOURCE Best Places To Work NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuveen, the global investment manager of TIAA, has successfully completed the initial public offering of the Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund (NYSE: NPFD). The closed-end fund will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, under the symbol NPFD. The fund raised $550 million in its common share offering, excluding any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares. If the underwriters exercise that option in full, the fund will have raised approximately $633 million. The fund seeks to provide a high level of tax-advantaged current income and total return by investing in primarily investment grade, variable rate preferred securities and other variable rate income-producing securities from high quality, highly regulated companies such as banks, utilities and insurance companies. The fund provides access to both the retail and institutional preferred securities markets, as well as diversification across the U.S. dollar denominated global market, enhancing opportunities while minimizing currency risk. "For decades, Nuveen has been at the forefront of driving innovation within closed-end funds while continuing to deliver compelling income solutions for our investors," said Dave Lamb, Head of Closed-End Funds at Nuveen. "We are proud to continue that industry leadership with the Nuveen Variable Rate Preferred & Income Fund." Nuveen is a leading provider of closed-end funds, with $65 billion in assets under management, and is the leading provider of preferred securities closed-end funds, with $5.9 billion in assets under management1. "There is strong demand from investors seeking the tax-advantaged yield opportunity of preferred securities," said Doug Baker, CFA, Lead Portfolio Manager for preferred securities investments at Nuveen. "As a fiduciary, we're excited to bring a closed-end fund to market that captures this constructive sentiment and builds upon Nuveen's track record of helping investors to construct portfolios that align with their income and total return goals." For more information, please visit Nuveen's CEF homepage www.nuveen.com/closed-end-funds or contact: Financial Professionals 800-752-8700 Investors 800-257-8787 Media [email protected] About Nuveen Nuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, offers a comprehensive range of outcome-focused investment solutions designed to secure the long-term financial goals of institutional and individual investors. Nuveen has $1.2 trillion in assets under management as of 30 September 2021 and operations in 27 countries. Its investment specialists offer deep expertise across a comprehensive range of traditional and alternative investments through a wide array of vehicles and customized strategies. For more information, please visit www.nuveen.com . Nuveen Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC. The information contained on the Nuveen website is not a part of this press release. Investors should consider the investment objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of the fund carefully before investing. For a prospectus which contains this and other information relevant to an investment in the fund, please contact your securities representative or Nuveen Securities, LLC, 333 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606. Investors should read the prospectus carefully before they invest or send money. This document is not an offer to sell securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. Key Risk Considerations: Preferred and Hybrid Preferred Securities Risks. Preferred and other subordinated securities rank lower than bonds and other debt instruments in a company's capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. There are various special risks associated with investing in preferred securities, including limited voting rights risk, special redemption rights risk, payment deferral and omission risk, credit and subordination risk, floating rate and fixed-to-floating rate securities risk, liquidity risk, regulatory risk and new types of securities risk. Below Investment Grade Risk. Investments of below investment grade quality are regarded as having speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer's capacity to pay dividends or interest and repay principal, and may be subject to higher price volatility and default risk than investment grade investments of comparable terms and duration. Issuers of lower grade investments may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. The prices of these lower grade investments are typically more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer's revenues or a general economic downturn. The secondary market for lower rated investments may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated investments, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the fund's ability to dispose of a particular investment. If a below investment grade investment goes into default, or its issuer enters bankruptcy, it might be difficult to sell that investment in a timely manner at a reasonable price. Contingent Capital Securities or Contingent Convertible Securities Risk. Contingent capital securities or contingent convertible securities (sometimes referred to as "CoCos") are hybrid securities, issued primarily by European financial institutions to help fulfill their capital requirements, which present similar risks to debt securities and convertible securities but have loss absorption mechanisms benefitting the issuer built into their terms. CoCos are a form of hybrid security that are intended to either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain loss absorption mechanism "triggers." These triggers are generally linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution's continued viability and financial condition (e.g., a decrease in the issuer's capital ratio) as a going-concern. When an issuer's capital ratio falls below a specified trigger level, or in a regulator's discretion depending on the regulator's judgment about the issuer's solvency prospects, a CoCo may be written down, written off or converted into an equity security. Equity conversion or principal write-down features are tailored to the issuer and its regulatory requirements and, unlike traditional convertible securities, conversions are not voluntary and are not intended to benefit the investor. Concentration and Financial Services Sector Risk. The preferred securities market is comprised predominantly of securities issued by companies in the financial services sector. Therefore, preferred securities present substantially increased risks at times of financial turmoil, which could affect financial services companies more than companies in other sectors and industries. 1 Morningstar as of 30 September 2021. SOURCE Nuveen SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nylas, the communications API platform company for business productivity automation, today announced the awards for Best Company Culture, Best CEO, and Best Company for Diversity from Comparably, a leading compensation, culture, and career-monitoring site in the U.S. Nylas closed out 2021 with a culture score of 4.9 out of 5 stars, ranking them in the top 5% of companies on Comparably. Nylas also finished in the top 5% of all companies in the categories of Best CEO and Best Company for Diversity. Nylas has now been recognized more than 20 times since the start of 2019 that Nylas has been recognized by Comparably. Last quarter, Nylas was awarded Best Company Happiness, Best Company Perks & Benefits, and Best Company Compensation. Comparably's awards are derived from ratings provided by employees who anonymously rated their companies on Comparably.com. Nylas was recognized as a winner in the following categories: Best Company Culture: This list is determined by evaluating companies on a set of 16 core metrics, from compensation and career growth opportunities to leadership and work environment criteria such as work-life balance, perks and benefits, and more. Nylas received a culture score of 4.9 out of 5 stars and an A+ rating. Best CEO: The CEO score is based on information and insights gathered from employees and provides an understanding of the CEO's leadership style and effectiveness. Nylas Co-Founder & CEO Gleb Polyakov received an A+ rating, placing him in the top 5% of all companies on Comparably. received an A+ rating, placing him in the top 5% of all companies on Comparably. Best Company for Diversity: This award recognizes how diverse employees feel and rate their work experience across various cultural dimensions. Nylas has now been recognized as a Best Company for Diversity two years in a row "Company culture, diversity, and employee well-being have been foundational elements at Nylas since day one and have been essential to our continued success and growth. In 2021 alone, we've raised $120 million in Series C funding, surpassed 100,000 developers worldwide on our platform, and expanded our team internationally, all of which wouldn't have been possible without a team committed to developing and nurturing a strong and inclusive company culture," said Gleb Polyakov, Co-Founder & CEO, Nylas. "It is incredibly humbling to see our investments and focus within areas such as diversity and inclusion, work-life balance, employee perks and benefits recognized by Comparably and embraced by our growing team." The connection between a strong company culture, employee productivity, and ultimately, business growth has become increasingly clear. According to a Gallup study, engaged employees are 21% more productive. In recent years, particularly during the pandemic, company culture and positive leadership have played a fundamental role in helping companies navigate employee burnout, mental wellness, and employee retention. Along with numerous awards from Comparably, Nylas was recently named to the Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the second consecutive year as well as being recognized as a Great Place to Work-certified company. For more information about Nylas and their recent achievements, please visit www.nylas.com, and visit https://www.nylas.com/company/jobs/ to see Nylas' open positions by department, location, and more. About Nylas Hundreds of thousands of developers around the world use Nylas to quickly and securely build email, scheduling, and work automation features into their applications. With Nylas, developers at innovative companies like Upwork, Wix, Freshworks, Lever, Dialpad, Ceridian, and Move.com get unprecedented access to rich communications data from their end-users, pre-built workflows that automate everyday tasks, embeddable UI/UX components for fast front-end development, and comprehensive security features - all delivered via a suite of powerful APIs that make integration easy. Learn more at www.nylas.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. About Comparably Comparably (www.comparably.com) is a leading workplace culture and corporate brand reputation platform with over 15 million anonymous employee ratings on 70,000 companies. With the most comprehensive data on large and SMB organizations in nearly 20 different workplace categories based on gender, ethnicity, age, experience, industry, location, education it is one of the most used SaaS platforms for employer branding and a trusted third party site for workplace culture and compensation data. For more information on Comparably's studies and annual Best Places to Work and Best Brands Awards, visit www.comparably.com/news. General Methodology Comparably Awards are based on sentiment feedback provided by current employees who anonymously rated their employers on Comparably.com during a 12-month look-back period. Employees have the opportunity to answer up to 100 questions spanning nearly 20 different workplace topics in a variety of data-driven formats (yes/no, true/false, 1-10 scale, multiple-choice). Each answer is given a numerical score and compared to companies of similar size. To qualify, Large companies (more than 500 employees) must meet a minimum of 75 employee participants and Small/Mid-Size companies (500 or fewer employees) need a minimum of 25 participants. For fairness and statistical significance, additional weight is given to companies with more participation. The final data set was compiled from 15 million ratings across 70,000 companies. There are no fees or costs associated with participating, nor is nomination required. For Awards FAQ: www.comparably.com/awards CONTACT: Jason Sophian Director of Communications, Nylas [email protected] Samantha Miller BLASTmedia for Nylas 317.806.1900 x 161 [email protected] SOURCE Nylas NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until January 3, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against ON24, Inc. (NYSE: ONTF), if they purchased the Company's shares issued in connection with its February 2021 initial public stock offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Get Help ON24 investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-ontf/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit ON24 and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information in the Company's IPO Registration Statement and Prospectus, violating federal securities laws. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that the Registration Statement and Prospectus failed to disclose, among other things, that the surge in customers leading up to the IPO consisted of a significant number that, driven by COVID-19 related demand, did not fit the Company's traditional customer profile, and, as a result, were significantly less likely to renew their contracts leading to an increase in churn. On August 10, 2021, the Company provided its 2Q2021 financial results including guidance below analysts' expectations and disclosed "higher-than-expected churn and down-sell from customers [it] signed up in the second quarter of last year during the peak of COVIDprimarily in the first-time renewal cohort, customers who signed up one-year contracts last year and who were up for renewal." On this news, the Company's share price plummeted approximately 31%, damaging investors. The case is Douvia v. ON24, Inc., 21-cv-08578. 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 RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Outdoor Living Brands, the market-leading franchisor of premium residential and commercial outdoor living services, recently announced that it has acquired Superior Fence & Rail, the leading national brand in the fencing category. Superior Fence & Rail will join Outdoor Living Brands' robust portfolio of home services franchises joining the Archadeck Outdoor Living, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, and Conserva Irrigation franchise systems. This is the first acquisition by Outdoor Living Brands since the company was acquired by LYNX Franchising, a multi-brand franchise platform with a complementary collection of essential B2B services and residential services. LYNX is a portfolio company of MidOcean Partners, a leading private equity firm and active franchise industry investor. Superior Fence & Rail is a leader in the outdoor living industry, specializing in fencing. Founded in 2001, Superior Fence & Rail has grown rapidly since franchising in 2017 with 36 locations across the country. Since 2019, systems sales have tripled and have more than doubled over just the last 12 months alone. "We are proud of the business we've built and now look forward to aligning with Outdoor Living Brands, LYNX Franchising and MidOcean Partners to help continue to build the brand in the years ahead." said Zach Peyton, co-founder of Superior Fence & Rail. "The brand is well positioned to continue this momentum, with strong franchisee unit economics, strong leadership, world class customer satisfaction, and a proven track record of growth and profitability." Outdoor Living Brands is excited to add Superior Fence & Rail's service offerings in fencing, expanding upon their core service offerings of designing, building, lighting, irrigating and maintaining outdoor living environments for families to enjoy. Zach Peyton, co-founder of Superior Fence & Rail, will continue to lead the franchise system as Brand President. "As we've spent more time with Zach over the past several months, it's become clear that we have a shared philosophy that good franchising starts with strong unit level economics," said Outdoor Living Brands' President and COO, Scott Zide. " Zach has a 'franchisee first' mindset and will be an ideal cultural fit with the Outdoor Living Brands team. His passion for the business and success of his franchisees is very evident, and we can't wait to continue to emphasize this approach moving forward." Superior Fence & Rail installs more than two million feet of fencing annually. As the company continues to expand, they are seeking like-minded entrepreneurs, who wish to succeed in the home services industry, and want to provide the highest level of customer service. Today, Superior Fence & Rail remains the highest-rated fencing company in the United States. To learn more about franchising opportunities with Superior Fence & Rail, please visit www.fencefranchise.superiorfenceandrail.com/ About Superior Fence and Rail Starting out as an Orlando fence company 20 years ago, Superior Fence & Rail has grown to 36 locations throughout Florida and the United States and is the largest multi-location fence company in the country. As the company's presence expands across the country, its goal is to maintain the same level of trust that all of its clients have exhibited since day one. Its successful expansion and growth have been achieved without sacrificing the quality of products and services. Superior Fence & Rail has long-established fence product specifications that exceed even the most stringent building codes in the United States. About Outdoor Living Brands Outdoor Living Brands is the market-leading franchisor of premium residential and commercial outdoor living services with four established national brands including, Archadeck, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Conserva Irrigation and its newest brand, Superior Fence & Rail. The company's core franchise service offerings focus on designing and building outdoor living environments, providing architectural landscape lighting and holiday lighting services, and offering water-efficient irrigation system design, installation, repair and maintenance services. At Outdoor Living Brands, the company's vision is to help its clients celebrate an outdoor living lifestyle by enriching their lives and their properties through our proven franchise brands. This vision is molded by its perspective of what a franchise should bean opportunity for entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals to pursue the achievement of their personal career, lifestyle, and financial goals through the operation and scaling of a proven franchise business model. About LYNX Franchising LYNX Franchising is headquartered in Alpharetta Georgia and was founded in 1991. LYNX is recognized as one the leading franchisors in the franchise industry, operating in both the commercial as well as residential services space. Currently it operates commercially in the rapidly growing commercial cleaning franchise brand of JAN-PRO, Intelligent Office, a professionally staffed, temporary and virtual office space franchise for mobile executives and small businesses, and FRSTeam, a leader in the restoration of fabrics, electronics and contents. In addition, LYNX also operates via it's Outdoor Living Brands concept, in the residential services industry via the Archadeck Outdoor Living brand, a deck and patio design and installation company, the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives brand, an outdoor lighting company that specializes in customized design and installations for commercial and residential properties, and Conserva Irrigation brand, a commercial and residential irrigation repair and maintenance service provider. Contact: Cody O'Hara, (859) 547-7010, [email protected] SOURCE Outdoor Living Brands NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OUTFRONT Media Inc. (NYSE:OUT) announced it has acquired 29 Digital and 87 Static faces from Grand Rapids Outdoor, 90% of which are in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area with the balance in Detroit. These new assets expand OUTFRONT's portfolio within the Grand Rapids area making the OOH company's inventory invaluable for advertisers looking to target consumers in the market. Grand Rapids is among the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Michigan, with a thriving downtown and flourishing suburbs. OUTFRONT's inventory provides unprecedented coverage to the west side of the state. The premium digital assets and traditional static billboards add to the existing plant, providing unparalleled exposure for clients in this booming city. "This acquisition adds to our presence in Grand Rapids, complementing and extending our coverage across Michigan's second largest market," said Jeremy Male, CEO of OUTFRONT. "We are excited to have the ability to offer our clients more access to the growing audience in Grand Rapids especially with a multitude of digital displays in high profile areas." About OUTFRONT Media Inc. OUTFRONT leverages the power of technology, location and creativity to connect brands with consumers outside of their homes through one of the largest and most diverse sets of billboard, transit, and mobile assets in North America. Through its technology platform, OUTFRONT will fundamentally change the ways advertisers engage audiences on-the-go. Contact: Investors: Media: Stephan Bisson Courtney Richards Vice President, Investor Relations Senior PR & Events Specialist (212) 297-6573 (646) 876-9404 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc. DUBLIN, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Morocco Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In-depth Analysis and Data-driven Insights on the Impact of COVID-19 Included in this Morocco Data Center Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities Market Report Morocco data center market size will witness investments of USD 328 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.33% during 2021-2026 Morocco data center market is among the rapidly growing markets in Africa. The country is one of the most prominent Fintech hubs in the Africa region and has witnessed significant growth in terms of digital transformation. Morocco also ranks higher than other African countries such as Kenya, South Africa, and Namibia in the "Ease of Doing Business Index" by the World Bank. The data center market includes more than five unique third-party data center service providers operating about 9 facilities Market Outlook The rising number of consumers and growth in internet usage have led to an increase in Morocco's data traffic. The country is also witnessing the deployment of technologies such as cloud, IoT, and big data. data traffic. The country is also witnessing the deployment of technologies such as cloud, IoT, and big data. COVID19 had been a significant growth enabler for Morocco's cloud market, with many enterprises migrating their workloads to the cloud. cloud market, with many enterprises migrating their workloads to the cloud. Increased connectivity through submarine cable deployments will further boost data center growth in the country. As of now, Morocco has around five submarine cables either already deployed or under development. has around five submarine cables either already deployed or under development. In February 2021 , Moov Africa announced its plans to deploy a new submarine cable system with a length of more than 8,000 km to boost connectivity and connect Morocco with Togo , Gabon , Benin , and Cote d'Ivoire . Key Highlights Morocco promotes foreign investments and provides support for investments with its macro-economic policies and other incentives for investors. promotes foreign investments and provides support for investments with its macro-economic policies and other incentives for investors. Casablanca is the primary data center hub in Morocco , housing most of the data centers in Morocco . is the primary data center hub in , housing most of the data centers in . The location of Morocco is beneficial for the generation of renewable energy via solar power, which the country expects to harness in the coming years. is beneficial for the generation of renewable energy via solar power, which the country expects to harness in the coming years. In 2020, N+ONE Datacenters was one of the major investors in the Morocco data center market. Other revenue contributors to the market include inwi, Maroc Telecom, and Etix Everywhere. Vendor Landscape In August 2019 , Maroc Telecom announced a deal with the government to invest more than USD 1 billion to develop and improve the telecom infrastructure over the next three years. , Maroc Telecom announced a deal with the government to invest more than to develop and improve the telecom infrastructure over the next three years. Some major data center investors in the country include Orange, N+ONE Datacenters, inwi, and Medasys, which provide colocation and cloud-based services across the country. In February 2021 , Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat (UM6P) opened its new data center to host one of the most powerful supercomputers in Africa , Toubkal. Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Caterpillar Cummins Eaton Legrand Rolls-Royce Power Systems Schneider Electric Siemens STULZ Vertiv Group. Data Center Investors Africa Data Centres inwi N+ONE Datacenters Orange Business Services Report Coverage: This report analyses the Morocco data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and data center investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments. The segmentation includes: Existing vs. Upcoming Data Centers Existing Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity) Casablanca Other Cities List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity) Morocco Data Center Investment Coverage Infrastructure Type IT Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure General Construction IT Infrastructure Server Storage Systems Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches and Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure Market Segmentation by Cooling systems CRAC and CRAH Units Chillers Cooling Towers, Condensors, and Dry Coolers Other Cooling Units General Construction Building Development Installation and Commissioning Services Building & Engineering Design Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Tier Segments Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV Why You Should Buy Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Morocco colocation market revenue. colocation market revenue. An assessment of the data center investment in Morocco by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. Data center investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across cities in the country. A detailed study of the existing market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about the Morocco data center market size during the forecast period. data center market size during the forecast period. Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Morocco Facilities Covered (Existing): 9 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 1 Coverage: 5 Cities Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in Morocco Market Revenue & Forecast (2021-2026) Retail Colocation Pricing The Morocco data center market investments are classified as IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecasting. data center market investments are classified as IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecasting. A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry. Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the industry. A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspect of the market. Key Questions Answered: 1. How big is the Morocco data center Market? 2. Who are the key Investors in the Morocco data center market? 3. What is the expected CAGR for the Morocco data center market during the forecast period? 4. How many are existing and upcoming facilities present in Morocco? 5. What is the COVID-19 impact on the data center market in Morocco? Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 : Existing & Upcoming Third-Party Data Centers In Morocco 9+ Unique Data Center Properties Data Center IT Load Capacity Data Center White Floor Area Space Existing Vs Upcoming Data Center Capacity by Cities Cities Covered Casablanca Other Cities Chapter 2: Investment Opportunities In Morocco Data Center Investments Investment by Area Investment by Power Capacity Chapter 3: Data Center Colocation Market In Morocco Colocation Services Market in Morocco Retail Colocation vs Wholesale Data Center Colocation Colocation Pricing (Quarter Rack, Half Rack, Full Rack) & Add-ons Chapter 4: Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Trends Market Restraints Chapter 5: Market Segmentation IT Infrastructure: Market Size & Forecast Electrical Infrastructure: Market Size & Forecast Mechanical Infrastructure: Market Size & Forecast General Construction Services: Market Size & Forecast Chapter 6: Tier Standard Investment Tier I & II Tier III Tier IV Chapter 7: Key Market Participants IT Infrastructure Providers Construction Contractors Support Infrastructure Providers Data Center Investors Chapter 8: Appendix Market Derivation Quantitative Summary For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4l1uk7 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 CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Paessler AG, the monitoring experts, set its 2022 priorities in North America for both the direct and channel technology markets to help address both challenges and opportunities for growth in monitoring technologies with IT, IoT, OT and IIoT environments. As the pandemic continues to impact industries across the board, multiple studies have projected technology spending to accelerate, meaning that organizations will need a much clearer picture of their overall technology environment, especially considering the continued rise of cybersecurity risks which make monitoring even more critical. For 2022, Paessler has identified targeted growth areas in enterprise, healthcare, manufacturing, education, telecom, and government vertical markets and has developed strategies to help organizations with their market-specific technology monitoring needs. While nearly all vertical markets were hit hard by the pandemic, education, manufacturing, and healthcare were hit the hardest. Paessler has built a solid reputation globally for its PRTG software. It is known for its ease of use, flexibility and for monitoring anything technology administrators worry about, thus reducing their workloads so they can focus on larger and strategic technology initiatives. It also helps organizations monitor their energy consumption to be better stewards of resources and reduce spoilage, while also monitoring utilization rates to better assess technology spending needs. In addition to its flagship product PRTG Network Monitor, the company is offering multiple versions of its PRTG software to suit different business models. Some are already available both for direct market and the channel, and others are coming soon to the channel in 2022, together with a unique offering for MSP's. These include: Paessler has strengthened its strategy for the technology channel by providing enhanced training, certifications and marketing tools for partners to better incorporate technology monitoring into their services portfolios and to better position them for long-term, sustainable growth. "For nearly two years now, technology administrators have been stretched more than ever to quickly pivot and adjust to the continually changing environments brought on by the pandemic," said David Montoya, regional manager, Americas, Paessler. "PRTG helps our customers be proactive in stopping issues before they become problematic, and most of the time, before the end-user realizes something is going on. While PRTG can be and is used in all technology environments, focusing on the vertical markets where the greatest opportunity and need lie helps Paessler better serve both direct and channel customers with specific solutions to solve their monitoring challenges - from the simplest to most complex." To learn more about Paessler's PRTG monitoring solutions, visit Paessler.com. About Paessler AG Paessler believes monitoring plays a vital part in reducing humankind's consumption of resources. Monitoring data helps its customers save resources, from optimizing their IT, OT and IoT infrastructures to reducing energy consumption or emissions for our future and our environment. That is why Paessler offers monitoring solutions for businesses across all industries and all sizes, from SMB to large enterprises. Paessler works with renowned partners, and together they tackle the monitoring challenges of an ever-changing world. Since 1997, when Paessler first introduced PRTG Network Monitor, it has combined its in-depth monitoring knowledge with an innovative spirit. Paessler knows the challenges of complex IT, OT and IoT infrastructures and networks. Paessler's products empower its customers to monitor everything, and thus help them optimize their resources. Learn more about Paessler and their products at www.paessler.com. Media Contact Hughes Agency Amanda Long T: +1 864.271.0718 [email protected] www.hughes-agency.com Paessler AG Ilja Zeidler Global PR Manager T: +49 911 93775-0 [email protected] www.paessler.com SOURCE Paessler AG - The Monitoring Experts Related Links http://www.paessler.com Pall Arabia provides increased agility and support to local oil & gas customers Tweet this Sary Diab, Managing Director, Middle East at Pall commented, "With SepraSol Plus manufacturing in Saudi Arabia we can meet our local customers technical performance and product supply needs in a timely manner and with increased agility to react to market drivers or customer needs." In addition to the center of excellence, Pall Arabia's local presence also includes sales, project management and engineering, filter cleaning capabilities and test laboratory facilities. There is also a large fleet of mission ready rental equipment available locally and supported by associates comprised primarily of Saudi nationals. Sary Diab added "This is an example of how Saudi Vision 2030 aligns with our strategy of investment in local assets and resources to operate in region to achieve our strategic goals." To learn more about Pall Oil and Gas and Petrochemical solutions, please visit www.pall.com or email us at [email protected]. About Pall Corporation Pall Corporation is a filtration, separation and purification leader providing solutions to meet the critical fluid management needs of customers across the broad spectrum of industries. Pall works with customers to advance health, safety, and environmentally responsible technologies. The Company's engineered products enable process and product innovation and minimize emissions and waste. Pall Corporation serves customers worldwide. For more information visit www.pall.com. Or follow us on social media: LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Corporate Media Contact: Pall Corporation Amanda Comeau Director, Corporate Communications (508) 330-0811 SOURCE Pall Corporation BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation has named 10 climate action organizations around the world to the 2022 Accelerator Grant Program to advance their use of data and AI for impact, as part of its $4.5 million commitment to climate action. The Accelerator Grant recipients will receive data support, tools, and expert guidance from the Foundation's in-house Direct Data and AI Services team for a data project, as well as $100,000 in this innovative philanthropic-nonprofit collaboration. Another $3.5 million in grants has been awarded to 11 more organizations for climate action innovations including a World Emissions Clock, a Natural Climate Solutions Roadmap, and an open-source Surface Temperature Data Set. "To meet the urgent challenges of climate change, we need to deploy data science and AI in new and innovative ways," said President Vilas Dhar. "The Accelerator Program coupled with our climate grants will empower nonprofits to gain deeper insights into the solutions needed to build a more equitable and sustainable future." "Artificial intelligence and big data have brought computing, medicine, and agriculture into a new era of precision and they can do the same for conservation. Addressing the climate crisis will require the greatest mobilization of resources in human history, and emerging technologies will help us make smarter, higher-impact investments," said Conservation International's CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan. "This generous grant from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation will put Conservation International on the leading edge of innovation. We look forward to partnering with the Foundation to reshape how conservation programs are planned, executed, and monitored." The 2022 Accelerators are a group of global nonprofits working from New Jersey to Honduras to India on a range of environmental issues, including wildlife and marine conservation, land management, wind energy, and soil carbon sequestration. A number of the projects will focus on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. "We're thrilled to welcome this diverse group of nonprofits as the next cohort of Accelerator partners," said Claudia Juech, the Foundation's Vice President of Data and Society. "Each of these organizations is at a different stage of data maturity, and we are looking forward to working with them to strengthen their capacity to test and deliver on their data experiments around the world." Many of these organizations have been developing the ideas for their data experiments for some time, said Nikita Japra, senior manager of the Accelerator program, and they've needed more than funding to test their hypotheses. "The Foundation enables the selected nonprofits to be able to take a risk on these proof-of-concept data projects, and, at the same time, helps them establish the building blocks of a more advanced culture of data use." Throughout the yearlong Accelerator Program, the Foundation's Data and Society team will guide the projects with technical support, training on advanced data analytics platforms, and data management best practices. The model emphasizes shared learning including documenting and setting an example for how other nonprofits can advance nonprofit data maturity in an impactful, responsible, inclusive way. "There is a great opportunity to shed light on climate change's impacts on artisan populations around the globe," said Rebecca van Bergen, Founder and Executive Director of Nest, one of the Accelerator grant recipients. "With the support of the Accelerator Program, we're looking forward to receiving expert guidance and tools as we analyze a robust data set from our artisan communities that shares both the impact of climate change on their communities, as well as their creative solutions." The Foundation has expanded its support for climate action, with new and renewed grants for organizations around the world. The grants support opportunities to address climate change with a diverse group of climate actors focused on building data infrastructure to inform interventions and policy. "The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is playing a crucial role in supporting the work of earth defenders around the world who are seeking to use technology and data to protect critical ecosystems," said Emily Jacobi, Founder and Executive Director of Digital Democracy. "Last year, we launched the Earth Defenders Toolkit thanks to the Foundation's support. Now, we are thrilled to extend the work of the toolkit and expand access to new communities who are on the frontlines of local efforts to fight climate change." The 2022 Accelerators include: Centro Para la Biodiversidad Marina y La Conservacion, A.C. generates scientific knowledge and facilitates its integration into conservation processes and decision making throughout Mexico. Their research covers topics relevant to Mexican society such as fisheries management, protection of biodiversity, as well as the contributions that the use of natural capital generates to social wellbeing. Their Accelerator project will develop spatial models that can help fisheries adapt their resource management strategies to extreme environmental events. Open Contracting Partnership (OCP) works closely with governments, businesses, and civil society to build an open, joined-up, data-driven government contracting ecosystem to fix problems and deliver results. Through this grant, OCP will collaborate with CivicDataLab to develop an intelligent data model that combines fiscal, geospatial, and demographic data to improve the equitable distribution of flood preparedness and relief infrastructure, goods and services in Assam, India. International Institute for Urban Development partners with policymakers to provide applied research, technical assistance, and capacity building for sustainable urban and regional development. Their AI Climate platform will use machine learning to identify socially vulnerable areas to predict and track flooding hazards, landslides, and land values in Honduras. Earthrise Media encourages the protection of the planet by democratizing data through online investigations and data dashboards. This grant will be used to index Earth observations for monitoring, reporting, and verifying plastic waste sites with satellite imagery. Point Blue Conservation Science advances climate smart solutions, ecosystem science, partnership, and outreach to protect birds and other wildlife. This project will develop data-driven approaches to determine optimal placement of offshore wind farms to maximize energy production and minimize biodiversity impact. Nest supports the growing creative engagement of the artisan economy to strengthen gender equity and economic inclusion This grant will support a first-of-its kind analysis of the impact of climate change on local artisan communities and livelihoods. The Rutgers University - New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center and NJAES Office of Research Analytics work to help New Jersey adapt to climate change through research, the development of tools and technical guidance, and stakeholder engagement. This grant will support the further development of a climate hazard data visualization and mapping tool to determine the needs of populations most vulnerable to health inequities caused by climate change. The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation works to ensure the survival of Africa's remaining chimpanzee populations and their habitats. This grant will support the use of machine learning on camera trap videos to better automate accurate species detection across Africa in order to efficiently monitor animal populations in the wild. Pecan Street Inc. leverages big data and innovation to drive advances in emission reductions, climate resilience, and quality of life. With this grant, Pecan Street will strengthen its machine learning capacity to refine soil carbon models that will enable better estimates of soil carbon sequestration and the promotion of regenerative farming practices. UNICEF is the United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. This grant will be used to refine weather-related displacement data models to generate deeper insights into the needs of children who are uprooted in the context of climate change. The climate action grants include: American Forests protects existing forests and tree canopy and works to improve tree cover to promote social equity and slow climate change. This grant will support the use of machine learning and AI for their Tree Equity Score to estimate tree canopy data across U.S. cities. ($250,000) The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) works to conserve biological diversity, promote sustainable development, improve ecosystem conservation and restoration policy, and strengthen the capacity of the government and non-government organizations to use the best knowledge and data to solve conservation and restoration problems. This grant will support the launch of a program to strengthen the ecoinformatics infrastructure for state-of-the-art eco-analytics. ($150,000) Climate TRACE is a global coalition of nonprofits, technology companies, and universities catalyzing climate action. This grant will enable the upgrade of a publicly available dataset to include estimates of emissions from hard-to-track sectors. ($175,000) Climate Interactive is a global nonprofit think-tank that envisions a thriving world where greenhouse gas emissions are falling rapidly. Rooted in the fields of system dynamics modeling and systems thinking, Climate Interactive creates and shares tools that help people see connections and drive effective and equitable climate action. This grant will support the development of the En-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator, an online and open access model for global political and business leaders. ($175,000) World Resources Institute partners with government, business and civil society to research, design and carry out practical solutions that simultaneously improve people's lives and ensure nature can thrive. This grant will strengthen WRI's Data Lab's capacity to support researchers across the organization to harness the full power of the data revolution and modern technology to solve today's most pressing issues. ($500,000) World Data Lab (WDL) develops datasets and web tools to track the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in real time to help people and organizations developing data-driven solutions to the world's most urgent challenges. With this grant, WDL will create and deploy a World Emissions Clock in the leadup to COP27 and the G7 in 2022. This new global data-model would support the climate community by presenting real-time estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by country, sector, and type of emissions. ($200,000) WattTime offers technology solutions that make it easier for individuals and organizations to achieve emissions reductions. The grant will support the advancement of emissionality through increased global coverage and publicizing partnerships. ($500,000) Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) advances policies that deliver spectacular improvement to the speed and scale of environmental progress. This grant will expand the EPIC tech program to equip local, state, and federal agencies to utilize digital infrastructure and innovations to meet critically important environmental stewardship goals. ($250,000) Conservation International tackles climate change by protecting, managing, and restoring nature. This grant will support the Exponential Roadmap for Natural Climate Solutions, a science-based decision support system for governments and global actors, and development of an institutional strategy for leveraging technology to amplify and enhance protection of nature. ($750,000) Berkeley Earth is an independent climate science and communications group that produces original climate data products, data visualization, climate policy research, and scientific communication. This grant will support its open-source Surface Temperature Data Set to inform the global conversation around climate change for policymakers, academia, and other key stakeholders. ($100,000) Digital Democracy works in solidarity with marginalized communities to use technology to defend their human and environmental rights. This grant will support Digital Democracy's work around the globe, as they provide hands-on programmatic accompaniment and expand the Earth Defenders Toolkit , a collaborative space for earth defenders and their allies. The toolkit provides approaches to using technology that support local autonomy and ownership over tools and data, reduce reliance on outside support, and amplify Indigenous community efforts to protect their critical ecosystems. ($500,000) The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is a global 21st century philanthropy bridging the frontiers of artificial intelligence, data science and social impact to create a thriving, equitable and sustainable future for all. The Foundation's work focuses on bringing together academia, practitioners, and civil society to pursue the potential of AI and data science to address some of the world's most urgent challenges. Media Contact: Deborah O'Neil [email protected] 617-775-1675 SOURCE Patrick J. McGovern Foundation Available today on CocktailCourier.com, the PATRON x Japanese Breakfast Cocktail Courier Kit is perfect for any holiday occasion - whether you're looking for a last-minute gift for the friend who loves to make cocktails or want to ring in the New Year with family over a specialty drink. PATRON and Michelle collaborated to create the Persimmon Paloma, a fresh take on the classic Mexican cocktail with elements of Asian-inspired ingredients. Persimmon - a symbol of longevity and good luck in Asian culture to celebrate the New Year - is not only an important part of the kit and nods to Michelle's Asian-American heritage, but was also the inspiration for her latest Japanese Breakfast album, Jubilee . In addition to all the ingredients for a Persimmon Paloma, the kit also includes custom chopsticks, coasters and a one-of-a-kind PATRON x Japanese Breakfast bar towel. "At PATRON, we celebrate progressive pioneers like Michelle who have a bold, creative confidence in everything they do," said Chloe Lloyd-Jones, Vice President Marketing, PATRON Tequila. "PATRON goes to extraordinary lengths with our production process to achieve excellence as we believe in delivering perfection in every drop. We champion creative leaders who similarly follow their passions to impact culture. Michelle embodies that through her music and more, so we are very proud to release this cocktail kit together just in time for the holiday season." The PATRON x Japanese Breakfast Cocktail Courier Kit celebrates a shared commitment to craft, creativity and heritage. PATRON has remained dedicated to a traditional production process since the brand's inception. This focus on time-honored tradition and heritage allows PATRON to create the highest quality tequila that pairs perfectly with the Persimmon Paloma. The complex flavor of PATRON Tequila and the rich and tangy essence of persimmon masterfully combine for a special drink with a bright and refreshing taste, perfect to toast to the holiday season and New Year. Persimmon Paloma 1.5oz PATRON Reposado .75 oz Persimmon syrup .75 oz Fresh squeezed lime juice 4 oz Sparkling water Lime wheel, for garnish Instructions: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a highball or Collins glass. Top with sparkling water and stir to combine. Garnish with the lime wheel. The PATRON x Japanese Breakfast Cocktail Courier Kit makes eight cocktails, and is available for purchase for $74.99 for a limited time starting December 16th via cocktailcourier.com/cocktail/persimmon-paloma/. About PATRON Tequila From hand-harvesting the highest-quality 100 percent Weber Blue Agave, to the traditional, time-honored distillation process and individual labeling, numbering, and inspection of each bottle, PATRON Tequila is crafted with meticulous precision and care. Though PATRON has grown to become one of the most recognized and respected luxury spirits brands in the world, it is still exclusively produced in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, in the same small batches and with the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship. For more information about PATRON Tequilas and Liqueurs, please visit www.patrontequila.com. The perfect way to enjoy PATRON is responsibly. PATRON is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. About Michelle Zauner Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner has had a busy year. In June she released her critically acclaimed third album, Jubilee, which earned her 2 GRAMMY nominations, including Best New Artist, and has landed on year-end lists in notable media outlets. In September, Zauner also provided the soundtrack to Sable, an open-world video game, which was praised by the likes of NPR's All Things Considered, Slate and more. THE PERFECT WAY TO ENJOY PATRON IS RESPONSIBLY. 2021. PATRON, TEQUILA PATRON LOGO AND PATRON BEE LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS. Contact: Rachel Uniatowski [email protected] SOURCE Patron Tequila AURORA, Ill., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BERNINA of America, the premier manufacturer of sewing, embroidery and quilting machines, is proud to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Paul Ashworth as CEO and President of BERNINA of America. The milestone comes on the heels of several exceptional years that saw a drastic increase in sales and a surge in popularity amongst younger consumers. Paul Ashworth, CEO and President of BERNINA of America Paul joined BERNINA as CEO and President in 2011 after working over 20 years in the wine and spirit industry for premium companies like Moet Hennessy. While Paul lacked experience in the sewing industry, he used his business knowledge from working with premium brands and creating strong teams to achieve success. Since joining BERNINA, Paul has helped grow the US business by over 65% by maintaining and supporting BERNINA's strong network of independently owned Dealers. In the last few years, Paul has focused on making BERNINA and the sewing industry more inclusive and welcoming to creators of any age, race or background. In the next 10 years, Paul hopes to continue growing BERNINA's brand and upholding the same family-owned values that have been a cornerstone of BERNINA since the beginning. The BERNINA Executive Team, some of which have worked at BERNINA of America for over 30 years, joined together to congratulate Paul. According to the team, "Paul has been an integral part of the growth and success BERNINA of America has experienced over the last ten years. His unyielding support and commitment to BERNINA, its employees and Dealer network has been a constant source of inspiration for us all. We are grateful for his leadership and look forward to seeing how the next ten years unfold." For more information on BERNINA of America, visit www.bernina.com. About BERNINA BERNINA is the world's premier manufacturer of quality state-of-the-art sewing, quilting and embroidery machines, overlockers and embroidery software. Since being founded over 125 years ago, BERNINA has maintained a strong commitment to serving the creative community. This dedication threads through the swiss precision found in every machine, the training and education available through our over 400 fully trained independent BERNINA Dealers and the endless tutorials and content shared on BERNINA's blog and social media channels. BERNINA products are designed for beginning to advanced sewists and priced to meet a variety of budgets, with new products being introduced every year. Shop for BERNINA products online or buy directly from your nearest BERNINA Dealer. Follow BERNINA on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. BERNINA's sister machine, bernette, can be found on Instagram. You can also find helpful tips and tutorials for every skill level on BERNINA's Blog, WeAllSew. Media Contact: Tyler Rabel (312) 445-4728 [email protected] SOURCE BERNINA of America HEIDELBERG, Germany, and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Novaliq, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on the unique EyeSol water-free technology, today provided a development update on the phase 3 trial of SHR8058 eye drops (perfluorohexyloctane) for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED) associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) conducted by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. ("Hengrui Pharma") (SSE: 600276) in the People's Republic of China showing statistically significant topline results compared to 0.6% sodium chloride solution.[1] Hengrui Pharma has completed the Phase 3 clinical trial (SHR8058-301) which enrolled 312 patients at 17 clinical sites in the People's Republic of China. SHR8058-301 was a multi-center, randomized, double-masked, saline-controlled clinical trial and was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SHR8058 eye drops (100% perfluorohexyloctane) for the treatment of signs and symptoms of DED associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction. SHR8058-301 evaluated its primary efficacy at eight weeks.[2] The trial met its prespecified primary sign endpoint improvement of total corneal fluorescein staining (tCFS) and its prespecified primary symptom endpoint improvement of eye dryness score of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at eight weeks with high statistical significance. The trial showed an excellent safety and tolerability profile for SHR8058 eye drops (perfluorohexyloctane) comparable to placebo. Hengrui Pharma expects to submit a pre-NDA communication application to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)'s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) in the People's Republic of China in the near term future. About SHR8058 eye drops (perfluorohexyloctane) SHR8058 eye drops is an investigational, proprietary, water-free and preservative-free solution, based on Novaliq's EyeSol technology. In 2019, Hengrui Pharma and Novaliq announced a strategic collaboration under which Hengrui Pharma secured exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize NOV03 (local drug name SHR8058 eye drops) and CyclASol (local drug name SHR8028 Eye Drops) in China. About Novaliq Novaliq is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of first- and best-in-class ocular therapeutics based on EyeSol, the worldwide first water-free technology. Novaliq offers an industry-leading portfolio addressing today's unmet medical needs of millions of patients with eye diseases. Novaliq GmbH is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany and Novaliq Inc. has an office in Cambridge, MA, USA. The long-term shareholder is dievini Hopp BioTech holding GmbH & Co. KG, an active investor in Life and Health Sciences companies. More on www.novaliq.com. References Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. reported the progress of the drug clinical trial through the Shanghai Stock Exchange with announcement no. Lin 2021-175 on November 30th, 2021 . Clinical trial information available at www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn with identifier CTR20210154. Any product/brand names and/or logos are trademarks of the respective owners. 2021 Novaliq GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany. Novaliq Media Contact: Simone Angstmann-Mehr [email protected] SOURCE Novaliq GmbH GLENDALE, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketing automation platform Phonexa has promoted Amanda Farris as its new Chief Strategy Officer. Farris was hired in October as the software company's Director of Strategic Partnerships, and in short order, she's fueled Phonexa with a flurry of brand initiatives that have been designed to further grow the company in 2022, and beyond. Amanda Farris For the newly created role in Phonexa's C-Suite, Farris will work toward shaping and curating worldwide micro-events with the intent to further add value for the company's existing clients. Initiatives will be led by organizing exclusive and highly valuable networking dinners to grow business for lead generation companies. The events will mostly be held in parallel to tentpole conferences around the industry. Farris will also work toward further facilitating and enabling diversity, inclusion and female empowerment across the martech and digital marketing space by providing access to Phonexa's platform for seminars and webinars, as well as hosting industry-related women's collaboration events beginning in April 2022. In her new role, Farris will also continue leading Phonexa's Partnership Program , which helps agencies, entrepreneurs, and current customers open the door to even more possibilities and revenue along with exclusive dual-sided rewards, benefits, and premium discounts. "Amanda has been an integral addition to Phonexa and has played a pivotal role in the brand's strong finish to 2021," said Phonexa CEO and CFO Lilit Davtyan. "The upcoming year has all of the potential to be a watershed moment for the company and our clients alike as we further look to grow business for the brands who've bestowed their trust in us. I also look forward to her shining light on new faces and voices in the industry. Phonexa's formidable C-Suite of women will help foster an environment of growth for strong female leaders." "I plan to promote Phonexa to the next level and to become synonymous with excellence in this new role 2022 will be a year of strategic alignment with conferences, international organizations, and independent brands to ensure we are set up for success," said Farris. "You can expect to see Phonexa at every turn. We will be at the forefront of every opportunity to work in collaboration with any and all interested parties to ensure Phonexa remains on an accelerated path to keeping its position as an industry leader." Farris will immediately usher in the new era in 2022 at MailCon from January 11 to 13 at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. On Thursday, Jan. 13 at 10:30 a.m., Farris and Ross Moore, Director of Sales for Everflow, will be hosting a workshop to discuss how to build strategies for sustainable lead generation, and how to successfully tackle effective tracking and optimization, all while automating fraud prevention. MailCon is a community that connects marketing professionals with the latest technology, trends, and strategies in email marketing, lead generation, marketing automation, and mobile and omnichannel marketing. Farris will be in San Diego the following week at the Lead Generation World Conference, where she will be speaking Jan. 18 at 11:15 a.m. to discuss best practices around lead generation campaigns. To inquire about Phonexa's invite-only events in 2022, connect with Farris via email [email protected] or LinkedIn . About Phonexa: Phonexa is an all-in-one suite for marketing automation that empowers companies to optimize inbound web and call campaigns, and outbound call, email, and SMS campaigns, all while having the ability to enhance consumer journey every step of the way. Complete with 7 turnkey solutions, Phonexa's customizable tools for calls, leads, clicks, email, and SMS marketing maximize workflow efficiency for direct advertisers and lead generators alike. Phonexa has the scalability, tools, and partnerships to serve clients in all industries, especially those with high consumer demand products and services. Media Contact: Manouk Akopyan 818-800-0000 [email protected] SOURCE Phonexa ROCKFORD, Ill., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Home Lending, LLC has arrived in Rockford, Illinois, with a new team run by Branch Manager Bruce Biggers (NMLS #227665). Joining him are Sales Manager Dennis Garcell (NMLS #218804), along with Mortgage Loan Originators Dave Zegunis (NMLS #227860), Marcia Patton (NMLS #228423), Nick Goza (NMLS #232872), John Hastings (NMLS #1300976), Brian Pettry (NMLS #218849), Nick Goza, Jr. (NMLS #2211876), Loan Officer Assistant Melanie Gallatin (NMLS #2180836) and Processor Julie Daubert. Branch Manager Bruce Biggers (NMLS #227665) "Planet Home Lending is a great fit for Rockford because we offer the loans that Bruce and his team need to help consumers in the community reach their goals of homeownership," said Michael Dubeck, CEO and President of Planet Financial Group, LLC. "This team is especially skilled at helping first-time and first-generation homebuyers." An Illinois-area mortgage and lending professional for more than two decades, Biggers understands the intricacies of the local market. "My team and I have lived in Winnebago County for most of our lives," he said. "Collectively, we have about 150 years of experience in the mortgage industry. During that time, we have learned the importance of a positive customer experience, and that is the goal we have with each interaction." Biggers continued, "Planet Home Lending offers various loan products that are popular in the area. With about 150,000 residents, Rockford is a competitive real estate market, with most homes receiving several offers. To help position borrowers to buy a home, my team works with people where they are and with their given circumstances to find a loan that works for them." Along with local expertise, Planet Home Lending offers a personal digital mortgage assistant, which consumers can use to apply for a home loan via their mobile device from anywhere. Borrowers and real estate agents (with the borrowers' permission) can track loan progress 24/7, reach out to ask their loan officer questions and submit paperwork electronically to reduce reliance on paper. Another way Planet Home Lending supports a healthy environment is through a tree-planting partnership with the National Forest Foundation. In 2021, the company has sponsored the planting of up to 100,000 trees to help restore national forests. About Planet Home Lending, LLC Planet Home Lending, LLC, (NMLS #17720) is a national mortgage lender and servicer delivering exceptional customer experiences to American homeowners and homebuyers. Offering affordable home loans backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, FHA, USDA and private funders, it fulfills homeownership dreams for people in 47 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Planet Home Lending is an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about Planet Home Lending, LLC, please visit https://planethomelending.com. Media Contacts: Dona DeZube, Charlyne H. McWilliams Vice President, Communications Planet Home Lending, LLC (443) 263-2832 [email protected] SOURCE Planet Home Lending LONDON and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapyd , a global Fintech-as-a-Service company, released the results of a new survey exploring the adoption of digital finance tools and eCommerce in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil. Despite the region's large "unbanked" population, the survey found that among those with active bank accounts there is a strong and growing preference for digital services, setting the stage for continued growth across the region. Usage of bank apps and online banking services is high in LATAM, with 98% of Brazilian, 94% of Mexican and Colombian, and 89% of Argentinian bank customers stating regular usage. The trend is not restricted to bank-supplied services, with the region also demonstrating extremely high usage of non-bank payment apps. 96% of Mexicans and Brazilians, 87% of Colombians, and 84% of Argentinians regularly use applications such as PayPal, Modo, MercadoPago, and others. The survey also found rapid adoption of social commerce and a marked increase in purchases. Over 50% of consumers surveyed have made social commerce purchases, and 40% identified the greater variety of payment methods as a benefit for choosing social commerce. "Latin America is quickly emerging as one of the most digital-savvy markets for financial services," said Eric Rosenthal, VP of Rapyd for the Americas. "Whether you're a company already operating there or you're poised to enter the market for the first time, it would be unwise to ignore the shifts in consumer behavior. Our data strongly indicates that businesses with an eye on LATAM should meet consumers where they are increasingly operating digitally." Additional findings further demonstrate the rising importance of digital and mobile-first financial services, as consumers increasingly rely on them far above traditional banking methods. Latin Americans' willingness to leave traditional banks in favor of digital-only banks is already high and still growing. 83% of Brazilians, 65% of Mexicans and 67% of Colombians express readiness to make the shift, while only 34% of Argentinians are currently willing to do so. When making social commerce purchases the most dominant payment method in Colombia and Mexico is a bank transfer, with 61% in Colombia and 54% in Mexico . In Argentina transfers are tied as the most used method at 41% along with cash payments in local convenience stores. Only in Brazil do cards still dominate, with credit cards taking the top spot with 67%. and is a bank transfer, with 61% in and 54% in . In transfers are tied as the most used method at 41% along with cash payments in local convenience stores. Only in do cards still dominate, with credit cards taking the top spot with 67%. While social commerce continues to lag behind traditional eCommerce with over 55% of LATAM consumers citing their remaining preference for traditional eCommerce channels, this statistic is likely to change as social marketplaces expand their payment acceptance methods to include cash vouchers as well as digital payments. The study is the first of several that Rapyd will be conducting in LATAM to better understand shifts in consumer behavior. Over 1,000 active bank and banking services users from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil took part in this survey. The complete report is available here. About Rapyd Rapyd is the fastest way to power local payments anywhere in the world, enabling companies across the globe to access markets quicker than ever before. By utilizing Rapyd's unparalleled payments network and fintech as a service platform, businesses and consumers can engage in local and cross-border transactions in any market. The Rapyd platform is unifying fragmented payment systems worldwide by bringing together 900-plus payment methods in over 100 countries. Rapyd's investors include Stripe, General Catalyst, Oak HC/FT, Coatue, Tiger Global, Durable Capital, Target Global, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Altimeter Capital, BlackRock Funds and Tal Capital. To learn more about the company that is accelerating the fintech as a service revolution, visit www.rapyd.net , read our blog , or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . Media Contacts: Headline Media Raanan Loew [email protected] US:+1 347 897 9276 SOURCE Rapyd NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) ("Ready Capital" or the "Company") today announced that it priced an underwritten public offering of $110.00 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% senior unsecured notes due 2028. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to originate or acquire additional mortgage loans and mortgage-related assets consistent with its investment strategy and for general business purposes. Piper Sandler & Co. is serving as book-running manager for the offering. The offering is expected to close on December 21, 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions. The issue price to investors will be $1,000.00 per note, plus accrued interest, if any, from December 21, 2021, if settlement occurs after that date, and the notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000.00 and integral multiples of $1,000.00. A registration statement relating to these notes was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The offering was made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, which have been filed with the SEC. A copy of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from the underwriters by contacting: Piper Sandler & Co. at 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10020, or by calling toll-free 866-805-4128, or by email at [email protected]. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities, nor shall there be any sale of the Company's securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. About Ready Capital Corporation Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC) is a multi-strategy real estate finance company that originates, acquires, finances and services small- to medium-sized balance commercial loans. Ready Capital specializes in loans backed by commercial real estate, including agency multifamily, investor and bridge as well as U.S. Small Business Administration loans under its Section 7(a) program. Headquartered in New York, New York, Ready Capital employs over 400 lending professionals nationwide. The Company is externally managed and advised by Waterfall Asset Management, LLC. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "could," "would," "may," "potential" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, the risk factors and other matters set forth in the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC and in its other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Contacts: Investor Relations Ready Capital Corporation 212-257-4666 [email protected] SOURCE Ready Capital Corporation Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Get a free sample report for more information Major Pricing Trends in Real Estate Leasing Procurement: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the Moderate bargaining power of suppliers. This makes it extremely important to get the pricing and pricing model right. Buyers should align their preferred pricing models for real estate leasing with the wider industry and identify the cost-saving potential. Flat-fee pricing, and project-based pricing are the most widely adopted pricing models in the real estate leasing. Each pricing model offers optimum benefits and fitment in specific situations. Buyers should identify the model that suits their operations in the best manner and link supplier performance to the pricing models. For More Insights on Buyer Strategies and Tactical Negotiation Levers: www.spendedge.com/report/real-estate-leasing-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 2.00%-4.00%. Identify favorable opportunities in Real Estate Leasing TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. Some of the Top Real Estate Leasing Suppliers Listed in This Report: This Real Estate Leasing procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. BGC Partners Inc. Marcus & Millichap Inc. iCORE Global LLC Smart Procurement Starts Here: SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy to use platform: Subscribe Now for FREE, to get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment. Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge ROCK ISLAND, Ill., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock Island Auction Company (RIAC), the No. 1 firearms auction house in the world, reports record-breaking sales of more than $121 million for the first time in company history. With a total of 21 auctions in the last 12 months, RIAC hosted the four largest firearms auctions ever, including December 2020 ($22 million), May 2021 ($30 million), September 2021 ($24 million), and December 2021 ($25.2 million). Download hi-res images here Courtesy of Rock Island Auction Company Rock Island Auction Company Rock Island Auction Company is recognized as the premier firearms auction house in the world for collectors at every level. Having developed multiple platforms to view and/or bid on these unique pieces of art, this year alone RIAC drew bidders from 26 different countries, all 50 states as well as bidders from the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. "Every year we continue to see more people express interest in collecting historic firearms. People are seeing the value behind investing in a piece of history and are realizing that art doesn't just hang on the wall," said Kevin Hogan, President of Rock Island Auction Company. "This year was a milestone for our brand, with more than 30,000 firearms and related items selling. In the last 12 months, we had two items sell for more than $1 million and another sell for more than $2 million, which was the Napoleon Garniture that sold in December's Premier Auction." The company's legacy and expertise in the industry has led it to present some of the finest collector arms publicly available. In May 2021, Rock Island Auction Company hosted the largest firearms auction ever held, with $30 million in realized sales. In December 2021, Rock Island Auction Company's final Premier Auction event of the calendar year presented the Napoleon Garniture, a stunning and historic six-piece collection, which sold to a phone bidder for $2.875 million, capping a year that saw more than 50 pieces achieve six-figure price tags. Top highlights throughout the 2021 year include: For more information, visit Rock Island Auction Company's End of the Year Highlights About Rock Island Auction Company Rock Island Auction Company is the world's #1 auction company for firearms, bladed weapons and militaria. Founded in 1993 by its current CEO Patrick Hogan, RIAC continues to lead the industry with record sales numbers and their extensive and beautiful marketing efforts. Their 150,000 square foot campus consists of two buildings and hosts around 18+ auctions each year. They actively seek consignments, be it a single weapon or a collection of hundreds, a thousand-dollar item or one million. For more information, please visit www.rockislandauction.com or call 1-800-238-8022. Media Contact Information: Jackie Dadas-Kraper, Senior PR Director [email protected] 248.842.0597 SOURCE Rock Island Auction Company ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Transparency Market Research, New York Rocker Switch Market: Overview The expanding applications of rocker switches in display monitors, surge protectors, and computer power supplies, and consistent efforts of manufacturers to develop innovative products and designs are key factors boosting business opportunities in the global rocker switch market. The popularity of rocker switches is increasing, owing to their multi-position and multi-pole functionalities. Companies are developing more dependable rocker switches to attract more customers. The analysts at Transparency Market Research (TMR) note that the surge in the sales of commercial vehicles globally is projected to generate remarkable demand opportunities in the rocker switch market. Hence, the market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2031. The TMR study highlights that market players are likely to witness value-grab opportunities in Asia Pacific in the forthcoming years due to increase in investments by regional government authorities in the development of electric vehicle infrastructure. Moreover, the surge in automotive applications of rocker switches is ensuring profitable prospects for market players in the Asia Pacific region. Request Brochure of Rocker Switch Market Research Report https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=79459 Rocker Switch Market: Key Findings Increase in Adoption of Electric Vehicles Creates Attractive Business Avenues for Market Players Due to the eco-friendly and cost-effective nature of electric vehicles, there is a notable growth in their adoption across the globe. Moreover, the lightweight feature of rocker switches and the unique style are boosting the use of rocker switches in electric vehicles. As a result, companies operating in the rocker switch market are experiencing notable business opportunities. Furthermore, in initiatives by governments of several nations to encourage the use of electric vehicles is expected to fuel the sales of rocker switches in the years ahead. Surge in Sales of Commercial Vehicles Fuels Demand for Dust-proof Rocker Switches Generally, commercial vehicles are used for long-distance travelling, which may create problems in components due to dust. In order to avoid such issues, many commercial vehicle manufacturers are increasing the use of dust-proof rocker switches, which provide protective casing connected without screws. The dust-proof structure does not allow dust to enter the switches. Moreover, these are wider, broader, and easy-to-operate two-pin switches. Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Rocker Switch Market https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=79459 Rocker Switch Market: Growth Boosters Growth in demand for rocker switches, such as heated seat switches, power door lock switch, power window controls, and rear window defogger grids, across various automobile systems due to their easy operation is expected to offer lucrative prospects to the players in the global rocker switch market Automobile manufacturers are preferring rocker switches to conventional gear sticks, thereby boosting market expansion TMR offers custom market research services that help clients to get information on their business scenario required where syndicated solutions are not enough, Request for Custom Research https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=79459 Rocker Switch Market: Competition Landscape In order to maintain a leading position in the market for rocker switches, several manufacturers are focusing on new product launch activities. Besides, many players are increasing efforts to advance the quality of products they offer. Major players in the global rocker switch market are using the strategy of acquiring their competitors in order to lessen the competition and gain major market share Rocker Switch Market: Key Players Some of the players profiled in the rocker switch market are: Omron Corporation. ABB, Ltd. Eaton Corporation TE Connectivity Emerson Electric Co. Honeywell International Inc. Sensata Technologies, Inc. Carling Technologies Everel Group S.p.A. Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc. OTTO Engineering Inc Buy this 197 Pages Premium Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=79459